Cadillac Mexican Kitchen at Golden Nugget

Cadillac Mexican at the Golden Nugget is downtown's answer to quality Mexican food with a tequila program that doesn't mess around. The $5 everything happy hour is borderline absurd—like, someone made a pricing mistake and they're just rolling with it. This isn't some dive bar special, this is a legitimately nice restaurant basically giving away drinks.

The Insane Happy Hour

Monday through Thursday from 3-5pm: $5 for everything on the happy hour menu. Beer, wine, margaritas, wells, select appetizers—all five bucks. The margaritas alone should cost three times that. They've got multiple tequila options, fresh ingredients, and proper pours. The beer list includes Mexican imports and craft options. The apps are full-sized enough to be meals. This pricing makes zero business sense and you should absolutely exploit it.

The Tequila Situation

Cadillac Mexican takes tequila seriously. Even the happy hour selections include decent brands, not just bottom-shelf gasoline. The full menu has 100+ tequilas if you want to explore beyond happy hour pricing. The bartenders actually know their stuff and can make recommendations. For $5 margaritas, you're getting cocktails that would cost $15-18 anywhere else on Fremont.

The Golden Nugget Vibe

The Golden Nugget is downtown's nicest casino, and Cadillac Mexican fits that upscale-but-accessible vibe. The space is modern and open, the decor's on point, and you're not dealing with the older-Vegas grime that some downtown spots have. It feels current and clean while still being downtown casual. You can show up in jeans and a t-shirt or dress it up slightly—both work.

Timing & Strategy

That 3-5pm window Monday-Thursday is tight but workable. You've got two hours to take advantage, which is enough for a few rounds without feeling rushed. The weekday-only limitation is a bummer for weekend visitors, but if you're in town during the week or you're local, this becomes mandatory. Come right at 3pm to maximize your time.

The Food Quality

Beyond happy hour pricing, the food's legitimately good. The tacos are well-executed, the guacamole's made tableside, and portions are generous. Even just ordering appetizers during happy hour, you'll eat well. The chips and salsa are fresh and unlimited. You can easily make a meal out of $5 apps and $5 margaritas and leave full and buzzed for $20.

Downtown Location Benefits

Golden Nugget is downtown's anchor casino, so you're central to Fremont Street action without being in the chaos. Easy parking if you're driving, close to other downtown spots if you're bar-hopping. The casino's nice enough that using their bathrooms isn't depressing, which matters more than you'd think.

The Bottom Line

$5 for quality margaritas is stupid cheap. $5 for appetizers that are actually good is unheard of for a nice restaurant. This isn't a loss-leader happy hour with terrible quality—Cadillac Mexican is giving you legitimate value on stuff that's worth ordering. If you're downtown Monday-Thursday afternoon, you're making a mistake not hitting this.