Selva Verified listing

Selva in Long Beach's new spring menu—through which it formally ditches its previous static menu and will now move forward with four changes a year based on the season—is a reflection of Chef Carlos Jurado’s determined focus on his culinary work. If 2025 showcased this work at the R&D, let’s-begin-to-recalibrate level—from impressive, sporadic tasting menus to collaborations with spaces like Marlena to hosting a burger competition—2026 is the full-on fruition of that work.

Working closely with front-of-house maestro Monica Canelos, the menu is delightfully tight, weaving Selva’s history seamlessly while also dauntlessly pushing the entirety of its Long Beach space—the kitchen, the servers, the managers, Chef Carlos—forward.

At the top of the menu, you’ll find a base plate: ceviche. But it’s the best version Chef Carlos has churned out—and one of the finest in the city: fermented ají amarillo is paired with a blood orange-tinged leche de tigre—worthy on its own with a spoon—and creamy coconut cream. With a bite of fresh pea and ever slightest bit of bitter thanks to tendrils, it’s a textural wonder of a dish.

Or the space’s masterful tomahawk pork chop, quick brined and then grilled before being fully fried for a brief moment. Why the fry? Chef Carlos leaves the hunk of chop’s meaty, fatty bits on the entirety of the bone, creating an end-bone dangling with bits of chicharrón. Dipped into the plate’s heavenly hagao sauce—where heirloom tomatoes and black garlic combine with the slightest bit of cumin and turmeric and tons of scallion and cilantro—and you have yourself a bite of savory perfection.

That same, magical hagao is paired with the space’s whole fried red snapper. Happily and heavily doused in an array of smoked salt and spices, microgreens act as a herbal cut for what is a wonderfully flaky fish. Sitting atop his rightfully-loved rice, it is the space’s proper fish dish that merrily stinks of Selva’s signature style.

Written and photos by Brian Addison.

For Brian Addison's latest feature on Selva, click here.