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USA Today
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Cinco de Mayo 2025 food and drink deals: Get specials at Chipotle, Taco Bell, more
Cinco de Mayo 2025 food and drink deals: Get specials at Chipotle, Taco Bell, more Cinco de Mayo is an important date in Mexican history involving the country's conflict with France. It's become a day to celebrate food, too, as many restaurants have deals on appetizers and drinks. Show Caption Hide Caption Cinco de Mayo: How to make margarita mix Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with this delicious homemade margarita mix. Problem Solved 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, notes. The Mexican victory helped prevent the French from settling in and helping the American Confederacy in the Civil War, according to 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 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: Through May 5, there's no delivery fee when you order on the Chipotle app and on (use the code DELIVER). May 3-5 get free chips and Queso Blanco with your order on the Chipotle app and on (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: May 3-5: Get a free Nachos Bell Grande with an order of $20 or more on DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub. Get a free Nachos Bell Grande with an order of $20 or more on DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub. Through May 31: 5% off every order on Uber One Student delivery service ($4.99 monthly after free trial month); maximum discount of $9. 5% off every order on Uber One Student delivery service ($4.99 monthly after free trial month); maximum discount of $9. 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. 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. 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 &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). 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. 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. Baja Fresh: Members of the Club Baja Rewards loyalty program can get $5.55 off orders of $20 or more (pre-tax) online at through May 5 (use code CINCO). Members of the Club Baja Rewards loyalty program can get $5.55 off orders of $20 or more (pre-tax) online at through May 5 (use code CINCO). 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. 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. Beef 'O'Brady's: Get a free side order of queso when you purchase chips and salsa (at participating locations). Get a free side order of queso when you purchase chips and salsa (at participating locations). Bonefish Grill: Get a "Green Jeans" matcha margarita made with Matthew & Camila McConaughey's Pantalones Organic Tequila for just $5. Get a "Green Jeans" matcha margarita made with Matthew & Camila McConaughey's Pantalones Organic Tequila for just $5. The Brass Tap: Get free chips and salsa with your purchase on May 5 at participating locations. Get free chips and salsa with your purchase on May 5 at participating locations. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 5 to sign up for a chance to win. 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 through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 5 to sign up for a chance to win. 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. The fast-casual chain has Cinco de Mayo catering specials through May 7 including the Ultimate Taco Bar, starting at about $25 per person. El Pollo Loco: Get any two Chicken Tacos free with a purchase of $15 or more on May 5. Get the deal online and in the El Pollo Loco app. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Pedro Furtivo Tequila: Get free nationwide shipping through May 5 with the code CINCO2025. Get free nationwide shipping through May 5 with the code CINCO2025. QDOBA Mexican Eats: It's not Cinco de Mayo-specific, but QDOBA has free dips and topping including guacamole and queso free daily. It's not Cinco de Mayo-specific, but QDOBA has free dips and topping including guacamole and queso free daily. 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). 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). 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 & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@ What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
We Tried 11 Chain Restaurant Nachos And Ranked Them Worst To Best
Bar food staples, like pizza, Buffalo wings, and onion rings, are among the many crowd-pleasing favorites on restaurant menus across the country. But no appetizer spread is complete without nachos. They're a tasty addition to your order, whether you're looking for something to enjoy with drinks at the bar or want to indulge in casual, comfort fare at your favorite chain. I took to the maddening streets of Midtown Manhattan to taste as many chain restaurant nachos as I could (and as many as my stomach and budget would allow) and to see which ones were the best. Most of the nacho contenders were good. Nachos can be great, and a heaping plate full of tortilla chips and cheese (amongst a very wide range of additional toppings) is difficult to get wrong. But, getting it just right is a Herculean task. Although only a select few spots achieved nacho perfection, I still ranked each chain from worst to best, based on factors like crunchiness, freshness of the ingredients, and the overall taste of the plate. Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer. Read more: 15 Popular Tortilla Chip Brands, Ranked Worst To Best Arguably America's favorite Mexican restaurant, Taco Bell, currently has two nacho varieties on its menu: loaded beef nachos and Nachos BellGrande. While the portion size for the Nachos BellGrande is larger than the loaded beef nachos, it definitely does not justify the price -- especially when this meal is twice as expensive. The tortilla chips were not soggy. They were topped with refried beans, nacho cheese sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, and diced tomatoes. Though, I found another sauce present on these nachos that wasn't listed in the description; my best guess is it's creamy jalapeño sauce. I opted to swap the beef for slow-roasted chicken in order to try different protein offerings, and I also added jalapeños as a side. If you order these, I advise you to do the same by adding jalapeños -- but stick with beef. The chicken was a dull, dry mess. I also thought the cheese sauce was just okay. Other than that, the only differentiating quality between the Taco Bell offerings (other than size) is the tomatoes. This addition cannot save this dish from being ranked dead last. If you're really craving nachos from Taco Bell, skip these and opt for the more budget-friendly loaded beef variety. The second itineration of nachos from Taco Bell tops tortilla chips (which, like the last, were firm and crunchy) with seasoned beef, refried beans, reduced-fat sour cream, and nacho cheese sauce. There were no diced tomatoes. Instead, the chips were topped with enchilada-style red sauce, and surprisingly (especially given its much lower price), a dollop of guacamole. The lack of tomatoes shouldn't deter you from ordering this dish, as you could always add some diced tomatoes yourself if you're doing takeout. However, the topping-to-chip ratio was unfortunately much lower for this dish, and the cheese still had a sad, plasticky taste and texture. Overall, both of Taco Bell's options were huge disappointments. The thing about nachos is, they are not haute cuisine. They can be bad, but more often they're mostly just okay in the same way loaded cheese fries are. Nachos are about a very specific kind of decadence and sustenance — one that focuses not on the vessel or its components, but on the overall heap of the dish. Simply, nachos are designed to erase mistakes after late-night follies or prevent them. I recommend the latter if you're craving nachos and Taco Bell's operating hours (which tend to run into the early morning) and price point fit your immediate needs. Otherwise, you're better off making them at home. From this point on, you can take a sigh of relief, as every nacho contender going forward is perfectly edible. In my ranking of Yard House appetizers, I described the chicken nachos "perfectly inoffensive" and gave them a mid-tier spot. The same goes here. Since there are far fewer items to rank here, I would still categorize them as mid, but fine. It wasn't the toppings that kept this dish from securing a higher position. The generous portion of guacamole tasted fresh, the chicken was tender, and there was just the right amount of jalapeños grouped together so you could easily control the amount of spice in each bite. The issue was the chips. I don't know if the dish had sat out for a while (though I suspected it did), but the chips, especially the ones in the center, were not crisp. The one that I picked up to taste was floppy. If you don't eat these nachos immediately, you might notice that this is the case. If you order these nachos, you should dig into them as soon as they arrive so that you won't encounter the same issue. Hard Rock Cafe's "legendary" nachos start with, unsurprisingly, a bed of tortilla chips and layers of black beans, pico de gallo, spicy jalapeños, pickled red onions, scallions, and melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Hard Rock's website also lists queso as an ingredient, which is queso fundido dip. Instead of plain sour cream, a lime crema dots each chip. To reduce food waste, I ordered the chicken nachos, but also requested a side of pulled pork and steak in order to try each variation. For the latter two, I made sure to find a chicken-less chip so as not to disrupt the experiment. The issue here isn't the toppings or the chips, but the protein. Reviews of both the nachos and the pulled pork put ended up on a list of the dishes to avoid at Hard Rock list and I can see why. The pulled pork was very dry and stringy, and was an overall disappointing addition to the dish. Of all the restaurants, Pink Taco and Rosa Mexicano had the most bougie ingredients topping their nacho dishes. Black beans, pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo, cilantro, Mexican crema, avocado salsa, red chile sauce, Pink Taco cheese sauce, a house cheese blend, and cotija cheese top the tortilla chips for this order of Pink Taco's chicken nachos. The combination of colorful sauces made these nachos one of the most beautiful iterations on this list. Many of the ingredients tasted fresh, including the pico de gallo, guacamole, and the welcomed sprinkle of cojita cheese. However, even though the chips were crispy (including at the center), a few of them around the edges were burnt. In my opinion, there weren't enough jalapeños on the dish. While the chicken was tender, it had an odd flavor that battled with the rest of the ingredients. This could have been due to the spices that were used on the meat. I would recommend either foregoing meat altogether or opting for a different protein choice, like al pastor or carnitas. The legendary steak nachos are better than the pulled pork ones, but only marginally. I don't really have any complaints about the foundational toppings of the nachos, since many of the ingredients, I assume, came from a can. This means they were not notably fresh or unfresh, except for the steak, tomatoes, and guacamole. The guacamole was the standout here; it had just the right amount of lime and perfectly green avocado. But the steak was, unfortunately, a bit chewy and rubbery -- which, for me, ruins the experience. I wish Hard Rock had taken steps to tenderize its steak, because it would have offered buttery, melt-in-your-mouth morsels. This was a larger order of nachos that came out on a metal tray. The chips were crispy, though I would've liked to have seen them seasoned more like Pink Taco's carne asada nachos. The base nachos were fine, crunchy throughout, and had no burned spots. It was pretty standard in comparison to other chain nacho offerings, namely Yard House's chicken nachos. But, the creaminess of the cheese and the tenderness of the chicken bumped Hard Rock's chicken nachos dish much higher on the list. Also, these nachos, like a few others on this list, are served on a large metal tray. There is just something about that I find unappetizing and even unsettling about this. The tray is a gleaming beacon of shame, and, in my opinion, mimics an animal trough. It's popular enough that people have become desensitized to it, but there is just something cozier and more appealing about being served nachos on a plate. The cheese was evenly melted, and the white meat chicken was not dried out. I would've liked a little more spice and spiciness throughout, but there was nothing bad about this dish. The tomatoes were as fresh as you can expect in wintertime in the Northeast (read: not very flavorful), but this can't always be avoided. The second protein option at Pink Taco is also its superior one. The carne asada seasoning was so delicious and it smelled incredible coming out of the kitchen. I couldn't wait to take a bite. However, I was disappointed by the rubbery texture that a lot of the steak pieces had. If they had been more tender, this dish would've ranked much higher on this list. For me, chewiness in meat dishes is a dealbreaker. But, not every piece had an unpleasant texture, so that is why, along with the delicious toppings, it placed higher in this ranking. These nachos contain the same base ingredients as the chicken nachos. If you like carne asada and don't mind a chewy texture, go with this flavorful option. However, if I order these nachos again, I will stick with the meatless option. It's quite a feat for these nachos to make it to third place, considering they were the only ones I did not order in-restaurant. When I received the delivery, I initially thought that the toppings and chips were in separate containers. But sadly, that wasn't the case -- though it really should be. Viva la revolución, I say! Preserve the integrity of the nachos and pack them separately! Rosa's signature red chili chicken nachos contain Chihuahua cheese, black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, pickled jalapeños, and cotija cheese. There was a good ratio of chicken and jalapeños to chips, but I found myself using the additional, complimentary chips that came with my order for the chip-less toppings. The portion size was paltry, especially when compared to the others on this list. But the flavor was really good, even after transit, so that is why they ascended so high on the list. If the Rainforest Café dated your funcle, Margaritaville would be their lovechild. There is just something fun about the over-the-top gaudiness of the Times Square location, which features a margarita glass-holding Lady Liberty replica that's a third of the height of the actual Statue of Liberty. The sheer ridiculousness of the entire space, and the accompanying light show on the larger-than-life margarita glass, made me feel like I was in an alternate universe's Las Vegas, or, with the roaming photographers selling souvenir photos, perhaps a cruise ship. Whatever Margaritaville is serving simply by existing was exactly what I needed on a doldrumy night. Part elementary school project, part impressive table pleaser, the tortilla chips are assembled into a mountainous tower and smothered with beef and black bean chili and fiesta cheese queso cheese sauce. On top of the volcano is pico de gallo, sour cream, pickled jalapeños, and fresh guacamole. Trust me when I say, the picture (which was taken while the light show was being performed) does not do this dish justice. There was no splitting on this cheese; it was a velvety orange lava perfectly cascading down the volcano. I was happy that the guacamole was included with no upcharge, too. But, while the menu description claimed that there was beef in the chili, I didn't find any. The figure of speech "never bring a knife to a gunfight" applies to this nacho victor. It's almost unfair to compare the decadent yet airy freshness of these poke tuna nachos to its other competitors, but competitions are rarely a fair fight. Instead of tortilla chips, this dish starts with crispy, melt-in-your-mouth wonton chips topped with marinated raw ahi tuna, avocado, serrano peppers, nori, sesame seeds, cilantro, green onions, white truffle sauce, soy ginger sauce, and sriracha aioli. There is a bite of tuna placed on each chip, and the combination of sweetness from the ginger sauce, the saltiness of the nori, and soy sauce -- along with the kiss of white truffle -- makes this appetizer into a full meal. It's no surprise that since it was my favorite appetizer from Yard House and also the winner here. My goal for this ranking was to try a wide range of nachos and their accompanying proteins. I sought out to try as many nacho varieties as I could, and tried to order different protein options as sides. Not only did this stretch the limitations of my ventriculus a bit further, but it also reduced food waste, as consuming an entire plate of nachos in a single sitting is nearly impossible. Though you can try to reheat nachos, you will never really be able to bring back the crispiness of the chips. Chip crispness, the amount of chips charred (if any), the tenderness and flavor of the meat, and the quality of the other ingredients all were factored into my rating. The freshness of the components, especially when concerning fresh salsa, pico de gallo, and avocados also contributed to a higher or lower rating. Presentation and ambiance (if applicable) were also considered. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
