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    Javiers

    3.0 (478 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

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    JAVIERS ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Javiers

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    Chicken enchiladas
    Jasmine Z.

    We went on a Thursday evening for a friend's birthday and upon arrival, everybody was like oh the food does not taste good here it's more for the aesthetic. Once our party was there, we were seated in a very nice private room. The waiter came and took our drink order after we had been seated for 20 to 25 minutes. The drinks took another 20 minutes to get to us and then another 15 minutes later they took our food order. Everything was overpriced. I ordered chicken enchiladas and it was $40 for two enchiladas with no side and the enchiladas taste store-bought. They never came back to ask if we wanted another cocktail, they never came back to check in on how our food was tasting or if anybody needed anything else. It was a very pretty place but the service and the food was absolutely not worth it.

    Salmon salad
    Jet R.

    I've been to practically every Javier's restaurant, and they never disappoint! The staff, vibe, decor, food, and music are always amazing. I usually order the Mariscos Trio Enchiladas, but I wanted to try something new this time, so I decided to go with the Salmon Salad and OMG it was absolutely delicious! The salmon was cooked to perfection. Definitely adding this to my list of favorites! Can't wait to come back!

    Menu
    Gohar S.

    **Correction, the managers name was Oscar This is an edit to my previous review which was originally 5 star and remains.

    lobster enchilada
    Delfin T.

    Wasn't sure if I wanted to try this place coz we weren't impressed with the food at their Vegas location. Glad we gave it a try. Food was excellent, our server was fantastic... and the vibe of the restaurant is phenomenal. I had the lobster enchilada... with big chunks of lobster. Would definitely order it again on my next visit. My friends also enjoyed their orders. They even made special vegetarian sauce for my friend's vegetable enchilada.

    Shrimp & steak fajitas
    Alisa K.

    This place is beautiful. It is hard to find because it's in an alley, and you need to park in nearby structures. However, the space itself is huge and very pretty. The food was also delicious and there are options for everyone. We did have to wait a bit, which was annoying. Our reservations were at 7:30. We got seated at 8, and the food came out closer to 9. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves.

    Tomahawk Pork Chop
    Nick C.

    Friends have been talking about Javier's. Finally got to experience what is all the talk about. Javier's Pasadena is located in a alley of food places. It's tucked away quite nicely. First off staff greeting and interior is really nice. I feel like it's a little get away from the hectic days. We had a group of 7 with reservations. Reservations are highly recommended. Chips n Salsa are great almost addictive. This was probably the highlight of the experience this and the atmosphere within. I'll get right to business. The menu isn't really reaching for anything outside the norm. I went with the aguachile verde which I split and the tomahawk pork chop. The aguachile was great. Not life changing but on point. Great amount too. Pork Chop was just a tad bit overcooked. Well seasoned. Plain n simple. This is a safe bet for a good meal. Veggies tasted good and the potato puree was light and flavorful. I'd say worth the $55. Service was a bit slow but not too bad. We had a large table. The prices are pretty high for what you get but there are some decent meals there. On a side note a friend got a "mariscos quesadilla". I think they had mistakenly got it or misread the option. Not a single person had made an attempt at this quesadilla. No one knows what was in it either. All we knew was that it smelled like the ocean. It was not pleasant at all. I believe we asked for the item to be removed but it wasnt. Avoid this menu item. You've been warned. PS - As a michelada aficionado the ones at Javier's Pasadena are a 2.5 out of 5. Very basic.

    Steak Picado
    Jane K.

    I came here on a Saturday right when they opened 11:30 am as my friend and I were walking around Pasadena trying to figure out where to eat. My friend was visiting and had never been before, so we decided to give it a go As soon as we walked in, I was completely mesmerized. The decor is absolutely stunning and beautifully done. I've been to the Irvine and Vegas locations, and honestly, I think this one tops both of them. The ambiance, the lighting and big white booths alone makes you want to stay awhile. What made our experience even better was our server, Eber. He was so passionate and knowledgeable about the menu and genuinely kind throughout our meal. We really appreciated the little details, the conversation, and how attentive he was without ever feeling overbearing. My friend ordered the steak picado, where you get to build your own tacos, and I ordered the fish of the day, which happened to be the sea bass. It was a little more buttery than I personally prefer, but I still enjoyed it. It came with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes, which made for a really satisfying plate. TBH I always get the trio enchiladas and I'll continue getting that from now on haha. But it's okay to try new things! My friend's steak was cooked perfectly, juicy, flavorful, and incredibly filling. The Mexican rice was yummy!! It was huge portions we were both so full. We also shared the guacamole, enjoyed some wine, and Eber had a cucumber mocktail made for my friend that was really refreshing and delicious. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. Between the beautiful space, great food, and exceptional service, this location really stood out to me. I'll definitely be back.

    Menu
    Christy R.

    Javier's in Pasadena is very well decorated, it's esthetically minimalistic. Looks clean with an open floor plan. The drinks are always beautiful and delicious. We love their salsa and Guacamole. This time we ordered the 3 taco plate and steak picado plate. Food is good, but we keep going back for the drinks. Didn't take a picture of everything but their apps and drinks are more than enough.

    Ryan S.

    I visited the Pasadena location of Javier's on 06/03/2026 at 5pm with a party of two. This is my first visit to this restaurant. I am a bit stunned about the amount of negative reviews. I tend to believe that the more "upscale" a restaurant tends to swing, the more critical you tend to be of the reviews. I don't necessarily think it is fair to judge a place on criteria you wouldn't judge a more economical restaurant on. With that said, I give my experience 5 stars. First off, you enter and the space is just absolutely stunning. The design, aesthetic, beauty, live plants, open windows, the two bars. Everything was amazing and beautiful. When we came early at 5pm, the restaurant was pretty empty; however, by the time we left at 7:15pm, it was pretty darn full, and that should speak volumes for a Wednesday night. Our server for the evening was Ivan. Ivan was very efficient, pleasant, attentive and was around when we needed him to be. They do bring out complimentary chips and salsa. Our table shared an order of the Guacamole. The guacamole was delicious, pure and simple. It was well worth the money spent. Our table also shared the Ensalada De Asada. It was some delicious greens with skirt steak, avocado, cucumber, onions, tomatoes, gorgonzola and an absolutely fabulous honey mustard vinaigrette. For my entree, I had the Enchilada's De Camaron, or shrimp enchiladas. It was so yummy. They were two large enchilada's with a delicious butter sauce, a generous amount of shrimp and cheese with some sour cream or crema on top. So yummy. For dessert, we shared an order of the churros, which was equally delicious. Overall, we had an excellent experience. May I recommend two things that could have been improved upon and one suggestion for the future. #1 - It took several attempts to get silverware for our table. I think this should have already been on the table, or given by the host upon being seated. #2 - Please take care of water refills. Water was not refilled unless we specifically asked. And my one suggestion is to consider a green salsa as well with the complimentary chips and salsa. Overall, this was an excellent visit and I would most certainly visit again in the future.

    Shrimp Ceviche
    James W.

    We went to Javier's for dinner on a Thursday and it reinforces the saying that Thursdays are Fridays in LA. It was a full house of people drinking and dining. The food was decent but you go here for the atmosphere and vibe. The interior design and furnishings are are awesome. It has a very lounge feel more than a restaurant. Louder music and alot of energy. It's not the spot for a relaxing dining experience, atleast on the weekend. Service was attentive and polite but not a lot of interaction with the staff mostly due to noise and how packed it was. All the mixed drinks were very very good. We went here for a birthday dinner before a fun night out and Javier's is that type of place. Come in for a fun time for drinks and a light bite. It's pretty pricey so drinks and a full meal can add up quick. Guacamole 2/5. Plain run of the mill guacamole. Skip and get it at any other Mexican spot. Trio of enchiladas Del Mar. 5/5. Must try in my opinion. Contents and sauces were great. Carne Tampiquena. Overall 3/5(mostly because the enchilada.) New York steak. 2/5. Way undercooked for the med rare we ordered and too rare for my wife to eat. I thought it was a good cut and could be better if prepared as requested. Chicken taquito 2/5. Good flavor but very dry. Dungeness crab enchilada 5/5, refried beans 4/5. Ceviche Shrimp 5/5. Great starter.

    Alice Q.

    Saw live music was going to be here outdoors 7pm (?) so cane with zero expectations....ordered beer ($10) then another drink ($21) at the Javier's drink bar cart was a nice note out under the Pasadena warm breeze n sky!

    Nanc E.

    Javier's is a great place to check out, whether you are celebrating something, or want something on the more upscale level. This is just a fancy Mexican restaurant, more than anything. For this restaurant to be able to accommodate the party of 12 pretty well, I think Daniel did a phenomenal job with his service, making sure that everyone is taken care of, and everything came out on time, and as expected. Even though this restaurant is very big and accommodate a lot of different parties, I think it's pretty good overall. It does follow its reputation pretty well. The drinks were phenomenal. The food options, is very seasonal, so whatever you see on Yelp, may not be there a couple of months later. I ordered the seafood pasta with orange sauce, it was pretty good, but $48 for a pasta dish is crazy, but it is for the ambience of the restaurant.

    birthday gurl, guava cake and tres leches
    Ashley D.

    Food doesn't match the prices but the vibes are always great. The drinks are always strong n good though! The food in my opinion is always mid but that's because I've had some really great Mexican food for half of the price. The ambiance is really nice and upscale and it's great lace to celebrate someone or just have drinks

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    Javiers Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Javiers

    What about parking what is parking like?

    Garage parking, street parking, valet parking available

    Do they have a kids menu?

    No... honestly, this place isn't kid friendly. The vibe is loud music and grown folk!

    Where is there any parking?

    There is Valet parking for $25.00, garage, and street parking near by

    Gratuity mandatory? If yes, what is it?

    They did not include gratuity we were 4 people

    Is it worth the price in 2026?

    Prices are comparable to other high end establishments. The quality of food and service are there and worth it if such an experience is in your budget.

    Do they have a happy hour?

    No. Not offered

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    Mercado - Pasadena

    Mercado - Pasadena

    4.1
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    My wife and I went out for our anniversary tonight since we got someone to watch the kids. We…read morechose this place in Pasadena where my wife has gone before and thought I would really like it. Food review will be in the pictures. We shared two large plates and one appetizer. Overall, really good. The service was great. Omar, our server, was really informative about the food and the portions. Glen(assuming owner/manager), came over to talk to us and wished us a happy anniversary. We gave him our history about how my wife and I met at work and how we used to work down street many years ago. So it was nice to come back to the area. The interior decor and mood was perfect. Not to crowded on a Tuesday but still enough people.

    Very disappointing experience at this location. Three moms met for lunch with a newborn, my…read more5-month-old, and a 4-year-old. I had been raving to my friends about the food and amazing service at the Manhattan Beach location, so I was excited for them to try it. We were initially told our best option was outside, despite it being nearly 100 degrees. When I asked to sit inside, the manager focused more on the obstacles than finding a solution. We were eventually offered two separate tables, which we accepted just so we could stay. Our server was slow and not particularly friendly, and the service overall was mediocre. The food was delicious, but unfortunately the experience and hospitality were nowhere near what I've experienced in Manhattan Beach. Very disappointing, especially after recommending it so highly.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Ceviche Tropical was the non spicy version of Cerviche green.   It was a bit salty for our taste.
    Ceviche Tropical was the non spicy version of Cerviche green. It was a bit salty for our taste.
    Camarones al Ajillo: Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Rice and Ciabtta

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    Camarones al Ajillo: Garlic Butter Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Rice and Ciabtta
    Anayas

    Anayas

    4.1
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    This Mexican restaurant is off E Colorado Blvd…read more My family decided to eat here, as we entered I was blown away with the authentic Mexican decorations, this restaurant is huge! It's super clean & their restrooms, highly organized, and attention to details. This restaurant is very friendly, war, chic, classy, and elegant! We were first greeted by Giovanny M. He took us to our table and gave us our menu, he ask if we had any questions . Which we did and he answered them all beautifully! Anayas has breakfast, Ensaladas "Salads" , appetizers,Sopes, Taco plates, Los Dorados, Flatus, Taquitos, Quesadillas, Burritos, enchiladas, chefs specials, Platots especiales, dulces alegrais "Desserts ",sides, drinks, tequila, premium tequila, mezcal, whiskey, gins, vodka, rums, cognac, dessert cocktails, white wine & rose, reds, sparkling, sweets, drag beer, Mexican beer, soft drinks, agua frescas. Before we order Giovanny gave us Chips and green salad, delicious! We ordered : pollo quesadillas 2 salmon negro, 1 pollo negro, 2 cokes, 2 ice teas, and 1 Doz XX Lager. Everything was super delicious, mouthwatering! Giovanny was so very sweet always making sure if we need anything & would go the extra Mile on getting us our refills on our drinks without asking! Their price points are spot on especially for the quality & quantity of food you get! Giovanny M. Was so super sweet, kind , caring, he is very knowledgeable, very genuine, super sincere & down to earth! Giovanny M. Has this super positive energy about himself that really radiates! He is your rarest Diamond! His shine can never fade! Please treasure him greatly!! I would love to Thank Giovanny M. For terrific, fantastic and memorable visit! I would also like to thank the Manger for also helping too! Thank you so much Anayas for our wonderful visit ! I'll tell all my Family & Friends to visit here !

    I came here for lunch and had a really nice experience. The restaurant is located off Colorado…read moreBoulevard, and when I arrived around lunchtime, it wasn't busy at all. There was plenty of seating. Our server was very nice and attentive. I didn't catch his name, but he was constantly refilling our waters and making sure we had everything we needed, including chips, napkins, and anything else we asked for. My friend ordered the chicken mole enchiladas, and I ordered the chicken fajitas. The fajitas were super flavorful and delicious. I also really enjoyed the rice, although I wasn't a big fan of the beans. The chips and salsa were really good as well. The one thing I found a little odd was that they didn't have a red salsa or something like pico de gallo to have with the chips. That was a little disappointing. Overall, though, this was a solid experience. I'd give it 4 stars. I would definitely come back and would recommend giving this place a try!

    Photos
    Casamigos special! Flights and skinny margaritas!
    Casamigos special! Flights and skinny margaritas!
    Come Celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Live music and cocktails! Bring your friends and family for a day of celebration to make your day!
    Come Celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Live music and cocktails! Bring your friends and family for a day of celebration to make your day!
    Valentines at ANAYAS! Come by and enjoy a special night with a new menu and drinks!

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    Valentines at ANAYAS! Come by and enjoy a special night with a new menu and drinks!
    Cabrera's Mexican Cuisine

    Cabrera's Mexican Cuisine

    4.0
    (752 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$
    Speaks Spanish
    Minority-owned & operated

    We have been coming to Cabrera's for a number of years. I was surprised to recently find I had…read morenever posted a review. We discovered Cabrera's during the almost 2 year time span when our then go-to for Mexican, La Fiesta Grande in So. Pasadena, closed and their new location on Glenarm/Marengo opened. We tried a multitude of Pasadena places, including Mijares, Casa del Rey, Margaritas and El Torito (gringo!). Cabrera's was our fave, with a better location for us vs. La Fiesta. Their menu extended beyond the "ordinary", and I liked their plating/presentation. A slice of cucumber or orange adds a lot to a mound of shredded lettuce garnish. Mind you, our family fave for +40 years is still El Tepeyac in Boyle Heights, but that's quite a shlep. Cabrera's has also been around awhile (40 years) and now has 3 locations--Arcadia (the original), Pasadena and Duarte. All are owned/co-owned by 2 families, one named Cabrera. The Pasadena location is near the corner of Lake and Orange Grove, next to popular breakfast spot The Reyn, with which it shares a rear parking lot. All locations have a full bar. I have ordered off the regular menu, breakfast menu and Happy Hour bar menu. The breakfast menu is mostly offered on weekends when they open at 10 am, but you can ask for it weekdays at 11 am opening. My fave dish is the chilaquiles. As stated before, their all-day menu has some unique items, but I stick with the more gringo choices. Their chile rellenos used to be quite large, with the poblano chile clearly visible. They're a bit smaller and more generic now, but still fine. We order it as a 2 or 3-item combo or a la carte. Note their complimentary chips and salsa comes with 2 salsas, one red and one dark green (smoky and quite spicy). Lately we have been coming here for their Tuesday or Wednesday specials. Tuesdays is of course Taco Tuesday, and I love their crispy beef tacos. They have a special avocado salsa on Tuesdays. Every Wednesday, a certain dish is 50% off for the entire month if you order a soft drink, a great value. The most recent specials were fish tacos and steak or chicken fajitas, both delish. As AARP members, we usually arrive at 11 am opening. Inevitably either Christian and/or Guillermo, scions of the 2 founding families, are on duty then (Christian is the Pasadena manager)--shout outs to both of them! We are very comfy and happy with our newish go-to for Mexican food.

    I've been coming to Cabrera's more often lately for lunch, especially when there's a game on like…read morethe World Cup. They have plenty of TVs, so it's a fun spot to grab a bite and watch soccer. The main reason I've been coming back is Taco Tuesday. The tacos are around $2 each, come with a decent amount of meat, and they also give you chips and salsa. They usually have carne asada, chicken, carnitas, and chorizo. I can normally eat about 4 to 5 tacos and be pretty stuffed, so I think it's a great deal and definitely worth stopping by on Tuesdays. I've had some of their other menu items before, and they were just okay. But between the Taco Tuesday special and all the TVs for watching games, I've definitely found myself coming back more often. If you're looking for a casual place to catch a soccer match or other sporting events and grab some affordable tacos, this is a solid spot.

    Photos
    Cabrera's Mexican Cuisine
    Cabrera's Mexican Cuisine
    Cabrera's Mexican Cuisine

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    El Matador Authentic Mexican Food

    El Matador Authentic Mexican Food

    4.5
    (233 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    The food was excellent and the pricing was great. The ambiance is pretty good. It's simple but very…read morehispanic, decor and clean. My chile relleno was out of this world, and i'm very picky about that. I will definitely be going back. Our service was pretty good.She was pretty busy, so I'll give her that much.But it could have been a little better, but not bad.

    hit and miss!…read more sometimes great. enchiladas on point. very good. sometimes asada on nachos is nauseating!!! order nachos with asada will be almost great sometimes. then sometimes it comes with nassty pieces of rubberery fatttt clusters!! was perfect for 3 orders straight, then i got an order that was nasty!! bunch of fat clusters, damnnnnnnn i love this place, wtf first 5 scooos of my asada pollo nachos was beef fat gross clusters that i had to remove from my mouth without throwing up. was trash gross horrific don't put fattt clusters on the nachos. thats a snack fusion that doesn't need rubbery fat attached to meet or full on fatt clusters. 22 dollars for chips beens and salsa with hit and miss asada. fatttt clusters not cool. please, i beg u, pay more attention to nachos. i was loving them till the last order saturday aug 8th was trash. i really liked the 1s b4 but damn, the 1 on saturday evening was fatyyyy on my snackyyy no bueno literally turns a good thing into trash. u must be consistent nacchhoosss. please. i had a gross experience on what i usually get. so gross, trying to get over it! please b more careful so i can remove this unfortunate review!!! fat on nachos not acceptable. we stopped ordering from don pillo because they always use nasty asada pieces and started ordering from u because asada was good. i couldn't eat the first three scoops of last asada nachos than threw it in the trash. nauseating was my last 5 bites. i hope this becomes constructive criticism because we are neighbors. best regards

    Photos
    Rice & Beans
    Rice & Beans
    Front Entrance
    Front Entrance
    El Matador Authentic Mexican Food

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    Mijares Mexican Restaurant

    Mijares Mexican Restaurant

    3.5
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Preface-Been here several times and never had a bad experience (hence 5 stars)…read more OK, I'm a West LA type of gal but this visit was because I had other business to tend to in the Pasadena area. That, coupled with the fact that I am a Hawaii resident who craves decent mexican food when in SoCal. This time, it was Mijares. It was Sunday, Weekends are their brunch days. I take a look at the brunch layout and got totally stuffed just looking at it. OK, I could eat all that so I chose the menu..... GARAGE BURRITO please with carne asada. (I saw another guest have this burrito on my previous visit so decided to give it a try. And a great decision that was. It was huge enough to share so my dining partner and I had bites and I had a third more to carry off for my later dinner. CUCUMBER MEZCAL MARGARITA was my beverage of choice. Now I am not a mezcal type of gal but decided to try it with the encouragement of our waiter. Smoked flavor cut the bite of the mezcal I think. Cucumber continued to enhance the clean flavor of the beverage (a must try if you are there) Fun Facts: Mijares is a 4 generation establishment which was originally opened by Jesucita (Grandma- 1st generation) Then came Alice (daughter of Jesucita, 2nd generation). Then came and continues to run the show is Tom (son to Alice, 3rd generation) and last but not least, is Mary Alice (niece to Tom, the generation Social Media Director for Mijares) Fun Fact 2- I found Mijares a few visits ago and had the absolute pleasure of meeting Tom and Mary Alice. Their hospitality and compassion for the Establishment kept Mijares on my mind hence, continued visits. Go there or Be Sqaure

    I was in the area and since I was super hungry and hadn't been to Mijares in over 10 years, I…read morefigured there was no time like the present. We went on a Friday late afternoon and sat outside in the patio area I had always loved. I can't put my finger on it, but there were many reasons this wasn't a 5-star experience. Maybe it was the time of day, but the ambience was just off. Yes, four stars is still good, but I really expected better. The blood orange margarita was just okay. Compared to other Mexican restaurants (and boy, have I been to plenty), the margarita was considerably smaller and weaker in terms of alcohol content, but the price didn't reflect this. When I spend $16-20 for a margarita, it's usually money well spent. The 3 tacos plate was great: chicken, carne asada, and al pastor. The carne asada burrito was also very flavorful. The House salsa was fantastic and fresh. I could have done without my very basic veggie tostada, though. Other places have grilled veggies and just a lot more flavor to their veggie tostadas. This one didn't taste like anything authentic at all. I was the slowest diner of the group, and the server asked me twice if I was finished when I still had half of my plate left. He kinda reached in to grab the plate, too, which was awkward. The third time he asked, I had like a quarter left, but I Just let him take it. It was kinda annoying. In the past when servers were going on break or leaving for the day, they've told me and I've closed out the tab. I'm not sure if this was the case, but I felt rushed although it wasn't busy outside at all (we were one of two occupied tables.) Overall, the experience fell short, and even though I'd return in the future, I'm not rushing back anytime soon.

    Photos
    Chandelier
    Chandelier
    Guacamole
    Guacamole
    Bar seating

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    Bar seating
    Cerveceria Del Pueblo

    Cerveceria Del Pueblo

    4.7
    (206 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    An amazing brewery that offers lots of options for IPAs, seltzers, ale, and non-alcoholic drinks;…read morefor those who want to hang out and vibe but don't necessarily drink alcohol! My group of friends and I went during the World Cup craziness. We had just come from another bar after the game had concluded and with an hour left before closing the hospitality was still as great as ever! I can imagine how crazy busy they might have been before we arrived but I'm glad the quality of service we received was good. I didn't know what to try and the sweet lady at the register gave me some great recommendations. I went with a seltzer and it was amazing (especially coming from another bar I wanted something light haha & no I was not driving). I will definitely be returning and with a group of friends again because the space is very nice and the vibes were great! Perfect spot for game days or an outing with some buddies. As for parking, it's located in the busy area of Pasadena and centered around a residential area expect to park far or in a parking structure; that means walking! Although, that's not a deal breaker as the area offers plenty to do and all within walking distance.

    Small local brewery in Pasadena that's beneficial to the community, have seen people reserve a few…read moretables for parties and they have meet-ups. For example, they have a Spanish Language Brewery Meet-up every 3rd Thursday from 7:30-9:30pm monthly. Parking is street only so be mindful of the neighbors. There is no food service at this location but they seem to partner with a couple food trucks serving tacos. Some inside open air seating but the main draw is the relaxing patio. I liked their hard seltzers with fun flavors as jicama, tamarindo and passionfruit. I didn't like so much their signature Yerba Mate Pale Ale, but thought it was an interesting concept. The happy hour special is Monday all day and Tuesday-Friday open until 6pm $2 off full pours. Very family friendly, I always see a couple tables with children and dogs at them. Maybe I'm getting to be an old fuddy duddy but I hate when parents let their kids go free range. Screaming and running around like the establishment is a park these kids becoming trip hazards. There needs to be a revamp of their board game collection. There three boxes of games that looked incomplete or used up, not good with such games as Scrabble and Pictionary. Free Wifi with log-in is a bonus!

    Photos
    "Serrania" Sour beer
    "Serrania" Sour beer
    Housemade Michelada
    Housemade Michelada
    "Patria" Hazy IPA

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    "Patria" Hazy IPA
    El Portal

    El Portal

    3.7
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Yummy food and good ambience! The service was friendly and inviting. I enjoyed mole enchiladas…read morestuffed with chicken, Spanish rice and black beans were savory. I only wish the temperature on the mole sauce was hotter or tortillas under heated I don't know I guess I'm picky about details like that. Overall good place for a happy hour or group gathering with friends for a tasty experience. I'll be back to try some combo plates which look delicious

    I love El Portal. The food is delicious, the portions are generous, and the prices feel fair for…read morewhat you get. It really hits the spot when you're craving comforting, flavorful Mexican food. The chips are fresh, the salsa is good, and the menu has offerings that feel more authentic and varied than a lot of other places. I especially appreciate that they have Yucatán cuisine options, which you do not always see at every Mexican restaurant. I am also very fussy with mole and typically do not like it at all, but I actually really enjoy the mole from El Portal. It has been a real eye-opener for me and honestly inspired me to give mole another shot elsewhere. One thing to keep in mind: a lot of the combo plates are smothered in delicious red sauce and plenty of cheese, so if you are not a big cheese person, just be aware before ordering. The enchiladas are good, though sometimes they could use a little more sauce, as the tortillas can come out a bit dry. The margaritas are tasty, but they do feel a little small for the price (Roughly $16 for a 8oz glass?!) The staff are friendly, the vibe is nice, and overall the food is consistently good. The only other heads-up is that some of the tables and booths are pretty small, so it can feel a little cramped in the main dining room. Also, **make sure you get your parking validated**. This is important because if you do not, the parking lot can be extremely expensive. You can also look for street parking on Green Street. Still, El Portal is a spot I really enjoy and it is on our regular rotation of places to dine.

    Photos
    Tacos callejeros
    Tacos callejeros
    Blood orange margarita
    Blood orange margarita
    Watermelon margarita

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    Watermelon margarita
    Bodegon No 69

    Bodegon No 69

    4.4
    (673 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We came here to try the Dine LA dinner menu. The greeter was welcoming and quickly seated us at the…read morewindow seat with a street view, very cozy. We ordered our drinks. I had the sangria and my girlfriend tried the mojito passion. Both drinks are refreshing. For appetizers, I tried the mussels with corn and onions. It's good. For entree, I tried the Lomo Saltado. The sautee beef has onions and tomatoes. The flavor is good and goes well with the rice. Dessert is not included in the Dine LA menu, but we wanted to try a Peruvian ice cream. The Lucum ice cream tastes good, it's buttery and has caramel and maple syrup flavor. It's a special Peruvian fruit. It's a good wrap for our dinner. We will like to come back to try more dishes.

    We visited this restaurant at the beginning of Dine LA for lunch ($35)…read more When we arrived, the door was locked and had to be let in by the staff though there were at least 5 other parties dining there. I thought that was a bit odd, but I guess it was to detract from unwelcomed guests (i.e. homless people)? Anyhow, we were seated right away and sat by the window which was nice! We were given the menus, but I had to specifically ask for the DineLA menu which I also thought was a bit odd since it seemed like they wanted us to order off their regular menu. Perhaps this was just an oversight. For starters, we ordered 1 of each that was offered: Ceviche Carretillero - Refreshing and brought me back to time spent in Peru! I preferred this option Salpicon - This was also refreshing and reminded me of chicken salad mix in a bowl though not sure I would order it without it being a part of a prix fixe. For the main course, we ordered: Saltado Salad - This had minimal protein and was not so satisfying when compared to a traditional lomo saltado, but the protein that was there was yummy. Aji Gallina - I really was excited to see this on their menu since I love this dish so much and don't see it offered too often at Peruvian restaurants. Though the sauce was good, the chicken was VERY dry and hard to chew (overcooked) so it took a while to finish this. In lieu of desserts, they offered Maracuya (passion fruit) and Chicha Morada (purple corn) juices which were yummy but the star of the show was their sangria which was delicious especially on a hot day. My only complaint about the sangria was that we were charged for 3 carafes when we only got 2. Once we identified this, we brought it up and just went ahead and enjoyed the 3rd one since we had already settled the bill. That being said, always double check your receipt!

    Photos
    Alpaka greeters!
    Alpaka greeters!
    Seafood Ceviche (Marinated well super rich and not raw leading to melt in mouth seafood)
    Seafood Ceviche (Marinated well super rich and not raw leading to melt in mouth seafood)
    INKA COLA

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    INKA COLA

    Javiers - newmexican - Updated August 2026

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