Phnom Penh Noodle Shack is a family-owned Cambodian noodle restaurant in Long Beach, California, that began in 1985 as a tiny five-table “shack” serving simple Cambodian dishes, grew in reputation through the 1980s and ’90s under the Tan family, and was rebranded with a modern interior as Phnom Penh Noodle Shack in 2012 while continuing to share its rich culinary heritage with the community.
Thw restaurant serves traditional Cambodian-style noodle soups and comfort dishes, featuring rich broths with rice or egg noodles, a variety of proteins like pork, shrimp, beef, and chicken, as well as stir-fry noodles and rice porridge that reflect the bold, aromatic flavors of Khmer cuisine. 
I ordered the Phnom Penh Noodle House Special, which uses pork meat (sliced, ground, stomach, liver) and shrimp with big rice noodles. Served with pickled chili. The organ meats certainly give this soup an iron-y flavor. The plum soda was salty but so interesting - especially as a counter to the soup.
Grade: B
Sophy’s is a casual, family-oriented Cambodian restaurant known for its authentic Khmer and Southeast Asian dishes with some Thai influences, served in a comfy space located in Long Beach’s Cambodia Town.
Sophy’s is a bit cluttered but clean. The neighborhood where the restaurant sits is the first Cambodia Town in the United States. The menu is large. Items labeled “Khmer” are intended to be traditional Cambodian.
I ordered the "ahmok," which is a steamed fish curry and is the most famous dish in Cambodia. Catfish fillets are simmered in coconut milk with lemongrass, galangal, fingerroot, makrut lime fruit and its leaves. The curry is thickened with egg that creates an almost foamy custard. It's a bit funky, but it's also very interesting and delicious.
Grade: A
Happy Little Teas is a cozy bubble tea cafe known for its wide variety of tea drinks (including milk teas, fruit teas, and smoothies) and fun toppings like chewy boba and jellies.
Tiger Boba (often called tiger milk tea or tiger bubble tea) is my fav style of boba drink, and it's especially popular for its rich flavor and distinctive stripey look. This one featured brown sugar and creme brulee, which delivered a rich caramel sweetness with a smooth, indulgent finish.
Grade: A
The R.M.S. (Royal Mail Ship) Queen Mary was built in Clydebank, Scotland, and upon her maiden voyage in May of 1936 was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. In the glory days, the crème of high society considered her the most civilized way to cross the North Atlantic Ocean.
After three years carrying passengers and mail between Southampton and New York, the Queen Mary was "drafted" into service in March 1940 as a troop ship in the early days of World War II. She was nicknamed "The Grey Ghost" because her entire hull and superstructure from bow to stern was painted grey to act as a camouflage and defense mechanism to avoid German U-boats and surface raiders.
In July 1943, the Queen Mary set the world's record for carrying more human beings ever transported on an ocean voyage, a staggering 16,683 souls! The heroic vessel continued her service as a troopship and a war bride and baby transport vessel until 1946. During her war service, Winston Churchill was a frequent passenger. It was aboard the Queen Mary plans for the D-Day invasion were discussed.
The Queen Mary served the Allied cause and played a significant role in virtually every major campaign by carrying some 810,730 military personnel across nearly 700,000 miles of ocean. The Queen Mary resumed peacetime passenger service in 1947 and along with her sister ship, the Queen Elizabeth, served another 20 years weaving a tapestry of goodwill and understanding between the old and new worlds.
However, in the early 1960's all passenger liners began to lose money. Jet air travel was becoming the primary mode of transatlantic transportation, so the Cunara Line put the Queen Mary up for sale. The highest bid came from the City of Long Beach, California at $3.45 million.
She set sail on her Last Great Cruise, a 39-day voyage, on October 31, 1967 and arrived in Long Beach on December 9, 1967. Because she is eight feet too wide and 19 feet too long to fit through the Panama Canal, she had to sail down the coast of South America and around Cape Horn in order to get here.
Over the next few years she was transformed into a floating hotel, convention center, and tourist attraction. The Queen Mary reopened to the public in 1971. In 1993 the ship was placed on the National Register of Historic Places under the designation "With Historic Significance." She has now been visited by nearly 50,000,000 people since embarking upon her present role.
Wrapped in the elegant grandeur of the Grand Salon - the former first-class dining salon - and featuring live entertainment, Royal Sunday Brunch exudes a refined and sophisticated charm, setting it apart from the ordinary. With champagne, live music, and a tantalizing signature menu, the Royal Sunday Brunch buffet has become a Long Beach tradition.
There are more than 50 dishes on this buffet, and I was excited to get to try a little bit of everything that I wanted. It is certainly an experience, and possibly the most decadent brunch I've ever had.
Breakfast Station
Eggs Benedict Vol e Vont
Bacon + Sausage Links + Chicken Apple Sausage
Scrambled Eggs
Roasted Breakfast Potatoes Lyonnaise
Corned Beef Hash
Pancakes + Waffles + Blintzes
Chef Prepared Omelets + Cage Free Eggs to Order
Morning Danish + Muffins + Croissants
Sliced Fruits + Berries
Ocean Bounty
Snow + Stone Crab Claws + King Crab Legs
Shrimp Cocktail + Ceviche Vera Cruz
Oysters on the Half Shell
Smoked Salmon
Poached Salmon Serpentine
Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna
Shrimp Louie
Far East Station
Korean BBQ Ribs
Sweet & Sour Chicken
Dim Sum
BBQ Pork Bun Bao
Vegetable + Curry Samosa
Tempura Shrimp
Vegetarian Egg Roll
Selection of Sushi
Soy Sauce + Wasabi
Pickled Ginger + Sambal Olek
Carving Station
Smoked Brisket
Carved Prime Rib of Beef
Carved Honey Roasted Turkey
Rice Pilaf + Roasted Garlic Whipped Potatoes
Maple Bourbon Brussel Sprouts
Market Salad
Regions of Italy
Chianti Braised Short Ribs + Gremolata
Tortellini Carbonara
Rigatoni Bolognese
Caesar Salad + Caprese Salad
Antipasto Grilled Veggies
Roasted Pee Wee
Rustic Bread + EVOO + Aged Balsamic
Caesar Salad + Tomato Caprese
Domestic + Imported Cheeses
Taste of Mexico
Carne Asada + Carnitas Street Tacos
Queso Fundido + Corn Tortilla Chips
Assorted Salsas
Ceviche
Chile Relleno
Iceberg Wedge Salad
Patisserie
Petite Fours
Caramel Flan
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Chocolate Mousse
Petite Crème Brûlée
Selection of Mini French Pastries
Crepe Suzette
Chocolate Bread Pudding
Mignardise
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