"The Potholder Cafe describes itself as “the undisputed king of breakfast,” and Almeraz would agree. “It is a classic, and when I first moved to Long Beach, I was at The Potholder almost every day,” she says. With four locations, customers have their pick, but Almeraz prefers the restaurant on Broadway in Belmont Heights. “To me, it’s more nostalgic and a little neighborhoody. And I really like the energy that used to be in there.” Big-platter breakfast dishes like the “Mac Daddy Frankie” (an 18-inch pancake topped with eggs and bacon or sausage) or “Maritime Loco Moco” (two eggs on a hamburger patty over rice topped with brown gravy) are not for the faint of heart." - danielle bauter