I came here because the owner has a branch in West Covina. I made the mistaken assumption the quality, quantity, and value was equal to their West Covina branch. What I failed to realize is the West Covina branch is within a short walking distance to numerous competing Filipino cuisine restaurants. The competition from other restaurants had forced the West Covina branch to offer better VALUE, service, and QUANTITY of food to entice customers away from nearby competitors. This branch on Vermont & 2nd street has an oligopoly on Filipino cuisine food. Parking in the area is not easy, so the owner relies on the fact that most people will give him the business because the nearest competitors are at least a mile away and had set their prices to be comparable or slightly higher than other Filipino restaurants. This is a cafeteria-style restaurant, not to be confused with traditional sit-down-n-waitress-will-serve type of service. Their cheapest combo meal (drinks not included) is $3.99 for one item. I CLEARLY informed the woman serving ""I want the $3.99 combo"" and pointed at the black squid dish item I want with my steam rice, and added a $1 drink. I thought it was odd the rice portion was between ? to ? of the quantity the West Covina branch normally gives.
When I got to the cashier, he gives me an $8.47 bill ? I said ""the sign says one item combo is $3.99. How'd you get $8.47 ?"" and he replies ""if you look at that other sign, it says seafood items count as double."" I answered ""I told her I wanted the $3.99 combo. You were standing here when I gave my order."" He was about 6 feet away when I gave my order. He replies ""She didn't hear you, or she would've told you it counts as double when you selected the stewed squid. In the future, you should speak up louder when it's an elderly lady working behind the counter."" He admonishes me? I'm the paying customer, and he admonished me for not speaking up loudly because the server is a grandma who's working to supplement her social security pension. As I walk away feeling cheated, I inspected the 8?"" x 11"" sign he was referring to. I had to stand a foot in front of the sign; the font was printed smaller where it says ""All seafood items count as 2 items."" I've decided never to come back EVER again. If you don't mind getting cheated and paying more than what you expected, and getting small portions to manipulate you to add more selections on your tray, then this is your restaurant. If you're a person of reasonable to above-average intelligence, and you object to being manipulated to paying more than what the food is worth, then this is one restaurant you should avoid.
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