Fish tacos in Manhattan Beach shouldn’t be this complicated. Yet here we are, arguing about tortillas.

Locals know the real game is dodging beach cruisers on the strand while deciding between a rib meat mess at Esperanza or sweet potato numbers at a brewpub that pairs them with an award-winning IPA. I’ve eaten my way from the patio at Hennessey’s to the five-minute empanada pivot.

Nobody’s complaining. So grab a napkin and pick a side.

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa

Highlights
Warm tortillas, three salsas
Rib meat tacos, deeply flavorful
Relaxed vibe, quick service
Flan and fried ice cream
Bar stocked, staff top-tier

Esperanza is where I go when I want to forget the outside world. The warm tortillas and three salsas kick things off right. The rib meat tacos are deeply flavorful, the kind of messy you want to get into. Service is quick and the vibe is relaxed. The bar is stocked and the staff are top-tier. If you have room, the flan and fried ice cream are a solid finish. Just go with an empty stomach.

You might also want to check out the best breakfast in Fullerton.

Mercado

Highlights
Best Mexican in LA
Friendly, outstanding service
Large groups handled perfectly
Seasonal specials shine
Christmas Eve perfection

Some people call it the best Mexican in LA. I won't argue. The service is outstanding, friendly, and they handle large groups perfectly. I was there once with a big, rowdy table on Christmas Eve. Perfect. They did not break a sweat. The seasonal specials shine here. You can tell they put in the effort. This place gets it right, every single time.

You might also want to check out the best food in Redondo Beach.

El Sombrero #2

Highlights
Delicious food, friendly staff
Good margaritas, casual vibe
A local haunt for years
Great for meeting friends

This is a local haunt for a reason. It has been for years. The food is delicious and the staff are friendly. The margaritas are good, strong even. It's a casual vibe, easy. Perfect place to meet up with friends after work. It's a solid choice every time. No frills. Just good food and good times.

You might also want to check out the best brunch in Costa Mesa.

Sloopy's Beach Cafe

Highlights
Fast, fresh, friendly service
Quality ingredients, quick turnaround
Breakfast skillet worth trying
Great vibe for working
Coffee and drinks intrigue

Sloopy's gets it. Fast, fresh, and friendly service. The ingredients are quality and the turnaround is quick. I watched them handle the morning rush with a smile. The breakfast skillet is definitely worth trying. It's a great vibe for working too, if you can grab a spot. I'll be back for the coffee and drinks. I'm curious. It's a solid choice all around.

You might also want to check out the best sushi in Torrance.

Guisados

Highlights
Fresh, tasty, and reasonably priced
Fast, friendly service every visit
Steak tacos are the standout
Nostalgic tamales worth the trip
Early open, fully stocked menu

This Guisados is always solid. Fresh, tasty, and reasonably priced. The service is fast and friendly, every single visit. You have to get the steak tacos. They are the standout. They also have these nostalgic tamales that are worth the trip alone. Plus, they open early and have a fully stocked menu. It's a simple formula, but they get it right.

You might also want to check out the best bar in Fullerton.

Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila

Highlights
Fish tacos and enchiladas
Soft tortillas with sauces
Tender, flavorful fajitas
Great drinks and atmosphere
Easy online pickup

The fish tacos are a must, but the enchiladas are a close second. The tortillas are soft and come with a few great sauces. We also tried the fajitas. Tender and flavorful. The drinks are great, too. The atmosphere is lively. I ordered online for pickup once and it was easy. A great addition to the area. I was not disappointed.

You might also want to check out the best breakfast burrito in Huntington Beach.

Tomboy's Famous Chiliburgers

Highlights
Fast, fresh, affordable eats
Crispy fries, solid smashburger
Wallet-friendly Manhattan Beach option
Short wait, worth it

Don't let the name fool you. They serve more than burgers. Sure, they had a solid smashburger with crispy fries. It was fast, fresh, and affordable. Definitely a wallet-friendly option in Manhattan Beach. The wait was short, and it was worth it. For a quick, easy meal, you could do a lot worse. A simple, satisfying win.

You might also want to check out the best places to live in Long Beach.

Hennessey's Tavern

Highlights
Prime people-watching patio
Great pub grub staples
Friendly staff, easy vibe
Lively local hangout spot

Grab a seat on the patio. That's the prime people-watching spot. The pub grub is classic and reliable. The staff are friendly and the vibe is easy. It's a lively local hangout. I could see myself becoming a regular. It's the kind of place where you can grab a beer and just relax. A great fallback plan, or a great plan overall.

You might also want to check out the best dinner in Anaheim.

Islands Restaurant Manhattan Beach

Highlights
Rachel remembers your usual
Handles crowds with ease
Food off the hook
Familiar connection pays off
Worth the drive back

The whole thing works. Rachel, the server, already knows what I'm going to order. That kind of connection pays off. They handle the weekend crowds with ease. The food is off the hook, a major step up from typical fast-casual. It's worth the drive back just for the service. I know I'll be back. I might even see you there.

You might also want to check out the best ramen in Long Beach.

Hermosa Brewing Company

Highlights
Sweet potato tacos wow
Award-winning IPA pairing
Cozy beach-adjacent taproom
Friendly server Clarissa
Eleven house-brewed beers

The sweet potato tacos are the star of the show. They wowed me. The taproom is cozy and beach-adjacent. Our server, Clarissa, was a ray of sunshine. She knew the beer list inside and out. They have eleven house-brewed beers on tap, but you should pair it with that award-winning IPA. It's a bit out of the way, but worth the trip.

You might also want to check out the best brunch in Brea.

Petros Restaurant

Highlights
Exceptional food, start to finish
Warm, personal hosting by Petros
Standout Greek appetizers and dips
Decadent, crispy Greek desserts
Great hospitality, memorable experience

The chips and dips are a testament to the place. The Greek salad was simple and perfect. But the tortellini? A standout. Every plate that came out looked incredible. Petros himself came by our table, a true host. The food is exceptional from start to finish. The baklava was crispy and decadent. It's more than dinner, it's a great time. A memorable experience all around.

You might also want to check out the best breakfast in Lakewood.

The Empanada Shop

Highlights
Birria empanadas are fire
Cute shop, faster service
Ready-to-go quick bites
Zucchini ones slap hard
Worth a stop nearby

Cute little shop. The service is faster than you'd expect. The birria empanadas are fire, they really are. The zucchini ones are also amazing. If you're nearby, it's worth a stop. They have a bunch of ready-to-go quick bites. You can just point and grab. I was in and out in five minutes. It made my whole afternoon better.

You might also want to check out the best shopping in Long Beach.