Top 5 Margaritas in Chicago

Today is Cinco de Mayo, a relatively minor holiday on the Mexican calendar (Independence Day, Sept. 15, ranks much higher), but it somehow has become an excuse to party. Kind of like Hallmark turned “Secretaries Day” into an unofficial holiday requiring lunches, gifts and of course, greeting cards. With today’s event, the fine folks at ________ beer company have deemed this a day worth partying, and therefore, we give in to this annual bacchanal, and hereby crown our top 5 sources for utterly quaffable margaritas. They all use great tequila – always 100% agave – (usually blanco, sometimes reposado, but rarely an aged añejo); freshly-squeezed lime juice, and a range of additions such as brandy, Cointreau or even mezcal. Cheers.

1. Frontera/Topolobampo
445 N. Clark St., 312-661-1434

2. Salpicon!
1252 N. Wells St., 312-988-7811

3. Mercadito
108 W. Kinzie, 312-329-9555

4. Adobo Grill
1610 N. Wells St., 312-266-7999

5. Big Star
1531 N. Damen Ave., 773-235-4039