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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.

FIRST LOOK: Beasties at Marina Pacifica

Photos by Brian Addison.

I noticed a pique of interest in the Mexican smash burger joint Beasties in my food group, the space taking over the former Eat Fantastic space which re-located to 4th Street. I had a preview a few weeks ago and didn’t share because they’re not quite there yet… But it does give you guys a hint of what’s to come. (And yes, those are smash burger tacos. For those wondering waht makes it “Mexican,” it is the use of chorizo in their burgers.)

If they fine tune and manage to keep the prices they say the will be offering, it could be a hit and definitely reserved for cheat days or those not on a diet.

Loose Leaf to move into the world of food

Loose Leaf Boba in Downtown Long Beach is getting an entirely new facelift that will also bring food into the game: It’s offshoot sister brand, Gold Banh, will be mixed into the space and bring with it an array of Vietnamese sandwiches (which may or may not include their other-other brand, And Broth, and its viral pho brisket sandwich inspired by Katz Deli).

AZN soft opens in former Crab Shack space on The Promenade

Growing chain Azn—an Asian-centric bowl place that allows various types of bowls to be customized—has soft opened after taking over the Crab Shack Express space that closed on The Promenade at 3rd Street last year. Not to be confused with the much more Google-able name of “Pagoda,” the fast-casual bowl spot from P.F. Chang’s, Azn has slowly exploded across the past year with locations mainly in Georgia.

Long Beach Food Scene member Amber Rentie said it was ” really nice… They serve Asian Bowls, freshly made and healthy pressed juices, and smoothies. Nice, quiet, and relaxing little place, and the employees are super nice and welcoming.”

Olive & Rose now has parking

Olive & Rose—following the debut of their stellar lunch and dinner offerings—have finally scored parking. $5 self-parking is now available in their secured lot off N. Liberty Ct., the alley directly behind City Center. ⁠

Tokyo Noir now open on Tuesdays—without reservations

Tokyo Noir—El Barrio Cantina’s amazing, Japan-inspired speakeasy—is one of the most difficult reservations to get in the city. Now, the space will not only be open on Tuesdays (after historically being closed) but it will be open seating. Time limits will be set for those who are seated and after that, waits will take place in rotations.

Canadian Pizza opens second location in old Deno’s Pizza space

Canadian Pizza—the much-loved pizzeria that has been serving 4th Street for decades—has opened a second location on Redondo Avenue at 11th where the old Deno’s Pizza used to sit, next door to 7-Eleven.

Beachwood Distilling to offer industry Tuesday discounts

Beachwood Distilling—the brewery’s make-everything-in-house cocktail concept—now has an all-night Industry Night on Tuesdays. “On Tuesdays, all night Beachwood has Industry Night specials for fellow service industry folks—just show a recent pay stub, badge, or any proof that you work in the biz and enjoy: $5 select full-pour pints and discounted cocktails starting at $8.”

Dairy Market by Breezy’s is now hiring

What was once just a liquor store and then converted to a pseudo-restaurant-meets-market taqueria at 5440 Dairy Ave. in North Long Beach will become a brunch space dubbed Dairy Market by Breezy (the latter of whom is supposedly a restaurant consultant from New York City). They are now hiring.

ICYMI: FIRST LOOK: The 2025 Baby Gee summer cocktail menu plays with everything from tiki to avocados

The 2025 Baby Gee summer menu, debuting its array of new cocktails today, showcases the bar’s candid ability to stretch from the accessible to the esoteric. One of its most robust menus to date—nearly 20 cocktails and mocktails grace the menu—it showcases the confidence and ability of owner Gianna John’s well-oiled machine of bartenders.

And then you have Gianna herself. Never more confident in her ability to eschew pretense while harboring complexity, taste, and nuance, this seasonal menu showcases a wild breadth of what is undoubtedly Long Beach’s second cocktail renaissance.

For the full feature, click here.

ICYMI: Much-hyped, Inglewood-born Storm Burger to open location in Long Beach

Storm Burger Long Beach is coming to Cherry and South, drive-thru lovers.

The much-hyped, Inglewood-born, Black-owned spacee—which opened its first location in an abandoned Church’s drive-thru on La Brea—is looking to repeat its strategy. It will be opening its first Long Beach location inside a—you guessed it—former Church’s drive-thru. The space at 5801 Cherry Ave. saw Church’s shutter in December of 2024, the very month Storm Burger opened its doors in Inglewood.

Read the full feature here.

ICYMI: Long Beach Beer Lab partners with Sublime to bring a band beer back home

Well this is just rad, Long Beach. Long Beach Beer Lab has partnered with Sublime for a formal beer available not just at the brewery but across SoCal markets.

“When you embrace good people and good opportunities—no matter how big or how small—it all comes back to you,” said Levi, who runs both the Long Beach Beer Lab and Long Beach Bread Lab with his wife, Harmony. “It’s a massive, very Long Beach story. It’s where Long Beach people try to uplift Long Beach businesses and brands.”

Read the full feature here.