6 a.m. breakfast burritos before security at LGB
Taco Beach Cantina sits pre-security in Terminal 1 at Long Beach, so it works for anyone getting dropped off early or meeting arrivals. It’s outside the checkpoint, between ticketing and the entrance to screening, and opens at 6 a.m. daily. If you’re tight on time, factor in the walk back through TSA from the front of T1 after you grab your food.
This is a local Mexican counter with a simple, cheap menu; most burritos and combo plates land in the $8–$13 range, well under typical airport pricing. The headline move here is the burrito lineup, which regulars mention first in reviews of the downtown locations. You can usually get eggs-and-potato burritos by 6:30 a.m., and by lunchtime the grill is running full tacos, quesadillas, and nachos.
Hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the food side, but the bar keeps pouring until the last flight out of Terminal 1 each night. Beer, basic tequila shots, and simple mixed drinks tend to hover around $7–$12. If you care more about something quick than a full sit-down, order at the counter and take it to the general seating area near the ticket counters.
Order burritos first; they reheat and travel better than tacos if you end up in a security line. Ask how long for grilled items if your boarding time is under 30 minutes, since there’s just a small kitchen behind the bar. With prices sitting firmly in the single-dollar-sign tier, it’s an easy upgrade over grabbing a bag of chips from a newsstand.
Tip: If you want Taco Beach and a relaxed stroll to your gate, aim to be at the counter at least 60 minutes before a typical LGB departure so you can eat, clear security in Terminal 1, and still board without sprinting.
Burritos