Where to Eat in Los Cerritos Beach: La Tuna Restaurant Review

If you’re wondering where to eat in Los Cerritos Beach, the shoreline is dotted with a handful of restaurants at roughly the same price point, all catering mostly to tourists and expats.

With no street taco stands within walking distance, staying in Los Cerritos in Baja Sur proved more challenging than expected when it came to the dining variety I have come to expect on a stay in Mexico.

Luckily, the sandy beaches and laid back vibe of this tiny surf community help drown out the limitation, as there are still great eateries to explore.

And while I initially balked at the prices at La Tuna (compounded by the plummetting US dollar), they were on par with every other beachfront restaurant.

Unlike the other spots on the shoreline, however, the food that came out of their kitchen genuinely amazed me — which was no small feat considering I was fully prepared to think it was overpriced and not worth it.

To be fair, paying the equivalent of $12 for two tacos anywhere feels unconscionable. I expect prices like that in LA or New York — or even at a high-end Mexican restaurant in Portland.

Like most Los Cerritos Beach restaurants, pricing reflects the beachfront location — but the quality here stands out and makes it well worth the price.

The location can’t be beat- the front patio begins on the beach, but then a few steps up brings you onto the covered deck. Although anywhere on Cerritos Beach offers dynamite views of the sunsets, having a meal here and looking out onto the ocean is a gratifying experience that shouldn’t be overlooked.

I can’t lie- the tacos were some of the best I’ve ever had — and I ended up eating there every day of my stay in Los Cerritos. The Arrachera tacos and the Tierra y Mar tacos(shrimp and steak) are meals I’ve thought about often in the weeks since. The steak and shrimp were cooked perfectly each time, but it was a layer of fried cheese tucked between the tortilla and filling that took them to another level. Topped with pickled red onions, fresh greens, impeccably ripe avocado, and finished with sesame seeds, these dishes involved a lot of eyes-closed chewing while I truly tried to savor each bite.

A screw-top container of house-made chili crisp with peanuts became my obsession. The chunky, deep-red oil coated my fingers as I went back for more, mildly horrified at the mess I made of the serving spoon — but it was worth it.

The chips and guacamole were solid and great to share, and the shrimp ceviche ate like a full meal — grated carrots, celery, and cilantro mixed with shrimp, topped with avocado, and finished with a generous drizzle of that chili crisp pooling at the bottom of the plate.

The drinks held up too. Margaritas and mezcalitas — margaritas made with mezcal — were equally refreshing on hot afternoons and warm evenings.

As for the space itself, La Tuna is gorgeous — easily the most beautiful restaurant on Los Cerritos Beach. The front opens onto a sprawling patio set directly on the sand, with poufs, blankets, lounge chairs, umbrellas, couches, and low tables. A few steps up is a covered, open-air dining room and bar, complete with swing seats.

By day, you can see the ocean from your table; at night, string lights crisscross the dining room and patio, making the whole place glow and easy to spot from down the beach. Blue and green scalloped tiles line the bar front, popping against matte concrete with a beautiful inlaid arch. Wicker ceilings, pendant lights, tropical plants everywhere — chef’s kiss.

If you’re deciding where to eat near Todos Santos or looking for the best restaurants in Los Cerritos Beach, La Tuna is one of the strongest options right on the sand for lunch or dinner.

If you’re spending time in Los Cerritos Beach and figuring out where to eat, this is hands down the best restaurant within walking distance. The surf-centric town wakes up late and closes early, and by 8pm there were nights when La Tuna was the only place still serving its full menu. That alone makes it worth knowing about.