Creative Drink and Food Specials Will Help You Celebrate On Friday
Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner and two Santa Monica restaurants, Socalo and Tallula’s, are getting ready to celebrate the holiday in style.
Socalo, the new seasonal SoCal Mexican restaurant located in Santa Monica and run by award-winning chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, is hosting a festive event on Friday, May 5th starting at 11:30 a.m. Guests can enjoy all-day specials, including $5 tacos, $5 beer, and $8 cocktails, along with happy hour munchies. Mariachi mi Tierra will be playing live music from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. The event is free, and dinner reservations are recommended. Free parking is available at The Gateway Hotel.
The restaurant’s Cinco de Mayo menu includes a wide range of delicious options, including the pork belly al pastor taco with sweet and tangy chile sauce, pineapple salsita, and Mexican crema. Other options include the machaca taco with shredded beef brisket, chile verde, cotija, and cabbage slaw, and the jackfruit tinga taco with roasted poblano, crispy jalapeño, avocado, and tomatillo salsa. For $8, guests can enjoy tacos and munchies such as the lobster taco with jalapeño, Oaxacan cheese, spicy aioli, chile tajin, and crispy corn tortilla, and the scallop aguachile with passion fruit, cucumber, radish, cilantro, and avocado. The cocktail menu features creative options such as the El Picante with tequila blanco, Fresno chile, cilantro, lime, and smoked tajin, and the Oaxacan Old Fashioned with Vida mezcal, Oaxacan chocolate, xocolatl mole, and grapefruit bitters.
Tallula’s, located along the PCH in Santa Monica, is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta on Friday, May 5th, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will include a DJ spinning tunes from 6-9 p.m., and a bunch of stations set up outside, including a satellite bar with hibiscus, spicy, and classic margaritas. A taco cart will be firing up carnitas tacos and chicharrónes, and Mexican street fruit cups will also be available. The restaurant’s usual menu will be available, and food and drinks from the patio are available to go, so guests can enjoy their treats on the beach. Reservations are highly recommended to guarantee a spot, but walk-ins are available at Felix’s Bar and on the massive patio where you can feel free to lounge.
For those who prefer to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at home, Tallula’s is offering a Cinco De Mayo Fiesta Pack for $155, which feeds 6 and includes a 12-piece taco bar with carne asada, chicken, shrimp, veggies, and all the fixings, an 8-piece cheese quesadilla, DIY Nachos “Sencillo,” and churros. Jars of margaritas, palomas, seasonal aguas frescas, or mixed cerveza packs can also be added. Pre-order online through Tallula’s website or Tripleseat by May 4th at 8 p.m. for pickup and delivery on May 5th.
Whether you’re looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at home or out on the town, Socalo and Tallula’s have you covered with festive options and delicious Mexican cuisine.
