At the famous original Topps This place is booming for a Sunday. Let start everyone from counter server to cooks to quality assurance is on the mark a well oiled machine. For it being packed with customers filling the booths and chairs inside and out, it's still great though I haven't been here in a while. My wife and I took a special trip up here to Pasadena. Inside very clean even though busy. condiments on hand catsup and tapitio, yellow chili's. Our order was in good time and prompt and I love it how the man doing quality assurance was setting the food on the trays for here or to go. We had pastrami well packed and good size not salty and chili cheese fries wow enough for two chili well mixed in cheese on top yum! Still a great place so many years Atmosphere = 7 Food quality = 8 Customer service = 9 Cleaniness = 8 Menu = 8 Thank you for still being the best for your customers read more

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I have tried this place multiple times and can say I had many of their menu items. Burgers ok- sandwiches very mid. But last night I had a chili cheese dog and I gotta say it was the worst thing I have had in a long time. I had to search tor the four inch sausage in my six inch bun. The bun had the flavor of a dirty grill. The chili was cold and the cheese was also cold. For 9 dollars I expected much more. read more

The staff are so friendly, the food is so affordable and comforting, and the historical decor is a great touch for a long-standing restaurant. You just can't beat the prices here for the huge portions you get! My fiancé took the wrong route home and ended up exiting on Michillinda Ave, and decided to make the best of our experience; we are so glad we did! When it is my call on what to order, I tend to order more than I bargain for, and I did not know the portions here were so generous. I ordered the 1 1/4 Ib. Cheeseburger $6.69, Small Onion Rings $4.79, and Small Chili Cheese Fries $6.79. They also have a self-serving pickled carrot and pepper station to compliment and add a "zing" to your meal! I wonder what their large portion is because the small size was overfilled to the top! First, their burger made its way to the top of my most-recommended burger list because it's just that good. Next time I crave a burger, I'll be the first one here! The 1/4 patty was juicy, with all the right grill marks, and the burger 'accessories' like pickles, red onion, tomato, lettuce, etc. made it the perfect bite for me. The Small Chili Cheese Fries were a size of a whole tray filled, just packed with chili cheese, and topped with more cheese. This was a noteable fact to me as they are very generous with cheese and I live for more cheese - there can never be enough cheese! The small onion rings deserve their own show. As a onion connoisseur, I've had my share of onion rings, and Tops does it well. Their batter is crispy and you'll notice the crunch but its light enough so you can taste the onion. Sooooo good! I will most definitely be back with my fiancé to enjoy on a cheat day and eat more of their delicious food. Next up, I want to try their burritos! read more

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Placed an online order at 12:47 PM with a promised pickup time of 1:10 PM. I arrived a bit early at 1:05 and was told to check back in 5 minutes. I did multiple times, and each time was told my order wasn't ready. By 1:30, after watching several customers come in after me and get their food, I asked again. That's when they finally started rushing to finish my order. I received a text at 1:42 PM that it was ready. When I got home (a 5-minute drive), one of the burgers was already lukewarm, likely sitting there while the rest was delayed. What made it worse was seeing other delivery and pickup orders being handled with far more urgency while mine sat unattended. I've had decent experiences here before, but this visit was frustrating. Orders shouldn't be forgotten or deprioritized, especially when customers arrive on time. Hopefully management can improve order coordination and ensure all customers; online or walk-in, are treated with the same level of attention. read more

The Original Tops - Do not mobile order - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

It's good but could be way better. I just had a cheeseburger and fry. Burger had a wad of lettuce, fries were fresh but mixed with a bunch of tiny bits. I would go back but there was nothing spectacular... probably a 7/10 read more

If you haven't tried this location you are missing out. The Original Tops is the best! The drive thru sucks horribly but if you want amazing food you gotta deal with it. The best thing in the menu is the jalapeño cheeseburger. I add bacon to that and it's amazing. The chili cheese fires are known as the best chili cheese fries in LA. The order is huge and they are smothered with cheese and chili. That's a meal all on its own. The people that work there are always nice and friendly. I love this place, better than the other Tops by far. read more

The Original Tops - Chili Cheese Fries - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I was craving a burger the other night and wanted something a little special, so I decided to hit up the OG Tops. The drive-thru was packed, so I parked and walked in to order instead. I went with the Tops Special Burger and a small order of chili cheese fries. The Tops Special is a burger topped with pastrami and mustard. I was worried it'd be too salty, but the pastrami was just right--flavorful without being overwhelming. The small chili cheese fries were huge--easily enough for three people! The chili was tasty, and they piled on the cheese. Pro tip: don't forget the side of ranch (though it's .35 extra). Overall, I left super stuffed and satisfied. I'd definitely come back if I'm craving a burger--plus, they have a ton of other menu items I want to try next time! read more

The Original Tops - Tops Special look at that split! - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Pastrami sandwiches are what they are known for haven't been in a long time but if they are still the same get that as your first choice to try something really good read more

A staple in town. Having been back awhile for breakfast. Ordered the breakfast sandwich for the first time. Super yum!!! Toasted white bread with mayo fresh lettuce tomato with egg bacon. Delicious! The chorizo and egg plate was ok. It's not greasy but think the chorizo was a little crunchy versus fluffy at other places. Coffee is alright. I prefer jet fuel but this is fine. Place is always clean and everyone working here is like family. This is one of my favorite spots in Pasadena. read more

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A simply wonderful diner. I love their onion rings. But I LOVE their Sycamore pastrami sandwich. It almost rivals the number 19 from Langer's in Los Angeles. Nice folks. Clean place. Always busy. I forgot, maybe the best fried zucchini in Los Angeles, great batter, fried perfectly. read more

I saw the high reviews gotta try the original. Right off the 210 fwy literally. You can exit and it's straight ahead and getting back onto the fwy is straight out of the parking lot. It is a bit tight and space is limited for vehicles. Use caution when approaching the drive thru. Inside seating is booth, tables or bar window seats. There's a nice outdoor patio seating area to enjoy the fresh air. Service was great. Kiosks are available to place orders on your own or you can wait for a register order. I luv zucchini and wanted to try theirs out. It was okay. I would return to try something different. During the lunch hour it was pretty packed inside and at the drive thru but the wait wasn't too long. Staff are hard at work to keep up with the influx of customers. Prices are very reasonable. Cool local spot to try out. read more

The Original Tops - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I have no words other than, "Gad Dammnnnnnn. Now that's a Pastrami Burger." It's my first time trying a Pastrami Cheeseburger and it blew me away. Came in during a rainy afternoon and the restaurant was packed with people. The cashier was nice and friendly. Definitely recommend trying this spot out. read more

The Original Tops - Top's Special with a side of fries. - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Go for the Onion Rings & Fried Zucchini !!! This place is always busy... I tried to go off-peak time. I always order the Onion Rings and Fried Zucchini, they are the best. Make sure to eat them while they are hot with creamy Ranch. I also love their Breakfast Burritos.. The staff is also very friendly, kudos to them too. read more

The Original Tops - Breakfast Burrito, Small Onion Rings, and Small Zucchini - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The options here will not disappoint. Their 3 Eggs Burrito with Bacon, Ham or Sausa w/Jack & Cheddar Cheese & Potatoes is delicious. The Pastrami & 3 Eggs Burrito w/Jack & Cheddar Cheese & Potatoes is also another great choice that will leave your hunger needs satisfied. Another top favorite of mine is their 1/4 lb. Tops Chili Burger w/Tops Famous Chili w/Tomatoes, Pickles & Onions. Great choices and options. The staff is also helpful and friendly. read more

Historic restaurant with the best pastrami sandwiches I've had in LA. It's in a suburb of east Pasadena and we got lucky to see all of the beautiful peacocks in the area!!! The portions are enormous!!! Good bang for your buck. My siblings got the large sized chili cheese fries and regretted it because they couldn't finish it after eating half a sandwich. The meats are all tender and juicy. The only reason I didn't give them five stars is because they could go lower on the salt but I digress. The fried zucchini was so good. The onion rings tasted overdone though. Highly recommend this burger spot when in Pasadena as it's not only historic but also cooks up the most delicious pastrami!!! read more

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If you buy onion rings , they charge you 0.50 cents for ranch. Every restaurant comes with ranch when you order onion rings.

Where else would you go if in Pasadena! This is hands down one of my favorite neighborhood burger joints. Any and everything you order is well cooked and so yummy. We order a cheeseburger, TOPS special, chili cheese fries and a hamburger. The service was fast for a Saturday night. The staff were also very friendly. It was pretty packed but we were able to grab a booth. If you're in the area I would definitely recommend TOPS! read more

closing time is 10pm I drove from San Bernardino and kitchen was closed at 9:50. the lady told me grill and the were off. All I wanted was a Pastrami to go. read more

Takes credit cards Indoor and outdoor seating. Tops Special Burger $11.09- cheeseburger with pastrami- burger is well cooked, with some cheese over the top. The pastrami was good, I have no complaints about it. I do like that it wasn't salty. So you can add more seasoning if you choose to. Chili cheese fries $6.09- the fries are excellent. You can tell they make their own fries in the back. They are extra crispy. The chili is average I would prob not get the chili and cheese. I feel like the Hat gives you more pastrami, but the Hats pastrami tends to be more salty. I do like the Hat's chili cheese fries more than Tops. read more

The Original Tops - Chili cheese fries (small) - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Ordered a sausage breakfast burrito, filling and had some green salsa that was delicious. Staff were friendly and inviting. Restaurant was cozy and was able to get some extra chilies on the side. read more

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Thursday 6:45 PM Ordered number 648 Waited 15 minutes and realize my onion rings aren't coming then I told the cashier and guess what they were sitting there all along, box them up gave it to me now that I'm home I open it to find out it's burnt . Good job guys. You don't have to be good at your job just be average read more

The Original Tops - Onion rings burnt to hell - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

Went here on a date with my boyfriend and we had the pleasure of enjoying corn dogs and some delicious cheeseburgers. It was super packed here, for a Friday night that's to be expected! But everyone who was dining here talked as if they had been coming here for years and knew exactly what to order. Happy I got to finally try this spot! read more

I've had The Original Tops bookmarked on Yelp for a minute now. I've had Tops Jr. and everyone is saying you must go to The Original Tops. There seems to be a bit of fanfare with The Original Tops in the SGV. We finally embarked on venturing out to Pasadena to try this "fast-food mainstay". The Original Tops was established in 1952. The restaurant still remains in the same family today. What we ordered: -Bacon/Sausage Egg Burrito $9.59 -Tops Special $11.09 -1 Large Drink $2.99 I always ask the employees of restaurants that I've never been to for recommendations on what to order. I was told to order the Tops Special or Breakfast Burrito and some other items. I decided to order a breakfast burrito as I'm really interested in trying different breakfast burritos in the area to see which one I like best. I really enjoyed the Bacon/Sausage Egg Burrito as the scrambled eggs were nice and fluffy. The meats were not overpowering even with two different kinds of meat. The homestyle potatoes provided a nice and soft texture to the burrito. It was an all around great burrito. It was one of the best breakfast burritos I've ever had. It's that good! It comes with salsa verde on the side. It wasn't too spicy and added a little kick to an already delicious burrito. The Top Special consists of a 1/4 lb burger topped with pastrami, mustard and American cheese. It looks very beautiful as it is served cut in half with the layers of the different meats and vegetables. This burger is the real deal. Free Refills and self service on the soda. They have Orange Bang, Horchata Ole, Lemon Ole, Coke, Cherry Coke, Ice Tea and many other soft drinks. Parking is tight and limited. There's not many spaces. However, there is a drive-thru if you don't want to eat-in. They have inside and outside seating. You order at the register and pick up your food when your number is called. I was a bit irked when I found out that I was charged a service charge of $2.50. It would have been nice to be informed of the service charge upfront with some signage. Lucky for them, the food was too good. I highly recommend coming to The Original Tops. Breakfast is served from 7-11 AM. The rest of the menu is offered all day. You won't be disappointed in eating a Breakfast Burrito or Tops Special. read more

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I went to this place a couple of months ago, and it was amazing, like a 10/10. The food was some of the best I'd ever had. But fast forward to today, and I felt like the food was super salty. My wife, daughter, and I hadn't eaten all day, and by the time we were a third of the way through the meal, it felt like we were eating pure salt. We ended up throwing away about two-thirds of the food. My wife said we should've stopped eating it as soon as we tasted the saltiness, but I think I was so hungry that I didn't notice until we were further into the meal. I'm not sure how to explain this, but the first time it was the greatest thing I'd ever eaten; now it's one of the worst places I've ever eaten. I probably won't ever come here again. read more

I've always wanted to go here because I love these kinds of restaurants, kinda the closest thing to a diner but not. The husband already went here once without me and he enjoyed what he ordered (I forgot what it was). Anyhow, parking is tough but there's street parking out front and in the neighborhood. Just respect those homeowners and the alleyway and not block driveways. The menu is extensive but what's awesome is that it has a lot of options for everyone. We wanted to keep it light but ended up ordering everything. The workers are super nice here and quite efficient. They also kept cleaning so the place is sparkling clean, even outside. What we ordered: a turkey sandwich with cheddar cheese. I totally put the wrong cheese in it. It's still good but shoulda been American cheese. This was just okay because it wasn't anything special. I should have added some mustard because it was missing something. The fish taco. It had a lot, and I mean a lot of shredded lettuce. There was one fish in it and it was fried nicely. The pico on top was nice because it was a different texture from the crunchy fish and the loads of lettuce. It did have a cream sauce on top of it too, which paired well with the fish. They also had salsa verde on the side, which was great with the fish. It had a slight heat to it. Overall, I wouldn't order it again because it was almost $6 for it. I also am a sucker for zucchini fries and these were pretty good. The breading was a little on the thicker and heavier side but it grabbed on well to their ranch dressing, which I appreciated. The star of the meal was the tater tots topped with chili and cheese. You have to make sure you add in the green onions and onion for that extra crunch. We really really liked this. Also, we ordered the small and Geezus, it was large and in charge. It was delicious nonetheless. I definitely would like to come back to try their other items on the menu. But I would definitely steer clear of the tacos. I don't think they're worth it. read more

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Good ole fashion diner with delicious food. If you eat here often, your wallet and your waistline would probably suffer. But man this is some good food here. First off, they have chili cheese TATER TOTS! Savory, cheesy goodness all over crispy tots is like heaven in my book. Secondly, where has this pastrami sandwich been all my life? Definitely rivals the Hat. We ordered the Reuben and the Pastrami burger and man, it was finger lickin delicious! The service is quick, friendly and efficient. The diner reminds me of those old fashioned soda spots where you would take a date to in those 80's shows. Totally family friendly and they have the classic red booths! read more

Unfortunately their food has went downhill and I'm super disappointed. The pastrami was very fatty The chili cheese fries was off. Almost as if the meat old, didn't taste right The steak sandwich meat is not rib eye. It was way overcooked and thin meat. Horrible! Never going again you oust a long time customer read more

I consider this one of my guilty pleasures that i seldomly indulge in, but when I do I go all in! Their pastrami sandwiches are a must as are their chili fries! Their breakfast burritos are also really tasty. It gets jam packed and the corner it's on is a bit intimidating but the drive thru line moves quick as does the line inside. There's tables inside but this place is always so full I prefer to take it to go. read more

Im a loyal customer of 40 yrs. Just a quick note to the management. My recent visit (April 14), I ordered my usual; Top's special & Zucchini. The Zucchini was a bit of a disappointmen, its was not crispy (bready) like before. Just a constructive criticism from a loyal customer! read more

Since 1952, The Original Tops has been serving up quality grub for the residents of Pasadena that they would want to enjoy every day with the promise to be made: "craveable, comforting, approachable, and from scratch." In 2024, I decided to check up on this promise. I stopped by on a Friday morning and decided to try to much talked-about Basic Egg Burrito ($8.29). It was mentioned on several of the growing "Best Breakfast Burritos" in Southern California lists. This is a tall order, especially given my love of breakfast burritos and trying several of them throughout the years. Made with three California fresh eggs, homestyle potatoes, Jack & Cheddar cheese, the Basic is then all wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla, grilled and served made to order. The burrito itself is a pretty good size, accompanied by two green sauces which add some flavor to each bite. The burrito itself came out extremely hot, with the egg and cheese perfectly melted together. The homestyle potatoes were also delicious. Mild in flavor, soft to the bite, with the occasional crispy "hash brown edges" included to add a little crisp. I wish there was a little more crisp to the burrito to give a little more "umph" and flavor with each bite. You could add a bacon, chorizo or pastrami as an upgrade if you choose. However, it was a decent basic burrito and value for under $10. Hop's is a small drive-thru and dine-in restaurant, located on E. Colorado Blvd. just south of the 210 Freeway. The parking lot is fairly small, however, located in a residential area provided plenty of street parking options, as well as grab and go flexibility. You order at the counter, wait for your order to be called in one of the two dozen indoor and covered outdoor seating options, pick up, and enjoy. No frills, no fuss, just a pretty good option for quick-service, homemade greasy spoon grub in Pasadena. read more

The Original Tops - Basic Egg Burrito. - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Something is going on with consistency. We are long time patrons and order the same thing every time and each time as of late, the result has been different. The chili in the fries last night tasted different. Not the same kick it usually has. Literally topped with 5 pieces of onion. The pickled carrots were sweet! Literally sweet! No pepper or vinegar at all. It was insane. Either the taste, portion, or ingredients have been off. Possibly management needs to make rounds and ensure that the restaurant is producing as it should. I still love this spot. But maybe it is time to check production. read more

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Came here 5 years ago and wanted to try it out since it's been so long! On a Friday night, the drive thru is packed, parking was also tight, but we were able to find a parking spot as some customers were taking food to go. Going inside there's a back door near the drive thru line and a front door, we entered through the front side where there's plenty of outdoor seating. Didn't get a chance to take photos of the menu but what caught our eye which we ordered was the sycamore melt, pastrami, zucchini sticks, chili cheese fries, and medium drink. I also told the staff I wanted onion rings but I said all the sides at one go and he might've missed it, but after seeing all the listed food it was a good thing we didn't order it. The melt was unfortunately wet, most likely due to the coleslaw, but plenty of meat and the bread was crispy and toasted well. The pastrami had a lot of meat, but since we ate it after the melt, the bread was a bit soggy and it was more sour than I remembered (maybe too much mustard or pickle juice got it). Overall I'm happy with the size. Meat was a bit it saltier than I remembered. Chili cheese fries and zucchini were delicious. Especially with their ranch, but we didn't ask for more as I remember we had to buy it if we wanted another ranch dip. Fri is are filled through a fountain drink machine, refills unlimited! We didn't finish the sides, there was so much food so we got it to go and just stuffed them both in the chili cheese fries box and got a lid to cover. Overall I think I'd like to come back and try their burgers and get the zucchini sticks again! Restrooms are gendered and one person use at a time, and separated by a front door. read more

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Today, I ordered the loaded baked potato soup and the beef/chicken tostada. Tostada was as good as last time. Moreover, this time I asked for half asada and half chicken. Yummy. Loaded baked potato soup is AWESOME! It had bacon, cheese, chopped onion and the chopped potatoes. OMG, it was sooooo good and I finished it in no time. This is a must try. If you have not been to The Tops, give it a try. You will like it. read more

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Hubby kept seeing Tops all over social media and wanted desperately to try. He came the first time on his own wanting the breakfast burrito but was sad to learn they stop serving it at 11am. For his first rodeo he got the chili cheese fries with pastrami and pickles. This was such a large portion that he had some leftover, which I tried next day and it was still good! I think he also got the pastrami burger, which he said was okay/not bad - I just think his appetite was set on the brekky burrito tbh... Anyhow, the following weekend he went back Tops and brought some food back for me. Didn't bother waiting in the drive thru, he went around the long drive-thru line, parked, ordered and got his food rather quickly. He got the breakfast burrito this time w/ sausage and it was seasoned well & comes with some salsa verde. Got the regular chili cheese fries - still delicious and a huge portion & the patty melt (one of my faves!). I think for the price, portion, and speed (when going in) - you can't beat Tops! Their breakfast burrito is better than Lucky Boy, IMO. read more

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Went back to try their fish and chips. Generous portion of chips but the fish wasn't good. Too fishy and dry. Also, I'm so sad that they changed their ranch. It is now too thick and salty. Even the color was different. You could see the seasoning salt or something. I'd stick to the burgers or salads. I'd like to visit more often because we love that they have outdoor seating (to go with my dog) but the heaters aren't working at the moment. read more

This place is packed often for a reason - the food is really good and lots of options. It's also great that their veggie burger patty is gluten free! They remember my name and are always kind. read more

I've driven past this place a million times, always seeing a line, and finally decided to see what the fuss was about. Safe to say, I get it now. Ordered 13 bacon and egg breakfast burritos online for pickup, and the whole process was ridiculously easy. The staff was next-level friendly--the rep who helped me asked how many salsas I wanted, then proceeded to bless me with a ridiculous amount (a true hero). She even boxed up the burritos so I wouldn't have to do the awkward balancing act on my way out. Now, about these burritos--don't let their size fool you. They will take you down. I ate a whole one and felt fantastic, but apparently, the wiser move is to eat half and save the rest. No regrets, though. I'll gladly take the post-burrito food coma. Bottom line? This place lives up to the hype. Glad I finally stopped in--this is officially my go-to breakfast burrito spot. read more

The Original Tops - Bacon egg burrito - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Very nostalgic and cozy feeling place. Service was fast and the food was decent. My Rueben sandwich was good but the meat had some chewy pieces that I had to spit out. The sweet potato fries were good and plentiful, but were a little soggy. They need to be a little more crispy or cooked longer. Great variety on their menu so will try something else next time if in the area. read more

The Original Tops - Receipt for lunch. - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Is this my new favorite pastrami spot??? The staff is really friendly and the portions are generous. Everything tasted homemade and the pastrami wasn't too greasy or salty. I think it's safe to say I really liked it. read more

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Food is delicious, service is good ambiance is nice reminds of "the hat" in OC. Highly recommend