Mexican Food in Long Beach (2025)
Family-run since 2001, Enrique’s does Jalisco-style comfort with heart — carne en su jugo, blistered pasilla rellenos, and generous plates. Praised by GAYOT and highlighted by Visit Long Beach; the Perez family also opened nearby Kique’s Taqueria.
A neighborhood anchor with deep community ties, Lola’s blends tradition and market-fresh ideas — think mahi mahi in mole verde and birria enchiladas. Frequently featured by Eater LA on both Long Beach and Best Mexican lists.
Handmade tortillas on the comal, moles, mariscos, and old-school hospitality define this local favorite. The Long Beach Post reports recent patio expansion and extended hours, underscoring how embedded it is in the neighborhood.
Sinaloa-style, mesquite-grilled asada draws countywide pilgrimages for the torito and chorreadas. Recognized by the Los Angeles Times 101 list and praised by L.A. Taco; still rolling in North Long Beach while expanding regionally.
When it comes to old-school Mexican restaurants in Long Beach, people might point you to sports bar-ish Los Compadres, late night hang El Sauz, or fusion-y Enrique’s near the Marina. But our money is on Rivera’s, a homey, family-run place on East 7th that has been open since the ‘90s. We love the retro wood-paneled dining room, glowing string lights on the ceiling, and the odes to Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo covering the walls. Still, the highlight is the food: comforting and generous, with noticeable care put into all the little details (even the salsa that comes with the free chips here tastes of freshly roasted chiles). The hefty carne asada nachos and wet burritos are excellent, and the best menudo and pozole in the city are served six days a week. Our sole quibble is that the margaritas here are agave wine-based, though that’s never kept us from ordering multiple rounds.
Late-night taco culture lives here: a bustling window serving tripa, asada, and birria until the wee hours. Celebrated by L.A. Taco for capturing the city’s past-midnight taco heartbeat; a true Eastside standby.
Decades of goat birria tradition brought to Long Beach, with bowls, tacos dorados, and sturdy consomé. Included on Eater LA’s birria guide, it’s a rare local specialist for chivo crafted the old way.
From the Enrique’s family, this 2024 taqueria returns to taco roots with Jalisco flavors, fresh salsas, and straightforward tacos. Covered by Longbeachize for the opening and embraced by locals for quality and value.
El Barrio Cantina is a self-described modern Mexican restaurant on Retro Row that reimagines traditional dishes without getting too carried away. There’s a fantastic carne asada-style ribeye with roasted tomato salsa (ask for a side of the homemade Sonoran flour tortillas), fresh Peruvian scallops on the half shell in spicy aguachile, and crunchy fried potato tacos doused with crema and salsa verde that are simple and straight up delicious. Don’t overlook the clever “Sea(Sar)” salad, which ups the umami with seaweed and a cilantro-anchovy dressing. The high-ceiling dining room is breezy and bright, but as the sun sets the place becomes moody enough for date night. Cocktails mix tequila and mezcal with lots of fruit and spice, plus there’s a solid list of affordable wines by the glass.
A 2024 mariscos newcomer inspired by Mexico’s Highway 15 — ceviches, aguachiles, grilled fish, and miche-aguas. The Long Beach Post spotlights its regional road-trip concept and fresh seafood bar.
A Cal-Mex time capsule embraced by locals since 1998 — golden hard-shell tacos, massive burritos, and a salsa bar. Profiled by the Long Beach Post for its role as a community gathering place.
