Fresh Bites - Review - Pasadena - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Opening an Armenian bakery/cafe five minutes from Pasadena institution Old Sasoon is a tough gig, but Fresh Bites holds its own. The casual counter-service cafe is modern and efficient with an expansive menu of salads, mezze, sandwiches, and tender mante dumplings with garlicky yogurt and tomato sauce. But the main reason we’d send you to Fresh Bites over the competition is their lahmajun, a crackly soft flatbread spread with ground beef, tomato, onion, garlic, and parsley. Fresh Bites’ version is razor-thin but doesn’t fall apart as you tear into it. Squeeze a little lemon over the top to send the flavors into the stratosphere. One 12-inch pie costs less than $3, making it one of the most affordable snacks in Pasadena, if not LA. With the change leftover in your pocket, nab a gooey baked cheese flatbread and a panini-pressed sandwich with cured Armenian sausage. Food Rundown Lahmajun The best lahmajun in LA? It’s up there. Either way, this is the reason to make Fresh Bites part of your Pasadena lunch rotation. The crust is handkerchief thin and topped with a savory mixture of ground beef and spices. Don’t let the 12-inch diameter fool you, it’s a perfect snack for one. And if you’re still hungry, order another. They’re $2.25 each. photo credit: Brant Cox Soujouk Sandwich Spicy sliced sausage, briny pickles, and a spritz of lemon —the bold combination of flavors in this pressed sandwich play well together like a jazz trio. This and one lahmajun make for a perfect solo meal. photo credit: Brant Cox Spicy Cheese Pie If eating Hot Pockets taught us anything as kids, it’s that molten cheese wrapped in soft golden-brown dough tastes good. This spicy and savory cheese pie is the same idea, just grown up a little. photo credit: Brant Cox" - Brant Cox