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Long Beach Food Scene Intel is a series from Brian Addison that will recap food news throughout the city. This is news that needs just a quick mention, is developing, or repeated news where you might have missed the full features.
Bushfire Kitchen has officially opened
After hosting a private preview on July 10, Bushfire Kitchen has officially opened its first Long Beach location near the Traffic Circle. The Temecula-birthed brand, which has quickly expanded its presence across SoCal and announced its Long Beach location late last year, took over the Images Nails & Spa space at 4610 Pacific Coast Hwy. (Inside the new Sprouts.)
“We’re really about clean, simple food with a lot of global influence. Or, as we say, comfort food you can feel good about,” said Alex Barwin, brother of Bushfire CEO Oliver Barwin and head of marketing. “We’re honored that Long Beach will be our first location in the L.A. region and look forward to bringing something that both those who want to seek healthier options and those that want to indulge can enjoy.”
#9Pho—inspired by the Number Nine space formerly on 4th—permanently closing
Vahe Margaryan’s dream of reviving a shuttered Retro Row staple is coming to an end. The inspired Armenian cook first mimicked Number Nine—the middling pho shop that closed mid-pandemic on 4th Street, where Little Coyote currently serves middling pizza—in a popup dubbed #9ToGo inside the much-loved Eddie’s Market. Then he went full brick-and-mortar with #9Pho inside the space that once housed Fortune Garden and Dave’s Family Mexican Restaurant on 4th Street, just west of Walnut Avenue.
While open every day of the week except Tuesdays and Wednesdays they will be open the folllowing two Wednesdays, July 16 and July 23.
And there is, no matter how it is diced, a simultaneous deep respect with their goodbye—just admitting they were themselves, not trying to mimic anyone but, well, Number Nine—with a nice dose of Dramatic Exit:
“We’ve always known we were different. We were never your typical Vietnamese restaurant. The menu, the vibe, the way we did things, it was our own take. And for those who embraced us for exactly who we are, we are forever grateful. You’re the reason we made it this far… We were never really ‘welcomed’ by some of the louder voices in this city, the ones who could have made a difference but chose not to. And while we won’t say more on that, we will say this: sometimes, no matter how much heart you put into something, it still doesn’t make you part of the club.”
Chef Philip Pretty and sister Lauren Michaelis launch Fully Belly Food Group
Chef Philip Pretty and partner/sister Lauren Michaelis have officially launched Full Belly Food Group. The group is a conglomeration of “culinary destinations born from their shared passion for exceptional food and genuine hospitality. From sourcing local, seasonal ingredients to minimizing food waste and reducing our environmental footprint, we’re proud to continue the sustainable dining legacy across our restaurants by incorporating green certified and green Michelin star practices into our operations.”
Look for the full feature on Chef Philip’s zero-waste initiative in the coming days.
Bixby Knolls to score new Chinese space, Khan’s Mongolian BBQ
Brought to you by the Cambodian-American crew behidn Sweetgrass Sugarcane Juice and The Golden Skewer, Khan’s Mongolian BBQ will be taking over the space formerly occupied by Mitake Poke & Sushi at 3547 Atlantic Ave. Chef Johnny Chhom has always been a solid person representing Asian grub—not to mention a good one communally, having been continually at events and pop-ups—so this will be one to look forward to.
Look for the full profile in the coming months.
Coffee shop dance party? Mangiafoglie has you covered.
So, I am just going to say one thing about the vegan community as a non-vegan: I don’t understand why we don’t support them more. And it has little to do with the food and more with the community they build. Like this event from 4th Street’s Mangiafoglie.
BossEatz to host popup at Feel Good Kitchen
Chef Edith Hernandez’s popup—birthed five years ago at the start of the pandemic—will be hosting a popup at Feel Good Kitchen.
Idowu Afro-Caribbean market moving into Broadway
The name Idowu comes from the Yoruba people of West Africa and is traditionally given to a child born after twins. It’s a unisex name that literally translates to “born after twins” in Yoruba, carrying both cultural significance and a sense of lineage. And though few details are known, owner Julie has assured that it will be a “very special place that honors the traditions of Black cultures.”
Look for the full profile in the coming days.
ICYMI: ICE is not welcomed
ICYMI: Immigrant-owned LaMon Bakehouse wants to meld European and Filipino flavors with Long Beach style
And now, to uplift our immigrant community.
For Monica Recio, the owner of the petite (but with punch) LaMon Bakehouse on Broadway near Temple Avenue, baking began long before she ever stepped into a professional kitchen.
LaMon isn’t just a bakery; it’s a culmination of a lifetime spent baking in the humid kitchens of the Philippines. Of working grueling hours in L.A.’s back kitchens while undocumented. Of the quiet sacrifices immigrant families make when they hand-mix dough in crumbling brick ovens and still have enough heart left over to take something on as their own.
For the full feature, click here.
ICYMI: El Barrio Cantina updates menu, leaning into folding influences into Mexican cuisine (including sushi rolls)
The two things I love about El Barrio Cantina the most? Chef Uli’s casual, shoo-fly-shoo approach to what Mexican food is and how it can be defined—he straight up has a Mexican sushi roll section on his new menu…
And, perhaps most importantly, their constant dedication to the barrio. Thousands of dollars in donation to Órale. A read-the-crowd in-tune-ness with their stellar happy hour.
