Four Brunch Spots Guaranteed To Get You Out of Bed
This past Saturday, I woke up to pounding on my door at about 9 a.m. My roommate Will slowly opened the door to my room filled with clothes haphazardly strewn everywhere and opened notebooks from homework the night before on my desk. He asked a simple sentence that got me out of bed faster than anyone thought possible, “Can we get brunch today?” I’ve already surpassed my treat budget for the week and that thought haunted me as I quickly slipped on a sweater dress. Living on credit card debt and a dream, we procrastinated our responsibilities by filling our stomachs with food.
Brunch culture permeates Long Beach and has become something akin to a hobby to those who can afford it. It’s a delicious way to add a break in the day, an hour or two filled with sweetened lattes, waffles and no expectations. There is a massive number of brunch places to choose from, and it can feel overwhelming to see the sheer number of options on the Yelp screen.
The Wild Chive
The Wild Chive features lots of natural light and unique murals adorning the walls. Photo courtesy of @thewildchive on Instagram.
The Wild Chive is a cheerful open space with lights scattered across the ceiling and a large mural of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. They serve exclusively vegan options, but had my meat-eating roommate shocked that there wasn’t meat in the food featured on their Instagram. Popular offerings include their famous Monte Cristo, Grilled Burrizo, Chive BLT, Southern Fried Chick’n Sammie and the Country Breakfast. Sides include tater tots with chipotle sauce, crispy zucchini bites with marinara, fries with chipotle, and my personal favorite, pickle fries with garlic-chive dip. They have weekly special items (such as the holiday twist on the Monte Cristo) and delicious plant-based dinner takeout through delivery apps, which is outside normal business hours.
2650 E Broadway
Open Tuesday–Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday–Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
The Crooked Duck
The Crooked Duck has a shaded communal patio option outside of the main restaurant. Photo courtesy of @thecrookedduck on Instagram.
The Crooked Duck is a cozy duck-themed establishment local to CSULB. Compared to some other locations, this place serves large portions for a slightly more reasonable price, which in girl math equals cheaper because it’s technically two meals in one. They serve delicious coffee with specialty duck latte art, which is an instant serotonin booster. Both breakfast and lunch are served daily, with lunch starting at 11 a.m. Menu highlights include myriad egg dishes for breakfast, flapjacks and waffles, their famous duck chili, various burger options, pasta and specialty sandwiches. They also offer $5 mimosas, which in my opinion is an excellent way to decompress after finals (reminder: drink responsibly).
5096 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Open everyday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Zuzu’s Petals
Zuzu’s Petals has an indoor and outdoor dining option, with some sidewalk seating due to the smaller nature of the restaurant. Photo courtesy of @zuzuspetalseatery on Instagram.
Zuzu’s Petals is ran out of a small white building on the very edge of Downtown, with options to satisfy every palette. Their specialty drinks are the star of the show, with the Crosswalk latte (birthday cake flavored and rainbow colored), the blueberry mint matcha, the chagacchino (made with chaga mushrooms and monk fruit), the cinagave shaken espresso and nitro cold brew lemonade. They serve all day breakfast, lunch, and starters for the table to share. Some notable breakfast items include fried chicken and waffles, brioche french toast, breakfast burrito, and a breakfast sandwich with lemon vinaigrette and basil. Some lunch items are smashed burger, spicy fried chicken sando, and a veggie wrap for the non-meat eaters.
801 E 3rd St.
Open everyday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Attic
The Attic has tons of seating options with both indoor and patio dining. Photo courtesy of The Attic’s website.
The Attic is a restaurant in an old 1920s craftsman house with a focus on cozy southern-influenced comfort food, something we all need currently. They serve both brunch and dinner, with brunch having starters, sandwiches and main entree breakfast-leaning options. The coziest options include mac & cheetos, ricotta french toast, gumbo, vego mi ego sando (a more unconventional vegan option), chicken & waffles, the attic burger, and a classic country breakfast. They, also, offer their share of coffees and pastries, meant to be shared along the table. Due to the nature of the cuisine, The Attic is meant to be a shared experience and a place where people can bond over food.
3441 E Broadway
Open Monday–Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on the weekend 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.