Allied Food To Go — Restaurant in Pasadena

This was my very 1st experience with what you call a ghost kitchen (where 15-20 restaurants share a building to do only pickup and delivery orders and we as customers cannot see their kitchen areas). My husband had a chance to try Moonbowls on his SF business trip and he really wanted me to try it. When we arrived at the location in Pasadena, CA, we were very confused at first, not being able to locate a restaurant called Moonbowls. After circling the area, we realized Moonbowls was one of the co-ops of Allied Food To Go.

So while I waited in the car, my husband went to order. The ordering was simple, and we liked the fact that if you wanted to, you could try all different restaurants’ menu items (in one sitting vs literally going to different locations) by ordering from Allied Food To Go kiosk (or online). Shortly after our food was ready, we received a text informing us how to pick up our order. The pickup process was quick and very unique in sense that you use your iPhone/smart phone to unlock a food locker!

There was a minor mixup with one of our menu items, but when we contacted Moonbowls, they were very understanding and took care of our issue right away.

The Allied Food To Go’s Pasadena store front is not the most inviting. At first, when we couldn’t find Moonbowls and were driving around, I thought the building was a laundromat. It has an old-building vibe, so hopefully, they can spruce it up or do a store front remodel in the near future. But since it’s near Cal Tech and Pasadena Comm College, I’m sure hungry students will overlook this and more so if they ordered through Uber Eats/Doordash/Postmates since the customers will never see the actual building. :).

Also, parking is limited like most places in Pasadena (only street parking). The Rite Aid parking lot is right next to Allied Food To Go, but there are signs saying it’s for Rite Aid customers only. So when picking up your order, park at your risk if you use the Rite Air parking lot.

Overall, it was a very fun & unique experience! We will be back to try...

Update: My office tried to order from SOL Mexican again, this time by Postmates. Not only were our food items not made correctly, they left out an item from our order and told us they don't issue refunds. Safe to say SOL Mexican kitchen can't be trusted. Will not be ordering from here again.

4 weeks ago: I work in an administration office and we tried to order food from SOL Mexican through the website for an executive meeting. The credit card was charged but the food was never delivered. It's been more than 72 hours and the website still shows the food in the process of being delivered.

If there won't be humans to provide service, the owners of this business better make sure their website is working at the very least. This sort of egregious error came at a big cost, which is very disappointing as everyone was looking forward...

So I'm out this way working and we went past our minimum. So we had to take our lunch. I literally only came to this facility because it said it was one of the only places open. I get here and I'm trying to order food and it wouldn't let me. The guy at the front desk has no idea why. so I wait 15 minutes for him to figure it out that the kitchen put a pause on the ordering. If the kitchen put a pause on the ordering, then why did the app say that this place was open till 1 AM which apparently is not the case. if the kitchen was closed? why didn't they give the person in the front the courtesy to let them know what was up. I'm pissed and hungry. definitely won't...