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A Handy Guide to Cinco de Mayo Specials in Los Angeles

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2008_10_hasmaps.jpgWhile Cinco de Mayo might not be the national holiday of Mexico, it's just enough reason to get out there and celebrate the good life, Mexican-style. That means plenty of strong margaritas, near-endless servings of Mexican beer (Dos Equis, anyone?), and enough chips and salsa to last a month. There's also a number of spots that are serving good food, all the better to balance out the drinking involved with the not-so-authentic holiday. Here now, a guide to Cinco de Mayo Specials in Los Angeles.

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Westchester's popular Mexican spot is going big for Cinco de Mayo, with specialty cocktails, slow-cooked barbacoa platters and tacos starting at 1 p.m. Specialty drinks include the Gardenia, made with grapefruit, cucumber, lime, honey Jimador tequila, and blackberry, for $7. A live mariachi band will play from 4-6 p.m.

Tortilla Republic

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This West Hollywood restaurant is hosting their first ever Cinco de Mayo block party from 2-7 p.m. on Sunday. The open air parking lot and El Tovar place will be transformed into an outdoor celebration. There will be food specials, margarita pitchers, buckets of beer specials, and a photo booth.

Plan Check Kitchen + Bar

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This popular Sawtelle burger joint is doing some specials for the day, like the Cheeseburger Machismo with habanero cheese, bacon, spicy mayo, fried onions, and jalapeno escabeche for $13. There's also $5 margaritas, a flight of Herradura tequilas for $12, and a flight of Siete Leguas for $20.

Windows Lounge

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This classy lounge in Beverly Hills is doing a fun a la carte menu on both the 4th and 5th, including 3 Dos Equis, guac, chips and salsa for $25. A watermelon refresher comes made with Casamingos Silver tequila, fresh watermelon and agave. There's a dungeness crab tostada with chipotle and avocado, crispy chicken taquitos, and a Mexican-style shrimp cocktail made with avocado, cucumber, and corn chips. Churros with Mexican chocolate makes it a sweet finish.

Susan Fennigers Street

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Susan Feniger's STREET is hosting a Cinco de Mayo taco night, including homemade tortillas to go with carnitas, lengua, carne asada, chicken pibil, fried duck eggs, beer battered shrimp, chipotle jackfruit (for the vegans), beer batter okra and more. There will also be aguas frescas and special margaritas on deck.

Burger Lounge

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This casual burger eatery is doing a special Mexican-inspired grass-fed Lamb burger, with Asadero cheese, jalapeno relish, and housemade tomatillo green chile mayo for $10.95.

Rush Street

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Cinco de Mayo starts at brunch at Rush Street, with things like carnitas breakfast burritos and street tacos on the menu. There's a $20 endless bloody mary option from 10:30 - 3:30 p.m., in addition to the live Mariachi band and Mexican beer pitcher specials.

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

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In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Lazy Dog will be releasing new (and permanent) Mexican-inspired dishes like ceviche (shrimp, white fish, citrus juices), roasted pork torta (roasted pork loin, housemade chipotle orange mustard on roasted roll), chicken poblano and carne asada. They'll also have a special Watermelon tequila agua fresca and Victoria beer on draft.

Tinhorn Flats Saloon & Grill

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This Wild West eatery in Hollywood is adding a dose of Tex-Mex to Cinco de Mayo with a special menu of quesadillas (think shrimp, caramelized onions and pepper jack) and street tacos, along with $4 margaritas and $3 bottles of Mexican beer.

Rosa Mexicano

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This Downtown Mexican restaurant is doing a boozy brunch starting at 12 p.m. including a Mezcal Bloody Maria and Pasion Picante pitcher starring 1800 silver tequila, passionfruit, fresh lime, ginger and habanero. Food specials include chili-stuffed French toast, fried eggs and carnitas hash, shredded beef with eggs, and a Mexican Cobb salad.

La Cuevita

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This den of a bar in Highland Park is celebrating its one year anniversary along with Cinco de Mayo, serving $5 margaritas, $5 glasses of Dos Equis with shots of tequila. There are free Elotes tacos at 5 p.m. and Last Call Tacos at 9 p.m, for the revelers that stick around.

Mission Cantina

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The party runs all weekend at Hollywood's Mission Cantina. From 12 noon to 2 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, expect Mariachis, a photo booth, drink & food specials, and giveaways.

Hyperion Public

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The festivities at this Silver Lake gastropub start on Sunday, with $5 margaritas, $3 tequila shots, $7 Mexican beer & a shot, plus some plates like Chiles en Nogada, Mac e Queso served with guacamole, salsa and crema.

Border Grill

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This expansive, swanky Mexican restaurant in Downtown's Financial District is doing a locals-friendly Cinco de Mayo fiesta lasting the better part of the weekend. Starting from Friday, there are $5 margaritas and beers, along with $5 Sonoran hot dogs and two-taco plates. On Sunday there's a live DJ on the patio and unlimited small plates for $25.

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Cinco

Westchester's popular Mexican spot is going big for Cinco de Mayo, with specialty cocktails, slow-cooked barbacoa platters and tacos starting at 1 p.m. Specialty drinks include the Gardenia, made with grapefruit, cucumber, lime, honey Jimador tequila, and blackberry, for $7. A live mariachi band will play from 4-6 p.m.

Tortilla Republic

This West Hollywood restaurant is hosting their first ever Cinco de Mayo block party from 2-7 p.m. on Sunday. The open air parking lot and El Tovar place will be transformed into an outdoor celebration. There will be food specials, margarita pitchers, buckets of beer specials, and a photo booth.

Plan Check Kitchen + Bar

This popular Sawtelle burger joint is doing some specials for the day, like the Cheeseburger Machismo with habanero cheese, bacon, spicy mayo, fried onions, and jalapeno escabeche for $13. There's also $5 margaritas, a flight of Herradura tequilas for $12, and a flight of Siete Leguas for $20.

Windows Lounge

This classy lounge in Beverly Hills is doing a fun a la carte menu on both the 4th and 5th, including 3 Dos Equis, guac, chips and salsa for $25. A watermelon refresher comes made with Casamingos Silver tequila, fresh watermelon and agave. There's a dungeness crab tostada with chipotle and avocado, crispy chicken taquitos, and a Mexican-style shrimp cocktail made with avocado, cucumber, and corn chips. Churros with Mexican chocolate makes it a sweet finish.

Susan Fennigers Street

Susan Feniger's STREET is hosting a Cinco de Mayo taco night, including homemade tortillas to go with carnitas, lengua, carne asada, chicken pibil, fried duck eggs, beer battered shrimp, chipotle jackfruit (for the vegans), beer batter okra and more. There will also be aguas frescas and special margaritas on deck.

Burger Lounge

This casual burger eatery is doing a special Mexican-inspired grass-fed Lamb burger, with Asadero cheese, jalapeno relish, and housemade tomatillo green chile mayo for $10.95.

Rush Street

Cinco de Mayo starts at brunch at Rush Street, with things like carnitas breakfast burritos and street tacos on the menu. There's a $20 endless bloody mary option from 10:30 - 3:30 p.m., in addition to the live Mariachi band and Mexican beer pitcher specials.

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Lazy Dog will be releasing new (and permanent) Mexican-inspired dishes like ceviche (shrimp, white fish, citrus juices), roasted pork torta (roasted pork loin, housemade chipotle orange mustard on roasted roll), chicken poblano and carne asada. They'll also have a special Watermelon tequila agua fresca and Victoria beer on draft.

Tinhorn Flats Saloon & Grill

This Wild West eatery in Hollywood is adding a dose of Tex-Mex to Cinco de Mayo with a special menu of quesadillas (think shrimp, caramelized onions and pepper jack) and street tacos, along with $4 margaritas and $3 bottles of Mexican beer.

Rosa Mexicano

This Downtown Mexican restaurant is doing a boozy brunch starting at 12 p.m. including a Mezcal Bloody Maria and Pasion Picante pitcher starring 1800 silver tequila, passionfruit, fresh lime, ginger and habanero. Food specials include chili-stuffed French toast, fried eggs and carnitas hash, shredded beef with eggs, and a Mexican Cobb salad.

La Cuevita

This den of a bar in Highland Park is celebrating its one year anniversary along with Cinco de Mayo, serving $5 margaritas, $5 glasses of Dos Equis with shots of tequila. There are free Elotes tacos at 5 p.m. and Last Call Tacos at 9 p.m, for the revelers that stick around.

Mission Cantina

The party runs all weekend at Hollywood's Mission Cantina. From 12 noon to 2 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, expect Mariachis, a photo booth, drink & food specials, and giveaways.

Hyperion Public

The festivities at this Silver Lake gastropub start on Sunday, with $5 margaritas, $3 tequila shots, $7 Mexican beer & a shot, plus some plates like Chiles en Nogada, Mac e Queso served with guacamole, salsa and crema.

Border Grill

This expansive, swanky Mexican restaurant in Downtown's Financial District is doing a locals-friendly Cinco de Mayo fiesta lasting the better part of the weekend. Starting from Friday, there are $5 margaritas and beers, along with $5 Sonoran hot dogs and two-taco plates. On Sunday there's a live DJ on the patio and unlimited small plates for $25.

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