Dining Around the World in Long Beach

We’re still counting, but so far we have found cuisines from 33 countries represented in Long Beach restaurants. This international diversity is thanks to the high concentration of immigrant-owned businesses in Long Beach, giving locals and visitors the chance to take a tour of delicious foods from around the world. Check out some of the global tastes you can experience by visiting these Long Beach restaurants.

PERUVIAN LOMO SALTADO

Journey south to Peru, the third largest country in South America and home to Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains. Peruvian restaurant Casa Chaskis (2380 Santa Fe Ave) is located on Long Beach’s west side with a dog-friendly patio and harvests produce from its onsite vegetable garden to supplement the ingredients in its dishes. Try the lomo saltado, a traditional Peruvian dish of steak sauteed with onions and tomatoes, served over French fries.

PAPAYA SALAD FROM LAOS

Southeast Asian food is ubiquitous in Long Beach, with Cambodian, Thai, and Vietnamese food well represented. It’s less common to find food from Laos, but you can try Laotian dishes at Tasty Food to Go (2015 E 10th St), a family-owned restaurant inside a converted house in central Long Beach. They offer papaya salad in both Thai and Lao versions, with the latter flavored with more pungent fermented ingredients in its sauce. Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias has called this one of his favorite restaurants in his hometown of Long Beach.

BORNEO RICE PLATE FROM INDONESIA

Cross the Pacific Ocean to experience Indonesian cuisine at Uncle Fung Borneo Eatery (5716-A 7th St) in Long Beach. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and part of the Indonesian archipelago. Uncle Fung’s Borneo rice plate is an authentic taste of the region, featuring char siu, Chinese sausage, fried chicken, and a marinated hard-boiled egg served over rice. Bring some bills with you–Uncle Fung is a cash-only restaurant.

SOUTH AFRICAN BILTONG

Food from South Africa often has grilled meat as its centerpiece, with a braai (the South African equivalent of a barbecue) being a common way to cook a feast for a crowd. The Eldo (3014 N Studebaker Rd) is a gastropub named for its proximity to El Dorado Park on the east side of Long Beach. The menu combines American and South African cuisine, with dishes like Boerewors, a South African sausage on a roll, and Durban-style lamb curry offered alongside burgers, steaks, and seafood. One of the selections on the list of appetizers is biltong, described as South African jerky, which originated with the Indigenous people of the region.

TURKISH ICE CREAM

You can visit Turkey–or a Wes Anderson-like version, given its fanciful decor–in Long Beach, home to the first Turkish ice cream shop in the U.S. Galata Ice Cream & Desserts (5201 2nd St) in Belmont Shore serves dondurma, Turkish ice cream made with a thickening ingredient giving it a uniquely stretchy quality and chewy texture. If you’re game, the servers will perform tricks with the cones. Flavors include the traditional chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, as well as those with real fruit–kiwi, lemon, cherry, melon, mango–plus dairy-free options such as black mulberry, cherry, and blackberry.

KOREAN BULGOGI

Continue your journey through Asia with a stop at Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House (621 Atlantic Ave) in Downtown Long Beach. Sura’s menu offers a wide array of Korean classics, from bibimbap and japche to kimchi fried rice and corn cheese, plus fusion and vegan options and the city’s only grill-your-own Korean barbecue. You can’t go wrong with the ribeye bulgogi, marinated in garlic and soy, then thinly sliced and served with a delicious array of banchan, small side dishes including pickled veggies.

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.