Cinco de Mayo is on Saturday, which means muchos Mexican-themed, cerveza-fueled fiestas will be held across Long Island to celebrate the national holiday for America’s allies south of the border.
Thankfully, there is no shortage of Mexican restaurants to choose from on LI. We love Green Cactus Grill and the region’s many Mexican mom and pop eateries, but Cinco de Mayo calls for an authentic cantina or tequila bar—and not a chain like Chili’s.
Here’s more than three dozen independent local Mexican bars that will make great place for a Cinco de Mayo fiesta this Saturday:
5 De Mayo Mexican Restaurant
It’s always Cinco De Mayo at this place! 611 Old Country Rd., Westbury. 5demayomexican.com
Agave Grill and Cantina
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at one of the few waterfront Mexican spots on LI. 110 Front St, Greenport. agavegrillandcantina.net
Azulejos Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar
The tequila will be flowing at this joint. 368 E Main St., Smithtown. azulejoscuisine.org
Besito Mexican Restaunt
Complimentary tequila tasting featuring Patrón Tequila 2-5 p.m., enter the raffle to win $500 and have fun all night. Locations in Huntington, Roslyn and West Islip. besitomexican.com
Bubba’s Burrito Bar
Technically, they don’t have a bar yet, but they say they will once they complete their planned expansion. 513 Main St., Islip. bubbasburritobar.com
The Cabana
Live music, $4 Tecate cans, $5 Dos Equis pints. 1034 W Beech St., Long Beach. facebook.com/Cabana-Mexican-American-Restaurant
Cabo Mexican Restaurant
The spiciest Mexican place in downtown RVC. 3A N Park Ave., Rockville Centre. caborvc.net
Casa Vieja
One of the most authentic Latin American places around. 1768 Brentwood Rd., Brentwood. facebook.com/pg/Casa-Vieja-Restaurant
Caracara Mexican Grill
It’s going to be an extra special happy hour this Friday! 354 Main St., Farmingdale. caracaramex.com
Chichimecas
This traditional Mexican restaurant and bar will have live music. 169 Main St., Farmingdale. chichimecasrestaurant.com
Chimichanga Mexican Grill
Half price drinks 4-6 p.m. 600 Portion Rd., Lake Ronkonkoma. chimichangamexicangrill.com
Cozymel’s Mexican Grill
OK, this may be a national chain, but there’s only three total. 1177 Corporate Dr., Westbury. cozymels.com
Del Fuego
This place is fire, as the kids say. Saint James, Patchogue and Babylon. delfuegorestaurant.com
Don Juans
Sombrero Fiesta with $3 beers, $4 Mexican craft beers, 1/2 price apps at bar 5-7 p.m., giveaways and prizes. 4899 Merrick Rd., Massapequa Park. donjuanny.com
Don Ricardo’s Restaurant
The lone Mexican joint among downtown Babylon’s many bars does not disappoint. 94 E. Main St., Babylon. donricardos.com
El Coyote Loco
Good food, fun times, great for Cinco de Mayo. 3545 Merrick Rd., Seaford. elcoyoteloco.net
Escorza’s Mexican Restaurant
The fiesta will include drink specials. 2715 Hempstead Tpke., Levittown. facebook.com/escorzasmexicanrestaurant
Fax Chix
This Portuguese-Mexican place will do Cinco de Mayo with a twist. 868 Horseblock Rd., Farmingville. faxchixrestaurant.com
The Hideaway
This seasonal seaside Mexican eatery reopens just in time for Cinco de Mayo. 364 West Lake Dr., Montauk. thehideawaymontauk.com
K Pacho
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with some of their 60 varieties of tequila. 1270 Union Tpke., New Hyde Park. kpacho.com
La Panchita
Restaurant by day, nightclub after dark. 67 West Main St., Smithtown. lapanchitagrill.com
Luchartos Taqueria & Tequila Bar
Extra special happy hour this Friday. 119 Main St., Greenport. lucharitos.com
Mangoes Mexican Bar & Grill
Half price drinks, half price apps 4-7 p.m. 401 Central Ave., Hicksville. mangosmexican.com
Margarita’s Café
Can you guess what type of beverages this local chain is known for?
East Meadow, Hicksville, Merrick, Smithtown and Wantagh. margaritascafe.com
Margarita Grille
Ain’t no Cinco de Mayor fiesta like a Hamptons Cinco de Mayo fiesta! 83 Main St., Westhampton Beach. themargaritagrille.com
Maria’s
Live music, giveaways and authentic food. 211 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset. marias211.com
Mercado Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar
$3 coronas, $6 Margaritas 10 p.m.-midnight. 1970 Montauk Hwy., Bridgehampton. mercadony.com
Mesita
It may be Friday, but this Mexican restaurant will be running its Taco Tuesday menu plus $5 classic margaritas and DJs. 212B Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre. mesitarvc.com
Mojito Cafe & Lounge
This trendy spot is built for fiestas. 109D Main St., Port Washington. facebook.com/pages/Mojito-Cafe-Lounge
Pancho’s Cantina
Celebrate with their menu of more than a dozen margaritas. 4245 Autin Blvd., Island Park. panchoscantina.com
Pancho Villa
This place has been having pre-Cinco de Mayo parties, so you the day of will be a big deal here. 311 New York Ave., Huntington and 107 East Jericho Tpke., Huntington Station. panchovillalongisland.com
Plaza Margaritas
Live mariachi band, special Cinco de Mayo menu, $4 Coronas and Dos Equis, $3 tequila shots, $10 Corona buckets, $7 house margaritas. 2055 Middle Country Rd., Centereach. plazamargaritarestaurant.com
Quetzalcoatl Fine Mexican Cuisine & Bar
Free samples and free shots 5-7 p.m. 296 Main St., Huntington. quetzalcoatlmexrest.com
Salsa Mexicana
DJ, giveaways and drink specials. 13 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre. salsamexicanarvc.com
Señor Nacho
Happy hour 4-7 p.m. 31 South Middle Neck Rd., Great Neck. senornachony.com
Señor Taco
Extended happy hour 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Holbrook, Mt. Sinai, Wading River and Nesconset. senortacoweb.com
Swell Taco
The bar may be tiny, but it lives up to its name. 135 Deer Park Ave., Babylon, and Main Street in Patchogue. swelltacoli.com
Tocolo Cantina
Tequila tasting 4-6 p.m., DJ and giveaways all night. 920 Old Country Rd., Garden City tocolocantina.com
Union Cantina
Cinco De Mayo Party with complimentary hors d’oeurves, drink specials, live music. 40 Bowden Sq., Southampton. unioncantina.net
Verde
The best Mexican place in Bay Shore will be serving up mind-blowing meals and drinks for Cinco de Mayo. 70 E Main St., Bay Shore. verdekitchen.com
Viva Juan Mexican Restaurant
These guys know how to throw a fiesta! 280 Middle Country Rd., Ste B, Selden. facebook.com/VIVA-JUAN-II-Mexican-Restaurant
Viva La Vida Mexican Restaurant
This place has more than 100 types of Mexican tequila to choose from. 1611 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale. vivalavidaoakdale.com
