Best of Long Beach Winners

THE BALLOTS ARE IN and the results of our 19th annual contest featuring the best in dining, entertainment and retail businesses. Again this year the contest is in two parts with the next part in early 2020 devoted to medical and other professional services. Readers whose names are drawn to receive prizes from contest sponsors are listed on page seven. Special thanks to the sponsors for making this contest possible. Winning businesses that missed our deadline for “thank you” ads still have time to do so in our next issues; call (562) 597-8000 for details. 

Best American Restaurant (Gold): Hof’s Hut [10-time winner]

Best Bagels (Gold): Einstein’s [13-time winner]; (Silver): Grounds Bakery Cafe [13-time winner]

Best Bakery (Gold): Katella Deli [8-time winner], Rossmoor Pastries [10-time winner]

Best Banquet Facility (Gold): The Grand [10-time winner]

Best Barbecue Restaurant (Gold): Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ [16-time winner]; (Silver): Naples Rib Company [11-time winner]

Best Breakfast (Gold): Hof’s Hut [16-time winner], Potholder [9-time winner]

Best Brunch (Gold): Schooner or Later [8-time winner]

Best Caterer (Gold): Ma & Pa’s Grocery [9-time winner]; (Silver): TGIS Catering [6-time winner]

Best Chinese Restaurant (Gold): Chens Chinese Restaurant, Fortune Cookies [8-time winner]

Best Coffee (Gold): Starbucks Coffee [12-time winner]; It’s A Grind [14-time winner]; (Silver): Polly’s Coffee

Best Deli (Gold): Katella Deli [8-time winner]; (Silver): Deli News [5-time winner]

Best Dessert (Gold): Hof’s Hut [17-time winner]

Best Donuts (Gold): Simone Donuts [14-time winner]; (Silver): Krispy Kreme [15-time winner], Yum Yum

Best Family Restaurant (Gold): Hof’s Hut [9-time winner]

Best Fine Dining (Gold): 555 Restaurant [12-time winner]; (Silver): Trani’s Restaurant

Best Hamburger (Gold): In-N-Out Burger [19-time winner]

Best Hot Dogs (Gold): MVP’s Grill

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt (Gold): Baskin & Robbins, Baskin Robbins; (Silver): Frostbites

Best Italian Restaurant (Gold): Domenicos [12-time winner], Marri’s Pizza Inc [4-time winner]

Best Mexican Restaurant (Gold): Panchos Mexican Restaurant [17-time winner]; (Silver): Baja Sonora Restaurant

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant (Gold): Open Sesame [14-time winner]

Best Outdoor Dining (Gold): Schooner or Later [13-time winner]; (Silver): Boathouse on the Bay, Shenandoah Café [4-time winner]

Best Pizza (Gold): Domenicos [12-time winner]

Best Sandwiches (Gold): Jersey Mike’s Subs; (Silver): Grounds Bakery Cafe [10-time winner]

Best Seafood Restaurant (Gold): Fish Company [6-time winner]; (Silver): Berth 55

Best Steakhouse (Gold): 555 Restaurant [12-time winner]

Best Sushi/Japanese Restaurant (Gold): Sushi on Fire [3-time winner]; (Silver): Awesome Sushi [7-time winner]

Best Thai Restaurant (Gold): Panvimarn Thai Cuisine [10-time winner]

Best Vegetarian Restaurant (Gold): Plant Power

Best Boat Cruise (Gold): Catalina Express [8-time winner]; (Silver): Harbor Breeze [7-time winner]

Best Family Attraction (Gold): Aquarium of the Pacific [8-time winner]

Best Live Music (Gold): Long Beach Municipal Band [8-time winner]

Best Live Theater (Gold): Long Beach Playhouse [19-time winner]; (Silver): Musical Theatre West [8-time winner]

Best Night Club/Bar (Gold): Joe Josts [6-time winner]

Best Sports Bar (Gold): Glory Days Sports Grill, Legends [16-time winner]

Best Appliance Store (Gold): Howard’s Appliance [12-time winner]; (Silver): Friedmans Appliance Center [16-time winner]

Best Auto Parts (Gold): Auto Zone [7-time winner], O’Reilly Auto Parts [3-time winner]

Best Auto Tires (Gold): Allen Tire Company [4-time winner]; (Silver): Performance Plus Tire [3-time winner], Tom’s Automotive Center [8-time winner]

Best Beauty Supply (Gold): Ulta Beauty Supply [3-time winner]; (Silver): 2nd St Beauty Center [19-time winner]

Best Bike Store (Gold): JAX Bicycles [14-time winner]

Best Book Store (Gold): Barnes & Noble [6-time winner]; (Silver): Gatsby Books, Planet Books

Best Candy Store (Gold): Sees Candies [6-time winner]

Best Carpet/Flooring (Gold): B&B Carpet, Family Floors [4-time winner]

Best Clothing-Men (Gold): Umberto’s [9-time winner]

Best Clothing-Women (Gold): Chaussure, Kohl’s

Best Computers & Accessories (Gold): Best Buy [8-time winner]

Best Consignment Store (Gold): J&L Jewelry

Best Craft Store (Gold): Michaels [8-time winner]; (Silver): Hobby Lobby 3-time winner]

Best Electronics Store (Gold): Best Buy [8-time winner]

Best Eyeglass Store (Gold): America’s Best

Best Florist (Gold): Allen’s Flower Market [9-time winner]; (Silver): Sweet Pea Floral Design [7-time winner]

Best Furniture Store (Gold): Bob’s Discount Furniture

Best Garden Center (Gold): Armstrong Park Nursery & Florest [8-time winner]; (Silver): H&H Nursery [8-time winner], Lowe’s

Best Gift Store (Gold): Fern’s Garden [4-time winner], J&L Jewelry

Best Grocery Store (Gold): Stater Brothers [8-time winner]; (Silver): Vons

Best Hardware Store (Gold): Ace Hardware [19-time winner]

Best Health Nutrition Store (Gold): Circle Nutrition [6-time winner]

Best Hearing Aids (Gold): Connect Hearing [6-time winner]; (Silver): Costco Wholesale [6-time winner]

Best Home Furnishings (Gold): Home Goods [6-time winner]

Best Jewelry Store (Gold): J&L Fine Jewelry [19-time winner]

Best Mattress Store (Gold): Sit ‘n Sleep

Best Medical Supplies (Gold): Mobul [7-time winner]

Best Office Supplies (Gold): Staples Store [8-time winner]

Best Party Supplies (Gold): Alin Party Supply [8-time winner]

Best Pet Supply Store (Gold): Petco [18-time winner], PetSmart [11-time winner]

Best Pharmacy (Gold): CVS [10-time winner]

Best Pool Supply (Gold): Leslie Pool Supply

Best Self Storage (Gold): Don Temple Storage [8-time winner]

Best Shoe Store (Gold): Tenni-Mocs Shoe Store [4-time winner]

Best Shopping Center (Gold): Long Beach Towne Center [7-time winner], Los Altos Shopping Center

Best Sporting Goods (Gold): Big 5 [19-time winner]

Best Surf Shop (Gold): Katin Surf Shop

Best Swap Meet (Gold): Long Beach Antique Market [8-time winner]

Best Thrift Store (Gold): Assistance League of Long Beach [8-time winner], Goodwill Industries [7-time winner], St Vincent de Paul; (Silver): Clark & Atherton Mercantile [4-time winner]

Best Toy Store (Gold): Target Stores [7-time winner]

Best Travel Agency (Gold): AAA Travel Agency 8-time winner]

Best Wines (Gold): Wine Country [13-time winner]; (Silver): Total Wine & More [5-time winner]