50 Best American Restaurants near East Compton

“Great food will be back again“

“Heritage Restaurant, Long Beach – A Well-Earned Michelin Star by Michael Broderick. In a city where “Californian” culinary ambition often plays second fiddle to casual dining, Heritage in Long Beach has carved out a place of quiet excellence, earning a well-deserved Michelin star. This intimate dining experience is a testament to ingredient-driven, technique-forward cooking, where flavors are both restrained, unpretentious, and deeply expressive. From the first bite, it was clear that Heritage excels at layering textures and flavors in unexpected ways. The meal began with an Amuse Bouche trio: a delicate prawn cracker topped with sweet Dungeness crab, a green leaf with another seafood salad that was to be eaten like a mini street taco, and balanced with the brightness and light crunch of pickled turnip. A seemingly simple couple of bites, but one that foreshadowed the precision and thoughtfulness of the courses to follow. To cleanse the palate, a mint tea infused with palo santo was served—a meditative interlude that was both refreshing and aromatic, setting the stage for the evening’s journey. The first official course, Crème Caviar, featured Russian Sturgeon Heritage Caviar and chive, a chilled preparation that was rich yet elegantly restrained. This was followed by Kanpachi Crudo, presented with carrot, ginger, and macédoine vegetables, offering a balance of clean ocean flavors against bright, vegetal undertones. Then came what I consider the star of the evening: a dish that fully captured the ethos of Heritage—Hen of the Woods Mushroom, topped in a “sunchoke stew” (crispy fried sunchoke) with fermented mushroom. For an additional $25, an indulgent shaving of black truffle took the dish to another level, transforming it into a sensory experience that evoked the deep, earthy satisfaction of foraging. The interplay of umami-rich elements made this course a masterpiece of textural and flavor contrast. The proteins that followed were executed with equal care. First, a perfectly prepared Rainbow Trout, sauted to perfection with a crispy layer of skin on one side, delicate pink flesh on the other, bathed in a delicate dashi and punctuated with bursts of smoked trout roe in a light creme sauce, which lent salinity and depth. Then, a 32-day dry-aged rib chop, a cut that can sometimes lean too “gamey” in the tradiinal steak house that cuts corners on a post aging trim, yet here was a revelation—tender, deeply beefy, but balanced. Accompanying the dish was sous vide endive, black garlic, and a shaving of Parmesan, which surprisingly lacked the usual sharpness, instead presenting a more rounded, delicate, nutty flavor. Desserts were a study in technique and balance. The first, a Grilled Strawberry with strawberry granita and Meyer lemon crème, was bright and refreshing, its layers revealing different expressions of cool and sweetness. Then came the Coco Craquelin, a delicate choux pastry filled with beurre noisette ganache and banana cremeux, meant to be eaten with the hands—a playful and interactive moment in the meal. Finally, a Sage Basque Cake, its subtle herbaceousness complemented by toasted hemp seeds and lemon curd, provided a grounding, crispy finish. Heritage is the kind of restaurant that doesn’t simply chase trends—it refines them into something personal, something intentional. The execution is confident but never showy, and the experience is paced with precision, allowing each dish to tell its own story. This is not just a meal—it’s a quiet, profound meditation on flavor, technique, and the land from which it all comes. Where other restaurant profess to be a true “Californian” style farm to table experience , Heritage is, without a doubt, a must-visit for anyone who seeks out truly exceptional dining in California.“

“Gracias Amelia por su servicio Exelente“

“To John Hansen, My wife and I would like to thank you for such a lovely evening. Chez Bacchus represents the “True Expression of a Dining Experience”. Starting with the welcoming staff at the entrance. John, your hospitality is the beginning of the joyful experience. The restaurant is so elegant. We enjoyed the vaulted ceilings with wood beams. We enjoyed the large window at the kitchen area so you can see the Chefs at work. We got to sit next to the impressive wine rack display. The restaurant’s ambiance wouldn’t be complete without the soft background music. Our waiter, Issac, was a delight. He provided us with his expertise in choosing our wines, appetizers, entrees, and desserts. It was a pleasure to meet to give special thanks to the Chef, Danny Le and Su Chef, Donald. Their expertise is why we had an amazing and delicious dinner.“

“We took some out of town guests here for lunch. Everyone was delighted. They loved watching the cars race on the track! Drinks were delicious 😋 We all ordered different items for lunch. All pleased with what they got. Would recommend and look forward to going back again.“

“This place is always busy. We find seating there at the counter and we do not need to wait for 20 minutes. We love the bean soup? And the apple pie was great.“

“Nick’s food and service doesn’t disappoint! Menu options are great, and they’ll take a classic comfort dish such as a meat loaf to a gourmet degree. Service is impecable too. Worth every dollar you spend here in every aspect! They have my respect and heart! ♥️“

“Great place to grab a hot dog or burger. It truly is a a wide selection of hot dogs and burgers, so take your time to order. The also have sweet potato french fries and regular tater-tots. Great place.

Parking: You can park in the garage next door. It's FREE for 2 hours. After that, you have to pay for every 15 mins afterwards.“

“the food is great but I think the people make the place!!!!“

“lots of good food. Great chowder.“

“Best food in town and sports merchandise“

“popped in to Cara Cara for a quick birthday dinner and drinks before a Lakers game. city views were spectacular to pair alongside some whiskey and cocktails and small bites. staff was very attentive and rather quick with our orders, proper rooftop bar in DTLA👌🏽“

“I've been going to Pieloon for a few years now and it is THE BEST restaurant in Downey! The food is always fabulous, the portions are large, the service is perfect! I've had appetizers, salads, pastas, steaks, burgers, sandwiches (I'm addicted to the BLT) and many of their specials. My family and I go now 2x a week and have trouble deciding what to get because it's all so good! And the pies...their pumpkin pie is the best I've ever had and the blueberry cheesecake is fabulous...but just wait until fresh peach pie season...I'll gain weight just thinking about it...the fresh peach is the best pie I've ever, EVER had! I love this place and the people who work there!! They're like family now!“

“Good service and good food, big servings“

“Customer service is paramount not only for me, but specially when I am around family. Our server Schaeffer is not only superv to Customer Service but has great personality that makes me feel truly welcome!“

“Thank you so much for my Grand slam on my 55th Birthday 🎂;)“

“Went to have dinner with the family at the Wilmington location. The waitress Natalia was very nice and helpful. The menus has many options of food. Which is good and not so pricey. Keep up the good work!.“

“Everything was very good but next time I would order the filet minion instead of the chicken fried steak.“

“Very good service and the food was delicious“

“Love their ground beef tacos delicious!!!“

“Jennifer was a wonderful server, she's always checking up on us and never fails to make us laugh! She's great at attending us and makes sure we have what we need, perfect server!“

“Long time Belmont Shore resident, and newly minted Louie's fan!

Came here for the first time about a week ago for breakfast, and both my partner and I were blown away by the quality, service, selection, and vibe. We even came back later that evening to order food to go.

Tonight was our anniversary so we decided to check out the dinner options, and again we're pleasantly surprised! Our server Cynthia was incredibly friendly and made great suggestions. She mentioned their Wine Wednesday special, as well as the Steak Frites special, which we ordered both of without a second thought. Before our mains we shared the Fritto Misto to share, a nice selection of veggies with a perfectly light breading, and the Calabrian chili dip was a great addition. Steak was cooked perfectly, and the garlic fries are a must. She even brought out a dessert for our special occasion, which was a really kind gesture.

Great value all around, weekly happy hours, and I think a hidden gem among the seemingly overwhelming plethora of eateries in Belmont Shore. There are lots of places on 2nd street that I don't think get love or admiration they deserve, but I think Louie's should be on everyone's radar!“

“While traveling from Idaho we were fortunate to have brunch with our dear friends in Long Beach before heading out on a cruise. They took us to this quaint, fun restaurant. Spectacular service, delicious food, Hazelnut coffee, yum! Thanks for the very cool stickers!“

“Service was excellent, anntentive motivational. I'll invest in this turn if possible. Thank y. And God bless“

“Nos gusto el servicio de Angeline y la comida muy rica“

“Great Burgers and Breakfasts“

“Came by on a late Friday afternoon to grab some lunch and enjoy the beach a bit. There was a rope course playground behind the building, cornhole & a big jenga block set for the kids to enjoy while we waited for our food. We got the burger, chicken, spicy burrito. None of it was mind-blowing but still very good. The chips that came with the burg were interesting, we were unsure if they were fried in-house or not but still decent if they were. The individual that served us at the window was on-point with his service, brought out our drinks for us and gave me a bag to use for leftovers. Would recommend if you're in the area.“

“Very Good Food. Great Environment“

“A really nice atmosphere and good food.“

“Muy buen servicio muy rápido la comida muy rica la mesera muy amable me sentí como en casa“

“Food is always delicious, but there's two ladies that work here that are always rude. The older lady that sits you down always has a serious face and looks bothered by large groups. Then, there's a young lady that usually charges you and also has a bothered looking face; the same young lady that for being in a bad mood charged us the wrong table one time and had to get her manager to process a refund of almost $100. It was only then her attitude changed. As for the other workers, they are always super friendly and welcoming!“

“This morning I had an amazing waitress, her name is Michelle. She was pretty busy but she did a wonderful job giving good service and seemed positive instead of being stressed. She was on it and hustling. I was impressed to see her working at a fast pace and yet still giving her tables all the attention they needed. She is definitely a hardworking young lady.“

“Love The Crest. Amazing boutique apartment complex. Feels so homey and cozy. The leasing people are super cool and so close to everything walking distance. Oh.... and did I mention they have the most legit balconies. I spent most of my time on the beautiful balcony ❤️ I searched for a place for 3 months and this was it. ❤️❤️❤️“

“Great place to have a delicious hot dog or Burger their food is absolutely delicious we had the old town dog and sweet potato fries and corn dogs slider. I am a hot dog lover and this is absolutely the best hot dog I have ever had.

Dietary restrictions: Edison right now I was excited to see that they can make any dog into a bowl with greens which is really exciting because I can't eat bread so that option was available that was great

Parking: This is a big parking area

Wheelchair accessibility: There are tables for wheelchairs and it's easy to enter and there's outside seating“

“The best brisket I've ever tasted!!! Absolutely delicious, mac n cheese off the charts, I'm usually very picky when it comes to collard greens but these were exceptional. You can eat at the park across the street. Cake wasn't worth it.“

“Grilled Chicken pesto sammie was yummy....everything was!! Terrific service too...Thx Ryan...good fun!“

“Love ❤️ ito recommend Hof’s hut to friends thank you“

“I already had my Thanksgiving on Tuesday so I just wanted to go out to eat on Thanksgiving day and the sizzler restaurant was the only thing opened. I ordered the trio which was ribs, shrimp, and steak and it was so delicious. They didn’t disappoint.. I also ordered the salad bar, which was great and the soups were delicious as well. Everything was so clean as well. I definitely had a nice experience.“

“Amazing French dip sandwich! Juicy tender meat, with caramelized onions dripping with cheese - huge portions! The pickled cucumber side was real tasty. I even tried my wife's 5 cheese grilled cheese, and it was also great. Service was a bit slow, but no biggie.“

“Muy buena bienvenida de Liz. Excelente atención, y la comida es buena. 100% recomendado❤️“

“It's a vibe ? The young Ladies are totally Awesome & Very courteous ??

Parking: 120th st. Between Van Ness and Crenshaw, in the shopping Center where Wendy's & Starbucks Located

Kid-friendliness: Just say kids are ?

Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible due to open area & nice floor to roll on?“

“Fun, tasty, fast, and reasonably priced.“

“Clean facilities, friendly staff and absolutely incredibly delicious food made to order!“

“Everything! All meals are plentiful & good prices.“

“Love this location always has great service“

“I really like this place. I've been there three times already (all for breakfast) and will definitely return in the future. The atmosphere is so so but only because of the location (busy streets and limited parking).

Get the Farmers Sandwich it's my go to. My gal got the granola pancakes and liked them but didn't finish it.“

“Alyssa provided outstanding service during my visit. She was attentive, friendly, and ensured every detail of my dining experience was perfect. Her genuine smile and warm demeanor made me feel welcomed, and she anticipated my needs without me having to ask. Alyssa’s professionalism and efficiency stood out, as she handled everything with grace, even during busy moments. Her excellent service truly enhanced my overall experience, and I would gladly return knowing she’s part of the team.“

“I drive down Norwalk Boulevard every day for work, the banners outside the restaurant, promoting fish tacos, lured me in. After trying the fish tacos for the first time I was hooked, I look forward to having lunch every Tuesday for there fish tacos special.“

“Good service good food 🥘!“

“The Broast chicken was tender. The batter could use stronger spices, but in my mind I was comparing it to Pakistani broast which is spicier and served with a garlic sauce.

The Broast potatoes were great as were the fried shrimp and zucchini.

Everything was made when ordered it was all fresh as it can be.

My only gripe is there is no inside seating.“