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Best Restaurants In Pasadena For Lunch
Pasadena’s lunch scene punches well above its weight, spanning Michelin-recognized patio spots, rich Southeast Asian broths, and crave-worthy fried chicken.
1
Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery
Run by chefs Vanessa and Thomas Tilaka Kalb, this airy former stables building with a gorgeous back patio is celebrated for elevated American comfort dishes and artisanal cheeses. Order the house-cut charcuterie and cheese board alongside the griddled smash burger with pimento cheese on house brioche. The vibe is bright, chic, and relaxed; it runs around $$ — about $30 a head, making it an absolute steal for the quality of scratch cooking and patio atmosphere.
2
Bone Kettle
Chef Erwin Tjahyadi's Southeast Asian neighborhood staple is famous for its slow-simmered, 36-hour citrus-and-spice beef bone broth poured tableside over artisanal ramen noodles. Order the Prime Brisket Bone Broth or the Indonesian Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng) with crispy chicharron gremolata. The dining room feels sleek yet warm in the heart of Old Pasadena; lunch runs $$ — around $28 a head, which offers phenomenal value for the complexity and depth of the broth.
3
Osawa
Revered across the San Gabriel Valley, this refined Japanese gem from Shigefumi and Sayuri Tachibe balances pristine sushi with exceptional shabu-shabu and sakana. The move at lunch is the Nigiri Sushi Combo or the Kurobuta Pork Shabu Shabu served with house sesame dip. The atmosphere is minimalist and bustling with locals; lunch sits around $$$ — roughly $45 a head, a well-earned price for fish and broth of this caliber.
4
Howlin' Ray's
Johnny Zone and Amanda Chapman’s flagship outpost brought their legendary Nashville hot chicken hype from Chinatown to an expansive Arroyo Parkway space with indoor and patio seating. Get The Sando (boneless breast spiced to your tolerance level on a buttered brioche bun with slaw, pickles, and comeback sauce) alongside an order of shake fries and banana pudding. The energy is electric with famously friendly staff; expect a line around peak hours, but at $ — about $18 a head, it remains one of Southern California's best fast-casual values.
5
Lunasia Signature
The refined evolution of the San Gabriel Valley's favorite dim sum powerhouse delivers made-to-order Cantonese classics in a modern, stylish space on Colorado Boulevard. Don't miss the jumbo pork and shrimp siu mai, crispy pork belly, and pan-fried turnip cakes. It is ideal for group dining and midday yum cha; lunch averages $$ — around $30 a head, offering generous portions and top-tier freshness compared to cart-service spots.
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