The exterior of La Tejana, a breakfast taco shop that recently opened up a bar upstairs. | La Tejana/Facebook The “village in the city” continues to draw notice for its growing dining and nightlife scene. This year, Time Out named Mount Pleasant as one of the the coolest 38 neighborhoods in the world. The small stretch of Mount Pleasant Main Street is long known for Central American food, with an ongoing debate over which small shop has the best pupusas (you’ll have to try them all to find out). A bustling farmers market also showcases food from around the world, with everything from Middle Eastern flatbreads to tamale carts. The historically diverse neighborhood is also home to a host of fun nightlife options. Beloved dive Raven Grill claims to be the oldest neighborhood bar in the city, while Haydee’s hosts some of the most chaotic, wonderful weekday karaoke. There was a shift in the dining scene nearly a decade ago, when Purple Patch became the upscale Filipino spot worth traveling across town to try. By 2018, more new restaurants started to push the envelope, including fermentation-obsessed Ellē opening up in the old Heller’s Bakery with innovative American fare and baked goods. More recently, 2Amys owner Peter Pastan and his son Oliver Pastan brought super-hyped Bar del Monte to the small strip, selling a few pizzas and simple Italian dishes. Even the grocery shopping scene is full of riches, with immigrant-owned BestWorld selling Korean and Central American goodies and Each Peach offering a small butcher and niche pantry staples. Bold Fork Books, a cookbook shop that throws literary and potluck events, rounds out the food-obsessed culture of the upper Northwest neighborhood. Here are 12 places to eat and drink in Mount Pleasant.