9 Best Mexican Restaurants in Manhattan Beach

“Beautiful little restaraunt by Manhattan Beach Pier. I’m there every year end of Aug.“

“The friendliest cafe in Manhattan Beach“

“There is nothing better than el Tarasco, rosecrans Manhattan beach. I come back to socal twice a year to visit family and we never go back without stopping here. The chicken (hard shell fried) taco is the best in the world... make sure to order a side of guacamole, their habenero salsa and cheese quesadilla. If u want to branch out carne asada tacos or the junior burrito deluxe.. ,ant go wrong. Sitting at bar stools 300 feet from the beach at a genuine taco stand that's out of this world checks all the boxes. Bring your appetite morning or late night.“

“It's a nice place. The food is good. Not the best. But their service is amazing and the ambiance is cool. It feels like you're in a Spanish hacienda“

“Mercado Manhattan Beach: A Review That’s 90% Enthusiasm, 10% Queso Coma

I walked into Mercado Manhattan Beach expecting solid tacos and left questioning whether I’d just experienced peak human achievement or simply overdosed on crema. The answer, it turns out, is both.

Let’s start with the star of the show: the Al Pastor Tacos. These little corn-tortilla miracles arrive looking like they’ve been drizzled by a hyperactive Jackson Pollock who only owns green paint and a grudge against restraint. The pork is shaved so thin it’s basically prosciutto’s tropical cousin, caramelized toueto edges that taste like someone figured out how to bottle campfire. Then they hit it with pineapple that somehow manages to be both sweet and aggressively tangy—like if piña colada grew up and started doing CrossFit. Topped with onions, cilantro, and enough green sauce to power a small salsa cartel. One bite and I actually whispered “dios mío” unironically. My dining companion heard me and nodded solemnly, as if we’d just witnessed a religious event.

Up next: the Queso Fundido, which should come with a warning label and a waiver. This is not “cheese dip.” This is molten queso Oaxaca doing its best impersonation of a lava flow in a cute little bowl. Chorizo chunks bob around like spicy little life rafts. You will attempt to be civilized with the provided tortillas. You will fail. You will resort to spoon. You will consider bathing in it. The waiter will pretend not to notice when you guard the bowl like Gollum with the One Ring.

And then, because apparently we hate ourselves, we ordered the Flautas de Pollo. Picture taquito’s fancy older sister who went to culinary school in Guadalajara and came back with strong opinions about presentation. Perfectly rolled, fried to a shattering crisp, then piled so high with lettuce, crema, queso fresco, and pico that it looks like a edible Jenga tower. One wrong move and you’re wearing half of it. Worth it.

Service was the kind of attentive that makes you feel mildly famous—like the staff genuinely wants you to have the best night of your life, and they’re willing to sprint for extra limes to make it happen. Cocktails are dangerously good (the mezcal situation is reckless), and the patio is prime South Bay people-watching real estate.

Only complaint: portions are aggressively generous, which feels like a trap. I left in what can only be described as a full-body food hug, waddling to my car while mentally drafting my will to leave everything to Mercado.

10/10, would sell my soul for more of that green sauce. Bring stretchy pants and zero shame.“

“Good old school hot plate Mexican food. Good crunchy tacos 🤗“

“best effin tahc's bruv. fr fr“

“Best carnitas tacos anywhere!! So juicy and guac on top? The best. Used to go there all the time she I lived in Hawthorne. Everything is good!!“

“We stopped in hoping for a good, quick bite between Redondo beach and our Airbnb in Culver City and this was just right. The portions are big and everything we tried was delicious. The chips and salsa were perfect! I had the grilled mahi mahi tacos and my husband ate the carne asada. Our kids enjoyed their cheese quesadilla, cheese enchiladas and Shirley Temples. Our waitress was friendly and our food came out quick. The house margarita was also just like I like them, not too strong and not too sour. Great place for good food and quality service. The parking lot is small and shared with Baskin Robbin’s but since we were there in off peak time we were able to park in the lot.“