Cinco de Mayo 2026: Free Burritos, $5 Margaritas and Taco Tuesday Deals Across the U.S.

Key facts

• Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s defeat of France in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
• The holiday is not Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16.
• Chipotle offers free chips and queso blanco or guacamole with entrée purchase using code CINCO26 on May 5.
• Grubhub+ members can get a free Crunchwrap Supreme at Taco Bell with orders of $20 or more from May 4 to May 10.
• Chuy’s offers $5 Queso Bowls, $6 regular or $9 grande House ’Ritas, and $1 off Mexican beers on May 4 and May 5.
• 7-Eleven’s Laredo Taco Company offers BOGO Free Burritos, $6 Walking Tacos, $3 frozen margaritas, and $3 off beer on May 5.
• Del Taco offers $5 Epic Burritos from May 5 through May 8.
• Fat Tuesday partners with 818 Tequila for a limited-time Fiesta Daiquirita cocktail.

A Holiday of Victory, Now a Feast of Deals

Cinco de Mayo, the annual celebration of Mexican-American heritage, lands on Taco Tuesday this year, prompting a wave of restaurant promotions across the United States. The holiday, which falls on May 5, commemorates the Mexican army’s defeat of the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Over 150 years later, it has become a major occasion for food and drink deals, with chains competing to attract customers with free items, discounted margaritas, and limited-time menus. Despite common misconceptions, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16 and marks the country’s independence from Spain in 1810. Instead, the holiday honors a military victory that was celebrated across Mexico and the United States, the latter then in the midst of the Civil War. Today, it serves as a cultural touchstone for Mexican-American communities and a commercial opportunity for restaurants.

Chipotle and Taco Bell Lead Digital Offers

Chipotle is offering digital guests free chips and queso blanco or chips and guacamole with an entrée purchase on May 5, using the code CINCO26 on the Chipotle app, Chipotle.com, and Chipotle.ca. The deal is exclusive to digital orders. Taco Bell, through its partnership with Grubhub, is providing Grubhub+ members a free Crunchwrap Supreme when they place an order of $20 or more from May 4 through May 10. Non-members can join Grubhub+ for 99 cents a month for six months, a discount available only in May.

Chuy’s, Del Taco, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Roll Out Multi-Day Promotions

Chuy’s is offering $5 Queso Bowls, $6 regular or $9 grande signature House ’Ritas made with freshly squeezed lime juice, and $1 off Mexican beers on May 4 and May 5. Grande ’Rita purchases come in a keepsake giveaway cup while supplies last. Del Taco is celebrating from May 5 through May 8 with $5 Epic Burritos. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is debuting a Viva Los Tacos limited-time menu available through June 14, featuring a Honey Chipotle Shrimp Taco, Fiery Citrus Carnitas Taco, Grilled Chicken Elote Bowl, and Mexican Candy Margarita. On May 5, guests can also get $10 Half Yard Margs and tacos starting at $2.50, and on May 6, rewards members receive free chips and queso with purchase.

7-Eleven, California Tortilla, and Others Offer In-Store Specials

7-Eleven’s Laredo Taco Company is offering BOGO Free Burritos, $6 Walking Tacos, $3 frozen margaritas, and $3 off beer at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores nationwide on May 5. California Tortilla is giving a free taco coupon for the next order with any purchase on May 5, and any purchase linked to a Burrito Elito rewards account enters the guest to win theme park tickets or free burritos for a year. Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar is selling a Bad Ass Margarita for $5 on May 5, made with fresh lime and Margaritaville Gold Tequila.

Margarita Specials and Cocktail Collaborations

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse is offering happy hour pricing on a Brewhouse Margarita for $6 at the bar from 3-7 p.m. and late-night happy hour from 9 p.m. until close on May 5. Chili’s is offering a $5 Tequila Classic Marg or a PATRÓN Frozen Marg for $7 at participating locations, along with the May Margarita of the Month, the Popping Boba Marg, made with Lunazul Blanco Tequila, Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, Monin Watermelon, house-made sour, and dragonfruit popping boba, priced at $6. Fat Tuesday is partnering with 818 Tequila on a limited-time Fiesta Daiquirita cocktail, available at Fat Tuesday locations nationwide and New Orleans Original Daiquiri locations in Louisiana.

Extended Celebrations and Loyalty Rewards

Baja Fresh is offering Club Baja Rewards members $5.55 off orders of $20 or more pre-tax using code CINCO from May 1 to May 5. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is offering two Steakburger Tacos for $5 from May 5 to May 7 for Freddy’s Rewards app users. Islands is holding a nearly month-long margarita celebration from May 4 through May 31, with flavors such as Toasted Coconut or Prickly Pear for $10 each. Dog Haus is serving the Hays Margarita on Cinco de Mayo and a Bad-Ass Breakfast Burritos Borracho Burrito on May 6 to help with the ‘hair of the dog.’

The bottom line

• Cinco de Mayo 2026 falls on Taco Tuesday, amplifying restaurant promotions across the U.S.
• The holiday commemorates the Battle of Puebla (1862), not Mexican Independence Day.
• Major chains like Chipotle, Taco Bell, and Chuy’s offer free or discounted items via apps and loyalty programs.
• 7-Eleven, Del Taco, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop provide multi-day deals with burritos, tacos, and margaritas.
• Specialty cocktails and limited-time menus, such as Fat Tuesday’s Fiesta Daiquirita, highlight brand collaborations.
• Loyalty rewards and app-exclusive codes are central to accessing many of the promotions.