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Long Beach Food Scene Intel is a series from Brian Addison that will recap food news throughout the city, both news that needs just a quick mention, is developing, or repeated news where you might have missed the full features.
Padre space back up for lease as construction permits expire
The former Padre/Mezcalero space at 555 E. Broadway is now back up for lease. Long slated for a residential development, construction permits for the project have now expired, forcing owner Steve Friedman to go back to leasing the space. As to the condition inside—repeated incidents of unhoused people living inside and even lighting fires forced the owner to board up every nook and cranny—Friedman has said the condition is “decent” with the kitchen, hood, freezer, and A/C unit intact.
Federal Bar does not have new owners doing construction; it is just being boarded up.
While some wondered if a new tenant had finally taken over The Federal Bar (which shuttered shortly after the pandemic kicked off in 2020), I wish there was such great news to share. Instead, windows were being boarded because of people continually breaking them. It marks a particularly rough time for Pine Avenue, which recently saw the eviction of George’s Greek Cafe, the shuttering of Harbor, and the vacating of Solita.
I Luv Ur Buns celebrates AAPI month with special buns
After kicking off one of the season’s most heartwarming collaborations at Steelcraft in Bixby Knolls for Cambodian Heritage Month—one with Battambong BBQ and one with Shlap Muan—the always-awesome queer-and-Cambodian bao master Sonya Suon of I Luv Ur Buns celebrates AAPI month with two new buns:
- SPAM MUSUBAO: Hawaiian-style, grilled spam, nori, furikake, spicy mayo, eel sauce, and green onion. (Vegan option also available.)
- POKE BAO: Hawaiian-style, diced & marinated spicy tuna, cucumber, eel sauce, crispy onions, and green onion. (Only available Friday through Sunday.)
Azúcar closes; Mexican concept Frida’s takes over
In a space that has seen a perpetual turnover of various Latin-American concepts—from pan-Carribbean to Cuban to just a generic “Latin cuisine” concept, all under the Azúcar moniker—we wave goodbye to Azúcar and say hello to Frida’s because why not more Mexican down the street from La Chancla and Northgate and El Torazo and Guisados… The turnover has been quick—and we appreciate that do we want every business to succeed—but, please, Long Beach, think beyond Mexican. Or, in the least, go more regional. Maybe Yucatán or Oaxaca or Veracruz…?
Sura Korean BBQ now has lunch boxes and they look awesome
Sura Korean BBQ, the purveyor of all things Korean food in Long Beach, has come up with a brilliant idea. And that is lunch boxes to go starting next week. One can simply grab some chopsticks and mix’n’pick as they please or they could, in the words of co-owner Claire Kim, “Shake the whole thing up to really get the essence of it.” Sold.
DTLB wine bar Risü now open at 11AM
Risü, the wine bar-meets-snack bar that opened mid-pandemic in 2020, is now offering lunch and is open daily at 11AM. This marks a continued focus on garnering larger lunch crowds in the Downtown, a clutch for all restaurants in the area. While Midnight Oil continues to mull the idea of lunch, The Ordinarie, Sonoratown, Ammatoli, Broken Spirits, and Auld Dubliner are sincerely solid options. And with Risü now being open, it offers a distinctly lighter option where a glass of wine and cheese can fulfill your lunch needs.
Jade in Alamitos Beach now has a $20 AYCE lunch buffet
Jade—which took over the former Forbidden City space in Alamitos Bay in 2019—now offers a $20, all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. It is available Monday through Friday from 11AM to 3PM.
AYCE returns to corporate chain Buffalo Wild Wings
Speaking of all-you-can-eat… Corporate chicken wing chain Buffalo Wild Wings has been brought back Mondays through Fridays. $20 for boneless or $25 for traditional.
ICYMI: The real tragedy behind George’s Greek Cafe in DTLB being forced to vacate and close
George’s Greek Cafe on Pine Avenue in Downtown Long Beach—the definitive space that was sold to new owners nearly two years ago so the Loizides family can focus solely on their Belmont Shore location—has been told by the county sheriff to vacate. This means it will permanently shutter no later than May 1.
Even amid salacious and disheartening allegations—from employees, who had been there for decades, having checks bounce to a backlog of some $80,000 in rent unpaid to vendors no longer doing business with them for months… Even amidst this, there sits an even deeper tragedy behind its closure. And that is that its current owners care to have zero reflection of the spirit and communal care George and Romoula Loizides had for Downtown, especially Pine Avenue.
ICYMI: ‘I was born out of Food Network and Mexico:’ Luna fuses continental flavors in a score for East Long Beach
There’s nothing more beautiful than an immigrant harnessing the power of both cultures they’re inherently connected to. Christian Alvarez of the newly minted Luna space in East Long Beach—its second location—is no stranger to restaurants. And Luna represents his love of Michoacán, his home state, California, his home since he was five, and the many cultures he loves.
For the full article, click here.
ICYMI: With independent ownership, Hotel Maya takes on new chef, revamps Fuego’s brunch menu
Hotel Maya is now removed from its contract with Doubletree Hilton and returning to its roots as an independently Long Beach-owned and -operated hotel. And it has hired its first new chef in over a decade and revamped Fuego’s brunch menu. And let’s be honest: It comes with one helluva view that even I forget how great it really is.
