Cuisine Scene: Bread
Long Beach is in the midst of a full-on breadaissance—a bread renaissance powered by passionate bakers, long-fermented doughs, and a deep respect for grain. Across the city, new-wave bakeries are hand-shaping loaves with wild starters, whole grains, and old-world techniques. Whether it’s crusty sourdough, bolillos, or corn-infused creations, these bakers are raising the bar—and the bread. Here are five standout spots leading Long Beach’s bread revival.
COLOSSUS BREAD
At Colossus Bread (4716 2nd Street) you’ll find rustic, chef‑driven loaves that emphasize whole‑grain flours, long fermentation and seasonal add‑ins. Colossus uses high‑hydration doughs and classic European shaping to craft sourdoughs, levain loaves with walnuts and cranberries, an olive‑levain with cumin seed, and country loaves scattered with sesame or sunflower flax. The result is bread lauded for its character, texture and flavor.
HEY BROTHER BAKER
Hey Brother Baker began as a small-batch garage project and built a loyal following with its well-fermented, bread-forward loaves—ciabatta, baguettes, country levain and alpine rye. Known for clean flavors, chew, and crust, their breads are used by some of the city’s best eateries–Heritage, Alder & Sage, etc. Available at multiple farmers markets–Bixby Park (Tuesday, 3-7 PM), Fourth Street (Thursday, 8 AM-12 PM), Bixby Knolls (Thursday 3-7 PM) as well at company headquarters (3929 Anaheim St) on Wednesday from 2-6 PM.
NONNA MERCATO
Located in Bixby Knolls, Nonna Mercato (3722 Atlantic Ave) is an artisan bakery and pasta maker that blends French and Italian baking traditions into its naturally‑leavened breads. Their philosophy centers on sourcing excellent organic and sustainable grains, hand‑shaping every loaf and letting the grain speak. Breads range from classic sourdoughs to baguettes, brioche, sunflower and rosemary loaves and and more, all rooted in craftsmanship.
DAILY BREAD BAKERY
Daily Bread Bakery (6084 Atlantic Ave) is a clean, unpretentious spot known for freshly baked, dependable loaves and Mexican-style breads made daily with high-quality ingredients. While less niche-artisan than some, it delivers consistent quality and flavor without fuss. A standout is the bolillo — a savory, baguette-like bread that's shorter in length and deeply satisfying. You'll also find a colorful variety of Mexican sweet breads, all crafted to exacting standards.
GUSTO BREAD
At Gusto Bread (2710 E 4th Street), bread is a statement—wild-fermented masa madre sourdough made with stone-milled flour and sometimes nixtamalized corn masa. Their signature California Loaf features a thick crust, open crumb, 30-plus hour fermentation, and minimal salt, while Latin-inspired sweet loaves showcase tradition and innovation. A two-time James Beard finalist for Outstanding Bakery, Gusto earned its first nod in 2024 and is once again in the running for the prestigious medal in 2025.
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