4 Columbia restaurants to try for Cinco de Mayo

First of all, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day (that would be Sept. 16).

It is a celebration of the Mexican army’s unexpected victory over the much larger, better-equipped French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War. For you history buffs, it also marks the last time that a country in the Americas was invaded by a European military force.

Cinco de Mayo is Thursday, May 5. To celebrate, here are five delicious and authentic dishes from around the Columbia area.

Tacos from Rivera’s Food Mexican Restaurant. You can get them a la carte or three for $6. Mix it up a bit and try barbacoa (sheep), chicharron (fried pork), or lengua (beef tongue); or play it safe with pollo (chicken), al pastor (grilled pork) or camaron (shrimp). The tacos come with cilantro, grilled onion, roasted jalapeno, limes, cucumber, radish and mild green salsa or medium-spicy red salsa as condiments.

Huarache, a handmade tortilla covered with meat, grilled cactus, cheese and sour cream, also from Rivera’s, is a break from the usual ($6.99). The grilled cactus has the texture not unlike roasted bell pepper.

Chiles rellenos, an ancho chili stuffed with ground meat and topped with tomato salsa and melted cheese, from El Salto ($3.75 for one, or $6.99 for two on the a la carte menu).

For a more rounded meal, head over to Real Mexico for birria, goat stewed in red chile sauce and served with tortillas, onion, cilantro and lime ($9.99).

Save room for dessert? Head over to Panaderia Odalys for a selection of fresh baked goodies. Pick up a tray and a set of tongs and start loading up from the wall of lightly-sweetened pastries and breads on the right. Love, love, love the orejas (flat puff-pastry cookie with sugar on top, shaped like a butterfly) and the churros (long, thin cinnamon- and sugar-sprinkled pastry).

Susan Ardis, sardis@thestate.com, @foodsusan

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 8:58 AM with the headline "4 Columbia restaurants to try for Cinco de Mayo."