May Starts with Margaritas

The month of May has a number of holidays - Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Cinco de Mayo... Okay so maybe Cinco de Mayo isn't exactly a holiday, but when you live in San Diego (and especially if you're of legal drinking age) the 5th of May is the day to have your fill of Mexican food and margaritas.

As you know, San Diego has such a fine array of authentic Mexican food.  Everyone has their favorite "hole-in-the-wall" taco shop around the corner, but given the recent festive celebration, I decided to go to the place to be on Cinco de Mayo - Old Town.

La Piñata,  Old Town

Among the myriad of Mexican eateries in Old Town, La Piñata offers a quaint, authentic experience that some of the bigger, more well-known restaurants in the area lack.  The restaurant is filled with traditional Mexican decor (including piñatas hanging from the ceiling) and a nice patio dining area, which is where my friends an I decided to sit.  Since Cinco de Mayo might as well be "National Margarita Day" I decided partake in the tradition...

Large "Regular Margarita" - $9 @ La Pinata

Now as margaritas go, this wasn't the most unique, but it was quite strong and it had the right amount of tangy citrus flavor to keep me refreshed as my friends and I sat outside on the patio.

The Meal

As for my meal, I decided to go with the carne asada taco plate. Yes, just one taco, but I assure you it's bigger than your average street taco. 

Carne Asada Taco - $9.25 @ La Pinata

Loaded with juicy grilled steak, pico de gallo and guacamole, this large taco gives you traditional Mexican flavors in every bite.  I squeezed a couple wedges of lime and added a couple of dashes of the house hot salsa and the taco became everything I was hoping it would be.  Served with a large portion of rice and beans, this plate was enough to fill my belly and curb the potency of my margarita.

Although my plate had me stuffed by the end of my meal, a couple of my friends ordered this house specialty behemoth...

Pinata Supreme - $10.25 @ La Pinata

Now this was a loaded shell, if I've ever seen one.  Filled to the brim with sliced avocado, juicy tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, and a monstrous serving of carne asada, this crispy flour tortilla is bigger than any taco you'll find on the street.  Although I didn't get to taste it, my friends said it was definitely worth the $10.25.

Try Some, Won't You?

I'm not saying this is a substitute for your favorite taco shop, but La Piñata (map it) is definitely a place you want to check out when you're in Old Town, especially on a popular day like Cinco de Mayo. The fresh salsas and juicy meat paired with a icy margarita are a flavorful combination that will complete your authentic San Diego-style Cinco de Mayo experience.

Until next bite, savor the flavor my friends!