Sesame Dinette is a cozy Long Beach spot serving fresh, flavorful Vietnamese comforts like pho, inventive bánh mì, and vegan options in a chic, art-filled space.
"A Vietnamese restaurant in Long Beach up for sale as the owners, Judy Mai Nguyen and Linda Sivrican, look for a buyer for Nguyen's retirement." - Mona Holmes
"When you bite into the sesame bánh mì at Sesame Dinette, the crispy, roti-like flatbread it’s served on begins to shed crumbs like a tabby cat in springtime. This one is unconventional as far as bánh mì go: it's stuffed with either pork or chicken cold cuts and some fresh cilantro and daikon, balanced with bright yellow dijon mustard and some added crunch from chopped cucumber and bell peppers. We especially love how refreshing the toppings are, combined with that perfectly toasted and unique bun. Grab one from this cozy Long Beach cafe on your next lunch break, and be sure to browse their mini-mart for Asian home goods and pantry staples. " - nikko duren, arden shore, sylvio martins, brant cox
"Run by mother-and-daughter duo Judy Mai Nguyen and Linda Sivrican, who also partnered on the since-closed superette Sesame LA in Chinatown, Sesame Dinette offers big bowls of long-simmering soups like pho, wonton noodle soup, and a vegetarian “duck” noodle soup with braised tofu skin; crisp, herb-packed salads; and picnic-perfect sandwiches like dặc biệt banh mi and its pho French dip, the latter of which is served with a side of heavily fragrant pho broth. The minimalist-chic blondwood interior make dining in a welcome respite." - Mona Holmes, Brian Addison
"Each bowl of steaming soup packs complex, layered flavors. The dinette offers soups like pho, wonton noodle soup, and a vegetarian 'duck' noodle soup; crisp salads; and sandwiches like dặc biệt banh mi and pho French dip." - Eater Staff
"Sesame Dinette, a tiny cafe just off PCH with a big menu of Vietnamese dishes, is perfect for a daytime snack. The white-walled space looks like a chic coffee shop that doubles as an art gallery, and there are several wooden picnic tables inside where you can eat things like pork banh mi, vegan duck noodle soup, and chicken cabbage salad. It’s run by the family behind Sesame LA, a local market and home goods shop in Chinatown, and will soon operate as an incubator for up-and-coming chef residencies and pop-ups. In addition to housemade pastries, and pantry staples from AAPI-run small businesses, they offer a sesame-studded banh mi sandwich that ranks among our favorites in LA." - garrett snyder, nikko duren, brant cox
