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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 or repeated news where you might have missed the full features.
The Pan set to reopen in March
Well that was fast: After it was announced in late December of 2023 that Bebe’s Diner, the casual old-school-style diner that took over the old Sizzler spot at 15 Del Amo Blvd. back in December of 2022, had officially closed, The Pan has quickly moved in. The breakfast space vacated their Bixby Knolls space—due to landlord conflict, according to Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association head honcho Blair Cohn—and took over the massive diner at Del Amo and Long Beach Boulevards.
The announced via Instagram they will have their grand opening in March.
ISM Brewing scores first medal, bringing home gold from SF Beer Week
And I told you the medals would eventually come in: After scoring many medals while head brewer at RIIP (including multiple gold medals from Great American Beer Fest), ISM Brewing head brewer and owner Ian McCall has officially scored his first medal for his own brewery.
“Our first SF Beer Week is in the books, and with it comes our first medal,” McCall said on social media. “We are extremely excited to have received the Out of the Barrel People’s Choice Award for Best Light Ale/Lager for our Gulp of Mexico Mexican Lager.”
Well deserved, ISM.
Earl of Sandwich permanently closes in Belmont Shore; space up for lease
Earl of Sandwich, the sandwich chain that largely makes it footprint inside massive tourist destinations like theme parks and retail centers, has shuttered its Belmont Shore location at 4803 E. 2nd St. The space is now up for lease, marking a signal that perhaps the Shore is looking for far more unique offerings—like The Win~Dow—or, if it is a chain, something a bit more distinct—like Breakfast Republic. Either way, the Belmont Shore renaissance continues and I can only look forward to what is going into the space.
Geeko Chicken opens inside Champ’s Deli in Signal Hill
Geeko Chicken—often called Mr. G’s Korean fried chicken by regulars—has opened inside Champ’s Deli in Signal Hill, offering patrons the ability to score a hot pastrami sub alongside a side of fried wings. Good ol’ plain, buffalo, lemon pepper, Korean sweet’n’spicy, honey soy, BBQ, and citrus spice are the flavors being offered, along with kimbap and topokki. Win win? I think so.
ICYMI: Long Beach Last Call event uplifts bar community with events across 10-day celebration
Long Beach Food Scene: Last Call—or Long Beach Last Call if you wanna keep it simple—will kick off March 1 and run through March 10 with a series of events on each day that celebrates the city’s rich bar culture, community, and its workers.
From industry only events and parties aboard the Queen Mary to dive bar bingo and proper Irish coffee lessons, Long Beach Last Call will celebrate the bar culture in a way no event has.
To read the full listings of events, click here.
ICYMI: Over 20 tequilas and mezcals: Panxa shows off collection for private tasting
Unbeknownst to most, Panxa Cocina—the New Mexico-inspired concept birthed by Chef Arthur Gonzalez and now headed by his wife, Vanessa, following his tragic death—is home of not just one of but the largest selection of agave spirits in the city, with over 100 bottles of tequilas, mezcals, sotols…
Which is why they are hosting an array of some of the finest agave-centric distilleries—Tequila Ocho, Siete Leguas, Mezcal Vago, Nosotros, and more—that will allow ticket holders to taste over 20 variations of agave spirits for $30 come Saturday, Mar. 2. Yes, you read that right: $30. It’s one of many events for this year’s Last Call celebration.
ICYMI: Altar Society is part of a Downtown Long Beach rebirth—so they’re hosting a crawl to celebrate the other businesses joining them
Altar Society is one of Downtown Long Beach’s largest spaces, melding a brewery, a bar, a pizzeria, a cafe, and a massive event space into one—and with it, is leading a charge that refuses to believe DTLB can’t and shouldn’t be something spectacular. And they want to celebrate with surrounding by hosting a massive, free, communal crawl that will start at Altar and explore ISM Brewing, The Stave, and The Ordinarie.
