Ruby B.B.Q. Food — Restaurant in South El Monte

My parents really wanted to try this place out after my dad heard some pretty good reviews from a friend. It isn't located in a convenient restaurant area place, so you do have to drive out to El Monte if you're not in the area. A pretty small restaurant with maybe about 10 or less tables. They have lunch specials that range from $5.99 and up and if you dine in, they give you a large bowl of soup!

The dishes came out quite slow. We actually got each one, almost finished it, before getting the next. The overall quality wasn't bad though. We ordered the chinese broccoli sauteed with diced fish (not sure if that's the English name) - good dish but not enough of the fish. The house special chicken wasn't as tasty as other places (Tasty Garden, etc). The chicken was warm and tasted like it had been overcooked! Usually this type of chicken is served cold/lukewarm.

The two redeeming dishes were the roasted duck and the roasted pork belly. The roasted pork belly is a must try. Small pieces of really really good pork belly with just the right amount of pork, the pork fat and the crispiness from the skin. You didn't even need the BBQ sauce! And the roasted duck (which came really really late because they said they needed to cook it extra in the oven or something) was also really good. A pretty big plate of duck (more than Sam Woo's) and the skin was crispy and the meat was tender. The sauce wasn't too flavorful, but still a good dish.

We came in around 1 on Saturday and the restaurant was pretty empty. But after we sat down, a lot of different tables came in, too! They only accept cash. The service could be a bit friendlier, (I guess I'm used to people saying "thank you! come again soon! after walking out whereas the workers just stared at us as we left) and the dishes could be served in a timelier manner, but I definitely recommend the pork belly and...

I read a review of this restaurant at the beginning of the pandemic in San Francisco several years ago. Their specialty is the crispy roast pork belly and I would give it 5 stars hands down if you buy it as a take out. They will give you a better cut. I bought a take out during my initial visit and it was great. My family & I ate it in the car 🚗 and it was memorable. I couldn't wait for the follow up visit. This time they were open for dine in. We made the mistake and ate there. The menu said free soup and free rice with the entrée. No soup or rice served on the day we went. It didn't matter but the waiter said we had to pay for the rice as it was no longer free. We asked for a bowl 🥣 and it came with the 2 entrées we ordered, roast duck and double portion of crispy roast pork belly. It came and the duck was tuff and the meat of the pork belly was drier than the bottom of my shoe. It was miserable so don't dine in. They were extremely busy at the lunch hour and the waiter was extremely rude. Prior to us getting the entrées I ordered 2 pork belly lunches to go. Having had the bad experience with the dine-in, I was going to refuse the take outs. Fortunate for me I opened the boxes to check. The pork belly was fresh and the portion was more than the entrée and included rice and bok choy. Not bad for $11.99 as opposed to $16.99 for the double portion of pork belly without rice. I'm not saying I will not return. I will go there from now on and take out. I'm hoping post pandemic that they will improve on their in-dining customer service. The ratings from above...

Ruby BBQ in El Monte is a hidden gem for those looking for delicious and flavorful Chinese cuisine. Their famous roasted pork and duck are a must-try, and the portions are generous and reasonably priced.

Every year during Chinese New Year, we purchase their roasted pork and duck to add to our New Year’s eve feast. Today we came here dined in for the first time and were impressed with the lunch special dishes including Chinese broccoli with Chinese sausage, roasted pork, and fried garlic pork ribs. Each dish was packed with flavor and satisfying.

What sets Ruby BBQ apart from other restaurants is the added bonus of free rice and soup with their lunch specials. The family-owned atmosphere is also a plus, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. The restaurant may only have a few tables, but the taste of their food more than makes up for it. The fact that they roast their meats three times a day to ensure freshness is a testament to their commitment to quality.

In conclusion, if you're looking for authentic and delicious Chinese cuisine, look no further than Ruby BBQ in El Monte. Their famous roasted pork and duck, along with the other tasty dishes, make this restaurant...