Houston's

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320 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105-2516
Pasadena, CA 91105

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(626) 577-6001
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Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Houston's - Pasadena, CA
Reviews
( 29 )
( 13 )
( 6 )
( 3 )
( 9 )

Best

For more than twenty years, my husband and I have both been avid diners at Houston's restaurants. Spanning...

Worst

I recieved a gift card awhile back from my brother to go here, so my wife and I gave it a shot. Prior to going, I read all of the reviews. I made reservations due to the recommen...

Goodness... the food 3/15/2006

Only thing I want to say about this place is that the food was really good. Me and my gf both love steak and this place is up on our list. Anyone who says otherwise either does not have a taste for meat or went on a bad day. Prompt seating because we got there early around 4:30-5ish. Can't say anything bad about this place. Pros: food, seating, next to downtown Cons: house beers only more
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Consistently Good and worth the wait 1/10/2006

Houston's is one of my favorite restaurants because it is consistently good and the service is very attentive. My favorites are Prime Rib, Rib-Eye steak, and the fries are seasoned, thin, & crispy. They also serve a very good dinner salad that is especially fresh. My wife loves the baby-back ribs. As long as you are prepared for a wait, you won't be disappointed. Pros: Tasty Food, Friendly Wait Staff, Consistency Cons: Crowded more
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Not all it's cracked up to be 5/24/2005

ok, Houston's is alright... but I think it is over rated. The servers are friendly, but a little robotic. I don't think I have ever had the same server twice. It's like a factory in there. To me, Houston's is the Cheescake Factory with a smaller menu. It's OK, but not worth the price... $24 for a small piece of Salmon. The steak I had was tough. I think Houston's used to be a lot better... they have slowly slipped over the years. Oh well. Pros: decor Cons: crowded, overpriced, small portions more
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A long wait and worth it 3/14/2005

The only negative thing about going to Houston's for dinner is the long wait. We've dined at Houston's several times and have waited up to an hour to be seated. However, you can pass the time by ordering drinks at their great bar or waiting outside and admire the koi pond. Every time we go I order the ribs and have not been disappointed. They are tender, very flavorful, and you'll crave them when you're in the mood for ribs. Their service is very friendly and helpful, but this place is always crowded. If you don't mind the wait there is no excuse not to try Houston's. Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Price more
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Enjoyable meal but... 9/2/2004

I've also seen the lines outside this restaurant and wondered about the attraction. We decided to indulge my curiosity and my fiance's craving at the same time and do the ""Houston's experience"". From the first person on the telephone to the last person who thanked us for coming, the staff at Houston's was exemplary. The double pork chop was tender and moist, but however wonderful my meal was my fiance's was less than desired. His cajun steak (which he settled for after realizing there was little barbecue on the menu) was served rare when requested medium well. We don't understand how they have a specialty of barbecue when there's so little of it. He enjoyed his hot fudge sundae while my brownie was so nutty I bit into two pieces that seemed more shell than nut. Overall, the service was impeccable, the food excellent, but not what we were expecting. Pros: Amazing staff more
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WORTH THE WAIT 6/2/2004

I don't know what the big hoopla is about the wait. We all know that good places usually have big lines. It's not like you're the only person who wants a table! Anyways, the food is delicious! Hawaiian Rib Eye is my fave. It was cooked to my liking and the service was very friendly. Mellow/low key setting. Can get noisy when packed but worth every penny. Yes, I waited 2 hours for a table on my bday but once I sat down, I forgot all about it! Pros: great food, nice setting, great service Cons: , $$$ more
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Consistently Good! 4/20/2004

I have eaten here quite a few times now. I have tried many selections on the menu which doesn't change and is limited. Overall the food is consistently good. The salads are especially delicious. Almost everyone can get a booth. The lighting is subdued and perfect. It is a bit pricey. The bar is fun to wait at since they don't take reservations. Pros: good lighting, consistent food, nice bar more
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If you have more money than sense 4/19/2004

I was seriously disappointed by the high prices and lack of good food. I had the filet mignon with a caesar salad, but the salad had so much oil in it I could have refined it and used it to gas up the car. The filet mignon was rare (not medium rare as asked) and it came with one sliced raw tomato. I could have asked the waitress to have the meat cooked some more, but our waitress never once asked us how the food was - she didn't even come by until I finished my glass of wine, and never offered us any water. And for the $30 that my meal alone cost, I would have expected a complete meal - are bread or vegetables too expensive to include? You might not get the same atmosphere at an Outback Steakhouse, but you'll get better food at half the price. Cons: , Inattentive service more
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Go Houston's! 7/15/2003

Can't get a table? Sit at the bar! Great service, same menu, more fun than the main room. Pros: Great Variety, Consistant Quality Cons: No Blender at the Bar more
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Unique Experience 7/12/2003

Knowing that Houston's was a chain, we were pleasantly surprised at the wonderful quality of the food. A simple hamburger that tasted like the best steak, a salad that was out of this world, and the special dessert of the day of a Key Lime pie that put all others to shame. We can't say enough good about this restaurant. Everything on the menu is beautifully prepared and executed. You can easily get around the long waits by arriving for an early dinner, or avoiding weekends between 6-9 PM. Pros: Nice atmosphere, great food, quality Cons: Can't think of one. more
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3 hour wait! 2/21/2003

while the food was delicious, and the service was attentive, my boyfriend and i waited almost 3 damn hours to get a table! well, it was valentines day after all, but really a 3 hour wait is rather ridiculous and we could've spent our vday somewhere else (at that nite, i'd be happy to even go to the nearby ihop's!) houston's really need to take reservations or use some logic. it doesn't make sense to have someone arrive @ 7pm and let them dine close to 10:30 pm. and they didn't have the hawaiin rib eye! Pros: food, clam chowder, service Cons: wait, limited food choices, loud more
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Long wait/good food/rushed service 2/20/2003

My husband and I waited close to 2 hours for a table one Saturday night since the Pasadena location does not take reservations. Both the Hawaiian Rib Eye and the Filet Mignon were tender and juicy. Although, with the lighting so dim, I couldn't tell whether my filet was cooked to my order or not but no blood. After we sat down, the service was prompt and the food came quickly. I did get the sense that our server was eager to clear our table. We were only resting when asked if we wanted a to-go box. Aside from that, no complaints on the service. The ice cream w/ ghiradelli fudge ended the meal perfectly. The port that my husband had was also a good choice. Pros: Juicy meats, Friendly waitstaff Cons: Very dim lighting, Small parking lot, No reservation more
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the best 11/30/2002

quality is #1. hawaiian rib-eye, spinach artichoke dip, 5 nut brownie with ice cream on top is the way to go. i love this place. service is excellent. atmosphere is real nice and dark. this restaurant never takes reservations and also never advertise but always crowded. trust me and try this restaurant. Pros: good food, service is thee best Cons: portions enough, but not full more
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Excellent Place for Excellent Food 11/2/2002

I highly recommend Houston's for any occasion. From first date to Retirement parties, as long as you're of age, let the drinks pour and eat to your heart's content. The food is excellent. I highly recommend the Hawaian Steak if you're really hungy or if you're in the mood for the other white meat, try the double portion pork chop. It is definitely to die for. They also serve one fo the best martini's in town. Try the Melon martini, it simply wonderful. Pros: reservations Cons: the wait is long more
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Babyback Ribs melt in your mouth 9/16/2002

I went to Houstons in Pasadena for Mother's Day and I had the babyback ribs. The meat just fell off the bones and the BBQ sauce was scrump deli umptious. I won't wait for Mothers Day to go back for seconds!! Absolutely yummy. Pros: Creamed spinach, Reasonable prices, Parking OK Cons: Baked potato more
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Awesome food, Awful wait! 9/13/2002

Oh, I am so conflicted about Houston's. One thing's for sure - the food is incredible! From the salad to the seared ahi to the fabulous brownie sundae for dessert - no complaints there. Unfortunately, I went with a party of eight and apparently their accomodations for large parties are lacking. Everyone loves the atmosphere so turnover is slow and we waited over TWO HOURS! REALLY! I also found it interesting that they wouldn't take a reservation for a party of six or more but they had no problem tacking on a mandatory tip without warning. If they're going to do that, then they should take a reservation. The service was acceptable and friendly, but I got the feeling our server was a bit overwhelmed. Pros: great food, good parking, cozy ambience Cons: terrible awful wait, tacked-on tip, crowded more
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Scrumptious! 6/26/2002

This is probably one of the best meals that I have ever had from the appetizers, to the prime rib, to the dessert, to the service. The entire experience was awesome. I highly recommend it. more
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THE Best Ribeye 5/29/2002

I first took my girlfriend here over a year ago, and we both fell in love with this place so much, we make it a regular outing... every appetiser on the menu i have had was wonderful. I admit that I am stuck on the Hawaiian Ribeye, it is just about the best steak I have ever had. The waitstaff is always courteous and very Professional. Cons: waiting area more
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Few items on menu, but good food 5/28/2002

I've been going to the Houston's in Pasadena for a while now. They've been consistently good with the Babyback Ribs and the Seared Ahi Tuna. Be warned, you can't make reservations at the Pasadena location which translates to a long wait on some evenings. But after a martini or two, the wait doesn't seem so bad. Pros: good consistent food Cons: doesn't take rsvtions more
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Impressive, especially for a chain 5/19/2002

Houston's is one of the few establishments that rises above its chain nature to excel as a restaurant in its own right. Large portions of impeccably prepared beef, pork, and chicken await heartier diners, while veggie burgers and other lighter menu items can be had for those with more moderate tastes. The sides and salads are also uniformly of good quality. A few words of warning though: my brush with seafood at Houston's was not a good experience. The broiled salmon fillet was possibly the worst I've ever had--mushy and overcooked. I suspect Houston's expertise lies mostly in grilled foods though, so tuna might be a better choice. When you go, keep in mind you'll have to wait if you haven't made a reservation...unless you come early on an off night. But even waiting isn't so bad when the expansive bar waits around the corner from the greeting station. Pros: the pork chop, good bar Cons: iffy seafood, can feel very busy more
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Menu for Houston's


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Burnished brass and stained wood complement roughly mortared brick and the occasional plant. Amid ubiquitous earth tones, corporate types and small parties (celebrating or simply living large) occupy deep booths done up in fine upholstery and lit from above by pin spotlights. Burgers, prime rib and steaks are the specialties of the house, but the menu also includes salmon, salads, pork chops and roasted chicken.

  • 6/20/2008 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday - Sunday: 11am-10pm
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: South Pasadena
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