I stumbled upon this Mongolian barbecue completely by chance. I was actually driving to a 7-Eleven when I saw an ad in the window for it. Honestly, I'd never tried Mongolian barbecue before, but this first experience blew me away. I'm so glad this place exists; I love supporting local businesses, and this one deserves a bigger spotlight. It's tucked inside a shopping center, surrounded by other stores, but parking was a breeze. I went on a weekday around noon, and they have a great lunch special which is $15.99 for one plate, or you can get the all-you-can-eat option for $21 or if you go for dinner time. I was torn between this and my usual craving for beef and broccoli from Panda Express, but I'm so happy I chose this spot. Once I walked in, a super friendly lady greeted me. she was fantastic. She explained the menu, walked me through everything, and you could tell she treated every customer like a VIP. The concept is so fun: you fill a bowl yourself with your choice of meat: chicken, beef, pork, or bacon and then veggies like broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, and more. You can pick exactly what you want, and they cook it in front of you in no time literally a minute or two. The fact that everything is fresh, and you can see every ingredient, made it even better. Plus, she surprised me with a little sesame seed topping and brought out a fresh bread with a sweet-and-sour dip which was really good. For just $16, it was an absolute steal. And she even mentioned a senior discount, which is a great touch. The decoration and table/chairs are a little outdated but no big deal. I left feeling so satisfied. this place is a gem, and I really hope more people discover it and keep it thriving. We need to support local businesses like this when the food is tasty and fresh, have a good friendly staff and prices are reasonable! read more

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I cannot believe I've lived in Covina for about five years and completely overlooked this spot. Not just the restaurant, but the entire shopping center it's in right off the 10 freeway next to Denny's. This place honestly felt like such a random rediscovery, and now I'm already planning to bring my grandparents back tomorrow because I know they're going to love it. First off, I really appreciated how straightforward the pricing was. They give you two options, either a one-time bowl for around fifteen dollars or all you can eat for a little over twenty. For a sit-down restaurant experience, that felt more than fair. And honestly, if you're even a little hungry, just go all in with the all you can eat because the whole concept is part of the fun. What really stood out to me though was the service. From the second we walked in, we were welcomed so warmly. She explained everything, helped us get set up, and made the whole process feel super easy, especially if it's your first time. At first I thought maybe she was going above and beyond because she saw us taking pictures, but then I noticed her interacting with other customers the exact same way. She was helping a gentleman at his table, checking in on everyone, refilling waters, just genuinely attentive without being overbearing. It felt natural, not forced. The food itself is exactly what you want from a Mongolian barbecue spot. You build your own bowl, choose your sauces, and they even give you a guide if you're not sure how to balance flavors. The sweet and sour sauce was honestly so good. Everything gets cooked right in front of you and comes out in what feels like under two minutes, steaming hot and fresh. If you're doing the one-bowl option, pro tip, stack that bowl high. If you're doing all you can eat, you can take your time and try different combinations each round. One thing that completely caught me off guard was the bread they had in the middle area. It was fresh, slightly sweet, and just really good. It's little things like that that make the experience feel more complete. And then what really sealed it for me was something small but meaningful. As we were leaving, I saw her helping an older woman, literally holding her hand and walking her out. That had nothing to do with us, nothing to do with a review, that was just who she is. That kind of genuine care is rare, and it stuck with me. Overall, this place is easily a five out of five for me. The food is good, the concept is fun, the pricing is fair, but the service is what really makes it stand out. It's the kind of spot you bring family to, especially people like my grandparents who would enjoy the experience of building their own plate and being taken care of at the same time. Safe to say I'll be back very soon. read more

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Very good hidden gem spot in West Covina for Mongolian BBQ, it is in a plaza so plenty of parking, and they offer one trip/bowl Lunch for $15.95 and dinner AYCE for $20.95 and offer to go options with box also Very tasty and good experience, only thing is they do not have lamb as a meat selection like usual Mongolian BBQ spot, but have great selection of veggies though Overall staff and service are friendly and on point mostly, and pretty chill place overall and definitely standard diner ambiance, pretty clean overall also Definitely very good place to stop by if you are in the area! read more

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I've been coming to this spot for years now and I always leave very satisfied and stomach 10x bigger (lol)! This restaurant is located in a small shopping center, where parking is never really a problem. They also have a somewhat unique hours for their business; lunch and dinner time. Lunch time is from 11-2:30pm, they close the restaurant in between and open up again for dinner at 5:00pm. During lunch you have the option of having only one plate for a cheaper cost or All You Can Eat for a bit higher price. Although for dinner it's a set price for AYCE, even if you only eat one plate (pace yourself)! Upon arriving the sweetest lady in the front will walk you or direct you to your table. Once you have an assigned table you can go right into self-serving yourself meats, veggies, and noodles. After you serve your plate, the cook puts it onto a huge grill and asks if you'd like their house sauce - I always say yes! Every visit has been great, and I definitely recommend trying at least once. There is plenty of seating inside but I recommend coming as soon as they're open; either for lunch or dinner! read more

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This place does AYCE Mongolian BBQ, but the pricing can be a little misleading. The price posted on the door is for one round only. If you want true all you can eat where you keep ordering more meat, it costs more. Just something to know before you go so you are not surprised. One thing I did notice is the meat quality seemed higher than most AYCE spots. The ingredients also felt fresher overall. That said, compared to other AYCE places I have been to, something felt like it was missing in the flavor. I am not sure if it was the marinades or the lack of a stronger house sauce, but it did not hit the same flavor wise. So while the meat quality is better, I am not sure it fully justifies the higher price compared to other AYCE MOngolian spots I have been to. read more

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I have been coming here for 20 plus years. Now that I have moved out of state I come back to get it when I visit! Everything is cooked in front of you. Lots of options. The cooks are fast, the food is stocked and kept clean. The egg flower soup is the best and I add the fried wontons to it. Yum! read more

Food ,service , was excellent . Our service was extremely attentive considering she was alone . Food was very fresh and the cook was friendly as well . Definitely recommend read more

Delicious. Real-homemade vibe. The service is excellent. Very welcoming. A true Gem amongst BBQ. A must stop when in town. read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - A plate of homemade goodness!! - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

I can't believe I've never reviewed this place, IT'S THE BEST. All you can eat for 19.95. The vegetables are fresh always and the meat is good. Usually quiet but they do play music. Watch out for when they get busy though cause it can take some time to get your food cooked. The women that runs the front of the house couldn't be any sweeter. Please make sure you visit them and try for yourself, i don't think you'll regret it read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Complimentary fried noodles and bread with sweet sauce - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

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I haven't been to one of these places before and I'm kind of happy I went to try out a traditional Mongolian-style BBQ. When you walk into this place it reminds me of the old school restaurants that I rarely see anymore. It has a nice style and to the left is where you pick the meat and veggies you want and put it in a bowl. After that, you hand it over to a guy who is going to put it on this huge round cooking grill. The lady here is super nice and honestly, I had a good time. It was my first time doing it and I loved how it turned out. I put more vegetables than meat in mine since I like vegetables more. But you can personalize this to your liking! read more

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Good food for a good value. The service was outstanding though. It isn't the easiest place to find if you're not from the area.

I've been coming to this restaurant since I was a kid. It's so nostalgic that a lot of things haven't changed, including the quality. The options are good, solid options for meat and veggies. They give some small sides like a flat bread you can stuff your noodles into, and some fried wonton strips. The service is quick, the chefs work real quick and the food comes out hot and tasty. They'll help you with the sauce combos if you ask too! AYCE is only for dinner, but if you load up a good plate for lunch you'll still be full. It's a mom & pop restaurant, if you're looking for a fancy experience this isn't it. but for a down-to-earth, the food is the star, kind of place come here. read more

Our family absolutely loves Emperor Mongolian BBQ! One of the best things about this place is that you get to build your own bowl exactly how you want it. They have a great selection of meats, plenty of fresh vegetables, and lots of sauce options so you can customize the flavor every time. Dinner is $17.99 for all-you-can-eat, which is a great value considering everything that's included. You also get wonton chips, bread, and soup with your meal, which makes it even more worth it. The food is always fresh, the portions are generous, and it's a fun experience creating your own combinations. Our family enjoys coming here and we keep coming back again and again. Definitely a spot we recommend if you like Mongolian BBQ! read more

I have been coming here for years. By far the best Mongolian BBQ. The food is great. Impeccable Service. Clean tables and booths. I have never been disappointed in my 80+ times I've been here. You will not be disappointed. read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

Lunch stop! Noodles! So delicious every time! The hostess is always friendly and helpful. Even when it's busy, you can usually get a table or booth fairly quickly. They are always refilling the veggies and noodles so you know it's fresh. Add the sauces and oils as much as you like. Ask for the house sauce in the grill for some extra flavor. Good prices, relaxed environment, and delicious food. One of my favorite spots. read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Meats, veggies, and noodles thrown in the grill to be cooked to perfection - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

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Food is always very fresh. The service is great. The price is very reasonable. The location is great, right off the 10 freeway.

this Mongolian noodle joint? Straight fire. Walked in smellin' like flavor already slappin' me in the face. Soon as they dropped that big ol' bowl in front of me, I knew it was game over. Noodles? Long, thick, chewy--like they been doin' squats in the kitchen. Veggies still got that lil' crunch, meat tender like it owed me money and finally paid up. And that sauce? Man, that sauce got me contemplatin' life choices, like "why I been eatin' Cup Noodles when THIS exist?" They let you pile yo' bowl like it's a buffet challenge--bruh, I stacked mine so high it looked like a Jenga tower. Cook flippin' it on that hot grill like he DJ'in a whole mixtape, clangin' the spatulas, got the crowd entertained AND fed at the same time. Price? Solid. Plate heavy enough to knock out an NFL linebacker. I tried to finish it all, stomach said "nah fam, we tappin' out." Had me boxed up leftovers like I just robbed the spot. Overall? 11/10. That's noodle nirvana. read more

Came here with my family for the first time and enjoyed the service and food. We were creative in our selections and made some plates with noodles and some without. The beef tends to be chewier than the pork and chicken. The fried wonton help add a crunch to the meal. The pockets, however, are more like sesame bread and are not hollowed out, so you cannot stuff them - therefore, no noodles would be my preference to avoid too many carbs. Worth checking out at lunch (one serving) if you don't want to do an all you can eat dinner. read more

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A good place for Mongolian BBQ, very clean, attentive staff, quick and easy! Definitely recommend for a good price for good food and fast service! The choice of ingredients is decent and the cook definitely knows what he's doing! While I did say the choice of ingredients is decent, it's not extensive by any stretch. They definitely had the veggie basics, squash, sprouts, broccoli, celery, and a few others. Unfortunately there were no mushrooms, which was disappointing. I'd give this place a strong 4 stars for good service and a decent basic variety of ingredients. With the cook would probably bring it up to 4 1/2 stars because he definitely knew what he was doing. And it bears repeating that the waitstaff was especially attentive! read more

This Mongolian BBQ is honestly a gem. The service is always amazing, the food is absolutely delicious. They got a good range of meats and a decent amount of veggie options. Their house sauce is amazing as well. They have a great atmosphere too! definitely recommend! read more

Trying this place after a few years. All seems the same. Staff is really nice and the guy working the grill area was too. The meats are average quality and when cooked can be a bit chewy. Veggies appear to be fresh but sauces were not filled completely halfway and this was during dinner time. Someone was constantly cleaning and making sure the buffet area was clean which is a plus. This is a quick place for us to stop by and get a bite. Overall average AYCE experience since there's not much to choose from the meats just chicken pork and beef and veggies were basic, broccoli spinach green onions parsley carrots bell peppers etc. nothing fancy. read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Weekday dinner. - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

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Emperor Mongolian BBQ is by far my favorite Mongolian BBQ spot. I've been coming here for a couple years now and I seriously can't find another place that compares. It is amazing! The service is great and they are constantly giving you refills on your drink when needed. The chips and bread at the table are so good and the selection is great. It has a homey vibe perfect for any day. read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

Good price for lunch and dinner. It is buffet. I've been in this place for many years. The service is okay. This place is next to the freeway among other businesses. read more

Been a loyal customer for 20+ years. Inside is cute and comfortable, a little outdated but it feels nostalgic. Service is always wonderful. The owners are always on top of drink and side refills. The food: amazing. Whenever in the area or in the mood for something Asian, this is my go-to. Always hits the spot! read more

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A hidden gem in West Covina! My family has been coming here for years, so much so that the staff remember their drink orders haha. This is a no-frills restaurant with quick service that doesn't disappoint. When you arrive, you seat yourself and are promptly provided with complimentary sesame bread and wonton strips with sweet and sour sauce. You only get one trip through the buffet, but they offer a good variety of protein, veggies, and sauces to create your own Mongolian BBQ bowls. The guys on the grill quickly serve up your food. They're really friendly and my family makes sure to tip them separately as well. If you have any leftovers, they can provide you with a to-go box. Overall, I truly have no complaints about this place. It's a local favorite that I look forward to visiting whenever I'm in SoCal. read more

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Love this hidden gem! There is just something about a restaurant with wood panelled walls that just adds a little something to the atmosphere. Food is 10/10 with all the traditional meat choices vegetables in abdance and sauces galore! The Hispanic chef is very friendly and the lady running the dinning room is on roller skates! I love it here! read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

I used to come to this place when it first opened and the food and service was amazing. It was an experience eating here. I just took my mom for her birthday and i kid you not everything ran like a machine. Very little input from staff everyone knew what time it was and what the whole reason was for. Me and my family didn't enjoy the experience. read more

Honestly this place is awesome. This food is great and it's all you can eat. We've been going for years and will continue to go back.

Super delicious food! It's basically buffet style and you go fill your own bowl/plate with whatever you want and then they cook it in front of you! It's $15.95 per person for lunch and it's one trip only, it's $20.95 per person for dinner and it's all you can eat! The staff is extremely friendly and personable, you can tell they truly care about their customers, quality of food, and comfortable atmosphere! read more

There are new owners which is usually a bad thing. Not this time it was wonderful before but he got rid of a few items I liked. The new owner was pretty smart. I like lamb but I know it is expensive. Will they charge a few dollars if you want that. Great idea. Sometimes I want it, sometimes I do not. And they they brought back my favorite thing for my Mongolian plate, water chestnuts the old owner had discontinued them. They got a perfect score on the inspection. There were no violations. Which I understand because the place is always so clean and the staff is always working so hard. This is my favorite place to go. Second is Red Robin. In cypress. I live in Whittier. But. I do not mind driving. They are better than the local ones. I'm guessing that's him. read more

Stopped in for lunch with 3 coworkers. Plenty of parking available in this strip shopping center. Not fancy, but good food and excellent service. Buffet style to fill up your plate, then give it to the chef to grill up Mongolian style. On my visit, there were 3 different meat selections (Chicken, Pork, and Beef), noodles, vegetables, and about 10 various sauces. Lunch is one (1) plate only, but dinner is AYCE, and only $4/person more. We're all pretty big eaters, and we left very full. I'm sure we'll be back. read more

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One of the few all you can eat Mongolian bbq places. Prices when I went are $18.95 per person and that came with fried wonton with sweet and sour sauce as well as some bread. The lady behind the counter was a champ being a one person army handling the whole front area. This place is mostly self service where you go up and get your own bowl. The chefs cook it up quite fast but be warned don't overdo the sauce because it'll be salty. Meat was pretty tasty and I enjoyed the noodles. Mediocre selection of different meats (had beef, pork, chicken and shrimp was extra) as well as decent veggie selection. I only was able to survive two rounds since it was so heavy. I'm not sure how I feel about the price since I only had two plates worth but I do like the freedom where you can come back for multiple rounds. Overall great food, definitely a hole in the wall vibe. read more

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Feeling hungry for lunch? Look no further than Emperor Mongolian BBQ! When I'm in West Covina, I come here when I'm craving a big bowl of noodles, meat and veggies. I'm glad this place has survived through COVID. When entering, the staff will ask where you'd like to sit and then you go up to grab a bowl and fill it with your personalized assortment of meats (chicken, beef, pork), veggies, noodles and sauces. If it isn't busy, you can take your sweet time to carefully stack the ingredients to maximize the value for your money. Once your bowl is ready, simply hand it off to the chef who will cook it for you. There is a tip jar and some additional seasonings and sauces. Once you sit down, you'll be greeted by a warm piece of bread along with a basket of wonton strips and a side of sweet and sour sauce. You are now ready to enjoy! Overall it is a pleasant experience. The selection of ingredients and procedures may be confusing at first, but feel free to ask a staff member if you have any questions! read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Mongolian BBQ - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

Cute little family owned spot. I have been wanting to try it for a long time and finally made it in today. Everything was fresh and delicious. Staff was friendly and helpful . Will for sure be back soon read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Came back today for a quick lunch. Server was super sweet and playful with my son . Food is super good - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

EM BBQ is definitely a hidden gem of the WCSGV. Tucked away in a shopping center off Grand Ave... Emperor Mongolian is definitely a must try if you are looking for an authentic food experience. The customer service is excellent and the food and sauces are so flavorful. The EM BBQ has made my Platinum List of must tries... I definitely recommend and definitely a loyal customer. My mom Twinkie absolutely loved her food... ate everything. Let me know what you think of your dining experience. So let it be written... So let it be EATEN!! read more

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this was my first time at an actual mongolian bbq restaurant! this place was so worth the money. i got a huge pile of food with appetizers for a decent price point! the food was alright, but i would come again because of the price point! read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

This place is great. I stopped by recently to try it for lunch. There were a few tables filled. They seated me right away and took my drink order. The service was great! I went to create my plate. I added beef, chicken, and noodles to my plate and a little of all the veggies they had. They had a nice variety, which included: jalapeños, baby corn, zucchini, ginger, cabbage, mushrooms, spinach, peppers, carrots, broccoli, cilantro, and onions. I also liked that they had different types of sauces. I tried the garlic, kung pao, and lemon sauces. The cook also asked me if I wanted my dish spicy. My plate came out spicy and delicious. I will be stopping by again! read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - My creation - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

Nothing beats AYCE with great services. Ample parking available and price is so worth it.

This place is such a hidden gem! I've only ever had Mongolian inside a mall food court and I decided to try this restaurant out and it was so good! It's self serve and then once you fill your bowl you hand it to the chef. They also give you these two little appetizers with the purchase of your bowl. The food was all amazing and the service was top notch. Good job to the waitresses! You guys have amazing service read more

Emperor Mongolian BBQ - Mongolian Near Me - West Covina, California

l'll be back just for service Alone! The lady who greeted us ( not sure if the owner ) was super sweet and welcoming. By the time we got our food and sat down the crispy wonton and sweeet and sour along with the bread was already at the table. They have an all you can eat option , a to go option and a dine in option. Clean station and food is out really fast. Amazing Note: the outside sign only says MONGOLIAN GRILL GO INSIDE AND ENJOY ! read more

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