IKEA

IKEA Food Court
848 S Barranca Ave
Covina, CA 91723
626-732-4532

While I was looking at You Tube videos that reviewed the Impossible Whopper at Burger King, I noticed a video review of the IKEA food court!  So, I decided to give them a visit. Before I continue, I can't believe there are 15-20 minute reviews of the Impossible Whopper on You Tube.  Some people just love to hear themselves talk!  About 90% of those videos are BS and really have nothing to do with the Impossible Whopper.

Anyways, I went to the IKEA food court, where they have hot dogs, soda, pizza, and some other treats.  IKEA also has a dining room where they serve salmon, meatballs- both vegan and with meat, and other items.  I didn't go there. 

Veggie hot dogs- 75 cents each. They come with mustard and some cabbage, but I asked for mustard only.  This was shocking good!  Good flavor and texture on the veggie dogs.  I'm not sure if they are vegan, but man a good veggie hot dog.

Cheese pizza slice, $1.75.  Ok I actually saw the worker take a whole pizza out of the freezer, take off the wrapping and put it into the oven!  The one in the oven already, he actually forgot to take off the cardboard, so he had to put the pizza back into the oven!  Anyways, I waited maybe five minutes for the pizza.  It was fine.  Look, I'm not expecting a great pizza.  It was certainly better than that chain papa john's, owned by that racist idiot.  But, IKEA's pizza isn't as good as Costco pizza.

Service is good.

I would go back to IKEA for the hot dogs, and will try their dining room items. But, I'll pass on the pizza.

Szechwan Kitchen-Closed

Szechwan Kitchen
625 S Barranca Ave
Covina, CA 91723
626-598-4202

I've driven back the intersection of Barranca Ave. and Rowland St. many times.  I've noticed a few restaurants just south of the southwest corner, which has a gas station, but never ate at any of the restaurants- one Mexican restaurant and three other Chinese restaurants.  Szechwan Kitchen is a big restaurant with the front section the dining room.  There are booths along the windows, and tables in the middle of the restaurant.

Shrimp and broccoli- $13.99.  One of the very few restaurants that cuts the broccoli into smaller pieces!  They actually could add more broccoli to this dish.  There were a ton of shrimp.  This was a bit under seasoned. 

Shrimp chow mein, $8.99.  While the shrimp and broccoli was under seasoned, the shrimp chow mein was very salty!  A good amount of shrimp with the shrimp larger than the shrimp in the shrimp and broccoli. This could have been a good dish, if it wasn't so salty.

Service is slow.  While the food came quickly, they took a while to come back to the table, to check on things.  It must have been five minutes before we tracked down a server to get our check.  They were also slow to clear tables. 

I wouldn't go back to Szechwan Kitchen.  The food wasn't that good and service was slow.

Monstrous Pizza

Monstrous Pizza
557 N Azusa Ave
Covina, CA 91722
626-339-2100

Just a bit north on Azusa Ave. from Sun's New Kitchen, is Monstrous Pizza; in a huge shopping center directly across Azusa from the Northwoods Inn.  It's a take out and delivery operation.  There were a ton of people working the night I went.  There were tons of pizza waiting for hungry customers on the shelve behind the register.

They had specials on one topping medium- 12 in, large 14in and XL-16 in, pizzas, starting at $6.99, with the XL priced at $9.99.  I got the large for $7.99 with mushrooms  The dough is thicker, but very soft and good.  While I generally like my dough thinner, this was good.  The cheese and fresh mushrooms were fine.  This is a solid pizza, nothing outstanding, but a good value.

Service was good.  But, the guy who helped me had such a soft voice, I couldn't hear him over all the noise in the kitchen.

If you're in the area and need a good value pizza, and Costco is closed, Monstrous Pizza is a very good option!.  I would go back!

The Brew & Meatball Co-Closed

The Brew & Meatball Co
325 N Citrus Ave
Covina, CA 91723
626-938-7090

The Brew & Meatball Co. is a fairly new gastropub in Covina.  Everything I read they offer some very good food, some that you wouldn't expect from a bar.  They are known for their meatballs.  You choose what kind of meatballs you want-beef, pork, beef and pork, veggie, or turkey.  Then you choose what kind of "bed' spaghetti, veggies, mashed potatoes, and then the kind of sauce you want.

It's a good sized bar with plenty of seating inside and a nice shaded seating outside.  It wasn't that busy for lunch when we went.  But, there was a steady flow of people, including my take out orders.

Tater tots, $5.95.  I almost always order tater tots if I see them on the menu.  Today was no exception.  They were great because they just came out of the fryer!  They weren't greasy at all, well seasoned.  Of course they are frozen, premade tater tots, but they were great!

Veggie meatballs, on steamed veggies, and marinara sauce, $8.95, lunch price price.  Regular price is $10.59.

The marinara sauce was very good.  Rich, hearty, full of flavor.  The veggies included broccoli and carrots, which I ate.  They also included zucchini and squash, which I hate and never eat!

Now the veggie meatball.  Another veggie I hate is beets!!  I just hate them.  But once I cut into the veggie meatball it was clear this was made with beets.  They were ok, but since I hate beets, it isn't my favorite.  I wouldn't order this again.  My friend had the beef meatballs and he really liked them.

Service was very good.

If you like beets, you'll love the veggie meatballs.  If you eat meat, you'll love the meatballs. I just don't happen to like beets and I don't eat meat, so their veggie meatballs weren't my cup of tea.  But, I think The Brew & Meatball Co. do a very good job and I would go back just for the tater tots!!

Sun’s New Kitchen-Closed

Sun’s New Kitchen
316 N Azusa Ave
Covina, CA 91722
626-331-8881

I found Sun's New Kitchen when I was driving along Azusa Ave.  I thought it would be like Panda Express- a steam table filled with Chinese food and you pick what you want.  While there is a steam table, it's really just for decoration!  They cook to order your meal,including the 1-3 item combo meals!  They have a limited menu for the combo meals, about eight items.  

There are about ten tables inside this restaurant.  It's very nice and clean.  I'm shocked there weren't that many people here!

Shrimp and broccoli, $9.99. This was a very good dish, with lots of medium sized shrimp that were deveined.  A light sauce, with crispy broccoli and carrots.  Well worth the price and a much better deal than many other Chinese restaurants!

Vegetable chow mein, $6.99, with celery, carrots, broccoli, zucchini and cabbage.  The veggies and noodles were cooked perfectly.  I would prefer the veggies to be cut into smaller pieces, but otherwise an outstanding dish!  A huge portion too!

Service is good.  The lady, who I believe is the owner was very nice and friendly. 

I would go back to Sun's New Kitchen anytime!  Very good food, big portions and great prices!

Fonda Don Chon

Fonda Don Chon
618 E Shoppers Ln
Covina, CA 91723
626-332-4712

Fonda Don Chon is located a few doors from the new location of Old World Deli and almost next door to the new location of Buckboard BBQ!  This is an older section of Covina with a couple other restaurants, including a Chinese and an Italian restaurant.

Fonda Don Chon actually has two connecting buildings.  The building where the sign is and the large building to the left.  They have a lunch buffet or you can order off the menu.  We decided to order off the menu.

Two fish tacos, $9.99 with rice and beans and salad.  The fish was sea bass and was fried, then topped with shredded cabbage, creama, and some tomatoes.  This was pretty good.

Salad had the standard veggies and was fresh.  The beans were pretty bland! 

Service was good.  Even though it was busy, most people had the buffet, our server was attentive and helpful.

Most full service Mexican restaurants that I have been to, do not have very good fish tacos.  Especially when you consider the higher price, you're better off going to Taco's Baja!

Kitty’s Fish & Chips

Kitty’s Fish & Chips
147 N Grand Ave
Covina, CA 91724
626-331-8874

Kitty's Fish & Chips is located in a shopping center that used to house a Fresh and Easy Market.  It's pretty clear that Kitty's used to be a H. Salt Fish and Chips.  The shopping center could use a renovation, but without a lead anchor store, it's doubtful that will happen.

Kitty's is very bright and clean restaurant, with a small dining area as you walk in and long narrow dining area as you go towards the back. 

Two piece fish, pollock, one jumbo shrimp, $6.99.  This was a special listed on a sign as you walked in.  The fish was fried nicely.  It's easy to tell the fish was frozen, but even frozen fish can be good.  This was cooked to order, not sitting under some heat lamps.  Towards the top point, there was too much batter and not much fish.  But, towards the bottom there was a lot of fish-light, flaky and fairly good. 

Two piece jumbo shrimp, $4.20.  This is another frozen item.  It's two pieces of batter fish made into a ring.  There was too much batter and very little shrimp.  It was average.

Service was very good.  A very nice lady welcomes you when you walk in.  She is very welcoming and helpful. 

I wouldn't rush back to Kitty's but, it's a pretty good example of fish and chips in the area.

Red Devil Pizza-Covina

Red Devil Pizza
116 W Badillo St
Covina
626-966-4484

The New Diner has been to the Red Devil Pizza in La Verne, and wasn't that impressed.  I knew about the Red Devil Pizza in Covina, but was always under the impression that they were owned by the same people.  I was wrong, the Covina and La Verne location are separate businesses.  So, I finally decided to give the Red Devil in Covina a try!

The sign says serving Covina since 1966, so the must be doing something right.  Located just west of Citrus and Badillo St., Red Devil takes up three spaces of the building.  There is a large banquet room, a dining room and a take out and kitchen area.

I ordered a small (12 inch) mushroom pizza, $11.99.  The mushrooms were fresh, not canned like some places, and very generously spread on the pizza.  There was also a ton of good quality cheese.  The sauce was very good-balanced, one ingredient didn't overpower others.  The crust was soft, crispy on the outside and chewy inside.  I was very impressed and wished I didn't wait so long to give them a try!

Service was very good.  I was greeted when I walked in and the guy was very friendly and helpful.  He  answered the few questions I had.  If you noticed the chairs and yellow tape in front of the store, it's for a Holiday Parade that was scheduled for later that evening.  As I walked around, the lady in the main dining area, greeted me and asked if I needed anything.   I told her I was waiting for my pizza and looking around.  She was very nice and encouraged me to look around.  The banquet room was all set for a party!  There must have been 50 boxes of pizza ready for people!  I know YMMV when it comes to service at any restaurant, I read the reviews from the jerk people on Yelp and one major compliant is the poor service.  I only experienced great customer service!

I would happily go back to Red Devil Pizza in Covina!  What a civic treasure!  Oh, there is a Red Devil in Upland and they are owned by the same people!  Check out the review of the Red Devil Pizza in Upland.

Ribs To Spare-Closed

Ribs To Spare
506 N Citrus Ave
Covina
626-472-3493

Just a block south of Nick's Taste of Texas is a fairly new BBQ place, Ribs to Spare.  I'm surprised Nick's Taste of Texas is still open, because the BBQ at Nick's isn't good.  Anyways, Ribs to Spare opened in November 2012 and seems to be doing a steady business.  Ribs to Spare has a very small dining area, about three tables, so get your food to go. 

Side order of beef ribs, $12.50.  Three ribs come in an order. Maybe the best beef ribs I've ever had.  Very meaty, pretty tender, well smoked-with white oak, and well seasoned!!  The sauce is a mild tomato based sauce that they only use for the beef ribs. 

Side order of pork ribs, $6.   Three ribs come in an order.  As great as the beef ribs were, the pork ribs were mediocre at best.  First they were reheated in the microwave, which isn't the way to go.  They had decent flavor and tenderness, but there was nothing outstanding about it.

Service was pretty good.  The first lady who took my order was clearly new, because she didn't know how to ring up my order.  But, she got help from the other lady-who is the owner or wife of the owner, and they got the order correct.  It took awhile to get the food, the great beef ribs made it worthwhile.

I would go back to Ribs to Spare only for the beef ribs.  They were wonderful, among the best I've ever had!