Looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in MetroWest? Try one of these seven restaurants
Cinco de Mayo, originally a minor holiday that celebrated an important military victory in the 1800s, has become an occasion for celebrating Mexican culture throughout the world.
The holiday dates back to 1862, when the Mexican army defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla. 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.
Today, in the United States, the holiday has become an annual event where everyone can take part in the sights, sounds and the tastes of Mexican culture.
Looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Here are seven restaurants in MetroWest and Greater Milford to enjoy the holiday:
What is Cinco de Mayo? What it is, and how you can celebrate
Aztec Restaurant
2 Waverly St. (Route 135), Framingham - (508) 820-2523
Aztec Restaurant is known for their birria tacos — 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 — this Framingham staple typically celebrates Cinco de Mayo 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.
Aztec Restaurant is also offering catering and is taking pre-orders for family meals for this year's festivities.
Mexico City Taqueria
1 West Union St., Ashland - (508) 881-3500
Since 2013, this Ashland restaurant has been turning out tacos, burritos and other Mexican food favorites. Over the past 11 years, Mexico City Taqueria has unveiled new items such as birria tacos, mojarras, nopales, chili rellenos, pozole and gorditas. Also on the menu are hand-crafted margaritas and Mexican desserts such as flan and churros.
Sol de Mexico
350 East Main St. (Route 16), Milford - (508) 881-3500191 Mechanic St. (Route 140), Bellingham - (508) 966-4000
This Mexican eatery is known for its specialty margaritas. The "Ultimate Margarita" puts a twist on the traditional drink by adding orange juice. Sol de Mexico locations also offer a margarita flight, with three 8-ounce glasses of different margaritas.
On top of their food and margarita selection, Sol de Mexico locations also have extensive tequila collections, including Casamigos, Don Julio and Patron.
Sol de Mexico has three locations, in Milford, Bellingham and Taunton. A fourth location, in Natick, closed last summer.
Margaritas
725 Cochituate Road (Route 30), Framingham - (508) 309-7348
Missing Natick's Sol de Mexico? Margaritas has a restaurant right on the Framingham-Natick line.
As the name suggests, this chain offers an extensive margarita menu and a monthly margarita flight. This month, Margaritas flight flavors are original, pineapple, mango and your choice of one of its house-infused tequila margaritas.
Yo!Boca!Taco!
28 Boston Post Road (Route 20), Wayland
The phrase "gas station taco" might conjure images of poor dietary decisions. But Yo!Boca!Taco turns that notion on its head, offering some of the most highly acclaimed Mexican food in MetroWest — all from a Route 20 gas station.
The taco place, which just opened a second location in Sturbridge, offers burritos, burrito bowls, tacos and quesadillas along, which can be enjoyed a side of horchata.
Casa del Taco
1609 Concord St., Framingham (508) 877-0104
In a rush? Consider Casa del Taco, a Framingham taco stand where patrons can get tacos for as little as $3. Recipes come from Gustavo Corona, of Marlborough. The quaint taco stand offers, as the name suggests, tacos, but also tortas, quesadillas and chicken wings.
Lalo's Mexican Restaurant
158 Main St. (Route 62), Hudson - (978) 310-7246460 Lincoln St., Marlborough - (774) 556-2941
Looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with traditional flare? Lalo's Mexican Restaurant will have live mariachi and banda music at both of its MetroWest locations on Saturday and Sunday.
Mariachi bands play from 3:30-5:15 p.m. Saturday at the Marlborough location. On Sunday, Mariachi music plays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Hudson. Banda music precedes it at 5 p.m.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: MetroWest and Greater Milford eateries to enjoy Cinco de Mayo in style
