Photo credit: Alonso Parra
Dia de los Muertos is here! The day to pay homage to our dear ones, where other worldly spirits are that much closer to our current realities. So after you’ve finished setting up your altar, left your incense burning and pan de muerto out to cool, you’re going to need some spirits to lift your spirits. There’s never not a reason to have margarita and taco specials, and if we’re pouring one out for our dearly departed, Dia de los Muertos is just the occasion to do it.
MIAMI
Mercadito
Mercadito is offering food specials from Oct 31- Nov 2nd. We’d recommend the homemade Pan De Muerto served with mezcal whipped cream and hot chocolate. Once you’ve decided on one of their eight guacamoles, wash it down with their kiss of the dead cocktail–tequila blanco, pomegranate, spices and lemon juice. Yum!
Talavera
Talavera is having a weekend long al la carte menu with the best Day of the Dead specialties including your ‘abuelitas chocolate’. Expect things like Papadzules, a classic dish from the Yucatan peninsula of miniature chicken enchiladas topped with a pumpkin seed sauce and pico de gallo verde.
El Vato Bar
El Vato is famous for its tequila and taco bar, and this Dia de los Muertos have conjured up a menu fit for a dead king. Enjoy a pan roasted pork loin and pumpkin flan and guzzle any of their special cocktails.
LOS ANGELES
La Cuevita
La Cuevita’s dark, brick setting is perfect for your Dia de los Muertos bar hopping. Along with their costume contest (dress to impress) they’ll be offering ‘a witches brew’ of cocktails including a Day of the Dead secret punch, sugar skull decorating and more. This one is strictly for the drinkers!
Calle Tacos
Calle Taco likes to keep it authentic and this special occasion is no different. With TWO parties celebrating halloween and day of the dead, there will be a 99cent tacos all night long and a special pop up Spooky Cocktail bar. Get your fill and keep partying.
El Chavo Restaurant & Chavito Bar
El Chavo has a huge party going on on Dia de los Muertos with roaming mariachis, DJ’s and mask making. But we really can’t wait for is all the $2 tacos and $6 natural margaritas because to honor the dead you’ve got to cross over to the other side and we have a strong feeling those margaritas will do just that.
NEW YORK CITY
Ofrenda
Ofrenda located in the heart of the West Village has a whole prix fix menu filled with ghoulish goodies including veal head tacos braised in negra modelo and serrano salsa. For dessert their Calabaza Dulce traditional sweet pumpkin and sweet potato ice cream served with chile and sal de guzano sounds too obscure to pass up.
Fonda
One of our favorite Mexican restaurants in NYC is celebrating with special menu additions and live music starting on October 31 through November 7. One of the sweet treats you can have is a delicious stone-ground Mexican hot chocolate with sugar dusted pan de muerto. More menu additions will be an ode to the state of Tlaxcala, so keep checking back. On November 3 they will be providing live music by Mariachi Tapatio to accompany your Day of the Dead meal!
La Palapa Cocina Mexicana
La Palapa kicked off their Muertos celebrations on October 25 and it will last through Sunday, November 3. We’ve heard from a little bird that there is an altar for actress María Félix set up and that’s plenty reason to celebrate there for us. Some of the special cocktails for the holiday include Mexacali Azul and La Calaca. From the food menu you’ve got your choices of baked Mexican pumpkin topped with homemade queso fresca and crema, Tamalitos Oaxaqueños, Camarones Azteca and more. Check out the full menu here.
CHICAGO
Dia de Los Tamales
We covered Dia de los Tamales when it was just opening its first shop, and they have only grown since then! They are now a staple of the neighborhood and known for their community events and of course, their amazing and unique tamale flavors. On November 1, they will be celebrating Dia de Muertos all day with skull face painting by artist Teresa Magaña, and their special fall tamale flavors, chicken parmesan and pumpkin spice latte tamales! They are also offering special prices on their tamale dozen packs for large parties! Call them ahead to order.
Taqueria La Lagartija
Taqueria La Lagartija is ready to get you plump and toasty with $45 that will get you an all you can eat buffet and open bar. Food on the menu includes assortments of tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, chips and guacamole, so make sure you come very hungry. To wash it all down you’ve got your pick of Mexican beers and classic margaritas to get you warmed up for the mariachis from 8:00-10:00pm. This sounds like the perfect Mexican celebration to us.
Taco Joint
Taco Joint Urban Taqueria and Cantina brings the different flavors found throughout the streets and marketplaces of Mexico to your mouth in Chicago. Taco Joint is a festive spot, always taking part in holidays and National Taco Days, so Dia de los Muertos is no exception. Their special menu started last week and will last until November 2, so make sure to stop by to enjoy a turkey carnitas tacos (caramelized turkey leg, black Oaxacan mole, crispy potato strings) and their festive cocktail Lil’ Blood Drink with mezcal, agave loco, port, orange, grapefruit, bitters and more. Be careful with that one.
SAN FRANCISCO
Copita
Copita Tequileria y Comida is aptly named because they’ve got a lot of both. And when celebrating a Mexican holiday, that’s exactly what you need. From October 31 until November 3, they will be offering special seasonal cocktails including el Espiritu, with tequila blanco, guava, Campari, St. Germain and lime juice! There is also a marigold infused tequila and menu additions all weekend so don’t miss this stop in your festivities.
Comal
Comal is a Mexican restaurant you go to when you’re trying to impress, so bring your boo out here to enjoy a nice Dia de los Muertos ambience. Comal will be all spruced up in colorful papel picado by a noted folk artist, along with marigolds and sugar skulls. One of their good friends Jose Ruiz runs Casa Latina, a panaderia that specializes in delicious pan de muerto, so each diner will go home with a delicious treat to celebrate the dead and fill that tummy.