Photo: courtesy of El Pikete Cafe & Bakery

In a city where neighborhoods are more stuffed than a chile relleno, it can be a daunting task to pick from the list of seemingly endless Mexican restaurants. But instead of being another name-and-number taqueria, El Pikete flaunts a refreshingly independent streak, along with its strikingly bold colors and carefully curated menu.

The tiny cafe is both a feast for the senses and an amazing model of efficiency: spicy yellows, greens and reds decorate walls adorned with local art, while lacquered tables showcase images of indigenous characters and modern icons, like Che Guevara. Painted chairs and cowboy-boot Christmas lights make the space feel as comfy as your best friend's kitchen, with small couches helping to boost the cafe's minimal seating (there's room for few more than 15 patrons).

If menu lengths were proportional to restaurant size, El Pikete would be a mess hall. The extensive list includes breakfast, lunch and dinner options along with several cases worth of Mexican baked goods for a single person to feast on all day long. An entirely separate menu lists the cafe's specialty drinks, including licuados (Mexican milkshakes), smoothies, fruit juices and the eponymous El Pikete Cafe, a combination of Mexican coffee, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and Rompope (a Mexican eggnog).

With nearly nothing on the menu topping $5, El Pikete's food and drinks are an astounding bargain, besting even some of the late-night burrito joints. And don't think that the budget-friendly prices mean anemic tamales and drinks that couldn't fill a Dixie cup: the portions are enough for even the hungriest of bellies and drinks come in coffee mugs large enough to swim in. Breakfast is served all day with favorites like chorizo and pepper scrambles and huevos rancheros gracing the menu while lunch and dinner are covered with an array of sandwiches, tortas, sopes, burritos and tacos, among others. Go early for the biggest selection of tamales, or wait for a fresh batch while plugging in to the free wi-fi.

The friendly staff is also remarkably attentive, refilling glasses and clearing plates even though the cafe is far from sit-down formal. And with little touches like individual carafes of water and tiny chocolates to accompany your espresso, El Pikete makes you feel like a familiar friend and special guest all at the same time.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Kim Bellware