Cinco de Mayo is a festive occasion widely celebrated across the United States, particularly in areas with significant Mexican-American populations such as Los Angeles. While not a federal holiday, the date—May 5th—is marked by various restaurant promotions, retail offers, and community events. For consumers in the Los Angeles area, the 2025 celebrations include a mix of complimentary food items, discounted beverages, and special event access.
The following guide details verified freebies and deals available in Los Angeles for Cinco de Mayo 2025, based on current promotional announcements and event listings.
Restaurant and Food Promotions
A significant portion of Cinco de Mayo savings comes from national and local restaurant chains offering limited-time menu items and discounts. These offers typically apply to in-store dining, online orders, or app-based purchases.
National Chain Offers
Several national brands have announced specific promotions valid on May 5, 2025.
- Applebee’s: The chain is offering two Cinco de Mayo-themed beverages for $5 each: the Rock & Berry Rita (a strawberry margarita) and the Breezy Bahama Mama (a frozen margarita).
- Baja Fresh: Rewards members can save $5.55 off online orders of $20 or more using the promo code CINCO. This offer is valid through May 5.
- Barberitos: Customers dining in on May 5 can receive a free small queso with any in-store purchase.
- Beef ‘O’ Brady’s: Participating locations are offering a free side of queso to customers who purchase chips and salsa.
- Buffalo’s Cafe: The chain is selling its signature Canyonritas for $5 on Cinco de Mayo.
- Bubbakoo’s Burritos: Loyalty members who purchase one full-priced entrée on May 5 will receive a coupon for a free entrée, valid between May 6 and May 11.
- Chipotle: Through May 5, Chipotle is offering no delivery fee on digital orders of $10 or more (up to $200, excluding tax and fees) with promo code DELIVER. The chain notes that menu prices for delivery may be higher than in-store, and additional service fees apply at checkout.
- El Torito: This chain is hosting a major event on May 5 featuring margarita, beer, shot, and taco specials, along with live music starting at 4 p.m. A build-your-own-taco bar (steak, chicken, carnitas, al pastor) opens at 3 p.m. Guests will also receive a bounce-back card for a free breakfast entrée (with purchase of another entrée) valid the following day.
- Moe’s Southwest Grill: Loyalty members who purchase any burrito on May 5 can get a second burrito for $5. The first 20 customers at participating locations on May 5 will receive a free T-shirt (no purchase necessary, one per person).
- Native Grill & Wings: Offering $5 Native Ritas and $4 pints of Modelo Especial Draft on May 5.
- Pancheros: Loyalty members will receive an in-app coupon for a $5 entrée on Cinco de Mayo.
- Qdoba: Customers can enjoy free guac and queso with every entrée on May 5.
- Red Lobster: Dine-in customers on May 5 can purchase a Cinco Rita drink for $5.
- Red Robin: Serving $7.99 House Margaritas on May 5.
- Sullivan’s Steakhouse: Between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on May 5, customers can save $5 off select martinis and craft cocktails.
- Surcheros: Rewards members earn 5x points on all in-store, online, and catering purchases made on May 5.
- Taco Bell: Through May 5, customers can get a free Nachos Bell Grande with a $20+ purchase on DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.
Local and Regional Los Angeles Promotions
In addition to national chains, several Los Angeles-based establishments and regional brands have announced specific deals and events.
- &pizza: While based in Washington, D.C., &pizza is offering a limited-time return of its Elote Loco pizza for $12.99. They are also selling a pizza-taco hybrid called Za’cos (three for $4.99) from May 3-5. However, Za’cos are only available at five specific locations, none of which are in Los Angeles (Barracks Row, D.C.; Woodbridge, VA; Arlington, VA; Fed Hill, Baltimore; Rittenhouse, Philadelphia).
- Abuelo’s: This Mexican restaurant chain is offering $5 specials all day on May 5, including Mexican draft beers served in 22oz sizes.
- Fuego at Hotel Maya: Located in Long Beach (700 Queensway Drive), this waterfront restaurant is hosting a Cinco de Mayo fiesta with live entertainment from the Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea, plus food and drink specials.
- Gracias Madre: This West Hollywood spot offers all-day drink and vegan appetizer specials, organic seasonal margaritas, mariachi bands, and complimentary cotton candy. The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. on May 5.
- i|O Rooftop at The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood: Celebrating on one of Hollywood’s largest rooftops, this venue offers street tacos, specialty cocktails, and a live DJ. Admission is free.
- Marco’s Pizza: Customers can build their own "Mexican pizza" with toppings including ground beef, green peppers, black olives, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, and cheddar cheese. The garlic-flavored crust can be dipped in jalapeno ranch.
- Pantalones Organic Tequila: This tequila brand (owned by Matthew and Camila McConaughey) is offering its "Green Jeans" Pantalones matcha cocktail for $5 at participating Bonefish Grill locations on May 5.
Retail and Product Freebies
While most Cinco de Mayo promotions are food and beverage-focused, there are specific product offers available through retail channels.
- 5-hour Energy: Consumers who purchase a pack of the limited edition Cinco de Mango 5-hour Energy Shots online will receive a free bottle of Taco John's Energizing Hot Sauce. This sauce is a mango habanero blend infused with 200 milligrams of caffeine per bottle.
- Taco John's: In-store customers at Taco John's locations near Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Boston can get a free bottle of Taco John’s Energizing Hot Sauce with the purchase of a "No Siesta Fiesta" Bundle. (Note: These locations are outside the Los Angeles area).
Events and Community Activities in Los Angeles
Beyond restaurant deals, Los Angeles hosts various events around Cinco de Mayo.
- L.A. TACO’s Taco Madness: Taking place at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes on the Saturday closest to Cinco de Mayo (May 4), this event features a vendor lineup including Tacos Los Cholos, Borreguitas, Taquería Frontera, Macheen, Mariscos Jalisco, Evil Cooks, Ditroit, Carnitas Los Gabrieles, Mariscos Corona, Tacos El Toro, Asadero Chikali, and A Ti Restaurant. Tickets start at $21.90 for entry; food and drinks are available for purchase. L.A. TACO members receive free entry. The event starts at 5 p.m. (Early admission at 4 p.m.).
- Cinco de Mayo Mercado in San Gabriel: A mercado-style event is planned in San Gabriel, offering a community-focused celebration.
- El Chavo: This venue is hosting a main event featuring live music, tacos, frozen palomas, margaritas, and street corn. Entry is free.
- Taste Hall Courtyard: Free to the public from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring complimentary tacos starting at 5 p.m., slushy margaritas, Mexican craft beers, and a giant shuffleboard.
- Social Justice Initiatives: One Los Angeles establishment (referenced as "This spot" in the source data, owned by Chef Farid Zadi) plans to donate a portion of sales on May 5th to assist undocumented workers. The owner noted that 84% of agricultural workers in America are Hispanic, with 75% born in Mexico.
Important Considerations for Consumers
When seeking Cinco de Mayo freebies and deals in Los Angeles, consumers should keep the following in mind:
- Participating Locations: Many national chain offers, such as those from El Torito, Barberitos, and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, are valid only at participating locations. Consumers should verify with their local restaurant before visiting.
- Membership Requirements: Several offers, including those from Baja Fresh, Bubbakoo’s Burritos, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Pancheros, require enrollment in the brand’s loyalty program or app.
- Purchase Requirements: Some "free" items are contingent on a purchase. For example, Barberitos requires an in-store purchase to get free queso, and Taco Bell requires a $20+ purchase on delivery apps to get a free Nachos Bell Grande.
- Timing: Many offers are strictly limited to May 5. However, bounce-back offers (like the breakfast entrée from El Torito) or coupons (like the free entrée from Bubbakoo’s Burritos) may be valid on subsequent days.
- Fees and Pricing: Chipotle explicitly notes that delivery orders may incur higher menu prices and service fees compared to in-store dining.
- Geographic Limitations: Specific product offers, such as the 5-hour Energy/Taco John's hot sauce bundle, are primarily available online or at specific Taco John's locations outside of Los Angeles.
Conclusion
Cinco de Mayo 2025 in Los Angeles offers a variety of opportunities for consumers to enjoy discounted or complimentary food and beverages. The landscape includes major national chains like Chipotle, Applebee's, and Taco Bell, alongside local favorites such as El Torito and Fuego at Hotel Maya. While many deals are centered on restaurant dining and app-based orders, retail product promotions are also available, albeit with some geographic restrictions. Consumers are advised to check local participation, membership requirements, and specific terms regarding purchase minimums and delivery fees to maximize their savings.