A Cheese-Lover's Guide to Long Beach
Long Beach is cheesy in the very best way, offering specialty shops brimming with artisan wheels and restaurants serving signature dishes oozing with gooey greatness. From grab-and-go charcuterie to flambéed saganaki–OPA!–these spots celebrate cheese in every form. So whether you’re hunting for rare European imports, California creations or crave a decadent mac and cheese icon, dig into Long Beach’s grate-ness!
FIOR DI LATTE
Located inside The Hangar food hall at Long Beach Exchange, Fior Di Latte (4150 McGowen St, Suite 8) is a boutique cheese studio highlighting award-winning California artisan cheeses in its charcuterie boxes and boards. Selections include triple-crème cheeses, craft-beer cheddar from Modesto, soft-ripened espresso-laced cheese from Sebastopol, as well as rotating international varieties, paired with cured meats, fruit, nuts and crackers.
GEORGES ON SECOND
George’s Greek Cafe (5316 E 2nd St) serves a signature saganaki that is as much a celebration as it is an appetizer. In George’s lively and inviting dining room, kasseri cheese is fried until golden, splashed with brandy and flambéed tableside to enthusiastic cries of “opa!” The result is gooey, savory and irresistible—perfect with warm pita and a glass of wine or beer and best enjoyed among friends in the restaurant’s warm atmosphere.
DOMENICO’S
Domenico's (5339 2nd St) in Belmont Shore is Long Beach’s oldest restaurant, and one of its most celebrated dishes is its mozzarella logs. Crisp on the outside with a gooey, molten center and an irresistible cheese pull, they are literally logs of cheese. Served with the restaurant’s housemade marinara, the logs have been a favorite appetizer for decades and pair perfectly with a glass of wine or beer and Domenico’s classic Italian menu.
THE ATTIC
Deliciously simple yet deviously addictive, the Mac & Cheetos dish at The Attic (3441 E. Broadway) is one of the city’s most popular and recognizable cheesy creations. Housemade pasta is coated in creamy cheddar, mozzarella and jack cheese sauces, then topped with crumbled Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and green onions. Though often served as an appetizer, you can add bacon, fried chicken, chorizo or crab to make it a fantastic, unforgettable entrée.
OH LA VACHE
Beloved Retro Row cheese shop Oh La Vache (2112 E 4th St) features an ever-rotating selection of more than 100 artisan cheeses, from creamy brie and aged gouda to sharp cheddars and bold European imports like Red Dragon—all cut to order with no minimums. Pair your picks with imported cured meats, house-pickled vegetables and gourmet pantry items, or grab a sandwich like Turkey Pesto & Provolone, Prosciutto, Comté & Jam, etc. Join its Cheese of the Month Club to discover new favorites.
THE VINTAGE LBC
The Vintage LBC (4236 Atlantic Ave) in Bixby Knolls is a gourmet cheese-focused bistro. Its menu features European-inspired, cheese-centric small plates, sandwiches, flatbreads, salads and rotating cheese flights, plus custom charcuterie boards. Guests can pair cheeses with natural wines, beer, cider or hard kombucha on tap. Join tastings or classes, or shop a global selection of cheeses, charcuterie, crackers, baguettes, and gourmet groceries including custom stacked cheese “cakes” for events.
