Cinco de Mayo in Ephrata: Specials and Events at 12 Hawks

Cinco de Mayo lands on a Monday this year, May 5, which means normal weekday hours apply and nothing gets pushed around. Doors open for breakfast, happy hour runs 2 to 4pm, and the bar stays open through dinner and the evening games.

What's different about the day

The kitchen adds a short run of Cinco de Mayo specials alongside the regular menu. Expect a steak or chicken fajita plate, a pork carnitas taco trio, and a chile verde bowl, each priced between $14 and $18. These are additions, not replacements, so the usual burgers, pasta, and breakfast plates stay available all day.

The bar side gets its own lineup. A margarita flight, a michelada, and a spiced paloma join the regular cocktail list for the day. If you want to know what else is worth ordering on a normal visit, the full menu lays out every section from breakfast through dinner.

Happy hour still applies

Monday through Friday, 2 to 4pm, drink and appetizer prices drop across the board. Cinco de Mayo doesn't change that window or raise the prices. If you're coming straight from work or picking up kids from school first, that two-hour stretch is the cheapest time to eat. There's a longer breakdown of why that window works for locals in this post on Ephrata happy hour, including what's actually discounted and what isn't.

Watching the game while you're here

If there's a game on, it's on one of the screens. No separate sports package sign-up, no table minimum. Baseball season is underway, so expect a mix of MLB games alongside whatever else is scheduled that evening. Come early if you want a specific seat near a particular screen, since Monday evenings fill up with the holiday crowd on top of the regular after-work group.

Bringing the family

Kids are welcome at any table, any time of day. The holiday specials skew spicier (carnitas, chile verde), so if you've got younger kids who don't do spice, the regular kids' menu items and classic burger options are still there as a fallback. No need to split the group between two places.

Honest tradeoffs for the day

• Seating is first-come, first-served. No reservations for Cinco de Mayo, so if you're coming as a group of six or more, arrive before 6pm or expect a wait.

• The specials menu is limited to about five items. If you're hoping for a huge Mexican food spread, this isn't that. It's a handful of solid plates added to the regular lineup.

• Happy hour pricing doesn't extend to the Cinco de Mayo specials themselves. Those are priced separately and run all day at the listed price.

• Patio seating depends on weather. Early May in Ephrata can still be cool in the evening, so check before you count on sitting outside.

Takeout and groups

Takeout orders are taken the same way as any other day, by phone or in person. For groups larger than eight, call ahead so the kitchen can plan for it, especially with the extra specials in rotation. Walk-ins are fine for smaller parties.

If you're not sure about hours

The one day of the week to double check is Tuesday, since that's the regular closed day year-round. Cinco de Mayo falling on a Monday this year means that's not a factor, but if you're planning around it for next year or just curious why Tuesdays are different, there's a full explanation in this post on the Tuesday closure.

What to expect walking in

Same building, same staff, same layout. The holiday adds food and drink options, not a different atmosphere. If you've never been, 12 Hawks is a straightforward bar and grill at 140 Division Ave W in Ephrata, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served daily except Tuesdays, and screens running whatever game is on. Cinco de Mayo just gives you a reason to try the fajitas or a margarita flight on top of the regular menu.

If you want background on the place before you go, the about page covers how it started and what the kitchen focuses on day to day.