La Vaca Margarita Bar

This airy, clubby Pilsen spot with lacquered concrete floors and TVs pulsing with Latin music videos is actually better known for its margaritas. But the michelada is a spicy, traditional-style sleeper. You pick your beer (Sol, Pacifico, Modelo, Negro Modelo or Victoria) and your heat level (mild or spicy, though both deliver a punch). It arrives in a massive, frosty mug that fits your whole beer at once, making it an inarguable bargain at $4.25. The Bloody Mary-esque flavor is balanced, savory and tingly from a good douse of hot sauce. The intense chili powder, lime and salt rim will numb your lips but keep you coming back, like a glutton for fiery punishment.