Cinco de Mayo is May 5 and being less than 20 miles fromTijuana, San Diego is a natural place for gringos and others to party on that festive day.
It’s a time of music, margaritas (and other tequila libations along with cervezas), big sombreros and happy smiles everywhere. That’s what happens when you drink tequila. With that in mind, here’s a rundown of bars and restaurants throughout San Diego that are offering food and drink specials for Cinco de Mayo. By the way, May 5 is not Mexican Independence Day. That’s Sept. 16. To find out why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated, click the link in this sentence.
East Village & Gaslamp Quarter Cinco de Mayo Bars
Hasta Manana, a Mexican cantina and restaurant, has $10 patron margaritas all night, spiced by by a mariachi band playing from 5-7. Hearing that music will certainly get you in the Cinco de Mayo mood.
The most interesting Cinco drink is at barleymash. It is the Mexican Firing Squad (double shot of tequila, lime juice and grenadne $13), which was discovered by historia Charles H. Baker at the La Cucaracha Cocktail Club (that translates into The Cockroach, by the way, tho it was actually a nice place) in Mexico City the mid-1930s. There are also specials on the Agua Caliente ($13), Puebla Colada ($14), Cazadores shots ($8), plus giveaways and Cazadores swag. For food there’s the Enchilada Flatbread ($19) with michelada chicken, red chili Colorado, three cheese blend, roasted corn, cilantro, queso fresco, and chili-lime crema or the Holy Mole ($19) with turkey mole empanadas, queso fresco, pickled onions, and poblano-avocado crema.
A block away, El Chingon is having a block party on Tres de Mayo with a lucha libre match, a form of professional wrestling that orginated in Mexico. Then, Mexican superstar boxer Canelo Álvarez takes on William Scull, which will be streamed live on El Chingon’s big screens. On Cuatro de May, a face painter will be doing Star Wars and Cinco-themed faces.
Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktails is shaking things up with a festive lineup of margaritas including classic, blood orange, raspberry and spicy pineapple, all $18.
Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine has $10 margaritas and chocolate skull dessert made with a rich choco-flan, cinnamon whipped cream, roasted strawberries and a strawberry sauce, priced at $18. It is open 5-10 p.m.
Ocean Beach Cinco de Mayo
City Tacos is celebrating Cinco de Mayo and its 11th anniversary with a taco eating competition on Sunday, May 4 at its sprawling Ocean Beach location OB Playground. The competition begins at Noon, and CBS8 morning news anchor Neda Iranpour is serving as the emcee. Eleven competitors (predetermined from a registration process) will have 11 minutes to eat as many tacos as possible, and the winner will receive a taco trophy and a golden ticket for a free tacos-and-drink combo meal once a month for one year. A speical for spectators is any two tacos and a bottled beer for $11.
La Mesa Village Cinco de Mayo
Casa Gabriela in La Mesa Village is normally closed on Mondays but with Cinco de Mayo falling on a Monday this year, Chef Gaby and her team will be open at 3:30 p.m. It will have $5 Margaritas de la Casa and $6 Del Maguey Mezcal Margaritas all day. Also, from 4-6, there are complimentary tastings of Código Tequila and Del Maguey Mezcal.
Mission Beach Cinco de Mayo
Mission Beach’s Sandbar will be featuring 10 Teremana, $40 Teremana Pitchers, $6 Estrella Jalisco, and $5 Mexican Candy shots all day, along with its Sandbar Birria Crunch for $12. The Birria Crunch is the beach bar’s version of the famous Crunchwrap supreme, and is comprised of beans, soyrizo queso, tostada, birria, salsa Fresca, mixed cheese, chicharrones, lettuce, and sour cream, all layered in a large flour tortilla with a side of house made pickled onion and serrano.
Oceanside Cinco de Mayo
Recently opened for Summer on Mondays atop The Brick Hotel, Cococabana is celebrating “Cinco De Drinko” with $5 Los Sundays seltzers, $10 Mexican Lagers with a shot of tequila, and $8 frozen margaritas.
Encinitas Cinco de Mayo Bars
You wouldn’t think a sushi restaurant would be a place to go for Cinco de Mayo, but think again. emaki Bar: Handroll, Sushi, Sake ib Encinitas is having a Cinco de Bingo. party. Goig from 6-8 p.m., it has prizes and wine, draft beer and sake for $5.
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