The first time I ever went to Long Beach was in 2017 and since then, I have been countless times. Did you know that Cameron Diaz grew up in Long Beach? She and Snoop Dogg went to Polytechnic High School together. It’s hard to believe she grew up in Cambodia Town! I can only imagine how cool it would be to grow up in Long Beach. It’s become my favorite neighborhood in LA for a myriad of reasons: the sunsets, the melting pot of different ethnicities, the locals-only vibe… and of course, the food! What fascinates me the most is that you can travel the world via its extensive culinary scene. Did you know that Long Beach has the sixth largest population of Italian-Americans in the US? As a result, you’ll find many no-frills, family-owned Italian restaurants that you will not easily find elsewhere. 

If you’re looking for hidden gems, hole-in-the-wall places that you will not find in Central LA, Long Beach, also known as LBC, is the place to go. Even Lana Del Rey, who professes her love for LA in all of her albums, has used Long Beach extensively as a backdrop to her songs and music videos. Many LB references can be found in her 2019 album “Norman Fucking Rockwell”. In her song, “The Greatest”, she sings: “I miss Long Beach, and I miss you, baby.” In her Sublime cover of “Doin’ Time” she sings: “That we’re well-qualified to represent the L.B.C”. But I digress.

There are way too many places to list, so I’ll just keep it short and simple. If you’re reading and you’ve never ventured out to Long Beach, what are you waiting for? I recommend spending a whole day on the weekend. Take a walk around Naples and 2nd street, followed by a visit to 2nd & PCH mall, and end your day watching the sunset at Signal Hill Hilltop Park. Read my full guide here. 

If you want to experience Long Beach’s vibrant cuisine, look for Broadway street, 4th street, and 2nd Avenue. That’s where you’ll find most Long Beach locals milling around. 

Updated September 2021: Naga Cafe Khmer Street Food

3225 E Pacific Coast Hwy unit a, Signal Hill, CA 90755

Fast-casual Cambodian food

Update August 2021: SAN & WOLVES BAKESHOP: The First All-Vegan Filipino Bakery In California (Long Beach, LA) – Read my review here!!

Coffee 

Vibes Coffee

76 1/2 62nd Pl, Long Beach, CA 90803

Hole-in-the-wall brunch spot next to the marina! Their coffee is really good. I talked about this in my post “The Best Restaurants And Coffee Shops In LA”. Needless to say, if you want to grab coffee and enjoy a leisurely walk alongside the marina, this is your place. They also have a pretty extensive menu like their breakfast pizza and salad bowls. The Bagel & Lox and the iced green tea matcha I had when I went there was amazing. For such a small and cool place, the portions are on the larger side! In addition to indoor seating, there’s an outdoor patio with the word “Vibes” in moss letters on the wall. Vibes Coffee is the epitome of Southern California coastal atmosphere due its location right by the beach and its peaceful energy. 

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Long Beach boasts an impressive indie coffee scene. Below are my favorites:

Wolf’s Brew Coffee and Art Gallery (4145 Norse Way, Long Beach, CA 90808) – This super cool coffee place also doubles as an art gallery! It’s farther inland and more secluded given its close proximity to the Long Beach airport. Instagram

Steelhead Coffee 3 locations in Long Beach

Lord Windsor Coffee 1101 E 3rd St, Long Beach, CA 90802

Commodity Coffee 

1322 Coronado Ave, Long Beach, CA 90804

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Thai 

Elephant Thai Kitchen

2087 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90806

If you’re craving some really amazing Thai food, look no further. The pad thai I ordered was super fresh and tasty. The last pad thai I had from a vegan place was overly sweet and heavy on my stomach. Not here! All the ingredients in the pad thai from Elephant Thai Kitchen were super flavorful and the portion was just perfect for one person. There are so many good options for Thai in Long Beach. Below are Long Beach’s top 4 Thai spots:

Panvinarm Thai Cuisine – 4101 N Bellflower Blvd suite b & c, Long Beach, CA 90808

Manoaw Thai – 3618 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803

Tasty Food To Go – 2015 E 10th St, Long Beach, CA 90804

Spicy Sugar Thai – 1538 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802

Ahimsa Vegan Cafe

340 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802

This Cafe offers the best organic and vegan food in Long Beach. First of all, their food menu is impressive. From their wide selection of entrees, like vegan mozzarella sticks, to wraps, burgers and five types of bowls, Ahimsa Vegan Cafe is an excellent spot if you want to indulge in delicious vegan food at a reasonable price. Check out their cookies and desserts, and don’t forget to try their soup of the day! With its colorful mural and Buddhist ornaments, Ahimsa Vegan Cafe will transport you to a meditation class. 

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Hungry Angelina

Another outstanding vegan restaurant with a beautiful outdoor patio. There are so many options to choose from but their most popular menu item is their vegan Hungry Burger. Hungry Angelina is located at 2nd and PCH, gorgeous outdoor mall in Long Beach.

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From my post “The Best Ice Cream Shops In LA – Including Black-Owned Businesses and Vegan Places”

Long Beach Creamery 

Three locations in Long Beach

If you’ve never been to this place, I cannot recommend it enough. Seriously worth the drive from Central LA. Long Beach residents are so lucky to have this gem available to them whenever they’re in the mood for ice cream. 

All the ingredients used at Long Beach Creamery are local, organic and handmade. After having seen the lines every weekend I went to Long Beach, I finally decided to try it out on a weekday. I was shocked. I was looking for something similar to McConnel’s Salted Caramel Chip ice cream, which it’s my favorite flavor in the world (or was). When I placed my order, I asked the guy if he was familiar with McConnells, he was and he recommended the closest flavor to McConnell’s salted caramel: the Burnt Caramel. I know this is a pretty bold statement, but dare I say that it was better than McConnels?! Flavorful is a big understatement here. Unlike McConnel’s, I didn’t really taste the milk in the ice cream, which is probably because Long Beach Creamery is organic and McConnell’s ice creams are not. That Burnt Caramel ice cream was sinfully delicious. The texture was much creamier and more delicate than McConnell’s ice creams.  They also have a few vegan flavors and they rotate flavors frequently. 

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Hug Life Ice Cream

2707 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814

Hug Life Ice Cream is, without a doubt, one of the best vegan ice creams I’ve had since I moved to LA! This ALL-VEGAN dessert shop was founded by Johny “JT” Tran and his friends in 2017. After opening two successful locations in Orange County and gathering a massive loyal following, they opened the first Hug Life LA location in Long Beach in July 2019. I cannot believe I’m this late to the party!

What piqued my interest, besides the creative logo, was the interesting diversity of flavors. A few of them were Thai tea, Green Goblin (mint chocolate chip), Vietnamese Coffee, Matcha Monsta (matcha-based ice cream with cookie bits), Taro Root and Rocky Road.

I had one giant scoop with two flavors combined: Original Berries (gf) and Honey-Dew-Dew Child. They were insanely delicious and light. Advice: Eat your ice cream at the beach, which is located just a few blocks away!

Johny has “Hug Life” tattooed on his stomach as a nod to Tupac’s “Thug Life” tattoo.

“Hug Life was conceived by a close-knit group of friends who had a plant-based lifestyle and listened to a lot of hip hop. Growing up with traditional families in a financial struggle, we didn’t have much help or support. In fact, a few of us went against our family’s wishes; we dropped out of school in order to pursue a vision.”

He wanted to eliminate awkward conversations that can occur between friends with different dietary needs. 

Other menu items include root beer floats, brownie sundaes and ice cream cookie sandwiches. Even the waffle cones are vegan! This place deserves all the hype and I hope they expand into more locations in LA County. 

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Ample Hills Creamery

2nd & PCH

Read my full review here.

The Bungalow Kitchen

6400 Pacific Coast Hwy Suite 200, Long Beach, CA 90803

In April 2021, The Bungalow became the newest addition to the 2nd & PCH mall.

Heritage Sandwich Shop – New restaurant!!

2032 E 7th St, Long Beach, CA 90804

“California cuisine serving small plates, wine, mixed drinks and cooking over live fire.
Tuesday-Saturday 5-9″

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Sushi

Sushi Kara

2830 N Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90815

What an amazing find!! This sushi restaurant is probably the most beloved Japanese restaurant by Long Beach locals. Not only is the fish fresh and cut in very generous portions, but the price is a steal for the quality. 

Tip: instead of ordering nigiri sushi pieces individually as you would at any other sushi place, order the combo, which not only gets you 8 pieces of nigiri sushi for the less than $20, but also includes miso soup and a delicious salad! Yes, you read right, 8 pieces of nigiri sushi for less than $20! A bargain! 

After trying it out, I wasn’t surprised that Kara Sushi is one of Long Beach’s best kept secrets. The fish was buttery and fresh and the salad was a refreshing complement to the overall meal. I cannot recommend this place enough. Just wow. Every time I’m in the mood for sushi, it pains me that I don’t live closer to this place. Also, the fact that most people who live in Central LA will never know about this place, makes Kara Sushi even more special. 

Kashiwa Japanese Cuisine

2201 E Willow St suite g, Signal Hill, CA 90755

For a more refined sushi dining experience, Kashiwa is a mom-and-pop restaurant that offers exceptionally good sushi under the helm of Chef Kai. Despite being a hole-in-the-wall, it’s slightly pricier than your average sushi joint, but it’s totally worth it and you will not leave disappointed. There is a minimum consumption amount of $25 per person, so keep that in mind! They do great omakase. It’s pricey, but expect to eat authentic Japanese food. 

Maru Maki

745 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802

Maru Maki is the perfect fix for those sushi roll cravings. The fish is delicious and on top of that, they have amazing deals. Overall, you will get great bang for your buck, and you will definitely leave full and satisfied! Expect to find Americanized rolls and other Asian-fusion dishes at a great value. 

Awesome Sushi

2601 Clark Ave # A, Long Beach, CA 90815

If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on sushi, Awesome Sushi is another solid option, highly favored by Long Beach locals. Your experience won’t be as authentic and as at Kashiwa, but nonetheless you will still enjoy a great quality meal. 

Italian

Note: All of these places make the pasta on the premises.

Cafe Gazelle

191 La Verne Ave, Long Beach, CA 90803

I talked about this place in my other post,“Where to find the best pasta in LA”. This intimate place with only six tables hits all the marks for a perfect Italian eating experience. Cafe Gazelle is family run and the pasta is handmade! I cannot stress this enough: if you go there, without a doubt, order the linguini artichoke pasta. What makes Cafe Gazelle unique from other restaurants on Second Street is that it is tucked away on a side street, meaning that if you don’t purposefully drift off from Second Street to find it, chances are you will never come across it. 

All of the following places offer handmade pastas and wood-fired oven pizzas. Given its large Italian-American population, Long Beach boasts an impressive amount of Italian places. Most restaurants in the rest of LA that specialize in handmade pasta or pizza are scattered apart across the County. I can’t believe these are all in the same vicinity!

Whatever your choice is, it won’t disappoint! Also please note that since these places are owned by Italians, most of them are not open between lunch and dinner. 

La Parolaccia Osteria 

2945 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803

Amazing. It was hard not to drool at every plate that came out. I had a nice conversation with Michael, the Italian pizzaiolo. We talked a little bit about our lives as Europeans living in California, and I asked him about his preference for pasta or pizza. Since he’s a pizzaiolo, he said he liked pizza better, but I was in the mood for pasta, so he recommended the Bomboni con Salsiccia e Tartufo pasta (Rigatoni, pancetta, crumbled sausage, pepper, arugula, shaved black truffle, in a pecorino and extra virgin olive oil sauce). This one is a best seller. If you love truffle, then you will for sure love this pasta dish. The sauce was creamy and packed with so much truffle flavor in every bite without overpowering the sausage and the rest of the ingredients. It was such a delightful meal and I can’t wait to go back to venture further into the menu. Another bonus point is how relaxing the outdoor seating area was!! Needless to say, whatever you order, it will be a homerun. 

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La Tarantella Osteria – 2120 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814

Vino E Cucina – 4501 E Carson St #105, Long Beach, CA 90808

Ellies Deli (Italian) – 204 Orange Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Ellies Deli mainly specializes in food from Southern Italy under the helm of chef and owner Jason Witzl. It says on the website: “ Ellie’s features the products of an assortment of farmers, fisherman, and butchers unique in their methods.”

Cafe Piccolo – Upscale  3222 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803

La Traviata – Upscale 301 N Cedar Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Pizza

Little Coyote

2118 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814

Get there early! Founded by Jonathan Strader and Jack Leahy, Little Coyote has been a success since it opened in June 2020. When I went there, they had an hour-long wait for their pizzas. Yes, an hour! They take online orders, so check the website for further information. 

“We both came from a fine dining background, and believe that you can have good quality food and drink with good quality ingredients without breaking the bank. Growing up, we spent our childhoods in pizza parlors. After little league games, playing pac man, and skating through the parking lot. Little Coyote is inspired by the old school New York pizzerias we loved so much as kids. No fuss. New York style pizza, hand-stretched, thin crust, foldable.” – littlecoyotelbc.com

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They sell pizza slices everyday from 12 pm- 2pm everyday and pizza squares from 2 pm until sold out. I called at 3 pm on a weekday and they were already sold out! 😭😭

The 4th Horseman 

 121 W 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802

OMG how come I’ve never heard about this place before?!! This bar and pizza joint serves delicious “Apocalyptic” pizzas in a horror-themed atmosphere: dark walls, dim lighting and horror movies playing in the background for a one-of-a-kind experience. I can just imagine how fun this place must be on Halloween. Many people say that The 4th Horseman has the best pizza in Long Beach!

Note: They also offer a vegan pizza.

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Michael’s Pizzeria 

2 locations

Michael’s On Naples 5620 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803

Michael’s Downtown 210 E 3rd St, Long Beach, CA 90802

In 2013, Michael’s Napoli-style wood-fire pizzas earned a spot in the Zagat guide as one of the best pizzas in the United States.

Deli News Pizza

5555 Stearns St Ste # 104, Long Beach, CA 90815

If you want authentic Italian food, Deli News Pizza will not disappoint with its massive portions and quirky Italian atmosphere. It’s been a neighborhood staple for over 25 years, proudly serving families and students of Cal State Long Beach. Their wide menu options feature pastas, deli-style sandwiches, salads and Italian desserts. However, most people keep coming back to Deli News Pizza for their tasty and affordable huge pizzas! 

Rance’s Chicago Pizza 

5258 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803

I’m no expert when it comes to Chicago deep dish pizzas, but this one was really good. They offer different sizes. The pizza pie I had was the smallest, ideal for one person. The crust had the perfect texture and all the ingredients were cooked to perfection. It’s located on 2nd Street, so the restaurant had a sports-bar feel to it. All the sauces at Rance’s are made from scratch. They have one location in Long Beach and one in Costa Mesa. Rance’s also won a Golden Foodie award for the best pizza in Orange County. Even if you’re a thin crust type of person, rest assured that you’ll love Rance’s! Instagram

5000 pies 

2064 Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach, CA 90810

Located in a more secluded area than Rance’s, 5000 pies is the place where most Long Beach locals get their deep dish pizza fix. I have not been there, but from the raving reviews, you bet I will be stopping by very soon! 

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Rasselbock Kitchen and Beer Garden

4020 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807

Now I know that I don’t need to go to Solvang to indulge in delicious German sausages! This gastro pub offers scrumptious comforting German staples like schnitzel, pretzels, sausages and beers served in big schooners. The sausage platter was $14 and it included 3 different types of sausages with an array of sauces. The sausage platters you will find in Solvang are generally more expensive, and the sausages are shorter in comparison to the ones at Rasselbock. 

The sausage platter was delicious to say the least. While I was waiting to get my order to go, my eyes just kept gawking at the delicious dishes that were emerging from the kitchen. If you go there to have a full meal, don’t forget to order Germany’s most famous dessert: the apple strudel. 

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Tacos

If you are in the mood for some exquisite tacos, below are the two places in Long Beach to get your fish or shrimp taco fix! 

Pancho’s Vegan Tacos – New restaurant!!

1837 E. 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90813

From Vegas to Long Beach!! For a while, Panchos was the only vegan Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas. They opened their first LA location in Long Beach in April 2021.

Hole Mole

 3 locations in Long Beach

Pacific Tacos 

146 W 10th St, Long Beach, CA 90813

Nehemiah’s Restaurant 

5439b Cherry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805

This place is a diamond in the rough. Located in a run-down strip mall right across from a happy-ending massage parlor, Nehemiah’s Restaurant is as authentic as you’ll get to Mexico. The family is just chilling inside talking over one another. The tamales are handmade and you will see the corn husks, also known as “hojas”, piled in the back. When I went there, they were out of the regular chicken, so I had to settle for the chicken green salsa (medium spicy), which ended up being super satisfying. I had driven there straight from work, and after the 50-minute drive, which included standstill traffic on the 405, I was not in the position to be picky about my tamal fillings. I also got the pork, which was incredibly tender. Those two big tamales were only $4! If you’re ever in the mood for tamales and you have time, head down to Nehemiah’s! 

Marilus Bakery

1400 Cherry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

Another great spot for tamales!! This one is inside a Guatemalan bakery shop! If someone doesn’t tip you off, chances are you’ll never know about their tamales as there are only pictures of their baked goods on Yelp.

For a sit-down Mexican meal, these are the places to go:

Lola’s Mexican Cuisine

4140 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA

4th Street. 2030 E 4th St Long Beach, CA

Offering delicious contemporary Mexican cuisine, Lola’s Mexican Cuisine’s success is due to the amazing ingredients they use, which are only local and in-season to provide guests with an unforgettable Mexican eating experience. You might see the famous Mexican comedian Gabriel Iglesias there. It’s located on 2nd… and it’s on the fancier side. 

Los Compadres

Two locations in Long Beach

A classic in Long Beach. Los Compadres is the best place to indulge in authentic Mexican food and always hits the spot. They specialize in cuisine from the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

Merced’s Mexican Restaurant – 1064 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802

This is a hole-in-the-wall, no-frills Mexican joint. Huge portions, great food selection and many vegetarian options are available. Recommendations: hard shell tacos. 

Playa Amor (Modern Mexican) 6527 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90803.

Los Kuinitos Another hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. Order the carnitas tacos. 

Panxa Cocina (Modern Mexican) 3937 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803.

Taqueria la Mexicana – 4 locations in Long Beach.

El Burrito Grill 

4101 N Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90808

5211 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90804 

El Burrito Grill is an unassuming strip-mall restaurant with authentic Mexican food awaiting you on the other side of the door. It is a neighborhood gem. Although their specialty is their gigantic wet burrito, they also offer classic tacos. They even hand make their own taco shells! 

There are many Peruvian restaurants in Long Beach. These are the most popular places if you want to try a Peruvian lomo saltado, which is beef stir fry layered over french fries and served with white rice. 

Casa Chaskis

2380 Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach, CA 90810

My favorite. The lomo saltado was pretty solid and the rice was delicious. Fair prices and nice outdoor patio. 

Aji Peruvian Cuisine

2308 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814

Given the modern decor and its location on 4th street among bars and restaurants, Aji is more expensive than the other options here. The lomo saltado is $35 but you’ll get a more upscale eating experience. 

El Pollo Imperial

5991 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805

Out of these places, this is probably the most famous Peruvian restaurant in Long Beach. Check out their soups! 

Long Beach Fish Grill

1201 Redondo Ave, Long Beach, CA 90804

The Port of Long Beach is the second busiest port in the United States and is among the world’s largest shipping ports. With this being said, there is no shortage of fresh seafood that comes in on a daily basis. Long Beach Fish Grill is one of those places where the fish is tasty and as fresh as it can get. The salmon with garlic butter sauce is your best bet if it’s your first time. It comes with a very generous portion of rice pilaf, a piece of fresh garlic bread, and a small side of coleslaw salad. I can’t believe for $15 you get two pieces of salmon and this copious amount of rice! The fish was cooked excellently and the garlic butter added a special oomph that complimented the taste of the salmon harmoniously. Their cajun fish is another popular menu item, but it is spicy, so keep that in mind. Overall, you will get a great bang for your buck!

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For pastries/desserts/ comfort food:

Jongewaard’s Bake n Broil

3697 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807

Another place worth the 45-minute drive from Central LA!! Jongeward is the perfect antidote to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings. It’s definitely a locals-only place, given its location. It has been a neighborhood staple for over 30 years and it’s no wonder. The place has that homemade quality food vibe to it that you can sense from the moment you walk in. Besides their comfort food, their magnificent popularity is due to their amazing homemade pies and cupcakes. I can’t speak for the food, but I can speak for their pastries and cakes. Holy moly. If you live in LA, I urge you to go to Jongeward. Seriously. 

I had their red velvet cupcake, which was as fluffy as a marshmallow and the frosting was creamy and bursting with flavor. To this day, I’m still thinking about that cupcake. If you opt for a pie, their Lemon Push Pie is one of their most popular. I also went twice specifically for their delicious homemade pumpkin pie during fall season, and their hot chocolate, which was just another level of deliciousness. It pains me to think I don’t live closer. 

Tru Nature Juice Bar 

2225 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803

I forgot how I found this place, but I’m so glad I did because I’ve been visiting it for at least three years now. I even brought my dad on one of his visits! Besides the quality and clean ingredients of the smoothies, what really won me over was the beautiful mermaid wall art and the cozy bay window seat. All the smoothies are reasonably priced and they come in different sizes — the largest one is HUGE so keep that in mind. Everything at True Nature Juice Bar is made without added sugars, sorbets or sweeteners. The smoothies are consistently delicious and always keep me coming back for more. My go-to order is the Pitaya coconut smoothie. They also serve acai bowls, chia pudding bowls, vegan wraps and snacks. I didn’t know this but when I looked at their Yelp account, I noticed that they were voted by Foursquare as one of the Top 50 juice bars in the US! I mean… when I say a place is good, I’m not exaggerating. 

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JJ Chinese Express 

3429 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804

Don’t let the generic business name and the inconspicuous, unpretentious strip mall location fool you. JJ Chinese Express is a local staple thanks to their great value and excellent quality. They excel at offering deliciously simple food thanks to the unparalleled freshness of their ingredients. All the food is made on the spot, and there are always people there picking up food, which just goes to show you how reliable and good this place is. If you order, rest assured you will have leftovers because the portions are really big! 

Vietnamese 

Ever since I discovered pho soup, I’ve been addicted. I went a few times to the places below, but the ones that surprised me most were the first two. In a nutshell, pho is a Vietnamese soup which comes with a meat of your choice, a super flavorful broth, rice noodles and herbs. It makes an excellent source of protein. Plus, Vietnamese food is known to be one of the healthiest foods in the world!

If you’re feeling under the weather or just in the mood for a delicious soup, this is exactly what the doctor ordered! 

Pho Hong Hat

3243 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804

This is where I had my first pho ever. This mom-and-pop restaurant has been serving delicious pho to the Long Beach community for over 19 years! They offer three sizes, which is convenient. The couple that runs the business is lovely and taught me how to eat the dish correctly. 

I had the small veggie pho. The broth, with the veggies and herbs, was like sipping on herbal tea. They also make their own sauces. I added a tiny bit of hoisin sauce, which gave the soup a sweet kick. I highly recommend this place if you’re a pho first-timer. The small size is perfect for one person, but if you’re really hungry, I would recommend sizing up to the medium one. 

Cambodian

Phnom Penh Noodle Shack

1644 Cherry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

Phnom Penh Noodle Shack is a Cambodian restaurant. Although they’re most well-known for their noodle soups, they specialize in Cambodian comfort food.

Note: I wrote this when indoor dining was shut down due to COVID.

They customized my order because I was not in the mood for chicken or meat, so they added a bunch of vegetarian ingredients to the bone broth I ordered. It was packed with flavor in every sip and the vegetables were as fresh as they could get. It was a really big portion, but because I went late in the day and I hadn’t eaten anything, I finished it all. They only have one size. 

Phnom Penh Noodles doesn’t have an outdoor seating area, so I had to eat it in my car, and let me tell you, it was quite an onerous task! I had to be very painstaking with the huge scalding bowls to not spill anything, and used my car’s windshield sunshade as my placemat. During all this, I had to constantly blow my nose, which usually happens when I eat hot soups or spicy food. Without this troublesome part, the pho was a solid 10. They’re pretty active on Instagram and they’re the most famous pho joint in Long Beach.

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Crystal Thai Cambodian Cuisine

1165 E 10th St, Long Beach, CA 90813

The best place for home-cooked Cambodian cuisine! There are many Cambodian restaurants in Long Beach, but this mom-and-pop is the most authentic one. The menu is super extensive, which can be fairly intimidating, especially for someone with little experience with Cambodian food. As you can read from the title, this restaurant also offers Thai dishes. 

Recommended plates: banana and sweet rice (dessert), fried fish with mango sauce, Khmer chicken curry. 

Cyclo Noodles

4754 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90804

Another local favorite spot for great authentic Vietnamese/Cambodian/Thai food. Because they have so many different cuisines, I suspect the pho is not the star of the show here. I found it to be a little underwhelming compared to the other two places above. 

Vegan pop-ups:

Man Eating Plant

A plant-based noodle pop-up shop! Check their IG for their next pop-ups in Long Beach! I ordered their famous garlic noodles (not spicy), but these ended up being way too heavy on my stomach, most probably because I’m not used to eating crispy fried garlic, especially in large quantities. The portion was HUGE. I’ll go back but for a different menu item. If, on the other hand, you love crispy garlic, noodles, and on top of that, chili, then for sure you will love this dish.

Lobo Cuban Food 

A Cuban vegan food pop-up! For more info, check their IG for future pop-up locations.

Other pop-ups:

Hamburgers Nice

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George’s Greek Cafe

5316 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803

135 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

If you’ve never had Greek food before, then you’re in for a treat. At George’s, you will find an excellent selection of traditional Greek food and pastries. Unfortunately, George Loizides, the owner of the place, died of cancer in 2019 at 83. George was a Greek Cypriot immigrant who moved with his wife and three children to Long Beach from Zimbabwe in 1980. Not only did he open three restaurants under his name, but he became an important figure in the Long Beach community. Jessi Smith of George’s restaurant group, said to LBpost.com: “He really was the father of Long Beach. He made people feel safe, feel welcomed…He was like a dad to everyone, including this city.”

His legacy continues to live on because every time I walk by the 2nd St location, it’s always bustling with people. The portions are very hearty so make sure to go on an empty stomach. 

The first two places are in my LA burger guide. 

MVP Burger & Patio – 5484 E Stearns St, Long Beach, CA 90815

Dave’s Burgers 

3396 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807

Loui’s Burger  – 555 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Burger Daddy – VEGAN BURGERS AND VEGAN SHAKES!! 149 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Uncle Fung Borneo Eatery (Indonesian) 

5716-A E 7th St, Long Beach, CA 90803

The chef that founded this place, Peter Then, best known as Uncle Fung, is also the owner of Borneo Kalimantan, another Indonesian restaurant in Alhambra. Borneo is the largest Asian island and the third largest island in the world. Peter grew up on the Kalimantan side of Borneo and his restaurant offers authentic Bornean food in a modern atmosphere. 

For poke:

The most authentic poke joint in Long Beach is Poke & More, which is served Hawaiian style. Read my review here. 

Poke & More 860 E Carson St Carson, CA 90745

Poke Pola is great if you want the best bang for your buck. Although the poke is not served like in Hawaii, it is decent and there’s always a line. 

Gusto Bread 

2710 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814

Gusto Bread is a community-driven Mexican bakery that takes pride in combining their Mexican heritage with healthy ingredients. They specialize in pan and pan dulce made with 100% masa madre (natural leaven: sourdough starter). Gusto Bread also offers freshly made loaves, conchas, long breads, nixtamal, polvorones, horchata, café de olla, yerba mate and pantry goods such as sardines and beans. Everything is organic.

They’ve been getting long lines since they opened in August 2020. Make sure to get there as early as you can because they open until they sell out!

Instagram and Website

For vegan donuts and vegan baked goods:

Check out my “The Best Vegan Donuts In LA” guide where I go more in-depth about these awesome places.

Sweet Retreat Donuts

924 CA-1, Long Beach, CA 90806

Amy from Sweet Donut Retreat sent me a list of her favorite places to eat in Long Beach. Some of them are here in my post. Instagram

Devis Donuts – 3600 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804 Both husband and wife have been vegan since birth. They can also be found every Sunday at the Marina’s Farmer Market in Long Beach from 10 am to 2 pm. Instagram

Baked Vegan Sweets (no donuts) 718 Orange Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

Leonard Sisters – Instagram

Sandwiches:

Santa Fe Importers

1401 Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

“Santa Fe Importers is a unique Italian deli offering delicious food-to-go and Italian specialties.  If you are looking for an Old World Italian delicatessen with delicious homemade meals, a large variety of Italian groceries, great prices and fast, courteous service, come to Santa Fe Importers.” – Website

Modica’s Deli

455 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

“Welcome to Modica’s Restaurant & Deli, your friendly neighborhood eatery since 1996. We serve over 200 sandwiches and pasta daily.

Come in for our world famous pastrami, pasta, salads, desserts and more….. We guarantee high quality ingredients made with love!
Join us for lunch, After5 Happy Hour or for dinner. We have dine in and patio seating alfresco. We are pet friendly.” – Website

Instagram

More places:

For lunch and brunch (Modern American):

These are definitely not hidden gems like some of the places on this list, but they’re solid options if you want a casual, predictable breakfast or lunch.

Nick’s On Second 4901 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803. I came here with my dad and everything was absolutely delicious.

Seabirds Kitchen 975 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802. Organic and vegan options.

Saints And Second  4828 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803.

Berlin Bistro 420 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802

“You don’t wanna miss our delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials. Dine in with us in the East Village Arts District in Long Beach.” – Berlinbistro.com

The Attic 3441 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803. American cuisine with a Southern (Cajun) flare!

Their most famous menu item is their Hot Cheeto Mac and Cheese.

For breakfast:

The Crooked Duck 5096 CA-1, Long Beach, CA 90804

The Potholder Cafe (three locations in Long Beach)

Starling Diner

4114 E 3rd St, Long Beach, CA 90814

Schooner Or Later 241 N Marina Dr Long Beach, CA 90803. This place is a Long Beach institution. Enjoy a delicious brunch with great views of the marina! This place gets super busy so keep that in mind.

A similar restaurant is Plunge 1900 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802.

The Long Beach Exchange

4069 N Lakewood Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90808

I came here and…wow! The space is newly renovated and they did an amazing job in patterning the food hall after the airport. Besides the food hall, there’s a giant strip mall with more eating options, as well as ample outdoor seating with live music on the weekends!!

“The Long Beach Exchange encompasses approximately 266,000 square feet of stores, shops and restaurants on more than 26 acres, including two acres of communal open space for the public to enjoy. The Hangar (food hall), showcases an evolving, curated collection of local purveyors of art, food, design, fashion and other unique goods and services.”

Robert’s Earl BBQ Black-owned! 703 E Artesia Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90805

Nastraj Cuisine of India 5262 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803. The BEST Indian restaurant in Long Beach.

Congregation Ale House 201 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802. Burgers and beers.

Salud Juice Bar (2 locations in Long Beach)- Juices, salads, bowls.

Open Sesame Multiple locations. 5215 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803 – Lebanese.

JJ Italian Deli 649 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802. Hole-in-the-wall.

HiroNori Craft Ramen 

Multiple locations in LA

610 E Carson St, Long Beach, CA 90807

You are bound to find a line at LA’s most famous ramen spot. 

Instagram

Also check out Jonetsu Ramen 1035 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802

Hungry Horse Drive-In 

454 W Willow St, Long Beach, CA 90806

Do you love teriyaki? At Hungry Horse you’ll find huge teriyaki plates, chicken and burgers. Everything is fresh and made to order. It is definitely a hole-in-the-wall place. Cash only. 

Recommended orders: chicken or combo teriyaki plate.

Have you been to any of these places? As you can see, Long Beach is a melting pot of ethnic cuisine! Let me know in the comments below.