Mexican Pink in Kaiserslautern, Germany, has a variety of tequila- and mezcal-based cocktails. The offerings include classics like palomas and margaritas and more inventive offerings like the black rock, a beverage made with fruit juices and activated charcoal. Pictured, center, is the spicy mezcalita, made with mezcal, lime juice, mango juice and chili powder. (Lara Korte/Stars and Stripes)

I did not realize how much my emotional well-being hinged on access to Mexican food until I moved to Germany several months ago.

Winter without tacos is bearable in a culture of drinking hot wine under twinkling lights at Christmas markets. But as soon as temperatures climbed above 70 degrees, my mind conjured images of bountiful baskets of fresh tortilla chips and icy margaritas.

Unfortunately, some of the first “nachos” I ordered off a menu here at a Kaiserslautern bar turned out to be Doritos with a side of ketchup.

I had higher hopes for Mexican Pink after hearing a lot about it. The eatery’s brick-and-mortar establishment opened downtown in November, and it soon plans to add a food truck to the mix.

The stuffed chilaquiles at Mexican Pink come with a choice of filling and red, green or pink salsa. (Lara Korte/Stars and Stripes)

Four friends and I went on a recent weeknight. The space is cheerfully painted in — you guessed it — a bright pink color, complemented by colorful tablecloths.

We were pleasantly surprised to find many familiar items on the menu, including tacos al pastor, birria, carnitas, tinga and chilaquiles. Some complimentary horchata got us off and running.

My cocktail order was a heroic showing of restraint: one spicy margarita, which included tequila, grapefruit soda and Cointreau.

Far from the sinus-clearing, jalapeno-infused concoctions one might find in a place like my former digs in Austin, this margarita was tame. The only spice I identified came in the form of the salty Tajin on the rim.

My dining companions gave positive reviews of their selections, which included a paloma, a spicy mezcalita and a black rock. The latter is a mezcal-based drink with lime juice, pineapple juice, passion fruit syrup and activated charcoal.

The homemade tortilla chips at Mexican Pink in Kaiserslautern, Germany, come with guacamole and salsa. (Lara Korte/Stars and Stripes)

For appetizers, we opted for guacamole and salsa to go with the homemade tortilla chips. Both were well-seasoned, fresh and disappeared in a matter of minutes. I enjoyed the salsa, which was pleasantly mild, but imagined it might leave spice lovers wanting a bit more heat.

The hefty burritos come in a large tortilla with cheese, refried beans, Mexican rice and a choice of more than a dozen options for filling. Among them are roasted summer squash, pork, beef, shrimp and tinga chicken.

Another friend got the stuffed chilaquiles, a variation of the traditional Mexican breakfast dish where the tortillas are stuffed with a filling before being smothered in your choice of salsa.

My dining companion ordered hers with the slow-braised beef birria and a mix of red and green salsa. We were impressed that the chilaquiles and tacos came with blue corn tortillas, which are popular in southern Mexican states like Oaxaca.

Mexican Pink’s build-your-own burrito includes a hefty serving of filling, like tinga chicken in a smoky chipotle sauce. (Lara Korte/Stars and Stripes)

But to my friend, some of the flavors in the chilaquiles were unfamiliar or lacking sazon, a seasoning blend often found in Latin American cooking.

That was the case with some other items, too. One friend, who hails from Cincinnati, remarked that her pork taco with mole was sweet and “cinnamon-y,” reminding her of Skyline chili, but she enjoyed it nonetheless.

For my main dish, I ordered three tacos, one each of the birria, al pastor and asada. They came on the same blue corn tortillas.

The tacos at Mexican Pink in Kaiserslautern, Germany, are prepared on blue corn tortillas with fresh garnishes of cilantro, lime and onion. Pictured here are tacos al pastor, birria and carne asada. (Lara Korte/Stars and Stripes)

The al pastor taco was my favorite: lightly charred, grilled pork balanced with sweet pineapple, finely diced onions and cilantro. The birria and the asada were both well-seasoned and tender with the same fresh toppings as the al pastor taco.

My only quibble was about the portions. By the end of the meal, the five of us had spent more than 150 euros combined, but we were all still a bit hungry.

Despite that, it was still a very pleasant Mexican dining experience. I’m looking forward to ordering from the food truck in the near future.

korte.lara@stripes.com @lara_korte

Mexican Pink in downtown Kaiserslautern offers a variety of tacos, burritos and cocktails with tequila or mezcal. (Lara Korte/Stars and Stripes)

Mexican Pink

Address: Parkstrasse 46, Kaiserslautern, Germany

Hours: Monday, 4-10 p.m.; Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Prices: 20-30 euros per person for a cocktail and entree.

Information: Phone: +49 1515 9895891; Instagram: @pinktacqueria