The Best Tacos in Long Beach: 15 Amazing Taco Joints
There’s no doubt about it: LA County is home to some of the best tacos in SoCal, if not the entire country. Amongst other things, tacos are a quintessential part of LA culture. And as you can imagine, Long Beach follows suit and really brings the competition when it comes to grubbing on tacos. So, if you’re looking for the best tacos in Long Beach, I asked Peter from Wayfare With Pierre to weigh in and create this detailed guide.
This Southern California city is home to some truly amazing Mexican cuisine along with some creative Cali-Mex and Asian fusion spots. Whether you’re in the mood for carne asada, fried chicken tacos, or even smoked marlin tacos, Long Beach has the perfect taco to satisfy your craving (read: addiction).
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 15 best taco joints in Long Beach, California!
1. La Chancla Mexican Restaurant
📍Address: 990 Cherry Ave Unit 102, Long Beach, CA 90813
⭐️ Best For: Birria and guisados tacos
Perfectly situated right on Long Beach Boulevard, La Chancla is a family-owned restaurant that has been serving up crazy good tacos for more than 30 years. La Chancla keeps it simple and straight to the point, with staple menu options like carnitas, carne asada, al pastor, and fish tacos. They also have birria and a wide range of burritos to choose from if you really have an appetite.
What really sets La Chancla apart from the rest is its commitment to serving up only the best quality ingredients. They use only the freshest meats and produce, and their tortillas are made fresh in-house daily. The result is a taco that tastes familiar yet is bursting with flavor that’s out of this world.
If you’re looking for a casual, no-frills taco joint, La Chancla is the place to go. And with prices that won’t break the bank, it’s a great option for a quick lunch with friends or a budget-friendly dinner. Once you’re done grubbing, be sure to hit up one of the amazing rooftop bars in Long Beach for a post-dinner drink and a fun night out!
2. Tacos La Carreta
📍Address: 3401 E 69th St, Long Beach, CA 90805
⭐️ Best For: Sinaloa-style chorreadas
If you think you’ve tried the best tacos in the Los Angeles area, think again, especially if you have yet to hit up Tacos La Carreta. This taco food truck, which had humble beginnings as a street cart in Compton, serves up some of the best Sinaloa-style chorreadas around.
If you don’t know what a chorreada is, it’s a specific style of taco that’s decked out in pork fat, a heap of carne asada, salsa, and chopped cabbage. You can even add some melted cheese on top if you’re serious about your grubbing.
They also serve up your traditional carne asada, pollo asado, and other tacos, but you’ll be missing out if you skip out on the chorreada. As a food truck, this place is a no-frills taco joint that’s perfect for a quick bite or a dinner date in the car.
3. Lola’s Mexican Cuisine
📍Address: 2030 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814 OR 4140 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807
⭐️ Best For: Salsa (try the “Green Crack”) and margaritas
Not only is Lola’s one of the best Mexican food spots in Long Beach for tacos, but it’s also an all-time favorite amongst Long Beach locals. And it makes sense: the restaurant really perfects the trifecta of having premium-quality ingredients, a fun and comfy place, and a timeless family-oriented culture.
When it comes to tacos, they have it all: Tijuana-style tacos, birria queso tacos, Jalisco tacos, baja fish tacos, and even vegan tacos.
If you’re wanting a cocktail or three, they have a full bar as well as the expected range of margaritas. They also have a delicious weekend brunch complete with breakfast sopes, burritos, and Mexican French toast.
4. Baja Sonora
📍Address: 2940 Clark Ave, Long Beach, CA 90815
⭐️ Best For: Seafood tacos
Baja Sonora is a Long Beach institution that has been serving up some of the best Long Beach tacos since 1998. This rather casual eatery offers a wide range of Mexican dishes. But of course, their tacos are the star of the show.
While their carne asada taco is a customer favorite for years, Baja Sonora is easily one of the best establishments in Long Beach for seafood tacos.
If you’re a seafoodie, go for the shrimp taco or a mahi mahi fish taco. But if you want something more unique, you gotta try the salmon taco. Topped with a tangy chipotle sauce, this fish taco is perfectly cooked and served on a soft yet thick flour tortilla with cabbage and pico de gallo.
5. El Taco Loco #3
📍Address: 1465 Magnolia Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813
⭐️ Best For: Tripa tacos and fresh juice
If you’re looking for the best hole-in-the-wall, authentic Mexican street tacos, El Taco Loco is the best place to go. This is definitely a locals’ spot with all your taco favorites at affordable prices.
In addition to the tacos, they also have a range of Mexican food staples such as burritos, tortas, quesadillas, sopas (soup), and larger plates.
6. Playa Amor
📍Address: 6527 E. Pacific Coast HWY, Long Beach, CA 90803
⭐️ Best For: Creative Mexican-fusion
If you’re in the mood for Mexican cuisine that is more creative and modern, Playa Amor is the place to go. Located right on the Pacific Coast Highway, this rather cozy restaurant offers a unique dining experience that is flavorful and truly showcases the tasty goodness of the SoCal taco scene.
If you’re a vegetarian or trying to eat healthier, you absolutely have to try the Mushroom taco. This creative taco consists of a mushroom medley, chile lime peanuts, charred brussel sprouts, grilled onions, aji Verde, cotija, and more. The peanuts almost give it an Asian fusion flavor appeal while still keeping to the amazing flavor you’ve come to expect.
They also have the usual traditional suspects like carne asada and al pastor, all served on handmade tortillas that are made in-house.
Yet another plus for Playa Amor is its wide range of aguas frescas. These refreshing drinks are the perfect complement to their flavor-rich tacos. Try the classic hibiscus or mango, or be adventurous with flavors like tamarind or prickly pear.
7. Taqueria La Mexicana
📍Address: 1901 E. Carson St, Long Beach, CA 90807
⭐️ Best For: Hot Cheeto California Burrito
If you’re on the go and just need some grab-and-go tacos to satisfy your cravings, Taqueria La Mexicana is the perfect no-frills spot to hit up. Frequently ranked among the “top 10 dining destinations in Long Beach, CA,” is renowned for its exceptional blend of traditional and innovative Southern California cuisine such as the crowd-favorite Hot Cheeto California Burrito.
On top of many other Mexican food items on the menu, it serves up some of the best tacos de guisado in Long Beach. Their tacos are made with a thick tortilla and filled with your choice of meat and toppings like chopped tomatoes, cilantro, and onions. You can’t beat it.
8. El Sauz
📍Address: 1616 East Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90813
⭐️ Best For: Carne asada tacos and family-friendly atmosphere
El Sauz is a family-owned restaurant that really brings welcoming vibes. The inviting aroma of freshly cooked Mexican delights fills the air, instantly kicking your appetite into high gear. The walls are decorated with colorful murals depicting scenes of Mexican culture, adding to the lively and vibrant ambiance.
It serves up not only some of the best Mexican food overall but specifically some of the best carne asada street tacos in town. The meat is perfectly seasoned and served on a soft flour tortilla with avocado, diced onions, and cilantro. To top it off, every flour tortilla (they have soft corn tortillas too) is handmade in-house, along with the salsa and other staple ingredients.
Make sure to visit on the weekend for karaoke or Taco Tuesday for discounted tacos!
9. Hole Mole
📍Address: 1327 E. 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802 OR 421 N. Obispo Ave, Long Beach, CA 90814
⭐️ Best For: Fajitarito taco
When it comes to tacos, Hole Mole is a long-time Long Beach staple. This restaurant serves up some of the best tacos in town, hands down. Whether you’re craving crispy golden tacos filled al pastor or even a more creative option like the fajitarito taco, there’s a taco for everyone’s palate.
They don’t hold back on the fillings, the toppings (iceberg lettuce, cilantro, chopped tomatoes, diced onions, you name it) are cut fresh, and their soft corn tortillas are made in-house on a daily basis. There’s a reason why this Southern California hot spot is top-rated in all of Long Beach when it comes to tacos.
10. La Taqueria Brand
📍Address: 1430 East 7th St, Long Beach, CA 90813 OR 3768 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90807
⭐️ Best For: Vegan tacos
While technically a chain with locations throughout Southern California, La Taqueria is still one of Long Beach’s best restaurants when it comes to tacos. LT Brand’s menu includes a blend of family recipes that have been handed down for generations (with the usual range of tacos) along with more modern and creative plates such as the Califries and the birria beef dip sandwich.
Of course, they also have a nice range of street tacos for you to choose from, served with premium-quality meats. Grab two tacos or five, we’re not here to judge.
11. Los Compadres
📍Address: 1144 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813 OR 3229 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804
⭐️ Best For: Golden tacos
Los Compadres is the perfect spot for those in search of the best golden tacos in Long Beach. If you’re really hungry, their menu features a ton of options so you can chow down in style.
From sizzling fajitas to mouthwatering enchiladas, every dish at Los Compadres is prepared with crazy attention to detail. The star of the show, of course, is the street tacos. Whether you prefer a hit of tender carne asada, a fish taco, some al pastor, grilled chicken, or even fried chicken, each taco is a perfect combo of flavors that explodes in your mouth.
Don’t forget to pair your meal with a margarita or one of their specialty drinks while you’re at it!
12. Tacomasa Taqueria
📍Address: 4740 E 7th St Suite 130, Long Beach, CA 90804
⭐️ Best For: Authentic Tijuana style tacos
Tacomasa has two locations: one in Cypress, and then the fan-favorite location in Long Beach. Easily one of Long Beach’s favorite Tijuana-style Mexican food joints, Tacomasa’s menu consists of staple items and essential tacos to choose from, such as abodaba, asada, pollo asado, and even jamaica (hibiscus).
You can then choose whether you want a corn or flour tortilla to wrap it all up. The simple menu also consists of other staple Mexican food options such as burritos, mulitas, tortas, quesadillas, and some refrescos to wash it all down. Your trip to Long Beach isn’t complete without a quick stop at Tacomasa Taqueria.
13. El Cabo Pepe’s Red Tacos
📍Address: 23920 S Vermont Ave, Harbor City, CA 90710
⭐️ Best For: Bone marrow tacos
While this taco joint is not technically in Long Beach, it is right within driving distance (about 15 minutes from downtown Long Beach) and has nevertheless become a Long Beach favorite amongst locals and visitors alike.
All of the tacos at Pepe’s Red Tacos are – you guessed it – red. But that’s only scratching the surface of what this place has to offer. The reason why Pepe’s Red Tacos has some of the best tacos in Long Beach is due to both its uniqueness and its family-oriented flavor.
All of their tacos and menu options showcase the authentic Jalisco, Guadalajara flavor with recipes that have traveled across four generations. What’s more, the showstopper red tacos are stuffed with birria that’s slow-cooked for 5+ hours and served with grilled bone marrow.
They have other amazing dishes beyond their signature tacos, such as their queso-tacos, al pastor tacos, birria ramen, huge burritos, and more. It’s no wonder this taco joint is one of the best in Long Beach- maybe even in Los Angeles.
14. Long Beach Taco Co.
📍Address: 442 E. 1st. St, Long Beach, California 90802
⭐️ Best For: Birria quesi taco and fried avocado taco
Long Beach Taco is a true hidden gem right in the heart of Long Beach. Right when you step foot in the door, you’re hit with the smell of sizzling meats and fresh ingredients like iceberg lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, fresh dill, dried chiles, and more.
Whether you’re on the hunt for traditional faves like carne asada or more adventurous creations like their signature fried fish taco or even calabacitas (vegetarian) tacos, there’s truly something here for everyone. It’s one of those places where words just don’t do it enough justice. Their tacos are that amazing.
15. King Taco
📍Address: 1841 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90806
⭐️ Best For: Al pastor tacos
King Taco is a legendary Mexican food spot in Long Beach. With a history dating all the way back to 1974, they’ve been a crowd favorite for tacos in the area for decades. Aside from the friendly staff and cozy ambiance, the tacos are the stars of the show.
Their al pastor tacos, complete with ridiculously juicy marinated pork and fresh toppings like cheese, cilantro, salsa, and more, are a local hit. They also have a wide range of other tacos to choose from, including carne asada, cabeza, lengua, pollo, buche, suadero, and more. Grab two tacos or five and you’ll be well on your way to needing an afternoon siesta.
⭐️ BONUS ⭐️
Interested in trying some of the best Oaxacan food around?
Madre! Oaxacan Restaurant and Mezcaleria in Torrance (about a 20-minute drive) from Long Beach is an absolute must-visit restaurant!
FAQs – Best Tacos in Long Beach
Tacos are popular in California due to the state’s proximity to Mexico, a strong Mexican-American heritage, and well – because they’re delicious!
San Diego is widely regarded as having some of the best tacos in California, with its diverse range of authentic and innovative taco spots. However, Long Beach is also a notable runner-up, known for its thriving taco scene and delicious offerings that satisfy any taco enthusiast.
The main difference between a taco and a street taco lies in their size and simplicity. Street tacos are typically smaller in size, often served on small corn tortillas, and feature minimal toppings or garnishes. They are commonly found in street food markets or food carts, emphasizing a quick and portable eating experience.
Some of the most popular tacos include the classic carne asada, featuring grilled marinated beef, and al pastor, made with seasoned pork cooked on a vertical spit. Other favorites include fish tacos with crispy battered fish and vegetarian options like grilled vegetables or mushroom tacos.
CONCLUSION: Best Tacos in Long Beach
LA as a whole is famous for its thriving taco scene, and Long Beach specifically has become a local hub for some of the best tacos around. From traditional street-style favorites to innovative fusion creations, the city truly has some of the best tacos you’ll ever fold and grub on.
Whether you’re craving a savory Al Pastor, the zesty freshness of a Baja fish taco, or the rich flavors of Carnitas, all of these taco joints top the list of Long Beach’s elites. Make sure you come with an appetite and loose clothing so you have room to get your taco grub on!
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☀️ California FAQs ☀️
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Spring (March-May) or Fall (September-November) – are cooler and have the potential of rain, but you will beat some of the crowds and see some incredible wildflowers (spring)/greenery (fall).
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Hotels, vacation rentals, and house-sitting are all available for accommodation. My top recommendations for each are:
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I find incredible tours around the world >>> HERE with private and guided group tours of the most popular attractions and ones that fit your specific interests.
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I very highly recommend renting a car in California so you don’t miss out on the gorgeous scenery and wonderful things to do in between the big cities! California is fantastic for road trips – there is SO much to see up and down the coast. Plus, sites are often spread far out, even in the cities, so having a car is the most convenient option.
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