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Miller’s Ale House

Cinco de Mayo falls on a taco Tuesday this year, in case you needed any more excuse to celebrate Mexican culture with tacos. Though it’s only a loosely observed holiday in Mexico that commemorates an 1862 military victory over France, lots of Americans — and American restaurant chains — go all out. Here are the best deals you can grab at fast food and chain restaurants across the U.S. this year on May 5, from burritos to margaritas. 

Moe’s Southwest Grill: Free Queso

Lafayette, US - December 27, 2016: Moe's Southwest Grill Fast Casual Restaurant
jetcityimage/istockphoto

If you’re hoping for a free Cinco de Mayo burrito from Moe’s, you’re out of luck. What they are giving away though is queso. Buy any entree on May 5th and get a free side of queso when you order online, in the app, or in store.

Chipotle: Free Chips and Guac or Queso

Chipotle bowl
TripAdvisor

Chipotle’s Cinco de Mayo deal is mercifully less complicated than usual this year. You can get a free side of chips and either guacamole or queso when you purchase an entree. Just use code CINCO26 at checkout when you order online to get it.

TGI Fridays: $5 Margarita

Front exterior of a TGI Friday's restaurant in Bloomington, Minnesota with garden surrounding on a bright sunny day in summer
Ken Wolter/shutterstock

Cinco de Mayo lasts the full month of May at TGI Fridays, where you can get $5 classic margaritas. On May 5th, you can also get free chips and salsa if you sign up for the chain’s rewards program.

California Tortilla: 5 Days of Deals

A person wearing gloves prepares a burrito, adding ingredients like rice, shredded meat, and peppers from a selection of metal containers at a food counter.
California Tortilla

California Tortilla is having five days of deals and giveaways to celebrate this year.

  • Friday, May 1: Free chips and queso with purchase 
  • Saturday, May 2: Free Fresh Deal with burrito or bowl purchase 
  • Sunday, May 3: $5 off $20 purchase 
  • Monday, May 4: Free cookie with entrée purchase 
  • Tuesday, May 5: Free taco coupon for your next order with purchase 

Chuy’s: $5 Queso Bowls

Chuy’s Burrito
Toy K./Yelp

You can get $5 queso bowls at Chuy’s on May 4th and 5th this year. That includes loaded queso options like Compuesto and Boom-Boom Pow with beans and all kinds of toppings. There’s also $6 regular or $9 grande House ‘Ritas, $1 off Mexican beers, and free delivery from May 1-3 with code CINCODELIVERY at checkout.

Baja Fresh: $5.50 Off $20

Baja Fresh Wahoo fish tacos
Baja Fresh

Burrito chain Baja Fresh is keeping things simple for Cinco de Mayo. You can get $5.50 off any $20 purchase you make May 1-5. You have to order online and use code CINCO when you checkout to get the discount.

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop: $2.50 Tacos

A brick restaurant with signs reading "Fuzzy's Tacos & Margs." A banner on the window says "Coming Soon." There is a covered outdoor seating area, some greenery, and a red car parked in front. The sky is cloudy.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Fuzzy’s has a deal on tacos and margaritas for Cinco de Mayo. On May 5th, select tacos will be $2.50 all day long, and half-yard margaritas will be $10. And as a bonus, members of the chain’s rewards program can get free chips and salsa on May 6th with any $5 purchase.

Chronic Tacos: $1 Off All Tacos

Chronic Tacos Burrito
Marcelino R. / Yelp

Chronic Tacos is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a Taco Tuesday special. Rewards members will get $1 off all tacos all day long on May 5th, both in-store and online.

Tijuana Flats: $5 Menu

A plate with a chimichanga topped with sour cream, tortilla chips, shredded lettuce, and pico de gallo. In the background are trays with taquitos, dipping sauces, and additional chips on a wooden table.
Larry L./Yelp

Tijuana Flats is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with five days of $5 deals. From May 1-5, all of these deals are $5 for dine in, takeout, and delivery.

  • Two street tacos and chips
  • One taco and chips
  • Minijuana burrito
  • Chips and queso
  • Two beers

Meet the Writer

Lacey Muszynski is a staff writer at Cheapism covering food, travel, and more. She has over 15 years of writing and editing experience, and her restaurant reviews and recipes have previously appeared in Serious Eats, Thrillist, and countless publications in her home state of Wisconsin.