Was excited to have a Javier's closer to me and couldn't wait to check it out. We made reservations in advance (recommended) and I was worried about the wait times I read online even if you had a reservation. So wasn't sure what to expect day of... Anyway, made it to our 4pm reservation and the place was already busy. They will not seat you until your entire party is there. Once our party was complete, in like 3 minutes we were take to our table. So definitely did not have the wait time issue. Our server was very sweet and kept checking in on us if we needed anything. We started off with the complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa had a nice kick to it- not spicy - but that refreshing salsa that keeps you going back for more. They have a variety of margaritas to choose from and martinis. We each had the Jamaica Margarita and piña margarita. The Jamaica was on the smoother side. Piña was a little stronger due to the st germain but still good. For our app, we winner with the taquitos and did both beef and chicken. I really liked the beef ones and that creamy avocado salsa underneath was tasty. For our main we shared the Cabo Azul $50 and it came with- Maine lobster enchilada | shrimp taco |poblano chile with shrimp & Dungeness crab | plus white rice and black beans Good amount of food, the lobster enchilada was my favorite on the plate. The shrimp taco had a crispy fry to it. Overall, it was a nice dinner in a cool spot. As the night went on it got even busier and for a Wednesday night the place was crackin haha There's a couple paid parking lots surrounding so take your pick and take a short walk to get there. read more

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We enjoyed our time here. We were served pretty quickly and the interior was absolutely gorgeous. We ordered the La Tablita which was the perfect amount for three girls. It really had everything you needed and I have to admit, the meat was delicious. I don't really like steak like that, but I couldn't stop eating it. read more

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The restaurant's interior is gorgeous. I like that it made it feel like I'm on vacation. My only concern is that (and this applies to any restaurant) when a dish is spicy, the customer ordering it should be forewarned. Spiciness is a subjective experience, and it may be too much for some people. I believe it should be treated like an allergy when questioning a customer before ordering (i.e., whether they're okay with the spice level or with spice at all). I think it's unfair to judge customer service because this restaurant is new and everyone is adjusting; however, my waiter, Carlos, was great! Lastly, my group ordered mole, chicken enchilada, veggie enchilada & fried ice cream. All dishes were beautifully presented; however, the flavor was not out of this world good, but it was good. read more

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A bit overpriced drinks,dense juice flavor and very little alcohol I didn't enjoy the vibe every much because of how loud and cold it is outside read more

Javiers - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

LOVE IT HERE! The decor is stellar, the staff is amazing and the food was impeccable!!! Mytay and Taj recommended the shrimp ceviche, enchiladas and the arachera and they were all PHENOMENAL!!! read more

Very excited about the new opening of this location! The ambiance and aesthetics are so pretty, and everything feels fresh and well thought out. The food was delicious, and the drinks were just as good. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get reservations days in advance, so we decided to do a walk-in. The host quoted us 30-45 minutes. After about 30 minutes, I checked in since other parties that arrived after us were getting seated. The host mentioned that it's really hard to seat a party of two and couldn't give us an estimate on how much longer it would be. She suggested checking the bar area, and luckily we were able to find seating at the second bar. Our server/bartender was nice and attentive, but another server kept checking on us, which made us feel a bit rushed, like we needed to leave. I understand they're still fairly new, so things like this can definitely be worked out over time. Overall, it was still a great experience, and I'll for sure be coming back again. read more

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Came to brunch with friends & had a great experience. Service was friendly, personable & timely. Ambience was fresh & inviting. We ordered food & drinks to share. The strawberry lemon drop was perfect! read more

Javiers - Inside of Javier's - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Ok Pasadena !! I'm happy Javier's is finally opened. I had the pleasure of coming on the opening day and it was definitely a very good time. Me and my party hung out at the bar for a few hours and then we sat down when everyone from my party finally arrive. The vibe is amazing and the drinks were very good. I ordered the black mamba for my drink and all the bartenders actually superb. The drink was the bomb!! The service was exceptional. Everyone was really nice upon entering, and our server was amazing. For my food, I just got two cheese, enchiladas, and rice and beans, which is good and of course the guacamole I ordered which is always good!! The ambiance is very nice I love how they have a water fountain inside and they have about 3 private rooms they have two bars one when you walk in and one towards the back in the middle is very nice and elegant. I like the nice booth seating as well I would definitely come back here and I highly recommend it is a very nice and very good vibes!! -Marshay D. read more

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It's my second time grabbing dinner here and it did not disappoint. Service has been great for me and the rest of my parties. The food was delicious and drinks were good. So far my husband and I have taken friends, and family here and each one of them have said 10/10 recommend. Safe to say I'll be back again. read more

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I love the ambiance and beautiful decor. Food is great but on the pricey sides. For special occasions it's a great hangout! read more

Javiers - Quac and chips, background pretty bar.. - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I've now been to Javier's twice, and this visit truly stood out. Our waitress, Xalia, was absolutely fantastic! She knew the menu well, asked all the right questions, and was incredibly attentive throughout the evening. Our Dinner and drinks were delicious! On top of that, she had such a great sense of humor, which made the experience even more enjoyable. We were seated at a great table, and the atmosphere paired with the music really made our night special. Thank you so much, Xalia! I will definitely be back, and I hope all the staff are just as professional and wonderful as you. read more

Javiers - Lemon drop! Delicious - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

I love the atmosphere of this restaurant it gives vacation vibes. The bartenders definitely got their steps In because they were busy last night. I ordered taquitos I give it an 8/10 I Like how it wasn't fried to hard. The margarita was a 10/10 I can tell it was made with love. Last but not least the fried ice cream I also give that a 8/10 the taste was there but I felt it was missing something. read more

Javiers - Fried ice cream - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

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So pretty here. Just opened so everything is pristine and the service is really good. The decor is amazing. read more

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DO NOT COME HERE!!!!! Javier's is NOT a family friendly restaurant! I went out for a girls day and chose Javier's! They did not allow my baby's stroller inside (its already super hard to find street parking) im a lady who cant walk long distances carrying the car seat. They told me i couldn't even park it inside the waiting area that i needed to leave it OUTSIDE where it can get stollen. Are they ok?!?! Will they cover theft?! I don't think so. Super ridiculous, went to eat at cheesecake factory across the street instead. Also, the girl in the front was pure snobby vibes. Im good! Never returning. Wish there was a zero stars option read more

I had an extremely disappointing experience at Javier's. I made a reservation over a week in advance and was still seated late. After being seated, it took nearly an hour for our waitress to properly attend to our table, and we eventually had to ask another waiter to take our order. The biggest issue was with a whiskey drink that was poorly prepared, overly bitter, and not presented properly from the moment it arrived. When we politely brought this concern to the manager, Maytee/Maite, she immediately became defensive and blamed us by claiming the ice had melted because we "let it sit too long." We explained this was how the drink was originally served and respectfully asked for either a replacement or refund. Instead, she refused, said "I'm just going to leave this drink here," and walked away mid-conversation. We then asked to speak with another manager, Carlos, but instead of listening and professionally resolving the issue, he immediately defended her despite not witnessing the interaction himself. The issue was never about the money -- our bill was over $550. The issue was the dismissive, argumentative, and unprofessional way the situation was handled over a single drink. I do not recommend Javier's Pasadena. The management lacked professionalism, accountability, and proper customer service skills. I will not be returning. Mastro's Steakhouse would never handle customers this way. read more

The food was mid at best but what made this experience truly atrocious was the GM Maite and their incredibly rude/disrespectful service. Our reservations were at 9, they seated us at 9:55. We patiently waited but did ask for updates and when we did, the very rude woman at the front responded "3 of you have asked already, just wait give us a second" in a VERY rude, dismissive, and condescending tone. One member of our party ordered a well done steak and it came raw, she took two bites and sent it back and asked to remove it off the tab. The manager Maite came to our table, told her that she ate half the steak when she didn't, said that she should have notified the restaurant sooner, and she didn't remove the plate off the tab as a courtesy. Mind you the bill was $1,200+. I have never experienced such service at what's supposed to be a top tier luxury restaurant. I've never encountered a manager so inept with zero class and decorum. Seems like it was her first day at a real job. I urge management to remove her to save the face of a reputable establishment. read more

Javiers - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have been a big fan of Javier's since they first opened in Newport Beach. I have eaten in all of his restaurants. I look forward to the salsa and chips. Over the last few years, I have frequented the Century City locations. Now there is one locally in Pasadena. The quality of the salsa has changed. The biggest change is the inconsistency in their food. For example tonight: the salsa was bland, one was salty, and when we asked for another one then it was close to what we remembered (need to be spicier). My house margarita looks like water... missing color. The la table steak has no seasoning at all and the onion bulb was not cooked. I know you guys can do better. . read more

Javiers - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

We enjoyed the delicious tacos and enchiladas. The waitresses were very attentive and the music kept us entertained. read more

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Such a great location! They have valet or You can do self parking on meter or close by parking lots. The location was so stunning, loved the whole ambiance and space. The service here is excellent as well, attentiveness and friendly staff. The food was absolutely amazing, we tried the white fish crudo and ahi crudo which was some of the best never had. So fresh and the fish was such high quality. The aguachile was amazing too and super fresh with a nice kick of spice. The tablita Andre was a great shared entrée great for a couple of people, the skirt steak was some of the best beef on the menu, cooked perfectly and seasoned so well. The carnitas was some of the best I ever had!!! Deserts were amazing too especially the guava cheesecake. Everything was so fresh and delicious, place is on the pricier side but worth it! Date night type of spot or great place to celebrate special occasions. read more

I had been wanting to check this place out, and the interior did not disappoint; absolutely beautiful space with a great vibe. It was packed, which speaks to its popularity, but if you're seated closer to the bar, be prepared for a pretty high noise level. On the plus side, they have plenty of tables and booths that can easily accommodate larger parties. Service: Very attentive from start to finish. Shoutout to all the servers who helped our table and especially Xayla for bringing such high energy all night. Parking: Valet is available, plus nearby parking structures and some street parking, which makes it manageable despite the busy location. Food: The house salad was delicious. I tried the tacos suaves. I'd definitely recommend the beef. The chicken was a bit dry. Adding a shrimp option would be a great addition to the menu. Drinks: The hibiscus margarita was tasty and well-balanced, not watered down, and just the right amount of kick. Price: On the pricey side. It's a great spot for a special occasion, but probably not somewhere I'd frequent regularly. read more

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We ate at the Pasadena Javiers restaurant last Wednesday early evening with some friends and had a delightful experience. All of the staff were very friendly and attentive from the very beginning. The restaurant itself is very beautiful. We live in Pasadena and had been to the previous restaurant at that location Il Fornaio many times. We were so disappointed that it was closing. However, the transformation to Javiers is incredible. Absolutely stunning. We sat at a booth facing a small fountain. I would give it an A++ for ambience. We started with the house margaritas the Javiers. Two with reposado and two with Blanco tequila. I thought they were very good and that they didn't taste light on tequila at all. We usually go for fancy margaritas but wanted to get a starting point. Next time we will try one of the specialties. We all gravitated towards the enchiladas. My husband got a lobster shrimp enchilada. I had the chicken enchiladas, one mole one green sauce. Both our friends had the chicken enchiladas with green sauce. Everybody was very happy with their food. They brought chips and salsa when we first sat down. I thought the salsa had a nice bite. My husband who likes a lot of heat, ordered some habanero salsa on the side that he said was delicious exactly what he wanted. Warning this cost you a couple dollars extra. My husband also had the Javiers salad it was very fresh and tasteful. The serving are generous and we brought home the leftovers. We will definitely be going back . We had a lovely experience and highly rate this restaurant I wish I would've edited the pictures to show more as the food looks better in person. read more

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I had heard about Javier's over the years so was excited when they opened up one in Pasadena in the old Il Fornaio space. Additionally, a Mexican friend of mine thought I would like it. I was surprised the Yelp reviews weren't better but still checked them out for a last minute bday lunch spot. The interior is very pretty and sophisticated. Complimentary chips and salsa are quite good, with the salsa having a little kick which I love. We both got cocktails (black samba for me at $25 - a little pricey) which we both really enjoyed. My friend got the guava margarita. We both also got salads - chopped salad with shrimp for me and my friend got the salmon salad. Both were very good. Split the chocolate ganache cake which was quite dense and tasty. Lovely spot to celebrate a special occasion in particular. Also, great service! read more

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Love Javier's! The vibe is always immaculate. Perfect lighting and the food and service is good. They're always so busy so service is on the slower side but they try their best and plus why are you in a rush anyway this place is beautiful! read more

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This location is a vibe, definitely a date night spot. I came here for dinner with my coworkers and we were taken away by how beautiful the restaurant was. There were so many beautiful booths and the center bar was gorgeous. This is definitely a spot Pasadena needed to pick up their nightlife. The service was amazing. Drinks and food were great. We will be back for future dinners and happy hours. read more

Javiers - Steak and chicken plate - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We had guests from Germany and dined at Javier's in Pasadena! The service, food and ambiance were amazing! We ordered the Tablita & Ceviche trio to share with Margaritas and it was delicious! read more

Javiers - Tablita & Margaritas - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Came to Javier's Pasadena on Valentine's Day and the place was packed! They let us know ahead of time that food might take a little longer because of how busy it was, but honestly they were pretty good with timing We started with the ceviche, guacamole, and taquitos. The ceviche was nice and refreshing with great flavor. The guacamole tasted super fresh and delicious -- and the chips seemed freshly fried, which made it even better. The taquitos were one of my favorites! The sauce on top was so good and really brought everything together. For mains, we ordered the enchiladas, tacos, and arrachera. The enchiladas were good, but not necessarily a standout for me. The tacos had great portions, flavorful meat, and really good salsa. My absolute favorite was the arrachera -- the prime skirt steak was cooked perfectly, super tender, and seasoned really well. The papas fritas were okay -- a little too thick for my liking and some pieces seemed slightly undercooked. The refried beans were good though. Drinks were solid too! I had a mango margarita and really enjoyed it Overall, great experience especially on such a busy night. And you can tell the amount of thought on into the design the place is beautiful great ambiance with water features and foliage! I'll definitely be back! L read more

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Elevated Mexican food is a tough task to accomplish. More often than not if you want a good margarita and enchiladas, a home style cantina with homemade/fresh ingredients does the job. Javier's in Vegas was a much better experience than Pasadena. Javier's Pasadena is LOUD. So loud, you're walking out with a sore throat, especially if you're seated in the dining area with low ceilings. They expanded into a covered outdoor terrace with higher ceilings but it still requires you to yell at the company next to you and not out of frustration lol. The food is underwhelming. There's no reason to order crab, lobster and shrimp enchiladas but I did just to try. Def not worth $50. The service was very attentive and friendly. No complaints there read more

Came here for the busy Easter Sunday and was a very pleasant experience. Had made a reservation through OpenTable and was seated right away at our time. Was very busy going in but service was on there game very accommodating. Waiter constantly checked on us and brought drinks and food pretty fast. Had gotten 3 steak tacos and they were amazing! Also got the fries and they were surprisingly good too. I also ordered a michelada and it was soooo good! Place was beautiful inside would be a great place to come for every occasion. Will be back very soon! read more

Before eating lunch here, I was concerned about their average rating of 2.8 stars. After finishing my meal, I think a 2.8 is kind of harsh in my opinion. It's probably closer to a 3.5 for me. Yes, the food is overpriced and charging $7 for rice and a separate $7 for beans is diabolical. Like what other reviewers have said, there are so many more authentic and affordable Mexican restaurants in LA that you can go to. BUT what this restaurant did deliver on were the elevated interior design choices, location, and the vibes. The servers were nice and we didn't run into any issues with billing. The food did take forever to get to the table after ordering though so don't come here if you're in a time crunch. I thought the food was going to taste worse than it did but I was content with the Enchiladas Poblanas that I ordered. Were they the best enchiladas I've ever had? No, but the flavors were still good. Complimentary chips came out fresh with salsa. We lounged here for a while after we finished eating and I'm glad that the servers didn't try to push us out. For parking, they offer valet but there are two Pasadena public parking lots close by. I parked at the Schoolhouse Garage at 33 E Green St and it only took me 2 to 3 min to walk to the restaurant. EV charging is available for a small fee on the B1 level using the PowerFlex app. There's also the other public parking lot on De Lacey but that one is tighter and more difficult to maneuver if you have a large car. read more

Javiers - Enchiladas Poblanas - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

This was my first time at Javier's ! There are parking lots around but not free. Once we walked in, we were amazed ! The place is stunning like we were at a resort In Mexico. They did such a great job. We were seated pretty quickly and the staff was lovely. We ordered margaritas of course and they were delicious! They give you free chips and salsa!! We got the queso fundido to start which was super good but pretty stringy so it was kind of hard to get onto chips and the tortillas. I got the taquito started as my meal and that was definitely filling enough. We also got the fried ice cream dessert ! Glad we did but probably wouldnt order it again just cuz of the price. The whole menu is pretty overpriced but the ambiance is worth at least going once ! read more

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Walked in on a Tuesday night with a last-minute reservation and the host was incredibly welcoming -- we were seated right away without any wait. Jacqueline was our waitress and honestly made the entire night. She was so sweet, patient, and knowledgeable. It was our first time here after hearing about Javier's for years, and the menu had so many options. We had a lot of questions, and she walked us through everything calmly and helped us choose dishes we ended up loving -- truly grateful for her service. We ordered the tableta and she kindly allowed us to substitute the pork for grilled shrimp, so we went with skirt steak and grilled shrimp as our two proteins. Both were amazing, perfectly cooked, and the sides that came with it completed the whole experience. We almost ordered another dish because we weren't sure about portions, but Jacqueline warned us it was a big plate -- and she was right. We barely finished it. Great food, beautiful ambiance, and standout service. First visit definitely won't be the last. read more

Javiers - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

I like this location much better the others. Modern, spicy margarita was delicious and the food was good. read more

Javiers - Bar area - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Pasadena, California

First I would like to say Please please please decide for yourselves how a particular restaurant was to your liking or not. As it relates to Javier's, I found it a wonderful, energized and completely satisfying experience. My advice is to disregard those extremely negative reviews that I see posted. The restaurant recently opened and as it was during the holidays and brand new, of course there will be slight learning curve and yes also very busy as there is an excitement of this location opening in Pasadena. The restaurant is beautiful, ample booth seating and foliage throughout. Spied a couple of bars, the largest being directly in the center ( maybe the other was decorative, have to go back to be certain. Although busy I found the wait staff as well as the hosts extremely pleasant and did their best to be accommodating. Lively music played throughout the restaurant and one thing I did wish, was that there could be a live band and even a small dance floor. The song selection made you want to get up and Salsa. The food was good in my opinion. I kept it basic; Mole Enchiladas, Shrimp Enchiladas, Salmon as well as a couple of salads. No complaints at all. Fresh, not overcooked and of course tasty. Great addition to the Pasadena dining scene. If you want good food, great night out and a beautiful venue, then this is your spot. read more

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Super overpriced! Food is mediocre. Ambiance is why you come here, I suppose. It feels like they're trying to be a high-end restaurant however they don't have the quality of food, drinks or service that's on par with that. All of their cocktails are made with low tier garbage liquor like Stoli. We made reservations well in advance and they sat us next to the door/host stand with the AC blowing directly down on us. It was so cold I had to ask the manager to move us. She moved us to the back near the bathroom/kitchen. I think next time I'd just rather sit at the bar for a drink and the mid chips and salsa. read more

Gorgeooooousssss! WOW, decor and architecture design was absolutely eye catching! I had a few espresso martinis at the back bar since the main bar was off the hook! Martinis were impressive and customer service was flawless. Ordered guacamole and chips. Guac was fresh and chips tasted homemade. Looking forward to having dinner in the future. Beautiful people, families, and tourists all around. Make your reservations since this venue is buuussssy! read more

Me and my friends have been waiting for this place to open up. We made reservations more than a week ago and still had to wait for over 50 minutes. You know though I get it, new restaurant and lots of people. Because even though we questioned the manager, he was kind and honest. Food was great! Loved the seafood trio enchiladas. I also like when a restaurant has good chips and salsa. Yummy!! Really nice and fancy layout. Loved the decor and fancy restroom. read more

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Food is mid, service is ok, ambience is ok too but nothing special. If you have a reservation, be prepared to wait at least an hour on the weekend. I was there for a bday but I honestly don't understand why people want to come here. Price definitely doesn't match the quality of food. read more

A girlfriends night out. The decor is gorgeous, but it is so loud inside. We could barely hear each other. The acoustics are terrible with no soft surfaces everything echos. We waited 30 minutes to be seated, despite a reservation, in a very hot little space. The food was OK. The service was good. But it just wasn't an enjoyable evening because honestly it was just so loud with very ordinary food. read more

My girlfriends and I were very excited to try Javier's, some drove from LA, myself and a few others came from the Inland Empire (took us almost an hour). We had a reservation for a Saturday at 6:30, we arrived 15 min early and were told that due to the high volume of customers, we needed to wait 30-45min could be longer- and that was with a reservation. Since we drove a long way, we decided to wait. A little after 7pm went back for an update only to be informed that unfortunately nothing has changed it would be another 30-45min. By that time all of us were starving and couldn't wait any longer and found another spot that could accommodate us within 15min. I understand this location is fairly new but I also know this is a well known establishment and it is bringing their reputation down. Very unprofessional and there needs to be some accountability with management. Whoever is making these reservations is obviously not properly trained. read more

Arrive to Javier's without a reservation, but we found two seats at the back bar! The hostess was very nice and transparent and reminded us that they are booked for days on reservations, but we could watch for an opening at either bar. My wife and I proceeded to the back bar and sat down and was immediately greeted by Sam, the bartender! This gentleman gives exceptional service! You can truly tell that he has a sincere and genuine nature to want to create experiences and relationships with customers, something you do not see as often. My wife got the steak salad and I got the filet mignon and lobster tail and both were cooked to perfection! She got a cucumber spicy margarita and I got the strawberry margarita, and WOW, they were STRONG! Holy guacamole! Lmao! This restaurant is absolutely breathtaking! The aesthetics on the inside is a masterpiece only designed by the best. The ambience, food, and most notably the service is why we will be returning! Thanks Sam and Javier's! Keep killing it! read more