Casa Jimenez — Restaurant in Monrovia

I got stuck eating here while I waited for AAA, but thought it would be good because I live close to 2 other locations (Glendora and Claremont) of Casa Jimenez and have never been disappointed by the delicious food. The first thing my server told me was that this location was better, they're all different owners. But that wasn't my experience. I sprung for the 3 options plate that used to be all you can eat so I could try more things, and got it with the meatball soup and a coffee. Coffee was $4 so with tax and tip it was $30, and they offered no refills on the coffee. The salsas were too hot for me to enjoy so I didn't fill up on chips and salsa. I didn't get any rice, just beans, so I wish I could've substituted getting both soup AND a salad but I just got the soup. I actually didn't bother to ask if they would also bring me a salad because the menu says no substitutions. The chili relleno and chili verde were very tasty. But I have given a low rating for the food because my third choice was carnitas and it was by far the worst carnitas I have ever had in my life. I ordered carnitas, not chicharrones. Nothing but dry crunchy burnt edges and big globs of greasy nasty fat. I kept spitting it out into my napkins which is a gross thing to have to do in a restaurant. But if you have to, you have to, you can't swallow it. I couldn't stomach it and I love carnitas. Never got served anything that bad 😞 at other Casa Jimenez locations. If it wouldn't have been getting close to closing time and the ETA of my AAA roadside service, I might've insisted that they bring me a different 3rd option or make some decent carnitas for me. And a refill on my coffee. Really really left me a...

Stopped by this restaurant on a whim after visiting Roger Dunn, wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The space felt inviting, to my delight, we were welcomed with complimentary starter chips and salsa that were scrumptious! The chips were perfectly crisp, and we enjoyed both the spicy and mild salsas—they were packed with flavor and set a great tone for our meal. We arrived around noon, and I was pleased to see a variety of everyday specials, including enticing lunch deals. I decided to try the two hard-shelled tacos paired with a shredded beef burrito, while my partner opted for the lunch special flautas. The presentation was appealing, and I could see that care was taken in the dish assembly. However, there was a significant downside: the food itself lacked seasoning. Despite the vibrant ingredients and potential for flavor, the dishes tasted rather bland, which was disappointing and unfortunately brought my rating down by a star. A dash of spice or seasoning would elevate these dishes to match the ambiance and overall quality of the service, which, I must say, was excellent! Our server was attentive and friendly, making our dining experience pleasant. I’m definitely looking forward to returning and giving this place...

Let's start with the best part of this restaurant: the service. Our server was polite and attentive while being alone and having multiple tables, he was able to wait on everyone in a timely manner. He was amazing.

Next, the atmosphere in the restaurant looks rushed and shoddy. It is too cramped inside with a small serving bar next to a table. Doesn't seem well thought out.

Finally, the food was mediocre at best. The thing that saved my plate were the home style potatoes with my huevos a la Mexicana. The eggs were bland, the veggies were mushy (probably freezer burned and under-prepared), the chips were extra greasy. The tortillas with the meal were nothing special, but regular tortillas.

Don't get me wrong the food might be prepared that way on purpose to uphold their recipes, but it left me feeling unsatisfied and wanting to go elsewhere. Perhaps, I experienced a "Monday pizza" here since it was a Monday.

I didn't see any blatant health violations like at other restaurants, so it may warrant a second visit. My verdict if you already like this place keep going there. If you haven't been there, then don't worry you aren't missing out on...