What a great place for authentic Mexican dishes. We had a great lunch here while visiting Big Bear. The service was phenomenal, there was plenty of parking, practically no line, and plenty of seating inside. Didn't see any outside seating so I don't think it's dog friendly. The dishes we had were super flavorful with perfect portions. The tortillas were delicious! Will definitely return the next time I visit the area. read more

El Rincon Restaurant - Enchiladas de Mole. Delicious! - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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We both love Mexican food so we thought this place would be a no-brainer and fun to try something new. We came on a very snowy day and there weren't a lot of people in the restaurant so we had our choice of seats. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful in choosing our dishes. We've been to many Mexican restaurants so we are pretty sure what we wanted, but had a few questions as some of the items seemed a little different than expected. She got the enchiladas with bean sauce on top which we're pretty darn good. I got a chicken mole dish that was good, but not quite what I was hoping for. We both came to the conclusion that this restaurant represents a regional area of Mexico that is not necessarily the same as your standard Mexican food lineup. While the food was tasty, we didn't absolutely love it and probably won't choose this place for our next Mexican meal. read more

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Was it the best Mexican food I've had. No. But El Rincon is definitely worth a try. Nestled in a smaller plaza with plenty of parking you can't miss it. I will say the service was 10/10 with authentic decor & plenty of open space. I choose the mole chilaquiles. They were 6/10 with a note the mole didn't really add anything to the dish. Refried beans were amazing, no idea what they put in it but I'd come back just for the side. Drink were solid & prices very fair. read more

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I have been here I would say a good handful of times .and I tend to recommend this place to friends . I usually come for their menudo . It's always delicious. Their service usually is pretty bad every time but we suck it up for the menudo lol this time it was super bad. And the food was very mid . We ordered guac and it had litterally no flavor and it was super pale . My burrito was very dry and cold . Chipotle Chilaquiles had a funny taste but we waited sooooo long for our food that we just sucked it up and ate it. With in 20 min of finishing our food my brother got sick ( he ordered the chilaquiles ) . The birria was very delicious. But it was not a serving size of 2-3 people . The guy waiter is nice , the girl one looks like she doesn't want to be there . They charge for every little thing . Even for a 1oz of orange juice to mix with our tequila. read more

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Another great experience at El Rincón! The server is just the friendliest and such a kind helpful person! If I could give him 20 stars I would! The ambience is very friendly love the decor, one of my favorite Mexican restaurants hands-down. Omg talk about the food! I decided to give the carne en su jugo a try and chefs kiss sooo bomb. I will say it could use a little more meat but the flavor is bomb. The mole enchiladas were good as well! I also ordered a mimosa and the fresh squeezed orange juice was the icing on the cake! See you soon El Rincón! read more

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Omg everything was so delicious!! Their papas de casa were the best home potatoes I've ever had. They were so crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. And their chipotle chicken omelette was filling and delicious. My husband got the mole & chipotle chilaquiles and he said it was one of the best meals he's ever had!! Our waitress was so friendly and welcoming as well. Definitely stop here for brunch if you're in big bear!! read more

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This little hole in the wall was so good! My friend and I were on our way back to LA and wanted some Mexican food. They treated us in Spanish and seated us. It's a small but cozy restaurant with about 8-10 tables or so. I was bummed out they had no more cafe de olla but the carne en su hujos was to die for! There was so much flavor and it absolutely hit the spot! A must try when going to big bear for some good Mexican food! read more

Birria is fire up here Didn't expect to find birria this good in Big Bear but El Rincon came through. The consommé is rich, the meat is super tender, and the plate was loaded. Staff was cool and made us feel welcome the whole time. Definitely coming back next time I'm up here read more

Went to Rincon and it did not disappoint. My wife and I shared the chilaquiles and they were excellent with great flavor and a slight kick that made them stand out. Our 3 year old and 1 year old shared the papas con huevo and I will admit I stole a few bites of the potatoes. Hands down some of the best breakfast potatoes I have ever had perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The staff was super friendly and welcoming which made the experience even better. We have tried several other Mexican food spots in Big Bear and honestly left disappointed but this place delivered on every level. Can't wait to come back and try more items on the menu next time. Highly recommend. read more

Best Mexican food in Big Bear. I had their breakfast ... Need to come back for lunch and dinner. read more

I ordered the Snow Day alongside with two others and a chilaquiles plate. One of the major issues was the bacon. I'm not sure if it's nearing expiration or if the meat was poor quality but I was unable to eat it and the people I was with agreed it was pungent. The two eggs I received were much smaller in amount on another plate as well. The pancake was fine. Potato's were crispy but obviously had not been fresh. We ordered Chilaquiles and they forgot to put the meat which had to be brought out seperate . They also do not have a drink menu to provide so you will have to ask them to recite it. The environment was just a bit sad and alone. As someone who consumes breakfast & Mexican food on a daily this was not it. Save yourself $20 and go to ihop or literally anywhere else read more

For being a lil Mexican joint up in Big Bear it's pretty good. I got the machaca breakfast plate. The machaca scramble had shredded beef, onions, tomato, and peppers in it. It had really good flavor. Hubby had the chorizo scramble, was solid and not too oily. This place would be a 5 if they fixed their beans. They're not terrible tasting, decent flavor and not bland at all, but farrrr too thin and watery. You can tell in my pic. Refried beans should be thicker i.m.o. But we'd come back! read more

El Rincon Restaurant - Machaca breakfast plate - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Authentic food, excellent service! Came here with a family of 6 and we all are raving about what a great choice this was. Binet was a bit messy yet delicious for those who have a sweet tooth. Looks like all the employees are on the same page and make a wonderful team. Happy New Year read more

Was told about this place from a local that had really good Mexican food, so figured hey, let's give it a shot and see what it's all about .. being from Long Beach and living in Los Angeles. We're all kind of spoiled with some good Mexican food places so while on vacation in Big Bear I figured Hey let's see what this place has to offer. I ordered the Carne Asada chimichanga, which was good but I don't like how they put the salsa on top of the chimichanga which makes it not crispy and also the Carne asada was kind of chewy. It wasn't bad, but it could've been better in my opinion. The Machaca burrito was good loaded with the eggs beef, peppers and onions. Had a very good taste. They do have some vegetarian options and my wife chose the soyrizo torta that she says was really good. we also got the beans and chips appetizer, which I was not a fan of the beans were super watered down and kind of spicy and was not expecting that. In my opinion, the beans needed to be a little thicker. Service was super friendly the people were very helpful, and the restaurant inside was spacious even though I did take my food to go spot for Mexican food in Big Bear. Give it a try see what you think. read more

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Absolutely delicious!! Very friendly staff and food was out quickly! Little bit hidden but once you find it, you've found a great place! Clean, fast, friendly, and delicious!! 5 stars read more

Service was good BUT the food was not it. The salsa had no flavor. The beans were practically water. My friends plate had expired meat I would not recommend sorry. Not only that but I found it very odd how they closed at 3 but had the doors closed from the inside since 1 while we were inside eating?? read more

In short, if you chose not to continue on with reading. A WIN. Delicious. We were looking for a smaller restaurant to support, as we normally do. This was not a disappointing experience. The Carne En Su Jugo was a delicious and luxurious flavored soup. Maybe a simple soup on the outside, but full of flavor. With a side of beans and extra four tortillas, you can't go wrong. The wife had menudo and was full of large pieces of tripe and pieces of hominy. The service was spot on. Not sure if this is a newer opening, but they sure know how to be attentive and make sure you are being taken care of kind of being at mom's house, for anyone that knows how mom spoils you. The region of the food was from Jalisco, and we will be back. Cute spot. Delicious food and great service. Treated you like family here. read more

El Rincon Restaurant - Carne En Su Jugo - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

10/10 recommend! My family & I visited this weekend and were not disappointed. Decorated true to the Mexican roots and the classics of rock en español playing during our visit. The staff that served us was super kind & attentive from start to finish, the service alone would make us return. But the food was truly chef's kiss! They serve beans with chips instead of salsa! Homestyle Mexican breakfast that was so delicious. The menudo & pozole were amazing! My son got the fluffiest pancakes that he loved. Treat yourself to the cafe de olla! I typically steer away because some places make it too sweet but this was SO good, we even got refills. Will definitely be visiting again when we travel back to Big Bear! read more

We have breakfast here every time we're in the area. The food is always delicious and it gets to the table quickly. We love the beans and chips they put out for snacking until our orders are ready. Staff and owners are friendly and professional. Dinning room is comfortable and clean. Don't miss out on this place! read more

As soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted by 2 smiling faces. My boy commented on the seated bear, as if he was waiting for a table, so 1 of the servers had a friendly chat with him. Next thing we know, he brought the bear to sit with us, saying, "he asked to sit near his new friend!" The place is unsuspecting... from the outside, it just looks like any other diner. Inside is full of "Big Bear" culture, and the 2 big screens didn't hurt. It always good when the people working there actually seem as if they LIKE being there! They start you off with chips & warm beans with cotija cheese. The Big Bear Burrito was bigger than my forearm! -But my son said it was "soo good," he couldn't stop eating it! We also got the chile verde & the mole chilaquiles (divorciados) with asada & eggs over easy. This dish was perfect... couldn't have been better. I'll enjoy the rest tonight because it was too much to finish in 1 sitting! I was hoping for cafe de olla, but staff said they don't have it; they're working on it. We'll be back next time we're in big bear... for the great food, service with a smile, and to see if they have cafe de olla yet. read more

El Rincon Restaurant - Big Bear Burrito, chips & warm beans w/ cotija cheese, & Barry the Bear sitting next to my boy. - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Service was good but food was disappointing chilaquiles were hard and meet was over cooked and burnt ,hard . My fries were raw ,cold idk how that's possible . Wouldn't come back read more

El Rincon Restaurant - raw ,cold , uncooked fries - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

We came 11/23 around 10:30. I believe they were short staffed and had two big parties of 10+. There were tables available, however I believe since they were short staffed they didn't want to overwhelm the waitress. Which i understand. The waiting area didnt have much room for anyone to sit or stand. My boyfriend and i saw a booth seat (without a table) open and we sat. We were there for less than 5 minutes and the cashier mentioned it wasn't part of the waiting area. I was a bit bothered, but again. I understand. But if you see more than 10 people standing over a hr. You should find seating. We waited for over a hr. They had no chips and salsa. I wanted beans and chips. They ran out of the chips. My boyfriend ordered the divorced chilaquiles and i ordered the carne en su jugo. He wanted half green and half mole. Sadly they got my bfs order wrong. They gave him only red chilaquiles. My carne en su jugo was incredible salty to the point it wasnt edible. I was so embarrassed to get something else, and didnt want them to get more backed up, ao toughed it out and ate it. I also hot the beignets. They tasted funky. Kind of like they got fried in the same oil as everything gets fried on. It had a ton of powdered sugar. Not the best experience for my first time in big bear. Its 8:00pm and i still feel sick from the food. read more

STAY AWAY!!! I am writing this review to save any one from a hospital visit. We dinned here on Saturday, ever since then our group has not been ok. We are going through MAJOR FOOD POISONING !!! stomach cramping , diarrhea & vomiting. We are going for 2 days now. My pregnant cousin went into the ER because she could not handle the sever symptoms. My 5 year old niece as well crying from pain & discomfort, poor little one! Unfortunately, We picked this restaurant off yelp for 4.5 reviews but we think the reviews are fake or bought out. the restaurant was not up to the reviews!! We ordered carne asada burritos, chicken burritos, tortas and bistec ranchero. Group of 6 adults & 2 toddlers. please select another restaurant & STAY AWAY!! Save yourself from an ER visit or falling sever ILL like us! Where you can't keep nothing down, The picture is my cousin receiving ivy liquids to make sure she is hydrated and her baby . PLEASE save your self !! - Yes like the other reviews mentioned we were charged fees, $2 for putting my toddlers horchata in a plastic kids cup, they had given him a large glass cup. $3 for sharing plates, and 4% charge when paying with card. Plus tip. read more

Let me do you a favor. Try this place. Don't even think about it, just do it! The food was amazing and tasted just like home. Edgar served up the some of the best customer service! Definitely make this a spot you visit whenever you're around. read more

Unfortunately we waited almost an hour for them to open. We got there at 8am when they were scheduled to open but was advised they were running behind due to the snow. We got in at 9am, it was freezing inside the restaurant. My husband and I ordered the carne en su jugo and my daughter got the French toast. The flavor was good but our soup didn't really have the ingredients stated on the menu, it was mainly broth we ate. We had about 10-15 beans, a few flakes of the tiniest beef, one small green onion, it was VERY SMALL, and the rest was mainly raw onions and cilantro. If this is what it's supposed to be, it's definitely not worth $17+. Maybe $6 at most! I came in starving and left starving. Then they charge 4% to use a debit card. read more

Everything was beyond awesome especially the service..it was my birthday breakfast and it didn't disappoint

Came for lunch on a Saturday and waited one hour to be seated. Service was nice. We ordered chilaquiles, mole chicken, crepe, tacos plate and bean burrito. Bean burrito was huge. Taco plate was decent. Crepe was flavorful but the crepe itself was more of a pancake. Mole chicken was ok. Chilaquiles was bland, not sure if they didn't include the rojo sauce but the order was messed up all around (asked for no tomatoes but there were, didn't include onions, didn't substitute rice for the beans, and added cilantro even though we stated no cilantro. If you don't pay in cash, they will charge an additional 4% to use card. Anyhow, the place was nice inside and I'm sure it probably could've been better if they weren't super busy. read more

Such a cute spot, the food was absolutely delicious, and the staff was super friendly and went above and beyond with there service. Definitely plan to come again next time I'm in big bear. read more

El Rincon Restaurant - Enchiladas - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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We found this place after skiing in the morning and needed a place for lunch. This place is very convenient to both Summit and big Bear, so we decide to give it a try. The food was completely amazing, very fresh ingredients and extremely tasty. The restaurant was very clean overall and had a quick service as well! read more

Our family's first visit to El Rincon and we were extra impressed with the staff and service. Every dish we ordered was phenomenal. My dad ordered Menudo and really enjoyed it. We had the Chilaquiles Rojas, Machaca Breakfast Plate, Taco Al Rincon, Mama Bear Potatoes and Pancakes every dish was delicious. This will definitely be our spot when we return to visit Big Bear. read more

All the food our group ordered was amazing!!!! I ordered the menudo it def was authentic and corn tortillas were home made!!!!! My friend said his Chicken mole killers were amazing but MOST OF ALL EDGAR WAS AN AMAZING SERVER!!!! Very polite and kind thanks Edgar :) Thanks for the coffee refills papa :) read more

El Rincon Restaurant - The menudo was very good!!! I got it without the pigs foot - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Wow. The food at this place is so good! Service is great and everyone is friendly. The place is cute and clean and again, the food is so good! Highly recommend! Try the taco plate with carne asada. Mechaca con Huevos was incredible too. read more

This was our first time eating here and we were not disappointed. Service was great since we entered the door Edgar the Owner greeted us with a smile and gave us our table very fast. Our server (Row) was very nice and funny we liked that !. Totopos and refried beans were so good. I had chilaquiles rojos with chicken, my husband had Menudo and the biggest pancakes I've ever seen my kids loved it. I would recommend it read more

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Very homey feel, good Mexican food for being up in the mountains. Service was great and the food was amazing! We had the Border Enchiladas, Verde Enchiladas, Bistek breakfast and even the Huevos Divorciados. Homemade horchata the works, we plan on coming back again read more

Rincon I ordered a California Burrito. Cheese was not melted, it tasted bad. The fries inside did not taste fresh. My wife did not like her dis either. My kids shared a bean and cheese burrito which they hated and could not finish. On top of all that when I got my bill there was a $3 "split charge". Never heard of such thing. They charge you a fee if you want to share a plate between people!?! I brought it up to the waiter and he gave some lame explanation to try and justify the charge. I feel like that would be illegal since it does not add any cost to them to bring another plate to the table. The cherry on top was that when you pay with a credit card, they also added a percentage fee without any explanation. I will never meat at this place again. Look elsewhere for better food and less hidden costs for BS reasons. read more

El Rincon Restaurant - They charged my kids $3 dollars for splitting a $9.99 bean and cheese burrito. Absurd! - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

All I got to say is that the food is delicious and the service was great. Our waiter helped with options I could have for my pork allergy and boy was it worth it. I didn't get a picture of my plate but here's my husband's plate Big Bear Burrito. Highly recommend going here. read more

El Rincon Restaurant - Big Near Burrito - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Was excited to try this place out, although their service was great. Unfortunately the food wasn't at all most of it was flavor less, ordered 3 crispy beef tacos and the meat was expired tasted sour, the beans and salsa were very watery as well, I myself work in the food industry so I really didn't wanna return my food but it wasn't the best! The quality wasn't there! I'm sorry but I will not be returning or recommending this place read more

We come up to big bear once a year and got around to having breakfast here for the first time and will definitely be back. The cafe de olla was delicious to wake us up and the food was just the right portion, but aside from the food the real highlight for us was the customer service that was provided, extremely genuine and warm where it felt like they treated us like we've been going for years. Cannot recommend enough! read more

El Rincon Restaurant - Mole chilaquiles with chicken and eggs over easy - American Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Service is good. Staff is very friendly for sure. First time we went we loved it and it became our go to spot. The next couple times we found the crepe and pancakes were very burnt. The hash browns were bitter because it was burnt as well. They do not have a kids menu and charge $3 to split a meal. What 3 year old is going to finish a whole plate? The server said it's for anyone who splits a plate. Not a family friendly policy. read more

Food was tasty, service was spot on! very friendly staff, very clean, great music. Highly recommend!