El Metate is a Mexican restaurant located at 12 North Mentor Avenue in Pasadena. It is known for family recipes that are full of flavor and are always unique. It is often very busy with regular customers as well as people visiting Pasadena and discovering this cherished establishment. When you first walk in the front door, you are greeted by a staff member eager to help you make your choices among their incredible food. After showing us specials, we were given the extensive printed menu. We asked a number of questions about some of the more popular items. We were given information as to how each item was made and flavored. While we were talking, we could hear the kitchen putting together food items for pickup and delivery. After some discussion we decided to order some food to eat while waiting for our take-home order. It was happy hour so we ordered a Pacifico beer and some taquitos with chips and salsa. We chose a table in an adjacent table-filled room. This room had a great ambiance. The chips and salsa and the taquitos were great. I enjoyed the fresh, warm chips that had great flavor. It was a quiet time of day right before the evening rush, so there were only a few tables occupied. The super burrito and chimichang were filled with flavor and more than one meal. They tasted great and each item was packed with precision and care. The nachos were incredible. Warm, filled with flavor and packed with toppings and cheese. Small intimate outside seating with umbrellas. Parking is difficult but there is a nearby parking structure. read more

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We went during their happy hour and was pleasantly surprised how much we liked the food, as well how much food they give for the price. I ate that red burrito and my wife ate the Milanese torta. Both were excellent but I have to admit that the torta was slightly better. They also gave us free chips and salsa. The salsa was surprisingly really good. Also, we got a pina colada and a mango margarita for $5 for happy hour. They were both decent but for the price and amount you get, it was tidally worth it. We decided to end with some churros which were also excellent. They are filled with caramel which we didn't expect. Finally service was excellent and the staff was very friendly. We will definitely come back again. read more

We recently found this local gem - El Metate, a family-owned and operated restaurant that serves homey Mexican food. The ambiance is cozy and staff are welcoming. We really enjoyed the fajitas, seafood soup and Campechana. We got a lengua burrito to-go for my parents and they enjoyed it as well. There is an extensive menu with affordable prices and good portion sizes. Pro tip: Come with friends or family to try more dishes! read more

Great portion, great taste, great price. And great customer service ! Free chips and salsa before Main plate read more

El Metate Cafe - Great nachos, amazing portion, great price, and great customer service - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Small place = Big flavour Glad we decided on El Metate for supper; everything was fresh and tasty! The tortilla chips were on the thicker side, which I like, making scooping salsa easier. The mild and spicy salsas were both good. Our entrées were delicious: the mole and the wet burrito, both with chicken. The rice and beans, also yum! The staff were friendly and service was quick. I recommend. read more

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A true local gem. Authentic, delicious, big portions and extremely reasonable prices. I had two bowls of chips because they were that good, lol. Our waiter was incredibly kind, offering suggestions and checking in on us. The food was DELICIOUS. Love to support local, and I encourage you to do the same at El Metate! I will 200% be back!! read more

Hands down best Mexican restaurant in Pasadena especially for the friendly staff and service! Great happy hour to start with chips and salsa and a cold Modelo! read more

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I got a chili relleno burrito to go it was really good the rice was good the chile relleno was cooked well the burrito just had chile relleno and beans with the rice on the side read more

El Metate Cafe - Half and half chile relleno wet burrito - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have never had a meal here that wasn't fantastic. Food is excellent and the people are so nice! Everything is fresh and home made. Happy hour too!! read more

El Metate Cafe - Still the best salad in the universe: super tostada with shrimp - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Ok! Best Mexican food in all of Pasadena! Service friendly, margarita fantastic... and to the chef in the back well done! Food was fresh and hot, flavorful, well portioned and well priced. It's a hole in the wall gem! read more

The food is alright, I had better Mexican food, the shrimp Cocktail was lacking in flavor for my taste. I gave 5 stars because of the service, very welcoming people with a smile on their face. The ambiance is alright, nice trees outside and inside it's quiet for a nice conversation. Don't have a parking lot you need to look around. read more

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Went back for a breakfast burrito: steak and egg with light rice. It was sooo good. Tortilla was grilled but also still had a good chew on it. I got it to go and they gave me a small bag of chips to go with it (a little stale and needed salt),but a little container of their pico would have been nice. The verde hot sauce was perfect with the burrito and next time I'll get 2 sauces. read more

A harsh critic when it comes to Mexican food, but this place blew me away! The food is incredibly authentic -- we ordered three different dishes, and every single one was perfection. The ceviche was fresh and flavorful, the two hard shell tacos with rice and beans were an easy 10/10, and my boyfriend's California burrito? His jaw literally dropped after the first bite. It honestly felt like eating at your abuela's house -- comforting and full of flavor. Service was amazing, too! We came around 6 PM, and it was quiet and cozy -- perfect for a relaxed dinner. Can't recommend this place enough. Definitely my new go-to spot... and luckily, I live just a few blocks away! It was good camera did NOT eat first read more

El Metate Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

We live so close and can't believe it's our first time here! The staff was friendly and attentive and we really enjoyed our meal! The restaurant is tucked away in a small corner strip mall and what a nice surprise it was! The food was served hot just the way we like it! We had the chicken enchiladas and arroz con pollo. Both were delicious and very authentic! We'll definitely be back! We want to try breakfast next! read more

I came here based off the reviews. Normally don't like to leave bad reviews because restaurants have it hard enough. I've been in the industry myself so I get it but wow this place... Im inspired to leave my feedback. Server who took my order was kind and greeted me then recommended some burritos. I asked him how it was and of course, "it's good, its good portion." The burrito was not. We'll get to that later. I ordered to go and it came out to $16 and I tipped 2 bucks. So $18. Then I proceeded to wait maybe 10 minutes with no one in the restaurant. Not the best but not horrible. I then asked if they had chips, or salsa. The guy say yea and IMMEDIATELY this lady started yelling at him. I didn't understand Spanish like that but it felt hostile. I thought maybe she talks loudly because the kitchen is noisy so I didnt think much. I asked if they had salsa or jalapeños, the server said yes and he was all smiles. So cool, Im thinking I get to enjoy my good portioned good burrito with some salsa and Jalapenos.. AGAIN, the lady started yelling at the guy immediately after he told me yes. I thought okay she just like that. Then I waited another few more minutes, and here comes the lady. I said thank you very much and she basically shooed me away "bye bye bye bye" rudely. I took the bag and left wondering if I did something wrong. She threw 6 stale chips, a sack of jalapeños, 3 small cups of salsa and a sad burrito that was falling apart in the bag. I ate 2 chips on the ride back and that ended up giving me a stomachache. I got in maybe 5 mins after, took 2 bites of the burrito and ran to the restroom. Small portion, bad energy, and food that made me sick for 18$. Never again read more

El Metate Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Wonderful having a beer in a chilled glass! Found El Metate killing some time before having taxes done. Delicious Carne Asada plate at a very reasonable price. The beef was freshly grilled, not flat and dried out like some. Delicious - I'll be back! read more

Great little restaurant. A true treasure. Excellent food and wonderful family as hosts. Highly recommended.

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Pasadena. I recommend their chili relleno burrito and flan. The only negatives is that their beans are a little on the salty side and the prices are higher than average. read more

Love everything about this place. Great customer service, amazing food, relaxed atmosphere and everything was so reasonably priced.

You order at the counter before you find a seat and your food is brought to your table. Free chips and salsa, beers available on tap, and extensive menu. However you order at the counter so I felt a little pressure standing in that tight space trying to decide. As for the dining area it is quaint but fairly dirty and dingy. Tables were sticky and floors grimy. And I wouldn't even mention the restroom. The food was ok. I suppose a good to-go option if you live in the area. Street parking only but perhaps be a little careful at night due to a few tents in the surrounding area. I ordered the carne asada chimichanga and while it was fried just right the ingredients lacked flavor. I asked for a salsa and it didn't improve the flavor much. Quaint mom & pop vibe. We tipped more than 15% but you don't get much service. read more

El Metate Cafe - Kids couldn't wait to dig into the cheese quesadilla. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I've been coming here for years. Very good food and great service. Dine-in comes with chips and salsa. I usually get the red burrito, but decided to try something different this trip... definitely did not disappoint. read more

El Metate Cafe - Steak Picado Plate - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Such a friendly staff with yummy food! I got the chicken enchiladas verdes and they were amazing. Beans and rice were tasty too. I'll definitely be back. read more

El Metate Cafe - Chicken enchiladas verdes - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

El Metate offers an unforgettable dining experience with a vibrant atmosphere, mouthwatering food, and hearty, perfectly balanced portions. The flan, with its luxuriously creamy texture and rich, irresistible flavor, was absolutely divine--truly a perfect finish to the meal. read more

El Metate Cafe - Flan with wiped cream and cherry in the top!!! - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

staff was nice ... clean restaurant... food was good ... jist this specific item machaca con juevos burrito was kind of lacking in egg which is kind of what you want. They make machaca kind of different in different places .. this didnt do it for me. read more

El Metate Cafe - Machaca con Juevo minus the rice and light beans. The egg is undetectable really... I think it blended with the machaca somehow. - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Delicious and authentic Mexican food. Employees are super friendly and accommodating to your dietary needs (vegetarian, etc). My sister and I like that the food tastes homemade. We have visited during late breakfast and lunch time. Reasonable prices and great portions. Restaurant is located on a one-way street; street parking. Highly recommend! read more

Great service, delicious tender asada. Rest of the menu looks so good! Cant wait to come back and try their mariscos read more

El Metate Cafe - Carne asada taco $2.60 - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

Dinner tonight at El Metate was excellent. They made a combo plate for me with shredded chicken enchilada, carne asada taco (added tomatoes and removed the onions - perfect as onions are a problem for me), beans and rice. Husband had super tostado. He has a tomato sensitivity so they replaced the tomatoes with avocado. Everything was fresh and delicious. read more

It was my milestone birthday this past October 2023. My dear friend wanted to take me out for lunch, but we didn't get a chance to do so that month so it was pushed to sometime in November 2023. We both love Mexican foods. El Metate was nearby both of us that day. So why not! OMG... BEST Mexican food choice in town!!! They have a good menu of food and drink selections. They also have food specials where you get one food item plus one free drink for one great price. We ordered first at the counter and then chose where we wanted to sit. Or you can choose your seat first and then go order... this may be best in case they are very busy. They brought us our foods when they were ready. I ended up getting the shrimp burrito and watermelon agua frescas. My friend got the chile relleno with the same watermelon drink. We also got complimentary chips and salsa. All I can say is WOW WOW and WOW! Watermelon drink was so refreshing and sweet... so good! The shrimp burrito was huge and tasty. Lots of shrimps at every bite. Rice and beans were delicious. Plate was piping hot, too. Straight from the kitchen grill... that's how I like it! The flavors and taste were amazingly out of this world. They do something special with their sauces. It's not your run of the mill red or green sauce... it's a brown sauce. I can't pin point it. They are quite different from other Mexican restaurants that I've eaten in the past. El Metate may be the best Mexican restaurant I've eaten at so far. I can't wait to come back here for more tasty deliciousness! Staff was superbly wonderful. They are a Mom & Pop restaurant run my Mom, Dad, son and probably more family members. Prices were very reasonable. They also offer catering by the entree ordered though. I don't think they have a dedicated catering menu. Ambiance was the traditional Mexican look and feel with warm and welcoming wall colors. They have good inside dining space and a few covered outside patio tables and chairs. Good enough space to have a small group gathering of 20 people or so. That's it for now until next time. My friend and I are already planning our next visit LOL. Looking forward to trying their other great foods! Come on out and give them a try. See you here!!! Btw, if you can figure out their brown sauce, please let me know. Thank you first! P.S. I will post photos later. I have to get them from my computer since they are no longer on my phone. Thanks for your patience. read more

This is the best Mexican food you can get in Pasadena. It's our very favorite local eatery, and the family is so friendly!

I love El Metate! I've been coming here for about 15 years and the food never disappoints. Everything is delicious, portions are generous and the service is excellent. Thank you for feeding me and my family over the years! read more

Meh. The rice was flavorless. The taquitos were bland. The shredded beef tacos were just okay. The only redeeming item was the refried beans which were tasty. Other than that I was very disappointed in the food here. I'll try somewhere different next time I'm craving Mexican. read more

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This was the perfect pit stop at mine and hubs' date night. We were really going to the Ice House but dipped in here for a quick foodie / drinkie "pre-game." I believe this is family owned and service was every bit like being at your friend's moms house for all the attentiveness. I had a taco de birria and it was deelish!! The consommé was savory but not overpoweringly so. Hubs had a chicken soft taco that looked good. Chips and salsa were tasty and beer was cold! read more

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This is one of my favorite places to eat. The food is amazing and everyone who works here is friendly and attentive and the prices can't be beat! Daily happy hour from 4-6pm for $5 margaritas that are big, strong, and delicious. Seriously the best deal. It's so common to feel scammed eating out in LA and this couldn't be more the opposite experience. I always feel happy eating here and happy to be supporting the business. I highly recommend!!! read more

El Metate Cafe - Happy hour menu - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California

I really love this place, great service and impeccable food for the price! I'll definitely be coming back

Hands down the best chile relleno burrito around. Definitely the stand out item on their menu.

I was looking for someplace I had not been to and wanted authentic Mexican food. This place fit the bill perfectly. This is a family owned and operated place, just off Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. It is a cozy place that is well kept and very clean. When you walk in, you are greeted at the counter where you place your order and then make your way to your table. Service was very good! Great recommendations. Happy Hour from 4-6PM has the best prices in town for a nice cold beer! We ordered the Tostada Ceviche and it was delightful. Fresh, crisp with a nice citrus note. The fish was perfect and the proportion was just right. We finished with The Burrito Colorado. The soft tortilla, smothered in a rich, flavorful sauce, surrounded the Beef, beans, and other fresh ingredients. Everything was delicious. The one and only suggestion, don't show news on the television in the dining room, let people escape for a bit as they enjoy your food and family. read more

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I ate here about two months ago and the cheese on a plate I ordered was absolutely expired, and it was really unpleasant. Rice was bland, meat was bland. Even the margaritas we ordered had absolutely no alcohol in them, my partner got nauseous because of the bad cheese and I drank his drink (the margs are absolutely enormous) and I felt like it was just slushee. I hate to say it, but all the food tasted old. The service was sweet at the register, but when I said the cheese on the plate was expired the cook in the back came with a little plate of cheese and was eating it in front of me, I think trying to ascertain me that it was good but you know the taste of something rotten. I hope it was just an outlier of an experience, but I won't be returning. The best thing here is the look of the restaurant and the salsa served with the chips. read more

I am on a hunt for Mexican food that I love in San Diego. I haven't found it yet, just simple hole in the wall type places that just have great simple Mexican food. Rolled Tacos! I can't find rolled tacos in Pasadena. I asked if they had rolled tacos, I got normal tacos. But that being said, these were the best tacos I think I've ever had. I got the shredded beef, oh. My. Gosh. Did you see the movie Seven with Brad Pitt from the 90's where the guy commits gluttony and eats until he explodes? I could do this with that shredded beef. You've been warned. read more

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We really enjoyed our enchilada. Tacos were good too. Filling but not excessive. Food was ready quickly. Conveniently located near theater district in Pasadena. read more

Excellent happy hour drink specials. I'm usually one and done with their potent margaritas. Their food is delicious, fairly priced and well portioned. I enjoy their ribs in red sauce with nopales. The family that owns this place offers great and welcoming customer service. You order at the counter and they bring your food out for you. The restaurant has a good amount of tables and I have found myself sitting there for a while enjoying my drink and the complimentary chips with salsa. read more

El Metate Cafe - These were happy house margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Pasadena, California