Cinco De Mayo 2022: 30 Food & Drinks Specials In Greater L.A.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA — Throughout Greater Los Angeles, Mexican food is practically a daily staple for locals.

And for those looking to toast Cinco de Mayo, with steals, deals and specials, there are ample opportunities at eateries around the region.

Cinco de Mayo this year falls on Thursday, May 5 — an annual celebration commemorating Mexico’s 1862 victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla.

Check our annual dining guide to see what some Mexican restaurants near you are offering. Or scroll through the photo slideshow at the top of this post to view the delectable dishes.

If you know other neighborhood places with Cinco-worthy offerings, share with Patch readers in the comments section.

Olé to the day!

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ACAPULCO: Celebrate with $3 tacos — chicken, steak or carnitas. Festive margaritas also will be served. Locations in Downey, Glendale & Long Beach.

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APPLEBEE’S: Toast the day with $5 springtime sip special – the “Rock & Berry Rita,” a strawberry margarita featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s ultra-premium Teremana Blanco Tequila. Info. Location finder here.

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BAR LOUIE: Cinco de Mayo specials include $3 off the limited-time Tostada Burger & $5 Cinco Ritas. The Tostada Burger features burger, mashed black beans, grilled jalapeños, cheddar, crispy tostada, guacamole, lettuce, pico de gallo & Hotter Than Hellion crema on brioche bun. Locations in Northridge Fashion Center & The Promenade at Downey.

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BUBBA GUMP SHRIMP CO.: It’s “Shrimp’n and Sip’n” time, with family-style dinners (Cajun & garlic peel ‘n’ eat shrimp, fried shrimp, coconut shrimp, tempura shrimp, garlic bread, corn, fries), Baja ceviche, Key Lime pie, plus jalapeno mango margaritas. Details. Find locales in Universal CityWalk, Long Beach & Santa Monica.

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CHRONIC TACOS: Participating locations are featuring all-day, May 5-only, Cinco de Mayo deal: $5.55 for 2 Taco Plates with drink purchase. Available in-store, online or via app. One per customer; price may vary by site. Excludes fish, shrimp, steak & Beyond Beef. Info here. And on Saturday, May 7 in Menifee, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 27559 Newport Road, new store’s grand opening to include meet-and-greet with Jackass legend Wee Man, free tacos to first 50 in line, plus 15% off pricing all day & more. (Details in flyer included in photo slideshow at top of this post.) Locations throughout Greater L.A.

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DEL TACO: A Cinco de Mayo, BOGO deal offered for rewards members. Buy one “Epic Burrito,” and get one free when ordering via app or at deltaco.com. Rewards members can choose from such “Epic” burrto options as Loaded Queso, Fresh Guacamole, Cali Bacon, Crispy Chicken & Guac or Beyond Fresh Guacamole. The deal is Thursday, May 5, for those with Del Yeah! Rewards registration. One offer per guest & not valid with other discounts, coupons or third-party delivery. And don’t miss latest “under $2 menu” & Poppers drinks back for a limited time in Purple Pear Lemonade Poppers & Purple Pear Sprite Poppers. Find nearest locale here throughout Los Angeles County.

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EL POLLO LOCO: The fire-grilled chicken chain teams up with Tapatío to ring in Cinco de Mayo. Diners on May 5 can score free, custom El Pollo Loco x Tapatío bottle with orders placed on restaurant app or website. (Offer is for digital orders only & not available ordering in restaurants.) Giveaways via El Pollo Loco Instagram to be given out every five minutes for five hours straight, beginning at 12 p.m. Also offered May 5: two premium tacos for $5. Register for Loco Rewards to participate. Locations listed here.

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EL TORITO: Specials usually reserved for Taco Tuesdays will be offered May 5, with $3 chicken, steak or carnitas tacos. Locations throughout Greater L.A..

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FUEGO AT HOTEL MAYA: The Mayan-themed resort’s restaurant is prepping for festive “Cinco de Maya,” with food & entertainment, featuring Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea, the official mariachi band of Disneyland. Cinco de Maya menu specialties to include fire-roasted salsa & tortilla chips, a taco cart with choice of cilantro jalapeno steak, tequila lime chicken, white fish & beef barbacoa, and Elotes Callejeros, roasted corn on the cob with mayo, Cotija cheese, Tajin spices & chili sauce. Cocktail offerings: margaritas; the “Spicy Paloma,” house-infused jalapeño Reposado tequila, grapefruit & lime juice; sangria by glass or pitcher; and Estrella drafts on tap. Reservations at 562-481-3910 or online here.Located on waterfront at 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach.

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HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT: A Cinco de Mayo celebration, with free entry, tunes, dancing & complimentary tacos from El Ruso and Topo Chico Hard Seltzers is planned poolside May 5, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m., hosted by Family Style and Off The Menu. Menu offers handmade flour tortilla tacos with choice of asada, chorizo, chicken or bean & cheese, plus condiments. Music provided by Andres Uribe, Bella Ferrada & Julissa Aaron. Entry free with RSVP before the event. (RSVP link to be posted on Family Style website.) At The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles.

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MAS VEGGIES: The vegan taqueria is hosting a Cinco de Mayo BOGO deal. Buy one burrito using code CINCO & get one free on May 5. Plant-based Mexican menu options include Chickin’ Tinga, Smokey Mushroom & Crispy Baja Fish. Offer is not valid through third-party delivery services & cannot be combined with other offers. Website here. Find locations in El Segundo, Hollywood, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Thousand Oaks, Toluca Lake, Torrance, West Hollywood, Woodland Hills & The Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles.

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ODYSSEY: The farm-to-table, San Fernando Valley restaurant offers a May 5 special from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., with three prime rib tacos for $8. Three seasonal cocktails on menu, too, including: watermelon-tequila “One in a Melon” with pink Himalayan salt; “Some Like it Hot” (mezcal, strawberries & habanero essence); & “Dave’s Margarita.” Reservations here. At 15600

Odyssey Drive, Granada Hills.

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PEI WEI ASIAN KITCHEN: Ideally timed for your Cinco fests, Mongolian Chicken Nachos, a creation from celebrity Chef Jet Tila, are back for $6.95 through May 8. The dish combines Pei Wei’s Mongolian sauce, crispy wonton chips, chicken, Sriracha mayo, cilantro & scallions. Links here for ordering. Locations in Valencia.

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PLAYA PROVISIONS: On the day before Cinco de Mayo — Wednesday, May 4 — the restaurant concept from “Top Chef” winner Chef Brooke Williamson, is bringing back its Flights & Bites tasting series, with May 4 event focusing on Codiga Tequila. At 6:30 p.m. at Grain Whiskey Bar, the “hidden gem speakeasy tucked away within Playa Provisions.” Four courses of bites will be paired with four different expressions of Codiga Tequila. $80 per person/21 & over. Seating limited to 30. Reservation link here. Location: 119 Culver Blvd., Playa Del Ray.

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QDOBA: The fast-casual, Mexican chain offers free, hand-crafted guac & signature three-cheese queso with every entrée — every day. So keep that in mind on Cinco de Mayo! There are catering options, too. Website. Find restaurants in Culver City, Downtown L.A. & Cal Poly in Pomona.

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RANDY’S DONUTS: It’s the return of the Cinco de Mango Donuts! Beginning May 1, the all shops will start selling its Mango Tajin Donut ($3.35) — a mango marmalade-filled, raised doughnut topped with mango and tajin-flavored icing. Called an “instant favotie” last year, the doughnut is available throughout May. Website & order links here. Locations: Downey; El Segundo; Inglewood; Pasadena; Santa Monica; Torrance.

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RUBIO’S: On Cinco de Mayo, take $15 off orders of $75+ using code LSM519 at checkout. Or hang on for National Shrimp Day fest, Monday & Tuesday, May 9-10, when all shrimp entrées are $6.99 with purchase of drink. Enter coupon code TASTY with order via app, online at Rubios.com, or scan the coupon here. Shrimp entrées include such faves as Chipotle Honey Argentinian Shrimp bowl, burrito or two-taco plate, grilled Red Argentinian Shrimp, Salsa Verde Shrimp two-taco plate, Shrimp & Bacon burrito, or Mexican Street Corn bowl with grilled shrimp. Location finder here.
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7-ELEVEN: Spice up your Cinco celebrations with the new, limited-time Mini Spicy Breakfast Empanadas, featuring sausage, egg, cheese, peppers & spices in flaky, buttery crust. Three empanadas & any-size coffee are $4 for 7Rewards members. Available at participating stores through May 24. Website here.

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SKYBAR AT MONDRIAN LOS ANGELES: Get your tequila fix on Cinco de Mayo, Thursday, May 5 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., at “Tequila in the Tropics with 818 Tequila” party. With music by DJ Tesser, taco cart, speciality cocktails, including the Matcha AF Margarita, & 818 merch. Open to the public. Info & rservations here. For table reservations, call: 323-848-6025. At 8440 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles.

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SOL MEXICAN COCINA: An exclusive Cinco de Mayo menu offered May 5 for dine-in only, 3 p.m. to close, along with live music. Among offerings: Naked Guacamole (avocado, cilantro, lime, onion, serrano chiles & tomato); Chorizo & Mushroom Con Queso (epazote, cheese, serrano & scallions); Taco Vampiro Asada (double tortilla stuffed with carne asada, cheese, serranos, scallions, guacamole, pico de gallo, chipotle sauce & cotixa); Taco Plates with two sides — black beans, red rice, quinoa salad or spicy slaw. Location in Playa Vista.

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SOLITA TACOS: To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a limited, dine-in only menu will be served 3 p.m. to close, with such dishes as: Ceviche Tropicale (raw fish, lime, serrano chiles, cucumber, tropical fruit, salsa fresca & avocado); Spicy Shrimp Taco (shrimp marinated in sriracha & garlic, guacamole, salsa verde, mango salsa & lettuce); Street Taco Plates with two sides —rice, slaw, Yucatán-style refried black beans or spicy charro beans. Live music, too. Location in Valencia.

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TALLULA’S: Cinco de Mayo festivities run 4 p.m.-9 p.m. May 5, with mariachi band, a “Margarita Garden,” plus such dishes as Nachos Sencillo, chicken tinga tostadas, shrimp cocktail and margarita pitchers. Reservations via Resy for main dining room, while walk-ins can get food & drink in “Felix’s Bar,” featuring “Margarita Garden” (aka, the outdoor patio) taco cart & satellite bar. Website. At 118 Entrada Drive, Santa Monica.

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THE BAMBOO CLUB: Get ready for a Mexi-Tiki-style Cinco de Mayo fiesta May 5, with a lineup of creative agave-tiki cocktails & Mexi-Tiki fusion lunch & dinner menus. Bookings here. At 3522 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach.

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THE PIE HOLE: Mexican Chocolate lovers can enjoy the bake shop’s Mexican Chocolate Pie, by the slice ($7.50), whole pie ($45) or “Pie Pint” (pint jar filled with classic ice-cream flavors, house made crumble & Mexican chocolate ganache, $15). Pies & pie pints available at all locations for in-store & online ordering, or nationwide delivery available via Goldbelly. Locations: Arts District L.A.; Hollywood; Pasadena; plus Gelson’s in Santa Monica.

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THE PROUD BIRD: The LAX/Inglewood-area food bazaar will host a Cinco de Mayo evening featuring Elote Tacos & a Surprise 3 Taco Trio. At the venue’s Mile High Bar, sip on such seasonal cocktails as watermelon-inspired “One in a Melon,” with tequila & pink Himalayan salt, “Some Like it Hot,” with mezcal, strawberries & habañero essence & Dave’s Margarita (Milagro Reposado, Grand Marnier, Cointreau & lime). Website. Located at 11022 Aviation Blvd., Los Angeles.

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TOCA MADERA: The WeHo-area restaurant could be your Cinco de Mayo destination, with such Mexican cuisine as Sea Bass Ensenada, chicken tinga, carne asada & A La Roca, a signature entrée served over lava stones & accompanied by onion & poblano peppers, pico de gallo, tortillas, rice & beans. Or order Omakase, a custom-dining experience highlighting regions of Mexico. Dessert menu reinvents the churro into the Cinnamon Chipotle Churro Donut & Churro Vanilla Bean Cheesecake. Website & reservations here. At 8450 West 3rd St., Los Angeles.

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TOCAYA MODERN MEXICAN: Cinco De Mayo 2022 offers feature $5 margaritas, $3 bottled beers, and $7 Casamigos Blanco margaritas for dine-in guests only. Find locations in Beverly Center LA, Century City, DTLA, El Segundo, Hollywood, Long Beach, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Studio City, Toluca Lake, Venice, West Hollywood & Westwood.

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TREJO’S TACOS: It’s a Cinco de Mayo party May 5 as with one-day only special:
For $2, diners can turn any tacos on the menu into a ‘Machete-Style’ taco, featuring burnt cheese-crusted tortillas & avocado slices. Also on the menu (at Hollywood cantina only): Strawberry Fantasy Jalapeno Margarita ($13) with strawberry Fanta soda, jalapeño, tequila blanco & lime. Locations on South Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica and at Original Farmers Market on West 3rd Street in L.A.

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WABA GRILL: A May deal — including Cinco de Mayo — offers every entrée purchase can be topped with free “Half-Ocado,” the “true half of a beautiful, thick, perfectly ripe avocado,” company says. Offer available all month long via WaBa Rewards App or WaBa Grill’s website, in-store or through delivery partners. Details. Find locations throughout Greater L.A.

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WHISKEY RED’S: From 3 p.m. to close Thursday, May 5, diners can snag $6 steak & chicken tacos, or try seafood tacos & Manhattan clam chowder consummé. $6 cocktails to include Camarena Margaritas, Camerena Palomas, Modelo Micheladas & a “Mexican Lollipop” shot (tequila, watermelon juice, lime juice, tabasco & tajin rim). Games, raffles & DJ also planned. Website & reservations here. Located at 13813 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey.

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ALSO SEE: The ‘Guactail’ Cocktail: Toast Cinco De Mayo With, Wait … Guac-What?

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FOR UPCOMING MOTHER’S DAY DINING IDEAS: Mother’s Day Brunch & Dinner 2022: Greater L.A. Restaurant Specials