ON THE MENU — Take a look inside new Mexican restaurant on Jimmy Johnson with classics, drinks and crawfish
Published 12:40 am Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Jose Carrillo, co-owner, and Marley Guidroz are pictured on opening day at Cinco De Mayo. (Monique Batson/The News)
A mango strawberry swirl. (Courtesy photo)
The inside of Cinco De Mayo is bright and festive. (Monique Batson/The News)
Chicken fajitas (Courtesy photo)
Diablos and Fajita Family Party (Courtesy photo)
Cinco De Mayo has an outdoor dining and game area. (Monique Batson/The News)
Cinco De Mayo Molcajete (Courtesy photo)
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There is a large new reason to celebrate on Jimmy Johnson Boulevard with the recent opening of Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill and Cantina.
Placed between Antro Blue Bar and Taqueria La Plaza Garibaldi, Port Arthur’s newest Mexican restaurant brings the best of both worlds — a place for family fun and simple gatherings to a night out with friends.
The restaurant officially opened Monday to positive responses.
“It’s been going really good,” said co-owner Jose Carrillo on the first day of operations. “We’ve had pretty positive feedback, and we just opened to the public at 2 p.m.”
Even within minutes of opening the doors, Cinco De Mayo was bustling Monday with folks having lunch while others conversed at the bar.
And outside, there is a patio with games, swings and plenty of room for dining.
“It’s a family restaurant,” said manager Marley Guidroz. “You can bring your kids and play a game of cornhole outside. It’s a place for everybody to come and enjoy themselves.”
The outdoor area behind the restaurant has games, swings and plenty of room for dining.
“Now that we’re open, I really want to focus on Sundays and make a brunch menu,” Carrillo said. “We have a patio outside, so I want people to come out on Sundays and have a mimosa and be outside with the sun and the warmth while enjoying their drinks.”
But whether inside or out, guests enjoy the best of traditional Mexican dishes, Tex-Mex and American favorites like cheeseburgers.
And let’s not forget the crawfish.
“My favorite is chicken with bacon and cheese,” Carrillo said. “And we have our plate, Cinco De Mayo. Our fajitas are really good.”
Carrillo said all staff has had input on the menu, but it’s mostly the chef who creates their dishes.
They also have an extensive drink menu.
Faddi Aref of Faddi’s Development Group said it took approximately three months to get the restaurant ready for business. Faddi’s owns the complex in which the restaurant is located.
Carrillo isn’t new to the restaurant business, as an owner of three La Salsitas Express establishments in Port Arthur and Mid County.
But he said the customer interaction is what led him to open a dine-in restaurant.
Cinco De Mayo, located at 3350 Jimmy Johnson Boulevard, hosts a Happy Hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays with an all-day Happy Hour on Thursdays.
A Grand Opening celebration is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday with mariachi performance.
