What You'll Pay for Cinco de Mayo Margaritas This Year

Whether frozen, on the rocks, with a salted rim or in an accessorized glass, margaritas are the calling card of Cinco de Mayo. Even if they're not the most authentic representation of Mexican culture, they've been enjoyed and imbibed in glorious fashion stateside past and present. D.C.'s varieties of the drink come by the pitcher or in individual portions, and they'll surely be sold in great quantities this weekend through Monday, the actual 5th of May. Lime shortage be damned — despite the limepocalypse, plenty of places are still moving forward with dirt cheap margarita specials for the holiday. But not everyone. Here's the rundown.

DIRT CHEAP

The place: MXDC
The deal: MXDC is hosting its celebrations on the actual day, May 5. Also on special: Dos Equis, Tecate beer, tacos and tequila shots.
The price: House margaritas are only $4.

The place: Casa Oaxaca in Adams Morgan
The deal: The 18th Street Mexican eatery and bar is celebrating all weekend. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. marks a special happy hour
The price: $5 house margaritas during that span (along with $5 sangria and $3 shots of tamarind, tequila and chamoy)

The place: El Centro D.F.
The deal: Richard Sandoval's den of tacos and ceviche on 14th Street will once again host a Cinco de Mayo party throughout the whole restaurant, from the basement taqueria to the rooftop with a d.j. and $10 food buffet starting at 3 p.m.
The price: For the special event, margaritas are just $5 a pop and come in classic, strawberry and mango. Masa 14 and Zengo, sister restaurants of El Centro D.F., also will feature the $5 margaritas.

The place: El Chucho Cocina Superior
The deal: In the heart of Columbia Heights, El Chucho's known for its year-round rooftop. The hot spot also has one margarita on draft and two frozen types. All are made from scratch.
The Price: On Monday, margaritas will be on tap for $4.50 and frozen ones go for $5.50. There also are tequila and mezcal flights on special.

The place: Town Tavern
The deal: The 18th Street hangout is having a "Cinco de Mustache" fiesta. Patrons who sport 'staches get half off their first beverage. All others have access to deal all night long on food and drink discounts.
The price: On Saturday margaritas are being sold for $5, alongside tequila sunrise cocktails, taco baskets and Coronas.

The place: H Street Country Club
The deal: Amidst the mini golf, skeeball games and massive rooftop, patrons has Cinco de Mayo specials from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday
The price: Margaritas run for $5 at the bar.

The place: Fish Taco in Cabin John
The deal: On Monday, Fish Taco will run speicals on margaritas, beer, tacos, Elote corn and more.
The price: Fish Taco isn't the place to go for a wide margarita selection, but get a simple frozen one for $5.

NOT TOO PRICEY:

The place: Bandolero in Georgetown
The deal: Modern Mexican is the emphasis, and Cinco de Mayo will include all-day happy hour
The price: $6 for a clasico margarita as part of happy hour pricing; Also a higher-end Casa en Fuego margarita for $12 featuring habanero-infused tequila, strawberry, lime and Patron Citronge

The place: Mate Lounge in Georgetown
The deal: Cinco de Mayo celebrations run all day Sunday and Monday at both of Latin Concepts' bars.
The price: Classic margaritas are only $6, while frozen drinks will run customers $7. There are also specials on tequlia cocktails, daquiris and mojitos.

The place: Chi-Cha Lounge
The deal: Cinco de Mayo celebrations run all day Sunday and Monday at both of Latin Concepts' bars. Sunday celebrations will feature a DJ.
The price: Like peach? That flavor will be priced at $5, while frozen margaritas will cost $7. There are also deals on tequila shots, buckets of Corona and more.

The place: Fuego Cocina y Tequileria
The deal: Celebrations at Fuego are scheduled for both Sunday and Monday, but margarita deals at Fuego are dependent on where customers decide to hang out. Some specials are good upstairs and downstairs: others are reserved for the downstairs bar or the upper level.
The price: Both upstairs and downstairs, find $8 watermelon jalapeño margaritas and $10 Corona-ritas. Upstairs only, there is a patron margarita available by the glass ($10), goblet ($18) or liter ($34). Downstairs, things get cheaper until 9 p.m., where there are a number of $5 margaritas, including traditional, skinny, spicy, frozen and strawberry varieties.

The place: El Rey
The deal: All week the buzz about this Mexican beer garden, which has only been open since January, has centered on the food -- more specifically a five-pork taco with a bacon shell. But drinks also will be flowing, too.
The price: Margaritas offered go from up to frozen to on the rocks and are $8 for a glass or $40 a pitcher.

MORE OF A SPLURGE:

The place: Tortilla Coast in Logan Circle
The deal: Some of the more unique margarita flavors around, including blood orange habanero, prickly pear blueberry and smoky watermelon
The price: The Tex-Mex joint is having a special-a-day from today until Monday, but they're on Coronaritas and bottles of Tecate. However, margaritas are $8-12 per glass or $32-36 by the pitcher.

The place: Ceiba
The deal: Ceiba's Tequila and Margarita Festival is running throughout the month.
The price: Speciality margaritas, including traditional, strawberry, tamarind and more, are $10. For another $2, customers can name their favorite tequila.

The place: Oyamel
The deal: Oyamel isn't offering any Cinco de Mayo specials, though crowds should show up in earnest regardless.
The price: Oyamel's margaritas by the glass run $10-13 and are $46-$66 by the pitcher.

The place: Rosa Mexicano
The deal: Rosa Mexicano is commemorating Cinco de Mayo for cinco days. Specials started Thursday and run through Monday on a price fixed menu along with some highlighted drinks for a slightly pricier affair.
The price: On the margarita front, the restaurant is offering a Margarita Francesa for $14 which includes Grand Marnier, El Jimador blanco, lime and orange. Pitchers of traditional, frozen or frozen pomegranate margaritas are going for $50. 
—Dena Levitz