This was one of our favorite places in pre-pandemic Pasadena. We had some "could have been better" experiences during the awkward period of reopening several years ago, but since then it seems to have mostly hit its stride. Overall, our recent experiences have been solid. It's always great when an "old favorite" still feels like a good value. I miss some of the menu items like the lentil shepherd's pie, but we have very much enjoyed the hearty English breakfast. They also have a good selection of European beers on tap. Service has been friendly, but it is lightly staffed and pretty slow, so it's not a good place if you are in a hurry. They don't keep an eye on the patio, so if you sit out there, it's best to go inside and let them know. They also seem to have more rules than before - but I have to imagine these have come from experience. I don't think this is an ideal place to go with a large group. If it's a quiet night you might be able to pull tables together long-ways, but most tables seem ideal for 2-4. We come with our dog and sit on the patio when it isn't busy. The dog meals are massive (more food than ours eats in a whole day and she weighs 60 lbs). It's a good value, but beware if your dog is on a diet! Overall, my favorite thing is that genuinely feels like a pub, in that you can just come as you are and take your time without being rushed. A good fit for both locals and visitors in Pasadena. read more

Over the years I have been to Lucky Baldwin's a number of times......all 3 locations, and am yet to have a "great" experience. My best experiences have been when I sit at the bar (alone or with friends), drinks only. Even at that, the service has rarely been stellar. Sierra Madre is the exception as far as the service is concerned. Never have had bad service there. The other 2 locations.....meh! The Old Town location is the worst as far as comfort is concerned. Super cramped and claustrophobic. No elbow room whatsoever. The other two locations aren't as tight but still need better spacing. The food here is mediocre at very best. The traditional Fish and Chips equal 3 words.....soggy, Soggy and.....SOGGY!! Crisp isn't even in their vocabulary. Both, Fish and Chips are very under-seasoned and just very disappointing and unappealing. The "Bangers and Mash" are equally disappointing. Are you serious.....deep frying the Brats to "finish them off "? The flavorless Mashed and Gravy really seal this dish as a sucker's bet. And don't get me started on the nasty frozen peas that they serve. The British Curry is the best of the traditional fare and it is barely average. Desperately in need of flavor. I go to the East Pasadena location on New Year's Eve to meet a very large group of motorcyclists for a ride, but after 3 years in a row of very disappointing breakfasts now all I do is meet them there and ride. I mean, have you ever had greasy pancakes?! And the kitchen couldn't cook an egg to order if their lives depended on it! I have to say that they do have a couple tasty Burgers though. Not what most go to an "English Pub" for but pretty much the best stuff on the menu is in burger form. The "English" is a pretty solid burger, well rounded flavors and a big seasoned and juicy patty. The "Irish" is good too. I just don't understand the Swiss Cheese, why not an Irish Cheddar?! The rest their Burgers/Sandwiches seem very uninspired, something you can get in just about every restaurant in America! Do yourself a favor and get the Steak Fries (well done) with your Burger, not the soggy homemade Fries. I went this Sunday 07/05 with some out of town guests to hit up a futbol match. They wanted to watch in a "real pub atmosphere", and had heard of Lucky Baldwins on Big Bang Theory. There was 7 of us and we arrived early enough to get a good table for the match. The place was virtually empty when we got there but filled up quickly. We all ordered our beers, then my buddies unloaded on some appetizers....5 Scotch Eggs, 2 Irish Nachos (with Steak Fries, no Tomato) and 2 Buffalo Cauliflower (1 with no sauce). Everyone Loved the Scotch Eggs, they were grub. The Grain Mustard is such a compliment. The Cauliflower was very good, with a crispy breading and very well seasoned. The Buffalo Sauce added a great kick but the Bleu Cheese Dressing was not up to par.....watery and where was the Bleu Cheese?! Our Irish Nachos were decent but came with Tomatoes (which I cannot eat). I do have to say that they do have a great variety of ale and beers. They are a little pricey though. Go for the beer, stay for the beer, be mindful of what you order! read more

Came in for a World Cup match and the place was completely packed! No seating available, so my party and I ended up in a designated standing area. Everyone had to purchase something, which is a fair policy, but it wasn't posted or mentioned until we were already inside. Had I known, we probably wouldn't have come in, since I was only looking for food and there was nowhere to comfortably lay a dish. Vibes of the pub were generally good, but our server was unexpectedly rude. Everyone inside wore wristbands designating whether they were 21+ or under 21, checked by the bouncer at the door. I already had my 21+ wristband on when I walked in, but this server still accused me of lying about my age and demanded to see my ID in front of a crowd of people. It was needlessly humiliating, and she was also curt to my entire party when taking our orders; she just seemed annoyed and irritated. That said, it was insanely busy, and I'm sure it was a frustrating shift. Just left a bad taste in my mouth, being singled out and treated like a child in front of people for no apparent reason. read more

With over 60 beers on tap, Lucky Baldwins is the place to go for sporting events. It's also a great spot for authentic British Pub fare such as Cottage Pie, Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash, and a proper English Breakfast. The establishment was named after Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin - a prominent 19th century businessman who purchased over 40,000 acres of land in SoCal including Rancho Santa Anita, which became the foundation for Arcadia, Baldwin Park, & Baldwin Hills. He also built the opulent Baldwin Hotel & Theatre in San Francisco. I've been here in the past to watch Soccer matches with friends. The vibe is lively, especially during a match. Inside is reminiscent of a cozy countryside pub with exposed brick & wooden beams. The outdoor patio is dog friendly (they even have a doggie menu), and it is charming at night with the lights. My friend and I stopped in for a drink. He had a beer and I had a glass of Chandon. (They do have a full bar.) The bartender was friendly and checked on us frequently. We enjoyed our visit and conversation. I'm sure this place will be packed during World Cup. *Dog Friendly *Adjacent parking garage (90 mins free) or metered street parking. read more

See all

NEVER GO HERE FOR A SPORTING EVENT YOU CARE ABOUT. Went for the England/Argentina World Cup match with a bunch of England fans. Showed up 90 minutes early just to get a seat and the manager (owner?) was pretty rude and dismissive. Our waitress was lovely though. Then the match started and the DirecTV feed went out 3 minutes into it, never to return, forcing people to take out their phones to watch. No one in charge seemed to care or ever addressed the crowd and seemed annoyed by customers complaining. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

I'm not usually one to leave negative reviews, but I can't give this place more than two stars. We went to Lucky Baldwin's over St. Patrick's weekend expecting a solid Irish whiskey and beer selection, but they only serve beer and wine which we didn't mind and were happy to work with. We ordered drinks and burgers, asking for the burgers to be cooked medium. Unfortunately, they came out extremely undercooked essentially raw and not edible. We ended up not eating them, and while the server cleared the plates, there was no acknowledgment or follow-up about the issue. Overall, the service felt inattentive and lacking awareness. Between the food and the experience, I wouldn't return. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

Popped into Lucky Baldwin's for a quick bite after an absence of a good 10+ years. Happy to say it's still the same cozy, welcoming place, with friendly servers and a beer selection that's hard to beat -- possibly, it can't be beaten at all. That said, when I'm in a Pub I tend to go for Guinness or some kind of 1/2 & 1/2, and this time I chose Smithwick's with a Guinness topper. My bartender, Sarah, proffered a perfect poor, with a smile and a laugh, and I was ready for a good time. The menu is packed with traditional pub favorites plus other general sandwiches and salads, etc. I decided on their Reuben, which is built with Corned Beef, Swiss, Sauerkraut, both Russian AND Mustard, and it's served with fresh cut Fries. The sandwich was hearty and generously made, with flavorful corned beef boasting all the best of the pickling spices without too much salt -- the cook knows how to balance flavors. The sauerkraut and melty Swiss provided a rich, acidic contrast to the beef, an effect echoed by the blending of Russian with Brown Mustard. Then there was the bread -- an artisan rye with good flavor, appealing texture and just the right amount of fresh seeds to let you know this bread came from an oven not a bag. Fries were hand cut, as advertised, arriving hot and crispy with just the right dusting of salt -- a perfect match for the Reuben. This being Monday night, it was quiet on Colorado Blvd., and the restaurant had only a few people at dinner time. While this was a laid-back visit, I'm well aware the place can get busy and boisterous when people descend on their back-alley entrance, and it's hard to know which scenario would be better: the high energy pulse or the calm conversation. Best to come in multiple times for a proper scientific analysis (as well as several cold pints and a few very good meals). read more

See all

An amazing vibe to catch a game (WC)! We sat in the loft area and were serviced frequently. The beers are a bit pricey (they are not doing HH during the WC apparently), but well worth it for the amount of time we spent there. We got 3 pitchers to split between 5 people, and a couple food items. I thought the portions were a little small compared to the price. They do ID at the front (entrance is in the alley) so be sure to have your credentials present! read more

I'll preface this by saying my hubby LOVES sports and this is why we ended up at a British inspired pub at 830am on a Sunday morning to watch a soccer game! We came here with some friends who also love soccer to watch the game and enjoy breakfast. Fun fact if coming on a Sunday before 11 parking is free! I had a green tea for my beverage and for breakfast I had corn beef hash. Everyone else had the Breakfast sandwich, avocado toast and French toast. All the food was really good and the portions were plentiful!! The hubby's team won so woohoo lol. And shoutout to our serve Kevin! He was super personable and attentive which was appreciated! I'm sure we will be back when we are in the area and when the hubby wants to watch a sports game lol read more

See all

The World Cup is finally here, Spain is putting on a clinic against Saudi Arabia, and Lucky Baldwin's seemed like the perfect place to spend a Sunday morning. Unfortunately, I discovered the kitchen's greatest challenge isn't feeding customers--it's cooking an egg. At 9:00 a.m. the pub was practically empty. Not "a little slow," but "did everyone forget the World Cup was on?" empty. I ordered breakfast and asked for sunny-side-up eggs instead of scrambled. A simple request, especially considering other items on their already tiny breakfast menu come with sunny-side-up eggs. The answer? No. Apparently, once an egg has been assigned a destiny on the menu, it cannot be altered. The kitchen can make sunny-side-up eggs, they just can't make them for you. It's a fascinating business model. If the place had been packed wall-to-wall with soccer fans, I might understand. But when there are more empty seats than customers, refusing to change the style of an egg feels less like policy and more like stubbornness. The match was exciting. The service was forgettable. And the eggs? Well, we'll never know. Luckily, Russell's is just down the street, where they seem to have mastered the advanced culinary technique of cooking eggs the way customers ask for them. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Scrambled eggs not very good I guess you can mess up eggs - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

Literally the worst service I've ever recieved in my life. I honestly wish I had a good thing to say because my friend and I came looking especially for an irish pub to try an irish coffee. We sat outside and it took a few minutes for a waitress to hand us menus. And I will admit that their beer list is extensive with a good variety of different types of beer. My friend and I each ordered one drink and shared a sandwich and asked for water when we first sat down because it was hot outside. Our sandwich came out before our drinks. Which was weird. We finally got our drinks and had asked for water a second time. It never came. Our waitress told us she was the only one covering the floor, and it was obviously a busy day. There was some kind of soccer match or sports game on that a lot of people were watching. So the place was full. And I understand being busy but the poor planning of having only one server on staff? It was the most irritating dining experience I've ever had. read more

Very fun pub. I actually went for breakfast, and everyone at my table got the Full English because when in Rome... :) It was quite tasty and filling! I always succumb to LA prices (it was about $20 for the plate), but hey, it was worth it as a fun gathering place for a group. Biggest complaint, food could have been warmer. They have good outside seating as well as indoor. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Full English Breakfast - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

First things first, I was told the corned beef and cabbage was a hearty serving, I only got 2 small slices....for $20!! I haven't been to Lucky Baldwin's Pub since my old town bar hoping days and was looking forward to a great St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage meal. On the phone and in person the lady taking my order was very nice and helpful. When I asked if the corned beef and cabbage was a hearty portion she said yes, I will be satisfied. But when I received my order I was fully disappointed. Two small pieces of corned beef, bland tasteless cabbage, 1 small potato that was sliced into 4 pieces, and 3 slivers of a carrot. The cabbage was slightly chewy and did not have any flavor. It seemed like they boiled it without any spices. The potatoes and carrots were cooked great but also lacked any flavor. They added some type of white sauce, which I think was a very watered down, tasteless gravy. While the corned beef itself was delicious, the fact that for $20 I got two small pieces was unacceptable. Especially after I was told they have a hearty portion. I really wanted to give this place a good review because of the good memories, welcoming staff and fun ambiance, but to capitalize on a holiday by charging $20 for a small portion, they deserve the one star. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Corned beef and cabbage - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

Save yourself the trip. Sixteen of us chose Lucky Baldwin's on the strength of the dog-friendly, group-friendly reputation they market across every platform online. We drove over, walked up -- and then stood at the front door with no host, no greeter, no one working the entrance whatsoever. Five full minutes before a single employee came out. The reward for waiting? Turned away on the spot over a "game day" policy that, by management's own admission to me, is posted nowhere but a sign on their door. Not the website. Not Google. Not here. They let customers spend the planning, the time, and the drive on information they know is incomplete, then leave you standing at an unattended entrance before sending you off. A place that won't staff its own door or post a policy that decides whether you eat doesn't value your time. A party of sixteen will happily spend its money somewhere that does. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

We were the first people in the restaurant for breakfast The server was so nice! He made good suggestions and checked in often to make sure we were happy and had all the coffee we needed. We met friends that hadn't been here before either and they enjoyed the food and service as well. I had the corned beef hash, huge portion, eggs were cooked perfectly and the potatoes were so tasty. Other dishes ordered were: Full English breakfast - special mention for the high quality mushrooms and banger sausage. Omelet with cheddar, bacon and mushrooms and the French toast breakfast where the star was the perfectly crispy bacon that was not greasy and a generous portion. Also want to mention that the coffee was very good, which is not always expected in a pub environment. By the time we left there were a lot of patrons having breakfast and you could tell this was a local favorite. I'd totally recommend Luckys if you want an unpretentious atmosphere combined with great food and excellent service. Perfect place to catch up with friends and have a great meal. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

We arrived at 9:30am to watch the 12pm World Cup semi-final game. We ordered food and multiple drinks. The game kicked off in a packed bar, but after five minutes all TVs went down. Things happen and I'm sure it was stressful, but there was zero communication. Nobody made an announcement, nobody stated what they were attempting to do to fix it. Nothing. People resorted to watching on their phones. After 20 minutes, we left and went to a nearby bar which was successful in showing the game, but we missed a lot of the game and the atmosphere we'd spent 2.5 hours building up. When you've committed over a month to watching the World Cup tournament, planned for days where to watch a historic semi-final, woken up early to get to a bar to secure a seat, there is an amount of trust there that was completely squandered by how staff handled the situation. Nobody appeared to have any knowledge of the a/v system or any desire to communicate what was happening. A total failure when it mattered. read more

Our waitress was so friendly and attentive. We stayed a while since it was a business meeting but they didn't rush us. I had their famous fish and chips and got 2 fish fillets which was plenty! And that lived up to the hype. I didn't expect them to be so big! I also added some Cole slaw and that was good my friend got the cottage pie and that looked so yummy. They have a big drink selection but didn't partake this time. Can't wait to go back! read more

I love the UK and love a good pub. I believe the pub owner is originally from the UK as well. Tried out Lucky Baldwin's once for breakfast takeout and got the avocado toast with a side salad and it was absolutely delicious. Came back again on saint patty's with some coworkers and tried the famous fish and chips and meat pie. It may have been the best fish and chips I've ever had in the states. The meat pie was good too, very flavorful. I'd definitely come back again for the fish and chips and avocado toast. read more

See all

It's definitely worth trying once to get a taste of an average experience in a pub in London. That said, service needs improvement. Service is slow, had to ask several times for water, and the best part, the server (short hair with glasses) hovers over staring at your tip selection when she passes you the card reader. Fish and chips were alright and I've had better near the beach, and generally the atmosphere was alright. read more

The food was great but the service was so bad. The lady at the door during the England vs Norway game kept being rude. She was so disrespectful and has no idea how to treat customers. The place itself was nice and had a great ambiance but the lady at the front really made the experience worse. read more

Went a Saturday morning. I was told the Kevinator was a great bartender weekend morning. They were not wrong. Great selection of beers and not a bad food selection. The food got 4 stars. The service and drinks get 6. Average to 5. read more

Terrible service. Rude waitress. I had to leave and went ahead got up to ask for a box because waitress did not come ask at all if I needed anything. I was turned away by another waitress with a terrible attitude simply for seeing me at the door asking for a box for my food to go. I asked for my check to close out and that took another 15 minutes while I saw her taking orders from other people just coming in. Overall terrible service. Learn to multitask but don't give your customers an attitude when they're trying to help themselves when you can't do your job correctly. read more

Updating my continual review of my favorite pub in all of Los Angeles county. Over I've been coming here since 2001. But more importantly, I'm always looking for a better serving a fish and chips that I find right here at the epic location in downtown Pasadena. I haven't been all over Los Angeles County looking at other Irish pubs are such as Fox Hound in Studio City or the old ship in Fullerton or King's head pub in Santa Monica I am not unfamiliar with these locations but no one offers up fish and chips like lucky Baldwin. It's hands-down the best and let me tell you it's because everything is fresh. The potatoes are cut fresh the cod is caught fresh and it's fresh fried in their homemade batter that is undeniably head and shoulders above every other pub in Los Angeles County. I stand by it and I challenge you to come try it. read more

Great selections for food and drinks, friendly staff enjoyable atmosphere , no issues in my several years going here

We still love Lucky Baldwins, the interior is super cool and the service was great. This time I tried the fish and chips and they were so good. I tried two different tartar sauces, I preferred the one that seemed to have some dill in it! The other was more creamy with relish, the more standard tartar sauce. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Lucky Baldwin's Famous Fish N Chips - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

A lovely establishment that captures the feeling of being inside an Irish pub so well across all of their locations. They also have no shortage of great English, and Belgian beers, that paired with a menu of savory, filling pub dishes like Irish nachos, chicken strips, and so much more, makes for a great pub experience. The servers here are great and fun to engage with. read more

Beer beer and more beer. Many choices . Chicken sammich, steak and mushroom pie. Servers are attentive and friendly. read more

I haven't been there in a decade, still great. Solid fish & chips and Irish Nachos. As good place as any in Pasadena to watch the match. read more

My Friends and I were just there for cheeseburger week! Home of the best cheeseburger Sliders in Pasadena. Been coming to this place for years. Will continue to do so for years to come God willing. Don't forget the selection of beer there is second to none. Great Service with food that arrives when you order it and chill cozy vibe! read more

See all

I went here on Sunday to watch football and have lunch and was pretty disappointed, but mainly in the service. Our server barely came by our table. We had asked multiple times and multiple people for drink refills but they never brought them. The food was okay but felt that it was scarce for the pricing. The fish & chips only comes with 1 piece of fish which isn't very normal. I'm bummed because I had god experiences here in the past, not sure if it was an off day or if this is the new normal. read more

Hands down...best fish n chips in the city. Comparable to what I had in a small English village. Sat outside with a half and half. Perfect evening. Service is top notch. read more

3 stars for food but 4 stars for service ! I came here with my partner twice and each time we had a pleasant experience. We are fans of the WNBA and this past month was their playoff run. We called ahead to see if they would be able to have it up for it us which they said wasn't a problem. We get there and there's lots of seating inside and out with a lot of tv's (perfect place to watch sports). Also their patio is so cute and cozy, definitely a nice spot to also just meet up with friends. Our server was friendly, helpful in choosing food and drinks, and quick despite there being a lot of people there both times we went (once was Thursday evening, another was Sunday night). The second time we went was the same night as wnba finals and Mets/yankees game before World Series but we still got one tv for our game and service still on point. I got buffalo cauli wings and fries which were decent, they're your avg pub food and my partner got a beer (I think the bikini blonde, which he enjoyed) with a burger. He also thought the food was decent. There are a lot of beer options tho so if you like beer this may be a spot to try! read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

What a joke the Fish and Chips are. A regular order comes with only 1 piece of fish when all the photos they advertise show 2 pieces. Ordered through DoorDash and it is very deceptive to not be specific that an order is only 1 piece for $20. Their Fish and Chips wouldn't be worth that price for even 2 pieces!!! Never again will I order from this deceptive and shady business again. read more

Been wanting to try this place for awhile the whole menu looked good but I needed to try their signature fish and chips. Huge mistake was the worst I've had. The actual fish was good but the batter was mushy and soggy couldn't believe they plated this. If you've ever made fried fish even with tongs you know if it's soggy or crunchy. Plus side was the service was good but not enough to make up for the dish. Also my son had the chicken tenders that were good. Edit: just read another review with the same soggy fish. Definitely won't be back. read more

By far the BEST WINGS in Pasadena, if not LA. Amazing staff and a good hang when you want to wind down. App control of Juke box is fun and the loft above gives mid west vibes. read more

Came by this week and it was just alright. I was hoping to enjoy the concept but I felt like it was overpriced and mid par for what you receive. The beers were all $10 which felt steep. The fish and chips were nothing to write home about and for $27 dollars didn't seem worth the hype. The calamari was tasty but on the smaller side. I saw something concerning which I won't mention in this review as craft beer places have enough things to overcome. I can tell a manager in a direct message if they decide to reach out. Overall, there are a lot of other spots which would provide a better quality product for less or at least the same cost. Hopefully things get better! The beer list had a lot of variety which that's always a plus. The server was really nice and helpful. Thankfully she didn't charge us for a swig of beer before we committed, apparently tasters are $2 a pop. read more

Great Find! I ended up at Lucky Baldwin's as the last place on my rounds in Pasadena and I think I may have found another casual spot to bring peeps. I came in late around 10pm and was able to have a few conversations with the patrons who were also sitting at the bar and I had a great little time, hanging out. I'm a sour beer fan and they definitely had a few for me to sip on. Loved this little spot. Totally casual, had a few beers and headed home. This is one of those places, I'll go when i'm not quite ready to go home and looking for just one more drinky drink. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Sour beer - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Great food, great service! Joshua was super welcoming, friendly, very pleasant guy! The food was delicious. Will come back again read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Bar area - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California

I am so sad to report this review. Lucky Baldwin has been a haven for my husband and me when we come to Pasadena. Unfortunately, the last couple of times we have come, it has really been bad. Today, we came at 4ish for HH and there were very few people. We seriously waited for almost a half hour without being served. This included a prompt by us. We ended up leaving and the waitress just wished us well. We will no longer come here and will now come to Kings Row-Gastro. They are what Lucky''s used to be. read more

I have been here half a dozen times or so over the years and always enjoy it. Came here recently on a Thursday for breakfast shortly after 9 am. I was told to come back at 9:30 as they were doing some cleaning. I did and also learned that only the breakfast menu is available in the morning. Not an issue as the English Breakfast was fantastic. The server was helpful and friendly. The Guinness was perfect. I even tried their other location the next day and it was equally as good. Looking forward to coming back. read more

Lucky Baldwin's Pub - Full English Breakfast - Pubs Near Me - Pasadena, California