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What are 3 typical foods served on Cinco de Mayo?

Molé, chilaquiles, and tamales are all typical foods found at a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

What is a good menu for Cinco de Mayo?

A good Cinco de Mayo menu includes a range of authentic Mexican recipes – from carnitas to tamales, you can also put your own twist on each dish!

What is the most popular food eaten on Cinco de Mayo in Mexico?

Authentic dishes like Molé Poblano, chalupas, enchiladas, tacos, and chilaquiles are all popular Mexican foods eaten on Cinco de Mayo.

What can I bring to a Cinco de Mayo party?

Bringing delicious meals, either authentic ones or ones with more modern twists, are welcome at a Cinco de Mayo party. Scroll for an array of recipe ideas to bring to the celebration!

Pineapple Pico de Gallo

Sweet and spicy is just a combo we can't pass up. This chunky salsa will accommodate each guest at your Cinco de Mayo parties with bites full of fresh veggies and fruit. (via Cozy Cravings)

Elote

This tasty street food snack is so fun to eat. Grilling gives the corn a nice char and smokey flavor. However, they're getting slathered in mayonnaise and cotija cheese, so they're bound to please any way you make them. (via Sunday Supper Movement)

Crispy Chicken Taquitos with Avocado Crema

These chicken taquitos are the ideal finger food for a Cinco de Mayo party. The contents are inside a rolled tortilla and make a great portable bite for those times when your favorite song comes on and you *have* to bust a move. (via A Cozy Kitchen)

Healthy Seven Layer Taco Dip

Dips really keep the world turning since they're so tasty and easy to scoop up with the swipe of a chip. Stock up on your dippable chips, because this taco dip recipe won't last long. (via Rachl Mansfield)

Brisket Sopes

If you love tacos, you’ll adore sopes. They’re a traditional Mexican dish made from thick rounds of fried masa, and this version is topped with ultra-tender slow-cooked brisket. Crack open a cold cerveza and enjoy. (viaMuy Bueno Cookbook)

Pollo Asado

Savor in the deep, smoky notes of this popular Mexican recipe – pollo asado. Each bite is crusted in spices for a never-boring bite. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Cheesy Avocado Quesadillas

If you’re short on time but still want to party, these quesadillas are just the dish for you. Upgrade the basic cheese ‘dillas you know and love from childhood with avocado slices and seasoned ground beef, for a hearty bite that’s easy to make but still tastes impressive. (via Damn Delicious)

Avocado, Mango, and Shrimp Ceviche

Ceviche is always super light and fresh, and when served during the summery day of Cinco de Mayo, everyone will have you to thank for bringing such a mouthwatering dish to the party. (via Pink Owl Kitchen)

Tomatillo Avocado Salsa with Baked Tortilla Chips

This creamy salsa is like a cross between salsa verde and guacamole. This means it’s highly addictive, so you better have a lot of chips handy. Try it on top of tacos, nachos or even on a torta — this salsa tastes good on *everything*. (via Muy Bueno Cookbook)

Skinny Chile Rellenos

Chile rellenos are stuffed green chiles that then get battered and fried in the best way. Enjoy yours for Cinco de Mayo alongside some rice and beans! (via The Girl On Bloor)

Vegan Mexican Street Corn (Vegan Elote)

If you have some vegan pals pulling up to the party, serve them some plant-based elote for Cinco de Mayo. This recipe retains all the good textures and flavors, too! (via The Edgy Veg)

Easy Restaurant Style White Queso

This ooey, gooey white queso is bound to steal the show at any party thanks to a fiery kick from red pepper flakes and pickled jalapeños. (viaThe Cookie Rookie)

Black Bean and Veggie Tortilla Pizza

Quash two cravings at once with Mexican Pizza. Though it's hard to pinpoint many similarities between this dish and actual pizza (save for its round, open-faced nature), once you take a bite, you'll get it. Cut into slices and share with the fam… or don't share at all. (via Snixy Kitchen)

Mexican Hot Pot with Avocado Crema

For a more hearty addition to your Cinco de Mayo platter, this Mexican hot pot is sure to please anyone. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Ceviche

Use sushi-grade fish for the best taste and peace of mind. Though you’ll be marinating the fish in lime juice, you’ll still want the freshest, best quality product you can get. (via Feasting at Home)

Roasted Vegetable Torta

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the most delicious Mexican sandwich around. Some of the bread is scooped out to make extra room for fillings like refried beans, guacamole and cheese. We're okay with that, and we might even suggest saving those bread fillings for sopping up any sandwich spillage. You're welcome. (via Easy Cheesy Vegetarian)

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Forgo the corn on a stick for a less-messy, easy-to-eat elote salad. Add black beans, red onions and bell peppers to make it more salad-like and colorful. Bonus: The dressing uses yogurt instead of mayonnaise and sour cream for a healthy twist. (via Live Eat Learn)

Pozole Rojo

This traditional Mexican soup is full of tender stewed beef, hominy (dried maize) and a super flavorful red chili sauce. It’d be nice if you had leftovers after your Cinco de Mayo festivities, but don’t count on it — this soup doesn’t play around. (via Muy Delish)

Homemade Chalupas

These chalupas are nothing like the kind you'll find at your local Taco Bell. Set out toppings like shredded beef, avocado, salsa and cheese, and let everyone assemble their own. (via The Stay at Home Chef)

Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde

These saucy enchiladas take a little patience to prepare, but they're totally worth it. Invite some friends to make the process fly by. You'll need to fry the tortillas, dunk them in sauce, fill and roll, so you might need to enlist all the kiddos to help. (via Tasting Table)

Delicious Dessert Recipes For Cinco de Mayo Parties

Toasted Rice Horchata with Salted Caramel Drizzle and Coconut Charcoal Whipped Cream

This is technically a drink, but with all of the sugar-infused additions, we must classify it as a totally delectable dessert. Horchata is a rice-based sip that's served with Mexican food, and this upgrade looks phenomenal. (via No Eggs Or Ham)

Churros with Chocolate and Espresso Sauce

What’s better than fried dough and chocolate? If you can come up with something, good for you — we’ll be over here munching on these churros. These amazing, crispy treats are coated in cinnamon sugar and paired with a velvety chocolate and espresso dipping sauce you won’t be able to get enough of. (via Drizzle and Drip)

Churro Ice Cream Cake

Enjoy all the best parts of a churro, but in cake form. Baked churro layers are doused in a sweet, sugary icing for maximum yum factor. (via Amanda Wilens)

Mexican Buñuelos

This Mexican puff pastry cannot be missed at your next Cinco celebration. It's fried, then coated in an addictive cinnamon sugar sprinkling, just like churros. (via Cilantro Parsley)

Drink Recipes To Sip On For Cinco de Mayo

Jade Mezcal Margarita

This bold take on a classic Mexican margarita will keep you going with punchy flavors from lime and jalapeño. (via Gastroplant)

Agua de Jamaica

Feel a sense of refreshment flow over you with this delicious drink recipe that'd perfect for Cinco celebrations. Make sure to prep a big batch to share with everyone! (via Culinary Hill)

Key Lime Margarita

We could never pass up a traditional marg. This one gets prepped with key limes that add amazing falvor notes. (via Barley & Sage)

Pineapple Margarita

Sip your way to the shores of your dream beach destination with the pineapple-y tastes of this drink. It'll also cool you down in all the right ways during hot Cinco de Mayo days! (via Amanda Wilens)

Champagne Margarita (Mexican 75)

Get the best of both worlds with this summertime sipper, a margarita made with champagne. (via The Endless Meal)

We're thrilled to kick off our new Jetset Journeys series, where we turn the best U.S. cities to explore this year into our own personal playgrounds. This is not just a travel guide but a way to spark your creativity and your wanderlust for weekend and week-long travel. Pack your bags , join us here every week, and get jetsetty this summer.

You could visit Los Angeles, California 100 times and have 100 totally different experiences. With a city as sprawling and diverse as LA, it's naive to arrive at LAX and expect to cover it all over a weekend. On the flip side, once you start researching what to do in LA, it can be overwhelming to decide what to prioritize for your 48-hour getaway.

That's where I come in. I relocated from New York to Los Angeles — I know, how original — six years ago. In my time planting roots on the west coast and rebuilding my community in this eternally-sunny city, I've been lucky enough to experience the countless wonders that make Los Angeles such an essential travel destination (and home to some 3.8 million residents). Between lush hiking trails that lead to the ocean, rich cultural histories and Hollywood lore at every corner, and some of the best food on the planet, there's a lot to take in.

I've also played host to many friends and family over the last six years and have nearly perfected the 48-hour itinerary for a satisfying trip to Los Angeles. If you're seeking an adventure outside of the typical tourist traps, keep reading for some of my favorite local haunts to add to your Los Angeles bucket list.

Where To Stay In LA: Silver Lake Pool & Inn

First things first, where should you stay when visiting LA? I recommend choosing a hotel central to all of your saved spots to avoid spending your trip stuck in traffic. As a Silver Lake resident, many of my recs are on the east side of Los Angeles. With that in mind, if you're not crashing with friends or family, I definitely recommend you check out Silver Lake Pool & Inn. The Pali Society property opened in Silver Lake a few years ago and has everything you need for a restful and comfortable stay. Situated in hip Sunset Junction, you're footsteps away from Erewhon (try the Hailey Bieber Strawberry Glaze smoothie, you won't regret it), Intelligentsia Coffee, Cafe Stella, and Donald Glover's new boba shop, Jellyman. In addition to gorgeous rooms, an elevated pool deck, and an Italian outdoor restaurant on the property, Silver Lake Pool & Inn also hosts Marco Polo Late Nights on Fridays with DJs and cocktail specials flowing until 1 a.m.

The Best Coffee Shops In LA: Canyon Coffee

Next on the agenda: where to go for a good cup of coffee in Los Angeles? Well friend, you'll be spoiled for choice in this caffeinated wonderland. Los Angeles boasts some of the most aesthetically-pleasing and well-reviewed coffee shops in America, so switch it up each morning by trying out a variety of our local faves. At Canyon Coffee in Echo Park (pictured above), it's not uncommon to be standing in line between chatty French tourists and off-duty models. It's the cool-kid choice for good reason, with delish oat chai lattes on draught, solid drip coffee, and effortless toast toppings like cinnamon butter and cacao nibs. Other crowd-pleasers includeMaru Coffee, which is famous for their cloud cream foam tops. They have three locations in Los Feliz, Arts District and Beverly Hills. Cafe Nido is another Silver Lake hotspot with an indoor-outdoor design that takes inspiration from Mexico City with canopied trees, wood paneling, and teal-tiled benches. You can't go wrong with a pastry or baguette with your go-to coffee order.

What To Do In Los Angeles: Mid-Century Modern Architecture Tours

If you're looking for a culturally-rich experience to add to your LA itinerary, get tickets for a 30-minute architecture tour of Richard Neutra's VDL House located in Silver Lake. With a $15 donation, you can immerse yourself in gorgeous mid-century modern design and learn something new.

The Best Free Museum In LA: MOCA

The Museum of Contemporary Art in DTLA is one of my favorite destinations for a creative reset in Los Angeles. General admission is always free, and you can delight in some of truly neat exhibitions like Carlos Cruz-Diez' Chromosaturation light and color experience, pictured above.

Where To Experience Nature In LA: Silver Lake Reservoir

The VDL House is conveniently located across the street from the Silver Lake reservoir. Post-tour, walk the stunning (and mostly flat) two-mile loop for a breath of fresh air and fun people watching. Silver Lake is home to many industry folks, actors, and musicians, so keep an eye out for a rare celeb sighting!

The Best Restaurants For Dinner In LA: Saffy's

All of that adventuring will no doubt have you working up an appetite. For dinner, I highly recommend Saffy's LA in Virgil Village. This Middle Eastern restaurant is ideal for enjoying shared plates and trying a little bit of everything. Menu standouts include two unique hummus dishes, the little gem salad, and the beef skewers prepared at a wood-burning hearth with superb flavor. The design beautifully blends art deco architecture with Moroccan flair, making the ambiance and the feast all the more worth savoring.

Where To Eat In Los Angeles: Quarter Sheets

Quarter Sheets in Echo Park is one of the best restaurants to pop up in LA in recent years. Don't believe me? The New York Times even said so! As many like to tease, LA can be hit or miss when it comes to pizza. But the Quarter Sheets pizza parlor, founded by Aaron Lindell and Hannah Ziskin, knocks it out of the park with their thick, Sicilian-style pan pies and crave-able desserts.

My New Yorker husband and New Yorker father-in-law both agree Quarter Sheets is the best pizza they've ever had. Now if that ain't praise, I don't know what is! Pro tip: go early if you want to avoid the weekend lines. And order all of the desserts. Take 'em home if you have to, but don't leave without trying the Princess Cake or divine choco chip cookie.

Best Tacos In Los Angeles

It's impossible to talk about what to do in LA without hyping up the authentic Mexican food scene. While most of the best taco joints are locals-only hidden gems that line boulevards in unbranded taco tracks, or sit parked outside of car washes, there are a few must-hit taco spots everyone should know about in Los Angeles.

Guisados is lauded as one of the best taquerias in LA, for good reason. With multiple locations throughout the city, Guisados can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Their handmade tortillas make every bite all the more flavorful. They also have one of the best horchatas if you want a sip of something deliciously sweet. For Tijuana-style tacos, Tacos 1986 is another easy grab and go bite. Their mushroom taco is an all-time fave for me. If you're looking for something more off-the-beaten path, head to DTLA and traverse the back alley of Mexican restaurant Damian to discover Ditriot Taqueria(pictured above), which boasts a delicious Mexico City-inspired flair. Whatever you do, do not leave Los Angeles without grabbing a street taco (or two!).

Where To Shop In Los Angeles: Larchmont Village

If you're like me and you can't visit a city without bopping around to a few cute little shops, head to Larchmont Village. It's inspired by the New York neighborhood of the same name and is a neat row of beauty stores, bookshops, cafes, and unique boutiques. Shorthand is a color-coded stationery store worth adding to your list, as is the Black-founded beauty boutique, Thirteen Lune. Chevalier Books (LA's oldest indie bookstore) is another can't-miss spot to explore on your shopping crawl in Larchmont Village.

A Charlie Brown Christmas — On Apple TV+

Little Women — On Paramount+

Sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are dealing with a Christmas with no presents and, even worse, no Father while he fights in the Civil War. But as they encounter love and loss throughout their adolescence, the older they get, the more they realize the greatest gift was each other.

The Holiday — on Prime Video

This classic Christmas movie (which stars Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, and Jack Black) has everything you could dream of: a house swap to a dreamy location and a run-in with handsome strangers. Say no more.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation — On Max

Clark Griswold is determined to give his family the best Christmas vacation ever. Unfortunately, it's totally on brand for the entire holiday to become a giant disaster.

It's a Wonderful Life — On Roku

The first classic Christmas movie on our list is one that my dad tried to get me to watch for years. I finally watched it and I cried almost the entire time. It's A Wonderful Life follows George Bailey, who's taken to an alternate reality where he never existed and realizes just how much he as to live for. This movie will definitely make you appreciate the people you love.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — Rent On Amazon Prime

Stop motion holiday movies were my entire childhood, and this one is a super cute addition to any family gathering. It expands on the iconic reindeer's story and features romance, danger, friendship, and even themes of identity and belonging. Go Rudolph!

Love Actually — on Prime Video

Any rom-com fan will want to tune into this classic, which tells the story of multiple lovestruck (or heartbroken) characters and will make you feel totally seen.

Christmas With The Kranks — On Prime Video

Jamie Lee Curtis might not have won an Oscar until 2023 for Everything Everywhere All At Once, but she deserved one for this classic Christmas movie ;). Luther and Nora have decided to all but cancel Christmas with their daughter in Peru. But when she comes home at the last minute, they must figure out how to have a spontaneous celebration.

The Polar Express — on Max

If you ask me, it's not a proper holiday without watching this iconic animated movie. Tom Hanks voices both the train conductor leading children to the North Pole and the little boy who isn't sure he even believes in Santa.

Home Alone — On Disney+

If you prefer a hilarious Christmas movie, then Home Alone is exactly what you need. 8-year-old Kevin McCallister is left behind when his family goes on their holiday vacation. As fun as it sounds, he starts to get tired of being ~home alone~ pretty quickly — especially when two burglars decide to target the house.

Eloise At Christmastime — on Prime Video

Speaking of spunky children, take a trip around the Plaza Hotel with Eloise, who basically rules the roost. With Gavin Creel as the lovable Bill and Christine Baranski as Prunella, this is one classic Christmas movie you'll want to watch even when you're not a kid anymore.

A Muppet Christmas Carol — On Disney+

By this point, A Muppet Christmas Carol is a classic Christmas movie that you'll remember for years to come. Every iteration puts a new spin on the tale, but this version is definitely Gen Z's favorite. The movie follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a stingy bachelor whose life is changed when the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future visit him on Christmas Eve.

Elf — On Hulu

Even though this movie takes place in a post-Y2K world, it is absolutely a classic Christmas movie at this point! Buddy has spent his whole life thinking he's an elf, but when he learns he's a human — and that his dad is living in New York City — he goes on an adventure to find the family he never met. If anything will spark a lifelong love of narwhals, it'll be this movie. This is also a fun movie to watch after Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer because it's supposed to be the same world!

A Christmas Story — on Max

If you watched Elf and thought that Ming Ming the elf looked familiar, it's because he's played by Peter Billingsley from A Christmas Story! In this holiday classic, Ralphie does what every kid does the closer we get to Christmas: begs his parents for his dream gift, a Red Ryder BB gun.

The Nightmare Before Christmas — on Disney+

Pumpkin king Jack Skellington is in for a surprise when he finds Christmastown...and decides to kidnap Santa and take on the mantle of the jolly old elf. Tim Burton's musical delight is perfect for anyone who considers themself just a little bit more of a Halloween person (we get it!)

Miracle on 34th Street — On Disney+

There are two versions of this classic Christmas movie you can add to your watchlist: the 1947 black and white film, or the 1994 version starring Matilda's Mara Wilson. The story follows an independent single mother, a man on a quest to prove he's Santa Claus, and a little girl looking for something to believe in. I cannot recommend it enough, for real.

White Christmas — On Prime Video

This movie is my family's non-negotiable yearly watch, and TBH, everyone needs to see it! White Christmas is a musical that follows Bob and Phil who team up with sister act Betty and Judy to save an old friend's failing Vermont inn. For even more of a recommendation, my family genuinely and spontaneously breaks into any song from this movie as soon as the holiday season stars.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! — On Peacock

This classic Christmas movie (which I prefer to the Jim Carrey version, but you do you, boo) follows the titular Grinch, who decides to ruin Christmas by stealing presents, decor, and food from the Whos in Whoville. This heartwarming story really serves as a reminder that Christmas — and life — is more than material objects.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas — Rent On Amazon Prime

In this spin on the aforementioned cartoon, Jim Carrey plays the Grinch, who hates Christmas and can't stand the Whos of Whoville. This is a full feature film so they've added some extra plotlines the original doesn't have, but TBH, it just makes it more memorable.

Frosty The Snowman — on Hulu

Another classic Christmas movie that kids of all ages will love! When Frosty comes to life and befriends some local children, they have to team up to prevent him from melting.

The Santa Clause — On Disney+

Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, who must step into the red, cookie-loving shoes of Santa Claus when he accidentally causes the previous Santa to fall off his roof. After decades of Santa stories, I always loved how original this one is!!

The Year Without a Santa Claus — Rent on Apple TV+

"I'm Mister White Christmas, I'm Mister Snow!" Whether you've been singing this song since the special aired in 1974, or you've seen all the TikToks, it's a better time than ever to rewatch the story of the elves trying to convince Santa to carry out his annual trek.