I've been back many times over the last 10 years. I have changed my mind. Like I said in my first review, it was just spoiled food that day. I've never had a problem with their food again. I have recommended friends to try this place many times. read more

Been going here for 30 yrs. Never disappoints! My cousin and me went recently. She had beef tacos and I had the pork Colorado. To me the sauce was a little thick to my tasting, and I still found it tasty. I would suggest everyone to try it out. The food is excellent quality, and to me close to authentic Mexican home cooking. read more

Great, authentic Mexican food, and very nice and courteous staff! I would've had a picture but ate my entire meal before I thought of it. Their bakery products are also very reasonably priced and delicious! Highly recommend and I will continue to be a customer! read more

My favorite spot in Pomona when I'm craving menudo. But only when they got the pata tho. Love me them tendons. Sometimes it may get busy so be sure sign in and check in with security so they can remember your face. They help secure your place in line and find you when it's your turn. Might get a lil warm in there but they usually turn on the A/C and fans. If anything get agua fresca. Cucumber lime. read more

El Merendero - Large bowl of menudo with the pata and buttered bolillo - Mexican Near Me - Pomona, California

It's good, not great. Stopped in for a quick burrito to go and thankfully decided to stay and eat it instead as it was the messiest burrito I've ever had. I don't even think double wrapping it could've saved it. The flavors were good; the staff was efficient and friendly; the store is clean and the outside patio is nice and shaded. read more

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The food is always delicious & fresh (made to order) the staff is always nice & brings us more salsa (hot sauce) when we ask for more (it's delicious too) we usually go there for breakfast, but their lunch/dinner items are very tasty too. Menudo is good & tasty. read more

El Merendero - Yummy food, never disappoints! Their Menudo is delish too. 2.50 margaritas during happy hour - Mexican Near Me - Pomona, California

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The Food is good.. good portion.. Service is awesome the Lady is Friendly, Nice she allowed me to sit and she served the chips & salsa while waiting for my date.. The Place is Clean with Moderate noise.. read more

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Simple carne asada fries but really good and also filling. Usually takes a bit to order and then to get your food but not all crazy long and the waiters and waitresses are usually really pleasant and nice so they make the waiters a little easier for you haha. read more

El Merendero - Super Fries w/ Meat Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Pomona, California

Still one of my favorite work week lunch spots. The service is friendly and efficient, and the food is so tasty. I like their Carne Asada plate, Carnitas, Tortas, and my vegetarian co-workers love their veggie and potato tacos. Their chips and smooth salsa Roja are two of my favorites from any Mexican restaurant! There's an attached bakery which has various Mexican breads and cakes, although there seems to be less of a selection than in years past. Parking is either on the street or at a public lot nearby. I highly recommend you give El Merendero a try. read more

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The mojarra/deep fried whole red snapper is awesome here. All three of my boys get it when we go here.

Great food and friendly staff. I go frequently for their bread and gelatinas. Their nachos are my partners favorite and we love sharing those. We love going on sundays with our pot to get menudo for carry out. Always a hit. read more

Everything looks good taste good, but there is a guy in the kitchen with a big thick mustache, and one of the hairs came in my menudo plate. I show it to the waitress. Because I don't wanna make a big deal out of it. I suggest for him to wear a mask at least. read more

I was looking for posole for Christmas and this place was recommended by a friend. They did not disappoint. All my (picky) family loved it and asking when I'm bringing more. Besides the food, the service was excellent! Thank you for helping me start a new Christmas tradition. read more

Good Mexican food and great service lots of items on the menu to choose from, we love the chile relleno plate combinations and the sizzling fajitas read more

El Merendero - Babraboa, chalupa and enchilada plate - Mexican Near Me - Pomona, California

I ordered a small menudo with pata, it was delicious! I also ordered a pork tamale it comes with chile verde, and it was also very good and flavorful. Our waitress was very sweet and had really great customer service. I loved the ambiance very casual, I went on a Saturday morning and it's packed. Look forward to visiting this place again! read more

El Merendero - Mexican Near Me - Pomona, California

I'm a regular here and decided to grab some dinner tonight . Got the asada burrito. So disappointed it just has a few pieces of meat the rest is just rice and beans more beans than anything. $11.99 for a burrito with just beans and rice is BS !!! Dissatisfied with this order . read more

My friend and I recently decided to enjoy a delightful breakfast together, and we had such a wonderful time! The restaurant we chose is a charming little place that not only serves breakfast but also offers lunch and dinner options. To make things even better, there's a lovely bakery attached, where you can find an array of sweet breads and other delicious baked goodies that are perfect for satisfying any sweet tooth. One thing to note about this hidden gem is that it's tucked away a bit, so you'll need to park in one of the nearby parking areas. It can get quite busy during peak hours, which means parking spaces fill up quickly. So, be prepared for a little stroll to the restaurant, but I promise it's worth it! Now, let's talk about the breakfast itself. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of options available. You can choose something classic and simple, like bacon, eggs, and toast, or you can opt for a more adventurous and flavorful Mexican-style breakfast. I went for the chilaquiles, which came with machaca, rice, beans, and warm tortillas--absolutely delicious! As part of the meal, they served crispy chips and fresh salsa, which added a nice touch to the overall experience. The full menu looked incredibly tempting, and I found myself eyeing several lunch options that I can't wait to try on my next visit. It's definitely a place I'll be returning to soon! If you're in the mood for a drink, they have a nice selection of wine and some refreshing margaritas on the menu, but just a little heads up--mixed drinks aren't available here. When you arrive at the restaurant, the atmosphere is relaxed and casual, as it's a seat-yourself kind of place. You'll find an inviting environment that makes you feel right at home. However, it's good to keep in mind that the servers can get quite busy, especially during peak times. If you find yourself needing assistance or if you want to place an order, don't hesitate to wave them down or raise your hand. They might not have noticed you sitting down right away, and a friendly gesture will get their attention. The same applies when it's time to settle the bill--just a little wave will do the trick! Overall, our breakfast experience was fantastic, and I'm looking forward to going back for lunch soon. Whether you're in the mood for a hearty breakfast or a leisurely lunch, this delightful spot has something for everyone! read more

Great good and waitress very friendly and attentive. Good food and yummy pastries and pan dulce.

This place is solid every single time. I get the number 12 plate, and get toasted below on the side. The Menudo is also great, as well as their other soups. Chips and also are always served at the beginning, and the staff is incredibly kind and helpful! This place is so good. We go at least three times a month. Extensive menu with breakfast items, and some classics as well as traditional read more

Chips were cold sitting out.we commented the chips were cold. The waitress said the chips were made in the morning. The cook was preparing meals without gloves. I also witnessed the cook with a cellphone in her hands. read more

Half a panaderia (bakery) and half a restaurant. Parking: there are two parking lots attached to the building that you may need to pay for depending on time and day. Bakery: even at 6pm on a Sunday they had a great variety of pan dulce as well as flan, jello and pastelles. Small jello is $3 and the small tres leches was $3.50 which is not bad at all. The pastries were also very good! Restaurant: the workers here are so so nice. The restaurant itself gives a homey vibe which feels nice and their menu is massive. My bf and I came here for the tortas so I got the millanesa while my bf got the asada. - Milanesa: portion and ratio was really good although I wish there was a little more of a kick to the flavor - Asada: meat didn't really have any seasoning on it at all but everything else was good The green salsa is very good but the red was not our favorite. It had a different taste that we could not figure out. Overall; this place is amazing. I hope to try some other dishes! read more

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Restaurant has a Nice homey type feel like you back at abuelita house. However the service wasn't so great me and my bestie stood there for about 5mins before we were address it was my first time there I didn't know you seat yourself we wasn't greet upon entry that doesn't make you feel welcome. Now on to the Food !! It made up for the customer service! I tried a few things on their menu and everything was pretty good and the prices were very reasonable and they took EBT ! I'll be back for their potato taco is was so good !! read more

Hands down the best spot for enchiladas!!! I haven't tried other items from their menu becuase their enchiladas are always so delicious!! No other spot compares for me. Absolutely recommend trying! read more

El Merendero - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Pomona, California

Love the food and the bakery that is in the next room you can smell the baking breads while you are eating and they have great customer service read more

The menu was vast, definitely got a little something for everyone! In the heart of downtown it's worth visiting especially if bar hopping & need some grub . Employees genuinely care about the customers here. Stop by if you're looking for a good ole comfort meal, they won't disappoint. read more

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Very yummy and good prices too! Very sweet staff. Loved my taco and friend loved her plate as well. Will be back.

This was our family's first time trying the food at El Merendero. When we walked in it was a little confusing whether we order first or wait to be seated. They asked if we were ordering to go or dining in then told us to choose a table. We had to look hard to find a table that wasn't being blasted by a freezing cold AC vent. But we found one. The restaurant was super cold. Our waitress brought our menus and immediately asked what we wanted to drink. But since we hadn't had even a moment to review the drink options we just had water. We overheard a lot of people ordering drink that are not even shown on the menu, which was disappointing because many of them sounded great to me. Our waitress took our order without incident. The food was not good. Three of us ordered the two tamale meals and one ordered the two taco plate. The queso con rajas tamales were very spicy with barely any cheese. The pork tamales had no flavor to the masa other than an almost fermented sour flavor, and the meat just had a scant amount of green sauce that was also tasteless and the pork was bland. The tacos were mediocre. The rice was terrible but the beans were just ok. We will not be dining here again. The one star is for the ok beans and ok service. But we may visit the bakery again. We noticed the bakery has those pretty jello things with jello flowers inside. And they are quite pretty. read more

I had the chilaquiles for breakfast today. They were . Deeeelicious. The green sauce was so fresh (very spicy). The pancake was cooked to perfection. The waitress was friendly and tentative. I will be coming back with my Tia. read more

Raised in Pomona. El Merendero in Down Town Pomona was the spot for the baked goods back in my childhood days. Their pan dulce and cakes were what we looked forward to. Attached to their bakery is their restaurant. This was not my first time dining at this establishment but it is my first Yelp. I ordered the fried mojarra plate which was a generous amount of food on my plate. Temperature was perfect. Unfortunately, the mojarra lacked seasoning, at least for my liking. Anyone can simply add salt but I believe fish deserves a good savory seasoning. If a fish is going to end up out of its natural habitat and on to someone's plate to be feasted on, do it a grand favor and season passionately. I did squeeze some lemon and splashed Tapatio on it to add flavor but it did nothing. The rice lacked flavor as well. In conclusion, I am not sure if I would recommend this establishment, especially if you're looking for authentic Mexican food. Service was good. The restaurant gives Mexican vibes, as it should. The waitress was attentive and friendly. read more

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Big groups accommodation, food was amazing, service was awesome! I would highly recommend the Chili Relleno plate with rice and beans! We all enjoyed our food! read more

El Merendero - Neeedles Eagles #2599 in the House! - Mexican Near Me - Pomona, California

El Merendero never disappoints! The staff and the food are great! The menudo is exceptional!

We've been here many times the food is always good .For lunch today I ordered a shrimp cocktail and a Chile Relleno , enchilada, rice and beans with a Horchata and a Mexican coke. The service is courteous and friendly and we always get our meal in no time.The prices are reasonable . There's plenty of parking on the side parking lot also two handicap stalls. I recommend this establishment to those who like homestyle Mexican food. read more

Been coming here for years, would award 100 stars of the website permitted! Hands down, the greatest Menudo in California! Any time I hear someone ask for recommendations on an authentic Mexican restaurant, I always turn them onto this location! read more

I come here for their menudo. They give a good amount of meat, hominy, and broth is flavorful. My family likes the asada burrito, it's filled with asada, beans, rice, and sauce. Located across the street north of the Fox theater. read more

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Tamales are fairly good. The service, let's just say the day I went in it was a bad day. Something about this place was off. I know it can be annoying to go to work and have to deal with different personalities, but customers are just trying to get good food and service. The prices are not cheap, so maybe having a welcoming demeanor can help. The individual that charged me was short and her attitude was unwelcoming. But maybe I went when it was not the best of mornings. I'm going to go in again, hopefully the service is a little better.Again, the tamales were 8/10 for me! read more

Excellent place! Everything on the menu is fantastic! Menudo on Fri, Sat & Sun. Their beans and rice and hard shell chicken tacos are so delicious. read more

The pozole is the very best... love their food and really appreciate the great service. It is my all time fave go too place when I feel like having some comforting food. read more

Great local Mexican restaurant. Lady at the front desk is super nice. Staff are friendly, courteous and professional. They have security outside which is a good. Restaurant is clean, well lit and very nice. Food is great. Very well seasoned and delicious. Will definitely come back. Highly recommended. read more

Always so AMAZING!! I always get the green chicken enchiladas and they're so good!! My husband LOVES the taco salad. Everything is so fresh and delicious there. We love it!! read more

My wife is beyond disgusted with this location. We used to go here all the time back in the day and started going again recently. My wife had a very long, kinky black hair baked into her sweet bread. I also got a long black hair in my pineapple upside down mini cake. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a picture of the hair in my cake because I had swallowed a large portion of it clear aren't careful as I see previous complaints recently about people getting here in their food. Maybe their workers should start using hairnets. read more

El Merendero - Sweet bread - Mexican Near Me - Pomona, California