Cuisine Scene: Breakfast Burritos
If Long Beach were required to designate an official city dish, many might suggest the humble, yet satisfyingly delicious, breakfast burrito. In the an ongoing debate that will never be resolved, locals champion their favorites and proclaim loyalty to the restaurant/diner/bakery they believe makes the best in town. Join in on this local pastime and try out some of the best local breakfast burritos by visiting these Long Beach restaurants.
TITO’S BAKERY & RESTAURANT
Portions are generous at this local eatery. Tito’s Bakery & Restaurant (1107 E 4th St) serves up their hefty breakfast burritos using house-made flour tortillas filled with eggs, potatoes, refried beans, and your choice of meat (locals recommend bacon and chorizo and the spicy red and green salsas). Don’t forget to hit the ATM before you go: Tito’s is cash only.
THE BREAKFAST BAR
The Breakfast Bar (70 Atlantic Ave) is a popular spot that started with one location downtown and opened a second (3404 E 4th St.) a bit further east a few years later. It has also earned some notable honors: Yelp named it one of the top 15 brunch spots in the country in 2019. Their breakfast burrito is made with scrambled eggs, black beans, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, avocado, and spiced sour cream, plus your choice of meat, and it comes with tortilla chips or a potato pancake.
STEEL CUP CAFE
Opened in 2019, Steel Cup Cafe (2201 Lakewood Blvd, Suite E) prides itself on its made-from-scratch dishes and offers two breakfast burrito options. The “lighter” Early Bird Burrito is made with a choice of meats, including Steel Cup’s house-made breakfast sausage, chorizo, or soyrizo. Alternately, billed as “the granddaddy of all breakfast burritos,” the Brunch Burrito includes house-made chorizo, white cheddar, potatoes, black beans, scrambled eggs, and pico de gallo, all wrapped in a grilled whole wheat tortilla covered with red sauce, avocado, and sour cream.
SALTWATER DECK
Start your day with breakfast steps away from the ocean as you watch morning joggers, roller skaters, and cyclists zipping by. Located on the sand next to the popular biking and walking path, as well as a huge play structure for kids, Saltwater Deck (2630 E Ocean Blvd.) serves a breakfast burrito made with three fried eggs, roasted potatoes, bacon, white cheddar cheese, and a side of house made salsa. They will also turn any burrito into a bowl served with a side salad.
THE LOCAL SPOT
With food served on colorful Fiestaware plates and a menu that offers a wide selection of comforting dishes for breakfast and lunch, The Local Spot (6200 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite B) is a relaxing choice for your weekend brunch. They make a breakfast burrito that focuses on delicious simplicity, with scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, and sausage, served with a side of home fries, refried beans, brown rice, or fruit. Snag a table on the patio for a view of the pond and wetlands across the street.
JERRY’S BREAKFAST PLACE
The title of Best Breakfast Burritos in Long Beach is highly contested, but many locals swear by the burritos at Jerry’s Place (1537 E 4th St). The restaurant is described online as a “greasy spoon,” “hole in the wall,” and “a hidden gem.” The breakfast burritos are made with eggs, cheese, and hashbrowns, with your choice of meat, including a vegan or vegetarian option. No matter your choice, patrons of Jerry’s Place say you should always level up your burrito by adding avocado.