Erewhon, 475 S Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
Erewhon opened store #10 in Pasadena on September 13, 2023. The building, a former Borders, had been vacant for many years. Long before it was Borders, it was an I Magnin (pretty swanky for Lake Avenue). The upstairs is occupied by a childcare center and medical/wellness boutique.
As a Certified B Corporation and a luxury organic grocer, Erewhon has come to embody the posh wellness lifestyle that seems to appeal to many of the LA elite and aspiring wellness elite. They only carry products that are “free from artificial preservatives, synthetic pesticides, ripening agents, growth hormones, irradiation, fumigants, fungicides or other additives. Any processing, packaging or transportation and storing must also ensure the retention of maximum nutritional value.”
The produce displays are so immaculate that it feels wrong to remove an item from the display. Love the cut flowers too.
Their deli/prepared foods are really good and they don’t skimp on expensive ingredients. Plus, they accommodate many types of diets (e.g., gluten-free, Keto, raw, vegan, soy-free, etc.) In the prepared foods area, they have grab and go items like prepackaged salads, sushi, desserts, dips, sides, sandwiches, quesadillas, burritos, wraps, etc. There’s a hot soup bar. You can also get a plate of food (sold by weight) from their prepared foods area or a slice of pizza. There’s also a smoothies/coffee/tonic bar that seems very popular. The smoothies are $15 - $19 and customizable.
Look for the Erewhon line of candles, skin care, bottled water, etc. They make their own juices, wellness shots, soups, dressings, bread, bagels, nut bars, nuts, coffee, etc. They also carry great brands (some of which I haven’t seen elsewhere) like San Diego Tempeh, Sconeage granola, Tartine, etc.
My picks
Shaman Raman ($7.99): instant organic vegan ramen that’s adaptogenic and a superfood. That's $8 for one cup of instant noodles. The broth was nice and savory without being salty but the amount of rice noodles was so small that it could only be considered a small snack. Shaman Raman is $6.99 at Bristol Farms.
Rawmyun ($4.99): instant ramen that’s plant-based, non-GMO, all-natural and made with rice noodles
Habiza hummus ($5.99): Mr. Froyo liked it. They carry the same brand at Bristol Farms (and for the same price)
Veggie combo plate ($19/lb): my lunch which consisted of three salads was $25. Every salad was fresh, and delicious: Thai kelp noodles (really good dressing, soft thin noodles), fresh corn and avocado with dandelion greens (lots of fresh sweet corn kernels), beet salad with hazelnuts, feta, and arugula (lots of hazelnut, big chunks of feta, big sweet chunks of beets)
There is no indoor seating area but they have an outdoor patio with tables and chairs. A paid membership is available. They probably have valet parking.
4 out of 5 stars
By Lolia S.
