If you haven’t eaten at Angela’s Cafe in Eastie, have you really eaten Mexican food in Boston? The OG Angela’s (there’s now a second branch in Orient Heights) is essential to the city’s canon of cuisine, representing the rich and complex food of Puebla.

On the corner of a mostly residential street, you might drive right by the brick-red roof. But inside, the place is likely bustling with a mix of families and casual dates dining in, and neighborhood regulars popping in to pick up takeout.

Start with some fresh guacamole—this bracing version, with lime, cilantro, and onions, is served in the molcajete (lava stone mortar and pestle) it was made in. Then whet your appetite with a Taco Arabe, a flour tortilla filled with silky pork and sweet onions in adobo sauce.

Most people come here for the mole, which is really a category of sauces rather than a specific recipe. Angela’s signature mole is a glossy reddish-brown gravy, bursting with deep flavor you can’t quite put your finger on. Maybe that’s because it contains chocolate, almonds, peanuts, raisins, sesame seeds, animal crackers, and banana—and that’s hardly the full list.

For a brighter take on mole, try the green version in the Pipian Verde with pork loin. The vibrant color comes from parsley, spinach, and green tomatillos, the richness from sesame seeds and pepitas.

Customize fan favorites like burritos, chilaquiles, and enchiladas with sauces and spice levels to match your mood. The beauty of this spot is the sweet staff, here to help you navigate the vast menu. Speaking of sweet—you’ll want to wrap up with a cool, creamy slice of Vanilla Flan floating in caramel sauce. And don’t get overwhelmed by all the choices. This might be your first trip out to Angela’s, but like everyone else in the cozy, colorful dining room, you’ll be back.