Best Mexican Restaurants for Celebrating Cinco De Mayo in Cleveland

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is a traditional Mexican holiday that commemorates that country's victory in 1862 against the French in the Battle of Puebla. Today, the occasion has drifted over the U.S. border and become a day to celebrate Mexican food, drink and culture. Thanks to a growing Hispanic population in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland boasts a good selection of Mexican restaurants. Here are the top five:

Luchita's
3456 W. 117th St. in Cleveland
216-252-1169
luchita.com

Voted Cleveland's best Mexican restaurant by numerous Northeast Ohio magazines and Web sites, Luchita's is the "grande dame" of area Mexican food palaces. The original bar/restaurant at West 117th Street near Lorain Avenue on Cleveland's West Side has been joined during the years with satellite restaurants in Hudson, Elyria and Mentor, but the quirky Cleveland location is still the most friendly and the most authentic.

If your grandmother was Mexican, this is the food she'd be serving, complete with a warm welcome and a smile. Menu highlights include queso fundido, a mixture of spicy sausage, tomatoes and chiles topped with a layer of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese; chiles rellenos, poblano peppers stuffed with cheese and topped with a zesty tomato sauce; and the shredded beef burrito. Luchita's offers a full bar as well as pitchers of margaritas and a good selection of Mexican beers.

Luchita's is open for dinner only. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Momocho
1835 Fulton Road in Cleveland
216-694-2122
momocho.com

Located in Cleveland's historic Ohio City neighborhood, Momocho uses Mexican ingredients in innovative combinations. The stylish dining room is dark and cozy and features a long bar as well as high-top dinettes and tables. The menu changes seasonally to take advantage of local produce. Recent highlights include the variations of guacamole, including blue cheese guacamole and smoked trout guacamole (it's good, really!); the butternut squash and goat cheese empanadas; and braised duck and yam enchiladas. Momocho also serves a good selection of high-quality tequilas and has a charming brick patio for warm-weather dining.

Momocho is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. til closing, and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dress is casual and reservations are recommended.

Villa y Zapata
8505 Madison Ave. in Cleveland
216-961-4369‎
villayzapata.com

You know the food must be good if a restaurant can make a go of it without even having a sign out front. You'll be able to find Villa y Zapata on Cleveland's West Side, by the red, green and white stripes that adorn the outside of the building. Inside, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, sort of like a Mexican friend's family room. The food is country-style with lots of rice and beans and melted cheese. That's not to say the food isn't good; it's delicious. All of the Mexican favorites are here: enchiladas, burritos, tacos and tamales, and the sauces are simmered for hours before serving. Villa y Zapata also offers tasty margaritas, even if they are a rather disturbing greenish color.

Villa y Zapata is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner daily from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Mi Pueblo
11611 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland
216-791-8226‎
No Web site

Located in Cleveland's University Circle cultural neighborhood, near Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Museum of Art, Mi Pueblo is an unpretentious storefront restaurant with a huge menu and delicious food. The lighting is a little dark when you first walk in, but your eyes will soon adjust and be able to take in the slightly dated grass cloth decor and peach stucco walls. The menu is varied and features a large number of fresh fish and seafood entrees as well as egg dishes. (Try the huevos rancheros.) Mi Pueblo also has a full bar and a good selection of tequilas. One of the best things about Mi Pueblo is that the kitchen stays open late on Fridays and Saturdays-perfect for a late meal after a Cleveland Orchestra concert at Severance Hall.

Mi Pueblo is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

El Patron Mexican Grill
301 Center Court in Chardon
440-285-0702
elpatrongrill.com

Clevelanders who are willing to take a drive should consider El Patron Mexican Grill. Don't be put off by this strip-mall Mexican restaurant's location; El Patron is one of the best Mexican spots in the region. Located on Route 44, just north of the square in Chardon, El Patron serves all of the traditional favorites plus some unique dishes, such as roasted pork with a dark chile marinade and grilled shrimp with grilled vegetables. El Patron also makes some of the best fajitas in Northeast Ohio with plates of condiments and sides that will fill up the table. The restaurant's more than a dozen lunch specials are available daily and a good value at $4.50 to $7.

El Patron is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sources:
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3916000.html
http://ech.cwru.edu/Resource/text/FBPCACC.html
http://census.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_census/en-US/CENSUSDATA2.pdf