In the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains sits a culinary landmark that has locals and road-trippers alike mapping routes to its doorstep – The Original Tops in Pasadena, where the pastrami sandwich has achieved near-mythical status among California food enthusiasts.
This unassuming corner spot has been serving up slices of edible nostalgia since the Eisenhower administration, proving that sometimes the best things in life come wrapped in wax paper.
The Original Tops stands proudly at the intersection of East Colorado Boulevard and Allen Avenue, its vintage sign with that distinctive red script logo serving as a beacon for hungry travelers.
From the outside, it doesn’t scream for attention – and that’s precisely part of its charm…