The look and feel of Aro seem almost a throwback to the late 1960's with an airy, hang loose, funky, "keep on trucking" informality. Lot of foresty, wood trim adds to an organic feel. We were privileged to have Chan help us with table side orders. She is charming, kind, warm, hospitable. Her appearance and chic style channels famous Josephine Baker of the 1920's. Aro better know they have a jewel of an employee. 1) Achiote Snapper/Huachinango: Achiote is an herb that tinges food orange red which is mainly used as a natural food coloring. The Snapper is salted, split open in half, deboned, with no head nor tail. Grilled on a Plancha. Cooked so the meat still is moist, soft, mild fish flavoured. It's a simple dish served with sautéed veggies like zucchini, onion, carrot, red bell pepper in a bit of watery broth. Mango relish. 2) Costillitas: Meaty Pork ribs marinated in cayenne pepper and coconut milk marinade that is not at all chile piquant. Perhaps adding some Bouillon would add more of a meaty Umami for more rounded flavours. Sprinkling of chopped green parsley for color. Oven roasted with roasted, cumin mango relish, BBQ sauce. Side of wilted green salad mélange. 1-2a) Sassy Señorita: Pineapple - Serrano Chile infused Tequila Blanca Margarita with a whisper of Grand Marnier orange liqueur. It has no chile heat. Side of glass is smeared with El Tajín salt, chile powder mix. Food at Aro is kept simple, middle of the road. Not leading edge, adventurous. It is comforting, and I suspect that is what the customer base expects as witnessed by the number of people eating here. I tend to like food that challenges on different levels depending on my mood. However, Chan, through her upbeat, perceptive service, made the dining experience a pleasure. She is the reason for the 4th star. KUDOS! read more

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I enjoyed my first experience at Aro! I went with my friend for a catch up/girls night. We went on a Friday and parking was fairly easy on the street. I had two sangrias because it was so tasty, light , and refreshing. The tacos and dessert were also so delicious. Stephanie helped us out and she was very friendly, nice, and attentive. I definitely will go back when I have the chance! read more

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Great service! Great atmosphere! Amazing food! Everyone looks like they're having a great time.

Such a special place! The food was very yummy and the sangria was delicious! I had the birria tacos that were just perfect. The esquites had a very lime forward taste but was still good. Service is great the staff are all so friendly. Such a fun place to pop in real quick for a drink/apps or spend some quality time it's a great vibe. read more

Aro Latin - Birria tacos Sangria - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

We dropped in for a quick drink a few times and recently tried a small bites. We had the esquite, empanadas and some fires all so so delicious. But the highlight was the Bloody Mary it was delicious, refreshing and now one of my top 3. We are excited to come try some breakfast in the near future and of course that will include a Bloody Mary!!! read more

Aro Latin - Delicious Bloody Mary - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon. Service was 10/10 Food was also 10/10. The skirt steak came with a side of chimichurri that was the cherry on top. The ambiance was very chill and casual. Loved the music playing in the background. Restrooms are clean and artsy & music can be heard over an restroom speaker. read more

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I have not stopped telling people about this place since we went for Valentine's Day. Every food that plated in front of us was perfect. I ordered the fish and shrimp tacos and I've been dreaming about these tacos ever since. The cook was perfect and the chipotle sauce on the side was the best sauce I've ever had. That should be bottled and I would order it in bulk. We also got chips & guac for the table. The chips were also very good. My husband ordered the enchiladas and the rice was nice and fluffy. Then we got a strawberry cheesecake to end the night and that was fantastic. I also got a margarita and it ended too quickly. The staff was so kind, and constantly checked in on us. Can't wait to come back again soon! read more

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Visited for the first time tonight. Food was highly recommended and dis bit disappointing! Birria tacos were very tender and tasty. Thursday night is Latin jazz night. It was a relaxing evening listening to good music and eating delicious food. Stephanie was awesome as she helped me decide my order. Prices are very reasonable! Give them a try. I'll definitely be making it a regular place. read more

I wouldn't come again. Food is very bland and not authentic. Nothing was seasoned. Everyone was super friendly and the atmosphere is cool but im sorry food is no good. We had seafood enchiladas no seasoning no binder for the seafood the sauce is literally out the can. I have no idea what the black beans were. I threw away most of my plate. Do not get the queso fondue I was expecting more of a dip but it was just a glob of overcooked cheese. read more

Aro has realllly great drinks! I hopped in for their "social hour." I ordered a margarita, the asada fries, and the asada skewer. Every thing was really great. I asked the bartender for a suggestion after social hour was over, and he suggested the hibiscus margarita. It was one of the best margaritas I have had. The space is cute, and they play music in the background. I really enjoyed my visit. read more

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Aro Latin in South Pasadena has a vibe that really comes alive at the bar, where I was welcomed by Tevin, who truly made the experience. After an appointment, I treated myself to a solo dinner and asked for a non-alcoholic drink. Tevin crafted an agua fresca with hibiscus that was so refreshing, balanced, and citrusy it transported me straight to the Caribbean. I started with the tiradito, a sashimi-style ahi tuna with garlic oil and a fruity, ceviche-like center that was absolute heaven. The chicken tinga enchiladas were rich, satisfying, and perfectly portioned. I was so impressed I came back the next day with my cousin. There was live music, a relaxing lounge vibe, and we shared the another tirado and coliflor, which was roasted cauliflower bathed in a creamy pesto with coconut milk. It was warm, flavorful, and absolutely magical. Can't wait to go back. read more

Aro Latin - Tirado! - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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Came here for brunch New Year's day since it was one of the few places open in the area. Service was quick, and the people were so nice! We ordered the Chilaquiles with mole and the Short Beef Rib hash. The chilaqules were delicious. The chips were still crunchy and the mole was perfectly seasoned! The hash, on the other hand, was not what we expected. It was kind of soupy to be honest, and the meat was not short beef rib, it was just ground beef. In fact, the ground beef was sort of rubbery and the dish in its entirety was almost flavorless. Would come back for maybe lunch/happy hour, and would definitely order more of the chilaquiles!! The restaurant is quite big - great for get togethers or just hanging out, its..idk I wanna say industrial-ish? But its not too overwhelming at all! Parking was on the street, not sure if there is parking for the complex as we got quite lucky with street parking! read more

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Had a great meal with great service. Delicious meal. Server Keanu was attentive, and very accommodating in making us guacamole without cilantro. Ambiance was very nice for a Friday afternoon in catching up with a dear friend. Loved it, and definitely coming back again. read more

Aro Latin - Burrito with half mole and green sauce. Mole very tasty. - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

This place I wish could have been better. It was bad from the start. First thing we ordered was an appetizer along with meal. The appetizer came out and the waitress brought no drinks. She saw us sitting there and I tried to ask but nothing. It took forever for just water not alcoholic drinks mind you. Another person ended up bringing it and then she acted like we weren't sitting there with almost all of our appetizer gone before anything. I got the shrimp tacos (3 tacos $17 just tacos!) they were drenched in sauce I could hardly eat them. The rice was bland. The waitress never checked on us once. We asked for the check and she took another 10 minutes to bring it over. The thing is after we asked for the check we saw her help the people next to us check out but we had to wait even after that. It was frustrating to say the least. $70 for mediocre food and horrible service! read more

Aro Latin - $17 just for 3 tacos - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

So many options for dining in South Pasadena, but the string lighting outside Aro provides a welcoming ambiance after sunset that draw you in. We've been to Aro on several occasions now. Mostly for birthdays lately but we have been known to drop in for mid week drinks also. Always great service, stellar food, and refreshing cocktails. I can't say that I've had anything on the menu that I didn't love. I do however, have a couple favorites: - Chaufa de Pollo - Brussels Sprouts - Chicken Empanadas You can't go wrong with any of their cocktails. You might even get lucky and be provided with shots on the house for your birthday. * Parking: there is no lot for Aro but you should be able to find parking on the side street rather easily. read more

Aro Latin - Natalie's bday dinner - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Loved it. Been a few times. Inside is modern and stylish. Decent amount of seating. They also have a small front patio seating area. It's a good spot for small groups or even a casual date. The food is great. I've had the salmon and asparagus. Loved the green creamy sauce. They also have a great happy hour Mon-Fri 4-6. Highlights are $5 beers, $12 cocktails, and food specials. The mezcal sun-risa was delicious. The happy hour tacos were good, could have used a spicy salsa though. Will definitely be coming back. Service is great. Friendly staff. There's street parking but you might have to walk a block or two. read more

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This is a 5 star restaurant, this family owned restaurant is the only restaurant that will welcome you and make you feel like you are at home. The cocktails are well done, the various vegetarian options and carnivore options will make you go home feel satisfied and not feel like you were robbed-(new restaurant across sales tiny dishes and tiny cocktails full of ice). Come over to Aro to eat healthy non greasy, delicious Meal. Seriously why aren't you having dinner or brunch here??? read more

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We had such a great time at Aro Latin! Our server was so friendly and took great care of us. We ordered a few small bites and they were all so tasty! My favorite was the sweet potato ceviche. The ceviche was really juicy and bright and paired great with the crispy sweet potato chips. Perfect for a summer day! The papas rellenas was a little salty but still very good. There is plenty of street parking in the neighborhood (just go up or down a block) and a few seats outdoors where you can sit with your dog. Will definitely come again! read more

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Great little bar restaurant on Mission St, close to cafes and milk tea shops. The ambiance is very much local Latin eatery with a variety of selections ranging from tacos to Branzino to paella. Very relaxed, local crowd. Lots of seating. Never been too full from what I could see whenever I walk past, even during peak dinner hours. However, I think they may be lacking service staff, may take a longer-than-expected moment to get seated, but the servers are very nice and helpful when they are available. Good place to go for casual latin cuisine with good drinks, and a inviting warm environment with indoor outdoor feel to it, with indoor and outdoor seating. Pricing is a little more than you pay for street tacos or Guisados, but Aro doesn't just have tacos, they have actual entrees so you can mix and match. Drinks were good, I liked margarita monday! Hopefully they can expand their margarita selection since I am partial to tequila & mezcal. Parking is on the street in the surrounding neighborhood but pretty easy to find parking in my experience. Good for casual dining with friends/family. Cost on margarita Monday for 4 margaritas, shrimp, skewers, quesadilla, and 5 tacos with asada fries and tostaditas came out to about 120$ including tax (pre-tip). Street parking is pretty easy. read more

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We chose to celebrate our anniversary here with our kids. Surprisingly, the restaurant is super kid friendly. There were two other tables that had kids. The tables are not too close to each other so it doesn't feel like you are on top of the people at the table next to you. Service was outstanding. All staff was quick and attentive and of course amazingly nice. The margaritas were superb: strong yet flavorful. Food did not wow me but it was good. We had the quesadilla, the cochinita pibil tacos and the tuna. I wasn't blown away by the cochinita pibil but it was still flavorful. The brussel sprouts were divine tho. We enjoyed our time here and thank the staff for making us feel welcome. read more

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Definitely delicious ... great service ambience , laid back ... a nice place to dine ... prices are a bit high but the food is yummy so it's worth it... read more

Ordered a beef birria taco, and was super excited for it. Bit into it, and it definitely did not taste or smell like beef. Suffered through a few more bites, until I couldn't take it anymore. I asked our server what meat they used and they said it was lamb! And was told "the only birria we serve is lamb." I pointed out that it said "beef" on the menu, and they simply dismissed it as a "typo"! "Beet" or "reef" are typos for "beef." But "Lamb"? Nice folks but I would've appreciated a more sincere apology. Giving them a few more stars coz the drinks were good and ambiance and location are nice. read more

Aro Latin - Menu clearly says "slow roasted beef". But got served lamb instead. - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Love this place so much, amazing food, amazing ambiance, great staff! Stephanie was our favorite, she was super welcoming and attentive. She made sure we were taken care of even though the place was super busy. Their menu is fantastic, and their drinks are really good too! My personal favorite are the birria tacos , genuinely the best i've ever had and my boyfriend thinks so too. 10/10 recommend read more

Aro Latin - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Great dinner and drinks spot. Cute decour, has street parking, and great service. Food is well executed and unique. Definitely would come back read more

Aro Latin - Costillitas - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

I wouldn't go back to that place if my life depended on it! Service was atrocious!!! I ordered a regular margarita. When I got my drink, first thing I noticed was that they had used was a scotch glass which was already a no-no! Not to mention, it did not have any salt on the rim. When I complained to the the server, he laughed at me like I did not know what I was saying. I explained to him that I mix drinks for my friends regularly and that it was not the first time that I had ordered a margarita before. He then reluctantly proceeded to get the drink and rectify the situation. Upon his return and my amazement, he handed me my drink with a smirk on his face in the same glass with the salt painted (an inch thick) onto half of the glass! At this point, I was furious!!! I wanted to throw the drink back at him. read more

Love the atmosphere area really cool On your website the happy hours say 4-6 no specific days Came in today Sunday and the server said no Only Mon- fri It's on Instagram Please Then don't have a website or sync/update your info We left read more

I came to happy hour with my friends. Place was easily found at the heart of South Pasadena. Latin inspired food was up my ally. I got the Mole Poblano Con Pollo. It had shredded chicken and rice and beans. Overall, it's not the best I ever had. However, the service was amazing. Drinks were flowing, so overall, i had a great time. I would come back to try other things on the menu read more

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We originally planned to head to a brunch spot in South Pasadena, but it was closed on New Year's Day. Thankfully, Aro was open, so my cousin and I were really excited to try it out. My best friend had recommended this spot, so it had been on my list for a while. First off, I wouldn't recommend the short rib beef hash. It didn't look or taste like I expected. The beef was very chewy, and it was more like a veggie soup with barely any potatoes. Honestly, I wouldn't try that dish--it wasn't worth it. However, the mole chilaquiles were AMAZING! The flavor was incredible, and I loved that it came with beans, eggs, and potatoes. The chips stayed crunchy, which was a nice touch! I honestly considered ordering a second plate because it was that good. I'm so glad that dish made up for the other one! read more

Aro Latin - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Love Aro Latin especially their birria tacos that my kids are addicted to! Such incredible happy hour prices and great energy moving through the space all the time! We need more spots like this (that offer happy hour specials) in SP! read more

I've come here a few times over the years and have loved everything from the lamb tacos and the Brussels sprouts to the salmon. The portions aren't huge but everything is filling (especially the lamb tacos). The people working there are kind and it's got a great vibe overall. Happened to grab a picture AFTER I finished the tacos and moved on to the next tapas - empanadas! read more

Aro Latin - Empanada de Pollo - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Really good food. Happy hour is great. Waiters are nice and it's quite a good vibe in here, been going since it opened.

Aro is one of the best restaurants I've found in South Pasadena. Everything on the menu is truly delicious and consistently tasty. We had the mole, equites, guac and birria tacos (pictured) and we left with our cravings satisfied! The service is so amazing, between the bartenders and waiters/waitresses plus the owner who stops by. Everyone is so friendly. The ambiance is so welcoming, friendly and between the live band and the drinks, it's a recipe for a great Saturday hang out! We will definitely be returning. Thank you Aro for the great experience! read more

Aro Latin - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

It's been many years since I've had paella. My wife had mentioned on a few occasions that she also was interested in getting paella, so we decided to come here to give it a try. We wanted to pick a restaurant in Pasadena, so I opted for this establishment in South Pasadena. They have really good deals for brunch and lunch options, and some day I would like to try those options. But ultimately I came for the paella. My wife and I ended up ordering a jalapeno mac and cheese and a paella. Normally, I am not a big fan of mac and cheese, and I ordered it because it's something my wife enjoys. But I loved the mac and cheese here. Normally I find mac and cheese way too salty, but this was not too heavy. It had a little bit of crispy texture and a bit of a kick, which I loved. The paella was amazing. The portion was super generous, too much for my wife and I to finish. There were scallops, mussels, shrimp, squid, Portuguese sausage, and a variety of vegetables on top of a generous portion of Spanish rice. Everything blended together nicely, and had a very good seafood taste to it. We could not finish it and had to take it home. I definitely want to come back soon. read more

Aro Latin - Paella del Mar - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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I've been wanting to try this place for sometime now. I'm a local resident and love supporting local businesses in my community. I finally got around to trying this place and I was completely let down. When my wife and I walked in we noticed a few tables open so worrying about service was definitely not on my mind. The waitress was really sweet and polite. Our waitress was nice, but was EXTREMELY slow. It took almost 15 before anyone took our order. We waited almost 25 minutes later for our food to arrive. We were almost done without meal when our cocktails finally arrived (almost 1 hour after we arrived). The food is mediocre at best. Chips tasted stale and the enchiladas lacked flavor. The cocktails also lacked consistency. For Guac, two meals, two cocktails, we paid $96. Way overpriced for what we received. Even though this place is walking distance from me, I highly doubt I'll be back anytime soon. read more

Great bar. Awesome bartenders. Place smells like urine. On Mother's Day we were put in the corner, where a unhoused person must have relieved themselves. Luckily my wife had a stuffy nose. But after she blew her nose in the bathroom and came back, she couldn't finish her meal. read more

My husband and I came here on a Wednesday night for dinner and Happy Hour. We were immediately greeted and seated. George was our server and Christian I believe was the bar tender and they were both awesome. George and Christian were very attentive and always checking up on us if we needed anything else. It was like they were tag teaming. If George was busy with other customers, Christian would come by to see if there is anything he can get us. Great team work! Overall, the ambiance has an eclectic vibe. Great spot for happy hour and date night. We ordered the carne asada fries, fish tacos, and quesadillas. Everything was delicious. The drinks were amazing too. I don't recall the name of the drinks but George recommended it and it was pretty good. We will definitely be back! read more

Aro Latin - Quesadilla, fish tacos, and carne asada fries - Latin American Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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Happy hour is a great value. They have $3.50 tacos that are fabulous -- try pork and Carne Asada, paired with their sweet corn and guacamole with two salsas! Fabulous 10+! read more

Overpriced for very mediocre, bland food. The service is also surprisingly unwelcoming for a "neighborhood" place.

Stopped by for Happy Hour last week because it looked to have nice tacos for $3.50 apiece and beers on tap for $6... Place did not disappoint! Pretty nice environ, hospitable wait staff and bartender, nice expansive bar with good beer pulls on tap. Had their Amber and started in on the tacos. The fish and shrimp were excellent, fresh, well assembled, and the birria was moist and delicious lamb with a hearty dipping sauce. The one taco that disappointed was the Asada, what is usually my favorite too. It was not that flavorful and a tad dry with these rubbery cucumbers as topping... would have much preferred a more classic topping that worked with the meat and not against it. Oh, the chips and salsa are nothing to write home about either with the salsas being quite spicy... at $5 for what should be gratis? I'd skip these too. Overall, this is quality Latin fusion grub and the savings at Happy Hour earn it a thumbs up. read more

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Ive been here more times that I can recall. I'm never disappointed. The servers are the best, the bartenders always bring smiles and love. The food is good too. This is the best HH spot during the week. The whole block on a Thursday lights up. Either way you feel the love when you walk in so happy I'm so close to this place. Also, great music selection and they throw the games on in the back :) this is a must visit! read more

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