Here are nine places in Eastern Mass. to grab a nice margarita or Mexican food
Originally a minor holiday that celebrated an important military victory in 1862, in more recent years Cinco de Mayo has become the definitive occasion for celebrating Mexican culture throughout the globe.
Particularly in the United States, which has an estimated 37 million Mexican-Americans, the holiday has become an annual event where all citizens take in the sights, sounds and, perhaps most importantly, the tastes of Mexican culture.
The holiday dates back to the Battle of Puebla. The key fight, which occurred on May 5, 1862 during the Second Franco-Mexican War, saw Mexican armies hold the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe despite being poorly equipped compared to France's army. The victory inspired patriotism in Mexico that eventually helped its military prevail over the invading French.
The holiday has become widely celebrated, with beer sales on the day reportedly rivaling those of St. Patrick's Day and the Super Bowl. To celebrate this year, consider checking out one of these Mexican-themed restaurants:
Sol de Mexico
This eatery has four locations, and is known for its specialty margaritas. The "Ultimate Margarita" puts a twist on the traditional drink by adding orange juice, and if you're feeling adventurous, you can get the margarita sampler — three 8-ounce glasses of different margaritas of your choice.
Sol de Mexico is at 191 Mechanic St. (Route 140), Bellingham; 215 West Central St. (Route 135), Natick; 350 East Main St. (Route 16), Milford; and 1013 County St. (Route 140), Taunton.
Taqueria El Amigo
This tiny Waltham eatery is the textbook definition of "hole-in-the-wall" but the mighty Taqueria El Amigo packs a big flavor. The takeout hub was named by Yelp reviewers as one of the Top 100 Places to Eat in America earlier this year, and is best known for mouth-watering tacos. If you're ordering on Cinco de Mayo, be sure to get your order in early — one Yelp reviewer described the atmosphere inside the taqueria as "like the entire Boston-area trying to eat from one taco truck."
Taqueria El Amigo is at 196 Willow St., Waltham.
Aztec Restaurant
A Framingham staple, Aztec Restaurant typically goes all out for Cinco de Mayo with a special dining experience, complete with decorations, music and daily specials. Guests can enjoy drinks and food on the patio outside the restaurant and try its special fish tacos and, of course, birria tacos. Birria is a traditional Mexican meat stew with vinegar, peppers and spices, and is usually made with goat meat, but can also be made with lamb and beef. Popular on the West Coast, the dish can be hard to find in Greater Boston. But Aztec owner Dulce Guerrero and her team developed an in-house recipe that has been the most popular thing on the menu since they were introduced in 2021.
'Our best seller': Birria tacos a big hit at Framingham's Aztec Restaurant
Aztec Restaurant is at 2 Waverly St. (Route 135), Framingham.
Howling Wolf Taqueria
Howling Wolf Taqueria in Salem has evolved from a modest taco stand that opened in 2010 to a full-blown Southwestern-inspired restaurant a few years later. While its seating options and menu have grown, its calling card — tacos, which can be filled with everything from typical beef and cheese, to tofu — remains the same. The restaurant is offering deals on drinks and live music on Cinco de Mayo.
Howling Wolf Taqueria is at 76 Lafayette St., Salem.
Lalo's Mexican Restaurant
If you're looking to get into the spirit this Cinco de Mayo, few places offer a more festive experience than Lalo's, which has locations in Marlborough and Hudson. Owned by Vanessa and Gerado Guzman, not only does Lalo's have authentic Mexican food ripped straight from the family recipe book, it will also feature live mariachi music during Cinco de Mayo at both of its locations.
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Lalo's Mexican Restaurant is at 460 Lincoln St., Marlborough, and 158 Main St. (Route 62), Hudson.
Locales Tacos y Tequila
The pandemic delayed the opening of Locales Tacos y Tequila in Hingham, but the food has been worth the wait, as the restaurant instantly became a go-to spot on the South Shore for quality Mexican food. As its name promises, Locales Tacos y Tequila offers plenty of tacos and plenty of tequila, with more than 50 different types of tequila to chose from.
Locales Tacos y Tequila is at 6 Crow Point Lane (off Route 3A), Hingham.
Orale Mexican Restaurant
This colorful, no-frills Mexican eatery in Cambridge's Wellington-Harrington neighborhood has been delivering Mexico's authentic flavors in a basic cantina set-up. And if you're looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo a little early, Orale opens at 8:30 a.m., serving breakfast with omelets and breakfast (often called brekky) tacos.
Orale Mexican Restaurant is at 847 Cambridge St., Cambridge.
Casa del Taco
Looking to grab some quick Mexican food on Cinco de Mayo, but in a rush? Check out Casa del Taco, a quaint taco stand in Framingham. As the name suggests, tacos are the name of the game at Casa del Taco, they can be had for as little as $3 and they come from the recipes of Marlborough's Gustavo Corona.
Casa del Taco is at 1609 Concord St., Framingham.
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Tenoch Mexican
Brothers Alvaro and Andres Sandoval are the kings of Mexican dining northwest of Boston. The Veracruz, Mexico, natives, have been rapidly expanding their Tenoch restaurants from their original location in Medford, to locations in Boston, Somerville, Cambridge and Melrose, with another restaurant set to open in Malden. Guests rave about the tortas, their signature pressed sandwiches, and the variety of margaritas offered at the rising chain of eateries.
Tenoch Mexican is at 24 Riverside Ave., Medford; 382 Highland Ave, Somerville; 3 Lewis St., Boston; 517 Main St., Melrose; and 10 Museum Way, Cambridge.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Nine restaurants o eat Mexican food in eastern Mass.
