El Barrio Cantina - Long Beach

El Barrio Cantina Long Beach elevates Mexican dining with modern tapas-style tacos and innovative preparations on Retro Row. Their standout “Carne Asada Beef Rib” taco features braised short rib finished on mesquite grill, served with addictive salsa macha and Sonoran flour tortillas – perfect for “sitting down while gazing into your table mate’s eyes.” Chef Ulises Pineda-Alfaro’s menu reflects his Mexican-American heritage with both Oaxacan corn tortilla tacos and Sonoran flour tortilla options, all featuring griddled cheese. The fish-forward menu includes ultra-fresh scallop aguachile and grilled yellowtail collar tacos. At $16-18 per serving, their “Tacos de Papa” (potato tacos) and seafood-focused offerings represent a sophisticated take on traditional Mexican street food. Reviews praise the “beautifully crafted flavors” and “incredible tacos” that blend traditional techniques with modern culinary innovation in Long Beach’s evolving food scene.