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Lone Star
The Top List of Best Buy Restaurants - Long Beach, CA
by Amanda Knoles
Enjoying a memorable meal in Long Beach doesn’t mean you have to empty your wallet. From a Texas-themed steakhouse and a serene Thai restaurant to a 24-hour café and Irish pub, there are plenty of places to satisfy your cravings at reasonable prices.
LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE
6575 East Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, CA
(562) 594-8999
Hours: (Sun-Thu) 11am-10pm;
(Fri-Sat) 11am-11pm
Cuisine Type: American
Located in the Marketplace Shopping Center just a few blocks from the Long Beach Marina, this family-friendly steakhouse features a down-home atmosphere with wood floors, a brick fireplace and lots of kitschy Texas memorabilia on the walls.
Specialties are affordably priced mesquite-grilled steak, barbecued ribs, and slow-roasted prime rib. Entrees and combo meals come with a huge lettuce wedge slathered in bleu cheese dressing, your choice of a loaded baked potato, cinnamon and brown sugar glazed sweet potato, or steak fries and all-you-can-eat home-baked dinner rolls. The big enough for sharing Texas Trio includes a generous sirloin steak, a barbecued chicken breast and crispy fried shrimp for $15.99. Several steak and rib entrees can be upgraded with fried shrimp for only $1.99, or add one-half pound of king crab legs or a grilled lobster tail for only $9. Trail lunches featuring gourmet burgers, steak sandwiches and a variety of salads range from $6.99-$9.99, or enjoy a meaty bowl of chili or steak soup for only $3.99. Two children (12 and under) eat free from the kids’ menu with the purchase of one adult entrée all day Tuesday and on Saturday from 11am-4pm. If you can find room for dessert, key lime pie, freshly baked fruit cobblers and New York style cheesecake are $3.99.
Estimated Cost Per Person For Dinner: $15-$30
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Closed.
SHOREHOUSE CAFÉ
5271 East Second Street
Long Beach, CA
(562) 433-2266
Hours: Daily: 24 hours
Cuisine Type: American
Situated in the heart of Belmont Shore, this legendary Long Beach family restaurant offers comfy booths and tables indoors and a few sidewalk tables for those who like to people watch. The affordably priced menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner fare includes a wide variety of American, Italian and Mexican dishes. Breakfast is served all day featuring several omelettes, pancakes and French toast as well as huevos rancheros. Lunch and dinner favorites are the burgers, reuben sandwiches and generous cobb salad. There are also several hot entrees to choose from including chicken fried steak, meat loaf, pasta and carne asada.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $10-$15
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
CAFÉ BIXBY AND PIZZA
3900 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA
(562) 427-2233
Hours: (Daily) 6am-10pm
Cuisine Type: American, Greek, Italian
Although this neighborhood eatery in the Bixby Knolls area was devastated by fire a few years ago, the owners rebuilt and it’s now more popular than ever. Offering a roomy counter, comfortable booths and a back room for large parties and banquets, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a homey atmosphere with friendly and attentive service. The extensive menu includes inexpensive and generous portions of American, Greek, Italian and Mexican dishes plus a selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and gourmet pizzas. Rotating daily specials include moussaka, lamb chops, eggplant parmesan, ravioli, meat loaf, and homemade soup.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $12-$15
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
THE PROSPECTOR
2400 East Seventh Street
Long Beach, CA
(562) 438-3839
Hours: Breakfast: (Mon-Fri) 11am-2pm; (Sat-Sun) 8am-2pm; Lunch: (Daily) 11am-3pm; Dinner: (Mon-Thu) 4-10pm; (Fri-Sat) 4-11pm; (Sun) 4-10pm; Bar: (Daily) 11am-2am
Cuisine Type: American
Founded in 1965 and decorated in a Gold Rush theme, this locals’ hangout specializes in reasonably priced steak dinners for those with truck driver appetites. Daily specials like prime rib, filet mignon and Yankee pot roast come with a complementary tray of vegetable and relish appetizers, fresh salad, soup, baked potato, garlic toast and dessert for under $12. Other lunch and dinner specialties include steak and seafood combos, grilled halibut, and French dip sandwiches. Breakfast offers hearty servings of ham and eggs, pancakes and corned beef hash. A separate bar and entertainment area features daily Happy Hour (4-6pm), karaoke on Wednesday and Friday nights, and an eclectic array of live entertainers on Thursday and Saturday.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $14-$25
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
BUONA GENTE
5205 East Second Street
Long Beach, CA
(562) 438-8763
Hours: (Daily) 11am-10pm
Cuisine Type: Italian
Tucked among the rows of shops in Belmont Shore, this small Italian restaurant features an unpretentious dining room and outdoor tables reminiscent of a European bistro. The menu offers a broad selection of pizzas and pastas as well as chicken marsala, shrimp scampi, eggplant parmigiana, portobello gnocchi, and ravioli at prices that won’t strain your budget. Regulars rave about the pasta a la bella, a tasty dish featuring a creamy marinara sauce. Entrees come with a salad or minestrone soup and fresh baked bread. Save even more with two-for-one coupons frequently featured in local newspapers.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $12-$20
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
PANAMA JOE’S GRILL AND CANTINA
5100 East Second Street
Long Beach, CA
(562) 434-7417
Hours: (Mon-Sat) 11am-10pm; (Sun) Brunch: 10am-2pm; Lunch: 12-4pm; Dinner: 4-10pm
Cuisine Type: Mexican
Specializing in Sonoran style cuisine, this lively restaurant and bar with a sidewalk patio features a tempting array of Mexican combos like chile rellenos and enchiladas, plus appetizers like taquitos and jalapeno poppers. Breakfast is served all day with a variety of omelettes, machaca, huevos rancheros and eggs benedict. Daily lunch specials are offered for only $5.95, and all bar menu items are half price from 4-7pm on weekdays. Taco Tuesday is a crowd favorite with 50-cent beef or chicken tacos in the cantina from 6-10pm. After you’ve savored dinner favorites like sizzling fajitas or coconut mahi mahi, enjoy live music in the cantina with no cover charge.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $13-$28
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
POLLY’S BAKERY CAFE
3490 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA
(562) 595-5651
and
4707 Los Coyotes Diagonal
Long Beach, CA
(562) 597-6076
Hours: (Sun-Thu) 6:30am-10pm; (Fri-Sat) 6:30am-11pm
Cuisine Type: American
Best known for its delicious pies and baked goods, Polly’s has been serving home-style meals since 1968. Giant, fresh-baked cinnamon rolls are the must-have item from the breakfast menu. Enjoy them with an ABC omelette filled to the brim with avocado, crisp bacon, and cheddar cheese, or try the banana macadamia pancakes. Lunch includes a variety of sandwiches, burgers and salads, while dinner offerings range from meat loaf and chicken fried steak to macadamia nut chicken, grilled salmon, and apricot shrimp served with a choice of two sides and fresh dinner rolls. Big value meals include a burger, sandwich or roasted chicken dinner with a slice of pie.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $12-$20
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
STAR OF SIAM
2109 East Broadway
Long Beach, CA
(562) 439-1564
Hours: (Daily except Tues) 10am-11pm
Cuisine Type: Thai
Located a short walk from the beach in the Bluff Park area of the city, Star of Siam has been delighting diners for years with its hospitality and authentic Thai cuisine. The intimate dining room features comfortable seating against a backdrop of silk paintings, traditional textiles and hand carved teak, while the open-air patio is surrounded with tropical plants. Daily lunch specials ($5.95) served from 11am-3pm include steamed rice and soup or salad with your choice of entree. Dinner combos range from $9.95 to $12.95 per person featuring signature entrees like ga-pao beef, chicken with ginger and black mushrooms or Siam apple trout. All dishes are made to order with your choice of mild to hot seasonings, and vegetarians will find a large selection of meat-free choices.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $11-$25
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
FRISCO’S
4050 Los Coyotes Diagonal
Long Beach, CA
(562) 498-3663
Hours: (Sun-Thu) 11am-10pm; (Fri-Sat) 8:30am-Midnight
Cuisine Type: American, Greek, Italian, Mexican
From the outside it looks like a movie theater from the Fifties, but the dimly lit interior with portraits of movie stars on the walls resembles a nostalgic supper club. Add vivacious servers garbed in short poodle skirts and roller skates to the mix and you understand why people are lining up to check out this wacky eatery. The family-oriented menu features everything from chili cheese fries and burgers to pizzas, pasta and steaks, but diners may also enjoy omelettes, burritos, shish kabobs, Greek salad and homemade tortilla soup. Fountain favorites include chocolate sundaes, banana splits and root beer floats. Live entertainment on Friday night features Tony Rogers and the Frisco Carhops performing music of the Rat Pack. Happy Hour (Mon-Fri from 2-6pm) offers discounts on appetizers and draft beers.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $12-$25
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
GALLAGHER’S PUB AND GRILL
2751 East Broadway
Long Beach, CA
(562) 856-8000
Hours: Breakfast: (Sat-Sun) 9am-3pm; Lunch: (Fri) 12-4pm
Dinner: (Mon-Thu) 3-10pm; (Fri-Sat) 4pm-Midnight; (Sun) 3-10pm; Happy Hour: (Mon-Fri) 4-7pm
Cuisine Type: Irish, American
Whether you drop in to watch a sports event on one of the plasma TVs, or you want to enjoy dinner with friends at one of the patio tables, Gallagher’s offers a lot of bang for the buck. Featuring a laidback pub ambiance and a menu with specialties like bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie and corned beef and cabbage, it’s a slice of heaven for transplanted Irishmen as well as locals seeking a good plate of fish and chips. Other crowd favorites include lobster ravioli, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and gourmet burgers. Apple crisp and chocolate mousse are the irresistible desserts. Bottomless mimosas are $4 with meals at all times, and Happy Hour offers $8 pitchers of any draft beer.
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $12-$29
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
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