Hubby and I were staying in San Bernadino last weekend and had a craving for some Mexican breakfast. I wanted handmade tortillas so I found Mitla Cafe, and in reading the Yelp reviews I realized that it was the birthplace of the original recipe stolen by Glen Bell, the Taco Bell founder. DH loves Taco Bell for some reason, so it seemed like the perfect breakfast adventure. The block where Mitla sits is very non assuming, and looks very old in a cool hipster sort of way. We walked in and a waiter pointed me to a table in the adjoining room in a very cluttered area full of customers. I asked if I could sit in the nice quiet booth in the front room instead and he said yes. It took a little while for the waitress to come over, but she was super nice and helpful once she did. Hubby ordered the original ground beef tacos and said they were different than Taco Bell, and tasted similar but more homemade. He liked them okay. I ordered the huevos rancheros with no meat or cheese. It was good but not great. I think the sauce was missing something. The homemade tortillas were very good however. This was a good experience for a one time visit, but we will probably try a different place next time. read more

This place has the most amazing dishes and the menudo is fresh all day everyday. The chips and salsa are the best. Thanks Chile will clear your sinuses lol and the menu is authentic. Portions are correct and the price is right. This place is a an IE tradition. read more

See all

We have enjoyed our meal. Hard Tacos Rice and Beans were finger licking good. The service was good and servers were very good. I would like to eat here again when I'm near by next time. Well worth eating here. Thanks guys. read more

Ordered the dinner enchilada plate and added chicken to them. The plate was sooo yummy and the side of flour tortillas are very good as well. Authentic Mexican vibe from the decor. Would definitely recommend giving it a try! read more

Beef combination burrito wet with cheese was SO good. The sauce that the beef is cooked in was so good. For me the hot sauce is what makes the plate and theirs was really good, but could be a little more spicy. The place was packed but I hear it always is. The girl at the front seating people was really nice and attentive, customer service is key. Next time I go there I will be trying their posole. read more

First time here, it's a great place. I saw a YouTube video of it and decided to check it out. It's very clean, the staff is cordial, there are plenty of tables for large parties(we are 7), a jukebox, the bar is near the front door, a big screen television, and the service is above par. The place has a history like no other in the Inland Empire, it's the oldest restaurant around. I understand Greg Bell of Taco Bell fame got his inspiration from the tacos Lucia served 'back in the day' (they've kept the recipe through the years and are freshly made to order from scratch). They've also benefitted from being on historic Route 66. read more

They have really good food but as of now they are not observing social distancing since they have reopened in regards to COVID-19 Some groups of people are sitting right near each other and this is not safe. Diners all need to be spaced at least 6 feet apart. They should not be trying to fill all the tables as usual. read more

I went to Mitla Cafe on a Sunday an it was super packed. When you enter there is a list to write your name to wait for a table; I guess my only complaint is the the thight space while you wait but the service was good, fast and efficient. The food was great, I had the red pozole and my mom had had the menudo which both incredibly well seasoned and spiced. Definitely a repeat for this restaurant read more

Don't recommend this place service wasn't there food was not appealing it's all bad. Other than that everything's great read more

Heard about from Netflix's Ugly Delicious show I believe and went to see for myself. If you want the comfort of an authentic home cooked meal, this is where you need to go. The heart and soul is served on the plate. read more

First time here. Menu combos don't come with rice and beans. Extra charge for those even extra charge for more then one bowl of chips. Pricey..Food was very greasy and fatty with grizzle. I think i saw a ventricul in the chili verde chunks of pork. Gross!! Wont be back. read more

Great wonderful place to eat food is amazing Great customer service and thy don't make you wait that long. read more

I felt like the food was Americanized, not authentic Mexican food. To each their own. Waited a while for the food to arrive and they forgot to get, a person in my parties, tortillas read more

Don't be intimidated by the location of the building, go on in! The food is very authentic and has great flavor. The chips were tasty, but a little shiny from the oil left on some of them :( It was obvious there were many regulars there because of how friendly the staff was with them and how they interacted. Even though it was my first time the staff treated me as if I had been a regular and made me feel welcome. I'm not sure why there are low ratings...this is authentic local Mexican food...no food network chef in the kitchen, but that's okay because if you like good food that tastes close to your Mom's food, then this is the place. I think too many people are used to the slop el torito sends out...just sayin. read more

This is one of the few places I know where you can order anything and be completely satisfied. I've been coming here ever since I can remember and it will always be one of my favorites. Best menudo around, best huevos rancheros. The place is a hole in the wall. The neighborhood is a hole in the earth but that just adds to essence of mitla. The place gets busy on the weekends and at lunch time so plan accordingly. You could be waiting a while for your food, it's only really bad when your hungover but the fat in these dishes will soak up the alcohol. Also if you go here don't have any plans for the rest of the day. You'll be laying around useless like the puddle of lard that went into creating this stuff. Service is okay. Food is excellent. This is the best restaurant in the city. Don't miss out. read more

Mitla Cafe - Mexican Near Me - San Bernardino, California

See all

We made a special trip to San Bernardino to get take out at this property. The Mitla advertises take out, and we will not eat inside any restaurant due to COVID concerns. After an hour on the road we sat in their parking lot to order our food and we're turned away rudely saying only indoor dining is allowed. ridiculous! No reason, just sorry, no take out, only dine in. Will not bother with this again. There is just too much good competition in this area to be turned away by a restaurant that thinks they are so good that our business is not needed. read more

Man I love vintage things, thrift stores, old buildings and the Mitla does provide a great ol' experience, but didn't quite cut the mustard. Food was greasy! Coffee was ok but i think i appreciated the old air of the building more than the food or service. Sorry to disappoint or hurt anyone feelings but this is about good eating and I would not recommend this place to anyone. read more

Located in a part of San Bernardino that I don't think I'd ever find myself aimlessly wandering around, this place has been serving up food for decades. To me, that was part of its charm, that, and its no nonsense interior, which in the past, could have passed for a pool hall. Today, I had the #6, which consisted of a beef taco, a cheese enchilada, and a chile relleno. No beans and no rice on the side, which was fine for me, because it was a ton of food. Although the food was pretty good, the enchilada was drowning in its own sauce. The chile relleno was also pretty good, but the chile itself was a little too spicy for my taste and I was unable to eat it all. Upon further reflection, the food ain't pretty, perhaps a little greasy, but it will fill you up. Yea, I think I'd go back again, if I should ever find myself in this area again. During the day. read more

Absolutely delicious. Definitely a hidden gem. I will be back. Food is fresh and hot. Tacos are amazing. Customer service is great. I definitely recommend trying this place. read more

I came here with my coworkers after a 8 year hiatus for lunch. I ordered 3 shredded tacos. It was delicious, just as I remembered. Unfortunately, I've become more health conscious and noticed just how greasy and salty the meat was. The shell of the taco fell apart due to all the grease. The service is also just as I remembered, very slow. Slow in giving your menus, slow in taking your order and slow in getting your food to your table. It appeared that you got faster service if you are a regular. The waitress was the same one I remembered from 8 years ago, which was nice to see. You don't see that loyalty anymore. Overall, food was delicious but service was okay. As my coworker said I think they are resting on their laurels. read more

I have been coming here since I was a child. Their food is consistently fantastic. My son always requests a bean, rice, cheese burrito. Their rice is dreamy. They have items off the menu that are a special treat for vegetarians: bean tacos, potato tacos, stir fried cactus (seasonal), and fideo (Mexican spaghetti - special order). Ask about the facebook specials because they are generally a great deal. read more

Heard alot about this place, so decided to come check it out. Sadly it didn't live up to its hype, customer service is a big thing and waiters seemed unorganized and waited around 20 min just to get our order and restaurant wasn't even packed. Food is alright,its not bad but its not great, a little pricey compared to other Mexican restaurants. read more

Easily the best Mexican food in the Inland Empire! Ate there a couple of days ago after being out of the area for about 10 years; I found the food and service to be even better than before. read more

I just don't get the hype. Food looks and tastes like it was cooked by one of my aunts who doesn't know how to cook (but thinks she does!). Chips soaked in lard, mediocre salsa, and very few of the combo plates come with the beans and rice. Why? That's a Mexican staple! It's like serving hamburgers without fries! I ended up ordering a carne asada plate because it came with salad and beans. No bueno! The salad arrived premixed/drowning in either mayo or some white dressing (ugh!). Beans were greasy/lard laden, and I couldn't even see the carne asada because it was hiding under a layer of melted cheese. Once I excavated it, it was tough, and lacked seasoning. No wonder it was hiding. I was tempted to go see if my aunt was back in that kitchen. read more

This place is very special to my people. This is where San Bern Kiwanis meets on the weekends. Some big time deals have been cut in this place. The food is classic Mexican cafe food. So don't come here expecting an atmosphere. Shit's the real deal. Extremely bad-ass. read more

This place has amazing tasting food. It's a little on the pricey side, but very well worth it for someone who doesn't have time to cool because I work almost 10 hours a day, paying a little bit extra to get almost home-made tasting Mexican food is not a sacrifice at all. I recommend this place !! read more

This place has been around since 1937, that says alot right there the food was so good. The shredded beef tacos and the chicken tacos where tasty, the refried beans were the best (old school style). I totally recomended this to Mexican food lovers. read more

This is how good Mitla's is...We like to travel to Southern California, and there is never a trip that does not take us through San Bernardino in order for us to eat at Mitla's. We actually plan our first day around getting to Mitla's getting tacos and frijoles! Speaking of beans, the lowly refried bean is elevated to something heavenly when you get to Mitla Cafe. It is no longer just something that takes up space on the plate; it is now this amazing part of your meal that rivals the main dish. Any good chef can make something good out of a filet mignon or a nice rib eye, but take something lowly, something that has no fanfare and make it something incredible...that's what I'm talking about! Go! Eat! I promise, you won't be disappointed...oh, and get extra beans to take home. You'll want them later, I promise. read more

Lives up to the hype. Great Mexican American history. Fantastic crispy tacos. Tito's Tacos in LA can't compare.

I made the two hour drive from santa barbara because of the youtube video and the story of the original taco bell taco. My whole family thought i was crazy for making this drive for a taco. Mitla was much more than that. It was special we had birria from across the street and that did not disappoint as well. During this pandemic we had not eaten out in two months so i wanted it to be special. We arrived there and everyone was very nice. The owner was very accommodating and very nice lady. The decor was inviting and traditional mexican restaurant like the old school days none of that new chique crap. The chips and salsa were a gold star the salsa out of this world. They were out of coke so the waiter recommended dr. Pepper superb suggestion. The food was out of this world. The tacos lived up to the hype. Let me tell you i will never forget how perfect they were, my cousin who teased me about driving two hours ended up ordering some for himself. The chorizo and huevos was a classic the chile rellenos very authentic I was very happy we made the drive to San Bernardino. It brought our family close together we had been down on our luck this whole month and this place was what we needed to bring our family together. read more

Went there for the 1st time today. Got the combo plate with 2 shredded beef tacos, which were excellent & 1 chile relleno, which was the best i've ever eaten. Great chips & plenty of bomb homemade salsa. Staff was friendly, service was excellent, decor was old-school & comfortable. I grew up in LA County, so El Tepeyac was my go-to place. Now that i moved to the IE, this is my new spot out here! read more

See all

If you want REAL Mexican food and a very friendly, comfortable atmosphere, GO TO MITLAS! It's a family run restaurant where you actually feel like family. It's where we go to eat whenever we come from San Diego. And that's often. We'll be back! read more

Came here as part of my Route 66 tour. Awesome food,friendly staff! Got the number 6 with a michellada

This place used to be tHe best Mexican food in town.. haven't been here for years ..food toook forever and there not even that busy buT the server act like therre always in a hurry.. food was cold and food came out different time so some of us didn't eat together.. Had the Huvos ranchers not happy with it at all 3 Pieces of meat and sauce everywhere And fries on the side .. with 2 tortilla.. never had it like this before .. they got lazy with the food .. read more

They say that this is where Taco Bell got it's start! Well I don't know but I know Taco Bell wish it taste just a Lil as good as these tacos!! The regular beef taco and shredded beef tacos are a must try!! We travel from Norwalk Ca. (Arox. 2 hrs.) about once or twice a month now after seeing them on you tube - to get them last time I tried the chicken taco it's great also but the original beef is going to make you wish you knew about it sooner lol & the order on the phone pick up curb side is perfect plus they have a huge parking lot across the street you can eat rest and order some more lol read more

Came in for the first time, I had a Chile verde platter and I can say the cooking was to perfection this is a place to come to with the parents as it's a very home vibe and feel to it. Bloody Marys are a drink to try here! read more

What a magnificent old treasure! Come on by and enjoy part of history and have a good food too. I hope this place stay around and be preserved for future generations. read more

Love this place. Been going here since I was a kid and the food is just as good as always.

Great real Mexican food,very relax atmosphere,people are always friendly,you may see someone you know

Best Mexican food in town Irene special is the best lunch special in town.. homemade tortillas delicious enchilada sauce delicious beans are the best OMG must try this place read more