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Best Italian Food Outside of Italy: Aldolino’s in Azusa, California

Aldolino‘s was recommended to me by my mom’s hair stylist. As a lover of Italian cuisine I couldn’t wait to give it a try. Thank goodness I did. It was truly the best Italian food I’ve had outside of Italy! And now one of my favorite restaurants ever.

As we pulled up I tried not to pass judgment based on the exterior — an unassuming location, in a fairly old shopping center, with a Mexican grocery store as a neighbor. In fact, it has served up Italian food in this location for nearly 60 years, including back when Arrow Hwy was still a dirt road.

Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.comAs I entered I quickly observed how clean and charming the interior was.

Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

Gabriel, our server (who also happens to be the owner), was a beaming ray of sunshine. He could easily pass as an Italian — handsome, charismatic, and with a genuine desire to serve up the best Italian food you’ve ever had. He and his brother Jesus (the chef) love to cook. They each have an impressive resume with collective experience in nearly a dozen high-end restaurants around the Los Angeles area — establishments like Il Fornaio, Palm Restaurant, Arroyo Chop House, Twin Palms, etc.

Owners at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

The menu displays a photo of the original owner, Aldolino Formica, whose own charisma helped land him on TV shows like I Love Lucy (with Lucille Ball below) and the Ed Sullivan Show, among others.
Menu at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

Inside the menu you can find a diverse variety of reasonably priced and delicious Italian dishes, including recipes that have been passed down from the days of Aldolino himself.Menu at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

This particular visit I ordered the Venezia Insalata. My other favorite dish to order is the Pasta Della Casa. Unfortunately for you, the salad looked so irresistible that, well, it was gone before I could remember to take a picture.

Below is the dish my dad ordered, Rigatoni Al Forno. If you like Italian sausage you truly can’t beat the incredible version served up at Aldolino’s.

Fun fact: All of the sauces here are made fresh, from scratch and by taste.

Rigatoni Al Forno at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

One of my other favorite dishes (I know, there are so many!) is the Ravioli di Vitello — a beef raviolo in a mushroom herb creme sauce drizzled with white truffle oil. This stuff is to die for. The bread at Aldo’s (which is utterly amazing also, do you see a theme here?) goes perfectly with the mushroom sauce. I could literally order a bowl of the sauce and eat it with a bowl of the bread. Can’t believe I just admitted that, but it’s true!

Ravioli Di Vitello at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com

And if all of this weren’t enough to convince you that you NEED to try this place… just scroll down a bit to see the apple dessert with homemade cinnamon ice cream.

Fun fact: All of the desserts are made on-site by Gabriel himself.

Apple Dessert with Cinnamon Ice Cream at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.comEnough said.

Apple Dessert with Cinnamon Ice Cream at Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.com Is it just me or do those pictures make you want to lick the screen?

Aldolino's Italian Food Restaurant in Azusa, California via ZaagiTravel.comAldolino’s truly deserves all the praise in the world. I wish them many more years of success (I simply never want to stop coming here)!

Aldolino’s Italian Restaurant is located at 659 E Arrow Hwy, Azusa, California 91702.

Have you ever been to Aldolino’s? What’s your favorite dish?

One thought on “Best Italian Food Outside of Italy: Aldolino’s in Azusa, California”

  1. Man, We desired this kind of formula as i attempted producing gnocchi intended for once! Relating to the sausage plus the melty cheese, there isn’t any means my children could so simply no for this. Your current light has been outstanding intended for most of these images! Stunning!

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