I want to love this place because it's always busy and easy to park around, but it's such a bummer! The waitresses are as sweet as can be but the food is so mediocre. Second time coming and I had burned fish tacos, too much ketchup in the shrimp bowl, and not enough spices. When I think of Mexican food I think of spicy food and they don't have that spiciness that I wanted. read more

Great little place on the corner of Altadena and Lake. Terrific fajitas. Inside is a little small and parking is something of a problem because of the location but it's worth it for the fajitas. I've had other items from the menu, and they all seemed standard fare. But the fajitas are just right. Get the beef fajitas. read more

Don't go here while black! I went in to pick up a phone order and they asked kids standing behind me if they needed help, even though I walked in before them and stood patiently waiting to be asked if I needed anything. Instead I had to ask "is anyone going to speak with me?" before they said a word. One star does not do justice to the racist behavior I just endured. Just a reminder El Patron staff, my money is green too. read more

The service is SUPERB here. The people are so so nice. There are complementary chips and salsa which is always a plus. They have very reasonable prices but the food is just ok. I wasn't very impressed by the tamales or the tacos al pastor. Their churros are the best tho!!! read more

My wife and I have been going to El Patron since 2015. We absolutely love this place and the owner, Maggie, is doing an amazing job providing great service and food. Can't recommend it enough! The Chile Verde or grilled fish tacos...can't go wrong! read more

We only ever order to go and they still manage to mess up burritos plus the chips are ALWAYS stale. They also have terrible customer service two of the female workers have an awful attitude and it's generally an unenjoyable experience every time. Foods 7/10 service 2/10 read more

Chili Rellenos are delicious and my wife's potato Taco are good what a great little jewel at the foothills of Altadena read more

El Patron - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

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I ordered a torta and the bread taste like old grease, horrible taste & smell so bad I had to wash my mouth & hands.

Where do u begin. . . .this restaurant is nestled in a family town of Altadena. The service is impeccable. Alex the owner, has done a fabulous job choosing the perfect staff that basically accommodates your every need. Point in case. . . .I walk in one day and asked for a naked burrito, (which was not on the menu), I explained the concept and they made it happen. An example of the service being impeccable, after ordering food from here twice, they knew my name.....as well as anticipated my meal choice every single time I walk in. I feel very much welcomed. Atmosphere: cosy, warm, Spanish music playing softly in the back ground, and historical pictures on the wall.....accompanied by family pictures...very warm....get here early on late weekends, and holidays. It gets packed Love this place. If your in the mood for Mexican food, this is your place. read more

My hubby and I ate there a few nights ago. My veggie burrito was fantastic, full of beans, cheese and an assortment of tasty stewed veggies. Hubby had a chili reyeno and a cheese enchilada combo. He said both were great. Chips were fresh and crisp and the salsa was fresh and delicious. We have had Mexican food all over CA and the Southwest. This was really satisfying Mex fare. Def going back again. Maybe for breakfast. read more

I freakin love this place! Cutest hole in the wall authentic Mex restaurant with margaritas. And now they have al fresco dining. My fav dish is the Cocido . Friendly staff too. read more

First of all I want to say that the food was very good. But I do have some criticism. We ordered a mushroom quesadilla (very tasty) as an appetizer to share and were not brought serving plates. When I asked the young lady for some plates she brought me coffee coaster plates (the small ones with the raised circle in the center). We also ordered guacamole. We were quickly out of tortilla chips (since we had already snacked on the salsa. I believe I asked at least three times for more chips before she actually brought them (at the end of the meal). Guacamole is not cheap and we weren't going to just leave it. Besides, it was very tasty also. My girlfriend and I both had soups for dinner (since we were eating in a real nice outdoor patio ledge and the weather was cooler for an evening). She ordered the meatball soup and I had the fish and shrimp soup. Again, very tasty. But I had to ask for our tortillas and limes. These two things always come with "caldos" (soups) in a Mexican restaurant. The young lady that served us was nice and the food was delicious. Maybe she just needs a bit more training on the basics. This is not meant to be a negative review of this place just some things I feel could be improved. read more

So accommodating and so fast for a group of 9 on a Saturday night outside on the sidewalk post-hiking. I know we got lucky since it wasn't too busy @ 6pm. In addition to the food and drinks which everyone enjoyed, they went through extra trouble of turning heaters on for us since our group preferred to sit outside. Then when it started sprinkling, they opened up umbrellas too. We didn't even have to ask. Loved the seriously attentive, seamless and quick service. Thank you El Patron! read more

Cute place, nice staff (our waitress was so sweet this evening), and great margaritas at a good price. Free shot on Friday and Saturday!

Let's just say my family and I ordered take out yesterday and we spent all day on the toilet today. The food didn't taste good (except for the carnitas taco), the asada beef in all our dishes was so tough it was inedible. We paid $70 for bad food and diarrhea--Sunday ruined. Never again. read more

"...and while I sat, covered with red sauce smeared on my face like a drunken clown, I watched people flowing in and out like koi to a feeding." As I entered the famous Altadena landmark building, I peered into the corners searching for memories. This odd triangular shaped building is filled with the sad history of failed eateries, a list that stretches as far back as the 60's, yet there I stood like a guy with a food gambling problem. I hoped that El Patron was going to beat the odds. I was met by Beatrice, a very sweet, very sharp, and very service-oriented woman with a glowing smile. Why was she glowing? Because her aunt (Maria) and uncle (Nati) were cooking in the kitchen, and she was proud of it. Hmmm. That was my first "aha" moment because those are magic words to diners looking for a home cooked meal in a family style restaurant. The menu looked smart and experienced, so my hunch was that some restaurant lurked in the DNA somewhere. And I was right. Alejandro and Jose of the Cortez local family fame. They own the two highly rated Puebla Taco joints in Pasadena. Obviously they want to own Pasadena. First of all, you know that deep red color that chili sauce gets when you mix it with more powder than is reasonable? It's the kind of sauce with a rich chili-filled aroma that makes your sense of smell more valuable than your eyesight; although, that level of red sauce would be wasted without all of your senses. Take that sauce, sprinkle some queso, drape it over a homestyle flour tortilla that's barely able to contain its juicy carne/onion mix, and you'll have El Patron's Burrito Mojado/Wet Burrito for $6.95. Yum. It was delicious and a welcome breath of fresh chile for the mountain hugging town of Altadena. The downside? Well, if you're sportin' Samoan/Hawaiian DNA like me, then you realize that one meal simply won't do. Hence, I also ordered a full dinner size combo taco plate with rice & beans plus a side order of guacamole to top it off. Sorry. I'm a borderline glutton. Go sling your diet lecture somewhere else. Anyway, the crispy taco was perfect. Most places fry the shell until it has the consistency of burnt tree bark, then pinch the bottom so it holds less meat (a well-bred Polynesian notices these things). There's no pinching in El Patron's kitchen. And wow. That guacamole was about the best that I've had in San Gabriel, and I'm an avocado freakazoid. Lot's of finely diced onions, no stringy fibers, and enough cilantro to give flavor without robbing the subtleties of the perfectly ripe avocado. As usual, my only complaint was that the serving size was perfect for those who have reasonable appetites. I'm not reasonable. ...and while I sat, covered with red sauce smeared on my face like a drunken clown, I watched people flowing in and out like koi to a feeding. Believe me, this is something that's unusual for this building. My hunch is that this new kid on the block will beat the odds and kick the ghosts of failed eateries out of town. Note: Cash only for the near term. They're busy setting up their credit card system and it should be up by June. Also, their hours are 8a to 8p, daily. Yes. 7 days a week. Yeeee-haaaa! read more

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Paul's Rule of Ethnic Restaurants If you walk into an ethnic food restaurant, walk out if you don't see any people from that ethnicity eating there. Corollary: Be doubly careful if said restaurant oversells the fact that they're "authentic." Sure there are exceptions, like, oh say a Nepalese restaurant in Sweden, because there just aren't that many Nepalese people in Sweden, but my Mexican friend said "uh-oh" as soon as we walked in. Even our server wasn't Mexican. But we gave it a chance. First the good: clean; nicely decor; friendly, prompt service. And that's about it. The chips were oily and the pico de gallo was mainly onion. The beans were too salty, (or maybe it was MSG?). The rice was meh. I had a chile relleno and cheese enchilada. Both were luke warm and bland. Again with the onions? The horchata was watery and likewise bland. read more

El Patron is a hidden gem. The place is really small - so you might wait a little while to be seated, but it's worth the wait. Can't beat $6.50 drunk margarita. All of their salsas are really delicious. Service was excellent. Will continue to come support this cool little spot. read more

El Patron - Drunk Margarita was only 6.50! Really great prices and food. - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

The service was ok. They really just wanted us in and out. Food was awful. The rice was dry and flavorless and the beans were also... flavorless. The taquitos I got had no taste to them as well. Even the guacamole was flat and boring. This place used to be good, I'm not sure what happened. We were upset that the food tasted so whatever. This place needs to step its game up, seriously. Management if you're reading, out some flavor in your food and some character to your servers. Flat, flat, flat. read more

Arrived at 8:00 on a Wednesday. Wasn't seated till 40 MINUTES LATER. Definitely not worth the wait. I want to balance out the yelp reviews from obviously misguided people with bland taste buds. Obviously your run of the mill white people Mexican food. Yes I am white and hate to say most white people hate flavor. Chips were plentiful and decent. Salsa was watered down pico de gallo. Fajitas were laughable. Had their signature el patron style fajitas and was greatly disappointed. Wife had bland and overcooked fish tacos. Margaritas were made of wine. Although not bad I didn't find myself wanting to finish it. When you go to a Mexican place and 80% of the patrons are white you might just want to walk out. read more

North Pasadena / Altadena is home to so many under-the-radar spots, with quality eats at affordable prices. This spot is no different. Today it was sampling steaming hot bowls of menudo with tripe and chicken posole soup (for $5.50 and $6 no less!!). Other times I've come here for a few tacos and to split a bucket of beers with friends. The atmosphere is pleasant, often with 'Chente playing in the background, but there can be some wait time around dinner hours due to limited seating. I rarely mention service in any of my reviews, but I will make an exception here due to the owners going out of their way to make this chinito feel right at home. Between this spot and Tonny's, there's no reason to not get good Mexican fare north of the 210. read more

Had a makeshift high school reunion here a few days ago. Two of my classmates are now pro chefs- one in Bev. Hills (and in the beginning stages of opening his own place), the other in Manhattan, NY. They picked this spot to meet. I had a sautéed bass fish taco and would come back for another. Great little salsa tray too, four or five choices... I liked the orange one, reminds me a bit of La Victoria's in San Jose. read more

I was visiting a friend in the area and she recommended this place to get a bite to eat. It is a small restaurant but it was very clean. The waitress was friendly. And we placed the order in spanglish (you know what I mean when most of your friends are Gringas LOL) . I had 2 crispy tacos; 1 beef & 1 chicken. I know it only costs $2.45 each taco but I didn't find the Mexican flavor I was hoping for. Kinda plain and a little bit oily :( the margaritas in the order hand was okay....but definitely a cheap place to eat. 2 margaritas & 2 tacos total of $16 including taxes.... read more

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People! You've got to try this place. 99 cent tacos! You have your choice chicken, beef, carnitas, tongue & bbq pork. I chose the carnitas and beef. My son ordered the wet bean and cheese burrito & had no trouble finishing it. They have a huge menu, so it takes time to get through it all but I'd rather have that then a basic one page limited item joint where you've tired everything and are now bored with it. We don't have any Mexican restaurants up here on our mountain so I'd like to see this place succeed. I watched the chef for a while cooking up some fajitas and so I know this place serves fresh & abundant food. She kicks major ass in the kitchen. Go check it out for yourself. It's family owned and they are all super nice. read more

I have just returned from Il Fornaio in Old Town Pasadena and it serves to remind me that paying a lot for food doesn't guarantee good food. In contrast, El Patron has impressed me twice now with excellent food at low prices. I particularly enjoyed the Filete de Pescado Ranchero (Fish Filet Ranchero) for a whopping $8.85. It put my Il Fornaio Salmon to shame. This is a small place, seats about 30 or less, and the waiting area is pretty much non-existent, so don't go to El Patron at 6 PM on a Saturday with 10 close friends because it won't work for you. They do have one booth that seats perhaps 7 people, but most of the patrons are couples and families. While waiting I noticed several people coming in to get takeout. Bottom line, this place is an excellent value and has great food. read more

I was really hoping this place would be as good as everyone said because I live so close. I ordered two burritos and some rolled tacos to go for my husband and me. First, she told me a lower price over the phone than it was when I got there then acted like I was trying to rip them off when I brought it up. Second, the food was absolutely bland and boring. I come from San Diego and know good Mexican food. The rolled tacos/taquitos were flavorless. If you want the best rolled tacos in Pasadena, go to Chiquita Bonita on Colorado where they make them by hand in front of you. The ones from El Patron tasted like they were not seasoned in the least and cooked hours ago. By bean, rice and cheese burrito was meh. My husbands asada burrito was full of gristle. The salsa's were even bland/bitter! At least you can usually save a meh mexican meal with good salsa. Not here. There is much better mexican food to be had not much farther away. So, don't waste your money. read more

Don't go here if you're looking for quality Mexican food. Was pretty surprised and disappointed to find that the food was almost disgusting, considering the four stars here. But the clientele consisted of mostly older white folks, so maybe their standards were less discerning, I don't know. My friend got fajitas and described it as "the McDonald's of Mexican food" :/ In all honesty I would rather go to Chipotle, where I got food poisoning twice. read more

I'm modifying because I've become a regular at El Patron. Why? Their orange sauce. I could drink this stuff, really. In fact I believe I have. They say it's habanero sauce with crema, I say it's incredible. Oh, and the chips are fresh. I try to avoid them though because between them and the orange sauce my diet is blown. When I'm in a hurry for dinner, I get a few of their incredibly cheap street tacos and extra orange sauce and have a meal for less than $5. And I love the employees. One time I ordered the flan, and told the waitress that it was grainy (overcooked). She didn't charge me even though my tablemate with less discerning taste had gobbled it down. Note that I did not ask for this favor. Also, normally the flan is excellent--creamy and rich. So glad they're doing well. read more

Not that great. The food is okay at best. Rice was watery as well as beans. It was like the liquid at the bottom of the pot when you make beans at home. The Chili Colorado was a few pieces of meat with a ton of onions. The onions were definitely the main point of that dish, which it should have been the beef in the chili Colorado. Oh and the place kinda leans to one side. read more

El Patron - IF you order the Chili Colorado, make sure you tell them easy on the onion. Or you get a few pieces of meat and a lot of onion. - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

I thought this place was going to be dumpy and I was really impressed! They're food is amazing, the salsa is fresh and full of tomato, cilantro, onion and VERY fresh! I usually don't like fajitas but for some odd reason ordered them here and it was REALLY good - they add all kinds of other vegetables to it making it different and so much better. The service is great and friendly and fairly quick! I like the feel of the inside, warm, clean and cozy. This is my new favorite place on my block! read more

I love El Patron. It's the restaurant where everybody knows your name. It's affordable, the food is mostly good and everyone is always, always friendly. I really like their ceviche tostadas. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you can find better ceviche, but you'll have to drive around or pay more. Here, $4 bucks is all it takes. I love mole enchiladas. It's not on the menu, but I know that they will make some for me. The restaurant itself is a little small but they've managed to put in as much seating as possible without it feeling crammed. Can you find better tasting Mexican food elsewhere? Yes, of course. But when I eat out at El Patron, I feel like I've gone to a decent sit down restaurant that's nearby that is also not expensive but with mostly good food and friendly service. I know that I will probably bump into somebody I know from church or around town and it makes it that much better. read more

Yikes... Went for the taco salad...it's so-so... Also, had the crazy sampler plate...hmmm...I'm torn. It was good but I ended up feeling bloated till the next day. Maybe they shoudl change their brand of salt? I have a feeling they are using Morton's table salt. That stuff is poison. If they changed the salt...I'll try out some other dishes...if not...then PEACE OUT! read more

Great place. Kind and courteous staff, delicious food, and their salsa can't be beat. Be prepared for huge portions!

I really wanted to like this place because it's in my neighbourhood and convenient... I've had excellent, authentic and average, Mexican food (in LA and in Mexico) and this place does not meet any of these benchmarks. Food is not good (unless you don't know good Mexican food), drinks are not good and it has no ambience. Won't be coming again... even if I can walk over from my home. Wish they would improve it... read more

This is a charming and tiny Mexican restaurant. Growing up in OC we are inundated with amazingly delicious Mexican food, so it's hard to blow me away. And here, I am not. But, the food is hearty, flavorful, decent - and the price is right. I agree with the other reviewer to beware when an ethnic restaurant lacks customers of its own ethnicity - but with that said, the food is not disappointing. The service is stellar, and the decor and atmosphere are comfortable - nicer than just a regular Mexican 'diner' atmosphere. Their margaritas are made from agave wine, but I was totally impressed. Good flavor, and not weak by any measure. It's not going to beat homemade or El Cholo, but once again, for the price, you are going to be very satisfied. A fabulous place to bring that date who you dig, but don't wanna break the bank on ;) read more

Once of my faves! There are lot of good things on the menu. If you are Vegan or vegetarian, they can work with what is on their regular menu and change it up for you. They are always super friendly and the service is super quick! The are only a few drawbacks but easy to navigate around. One: They are not open very late. Two: The place is not very large (there may be 10 tables max?). Three: You will likely encounter a bit of a wait if you arrive after 7pm. Four: Forget what I just said and go anyway. This location is great for those that have been up in the mountains hiking for the day and need to rest and enjoy a nice hot meal or a nice drink. This place just has it's own magic that makes it what it is. Check it out! read more

I'm going to give 5 stars, because I can't give 4 1/2 stars... But seeing as the service would get 6 stars, it pushed the average up!! ;-) So 5 stars it is... El Patron is a great example of what this space really needed, Consistency! The last three businesses that opened in this very unique space in Altadena (Lake Ave and Altadena Dr.) Closed because they lacked consistency. What do I mean by consistency? First: El Patron is open from 9am to 9pm every day. Second: Service is warm, welcome, friendly and prompt. Third: It is always clean. Always! Fourth: The food is well prepared and delivered at the same time for everyone, almost every time (I've only had one time when one plate at our 5 top was delayed). The wings place there prior... was never open, to my knowledge (I never ate there and don't know anyone who did). The sandwich place was open when they felt like it; when I visited, it seemed I was a bother to them. The family restaurant prior may have been more friendly (warm? not so much) but the value for dollar was just not realistic (over priced). El Patron is by far worth a visit. The line of people standing on the sidewalk waiting for a table should be your first indicator. And that line is there almost every day I drive by on my way home from work. They serve good food at a more than fair price. In fact, with the $1 street tacos (which I highly recommend) you can eat on the cheap and be very well fed. As I stated above, I recommend the Street tacos (I think they're simply listed as "small tacos." They are the kind you find at any of the fancy taco trucks around LA. El Patron's are among the best I've had off any truck; and the best I've had at any restaurant. I've had one of each, Chicken, Beef, Pork, brazed Pork and Lengua. I prefer the pork (Carnitas) with everything; then I add their different sauces. :-) I've had a number of items there; even had the Huevous Ranchero this weekend. It was among the best I've ever had. My wife gets a different combination plate each time and raves about her plate. My three year old loves his kids quesadilla plate (without beans; I can't seem to get the kid to try a vegetable or legume). So why would I have knocked 1/2 a star off? It's just a minor point but one as a self proclaimed foodie I can not over look it. The chef or the server must serve a clean plate. I understand plating the beans means it's likely going to splash the rim of the plate; but please wipe it down before serving, same with the sauce for the enchiladas or burritos. Presentation counts in this business, we eat with our eyes first. 5 to 10 seconds to wipe the rim of a plate won't slow you down. And I can not ignore some of the negative reviews. Because I feel they are misguided or in one case, just down right stupid. Thus I am compelled to comment... "randy d." Bland!! Someone needs to get his taste buds serviced? I've not had a bland dish yet. But I'll keep trying, doubt I'll find one; but I'll tell you if I do. "l. b." just don't know what to say, everyone has an off night. give'em a second chance; the line down the sidewalk is usually a good indication of a great restaurant. "Paul M." Really? No Mexicans eating in a place that seats 25 or less and it's time to leave?? The neighborhood's demographic is white, black and Armenian. You're characterization seems a bit racist if you ask me! I guess in your world, Rick Bayless, not being a real Mexican, doesn't really know how to cook Mexican food. Give me a break! (Vegetarians annoy me.) read more

Don't believe any bad reviews here. El Patron is a cozy, neighborhood Mexican restaurant with ver good food. I like the wet burrito, usually ground beef. My son likes the regular burrito with chicken. My wife likes the big taco salad with yummy veggies. We also like the guacamole and warm chips. Because it's small, there is sometimes a wait, but that's okay. They decorate for Halloween and Christmas time. The staff sings to you on your birthday, and will bring you churros or flan. read more

Since I recently moved to Altadena I was relying on yelp reviews to help me find great local dining spots. This wasn't it. Not sure why my experience was sooooo different than other yelppers, but I found very little to get excited about. First, there's no parking. Strike one. Second, it's so small (maybe 15 tables) that there's no where to wait for a seat. It was cold outside so I had to stand next to a table and watch people try and enjoy their meal. Third, the food was average at best. Certainly not worth the no parking, awkward wait time/lack of seating. Won't make the same mistake twice. Pass-adena on this place. read more

All over social media one day i saw people posting pics of taco tuesday. so i craved a taco on a tuesday. There was not a taco tuesday deal to be found. but this place was local enough and new so we decided to give it a try. seems like everyone there were regulars. The tacos were okay. service was great. fish taco was sup par. ( around this time, i've been hunting down the best fish tacos in pasadena for the past month) with so many other options in the area, i don't see myself going back. read more