Cinco de Mayo 2021 offered a wide array of freebies and deals for consumers looking to celebrate the holiday, with offers ranging from discounted drinks and free food items to meal kits and virtual events. The deals were primarily concentrated within the food and beverage sector, focusing on restaurants, fast-casual chains, and select grocery or delivery services. This article compiles verified offers from major brands, detailing the specific promotions, timing, and any required actions for redemption, based exclusively on information provided by the source materials.
Food and Drink Deals at Major Chains
Numerous national and regional restaurant chains presented special pricing and free items for Cinco de Mayo 2021. Offers varied from discounted drinks to bundled meal kits designed for at-home celebrations.
Discounted Beverages
A prominent theme across the holiday was the availability of low-cost alcoholic beverages, particularly margaritas and tequila-based drinks. * Applebee's: Offered nationwide discounts on their Mucho Cocktails, priced at $5 each. This included a new drink, the Tipsy Shark, made with premium tequila, blue Curaçao, pineapple juice, and margarita mix, served with a gummy shark on top. * Bahama Breeze: Provided $5 margaritas for the duration of Cinco de Mayo. The restaurant also hosted a virtual happy hour concert on its Facebook page at 7 p.m. on the holiday. * Hurricane Grill & Wings and Buffalo’s Cafe: The sister brands offered specially priced drinks on May 5, including $3 Tequila Shots, $3 Coronas, and $5 Margaritas. This deal was dine-in only and valid at participating locations. * Kona Grill: Featured a "margarita heaven" on May 5, with favorites like the Casamigos Margarita, Watermelon Margarita, and a Margarita Flight. They also offered Sips & Bites starting at $3 during happy hour. * On the Border: Provided a Grande House 'Rita for $5 on May 5. * Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant: Discounted the La Grandeza Margarita, Sangria Rocks, and Grande Mexican draft beers to $5 each. * STK Steakhouse: Scored half-priced Spiced Watermelon Margaritas on May 5 at all nationwide locations. The drink is made with premium Patron Silver Tequila, St. Germain, watermelon water, fresh lime, and jalapeno. * Taco Cabana: Offered $2 margaritas with 12 flavors to choose from, all on the rocks. * TGI Fridays: In 2020, the chain offered $5 ‘Ritas and Long Island Teqs to go, with the possibility of a similar promotion in 2021.
Free Food and Discounted Meals
Several brands provided opportunities to receive free food items or heavily discounted meal bundles. * Freebirds World Burrito: Offered a free side of chips and dip with any order of at least $25 on May 5. * DoorDash & Cholula: Provided a $20 credit towards a burrito meal using the code "BURRITODOWN" for customers in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, or New York City. This was valid for in-store, online, and carry-out orders at participating locations from May 2 to May 5, 2021. * Taco John’s: During their five-day "Taco de Mayo" celebration from May 1-5, they offered five beef softshell tacos for just $5.55. The tacos were made with 100% American beef, fresh lettuce, cheddar cheese, and signature mild sauce in a soft flour tortilla. * Tijuana Flats: Offered a $50 Taco Meal Kit Bundle that included a chicken or beef taco kit, family-style salsa, and a four-pack of margaritas, available through May 5. * Kona Grill: Provided $3 fish tacos on May 5. * Kolache Factory: Offered two kolaches from a select menu for a dollar off on May 5, requiring a coupon posted on the brand's social media. * goPuff: Offered a four-count box of Choco-Taco for $5 on May 5. * WaBa Grill: Provided a free half of an avocado with any order all month (through May 31) when purchasing an entrée. * Smokey Bones: Offered a margarita and two BBQ street tacos for $10. Guests could choose from pork carnitas, crispy chicken, blackened Mahi, or pork belly. Meals were available for dine-in and via online ordering for curbside pick-up or direct delivery. * Chevys Fresh Mex: Offered free delivery on “Cinco Packs” which included food, margaritas, and sombreros. In-restaurant specials on margaritas, beers, shots, and taco specials were available from 3 p.m. to close in their Cantinas & Outdoor Patios.
Meal Kits and At-Home Celebrations
Several brands offered meal kits designed for at-home celebrations, often including food, drinks, and promotional items. * bartaco: Offered Cinco Kits starting at $77, available for order online at bartaco.com/cincokits2021 while supplies last, with all orders needing to be placed by the end of day on May 4. The kits included a veggie or carne kit, with or without margaritas, and special swag like a reusable tote, cocktail shaker, koozies, sunglasses, plastic cups, a sticker sheet, and temporary tattoos. The brand also hosted a virtual party on Cinco de Mayo featuring a yoga class, food demo, and cocktail class starting at 12 p.m. ET. * California Pizza Kitchen (CPK): In 2020, CPK offered a Taco Kit and a pitcher of fresh agave lime margaritas made with Milagro Silver Tequila for takeout and delivery, suggesting a potential repeat in 2021. * Taco Bell: In 2020, the chain offered an “at-home taco bar” for $25 that fed up to six people, leaving open the possibility of a similar offer for 2021.
Loyalty Programs and Rewards
Some promotions were tied to existing loyalty programs or required app downloads for participation. * Moe’s Southwest Grill: On May 5 only, Moe’s Southwest Grill offered 5x rewards points on all orders. This was available to Moe Rewards members, and new members could sign up via the app before ordering to receive the offer. * Blaze Pizza: In 2020, Blaze Pizza offered 5x flames (reward points) on all orders through its website and app, along with free delivery on orders of $15 or more. These deals were noted as potentially returning in 2021. * Modelo: The brand announced a giveaway of $250,000 worth of beer for the holiday, intended to help fans celebrate and thank first responders.
Grocery and Delivery Service Offers
Beyond restaurants, some deals were available through grocery or delivery platforms. * 7-Eleven: The convenience store chain was listed as a location for Cinco de Mayo deals, though specific offers were not detailed in the provided material. * Drizly: New customers to the alcohol delivery service could receive $5 off their first order using the code "CINCO2021" through May 5.
Special Events and Virtual Activities
Several brands paired their food and drink deals with special events to enhance the celebration. * Trudy’s: Hosted a Cinco de Mayo event at its South Star and North Star locations on May 5, 2021. The event featured entertainment from a Mariachi band, a COVID pinata, special giveaways in the restaurant, and a large Cinco de Mayo backdrop for pictures. Food and drink deals were also offered in the days leading up to May 5. * Twin Peaks: Celebrated Cinco de Mayo from May 3 to May 8 with sweet deals on favorite tequilas, cervezas, and more. * bartaco: As mentioned, hosted a virtual party on Cinco de Mayo including a yoga class, food demo, and cocktail class.
Important Considerations for Consumers
While the deals listed were widely available, consumers should note the following based on the source material: * Timing: Many offers were valid only on May 5, 2021, while others were available over a range of dates (e.g., May 1-5, through May 31). * Participation: Offers were often valid at "participating locations" only. Consumers were advised to verify with their local restaurant or store. * Dine-In vs. To-Go: Some deals, like the Hurricane Grill & Wings and Buffalo’s Cafe offer, were dine-in only. Others, like those from Kona Grill and Chevys Fresh Mex, were available for takeout or delivery. * Code Requirements: Certain offers, such as the DoorDash & Cholula deal, required a promo code for redemption. Others, like the Kolache Factory discount, required a physical or digital coupon. * Loyalty Membership: Some deals, like the Moe’s Southwest Grill 5x points, required membership in the brand's rewards program.
Conclusion
Cinco de Mayo 2021 presented a diverse selection of freebies and deals, primarily focused on food and beverage promotions from national restaurant chains. Consumers had opportunities to enjoy discounted drinks like $5 margaritas, free food items with purchase, and complete meal kits for home celebrations. Offers were often time-sensitive, required specific actions like using a promo code or joining a loyalty program, and were subject to participation at specific locations. The holiday also featured special events, both in-person and virtual, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. As with any promotion, consumers were advised to confirm details with individual brands and locations, as terms and availability could vary.