L.A. TACO is embarking on its biggest mission yet: to create a reliable taco and food guide for every neighborhood in Los Angeles! Along the way, we will also be releasing brief histories of each neighborhood to understand L.A. a little more and why each and every neighborhood makes our fine city unique. Check out the rest of our history and food guides on our neighborhood page.
With a population of 75 000, the beachside community of Redondo Beach is nestled between Palos Verdes and Torrance beach to the south and Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach to the North. It is a thriving upper and middle-class city, with the southern parts nearing the coast and the more northern inland parts bordering the 405 Freeway. With the Pier and King Harbor, the South Bay Galleria, and all the crevices in between, there are many places to eat. Whether elegant and expensive steakhouses, seafood spots, breakfast diners, modern healthy vegetarians, and more, Redondo Beach has tons to offer, including many Mexican restaurants, Thai restaurants, and burger joints. Here, we highlight 11 establishments worth checking out in Redondo Beach.
Casa Playa
Located in South Redondo, in the Riviera Village, this is a tiny hole in the wall that has some seating but is mostly takeout, where locals are seen coming in and walking out with brown bags of food. If you are lucky enough to find a parking spot close by or don’t mind a bit of a walk from your car, then dining is a treat. They serve chips as whole-fried tostadas and, in the corner, is a self-serve salsa bar with five varieties of sauce ranging from fiery red habanero, a piquant green serrano, and a mild red sauce. With a menu offering everything from flautas and taquitos to traditional enchiladas and wet burritos with meats such as chicken, carnitas, al pastor, and carne asada, the tacos here are delicious. Served both fried crispy with lettuce and cheese or soft with cilantro and onions, you can’t go wrong with a taco platter. Two tacos, your choice (In this case, one carne asada and one al pastor), come served with a nice serving of tasty orange rice and refried beans topped with melted cheese. The portions are generous for the price, and the meats are tender and well-seasoned, with plenty of lime juice to squeeze over the tacos. Also, the Mexican street corn, served in a bowl, was a nice appetizer. Warm, slightly spicy, creamy, and zesty, the corn was swimming in a smattering of cotija cheese and had a spicy lime-chile seasoning. Well worth the time it takes to find a spot or order takeout if possible. This place is a local favorite.