While the list of best food and alcoholic drink combos includes margaritas and Mexican food, margaritas at most Mexican eateries don't provide enough bang for your buck.

As chef Firoz Thanawalla told Insider, he avoids margaritas because they're "basically a glass full of sugars with some alcohol" that curbs your appetite before the meal comes.

You can also buy an entire liter of margarita mix for less than what an average restaurant margarita would cost. Plus, plenty of other drinks pair well with Mexican cuisine.

For example, the Paloma, a bubbly, effervescent drink containing tequila, seltzer, grapefruit juice, lime, and salt, has the same sour and sweet taste you get from a margarita.

For a spicy margarita alternative, go for the Michelada — a cocktail somewhat similar to Bloody Mary. The drink is a mix of tomato and clam juice paired with a light Mexican beer.