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This is where my wife and I had our first date back in 2019. We loved it then and we love it now. And of course we've been bringing friends and family here since then, and mind you, we don't live in Long Beach so we drive quite a way to come here! The food alone is worth the drive! But also being in this part of Long Beach is a pretty sweet location, given the different shops and bars and the walkability and vibe in the area. The service is typically good whenever we've been here. 10/10 recommend.
The hummus was super flavorful. Pairing it with pita was great. The lamb special was also quite a delight. The rice was cooked perfectly and the lamb was super tender
So we came here since they have gluten free options for my sister and niece. However, their ac was not working very well. It was quite toasty inside though. I do wish it has AC since it was warm outside. The server was very friendly but we also waited awhile for our food. This place had been recommended to me years ago. It's street parking so good luck. The flash fried cauliflower was very good and we all enjoyed it. I just wish it was a little warmer. We also got the Open Sesame Combo-with beef kabob and chicken, garlic sauce, parsley, sumac, basmati rice; and Ali's Favorite -prime top sirloin, spicy roasted tomato, onion, basmati rice. However their rice is no GF so we couldn't get that but I asked for more salad instead and they wanted to charge $3 more, really. That seemed a bit silly. I should be able to get a diff't side if I can't get rice. It wasn't even a premium side. Whatever. The flavors were good and we enjoyed our meal. Busy restaurant. Worth a try.
Gets my vote every time! I'm a regular at Open Sesame and absolutely love their food. It's always consistent, flavorful, good portions, and friendly staff. The Lebanese culture if felt through the restaurant and music is playing in every room. I love the ambiance too. Perfect for lunch, date night, or casual dinner.
I'm glad that I tried this place during the summer stroll in Belmont shore so I had to come and visit see what they're all about. I ordered the Sultan which came with lamb chops, filet mignon and grilled shrimp which your choice of dip and salad. I chose the hummus and tabouleh My friend ordered the beef kofta we got these potatoes super good. I like citrusy and hanging these potatoes came out surprised, but I didn't like was a two dollar up charge on the garlic dip the garlic dip that they gave you in the beginning. I thought that was free, but it wasn't. Come here on a Friday night so this place gets pretty packed
So I was out here last week flown out from Sacramento airport (I live in Stockton CA) visiting Long Beach staying at a successful friends crib and I had a great time and had too much great food. So.. Mediterranean/ Arab type food... have I had it before? Not quite really but we stopped by this place and I snapped a photo but quite can't remember the name but I know it's kebab and something else like beef as medium - and one thing I was taught by the SoCal homie is get your steak medium, or medium rare if you fancy - and not chicken as a main .. dish but maybe as a side. And from what I was told Mediterranean food is kinda healthy. I straight up devoured this plate clean and it was delicious. Very delicious and yes I'm back in NorCal and I couldn't find anything near me that compares so I'd have to go out of town. But this experience and food here at open sesame is worth stopping by for good eats. And when we were done the waitress asked if we'd like to rinse our hands- she got this wand of some sort out and sprinkled it and the water had some scent. Now that's world class customer service and surely tip well generously. I plan to come to visit Long Beach every summer to get out from the hellfire 100+ degree heat in the Central Valley in Stockton and then damn mosquitoes- and likely we will dine here again!
I can't believe it took me this long to try Open Sesame! I'm a CSULB alumni and walked past this charming restaurant so many times. So glad I finally got to stop by many years later for dinner! Parking was easy (on a weeknight). Plenty of street parking and many open meters but I can see it being very difficult on weekends. Bake in some time to find parking! There's both indoor and outdoor seating at this location. This inside is cozy and there's a second room for additional seating. I went on a Thursday night and it was slammed. They do not take reservations but they do have a waitlist via toast that you can join while you walk around and wait for your table. Plenty to do and see on 2nd street. We ordered the party platter for 4 people! It was the perfect amount of food with leftovers to take home. Everything was cooked to PERFECTION. Our beef was a textbook medium rare and was so juicy and tender, as was the rest of the meat. The chicken was so moist and flavorful, as was all the shawarma. All meats were seasoned beautifully. The rice underneath was stunning as well and really caught all the juices from the meat on top. The roasted tomatoes, onions, and pickles were the perfect compliments to help freshen up the palette during the meal. The sauces were amazing and there was a clear favorite (the garlic sauce) which was annihilated by all four of us. Service was friendly! It was very packed so it was slow at times but understandably so. They come by and give you orange blossom water for your hands post meal - what a treat! We smelled amazing! NO NOTES FOR OPEN SESAME! I have to come back with more friends! We did have an issue but it was with another patron who had the audacity to yell at my table (while I was in the restroom) for "having too much fun"?!?! This is a public restaurant and it was loud as hell in there because it's tight and everyone talks over each other, not to mention the open kitchen. The energy in the restaurant is exciting and frenetic. If you want a quiet dinner f*cking STAY HOME and leave the streets to those of us who have had a WEEK and want to enjoy a fun dinner with friends. We will be back and we will have even MORE FUN, xoxo.
Walked in at 6:30 with no reservation and was seated immediately. Service was great and food was delicious and filling. Had the Flash Fried Cauliflower and it came with a dip and it was so yummy. We both got the Open Sesame combo, one with beef kafta and one with chicken kafta. Both with open sesame salad. There was also complementary pita that our waitress refilled when empty. Overall super quick service and delicious food, would definitely come back.
We stopped by here on a weekday because it was one of the dog-friendly restaurants near Rosie's Dog Beach. They have multiple outside seating areas where you can sit with your doggo. Ambiance (5/5): Although we didn't sit inside, it was super cute, with classy boho vibes. The restroom was clean and well-decorated (although, not gonna lie, I don't know how I felt about the big mirror facing the toilet). The outside patio area was airy, and although right by the street, I didn't find it unpleasant. Service (3/5): It was just so-so. They sat us down quickly, gave us our menus and checked on us maybe twice. It wasn't super busy, but we had to wait to ask for things like extra plates and water for our dog. Food Overall (5/5): Food was delicious. We got the beef shawarma lunch special and got fries for the side (extra charge) and also the chicken shawarma lunch special with the hummus side. Beef Shawarma (4/5): It had a nice toasty flavor, perhaps from the spices, and the pickled veggies really complemented it. My only complaint was that I wish it had a bit more of the white sauce (maybe adding more hummus would have helped). It was also strangely a bit watery, maybe from the veggies. Overall, it was still a yummy wrap. Chicken Shawarma (5/5): The chicken shawarma tasted more balanced to me overall. I don't recall the meat being dry, although I did also slather it with a bit of hummus. I thoroughly enjoyed this wrap. Fries side (5/5): Their fries are made in house and it tastes so fresh. It was crispy on the outside yet still gooey and moist on the inside. I'm not sure if they make their own ketchup too, as it looked clumpier and tasted really fresh too. The kids gobbled this up. Hummus and pita (5/5): It came with a generous amount of both hummus and pita. The hummus was well flavored and blended, and it really complemented everything on the table. The pocket pita bread was not what I had in mind (I'm used to thicker ones), but the kids really loved it overall. Ice cream (4.5/5): We ordered two scoops from the dessert menu. They were both really thick, creamy and almost chewy like liquidized mochi. It was a very interesting texture but nonetheless a nice tasty treat on a hot day. I much preferred the vanilla bean, as the pistachio tasted and looked rather artificial (and I'm a pistachio ice cream lover). This place had so many to-go orders during the afternoon we were there. I can see why. Food is super fresh and tasty. I think we will be back the next time we are visiting.
The Lebanese food was perfect. The Shawarma had the perfect amount of seasoning, the hummus was delicious, and the salad was amazing! The shawerma had great quality and wasn't over seasoned. The waitress was so sweet and charged my phone because it was dying! The ambience is really cute and quiet!
Grilled Tiger Shrimp was delicious, fresh and full of flavor. Portion was perfect and enjoyed the ratios of salad, hummus, rice and protein. A handful of Mediterranean Restaurants give you too much and not enough protein but Open Seasame was perfect. Experience was overall great and we enjoyed the variety of dishes. Everything we had tasted great and didn't disappoint. Only disappointing experience is we were eating outside in the evening and the restaurant had small lamps that attracted bugs. We appreciated the lights as a way to read the menu but needed an anti bug candle too.
My friend introduced us to this place in 2024. I've been addicted ever since and always stop by when I'm in Long Beach. I always get the same thing: the chicken tawook plate w spicy hummus, no salad, w extra rice and no pickles. The spicy hummus isn't spicy to me. Their yogurt cucumber dip is so good and refreshing. I also highly recommend their spicy potato's. They will be the best potatoes you've ever had. This restaurant is full of art inside and their restrooms are very clean. I recommend parking on Corona street if you don't want to pay for parking.
It has been YEARS (15 or so) since I've eaten here. We were seated quickly, though we sat for a bit before being acknowledged by the waitress. What we ordered was good, though I enjoy a few other restaurants on 2nd St. more....
1 year ago
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
2 years ago
I've been coming here for nearly two decades, and it's by far one of the best Mediterranean restaurants around! I highly recommend this place. read more
1 year ago
9 months ago
Business owner information
Jacqui S.
Thank you so much for the kind words. We’re glad you enjoyed the…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Jacqui S.
Thank you for sharing this — it means so much to hear from someone…
1 year ago
1 year ago
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
2 years ago
2 years ago
Business owner information
Jacqui S.
Thank you for such a thoughtful and glowing review! We’re thrilled to…
Great experience! Gaby our server was friendly and on top of everything even though it was busy evening. The area we were in was dog friendly so our pups got to hang out too. The food was good with balanced flavors. Exactly what you'd expect from this popular and always busy spot on 2nd street. read more
1 year ago
Came here with my best friend who was visiting back home from college; she's been wanting to try this place for her birthday. We wanted to try a little of everything, so we ordered the Sultan to share. It was perfect for two to share! The Sultan came with rice, hummus, salad/greens, and pita bread. All were good, can't really go wrong with those. It also came with three proteins. We both liked the shrimp, but thought the filet was dry/tough and a bit over cooked (we ordered medium). The lamb chops was absolutely delicious! Melt in your mouth! We both agreed we would come back to get a lamb plate each next time she came home. Service was good (hostess, server, busser). I love the interior of the restaurant and even sitting outside with the heat lamps would have been nice. I was pleasantly surprised when our server sprayed our hands with some fragrance at the end of the night! Overall good experience! Definitely worth the wait! PS - order a fresh coconut to drink! read more
A strong pick for Mediterranean food. The ambiance was cozy and serving size is filling. Be sure to go with the fried cauliflower as a starter. I had the chicken shawarma plate with fattoush salad (so good!) and spicy hummus. Can't go wrong. The service was prompt. It is street parking so be sure to take that into account. read more
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Chris H.
Thank you for your review, Irena. We appreciate your kind words.
Food was good. But when I got the bill, I was like, "oh no not for this price" - meat appetizer (fried). It was OK. Kind of bland. Better with the tabouli -watermelon cheese mint This is a very specific pallet. It wasn't as wild as I expected it to be. But it also wasn't appealing to my palate at all...at all -The fried cauliflower was good. Like, it was amazing to write home about where the highly recommend. But it was cooked well. And I liked it was tabouli -chicken kebab plate. There was a lot on the plate. The rice was good. The chicken was good. The garlic was great. The hummus was a little bland. But mix with the garlic it was good -Tiger shRimp " just OK, nothing special" - boyfriend -garlic potatoes When I tell you that I'm a garlic scene. It's a problem. I don't think there's anybody who likes garlic more than me. But I will tell you, these potatoes are extreme. I did not like the texture of them. They were kind of soggy. Not fully cooked crispy enough. Did not like -garlic chicken wrap "So good wow!" -cousin Service was great! It was our servers third day and she was helpful and patient. Manager was great!!! The ambience was fine. nothing special read more
1 year ago
One of my all time favorite restaurants. Delicious food. Wonderful atmosphere. Lots of nostalgia back to college. Best falafels I'm town! Food: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Experience: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Good For: date night. Recommends: Baba Ghannouj, Chicken Shawarma plate, spicy potatoes. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Jacqui S.
Dear Jacob - Thank you for your continued loyalty and for taking the…
3 years ago
Finally tried Open Sesame for the first time with a friend for dinner after hearing all the hype. I was not disappointed and will be back with more friends! We came around 7pm on a Thursday, there was no wait we were able to get a nice seat inside. The service was quick to get our food. Only pointer would be for the wait staff to be more attentive to refilling water quicker or just leaving a bottle at the table. THE SULTAN Lamb chops, tiger shrimp, filet mignon, parsley, onion, sumac, basmati rice 3.8/5 Review - The food was delicious, Mediterranean food you cannot mess up it's always great. Platter was a big portion, the quality of meat was good, and came with sides as well. read more
Business owner information
Jacqui S.
Thanks for giving us a try and for the great feedback! We’re so glad…
Was at the Eye Doctor next door and decided to stop in for lunch. Street parking is available on the side streets. The restaurant does have outdoor seating, indoor tables and high top tables. The staff is very friendly and the service was great. To start we had garlic potatoes with the garlic dipping sauce. I strong recommend trying these. The sauce was absolutely AMAZING! I had the Zataar Panini and I added the garlic dipping sauce to it ( that sauce really makes everything better). read more
Definitely recommend if you're looking for authentic Lebanese/Mediterranean food.. Good food and good location: Mezza sampler, Spicy garlic potatoes and filet mignon kabob plate are the go-tos! Can't go wrong with the meats here. Lots of variety including Vegetarian and vegan options. Wine, beers and seltzers available. Overall, good service as well. Wait times can be extended depending on date/time. Walk around 2nd st. before or after! Enjoy! read more
2 years ago
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
8 months ago
Business owner information
Jacqui S.
Thank you so much for all the years of support. It really means a lot…
1 year ago
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
Wow, this food was DELICIOUS. There was so many options on the menu to pick from, it was hard to decide! The spicy crispy potato appetizer with the garlic sauce was TO DIE FOR. Everything that we got was so good. Our server was also extremely kind, attentive, and friendly. Fair pricing, as well. 10/10 would recommend and can't wait to go again! read more
Open Sesame is located on 2nd street. The decor is very beautiful with hand painted art, to the walls being lined with Arabic, and the traditional tiles. They place does get busy during dinner time, which we were there on a Tuesday night. They have indoor and outdoor seasoning. They have traditional Arabic music that is not too loud so you can be able to have a conversation. 5/5 customer service: the customer service was amazing as the waiter and I believe owner went around each times always making sure everything was good. Even giving their own recommendations. 3/5 food: The free pita didn't come out till later we got our meal and it wasn't warm. I've had fresh handmade pita and this was a little flat and needs more dough texture in it. The flash fried cauliflower was meh. It's needs to be cooked more crispy as it tasted still raw. The grilled halloumi cheese and watermelon was nothing special just plain watermelon (not roasted or cooked) and cheese. These appetizers was not worth the price. Maybe like $8. I wanted to try something new like Lebanese pizza so I got The zaatar pizza, maybe I ordered wrong but I'm just not a fan of so much seasoning. It got all up in my mouth and my face. I wouldn't recommend this a date food. Not pictured here was the sea bass, which I liked for how it was cooked of being smoothly to cut through and eat. I recommend adding more rice to the dish as the ratio was uneven to the fish and the roasted veggies. Additionally, the price was overrated and should have been $20. The lamp chop was the all time favorite. It was smooth to eat and juicy. Again not worth $31, maybe $20. I do like that the water comes immediately with lemon. read more
5 years ago
Safety: take out or dine-in is available. The patio as well as the street patio is available for seating. Mask is required upon entry and can be taken off once seated inside no vaccination card is needed. Food: 4/5. The mezza sampler is a must if your hungry!! Everything on that plate is delicious!! Also the open sesame combo is a great plate if you want to try most of there meat. Ambiance: definitely has that Mediterranean vibes and decor. Service: 5/5 our waiter was very attentive and always made sure we were okay. The staff are wearing mask at all times. read more
1 year ago
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The food here is really great, but the prices are steep! I highly recommend the chicken tawook and the spicy garlic potatoes. My friend ordered the beef and she found it very dry. We ordered the labne cheesecake and I thought it was decent, but it's not a "must-order" item. Overall, I do recommend this place for a nice date night or a fun evening out with friends. Great atmosphere and tasty food!! read more
3 years ago
Service was great! The wait wasn't too long. This is one of our date night spots if we are craving Mediterranean. The garlic potatoes are so bomb! Pictured is 2 different times I've came and the food is always on point! read more
2 years ago
Always a pleasure to dine here! My parents and I have been coming to this restaurant ever since I was a little girl and my friend's dad was a chef here. I always enjoy the lively, Arabian ambiance and they have the most hospitable servers. Although there are no reservations, i recommend joining their Google/Yelp waitlist about an hour before you plan to eat as they are usually quite crowded. My go to dishes are the mezze platter to start and the soltani combo plate to share with another person! read more
More info about Open Sesame
5215 E 2nd St
Long Beach, CA 90803
Directions
(562) 621-1698
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https://www.opensesamegrill.com
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Ask the Community - Open Sesame
This place is listed today as having outdoor seating. Is it still available? If it is, is it covered or heated? How many people can sit there? / June 8, 2023
Depending on the weather, there is outdoor seating that covered by an awning that has a rollup, clear plastic that can be dropped down, depending on whether or not, it's raining or too cold
Hello, what is the situation for Ramadan is it a buffet or by order?
Always by order
Do they still have half price bottles of wines on Mondays?
Yes! We do have half off select bottles of wine every Monday and Wednesday (excluding holidays)
Do they have a corkage fee? Are signature cocktails served at the Long Beach location as well?
Hi Ana, We only server beer and wine ar our Long Beach location and yes there is a corkage fee of $20. Thanks and hope to see you soon.
Is this hand slaughter zabiha halal or machine cut zabiha halal?
Our meat is Zabiha Halal but it is not hand slaughtered. The machine cut is very precise, and is an approved method by our certifier, many Imams and Islamic organizations as one of the permitted Halal slaughtering methods. Please do note that all…
Will you ever bring back your weekend specials?
We have brought back our Kabssa on Saturdays and Molokhia on Sundays. We’re still working on bringing back a few other items so keep checking our online menu for any updates. Thank you for reaching out!
What is the liquid that you sprinkle on customer's hands after their meal?
That would be rose blossom water. We hope you enjoy!
Do you take reservations for dinner?
Yes reservations would be best as it gets full on certain days and times.
Which delivery service do you use? I can't find the restaurant listed in any of usual Grubhub etx
Hi Rose, if you go through our website opensesamegrill.com and then choose the 'order online' button. This will direct you to either a pickup or delivery option. Thanks and…
Do the falafel have eggs in them or are they vegan?
Our Falafel does not have eggs and are vegan.
They don't allow reservations on Friday nights. Any chance of getting a table around 7?
I hardly have issues getting a table on Friday nights. Also, there are 2 locations in the same street. It's not typical to wait a very long time!
Are there accommodations/reservations for a big party of 20+ people?
Yes online you can reserve it I believe
I'm confused are they Halal says they serve wine..?
They do serve wine for those who don't observe, but meats/food are halal
Is there parking?
There is parking on the street and surrounding streets. There is a parking lot behind Rite Aid across the street if there isn't any on the street in front. There is also the Bank of America parking lot and yes it does cost a few dollars, 2nd Street…
Can i call and order for to go?
Yes You can :) You can also order online & pick it up. Super easy!
Do you have parking?
There's meter parking on the street but it could get busy on the weekends and if you get lucky you can find free parking but not near the restaurant you might have to walk.
What meats are marinated in yogurt? Is the beef kabob or filet mignon kabob dairy free?
The Chicken Tawook and lamb kabobs are marinated in yogurt.
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