Zan Lee
Open since 1947 this awesome little diner is my favorite in El Monte. I actually drove out from West LA specifically for this place because I am working through a list of all diners in LA County. I’m extremely happy that I visited because I had a great meal. It’s a true retro LA diner, but with a bit of an Asian twist. I say that due to the staffing and a lot of the cool options on the menu like Loco Moko and various other things. Our server was extremely polite, very attentive, and checked in on us often. Everything that we ordered came out very fast and they have a pretty large menu filled with all sorts of classics. There’s also a free parking lot attached so there is plenty of free and easy parking.
Inside is pretty large and one side of the building is a 21+ bar and on the other side is the diner with tons of booth seating. It’s actually larger on the inside than it looks from the outside so it can really host many different sized groups, and quite a lot of people. For my meal, I decided to order the Hamburger Steak & Eggs and thought it was great. I was so hungry that day that I honestly forgot to take a picture of it, my apologies. I will say that the coffee tasted a little bit more of a dark roast and I prefer more of a medium roast, but that’s just personal preference.
Overall, a great diner and someplace I would recommend to anyone looking for that nostalgic diner vibe.
… moreJim Darrell
Great food, great service, fair prices.
Everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed what they ordered.
Definitely looking forward to stopping in again!
Recommend the club sandwich, beef dip and pastrami!
This place is overflowing with vintage charm and character.
If you finish your meal, you get candy!
… moreLindsey Randall
The food was delicious. My brother and twin toddlers had breakfast there. It was so chill not too crowded amazing service and delicious food. We got the loco moco spam and eggs.
… morePete Tapia
Cool old school joint with an attached bar next door. Hostess was great, fun personality and the food was solid. Had basic breakfast, eggs bacon, hash browns. Everything was good, eggs were cooked correctly to medium, bacon was actually very tasty. Also had the chorizo & egg, once again cooked just right and tasted like I made it myself. The salsa was notable tasty as well, fresh, delicious, with a touch of jalapeno spice. I expect to come back when in the area.
… moreKarla Molina
Stopped by the Jolly Jug in El Monte for a quick breakfast. For years, I’ve passed by this place driving in El Monte. They have a classic sign, the ones you don’t really see anymore. The restaurant has a few booths and original decor, the employees are super friendly. My french toast and coffee were good. They have a bar area in the back. It’s like stepping back in time coming here. I enjoyed my visit to the Jolly Jug.
… moreANGIE TOPETE
Don’t come during lunch break ,they take a long time . I paid 26.80 for a burger and drink
… morearmon
Margaret and her waiter / assistant were extremely welcoming and courteous, she really made the whole dining experience fun and heartwarming. Nice to see that this place is owned by a fellow asian. Will be back!
… moreKimberly Aviles
I love this lil mom n pop restaurant. The foods good, and the restaurant is super clean and neat. It has a very cool vintage vibe. The only downfall is the service is extremely slow but the owner has a great personality and therefore, its downfall is almost forgiving. I recommend it if you aren’t in a rush. On the plus side, it’s got a cool little bar with a jukebox n all!
… moreRosa Noriega
Great food! I was surprised at how fresh everything was. The quality of the ingredients are excellent. Nothing is frozen. The environment is very welcoming and makes me feel like I’m eating at home. Don’t miss out on this old school gem.
… moreHeather Armour
Jolly Jug was a great find to start our day of exploring! The food was great, staff was very friendly and the atmosphere is so welcoming. We would definitely come back!
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