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    Clifton's Gourmet Barbecue

    4.5 (128 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Clifton's Gourmet Barbecue Photos

    CLIFTON'S GOURMET BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Clifton's Gourmet Barbecue

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    Berry cobbler and pecan pie!
    Lynda B.

    First off this used to only be a cobbler shop.. but the aroma of an off the chart bbq sauce was beckoning me to stop park and pick up a special lunch for family ... and ... the verdict is in ... Goodness is found here ! Service is excellent dual generational and polite, friendly , kind , quick and personal. The ambiance is quaint small town and cozy out door seating to enjoy the California sun on a quiet Pasadena afternoon excellent and tidy. The coleslaw is delicious and the meats are tender simple goodness even for complex eaters!

    Josephine C.

    On a Sunday late afternoon in mid January, my hubby called in the order. We ordered rib plate with Mac and cheese and potato salad and tri tip plate with bake beans and collared greens with 2 mini cobblers-berry and apple . It was hard to find parking lot due to Rams playoff game at the bar behind bbq place. The owner was nice and our food order was ready when we arrived. Tri tip was tender and it tastes better with a dip of bbq sauce. The Mac and cheese was really good, I was too full to try hubby's the ribs plate. Nice family owned bbq place in Pasadena.

    Front
    Kisha L.

    I had been hearing people talk about Clifton's, and I finally tried it. I wanted a hot link so I ordered a pork one. They had a chicken option as well, but I wanted the spicy pork one. The link was good and the sauces. It really was not spicy but had a tang to it. The place is small with a small section to eat outside. They have all types of barbecue combos and specials. I will try the combo with ribs, chicken, hotlink, and brisket next time. They sell desserts like sweet potato pie, apple pie, cobbler pie, etc. I never knew this place was here and I am glad I found it. Prices are very reasonable. Parking is on the street or in the parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. If you're looking for some barbecue for take-out Cliftons is the spot. The service is good and the menu has a nice variety of options. Note: They also do catering for events.

    Dee J.

    I had completely given up on eating pulled pork sandwiches from anywhere but home, then, I tried Cliftons. The meat itself was delicious. The ratio of heat to sweetness, was spot on. The slaw was tangy, and matched the flavor from the pork perfectly. I appreciated that I didn't have to ask for it to be placed on the side. He made sure to tell me, "WE put it on the side." The small details matter to ME. The only thing I would ask to be different is for my bun to be toasted. I also ordered the mac and cheese. First of all, it looked delicious, and I believe that it would have been if the noodles weren't slightly overcooked that day. I can see not wanting to waste a good pan of noodles, but.... I will definitely return to try other food items, and of course, the cobblers-all of them. The restaurant itself looks like your typical good old-fashioned soul food restaurant, no complaints. I do look forward to my next visit.

    Vee W.

    Was in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by, ordered the sampler plate to try a little bit of everything. Ribs were good, wish the beef link and brisket had more char to them. The Mac and cheese and greens were good. Chicken for me was nothing to rave about. I do like the fact that they sell desserts as well, cobblers and pies. I didn't get a chance to try the cobbler but my friend did, she said they were really good and she'd be back. Staff were friendly and the wait wasn't long, if you want to dine there they have nice small tables on the outside to sit and eat at, the space isn't big enough to sit and eat on the inside. Would come back if I'm back in town.

    Smokey and tender fall-off-the-bone ribs.
    M. T.

    OVERVIEW: smokey, tender, moist, fall off-the-bone, not salty, affordable, take out only, hole in the wall, will definitly go back. Excellent, "hole-in-the-wall", smokehouse BBQ ribs and brisket! I accidentally stumbled upon this establishment after being turned off by the outside line at another smokehouse BBQ restaurant I drove an hour to in the Lincoln Heights community of L.A. Clifton's is primarily a take-out business with two small tables outside if you wanted to eat there. It's located at the back corner of the building off of Colorado Blvd. I ordered the brisket plate and rib plate. Both come with two sides. The brisket and pork rib were very tender and moist with an ample amount of smokiness. The rib meat pulled right off the bone with little effort. I was truly impressed. I also liked the fact that both these items weren't excessively salted. In my opinion, anytime the rub is excessively salted causing the meat to be too salty, someone is trying coverup their lack of skill as a BBQ master. I was also surprised by their bbq sauce. It was sweet with a distinct, fragrant aroma. If I had to describe this aroma, I would say it was reminded me of fruity whiskey. It's definitley different from any bbq sauce I've ever tasted. The reason I ended up giving Clifton's Gourmet BBQ four stars is due to its sides. When judging these BBQ joints, one of the criterias I use are their side dishes. The coleslaw and potato salad didn't taste housemade. They tasted like every other coleslaw and potato salads I've ever had. The string beans may have been housemade, though. The prices are very reasonable compared to other smokehouse bbq joints in L.A. and Orange County. As a matter of fact, I would consider Clifton's affordably priced. Overall, I will definitly put Clifton's on my list of go to bbq restaurants.

    All this was feeding a family of 4 :) nothing was left over by the time we were done. Barely got a picture of it during the feast!

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    1 year ago

    The cobbler was great! It a small place with a few tables outside. The service was excellent

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    1 year ago

    Best spot in Pasadena! That's all you need to know. EVERYTHING is great. Best BBQ spot by far.

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    Delicious food! Amazing cobblers! Straight-up lovable owners! To go only! No dine in, but worth the take out!

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    2 years ago

    I'd give 10 stars if I could. Ribs were tender and the Mac & Cheese was 10/10. Can't wait to go again

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    Page 2 of 4

    Ask the Community - Clifton's Gourmet Barbecue

    Is there a bathroom?

    It's not really an "eat in" kind of place. So not really.

    Do they have indoor seating?

    Nope. Just a bench for waiting, not for dining in. There are two small tables outside however.

    What are your weekend hours?

    Sat 11:00 am - 8:00 pm… 

    View All 4 Questions

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    Ferrazzani's Pasta & Market - Mortadella sandwich

    Ferrazzani's Pasta & Market

    4.2(115 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    A DREAM shop. Unassuming, piccolino mio--but don't be fooled. Behind that modest exterior lies a…read morewonderland of the most delightful, high-quality ingredients, specialty goods, and handmade fresh pasta sold by the pound like it's no big deal. And a personal breakthrough: I used to schlep all the way to Larchmont Cheese & Wine or Bay Cities before beach days for a proper sandwich. Not anymore. I have sandwich geniuses living right down the street. The bread? Exceptional. The cheeses? Dangerous. The meats? I may never recover. And then there's the lemon Italian ice. My daughter and I have been here three times in the last week, shamelessly returning like two neighborhood raccoons with excellent taste. It is the perfect antidote to a scorching Altadena afternoon. This place is an absolute gem. Go for the pasta, stay for the sandwich, leave with three things you didn't know you needed and a strong desire to become Italian.

    The sandwiches were awful. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea but they're overpriced and taste major…read moremeh. Service was great and the girl at the counter was lovely but the price of everything was way too steep and it didn't deliver at all. We ordered the mortadella and the artichoke. We didn't even finish our sandwiches. Ended up going to a different restaurant for food.

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    Update: go to all reviews and search "hair" and then "bug." Never receiving one complaint is far…read morefrom true. I used to work in Old Town and get the chicken Caesar at least once a week. After three different incidents finding hair or bugs in my food, I stopped coming. Today I was thinking of giving this place another chance so I opened yelp and searched "hair" and "bug" in the reviews. I can see that things haven't changed. Wish it could be different so I could eat here! Their food is really good except for the hair and bugs. Wash your lettuce! Wear hairnets! Imagine how it might ruin your entire life to bite into a wrap and get a long hair. That is all.

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    4.1(2.2k reviews)
    1.1 mi
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    It had been a long time probably before COVID since my last visit to Copa Vida. I recently met up…read morewith couple friends for Sunday brunch and was surprised to see they've expanded into the space next door. The place was packed, and we were lucky enough to grab the last available table. I ordered the stacked pancake breakfast along with an iced matcha latte, which was refreshing after a workout class nearby. My husband chose the brisket lunch burrito. Our food took quite a while to arrive, close to 30 mins! But the staff was very apologetic and even brought us a complimentary muffin while we waited. The pancakes were light, fluffy, and delicious. I swapped the bacon for tofu, and it made for a satisfying breakfast. However, my husband wasn't as impressed with his brisket burrito, saying it was a bit dry. Based on this visit, I'd recommend sticking with the breakfast items, pastries, and of course, the coffee. Copa Vida still makes a great cup of coffee!

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    Copa Vida - Croque Madame

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    Main Chick Hot Chicken - Chicken Sliders.  Join me on instagram @hotbuthungryasianguy for more delicious finds!

    Main Chick Hot Chicken

    4.2(753 reviews)
    1.2 mi
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    Man, I really wish someone had put me onto this hot chicken spot sooner because I've been missing…read moreout. This was easily one of the best chicken sandwiches I've had in a long time. The seasoning was packed with flavor from the very first bite, and every bite after that just kept getting better. The chicken had the perfect crunch on the outside while staying incredibly juicy and tender on the inside. It honestly felt like it was cooked to perfection. What really stood out was how balanced everything was. Sometimes hot chicken places focus only on the spice, but here the flavor comes first. The seasoning complemented the chicken instead of overpowering it, making every bite memorable. You can tell they take pride in what they're serving because the quality shines through. This is definitely a spot I'll be coming back to, and I already know I'll be bringing my guys that hoop with me because they're always asking me where the best chicken sandwich is. There are still a few things on the menu I need to try, but if they're anywhere near as good as this sandwich, I know I'm in for another great meal.

    Only tastes good if spicy. The plain one doesn't have much flavor at all. The giant chicken…read morepieces are totally misleading because the batter is super thick (like two-thirds of each piece of chicken), not to my liking. The spice profile reminds me of Howlin Ray which I dislike also. ONLY thing I like is their fries. The 'orange sauce' is good too but a good fried chicken needs no sauce. (Another reason I dislike Korean fried chicken and Raising Canes because they're all about the sauce game.) Get yourself to the supermarket and pick up a Banquet "Nashville Hot Chicken" frozen dinner...your wallet and tastebud will thank you!

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    4.5(614 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    This place is my go-to!…read more If you're looking for something healthy but still delicious, this is the place! I love their salads and sandwiches and usually rotate between the two. This time, I got the seared ahi salad, which comes with their famous focaccia bread. The salad comes with a Japanese citrusy dressing that is SO good. It's tangy and savory and balances the salad perfectly. The cafe is super clean, there's plenty of parking in the back, and the staff is always so nice and welcoming. Definitely one of my favorite spots when I want something fresh and healthy!

    Wow I just stumbled across an amazing healthy fast-casual spot in Pasadena! It's conveniently…read morelocated right across the street from LA Fitness, making it the perfect post-workout stop. From the moment I walked in, Keegan greeted me with such positive, upbeat, and genuinely welcoming energy. He asked if it was my first visit, took the time to walk me through the menu, and helped me decide on the pesto chicken sandwich and wow, it was absolutely fire! What really stood out was the atmosphere. Everyone here seemed genuinely happy to be at work, and I honestly think that kind of positive energy makes the food taste even better. The manager even came by our table to check in, and her enthusiasm for both the food and the service her team provides was contagious. Great food, incredible service, and an awesome vibe. It's clear this team takes pride in creating a fantastic experience. I'll definitely be back, and I highly recommend checking Urban Cafe out if you're in the area!

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    Clifton's Gourmet Barbecue - southern - Updated September 2026

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