Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant provides more than food—it gives customers a glimpse into the lives of husband-and-wife owners Jaime and Lupe Garcia.

The Sugar Land restaurant’s aesthetics feature pinatas of all shapes and sizes hanging from the ceiling, hand-painted frescos on the wall and a poster highlighting Jaime’s hometown of Barretal, Mexico.

Lupe has worked in a kitchen for 38 years, and 16 years at Lupita’s. Most of the dishes featured on the menu are family recipes passed down to her or recipes she has created.

“I enjoy working in the kitchen,” Lupe said. “Owning my own restaurant, I’ve been able to meet very nice people, and I enjoy getting to know the new and old customers who come in.”

She said she eats just about everything on the restaurant’s vast menu, which includes tostadas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, seafood and specialties such as chile relleno, which includes pan-fried poblano pepper stuffed with picadillo and stuffed pollo—grilled chicken breasts stuffed with spinach.

One of her favorite dishes is the fajitas. Lupe marinates the steak and chicken for 24 hours in one of her special recipes. She also likes the stuffed avocados that are stuffed with meat, shrimp or vegetables, rolled in breadcrumbs and deep fried.

Lupe also recommends to customers the carnitas, featuring pork that is deep fried and served like a taco.

Jaime also said popular items include green chicken enchiladas topped with a tomatillo sauce and the $2 margaritas served at happy hour.

Dining at Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant is also about the atmosphere. Children visiting the restaurant can get their own “tour” of the pinatas, and Jaime’s Barretal poster has become a conversation starter, he said.

“We aim to serve everything fresh, which is a big plus for us,” Jaime said. “This is a family-owned and operated restaurant, so we want all of our dishes to taste like a home-cooked meal.”