Restaurants & Bars

Pasadena's Food Scene

Chong Ching Yao Mei

Dining

Trying new cuisines is one of the most thrilling experiences for taste buds and cultural immersion. Pasadena is home to over 650 restaurants, where upscale restaurants, ritzy steakhouses, charming cafés, modern eateries, mom-and-pops, breweries, sports bars, cocktail bars, and food trucks culminate to unearth global cultures through a celebration of food.

The late Pasadena resident and celebrated Pulitzer Prize winning food chronicler Jonathan Gold was a champion of Southern California’s diverse culinary landscape. His legacy carries on as Pasadena’s food scene sees a culinary renaissance with an exciting blend of longtime locals, immigrant families, and world-class chefs in the kitchens. With rideshares and parking abound, come and enjoy the flavors.

Explore Pasadena’s new restaurants and food trends, eat your way through the award-winning restaurants, find innovative vegan restaurants, cheer on your favorite team at lively sports bars, dive into our guide to Asian food, indulge in the sweet satisfaction of must-visit bakeries, and get into the celebratory spirit with our cocktail guide.

Browse Restaurants

Use the dropdown menu to search our directory for outdoor dining options, specific types of cuisine, and more. Already know what you want to eat? You can also type the name of your favorite restaurant into the search bar below.

European

Uovo

Uovo

Truly Authentic Italian. In South Lake District's Pasadena Commons courtyard, Uovo is known for its fresh pasta - flown in from Italy overnight. Uovo is an...

Asian

Urban Pocha

Urban Pocha

"The first Korean Pocha (Pub) in Pasadena! Enter a modern Korean culinary experience where Korean Fried Chicken, Tteokbokki, beer, and soju come together to...

Latin American

Urbano Mexican Kitchen

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Urbano Mexican Kitchen is a family-owned restaurant led by chef and owner Jose Banuelos. Urbano uses traditional homemade recipes combined with high-quality...

American

Urth Caffe

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Organic Food and Coffee. Urth Caffé is a cafe in the Playhouse District, it occupies the ground floor of a Mission Revival building. They specialize in...

Brunch/Breakfast

Vero's

Vero's

Experience one of Southern California's signature cuisines - authentic homestyle Mexican food. Step into a small rest-stop style diner with an intimate dining...

Bakery/Café

Vrej Pastry

Vrej Pastry

The King of Pastries. Inside this Pasadena local favorite, everything is made from scratch. Vrej and his family run the bakery and bring their love for...

Bakery/Café

Wake and Late

Wake and Late

Wake and Late is a quick, modern breakfast spot for gathering with friends or loved ones. Choose from an intimate menu of bagels and burritos. Bagels are made...

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Flavors from Around the World. Located in Old Pasadena's Indiana Colony is Wanderlust Creamery. Treat yourself to artisanal ice cream flavors inspired and...

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We Olive & Wine Bar is a tasting venue with various creative events. They offer the finest olive oils and wines that are also served with items like cheese...