Covina Tasty

Last night, my friend Sandy invited Wendy and me to see Sonic Youth at the Fox in Pomona. Since she was driving from Orange County and we were coming down from Los Angeles, she suggested we meet up at the vegetarian Tastee Freez. What!?


Covina Tasty is where she and her friends would stop for food before attending punk rock shows in Pomona more than a decade ago. The legend goes that the owner bought into the Tastee Freez franchise and, being a vegetarian, started to gradually replace all the meat dishes with soy products and substitutes. Eventually, the corporate office got wind of the rogue owner's business plan and forced him to change its name.


Below: the fish sandwich. Those of you who eat at vegetarian Chinese restaurants will recognize the patty. You can get this or meatless steak or chicken sandwiches--not to mention taquitos and chili fries--for 3 or 4 bucks. Yes, the dishes are fast-food quality and the portions aren't gigantic, but they're pretty good and not that greasy, either. The three of us left full for 20 bucks.


We were the only ones eating meatless entrees during our stint on the plastic tables in front, but there were quite a few families and kids dropping in for frozen desserts (which are dairy). Probably just enough to scrape by and support and the one employee who was working the counter and kitchen. I'll have more to say about this restaurant's story, eventually--and more on the Sonic Youth show soon.