I have been to Tops Jr. countless times. I found out I work right down the street from this location and started going for lunch once a month as a treat and I have been very pleased. I ordered the California Burrito (7.5/10) and the 3 Egg Protein Breakfast Burrito (8/10). They were both hefty portions which I loved. They come with green salsa which is not spicy but very flavorful so feel free to pour it up! The ratios inside the burrito are fair and you don't get too much or too little of one ingredient. The Mexican is not as good as you would get from an authentic restaurant but very tasty nonetheless. Inside Tops is a step into a Time Machine it reminds me of decades ago stepping into an old fashioned charbroil/fast food place with wooden benches ans old fashioned style booths and around lunch time it is packed with people dining in. I placed a grubhub order and 10 mins later when I went to pick it up it was already on the window! Lightning fast service is good for a 30 minute lunch break. I am going to keep exploring the menu as a continue to go back. Check out tops when you are in the area and need a quick bite. read more

A rare disappointment from Tops for me. My wife, in the Pasadena area again, made a stop by Tops and took phone requests for takeout. Our son, A Pastrami sandwich. Myself, Chicken and Fish tacos, as well as an order of onion rings. And for herself, the Pastrami burger and fried Zucchini. While the family seemed satisfied with their orders. I, on trying a a few items for the first time, found them highly lacking. The Fish taco was okay taste wise but was quite soggy with the abundance of sauce totally soaking through the two soft tortillas. A complete taco collapse! I had to finally eat the bulk of it with a fork. The Onion rings I found to be rather bland and a mix of both crunchy and soggy. I could only eat half of them and will attempt reheating and eating the remainder today. And saving my Chicken taco for today, it looked more like shredded beef than chicken. It was chicken but very unsatisfying to the taste and I couldn't force myself to finish eating it.. My Individual Ratings: Fish Taco 3.5/5 Chicken Taco 2/5 Onion Rings 2.5/5 But I'll be back. read more

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I lowered a star due to the last few trips here have been less than ideal. Several times the French fries were cold, soggy and limp, which is rarely a good thing. Today we had a burger and a fish taco and fries. The burger was great, fish taco was good (a bit soggy so maybe for to go orders put the topping on the side?) the fries were actually floppy and barely warm. It was eaten within 5-10 minutes of receipt, so they went into the box cold and limp. Not great! Last time we came here I was given the wrong food, no apology, no call back, despite multiple calls and even was told there was "no manager" and they put the phone down and started taking orders and working leaving me on hold for like 15 minutes with zero resolution and never responded. I'm very disappointed that they gave me cold, old, soggy, limp fries the first time I give them a chance after staying away nearly a year because of the last experience. My daughter got old soggy pancakes and I got the wrong breakfast burritos and it was never resolved last round. Ended up with some mystery meat California burritos when I ordered bacon, egg and cheese or similar. The ticket was totally wrong also. They took the order, gave me old already made food and just washed their hands of it. Not a good look when prices are now quite high. It was $17 for those 3 items, one of which was basically inedible. Ate at home so can't really speak to the current ambiance but it's usually pretty decent. It's a diner type place and very serviceable and clean, perhaps the most important fact. On the fence about retuning since I've gotten lousy fries repeatedly over the past 2 years. Not sure why they can't just make some fresh and no make a bunch at a time because they get old and gross, fast. read more

Tops Burgers - Fish taco. Actually tasty, just kinda soggy because of all the garnish and pico de gallo, which I love but maybe put on the side. - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Okay, look up the Alberto's -bertos SoCal variations. That's literally what happened here when I was foolishly baited in by not paying attention and thinking that since I was in Pasadena, naturally any Tops Burgers was the Original Tops (mind you, is like within the vicinity and a couple minutes away). I foolishly didn't realize until I was at the drive thru order menu and I was like wait a minute, this doesn't look familiar at all and at that point it was a tad too late and I was already looking at a super long commute back home. Service was polite and efficient enough for a big order and they put everything that I ordered in a white to go box, which was nice. Everything was SUPER oily and greasy though, so my car did smell like fried foods and the oil permeated the box and the napkins I didn't take out in time. From my order I got the: 1) Corndog: -I needed something to eat as I was driving almost an hour to get home and this was the most driving while eating friendly food on the menu. -It was probably my most favorite thing on the menu. Comes out super piping hot as everything was freshly fried and prepared. -Not a super thick layer of corn dog batter, so it it was mostly hot dog being eaten. Not bad since I prefer this over a soggy corn dog any day. 2) Large Fries: -Huge amount of fries. Lined an entire 1/3 of the to go box that I ordered. Definitely very shareable. -Initially crispy and fairly decent. Reminds me of canola oil fried fries if that makes any sense. But quickly became soggy and also super greasy. 3) 1/4 Lbs Tops Burger: -Comes with dressing, lettuce, tomato, and onion. -Despite having the name of the restaurant on the menu item name, this was just a standard burger you can get from any burger place. If anything, it's comparable to a burger that you can get at the campus cafeteria. Not bad, but not that memorable either. 4) Pastrami Sandwich on Rye Bread: -Huge, comes cut in half, packed to the brim with pastrami. There's also pickles and mustard in it. Impressive too look at and super filling and shareable if you give the second half to another person. -Insanely greasy though, super soggy and made the bread soggy and the wrapping soggy, and seeped into the box. -I know that the inherent nature of pastrami is to be salty, but this was overly salty and made even more so with the sourness of the pickles and mustard. Disappointing, since this was the item that I was looking forward to the most. Since I know for a fact that there's other options in Pasadena, this was just okay. Doesn't stand out from the other smaller independent fast food and burger joints spread throughout the 626. read more

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We came through the drive-through for a little late evening dinner and we're immediately in love with the long variety of items huge menu. We are all little bit of everything. There's zucchini sticks are insanely delicious, and good. You got a pretty healthy portion. The bacon cheeseburger was also delicious the bun and the way the meat was cooked. It just had a really good flavor one of those Mom and Pop style burger shops., I got a chocolate shake and some of the tater tot chili cheese fries while my daughter got a chard grilled chicken barbecue salad freaking amazing. Everything had a great flavor. The ranch was good. They are very generous and they're serving amounts, quick polite service through the drive-through. Everything was great. We ate quick tho so forgot to take pics lol read more

I've been going to Tops for many years (40+) and I think that they are great. They are a very pricey but the portion size and quality of the food is mostly worth it. I definitely don't go as much as I used to. I've tried a variety of menu items over the years and have never really been disappointed. I do have to say though, the last few years the Chili Cheese Fries have been slippin'. The Chili is not as flavorful (or plentiful) as it used to be, and they used to layer the Chili and Cheese but now it is all just on top. And even asking for extra crispy Fries they still come out soggy. Breakfast Burritos are slammin', massive and loaded with flavor. The Burgers absolutely rock. Large, made to order and delicious. I Love the Fish Sandwich too. The Salads are incredible....lots of fresh vegetables and super big. Pastrami Sandwiches are huge and one of the best around (but super expensive). And the regular Fries, Zucchini Fries and Onion Rings are always hot and tasty. All in all, Tops is a great local spot to grab some good grub! Expect to spend some coin though. read more

Went through the drive through, the guy at the window was nice and food didn't take very long to make, they gave us some house salsa that had a nice amount of heat to it that we enjoyed. The burrito was filling and not overly heavy. Solid breakfast choice for the price. read more

Tops Burgers - Breakfast sausage burrito - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

Not sure the difference between this location and The Orginial Tops but I was very delighted with this location. They did not disappoint! The drive thru line was out into the street so that was already a good sign. We decided to dine in and the food came out fast but fresh! We started with the chili cheese fries, and they were so flavorful and absolutely delicious. The portion was huge! Definitely big enough to share. We also tried the pastrami cheeseburger, which was juicy, packed with flavor, and really satisfying. The bacon cheeseburger was just as good, cooked perfectly and full of flavor. We also ordered the pastrami sandwich. At $16 for just the sandwich, it's a bit on the pricey side, but the quality made it worth it. Overall, everything we had was really good, and the portions and taste made for a great experience. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Tops / Burger is located at 1792 East Walnut Street Pasadena, California 91106. It is a busy corner intersecting with Allen Avenue. It is located just off the 210 freeway. It is a Pasadena treasure. It has a great history and great food! It is very consistent with good service, diverse menu, and freshly prepared food. It doesn't matter whether you're there when it opens at 7:00 a.m. or late at 11:00 during the week or 12:00 midnight on the weekends. The drive-thru is an added Plus. The interior is kept clean and cozy with booths and tables available most of the time. There are times when it does get very busy. The staff is constantly keeping up with cooking food and keeping customers happy! I had some questions about popular items to order. I decided on an Original Top's Burger Special with Pastrami, a Chicken Club Sandwich, and of course, their Famous Chili Cheese Fries! The Chicken Club was special for this week. They have weekly specials periodically. A nice change of pace to an always tasty menu. Everything was packed carefully. It was easy to carry walking a short distance home. As I opened each item, the aroma of freshly cooked, flavorful food permeated my kitchen. It made tasting each item even more satisfying. The chicken club was done perfectly with each item having its own flavor. The chicken was tender and moist. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato on that lightly toasted bread was the perfect combination. The Original Top's Burger with Pastrami had the right combination of condiments to make it bright, tasty, and a memorable burger. I got all the condiments they suggested and it was a perfect combination. The chili cheese fries were as the perfect loaded with cheese and chili. The fries were long and freshly cut. You have to order these whether you come here for breakfast lunch or dinner. With a menu that has something for everyone from morning until evening, Top's is worth a trip from anywhere. It is a go-to place for those just visiting Pasadena. Breakfast items are next on my list. I look forward to trying that breakfast burrito with fresh eggs. read more

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When I'm in Pasadena, Tops is the most important stop. It looks simple, but Tops burgers have a unique flavor that I find myself craving when I'm away for too long. The chili cheeseburgers are delectable and the fries (served in a heaping pile) are perfectly snackable but require extra salt and ketchup to really shine. They have plenty of other great offerings including burritos and gyros, but I keep coming back for the burger. There are employees who have been working there for many years, so you know this place is special. read more

I was sitting in traffic when I suddenly realized that I was hungry. I exited the freeway and decided on Tops Burgers. A hamburger restaurant I last visited over five years ago. I parked and went into the restaurant. After going back and forth on what I wanted to eat, I went with French toast. I waited approximately six minutes for my food to arrive, and I must admit, the French toast was delicious! Soft, tasty, and well prepared. The restaurant was spotless and busy, as it is a popular place for a delicious meal. The male employee who assisted me was friendly and polite. Parking is available in their private lot to the rear of the location. read more

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Club sandwich supreme! Love the cross section Their drive through is super convenient and they're open till 11Pm which is perfect for late nights. Prices are pretty good for the portion size. read more

Tops Burgers - Club Sandwich - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

Stopped for a Pastrami sandwich in Pasadena while it's raining hard. The place has a drive thru and dine in. It was self service . Ordered Pastrami sandwich was good. The pickled veggies were excellent. The fried zucchini was crunchy . Green Salad was fresh. Overall , it was very nice. read more

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We were in Altadena showing my lady where i used to live and decided to take her to this spot i have not been to for sometime. I ordered my usual grilled chicken salad for both us with side of onion rings with ice tea and orange bang. Well still delicious and the home made ranch still bomb. Everything under $40 and let him tell you huge salads with black olives, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs was real good. The onion rings not greasy with the ranch wow. Nice and clean inside and bathroom is available for men and women. Definitely stop by always support your local businesses. Thank you Tops still great food. read more

Tops Burgers - Our table you Dan see a Lot of food under $40 - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

My favorite thing to eat is the fish sandwich with Tatortots and an Arnold Palmer The service is pretty nice I asked the cashier if we can sample a zucchini fries cause I never had it and was afraid to order it cause I might not like. My husband likes it but I didn't care for it I still wanted my tots which I got that were hot. lol The ambiance reminds me of an old fast food restaurant. It could use an update but that's about it read more

Junior Cheese Burger is very good, fresh toppings and delicious burger sauce. If you are only 2 people dining, the large order of cheesy fries is waaaaay too big... maybe go for the medium. Staff is lovely, treated us great! read more

Tops Burgers - Large Cheese Fries - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

Who does great service sucked ambience? Can you believe this? We came in here and they wouldn't give us a little cup of vanilla ice cream they don't serve vanilla don't serve root beer of floats. They charged us 4.10$ for a smidgen of vanilla. Front of house couldn't figure it out read more

As you come inside you are greeted with a smile. Really enjoyed the promt service. Quality of food is good, fries look like they're made from scratch. read more

Tops Burgers - Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Fast and quick ordering for some late munchies. I ordered fish taco, fish n chips and tuna salad. All came out within 10 minutes. It's an old diner setup and pretty self sufficient. Condiments is on your own. So pack those up on the way out. Note cash for cheaper price. read more

The overall of this place is not bad. Really wanted In-N-Out but that line was insane and so this is was close by and decided to give it a try. When we first walked in, it instantly reminded me of The Hat vibes. And the servers were nice! We got the jr cheeseburger and chili cheese tater tots. The chili cheese tater tots were crispy but we felt like it needed more chili. The jr cheeseburger was ok. Gave it a try but honestly wasn't one of the best spots that I've had. read more

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Delicious old school burger joint! Looking for a drive thru on my way through town. I found this place. Everything was fresh and handmade. Even the tomato was ripe and just the perfect thickness. The drive through was easy and the service was quick. It felt like the best of the 1950's. I will definitely be back! read more

Y'all fell the hell off!! PACK YOU UP!!.. I grew up eating your food, your Pastrami sandwich was the high point.. Your burgers had flavor and juicy..And your breakfast was WAY better than Dennys, Coco's or Carrows combined!!! You food recently is TRASH!! I ordered a Pastrami sandwich with Swiss cheese and extra mustard and pickles.. Got..greasy, wet bread, none of the items I requested on the sandwichand dry, UNFLAVORED Pastrami meat.. Total disappointment... Even your breakfast is lacking..A colleague ordered breakfast, and some items were missing, or either wrong. By the time they realized what happened and the distance it wasn't worth the fuss.. I understand the economy got places raising prices to stay competitive.. But what I paid for the sandwich and got literally nothing as requested, I fell I was cheated.. Naw.. Im good... The place I knew that made me fell like I was truly home ( I did time in the military so Tops was one of the places I always stopped to remind me ai was home) Y'all fell the hell off!!! PACK YOU UP TOPS.. Its done..Son!! read more

Been needing to update my review for a while now. I dunno what they did, but there has been major improvements here in the past few years. Which makes it my go to choice at times. I mean major revamping! Bravo to this Tops location. Burgers seem much better, their California burrito is FIRE, the chili to my taste has been worked on. I am truly impressed lately. Bravo Tops! Breakfast burritos are massive, and very much loaded with your choice of meat. Their verde has the perfect kick and if you need more spice in your life. Ask for the serrano peppers. Their ranch is amazing. I mean everything has been spot on lately which I am super grateful of and happy to be able to feed everyone in the family at a reasonable price. They got some new items as well which hit on a different level. Like the tater tots with chili. Man that's good. I keep mentioning that chili cause I make some competition style chili that I'm willing to go heads up with anyone. And theirs is good. Like truly enjoyable. Burgers are always hot and fresh. If you walk in you can see the chemistry with all the employees which I know makes the food taste better. If the employees are happy that just means everything is working great. Like a well oiled machine. All in all good food, and service is great. Hats off to this Tops location for becoming the top fast food eatery in the area. Affordability, quality and flavor make this an amazing choice. Also try their California Burrito, damn is good. Loaded with fries, tomato's, onions, cilantro, steak or chicken, sour cream and cheese. I prefer steak, nothing chewy ever, just pure meat. Boy it's good! Also the chicken taco, bomb! And that quesadilla it's massive too, super cheesy. Need I say more? read more

Tops is your nice run of the mill fast food place. The burgers are good and well priced, and the service is super quick. The char grill makes all the difference. Juicy, fresh and delicious The portions are generous and the menu has an array of food items to choose from. They were also nice and accommodating regarding some substitutions I made to our order.There is plenty of seating and a restroom. All in all, a rather standard spot. You get what you expect and is a safe choice read more

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Drive thru order review on a Sunday - March 2025* 1) small parking lot and drive thru on a Sunday took about 20 minutes with 3 cars in front -- (it may just be faster to go to in n out) 2) price and value is decent $ -- not healthy at all; but knew that going here based on the reviews -- just wanted to try something new after a night of drinking 3) food ordered ** 1/2 lb cheeseburger = definitely get this over the 1/4 lb burgers ** 1/4 lb cheeseburger with avacado = skip unless you don't mind a thinner patty. I liked it but wished it was as juicy as my other half's 1/2 lb burger ** chili tots with green Onions + raw onion = definitely will get next time again! The small is soo big. Thanks to Yelp for this off menu item ** onion rings = disappointed. Not thick at all. Think soggy ; skip here. The habits onion rings are better Overall, not bad if you're local. 40$ for all 4 items above. I would say to get the small size of everything if it's 2-3 people. I still prefer in n out but tops burgers is still on my radar if I'm craving more variety read more

Tops Burgers - Skip Onion Rings - match 2025 - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This is probably the best burger/ pastrami I've ever had. The pastrami was sliced so thinly that it was so easy bite through. Definitely changed the game by adding it to a cheeseburger that was already a classic. The fries were so crisp and soft, even when they went cold they were still the good kind of crispy fries, but ofc I did ask for extra crispy. Staff was friendly and super welcoming, and they were very generous with the ranch. Also loved the way the place was set up, felt like I was eating in the 80's! My total was $16.77. Although this meal was on the mid to pricier side, it was definitely worth the quality and quantity of what you get. read more

This place is a Pasadena land mark, How ever this management is terrible.the wear and tear in this restaurant is way below exceptance, the dirt is unacceptable, all the chairs are cut, foam from sofa are exposed, all the wood is scratch, broken, there is duct tape holding it together,, all the flooring is busted, I'm reporting this restaurant to Pasadena health.roaches, I also talked to management at the restaurant, they said I was a hater, I posted pictures, read more

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As the bfast burrito at Lucky Boy's doesn't quite taste the same anymore, decided to drive out to East Pasadena to check out Tops Burgers. As I pulled up, saw a long line for the drive thru so ended up just parking. Love how they have 2 kiosks to place your orders especially how you can semi customize your bfast burritos. Love how you can specify your potatoes to be well done along with requesting additional salsa on the side. Ended up ordering a few bfast burritos to share with the fam (chorizo and egg, bacon and sausage). At first glance, the burritos do look a bit smaller than Lucky Boy's (less hash browns and meat) but overall a good balance of all ingredients. Not sure why they state home potatoes as it looked like shaved hash browns to me. Although I request well done, I would've wished they were cooked longer as I love crispy bits which add texture to the burrito. I also quite enjoyed their green salsa which does taste better than what you get at Lucky Boy's. Of the 3 burritos, I definitely enjoyed the chorizo and egg the most and would definitely go back for that. Did also notice they give complementary pickled carrots, peppers and onions. Staff was friendly and restaurant was clean. read more

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Stopped in on a Saturday for a light lunch (my lunch is usually a snack to others). Good to see the dive thru busy and parking lot full. Decided to dine in. I haven't had tater tots in awhile and they actually serve their taters with chili. Never had it that way so I tried it. Unfortunately, the chili was underwhelming not chunky just super wet almost watered down. I asked for no cheese and to my surprise they're almost wasn't any chili (see photo). And the chili is nothing like Tommy's chili either. I'm happy with the tater tots though!!! I don't think this is something I would get again. I know the breakfast burritos are good here though. Place is clean and the staff is quick and efficient. read more

Tops Burgers - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I cannot even believe how disappointed I am right now.! My hubby and I have been going to tops for quite some time, but today was the most disappointing of all so being housebound at the moment I just just had a craving for their chili cheese cheeseburger of course I ordered it no pickles no onions and no tomatoes. It came with all of that. I've ordered it before and it was fine but today, I was so disappointed when I called tops to talk to them the female that answered the phone was extremely rude. Customer service skills were in the trashcan I imagine. Good going tops. I don't know who the female is that you have working today but you may want to reconsider her customer service skills and probably not let her answer the phone. read more

Ordered a carne asada burrito through the drive thru today and had a less than positive experience. I took a bite of the burrito and noticed that the meat was burned. I figured its just the top part but as I continued eating I noticed the meat was burned and charred throughout the entire burrito. How does an employee knowingly put burned meat into someone's burrito? Didn't bother eating the rest of the burrito and just threw it away. Won't be returning to this place. read more

This is 6-7 months later... I came back and tried this location and once again same issues.. I asked for no pickles because I'm allergic. They add pickles. My french fries are not warm at all. I asked for a remake and there is complaint from the manager. Just go to the other location. The manager on duty was flirting and complementing the cook. She was more focused on that than customer service. I asked for ranch, i only had a $100 bill, she broke it just make a profit. This place is terrible and the tables are never cleaned when she is here. She ambiance is not how the other location is. read more

I haven't came here in a long time! I decided to try the steak sandwich and it did not disappoint Very decent size and tasty . It had grilled onion lettuce mayo tomato and the bread was toasted. They offer a lot of extras on the side that you can grab from their side display next to the register .. pickled carrots and onion, yellow peppers and also A whole bunch of condiments. Salt pepper ketchup ect... pretty fast service and really nice cashiers and helpful staff. Very wide restaurant and clean restrooms read more

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The food is really good! My fav is the grilled cheese. Its fast food, so the food comes fast as expected. The place is a little old but cute and just needs renovation for some things read more

I'm not really near Pasadena that often, but when I am, I gotta stop by either Lucky Boy or Tops! Of course, that time hit, and I was totally craving a breakfast burrito. Tops operates like your typical socal burger joint, where it's a little greasy, but delicious. I got the breakfast burrito with sausage, and a side of onion rings. It was great, and exactly what I needed. I think the ratio, however, wasn't as good as Lucky Boy, but the onion rings here are so much better! I was impressed by the service, which was efficient, meaning my food came out super quick! read more

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Bland food but this place seems to have regulars so good for them. California burrito lacked flavor or seasoning. Zucchini fries were good after adding salt. Jamaica juice - decent but on the sweeter side. read more

Tops Burgers - Fried Zucchini - needed salt - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

Tops Burgers has been a go-to place for me for years. The place can get busy especially on weekends but the food is worth it. Generous portions. Must try is the California burrito with carne asada and the breakfast burrito. Chili cheese fries also very good as well as the fried zucchini. Hopefully these old school family owned businesses stick around a few years longer. read more

Love this place. Much better than the other location. I get the breakfast burrito with pastrami. Sound odd but really good. Be aware on Sundays they do not open very early read more

This place is solid. Everything tastes fresh, delicious and inexpensive. My colleagues and I have gotten the breakfast burrito and the tostada salad. The portions are huge! read more

Tops Burgers - Chicken Tostada Salad - Burgers Near Me - Pasadena, California

Very good restaurant. Friendly service and clean tables. Plus the food is always good to eat here. I have no complaints. read more

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