08.23.18

dining & nitelife
directory
Average price per entree
$ UP TO $10 $$$ $16-25
$$ $11–15 $$$$ $25+
PW OPINION PW NEWS PW LIFE PW ARTS
•RESTAURANT REVIEW•
Chef Tony Hernandez holding a
fresh from the oven pepperoni pizza
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
EL PORTAL
625 E. Green St., Pasadena
(626)795-8553 Elportalrestaurant.com $$
Pasadena Weekly readers have been rewarding
El Portal with the title of Best Mexican
Food in the city for years. This charming little
hacienda with brick walls, festive colors, fine
art and a California elegant courtyard brings
the authentic cuisine of Mexico and the
Yucatan region to your table.
HIKARI SUSHI
2064 Verdugo Blvd. Montrose
818-957-1800 Hikarisushiglendale.com $$
Hikari Sushi in Montrose is open for business
to serve you fresh sushi, with a variety of
rolls. We are the first All You Can Eat Sushi
Restaurant in the City of Glendale. Please join
us! We are looking forward to serving you!
KABUKI JAPANESE RESTAURANTS
88 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena,
(626) 568-9310
3539 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena,
(626) 351-8963 kabukirestaurants.com $$
When you walk into a Kabuki you won’t be
overwhelmed with Asian decor and music.
What you will encounter is a casual atmosphere
with today’s hottest music playing,
people smiling and our friendly staff welcoming
you through the doors. Look for the Red
Mask. Come eat, drink and have fun!
MARGARITA’S
155 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 449-4193 margaritaspasadena.com $$
At Margaritas Mexican Restaurant, our family
has been sharing our authentic Mexican
dishes with the wonderful people of Pasadena
since 1977. Guests enter our warm, inviting
space and leave as family -- with plenty of
burritos, tortas, tostadas, fajitas, and more
to be had in between! Our dishes incorporate
and pay homage to the rich fl avors of bustling
mercados, corner taquerias, and seaside palapas.
So visit us, eat to your heart's content
at our mouthwatering lunch buffet, sip on a
refreshing margarita, and feel at home.
TOM'S FAMOUS FAMILY
RESTAURANT
1130 E. Walnut St. Pasadena
626-577-7717 tomsfamous.com $
Please come and enjoy homemade
breakfast lunch and dinner all made from
scratch and FRESH. Nothing is ever served
or made from a can. We pride ourselves as
being the cleanest store with the best quality
food and BEST service in town. Thank
you PASADENA!!!!!
TOPS WALNUT
1792 E. Walnut St., Pasadena
(626) 584-0244 topsburger.com $
At TOPS on Walnut & Allen, we maintain the
original taste from 60 years ago. My father
wanted to create food as close to homemade
as possible. Our primary goal and focus is
on taste, quality, freshness, cleanliness in
our service and experienced staff. Most of
our staff have been with us for more than
twenty years. We invite you to come to TOPS
on the corner of Walnut & Allen and taste the
difference! Meet our staff and experience
what quality service should be. The same
quality service that has made us #1.
WE OLIVE
32 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91105
626-787-1000
weolive.com/Pasadena $$
We Olive Pasadena features an array of olive
oils, vinaigrettes, dips, and other one of a
kind fl avors and offers complimentary Olive
Oil tastings.
We now serve lunch & dinner! Enjoy the
summer evenings on our We Olive Patio!
Happy Hour M – F 3:30 – 7pm! Enjoy cheese
and charcuterie and California small patch
wine. Shopping for a gift? Check out our
wide selection of customized gourmet gifts.
Located in Old Pasadena right next to free 90
minute parking.
ZELO GOURMET PIZZAS
328 E. Foothill Blvd.Arcadia
626-358-8298
myzelopizza.info $$
It’s the cornmeal crust that makes this pizzeria
stand out from the rest. This locally owned
establishment’s signature dish is the fresh,
corn, balsamic-marinated, oven-roasted red
onion pie. Zelo Pizzeria has expanded the
dining room to better serve you, so come in
and give Zelo Pizzeria a try.
VERTICAL WINE BISTRO
70 N. Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 795-3999
verticalwinebistro.com $$
Set above the streets of Old Town Pasadena,
Vertical Wine Bistro offers a warm, inviting
dining experience with an elegant and
comfortable atmosphere. Our Chefs use only
the freshest ingredients when designing our
menu. We offer a wide selection of beer, wine
and hand crafted cocktails. Tuesday - Sunday:
5:00pm til Close - Happy Hour (Tues-
Fri): 5:00pm - 7:00pm – Closed Monday
PARADE OF FAVORITES
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Though it was once named Shanto’s and priced at
about half the current listings, I am still (and will
forever be) a loyal stamp-card holder. The cheese and
baby spinach mana’ish speckled with tangy sumac is
the best way to eat ridiculous amounts of leafy greens
while having the gosh darned flavor experience of a
lifetime. A za’atar and lebni wrap with veggies both
fresh and pickled probably account for over half the
ticks on my loyalty card. Treat yourself to midday
dessert in the form of a Nutella and banana wrap with
honey and walnuts. Melty, crunchy, sweetness makes
an excellent closer to an herbaceous, salty, fulfilling
meal.
To hold you over between lunch and happy hour,
take the 210 into Alhambra for tea at 7 Leaves.
Balanced oolong milk teas and mild taro drinks
pair well with boba, custard, jellies, etc. But alas,
the pièce de résistance in my book is the mung bean
milk tea made with pandan. I always get mine lightly
sweetened, and any add-ons depend on my mood.
A shocking green akin to matcha, the drink gets an
earthy flavor from the mung bean, a nuttiness from
the pandan. Truly, this is a marriage created by
the boba gods. Nuanced, not overbearingly sweet,
refreshing … When I imagine my ideal self, I am
wealthy, styled, fit, happy and holding a large mung
bean tea from 7 Leaves.
The remainder of the day could take a number
of turns. If it’s Tuesday, off to Craft Beer Cellar in
Eagle Rock for trivia and brews. The spot is often
crowded, but it’s with friendly folks and for good
reason. A solid bottle shop and tap list will satisfy
most any beer belly, snooty or simple.
Not trivia Tuesday but you’re still feelin’ bevs ’n’
games? Block Party on York Boulevard in Highland
Park has beer, wine, cocktails and shuffleboard for
your social pleasure. If you’re lucky, the Tacos La
Tehuanita truck will be right outside ready to serve
you a devilishly crunchy, rich, savory, saucy burnt
cheese and asada taco. The vegan ceviche is also an
excellent selection for those plant-based and dairyfree
folk. Everything, of course, goes beautifully with
one of Block Party’s decked-out micheladas. Run
across the street to the Hi-Hat and catch up on the
up-and-coming music scene if you feel so inclined.
Get a Sufjan-themed dessert at Donut Friend if local
punk isn’t your jam. There’s always something cool
happening in Highland Park.
Still in the area but want something more low
key? Just over on Figueroa Street lay a nestled-away
pizza spot and a wine bar. Triple Beam sells slices
by weight, so hold up your hands to the width of
pie that fits your tummy/wallet and enjoy. The pizza
is pretty darn close to the real Roman deal so it’s
hard to go wrong, but the nettle pizza is a personal
favorite (though the menu is constantly adjusting
and rotating). Just a few steps away stands Highland
Park Wine’s impressive selection curated by the
same man who orders wine for the Norton Simon
Museum. I do love and appreciate top-shelf wine, but
I still recommend going to the reliable and prominent
under-$20 bottle display. The workers will cork the
bottle for you and your friends to enjoy out on the
patio with pizza like a true Italian.
If none of these float your boat, Edwin Mills by
Equator in Old Pasadena has incredible happy hour
deals and/or live music most nights of the week.
After your fill, sneak around the corner to Doghaus
for übercrispy tots, dressed-up sausages or bomb
burgers.
If it isn’t quite 11 p.m. yet, go back to 7 Leaves for a
second helping of mung bean tea.
All done? Me neither. I didn’t squeeze in a Yaki
Burger or the complementary rolls at Star Cafe or a
cortado at Constellation.
Every visit home will be a marathon of eating, but
I hope it can be more of a relay among readers now
that I’ve disclosed my favorite spots. Carry on, be
good, keep me updated on the best bites and deals.
Thank you and farewell.
12 PASADENA WEEKLY | 08.23.18