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Happy Family Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Restaurants Chinese Vegetarian, Chinese [Edit]
500 N Atlantic BlvdSte 171
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 282-8986
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Kevin N. said: "So I came here with a group of 5 for a family style dinner and indeed, nothing is more family oriented then sharing a hot pot of broth together. We ordered a bunch of stuff, I really enjoyed the lamb, the mochi, and the ramen.…" read more »
261 reviews for Happy Family Restaurant
Review Highlights
"but my favorite dish hands down is the house chicken."
(in 53 reviews)
"I always opt for the "all you can eat" menu."
(in 28 reviews)
"35: Vegetarian Soy Fish with Hot Bean Sauce."
(in 6 reviews)
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261 reviews in English
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Review from Hanna L.
Cerritos, CA
2/4/2012
Service is HORRIBLE.
With that being said, I love the food and would definitely come back again for their lunch specials and all you can eat menu.
If your stuck between rice or bread, opt for the bread and mung bean porridge, because you can get rice and corn soup anywhere (this is coming from a corn soup lover!).
However if I had a choice between this restaurant and Happy Veggie Garden in Diamond Bar for lunch.... hands down, Veggie Garden wins. Though they don't have an ayce menu, their food quality, service, and lunch special options (same price as happy family) are much better.
For dinner, I would come here, because its much cheaper and worth it to get ayce.
p.s. Don't be surprised! Their sweet and sour chicken is really sweet and sour fried mushroom and not the tofu stuff! -
Review from Richard C.
Long Beach, CA
1/31/2012
this place was OKAY. It wasn't great compare to the other one. It's not a 4 stars, but it's more of a 3.7 stars.
Their corn and tofu soup was good. This was a 4/5
The kidney basil was 3.5/5, if it wasn't too oily when I had it, it would've been a 4/5
The basil eggplant was good, but it was a little bit too salty. I gave this one a 3.5/5
The fried noodle was good. 4/5
There was a dish that looked like a fried fish that was crispy with sesame over it, which was great. 5/5 -
Review from Diana L.
1/18/2012
I've said it before and I will say it again: it takes Asian cuisine to make vegetarian food tasty AND inventive.
Typical American vegetarian food: steamed squash, imitation meat that actually tries really hard to taste/look like meat, and veggie burgers. Booooooring.
I wish this restaurant was closer so I could go all the time! -
Review from N N.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012
This place is fantastic. Hands down the best vegan authentic Chinese food in both the LA and OC areas.
I've been eating here for roughly 10 years and through all three of their location moves. And I've had them cater a few birthdays and graduations.
I will continue to eat here until this place shuts it's doors. -
Review from Irene J.
Monterey Park, CA
2/4/2012
This one is not as good as I was expected.
I like the old one a lot better than this new one. -
Review from Matthew B.
Los Angeles, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great! Very creative use of vegetables!
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Review from Stephanie L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/13/2012
I'm always down to try new food, this time a friend of mine took me to Happy Family Restaurant.
I LOVE meat.
I am totally a carnivore.
I felt like I was betraying that part of me by stepping into this restaurant, but I tried my best to keep an open mind.
We got this "fried chicken" dish and "fish" entree. At first, everything tasted good and flavorful. Unfortunately, you can definitely tell that it is a meat substitute. I wasn't entirely convinced. The more of the chicken and fish I ate, the less I enjoyed it. Not sure if it was the consistency of the meat, or what. It just didn't taste right to me and started to make my stomach feel a little uneasy.
Perhaps it was the dishes I tried, but I was a little disappointed with the food.
The service was fabulous though, and incredibly friendly, which was nice.
There's a huge parking lot right next to it, that is also used for a number of other restaurants and a movie theatre. -
Review from Lisa C.
Downey, CA
1/28/2012
Their menu is huge so you have lots of options. Of course all of them are vegetarian and chinese, but still. The food tasted very fresh and healthy. The vegetables were still crispy, and tasted like they just cooked them right when we ordered them. The eggplant in black pepper sauce pot was delicous and contained lots of meat substitute. This is a great place to go when you feel like you need to be eating more vegetables, even if you're a meat eater like me. Your meal will come with a delicous pot of jasmine herb tea. And a fortune cookie. The restuarant is large and clean and in an outdoor mall.
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Review from Christy C.
Alhambra, CA
1/5/2012
This place is super overrated!
The service is horrible..
The waitress gave me the bill before I even finished my dish.
I wasn't even finished eating and she was glaring at me impatiently so she could clear my table.. It wasn't even at all busy either (no one was waiting to be seated)
The food was nothing special. I have had far better vegetarian food, compared to here. The porridge tasted like NOTHING! I was very disappointed with the Kung pao chicken also.. It consisted mostly of peanuts and onions.. I'm never coming back here again! Sorry. -
Review from Katrina G.
Monterey Park, CA
12/9/2011
This place is great! THE PORTIONS ARE HUGE!
It's mostly chinese food type dishes, but all made with vegetarian substitutions. My bf and I ordered the most basic foods to start, which was their orange "chicken" and the chow mein with tofu. We ate everything! Which is a big plus for me, since I almost always end up taking food home as left overs. The plates are all reasonably priced and like I said earlier, the portions are huge, but delicious.
The only quirk to this place, is that sometimes the waiter/waitress doesn't speak well-enough english to understand your order. Recently I came here and asked for tofu in the chow mein and for some sweet & sour sauce on the side. They brought us a bowl of sweet & sour sauce with chopped up tofu squared being soaked in it. The chow mein never came to us and we were never charged for it either. It was definitely an interesting visit. -
Review from Sivyu C.
Signal Hill, CA
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
First off, I'm not vegetarian but I don't eat a lot of meat. On the other hand, my husbter is super carnivorous.
We went here and had a banquet style lunch:
- sweet and sour "pork": made of deep fried mushrooms, great!
- stir fried green beans
- tofu and shitake mushrooms: braised deep flavor
- chow fun
- pea shoots
- beef and broccoli: i really liked this. the beef was little sheets of gluten
- stir fried eggplant with basil
- cashew "chicken": nice, but meh, probably because i hate water chestnuts
I really liked it here and would definitely come back if I was in the neighborhood. The hubster really liked it too. -
Review from Raul M.
Sun Valley, CA
1/18/2012
Im not a vegetarian but this place was great...fish was good though not real fish. Id recommend it to friends
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Review from Mika C.
Pasadena, CA
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
we come here whenever my brother is in town cuz he's a vegetarian. but i wouldn't mind coming here myself. they make plain veggies taste great. you don't even think about meat when you're there. the only complain i think someone may have for this place is that the servers can come across as abrupt, especially if you don't speak Chinese. since I do, i know they don't mean to be rude, but it's just the tone can be misconstrued that way. Chinese places aren't really known for their service. If you're used to that, you'll like this place. they get you what you need, but don't stick around to chit-chat or pretend they're your friend like some "American" restaurant servers do. i prefer it this way.
my favorite dishes are: basil eggplant, fried "chicken" which is really mushroom, and vegetarian fish with black sauce. -
Review from Nick H.
11/9/2011
Veggies, Fake Meat, Cheap Lunch...all in under 30 minutes!
Conveniently located right off the 10 Fwy at Atlantic. This place has super easy parking. You can park, walk to the restaurant, eat, back to your ride in about 30 minutes. Nice. Later in the evening might be a different story.
I had a cashew chicken dish and a beef plate. I think broccoli beef. Regardless, the veggies are super fresh and tasty. I guess if you are a fan of "fake" meats and poultry, this place is for you.
The ladies working here have their own style. My hostess had bright red hair that pretty much lit up the whole restaurant with a vibrant PiPi Longstocking fun vibe!
Overall, this place was AOK for me. I like the real deal. MEAT! Nice Juicy Meat! The plus side is that the lunch items on the menu are super cheap. A party of two can leave here with a bill of 12 bucks (without tip) and in under 30 minutes. That makes me almost a fan, but more than AOK. The waitress could be a bit more pleasant and at least make it seem like they want to be there.
3.5 Stars! -
Review from Greg N.
11/8/2011
We are family!
I got all my memories with me!
We are family! Hey hey hey hey ee-aw
C'mon everybody sing!
Daddy used to be a vegetarian
'Til he married mom (oh!)
She couldn't help but eat beef and chicken
And pork was the bomb!
But sometimes dad was very insistent
Wanted only plants (ah!)
Teenage me, mom, and dad went to 'Family
To satisfy dad's demands
We are family!
I got all my memories with me!
We are family! Hey hey hey hey ee-aw
C'mon everybody sing!
It's almost twenty-five years later
The restaurant's moved two times
The thick-rimmed glasses waitress still remembers me
Though I'm past my prime
Every time, I get house chicken with sesame
Crunchy tangy good
The stuffed fried tofu pockets with spinach
Delicious and so healthy like veggie gourmet food should
We are family!
I got all my memories with me!
We are family! Hey hey hey hey ee-aw
C'mon everybody sing!
Now I go with mom or with wifey
Daddy's passed away
As I eat the fake pork, squid, and broccoli
My heart heavy weighs
I think of all the good times at 'Family
Eating my veggies
Cherish all the times with your loved ones
Share as many meals as you can with them. Please!
We are family!
I got all my memories with me!
We are family! Hey hey hey hey ee-aw
C'mon everybody sing! -
Review from Karen Y.
11/13/2011
I came for the "all you can eat" menu one night with my bf. Pretty cool that they have an all you can eat to begin with. We started off ordering four dishes and then two at a time after. We got:
- House chicken
- Stir fry string bean
- Soy sheets with bamboo
- Squab in lettuce cups
- Fried noodles with vegetables
- Sweet and sour fish
- Fried tofu
I think I loved the house chicken the most. It was a bit vinegar-y but the texture was really good. I felt like the squab was too crunchy and just a bunch of fried won ton skins. The soy sheet with bamboo and fried noodles were a bit bland. Everything else was tasty.
I've also come before for the lunch special and had their tofu in brown sauce and kung pow chicken. Both are also very tasty. -
Review from Karl H.
Los Angeles, CA
11/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Crafting an appetizing, flavorful mock meat is extremely difficult. Anyone who's ever sunk their teeth into a disappointing veggie burger knows what I mean. Patties made from rancid fungus and scrotum-like soy protein..."beef" with a flavor somewhere between marzipan and damp construction paper. It's a genuine bummer.
Thankfully, we have Taiwan. Drawing from a deep Buddhist culinary tradition, the Taiwanese arguably produce the world's finest mock meats. "Duck" with the smoky flavor and crispy skin of a tender waterfowl. "Chicken" that deceives the most cynical carnivore with its hearty texture. Even "scallops" that impart the mineral brine of ocean kelp. If you need proof, raid the freezers at Silom Market in Thai Town.
But therein lies the problem.
After tasting delicious mock dishes at Vegetarian Dim Sum House in Manhattan and Bulan in Silver Lake, Happy Family simply falls short. Instead of proper mock meats, every dish is a variation on mushrooms and fried soy, slathered in a syrupy brown oyster sauce. The "All You Can Eat" option is tempting, but eventually you'll grow tired of shoveling yet another mouthful of salty vegetable mass into your gob.
There are a few standouts. I enjoyed their "short ribs" and and crispy house chicken--not because they resembled the actual dishes but due to their unusual texture. The fried steamed bread is tasty if somewhat pedestrian. It's also an exceptionally affordable restaurant if you need to entertain vegetarians with a burning hunger.
So is it worth the drive? Probably not. There's an art to vegetarian meats and you won't find much evidence of it here. But it's not terrible for groups and offers a legitimate--if narrow--glimpse into the glorious restaurant scene of Monterey Park. Stop in if you'd like, but remind yourself there's a broader world just waiting to be unthawed! -
Review from Catalina K.
Pomona, CA
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here with a vegetarian friend & I will come back with or without her. This place is AWESOME! So being my first time I did not know anything about the all you can eat... was sad to find out about it after placing my order. (I LOVE AYCE...)
Any hoo... I wasn't expecting much. Thinking FAKE meat products...How good can they be? ANSWER: pretty darn good.
So... as long as you don't know it's not real meat... it's really good~! :) -
Review from alvarez p.
Los Angeles, CA
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ok for someone who is vegan this is the place to go! It is by far the most delish place ever! Besides the fact that you don't have to worry about what you are eating.
Almost everything we order was delicious. Except a one of their plates, which at this very moment I can not recall the dam name. ( now this is going to eat me alive)
What made it a 2 star is the fact that their service sucked balls! The server was pushy, rude and trying to hurry us up when were ordering. I get it you are on a time crunch but if you expect a tip relax! After the treatment we had our check given to us we left a tip but apparently this tip was not enough and our server made sure to remind us that we needed to leave more.
I like their food but their treatment? Yeah not thanks so it will be the last time I'll go there. Sad I actually enjoyed what I had eaten.... -
Review from Melinda L.
Los Angeles, CA
11/6/2011
An interesting Chinese-Vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Monterey Park. It was impressive to try out foods that were not meat, yet tasted like the real thing.
Had a fun experience with friends that included a full-course meal including vegetarian squid, chicken and tofu. All made with exciting flavors and sauces. My favorite was the eggplant, which was sauteed in this brown sauce that was just amazzzzing!
Would definitely return here for a delicious treat without meat! -
Review from Fatima N.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 11/13/2011
One of my favorite restaurants...and the few that elicits an immediate happy response.
Everything here is amazing. Some did not like the fish but it was ok for me.
Try the "All You Can Eat" option. They serve you these dishes in small plates for two to three people.
My favorites:
House chicken, Eggplant and basil, tofu, and corn "egg drop" soup. I'd try new things but I tend to stick to my favorites. Amazing food.
AFTERWARDS: Go to Yogen Fruz next door for a Ferrero Rocher Yogurt!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/3/2011
Amazing food, the equivalent of heaven for a vegan/vegetarian. I thought I would never taste sesame… Read more »
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Review from Lina L.
Alhambra, CA
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first vegetarian restaurant and I have to say it was very good. Two of my friends and I went here last night and all of us got the "all you can eat" for $14 each. The lady said we are able to order about six dishes and then three dishes after, the catch was there was a limit. After eleven to twelve plates (serving size are small compare to regular serving size dishes). Service was good, but one of the lady kept rushing us to order more.
After we were done and stuffed! We got our check total of $45 and my friend gave a $2 TIP; a gratuity (a voluntary additional payment made for services rendered). Yeah I find it cheap for tipping, but hey he paid for dinner. Not going to complain hha..
We were preparing to leave and one of the ladies walked up to our table and trying to hustle us for more TIP, we looked at each other and we were like WTF?! is she serious?! She said that it was their "POLICY" for us to leave them a 10% TIP. REALLY!? I told my friend to take back the $2 TIP, after that they didn't deserve any TIP but he didn't and we just left $2 on the table.
Will there be a NEXT time?? Yes, but no TIPPING if they are going to come to me and complain. Sorry! -
Review from A C.
Glendora, CA
1/22/2012
Great place to go once in a while!
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Review from Jose A.
Los Angeles, CA
8/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty smashing. Not every dish is a knock-out, but it is consistently tasty vegetarian meals. Even if you are not vegetarian, you will most likely find the food to your liking.
We always order the all-you-can eat menu, which is extensive but not all inclusive. Even so, enough variety is here that you'll be more than happy with your choices. The crispy-chicken based meals and the fish ones are particularly tasty.
One of the great things about this place is that its kind of in a cross roads of neighborhoods, so that is often filled with people from all walks of life and many cultures. The staff is inviting and knowledgeable, and just the right amount of attentive, and everyone is welcome.Listed in: For Friends Visiting LA: Eat…
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Review from Frankie S.
Monterey Park, CA
12/17/2011
Great place to eat! Almost everything on the menu is good. I always order the General Tzu's Chicken and the deep fried buns. Convenient parking and AMC is just a few steps away. I highly recommend this place!
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Review from Stephanie C.
Vista, CA
10/13/2011
Love, love, love this restaurant!
I used to eat at the old location and once they moved to this new one..I still enjoy coming back.
The prices are reasonable and the quality of the food is pretty good.
My favorites are the "chicken nuggets" and the kung pao "chicken". They are both very addicting dishes! Mmm crave worthy.
Believe me, I enjoy eating meat a lot..But after coming to this place, I can forget about meat and happily eat without it (knowing I'm also eating healthy).
(I knocked down a star, since there were some dishes that I thought was okay...but I do have more favorites than those I don't favor) -
Review from jaccee c.
Alhambra, CA
12/5/2011
horrible place. last time we went cuz of my grandmas bday.
we were in a large group, but they didnt give us the inside tables and placed us to sit on the tables outside.
asked if we could move the tables together, but they rudely said we cant.
when ordering, the lady gave us attitude like we were wasting her time.
the food isnt good compared to the one in rosemead. everything is bland and tasteless.
as for the bill, my grandma paid ahead of time. so afterward the damn lady came to us and said, 'okay heres your change back, but you needa pay tip, and the change here isnt enough, so you gotta pay me more money.' -_-
wtf?
horrible service. never coming here again. -
Review from Debbie M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/6/2011
I'm not a vegetarian, but I love, love this vegan/vegetarian restaurant!! My carnivore friends also love this place! I always order the minced squab lettuce wraps, crispy vegetarian chicken nuggets, the sweet and sour pork(made w/ protein whey or mushrooms), and various veggie dishes. Their fresh chili sauce is also delish and adds extra great flavor to whatever you order. We've never had a problem w/ service and we're always seated right away. I highly recommend this place even to non-vegetarians!
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Review from Chris L.
Los Angeles, CA
7/30/2011
This review is biased - I don't like vegetarian food.
The prices went up! And this is absurd for something that was meant to imitate something else.
The "pork" - was like doll hair
The "fish" - was synthetic
But there were a couple of things that had it going on.
Squab - delicious! And they know it! Limit of 1 or 2? per person during buffet! Absurd!
The "chicken" - they did RIGHT! Both the orange "chicken" and house "chicken" were flavorful! It goes to show that real Chinese chicken dishes heavily depend on the flavor of the breading!! Who knows if chicken is actually used!
Not my cup of tea, but great alternatives for those who feel the need to go veggie!Listed in: San Gabriel Valley
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Review from Miss E.
New York, NY
8/19/2011
After reading The China Study, I decided to try out a whole foods, plant-based diet. I found it difficult to find reasonable restaurants that didn't push the "vegan" pretense. Happy Family surprised me with their delicious dishes and stellar service.
Definitely order All You Can Eat... it's worth it. -
Review from Sheep M.
Sacramento, CA
8/10/2011
Yum!!
Honestly, no other vegetarian restaurant has ever been able to stack up. They have a great menu variety..impressive feat for a fully vegetarian restaurant. I experience some serious withdrawls from their lettuce wraps and mock general's chicken! -
Review from Mike C.
Wow...a lot of the surrounding stores, restaurants, ice cream parlors all have the same theme in this area, that they're all "happy."
This place was decent, and yes, there was a certain happy factor involved. But this place is also a vegetarian place, so you should come here mentally prepared. Since I'm not a vegetarian, it was a different experience for me.
But I still had an overall decent experience. Tried a lot of new things, but most of the stuff had some soy based product as the main theme. So it was new to me and something I wasn't used to. It might take me awhile to get onboard with this vegan stuff, maybe next time to do a more simpler vegan instead of jumping right into the more advanced vegan like this Chinese Vegan place.
A minor concern is that the venue had a separate room for dining with a room capacity of 29. We had four tables with each table having 10 seats and yes, all 40 seats were filled in this fire-code-exceeded room. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Decent, and different. My faves included the walnuts, orange slices and the ice water..yum!!!
Tip: They have meat around the corner and other non-vegetarian stuff as well in the mall. -
Review from Bernadette M.
Valley Center, CA
6/2/2011
Solid 3 coming from this carnivore.....
Eating here just made me crave meat even more, my man and I felt a tad guilty going to In and Out after....but the guilt disappeared once we bit into our animal style cheeseburgers...Nom nom nom...
So for whatever reason you decide to come here - you're vegetarian, vegan, it's a friday during Lent, your cholesterol is high - this place is great. I unfortunately don't know the name of the dishes we ate because I came here for a friend's family gathering and the entrees were already pre ordered for us. But the food was pretty decent and it was fun playing the guessing game when the food came to our table. I would come back if I was in the area and needed some good meatless grub. -
Review from David a.
Los Angeles, CA
5/31/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I have to admit that since I have been eating at this place for a long time so me and my family get outstanding service which amounts to special treatment. Well, I have to say that I would rather be a VIP here than at some stupid place like Maestro's Steakhouse where the people are as phony as the meat here. The new digs are pretty nice and the staff here rock. It has been my favorite fake meat place since the Fragrant Vegetable closed several years ago.
The all you can eat cooked to order food can be a bit oily, and has msg, but what great flavor most of the choices have especially with the fresh chili and soy sauce on top. My favorites are the sesame house chicken (a batter fried button mushroom in sticky sauce with sesame), stir fried baby bean leaves, eggplant with basil, Chinese sausage with pickled cabbage, pork with broccoli, and the kung pao squid. They give you squab in lettuce cups and a fried egg roll now on the all you can eat menu. The only thing I don't like is the fish with the sweet reddish sauce. The other 90 choices are worth returning to try. Don't fill up on soup.
I originally came here as the reluctant guest of my vegan brother and was quickly won over by the price (it used to be about 5 bucks now it is13), and the overall quality of this place. The owners are gracious and are a huge asset to the vegetarian community. What a joy to come here with you family. Enjoy happy times with them here!Listed in: My very very favorites in LA, Lunch time in the SGV
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Review from Sarah M.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
AYCE vegan awesome!
This place is still as amazing as ever. Just note, is you do go AYCE, the staff will, adorably but firmly, demand that you eat all your side veggies so nothing goes to waste Not a problem though... they know their way around a fantastically cooked & seasoned vegetable.Listed in: Hungry, Hungry Hip-o
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/3/2007
Go for the sweet bread, stay for the taro.
Oh, Happy Family. If only my own family were as fun and… Read more »
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Review from Monica L.
Rosemead, CA
6/22/2011
MMmm~ So worth it for all you can eat at a price of about $15! The waitresses are so nice and the old chinese lady looked like your stereotypical "awwwwwwwwwwwww" granny that makes you want to hug her! Anyway, we ordered quite a lot, so let's hope I remember it all! 3 people and we got a total of 10 dishes? I'll just review the ones I remember.
Brown rice: Very not sticky...sorta crumbly. I didn't care, but just fyi in case you are a picky rice-eater.
Eggplant with basil: Yum. Can't really go wrong...it was exactly eggplant and basil.
House chicken (mushroom): Ehhh I didn't like the fact that it was fried, but if you stuff the whole thing in your mouth (heh heh) and imagined it was chicken...it sorta works? Eh. It's still a fried mushroom.
Buddhas Feast: Just a bunch of veggies. I personally would not have ordered this, but my friend really wanted it for some reason. Just veggies with corn starch and a bit of salt.
Shredded pork with bean sprouts: I actually really liked the shredded pork. The sauce went well with the bean sprouts too.
Squab: YUM. Great texture and very flavorful!
Fish with house sauce: The fish is definitely interesting. Tasted like a tuna yet not quite? I liked it.
Bean curd with veggies: It's the chinese vegetarian chicken. I like vegetarian chicken plain as it is smoked already and has a nice strong flavor. Being tossed into the salty veggie sauce was overkill.
Veggies and pork ribs: They were fried gluten balls. It was actually very tasty, though it threw me off as it definitely did not taste like pork. The sauce was nice though.
Curry wheat gluten: Didn't taste the curry at all...wouldn't recommend this.
Vegetarian sausage with pickled napa: It was okay. Took a while for my friends to finish this so I'm assuming they were ehhh on it. It's quite plain and the sausage is just the hard tofu thing (mian jin).
Overall, the meals are light and waitresses are nice. It's a good way to feel healthy and not overally greasy and gross, but I don't think I'd come here again...hard to find people who'd agree to go to a veggie place and most of the food is too plain for me. It's still good, just not my personal preference. -
Review from Rbaby T.
Los Angeles, CA
4/15/2011
I'm a loyal carnivore, born and raised--unless you take me to Happy Family. Some dishes are...meh...but the stellar ones...oh boy are they stellar.
On more than one occasion, I have brought some take-out to some unsuspecting carnivores who HATE veggies (don't even get me started on vegetarian). You should have seen their faces when I told them at the end of their meal...it's like I told them they just ate dog or something terrible...pure shock.
Then, the amazement set in...yup, converts. If I could feed myself vegetarian food like this every day, I wouldn't miss meat at all (in theory, may be different in practice...). -
Review from Jen V.
El Monte, CA
7/16/2011
This is my first time being to the new restaurant since it moved from down the street. I still love it and it's in a much nicer complex. As a vegetarian, I'm used to having to choose from a few items on a menu but at Happy Family, I can choose from the entire menu.
It's pretty cheap, especially if you come during the day for the lunch specials, parking is free, and there's a bunch of other shops, food stops, and a theater in the same complex.
Tip - Try the sweet & sour "chicken" (which is actually mushrooms) - it is amazing.Listed in: When I'm hungry..., Veggie-licious!, The SGV Knows What's What
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Review from Rinky N.
East Bay
Updated - 3/24/2011
This is my little bro's favorite restaurant--he lives in Seattle.
During our latest LA visit we ate here with him and his family.
The buffet, of course!
The place was bustling. I tried to discreetly look at the neighboring tables to see what they were eating.......everything looked so tasty.
We got our usual Lettuce cups with about 10 other dishes and managed to devour them all. The staff is friendly and unfazed by all the dishes we ordered.
We lamented that there aren't similar places in the Bay Area and Seattle. But maybe that is a good thing because if there was a place like Happy Family in the Bay Area we'd go there OFTEN and I would weigh at least 25 pounds more.
Happy Family will be moving to a new location in the early Fall on Atlantic (near Riggin and the freeway) in a huge new complex that has been under construction for a couple of years.
Listed in: Please don't forsake them, oh..., Non-chain chain chain of..., There will be RIots and..., TEN STAR PLACES, My Favorite Vegetarian (and...
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3 Previous Reviews: Hide »
1/14/2010
Had a fabulous UYE dinner with the most fabulous and dazzling new Yelp buddies. Daniel L (an East Bay/LA Yelper) organized this event.
The hubby (and sometimes our son) and I are in SGV we eat here at least once or twice or thrice. So over the years we gave eaten here about 25-30 times!
I have always sighed when I saw all their nice private dining areas and thought what a perfect place for a Yelp get together. And finally earlier this week that dream came true.
AMBIANCE: A tad funky at first glance but once you're seated you feel right at home.
STAFF: Most have worked here for years. My favorite server who waited on us has been there 20 years! She and most of the staff are super friendly and welcoming. She recognized me and the hubby as well as a couple of other Yelpers. The service was first rate.
FOOD: We ordered the AYCE buffet. This buffet is made-to-order so you order from a menu of least 60 dishes. The buffet comes with Hot and Sour soup or congee (rice porridge), steamed rice and steamed or fried buns.
It was a banquet of plate after plate of deliscousness. My personal favorites are the lettuce cups, Sesame "Chicken" (mushrooms),
Sweet and Sour Taro ribs, Eggplant and the buns. We must have ordered at least a dozen different entrees or more!
COMPANY: I always feel a little shy when meeting new people but this group of Yelpers was particularly warm, welcoming, funny and sweet. I could easily go out with these new friends once a week.
I loved the fact that we felt so comfortable with each other that we were teasing each other--especially Tony aka "Bun Boy."
So wonderful to meet you, Cynthia, Ching, Tony, Catherine, Claudia,
Mohib and Carla! And thanks again Daniel for organizing this event!
We all had fun taking pix of the food......check out our photo
btw you will enjoy this food whether your a party of one or 10!Listed in: Please don't forsake them, oh…, Non-chain chain chain of…, TEN STAR PLACES, There will be RIots and…, My Favorite Vegetarian (and…
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/9/2010
This is my little bro's favorite restaurant--he lives in Seattle.
During our latest LA visit we ate… Read more »
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Review from A L.
Alhambra, CA
7/7/2011
Decided to try this place out last night (Wednesday night around 7ish) and was really surprised to find this place packed since the last time I came, we were practically the only table there. Got my food to go: #24- Sliced Pork and Baby Bamboo, and #52- Eggplant with Basil. The pork and bamboo dish is my favorite vegetarian dish in every restaurant, and happy family is no exception. The only downside was that everything was really oily...but it is still a chinese restaurant afterall
Can't really comment on the service since I got it to go, but I will say I had to stand around the counter for awhile before anybody came over to ask me how they could help me...and this was after I caught a few waitresses' eyes (who then quickly looked away) But the lady who eventually came over to help me was super nice, and even remembered who I was when I came back at the scheduled pick-up time.
2 dishes + 1 order of brown rice (all for less than $20) = 1 Happy Family
