CHICAGO — A few miles west of downtown, past a terracotta-tiled gateway emblazoned with ‘‘Bienvenidos,’’ the smells and sights of Mexico spill onto 26th Street. The Mexican tricolor waves from brick storefronts. Vendors offer authentic churros, chorizo, and tamales.

Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood is home to more than 500,000 residents of Mexican descent and is known for its Cinco de Mayo festival and Mexican Independence Day parade.