By Taqueria La Mexicana
By Brian Cuaron, Editor in Chief
If you’re craving Mexican food, head on to Taqueria La Mexicana.
The tortas are what this place is known for. These hot, Mexican sandiwiches on rolls are absolutely delectable.
Recently, ampm convenience stores have come out with their own version of the torta. Quite frankly, they’re disgusting and incomparable to Taqueria La Mexicana.
Visit Taqueria La Mexicana and grab a horchata and a sandwich to taste authentic Mexican food. The restaurant is located at 1901 E. Carson St.
Finbar’s Italian Kitchen
By David Cowan, Features Editor
If you’re a fan of Italian food and looking for a quasi-romantic atmosphere, Finbar’s Italian Kitchen is the place for you. Offering a variety of delicious delicacies, Finbar’s puts an American spin on Italian classics.
Start out with either their spectacular stuffed mushrooms or crispy calamari appetizer, each for under $10. Then move on to the subtle shrimp and garlic pepper cream fettuccine, southwest Portobello mushroom ravioli or “Left Coast Pasta” chicken tequila fusilli, each for around $15.
Finbar’s also has a great vegetarian selection including a hearty vegetable lasagna and tomato linguine marinara. These are delicious and at a low price that will make your mouth water.
Not in the mood for something heavy? Try any one of Finbar’s excellent thin crust pizzas with a variety of available toppings. The pizzas cost $9 to $12, depending on what you’re ordering.
Their vast wine list offers an excellent compliment to any meal and provides a perfect end to any day.
I recommend everything on this menu just so you can keep going back.
Finbar’s is located at 620 Pacific Coast Hwy. in Seal Beach.
Green Field Churrascaria
By Brian Cuaron, Editor in Chief
Green Field Churrascaria is every meat lover’s dream, complete with an all-you-can-eat buffet of delicious, sizzling meat. Indulge yourself in a variety of Brazilian meat including steak, ribs, pork, chicken, lamb, duck and rabbit.
You don’t even have to get out of your seat to get such meats. Servers armed with skewers make their way around the restaurant to see if anybody wants the meat they’re carrying.
The best part is that each table has a red and green block of wood. If you want servers to stop at your table with the meat, put the green part up. It’s the sort of pampering that every meat lover desires. If you’re like most college students, then you extra conscious of cost. This is why I recommend students to try this place out during lunch hours, when the service and meal are $13 cheaper than the dinner price. The lunch buffet costs $16.95 and dinner costs $29.95.
Based on personal experience, I recommend that meat lovers treat this place as a speciality of sorts. Don’t go here too often or else you will eventually tire of it. Sure, having sizzling meat each day sounds great, but I was losing my appetite for this place after consecutive visits.
Green Field Churrascaria is located at 5305 Pacific Coast Highway.
MVP’s Grill & Patio
By Brian Cuaron, Editor in Chief
Shame on you for not visiting this place already!
MVP’s has the regions best hamburger’s, bar none! Yes, I’m committing the ultimate Southern Californian transgression as I rank this joint above another regional favorite, In-N-Out.
Each sandwich, starting at just $3.95, is named after a high-profile sports celebrity. Selections include Pete Rose, The Fridge, Tony Dorsett, Mike Tyson and George Foreman, just to name a few. And the hamburgers actually live up to their description.
For example, the Shaq burger is humongous! The George Foreman V is also no joke, besides the fact that they have six burgers named after the two-time champ.
Parking is difficult, but I usually find spots in the residential neighborhood behind the restaurant. Also make sure to bring cash, and they have an ATM machine in case you don’t.
Niko Niko Sushi
By David Cowan, Features Editor
For the adventurous students who are interested in excellent food, Niko Niko Sushi on 7th and Bellflower is a short hop away for fine food. With a pleasant atmosphere and friendly service, Niko Niko Sushi is great for a date or a dinner for one.
Start with an edamame and miso soup, then choose from over 50 different kinds of hand rolled sushi, specials plates, vegetable tempura or rice bowls.
For the first-timers, a simple California Roll is a great way to get started. Moving on, a fried calamari stuffed Calamari Roll makes a filling addition for leery first-timers.
For the brave of heart, the Tornado Roll and TNT Roll have a nice mix of spice and flavor while not burning the roof of your mouth.
Hot Licks
By Brian Cuaron, Editor in Chief
If you think you’re tough enough, try this place out and see if you can taste some of Long Beach’s hottest chili without begging for something to cool your tongue.
Located in the Shoreline Village — 419-H Shoreline Village Drive — Hot Licks sells salsa, spicy popcorn and heat-warming jellybeans.
The shop offers patrons a chance to sample some of their chili by dipping a toothpick in one of their bottles of the flaming hot liquid. It takes a little while for the chili’s effect to be felt, but once it makes its presence known its easy to discover a newfound respect for this place.
A buddy of mine bought a bottle of chili here so he could test it out on one of his friends who bragged that nothing was too hot for him. According to my buddy, the guy met his match.
Disclaimer: The Daily 49er is not responsible for Postings made on www.daily49er.wpengine.com. Persons commenting are solely responsible for Postings made on this website. Persons commenting agree to the Terms of Use of the website. If Postings do not abide by the Rules of Conduct or Posting Regulations as listed in the Postings Policy, the Daily 49er has all rights to delete Postings as it deems necessary. The Daily 49er strongly advises individuals to not abuse their First Amendment rights, and to avoid language suggestive of hate speech. This site also encourages users to make Postings relevant to the article or other Postings.
