+1 626-449-4412
Located in the heart of Pasadena, The Original Tops stands as a beloved fast food restaurant that masterfully blends classic American comfort with authentic Mexican flavors. Renowned for its hearty portions and vibrant taste profiles, this local gem serves up a menu that’s both comforting and exciting, making it a must-visit destination for anyone craving familiar favorites with a flavorful twist.
The culinary offerings here are a true celebration of bold, satisfying flavors. Start your day with the generously stuffed Sausage Breakfast Burrito or the Polish Sausage and Eggs, both served with homestyle potatoes and toast – perfect fuel to kick-start your morning. Lunchtime favorites like the Patty Melt and their iconic Pastrami Burger Onion Rings showcase expertly grilled patties layered with melted cheese and house-made toppings, delivering a juicy, savory experience that lingers long after the last bite.
One cannot mention The Original Tops without raving about their famous Small Chili Cheese Fries and the crispy, golden Large Onion Rings. Fans like David Cho have discovered the magic of the unexpected, praising the added house ranch that elevates this classic side dish to new heights. For those seeking fresher fare, the Grilled Chicken Salad and Tostada Salad Chicken or Carne Asada offer a vibrant explosion of textures and flavors, perfectly balanced and satisfying.
What truly sets The Original Tops apart is not only the diversity of its menu but the authenticity and attention to detail in every preparation. Whether it’s their homemade salsa that customers crave or the generous, fluffy breakfast burritos delivering Texas-sized satisfaction (as one Texas native enthusiastically confirms), each dish is crafted to bring warmth and bold character to the table.
The dining atmosphere complements the culinary experience beautifully. It’s a cozy, no-frills environment where the focus remains firmly on quality and taste. The presence of convenient ordering kiosks guarantees a smooth, personalized experience, allowing guests to customize their meals to their liking – a feature that diners like Derek W appreciate immensely, especially when tailoring breakfast burritos to perfection.
From seasoned locals to first-time visitors, the consistent praise and repeat business tell the story of a place that has stood the test of time by delivering honest, crave-worthy food that never disappoints. Whether you’re here for a quick lunch, a hearty breakfast, or an indulgent snack like their world-acclaimed zucchini fries paired with house ranch, The Original Tops guarantees a deep, satisfying connection to every bite.
For those planning group events or office mornings, the Breakfast Burrito Box offers a crowd-pleasing solution with customizable burritos and homemade green salsa, highlighting their commitment to great food beyond the dine-in experience.
In essence, The Original Tops isn’t just a fast food restaurant—it’s a vibrant, flavorful snapshot of Pasadena’s rich culinary spirit. It invites you to savor classics redefined with passion and authenticity, ensuring every visit is more than a meal; it’s a memorable taste adventure.
Geezuz Christ all mighty!!! I’m from Texas and I wish we had a place with breakfast burritos this size, that tastes this good! We have breakfast tacos, which is cool and all, but wow!!! Super wow! Good food! You get what you pay for here for sure! 10/10 would recommend!
If you are looking for quality food and taste that you can rely on look no further than the original tops in Pasadena. Hands-down, some of the best zucchini fries in the world and yes, the House ranch is simply divine. Everything here is good, but I stick to my guns and get the tostada salad almost every time if not, the Patty melt if not the chicken tortilla soup. It’s almost like they can’t miss!
As the bfast burrito at Lucky Boy's doesn't quite taste the same anymore, decided to drive out to East Pasadena to check out Tops Burgers. As I pulled up, saw a long line for the drive thru so ended up just parking. Love how they have 2 kiosks to place your orders especially how you can semi customize your bfast burritos. Love how you can specify your potatoes to be well done along with requesting additional salsa on the side. Ended up ordering a few bfast burritos to share with the fam (chorizo and egg, bacon and sausage). At first glance, the burritos do look a bit smaller than Lucky Boy's (less hash browns and meat) but overall a good balance of all ingredients. Not sure why they state home potatoes as it looked like shaved hash browns to me. Although I request well done, I would've wished they were cooked longer as I love crispy bits which add texture to the burrito. I also quite enjoyed their green salsa which does taste better than what you get at Lucky Boy's. Of the 3 burritos, I definitely enjoyed the chorizo and egg the most and would definitely go back for that. Did also notice they give complementary pickled carrots, peppers and onions. Staff was friendly and restaurant was clean.
A great little spot for authentic Mexican flavors — tasty food at reasonable prices. It’s hard to find anything disappointing on the menu. This place has clearly stood the test of time with its bold character. Highly recommend everyone give it a try!
Update 10/14/25 Craving onions rings and knew just the spot. Didn’t get anything else this trip, but enjoyed every bite. They added ranch without asking and didn’t know I needed that in my life! Ketchup Is great too, but nice new twist for me! ——- I wish I tried this place sooner. Everything I ate was fantastic. Not your typical burger stand, which was what I was expecting. Onion rings were the real stand out for me, cause I just haven’t had home made rings like that in a while. Their pastrami burger aka the Tops’s special was pretty damn good as well. Definitely enough to share. I love the pickled carrots as well, which was a nice addition to your typical yellow chiles. Didn’t try the picked onions, but will next time.
Just an awesome, and local favorite. We did not get the taco salad, but did see three other people get it. That must be amazing. But what I do know, is the pastrami is top shelf. So much flavor, and tons of meat. We thought it looked a little small when it came out, but we’re only able to finish half with some fries. And since we’re talking about the fries, these are all natural potatoes, fried in oil. Nothing more, nothing less. And they taste delicious. Similar to an In-N-Out fry, but with a variety of potato thicknesses. We will be back.
Pastrami sandwich and fried zucchini. That’s what I was recommended by the homie, I have to say it’s better than the hat sorry to say cause I really like the hat. A little on the expensive side but well worth it! I will definitely be stopping back by to try the chili cheese fries next time. Drive thru is small but seems to be a lot of parking.
This place is a great find if you love pastrami’s like I do. that’s been a staple since 1952. I love their hearty, flavor-packed sandwiches, it was stacked high with tender, smoky slices of cured beef Hand-carved pastrami’s. And I also tried their pastrami burgers and it did not disappoint. Give It a try I’m sure you’ll love it too.