12.13.18

dining & nitelife
directory
Average price per entree
$ up to $10 $$$ $16-25
$$ $11–15 $$$$ $25+
PW OPINION PW NEWS PW LIFE PW ARTS
•RESTAURANT REVIEW•
Sweet Olive Tofu
HIKARI SUSHI
2064 Verdugo Blvd. Montrose
818-957-1800 Hikarisushiglendale.com $$
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 flavors 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.
SHANDONG DUMPLINGS
80 N. Fair Oaks Ave. Pasadena
626-578-9777
227 W. Valley Blvd, 168 A, San Gabriel
626-308-3777 $
Shandong Dumplings is your Reader Recommended
Winner for BEST DUMPLINGS in the
2018 Reader’s Poll! We have been a cornerstone
in the greater Pasadena community and are well
known for our outstanding cuisine, excellent
service and friendly staff. Recognized for our
modern interpretation of classic dishes and
insistence on using only the highest quality,
freshest ingredients. Open for Lunch and Dinner
daily and until 2am Wed-Sat.
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.
THE MIXX PASADENA
443 E Colorado Blvd. Pasadena
(626) 500-0021 themixxpasadena.com $$
The Mixx Pasadena is a modern bar/lounge/
restaurant with live entertainment 5 days a
week. Our menu hits the spot whether you’re
in the mood for a savory munchie, a full lunch/
dinner, or a decadent dessert. Come to The
Mixx to unwind for happy hour or a lively
hangout…we’re the perfect spot!!
WE OLIVE
32 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91105
626-787-1000 weolive.com/Pasadena $$
We Olive Pasadena features an array of olive oils,
vinaigrettes, dips, and other one of a kind flavors 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.
UNLIKELY DUO
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flakes and didn’t seem too spicy until we were
halfway through, when it became difficult to enjoy
without a refill of water.
My sister opted for the chicken kebab in a
bowl ($6.99), which is served over a small bed
of rice, red onion and a slice of tomato. Since we
(by we, I mean Americans) are so accustomed to
overindulging and gluttonous proportions, we were
surprised at the modest size of her bowl. However,
for the price, it was both filling and a good deal.
The rice was delicious and the juicy chicken grilled
to perfection. I decided to go with their specialty,
chicken shawarma in a sandwich ($6.99). Rather
than a traditional panini, or sandwich, the chicken,
lettuce, pickles and garlic paste were wrapped
tightly in pita and served with a side of hummus
as a combo. What makes shawarma so flavorful
and unique is the way it’s roasted for hours on a
motorized spit, turning, and cooking in fat and the
meat’s own juices. Shavings are then cut from the
meat as it turns. Thanks to shawarma, we also
have pastor, which is cooked the same way.
All the ingredients blended well with the
garlic paste, though I imagine the beef or more
traditional lamb is even better. On the list of
must-try items at Shawerma’s are the gyros plate
($12.99), French fries sandwich ($5.99) and the
falafel ($6.99 for a dozen).
Now onto the fun part of the evening. I’ll admit
I made a quick Yelp search online as we drove to
Old Pasadena and walked around, which is how
we found Me + Crepe. By the images on their
page, it looked promising. We walked into another
small yet charming interior, this one possessing
wooden tables, wooden salt shakers, a chalkboard
wall filled with Chinese inspired drawings of
people buying crepes, and pictures of customers
displayed on a TV.
Once ready, customers can walk up to the
cashier and give their orders, able to modify any
of the already popular menu items. Traditional
Chinese crepes, or jianbing, are famous street
food in China, widely recognized for being both
affordable and delicious. Between $7.95 and a
whopping $39.95 for fried duck, Me + Crepe is far
from the classic Chinese favorite. Despite this,
they offer something that is hard to find anywhere
in the area. The first four items listed on the menu
were pointed out to us as the most popular, so we
went with the vegetarian crepe ($7.95) and added
cheese for a $1.50 upcharge. We also went with the
Chinese donut as opposed to chips, which was the
perfect choice. The donut was fluffy and crispy on
the outside, giving a variety of flavors and textures
with the egg, lettuce, corn and other greens. I’d
never tasted anything like it, and can only imagine
what all of their other concoctions must taste like.
They boast barbecue pork ($9.95), barbecue
duck ($13.95), Peking duck ($13.95) and the
priciest foie gras ($39.95), or fried duck liver with
special sauce. You can also create your own, or
choose additional add-ons to each for various
upcharges. Each crepe can be ordered as a combo
with tea infused egg or soybean milk for an extra
$3. Everything on the menu is unlike any “crepe”
I’ve ever seen, and the staff is friendly and willing
to answer questions and give suggestions for first
timers like myself. While my sister and I were
craving something sweet, Me + Crepe managed
to surprise us, impress us with its unique fare,
and made us want to tell everyone we know who
would find it is interesting.
16 PASADENA WEEKLY | 12.13.18