Top 10 Places to Dine in Long Beach

I've been selling things my whole adult life—25 years of closing deals, reading rooms, and watching what makes people open their wallets or walk away. But nothing taught me more about value than a bowl of noodles in a strip mall on Cherry Avenue. That's the thing about Long Beach: it feeds you lessons you didn't know you needed.

The city is a contradiction that works. A working waterfront, the largest Cambodian community in the United States, a historic Italian row in Naples, and a string of independent kitchens along Retro Row and Bixby Knolls—all crammed into one scrappy coastal town. And the restaurants?

They're not just places to eat. They're case studies in what happens when a city refuses to be one thing.

*"The best plate for your dollar in Long Beach is a $7 bowl of Phnom Penh noodle soup from a family-run shack that's been there since 1985."*

Let me walk you through the ten I'd bet my commission on. These are all real, currently operating restaurants, sorted so you can match a craving and a budget fast. Each one flags the cuisine, the rough price tier, the neighborhood, and who it suits best—all open and bookable in 2026-2027.

1. Michael's on Naples Ristorante — my Best Overall pick. Italian, $$$, on Naples Island.

It's been the go-to for polished Italian dinners since 2007, and the rooftop terrace is one of the better outdoor dining perches in the city. House-made pastas, wood-grilled proteins, a deep Italian-heavy wine list. The safest single booking when the night actually matters: an anniversary, a milestone, or visiting family you want to impress.

Service is attentive without being stiff. The con? It's among the pricier rooms in Long Beach, and reservations are recommended on weekends.

But for a special-occasion dinner, it's the most complete in town.

2. Phnom Penh Noodle Shack — my Best Value. Cambodian, $, on Cherry Avenue in Cambodia Town.

A Long Beach institution since 1985. The signature Phnom Penh noodle soup is the order most regulars steer you toward, but the menu runs deep into curries, stir-fries, and rice plates. Family-run, unpretentious, and astonishingly cheap for the quality.

Cash-friendly, casual setting—not a date-night room. Lines at peak hours on weekends. But this is the one meal that explains why Long Beach matters on the national food map.

Best plate-for-your-dollar in the city.

3. Roe Seafood — Seafood, $$$, on Broadway in Alamitos Beach. Grew out of a beloved fish market into a full restaurant.

The through-line is freshness—a raw bar built around oysters, ceviche, and crudo, plus grilled and pan-seared catches that change with what comes in. Bright, casual-coastal setting. Strong cocktail and wine options.

Seafood pricing can climb at the top of the menu, and it's popular, so book ahead on weekends. But it's Long Beach's most dependable spot for fresh local seafood.

4. Heritage Restaurant — Modern American, $$$, on Pacific Avenue in Wrigley. The most ambitious cooking in the neighborhood, a chef-driven room from Philip Pretty serving a frequently changing seasonal menu of refined small and large plates.

They also run the adjacent Olive & Rose bistro. This is where serious Long Beach diners go when they want creativity on the plate rather than a familiar classic. Portions are composed and thoughtful, the wine program is considered, and the space feels personal rather than corporate.

Higher price point for the tasting-leaning format, and the smaller room means limited seating. But it's the most ambitious, creative kitchen in Long Beach.

5. 555 East American Steakhouse — Steakhouse, $$$$, in the East Village Arts District. The city's enduring old-school steakhouse—dark wood, leather booths, dry-aged cuts, and a serious wine cellar. It has held down the neighborhood for decades and remains the default for a big celebratory steak night.

Dry-aged and prime cuts done classically, extensive wine cellar and full bar, clubby special-occasion atmosphere, and a long track record of consistency. Top-tier steakhouse pricing, and the menu is traditional rather than inventive. But it's the go-to for a classic Long Beach steak dinner.

6. L'Opera Ristorante — Italian, $$$, on Pine Avenue downtown. Housed in a historic 1924 bank building, it brings a grander, more formal Italian feel to downtown.

High ceilings, white linens, and a Northern-Italian-leaning menu of pastas and seafood. Reliable downtown date-night and pre-show option, pairs well with a night out near the Convention Center or the Pine corridor. The room itself is part of the draw.

Here's the thing I've learned in 25 years of CRO work: the best deals aren't the most expensive ones. They're the ones where the value is so clear, the customer doesn't need to think twice. Phnom Penh Noodle Shack is that. Michael's on Naples is that for a different occasion. And every restaurant on this list has its own version of that clarity.

So go. Eat. Learn what value actually tastes like. And when you're ready to apply those same principles to your business, you know where to find me—at PULSE or CRO Syndicate, where we turn appetite into strategy.

*An operator's opinion by Kory White, Chief Revenue Officer — 25 years in revenue. More at PULSE · CRO Syndicate*