Fonda Doña Julia — Restaurant in Pasadena

I’ve been on the hunt for good menudo ever since Taco King on Gladstone St. in Azusa permanently closed. While Taco King has other branches, none seem to match the quality of menudo from that now-closed location.

Recently, after a visit to the post office in Pasadena, I suddenly craved menudo. A quick Yelp search led me to a nearby family-style Mexican restaurant, conveniently located across the road from Vallarta Supermarket—what I consider the best Mexican grocery store in Southern California.

When I arrived, it indeed felt like a family-run operation. The cashier doubled as the chef, and while her English was limited, my Spanish is still a work in progress, so communication was a bit challenging. Unfortunately, they only serve menudo on weekends, so I settled for two carne asada tacos and a fried chicken combo plate.

The tacos arrived first and were, at best, average. The corn tortillas were hot and soft, served with onion, cilantro, and cooked beef. However, the beef wasn’t well-marinated, leaving the overall flavor light and unremarkable. Acceptable, but not memorable.

The fried chicken combo was a letdown. It came with rice and fries, but the chicken itself was over-fried. The exterior was crispy but hard and dry, while the interior meat lacked juiciness and flavor. The batter wasn’t handled well, as much of it fell off. A simple coating of cornstarch could have made a significant difference.

The fries were forgettable, and the rice, though moist, was overly wet and devoid of flavor. Overall, the plate felt rushed and lacked care—a sad dish on what was otherwise a beautiful...

On my first time I ordered the menudo I thought it wasn't going to be good, because I had seen the color of the stew which was very dark red. Well to my surprise it was ans still is the best Menudo I have ever had. And the reason it was so dark is because they use six different Chilli's, this is what the owner told me the first time I had it.

If you haven't had the Menudo...

Parking is tough. Food was decent, but it took longer than I thought it should to get my food. They don't wait on you here, but there are tables you can sit at. I didn't really enjoy the experience, but most people were taking out food and seemed to be...