The chicken special till 3 o'clock feels like rubber $9.99 if you ask for rice it's $2.00 I asked for ice water the waiter ignored and saw him having lunch with the cook then i had to go grab water bottle from my car . I wont come here again. Rice is such a great commodity with this restaurant. They need to learn from panda inn. read more

Colette - Chicken rubber kung pow - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have been to Colette's multiple times and each time it has been outstanding, the food is always amazing, the service is fast and fresh, the staff is friendly and the location is nicely appointed, I enjoy the patio, it light and airy. On this trip we decided to try the smacked cucumber salad which was absolutely delicious, the abalone sauce chicken feet were to die for, the crispy stuffed chicken is beautiful and delicious, the fried sticky rice was delicious and the Colette Kung pao chicken was spicy and delicious, I have nothing but good things to say about Colette, always perfect read more

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Food is amazing, service was pretty fast and also portions are good. The ambiance is very relaxed and lots of parking outside read more

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Delicious food and excellent service . Absolutely will Coming next time and recommend to my friends read more

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The lunch specials are a great deal! The food was delicious and the staff was very thoughtful and kind. Will definitely come back again - they have a great space too for events. read more

What an amazing hidden gem! I am not aware of this restaurant until my co worker told me. Tonight we had our Chinese new year dinner with the family. There is plenty of parking while we arrived. The space inside of the restaurant is limited so if you have large party with a round table, special reservation is required. The menu has a good variety of selection. We ordered the lobster, taro chicken, steamed fish, salted egg yolk squash dish, braised tofu and the winter melon seafood soup. Everything is delicious. They also have $9.99 lunch special. I may come back to try it. read more

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Crispy chicken was absolutely incredible, perfect crackling and juicy meat. Every dish was flavorful, beautifully plated, and worth every bite. One of the best meals I've had lately! read more

Colette - Crispy chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Dishes were well presented and tasted good. Service is nice as well. Would recommend the kurobata char siu and the king pao chicken. read more

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Have been regulars here for a while! Amazing food! Good portions too! Plenty of parking spots! read more

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Best wagyu fried rice in town . Great service we also got the garlic broccoli and all the dim sum . Would definitely recommend. read more

Colette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pasadena, California

We were there for the crab but they don't have it that day. Tried the lobster chili and it wasn't sweet enough like the one I had in Singapore. I was expecting a more balance taste between the sweet, spicy and saltiness but I can't seem to find it and find it rather odd that it's a little bit sour? Lobster is almost $40/pound and it's 5 pound average. read more

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Loved it. Came in for dinner with some friends. Inside is bright, clean, and spacious. Good place for groups or a foodie date. They also have a large, covered, well-lit side patio. The food was great. Dishes are for sharing or family style. We got the wagyu fried rice, a very solid option for a group to share. The crispy stuffed chicken is a must try. Crispy outside, chewy inside, great with the sweet and spicy sauce or soy sauce. We also got some siu mai, har gao, char siu bao buns, and spicy wings. All delicious and worth an order. Will definitely be coming back to try more. Service was great. Friendly staff. Easy parking shopping center lot. read more

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Lovely restaurant & beautiful dishes! Foods were delicious and the service was great! Great place for gatherings! read more

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New management is clearly trying to GET RID of loyal customers. CONGRATULATIONS !!--YOU'VE SUCCEEDED. I've been a regular here for a long time but Today's lunch special was an absolute JOKE !!! Do not go here until they fix the kitchen. Changed chefs recently and the food is now terrible. Tasted awful. What a waste of money！ read more

tl;dr the modern Cantonese cuisine is more plain than prime; the only thing you can count on across the expansive menu is the consistently high price The San Gabriel Valley is host to a broad spectrum of regional Chinese restaurants, from grab-and-go to banquet style. While everyone has their go-to joint, chic spots continue to pop up. One such newcomer is Colette, a Cantonese sit-down-ery on the eastern edge of Pasadena. Once a humble dinner, Colette recently reopened under the mind of chef Peter Lai, formerly from the legendary (but now closed) Embassy Kitchen. Now, the menu aspires to sprinkle some modern flair atop Cantonese classics. The black awning pops against the slatted, two-story building. Inside, dark wood tables are arranged haphazardly around the small, asymmetric space. The whitewashed walls are minimally decorated, and retro filamented bulbs hang from the night-grey, exposed-ductwork ceiling. A trim, carefully curated bar space is straight ahead. Outside, Colette has a chic patio space complete with softball-sized orb lights, an ivy-laden wall, and a cursive neon sign. Our group of 5 arrived for an early Sunday supper, and we had no trouble securing a table. We ordered broadly and in bulk, with our eyes set on multiple classics. The unexpected highlight was the rich Fried Cabbage with Bacon. Each bite tasted strongly of smoked meat. Meanwhile, the Charcoal Grilled Wagyu Ribeye melted in my mouth, but the fatty-not-marbled meat wasn't of the highest quality. The signature Crispy Stuffed Chicken had an exciting texture, between the crispy fried skin and the bottom breading. However, the flavor was one-dimensional; it could have used more than a simple sweet-and-sour sauce on the side. The Salt & Pepper Tossed Calamari had a nicely crispy batter, but the fish-forward flavor was not particularly salty or peppery. The Garlic Kale was bland and boring; it wasn't even subtly garlicky. Finally, the off-menu Newport-Style Stir-Fried Lobster didn't live up to its namesake; rather, it felt toned down and less hearty. The complimentary peanut mochi balls at the conclusion of our meal were a nice addition, but they couldn't make up for an otherwise forgettable experience. The service was somewhat inattentive. Specifically, I would have liked my water to be filled more than just at the end of the meal. The bill ran an eyebrow-raising $500 across 5 guests. For that price, I would expect every dish to be a home run; instead, most of the dishes were equal parts hit and miss. Overall, the restaurant felt more posh than premium. For a more memorable (and affordable) meal in the future, I instead will stick with one of the SGV stalwarts. read more

Colette - Newport-Style Stir-Fried Lobster - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pasadena, California

Total RIP-OFF !! I've been coming here for a while, but the quality has gone DOWNHILL fast. We ordered the "shrimp and eggplant Hong Kong bay style," and it was NOWHERE near Hong Kong bay style--completely MISREPRESENTED. What showed up was a pile of THICK,GREASY BATTER maybe three Tiny shrimp--chopped in HALF and buried inside. You literally have to HUNT to find them. When we asked where the shrimp were, the server pointed at the batter--that says it all. You're basically PAYING for FLOUR, not seafood. Not sure the head chef has any quality control anymore. At this point, even Panda Express does a better job, which says a lot. Between the misleading menu and the DROP in quality, this was a HUGE disappointment. NOT worth coming back. read more

There are only a handful of upscale Chinese restaurants in SGV, and even fewer that do things exceptionally well - Colette falls into this category. The best way to experience this restaurant is to come in a large group with your family/friends and try more of the menu. We loved the modern, cleaner take on Cantonese cuisine. The food was less salty, less oily, and much lighter (no excessive cornstarch in sauces) than traditional Chinese dishes. My picky Cantonese family enjoyed it greatly! Like most Cantonese restaurants, you can request to have certain dishes cooked a different way based on your preferences, which is what we did for the vegetables and the lobster dish. Dishes are listed in order of preference: Must haves: - Black Truffle Chicken: amazing flavor from the truffle, chicken was juicy - Lobster with crispy rice noodles: the crispy rice noodles absorbed the addictive lobster sauce! - Crispy chicken with shrimp paste (half order): one of their signature dishes that's more of a shrimp dish than chicken. Half order was already a LOT. - Chayote with minced pork: great veggie to have Great dishes, order if hungry: - Curry beef brisket: SOO tender and it also came with many pieces of tendon which I love! - Kurabota Char Siu: nice and fatty with great flavor - Luffa vegetable: we asked for it to be stir fried with garlic (different from how it's listed on the menu) Good, but not must haves: - Wagyu fried rice - Salted egg yolk pumpkin - Chicken wings: the kids loved this Don't recommend: - Seafood Laksa Spaghetti: the least Cantonese and most random menu item LOL. It had decent heat to it but really paled in comparison to the rest of the meal. Depth of spices + flavor wasn't there, and I prefer a bouncier noodle over a wide fettuccine. - Pork ribs: the quality of the pork ribs wasn't that good. I think we were expecting something similar to DTF but the sweetness, stickiness, and sharpness (from vinegar) wasn't there. Ribs might be better if cut into smaller pieces I can see this restaurant being on the rotation for my family! I think the odd location delayed our visit for a while, and I regret not coming sooner. We ate a LOT during dinner and had leftovers, but this was one of those meals where we felt quite good afterwards. read more

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Set in a minimall with adequate parking. This Chinese restaurant has innovative dishes and great service. There is indoor and outdoor seating and lots of choices. We started with the calamari and fried mushrooms, and both were fantastic. We then had the ' fried chicken', their specialty, sticky fried rice, pork belly char-shu and lamb chops. The pork belly was okay but the sticky rice and lamb chops were outstanding. They had a okay selection of wine beer. Ambiance was good. read more

Colette - Interior - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pasadena, California

4/5 stars Colette's in Pasadena is a solid spot for upscale chinese food. The live lobster was the standout--fresh, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. We also really enjoyed the shrimp paste, which was savory, aromatic, and paired well with the herbs and dipping sauces. The menu has a lot of interesting options if you're feeling adventurous. Service wasn't bad--pretty attentive overall, and the staff was happy to explain the dishes. The ambiance is elegant but not stuffy, making it a nice place for a date or small celebration. Prices are on the higher side, but the quality mostly justifies it. read more

Colette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pasadena, California

Oh my god where do I start. Top tier service. Top tier! The perfect amount of attention out making h me feel pressured to rush. The food was amazing. Everything is family style. Vegetarians and vegans can eat plenty here. Worth every penny every dime! Definitely can bring your own wine. They will cork and pour no extra cost. Beautiful ambiance. Very instagram-y. I love it here. Cause this food...baby! THE FOOD: Lobster fried rice - a must. It is MP but always a hit. Best to order on advanced on weekend nights. Chili Crab - takes me back to Singapore Lah. Very tasty. Chicken wings - not for me. There are much better items on the menu. The pumpkin something - delicious The mushroom something- delicious Can't wait to come a third time! read more

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This place has delicious food! Cute patio decor. The Black Truffle Chicken Salad was amazing!

Came here for the first time with my friends and was pleasantly surprised! The restaurant is tucked away but plenty of parking in the lot. As an upscale cantonese restaurant, it's a great place to eat family style with a group. The most memorable dishes were the stuffed chicken wings and stuffed crispy chicken with shrimp paste. Both which are super difficult to make and tasted similar to restaurants I've had in Hong Kong and China. I also loved the egg yolk bun from their dim sum menu as it was super runny and not too sweet. Service was also great and attentive. Would want to come back here to try the rest of the menu! read more

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This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Pasadena. If you love Cantonese food with a little twist, this will be a great go-to place to try out some great dishes. My all time favorite is their honey crispy shrimp, and all their fried rice dishes are worth trying, so yummy and great portions. They do offer $10 lunch specials now which is a great value for money too! read more

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Great services here and fast. The foods are over expectations! Amazing highly recommended. Outdoor seats Area also pretty and relax. Crispy shrimp highly recommended my kid loves it. And chicken skin wrapped shrimp paste surprises us tastes gorgeous! Albacore is limit time special must try! read more

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I'd like to give it no stars. Went for lunch on a Saturday because the kitchen was so busy. They told me they couldn't get my food out on time and then when they did bring out something it was the wrong order so all we had was shrimp eggrolls and we left service is terrible. They can't handle the volume of business we talk to somebody else in the restaurant. They said the chicken was salty will not be coming back. I can go 2 miles down the street to Arcadia and get Chinese food and be done within the hour. Sierra Madre /Pasadena is not made for Chinese food. read more

Colette - Basic shrimp eggrolls - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pasadena, California

We love Colette! The food is well prepared with fresh ingredients. The presentation is lovely and colorful. We are happy to have authentic Chinese food close by any their hours are also very convenient. The staff are always friendly and helpful and go out of their way to make sure guests are comfortable. They have a great beer, sake and wine menu too! The atmosphere is contemporary decor and is nice for a quiet dinner but can also accommodate larger parties both indoors and on their outside patio. We often stop in for a quick weekday dinner and we enjoy coming with friends to try several of the more adventurous dishes on the menu. They also serve Dim Sum all day, which is great when you don't want to make the trek down the hill and fight the crowds at the bigger places. read more

Service was great, Food was amazing!!! We ordered the Kung Pao chicken, the salt n pepper calamari among other delicious dishes. Highly recommended read more

We love Colette and have been coming here since they opened. We like to sit on the covered patio, especially when we have the grandkids with us. They are also great at accommodating our allergies. read more

We love the food here and the service is always terrific. It really is one of the best Chinese restaurants in Pasadena

Been meaning to try this place. TL;DR - unique menu, tasty dishes, good service, clean and friendly. Will return! Weird start though: I arrived about 5 minutes before they opened and stood by the entrance, as we were the first customers there. Nobody seemed interested in telling us when they officially opened. The front door was propped wide open, but all the staff looked like they were doing their own thing - heads down, clocking in, setting up the patio, taking their morning smoke break etc... Eventually I walked deep into the dining room where one of the workers eventually told us to sit anywhere. The dining room was simple and clean, upscale (but not "fancy"), and there were many "western" elements to this place (ranging from the restaurant name to the fact that they have a big outdoor patio with beer garden vibes). Not your average Chinese restaurant. The food price is in the $$$ range (entrees from $25-50+). The service was very Asian/non-Western, meaning we weren't served nor checked on. Rather, when we needed any service we had to raise our hands and flag someone down. Although, when we were being served, the service was good, the staff was well dressed in uniforms, and their mannerism/bedside manner was good. The menu was entirely Asian from what I could see, and they had dim sum, appetizers, and entrees. And even though their teas were $3/person and the menu made it look like each person could choose their flavor, it turns out whatever the first person orders is what the whole table has to drink. I recommend the abalone, custard bun, and fried sticky rice. Looking forward to going back and trying their many other dishes. Plenty of free parking in the shopping center parking lot. read more

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Fast and friendly service, great food -- we especially loved their appetizers like cucumbers, and chicken salad with cilantro -- taste like home cooked meals but better ;) highly recommend. read more

Colette is a pretty refreshing take on Cantonese/HK food, in an area that doesn't seem to have a lot of it nearby. It's funny reading reviews of an American breakfast/cafe/brunch spot here but now I'm not getting a carnitas breakfast burrito with a double-shot expresso. The black truffle shredded chicken was a pleasant surprise, with flavorful and tender chicken. The restaurant has slight variations on Chinese dishes without being pretentious. The mainstay beef chow fun was solid, with good wok hay and a generous portion. The wagyu beef fried rice was also the same. The only negative was the pan-fried seafood noodles. While the noodles were good, the seafood tasted rather off. I might be careful with that one. Service was friendly and patient. While I could speak to them in Cantonese, the servers were cordial to everyone. read more

fine dinning Chinese food around Arcadia, have a wonderful dinner here tonight. I will be back again for sure!

Totally off the beaten path. Wasn't even on the radar. I found this place driving to Pasadena the back way because of traffic. The food here is amazing. Fresh, plentiful, and extremely tasty. Service was helpful. 4 stars. Ambiance here was nice and quiet. Very clean. Absolutely would recommend. read more

I was really looking forward to their Crispy chicken, hoping for a hearty meat and chicken dish. Instead, it felt more like imitation crab or shrimp! Overall, the food was just okay, but I wouldn't go back. I'm used to the authentic taste of Chinese food from Chinatown. read more

When I drove past Colorado Blvd and kept driving I thought for sure I had passed all the restaurants. Located in what seemed like a suburb, Colette was truly a gem. I normally don't care for Chinese cuisine, but the * below I really enjoyed. Crispy rice roll in XO sauce * Black truffle chicken salad Golden yolk fried pumpkin * Szechuan chicken salad Golden yolk luffa * Pepper diced beef * Fried cabbage with bacon Fried sticky rice Golden short ribs * The waitress was fun, and the service was quick. We came during a weeknight and there was plenty of parking. Overall, an excellent place. Highly recommend! read more

Came here for dinner to celebrate my daughter-in-law's birthday. The service was wonderful. Attentive but not intrusive. The food was stellar. We had the shrimp stuffed chicken skin, the shrimp fried with egg yolk, honey glazed shrimp, shrimp spring rolls, chayote and ong choy. Yes, we like shrimp . Every dish was beautifully presented and tasted even better than it looked. I know it's a little pricey but it's the best Cantonese food you'll find in Southern California. It's a beautiful restaurant and they have a nice covered patio if you'd rather sit outside. My only criticism is that they need to check and clean the bathroom more regularly. There was what looked like used toilet paper on the floor. And some guy (toilet seat was up) didn't flush the toilet. read more

The food is overall tasty. It was half empty at Friday night. Didn't have to wait to get seated at all. The pumpkin with egg yolk was my favorite. A little bit salty outside but sweet and creamy inside. Also love the shrimp tofu on eggs. But the shrimp was probably not fresh ones. My bf got a bit allergic reaction. read more

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Everybody in our group thought the location was improbable and out of the way, and meaning am I going to the right place?? The space was extremely noisy, with no acoustical treatments such as soft wall pieces or acoustical ceiling. Good luck trying to enjoy your meal. The almond beef was unusual, but meh. The herbal chicken was ok, and the pea shoots were tough and old. I'm not sure if we could send it back since that is how nature left it. The lobster rice was unusual but not necessarily a repeat order. The two best dishes were the oyster hot pot and salted egg shrimp. Overall, the dinner left a lot to be desired for a higher end priced restaurant. The service was unattentive and not friendly, in others words, we had better. read more

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Colette in Pasadena - Cantonese Flavors Elevated with Style! What a deliciously unexpected gem! Tucked into Pasadena, Colette is the kind of spot where traditional Cantonese comfort food meets modern elegance. We came hungry and left obsessed. From start to finish, every dish was a hit -- flavorful, well-portioned, and beautifully presented. Here's everything we devoured and LOVED: * Crispy Stuffed Chicken - Let me just say: WOW. Super crispy on the outside, juicy and savory on the inside, with a stuffing that had the perfect mix of texture and seasoning. It's not just a dish, it's an experience. * Siu Mai & Cha Siu Buns - Classic, delicate, and bursting with flavor. The siu mai were plump and juicy, while the cha siu buns were soft, slightly sweet, and filled with that signature BBQ pork that melts in your mouth. * Kung Pao Chicken - Bold, tangy, and the right level of spice. The peanuts added the perfect crunch and balance. Not greasy, just addictive. * Orange Chicken - Skip your regular takeout, this is how orange chicken should taste. Lightly battered, citrusy, not overly sweet, and full of zesty orange peel goodness. * Golden Short Ribs - These were fall-off-the-bone tender, glazed in a rich, savory sauce. The kind of dish you fight over at the table. * Black Truffle Mushroom Noodles - Hands down, one of the most unique and umami-packed dishes I've tried. Fragrant truffle, chewy noodles, and earthy mushrooms created a perfect harmony. * Scallion Fried Rice with Ham - Dish of the Day! Light, fluffy, and incredibly flavorful. Every bite had that smoky wok char (hello wok hei!) with tender bits of ham and fresh scallions. If I could bottle the smell and wear it as perfume, I would. It was that good. Lunch Specials: Affordable, filling, and great portions. Perfect for a mid-week lunch that feels like a treat without hurting your wallet. They don't cut corners on flavor or ingredients -- even during the lunch rush. Service & Vibe: Super friendly staff, quick service, and a bright, modern atmosphere with subtle nods to traditional Asian design. It felt classy but still casual -- like the kind of place you can enjoy both a family meal and a foodie date. Final Verdict: If you're in Pasadena and craving top-notch Cantonese fare with a refined twist, Colette is a must-visit. It's not just food -- it's a full-on flavor journey. I already can't wait to go back and eat that scallion fried rice again. And again. And again. Bonus: The plating is beautiful -- so yes, your Instagram will thank you too. read more

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