The Absolute Best of Long Beach awards ceremony is set to dazzle with a celebration of the community’s top picks of local businesses. This year, the event will take place at the Museum of Latin America Art on April 5 with a theme centered around burlesque, glitz, and glamor. Here’s a lineup of the local eateries that will be serving up their unique dishes while you enjoy the show!
Baryo
Roasted Cauliflower, photo provided by Christine Suh, co-owner of Baryo.
Baryo will be serving one of their signature vegan dishes, roasted cauliflower with tamarind dressing, shallots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, Thai basil, dill, cilantro, and crispy onions.
Baryo, meaning village/neighborhood, has a deeper meaning to its team. It’s a way for them to share their upbringing and experiences, as it’s important for them to work towards the idea of food being grown, cooked, and shared within a small proximity. In a collaborative effort with Union at 1395 Coronado Avenue, Baryo brings Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine with a So Cal vibe to the table.
Bamboo Club
Bamboo Club will be serving Kaluah pork sliders and Jackfruit sliders, as well as their famous mac salad. Photo via Instagram: @bambooclublb
Located at 3522 E. Anaheim Street in the Zaferia District, Bamboo Club is a tiki-themed restaurant that focuses on tropical island/Asian/American fusion cuisine. With menus featuring Polynesian-inspired and Asian-style dishes with many entrees and sandwiches that can be made vegan as well, the restaurant maintains a tiki culture at heart. But after dinner hours, it transforms into a lively location for music fans where local performers and DJs take the stage.
I Luv Ur Buns
Porto-Bao-Lo, photo provided by Sonya Suon and Mandy Bardisbanian, owners of I Luv Ur Buns.
I Luv Ur Buns will be serving their Satay With Me dish, which is a Thai-style boa with grilled chicken, peanut sauce, spicy mayo, housemade pickled cucumbers, carrots, and onions, and cilantro, and their Porto-Bao-Lo dish, a vegan-friendly Latin-style bao with portobello mushrooms topped with their homemade chimichurri, fresh onion, cilantro, and lime.
Available for takeout and delivery as well as select pop-ups in Long Beach and Los Angeles, I Luv Ur Buns is a proud queer, women, BIPOC/AAPI, and immigrant-owned small business. Their founding belief is that food is more than just sustenance, it can be a deeper experience that satisfies both your belly and your soul. They serve Asian fusion street food in their signature way of a soft warm bao. They also serve plant-based and vegan eaters.
El Barrio Cantina
Taquitos De Papa, photo provided by Joe Lin, co-owner of El Barrio.
Situated at 1731 E. 4th Street in Retro Row, El Barrio brings modern Mexican tapas and delicious craft cocktails that feature seasonal ingredients and innovative recipes. Chef Ulises Pineda-Alfaro uses the many cultures that make up Long Beach and Los Angeles as inspiration to create his modern authentic Mexican dishes. He has created a tapas-style menu that is meant to be enjoyed with friends and loved ones in their hip, airy space.
Axiom Kitchen BBQ
Chicken Kelaguen with titiyas and Chamorro Red Rice, photo provided by Qiana Williams-Mafnas, co-owner of Axiom Kitchen.
Axiom Kitchen will be serving one of their Chamorro BBQ dishes, Chicken Kelaguen with titiyas and red rice. Offering a fusion style of BBQ, Axiom Kitchen offers both smoked meats with traditional BBQ sides and island BBQ from the island of Guam. Being a family-run business, all of the Chamorro recipes and dishes on the business’ menu are from the family of one of the owners, Ian Mafnas, who is half Chamorro. For more information when and where their popups can be found, visit their Instagram page for weekly updates.
BuBu Teriyaki and Grill
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, photo provided by Jeana Choi, co-owner of BuBu Teriyaki and Grill.
BuBu Teriyaki and Grill will be serving their popular grilled teriyaki chicken. With humble beginnings as a food truck in Wilmington, BuBu Teriyaki Grill came to 456 Elm Avenue, Long Beach in November of 2022. They are a fusion restaurant that takes pride in providing freshly prepared comfort food inspired by Hawaiian/Japanese cuisine with a touch of Korean influence. They hope to bring a fresh taste with traditional Asian flavors.
ISM Brewing
Photo via Instagram: @ismbrewing
ISM Brewing will be serving a variety of their freshest and most exciting hand-crafted, world-class beers. Located in the heart of the Promenade at 210 E. 3rd Street, Unit A, ISM Brewing is the newest addition to Long Beach’s craft beer scene. Ian McCall, the owner, is a former Beachwood Brewing employee and is aiming to combine his knowledge, passion, and experience to focus on the three pillars of his life: family, friends, and fresh beer. Their modern beers combined with their elevated pub menu is a reflection of their desire to create a gathering place for the community that is inviting, embracing, and delicious.
The Wellest
Burlesque Rum Punch, a non-alcoholic cocktail, photo provided by Brandi Andres, founder of The Wellest.
The Wellest will be serving samples of non-alcoholic beverages, including mocktails, wine, and beer. The Wellest is a hybrid retail and community space on 3226 E. Broadway with roots in sustainable, ethical, and health-conscious living. It is dedicated to offering a curated selection of products to assist with the community’s wellness and sustainability goals. As an expansion of their mission, The Wellest added a lounge, Bar|Non, which reflects their commitment to creating spaces for connection, celebration, and shared experiences without the need for alcohol.
