*** Update – On a recent trip to the area, I noticed that Rutt’s Cafe has been replaced with another restaurant. Something along the lines of Don Carlos……
In the first part of the road trip I picked up some ogo from Marukai in West Covina, and went over the purchase of "stinky tofu" from Shau Mei Deli. I had initially, planned on picking up some "local kine grinds" from either Harry’s Aloha Chop Suey or Bruddah’s Hawaiian Food in Gardena. But since I ended up in West Covina, that was pretty much out of the question. While driving up Azusa I saw this sign:
So I drove up and did a u-turn on Azusa, and then did a right turn and went around onto Valley Blvd, under the Azusa overpass. In this no man’s land strip mall, with a Carniceria, 99 cent Chinese Food, and other businesses, stood Rutt’s Hawaiian Cafe on the corner. Now having lived a few miles from here for 4 years, I knew that this couldn’t be an optimal location – Valley Blvd, on the border of City of Industry and La Puente. This mall can be more than a little scary, especially at night.
So I went in and there were no "Hawaii kine" people to be found, but I had a seat at the counter, had a menu handed to me, and looked it over. There were a ton of "royales", that is, an omelet over rice, or over fried rice. This was definitely a "breakfast" kind of place. Many dishes came in Junior, Regular, and King sizes and ranged from$4.25 to $8.45. There was Portuguese Sausage and Kalua Pork on the menu. I went ahead and ordered a regular size Loco Moco $6.35. The waitress was apparently a bit new and had to check the menu herself to see what options there were – I chose the macaroni salad, and eggs over easy (is there any other way to serve eggs for a loco moco?). I also ordered an iced tea, which came in a very large cup. After about 10 minutes my "loco" was served:
The plate a had 2 easy over eggs over a large hamburger patty on gravy over rice, macaroni salad, and a roll (?). The gravy was country style, not what’s usually served with a loco – it’s usually a brown gravy. The gravy was lumpy and had ok flavor, though I’m used a more beefy brown gravy. The hamburger patty was tasty, with a hint of sweetness, and lots of onions and green onions – a plus in my book. The macaroni salad had a good amount of mayonnaise, but was also flavored with relish, yuck, one of my pet peeves, couldn’t finish the salad. And the roll, I really didn’t know what to do with the roll…. The eggs, well let me say this. If there was a College degree for Short Order Cooks, whomever cooked the eggs and the burger would have a Masters Degree, they were cooked to perfection. Nice and runny yolk, the whites crisp around the edges and yet soft, excellent!
The service was friendly and attentive, and a person who I think is the owner was helping to wait tables, and it seemed like it was his Daughters that were helping him out. I found out later that the owner of the original Rutt’s had sold the name and restaurant, and this location had been open for about a year, but it looks like they’re really trying hard here. Before leaving I saw a huge platter of fried rice with char siu in it, and was told it was the King Sized "Hawaiian" Royale with Portuguese Sausage and Char Siu, looked big enough to feed a family of four. So would I return? Sure, I consider this a pretty good diner, with excellent portions. The location is kind of strange, I really wouldn’t want to be around here at night, but I’d definitely return.
Rutt’s Cafe
17371 East Valley Blvd.
La Puente, CA 91714
(626) 839-6312
Yum! the food looks good, it is so different to anything you get here in OZ.
Hi Clare – Not the most polically correct meal, but for me this is comfort food. I love loco moco’s, and soon I’ll post a “loco-shoot-out” or “gravyfest” between the loco moco’s here in San Diego. The eggs and the burger were perfect, the gravy wrong, and the salad heinous.
Why is this not politically correct food?
Yuck! lumpy gravy I must have missed that. Relish in the pasta salad??? weird man!
Hey Clare – It’s not unusual for people to put relish or pickle juice into macaroni salad! After all Miracle Whip (ugh) has that kind of vinegary taste!
Ha! See that is why I am soooo lucky! I don’t think you can even by miracle whip in oz!
Hi Clare – Maybe I SHOULD start swimming this time to get to a Miracle-whipless land, huh? π
::considers moving to a miracle whipless place:: ::smiles softly:: WELL, The only loco moco I have experience with is the one from Rainbow in Honolulu. I wasn’t exactly crazy about the gravy. I wasn’t excited about the egg/beef flavor combo either. No reflection on the food, just not what my tongue is into… Gotta agree with the relish in the mac salad. Nasty stuff and you will never ever find me putting it in mine, however, that’s the it’s done down south. Maybe they are really from Georgia or Florida? Trying to escape the High Wind zones? =oP Tell ya what though, I could eat mediocre food till the cows came home as long as it was served by a friendly face. Service is the real king in my book.
Speaking of service, I’m menu planning already… =o) If you want something in particular, you best give a hoot ‘n holler!
hmm yes it is a blessed place…
no miracle whip, no marshmallow fluff, no white castle, no wendys (actually we do but ours sell ice cream) hmm no orange cheese or cheese in a can! π still cant get over that one!
Hi Kiri…
you never explained why it isnt politically correct???
Hi Jo – You may be right, I was in Atl for almost a year, and had potato salad that tried to be coleslaw….what’s the deal with sweet tea?? I love a good loco moco – and I do like Rainbow’s version, or even Cafe 100 in Hilo.
Hey Clare – To continue the above comment; people in the office shudder in the fear that only mass doses of cholesterol can bring on. The Atkins people shudder at the three starches to one protein ratio. And the anti-egg team grosses out at runny yolks, eeek! I guess the combination of a hamburger patty, egg, and gravy freak some people out – but I wathc them eat scrambled eggs covered in ketchup with pork sausages and hash browns…..(BTW, I love all of the above)Go figure???
Oh, BTW – For those who might be concerned about my physical(and arterial) well being, I only eat this stuff maybe once a month! My usual breakfast is Kimchee and Rice…just kidding! It’s usually plain yogurt and a banana, I could blog about that, but I think it’ll be a little boring….
ahhh now I understand!
The only food that restaurants smother in gravy (not like that gravy though) is roast and chips!
I love reading about the whole different food culture you have going on over there…. π
*in my best Homer Simpson voice* Mmm, loco moco…
hey, is this rutt’s cafe affiliated with the one on Washington Blvd in Mar Vista?
Hi Clare – Thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying this…..
Hi Pam – What I do know is that the original owner sold the Rutt’s name and Rutt’s in Culver City – so I’m thinking it probably is the same – next time I’m by there I’ll ask. Or maybe you could drop-in since you’re a bit closer…then you can drive up to Colima Road and get a fix of stinky tofu!!! LOL!
Roast & chips??? Huh? And what exactly is wrong with marshmallow fluff? I have to agree with you on White Castle, but only cause being a southerner I’m totally loyal to Krystal! Marshmallow fluff & peanut butter on saltine crackers saved my life at one point! I’ll have to post on that someday… Prolly why I need the chilies today ::grin::
Hi Jo – Hmmm, “My life was saved by Marshmallow Fluff & peanut butter on saltine crackers”, sounds like the subject for one of those afternoon talk shows….BTW, there is no whizzz, like cheesewhizz!
see I am being alittle judgemental here seeing as I have never tried any of them π LOL!
Lots of Aussies can’t beleive your cheese is orange and you can get it in a can!
Clare, I’m not sure if the canned stuff is truly cheese. There might be some legal issues there… But hey, you Aussies eat Vegemite! I mean WOW! Isn’t that fermented yeast or something? hmmm ::returns from a trip to the Vegemite website:: ::lifts a teasing eyebrow:: Well, ChezeWhiz may not be as nourishing as Vegemite, but it’s certainly on one of those “must have on occasion lists”. Right next to “Little Debbie” oatmeal creme cakes and “Suzie Q’s”.
As for the orange cheese, that really is a puzzler. I’ve often wondered why that got started. There are several British import cheddars that are colored as well. I’ve purchased white cheddar (typically produced in Vermont) but it is WAY to expensive for cheese that tastes exactly the same as other cheese half the price. I prefer Tillamok brand.
Kirk, I think you and I are gonna do a few duets while you are here. I’ll have to teach you the “Burger King” song, “The Red Onion” song, “The Wooden Shoe” song… To bad my dad won’t be here ;o)
Hi Clare & Jo – We’re happy little Vegemites as bright as bright can be. we all enjoy our Vegemite for breakfast, lunch, and tea, our mummies say we’re growing stronger every single week,because we love our Vegemite, we all adore our Vegemite, it puts a rose in every cheek. LOL!!!
hmmm… ::grinning crookedly and wondering if she should start praying now for laryngitis:: ;o)
Jo – That’s the actual song printed on the side of the bottle of vegemite I got lying (believe me it’s lying – in fact it may be alive..) around.
Kirk, I have a hunch we will be singing “tunes” and reminicing cartoons until the wee hours! Not to mention nibbling on beer brined chicken, assorted baklava, deviled eggs (Personal Specialty), freshly fried peanuts with Sichuan Pepper, and everything else I can think of between now and then… Poor Pepper!
Hi Jo – No I think it’s more like “Pepper, you lucky dog…” BTW, at the mention of Goldilocks – they make a mean Baga-ong Rice!!!
Do tell? We tried it when they first opened and we were impressed with nothing. Maybe we can hit the joint together and get a different outcome! Pepper will have special treats of his own waiting. A nice smoked pigs ear and a smoked bone as big as he is!
We really are looking forward to him joining the family.
Jo – It depends on “what kind” of Goldilocks it is – some are restaurants, some are only bakeries, so I’ll find out – I’ve already been asked to bring back – Ube – Puto…
Yep, this is the restaurant/bakery variety. We didn’t try the bakery side. We tried to do some lunch. It was sort of expensive for what we got as I recall and we were not overly impressed with what we got. But it’s been awhile, I wouldn’t have a problem hitting them again.
WOW!
I can’t beleived I missed all this!!!!
Hmmm vegemite rocks ok? It has lots of vit b…. the only problem being that you eat it on toasted bread with lots of butter and only alitte vegemite π Whenever they make it for Americans on TV it is always REALLY THICK! and hardly any butter *ick*
The song needs an explanation point after the Because we love!”vegemite”, We all Adore! our Vegemite…. *grin*
Hey Clare – I think the bottle of Vegemite is so small they didn’t have enough space for that last “!”….I’ll eat it if let me know how to make it best!
There it is, the secret to Vegemite goodnes, 5 parts butter to 1 part Vegemite. Heck, I’d be able to eat anything like that! ::wink::
Jo – I think I like 5 parts butter to one part scone better!
Oh man, don’t you know it! I like the one’s they sell at Peet’s best. That is one thing I’ve never tried making on my own. No real desire to either come to think of it…