The best ...

Agua Fresca / Juice

Salud

Salud is a homegrown business run by entrepreneur Angela Keen that focuses on efficient, nutrient-dense alternatives to everyday fast-food. In other words, Salud says “cheers to your health” with every purchase of the juice bar’s smoothies, superfood lattes and locally-sourced, organic snacks.

Top 5

Salud
Rainbow Juices
Tru Nature Juice Bar
La Michoacana
Aguas Way

 

Baked Goods

Wine On 2nd’s Homemade Croissants

With top ranks in multiple categories, Wine on 2nd in Naples is a favorite among our readers. Beating out local bakeries, the wine bar and restaurant’s Homemade Croissants—a highlight of brunch service—ranked as the Best Baked Goods in Long Beach.

Top 5

Wine On 2nd’s Homemade Croissants
Gusto Bread
Sweet Jill’s Bakery
Colossus
Getting Caked

 

Bar

The Silver Fox

Founded in 1981 and only getting better with age, The Silver Fox is one of the most popular nightclubs in Long Beach. Housed within a timeless Art Deco facade, the modern venue is home to a large selection of spirited cocktails and regular live entertainment in an inviting and lounge-style setting.

Top 5

The Silver Fox
Mineshaft
V Room
Quinn’s Irish Pub
The Stave Bar

Boba

Loose Leaf Boba Company

Loose Leaf owners Jasmine Yip and Thomas Liu fell in love with boba and each other, marrying and having two kids while growing a business concept that breaks all the rules of traditional boba shops. Inspired by Long Beach’s diverse culture, their unique drinks are made with premium ingredients.

Top 5

Loose Leaf Boba Company
Cha for Tea
Ding Tea
Knead Donuts & Tea
Boba Guys

 

Breakfast Burrito

Ma ‘n Pa Grocery

In the heart of Belmont Heights, this quaint neighborhood market is known by all around town for having the best breakfast burritos around. An institution founded in 1921, it’s more than a great place for breakfast—it’s also a convenience store with high-quality produce, meats, wine, refrigerated foods, baked goods and snacks.

Top 5

Ma ‘n Pa Grocery
Tito’s Restaurant
Nick’s on 2nd
Saltwater Deck
Blackbird Cafe

Brewery

Steady

The Long Beach Post’s suds-loving readers have spoken: Steady Brewing, or Steady Brew Beer Co., is the best brewery around. It’s a unique combination of local nano brewer’s craft beer tasting lounge, popular watering hole and hopping live music venue.

Top 5

Steady
Belmont Brewing Company
Beachwood Brewing
Long Beach Beer Lab
Ballast Point

Burger

In-N-Out Burger

  • Multiple Locations

A California classic, In-N-Out Burger has been a staple since 1948. There are multiple drive-thru restaurant locations with crossed palm trees in Long Beach, where servers wearing classic red aprons make the best American classic food around. The brilliantly simple menu also includes milkshakes and fries.

Top 5

In-N-Out Burger
MVP’s Grill
Crack
Simmzy’s
Dave’s Burgers

Caterer

Santa Fe Importers

Since 1947, locals know Santa Fe Importers goes above and beyond to bring a special and authentic taste of Italy to any event. With the company’s commitment to quality and taste, it’s no wonder customers are always coming back for more.

Top 5

Santa Fe Importers
Olives Gourmet Grocer
Primal Alchemy
Wine On 2nd
Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant

Coffee / Tea Shop

Aroma Di Roma

  • 4708 E. 2nd St. & 444 W. Ocean Blvd. Suite 110
  • 562-439-7662
  • aromadiroma.com

Long Beach native Tim Terrell opened Aroma Di Roma—which means the flavor or taste of Rome—in 2003, specializing in Italian food, coffee and gelato. Served in a hip, modern atmosphere, the food and drinks are delicious and made with fresh ingredients.

Top 5

Aroma Di Roma
Coffee Drunk
Viento Y Agua
Loose Leaf Boba Company
Alder & Sage

Comfort Food

Jongewaard’s Bake n Broil

Since 1965, this family-owned American classic in Bixby Knolls has been a local favorite worth the wait in line during peak hours. For comfort food, we recommend the pot roast sandwich, or, if you’re lucky, the chicken pot pie “while they last,” warns the menu. Be sure to save room for Bake N Broil’s top-notch desserts, especially the pies.

Top 5

Jongewaard’s Bake n Broil
The Attic
Hof’s Hut
Super Mex
Pho Hong Phat

Deli

Santa Fe Importers

Santa Fe Importers has done it again! This local business for more than 75 years serves up a taste of Italy with mouthwatering rigatoni and meatballs and delectable Italian-style specials. They hit the mark every time, bringing amore in every bite—it’s no wonder why customers keep coming back for more.

Top 5

Santa Fe Importers
Olives Gourmet Grocer
Angelo’s Italian Deli
Modica’s Deli
Rocco’s Deli Italiano

Dessert

Long Beach Creamery

Not only does it rank as the Best Ice Cream in town, but Long Beach Creamery’s owner Dina Amadril also now wears the Best Dessert Spot crown. The local business has the scoop on frozen treats, with delightfuly unique flavors such as Mintastic Chip, Pineapple Whip Sorbet and Strawberry Mascarpone served in waffle bowls.

Top 5

Long Beach Creamery
Sweet Jill’s Bakery
The Pie Bar
Jongewaard’s Bake n Broil
SusieCakes

Donut Shop

Simone’s Donuts

  • 6400 E. Stearns St., Long Beach, CA 90815
  • 562-493-4104

This 24-hour carb-n-sugar staple of Long Beach is located in a piece of East Long Beach mall strip heaven. Neighbors have been frequenting the donuttery for well over a decade, and they know to put at least a few blueberry cake donuts into every baker’s dozen they take home.

Top 5

Simone’s Donuts
Knead Donuts & Tea
Granny’s Donuts
Broadway Donuts
Devi’s Donuts & Sweets

Falafel

George’s Greek Cafe

Opa! George’s is a little piece of Greece in Southern California with our readers favoring its falafel above all the rest. George’s follows family recipes passed down for generations, plus fine imported ingredients such as cold pressed extra virgin olive oil from Greece and premium, hormone-free, grass-fed lamb from New Zealand.

Top 5

George’s Greek Cafe
Open Sesame
The HipPea
AMMATOLI Mediterranean Bites
Taboon Mediterranean

Food Truck

Kogi Korean BBQ

Can we taco ‘bout how this Korean-taco-hybrid food truck is revolutionizing the scene?! With humble beginnings, Kogi has been shaking up foodie expectations in Long Beach since 2008. The company is committed to its community and customers, pushing the boundaries of flavor while staying true to its roots.

Top 5

Kogi Korean BBQ
Pancho’s Tacos
Savage Tacos
Hibachi Queens
Mariscos El Garage

Happy Hour

Lola’s Mexican Cuisine

Offering the happiest of happy hours, plus an even better deal on Taco Tuesdays, our readers rely on Lola’s Mexican Cuisine for special offers on high-quality cuisine and cocktails. Established in 2007, the family-owned business offers the perfect blend of traditional and contemporary dishes and drinks.

The Bamboo Club

Say Aloha to a Hawaiian-themed happy hour at Long Beach’s most beloved tiki bar. With an interior designed by award-winning Bamboo Ben Bassham, The Bamboo Club is a tropical oasis with Polynesian-inspired and Asian-style dishes and colorful cocktails. Plus, there’s always something extra going on, from rum tastings to comedy nights to live music and more.

Top 5

Lola’s Mexican Cuisine (Tied for 1st)
The Bamboo Club (Tied for 1st)
Tantalum
The 4th Horseman
Komo’s Cocina

 

Ice Cream

Long Beach Creamery

Reigning ice cream queen Dina Amadril keeps her crown another year—no surprise. Long Beach Creamery, Amadril’s local frozen empire scoops out delightfuly unique flavors such as Cashew Fennel Chip, Midnight Oolong and Saltine Dream. Check out the lastest flavors of the season on social media.

Top 5

Long Beach Creamery
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
Thrifty’s Ice Cream at Rite Aid
Hug Life Ice Cream
La Michoacana

Noodles

HiroNori Craft Ramen

Our readers—and thousands of online reviewers—agree with HiroNori’s claims that the Irvine-based restaurant chain has the best tonkotsu, shoyu and vegan ramen in Long Beach. The company, established in 2017, prides itself in sources the best ingredients for its traditional broth recipe and fresh-cut noodles for an elevated ramen experience.

Top 5

HiroNori Craft Ramen
Phnom Penh Noodle Shack
Santa Fe Importers’ Spaghetti and Meatballs
RAKKAN Ramen
Silverlake Ramen

Pizza

Santa Fe Importers

If you’re a pizza lover in Long Beach or Seal Beach, you don’t want to miss Santa Fe Importers’ Sicilian-style pizza. Made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, the pizza is a fan favorite for a reason. With authentic flavors of Italy in every bite, it’s no wonder why customers keep coming back for more!

Top 5

Santa Fe Importers
The 4th Horseman
Little Coyote
Speak Cheezy
Thai Curry Pizza & Thai Cuisine

Romantic Restaurant

L’Opera

Setting the bar high for fine dining in Long Beach, L’Opera specializes in five-star Italian cuisine, specifically from the northern region. The candle-lit romantic restaurant is housed within a circa-1906 historic former bank building oozing with grandeur. It’s fit for any special occasion.

Top 5

L’Opera
Cafe Gazelle
Michael’s on Naples
Boathouse On The Bay
Tantalum

Signature Dish

Wine on 2nd’s Fig & Pig Flatbread

Wine on 2nd is a clear favorite among readers, with top ranks in multiple categories, including taking home the Best Signature Dish prize for its Fig & Pig Flatbread. The dish is made with a delicious combination of prosciutto, figs, fig jam, crumbled goat cheese, fresh baby arugula and a balsamic vinegar reduction.

Top 5

Wine on 2nd’s Fig & Pig Flatbread
Thai Curry Pizza & Thai Food’s Dean’s Pizza
Joe Jost’s Joe’s Special
Nick’s on 2nd’s Butter Cake
The 4th Horseman’s Hellfire Pizza

Steakhouse

555 East American Steakhouse

For a night on the town, 555 East consistently smokes out the competition for special occasions with its romantic atmosphere and top-notch dry-aged USDA Prime beef offerings—all hand-cut from corn-fed cows. Besides steak, the award-winning restaurant also serves up some excellent seafood, plus cocktails and an excellent wine list.

Top 5

555 East American Steakhouse
The Prospector
Wood & Salt Tavern
Naples Rib Company
Queensview Steakhouse

Sushi Bar

Kihon

It’s all about perfecting the fundamentals— or “kihon”—in creating great sushi, according to this popular Naples restaurant. The fish and the rice are beautifully prepared and never hidden by too much sauce at Kihon, where quality and freshness are everything.

Top 5

Kihon
Sushi Nikkei
@Sushi
39 Degrees
Sushi on Fire

Tacos

Taqueria La Mexicana

  • 3270 E. 4th St.
  • 562-433-6389

Taqueria La Mexicana is that local hole in the wall you’ve been looking for—specializing in simple, satisfying and incredibly delicious tacos filled with carne asada, pollo, lengua and other authentic flavors. The mural-covered little eatery is so popular there’s a worth-it wait at peak times.

Top 5

Taqueria La Mexicana
Baja Sonora
Los Compadres
Hole Mole
La Taqueria Brand

Take-Out

Olives Gourmet Grocer

Olives Gourmet Grocer is take-out heaven, with a deli counter stuffed with goodies. Owned by partners Laurie Semon and Erin O’Hagan, who have more than 30 years of experience in the food industry, the business specializes in fresh, locally-curated ingredients—including, yes, olives—and other artisan pantry staples, including handpicked beers and wine.

Rascals Teriyaki Grill

Serving the South Bay since 1987, Rascals Teriyaki Grill is dedicated to serving quality, tasty and authentic Japanese-American family recipes. Always an incredible value, the no-frills, family-operated neighborhood business offers generous portions of modestly-priced foods, including everyone’s favorite Chinese Chicken Salad.

Top 5

Olives Gourmet Grocer (Tied for 1st)
Rascals Teriyaki Grill (Tied for 1st)
Poke Pola
Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House
Green Olive

Vegan Restaurant

Seabirds Kitchen

Seabirds Kitchen soars past the traditional boundaries of vegan cuisine. Since starting the business from a food truck in 2010, Seabirds has created a top-notch spot in Long Beach’s East Village with scratch-made cuisine crafted using seasonal produce, unique flavor combinations and creative techniques.

Top 5

Seabirds Kitchen
The Wild Chive
Plant Power Fast Food
The Grain Cafe
Veggie Grill

Wine Bar

Wine on 2nd

Wine on 2nd is a family-owned bar and restaurant in Naples with more than 35 varieties sold by the glass or bottle, plus small bites, flatbreads, cheeses, desserts and other cuisine—including a well-loved brunch service—that all pairs nicely with fermented grapes. Plus, the neighborhood business invites customers to enjoy special deals on Wine Wednesdays.

Top 5

Wine on 2nd
District Wine
Vine
Willmore Wine Bar
The Wine Beach

... in Long Beach