After nearly 25 years of serving margaritas, green corn tamales, and a slice of Los Angeles culinary history, El Cholo Café in Pasadena will be closing its restaurant operations Sunday August 3rd. The news comes from longtime friend and restaurateur Blair Salisbury, who confirmed that the team is shifting its focus to catering, which will now operate out of the original El Cholo location on Western Avenue. Blair will be partnering once again with his father, Ron Salisbury, in this next chapter.
The Pasadena location, which opened on Fair Oaks Avenue, held a unique piece of nostalgia — the building was once home to the famed John Bull Restaurant, a favorite of many locals back in the day. El Cholo brought its own charm to the historic space, offering classic dishes and a lively bar scene that made it a go-to for Pasadena diners seeking old-school Mexican comfort food.
While the loss will certainly be felt by fans of El Cholo, all is not lost for Mexican food lovers in the area. Here are a few local spots that might help fill the void:
• Casa Del Rey Mexican (Sierra Madre): Family-run with legendary chile verde and a mean margarita — Blair himself would tip his hat to their chips and salsa game.
• Mercado (South Lake Avenue): A more modern take on Mexican cuisine with a standout happy hour, including $8 margaritas and $4 Tecates.
• Panaderia Diaz (Baldwin Park): Known for some of the best tamales around — a solid 8.5/10 on my tamale rating scale.
• El Portal (Playhouse District): Upscale atmosphere with traditional Yucatecan touches. Great for date night or a casual enchilada fix.
• La Estrella Taco Truck (Various Pasadena locations): For late-night taco runs, it’s hard to beat the consistency and flavor here.
If you’re an El Cholo regular, you still have till August 3rd to swing by for one last curtain call. As for Blair, we wish him nothing but success as he returns to his roots — and keeps the El Cholo tradition alive through catering.
