Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Marina

    4.4 (931 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Marina Takeout or Delivery

    Marina Photos

    Business Info

    MARINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

    More like Marina

    Recommended Reviews - Marina

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Prosciutto San Daniele & Figs
    Sara H.

    Paid underground parking is available nearby. I recommend making a reservation, especially if you're planning to come for dinner or on a weekend. The restaurant was clean and had a welcoming atmosphere. I noticed that the restrooms were well maintained, which is always a plus. The food was okay overall. It wasn't bad, but nothing really stood out or made me want to come back just for the food. One thing I was disappointed by was the appetizer, Prosciutto San Daniele & Figs. It only came with one piece of bread, which was not enough. The service was average, not particularly attentive or memorable. Overall, it was an okay dining experience. It may still be worth trying if you're in the area.

    Espresso martini
    Riza T.

    I have been here with a few friends on different occasions and the cocktails, food, and service are consistently great! Love the ceasar salad, blistered bread, Bianca pizza, Italian sausage pizza, mushroom tagliatelle, branzino, skirt steak, the list goes on of the great flavors! Looove their espresso martini as well! Recently had dinner the second week of their dineLA offering and it had very generous portions! Pleasantly surprised about that part. One of my favorite spots!

    Outside
    Ara G.

    The Bottom Line 4 stars: Nice vibe and good service, food and drinks. Recommended! Location 3.5 stars: In Pasadena, Northwest corner of Lake and Cordova. There is limited street parking and a few free parking spots on the side of the restaurant (usually taken). Or you can use the paid lot next door down the alley. I parked at the lot and was supposedly validated by our server, but upon exiting I was still charged the full price of $1.50 for every 15 minutes!!! Not sure what happened there... Venue 3.5 stars: New, nicely decorated upscale facility with indoor and seating and a full bar. They do also have patio seating which I did not enjoy. The patio is these narrow strips on the front and side of the restaurant. The front side is literally on the sidewalk and the side patio is cramped and facing a bunch of parked cars. Not esthetically pleasing or comfortable. They do have heaters though which were helpful as it was a chilly evening. They take reservations on Resy which I would recommend as they get very busy. Service 4 stars: Friendly and polite. Food 4 stars: Modern Italian-inspired. We had the Hamachi Crudo and the Lamb Chops as appetizers. Lamb Chops were good. The Crudo was good but a very small portion. We also had the Scaloppine di Pollo, the Charred Scallop Risotto, the Branzino alla Griglia and the Pork Chop Milanese. The Scaloppine di Polo (Breaded chicken Cutlet) was the best. The Pork Chop was a little dry. The Branzino and the Risotto were good but had way too much butter for our taste. The star of the show was the Pistachio Tiramisu which was excellent. Overall a reasonable dining experience. Prices are on par with similar establishments. Drinks 5 stars: Creative specialty cocktails using unique Italian spirits, full bar, beer, wine, soft drinks and espresso drinks. Drinks are reasonably priced.

    Bread & Ricotta
    Steffie K.

    Found out about this place through Resy (Amex Plat Benefit) and decided to try it. The pizza is very tasty but I wish my Cacio e Pepe pasta has a more crushed pepper instead of whole pepper bcs I tasted a bomb of pepper in my mouth everytime I took a bite, I don't really mind it tho, just preference. Service is great, Nick took a great care of us. There were heat wave during the time of our visit and after it cools down, the temp outside feels the same as inside. I was hoping the AC would be cooler inside. Other than that, we'll definitely come back to try more of the menu items.

    Charred Broccolini
    Ella H.

    Great choice for a Friday night dinner. The house Italian sausage pizza and Pork Chop are good. Not so recommended for their lamb chops, which are not juicy and a bit overcooked. Charred scallop risotto did not surprise me too much though the rice (risotto) was well cooked and done. Service and ambiance are fantastic. Beautiful interior decor and comfortable seatings. I didn't try their alcohol selection or desserts. Maybe next time.

    The lovely inside.
    Sharon G.

    This restaurant is incredible. It has a relaxed, breezy, sunny feel, while being in the absolute driver's seat on excellent cooking and drinks. We started out with Bianco Negronis and the Hamachi Crudo, which was citrusy and perfect. The blistered bread and ricotta was also such an indulgent treat. For Mains, we shared the Truffle Cavatelli and the Charred Scallops Risotto. The truffle and sausage were so rich (in most definitely a good way) and paired so well with the slightly more bracing and magnificent Charred Scallops Risotto. The last dish, with the Calabrian chili and uni butter and mouth-watering scallops, is one of the best things I've eaten in years. To finish, we all shared the Pistachio Tiramisu. Not something I would have ever thought up, but so good. This place is a delight.

    Inside
    Blanca S.

    Beautiful restaurant with a gorgeous interior and romantic ambiance -- dim lighting and chandeliers made it feel really upscale. We were seated right away even without a reservation, and the service was fast and attentive throughout the night. The chicken scaloppine was absolutely delicious, the shrimp alla vodka was also great, and the crudo was good though nothing especially memorable. To top it off, our server brought us a complimentary lemon sorbet that was super refreshing and tasty. Overall, a great dining experience and definitely a spot I'd come back to.

    Kids menu
    Maria L.

    My family and I came here for dinner on a Sunday. The place was pretty full. It was a good thing we had a reservation. The restaurant is not very big but it does have a good lovely vibe. Our waiter was very friendly. He took our order on a tablet. We received our drinks and waited for our food to come. Approximately 15 minutes after we placed our order, the waiter came back to tell us that there was an "internet problem" and our order did not go through. He had to take our order again. He apologized profusely. He offered us complimentary bread as a way of apology. I had a toddler with me and he was starving at that point. I had to give him some cereals (my emergency snack) to keep him quiet. The food finally started arriving. Here are my thoughts for each item. Blistered bread: 3/5 stars. Interesting looking bread. It is served puffed up. Nice presentation. It gets deflated when you cut into it. Taste is average. Nothing spectacular. Charred Broccolini: 3/5 stars. It was too charred for my liking. Taste: average. I don't care too much for the sauce that comes with it either. Fried calamari and artichoke: 5/5 stars. This was the best dish of the night. Excellent calamari and artichoke. It was fried with a light batter and seasoned well. Delicious. House Italian sausage pizza: 4/5 stars. This was a bit spicy but good. Crust not too thick which is the way I like it. Spicy shrimp alla Vodka: 4/5 stars. Spicy but not too spicy. It has a nice flavor. Liver mousse tortellini: 2/5 stars. This is supposed to be filled with chicken liver mousse and crispy chicken skin. I did not taste any crispy chicken skin. Overall taste: meh. I would not order this dish again. Venetian duck ragu: 3/5 stars. I liked the pappardelle pasta but the duck was too salty for my taste. There is supposed to be Maitake mushrooms on this dish. I only tasted one mushroom. It could use more mushrooms. Pork chop Milanese: 3/5 stars. This dish comes with a huge mound of salad on top of the pork chop. The pork chop tasted average. The salad is the best part of this dish. Butter and Pecorino pasta from the kids menu: 4/5 stars. It has a nice buttery taste. It's too bad that my toddler grandson was too full to eat the pasta. He got full eating cereal and bread since it took so long for the meal to arrive. I think the food was okay. Overall value not so good. A bit pricey with small portions. Having had to wait awhile for the food didn't help with the overall experience.

    Squid ink pasta
    Hillary T.

    Took my father here for his birthday and absolutely loved most of the dishes we got. The service was pretty good and one food came out fast. Only thing that didn't sit well was that it was known that it was my dad's birthday and we weren't offered any celebratory complementary desserts of any sort, not that that should be expected, but we did over order for our party so gave decent business I would say. The menu prices suggest that it's quite a nice upscale restaurant which it is, but the interior was nothing special, quite casual. I think I would want a little more pizzazz if I were going here for a romantic date - Calabrian salami pizza: amazing flavor profile, the salami gave a good saltines to it while the hot honey gave a tin of sweet. I'm not the biggest fan of when my savory food is too sweet, but I thought this one was really well done - squid ink pasta: really tiny portion, which was the only bummer but it was so delicious. I would probably still get it again not too fishy. If you don't love the Strong seafood flavors that this dish sometimes comes with. - whipped feta and bread: a classic go to appetizer at Italian restaurants, pretty good, but I wouldn't say any better than other restaurants that serve this - calamari: honestly would skip this. They only was nothing special and the calamari itself had standard batter. Nothing crazy. Whipped feta and bread

    Variety dessert- pistachio tira misu, lemon dessert and some chocolate dessert
    Mabel G.

    My second time at this restaurant. Had a good experience the first visit that is why I chose this restaurant for my birthday celebration. The service was not welcoming. I approached hostess to tell her our party is here. No warm welcome. My friend had to go back to hostess and tell her our party is all here. We arrived during happy hour and they would not honor happy hour menu at the seated table so we went to the bar. No warm welcome from bartender and owner told my friend you can only order at the bar. There were no seats and the service was so unwelcoming we really wanted to leave. The server then said we can have 1 round of happy hour but only drinks and not food menu items. The food made up for the bad service. I guess that is why they don't treat customers with hospitality since they have a consistent steady flow of customers and the food, drinks and desserts are delicious.

    Sandra B.

    Everything was amazing, from the service to the food and drinks. We genuinely enjoyed every single dish we ordered, you can tell that a lot of care goes into the food and that they use quality ingredients.The cocktails were equally delicious and perfectly crafted. We sat at the bar, and our server was fantastic, attentive and welcoming without ever being overbearing. Overall, such a wonderful experience from start to finish. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the area!

    Interior
    Annie W.

    Great Italian restaurant with nice vibes. The ambience inside is chic and upscale. The service is attentive as well. We came here in the evening for dinner and ordered two pasta dishes, and the Caesar salad. The Marina's Caesar salad is one of the best I've ever had and is a definite must try. We also ordered the mushroom tagliatelle and a tomato spicy pasta (not sure if it was the spicy vodka pasta or not). Both of the pasta dishes were well made, and well balanced. The mushroom pasta was not too salty with a rich creamy buttery taste. The tomato pasta had just the right amount of kick with chewy fresh pasta. The portions are on the smaller side but were enough to satisfy us. Overall, would recommend visiting! Try the salad and their fresh pasta too.

    Shrimp alla Vodka
    Diana G.

    We were driving around looking for a place to eat and randomly stumbled upon this restaurant, and I'm so glad we did. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by how beautiful the interior was. The dim lighting created such a cozy, intimate atmosphere -- perfect for a date night in LA. Everyone we interacted with, from the hostess to our server, was incredibly warm and welcoming. We were even seated immediately without a reservation, which honestly felt like a miracle in Los Angeles. The food and drinks were just as impressive as the ambiance. My mezcal cocktail was delicious, and the shrimp alla vodka pasta was outstanding. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was rich and flavorful, and they were very generous with the shrimp. We also ordered the hamachi crudo, which was fresh and delicious. The key is definitely mixing it well with the green sauce before eating because that's where so much of the flavor comes through. To top it all off, our server surprised us with a complimentary lemon sorbet dessert, which was such a thoughtful touch and the perfect ending to the meal. Overall, we had an amazing experience and I'm already looking forward to coming back to try more items on the menu.

    Risotto

    See all

    27 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A C.
    0
    21
    5

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kris B.
    1
    74
    41

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Negar O.
    98
    30
    343

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Great food, ambiance, and service. They have a nice bar and an interesting menu. The puffy bread is delicious!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Zakia M.
    25
    80
    34

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3
    Photo of Misikga F.
    111
    905
    809

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 34
    Thanks 9
    Love this 37
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Margaret P.
    4925
    1532
    15184

    2 years ago

    Helpful 22
    Thanks 7
    Love this 24
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Trixy M.
    28
    32
    28

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim E.
    867
    1800
    5871

    2 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Xiomara D.

    Xiomara D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 24

    Marina Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Marina

    Is there still an outside patio?

    Yes they have outside patio seating

    What is the price range per person?

    It really depends on what you get. I want to say entrees run from $25-$30. We ordered 5 appetizers, everyone got entrees and drinks. Everything was great.

    When is the happy hour?

    All day on Monday. Tuesday through Sunday 5 PM to 6 PM

    Is there a prix fixe menu?

    No, you order off the menu

    Could they accommodate a reservation for 16 people?

    Yes, but for sure you need to schedule it days in advance. Don't leave to do it the day before your desired date.

    Are dogs allowed in the outdoor seating area?

    Yes

    Do you have parking?

    They have a smaller free lot right behind, and there is a lot of paid parking underneath!

    Do you have vegan options?

    Yes. The owner is great. He will find ways to make accommodations for you.

    Do you have a full bar?

    Yes

    Is there a gluten free/peanut free options for pasta or mains?

    They have gluten free pasta ONLY, And it's really good. Hope this helps.

    Do you offer outside or patio dining?

    Yes

    Is there a cake cutting fee for birthdays?

    I believe it's five dollars per person if I'm not mistaken

    Do you need a reservation or walk-ins for 4 is ok?

    You need reservations

    Is the pasta homemade?

    Tagliatelle and Totelloni are house made pastas.

    Vegetarian or vegan options?

    Yes

    View All 17 Questions

    Kinrose Creamery

    Kinrose Creamery

    4.8
    (473 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    I've seen this business on my socials & had it saved for a potential visit. It was everything I…read moreexpected it to be. I drove all the way from Long Beach to visit my discount hobby mechanic Bobby; and yes it was worth the one hour drive. One because I had an amazing ice cream and two; I by passed a tune up at Fletcher Jones Toyota of Carson who for some reason didn't honor the previous warranty, because "Fletcher-Jones is now the new owner of the Carson location." In a sense, I am thankful for the grifting, because it lead me here. If you're indecisive Kinrose Creamery does offer samples. I ended up ordering two scoops of Saffron Pistachio Rose, & Orange Flower Pistachio. I definitely savored this unique frozen dessert in this unforgivable heat. Loved my choices and I will be coming back through the summer. The customer service is excellent, the establishment is very clean, & nicely decorated as well. It appears they have local art on the walls, and it's also well air conditioned. Additional information: parking is a bit of a hassle in this area. I ended up paying for a one day parking pass, which is ten bucks and having to walk about two blocks. I did not mind the short stroll but do recommend to look up neighboring businesses to get the best out of the one day pass. There's a pottery painting workshop near by, a spa, furniture shops, and also an amazing tea place adjacently across the street.

    Stopped by this location because they were doing a collab for a perfume line. I had the pleasure to…read moretry their "true loves cake" flavor that has pieces of cake, rose and pistachios in it. I must say the iced cream was too busy for me and didn't need much added as the base ice cream flavor was good. I noticed they had a lot of great flavors and some popular ones I'm excited to try next go round. The place is small with few seats inside but they had additional seating outside. Staff were friendly and I loved the vibe. You do have to pay for parking, but there's aplenty of spaces to park. Cannot wait to be in Pasadena again to try this place again.

    Photos
    Pistachio Konafa with Chocolate Shell. :)
    Pistachio Konafa with Chocolate Shell. :)
    Lavashak & Sour Cherry
    Lavashak & Sour Cherry
    Sesame Halva and Pistachio Konafa with Chocolate Shell

    See all

    Sesame Halva and Pistachio Konafa with Chocolate Shell
    Oakobing

    Oakobing

    4.3
    (602 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Pet friendly

    I love Korean shaved ice and this place rates way up there against all the other shaved iced places…read moreI've been here in the states and in Korea. Not only was the flavor amazing (which made me want to return and try them all) but the presentation was definitely instagram worthy. The one negative is that the seating was not plentiful for all their customers but this is definitely not a negative for the owners. That just means they have a great business. Location is in old town so parking might be a challenge.

    A Little Cheat Night Never Hurt Nobody!…read more After eating the juiciest chicken ever at Loli Farms, I've been eyeing this dessert spot for a while, and luckily it was only 1.6 miles away. So obviously... dessert was happening. Perfect excuse for a little cheat-night treat! Parking Hack: Don't pay $5 for parking! We parked about 7 minutes away in a parking structure for only $1 for 2 hours. After all the delicious food I inhaled, I definitely didn't mind getting a little extra cardio in. Pasadena parking is definitely doing the most, so parking structure it was! Mango Melon Shaved Ice -- $8.50 | 7.8/10 Mango-flavored shaved ice topped with melon balls and served with a side of milk drizzle. The shaved ice itself was SO soft and fluffy, and the milk drizzle gave it just the right amount of sweetness. The only thing was... I really couldn't taste much mango in the shaved ice. It was pretty subtle, so I wouldn't say this one completely blew me away, but it was still a refreshing treat on a hot summer night. Definitely not the best I've had, but certainly not the worst! Injeolmi Shaved Ice -- $7.50 | 7.7/10 Milk-flavored shaved ice topped with mochi, layers of Injeolmi powder, and more milk drizzle. This was actually our first time trying Injeolmi, so we were curious! The combination of the soft shaved ice, milk drizzle, and nutty Injeolmi powder was really good and made for a fun flavor combination. My only complaint? THE MOCHI. They were soooo tiny! I wanted that satisfying chewy squish, but these little guys basically tasted like mini boba that disappeared the second I bit into them. The shaved ice itself was perfectly soft and honestly the star of both desserts. Inside, there aren't a ton of tables, but luckily we snagged one right when we walked in. And let me tell you... this place had a constant flow of customers the entire hour we were there! People were coming in and out left and right, with only one ordering machine, so expect a little patience if it gets busy. Overall, both shaved ices were pretty decent and made for the perfect little "I already ate too much but I'm still getting dessert" moment. Definitely a nice way to break the diet after our chicken feast! Would I come back? Absolutely, especially to try some of their other shaved ice flavors. Happy desserts!

    Photos
    Mango Melon Shaved Ice
    Mango Melon Shaved Ice
    Single Green Tea Shaved Ice
    Single Green Tea Shaved Ice
    Oakobing

    See all

    Pillow Talk Cafe Pasadena

    Pillow Talk Cafe Pasadena

    4.2
    (608 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    I've been wanting to try this place, and I'm so glad I finally did!…read more I ordered the Egg Heaven and the Iced Honeycomb Latte. The Egg Heaven was honestly one of the best egg sandwiches I've ever had. The flavors were light but still incredibly satisfying. The bread was perfectly toasted, and the egg salad was seasoned so well that every bite was delicious. It was also definitely worth the price, it came with three pieces, which was more than enough to share between two people. The Iced Honeycomb Latte was just as good. It doesn't come sweetened at first, but as the dalgona slowly melts into the coffee, it adds the perfect amount of sweetness. If you prefer your coffee less sweet, you can always ask for less dalgona. On top of the great food and drinks, the staff was incredibly friendly. Since it was my first visit, she gave us great recommendations and helpful feedback on what to order, which made the experience even better. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu!

    The Japanese egg heaven sandwich was delicious- creamy, with chunks of soft boiled egg on their…read moreyummy pillowy soft bread.... It was heaven alright! Love the packaging that it comes in!!!! The musubiyaki was served hot, and was very fulfilling indeed! Their chiffon cakes are worth a try as well!!!! The mangomisu, a seasonal item, was great!!!! Big pieces of mango, light mascarpone filling, and spongy cake made this dessert so worthwhile! I also got the sunny side up and strawberry shortcake!!!! I really wanted to try all so for sure I will be back. Next time, I'm passing on the matcha drinks. Tried the matcha latte with mango and the banana matcha, both of which I found to be lackluster.

    Photos
    Pillow Talk Cafe Pasadena
    NEW SPECIAL DRINKS
    NEW SPECIAL DRINKS
    Sandwiches

    See all

    Sandwiches
    Motto Tea Cafe

    Motto Tea Cafe

    4.2
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Free WiFi

    Came here for the souffle pancakes and they didn't disappoint!…read more My party of 3 stopped by Saturday afternoon 2:30 pm and it wasn't crowded. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. We chose outdoor since it was such a nice day out. They have all of their desserts on display in the case, so you can peruse the options and see what looks good. So many of the desserts looked good, like the matcha yuzu chiffon crepe cake or the rose and lychee crepe cake. We ordered via the kiosk and got the mango sunshine souffle pancake ($16.50) and well as a couple drinks. My drink was the white peach lemon jasmine bliss ($6.25), with 50% sweetness and less ice. Even though there are signs everywhere saying that it takes 15-20 minutes for the souffle pancakes to be cooked, ours came out super quickly, in 5 minutes or so. We got it with the sauce on the side, but I regret doing that as I saw others getting it with the sauce on top and it was beautiful. The pancake was super fluffy and a bit eggy as well. We all really enjoyed it with the mango sauce. I made the mistake of eating the pancake first before trying a sip of my tea. The pancake was pretty sweet, so I could barely taste my drink, but I think it was good? I could taste a bit of the lemon but definitely not the white peach, which is a lighter flavor. I got a slice of their Hokkaido cheese cake roll for $7 to go and had it the next day. It was okay but definitely a bit pricy for what you get. I'd love to come back to try their other desserts and pancakes!

    Motto Tea Cafe was alright. I walked in and was greeted by 2 ordering kiosks. The pastries were…read moreyummy, but I wasn't too crazy about the drinks. I ordered a matcha coco jasmine tea and I found that the jasmine flavor completely took over. The oolong peach crepe cake was yummy! It had little peach chunks throughout. Good oolong/peach flavor was light, airy, and slightly sweet. The black sesame chiffon roll was also light and subtly sweet with a nice nutty flavor. The cafe itself was pretty small with 3 small tables, 1 big table, and bar seatings with charging ports. The bathroom was closed and it was really warm inside. I couldn't see myself studying or staying too long, which may be for the best since parking is tricky and street parking has a 2 hour limit. An okay experience, but I don't see myself coming back.

    Photos
    Rose & lychee crepe cake
    Rose & lychee crepe cake
    Creme brûlée crepe cake.
    Creme brûlée crepe cake.
    Mochi & Brûlée Milk Tea

    See all

    Mochi & Brûlée Milk Tea
    Wanderlust Creamery

    Wanderlust Creamery

    4.5
    (640 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    The flavors -Taiwanese Treasure Bowl, Lilikoi LiHing Pineapple, Palo Santo Mint Chip- I selected…read moredefinitely had my tastebuds wandering! I wish I brought my cooler to bring these back, especially the TTB. I do wish there were better seating inside to accommodate both small and larger groups. Regardless, I have flagged this creamery because I will definitely return and will make sure to recommend to anyone I know that'll be in the area.

    This location of Wanderlust Creamery is located in Pasadena. With another dessert shop nearby being…read moretoo crowded, my cousin and I came here. They seem to share the storefront with some other businesses, but there were some empty spaces. They had some limited high tops along the front window and one table. However it was really hot where we were sitting for an ice cream shop. Noah helped us with our order and she was super friendly. She was very gracious about offering us samples and telling us about the ice cream shop. So Wanderlust is inspired by global flavors, so you'll see unique flavors here. My cousin and I were pretty full from dinner so we decided to get the Tasting Trio ($6.50). We were told that these would be smaller scoops of each but you get to enjoy the variety, which was perfect for us. We opted for the Kinder, Ube Malted Crunch, and Japanese Neapolitan. This in itself was a nice mix of matcha, Sakura or Japanese cherry blossoms, and Hokkaido milk. All of the flavors were mild and not too sweet. I think my favorite was the Japanese Neapolitan. To be honest I was less excited by my experience with the Irvine location, but the flavors I tried here were much better. My cousin and I had a nice treat. It would have been a tad more enjoyable if it wasn't so hot here.

    Photos
    Passionfruit cacao (vegan), Japanese neapolitan, and sticky rice & mango (vegan)
    Passionfruit cacao (vegan), Japanese neapolitan, and sticky rice & mango (vegan)
    Thai tea
    Thai tea
    Mango sticky rice Japanese Neapolitan Vietnamese rocky road

    See all

    Mango sticky rice Japanese Neapolitan Vietnamese rocky road

    Marina - italian - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...