Yang Chow 2.0—the surprisingly middling concept from the owners of the original legend of Chinatown in DTLA that opened in 2019—will be closing. The offshoot concept announced via social media that the space will be open until “mid-late October.”
“Having been part of Long Beach [for years], we are saying goodbye, for now,” the post read. “Yang Chow 2.0 in Long Beach will be closing its doors mid-late October, with a certain date coming soon. We will continue to provide the best service possible until we officially close our doors. This was, in no way, an easy decision. We have loved the community here and have been through many changes during our 6 years here. We hope to return to the area when the time is right.”
What went wrong with a Los Angeles brand as strong as Yang Chow moving into Long Beach.
There is absolutely no shortage of outside brands coming into Long Beach, both strong and hot. Sonoratown. The Win~Dow. Philz Coffee. L’Antica. Holey Grail. And, upcoming via announcements just this week, Sunrise Shack out of Hawaii and Sweetgreen out of L.A. (though it was admittedly born in D.C, it eventually moved its headquarters to L.A.).
Which is why it speaks volumes as to why Yang Chow 2.0 failed. And the reason the brands mentioned earlier are succeeding is that they didn’t bring in a half-baked or limited version of their brand. It’s that simple—especially with the weight of a brand like Yang Chow. People were expecting a classic array of Cantonese dishes. And should they have brought that, it would have succeeded. Just look at EA Seafood (rightfully) stealing their thunder...
If you’re coming to Long Beach, bring our brand. Not half of it. Not a whittled down version.
Why Yang Chow was such a pivotal moment in the Long Beach food scene…
The legendary Chinatown staple Yang Chow, beloved for its slippery shrimp and enduring family-run hospitality since 1977, is heading south — to Long Beach. The new concept, Yang Chow 2.0, marks both a homecoming and a reinvention: a leaner, more focused version of the original that honors its heritage while adapting to modern tastes and a faster pace of dining. While the original in Chinatown remains a symbol of Los Angeles culinary history — a place where old Hollywood mingled with locals over crisp noodles and fiery kung pao — Yang Chow 2.0 aims to translate that legacy into something distinctly Long Beach.
Set to open later this year, the restaurant will spotlight the classics that made Yang Chow a household name, but in a streamlined format: fewer dishes, quicker service, and an emphasis on quality over quantity. The family behind it hopes to reach a new generation of diners without losing the nostalgia that fueled nearly five decades of success. If the move works — and knowing Yang Chow’s devoted following, it just might — Long Beach could soon claim a piece of Chinatown history, reimagined for a new era of California dining.
Yang Chow 2.0 is located at 2930 Clark Ave.
