Carmel’s Mexican Restaurant
1025 Shroyer Road, Dayton | 937-294-1261
What to know: Cinco de Mayo carryout specials include Taco and "Bobarita" margarita specials: 12 tacos and four margaritas, $45; 18 tacos and six margaritas $65; and 24 tacos and eight margaritas $80. All bottled beer is $1 until supplies run out. Margarita mix and celebration kits also available.
Chiapas Mexican Grill
298 N. Main St., Centerville | 937-949-3390
2733 West Alex-Bell Road, Moraine | 937-952-6005
What to know: This authentic destination has a whole lot to like on the menu, but the show-stopper is the fajita de seafood featuring a large tilapia filet, grilled shrimp, small scallops and crab, along with bell peppers, onions and tomatoes served alongside the traditional rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, tortillas and pico de gallo. Both locations are offering carryout and DoorDash delivery.
Chuy’s
Two locations:
2717 Fairfield Commons, at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek | 937-320-4419
10445 Innovation Drive, in the Austin Landing development in Miami Twp. | 937-247-5450
What to know: Chuy's "Home Edition" Cinco de Mayo Celebration includes Family Meal Kits, including Fajitas, Tacos, Enchiladas and Margaritas To Go. Chuy's is also featuring $2 domestic beers and $3 premium beers all day. A special "Cinco Party Kit" will be available for $20, while supplies last. The kit includes two Chuy's branded 18-ounce Texas Martini shakers, a pair of Tito's sunglasses, Modelo beer coasters and mustache bottle openers. Chuy's also is hosting a "Chuys de Mayo – Home Edition" online event on each of their Facebook pages that includes home entertainment links for music, pop culture, food and drink games and a custom Zoom background.
El Meson
903 E Dixie Drive, Dayton | 937-859-8229 | www.elmeson.net
What to know: El Meson is offering a special menu that includes "Cinco Boxes" for two or four that include Meson margarita cocktail bags, tacos (beef, chicken and pork) and chips and dip with salsa, queso and guacamole. Fajitas can be order as a family four-pack or for one. Pre-orders will be accepted starting at noon Monday, May 4, and those who place advance orders can schedule a pickup time between 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on May 5. Co-owner Bill Castro says he recommends ordering early.
El Toro
710 Gardner Road, Springboro
4421 Ohio 725, Bellbrook
894 S. Main St., Centerville
2335 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Miamisburg
9190 N. Main St., Englewood
1375 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek
2915 Harshman Road, Dayton
448 Indian Ripple Road, Beavercreek
2100 S. Limestone St., Springfield
8321 Old Troy Pike, Huber Heights
6770 Miller Lane, Butler Twp.
794 Northwoods Blvd., Vandalia
2017 N. Bechtle Ave., Springfield
What to know: All El Toro locations are offering a 10 percent discount on carryout orders. They also started offering orders of five tacos for $10 per order every day — taco Tuesday or not. Consider trying the El Toro Molcajete featuring tender slices of steak, chicken, chorizo and shrimp grilled with green onions and Nopales (cactus). Drizzled with green sauce and covered with melted cheese, if you are looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in a big way, this is a solid option. That, or those tacos.
Elsa’s
Elsa’s Kettering Sports Grill — 1216 E. Stroop Road, Kettering | (937) 294-9210
Elsa’s East — 3618 Linden Ave., Dayton | (937) 252-9635
Elsa’s South — 6318 Far Hills Ave., Centerville | (937) 439-3897
Elsa’s on the Border — 1227 Wilmington Ave., Sugarcreek Twp. | (937) 938-7372
What to know: Two words — Bad Juan. An aptly named margarita that becomes exponentially badder with each one ordered. The restaurant's famous margarita is the one menu item that makes worth the trip. The food's fine, but this is a mean cocktail and with the new rule for off-premises consumption from the state of Ohio you can get two prepackaged drinks per meal to take home and enjoy. If you are really feeling in the mood to celebrate, order up some chips and queso loco — a hot, white cheese sauce with diced peppers and ground chorizo sausage to kick off the meal with.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
10 Greene Blvd. at The Greene Town Center in Beavercreek | 937-802-9004
What to know: In addition to the regular menu, Taco Family Meals packages with choice of meats and sides plus chips, queso and salsa will be available in two sizes: regular ($35, serves 4-6) and large ($50, serves 6-8). Order online at www.FuzzysTacoShop.com or by calling the shop. In addition, Fuzzy's Taco Shop has partnered with Avocados From Mexico to give 100 winners free chips & guacamole for a year. Anyone who purchases guacamole made fresh with Avocados From Mexico from Fuzzy's Taco Shop on Cinco de Mayo (May 5) and uses the Fuzzy's Taco Shop Rewards app will be eligible to win. After May 5, 100 winners will be randomly selected and each winner will have one (1) order of free chips & guacamole added to their Rewards account each week for 52 weeks.
Jorrge’s Restaurante Cantina
3800 Wilmington Pike, Kettering | 937-293-3777
What to know: Jorrge's is offering a Cinco de Mayo special: all margaritas $5, and five tacos will cost $5.
Taqueria Mixteca
1609 E. Third St., Dayton | (937) 258-2654
2190 Shiloh Springs Road, Trotwood | 937-529-7535
What to know: Taqueria Mixteca is inexpensive and tasty. The large burrito for $6.49 is large enough to feed two with leftovers, the authentic tacos are absolutely delicious and the guacamole ($2.99) is some of the best in town and an incredibly generous helping for the price. Honestly, this is a go-to that almost never lets me down. New hours are Monday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., so you can plan a Cinco de Mayo celebration for breakfast, lunch and dinner.