Panxa Cocina Verified listing

Panxa Cocina — nestled in Long Beach’s Belmont Heights neighborhood — has long been celebrated for bold, soulful Southwestern cuisine rooted in New Mexican tradition. Over the past decade, the restaurant became a community favorite thanks to the vision of the late Chef Arthur “Chef Art” Gonzalez and co-founder Vanessa Auclair, who opened Panxa as a heartfelt celebration of the region’s bright chiles, smoky sauces, and vibrant hospitality.

Today, Panxa is entering an exciting new chapter under the culinary leadership of Chef Richie Ramirez, who has taken the helm as Executive Chef and is shaping the menu with both reverence for tradition and a fresh Southern California perspective. Ramirez — a Southern California native with Mexican and Persian heritage — brings refined technique and multicultural influences to Panxa’s bold flavor profile, honoring Chef Art’s legacy while evolving the restaurant’s story one dish at a time.

Chef Richie’s culinary journey — from early experiences working in high-volume kitchens to leadership roles under notable chefs — gives him the confidence to tread a careful balance between tradition and innovation. At Panxa Cocina, that has meant tweaking classic plates for deeper consistency and flavor, introducing new seasonal elements, and amplifying the ingredients that define the restaurant’s identity, like roasted Hatch chiles and layered spice blends.

The Belmont Heights space continues to feel like a neighborhood kitchen — casual, inviting, and rich with connection — but under Ramirez’s guidance, the menu now reflects a more personal narrative. From imaginatively composed starters to strengthened takes on Panxa’s signature Southwestern plates, the restaurant feels both rooted and renewed.

In a city proud of its culinary diversity, Panxa Cocina’s evolving voice reflects Long Beach’s spirit: grounded in community, open to interpretation, and always driven by the people behind the food.