Food is average at best. Please don't put anymore banners, flags, umbrellas, signs, multi-color junk in general on the outside. Its not necessary, WE SEE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! How can we NOT see you with all that stuff???? We may have to change the name to El Eye Sore. Sorry. read more

I've enjoyed eating here since the place opened several years ago. Originally it was owned by a husband-wife team and now it's solely owned by the wife, Margarita. She's come up with some innovative ideas, like a dog-friendly patio area in front that's advertised on "Bring Fido." I really had a craving for a shrimp taco today, which wasn't on the menu. Margarita was very accommodating and I ended up with two of the best shrimp tacos I've ever had. She also brought my husband a sample of their daily special, enchiladas suizas, which was excellent! Altadena isn't a big town, like it's Pasadena sister, but it has some excellent eateries and this is one. read more

Great service great food came for my lunch break and couldn't finish the plate it was so big aha will definitely be coming back

So, this is maybe the fifth time I have been here and each time the food, drinks and service were good. Came here last night, I ordered the mushroom quesadilla and two street tacos. The quesadilla was okay ( I wish I would have remembered that they put bell peppers inside) but the street tacos were super good. I like how when you ask for hot sauce they bring this carousel type tray with all different kinds. The only issue that I have besides the size of the restaurant is the fact that there were flies. I can never understand why a restaurant leaves the doors open. I mean you cant possibly have everything in the kitchen covered up, not to mention it makes it difficult for patrons to even enjoy their food due to trying to keep flies away from their food the entire time. Update: I was feeling a little sick last night and this morning but figured it was my lunch from the day before. My boo just told me he was feeling sick as well. We didn't have the same lunch. The kinky thing we are that was the same was El Patron. That's all I needed to officially make me COOL off of this here establishment. Damn flies... smh read more

This place opened years ago and gave it 3 tries, very disappointed every time. Very white washed food is not authentic at all. The Pico de Gallo salsa horrible. When they first opened, they gave us this delish orange sauce that made the wings a lot better. 10 years later, they messed that sauce too, maybe too hot for their regulars on top of the gross sauce. 2 of my drummets were very bloody on the inside. Never again, waste of money. read more

Aaahh! Why didn't I take a photo? Probably because I inhaled everything and didn't think twice. If you ever find yourself stuck in a state of ennui, perhaps pondering the meaning of it all, try the following: take yourself on a 10 mile hike to Inspiration Point in 80 degree weather, bring little to no food, make it down the mountain alive, and drag your half-dead, starving, dehydrated body down the street to El Patron, order a wet burrito (I got the camarones, but any protein will probably do the trick) and a Modelo on draft. Then, observe your state of mind as your soul reawakens to the pleasure of this thing we call life. I realize, of course, just about any restaurant would have had this effect in that moment. But El Patron was what the heavens sent and i have no choice but to leave them a glowing review. On a more practical note, the service was great and I think the burrito was objectively terrific. read more

The staff is friendly and the food is good. Nice, simple atmosphere in the restaurant and on the sidewalk seating. Good margaritas. We come here at least once when we visit the area. Haven't had a bad dish but some are better than others. I like the wet burrito but wished it came with more lettuce/salad/salsa. read more

I took away a star because I feel like they changed their salsa! Haha my almost 8year old boy noticed right off the bat. Other than that the service is lovely as always. Food is good. read more

Waitress is totally rude to me!!!! Then the next group of people walk in and she's all smiles. I don't know what that's about.!!!! RUDE!!!!! Horrible waitress! read more

I love this authentic Mexican food restaurant. Love the service here. The owners are from Jalisco Mexico and so is my partner so I like bringing her here which she approves of the authentic flavor and I approve of the spicy salsas. Some of the people that come in can be rude, don't tip good and seem to lack culture but I don't let their rude looks ruin my great Mexican food. Best restaurant in Alta Dena and Pasadena hands down. read more

El Patron very good food. and very good service. I love going there when I can.parking can be a little bit challenging but worth it.

However, the ambiance wasn't as wonderful as the meal or the service. The burrito in particular was excellent; it was flavorful and tender. This is the only thing we tested that is a necessity. Although the other items were all excellent, they wouldn't set this Mexican restaurant apart from others. Giving a better rating is insufficient. Only if I'm nearby would I come here. read more

I have been going to El Patron since they first opened, and I love the food selection they provide on their menu. I personally love their shrimp salad and tamales. This afternoon my family and I had another great dining experience. Our waitress Sylvia was very personable, and her customer service was excellent. Thank you, Sylvia. read more

Delicious menudo and Micheladas. The staff is always friendly and helpful. I have also tried the tacos and they are large and stuffed with meat. The shaded patio was wonderful on a lazy Labor Day Monday. read more

The restaurant was nicely decorated and had good music. unfortunately they don't have a parking lot so you'll have to park on the street. I didn't like that the staff wasn't friendly. when I walked in no one greeted me, they just stood in the back talking but did make eye contact with me. I was a bit confused unsure if I should seat myself & child. I then ended up seating myself. and then finally the staff came but again, they weren't friendly. never smiled once or made us feel welcomed. the food was good but the serving wasn't great. I ordered shrimp tacos. when I got my food there was maybe 2 shrimp cut up into small pieces (to look like there were more shrimp). I also asked for no beans, double rice & I felt like they gave me a regular portion of rice just spread it out across the plate. I could see the whiteness from the plate. and when I asked for some sour cream for the tacos they charged me extra. which I also thought was weird. considering it's just a condiment and small spoonful. I can see why they're lacking business. pros: nice decor, nice music, food taste good cons: unfriendly staff, skimpy portions, no parking read more

Horrible dead fly on the table should been my absolute BIG RED FLAG Horrible service and the food was not all that and the salsa they served with the chips you call kick ass is right on point with it being spoiled. To bad all these good reviews makes seem great but it's not. Really it's not. read more

Needs more flavor! Very disappointed with our only Mexican Restaurant up here in Altadena. Que paso cosineros echenlè mas ganas al sason! read more

El Patron - Machaca con huevo - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

I ordered a Tostada Salad with Carne Asada and they put a third Carne asada of what you typically expect to be in a salad. The ingredients tasted fresh and the salad itself was a good portion. My friend had the asada fajitas and the Carne asada was drenched in a sauce. We were a bit confused as fajita are not typically in a sauce at all. She also only got 2 tortillas. We will not be back read more

Good food quality and portion. Reasonable price. Always friendly staff. Love their guacamole!

Over 100 reviews and an average of 4 stars. Perhaps that raised my expectations. Or was it that I had to wait over 30 min. for a table that made it seem this place is the bomb. Either way, it didn't live up to it. The chips & salsa they brought out was a nice touch. But it didn't taste right. Chips were hard, under the lamp too long & bitter. The salsa lacked spiciness and flavor as oddly shaped pieces of onions dominated the bowl. We had to add salt. Originally wanted to order a burrito, but saw everyone else with a fajita plate so I quickly changed my mind to a steak & shrimp fajita plate. Steak was tasty but very well done. The shrimp were so tiny and buried under big chunks of grilled onions & carrots. (Carrots?) I must be a novice cuz I never had carrots w/ a fajita before. But because we waited so long and ate lunch at 2, everything tasted good at first. Then my senses kicked in. Though I rarely use a chain restaurant as a standard of measurement, this one called for it. It can't even compare to Chevy's as their chips & salsa and fajitas were much better. To be fair, we arrived right after a huge party of more than 14. The kitchen was undoubtedly overwhelmed, as were the servers. Our food did come out fast but I rather wait another 10 min. for them to do things right. Would I go back? No. There are far too many Mexican restaurants in SoCal to try and this place just didn't wow me at all, crowd or not. Should you try it? Yes! The crowd must know something I don't. Your experience may differ depending on how busy they are. Food: 1.5 Service: 3 for effort read more

El Patron - Giant grilled carrots with my fajita. Where's the beef? - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

The food, the service, the ambiance are all very very good!! We have been coming here as regulars for a while. Every single item we have ordered on their menu has been consistently the same/as expected and so yummy (whether it be ordered 7 days ago or 6 months ago). Have tried their tamales, chile verde, burrito mojado, tacos, etc and they are all delish! It is a mom n pop owned place as far as Mexican food is concerned....IMHO this place is one of Altadena's "best kept secrets". They serve fresh-made salsa which does vary slightly from visit to visit but it's still got a good balance of heat and flavor, so you know their salsa does not come out of a can or jar. Love this place, and Maggie is the most gracious and humble hostess/server/owner. Highly recommend checking out this place if you are in the area. read more

We absolutely love El Patron. It's an easy breezy, yummy, family restaurant. It isn't fancy and not everything is made from scratch, but it's priced accordingly. The street tacos, especially the Pastor are our favs. No complaints about the green enchiladas or chile rellonos (MIL is picky about these and she says they're legit). The kids love the taquito plate. Sometimes they are busy and understaffed but they are sweet and honest about that. If we are in a hurry we just ask when we get there how long things are taking and they'll tell you. Otherwise we're just patient and enjoy the laid back time together. read more

The place doesn't look very fancy, but I was hoping get good service. I was totally wrong the service is really bad. You wait in the table more than 20 min for them to take your order. I didn't even wait for them. A lot of people waiting. Just one waitress. Awful!!! I can't say anything about the food, but I'm not going to that place never again. read more

Can't recommend this place anymore. Since the new owner the service and food quality has really deteriorated. I've stopped eating here. read more

I love this place. It's my regular go to, as the food is tasty and consistent, service is great and it's always fun. You run into everyone you've ever known here - it's "our place!" read more

Came here with a friend today and really enjoyed my experience! We walked in, there was street parking right in front of the establishment and it was such a pretty, cute lil place. We walked in to booths and the cutest decor. They have certificates of achievement and pictures of their children. surrounding the walls and it's adorable and makes the aura comforting and family-based which I felt was wholesome! We were seated immediately and given salsa and chips along with water for starters. We ordered: 2 x Carne Asada Burritos (my friend ordered his with just queso y carne) and I asked the owner/server about drinks and she recommended a margarita, but I asked about the Michelada which comes with your choice of beer (Corona, Modelo, etc.). The burritos were smaller than I expected but delicious!!! Unfortunately, I didn't like the Michelada but that's due to the nature of the drink and not the restaurant's itself. There was AC (on a hot 95 degree day) and beautiful booths which I appreciated a lot. The service was phenomenal and she was so nice. Food also came out super duper quickly and was great. I loved this spot and will definitely be back if I can help it. Highly recommend! However, I can totally understand others' reviews and think it depends on the food you choose to get. Get a burrito! :) read more

El Patron - Micheleda - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

El Patron is a small Mexican joint located in Altadena. Service was good and food came out quickly. They have a pretty large menu selection. Huevos Con Machaca - $6.99 - Shredded beef was not as tender as I like it. Eggs were cooked well. Come with rice and beans. Huevos Rancheros - $6.99 - Ranchero sauce tasted nice. Got scrambled eggs instead of the normal fried eggs. Come with rice and beans. Carne Asada Taco - $1.35 - It had decent flavor and was grilled well. Carne Asada Sope - $4.00 - Lots of beans vs meat. Meat was same as a above. Taquitos Con Guacamole - $5.50 - Was not as crispy as I like them. Not oily. Beef was a little dry. They are pretty shy with the guacamole. Food overall was like any typical mom and pop Mexican restaurant. Nothing bad but nothing special. read more

El Patron - Huevos Rancheros - $6.99, Carne Asada Taco - $1.35, Taquitos Con Guacamole - $5.50, Carne Asada Sope - $4.00, & Huevos Con Machaca - $6.99 - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

They refused to serve me because "they were closing in 15min". Sorry but I worked in restaurants for years. That's not how that works. Change your dine-in times then. Ok food. Sometimes the al pastor tacos have pineapple. Sometimes they don't. read more

2 Out of Five Stars. Would return again. I've been to El Patron twice and both times... C+ Food A+ Service and Speed A- Atmosphere A+ Cost and Value They are definitely a passing grade (in my book) but not somewhere I would recommend when asked about restaurants in the area. I would definitely return to El Patron in the future if I had a hankering for rice and a taquito... but if I wanted a combo plate with appetizer and desert, I can think of a few local places I would stop by first. Outdoor seating is cozy and nice. Traffic is a little loud but the view of the city to the south and the mountains to the north is very enjoyable on a spring afternoon. The outdoor seating faces east and is shaded in the afternoon. Indoor seating is very acceptable. The decor on the walls is always fun to look at. read more

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We've always loved going to El Patron and having them in our neighborhood however, I can't recommend them after our last visit. We brought our friends from out of town, and immediately I was concerned because the Salsa seemed off. Carne Asade enchilada also tasted very off, and needless to say we didn't fare well the next day. They've always been fine for us, so I'm not sure what happened. Maybe they were under staffed that day? I'm hoping they get this message and make the necessary changes. read more

Ok so against my intuition I went back and the margaritas were much better. Maybe it was because we ordered a pitcher? Maybe because it was a Saturday? Maybe the person making my first margarita just didn't know better and made it with 90% sprite? Not sure. If you go I recommend the burrito. The tacos tend to be flavorless and my enchilada experience was not a good one. Not my favorite chips and salsa either. The burrito holds up though. read more

Hasn't been the same since the owner changed. The food is fine but it's overpriced. This used to be my favorite Mexican restaurant. I got a carnitas dinner plate, but for $15 it did not seem like a meal nor was it anything special. read more

3 stars because order tacos with no chili but the food taste like it was never washed a almost vomit.The service was kind of good it took 10 minutes almost starve. read more

Good food! My go-to is the Veggie Wet Burrito. I've also had the potato tacos and vegetarian taco salad. Always excellent service read more

Really cute small place in Altadena. Make sure you get there early, or you'll have to wait for a table. As soon as we walked in we were greeted. Their menu has a lot of selections, and they were willing to accommodate to vegetarians, a big plus! Food came out quick! (4 stars) Cheese & Jalapeño tamale = I'm so glad they had this here. Usually all restaurants only have meat tamales, so I finally was able to eat a good veggie tamale! Their cheese and jalapeno's were good. (3 stars) Veggie Wet Burrito = I asked them to add a few veggies inside instead of the typical beans and cheese. But unfortunately they didn't cook the veggies, so I had raw bell peppers in my burrito which did not taste good. I'll have to ask for grilled veggies next time. (5 stars) Veggie Enchiladas = this was much better, as they added carrots and zucchini in the enchiladas, but the bell peppers were still raw. Make sure to tell them to grill the veggies before they put it inside! Their rice and pinto beans were good. ( 4 stars) Guacamole = I liked the flavor, tasted fresh, but I didn't like the lettuce on the bottom, it's hard to get the guacamole out of it. Overall I would visit this place again and make sure I ask to grill the veggies for us next time. But I am really glad they were able to accommodate us and turn some of their items on the menu into vegetarian. read more

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I live in orange county. I wish this place wasn't so far! We were in the area for Dodgers opening day, and stopped in for dinner. Good Lord, were we impressed. Best fajitas ever..and i mean ever. When it arrived to my table, I noticed it was cooked in a broth. The broth looked spicy and I was worried because I do not like spicy food. It was not spicy, it was sooooo flavorful and unlike anything I've ever had. They also include vegetables that aren't just your typical onions and bell peppers. I can seriously drink the broth that it's made in. I can't wait to go back. We sat on the patio because it was a beautiful sunshiney day. read more

El Patron - Best. Fajitas. Ever. Ever. - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

I'm doing this update because I need a reminder to not order here one of my most favorite foods, Mexican Shrimp Cocktail. This restaurant serves a dynamite pork al pastor crispy taco !!! and I like other items on the menu, but avoid the MSC. (I thought the person in the next booth over was taking most of his home as leftovers, but now I can see that he, too, had a problem with it.). I ate the shrimp and left as much of the liquid as possible in the glass. And finally, look at the photo of my friend's flan compared to mine (burnt, pitted, way overdone, and gritty). read more

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Food was ok but to expensive for what they brought. Service was good. The restaurant needs to be updated.

We were excited to try a new restaurant in our neighborhood. We were very disappointed! The chips were RANCID and when I asked for another batch, the waitress said they are all the same. The steak in the fajitas was too chewy and the chicken fajita had an off flavor. My daughter found a bone in the chicken. The vegetables in the fajita was mostly carrot with a little onion and two small pieces of green pepper. No flavor We will not go back. The waitresses seemed so stressed and they had to keep front door open so waitress could serve the outside group. The problem was it made the people inside the restaurant FREEZING! Probably would have been better eating outside with the heat lamps. The torta had little meat on a huge bun. read more

Hello Yelpers! When life takes you northbound of the 134/210 freeways (Eaton Canyon Hike? Christmas Tree Lane around the holidays? Rose Bowl pre-gaming?), here is a don't-miss Mexican restaurant that will have both your stomach and wallet smiling from ear-to-ear. It's that good, and the prices are too. El Patron is a smaller family owned joint that always seems to have a small crowd out front waiting for a table, no matter what day or time. It's OK, it moves quickly, and your reward of freebie fresh chips and salsa will arrive as soon as you are seated. Our group got just about everything on the menu -- tacos, burritos, quesadillas -- and it was thumbs-up all around. Pastor street tacos ($1.35) are the bomb. Extraordinary friendly service from the staff. We weren't drinking, but the Modelos and margaritas were on every table around us. A hit! read more