Adjacent to the parking lot entrance at 22nd Street Landing is a whale-shaped sign with a toothy smile, beckoning you to “Whale Watch Here” while an arrow guides you into the lot... (continued)

22ND STREET LANDING 141 W 22ND ST | STE A | SAN PEDRO 90731 | 310.548.4400 | 22NDSTLANDINGRESTAURANT.COM | DINNER FOR TWO, $30-70 | FULL BAR

As bars with food go, the Tavern is a lot like Joe Jost’s: they don’t make it until you order it—and they make it right there... (continued)

49ER TAVERN 5600 PACIFIC COAST HWY | LONG BEACH 90804 | 562.494.7670 | OPEN DAILY, 11AM-MIDNIGHT | BURGERS AND DRINKS FOR TWO, $20

Upon arrival at the restaurants, the first thing you’ll notice is that there are two doors—no dividing wall between the restaurants, just two doors... (continued)

AKI SUSHI / BAI PLU 1626-1628 E SEVENTH ST | LONG BEACH 90813 | 562.436.3123 OR 562.436.8180 | AKISUSHIANDTHAI.COM | DINNER FOR TWO, $20-50

Despite its variety, Anjin is a restaurant devoted to meat... (continued)

ANJIN 3033 BRISTOL ST | STE N | COSTA MESA 92626 | 714.979.6700 | OPEN DAILY 5PM-1AM | FOOD FOR TWO $30-50 | BEER, WINE, SAKE

Anyone from Downey or who works in Downey or who drives through Downey knows Arthur’s, which is why the teeny restaurant—with about a dozen tables and a handful of seats at the counter—is packed virtually every morning... (continued)

ARTHUR’S 8813 LAKEWOOD BLVD | DOWNEY 90240 | 562.869.9189 | CALL FOR HOURS | BREAKFAST FOR TWO, $12-25

Along with Au Lac’s other tofu-based staples (“beef” with watercress, tofu and bamboo shoots with lemon grass), the Vietnamese plates at Au Lac have driven the place to vegetarian fame... (continued)

AU LAC 16563 BROOKHURST ST | FOUNTAIN VALLEY 92708 | 714.418.0658 | AULAC.COM | OPEN TUES-THURS&SUN 11:30AM-9:30PM | FRI-SAT 11:30AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO $20-40

Barbecued meats dominate most orders, with plates stacked with subtle spins on Korean galbi and bulgogi, Chinese char sui and the ever-present teriyaki... (continued)

BACK HOME IN LAHAINA 519 E CARSON ST | CARSON 90745 | 310.835.4014 | BACKHOMEINLAHAINA.COM | OPEN MON 11AM-6PM | TUES-SAT 11AM-9PM | SUN 8AM-8PM | FOOD FOR TWO $20-35

There are plenty to choose from, but it’s with the halibut taco that Baja Fish truly makes its mark... (continued)

BAJA FISH 611 S GAFFEY ST | SAN PEDRO 90731 | 310.521.1931 | OPEN MON-SAT 7AM-9PM | SUN 10AM-8PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $15-25

Beachwood—"Where the Fork Meets the Pork"—serves fish (salmon and albacore), ribs, brisket, beef short ribs, pulled pork, smoked chicken ... (continued)

BEACHWOOD BBQ 131 1/2 MAIN ST | SEAL BEACH 90740 | 562.493.4500 | BEACHWOODBBQ.COM | OPEN TUES-SUNDAY 11:30AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $20-40

Probably the most recognizable dish on Benley’s menu is pho, an aromatic Vietnamese noodle soup... (continued)

BENLEY 8191 E WARDLOW RD | LONG BEACH 90808 | 562.596.8130 | OPEN MON 5-9PM, TUES 11AM-9PM, WED-SAT 11AM-10PM | DINNER FOR TWO, $20-30

More than just a French-inspired ploy, “bouchée” best translates to “mouthful”—a clever naming scheme that promotes Bouchees’ miniature side, as the restaurant offers scaled-down versions of nearly every dish on its menu, turning its sandwiches and burgers into bite-sized mouthfuls... (continued)

BOUCHEES BISTRO 515 LONG BEACH BLVD | LONG BEACH 90802 | 562.951.8222 | BOUCHEES.COM | OPEN DAILY, 10AM-9PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $20-30 | BEER, WINE

Brite Spot’s food is the real deal: some of the most authentic in Long Beach, and it’s almost uniformly great... (continued)

BRITE SPOT 412 W PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY | LONG BEACH 90806 | 562.591.9016 | 1614 E ANAHEIM ST | LONG BEACH 90813 | 562.591.8060 | 3721 E ANAHEIM ST | LONG BEACH 90804 | 562.494.4903 | DINNER FOR TWO, $20-$40

Ambrosia has always had great choices for vegetarians (a falafel pita the size of a small nation, great garden burgers, an excellent veggie platter) and its meatless meals are still strong... (continued)

CAFE AMBROSIA 1923 E BROADWAY | LONG BEACH 90802 | 562.432.1098 | CAFEAMBROSIA-LONGBEACH.COM | MON-THURS 10AM-10PM | FRI 10AM-11PM | SAT 8AM-11PM | SUN 8AM-10PM FOOD | FOR TWO, $30-50 | BEER, WINE

Cebiche del Rey focuses primarily on slow-cooked meats and (mostly) uncooked seafood... (continued)

CEBICHE DEL REY 7404 FLORENCE AVE | DOWNEY 90240 | 562.806.4033 | OPEN SUN-WED 10AM-9PM AND THURS-SAT 10AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO $25-40 | BEER, WINE

Charlie Palmer’s Tasmanian salmon is terrific, marked first and foremost by the crisp layer of panko seared to its skin... (continued)

CHARLIE PALMER AT BLOOMINGDALE’S 3333 S BRISTOL ST | COSTA MESA 92626 | 714.352.2525 | CHARLIEPALMER.COM/BLOOMINGDALE/HOME.HTML | OPEN FOR LUNCH MON-SUN 11:45AM-2:30PM | DINNER SUN-THURS 5:30-10:30PM | FRI-SAT 5:30-11PM | DINNER FOR TWO $70-125 | FULL BAR

Most folks know Chen’s—if not for its food, then for its kitschy neon exterior, which, depending on what you’re in to, either screams Stay Away or Must Visit... (continued)

CHEN’S CHINESE RESTAURANT 2131 E BROADWAY | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.439.0309 | OPEN MON-THURS AND SUN 11:30AM-9:30PM, FRI-SAT 11:30AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $12-20

Cho Dang specializes in only one dish of the Korean canon: tofu stew... (continued)

CHO DANG TOFU 12245 ARTESIA BLVD | CERRITOS 90703 | 562.924.6099 | OPEN DAILY, 10AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $15-30

Even with the oil islands, trash barges and breakwater, the view at Claire’s remains among the best in Southern California... (continued)

CLAIRE’S AT THE MUSEUM LONG BEACH MUSEUM OF ART | 2300 E OCEAN BLVD | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.439.2119 | LBMA.ORG | OPEN TUES-FRI 11AM-3PM | SAT-SUN 8AM-3PM | LUNCH FOR TWO, $20-$40 | BEER, WINE

Perhaps it’s the creamy hollandaise-looking sauce ladled on top, or maybe it’s the attention to detail, but Crema’s omelet is well above its competitors... (continued)

CREMA CAFE 322 MAIN ST # 7 | SEAL BEACH 90740 | 562.493.2501 | FOOD FOR TWO $15-20

There’s probably no single entrée at Dal Rae more emblematic of the restaurant’s mid-century tastes than the pepper steak... (continued)

DAL RAE 9023 E WASHINGTON BLVD | PICO RIVERA 90660 | 562.949.2444 | DALRAE.COM | OPEN MON-THURS 11AM-3PM & 5-10PM | FRI-SAT 5-11PM | SUN 5-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO $50-100 | FULL BAR | VALET PARKING

The first half of Dean’s menu—the Italian side—is probably the biggest draw... (continued)

DEAN’S PIZZA AND THAI 929 REDONDO AVE | LONG BEACH 90804 | 562.987.3297 | OPEN DAILY 11AM-11PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $10-20

The best way to get your fill at Delius is with the lamb shank, a huge hunk of meat about the size of a bulked-up bicep... (continued)

DELIUS 2951 CHERRY AVE | SIGNAL HILL 90755 | 562.426.0694 | DELIUSRESTAURANT.COM | FOOD FOR TWO, $40-70 | BEER, WINE

El Gallo Giro’s menu is a certain one for those who hound taquerías, but that’s no sign of sagging quality... (continued)

EL GALLO GIRO 1795 LONG BEACH BLVD | LONG BEACH 90813 | 562.591.3180 | FOOD FOR TWO, $10-20

Like the Japanese-Peruvian cuisine at Lomita’s Kotosh, El Rocoto’s dishes pull from Peru’s immigrant past, drawing on the recipes and techniques that traveled with the Chan family from China to Peru and, later, to the kitchen of the first El Rocoto in Gardena... (continued)

EL ROCOTO 11433 SOUTH ST | CERRITOS 90703 | 562.924.1919 | ELROCOTO.COM | OPEN MON-THURS 11AM-9:30PM | FRI-SAT 11AM-11PM | SUN 9:30AM-9:30PM | FOOD FOR TWO $25-40 | BEER, WINE

Beyond the familiar fare, it’s the overlooked options that are best at El Toro Bravo, like barbacoa (barbeque beef) and birria (stewed goat)... (continued)

EL TORO BRAVO 745 W 19TH ST | COSTA MESA 92627 | 949.631.4464 | OPEN EVERY DAY, CALL FOR HOURS | FOOD FOR TWO $8-15 | CASH ONLY

There’s not much to take in while you settle on an order—a cafeteria-style setup with alternating walls of brick red and banana yellow—but Gaffey Street Diner doesn’t break any breakfast conventions, so it shouldn’t be too hard to decide... (continued)

GAFFEY STREET DINER 247 N GAFFEY ST | SAN PEDRO 90731 | 310.548.6964 | OPEN AT 5AM DAILY | FOOD FOR TWO, $10-20

Burma is the largest country in Southeast Asia, and Golden Triangle’s menu reflects that: a sprawling, multi-paged document offering well over 80 options... (continued)

GOLDEN TRIANGLE 7011 GREENLEAF AVE | WHITTIER 90602 | 562.945.6778 | MON-SAT 11AM-10PM, SUN 11AM-9PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $20-40 | BEER, WINE

Kalguksu is the restaurant’s staple, a dish truly meant for all seasons—one that can warm you up in the winter and also take you to the sea in the summer... (continued)

HANGARI NOODLE HOUSE 9916 GARDEN GROVE BLVD | GARDEN GROVE 92844 | 714.537.0100 | OPEN MON-SAT 10AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $15-25

As its name suggests, Heavenly Fish Palace is first and foremost about fish... (continued)

HEAVENLY FISH PALACE 2420 E 28TH ST | SIGNAL HILL 90755 | 562.988.1334 | HEAVENLYFISHPALACE.COM | OPEN TUES-THUR 8AM-8PM | FRI-SAT 8AM-9PM | FOOD FOR TWO $15-30

Honduars Kitchen keeps conch on the menu for more native tastes, but the restaurant’s pollo frito is excellent, too—a few lightly fried hunks topped with chismol, a fresh salsa familiar to fans of pico de gallo... (continued)

HONDURAS KITCHEN 1909 E FOURTH ST | LONG BEACH 90802 | 562.624.8849 | WED-SUN 10AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO $20-40 | BEER, WINE | CASH ONLY

For 30 years, Isaac’s has been hidden away on Fries Avenue, set up in a colorless building barely painted a blank beige... (continued)

ISAAC’S CAFE 632 N FRIES AVE | WILMINGTON 90744 | 310.830.4933 | OPEN MON-SAT 7AM-6PM | FOOD FOR TWO $10-15 | CASH ONLY

Every plate is a small one at Izakaya Zero, but some are more suited to a start than others... (continued)

IZAKAYA ZERO 412 WALNUT AVE | HUNTINGTON BEACH 92648 | IZAKAYAZERO.COM | 714.960.1278 | OPEN SUN-THURS 5:30-10:30PM | FRI-SAT 5:30-11PM | FOOD FOR TWO $25-40 | FULL BAR

John’s is a little burger place near Millikan that seems like it could’ve been recast from any number of big-name chains... (continued)

JOHN’S 6223 E SPRING ST | LONG BEACH 90808 | 562.421.3663 | FOOD FOR TWO, $10-20

Nothing out of the restaurant’s country kitchen satisfies home-cooked cravings more than its ribs... (continued)

JOHNNY REBS’ 4663 LONG BEACH BLVD | LONG BEACH 90805 | 562.423.7327 | JOHNNYREBS.COM | OPEN SUN-THURS 7AM-9PM | FRI-SAT 7AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $25-40 | BEER, WINE

K... (continued)

K.C. BRANAGHAN’S 5734 E SECOND ST | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.434.3600 |‎ KCBRANAGHANS.COM | OPEN DAILY 11AM-MIDNIGHT | FOOD FOR TWO $20-$40

There are many reasons to love the intersection of Fourth Street and Temple Avenue, and Kafe Neo is just another... (continued)

KAFE NEO 2800 E FOURTH ST | LONG BEACH 90814 | 562.987.1210 | KAFENEOLB.COM | FOOD FOR TWO, $10-30 | BEER AND WINE

Katella Deli’s pastrami is remarkably lean, with only the thinnest ribbons of fat running through each slice... (continued)

KATELLA DELI 4470 KATELLA AVE | LOS ALAMITOS 90720 | 562.594.8611 | FOOD FOR TWO $20-30 | BEER, WINE

There are, of course, segregated sections of Kotosh’s menu that list distinctly Japanese and Peruvian dishes, but the best and most interesting offerings come from when Kotosh lets the two cuisines collide... (continued)

KOTOSH 2408 LOMITA BLVD, STE C  LOMITA 90717  310.257.1363  OPEN MON-THURS 11AM-2:30PM AND 4:30-9PM, FRI 11AM-2:30PM AND 4:30-10PM AND SAT 11AM-10PM FOOD FOR TWO, $30-60

Even after expanding into what used to be Toto's Revenge, La Parolaccia maintains the simple look and feel of the little Italian place up the street... (continued)

LA PAROLACCIA 2945 E BROADWAY | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.438.1235 | LAPAROLACCIAUSA.COM | OPEN SUN-THURS 5:30-10PM | FRI-SAT 5:30-10:30PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $25-75 | BEER, WINE

Like its décor, Le Yen’s food sticks to what it has always done best: Cantonese-inspired dishes that, over the years, have taken as much from American cuisine as Chinese... (continued)

LE YEN 4140 ATLANTIC AVE | LONG BEACH 90807 | 562.424.2817 | FOOD FOR TWO, $20-30 | BEER, WINE

The specialty of the house is the birria, which is prepared in a way that seems to break with the basic component of the dish—it is not made of goat... (continued)

LOLA’S 2030 E FOURTH ST | LONG BEACH 90814 | 562.343.5506 | OPEN WED-MON 11:30AM-9:30PM | FOOD FOR TWO $20-30 | BEER, WINE

This is not your Thinking Man’s Pizza—no corn toppings, no clay ovens—just dough, sauce, cheese and your fixings... (continued)

LONG BEACH PIZZA COMPANY 3430 E BROADWAY | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.433.0000 | LONGBEACHPIZZA.COM | CALL FOR HOURS | DINNER FOR TWO $20-35 | BEER AND WINE

It takes about 20 minutes for the kitchen to ready an order of sesame bread, but when the bread ships out with slices spilling off the plate, you know the wait was worth it... (continued)

LOTUS CHINESE EATERY 16883 BEACH BLVD | HUNTINGTON BEACH 92647 | 714.848.4940 | OPEN SUN-THURS 11AM-3PM AND 4:30-9:30PM | FRI-SAT 11AM-3PM AND 4:30-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO $20-35

Down deep on Mangia-Mangia’s menu is the restaurant’s Sicilian training, represented best by its bucatini... (continued)

MANGIA-MANGIA 16079 GOLDENWEST ST | HUNTINGTON BEACH 92647 | 714.841.8887 | MANGIAMANGIARESTAURANT.COM | OPEN MON-FRI 11AM-10PM | SAT-SUN 3-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO $25-40 | BEER, WINE

It’s very rare (and difficult) for a veggie burrito to escape sloppy bean-and-cheese territory... (continued)

MERCED’S 1064 E BROADWAY | LONG BEACH 90802 | 562.951.5755 | CALL FOR HOURS | FOOD FOR TWO, $10-20

Entrées aren’t many at Michael’s, but that provides a fine focus that the restaurant usually puts to good use... (continued)

MICHAEL’S ON NAPLES 5620 E SECOND ST | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.439.7080 | MICHAELSONNAPLES.COM | OPEN WED-THURS, SUN & TUES 5:30-10:30PM | FRI-SAT 5:30-11PM | DINNER FOR TWO $60-100 | BEER, WINE

Ming’s comes from another era of suburban Chinese restaurants, when the cuisine was always Cantonese, when the kitschy décor was inevitably as thick, sweet and sour as the sauces, and when somebody at every table was obliged to joke that they’d all be hungry again in an hour... (continued)

MING’S CHINESE RESTAURANT 17812 S BELLFLOWER BLVD | BELLFLOWER 90706 | 562.867.2600 | OPEN TUES-SUN, 11:30AM-9PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $25

What makes Moscow Deli the most worthwhile is its fresh foodstuffs... (continued)

MOSCOW DELI 3015 HARBOR BLVD | COSTA MESA 92626 | 714.546.3354 | OPEN MON-THURS 10AM-7PM | FRI-SAT 10AM-8PM | SUN 10AM-4PM | FOOD FOR TWO $15-25

A self-proclaimed gourmet stand tucked behind Wilson High, Mosher’s spreads its focus wide: plenty of burgers and sandwiches, but also burritos and regional dishes like Louisiana sausages... (continued)

MOSHER’S 4712 E SEVENTH ST | LONG BEACH 90804 | 562.439.9600 | FOOD FOR TWO, $10-20

The most appropriate dish for an izakaya like Musha is one charred at a tableside grill... (continued)

MUSHA 1725 W CARSON ST STE B | TORRANCE 90501 | 310.787.7344 | FOOD FOR TWO $25-40 | BEER, WINE, SAKE

Stop by Nick’s on a Saturday or Sunday morning and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a mob of people either already inhaling burritos or standing in a line that, at times, goes out the door... (continued)

NICK’S DELI 223 MAIN ST | SEAL BEACH 90740 | 562.598.5072 | FOOD FOR TWO $10-14

Common sense dictates an Irish pub on a street known to embrace all ends of bar culture will do drinks okay, but not much else... (continued)

O’MALLEY’S ON MAIN 140 MAIN ST | SEAL BEACH 90740 | 562.430.0631 | FOOD FOR TWO $20-25 | FULL BAR

Oaxaca Mio’s mole negro, the most common mole, is a wonderfully semisweet, mildly spicy mixture of Oaxacan chocolate, nuts and dried chiles—great for mole first-timers and veterans alike... (continued)

OAXACA MIO 1169 E 10TH ST | LONG BEACH 90804 | 562.599.7212 | FOOD FOR TWO $15-25 | BEER, WINE

Paradise travels past the typical bar boundaries by offering the kind of casual American dining that allows for inspiration from every corner of the world—there’s everything from Moroccan-braised chicken to balsamic-marinated Portobello mushrooms... (continued)

PARADISE 1800 E BROADWAY | LONG BEACH 90802 | 562.590.8773 | OPEN FOR DINNER MON-THURS 5-10PM | FRI-SUN 5PM-MIDNIGHT | WEEKEND BRUNCH 10AM-2PM | FOOD FOR TWO $30-50 | FULL BAR

For a restaurant that goes so far as to stake its name (“fresh pasta” in French) in its signature dishes, Pâtes Fraîches does well, boiling its doughs down from organic rice, rye, wheat, barley, buckwheat and chestnut flours... (continued)

PATES FRAICHES 400 E FIRST ST  LONG BEACH 90802  562.437.2222  PATESFRAICHESRESTAURANT.COM  OPEN TUES-SUN, CALL FOR HOURS  FOOD FOR TWO, $30-50

Central to the restaurant’s neighborly enthusiasm is Plums’ excellent breakfast... (continued)

PLUMS CAFE 369 E 17TH ST | COSTA MESA 92627 | 949.722.7586 | PLUMSCAFE.COM | OPEN EVERY DAY 8AM-3PM | FOOD FOR TWO $25-35 | FULL BAR

What makes Pupusería San Sivar’s pupusas remarkable isn’t just variety—it’s that each one fluffs up in the same style as a flour tortilla, lightened to the point that they might as well be injected with air... (continued)

PUPUSERIA SAN SIVAR 1940 HARBOR BLVD | COSTA MESA 92627 | 949.650.2952 | OPEN SUN-THURS 9:30AM-9:30PM | FRI-SAT 9:30AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO $5-15

If ever there was a dish that actually ate with all the synesthetic flash usually attributed to excellence (ingredients as bright as the day, flavors that blend together like colors), it would be Renu Nakorn’s nam kao tod... (continued)

RENU NAKORN 13019 E ROSECRANS AVE | SUITE 105 | NORWALK 90650 | 562.921.2124 | OPEN MON-THURS 11AM-9:30PM | FRI-SAT 11AM-10PM | SUN NOON-8PM | FOOD FOR TWO $20-35 | BEER, WINE

On the third floor of a Long Beach Airport hangar, Ristorante DaVinci is a sumptuous place, with its 20-foot-high curved glass wall beyond which private jets touch down on the runways... (continued)

RISTORANTE DAVINCI 2801 E SPRING ST | LONG BEACH 90806 | 562.685.8111 | DAVINCILB.COM | DINNER FOR TWO $50-250 | FULL BAR

Filipino food hits with heavy flavors, a cuisine as fond of the fryer as it is bottles of thick dipping sauces... (continued)

SALO SALO GRILL 18300 GRIDLEY RD | ARTESIA 90701 | 562.809.6277 | OPEN DAILY 11AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO $15-30