Cuisine Scene: Tacos
Long Beach serves up tacos as diverse as the city itself, from traditional Mexican street tacos with expertly grilled meats to creative takes featuring slow-braised birria, handmade tortillas and bold regional flavors. Whether you're craving a quick bite from a neighborhood taqueria or a leisurely meal with handcrafted margaritas, Long Beach has a taco for every taste and mood.
TACO SHORE
Taco Shore (5316 E 2nd St) is a longtime Belmont Shore favorite serving Baja-style tacos packed with fresh flavors and quality ingredients. The menu features crispy fish, grilled Ensenada shrimp, al pastor, classic street tacos and even a low-carb, lettuce-wrapped option. Its relaxed surf-town vibe, generous portions and open-air patio make it an ideal spot to satisfy your taco cravings while enjoying some of Belmont Shore's best people-watching.
ZARAPE COCINA & CANTINA
Located in Belmont Shore, Zarape (4702 2nd St) is known for authentic flavors including its consistently delicious street-style tacos. Fresh corn tortillas are filled with carne asada, carnitas, pollo or al pastor, then topped with chopped onions, fresh cilantro and house-made salsa. Pair them with the restaurant's creamy handmade guacamole and flavorful rice and beans for a satisfying meal.
PANCHO'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
A Long Beach institution since 1966, Pancho's Mexican Restaurant (4925 E Pacific Coast Hwy) proves great tacos never go out of style. Its classic crispy beef tacos are legendary, featuring seasoned ground beef tucked inside crunchy shells with shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese. Pair them with cheese enchiladas or a chile relleno for the ultimate old-school combo plate. Warm chips, fresh salsa and a nostalgic dining room complete one of the city's favorite comfort-food restaurants.
GUERRERO TAQUERIA
North Long Beach’s Guerrero Taqueria (823 E South St) is a much loved neighborhood spot serving soft corn tortillas piled high with favorites like cabeza, al pastor, carnitas, lengua and carne asada, then finished simply with chopped onions, cilantro and fresh salsa. Regulars also rave about the rich birria tacos and flavorful suadero (thin-cut beef, for the uninitiated). Pair your tacos with a refreshing agua fresca and don't leave without visiting the well-stocked salsa bar.
EL BARRIO CANTINA
El Barrio Cantina (1731 E 4th St) is a stylish Retro Row hotspot that elevates Mexican cuisine, including its signature tacos arrive on Oaxacan corn or Sonoran flour tortillas with griddled cheese, then filled with options like carnitas chile verde, wagyu birria or roasted cauliflower before being finished with delicious house salsas. Creative cocktails and a lively, art-filled dining room make El Barrio an ideal destination for lingering long after your last bite.
LA CHANCLA MEXICAN GRILL
La Chancla (990 Cherry Ave) serves tacos de guisado; tacos loaded with veggies and meat that have been stewed for extended periods of time. The stewing creates a medley of flavors that makes other added ingredients less important, though people do like adding a bit of onion, cilantro and salsa. The taste is layered, at times explosive but always delicious, which is why this style of taco is so common in Mexico and why La Chancla serves as a destination for so many taco aficionados.
FUEGO
Spectacularly located on the waterfront at Hotel Maya (700 Queensway Dr), Fuego has added a tempting lineup of tacos in its new Bar Menu, showcasing the restaurant's coastal Latin flavors. Made with seasonal ingredients, locally sourced products and housemade touches, the selection includes grilled fish, carne asada, marinated chicken, and a vegetarian taco filled with wild mushrooms and roasted corn. Pair them with handcrafted margaritas and sweeping harbor views and you’ve got one of the city's most memorable taco experiences.
BAJA SONORA
A local institution, Baja Sonora (2940 Clark Ave) is famous for its tacos dorados (golden tacos). These fried, hard-shelled concoctions, stuffed with meat, iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes and grated cheese, serve as the entry point to Mexican cuisine for many Americans. Baja Sonora has been around more than 20 years; it knows what it’s about and does it very well.
SONORATOWN
Sonoratown (244 E 3rd St) brings authentic Sonoran flavors to Downtown Long Beach with some of Southern California's finest handmade flour tortillas cradling mesquite-grilled carne asada, smoky pollo asado or tender cabeza, finished with roasted chiles and vibrant salsas. Don't miss the famous caramelo taco, layered with asada and melted cheese, or the crispy chivichanga. Recently recognized by the Michelin Guide, Sonoratown proves that a small menu focused on exceptional quality can deliver unforgettable results.
LOLA'S MEXICAN CUISINE
Lola’s Mexican Cuisine (2030 E 4th St) blends traditional Mexican recipes with a progressive flair in a warm, family-friendly atmosphere. A Long Beach favorite with locations on Retro Row and in Bixby Knolls, Lola's serves everything from vegan street tacos and ribeye steak tacos to grilled salmon and slow-braised birria. Traditional Tijuana-style soft tacos, crispy tacos dorados and handmade tortillas, paired with fresh toppings and premium ingredients, deliver made-from-scratch flavor in every bite.
LOS TROMPOS TAQUERIA
Los Trompos Taqueria (421 W Broadway) specializes in Mexico City-style street tacos built around handmade corn tortillas and expertly grilled meats. The namesake trompo meats shine, while arrachera, ribeye and al pastor deliver bold, smoky flavor in every bite. A self-serve salsa bar lets you customize each taco with salsas of various heat levels as well as pickled vegetables and fresh toppings.
Related
