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The kitchen is bigger than the rest of this petite Mexican–Caribbean joint, which sums up its priorities: Fresh eats come first. But all of La Tina’s fourteen stools are kept warm throughout the day by a steady stream of hungry regulars, including cadets from the nearby police academy. Amiable Nicaraguan owner Patricia puts a premium on fresh, particularly with the Cali–Mexi fare. The burrito grande is just that, measuring four-and-a-half inches across, and loaded with beans (red or black), steaming rice, and your choice of grilled meats; try the succulent charred chicken. Buttery, sweet fried yuca, and juicy, tender pernil, or roast pork, evoke the Caribbean, as does the tiny, one-room dining space: A single ceiling fan features blades shaped like banana leaves, a mural of flower-bedecked arches overlooking a baby-blue sea, and a soundtrack of languorous, island beats. For a sweet rush, slurp the Dominican concoction of orange juice, condensed milk, and a dash of vanilla, and you could happily, as the name suggests, “morir soñando” (die dreaming). — AnneLise Sorensen

Burrito grande with chicken, $8.64; roasted pork platter, $9.75