My wife, our daughter, and myself all had lunch at Open Sesame. Jennifer P. was our server. She was very attentive to our wishes, and made great suggestions to us when we asked. The food and service was excellent. The ambiance was nice too. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Open Sesame serves excellent Lebanese food with fresh ingredients, authentic flavors, and generous portions. The shawarma, hummus, falafel, and grilled meats are especially delicious. My favorite is the garlic sauce and the habanero salsa!!!! The staff is friendly and attentive, the welcoming atmosphere makes every visit enjoyable. Whether you're dining in or ordering takeout, Open Sesame is a fantastic choice for anyone craving high-quality Mediterranean cuisine. Highly recommended! read more

I dream about their watermelon salad. Great service and lively vibe. Their hummus is to die for and I love their open sesame platter.

Open Sesame never disappoints. Their Mediterranean food is some of the best I've had in Long Beach, especially when it comes to the quality and flavor. The portions are generous, the atmosphere is great, and everything comes out tasting amazing. One of my go to spots whenever I'm craving Mediterranean food! read more

Still the same after all these years!! Always nice to come back and experience the same quality and hospitality of this place. Nothing beats this place. Still a Belmont Shore favorite! Trust!! read more

Where do I even start? The Filet Mignon Kabob, COME ON-Absolutely blew my mind! Garlic sauce was on point as well. I wish I would've tried more things. It was my first time dining here last night and Anica took very good care of my date and I :) So, I wanted to give her a shoutout because she was awesome! With her recommendation, we ended up trying the Baklawa Crumble and with one bite it became my new favorite dessert of all time (We had it with Vanilla ice cream) I'll be back here very very soon :) Food-Vibe-Service-Value: 11/10 honestly read more

Food is always so delicious!!! I love coming here for fresh and tasty Mediterranean cuisine. Staff is friendly and attentive. The location of course is PEAK. read more

Open Sesame - Ali's favorite and a chicken salad with a fresh coconut - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Superb food and vibes. The decor was so cool & pretty, the servers nice too. We got the garlic potato's & garlic sauce, vegan entree, and falafel pita sandwich. Everything was so flavorful & falafels were so crispy. Would def come back & highly recommend. We had a birthday & they sang & gave a baklawa which was nice. It was not very sweet tho read more

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Great location, our server did a great job explaining everything prob the reason I'm giving 3 stars instead of two. The portions are small, hummus tasted watered down and they put 2 pieces of kibbeh in the appetizer. Tabouleh didn't taste fresh, like it's been in the fridge. Grape leaves were very bland, not citrusy (Trader Joes canned ones are more flavorful). Bread was not freshly baked like you would get from an ethnic Lebanese restaurant. I wouldn't come here again but good for a person craving Lebanese food and happens to be in the area read more

Open Sesame - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Soooo good! We got the mezze plate (subbed baba Ghannouj for grape leaves) to start and then I had the chicken tawook (2 skewer side) along with the flash fried cauliflower. My fav dips were the hummus and baba ghannouj. My gf also ordered the skewers plate with chicken tawook and lamb kabob. Everything was super delicious! We literally couldn't stop eating. I wish they were open until at least 10pm. There were so many people waiting to get in at 8pm that it's a shame they aren't open later. read more

Open Sesame - Skewers Plate (Chicken tawook & lamb kabob), Flash Fried Cauliflower, chicken tawook (2 skewers) side - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon to have lunch with a friend, and was greeted by one of the best waitresses I've ever had! Yes, you Dalya!! I've been here several times before, but decided to change it up this time. The entire order was recommended by Dalya who did a phenomenal job! We ordered the lamb kabssa + hummus and the baklawa ice cream for dessert! Reminded me why I used to come here so often back in college. Dalya also helped us feel at home and even gave us a good laugh throughout the meal! Great ambience as always and just a great dining experience! read more

Open Sesame - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Super popular restaurant! We were trying to walk in but it was going to be an hour wait. We made a reservation for the next day with no problem. Not as busy since it was Christmas Eve. We sat outside, but the heated lamps work pretty well to keep the tables warm. My dad and I both got the pita sandwiches. I got the lamb kabob while my dad got chicken shawarma. It doesn't come with anything else so we added a side of fries to share. Pretty flavorful! Not bad for what you can get around here. My other table mates got chicken shawarma entrees which came with pita, a dip, salad. They either chose hummus or baba ghannouj as the dip. I really liked the baba ghannouj. It's a lot of food! Definitely reasonable for the price. Service was good. They came back to check on us here and there. Would love to sit inside next time as the decor looked beautiful. Tons of street parking around so it's easy to get to! read more

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The food is so delicious!! Definitely a gem of a restaurant. I love the ambiance of this restaurant. The staff is very helpful and attentive. The Steak kebab is so delicious. read more

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Amazing place amazing people and amazing food!!! Must try. Friendly staff owner is super involved and all employees show how much love goes into this place. read more

It's kind of a crammed eating space but I feel it really adds to the vibe and the great service. Waiters moving in and around you with 4 plates stacked on each arm. My Dad said it reminded him of the places in Iran lol this is a huge compliment! The little pizza was disappointing in that the toppings didn't have much flavor outside of overpowering oregano flavor. But the beef kabob with dips was sensational! Cooked to a nice medium pink on the inside and melted in my mouth. The hummus and baba ghanoush were both great too, some of the best I've had at a sit down restaurant. Definitely down to come back and try more things. read more

Open Sesame - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Wow, I don't understand how this place is only at a 4.2 I'm a big fan of high quality culturally authentic cuisine. I've had my fair share of good mediterranean food, and the meal I had here might be the best I've ever had of its kind. I got the Open Sesame combo and every part of the dish was truly excellent. It even looked like a work of art. I appreciate hummus...I'm not usually THE biggest fan of it, but this spicy hummus that came with it, like other parts of the dish, excelled beyond any expectations I could have had. Same, if not even more so for the garlic mash. When I got my dish I didn't even touch the meat and rice until like the 7th or 8th bite because I couldn't believe how good the spicy hummus and garlic mash were, and then I had to see if it held true for the salad, which it did. Anyone who knows me well knows that means something. I'm a meathead. Each item was like a dollop of color on an easel. Each dish was unique and nuanced and delicious on its own, but mixing them together to make the perfect bites was really an elevated experience for me, which is why I'm here. So good. The beef and chicken were both very delicately flavored and a pleasure to compose each bite with. I love those flavors with sumac and yogurt. The whole dish was delicious and nutritious. The service was very high quality. The staff rotates around and supports each other well. Each person that serviced our table was professional with their communication and sharp with their service. The ambiance was also excellent. Our table was street side so we got to take in the activity of people going about their day unfolding. Soft lighting, vibrant decor, and live music in the form street performers who were as good as professionals across the street. The heaters gave a comfy feel. They even had a noticeably nice mixture of patrons, including a group of younger service members who came in behind us, having fun but also praying thanks for their blessings. God bless America. If you're looking for somewhere outside of the norms that will exceed all expectations, based upon my experience, this is where it's at. ON TOP of all of that, my entree was only $27 and it was large enough to make 2 meals out of it. How do you beat that? read more

Open Sesame - Open Sesame combo with cucumber yogurt (added sumac) on the side with 1 piece of dad's shrimp - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Ive just had my last meal at Open Sesame, after being a customer since they opened.. What sent me over the top? Open Sesame now inflates their online pickup order price of every dish, from appetizers to mains, by 10%. NOT just delivery, but pickup. This is rediculous.. ordering and picking up doesn't require the resources eating in does.. so why the extra charges??? On top of that, I had their chicken kafta.. super dry, actually crumbles apart. Indedible. I'm done. read more

Outstanding food and service. Knew this place would be good prior to coming but was pretty blown away at the quality and taste here. Every item we ordered was top notch, and also reasonably priced given the quality. Place is also decorated beautifully inside. Would highly recommend and one of my favorites in long beach. read more

Open Sesame - Spicy Hummus, combination plate, Skewers - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Open Sesame is usually our top restaurant choice in Long Beach. Belmont Shore is always a fun area to go to but Open Sesame is usually why we go. You can usually expect the place to be crowded but don't get discouraged. The wait isn't very long unless it's peak eatin' time. Even if you have to wait, there are plenty of places to walk around and window shop. The restaurant has plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating. The decor inside is beautiful with lots of artwork. The layout is unique in that there are three different seating areas that aren't all connected. I know it sounds odd but once you see it, you'll know what I mean. Because of this setup, the men and women's restrooms are not side-by-side but in separate areas of the restaurant. I usually get chicken tawook with rice. The chicken is tender and juicy and I love the tart pickles. Overall, the food and service are consistently good. The servers are always sweet and mindful. read more

If you're in the mood for some Lebanese food, this is your spot. Cute vibes, friendly service, and tasty food. A tad bit pricey for what you get, but it's a nice spot to enjoy lunch or dinner. I love the outdoor seating and enjoying the 2nd street vibes. The grilled tiger shrimp ($27) with the house made shrimp sauce is so good. The chicken tawook pita ($14) is tasty and the chicken is not dry - just wish the pita was made with a little more love lol. She was looking a little slim. Love the hummus and pita bread - my favorite part of the meal lol read more

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This place is always so busy and even at 2:30pm on a Sunday they had a 15 minute wait for a table. We had to try it! The food is very delicious. I really enjoyed my chicken tawook with spicy hummus and the garlic sauce is perfect! My husband loved being able to get three different meats and he liked the rice and vermicelli mix. The Fattoush salad is also so delicious with the pita and the tangy dressing. The inside is small but cozy with beautiful art all over the walls. The chairs are pretty uncomfortable and we had to wait about 30 minutes for our entrees but they were still very sweet and clearly just very busy. The food more than made up for it. read more

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

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OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Definitely hits the spot and the food is amazing!!! DOGS ALLOWED: Yes!! Dogs are allowed on the outdoor patio. AMBIANCE: Noise level is average. Dim lighting inside. Tables feel tight/close together. DRESS CODE: Smart Casual ORDERED: [5/5] Grilled Halloumi: so refreshing and good! [4/5] Spicy Garlic Potatoes: tasty! [5/5] Open Sesame Combo and The Sultan: these were amazing combos! Perfect if it is your first time dining here! [5/5] Baba Ghannouj: soooo good!! [5/5] Tabouleh: great addition to all the dishes! [5/5 Baklawa Crumble: DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT TRYING! this was soOoOo good!!! SERVICE: Service was great! PRICE: ~ $30+ PARKING: Street metered parking. Arrive early to try to find parking. Food: 5/5 stars Service: 5/5 stars Venue: 4/5 stars read more

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I love you guys I really do! But what is this?! I paid $45 for the combo plate and ordered RARE (bc I know you guys tend to overcook the red meats) and this is still how it arrived! I love supporting you but for the cost, the steak should at least be cooked correctly. read more

Open Sesame - Ordered rare, received well done steak - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Open Sesame is a local jewel and a family favorite for consistently delectable Mediterranean cuisine. The atmosphere is exotic yet inviting, the staff are elegant and friendly, and we especially love it when they play authentic Middle Eastern music! The chicken shawarma with white garlic sauce, pita with labneh, and baba ganoush are some of our favorite items. read more

Steven and I had such a great dining experience in Long Beach and I'm thoroughly impressed. We ordered the Yassmina pizza and I had the chicken shawarma plate--everything was incredible. The grilled chicken might be the best I've ever had. It was perfectly cooked--juicy, never dry--with a smoky, marinated flavor that came through beautifully. We also shared the potatoes, which had a bright, citrusy kick, and the falafels, which were crispy on the outside and surprisingly moist inside (not dry at all!). The space itself is cozy and full of character, with lots of beautiful artwork on the walls that adds to the experience. I will definitely be coming back here. read more

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Humus is delicious. Garlic spicy potatoes aren't that spicy - they're scrumptious! Group of 6 sat outside easily. read more

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My server Ruth was the sweetest. Very attentive, checking in frequently to see how the service was going. She gave a great recommendation for a salad, I can't remember the name but it was finely diced and went great with the shrimp. The whole staff was so kind! I hope they enjoyed their cupcakes:) A great place to spend my birthday. read more

Very cool place that worked for a large group, with multiple dietary requests. The jallab was divine, delicate and floral. We had the zataar flatbread and olives to share, and I had the fattoush salad with add on falafel. Huge portion, I had salad for breakfast the next day, falafel was worth adding on. Delicious, crispy, fresh, with just enough dressing. Definitely seems like a popular place, we got lucky with a larger group, I would recommend reservations. Also good luck with parking, it's downtown Long Beach so if you can park allll the way down the block. read more

Open Sesame - Fattoush salad with falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

My boyfriend and I frequent this delicious Mediterranean restaurant from Huntington Beach once a month ( sometimes more ) The cauliflower, labne, garlic potatoes appetizer are always a must to start off with. Normally I have the open sesame chicken combo. But the salads are so fresh and delicious on a summer day or night. We always sit at the bar so we can chat and watch our favorite chefs William & Falex prepare our meals with love. Our go to server changes. We were served by Onika today. She was friendly, attentive and prompt. Carly is our best server hands down. Thank you Open Sesame for providing excellent, and outstanding food and service throughout the year. read more

Open Sesame - Chicken twook, hummus, open sesame salad and garlic sauce - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Delicious food, great company and great service! Definitely going back! Try the fries!

It has been years since I have been here, so it was nice to see that that there is plenty of outside seating. The seating area was clean and our only issue was that we had a wobbly table. We were trying to fix it when someone on the staff noticed so she came over and fixed it for us. The items on the menu that are vegan are noted with a VN so be sure to look for that and ask questions if you have any concerns. We ordered off of the Lunch Pita Specials (the two options for vegans are Cauliflower and Falafel). We both opted for the Falafel version. Our non-vegan companion ordered the Lamb Kabob. The lunch specials came with a choice of hummus, fattoush, or soup. We chose the fattoush and the (regular, not spicy) hummus. In hindsight I would have ordered the fattoush with the dressing on the side, if that was a possible option. My fault for not asking. The greens were fresh and the pita chips were so good. I didn't taste any mint though and I do like that addition to a salad. Everyone enjoyed their lunch and we have plans to return on our next visit. read more

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I ordered the Open Sesame Combo; it comes with Chicken and Beef Kebob, and then choice of Chicken or Beef Kafta, with a bed of basmati rice, hummus, salad, garlic sauce and pita bread...so much food!! The food was delicious and definitely hit the spot multiple times. There's plenty of seating indoor and outdoor, with a clean restaurant. The service was prompt and courteous. Of course, being located on 2nd street, parking can get a little difficult. read more

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Here for a conference and was looking for local spots to try. Love that you're able to do a Yelp check in. Checked in at the hostess stand outside. She greeted me and took me to a table. She first took me to a bar top but I explained that I am unable to do a bar top. She understood and took me to a table. The restaurant is actually pretty large with outdoor seating as well as three separate inside seating rooms. The vibe is relaxed but welcoming. When I arrived at the table I was greeted and asked what I would like to drink. The menu had so many great choices but I decided to pass on the drink and ordered food. I ordered Ali's favorite, Sirloin Beef Kabob over basmati rice with a roasted tomato and onion mixture. To my surprise it was also served with your choice of salad, hummus or baba ganouj and pita bread. The meal came and it was amazing! The salad was flavorful but not overly dressed and the baba ganouj was just as tasty. The highlight of the dish was the beef kebab for the flavor and how unbelievably tender the meat was. It melted in my mouth and the rice with the tomato and onion mixture took it to another level. Usually for the amount of food and sides you get this would be a very costly meal as the salad and baba ganouj are usually appetizers. However, with their meals they come with a salad and dip which sets them apart. If you're looking for a restaurant with great customer service, food that is flavorful and kabob that is tender, then look no further, this is your spot. read more

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It's been a while since I've stopped in but my favorite to go are the batatas harras. Great spot on 2nd st right next to the turkish lamp store. Such a cool spot read more

I visited this location on a Monday night. They were quite busy but, still the place had a very cozy vibe. The decor was full of warm tones and colorful chandeliers that added to the coziness. We shared a bunch of small plates including fried cauliflower, potatoes, garlic sauce, and yogurt dip with fresh warm pita. I had the open combo plate with beef shwarmw, chicken kofta and chicken tawook. It was served with hummus, fluffy rice, and the "sesame salad" that was made with hearty greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and goat cheese. Everything was delicious and flavorful. Our server was sweet and inviting while we grazed. We wrapped the meal with the Labne cheesecake. It has a thick crumbly cookie base, creamy filling and is topped with a caramely golden fig sauce, crispy shredded phyllo and finely minced pistachios. I'm not usually a huge cheesecake fan but this was incredible!! read more

Open Sesame - Labne Cheesecake with Fig and pistachio - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

if i could give it 6 stars i would. Fast & consistent service, they always come through, even when it's busy. never and i mean NEVER skip the spicy garlic potatoes. my mom tries to replicate this at home but it's not even close. S tier read more

This place has such a great vibe and a welcoming atmosphere. The decor and energy make it a perfect spot for a casual date night or dinner with friends. I ordered the Open Sesame combo...everything on the plate was flavorful, fresh, and well seasoned. You can really tell the quality in each bite. The service was friendly, and although our server seemed a bit rushed (understandably, since it was packed), she still made sure we were taken care of. The space inside is pretty tight, so be prepared to get cozy with your neighbors. There was a long wait, but the good news is you can add yourself to the waitlist online ahead of time, which I definitely recommend. read more

Open Sesame - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Parking can be tricky, but there is street parking in the neighborhood and some small parking lots. Chicken Shawarma- It's a little pricey considering you have to pay $2 additional if you want rice. They give you one piece of thin pita bread which isn't enough to eat the hummus provided. Service is ok. Nothing bad and nothing great. Your food comes out pretty quickly. Indoor seating is not very cool so I don't recommend eating here on a hot day. Ambiance is nothing special. It would be hard to bring a large group here. They have patio seating also. read more

Open Sesame - Chicken shawarma with added rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Long Beach, California

Came in for a birthday celebration and had the pleasure of being served by Jetmira. As someone who's worked in service before, she was perfectly attentive. Thank you so much for the wonderful service, Jetmira! We'll be back soon! read more

i love you OS. took a friend here and we both were in heaven. i ordered my usual: chicken shawarma pita, extra pickles, jalab. oh sooo goood. our server was less than attentive but the food is always outstanding. will be back. read more