The Long Beach Craft Beer Party Continues Thanks to Smog City

Smog City joins the Long Beach craft beer party

Drinkers in Long Beach officially have another reason to celebrate this holiday season, with the arrival of the new Smog City SteelCraft tap room. The literal shipping container taproom is officially in soft open stages (you can watch the action on their Instagram page), pouring a variety of brews from the popular South Bay brewery. Alongside their open container stand — complete with communal picnic tables and Astroturf — you’ll find a coffee shop called Steelhead Coffee and a number of other vendors.

The arrival of Smog City puts a big bullseye on the heart of the LBC as a bonafide craft beer destination all its own. The area has been growing leaps and bounds in the past year or so, but has always done big work thanks to the likes of Beachwood Brewing. Now there’s a Ballast Point restaurant to boot, and the recently-opened Beer Belly is doing a brisk business as well.

Even more coffee comes to Chinatown

There’s a quiet new concept coffee shop popping up in Chinatown right now. Called the Chinatown Coffee Hall, the Mandarin Plaza space (at unit 112) is more of an ongoing pop-up space for roasters and coffee brands, with each new label getting a few days in the room to sell their wares — and some coffee. You’ll even be able to purchase commercial coffee supplies like gaskets and dispersion screens and the like. The space is up and running now.

Nachos to know

LA Weekly offers a hot tip on some nachos to know about, from the El Severo Tacos team that parks Tuesday nights at Angel City Brewing. They’re a simple affair, well-fried corn tortillas topped with a housemade cheese sauce and suadero (if you want it), and laced with a garlic and tomatillo-heavy guacatillo sauce.

Text your morning routine

Want your AM coffee ready and waiting? Now you can text Go Get Em Tiger in Larchmont and Los Feliz, and they’ll try to have your order to snag as soon as you walk in. Larchmont’s number is: 323-380-5359, and Los Feliz is: 323-543-4438.

A New Years party at The Anchor in Venice

Still not sure where to spend your weekend? Consider The Anchor in Venice, where they’ll have New Years deals that include $1 oysters, complimentary cheese plates, and $3 craft beer from the tap all night. It starts at 4 p.m., and all you’ve got to do is show up.

A soba noodle crawl

Interested in scoping out some of the best soba noodle makers in Southern California? Food Talk Central is already deep in the discussion, hitting up Tanakaya in Tustin, Otafuku in Gardena, and Ichimian Bamboo Garden in Torrance.

Evan Funke pops up again

There’s a new chance to watch Evan Funke cook up some of his forthcoming favorites from his restaurant Felix, as the pasta maestro steps into the kitchen at Animal for a collaboration dinner on Tuesday 1/10 and Wednesday 1/11. The multi-course dinner is $80 ($45 with wine), and you’ll have to call Animal to make a reservation directly.