Salt of the earth people at the bar. Great customer service. The "Cheers" of El Monte. When you got a good buzz going the beef dip sandwich with gravy (au jus on request) will suffice. Ambiance of a fine dive bar. read more

I came here at 750 pm and it was closed already the time said 10pm I drove pretty far to get here ..........

The food, the service, the vibes!!! everything about this place is absolutely incredible. I had the pastrami dip and as a self proclaimed pastrami enthusiast i absolutely devoured that sandwich. Simon was an incredible server and even gave us some recommendations for Vietnamese food while we were in town which is always appreciated. Definitely check out this place if you're in the area ;) read more

Review is for the service because we decided to take our food to go. Waitress had an issue with our active two year old. She felt the need to stare him down and to comment how he was moving around and being "hyper", again he's two. Proceeds to take everything off the table (sugar caddie, salt shaker etc.) just because. She hovered over us and made it more than obvious since we were the only ones there, comes over and moves our drinks by the rim out of my sons way and says I'm afraid he'll spill. First off why don't YOU have kid friendly cups with lids. Second ma'am that's my boy I got him. Nowhere in or outside the restaurant did it say they aren't family friendly. We felt UNWELCOME and DISCRIMINATED for being there with kids. We have never been here before this, horrible first and last experience. I work in the service industry hit me up and I'll show you what real service is. Just finished out to go order. Definitely not worth coming back for. Thanks for the eye opener. read more

Oh my goodness: we were out and about and ended up hungry. Googled diners near us. Jolly Jug popped up! What a find. Delightfully quirky and highly unusual, especially the decor. We had a light dinner that the bar tender/server recommended. We love staff recommendations. She said the beef dip Sammie was out of this world. We didn't have high expectations but boy were we wrong. That was a delicious sandwich. I tried the little ground beef tacos too. They were so tasty, simple but right. Margaret is the owner for the last 20+ years and she let us know they've been open 70+ years. We laughed with her about all sorts of stuff. She was so sweet. The food was great and there's a lot to look at while you wait for you food. Here are some interior photos for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy! read more

See all

Seen this place for years and decided to stop by for breakfast while I was in the area. I really like diners/dives like this. I usually judge spots on how they pull together certain classic dishes. For this day, it was corned beef hash. Some places give you the canned version. Not this spot. I really enjoyed their version. It leveraged their sliced beef with shredded potatoes. I asked for their housemade spicy salsa that paired with it well. The server and service were great and friendly. On tume with the refills of coffee and water. I also felt the coffee was a little better than usual diner coffee, too. Look forward to getting back here to work through the rest of the menu read more

I got to a very brown restaurant. They gave me water in a brown glass with a brown straw and it tasted like brown water. I was served this while I waited 45 minutes for my cold sandwich until I just got up and left because we were entirely ignored! And the place wasn't even busy read more

Jolly Jug - Brown water - Diners Near Me - El Monte, California

I've been coming here since forever (40+ years)! The quality of the food has never changed. It's truly a unique dip sandwich experience. The bread is crispy, the meat is flavorful and juicy and the gravy dip is seriously to die for. The mix of spices in it is what makes it superior. It's not just salty fatty water like most dips. My favorite is beef followed closely by pork and then pastrami, but truly I don't think you can go wrong. The owner is great and so is the service. If you want a delicious trip in a Time Machine this is the place!! read more

Mom n pops shop grateful food and drinks. Service is great, homie feel. You feel welcome when you walk in.

I very much wanted to give them more stars, but I just couldn't. I ordered a vegetable omelette, hash brown potatoes and sourdough toast with coffee. They used some sort of vegetable oil to make the eggs & they used copious amounts of it. It was slick & shiny & the oil added nothing to the taste, just grease. The potatoes were perfect - I like mine crispy, so to me they were perfect. The toast had so much butter on it that I couldn't taste the sourdough. I always forget to order the butter on the side & that might have helped. The service was OK, not over-attentive, but I only saw one staff member, so, for all I know he was cooking, too. I made a special request, which he forgot at first & then rushed over to fix without me saying a word. One family came in, sat as far away from me as possible & I was still overwhelmed by the volume of the video they were playing on someone's phone. No one asked them to turn it down. It stood out especially because the place was so quiet, everyone speaking in hushed tones, as if it were a library. The reason I won't be going back to give them another try is that about 45-60 minutes after I finished my meal, I developed very bad intestinal pains. I can't think what else it was except this meal. I think if I had taken more control over how much fat was in my meal I might not have become so uncomfortable, but I don't think to do such things when I first visit a restaurant. read more

This place truly is a gem. Basic fundamentals of a good restaurant: good people and good food. I want to keep this short as possible but so much that needs to be said about this place. This place is literally the representation of the American dream. I grew up in this neighborhood since elementary, left into my twenties all over the place. I was originally looking for a quick bite at Maria's Bakery down the street but they were closed. Decided FINALLY try this place on a whim. Me and my buddy always told each other we would try it out one day but man ... if I had known such great people were running this place, I would have came sooner. Me being Asian American myself and in the restaurant industry... I felt it the moment I stepped foot inside... Best way to sum it up is "Real recognize Real". You can tell that they really love what they do and they do it well. It's something special to keep a place going for 77 years. Most restaurants now outsource products from big companies, everything pretty much tasting the same... but the moment I tried my food, I can tell a lot of it is done the old fashioned way. The beef for the sandwich, the pickles, the peppers ... does NOT taste like anywhere else. I've never been to Philippe's in LA but I would probably safely assume this can go toe to toe with them no question! Beef dip gravy you can tell made from the drippings and not purchased from SYSCO and the coleslaw was well balanced. Simon and Margarette really make the place what it is, a true mom and pop Asian American owned Restaurant with the heart and soul of Los Angeles food culture for what it was, is and should be! read more

The service was good. The beef dip.... was tasty,better than philippe. Place has been in the city of El monte for years

Our jaws dropped walking in... it was like experiencing some awesome time capsule. The decor was original, quirky yet well maintained and clean. We were greeted by the friendly bartender with a cool but serious apron on. They gave us a run down of the menu and made their recommendations, and we are glad we followed them - the Mimi sandwich and Beef Dip were bomb! Savory, tender, perfect blend of flavors. I was worried it was going to be too salty as most corned beef and beef gravies are, but no, it was just perfect. Service was 10/10. The owner gave us a tour of the bar afterwards, and she was just delightful. We highly recommend the Jolly Jug, and we will definitely be back! read more

I was last there a few years ago, I ordered four bacon's was served with two strips cut in half, was charged full price. A dishonest operation and will never return. read more

Amazing customer service here with great conversation, the vibes are very cozy and homey, music taste is absolutely fantastic. The food is pretty good too! read more

Jolly Jug - Diners Near Me - El Monte, California

Service is supreme, the food is fabulous, and the price is a pocket-saver. My wife and I's favorite spot

Don't let the exterior put you off trying this place. Exactly what we had hoped for and more. Bar on one side, coffee shop on the other. Bloody Mary for breakfast no problem. Coffee excellent, food delicious and affordable, service friendly and prompt. It's a trip, homage to the old and blending of the new. Americana, Mexico, Europe and Asia all represented in the decor. read more

See all

I Came here with my friends after a tournament. It took more than an hour to get our food. We all were missing something from what we ordered. I guess this place is 77 yrs. That's exactly as slow as they are. Server hardly ever came back to ask if we needed anything: I would never recommend this place to anyone. I would definitely never come back!!!!! read more

Hole in the wall bar. Super friendly. Normal drinks. It's not the most amazing outstanding glamorous place, but it's such a good time!!! Watch out for the big guy that's a regular with tattoos on his face. He's a fun time, but he controls the music hahahaha new patio in the works. Can't wait for that. Owner is such a sweetheart!! read more

I can't even begin to talk about how awesome this place is. the owner is the best. thank you for serving us tonight.

I'm being very very generous by giving them 2 stars! 1 star for their house dressing & grilled chicken salad, the other star for playing Morrissey and Mana while I was there. This has to be the WORST happy hour, I've ever been to. Their happy hour food menu is a joke at $5.49, everything is kid sized! See pics, I ain't lying! $1 off all drinks. I thought HH was a way to lure people in during traffic, while they serve decent sized meals and drinks at a fraction of the price! If you do come for food, you're better off ordering from the regular menu. Tried to order Bud Light on draft, bartender said it was flat, ok what about Coors Light then, she replies ok. So turns out the Coors was flat too, we asked to have it replaced for a bottle instead. She gives us the bottle, then turns around and asked "is it okay if i charge you for the bottle?", my bf said yea, but then I said so you're gonna remove the other flat beer from the tab right, she looks at the receipt & says well um, let me see if it's the same price! Ok, it is, ill just give u the bottle as an exchange. Wtf!! She was actually gonna charge us for the flat beer too!! My vodka and cranberry was 95% cranberry and 5% vodka, fail. This place nickel and dime you for everything! Oh, $1 charge to use plastic. Horray, they have regulars cuz us millennials know better! read more

See all

I have been going to Jolly Jug ever since I've been a kid. So its always fun to return for my favorite pastrami dip sandwich. Yum I like it now that it comes with an almond cookie Yes, changes, but pleasant ones. read more

Jolly Jug - Pastrami Dip, Fries, Cole Slaw Jolly Jug, El Monte - Diners Near Me - El Monte, California

See all

Top notch service and great, great food. You'll be surprised how good food is. Like a 5 star restaurant with a El Monte relax feel. You'll savor your food. read more

Food and service is good. Have gone to this restaurant for more than 50 years. Pastrami dip is the go to.

I've been coming here since 1986. Even after moving to Hawaii in 1996, it's always been on my must have list of restaurants to visit on my visits back to Southern California. The tossed green salad with the garlic dressing is unmatched. My favorite of all times. The beef dip with gravy dip is also one of my top sandwiches (Philipe's roast beef and The Original Tops pastrami round out my top 3). Glad to see them surviving. read more

First time with my over the hill gang siblings and spouses on the suggestion from a expired friend.(TMI) All I can say is do not let your eyes roll over the location and tired sign. The beef deep is better than Phillepe's and I will go back again as soon as I can. read more

Margaret is the best! She's so nice and funny. The service is great and the food is good and fresh. Highly recommend this place. I definitely will be coming back. read more

Excellent sandwiches, especially the dips. Best tasting anywhere! This is a must for sandwich lovers. You won't be sorry! read more

I was driving around as I met my mom as her car was being serviced and found this big disappointment. It's not a diner at all, fried rice is not a diner. Lady/owner desperately tries to sell it like it has the best pastrami in world and that their beef dip was rated on la weekly as number one. And been around for over 70 years. Bullshit! She did not start this restaurant and maybe it was good back in the days but not anymore. We ordered from the specials, mom ordered pastrami and I ordered steak and eggs. My mom was hungry and ate her bland sandwich without the nasty gravy they serve and was grossed out the entire time. My mom is polite while there but told me let's never come here again. about the squeeze bottles of sauce for even tapatío and Tabasco. Place is run down. I just want to insult it for all the flaws but here is what is real. They are liars and nothing is fresh. The Asian lady owner is delusional and they have no shame to serve such bullshit. Done. Actually one more thing, read all the 4 plus star reviews, those are bullshit too. read more

Legendary. Landmark since 1947. Bar is open til 2am Friday and Saturday 11pm every night otherwise. I hit it for lunch but a nice weekend hammer time is always fun. Support local landmarks like this. We need these places around!! read more

Great customer service. Food was amazing and everything tasted fresh. The owner is very friendly and warm. Parking was a little rough but it only took me about ten minutes to find a spot. read more

My family used to come here at least once a month. The dip sandwiches are fantastic. I'll admit I haven't been in yrs since we moved out of state but I am thrilled to see it is still open. I will make a point of dining here on our next visit to see family. read more

We got there somewhat early around 10 am. I thought it would have been more filled with locals, but there was only one other table. The cook let us know to take a seat anywhere we liked since he's the first person you see when walking in. The booths were very comfortable, music wasn't playing so we tried not to be loud for the other guest that were there. The menu is simple & I recommend the specials that they have. They don't have ice coffee, but the owner I'm assuming, went out of her way to make my boyfriend one & it had free refills compared to other places where they charge refills. It doesn't look like 5 star meal, but it tasted like one & honestly I would prefer this over Denny's. The hash browns was cooked crispy, they were so delicious & my boyfriend loved them. The toast was toasted & buttered perfectly. The pancakes aren't so fluffy like Norms or Denny's, but they were so good that I'm sure I'll be getting every time i go now. I lived in the city for years, but it was my first time eating there. We will be back again! read more

Jolly Jug - We both got the bacon & egg special, but I asked for sausage instead with a side of pancakes. - Diners Near Me - El Monte, California

What a surprise! Great food great service. The best fish and chip I have had in Los Angeles County. The service is fantastic.

First off the dining room is right out of the 70s But the food is great. The coleslaw has garlic which sounds weird but is amazing. The burgers fresh not frozen and the mash potatoes and gravy great. We will make it a regular. read more

Most like a real East Coast Diner since I found since I moved here. Simple fare, best fries in southern California. Nothing fancy, but totally real. Check it out! read more

I first heard of the Jolly Jug in a "Only Southern California" E-mail. A couple of days later we were heading back home from a trip to Montebello and we decided to look the place up. Mind you, this review was posted after only one trip to the restaurant. The menu is packed and takes some to get through, but what brought the Jolly Jug to the dance, is the sandwiches. Over the past decade, I have only eaten red meat a handful of times per year. I decided to stray off that regular path on this particular Sunday. I decided on the corned beef on an onion roll. When it came, the sandwich looked kind of small for the price. However, when I picked it up, it was rather weighty and stuffed with corned beef. Corned beef can be a risky proposition at times. Fat and toughness can be a regular part of corned beef sandwiches. This corned beef was anything, but that. In fact, it may have been the best corn beef I have ever tasted. It was shaved thin and was very, very lean. It literally melted in my mouth. It was truly amazing. My better half decided to order a cheese sandwich. A cold cheese sandwich on a french roll at that. Does not sound very exciting, but in reality, it was very tasty. However, one bite of my corned beef sandwich and she said, "we have to come back here again." My order came with fries and cole slaw. There were not a lot of fries and they were nothing different from the fries you can get at thousands of restaurants across the USA. But, that was fine. Who needs to eat a lot of fries anyway? The coleslaw was top shelf. It was not fancy, but was tasty and thankfully not over saturated with mayo. Nothing worse than coleslaw that is drenched in mayo. The only thing I did not care for was the fact that the sandwich came with a gravy for dipping that the owner said was made with pan drippings. I would have much preferred Au Jus. But in reality, the sandwich was so delicious, it did not need to be dipped in anything. The owner was more than friendly and went out of her way to answer our questions and explain things on the menu. Will be headed back for another round? Oh yeah! Gotta' give the turkey a try for sure. read more

I am surprised that not more people mentioned that this was featured in LAWeekly. http://www.laweekly.com/squidink/2010/10/22/best-french-dip-thick-gravy-division-jolly-jug Came here for Brunch and surprisingly, not everything was greasy. Our server was a nice Asian lady who also brought up that their French dip was featured in a magazine. She exaggerated that it was rated better than Philippe's. I still opted for eggs and hash browns though and my husband the corned beef hash. Not bad, we'll have to come back for the French dip next time. read more

If you like tight quarters, old-school stiff cocktails, dim lights (so you can see only what you need to see), red pleather, and a "juke box" that plays gangsta rap then this is the place for you!! In addition to the ambiance, I was really impressed by the way the owner of the jug helped me out as I sought to coordinate a "hosted" happy hour for my colleagues. The food was awesome - gravy!!! Au jus!!!! Fries!!! And of course, the beef dip were phenomenal. It's the people that make this place awesome!! Ill definitely be back :) read more

The Jolly Jug is an old school diner. Famous for their sandwiches, this place has been seemingly around forever. Beige Naugahyde booth adorn the small dining room. This is a mostly locals joint, where regulars often frequent. The Beef Dip is a large sandwich with loads of chopped beef on top of a French roll. The bread has a very thin, but super crunchy crust, while the interior is cottony soft. This is a straightforward sandwich, just meat and bread. What accompanies the sandwich is a different story altogether. Instead of au jus, a small bowl of gravy accompanies your sandwich for dipping. This is your standard brown gravy, but has a slight hint of something in the background, perhaps nutmeg. The beef was a little dry, but the gravy did its job in moistening the sandwich. The Pastramii Sandwich is unlike any that I have ever had before. The pastrami is not cured for a very long time, and has sort more of a brined flavor. This gives the meat a fresher, and somewhat saltier taste than your normal pastrimi. The meat is very lean and piled on high. As with the Beef Dip, the same gravy is served with the Pastrami. The Jolly Jug serves good food at a reasonable price, but more than anything is a bit of nostalgia. read more