Tacos Ensenada

Came here for dinner with another fish-loving friend, and neither of us had ever been. We had an…read moreexcellent meal here, and I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu... I'd been sleeping on this place! I really liked the open, airy, diner-like atmosphere here, with comfy, clean booths but still a bit of an upscale feel. We started with the House Pickles and some fresh oysters. Our server was great at recommending some oysters in different flavor profiles, since we liked the milkier, less briny-tasting varieties. His recs were spot on too, and I loved that they provided house-prepared mignontette and horseradish. Then, we shared the Maryland blue crab cake (one cake that was big enough for its own meal) and the U10 Diver Scallops that came in a sauce of cream, spinach and bacon, and a side of buttery, soft bread. I make scallops all the time at home and never would have thought of a sauce like this... it was dreamy! We used the bread to just about clean the plate (since it isn't really socially acceptable to lick a plate in a restaurant), and I'm still thinking about the scallops and that sauce today. The crab cake and pickles were excellent too. We paired everything with some crisp New Zealand sauv blanc. I really enjoyed this place and I'd love to go back to try to hand rolls, soups, and everything else!

Had a nice dinner at this seafood bar named Fishwives in Old Town Pasadena. We made reservations…read moreand came in this place has a very chill vibe. Got seated in the corner for our party of three. The menu is small but the flavor is so good. All of us loved the food and would come back for sure. We got to try a seafood platter, cioppino, and ceviche. All the items were fresh and we loved every dish. So if you want some seafood and are in the area this is a nice spot with a chill vibe.

Dungeness Crab Roll

Lobster Roll

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Fresh but under seasoned albacore, amberjack, salmon, ponzu vinaigrette

Pez Coastal Kitchen

4.4(386 reviews)

2.6 mi•Downtown

I had a lovely dinner with friends at Pez Coastal Kitchen in Pasadena. They live in the area and…read morego to this place a lot. There is street parking nearby, and we walked from our hotel the Hyatt Place. They have a good drinks menu. I ordered the Lady Bug which was a tequila based drink that was really good. They also have a bunch of non-alcoholic blended drinks. For food, we ordered a bunch of stuff to share including the ceviche, the lamb meatballs, the octopus, the jumbo scallops, Brussels sprouts, and the yams. Everything was unique and excellent. We were too full to try a dessert. Service was very gracious. I did find it interesting that they close the kitchen around 8 pm on a weeknight, but also the restaurant was not that busy.

My wife and I stopped by for a lunch date earlier this afternoon (10/3) and were excited to try the…read morefood, however we did not get a chance to. I am not sure if this is a brand new establishment or if the servers were brand new and need training, but we found the customer service to be severely lacking. Judging by the reviews, it is not, which is even more baffling. The hostest was fine. We did not have to wait long to be seated, but this was probably the only good part of our experience if I am being honest. After 15 minutes, a server came and asked us if we wanted still or sparkling water. We asked for sparkling. He disappeared for 5 minutes and another server (hostest) came back with the water. After this, nobody came to the table to greet themselves, ask if we were ready to order, or if we had any questions. There simply wasn't any service whatsoever. I made eye contact with two different servers, but nothing came from it. To add insult to injury, 3 tables who were seated after us received prompt service. My wife and I have always given the benefit of the doubt to restaurants and have never left a restaurant before we even ate the food. However, for the first time in our lives, we flagged down the hostess, paid for the sparkling water and left. If a restaurant is not going to value their customers or their patronage, they do not deserve our business. First impressions matter, customer service matters, simple acknowledgment matters and we had a horrible first impression. We will not be back.

Seating area and bar

Half dozen oysters

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Sea bream - after!

Nick's South Lake Avenue

4.5(2.2k reviews)

3.4 mi•South

The food is great and consistent, I default to here when I can't think of what to eat…read more Service is great and attentive. The ambiance is nice and relaxing.

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful anniversary dinner here yesterday! The service was excellent,…read moreand we especially want to thank Danielle for making our evening so special. She was lovely, attentive, and thoughtful, and she even surprised us with a special cake to celebrate our anniversary. We truly appreciated her kindness! We also really appreciated how the restaurant handled a small mistake with our leftover. They had forgotten to pack our soup, but they kindly sent us a brand-new one to make up for it. Their thoughtfulness and great customer service made a wonderful impression on us. Overall, we had a lovely experience and are grateful for the excellent service and care from the team. We would definitely love to come back!

Asparagus Fries | A Nick's Original

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Bodegon No 69

4.4(677 reviews)

2.6 mi•Downtown

Amazing food and service! I would definitely go back…read moreAmbiance was perfect for the occasion

Came in excited to try the food, but unfortunately, the service was extremely disappointing. We…read morewere seated right away but waited over 10 minutes without being acknowledged or even offered water. The waitress then served a table that was seated after us while we continued to wait. We even asked the hostess if we could order with her, but still no one came over. At that point, we decided to walk out and go to another restaurant. We understand restaurants get busy, but acknowledging your guests is the bare minimum. Unfortunately, we never even got the chance to try the food.

Alpaka greeters!

Seafood Ceviche (Marinated well super rich and not raw leading to melt in mouth seafood)

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INKA COLA

Lobster-Guys

4.4(250 reviews)

4.5 mi•East Pasadena

I had visited their sister restaurant Lobster and Beer numerous times during my studies at UCLA and…read morewas happy to find out this place opened up. I ordered a Connecticut style crab roll. The food arrived within 10 minutes of ordering. The crab roll was packed full of crab meat inside the toasted bun. I love whatever sauce they put on top + the lemon which made the crab meat ridiculously refreshing. The side of salad helped me feel better about eating healthy too and was a nice textural break from the crab roll. Overall, the crab roll tastes relatively similar to what I had at Lobster and Beer. It was very satisfying and I can't wait to come back for the lobster roll. Until I find out they switched to a poke shop instead. What a loss.

Another 5-star update to my previous two reviews. Guys, it's my birthday! I'm part of their reward…read moreprogram, and received a $5 off coupon. Perfect timing, as I was craving to come back! I got my usual Cali Truffle Roll (which was delicious, as always) and also got a side of lobster bisque soup. The store associate says that it gets made fresh daily, and that there's chunks of lobster in the bisque, so I had to give it a try. Guys. It's worth making a trip for! This is the BEST lobster bisque I've had (and I used to live in east coast!). You can truly taste the freshness and yes, there were chunks of lobster in it! They also have a clam chowder which I need to try again. Whatever you come here for, get a side of soup to complete your meal :)

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Crab Grabber

4.5(210 reviews)

5.4 mi•Chapman

My first ever seafood boil and definitely not my last! Parking in the back was super easy and the…read morerestaurant had such a cozy, family vibe. The owner even came out to say hi, which was really nice! The staff was so friendly and extra helpful once they found out it was my first time. I also have a shrimp allergy, and they made sure to clearly point out which tray was shrimp-free so there was no confusion, which I really appreciated. The medium spice level was NO joke but everything was so flavorful and seasoned really well. Such a fun first seafood boil experience and I'd definitely come back!

Such a hidden gem in Pasadena! We loved the Combo A with shrimp and snow crab legs -- the mixed…read moresauce was so flavorful. The spicy grilled fish and green pepper chicken were also really good. Big bonus: they have 20+ freshly made Chinese braised dishes and sides that are complimentary with dine-in. Save room for the iced liangfen too -- perfect after all the spicy food. Great spot for sharing with friends, especially if you like trying a little bit of everything. Definitely coming back!

Grab Grabber

Beef broccoli

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Award winning classy

Star Leaf

4.4(969 reviews)

2.9 mi•Downtown

Atina And Connor best waiters. Super kind and helpful when it came to ordering. Really enjoyed the…read morefood

Star Leaf, in Pasadena, is a wonderful Thai restaurant that has a unique and attractive menu. The…read morefact that they were participating in Dine LA was a trigger, to make another visit there for lunch. I tried to invoke the dinner menu, but they were not willing. Not a problem, the lunch menu was equally enticing. A 2-course offering for $25. I started with the Thai Prawn Ceviche. This course was wonderfully balanced, not too acidic, also a nice touch of sweetness and plump flavorful prawns. For the main, my selection was the Beef Truffle Wok-Seared Noodles. I was delighted that they were round noodles and they arrived at my table stirred in a dark sauce with sliced beef pieces on top. A small porcelain decanter was also supplied, containing the truffle oil. I poured it over my noodles. The beef was tender, moist and could be cut with the usual provided table knife. The whole dish was a winner, from start to finish. Service here, as expected, was well executed. Need to be aware of the parking though. There is a public garage around the corner that is advertised for this establishment and a few others. Problem is, that Star Leaf validates only for 1-hour, while their neighbors do so, for 2-hours. I addressed this issue with the manager at my last visit and this time too. The answer I got was not convincing to suggest that they care, or will do something about it, anytime soon. Oh well.

Outdoor place setting

Thai Royal Crab Curry

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Ribeye Crying Tiger Salad

The Arbour

4.3(996 reviews)

3.6 mi•South

I had a business dinner here the other night so could not take photos of the delicious food. From…read morethe outside this place might be mistaken for a generic chain but the care and attention to the food and service dispel that impression immediately. We enjoyed the corn agnolotti, edamame humus, and the melon with prosciutto as appetizers. I especially liked the sea bass entree. It was beautifully seasoned and cooked perfectly. The salmon was also tasty (we shared plates). The apple strudel was yummy as was the dessert with lemons curd, blackberries and melt-in-your -mouth shortbread cookies. Almost forgot to mention the watermelon drop cocktail. What a perfect refreshing summer drink. Definitely worth trying. Well done, Arbour! I'll be back.

Was meeting up with people for dinner, and was looking for something in Pasadena to check out, and…read morecame across the Arbour. After a quick glance at the menu, made a reservation and we all met up. We were able to get seated right away at a booth, and water was brought out for the table immediately. We started with drinks and I honestly don't remember what everyone had. The Mai Tai was a little lackluster, though, but the other cocktails were decent. For food, we started with the oysters, potatoes croquettes and agnolotti. The oysters were fine, can't complain about oysters, but they really didn't stand out necessarily. The croquettes were tasty, nice and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside with smoked bacon and cheddar cheese. And the agnolotti came topped with a truffle foam and filled with ricotta cheese. Also a nice bite! For entrees we tried the pork chop, rigatoni, shrimp penne and the bucatini spaghetti. The shrimp penne has a good amount of shrimp in it, which is always nice, but there seemed to be a missing flavor profile to make the dish pop. The same with the rigatoni with basil pesto, it just tasted like something was missing to elevate it into a great dish. The rigatoni did have that nice pesto green color which stands out though. The bucatini was a little better with the spiciness from the vodka sauce giving it a little punch, but the stand out was the boneless pork chop with broccoli and cheddar covered potato gnocchi. Pork chop was cooked perfectly, great flavor on the pork and the gnocchi hit as well. Overall, Italian spot in Pasadena seeing up didn't nice looking dishes. The agnolotti, croquettes and pork chop were definitely stars of the meal, while the pasta dishes didn't hit like we all hoped they would. I'd stick with the proteins and maybe skip the pastas.

Cozy dining room.

Yellowfin Tuna

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Filet mignon with gai LAN and potatoes (potatoes under the steak)

Boston Lobster

4.3(1.9k reviews)

8.3 mi

First time at Boston Lobster on Lower Azusa Road and I was impressed!…read more I went with my son for a one-year-old's birthday party and somehow managed to arrive an HOUR late ‍. Thankfully, they were incredibly gracious and accommodating when we showed up. The food is served family style, so we got to sample a little bit of everything. The filet mignon medallions were delectable--tender, flavorful, and perfectly marinated. And the Lobster Noodles! This was my first time trying them and they absolutely delivered. The lobster was cut and fried in a way that made the meat tucked inside the shell really easy to get to, which made the whole experience so enjoyable. And that gravy... I was literally sucking on the lobster shell trying to get every last bit. So, so good. We also had a stir-fried green vegetable--possibly watercress--and it was delicious. Simple, savory, and cooked just right. I loved having something fresh and green alongside all the richer dishes. Great food, warm service, and such a fun meal to share with a group. I'll definitely be back.

I've been coming to this establishment since it was still located in that small spot on San Gabriel…read moreand Valley, so it's disappointing to say that the quality of the food seems to have gone downhill over the years. The service is still great, the restaurant itself is decently clean and spacious. Sadly, the food just wasn't up to the standards I remember. Salt & Pepper Shrimp 3/10 - Poorly seasoned and lacking the crispiness I was expecting. The shrimp just didn't have much going for it. Mongolian Beef 4/10 - This was basically steamed beef with green onions. The dish lacked the caramelized, savory flavor I typically associate with Mongolian beef. Clams with Basil 5/10 - The flavor was decent, but the clams did not taste particularly fresh, which really took away from the dish. Pan-Fried Pork 2/10 - Unfortunately, this was my least favorite. The pork didn't taste fresh, and the texture made it feel like it had been fried twice. The normally flavorful sauce it came with was also extremely bland. I'm actually very glad I came during lunch and paid lunch prices for these dishes. If I had paid dinner prices, I would have been extremely disappointed. The food from my previous visits weren't extraordinary, but at least it was "okay". However, after this visit, I have officially taken this restaurant off my rotation. I won't be returning.

Dining area with pretty cherry blossoms tree painted on wall...

Clam with basil

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Stir-fried Clam with Thai basil

Newport Seafood Restaurant

4.1(3.8k reviews)

6.4 mi

I've eaten here countless times with friends and family over the years. I can't believe I haven't…read morereviewed you guys! Always consistent in service and quality. They are known for: Special Lobster (A+) Beef Loc Lac (A) Clams with spicy sauce (A+) Chinese broccoli (B+) - depends on how thick or thin it is Pea shoots with garlic (A) Eggplant (A) Yang Chow fried rice (A) Reservations are highly recommended either by calling or thru Yelp. There are private rooms in the back on request if you have a larger party and seafood is always fresh as they have an aquarium with lobsters, crab, geoduck, and fish. The decor is charming with vintage trinkets along the side of the wall. There is a waiting area by the lobby and restrooms in the back of the restaurant. Since it gets so crowded and busy the restrooms could be tended better. Parking is available on the street otherwise you have to valet on the lot.

Honestly, what's great about coming here is their set menu, which is very helpful if you have…read moredecision paralysis and come with a big group. But as for the food itself, the standouts would be the fried shrimp and the lobster. The shrimp is perfectly fried and I enjoy how soft the shell is. I like the lobster alot too. I personally prefer the way it's prepared at Henry's, but Newport's is still pretty decent. For the most part, the food is overloaded with MSG. Each time I've gone or taken food to go, I feel massively dehydrated after that I get a headache if I don't drink enough water. Luckily the staff was pretty on top of refilling our waters, and they often switched out our plates for clean ones. We've been going for years, and they used to allow substitutions for the set menu. But on a recent visit, this didn't seem like it was a thing anymore.

Newport special crab on egg noodles

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Beef loc lac

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8 reviews that are not currently recommended

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H M.

4 years ago

This is our 'go-to' taco place. Their tacos are pretty good so we decided to try the bean burritos this time and ordered ours with extra cheese. What a disappointment! The 'burrito' was more like a rice burrito as it was mainly packed with this ingredient. We counted 2 beans and the rest was just the sauce of whatever mixture they used. Mine fell apart as it wasn't rolled up tightly. I don't know if the ownership has changed or if they had a change of cook but it was truly disappointing. There are other Hispanic restaurants in the area and Tacos Ensenada just gave us the push to try these establishments next time! read more

Sirena A.

9 years ago

My mom loves this place. Literally comes here maybe once or twice a week when she doesn't want to cook. The cashiers know her order religiously lol. She loves the shrimp tacos or carne asada. I like this place as well. I'm not a huge sea food fan but the heiba tostadas are pretty good. And prices are good! Minerva is probably the best cashier there. Her service gives this place a 5. Always takes my moms order and mines. read more

Melendez V.

1 year ago

Wow, the food here is incredible! The burrito campechana is a must-try -- packed with flavor and generously loaded with protein. The staff makes every visit special with their warm, welcoming attitude, even over the phone. Don't miss out on this delicious experience! read more

John H.

8 years ago

Service is really bad, they take phone orders and when you get there food is not ready you have to wait for a long time, I will never come back to this place... read more

Sherly S.

244

9 years ago

The shrimp tacos are good. I could say around the neighborhood they are the best you will find here. Their soups not as good. $1 tacos Tuesday read more

whitney r.

9 years ago

The fish tacos are tasty, but would be excellent with less batter...Just fish would be fine.

R B.

3 years ago

Had a carnitas burrito yesterday, April 1, 2024. BEST burrito I have ever had in my life! read more

Kimberly M.

9 years ago

I'm a food snob. Their food is delicious and reasonably priced. Enough said.

Tacos Ensenada - seafood - Updated October 2026

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The food was delicious. Ambiance very pleasant. Customer service was very good. Very happy with our…read morefood! Tasty! Clean bathrooms and they have their own parking. Totally recommend.

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Food is on point! Las señoritas in the back throwing it down. I'm working on fire rebuilds and…read morethis place has become my go to spot for lunch and or early dinners. I heard breakfast is really good need to try that next!

We picked up food to go. I ordered 2 taquitos a la carte-I…read moreenjoyed them, they make them fresh to order. The perfect combination of crunch and amount of chicken. We also ordered guac, salsa, and chips. We were not thrilled with the guac. It's pretty boring and is thin and has a lot of onions-they're sautéed I think not diced raw. It wasn't very busy so we didn't have to wait long, I noticed they updated the booths.

Tacos Don Pillo

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Tacos Dos Pillo in Altadena is one of my favorite spots! I come here at least once a week, and the…read morefood is always fresh, delicious, and full of flavor. This time I ordered an asada burrito, two orders of potato tacos, an order of fish tacos, and a Jarrito; everything was excellent. The asada was flavorful, the potato tacos were perfectly crispy, and the fish tacos were delicious. The chefs here do an amazing job, and you can tell they take pride in the food they make. The quality is always consistent, which is why I keep coming back week after week. Definitely one of my go to taco spots in Altadena. Highly recommend!

Amazing tacos of asada very great in taste, with lemon ingredients on side and red salsa and green…read moreso good Also there torta is very good well recommended good customer service and very polite Clean environment sitting area is nice and colorful and very lighting

La Estrella Tacos #2

3.7

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It's been years since I stopped by. My coworkers and I used to come here for lunch sometimes…read more I ordered chips and salsa, lengua tacos with no cilantro and Mexican coke. The wait didn't take long. Friendly staffs. Parking in the back. Love the chips here. Fresh and crunch. Lengua is tender and delicious. I paid with cash. Outdoor seatings available.

I've been out of the States for over 3 years. Since I'm in…read moreLA, I had to stop by for some tacos. I missed tacos so much!!

Vero's

4.0

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Vero's is a community staple, that much is clear from my first visit. Dine in seating was packed…read morefull on a Sunday. Folks coming in and out for to go orders were frequent. Good to see a small business popping like that. Staff was friendly and tried their best to keep up, but it was clear they were understaffed and forgot to bring things many times. I deducted a star but I hope to add it back in the future if they improve on their service. Chilaquiles were great, I wish they weren't soggy but overall they were delicious and flavorful. We also ordered a single fish taco which was crispy, I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu.

Super authentic Mexican restaurant. Always busy, which is a great sign. I have enjoyed everything…read morewe ordered. They even let people BYOB. And of course, never forget to order a juice. I feel like the juices are their best items.

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The food is cozy and delicious. We got the platters and it was a perfect amount of food! There's a…read morelot of seating inside. The staff are really friendly and we got our order pretty quickly. Will definitely be coming back again soon!

This was a spur of the moment stop…read more We ordered nachos with carnitas. Liked that they added cheese throughout layers of tortilla chips. I would have liked a bit more cheese. Topped with sour cream, guacamole and some lettuce. Definitely shareable! Very tasty! We also got 2 Mexican Cokes, which comes in a glass bottle. They have plenty of indoor seating. Very cozy. Good customer service.

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I ordered the $17 chile verde burrito (no rice, cilantro, or onions--just beans and the chile…read moreverde). Unfortunately, the filling resembled dry carnitas with a light splash of green salsa rather than true chile verde--dry, lacking flavor, and disappointing overall. On the bright side, the chips and salsa were solid, and the service was friendly with food made to order. The ambience leans classic Mexican diner, but it was uncomfortably hot inside--definitely not ideal for a summer visit.

Pollos Puebla #1

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Chicken flavorful and grilled to perfection. Sides are great and salsas for all palates. Staff very…read morehelpful, even helped carry large takeout order to car!

Best chicken ever. My family and I have been coming here for many years but haven't given them…read moreprops until now. They have also catered my parties before and every one after gets hooked on their food. Owners also are very generous with Altadena/Pasadena community. During recent fires they too were affected and didn't stop them from helping those in need. They were providing free food everyday to victims, firefights, national guard and their own workers who also lost their homes. You can't go wrong eating there. They are so welcoming and very friendly. Thank you Irene and Primo for being so generous to your community.

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They catered a Las Flores Block Party today. The food was great and the crew was so friendly and…read morenice! They are a welcome business in Altadena. Can't wait to try their vegetarian and vegan options!

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