Lu's Garden

Asian comfort food! Loved the verities and also enjoyed that they offered unlimited sweet potato porridge for dine in customers. Friendly service! Side note: Lunch is a better deal ($16.95+ tax for 3 items combo, $21.95 for 4 items as of Jan, 2025), considering they offer the same food all day

the portion was really underwhelming—barely enough to be filling. For nearly the same price, you can get a freshly made, full plate of food at a proper restaurant. This felt more like a snack than a meal. Not great value for the money. This plate, 2 tofu, more than 10 dollars

This is an evergreen local joint that will always satisfy your taste pallets with authentic oriental flair.

How can you hate such a cute little restaurant like this place? You see elderly people here and the workers themselves remind you of family members. Of course, might be a little bit of a struggle if you don’t speak mandarin, but that’s fine, the workers are very smiley. I loved every dish here, just wish I could’ve tried more. Had to take to-go cause my friend and I ordered too much. Love the porridge, feels so homey.

Many dishes to choose from and all you can eat porridge when dine in. Jasmine tea was awesome, and service was superb. $3 per person charged for the rice or porridge, though.

UPDATED REVIEW FROM MY MOST RECENT VISIT 12/15/24: Came here with my BFF after so long since the last time we came to this area. Immediately, we picked three of our favorite items.. sat down, served the yummy goodies, and we devoured the dinner with full satisfaction! Price has gone up.. for three items and porridge for two, it came up to 64.41 + tip. I mean... the portions were big as always, the taste of their food was just as delicious as I remembered. The service was good! The place was still as neat and well maintained as always! Nothing changes... it's always giving us the familiar "homey" feel to the exact LU'S GARDEN from over two decades ago since I've been here the first time in 2001. We both were stuffed and brought home some leftovers. Highly recommended for anyone who likes or would like to give this place a try. Parking sometimes is hard since the parking lot is small & shared by many other restaurants.

One of the old guards in a city full of new, hip, dare I say cookie cutter Chengdu style restaurants. Maybe I am feeling nostalgic, maybe because this style of eating resembles tapas or obsnzai, I really love it here. Turnover is so fast that everything tasted fresh. Is it expensive? That is subjective. For$11.99, I get to sample three distinctive dishes. I finished my lunch feeling completely full. For today's did cost, I think Lu it's a fair value. I would definitely come back.

It’s a nice place to have a simple meal. They offer porridge with many kinds of both hot and cold small dishes. Maybe not cheap if pick more dishes but still acceptable. Opens till late in the night, good and comfortable to have something to eat in the late night if compare with BBQ. Service is OK, won’t be much better or worse if compare with other restaurants in this area. Food quality is OK and testy. This one gives more food in the dish than the same brand restaurant opens at Rowland Hts. Another good thing is OK to use Credit Card here instead of Cash Only.

The food is good, the service is excellent, Lu's garden is one of my favorite restaurant in the past 20 years plus. Definitely a must try

Best food in SVG, price is good, I will came here ofen, if you stop by sgv must try, must try they are lunch special, very good price, nice stuff, clear area

Authentic flavors, exceptionally friendly service, and a welcoming environment make for a delightful experience.

Very yummy food...... Good service as well. I will definitely recommend this restaurant.a

Not worth the price as it used to be. You can see how much 1 pc of fish would cost you (I would pay for $17 for the whole pompano fish from Banana Bay to have a better mouthwatering experience) . The ground pork tasted very old and stale. I packed it Togo and gave it to my dog, he event refused to eat it. At this point, I'd rather order something else from Thai or different Chinese restaurants that make fresh-per- order- dish and make my congee at home to have a better experience with fresh made ingredients, not the pre cooked food that who know when it was made and end up throwing everything in trash and paying the price that is not worth it. If I don't really crave this type of food, I won't return. Parking is hard to find, we had to park another parking which belong to San Gabriel Super Store.

Came here with my BFF after so long since the last time we came to this area. Immediately we picked three of our favorite items.. sat down, served the yummy goodies and we devoured the dinner with full satisfaction! Price has give up.. for three items and porridge for two, it came up to 64.41 + tip. I mean... the portions were big as airways and the taste of their food was just as delicious as always. Service was good! The place was still as neat and well maintained as always! Nothing changes... it's always giving us the familiar "homey" feel to the exact LU'S GARDEN from over two decades ago since I've been here the first time in 2021. We both were stuffed and brought home some leftovers. Highly recommended for anyone who likes or would like to give this place a try. Parking sometimes are hard since the parking lot is small & shared by many other restaurants.

Great food and fast services. Love the authentic Taiwanese dish. Lunch special everyday until 5pm. Very busy during lunch hours

Always our go to and perfect for this cold windy weather. Quick service and delish comfort food.

Food was delicious, this place always hits the spot. I can't say enough about this restaurant it's not just a place to eat it's a portal to some of my fondest memories. Growing up, my family and I would come here regularly, and every dish felt like a warm hug. The staff is as warm and welcoming as the food. Even now, every time I visit, it feels like coming home. If you're looking for authentic, heartwarming Chinese food, this is the place to be.

Order at the register and they will bring the food to you. You choose the food you want (all laid out). - Sweet Potato Porridge 4.2/5 Basic porridge, doesn't taste like anything. $3/person then unlimited refills. - Simmered Pork Belly 3.9/5 They give you two eggs and a couple pieces of pork belly. The pork was soft, egg was overcooked. Marinade tasted okay. - String Beans 4.4/5 Crunchy. I'd get this again. [RECOMMEND] - Pork Feet 3.6/5 Very gelatinous. It's hard to eat. Good though. - Soy sauce Chicken 3.8/5 Chicken was good. Sauce tastes good. - Jellyfish Salad 4.7/5 This was SO refreshing! I'd get it again. [RECOMMEND] - Pork Ear Salad 1.7/5 It tasted below average. - Cucumber 1.9/5 A little sour, crunchy but didn't taste good. - Tomato Egg 1.9/5 It was way below average. Not seasoned well. - Mapo Tofu 2.1/5 Lots of meat. It's very heavy tasting. Spicy is not the light spicy. I wouldn't get again. If there's no parking, park in the supermarket next door!

Must come!!!!! Best food!!!! Good service and good food!!! Clean and nice!!! I need to bring all my friends here, because I love this place and this is so delicious!!! Must come

I was introduced to Lu's Garden during the pandemic, and I've been a regular customer ever since! This place remained open for takeout when businesses began to open again after the shutdown, and we would pick up delicious food to eat at a local park. Sadly, you cannot get porridge to-go. However, when they began setting up outdoor seating, we were in porridge heaven! It's so good! I've tried a number of items here, and my favourites have been the spicy green beans, eggs and tomatoes, and eggplant! They are delicious! There are many other tasty options and a few that do not work well with my taste palate. However, overall, this place truly tastes like home cooking! The person who introduced me used to always tell me this was her comfort food, so we would drive up from Torrance for it. If I lived closer, then I would definitely frequent Lu's Garden. The prices are decent, the portions are fair, and the service is very fast. The ladies at the counter are always ready to fill orders, and the food always tastes fresh! Fair warning, this parking lot is very small and busy with the multiple businesses here, and you may run into some bad drivers. Be careful!

I enjoy how we get to pick our own individual item, with so many options to choose from. You can have porridge with sweet yam or steam rice or both. Service people are nice and the place is very clean. Nice day to have some hot porridge.

Been taking family members here for decades. And we always have a great time and great food. Service is always fast and waitstaff is always attentive to your needs. The place is not too crowded like how it used to be. We were seated immediately when we arrive.

Every time my sister and I crave congee, we always choose Lu's Garden. It always tastes like a home cooked meal. Our typical dishes are usually the bamboo shoots, tomato eggs, diced green beans (spicy), chayote, and thin slices (short and rectangular) of tofu. If you can't speak Mandarin, poking and speaking in English works, too! We have learned to top up in the congee before asking for the bill so when you pack your leftovers, you'll have congee to pack. If not, they won't refill after you ask for the bill.

Missed the good old Taiwanese brekkie yummy start for the year porridge for the new year !

Comfort food with tons of selection. My go to for night cravings and they never disappoint!

Been coming here for over 30 years! Best porridge place in the San Gabriel Valley! I usually get the spinach, tofu and squid. Spinach is the best!!'

Classic SGV staple that feels like a hybrid fast casual and sit down restaurant. The foods are usually pretty prepared and available for takeout and on display towards the front. If you want to dine in, you let them know what you want from either the prepared foods and/or order other items that are not available right then and there and grab a seat. Despite the food being prepared in the front case, most if not all the available options are fresh and service is really friendly and helpful. I ordered some sautéed vegetables along with their sweet potato porridge. Definitely a lot of vegetable options here and I didn't want to eat meat on this particular night. What I love about this place is that it feels like you can eat freshly prepared foods here in the middle of the week without breaking the wallet. So it's a great family place if nobody wants to cook in the household. I came in the middle of the week myself and there were a couple families sitting right by me doing exactly that. Just a great place for quality Chinese food at a reasonable price along with a great selection. This is located in a small strip mall so parking wasn't an issue for me. It might be during the weekend, but I'm not sure.

So tasty, so good and healthy will definitely come back here again. Especially for lunch!

Good and simple sweet potato rice porridge with side dishes. Just like how we used to have them when I was a kid. Super comforting. Nothing wrong with the food but it is a little expensive. And if you have a peanut allergy several of the dishes are not safe for you. Service is great. The servers at the front took care to find out about peanut ingredients in the dishes. And were always prompt in refilling out tea pot or porridge pot. The dining room is okay. Not bad not great. I don't travel all the way here to eat Taiwanese porridge as there is a similar restaurant nearer my home but it's a good option when I'm in the area, especially late at night because of their hours. I didn't take up the offer of leaving a review because of the "free side dish".

Ordered two things today. Overall I'm happy with the meal and want to come back to try more items. Pork belly - excellent flavor and texture. The pork melts in your mouth. The egg that comes with it is good taste-wise but way over cooked. Eggplant - texture was really good. Soft and oily. But the seasoning mostly just tasted of soy sauce and salt. I wish it were sweeter. Service and ambiance were both fine, but nothing special. Neither factor into my rating - my rating is just for food.

Love the food here but we don't get to eat in this area often since we moved away from SGV. The selection of food is great. Similar to what you get in Taiwan. Quick service and warm environment like in Asia.

Come here for an awesome family style dining. It's wonderful when you're sick, cold, or especially hungry. Situated like a cafeteria style experience, you and your party can choose from a numerous amount of sides that goes on your sweet potato porridge, which btw is unlimited. Only downside about this spot is the price of food. My partner and I favorite side was definitely the greens. It was flavorful and crunchy, which made the porridge a perfect pairing. The pork belly and eggplant were also great.. Parking lot is a bit small, but many people park on the street or next door where supermarket is situated.

Food is so great, cheap but so delicious. Very tasty for people trying to get the traditional Chinese food!

Great food! Super comforting and affordable! The staff is always super friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend this place for anyone who's trying to get a quick, tasty Chinese meal!

Lu's Garden has been in the SGV for sometime and is a go to spot for a quick eat/bite. The food is tasty and served Panda Express style but it's real Chinese food without processed sauces. Service is your typical Chinese dive - ask and you may receive. Ambiance is typical and causal - not big restaurant feel. Your Quick Three: Convenient, Affordable and Tasty.

So delicious so much variety can't wait to come back Perfect for any day Service was good :)

Longing for some Taiwanese porridge, they serve porridge with yam, you could pick from lots of Taiwanese dishes, this definitely hit the spot for me!

We came here the morning after a late night out. I was skeptical about the whole concept; I like my porridge with the meat and stuff already inside, but this was actually very good. We got green bean, squid, intestine, and a side of tofu with the black eggs. Everything went very well with the porridge except maybe the squid but it wasn't bad. Overate and felt horrible. Would definitely come back.

Three cup chicken, eggplants and pork feet tastes good! Service and food is great. It is fast and convenient.

Food is excellent as always! Very welcoming environment every time. They have vary options of dishes. Highly recommended!!!

Always a favorite choice when it came to casual family dinner. We order 4 dishes, the string beans taste best

Great food! Taste is always amazing! Favorite since I was a kid. Would highly recommend

I've been here so many times. As a regular customer, I never get tired of the plenty choices of flavorful "Taiwanese tapas" - authentic taste with delicate culinary techniques. The sweet potato porridge is something you must have to go with these dishes. If you dine in, I believe it's free refill. The restaurant is clean, including the restrooms. Reasonable price and friendly staff. Occasionally, you may need to wait a little bit in line because people are having a hard time making their choice. Haha! Overall, this place is exceptional especially when I have home sick and crave for some delicious, Taiwanese light food!

Great place for authentic Taiwanese porridge. Lots of homestyle selections makes this solid comfort food. We got takeout and they packed everything well and in a box to make it easy to carry. Everything here is delicious. Will definitely return again.

Lu's Garden serves casual lunch food that is very comforting. We love coming here for lunch only. Dinner is a little overpriced. Service is always quick and they are very generous with their portions compared to the Rowland Heights location. They serve a sweet potato porridge that pairs well with everything. We love their minced pork, bamboo shoots, shredded potato, marinated tofu, tomato & egg, braised eggplant, green beans, loofah, and Taiwanese sausage. We always have several of these on rotation. Never disappoints every time! I love this place so much.

Lu's garden is ALWAYS going to be good & safe choice when you're not sure what to eat, no matter what. I've been coming here since I was a kid and I still love it all the same. The quality of the food is still top with bursting flavor, but I will say that some items are not as flavorful as other days. The only difference & my main complaint is the increased price as the years come. Right now it is about $17 for a 3 item lunch special. This place tastes like you're eating a loved one's cooking and makes you feel at home. Food: dishes are always served with porridge with yams inside. Porridge is unlimited refill upon request and are always steaming hot, so be careful. Porridge itself is thick and the yams add a nice sweet flavor, which I enjoy a lot. I'm not too sure what the name of the items I get are, but I usually get the same 3 items, which are their sausage, chicken, and gua dishes. The chicken is tender and covered in an aromatic, delicious sauce. I haven't been to another place that makes the taste profile anywhere similar to how it is made here. Guas have a slight sweet flavor too it, but arent extremely flavorful in general (not in a bad way) - I like to have it as a "palette cleanser". Sausage is a classic item, slightly sweet and not too tough to chew! Another item I remember enjoying is the squid, the sauce is also very delicious. TLDR: If you want some good, comfort food, Lu's will never disappoint you.

Authentic flavors, exceptionally friendly service, and a welcoming environment make for a delightful experience.

I moved to the OC, and the last time I was here was before Covid started. I came back today for the first time in years, and the food was excellent just like before. The staff is still very nice, everything is smooth, fresh and delicious! Was great to come back!

I wanted to try something new in SGV and this place was great. It's a little like fast food because the food is ready to eat. You can dine in or have your food to go. I wanted to dine in and you choose which dishes you want from the display and is placed on a dish and the food is ready on the table. When you choose which food you want they ask you if you want rice or porridge and you want to get the porridge. I had some pork, tofu strips, eggplant (my favorite) and chicken dishes.

Great food & service . Friday dinner with family. Still old school and Taiwanese traditional food

Super fast, super great food! Love coming here with big groups to share a wide selection of food.

Good food and service. Have been coming here for years like 20 years now. Love their beans, squid and fish. Would highly recommend Plus they have lunch special for $16.99 3 times and $21.99 for 4!! Before 5pm everyday. Should take advantage of that!!

Food - 3 Service - 4 Ambiance - 3 I haven't been back for awhile. The portion still the same, enough for a person. Porridge same favor as I remembered. Parking kinda limited. Might have to park next shopping center

There's so many options and you can't go wrong with Taiwanese Sausage. Great service and seated us even though we had a couple people running late

This isn't even the same universe as a good Chinese restaurant. Sorry. Do better. Even in the vegetable prep of the gailon, they obviously just ran it through a food processor chop because they are truly that lazy

My favorite congee shop with delicious food. Must try their bamboo shoots and spicy bean curd, so yummy!

Parking can be difficult since the lot is so small, so be prepared to park in a nearby lot and walk over. I dined in for their lunch special and got the rice porridge! The food was flavorful and the service was quick. Rate them on Yelp and you'll get a free side dish!