CULINARY DELIGHTS

Pasadena’s dynamic dining scene continues to evolve in exciting and delicious ways. With more than 650 restaurants representing nearly every cuisine category, the options are indeed endless— there are more restaurants per capita here than in New York City. You can taste your way around the world, given the sheer variety of ethnic restaurants that refl ect the diversity of the community itself. Try classic institutions, from burger and burrito joints to fi ne dining standouts and steakhouses. See what the buzz is all about at new modern eateries that run the gamut from fast-casual to stylish, hip hot spots. And it’s not just food that’s on the must-try menu here—the libations scene is experiencing a renaissance of its own, between the artisanal co ee, tea, cocktails, craft beers and boba beverages. As Pasadena native, the late legendary chef Julia Child always said, bon appetit!

An import from Vancouver, Canada, Me + Crepe (89 E. Green St.; meandcrepe.com) brings their delectable Chinese crepes (a.k.a. jianbing) to Pasadena. The savory and sweet crepes are served street food-style but there’s nothing casual about the rich and unexpected fl avor combinations. The best part? They’re available all day long between 8:30 a.m. (9:00 a.m. weekends) and 2:30 p.m. (3:00 p.m. weekends), so you can pop in for breakfast or make it an afternoon snack.

Dan Modern Chinese (146 S. Lake Ave. #105; pasadenacommons.com) specializes in to-die-for dumplings, noodles and fried rice served in a relaxed, organic space for lunch and dinner daily. Owner James Kim created a tightly focused menu dedicated to Chinese cuisine’s greatest hits—highlights include the pork xiaolongbao, oxtail noodle soup and Dungeness crab fried rice.

Pasadena is the lucky beneficiary of the first brickand-mortar restaurant for Daddy’s Chicken Shack (11 W. Dayton St.; daddyschickenshackla.com), which started as a weekly pop-up at downtown LA’s Smorgasburg. The small takeaway space serves their decadent buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches, along with popcorn chicken, French fries, vegan faux-chicken nuggets and a vegetarian cauliflower sandwich. The hours from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily cater to the lunch and early dinner crowd. Entre Nous (19 W. Green St.; entrenousfrenchbistro. com) is a charming southern French bistro opened by Provence natives Jean-Christophe Febbrari and Mathias Wakrat, with Chef Hugues Quintard at the helm in the kitchen. The dinner-only menu reflects their French Riviera roots, with seafood-centric dishes like bouillabaisse and sea bass, and simple meat preparations that pay homage to Burgundy. Their collective passion for California produce and wine always shines through, too.

THE CRACK SHACK

Southern California fried chicken is also the star of the show at The Crack Shack (30 W. Green St.; crackshack.com), one of six “chicken and egg” concept locations by celebrity Chef Richard Blais. Pasadena recently welcomed the second outpost of Millie’s Café (1399 E. Washington Blvd.; milliescafela.com), a breakfast and lunch comfort food staple in Silver Lake since 1926. The popular South Bay mini-chain for all day dining, The Pan (57 Holly St.; thepan1.com), now brings its crowdpleasing American classics to Pasadena. Greater LA’s growing Granville (270 S. Lake Ave.) café collection also expanded to Pasadena with its winning combination of positive vibes, organic atmosphere and wholesome, farm-fresh fare.

Culinary DELIGHTS

1810 Argentinean Restaurant

This popular Pasadena restaurant is a great introduction to Argentinean food. Try the empanadas to start and one of the grilled steaks for your main. 121 W. Colorado Blvd. (626) 795-5658 1810restaurant.com

Bone Kettle

Stylish restaurant for shareable Indonesian dishes revolving around slow-cooked bone broth. 67 N. Raymond Ave. (626) 795-5702 bonekettle.com

Celestino Ristorante & Bar

Pumpkin tortellini and penne with prosciutto in a vodka sauce top the list at this Sicilian eatery. 141 S. Lake Ave. (626) 795-4006 celestinopasadena.com

BONE KETTLE

Del Frisco’s Grille

This upscale bar and restaurant will cater to your taste, whatever that may be. Don’t forget to try one of their signature cocktails. 55 S. Lake Ave. Ste. 150 (626) 765-9913 delfriscosgrille.com

Delicatessen by Osawa

Japanese style deli serving contemporary and traditional Japanese cuisine, creating fresh dishes daily from locally sourced ingredients. 851 Cordova St. (626) 844-8788 delicabyosawa.com

Houston’s

Ribs, steaks, sandwiches and salads. If you want to go another direction, Houston’s also o ers selection of sushi, and the elegant bar top is long and romantically lit. 320 S. Arroyo Parkway (626) 577-6001 houstons.com

La Grande Orange Café

An upscale dining spot on creative takes on the classics with fresh vegetarian options. 260 S. Raymond Ave. (626) 356-4444 lgostationcafe.com

Luggage Room

Wood-fired pizza and cocktails in what was originally the 1930s baggage room for the Del Mar Train Station. 260 S. Raymond Ave. (626) 356-4440 theluggageroom.com

Mi Piace

An Old Pasadena favorite. The desserts and pastries are worth the splurge if you have room. 25 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 795-3131 mipiace.com

Nick’s

Nick’s is a local favorite, thanks to its upscale atmosphere, enthusiastic sta , and sophisticated take on traditional American comfort food. Nick’s perfects the balance between comfort and class. The finely presented food and refined atmosphere whisks you away in accordance with Nick’s motto: “Dine, Drink, Escape.” 336 S. Lake Ave. (626) 787-1444 www.nicksrestaurant.com

EVERSON ROYCE

DER WOLF

Oenophiles have plenty of options to sip and savor wines from California and beyond. Whether you’re creating a DIY wine tour, or are simply looking for a destination with a compelling wine list, we’ve got you covered. Everson Royce (155 N. Raymond Ave.; eversonroyce.com) is a local favorite wine and spirits shop that hosts weekly tasting events and always has interesting bottles open for tasting. Monopole (21 S. El Molino Ave.; monopolewine.com) is another fabulous wine shop with regular evening tasting events and educational classes. Similarly, Vinotera (102 S. Lake Ave.; vinoterawine.com) pours wine flights at the shop’s wine bar Wednesday through Saturday evenings. Vertical Wine Bistro (70 N. Raymond Ave.; verticalwinebsitro.com) is a fullservice restaurant featuring wine flights along with wines by the glass and bottle. The Cellar (26 E. Colorado Blvd.; lecellar. com) is a wine library tucked into a basement level space between Vans and Lush on Colorado Boulevard. This class act is an ideal spot to end an evening—Thursday through Sunday—while enjoying wines from around the world.

CRAFT BEER CRAWL

California’s craft beer scene continues to get better and better, and Pasadena is right in step with this movement. Stone Brewing Tap Room (220 S. Raymond Ave.; stonebrewing.com) now has a tasting room and shop in the Del Mar Metro Station complex on the Gold Line. Der Wolf (72 N. Fair Oaks Ave.; derwolfskopf.wixsite.com/ derwolf) is Pasadena’s buzzing Bavarian bierhaus with more than 20 beers on tap, plus German snacks and lots of entertainment. Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste (1770 E. Colorado Blvd.; luckybaldwins.pub) is a British gastropub with more than 65 brews on rotation. Kings Row Gastropub (20 E. Colorado Blvd.; kingsrowpub.com) spotlights 24 Californian craft beers on draught with a beer-friendly menu of classic pub grub. The Pasadena Chapter of Congregation Ale House (300 S. Raymond Ave.; congregationalehouse.com) features their own beers along with more than 20 beers by nearby California brewers and international labels.

CLASSIC COCKTAILS

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a perfectly crafted cocktail in a setting befitting the drink’s throwback spirit. A few Pasadena cocktail dens allow you to do just that given their historic settings. The Raymond Bar 1886 (1250 S. Fair Oaks Ave.; theraymond.com) is the place for serious cocktail aficionados, thanks to the mixologists’ deep repertoire of more than 600 o -menu house cocktails—many with preProhibition-era roots. Magnolia House (427 S. Lake Ave.; the maghouse.com) is set in a historic craftsman bungalow that was once a post-Prohibition liquor shop, so it’s very fitting that they have a strong cocktail program, too. The Langham Huntington, Pasadena has been an iconic getaway retreat for more than a century—enjoy the refined elegance of the historic hotel while sipping on a handcrafted cocktail in The Tap Room (1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave.; langhamtaproom.com). And just think, if these walls could talk…

ROSEBUD COFFEE

Co ee culture is a serious passion in Pasadena. Rosebud Co ee (2302 E. Colorado Blvd.; rosebudco ee.com) is the fi rst café location for the co ee cart initiative designed to empower homeless and transitional-aged youth with barista jobs; their mantra is “co ee with a cause,” and it’s a cause worth supporting with your patronage. Traditionalists will appreciate Jameson Brown Co ee Roasters (260 N. Allen Ave.; jamesonbrown.com), who roasts co ee beans on-site in small batches to create the perfect cup. Jones Co ee Roasters (695 E. Colorado Blvd., 693 S. Raymond Ave., 1006 Mission St.; jonesco eeroasters.com) also roasts their own co ee beans, carefully sourced from sustainable farmers.

Homebrewed Bar (39 N. Arroyo Pkwy.; homebrewedbar.com) specializes in cold brewed co ees and teas and are known for their signature concoctions like lychee oolong milk tea with coconut and cold brewed house co ee with pistachio. In addition to drip, pour over and cold brew co ees, Lavender & Honey Espresso Bar (1383 E. Washington Blvd.; lavenderandhoneyespresso. com) concocts gourmet teas, matcha lattes, hot chocolates and lemonades. Dots Café & Bakery (3819 E. Colorado Blvd.; dotscafebakery.com) grew from a humble cupcake shop into a full-fl edged café where the co ee is just as addictive as the baked goods made from scratch daily. Tea-timers will appreciate JIN Tea (18 W. Green St.; jinteashop.com), where the art of tea is elevated to a sacred ritual. The purest organic ingredients sourced from Taiwan are freshly brewed in a traditional purple clay pot for hot teas, while cold brewed teas are balanced to perfection. Try the toppings like tofu pudding, brown sugar pearls and herbal jelly. Miss Cheese Tea Café (238 S. Arroyo Pkwy.; misscheesecafe.com) serves cold brewed Taiwanese teas and is best known for their cheese teas—cold teas topped with a foamy layer of milk and cream cheese sprinkled with salt. Prolece Tea (21 S. Fair Oaks Blvd.) pours a variety of colorful teas like their house milk tea and rose on lychee tea. The Japanese infl uenced Motto Tea Café (100 W. Green St. #101; mottotea.cafe) is committed to using all natural ingredients in their hot and iced tea drinks—think loose tea leaves, pure cane sugar and organic milk.

Chado Tea Room (79 N. Raymond Ave.; chadotearoom.com) o ers an afternoon tea service that pairs their hand-blended teas with a menu of globally inspired tea sandwiches and scones. Traditional afternoon English tea service can also be savored at Rose Tree Cottage (801 S. Pasadena Ave.; rosetreecottage.com), The Langham’s Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood (1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave.; langhamhotels.com/pasadena) and The Huntington’s Rose Garden Tea Room (1151 Oxford Rd.; thehuntington.org).

BOBA HUNTING?

Boba, the Taiwanese “bubble tea,” has made its mark on Pasadena and we can’t get enough of the delightful, refreshing treat. Prolece Tea,

Homebrewed Bar, Motto Tea Café, Miss

Cheese Tea Café and Ginger and Spice are the hot spots for all things Boba-licious.

Culinary DELIGHTS

THE ROYCE WOOD-FIRED STEAKHOUSE

POP Champagne Bar & Restaurant

Small plates, sparkling wine and desserts in the heart of charming Old Pasadena. 33 Union St. (626) 795-1295 popchampagnebar.com

Porto Via Italian Foods

A modern café inspired by the vibrant flavors of Italy, the Mediterranean and California. 1 W. California Blvd, (626) 793-9000 portaviafoods.com

Ramen Tatsunoya

Traditional Japanese ramen. 16 N. Fair Oaks Ave. (626) 432-1768 tatsunoyausa.com

Saladang Song

Superior traditional Thai cuisine in an architecturally unique structure. 383 S. Fair Oaks Ave. (626) 793-5200 saladang-thai.com

Soh Grill House

Gorgeous Old Pasadena location serving traditional Korean barbeque. Beef belly, rib eye and marinated short rib grilled tableside. 27 N. Raymond Ave. (626) 714-7760 sohgrillhouse.com

Sushi Kimagure Ike

Chef Ike San made a controversial decision when he relocated from his popular Hollywood destination. He hasn’t had a hard time getting his loyal customers to follow him east. He serves the freshest sashimi in its purest form. 220 S. Raymond Ave. (626) 535-0880

Sushi Roku

Incorporating diverse, non-traditional ingredients and superlative traditional sushi, Sushi Roku is a unique culinary experience. The diverse menu also o ers an array of hot and cold specialty appetizers and an extensive selection of exotic entrees. 33 Miller Ally (626) 683-2000 innovativedining.com/restaurants/ sushiroku

The Royce Wood-Fired Steakhouse

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena’s signature steakhouse serves the finest selection of wood-grilled USDA Prime Cuts, Australian Wagyu, and authentic Japanese Kobe Beef, as well as seafood and sides alongside an impressive selection of wines. The Royce’s Red and White Wine Rooms make perfect places for intimate celebrations, tastings and private dinner events. 1401 S Oak Knoll Ave. (626) 585-6410 roycela.com

Union Street Sandwich Co.

A charming sandwich shop and bakery on Union Street in Old Pasadena. 109 Union St. (626) 639-3575 unionsandwich.com

Union

One of Pasadena’s most coveted tables. In true farm to table fashion Union features charcuterie prepared on site, homemade pasta and nose to tail butchering. Starters include Hope Ranch mussels, veal and porcini sausage and housemade charcuterie. Mains include such rustic yet original fare as Stracotto – beef short ribs with barley risotto and the absolutely must have porchetta. 37 E. Union St. (626) 795-5841 unionpasadena.com

RESTAURANT

“TIME TO CHECK OUT THE RESTAURANT THAT ALL OF PASADENA IS TALKING ABOUT.” (626) 396.4925

527 S.LAKE AVE.SUITE 120 PASADENA, CA 91101

EaterLA

@THEARBOURPASADENA WWW.THEARBOURPASADENA.COM

MONDAY – FRIDAY

11:30 AM – 2:30 PM 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM

SATURDAY – SUNDAY

4:00 PM – 9:30 PM

FREE

limited edition postcard

Bring this flyer to the official Pasadena Visitor’s Center and receive one of six limited edition Pasadena Souvenior Shop postcards designed exclusively by Pasadena local, Kat Gastelum.

Pasadena Visitor’s Center 300 E. Green St. Pasadena, CA 91101

THE ICE CREAM SCOOP

Ice cream shops abound in Pasadena and it’s downright impossible to say which is the best—they all o er something unique and any will surely hit that icy cold sweet spot. Float Pasadena (380 S. Lake Ave.) keeps it classic with a modern take on the old fashioned soda fountain shop. Afters (1265 E. Green St.) is known for their signature hot-glazed MilkyBun that gets filled with the ice cream flavor of your choosing. Pick-up a readymade ice cream sandwich at Coolhaus (59 E. Colorado Blvd.), whose innovative, all-natural ice cream flavors sit between ultra-rich cookies. Bengees (901 E. Del Mar Blvd.) gets into the sandwiching groove, too, with cronuts as the “bun”—we give them extra brownie points for their wide range of vegan flavors. Gelato-lovers should try Swedish Scoops (26 N. Raymond Ave.), Hello Gelato (20 E. Colorado Blvd.) and Congelato (748 E. Colorado Blvd.). For artisanal frozen yogurt, hit 21 Choices (44 N. Fair Oaks Ave.). And after you try the gourmet ice creams at Carmela (2495 E. Washington Blvd.), you’ll want to sign up for one of the seasonal ice cream making classes o ered in their “micro-creamery.”

AFTERS

COOL HAUS ICE CREAM BENGEES

Amara Cafe

VOTED BY PASADENA WEEKLY BEST BREAKFAST AND INDEPENDENT COFFEE HOUSE

Amara Cafe offers the unique flavor of Venezuelan cuisine with a Spanish influence. Here the spicy cacao latte and the fresh vegan churros are a treat worth trying. At Amara Cafe you can also enjoy fluffy, yet crispy arepas - the kitchen stuffs these traditional Venezuelan pockets with shredded beef, gouda, or fresh cheese, black beans, and the irresistible ripe sweet plantains. Amara also has something unique to LA: cachapas, a Venezuelan crêpe made with fresh and roasted yellow corn, making the perfect breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon and melted cheese!