Comfort Food Restaurants near Pasadena, CA

“This place is pretty good as far as hot chicken goes. It's not the best but it's decent, I've ordered from here plenty of times. But Rays is still at the top. They don't really have much of a space for sitting in and dining. So if you want to eat you need to go down one of the nearby alleyways and sit at the tables there.“

“I don't leave many reviews but I felt compelled because of the level of customer service that I received from the manager, Jarod. I had dinner delivered, an item was labeled correctly but when I opened the container it was something else. I called the restaurant. He apologized, no big deal. He said he'd refund the item. The following day he calls me back to tell me he can't refund the item on his end. I need to contact the 3rd party delivery. He will make sure I get my item for free and throw in a desert upon my next delivery. I just need to contact him after placing my order, he will guarantee to put them in the bag coming to me.It's not that I'm getting something for free but that he took the time to reach out to me to make sure I got the refund I was entitled to. The rest was above and beyond my expectations. I liked the food enough that this was my second order in as many days but this propelled them to the top of my favorite restaurants in my area. I will probably order again very soon. Thanks, Jarod. Forgive me if it isn't spelled correctly.“

“I wish I could post a comment without a review as I still have never managed to come by here for a meal and found them open.... BUT, big PSA they do not serve meals here anymore. No lunch service and only izakaya snacks in the evening. Sad as I was really hoping to try what looked like real, affordable Japanese casual dining. :(“

“Love Barney's Beanery. We had the Rueben Sandwich and Taco salad along with Boo Bear and Dogtown drinks. Unfortunately, while sitting on the side patio, staff from restaurant, the Kebob Restaurant, Lav Shash, decided to stand outside the patio and smoke. Ruining it for 4 tables. He was within 20 feet, which is against Pasadena Smoking ordinance. Don't recommend Lav Shash as the waitstaff does not follow city ordinances. But don't miss Barney's. This is a historical restaurant with Hollywood roots. Great food, great drinks, and a cool vibe.“

“Came here for early dinner because we were craving our boiling point usuals. It was solid, as usual. I like this spot but it can feel kinda tight! However, I couldn't help but think there were some things that bothered us. Their Taiwanese spicy has noticeably shrunk in size, they never really refilled the broth for us, service always felt kind of slow or non-attentive. Some workers knew we were waiting on them because we even eyed them but I think I guess they were busy with something else, at the same time it felt like we were being avoided lol. Anywho will probably still eat here cuz it's boiling point! Park in the nearby parking structure!“

“This "sniffs in" at 4.5 stars... I had been to the Orange location but sadly busyness and lazyness led to my last visit being 2017. Yikes! For a pie lover that is sad. I had been eye balling their coconut cream pie for a while. COCONUT CREAM PIE: -- ample toasted coconut dropped on top by preparer -- crust is an off-white color and so delicate it broke off during to-go transport back to our hotel room -- portion size is SMALL -- price is HIGHER for the small portion -- nice clear coconut sniff -- super tasty thick coconut cream filling -- filling is not too firm not is in light but it is more on the dense side -- for coconut cream pie it is "moderately sweet" which I like -- I like that it is not a loose liquidy filling -- very creamy and a nice contrast with the toasted coconut topping -- crust is good, not doughy nor overcooked and dry...pretty perfect -- the pop of coconut throughout is a 9 out of 10 -- a very good rendition of this classic and one of the two best I have ever had... -- delicious with a hot cup of Peet's coffee RATING = A“

“We loved our experience here. Attentive service and really good food. My only critique as a person with food allergies is that I wish those were listed on the menu (GF, V, DF, etc). A gluten free toast option would be amazing too, but I’ll take what I can get!“

“Food was amazing! Went back and ordered extras because, it was that good. Have strong regrets that we only tried this on our last day in LA but it was absolutely! worth the 20 mins walk we took! Everything we ordered even the basic avocado toast was so delicious!“

“Got here before they open and there was a line of people waiting already. Once we got in all the people in line got tables. Food was great and was served pretty fast.Parking: Parking lot across the street ($4), lots of metered parking around place . If you get metered parking and leave before 8am it will be free..“

“If you're interested in trying popular Vietnamese entrees outside of pho, head over to Be U! This woman-owned eatery is located in a prime hipster Echo Park neighborhood, and to me, it's a perfect blend of my culture superimposed on Los Angeles's colorful cityscape. The menu ranges from homey comfort-food entrees to popular street bites, and some new-age fusion items as well. Atmosphere: 2/5 As a take-out-only restaurant located on Hoover Street, there's no seating and it faces traffic. If only there were some colorful plastic chairs (like the ones you see in SE Asia) - the vibes would be immaculate. However, you're either standing and eating or taking the food back to your home. Service: 3/5 Wasn't bad but wasn't warm or friendly either - service was okay Flavors: 5/5 Highly recommend: -Banh mi trung op la (banh mi with fried egg): homemade mushroom pate is delicious, it inspired me to make some at home. The egg was crispy to the heavens. -Rau ma juice: in English known as pennyworth, extremely refreshing, herbal, and will cool you down on a hot day. -Tofu goi cuon (spring rolls): The peanut sauce offered with this was so yummy! The spring rolls were super fresh and all the herbs complemented the flavors. Parking: 2/5 Street parking only, very limited Pricing: 3/5 Definitely not cheap for Vietnamese food, however, LA is a high-cost-of-living area so I understand that the owner needs to maintain overhead costs and pay her employees a fair wage! Expect to pay $4-5 higher than what you're used to paying in the OC/SJ/SGV. The reason why I rate it low is because the portions are significantly smaller than what you'd get at a traditional sit down Vietnamese restaurant Overall I recommend Be U if you're unfamiliar with Vietnamese food outside of mainstream pho, but if you're willing to drive to SGV, Garden Grove/Westminster, you'll be truly immersed in the cuisine and culture“

“Fusion Filipino restaurant with natural wine and Filipino beer selection. After trying many under-delivered fusion Filipino restaurants, Spoon and Pork easily takes the crowd to have the best executed fusion style dishes. We had the sinigang, grilled chicken, adobo chicken wings, pork belly, and garlic rice, and none of them disappointed.Sinigang's soup was rich and flavorful while the topping in the soup was cooked separately so they are not over cooked. The ribs came with a real nicely grilled flavored. The pork belly had crispy skin as expected and the fat to meat ratio was really good. The adobo chicken wings sauce was thick and sticky and not too salty nor sour, we kept the sauce for dipping Even after the wings were devoured.We are glad we took another chance in another fusion Filipino restaurant and we'll keep S&P on our rotation.“

“Highly recommended. The Denae's Slam is so good. The doctored up hash browns were great. The only negative was that the sausage was a little overcooked. The$5.00 Bloody Mary's were VERY tasty! Our server, Carla, was very pleasant and thorough. Thanks, Carla.“

“Excellent kabobs, probably the best I've had in LA in the 5 years I've lived here. It's located in the middle of a residential area, and I had heard about it from so many people so I had to finally try it. I got the beef and chicken combo plate, and the meat was very tender and full of flavor.There isn't really a place to sit down and dine unless you want to sit at the one table out front, it seems like more of a takeout spot. The staff is INCREDIBLY friendly. A true " your friendly neighborhood" type of feel. I really appreciated that.I will add that they are very popular, so I would recommend calling in your order in advance for pickup to save yourself what could be a 1-2 hour wait. Much easier to then just go pick it up when it's ready.Parking: It's located in the middle of a residential area, so you have to find parking along the street. Alternatively, there is a shopping plaza about half-a-block away, and you could just quickly park there if you're picking up.“

“If you like loud music, bustling, and energetic vibes, this place is for you. The food was good. I had the catfish platter, but I would not recommend the omelet. I had the Peach Bellini good drink, but I don't think it was worth 30 dollars even with the small bottle of Prosseco, maybe 20? Parking is a mess ??. And drinks were pretty huge as far as the Kool-Aid went. It's sweet, too. The wait wasn't too bad, either. Overall, I'd go back if I was invited.“

“Great Pan Roast. The dining room has 40 seats, a bar, or sit at the chefs counter to watch the steam kettle chefs cook your food without having to go to a Palace train station in Vegas. Plus, we didn't have a wait on Sunday at 3pm.Parking: Plenty of parking, plus there's an underground lot.“

“I'm from New England, though I was born in Trinidad and have always been quite attached to my Trini roots). Turkey Day is a big deal back East and it was my mom's favorite day of the year. She passed a few years back and I picked up the mantle, putting on a big "friends and family" feast for all comers. This year, that went sideways and I needed to find an alternative. Thankfully, I found Bridgetown. I ordered 10 roti (5 oxtail and 5 green curry shrimp), a jerk turkey leg, macaroni and cheese and an assortment of hot sauces. I picked everything up the day before Thanksgiving and all I had to do was pop the goodies into the oven (easy peasy) and wait (less easy peasy because it all smelled gooooood). It all tasted even better than it smelled. The roti were all on point (though I had a slight preference for the oxtail). The turkey leg was moist and flavorful. And the Mac and Cheese was flat out awesome. The macaroni was perfectly cooked, not mushy at all, and the sauce had just the slightest hint of heat. And let's not forget about the sauces. The lime pepper tomatillo was mild, but packed with flavor. The pineapple habanero and the pepper sauce both backed serious heat, but we're REALLY flavorful. I love hot sauce and the pineapple habanero was definitely among the best I've ever had. If you like trying different foods and you are looking for something a little different, give Bridgetown a go. You won't be sorry.“

“i love the sweet potato fries here, they have a little sugar coating on top :] its a pretty nice place to have some snacks and hang out with friends :]Kid-friendliness: there’s like 2 board games here? and a small seating area for kids (pictures taken)“

“This is the second time I ordered a sandwich at LA Brisket this week! I can't believe more people aren't praising this joint! It is in a small mall/hallway in Chinatown. They have a few tables in the hallway. It's not the most convenient place to eat because of the limited seating and the exterior doors were open (causing a cold breeze). I was told by other guest that the doors can't be closed because it will lock. In short, it is easier to just order pick up and eat elsewhere. Anyways, let's get to the good part... the food. I've had both the 101 and 405 sandwiches. Both are so juicy and full of flavor with great combinations of cheese and sauce. The bread is perfectly is crispy on the outside so it hold its structure well for a sandwich but warm and soft on the inside. The brisket is the star of the show. Just the right amount of smoke and fat. It falls apart perfectly without being too soggy. The truffle fries were good. They were well done and very crispy. I'm hooked!“

“Dropped in on a rainy day, was greeted immediately and was sat in a nice booth. We ordered a salad and the special of the day, "A Spicy Meat-a Ball-a". Great ingredient combo and had a nice thin crust...very edible ?. The house salad was fresh and with their unique dressing, it was surprisingly delicious. Will definitely be a repeat customer!“

“We stopped in from Ohio and ate, and it was the best chicken parm we have ever had. We got the chicken parmesian poutine and the Philly cheese steak sandwich and split it, and there was more than enough for two people. I would definately return here.“

“Fantastic restaurant! They are known, as the name in Korean suggests, for their cheonggukjang (fermented soybean stew). Absolutely delicious. The staff working here take care of every detail in the service as well as the food. Price is also good. This is definitely one of the gems of ktown - homey, authentic, and delicious. Ample parking, but the restaurant itself is on the smaller side. There can be a small wait if coming at a popular time.“

“Discovered this gem on Doordash and ordered as takeout. I'm so glad I found this place and surprised it isn't more well known! I really enjoyed the ox bone sullungtang as it was milky and rich with umami flavor. I didn't even need to add salt! I also really enjoyed the radish in soy sauce and thought it paired really well with the brisket. I wasn't a fan of their kimchi, however, but the radish kimchi was decent. I think the broth is the star part of the meal and hope to dine in at this restaurant one day!“

“Zero ambiance but DAMNED good meat pies! It's small, seats maybe 20 ish diners total. I noticed they serve a lot of take out, there were many people coming and going as we sat there to eat. The food is super fresh. The dumplings and meat pies are made to order. You can watch them make them from your table (that's how small this place is!). They're quite no nonsense, it's very, give me your order, thanks, going to make them now. The food is delicious. We ordered: Lamb & green onion pancakes - juicy chopped or ground lamb. Very flavorful but not gamey at all. Fried buns - Good crispy pan fried bottoms, super soft on top but not so thick that it feels like there's more bun than meat. The pork is moist but not soupy and juice filled like you're used to. Pan fried pork & seafood dumplings - similarly juicy filling like the previous two but mixed with seafood. Good crunch on the bottom but no carby "lace" connecting them all. We parked right out on the street, 20 ft from the front door. In the evenings it's pretty easy as there's not a TON of other stores open in the surrounding area. Definitely eating here again...and again...and again.“

“By far one of the most authentic Taiwanese restaurants I've been to. I say this because they've nailed down classic dishes you'd find in Taiwan. The oyster pancake was spot on along with the sauce. Service is pretty fast. Definitely come here for delicious Taiwanese comfort food!“

“A very atmospheric bar. On a weekend, almost all the tables were occupied, but there was no noise inside. The food is very tasty, the meat in the burger has the smell of the grill ❤️ it's fantastic. The service was good too. The interior is beautiful.I really liked the place!Parking inside the shopping center for $10 - 2 hours“

“The friendly team here keeps this place top tier. The decor in here is wonderful and well thought out. The staff here is very welcoming and the owner is here too so he definitely makes sure what you get here is quality and on point. Perfect spot for meetings or some space away from home to get some work/study done.“

“Food was delicious, i wish i took a photo but i got yukgaejang with extra meet. And let me tell you they did not disappoint or skimp out one bit. It was kinda hard to find though and it's in la but besides that, there are no negativesVegetarian options: If you like mushrooms then they have vegetarian options for you.Parking: Street parking sucks but they do have a parking area that was pretty empty i just didn't know they had one and parked in the street“