Jolly Jug

The food here is garbage. The management is garbage. The condition of the building is garbage. It stinks and everything is old and falling apart. Décor is dingy and ugly. Food quality is cheap and greasy, just like the owner. Run from Jolly Jug if you can. I would only go for the legendary bartender named Simon.

The waiter charged me wrong on my meal during happy hour and told me to wait an hour for the manager to change it. What waiter doesn’t know how to change a mistake on a bill. Never coming here again.

I went in for brunch with my friend. We ordered 2 Cadillac margaritas, way water downed… and 3 pancakes for a grand total of $ 28!!! Too expensive for this small meal. Now I know why it’s always empty. Overpriced restaurant. There are better options out there.

Had lunch here Monday ! Use to be great but 19.00 for a pastrami and a order of onion rings and a ice tea for one is a outrages. The sandwich comes with cole slaw if you don’t say you want it you don’t get it and price is the same!
Help wanted sign in window for cook waitress & busboy ., sad to say

Local joint that my fiancé found. Food was great. We ordered the deluxe burger combo and the breakfast burrito, both entrees was very hearty.
The service was great. We were told the burger is made with fresh meat, not frozen patties, which explained why it was so juicy. I would definitely come back again and recommend this place.

The coleslaw is amazing just the right amount of Cheese and sauce garlic sauce sets it apart and super yummy! I love to get anything pastrami!!!

There’s nothing jolly about Jolly Jug. Tip: Make sure you provide ample time for breakfast. Service is very slow. 2 tables walked out during my visit due to wait time. The waiter got our drink order incorrect and the waitress got our meal order incorrect. The food was decent, comparable to Denny’s. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be giving this restaurant another chance.

I like the jolly jug. The décor isn’t great sure it needs updating. But the ppl are always pleasant. I’ve been coming here for years. The only reason why it’s a 3 is due to décor.

Decided to try something a little different since I drive by this place almost everyday. The service was amazing. Nice bartender took my order and helped with the menu. He passed me off to a Asian woman who I think may have been the owner due to her enthusiasm.
I tried the cheeseburger with wet fries and some chill cheese fries. She was right about the beef it was fresh and delicious. The chili fries were also great, was surprised to see they use a white bean chili that went really well with the fries. The gravy was the only thing that didn’t impress me. It wasn’t bad, just not great. Probably wouldn’t recommend the wet fries, but definitely the Jolly Jug.

Jolly Jug Restaurant is apparently known for their delicious beef dip sandwiches. About 1946, a Jewish lady from New York City settled in El Monte and opened the Jolly Jug Restaurant. Upon retiring at the age of 87, she sold this restaurant to the current owners who were Chinese from Hong Kong. The Chinese owners kept the original menu which included the beef dip, which was an old New York Jewish brisket recipe. That being said, we walked into this restaurant this morning for breakfast since we were in the area and the fact that I liked the vintage look of the place. Had no idea that this diner had been opened since 1946. The restaurant was dimly lit with wood paneled walls, one plastic flower in a bud vase on each table and curtained windows. The décor was old and worn with age, just like the elderly customers already seated at the tan vinyl booths. I ordered the Loco Moco plate which is eggs, stacked on a hamburger patty on rice and smothered with gravy. It came with sourdough bread which was pre-​buttered much too generously for my taste ($ 8.50). Ron ordered Breakfast Special No. 2 which was three flat, not fluffy, pancakes and two link sausages ($ 7.00). He was disappointed that the Special did not include eggs. The syrup for the pancakes came in little packages which led me to believe that customers don’t usually come here for their pancake breakfast menu. Coffee with unlimited refills was $ 2.10. Only one waiter bussed the tables, took the orders, and rang the checks. He was a very nice Asian man. Maybe he was the restaurant owners’ son? I would not recommend coming to Jolly Jug for breakfast. The restaurant has ample parking spaces in their own private lot. I liked the easy access and parking to this restaurant and therefore gave it three stars and subtracted two stars for the expensive, disappointing breakfast menu. However, I would some day like to return to try the beef dip sandwich which probably has helped to keep this establishment going since 1946.

I think their beef dips are just ok. The meat was dry but dipped in the gravy and au jus, it tasted better. But! the coleslaw is out of this world! I wish I had their garlic/​ranch type recipe for the dressing. Anyone know how they make it?

I came here once with my friend. It is a pretty run down restaurant. Inside is very dark. I would compare the menu and food quality to Denny’s just more expensive and better service.
I ordered of the breakfast menu and got an omelette with bacon, cheese, and sausages. It came very moist, maybe too moist because I thought it was a little undercooked. The hashbrowns here are decent though. Lightly seasoned it with salt and pepper.
Overall its a decent place, I probably wouldn’t return, since its was awkwardly dark and quiet.

Old school restaurant open since 1946. I ordered four lunch specials which included two pastrami and two Reuben sandwiches and each came with french fries. Three of these orders were for coworkers. I tried half of the pastrami and half of the Reuben sandwich and by far the Reuben was the best. The fries were okay, no big deal, but the Reuben received rave reviews back at the office when my coworkers took their first bite. I didn’t give the restaurant 5 stars because the fries were okay and they only give you a little bit.

DO NOT GO HERE! I’m shocked this place still exist for so long. Walked in with no greeting, but later on was greet by an old tiny lady. The dining area smells like urine. At the front register, they put random dishes and plates inside the glass counter, WITH DUST!
With the interior and dining condition, don’t need to say more about their foods. Came with my girlfriend one afternoon, we ordered their so-​called famous pastrami dips, famous? Not at all. It was bland bread wrapped around some cold meat. We also ordered the chili cheese fries, no flavor and taste watery.
Don’t waste your money here. Go down the block to other burger’s joint, its way better dining experience.

This place has cheap drinks, pretty good food considering what you pay for and large portions. Don’t know if I will ever be back for the food, but will most likely return with the family for drinks at the bar.

I was here for breakfast with my grandma who has problems walking. I want to Thank Roberto the dishwasher/​bus boy for helping us and being so so Kind.
I order a typical breakfast plate with 2 eggs, 2 sausage, potatoes and wheat toast for $ 7.25. It was great.
It’s a Mom&Pop place and I always drive by but this is the first time I ate here.
The service was good. The coffee continued to pour without having to ask :)

The food was surprisingly amazing! I ordered the pastrami and turkey club (I highly recommend the garlic ranch on the side to dip the fries in) and my friends ordered the beef and pork dip… We all loved it. The service was excellent. The owner even came by to check on us.
We will def be back!
Even the bartender was super sweet and helpful.
Cool place, great food, good jams!

Came in and was greeted right away. Always a good thing. Waitress was on top of her game with the drinks.
Ordered the Spencer Steak sandwich medium rare and that is exactly how it came out. Very tender. Fries were on point. Crispy enough but not too hard.
Left very full and satisfied.

I am surprised that not more people mentioned that this was featured in LAWeekly.
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.

Jolly Jug is the epitome of good ol’ fashioned diner. It’s sitting on the busy Peck Rd. around a hefty mixture of other diners, Asian restaurants, and Mexican restaurants.
The menu and the portions are equally as huge here. To keep it classic while completely blowing out my calorie count, I went with the corn beef and cole slaw sandwich and a side of chili cheese fries. The fresh cole slaw was great, and so was the corn beef!
The staff is very friendly here and the food comes out fast and hot. The prices are all reasonable and you’re guaranteed to leave with a full stomach!