To be honest, I'm really not familiar with Spanish food and don't think I've tried it before. But this meal was so flavorful and delicious. We got the pan con tomato, the shrimp in wine sauce, the salmon in lemon caper sauce, and the papas bravas. The shrimp was okay, but everything else was outstanding. The salmon tasted very fresh and the lemon sauce was perfection, a lil thick and creamy lemon sauce. The potatoes in both the salmon dish and the papas bravas dish were cooked to perfection, and the pan con tomate had this perfect crunch to it. This restaurant is beautiful as well, whether you're inside or out in the alley at sunset where you get sky and Mountain View's and an alleyway lit with string lights. It's a beautiful setting. I would definitely come back and adventure to try more things on their menu. read more

First time dining at Dos Besos. I always pass by but never had to chance until the other day. My husband called in advance to book outdoor seating since we have a puppy. We came during dinner time so it's not too hot. For the table, we ordered: Seafood paella Octopus with potatoes Anchovy String beans Tomato bread Burrata Bread pudding Arnold Palmer Waiter is nice but he kept forgetting to fill our water cups three times. I was so thirsty. Bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts and unfortunately bread pudding here is very odd. It's like pudding and I just never had it like this before. Definitely disappointed in the bread pudding. I cannot recommend. Everything else was delicious. Personally I love strong flavors so I kept adding lemon to the seafood paella. It was a bit bland for me until I added lemons. I love that there is a park behind the restaurant so I took my puppy for a walk afterward. And thank you for providing water for my fur baby! read more

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Came here twice and each time was a phenomenal experience. On my first visit I mainly got a bunch of tapas and the seafood paella, and everything was stellar from taste to textures. The pan con tomate truly felt like a masterpiece. It's doused with enough olive oil and tomatoes where the bread is still crunchy and doesn't get soggy at all. The octopus also really stood out to me for its texture. The tartufo dessert was delightful as well, as the flavor from the hazelnut chocolate really shone through. On my second visit, I repurchased the pan con tomate because I loved it so much, and got the rigatoni and New Zealand rack of lamb. This is some of the best lamb I've ever had. It was cooked to be perfectly tender and it tasted amazing. I don't normally go out of my way to get lamb, but for this I would. As for the rigatoni, I thought this was too heavy for my liking. It reminded me a little of Mac and cheese. I think this is better shared rather than served as an individual main course. I would have liked if this had more ham in it. Overall, one of the better tasting restaurants in Pasadena that I would single out as a recommendation to my friends and family! read more

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We were there to celebrate my son's birthday. He wants to try Spanish food and picked the restaurant. The food was hit and missed. Dessert was excellent. Octopus with potato and Burrata were good. Paella and steak were average. The fish was disappointed, which was the thing my son wanted for his birthday. The restaurant was busy for a weekday dinner. Our waiter was not very helpful. The indoor tables were limited. We couldn't sit comfortably for 4 people. Maybe we will try outdoor seating next time. read more

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This might be my new favorite restaurant in Pasadena, although for a price tag. Came in with a party of 10, so ordered probably 80% of the menu apart from drinks. There were 0 misses. We tried four different paellas: Seafood, Seafood Noodle, Squid Ink, and the daily special (which I've sadly forgotten). I genuinely can't pick a favorite...they were all so incredible. I've had some pretty bad experiences with overly salty paella, even in Spain (!!!), so I was relieved Dos Besos wasn't that. Great selection of tapas as well. We basically ordered everything. The standouts for me were the Galician octopus, mushrooms in truffle cream, and the cured meats. But holy, everything was so good. I am not a huge fan of red wine but the sangria was fruity and went down smoothly. Desserts were also fantastic, I especially loved the torrijas. The chef, who's from Barcelona, was incredibly kind and came out personally to offer complimentary pan con tomate with our endless jamón orders. Incredible experience and I would love to come back every day if I had the financial means to. read more

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This is close to the Pasadena City Hall, there's street parking and parking garages near by. We were able to get seated easily on a weekday night. The sangrias were delicious and refreshing. I really enjoyed the octopus appetizer. This is good for a group of friends or on a date. Just FYI: the paella takes at least 35 minutes as noted on the menu. We shared 2 paellas and an appetizer between the 5 of us and we were still kind of hungry. I definitely suggest ordering more. read more

Dos Besos - Octopus - Spanish Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Yes, the three dollar signs are accurate. This is a spendy restaurant, but worth it. There were four of us , they started us with an assortment of olives and some crackers. We intended to order the seafood paella so ordered an appetizer of shrimp in sauce.. The advice from other reviewers is accurate, get a second order of bread because the sauce is fantastic. My spouse had the salmon plate and said it was the best he's ever had. I had the seafood stew, cazuela and would order it again. I got to taste the seafood paella and might order that next time. The rice was delicious with a crust of socorat and comes with a scraper to get every bit. Our server was Tomas, he was efficient without being intrusive. The inside area of the restaurant is pretty tight and a bit noisy, I think I'll try outside next time. I can see why they have the email reservation system. read more

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This place is a new favorite for me - food is delicious and fresh. We started with the octopus and potatoes; the octopus was soft and tender with very soft potatoes, though I think could have used a little extra seasoning. We had the lamb racks next which were cooked just to our liking (medium rare), with tasty crispy potatoes and non-stringy string beans. And of course the highlight of the night was their seafood paella. I typically find paella to be a little too moist but Dos Besos makes it in a shallow pan which gives the rice on the bottom a nice crunchy crust. The seafood was fresh and the flavors were decadent. Service was friendly and they have a cute outdoor covered patio that keeps you out of the street and car exhaust. Parking is readily available with all the parking structures in old town. read more

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Our friend recommended Dos Besos for a nice meal in Pasadena where our group could catch up over some shared plates. We dined on a Sunday evening with a reservation, and the restaurant was fully booked. We ordered 4 tapas and the pork paella over the seafood. The pork was a great alternative to the seafood, it was moist and delicious and the pan crisped rice gave it great texture. We had one hiccup where we were given an extra dish, but other than that we had a good experience. read more

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4/4/26 Spring break departure meal..our niece recommended Dos Besos and our boys love paella so we came by and splurged on not one but two paellas! Their tapas were sooo good too! Niece and I started with the lychee cava spritzer $17 setas en crema de trufa (mushrooms in truffle cream) S23 Order the Extra pan (bread) $5 to dip into the mushroom truffle cream. albondigas a la española (spanish meatballs in tomato sauce) $19 And the star of the dinner = paella en su tinta (squid ink paella) $64 fideuá de mariscos (seafood noodle paella) $62 It was a great dinner in great weather dining outside seating under the string lights! Service was great! read more

Dos Besos - albondigas a la española (spanish meatballs in tomato sauce) $19 - Spanish Near Me - Pasadena, California

Sole reason I came was for the seafood paella and it DELIVERED! It took 35 minutes and it didn't feel long since we got an appetizer and drinks. It was beautifully cook with the right crispiness of the rice and well balance flavor. It was perfect for two. We sat outside and it was giving European vibes. Service was great. Parking is either street (if you're lucky) or scattered parking lots half a block away which can be tricky to find. read more

Dos Besos - Spanish Near Me - Pasadena, California

We close out 2025 with the restaurant of the year - Dos Besos. This place was not on my radar and I discovered it after patronizing a neighboring restaurant. To sum up the experience - WOW! Started off the evening with a a sparkling sangria. Highly recommend you go with this option if you are going to have sangria. It's a fruity and bubbly option. Next was the pulpo a la gallega. Lately I opt for any octopus dish. Again, this did not disappoint. The potatoes complimented the octopus perfectly. It was a toss up for the next tapa and after the girls at the table next to us told us what to skip, we opted for the tortilla española. I'm not gonna lie, I was skeptical about this dish because my mom had made it in the past and it was just meh. Granted, my mom wasn't the best cook either. This was so the right choice! The only drawback is that I wanted more! The dipping sauce was phenomenal. You cannot skip this tapa. Now for the main dish....The other diner wasn't sold on the paella but you cannot go to a Spanish restaurant and pass on the paella! She was a trooper and decided to give it a try as long as I agreed to take the leftovers home. There were no leftovers. I've had many a paella but never one where the rice on the bottom was crispy. The crispy rice elevated this dish to the point we were scraping the pan for every last morsel. Don't let anyone at your table talk you out of a paella. As you can see, the tables for two are pretty small (we dined inside). This poses a problem if you each are going to get a paella, which I recommend after scraping the pan. So, just keep that in mind. I think my next trip I'll be going by myself so I can have all the yummies all to myself. Parking is fairly easy. You can snag a spot on the street or park at a structure. I absolutely loved this place and if you're looking for some Spanish fare, do not pass up this place. read more

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10/10, can't wait to come back. The food is phenomenal. We had the Iberico (big time WOW), the Spanish meatballs, and the octopus. Absolutely order the Iberico, it just melts in your mouth. The Spanish meatballs and the octopus were both surprisingly tender, each with its own density of flavor. The bread pudding was perfectly not too sweet. It was paired with some rich vanilla ice cream. The service was just as exceptional as the food. Our server, Tomas is one of the most polite, well spoken individuals I've had the pleasure of being served by. The ambiance is delightful. We came for dinner on a Friday night and the music, the fairy lights, and the chatter was all perfect. Will absolutely be back for more. Don't skip this place! And definitely order the Iberico read more

Dos Besos - Spanish meatballs and Iberico (half eaten) - Spanish Near Me - Pasadena, California

What a lovely restaurant in Pasadena! Food was delicious - we ordered the patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo, string beans, seafood paella. For drinks we got sparkling wine sangria. Everything tasted amazing but the only con was that for some dishes I felt the portion size was small for the price. Service was good and prompt. They have a nice outdoor area which is where we sat (great place for people watching). read more

Dos Besos - Basque cheesecake - Spanish Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Great food and excellent service! The staff was friendly and attentive, and everything we ordered was fresh and delicious. The owner was welcoming, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Definitely a place I'd recommend, and we will be back read more

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The food here is absolutely delicious! I can't get enough of the paella -- we tried the squid ink version but swapped the rice for pasta, and it was packed with flavor. The shrimp dish was another favorite, perfectly cooked and seasoned. The fish baked in rock salt was a bit on the bland side, but the texture was tender, and the green beans served alongside were incredibly fresh. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes -- the truffle pasta and seafood stew are next on my list read more

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My favorite restaurant, hands down. The quality of the food takes me right back to Spain and honestly rivals some of the best meals I had there. You can truly tell the chef puts so much care and intention into every single dish. I have celiac disease and had never been able to try pan con tomate before. The chef actually went out of his way to create a gluten-free version for the menu, and it was absolute perfection. That level of thoughtfulness and care meant so much to me and says everything about this place. I already loved it before, but that experience made me love it even more. The mushrooms, the squid ink paella, the tortilla... every dish is incredible. Writing this review already has me wanting to go back. read more

Dos Besos - Gluten free pan con tomate! - Spanish Near Me - Pasadena, California

Reservation for 745. Came early but they were full so we took a quick walk and came back. They posted their menu outside so I took a picture and decided on what I wanted to order while we waited. We were seated promptly at 745 when we came back. As soon as we sat down, I ordered the seafood paella because it takes 35 minutes to cook. I also ordered everything else I wanted to try Pan con tomate - crispy rustic bread with light tomato sauce. Crispy and refreshing. Jamon serrano - you can taste the quality in the Serrano ham. Went well with the toast Pulpo a la gallega - the octopus was so soft and the the potato went well with it. Cazuela de mariscos - this seafood broth was so good. The seafood was fresh and cooked perfectly. My husband ordered extra bread it and it came out hot and fresh and went perfect with the broth. Seafood paella - I've only had this dish a couple of times at other places so hard to compare, but this was the best one I've eaten. I'm not a big rice eater but the Arborio rice used was so starchy and filling. The seasonings were good and the rice was not bland. The seafood was fresh and cooked perfectly. Almond cake - warm and not too sweet. I really wanted to have the basque cheesecake but it was sold out (I guess you should make sure you have dinner reservations earlier if you want cheesecake). I would come back again because the chef came out and recommended that we try their off menu item -- Iberian pork paella. I tasted high quality and fresh ingredients. Nothing was greasy or heavy. I felt like I ate a healthy dinner and I imagine this is how a European diet would be. Also, remember this is on the higher side for pricing. read more

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Came upon this place in Old town as my crew was wondering around early Tuesday afterwork looking for Happy hour. There is NO happy hour menu here but decided to stop by the enjoy their Tapas and Paella. The food is actually really good and decent portion Meatballs with sauce Mushroom with truffles Cheese board Heirloom tomatoes with Cheese Seafood Paella Side of bread We started out as the first ones these but place really filled out when we left around 8p. The only ding I would give is for the service. The wait staff is really nice when they come by to check on you but it's hard to waive them down and takes forever for them to bring things like the bill, extra cutlery, and to-go boxes. They might be short-staffed, but these are very simple items that either the waiter or bus person can bring by....just saying.... read more

Been here many times with my wife and we loved the food. The quality is great and it's a good environment to wind down. I give it a 2 star rating because their service isn't great. We loved it when we had the owners, husband and wife on the floor. In our recent visit, the owners weren't there. No one came to check on us or refilled our water not at least till the very end of our dinner because they wanted to see if we wanted to order dessert. Now, we watched them bus other tables out in the patio with water and frequent visits. There were only a few tables occupied at the time so the restaurant wasn't busy and definitely has the capacity to serve. I will not be coming back again sadly. Customer service is what makes or breaks a restaurant for me. read more

I love Spanish food, tapas, etc. Dos Besos has been on my list to try for some time, so I finally was able to come for brunch and Wow was it good!! The food is so fresh and delicious. This was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. It's also really cute inside, very European feeling. I love the outdoor patio seating. The staff was really attentive and friendly. Everything was chef's kiss! Definitely get the pan con tomate (with one of the cured meats), seafood paella and the almond cake. There are many other items on the menu I want to try so I'll be back! read more

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Loved the ambiance and service, we liked the pan con tomate, the mushrooms with truffle the most. We also ordered the seafood stew, which we didn't think was worth the cost especially because the mussels and clam tasted fishy. I'd probably just stick with tapas and drinks here. read more

Dos Besos - Spanish Near Me - Pasadena, California

Way overpriced. Paella & lamb chops needed more seasoning though cooked well. Limited wine selection. Dessert said to be cheesecake not & not appealing. read more

My cousin took me here for my early bday celebration. I loved how cute and quaint it was. We were seating in the outside patio, which was nice. We started the evening with a pitcher of their sparkling white sangria, which was easy to drink (perfect for a hot summer's night out I can imagine). We started with the mushroom cream with truffle. It may sound basic, but we had bread with it and it tasted heavenly. It was so balanced that the dairy in that sauce does not linger on the palate. It was perfectly seasoned and went beautifully with the bread. The consistency was like a chowder.... if it came in a soup bowl, it would get devoured and our waistlines would happily regret. We then had the tuna carpaccio mixed greens salad just to be healthy. It was a standard salad even though it was plated sooo beautifully. However, it was nothing to write home about. It's a salad, not the invention of the internet. We ended our meal with their squid ink paella. It was cooked to perfection. The grains were barely cooked through, tender, flavorful, and the prawns weren't overcooked. I had a pitcher of the red wine sangria to myself and it was standard. Overall, I liked this place and would come back to try their other dishes. read more

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The food here was really good! We tried the Octopus starter and opted for two specials; Iberian Pork Paella, and a Braised Oxtail Pasta. Our friends got the Seafood Paella. All were great. For dessert, we got afogatos that were good and friends got bread pudding that was more like a custard and opinions were divided. Place is super tiny but cute and they have an outdoor space that was comfortable enough, but sat directly across from a neighboring restaurant that had obnoxious mariachi music playing the entire time. Certainly not Dos Besos' fault, but it was annoying. Service was fine. All in all, a good evening, and the food was the star. read more

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Food was great. Service was amazing! This restaurant is not the most affordable, but it's worth it! I highly recommend the seafood paella, the octopus, and the Basque cheesecake! All the employees are kind and attentive... but our favorite is Audrey! read more

Dos Besos - Spanish Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My husband, daughter, a friend, and I visited together, and we had a wonderful experience. Everyone was incredibly friendly, and they were especially kind and welcoming to my daughter. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. The biggest surprise was the paella--it was honestly the best paella I've ever had. It was absolutely delicious. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

This place was a nice surprise. Everything tasted just the way I remember in Spain. The only issue for me is that they had just run out of the Basque cheesecake before we arrived. The sangria is how I remember it from my childhood. Highly recommend for a nice date. The staff were very pleasant and informative about how they prepared the food. read more

Nicely decorated place with a very cool outdoor patio in a great location. Staff really didn't need to be more attentive but when we had to ask our server for honey twice and still not get it then ask a second server/runner for it and still not get it then tell a kitchen staff person just to have him say we're trying to catch the bees first, that was a bit much. Got the same response when asking for glasses to be removed, additional napkins, etc. Specified we needed to have a salmon dish well done and emphasized it twice but got it pink. Ordered a salad along with everything else but didn't get it. The paella was overly salted and burnt. Ordered a sangria, cava mojito, and an Arnold Palmer...all watered down. The octopus and clams were delicious. read more

One of the best restaurants in Pasadena. Food was phenomenal and had fresh, unique flavors. Very vegetarian and pescatarian friendly, too. My favorite was the vegetable paella, which was something I've never had before. It was obvious that it was made with care and precision--the rice was soft but still had a nice bite, and every veggie was carefully arranged and cooked to perfection. The other highlight was the octopus; I'm more used to Japanese style octopus, so the texture here was new to me. I've never had octopus so soft. I was super impressed that it was somehow cooked without making it seize and firm up. Parking might be a little difficult, Pasadena being Pasadena. There are a couple of spots out front, but if you round the corner twice so that you're on Holly Street, there's also some parking close to Memorial Park. Then you can cross back through the alley to get back to Dos Besos quickly. You might still have to get lucky, but I found parking fairly easily in the early evening! read more

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I really enjoyed this place. The seafood paella is definitely the highlight. Not overly salty. Rice texture was on point. Fresh seafood. Appetizers were great too, make sure to order extra bread to dip into shrimp sauce. Octopus was tender and flavorful. Low key wish they had a few slices of cheese on the charcuterie board but no big deal. Overall, would recommend and would come back! read more

I thought it was just OK. We had the octopus, the potatoes, the seafood paella, and the lamb. Nothing really stood out to me.

This is a very quaint and lovely Spanish bistro in our neighborhood. I recalled visiting a couple of years ago, right after our trip to Spain, I didn't think much of it and haven't returned until recently. It's not an ideal thing to do, especially when we had inexpensive Spanish fare in its country of origin right beforehand. However, a couple of years have passed, and we visited Dos Besos again, and it was tasty. I loved that they were able to offer vegan-friendly options for my husband. Will definitely return again. read more

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The great service and paella brings me back and I refer people to go here often. We love dining in their outdoor patio. read more

Dos Besos - Perfect Spanish prepared seafood paella. - Spanish Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I showed up without a reservation while on a work trip. The owner found space for me regardless. The Paella was incredible! The ambiance was pleasant and inviting. I highly recommend this spot to anyone visiting Old Town Pasadena. Don't forget the reservation. read more

Always love a good Spanish restaurant. I was recommended by a friend to come to dos besos and it did not disappoint to say to least. There's 4-5 indoor tables and plenty of patio seating. The patio is adorable with ambient lighting. Don't worry about it being cold outside, there's plenty of outdoor heaters. Red sangria 5/5 - the portion is a little smaller than expected for the price but delicious and a solid sangria. Gambas 5/5 - shrimp is cooked perfectly in the delectable sauce. I just wish we had more pieces of toast to dip in the sauce. I believe it only came with one piece of toast. Papatas 5/5 - crispy potatoes, good flavors with the delicious aioli. Really nice texture to the potatoes. Definitely a solid appetizer. Mushroom 2/5 - good idea but poor execution with the addition of the truffle. The mushrooms were buried in the white truffle sauce and it was way too overpowering to stomach. Paella 10/5 - paella is enough for 2 people. They let you know ahead of time that the paella takes time to cook on the menu so you're prepared. Flavors are so good, we wanted to lick the pan afterwards! Service is great. We felt that they checked on us often without being disruptive when we're having dinner. Definitely a solid Spanish restaurant in Pasadena. Will definitely return to try the rest of the menu! read more

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The food is consistently amazing so delicious every single time! Definitely deserves more than 5 stars. read more

Disappointed. The lamb was dry and tough and overtly salty. The service was meh. the whole experience was bad. Avoidddd!

The chef poured so much love into the food that we really tasted it in every incredible bite. Also the service is exceptional. My friends and I love this place! read more

From the moment we walked in, it was like we got transported to Spain! The food is excellent, the decor is perfect with brick interior, and the staff is superb. They even all look like they're Spanish. Open five days a week from 5pm -9pm and closed on Sundays and Mondays. If only every business in the world could adopt Spain's wonderful view of the work week. It is a very small space inside, but has a nice sized patio, which everyone seems to opt for. There were plenty of tables indoors when we walked in on a weekday, but I'm going to guess that reservations are needed for a Friday or Saturday night. There are lots of delectable items in every menu section, from the the Pulpo appetizer (octopus & potato), which was delicious, to the salted & flamed Sea Bass entree, all the way to the amazing almond cake dessert. We will be back soon to try everything else! read more

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