I had to give this place a couple of more chances and they changed my mind. Got my Korean food here several times and they got it right with no beef for me. It was good. The Korean noodles and the bibap. Really good price too. The service is great. The man behind the grill is awesome and very helpful. The Korean woman is sweet. Really great now. Ordering a breakfast burrito now.
Mike T.
Place rating: 5 Saint Louis, MO
Eclectic mix of food selection. Friendly owners/workers. Great prices and very affordable. I got the traditional breakfast(definitely get the bacon over the sausage) and my colleague got daily special(chiquilla) and she enjoyed it very much. We were on a business trip and were wishing for a local option in downtown Pasadena and were pleased with our stop in. Great drink selection and plenty of seating although the restaurant is a bit hidden. The only negative is that they only offer black coffee even tho their menu states a lot more.
Max S.
Place rating: 5 Los Angeles, CA
I ate my bulgogi bibimbap so fast I completely forgot to take a picture of it. Great food and nice owners.
Robert Y.
Place rating: 2 Beverly Hills, CA
This was the closet restaurant to the office I was at for a meeting the other day. I was limited by time, so I ate here. Big mistake. Entering the restaurant it reeked of deep fryer oil. Their American food is overly greasy and not very good. I got the cheeseburger and fries here. The fries were dripping oil and and reeked of oil and the aroma. I should have know from the smell of the restaurant not to get anything deep fried. I do not think they change the deep frying oil very frequently and the rest of the items on the menu looked not at all appetizing. The cheeseburger was also greasy and not very tasty at all. I have several Korean friends who have tried the Korean food here and they think it is awful compared to real Korean food in Koreatown. But the people who know nothing about Korean cuisine think its great and delicious, even though it is really terrible compared well prepared Korean food. The meal was not very good value for money and I would not eat at this restaurant again. If you have the time, save your money and go to some of the other better restaurants around the area.
Chris D.
Place rating: 4 Pasadena, CA
I have to say the people are very nice, they are attentive and kind. The food is good and always hits the spot when i need food, it is walking distance from my office which is another plus. Prices are very fair, i like there mexican food.
JR C.
Place rating: 3 Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
Eats: Chap Chae(Korean Noodles), Cheeseburger 2 Korean family-owned office cafes(Big Ben on facing street) is a bit of an overkill for this small corner, but so be it, atleast these places consistently churn out good food. Café Cordova has a nice large seating area with a potential for larger groups since a long dining table runs a good length of the café. The food selection is a bit of a hoge podge, being a mix of a burger grill, Korean food, Mexican food and deli sandwiches. I haven’t been disappointed yet, but have not been wowed either. The chap chae was ok with a light sesame oil consistency. There were crumbled pieces of bulgogi on top, which made the most of the flavor. I would probably have to try another Korean dish to fully appreciate the Korean food here. The cheeseburger was standard no-frills. I could probably replicate it in the home kitchen, so no bonus points there. Come here if you’re hungry and do not have much time. The price for lunch comes to a reasonable $ 6 to $ 7.
Benoit R.
Place rating: 4 Altadena, CA
Cheap lunch place. Great beef burritos and fantastic Korean Noodles. Quick service, nice people, and lunch for under $ 10.
Lencho F.
Place rating: 4 Whittier, CA
Been coming here for 6 years plus. Really nice people work here and their food is good. It’s my lunch spot so I wanted to put them on the map son… peace.
Paige f.
Place rating: 5 Pasadena, CA
i l-o-v-e this place! its within walking distance from my office so id say i get lunch here… mmm…at least 3 out of 5working days. the foods great-perfect for a quick meal. theyve got your usual fare: muffins, pancakes, pastas, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, taquitos(on wednesdays&fridays only-yum), etcetcETC! oh! theyve added some korean foods to the menu as well — bi bim bap and chop chae(which are both yummy and always, always, always served with a smile!) my favoriteS by far: bacon breakfast burrito(jose’s salsa is homemade & super spicy so i get mine on the side) and the philly cheesesteak sandwich(i hate bell peppers so whenever i order it they totally make it for me minus those green yuckies). you know what i wish theyd bring back though-their spinach salad… it had baby spinach, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and this tangy dressing. *sigh* guess ill be daydreaming about that one for awhile! Xp
Sam V.
Place rating: 4 Pasadena, CA
Café Cordova, where it’s not just food. The people are friendly and smiling and make a person feel«cared for». When I was on the South Beach diet they helped me with my odd requests. The Oriental chicken salad is very good and they even have a couple Korean menu items. Breakfast burritos are yummy if you are not on the South Beach diet… Bottom line, it’s all about the people, when the staff transmits that sense of caring, the guests feel comfortable eating there.
Allie A.
Place rating: 4 Etiwanda, CA
I used to come here all the time for lunch, friendly People, I tell them what I want and they make it for me. I can still remember their specials… On Mondays they have the Chicken Mole, Tuesday — Chicken Taco, Wednesday — Beef Burrito, Thursday — Enchilada, Friday — Carne Asada. Lately they’ve been serving Spaghetti. Jose is their head cook, one time I spotted him in San Manuel, since then he’s been asking me if I’ve gone gambling, and if I had any luck.
Ericka L.
Place rating: 4 Pasadena, CA
This is a little office building café, but they have excellent soups, great cookies, and the sweetest people ever working behind the counter. Juan is the cook and he gives every soup a Mexican flair(spicy and salty) and greets all the ladies with«Chica!» which I love. By far, my favorite soup he makes is albondigas. He also makes a tasty vegetable soup at least once a week, filled with cabbage, carrots, celery, and squash. If you happen to be within walking distance, this is a good quick lunch spot that’s easy on your wallet and yummy for your tummy.