I celebrated my birthday (and my mom's!) at Javier's in Pasadena last night with a large group -- one table of 12 and another of 6 -- and overall, it was a great experience. The food was delicious, the drinks were flowing, and our servers were attentive despite how busy it was. The atmosphere is always lively and upscale, which is exactly why I chose it for such a special occasion. That said, the one downside was an interaction with the manager on duty, Juan Carlos. There were a couple of moments where his tone felt unnecessarily sharp. We briefly moved between tables while figuring out seating for our large party, and instead of calmly clarifying, he approached us in a way that felt abrupt. Later, when our birthday cakes came out (we paid the cake-cutting fee and had already ordered plenty of drinks), he again addressed us in a way that felt more scolding than service-oriented. I completely understand that restaurants are busy and policies need to be upheld -- especially on a packed night. It wasn't what was said, but how it was said. A little warmth or discretion would have gone a long way, particularly during a milestone celebration where we were spending a significant amount. Overall, we still had a wonderful night, and the food and service team were great. I just hope management approaches guest interactions with a bit more hospitality in the future. read more

Great food, great service, beautiful atmosphere. My friend and I had the queso fundido, enchiladas poblanos, enchiladas Sonoras, and espresso martinis with tequila. It was all delicious. The service was seamless and friendly. Everyone worked together. The space is gorgeous and they play a mix of music in Spanish. read more

Javiers - Espresso tequila martini - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

I hate a place that makes you wait until your entire party has arrived to seat you. That makes no sense. Seat the people there, get them a drink. That immediately left a bad first impression. But our server, Jaime, was quite nice and attentive. It is loud, you can't get around that. If you dislike a noisy restaurant, this is not the place for you. The place is beautiful but the food is average and significantly overpriced. Mojo de Ajo should be more than shrimp in butter, but that's is what was served, semi cold and costing &55. Also everything is à la carte... not even rice and beans! Salsa is great as is the guacamole. Proceed at your own risk ... read more

I attended a gender reveal at Javier's Pasadena and was honestly shocked by how management handled the event. The servers were wonderful -- attentive and kind -- but management created unnecessary stress over pre-approved arrangements and pricing. What should have been a joyful celebration turned tense and uncomfortable. I would think twice before recommending this place for any private event. The staff on the floor deserve credit -- leadership does not. read more

La Tablita at Javier's was absolutely delicious. The meat was tender, well-seasoned, and served piping hot. Everything tasted fresh and balanced -- highly recommend ordering this if you're here. The service was also excellent. John our server gave the best recommendations and it was exactly what we were craving. The ambiance was amazing and really elevated the whole dining experience. Would definitely come again. read more

Javiers - Javier's Best!!! - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

Waited an hour and a half after my reservation time. I get it's a Saturday. But an hour and a half wait is ridiculous. I hope it improves.

DO NOT COME HERE!!!!! Javier's is NOT a family friendly restaurant! I went out for a girls day and chose Javier's! They did not allow my baby's stroller inside (its already super hard to find street parking) im a lady who cant walk long distances carrying the car seat. They told me i couldn't even park it inside the waiting area that i needed to leave it OUTSIDE where it can get stollen. Are they ok?!?! Will they cover theft?! I don't think so. Super ridiculous, went to eat at cheesecake factory across the street instead. Also, the girl in the front was pure snobby vibes. Im good! Never returning. Wish there was a zero stars option read more

I had a reservation on May 9th at 7:30pm from open table app , i was there 15 months ago before the reservation as it was mentioned from multiple texts that they send for the rules and regulations which we abide by, and the receptionist tells that there is an 60 min wait , then what is the reservation is for plus next day when I complained to the management they acted that as if it is normal . If you are not gonna honor reservations then do not take it . Sorry you lost us read more

Javier's was a great place with amazing food and service! The place is beautiful and a great vibe. Plan on returning back!

The food is decent okay flavor, and okay overall selection. Price point, overpriced The service is outstanding and very respectful, clean ambiance and nice decor. Overall is a nice place, for a any occasion read more

Terrible experience here tonight. We had a 6:30 reservation and they did not seat until 7:05. The manager in the front was extremely rude and not empathetic at all. Once sat we waited 15 minutes for waters. We ordered the queso fundido and upon arrival they did not provide us with the 2 orders of flour tortillas we had requested. We then proceeded to wait an additional 10 minutes for tortillas which by then the queso is hardened and cold. They brought us one basket of tortillas with only 3 tortillas while we have a table of 5 people. I asked for refills on water and then again, waited 10 minutes for someone to refill our water. You guys should know Pasadena is busy on New Years with the parade and football game so why would you not prepare better. Don't seat tables of walk ins when you have reservations to honor. No empathy from management and nobody tried to make it right with us. My friends and I visit the Javier's at century city very often and spend a lot of money at this chain so to receive this kind of treatment was absolutely baffling. read more

The restaurant employs highly questionable marketing practices by intentionally overbooking reservations and forcing guests to wait excessively, regardless of their booking time. Despite having a 6 p.m. reservation, we were left waiting for 30 minutes with no indication of when we might be seated. The hostess repeatedly dismissed our inquiries, claiming everything was "circumstantial" and refusing to provide even a rough estimate for seating. This suggests either a deliberate strategy to inflate business at the expense of customer experience or a glaring lack of competence in managing reservations. After half an hour, we left, and we never received any notification that our table was ready. No food or "hype" justifies such a disregard for customer service. Will. Not. Be. Back. Best of luck. read more

Visited this location during opening month it was GREAT! Came Mother's Day with my parents and family. It was a first-time disappointment for my mom. The food took over an hour to arrive. It was brought out at different times. The plates were hot but the food was cold. The chile verde was tough and super salty, the enchiladas were hard. Over all the food was nasty. Nothing like Mexican food I have tasted. I would definitely not go back. read more

By far the worst Javier's I've experienced. Made a reservation for 6pm and was told a 45 min wait. I could've celebrated my mother at some other establishment. Working for a luxury hotel company, I will NEVER visit any of this establishments again. The response to my wait time from the manager was an absolute joke. read more

Absolutely amazing. We were there on a very busy night. We had 2 dedicated servers for our party of 8. Servers were professional, kind and attentive. Food and cocktails was awesome. Ambiance fantastic. Felt like we're on vacation in a tropical setting. read more

We really like the Javier's restaurant chain and have enjoyed many great meals at other locations but this Pasadena location has grossly mismanaged their reservation system. An hour past scheduled reservation times is unacceptable. 15 to 30 over is understandable but over an hour is not. read more

Amazing service from our server, Luis! Everyone that approached us was beyond accommodating, and the food was so so delicious. Better than the DTLA location. Absolutely recommend for good food and amazing vibes! Will be back read more

They have two profiles here on Yelp. Only reason I can think of is because they were getting bashed with terrible reviews. But - us smart people found the other profile so we can provide a second review. Soo - this place is off to a very bad start. 1) Don't bother making a reservation because in most cases you will still have to wait (not just 10-15 min, but 45 to 90 min!); 2) Management & front desk staff are rude and honestly could care less about customer service; 3) The food is way overpriced. This place is REALLY expensive for what you get. Went one time and will never go back.... read more

Excellent service & great ambiance! You come here for the vibes, not the food. All of the staff were very friendly and very attentive. Overall, I enjoyed the experience. Sam the bartender in the back is a great mixologist. read more

Javiers - Jamaica Margarita - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have been to Javiers twice. Both times I had a great time and great service. It took us 15 minutes to get seated. Service was excellent. Delicious dishes and drinks. I highly recommended. I usually get the platter. read more

I enjoyed the Maine Lobster Enchilada. The service was very good and the seating was very comfortable. The ambiance was lovely.

Drinks and food is truly amazing. Server and host are great. Old town location makes this place fun and amazing. read more

Javiers - Best item at Javier's. La tablita chicken and skirt steak truly amazing. - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

As excited as most others for a high end Mexican restaurant to arrive in Pasadena, sadly disappointed with Javier's. The ambience is amazing, but in terms of food and price, I'd much rather visit Mercado. Food, drinks, service at Mercado are WAY better and much more reasonably priced. Javier's is a one and done for me, sorry. read more

I've been here 3 times and I've always had to wait at least half an hour past my reservation time for me to be seated. The last two times I arrived, I waited over an hour. The first of the last two times, I expressed how my friend and I had been waiting for over 40 minutes to the black male host and he was so dismissive and said he'll call us in 5 minutes and didn't call us until 20 minutes later. He had a smirk on his face every time he glanced over at us which made it seem like he was deliberately making us wait longer than we needed to. Now this last time we went, friends and I waited an hour and 40 minutes past our reservation time. I saw that same rude and dismissive host, and went up to the female host next to him after waiting for 50 minutes and she also didn't seem to care and said that Javier's just over books people so it's normal. I expressed that's not normal to overbook in a location that has consistently been busy since they opened. She said we'd be next and proceeded to tell the male host our situation. He took a few other parties who had just arrived to check in to their table, making us wait another 45 minutes, totaling to an hour and 35 minute wait. Each time he'd walk back from taking a party to their seat, he'd look over to my friend and I and smirk. Then he'd giggle about it in the front and they'd both look over at us. I know that was on purpose and by then I wanted to speak to a manager. When we finally got called, another girl walked us to our booth and I told her I'd like to speak to a manager and asked for one to come over in which she said "yes of course, one will be with you shortly". And then NO one came. I'm not the type to leave negative reviews but this situation really ruined my love for Javier's and I will never be going to eat there again. It's such a shame, you'd think they'd hire employees who'd be caring and sympathetic toward customers. Everyone needs to be retrained on proper customer service. As it is this restaurant is not cheap, it prides itself on an upscale dining experience which completely goes out the window when you're not serviced with kindness . My friends and I have spent thousands of dollars here and were horrified. read more

For anyone writing a review on here, search Javier's again because apparently they have 2 pages running at the same time, and I'm afraid that they will try to close this one since this is where most of the bad reviews are. The other one is called Javier's Finest Foods of Mexico. read more

this place charged an additional $400 tip on my credit card without my authorization. the place is already overpriced af. beyond shady. looks like they do this regularly based on other comments i see. you will be hearing from bank of america fraud department. what kind of people are working here? buyer beware. read more

Cool vibe but that's it. Food way overpriced for what it is. Entres do not come with sides like rice and beans, those are extra. Ordered the churros tonight and I could taste the rancidness of the old oil they use to fry them. read more

From the moment Liliana answered the phone, I knew we were in good hands. She was warm, patient, and so helpful while we were coordinating plans for our large party. Shortly after, Oscar also helped us on the phone and made everything feel easy and organized. When we arrived, Oscar, the manager, truly delivered hospitality at its finest. He was attentive every step of the way, checking in on us and making sure everything flowed smoothly. Thank you, Oscar, for accommodating our large group and for making our night so special. We truly appreciate it. read more

Everything about this place is terrible. If I could leave it ZERO stars I would. Waiting over an hour past reservation time is unacceptable ! read more

Ive been here twice and have waited over half an hour past my reservations each time. This time I was here for my mom's birthday we had a table for 11. They kept lagging it and lagging it. I spoke to the manager she was very rude and said this is how Javiers operates. They make people wait this long and overbook. I said I have been to other locations multiple times and have never waited this long past my reservation. She kept sassing me. We waited over an hour on my mom's birthday. Just drive an extra 20 minutes and go to Downtown LA this lovation and management is not it read more

Food was really good! And service was great as well! We went at 3pm on a Monday though so it was pretty empty. This place is aesthetically pleasing and I would definitely come back! read more

Javiers - Carne Tampiqueña - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We were really excited to try Javier's in Pasadena since it just recently opened. Unfortunately, a few aspects of our experience were disappointing. We had lunch reservations, but the front desk staff was cold and not very welcoming. We were asked to wait off to the side and ended up waiting over 10 minutes despite arriving on time. When I checked in to ask about the delay, we were asked if our entire party was present--even though all three of us had been standing there together the entire time. Shortly after, we were seated. The music was extremely loud, making it difficult to have a conversation. While I understand that this may be appropriate for an evening atmosphere, it felt excessive for a 1:00 p.m. lunch. Our server was wonderful, and the food and drinks were excellent. However, the busser repeatedly approached our table asking if we were finished, even though there was clearly still food on the table, which made us feel rushed. read more

Definitely great food, fun cool atmosphere BUTTTT if you plan on going there over the weekend you are screwed. Regardless of you having reservations they make you wait. We had reservations on a Saturday night (9:00 pm) and we got seated at 10:15!!!!! Drinks were delicious, pretty and food was BOMBAY!!!! Other than it being overpacked everything else was phenomenal. read more

Average food, extremely high prices, and rude hostess who informed my friend we had 1 1/2 hour to eat. When you pay $26 for a margarita you would expect it to be outstanding. I have had a better one from a can. Food is on the spicier side so keep that in mind. Overall an underwhelming experience. There are better choices in Pasadena. read more

Reservations and have to wait 20 min... lol! We are locals and will be giving our business elsewhere... not good Mexican food anyway. Too bad read more

Although this is a newer restaurant in the area of Pasadena they handled every aspect of our experience perfectly. From when we arrived during the busiest time of the evening we were greeted and seated within a reasonable time. Drinks were ordered and I went with the Spicy Jalapeño Margarita. It was perfectly crafted and not overly spicy like some other restaurants like to do. For dinner I ordered the Enchiladas Suizas and again the tomatillo sauce was on point! We were celebrating my sister's birthday and they were very accommodating ensuring we were enjoying ourselves. From drinks to cake everything went off without a hitch. What about the vibe well as I said it's a newer restaurant so they were functioning at full capacity and it was very vibrant. The bar areas were moving and drinks were flowing! So our next visit will definitely be for drinks cause they just had to many to choose from. read more

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It feels like you're at a resort in Cancun when you walk in it's seriously fantastic. and the food is just as good. from what ive heard the la tiblita (i think that's what it's called) is only ok. but what i know thats amazing is the quesadillas, fajitas, GUAC!!, and the ensalada de asada. All of which make it very hard to select what i want to eat . The service is also great. and if you're staying for dessert (which you should) get the churros!! my mom also got the choclate martini which was yummy, tasted like chocolate milk from when we were little. anyways, give this place a try! there's valet in the front, but you can get cheaper parking on the street. read more

Got seated right away with our reservation. Staff was quick and attentive, got chips/salsa and our drinks within minutes. Entrees came out at a reasonable time too and were still hot. Excellent Mexican food, you can taste the clean ingredients that they use. Even their beans were easy on the stomach. The shrimp enchiladas, taquitos, and NY steak were delicious! Their Mexican rice is also flavorful I recommend getting a side of it. We came on a Friday the vibes were energetic, good music and loud company. Definitely worth it for a special occasion or date as there won't be any awkward quietness since the whole place is alive. Beautiful decor also and lots of spots to take pictures, including their 2 bars. We will definitely be back! read more

Javiers - CARNE TAMPIQUEÑA combo. Highly recommended - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

Had reservations at 9, arrived early 8:40 checked in. They said we should be seated around 9- 9:20. 90 minutes later nothing. So we left. No point of making reservations if they can't keep em.... read more

I attended a gender reveal at Javier's Pasadena, and while the celebration itself was beautiful, the venue unfortunately added unnecessary stress to what should have been a smooth, joyful event. From the time we arrived, there seemed to be confusion about the event details. The private room didn't feel fully set up or organized, and there was a clear lack of coordination from management. At one point, there was an issue about bottles the host had previously been told she could bring. Instead of handling the situation discreetly and professionally, management addressed it in a way that created tension and put the host in an uncomfortable position in front of her guests. The pricing was also surprising. A pre-set dinner that had been arranged ahead of time somehow ended up costing much more than expected. There wasn't much transparency, and when questions were raised about the bill, the response felt defensive rather than solution-oriented. I do want to mention that the servers were wonderful -- friendly, attentive, and doing their best to make everyone comfortable. They were clearly not the problem. The issue was with leadership. There was a noticeable lack of professionalism, flexibility, and overall customer care. I attend many private and corporate events, and it was disappointing to see a milestone celebration feel transactional and stressful. I would definitely think twice before hosting an important event here. read more