Panxa Cocina is a Crazy-Fabulous-Wonderful Blend of Latin-Inspired Cuisine

Yes, crazy-fabulous-wonderful. There is not a better way to describe this menu. This ambitiously successful fusion of international flavors is so unique and fantastic that I feel the urge to dress up in front of the damn food!

At Panxa, pronounced pan-zah, the Catalan word for ‘belly,’ which is hilarious, the meals, the craft cocktails, the wine, the extensive tequila and mescal menu will impress you to no end.

The entire staff is also quite amazing. They know their crowd. Sincere smiles and great service surrounds the guests of this charming restaurant seemingly hidden away on 3937 East Broadway of Long Beach’s Belmont Heights neighborhood.

So many great dishes to choose, for example, the goat cheese stuffed squash blossoms with poblano honey ($19) is as great as it sounds. Panxa’s mushroom mole enchiladas ($19) are fantastic. If no one was looking I would probably drink their mole sauce, it is that good. Plenty of vegan and gluten free options too, like the vegan baked relleno ($23) with quinos, cashew nut cheese, calabacitas, black beans with salsa rosa…Mmmmmm.

Yea, this place is cool. The vibe is relaxed and friendly, it is the kind of place where strangers become friends and good times are abound.

To me, food is music. And restaurants are bands. My new thing is to critique restaurants by associating their food to bands that have the same feel. Because of Panxa Cocina’s diversified recipes I see them as a combination of Los Lobos, Roxy Music, Black Flag and the Beatles. That is how rad Panxa Cocina is.

They are Los lobos because they celebrate their Latina roots with style and dignity. They are Roxy Music because the restaurant and staff are beautiful, confident and fun. They are Black Flag because their bar has hard-hitting drinks and can crank them out till closing time. And yes tragically, they are The Beatles, for they lost their John Lennon, Panxa’s Founder and Creator Chef Arthur Gonzalez too soon. However, his meals/songs will be forever remembered and celebrated.

To me Arthur’s White Album is his chorizo spätzle. The exact amount of perfectly seasoned chorizo mixed with the spätzle and garlic spinach is a masterpiece that I loved at first bite. Arthur Gonzalez’s Modern New Mexican Cuisine is more than great food, it is a celebration of life. I sincerely recommend that you spend some time at Panxa Cocina. They are open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 pm, Fridays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday brunch starts at 10 a.m. into dinner at 3 till 10 p.m. and Sunday’s hours are the same as Saturday but they close at 9 p.m. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays because like I said, they are the Los Lobos/Roxy Music/Black Flag/Beatles of restaurants so rock stars don’t have to work on Mondays and Tuesdays. Fair enough. Viva music! Viva food! Viva Panxa Cocina!

Go eat for yourself.