"Daddy, can we please go to Flame Broiler? We haven't been there in a while, and it's our favorite restaurant!" ... said my kids never. But in a pinch, when we "just had burgers last night" and "I don't want to wait for a pizza," and "I thought Max's shoes were in the car," and "we have to be at swimming/gymnastics/piano lessons in 30 minutes," ... Flame Broiler is simple, fast, and reasonably healthy. A simple menu consisting of staples like rice, steamed veggies, and proteins (beef, chicken, or tofu) round out the menu. This simplicity makes ordering fast and simple, especially for finicky kiddos who would just as soon eat a Cliff bar and a fruit roll up for dinner. Self serve fountain drinks, featuring various Vitamin Water concoctions and iced tea mitigate the somewhat dry quality of the fare. A small self-service island features "Magic Sauce" (salty teriyaki-like goodness) two kinds of hot sauce, and plastic ware. Wooden chopsticks are available for the fast food purist. I've never had my socks rolled down here in amazement, nor have I had a bad experience-- just a decent, relatively cheap 'n' quick place to hit 3/4 of the food groups, washed down with Sprite. One note: parking here can be tragically frustrating. Irrational one-way traffic paths merge in front of the anchor tenant supermarket, and the clinically-lazy will wait for several minutes in front of you with their turn signal on to obtain a parking spot that is three stalls closer than a vacant one just beyond your reach. Best bet: if you're marginally ambulatory, park a little west on Colorado and walk one minute. Really, it's worth it. And considering the sodium content of the sauces, you best get a few extra steps in, Penelope. read more

I am SO upset. I have always gone to flame broiler and been a loyal patron. I ordered two chicken bowls for pickup through yelp. Two minutes later, I called the restaurant to have the order canceled due to something that happened out of my control and I could no longer pick up the order. They told me I couldn't cancel the order as it was already made and charged my card. How do you make two bowls within two minutes when the quoted wait time is fifteen to twenty minutes? They were so rude and unwilling to help. The food was horrible. It was flavorless, dry, and not consistent with other flame broilers. Even my sister said the food smelled weird when I gave it to her. I gave the food to my dog. Plus they have pictures of maggots of their food on yelp that other people have caught in the food. Check it out. Won't be back. read more

Do your self a favor just order the brown rice and save the expense on the protein. Ordered a combo plate , beef/chicken. The beef was as tough as Jersey, not the good type either, the chicken was disgusting! Cmon guys, fast food does not mean you have to feed us dog food. Sorry, you should be ashamed of yourselves. read more

Not the best experience or service. Been here several times and this was a first. Found several pieces of chicken in my tofu/broccoli only, bowl. I'm vegetarian, so not cool read more

Flame Broiler - Chicken in my tofu/broccoli only bowl. I'm vegetarian, so not cool - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

The best. Very filling and tasty. Don't forget the hot sauce and magic sauce. Super friendly staff. Highly recommend coming here. The best hands down. Let's gooooo read more

I've been to several other Flame Broilers around LA and this one is, by far, the best. Their ingredients seem fresher, the place is always super clean, and the customer service is great. I always see the manager in there helping customers, cleaning, and restocking everything. It seems like he really cares. I love coming here after a workout. I usually get a brown rice bowl with chicken, steak, veggies and avocado. The avocado is extra but it adds a really nice flavor and texture to the bowl. Add some hot sauce and some magic sauce to your liking and it's a perfect sized meal read more

Flame Broiler - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

Flame Broiler is quite similar to B'Man's Teriyaki but has a shorter menu. Both are popular fast food places that specialize in affordable teriyaki bowls that include a mini size option with brown or white rice with no extra charge for brown rice. Flame Broiler adds green onions to your teriyaki bowl while B-Man's adds Tsukemono cabbage. Flame Broiler has a shorter menu (chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, ribs) and higher prices. * Mini beef bowl ($4.45): The beef was in small strips and was too chewy, almost like beef jerky, but I liked the marinade (slightly sweet). * Mini chicken bowl ($4.25): The skinless, boneless chicken pieces had a nice grilled flavor and a lightly sweetened marinade. I liked how the teriyaki bowls didn't come covered with teriyaki sauce (the sauce is served on the side). The teriyaki sauce they had was too salty. Yoshinoya has better sauces and better tasting beef, but their veggies are horrible. The place was clean and had the look of a fast food restaurant. The condiment station offers Magic Sauce (teriyaki), Hot sauce (tasted like Louisiana hot sauce) and Magic dressing. I wish they offered pickled ginger. read more

Flame Broiler - Chicken & beef mini bowls - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

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So I found out today that Flame Broiler isn't corporate, but a franchise operation. This one participates in the Five Star program, so you get frequent flyer points. 10 points will get you a free bowl, but it's only for this location. This is one of the larger Flame Broilers. It even has outdoor seating. It's always clean. It has four different sauces. The restroom is always clean and service is spot on. I always see a lot of fire fighters and Pasadena PD at this location. It's fast service. read more

I've had my share of Flame Broiler since my first experience in Costa Mesa. Very few options, easy to call-in an order, they don't lie in their marketing, and it's a healthy affordable meal. Try the veggie w/onions and brown rice! Filling and guilt-free. read more

very friendly and amazing staff. felt extremely welcome and had a wonderful experience ordering and enjoying my food.

I came here to use a Living Social deal I got for this place. Pretty worth it! The mini bowls are about $5, regular bowls are about $7 and plates (same amt of food as the bowls, in my opinion) are about $8. It was only worth it because of the Living Social deal, otherwise I would not come on my own too often. I first called to check to see when I could use it (Living Social has this unwritten rule that deals can be used one day after the deal expires). The greeting I got was "Hello." as if it was a wrong number.. so I had to ask "Is this Flame Broiler?" -___- very awkward. The employees here are generally nice, with a few weird ones.. There was one guy who was standing in the kitchen, chewing something, and poking his head out, watching the restaurant a hawk. very weird.. Anyway, this is like Yoshinoya but better because of its grilled meats. We got The Works bowl and a Rib Plate, which were both amazing in flavor and quality. The veggies were just cheap cabbage salad, which tasted waxy. I did like the Magic Sauce and Magic Dressing, but the Red Sauce was poor in quality. Good food. Good deal! Flame Broiler should do this promo again! read more

Kids love this place and mom too. Healthy, simple, fast and good price. Would like the store to have been a bit cleaner but we take out so no problem for us read more

Friendly staff but mediocre food. The white meat chicken was pretty tough. The Magic Sauce was a game changer and the only reason I finished the entire bowl- ask for extra sauce though because I was only given one small container. The rest of the bowl is pretty bland. Veggies with rice is mostly just rice without much seasoning. If I had more sauce maybe it would have been better. read more

Flame Broiler is a pretty decent place to grab a quick lunch or dinner. I usually get their Half Chicken and Half Beef Bowls topped with green onions on brown rice. The Chicken and Beef are both lightly flavored and make for a healthy meal (with the brown rice of course). It isn't a great place if you are craving for vegetables. Vegetables are minimal. But there are bowls and plates that offer some vegetables on the side. I just feel like whenever I eat here, I don't get my fix of vegetables even with the combo plates--portions are fair and everything is pretty filling. Don't forget to get some extra containers of their secret sauce. Drizzle it on top of everything. Without the sauce, the food may taste a bit bland. So remember to sauce it up! read more

Flame Broiler - Half and half - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

Healthy Tasty Cheap Quick What else do you need? Oh I know.... Red Sauce!!! Trust me. read more

YUM. Went for the first time yesterday with boyfraan. There's bowls, the regular bowl, or the plate (which comes with salad and an orange..lol and a bigger portion obvs.) We ordered the beef and chicken combo, but ol boy didn't understand and only gave us chicken -__- We got some extra green onion! You also have a choice between white or brown rice, which I really liked. They have sides for you to take home, or bring with you to the table. There's their hot sauce, their own version of teriyaki sauce, their salad dressing, and Sriracha! BOMB. I got me some sriracha and salad dressing and went on to eat the yummy-ness. It was a good portion of food. I was super full, and it was pretty delicious! The salad is all cabbage, but with their dressing it works together very nicely. Done by the end of the meal. Zzzz read more

Flame Broiler - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

Fresh healthy food. Charbroiled chicken, crispy fresh broccoli, great tasting brown rice. A healthy option any order you get. Friendly staff and cooks. Everyone here is really nice. Always clean and kept up. Love to grab a quick bite at this specific location :) read more

Super tasty healthy food! The service at this location is always great! I definitely recommend eating here.

Food is always fresh and fast! Great customer service. A good go -to, plenty of parking, and great prices!

Quick lunch or dinner option. Just rice and your choice of chicken or beef. Forget about veggies here although they do serve some here with the bowls but we're talking an iota of frozen veggie mix. Mini bowls ($4.45) that offer half and half options for chicken and beef - yes please. White meat costs additional $1. Parking: private lot read more

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My standby for relatively healthy yet tasty food. I'm a sampler so i usually get a works bowl/plate and side rib. The standout is the usually juicy rib (although it was dry today) and decent chicken. The beef is always an overcooked letdown, not sure why I keep ordering it. For me, the red hot sauce makes the meal. Always has the perfect kick. Today, I noticed the relatively new green "hot hot" sauce (green chiles, jalapeño, vinegar, garlic). It was overall a letdown. Actually seemed less hot and flavorful. That being said, more choices is always good. read more

Flame Broiler - Short rib. Half red hot sauce (delicious!) and half green hot hot sauce (boring) - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

They used to give more chicken and bigger pieces. I ask for no veggies and they skimp on the protein. Very disappointed. This location has been going down hill. read more

Flame Broiler - White Meat Chicken Bowl. I'd expect more for my money. Considering 2 bowls came out to be more than $16 - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This is my local flame broiler. It's never very crowded which is nice. However, the parking in this strip mall is horrible.

Delicious, reasonably priced, great service in a clean and cool setting. This is close to where I live but this is my first time here. I was planning to have poke at a nearby place that is also very good but--this costs less and gives me the same amount of protein. I ordered a small with half brown rice and half veggies, with tofu as my protein. You sauce it yourself with various sauces at dispensers. Very easy to get only as much as you need. I tried "magic" which is like teriyaki, and the first-level heat of hot sauce. Perfect! The brown rice is a very high quality. Veggies are simple but fresh--cabbage, carrots and broccoli. A good meal, nice people, this would work for lunch or dinner. read more

Great customer service! I was served with a chicken bowl with what I thought had very little chicken, I approached them and asked if that was their normal amount and they said it is as they scale it... the manager however offered to add more chicken to satisfy a customer and that's A plus in my book! Great job Pasadena branch, you did not fail me. Keep up the good service! read more

Flame Broiler - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

No frills, fast and healthy food. Like other Flame Broilers pretty much. Parking is easy in a strip mall. This location has been pretty fast every time I order. My go to has been getting a mini bowl and an extra side of chicken for all them gainz lol. It's probably not the tastiest or most exciting food but it's good if you're on the go and just want something quick and healthy. Happy Holidays everyone! Cheers! read more

Flame Broiler - Regular chicken bowl - Fast Food Near Me - Pasadena, California

Fast, convenient and healthy. I always to go chicken bowl with easy brown rice and just cabbage and green onions. Then I add gif sauce, jalapeños (because I like spicy) and add light drizzle of their magic sauce (teriyaki) if it's dry. read more

Ordered thru Postmates extremely expensive to get two bowls delivered only for the entire bowl not to be cooked correctly had to throw both bowls away very disappointed read more

Fast good food for lunch. Rice, veggies and meat. Better than a burger joint and almost the same amount of time and it's better for you. read more

All I have to say is the short rib plate is fire. Flame broiler is like a healthier version of yoshinoya.

One of my favorite go to chicken teriyaki spots. Good quality for the price, shoutout to Francis! Fast friendly service, thank you!!

I have been coming here for years and have always been friendly and love the food and service. Last night I picked up some food for myself and my 2 daughters. The staff seemed nice but something seemed a bit off when I saw 3 men in the kitchen preparing my food and smiling at me, I didn't pay much attentions to it because I've been at work since 5 am and I was too tired. When I got home I was enjoying my food (as usual) until I got towards the bottom when I started crunching on some glass like type of something. Today while at work I started coughing uncontrollably and it feels as if I still have glass or whatever that crunchy stuff was. I can not confirm if the 3 men put something in my food on purpose, I can not confirm if it was a hate crime, at this point I don't know what to think. I'm also afraid for my children because my 8 year old daughter had her own serving, I'm afraid that the same stuff was in her food as well. She loves their food (ans she is a very picky eater) I will NEVER eat there again. It is a crying shame when you have to be afraid to eat out in public places because you are afraid that someone could be having a bad day and take it out on you. That is why I am ALWAYS nice and smile at everyone because by you speaking you can bring so much joy to a person just by saying hello. Besides you NEVER want to upset the person that is preparing your food. I don't want a refund, free food or a life time of unlimited free drinks. I just want people to beware and cautious when you are eating here. This is my first yelp review and I am hoping that it will be my last. read more

My favorite fast food option. It's fast, convenient, and healthyish? I like their options for food and always opt for the chicken and veggies on brown rice. I don't know what they do to cabbage, but I like it. And their carrots, pretty darn tasty as well. Their magic sauce is a little on the sweet side, so I drizzle lightly, but for $8.03, this is a darn good deal. read more

I got the regular sized chicken bowl with white meat, which was way too expensive. Additionally, they didn't have a knife. The food was good, but not great. read more

I have been a regular here on and off for the last 4 years. They take care of me here and I have never had a bad experience. Come here right after the gym. Whether buying to go or dinning in, Ive always had a great experience. read more

I had the medium half-and-half bowl (half chicken, half beef). I wanted a veggie and rice base, but they only gave me rice, so I asked them for some veggies on the side, and I got some, so that was all to the good. Their "magic sauce" is some sort of teriyaki, and it is very good. I didn't try the hot sauces; wasn't up for that tonight All in all, good value for the money. read more

A quick, inexpensive relatively healthy option for lunch. I have been here several times and the place is consistently good. Service is quick and the food is tasty. Not crazy gourmet tasty, but certainly always flavorful and made to order. I usually get the chicken and veggie bowl which I generally add their "magic sauce" (teriyaki) and some hot sauce as well. I also opt for the brown rice and I get the green onions which is also optional. Less than $7.00 (no drink) and on my way back to work with a hot lunch in less than 10 minutes. read more

Usually even if someone I know has told me they didnt care for a place, i like to still try it out, to give it a fair shot... especially since, from the outside, this place seems so enticing... you can smell the broilers pumping from outside, and pictures show you tasty looking grub that even has little ads posting it "healthy"... SO, i tried it out... and yup... should have listened to the opinions I heard against this place.. food doesn't look anything like the pictures.. and it was so greasy, i don't know HOW they could claim it is "healthy??"... plus, the chicken had lots of fat chunks in it.. (not appetizing to get a super greasy, chewy, inedible part in your mouth..) sorry flame broiler... never again.. read more

I've eaten Flame Broiler a few times now, with each time hoping it would taste better than the last. Still no luck. The chicken is consistently dry and tough, which is a major letdown given both the small portion and the higher than average prices. The veggies on my latest bowl were pretty undercooked and difficult to chew. There are honestly better options for teriyaki bowls around town (see B-man's, Mako Bowl). It might be the appeal of a healthier option that resonates with people that regular here. But then again, Flame Broiler is not substantially more healthy than the competition. read more

Love this spot! Food is always fresh. Staff friendly. My go to spot for healthy fast food. My kids love the organic tofu and the magic sauce. read more