Jakarta gears up to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a vibrant occasion that transcends colorful parades and lively music. This year, the focus is on showcasing Mexico’s rich culinary heritage. From the tantalizing aroma of spices to the explosion of flavors on your tongue, traditional Mexican dishes transport you on a journey through the country’s history and cultural diversity.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the unlikely victory of the Mexican army over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. To celebrate this historic triumph and vibrant culture, people typically don festive attire, participate in parades, enjoy live music, and of course, indulge in delicious Mexican food and drinks. Restaurants across the city are offering special menus and events, ensuring there’s a taste of Mexico for everyone to enjoy this momentous occasion.
What to Eat to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Burrito
Burritos, large rolls filled with meat, rice, beans, cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, onion, peppers, and other ingredients, are the symbol of one of Mexican deliciousness and generosity. When celebrating Cinco de Mayo, nothing is more satisfying than biting into a crispy burrito with an abundance of filling. In Jakarta, you can devour burritos at Amigos Bar & Cantina.
Elotes
Elotes or also known as Mexican Street Corn is a corn enhanced with cotija cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, garlic, and a squirt of lime. Mexican cotija cheese crumbles when grated, it tastes a lot like feta but is far less salty and has a much softer flavor. After the corn is grilled, the other ingredients should be mixed and then coat the corn with the mixture, simple yet tasteful. Elotes are suitable as a snack that is not too heavy but quite filling. If you want to enjoy elotes in Jakarta, you can come to Taqueria Sansrise in Tebet!
Enchiladas
Enchiladas are tortilla rolls stuffed with chicken, beans, sliced avocado, diced red onion, and jalapeños. Don’t forget about the enchilada sauce to cover it and also the cheese. Enchiladas are a much-loved dish around the world. It gives an authentic Mexican flavor that should not be missed during this celebration. There are quite a few enchiladas in Jakarta, but you can come to Bottlenose Shack to enjoy Beef Taco Enchiladas.
Fish Taco
There’s nothing like the freshness and delicious flavor of fish tacos. With crispy fried fish, served in warm tortillas with sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, sriracha sauce, lime juice, fresh tomatoes, pickled cabbage, and coriander leaves, fish tacos are the perfect choice to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. If you want to experience the pleasure of fresh fish tacos, you can come to Picante Mexican Grill!
Horchata
I’m making a distraction first, so that you don’t get bored with all the food! Next, we have horchata! Horchata is a drink made from rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. It is a perfect companion to refresh yourself on a hot day celebrating Cinco de Mayo while serving a unique taste for your palate. You can enjoy the fresh sip of horchata at Taco Libre!
Margarita
Still with the drink, I have margarita! Nothing soothes the festive spirit like a refreshing margarita. With a mix of tequila, triple sec, or an orange-flavored liqueur, and freshly-squeezed lime juice, you will have a sweet, sour, and salty drink that will revitalize your body! Margaritas are a must-have drink to commemorate Cinco de Mayo. One of the most famous margaritas in Jakarta is at Amigos Bar & Cantina.
Nachos
For me personally, nachos are never a wrong option for snacking! Whether you’re in the cinema, in a restaurant, at the park, or even in your room hanging out with your friends, and especially when celebrating Cinco de Mayo! With generous layers of beef, beans, cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, jalapeños, and cilantro, nachos are a choice that is sure to satisfy your hunger. Try Taco Local’s nachos for their house-fried corn chips!
Pozole
Pozole or known as stew from Mexico, is a rich and flavorful soup with slices of pork or chicken. Pozole is one of the popular dishes on big occasions like Cinco de Mayo. Served with hominy, shredded cabbage, cilantro, raddish, and a lot of spices, and sometimes green chili and ancho chili, pozole will delight your palate.
Tamales
Tamales are a Mexican dish consisting of corn dough wrapped in corn leaves and then steamed. The dish is usually filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, and beans. Although there are not many restaurants in Jakarta that serve tamales, but tamales remain a well-known food. Tamales are an unforgettable dish to celebrate the joy of Cinco de Mayo.
Where to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Several restaurants and bars have crafted special menus and events to transport patrons to the heart of Mexico. Amigos Bar & Cantina promises a lively fiesta with live music and an array of Cinco de Mayo specialties. Those seeking a more relaxed celebration can indulge in a delicious brunch experience at Bel Étage. For music lovers, CJ’s Bar at the Hotel Mulia Senayan transforms into a stage for High Definition and Onix, offering a night of musical entertainment alongside Cinco de Mayo flair. Tequila and mezcal enthusiasts can head to Congo, where “Coctel Especial” takes center stage alongside energetic beats by Amahl Alamsyah and William Arrow. Finally, The St. Regis Bar offers a sophisticated Cinco de Mayo experience with their signature cocktails featuring Don Julio Blanco tequila. This diverse range of offerings ensures there’s something for everyone to celebrate the spirit of Mexico in Jakarta.
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