La Cabañita Mexican Restaurant

I was really excited to try this place, but unfortunately the chicken tacos were extremely bland and tasted completely unseasoned. I did not even finish them, which is rare for me. Hoping this was just an off day.

A wonderful experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and truly authentic. We ordered a variety of dishes and everything was delicious, we had no complaints at all. The birria tacos were some of the best I’ve ever had, rich, juicy, and incredibly authentic. The molcajete of mixed meats was impressive, perfectly seasoned, and great for sharing. The street corn was fresh and flavorful, and the enchiladas were especially delicious, definitely one of the highlights of the meal. We also ordered a burrito, a chimichanga and carnitas to go, and were packed professionally to still hot. The camarones a la diabla had a great spicy kick, and the fresh lemonade was refreshing. Ossiel, our server, was excellent, attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. You can really tell the food is made with care. We’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommended! 🇲🇽 * ADA Compliant.

09/19/25: Stopped by for 2 orders of Chicken Fajita to go. Taste was great and portion size was LARGE. Excellent food! 09/25/2024: First time visit for lunch for my wife & me: OUTSTANDING! The restaurant is clean, well laid out. The service was prompt & friendly, and the food was the BEST Mexican I've enjoyed in a long time!

I had never been here before and tonight was my first time of many future visits. I walked up to the building to find the experience started before you get inside as the smells waft from the kitchen right out to the parking lot. The place was lit up and packed and everyone looked in high spirits. They got me sat down quickly and the menu was colorful and full of fun pictures and my waitress was so sweet and had a cool hairstyle. The food literally blew me away. The cheese was melted and had so much flavor. I've never had a meal be a fun experience before but tonight everything was new and delicious and fun. I could rave forever but I will end this by saying this place is my new mom.

My Al Pastor meal had no pineapples in it. I showed my waitress the inside of the food and she said there is pineapple in it. She claimed the cheese was actually pineapple. Do you see pineapple. I’ll show a picture. There is No Pineapple!! They never tried to fix their mistake either. How do you forget the key ingredient?

10/12 update: After having a few positive breakfast experiences, I decided to take my family here for a birthday dinner. My expectations were met ten fold. The food and portions were incredible, the service was wonderful, and everyone had an amazing time. Will happily celebrate our next occasion there. Wow! I came here today on a whim to pick up breakfast to go and I'm so glad I did. The entire property and restaurant are beautiful. I had the Latino breakfast and cookie milk. The chicken was deliciously seasoned, and the maduros were cooked to perfection. The prices were very inexpensive, the portions were generous, and the service was extremely friendly. I can't wait to go back and take my family.

Excellent food! Great portions, and a wonderful atmosphere. Would definitely recommend this place for authentic Mexican cuisine! The chicken fajitas are awesome, The chimichangas, too. Nice fresh guacamole and chips are excellent also. Friendly service also.

The food here was delicious, with great portions. We ordered the enchiladas, quesadilla, empenadas, and burrito. I was not a fan of the empenadas, but the chicken enchiladas and burrito were amazing. Highly recommend the enchiladas. Staff were friendly.

La Cabanita in Barnegat is one of our favorite spots for Mexican food. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and served in generous portions--perfect for enjoying in the moment and taking some home for later. Our go-to favorites are the enchiladas and the birria tacos--absolutely delicious every time! The flavors are authentic, and you can tell everything is made with care. Plus, the prices are very reasonable considering the portion sizes and quality.

Yesterday we ordered Mexican food from La Cabañita. They're a local family owned restaurant that makes the most delicious and fresh food. We ordered: -tacos birria with consommé -steak asada sopes -chicken chimichanga -chicken and cheese quesadilla They included sides of salsa verde and salsa roja for everyone. I ordered online but called the restaurant to make a special request and they were so polite and gladly made the change. This is the second time we've ordered from them and we will definitely be going back, but next time to dine in.

Posted a review here in the summer but had to update we just got fish tacos and shrimp burritos they were -as usual- outstanding La cabinita may be a little more expensive than others in area but they are totally worth it! Only thing is they dont give you tortilla chips but oh well still worth it !!! Yum !

The food taste bland but, has incredible potential. Could it be infused with authentic Mexican flavors? Yes! Adding more flavor would elevate it. Was the service slow because it deserves a larger team, but the cozy ambience is a charming highlight.

I have to go to Manahawkin weekly for an appointment and the restaurant I usually go to is closed on Mondays. So, I searched Yelp for vegan friendly food. I found La Cabanita. I read the reviews on here and they were great! So, I went around 4:30 pm and there were a lot of cars in the parking lot. That was a good sign to see it busy at a time that isn't really lunch or dinner. The outside is cute and neat looking, so that was good to see as well. I came in and was greeted by a waitress at the front station. I told her I was vegan and gluten free and she was speaking to the other women about options. She showed me they can substitute corn tortilla for anything and they also can make a veggie version of the meat dishes (if it isn't already offered). I asked many questions and asked her what some items were on the menu. She was very helpful and patient. I would watch each dish go by and each one looked amazing! I was getting take out but I have to visit for sit down one day! I finally decided what to get my mom and I and the food was ready quickly. My mom got a chicken dish that she loved. It was grilled chicken with peppers and cactus. I got the Huarache Vegetariano which was so tasty! And it was nice looking as well! Very good food, even the free chips! Definitely would recommend.

Best Mexican food I have had. Started with nachos and moved to the fish taco. Every was perfect

Met and old friend for dinner . . . first time there. Relatively small place with maybe 20 tables. Extensive menu (see their website) . . . almost overwhelming . . . but what we had (massive portions) was very good. Not just a taco joint! No liquor license (would have been five stars with) but brought our own Carta Blanca cerveza. Service was excellent and the place is tastefully decorated and the restrooms were above average and spotless. We were there 4ish but was filling up for the dinner crowd before we left. They really have got it right. If you like south of the border fare, this is the place for you!

This is a festive restaurant, is a nice family atmosphere, food is good and service is quick. Decor is also nice and sometimes they have live entertainment.

Food..Service...Ambiance. Check marks all that. All flavorful and a truckload of it. Beef Empanadas were so light. How did they manage to do that ? I get so excited when my entree is big enough to fit on a Thanksgiving Turkey size platter. Mexican food in the 08050 destroys all.

Big portions, even surprisingly big for the kids menu. I had the carne asada chimichanga, took half home and even reheated it's so great. Staff are respectful and fast acting. Salsa's thin, aside from that, I'll definitely be visiting again.

Do not eat here if you have a food allergy. Specified with the waitress of my food allergy they still managed to place it on the dish as a garnish on top of all the food. When I specified the allergy the waitress said they'd remake it. They didn't...I found more of the food I was allergic to underneath the mountain of cheese on the dish... Trust me worth the sickness

This place is worth the hype. A little off the beaten path from Long Beach but honestly it's so worth it. And depending on where in the beach you are it really isn't that bad of a drive. I honestly wish they were located in my neck of the woods because it was TOUGH to choose what to eat. It didn't help that they had a couple of tvs scrolling through real, in-house photos of their menu. What we got: Chorizo Sopes - 4.5* yuuuuum. I'm knocking it half a start because the menu said it came with its own spicy sauce but I didn't taste a thing in that department. Other than that it was fantastic. Filling and surprisingly packed I'd recommend the sopes to anyone who asks. Cabanita Latina (the special platter featured on the front of the menu) - 5* this apparently isn't featured in the menu other than as a photo in the front of the book. We saw another table order it and asked our waiter for the details. All of the meat (I think there were 5 different kinds) were well presented and I liked all but one. The shrimp was my favourite. The guacamole and rice were both super good. The black beans tasty but not something I'd rave about. The cheese and salsa pretty standard. And the tortillas must be home made. If you don't know what you want and have someone willing to share, this is a great choice. My partner shared this with a friend and let me have a small sample of everything to write my review.

The restaurant is very fast paced and more like a lunch place. The food choices were good but what you get is different from the description on the menu. The waitress was very good and friendly kept apologizing for new cooks. Three different meals were all wrong but weren't bad. The atmosphere was authentic but they seemed to rush everything and most of the food was premade. My chicken was like Chinese take out. I would give them a second chance but I wouldn't go out of my way to give it. Enjoy

The food here is amazing! The chicken was seasoned to perfection. The guacamole was outstanding. The wait staff were really friendly.

This is our go to for Mexican food. The service and food are always exceptional. The value is also very good. As to ambiance the restaurant Is a converted house with a very nice, clean and welcoming interior. I like the TVs that highlight pictures of their dishes. If you are looking for the restaurant be aware that the sign is partially covered by shrubs.

We heard of this restaurant from our family formed who was raving about how good the food was and we had to try it. We went here yesterday for the first time and were not disappointed! We went in around 1:30pm for lunch and were able to be seated right away. There are about 15 tables inside and 4 or so bar seats. They start you off with complementary chips and salsa. Their salsa was very unique and flavorful. I ordered the shrimp tacos which were amazing! The mango was so fresh and the shrimp was cooked to perfection! The prices are also super cheap! 4 shrimp tacos were $14! The food was amazing and I can't wait to go back to try more dishes!

This was a little authentic gem. Many of the meals that passed before my eyes, spoke to my taste buds. My dish, wasn't as explosive, but it was good. My guest had bistec... it was alittle salty. We are going to try the paella dishes or a seafood treat next time. The fried cheesecake was a nice treat. I had the garlic shrimp, was a bit of a skimp. Not as garlicky as I've hoped. But it was decent. Will I reorder that? No. The empanadas are made with a flour tortilla, okay.... but too much doe for the amount of meat. I will go back, the place draws a crowd. I have to taste why.

This was my first time at La Cabanita and I cannot wait to go back. The food was delicious! I ordered the chicken enchiladas which were spectacular . You can pick a meat that gets added to the top of the enchiladas! My husband ordered the gorditas- two steak and two pork and he said they were delicious. He couldn't stop raving about the place and said he can't wait to go back. I highly recommend.

Great authentic Mexican food and great service. I had Sopes and Chuck had Steak borritos, both were very good. I highly recommend the shrimp cocktail, it is an authentic Mexican twist. Beautiful landscaping and out door seating.

El Pastor Tostadas Very good, pork was very tender and seasoned well. Brink your own alcohol a beer would go well with this dish

Real mexican cuisine. Fresh, made to order. huge portions. Huge menu. Plates too big for the tables. Great service, friendly, efficient. BYOB. Nice patio dining area. reasonable prices. limited parking on site but lots of space across Bay Ave.

I hate to go against all the positive reviews, but we were severely disappointed by our trip here. The guacamole tasted strange and had no creamy avocado texture. My daughter got an order of cheese quesadillas that were STUFFED with so much cheese that she couldn't eat them. My tacos were a similar story -- big on quantity, low on quality. The worst part was when my daughter noticed something dripping on her from above. It was a leaking air conditioning register on the ceiling that was literally dripping dirty water on her head and her food (we were sitting at the bar). See the attached picture. They obviously knew about this problem and chose to seat us there anyway. Disgusting!!

Best Mexican in the area! Authentic and great service tostados are as amazing as are the tacos and fajitas and the nachos are to die for .

We spotted La Cabanita driving by and looking for breakfast. Saw 81 reviews and a 4.8 rating, so had to do it. Food was fantastic -- I had pollo chilaquiles and they did not disappoint. Everyone else had breakfast: huevos rancheros, a breakfast skillet and a La Cabanita omelette. They were all great, and yes, the plates are enormous, as advertised. I'd give it 5 stars, but service was just a little off, just mixed up one order and a little slow. Our waitress was lovely. I'd give them a 4.5 and will definitely make this our regular stop on the way out of LBI.

While passing through Manahawkin one day, we spotted this great looking Mexican restaurant and since we had a hankering for some Mexican food, we figured we'd give it a shot. Well, as it turned out, this place has some great, authentic Mexican food. Inside, the atmosphere was simple Mexican decor and we were greeted promptly and seated right away by our friendly waitress. We were then presented with some nachos and salsa to snack on while we perused their extensive menu. Well, when I go Mexican, I usually go for some Fajitas and this time was no different. Went for the Steak & Shrimp Fajitas and it was delicious. Served in a sizzling platter, the meat was tender and plentiful and the shrimp was flavorful. Gave you so much, I couldn't finish so we took some home for later. My wife went with Tacos, six altogether and two each of pollo, chorizo and carnitas. All were excellent and again, ended up with a couple to take home. Only negative here was no liquor, so no margaritas. Will be sure to bring some adult beverages for our next visit and definitely looking forward to trying some of the many other great offerings on the menu.

great horchata and good service! 10/10 must try again n

It was back in 1983. I was working ops in the small town of San Dionisio del Mar in Oaxaca in southwestern Mexico. It is part of the Juchitán District in the east of the Istmo de Tehuantepec region. We were meeting with some Mexican policía friendlies, and we all went out to eat at a local restaurant. Our friends chose to eat inside due to the heat and because as they said, "You sit and feel at home". The walls were red, the floors were terracotta, the ceiling fans were spinning and the aromas were pure heaven. It was just what you would expect in Mexico. The food was terrific, the cervezas were ice cold and I will never forget the people, the food, and the hospitality there. Fast forward 30 years--- Manahawkin, NJ-2023---It was Taco Tuesday, and My wife, and I both had a hankering for authentic Mexican food. Not that Taco Bell stuff, I mean like I ate 40 years ago in San Dionisio del Mar There are three Mexican ristorantes in Manahawkin, some better than others, but La Cabanita Authentic Mexican Cuisine restaurante we consider the very best. The building La Cabanita now operates had been a small breakfast café for years and then went out of business during COVID. The present owners all apparently Mexican as far as I know purchased the building and gutted it and rebuilt a quaint small café with maybe 14-15 tables. As you walk in you are immediately greeted by one of the friendly beautiful waitresses with menus and seated. The specials are keenly placed so that you can see them and boy they looked good. The décor was purely Mexican, not gaudy, but very tasteful. I was immediately back in San Dionisio del Mar with my Team with cervezas in hand. Then the heavenly aromas of freshly grilled steak, and chicken wafted from the grille and my mouth started to water. Busy behind the counter were the chef and his crew cooking and creating some of the most authentic Mexican food in the area. When I go to ethnic restaurants I look at the clientele. Here we had everyone from landscapers to retirees and Police. That tells you something, it tells you you found a good one. We were greeted by the lovely Anna and ordered the ice-cold Coca-Cola with complimentary chips and salsa. Sitting and relaxing sipping on my Coke I began looking through the extensive menu I spied numerous entrees that I wanted to taste. From the traditional taco ($2 on Taco Tuesdays) to the camarones al ajillo, sopes, steak Bistec a la Mexican, huarache and Chimichangas. Then it happened, Anna came by us with a sizzling platter of fajitas to serve the table behind us. Not only did the heavenly aroma permeate the dining room, but many patrons were looking at this presentation as well. When Anna came back with that cute smile of her's she took our orders. My wife ordered the Pollo Chimichanga and I of course ordered a small bowl of the creamy guacamole, grilled jalapenos, and of course the fajitas. We sat there thoroughly enjoying the fresh guacamole and the tri-color chips with two sauces, a green fire sauce, and the traditional red sauce. After a short time, the food parade began to arrive. Did you ever order dinner and immediately realize you would never eat it all? Well, this is apparently what La Cabanita is known for. My wife's Pollo Chimichanga was huge, a toasted burrito with a luscious creamy cheese sauce, chocked full of sauteed chicken that was seasoned just perfectly. A portion of yellow rice and black beans accented with a fresh salad. Boy did that look good. Then came my fajita lunch. It arrived at the table sizzling and smoking on a hot cast iron pan on a well-used burnt wood platter. The mound of steak, sautéed peppers, and onions all seasoned perfectly and was expertly presented beautifully. My side of three jalapenos with salsa came next along with the freshly steamed tortillas, the rice, and beans with salsa. I began digging into this beauty of a mound of steak. Placing tender steak strips, onions, and bell peppers with a slice of grilled jalapeno with the creamy white sauce and the fire sauce was my strategy. Then that bite, OMG! The flavors and the sensation of the spicy jalapeno coupled with the spices and that green fire sauce were heavenly. Not over seasoned at all. There was the right amount of cumin, pepper, and other spices. The rice and beans were scrumptious (I could have made a meal of the beans) and the ice-cold Mexican Coca-Cola accented everything. We sat and ate until we were really full. Looking at both platters, it was surely enough for dinner later on. Anna came over and provided boxes for the leftovers and threw in a whole bag of fresh chips. The chef at La Cabanita apparently has a set of dishes and culinary techniques that are truly part of Mexican tradition. I can truly say that they serve you authentic and unique dishes with all the Mexican flavor that you would find if you had traveled to the Mexican country side all coupled with a very reasonable price.

Went to La Cabanita today for the first time for lunch. Excellent food, Excellent Service, Excellent Atmosphere. All around great experience. Will definitely go back.

Top notch, authentic Mexican food. Everything was extremely fresh and made with love. It's clear to see why the dining room was filled with regular customers. The fried calamari was light and crispy, and the Chipotle mayo was smokey and delicious. We really enjoyed our birria tacos - which where garnished with the perfect amount of onions and cilantro. The birria itself was extremely tender and the consomme was very well seasoned. We also had the Cabinita Latina special - which included pretty much everything (fried shrimp, grilled chicken, Short rib slices, chorizo, steak) this was a great choice! We will certainly be returning soon!

Well it's been a few years since I last posted a review here and with the recent update they did I felt it was time to make another. I still absolutely love this place. My husband and I come in often and we noticed a few nice changes they made recently! There's a beautiful, definitely hand made, tree in the middle of the restaurant which we got to sit next to! It was super cute! I bet it's even better when the lights they attached are on! Can't wait for that! Aside from the tree it seems they got new menus which are a nice upgrade from the last nice upgrade! Also we noticed a fresh coat of paint which really sets a nice ambiance and ties the room together! It's a beautiful orange! So now onto the food, it's still amazing and has been consistently good since we started coming here! We love the tacos, the platters, the salsa is amazing, and we enjoy the choriqueso so much!!! I cannot get enough of their salsa verde! We often do date nights here because the portions you get and what you spend you simply can't beat! The service is great and overall we just love this place so much!

Luisa was very attentive and kind! The place is soo cozy and feels like fall. We tried the chicken empanadas which were delicious!! I also had the chicken mole burrito special which was also very good!! My boyfriend had another special it was for breakfast, very kind portions. We will be back!!!

Outstanding!! Great food!! We absolutely love eating here. The staff is lovely and the environment is comfortable. Everything is so delicious!

The food and the prices are the best. You really can't beat the prices at all. Service is fast. Large menu with lots to offer. I've been eating my way through the entire menu and haven't found anything I haven't liked

Found our new go to Mexican spot in Manahawkin! Now I get why this place is always packed...not only is the food delicious, but the prices are super reasonable. Portion size is huge! Very authentic atmosphere and fresh food. I had the chicken tacos and they were delicious. Order the guacamole and a side of rice and beans. All were 5 stars. One tip: make a reservation. We were lucky that we only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table for 2 but to be safe, make a res. Also it's a BYOB...which we all know are my fav! If you are heading down to Long Beach island...be sure to stop here before you go over the bridge.

By far the best Mexican food & service. We drive 30 minutes for the chimichangas, they are delicious. Staff is always friendly.

Me and my friend work at the hospital and we order here whenever she wants some good Mexican food. This place is very good specially they're torta milenesa which I enjoy. The sandwich is very filling and very delicious. I haven't dined in here yet but I recommend this place when ordering out. They're pretty fast and very nice. Love ordering here!

Food was excellent and there was a large selection. The service was prompt and efficient. Prices were very good and being a BYOB saves event more. If you like authentic Mexican food you will like this pl.

Great local choice for good food, large portions and a wide selection of flavorful options.

Wow! What a cool find. Not a huge Mexican food eater, but neighbors insisted we try La Cabanita and we were up in Manahawkin for a softball game so, why not. HUGE portions, almost a bit much and I'm a big guy and a big eater. Shrimp tacos and Empanadas were amazing. Salsa was good and chips were warm and salty, perfect! Simple, family run restaurant with everyone smiling which is contagious in itself. It was very busy and service was a bit slow, but we were continually checked on with constant water refills, chips and lemonade. A great stop if You're in the area.

We go to La Cabanita very often! Best Mexican food! Portions are huge... price is right.. we have never been disappointed!

Great authentic Mexican food! The steak burrito was delicious...the Calamari was really fresh and delicious! Can't wait to come back for more....

Friend recommended this restaurant to decided to try. Really nice menu and good service. Chicken empanadas was amazing (which are gluten free) so was really looking forward to my meal but ended up disappointment. The steak was so bland with no flavor. It tasted as if they boiled it in water :(. I added salt, which made it slight better but did not help in my disappointment. The rice, beans and other items were very good. Not sure what happen to my steak. My husband enjoyed his fajita but I was surprised when it did not come out steaming. All the flavors were there though. I'm willing to return and try another meal.

It was great...two drinks two meals $38.00 and everything tastes great... We live in the area and my wife was here before my first time. Def try it.

Been back 3x! Place is off the charts! Their breakfast options are insane! Also the nachos to go were enough for 3 people for dinner. This place is amazing! I brought my buddy with me from Mexico and he said it is the best he has had in the US.

My boyfriend loves Mexican food above all else, and we are constantly searching for new places to eat while out of town. We ventured out from our shore house on LBI to find grub, and just happened to drive by this place. So good. I got a combo platter and my boyfriend got tacos, everything was delicious. I don't know what the table next to us ordered but it looks like you can get a big ol' family platter that looks to be enough to feed an army, with about a gallon of fresh guacamole. I was impressed. Anyway, definitely eat here if you're in the area! It's just a short ride from LBI.

This is authentic Mexican food, it was delicious and there was huge potions of it! We had the La Cabanita appetizer sampler that came with carne aseada, chicken, pork, salsa, guacamole and nachos with chili. We also had a fish burrito and the chorizo taco and barbacoa taco. All I can say is that we thoroughly enjoyed everything and will definitely be back to try breakfast and other lunch/dinner offerings. Our server, Erika, was very knowledgeable about the dishes and super nice. There is a parking lot and outdoor covered porch dining.

Ordered 3 dinner meals. First off two woman had to get on the phone to take the order. I could not understand either of them well enough. I should have hung up then and there. Told them three times "red sauce" on two of the dinners. Told them I didn't want to pay for chips or don't include. I felt if they give them to you when you eat in, they should include a bag, at least w the meals. They charged almost $7.00 for a small bag of chips w salsa. The sauces were green instead of red sauce. The chicken had so much black pepper on it that we couldn't eat the two meals completely. The bill was over $50. That wasn't even the most important issue. It was the meal that ruined our evening eating together with my husband and daughter.

I passed this place a couple of times and wanted to try it out, we'll finally I did. I almost don't want to write this review because it's gonna be packed soon, but they certainly deserve a 5 star rating based on my experience and the food quality. This is as authentic as I have ever had. I had the steak with chorizo Wow what a beautiful plate. Can't wait to go back

The menu is the most authentic Mexican outside Los Angeles. The portions are large and well prepared. It is worth the detour off of route 9 but it right near the regional DMV office which is open Saturdays