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    El Metate Cafe

    4.3 (577 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    El Metate Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    EL METATE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - El Metate Cafe

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    Chili Rellano  burrito
    Chris S.

    Truly a mom and pop type restaurant, with both in the kitchen cooking. Portion good for price. Taste average. Personally I was disappointed that the chili rellano that I ordered was microwaved, then chopped and put into a tortilla which was then microwaved again making the tortilla soggy. Flavor was good. Size of Burrito was good. Sauces were good. I might return if there was a parking spot on the street out in front of the restaurant. Otherwise it's a hassle.

    super burrito con pollo
    Bryan M.

    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.

    Dee J.

    It's a 3.5 star rating for me. I visited this spot on a whim. I was walking, enjoying the beautiful weather, heading back to my office and realized I was functioning on a semi empty stomach having only had coffee. I noticed some gentleman sitting outside and I thought, what the heck, I haven't had Mexican in a minute. I ordered an Al Pastor, and a Shrimp taco. I appreciated the fact that they were not served soggy and falling apart . When the gentleman that took my order suggested the shrimp taco I was a little skeptical. Why? Well, it was my first time having a saucy tomato based shrimp taco. Surprisingly enough, it was actually very good. It was seasoned perfectly. The Al Pastor was overcooked, so it kind of threw me off. It is one of those spots that appear to have a lot of regulars. It also looks as if the restaurant has been around for a while. It could use some tidying up, but it wasn't so bad that I was turned off. The menu is vast, so if you visit and you're in a rush, you may want to take the time to see if they have a menu online to review before arriving. There are 67 items on the main menu. I didn't feel like going through everything so I kind of defaulted my order. Based on the fact that there was a pretty consistent flow of customers in my few minutes there, "they must be doing something right." I would say it's worth a visit, and I can see myself trying them again.

    Mixed ceviche

    Excellent little hole in the wall just a street over from Lake. Had some of the best ceviche I've had in a while. I was alone but they took care of me like I was VIP. I'm only docking a star because they were out of Modelo on draft.

    Entrance
    David P.

    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.

    Chicken enchiladas verdes
    Halley K.

    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.

    Dave H.

    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!

    Chips & Salsa
    Karina C.

    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.

    Half and half chile relleno wet burrito
    Nicole A.

    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

    Great nachos, amazing portion, great price, and great customer service

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    1 year ago

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

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    8 months ago

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

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    Page 1 of 15

    Ask the Community - El Metate Cafe

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    10 1/4 is a hidden cocktail bar located underneath Freddie's 35er, a popular Dodgers bar. To get…read morehere, not only do you have to go to the back of The 35er and go down the stairs, you ignore the tiki bar in front of you and make an immediately right U-turn. You reach a phone booth, pick up the phone, and wait for someone to buzz you in. This bar is different from the other two bars as it's smaller, more intimate, and focused on craft cocktails. On nights and weekends though, it can still get busy. We ordered a variety of drinks and liked the menta milk punch ($18), last word ($18), and queen's park swizzle ($16). This was my first time here and I would be interested in coming back and also check out the tiki bar too. This is a cool place to go as part of your bar hopping in Old Town Pasadena.

    A hidden speakeasy bar in Pasadena. Head inside the 35er, walk to the back and take the staircase…read moredown. You'll find a phone both. Walk inside and pick up the phone, and when the person on the other end answers, let them know how many in your party. Then the side wall of the phone both will open and you walk in to the speakeasy. Seating is limited, so get there early on the weekend, or go during the week and it's probably better. Craft cocktails are the name of the game, and it looks like a fully stocked bar, so if the menu doesn't appeal to you, you can order of menu as well. The mixologist were great, good usually and it's a fun environment. If you're in Pasadena, grab a drink and watch a game at the 35er, then head downstairs, through the phone both, and enjoy this ittle gem.

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    Ladies and Gentlemen - Snacks for drinking

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    4.2(265 reviews)
    1.1 mi•Downtown
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    If you love speakeasies and classy bars, then this is the spot for you! The bar is located near the…read morerestrooms where Wanderlust creamery is. Once you walk in, the vibe instantly transforms into a sexy and luxurious space with dim lighting, cushioned seats, and interesting artwork hanging on the wall. They have quite a few drinks on their menu. I like how the menu highlights the flavors of each cocktail so it makes it easier to find a drink that will suite your tastes. We ordered the beauty and the beast and friends and neighbors drink. Both cocktails tasted very light and delicious. On top of that, the beauty and the beast drink comes in a cute rose shaped glass which matches the name perfectly! The servers were very attentive and would check in on us periodically. They also give you some chips that you can munch on while enjoying your drink. This spot is perfect for a date or girls night out! I definitely want to come back and try their other drinks!

    "Hidden entrance." Make your way past the doors to Wanderlust Creamery and other food stalls, and…read morewalk all the way to the back. Go downstairs, whether by stairs or elevator... where there are multiple bathrooms. And ask the nearest person how to get to Ladies and Gentlemen, to be let in. Fun, and whimsical, and definitely a space with a theme. First and more importantly, the cocktails and the food is definitely quality. And they will charge you quality pricing for the luxuriousness of it all. Seating, tables, candles, ambiance. I mean, the walls lined up with crafted skulls ain't gonna pay for itself. The staff is friendly, and helpful. And classy. The places oozes class. A great place to chat and catch up with friends. Where the ambient noise isn't so loud that you really need to raise your voice to talk. As a single person who came with a book to read and study... it's dim lighting so I had to make use of candlelight. This really is meant to be more of a social spot. I came in on a weekday to catch the Suntory promotion, which came with some nice collectibles to pair with your highball. I feel like every cocktail I've had here so far has a great sense of balance and technique. I'll probably come back and try their omakase course of cocktails at some point. Is it "kami no glass?" (The Glass of God) - I haven't found one that has touched my soul to that extent, but they do have an extensive list to explore. The food menu consists of luxurious bites from burrata, crudo, bone marrow, oysters, and the like. Gourmet pairings for your expensive tastes.

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    Ladies and Gentlemen - Hot honey pepperoni pizza, really good!

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    Magnolia House

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    3.9(1.6k reviews)
    0.6 mi•South
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    My daughter took me for breakfast, it was nice food good (eggs Benedict) service good only…read morecomplaint very very small table they sit us inside by the door and it was small area ‍‍

    Loved our brunch here at Magnolia House, just wish they had a high chair!…read more We came here to celebrate a birthday and it was my first time dining here. I love how cute the interior design of this restaurant is - it felt cozy and the chairs are so comfortable it makes you feel right at home. There were some tables for traditional style dining, and there were some couches for light bites. We sat inside the restaurant right by the street, perfect for a people watching lover like me. Since we had our toddler with us, we asked for a high chair but they said they didn't have any, which was quite disappointing for a restaurant like this. Luckily our table had a loveseat type couch, so we were able to squeeze our toddler in between us during the meal. We were here for the weekend brunch and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the price of the menu items! For a restaurant on Lake, I was expecting more. I got the crab cakes benedict ($20) and it was just perfect - not too salty, and the portions were just right. Overall, great experience here, easy to find parking in the lots behind the restaurant, just wish they had high chairs to accommodate families.

    Photos
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    Osa Rooftop - pear burrata salad

    Osa Rooftop

    3.8(414 reviews)
    0.5 mi•Downtown
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    What a beautiful setting for my husband's 60th birthday brunch!…read more OSA Rooftop in Pasadena is a tranquil rooftop setting on Colorado Boulevard. All the menus are superb: brunch, shareables, dinner, and cocktails. We were seated by Adam, who was super nice and very hospitable. He adjusted our umbrella to make sure that we had enough shade. We were waited on by Delaiah and Anna, who both went out of their way to make sure my husband's birthday brunch was perfect. We shared the OSA burger and the Al Pastor chicken. The burger was cooked perfectly, and the chicken was flavorful and tender with a fantastic Verde sauce. I don't usually care for slaw, but this slaw was light and pure, with peanuts and red onions, and not mayonnaisey at all. The fries were also cooked perfectly, and they weren't overdone. The tequila and beet cocktail was earthy and refreshing and unique and delicious! Best cocktail I've had in a long time. The view is stellar. It makes you feel peaceful and like you're a million miles away. We had our pug with us, and he was served ice water and treated like another restaurant guest. :) Thank you for being dog friendly for well-behaved dogs! Anna and Delaiah gave my hubby a complementary vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup sundae with a candle. So lovely. It was a perfect day. A beautiful day. Thank you, OSA Rooftop!

    Located as part of the AC Hotel in Pasadena, I expected it to just be a chill hotel lounge with…read moresome food. But, that wasn't the case. Osa Rooftop was chill but it served up someone way more than that. Let's start with the layout and location, Osa has its own entrance right outside on Colorado Blvd. Which takes directly up to the space. But was really fun was the ambient lighting to the elevator. Lined with warm orange lighting and linen, it was quite the touch to set the tone for the space I was about to enter. As you exit you treated to wooden tables ceramics and a fun patio area that is such a warm atmosphere. I waited by the bar which was covered which served up some views of Pasadena and surrounding mountain ranges. I grabbed my cocktail and we were seated not to long after. For food, here is what we ordered: - Charred Brussel Sprouts Brussel Sprouts are such an underrated appetizer. This was so good. Crispy, thanks to the marcona almonds, and Savory. the Pomegranate Vinaigrette added a tart touch to it that really made it appealing! - Steak Frites They use a Filet Mignon which was cooked to temp. Fries were crispy and the sauce added a bit more savory undertones. - Seabass (Sorry forgot the name but its there!) If I were to describe it plainly, it is like a Thai Tom Yum Seabass. The fish was wonderfully cooked and the skin added texture to the fish. the sauce added that kick that made it so good. But in terms of taste it really tasted like a Thai soup. So here's the rub, go at sunset! The view at sunset was simply magical. The sunset hits Pasadena City Hall and mountain ranges so nicely it is indeed a feast for the eyes along with your palette. Parking can be found easily around or at the hotel. This is great for a small get together or a small group to enjoy drinks and dinner or just a casual hangout. Give it a shot and joy the vibe! Cheers!

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    Beet salad with whipped goat cheese - very good - Zinfandel & Swift Relief -

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    Bar at the Osa Rooftop

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    El Metate Cafe - mexican - Updated September 2026

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