Like many college students, I miss my mom. She’s in Los Angeles, only an hour away from my university in Orange, but with both of our loaded schedules, it can be hard to find a time to make the drive. Then we came up with the simple yet brilliant idea to meet in the middle—and we found the perfect place to do so.
Blackbird Cafe, located at 3405 Orange Avenue in Long Beach, has become our sacred brunch spot. Despite being a smaller establishment and always being full of customers, there is almost never a wait, even during brunch’s peak at 11 am on Sunday. The cooks and servers greet you with smiles and seat you at one of the brown wooden tables lining the walls.
In 2017, the Blackbird Cafe was voted best brunch and breakfast by Long Beach Home and living.com. The menu has plenty of favorites: eggs, french toast, juices, coffee. They add fun twists to these simple dishes, like the Brownie Pancakes, the Dos Caballeros Benedict, and the Cinnamon & Honey Latte. They also offer Mimosas and Bloody Marys for those over 21. They have nine different omelets, including three vegetarian choices. Your order is taken efficiently and the food is brought out rapidly (as close to immediately as you can get with a freshly made meal).
There are two bathrooms—an underrated amenity—decorated with artwork and photographs, some of which are for sale. Parking is a breeze as the long street opposite the cafe is free.
My favorite part of the cafe is how accepting it is. There are vegan meal options, dogs are allowed to sit with their owners at the outdoor tables, and there is a sign at the entrance that reads: “We welcome all races, religions, countries of origin, sexual orientations, genders, and abilities.”
The Blackbird Cafe is a real hidden gem, one that is definitely worth a trip to.