85°C Bakery Cafe is wonderful place to enjoy affordable, freshly baked goods either in the company of others or on your own, right in Old Town Pasadena. It’s among several locations in Southern California and it’s quite a popular eatery among locals. Most of the baked goods hover at around $2 each, and they’re good for the price tag, size-wise and quality wise. One favorite is the marble taro bread. Additionally, it’s a nice spot to hang out and pass the time, so long as seats are available. (It tends to be packed on weekends.) The drink menu is generous as well, with coffees, teas and boba. Highly recommend this place for the modern and homey atmosphere, and the reasonable cost of baked goods and drinks.
When craving poke, Spinfish is an ideal spot in Pasadena to get that fix. Menu items include customizable poke bowls where you can pick your fish, sauce, toppings, and a base (rice, noodles or mixed greens) in that order; or signature bowls. The Aloha 808 and Shaka bowls are flavorful ones worth a try. Bowls come in two sizes: regular (two scoops of fish for $9.50) and large (three scoops of fish for $11.50). Extras like wasabi and ginger are available upon request at the cash register. This place is kind of small with limited seating inside, but there is also seating outdoors. The employees provide peppy and friendly service. The poke here is really pretty good and the place is worth coming back to. Highly recommended!
Look no further than Café 86 for Filipino beverages and pastries in a laid back atmosphere. Along with another location in Chino, California, Café 86 in Pasadena provides refreshing offerings of Filipino sweets, such as ube (which is purple yam) cupcake topped with leche flan and ube truffle that are tasty but not overloaded with sugar. Beverages like cold hibiscus tea and jasmine tea are given a Filipino touch with the taste of calamansi, a popular citrus fruit in the Philippines. Service is attentive and friendly, and employees are informed about the items if you’re unsure of what to order. The vibe in the cafe is really nice as well, with a rustic sort of feel to it. At night, lighting creates a warm ambiance that’s perfect for reading, chatting with a friend, or even sipping on a hot beverage solo.