10 Ways to Fiesta this Cinco de Mayo

10 Ways to Fiesta this Cinco de Mayo

Tierra del Fuego (photo by Jenn Duncan)

Last year's Cinco de Mayo fiesta was sidelined by Covid — but there seems to be plenty to celebrate in 2021. Raise a marg to Tex-Mex, vaccines — and the Houston Food Bank! — at these tequila-happy festivities on Wednesday. ¡Salud!

Nachos at The Annie

FOR A PRIMO PATIO PARTY Once these storms blow on through, it should be great patio weather — and what better occasion than Cinco de Mayo to post up somewhere al fresco with a marg? The Annie is hosting a patio party on Wednesday from 4-6pm, with Mexican hors d'oeuvres and beer, and cocktails featuring Houstonian-backed brand Veneno Tequila. Tickets are $75 a pop — but "surprise entertainment" is promised.

Meanwhile in Montrose, Candente has debuted its renovated 4,000-square-foot patio, where a Cinco de Mayo fiesta will take place on Wednesday from 5-6:30pm. Set to the sounds of a mariachi band, the party features the full barbecue-infused Tex-Mex menu (plus special street tacos!) and $3 off margaritas from 3-6pm.

Lalo Tequila

TO SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE Don Julio's grandson just launched Lalo, a new blanco tequila, and also announced a partnership with Hugo Ortega's restaurants to raise money for the Houston Food Bank on Cinco de Mayo. For every Lalo cocktail sold on Wednesday, $1 will go to the Food Bank.

Those who wish to fiesta at Ortega's Caracol, Xochi or Hugo's can enjoy a special agave-cocktail-pairing menu. The restaurants will also offer take-out kits for two — with chips and guac, campechana, a pound of meat (carnitas, carne brava or pollo pibil) with corn tortillas; tres leches, and a pint of Hugoritas, all for $85!

The Year of Living Dangerously (photo by Jenn Duncan)

FOR A HIP HAPPY HOUR Just want a low-key way to toast the holiday? Snag a Mexican-inspired cocktail for just $8 at Traveler's Table on Wednesday. The charred-pineapple-topped Happy Wife, Happy Life has tequila, triple sec, tepache and pineapple juice; the spicy Tierra del Fuego is made with mescal, Ancho Reyes, Oaxacan old fashioned syrup and habanero. And the refreshingly simple La Revolución is mescal, soda water, simple syrup, lime juice and muddled mint.

FOR A STEAL! Take the fiesta home with Tacodeli's family packs! For $40, choose a meat (Fundido sirloin, chicken or shrimp) and also get black beans, rice, 10 tortillas and chips and salsa.

And at Taco Cabana, which newly boasts an impressive 12 flavors of margaritas — including the La Bandera, layered with lime, strawberry, mango and blue Curacao, for just $3 on Wednesday — score a half-order of Kickin' Nachos and a dozen chicken flautas for $20.

FOR LIVE MUSIC AND MORE Longtime Tex-Mex institution Cadillac Bar hosts its annual Cinco de Mayo party on Wednesday from 4-10pm. There will be a taco stand, live DJ and mariachi band, and buckets of beer. And the limited-time Jefe Grande Margarita with Espolón Silver Tequila is reason alone to hit this fiesta!


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