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A selection of Sichuan hits at Sichuan Street Food on Green Street. — Sichuan hits at Sichuan Street Food on Green Street.

The 18 Best Restaurants in Pasadena

Legendary breakfast burritos, tongue-numbing Sichuan street food, and incredible Armenian flatbreads

by Cathy Chaplin and Mona Holmes Updated Nov 4, 2024, 10:48am PST

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Sichuan hits at Sichuan Street Food on Green Street.

| Wonho Frank Lee

by Cathy Chaplin and Mona Holmes Updated Nov 4, 2024, 10:48am PST

Historically, Pasadena is better known for its idyllic suburban neighborhoods and annual Rose Parade than its culinary offerings. But with a slew of new openings over the past few years and always-busy standbys scattered around town, the City of Roses has become one of LA’s most diverse and notable dining scenes. Here are the 18 essential Pasadena restaurants.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Perry's Joint

Since 2004, Perry’s Joint is where one goes for gargantuan, delicious, well-layered sandwiches. Plus, live jazz music on Tuesdays. Owner Perry Bennett hosts an annual fundraiser where proceeds benefit nearby John Muir High School’s college-bound graduates. — Mona Holmes, reporter

2051 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

The Max Roast with Roast beef, mustard, mayo, lettuce, red onions & cheese at Perry’s Joint in Pasadena. — The Max Roast at Perry’s Joint in Pasadena.

Old Sasoon Bakery

Opened by Haroutioun Geragosian in 1986, Old Sasoon Bakery is named after the village in Armenia that his grandparents left after World War II. The beorags (savory hand pies) and the lahmajoun (flatbreads) make for perfect on-the-go eating, but sit down for a well-made khachapuri if time allows. This filling Georgian breakfast staple comes topped with a blend of cheeses, a single runny egg, and a few pats of melted butter — all in a boat-shaped flatbread. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

1132 Allen Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

Khachapuri at Old Sasoon Bakery in Pasadena. — Khachapuri at Old Sasoon Bakery in Pasadena.

Also featured in:

18 Superb Pasadena Restaurants Serving Takeout and Delivery

Roma Market

Locals know to head to Roma for The Sandwich. Owner Rosario Mazzeo’s creation consists of a sturdy Italian roll drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt, and layered with provolone, mortadella, spiced coppa, and salami. It’s renowned for its simple and satisfying prowess. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

918 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

The sandwich from Roma Market in Pasadena.

Also featured in:

18 Superb Pasadena Restaurants Serving Takeout and Delivery

Rodney's Ribs

Catch Rodney Jenkins and his smoker-on-wheels Wednesdays through Sundays at the CVS parking lot on North Lake. He’s open for lunch and dinner and serves outstanding pork ribs and beef brisket sandwiches that are smoked on-site. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

902 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

The brisket at Rodney’s Ribs is served between plush Hawaiian buns with a drizzle of tangy-sweet sauce. — Beef brisket sandwich at Rodney’s Ribs.

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Pasadena Fish Market

Though it may be tempting to stick to fried red snapper at this decades-old fish-fry spot, do not sleep on the Jamaican goat curry, stewed oxtails, beef-stuffed patties, and plantains. Or better yet, just plan for a grubfest by ordering a bit of everything, including the deep-fried catfish and oysters. — Mona Holmes, reporter

181 E Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103

Jamaican oxtails at Pasadena Fish Market in Pasadena. — Pasadena Fish Market.

Also featured in:

Super Burger

Located on the corner of Altadena Drive and Villa Street, Super Burger has been around for years but it wasn’t until Jean and Ben Khe took over the classic fast-food stand in 2009 that word began to spread about its burgers. The sky-high cheeseburgers are styled in classic California fashion with all-beef patties, American cheese, sauteed onions, tomato, lettuce, and Thousand Island dressing, smooshed between two toasted buns. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

458 N Altadena Dr (at E Villa St), Pasadena, CA 91107

Cheeseburger at Super Burger in Pasasdena wrapped in white serving paper — Cheeseburger at Super Burger in Pasasdena.

Also featured in:

Namaste Spiceland

Part grocery store and part restaurant, Namaste Spiceland is the place to go for South Asian ingredients and casual but satisfying North and South Indian fare. The shop’s owner recommends the googli paratha, but everything on the menu is delightful. Find a second location in Thousand Oaks. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

270 N Hill Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Daily lunch combo in a to-go container from Namaste Spiceland in Pasadena. — Daily lunch combo from Namaste Spiceland in Pasadena.

Also featured in:

Osawa

Opened in 2013, Osawa is Pasadena’s go-to for dependable yet refined Japanese cooking that includes sushi, shabu-shabu, and more. Menu items are in constant rotation, but rest assured that the ingredients are as good as it gets and the cooking is always skillful. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

77 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Japanese curry at Osawa served in a white bowl on a black tray with a kale salad on the side. — Japanese curry at Osawa.

Also featured in:

Union Restaurant

Union restaurant opened back in 2014 and continues to prepare some of the best plates of pasta in town. Twisty torchetti comes topped with a spicy Calabrese pork ragu, while the squid ink lumache plays well with Maine lobster and truffle butter. These standards and more have been satisfying Pasadena pasta-goers for a decade. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

37 Union St, Pasadena, CA 91103

Union Restaurant dining room in Pasadena. — Union Pasadena.

Also featured in:

Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr

Torrance tempura powerhouse Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr landed in Pasadena, and locals cannot get enough of the standout Tokyo-style tempura shop. Waits for a table during peak mealtimes can stretch up to an hour, so show up early or expect to kill some time across the street perusing Vroman’s bookstore. The menu features delicately crisp seafood and vegetables served in myriad ways. The $19 tempura bowl with soba offers a bit of everything: steamed rice topped with tempura shrimp, egg, seaweed, and shishito pepper, as well as a tray of buckwheat noodles with a dipping sauce. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

694 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91101

Small bowl with rice at the bottom topped with tempura at Tendom Tempura Carlos Jr — Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr.

Top Restaurant

Located near Pasadena City College, Top Restaurant brings delicious Hawaiian and Indonesian cooking to a quieter stretch of Colorado Boulevard. The crisp and golden Indonesian fried chicken is the thing to get, while the Spam musubi never fails to hit the spot. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

1842 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107

On a table sits four plastic takeout containers filled with Indonesian and Hawaiian specialties, including fried chicken, short rib, and saucy egg noodles. — An array of Indonesian and Hawaiian dishes from Top Restaurant in Pasadena.

Also featured in:

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Bar Chelou

Both locals and visitors alike are taking note of chef Doug Rankin’s Bar Chelou, which Eater named Restaurant of the Year in 2023. The playful spot serves a fresh, innovative menu that fills up the room regularly. Rankin performs magic with vegetables and seafood, including the house favorite carrots râpées with coconut dressing, a hint of lime, peanuts, and delicately fried potato strings. — Mona Holmes, reporter

37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Clam toast and butterflied trout at Bar Chelou in Pasadena with a cocktail to the right. — Clam toast and butterflied trout at Bar Chelou in Pasadena.

Also featured in:

Sichuan Street Food

Quiet Green Street is home to one of LA’s most exciting new Sichuan restaurants. Chef Yong “Leo” Zhu trained in Chengdu for two decades before heading stateside to open Sichuan Street Food in Pasadena, which occupies a two-story building with a bustling kitchen. The menu includes popular dishes like dan dan mian, mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork belly, and stir-fried lamb with cumin, along with regional specialties like Mama’s pork trotter soup and bullfrog with Sichuan pepper and chiles. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

1035 East Green Street, Pasadena, California 91106

A Sichuan-style bullfrog dish with chile oil at Sichuan Street Food. — Bullfrog in chile oil.

Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery

Wife and husband team Vanessa Tilaka and Thomas Kalb bring together fine cheeses and regional American cooking — taking inspiration from the Midwest, California, and beyond — at Agnes. Grab a seat in the lush 1,200-square-foot patio and dig into cheese and meat boards, scratch-made pastas, and hearth-roasted proteins. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

40 W Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105

Cornbread eclair at Agnes in Pasadena.

Also featured in:

Saucy Chick Goat Mafia

Grab a seat on Saucy Chick Goat Mafia’s patio for one of the most flavorful, affordable, and generously portioned meals around. The restaurant’s dynamic Mexican Indian menu is full of tasty options including tacos filled with pibil, asada, and haldi cauliflower. The birria de chivo bowl arrives with tender goat meat, cumin rice, and Mayocoba beans. A side order of the fenugreek esquites pairs well with most everything. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

Birria de chivo bowl at Saucy Chick Goat Mafia.

Also featured in:

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Pie 'n Burger

Snag a wooden swivel seat along Pie ‘n Burger’s counter for a classic taste of Pasadena. Everyone knows to order the two namesake items: the beefy burgers come with lettuce, pickles, tomato, and scratch-made Thousand Island, while the pies are freshly baked in flavors like apple, chocolate meringue, and butterscotch. This diner has been a local legend since 1963. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

913 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106

Pie ‘N Burger.

Also featured in:

Lucky Boy

Head to this Pasadena institution for the most important meal of the day. Lucky Boy’s famed breakfast burrito — jam-packed with hash browns, eggs, cheese, and a choice of bacon, sausage, chorizo, or ham — spans eight inches long and weighs what feels like a pound. It’s been fueling Pasadena residents since 1973. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

640 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

Breakfast Burrito at Lucky Boy, served in a cardboard box next to chili cheese fries.

Also featured in:

18 Superb Pasadena Restaurants Serving Takeout and Delivery

Howlin' Ray's Hot Chicken

Howlin’ Ray’s has a firm, citywide grip on Nashville-style hot chicken. The Pasadena outlet is a popular hangout with ample seating, beer, wine, and of course, hot chicken wings, strips, and sandwiches. Expect lines during peak meal hours. — Mona Holmes, reporter

800 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

Howlin rays sandwich on paper — Sandwich from Howlin’ Ray’s.

Also featured in:

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Perry's Joint

2051 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

Since 2004, Perry’s Joint is where one goes for gargantuan, delicious, well-layered sandwiches. Plus, live jazz music on Tuesdays. Owner Perry Bennett hosts an annual fundraiser where proceeds benefit nearby John Muir High School’s college-bound graduates. — Mona Holmes, reporter

2051 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

Visit Website

The Max Roast with Roast beef, mustard, mayo, lettuce, red onions & cheese at Perry’s Joint in Pasadena. — The Max Roast at Perry’s Joint in Pasadena.

Old Sasoon Bakery

1132 Allen Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

Opened by Haroutioun Geragosian in 1986, Old Sasoon Bakery is named after the village in Armenia that his grandparents left after World War II. The beorags (savory hand pies) and the lahmajoun (flatbreads) make for perfect on-the-go eating, but sit down for a well-made khachapuri if time allows. This filling Georgian breakfast staple comes topped with a blend of cheeses, a single runny egg, and a few pats of melted butter — all in a boat-shaped flatbread. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

1132 Allen Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

Visit Website

Khachapuri at Old Sasoon Bakery in Pasadena. — Khachapuri at Old Sasoon Bakery in Pasadena.

Roma Market

918 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

Locals know to head to Roma for The Sandwich. Owner Rosario Mazzeo’s creation consists of a sturdy Italian roll drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt, and layered with provolone, mortadella, spiced coppa, and salami. It’s renowned for its simple and satisfying prowess. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

Open in Google Maps

918 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

The sandwich from Roma Market in Pasadena.

Rodney's Ribs

902 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

Catch Rodney Jenkins and his smoker-on-wheels Wednesdays through Sundays at the CVS parking lot on North Lake. He’s open for lunch and dinner and serves outstanding pork ribs and beef brisket sandwiches that are smoked on-site. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

Open in Google Maps

902 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104

Visit Website

The brisket at Rodney’s Ribs is served between plush Hawaiian buns with a drizzle of tangy-sweet sauce. — Beef brisket sandwich at Rodney’s Ribs.

Pasadena Fish Market

181 E Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103

Though it may be tempting to stick to fried red snapper at this decades-old fish-fry spot, do not sleep on the Jamaican goat curry, stewed oxtails, beef-stuffed patties, and plantains. Or better yet, just plan for a grubfest by ordering a bit of everything, including the deep-fried catfish and oysters. — Mona Holmes, reporter

Open in Google Maps

181 E Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103

Jamaican oxtails at Pasadena Fish Market in Pasadena. — Pasadena Fish Market.

Super Burger

458 N Altadena Dr (at E Villa St), Pasadena, CA 91107

Located on the corner of Altadena Drive and Villa Street, Super Burger has been around for years but it wasn’t until Jean and Ben Khe took over the classic fast-food stand in 2009 that word began to spread about its burgers. The sky-high cheeseburgers are styled in classic California fashion with all-beef patties, American cheese, sauteed onions, tomato, lettuce, and Thousand Island dressing, smooshed between two toasted buns. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

458 N Altadena Dr (at E Villa St), Pasadena, CA 91107

Visit Website

Cheeseburger at Super Burger in Pasasdena wrapped in white serving paper — Cheeseburger at Super Burger in Pasasdena.

Namaste Spiceland

270 N Hill Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Part grocery store and part restaurant, Namaste Spiceland is the place to go for South Asian ingredients and casual but satisfying North and South Indian fare. The shop’s owner recommends the googli paratha, but everything on the menu is delightful. Find a second location in Thousand Oaks. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

270 N Hill Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Visit Website

Daily lunch combo in a to-go container from Namaste Spiceland in Pasadena. — Daily lunch combo from Namaste Spiceland in Pasadena.

Osawa

77 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Opened in 2013, Osawa is Pasadena’s go-to for dependable yet refined Japanese cooking that includes sushi, shabu-shabu, and more. Menu items are in constant rotation, but rest assured that the ingredients are as good as it gets and the cooking is always skillful. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

77 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Visit Website

Japanese curry at Osawa served in a white bowl on a black tray with a kale salad on the side. — Japanese curry at Osawa.

Union Restaurant

37 Union St, Pasadena, CA 91103

Union restaurant opened back in 2014 and continues to prepare some of the best plates of pasta in town. Twisty torchetti comes topped with a spicy Calabrese pork ragu, while the squid ink lumache plays well with Maine lobster and truffle butter. These standards and more have been satisfying Pasadena pasta-goers for a decade. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

37 Union St, Pasadena, CA 91103

Visit Website

Union Restaurant dining room in Pasadena. — Union Pasadena.

Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr

694 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91101

Torrance tempura powerhouse Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr landed in Pasadena, and locals cannot get enough of the standout Tokyo-style tempura shop. Waits for a table during peak mealtimes can stretch up to an hour, so show up early or expect to kill some time across the street perusing Vroman’s bookstore. The menu features delicately crisp seafood and vegetables served in myriad ways. The $19 tempura bowl with soba offers a bit of everything: steamed rice topped with tempura shrimp, egg, seaweed, and shishito pepper, as well as a tray of buckwheat noodles with a dipping sauce. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

Open in Google Maps

694 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91101

Visit Website

Small bowl with rice at the bottom topped with tempura at Tendom Tempura Carlos Jr — Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr.

Top Restaurant

1842 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107

Located near Pasadena City College, Top Restaurant brings delicious Hawaiian and Indonesian cooking to a quieter stretch of Colorado Boulevard. The crisp and golden Indonesian fried chicken is the thing to get, while the Spam musubi never fails to hit the spot. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

1842 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107

Visit Website

On a table sits four plastic takeout containers filled with Indonesian and Hawaiian specialties, including fried chicken, short rib, and saucy egg noodles. — An array of Indonesian and Hawaiian dishes from Top Restaurant in Pasadena.

Bar Chelou

37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Both locals and visitors alike are taking note of chef Doug Rankin’s Bar Chelou, which Eater named Restaurant of the Year in 2023. The playful spot serves a fresh, innovative menu that fills up the room regularly. Rankin performs magic with vegetables and seafood, including the house favorite carrots râpées with coconut dressing, a hint of lime, peanuts, and delicately fried potato strings. — Mona Holmes, reporter

Open in Google Maps

37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

Visit Website

Clam toast and butterflied trout at Bar Chelou in Pasadena with a cocktail to the right. — Clam toast and butterflied trout at Bar Chelou in Pasadena.

Sichuan Street Food

1035 East Green Street, Pasadena, California 91106

Quiet Green Street is home to one of LA’s most exciting new Sichuan restaurants. Chef Yong “Leo” Zhu trained in Chengdu for two decades before heading stateside to open Sichuan Street Food in Pasadena, which occupies a two-story building with a bustling kitchen. The menu includes popular dishes like dan dan mian, mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork belly, and stir-fried lamb with cumin, along with regional specialties like Mama’s pork trotter soup and bullfrog with Sichuan pepper and chiles. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

1035 East Green Street, Pasadena, California 91106

Visit Website

A Sichuan-style bullfrog dish with chile oil at Sichuan Street Food. — Bullfrog in chile oil.

Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery

40 W Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105

Wife and husband team Vanessa Tilaka and Thomas Kalb bring together fine cheeses and regional American cooking — taking inspiration from the Midwest, California, and beyond — at Agnes. Grab a seat in the lush 1,200-square-foot patio and dig into cheese and meat boards, scratch-made pastas, and hearth-roasted proteins. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

40 W Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105

Visit Website

Cornbread eclair at Agnes in Pasadena.

Saucy Chick Goat Mafia

Grab a seat on Saucy Chick Goat Mafia’s patio for one of the most flavorful, affordable, and generously portioned meals around. The restaurant’s dynamic Mexican Indian menu is full of tasty options including tacos filled with pibil, asada, and haldi cauliflower. The birria de chivo bowl arrives with tender goat meat, cumin rice, and Mayocoba beans. A side order of the fenugreek esquites pairs well with most everything. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

Open in Google Maps

Visit Website

Birria de chivo bowl at Saucy Chick Goat Mafia.

Related Maps

Pie 'n Burger

913 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106

Snag a wooden swivel seat along Pie ‘n Burger’s counter for a classic taste of Pasadena. Everyone knows to order the two namesake items: the beefy burgers come with lettuce, pickles, tomato, and scratch-made Thousand Island, while the pies are freshly baked in flavors like apple, chocolate meringue, and butterscotch. This diner has been a local legend since 1963. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

913 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106

Visit Website

Pie ‘N Burger.

Lucky Boy

640 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

Head to this Pasadena institution for the most important meal of the day. Lucky Boy’s famed breakfast burrito — jam-packed with hash browns, eggs, cheese, and a choice of bacon, sausage, chorizo, or ham — spans eight inches long and weighs what feels like a pound. It’s been fueling Pasadena residents since 1973. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

Open in Google Maps

640 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

Visit Website

Breakfast Burrito at Lucky Boy, served in a cardboard box next to chili cheese fries.

Howlin' Ray's Hot Chicken

800 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

Howlin’ Ray’s has a firm, citywide grip on Nashville-style hot chicken. The Pasadena outlet is a popular hangout with ample seating, beer, wine, and of course, hot chicken wings, strips, and sandwiches. Expect lines during peak meal hours. — Mona Holmes, reporter

Open in Google Maps

800 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

Visit Website

Howlin rays sandwich on paper — Sandwich from Howlin’ Ray’s.

Related Maps