Russell's

Russell’s is a retro lunch counter that, at first, you might mistake as a tourist trap: there’s a constant crowd out front, a bright neon sign, and tacky fine art reproductions lining the walls. And even by Old Pasadena standards, this place is a zoo. But don’t be deterred—Russell’s chaos comes with fantastic food. The menu is a mix of Southern and French-leaning brunch dishes, which means eating gravy-covered chicken fried steak while the person sitting next to you at the counter digs into a gooey croque monsieur. Be prepared to wait a few minutes for a table though, since Russell’s only accepts walk-ins and they’re busy most days of the week.