A few of my local favorites in my neck of the woods (Long Beach and nearby) have already been mentioned, specifically Enrique's, Benley and Tiny Thai (mild but tasty-- blast-furnace hot just doesn't sit well with my heart any more! ).

Schooner or Later is an institution on Alamitos Bay-- a breakfast and lunch joint with gut-busting dishes, outdoor seating with views of the marina and a full bar. Two-fisted hangover cures for Sunday Brunch: Your favorite Hair of the Dog and their world-famous Mess (if the name doesn't scare you off first!). They have a place that stays open later, down in Sunset Beach (Schooner at Sunset).

White Wasabi is a brand-new place in the Marina Shores shopping center between a brokerage and a hair salon complex. The décor is minimalist chic, the food is mostly sushi and terrific. And I'm really not that big on sushi. The crowd is locals from the marina, Naples, Belmont Shore and Seal Beach, and they're already building a following apparently (I tried to get in this past Saturday and they were packed).

In Los Alamitos (just across the Orange Curtain, called colloquially "Los Al"), the Original Fish Company has great chowder and fresh seafood. But if you venture just a little farther down the coast to Huntington Beach (just past Sunset Beach), there's a joint called Fish Camp that isn't quite as expensive and also offers killer fresh seafood. Both of these places get busy, so expect waits.

For that matter, there's always good ol' Walt's Wharf in Seal Beach. Good seafood, local crowd, always busy on weekends, and you can enjoy a stroll around Main Street before or after.

I like Super-Mex a lot, but I'm particular to another fast-food mom-'n'-pop Mexican joint called Baja Sonora (the original at Clark & Spring-- they have a branch on Atlantic as well). Comfort food, plentiful and cheap and damn good.

rjw, I love Walt's Wharf, though it's been years and years since I've been there! Do they still have the grilled artichoke?

Someone upthread mentioned El Burrito Jr in Seal Beach. They are also in Torrance and Redondo. They are my favorite taco hands down! I just have to drive by to get hungry for one!

Walt's Wharf still has the grilled artichoke. Still good.

I almost forgot-- Naples Rib Company in (surprisingly) Naples. Yummy, messy ribs. Full bar, good grub. The last time I went, a magician was working the crowd with very well-done close-up slight-of-hand tricks. I chatted her up about the Magic Castle, and she gave me one of her cards that can be used to get in! I'm working on my schedule to go see the show there....

rjw, Magic Castle also owns a small hotel. If yo stay there, you get access to the Castle, and then you don't have to drive home. It was a great overnighter for us. Neal Patrick Harris was there, doing little tricks at the bar.

I like Super Mex for their carnitas (and when the 'chips' are fresh). A recent visit to Atlantic Blvd's Baja Sonora was not good. Seemed like they had not changed the oil in a while, and I do not care for mystery meat paste in my tacos. It reminded me of Tito's Tacos.

A great little old school Japanese restaurant, especially for old school sushi, is Kashiwa in Signal Hill.

Abbot Kinney Pizza ... great bagel dough pizza ... on trendy Abbot Kinney in Venice!

"Super Mex "

The first lunch date I ever had with Tracy was at Super Mex...and I forgot my wallet. She continued to date me anyway proving "there IS a free lunch." We loved Super Mex when we lived in the area. We must return. Tracy can pay.

I like the posts about south of the orange curtain! We eat here in the OC!

If you are slumming in Orange County try Zov's Bistro in Tustin for upscale middle eastern food. There is also a cafe side that serves breakfast and lunch with wonderful baked goods!

mlgb: Sorry to hear that the Atlantic Ave. Baja Sonora wasn't too great. I must admit that the grub in general isn't transcendental-- it's just filling and comforting and flavorful and (best of all) cheap. And if I get their tacos, I usually get their fish tacos (big and satisfying). Truth is, I usually order their chile relleno combinations (i.e., CR + enchilada or CR + tamal). Tasty? Yes. Fancy? Not in the slightest.

But the "mystery meat" tacos-- that must be their homage to Jack in the Box's tacos. Is there ANY fast-food item that screams "3 AM and Drunk in the Drive-Thru" more than JitB's deep-fried, mystery protein faux-Mex atrocity? And is there one that is more inexplicably wonderful at 3:05 AM in the JitB parking lot?!?!?

Actually, I propose any of the non-chain restaurants on Second Street in Belmont Shore and Naples as locals-only places. Our "out-of-town" visitors are coming in from nearby cities (LA types slumming it up or visiting their kids who attend CSULB, seemingly), so it's not like we're teeming with tourists (well, if you don't count the Iowans who make their way to Long Beach to visit relatives during the summer-- I forgot about them).

Oh, here's a "special occasion" joint in Long Beach that really has a locals-only fame: The Sky Room, in the "historic Breakers Hotel" (now a seniors-focused residence). Lovely room, great service, very good food, entertainment that your elderly relatives will LOVE, awesome views. It's totally under the radar for out-of-towners, but true LB natives know its charms. Anyone else been there...?

Have you been to Cafe Piccolo lately, rjw? That was always my "sure thing" date restaurant. I wonder if I will be impressed for an anniversary dinner or if I will wonder why I used to like it so much.

I usually send out of town food snob types to Michael's in Naples.

LOVE Café Piccolo. It's great for Date Night (and Double-Date Night too), although we also bring my mother-in-law there once in a while (she thinks the waiters and owner are flirting with her! *eyeroll). Since I no longer live right in that neighborhood (and we're really trying to cook in more, since we're ALL trying to lose weight), we don't go as often as I'd like. Which would be VERY often. Is it "impressive"? I'd lean to saying "no". It's just an intimate, comfortable, charming, locals-only eatery that serves very tasty Cal-Italian (well, the last time I was there, maybe two months ago?...). Which means most years I'd be very happy celebrating an anniversary there.

However, for our fifth wedding anniversary (coming up in two weeks!!) we'll be going to Michael's on Naples. Another place we LOVE. Actually, LO-O-O-O-OVVVVVE. Despite elevated prices. But we took two VERY snobbish friends from San Diego to Michael's for dinner not long ago, and they were shockingly impressed. I mean, they're IMPOSSIBLE to impress-- and they were impressed. Maybe it was the pasta flight with wine pairings. Oh, do they do good Italian wines there. And pastas too.

Still, ANY place in Long Beach is going to have more of a locals-only vibe, because unless you purposely send the out-of-town types to the good places we have in LB, they won't go there. Maybe to Sir Winston's (we did my husband's birthday there-- YUMMyGawd it was good, and expensive), but not most other places. Even with the stunning Zagat's scores for Michael's and its Pizzeria, I don't see a lot of LA foodie snobs there most nights....

Where is a good place in Belmont Shores? I used to go to the Greek restaurant but it closed a few years ago. I tried the other one and it was good but I would like some local's reviews of new places.

George's Greek has a branch in Belmont Shore. My family is MAD for that place, despite it not having a full bar. The place farther down Second by the lagoon is indeed long gone.

Friends are raving about Nick's on Second, which is in the old Bono's space (Christy Bono reopened Christy's over in Belmont Heights and sold this space). We haven't gone yet, but it's on the list.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Italian places like Papalucci's and Buona Gente, but I recognize that they're not high-fallutin' eateries. Oh well.

There are a couple of Middle Eastern specialists: Open Sesame and Sunnin Lebanese Café. I like them both, to be honest.

There's a Taco Surf on Second Street, and it's always busy when I walk past. I do have to actually try it some time.

Lucille's is a local BBQ chain (the same people who run Hof's Hut), and they have an outpost on Second Street. For now. Word is that it's moving to PCH (over where the old Hof's Hut was by Marina Pacifica); the Hoffmans are planning to convert this space either to a new seafood concept eatery OR back to a Hof's Hut (which is what it used to be-- for years and years).

Those are a few pretty good places, right off the top of my head. Anyone else?

Used to like Sunnin, but the owner with the white cowboy boots was a little creepy. I guess they have been closed for a while.

Honestly we don't like going to Belmont Shore for dinner, fighting the crowds, wait times, and hunting for parking.

It's Michael's or a neighborhood place, and I'm not in that neighborhood often anymore.

Oh, that's right-- Sunnin IS closed. I completely forgot. Open Sesame has two locations across the street from each other (size issues), which throws me off.

You can't blame me for the confusion, since I live in the Plaza now...! But my husband now runs his business nearby, so we're in the Shore more nowadays. I hear you on the crowds and parking hassles, but it's been like that for years and years. Even when I lived there, parking was a challenge. Good times though...!!

Thanks for the suggestions. How about Spaghettini, is it still very good? I haven't been there in years.

I also haven't been there for years. We usually decide to go somewhere with a view so that we have something to look at other than each other!

Speaking of Long Beach, we met some friends a couple of weeks ago at The Attic on Broadway. Sat out on the patio. Service and food were good. Try this appetizer..delicious.
BACON WRAPPED JALAPENOS – Two Jalapenos stuffed with Crab & Cream Cheese, wrapped with Candied Cayenne Bacon, & topped with Peach-Jalapeño Jam and Fire Roasted Corn & Poblano Relish...9 bucks

Stop that!!!

I raise you the blue cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped, cider glazed dates at Sevilla. $7.

We have been to the Sky Room several times and I really enjoy going there. It is one of the few places that we go where we like to dress up. Love it. Another very good and interesting place we like is Park Ave Restaurant on Beach Blvd. in Stanton. It is a kind of nondescript bldg (looks like a former Denny's type place) that I would not have gone to without someone recommending it to us. The food has been excellent every time we have been there. It gets excellent reviews in various Orange County publications.