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    El Paisa Restaurant

    3.7 (359 reviews)
    ModerateColombian, Empanadas
    Closed • 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    EL PAISA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    EMPANADA A LA CARTA (1)
    Jessica Q.

    This place has tasty and authentic food. The empanadas were fire and service was great. They have great music, ambiance and authentic treats of all kinds.

    My mom and I, very happy.
    Rosemary M.

    I just celebrated my birthday here with family and friends. Food was on point! Delicious. They went out of their way especially Andy & Mitzy. They gave me a special birthday hat to wear, put up a banner, recommend balones, didn't charge a plating fee for cake. It was so authentic and a 10 out of ten! They went out of there way to make sure my elderly mom was doing ok. She's usually very passive, but she asked to speak to the manager to compliment the service.

    It's FRIJOLES CON GARRA but no beans LOL   NO NO NEVER AGAIN CHECK YOU PRICE MACH WITH INTERNET

    I been at this place before many times Never feel like I need to do a feedback MENÚ IS FAKE please check your online prices don't let the guy with many rings and BS blin blin play with you money my bill was $40 and he was changing me almost $50 he came with the BS the price when up I was like WHEN? He just want more money I LOOK IT UP AND HE JUST CHANGE THE PRICE TO MUCH BE CAREFUL DONT LET THEM FOOL YOU OUT NEVER AGAIN Check you price online I noticed something was wrong

    Patacon con crema.
    Stephen C.

    If you're in Long Beach and are in the mood for Colombian food, go no further than El Paisa! Ordered a PICADA! It had everything blood sausage, empanada, fried plantain, sweet plantain, fried yuca,potato, and a cheese Arepa! What kind of sauces did they have? I'm not sure, but they tasted very good. One was spicy one was not. It was in between breakfast and lunch, so we were the only ones there however, it looks like it could be a good nights spot as well!

    Julian R.

    After a long wait and I have been following this place , major fail. The owner is rude and sarcastic! The food was not worth it and would not recommend. I will not return or refer anyone to this place . The owner does not appreciate or value his guest . I would give 0 stars if I could .............

    PONYMALTA

    Service, food and environment are soooo good, this place truly makes me feel like i am back home I will be coming back to this place, they have the best bandeja paisa ever Also the music selection is authentic and really good

    Seating
    Ann D.

    The food here was great. It was my first Colombian restaurant. The churrasco steak was good. I was able to share the food with my friend. It was a lot. On the menu there are no prices which is kind of weird. The service was outstanding. The ambiance was well decorated with paintings. The maduro appetizer was very yummy. I would recommend coming here. They have a small parking lot for customers too which is good.

    Exterior (side).
    Jeff Y.

    I had gotten takeout from here before, but it was my first time dining in. The interior was decorated for the holidays and had lively music playing throughout the meal. My server was friendly, though he forgot to bring a spoon for my soup and never came to refill water or check on me during the meal. The menu is extensive, and I decided to order both ajiaco (chicken soup) and bandeja típica, with intention to have leftovers. Portions are quite large, even for someone with a big appetite like me. The white rice was a bit hard for me, but the food overall was very tasty. I have had their sancocho de cola de res before (oxtail soup), which was fantastic. I wish they had mondongo! The soup came in a ceramic bowl that reminded me of Korean stews. The authentic food took me back to my trip to Bogotá. Prices are a little high, but again, portions are large so it's a good value. Highly recommend El Paisa for some yummy Colombian food! P.S. There is a dedicated parking lot behind the building, which is a great bonus as street parking can be hard to come by at times in this part of town.

    Advertised tamale on the menu on the left. What was actually served on the right. Tasted just as nasty as it looks.

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    3 days ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

    Always, the best place for Colombian food and the owner is an amazing person, they have good service too

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    2 years ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    The food was okay. The service was slow and we didn't have the best experience over there.

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Came for the game and whoever was in control of the sound SUCKED. Couldn't hear anything and ruined the halftime show. Don't come here.

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    3 years ago

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    Selva - Plantains

    Selva

    4.5(553 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    •$$$

    So this is a review of their happy hour, specifically, which is pretty solid, especially as far as…read moredrinks. I'd actually been here once before, quite some time, also at happy hour, but never got around to writing a review before it stopped feeling relevant. About a month ago, I had a reason to be in the area during happy hour again, so I decided to stop and try their burger. The burger is solid, though by itself, I'm not sure it's 13 bucks without fries level good. It's a good burger, and the fried mustard is great, but I didn't really taste any (advertised) plantain, nor whatever "chlorophyll aioli" is. As plated, it's like a 4/5 burger, compared to, for instance, my favorite burger place, Sideburns. It's also the first burger that seemed specifically *designed* to be eaten with a knife and fork, which on one hand really feels, in some way, to defeat the purpose of a burger... on the other hand, if you like spicy hot sauces, the extra star is for their house hot sauces, which I absolutely immediately used all three of to make a fantastic basically smash-burger ahogada. I'm pretty sure this is also the first sit-down restaurant where they just gave me sides of all their house hot sauces by default when the burger arrived, without having to ask for it, which is pretty cool of them. Their hot sauces are extremely good, all three of them. As a hot sauce lover - I would've loved more of all of them. I was there during a less busy time, obviously, and sat at the bar, so that says less, but anyway, the service was great (was great the previous time like a year ago, too.) I sat down at 5:45 (happy hour is until 6), had a food and drink order in at 5:50, burger showed at 6. (Got a second drink order in right at 6 on the dot too, of course.) There's a second add-on special for a boilermaker if you get the burger, so obviously I did that - I love that it features South American products, an aguardiente and a South American beer (I also like that that it means it's not a boring American macro beer, of course.) I also had the lulo margarita, $10 on happy hour, and great. I love learning about new (to me) fruits you don't see often around here, too. Delicious, though fun fact, it was even more delicious after I added a bunch of the lightest, creamiest hot sauce to it, lol. A non-canon modification that, conveniently, didn't require the bartender's assistance, and which I definitely intend to repeat if I'm ever back there (this is also a note to myself). It is always a tough sell when I'm in the area, just because it's across town, Bamboo Club is around the corner, and I love Bamboo Club, but anyway, Selva is also solid too, especially during happy hour.

    I've eaten extensively throughout Long Beach, from the longtime institutions to the newer openings,…read moreand Selva remains the restaurant I measure the rest against. There is real intention behind the food here. I've worked my way through the entire menu, and what continues to impress me is not just the creativity, but the consistency. The flavors are bold and distinctive without feeling forced, and the dishes have the kind of personality that makes a restaurant memorable rather than simply good. Chef Carlos is an exceptional talent. His cooking feels confident, thoughtful, and completely its own. Selva has a clear point of view, something that is surprisingly difficult to find even in cities with strong food scenes. The hospitality deserves equal credit. Jack and Chris are a dynamic duo and have an instinct for making the room feel warm, personal, and effortless. Great restaurants are about more than what arrives on the plate, and they understand that completely. After eating at an enormous number of restaurants across Long Beach, Selva is still the place I find myself recommending first. For me, it is the best restaurant in the city.

    Photos
    Selva - Inside

    Inside

    Selva - Scallop Crudo. So good!

    Scallop Crudo. So good!

    Selva - Smoked Pollo Half plate. Delicious!

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    Smoked Pollo Half plate. Delicious!

    OBRA HandBakery - Breakfast sandwich on a warn croissant!

    OBRA HandBakery

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    •$
    Family-owned & operated
    Free parking

    My recent visit was great! I happened to pass by OBRA Bakery on my way to Barnes & Noble and…read morespontaneously stopped by for a beef potato ball. I ended up ordering two potato balls, one for me and one for my boyfriend and asked them to package them separately. Each one came with their green sauce and aioli. I poured both sauces on top of the potato ball and the flavors blended really well together. The potato ball was savory and delicious! Customer service was also great. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Next time I will try the chicken potato ball.

    This bakery was recommended to me by a friend, and I'm so glad she did! OBRA is a Latin American…read morebakery that serves sandwiches, pastries, desserts, and more. They have two locations, one in Long Beach and one in Santa Ana. Their Long Beach location is located in a shopping plaza, and I didn't have any trouble finding parking. They had lots of different items in their bakery case to choose from! We had to get their OBRA Balls, which come with beef or chicken. Their OBRA Beef Ball has ground beef and mozzarella surrounded by mashed potato and deep fried. It was cheesier than I expected! The OBRA Chicken Ball is a more of a cone shape and has shredded chicken, aji amarillo sauce, and cheese surrounded by mashed potato and deep fried. Both were tasty! They serve it with a side of their spicy mayo and green salsa for dipping. They're known for their empanadas, so we had to try some of these too! We got a Baked Chicken, Chicken Curry, Beef, and Ropa Vieja. Their Beef and Chicken are some of their most popular. The Beef Emapanda has spicy ground beef, onions, and potatoes, and their Chicken Empanada has shredded chicken, mild spicy creamy yellow chili sauce, onions, potatoes, and mozzarella cheese. The Chicken Curry is one of their newer empanadas and has diced chicken thighs cooked in mild spicy curry and coconut milk, steamed rice, bell peppers, onions, and cilantro. But my favorite was the Ropa Vieja! It has tasty shredded beef, onions, bell peppers, tomato, garlic, seasonings, and cilantro. The meat is so tender and juicy! For desserts, we got a Cocada and a Peach and Dulce de Leche Turnover. The Cocada is their coconut macaroon made with shredded coconut, covered with chocolate. It is massive! Very moist on the inside. I'll be back to try their sandwiches and get some more OBRA balls!

    Photos
    OBRA HandBakery - Ham & Egg Sandwich!

    Ham & Egg Sandwich!

    OBRA HandBakery - Best seller! Cuban Sandwich.

    Best seller! Cuban Sandwich.

    OBRA HandBakery - A must try! Beef OBRA Ball

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    A must try! Beef OBRA Ball

    Alegria

    Alegria

    3.5(1.2k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    •$$

    Friday and Saturday nights are the best time to come here . All the bartenders are lit Emily and…read moreDee are the best ones here . I come here all the time but recently the smell has been really bad . They need to get the throw up smell out soon

    July 19th 2026 Sunday…read more This spot did not have to many people inside for the FIFA world Cup Final match between Argentina vs Spain. It was very accomodating since everywhere else was packed! We wanted to find some shade as well since it was 90 degrees outside. In parallel to this event, there was a city event going on at the same time called Beach Streets. That event was awesome as well! We were hungry so we posted up here from our bike ride. My wife and I got ID'd just to come in. Why ID if it is a restaurant, did not make sense? We did not have a host to sit us. Sit as you see was the service provided. Once we sat the waiter took our order. We wanted Sangria but come to find out they had nothing in stock. A restaurant that is Spanish desent and has FIFA world cup soccer being televised with out Sangria wine. Big surprise there!. We ordered a pitcher of Margarita. 10 mins to drop off and took another 17 minutes for our waiter to take our order. Ordered ceviche, empenadas and Lomo Saltado. All received within a 15 min time frame. Not going to complain about the taste, all is good. Presentation and billing is my problem from my dissapointment statements listed below. To get to the point, my complaints of dissapointment in details. This place is expensive!! The presentation of the food delivered was nothing special. The quanity being served for $26 a plate did not do justice. $16 appetizers of Ceviche and Empenadas. The margarita pitcher was $55 and it was filled mostly with ice. Lacked liquor, a bit stingy on their serving. Received our bill, they automatically but a 20% service charge tacked on my bill! Keep in mind It is only two people not a party of 6. I want the option to decide myself if the waiter is worthy of a good tip with provided service. The guy was hustling trying to take everyones orders. What type of management understaffs on a FIFA World Cup Championship game? Just one guy taking care of the entire restaurant is not acceptable. He was nearly non existence on our stay. Also, what type of managent doesnt stock alcohol up for the big game? The place looks and feels runned down. Tables looked old, restaurant was hot. Plastic Forks and spoons provided with one napkin. Lol. Just full of dissapointments. My final bill came out to $140. The nail in the coffin for me to rate this place only 1 star was the automatic service charge attached. I disagree with this restaurants billing policy. They stronghold you to pay for service, even if the service is bad. Overall, the taste is good, but if your going to charge me $26 for a plate, at least give me some silverware and clean my tables. I have been here a few times since the early 2000s. This place needs a makeover. Tables are dirty outside and inside. Charging for high quality prices for a place that doesnt deliver the ambiance. Total dissapointment on my visit. "My experience only." Ask them to remove the service charge. Complete BS

    Photos
    Alegria - Bar..watching with 2 little screens

    Bar..watching with 2 little screens

    Alegria
    Alegria - Front view of night club.

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    Front view of night club.

    El Paisa Restaurant - colombian - Updated October 2026

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