In the world of SoCal breakfast, the item that wields the most influence is, unquestionably, the breakfast burrito.
Breakfast tacos are a gem in Texas, but not hefty enough for the West. The bagel is solid, yes—even when we’re exhausted at the East Coaster’s continual whine about a regional item that isn’t in the region they’re in. The loco moco of the Hawaiian islands which, for just some reason, isn’t quite the same outside Hawaii. Biscuits’n’gravy. Scrapple. All have their rightful homes—and all are dishes appreciated by Southern Californian lovers of food.
But nothing reigns more supreme than the breakfast burrito—and the best Long Beach breakfast burrito varies by taste. By the comfort of your wallet at the moment. By ease of access by size… Here are some of Long Beach’s finest—with some of our neighboring cities sprinkled in because if L.A. can claim everyone around them, then certainly we can claim those around use.
La Taqueria Brand
1430 E. 7th St. | 3768 Long Beach Blvd. | 4150 McGowen St. #13
What kind of breakfast burrito? The one with a salsa bar and heft to it.
From the owners of Ruta 15, La Taqueria Brand opened its flagship location on 7th Street in early 2020, aiming to bring neighborhood-style, authentic street tacos to the local community. Built on family recipes and simple, high-quality ingredients, the taqueria quickly became a local favorite for its menu of tacos, burritos, quesadillas… And a specific love for its birria.
But its breakfast burritos should not be ignored. My personal fave? The bacon—or “B.E.P.” Thick applewood honey bacon, chunky potatoes, pureed pinto bean sauce, cotija and Oaxaca cheeses, two cremas—one cilantro, the other chipotle—and scrambled eggs. My personal fave salsa? The habanero.
Coffee Parlor (COPA)
2944 Clark Ave.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The one with stellar ingredients that few, if any, are using.
Coffee Parlor—often dubbed “COPA”—is an underrated gem on multiple fronts. The caffeinated sister to the neighborhing Pizza Parlor, the space has always offered both stellar coffee and stellar grub thanks to owner and Chef Joshua Knight. (Who also works alongside Chef Mike Ortiz for the incredible pizza program at Pizza Parlor.)
And it’s mighty breakfast burrito, The OG, is no exception—certainly vying for the best breakfast burrito in the city. Made with El Majorado flour tortillas, this monster is stuffed with over easy eggs. Mishima Reserve Wagyu beef tallow fried tots. (Yes, you read that right.) Tillamook sharp cheddar. Nueskes bacon. Jalapeño Nueskes bacon onion bacon jam. Avocado. And all with a morita tomatillo salsa on the side.
Wondrous.
SALA Coffee & Wine
3853 Atlantic Ave.
What kind of burrito? The perfect chilaquiles burrito with salsa verde and vino, claro.
Led by partners Brandee Raygoza and Derrick Montiel, Sala is an underrated gem of a space if there ever was one—so I was happy when Chef Melissa Ortiz dragged me to the Bixby Knolls coffee and wine shop for a breakfast pitstop. (They are, right now, closed following a pretty devastating car crash that went into their building, just a day before Chef Melissa was to host her pop-up collaboration dinner with the space’s newly minted chef, Jose Molina.)
The menu is wonderfully minimal: a breakfast sandwich, breakfast burrito, chilaquiles, and a chilaquiles burrito. Whiel the burritos (as well as their breakfast sandwich) are all solid, it’s the chilaquiles burrito that is something rather special. Layers of tortilla chips slathered in salsa verde line with bacon and beans to create an ode to the mighty carb-on-carb masterpiece that is the torta de chilaquiles of Mexico City. The result? A savory, hint-of-heat, textures-abound burrito that is as delectable as it is surprising.
Breakfast Dreams
Various locations; check Instagram
What kind of breakfast burrito? The best damn pop-up breakfast burrito in the city, made of dreams.
For Chef Joshua Haskal—the guy who oversaw Commodity’s stellar menu before it became Good Time Coffee and the head honcho behind the Breakfast Dreams popup that appears everywhere from Long Beach to Orange County—has always wanted to perfect the breakfast burrito.
And, oh my Lord, the Breakfast Dreams breakfast burrito. It makes sense as to why Smorgasburg opted to give him a precious, permanent stall at the weekly DTLA food market.
It’s a beautiful layering that eschews the overly complicated for the straightforward. Chorizo from Chori-Man in San Pedro—the same used by Sonoratown (and also featured on this list). Or you can opt for maple-spice dusted bacon. Sous-vide eggs quickly griddled. Tomatillo salsa. Cheese. Tots. And some of Haskal’s self-dubbed “Dream Spread” that is like a solid burger spread. (It is easily among the best in the city, if not vying for the top spot in terms of spreads.) Add some of the Haskal’s fermented Calabrian chile “Dream Sauce” and some avocado and you have yourself a flour tortilla-wrapped wonder.
The Chori-Man
2309 S Alma St. (in San Pedro)
What kind of breakfast burrito? The one with the region’s best chorizo.
So, speaking of The Chori-Man… Sonoratown uses its chorizo for a reason—and it’s definitely worth the trip across the bridge to the sleepy space that is San Pedro. Founded by chef and butcher Diego Cardenas, the shop is best known for its house-made chorizo, produced in small batches using techniques that prioritize tradition over trend, even when reinventing (like his stellar maple habanero chorizo). The result is chorizo that’s rich. Balanced. And nuanced—whether folded into breakfast burritos, tucked into tortas, or sold by the pound to take home.
Of course, many prefer its burrito form, particularly the breakfast burrito, because of chorizo’s seemingly curated perfection as a pair with eggs and potatoes. Surely, there are others out there trying to redefine chorizo, like the newly minted Masa y Taza—and they deserve applause—but the for traditionalists, The Chori-Man is par-none, even when you’re adventuring into the realm of the unexpected. Red. Verde. Maple-habanero. There is not a single middling let alone bad chorizo here.
OBRA HandBakery
6240 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The happily California one.
OBRA HandBakery isn’t just the go-to spot for baked empanadas in Long Beach—it’s the standard. What started as Cesar’s Bistro back in 2014 was, at the time, one of the only places in the city introducing diners to Latin American food beyond the boundaries of Mexican cuisine. That alone was radical. But when the pandemic hit, the full-service model had to pivot—and hard. Owner Luz Torres and Chef Cesar didn’t just adapt; they reshaped the concept entirely. And from that shift came OBRA—and its empanadas.
But their breakfast burrito should not be dismissed. Scrambled eggs. Mini-sausages. Fries. Onions. Mozzarella. Cilantro crema. And chipotle mayo. It’s a savory dream.
For Brian Addison’s full feature on OBRA HandBakery, click here.
Ma ‘n Pa Grocery
346 Roycroft Ave.
What kind of burrito? The unquestionably-American, happily hole-in-the-wall one.
Ma ‘n Pa Grocery has technically been around for 105 years, as it opened as Jones Market in 1921. Since 2013, the space has been Ma ‘n Pa, owned by respective ma, Renee, and pa, Long Beach native Zach Henderson. It is a space that, well, feels movie-like. An actual goods store—canned goods, dry goods, beer, cooked offerings to take home…—mixed with a pseudo-restaurant, nestled between the gorgeous homes of Belmont Heights.
And, for nearly 20 years, Zach has been slingin’ breakfast burritos—over 50 every morning on the weekends—and their consistency, simplicity, and atmosphere make them one of the go-tos of locals and visitors alike. But as always, they are best enjoyed in the yard, at their red-and-white-cover-lined tables.
Nick’s
223 Main St. (in Seal Beach) | 10900 Los Alamitos Blvd. #109 (in Los Alamitos)
What kind of breakfast burrito? OC’s most famous.
On my mission to co-opt neighboring places in the way Los Angeles does the same—or, in the very case of Long Beach, being co-opted without permission from Orange County—we have to go to Seal Beach. There are breakfast burritos in Orange County. And then there are Nick’s breakfast burritos, once (rightfully) declared the most famous breakfast burrito behind the Orange Curtain by Gustavo Arellano himself.
Since 1984, Nick’s Deli has quietly ruled Main Street in Seal Beach, cranking out foil-wrapped behemoths that have fueled generations of surfers, early-shift workers, hungover locals, and anyone smart enough to know that the day is better when it starts with eggs, chorizo (over any other meat offered), potatoes, and a reckless amount of cheese.
Founded by Dominic Zampino—who first opened a full-service spot near the pier in the late ’70s before landing permanently at 223 Main Street and long before their much more secretive Los Al location—Nick’s became legendary not through hype, but repetition and consistency. Hundreds of burritos a day. Every day. Long before breakfast burritos were Instagram content, Nick’s was already treating them like infrastructure.
El Barrio Cantina
1731 E. 4th St.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The off-the-menu one during brunch.
One of the clearest truths about El Barrio Cantina is that its menus never need to shout—and in this case, you might have to speak up louder than expected since it is an off-the-menu offering. But Chef Ulises Pineda-Alfaro’s breakfast burrito is definitely available during brunch on the weekends, just not direcly listed on the menu
Crusted cheese a la the much-missed Lowkey Burrito, this burrito is a straight-forward savory bomb that honestly comes in a space that our city should appreciate more. El Barrio is a gem of a restaurant, offering comfort, arguably the city’s best array of discounted offerings—including an AYCE taco night and a recession menu that warms nearly any cold wallet—and great cocktails.
Los Reyes del Taco Sabroso
2345 E. Anaheim St.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The wonderfully affordable one that comes with cafe de olla.
I’ve talked about this little hole-in-the-wall joint for almost a decade now. From lauding its Mexico City-centric menu with large, corn tortilla quesadillas stuffed with huitlacoche and lettuce and crema… It’s offering of tacos de canasta… Their participation in events ranging from local taco competitions to Long Beach Food Scene Week… Hidden on the northwest corner of Junipero and Anaheim, Los Reyes offers a ton of awesomeness. Sure, the menu covers the expected hits. Carne asada. California burritos. Quesabirria. And some of the best chilaquiles in town. But it’s in their deep dive into the food of CDMX where the Montesinos family really finds its rhythm.
Their breakfast burrito—direct, to the point, with chorizo and cheese galore—is an example of how they bolster traditional Mexican cuisine. For $11 with a cup of cafe de olla, it is hard to beat value-wise.
For Brian Addison’s full feature on Los Reyes, click here.
Guisados
1201 Redondo Ave.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The in-home ones that feel like they came from the best leftovers ever—and for those that truly know, that is praise, not a diss.
Guisados, the Boyle Heights-birthed institution, opened its first Long Beach location in 2024. And that very year, they also introduced breakfast burritos.
Offered in any form, their breakfast tacos take—chuleta con chile verde, hot dog’n’eggs, bacon, papas’n’eggs, chorizo’n’eggs, or Mexican scramble—these little wonders feel like in-home leftovers that were given new life because your mom or grandma was a magician in the kitchen. For those that sneer at the reference to “leftovers,” none of you have had the privilege of waking up in a Mexican household, to have the smell of potatoes from the day before—super soft, almost mushy in all the right ways—blended with the greasy wonder that is chorizo.
These are the breakfast burritos of Guisados. And I take no apologies in saying they feel like home in the best way possible.
Hartland’s
1900 E. Ocean Blvd.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The one with house-made sausage and the city’s best view of the ocean from a restaurant.
Hartland’s continues to be one of the city’s most underrated spaces. After switching to an all-brunch, all-day menu—Chef Rob White’s late-lunch-and-dinner menu and proper lunch offerings will, however, always be missed—he has churned out some of Long Beach’s best breakfast and brunch items. There is his insanely good sausage and biscuit sandwich—a dish I called one of the best of 2025—and this gem.
Hartland’s “OG” breakfast burritos star the man’s house-made sausage, classic with a hint of Italian: fennel, paprika, garlic, and crushed red pepper. It’s all layered with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, tots, and chipotle aioli. To top it off? A bit of color and flavor thanks to a jalapeño-and-cilantro-tinged side of bright, lime-laden avocado salsa.
Good Time
1322 Coronado Ave.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The queer-friendly one.
Good Time’s charm isn’t just its drinks. It’s the welcoming, inclusive atmosphere cultivated by owner Joey Villalobos and his team—and their food offerings. After taking over the space with partners, Joey transformed it into a community hub that actively celebrates diversity, hosting events from maker markets to queer-focused gatherings and offering the venue for classes, shows, and meetups that reflect the neighborhood’s eclectic spirit.
Their classic burrito—which would often stand neck-and-neck in terms of popularity when ever smashburger titan Hamburgers Nice is in their space as a pop-up across various weeks—is an example of a solid offering with an even more solid environment.
The Boss Burritos
2142 E. Anaheim St.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The affordable, solid one from Cambodia Town.
The Boss Burrito—Cambodia Town’s underrated, genuinely affordable Mexican-American space off of Anaheim—comes in with a $11 breakfast burrito that brings the heft and decency wanted from such a burrito. (Their regular burritos are slightly higher priced and allow you to go down a line a la Chipotle to pick your ingredients but, not so a la Chipotle, you’re actually excited to pick what to put inside your burrito or bowl. Yes, they do bowls. Also affordable.)
And, it was this strangely hilarious Instagram video that got my interest piqued. And then it was Long Beach Food Scene member Victor Richardson’s post in my group which got me to go. Happy I did.
MeeMa’s
4276 Atlantic Ave.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The one with in-house smoked brisket.
MeeMa’s in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach is a cozy, family-run breakfast and brunch destination that feels like a warm welcome at grandma’s kitchen table. Rooted in a mission to evoke nostalgic comfort through homestyle dishes, the menu leans into classic breakfast and lunch favorites. From their righfully-loved “briskets” and gravy to chilaquiles and hearty, all-American breakfast plates…
Their breakfast burrito—particularly their brisket version—is one worth checking out. Crispy tots. Cheddar. Eggs. Roasted salsa. And their house-smoked, low’n’slow brisket.
Tito’s Bakery
1107 E 4th St.
What kind of burrito? The one that that is everyone’s first favorite in Long Beach.
A very long time ago—back in 2014, to be exact, when the burrito was $5.25 (and yes, emphasizing cents was somehow important back then)—I called Tito’s my favorite breakfast burrito. And for a long while, it held that space unequivocally. There was, simply put, no better breakfast burrito. The tortilla was magic. The innards were somehow a perfect blend of traditional Mexican goodness, layered with cilantro, raw onions, refried beans that certainly contained lard… Two perfect salsas—a bright green and a fiery red…
After a slow switch of ownership—which took place at the beginning of the pandemic and was finalized when the space reopened in 2023—that has changed. And that is okay, because for many, the space still remains one of the best.
Dog Haus (or for some, Bad Ass Breakfast Burritos)
210 E. 3rd St.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The chili-cheese-for-a-hangover one.
Depending on whether you’re ordering from the space (Dog Haus) or delivery (Bad Ass Breakfast Burritos), they all come from the Promenade Dog Haus location in Downtown Long Beach.
Dog Haus is a Southern California–born fast-casual restaurant chain best known for its elevated take on classic comfort foods like gourmet hot dogs, handcrafted sausages and juicy burgers, all served on grilled King’s Hawaiian rolls with inventive toppings and sauces. The brand was founded in Pasadena in 2010 by friends Hagop Giragossian, Quasim Riaz and André Vener and has since grown into a national concept with dozens of locations across the U.S.
My suggestion? The Borracho, a chili-laden, white American cheese wonder that is perfect for your hangover—hence its apt name.
The Merchant
4121 Long Beach Blvd.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The ooey-gooey-let’s-have-a-picturesque-day one.
Opening in 2017 by husband-and-wife duo Mike and Andrea Gillespie—residents of Bixby Knolls since 2009—The Merchant is known for three stellar things: baked goods, sandwiches, and coffee.
It shouldn’t be shocking that their breakfast burrito is an ooey, gooey, hefty monster of a burrito.
Rivera’s
2901 E. 7th St.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The one that’s been around in Long Beach for a quarter of a century.
Rivera’s Mexican Restaurant, located on the 7th Street corridor in Long Beach, traces its roots back more than a quarter century. Founded by Chef Virgilio Rivera Castillo, alongside his wife and sons, Rivera’s has grown from a family-run neighborhood eatery into a local staple. From its early days, Rivera’s has emphasized warmth, tradition, and community. The interior maintains a retro charm: Wood paneling. String lights. A homey feel where walls display tributes to Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
And, over time, its menu has become known for generous, comforting Mexican fare. Its breakfast burritos—especially the beef machaca—are no exception. Hearty. Classic Mexican-American in all the right ways.
Montoya’s
1133 N. Watson Ave. (in Wilmington)
What kind of breakfast burrito? The perfectly old-school, visit-our-neighbor one.
Whenever Wilmington is concerned—an oft too often dismissed enclave of a city when it comes to food, especially considering its old school joints—I look to Jairo Bogarín, the man behind Hamburgers Nice. A native of Wilmington, he has introduced me to stellar barbacoa joints—no, you may not know where—and other tidbits that have made my feel Long Beach needs to co-opt much of the South Bay.
Montoya’s is such an example of all the above. Old-school in all the right ways. Consistent. Traditional. It is such an example that staples do not need to go stale as long as they maintain consistency.
Ham ‘n Scram
4004 E. 7th St.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The one with in-house, smoked-on-site ham.
Ham ‘n Scram opened their first Long Beach location at 4004 E. 7th St. in 2023, bringing owners and father-and-son duo Forrest and Jeremy Frederick to our community for the first time. Located at the southeast corner of 7th Street and Termino Avenue, it marks the brand’s second location outside of its flagship location in Westminster, which opened in 2010.
Inspired by the family’s Michigan roots, where a restaurant which served hand-carved ham daily became the pinpoint for their inspiration when both were out of work in the late 2000s: Letting patrons avoid delis in order to score some fresh smoked home, their bone-in, smoked-on-site ham is both the heart of their namesake and the key ingredient in their most famous dish, their original breakfast burrito.
The menu? Their famed original breakfast burrito with ham, bacon, egg, cheese, hash browns, onion, and bell pepper (which includes a double-the-meat version that I highly suggest for those on a diet).
The Win~Dow
4600 E. 2nd St.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The one you can get with an equally affordable burger.
The Win~Dow—the Venice-born smash burger stand that helped ignite L.A.’s burger craze with its no-frills, through-the-window $5 cheeseburgers and is now in Long Beach—has officially taken on breakfast. Their $11 breakfast burrito is a hefty mini-log of steak, caramelized peppers and onions, potatoes, and plenty of egg stuffed inside a tortilla. Ask for that fermented chile salsita, and you have yourself one of the most fulfilling breakfast burritos on the Shore. Or, in the least, far superior to the vastly overrated Breakfast Republic and much more affordable.
And, in essence, their super-user-friendly menu is just a larger reflection of what The Win~Dow is. And that is a company who doesn’t want to complicate or over-cost what they offer.
Jug Band
2771 E. Broadway
What kind of breakfast burrito? The Italian one.
While this might hurt some, I do not go to Jug Band for its coffee. Perhaps my brain is too wired for brighter, lighter roasts—and that is perfectly okay. But I will say that the space’s breakfast burrito game is solid. Set in a neighborhood that can be worthy of hanging out—it’s entirely walkable and the Jug Band itself can be a great people-watching space—or moving on—there’s the bluff if you need a particularly spectacular view—what sets it apart is one particular thing: its odd-but-works Italian combo breakfast burrito.
Stuffed with salami, capocollo, and pepperoni, it gives my Italian-American heart a little flutter.
Leo’s Mexican Grill
225 E. Broadway | 755 Magnolia Ave.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The $10, walking-out-in-five-minutes one.
Ah, Leo’s. Uncomplicated. Wonderfully straightforward. Leo’s is simply great—and a place that Downtown needs. After taking over another taqueria on Magnolia’s west side—formerly Las Delicias de Michoacán, once known many years ago as having some of the city’s finest carne asada—it became clear that Leo’s was quietly building a small Mexican empire. As with its OG spot, it happily blended American and Mexican food cultures that defined, at the time, much of Long Beach’s Mexican dining scene. A tad bit pocho by the annoying critics, but nothing genuinely egregious.
One of its most underrated offerings? Cheap breakfast burritos in the morning—$10 as of now—including a chicken “machaca” version that is surprisingly well done. Beers in the morning as well, as witnessed by the construction crews who had started likely around 3AM and are having their lunch at 9AM. With said beers.
El Patio
3317 E. 7th St.
What kind of breakfast burrito? The proper machaca one.
Consistent. Expansive. Underrated. Inexpensive. El Patio is a gem—and a much more traditional replacement to the vastly overhyped, kinda-felt-colonized space that was Little Vice before it. While Little Vice had drawn attention for its self-described “Cabo-inspired” vibe—unsure where Californian natural wines and vegan-forward food comes in with that description but I’m sure the folks of Baja Sur are perfectly fine without it—El Patio leaned into that classic, this-side-of-the-border Mexican joint that basically tackles everything.
Solid breakfast. Great tacos. Good michaladas. And did I mention solid breakfast? Their breakfast burrito is no exception—especially their beef machaca, which actually uses dried beef machaca (not just shredded, marinated beef).
Tacomasa
4740 E. 7th St. #130
What kind of breakfast burrito? The one from the underrated taco joint.
Tacomasa might be a small chain, but it’s a vastly underrated one. Founded in 2021 by restaurateur Ivan Flores, who sought to introduce the bold, street-level flavors of Tijuana-San Diego’s border taco culture to the region’s fast-casual scene. From the beginning, Flores leaned into the traditional: handmade corn tortillas, meats grilled over mesquite, and house-made salsas.
It just introduced its breakfast burritos and they are quality—particularly the adobada pork.
