Tacos and margaritas are your main options in T1
Taco Beach Cantina in Terminal 1 is the airport spin-off of a local Long Beach Mexican spot, set up in the North Concourse as the go-to place for tacos and tequila instead of a national chain. It sits airside past security, so you need a boarding pass to reach it. If you want something stronger than coffee before an early flight out of LGB, this is one of the few spots built for that.
The kitchen runs roughly 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the bar staying open until the last departure pushes from the gate. That means you can still get a margarita on a delayed 9 p.m. flight even if the food line is closed. Expect standard airport pricing: tacos and combo plates in the low teens, drinks closer to big-city bar prices than neighborhood cantina.
Menu focus is simple: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, plus margaritas and Mexican beers. When in doubt, stick to basic street-style tacos and a classic lime margarita; these travel better than loaded nachos if you get called to board. If they’re slammed, burritos usually come out faster than plated items, which matters when boarding starts in 20 minutes.
Practical tip: if you want both food and a drink, order everything in one go at the counter to avoid a second wait when your group number gets called.