Comfort Food Restaurants near El Monte, CA

“The bolo bao ice cream sandwich was the bomb! I had it with ube ice cream. The garlic fries - lots of fresh garlic with a side of bomb lemon aoili and house sauce! The best! Passionfruit green tea was perfect for the hot weather! So cute inside too! It's a smaller space and a one man show. Everything is made fresh so please be patient - it's worth the wait! Great service! It's a hidden gem to the right of BofA in the plaza. — at CrispyandFluffed.“

“Pho tai was good. Noodles and tai beef were good, broth could use a little more flavor but still good. Lychee lemonade soda had way too much seltzer, all I tasted was the soda - yuk. $4 mistake. Friendly staff. All parking spaces are sized for compact cars even if it doesn't say compact.“

“very good comfort food that you can really dig into<3“

“Service was excellent, and complimentary drinks are very generous.
Biscuit was absolutely delicious
Homemade sausages (turkey and pork) were good
French toast was just ok, and we found the blueberry pancakes dense and gummy“

“I’ve been 3 times in the past 3 weeks. Service and food is fantastic! Highly recommend Smitty’s Grill.“

“Located in a vibrant neighborhood, Oyster Dive Bar offers a delightful dining experience with a unique twist on seafood classics. The crispy Cajun fries with cheese are a standout appetizer, perfectly seasoned and crunchy, making them an irresistible starter. The lobster pasta features fresh lobster, expertly prepared and bursting with flavor, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, ideal for both casual outings and intimate dinners. The service is attentive and friendly, adding to the overall enjoyable atmosphere. Prices are reasonable given the quality and portion sizes. However, it's worth noting that the restroom could use more attention; cleanliness was a bit lacking during my visit. Despite this minor drawback, the delicious food and pleasant surroundings make Oyster Dive Bar a recommended choice for seafood enthusiasts looking to enjoy a satisfying meal in a relaxed setting. Overall, Oyster Dive Bar earns four stars for its tasty dishes, friendly service, and comfortable ambiance. With a few improvements in cleanliness, it could easily become a five-star dining destination.“

“Best Bar in Whittier!! Amazing bartenders!!“

“Today at West Covina we ate Dinner. Flank Steak was cooked perfect Med Rare & im picky. The Gravy for Mashed potatoes was amazing. Tge Non Alcohol Cucumber Lemon Spritzer was Soooo good. Husband ate Ribs, Delicious. Johnathan was my Server & went above & beyond for us. & i love that. Great Job Team. Thank you Chris.“

“There used to be in a Marugame near my college, but it has disappeared and since then, I’ve been yearning for it. Marugame’s noodles are bouncy and the soup rich in fishy flavor. I love the ability to tempura, but my tempura was a little too soggy in the breading. But overall, loved the experience and the food“

“I've dined at Golden Leaf a couple of times in the last year. The Taiwanese food is excellent across the entire menu. I only wish there was a location in San Diego where I live. You can really tell that the owner & staff put a lot into making authentic Taiwanese dishes and its really appreciated.“

“Came here for the first time on a Saturday afternoon. And ordering was very easy since you do it through a QR code but you can also ask for a menu and order that way as well. Food came within 10 to 15 minutes and everything was very hot and fresh. The meat pies were really hot and filled with yummy juices. The scallion pancakes were very very yummy. I highly recommend getting the cucumbers. Service was decent but don't be expecting conversations from these ladies. They bring you your food and that's about it. I can't wait to come back and the prices are so worth it.“

“What a hidden gem! This small quaint restaurant delivered some of the best food we had while visiting Pasadena. The flavors in the sauce (basil, olive oil and something else yummy) that surrounded the burrata were absolutely delicious! The lamb/beef/pork bolognese sauce on the spaghetti as well as the duck was excellent. Portions are definitely generous and shareable. Our only regret is we didn’t save room for dessert! Despite being there during the Rose Bowl with lots of people, the service was excellent! So glad we stumbled upon this restaurant via Resy, we’ve saved it in case we come to Pasadena again!! Bravo!!!“

“Main Chick Hot Chicken in Pasadena is 🔥 🔥 🔥 meaning 😋 Always fresh and thier chicken taste tasty & crisp! Only drawback is that this particular Nain Chick don't have the seating so either you order togo, uses ubereats or the Doordash! Whichever, their food was amazing & you will be happy!“

“Chicken and beef pies I have loved most of my life. Still great !!!!!“

“If you’re looking for a cozy and relaxing spot, I highly recommend **Hide Out by Tea Lane**. It's a wonderful place to unwind with a great selection of teas and a serene atmosphere. Perfect for some quiet time or catching up with friends!“

“Excellent food prepared fresh. Great service. Indoor and outdoor eating. Great 👍🏻✌🏼😉“

“We have cravings for Korean food, but not the typical Korean BBQ. So we checked out Hanshin Pocha for the first time. Very down to earth setting. In the middle there's a big article and picture of the famous Korean chef (Chef Jong Won Paik) who also founded this chain of restaurants.

We told the server this is our first time so he was very helpful to explain the tradition and the type of food and what are their specialties.

We listened and ordered the whole fried chicken, the whole octopus, and the chicken feet stew!

We had such a good time! The food were exceptional! So tasty and fresh! You really have to try this place out and get the chicken!

Parking was very tigh as there are so many businesses and restaurants in this complex.“

“Complex, authentic Korean flavors made with traditional p ingredients. A humble porridge could become a pleasantly enjoyable experience. I ordered bulnakji porridge today and instead of using ground beef or cheap meat, they used a good quality meat and then they sautéed the marinated bulgogi in butter. mmm. Chives/buchu they used were fresh and green. So was the octopus. Often times you taste the fishiness but this octopus or nakji had a very clean flavor. The venue and the food they served were very clean. I highly recommend this place.“

“First timers here at Lazy Dog. I was thinking this would be a hot dog place but it isn’t lol, they gave us some garlic chips for it being our first time I thought that was really nice of them. I ordered Kung Pao Shrimp, it was really good but a bit TOO salty for my liking. I also got a beer they ID you so bring you’re ID.“

“Came here on a Tuesday night for some dinner with family since we've been wanting to try this place for a while. Its located in a small plaza that is a bit hard to see unless you look carefully when driving by. But this is the only restaurant here so there's plenty of parking. It was pretty empty when we came so we got seated right away. They have a good amount of tables and the interior is nice.

Their menu is not that big so it's wasn't too hard to decide what to order. They do have some pricey items here though. We got the Galbi Seolleongtang (25.99), Bulgogi Bibimbap (21.99), Tonkatsu (19.99), and Yangji Seolleongtang (17.99). They were served pretty quick and they also gave side dishes. The side dishes were actually pretty good and has free refills. The bibimbap was alright, tasted like other bibimbap places. The Galbi seolleongtang has two large galbi in it and the soup and meat are nicely seasoned. As for the regular seolleongtang, it is on the bland side since you need to add your own salt and pepper. It also has some vermicelli with it. But the seolleongtang was pretty mid. The tonkatsu had some good sauce on it and was crispy and not too dry or hard to chew. But I have had better tonkatsu before. The portions are all reasonable for this price and economy though and we enjoyed it. I just thought the seolleongtang would have come with rice but I guess this place doesn't do that.

I think this is an authentic Korean place to try since they do have a good assortment of soups and other entres to order. The only thing was I did notice some small gnats flying around while we were eating. It wasn't a lot but it did bother me a bit. This isn't a spectacular place I would crave but it is a decent spot.“

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“Great food, relaxing environment“

“he'll mf yea this place is amazing. best tasting chicken sandwiches! real spice if u can handle the heat“

“Im surprised this place wasn't busier. It has everything...
Full bar, TVs, Darts, Music and Pool Tables.
Located in the heart of Downtown Covina this spot hits on all levels.
Food was good. Dare I say...one of the better burgers in the whole town.
Staff was friendly and relatively attentive.
Vibe was Sports Bar to the Tee.
Overall...whether you are looking for a place to watch the game or pregame and want to grab a few drinks and eat some decent food, I wouldn't hesitate to stop in.“

“Good soup and side dishes. Large servings and servers are very nice😁“

“Menu says lunch pricing for 3-items $17~ and 4-items $19~, with rice porridge only available for dine-in.
Authentic, delicious, freshly made each time we visit. Mom loves the real taste, including the bitter melon, pork knuckle, and baby squid.
Yummy and definitely a favorite for a quick eat.“

“Amazing food and service. Love this place. ❤“

“Came here for lunch with family and it was busy inside when we went. The store isn't that big and there aren't that many tables so it's a more homey style place. Luckily, we didn't have to wait long for table.

We ordered the French Style Stir Fry Beef, Pea Shoots, Honey Garlic Pork Chop, Fried Egg Tofu w/ Mushrooms and Veggies, and Braised Pork w/ Aged Vegetables. We also ordered the Honey Lemon Iced Tea because it only costs $2.50 for a very large cup and comes with refills! So worth!

The dishes didn't take too long to be served and comes with white rice for free. We liked all the dishes except the Braised Pork because it was tough to chew and a bit dry. The other dishes were all very good, seasoned well, and not salty. They tasted very good with some rice. The Pork Chop w/ Honey Garlic sauce was better than I expected since it is fried and tasted great with the sauce. The portions were also pretty big for the price which is hard to see these days. These dishes also tasted like authentic Guangdong food. Will be coming back again for sure!“

“This is the 2nd time I frequent this establishment and it doesn’t disappoint. The food is delicious and fairly priced. The customer service is friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I highly recommend it.“

“We visited this place when we were in old town Pasadena walking our dog on December 25th and they are open. I admire restaurants giving time to serve hot food when some restaurants choose to close this holiday. We went in together with our dog on a stroller they are open to service animals. Ambience was great not too loud and restaurant layout gives you a chance to go through each table without hitting another chair. I ordered the Japanese Miso, my wife ordered the Lamb Soup and my son ordered the Taiwanese Hot Soup. The food came in with a heating box where in they would light it up and keep the soup piping hot. It’s just like the Shabu-Shabu style on the side I ordered Vermicelli and my wife and son ordered white rice. Food was overflowing from the bowl what a great treat! All three soups we ordered had their own different tastes. This is the one of the Boiling Point restaurants that is fully staffed no need to wait on a server to get your order. Comparing this to the one we last visited this one will give you more food we had to bring home half of it as we were already full and there is still a lot left! We will come back here again for sure“

“Perfect portion for one person. The free tea was a nice touch too!“

“The Best Taiwanese Hotpot place in Socal.“

“This place is great. The food is pretty good and service is kinda slow at times but on rare occasions. I usually order the Beef Upgraded Soup and it doesn't disappoint me. The price for it is kinda on the expensive side due to inflation. The atmosphere feels a bit crowded since they do have lots of seating but in a small restaurant. I do recommend if you're in the area to give it a try if it's not out of your way. Overall, good experience and will come back again soon.“