Guide to Long Beach Food Pop-Ups
Some of the most exciting food in Long Beach is being served not at tables inside a sit-down restaurant, but on the streets, at festivals, next to breweries, and at farmers markets. Food pop-ups are not just a viral social media trend–they’re a way for budding culinary talent to reach the community and for breweries and coffee shops to pair a food option with their beverages. Follow these popular pop-ups to taste the flavors of Vibe City.
GLIZZY STREET
A bacon-wrapped hot dog with grilled peppers and onions is a quintessential SoCal street dish. In Long Beach, a pair of enterprising teenage twin brothers took the idea and ran with it, creating a small business that went viral on social media in just one week. Chazz and Chaze Clemons started Glizzy Street with a single hot dog cart posted at their parents’ gas station and have since become one of the city’s most popular food vendors. You can find them Tuesday through Sunday at Partake Collective (456 Elm Ave) or popping up at special events across the city.
UNFORGETTABLE LEMONADE
Unforgettable Lemonade is a Long Beach-based gourmet lemonade business offering catering services as well as popping up at events across Southern California. Their handcrafted lemonades are made with seasonal fresh fruits, herbs, and specialty blends, providing a refreshing sip at music and art festivals, vendor fairs and other community events. If flavors like pineapple splash, watermelon dream, fiery lemon, and peach paradise call to you, follow Unforgettable Lemonade on Instagram (@unforgettablelemonade2012) to see where you can find them next.
LOQUAT OYSTERS
Founded in 2024 by Long Beach natives Lucky and Liz Huon, Loquat Oysters is a mobile oyster truck and Asian fusion catering outfit that can be found every Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Bixby Park Farmers Market (130 Cherry Ave). Step right up to the oyster bar to enjoy these freshly shucked treats raw or hot off the grill and topped with creative dressings highlighting flavors of spicy miso, yuzu, scallion, wasabi and more. They also pop up at restaurants around Long Beach, like Alder & Sage (366 Cherry Ave), Midnight Oil (255 Long Beach Blvd), Speak Cheezy (3950 E 4th St), and others. Follow them on Instagram (@loquatoysters) for updates.
Breakfast Dreams
If breakfast sammies are your jam, seek out Breakfast Dreams, a pop-up that celebrates what many call the best meal of the day. Born out of the pandemic and inspired by smash burgers, each sandwich is made with love, and an iconic fried egg oozing from the middle. This is what (breakfast) dreams are made of. Visit their Instagram account (@breakfast_dreams) and check their bio for upcoming weekend pop-up dates.
Hamburgers Nice
Some have sugar, some have spice, but either way, these burgers are everything nice! Whether you're looking for one of their famous breakfast burgers, made with a donut for a bun, or one of their more traditional burgers, you can't go wrong with Hamburgers Nice. The pop-up can be found at local brewery taprooms like Ambitious Ales and Everywhere on Retro Row, but visit their IG bio (@hamburgersnice) for their most up-to-date schedule.
TERRIBLE BURGER
Terrible Burger is a Long Beach-based craft burger pop-up and a fixture at Midnight Oil (255 Long Beach Blvd), where they take over the kitchen every Tuesday at 5 PM for Terrible Tuesdays, which also feature happy hour drink specials and DJ sets. They also visit Alex’s Bar, Ambitious Ales, Everywhere on Retro Row, and more, serving their signature smash burgers, chicken sandos, and loaded fries. Follow them on Instagram (@terrible_burger) for upcoming pop-ups or visit their website to see their monthly schedule.
Flaccos Tacos
Are their burritos the biggest in Long Beach? The answer is debatable, but Flaccos Tacos is beloved for their massive cheese-crusted burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. Find this pop up in front of Casa (1930 E 4th St) on Retro Row on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Check out their Instagram (@flaccostacos) to get a visual on your next food coma-inducing meal.
Cafablanca
Cafablanca is a donation-based, social justice-inspired mobile espresso cart that started as a catering business for the film and TV industry and began popping up around Long Beach during the pandemic. Grab an Italian espresso drink, hot chocolate, or loose leaf tea and share the good vibes with the baristas. They currently don't have a set pop-up schedule, but their favorite places to set up are f/8 Studios (3764 Orange Ave) in the California Heights neighborhood and Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave). Look for the charming yellow three-wheeled auto-richshaw with a palm frond umbrella on top.