The Indulgent Foodie’s Guide to a Weekend In Long Beach

Filling Up On Friday

Lunch at George's Greek Cafe

Mykonos meets Southern California at this well-loved family eatery with multiple Long Beach locations, in Belmont Shore, downtown, Lakewood, and even the Long Beach Airport! Their boast-worthy menu features Classic Greek dishes such as gyro, falafel, and souvlaki as well as George’s creations like saganaki “flaming cheese” – a lightly floured and fried Greek kasseri cheese, flamed at the table with brandy. Make sure to end your meal with one of their delectable baklavas –layered with walnuts, cinnamon, and topped with a honey syrup. While each dish is hearty and mouthwatering, the real treat is meeting the owner, George – who regularly greets customers with a friendly welcome and hugs galore.

Dinner at Boathouse on the Bay

Oceanfront views and cotton candy sunsets can be enjoyed from Long Beach’s famous seaside steak and seafood restaurant, Boathouse on the Bay. At Boathouse on the Bay, or simply “Boathouse” as it’s known by locals, world-renowned executive chef Katsu Nagasawa brings together well-known surf and turf dishes such as filet mignon and shrimp scampi, and adds a California-inspired flare with specialty sushi rolls like The Boathouse roll -- Spicy Tuna, Shrimp Tempura & Cucumber topped with Avocado, Cajun Tuna, Spicy Mayo, Onion & Ponzu Sauce. Enjoy each meal with a glass of wine off of their extensive wine list or take a sip from one of their many hand-crafted cocktails as you watch a famous Southern California sunset from the restaurant’s terrace.

Stuffed On Saturday

Breakfast at The Breakfast Bar

Long Beach’s Breakfast Bar has not only become a spot that locals adore, but it has also become a breakfast institution. Founded by Long Beach locals Josh and Pamela Beadel, The Breakfast Bar is a creative blend of Josh’s experience in the bar and beverage industry met with Pamela’s experience in the restaurant business. Started with the simple idea to bond the community over food and drink, the restaurant prides itself on serving “food like Grandma would cook” which can be accompanied by mimosas, Bloody Mary’s, and craft beer. Chicken and waffle sticks, omelet casseroles, and poached eggs over a potato pancake are a few of the dishes offered to fuel your stomach for a day of exploring the city, or a day of recovering from going out the night before – we won’t judge!

Lunch at The Hangar

Let your appetite take flight at The Hangar – a melting pot of cuisines from all over the world brought together inside of a former Boeing facility where airplanes were once built. This innovative food hall is located at the Long Beach Exchange, and to keep with the aviation theme, it even features a “departures board” when you walk in. Instead of cities the “departures” board, it showcases the hall’s over a dozen locally-owned restaurants, including Bite Mi, a Vietnamese sandwich and spring roll spot, Doner G, an Orange County-based chain known for its Doner Kebab and Doner Saltado, and Bottlecraft, a San Diego-based beer shop and bar that specializes in pouring local and international craft beers.

Dinner at The Attic

Comfort food meets a Southern California twist at The Attic, an eclectic local eatery housed in a historic, 1920’s style home. Their “supper” menu includes full-flavored American comfort fare like chicken pot pie, seafood jambalaya, and shrimp and grits, while also including eclectic So-Cal inspired dishes like “zoodle” pasta – a zucchini noodle pasta with seasonal home-grown California vegetables in a creamy piquillo sauce and the Attic’s famous “flaming mac and Cheetos,” a cheesy concoction with macaroni in a cheddar, mozzarella and jack cheese sauce topped with crushed flaming hot Cheetos. Drooling yet?

Dessert at The Pie Bar

As a Long Beach local who started her journey selling pies from her house, then at farmer’s markets, then at her own brick and mortar store in Downtown Long Beach, Laurie Gray’s “Pie Bar” is one of the city’s most adored eateries and frequently visited by those with a sweet tooth or who crave homemade comfort food. Crafted from Laurie’s own recipes, Pie Bar specializes in sweet and savory pies, always made from scratch with high quality, regional ingredients made in small batches at a time. While each of the pies that the eatery sells are a hit, Laurie says some of Pie Bar’s most popular flavors are Key Lime, Mississippi Mud, Smores, Banana Cream and Chicken Pot Pie.

Snoozing & Sipping On Sunday

Brunch at The Crooked Duck

Sundays are for sleeping in and brunches with family and friends. Luckily – we know just the place! Located right off of the Pacific Highway, The Crooked Duck is a local breakfast and brunch hub in Long Beach that serves brunch until 3 PM – so hitting snooze one too many times on your alarm clock doesn’t mean you have to skip out on brunch!

While each of the classic brunch fare dishes is full-bodied and flavorsome, it’s the hospitality at the Crooked Duck that gives it the honor from locals as “a gem of Long Beach”. Come for an easy-going vibe and made-to-order breakfast dishes from their egg-heavy menu, like the Crooked Duck omelet – made with duck chili and jack cheese. Patrons can also enjoy their many brunch drinks, sold by the glass and the pitcher – we recommend the Crooked Duck Mango Mimosa made with mango nectar and champagne!

Lunch at Lola’s Mexican Cuisine

With dishes as vibrant and exciting as the ambiance, Lola’s Mexican Cuisine brings a traditional Mexican cantina flare to an upbeat, modern setting. Made with the freshest ingredients from both California and south of the border, Lola’s seasonal menu changes based on the availability of produce. The eatery calls itself “the perfect blend of traditional and new contemporary,” which can be seen in some of their signature menu picks. Well-loved dishes like queso fundido and elote meet platters with innovative twists like butternut squash enchiladas, halibut mango ceviche, and jalapeno-infused, bacon-wrapped scallops for a true California-style Mexican fusion experience.

Dinner at SteelCraft

Even the pickiest of eaters can satisfy their cravings at SteelCraft, Long Beach’s outdoor food-hall which features a variety of vendors serving a diverse array of cuisines from ramen to pizza to barbeque and waffles. With popular vendors like Waffle Love and Desano Pizza, the outdoor food space has something for all taste palettes.

SteelCraft, which opened in February of 2017 also hosts fun events like beer & yoga, live music nights, and game-day watch parties. Check out their events calendar here to see what’s happening during your visit.

Hungry, yet? Make sure to leave room for seconds during your foodie weekend in Long Beach! For activities beyond the restaurants, be sure to visit our calendar of events to see what’s happening when you’re in town. If you’re looking to soak up the sun and enjoy the best of Long Beach in the summertime – here are our top recs!