2024 was one of the most wildly successful years in terms of new spaces opening: Over thirty new restaurants, bakeries, chains, and other food spaces opened across the year. And even more, the Long Beach community clearly cared about those openings: Over 60,000 people looked at that list across the year.
With this year, we are starting off with many already-knowns and some definite holdovers from last year that are hoping to open—so send them all the good permitting/contracting/licensing vibes, food lovers. And, perhaps, I might be holding onto some announcements that I am just not quite allowed to talk about yet. But until then…
Due Fiori [open]
2708 E. 4th St.
UPDATE (Mar. 19): Due Fiori is opening Mar. 26. For Brian Addison’s full preview, click here.
UPDATE (Mar. 9): Waldo’s Pizza owner and chef Waldo Stout has been tasked with taking on the kitchen at Due Fiori.
“Waldo’s pizza is not coming to and end—and it will have its brick-and-mortar,” Waldo said. “That’s always been the dream and that will continue to be the focus. Popups will likely happen in the future, but for now, I need to focus on my new endeavor: Due Fiori.”
Original article: Baby Gee owners Daniel Flores and Gianna Johns have a little something up their sleeves. They have formally taken over the former Shady Grove Foods space. (Shady Grove was set to close in January of 2024, then to have some hopeful talks with Mayor Rex Richardson, only to eventually permanently shutter in February.)
The concept? Dubbed Due Fiori (or “Two Flowers”), the space will be a trattoria: Think traditional Italian, lotsa wine and beer, neighborhood vibe. Given they live down the street, Daniel’s experience at the lauded Bestia, Gianna’s own Italian heritage, and the pair’s masterful propelling of Baby Gee as a drinking institution, this one has already, as expected, generated some hype.
Homareya
147 E. 4th St.
Homareya—set to take a space right next to Milana’s New York Pizzeria—will be a rarity for Long Beach when it hopefully opens this summer. It will bring truly traditional izakaya from one our local masters, yakatori and sushi chef Yoya Takahashi. You can expect much from the chef at Homareya, which will reflect Japanese drinking and bar food culture via the famed izakaya spaces of the island. His much-loved yakitori will certainly be on the menu. Tartare. Nigiri. A ton of seafood. And witty plays on vegetables.
Midnight Oil [open]
255 E. 3rd St.
UPDATE (Mar. 1): Midnight Oil is formally open.
UPDATE (FEB. 6): Midnight Oil hosted its first preview and is looking to have food on the menu in the coming weeks.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: I cannot tell you how excited I am for this: Not only is it from a seasoned veteran, but he is bringing something DTLB could truly use. Well, things: More late-night food. Chinese grub. A rotating speakeasy. And the eventual evolution into a new space without losing the original employees. Midnight Oil definitely has a way to go—it will reopen in the coming days as Rosemallows while it begins its transition—but once it becomes fully fleshed out, it will likely be a quick DTLB staple.
For the full feature, click here.
NYC Chop Cheese [open]
420 Cherry Ave.
UPDATE (April 16): NYC Chop Cheese has soft opened and will host its grand opening on April 20. The shop, happily open from 8AM to 10PM daily, has the classic offerings of an East Coast bodega. Chopped cheese. Philly cheesesteak (which we shall see how it compares to John’s in Seal Beach). Chicken cutlet. Subs, both hot and cold. It is a definitively welcomed addition to the food scene.
Original article: igns have been up since June about the hopes of a genuine NYC-style chopped cheese coming to Long Beach. Taking over what used to be V-Burger—which went up for sale in late 2023—expectations have been high for the space. Can we trust the words of someone who spoke to an employee? We shall see. Here’s what JuJu Rozay had to say: “Good news, the chopped ‘cheese’ place going in at 4th and Cherry is going to be run by real New Yorkers that own bodegas in NYC… He said they are working on getting it open soon but assured me it would be the authentic NYC chopped cheese.”
We. Shall. See.
Luna Cafe & Bistro [open]
5755 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
UPDATE (Apr. 28): Luna is officially open. For more photos and the full feature, click here.
Original article: It has been a spattering of perpetually failed spaces—a college sports bar, On the Rocks, 562 Pacific Grill…—but if there is one thing to say about LUNA owner Christian Alvarez’s massive renovation of the space, it is the fact that it resembles nothing of the restaurants before. Clearly taking influence from the array of resorts that line the Mexican Riviera, LUNA will also reflect the food of Mexico.
The Second Owl [open]
5272 E. 2nd St.
Taking over the former Republic of Pie space in Belmont Shore, Owl Owl—the Signal Hill-based Thai-Lao restaurant—is officially open. Dubbed “The Second Owl,” it is located at 5272 E. 2nd St., taking over the former Republic of Pie. For Chef Regan Chantrirak—who, with his wife Pason, opened The Second Owl 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. From a cramped kitchen slinging takeout at the height of the pandemic to a full-service restaurant on 2nd Street, it’s a quiet revolution in how Long Beach chefs are owning their work.
Look for the full feature soon.
StormBurger
5801 Cherry Ave.
UPDATE (Jul 13): StormBurger officially has their truck outside the location while construction continues. To learn their story, click here.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Storm Burger Long Beach is coming to Cherry and South, drive-thru lovers.
The much-hyped, Inglewood-born, Black-owned chain—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.
Nigel’s [open]
6276 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
UPDATE (Aug. 2): Nigel’s will open to the public on Aug. 8.
Original article: Nigel’s in Long Beach is ready to take passengers aboard in late June, when its water-facing façade debuts to its first array of public patrons. Plenty of pink, palms, gold, and champagne will follow.
Of course, many may know it as Anchors Away, Nigel Ohrberg’s duffy rental service. But as he did with his platoon of duffys back in 2021, where eight new 12-seat Duffy boats were fully furnished and modernized, Nigel looked at his space on the water and thought the space was mightily underused. For as great as the places we do have on the water—Hartland’s, Tantulūm, Boathouse on the Bay, Ballast Point, and Fuego at Hotel Maya all come immediately to mind—we still have plenty of unused spaces that could be easily activated.
And that is exactly where Nigel’s in Long Beach comes in. In the words of Nigel: “Eat. Drink. Duffy.”
Lima Cebichería Peruana [open]
3851 Atlantic Ave.
UPDATE [Aug. 21]: Lima Cebichería Peruana is now open. For the full feature, click here.
Original article: Prepare for the Peruvian cebiche (or ceviche, as it more commonly known outside of Perú), Long Beach. Lima Cebichería Peruana, a 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 Cebichería was born from “a deep desire to celebrate the traditional flavors of Perú, 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 Perú.
“Mauricio brings extensive experience from working in some of the most renowned restaurants,” Daiwa said. “He has contributed a deep knowledge of service, hospitality, and culinary execution. Together, I think we all share this passion for seafood. And we want to uphold the bold, traditional flavors of Peruvian cooking.”
Seoulicious [open Sept. 2]
421 W. Broadway #840
Taking over the former Flame Broiler across from the courthouse, little is known about Seoulicious, as little has been noted on social media, and their website offers no menu, just a mention of another location near Disneyland. Here’s what they shared when first scoring the space in Long Beach: “We’re serving up authentic Korean BBQ and island-inspired dishes made with care, consistency, and full-on flavor. From Seoul to Hawaii and straight to your table—our menu is all about great food, good vibes, and unforgettable meals.”
La Casa de Iris [open]
1260 Long Beach Blvd.
La Casa de Iris—the Boricua kitchen that epitomizes Puerto Rican cuisine—will open its first brick-and-mortar at the northeast corner of Long Beach Boulevard and Anaheim Street. The space at 1260 Long Beach Blvd. hosted its soft opening from July 1 through 3. And on Saturday, July 5, it held its grand opening.
Wondering what it’s all about? Think of the humble, stuffed potato ball of Puerto Rico—rellenos de papa. Golden orbs of mashed potato stuffed with seasoned ground beef. Coated in a thin layer of flour. Deep-fried until the outside crackles into a light crust. Like the absurdly popular version at Porto’s—soft, breaded—or the much heftier, crisper version at OBRA Hand Bakery, some might say the ones from the Negron family at La Casa de Iris are better.
Mendocino Farms
4201 McGowen St. inside Suite 205
Mendocino Farms, the beloved, chef-driven sandwich show, is finally opening a proper brick-and-mortar in Long Beach. Taking over the former Wahoo’s space at the Long Beach Exhange complex, it’s a welcome addition for not just East Long Beach. But also the local fans who’ve tired of their limited ghost kitchen concept inside Daisy Diner or have had to trek to El Segundo or Costa Mesa just to get their fix.
Crumbl [open]
6473 Pacific Coast Hwy.
After announcing over a year ago that Crumbl would be opening its first Long Beach location at the Marketplace complex at the southeast corner of Pacific Coast Highway and 2nd Street, they opened their pink boxes and doors on Aug. 22.
taste wine-beer-kitchen [re-opened]
3506 E. Broadway
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.
Royal Indian Curry House
242 Pine Ave.
UPDATE (Apr. 18): Owner Bubbly said the space could be “open within the next month or two.”
Original article: Whew, this story is long: Three months after it was announced that longtime East Village Arts District restaurant Utopia would permanently shutter, its new owners have already moved in and begun to alter the space—and that includes raising temporary signage. It would go on to become the Arabian Grill, leaving Royal Indian Curry House, well, homeless. According to co-ower Babbljit Kaur (aka Bubbly), the family signed a lease at the former Starbucks on Pine Avenue between Broadway and 3rd Street. Work is continually happening inside the space, with hopefully “a month or two to go before final permitting,” she said in January of 2025.
Don’t know Bubbly? She is the former owners of Natraj—and I discovered her new food endeacor via a story that is more cute than it is journalistic. One of my favorite workers at my local RiteAid was Bubbly. I noticed she had mehndi on her hands, so I had presumed she had recently been to a wedding. And she had. We talked about how much I loved the food my friends Pakistani-Cambodian wedding and that’s when I learned that her and husband Singh were the former owners before they sold. Formally known aarjit Singh and Babbljit Kaur, Bubbly told me they are trying to open a new space at 1st and Linden—and what do you know: It’s RICH.
HiroNori Craft Ramen (second location)
5718 E. 7th St.
HiroNori Craft Ramen will be opening its second location in the former and short-lived Mad Dumplings space that opened in 2023. Though the business license has been granted, it is unclear when the space will open in Bixby Village Plaza. (Though with the popularity of Luna and the closure of multiple spaces to make way for its upgraded plaza and massive California Fish Grill, the space is a warm welcome.)
Caribbean Soul Kitchen LA
211 Pine Ave.
Tucked along Wilshire Boulevard, Caribbean Soul Kitchen LA has become a beloved destination not just for its witty take on Panamanian and Caribbean food, but for the entire experience provided by its owners, Rogelio and Mercedes Squires. The cozy 40-seat space hums with energy. Plates of jerk chicken and pargo frito are hitting tables. The scent of coconut rice and sancocho fills the air. And a crowd that often spills past the door. So much so, in fact, that owners Rogelio and Mercedes Squires have had to turn guests away because there just wasn’t enough room.
But now, the couple is betting big once again. They’re packing up their popular LA spot and heading south to open a new, larger location in Downtown Long Beach. Caribbean Soul Kitchen LA will take over a 3,000-square-foot space at 211 Pine Ave., in the former Taco Beach space. The new restaurant will seat nearly 150 people and, if all goes according to plan, open its doors by December.
Daily Market by Breezy’s [open]
5450 Dairy Ave.
North Long Beach officially has a new brunch spot: Dairy Market by Breezy has officially opened, offering up classic brunch. In the words of LBFoodComa, “They’re off the beaten path, tucked into Dairy Avenue right off of Market Street—I love these kinds of places—that are hidden in a residential area. They’re a classic brunch spot serving many eats including chicken and waffles, avocado toast, breakfast burgers, grits, and more! They also have many housemade items including the sausage, biscuits, and fruit compote.”
Buvons Wine Bar [open]
1145 Loma Ave.
UPDATE (Mar. 8): Buvons has officially opened. Click here for the full profile.
Original article: Alicia Kemper, the owner of Buvons Natural Wine Bar & Shop, has set her eyes on expansion. While she has constantly flexed her love of food at the wine bar—everything from lobster rolls and seafood boil popups to picnic pickups—there has always been a more significant purpose with the space next door. Originally intended to be a Lodge Bread bakery, Alicia initially opened a café concept, Mangette, that closed late last year. Since then, Alicia has single-handedly taken over the space, and this time, has geared the space toward evening gatherings and refocused it on her passions: natural wine and simple, seasonal, satisfying cooking.
To get things started until the restaurant space begins to formally opens, she has invited Julian Park and his So Sentimental coffee brand for a popup. Minimalist in style and quality in product, So Sentimental reflects what Alicia has been doing at Buvons—and acts as the perfect segue into a full-on dive into the restaurant world for Buvons.
Mangiafoglie [open]
2306 E. 4th St.
UPDATE (Mar. 1): Mangiafoglie is officially open for dinner, Wednesdays through Mondays from 5:30PM to 9PM. For Brian Addison’s full look into the menu, click here.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Mangiafoglie, the vegan space dedicated to Southern Italian cuisine and pastries, is soft opening Jan. 22 at 8AM. After announcing his re-branding of the popular and respected Long Beach Vegan Pizza popup as he scored the former Scholb space at the southeast corner of 4th Street and Junipero Avenue, owner Paul Reese is “full of gratitude and humility. I’ve kept this project somewhat close to the chest because of endless bureaucracy and nagging uncertainty.”
Dirty Pepperoni
149 Linden Ave.
It shall be called Dirty Pepperoni, Long Beach.
The boys behind Dirtbags California will head up the pizza concept in a neighborhood rich with stellar pies. You have The 4th Horseman, Milana’s, and Baby Bros. Pizza—all right around the corner. And this is while the city’s overall pizza game has exploded over the past decade, particularly with the newer additions of Due Fiori and Marlena.
Mooney’s Pizza
8105 E. Wardlow Rd.
Speaking of pizza…
A new pizzeria is heading to East Long Beach later this year as Mooney’s Pizza prepares to take over the former Huff’s Family Restaurant space at 8105 E. Wardlow Rd. The project is the passion of Cindy and Paul “Hal” Mooney, who aim to bring their love of pizza, craft beer, and frozen custard to the neighborhood. According to Hal, the couple is targeting a fall opening—likely October or November of 2025. Look for a more elaborate profile in the coming months.
Beasties [open]
6332 Pacific Coast Hwy.
UPDATE (Aug. 2): Beasties is now in soft-open mode.
UPDATE (May 30): Beasties provided a private preview to friends and family. Though not fully developed, you can check out more pics here.
Original article: A concept from Chef Tom Capler and Chef Jon Rogan where smash burgers meets a taqueria. (Rogan used to head the kitchens at Social List and Lola’s). While Eat Fantastic is an investor—which makes sense: it is taking over the former Eat Fantastic space inside Marina Pacifica—it will be an entirely different menu and space.
Tanuki Japanese Curry [open]
2201 . Willow St., Suit G in Signal Hill
UPDATE (July 13): For the full feature on Tanuki, click here.
UPDATE (Mar. 20): Tanuki Curry, taking over the former Kashiwa Sushi space in Signal Hill, has officially opened.
Here’s what Long Beach Food Scene member Ryan Rainstar experienced: “Tanuki does not disappoint on the curry front. The curry is solid, has a great depth of flavor, all the classic notes of good Japanese curry, rich meaty body, and umami that punches its way through, without any particular spice being overbearing and the katsu is juicy while maintaining a light and delicate, yet crispy-crunchy panko breading. The small pinch of fukujinzuke on the rice and scallions on the curry are enough to break the diminished returns of a large plate.I found the proportions of this dish to be absolutely perfect. I literally cleaned the plate.”
Original article: Serving the Signal Hill community since 2011, Kashiwa Sushi quietly closed its doors back in January (not long before its entire original kitchen had departed from the space). While it was one of the few, far more traditional sushi spots, I think we can all agree that a proper Japanese curry space is warmly welcomed.
600 Tacos
940 Pine Ave.
Taking over the former Baja Cali space on Pine Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets—the middling taqueria closed back in December of 2024—600 Tacos will open its first brick-and-mortar. The owners said they expect to be open by fall and they are stoked to move beyond their rightfully popular food trucks and into the realm of permanent food spaces.
Bushfire Kitchen [open]
4610 Pacific Coast Hwy.
UPDATE (July 10): After hosting a private preview on July 10, Bushfire Kitchen has officially opened its first Long Beach location near the Traffic Circle. The Temecula-birthed brand, which has quickly expanded its presence across SoCal and announced its Long Beach location late last year, took over the Images Nails & Spa space at 4610 Pacific Coast Hwy. (Inside the new Sprouts.)
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Temecula-birthed Bushfire Kitchen, which has quickly expanded its presence across SoCal, will be opening its first Los Angeles County location in Long Beach. Taking over the Images Nails & Spa space at 4610 Pacific Coast Hwy.—inside the newly minted Sprouts by the traffic circle—it is expected to open in 2025.
“We’re really about clean, simple food with a lot of global influence. Or, as we say, comfort food you can feel good about,” said Alex Barwin, brother of Bushfire CEO Oliver Barwin and head of marketing. “We’re honored that Long Beach will be our first location in the L.A. region and look forward to bringing something that both those who want to seek healthier options and those that want to indulge can enjoy.”
For the full feature, click here.
Lazy Dough [open]
975 E. 4th St.
UPDATE (May 1): Following a hosted preview of their fusion-centric menu back in March, the space will officially open its doors May 9. While jobs for their bakery side—which heavily focused on pastries in the job description—have been formally deactivated, the food seems to be a wide array of offerings, from spring rolls and egg rolls to breakfast burritos and salad and ceviche.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Leaving a huge gap in both the 4th Street and citywide vegan options when it closed its doors in August of 2024, Seabirds will now been formally replaced by Lazy Dough.
Ono Hawaiian BBQ [open]
1946 N. Lakewood Blvd.
UPDATE (June 20): Ono Hawaiian BBQ will officially open June 27.)
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Ono Hawaiian BBQ is opening its first Long Beach location inside the Ralph’s shopping complex at the Traffic Circle off of Lakewood Boulevard. Opened in 2002 (and now with locations across California and Arizona), the fast-casual space is known for its island-centric plates, from chicken katsu and teryaki to kalua pork and their famed fire shrimp.
Zarape Long Beach
4702 E. 2nd St.
UPDATE (April 16): Signage has gone up for Zarape in Belmont Shore.
Original article: Belmont Shore is becoming the epicenter of elevated Mexican cuisine as Zarape Long Beach becomes a reality. The West Hollywood-based taqueria, owned by Oneismo Mendez, will be “high-end but casual, not cheap but not outrageously expensive.” Zarape Long Beach will be taking over the former Rubio’s space at 2nd Street and Roycroft Avenue. While the fast casual Baja-inspired chain had a presence in the Shore for nearly two decades and its lease was technically running through to December, new leasing signs appeared in May of this year luring in new tenants.
South of Nick’s
5354 E. 2nd St.
Nick’s Restaurant Group—the massive, Irvine-based group that is home to mid- and upscale restaurants through the region—has decided to expand its presence in Belmont Shore by providing a sibling to its Nick’s on 2nd location, South of Nick’s.
The group’s Mexican concept, announced all the way back in June of 2022, already has two locations in Laguna Beach and San Clemente; its Long Beach location will take over the historic building at 5354 E. 2nd St., formerly home to Citibank before it closed several years ago.
While it is certain that Nick’s doesn’t challenge much in terms of its food—the existing location on 2nd has a menu that has largely remained unchanged since its opening nearly a decade ago—and it is as straight-forward as an American restaurant can be: Excellently made steaks, sides like fried deviled eggs that rarely fail and a butter cake dessert which is one of the best in the city. And while it could certainly elevate with a bit more finesse and a bit more focus, as well as a shift in its layout, to achieve something like the elegance of Arthur J, Nick’s on 2nd has been an anchor in a Shore that has constantly changed.
Chagee Modern Tea House
5246 E. 2nd St.
After its short-lived life as Dave’s Hot Chicken in Belmont Shore, the space at 5246 E. 2nd St. is ready to become a Chagee Modern Tea House. Chagee (pronounced CHAH-jee) is one of China’s most beloved tea brands, with some 6,000 locations worldwide.
While Long Beach was originally intended to be the brand’s flagship U.S. store, Chagee opted to have its Century City location take on that role. Opening earlier this year in April, the store reflects the American iteration of a concept born in 2017 in Yunnan. Chagee has rocketed to over 6,400 locations worldwide, from China to Thailand and Singapore to Malaysia. And just ahead of this Century City debut, Chagee went public on the Nasdaq under the ticker “CHA.”
AZN [open]
325 The Promenade N.
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.”
Sosogu [open]
3860 Worsham Ave. #300
UPDATE (Mar. 1): Sosogu is officially open.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Redlands-based Sosogu has decided to step out of the Inland Empire and toward the beach. Taking over the former Plancha space, which closed in March of 2023—this version of the space looks like it is stepping away from its more casual style in Redlands and toward a more upscale, full-bar restaurant in Long Beach. Eschewing ramen and focusing instead on sushi and Japanese BBQ—for which it has built up a fairly decent following in the I.E.—the space will operate under a different LLC than its Redlands location.
Paris Baguette
81 S. Pine Ave.
South Korea-based French bakery Paris Baguette—which has seen a wildly large expansion into the U.S. when it opened its first Stateside shop in 2005—will be taking over the former T-mobile space between Kalavera’s and The Auld Dubliner at The Pike Outlets. According to their announcment, the bakery—which will be one of over 1,000 U.S. stores comes 2030—is expected to open by the end of this year or early 2026.
& Waffles [open]
95 Pine Ave.
UPDATE (Mar. 20): & Waffles is now open.
Original article: Los Angeles mini-breakfast chain And Waffles (stylized as & Waffles) will be opening a Long Beach location at the former Pier 76 space in Downtown Long Beach at 95 Pine Ave. and is expected to open summer of this year. For more information about the place, read the original announcement.
Nguyen’s Kitchen [open]
2210 Bellflower Blvd.
UPDATE (Mar. 30): Nguyen’s Kitchen is open. Long Beach Food Scene member Joanna Patterson called their grilled pork noodles as something that was “hitting the spot” on a drive home from the airport.
Original article: Following the sad closure of the vastly underrated Grilled Fraiche space, the SoCal modern Asian cuisine chain Nguyen’s Kitchen will open its first Long Beach location. With five existing locations—three in Orange County, two in L.A. County—Nguyen’s Kitchen is known for its rice bowls and contemporary plays on bánh mì sandwiches.
San & Wolves Bake Shop [open]
3900 E. 4th St.
UPDATE (Mar. 1): Sans & Wolves is officially open. For the full feature, click here.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Kym Estrada’s wildly popular Los Alamitos monthly vegan pop-up, Sans & Wolves Bake Shop, will be moving beyond the popup world and into the former B&Q Art Gallery space on 4th Street (near Coffee Cup Cafe) for her first brick-and-mortar, adding to Long Beach’s growing Filipina-owned bake shops. (Shout-out to the OG Catherine Talentino of Gemmae and Maria Leyesa of Foodologie.)
Announced via Instagram back in August, what does this mean for Long Beach food lovers? A ton of vegan Filipino pastries: ube cookies, donuts, pan de sal, ensaymada, bibingka…
Signage for the space had gone up back in November, adverting everything from pandesal to coffee from the Phillippines in perfectly retro, hand-painted signs that Kym and Arvin simply posted on social media: “Analog art > digital… One of our goals for our bakeshop is to keep things classic and timeless. In a world full of fast trends and computer shortcuts, we know human skill is most valuable.”
Eat Fantastic [open]
2301 E. 4th St.
After it was announced in April of 2024 that Eat Fantastic would be taking over the diner at 4th Street and Junipero Avenue, and then formally shuttering the Golden Burger space in July of 2024, the space has finally opened.
Construction and activity was finally back in January seen after the place had been boarded up for months following its rebranding. The mini chain currently has seven locations across Arcadia, El Segundo, Lomita, Tustin, North Torrance, Norco, and yes, Long Beach already—making this its second one locally.
Mamá Juana’s Taqueria [open]
3600 Long Beach Blvd.
UPDATE (Mar. 30): Mamá Juana’s Taqueria is now open.
Original article: Boba Loca’s long-shuttered space has finally made way for a taqueria for Bixby Knolls by the way of Mamá Juana’s Taqueria. Owner Karen Cebreros signed her LLC in August for the space at 3600 Long Beach Blvd. and opened her doors earlier this month.
Long Beach Food Scene member Malissa Duong described it as a “a cute little gem located on Long Beach Blvd and 36th street. It is fairly new and has the sweetest family running the business . I was lead here by their yelp page and I am glad that I gave it a chance. I ordered the chicken and chorizo tacos with mild sauce. This was actually my first time having a chorizo taco, and it did not disappoint. The tortillas are also hand crafted corn tortillas that you can tell was definitely made with love. Workers were also very sweet and patient with my daughter.”
Oakberry [open]
4913 E. 2nd St.
UPDATE (Mar. 1): Oakberry is officially open.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: OakBerry, the Brazil-based açaí juggernaut of a chain, will be opening its first Long Beach location. Located inside the former Engels & Völkers sapce at 4913 E. 2nd St. And it is but one of many bourgeoning brands that have sought Belmont Shore as its home, bringing about a renaissance along the business corridor that hasn’t been seen in years.
Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine
3222 E. Broadway
The former Cafe Piccolo space will be taken over by Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine. Photo by Brian Addison.
UDPATE (Mar. 9): The facade of Cafe Piccolo has been officially torn down as Ackee Bamboo owners work with a new contractor.
Original article: The famed Leimert Park legend that is Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine has been facing its own slew of uphill battles in getting their Broadway location open in the former Cafe Piccolo space for nearly two years—and it is uncertain if they will be able to open.
The food coming from Ackee is important because there is a frank reality: The representation of Black food in Long Beach has dwindled along with the Black population itself—but for Blacks and non-Blacks alike throughout the city, the cuisines of the Caribbean, Africa, Afro-Latin America, and elsewhere are not only wanted locally but directly sought after by those locals in other cities.
After Cafe Piccolo closed their space on Broadway following decades of service, the owners of Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine announced their move-in last year. Owners Marlene Sinclair-Beckford and Delroy Beckford told me in 2023 that, praying construction follows through as planned, the restaurant hoped to open in May. Then they hoped to open by the fall. Then: radio silence and a ton of unfinished contract work at the space.
Taste of the Pacific [no longer opening]
11130 Del Amo Blvd. [in Lakewood]
UPDATE (July 13): For the full feature on the new Chinitos, click here.
UPDATE (May 30): The fate of Taste of the Pacific now sits in the grave. Chinitos—albeit no tacos—has returned with a barbecue concept in the interim.
West Covina-based Filipino barbecue joint Taste of the Pacific will be taking over the space sadly left by Chinitos Tacos. Think plenty of proteins, rice, and noodles, slathered in their sauces, including their signature “smackin’ sauce,” a sweet, creamy concoction that defines the space.
Urbane Cafe [open]
4001 N. Lakewood Blvd., Suite 100
Ventura-based chain Urbane Cafe opened at the Long Beach Exchange retail complex earlier this month, with a series of events benefitting various causes.
“It is important for our team to connect with our guests and to care about our community in the very same way we care about the preparation of our hearty, fresh, focaccia sandwiches and delicious, healthy salads and bowls,” said Urbane Cafe owner and founder Tom Holt in a press release.
Hello
The article about Colossus was a bit confusing.. are they closing the 2nd St location to re-focus / expand in San Pedro?
Thank You
No, they are not closing Belmont Shore; just opening another location in San Pedro.
Any idea when Eat Fantastic on 4th opens up?
Just FYI, the Urbane Cafe section is titled Urbane Kitchen. Probably won’t confuse too many people but just in case.
Thank you!
[…] to local experts at Longbeachize, these are the 3 most exciting new restaurants opening up shop this […]
This website is fantastic thank you so much for all that you do, Brian! Have you considered adding a map of all these great restaurants? Eater has some cool interactive google maps. I could probably help you with this.
PS please consider covering more Seal Beach spots too!