Rivera's Mexican Restaurant

When it comes to old-school Mexican restaurants in Long Beach, people might point you to sports bar-ish Los Compadres, late night hang El Sauz, or fusion-y Enrique’s near the Marina. But our money is on Rivera’s, a homey, family-run place on East 7th that has been open since the ‘90s. We love the retro wood-paneled dining room, glowing string lights on the ceiling, and the odes to Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo covering the walls. Still, the highlight is the food: comforting and generous, with noticeable care put into all the little details (even the salsa that comes with the free chips here tastes of freshly roasted chiles). The hefty carne asada nachos and wet burritos are excellent, and the best menudo and pozole in the city are served six days a week. Our sole quibble is that the margaritas here are agave wine-based, though that’s never kept us from ordering multiple rounds.