El Barrio Cantina

A small but quaint speakeasy with fabulous drinks and food. The music was average…sometimes we’d be listening to some upbeat EDM vibe music and then all of sudden you’d hear hard core metal which wasn’t keeping with the theme. Service was decent but they were slow clearing plates and glassware. Plan extra time to find parking.

This one is a bit of a diamond in the desert. Mainly because it's so difficult to get to. The area is local making it tough to find parking. But the food is amazing. Amazing. Cool paintings.

Very reasonably priced and located in the heart of Long Beach. Great service, good drinks, and a welcoming vibe. Definitely worth a stop!

One of the best brunch experiences I've had. The food set a new standard of what I know is possible for breakfast. I will make El Barrio Cantina a regular stop next time I am in LA.

We came here for a friend's birthday. The food was a nice fusion Mexican style. However, we got the wrong order and had to argue with waiter that this was not what we ordered. So not impressed with Service. I came here before for events which were great and well organized. Bar service at those events was friendly. Update: The staff is friendlier nowadays and they have a great Happy is great!

What an awesome find! We loved the vibe, decor, cool mural and the FOOD! My margarita was sooo good and a generous pour in all aspects. The potato tacos and marg happy hour set a great deal! The ribs and elote (corn) dish were beautifully presented and sooo yummy! We will be back when travelling through. Gracias!

Great vibe and amazing food at a fair price. Interesting and unusual twists to some mexican classics. I'll definitely come again.

Found this place close to our AirBNB, and I'm SO glad we stopped by! We ordered street tacos, tostadas, and quesadillas. Our favorites were the street tacos-- the corn tortillas were excellent! Also got some tasty cocktails! Their Recession Menu (Happy Hour) had lots of great specials!

The food was amazing service was great. Definitely coming back and really recommend this place to anyone near by.

We ended up here with a larger party last minute for a birthday celebration. They were able to accommodate us right away and were very friendly. Our server spoke to us in Spanish after hearing us talk amongst ourselves and it was such a nice personable touch! The food was also so delicious- personal favorites were the potato tacos and the enchiladas suizas. They also brought over complementary birthday shots and churros for the table. It was so thoughtful of them. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great food and drinks while also receiving excellent customer service.

During our June stay in Long Beach, I read reviews and was very excited to try the El Barrio Cantina for their recession hour. Relying upon the restaurants own website, we thought we were visiting during happy hour, listed as 11-530 weekdays. Somewhere along the way they changed this to 3pm weekdays, posted it only on the chalkboard outside and not on their website. This was not updated as much as a month later, although it does reflect the new hours now. Having arrived at 2pm, we were refused happy hour even though I pointed out that it was still on the website as 11-530. Starving, we begrudgingly ordered meals anyway, finished them, and were then offered happy hour specials at 3:00 p.m. when we had completed our meal and requested the bill. Disappointed, to say the least. And the business lost money because we would have ordered cocktails. I ordered an enchilada dish, because I wanted something hot and gooey and cheesy. What I got was completely bizarre and cold, even though it took the kitchen forever to prepare. The tortillas were stiff and hard, barely softened enough to be wrapped around the plain chicken contents. The dish was covered in stone cold crema, to the point that I could not taste anything else. There was some green sauce and cheese under the crema and sprinkling of cotija with herbs. But the tortillas were dry, so there was no gooey and cheesy thing going on here at all. Just crema. This dish was supposed to be served on black beans but I requested rice, so there was a smear of rice underneath the three enchiladas but hardly even a three bite side dish. Very strange and unsatisfying. It also took an extremely long time to prepare this dish, as my husband's meal came out and mine did not. For a long while. No explanation or apology. Our server acted like this was the norm. Husband ordered two taco plate with rice and beans, one with chorizo and one with chicken and cheese. The pollo tinga was a large slab of chicken, not pulled or shredded but very tender. The chorizo was good and plentiful, but overwhelmingly one dimensional in flavor. He was glad he only ordered one with this meat. Rice and beans were fine. I see the menu has changed since we were there, perhaps an improvement, because I no longer see the awful enchiladas. The taco plate no longer comes with sides, unsure if the price reflects. The day we were there there was a large group of ladies having a party, with a giant dispenser of margaritas on the table. I am sure this is a fun place for brunch as it is pink and girly inside. I cannot recommend the food, although the restaurant gets many a good reviews our experience was different.

I advise you check what might be going on in the restaurant before you show up. I've been here during sports playoff, and while a DJ blasting music at what my Apple Watch clocked as 80-90db. Other than that, it's typically a great, quiet place where you can chat with people and order food without having to yell or be startled by random shouts. Okay, now that's out of the way, this is one of my go-to Mexican places in Long Beach. I take every friend that comes in from out of town here (as long as none of the above is happening). The service is always excellent, and every item on the menu I've tried is delicious.

I love the vibe in here. The music was my kind of music. We got sat right away. The drink menu had so many choices to choose from. But the food was really amazing especially the fusion. I would recommend this place 100% for girls night out.

I found out about this restaurant as they were one of the vendors at a Yelp event that I had attended the prior month. I had reserved a day in advance via Yelp for my best friend's birthday. When we got there, it was around 5pm on a Tuesday and it wasn't packed so they didn't need to look up my reservation really. The overall ambiance of the place is aesthetically pleasing. Service was great as well as our waitress made sure to check in on us every so often. As for the food, we ordered from the "recession menu" which is their happy hour menu. For the overall price and delicious food options offered during happy hour, I would definitely recommend coming here! We ordered the 2 mocktails La Penelope & La Esmeralda. As for the food we got the Taquitos de Papa, Tostada Marinero, Rib Eye, and Chimichanga. To top it off, since it was my bestie's birthday, they gave a complimentary Chu-Nut Dulce De Leche (churro donut with ice cream). It was not overly sweet and just the right combination.

Good food and good service. Cocktails are very delicious and ambiance was perfect for huge group Of friends to go out highly recommend although parking is super hard at times

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Great happy hour deals and awesome service. Came here for a weekend afternoon bday gathering with my crew and we had such a great time! We got here in time to take advantage of their "recession menu" and we were impressed! Great selection of food and drinks at reasonable prices. We got a big variety of items from that menu (can't remember them all; check out my photos). We also got a margarita pitcher for the table which came in a fancy dispenser--ooh la la! The staff couldn't be friendlier, even bringing out plates and forks for the cake we'd brought with us. We are definitely coming back for more of that recession menu!

Went on a Thursday evening with a group of friends for a small Birthday dinner. We started off with some Aguachiles and Ceviche for the table and then ordered two tortad ahogadas, the octopus plate, and the carne en su jugo. All very delicious and good portions! The ambiance was great and our server was very attentive, constantly checking in on us and how we were doing. Definitely want to come back and check out the rest of the dishes!

Can't believe I haven't written a review for El Barrio yet. Been here several times and have enjoyed the food, drinks and fun vibe this Cantina has to offer! I also like coming for the free Secret Service house parties when the kitchen closes Saturday nights! They make some fantastic margaritas! My recent favorite is the 400 Coñejos Mezcal Joven Margarita. Not too sweet and love the smokiness. If you've never tried Tlayuda, "Mexican pizza," I highly recommend it! A thin, crispy blue corn tostada is topped with black bean spread, queso, cilantro crema, cabbage and choice of protein. I like it with chicken tinga and the salsa gives it a nice kick! Taquitos de Papa (potato tacos) are delicious with avocado saldo, cream and queso fresco on top. They have many types of tacos to choose from as well and you'll get more bang for your buck by getting the plate with rice and beans for $16. I was a little disappointed with the size of the Pulpo con Papas (grilled octopus with garlic fingerling potatoes). It was cooked just right though. In addition to traditional Mexican dishes, they have some unique fusion creations like the Mexican Hot Fried Chicken, Birria Lasagna and Chicken Curry Mole. What I truly appreciate about El Barrio is how they partner with community organizations and serve for a cause. I came last night to support a fundraiser for Órale LB, an organization working to end criminalization of immigrants and secure protections and opportunities that allow for immigrant communities to thrive. For $13, you can get 2 taquitos de papa and a margarita and 100% of the proceeds go to Órale. The offer ends 6/15/25. The DJ plays various Mexican genres and gets people on the dance floor. The servers and bartenders are nice, though they can get busy. The busers are super on top of things! Street parking and a small free parking lot is available across the street.

Most recently swung by for a drink (the Saladito is so refreshing) but I order from here online quite frequently and have been in with friends many times. The service has always been great and folks have been friendly and engaging. All of their tacos are delicious, but I love the taquitos de papa (potato tacos), carnitas and gobernador tacos. Both are so flavorful. Aesthetically, the place is very chill with a neutral color scheme and pops of sage and salmon. It's a great setting for brunch! I'll continue to be a frequent patron

Went here today for lunch and really enjoyed it. The menu was quite extensive. The server was very pleasant but did end up disappearing towards the end of our visit; probably a shift change. The feel is definitely trendy, I loved the wall mural of a luchador wrestling an octopus. It was legit!! I'm interested in coming back for a happy hour!

First time here and Mary was awesome! Súper patience and giving great recommendations. The place was clean, cute and cozy. The food exceeded our expectations. Especially the chilaquiles divorciados.

Love this place! Happy hour is everyday 3-5:30 with $6 wine pours and you have to try the potato tacos....on point!

I've been to this restaraunt 2-3 times already and it's amazing!! I've always had amazing service, everyone is very attentive and kind. Firstly, the taquitos de papas are FIRE!!!! I have to get them every time. I will say, try to make it during their happy hour for a better price :) Overall, the food and drinks are amazing and the overall ambiance, decor, and lighting makes it such a great place to catch up with friends and take cute photos. I know certain nights they have a DJ and the vibe completely changes, it's super fun and feels almost like a club (?) but I've only seen this once on a friday night so not too sure but it's so cool that they implement this!!

Always fun. Good drinks. Good food. Nice atmosphere. Perfect for date night or drinks with the girls.

Visited on a busy Friday night and was greeted with great music that was playing by a live DJ! Maritza was our amazing hostess and friendly server who is very helpful if you have any questions about items on the menu. We ordered the Tlayuda Pizza, squash fideo pasta, and tacos de asada, carnitas, birria, and chicken tinga. The Tlayuda pizza was huge and loaded with a lot of flavorful bean spread, cheese, crema, cabbage, and choice of protein or veggies; it was delicious!!! The squash fideo pasta was creamy, yummy, and had a little kick to it! The taco plates were served with rice and beans and every protein that I chose was yummy! The paloma drink and old fashioned drinks were delicious too! Loved the vibe, the music the live DJ was playing, and all the servers! Parking for customers of the restaurant is available across the street!

The restaurant inside is spacious, beautiful, and has a great vibe. Our server was incredibly nice and the food was packed, I mean PACKED with flavor. I've been dreaming of the carne asada ever since. 10/10 would recommend!

Came here on a Saturday afternoon to celebrate a friends birthday. We had a reservation therefore we did not wait at all upon arrival. We arrived around 4 pm and were told it was happy hour which is great since happy hour in Saturdays is pretty unheard of. I opted for hot wings, a taco de Tinga, aguachiles tostada and flan. The Tinga taco was flavorful and overall delicious 4/5. The aguachiles were so spicy to me it was difficult to enjoy but if you're into extremely spicy food opt to grab this. 2/5 dish. Tacos de papa were by far my favorite they just reminded of a at home dish perfect potato to tortilla ratio 4.5/5. The wings were also great tasted like typical wings if you're craving that 4/5. The horchata also was delicious and the flan was a good desert as well. Server was very attentive which I appreciate as well!! Ambiance at this time was not so lively I would definitely opt to come later at night to see if it is actually more entertaining. I would definitely come again to try other foods on the menu.

We love a good taco Tuesday spot!! Their pomegranate marg & cucumber marg with tajin? say less. Ceviche tostada was fresh and the perfect intro to their street tacos, birria was my personal fave. Cute atmosphere & lovely service.

Have heard amazing things about this place and it more than lived up to the hype! The ceviche is probably the best I've ever had. It was fresh and full of flavor. It almost tastes Asian fusion-y bc of a Mexican hot sauce they use that tastes very similar to a chili crunch. I'd go back just for this dish! The salmon chicharrones, taquitos de papa and chicken wings were all very delicious starters. All were perfectly fried with yummy dipping sauces. Would order these again. And for our entree, we got the dino short rib which was juicy and just melted in your mouth. The tortillas and dipping sauces made it the perfect meal. Service was great and loved the ambiance. There were so many other yummy sounding things I need to go back and try!

Great food and great service! We were visiting the Long Beach area and enjoyed dinner with our family here!

Had an amazing night celebrating my birthday. Our waiter Jeff was amazing and made sure we had everything we needed. Would definitely be back. Amazing service 10/10. Everything we tried was awesome

I loved this place... crazy cute, esthetically pleasing and the food was delicious! I ended up going during the beginning of happy hour so there weren't many people there. The service was amazing though, friendly and helpful. I got the loaded fries with chicken tinga and 10/10 would definitely recommend! Crispy fries and lot of toppings all mixing well together. I also tried one of the frozen cocktails which was also refreshing, and actually kind of spicy! Overall I really like this place and would definitely go back to try other things.

Food is excellent. Service is super slow and subpar :/ I hate leaving these types of reviews, but I have to make sure that people are aware of the stuff if they are going to spend their hard earned money here. This place is not cheap. Service: 0/5. Went for brunch with 6 others at 11:30 on a Sunday. We were the only ones there. There were only two people working there - our server and one other guy. I couldn't tell if he was the bartender, but whatever the situation was, the service was slower than slow. Food, drinks, no matter what the item was. My friend accidentally spilled his drink, and they so kindly offered to make him another, but it never came out, and neither did my final drink so we just paid and left. The server also made a couple short responses that weren't friendly. We asked which of two drinks she recommended and all she said was "well they're two different drinks." And nothing else. She was short and seemed annoyed until the end, then she was nice. Idk. Drinks/food: 5/5. these were really good though! I think that was its saving grace. Birria tacos were good, rice was not. Salmon "chicharrones" were excellent. Chicken n waffles were good. My aguachile was perfectly spicy. Portions are big. Drinks were good. Vegan, pescatarian and vegetarian friendly. Vibe: family friendly and great for groups. Spacious and cutely decorated too. I'm definitely giving it another shot sometime soon because the food and drinks were good, and maybe the server was not just having the best day.

Amazing place with chill vibes and great music. Our waiter was very nice and helped us a lot with the menu because everything looked so good. The food was amazing!

It was one of those rare, misty nights in SoCal--rain tapping softly on the pavement like a slow jazz rhythm. My date was running behind, but no fault of her own. We'd been trying to make this evening happen for a while now. The LA fires had robbed us the first time, so tonight, not even the rain would get in the way. I took shelter at El Barrio Cantina, the main house. The space had that low-key magic--warm light, laid-back energy, and the kind of bartender who doesn't just pour drinks, but reads the room. He served up a smooth Oaxacan Old-Fashioned, the kind that settles into your bones and melts the chill from the night. The smoke, the citrus, the subtle fire--it hit just right. I mentioned I was only passing through, heading to Tokyo Noir once she arrived. Without missing a beat, he nodded and made a quiet call to the back, letting the team know I'd be late. A class act. No fuss, just grace. That's the kind of hospitality that doesn't announce itself, but leaves an impression long after the glass is empty. If things didn't pan out with this particular doll, well--I'd be back, no doubt. The room had its own kind of allure, full of pretty smiles and perfectly painted lips. It would be foolish not to give romance another swing in a setting like this. Laughter floated through the air in soft bursts--bubble whispers and knowing glances that made the space feel alive, electric. And truth be told, I'd be selfish to keep it to myself. Next time, I'll bring a few of the favored gents along for the ride. I'm not a greedy man--just a firm believer in sharing the good things, especially when the vibe is this right.

Absolutely blown away by both service and food!! I ordered the aguachili verde de camaron and let me say that did not disappoint what so ever. The flavor was huge and the portions were perfect and equal amounts of ingredients. I ended with the "chu nut dulce leche" for dessert and jeeze that was probably one of the best desserts I've ever eaten in my life. Pure gold and ordered it twice will definitely be back again.

Really great experience here! Came in on a Friday night around 8pm with a group of 6 and got sat really quickly! The ambiance inside is so nice. We started off with a margarita pitcher and chips with spinach dip. I tried some of the curry mole and aguachiles and bother were amazing! Our server was super nice, I wish I could remember her name. All the dishes we got were really good so I'm guessing everything from here is pretty good! I will definitely be back to try out some more dishes!

I'm bummed it's taken me this long to check this place out! We chose this spot specifically because Yelp let us reserve a table for 8 on the app and what could possibly be more convenient than that? What compelled me to come write this review was: 1. Austin 2. Those amazing tacos! We were meeting for our book club and it was a little loud for that, but we managed. We had the fortune of having Austin as our server last night. None of us had been to the restaurant before and we had a lot of questions. He was so incredibly patient, knowledgable, kind, helpful, friendly. All of the things! He really made the experience at the restaurant fantastic. I hope his manager sees this, because he was outstanding. The food was phenomenal as well. The chips were fresh, the tacos Austin recommended were to die for. I got the carne asada and birria tacos. We're already planning a date night there! Can't wait to go back!

They got all day Happy Hour on Tuesdays. Happy Hour is a great Deal and the drinks are very good. The Sangria Pitcher is a special great deal. Make sure you try the Oysters. They are so good!

Great place for some good Mexican food and good drinks. We have been driving through the 4th street and always see this place and finally decided to check it out. We had no reservations, we walked in and were sitted shortly. Server were quick and they gave us enough time to check the menu and took our order for drinks and appetizers quickly. We ordered Taquitos De Papa, Hamachi collar, Camaron Marinero, and Carnitas for main. All the food was absolutely delicious. All the sauces used in each dishes were distinct and their salsa were phenomenal. Ambiance is pretty cool as well. Overall we had a great time. We enjoyed all the good food and margaritas. I would be coming back to this place again to try their different dishes. Highly recommend this place. On a plus point they have parking lot right across their restaurant.

El Barrio is one of those Long Beach spots that feels like part of the neighborhood the moment you walk in. Friendly faces, great music, and an even better menu. It's lively yet intimate--the sort of place where locals keep coming back. I met friends for happy hour and couldn't stop ordering little bites. Their tacos, ceviche, and those clever plates feel elevated without being dramatic. Cocktails? Exactly what you want. Bright, balanced, and fun. Service was warm and by the time the DJ kicked in the vibe felt electric. El Barrio hits that rare balance: smart food, engaging drinks, good times, and neighborhood soul. Right on retro row. I'll definitely be back. --Rick

My local friends found this place on Yelp and it did not disappoint! We decided to go family style and I'm so happy we did because I got to try so many delicious things. We each started with a drink. I adored that even their mocktails were gorgeous. I tried the Penelope and enjoyed it very much. My favorite dish we ordered was the Aguachile Verde De Camaron. It was so refreshing and delicious and had the best kick. It was fun to try cactus in the Nopal Tiradito. The Pulpo Con Papas was a bit chewier than I would've liked, but the potatoes rocked. And the Tuna Ceviche was a little different than I'm used to, but in a good way. We also adored the Taquitos De Papas. Overall this spot gets 4.5 stars from me. When we came it didn't look too busy, but it seemed like there would be a bit of a wait. The host, who was also our server, said he could push things around for us and put two single tables together. This was a very kind gesture. We had a good time at this restaurant and would recommend checking it out.

Great upscale casual environment, perfect service and amazing food!! Definitely going back and back to try everything!! Well done!

I've been visiting El Barrio since they first opened and I love that they've grown in popularity. It's a solid spot. I love a few things on the menu - the tacos are great. I love a good specialty dish though and really appreciate their Mexican Hot Fried Chicken. Now I've had a version of this at a couple other restaurants, but their execution is the best. It's served on top of cornbread and topped with coleslaw. Y'all win because what?! lol As a fan of sweet and savory dishes, I love it. I also order here online sometimes and the food is always fresh still. Service is pretty good, but I've come during chill times usually. I've driven past this place and it was jam packed with people out the door. I usually set a resy and never have an issue getting seated. I love how they've expanded the use of the space and have brunches here and a DJ sometimes. Very happy this place is still around and continuing to do well.

The restaurants parking lot is not clearly labeled but they do have a parking lot and it is right across from the restaurant. It's in between apartment buildings. The decor and music is nice and the place is big enough for large parties The service was efficient and the waitress recommended a few dishes. Everything was delicious- From the pulpo enamorado, aguachiles and pulpo con papas.

Came for dinner at 7pm after happy hour. Margs are $7 during happy hour but double to $14-$18 after...yikes! They were pretty damn good though. The food was amazing: calamari is crunchy and fried, the cauliflower was crazy tasty, the blue fin tostada and fish tostada with both equally good. Blue fin had a chipotle taste to it. The octopus was also bomb, but could have used more of that delicious sauce. I finished off with one birria taco to fill me up My biggest complaint is that this place is super pricy for small portions. The cauliflower is $10 for like...basically a handful. Everything was expensive and not terribly worth it. With 20% tip I spent $175 for all this, still left hungry, and felt a bit robbed. I will only be returning for happy hour until these prices drop. We're in LBC not weho.

Employees here are brain dead. Girl tells me it will be 5 minutes for my order. Cool. Manager comes out about 5 minutes later and tells me "they are finishing it up right now." Then another 15 minutes goes by and nothing. Manager says it's taking longer because they are busy, when the place is half full. Like if it's gonna take half an hour, just tell me that, don't lie and say it's gonna be right out when it's not even close.

I stumbled upon this place by accident. I decided to try it out of curiosity because I had never heard of it. The inside decor is very hip and modern and bright. It's also pretty large inside. I sat at the bar and ordered a cucumber margarita with an appetizer called chicharron salmon. Sounded interesting. My server was super friendly and gave me info on menu and establishment. The appetizer was really good, and the drink was too. I decided I wanted to try one more thing that looked good from the fusion type menu. It was included in the happy hour menu as well. Very tasty! I'll most likely be back to try the brunch menu next.

Cute vibe and great service ! Tacos are so good . Get the potato tacos they are a must try

You will leave hungry with an empty wallet. The QUALITY of food was good. The Quantity was lacking. Stay away from the MOCKTAILS - PURE SELTZER . When I told the waitress she did not drdict it from the bill. The waitress was cordial. I would not recommend.

My friends took me & my fiancée last night for dinner & drinks. It was me & my fiancée's first time here and it won't be our last. The ambiance was great, the NBA Playoffs was playing, speakers were playing EDM bangers, food was absolutely delicious, and the service was second to none! I also have to note that my fiancée and I both ordered what just might be the best hazy IPA this side of the Mississippi. We're already looking forward to our next visit!

Good ambience, friendly service and the food was also very good. I like that they also order Margaritas in a pitcher to share with friends.

Food- Tostada marinero- had a weird flavor. Would not order again 3/10 Aguachiles- these were pretty solid. They weren't bad just average 5.5/10 Service- waitress wasn't very attentive. Parking- very hard to find parking as it's on a main Street and other available parking are in crowded parking streets in the residential areas. Ambience- it was very pretty inside! We went on a Tuesday night so it was completely empty Overall experience- 4/10 Personally I wouldn't return. The food was nothing special, difficult parking situation, and overall vibe was off.

We were excited to check out this place. They have an interesting selection of fusion dishes. We were happy to see that they can make some accommodations for vegetarians. The Mexican pasta dish seemed like a standard pasta dish, wish there was more uniqueness. The veggie tacos were pretty good. Our food did take a while to come and we later learned that is generally the case here, as the food is served as it is prepared. Overall we were hoping for a bit more, but may give this place another chance in the future. Would rate this place a 3.5. Also parking was very challenging in that area, and the lot across the street isn't that big.

I hadn't been to this location since it was Ashley's Mexican Food! But I was shocked, it was the worst meal experience I've ever had! What a shit show! They did everything horribly bad! We ordered, and the 1st plate came out in 15 minutes, not bad, but only one plate! We waited and waited, no other plates of food, so I told my friend to eat so it wouldn't get cold. He ate slow, but he finished his entire meal just as my other friend's food came out (20 minutes later)! I complained and my food came out 58 minutes after we had ordered!! And the food was sloppy and cold! Avoiding this horrible restaurant No good food, but plenty of agitation! I wish Ashley's was back! D

Great happy hour!! I ordered off all the menus and had a blast!!! great experience! I enjoyed the happy hour margaritas better than the caddy.. all the tequila is amazing!! No normal or main brands tequila, they have authentic tequila and some of best in town!!! Potato tacos are my favorite thing on here!! Always get a few orders to start!!! Chicken Chimichangas with pico and crema with black beans!! A great dish!! The donut with Villnona ice cream amazing.. second favorite thing.. Must try !!!! Hope this place stays open !!!!

First, Yelp recommends a reservation during specific times... so we made one, but it was fairly wide open when we went. So if you don't have a reservation, don't be deterred. Also if you're not familiar with the area, parking can be a bit difficult to find depending on the time and day as it's street parking only. When walking into the restaurant, it gave a very hipster-modern Mexican vibe with soft lighting. I question places like this and wonder if the food is going to live up to the vibe, but let me assure you - El Barrio Cantina does! Staff was very friendly too. I went with my partner and I got the Bebesita and he got an Arnold Palmer + we got chips and salsa to start. I absolutely detest Mexican restaurants that charge for chips and salsa by the way, but the salsa was absolutely phenomenal! I'd pay for them again, but... they really should be part of the meal as a starter and not for pay. The Bebesita was top notch! I could have drank a ton of them and would be back just to have another. Kudos to the bartender and the mixologist on this one, really good. The Arnold Palmer was just alright, the lemonade tasted a bit off. We then got an aguachile verde ceviche and that would have to be the best ceviche I have ever had. If you're not a fan of spicy though, pass on this one. I love spicy and this one was off the charts, but seriously... best ceviche I have ever had hands down. Fresh and the flavor was on point! For food we got the Chimichanga and the Mexican fried chicken. I wasn't expecting literal fried chicken, but none the less - it was amazing. The honey syrup was good and the chicken cooked to perfection. The cornbread however was a bit crumbly and not as moist as I like... but it all came together perfectly. The chimichanga was delicious as well. Good amount of chicken, rice and beans... tortilla was nice and crispy. It was all so freaking good. Prices are a bit above what I like to pay, but for the quality of food and how delicious it was... no real complaints. I'll be back for sure and would highly recommend.