Where to Eat Tacos
Credit: La Bamba | @kaileyeats
The best thing about tacos, besides everything, is their versatility.
People tend to fall into two different taco “teams”:
those that prefer a classic street-style taco served on a soft corn tortilla, topped with diced onions and cilantro and;
those that swear by a gringo-style taco served on a corn or flour tortilla (soft or hard shell), topped with lettuce, tomato and cheese.
Both ways include your “main” topping of meat, vegetable or seafood, like carnitas-style pork, baja fish or fajita grilled veg, and both ways are excellent.
Whatever way you choose to eat your tacos — which we fully 100% support — there’s no shortage of incredible Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants on LBI to get your taco fix. After much taste-tasting and debate, we can finally tell you where to find the best of the best tacos on Long Beach Island. Have a little taco crawl and decide for yourself!
Here is a guide to our favorite places for tacos in Long Beach Island and Manahawkin.
El Rinconcito De Mexico
A newer addition to the Manahawkin food scene, El Rinconcito De Mexico is a hidden gem for taco purists and adventurous eaters alike. Their menu is packed with traditional fillings like buche, tripa, and al pastor, plus crowd-pleasers like carne asada and birria tacos. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming — perfect for grabbing a quick bite or settling in with friends for a low-key taco night. Don’t skip their salsas; they’re house-made and bring the perfect amount of heat.
La Cabañita
La Cabañita brings a splash of Mexico City to Manahawkin with vibrant décor and bold flavors. Their tacos are loaded with fresh, authentic ingredients, and they offer a variety of traditional street food options like gorditas and sopes alongside the taco menu. It’s the kind of place where you’ll want to order a few different things just to sample — and you should, because everything here is made with love.
La Bamba
La Bamba has a reputation on the island for serving the most authentic Mexican food you can find, and it’s just a beach cruiser bike ride away! Stepping inside La Bamba feels like you’re walking into a casita, a cozy little home — the walls are bright coral and blue with woven blankets and handmade decor placed throughout. Their menu is loaded with street-style tacos on soft corn tortillas that are filled with the freshest ingredients, from the catch of the day to tacos al pastor.
La Jarochita
This off-island favorite is well worth the trip to Manahawkin. At La Jarochita, the portions are huge and the prices are nothing like what you find on the island (save that extra $$$ for the ice cream truck!). Our tip: grab your favorite beer to-go at Manafirkin right across the street before heading to La Jarochita for dinner. Bring some singles to tip the live music here on weekends because we know you’ll have a song request for the band. Order the nachos to share and be ready to take home lots of leftovers!
Whatever your taco allegiances — the street-style soft corn tortilla fan club or the gringo-style hearty combo of lettuce, cheese, and shell — Long Beach Island still has several worthy contenders to satisfy your cravings. Saddle up for a taco quest, stay flexible (menus and hours may shift), and trust your taste buds to guide you. After all, in the battle of tortillas and toppings, every bite is a victory.