Interestingly, Cinco de Mayo – which is conveniently held on May 5– is not that big a day in Mexico. The big patriotic holiday South of the Border is Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. Cinco de Mayo is more a regional holiday in Mexico, mostly celebrated in the south central state of Puebla. Which is appropriate, for Cinco de Mayo honors the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when the Mexican army triumphed over the French.

Indeed, it is distinctly possible (even probable), that Cinco de Mayo is a bigger holiday in the United States – the Mexican equivalent of St. Patty’s Day – when those of Hispanic heritage celebrate their history and everyone else goes out for a shot of tequila, or a margarita or three. Here in Los Angeles, where there’s a Mexican restaurant on every other street corner (usually next to a sushi bar), most restaurants do what they do all year round. Only in this case, they do it on steroids – the shakers and blenders at the best Mexican bars don’t stop whirling till the last customers stagger out the door.

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo is a good time to consider our choices for the best margaritas in town. The competitors are many – and their products are mostly good. But do be careful – a margie is one of those drinks that can sneak up on you and give you a brain freeze (or worse yet, a hangover) that lasts all night, and well into the next day. Got a favorite spot for a margarita? Let us know in the comments.

Prime Spots for Margaritas

• Antonio’s
• Border Grill
• Casa Vega
• El Cholo
• El Coyote
• El Torito
• Frida
• La Huasteca
• Loteria! Grill
• Malo
• Mucho Ultima Mexicana
• Ortega 120
• Pink Taco
• Rosa Mexicana
• Spanish Kitchen

– Merrill Shindler