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Great vibes and super fun for a large group or gathering. We celebrated a birthday here and they make it really special. The best thing on the menu is the quesabirria tacos! The service was great too. They have their own parking lot and take reservations too. Very easy to spot from the street.
Friendly service in a colorful restaurant. Menu offers a variety of Mexican appetizers and entrees. Combination plates are good, too.
Honestly this place never disappoints. Everyone was so nice. Happened to arrive at this place when it was about to close. The staff still allowed the group to order full meals. It was so nice of them. The ambiance feels like a party. The music is always energetic and great to listen to. Definitely come with a friend group. You won't be disappointed.
There is a small lot on the back. Parking is insufficient for the restaurant capacity. You can try the side streets. The service here was very good. The servers were friendly, efficient, and professional and helped each other as a team. They refilled drinks and ask if we wanted seconds on non-refillable drinks. Their happy hour is a mixed bag. It is what we came for. The drinks are probably reasonably priced for the post-COVID inflation atmosphere, but even at $8 for a margarita it's not cheap. The margarita seemed like it might be watered down, but it was just mixed well, had good flavor, and definitely had alcohol as it had some after kick on an empty stomach. We also came for Taco Tuesday. The $1.49??? Tacos were really small even for street tacos. The quality was not bad. However premium tacos like fish tacos were not included and we had to pay full price. The fish taco was not bad, but Habanero Grill and Tacos Ensenada make better cheaper tacos. The taquitos were not awful, but not good nor worth $8 for happy hour price. Some people around us had a huge bowl of Guacamole with chips and other items and we would want to try the Guacamole bowl. Overall, the local taco stands and trucks (Arandinos) in the area have better and cheaper food. However, if u were looking for a sit down place to hang with family or friends or to drink with your meal, then this might be a good spot.
Food was great! Service I thought was great until I, for one of the first times ever said I didn't like the Kalaveras margarita that tasted like tart lemonade with tequila. Our server popped attitude at me saying it's lime juice. It ain't lime juice. After that it was attitude the rest of the time and she had another server help us from then on. Lourdes, sugar goes farther than salt, and I didn't appreciate your attitude after the month I've had. You never know what someone else is going through, so maybe try kindness instead of dirty looks and attitude. Won't be coming back for damn sure, but the hostess Nichelle was the sweetest! Good hire there! Responding to managements message below: She didn't offer to remake it. Not trying to get anything free, as I said we will not be back. My husband only said it was fine to diffuse it because she did not offer that. And he could see I was clearly embarrassed. Not going to be called a lair. And I did try to bring it up, but her attitude made me stop. Thanks to the kind bartender and server who finished helping us at the end.
Went for dinner Sunday night around 6:15 and the place was basically empty. Was so shocked. Our waitress came over and asked us if we wanted any drinks and my son ordered a margarita and I ordered the horchata colada- to which she said, sorry we don't have those anymore. So I ended up getting a strawberry margarita. We then ordered guacamole and were told that they ran out of guacamole. What???? So we ended up getting the queso Fundito. He also ordered the esquito which ended up coming with his meal. I ordered the Carnitas and he ordered the Cali burrito with no shrimp. The portions were huge. I ended up taking probably 3/4 of my meal home because it was so much food and he ended up taking half of his burrito. It was OK overall, the menu is sort of limited and I was kind of bummed that they didn't have the Horchata colada and then how do you run out of guacamole in a Mexican restaurant? So that was a turn off. The waitress was OK she checked on us a couple times but All in all it was an OK experience for the amount of money we spent which was a lot. So not sure I'd want to go back there again.
The Pasadena Kalaveras is scads better than the North Hollywood location. The Pasadena space feels more intimate with a much better layout - not a high-ceilinged warehouse of noise. Food and drinks were great; service was excellent even though it was a packed, busy Saturday night. After horrible experiences at the NoHo one, I'm wary of trying the new Burbank location, but I'd definitely come back to this Kalaveras.
Solid Mexican food for the price. No complaints really. Honestly, I went in, expecting not great. I had the bar pretty low. But everything was great. Does everyone remember Chevy's Mexican restaurants? This is it. It's like a smaller chain or indie version of Chevy's complete with the blast of color decor and the comfort Mexican food and margs. My servers always checked in on me. Unlike Chevy's you do have to pay for chips and salsa and the salsa TASTES JUST LIKE CHEVY'S! I had the chicken enchiladas with rice and beans. It came out hot and tasted great. Nothing stand out or Michelin star ready, it was just good. If you're in your 20s and you're looking for a fun date get together for a cheap price. This would be a good spot although it is very off by itself.
I have been to the Pasadena and the City of Industry locations near Puente Hills multiple times enough to feel like I can make a fair review. The good stuff: Iove their tacos, their happy hour and their buffet brunches. There's so much tasty stuff here to satisfy your Central American cravings. The elote (street corn with cotija cheese, crema and hot cheetos topping) is yum, esp. since CaCao Mexicatessen is a drive. I love the Dia de Los Muertos spray-painted decor with the roses. I also love the entry into the hispanic trap (?) music/culture I get educated on from the many screens showing videos. The hispanic pride is huge here. The service is always top-notch. At both places, they come around often and ask if you're okay and also notice when you're down to just the ice in your drink and ask if you want another (which is of prime importance during happy hour). The only criticism I have/suggestion is about the loudness of the music. Y'all need a reverse curfew when it comes to the sound. Both places make it impossible to have conversations with friends at any time. I get that you guys are a big party like place, but please, for the love of Miguel, can you turn down the music until about 8pm? Anyway, I love this place for the food and drinks, but the vibe is a bit too much. My husband would come here with me more if you just had a curfew when it came to the music. I like to catch up with my brunch guest without yelling and/or leaning in too close while reading lips.
We stopped here for lunch while having our VW serviced across the street. The margaritas are wonderful, I highly recommend the hibiscus margarita, El Chupacabra. Miguel, our server, was very attentive! We shared nachos and I appreciate that you can choose your protein, we chose carnitas and they were tasty.
Always great food and fantastic vibe. It has yet to disappoint. And I am not even talking about Taco Tuesday or the Happy Hour menus which are great. Come on your birthday and see how they show you the love.
I've come here a couple times but never for - Taco Tuesdays! This was a great addition and very happy they've started this! A good variety and all the toppings laid out for you. Also ordered the esquite and queso fundido. Those were decent but could have a little more flavor. Server was friendly and attentive! Checked in frequently. The music wasn't as loud as normal but I'm happy with that. This was lunchtime and we weren't there to party. Overall good spot to have close by!
I keep coming back. The chicken enchiladas smothered in Kalaveras' salsa verde with a side of rice and bean is addicting. Jalapeño Pineapple Margaritas are dangerous. And the service, vibe, and energy are welcoming. Whether you come in for sit down or take out, presentation is always beautiful. I keep ordering the chicken enchiladas and I have yet to try something else because it's so darn mouthwatering delicious. However, I highly recommend coming in or ordering out for lunch or dinner. You will not be disappointed.
2 years ago
Alex is the best!! Made our day the best Mother's Day :) She's so sweet and personable 10/10 will come again read more
Business owner information
Cristina O.
Hello Crystal,…
3 years ago
3 years ago
Came here on a Thursday night to have dinner with a friend. I was able to make a reservation on Open Table and when I arrived, my friend and I were seated right away. One thing to note is that there is very loud music playing inside, so me and my friend were pretty much yelling at each other as we conversed, but that's okay HAHA For my entree, I ordered the enchilada de cameron and oh my goodness, it was so delicious. The portion size was pretty big but it was so good, I was able to eat almost all of it. I also ordered some margaritas on the side and they were also pretty yummy as well and also decently priced. Overall, I usually say I would come back to try other items but, I want to come back just for the enchilada!! read more
3 years ago
First time coming to this restaurant. I've passed by it numerous times but always wanted to see was the inside as decorative as the outside. And it is even better. I love the ambiance, attentiveness of the staff and the food was pretty good. I went due info happy hour. My only complaints are for the woman who rudely answered the phone and place me on hold for 18+ minutes and our waitress Laura did not tell us the toppings for the dollar tacos only on Tuesday are located at the front. We figured it out on our own. Other than that we had a great night and Laura was amazing. Possibly the I'll dine there again. We'll see read more
First time here and their birria tacos definitely hit the spot. The birria taco is pretty big, comes with 3. The fried cod tacos was pretty fresh with generous portions. The shrimp tacos were just okay. I think they used frozen shrimp, I prefer shrimp tacos with fresh ones. Their complimentary chips were pretty good, came with their in-house salsa. The pricing was fair as well, nothing crazy. Overall, I'd come back to try out other things on their menu. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area and craving some mexican food read more
Delicious! Friendly Service! Great Vibe! Strong Drinks! 10/10 would totally reccomend Kalaveras. I loved the quality of the food here. A bit of the elevated Mexican food vibe. FOOD + DRINKS: The Esquite...street corn in a cup. So good! The Kali Burrito...shrimp, French fries, steak, rice, guacamole wrapped in a light delicious tortilla. Yum! Their quesadilla and potatoes taquitos was a great choice for the vegetarian I was with, and actually both were so tasty for being without meat! You taste the quality in all their ingredients, even the cheeses. Their spicy Jalapeño cucumber margarita was the best! Laege chunks of cucumber with a tajin rim. I love a place that isn't afraid to pour you a stiff drink that still tastes delicious! AMBIANCE + SERVICE: Indoor seating with a cute outdoor patio right on the corner, so good for people watching. Latino music videos playing on the TVs outside, set the tone to accompany some great good and drinks. Wonderful attentive and friendly service. They have Happy Hour Mon-Fri 3pm-7pm Margarita specials on Mondays (Pitchers for $30!) Taco specials on Tuesdays ($3.50 tacos) Mezcal Wednesdays (Mezcal Cocktails for $9) Michelada Thuradays ($9 michis) Definetly a great spot to grab some drinks and enjoy some eats read more
Three stars for service, decor, and food. Minus two stars for absurdly high volume music, predatory valet, lackluster views, and inescapable TVs. Kalaveras seems to be in the wrong place. It's a nightclub atmosphere with dark colors and cool neon accents, music blasting from every corner, and valet parking, but it's situated on an awkward point jutting out into an intersection flanked by a car dealership and a cat hotel. You'd expect a joint like this in Old Town or closer to LA, not across the street from a Chevron and a florist. The edgy atmosphere is definitely a selling point, especially at night when the neon paint really shines, but we came in the early evening when the sun was just starting to set. I was enchanted by the floral entryway curving around the bar but we were quickly overwhelmed by the insane music volume. You should be prepared to shout - and according to our waitress, this was before they "really crank it up" later at night. My Apple Watch was constantly notifying me that I was in an environment that would damage my hearing. So we sat out on the patio, which was a little quieter, but not by much. From here, pointing out into the intersection, the view leaves a lot to be desired. But the stools were exceptionally comfortable and the service was personable and friendly - we even bantered with a waiter about whether or not we could actually handle the *really* spicy sauce (we could). The food came out fairly quickly, but they continually got our table confused with another table, even giving them a plate that had already been mistakenly placed on our table. Extra points, however, for the waitress who grooved with us while leading us to our table. The food was all delicious. I got the margarita flight, which boasted a gorgeous presentation of four little margarita glasses lined with spiced pepper and various accoutrements, and the Kali Burrito, which was sliced in half like a wrap and overflowed with guacamole. I recommend placing the accompanying fried plantains inside the burrito for maximum flavor potential. This is not a family-friendly restaurant. The omnipresent TVs played a loop of several very suggestive music videos and my 4-year-old niece was enthralled, but there was nowhere we could put her that she couldn't see them. So this is a place for your average 20-something crowd. Overall, Kalaveras is an experience and a good time - just bring hearing protection. read more
3 years ago
My husband and I came here for our anniversary and the service and food was amazing. Let's start with the ambiance when you walk in you see all of the beautiful paintings on the wall. The decor is so beautiful and the place is spotless clean. We had Birria tacos, taqueria, and nachos and all 3 were super delicious. The food was fresh and nice and hot when it came to our table. The service was amazing. Arianna was our server and she was training Nicole. Both women were attentive and super nice. We never had to request anything more than once and they were on top of the refills. Both women kept smiles on their faces which was good to see because it shows they enjoy their jobs. We definitely will return in the future.. thank you Kalaveras for the amazing food, service, and ambiance! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Business owner information
Cristina O.
Hello Marcela,…
What a fun vibe! Music, great food/drinks and great company! We were looking for a spot for my brother's birthday and this place kept coming up but in different cities. At first I made a reservation at the San Pedro location for our group but the weather kinda sucked to drive all the way out there so we decided to look for a location that would be closer or central to all of us so we chose this one. I don't think this one takes any reservations but they accommodated our group. My sister, brother and wife showed up before the rest of the group and sat at the bar for a couple of drinks while they waited for our table. Customer Service: 10/10 The bartenders and servers were very helpful in choosing drinks and suggested the Kalaveras and pina con chile Margarita it was super delish not to sweet or salty just right. We then got our table and the vibe was very fun and festive. Vibes: 9/10 There was music playing and people were enjoying their dinner. Food: 9/10 We ordered a couple of items from the food menu and everything tasted delicious nothing amazing but really good food. We ordered the potato taquitos 4/5, I had the shrimp burrito 5/5 which was huge but very tasty! My sister got the enchiladas de camaron 5/5. All the drinks were tasty and looked really pretty! The Margarita flight: 10/10 DELICIOUS! Kalaveras Margarita: 10/10 La Vela: Cool presentation 10/10 La Guera: Very tasty 10/10 Pina con chile: 10/10 Parking: Small valet parking but plenty of street parking. If you don't mind the loud music and fun atmosphere hit up this place you won't regret it. They have plenty of other Kalaveras in LA county. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Patricia S.
Hi Ka’Daar,…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Patricia S.
Hi Tj,…
This is a very good spot. Have been here and the Downey location. Both are very loud but an overall fun atmosphere. The food is very good here. The birria tacos and taquitos are my favorite!!! The servers at this location are super friendly and very attentive. read more
4 years ago
Amazing location! Parking yes! Handicap parking yes! Outside seating yes! Lot of inside seating yes! Full bar/ Daily special menu/ CLEAN!!!!! Super friendly staff all the ladies are kind and so friendly with so much energy!!!!! Truly loved it. Very glad my girlfriend and daughter found this place. Food was delicious and worth the price! The drinks are just perfect!!!!!!!! Will be back!! Thank you to all the staff!!! read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
Kalaveras Pasadena is my spot. I love their margaritas, they are so good. They make their pure from scratch with real fruit. Everyone is always so attentive. I am a local from Pasadena and I feel like family here. Jocelyn,karo, July are the bartenders here (the mean girls club) they will make sure you enjoy your time at kalaveras. read more
Business owner information
Patricia S.
Hi Sachin,…
1 year ago
Love Kalaveras! It has a fun and vibrant vibe. I came on Cinco De Mayo and it was pretty busy, but not packed. I made reservations the night before, but it did not show up in their system day of. Luckily, they were able to get us a table indoors within a few minutes. Chips and salsa are complimentary and refillable. For drinks, we got the charcoal paloma and jarrito loko. Both were beautifully presented. Highly recommend the jarrito loko! For appetizers, we got chicken taquitos (it was okay). The carne asada and chicharrón tacos were better. They are huge and loaded with meat. Service was friendly and fast. Overall, solid and authentic Mexican food. Will be back for Margarita Mondays and Taco Tuesdays! read more
This is the best place to come if you want good food and drink with loud music. The service is very good and they come by to check on you consistently. They even came by with a tray of shots for $16 each of you wanted one. It was definitely a party in here this Saturday with the amount of birthdays being celebrated and celebrating everyone taking shots. read more
2 years ago
The food was good. The drinks are strong, but very good. Service was very quick on a Tuesday. read more
Business owner information
Patricia S.
Hi Ivy,…
2 years ago
Came with coworkers for an after work celebration and has a great time! They have a small parking lot but lots of street parking available. It was pretty full for a Wednesday night with loud music and gorgeous interior decor. My group decided to sit at the outdoor patio under a heat lamp that wasn't doing a good job heating us lol. They do have happy hour and daily specials! Kali burrito $18 - delicious! Had shrimp and asada in it for a tasty blend. I felt if was a little dry, maybe needed a some sauce but I did really enjoy it! Portion was huge. Coworkers really enjoyed their tacos and both agreed the camote one was the best one! The drinks were also very tasty and the service was great! Our server was very friendly and even brought us a birthday flan. Definitely my night. read more
Overall, it's a nice place in Pasadena for drinks and Mexican food. The Paloma Negra cocktail was decent, and the Kali Burrito was different with shrimp and asada, but surprisingly tasty. I was a bit disappointed that they charged extra for the green sauce without telling me. The service was average, and they played music throughout. If you want a good variety of drinks and Mexican food, Kalaveras is worth checking out. read more
2 years ago
We had a girls' night out at Kalaveras, and the experience was great. Our waiter, Gio, was attentive, the environment was pleasant, and the music wasn't too loud. I ordered a tostada Kalaka (I think that's what it's called), and although I wish it had tasted a bit more like ceviche, it was still good. The girls really enjoyed the quesobirria. By the way, the tostadas looked and tasted homemade. read more
3 years ago
Every time I go I'm always impressed! Carlos (alfono I think) at the bar and many of the regular employees always make our groups feel special and offer great service! Not to mention incredible Margaritas... The guavarita is a newer summer drink and it's amazing.. Not too sweet! Continues to be my go to for a fun night out! The music gets turned up after 5:30 (but you can still talk) it's a total club vibe. Herd they have Sunday brunch (family friendly with mariachi band) so I'll have to check that out! read more
1 year ago
Great happy yr. Mostly sit at the bar. Bartenders always very attentive, great convo, and friendly. Food comes out quick. Will definitely go back. Ask for Jocelyn or Karolina. read more
Business owner information
Patricia S.
Hi House,…
2 years ago
Stopped by for lunch today, and from the very beginning everything was great, from the interaction with the manager who was up front to the service & lets not forget the AMAZING food! The place is also very in theme with "Dia de los Muertos" as it is around the corner, i was surprised to see the beautiful altar upon entering the establishment, in addition to the great halloween decor all around the restaurant. I tried their lunch special going on which was the "combination plate", you could mix and match a couple items (which came with your choice if rice/beans or a side salad) which i thought was absolutely great as i tend to be indecisive when it comes to ordering food especially when it all looks so good! I tried out the green chicken enchilada and the potato and cheese taquito, which was so flavorful and have no regrets whatsoever. Everything was a 10/10 and definitely will be coming back to Kalaveras! If you are ever in the area or looking for some delicious mexican food, be sure to check them out, staff was amazing and food even more!! Thank you Kalaveras Pasadena :) read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Cristina O.
Hello Danny,…
3 years ago
I was pleasantly surprise about the food at this place. We ordered the queso fundido and it was a bit messy. The three tortillas they give with it wasn't enough! I think I would have rather had it with chips. It was great but not extraordinary. The habanero salsa is so good. I was told that the tortillas at Kalaveras are hand made but they didn't seem so for me but I can be wrong. The drinks were okay which is why I didn't give it 5 stars. Lots of yelpers say that the drinks are but I've had better. Maybe it was an off night? (It was super empty and we were told that it was because it was Easter weekend.) I had the cucumber jalapeño margarita with the Tajín rim and it disappointed big time. I couldn't taste the cucumber, jalapeño, tequila, or even the citrus a margarita usually has. I did got a reg margarita and the tequila was great but the citrus flavor was not there. I didn't want to waste anymore $ on drinks. With those two drinks I could have bought tequila to enjoy at home. The husband had the birria tacos and those were AMAZING! They didn't skimp on the meat either. So tasty! Delicious! I had the beef lomo saltado and it was perfection! The chimichurri sauce put it over the top! I wouldn't have paired it with sweet potato fries. Reg potato fries would have been much better but I'd have it again. The vibe is loud, super colorful, and music videos are played on the various tv screens. Some music video are not for all audiences so be advised. I found it fun and loved it. Service was attentive & friendly. The seating is kind of cramped. I was hoping to get a booth like at the location in Montebello but no booths at this Pasadena location. There was a big party and they were cramped in a corner. Might have to visit another location and do quality control. LOL! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Patricia S.
Hi Bill,…
1 year ago
Kalaveras' team is always so nice and attentive. I've been coming to this restaurant for the last year. Jocelyn, karol and Cristina always welcome me with a smile. I always sit at the bar and I always see everyone working hard. So if you live by the area, consider coming here. I live out in LA and I wish I lived closer. They always have the beer and shots that I want. The atmosphere is very inviting and they always listen to requests to change the tv to the various sporting events that are playing. The food is very delicious. I love the shrimp fajitas and the breakfast burrito on the brunch menu. read more
Business owner information
Patricia S.
Hi Ian,…
2 years ago
I decided to stop by for a mojito and the bartender surprised me. Not only was this the best mojito I've ever had but the Mexican candy shot was on the house! Good vibe and great location. I'll definitely be back! 5 stars!!! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Patricia S.
Hi Brianna,…
2 years ago
2 years ago
Great service from Giovanni and helpful with our order and explaining various items. The Dragon Roll is so delicious, happy hour tacos, and amazing drinks. Will definitely go back to enjoy the ambiance again! Thank you read more
More info about Kalaveras
187 N Sierra Madre Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107
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(626) 314-3540
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https://kalaveras.com
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Ask the Community - Kalaveras
Do they have private areas for small dinner parties?
I didn't see any room for a private party. There were tables pushed together where people were celebrating birthdays but it was among everyone else.
What time is happy hour?
Is this kid friendly for dinner?
No, there are raunchy music videos playing on a bunch of tv screens. Videos displaying guns, drugs, and naked women.…
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