Long Beach's Best Pasta

Long Beach has a pasta problem, and it’s the good kind. You can chase a pork belly bowl for two near the traffic circle, then pivot to a cramped, glorious fusilli in a room where you’ll wait like a tourist.

City traffic is your appetizer; the lasagna here is the main event. We ranked the contenders, from the dependable uncle to the wine bar with a tea tower that shouldn’t work but does.

One place made me forgive a long wait with a single bite. The list is below, sorted by what’s worth your gas money.

La Parolaccia Osteria - Long Beach

Highlights
Lasagna worth returning for
Service unmatched, genuinely warm
Fun Italian artifacts throughout
Old-school charm, modern quality

La Parolaccia Osteria is the old-school joint that actually earns the adjective. The lasagna is not a suggestion; it’s a command to return. Layers hold their shape, the ragù bites back, and the béchamel knows its place. Service is the real standout: warm, unhurried, and genuinely attentive without hovering. The walls are cluttered with Italian artifacts, some kitschy, some curious, all adding to the charm. It’s not trying to be modern. It’s too busy being good. If you want a pasta dinner that feels like a handshake from a friend, this is your table. I left full, satisfied, and already planning the next visit.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Long Beach.

Due Fiori

Highlights
Caesar rivals Bird Pizzeria
Hot honey pizza exceptional
Fusilli earns instant "Wow"
Worth the long wait
Friendly, professional service

Due Fiori makes you work for it. The wait is long, the room is cramped, and you will stand outside like a fool checking your phone. Then the fusilli arrives and you forgive everything. That first bite is a genuine 'wow,' the kind that silences a table. The hot honey pizza is exceptional too, but the Caesar salad might be the sleeper: crisp, punchy, and a real rival to Bird Pizzeria’s famous version. Service stays friendly and professional even when the place is slammed. Worth the hassle? Absolutely. Just bring patience and an empty stomach.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in West Palm Beach.

Pastaphony

Highlights
Freshest pasta, phenomenal flavors
Huge portions, quick service
Kind owner, great suggestions
Relaxing atmosphere, colorful pops
Unforgettable experience, will return

Pastaphony is the pasta equivalent of a cold drink on a hot day. The freshest noodles in Long Beach, hands down, with flavors that hit like a small revelation. Portions are huge, service is quick, and the owner’s suggestions are gold; he steered me to a special that I’d order again without hesitation. The room is relaxed, with colorful pops that keep it from feeling sterile. You’ll leave stuffed, but you’ll also be plotting your return. This is the kind of place that makes you question why you ever ate pasta anywhere else.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Huntington Beach.

La Traviata Italian Restaurant

Highlights
Savory dishes fill appetites fully
Staff earns return visits
Recommendable for pasta seekers

La Traviata is the dependable uncle of Italian dining: not flashy, but you always eat well. The dishes are savory, filling, and exactly what you want when you’re hungry and tired of gimmicks. The staff is the reason you come back; they remember you, they joke with you, and they treat you like a regular even on your first visit. For pasta seekers, this is a solid recommendation. No surprises, no nonsense. Just good food and a warm welcome. I’d happily return, though I might skip dessert.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Newport Beach.

Ellie's

Highlights
Angel hair with shellfish
Pillowy, uniquely shaped gnocchi
Roasted cauliflower with peppers
Lively, crowded dining room
Tasting menu exceptional service

Ellie’s is loud, crowded, and completely alive. The angel hair with shellfish is a study in restraint: delicate noodles, briny seafood, and a broth that begs to be mopped up. But the gnocchi are the real stars, pillowy and oddly shaped, like little clouds that actually taste like potato. The roasted cauliflower with peppers is a side dish that steals the spotlight. Service is exceptional, especially during the tasting menu, which feels like a guided tour of the kitchen’s best ideas. Yes, you’ll wait for a table. Yes, it’s worth it.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Westchester.

Massimo's Naples

Highlights
Pork belly pasta for two
Fresh, balanced vegetali pizza
Artichoke salad, high quality
Rotolino Di Carciofi perfection
Warm, family welcome throughout

Massimo’s Naples feels like a family’s home, if that family happened to be obsessed with pork belly. The pasta for two is a ridiculous, glorious bowl of richness, and the rotolino di carciofi is perfection on a plate. The artichoke salad is high quality, bright and sharp, balancing all that indulgence. The vegetali pizza is fresh and balanced, a fine companion to the heavier stuff. The welcome is warm throughout, the kind of hospitality that makes you want to linger. This is a place that respects tradition without being boring.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Los Angeles.

Domenico's Belmont Shore

Highlights
Stellar service, welcoming atmosphere
Chicken piccata earns praise
Good for family dinners
Solid date-night option

Domenico’s Belmont Shore is the safe bet that actually pays off. The service is stellar, the atmosphere welcoming, and the chicken piccata is a crowd-pleaser that earns its praise. It’s not adventurous, but it doesn’t need to be; sometimes you want a reliable family dinner, and this delivers. Good for kids, good for dates, good for any night you don’t want to think too hard about your meal. The pasta is solid, if not revolutionary. You’ll leave happy, full, and wondering why you don’t come more often. Solid, not spectacular, but dependable.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in San Francisco.

Chez Bacchus

Highlights
Tea tower worth the hype
Hat rack adds whimsy
Elegant, welcoming afternoon space
Loose leaf tea variety shines
Dinner promises return visit

Chez Bacchus is a wine bar that does pasta justice, but the real reason you’re here is the tea tower. Yes, the tea tower. It’s whimsical, fun, and surprisingly substantial, with a loose leaf selection that actually shines. The hat rack adds a touch of absurd elegance that somehow works. The afternoon space is elegant and welcoming, perfect for a lazy catch-up with a friend. Dinner is on my list; the aromas from the kitchen promise a return visit. If you’re after a pasta lunch, don’t skip this spot. Just be prepared for the quirk.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Berkeley.

The Italian Homemade Company (Long Beach)

Highlights
Pasta worth every penny
Generous meaty bolognese portions
Extra parmesan, no questions
Real Italian first-timer winner
Ravioli that demands repeat visits

The Italian Homemade Company is the real deal, and it’s cheap. Pasta worth every penny, with a bolognese that’s generous, meaty, and utterly satisfying. They’ll add extra parmesan without you asking, a small detail that says everything about the place. For a first timer, this is the winner: authentic, simple, and honest. The ravioli is the kind that demands repeat visits, each bite a reminder of why you love pasta. No pretense, no fuss. Just a plate of food that makes you smile. I’ll be back soon, and I’ll probably order two.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Sacramento.

Tarantella on 4th

Highlights
Lasagna ranks among best
Risotto impressed, pasta didn’t
Prices high, portions small
Service lags when busy
Valentine’s pre-fixe disappointed

Tarantella on 4th is a frustrating mix of highs and lows. The lasagna ranks among the best I’ve had in Long Beach, rich, layered, and worth the trip alone. But the risotto impressed while the pasta didn’t, and that inconsistency stings. Prices are high, portions are small, and service lags when the room gets busy. A Valentine’s pre-fixe dinner disappointed me so much I almost wrote this place off entirely. It’s a shame because the food can be great. Come for the lasagna, leave before the check arrives. Or better yet, go elsewhere.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Santa Monica.

Kin long beach kitchen

Highlights
Exceptional service and hospitality
Fresh, flavorful pasta dishes
Clean, modern date-spot ambiance
Attentive staff, quick seating
Private room for special moments

Kin Long Beach Kitchen is a date spot that knows how to behave. Service is exceptional, with staff who anticipate your needs before you do, and the hospitality feels genuine, not scripted. The pasta is fresh, flavorful, and plated with care. The room is clean and modern, with an ambiance that’s chic but not stuffy. Seating is quick, even when it’s busy, and there’s a private room for special moments. This is the kind of place you bring someone you want to impress. I went for a casual dinner and left thinking about the next reservation. Solid execution, top to bottom.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Santa Barbara.

L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele Belmont Shore

Highlights
Wood-fired Napoli pizza mastery
Standout tiramisu and gelato
Spacious outdoor seating
Excellent, attentive service

L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele Belmont Shore is a pizza joint that happens to do pasta well. The wood-fired Napoli pies are the main event, and they’re mastery: blistered, smoky, and perfectly chewy. But the tiramisu and gelato are standout finishers, creamy and not too sweet. The outdoor seating is spacious, which is rare for Belmont Shore, and the service is excellent, attentive without being invasive. The pasta might not be the star here, but it’s a worthy supporting player. If you’re after a full Italian meal, this place delivers. Just don’t skip the pizza.

You might also want to check out the best pasta in Oakland.