Japon Bistro

Thank goodness this place is close to home.😀 It’s family-owned and they are nice people. I’ve bought food here before, but had always ordered it “to-go”. Today, I was home early enough to enjoy their Happy Hour(4pm-6pm), with an early dinner 🍽and a michilada🍹. In the picture, is a chile relleno burrito, with chips and salsa(s), and a refreshing michilada. So delish..!!!😋

I just finished eating a delicious dinner at El Metate. I ordered their green chicken, enchiladas, and green vegan enchiladas— Both were very tasty. The cooking was authentically Mexican and the staff were so kind and friendly. I highly recommend this place!

The Aguachile pictured wasn't on the menu but like In-N-Out I guess they have a secret menu...The aguachile was made fresh with a great balance of fresh flavor and the staff were friendly and attentive! I'm looking forward to enjoying more item's form their menu when I'm in the area. Their located next to the Ice House in Pasadena.

Gosh I miss living in California! These tacos are incredible! Thank you for making my belly’s day, El Metate!

Quick Service. Helpful at the counter when ordering. Food is great. My chile relleno burrito was excellent. Highly recommend getting guacamole on the side and topping it.

Amazing street tacos! I loved them! I had el pastor and carnitas! Yummy! Thank you!!!

The burritos are good and the price is reasonable. You can easily park on the street. I would recommend El Metate Burrito if u like cheese.

Perfect lunch spot, serving size is great. Flavors on point, price is low, service is good!

Very authentic , delicious Mexican food,try the molcajete, or the ceviche tostadas. Every thing is good overall. pasadena local land mark must try .happy hour has a great selection on imported beer ,aguachiles are a must try .

Amazing meal, everything was outstanding and fresh. Service was also great. A must try in Pasadena.

We've been going to this family restaurant for about a decade. Their food is always great, the owners kind and welcoming, and the atmosphere warm. They're the best. Their peanut salsa is a gem and their shrimp burritos, enchiladas, tamales, ceviche, and other dishes always taste amazing. My wife loves their menudo. They're awesome.

The food here is so delicious!!! Quality and quantity ! Very flavorful and everyone there is so kind and welcoming! I always come back because of the hospitality and food! Highly recommended!

Always so good every time we come. Very grateful to have El Metate in the neighborhood!

Really good Mexican food. Price is a tad higher than you'd expect, but it's worth it.

I ordered a torta de milanesa with no onions and it came with onions

My 7 yr old Boy and I Went to the Rose Parade in a 40 ft RV Bus the night before New Year's ... made a turn to go around the block and got stuck by a barricade for parade, I couldn't back up so I parked there and noticed I was 20 ft from the parade route (Colorado Blvd.)...it was a dark street, we fell asleep woke up looked out the window and noticed we were parked across the street from this joint.. for those of you who know how hard it is to find a park at the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl this was a Double come up, my Son enjoyed our super front row seats the the Parade he went nuts with excitement so we walked back ..., to get in the Bus and Noticed this Place and went inside.....wow!!! What a cool joint a real family joint....they where really super nice and friendly...the food was really Good, and very inexpensive!!! This visit was a home run out of the Park, my son met all of the owner's grandkids there eating they painted and played out in back of the joint....we live 2 hrs. away easy But ....we will make the drive Back there to eat and hangout with this Family...trust and believe me, you can't go wrong at this place they have it ALL together..... It was a Great new year spent here

Best chilaquiles anywhere ever. We lived about 20 minutes away but would make excuses for appointments close by just to get takeout of this dish. They mix the eggs into the sauce before they douse the chips. Only Pinches Tacos in Larchmont did that in my experience. Their nachos and different burritos are also superb. I love this place.

Great food and great service. Never had an issue.

Great food, great ambience and great price. You can't beat the customer service. You feel like you are eating at eating at a family's house. Their Michelada is great.

Absolutely DELICIOUS! I got the Al pastor tacos and was really pleased, also appreciated the chips and salsa in the bag!! My friends also enjoyed their food :) staff was friendly and very fast!

Very friendly and delicious hole in the wall tacos. 3 tacos under 10 bucks would Come every time if I could.

Traditional Mexican food with friendly service. Everything was good! rice, beans, Chile relleno, tamale as well as the champurado on this rainy day..

Favorite Pasadena family owned authentic Mexican food restaurant. Must experience.

What a cute mom and pop restaurant!! We got tacos and enchiladas and they were delicious. The service was great, very sweet gentleman and the lady :) They keep the place clean also! There were lots of “exotic” parts of meat on the menu I had to keep looking for translations — a good sign in my opinion! They have a few options for soup (which I don’t see very often in Mexican restaurants) and quite a wide variety of different kinds of Mexican foods including fresh juice! We’ll be back again to try their other things!

Love this neighborhood spot. It's next to the Ice House. Food is solid given the challenges of up cost and shortages. This my usual go-to place. They alway remember to make my order extra spicy. Everyone is super friendly. Portions are generous and flavorable. **Updated. I've been here a couple of times since I last posted. Food is still consistent and tasty! I love the family community.

Very authentic and delicious. Super quick if you are on lunch. Wet carne asada burrito in the picture.

One of the best Mexican restaurants in Pasadena! The food is always delicious and the staff is amazing. The chicken pepita salad, shrimp tacos, machaca breakfast burrito, and chile verde super burrito are stand-out menu items for me. Please give it a visit!

Mexican Approved! Great food at a Great price! Great service! Can't get better than that! We paid 5.50 for a generously stacked tostada de Ceviche de pescado, 5.50 for a tostada de ceviche de camaron, and Only FIVE DOLLARS for a deliciously prepared Michelada! For being a hot summer day, this refreshing meal was an Oasis!! It was very forgiving on my wallet and my stomach. This was my second time here in June! ALSO only $24 for a Molcajete dish which is a great price compared to other local restraunts: (i.e:Cabreras $28 Molcajete) this Molcajete included: nopales, chorizo, asada, chicken, cheese, shrimp, rice and Beans!!!! What!?!! 🤯🤯🌞 And if you ask nicely they can make tortillas for you by hand for only .75 Cents a tortilla! Great food, Great service, Great Prices. Check them out! LOCALLY and Brown owned!

El Metate is my go-to Mexican restaurant in Pasadena. It’s been a staple since 2016, and the family who runs it is extremely kind to everyone who comes through. Their salsas are so fresh and have a kick! For vegetarians, I suggest getting the flautas with grilled veggies or potato. The margaritas are delicious and strong, and Happy Hour is 4-6 daily. I recommend the blended mango margarita!

We moved to the area about a month ago and have already been here four times. Everything is delicious, affordable, fast, and the people are so kind. It was an easy choice on Valentine’s Day...nothing says true love like a bubbling bowl of molcajete for two. And they had heart shaped tortilla chips! Looking forward to our weekly visits ;)

I would always pass by there daily but wouldn't stop. One day my girl asked me she wanted mexican food. Since I'm a local in pasadena i told her lets try this Mexican restaurant for the first time. My god it was bomb. Happy hour 4 to 6, prices are good, food packs with a lot of flavors.

Judy Cashin

Absolutely DELICIOUS! I got the Al pastor tacos and was really pleased, also appreciated the chips and salsa in the bag!! My friends also enjoyed their food :) staff was friendly and very fast!

Yoli L.

Traditional Mexican food with friendly service. Everything was good! rice, beans, Chile relleno, tamale as well as the champurado on this rainy day..

Monica Dubin

Very authentic and delicious. Super quick if you are on lunch. Wet carne asada burrito in the picture.

Jamie

What a cute mom and pop restaurant!! We got tacos and enchiladas and they were delicious. The service was great, very sweet gentleman and the lady :) They keep the place clean also! There were lots of “exotic” parts of meat on the menu I had to keep looking for translations — a good sign in my opinion! They have a few options for soup (which I don’t see very often in Mexican restaurants) and quite a wide variety of different kinds of Mexican foods including fresh juice! We’ll be back again to try their other things!

Miss HD

Love this neighborhood spot. It's next to the Ice House. Food is solid given the challenges of up cost and shortages. This my usual go-to place. They alway remember to make my order extra spicy. Everyone is super friendly. Portions are generous and flavorable. **Updated. I've been here a couple of times since I last posted. Food is still consistent and tasty! I love the family community.

JonJon Blunden

One of the best Mexican restaurants in Pasadena! The food is always delicious and the staff is amazing. The chicken pepita salad, shrimp tacos, machaca breakfast burrito, and chile verde super burrito are stand-out menu items for me. Please give it a visit!

Robert Villa

Mexican Approved! Great food at a Great price! Great service! Can't get better than that! We paid 5.50 for a generously stacked tostada de Ceviche de pescado, 5.50 for a tostada de ceviche de camaron, and Only FIVE DOLLARS for a deliciously prepared Michelada! For being a hot summer day, this refreshing meal was an Oasis!! It was very forgiving on my wallet and my stomach. This was my second time here in June! ALSO only $24 for a Molcajete dish which is a great price compared to other local restraunts: (i.e:Cabreras $28 Molcajete) this Molcajete included: nopales, chorizo, asada, chicken, cheese, shrimp, rice and Beans!!!! What!?!! 🤯🤯🌞 And if you ask nicely they can make tortillas for you by hand for only .75 Cents a tortilla! Great food, Great service, Great Prices. Check them out! LOCALLY and Brown owned!

Lily Dove

El Metate is my go-to Mexican restaurant in Pasadena. It’s been a staple since 2016, and the family who runs it is extremely kind to everyone who comes through. Their salsas are so fresh and have a kick! For vegetarians, I suggest getting the flautas with grilled veggies or potato. The margaritas are delicious and strong, and Happy Hour is 4-6 daily. I recommend the blended mango margarita!

Wendy Smillie

We moved to the area about a month ago and have already been here four times. Everything is delicious, affordable, fast, and the people are so kind. It was an easy choice on Valentine’s Day...nothing says true love like a bubbling bowl of molcajete for two. And they had heart shaped tortilla chips! Looking forward to our weekly visits ;)

K.R.D R

I would always pass by there daily but wouldn't stop. One day my girl asked me she wanted mexican food. Since I'm a local in pasadena i told her lets try this Mexican restaurant for the first time. My god it was bomb. Happy hour 4 to 6, prices are good, food packs with a lot of flavors.

Benito Sulit

Thank goodness this place is close to home.😀 It’s family-owned and they are nice people. I’ve bought food here before, but had always ordered it “to-go”. Today, I was home early enough to enjoy their Happy Hour(4pm-6pm), with an early dinner 🍽and a michilada🍹. In the picture, is a chile relleno burrito, with chips and salsa(s), and a refreshing michilada. So delish..!!!😋

There are three Mexican places within a couple blocks that all had 4.6 ratings. This was the first I tried. I had the "Super Burrito" and it was good, hit the spot. Wife got the meatball soup and really liked it. Kid got chicken tacos and really liked it. That order (1 super burrito, 1 meatball soup, 4 chicken tacos) cost us $40. Not wonderful prices but not bad either and the food was tasty. Would go there again.

One of the best ceviches I’ve had in a long time, and it was only $7,80. They have Modelo Negra on tap. The salsas were excellent too, and I really enjoyed the California Burrito with Carne Asada.

Super friendly people. Excellent Authentic Mexican food. I had the Aguachiles and my friend had fish tacos. Fantastic happy hour deals. Wonderful vibe. I will return. Highly recommended

This is a great hole in the wall place. The freshest piña I’ve ever had and delicious salsas. Prices were great and I loved my burrito. Could not recommend more.

Bird Jay

One of the best ceviches I’ve had in a long time, and it was only $7,80. They have Modelo Negra on tap. The salsas were excellent too, and I really enjoyed the California Burrito with Carne Asada.

Morgan Stockham

This is a great hole in the wall place. The freshest piña I’ve ever had and delicious salsas. Prices were great and I loved my burrito. Could not recommend more.

Tim Merritte

Super friendly people. Excellent Authentic Mexican food. I had the Aguachiles and my friend had fish tacos. Fantastic happy hour deals. Wonderful vibe. I will return. Highly recommended

J C

There are three Mexican places within a couple blocks that all had 4.6 ratings. This was the first I tried. I had the "Super Burrito" and it was good, hit the spot. Wife got the meatball soup and really liked it. Kid got chicken tacos and really liked it. That order (1 super burrito, 1 meatball soup, 4 chicken tacos) cost us $40. Not wonderful prices but not bad either and the food was tasty. Would go there again.

Tim Kibbey

Dude this is the place for street tacos in Pasadena. The carne asada tacos were absolute cinema. Salsa was really good and the staff was attentive even though it's counter-order. And real nice to sit outside on a not too busy street

Chris Osorio

I just finished eating a delicious dinner at El Metate. I ordered their green chicken, enchiladas, and green vegan enchiladas— Both were very tasty. The cooking was authentically Mexican and the staff were so kind and friendly. I highly recommend this place!

Nice find. Very friendly staff and good Mexican fare. Had lingua en salsa Verde. Deliciouus!

Wanted to find some quick (non fast food) Mexican food to grab for the usual weekly lunch with the gf. Food was fresh & tasty here so happy I ended chose this place. ITEM'S ORDERED: Burrito Vegeteriano Chili Relleno & Cheese Enchilada (w/ rice & beans) TASTE: Burrito Vegeteriano is the usual bean & cheese burrito but with added lettuce & tomato. I enjoyed this very much, it was fresh, nice size, well flavored (not too salty) & worked well with the red sauce. They gave an option of wet or dry burrito, & I chose dry. These are a little more "runny" of a bean than whole so the burrito didn't hold together as much as other ones I've had. Chili Relleno & Cheese Enchilada (w/ rice & beans) was a well made combo plate. This was listed as one of the specials. Chili Relleno was executed well & does not come off hot, but does get gradually hotter (in a nice way) as you continue to eat. The Cheese Enchilada is just as it sounds, & decent as well. They give you complimentary chips & salsa which is always a win. Chips were good (not overl salty) & I'm pretty sure they make them fresh. Salsa had adequate seasoning but was not really hot. SERVICE, LOCATION & PARKING: The cashier who is also the one who brought us the food as very friendly. Much appreciated especially since it was kinda a lunch rush & she was working hard. They are located basically at the corner of Mentor Ave & Colorado. I quickly found parking right in front & there were several other spots around as well. Quite sure they don't have a parking lot. Also, be careful since this is a one way street, going toward Colorado. I'm very much open to coming here again. All the food was good & also, prices were very fair.

Very good food, off the radar a little. Really glad I saw the good reviews or I may not have found this place. It's just a 50 yards off of Colorado Blvd, but you would never notice it as you drive by. I had a taco de pescado, and a tostada de cameron. It was under $10 with tax and tip. Taco was excellent. Grilled, not fried. Tostada was good. Tasty shrimp but not as much as I would have liked. Tortillas were excellent. Salsa was great, and chips were good. Service was okay. I'll be back again, but there are a few other Mexican restaurants I like better.

Chips were crunchy and salsa had a nice kick to it. Combo plate was a great deal. Shredded beef enchilada was tasty and chile relleno was tasty.

Jay C

Wanted to find some quick (non fast food) Mexican food to grab for the usual weekly lunch with the gf. Food was fresh & tasty here so happy I ended chose this place. ITEM'S ORDERED: Burrito Vegeteriano Chili Relleno & Cheese Enchilada (w/ rice & beans) TASTE: Burrito Vegeteriano is the usual bean & cheese burrito but with added lettuce & tomato. I enjoyed this very much, it was fresh, nice size, well flavored (not too salty) & worked well with the red sauce. They gave an option of wet or dry burrito, & I chose dry. These are a little more "runny" of a bean than whole so the burrito didn't hold together as much as other ones I've had. Chili Relleno & Cheese Enchilada (w/ rice & beans) was a well made combo plate. This was listed as one of the specials. Chili Relleno was executed well & does not come off hot, but does get gradually hotter (in a nice way) as you continue to eat. The Cheese Enchilada is just as it sounds, & decent as well. They give you complimentary chips & salsa which is always a win. Chips were good (not overl salty) & I'm pretty sure they make them fresh. Salsa had adequate seasoning but was not really hot. SERVICE, LOCATION & PARKING: The cashier who is also the one who brought us the food as very friendly. Much appreciated especially since it was kinda a lunch rush & she was working hard. They are located basically at the corner of Mentor Ave & Colorado. I quickly found parking right in front & there were several other spots around as well. Quite sure they don't have a parking lot. Also, be careful since this is a one way street, going toward Colorado. I'm very much open to coming here again. All the food was good & also, prices were very fair.

Marvin Luna

Chips were crunchy and salsa had a nice kick to it. Combo plate was a great deal. Shredded beef enchilada was tasty and chile relleno was tasty.

Kenji Coleman

Very good food, off the radar a little. Really glad I saw the good reviews or I may not have found this place. It's just a 50 yards off of Colorado Blvd, but you would never notice it as you drive by. I had a taco de pescado, and a tostada de cameron. It was under $10 with tax and tip. Taco was excellent. Grilled, not fried. Tostada was good. Tasty shrimp but not as much as I would have liked. Tortillas were excellent. Salsa was great, and chips were good. Service was okay. I'll be back again, but there are a few other Mexican restaurants I like better.

The worst restaurant I have walked into in nearly two decades. I thought oh a 4.7 it must be good. I walked in and it was by far the dirtiest one I have seen probably ever. The visible kitchen was disgusting. I moved the chair to sit and I felt like I needed a shower. I tried to convince myself it is a hole in the wall and the food will be great. Nope. They brought my road kill masked as “Asada” and I took one bite spit it in my napkin and got out of my filthy chair at an even dirtier table on the gross floor and walked down the street a couple blocks to a different Mexican restaurant and had a great meal. Do not eat here. Health code rating of F with even worse food.