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Dos Besos

4.5 (430 reviews)
PriceySpanish
Open • 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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DOS BESOS ATMOSPHERE

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Moderate noise
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Cortado
R C.

What a find! I was in search for authentic Spanish food and I found it in Old Town Pasadena. The food is excellent. The service staff was courteous and knowledgeable. The outdoor dining area was comfortable. If you're looking for some delicious Spanish cuisine, you must give this place a try. Thank you to the Chef for capturing the essence of Spanish food and for giving us Dos Besos!

Green beans
Katelyn K.

First time dining at Dos Besos. I always pass by but never had to chance until the other day. My husband called in advance to book outdoor seating since we have a puppy. We came during dinner time so it's not too hot. For the table, we ordered: Seafood paella Octopus with potatoes Anchovy String beans Tomato bread Burrata Bread pudding Arnold Palmer Waiter is nice but he kept forgetting to fill our water cups three times. I was so thirsty. Bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts and unfortunately bread pudding here is very odd. It's like pudding and I just never had it like this before. Definitely disappointed in the bread pudding. I cannot recommend. Everything else was delicious. Personally I love strong flavors so I kept adding lemon to the seafood paella. It was a bit bland for me until I added lemons. I love that there is a park behind the restaurant so I took my puppy for a walk afterward. And thank you for providing water for my fur baby!

Seafood paella
Tiffany L.

Came here twice and each time was a phenomenal experience. On my first visit I mainly got a bunch of tapas and the seafood paella, and everything was stellar from taste to textures. The pan con tomate truly felt like a masterpiece. It's doused with enough olive oil and tomatoes where the bread is still crunchy and doesn't get soggy at all. The octopus also really stood out to me for its texture. The tartufo dessert was delightful as well, as the flavor from the hazelnut chocolate really shone through. On my second visit, I repurchased the pan con tomate because I loved it so much, and got the rigatoni and New Zealand rack of lamb. This is some of the best lamb I've ever had. It was cooked to be perfectly tender and it tasted amazing. I don't normally go out of my way to get lamb, but for this I would. As for the rigatoni, I thought this was too heavy for my liking. It reminded me a little of Mac and cheese. I think this is better shared rather than served as an individual main course. I would have liked if this had more ham in it. Overall, one of the better tasting restaurants in Pasadena that I would single out as a recommendation to my friends and family!

Pan con tomate
Cady N.

This might be my new favorite restaurant in Pasadena, although for a price tag. Came in with a party of 10, so ordered probably 80% of the menu apart from drinks. There were 0 misses. We tried four different paellas: Seafood, Seafood Noodle, Squid Ink, and the daily special (which I've sadly forgotten). I genuinely can't pick a favorite...they were all so incredible. I've had some pretty bad experiences with overly salty paella, even in Spain (!!!), so I was relieved Dos Besos wasn't that. Great selection of tapas as well. We basically ordered everything. The standouts for me were the Galician octopus, mushrooms in truffle cream, and the cured meats. But holy, everything was so good. I am not a huge fan of red wine but the sangria was fruity and went down smoothly. Desserts were also fantastic, I especially loved the torrijas. The chef, who's from Barcelona, was incredibly kind and came out personally to offer complimentary pan con tomate with our endless jamón orders. Incredible experience and I would love to come back every day if I had the financial means to.

Octopus
Linda L.

This is close to the Pasadena City Hall, there's street parking and parking garages near by. We were able to get seated easily on a weekday night. The sangrias were delicious and refreshing. I really enjoyed the octopus appetizer. This is good for a group of friends or on a date. Just FYI: the paella takes at least 35 minutes as noted on the menu. We shared 2 paellas and an appetizer between the 5 of us and we were still kind of hungry. I definitely suggest ordering more.

Paella $64.
Sam V.

Yes, the three dollar signs are accurate. This is a spendy restaurant, but worth it. There were four of us , they started us with an assortment of olives and some crackers. We intended to order the seafood paella so ordered an appetizer of shrimp in sauce.. The advice from other reviewers is accurate, get a second order of bread because the sauce is fantastic. My spouse had the salmon plate and said it was the best he's ever had. I had the seafood stew, cazuela and would order it again. I got to taste the seafood paella and might order that next time. The rice was delicious with a crust of socorat and comes with a scraper to get every bit. Our server was Tomas, he was efficient without being intrusive. The inside area of the restaurant is pretty tight and a bit noisy, I think I'll try outside next time. I can see why they have the email reservation system.

Pork Paella
Vance N.

Our friend recommended Dos Besos for a nice meal in Pasadena where our group could catch up over some shared plates. We dined on a Sunday evening with a reservation, and the restaurant was fully booked. We ordered 4 tapas and the pork paella over the seafood. The pork was a great alternative to the seafood, it was moist and delicious and the pan crisped rice gave it great texture. We had one hiccup where we were given an extra dish, but other than that we had a good experience.

albondigas a la española (spanish meatballs in tomato sauce) $19
Lynda S.

4/4/26 Spring break departure meal..our niece recommended Dos Besos and our boys love paella so we came by and splurged on not one but two paellas! Their tapas were sooo good too! Niece and I started with the lychee cava spritzer $17 setas en crema de trufa (mushrooms in truffle cream) S23 Order the Extra pan (bread) $5 to dip into the mushroom truffle cream. albondigas a la española (spanish meatballs in tomato sauce) $19 And the star of the dinner = paella en su tinta (squid ink paella) $64 fideuá de mariscos (seafood noodle paella) $62 It was a great dinner in great weather dining outside seating under the string lights! Service was great!

Lauren L.

Sole reason I came was for the seafood paella and it DELIVERED! It took 35 minutes and it didn't feel long since we got an appetizer and drinks. It was beautifully cook with the right crispiness of the rice and well balance flavor. It was perfect for two. We sat outside and it was giving European vibes. Service was great. Parking is either street (if you're lucky) or scattered parking lots half a block away which can be tricky to find.

Paella Del Mar
Tiffany L.

This place is a new favorite for me - food is delicious and fresh. We started with the octopus and potatoes; the octopus was soft and tender with very soft potatoes, though I think could have used a little extra seasoning. We had the lamb racks next which were cooked just to our liking (medium rare), with tasty crispy potatoes and non-stringy string beans. And of course the highlight of the night was their seafood paella. I typically find paella to be a little too moist but Dos Besos makes it in a shallow pan which gives the rice on the bottom a nice crunchy crust. The seafood was fresh and the flavors were decadent. Service was friendly and they have a cute outdoor covered patio that keeps you out of the street and car exhaust. Parking is readily available with all the parking structures in old town.

Menu
Vickie V.

We close out 2025 with the restaurant of the year - Dos Besos. This place was not on my radar and I discovered it after patronizing a neighboring restaurant. To sum up the experience - WOW! Started off the evening with a a sparkling sangria. Highly recommend you go with this option if you are going to have sangria. It's a fruity and bubbly option. Next was the pulpo a la gallega. Lately I opt for any octopus dish. Again, this did not disappoint. The potatoes complimented the octopus perfectly. It was a toss up for the next tapa and after the girls at the table next to us told us what to skip, we opted for the tortilla española. I'm not gonna lie, I was skeptical about this dish because my mom had made it in the past and it was just meh. Granted, my mom wasn't the best cook either. This was so the right choice! The only drawback is that I wanted more! The dipping sauce was phenomenal. You cannot skip this tapa. Now for the main dish....The other diner wasn't sold on the paella but you cannot go to a Spanish restaurant and pass on the paella! She was a trooper and decided to give it a try as long as I agreed to take the leftovers home. There were no leftovers. I've had many a paella but never one where the rice on the bottom was crispy. The crispy rice elevated this dish to the point we were scraping the pan for every last morsel. Don't let anyone at your table talk you out of a paella. As you can see, the tables for two are pretty small (we dined inside). This poses a problem if you each are going to get a paella, which I recommend after scraping the pan. So, just keep that in mind. I think my next trip I'll be going by myself so I can have all the yummies all to myself. Parking is fairly easy. You can snag a spot on the street or park at a structure. I absolutely loved this place and if you're looking for some Spanish fare, do not pass up this place.

Spanish meatballs and Iberico (half eaten)
Katia M.

10/10, can't wait to come back. The food is phenomenal. We had the Iberico (big time WOW), the Spanish meatballs, and the octopus. Absolutely order the Iberico, it just melts in your mouth. The Spanish meatballs and the octopus were both surprisingly tender, each with its own density of flavor. The bread pudding was perfectly not too sweet. It was paired with some rich vanilla ice cream. The service was just as exceptional as the food. Our server, Tomas is one of the most polite, well spoken individuals I've had the pleasure of being served by. The ambiance is delightful. We came for dinner on a Friday night and the music, the fairy lights, and the chatter was all perfect. Will absolutely be back for more. Don't skip this place! And definitely order the Iberico

Puddings
Julia C.

We were there to celebrate my son's birthday. He wants to try Spanish food and picked the restaurant. The food was hit and missed. Dessert was excellent. Octopus with potato and Burrata were good. Paella and steak were average. The fish was disappointed, which was the thing my son wanted for his birthday. The restaurant was busy for a weekday dinner. Our waiter was not very helpful. The indoor tables were limited. We couldn't sit comfortably for 4 people. Maybe we will try outdoor seating next time.

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Kit R.

Thank you, Helen!! xx

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1 year ago

Charming restaurant...Wonderful food and great atmosphere. We will definitely come back

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Page 5 of 11

Dos Besos Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Dos Besos

What is the 2026 price on the seafood stew? i dont see it in the menu photos.

What are the hours like for the summer? Currently just says "closed//special hours."

Because this is a small business they may have changed the hours based on their personal needs. My suggestion is to use the message feature on Yelp it's under INFO and ask the owners directly or email them at dosbesospasadena@gmail.com. I… 

Do you do special events?

Hello, Jasmine! For any event inquiries, please email dosbesospasadena@gmail.com. Thank you!

Is parking validated?

No, none of the parking garages in Pasadena validate for retailers/restaurants.

So is the only way to make reservations through phone because I drove an hour through traffic after searching everywhere for a website to make reservations only to find out you can only eat here with reservations?

Hello, Andy. We are sorry we couldn’t accommodate you this evening. We take reservations AND walk-ins. Walk-in slots are based on availability and gets filled quickly during a busy weekend (especially during dinner rush hour) as we are a small… 

Is there only outdoor seating?

No we sat inside for our dinner and there were at least half a dozen other tables inside as well. You have a great view of the kitchen too

Hello, what are your holiday hours? Are you open on Xmas Eve?? Thanks!

Hello, Helen! We are closed for the Holidays on DEC 18 to JAN 9. We return on TUE, JAN 10. Happy Holidays!

Do you have gift certificates?

Hello, Sheila. Unfortunately, we do not have gift certificates available. Thank you.

Hello, are reservations needed?

Hello! Reservations are highly recommended, especially on the weekends. To make a reservation, please call (626) 696-3741 or email dosbesospasadena@gmail.com. Thank you.

Kid friendly place or no?

Yes, we are kid/family-friendly. Thank you.

Do you have any flamenco dancers?

Hello! We do not have flamenco dancers. Thank you.

What's the corkage policy?

The corkage fee is $25 per 750ml bottle.

Hi,are dogs allowed in outdoor seating?

Hello. Yes, our outdoor patio is dog-friendly.

How long would a wait time be for walk-ins?

We did not wait for our table, probably on weekends you have to wait

Hi do you have a full bar?

Hello, Hazel. We do not have a full bar. We have BEER & WINE only - a nice selection of Spanish beer and wine + sangrias!

Do you have an online reservation?

Hello. There is no online reservation. To book a table, please call the main line at 626-696-3741 or email dosbesospasadena@gmail.com. Thank you.

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Fishwives - Sampler platter - called "the fish"

Fishwives

4.2(1.7k reviews)
0.1 mi•Downtown
•$$

Came here for dinner with another fish-loving friend, and neither of us had ever been. We had an…read moreexcellent meal here, and I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu... I'd been sleeping on this place! I really liked the open, airy, diner-like atmosphere here, with comfy, clean booths but still a bit of an upscale feel. We started with the House Pickles and some fresh oysters. Our server was great at recommending some oysters in different flavor profiles, since we liked the milkier, less briny-tasting varieties. His recs were spot on too, and I loved that they provided house-prepared mignontette and horseradish. Then, we shared the Maryland blue crab cake (one cake that was big enough for its own meal) and the U10 Diver Scallops that came in a sauce of cream, spinach and bacon, and a side of buttery, soft bread. I make scallops all the time at home and never would have thought of a sauce like this... it was dreamy! We used the bread to just about clean the plate (since it isn't really socially acceptable to lick a plate in a restaurant), and I'm still thinking about the scallops and that sauce today. The crab cake and pickles were excellent too. We paired everything with some crisp New Zealand sauv blanc. I really enjoyed this place and I'd love to go back to try to hand rolls, soups, and everything else!

Had a nice dinner at this seafood bar named Fishwives in Old Town Pasadena. We made reservations…read moreand came in this place has a very chill vibe. Got seated in the corner for our party of three. The menu is small but the flavor is so good. All of us loved the food and would come back for sure. We got to try a seafood platter, cioppino, and ceviche. All the items were fresh and we loved every dish. So if you want some seafood and are in the area this is a nice spot with a chill vibe.

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Fishwives - Dungeness Crab Roll

Dungeness Crab Roll

Fishwives - Lobster Roll

Lobster Roll

Fishwives - Fresh but under seasoned albacore, amberjack, salmon, ponzu vinaigrette

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Fresh but under seasoned albacore, amberjack, salmon, ponzu vinaigrette

The Cellar - A Wine Library - Another one of our favorite servers/ sommelier

The Cellar - A Wine Library

4.5(621 reviews)
0.1 mi•Downtown
•$$

I was looking for a spot to celebrate on my birthday week. I am a fan of the speakeasy in Pasadena…read moreas well & this spot is known for this vibe. There is the school house parking lot in the back that is $1 for the first hour or you can park on the street. Once I arrived the host was outside a venue which looks like a store. Once my party arrived they allowed us to walk down a hallway. We entered an elevator which opened to a dark hallway. The hallway was aesthetic with a knight standing in the corner. A wooden door opens & inside is the wine cellar. You're walked to your table. I ordered the Mozart charcuterie board & a cab sav red wine to share. The ambiance is nice & pleasing. It can become a bit loud when more people arrive. There is a self playing piano as well. The server was kind & open to our questions concerning wine selections. Since it was my birthday I was served icecream, crème brûlée, & dessert wine. Our bill was placed in a smut book lol. Overall an aesthetic spot for a date , birthday, or girls night.

Absolutely horrendous customer service…read more Once we finished eating, we waited over 40 minutes for someone to even walk by our table so we could order dessert and get our check. I have no idea what happened to our server, but we were completely forgotten about. On top of that, the food took an extremely long time to come out, and when it finally arrived, it was very bland and underwhelming. The table next to us had ordered a brand-new charcuterie board and waited so long just to order their wine that they eventually left the restaurant without even touching the charcuterie board. Overall, both the food and the service were extremely disappointing. Waiting that long just to get someone's attention, receive our food, and eventually pay the bill is unacceptable. Definitely not an experience we'll be repeating.

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The Cellar - A Wine Library - The coolest atmosphere.

The coolest atmosphere.

The Cellar - A Wine Library - Entrance

Entrance

The Cellar - A Wine Library - Bordeaux

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Bordeaux

El Dorado Pollos A La Brasa

El Dorado Pollos A La Brasa

4.6(772 reviews)
0.7 mi•West Central
•$$
Pet friendly
Family-owned & operated

What amazing food they have here and such great service. My wife, sister-in-law, and I got 2 plates…read moreof the Lomo Saltado, which was excellent. It had huge chunks of meat and was more than enough to fill all 3 of us up. My son and nephew ate the rotisserie chicken. This was also good, but not as good as the Lomo Saltado. Anyway, we'll definitely be going back here. They even offer free small bottles of water and free coffee, and they didn't hesitate to give us as much dipping sauces as we needed. This is definitely a must place to go if you're looking for excellent food with kind service.

Came across this place on Yelp and decided to give it a try. Everything we ordered was fantastic!…read moreThe lomo saltado was delicious, the 1/4 chicken was perfectly cooked, the yuca is a must, and the shrimp ceviche was incredibly fresh. It's family-owned, and you can definitely feel it. Everyone was so warm, friendly, and welcoming, which made the experience even better. The only thing I would change is that I wish all of the food came out at the same time instead of being spread out throughout the meal. Other than that, we had a great experience. Can't wait to come back and try more!

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El Dorado Pollos A La Brasa
El Dorado Pollos A La Brasa - Chicken Plate, Salad, Chaufa w Shrimp

Chicken Plate, Salad, Chaufa w Shrimp

El Dorado Pollos A La Brasa - Tallarin Verde Plate with Papa a la huancaina, Lomo Saltado and a kids plate (2 piece of chicken, fries and plantains). Chef kiss!

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Tallarin Verde Plate with Papa a la huancaina, Lomo Saltado and a kids plate (2 piece of chicken, fries and plantains). Chef kiss!

Union - Tochetti

Union

4.1(1.9k reviews)
0.1 mi•Downtown
•$$$

One visit was all it took for Union to become my favorite restaurant in Pasadena! The food was…read moredelicious, but the hospitality made the experience truly special. From the host to the bartender and our wonderful server, everyone made us feel so welcome. The restaurant has such a warm, inviting atmosphere--it almost feels like being welcomed into an Italian family's home. I wish I remembered our server's name because he deserves a special shout-out! He spoke Spanish, which made the experience even more comfortable and enjoyable for me as a Spanish speaker. His kindness and attentiveness were exceptional--some of the best service I've ever received. We tried the local wild mushrooms (my absolute favorite!), roasted market carrots, beets, squid ink lumache pasta, and torchetti. Everything was delicious, and the pacing of the meal was just right. To finish, our server treated us to complimentary guava and mango ice cream with chamoy. Such a thoughtful gesture and a lovely way to end the meal! I've only been once, but I'm already looking forward to going back. Union really made an impression. Highly recommend!

Really feels like Union is taking a bit of a slide. I've eaten here twice in the last few months…read more The server makes sure to prod you into ordering multiple dishes so you can share but when the dishes arrive the portions are not particularly sharing size. They also make sure to stress that dishes don't arrive together. It's mainly a pasta restaurant, why can't the kitchen push out pasta orders together? The first time we were there one of our three pasta dishes was literally ten minutes behind the other two. The most recent visit the restaurant was not full so the dishes largely came together but the pastas were sent before al dente. The soppresini wasn't al dente, it just wasn't fully cooked. The flavors of the dishes are really good but the execution is sub par. One of the folks at our table mentioned it was their birthday so without us asking they brought a scoop of ice cream with a candle which we thought was really nice of them. Then the bill came and we saw that they proceeded to put it on the bill for $6. Didn't want to make a scene but this is beyond tacky and overall I can say we won't be returning here anytime soon.

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Union - Inside

Inside

Union - Spaghetti Alla Chitarra

Spaghetti Alla Chitarra

Union - Olive Oil Cake

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Olive Oil Cake

Entre Nous French Bistro - Escargots de Bourgogne.

Entre Nous French Bistro

4.4(449 reviews)
0.3 mi•Downtown
•$$$

Honestly, better than most of the food I've had in Paris! I went on a Thursday night, and it was…read morenot busy at all. We each got fish as a main and we shared an escargot. The escargot is probably the best I've had. I loved how buttery it was and the snail itself was so fresh and tender. I'd definitely repurchase this on another visit. I even dipped some of the baguette bread (which had the best crunch!) into the butter and it was perfection! For our mains, we got the sea bass with lentils and the Alaskan halibut, and both were prepared perfectly down to taste and texture. Everything about its execution felt very intentional. The halibut was baked with the right amount of breading and the sea bass was pan seared to give that nice crispy texture to the skin. My only critique is I thought the lentils were a bit too overpowering because of the huge quantity, but honestly, everything else was amazing enough that I'm not bothered by it.

Always wanted to try this french restaurant and finally was invited by my family for donner…read more Very chill spot and perfect for a intimate date night. Overall this restaurant layout was pretty cool and the night we went the noise level was moderate but I can see that if its packed this place could get loud. They offer outdoor seating as well that looked cozy. Our waiter and his team was very attentive and always made sure we had what we needed so service was exceptional. Food is always an area that I leave up to everyone's own taste. To me I felt some of the dishes needed more salt but I always enjoy my food from how the chef prepped it so I can try new dishes.

Photos
Entre Nous French Bistro - Inside

Inside

Entre Nous French Bistro - Entrecote au poivre

Entrecote au poivre

Entre Nous French Bistro - Malbec,

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Malbec,

Barra Santos - Calamari

Barra Santos

4.4(207 reviews)
5.8 mi•Cypress Park
•$$$

Dim lighting, cool vibes, Portuguese small plates and a 13th anniversary (aww my relationship is a…read moreteenager now!). The steak tartare was bright, acidic, perfectly balanced and it's paired with sweet potato chips.. I had to take a moment! SO. GEWD. The bacalhau fritters was another favorite of mine. Crisp outside, soft inside, salty in the best way. Ask for extra lemons to brighten it further and thank me later. The head on prawns were so well seasoned and beautifully cooked and the sauce? Divine. I would bathe in it. The french fries were perfect but the lemon parsley aioli they came with is the real main character and I will not hear otherwise. Aioli of my dreams. Literally. Caipirinha with port float and Rosa margarita were both giving. Bolo do caco and boquerones also ate. Service was a little cold to start but warmed up as the night went on, and they ended the meal by surprising us with bubbles for our anniversary which was the sweetest thing. Pricey but worth every single penny. Date night, anniversary, or some other special occasion, this is your spot.

Overall experience was a 3.8/4…read more I made my partner and I reservations here on a Saturday at 4:30pm so we could take advantage of the happy hour. We were seated indoors a few minutes after checking in and it was HOT. Not to mention there was a fly buzzing around us for pretty much the entire meal. I understand LA is experiencing an unprecedented heat wave right now but the lack of temperature control was really uncomfortable. Our waitress came by to take our drink orders and we both got the Rosa Margarita ($10 during HH) and we both enjoyed them. I liked the uniqueness of the cherry liqueur. Our waitress gave us the spiel of how the recommend 2-3 dishes pp, take the whole order at once, course it out, etc. We ordered the tuna crudo, summer melon salad, cod fritters, charred corn, and the bifana ($15 during HH.) This was plenty of food for us. Everything was good but we felt like some of the dishes just needed ONE more thing to be better - like some sort of aioli or dipping sauce for the fritters, or a pickle/crunch for the bifana. I think the bifana was the highlight though, and I'm usually not into pork. It was cooked perfectly and very well seasoned. We finished our meal with the spiced almond cake which again was good BUT would have been better with a scoop of ice cream. This was the third Last Word Hospitality group restaurant I've tried so far and probably my least favorite. I think it's worth trying once but personally I don't see myself returning.

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Barra Santos
Barra Santos - Cod Fritters

Cod Fritters

Barra Santos - Charred Cabbage

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Charred Cabbage

Dos Besos - spanish - Updated October 2026

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