Long Beach Food Scene Week 2025 is upon us, coming Aug. 1 through Aug. 10—and with it, it brings 85 restaurants, pop-ups, coffee shops, and bars together in the name of special menus, deals, and celebrating our food culture.
I understand that’s a lotta restaurants—more than triple the inaugural Food Scene Week—and only the most ambitious will try to hit the majority, let alone all of them. Here are some personal favorites that I want to highlight as we support one of our largest economic and cultural drivers during a period of slow business. (Fun fact: LBSFW is hosted annually in August because restaurants agreed across the board that it is a particularly slow time for them operationally.)
To explore the 80-plus menus and offerings for Long Beach Food Scene Week 2025, click here.
NOTE: Some of the pictures might not represent the dishes you receive. This is for many reasons: For some, I was given samples while they spent time figuring out plating. Or I’ve had the dish before, but they altered the plating since I last photographed it. Or they photographed it themselves and changed something. However, as I experience the final dishes throughout the week, I will update them as needed.
The softshell crab taco from Ruta 15
Cost? $11.50
Where? 5854 E. Naples Plaza
Firstly, this is one of the best tacos I’ve ever had in Long Beach. But before that…
Ruta 15, across the past year, has brought a level of mariscos to Long Beach that echoes some of the region’s best spots. It also harbors the essence of a culinary tradition in Mexico that is as precious as corn itself, where seafood becomes a representation of not just its people’s gastronomical talent but the way in which Mexican people come together.
Ruta 15 harkens to mariscos proper. The places where the seafood of the day is displayed over ice. Where oysters are shucked off the side of the road. The places where a variety of house-made hot sauces line up for your choosing. The type of place that would exist in Jalisco. Or Nayarit. Or Sinaloa. The very states where La Carretera Federal 15—or Ruta 15—runs through, a freeway which stretches from Nogales in the north before hitting the coast and ending inland at Mexico City.
And for LBSFW, experience the tastes of Baja-style cuisine with an Ensenada-inspired softshell crab taco. Crispy, beer-battered crab on a warm handmade blue corn tortilla mix, bedded on a red slaw, aguachile lime sauce, chili aioli, and avocado. A truly memorable culinary experience brought to you by Ruta’s much-loved Chef Cesar Sanchez.
The Sonoratown Torta from Sonoratown
Cost? $13
Where? 244 E. 3rd St.
You couldn’t imagine my excitement when Jennifer Faltham, co-owner of Sonoratown, texted me this: “We’re testing making pan Virginia this week for a LBFSW special. It’s a Sonoran bread used for tortas or dogos. I initially hoped to find a place to buy it but haven’t found it for sale anywhere—so we’re going to try to make it on our own.”
After multiple iterations, they landed on a pan Virginia that hit and with it, introduces the Sonoratown torta. Layers of mayo, cabbage, guacamole, jack cheese, and pickled jalapeño are paired with your choice of protein. Most will likely go for costilla (grilled steak) or chicken—and I am not angry with that at all—but I deeply suggest exploring with tripas or cabeza.
They also have an absurdly quality $5 deal: choice of chicken or beef chivi and choice of one taco. And I kid you not, my go-to order at Sonoratown is a chicken chivi with a tripa taco.
Coq au vin from Noble Rotisserie
Cost? $18
Where? 6460 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. #125
Noble Rotisserie—certainly one of the city’s most underrated spaces—hasn’t made this dish for years and it was the first dish I had there that made me say, “Wow.” It was the plate that Chef Andrew Bice served with perfect French flair. Chicken braised with veal stock. Bacon. Cipollini onions. Meyer lemon. Mushrooms. Carrots. Potatoes. White wine. It’s, simply put, a gorgeous take on a gorgeous classic.
Even more, Noble Rotisserie is just simply damn good food—a thing I have to seemingly reiterate year after year as it continues to swing (with plenty of force) below the radar.
Three-course tasting menu at Black Pork
Cost? $25.50
Where? 1916 W. Willow St.
Black Pork owners Veronica Lopez and Luis Mendiola have created a West Long Beach food space unlike any other. Tomahawk ribeyes on the weekends. Mussels in a warm bath of white wine, cream, and Guajillo chiles—part of this year’s LBFSW menu. Perfectly fried empanadas—the best in the city and also part of this year’s LBFSW menu. A Latin American interpretation of Italian porchetta. Massive Cuban sandwiches that rival the best in the region. The finest clam chowder west of the 710 (and yes, I mean better than the almighty Chowder Barge).
For 26 bucks, you’re getting those aforementioned mussels. A choice of a beef or chicken empanada (and, maybe if you’re nice, a choice of her green chicken mole empanada she did for Vans Warped Tour). ANd then your choice Korean marinated short or pork belly skewers, each coming with rice or mashed potatoes.
‘Cambodian Cowboy Dry Noodles’ collab between Phnom Penh Noodle Shack and Battambong BBQ
Cost? $20
Where? 1644 Cherry Ave.
In what is one of the most exciting collaborations for Long Beach Food Scene Week 2025, the mighty Phnom Penh Noodle Shack has partnered with the Cambodian Cownboy himself for a special smoked dry brisket noodle.
I’ve always noted that Cambodian food in Long Beach is more than a cuisine; it is the essence of a community nearly eradicated from history. Those who escaped the genocide made their home here in Long Beach after being taken to Camp Pendleton by rescuers from the U.S. military. For that reason alone, Long Beach is home to the most traditional, concentrated cluster of Cambodian cuisine.
With this collaboration, you see Shack owner Moulino Tan—the son of original owners Bun Heu Tan and Maly B. Tan—and Chef Chad Phuong of Battambong showcase the beautiful evolution of Cambodian culture, cuisine, and community. And it culminates in this gorgeously layered fusion dish.
Pambazitos (and more) from Los Reyes del Taco Sabroso
Cost? $7
Where? 2345 E. Anaheim St.
Tucked into a modest corner at Junipero and Anaheim sits what might be Long Beach’s most heartfelt and vibrant tribute to the rich regional cuisines of Mexico—centered squarely around the flavors of Mexico City: Los Reyes del Taco Sabroso. Sure, the menu covers the expected hits—carne asada, California burritos, quesabirria, and some of the best chilaquiles in town—but it’s in their deep dive into the food of CDMX where the Montesinos family really finds its rhythm.
Case in point: their incredible pambazo. A CDMX street staple that was once only available at the much-missed Villas Comida Mexicana (what is now La Esquinita), the pambazo is, in essence, a griddled take on the torta ahogada. You’ll find them everywhere from Veracruz to Mexico City, a staple of the street food culture that defines Mexico’s unrivaled culinary heartbeat.
And with the version Los Reyes—a pan de pambazo they garner from the only bakery they trust with the bread in Vernon that is dipped into a hyper-smooth concoction of guajillo and puya chiles—the result is nothing short of glorious. An aromatic, beautiful, charred, dunked sandwich stuffed with melty cheese and then balanced with crisp, cool toppings like shredded lettuce and a drizzle of crema. My personal suggestion? Papa con chorizo. The other stellar option? Tinga chicken.
Don’t skip the sweet empanadas or the Michoacán-meets-Oaxacan-style carnitas plate.
Agnolotti del Plin 1182 from Nonna Mercato
Cost? $28
Where? 3722 Atlantic Ave.
An ode to the year angnolotti, a stuffed pasta from Piedmont, was first and formally documented, Chef Cameron Slaugh has left nearly every descriptor of the dish off the tongue of his mouth. “Stewed beef” is the most the man has said and for that, I am both giddily intrigued and mildly frustrated.
After all, Chef Cam is the most innovative pasta maker in Long Beach (with a strong follower in Chef Julianna over at Marlena). His play on shapes—from the esoteric, like busiate and pici and torchietti, to the common, like rigatoni and bucatini and spaghetti—paired with his obsession over mattarello- versus machine-rolled pastas makes him the proudly anointed Dean of Pasta.
Four-course, multi-dish prix fixe menu from Cali Chilli
Cost? $55
Where? 4111 North Viking Way
Cali Chilli has not only been continually updating its menu since opening in 2022 but but continues to define (and defy) the idea of what Indian food can be in Long Beach.
“We certainly have some Indian families come in and ask us for more spice,” said Praveen Nair, chuckling slightly. “We try to accommodate them as much as possible, but ultimately, we are trying to accommodate everyone. Cali Chilli is a way to both introduce people to Indian food that might not have experienced it beforehand as well as give those who love Indian food a new interpretation.”
Their massively valuable, $55 four-course menu for LBSFW is no exception. Choices of everything from their famed sticky ribs and chicken vindaloo sit next to schezuan wings and paneer tikka.
‘Terrible Pizza’ collaboration between The 4th Horseman and Terrible Burger
Cost? $26
Where? 121 W. 4th St.
The world of Long Beach pizza is vast and fiercely competitive. Amid the stretching and proofing and topping, The 4th Horseman has managed to stand out as a horrorcore swan song to the mightily humble pie. Their expansion last year has also translated into expanded offerings and collaborations for Long Beach Food Scene Week. Last year? They partnered with Sura Korean BBQ, where the Korean space’s bulgogi met the pizzeria’s much-loved sourdough crust, kimchi, green onion, gochuchange paste, and dwenjang aioli.
This year? A horrifyingly awesome cheesburger-stuffed crust pizza collab with Terrible Burger, a Long Beach popup staple. And yes, you roll the slice from crust to triangle tip and eat it like a glorious meat roll.
3-course prix fixe menu from The Attic
Cost? $45
Where? 3441 E. Broadway
For the first time in a while, the Attic revamped its entire menu head-to-toe. And with that, it has been revamped continually since, bringing some of Long Beach’s most exciting food in a world where comfort-seeking and familiarity rule the day. From venison carpaccio and fried quail to contemporary takes on classics like almondine and duck pâté, Chef Cameron Slaugh flexes his ability to bounce between styles cohesively.
So it should be no surprise that I would recommend any prix fixe menu from him. And this one? Sounds spectactular—especially for $45.
“Impasta-burger” from Michael’s on Naples
Cost? $35
Where? 5620 E. 2nd St.
As I have always said, Chef Eric Samaniego is an underrated gem. This, paired with General Manager Massimo Arrone’s blissfully astute and unpretentious approach to Italian wine and hospitality, makes an evening at Michael’s one of the most consistently stellar in the Long Beach food scene.
However, for this particular offering for Long Beach Food Scene Week 2025, Chef Eric has opted to own his I’ll-Make-What-I-Want era with his “Impasta-burger.” An egg raviolo—when sliced, a perfectly warm yolk spills—sits atop an all-beef patty with fontina cheese, and truffle sauce on brioche. For a suggested pairing, have a glass ofn Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro—a rare by-the-glass serving.
Sandwich collaboration between Zuzu’s Petals and AGL Craft Meats
Cost? $26-$35
Where? 801 E. 3rd St.
In yet another stellar collaboration, Zuzu’s Petals—DTLB’s brunch staple—has partnered with AGL Craft Meats for two sandwiches, a pastrami and turkey BLT.
AGL’s Craft Meats began as a roaming pop-up, with pitmaster Alec Lopez hauling his Central Texas-style barbecue—brisket, ribs, jalapeño-cheddar sausage—to breweries and backlots across LA. Its following grew fast, not just for the flavor but for the fight: Lopez was pushing to operate one of the few legal, restaurant-approved offset smokers in a county where open-air pit smoking is nearly impossible. In 2021, AGL landed a permanent home in Florence-Firestone, transforming a former BBQ joint into a legit smokehouse while keeping its pop-up collaborations alive. The result is some of LA’s most sought-after barbecue—proof that serious Texas barbecue can thrive here, even against the odds.
Limited time drinks from CoffeeDrunk
Cost? $7-$8
Where? 2701 E. 4th St. | 913 E. Wardlow Rd. | 4374 Atlantic Ave
CoffeeDrunk co-owner Matthew Church is slowly becoming the collab king in Long Beach. A recent collaboration with Gemmae Bake Shop. An even more recent collaboration with La Parolaccia and the band Goldfinger for my partnership with Vans Warped Tour. Or working with Chef Johnathan of Bar Becky on a summer seasonal menu. A pop-up with Got Your Back. Or a signature drink with local legend Phil Manansala from the band Of Mice & Men. CoffeeDrunk gets local collaborations right.
And now, Matthew asked me what I’ve wanted to see in coffee drinks—and much like my collaboration with I Luv Ur Buns, I wanted to go Italiano.
There’s the Italian Job—Matthew and I both admit we missed out on using “Italian Stallion”—which has dark chocolate, house-made pistachio syrup, espresso (or matcha), and milk, shaken and poured over ice, with a tart cherry juice float, garnished with a maraschino cherry. And the Main Squeeze, where muddled orange melds with house-made vanilla syrup, brown sugar, espresso (or mathca), and milk, shaken and poured over ice.
6-course prix fixe menu at Bar Becky
Cost? $75 for two
Where? 3860 Worsham Ave.
Chef Johnathan Benvenuti initially used the space he is at as a popup under the brand Bar Becky—and with its fruitful showing, formally took over and permanently rebranded the space from Remix to Bar Becky in April of 2024. His food is directly informed by nostalgia, harkening to a genuinely authentic memory that doesn’t read either contrived or cheap—and it makes it one of the best new restaurants around. Even better, his talent with vegetables should never be underrated.
And typically, Chef Johnathan goes prix fixe for every menu—this year being no exception. Showcasing a roundtable of dishes from previous dinners, he is offering a six-course meal for two for $75.
The collaborative efforts of Sura Korean BBQ and Selva
Cost? $15-$25
Where? 621 Atlantic Ave. | 4137 E. Anaheim St.
The bibimbap that is the result of a collaboration between Sura Korean BBQ and Selva shouldn’t work but it does—and does so wildly well. Chinese sausage and bulgolgi sit side by side with Chef Carlos Jurado’s black beans and plaintains, all surround rice crisping on a hot stone. Melded together, the world of Korea and Colombia meld into a wonderful little culinary gem.
You have Chef Andy Uk Chang’s love of pear, melded with fermented rocoto peppers, on a set of wings, partnered with yucca fries. And Chef Carlos taking galbi short ribs served with pickles. Or Chef Carlos’s own take on wings, slathered in Sura’s gojuchang sauce… It’s the delicious beauty of partnership.
‘Golden Girl’ pizza collaboration from Speak Cheezy and Brian Addison
Cost? $26
Where? 3950 E. 4th St.
A Belmont Heights gem, Speak Cheezy’s Chef Jason Winters asked me if I would like to do a collaboration pizza. Sitting over bowls of bibimbap and Korean fried chicken at Sura Korean BBQ, he asked me about my family history. And being Italian-American, I had plenty. My mom side was the Italian side, with my grandpa coming from Rome and my grandma from Sicily. Absurdly large families—my grandma was the youngest of eight—were at the epicenter of it all.
And that definitely included cooking. While my grandpa was the true cook of the house, when my grandma felt like cooking, I always asked for her pesto alla trapanese, an almond-and-tomato-based pesto from Sicily. Usually tossed with a big pasta like paccheri, the dish was a straight-forward salt bomb that I imagined would be perfect for a pizza.
To avoid too much of a tie-in to Chef Jason’s tie-dye pizza, we opted for a yellow cherry tomato base, deconstructing the pesto so we could see the colors. On top? Mozzarella and straciatella with fresh basil. A truly savory, simple wonder of a pie.
Pimento and tomato sandwich from Olive & Rose
Cost? $18
Where? 255 Atlantic Ave.
Olive & Rose is Chef Philip Pretty’s most soulful endeavor—and since opening lunch, it only continues to deeply reflect that. This isn’t to say it lacks the quality of his Michelin starred space, Heritage; no. Rather, the methodical approach that defines Heritage’s style is eschewed in favor of food that fits the vibe of Olive & Rose.
And for LBSFW, he continues that soulfulness. Using a wondrously grilled bread from Hey Brother Baker, Chef Phil layers creamy, hyper-rich pimento with the season’s best slices of heirloom tomatoes. With a side of house-made salt and vinegar chips, it is an ode to summer if there ever was one. Sit inside the opened-wall space or take it outdoors to the pool. Either way, delicious.
The McOrdinarie fish sandwich from The Ordinarie
Cost? $18
Where? 210 The Promenade N.
The Ordinarie’s brunch and regular menus reflect some changes you might have noticed. This is due to the return (as a consultant) of former head chef Chelsea Arrizon (formerly McNeill) and the departure of the space’s former chef, the heady and talented Nick DiEugenio. And while the space has hosted some stellar chefs across the year—DiEugenio or Chef Shelbi Ulm, the woman who created their stellar Just Your Ordinarie Burger back in 2022—the subtle changes have been a welcome return in a hospitality world facing one of its toughest years yet.
Take this wonderful take on a Mickey D’s flet-o-fish without the hefty dose of corporatism and capitalism. A chunk of perfectly fried haddock sits between a brioche bun with house-made tartar sauce, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.
Four-course tasting menu from Broken Spirits Distillery
Cost? $35
Where? 300 The Promenade N.
After announcing their plans back in October of 2023, the group behind Orange County’s wildly popular Smoke & Fire and Villains Brewing concepts are ready to unveil their distilling space, Broken Spirits Distillery. Taking over the former Portuguese Bend space in Downtown Long Beach, Broken Spirits opened in May of 2024.
And since, it has truly attempted to be an anchor in the community—including being bluntly aware of the decreased wallet sizes of patrons. It has a two-for-one cocktail special during happy hour. Plenty of affordable offerings. And for Long Beach Food Scene Week 2025, it is offering a four-course dinner for $35. Yes, for $35.
French onion smash burger from The Kroft
Cost? $13
Where? 4150 McGowen St.
There is so much more than this little blurb that needs to be said about The Kroft’s owner, Stephen Le, a man who has entirely shifted the way he runs his business, an OC giant in the food scene when they bursted out as Anaheim’s Packing District’s most popular spot when they opened in nearly a decade ago in 2014. What used to be a spot focusing mainly on decadent poutine has now shifted into one of the best burger spots.
And this year’s LBFSW burger is no exception. A decadent twist on classic French onion soup in burger form. Featuring two Wagyu smash patties topped with melted provolone cheese, sautéed grilled onions, and a rich caramelized French onion spread. Finished with house-made garlic mayo and nestled in a buttered, Parmesan-crusted brioche bun. Served with a side of our house-made onion au jus for dipping.
Three-course tasting menu from Vino e Cucina
Cost? $40
Where? 4501 E. Carson St.
Speaking of Italian… Eating at Vino e Cucina in East Long Beach, butting edges with the boundary of the city of Lakewood, there are two unavoidable sensations. The first is a sense of removal: The small strip of businesses that cut through the northeast corner of Carson and Lakewood feel eons away from the nearby, traffic-ridden, suburban-meets-commercial vibe of the area, particularly when inside the warm space.
But perhaps most unavoidable is the restaurant’s affable, loquacious, charming owner, Milan native and Long Beach resident Lorenzo Mottola. To eat a meal with Lorenzo is to experience Italian hospitality on a level that can only be found at Michael’s on Naples.
This item will be available throughout the month of August.
“Kampot” chicken wings from Shlap Muan
Cost? $15
Where? 2050 E. South St. #105
Husband-and-wife team Hawk and Sophia Tea’s heritage—a mixture of Cambodian, Chinese, and American cultures swirled into one beautiful familial pot—lead the way for what I would call, no questions asked, the best wings in the city. Surely, Shlap Muan (which means “chicken wing” in Khmer) offers some stellar takes on Cambodian classics—kuyteav, lok lak, garlic noodles upon garlic noodles—but it is their dedication to the humble but mighty chicken wing that is cause for celebration.
Using a secret seasoning, pre-game trick on the poultry before taking them to the frier station, Hawk’s ability to fry fowl—a method he learned from his father, Chhay—brings out his equal mastery in seasoning and saucing them.
And for LBFSW, he has an entirely new flavor to debut (like he did with last year’s “oxblood”: Kampot. Hyper-peppery, ultra-tangy, extra sticky, this magical wing should honestly be a permanent addition to their menu.
Sweet buns from I Luv Ur Buns
Cost? $6
Where? 3768 Long Beach Blvd (inside unit 105 at SteelCraft)
When I Luv Ur Buns owner Sonya Suon asked me what I would like from a bun, like my collaboration with CoffeeDrunk, I wanted Italian. And did Sonya come through: She has a Chopped Italian Bao that will be available all of August. Featuring a buttered and toasted bao, it is filled with chopped ham, pepperoni, salami, provolone cheese, banana peppers, lettuce, and tomatoes with Italian dressing and seasonings.
But the sweet spot is where buns go, well, sweet themselves. And these are available during LBFSW only:
- Brian’s Baognet: Their signature deep-fried bao, filled with a sweet amaretto almond paste, drizzled with amaretto syrup, topped with almond slices and powdered sugar
- Amaretto Cherry Baognet: Their signature deep-fried bao, filled with a sweet amaretto and maraschino cherry cream cheese, topped with powdered sugar and cherries.
House special seafood tofu clay pot from EA Seafood
Cost? $19
Where? 1607 E. Wardlow Rd.
I will always sing the praises of Chef Jerry Wu, who single-handedly runs the kitchen at EA Seafood. After all, his Cantonese take on Chinese food is not just a warm welcome for the Cal Heights neighborhood (and all of the city), but a full realization of a dream he’s long wanted to achieve on his own after leaving Nomad.
And this clay pot special is, well, special. A hyper-warm dish in the middle of summer, chunks of tender fish, squid, scallops and fried tofu are braised with bamboo shoots, onion, and cabbage in a rich soy-meets-oyster sauce and seafood broth.
The “Ned Divine” burger from The Auld Dubliner
Cost? $20
Where? 71 S. Pine Ave.
The beauty of The Auld Dubliner 20-year presence in Long Beach is, honestly, the story of how it came to be through owner David Copley’s emigration, a story that is about the immigrant experience and how there are different experiences depending on where you come from. It’s a story about the love of both your new home and the one your were born in—and it’s also about how our city is home to one of the most unique Irish pubs this side of the Atlantic.
And their burgers? Have always ranked among the best in the city. This year’s LBFSW entry is no exception: the Ned Divine is a monster. And while it looks like that lovely Cashel blue cheese might overwhelm, it doesn’t.
Seared Mexican sea bass with pineapple mole from Lola’s Mexican Cuisine
Cost? $36
Where? 2130 E. 4th St. | 4140 Atlantic Ave.
In LBFSW’s inaugural year, Chef Luis Navarro had one of the most popular dishes for the event. He shipped Chef Susana Trilling’s mole Oaxaqueño from Oaxaca. Last year, he refocused on his own creation. And it is arguably the best dish Chef Luis has ever served: A stunning pink mole, a red rose-hued sauce dotted with Mexican squash and pine nuts, swirls around a mound of rice before being capped with a hefty hangar steak.
I am proud to see Chef Luis make a charge of his newly minted tradition of serving mole for each LBFSW. Here, he goes for the brightness with a pan-grilled Mexican sea bass served over pineapple mole. The notes? Apricots. Pine nuts. Mexican chocolate. Served with buttery white rice and your choice of corn or flour tortillas.
Coffee flight from Our Spot Coffee
Cost? $25
Where? 5327 E. 2nd St. (inside Liv’s)
Our Spot Coffee—the Long Beach popup headed by husband-and-wife team Chris and Ali McColl—has partnered with Belmont Shore’s underrated Liv’s for a coffee residency. And yes, Our Spot is unequivocally creating the city’s most clever, creative, caffeine-centric concoctions that are, just like the third wave that came before it, redefining coffee and tea in Long Beach.
This coffee flight will be no exception. Enjoy Our Spot’s featured coffee across four unique preparations:
- Sous-vide iced coffee
- Espresso
- Cortado
- Shakerato
