Since opening in August, La Bikina has tailored its menu toward a more authentic Mexican experience. General Manager Eric Anderson said the restaurant's menu, while staying true to traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine, has been tweaked to suit what customers want.

"We keep the heart of La Bikina, but we're married to The Woodlands," Anderson said.

Dishes added to the original menu include tampiquena, which is thinly grilled steak, queso destileria and choriqueso, Chihuahua cheese quesos, and a grilled 12-ounce rib-eye.

Anderson said everything at the restaurant, the first La Bikina in the U.S., is prepared fresh. Customers who have dietary restrictions, such as those who eat gluten-free, can tell the waitstaff and menu items will be prepared to accommodate their diet.

The restaurant specializes in enchiladas commonly found in the northern part of Mexico and a fried red snapper, which is fresh and not frozen. Yet, Anderson said, at La Bikina the ambience is the draw.

"We specialize in the experience," he said. "People say it's like stepping into Mexico."

For 2015, La Bikina will begin offering live music by Latin guitarist Ramon Torres. Also, the restaurant will introduce "date night" with half-price wines.

4223 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands

281-419-1985, www.labikinausa.com