8 Best Places to Eat in
Cerritos Baja Mexico

“Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one’s life.”
-Anthony Bourdain

If you’re visiting Mexico primarily for its food, you’re in luck because their local cuisine is nothing short of heaven on a plate. Upon arrival, however, you’ll likely immediately become overwhelmed at the sheer volume of restaurant options both for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Although Mexico is known for its street food, and don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of street food options, Cerritos also boasts incredible local restaurants, particularly amidst the Todos Santos area. 

Apart from the local Mexican cuisine, you can also expect diverse styles offered on any given street you find yourself on. In short, there’s something here for everyone, you might just need a little guidance to find what you’re looking for! 

With that said, below are the best places to eat in Cerritos, Baja, Mexico. We’ll start with breakfast and coffee establishments and work out way through the day until we reach the best restaurants to visit for dinner and date night! 

Before we dive into the deliciousness that is Mexican restaurants, let’s first learn a little more about Mexico’s culinary culture, shall we?… 

A Quick Guide to Mexican Cuisine

Mexican food is delicious, and that much we know for sure… However, what’s its history? Where does it originate? What are the staples? All great questions worth answering…

For starters, Mexican cuisine dates back centuries before Central America was even yet to be colonized. Where did the locals get their food? By hunting and scavenging for meat and plants. One of the most common plants in the area, of course, just to happened to be the chile pepper. 

Throughout the timeline, many influences entered the picture, however, one influence that made the greatest impact on its flavour and approach was Spain. 

As for the most popular Mexican food items? Think avocados and guacamole, corn, rice, beans, nachos and tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas, burritos and fajitas, and all things chillies! 

In short, Mexican cuisine boasts a rich heritage that deserves an entire article on its own. With that said, if you’re lucky enough to get to experience authentic Mexican food in their homeland, you’ll most certainly enjoy it…

Barracuda Cantina 

Although a popular dinner spot as well, Barracuda Cantina is a go-to lunch joint for locals and tourists alike, and for obvious reason! As a locally-owned and operated family restaurant, they often encourage family and group outings to their loyal customers. 

Barracuda Cantina isn’t your typical restaurant either. Instead, they’re an open-air beach restaurant accompanied by their very own taco truck; an authentic Baja experience to say the very least…

As they say in their slogan, delicious beverages and great-tasting food is the secret to making life better. That couldn’t be more true!

Shaka’s Delicious Wood Cantina 

Whether it’s to meet the group for a midday drink and enjoy some live music, or if you’re simply looking for a popular local lunch joint, you’ve found it in Shaka’s Delicious Wood Cantina. 

Primarily a Tex-Mex restaurant with Thai-inspired infusions, you can only imagine how delicious their menu items are; heck, I’m drooling as I write this sentence! Notably, it’s also a great laid-back dinner spot, as well.

Not to mention, the vibe is incredible as well. If you’re in the area, you need to check out Shaka’s Delicious Wood Cantina, you’re mouth will thank you later! 

Surfside Bar and Grill 

If you’re looking for more of an Americanized experience paired with desirable vacation vibes, it’s the Surfside Bar & Grill that you’ll want to attend. Offering all the meats and margaritas that you can consume, it’s ranked as the #1 restaurant in Playa Cerritos by TripAdvisor for obvious reasons…

Apart from its incredible dishes and drinks, the restaurant itself sits above an Infiniti pool overlooking the coastline of Cerritos Beach itself. 

Who knows, if you’re lucky (it’s likely that you will be considering Mexico’s climate), you might just catch the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen whilst enjoying a decadent vacation dinner! 

El Mirador Restaurant 

For the finest of dining experiences, El Mirador is the superior go-to date spot for those seeking a romantic night comprising wine, waves, and wonderful sunsets. Offering both seafood and international dishes, it’s often deemed the best culinary experience in Todos Santos. 

Notably, they’re also known for their field-to-plate strategy, using fresh herbs and vegetables straight from their kitchen garden. As you can imagine, this cultivates some pretty incredible flavors for your enjoyment, not to mention the fact that it’s healthy.

Related: Best Things to do in Cerritos

Go for the food, stay for the beach views and sunsets, and make lasting memories that you won’t soon forget with the person you love; what more could you ask for in a romantic night out in Mexico?! 

Pura Playa Beach Bar

Last but certainly not least is what most of us are actually looking for during a standard beach vacation in Mexico… A beach bar, of course! When you think of a beach bar, Pura Playa is it…

Of course, as a beach bar, they specialize in the most desirable drinks, however, they also happen to offer what I like to call “Beach Bites”. We’ve all been there, having had a couple too many drinks, only to begin craving FOOD. If this is you, Pura Playa has you covered with some delicious options.

Better than all that it offers, however, is its location. If you’re a fan of country music, and particularly the Zac Brown Band, your time spent at Pura Playa Beach Bar will emulate their words exactly; you’ll have your toes in the water, ass in the sand, not a worry in the world, and a cold beer in your hand… life is good today, life is good today!

If you have no idea what lyrics I just referenced, I’m sorry that you just had to read that…

All That’s Left to Do Now is Enjoy! 

If you’re visiting Baja California along Mexico’s northwestern border, particularly in the accompanying city of Los Cerritos or Cerritos Beach, you’re in for a treat! With endless options for any type of meal, both Mexican, American, International, or otherwise, you truly can’t go wrong.

With that said, even if you’re the pickiest of eaters, it’s highly encouraged to delve into the local cuisine… While it might be different to some, it’s surely a cuisine worth trying. 

If you’ve already visited and you’d like to recommend a favorite eatery that didn’t make the list, be sure to leave your suggestions in the comments below; I’ll be sure to visit them during my next trek to the city!