$5 margs, a beer garden and DJs to celebrate Cinco de Mayo around Tacoma
Though Cinco de Mayo is not actually a major holiday in Mexico, in the United States, its popularity holds steady year after year.
Last May, we polled readers of The News Tribune on their favorite full-service (with table service and a bar) Mexican restaurants around Pierce County. Any of the winners, including Moctezuma’s, El Toro, Vuelve a la Vida and Matador, would be a fine place to celebrate.
In 2023, May 5 falls on a Friday, so look for specials all weekend long to honor the influence of Mexican culture in America. Around Tacoma, here are a few places offering deals on tacos, margaritas and more, plus a beer garden with several food vendors in Ruston.
These are the best full-service Mexican restaurants in Pierce County, readers say
WATERFRONT MARKET
▪ 5101 Yacht Club Road, Ruston, waterfrontmarketatruston.com
The public marketplace at Ruston is anchored by butcher shop Owens Meats, while other vendors include Pike Place Nuts, Tea Madame, Tacoma Glass Blowing Studio and Wild Whimsy Plant Co. On May 5, catch some rays in the outdoor beer garden while digging into food from several vendors who will set up outside the market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
TACO STREET - RUSTON
▪ Waterfront Market, 5101 Yacht Club Road, Ruston, tacostreetfood.com
On select Thursdays over the summer, Taco Street hosts a vintage Cars & Tacos event, and what better time to check it out than May 4? Vintage wheels roll through the Waterfront Market parking lot, and the restaurant sets up its outdoor taco stand. Dig into messy quesabirria or share a El Monstruo burrito, and don’t forget the vegetarians: options include the Cafe Red with peppers, potatoes, beans and guac and the Tacos Dorados de Papa with pico de gallo.
SHAKABRAH TACOMA
▪ 2618 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-572-2787, shakabrah.love
Typically only open for brunch (seven days a week), Shakabrah will keep the kitchen hot from 6 p.m.-midnight on May 5. Catch taco specials packed with the general manager’s signature carnitas recipe, micheladas and $2 jello shots.
SKORPION GRILL AT DYSTOPIAN STATE
▪ 611 S Baker St., Tacoma, 253-302-3466, dystopianstate.com
Find a seat in the spacious Dystopian State taproom for a pint and a bite from pop-up food vendor Skorpion’s Grill. Owner Johnny Chavarria has served the likes of pastor tortas and Flamin’ Hot cheesy steak tacos at venues including Beer Star and Tacoma Sunday Market. The brewery will also have games and live music through 11 p.m.
SMOKERS CHOPHOUSE AT ODD OTTER BREWING
▪ 716 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-327-1680, oddotterbrewing.com
Odd Otter has brewed two Mexican-style lagers, both available on tap this week: Ottzel Quatzel with a hint of lime and Dos Amigas, an amber brew made in collaboration with the Browns Point Homebrew Club. Pints of both will be $1 off on May 5, when Smokers Chophouse, a pop-up barbecue pit, will set up a taco stand at 6 p.m. Local DJ Sean the Shaman will spin 7-9 p.m.
MOCTEZUMA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT & TEQUILA BAR
▪ Tacoma: 4102 S. 56th St., Tacoma, 253-474-5593, moctezumas.com
▪ Gig Harbor: 4628 Point Fosdick Drive, Gig Harbor, 253-851-8464
Voted No. 1 in TNT’s 2022 reader poll, Moctezuma’s describes Cinco de Mayo as its favorite day of the year. All four restaurants — Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Tukwila and Silverdale — will have DJs spinning from 4 p.m.-close. Specials include $5 Lunazul Reposado pours and all Mexican draft beers.
AZTECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
▪ 4801 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma, 253-472-0246, aztecamex.com/the-menu/catering
If you can’t make it to the restaurant for a full meal and cocktails a-plenty, Azteca accepts pre-orders of its packed party platters. The Fiesta Platter feeds about 10 people with a variety of chimichangas, quesadillas, flautas and taquitos, plus chips, pico de gallo, guac and salsa on the side ($59.95). Amp up the guacamole with two fresh pounds ($45).
ANTOJOS MEXICAN GRILL
▪ 5502 Orchard St. W, University Place, 253-212-0914, antojomexicangrill.com
▪ 6104 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-565-0505
Antojo, sister to the El Antojo taqueria chain, now has two Tacoma-area locations to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Visit either the University Place restaurant (open until 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday) or the new outlet on Sixth Avenue near Route 16 (open until midnight Friday-Saturday), for food and drink specials in a festive setting with a DJ. Share a molcajete of queso fundido and get messy with the esquites “ribs” before a plate of tacos or cochinita pibil.
POQUITOS TACOMA
▪ 649 Division Ave., Tacoma, 253-900-2405, poquitostacoma.com
With weekday happy hour and a late-night version on Friday and Saturdays (10-11 p.m.), Poquitos regularly offers a full menu of shareable plates like yucatan chicken and enchilada suiza plus a well-stocked bar. On Cinco de Mayo, the kitchen serves up special fajitas (chicken or steak) and tamales. From the bar, one-day deals include mini slushies with a tequila float, Corona-itas and Corona buckets.
ELECTRIC COFFEE HOUSE
▪ 905 Main St., Sumner, 253-447-8621, electriccoffee.co
Sumner’s breeziest cafe always serves a Southwest-inspired menu daily, whether it’s the vegan cashew lime crema over chickpeas and roasted corn, the breakfast burrito with avocado salsa and chipotle aioli, or cinnamon churros. They also regularly serve cocktails, but on Cinco de Mayo, margaritas are just $5 alongside other food and drink specials like horchata and tacos.
