El Metate

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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!

We went during their happy hour and was pleasantly surprised how much we liked the food, as well how much food they give for the price. I ate that red burrito and my wife ate the Milanese torta. Both were excellent but I have to admit that the torta was slightly better. They also gave us free chips and salsa. The salsa was surprisingly really good. Also, we got a pina colada and a mango margarita for $5 for happy hour. They were both decent but for the price and amount you get, it was tidally worth it. We decided to end with some churros which were also excellent. They are filled with caramel which we didn't expect. Finally service was excellent and the staff was very friendly. We will definitely come back again.

A true local gem. Authentic, delicious, big portions and extremely reasonable prices. I had two bowls of chips because they were that good, lol. Our waiter was incredibly kind, offering suggestions and checking in on us. The food was DELICIOUS. Love to support local, and I encourage you to do the same at El Metate! I will 200% be back!!

Small place = Big flavour Glad we decided on El Metate for supper; everything was fresh and tasty! The tortilla chips were on the thicker side, which I like, making scooping salsa easier. The mild and spicy salsas were both good. Our entrées were delicious: the mole and the wet burrito, both with chicken. The rice and beans, also yum! The staff were friendly and service was quick. I recommend.

Hands down best Mexican restaurant in Pasadena especially for the friendly staff and service! Great happy hour to start with chips and salsa and a cold Modelo!

Wonderful having a beer in a chilled glass! Found El Metate killing some time before having taxes done. Delicious Carne Asada plate at a very reasonable price. The beef was freshly grilled, not flat and dried out like some. Delicious - I'll be back!

Went back for a breakfast burrito: steak and egg with light rice. It was sooo good. Tortilla was grilled but also still had a good chew on it. I got it to go and they gave me a small bag of chips to go with it (a little stale and needed salt),but a little container of their pico would have been nice. The verde hot sauce was perfect with the burrito and next time I'll get 2 sauces.

A harsh critic when it comes to Mexican food, but this place blew me away! The food is incredibly authentic -- we ordered three different dishes, and every single one was perfection. The ceviche was fresh and flavorful, the two hard shell tacos with rice and beans were an easy 10/10, and my boyfriend's California burrito? His jaw literally dropped after the first bite. It honestly felt like eating at your abuela's house -- comforting and full of flavor. Service was amazing, too! We came around 6 PM, and it was quiet and cozy -- perfect for a relaxed dinner. Can't recommend this place enough. Definitely my new go-to spot... and luckily, I live just a few blocks away! It was good camera did NOT eat first

The food is alright, I had better Mexican food, the shrimp Cocktail was lacking in flavor for my taste. I gave 5 stars because of the service, very welcoming people with a smile on their face. The ambiance is alright, nice trees outside and inside it's quiet for a nice conversation. Don't have a parking lot you need to look around.

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Pasadena. I recommend their chili relleno burrito and flan. The only negatives is that their beans are a little on the salty side and the prices are higher than average.

I came here based off the reviews. Normally don't like to leave bad reviews because restaurants have it hard enough. I've been in the industry myself so I get it but wow this place... Im inspired to leave my feedback. Server who took my order was kind and greeted me then recommended some burritos. I asked him how it was and of course, "it's good, its good portion." The burrito was not. We'll get to that later. I ordered to go and it came out to $16 and I tipped 2 bucks. So $18. Then I proceeded to wait maybe 10 minutes with no one in the restaurant. Not the best but not horrible. I then asked if they had chips, or salsa. The guy say yea and IMMEDIATELY this lady started yelling at him. I didn't understand Spanish like that but it felt hostile. I thought maybe she talks loudly because the kitchen is noisy so I didnt think much. I asked if they had salsa or jalapeños, the server said yes and he was all smiles. So cool, Im thinking I get to enjoy my good portioned good burrito with some salsa and Jalapenos.. AGAIN, the lady started yelling at the guy immediately after he told me yes. I thought okay she just like that. Then I waited another few more minutes, and here comes the lady. I said thank you very much and she basically shooed me away "bye bye bye bye" rudely. I took the bag and left wondering if I did something wrong. She threw 6 stale chips, a sack of jalapeños, 3 small cups of salsa and a sad burrito that was falling apart in the bag. I ate 2 chips on the ride back and that ended up giving me a stomachache. I got in maybe 5 mins after, took 2 bites of the burrito and ran to the restroom. Small portion, bad energy, and food that made me sick for 18$. Never again

Love everything about this place. Great customer service, amazing food, relaxed atmosphere and everything was so reasonably priced.

Hands down the best chile relleno burrito around. Definitely the stand out item on their menu.

Such a friendly staff with yummy food! I got the chicken enchiladas verdes and they were amazing. Beans and rice were tasty too. I'll definitely be back.

You order at the counter before you find a seat and your food is brought to your table. Free chips and salsa, beers available on tap, and extensive menu. However you order at the counter so I felt a little pressure standing in that tight space trying to decide. As for the dining area it is quaint but fairly dirty and dingy. Tables were sticky and floors grimy. And I wouldn't even mention the restroom. The food was ok. I suppose a good to-go option if you live in the area. Street parking only but perhaps be a little careful at night due to a few tents in the surrounding area. I ordered the carne asada chimichanga and while it was fried just right the ingredients lacked flavor. I asked for a salsa and it didn't improve the flavor much. Quaint mom & pop vibe. We tipped more than 15% but you don't get much service.

Great service, delicious tender asada. Rest of the menu looks so good! Cant wait to come back and try their mariscos

We really enjoyed our enchilada. Tacos were good too. Filling but not excessive. Food was ready quickly. Conveniently located near theater district in Pasadena.

El Metate offers an unforgettable dining experience with a vibrant atmosphere, mouthwatering food, and hearty, perfectly balanced portions. The flan, with its luxuriously creamy texture and rich, irresistible flavor, was absolutely divine--truly a perfect finish to the meal.

Great family run place with comforting Mexican food. Come to have beers, burritos, chips & salsa. California burrito is my favorite. Big portions and they have a great lowkey happy hour (get the Paloma). Service is quick, they are kind and generous. Highly recommend trying the churros!

staff was nice ... clean restaurant... food was good ... jist this specific item machaca con juevos burrito was kind of lacking in egg which is kind of what you want. They make machaca kind of different in different places .. this didnt do it for me.

This is one of my favorite places to eat. The food is amazing and everyone who works here is friendly and attentive and the prices can't be beat! Daily happy hour from 4-6pm for $5 margaritas that are big, strong, and delicious. Seriously the best deal. It's so common to feel scammed eating out in LA and this couldn't be more the opposite experience. I always feel happy eating here and happy to be supporting the business. I highly recommend!!!

I love El Metate! I've been coming here for about 15 years and the food never disappoints. Everything is delicious, portions are generous and the service is excellent. Thank you for feeding me and my family over the years!

Meh. The rice was flavorless. The taquitos were bland. The shredded beef tacos were just okay. The only redeeming item was the refried beans which were tasty. Other than that I was very disappointed in the food here. I'll try somewhere different next time I'm craving Mexican.

I was looking for someplace I had not been to and wanted authentic Mexican food. This place fit the bill perfectly. This is a family owned and operated place, just off Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. It is a cozy place that is well kept and very clean. When you walk in, you are greeted at the counter where you place your order and then make your way to your table. Service was very good! Great recommendations. Happy Hour from 4-6PM has the best prices in town for a nice cold beer! We ordered the Tostada Ceviche and it was delightful. Fresh, crisp with a nice citrus note. The fish was perfect and the proportion was just right. We finished with The Burrito Colorado. The soft tortilla, smothered in a rich, flavorful sauce, surrounded the Beef, beans, and other fresh ingredients. Everything was delicious. The one and only suggestion, don't show news on the television in the dining room, let people escape for a bit as they enjoy your food and family.

I really love this place, great service and impeccable food for the price! I'll definitely be coming back

El metate is a Pasadena gem, gracing the San Gabriel valley with authentic Mexican food for over a decade (that I have been coming to!). You order at the counter, and then get transported to Mexico with their rustic style decor, peppered with traditional Mexican food prep items like terra cotta pots and mocalejetes. They bring out chips and a spicy red salsa that they are quick to replenish. It's hard to resist not filling up on them, but the mains are worth the wait. The staff are very sweet and offer salsa/topping recommendations if they see you may have missed a tasty combo option. We got the birria special plate (which comes with a drink, fresh spinach pineapple frescas was our pick) and the shrimp tostada plus a soft al pastor taco and soft nopales taco. My typical go-to is the shrimp burrito, but thought I'd switch it up. The meat here is delicious, and my bf loved the melt in your mouth birria in its thick stewed gravy, but I personally come for the seafood. The tostada was piled high with chopped shrimp, avocado, and a cilantro lovers pico de gallo. The tangy lime was great on a hot summer night. The nopales were delicious too, a little hint of sour and "al dente" in texture, and reminiscent of stir-fried green bell pepper. The al pastor was solid too, I thought I could taste a bit more of the pineapple juice within it. They had red and green salsa accompaniments, and I mix and matched with everything. Plenty of food at a more than fair price in my opinion! We're fortunate enough to be walking distance from El Metate, but have parked on the street before too, though note that it is on a one way so you may have to loop around.

This was the perfect pit stop at mine and hubs' date night. We were really going to the Ice House but dipped in here for a quick foodie / drinkie "pre-game." I believe this is family owned and service was every bit like being at your friend's moms house for all the attentiveness. I had a taco de birria and it was deelish!! The consommé was savory but not overpoweringly so. Hubs had a chicken soft taco that looked good. Chips and salsa were tasty and beer was cold!

It was my milestone birthday this past October 2023. My dear friend wanted to take me out for lunch, but we didn't get a chance to do so that month so it was pushed to sometime in November 2023. We both love Mexican foods. El Metate was nearby both of us that day. So why not! OMG... BEST Mexican food choice in town!!! They have a good menu of food and drink selections. They also have food specials where you get one food item plus one free drink for one great price. We ordered first at the counter and then chose where we wanted to sit. Or you can choose your seat first and then go order... this may be best in case they are very busy. They brought us our foods when they were ready. I ended up getting the shrimp burrito and watermelon agua frescas. My friend got the chile relleno with the same watermelon drink. We also got complimentary chips and salsa. All I can say is WOW WOW and WOW! Watermelon drink was so refreshing and sweet... so good! The shrimp burrito was huge and tasty. Lots of shrimps at every bite. Rice and beans were delicious. Plate was piping hot, too. Straight from the kitchen grill... that's how I like it! The flavors and taste were amazingly out of this world. They do something special with their sauces. It's not your run of the mill red or green sauce... it's a brown sauce. I can't pin point it. They are quite different from other Mexican restaurants that I've eaten in the past. El Metate may be the best Mexican restaurant I've eaten at so far. I can't wait to come back here for more tasty deliciousness! Staff was superbly wonderful. They are a Mom & Pop restaurant run my Mom, Dad, son and probably more family members. Prices were very reasonable. They also offer catering by the entree ordered though. I don't think they have a dedicated catering menu. Ambiance was the traditional Mexican look and feel with warm and welcoming wall colors. They have good inside dining space and a few covered outside patio tables and chairs. Good enough space to have a small group gathering of 20 people or so. That's it for now until next time. My friend and I are already planning our next visit LOL. Looking forward to trying their other great foods! Come on out and give them a try. See you here!!! Btw, if you can figure out their brown sauce, please let me know. Thank you first! P.S. I will post photos later. I have to get them from my computer since they are no longer on my phone. Thanks for your patience.

I ate here about two months ago and the cheese on a plate I ordered was absolutely expired, and it was really unpleasant. Rice was bland, meat was bland. Even the margaritas we ordered had absolutely no alcohol in them, my partner got nauseous because of the bad cheese and I drank his drink (the margs are absolutely enormous) and I felt like it was just slushee. I hate to say it, but all the food tasted old. The service was sweet at the register, but when I said the cheese on the plate was expired the cook in the back came with a little plate of cheese and was eating it in front of me, I think trying to ascertain me that it was good but you know the taste of something rotten. I hope it was just an outlier of an experience, but I won't be returning. The best thing here is the look of the restaurant and the salsa served with the chips.

Amazing food!!! the service is so lovely i am so so happy to find this place. absolutely my husband and I's favorite spot.

Their shrimp cocktails had very big shrimp inside. Their food good and fresh. No fishy smell. Will definitely go back.

I am on a hunt for Mexican food that I love in San Diego. I haven't found it yet, just simple hole in the wall type places that just have great simple Mexican food. Rolled Tacos! I can't find rolled tacos in Pasadena. I asked if they had rolled tacos, I got normal tacos. But that being said, these were the best tacos I think I've ever had. I got the shredded beef, oh. My. Gosh. Did you see the movie Seven with Brad Pitt from the 90's where the guy commits gluttony and eats until he explodes? I could do this with that shredded beef. You've been warned.

The food is fresh, hot and tasty! It is consistently great. I go to a lot of different places with good food, but I find El Metate to be one of my favorites because the customer service is also consistent. They are always warm, friendly and very happy to see their customers. For me, the older I get, I care more about good service. I know when I come here I'm going to get tasty and satisfying food and share a smile with some very lovely people. Thank you guys so much!

Excellent happy hour drink specials. I'm usually one and done with their potent margaritas. Their food is delicious, fairly priced and well portioned. I enjoy their ribs in red sauce with nopales. The family that owns this place offers great and welcoming customer service. You order at the counter and they bring your food out for you. The restaurant has a good amount of tables and I have found myself sitting there for a while enjoying my drink and the complimentary chips with salsa.

El Monte is an absolute gem! Their authentic, family-style Mexican food instantly transports me back to Mexico.

I can highly recommend this place. Every time I have visited they have always provided Great food and service. Wholesome ambiance where customers are treated like family.

Freshly made, quality Mexican food. Small dining area with a TV - but more of a "to go" place. Great place to grab dinner before you go to a show at the Ice House. Pretty big menu with a lot of choices.

This is a really solid Mexican place. I went there towards closing time on a weekday; it was mostly empty so we ordered and got our food quickly. The ambience is very homey, and the staff is incredibly friendly. I got the El Metate Burrito, and it was amazing!! It was a wet burrito, loaded with beans, rice, steak, cheese, salsa and more! It's also served with lots of side items. This is an insane portion size for only $10.99. My friends got different burritos and enchiladas, and were also equally satisfied. The rest of their burritos are ~$10, and are also loaded with flavor and served with the yummy sides. The menu is extensive, so you'll never be out of options. I got the Tamaraind flavored Jarritos to drink. Anytime you have the opportunity to try this, I recommend doing so. It's tangy and pairs well with a heavy, flavorful burrito.

Food SOOO bland! I don't think they even used any spice on their food. Maybe trying to make it too healthy? I got chile relleno and carnitas taco. Tried using salt, but was still tasteless. My friend only ate half his food. Service, on the other hand, was great! Friendly and efficient. Too bad food was just sub-par.

My daughter and I stopped in for lunch today at 11:15, while on our way to Pasadena's Morton Simon Museum. We're very happy we did! Located just off Colorado Blvd, this warm and welcoming little place had great food. She ordered the El Pastor burrito, and I ordered tacos, both of which came with abundant extras in addition to a basket of chips and two of the most delicious salsas I've had in a long time. One was made with tamarind, which gave it a great sour bite. We were done just before noon, by which time it had filled up. One of my touchstones for restaurants is the cleanliness of the bathroom. All good there!

I have been looking for a decent Mexican restaurant in Pasadena but no luck yet. Today I tried this place as the ratings were high. I ordered a torta and a taco. Very simple and two usually staples of what every Mexican restaurant should have on the menu. The torta was the worsts I've had. It was soaked in sauce or beans one half didn't have meat. Only lettuce tomato's and avocado. Let's just say it was un eatable so to the trash it went. The taco which I regret only ordering one was great. The meat was good and it had flavor. If only I would of ordered 5 tacos instead of that torta my review would be different. I would say check it out but don't order the torta.

The food was absolutely delicious the food tasted lovely ke my grandma made it!! The service was so great they treated us like guests

The best authentic Mexican food in Pasadena!! Each menu has good portion, food tastes like home Mexican food and very good service !! Salsa with the chips is the bomb

Great food and really reasonable prices. Family owned and operated. I drove from Orange County and it was worth the drive. Plan on going again soon.

this is the best mexican food i've had in all my years of living in LA. staff is incredible and friendly and service is truly 10/10.

I've been coming here for years. Very good food and great service. Dine-in comes with chips and salsa. I usually get the red burrito, but decided to try something different this trip... definitely did not disappoint.

Did an early Friday night dinner here and the food was delicious! I had the enchilada plate and did not leave a single bite on the plate. The salsa/chile they used for the enchiladas was so delicious and authentic (my Mexican grandma was with me and mentioned this a few times!). The chips and salsa they provided were also good and the salsa had that perfect kick to it! The service was excellent. The man that served us checked in on us multiple times which was nice. For an early Friday evening it wasn't busy. I took food to go and as we left even those in the kitchen said bye as we left. This will definitely be the go to spot for a nice Mexican meal!

Definitely recommend as a pit stop! My family really enjoyed our meal - we got burritos, fajita plate, and tacos. Great service and nice people. & very reasonable price-to-food ratio! They also give you chips n salsa.

One of the best restaurants in Pasadena. They have a wide menu and all of the food is good. The service is very traditional and southern. Food is always fresh and good quantities.

From the moment you walk in, it feels you are walking into a little restaurant in Mexico. EXCELLENT customer service. From the sweet lady who cooked our food, to the waitress and waiter, all were so friendly and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. The FOOD was SO delicious!!! Would highly recommended.