LAGuide
Where To Eat Outside In Pasadena
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Pasadena isn’t just home to CalTech, Peloton obsessives, and actors who want houses with a bit of privacy - it’s also home to some truly fantastic restaurants. From Tibetan spots and innovative Mexican cuisine, to high-end sushi and one of the best Italian restaurants in LA County, here are 13 Pasadena restaurants offering outdoor seating right now. We’ll continue to update it as spots reopen around the city, and if there’s a patio you think needs to be included, email us at losangeles@theinfatuation.com.
If you’re looking for restaurants doing outdoor dining for the first time, check out our guide to LA Restaurants With New Patios And Outdoor Seating. For our full neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to outdoor dining, check out LA Restaurants Where You Can Eat Outside Today.
The Spots
One of the best spots in Pasadena for a fancy-ish meal, Arroyo Chop House has laid out turf, brought in a bunch of planters, and converted their parking lot into an oasis on Arroyo Pkwy. They’ve got steaks, burgers, and plenty of martinis.
A good spot to grab a glass of wine and get some work done in Pasadena, Bodega’s patio is back open with pizzas, wine-drinking snacks like bacon-wrapped dates and cheese boards, and (of course) a huge wine list.
Bone Kettle is a great Indonesian spot in Old Town Pasadena with some excellent nasi goreng (fried rice heavy with fish sauce), bone broth with top sirloin, and massive beef ribs. Reserve a table on their sidewalk here.
La Grande Orange is a good, kid-friendly spot in the same train station as Luggage Room, Sushi Kimagure, and Stone Brewing. In fact, they’re actually serving Luggage Room’s pizza menu, alongside their own cocktails and wine list.
Luggage Room Pizzeria is a good place to go with your quarantine-mates and split some pies. They’ve got a bunch of options, all with inventive topping combinations, but our favorite is the Fallen Angel - house-made Italian sausage, basil, shaved fennel, and roasted peppers. As a bonus, Stone Pasadena is next door, so you can pick up some beers and bring them over to drink with your meal at Luggage Room.
Maestro is an upscale Mexican spot with a quiet patio in a busy part of Old Pas. Whether you’re there for brunch or dinner, it’s a great place to eat inventive spins on classic dishes like arrachera with chorizo chimichurri and chile poblano chickpea rice, or the seared dayboat scallops with huitlacoche rice. Get a barrel-aged mezcal cocktail or a watermelon margarita while you’re there.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
If you’re looking to eat one of LA’s all-time classic burgers, Pie ’N Burger in Pasadena has opened with outdoor dining for the first time. They’ve got patio seating out in front of their California Blvd. diner. The burgers are greasy, cheesy, and tremendous.
Korean BBQ spot Soh Grill House has reopened with outdoor dining on the sidewalk, serving grilled bulgogi, kalbi, and pork belly jaeyuk, along with a bunch of great banchan. Call for a reservation - (626) 714-7760.
Superba’s Pasadena outpost has their patio back up and running, where you can eat house-baked pastries, breads, and sandwiches. Their coffee game is also on point.
The high-end sushi restaurant in Pasadena has taken full advantage of their massive front courtyard with ample new seating (for groups of many different sizes) as well as umbrellas and foliage.
Tibet Nepal house is a Nepalese spot in Old Pasadena that’s got a big takeout operation, along with a few tables out on the sidewalk where you can eat curried meats, momo, and killer vegetable pakora.
Among our favorite Italian restaurants in all of LA, Union debuted some brand-new patio seating earlier this year at their space in Old Pas. If you’re craving pasta, there might not be a better bet around than their tonnarelli cacio e pepe or torchetti with pork ragu.
