★★★★★
The Molcajete is incredible — bubbling and packed with steak, chicken, shrimp, and chorizo. Festive atmosphere and the margaritas are huge. Best Mexican on Beach Blvd.
Mexican Restaurants · Jacksonville Beach · Jacksonville
La Costa
Mexican Cantina
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The place
La Costa Mexican Cantina is a family-owned Mexican restaurant at 14333 Beach Blvd #39, Jacksonville, FL 32250, in the Jacksonville Beach area off Beach Boulevard. The kitchen specializes in street tacos, cheesy quesadillas, fresh seafood, and signature dishes like the Molcajete and Carne Asada Fries. The bar pours an extensive menu of mojitos and margaritas in generous portions. La Costa holds a 4.7-star rating on Google with 588 reviews. The restaurant is open daily from 11:00 a.m., closing at 10:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9:00 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. Takeout and delivery are available through DoorDash and Grubhub. Reservations and call-ahead seating can be made by phone at (904) 516-4469.
Tucked into a Beach Boulevard plaza near the heart of Jacksonville Beach, La Costa Mexican Cantina has built a loyal following for its bright, festive dining room and from-scratch Mexican kitchen. Upbeat music, attentive servers, and a generous bar program make it a go-to for weeknight dinners, weekend group hangs, and post-beach margaritas just minutes from the sand.
Order the Molcajete — a bubbling stone bowl of marinated steak, chicken, shrimp, and chorizo that arrives as the table centerpiece — or build a plate of Street Tacos with house salsas. Regulars rave about the Carne Asada Fries, the La Costa Quesadilla, the Enchiladas Supremas, and the chimichangas. Pair anything with one of the oversized house margaritas or a mojito flight.
La Costa earned a spot on our roundup of the 10 best Mexican restaurants in Jacksonville, where a food editor ranks the city's standout al pastor, hand-pressed tortillas, and molcajetes.
Taco lovers exploring the area can also find a similar lineup of birria, pastor, and arrachera at La Takeria just up Beach Boulevard in Intracoastal West.
Seafood-leaning Mexican fans can find a similar focus on ceviche, shrimp tacos, and grilled whole fish across town at Cielo Azul Mexican Kitchen and Seafood in the Southside near St. Johns Town Center.
Southside diners can find another women-owned, family-run take on tacos al pastor and signature shrimp tacos at Señoritas Mexican Kitchen on Bowden Road.
Downtown diners craving fresh-caught fish instead can head to Starving Like Marvin on W Ashley Street, where whole fried red snapper and the whiting-and-shrimp combo come out of the kitchen fried to order.
Across the river in Riverside, Don Eduardo Cocina Mexicana turns out a comparable Volcano Molcajete piled with steak, chicken, and shrimp alongside birria tacos and tacos al pastor on Park Street.
Diners who want to swap chorizo and carne asada for housemade pasta on the same side of the river can cross into Riverside for the potato gnocchi in four-cheese sauce and veal entrées at Primi Piatti on Park Street.
La Costa is open daily for lunch and dinner, with late hours on Friday and Saturday. The plaza offers ample free parking right outside the door. Takeout is available by phone, and delivery runs through DoorDash and Grubhub. Reservations are recommended for parties of six or more — call (904) 516-4469 to book.
Family-owned, Latino-owned
Signature Molcajete bubbling stone bowl
Extensive tequila, margarita, and mojito menu
Takeout available by phone
What to expect
A casual, festive Mexican cantina with bright décor, bold music, and generous plates. Expect chips and salsa to start, an extensive tequila and margarita list, and from-scratch entrées like Molcajete and street tacos at fair Jacksonville Beach prices. Service is fast, friendly, and family-style.
Then come for the photos
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The shop, in frames
Sponsored · Florida Hidden Spots
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What people are saying
★★★★★
Real Mexican food, not Tex-Mex. Carne asada fries and street tacos are unreal. Servers are super friendly and the chips and salsa never stop coming.
★★★★★
Came for dinner with friends and the toreados peppers and chimichanga were perfect. Mojitos were strong and refreshing. We'll be back every week.
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Frequently asked
Does La Costa Mexican Cantina take reservations?
La Costa accepts call-ahead seating and reservations for larger parties. Call (904) 516-4469 to book — recommended for groups of six or more, and on Friday and Saturday nights when the dining room fills up fast.
Is La Costa Mexican Cantina dog or pet friendly?
La Costa's dining room is indoors and not pet-friendly. The plaza sidewalks outside the restaurant allow leashed dogs, but pets are not permitted inside. Service animals are welcome per Florida law.
Where do I park near La Costa Mexican Cantina?
La Costa is located inside a Beach Boulevard plaza at 14333 Beach Blvd #39, Jacksonville, FL 32250. Free surface parking is available directly in front of the restaurant and throughout the shopping center.
What are the most popular dishes at La Costa Mexican Cantina?
The most-ordered dishes are the Molcajete (the signature bubbling stone bowl), Carne Asada Fries, La Costa Quesadilla, Street Tacos, Enchiladas Supremas, Chimichangas, and the Toreados Spicy Peppers. The house margaritas and mojitos are bar favorites.
What are La Costa Mexican Cantina's hours?
La Costa is open daily from 11:00 a.m. — closing at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, 10:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The kitchen serves the full menu through closing.
Does La Costa Mexican Cantina offer takeout or delivery?
Yes. Takeout orders can be placed by calling (904) 516-4469 or ordering online at lacostamexicancantina.com. Delivery is available through DoorDash and Grubhub. Catering is also offered for private events.
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Closest spots by distance
Other places to fold into the same trip — measured straight-line from La Costa Mexican Cantina.
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From Instagram
@lacostamexicancantina