Last Updated on July 30, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Long Beach’s dining scene is strongest when you explore it neighborhood by neighborhood. Cambodia Town is the place for Khmer noodles and rice porridge, Retro Row mixes bakeries with casual restaurants, Zaferia has chef-driven dining, and the waterfront offers marina and harbor views. This guide highlights verified Long Beach restaurants for signature dishes, special occasions, casual meals, seafood, breakfast, drinks, and international flavors. Menus, prices, and hours can change, so use the linked restaurant sites to confirm details before you go.
Quick Answer
For a splurge, book Heritage; for a lively shared dinner, try Selva; for Cambodian comfort food, visit Phnom Penh Noodle Shack; and for casual seafood or tacos, choose A&J Seafood Shack or Tacos La Carreta. Gusto Bread and San & Wolves cover morning sweets, while Boathouse on the Bay and Parkers’ Lighthouse deliver waterfront views.
Key Takeaways
- Choose a neighborhood first: Cambodia Town for Khmer food, Retro Row for bakeries and casual dining, and Downtown or Zaferia for date-night restaurants.
- Reserve Heritage, Olive & Rose, Selva, and popular weekend waterfront tables in advance.
- Expect seasonal menus at chef-driven restaurants; check current dishes and allergy policies before booking.
- For a lower-cost meal, focus on noodle shops, taco stands, bakeries, pizza counters, and seafood shacks.
- Long Beach’s best food experiences are spread across the city, so group stops by neighborhood instead of crossing town for every meal.
The Neighborhoods Putting Long Beach on the Culinary Map
Long Beach does not have one single restaurant district. Its food scene is spread across several neighborhoods, and each area is better for a different kind of meal.
- Cambodia Town and the Anaheim Street corridor: Start here for Khmer noodle soups, rice porridge, grilled meats, and Cambodian-influenced seafood. Phnom Penh Noodle Shack and A&J Seafood Shack are practical first stops.
- Retro Row and Fourth Street: This walkable stretch works well for coffee, bread, pastries, pizza, Mexican food, and casual lunches. Look for Gusto Bread, San & Wolves, Speak Cheezy, and Lola’s Mexican Cuisine.
- Zaferia: Choose this area for an energetic dinner at Selva, where Colombian inspiration and wood-fire cooking shape the menu.
- Downtown and the East Village Arts District: This is one of the easiest areas for dinner followed by cocktails or beer. Olive & Rose offers a polished neo-bistro experience, while nearby breweries and bars make it simple to continue the evening.
- Bixby Knolls and Belmont Shore: Both neighborhoods have strong dinner choices. Sushi Nikkei operates in both areas, and Belmont Shore’s Second Street has a dense mix of restaurants, patios, and dessert stops.
- Shoreline Village and Alamitos Bay: Head here when the view matters as much as the meal. Parkers’ Lighthouse, Boathouse on the Bay, Fuego, and Tantalum are established waterfront options.
Note: Restaurant hours, menus, prices, reservation rules, and food-truck locations can change. Check the official website or social account on the day of your visit, especially before making a long drive.
Must-Try Signature Dishes and Where to Find Them
The safest way to choose a signature order is to focus on what each kitchen is known for rather than relying on a dish that may disappear with the season. These picks represent the restaurant’s core style, but current menus should always be checked before visiting.
Signature Dishes by Cuisine
- Cambodian noodles: At Phnom Penh Noodle Shack, order the house-special noodle soup with pork broth or one of the rice porridges. The restaurant has served Long Beach’s Cambodian community since 1985.
- Sinaloa-style tacos: Tacos La Carreta is known for carne asada, chorreadas, and papa loca. Its current official Long Beach location is 3480 E. 69th Street.
- Colombian-inspired fire cooking: Selva’s menu changes, but wood-grilled meats, plantains, and shareable plates are central to the experience.
- Japanese-Peruvian food: Sushi Nikkei combines Japanese seafood technique with Peruvian flavors. Its menu includes items such as tuna tacos, ceviche-style preparations, rolls, and grilled seafood.
- Cambodian-influenced seafood: A&J Seafood Shack is a strong casual choice for garlic shrimp and other seafood plates. Whole shellfish offerings may vary by availability.
- Long Beach baking: Gusto Bread specializes in naturally fermented bread and pan dulce, including creations made with nixtamalized corn masa. San & Wolves focuses on fully vegan Filipino baked goods and ube desserts.
Where to Order Them
| Restaurant | Area | Best Starting Order | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh Noodle Shack | Cambodia Town | House-special noodle soup | Comfort food and casual lunch |
| Tacos La Carreta | North Long Beach | Carne asada chorreada or papa loca | Late-day casual meal |
| Selva | Zaferia | Wood-fired shareable plates | Groups, dates, and cocktails |
| A&J Seafood Shack | Anaheim Street | Garlic shrimp | No-frills seafood |
| Gusto Bread | Retro Row | Pan dulce and naturally leavened bread | Morning stop or takeaway |
Pro Tip: Build a food crawl within one neighborhood. A Retro Row morning can combine Gusto Bread or San & Wolves with nearby coffee and shops, while a Cambodia Town route can pair noodles with seafood or dessert without repeated cross-city drives.
Best Spots for a Special Occasion
Choose a celebration restaurant by the kind of evening you want, not just by price.
- Heritage for a formal tasting: Heritage holds one MICHELIN Star in the 2026 guide and serves a seasonal tasting menu in a Craftsman house in Rose Park. A menu updated July 8, 2026, was listed at $195 per person. The restaurant is reservation-only and generally declines menu modifications, so confirm allergies before paying or booking.
- Selva for a lively group dinner: Its Colombian-inspired, wood-fire menu and shareable format work well for birthdays and friend groups that want cocktails and energy rather than a quiet tasting.
- Olive & Rose for a polished date: The open-air neo-bistro pairs French technique with Californian ingredients. Reservations are recommended because walk-in space is not always available.
- Sushi Nikkei for seafood and conversation: Choose the Bixby Knolls or Belmont Shore location for Japanese-Peruvian dishes in a more relaxed setting than a formal tasting menu.
- Parkers’ Lighthouse or Boathouse on the Bay for a view: These are better choices when marina or harbor scenery is part of the occasion.
Warning: Do not assume a tasting-menu restaurant can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, or allergy-related changes. Heritage states that its fixed, low-waste format limits modifications. Contact the restaurant before booking, not after arriving.
Casual Eats and Neighborhood Favorites
Long Beach’s most useful everyday food stops are often counters, trucks, bakeries, and small dining rooms. Tacos La Carreta is a destination for Sinaloa-style grilled-meat tacos and larger plates such as papa loca. A&J Seafood Shack serves Cambodian-influenced seafood without a formal dining setup. Speak Cheezy brings long-fermented sourdough pizza to Belmont Heights, while Lola’s Mexican Cuisine offers a sit-down option on Retro Row.
For takeaway, Gusto Bread is known for naturally fermented loaves and pan dulce, and San & Wolves gives the neighborhood a fully vegan Filipino bakery. These places are especially useful when you want a strong local meal without committing to a long dinner or a high tasting-menu price.
Seafood and Waterfront Dining Picks
Separate “best seafood” from “best waterfront view,” because the strongest choice may differ by goal. A&J Seafood Shack is a casual seafood pick away from the water, while Sushi Nikkei is better for Japanese-Peruvian seafood. For a true waterfront meal, use Long Beach restaurants that are actually on the harbor or bay.
- Boathouse on the Bay: Marina dining with seafood, sushi, steaks, cocktails, and weekend breakfast.
- Parkers’ Lighthouse: A Shoreline Village restaurant with harbor and Queen Mary views, seafood, steaks, and an upstairs special-occasion dining room.
- Fuego at Hotel Maya: An open-air setting with views toward the Long Beach skyline and Queen Mary, plus Latin American coastal influences.
- Tantalum: An Alamitos Bay option known for a dramatic waterfront setting, cocktails, and Asian-influenced California food.
Request patio or window seating when you reserve, but understand that a reservation does not always guarantee a particular table. Sunset and weekend slots tend to fill first.
International Flavors: Global Eats in Long Beach
Long Beach’s international food is not a side category; it is central to the city’s dining identity. Cambodia Town supports one of the country’s most visible Khmer communities, while Mexican, Colombian, Filipino, Peruvian, Japanese, Thai, and other cuisines shape neighborhoods across the city.
Regional Specialties to Try
- Khmer: Start with Phnom Penh-style noodle soup, rice porridge, grilled beef, or lemongrass-forward dishes at restaurants in and around Cambodia Town.
- Sinaloa: Try mesquite-grilled carne asada, chorreadas, and papa loca at Tacos La Carreta.
- Colombian-inspired: Selva uses a wood-fire grill and a shareable dinner format.
- Japanese-Peruvian: Sushi Nikkei brings together raw seafood, Japanese technique, Peruvian chile, citrus, and sauces.
- Filipino vegan baking: San & Wolves reworks Filipino breads and sweets without dairy or eggs.
Fusion and Flavor Mashups
The best cross-cultural cooking in Long Beach is specific rather than random. It comes from chefs adapting family traditions, local ingredients, and Southern California dining habits. Use this compact map to understand the approach behind each kitchen.
| Restaurant | Culinary Focus | What Defines It |
|---|---|---|
| Selva | Colombian inspiration + California dining | Wood-fire cooking and shareable plates |
| Gusto Bread | Mexican baking traditions + sourdough craft | Pan dulce, long fermentation, and nixtamalized masa |
| Sushi Nikkei | Japanese + Peruvian | Seafood, citrus, chile, and Nikkei technique |
| A&J Seafood Shack | Cambodian flavors + casual seafood | Garlic-forward shellfish and informal service |
Bakeries, Cafes, and Morning Bites
For a bakery-first morning, choose Gusto Bread for sourdough, pan dulce, and coffee, or San & Wolves for vegan Filipino sweets and breads. Both can sell out of popular items, so earlier visits give you a better selection.
For a full sit-down breakfast or brunch, The Breakfast Bar serves breakfast and lunch on Fourth Street and downtown. Alder & Sage is another useful choice for coffee, pastries, and a more complete café meal. A&J Seafood Shack belongs on a lunch or dinner plan rather than a breakfast list because its posted opening time is late morning.
- Choose Gusto Bread for naturally fermented bread and Mexican-inspired pastry.
- Choose San & Wolves for vegan Filipino baked goods.
- Choose The Breakfast Bar when you want a social brunch with cocktails.
- Choose a café such as Alder & Sage when your group wants coffee plus savory breakfast choices.
Where to Drink: Breweries, Bars, and Wine Lists
Long Beach has enough breweries and cocktail bars to plan an evening around one district. Downtown options include ISM Brewing & Kitchen and Altar Society Brewing, while Trademark Brewing has a taproom and outdoor beer garden north of downtown. Beachwood, Belmont Brewing, Ambitious Ales, and other local producers broaden the selection across the city.
For cocktails with dinner, Selva and Olive & Rose both run focused bar programs. For drinks with a view, consider Fuego, Parkers’ Lighthouse, Boathouse on the Bay, or Tantalum. Wine lists and tap lists change often, so avoid planning around one specific bottle or beer unless the venue confirms it.
The simplest Long Beach dining plan is one neighborhood, one main meal, and one nearby bakery, bar, or brewery—not a cross-city checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are reservations required for most Long Beach restaurants?
No. Many casual restaurants, bakeries, taco stands, and noodle shops accept walk-ins. Reserve ahead for Heritage, Olive & Rose, Selva, popular sushi counters, and waterfront restaurants at sunset or on weekends.
Do any Long Beach restaurants offer prix-fixe or tasting menus?
Yes. Heritage serves a seasonal fixed tasting menu and requires reservations. Other restaurants may offer prix-fixe dinners during events or holidays, but those menus are temporary and should be verified on the restaurant’s official site.
Which restaurants offer vegetarian or vegan options?
San & Wolves is a fully vegan Filipino bakery. Many restaurants offer individual vegetarian dishes, but a vegan tasting menu is not guaranteed. Contact fixed-menu restaurants before booking because allergy and dietary modifications may be limited.
Are there family-friendly Long Beach restaurants with kids’ menus?
Yes, especially along Belmont Shore, Shoreline Village, and Alamitos Bay. Kids’ menus vary, so confirm before visiting. Casual pizza, Mexican, breakfast, and waterfront restaurants are generally easier for families than long tasting-menu experiences.
Do Long Beach restaurants use major delivery apps?
Many do, but availability, delivery range, and fees vary. Check the restaurant’s own ordering page first because direct pickup may offer a fresher menu, lower fees, or dishes not listed on third-party apps.
What is the best Long Beach neighborhood for a food crawl?
Retro Row is one of the easiest for walking between bakeries, coffee, pizza, Mexican food, and shops. Cambodia Town is better for a focused Khmer food crawl, while Downtown works well for dinner followed by breweries or cocktails.
Conclusion
Long Beach rewards a focused plan. Pick Cambodia Town for Khmer comfort food, Retro Row for bread and casual stops, Zaferia for a lively dinner, Downtown for restaurants and drinks, or the waterfront for scenery. Book high-demand tables early, verify current menus, and leave room for one unplanned neighborhood find. That approach gives you a better meal—and a better sense of the city—than racing through a list of unrelated restaurants.
Sources
- Visit Long Beach restaurant directory — neighborhood and current restaurant listings.
- MICHELIN Guide: Heritage — Heritage’s 2026 One-Star status and location.
- Heritage official website — current menu format, reservation policy, sustainability approach, and hours.
- Phnom Penh Noodle Shack official website — current location, ordering, and noodle menu.
- Tacos La Carreta official website — current Long Beach address, hours, and core dishes.
- Selva official website — Colombian-inspired menu, wood-fire focus, reservations, and hours.
