HomeState — Restaurant in Pasadena

From the very first bite, HomeState’s chicken tacos prove why they’ve become such a standout on the menu. They strike a rare balance between comforting familiarity and inventive flair, offering something that feels both authentically Tex-Mex and uniquely HomeState.

Flavor

The chicken is tender and perfectly seasoned — juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right so that it almost melts into the tortilla. Instead of being overwhelmed with spice or smoke, the flavor profile leans toward a subtle, layered richness: savory notes from the marinade, a hint of citrus brightness, and just the right amount of seasoning to let the quality of the chicken itself shine through. Every bite feels intentional, crafted to satisfy without being heavy-handed.

Tortillas

The foundation of any good taco is the tortilla, and HomeState treats it with the respect it deserves. Their house-made flour tortillas are soft, warm, and slightly chewy with that fresh-off-the-griddle aroma that makes you pause before taking the first bite. It’s the kind of tortilla that doesn’t just hold the fillings together — it elevates them.

Toppings and Balance

What sets these tacos apart is the harmony of the toppings. Fresh cilantro, crisp onions, and a balanced salsa all work in concert rather than competing for attention. The toppings provide a brightness and crunch that play beautifully against the juicy chicken. The salsa has a touch of heat, but it’s restrained — enough to wake up the palate without overpowering the dish.

Atmosphere and Experience

Eating a HomeState chicken taco feels like being invited to a casual backyard gathering in Texas. There’s an authenticity to the flavors that tells a story, but it’s also approachable for anyone. They’re comfort food, but comfort food at its best: thoughtful, precise, and made with care.

Final Thoughts

HomeState’s chicken tacos aren’t just “good tacos.” They’re the kind of tacos you crave days later, the kind you’d happily bring out-of-town guests to try, knowing they’d walk away impressed. They manage to capture the soul of Tex-Mex while offering something distinctly their own. Whether you’re a taco traditionalist or someone just dipping your toes into the world of great tacos, these deserve your attention.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Easily a five-star...

It’s always nice stopping by HomeState after our 14-hour nonstop flight from Asia — it has become our go-to lunch spot the next day. My son looks forward to the potato soft taco and his favorite loaded queso dip with homemade tortilla chips, which are always a hit. I went with the ranch salad and a side of beef. It leaned a little salty, but still flavorful overall.

Service began on a high note. One staff member, with glasses and a tall beard, was especially attentive — checking in on us, refilling chips, and even bringing a bag and lids for our leftovers. That extra thoughtfulness went a long way and was much appreciated by my family and especially our little one.

Unfortunately, I also had a less positive interaction with another staff member (I believe his name was Rico or similar). When I asked if it might be possible to add just a dab of queso to balance the saltiness of the beef — something I was happy to pay extra for — his response was abrupt: “We can’t add queso to that.” What left a poor impression wasn’t just the refusal, but what followed. I noticed him whispering and smirking with other staff behind the counter while glancing in my direction with us . Sitting directly in front of the open kitchen, this felt uncomfortable and disrespectful being made fun of in plain view. When I addressed it, he acted surprised and dismissive, which only reinforced the negative experience. At this point, we felt very self-conscious, alienated, quite undermined how my request was handle and we quickly and quietly packed our food in the to-go bag provided and left the establishment.

To be clear, I don’t intend this as knock of HomeState as a whole. We’ve had many wonderful meals here, and most of the team has always been warm and welcoming all the time and super family friendly. But I do believe this particular staff member could benefit from some additional training in customer interaction and professionalism. Guests should walk away feeling appreciated, not ridiculed, over a simple request but instead walk away with the kind of positive experience that usually makes HomeState such a special...

Ahhh quesoooo - REAL Texas queso - finally!!! As a native Texan in the LA area for almost 15 years now, I’ve scoured SoCal in search of a decent queso and never really had much luck until my Yelp friends told me about Homestate! The queso is legit - creamy with an excellent balance of cheese and peppers/onions etc and savory smooth flavor! And their breakfast tacos are lovely too.

Queso is a big deal in Texas - you’ll find it on every menu in every Mexican restaurant and even in restaurants that don’t serve Mexican food! It’s a heavenly dip made of cheese and peppers and sometimes various meats get thrown in. For Texans, queso is a comfort food. So when I moved to LA, it was definitely one of the (very) few things I missed about Texas bc you just don’t see it on the menus here in LA.

After hearing about this cute little spot from several Yelp friends, I finally came in for some breakfast tacos on Mother’s Day and had a great experience! The staff are so friendly and they even gave me a beautiful flower to celebrate the holiday! Excellent service!

We tried the Blanco taco and the Trinity taco - both delicious. The Blanco taco is a veggie taco with eggs, cheese and mushrooms. Hubby loved it. My Trinity taco came with eggs, cheese, bacon, and potato. I loved it and would definitely get this again.

They serve the tacos with two sauce options in bottles on the table - red and green. The green was fresh and mild and I loved it. The red is spicier and also decent.

I especially loved that they discuss the ingredients and farms and suppliers they use on the menu - everything is truly homemade with minimal ingredients- and their homemade flour tortillas are just lovely.

The owner is herself from Texas and it shows in her delectable Tex-Mex cuisine and the cozy, country, welcoming vibes! Prices are moderate and pretty standard for the area. They have an inside seating as well as a cute patio and a small parking lot (or free street parking).

I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to grab some true Texas comfort food when I need it - I’ll definitely be back for more of...