New American Restaurants near South Pasadena, CA

“This is a destination restaurant, right in the heart of South Pasadena. The food is amazing, it's beautiful inside and outside (they have outdoor seating in the back as well), and the staff is nice.

Try the shrimp
Try the carrots
Try the bbq chicken
Try the fish

Legit try it all.“

“The Avocado Toast is my favorite“

“I’ve been going to Towhey’s for over 20 years. I love their breakfast. I love their cheeseburgers. My daughter Micaela used to be a hostess in Alhambra. It’s one of my favorite go to restaurants. I love sitting at the bar. Also when they’re busy it’s a fun place to have dinner.“

“If you’re reading this review it’s most likely because you haven’t been here. Otherwise you already know what an incredible experience you’re in for. Our brunch was amazing, only to be outdone by Javier who was extremely, friendly, attentive and spot on with every recommendation! Can’t wait to come back and try the multitude of mouthwatering dishes we saw on the tables next to us. Hope you have the time to give yourself this tantalizing treat.“

“First time going with my daughter. I love it. Fresh bread and the food absolutely fresh I got in love this place ❤️❤️❤️❤️“

“I came in today, for the first time, on Thursday, 04/10, around 3 PM. There were two patrons at the bar top and a cool, friendly bartender, Kiara, came out and took care of me. She was very warm, attentive, and easy to chat with. The place was clean, the bathroom was clean, chill vibe, the locals were friendly, and I felt welcomed. The happy hour prices are very fair and the happy hour nachos were so good! Shout out to chef Pancho! I was told he has been there for a very long time and I know why!

They are cash only (there is an ATM) although I understand you can start a tab with a matching ID. Just pay cash to make it easier for everyone involved. Clean bar top, clean bathroom, plenty of space inside, easy and plentiful parking, and it just seems like a cool place to check out, especially on the evenings and weekends. Once again, the service and food were amazing and the happy hour prices are totally legit!

I am a bar guy, I've been to plenty of bars, low end, upscale, and everything in between, and this place is on my list of places to come back to. Thanks again to Kiara (bartender) and Pancho (chef)! I'll be in again soon!“

“love the Quality of Food😍😍😍“

“I really want to give it five stars and I may come again in the future. The food is great, to be honest, the pork shoulder and mushroom rice is enough.“

“Ordered the off-menu Pomodoro pasta and it did not disappoint. The tomato and petit basil sauce was bright, fresh, and perfectly balanced. The wax beans were a standout - snappy and bright with serrano chile, toasted hazelnuts, and a tangy Frenchie vinaigrette. The garden lettuces were crisp and well dressed with radish vinaigrette, fresh dill, walnuts, and shallots. Good vibe, happy staff, great mix of flavors. The orange wine pairing tied it all together. Highly recommend Updated from previous review on 2026-03-29“

“The food was delicious and a great place to dine. Next time bring some friends and enjoy the food“

“Backbone delivered an outstanding dining experience. Loved the soju cocktail and Barbajuan appetizer to start, the perfectly roasted duck breast as the main, and the brown butter cake topped with passion fruit gel for dessert. Top notch service all around, capped off by a warm conversation with one of the owners / chef. Highly recommend!“

“The little plates are yummy. I love the pita bread that came with the hummus (Salatim plate). The other plates were good also. I loved the bread pudding (I think it's better than the best cake). What I like the most about Bacari, besides the beautiful ambiance, is the friendliest staff.“

“Such Wonderful atmosphere, food and coffee! 💖🎉🥳 They also have a super sweet display of gourmet treats!!! 🤩“

“Had a lovely dinner and our server Jade was excellent! The shrimp cocktail was delicious and the hot fried catfish and fried hen sublime! A wonderful experience!“

“The Braised Beef and Mushrooms with Mashed Potatoes . Mashed potatoes were so creamy I could had eaten a whole bowl of it by itself but Beef and mushrooms Just took it to whole other level“

“Great food and service. Loved the the rooftop dining!“

“Excellent service. Great beer. Great food. I Love the ambiance.“

“Salad was tasty . I’ll be back to try burgers they looked amazing .“

“amazing food, service and home feeling“

“Fast friendly professional service and hot delicious food! I’ll definitely return 🥰“

“great place for an evening date with the wifey... 😎👍“

“I went there about 9pm 6-4-26 Kathyn had the best costumer service out of any Yard House I've ever been too. The rest of the the staff is also excellent and very friendly. I will make my drive from Long Beach to eat there again it's worth my drive.“

“get the Hash! and some pie“

“Amazing food, the place wonderful. Excelent service. I love it.“

“Fantabulous place to watch a game!“

“After our Altadena house burned down, we relocated to Barker Block and absolutely love being so close to Manuela. We used to have a fire table like yours, so dining here always carries a sense of home. Last night we brought friends, and they said, ‘This makes it hard to go out to eat in Monrovia—our restaurants cut corners with cheap ingredients and fast turnover.’ What your chefs create is the opposite: dishes with not just incredible flavor but extraordinary texture and detail. Their expertise is off the charts, and I highly recommend.“

“The servings at this restaurant are HUGE! Just know that before you make my same mistake of ordering an appetizer and a meal AND a salad.

Queso was quite good. Vegetarian options plentiful. Side salad was easily the size of a main salad. The fettuccine was on the drier side, but I’m willing to forgive them for having Gardein on their menu.“

“Excellent food, great service and environment. Feels homey with gourmet cuisine. Consistently great, we come here about once a month. Drinks are excellent too. Thank you.“

“I recommend Botanica to everyone. They use fresh hand picked ingredients and the food is delicous! Their cocktails and desserts are so yum. I picked up some chile oil and pickled local veggies for gifts for my friends! Chef Zarah and the staff are best. Will definitely be returning soon.“

“Harbor House is the kind of place that makes it easy to slow down and enjoy a relaxed meal by the water. The waterfront setting really adds to the overall atmosphere and gives the restaurant a calm, scenic feel that works well for both casual lunches and dinners with friends or family. The seafood consistently tastes fresh, especially dishes like the fish tacos and grilled seafood platters, which are full of flavor without feeling overly heavy. The menu also has a good mix of seafood and classic American options, so there’s something for different tastes. Service feels friendly and laid-back, matching the overall vibe of the location. Overall, it’s a reliable spot if you’re looking for good food, waterfront views, and a comfortable dining experience.“

“Best bakery...love their pastries.“

“I have been frequenting hotel Le’Meridian that has Longitude 118 bar lately. I specifically want to give a shout out to Erik who works the [early] a.m. shift at Longitude 118. He is always accommodating and VERY customer-friendly! I enjoy our conversations when I’m sitting at the bar. He always has a smile on his face and he’s very down to earth. I feel like he is a great asset to the company! There are others in separate reviews that I would name specifically as well, but in this one I want to especially highlight Erik! He truly goes above and beyond! @Longitude118 #Logitude118Ar Asia“

“Very good food, and great cocktails. Wait staff was friendly and accommodating. We enjoyed our experience.“

“The staff is great and friendly. The food is delicious!“

“Friendly Comfortable neighborhood spot“

“Perfect place. Great food and atmosphere.“

“Amazing cocktails in a cozy environment“

“One of the BEST burger stands in the LA area. Family-friendly, super interesting people from all over Los Angeles county, great DJ's playing classics of every genre. The classic burger with onions and cheese is amazing, but the mushroom and Swiss comes in at a close second. They even have vegetarian options for the non-meat eaters. It only opens up like once a month though, so you definitely have to follow them on social media and get there when the getting is good!!!“

“Delicious! Really interesting and tasty food.“

“Cool atmosphere, great music, best bottomless mimosas, & Felix makes the best espresso martinis 🥰“

“Great food. Large selection. Beautiful atmosphere. Amazing staff. A+!“

“Relax atmosphere, awesome service and good food!“

“A great place to be in Los Angeles‼️“

“Excellent burgers!!!!!!!!“

“Artisans, but more than that. World class.

No other food has made me feel the way that the magic from this kitchen does. Without exaggeration, Bourdain spent his whole career chasing what's here: the kind of food made by a family with genius instincts, who grinds, ferments, smokes, cures, and pickles to mouthwatering effect. It's nirvana. Every single time.

I think I've had almost everything on the menu by now. Loved it all, without exception. My repeats have included the huevos rancheros and the huarache azul. Oh, the huarache! Blue corn masa, frijoles, suadero that melts in your mouth because of their patience with it (you can tell), all dressed with salsa macha negra and crema. A fried egg on top. It's fire.

The flan con pecanas is Plato's ideal of flan. Silky and sumptuous. The texture from the pecans makes the whole thing feel like a love song.

And by now, I've been here enough times to see the true warmth of the family behind the magic. Not only does it radiate outward from the food at each of the (few) tables, but people also reflect it back to them. You can feel it. That is not a small thing. That is actually the whole thing.

I drive two hours for this experience, and I'd drive more. Go. Drive however far you need to. Leave speechless.“

“Working so hard to stay open during these pandemic times. We owe them and their faithful help a lot!“

“I had a really nice time at Little Beast Restaurant. The place has a cozy and relaxed vibe, perfect for just sitting back and enjoying good food. Everything we ordered came out fresh and full of flavor, you can tell they care about quality. The staff was friendly and made sure we were comfortable the whole time, which I really appreciated. Service was smooth and not rushed at all. It’s one of those spots where you just feel good being there. Definitely a place I’d come back to again when I’m craving something tasty and chill.“

“Love it here! My favorite breakfast place in LA. The cooks and wait staff are dialed in here. I love getting the pancake combos, which is 2 pancakes instead of 3, and comes with a breakfast platter. I always get eggs over easy, hash browns and bacon lightly cooked. Then, for pancakes my favorites are Brook's Blues (blueberries), Tire Biter (Oreo's), or Ruby Belle (a few thin slices of caramelized apple and pecans). The last one in particular is a good one to ask for extra toppings on for a few dollars more. One random tip for the pancakes: they're served on plate that's barely big enough for them, so cut out a eat a slice to make room for your syrup, and make a pool there to dip the rest on rather than pouring it on top.“

“Excellent Filipino fusion food.“