Where to Eat in Long Beach: The Best Restaurants (2026)

Nestled along the waterfront in Long Beach, Shoreline Village offers a lively boardwalk experience where dining and shopping meet stunning harbor views. This charming outdoor complex sits right on the water at 429 Shoreline Village Dr, giving visitors a picturesque backdrop of sailboats, the Queen Mary, and downtown Long Beach's skyline. It's less a single restaurant and more a collection of eateries and shops woven together by a wooden boardwalk, making it an ideal stop for those wanting variety without straying far from the marina breeze.

The dining options span a wide range of styles, from casual seafood shacks to sweet treats and classic American fare. Visitors often gravitate toward fresh clam chowder served in a bread bowl, fish and chips with a view of the water, and soft-serve or saltwater taffy from the old-fashioned candy shops that anchor the village's nostalgic charm. Grabbing a quick bite from one vendor and dessert from another is a common and encouraged way to experience the variety here.

The atmosphere leans casual and family-friendly, with weathered wood architecture, string lights, and open-air seating that captures a beachy, nautical charm reminiscent of a small coastal town. Benches and patio tables line the boardwalk, offering unobstructed views of the harbor, while street performers and passing bicycles add to the lively, laid-back energy. It's an easy place to wander, snack, and people-watch without feeling rushed.

Shoreline Village is best suited for casual outings, think family afternoons, tourist visits, or a relaxed evening stroll paired with dinner and dessert. It's a great stop before or after a Queen Mary tour, an Aquarium of the Pacific visit, or simply a sunset walk along the water. Diners looking for a low-key, scenic spot to eat without committing to a formal restaurant experience will find plenty to enjoy here.

Perched right along Shoreline Village Drive with sweeping views of the Long Beach waterfront, Parkers' Lighthouse has long stood as a landmark dining destination in the harbor district. Housed in a distinctive lighthouse-shaped building, the restaurant offers a scenic backdrop of bobbing sailboats, the Queen Mary in the distance, and the lively energy of the marina. It's the kind of place where a meal feels like an occasion, whether visitors are stopping in after a stroll along the waterfront or planning a dedicated night out on the town.

The menu leans heavily into fresh seafood paired with classic American bar fare, giving diners plenty of options depending on their mood. Signature offerings include a variety of preparations of fresh catch, hearty seafood platters, and a well-stocked raw bar for those craving something lighter and briny. Non-seafood lovers aren't left out either, with steaks and other American classics rounding out the menu. Many regulars recommend starting with something from the appetizer list before moving into one of the seafood entrees the kitchen is known for.

Inside, the atmosphere balances nautical charm with an upscale, polished feel. Large windows and outdoor seating areas maximize the waterfront views, while the interior decor nods to the building's lighthouse identity with wood accents and maritime touches. The bar area tends to draw a lively crowd, especially during golden hour, while the dining room offers a slightly more subdued setting for those looking to linger over a meal.

Parkers' Lighthouse is well suited for celebratory dinners, date nights, or gatherings with out-of-town guests who want a taste of Long Beach's waterfront dining scene. The combination of the view, the seafood-forward menu, and the lively bar scene makes it a versatile stop for visitors looking for a memorable meal with a side of scenery. Whether the goal is a quiet dinner or a livelier evening at the bar, this Long Beach institution delivers a solid dining experience with a view that's hard to beat.

Tucked along Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, Jongewaard's Bake n Broil has been a neighborhood fixture for generations, blending an old-school bakery counter with a full-service diner experience. It's the kind of place where the smell of fresh bread and pastries greets diners at the door, setting the tone for a meal that feels rooted in tradition. For visitors exploring Long Beach, it offers a genuine slice of local life away from the more touristy corridors, a spot where regulars and newcomers alike settle into the same worn booths.

The menu leans into classic American comfort food with a strong bakery influence running through it. Breakfast is a highlight, with hearty egg plates, griddle favorites, and daily-baked bread that elevates even a simple order of toast. Sandwiches built on house-made bread are a lunchtime staple, while the bakery case tempts diners with pies, cookies, and other treats worth taking home. First-timers are often steered toward whatever fresh pie is available that day, a nod to the restaurant's baking roots.

Inside, the atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming, with diner-style seating, casual decor, and a steady hum of conversation that suggests a loyal customer base. It's not a place chasing trends; instead, it leans into comfort, familiarity, and consistency, which is part of its long-running appeal. The bakery counter up front adds a warm, homey touch, letting diners browse baked goods while waiting for a table.

Jongewaard's Bake n Broil is well suited for a relaxed breakfast or lunch, whether visitors are grabbing a quick bite before exploring Long Beach or settling in for a full sit-down meal. It works equally well for solo diners looking for a quiet counter seat or families needing a casual, no-fuss meal. For anyone wanting a taste of Long Beach's everyday dining culture, this bakery-diner hybrid delivers a comforting, satisfying stop.

Tucked along the sparkling waters of Alamitos Bay, Schooner Or Later has become a beloved fixture in Long Beach's Naples neighborhood, drawing crowds who don't mind a wait for one of the best waterfront brunch experiences in Greater Los Angeles. Situated right on Marina Drive with views of bobbing sailboats and gliding gondolas, this casual eatery offers a refreshing escape from the city bustle, blending classic American comfort food with a laid-back beach town feel that keeps both neighborhood regulars and out-of-town visitors coming back.

The menu leans heavily into hearty breakfast and lunch classics, with generous sandwiches, fluffy omelets, and griddle favorites taking center stage. Diners often rave about the corned beef hash, thick-cut French toast, and the build-your-own omelet options that come loaded with fresh ingredients. Sandwich lovers will find plenty to love too, from classic clubs to specialty melts, all served in portions substantial enough to justify the occasional wait. The coffee flows freely, making this an ideal spot to linger over a leisurely morning meal.

The atmosphere strikes a comfortable, unpretentious balance between a neighborhood diner and a nautical-themed hangout. Wood paneling, boat memorabilia, and large windows overlooking the marina create a cheerful, sunlit dining room, while the patio seating lets visitors soak in the sea breeze and watch paddleboarders drift by. Tables fill quickly on weekends, and the energetic hum of conversation adds to the welcoming, communal vibe that longtime patrons have come to cherish.

Schooner Or Later is best suited for lazy weekend mornings, casual catch-ups with friends, or family outings where kids can watch boats while parents enjoy a proper cup of coffee. It's not a place for a quiet, romantic dinner, but rather a spot to soak up Long Beach's laid-back coastal charm alongside a satisfying, no-fuss meal. Visitors exploring Naples Island or strolling the canals would do well to make this a stop on their itinerary.

Tucked along Anaheim Street in Long Beach's Zaferia District, Joe Jost's has been pouring drinks and slinging sandwiches since 1924, making it one of the oldest continuously operating bars in Southern California. This unassuming neighborhood tavern has become a Long Beach institution, drawing everyone from longtime locals to curious visitors who've heard tales of its legendary atmosphere. The bar's longevity speaks to something increasingly rare: an authentic, unpretentious gathering place where the focus stays on good drinks, solid food, and genuine conversation.

The menu centers on simple, satisfying bar fare that has changed little over the decades. The Joe's Special sandwich, a hearty combination of grilled ham and cheese, remains the signature order that regulars swear by. The pickled eggs and pickled sausages, served straight from giant jars behind the bar, offer an old-school snack that pairs perfectly with a cold beer. Diners looking for something more substantial can order the polish sausage sandwiches, while the extensive beer selection gives visitors plenty of options to accompany their meal.

Tantalum sits in the fusion lane that Long Beach's downtown and waterfront corridor has room for, a menu built for sharing rather than a single regional through-line. The truffle fries function as the room's calling card, a bar snack dressed up enough to anchor a table before anything else arrives, and their presence at the top of the order pattern says the kitchen understands that a fusion menu lives or dies on a few dishes people order without thinking. The ahi poke tacos follow the same logic: poke, a Hawaiian-by-way-of-LA staple that has become a citywide shorthand for casual raw fish, folded into a taco shell so it reads as an appetizer rather than a composed dish. Miso glazed salmon closes the loop, a Japanese-inflected preparation built for the entree slot on a date night menu, the kind of dish that reads as familiar to a broad table without demanding any specific regional literacy from the diner.

None of this asks to be filed under a single cuisine, and that is the point. This is not an SGV regional-Chinese room or a Koreatown banchan house; it is a Long Beach fusion kitchen built around a waterfront setting and a room that reads as modern rather than a strip mall counter. The service pattern that comes through, front of house handling a table well and a server working the floor with some polish, matters more here than menu depth, because the room is selling an evening out as much as it is selling any one dish. Moderate pricing puts it in range for a casual gathering with friends or a date night without tipping into special occasion territory, and the location works for a pre or post movie stop given its proximity to other downtown Long Beach evening plans.

Tantalum is not trying to out cook Cambodia Town or the harbor seafood houses that define Long Beach's deeper food map. It is filling a different slot: a reliable, good looking room for a group that wants truffle fries and a salmon plate without a reservation fight or a lecture on regional technique.

AMMATOLI treats brunch as an excuse for mezza, and that reordering says something about where Mediterranean food is heading in Long Beach. The hummus platter and the grilled halloumi are not sides here so much as the point of the meal, the kind of order that turns a table into a shared plate situation rather than a single entree apiece. The shakshuka anchors the rest, the one true brunch dish on a menu otherwise built around dips, spreads, and bread, and its presence signals a kitchen willing to let North African and Levantine plates sit comfortably next to each other rather than forcing a single national identity onto the menu. The bread program gets specific attention in how the room talks about itself: pita baked fresh through the day, treated as a reason to return rather than an afterthought basket.

That is a small operational choice with a real effect, since it turns the mezza platter into something closer to a centerpiece than a starter. The neighborhood context matters too. Long Beach's downtown corridor has plenty of competition for the weekend stroll crowd, and a room that wins on salad and mezza execution rather than a single flashy plate is playing a different game than the brunch spots leaning on one signature stack of pancakes. Pricing sits in the moderate range, which puts AMMATOLI in reach for a group meal or a family gathering without it reading as a splurge, and that positions it squarely for the casual, unhurried version of brunch, the kind meant to be shared across a table rather than eaten quickly and left.

Service comes up often in how people describe the room, with individual servers getting singled out by name, which suggests a front of house that has built some continuity and familiarity with its regulars. That kind of repeat, recognized service is usually what turns a decent brunch stop into a neighborhood habit.

Tucked along Atlantic Boulevard in Long Beach, Polly's Pies Restaurant & Bakery has long served as a neighborhood anchor for diners craving classic American comfort food without pretense. This all-day bakery-restaurant hybrid draws a steady mix of families, retirees, and regulars who appreciate a reliable spot where the coffee is always hot and the pie case is always full. It's the kind of place that feels like it's been part of the community for decades, offering a straightforward, unfussy dining experience in a city full of trendier options.

The menu leans heavily into hearty American breakfast and comfort classics, with a rotating selection of over 20 varieties of made-from-scratch pies serving as the true signature. Diners flock here for the fluffy buttermilk pancakes, the loaded omelets, and generous portions of chicken pot pie that taste like a home-cooked meal. Lunch and dinner options include pot roast, meatloaf, and club sandwiches, but it's the pie case near the entrance, stocked with banana cream, apple, and seasonal fruit varieties, that keeps visitors coming back for a slice to go.

Inside, the atmosphere is casual and homey, with warm lighting, comfortable booth seating, and a layout that comfortably accommodates families, solo diners, and larger groups alike. The bakery counter near the front adds a welcoming touch, filling the space with the smell of fresh pastries as guests walk in. It's not fancy or trend-driven decor, it's practical, clean, and geared toward comfort rather than style, which suits its role as a dependable neighborhood diner.

Polly's Pies is best suited for casual breakfasts, weekend brunches with family, or a quick, satisfying lunch that doesn't require reservations or fuss. It's an easy choice for visitors seeking a nostalgic, no-frills meal in Long Beach, whether that means starting the day with pancakes or ending it with a slice of pie to share. For diners who value consistency and comfort over culinary innovation, this bakery-restaurant remains a solid, welcoming option.