WHY Latin-inspired café cuisine with a marina breeze. WHAT This strip mall café satisfies at all hours. At breakfast, it’s a cup of spiced Mexican coffee with the coconut oatmeal or oven-baked french toast stuffed with mascarpone. A mother-daughter duo have transformed the family’s Latin American roots into a vast, vegetarian-friendly, pan-Latin menu. At lunch, [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Generous pours of good, modestly priced wines in a very cool Retro Row shop, with $3 glasses on Thursdays and often-terrific live music. WHAT Almost every afternoon and evening, bartender Evan mans the small, living-room-like wine bar in back of the store, and regulars stop in to ask him what he’s pouring and to [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Charming plates of Italian classics. WHAT Though it’s not completely unique to Long Beach (there’s a Claremont branch), La Parolaccia is as entrenched in local stomachs as any of the city’s famous greasy spoons. The reason is clear: Its osteria-style cooking stands well above the nearby red-sauce joints. Consider trying the fluffy gnocchi, rich [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Hunger-killing tortas ahogadas. WHAT An unassuming place crammed into a corner strip mall that often goes unnoticed on this busy block, this place covers all the expected Mexican bases— but the real reason to visit is the Guadalajaran specialties. La Concha’s torta ahogada is the best around: slabs of crusty bread stuffed with crisp [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Upscaled Vietnamese cuisine with an eye for authenticity. WHAT Stashed in a strip mall that butts up against the Orange County border, Benley is one of Long Beach’s most consistent restaurants. That’s because it has a very clear handle on the kitchen, which turns out refined and thoughtful Vietnamese cuisine: great bowls of pho [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY An honest taqueria that capably handles the classics. WHAT El Taco Loco No. 3 earned its number as part of a loosely affiliated South Bay chain, though many share tenuous ties at best. This location is particularly true to the taqueria tradition: fresh-made tortillas, all the meat (offal and otherwise) that you could want [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Neighborhood charm with gourmet soul. WHAT Surrounded by a quaint neighborhood of historic homes and breezy apartments, this bright, quirky café has become a hub of local life. (Come in alone and you can sit at a long communal table with soon-to-be friends.) For breakfast, try the mascarpone-stuffed French toast or the sweet and [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY A multicultural mix of excellent Dutch and Indonesian dishes. WHAT Despite two decades of history, Long Beach’s Holland Festival is a relative secret. That’s partly because of its location (in a hidden park behind Long Beach Towne Center), but also because it is something of a misnomer—though there are plenty of herring and Heineken, [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY A plate of retro charm and a side of rock ‘n roll. WHAT A key in the rise of Retro Row—the vintage-loving stretch of 4th Street famous for its pin-up poses and deadstock designs—the Pike is owned by former Social Distortion drummer Chris Reece. The bar is themed around the icons of lost Long [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Worth the drive for Lili Ying’s greens and her cooking and medicinal advice: Dandelion greens are good for your liver! WHAT Laid out galley-kitchen-style along the Alamitos Bay Marina, this popular market is directly south of a weekly crafts and food fair. Look for Bautista dates; Maggie’s Farm salad mixes; Weiser potatoes and summer [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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