Recommended services near The Ranch
Restaurants
Best Value
Healthy and fast. Offers brown rice and extra menu items not available at other Poke restaurants.
Print coupon before you go:
https://www.moneymailer.com/coupons/online/91791
Sort by name to find the local store (chain restaurant).
AhiPoki
245 Barranca StreetHealthy and fast. Offers brown rice and extra menu items not available at other Poke restaurants.
Print coupon before you go:
https://www.moneymailer.com/coupons/online/91791
Sort by name to find the local store (chain restaurant).
Mostly healthy food if you can restrain yourself from ordering the excellent fried items. The onion rings are outstanding. Grilled fish, vegetables and brown rice are options... nice.
Taco Tuesdays are a great deal, and they have generous "Happy Hour" hours.
Everything is picante (slightly spicy) because they add a delicious sauce flavored with something having capsaicin. You can order your food to have it deleted if desired. The self-serve salsa bar is a bonus. Their black beans are great with additions of (non-spicy) pico de gallo and spicy tartar sauce from the salsa bar. Another tasty side item is the lemon-cilantro cole slaw.
I like to bring plastic take home containers (find them under the microwave at The Ranch) and order extra just for leftovers.
Avoid their wines.
Pacific Fish Grill
2851 E Eastland Center DrMostly healthy food if you can restrain yourself from ordering the excellent fried items. The onion rings are outstanding. Grilled fish, vegetables and brown rice are options... nice.
Taco Tuesdays are a great deal, and they have generous "Happy Hour" hours.
Everything is picante (slightly spicy) because they add a delicious sauce flavored with something having capsaicin. You can order your food to have it deleted if desired. The self-serve salsa bar is a bonus. Their black beans are great with additions of (non-spicy) pico de gallo and spicy tartar sauce from the salsa bar. Another tasty side item is the lemon-cilantro cole slaw.
I like to bring plastic take home containers (find them under the microwave at The Ranch) and order extra just for leftovers.
Avoid their wines.
Georgie's Mediterranean Cuisine
323 N Citrus AveDelicious, large portions. Outstanding baba ghanouj (sic).
The lunch buffet (11:00 am to 3:30 pm) is the best value in town. $7.59 weekdays, $8.59 Saturdays. Add $3 for dinner. $11.59 all day Sunday.
They have tons of seafood choices, a Mongolian BBQ and a sushi bar. Every major Asian cooking style is offered as well as a standard salad bar and a huge dessert bar.
I don't know how they stay in business. It's not haute cuisine but it's AYCE. Just take small portions to try out, and go back for your favorites. This place is dangerous to anyone on a diet.
Hibachi Grill Buffet
1003 S Glendora AveThe lunch buffet (11:00 am to 3:30 pm) is the best value in town. $7.59 weekdays, $8.59 Saturdays. Add $3 for dinner. $11.59 all day Sunday.
They have tons of seafood choices, a Mongolian BBQ and a sushi bar. Every major Asian cooking style is offered as well as a standard salad bar and a huge dessert bar.
I don't know how they stay in business. It's not haute cuisine but it's AYCE. Just take small portions to try out, and go back for your favorites. This place is dangerous to anyone on a diet.
Cheapest breakfast in town. Vegetarians can ask for extra eggs instead of meats. Lunches and dinners (also low cost) are Scandinavian healthy with highly limited menu choices. They do have some tasty desserts, although nothing beats their 6-pack of cinnamon rolls sold downstairs. No servers, so no tipping required.
Open 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. Check out Yelp for pictures.
Save even more by getting the free IKEA orange family card for free coffee.
Text me if you want my number to get a temporary paper ticket issued from the kiosk. Sometimes I just go for the coffee to sit at the windows and watch the traffic on I-10. A summertime bonus is the shaded parking in the garage.
9 recommandé par les habitants
IKEA
848 S Barranca AveCheapest breakfast in town. Vegetarians can ask for extra eggs instead of meats. Lunches and dinners (also low cost) are Scandinavian healthy with highly limited menu choices. They do have some tasty desserts, although nothing beats their 6-pack of cinnamon rolls sold downstairs. No servers, so no tipping required.
Open 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. Check out Yelp for pictures.
Save even more by getting the free IKEA orange family card for free coffee.
Text me if you want my number to get a temporary paper ticket issued from the kiosk. Sometimes I just go for the coffee to sit at the windows and watch the traffic on I-10. A summertime bonus is the shaded parking in the garage.
Panera Bread
21627 Valley BlvdHealthy salads, organic food choices, nice atmosphere with WiFi.
This is the closest salad bar restaurant, with selections for all dietary preferences, including gluten-free.
This location is located south of the Puente Hills Shopping Mall along the 60 Frwy at the Azusa exit. There is another location east of the Brea Shopping Mall along the 57 Frwy in Brea at the Lambert exit.
https://souplantation.com/menu/
Be sure to print out a coupon before you go. https://www.dealsplus.com/souplantation-coupons
Souplantation - City of Industry
17411 Colima RdThis is the closest salad bar restaurant, with selections for all dietary preferences, including gluten-free.
This location is located south of the Puente Hills Shopping Mall along the 60 Frwy at the Azusa exit. There is another location east of the Brea Shopping Mall along the 57 Frwy in Brea at the Lambert exit.
https://souplantation.com/menu/
Be sure to print out a coupon before you go. https://www.dealsplus.com/souplantation-coupons
Restaurants with Ethnic Specialties
Best moderately priced local restaurants of their genre
Mostly excellent food at moderate prices. I like their Bloody Marys, but don't recommend their wines. This place closes early due to city regulations and it is seriously noisy in the dining rooms. If the weather is cool, try to sit outside. The back room can sometimes be quieter than the front room.
The lunchtime buffet on weekdays has unlimited guacamole, if not all my favorite entrees. Menudo (an acquired taste) is offered on weekends. The albondigas is filled with yummy vegetables.
The salsa has a goodly capsaicin authority. Too spicy for me, perfect for my husband, and nuclear for my son. It comes gratis with the obligatory fried chips.
Menu entrees include Californian-Mex favorites. The Mole sauce poured over either chicken enchiladas or breasts is a fairly good variant of Mole Poblano (my culinary holy grail). The guacamole is excellent, but don't order it unless you're seriously hungry and NOT getting a molcajete.
The molcajetes are outstanding (pull that huge green pepper out right away or suffer serious capsaicin effects!) and served in huge portions. Here's where you really need those take out containers and the sheathed paring knife (front of the kitchen utensil drawer) packed in a shopping bag (corner of Great Room).
Order the Molcajete Supreme ($25) and ask for an extra appetizer plate. You'll need this for cutting up the nopalitos and green onions. You will be asked whether you prefer flour or corn tortillas.
Set the tortilla chips aside leaving the center of the table clear to accept the ultra hot volcanic bowl on its stand. When it arrives, pull out the monster pepper and set it aside on the tray under the bowl. You will also receive a container of tortillas and a plate of rice and beans. This will crowd the table.
Now take that ultra sharp paring knife and cut up the green onions and the strips of cactus into bite sized pieces on that appetizer plate you asked for. Add the cut-up pieces back to the bowl and stir with the spoon. The chunk of white cheese should melt, but you can cut it up along with the avocado half. Set your used appetizer plate aside and put the plate with rice and beans in front of you. Wipe the knife off, re-sheath it and put it in your bag. Now you FINALLY get to eat this monster.
Hold a tortilla in your left hand and fill it with a bit of rice and beans, then spoon in some of the molcajete mixture. Roll it like a burrito and eat carefully (thermally hot). You call always request more tortillas (free). Pace yourself, the meal is deceptively filling, and it's easy to gorge since it took so long to get it into your mouth. I pack up what's left and get three more meals out of it.
Fonda Don Chon
618 Shoppers LnMostly excellent food at moderate prices. I like their Bloody Marys, but don't recommend their wines. This place closes early due to city regulations and it is seriously noisy in the dining rooms. If the weather is cool, try to sit outside. The back room can sometimes be quieter than the front room.
The lunchtime buffet on weekdays has unlimited guacamole, if not all my favorite entrees. Menudo (an acquired taste) is offered on weekends. The albondigas is filled with yummy vegetables.
The salsa has a goodly capsaicin authority. Too spicy for me, perfect for my husband, and nuclear for my son. It comes gratis with the obligatory fried chips.
Menu entrees include Californian-Mex favorites. The Mole sauce poured over either chicken enchiladas or breasts is a fairly good variant of Mole Poblano (my culinary holy grail). The guacamole is excellent, but don't order it unless you're seriously hungry and NOT getting a molcajete.
The molcajetes are outstanding (pull that huge green pepper out right away or suffer serious capsaicin effects!) and served in huge portions. Here's where you really need those take out containers and the sheathed paring knife (front of the kitchen utensil drawer) packed in a shopping bag (corner of Great Room).
Order the Molcajete Supreme ($25) and ask for an extra appetizer plate. You'll need this for cutting up the nopalitos and green onions. You will be asked whether you prefer flour or corn tortillas.
Set the tortilla chips aside leaving the center of the table clear to accept the ultra hot volcanic bowl on its stand. When it arrives, pull out the monster pepper and set it aside on the tray under the bowl. You will also receive a container of tortillas and a plate of rice and beans. This will crowd the table.
Now take that ultra sharp paring knife and cut up the green onions and the strips of cactus into bite sized pieces on that appetizer plate you asked for. Add the cut-up pieces back to the bowl and stir with the spoon. The chunk of white cheese should melt, but you can cut it up along with the avocado half. Set your used appetizer plate aside and put the plate with rice and beans in front of you. Wipe the knife off, re-sheath it and put it in your bag. Now you FINALLY get to eat this monster.
Hold a tortilla in your left hand and fill it with a bit of rice and beans, then spoon in some of the molcajete mixture. Roll it like a burrito and eat carefully (thermally hot). You call always request more tortillas (free). Pace yourself, the meal is deceptively filling, and it's easy to gorge since it took so long to get it into your mouth. I pack up what's left and get three more meals out of it.
Best samosas in town. I buy 6 or eight and take them home to reheat. The samosas are freshly fried as you wait. Ask for just tamarind sauce because the green mint chutney is WAY too spicy, and there's never enough tamarind sauce.
You can eat hot food from their buffet. There is a clean, but sad little area to dine at. The clerk serves what you ask for on a plate. Stick to the flavorful vegetarian items. Be careful with entrees that have chicken in them. I'm not sure the cook knows that there are some parts of the chicken that aren't edible (like bones and cartilage). The store is actually more grocery than restaurant. The staff is always friendly.
India Fresh
553 N Azusa AveBest samosas in town. I buy 6 or eight and take them home to reheat. The samosas are freshly fried as you wait. Ask for just tamarind sauce because the green mint chutney is WAY too spicy, and there's never enough tamarind sauce.
You can eat hot food from their buffet. There is a clean, but sad little area to dine at. The clerk serves what you ask for on a plate. Stick to the flavorful vegetarian items. Be careful with entrees that have chicken in them. I'm not sure the cook knows that there are some parts of the chicken that aren't edible (like bones and cartilage). The store is actually more grocery than restaurant. The staff is always friendly.
This tiny restaurant has delicious Italian food if you can get there during their extremely limited hours. Closed Sunday and Monday, they often have only two people working, so they close at 7:30 pm or 8:30 pm Friday and Saturday. Expect slow service and yummy food. The garlic knots are to die for. Pizza is more expensive here but extremely high quality.
I recommend arriving ultra early and bringing a bottle of wine (any San Antonio Red) from the Old World Delicatessen only steps away. The reasonable corkage fee makes the meal a bargain.
28 recommandé par les habitants
Palermo Italian Restaurant
1858 N Vermont AveThis tiny restaurant has delicious Italian food if you can get there during their extremely limited hours. Closed Sunday and Monday, they often have only two people working, so they close at 7:30 pm or 8:30 pm Friday and Saturday. Expect slow service and yummy food. The garlic knots are to die for. Pizza is more expensive here but extremely high quality.
I recommend arriving ultra early and bringing a bottle of wine (any San Antonio Red) from the Old World Delicatessen only steps away. The reasonable corkage fee makes the meal a bargain.
Perhaps overpriced, but high quality, and a great selection of local wines to purchase by the bottle.
Old World Delicatessens
126 Shoppers LnPerhaps overpriced, but high quality, and a great selection of local wines to purchase by the bottle.
Standard Mexican food with nice booths and a relaxing atmosphere. The carpeted floors makes it a quieter place to eat. Its bar is extensive and its Happy Hour (in the bar, 3:00 -6:30 pm) has $3 beers and margaritas.
Villa Tepeyac Restaurant
2200 E Garvey Ave SStandard Mexican food with nice booths and a relaxing atmosphere. The carpeted floors makes it a quieter place to eat. Its bar is extensive and its Happy Hour (in the bar, 3:00 -6:30 pm) has $3 beers and margaritas.
Ceviche to die for. Haute cuisine. Upscale and expensive. Reviewers claim the menu is authentic to Peru, but one reviewer thought there was some Japanese influence. See Yelp reviews.
www.miskymisky.com
Misky Misky Cocina Peruana
125 North Fairway LaneCeviche to die for. Haute cuisine. Upscale and expensive. Reviewers claim the menu is authentic to Peru, but one reviewer thought there was some Japanese influence. See Yelp reviews.
www.miskymisky.com
Vietnamese (really pan Southeast Asian) noodle shop close to The Ranch and open until 10 pm. Warning: don't come after 9:15 pm to eat in as the employees want to leave at 10:00 pm.
Reviews are mixed, so don't expect excellence.
Cali Noodles & Grill
2626 E Garvey Ave SVietnamese (really pan Southeast Asian) noodle shop close to The Ranch and open until 10 pm. Warning: don't come after 9:15 pm to eat in as the employees want to leave at 10:00 pm.
Reviews are mixed, so don't expect excellence.
Yummy Asian desserts and drinks
Always a social scene at night
8 recommandé par les habitants
85°C Bakery Cafe - West Covina
2626 E Garvey Ave SYummy Asian desserts and drinks
Always a social scene at night
Thai Diamond Bar.B.Q.
9581 Foothill BlvdBest quality Thai food, but far away. Sometimes they offer Mee Krob.
Szechwan Kitchen
625 S Barranca AveBest nearby choice for Northern Chinese dishes. See Yelp for more information.
Best nearby Cantonese Saturday/Sunday Dim Sum
Arrive by 9:30 am to avoid the crowds (opens 8:30 am Sundays)
These instructions are for non-Chinese people: Walk up to the hostess podium and show her on your fingers how many people are in your party and she will give you a pre-numbered slip of paper.
She will be busy listening for updates on free tables and calling numbers over the PA system, so don't try to talk to her. When your number comes up, go back to the hostess, but she will likely ignore you. Walk into the restaurant and look for someone else standing looking towards you. Hold up your (one or two) fingers and he or she will beckon you to a table.
The servers may all understand English, but they don’t speak it well. You will be brought a blank check sheet bill, a tea pot, but not ice water unless you ask for it. Just in case you don't know how Dim Sum works, nice ladies push steam carts around with various dishes priced by stamping your check sheet. You will have no clue about pricing. Some items are cheap and some expensive.
Order by pointing at what you want when the steam cart comes by. Some of the ladies understand a little English. They all seem to know the English word for shrimp. Non-Chinese should focus on the noodle dishes, the dumplings and the bao. Don't be shy about saying no to dishes that don't look appetizing. For more info on Dim Sum in general, see https://spoonuniversity.com/how-to/navigate-dim-sum
Prepare in advance by going to the Yelp listing and reading the reviews. Don't be discouraged by the three-star rating, as the health department's rating is much more important. There's always going to be haters. You can find a picture of a Dim Sum take out menu in the photos. That's really helpful. You won’t get a Dim Sum Menu to use when seated, so read it over in advance. You can help yourself by showing pictures of what you want to the (male) servers when you ask for the yellow mustard they forgot to put on the tables.
8 recommandé par les habitants
New Capital Seafood Restaurant
1330 Fullerton RdBest nearby Cantonese Saturday/Sunday Dim Sum
Arrive by 9:30 am to avoid the crowds (opens 8:30 am Sundays)
These instructions are for non-Chinese people: Walk up to the hostess podium and show her on your fingers how many people are in your party and she will give you a pre-numbered slip of paper.
She will be busy listening for updates on free tables and calling numbers over the PA system, so don't try to talk to her. When your number comes up, go back to the hostess, but she will likely ignore you. Walk into the restaurant and look for someone else standing looking towards you. Hold up your (one or two) fingers and he or she will beckon you to a table.
The servers may all understand English, but they don’t speak it well. You will be brought a blank check sheet bill, a tea pot, but not ice water unless you ask for it. Just in case you don't know how Dim Sum works, nice ladies push steam carts around with various dishes priced by stamping your check sheet. You will have no clue about pricing. Some items are cheap and some expensive.
Order by pointing at what you want when the steam cart comes by. Some of the ladies understand a little English. They all seem to know the English word for shrimp. Non-Chinese should focus on the noodle dishes, the dumplings and the bao. Don't be shy about saying no to dishes that don't look appetizing. For more info on Dim Sum in general, see https://spoonuniversity.com/how-to/navigate-dim-sum
Prepare in advance by going to the Yelp listing and reading the reviews. Don't be discouraged by the three-star rating, as the health department's rating is much more important. There's always going to be haters. You can find a picture of a Dim Sum take out menu in the photos. That's really helpful. You won’t get a Dim Sum Menu to use when seated, so read it over in advance. You can help yourself by showing pictures of what you want to the (male) servers when you ask for the yellow mustard they forgot to put on the tables.
Personal Services
Where to go to get a manicure, pedicure, wax, haircut, foot massage
Walk in anytime for a manicure, pedicure, or waxing... bring cash. Technicians work with dipping powder as well as standard UV cured gel and old fashioned lacquer.
These Vietnamese ladies are fun and friendly. Call to make an appointment with Kim.
Quality Nails
2406 S Azusa AveWalk in anytime for a manicure, pedicure, or waxing... bring cash. Technicians work with dipping powder as well as standard UV cured gel and old fashioned lacquer.
These Vietnamese ladies are fun and friendly. Call to make an appointment with Kim.
Hair Services
Gracie's Hair Design, 519 Second Street, Covina, CA
(626) 859-3200
Gracie works for herself in her own salon. She charges reasonable prices for both men and women and does excellent work. She can often "work in" or accommodate new customers between her regulars.
This is the business next door because Gracie's Hair Design was not in the database.
Covina Garden Center
509 S 2nd AveThis is the business next door because Gracie's Hair Design was not in the database.
Relaxation Services
Coral Sea Foot Spa 2412 S Azusa Ave, West Covina
(626) 736-5713 10 am - 10 pm
Ask for an appt w/ Peter or Judy (couples OK)
$15/hr Foot Massage (tip $15)
GREAT value, terrific way to relax after a long day.
Held in a big room with multiple chairs. Wear loose clothes and sandals, speak softly, turn off phone. The entire experience starts with the scalp, so get your hair done after.
No clothes removed. This is NOT a front for prostitution.
Quality Nails
2406 S Azusa AveThis is the business next door because Coral Sea was not in the database
Grocery Stores
Where to buy food
Lowest prices, best selection, mediocre quality and NEARBY
6 recommandé par les habitants
Walmart Supercenter
2753 E Eastland Center DrLowest prices, best selection, mediocre quality and NEARBY
Target
735 S Figueroa StNEARBY. Small grocery section but can have some good deals.
A tiny grocery with Scandinavian specialties. Don't miss the cinnamon rolls.
9 recommandé par les habitants
IKEA
848 S Barranca AveA tiny grocery with Scandinavian specialties. Don't miss the cinnamon rolls.
Japanese and Hawaiian specialties
The deli has ready-to-eat sushi, gyoza, poke bowls.
10 recommandé par les habitants
Tokyo Central
18171 Imperial HwyJapanese and Hawaiian specialties
The deli has ready-to-eat sushi, gyoza, poke bowls.
Vons
1160 Via VerdeA standard American supermarket
Seafood City Supermarket
1525 Amar RdCaters to the local Filipino community (really pan-Asian)
India Fresh
553 N Azusa AveAn Indian grocery with a hot bar and a cook in the back room.
Best selection of locally farmed produce at excellent prices. Stop here if you're traveling near the Hwy 57/Hwy 60 interchange.
Diamond Fresh Farmers Market
21168 Golden Springs DrBest selection of locally farmed produce at excellent prices. Stop here if you're traveling near the Hwy 57/Hwy 60 interchange.