Pie N' Burger (burger, no pie)- Pasadena Road Trip

Hey, you found mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog.  Welcome (back).  Cathy is posting today, while Kirk and ed(from Yuma) are resting...or something.

Hi.  I mentioned that we've been busy daily since Thanksgiving and have a bunch of meals to share. One of the days in December, The Mister and I returned to Pasadena to visit Rose Parade float decorating and stopped at a Starbucks and I was checking my email and had a note from Dennis, who writes A Radiused Corner.  I mentioned where I was and he told us to go to Pie N' Burger, where he used to go when he was at University in Pasadena.  I used the handy dandy "maps" app on my iPhone, found we were 1.1 miles away and that became our lunch venue.

 

When we got here, we found out that Pie N' Burger also sells breakfast and bakes their own white and wheat bread as well as pastries other than pie. They also serve fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juices and items other than burgers. PLUS- when you order a soda, they pump syrup into the glass, then soda water...real soda. Mental notes were made for our return visit.

Located inside this rectangular building, with a small streetfront presence, Pie N' Burger has been in this location on East California Street since 1963.

The menu on the wall, above the pie display, near the back of the building, has current prices. The Formica counter with chairs and swivel stools runs from the front of the store all the way to the back- about 20 seats. Near the front of the building is the grill, which had the seats I coveted (and did not photograph, since so many people were sitting around it).

The Mister, in his quest for a great chili,ordered a Chili Size ($11.50)- two patties topped with chili, cheese and onions (of course The Mister did not order onions...) This comes with a toasted bun on the side. In this article about the history of chili, the 8th paragraph from the bottom describes the origin of "chili size".

This was my hamburger ($6.75). You can see the patty is hand-formed and not at all perfect. 

We ordered all of our burgers to be cooked medium rare. The burgers were seasoned, although the bean-filled-chili with deep flavor overwhelmed the burgers on The Mister's plate.  The meal itself was very filling.

Here is my burger in my (small) hand.  It comes on a toasted bun with Thousand Island (made fresh here), pickles and lettuce as well as onions (I got both raw and grilled onions, to make up for The Mister's misguided belief that onions are evil).  I found out later that you have to ask for tomato (which does not cost extra...you just have to ask).

As you can see, they cooked this fresh ground, hand formed burger perfectly.  I did add salt at some point, but it was at the last 1/4 of the burger and I wanted to 'spice up' the lettuce and onions. Plus, I had eaten all of the pickles...

We plan to go back (when hungrier) and try out other menu items.  Thanks for sharing your hangout, Dennis!

Pie N Burger 913 East California, Pasadena, CA  (626)795-1123 Website

 

Comments

[Dennis]

Perhaps too late for Einstein, but Richard Feynman most probably ate here! Stephen Hawking passed right by me only inches away in his motorized wheelchair during one talk visit. I will cherish the moment forever. Sorry, I'm all nerding out. The burger here is a taste of history.

[caninecologne]

hi cathy! what a cool retro place! my husband would like that chili with his burger...

[Cathy]

How cool, Dennis. You are so fortunate to have gone to school in Pasadena. PnB felt like some of the college hangouts where The Mister and I used to go, and why we are eager to return.
Hi cc. Retro-yes!- that's the word. From the plates and water glasses to the formica tables and the from scratch cooking, it evoked some fond memories. (Because I've experienced it when it wasn't retro...)

[ed (from Yuma)]

thanks again for a good report. Nice link to the humorous chili article. I always thought of chili size (chili burger in So Oregon) as truck stop cuisine.

[Alyssa]

That looks like a comfortable place to stop by for a meal. Interesting deconstructed chili burger, too!

[Cathy]

Thanks, ed. Chili size is a hearty meal which we have enjoyed at many truck stops and any other place when listed on the menu. This one was done very well.
It *is* a deconstructed chili burger, Alyssa...never thought of a Chili Size that way. This is a really nice, local hole in the wall and great find. We plan on looking for similar, student hang out places on the next Pasadena visit.