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 on Long Beach Island.
Lex Mex
After recently moving from their iconic Ship Bottom location, Lex Mex is back whipping up some of the best Mexican food on the island. Swing by their new(ish) Surf City spot for the same awesome fish tacos they’ve been serving for years. The iconic fish taco includes blackened fish, honey jalapeño sauce and cabbage on a flour tortilla. It even come with rice and beans and their addicting chips and salsa. Wash it all down with their “Virgin Homemade Margarita” and you have the perfect meal.
El Swell
El Swell is Beach Haven might just be the cutest taqueria on our list. Inspired by the beachside taquerias of Mexico, this highly “Instagrammable” restaurant serves beach food for the soul, boasting a menu that includes carne asada tacos and a sesame tuna tostada to die for. Don’t sleep on the Mexican corn, either!
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!