As Cinco de Mayo approaches, San Antonio restaurants and bars are gearing up to celebrate with a variety of enticing deals and specials. This year, the festive holiday falls on Monday, May 5, 2025, and local establishments are eager to offer patrons a taste of Mexican culture alongside their favorite food and drinks.
Anaqua Garden Bar, located at the Plaza San Antonio Hotel and Spa at 555 S. Alamo St., will be serving $8 margaritas all day long on May 5. Chili's is also joining the celebration with a $5 Tequila Trifecta, which includes El Jimador Silver, 1800 Reposado, and Jose Cuervo Gold, mixed with Triple Sec and house-made sour.
Chuy's, a popular Tex-Mex chain, will have its Regular House 'Rita available for $6 and the Grande House 'Rita for $9, but only while supplies last on May 5. To sweeten the deal, guests can enjoy $1 extra pours all day long and savor Chips 'N' Dips for just $5.
El Pollo Loco is also getting in on the Cinco de Mayo fun by offering five Tacos al Carbon for the price of two. Additionally, Loco Rewards members who place an order through the app will receive a complimentary bottle of Tapatío Hot Sauce.
Fish City Grill is featuring Peruvian Cobia Tacos paired with a Gold Margarita for $19 at all four of its San Antonio-area locations. Meanwhile, La Panadería is celebrating with a lineup of Tequila-infused dishes, including Tequila Butter Steak and Eggs, Tequila Almond Croissant, Tequila Tres Leches Croissant, and Tequila French Toast, along with various tequila-based cocktails.
Las Palapas will offer multiple deals at all locations throughout the day on Cinco de Mayo. For just $5 each, guests can enjoy chips with an 8-ounce queso or a full order of bean and cheese nachos. There will also be $5 10-ounce margaritas available, and anyone wearing a Las Palapas Fiesta medal can receive $5 off any purchase over $25.
Taco Cabana is running happy hour specials from 3-6 p.m. on May 5, featuring $2 margaritas, $2 domestic beers, and 50% off a three-pack of flautas, small cheese quesadillas, and bean and cheese nachos. Torchy's Tacos is waiving delivery fees for Cinco de Mayo, applicable at participating locations for in-store orders, online orders through the Torchy's app, or via the restaurant's website.
For pizza lovers, Via 313 is introducing a new Elote Pizza, topped with roasted corn, bacon, cilantro lime ranch, cotija cheese, and cilantro, available from May 5 through July 6. Guests can also enjoy $5 margaritas at the restaurant all day on May 5.
In San Jose, thousands gathered for the second annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration on Sunday, May 4, 2025. King Road was transformed into a vibrant parade route, drawing in crowds eager to enjoy the festivities. "I like the cars, the dancers, and the music, everything is beautiful," said attendee Cassey. "It shows what the community is all about, coming together and putting on a great show."
The celebration kicked off near the Mexican Heritage Plaza, featuring lively dancing, music, floats, and hundreds of low riders. Councilmember Peter Ortiz emphasized the cultural significance of the event, stating, "There is going to be a car show, something that this is only the second time in the city of San Jose’s history of doing, and then inside Emma Prusch Park, we’re going to have beautiful performances."
Local David Polanco, president of the United Low Rider Council of San Jose, noted that the interest was so high that some participants had to be placed on a waitlist. "We have 350 cars that registered, and we put that registration out about an hour and a half and it sold out, and we had about 90 people on the waitlist," he said.
Meanwhile, in Bay County, Florida, Cinco de Mayo is set to be celebrated with a plethora of events on Monday, May 5, 2025. Diego's Burrito Factory will kick off the festivities early, with music starting on Sunday, May 4, and continuing through Monday. The restaurant promises margaritas all day and DJs at each of its three locations.
Senor Frog's will also be celebrating with specials and music throughout the day on May 5. AutentiKa Mexican Grille will host a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at 11 a.m., featuring 2 for $5 tacos and $5 margaritas. El Jalisco Panama City will open its doors at 11 a.m. for more Cinco de Mayo fun.
St. Andy's Sports Pub will offer drink specials starting at 4 p.m., along with street tacos for $10 and chips & guac for $5. For those looking for something unique, the Dinko de Mayo Pickleball Social & Sombrero Challenge will take place from 6-9 p.m., featuring food trucks and a fun challenge at Papa Joe's Pickleball.
El Rodeo Tequila Bar & Grill will host live music and drink specials all weekend, while Los Locals Baja Grill & Cantina will feature live music as part of its Cinco de Mayo celebration. The Feisty Fiesta After Party at Neons Beach Shack promises $5 food and drink specials all day long.
In Milwaukee, the Cinco de Mayo Outdoor Market transformed Cesar Chavez Drive into a festive family-friendly festival on Sunday, May 4, 2025. The street was closed to traffic from West Greenfield Avenue to West Mineral Street, allowing roughly 3,000 attendees to enjoy the festivities without concern for passing vehicles.
Organizers emphasized safety measures this year, with local police in attendance. Sinai Mendoza, executive director of the Cesar Chavez Business Improvement District, noted, "In the last couple of years, we had incidents in the neighborhood, like reckless driving. This came out as an initiative to emphasize something fun, more inclusive for families and children."
Linda Serna, a teaching artist, expressed joy at the community's turnout, saying, "It makes my heart so happy to see so many people in attendance. In the U.S., we're a marginalized community. We have to hold onto any dates and take up space — and that's what we're doing today. Taking up space in the community."
With celebrations across the nation, from San Antonio to San Jose, Bay County, and Milwaukee, Cinco de Mayo 2025 promises to be a vibrant showcase of Mexican culture, food, and community spirit.
