Absolutely worst customer service and dining experience I have ever had. I came here with a friend based on the numerous "5 star reviews" and the restaurant was empty. Our drinks sat at the bar for 5-10 minutes while our server was nowhere to be found. My friend's entree was supposed to include rice and beans but came with a small side salad. Before we could ask whether the sides were coming, another employee dropped an entire table's worth of dirty dishes and sauces next to and all over our table, clothes/shoes, booth, and food (including broken glass and shards of ceramic ware). Mistakes happen, but our server and management did not offer to comp our meal, replace our presumably contaminated food, move our seats, but instead offered a free dessert that we did not want, while the employee hastily cleaned in and around our table while we tried to eat. When the bill came, our server placed the check in front of my friend and said "this is for you" and winked, so as to imply he was responsible for our check. I called a few days later to express concern about the handling of potentially glass-contaminated food only to find that the manager was the person who offered the free dessert. His solution was to have me and my "husband" back for a "free" meal next time. Beware of these "6 star reviews." read more

I have to be forthcoming regarding this review and put it out there that my last name is ANAYA. We are not related as far as we know LOL. I won't let this be a factor for an honest rating, I promise. But our family (Other Anaya's) recommended this place to us and I'm glad they did. We pulled up to the restaurant and a car was leaving directly outside the door and we got front row FREE parking. What a way to start off the experience, but it get's better. The chips were good and the salsa was pretty good. The waiter brought out another homemade salsa in a bottle that had a nice flavor and good kick to it. We, the Anaya's, ordered steak Chile Rellenos, Chilaquiles, Sopes with 3 different meats and a Torta. The food was delicious. I'm a chile relleno guy and they did not disappoint. This was gourmet Mexican food and the ambience was terrific. The Horchata was very good as well. The beans were on point and the rice was pretty good. I have to give a disclaimer on the rice... Nobody can touch my Abuela's rice. So when I say it's good it's way better than the average rice but not as good as grandma's. She's was from Hidalgo. To summit up ANAYA's was delicious, the service was great and the ambience was terrific. The ANAYAS restaurant made our name proud! read more

From the moment you step into Anaya's Restaurant in Pasadena, you're transported straight to the heart of Mexico, thanks to the authentic ambiance and the warm welcome from Jose and his outstanding team. The food is nothing short of a masterpiece. The highlight for me was the molcajete, a traditional Mexican stone bowl brimming with a mix of carne asada, chorizo, chicken, and shrimp, all perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection. The bubbling cheese, alongside fresh tortillas and a medley of roasted peppers, elevates the dish to a whole new level. Every bite is infused with the rich, authentic flavors of Mexico, making it clear that Anaya's isn't just serving food; they're curating an experience. Whether you're a local or just passing through, Anaya's demands a visit. It's a culinary treasure that promises not just a meal, but a journey to remember. Absolutely a must-try for anyone on planet Earth who appreciates genuine, heartwarming, and delectably executed Mexican cuisine. read more

4 out of 5 Stars - A Mixed Bag, But Worth It I recently visited ANAYA'S RESTAURANT for the first time, and it was a bit of a mixed experience. Let me start with the positive: the service was fantastic. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, which made us feel welcome right away. The real highlight, however, was the lunch special. It's an amazing deal, especially because it includes a free margarita cocktail. The drinks were awesome--one was a classic frozen margarita, and the other a michelada. They were delicious and a great way to kick off the meal. Now for the enchiladas. They were alright, but they weren't great. They were edible, but nothing to write home about. That said, the rest of the meal, including the tacos and the classic rice and beans, was solid. Overall, the great service and the unbeatable lunch special make up for the so-so enchiladas. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking for a good lunch deal with a drink included. read more

I first visited this restaurant when it had just opened, and back then, the food, service, and ambiance was better. However, after returning last night after a few years, I was completely disappointed by the poor quality of the food. I asked the server what had caused such a drastic decline in taste, and they mentioned that the kitchen staff had changed. Unfortunately, it shows. The appetizer sampler was plain, uninspired, and lacking in flavor. The three-plate dinner menu was equally disappointing, with bland and tasteless dishes. The ceviche shrimp was mediocre at best. The one thing that has changed significantly? Their prices--everything is much more expensive now. Even the service was lackluster, and the restaurant manager didn't seem to make any effort to check on customers. To make matters worse, I felt unwell and experienced stomach discomfort after leaving. What a mistake and a complete waste of time and money. I will never return. read more

I live close by, and I've been here a few times, and always sort of liked this place, but didn't have any particular preference to it. HOWEVER. I happened to be jogging by last night and noticed they had live music. I stopped for a second to listen. The manager immediately came outside and greeted me and warmly invited me to come in and enjoy. Mind you, I told him I did not have my wallet, and was just out for a jog. He did not care, he got me a table and beverage, and all I could eat chips and salsa. He went on to tell me it's a family owned restaurant, and he was unbothered by the fact that I had absolutely no money to buy anything. I didn't even have my cell phone with me. That type of friendliness and welcomeness just earned him and this establishment, a lifelong customer and guest. Thank you for your incredible hospitality. As the owner of the Mr. Pasadena Company, I will see to it that this restaurant is highly rewarded. read more

The vibe started off great, the atmosphere is nice and the place definitely has potential. It was recommended by a friend who raved about it, so we came in really excited for a family dinner. Unfortunately, the food didn't meet expectations. The guacamole appeared slightly dark, which made it seem like it wasn't made fresh and maybe just "brightened up" with lemon. The molcajete was the biggest disappointment. The meat didn't taste fresh, the presentation felt rushed, and the beans were very bland. The drinks looked good, but after the food, I didn't feel motivated to order one. The servers were friendly and attentive, but overall the quality of the food is really what shaped the experience for us. This place has a lot of potential, but the kitchen definitely needs to step it up before I'd return. read more

Awesome awesome food! Their carne asada plate is amazing! Happy hour margarita deals during the week was perfect after work. They have outdoor seating and service was fantastic. We couldn't get enough of their chips and salsa! Try not to indulge too much in that or you won't finish your main meal. I had their sopes and that too was fantastic although the "bread" was not as crispy as other places, but it was nice and mini. It isn't as big. Also ordered their mango habanero chicken wings. nice and crisp and wasn't too spicy. Highly recommend their dessert, the churro ice cream, or something like that. Just order it if you love churro and ice cream, trust me. overall loved it! read more

My recent visit to Anaya's left me with mixed feelings, as the wait time despite reservations was quite lengthy, but the food was decent. Upon arriving at Anaya's, I had high hopes for a delightful dining experience. However, despite making reservations in advance, the wait to be seated was unexpectedly long. It was frustrating to see empty tables while we waited, and the lack of communication from the staff about the delay only added to the frustration. Once we were finally seated, we were eager to dive into the menu. The food was good Mexican food and service was friendly and attentive once we were seated, which helped to improve the overall experience. read more

We agreed with my friends to meet here and we did not lose! If you are looking for good food, great drinks and great service, this is the place for you. They have a cool patio. Drinks were so good quality alcohol which will blow you away in a few cocktails. If you are anywhere near, I recommend that you visit this place. The food is super! There are real Mexican dishes here! It's like I drove into Mexico for dinner and back home. The portions were huge and everything was delicious. They have happy hour every day until 5:00 pm. It was very fast. The waiter was friendly and helped us with food and drink choices. Thank you so much for a great evening. read more

Never used yelp before but wow I'm glad I did ! I come to Pasadena everyone once in a while and saw this new place that I never seen before and decided to drop by for a bite and drink. Food delicious. I had the pollo rebosado con mango and it was delicious! Something unique and different in a Mexican restaurant ! This is authentic Mexican food spot run by family members and it does look like they need to work out a few things with staff but it's new what do you expect !! They have my support and Anayas you'll be seeing me more often. Ohhh and ps their happy hour is ridiculously good read more

First time and being that they just opened, the food was delicious and I love the decor! I held my Friend-Mas there on Monday for lunch. No brunch yet but owner stated they are working on it. However their breakfast menu is available all day. I tried the machaca with egg and it was tasty (a lil spicy) but tried their spicy salsa on the side (boy was that good!). I highly recommend the sangria. My friends and I shared a pitcher. Other friends were very happy with all their drinks. Can't wait to go back for Happy Hour. Thank you Anaya's! read more

We've frequented this restaurant multiple times, and today's visit exceeded our expectations, thanks to our outstanding waiter, David. He seamlessly coordinated appetizers for our belated arrivals, consistently checked in on us, ensured our drinks were topped off, and even surprised my husband with a delightful birthday dessert--pulled straight from our conversation. David's attentive service truly made our evening memorable. Also, the food runners were exceptionally nice! I highly recommend this place for a fantastic dining experience! read more

Finally ! This is what Pasadena needed , a great "authentic" Mexican food and I loved that my server addressed that first stating that it was like food from my abuela . Cause this place is making some delicious homemade food , bruce or Cruz sorry if I get it wrong very accommodating, knew the menu , recommended some dishes which we ended trying the chilaquiles , Manny's Burger and the Mamas Chile Relleno and all were superb Service: 5 stars Ambience : 5 stars Quality: 5 stars Definitely recommend ! read more

I came to Anayas about a week ago or so and I was pretty disappointed with the service at first. It took us over 30 minutes to be seated when the restaurant was basically EMPTY. This lady at the front named Lorena was pretty rude and didn't even bother to keep us updated on why it was taking so long. Luckily, the manager Ramon passed by and sat us down immediately. He was super friendly and attentive. The food was amazing - I tried the camarones a la diabla and the guava flan. Highly recommend!! read more

Finally!!! Not just another glop-and-drop, rice-and-beans Mexican restaurant in Pasadena (other than the much more expensive Maestro) with good, made-in-this-kitchen food. Request: Add Barbacoa tacos and burritos to the menu. The Barbacoa has always been fantastic (three visits), and my wife's variety of choices also great. Looking forward to dinner here before Pasadena Playhouse plays. (Danny Feldman - consider a pairing.) (Rhetorical: Did Trejos close because they knew Anayas was coming?) read more

Nothing on their Menu disappoints. Totally worth taking the time to rate this place. Five of us went in yesterday and every meal we ordered was unbelievably delicious, including dessert and drinks. Our waiter was kind and knowledgeable, and the lady at the front was friendly and welcoming. My family and I are still talking about this place and can't wait to come back regularly. Great experience and great way to start the New Year. Thank you for having us! read more

We had a fantastic experience on a Friday night. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting, making it the perfect spot for a casual dinner. The menu was extensive, offering a wide variety of traditional and contemporary dishes. We opted for the carnitas and mole enchiladas, both of which were absolutely delicious. The flavors were rich and complex, and the portions were generous. The staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. read more

Food is always good and derive used to be better when they first opened. I just ate there a couple days ago and I had the chicken tacos, beans, and the cucumber drink. Literally, 90 minutes later had stomach problems and I had to use the bathroom really bad for a couple days. Not sure what caused it but the chicken didn't taste right. Probably won't get the chicken there anymore read more