Tacos to Tequila: 🌶️ 5 Restaurant Secrets to Spice Up Cinco de Mayo Sales

Every year, on the fifth day of May, restaurants of all types, from bustling burger joints to cozy cafes, take on a spicy glow-up—serving up margaritas, mariachi vibes, and menus with a south-of-the-border twist. It’s a day where tacos, tequila, and tunes turn ordinary meals into unforgettable fiestas.

Though considered a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with enthusiasm in the United States, where it honors Mexican culture with vibrant parades, lively music, traditional art, and, of course, festive cuisine.

A common misconception, Cinco de Mayo is actually not Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated in Mexico on the 16th of September; rather it commemorates the 1862 victory by Mexican troops at the Battle of Puebla.

Even if your restaurant doesn’t serve Mexican food, you can still spice up sales by adding a south-of-the-border twist on Cinco de Mayo.

Whether you're famous for the freshest sushi, juiciest burgers, creamiest risotto, or the most exquisite Wagyu steak, adding a dash of Mexican spice on May 5th is the perfect way to ignite excitement at your restaurant and kick off the warm-weather season.

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Common and Quirky National Food Holidays:

2025 Sauce Marketing Calendar for Restaurants

🇲🇽 1. Create a Cinco de Menú

There will undoubtedly be plenty of places for customers to find tacos and beer on Cinco de Mayo. To please your regulars and attract a new crowd, while staying on brand, create menu specials that feature your best sellers with a unique Latin twist. Step a bit outside your comfort zone and create dishes that your customers won’t be able to find anywhere else.

If you’re an Italian restaurant, for example, create a Mexican pizza menu. For Japanese eateries, get inventive with sushi tacos and burritos. And if you’re a fine dining restaurant, add a few appetizers that feature Mexican spices and vibrant vegetables.

🌮 Cinco de Mayo Menú Musts

Mole Poblano: A meat dish with a spicy, chocolatey sauce, Mole Poblano is the official Cinco de Mayo menu item.
Elotes: Another name for Mexican street corn, Elote is corn on the cob covered with mayonnaise, lime, cotija cheese, cilantro, and chili.
Guacamole: Also known as avocado dip, no Mexican menu would be complete without this Mexican classic.
Tres Leches Cake: An indulgent Mexican dessert, tres leches (3 milks) cake, is a tasty finish to any authentic Cinco de Mayo meal.

2. Set the Scene

Transport your guests directly to the streets of Mexico by immersing them in the ambiance of the culture.

🪇 Decor

Start by incorporating bright colors reminiscent of a Mexican fiesta such as deep reds, bold yellows, and sparkling greens throughout your dining room. Top tables with decorative maracas, mini sombreros, and handcrafted decor such as papel picado, a traditional Mexican paper craft that adds a touch of authenticity to any setting.

💃 Music

Diners will be looking for a full experience on Cinco de Mayo, so consider hiring a mariachi band or a DJ to play festive music, hosting Cinco de Mayo karaoke, or holding a Mexican dance contest.

🎉 Lighting

Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood. Opt for soft, warm lighting mimicking the Mexican sunset to create a playa vibe. Hang string twinkle lights or colorful lanterns to recreate a Mexican bar atmosphere.

📸 Photo Ops

Set up a photo booth close to the bar with props such as sombreros, mustaches, guitars, and maracas to encourage guests to get into the spirit of the holiday. Not only does this create an opportunity to promote the bar menu, but it’s a great way to have customers create user-generated content (UGC).

Props to Include:

🌮 Taco hats
🪅 Mini piñatas
🌶️ Chili pepper sunglasses
🇲🇽 Mexican flag bandanas or sashes
🎺 Mariachi mustaches & sombreros
🍹 Margarita glasses (real or oversized cutouts)
🪇 Maracas
💃 Flamenco skirts or ponchos
🧃 Juice boxes or faux tequila bottles (playful!)
🎉 Papel picado (paper flags) for a festive backdrop

Backdrop Themes:

“Tacos & Tequila” Wall: Neon or handmade sign with colorful streamers, fake cactus, and festive lights
Vintage Cantina Vibes: Wooden barrels, faux brick, string lights, and papel picado
Color Explosion: Bright serape fabric, oversized flowers, balloons in red/green/white

3. Party of Five

Ask your staff to brainstorm fun ways to incorporate the number five (cinco) into your menu items and promotional pricing. And of course, what's a party without a prize?

Award participants with $5.00 gift cards and the winner with a free meal.

🌮 "Cinco"- Inspired Menu and Promo Ideas

Party of Five: Special Discount for Parties of Five or More
Famous Five Taco Sampler: (A mix-and-match tray of 5 mini tacos)
Cinco de Guaco: (A guacamole flight with 5 styles – classic, spicy, mango, bacon, and street corn)
Fiver Fajita Feast: (Serves 5 or includes 5 toppings/add-ons)
High Five Happy Hour: (5 snacks for $5 each from 5–6pm)
Five Rings of Queso: (A platter with 5 cheesy dips and chips)
$5 Fiesta Fries: (Loaded fries with a Mexican twist)
Fifth of Tequila: (A cheeky name for a tequila tasting flight or discounted pour)
The Cinco Stack: (A five-layer taco tower or burrito stack)
Five-Star Salsa Bar: (Self-serve salsa station with 5 heat levels)
$5 Churro Sundaes: (Mini sundaes with churro twists)
55 Cent Wings: Feed a crowd for under $50
Cinco Sliders: (Mini torta sliders in a variety pack of—you guessed it—five)Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

🛵 Delivery-Only Promo Ideas:

"Cinco to Your Door" Deal: $5 off delivery orders of $25 or more
High Five Happy Hour (At Home): Order between 3–5pm and get $5 off your delivery
Fiesta Fifty: Get a $5 gift card with every $50 delivery—perfect for your next taco run
Five for the Ride: Free delivery plus $5 off when you order a meal for 5
$5 Delivery Dips: Add guac, queso, or salsa trio for just $5 with any entrée
"Take Five" Nacho Deal: $5 nachos with any delivery order over $20
Cinco Combo Drop-Off: Get a meal bundle for 2 with tacos, sides & drinks for $25 (normally $30)
$5 Off if You Order by 5: (Yes, we’re serious. 5pm cut-off.)
Tequila-To-Go (Where Legal): $5 house margarita add-ons with food delivery—because tacos need friends
$5 Gift Cards with Every $50 Delivery Order

🍹 4. Cocktails and Concoctions (That Think Outside the Margarita Box)

Everyone will be expecting the quintessential margarita on Cinco de Mayo, (and every establishment will offer them). Make your restaurant's celebration sizzle by giving your bartender creative license to color outside the lines and create one-of-a-kind cocktails and concoctions.

Experiment with exotic flavors that customers won’t find at every other place in town, offering flights for guests to sample.

Showcase your beer offerings with a few of these authentic beer creations.

🍻 Types of Mexican Beer

The majority of beers in Mexico are lagers, pilsners, Vienna-style light and dark beers, and Munich dark beers.

Over 90% of the beers sold in Mexico are produced by the “big two” brewers.

Grupo Modelo’s Principal Beers

Corona Extra, a light lager pilsner beer with a very mild flavor, is the largest selling non-domestic beer in the U.S.
Corona Light, introduced in 1989, is Grupo Modelo’s first low calorie beer, with 30% less calories than Corona Extra.
Negra Modelo, popularly known in Mexico as the “cream of the beers,” Negra Modelo is a dark, very smooth beer.
Modelo Especial, the first brand produced by the Modelo brewer in 1925, is a lager beer with a slightly richer and fuller taste than Corona.
Victoria, a Pilsner-Vienna fine brew with a unique amber color, is a tasty blend of a light pilsner and a dark beer.
Leon is a Munich, dark amber, and full-bodied beer.
Montejo is a pilsner with a light taste and aroma.
Pacifico is a light refreshing pilsner that has been exported to the U.S. since 1985.
Barrilito, which means “little barrel, ” is a light beer in the pilsner category with a refreshing taste and aroma.

Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Principal Beers

Tecate, originally brewed in the state of Baja California, is a medium lager with a sharp, strong taste.
Tecate Light, a low-calorie version of Tecate, was the first low-calorie beer to be introduced to the Mexican market.
Ambar Dos Equis (XX) and Dos Equis (XX) are the best selling non-domestic dark beers in the U.S. Ambar Dos Equis (XX) is a European Style Pilsner, while Dos Equis (XX) is a light lager beer, based on the ambar version, and is very popular in the United States.
Bohemia, is a dense, light, rich beer with a significant hops flavor.
Noche Buena, which translates to “Christmas Eve,” is a dark, rich beer with a strong flavor, and is only available in Mexico during the months of October, November, and December.
Indio is a smooth, dark, refreshing beer, popular in warm weather months.
Sol, a light, tasty, lager beer, originally produced for the working classes, was recently re-launched to appeal to younger consumers.
Sol 2 is a medium bodied light beer with a stronger taste than Sol.
Sol Cero is the first non-alcoholic beer produced in Mexico.
Sol Limon y Sal is a pre-prepared version of Sol that comes with lime juice and salt already mixed in.
Sol Cero Limon y Sal is the non-alcoholic version of Sol Limon y Sal.
Superior, a light beer that has been a favorite among Mexican beer drinkers for over fifty years, is making a comeback after a long period in relative obscurity.
Carta Blanca, a pilsner beer, is one of Mexico’s oldest beer brands.

Michelada

Derived from the Mexican slang for beer, ‘chelada‘, michelada translates to mi-chela-helada, meaning “my cold beer.” A michelada is served in an iced, salt-rimmed glass with lime juice, whereas a michelada preparada is served in salt-rimmed glass with the lime juice and sauces such as Worsteshire, soy, or picante sauce.

Traditionally, a Michelada is served with the beer still in the bottle and the glass with its contents served separately so customers have an opportunity to check the contents of the glass before adding the beer.

🎉 5. Take It Outside

As temps begin to rise, so will the desire for customers to enjoy outdoor seating. May is the perfect month to start offering outdoor dining and Cinco de Mayo is the perfect place to start. Not only will customers flock to your restaurant, but your patio can act as its own giant billboard for passers by.

People who have previously walked by your restaurant might give your restaurant a try if they see customers outside enjoying themselves. But since spring nights can be unpredictable, weather wise, be sure that your patio is equipped with an appropriate number of outdoor heaters.

🪅 FAQs

What traditional Mexican foods are associated with Cinco de Mayo?

Popular dishes include mole poblano (often cited as the official dish of the holiday), tacos, enchiladas, tamales, and chiles en nogada. Each dish reflects regional flavors and centuries of culinary tradition, often blending indigenous and Spanish influences.

How is Mexican food incorporated into Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the U.S.?

In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo menus often feature festive takes on Mexican classics—think street tacos, guacamole bars, elote (Mexican street corn), and nacho platters. Many restaurants and home cooks also embrace fusion flavors, offering creative twists like birria sliders, jalapeño margaritas, or churro-inspired desserts.

Why is food such a central part of Cinco de Mayo festivities?

Food is a powerful way to celebrate culture—and Cinco de Mayo provides a flavorful gateway to explore Mexico’s rich culinary heritage. From family recipes passed down through generations to festive dishes shared with friends, the cuisine brings people together in a joyful, sensory celebration of Mexican identity.

Is Cinco de Mayo widely celebrated in Mexico?

Not really. Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, mainly observed in the state of Puebla. In contrast, it has become a major cultural celebration in the United States, highlighting Mexican heritage through food, music, and festivities.

How do people celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the U.S.?

In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo is marked with parades, music, folkloric dancing, and food festivals. Many restaurants feature Mexican-inspired dishes and drinks, turning the day into a vibrant celebration of Mexican-American culture.

🌶️ Take Away

With the holiday just a few days away, be sure to start posting your Cinco de Mayo promotions and menu specials on social media now using captivating pictures and creative hashtags.

Download our FREE 2025 Sauce Marketing Calendar for Restaurants, filled with 12 months of common and quirky national food holidays to use in your restaurant's marketing.

By Eileen Strauss

Tacos to Tequila: 🌶️ 5 Restaurant Secrets to Spice Up Cinco de Mayo Sales

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Common and Quirky National Food Holidays: