Mitla Cafe is one of those places you have to experience if you're from the IE. This San Bernardino staple has been around since 1937, and the little bit of history behind their crispy tacos is pretty cool. Glen Bell, before Taco Bell was even a thing, had his burger stand right across the street and became a regular at Mitla. He ended up learning how they made their tacos, and the rest is history. Now let's talk about why I came. Those crispy tacos are SO good. That crunch, the seasoned meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato... everything just works. And I can never pass up a Carta Blanca . They also give you that little complimentary bowl of chile con carne, and let me tell you, that chile was delicious! The service was great, everyone was friendly, and the whole place just has a really good vibe. You can feel that old-school San Bernardino charm as soon as you walk in. Definitely one of those spots that makes you want to sit back, enjoy your food and take in the experience. read more

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Lovely, historic gem in San Bernardino. This storied restaurant sits at the intersection of Mexican/American culture and serves up delicious entries with a side of Route 66 History. The salsa and warm chips were a wonderful start to the meal while we waited to place our order. I had combination #2 to try the hard shell taco (reportedly the inspiration for Taco Bell's), the chicken enchilada, and tamale. This was a delicious plate that brought a smile to my face and the horchata was also excellent. Service was a bit slow (very busy), but extremely friendly. If you're cruising Route 66 or out this way for any reason, give Mitla's a try! Pro tip: if you can't find street parking, they have a lot on the street by their south side. read more

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I was in the area with a friend who had never been to Mitla, so we stopped in for lunch. The dining room was almost empty because it was about 1pm. Our waitress was awesome . Very nice and attentive. I got a #6, ground beef taco, enchilada and a chile relleno. I added rice and beans. I liked my meal this time. Everything was hot amd tasty, except for the cup of beef soup. It was supposed to be like a carne guisado, but it was so bland. Really just chunks of beef in water. My buddy loved his food. He got the ground beef tacos with a side of beans. He liked the beans so much that he got a side to take home I think if I stick to the basic, popular Mexican items Mitla is somewhere I'll continue to frequent. read more

Mitla Cafe - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

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At MITLA CAFE Again In San Bernardino, CA Gonna Get Our Feast On. Came To Visit My Fiancée's Sister Who's In The Hospital So We Came All The Way From King City, CA About 5 Hours Away. My Fiancée Is Ordering The Two Cheese Enchiladas And A Beef Taco. And To Drink She Ordered A Michelada With Corona Especial. So I Ordered The Friday Special An Asada Steak With Calabacitas And Beans With Corn Tortillas..!!! Yummmmerrrzzzz...!!!! And An Agua Fresca De Jamaica To Wash It All Down. It's Pretty Packed In Here Today On A Friday Afternoon. Lots Of People Enjoying Their Meals And Chit Chatting Away. Nice And Intimate Dark Ambiance. We LOVE Coming Here Whenever We Come To Town. The Service Is Always Impeccable. Very Friendly Wait Staff. And Not To Mention That The Food Is AMAZING....!!!!! 5 Stars..!!!! read more

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The food was delicious. I ordered the taquitos con guacamole and albondiga soup. The corn tortillas that come with the albondigas are handmade delicious. The customer service was great. The atmosphere is calming I loved the dim lights. The server was very attentive and friendly. I Recommend this place give it a try. You will feel the mi casa es tu casa visiting family vibe welcoming atmosphere. Muy bien venido y la comida deliciosa. read more

Fun experience! The home(origin) of the hard shell taco did not disappoint. I had a ground beef and a shredded beef taco. Both were great but the shredded version had a bit more deliciousness. Our server, Valentina, was great. If I ever get back this way, will ask to be seated in her area. Being super tired from our day's worth of travel from Williams, AZ to San Bernardino on Route 66, we were hungry and weary. Put this one on your itinerary for your cross country Route 66 roadtrip. Has a great nostalgic vibe. read more

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My friend invited me to mitla's for lunch, and recommended the chile relleno. The restaurant was in a bad neighborhood, but thankfully it had a dedicated parking lot across the street. It's a historic restaurant and made me feel like I was walking back in time, it's a place where community and family come together. You get free chips, but you'll be charged if you want a 2nd bowl. Cost was 34$ for 2 entrees. The chile relleno lived up to its reputation! read more

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This restaurant is very historical been on route 66 and a part of the San Bernardino community since 1936. It also inspired Taco Bell recipes and further inspired at the fast food industry while maintaining its hospitality Mexican food comfort, fast pace, service, reliable service, and a family fund environment. That host large parties that has a great ambience highlighting the history of the historical establishment. I love all things vintage and I can't wait to come back to this establishment and have dinner with my family. I had the albondigas meatball soup and ordered a side of Mexican rice to dip in my broth. read more

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4+ A Mexican restaurant operating since 1937 along the historic Route 55. There's a family owned/operated vibe here - it's been in the family and passed down for about four generations now. The menu has items you can order a la carte, but there is a section of different combo platters. The prices are reasonable and the service is attentive and friendly. One of the main reasons I wanted to come here? The taco that launched a thousand franchises (more or less). You see, the founder of Taco Bell (Glen Bell) saw the fervor for the crunchy tacos served out of this cafe and basically copied/reconstructed the recipe and opened the first Taco Bell in 1962. My niece was in the area checking out one of the nearby schools and thought this was the perfect opportunity to finally come here. I met up with my niece and sis-in-law here a little after normal lunch time, so the place was not busy at all and we were able to get seated right away. I already had lunch (I really was there to meet with fam, but couldn't resist getting some tacos) so I just got a couple of the ground beef hard shell tacos. The tacos were very enjoyable and was so glad I came here. Definitely would come again to try their other menu items and combos. Looks like the place could be fun during the busy dinner times too! As an unabashed Taco Bell fan and an appreciator of food history, this place felt like going to a great cafe and a museum of sorts all in once visit. Parking wasn't an issue on a weekday afternoon, but not sure how it would be during busy nights. read more

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Place was nice. Staff very friendly. The menu is a little small but simple. The prices are a little pricey, but they do have deals going on every day. Tried the food and I couldn't believe it. It was so good for like something I ate at my grandma's house will be coming back. The best thing there was the chicken enchiladas beans, and rice were really good. The supe we're homemade and delicious. read more

Mitla Cafe - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

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Mitla Café is the real deal. The food is simple but incredibly tasty -- no frills, no fusion, just straight-up classic Mexican comfort food. You can tell they've been doing this forever... because they basically have. The menu hasn't changed much in over 50 years, and honestly, it doesn't need to. The place is old (opened in 1937!), but it's very well maintained. Clean, welcoming, and full of history. The walls are covered in photos and framed articles from major publications, which just adds to the sense that you're eating in a local landmark -- not just a restaurant. It was fairly busy when we went, mostly Latino families and locals -- always a great sign when it comes to legit Mexican food. Everything just felt authentic, in the best way. If you want a taste of Inland Empire history, served on a plate with red chile sauce, Mitla Café is absolutely worth a visit. read more

Mitla Cafe - number 6: chile relleno, cheese enchilada, shredded beef taco - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

Service is excellent. The food was hot, and the margaritas were very tasty! I had the pick three with a taco, tamales, and enchiladas. Everything was wonderful! I have enough leftover leftovers for two! Can I say it one more time staff was excellent!!!! read more

This is a short story that begins and ends with the word "historic". Supposedly this place was the inspiration for the first Taco Bell. Also, notable hispanic community leaders like Caesar Chavez used this spot as a war room to plan their resistance. That said, the food was a C+ at best. Beans and rice are billed as additional charges and this place is deep in the ugliness that is San Bernardino. It's trading on its heritage and is definitely asking you to pay a surcharge for the experience. This is the ultimate "one and done". This place is forgettable. read more

tl;dr step aside, Taco Bell; Mitla's hard-shelled tacos highlight a solid and approachable selection of Mexican-American eats Despite its unassuming appearance, the Milta Cafe is one of the most historic restaurants in the Inland Empire. This San Bernardino stalwart has been serving up Mexican comfort food since 1937. Over the years, it was a popular meetinghouse for local Mexican-American community leaders, and the tacos dorados even served as inspiration to Glen Bell (founder of Taco Bell). Mitla is positioned on an industrial stretch of Route 66. Outside, the Hampton Hotels Save-a-Landmark program recognizes the restaurant with a commemorative sign. Walk through the gated, recessed entry to find yourself in a bar-lobby hybrid. To the left, diner-style seats run the length of the diminutive bar counter, barely longer than the flat screen mounted on the wall. To the right, a half-booth leads up to the entryway into the main dining room. The dimly lit dining space echoes with chatter. The mustard-yellow walls are peppered with memorabilia, from Route 66 plaques to framed news articles to regional recognitions. Sturdy wooden chairs are pressed up to worn wood-laminate tables. Tables remain filled even during off-hours. My partner and I visited Mitla on the way back from Big Bear, and we had no trouble getting a table for late lunch. For entrees, we opted for a Special Combination Plate (with a cup of Albondigas, a Ground Beef Taco, a Shredded Beef Taco, and a Chile Relleno) and an Asada Combination Burrito with Cheese and Sauce. My favorite component of the meal was the tacos. The resemblance to Taco Bell was unmistakable, but Mitla's tacos were larger with more premium components across the board; I was particularly struck by the crispy taco shell and juicy meat. Between the beef options, I preferred the ground beef to the slightly tough shredded beef. Meanwhile, my partner loved the forearm-sized burrito. The flour tortilla was stuffed with refried beans and pan-fried carne asada bits, then topped with gooey cheese and tangy enchilada sauce. Other components of the meal were good but less memorable. The complimentary chips were warm and sturdy but minimally salted; they served the entire cup of slightly spicy, pico de gallo-like salsa. The mix-in-heavy albondigas was decked with large chunks of veggies and a fist-sized meatball, while the chile con carne paired plenty of slightly fatty meat with a savory tomato broth. The tomato-forward rice and rich, cheesy beans were solid standalone sides. Only the soggy, rich-but-one-dimensional chile relleno was a true dud. The service was attentive without feeling overbearing, and our bill totaled just over $50 (after tax and tip). The prices are a touch higher than similar restaurants, and some of the a la carte prices felt eyebrow-raising (single tacos are $6, while sides of rice and beans clock in at $7). Nonetheless, for a bite of history, Mitla is a worthwhile stop if in the area. I, for one, will be focusing solely on the hard-shell tacos during my next visit. read more

Mitla Cafe - Special Combination Plate with 2 Tacos and a Chile Relleno (front) and Asada Combination Burrito with Cheese and Sauce (back) - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

First time here and it is worth the drive. The chips and salads was fantastic. I had the enchiladas ranchera and my wife had the carne asada. Both are highly recommended. read more

Food was ok service was EXCELLENT!!! Ambiance was good it did get a lil loud at some point however people were really enjoying themselves... The reason I said the food was ok is: my hard shell taco was very tasty, however, I ask for the ground beef taco ( and it was just put inside the taco shell not grinded up) it was like a piece of whole ground beef like the size of two sausage links... i did not like that a nice lady sitting near me said I should have let them know, however I just took it out my taco and let my mom eat that portion of the meat. Other than that all was just ok...The establishment is very nice inside we will try to go back for the senior discount hours Tuesday-Thursday 2-5 read more

My high expectations were not met when discussing the quality of the dishes. If you're a foodie, then it's a try for at least the history. Luckily we were in the area and stopped by around 3pm for a late lunch. It wasn't crowded and we were served right away. The service was great, attentive and quick. The restaurant was cozy and enjoyed the little lamps on the side tables. We had to get there famous hard tacos. The ground beef (mixed with potatoes) was fantastic! However, the shredded beef was so dry it tasted like beef jerky. Very disappointing especially after trying the ground beef. Also, tried the bean, cheese and sauce burrito. Included a variety of meats which comprised of the beef jerky. Probably would've been better with just bean and cheese. My partner ordered the chile relleno, enchilada combo. I really enjoyed the enchiladas. This sauce reminded me of the old school Taco Bell red sauce. If this is your destination and you're driving an hour+ and waiting in line, curb your expectations. Because if you live in SoCal, chances are you have better Mexican food much closer to you. read more

Mexican A Route 66 San Bernardino tradition since 1937 authentic food Weekly Meal Specials famous

The food is amazing and the service is great !!!! It can get packed so be prepared but the wait is worth it read more

Crispy,crunchy,cheesy and juicy the red salsa add the right amount of flavor to this already magnificent taco CHEEEEE0000OW!!!! read more

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The Original Taco Bell tacos are good. I had the ground beef, my wife had the shredded beef. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful and was very attentive, checking in on us. The restaurant is very spacious plenty of seats and the parking is great, the have their own parking lot. Definitely coming back. read more

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Iconic restaurant along the route 66, known for being the inspiration for Taco Bell's crispy tacos. It does get very busy here due to its extreme popularity, I suggest a seat at the bar if you are in a rush. Service was wonderful, very friendly and hard-working. The portions are huge and the prices are fair. Their chips and salsa was delicious. Great option if you are looking for nostalgic Mexican food in the area! read more

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The negatives first: 1) The Hood. It's in an old part of San Bernardino where cars race down Mount Vernon Avenue and the establishments hide behind locked iron gates when they are closed for business. 2) It's dark inside. I could barely see my food and the menu. 3) Margaritas are served in a water glass, not a margarita glass. The positives: 1) History. You feel a strong sense of history inside, with the pictures and the awards on the walls, like this place has been around a long time. 2) The food. Authentic Mexican food is hard to find. A good sit-down Mexican restaurant is hard to find. I had the chili relleno and chicken enchilada. 9/10. The wife had a shredded beef taco 10/10 and a cheese enchilada 2/10 (the cheese inside was hard). 3) Plenty of parking across the street in a fenced parking lot. We were early, so we parked on the street. read more

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Such an awesome breakfast! Everything was fast and service was good. Drinks have free refills. The pancakes were good and my boyfriend ate the whole huevos rancheros plate - he said it was excellent. It has great home-y vibes and is comfortable inside. They have a separate parking lot as well. We will be back to try tacos for lunch. read more

Mitla Cafe - Pancakes and eggs - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

We came right when it opened at 8am and was a line to get in. Service was fast, friendly staff & quick service once we were seated. It's a nice home feel atmosphere with music playing in the background. We ordered the Huevos Rancheros. It's an amazing flavorful dish served with HOMEMADE TORTILLAS . You have to try it atleast once to appreciate the flavors. This place is the founding place for Tacos... This is where Taco Bell got their idea. Lots of history here. Come try for yourself , you won't regret it. read more

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Unfortunately I haven't been back to Mitla's Cafe in many years since I live in OC, but I still have fond memories of eating there for many years while working & living out there. I always loved their chili rellanos,tostadas, tacos, etc. Really miss it. Guess I'll just have to make the drive. It's the best Mexican food I've ever had, & I've tried many. read more

It was our 1st time here, here is my review Machaka breakfast was 5 star Green chili pozole was 5 stat Menudo was 2 stars ( really bland no flavor) Service was great Employees were awesome Atmosphere was great. read more

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Really good Mexican food and good quality and good service . Waitress was very helpful and friendly, always asking if we needed anything

I came here since I was nearby and this has been in my bookmarks for a while after watching a documentary about this place. Glen Bell, who founded Taco Bell, got the idea from this place's taco dorado. It was also a meeting hub for the city's Mexican activist community in the 1940s. This restaurant is still family owned and the oldest surviving Mexican restaurant in San Bernardino county since 1937 and located off Route 66. There's street parking, I waited a bit before I got seated. The place was nicely decorated with Christmas decorations, lighting is a bit dim inside. They gave me a small bowl of chips and salsa. I got their taco dorado of shredded chicken and steak ($5.90 each) with a side of rice and beans ($7.50) along with a small bowl of Albondigas ($6.50). The wait time was not long, the albondigas was on the smaller side with hot broth with a large single meatball with bits of chopped carrots and cilantro. The plate arrived hot and the tacos were crispy and oily. The beans and rice were fresh. The taco dorados came in a fried tortilla stuffed with cheese, ground beef, and diced tomatoes, it came super hot so I had to wait for it to cool down. The staff was nice and attentive. Closed Monday/Tuesdays. read more

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This homey old school family friendly Mexican restaurant was, apparently, the inspiration for Taco Bell. It is a good story. Look it up. You start with a basket of delicious, fresh chips and good salsa. But you pay if you order another basket. Everyone seems to order soup here and the albondigas soup is a good one. However, $6.25 (or possibly $6.50) for a cup is pretty steep. The delicious meatball is obviously homemade and the broth and veggies in the little cup are great. You could probably order an entire bowl and call it a day. But you can't come here without trying one of their famous hard shell tacos. They are large ones and packed with neat, lettuce, and tomatoes, and topped with very unauthentic cheddar cheese. They are also loaded with grease but I'm not complaining. The smart move is to get the tacos with shredded and not ground meat. I found the shredded beef far better than the chicken. The "guacamole taco" is just a large taquito smothered in guac. It's fine but not amazing. The beans are rice are also ok. The horchata was not, sadly, housemade. Our server was great. It's not incredible food but it's good food with some hits and misses. The hard shell tacos are really good and well worth trying. Free street parking everywhere. They also have their own enormous lo read more

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Went to dinner there. It's changed since the last time I went. Didn't recognize any of the waitresses I use to see and they got rid of most of their booths. I ordered from the senior menu and I was not pleased with the quality. They ended up bringing me a different order. Never came and asked if I needed refill. After I was done eating, I felt being rushed out. They also double charged my friend's credit card. I wasn't pleased at all. read more

Est. 1937- Originally opened as a lunch counter, Mitla Cafe is the oldest surviving Mexican restaurant in the Inland Empire. Created by Lucia Rodriguez, Mitla is still owned and operated by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. From the introduction of the Taco Dorado "Crunchy taco" and the sordid story of Taco Bell, to the civil rights community meetings with Cesar Chavez, the history of Mitla is rich and delicious. When you walk through the front door for the first time, and you see that old lunch counter, and the walls adorned with decades of timeless photos, you can't help but think that Mitla has 'seen things'. With all that said, it is the quality of the food that put Mitla on the map and kept it there to this day. Definitely some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. We had the #2, (Taco, Enchilada, Tamale) and the #6 (Taco, Enchilada, Chile Relleno). Both dishes were excellent. Everything is so fresh and delicious. It took a bit for our food to come out because everything is made to order, but the wait is worth it. None of the combination plates are served with rice or beans, but everything was so good, we didn't miss them. In fact, I didn't even notice, until after the meal. And of course, the crunchy tacos are exceptional. The Taco sauce is a family secret, and allegedly, the recipe is known only by three people (I hope they all fly on separate planes!) Also, I have never been to a Mexican restaurant that has a salsa dispenser on every table - that's fantastic. The service is very friendly and the dining room is comfortable and inviting. Every booth has a table lamp and photos on the wall: I felt like I was eating in someone's home. Also, there are no added fees to the bill. I know it's a bit of a trek if you are in LA county, but Mitla Cafe is definitely worth the trip. For the history, for the food, and especially for the famous Tacos Dorados. Mitla Cafe is a must! Four Thumbs Up. read more

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The restaurant itself is very beautiful and clean. The workers are very nice and welcoming. The music is fun! The food was ordinary but overall good and filling. The reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is solely because of the pricing. I think it's a little overpriced. read more

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We chose to get our family dinner from this resturant after seeing a program last night regarding its history and the food. We ordered 12 beef tacos, a tray of rice and beans. The rice and beans were tolerable. However the meat wasn't fully cooked and completely unseasoned. The meal cost us $85.40. In their attempt to serve a meal appeasing and favorable to all they limit the amount of seasoned used. I understand that restaurants attempts to consider everyone's palate, any allergies, to much salt etc. read more

Mitla Cafe - Beef taco, poorly cooked and poorly seasoned no flavor whatsoever. - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

Outstanding choices and everything is delicious. Great personal service too. Very authentic, sticking to old school taste.

The original Taco Bell people say. I got 3 hard shelled tacos. Ground beef (OG) , shredded beef and chicken. The OG is the best out of 3 I feel like. Got it to go. It's a whole different vibe in there. Lots of older generation hanging out on a Friday afternoon. read more

Mitla Cafe - Hard shelled tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

I love everything. Food, service, ambience. I got steak, eggs, papas and beans. The homemade tortillas are to die for. They serve both corn and flour tortillas. My husband had menudo and the tripe was so tender. It melts in your mouth. I highly recommend this place. read more

Mitla Cafe - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

The food here is amazing. Tried the tacos and some pozole. Both were a hit even down to how they make there shells! The pozole... TOP TIER!! Service was also amazing. Highly recommend! read more

Mitla Cafe - Pozole - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

I ordered to green chili puerco plate and I did not enjoy it, mine is better. Rdawg enjoyed his chili relleno and his tamal he didn't care for the ground beef taco. The small salad they bring you was awful, refrigerated salad covered in watered down Mayo and ranch. Friendly service and cute place. Will not come here again but Rdawg may. read more

Mitla Cafe - Chili relleno, tamal, y taco plate - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

I strongly recommend Milta Cafe. The food is amazing. Fresh, tasty and the service is top notch. Not to mention they have been providing this top notch service for 89 years. You have to be good to make it that long! It's that good. read more