When you’re craving Mexican food, a few signature staples such as burritos, tacos, and enchiladas come to mind. But the owners of La Cabañita Restaurant in Manahawkin want to serve more than just that typical fare. Of course they’ll still serve your favorites, they just want to also include other authentic Mexican cuisine.
La Cabañita – which means ‘the little cabin’ – is a 1,500-square foot space that seats 50 guests indoors; with a design that brings the vibrant spirit of Mexico City to New Jersey. (Outdoor seating is also coming soon.) The upscale Mexican restaurant serves fresh guac as well as many South of the Border favorites. “Every day we have different specials and they’re always unique,” says Lucero Alvarado, daughter of the owners. “We offer fresh ingredients, flavor, and most of all, the real taste of the Mexican culture.”
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Authentic Mexican Menu & More
Another thing that separates La Cabañita from other eateries is the décor. “For our decoration style, we decided to do something different than most Mexican restaurants,” Alvarado says. “We went with a modern cabin look, some paintings that represent the Mexican culture as we know it, and some Mexican handcrafted items.”
The menu offers options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So far, seafood platters like Caldo de Mariscos la Cabañita and Huachinango Veracruzano are big hits. Meanwhile, their Steak a la Cabañita (rib-eye steak with homemade chorizo) is a crowd-pleaser. Likewise, the tacos, chimichangas, and Huarache are classic favorites. Alvarado loves the Vuelve a la Vida, a seafood cocktail in tomato sauce with diced cilantro, onions, and avocado.
About the Owners
Co-owner Dolores Alvarado has experience working at Long Beach Island spots like Bageleddi’s and The Sandbox Cafe. Co-owner Rene Bautista, however, owns a landscaping company, Lighthouse Landscaping and Pavers, LLC. Their love, and education, about food comes from watching their moms cook when they were little.
You can visit La Cabañita at 621 East Bay Ave in Manahawkin. Look for them online to learn more.
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La Cabañita FAQs
Yes, they do accept reservations.
La Cabañita offers Gluten-free options, yes.
Yes, they have vegetarian options.
Yes, the restaurant offers takeout.
La Cabañita offers direct delivery, yes.
No, they are BYOB.
Yes, they have a kids’ menu.
All Photos: © La Cabañita
