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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.
Lima CebicherĂa Peruana signage goes up
Shortly after announcing their presence last month, Lima CebicherĂa Peruana’s signage has gone up in Bixby Knolls. The new concept, moving into the former Chicken University space in Bixby Knolls, is coming from the owners of the rightfully acclaimed Sushi Nikkei. Expected to open within the next couple months, the space offers a more traditional take on Peruvian food from a chef that is known for his Peruvian take on sushi.
The concept of Lima CebicherĂa was born from “a deep desire to celebrate the traditional flavors of PerĂş, especially the coastal cuisine we grew up with,” in the words of Chef Eduardo Chang, who operates Sushi Nikkei with his wife, Daiwa Wong. Joined by their friend and fellow co-owner, We are Mauricio Valencia—all originally from PerĂş.
Ammatoli’s Chef Dima Habibeh welcomes lauded Chef Charbel Hayek for collab dinner
Chef Dima Habibeh continues her tendency to partner with some of the most respected chefs around. She is partnering with Chef Charbel Hayek—quickly building a reputation in L.A. with his modern take on Levantine food at Ladyhawk and his more traditional approach at the rightfully lauded Laya—on July 25. For tickets, click here.
Chef Dima has partnered with Chef Philip Pretty—the man behind Olive & Rose and his Michelin-starred space, Heritage—as well as her absolutely stellar collaboration dinner with Chef Ali Ghzawi. That latter dinner? It was nothing short of an ode to Levantine food and the spirit of Jordan.
Taste Wine-Beer-Kitchen reopens in Belmont Heights
After hosting an array of private wine dinners at their space since shuttering post-pandemic, Taste Wine-Beer-Kitchen—the brainchild of Olive Grocer founders, owners and loving couple Erin O’Hagan and Laurie Semon, as well as Chef Brad Neumann—formally re-opened July 17. The much-missed Belmont Heights space will return to its California-fusion roots led by Chef Brad.
“It’s simply nice to see such a loved space come back to life for the neighborhood,” said Steve Massis, owner of the nearby Attic space.
The inaugural menu includes flatbreads, house-made bucatini, gem salads, and more.
Steadfast Cafe opens in Downtown Long Beach’s East Village Arts District
Steadfast Cafe—which owns another location in Huntington Beach—has taken over the spot that has been a rotating door of businesses: Moonrise, Mangosteen, Alien Sandwiches… Located at 510 E. Broadway, it helps activate a space in the Lafayette building that was in desperate need of it.
“Ordered the breakfast sando from the newly opened Steadfast Cafe in Long Beach,” said Long Beach Food Scene member Michael Martinez. “It’s smells delicious, crispy bacon, with an amazing chipotle mayo. The cafe is at the corner of Broadway & Linden. Great selection of baked goods, sandwiches, bagels, and drinks.”
Los Angeles-based La Jolla Tortilleria donates $3K to Long Beach’s Ă“RALE
After El Barrio Cantina raised $5,000 for them, South L.A. tortilleria La Jolla has donated $3,000 to Ă“RALE, an organization that has been dedicated building and sustaining a thriving immigrant-led movement to end the criminalization of immigrants and secure bold protections and opportunities that allow immigrant communities to thrive. It was all done through a special that was offered during No Kings Day.
Snocorner has expanded their hours for the summer
Instead of shuttering at 6PM, Snocorner—the city’s NOLA-inspired, snoball-serving, beignet-slinging space by Poly High—will now close daily at 7:30PM.
“We’ve also swapped out a few of our fruit flavors in favor of all-natural options,” said owner Ashley Monconduit. “These fresh, fruity flavors are made with real ingredients and are the first step in our journey toward going fully natural with all our fruit options.”
Those flavors include:
🍓 Strawberry
🍍 Pineapple
🥠Mango
🍑 Peach
đźź Dreamsicle
Johnny Rockets permanently closes in DTLB
In what was a humble, basically two-person operation where the food—though a kitschy remnant of the 1990s and not really of quality—was cooked to order, Johnny Rockets has closed. The franchise—which has seen its nostalgic peak dwindle to practical non-existence across the 2010s—had been in operation since 1992.
ICYMI: Long Beach restaurants partner with bands for Vans Warped Tour x LB Food Scene Week collaboration
Vans Warped Tour has partnered with Long Beach Food Scene for a highlight of local food at affordable prices. Including the efforts of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance and Visit LB, the celebration acts as a launch into both the tour and the 10-day food event. The collaborators have paired bands with restaurants to create affordable dishes for both festival attendees and locals.
For the full feature and menus, click here.
ICYMI: Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: July 2025
Ice cream with caviar. Perfect tortelloni. Fried musubi rolls. Duck breast with duck fat-fried onion rings. These are my favorite things I was eating across Long Beach.
For the full feature, click here.
ICYMI: With Second Owl, the Owl Owl team takes Thai and Lao food to innovative heights
The Second Owl is my favorite new restaurant.
For Chef Regan Chantrirak—who, with his wife Pason, opened the space in Belmont Shore—the journey to what he feels is a “proper space to experience the food of our cultures” isn’t just a story of evolution. After all, he started at a cramped kitchen, slinging takeout at the height of the pandemic in Signal Hill when the pair opened Owl Owl. And now, they stand with a full-service restaurant on 2nd Street.
Second Owl seems to—at least right now—take Thai into an arena which simultaneously harbors but eschews traditions.
Short rib is slathered in proper Massaman then paired with mashed potatoes and spinach—a Thai Thanksgiving dish if there was one. Roasted duck tucked into egg rolls. Nam kao tod melded with koji and red curry.
