Cinco de Mayo, which kicks off the week on Monday, May 5, is a great day to celebrate Mexican heritage. But before you order a Modelo, margarita or chips and queso, perhaps take a moment to consider the holiday’s meaning.
Many think of it as equivalent to July Fourth in the U.S., but it’s not. Mexico earned its independence from Spain on Sept. 16, 1810. And the Mexican Revolution, which started Nov. 20, 1910, wouldn’t end until a decade later.
But May 5, 1862 marks an important battle in Mexico’s battle against the French, led by Napoleon III (the nephew of Napoleon I). At the Battle of Puebla, an undermanned Mexican army of enlisted soldiers and volunteers defeated 6,000 French troops, History.com notes.
The Mexican victory helped prevent the French from settling in and helping the American Confederacy in the Civil War, according to History.com. Newspapers reported Mexican-Americans and Latinos in California celebrating the Cinco de Mayo victory that year.
Nearly one in five Americans (17%) plans to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year, according to research firm Numerator. Most of the celebrators said they were planning to go out to eat (38%), gather with family and friends (35%) or going out for drinks (33%), the firm’s survey found.
For those looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, here’s a roundup of deals and specials. Remember to check in with your nearest location to make sure it’s participating before heading out.
Chipotle’s Cinco de Mayo ‘Ingredient Quest’ in Roblox
For Cinco de Mayo, the fast-casual chain is launching a game on Roblox. Starting at 6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. PT on May 5, you can win a free burrito by playing the “Ingredient Quest” in the Burrito Builder experience on Roblox.
Go to www.roblox.com/chipotle and the first 50,000 players to collect all 53 unique ingredient cards will be able to unlock a free entrée offer.
More Chipotle deals:
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Through May 5, there’s no delivery fee when you order on the Chipotle app and on Chipotle.com (use the code DELIVER).
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May 3-5 get free chips and Queso Blanco with your order on the Chipotle app and on Chipotle.com (use code CINCO25).
Amazon shopping: Celebrate Mexican heritage on Cinco de Mayo with margaritas and birria tacos
Taco Bell Cinco de Mayo deals
Taco Bell has several deals leading up to Cinco de Mayo and beyond:
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May 3-5: Get a free Nachos Bell Grande with an order of $20 or more on DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub.
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Through May 31: 5% off every order on Uber One Student delivery service ($4.99 monthly after free trial month); maximum discount of $9.
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May 6: Taco Bell Rewards Members can find some deals in the Taco Bell app including $1 five-piece Crispy Chicken Nuggets for the first 20,000 Rewards members (offer becomes available at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. ET); an hour later, the first 20,000 rewards members can claim a $1 Soft Taco Supreme; and at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, the first 20,0000 rewards members can claim either a $1 five-piece Crispy Chicken Nuggets or Taco Supreme.
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May 6: Free Seasoned Beef Soft Taco with order of $15 or more on Uber One Student deliveries.
‘Guac on the Rock’ deal expands to appetizers for Cinco de Mayo
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his Teremana Tequila want to help you celebrate Cinco de Mayo for the fifth consecutive year. Just purchase any cocktail made with Teremana Tequila and the brand will give you a rebate for any appetizer for $10 via Venmo (the deal is good through May 31; and up to $1 million in rebates). In the past, the deal has only been for guacamole – hence the name “Guac on the Rock” – but this year the deal includes all appetizers.
And there’s a delivery deal this year, too. When you buy one bottle of more of Teremana Tequila from any off-premise DoorDash retail location through May 12, you get a $10 discount code that can be used to purchase guac or any appetizer during the promotion period.
Chuy’s Cinco de Mayo specials, appetizer deal
The Austin, Texas-founded Tex-Mex chain Chuy’s has some Cinco de Mayo specials all day on May 5 including an appetizer special: $5 Queso Bowls including the Boom-Boom Pow, which is layered with refried beans, Boom-Boom Sauce, lettuce, pico, and topped with sour cream, guacamole and jalapeños.
Drink specials include $6 regular or $9 Grande signature House ‘Ritas, served frozen or on the rocks (Grande ‘Ritas com in a keepsake giveaway cup), plus $1 floaters, and $1 off Corona, Modelo and Dos Equis beers.
Cinco de Mayo also coincides with some limited time menu offerings including Pork Boom-Boom Enchiladas and Macho Burritos (available through June 8).
5-hour Energy and Taco John’s Cinco de Mayo hot sauce collaboration
The energy shot brand teamed with the Mexican fast-food chain on some hot shots just in time for Cinco de Mayo. When you buy a pack of the limited edition Cinco de Mango 5-hour Energy Shots online, you will get a free bottle of Taco John’s Energizing Hot Sauce, a mango habanero sauce infused with 200 milligrams of caffeine per bottle.
Follow 5-Hour Energy on Instagram to know when the next supply of the shots and sauce hits the 5-Hour Energy online store. Separate drops are scheduled for May 5 and May 8.
Taco John’s locations near Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Boston will give you a free bottle of Taco John’s Energizing Hot Sauce with the purchase of a “No Siesta Fiesta” Bundle.
More Cinco de Mayo deals
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&pizza: The Washington, D.C.-based &pizza chain is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with the limited time return of its Elote Loco pizza starting May for $12.99. Another Cinco de Mayo special – the pizza-taco hybrid Za’cos, sold three for $4.99, from May 3-5 at five locations only. The flavors are The Dirty Bird (chicken with parm-romano sauce, buffalo sauce, jalapenos, cool ranch and blue cheese), American Honey (pepperoni, mozzarella, spicy tomato sauce, goat cheese, arugula, hot honey and red pepper flakes), and Elote Loco (corn, onion and elote sauce). Za’cos will be sold at these locations: Barracks Row (Washington, D.C.), Woodbridge, Virginia; Arlington, Virginia; Fed Hill (Baltimore, Maryland), and Rittenhouse (Philadelphia).
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Abuelo’s: The Mexican restaurant chain on May 5 has $5 specials all day. The $5 deals include Mexican draft beers served in a 22oz. stadium cup (while supplies last); Frozen Mexican Flag Margaritas, La Grandeza Margaritas, Mexican Candy Shots, and Chile con Queso Appetizer.
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Baja Fresh: Members of the Club Baja Rewards loyalty program can get $5.55 off orders of $20 or more (pre-tax) online at bajafresh.com through May 5 (use code CINCO).
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Barberitos: In a deal in partnership with Land ‘O Lakes, the burrito restaurant chain is giving customers a free small order of queso with any purchase all day on May 5.
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Beef ‘O’Brady’s: Get a free side order of queso when you purchase chips and salsa (at participating locations).
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Bonefish Grill: Get a “Green Jeans” matcha margarita made with Matthew & Camila McConaughey’s Pantalones Organic Tequila for just $5.
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The Brass Tap: Get free chips and salsa with your purchase on May 5 at participating locations.
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Bubbakoo’s Burritos: The Mexican-fusion restaurant is giving members of its loyalty program a buy one, get one free deal on entrées on May 5. Purchase a regular entrée at full price and get a coupon for a free one in your account on May 6, redeemable through May 11. Also on May 5, get 10% off all catering orders with the code CINCO10.
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Checkers & Rally’s: The fast food chain has a $4 special on May 5 for Cinco de Mayo – a combo with the choice of a Cheese Double or Spicy Chicken Sandwich, a side of seasoned fries, a 12-ounce drink and a Cinnamon Apple Pie.
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Cointreau: Making margaritas at home? The orange liqueur, which is an ingredient in most original or classic margaritas, wants to reward margarita lovers this Cinco de Mayo with a Lime of Credit (up to $500). Just go to cointreau.com/LimeofCredit through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 5 to sign up for a chance to win.
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Dos Toros Taqueria: The fast-casual chain has Cinco de Mayo catering specials through May 7 including the Ultimate Taco Bar, starting at about $25 per person.
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Moe’s Southwest Grill: Get a free side of queso with any entrée purchase on May 5. And members of the Moe Rewards loyalty program can also get the Moe Monday offer (a burrito or bowl for $7.99, including chips and salsa). The first 20 customers on May 5 at participating Moe’s locations get a free Moe’s T-shirt.
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Gopuff: The delivery service is offering GoPuff FAM subscribers ($7.99 monthly, free deliveries and more) 40% off a holiday-themed collection of products including Delimex Taquitos and Siete Mexican Wedding Cookies.
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Pancheros: For Cinco de Mayo, members of the Pancheros Rewards loyalty program will get a deal for a $5 burritos or any entrée on May 5. The deal will appear in the app; new loyalty members who sign up on May 5 will get the deal, too.
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QDOBA Mexican Eats: It’s not Cinco de Mayo-specific, but QDOBA has free dips and topping including guacamole and queso free daily.
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Red Robin: On May 5, get a House Margarita (frozen or on the rocks) or just $7.99; flavors vary by location, but may include lime, strawberry, desert pear, jalapeño, mango or passionfruit. You can also add a Red’s Beaker of Patron Silver or Casamigos to any margarita for $3 (limit one per drink).
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Tijuana Flats: The Florida-based Tex-Mex restaurant chain has a special Cinco de Mayo $5 menu including two Street Tacos with chips ($5 menu good for dine-in, carry-out, app/online and delivery orders). Other $5 options: chips and queso, chips and guacamole, or the Tijuana Trio (chips and three sauces). Drink specials include two for $5 beers. Have a big party? Taco Meal Kits are 15% off all weekend; and get free delivery on orders of $35 or more. Another deal: members of the Flatheads Rewards loyalty program who order an adult entrée twice or more during Cinco weekend will get $5 their next order of $15 or more May 12-31.
Contributing: Maria Jimenez Moya, Amanda Lee Myers and Jordan Mendoza.
Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected]
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cinco de Mayo 2025: Best deals on tacos, food and drinks for May 5
The post Get specials at Chipotle, Taco Bell, more appeared first on USA TODAY.
