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.“

“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.“

“The Avocado Toast is my favorite“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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 .“

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

“amazing food, service and home feeling“

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

“They have a great happy hour! Service was great. It was a Friday evening and we were able to get two seats two minutes before happy hour ended. The bartender made sure our drinks and food were still at happy hour pricing. They were very busy, but we did not have to wait long at all to be served.“

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

“Fantabulous place to watch a game!“

“I’ve visited Yard House several times and always appreciate the variety of beers and the flavorful food options. The large portions and vibrant environment make it suitable for both small gatherings and larger groups. The staff is friendly and efficient.“

“get the Hash! and some pie“

“👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😃👍“

“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.“

“Harbor House offers a relaxing waterfront dining experience with a focus on fresh seafood and American classics. The view of the water adds to the atmosphere, and their seafood dishes—like fish tacos and grilled seafood platters—are always fresh and flavorful. A great spot for a casual, scenic meal with friends or family.“

“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.“

“Friendly Comfortable neighborhood spot“

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

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

“Perfect place. Great food and atmosphere.“

“Amazing cocktails in a cozy environment“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Best bakery...love their pastries.“

“Relax atmosphere, awesome service and good food!“

“Excellent burgers!!!!!!!!“

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

“The food was on another level, super fresh local ingredients, family recipes made with recognition of the past and an eye towards the future. The vibe in the restaurant is top-notch and the neighborhood is so chill and beautiful. Sat outside and met so many friendly people on the street, and the staff was really gracious. The butternut squash chorizo brussels sprout with preserved lemon dish was banging, enchiladas mole poblano and Chilaquiles with christmas sauce and pecan flan were all so good“

“Unlike most beautiful, scenic restaurants in LA, where the atmosphere is stunning and the food tastes like it came from a prison, Cara Cara has managed to smash every single mark out of the ballpark. From the incredible food and drinks to the delightfully sweet and helpful staff, the cherry on top of all of it is the incredible view of DTLA. As a certified NYC food snob, I have been deeply underwhelmed by SO many restaurants out here. So grateful I found Cara Cara. It is hands down my new favorite spot.“

“The Raymond is one of my favorite restaurants in the area, for its intimate setting and delicious food. If you want a casual experience, opt to sit outside in the courtyard under the lights or by the fireplace. But if you want a more intimate setting, sit inside the historic house where it feels cozy and hospitable. (Reminds me of other restaurant “house” settings like The Hobbit and French Laundry!) We enjoyed the ahi tuna appetizer, as well as the Caesar salad with grilled salmon. The tater tot side was a surprise favorite and was gone in a flash. My favorite was the tomahawk special! It was absolutely cooked to medium-rare perfection, with each melt-in-your-mouth piece dipped in either peppercorn or chimichurri sauce. The Caymus cabernet paired incredibly well with this dish! For dessert, the bread pudding was very moist and not too sweet. We had a table in the corner and were able to have a great conversation with our friends without struggling to hear. It was a very heartwarming, memorable night out! Grateful to the Raymond!“

“Truly phenomenal. The chicken entree and winter salad were unreal. We couldn’t stop gushing over it. We had the pleasure of live music on the back patio and the ambiance was perfect. Wait staff was incredibly kind, efficient, and present. Its one of those spots you’ll want to keep coming back to 💗“

“Excellent Filipino fusion food.“