Cinco de Mayo has historical roots, but it is mostly an excuse to throw a party.

Fred’s Mexican Café doesn’t need an excuse to party.

Sure, May 5 is a big day at Fred’s, but so is May 4 and May 6.

Click here (or the photo above) to see a photo slideshow of Fred’s Cinco de Mayo celebration.

It’s pretty much Cinco de Mayo all year long at this second-floor restaurant that overlooks downtown Huntington Beach and the Pacific Ocean. It offers one of the best ocean views in Orange County, and then clouds that view with an ocean of margaritas.

Not that anyone’s complaining, mind you.

Like many businesses downtown, Fred’s is restricted by the city from offering happy-hour discounts (Hey, what’s with that?), but they have a nice Tuesday-night taco promotion, and the normal portions are sizable.

The party runs continuously inside at the bar, and outside on a wraparound patio that has its own bar and a firepit.

There are many parking garages downtown, but did you know that there is a garage below the restaurant that has an elevator that takes you up to the entrance? The restaurant validates for a limited time, but that’s better than nothing.

Contact the writer: 714-796-5051, ext. 1110, or bkoltnow@ocregister.com

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