Asian Food Guide to Pasadena

October 28, 2019 | Posted in Food

Pasadena, being a part of the San Gabriel Valley, has a wide variety of Asian cuisine from all over the globe.

In fact, the San Gabriel Valley boasts a wider variety of authentic Chinese cuisines than most metropolitan areas, also representing the "Eight Cuisines of China," as well as many lesser-known regional styles. It is often said that the San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena included, has the best Chinese food of any area (outside of China itself.) So if you're looking for a place to get Thai, Japanese, Korean, and especially Chinese, this Asian Food Guide to Pasadena is for you.

As you plan your visit, you will notice social distancing measures, enhanced sanitation practices, reservation requirements, and changes in offerings for your health and safety. Some restaurants offer outdoor/patio dining. Some listed offer only delivery and take-out. We highly recommend calling the restaurant for hours and restrictions ahead of time.

Chinese/Cantonese/Mongolian Restaurants

China, being 3.7 square miles, is a land of many subcultures and over time, each district has developed its own style of cooking. In Pasadena, you can get a taste of them all. For Mongolian hot pot and warm broths, Chong Qing Yao Mei Hot Pot is a great place to create your own flavors. (You can even split the pot into multiple sections. Every ingredient you add to your hot pot soup only adds to the flavor, making it tastier and tastier as you continue to eat. For steamed dumplings and shumai, Cantonese dim sum locations like Lunasia are our recommended picks. And for the more traditional pot stickers, noodles, or fried rice dishes, check out Dan Modern Chinese.

Japanese Restaurants

Japanese food, like the city of Pasadena, is diverse and comes in many shapes, sizes, and flavors. But one thing's for sure, no matter what type of Japanese food you prefer, it's all delicious. For those looking for a place to get shabu shabu Osawa is the place to be. Of course, ramen is a token of Japanese cuisine, and you can get it at Ramen Tatsunoya or Again Café & Chibiscus Ramen. Searching for something heavy and savory? Gyu-Kaku serves mouthwatering Japanese BBQ for meat lovers to indulge in. And for the most popular of Japanese foods – sushi and poke bowls – the list goes on and on with places like Mama M Sushi & Rolls, Poke Salad Bar, Roll Factory by Stray Cat, Sushi Enya, Sushi Kimagure, and Sushi Roku.

Vietnamese Restaurants

The smell of Vietnamese food is enough to send a stomach rumbling and the Playhouse District's Ginger & Spice, with it's huge, steaming bowls of pho and perfectly wrapped summer rolls is no exception. For those in the Old Pasadena area, do not worry. There's plenty of places to get you "noods" including the family-owned Saigon Noodle Restaurant, where you can start with a variety of egg and spring rolls before filling up with the main course of stir fried noodles, pho, or rice combo plates. And if you're just looking for spring rolls, try Paper Rice and their spring rolls and spring bowls with a twist in One Colorado.

Thai Restaurants

Pasadena has quite a few Thai staples, many in the downtown area. For vegetarians, My Vegan is a great place to satisfy a Thai craving without having to compromise on ingredients or flavors. For those in the heart of downtown, Tiffany's, located across from the Paseo, is a popular lunch spot for dining in or getting take out. A little further down on Fair Oaks Avenue, sits Saladang Thai, a two-part sister restaurant that includes Saladang Thai and Saladang Gardens. And right in Old Pasadena, you can find Pearl Thai Eatery, which also does Grubhub deliveries for when you want Thai in the comfort of your own home.