I’ve been through a lot of Cinco de Mayos, good and bad (the worst probably includes throwing up and passing out on my aunt and uncle’s bathroom floor after far too many homemade margaritas, we’ve all been there), however, I always try to treat this holiday with the reverence it deserves. Basically, waiting hours in line for margs, chips & salsa and some sort of pork burrito. If you are looking to spice up your Cinco de Mayo this year, I highly suggest making the trek out by Lafayette Square Mall to the restaurante in Carnicieria Guanajuato.

Now, I’m of the opinion most basic Mexican restaurants taste the same. I can imagine you are wondering if dragging yourself out to the semi-west side is worth it on a Tuesday when there’s a La Hacienda right around the corner, however, I encourage you to indulge your curiosity and drive the extra 15 minutes. The area around Lafayette Square Mall has become an international hub in Indy, and if you are looking for something different, there are a plethora of unique and delicious restaurants in the area that deserve some daylight.

Driving by Carniceria Guanajuato, it’s easy to write this place off as just another large, hispanic grocery store, but nestled inside is a lively Mexican restaurante with some killer Mexican grub. I won’t pretend to have had everything on the menu, but as an avid burrito connoisseur, I will say they have big burritos as good as any Chipotle or Qdoba. Feeling saucy on CDM? Order a Camarones de Cocktel (Shrimp Cocktail as big as your head), or a tray of assorted meats big enough to feed a family of ten. Whatever you choose to order, I guarantee you will enjoy the food and frenetic atmosphere.

Once you are done with dinner, it’s a fun, cultural experience wandering around the supermercado. If you are a fiscally responsible recent grad like me, this is the perfect place to buy a mondo-sized tub of Ensueno (laundry detergent) that will last your for months, and it only costs about $5.

So in closing, if you are still deciding on that Cinco de Mayo location to take all of your friends for dinner, give Carniceria Guanajuato a try.

Location: 5210 W Pike Plaza Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46254

Written by: Stuart Alexander