Cinco de Mayo doesn’t enjoy national holiday status in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean May 5 doesn’t warrant skipping out of work early for a festive drink or two. There are even some Mexican-style weekend deals, so waiting for “cinco” to celebrate isn’t necessary. Here are the best spots to get your discounted burritos, margaritas, and Coronas in the name of Mexican victory.
777 I St. NW
Taco Bamba is hosting a taco celebration Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at its sister restaurant, Del Campo. The $30 “Bamba Bowl” ticket includes food and drinks from area Mexican restaurants, including Mexicana Bakery, Oyamel, Casa Oaxaca, and Taco Bamba. Guests will vote to see who has the best tacos. Partial proceeds benefit La Cocina. Buy tickets here.
1443 P St. NW
The Logan Circle restaurant will offer a $30 five-course dinner tasting menu for 25 people on Monday at 7 p.m. The Mexican fare includes barbacoa flauta and shrimp ceviche, and the produce is locally sourced from EatWell DC’s EatWell Natural Farm. Guests can fork over $10 more to get six cocktail pairings, including Sauza tequila, mezcal, and Negra Modelo. For those who don’t opt for the special, the rest of the restaurant will serve Mexican street food-themed specials and offer margarita specials.
3313 11th St. NW
Although Cinco de Mayo falls on an unfortunate weekday, it’s not stopping El Chucho from serving brunch on the holiday. Breakfast burritos will be available beginning at 11:30 a.m., and drink specials will be offered throughout the day, including on-tap margaritas for $4.50, frozen margaritas for $5.50, and Tecate tallboys for $3.
Multiple locations
From Thursday to Monday, Rosa Mexicano offers a $35 prix-fixe menu including dishes like pan-roasted mahi mahi, salmon poblano, and churros with three dipping sauces. The restaurant also features a traditional margarita pitcher, margarita francesca, and fresca picante as drink specials.
600 14th St. NW
The restaurant is offering $3 Dos Equis and Tecate beer, $4 house margaritas, $5 tacos, and $6 shots of El Jimador Blanco Tequila. A team of D.C. mixologists, including JP Caceres, will be guest bartenders for the night, with each featuring his or her own special cocktail in celebration of Cinco de Mayo for $6. Caceras has created a Mexican Manhattan for the celebration, with Fidencio Joven Mezcal, Dolin Sweet Vermouth, Ancho Reyes liqueur, Mexican fernet, and Xocolate mole bitters. All specials will be offered from 3 p.m. until closing.
919 U St. NW
The new Mexican beer garden is serving a five-pork taco, featuring a woven bacon taco shell, pork loin, al pastor, carnitas, and pork fat mayo for $5. The special taco will only be available on Cinco de Mayo.
1819 14th St. NW; 1218 Wisconsin Ave. NW
The 14th Street NW and Georgetown El Centrolocations will serve $5 margaritas (classic, strawberry, or mango) starting at 3 p.m. From 5 to 11 p.m., the restaurants will also offer a $10 buffet of Mexican comfort fare with dishes like mini chorizo empanadas and chicken tinga flautas.
1825 14th St. NW
Starting at 3 p.m. Monday, the Latin-Asian fusion restaurant will serve $5 small plates and $5 margaritas. Small plates include mini brisket tacos, octopus ceviche tostadas, and al pastor tacos.
781 7th St. NW
In addition to $5 margaritas, the Chinatown restaurant will serve complimentary chips and salsa and hors d’oeuvres in the lower level lounge. DJs will play from 7 p.m. to close.
3101 K St. NW
The Georgetown restaurant will offer a variety of Cinco de Mayo drink specials on May 4 and 5. Specials include $7 tequila cocktails, frozen margaritas, and daiquiris, as well as $6 margaritas and mojitos.
1624 U St. NW
The lounge is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with $4 Dos Equis beers, $5 peach margaritas and tequila shots, $6 El Diablo’s, $7 frozen margaritas, and $20 buckets of Corona.
701 14th St. NW
The restaurant will offer Mexican street fare from 3 p.m. until close on Monday, including crab-stuffed jalapeno poppers, tacos con carnitas, and mole glazed pork ribs. It’s also offering $5 house margaritas.
Multiple locations
Tortilla Coast celebrates Cinco de Mayo at both of its locations with $3 Dos Equis drafts on Friday, $3 Tecate bottles on Saturday, and $10 Coronaritas on Sunday. And for each Corona purchased on Monday, patrons will be entered to win a Corona Beach Cruiser.
2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, Va.
Fuego is offering a small plates menu Sunday and Monday, as well as an all-day happy hour with special margaritas. Dishes include the huitlacoche enchilada, made with a fungus that grows naturally on corn kernels, and alambre, a grilled meat dish topped with spicy chorizo, grilled peppers, onions, and Oaxaca cheese.
707 6th St. NW
Industry Takeover Night comes back to Graffiato for Cinco de Mayo. Louisville’s Anthony Lamas of Seviche, Boston’s Michael Schlow of Tico and Philadelphia’s TJ Torres will serve complimentary late-night snacks at the first-floor pizza bar. Ari and Micah Wilder of Red Light will offer up cocktails, and the bar will have drink specials. There’s a $10 cash-only cover charge at the door, and 50 percent will be donated to La Cocina VA.
2007 18th St. NW
The saloon celebrates DC Brau and Flying Dog tonight to kick off its “Savor Week,” and will serve happy hour-priced Mexican-inspired fare. The breweries will each showcase 10 of their beers, and guests can score $5 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Additional reporting by Raphaella Baek.