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.

American

Dena Burgers

Dena Burgers

Located East of 210 Freeway and a few minutes from Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, husband-and-wife-owned Dena Burgers offers a blend of Mexican and American...

Bar/Pub

Der Wolf

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Bavarian Bierhaus & Biergarten. Der Wolf is an Old Pasadena German beer hall for brew and sausage. It features full service American fare with polished wood...

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Hot Dogs in Old Pasadena. Dog Haus is a casual hot dog and burger joint in Old Pasadena, it is located in a historic brick building adjacent to Big Bang...

Latin American

Dos Besos

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Dos Besos is a cozy Spanish tapas and paella restaurant in Old Pasadena, focusing on the coastal cooking of Valencia, a port city in Southern Spain. The...

Bakery/Café

Dots Café

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A bright & cheerful neighborhood cafe for picking up a handcrafted coffee or family meal, prepared with California farm fresh ingredients. Items are baked...

Thai Eatery

A Thai restaurant that serves creative and delicious dishes in a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. Eat Am Are Thai joyfully crafts every item with fresh and...

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Old Pasadena Gastropub. Edwin Mills by Equator is a gastropub that can only be accessed through on of the historic alleyways of Old Pasadena. The space is...

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Authentic and Traditional Mexican Food. El Cholo restaurants feature authentic and traditional Mexican dishes, many of which have come from family recipes...

Mexican

El Metate Cafe

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El Metate Café. El Metate Café is an family-owned authentic Mexican sit-down café located in the Playhouse Village. It is great for breakfast, lunch and...

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Based in a small cottage, Entre Nous is relatively "new" to Old Pasadena and offers classic French delicacies like escargot, salmon tartar, and filet mignon....