Those Miami Valley residents of Mexican heritage — and the rest of us who enjoy Mexican and Latin American food — have much to celebrate this Cinco de Mayo.

That's because while some segments of the restaurant industry are suffering during the current economic downturn, Mexican-themed restaurants appear to be proliferating, offering local diners a diverse tapestry of dining options. Here are a few of the newest eateries, and a few on the way:

• In Riverside, Salsas, a Mexican restaurant that also offers selected Latin American dishes, opened two months ago in the Airway Shopping Center at 4904 Airway Road in the location that housed a Pepito's Mexican restaurant for more than 20 years. The restaurant is planning a grand opening celebration this weekend, starting tonight, May 2, and extending through Monday.

Some of the Latin American dishes distinguish the restaurant from the large numbers of other Mexican eateries. The Combo Colombiano ($8.95) includes an arepa, tostone, yucca (pronounced YOU-kuh) and very flavorful meatballs served repa Venezolana ($6.50) is a Venezuelan specialty consisting of a thick corn-based sandwich wrapper stuffed with beef or chicken, served with plantain and yucca. The fried yucca is reminiscent of the best thick-cut potato fries you've ever eaten, with a crispy exterior and a smooth, almost creamy interior.

Salsas is owned by brothers Guillermo and Luis Morales, whose uncle, Pepe Bucio, operated Pepito's, and by Kristina Morales, Luis' wife. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday noon to 9 p.m. A Mexican Dance Group and a Puerto Rican band are part of the grand-opening festivities; for more information, go to www.casadlsalsa.com or call the restaurant at (937) 252-5131.

• In Englewood, El Cazador opened earlier this year at 555 W. National Road and has been drawing robust crowds.

The restaurant is the second for owner Diana Rios, who also operates El Fiesta Charra in Eaton. Customer favorites during the restaurant's opening days have been the fajitas and chimichanga entrees, Rios said.

El Cazador is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday though Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is (937) 836-5004.

• In Dayton, La Michoacana Mexican Market #5, a market with a restaurant inside, has opened at 748 Troy St. The market/restaurant is the fifth in the small chain; the other four are in the Columbus area. The restaurant offers a larger menu selection on the weekends than on weekdays, but there's always a lunch special, which last week consisted of thin slices of pork with a squash-onion-tomato blend, served with pinto beans, rice, lettuce and tomatoes for $5.99. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The market is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; for more information, call (937) 220-9600.

• In Beavercreek, the owners of the small, Ohio-based and family-owned El Toro chain of restaurants have been renovating the former B.R. Scotese's restaurant at 1375 N. Fairfield Road. No firm opening date has been set, but the restaurant will join seven other El Toros in Ohio, mostly in the Dayton-Springfield area, including a second restaurant in Beavercreek at 4448 Indian Ripple Road, across from The Greene.

• In Dayton, El Rincon Tarasco Mexican Restaurant will open soon in the location that housed Mi Tierra, 3937 Linden Ave., according to signs on the closed storefront.