Webb Plaza

Cinco de Mayo, which translates in English to Fifth of May, is a holiday celebrating the victory of the Battle of Puebla, where General Ignacio Zaragoza led Mexico’s army and defeated the French on May 5th, 1862. This battle killed about 1,000 French soldiers and freed Mexico from the control of the monarchy under Maximilian of Austria. Although the French were not driven from Mexico completely until years later, this victory has endured as a symbol of freedom and defiance of foreign sovereignty.

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo has endured for over a century and a half, although Mexico and the United States tend to observe the holiday in slightly different ways. In Mexico, where the celebration of Cinco de Mayo is surprisingly less popular, festivals, speeches, and battle reenactments commemorate the victory of the Battle of Puebla.

In the United States, the meaning behind the holiday has been reshaped over time. Since the 1980s, Cinco de Mayo has been associated with alcoholic beverages due to ad campaigns at the time that took advantage of the holiday to promote their products. This intertwined consumption of tequila, margaritas, beer, and wine into the holiday’s traditions. Although this association increased the popularity of Cinco de Mayo in the United States among the non-Hispanic demographic, this tradition it is not tied to the holiday’s historical roots.

Today, many see Cinco de Mayo as an opportunity to celebrate and honor Mexican culture and heritage. Especially in areas with large Mexican American populations, celebrations often include parades, dancing, Mariachi bands, along with the savoring of delicious Mexican dishes, such as tamales, tacos, enchiladas, carnitas, churros, and mole poblano. This is a holiday to seek out and experience authentic Mexican cuisine!

One dish significant to Cinco de Mayo is mole poblano because it originated in Puebla. Mole poblano is known for its rich, earthy flavor, composed of sauce made from Mexican chocolate, chiles, and seeds, and can be served over meat or other foods. Some other common dishes include Chiles en nogada, a meal of poblano peppers filled with picadillo and topped with a walnut-based cream and pomegranates, and tamales, which are made from masa, a dough made of nixtamalized corn, steamed and stuffed with various fillings, such as cheeses, vegetables, meats, etc.

If you are looking for a place to experience the rich flavors of authentic Mexican cuisine this Cinco de Mayo, look no further than Webb Plaza’s El Jalapenos!

This special restaurant offers heavenly and fresh classic dishes, including burritos, enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, steaks, seafood, chicken, and more! Each type of dish on the menu comes an array of delicious and well-crafted options to suit varied preferences.

If you can’t decide or you are interested in more than one option, enjoy El Jalapeno’s combination meals that encompass several dishes, all for a very affordable price. El Jalapenos is committed to keeping their prices low without sacrificing the effort they put into their food’s rich flavors. They also offer a children’s menu to welcome the whole family, along with vegetarian options to embrace those with restricted diets.

Their friendly, festive, and casual atmosphere is a welcoming space to enjoy margaritas with friends, or relax and make new memories with the whole family.

Open from 11am to 10pm Sunday-Thursday, and until 10:30pm Friday and Saturday. Come enjoy mouthwatering Mexican cuisine at El Jalapenos this Cinco de Mayo or any other day! Located near Northwest Commons in Webb Plaza at 2418 N Webb Rd, Ste A, Grand Island, NE, 68803.