Tag:
Mexican Cuisine
Food & Drink
El Barrio Cantina updates menu, leaning into folding influences into Mexican cuisine (including sushi rolls)
Continuing to meld the worlds he that influence him, Chef Ulises Pineda-Alfaro pushes El Barrio Cantina into the future.
Food & Drink
Stuffed between two bars in West Long Beach, Black Pork is a multi-cultural food gem
Black Pork owners Veronica Lopez and Luis Mendiola have created a West Long Beach food space unlike any other.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Polly’s Pie founder dead at 92; Mangiafoglie starts brunch; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Lazy Dough opening; plus omakase cocktails, pambazos, new farmers markets, more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Padre back up for lease; plus more Mexican and more AYCE
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.
Food & Drink
‘I was born out of Food Network and Mexico:’ Luna fuses continental flavors in a score for East Long Beach
Luna Long Beach, the Mexican-fusion restaurant that has officially opened in Bixby Village Plaza with one helluva story.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: April 2025
Brian Addison's Favorite Things is a monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Chinitos Tacos—the Cambodian-Mexican fusion joint that helped define Long Beach food—to close Mar. 31
Chinitos Tacos—Chef Beeline Krouch's scene-defining taqueria where Cambodian flavors melded with the traditions of the mighty taco—will host its last day of service on Mar. 31.
Food & Drink
This unlimited tasting event in Long Beach will feature over 30 expressions of tequila and mezcal
"A Taste of Mexico" is a Long Beach Last Call tasting event on Tuesday, Mar. 4, featuring 14 Mexican distilleries serving over 30 expressions.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: Feb. 2025
Brian Addison's Favorite Things is a monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Sonoratown Long Beach to open late every night of the week (and why that’s important for DTLB)
Praise the Taco Gods: Sonoratown Long Beach will open seven days a week from 11AM to 10PM beginning Monday, Feb. 3.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: Jan. 2025
Brian Addison's Favorite Things is a monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Syrian space opens in Wrigley; Knead in Signal Hill moves forward; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: El Viejón—taking over Congregation space—soft opens; more
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.
Culture & Commentary
Long Beach staple Lola’s has delivered thousands of meals during the fires—and it showcases much larger concerns
Lola's relief efforts have led it to become one of Long Beach's leaders in delivering warm meals to those who need them.
Food & Drink
North Long Beach staple Aguas Way shutters as restaurant; will rent out space for events
Seven years into serving the North Long Beach community, rightfully-loved aguas frescas and Mexican food joint Aguas Way will no longer operate.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Sugar Taco closes; Recreational Coffee introduces booze, late hours; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Rosemallows hosts last days of service; Amorcito shutters; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Sonoratown open late on Friday, Saturday; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Church’s on Cherry closes; New Amsterdam re-brands; more
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.
Events & Festivals
Long Beach International Tamales Festival returns Dec. 14
The Long Beach International Tamales Festival, the day-long event dedicated to all things tamal, will return on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 1PM to 8PM.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Colossus expanding; Candy Warehouse closing; more
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.
Food & Drink
Ammatolí, Tacos La Carreta, Sonoratown rank on Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants list
Los Angeles Times food critic Bill Addison—working with columnist Jenn Harris—has released the publication's annual 101 Best Restaurants. And three Long Beach restaurants ranked:...
Food & Drink
Sonoratown to bring their cantina menu to Long Beach location—and that means nachos and elote
Sonoratown Long Beach is about to look a lot like Sonoratown Mid-City—nachos and elote happily included on the menu.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: Nov. 2024
Brian Addison's Favorite Things is a monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Solita to close Downtown Long Beach location, leaving massive commercial space void
Solita, the massive Mexican-American corporate restaurant chain that took over the largest retail space inside Landmark Square, will be closing by the end of the year.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Olive & Rose cocktails coming; mini-market Indian grub; new dim sum; more
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.
Food & Drink
Most anticipated restaurants opening in Long Beach in 2024: UPDATED
Your complete guide to all the restaurants opening (or not) in Long Beach in 2024.
Events & Festivals
Taco Death Match 2024—the ultimate taco competition—invades Downtown Long Beach this weekend
Taco Death Match, the inaugural taco competition heading to Mosaic in Downtown Long Beach on Nov. 3, has a curated slate of 10 chefs and taqueros who will battle it out.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Sonoratown open 7 days a week; Miracle at The Ordinarie coming; more
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.
Food & Drink
Taco Death Match 2024: Meet the Long Beach chefs vying for the title
Taco Death Match 2024 is upon us, Long Beach. Ten taqueros and chefs from Long Beach and L.A. battling in the ultimate competition focused on SoCal's favorite food.
Food & Drink
Taco Death Match 2024: Meet the traditional taqueros competing, Long Beach
Taco Death Match 2024 will pit ten taqueros from Long Beach and L.A. battling in the ultimate competition focused on SoCal's favorite food.
Food & Drink
Taco Death Match 2024: Meet the ‘Cambodian Competition,’ Long Beach
Taco Death Match 2024 is upon us, Long Beach. Ten taqueros and chefs from Long Beach and L.A. battling in the ultimate competition focused on SoCal's favorite food.
Culture & Commentary
Taco Death Match 2024: Meet the passionate artists bringing La Catrina to life
For the artists who bring La Catrina to life, it is much more than just bringing a symbol to fruition.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Babette Bakery to close Nov. 3; more
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.
Food & Drink
Madres Brunch Long Beach officially opens in the East Village
Madres Brunch Long Beach has officially opened. It has taken over the former LB Taco Co. space in the East Village, which closed earlier this year.
Food & Drink
El Barrio tackles pricey food directly with ‘recession lunch’ items: ‘It’s what the community needs’
El Barrio's new happy hour menu includes tons of items under $10 and nearly every single hearty dish being under $15. And for a space with parking across the street, it is a gem for Long Beach in more ways than one.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: JP23 space has new tenant; BMore Protein Pub closes; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Padre/Mezcalero wage theft controversy; LB Latino Restaurant Week launches; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: North LB to have new brunch spot; Ají broken into; more
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.
Food & Drink
Taco Death Match: Long Beach festival-meets-competition pairs taqueros and breweries (with some tequila on the side)
Taco Death Match, the inaugural taco competition heading to Mosaic in Downtown Long Beach on Nov. 3, will have a curated slate of chefs and taqueros create special “ofrenda tacos” that honor dead loved ones.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Baby Gee owners to open trattoria concept; rooftop of Breakers update; more
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.
Food & Drink
LB Taco Co. to permanently close in DTLB; for-the-‘Gram Madres Brunch to move in
The Long Beach Taco Company has been purportedly bought by Madres Brunch, an Insta-centric breakfast and brunch destination with five locations across SoCal.
Food & Drink
Zarape Long Beach: WeHo Mexican joint to open location in Belmont Shore
Belmont Shore is becoming the epicenter of elevated Mexican cuisine as Zarape Long Beach becomes a reality.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: More closures, openings across city; Queen Mary seeks exec chef; more
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.
Food & Drink
Sonoratown Long Beach will open its doors Sept. 17
Sonoratown Long Beach is officially opening its doors on Sept. 17, bringing the famed DTLA taqueria to DTLB.
Food & Drink
Lola’s Mexican Cuisine is using mole as an annual tradition for the Long Beach food scene
At first, Lola's Mexican Cuisine brought the famed mole Oaxaqueño from Chef Susana Trilling straight home. And this year, Chef Luis Navarro is reintroducing his elusive but beautiful mole rosa for the annual celebration that is Long Beach Food Scene Week.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Sonoratown moves forward; Flamin’ Curry opens second location; more
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.
Food & Drink
Olive by the Bay—steeped in Long Beach food history—connects Downey to peninsula
Olive by the Bay—the newest restaurant to open for the community of the Peninsula—takes over a space that is rich in food history.
Food & Drink
Praise the masa gods: Lola’s in Long Beach introduces new brunch, new tortillas
Lola's in Long Beach—longtime champion of comida Mexicana since opening in Retro Row over 15 years ago—has quietly introduced a newly, locally-sourced tortilla for the first time while launching into the newest iteration of their brunch menu.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: La Parolaccia expands; Roll ‘Em Up opens in Lakewood; more
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.
Food & Drink
Ruta 15 brings a new level of mariscos to Long Beach
Ruta 15 is extremely new, having been opened only a few weeks—but it is bringing a level of mariscos to Long Beach that echoes some of the region's best spots.
Food & Drink
¡Toma!, taking over former Lupe’s space in Downtown Long Beach, aims for summer opening
Cheers for Downtown Long Bech: Toma (stylized ¡Toma!) will be opening its doors within the coming months inside the former Lupe's space.
Food & Drink
Pancho’s Long Beach isn’t under new ownership; it was formally passed to family
Pancho's Long Beach—the Mexican restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway just south of Clark Avenue—recently posted a notice of change in ownership. That prompted some concern that the family had somehow but pushed out of the business. But fear not: Pancho's Long Beach is very much remaining in the hands of the Flores family.
Food & Drink
Guisados Long Beach opens today with limited hours test run
Guisados Long Beach will open today at 10AM, with breakfast served through noon, and completing off lunch until 3PM.
Food & Drink
Playa Amor to close, host last week of service; women’s sports bar concept to take over
Playa Amor, the lauded Mexican-American restaurant from Chef Thomas Ortega, will likely be serving its last week of service as the space is readying to be occupied by what will be a women's sports-centric concept. Service is expected to run through May 31.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Holey Grail to open June 1; Los Compadres to score patio; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Little Coyote under new owner; multiple new spaces open; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Turkish sweets shop opens in Belmont Shore; Jerry’s Place up for sale; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Granada Deli & Liquor, Tap House, Kpasta close; Auld Dub turns 20; more
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.
Food & Drink
Tacos La Carreta and Pizza Parlor LB pair up for a pie gone Sinaloense
Two Long Beach food giants—the rightfully lauded Tacos La Carreta on the Northside and the underrated Pizza Parlor LB in East Long Beach—are partnering up for a pizza collaboration that features the five-day proofed sourdough base of the Parlor with the famed Sinaloa-style carne asada and charred Anaheim chiles of Tacos La Carreta.
Food & Drink
L.A. taco institution Guisados to open first Long Beach location
Taco lovers, rejoice: Famed Boyle Heights-birthed taco joint Guisados will move into the former Long Beach Fish Grill space on Redondo Avenue.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Golden Burgers to become Eat Fantastic; two new parklets coming; more
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.
Food & Drink
ISM Brewing launches ‘tacotarian’ menu with massive, over-the-top tacos diverting from the basics
ISM Brewing certainly offers some of the city's best beers—beautifully brewed, consistently clean, downright down-able—but its underrated food (which is shockingly affordable) deserves an uplift, especially its newly minted "Tacotarian" menu that features hefty, hulky iterations of the Mexican dish that are refreshingly different from pretty much anything in the city.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Chile Verde moving into former Bored & Hungry space; Primal Alchemy scores prestigious award; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Small Cafe closes; Beach Hut Deli opens; Battambong goes to Coachella; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: LB Fish Grill, El Torito closing; Happy Cow rebrands; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Oaxacan food, bundt cakes, closures, more
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.
Food & Drink
El Barrio in Long Beach shares history with Mexican joints stretching back to 1950s
Yes, El Barrio took over the dive that was Ashley's, much to the cry of its patrons—but it's grown as a community staple and, even more, shares an interesting history with Mexican food.
Food & Drink
How to celebrate National Margarita Day in Long Beach
It's National Margarita Day—but this list largely would have been impossible if it weren't for Jay Verdiales not only organizing the first Long Beach Margarita Week but inviting me as a judge. In that spirit, I picked ten of my own favorites—some from Long Beach Margarita Week, some not. In no particular order...
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Walt’s Wharf catches fire; former Octopus space back up for lease; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Harbor closes in DTLB; El Esquite opens in West LB; more
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.
Food & Drink
Praise the rolled taco gods: How the OG, San Diego-based Adalberto’s quietly slipped into Long Beach
For many who have depended on the yes-but-not-quite San Diego-style of La Taqueria Mexicana on 4th, there is a sense of joy that, very quietly, the Adalberto's family has decided to expand well beyond San Diego and opened their first shop quietly on 7th Street last year.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: 4 Shore sign goes up in Naples; ISM launches brunch; more
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.
Food & Drink
Famed pastor slinger Leo’s Taco Truck adds Long Beach to its list of permanent homes
Leo's Taco Truck, the massively popular and idolized taqueria that is known for its pastor, has officially added Long Beach to its growing list...
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Grill ‘Em All signage up; Ten Mile to test burgers at event; more
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.
Events & Festivals
Long Beach International Tamales Festival returns Dec. 9
The Long Beach International Tamales Festival, the day-long event dedicated to all things tamal, will be returning Saturday, Dec. 9—and yet again, expects to draw in thousands and thousands of people wanting to explore the almighty tamal, from Mexican to Guatemalan styles.
Food & Drink
DTLA’s famed Sonoratown to open Long Beach location in former Under the Sun space
Oh yes, Long Beach: Chivichangas and caramelos are coming as Sonoratown—the flour-tortilla empire that is a staple in Downtown Los Angeles and often appears on Best Of lists around the country—will be opening its first Long Beach location, as first reported by LA TACO.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Unlimited booze event to benefit Garage Theatre; Beer Lab opens in Zaferia; more
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.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Tito’s expands; El Sauz postpones 4th Street opening; more
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.
Food & Drink
Meet the mother-and-daughter tamales team behind Long Beach’s Michoacán-inspired Toma Tu Tamal
The humble-but-mighty tamal is a precious commodity across the Americas, especially during the holidays—and Toma Tu Tamal celebrates that through a daughter and mother's love.
Food & Drink
Long Beach Food Scene Intel: Two new vegan restaurants open; Sushi Nikkei expands hours in Shore; more
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.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: October 2023
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: September 2023
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Behind the tradition of the chile en nogada at Lola’s in Long Beach
For Lola's co-owner Luis Navarro, serving up a variety of dishes that go beyond the stereotypical view Americans often have of Mexican food has long been in his repertoire—and the tradition of offering up chile en nogada has been one that is over a decade old at Lola's.
Food & Drink
What to (unquestionably) eat during LB Food Scene Week
The Longbeachize crew has been working for months on LB Food Scene Week—and Brian Addison here with his top personal choices on where to eat.
Food & Drink
Playa Amor, one of Long Beach’s most respected Mexican restaurants, up for sale as 2nd and PCH evolves
Opening in 2016 to acclaim, Playa Amor helped redefine what Mexican cuisine could represent in SoCal.
Food & Drink
The mole negro Thomas Keller has shipped from Oaxaca? Lola’s will be serving it for LB Food Scene Week
One of the world's most respected culinary gifts, mole negro Oaxaqueño is one of the most complex sauces on the planet—and Lola's will be offering a version shipped directly from one of Oaxaca's most respected chefs.
Food & Drink
Long Beach’s Tacos La Carreta named one of the best tacos in L.A. by Bon Appétit
After winning big at LA TACO's 2023 TACO MADNESS, Tacos La Carreta has been named one of the region's best place for tacos by Bon Appétit.
Food & Drink
Your essential guide to the taco stands of Long Beach—especially al pastor
With his first piece for Longbeachize, Derek Kozaites takes us on a journey through Long Beach's endlessly growing taco stand scene.
Events & Festivals
Long Beach Taco and Tequila Festival moves to DTLB this weekend—here are your must-visits
The festival returns to celebrate tequila, the great state of Jalisco, and of course, tacos.
Food & Drink
Lauded mariscos joint Cheko El Rey del Sarandeado closes permanently in Long Beach
Led by Chef Sergio Peñuelas and owner Kenia Monrroy, Cheko El Rey del Sarandeado represented the cuisine of Sinaloa on a level before unseen in Long Beach.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: June 2023
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
The Long Beach chefs and restaurants featured in the 2023 Michelin Guide to California
Though the question of whether Californians should really care about Michelin distinctions—particularly following the organization's original reasoning behind ditching coverage of Los Angeles—remains viable,...
Events & Festivals
‘Ma:’ Battambong BBQ, El Barrio collab for Mexican Mother’s Day dinner
Longbeachize Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month: The two chefs—Chef Chad Phuong of Battambong BBQ and Chef Ulises Pineda-Alfaro of El Barrio Cantina—have come collectively together with a dinner to honor "the most beautiful woman in the world."
Food & Drink
Lola’s Mexican Cuisine—the restaurant that introduced Long Beach to birria—celebrates its quinceañera
Lola's Mexican Cuisine is having her quinceañera—15 years serving Long Beach from Retro Row—and her family, led by son Luis Navarro and daughter-in-law Brenda Riviera, want to assure the community that her spirit will never be lost as long as there is an appetite for her food.
Culture & Commentary
Steve Dolinsky, Chicago’s ‘Food Guy,’ took a tour of Long Beach’s restaurant scene—and why that matters
A 13-time James Beard award winner, one of the pioneers of local videographic food storytelling, and an overall great human, Steve Dolinsky decided to take a tour through Long Beach's food scene—guided by yours truly and James Tir.
Food & Drink
Sadly, it’s last call for one of Long Beach’s best Mexican restaurants, Fonda Tobalá in DTLB
Chef Manuel Bañuelos and his right-hand woman and wife Fernanda can no longer make the restaurant-within-a-bar concept Fonda Tobalá work, shuttering its doors on April 29.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: March 2023
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Events & Festivals
This six-chef, eight-cocktail dinner in Long Beach will explore dishes from all 32 Mexican states—yes, 32
Headed by Chef Ulises Pineda-Alfaro of El Barrio Cantina and the pastor pirates that are husband-and-wife team Elvia Huerta and Alex Garcia of Evil Cooks, this will truly be a dinner unlike any other—nor as big.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: Feburary 2023
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Observing Lent? Look no further than toward the amazing special menu at Los Reyes del Taco Sabroso
The Montesinos family of Los Reyes del Taco Sabroso create some of the city's best traditional Mexican food—food that makes those of Mexican descent miss the kitchens of their abuelitas and moms. And that is precisely what makes their Lent menu so special.
Food & Drink
These pink and purple dishes from Lola’s and The Social List? Valentine’s Day kitsch perfection
There are many Valentine's Day dinners happening across the city—too many to individually cover—but Lola's and The Social List have dove into the post-pandemic desire to harness a Hallmark Holiday more than ever.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: January 2023
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Los Reyes del Taco Sabroso is Long Beach’s most heartfelt love letter to the mighty food of Mexico City
The Montesinos family, led by their loving and affable patriarch, Carlos Hector Montesinos García, have created a tiny-but-mighty space that offers a beautiful blend of the traditional and trendy—and therefore giving Long Beach some of its best Mexican food.
Food & Drink
Lola’s Mexican Cuisine in Long Beach introduces ‘quesopozole’ to ring in the winter with warmth
With the birria boom came the quesobirria craze, where corn tortilla wrapped quesadillas are crisped in the oily consommé of the birria broth and served with a side of the liquid to use as a dipping agent. So naturally, Lola's co-owner, Brenda Riviera, asked a very simple question: Why don't we dip them in pozole?
Events & Festivals
What to (unquestionably) eat and drink at the Long Beach Tamale Festival
The Long Beach Tamale Festival is now back on Dec. 4, this year with more vendors which means more tamales and more things to try. Here are my top picks for who you should visit and what you should be bite into.
Food & Drink
This in-the-kitchen chef’s table is not just an ode to Mexico but one of Long Beach’s best kept secrets
With an immigrant's love (and longing) for their home, Chef Manuel Bañuelos and his wife Fernanda have created a Mexican gem with Fonda Tobalá—and reach new heights with their chef's table.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: October 2022
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: September 2022
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: July 2022
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
‘Gothtrompo’ L.A. legends Evil Cooks collab with Long Beach’s El Barrio for Cinco de Mayo
The pastor pirates that are husband-and-wife team Elvia Huerta and Alex Garcia of Evil Cooks are pairing up with Chef Ulises Pineda-Alfaro of El Barrio for a Tour-of-Mexico-like Cinco de Mayo menu.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: March 2022
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Orange County staple La Super Birria to open location in North Long Beach
More birria de res is coming, including quesobirria, birria ramen, birria dips and more as the birrieria founded inside a candy shop continues to expand.
Food & Drink
With new interior and stellar brunch menu, the spirit of the matriarch herself remains at Lola’s
Come 2023, Lola's Mexican Cuisine will have been in business for fifteen years. But owners Luis Navarro and Brenda Rivera of Lola's still aim for major changes in 2022—including a solid brunch menu—while maintaining the soul of Lola herself.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: November 2021
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Favorite things I’m eating right now in Long Beach: October 2021
Brian Addison's monthly list showcasing his five favorite things he is mowing down and gulping through in Long Beach—and it's not always new items but it's definitely never repeated things from previous months.
Food & Drink
Bring on the botanas: El Barrio Cantina in Long Beach brings eclectic menu and ambition to former Ashley’s space
Chef Ulises Pineda-Alfaro and his fellow partners, Joe Lin and Jesse Duron, are no strangers to the food game—but their ambitions with their new Long Beach joint are much bigger than anything they've tackled before.
Food & Drink
Wanting to share their home, La Chancla serve up guisado-style tacos to Long Beach
The key point to La Chancla—the tiny-but-mighty taco space inside the Northgate complex at 10th Street and Cherry Avenue—are guisados. And for the first time, Long Beach has a space dedicated to these magical little style of serving up taco fillings.
Food & Drink
Chef Thomas Ortega’s Amorcito shines as one of Long Beach’s best taquerias
Amorcito, Chef Thomas Ortega's second Long Beach outfit and third overall food space, has officially opened at The Hangar inside Long Beach Exchange.
