25 Best Restaurants in Long Beach (in 2023)

I hope you’re hungry because we’re about to explore the top Long Beach restaurants. Whether you’re in the mood for delicious fresh seafood, prime steaks, freshly baked pastries, or decadent desserts, Long Beach has it all.

As a foodie and former Long Beach resident, I’ve spent a lot of time wandering the beach streets of Long Beach from 2nd Street to PCH looking for the most delicious dishes. Join me as we tour the best restaurants in Long Beach.

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25 Best Long Beach Restaurants

The Attic

🍽️ Southern | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 433-0153

The Attic is a Long Beach local favorite. This Southern-style restaurant is located on Broadway Street near the beach in a quaint 1920s home.

The homey ambiance serves to remind one of Sunday dinners at home with the family. Delicious menu items with a new American flare mixed with Southern traditions have created a loyal return customer base.

The most popular menu item at The Attic is the unique hot Cheetos mac and cheese dish. First-time visitors must also try the chicken and waffles, gumbo, and bacon jalapeno bloody mary’s.

👉 Pro Tip: The Attic fills up quickly on the weekends and does not accept weekend brunch reservations. Get there early for brunch or opt to dine in for breakfast or dinner to avoid long wait times.

Creme De La Crepe Long Beach

🍽️ French | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 437-2222

Enjoy sweet and savory crepes in a romantic restaurant environment. The dimly-lit interior of Creme De La Crepe makes this the perfect location for date night.

Located on Long Beach’s “restaurant row,” Creme De La Crepe is a one-of-a-kind restaurant in the heart of the beach city. Along with a wide selection of crepes, this 2nd Street restaurant is also known for its high-quality French dinners and craft wine. 

There are vegan and vegetarian options available at this eatery, dogs are allowed on the patio, and you can skip long wait times by dining at the bar. After you’re done devouring your tasty crepe, take a short, 2-minute walk to the sandy beach.

Gladstone’s Long Beach

🍽️ Seafood | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 432-8588

Enjoy fresh, wild-caught seafood on the waterfront when you dine at Gladstone’s. The specialty menu items here are the shellfish dishes but you won’t be disappointed with any seafood plate you order.

Gladstone’s is only a hop, skip, and jump away from the famous Long Beach Aquarium, one of the top things to do in Long Beach. The Pike Outlets are also within walking distance of Gladstone’s. Browse around the stores to walk off your hearty Gladstone’s dinner afterward.

“Crabby Hour” at this downtown Long Beach eatery is Monday-Friday from 2 pm-7 pm. Enjoy discounted crab dishes at the bar. Kids also eat free on Thursdays, so dining at Gladstone’s with the family on a Thursday from 2-7 pm will save you some serious cash.

Nick’s on 2nd Long Beach

🍽️ American | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 856-9000

This modern taverna boasts American comfort food in a luxurious setting. Equipped with a complete bar, Nick’s on 2nd is the ideal dining option for adults who choose to treat themselves every once in a while. 

Nick’s is on the corner of the most popular nightlife street, so no worries about getting around Long Beach after you’ve had a couple. After your lunch or dinner at Nick’s, you can walk to the nearby beach or a downtown bar to keep the fun rolling.

Nick’s salads are highly popular, as well as the pan-seared Scottish salmon and baby back pork ribs dishes. Don’t forget to try Nick’s Whiskey Sour, which is specially crafted for the restaurant.

Parker’s Lighthouse

🍽️ Seafood | ($$$ to $$$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 432-6500

Parker’s Lighthouse has one of the best restaurant views in Long Beach. Situated right on the water, watch boats cruise in and out of the marina or fishermen catching your next meal as you enjoy the fresh flavors of your lunch.

Parker’s is known for their mesquite grilled seafood and excellent 2-story wine cellar. Enjoy a waterfront Happy Hour at Parker’s Lighthouse every Monday through Friday from 3-6 pm with all drinks 20% off.

Top menu items include peppercorn-crusted ahi tuna, day boat catch, seafood linguine, and sushi. Parker’s Lighthouse also serves craft beers on draft and in bottles. 

Saint & Second

🍽️ American | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 433-4828

This hip, modern-style restaurant sits on one of the most popular streets in Long Beach, 2nd Street. Saint & Second serves American delicacies including burgers and artisanal flatbreads, not to mention tasty cocktails.

This Belmont Shore restaurant debuted more than 70 years ago in its same location and has since perfected its seasonal, chef-inspired dishes. Saint & Second’s selection of hundreds of curated whiskeys set this eatery apart from most other Long Beach establishments.

Besides satisfying burgers, Saint & Second also prides itself on organic salads, creamy pastas, and perfectly-seasoned chicken.

👉 Don’t Miss: Saint & Second’s social hour is every Monday through Friday from 3 pm-6 pm. Don’t miss the discounted small bites, drinks, and the potential to make new friends at this time.

Schooner or Later

🍽️ American | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 430-3495

Enjoy a classic American breakfast at the waterfront Schooner or Later restaurant. Also open for brunch, soak in the Long Beach Peninsula views while you sip on a mimosa under the hot Southern California sun. 

Schooner or Later has been a family owned restaurant since 1985 and the cafe’s interior embodies a homey, 1950s ambiance. Their famous breakfast dishes are served all day, from opening until closing. 

Local favorites include the breakfast burritos, eggs benedict dishes, omelets, and pancake breakfasts. Of course, no old-school family diner would be complete without old-fashioned malts, espressos, and rootbeer floats.

The Crooked Duck

🍽️ American | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 494-5118

The Crooked Duck is a Pacific Coast Highway gem. Located near Cal State Long Beach, the restaurant sees a lot of college students and breakfast lovers. 

Coffee connoisseurs, sandwich consumers, and pancake lovers congregate at the Crooked Duck for breakfast and lunch every day of the week. This spot has been a Long Beach “local’s only” hangout since its establishment but is rising in popularity and seeing more customers daily.

You must try The Crooked Duck’s signature avocado toast, complete with cheese and an assortment of fresh veggies. The burgers are another hot menu item and have artisanal buns and beautifully seasoned meat.

Natraj Cuisine of India

🍽️ Indian | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 930-0930

Located in the heart of Second Street, Natraj Cuisine of India is one of the best Indian restaurants in Long Beach. They offer outside dining on the busy Second Street, which makes it the perfect spot for people-watching.

The menu includes a daily brunch buffet and Sunday brunch. You can order al la carte Indian street food dishes or Tandoori BBQ specials. I recommend ordering a number of side dishes as well so you can have a taste test of all their best menu items.

Try a sweet lassi beverage to cool down during a hot summer day or a nice hot tea to make you cozy in the winter.

The Breakfast Bar

🍽️ American | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 726-1700

Breakfast foodies delight at The Breakfast Bar. This awesome location is near the Long Beach Convention Center and Alamitos Beach, near some of the best places to stay in Long Beach. This eaterie is in the perfect location for both metropolitan activities and relaxing on the beach.

This breakfast and lunch spot boasts in-house homemade food and drink items, which contribute greatly to the unique flavors of The Breakfast Bar. Most of the recipes at this delicious eatery have been passed down for generations.

Signature dishes at The Breakfast Bar include Uncle Marcee’s Omelet Casserole, the Hungover Breakfast Poutine, Pig Candy, and cucumber lemonade. This small, family-style restaurant is one of the best restaurants for brunch in Long Beach.

Long Beach Tap House

🍽️ Gastropub | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 343-1817

Fat, juicy burgers compliment the hand-crafted beers on tap and cocktails at the Tap House. This craft beer house and restaurant is situated on Second Street, only a short walk from the beachfront.

The most popular time at the Tap House is for the bottomless mimosas during Sunday brunch from 10 am-1 pm. This Belmont Shore restaurant has perfected its comfort American food recipes and specializes in craft fries and buffalo wings.

Sports fans flock to the Tap House during game days to watch their team go undefeated on one of the various flat-screen TVs at the restaurant. Customers can also find vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options at this happening restaurant.

Michael’s On Naples

🍽️ Italian | ($$$ to $$$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 439-7080

Michael’s On Naples offers fine dining Italian cuisine in a romantic indoor setting. Enjoy the extensive wine selection at this sophisticated establishment as you dine on the rooftop overlooking the big city on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.

You will try some of the most delicious food at Michael’s On Naples and enter the artistic and culinary worlds with a bang. This is one of the best restaurants in Long Beach for high-quality Italian food and wine.

Start with the house Selezione di Mozzarella before your gnocchi or butternut squash risotto entree and end the night with a fresh-baked almond cake. You don’t want to miss the chance to try the best Italian food on Second Street.

Selva

🍽️ South American | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 343-5630

This Colombian-inspired restaurant is equipped with a full bar, outdoor dining, and high-end culinary treats. Get a taste of South America with a scheduled lunch or dinner at Selva.

Located near California State University, Long Beach, Selva brings diversity to this Southern California town. It is one of the newest restaurants in the area and is quickly rising to the top of popular restaurants in the area. 

Start your meal off with Colombian buñuelos, a traditional deep-fried dough topped with powdered sugar and often served with chocolate. Next, try a corn arepa or pork belly chicharron for an entree. You must also try Colombian draft beer or wine to complement your delicious meal. 

Tequila Jack’s Restaurant and Cantina

🍽️ Mexican | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 628-0454

One of the most well-known Mexican flare restaurants in town, Tequila Jack’s also offers harbor views and a waterfront deck. This downtown Long Beach establishment sources fresh seafood dishes served on the outdoor patio.

Tequila Jack’s is as authentic as Mexican restaurants get. The chips and salsa are made fresh daily and the chiles and tomatoes used in various dishes are roasted in-house. 

The enchiladas, chicken mole, chile colorado, sizzling fajitas, and seafood dishes are the most popular options at this LBC favorite. Sip on a sweet margarita or an ice-cold beer as you watch the harbor waves crash ahead.

Sir Winston’s

🍽️ American | ($$$ to $$$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps  

Sir Winston’s is a unique eatery in Long Beach. This restaurant is aboard the noncommissioned 1934 Queen Mary ship and is a 5-star restaurant and lounge. This is as fancy as it gets in the culinary arts arena.

Sir Winston’s boasts excellent service, an extensive wine selection, and gourmet food. There are also stunning seaside views from every seat aboard the Queen Mary. Sir Winston’s is top-class dining so be prepared to dress your best.

Enjoy royal menu items like pan-seared salmon, prime steak, and top-quality cabernet sauvignon. 

👉 Note: As of Fall 2022, Sir Winston’s and the Queen Mary hotel are temporarily closed. Check the website before you go to get the latest scoop.

Veggie Grill

🍽️ Vegan | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 430-4986

The Veggie Grill is a vegan food chain restaurant throughout the United States. It is situated near California State University, Long Beach, and gets a lot of student traffic.

Vegan food is a popular trend in many metropolitan California cities and new plant-based restaurants are popping up all over LB. The Veggie Grill has perfected vegan foods and their perfectly seasoned pseudo-meats fool even carnivores.

The crispy cauliflower bites, Santa Fe Chick’n sandwich, and Grilled Chick’n wrap are the most popular menu items. Vegan desserts at The Veggie Grill include chocolate chip cookies, a chocolate parfait, and lemon raspberry cake. 

📚 Related Reading: Is Long Beach Safe?

Ammatoli Mediterranean Bites

🍽️ Mediterranean | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 435-0808

Ammatoli Mediterranean Bites is one of the best restaurants in Long Beach on a budget. A few blocks from the beach, this is the tastiest Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Long Beach.

Ammatoli also offers customers seafood dishes and freshly-baked baklava. The interior of Ammatoli’s is a modern, bohemian aesthetic with house plants on every table. The establishment has also been highly rated in the diverse dining scene in Long Beach.

The broad menu items include a gyro plate, lamb chops, mixed shawarma, and a spicy garlic lemon chicken special, among a multitude of other dishes. Happy Hour at Ammatoli is from 3-6 pm Monday through Friday and has discounts for both food dishes and beverages. 

Plant Powered Fast Food

🍽️ Vegan | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 343-5045

Another new vegan restaurant in Long Beach, Plant Powered Fast Food is located right next to the state university and fills up quickly any day of the week. This is one of the only vegan establishments in the area with a drive-thru, which attracts many hungry plant-based customers.

The best menu items here are the huge vegan burgers, fries, and delicious plant-based milkshakes. The “chicken” sandwiches are also delicious options at this untraditional establishment.

Plant Powered Fast Food is open daily from 8 am-10 pm and offers delivery. 

Rivera’s Mexican Restaurant

🍽️ Mexican | ($ to $$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 434-8489

Rivera’s Mexican Restaurant is a local chain of Mexican food serving the greater Long Beach area. This is one of the best restaurants in town for those trying to save money.

Besides traditional Mexican dishes, Rivera’s also serves local beer and wine to hungry customers. The signature dishes at Rivera’s are the wet burritos, the super nachos, and the homemade menudo. 

Rivera himself has been creating traditional Mexican dishes for over 25 years without faltering in quality. Local LB residents can also have Rivera’s Mexican Restaurant cater their work or family parties. 

Phnom Penh Noodle Shack

🍽️ Cambodian | ($ to $$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 433-0032

Phnom Penh Noodle Shack is a veteran noodle house in Long Beach’s Cambodia Town. The environment is very casual and the food is served in a relaxed manner. Phnom Penh has mastered the art of spices in its delicious, traditional dishes.

The noodle shack offers boba tea, beer, and Thai iced tea to quench Long Beach residents’ thirst on hot summer days. First-time visitors must try the seafood noodles, the beef stew, and the Ba-Bong rice noodles dishes. 

Phnom Penh Noodle Shack has often been referred to as the best Cambodian restaurant in LB, which is backed by many locals. Don’t miss your chance to try the best noodles in town while in the area.

Open Sesame

🍽️ Mediterranean | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 621-1698

Open Sesame is a Lebanese specialty restaurant on Second Street. The authentic Mediterranean food combined with the family-style restaurant interior distinguishes Open Sesame from the competition. 

Inspired by gastronomical evolution thousands of years ago, the spices and techniques used at Open Sesame date back to ancient times. As a result, the flavors of this carefully crafted cuisine are at the top of their A-game.

The falafel, Mujadara & Lebanese Salad, and The Sultan lamb chops are must-tries when dining at this Mediterranean oasis by the sea.

BO-beau Kitchen + Rooftop Tap

🍽️ French | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 983-0056

This multi-level gastropub boasts a formal dining area and a rooftop bar area. The interior, speak-easy style bar is laden with vintage furniture and a complete bar.

The interesting fusion of Californian-French comfort food keeps hungry customers coming back for more. The urban rooftop beer garden is a highly coveted hangout spot in Long Beach as well. 

Happy Hour at Bo-beau is every Wednesday through Friday from 5-6:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 3-5:30 pm. Some of the favored, high-end menu items include Duck Leg Pappardelle, Norwegian Salmon, and Filet Mignon.

Tantalum Restaurant

🍽️ Asian Fusion | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 431-1414

Situated right on the Marina Pacifica, Tantalum Restaurant offers elegant Asian cuisine with a view of the ocean. Tantalum showcases an eclectic menu of California dishes with an Asian flare.

Share an exotic glass of wine with friends or converse over a mixed cocktail at dinner with the family. The chic interior of Tantalum was inspired by the dark woods of Indonesia and the dimly-lit ambiance sets the perfect mood for date night.

The miso caramelized Mahi Mahi, ribeye sandwich, wasabi-crusted filet mignon, and the spicy crab strip comprise some of the great food at Tantalum. 

Jongewaard’s Bake n Broil

🍽️  American | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 595-0396

The dishes at Jongewaard’s Bake n Broil are not as bizarre as the name. This American diner-style restaurant sees loyal Long Beach residents daily due to its competitive menu.

The Bake n Broil is a family-owned restaurant that has been passed down from generation to generation. The delicious recipes evoke family warmth and the tastes of childhood. Snag a fresh-baked warm pie or a fresh fruit cake from the bakery.

Jongewaard’s mostly specializes in diner food like sandwiches, burgers, soups, and quiche. The top soups are french onion, vegetable beef, and clam chowder. You can also select from the breakfast menu or soup and muffin menu at any time of the day. 

Sura Korean BBQ

🍽️ Korean | ($$ to $$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (562) 495-7872

Enjoy authentic Korean dining at Sura Korean BBQ. Many of their dishes like the galbi, bulgogi, japche, and sundubu tofu soup are made to order. This family-owned restaurant aspires to bring traditional Korean dishes to the metropolitan city.

Sura offers vegan and vegetarian options and can accommodate large and small parties as well. Fusion favorites like Korean BBQ fries, nachos, and Korean chicken wings add fun to the Korean menu. 

Sura Korean BBQ is open from 11 am- 11 pm Friday & Saturday, 11 am-10 pm Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday, and is closed on Mondays.

🍽️ Want More? Check out Jericha’s full list of the 50+ best restaurants in Los Angeles.

FAQs About Where to Eat in Long Beach

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Thanks for reading my picks for the top 25 restaurants in Long Beach, each one just as tasty as the last. Also, check out our best restaurants in La Jolla guide before your upcoming trip to San Diego.

Happy eating!

(Featured Image Credit:  Ken Wolter / Shutterstock)