Rover food reviewer visits Mexican-Thai fusion restaurant in South Bend
This past Friday evening, I was struck with a strange hankering for both Mexican and Thai food. I could not decide where to go—until I stumbled upon Cinco 5. In my culinary journey of the past few years, I have never discovered a restaurant that serves both Mexican and Thai on the same menu, but Cinco 5 in downtown South Bend fit the bill. Naturally, my choice was made.
As I entered the building, I immediately noticed the simple décor: tables with white tablecloths, light blue chairs, and art hanging on the walls. The hostess kindly greeted me and told me that if I did not have a reservation, it would be an hour wait for a table, so I opted for one of the few bar seats still available. I took this as a very good sign: if there is an hour wait at 5:30 p.m., the food must be scrumptious.
Francisco was my waiter and bartender, and he gave me the rundown of the extensive menu. The variety was unbelievable, ranging from traditional Mexican fare like Chilaquiles, to typical Thai dishes like Gaeng Daeng, to American dishes like burgers and steak. I ended up ordering four items:
Blanco Mojito – $5: Unlike a typical mojito, this was made with tequila instead of rum. It appeared fresh, garnished with mint leaves and a rum-soaked sugar stick. I would describe it as citrusy, refreshing, and smooth. For anyone who enjoys cocktails, this is a must.
Satay – $5: Have you ever had chicken breast marinated in a pleasant peanut butter sauce? I had not either until I consumed this delectable appetizer. This was one of my favorite items of the night, and it got even better when I started putting a little cucumber salad on my fork before each bite. The salad’s freshness gave the peanut butter chicken the optimal balance necessary to make this appetizer a prime combination of light and flavorful.
Pad Thai – $12: This is probably the most common Thai dish that Americans eat, so I decided to give it a try. It consisted of rice noodles, shrimp, egg, bean sprouts, tofu, and onions, topped with crushed peanuts. Though it was good, it did not pack the same flavor punch as the other menu items I sampled. If you are looking to fulfill a Thai craving while at Cinco, this will get the job done, but I would recommend the Pad Thai at the Crooked Ewe Brewery in South Bend if you are looking for a more exciting version of the dish.
“El Tio” Pepper Steak – $12: I do not know if 
this dish is named after the chef’s uncle or if it is an offering to the mythical spirit owner of mines in Bolivia, but it was the best Latin dish I have had in the South Bend region. With five corn tortillas and a plate filled with ribeye steak, red and green peppers, onion, tomatoes, jalapeños, and Mexican rice, I was ready to dig in. The freshness of the veggies and the juiciness of the meat heightened the flavor compared to similar dishes I have eaten, making it truly special. (The difference between this steak and other similar meals is like that between flavor-blasted and regular goldfish.) One word of caution: the jalapeños add quite a bit of heat, so be careful when including them in your tortillas. This was the best dish of the night for me.
Overall, I give Cinco 5 an 8/10 score. If you go to this restaurant, I would highly recommend the Latin dishes, as the chef seemed to have a better handle on them. Cinco 5 would be a great place to go almost anytime, so be sure to stop by soon—maybe even on Valentine’s Day. Just be sure to make a reservation.
Bernie Floeder is considering bleaching his hair like Guy Fieri. If you have any other great hairstyles for him to consider or if you know of great restaurants in the area, email him at bfloeder@nd.edu.
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