7 Hidden Gems That Deliver in Pasadena

 

When COVID-19-related safety initiatives closed restaurant dining rooms across the nation, it changed the way dinnertime looked for families throughout the country.

 

Here are seven hidden gems continuing to serve Pasadena with curbside pickup and delivery to make dinnertime easy:

 

Pasadena is a community of generous givers and selfless servers, and now more than ever it’s evident that we must stand together to protect each other. Although Pasadena restaurants have had to readjust after restrictions were placed throughout the state, these local restaurants are still open for delivery and curbside pickup under Mayor Garcetti’s Safer-at-Home initiative so that you can enjoy the food you love with the people you love.

 

When dreaming up fusion restaurants, you might not initially think of French-Japanese cuisine, but that’s exactly what Shiro has been serving for more than thirty years. Earning Zagat’s Guide number one restaurant rank, Shiro has a reputation for excellence. Their menu changes each night to reflect the finest seasonal ingredients, and they have adapted their menus for takeout during this difficult time. Some of their featured dishes include appetizers like truffle ravioli in a black truffle cream sauce, char-broiled Alaskan king crab with garlic paprika mayonnaise, and steamed clams in a sake broth. Their entrées include deeply satisfying meals such as broiled Chilean sea bass on a bed of puréed potatoes or uni pasta topped with black caviar. For dessert, they often put a twist on a sweet-tooth favorite, like crêpes filled with strawberry, banana, and pecans and topped with a balsamic vinegar sauce or chestnut mousse cake. Daily menus will be posted online each day Shiro is open, and curbside orders can be picked up between 5 and 7:30 PM. Although they won’t be able to deliver everywhere, Shiro is doing their best to accommodate their patrons, so give them a call to see if they’ll be able to coordinate dinner delivery if you’re not in a position to leave your home. 

 

Located at The Shops on Lake Avenue, Veggie Grill dishes up delicious creations that will help you eat your recommended servings of vegetables. With a variety of beloved dishes under $10, their menu proves that healthy eating doesn’t have to break the bank. Try their Moroccan lentil soup for a gluten-free, protein-packed lunch or their All Hail Kale salad for some super greens topped with quinoa, red cabbage slaw, tomato corn salsa, and agave-roasted walnuts. Their menu also touts tacos, burgers, and grain bowls, and there are plenty of options for meat-eaters and herbivores alike. For dessert, squeeze in a few extra veggies with a piece of carrot cake or opt for an oatmeal raisin cookie, chocolate pudding parfait, or a gluten-free brownie. Order online directly from their website for pickup or from Postmates for delivery. 

 

Carryout pizza has been a long-time favorite, and Mamma’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta serves New York-style pizza right here in Pasadena. Create your own brick oven pizza with any of their toppings, such as salami, artichokes, prosciutto, and goat cheese, or choose from their selection of gourmet pizzas—there’s a pizza for everyone on their menu. Whether you choose the Manhattan “Meat Lovers” pizza, the Buffalo chicken pizza, or the Cheezy Mac pizza with creamy homemade macaroni and cheese, there’s no wrong choice at Mamma’s. If you’ve got a big family, Mamma’s Mega Pizza is 28 inches that will feed 8 to 10 people and can be made with a gluten-free crust so that everyone can grab a slice. Other menu options include both cold and hot sandwiches, mini pizza rolls, and crisp salads. Despite restaurant dining room limitations, Mamma’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta continues to bring the whole family together. 

 

Thai food in South Pasadena doesn’t get better than Patakan Thai. Their menu boasts such a wide selection of Thai classics that you’ll want one of everything. From delicious appetizers like coconut shrimp and cream cheese wontons to their heaping plates of curry, Patakan Thai’s menu is overflowing with options. Chef’s Specialty items include spicy basil crispy pork belly, garlic soft shell crab, and goong ob woon sen, glass noodles steamed with shrimp and Thai spices which are then tossed in a spicy lemon sauce. There are also fried rice dishes, plated noodles, and soups that range from sweet and mild to hot and spicy. Vegetarians can also enjoy dishes such as pra ram tofu with peanut sauce and garlic sauteed spinach. Don’t forget to order a Thai iced tea, a spiced black tea with sweetened condensed milk that is perfect for a sunny afternoon. Ordering online is made easy with a direct link on their website so that everyone can practice social distancing and stay safe. 

 

Since 1984, The Parkway Grill has been home to fine dining in Pasadena. Although you might not necessarily think of fine dining when you’re thinking of takeout, The Parkway Grill is happy to accommodate to-go orders during this time. Their menu features American cuisine that’s prepared at the highest caliber, and their wood-fired oven brings body to their dishes and packs them with flavor. Start off your meal right with ahi tuna tartare or a plate of tiger shrimp corn dogs with spicy mustard and Thai cocktail sauce. For your entrée, The Parkway Grill has a selection of pasta, seafood specialties, and steaks to choose from. You can enjoy a USDA prime-aged New York steak at home with the help of DoorDash, where you’ll be able to order directly from The Parkway Grill for delivery. Add a side of charred broccolini or scalloped potatoes to your meal, and don’t forget dessert for the full restaurant experience at home. You won’t want to miss out on their crème brûlée napoleon or their chocolate lava cake. 

 

This quirky pizzeria found its home in the former Del Mar Train Station luggage room where old Hollywood movie stars would toss their bags. They’ve honed this vintage vibe into a fashionable pizzeria that’s always cooking up gourmet pizzas with high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. For their crusts, they use a fermented sourdough which adds a little pizzazz to each of their pizzas, and their oven is heated with olive wood to impart as much flavor into their pies as possible. Gluten-free crusts are available per request, and many of their pizzas are vegetarian-friendly. Their specialty pies range from a traditional Margherita pizza with their house marinara, freshly house-made mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil to The Padre, which is crafted with prosciutto di san daniele, dates, bleu cheese, arugula, and balsamic. Their farmer’s market pizza uses daily fresh veggies direct from local farmers so that it’s always vegetarian, always in season, and always supporting neighborhood farms. Feel free to create your own pie from a selection of their toppings to craft your perfect pizza, whether that means adding mushroom duxelles, goat cheese, rapini olives, eggs, or something else entirely! The Luggage Room is dedicated to providing for the Pasadena community, so they are continuing their takeout pizza services and are making their dishes available for delivery through GrubHub and DoorDash so that you can stay safe at home while biting into a fresh slice of pizza. 

 

If you’re craving seafood, Fishwives has you covered. This restaurant gets its name from the women who sell fish at markets, so it's only suitable that the menu at Fishwives is packed with all kinds of delicious seafood—from crabs to clams—served with New England flair. Their seafood is flown directly to the restaurant from the dock and then served to the table all within twenty-four hours, so diners know that they are being served only the freshest ingredients. Their raw bar menu boasts nine species of Pacific oysters, eight species of Atlantic oysters, and six varieties of alternative delicacies including Maine lobster, sea urchin, and Peruvian scallops— and that’s only the top of the menu. There is plenty to choose from here, whether you’re craving a bite of Baja-style fish tacos or a plate of carefully prepared sashimi. Refresh your palate with house pickles for the table—the kitchen table, that is! Although Fishwives has temporarily closed their dining room, takeout and delivery services are still available to enjoy a hot bowl of clam chowder or a plate of Maryland blue crab jumbo cakes at home. 

If you’d like to learn more about how you can call Pasadena home, contact me today for more information about moving to Pasadena and Pasadena luxury real estate. This community of innovative thinkers and kindhearted neighbors will welcome you with open arms.