Top 10 Restaurants In Pasadena, California

1. El Metate

This restaurant offers an excellent burst of the Mexican-American cuisine. The cozy and family run café is entirely managed by a cheerful couple and their two sons. The mouth-watering food comes from the huge stone kitchen, which can be named as the best traditional Mexican food in the town. There are various kinds of Mexican food available here, from tacos, enchiladas, and flautas to the oversized burritos. The listed items are described in both Spanish and English, which has given it an extraordinary originality. The breakfast menu includes lots of dishes of eggs, whereas the seafood items can be tried for lunch and dinner. These whole packages come at a very moderate price, suitable for your pocket anytime.

El Metate

Address: 12 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, California 91106

Website: El Metate

2. Pie 'n Burger

This old-school restaurant offers you every kind of burger. Here, you can get re-connected with grill-cooked-oven burgers. Stepping into this restaurant is like traveling to the past. Established in 1963, the restaurant has kept the old recipes and old menu the same, adding some new dishes over the time. Even the counter and cash register remain same, where you have to pay in cash, as it doesn’t recognize the plastic cards.

Pie 'n Burger

Address: 913 E California Blvd, Pasadena, California 91106

Website: Pie ‘n Burger

3. Alexander's Steakhouse

This upscale restaurant features an excellent décor and a sophisticated atmosphere. It’s a modern-age steakhouse, which brings cuisines from all over the world. The main attraction of this place is definitely its signature Angus Beef. From their own dry-aging room they produce the 28-day dry-aged steak which gives an unparalleled flavor. Along with that, you can also grab a taste of the exclusively imported wagyu beef. The menu features a great deal of American and Japanese cuisines. If you want exclusivity, you can try their Washugyu wagyu tomahawk steak, which is one of the most expensive steaks in the country.

Alexander's Steakhouse

Address: 111 North Robles Ave, Pasadena, California 91101

Website: Alexander’s Steakhouse

4. Union Restaurant

Located in the old town of Pasadena, the Union Restaurant is known for its mouth-watering pasta. The restaurant can accommodate up to 50 people, and has a modest and simplistic ambiance. The most important part of this restaurant is most definitely its food, cooked to perfection by the chef Bruce Kalman. This is one of the best Italian restaurants in town, where you can try the simple Italian dishes like pasta and vegetarian spaghetti at the most affordable rates. The menu is seasonal, which offers special dishes like tagliatelle with pork ragout and gremolata during the winter months. Overall, this restaurant is perfect for a cozy catch up with your friends.

Union Restaurant

Address: 37 E Union St, Pasadena, California 91103

Website: Union Restaurant

5. Ración

The flavor of authentic Spain can be tasted in the restaurant named Ración. The tapas of this place taste like authentic tapas of the Basque region of Spain. The rich wine list features the authentic ones from the Canary Island and Basque country.

Ración

Address: 119 W Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA

Website: Ración

6. President Thai Restaurant

Elegant and gorgeous, these two adjectives positively describe the grandeur of the very famous President Thai Restaurant. The restaurant serves typical Thai cuisine, which reflects in its food, ambiance and culture. The ornate Thai art reflects on the interior of this restaurant, designed in traditional Thai architecture. Overall, this restaurant gives you the whole Thai experience with the food, culture, and ambiance. The restaurant was established in the year 1994, and can accommodate around 150 people at a time. The signature dishes include President BBQ Beef and Garlic Prawns. Although every visitor has their own favorites!

President Thai Restaurant

Address: 498 S Rosemead Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107, USA

Website: President Thai Restaurant

7. Lucky Boy Drive-In Restaurant

A typical American fast-food joint, the Lucky Boy Drive-In Restaurant serves you all you need for a typical American treat—sandwiches, burgers, burritos, hot dogs. All your ordered delicacies are served to you in a box and bag, so that you can opt for them at any time of the day, for a small bite or a full meal. From 6 am to 2 pm, it is constantly serving mouthwatering delicacies to curb your hunger.

Lucky Boy Drive-In Restaurant

Address: 640 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, California 91105

Website: Lucky Boy Drive-In Restaurant

8. The Raymond

Once part of the Grand Raymond Hotel from 1920s, The Raymond is based in the Caretaker’s room of this very hotel. Unfortunately, this hotel is not open nowadays, yet the restaurant remains. The interior of the hotel still portrays the old architectures, the stone fireplace, and an intimate atmosphere. The mouthwatering American cuisine is specially made by Chef Tim Guiltinan, while the 1886 bar provides an impressive collection of cocktails and wine.

The Raymond

Address: 1250 S Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, California 91105

Website: The Raymond

9. Gus's BBQ

This restaurant is assumed to be the oldest BBQ of Los Angeles, although, it has gradually welcomed changes over time. In the year 1946, this legendary restaurant was opened by the brothers named Jack and Gus Tripodes. Nowadays, this restaurant is owned by another set of brothers named Chris and John Bicos. The meat and BBQ preparations of this place have slightly changed from the past, catering to the tastes of this century.

Gus's BBQ

Address: 808 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, California 91030

Website: Gus’s BBQ

10. Russell's

Another old traditional restaurant where you can get French and Italian cuisine, along with the traditional American food. This restaurant is located in the old town of Pasadena, and is one of the most popular spots to have breakfast. The breakfast menu includes the iconic French toast, Belgian waffles, gourmet omelets, whereas the selection of beers, wine and champagne can be enjoyed with lunch or dinner.

Russell's

Address: 30 N Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, California 91103

The City of Roses...

The city of Pasadena is known as the ‘City of Roses’, for its famous New Year’s Day Rose Parade. Along with the roses, the impressive collection of restaurants is also a reason one must visit Pasadena!