User's Guide

Where to Eat and Drink For Cinco De Mayo

Tacos for Cinco De Mayo
Tacos for Cinco De Mayo Photo: Meg Zimbeck via Flickr

Let’s face it, in this town there’s little difference between Cinco De Mayo and St. Patrick’s Day. Both holidays draw some of the most ill-behaved revelers this side of the Mummers parade, and inspires them to over-indulge until they’re puking in their sombreros. We totally understand if you would rather stay home than bear witness to the drunken masses making their way from one tequila shooter to the next on Saturday, but we hope you’ll stand your ground, just like our brave Mexican neighbors to south did at the Battle of Puebla. And if you’re up for it, we’ve compiled a short list of some of the more civilized Cinco De Mayo celebrations happening. Keep reading to see what’s going on.

El Vez is getting things started early with a block party that kicks off at noon. In addition to mucho margaritas, Starr’s Midtown Village Mexican number will have live music, DJs, street vendors, dancing, and of course, food all day and all night.

La Calaca Feliz, will focus its celebrations on food with a whole roasted pig. Platters served will include pig, tortillas, refried beans and taco fixin’s. The restaurant will also offer tequila flights and signature margaritas.

Cantina Los Caballitos
and Cantina Dos Segundos are both bringing back their watermelon margaritas and white sangria in honor of the holiday. They will also add Mexican hot dogs, tamarind barbecue-glazed Costillitas, and crispy empanadas to the menu for the day. In addition to specials, both Cantinas will also serve their regular brunch and all-day menus.

Distrito will kick off celebrations at 11 a.m. with brunch. Throughout the day, Jose Garces’ University City Mexican joint will offer Cinco de Mayo margaritas for $5, plus food specials that include housemade guacamole; Esquites, sweet corn with queso fresco and chipotle mayo; nachos with black beans, tomato, queso mixto, jalapeno, chile de arbol; grilled steak and chicken alambres; and a variety of tacos priced between $5 and $7. Distrito’s a la carte menu will also be available all day and night.

Interstate Draft House’s
chef Jen Zavala is celebrating both her birthday and Cinco De Mayo with a pig roast. The 100 lb. porker will be the source of countless tacos, which the onetime Top Chef contender will be serving with assorted housemade pickles, barbecue sauce, and corn on the cob with orange and ancho mayonnaise. Drink specials include $3 draft beers, $4 margaritas and $5 boilermakers.

Loco Pez kicks off its weekend happy hour early at 3 p.m.

McGillin’s will host Irish Cinco De Mayo with specials on beers and margaritas, as well as Mexi-Irish dishes like the cheesesteak-gone-loco Irish chimachanga; Corona-battered fish and chips; drunken chicken; and Burger con Queso.

Where to Eat and Drink For Cinco De Mayo