Celebrate Life, Savor the Flavor, and Uncover LBX Ghost Stories — All in Long Beach

Open Sesame Grill Has Become a Long Beach Landmark

25 Years of Tradition and They Are Still Here

When Open Sesame Grill opened in Long Beach back in 1999, Lebanese food wasn’t something you saw on every corner. But founder Ali Kobeissi wasn’t chasing a trend—he was sharing what he grew up with. Raised in Lebanon and shaped by summers in his uncle’s spice factory, Kobeissi brought those flavors with him: grilled meats, warm spices, house-made sauces, and no shortcuts.

Now more than two decades later, Open Sesame is still here, still in the same spot, still making garlic sauce from scratch and turning out the kind of food people come back for. The dining room is small, the crowd is loyal, and the vibe hasn’t changed much. That’s the story.

With Competition Growing Open Sesame Has Kept Its Base

Plenty of new restaurants have come and gone since 1999, and more than a few now serve falafel, hummus, or a kabob plate. Places like Ammatoli downtown have added polish to the category, while Magic Lamp Grill and The Green Olive offer quicker versions nearby. But Open Sesame never chased the fast casual crowd or the upscale makeover. It stayed where it started, somewhere in between.

This is a place where regulars know what they’re getting: a full plate, seasoned right, with the kind of flavor that doesn’t need an explanation. Even as the city around it has changed, the food has stayed grounded, bold, consistent, and proudly made in house every day.

You Don’t Have to Be Lebanese to Love This Food

Open Sesame isn’t trying to be a cultural crash course. It’s not niche or exclusive. The menu is simple and accessible, whether you grew up with dishes like lentil soup and baba ghanoush or not. First-timers usually find something familiar, grilled chicken, warm rice, fresh bread—and something they didn’t know they were missing.

This is the kind of place where garlic sauce turns casual customers into loyal ones. It speaks to locals of all backgrounds. Some come in weekly. Others only when they’re craving something comforting and flavorful. Either way, nobody leaves hungry.

Garlic Sauce, Lamb Kabobs, and a Menu That Doesn’t Miss

There’s no shortage of favorites here, but the real win is how balanced every plate feels. The grilled chicken Tawook is tender, the lamb kabobs come out smoky and well spiced, and the baba ghanoush has just the right bite. Even the lentil soup feels like something from a home kitchen.

Everything hits the table with rice, salad, and fresh pita, and nothing ever tastes like it came from a prep line. You can try something new or stick to the same thing every visit. Either way, it holds up.

Two Locations, One Story — And Still Cooking Every Day

Ali Kobeissi didn’t just open a restaurant. He brought a way of cooking and a way of thinking about food that stayed consistent even as the city changed. He grew up around flavor, spices, stews, slow cooking, and put that into everything Open Sesame serves. No shortcuts, no overthinking, just food done right.

The second location in Los Angeles expanded the brand, but Long Beach is still home base. The kitchen still turns out garlic sauce from scratch. The grill still works overtime. The tables still fill up on weekends. For a place that’s been here this long, that kind of consistency is rare, and that’s why people keep coming back.

Open Sesame Grill – Lebanese / Mediterranean
📍 5215 E 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803
🌟 Yelp Rating: 4.5 | ✅ LA County Health Grade: A | Price Range: $12–$25
Website | Google | Facebook
Locations: 2 | Family Owned
📝 Lebanese flavors with loyal locals and 25 years in the same spot
📝 Street parking only — arrive early on weekends

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The past lingers in every booth as LBX celebrates Halloween in a place once built for warplanes.

Mechanics from the Past Now Shop Among the Living

Where the C-17 once soared, echoes of the past are still present. The site that helped build the legendary C-17 Globemaster III is now home to Long Beach Exchange (LBX), a thriving retail and food hall destination centered around The Hangar. This repurposed space isn’t just for shopping and dining; it’s become a cultural anchor for the city.

Where the C-17 Once Soared at LGB, Business Now Takes Flight

The Hangar isn’t just a name, it’s a nod to the location’s past life as part of Long Beach’s aerospace manufacturing corridor. Before becoming a lifestyle hub, this area was where McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing) assembled military aircraft, including the massive C-17 cargo planes. When aircraft production ceased in 2015, the site began a thoughtful transformation from industrial facility to cultural marketplace and social space. Today, visitors stroll through what was once a hub of American aviation innovation, now reimagined for food, family, and fun.

Reimagining the Space from the Past

Today, LBX is owned and operated by private developers, originally Burnham-Ward Properties and now managed by DJM Capital and PGIM Real Estate. These developers invested over $150 million to bring the 266,000+ square-foot Long Beach Exchange to life. While vendor markets and community pop-ups might seem small in scale, they play a key role in increasing foot traffic and sustaining the wide range of retail tenants, boutique shops, and local eateries that call LBX home.

More Than LBX Events

Beyond the monthly Neighborhood Market, Long Beach Exchange hosts a rotating calendar of events that includes live music nights, food truck rallies, pet-friendly pop-ups, art walks, and seasonal celebrations like Halloween and winter holidays. Its design encourages lingering with open plazas, shaded patios, and access to a curated lineup of culinary vendors inside The Hangar food hall. LBX has become a top Long Beach destination for families, foodies, and anyone looking to enjoy a laid-back afternoon with local flair.

Why Long Beach Market Works So Well

LBX doesn’t just rent space. It cultivates experience. That’s what keeps businesses happy, consumers returning, and the property value rising. It's a modern reuse of legacy land that now helps fuel Long Beach’s cultural and economic engine.

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Event Details

LBX Neighborhood Market: Dia de Los Muertos & Not So Spooky
• 📅 Date: October 25–26, 2025
• 🕒 Time: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• 📍 Location: The Hangar at Long Beach Exchange, 4150 McGowen St, Long Beach, CA 90808
• 🎟️ Admission: Free
• 📄 Details: Family-friendly vendor market with food, music, crafts, and Halloween-themed activities including a visit from Vampire Bluey.
CLICK HERE