Afghani Icon Azeen's Reportedly Closes Over Rent Increase in Pasadena

It seems that local dining legend Azeen’s Afghani Restaurant in Old Town Pasadena has closed its doors for good, possibly as a result of a proposed rent increase from their building’s landlord. That’s at least the story being shepherded around by a few tipsters and on Yelp, which lists the place closed as of a couple of weeks go.

For years Azeen’s was a more than suitable option for anyone in the Old Town area looking to escape the proliferation of chains and gastropubs. The glitzy build-out proved a decade-long sanctuary for anyone looking to dine on kabobs, mantu, and challaw rice dishes, though it eventually seemed to fall out of favor with the hipper, younger neighborhood. Still, Azeen’s enjoyed a dedicated clientele until the end, particularly as one of only a few restaurants that particularly focused on Afghani cuisine.

This isn’t the first time that one of Pasadena’s longtime legends has succumbed to rising rents. Last year, Jake’s on Colorado closed following a nearly 70 year run, while the iconic Beckham Grill got axed over the summer for some apartments instead. There’s no official word on what’s to come of the Union Street restaurant space with Azeen’s out of the way.