Cinco de Mayo in Detroit – Day 1
Morning
Whether day 1 of your itinerary is Cinco de Mayo itself, or you are having a belated celebration, you will want to start out your celebrations by heading to Southwest Detroit, also known as Mexicantown. There is much street parking available on the side streets off Vernor Highway.
Begin your Cinco de Mayo celebrations with an authentic Mexican breakfast. El Caporal Restaurante, located on Junction Avenue, is probably the best known Mexican restaurant in Detroit for its breakfast. El Caporal has been open since 2018, and is run by siblings Antonio and Araceli from Mexico City. Go simple with an omelette a la Mexicana, try something sweet like the pancakes with condensed milk, or go with a classic like huevos rancheros, huevo con chorizo, or chilaquiles.
Afternoon
Spend your afternoon exploring Mexicantown and the shopping scene here. Make sure to stop at Xochi’s Gift Shop, where you’ll find the widest selection of imported Mexican Folk Art in the city. Last year, Xochi’s started selling ‘Fiesta in a Box,’ when many businesses closed for Cinco de Mayo. The boxes are filled with everything you need to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, such as Mexican bingo, mini maracas, clay jaritos, flower crowns, fiesta beads, and more. Due to their popularity, these boxes will be sold in 2022 as well.
Have you worked up an appetite for lunch? Whether you’re hungry for a full meal, or just a couple tacos, there are many lunch options in Mexicantown.
Taqueria y Cenaduria Triángulo Dorado is a perfect option for your day 1 lunch. This restaurant is pretty unique compared to other Mexican restaurants in Detroit. It serves authentic northern Mexican cuisine, with dishes from the “golden triangle” of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua.
For a 2021 Cinco de Mayo special, they are offering two gorditas and an agua fresca for $6 – perfect for a light lunch. If you want something heartier, try the Sinaloan style sushi, which you won’t find anywhere else in Detroit.
Evening
If you still have energy in the evening, take a walk through Clark Park in the center of Mexicantown as you work up an appetite for dinner. Architectural lovers might want to visit the nearby Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit, or catch a view of the Ambassador Bridge.
For dinner, head to Detroit’s oldest Mexican restaurant: Mexican Village. Here, the specialty dishes include Caldo Can-cun (a spicy chicken and rice soup), burritos, and steaks.
Mexican Village is open until 10pm so it’s also a great place to order margaritas and stay late as you celebrate Cinco de Mayo. El Rancho Mexican Restaurant closes a little earlier, around 8 or 9 depending on the night, but is also known for its cocktails.
Mi Pueblo is another option for drinks, as they are offering bar drinks to go currently. You can also purchase one of their special Cinco de Mayo in Detroit t-shirts for $14.
Photos Courtesy of: Marvin Shaouni and Xochi’s Gift Shop