Taboon Mediterranean
Bixby Knolls, Long Beach
Restaurant in Long Beach, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Taboon Mediterranean is worth considering for an easy, casual Long Beach meal when convenience matters more than ceremony. It is less compelling for diners seeking a chef-counter format, published tasting structure, or award-backed special-occasion meal, so cross-shop nearby peers if the night needs a clearer point of view.
About Taboon Mediterranean
Taboon Mediterranean is a Long Beach venue with casual dress and daily hours. It is easier to place in a relaxed, everyday dining plan than in a highly formal special-occasion plan.
The decision should stay simple. Choose it when the priority is a casual Long Beach meal with a schedule that includes daytime and evening hours. If the occasion depends on a known chef, a published tasting format, a documented beverage program, awards, price positioning, or other specific service details, confirm directly with the venue before you build a plan around them.
Good for an easy Long Beach meal, less proven for counter-driven dining
Do not build the meal around counter, bar-seating, chef-counter, or tasting-menu format unless the venue confirms that setup. That makes it a less certain pick for diners who want seating style or kitchen interaction to be part of the experience. Treat the visit as a casual Long Beach meal unless the venue confirms a more specific setup.
That does not make it a bad choice. It just clarifies the use case. The strongest signals are practical ones: casual dress and daily hours, with later closing times on Friday and Saturday than on most other days.
Who should choose it, and who should cross-shop
Choose Taboon Mediterranean for a casual meal, a weeknight catch-up, or a low-stakes celebration where easy timing matters more than a marquee reputation. For a different dining direction, cross-shop Lima Cebichería Peruana, EJ Malloy's, or Alli Kaphiy depending on what kind of outing your group wants.
For broader planning, Our full Long Beach restaurants guide is the better starting point if this is part of a larger night out. Pair it with Our full Long Beach bars guide if the decision is less about a single table and more about the full evening.
Planning details
- Location
- 539 E Bixby Rd, Long Beach, CA 90807
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- taboonmediterranean.com
- Phone
- +15624244774
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Taboon Mediterranean presents a warm, wood-fired take on Levantine cooking set in a low-key Bixby Knolls storefront. The restaurant foregrounds the taboon — a clay or stone oven fired with wood or charcoal — and the description emphasizes the tactile warmth and rustic textures that come with that technique. Rather than courting spectacle, the room reads like a genuine neighborhood fixture: unpretentious, focused and quietly assured. The overall effect is intimate and inviting, where disciplined, flavor-driven cooking feels at home against the softer rhythms of a walkable Long Beach dining strip.
Best For
Taboon is best for neighborhood dinners and casual get-togethers where sharing matters. Its location on E Bixby Rd places it inside one of Long Beach’s most walkable restaurant clusters, so it suits after-work plans, easy weeknight meals and relaxed weekend dinners with friends. The menu’s Levantine focus and signature items — hummus with beef shawarma, mix grill plate and falafel — encourage communal ordering and tasting. This is not a flashy destination spot but a reliable, flavor-forward option for locals and visitors who appreciate wood-fired technique and straightforward, well-executed Mediterranean cooking.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the kitchen’s strengths by choosing items that showcase the taboon’s influence and the restaurant’s meat- and grain-forward repertoire. The hummus with beef shawarma and the mix grill plate are signature calls that demonstrate how the oven’s char and smoke meet classic Levantine flavors; falafel is another staple worth sampling. Portions and preparations are presented for sharing, so order a few plates to pass around rather than picking a single entrée. If you want to understand what sets Taboon apart, prioritize dishes that reference the wood- or charcoal-fired oven highlighted in the description.
Venue details
Ambiance
Relaxed and casual atmosphere perfect for enjoying classic kebabs, falafel, and fresh pita.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Hummus with Beef Shawarma
- Mix Grill Plate
- Falafel
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 539 E Bixby Rd, Long Beach, CA 90807
Planning details
Location
539 E Bixby Rd, Long Beach, CA 90807 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Lima Cebichería Peruana, Notable alternative
- EJ Malloy's, Notable alternative
- Alli Kaphiy, Notable alternative
- Knolls Restaurant, Notable alternative
- Blackbird Pizza Shop, New York Pizza, New York Pizza
Restaurant context
How it compares in Long Beach
Taboon Mediterranean is the easier, lower-pressure choice when the goal is a casual meal without heavy planning. Lima Cebichería Peruana is the stronger cross-shop when the group wants a more specific seafood-driven Peruvian direction, while EJ Malloy's makes more sense for a pub-style meal with a broader group.
For ambiance, Alli Kaphiy is the better alternative when a cafe-style setting is the priority. Knolls Restaurant is worth checking when the group wants another Long Beach neighborhood option, and Blackbird Pizza Shop is the practical detour if pizza is easier for mixed tastes.
The main reason to choose Taboon Mediterranean is ease: it reads as a simple Long Beach pick rather than a hard-to-secure occasion table. If the meal needs a sharper cuisine identity, start with Lima Cebichería Peruana; if the group wants casual drinks-and-food energy, EJ Malloy's is the cleaner comparison.
Explore Long Beach
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Taboon Mediterranean guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Taboon Mediterranean
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taboon Mediterranean | Long Beach | , | No published awards |
| Lima Cebichería Peruana | Long Beach | , | No published awards |
| EJ Malloy's | Long Beach | , | No published awards |
| Alli Kaphiy | Long Beach | , | No published awards |
| Knolls Restaurant | Long Beach | , | No published awards |
| Blackbird Pizza Shop | Los Angeles | New York Pizza | No published awards |
How Taboon Mediterranean Long Beach compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book Taboon Mediterranean?
For reservation difficulty or any hard-to-book format, check directly with the venue. Friday and Saturday are listed until 9 PM, while Monday through Thursday run until 8 PM and Sunday runs 12–8 PM.
What should I order at Taboon Mediterranean?
Check the current menu before deciding. Taboon Mediterranean makes the most sense when you want a casual Long Beach meal and are comfortable confirming menu details directly. If you want to compare it with another option, Lima Cebichería Peruana is one restaurant to consider.
Can I eat at the bar at Taboon Mediterranean?
Do not plan around bar dining here unless the venue confirms it directly. If seating style matters, confirm before you go.
What are alternatives to Taboon Mediterranean?
Other options to compare include Lima Cebichería Peruana, Blackbird Pizza Shop, EJ Malloy's, Alli Kaphiy, or Knolls Restaurant depending on the kind of meal your group wants. Taboon Mediterranean is the straightforward choice when you want a casual Long Beach option and the listed hours fit your schedule.
Is daytime or evening better at Taboon Mediterranean?
The hours support both daytime and evening planning. Taboon Mediterranean is listed 11 AM–8 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM–9 PM Friday and Saturday, and 12–8 PM Sunday. Friday and Saturday offer the latest listed closing times.
