Phenomenal experience! I brought my husband here last night for a trip down memory lane and we had the best time. I graduated CSULB in 2001, so I remember when Open Sesame opened up and it's still delicious! We ordered the garlic potatoes, yogurt dip, and chicken skewers with spicy hummus and the Open Sesame salad-- everything was homemade, fresh, and so tasty. The manager was friendly and hands on and our server (who has been serving there for all of 25 years!) was sweet and hard working. I was so happy to be back and see this restaurant thriving. We look forward to visiting next time we're in LB. read more

Solid choice all the time. It's definitely one of my favorites, and I am always looking forward to coming back. Chicken Tawook is my go to. Flavorful and authentic flavor. read more

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Open sesame is my go to spot when visiting Long Beach. Amazing food, the best service, and great ambiance, whether you're outdoors or inside. Dahlia was our server and she was such a ray of sunshine! Very attentive, sweet, and just an all around fun person. Highly suggest the chicken tawook platter and the garlic potatoes. read more

Yoooooooooooooooo! This place is a banger, hits the spot but is on the pricer side for mediterranean food especially for the amount of food too, typical Mediterranean spots cost about $18 and theres always enough for left overs. This place charges $34 for the Sultan comes with 2 very thinly sliced racks of lamb, 3 pieces of prawns i believe, and 3 pieces of filet mignon but I don't like filet mignon so I picked the beef kafta, it also comes with your choice of normal hummus or spicy hummus, I suggest the spicy hummus since its not very spicy anyways, I wish theres a way to make it even spicier also almost forgot to mention they also include a small salad choices and i dont remember the names I got the salad with the fried thinly sliced deep fried pita on top which was already good, I also ordered a side of cucumber yogurt for extra sauce for the salad on the side. Family got the combination that comes with the chicken kebab, beef kafta and beef kebab for $28 which they said was cooked a bit well done instead of medium like how we originally ordered it. The service was great though, we came on a Sunday around 1pm so it was busy i was worried it would take forever but the nice lady at front said it would take about 30 minutes so we walked around 2nd street and she called me in about 5 minutes because there was a table that opened up outside. The ambiance was quiet inside so we were all able to talk to each other while eating. read more

Open Sesame - sultan combo plate and the combo kebab plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

PRO TIP: Take advantage of their lunch specials, which average $14 and come with a pita sandwich of your choice and a side. TLDR OVERVIEW: This is a lovely Lebanese restaurant located on 2nd Street in the Belmont Shore neighborhood. I can only speak to the lighter foods served during lunch hour, but every item I tried was tasty, well-portioned. This is a great option for an affordable, healthy lunch in an area not known for being affordable. See below for more deets on all the items I ordered. WHAT I ORDERED: * Spicy vegetable soup - This soup was OK; needs a healthy amount of lemon juice to elevate flavor. Also, not very spicy. * Fattoush salad - Basic but enjoyable with fresh, crisp vegetables. * Chicken shawarma - Chicken was juicy and seasoned to perfection. They also put a healthy amount in the pita wrap. Pickled wild cucumber also delicious and good compliment to savory chicken. So tasty, I nearly locked the wrapper! * Chicken tawook - This sandwich was tasty, but not as good as the shawarma. The sauce is divine but they were very light on chicken. read more

Open Sesame - Side of salad and spicy vegetable soup - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

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The food is amazing. The service is wicked fast. The ambiance, outdoors or indoors is really inviting and cozy. It's a must try. Lentil Soup & Falafel are my two favorite. read more

FOOD 5/5: Open Sesame in Long Beach serves some of the best Mediterranean food we've ever had. Every dish is bursting with authentic flavors. For appetizers, we love the Grilled Halloumi Cheese & Watermelon, Spicy Garlic Potatoes, Flash Fried Cauliflower, and Arayes. For entrees, our favorite is the Open Sesame Combo with spicy hummus and tabouleh. The garlic sauce is absolutely heavenly--I'd eat it with everything if I could! SERVICE 5/5: The service here is consistently excellent. The staff is warm, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. AMBIANCE: The ambiance is inviting and full of charm. The restaurant has a cozy, vibrant atmosphere that feels lively yet comfortable, making it great for a date night, family dinner, or catching up with friends. The Middle Eastern decor, soft lighting, and enticing aromas of spices and grilled meats transport you as soon as you walk in. If you're lucky, snag a spot on the patio to enjoy the fresh air while dining. read more

One of my favorite local middle eastern food spots. You may have to make a reservation for dinner time as they are almost always busy. Although on the pricey side, Open Sesame never disappoints with its flavor and portion size. Staff is always friendly and restaurant is always clean. A neighborhood favorite. read more

Fresh hot flat pita bread, I loved the baba ganouj and we got the Saturday special which is a lamb shank, nice size. Very special! Try the Lebanese beer they have if you like beer :) read more

Let's begin with the smooth, creamy, obviously homemade hummus appetizer. I could eat just that and be totally satisfied! Served with pitas. I ordered chicken tawook with tabouli and spicy hummus what an amazing combination of flavors. We sat on the front patio with that beautiful beach vibe and cool breeze and had attentive service that made the whole experience better. Prepare to pay the price of eating great food in a great location, however. read more

The food, as always, was exceptional. I frequently visit this restaurant at least twice a month, and the service has consistently been top-notch. However, today's experience was a significant departure from the norm. For the first time in months, I had the tall, older male server, and I was disappointed by the service. I brought a group of six, and we started with a few appetizers and several orders of Labne. When we asked for more bread to pair with the Labne, it took him approximately 10 minutes each time to bring it out. When the bread did arrive, it was only a half piece per person, and we quickly ran out again. We requested more, and he appeared visibly annoyed by the request. After our meal, we all ordered the Baklawa Crumble. Despite him bringing four out of the five orders, I still hadn't received mine after 15 minutes. By the time it arrived, everyone else had finished, and we had to ask the busser for assistance. When the check finally arrived 20 minutes later, it included an automatic gratuity. It seemed clear that the server was less concerned with providing good service, knowing he would receive a guaranteed tip regardless of his performance. This level of service was VERY DISSAPOINTING and not at all reflective of the usual standard here. read more

If you're looking for an upscale Mediterranean restaurant with great vibes, look no further. Open Sesame is one of my favorite locations for a date night that feels fancy, but won't break your bank. The service is friendly and efficient, the only thing to fault is that due to their popularity, it can get pretty busy and as a result, kind of loud. Nonetheless, a super fun and DELICIOUS spot! I really don't think there's a single miss on the menu and everything tastes fresh. Love this place so much! read more

Open Sesame - Chicken Kafta and Open Sesame Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Not a very big place (space wise) but big on flavor as far as my experience with Mediterranean food. Opened some 25 years ago. Appreciates Mr. Ali Kobeissi's (from Lebanon) knowledge about this kind of food and bringing it over and share it. Service was good. Jamie's attending to us much appreciated. My chicken kafta was soft, moist and well seasoned. Loved the babaganus (eggplant) side dish that came with my plate. Salad was good too.?My first time and enjoyed it a lot. I loved their tabuli and cucumber appetizers. Tried a piece of my son's beef kafta. It's mild in flavor, soft and juicy. Loved it. Also tried a piece of my daughter in law's chicken tawook. Very well seasoned and makes a perfect pair with rice. Very good and enjoyable experience. read more

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First time at Open Sesame. I went for lunch with a friend. I had the chicken shawarma pita which is sort of my go-to test item. It was good - but not great. My buddy gave me a few things off his plate to try and they were good. I'd go back perhaps at dinner to try something different. I never had Turkish coffee before so that was fun to try. I'd love to try it somewhere else to have a comparison. Service was both attentive and excellent. read more

Open Sesame - Turkish coffee yum! - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Good food, good service and beautiful establishment. We ordered the combination plate with beef and chicken, a pita, and the garlic lemon potatoes. My only complaint is my beef was well done when I asked for medium rare. Overall, still love this place. read more

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Service started off while but slowly seemed to die out. Overall, the food was really good I would definitely go for the spicy hummus. The regular hummus didn't really seem to have a whole lot of flavor. A really good place to go for a good lunch outside when the weather is nice. read more

Open Sesame - Open sesame combo - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Came here tonight with some work friends and there was no wait to be seated at 6pm on a Monday. One of my friends comes here every month with her son, so definitely a regular. She ordered us the fried potatoes and cauliflower to start plus a bottle of Juggernaut Cabernet. They had 3 other wines on special but I'm so glad she ordered this one, it was delicious. My Go-To entree for Greek, Mediterranean and Lebanese is a vegetarian appetizer platter. It gives you a nice mix of different flavors and this one did not disappoint! 3 dolmas, tabouli salad, hummus, tzatziki, and this thick yummy yogurt topped with olive oil. I know that may sound weird but was so good, slightly sweet. There were pitas brought to the table to share but I wish I had gotten my own order of pitas with this dish. You definitely need pitas for 3 of the elements and I didn't want to seem piggy. Very good meal and a relaxed atmosphere. Definitely will be back again! read more

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The BEST food! Seriously anything you order will be delicious. Grape leaves, hummus, onions, meat, etc. The service was excellent!

Got seated right away on a Friday it without reservations as they have indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor seating has two different dining rooms. We had the open sesame combo which came with both chicken and ground beef with rice and a side salad. The portion for the meat was a little small but flavors were there. read more

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I'm so disappointed this place went from great to nasty. Within years. The meat was disgusting. The fries were microwaved. The cauliflower was with old oil. The service was rude. Everything about this place was disgusting. I will never step foot an open sesame again. And yes I packed my food to go I paid over $130 for nasty food I rather give it to someone that is hungry than to throw it away. read more

Great quality of food, Ambieance and service. I love the fact you can get into the wait list thru Yelp! read more

Open Sesame - Chicken Kabob Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

We were seated quickly and experienced amazing service, food and ambiance. Good pricing for quantity and quality. I will be back for sure whenever in the area! read more

Food was so good and service was excellent but not all items was at the same level . Parking was easy .

This is the best place ever!!! The food the people that works here everything is first class!!!! I know many restaurants around the world and this is home read more

After a game of golf around the area, we decided to try this place and we came hungry. It's like any typical Persian restaurant you have the normal fare in the menu. I ordered the Filet mignon kebab (really tender) but felt like it lacked flavor. The babaganoush was really good and definitely order again if we come back. Service was great and friendly. I think parking is hard on busy days so be prepared. read more

Excellent lamb chops, garlic potatoes, and spicy hummus. Great place for finger foodies and share items. Their house salad is bright refreshing and comes with crispy pita as croutons. There's usually a long wait. So, put your name down, then go for an hour walk around Belmont Shores/2nd street. read more

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Best meal I've ate in a longgggg time. I always told people that Open Sesame had the best Lebanese food in the area and I have been going there for over a decade. It had been 4 years since I had been back and it did not disappoint.. I need to come back once a month read more

Open Sesame - Chicken shawarma with Baba Ghannouj vn gf & Tabouleh vn r. Best meal I've had in a long time - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Garlic potatoes are the best!!!!!! Good proportions, cozy place and delicious food. The waiting time is worth it. read more

This is one of my favorite Mediterranean restaurants in Long Beach! The food is seasoned to perfection and freshly made. I love the Mezza Sampler Appetizer to start, with a main plate of the Open Sesame Combo! If authentic Lebanese Mediterranean Food is of your liking, this is the place to be! read more

Open Sesame - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Great choice for Lebanese/Mediterranean cuisine! This was recommended to me by a friend who joined & the food was well done, good quality, & delicious. I really enjoyed the mezze sampler to start. It really sets a nice palette for the meal ahead. I'm really happy that they were generous with the pita & refilled our basket. My Moroccan mint tea was quite pleasant & soothing. For my entrée, I enjoyed the chicken tawook & chose fattoush + spicy hummus for my sides, to not repeat anything from the sampler. It was a great combination. The meat was tender, juicy, & tasty. I really wish they offered kanafe for dessert, but I was pretty full by the end anyways. ------ The location is in a pretty busy area, so parking can be tricky, but fortunately we added ourselves to the wait list before arriving, because people were waiting outside for quite awhile & we only needed to wait 2min by the time we walked up. I didn't see the interior, but the exterior is very small & if you like to people watch, the people waiting will be watching you as well, & salivating over each dish that arrives, since everyone's so close together. ----- We had a good server, who was polite & patient with us. It took awhile for the group to decide on all the orders, but our waitress didn't press us or make us feel rushed. I was confused by the regular discontent glances from the hostesses that were inappropriately dressed for a work environment, but I'm not gunna drop a star for that unless it feels not hospitable on a future visit. All around, this was a worthwhile place to grab food. read more

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This place used to offer decent portions and affordable. NOT NO MORE. I missed this restaurant.

Visited Open Sesame in Long Beach for some Lebanese cuisine. Fresh ingredients and attentive service set the tone. While some dishes lacked flavor (lentil soup & veggie appetizer), the ambience and shawarma stole the show. The chicken shawarma is renowned for its delicious and aromatic flavors. The key to its taste lies in the marinade, which typically includes a blend of spices such as cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, garlic, and sometimes cinnamon. Perfect spot if you crave Lebanese food in Belmont Shores. read more

Open Sesame - Chicken Shawarma FTW - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

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The menu had a wide variety of vegetarian dishes, which was a big plus. Everything I tried was flavorful and well-prepared. The service was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. I also really appreciated the outdoor seating--perfect for enjoying a relaxed meal in nice weather. Definitely a spot I'd return to! read more

Favorite restaurant ever! Been coming here for over a decade, and have never been disappointed! Staff is incredible!! Food is legendary!! read more

Open Sesame - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

I was taken to Open Sesame to celebrate Mother's Day with my husband and daughter. It was extremely busy, but after we were placed on the waitlist. We only had to wait 20 minutes and were seated outside to enjoy the great weather. Our food was so delicious. Starting with spicy garlic potatoes,spicy hummus and Baba Ghanoush. My entree was the Grilled Tiger Shrimp which was so delicious. My husband ordered the Skewers plate of lamb and beef. And my daughter ordered the spicy veggie soup. They both loved their meal as well. We will definitely be coming back. Jack was our server, he was very attentive and friendly. The food was so fresh and perfectly spiced. Thank you, see you soon. read more

Okay this place is incredible. I went with a group, some of which had been before, and they had raves about it. Lebanese is one of my top favorite foods. Open Sesame is delicious! On a Wednesday night during the week it was super busy but we thankfully got a table for 6 without waiting. They have both indoor and outdoor dining options. Our waitress was awesome and super timely with service. We took advantage of some wine specials and everything paired well with our meal. I love the customization options and opted for the chicken shawarma plate with a fattoush salad and spicy hummus. The pickles on the side were an added treat for sure. I really wish I lived closer to be able to visit this spot more often! read more

Open Sesame - Chicken shawarma with fattoush salad and spicy hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

I LOVE THIS PLACE! The food is delicious, you can't fail with whatever you get on the menu. Gotta get the garlic sauce, it's soooo goood! The service is great, everyone is kind and friendly. And finally the ambiance is beautiful! They have beautifully designed the entire inside, and catches your eye and attention. One of my fav places to eat. read more

Open Sesame - Filet mignon skewer plate, delish!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

The food was ok.... We ordered the beef kafta kebab, lemon potatoes, and the filet mignon plate. Wasn't terrible but it wasn't the greatest. 5 stars goes to our waitress Debra or Deborah. She made our experience amazing. If it wasn't for her I would've given this place 2 or 3 stars. She was super busy holding down 5+ tables but she still helped everyone in a good timely manner. We will only come back if we get to sit in her section read more

The food is great here it was a rediscovery for me because I had not been back in years! The service was great when I went I particularly loved the waitress Makayla she was so sweet!!! I also enjoy how every time at the end of the meal they offer you orange blossom water it smells so great! read more

This is an all-time favorite. We have visited and enjoyed this restaurant, ambiance, food, music and service for YEARS and will continue to do so. Excellent and experiential in every way. Grateful for Open Sesame. Shukran jazilan dayiman - alaimtinan! read more