where to celebrate cinco

16 buzzy bars and restaurants to toast Cinco de Mayo in Houston

Original Ninfa's cinco de mayo margaritas

Ninfa's will feature a trio of margaritas on Cinco de Mayo.

Photo by Becca Wright

This year’s Cinco de Mayo could be one to remember. While most Houstonians probably don’t have many opinions about Mexico’s victory at the Battle of Puebla, we do love a good deal on margaritas.

Bars and restaurants all over the city have responded at a range of price points — from $5 house margaritas all the way to a $75 bash at one of the city’s most elegant eateries. Head out and enjoy what could be the last night weather before the summer heat really kicks in.

The Annie Cafe & Bar
The Galleria-area restaurant’s Cinco de Mayo party takes place on its patio from 4-6 pm. For $75, attendees can chow down on snacks such as crab toastaditas, mini campechana, and chicken flautas while sipping on beers and cocktails like the ranch water, margarita, and an Old Fashioned made with tequila. Live entertainment also included.

Candente
The Montrose Tex-Mex favorite’s party will take place from 5 - 6:30 pm on its spacious outdoor patio that recently received upgrades like a 100-square foot fountain. In addition to a live mariachi band, dine on street tacos and get $3 off margaritas until 6 pm.

Caracol/Hugo’s/Xochi
All three of Hugoo Ortega’s Mexican restaurants will celebrate the day with three-course, $60 menus that come with agave cocktail pairings. In addition, house margaritas will be discounted to $8, and the restaurants’ signature “Greatest Margarita Ever Sold” — made with premium tequila and 25-year aged Grand Marnier — will be half-off.

Eight Row Flint
Agricole Hospitality’s patio may be known for tacos and whiskey, but it serves plenty of agave spirits as well. On Wednesday, get $10 house margaritas on the rock, frozen blood orange margaritas, palomas, and the Ricky Tanner, a less-sweet alternative to the Ranch Water. Live music begins at 5 pm.

8th Wonder Brewery
The EaDo hot spot will feature performances by by Bombón and DJ Gracie Chavez from 4-9 pm along with a michelada special. In addition, the Eatsie Boys food truck will take $1 off their signature elote fries.

El Big Bad
Downtown’s margarita emporium will offer $5 house margaritas and other specials.

El Patio
Get $5 blue margaritas and $8 frozens made with Patron Barrel Select Reposado at this Briargrove restaurant. In addition, mariachis will serenade the crowd from 5-11 pm.

Feges BBQ
Houston’s best food court barbecue will served smoked barbacoa tacos on Wednesday. They’re served with refried beans and choice of one additional side.

Henderson & Kane
The modern general store in the Old Sixth Ward will feature a collaboration menu created by chef Jesse Gallegos with special guest chef Victoria Elizondo of Cochinita & Co.

Jax Grill
All three locations of the popular burger joint will offer $2 frozen margaritas, $2 Dos Equis, $2 shots of Cuervo Tradicional, and $2 street tacos.

Molina’s Cantina
Known for introducing the frozen margarita to Houston, the Tex-Mex stape will serve $6.50 Molina’s margaritas all day and offer live mariachi music from 6-8 pm at all three locations.

The Original Ninfa’s
Both locations will feature roast pig tacos along red (watermelon), white (cucumber mint), and green (jalapeno) margaritas.

Pistolero’s Tequila and Taco Bar
The Montrose tacos and tequila spot will offer $7 El Jimador Margaritas all night.

Revelry on Richmond
The Montrose sports bar will utilize Cinco de Mayo as the opportunity to introduce its new fajitas Wednesday promotion of a half-pound of beef or chicken fajitas with rice and beans for $15 (add a frozen margarita for $5 more). Day-of specials include a build-your-own taco bar; $5 palomas and ranch waters; $20 buckets of Mexican beer; and $3.50 domestic and $5 craft and import big beers.

Space Cowboy
The tropical-inspired, poolside patio bar at the Heights House Hotel will host a Cinco party that features a special menu by chef Lyle Bento, boozy Mexican raspas, paletas by Popston, churros by Planet Churro, loteria, piñatas, CBD vendors, and a night market, 7-11 pm.

The Taco Stand
The recently opened taqueria from the owners of the Burger Joint will sell its single-sized canned margaritas and frozen margaritas for $5 all day. Available for dine-in, to-go, and drive-thru.

holidays news-you-can-eat

firing up Montrose

New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

“My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

“Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

“It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

“We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.