Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at these 11 Victoria restaurants

This Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, the annual celebration of Mexico’s victory in the 1862 Battle of Puebla over the invading French army. Primarily celebrated in Puebla, the holiday commemorating the 5th of May has also become a wider celebration of Mexican heritage and culture across Canada and the US. 

In honour of the holiday, we have compiled a selection of restaurants that serve delicious Mexican food not only this weekend, but throughout the year. From tacos, enchiladas, and tamales to churros and arroz con leche, we have you covered when it comes to choosing the perfect spot to enjoy Mexican fare.   

MAiiZ Nixtamal Eatery & Tortilleria

Located in Chinatown, MAiiZ Nixtamal Eatery & Tortilleria serves up Mexican street food in a brightly coloured space. The restaurant is also known for its organic corn tortillas that are made using the traditional Nixtamal process and with volcanic stone-ground BC corn. Its menu highlights these delicious tortillas with tacos packed with chicken tinga, beef barbacoa, or chapulines—grasshoppers. The restaurant also makes incredible tamales, tortas, and pozole soup.   

This Cinco de Mayo the restaurant is collaborating with Small Gods Brewing Co. from May 3-5 to celebrate at the brewery with taco features and $7 Bruja Tajin & Lime Cervezas—also available as micheladas for $10.  

Address: 540 Fisgard St., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 11am-8pm; Thursday-Saturday, 10:30am-9pm; Sunday, 10:30am-7pm

Ay Mi Mexico

Ay Mi Mexico in Esquimalt has been serving up authentic Mexican dishes since it opened its doors last year. The restaurant specializes in Mexican street food and makes delicious pambazos—potato filled sandwiches made on grilled bread—as well as sopes, fried corn tortillas topped with refried beans and a choice of meat. Amazing tacos are also available with choices of birria, barbacoa, or cochinita pibil.     

Address: 811 Craigflower Rd., Victoria
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-7pm

Maize Fusión Cuisine

Located in the Cook Street Village Food Court, Maize Fusión Cuisine cooks up Canadian-Mexican fusion dishes. It is the perfect spot to pick up tasty enchiladas, burritos, or tortilla soup and enjoy them on the food court’s sunny back patio. The eatery also makes a delicious Mazatlan-style beef stew complete with sirloin steak, cabbage, zucchini, and pickled onions.   

Address: 1109 A McKenzie St., Victoria 
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10:30am-7:30pm; Sunday, 10:30am-4:30pm 

La Fogata Mexicana Restaurant

La Fogata Mexicana whips up traditional Mexican fare like flautas, tortas, and enchiladas. Its tasty tacos are available with either beef, marinated pork, or beef tongue. Top off your meal with the restaurant’s freshly-made arroz con leche, a delicious rice pudding. The restaurant also serves Colombian dishes like arepas and Colombian empanadas. 

Address: 1310 Douglas St., Victoria
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-8pm; Sunday, 3-7pm

Mesa Familiar

Mesa Familiar in Fernwood prides itself on creating a comfortable community atmosphere where Mexican dishes can be enjoyed. Its menu includes tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and burrito bowls with filling options like Yucatan-style fish and Nortena-style beef. The restaurant also serves up a delicious tortilla soup.     

Address: 1296 Gladstone Ave., Victoria
Hours: Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday, noon-9pm; Friday and Saturday, noon-10pm 

Sabor Mix Latino

Sabor Mix Latino cooks up dishes from a range of Latin American countries. Among its Mexican fare includes burritos, birria, and quesadillas. The restaurant does taco Tuesday and serves up a range of fillings like chicken, shredded pork, beef, and marinated pork. Enjoy with a glass of aguas frescas or horchata. 

Address: 1412b Douglas St., Victoria
Hours: Sunday and Monday, 11am-5:30pm; Tuesday-Friday, 11am-8:30pm; Saturday, 11am-6:30pm

Kattia’s Kitchen Authentic Mexican

Located in Royal Oak as well as in a mobile food truck, Kattia's Kitchen Authentic Mexican makes delicious Mexican street food. The eatery has traditional options like street tacos, quesadillas, and burritos as well as other dishes like Mexi fries, breakfast burritos and even an ice cream burrito coated in cinnamon sugar.     

Address: 4636 Elk Lake Dr., Victoria
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm 

Cafe Mexico

Cafe Mexico, located in Market Square, has been operating since 1985. The restaurant brings a modern twist to traditional Mexican dishes and flavours. It serves up everything from enchiladas and chile relleno to tacos and alambres. The restaurant’s drinks menu features over a hundred different bottles of tequila and mezcal, one of the most extensive nationwide.    

Address: 1425 Store St., Victoria
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 3-9pm; Friday and Saturday, 3-10pm

Benjo’s Tacos

Benjo's Tacos, located inside the Empire Donuts in Cook Street Village, is the go-to spot for birria tacos. These tacos are filled with the meat stew, cheese, onions, and cilantro and then fried and served with dipping broth. The birria is also available in bowls filled with street corn, tortillas strips, and pickled onions. Enjoy with a side of birria rice, cooked in chicken consomme, or a honey lime slaw.   

Address: 230 Cook St. #109, Victoria
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 11am-3pm

Fuego Old Town Eatery

Fuego Old Town Eatery brings Mexican fare to Victoria’s brunch scene. The restaurant serves all day breakfast that features both traditional dishes like chimichanga and chilaquiles as well as creative takes on Mexican flavours like its El Porco eggs benedict made with slow roasted pulled pork and caramelized apples and served on crispy potato patties. 

Address: 1435 Store St., Victoria
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9am-2pm

Churros and Mor

Located in a food truck in Cook Street Village, Churros and Mor makes a plant-based and gluten-free version of the fried dough dessert. Available in its classic form topped with cinnamon sugar, the churros are also available in bite-sized form as well as topped with ice cream or s’mores. 

Address: 325 Cook St., Victoria
Hours: Monday and Thursday, noon-7pm; Friday-Sunday, 10am-8pm