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    Open Sesame

    4.2 (4.4k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order Open Sesame Takeout or Delivery

    Open Sesame Photos

    OPEN SESAME ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Open Sesame

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    Reviews With Photos

    Party Platter
    Myan T.

    I can't believe it took me this long to try Open Sesame! I'm a CSULB alumni and walked past this charming restaurant so many times. So glad I finally got to stop by many years later for dinner! Parking was easy (on a weeknight). Plenty of street parking and many open meters but I can see it being very difficult on weekends. Bake in some time to find parking! There's both indoor and outdoor seating at this location. This inside is cozy and there's a second room for additional seating. I went on a Thursday night and it was slammed. They do not take reservations but they do have a waitlist via toast that you can join while you walk around and wait for your table. Plenty to do and see on 2nd street. We ordered the party platter for 4 people! It was the perfect amount of food with leftovers to take home. Everything was cooked to PERFECTION. Our beef was a textbook medium rare and was so juicy and tender, as was the rest of the meat. The chicken was so moist and flavorful, as was all the shawarma. All meats were seasoned beautifully. The rice underneath was stunning as well and really caught all the juices from the meat on top. The roasted tomatoes, onions, and pickles were the perfect compliments to help freshen up the palette during the meal. The sauces were amazing and there was a clear favorite (the garlic sauce) which was annihilated by all four of us. Service was friendly! It was very packed so it was slow at times but understandably so. They come by and give you orange blossom water for your hands post meal - what a treat! We smelled amazing! NO NOTES FOR OPEN SESAME! I have to come back with more friends! We did have an issue but it was with another patron who had the audacity to yell at my table (while I was in the restroom) for "having too much fun"?!?! This is a public restaurant and it was loud as hell in there because it's tight and everyone talks over each other, not to mention the open kitchen. The energy in the restaurant is exciting and frenetic. If you want a quiet dinner f*cking STAY HOME and leave the streets to those of us who have had a WEEK and want to enjoy a fun dinner with friends. We will be back and we will have even MORE FUN, xoxo.

    Grilled Tiger Shrimp (Main Plates)
    Keisha B.

    Grilled Tiger Shrimp was delicious, fresh and full of flavor. Portion was perfect and enjoyed the ratios of salad, hummus, rice and protein. A handful of Mediterranean Restaurants give you too much and not enough protein but Open Seasame was perfect. Experience was overall great and we enjoyed the variety of dishes. Everything we had tasted great and didn't disappoint. Only disappointing experience is we were eating outside in the evening and the restaurant had small lamps that attracted bugs. We appreciated the lights as a way to read the menu but needed an anti bug candle too.

    Yassmina vg Pizza, and the Falafel vn Pita Sandwich lunch special with hummus for the side.
    Wendy H.

    It has been YEARS (15 or so) since I've eaten here. We were seated quickly, though we sat for a bit before being acknowledged by the waitress. What we ordered was good, though I enjoy a few other restaurants on 2nd St. more....

    Beef shawarma. Nice seasoning and enjoyed the pickled veggies with it.
    Sally F.

    We stopped by here on a weekday because it was one of the dog-friendly restaurants near Rosie's Dog Beach. They have multiple outside seating areas where you can sit with your doggo. Ambiance (5/5): Although we didn't sit inside, it was super cute, with classy boho vibes. The restroom was clean and well-decorated (although, not gonna lie, I don't know how I felt about the big mirror facing the toilet). The outside patio area was airy, and although right by the street, I didn't find it unpleasant. Service (3/5): It was just so-so. They sat us down quickly, gave us our menus and checked on us maybe twice. It wasn't super busy, but we had to wait to ask for things like extra plates and water for our dog. Food Overall (5/5): Food was delicious. We got the beef shawarma lunch special and got fries for the side (extra charge) and also the chicken shawarma lunch special with the hummus side. Beef Shawarma (4/5): It had a nice toasty flavor, perhaps from the spices, and the pickled veggies really complemented it. My only complaint was that I wish it had a bit more of the white sauce (maybe adding more hummus would have helped). It was also strangely a bit watery, maybe from the veggies. Overall, it was still a yummy wrap. Chicken Shawarma (5/5): The chicken shawarma tasted more balanced to me overall. I don't recall the meat being dry, although I did also slather it with a bit of hummus. I thoroughly enjoyed this wrap. Fries side (5/5): Their fries are made in house and it tastes so fresh. It was crispy on the outside yet still gooey and moist on the inside. I'm not sure if they make their own ketchup too, as it looked clumpier and tasted really fresh too. The kids gobbled this up. Hummus and pita (5/5): It came with a generous amount of both hummus and pita. The hummus was well flavored and blended, and it really complemented everything on the table. The pocket pita bread was not what I had in mind (I'm used to thicker ones), but the kids really loved it overall. Ice cream (4.5/5): We ordered two scoops from the dessert menu. They were both really thick, creamy and almost chewy like liquidized mochi. It was a very interesting texture but nonetheless a nice tasty treat on a hot day. I much preferred the vanilla bean, as the pistachio tasted and looked rather artificial (and I'm a pistachio ice cream lover). This place had so many to-go orders during the afternoon we were there. I can see why. Food is super fresh and tasty. I think we will be back the next time we are visiting.

    Chicken shawerma
    Lucy T.

    The Lebanese food was perfect. The Shawarma had the perfect amount of seasoning, the hummus was delicious, and the salad was amazing! The shawerma had great quality and wasn't over seasoned. The waitress was so sweet and charged my phone because it was dying! The ambience is really cute and quiet!

    Chicken tawook
    Mercy H.

    My friend introduced us to this place in 2024. I've been addicted ever since and always stop by when I'm in Long Beach. I always get the same thing: the chicken tawook plate w spicy hummus, no salad, w extra rice and no pickles. The spicy hummus isn't spicy to me. Their yogurt cucumber dip is so good and refreshing. I also highly recommend their spicy potato's. They will be the best potatoes you've ever had. This restaurant is full of art inside and their restrooms are very clean. I recommend parking on Corona street if you don't want to pay for parking.

    Chicken shawarma
    Celina E.

    Parking is hard to find but is free after 7p during the week at meters. Food is a good deal and tasty! I especially loved the orange blossom oil for our hands after the meal. Interior decor is nice too. Outdoor seating kinda tight so keep convo low or neighbors will hear everything lol

    Open sesame pizza, Spicy Garlic Potatoes vn gf
    Vanessa G.

    - Vibes: modern, tight, social space - Crowd: recommend a reservation, crowded on weekends - Menu: lots of selection, good for health conscious - Value for price: 5/5 very well made, great quality food - Service: 5/5 very kind and attentive - Parking: metered street parking nearby. If you walk a bit you can find for free Came to Open Sesame with my Long Beach friend on a Friday night. She's on an elimination diet so this was one of the few places she's able to enjoy. Expect it to be bustling, we made a reservation. Good place for a first date or dinner with friends. I tried the Open Sesame pizza, which was delicious. Our neighbors asked what I ordered so they could copy me. Fresh tomatoes, delicious cheese, and a great option for pickier eaters. My friend had the garlic potatoes, which she loved. I also tried a lentil soup, which was shockingly filling and has a lovely flavor. Definitely recommend this place for slightly pricey but highly delicious difning.

    Foul M'Damas w Veg Plate vn gf
    Christine C.

    Honestly, the best Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurant I've been to. The dining room is small and space is a bit tight, so you may want to opt for the patio if it's a nice day. The food is exceptional. Everything we ordered was very good-- portions are relatively good sized and you will leave full!

    Baklava
    Raymond B.

    We usually see this place have a wait when we pass by so we're happy we were able to get seated quickly. We ordered the skewers (bottom) which had two meats (chicken and beef), onions, tomatoes, rice & open sesame combo which had 2 meats, hummus, salad, pita bread and rice. The food was delicious and very tasty! No complaints at all with the two plates we ordered! We'll definitely come back again for more next time - haven't had a better place than this yet!

    A lovely view inside.
    RoseEllen S.

    Once upon a time, another fabulous meal here! Love the rose/grape drink, chicken skewers, and the eggplant dip were perfect! The end.

    Menu
    Brenda K.

    I love this place! I can't get enough of the food here! It is terrific! The service is normally great and the ambience is amazing as well! The only downfall here is the limited seating and the close proximity of all the tables. There isn't a dish here that I've tried that I haven't liked! On weekends and evenings it can fill up fast and it can be a long wait for a table.

    Menu 7/23/26
    Catherine N.

    I've been coming to Open Sesame for a few years now and have always spoke highly of this place. They have an online waitlist on their website. Unfortunately when we visited, it was so disappointing and underwhelming especially when I was hyping it up to my boyfriend since it was his first time. I understand that it was busy on a Wednesday night, but the service was lacking. Our appetizer came out pretty quick after we ordered, but after that it took awhile for our main entrees to arrive. We both ordered our steak kabobs to be cooked medium, but it was soooo well done. The servers are helping guests inside and outside, which can make it difficult to grab their attention since they're busy running around. We asked for a box and check, but waited awhile for it not to come out. We ended up having to ask another worker. The servers weren't at all mean, it was just that we were unnoticed for a long time and we weren't asking for crazy accommodations. It was just simple things like getting a water refill, box, and the check.

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    21 days ago

    I dream about their watermelon salad. Great service and lively vibe. Their hummus is to die for and I love their open sesame platter.

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    Open Sesame Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Open Sesame

    Are small dogs allowed on the patio?

    Yes. I take my Westie there often.

    This place is listed today as having outdoor seating. Is it still available? If it is, is it covered or heated? How many people can sit there? / June 8, 2023

    Depending on the weather, there is outdoor seating that covered by an awning that has a rollup, clear plastic that can be dropped down, depending on whether or not, it's raining or too cold

    Hello, what is the situation for Ramadan is it a buffet or by order?

    Always by order

    Do they still have half price bottles of wines on Mondays?

    Yes! We do have half off select bottles of wine every Monday and Wednesday (excluding holidays)

    Do they have a corkage fee? Are signature cocktails served at the Long Beach location as well?

    Hi Ana, We only server beer and wine ar our Long Beach location and yes there is a corkage fee of $20. Thanks and hope to see you soon.

    Is this hand slaughter zabiha halal or machine cut zabiha halal?

    Our meat is Zabiha Halal but it is not hand slaughtered. The machine cut is very precise, and is an approved method by our certifier, many Imams and Islamic organizations as one of the permitted Halal slaughtering methods. Please do note that all… 

    Will you ever bring back your weekend specials?

    We have brought back our Kabssa on Saturdays and Molokhia on Sundays. We’re still working on bringing back a few other items so keep checking our online menu for any updates. Thank you for reaching out!

    What is the liquid that you sprinkle on customer's hands after their meal?

    That would be rose blossom water. We hope you enjoy!

    Do you take reservations for dinner?

    Yes reservations would be best as it gets full on certain days and times.

    Which delivery service do you use? I can't find the restaurant listed in any of usual Grubhub etx

    Hi Rose, if you go through our website opensesamegrill.com and then choose the 'order online' button. This will direct you to either a pickup or delivery option. Thanks and… 

    Do you take reservations for lunch?

    We currently do not take reservations.

    Do the falafel have eggs in them or are they vegan?

    Our Falafel does not have eggs and are vegan.

    They don't allow reservations on Friday nights. Any chance of getting a table around 7?

    I hardly have issues getting a table on Friday nights. Also, there are 2 locations in the same street. It's not typical to wait a very long time!

    Are there accommodations/reservations for a big party of 20+ people?

    Yes online you can reserve it I believe

    I'm confused are they Halal says they serve wine..?

    They do serve wine for those who don't observe, but meats/food are halal

    Is there parking?

    There is parking on the street and surrounding streets. There is a parking lot behind Rite Aid across the street if there isn't any on the street in front. There is also the Bank of America parking lot and yes it does cost a few dollars, 2nd Street… 

    Can i call and order for to go?

    Yes You can :) You can also order online & pick it up. Super easy!

    Hi is there a corkage fee?

    Hi Patricia - yes there is a $15 corkage fee.

    Do you have parking?

    There's meter parking on the street but it could get busy on the weekends and if you get lucky you can find free parking but not near the restaurant you might have to walk.

    What meats are marinated in yogurt? Is the beef kabob or filet mignon kabob dairy free?

    The Chicken Tawook and lamb kabobs are marinated in yogurt.

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    Dear Owner, Your…read moreresponse to my review says considerably more about your business than my review ever could. After 19 years, apparently you've decided that the solution to customers not wanting onions is to remove them from everyone's food, leave them listed on the menu, and then insult the first customer who notices. That's certainly one way to run a restaurant. And your comment that I "lowered myself as a Middle Eastern man" because I complained about onions is honestly the most absurd part of your response. I didn't lower myself. I simply expected the food I ordered to contain the ingredients your own menu says it contains. You say that everyone has asked you to remove onions for 19 years. Fine. Then update your menu. This isn't complicated. If onions have supposedly been gone for years, why are they still being advertised as an ingredient? Customers aren't mind readers. And let's address your claim that the chicken was "very moist and delicious." How exactly would you know? You weren't there when I ordered it. You weren't there when I opened the sandwich. You weren't there when I ate it. You weren't even the person working that day. Yet somehow you have enough confidence to tell me what my own food tasted like. That is an impressive level of certainty for someone who wasn't even present. What I actually experienced was dry chicken, lettuce, no onions, a menu that apparently doesn't reflect what your restaurant serves, and an employee who argued with me rather than simply acknowledging the discrepancy. Then, instead of apologizing or explaining why your menu is inaccurate, you came into the comments and attacked the customer. That tells me everything I need to know. And as for the "Middle Eastern" aspect of your response, I find it especially disappointing. Onions aren't some obscure garnish that I'm demanding out of nowhere. They are a foundational ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. If you've spent 19 years serving Lebanese or Middle Eastern food, you should know that. If your restaurant has evolved into a watered-down, Americanized version of Lebanese food to accommodate customers who don't like traditional ingredients, that's your choice. But own it. Don't pretend the menu says one thing while serving another, and don't insult someone for noticing. You could have simply said, "We no longer include onions, and we apologize that our menu hasn't been updated." Instead, you chose to attack my character, question my identity, and insist that food you didn't taste was delicious. That was a spectacularly poor business decision. So yes, I stand by my review. The missing onion wasn't the real problem. The problem was the dry food, the inaccurate menu, the poor customer service, and an owner who apparently thinks insulting customers is an acceptable substitute for accountability. After reading your response, I'm even more confident that I won't be returning. Nineteen years in business should have taught you how to handle a dissatisfied customer. Apparently, it didn't

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    Lamb chops entree
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    4.5 mi
    $$

    Excellent Mediterranean Food! Great placsme for takeout and plenty of tables inside and some…read moreoutside to dine in. You order at the counter and they bring your food on real plates with real flatware to the table. Very generous portions! Definitely shareable! We ordered two Gyro Plates, one lamb and one chicken. Excellent flavors! The plates come with potatoes, fries, or rice; pitas; and Greek Salad (lots of Feta and Olives!). Of course we took at least half to go home! Service was very friendly and helpful. Very busy place yet our wait for our food was short. There's a small parking lot but had no problem finding a spot!

    I gave Pita Pitaki in Signal Hill several chances because my first visit was genuinely good…read more The first time I stopped in, I ordered a salad, everything was correct, the food was good, and the restaurant looked clean, organized, and well maintained. That first experience is what made me come back. On my second visit, I ordered the same salad with chicken and lamb because I wanted that same experience again. When I got back to work, I realized the chicken was missing. I did not complain because I still had the lamb and the rest of the salad, and I understand that mistakes happen. Still, it was disappointing because I specifically came back wanting the same complete meal I had the first time. On my third visit, I drove from Gardena to Signal Hill specifically for that salad. After driving back to Gardena, I realized there was no dressing in the bag. I called the restaurant and explained what happened. I was told, "I'm sorry." At first I accepted that, but then I thought, what am I supposed to do with a salad with no dressing? I called back because I wanted to know what could be done. I was told that if I wanted my money back, I would have to bring the salad back to the restaurant. That meant after already driving from Gardena to Signal Hill and back, I was expected to make another trip because of something the restaurant forgot. When I explained that I was disappointed with how the situation was being handled and that I planned to leave a review, the woman on the phone responded, "All this for a dressing?" That comment bothered me more than the original mistake. Yes, it was dressing, but that misses the point. This was already the second time something had been left out of my order. The first time, I let it go. This time, the missing item affected the whole meal. What I would have appreciated was simple customer service. Acknowledge the inconvenience and make an effort to keep the customer. Something as simple as, "We apologize. Unfortunately, we cannot refund you without the food being returned, but on your next visit we will make sure we take care of you," would have completely changed the experience. Even offering a drink next time or simply saying they appreciated my business would have shown that they cared. I also tipped on my takeout order because I believe a tip is a way of showing appreciation for good service and attention to detail. I understand that a tip does not guarantee perfection, but it was disappointing to tip and still receive an incomplete order. There was also something I observed during this visit that concerned me. Someone spilled a drink, and one of the cooks helped clean it up. He wiped the floor while wearing gloves and, from what I could see, appeared to keep the same gloves on when returning to food preparation. That made me uncomfortable. I would have expected the gloves to be changed before handling food again. To be fair, the restaurant itself looks clean, organized, and well maintained. The tables, chairs, counters, and furniture appear to be in good condition. That is one of the reasons I kept giving this place another chance. I wanted to like Pita Pitaki. After my first visit, I thought it might become one of my go to places. Unfortunately, I never really got that same full experience again. My first visit was good. My second visit was missing the chicken. My third visit was missing the dressing, followed by customer service that made me feel like my concern did not matter. You can have good food and a clean restaurant, but customer service still matters. Sometimes how a business handles a mistake matters more than the mistake itself. My advice for anyone ordering takeout here is simple. Double check your order before you leave. Open the bag and make sure you have everything, especially meats, sauces, and dressing. Unfortunately, after giving this place several chances, it is no longer one of my go to spots.

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    Menu
    Menu
    Beet salad
    Beet salad
    Front entrance

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    Front entrance

    Open Sesame - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

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