Call Your Crew and Head to These Fun Taco Spots on May 5
Reflective of the fun-loving country it commemorates, Cinco de Mayo is a holiday filled with margaritas, Mexican cuisine and mucho fun. If you can’t make it down to Baja itself, San Diego is full of authentic Mexican cuisine, so it’s hard to beat when it comes to Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Cinco de Mayo San Diego
Marking the day Mexico took victory over France at the Battle of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is a great way to appreciate the culture and history of our near and neighboring country—of which we’ve adopted much of here in the states. We’d be nothing without our beloved Taco Tuesdays!
Urbana Mexican Gastronomy & Mixology
Must-Try: Three Taco Plate
Find a culturally immersive experience this Cinco De Mayo at Urbana Mexican Gastronomy & Mixology, which is lined with beautiful Dia de Los Muertos themed art. Speaking of art—have you seen the plates? Serving up farm-fresh plates of tacos filled with everything from shrimp to al pastor, we have a feeling you’ll have a hard time deciding. Opt for the three taco plate for the most variety; you might end up with a favorite for next time!
Location: Del Mar
Cinco de Mayo San Diego
Casero Taqueria
Must-Try: Chicken Milanesa Torta
Dedicated to delicious food, Carlsbad’s Casero Taqueria prides itself on being authentically homemade, carefully crafting everything in-house—from their flour tortillas to their salsas and guacamole. Enjoy the open-air patio lined with desert-inspired colors and surrounded by views of the beautiful Carillo Canyon. Take it in and chow down on the flavorful Chicken Milanesa Torta, a traditionally breaded chicken thigh topped with pickled jalapeños and onions, cilantro slaw and chipotle crema on a fresh-baked bolillo.
Location: Carlsbad
5/14
Casa de Reyes
Must-Try: La Niña Fresa
Feel at home at Casa de Reyes, Old Town’s heart of the fiesta. It’s impossible not to feel the upbeat vibe immediately with daily entertainment and the cantina ambience. That’s just the beginning—keep the fiesta going and order a delicious La Nina Fresa, made with 100% blue agave Milagro Tequila and delicious watermelon puree. Follow that up with their delicious traditional Mexican fare, and you’ve got yourself an evening!
Location: Old Town
Pacific Coast Grill
Must-Try: The Perfecto
Appropriately named, enjoy the perfect view of the Pacific Ocean at Pacific Coastal Grill this Cinco de Mayo! This beautiful Cardiff restaurant has its sights set on seafood with a bit of a Mexican twist, offering everything from premium sushi rolls to traditional enchiladas. Torn between options? Think it over and order The Perfecto, which is their classic Cadillac Margarita made with premium, ultra-crisp Milagro Silver Tequila. You’ll have your mind made up in no time.
Location: Cardiff
Cinco de Mayo San Diego
Old Town Mexican Café
Must-Try: Carnitas Plate
Home of award-winning Mexican food and famous handmade tortillas, there’s hardly a better place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than Old Town Mexican Café. We recommend the carnitas plate—join the hundreds of happy faces that have turned this into a house specialty. You even get a say in the style of carnitas: choose among shredded, crispy or chunky. Stay a while and see for yourself why they’ve thrived in Old Town for over 35 years.
Location: Old Town
Tahona Bar
Must-Try: The Oaxacan Experience (Flight of Mezcal)
Enjoy a taste of tradition at Tahona Bar, the first Mezcal tasting room in San Diego. Founded with the goal of educating patrons on the beautiful complexity of Mexican culture, Tahona Bar is home to over 140 varieties of Mezcal. See what they’re all about by ordering The Oaxacan Experience, a flight of three different Mezcals that will pair perfectly with your pollo or any other delicious menu item of your choosing.
Location: Old Town
Cinco de Mayo San Diego
La Puerta
Must-Try: Dance Yourself Clean
Embodying Cinco de Mayo through their mantra of “tacos, tunes and tequila,” La Puerta holds its door wide open for all Mexican food enthusiasts. Their Sinaola-inspired menu uses only fresh, non-artificial ingredients for a maximally enjoyable flavor experience. Do yourself a favor and order the Dance Yourself Clean—a drink filled with flavors of tangy citrus paired with cinnamon and Mezcal for a Cinco concoction you won’t regret.
Locations: Downtown, Mission Hills
Lola 55
Must-Try: Cauliflower Taco
Tap into tacos at Lola 55 with a menu focused on the beloved tortilla-wrapped items themselves. Enjoy fresh ingredients presented in unique ways at this chef-driven restaurant that puts a high-end twist on the casual grab-and-go taco joint. Lola 55 features a wide variety of vegan tacos; try the rainbow cauliflower taco for a colorful, creative blend of charred cauliflower, eggplant bacon, avocado mousse, almonds and dulce salsa.
Location: Downtown
Cinco de Mayo San Diego
Cocina de Barrio
Must-Try: Popsicle Margarita
Find the flavors of Oaxaca during brunch, dinner and happy hour at this modern-meets-traditional restaurant and mezcal bar. Order the signature Popsicle Margarita; this one speaks for itself—a simple-yet-delectable concoction of tequila blanco, agave, fresh lime juice and an ice pop (you choose the flavor) placed perfectly upside-down in the glass. Nothing has ever sounded quite as refreshing on a warm spring day in San Diego
Locations: Hillcrest, Point Loma
Jaclyn is a sunshine chasing San Diego native with an extensive writing background. When she isn’t word-smithing, you can find her playing beach volleyball, skating the boardwalk, or on a rooftop enjoying a drink in the sunshine with her pals.
