Not-So Secret Menu Items in Long Beach

There is much about the Long Beach food scene that is rightfully renowned, but locals know there is another side to local dining, one where some of the well-known restaurants serve delightfully surprising and sought after dishes–kale concoctions, hangover cures, sticky birds. Here’s a short list of hidden gems regularly savored by regulars.

BREAKFAST BUNS, I LUV UR BUNS

Utilizing everything from hot chicken to chimichurri to caramelized bananas, I Luv Ur Buns (3768 Long Beach Blvd #105), located within Steelcraft food court, is celebrated for its creative take on steamed buns. But some of its biggest fans don’t know that I Luv Ur Buns serves breakfast every day from 8 to 11AM. There are 10 different delicious items ranging from Tart Berry (French toast-battered, graham cracker-crusted, deep-fried bao, sweet cream cheese, blueberries) to the Sticky Bird (deep-fried bao, powdered sugar, cornflake-crusted fried chicken breast and syrup).

CREDIT: I Luv Ur Buns

CREAMED SPINACH, RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE

Ruth’s Chris Steak House (180 E Ocean Blvd) is arguably the nation's most famous steakhouse, renowned for serving award-winning, USDA Prime steak sizzling on a 500-degree plate. If you’ve never been, our condolences, and know that as beloved as its steak is Ruth’s creamed spinach, a signature dish with a creamy texture, buttery taste, with subtle tanginess, that pairs wonderfully with steak and creates the kind of experience many people like to recreate as much as possible.

VEGAN HANGOVER RAMEN, SURA KOREAN BBQ & TOFU HOUSE

While dining at Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House (621 Atlantic Ave.), described as Long Beach’s steward of Korean cuisine, it might be a bit jarring and unexpected to find a purported cure for a jarring night out. What exactly qualifies this as a hangover cure isn’t clear, but you don’t have to be suffering from one to appreciate the layered flavors of one of Sura’s most popular dishes. It’s filled with all manner of veggies–mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onion, etc–with lots and lots of yummy noodles and the option to include a vegan fried egg.

CREDIT: Sura KBBQ & Tofu House

WHITE BEAN CHILI, CRACK

Burgers are the stars at Crack (6180 Bixby Village Dr) which, in the span of just a few years, has established itself as producing some of the best in Southern California. Those who journey to the eatery, located at the Bixby Village Golf Course, soon discover that equally satisfying is its roster of great sides like Apple Pie BBQ Beans, Sweet Pineapple Coleslaw and perhaps most popular of all, a White Bean Chicken Chili that can compliment your burger and is good enough to stand on its own.

KALE SALAD, THE WIN-DOW

Perhaps the last thing you’d expect to find and/or love at a place like The Win-Dow (4600 2nd St) is a salad, let alone a kale salad. But this place, so renowned for its meat (burgers) and potato (French Fries) menu that folks gladly stand in line, makes a shaved kale salad that has people waiting to order as well. Leafy kale is combined with sharp black pepper, pecorino cheese and crispy croutons dressed with a lemony sweet vinaigrette.

About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.