Places to Eat in West Covina, California

Rene Agredano, Leaf Group

West Covina is a mid-sized community adjacent to Interstate 10 in Southern California's bustling San Gabriel Valley. In the community's earliest days, walnut and citrus groves comprised the city's biggest industries, but the pastoral landscapes of the past have been replaced by several large shopping centers, recreation areas and office complexes. West Covina's multiethnic makeup has created a thriving restaurant scene with nearly every type of global cuisine.

Healthy Choices

Adventurous eaters will find West Covina's healthiest menu choices at One World Vegetarian Cuisine ( on Glendora Avenue. This gourmet vegetarian restaurant serves American, Hispanic and Euro-Asian inspired foods without using any animal ingredients, including dairy. Health-conscious diners enjoy entries ranging from Indian curry tofu to noodle soups, vegetable pastas, vegan burgers and sandwiches. This restaurant makes an ideal place to visit before or after a movie at the nearby Edwards Cinemas movie theater complex.


With approximately 52 percent of residents who claim Hispanic ancestry, West Covina has an abundance of Mexican restaurants to meet this demographic's dining needs. El Torito Mexican Restaurant & Cantina ( is a kid-friendly place featuring a child's menu as well as a full bar and hearty plates of popular Mexican favorites such as enchiladas and fajitas. Another option for Mexican dining in a festive atmosphere is the Mariposa Inn (no website; 3109 E. Garvey Ave. N., West Covina; 626-331-0943), a 40-year old, family-owned restaurant on West Covina's Restaurant Row between Grand and Barranca Avenue. The Mariposa Inn serves traditional Mexican food including carnitas (a dish consisting of stewed pork) and ceviche (a cocktail dish comprised of several types of seafood, including octopus and conch).


Asian residents create the second largest ethnic group in West Covina. As a result, there are numerous Asian restaurants offering a vast selection of cuisine ranging from Chinese to Thai to Vietnamese. In the Hong Kong Shopping Plaza, One Plus One Dumpling House (no website; 1017 S. Glendora Ave., West Covina; 626-338-6868) is a casual, budget-friendly restaurant serving authentic Chinese food items including pork and leek dumplings, beef rolls and noodle soups. On West Covina's Restaurant Row, Sushi House Shizu (no website; 116 N. Grand Ave., West Covina; 626-966-5279) is a family-run restaurant serving original fare including baked salmon rolls, mango rolls and other options such as bento box lunches.


West Covina has limited choices when it comes to Italian restaurants, but of the two local Italian establishments, one offers a long list of classic Italian lunches and hearty dinner entrees while the other features a focused list of light meal choices for breakfast or lunch. Hungry shoppers at the West Covina Mall can dine at Johnny Carino's Italian Restaurant (, a nationwide franchise restaurant located within easy walking distance of the mall. Johnny Carino's features cocktails with an Italian flair, seafood, beef and chicken lunches and dinners along with a gluten-free menu for kids and adults. Just a few minutes away, New York's Finest Bakery and Cafe ( is a family-owned cafe located across from the West Covina Civic Center. New York's Finest offers authentic Italian pastries, breads, sandwiches, soups salads and pizzas that are handmade by former New York restaurateurs.