Margaritas are consistently one of the most popular cocktails ordered within dine-in restaurants across the United States, and for good reason…they’re DELICIOUS!  For a drink so popular it deserves it’s own National Day, which just so happens to fall on February 22^nd each year. Many restaurants offer specials on National Margarita Day, while others are offering to-go margaritas to folks who aren’t comfortable with dining in just yet. There are obviously dozens and dozens of restaurants that offer margaritas in our 22-county territory of Downstate Illinois – but there are a few venues in particular that folks rave about.

Casa Romero – Waterloo

First of all, it may be National Margarita Day – but if you haven’t had the food from Casa Romero in Waterloo, you ABSOLUTELY should. Within the last couple of years, Casa Romero was named as one of the best Mexican Restaurants in the St. Louis Metro Area – voted on by readers of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. When it comes to drinks, their watermelon margarita is the star of the show. Odds are, you’ll likely drink more than one!

La Casa Mexicana – O’Fallon

While there is no shortage of margaritas at La Casa Mexicana, the vast array of flavored frozen margaritas is unique. They offer peach, mango, strawberry, raspberry, banana, watermelon, guava, and jalapeno (you read that right, jalapeno is a flavor too). La Casa also offers a homemade sangria margarita that is unlike any margarita you’ve tasted yet!

Casa Maria – Belleville

This fan-favorite in Belleville offers up traditional margaritas as well as frozen margaritas, with flavors like lime, peach, strawberry and mango to choose from. There are three traditional margaritas that come in a variety of sizes, including a 46 OUNCE GLASS full of that margarita magic. Oh, and we can’t forget about their ‘Maria Vice’ – a delicious beverage this is half strawberry margarita and half pina colada!

Jalisco – Pinckneyville

When it comes to just good, solid service, food, and drinks – Jalisco in Pinckneyville is the place. They do not do a lot of flashy margaritas, but they do frequently have traditional lime margaritas on special by the glass or pitcher. Jalisco never disappoints!

Tequila Mexican Restaurant – Centralia

Whether it’s by the glass, the pitcher, or even a tower (yes, they have margarita towers) – the margs here are fantastic. Tequila has your traditional frozen and traditional margaritas of course, but a rare concoction they also feature is the Coronarita. You likely guessed it, the Coronarita is a delicious combo of margarita and a Corona beer.

La Fuente Mexican Restaurant – Fairfield

Fairfield is blessed with some great Mexican-style restaurants, and La Fuente is one of the best. Any place you can get a 64-ounce pitcher of margaritas for under $13 is a winner in our book. On top of that, they also offer the always entertaining margarita tower!

Mr. Jalapeno – Carmi

This is another fan-favorite location in the eastern region of our territory, and for good reason. Mr. Jalapeno often offers half-price margaritas which everyone is bound to love, right? And for those looking for carry out, they have GREAT family deals that will feed five people! If you’re ever around White County, Mr. Jalapeno is definitely worth a stop.