WHY Homemade Mexican food that’s anything but generic in a generic strip-mall setting. There’s no beer to drink, but you can have a Mexican Coke, made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup. (That Coke alone draws a loyal clientele.)

WHAT Although the bare-bones, order-at-the-counter setting isn’t much, Tere’s cooking provides all the atmosphere you need. Robert and Maria Teresa Melgar make everything from scratch: the soft tortillas, the chunky, fantastic guacamole, the light, almost pungent verde sauce on the enchiladas, the hearty fideo soup, the savory chorizo-filled empanadas, and more.

WHO Paramount folks and Hancock Park families getting takeout.