The Noodle Lounge, a Korean-style convenience store built around instant ramen, slipped into the Long Beach scene last month and is already angling to be the neighborhood’s go-to hangout. Shelves are lined with instant noodle varieties, a self-cook ramen counter sits at the center of the action, and a roster of bright specialty drinks keeps the cups filled. Owner Leylanee Hernandez says the idea grew from a pop-up earlier this year and that the shop leans into social events and late-night traffic rather than quick in-and-out snacks only.
Set at the corner of Seventh Street and Cherry Avenue in the former Cityside Pizza Palace space, the Noodle Lounge offers a $15 combo that covers a ramen bowl, one topping, and a drink. Extra toppings run $1 each, and customers cook their own noodles at the counter, picking from add-ons like green onion, raw or hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and shrimp. The store also stocks a spread of Asian snacks and camera-ready drinks. Hernandez’s Berry Breeze, built with blue-raspberry syrup and Iced Vanilla Berry Red Bull, has already emerged as an early favorite. On top of that, the owner has started hosting World Cup and Love Island watch parties and has carved out a corner for board games. These details were reported by the Long Beach Post.
What You’ll Find Inside
Business listings and the shop’s own descriptions play up the do-it-yourself ramen setup and a menu that revolves around instant noodles, specialty drinks, and imported snacks. A listing on Giftly shows the address as 712 Cherry Ave and describes the Noodle Lounge as a casual, late-night ramen and snack spot. According to Giftly, the page was updated on July 1, 2026, which suggests the information there is current.
From Pizza Palace to Neighborhood Ramen Spot
The storefront previously housed Cityside Pizza Palace at the same address, and some directory pages still list Cityside’s menu and contact information at 712 Cherry Ave. Menupages still maintains an entry for Cityside at that location, while the Long Beach Post reports that Cityside closed at the end of 2025, clearing the way for Hernandez to move in.
The Korean Convenience Model: Why It Matters
The Noodle Lounge’s mix of grab-and-go shopping, ready-to-eat noodles, and on-site cooking takes cues from a South Korean convenience store model where shops double as mini-restaurants and trend incubators. The LA Times has documented how Korean convenience stores regularly roll out dozens of new food items each week and often function as late-night dining rooms, a template for why a ramen-centric convenience concept might resonate in Long Beach.
Whether the Noodle Lounge turns into a true neighborhood fixture will depend on steady repeat traffic and whether the self-cook ramen station becomes a habit instead of a one-time novelty. For now, the mix of instant-noodle options, cheesy and spicy toppings, and colorful drinks gives locals one more place to satisfy a late-night ramen craving.
