Not as good as I remember The Carne in my burrito was lackluster The tortilla was a bit stale And the portion size wasn't as hearty as it use to be Prices are still reasonable Their chips and horchata was magnificent And service was excellent as always Sorry Cinco De Mayo I don't know if I'll be back anytime soon read more

Just had "5 Cinco de Mayo" for the first time a few days ago. I've driven by this place countless times over the years, and I've always been curious about what the food was like. I finally looked it up on Yelp and saw that the reviews were very positive, so my lunch destination was set. My brother and I went after the usual lunch rush (~3:00) so we were able to find a seat right away. The entire staff greeted us on our way in, and continued to be very friendly and attentive the entire time we were there. Like many others have mentioned, the complimentary chips and salsa were really good. I don't know what it was about them, but the chips really did taste different from the standard fare you get at almost every other sit down Mexican place. I ended up ordering the fajitas combo, and I have to say that it set the bar as far as fajitas go for me. Everything had great flavor and was well cooked. It's definitely a meal that can be split. But despite knowing that at first sight, I ate the entire thing anyway. Add that to the side of guacamole + a refill on the basket of chips, and it made for a very slow walk back to the parking lot. Good food. Great service. I'll definitely be back sometime soon. read more

I used to love their food but I stopped going because I saw a big roach walking around and another dead ones under a table. Their food was just so good but them roaches ruin it for me. Today in need of a caldo de pescado I decided to get take out. Chips and salsa to go... Yeah they're old and stale. And expecting the best caldo because it used to be good sucks. I think they need to stick to the way they cook stuff instead of changing it n taking the easy way and making it with tapatio sauce because that's what it taste like. I don't think I will be going back, I rather not go and experience another food that they decided to cook differently. Stop changing your cook or your technique because you will continue to lose your customers. read more

Love this place. We probably eat here once a week. This is just what I want from Mexican food: Authentic and cheap. Tostadas or Burritos for $5. A full plate of enchiladas with rice and beans for $8. Never-ending supply of fresh salsa and chips from the moment you sit down. That's what I'm talking about. This is not artsy or hipster food. This is the plain, good stuff. Nothing exotic, just the right level of spice. If you want to burn your tongue, ask for extra jalepenos (which they will happily supply) or dish on some extra salsa. The "specials" on the board are basically just new menu items. I highly recommend the tilapia special ($8.25 ish?), which is sautéd in some kind of wonderful spice mixture, and served with rice, beans, and hot tortillas (flour for me!). There's not much atmosphere, which is a good thing for a place like this. Univision or Telemundo is always on the TV, so you catch up on your tele novellas in the evening. And they take cash only, so be prepared (ATM on the premises if you forget). Forget the expensive, touristy places on Pine Ave. Instead, walk two blocks over to Cinco De Mayo. You'll enjoy the food a lot more and your wallet will barely get lightened. read more

I've eaten here 3 times and never, never had a bad meal. The enchilladas, sauces, beans and rice are authenticly tittilating! Service is great and always with a smile; they never let you run out of salsa and chips either. Also, since nothing fools a Castillians's taste buds when it comes to a sub culture of our dining heritage, I right from the start tasted "home made" This dining gem is not to hole in the wall small and not to El Torito big. Also, even has a great juke box with a nice selection of CD's except, NOTHING by Sonora Dina Mita De Margarita...for shame Que Lastima (Escandalo, Que Nadie Sepa Mi Sufrir) those are a must...Cumbias and some Falmenca whould be nice. I like it and take out is good in a pinch...just plane yummy! read more

GREAT This is, for me, the best Mexican place in town. Great food, Good service, no limit chips and salsa sauce, CHEAP. No Credit Card accepted YOU MUST GO THERE read more

I thought that Chile Verde Burrito that I ordered was nothing special. In fact, it was pretty bland and with very few meat inside. For an average American size burrito, I thought it was mostly rice and beans inside. The whole concoction was "alright" and lacking flair. I thought this small hole in the wall in a pretty Hispanic area would deliver an impressive food. Thankfully for the friendly service I received here but I doubt I will come back or mention it to anyone I know. Ohhh- cash only. read more

Meh indeed. It's not bad, it's just not that great. The first time I went I had a Carne Asada burrito. Its was 70% refried beans and the steak was dry, like it had been sitting on a warmer for a while. "Everyone else loves this place, maybe it was an off night..." I thought to myself the second time. Tried the fish tacos. More meh. It's not bad, it's just no where near as good as the reviews. Makes me wonder if the majority on yelp has ever had good Mexican food. I live down the street, so I will eat there again but I wouldn't go out of my way in the least bit to eat here. read more

Disappointed.Taco meat was kinda dry,mole enchiladas were very dry(like thick,partially dried paint)and lacked flavor you get from good mole,and that's what my wife was actually craving til she saw it.My Chile relleno was OK,although it lacked flavor as well.Good prices,however still not worth it.Theres just way too many options in Long Beach to consider coming back. And to top it off....NO MIXED DRINK MENU!! How can a place claim to be authentic with no margaritas!!?? read more

Working on my food as I type and to be honest , I am not impressed. I ordered a caldo de res, wet red carnitas burrito, and enchiladas de mole. So far, the caldo is the least favorite of my items-- all of the veggies in the caldo are raw and it is flavorless. The wet burrito is not terrible, carnitas were dry. The chicken enchiladas de mole were also eh. I noticed that the beans are canned and that's something that I dislike when eating out. I just feel like there was no love put into my food. read more

"Unbelievably good" "Cash only" "Authentic" These are just some of the phrases sprinkled in the 50-odd reviews for "Cinco de Mayo." Yet only one of the three is true: "Cash Only" I think Cinco de Mayo fills a specific niche. I'll concede it's a good find for sit-down for above-average Mexican fare, especially because of the low prices (hence the 3 stars). That's it. Will you find life-changing flavors in your Carnitas plate? No. Will you race to tell your friends, significant others, or family members that Cinco de Mayo is a "must-try?" Doubtful. Will you remember how excellent the chips and salsa were? To quote Will Smith, "Ahhhh helll naw." Buuuut....have you missed lunch, are you in the neighborhood, and do you have a $10 bill burning a hole in your pocket after that last dub you purchased? NOW we're talking. ¡Salud! Pour out a Horchata for me if you make the trip. read more

I recently moved to Long Beach and was looking for a good place for tacos. We looked on Yelp to help us decide and landed on this restaurant. Not only was it relatively cheap, but it was also within walking distance of our apartment! The tacos are larger than most and pretty well packed with meat. I got full with only two tacos! I would definitely recommend this place. The service was great, it was clean and most importantly, the food was delicious! FYI, this place is cash only! read more

Cinco de Mayo is a great diner for homemade authentic Mexican food! I ordered the vegetable burrito, super nutritious and delicious. For the takeout order, they accommodated us and placed the sauce and cheese on the side. Definitely go there again! read more

Good, cheap, and filling!! Went in there around 3 on a Sunday and the place was close to empty, but not too empty that you feel super uncomfortable. It is a small lot, but at least they have free parking! The decor is a bit interesting, but I didn't think it was super unusual. To the good stuff: REALLY good chips and salsa, and they refilled them quickly. We had a wet carne asada burrito - for about $4 you get a DELICIOUS and HUGE burrito. I had a grilled fish taco and a carne asada taco, for less than $2 each. They were both good, but I think I preferred the fish taco. Our total bill came $8. Seriously. As others said, cash only, but with prices so low it shouldn't be a problem :) read more

Came to Long Beach for a trade show and obviously wanted to try something authentic. Found this spot right behind our Airbnb. It was delicious. Small spot with the grandma's cooking in the back feeling. You know it's going to be good. read more

This place is hands down my FAVORITE mexican restaurant that I have been to in the Greater Los Angeles and Orange County area. Every time that I have been here I have never been disappointed. Ever. What is also super nice is that it is 4 buildings down from where I work in Downtown LBC.....so needless to say I find myself here a lot for lunch. Also their prices are EXTREMELY cheap for the amazing-ness and quality of food that you receive at CDM. I have sampled a few items off of the menu but what has remained my favorite are the tacos alla carte and the chicken wet burrito. Also a side of their rice and beans is out of this world. I could eat here everyday if my waistline allowed it and never be sick of their food. The chicken has really great flavor and it is always juicy. Never over cooked or dry. I love this restaurant so much I brought home CDM for my boyfriend and I for dinner one night because I wanted him to try it. He loved it too. I have yet to meet someone who has eaten here that has not! Also I would like to note that CDM is CASH ONLY. They have an ATM inside in case you forget. Nom nom..... read more

This was the perfect little spot for a quick lunch while searching for a house to buy in LBC. I could definitely see why locals come here. Our burritos were HUGE and so filling. The chips and salsa were super tasty, so much so that we asked for a refill. Our servers were attentive, too. I'll definitely head back if I'm ever in the area again. read more

Cinco De Mayo - Super selection of hot sauces - Mexican Near Me - Long Beach, California

This place is great. The food is good, the chips are fresh, and the waitresses are super nice. Don't be scared off by the people that say the area is 'bad' or 'sketchy', its not any worse than anywhere else in LB. We parked behind the bakery and walked through the back entrance. Do yourself a favor and eat here. You won't be disappointed! read more

I have been providing lunches and dinners for our crew. I've called in orders for 30 burritos, gluten free steak plate, 90 tacos etc.. etc... AND they ALWAYS were on time, food was warm and did so without complaining that I had called in 2-3hrs before. Trust, I have called various other places and they wanted 2 days advance notice and charged at least 20% more! They sent me off with a huge platter of chips and salsa galore. The crew loves the food and glad to stick to our budget! read more

I had a little (ok, maybe a lot) too much to drink last night and really needed some comfort food to curb the hangover. My boyfriend, being the genius he is, decided Mexican was on the menu. Cinco de Mayo was the pick since it's just around the corner and cheap. Fast forward a short while, and he was already back, Cinco de Mayo in hand. It smelled delicious. I ordered the chilaquiles con carne asada because the picture of the dish on Yelp looked like exactly what I needed. When I opened my to-go container, the food looked *identical* to the picture posted from the restaurant. Hell, it might've looked even tastier! I would've taken a picture but I couldn't wait a second longer to eat it. The rice was so fluffy and awesome. The chips were still crunchy in parts, with ample salsa and cheese to give them heat and flavor. The meat was tender and deliciously marinated. The beans were beans - nothing special, but for a hangover cure, that's all I could possibly want. The portions for all of the items are generous, and I have plenty leftover for later. BOTTOM LINE: This place is a godsend. They made me feel human again! I'm still nibbling on my food as I'm typing this and can't stress enough that the next time you're in dire need for an edible cureall... Cinco de Mayo is it. read more

Little hole in the wall. CASH ONLY The Salsa and chips are bomb! really good and spicy! I ordered a Shrimp Cocktail with came in a bowl like soup. It was good but I had to add plenty of hot sauce, ketchup, and lime. But that's what i usually do to all the Shrimp cocktails I get. It didn't have enough shrimp i think other wise it would have been perfect. The Chile relleno and an enchilada. enchilada was meh... but the Chile was good and so were the beans. I think in general the thing that bugs me about Mexican places is how unhealthy the make things look most of the time. the just spread the cheese all over or the mole or puree the use is spread all over plate. I don't like that much stuff on it. I'm Mexican and my mom doesn't splatter shit like they do. But it is homemade so its always better. any-who the place was good and cheap. Will come again. read more

The best mexican place in long beach, hands down. Their chips are always fresh and their grilled fish tacos are worth traveling for if you're not in long beach. In fact, out of the dozen or so times we've been there, we've always been impressed with their authentic mexican/salvadorian dishes. If you're craving authentic mexican food that starts a fiesta in your mouth, then definitely hit up this joint. PS - the mixed fajitas here are a must order on any visit. read more

For authentic affordable mexican grub, this is THE best place in downtown Long Beach. I've got a fiance who is mexican, born and raised in East L.A... and he's been on a quest since moving here to Long Beach more than three years ago, a quest to find great mexican food (besides our own home cooking of course).. and we've tried dozens and dozens of places around town, a few of them excellent (Enriques, La Taqueria Mexicana), but oh so many of them were verrrryy bad. Cinco De Mayo is nearly right in our back yard, a walk down the street will get us there and we've only recently noticed it. On the outside this place is very unimpressive, the building itself looks dull and you never see any one coming or going. However, every time I've ever been inside, it's been full of patrons (you'll even find Mexicans dining in there, Halleluja!! .....a sure sign of some good beans and carne asada). Here's what we've tried so far: burritoes and tacos (carnitas and carne asada), fish tacos, chile reyeno, and beans were delicious. Nachos and rice were just ok, nothing special...be forewarned though, I'm fairly certain that they use loads of manteca (lard) here. So don't dine here if you're looking for a light meal. Prices are fair and reasonable, approx 5 bucks for burrito and 1.50 per taco... the only burn is that they accept cash only. Oh well, totally worth it. Like I say, this place is damn good... soooo much better than Supermex or Taco Surf. read more

Cinco De Mayo = Authentically Fabulous! The food is great and so are the prices. It's a family own/run business. The service is good as well. From the tortilla to the rice and the beans....it just makes my mouth water. Their chips and salsa are always served warm and fresh. I always have their carne asade and/or chicken tacos.....so are their tortas, hands-down! FYI...it's a cash only joint, so come prepare. read more

The food was good. I even referred a fellow convention attendee to go and she said that she enjoyed it, too. The location was within walking distance from my hotel, but the park on the way to the restaraunt was a bit sketchy. The prices were very reasonable. Just remember that it is a cash only place. The reason they did not get 5 stars is due to the service. A bit disappointed with the service, but not enough to completely downgrade the whole review. read more

I should have listened to the department of health warning on the front window of the store and walked away but it had four stars on yelp so it couldn't be that bad, right?! WRONG!!!! Maybe it was what I ordered (Carne Asada burrito and Carne Asada nachos) but Cinco De Mayo failed to meet 4 Star expectations. Eat here if your like your food to be flavorless, bland and have the consistency of mulch. read more

Just plain good. Do I even need to say more? For what it is...this gets 5 stars. This isn't fine dining people, it's a hole in the wall Mexican Food Restaurant. -This is cash only, just like all the good Long Beach holes. -The salsa is always different, but always good. I might not always know what to expect, but at least I know that it was made this morning with fresh ingredients. -Mariscos are always good -Triple Fajitas will make you cry tears of joy -Asada is crispy...not gristley -The servers are not going to fawn all over you. That's not what Mexican meals are about. Meals are for times with friends and servers leave you alone. If you want something, all you have to do is ask. -Yes, there are bugs and musty smells. If you live Downtown (and not on the 5th floor) then you know this is the status quo. If I close my eyes I can even pretend that I'm back in Mexico. READ: Hole In The Wall! Cinco de Mayo doesn't feed me a gourmet meal...they feed me satisfaction read more

I just wanted to make an update on my last review. Since then, there have been MANY a hungover morning when I couldn't last even a meal at a restaurant so I have highly started utilizing call in/ to go orders. This place just can do me no wrong. They are so excellent whether you eat in the restaurant or whether you call in and get your order to go. They are super quick, the food is always ready when they say it's going to be over the phone and the Jamaica really quenches the thirst! read more

The best Mexican restaurant I've ever been to. My husband agrees, everything we ate was incredible. We had the carne asada nachos as appetizer and it was incredible. I had the chile relleno, carne asada enchilada, and carne asada taco combo plate, my husband had the pork plate. Every bite was like heaven. We kept saying to each other that we couldn't believe how good the food was. Even the compulsory rice and beans were fantastic! The restaurant itself is ghetto fabulous, you know, watch your back, type of place. But if you can get over that, you're in for some great Mexican food. read more

Third time this week. Same employee screwed up my order. Seriously it wont' make any difference whether I order over the phone or in person. Are they not writing order(s) down anymore? read more

Food was good and quite tasty. Salsa had a good spicy kick to it, not too hot. I ordered the huevos rancheros, good flavor but a bit dry for my taste. Coffee was pretty good. They don't serve "Cafe de Olla," I asked. Other than that the rice and beans were on point. Food had good overall flavor. I tried my friend's chilaquiles. If I ever visit again, I'll definitely order the chilaquiles. read more

I love this place. It's a great little CHEAP Mexican spot. If you're looking for super attentive service you're not getting it here. They are really nice but they are a neighborhood place. If you speak Spanish you might feel more comfortable here but it's not El Torito folks. It's way better than that! For the price you REALLY can't beat it. I think I had breakfast with my BF and it was maybe $10? That's pretty damn good for sit down! Their chile verde burrito is awesome. I randomly ordered it and it's one of my favs. The rice is ridiculous. It doesn't look like much but then you try it and woah. It's not dry and has SO much flavor. I'm not a big fan of rice but I could eat this for days. I wish they made pozole at least on the weekends but that's ok. Riviera's has got that on lock. You have to try different things here. There are some hits and misses but overall it's pretty damn good. And cheap. Again did I mention their cheap?? And that folks is why I gave them 5 stars instead of 4 stars.... read more

I am all for supporting small businesses in Long Beach, but this place just isn't one of my favorites. It fits a niche of very cheap, quick Mexican food for a quick lunch. read more

After moving to California from Alabama, great Mexican food was one of the many things I was looking forward to. This was the first Mexican restaurant I tried, and I have to say, I was a bit disappointed. Since this is a mexican restaurant, I should at least comment on the salsa. Spicy. Too spicy. Customer service was great, very attentive. The bartender didn't speak much English, although she seemed to understand me well enough. Overall this place wasn't anything special, a hole in the wall good for lunch at best. Another thing to note: they only accept cash. read more

Random place we decided to visit after Aquarium of the pacific and whale watching all day. Ended up being surprised by how good the food is here! Not just good, but cheap! I've visited hundreds of Mexican restaurants in my years, this one is in my top 5! Will definitely come back to this place when we are back in the area! Their caldo de des had great portions of meat and vegetables! Carne asada nachos were delicious, and my wife enjoyed her enchiladas! That was a great dinner! Thank you read more

I wanted to feel the love also, I was looking forward to a delicious, hole in the wall, Mexican Restaurant. This place is far from it! The chips are average, at best. The salsa is basic pureed taco sauce. Not at all spicey. No wonder "they are free". The grilled fish tacos were overly seasoned skinny cubes. Yes, cheap, but you get what you pay for. Try Enrique's salsa, that's more like it. I'm cool with shitty decor and crappy locations, but this place has NOTHING to offer. read more

This place is HORRIBLE! Not authentic at all... inexpensive but NASTY! The meat is super salty... I've tried various items and none are remotely good... The only good thing at this place are the chips and salsa! read more

NO CINCO De MAYO FOR ME. READ THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE. ~I'm not trying to brag, but I make excellent Mexican food, so when I go out to a Mexican Restaurant, the bar is set. Cinco De Mayo surpasses that bar and they should, they are the pros. I recently moved back to Long Beach and have visited Cinco De Mayo 3 times in 2 weeks. I love the atmosphere in the place and the people are very friendly. I believe it's family owned. Clean Restaurant, good service, and great food,...oh, the prices won't break your pocket. This is good stuff.~ [THIS IS THE UPDATE SINCE THE LAST TIME AND FROM MY RECENT EXPERIENCE, I WILL NEVER COME HERE AGAIN. THEY COOK THEIR FISH IN THE SAME GREASE AS THE PORK AND IT MADE ME SICK. IT TOOK JUST ONE BITE. I IMMEDIATELY SPIT IT OUT. I TOOK IT BACK AND RECEIVED ANOTHER. IT WAS THE SAME THING. IF YOU ARE A VEGETARIAN, THEN MAYBE THIS PLACE IS NOT FOR YOU] read more

Heidi y Edith are very nice and friendly . I ask to prepare the steak in a certain way and answer is yes . Like the flan too

This 1 star is for the services, not the meal.... There were 10 of us came to sit at the table for business dinner which we asked for the split checks for the business expenses. The waitress refused, even the manager refused, so we walked out to other restaurant to eat dinner. read more