El Mexicano

A delightfully quaint restaurant nestled in the mountains. Delicious Mexican food served by incredibly kind staff. Not too far up the mountain to make the trip just for a meal. Will definitely be back soon!

This has absolutely so much history and it shows in the interior and even the exterior. Service was great and opted to sit in the front vip center seating. Lol. Taco salad was fresh and was very filling to the point that I couldn't finish it. I was so close. Got some Chiles toreados and it was superb. Top tier and excellent service. Must visit

Delicious food, fun place, great service and the owner is so nice. Really enjoyed our meal and experience here.

What a cool place - Wifey and I took a drive last weekend to try this place out and we weren’t disappointed. Nice people, good food and a cozy atmosphere. We’re definitely going back 😊

El Mexicano is a little restaurant in the middle of the mountain in Forest falls. The place has a lot to look at pictures and decor and the rustic feel of a cabin. Small and homie. There is no heater, the restaurant is heated by a wood antique heater and it was cold in there. The chips and salsa would have been great if at least the salsa would have been warm. On a cool day like this, it was about 35 degrees outside and maybe 55 degrees inside to give you a idea of the situation. I've been to a lot of restaurants that do serve warm chips and salsa. The salsa has a kick it was delicious. They had soda, beers, and wines, I order a coke but was told they had ran out of some favors so I settled with an orange soda. The breakfast burrito was nice and hot. Egg cheese and bacon and hash browns to be exact. It was good but not to die for. Customer service was a little challenging as I talk to them in English and Spanish and they had a hard time understanding. I tried it on a winter day and I'm not a fan. But I would definitely try it for dinner and a spring cool day. And put their best in the world item to the test. Maybe next time. So for now I will give them a 3 star review.

Cute mexi restraunt in forest falls CALIFORNIA...

We saw they were the only restaurant in town. Looking online, we saw they had good reviews so we stopped in for a bite. The restaurant atmosphere was cute. The restaurant was not busy and got a seat right away. We sat down and ordered our meal, then they brought us chips and salsa. The salsa was great. We were very hopeful of the meal. And we waited . . . And we waited. . . . . And we waited. It was over an hour before we got served. None of us ate more than 3 bites of our meals. The beans tasted freezer burned, it the best way I could describe it. The rice did not have a good flavor. The meat tasted funny too. All of us had different things. Chicken/shredded beef/carne asada. We mentioned to the waitress, she just shrugged and said sorry, then handed me the bill. We were shocked. The stars are for the atmosphere and the salsa. We suggest when going hiking in forest falls, head into Yucaipa to eat after or haul in a picnic.

Great little hideaway! Food is a 7.5 out of 10. Like to try more? Had a soft carne asada taco, enough meat for 8? Why not just lower price and serve a normal portion? Chili Colorado was ok, not great, rice and beans ok, highlight of meal was salsa; it gets a perfect 10!!! Chips so, so... Prices were good overall. If you're in the area, try it!

The folks here are so kind & hook it up with tons of great chips and salsa!! Honestly I'd come back on repeat for the carnitas -- totally different style (not the usually shredded pork you get at most places) but truly AMAZING. Fall apart tender, seasoned so well and all the fixings are just perfect Also had the pozole which was great and other friend got and loved the burrito but carnitas is the #1 for me personally!!! Live music Saturday night

Scroll through the pictures. This place is awesome. Don't think it's changed since I lived up here in the early 90's. I'm back for a nostalgia tour today! I usually do not like driving very far JUST to go to a restaurant but if I was living down the mountain, driving up to Forest Falls to walk around the park a mile further up the road and then enjoying a meal here would be my ideal day adventure. This is a beautiful place. Be sure to check out the store next door. When I lived here we ran a TAB at that market...like you probably only see in the movies now. (:-) It was a hoot! We ate here regularly back then and the food still seems great. My Rellano today was a good long anaheim chili and because I asked for extra sauce and cheese it was quite enough with chips to fill me up. My friend had the shredded beef enchiladas dinner and commented that the shredded beef was excellent. I could see by the height of them that the enchiladas were truly STUFFED with as much beef as they could get in...these are NOT flat enchiladas.

I really wanted to love this little place. Unfortunately like the last review the service was near invisible. The old timer chip guy was quiet and friendly but not super communicable. The lady was not warm or welcoming or even at the very least talkative. Please watch your checks because they definitely didn't bill me correctly. I looked and I thought it wasn't right but because she either didn't speak good English or she lacked any communication skills I didn't bring it up. The drinks portion was correct. We ordered all Ala cart- bean & cheese burrito, 1 cheese enchilada and side of rice. That's what we also received. My line items don't even resemble the menu prices and the $1.50 extra charges are bogus too. If this place had great food I would be more understanding. The cheese in the burrito wasn't even remotely melted. So service blew, food blew and billing blew. Overall it cost me about $6.25 in bogus charges and a more than deserved $7 tip for the guarantee I never have to eat here again.

El Mex is the stuff of legends. This is the only restaurant in Forest Falls. And it's fantastic. Its walls are adorned with local history and oddities. It's where Tarantino would film his next movie. The food always delivers. The salsa is ever changing in degrees of spice. There is cold Pacifico on tap. The mole is fantastic. If you are lucky enough to be here on a winter night, the wood burning stove is, quite simply, as good as it gets. El Mex is a gem.

Taquitos were so good that i ate them quick and forgot to take a photo. 100/100, one of the best taquitos I've had and im 100% Mexican

I've been eating here since I was all of 10 years old (?) and I live about an hour away. It's worth the drive!! I came here a few weeks ago on my way up to Big Bear, and there was live music and the fireplace was going. So cozy!! Their salsa is amazing...the kind that is so spicy and burns just enough that you can't stop going back for more.

Service was terrible. Didn't see a server for 25 minutes. Food took just under an hour. Guy that brought us chips and water served our food. Waitress never checked on us. Used to be great, but terrible experience. Food was mediocre at best. When we went to ask for check, saw servers playing a board game in the dining room! Maybe the reason they never checked on us?

This is the only restaurant in Forest Falls and it's super legit. Unlike many restaurants in tourist towns that don't need to try because of tourist traffic and no competition, these guys actually do try and do it really well. The window signs say "world's best burrito and taco salad". I've tried their burritos twice and both times it was the right size to make me full without a food coma. I had a la carte burritos with beef, beans, cheese, and rice. Seems like locals love this restaurant, and I'll be stopping by once I'm in the town.

Located next door to the general store, I imagine they get a lot of hungry hikers. The owner and his wife are are nice as could be, the restaurant has a warm & cozy feel, and the food is good. Like...unexpectedly really good for a small town. My husband said the rice and beans were good, so I ordered the taco and enchilada combo even though I wasn't super hungry. The hard shell taco was nicely fried and filled with shredded beef. (Seasoned well and perfectly cooked, I regret not getting the machaca.) The rice & beans were delicious and I ended up taking half home. The combos are huge!! My son's burrito was so big it unfolded; definitely could have split it with him. My other son had the chicken quesadilla which was brimming with filling but not very crunchy. To each their own...I like mine with a crackle to the bite. My husband got the Chile Coronado which was described as "tender chunks of beef in mole sauce" but was not the chocolate-spicy version I was expecting. The color was the same but it wasn't as sweet as I'm more familiar with; still delicious! Highly recommend if you're in the area. Come hungry or split. Or maybe don't eat 2 baskets of their delicious crunchy chips. It's any body's guess.

Excellent service and great food. Family owned business that knows how to treat customers

Best service ... best taco salad in Cali. Small town gem. Best Taco Salad in SoCal for sure. Service always friendly

Forest Falls, what a weird town. It's picturesque but...maybe too picturesque? Something feels a little...off. A little Don't-Worry-Darling-ish. Anyway, after going up San Gorgonio, I was looking for a place to eat. I was shocked to find there was a place less than 2 mile from the trailhead, and a Mexican place no less! This place is adorable for the outside and cozy like a mountain lodge on the inside. The service was great! The food, I found underwhelming. There's nothing at all wrong with it, it just was generic Tex-Mex. I would expect that in Alaska, where I live. It's shocking to find for a place that's averaging 4.5 stars, in a Mexican Mecca like California! I got the taco salad, based largely on a loud sign outside that said it was the world's best. It was fine. Definitely stop in here, but do it for the location, ambiance, and service....not for the mind-blowing Mexican food.

This Mexican restaurant owned by Mario, San Bernardino forest local and his business partner Patty. This restaurant has been serving the Forest Falls, Yucaipa, Redlands, Mentone community for over 24 years. At 6,000 ft elevation, you can hear the #viviancreektrailhead when you step outside in the parking lot. Our party was welcomed into the building greeted by our server, another mountain local that directed me to information on their second location I had headed to initially and was closed at the time, El Mexicano of Oak Glen San Bernardino mountain town Nearby Yucaipa. I drove my date and I to the Forest Falls location to learn more about the area and the restaurants beloved dishes and history. My date and I enjoyed the crackling sounds come from the fire place as it warmed the booths and country tables with the cool mountain air. Next door is the Elk-horn general store with Beanies, Knit Scarves, Snow shoes for Men Women and Children. We dined around 6pm, the restaurant began closing up around 6:40pm. We went to the general store to keep warm before our ride down the mountain a 20 min ride to Yucaipa.

Best food. Best atmosphere. Service is fast and wonderful. Their Friday specials are my favourite meals. Super clean and literally the best Mexican food.

I thought this was a delightful place to enjoy lunch while visiting the quaint mountain town of Forest Falls. The food is pretty much your standard Mexican fare, but it was tasty, the prices were reasonable and I found the service to be attentive. The place is also very charming inside with lots of nick nacks and the like to set the mood. Be forewarned, this is virtually the only restaurant in Forest Falls, so you are not going to have much else to choose from. If you do enjoy Mexican food, however, you will not go wrong here.

Great food made and served by great people. They are like family on the mountain to the residents and Mario is an absolute delight. I can't say in the years I've been coming here that I've ever not seen him in a jovial mood. With all my allergies (tomatoes and cilantro) I've never had any issue or concern eating here with my family or friends. Sunday breakfast is always a treat!

We took a Sunday drive up to Forest Falls and had lunch here. The gentleman who greeted us was friendly and very welcoming. However, that was the end of good service. The woman server was so rude to us from the very beginning. Our food took quite awhile to be served, she never check to see if we wanted another drink or refill our water. Once the food arrived she never checked to see if we needed anything. We had to go find someone to get our check after waiting a long time for her to return. She was absolutely awful and intentionally rude. We will never go back!

We wanted to try a new place and based on reviews we gave this spot a try. SO glad we did. Looks are deceiving based on its location but the food was amazing! Staff was attentive and friendly - and the strong margs never hurt. We'll be back

Delicious. Had the enchiladas. Rice and beans are as good as any. Service was solid. Great family business.

Love the food here just hate they don't open when they say they do! It is worth the wait, good service, beautiful places to sit.

I drove past this place on the way to my favorite hiking spot. On the window, it said "best burritos in the world". Naturally, I smiled as that's an incredibly cliche thing for a restaurant to say, but nonetheless, I was hungry after hiking and never refuse the chance to eat Mexican food. Well, let me tell you, their chili Verde burrito (or just chili Verde in general), is honestly the BEST I've ever had! Hands down! And their Salsa is flavorful with the perfect level of spice that keeps you going back for more! Ever since I've eaten here I've been chasing that flavor at other spots with NO success. That's why I will happily drive 60 miles, one way, without thinking twice about it. Whenever I feel like having an adventure and some Mexican food, this is the place to be! If you're in the area, it's a must-try! If you're NOT in the area, it's a must-try. Bottom line- you must try this place!

Nothing to special about the best burritos in town. Just beans & carne asada. No rice surprisingly! I've never had a burrito that was only seasoned with salt & pepper. I'm a construction worker so a man has got to eat & this is where my job led me too. Service was was great but don't come with high expectations.

The food is good service is A-1 and the atmosphere is eclectic with woodburning stoves, Mexican, art and warm, friendly service.

Food is authentic Mexican, carnitas are five star... If you don't eat meat, try a cheese enchilada with some of the best mole ever! Also chili rellanos are just fabulous... if you don't like Mexican, try a double bacon cheeseburger, and some fries... Come have a cold beer and bring a smile. Everyone is treated like a friend.!

We found the food and atmosphere to be wonderful. It was early in the day on a cold and snowy Monday morning. Service was slow because the waitress was working in the kitchen. She was very nice and quite pleasant.

We have been to this restaurant 8 times in the last year, so consider this a long term review. The chips and salsa are solid, the salsa brings the heat so get ready for the sizzle. The rice and beans are wonderful and cos sorbet every time we visit the restaurant. I've had the shredded beef hard shell tacos and cheese enchiladas with red sauce and they are perfect every time. The family that runs the restaurant is kind and thoughtful and always go out of their way to make us feel welcomed. We make a 20 mile drive to dine here and it's become our favorite Mexican restaurant. In the winter, the fire place is going and they have a man playing classic rock music on Friday nights, it's nice, I'm getting hungry rotting this review! 5 stars from me.

Been having Sunday brunch here for 32 years. The food, ambiance and especially the staff! From May thru September we fine elfresco on the patio with the birds, fresh air and sunshine.

My wife and I came up on Friday afternoon. The outdoor patio is pleasant with a view of the Oak Glen mountains. We were greeted and served delicious chips and salsa. My wife had a glass of Chablis and I had a Negra Modelo. Service was spot on and friendly. The food was superb. My wife had the chili Relleno and I had a shrimp taco(only served on Fridays) and a chicken taco. Everything was delicious. Fast, friendly service, great food and beautiful setting. We can't wait to come back.

Not only the best Mexican food in Redlands or nearby but the ambience can't be beat. Good service, generous portions, outside dining among the trees, salsa was spicy, and the cook brought water for my dog.

Food was great. The service was great and the ambulance was beautiful. I would definitely come back.

So good! We all have our favorites. Glens nachos for my husband, cheese enchiladas for me and tacos for the kids.

I've never had a bad thing here! So good, salsa is always fresh and if you need a fri fix they have good fries too!! Love the people, love my community

It was excellent food in a very relaxed atmosphere. Definitely will return when we're in the area.

The food is very expensive, I paid over $9 for a single taco. I wish there were more choices up here in the Falls. They price gouge and take advantage of the people because they know they are the only game in town

This is one of my family's favorite places. We just moved to Yucaipa and we need to find new "go to" places. We saw the good reviews and decided to give it a try. We took a quick drive up the 38 and cut over to Forest Falls. It is a beautiful drive. You quickly feel like you are in the middle of the forest. When we found it, we got out of the truck and you can smell pine and campfire. We got in and were seated right away. The waiter was super friendly and made some recommendations. The salsa and chips are yummy. We ordered three different meals and we were all happy and finished everything. I enjoyed it so much that I went back a few days later with a friend.

Took friends of mine that we grew up with 60 years ago in forest falls . The meal was great ,ambiance great , service great ! This is a yearly dinner and we will be back next July ! I live I. Oregon .

OMG! the place isn't really big, it's accommodating, they have walls of pictures of past years of people coming out to celebrate events in the community. The food is delicious! the restrooms are very clean. The service is excellent!! The one road is actually beautiful to look at from the window, especially when it snows.. sometimes it's a bit cold when you sit closer to the larger window area. The owner himself makes you feel very welcoming and so do the servers! I just wished they sold those homemade tortillas again. The salsa is to die for.. one very spicy and one for pleasure. I haven't been there on a Friday night, but I heard they have music and Karaoke.

The service was impeccable, the servers themselves were super charismatic and welcoming. The food was better than average and the portions were pretty big. Really cool outdoor seating.

My husband, dog and I stumbled across this place after a 5 hour Jeep trail trip! This place is so awesome! The owners anf staff were so welcoming and accommodating to us and our dog! The food was so authentic and tasted so darn good. We stopped to have a drink out on the patio and ordered food to go. Carnitas burrito and a beef burrito. Got home took our first bite and thought wow this is really really good! I cant wait to come back! The setting is beautiful and the atmosphere was amazing!

It was our first time visiting this restaurant. It has a warm traditional interior decor, very fitting for its menu style and the mountain region. The food is absolutely delicious and tastes authentic. The portion size is impressive. The signature Fried Ice Cream is epic. We devoured every bite. An elderly gentleman was playing guitar and singing at the corner. We had a wonderful time. On our way back, driving not too far down the road, a bear came across our path. Very glad we were safe inside the vehicle because I really did not want to share my leftover or myself.

The food is always excellent! Fish Tacos on Friday are the best we've ever had. The owners are friendly and make terrific salsa and home made tortilla chips.

The food is okay if you're looking for Mexican food in the area it is the only place available. Parking is limited. Service is good. The price is fair.

So thankful our only restaurant in town is so good! Their food is great and they have a large menu. Always ask what the soup is because they make really good soup - split pea and chicken tortilla are great, but nothing beats their pozole. Their shredded beef taquitos are the best I've found. It's a family owned/run business and everyone that works there is friendly and helpful. Totally recommend it.

I was out in Forest Falls for the first time in my life. Being a OC CALI Native! For we went on a day trip to see and explore the waterfalls! We had lunch here and I was very impressed with the quiet homemade feeling! The salsa was spot on fresh! Service great! We walked in and I believe they were just opening! Great meal! Will be back again to have lunch and a great day of hiking! Thank you again for the great service

Stopped here for a post hike meal,. My shredded beef taco with mole sauce was delicious. Enjoyed sitting out on the patio!

My parents live nearby and frequently eat here. I have enjoyed everything I have ordered. The ranch dressing and salsa are fire!

Stopped by here after a hike. Excellent Mexican food and delicious salsa. Staff was very friendly and kept tables clean. Only drawback is parking - not enough. But it's a tiny town.

Beautiful location nestled in a little town in the mountains. If you want excellent food, fantastic service, and ice cold cervesas, this is the place. I recommend Glen's Nachos!

Hubs and I stopped on our way back to the OC after camping in Heart Bar. The BEST salsa, heat and delicious! I'm not a fan of Spanish rice, but there's was delicious! Hubs had the Gordita and I, the Machacha. Both very good! The restaurant is adorable, we sat on the patio and enjoyed our brunch very much before heading back to the OC jungle. Will stop again when next we visit the area!