Downtown Manchester is holding the
Thursday, May 3
5–9 p.m.
All tacos $2
Join Hippo and thousands for our second annual Hippo de Mayo Taco Challenge on Thursday, May 3, from 5 to 9 p.m. More than 27 restaurants will be serving 30+ different taco creations, including a chocolate chip taco at 36 Delux and a chorizo taco at the Hilton Garden Inn. Each taco is $2.
In 2011 more than 7,000 taco fans descended on downtown Manchester, N.H., eating 20,000+ tacos. The Red Arrow’s buffalo chicken taco got the most text votes and won $1,000 for its favorite charity, Challenger Sports, which helps special-needs youth participate in sports. The Red Arrow donated an additional $1,000 to Challenger Sports for a total of $2,000.What to expect
This year we expect 10,000 people to eat 40,000 tacos, making Manchester the center of the taco world and home to the world’s largest taco tour. That’s a lot of people, so come early with cash and have a plan. We’ve mapped out the locations on a Google Map so you can plan your tour. Hannford and Hippo will have a water tent set up in the Lowell Street area for convenient refreshment. The participating restaurants will be ready; many are setting up outdoor “taco stands” to make getting tacos quicker. There will be superhero guides from Double Midnight Comics throughout the downtown and Millyard to answer any questions you have or help you find a taco.
$1000 Hannaford Gift Card Drawing!
Enter for a chance to win a $500 Hannaford Gift Card! Two lucky winners will receive a $500 Hannaford Gift Card—just stop by the Hannaford water tent on 51 Lowell Street. Drawing to be held Saturday, May 5 at 10 AM. No purchase necessary—(must be 18 years or older to enter).
Voting for your favorite tacos
Just like last year, each taco tourist can text 10 votes to give to their favorite tacos (use all 10 votes for one taco, or break the votes up among your favorites) in the People’s Favorite category. Each restaurant has chosen a charity that its $1,000 “prize” money will go to.
More money for charity
This year we've added a Judge's Favorite category, whose winning restaurant will also get $1,000 for its selected charity. The judges will be riding around in a
Grace Limo to get to each restaurant to judge all the tacos Top Chef style. Each restaurant has chosen a charity that its “prize” money would go to, just as in the People's Favorite category.
Tips for making the most of your taco tour
- Pick your favorites from our list (you won't have the time or the space in your tummy to eat all 30 tacos).
- Wear comfy shoes (the entire taco loop is about a mile)
- There will be lines (most of the tacos are made to order).
- The lines will be faster than last year (everyone learned from last year and can't wait for this year).
- Bring cash so you can quickly get your taco.
- Bring an umbrella in case it rains (we had a chat with the weather man and are assured it won't, though).
- Follow us on Twitter or Facebook to get updates about the tour, including where lines are shortest and what places have run out of tacos.
- Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook and let us and your fellow tourists know what's going on.
- Most participating restaurants will offer a higher-priced taco dish inside for those who want to stop and watch the taco challenge with a drink in one hand and a taco in the other.
- Midtown Cafe
Jerk Chicken Taco
Serenity Place - Red Arrow Diner
BBQ Buffalo Pulled Pork Taco
Compassionate Friends - Greg's Place
Shredded Pork Taco
ASPCA - Milly's Tavern
Fisher Cat Taco
New Horizons - Gauchos
Grilled Beef Taco
Ambar's Family Trust - Wild Rover
Wild Rover Taco
St. Baldrick's - Fratello's Italian Cuisine
Amante Di Carne Taco
CASA - Jillian's
Upside-Down Dessert Taco
Manchester Animal Shelter - Baja's California Cantina
Mango Tango Taco
Red Cross NH - The Farm
The Farm Taco
Birth to Three Family Center - Firefly
Firefly Taco
Granite United Way - 36 deLux
Pulled Pork & Dessert Tacos
Boys & Girls Club - Consuelos Taqueria
Azteca Taco
Manchester AIDS Project - J.W. Hill's
Stuffed Pork Taquitos
Kristen's Gift - Vino Aromas
Vino Aromas Taco
Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Margarita's
Taco Der Mar
American Cancer Society - Breezeway
Breezeway Taco
Greater Manchester AIDS Project - Strange Brew
Rancho Loco Taco
Manchester PAL - Dos Amigos
Dos Amigos Taco
City Year NH - El Rincon Zacatecano
Postor Taco
St. Augustine Church - Murphy's Taproom
The Hangover Taco
Officer Daniel Doherty Fund - 900 Degrees
900° Taco
Breathe NH - Hilton Garden Inn
Chorizo and Potato Taco
CHaD - Cotton
Tacos de Carnitas
Kid's Cafe - Planet Marshmallow
S'mores Taco
Pacer's Nat'l Bullying Prevention Center - Lala's Hungarian
Transylvanian Dessert Taco
Wounded Warrior Project - Hooked
Hooked on Taco
New Horizons for New Hampshire, Inc. - Drynk
The Drynk Taco
Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Murphy's Diner
The Hangover Taco
Officer Daniel Doherty Fund - Ignite
Hooked on Taco
New Horizons for New Hampshire, Inc. - Republic
Falafel Taco
Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter
