Cinco De Mayo good eats | Bread & Butter

Viva la Mexico! Cinco de Mayo is nearly here.

What began as celebration of an unlikely victory for Mexico over the French at the Battle of Puebla is now a broader celebration of Mexican culture throughout North America. Spring is here and soon everyone will have a hankering for a fajita.

Luckily Cincinnati’s growing Hispanic community has infused the area with a big helping of Latin flavor, both inside and outside of local restaurants.

But Cincinnati is a big sprawling suburban city with plenty of nooks and crannies in which great restaurants hide and sometimes finding the perfect meal and atmosphere can be for a particular occasion can be a challenge.

It should never be a chore figuring out where to get your fiesta on – but never fear! – I’ve compiled a list of 4 Mexican restaurants around the Cincinnati-area that are Cinco de Mayo eats worthy.

El Pueblo – Blue Ash

Where better to celebrate the victory at the Battle of Puebla than Cincinnati’s own El Pueblo? This busy, bustling Blue Ash staple boasts sunny decor, an outdoor patio and some of the best Mexican food in Cincinnati.

The menu is large but not daunting, while the food is fresh with an authentic bent. I’ve always said you can judge a bona fide Mexican restaurant by whether or not they have mole sauce (not to mention how good it is) and El Pueblo’s got it in spades.

El Pueblo is a fabulous place to go with friends and it’s fun, raucous atmosphere is conducive to a good time.

Taqueria Mercado – Fairfield

Taqueria Mercado is truly a hidden gem of authentic Mexican eats. The little restaurant is tucked inside a strip mall entirely occupied by Mexican storefronts in Fairfield. When you step inside you feel instantly transported south of the border. The taqueria houses a small bar with telémundo flickering on the television and a crowd of regulars.

The restaurant is most famous for – you guessed it – tacos! But this is no Taco Bell.

Taqueria Mercado offers a variety of beyond authentic tacos from carnitas, carne asada, al pastor, pollo, and chorizo and for the more adventurous they even offer tripe (stomach) and lengua (tongue). All are served with a healthy dose of cilantro and at $2.25 apiece, you can try a few.

But tacos aren’t the only thing Taqueria Mercado does well – they also offer burritos as big as your head, as well as tortas and tostados.

And the best news yet, Taqueria Mercado just opened a new location downtown at 8th and Walnut, so now the border is closer than ever.

Tostado’s Grill – Columbia Tusculum

For those looking for a truly festive atmosphere Tostado’s Grill is no stranger to it. The Mexican joint by day, karaoke bar by night offers good food and a good time noon, afternoon or night.

The restaurant offers Grade A Mexican selections as well a diverse mix of Cincinnati inspired German bar fare such as sauerkraut balls. And to get the party started the grill has full bar with a variety of spirits to get you loosened up for your personal rendition of the song of your choice.

If the thought of listening to other people sing their favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd song inside the restaurant makes you cringe, the grill also features a large, lovely and lilac lined patio in the heart of Columbia Tusculum directly across the street from The Precinct. The patio features a corn hole set for those so inclined and fire pit for chilly evenings.

Rincon Mexicano – Eastgate

Rincon Mexicano has occupied the low profile space between the DanBarry Dollar Saver Cinemas and Bigg’s in Eastgate for what seems like forever. It has outlived the now defunct super grocery store (set to close in mere weeks) and the cinema’s multiple changing of hands over the years. But while the Eastgate development has suffered Rincon has continued to flourish, and for one reason, their delicious authentic Mexican fare made from scratch.

Rincon Mexicano boasts a small cantina but a large, warm dining space decorated with bright murals but plenty of mood lighting. The high backed booths offer an element of intimacy and privacy, suited for dinner conversation but also have large tables to accommodate big parties. Their menu includes the sacred mole sauce, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, vegetarian offerings and a long list of house specialties.