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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.
Wild Chive shifts to coffee operation; vegan brunch on weekends
Wild Chive has been through a lot: After a brief shuttering last year, the vegan operation headed by all-around great human Chef Soozee Nguyen has shifted toward a coffee shop during the weekday and then offering her famed vegan brunch on the weekends.
Coffee hours: Tuesday through Friday, 8AM to 3PM. And weekend brunch, Saturday and Sunday, from 9AM to 3PM. Meanwhile, their nighttime operations have been taken over by vegan outlet Vizzi; look for the coming feature.
Brodard signage goes up at 2nd & PCH
Brodard will be opening a location in Long Beach at the 2nd & PCH retail complex in the former Tocaya space—and it’s formal signage just went up. The famed Vietnamese restaurant is based out of Fountain Valley and has been named one of the best restaurants in the state—making it a welcome addition to the city’s lacking Vietnamese food scene.
“As of right now, we don’t have a specific date as to when Brodard Long Beach is opening,” said Roberto Lemus, a representative with 2nd & PCH. “But it is coming sometime in 2026.”
Zarape in Belmont Shore finally scores full liquor
Zarape in Belmont Shore—one of multiple elevated Mexican cuisine options in the Shore, joining Viaje and the opening this week, South of Nick’s—finally has full liquor. Considering the restaurant has contracted to create its own privatized label of tequila, this is a warm welcome. No more wine bottles solely lining the bar…
Joe Jost’s corned beef sandwich? Now offered year-round
Praise the sandwich gods: Joe Jost’s much-loved corned beef sandwich—always exclusively offered during St. Patrick’s Day only—is now available every damn day of the year.
Dilly’s Sandwiches offers easy lunchboxes to-go
LDilly’s Sandwiches is offering a new Summer Fun Series designed for beach days, park outings, and summer events around town. The grab-and-go picnic boxes are individually packaged and ready to enjoy without the need for plates or additional serving ware.
Adult Boxed Lunch ($15)
- Half cold sandwich
- Sea salt chips
- Moon Pie
Kid Boxed Lunch ($12)
- Kid-sized sandwich
- Sea salt chips
- Moon Pie
In addition to the boxed lunches, Dilly’s notes that canned sodas, beers, and seltzers are available to-go. Orders must be placed at least one hour before scheduled pickup by calling 562-421-4449.
Avenue 3 pizzeria closes after serving Long Beach for decades
Avenue 3 Pizza, owner Charles Shaw’s long-serving pizzeria in East Long Beach, has permanently shuttered after nearly four decades of service. First announced on the Long Beach Food Scene by member Brian Garabedian, the space—lauded for its former arcade space, post-game hang-out and dive bar vibes—had seen a slow decline, particularly post-pandemic.
“Charlie was a great guy,” said Long Beach resident Levi Javier. “He gave CSULB clubs and associations the family discount whenever we ordered pizza and wings for our club meetings. That place used to be hopping on Friday and Saturday nights. Eating pizza, hanging out, and shooting pool with your buddies until late at night. One night, my buddy Joe and I argued over who could eat the hottest wings, so Luis served up a plate of the Nuclear wings. After one wing, we were both sweating, red, and in pain. Good times.”
“When I read a post like this, a long-standing, memory-making place, what I think is: ‘When was the last time you patronized it?'” said Long Beach resident Jodie Hawkins. “It’s been years since my family made memories here, and it’s sad. But I did nothing to help them remain open.”
Gangnam Station Korean BBQ is coming to Bixby Knolls
Gangnam Station—the Koreatown-based restaurant that has carved out a following thanks to its all-you-can-eat approach and emphasis on higher-quality meats—will be taking over the former Panda Garden space at 4101 Atlantic Ave.
What to expect? Its flagship, located on Wilshire Boulevard in the heart of K-Town, offers an expansive selection of USDA Prime, USDA Prime Black Angus, and USDA Choice cuts, ranging from brisket and pork belly to marinated specialties, all of which are grilled tableside. Opened in 2022 by the team behind SongHak BBQ, Gangnam Station opened a second location in Buena Park.
ICYMI: After uphill battle, Smog City Heights is ready to serve beer, grub, and vibes
I simply love this place—and it is certainly my new favorite patio.
Smog City Heights—the Cal Heights kitchen and patio from the brewers of Torrance-based Smog City—finally has its alcohol license after months of bureaucratic battles. And with it, owner Laurie Porter and kitchen head Chef Jeff Lustre hope that the neighborhood and surrounding city will come out to one of Cal Heights’s most unique dining and drinking spaces.
For the full feature, click here.
ICYMI: Slao—the high-end, gastro-molecular steakhouse concept—returns to Long Beach
Slao—the pop-up gastro-molecular steakhouse that first premiered earlier this year at Partake Collective in Downtown Long Beach—is back.
After previously collaborating with Chef Maxwell Pfeiffer, the man currently heading Sky Room at the Fairmont Breakers, on that earlier iteration of Slao, Domingo is now stepping out on his own, bringing some of the most wildly inventive dishes to grace Long Beach tabletops.
For the full feature, click here.
ICYMI: The sublime return of Waldo’s Pizza to the Long Beach food scene
Praise the Pizza Gods: Chef Waldo Stout has officially brought his glorious pizza pop-up, Waldo’s Pizza, back into regular rotation. He parked his pizzeria-on-wheels at Trademark Brewing, launching into a full-steam-ahead schedule of upcoming appearances.
“I can’t wait until I find my perfect rhthym again,” he said. “It’s just having my hands back in dough. Standing in front of the oven again… I haven’t felt this happy and centered in a long while.”
