Hortencia's at the Cliffhanger

🏔️Just visited Hortencia’s Mexican Food in Crestline, CA and I’m still thinking about it 😍🏔️ First of all — the VIEW. You drive up into the mountains and suddenly you’re eating Mexican food with fresh air, patio vibes, and the prettiest scenery 🌲✨ It already feels like a mini getaway before the food even hits. I started with a horchata that was perfectly creamy and refreshing 🤍🥤 and a blended mango margarita that was sweet, smooth, and dangerously good 🥭🍹 The chips and salsa were freshly made, warm, thin, and crispy — literally my favorite kind 🔥🫶 You can tell everything is made with care and flavor in mind. Then came the steaming chicken and steak fajitas with beans, rice, and guacamole on the side — and the sizzle sold me instantly 🤤🔥 So flavorful, filling, and comforting after a mountain drive. And let’s talk about the wet burrito with red salsa — HUGE, saucy, and absolutely worth every bite 🌯❤️ Overall: amazing food, generous portions, friendly service, and unbeatable mountain vibes 🏔️⭐
Hidden gem in Crestline — 10/10, will definitely be back! 😍🍽️

This place is awesome. Cool vibes with a view. We went November 2, 2025 around 4:30pm and it was busy. Parking was tight. Service was decent (it was busy). We sat down, ordered drinks, ate the chips and salsa, within 20 mins we were eating dinner. The only thing that was a bummer was the horchata was not great, it was missing sugar or something lol but overall, The price was fair for the amount of food you get. The food was bomb.com! Hit the spot!

Beautiful view, but disappointing food and service. The Mexican food was poor in quality and didn’t meet expectations. Unfortunately, the service was also below standard, which took away from what could have been a great experience given the location.

I ordered the Chile relleno, enchilada, and Taco. Food is 5 out of 10. Enchilada sauce was served on the cold side. Chile relleno not bad, but it had too much batter. Taco was descent. We also ordered the albondiga soup, which was delicious. I ordered side of scrambled eggs for my granddaughter, they were horrible. I guess I was expecting a better food quality. Would I come back? Maybe forge the view. And order something simple.

The views are great and the drive was not bad. If you do come here come in the am as the drive in the evening is not good. The food is not terrible but not great and it is a bit overpriced for what you get. But again you are paying for the experience. If you temper your expectations you won’t be disappointed. The menudo is all tripe and like $18 for a bowl and the chorizo and eggs was okay. This place is for the atmosphere. The views are spectacular and the service was fine, not great and not terrible just okay.

First time impressions are important. This place did not pass. 🤪 The food is not good at all in my opinion. It seems like a great place for hanging out with friends for a night out but not for a family. The view is beautiful so they get 3 stars for atmosphere.

Food was okay. Went during our drive back from Big Bear so arrived during brunch time, it was slow the patio was not available. The view was nice. Our host was great but the server that took over was rude to a table next to us, that killed the vibe. Maybe dinner time experience is better just not brunch.

The best part for this location is definitely the view. The food was a little plain and needed more flavors. My dish came with a pork tamale and was nothing close to an average tamale. You get better street tamales. The rice wish is a Mexican rice was not even Mexican rice, looks Mexican but not authentic. Overall, if I come back, it would be for the view and a drink, maybe to try the shrimp cocktail.

Amazing Mexican cliffside dining spot! Found this gem as we were coming down the mountain from Lake Arrowhead. The endless views are truly spectacular and they have an outdoor patio as well. So does the food match the views? Everything we've tried so far has been great. They make some very delicious crispy tacos, fish tacos, comforting albondigas soup, and huge fish bowl size margaritas, and piña coladas. Service has always been very friendly and attentive. Can't wait to be back atop of these mountains very soon!

I keep trying to like this place but the food isn't up to par feels like bad fast food Servers are nice but it's always so empty u barely see the rest of the staff Pretty view just wish it was worth Eatting or drinking there

Ordered a torta, beef chimichanga wet burrito with red and green sauce, & shrimp enchiladas plate. The Torta had great flavor, the meat was a good size and tender, bread was fresh and toppings were normal. The wet burrito was packed with savory beef meat, the beans and rice were delicious and the deep fried tortilla just topped off the whole plate along with the sauce. The shrimp enchiladas had good flavor and packed with shrimp; the beans and rice were also good. The only reason I rated a 4 is because the service was almost non-existent. We didn't see the waitress after she brought our food. We would absolutely come back because the food so so yummy

Great view with great service! We have been trying a new menu item each visit. Always a great experience!

It's like eating Mexican food in heaven!! My friend and I found this spot on our way up to Arrowhead and were really impressed with the views. The food is reasonably priced and very good. Definitely check this place out!

Giving this 5 stars mostly for the awesome views that you will get. The views were great and made it worth the visit. The food itself was decent but nothing that really blew us away. I ordered a strawberry margarita and didn't know it would be a blended drink. It was super chunky with ice and a little hard to drink. The service was good. We got a little annoyed bc after only just getting our food we were asked to pay and close out. We hadn't even eaten our food yet. We set the bill aside but then the sever came back and kept asking us to close out. I would go back but would choose different menu items.

I haven't been back here in a while so I was confused when there was no one to greet or seat us. Eventually some one told us we could seat ourselves. Uh, how about a sign?! . The views are still awesome and our server was super nice. Sadly, the food quality has diminished considerably. I ordered the pork Mexican taco with a side of beans. I asked the server if the park was carnitas style and he said yes. It was NOT carnitas. It was fine ground mushy pork and the beans were bland. The chips aren't even as good as they use to be. My friend got the beef taco plate off the kids menu and she didn't like her food either. We left most of our food uneaten. It's been a few years since I've been here so I was super disappointed because it use to be so good. I come up often to visit family but there are better places to eat so I won't be returning.

Looks outside are deceiving. The parking lot was one way but we were able to get in and back into a parking spot quickly. On our way to our son's college graduation ceremony in Twin Peaks! Wooohoo: so happy for his new chapter to his adulthood. The hostess gave us the options to sit inside or outside patio. We needed the vitamin D and fresh air being in the car for awhile. Jocelyn greeted us with chips and Jesus served us with the menu he recommended: Small guacamole (for the chips); chicken taquitos and chicken/steak quesadilla to share. It was great but the view was excellente! My mother in law gave it a thumbs up and we're ready to celebrate now for the day! Great job to the hostess (didn't get her name); Jocelyn & Jesus!

Amazing views... for days! We've been coming here for years. Staff is outstanding, always friendly. We know inflation has affected everyone but wow the prices have really gone up. Cadillac margarita was $20?!! Ok, it was great so we didn't complain. Unfortunately as previously reviewed, beans are bland, the chicken fajitas were also bland and overpriced because what we got wasn't much chicken. The guacamole was actually really great! What we did appreciate was that the chips and salsa have improved and were actually really good too. Again, staff is really great and we WILL go back again.

The views & the friendly staff were great, but the food was simply not good Mexican, particularly the enchiladas & chile relleno.

Me and my husband came here and were so surprised it wasn't busy. We both ordered a mixed drink and enjoyed the views. Since it was slow the two servers were really keeping themselves busy with cleaning the restaurant. I've never seen two people work so hard. The service was great and our server was pretty attentive. We both enjoyed what we got. The views and servers are worth the price. lol

3 stars for the food, 4 stars for the view. It's an easy pit stop, so no reason to not come by here for the views. Parking is super easy, and the service was pretty attentive. They have bathrooms and they let you pick your seating, both in and outside. On a Saturday morning, most of the window seats were taken but we got lucky with a table inside. You'll still get a nice view right by the window. As for the food, set expectations low but it's not as terrible as people make it to be. You won't leave hungry and it's fine. I enjoyed my giant horchata too. The easy access to the view makes it worth a quick stop, even to just grab a snack or drink.

Mexican joint with the most amazing view in the most beautiful area. Very nice, hard working young people working there. The food was good enough. No complaints, ordered Huevos Rancheros and was satisfied. Very good salsa, I feel like it's just made. Enjoyed it. Great experience. Prices seemed right and I will definitely come back. Indoor and outdoor seating available. It's said that it fills up around lunch time. Yelp and Google both have incorrect opening times according to the server so call ahead to be safe.

Good service, solid food, beautiful location during the day. I really enjoyed this area even though when I went it was very foggy. Had a good experience. The price isn't bad either with how expensive everything is up on the mountains .

My husband had a Carnitas burrito. He said it was good nothing spectacular but good and I had a lobster taco and a shrimp taco. I will definitely eat the shrimp tacos again, but I would say unless you absolutely just have to have lobster skip it. The service was nice and the view was absolutely wonderful. Will definitely return.

The service was nice, the food was good, the view was great, but the prices are steep. I will certainly be back again but I would warn that it is a bit pricey. The fajitas are nearly $30. The combination plates are around $18. I do think it's worth it to come here for the atmosphere and the views.

Food is always delish, rapid service as usual clean restaurant. Love coming here. Did I mention it's in the mountains!! Great views.

La comida mala el servicio es ok la vista muy linda pero la comida no es genuina pedí un chile verde y me dieron carnitas bañadas de salsa herdez verde ufffffff

1. Killer view and self seating 2. Friendly & attentive waitress 3. Free chips & salsa with refills 4. Shrimp fajita quesadilla was huge 5. Carne Asada fajita was tender 6. Lobster taco = crayfish & imitation crab 7. Ordered too much food

The last couple of times here we had slow service even getting a drink. The meals just don't have a lot of flavor. I am not sure what has changed, but something has. The view is fantastic but that won't keep us coming back.

Haven't been there recently, but when we go to Lake Arrowhead our first stop for lunch is Hortencia's Cliffhanger restaurant in Crestline. Food is delicious, views are great and staff very attentive.

We were thinking there is no way we get a seat to this place. The view is so fantastic but surprisingly, there was no problem getting a table. I didn't realize the place was famous due to a nick cage movie spot. The service was top notch, best i've had in a while. They were coming by checking on us to make sure we had everything we need. More chips and salsa with some kick to it. Yes! Please. I like a waiter that just kept the flow going. "Drink order taken, by the way, did you all want to just order dinner, it looks like you guys are ready." Why, you read our mind. We were fresh off the trail from a PCT hike so we were famished. The food was delicious too. I went for the triple item combo. Who doesn't love an enchilada, Chile Renello and a beef taco. Top notch service, top notch food and top notch view. What more can you ask for? BTW, they have some really awesome specials during the week

I have been coming here for approximately 7 years. Good food, big portions, friendly staff, with an amazing view. This is a clean establishment, it can get busy here depending on the time of the year/day of the week.

My friend and I recently had an incredible dining experience at Hortencias at the Cliffhanger, a Mexican restaurant located in Crestline just off of Highway 18. From the moment we entered, we were captivated by the stunning panoramic view of trees and mountains through the massive glass window. It added a touch of natural beauty to our meal. I decided to try their combination plate, featuring an enchilada, chili relleno, and taco, and I was thoroughly impressed. Each item was packed with authentic flavors and prepared with great care. The enchilada was cheesy and flavorful, the chili relleno had a perfect balance of heat and savory goodness, and the taco was a delightful explosion of taste. The dishes were not only delicious but also reasonably priced, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Meanwhile, my friend ordered the steak torta and was delighted with his choice. He described the steak as tender and abundant, and the combination of flavors in the torta left him completely satisfied. It's safe to say that Hortencias at the Cliffhanger knows how to deliver exceptional Mexican cuisine. In addition to the delicious food, the service at Hortencias was outstanding. Our server was friendly, attentive, and constantly refilling our drinks without us even needing to ask. The staff's warm and welcoming attitude added to the overall positive experience. I highly recommend Hortencias at the Cliffhanger for anyone seeking authentic Mexican cuisine in Crestline. The combination plate and asada fries were superb, and my friend thoroughly enjoyed his steak torta. Add the breathtaking view and fantastic service into the mix, and you have a restaurant that truly stands out. Don't miss the chance to indulge in a memorable dining experience at Hortencias.

Drinks were awful. Our $15 maithi was blue. When we asked the waitress she said "that's how they told me to make it". Not sure who "they" refers to, but clearly retraining is needed :) Wine was hot. Skip the drinks. Food is average, friendly workers, scenery breathtaking. This is a good place to bring out of town visitors.

We stopped here for lunch when we heading back to LA from Big Bear Lake. The view is gorgeous. Food is ok. I tried Menudo as it's only available on weekends. Texture is great but soup is kind of lack of flavor. Others are average. Service is great. Their servants kept coming to us and asked whether food ok. Price is average. Recommend if you stop by and enjoy the view.

Super huge portions with a great view. Our server was very attentive. Only minor thing was the very strong smell from the cleaning supplies. Maybe it was because it was a Monday morning and there was a deep cleaning after the weekend. The portion sizes make it worth the visit to give it another try.

Delicious Mexican food with amazing view! We always visit this restaurant when visiting Lake Arrowhead. Our favorite dish is combo fajitas. Jamaica drink is so refreshing. Service is good

The best part is the view. They have an outside seating area too. Not many vegan options but you can order a custom salad.

Best place I've been to in awhile! I thought I had to make a reservation to sit by with view. The prices are GREAT for such an amazing view! Highly recommend!

Hortencia's is located off the 18 in Crestline. There is plenty of parking in the lot. The restaurant features both inside and outside seating with gorgeous views of the mountainside . Hortencia's has Mexican cuisine but I would say it's very Americanized . It's not terrible but it's not great . Our service was attentive . The chips and salsa were good - we had chunky salsa which I appreciate and warm chips . I ordered two tacos with beans and rice and my husband with with the chili verde burrito . The tacos were ok.. I ate my beef burrito first and by the time I got to the chicken taco , the shell had completely fallen apart . There was a lot of meat and lettuce with very little cheese . The chili verde burrito was very dry . My husband only ate half. We also ordered a michelada and house margarita . The michelada just had some tomato sauce at the bottom of a cup . Nothing homemade or special and the margarita was definitely premixed and on the sweet side . I think we might stop here again when it's cooler out for a cocktail and chips and salsa but nothing we had was a reason to come back.

The views are unbelievable. The food is nothing special. Actually overpriced for what you get in my opinion. However, the service was so fast, very impressive. They allowed our dog to join us, so that was a bonus! Ultimately, I gave the 4 stars for the views and service.

The view is amazing, yes. But you can get the same view about a mile down the road in a turn out. The food was not good at all. I got the lobster tacos and they came out within 5 minutes of ordering The beans were flavorless, along with the tacos being very soggy. The rice was under cooked. The other food we had ordered was also subpar. The Cadillac margarita was not good and did not come with the shot to pour in. Our server was young and I understand that it was later but they were very short and acted like us being there was a nuisance. Do not recommend.

I love the location and the view of this restaurant. We got there a little bit after opening so there wasn't too many people. I would have thought the service would have been great since there was only ourselves and two other families and a lot of employees walking around but unfortunately it wasn't. The food seemed re heated like they had it under a light and just brought out the plates. What further makes me Belice they just te heat their food was how burnt and hard the tortilla was in my taco and the food was EXTREMELY salty. I did not finish my plate. I would have loved for the food to be delicious since the restaurant is beautiful.

Had a great time at Hortencia's Mexican Food! The view is simply amazing, and you can pick your own spot. They kick things off with chips and salsa, which is always a nice treat. Their michelada is a winner, and if you're into margaritas, they come in a frozen version. We went for a combo plate, and it was ooey-gooey cheesy goodness. The service felt a tad rushed, but hey, it's worth it for that view. The bill was around $53 before tax, which wasn't too bad. I'm definitely coming back for that killer view!

This is not the first time I have been to Hortencia's and it definitely won't be my last! I'm long overdue for this review, so here it goes. Gorgeous views, great food, and attentive staff? Say no more, I'm there. I love this place. Located in Crestline, on the Rim of the World Hwy. I had their mango margarita, which I love, and cheese enchiladas (my favorite). My best friend had the Camarones a la Diabla and Michelada. This restaurant is family-friendly and date-friendly. I've been here for breakfast and dinner, great food options. If you decide to sit outdoors for dinner, you may want to bring a sweater, as it can get a little chilly. Don't forget to take in that beautiful view while you enjoy your food and drinks.

We came here on our last day in Arrowhead on our way back home. We got here right when they opened for a bite to eat before driving home. Most of us weren't too hungry so we just shared some chicken flautas. There was only one server in the whole restaurant, but he kept up pretty well as the place slowly filled up. This is a very unique little spot, with a great view, that made me want to watch the Nick Cage movie that was shot here. It has an older antique feel, but the place is still pretty cozy. Our flautas were ok. They were crispy and covered with a generous amount of cheese, but the chicken inside was dry. My boyfriend got the Spanish omelette and it was really good. I had a couple bites of it and it was the clear winner of the table, so I highly recommend an omelette here. We had a nice breakfast here.

Best Mexican food in town with the best view as well. Server was very attentive. Do yourselves a favor and sit wherever you'd like.

My brother in law went their Sunday to order food. He was told he had to take it to go because they were about to close. He signs his receipt which was $110. The next day my sister finds a total charge of $160.15. This place took it upon themselves to give themselves a 44% tip. When my sister called the next day the manager said they charge an automatic tip for large parties. My sister reiterated the food was taken to go. They would NOT reverse the charge. Beware when coming here.

This place used to be our favorite spot with the best food, service, and view. Now I do not think that anymore. Food is dried up, cold, and does not taste the same. Service has declined to a 1 star along with the food. Very sad to see this place go down the drain.

Excellent fajitas. They cost $30. Very average tacos. They cost $5. et cetera We will sometimes pony up for the fajitas because they really are some of the best we've had anywhere! But in general it's a "no" for me just because the prices are not it.

The view is spectacular the food is average. I've only been here once and had the taquitos, so take it for what it's worth. Sat on the outdoor deck- great views. The deck was moving with people walking and the wind- seems like and old structure- seems dicey. Had the taquitos, served with iceberg lettuce that looked a bit old, mediocre cut tomatoes, and guacamole. The salsa was gringo friendly, no flavor and no spice. The chicken taquitos didn't taste right. Worth a stop to see the view and have the cerveza or a margarita- don't expect to be in Mexico with the food.

First time here... food is great! Service is great. Jason was very nice/professional. Thank you Jason. Will be coming back!

Good food, great service, and an even more magnificent view! Brought my bestie for a hike and brunch birthday date. We had looked online at this place before and loved the view. We had a little bit of everything. The food was great and for my liking, not so spicy hehe The service was great and the staff were more than flexible. Everyone was so fkn nice!!! We got to pick our sitting area and the waitress helped us move our table over. The chef was flexible with the food order as I switched up the menu. They made me a special Chile relleno and pork burrito. The fries were seasoned great and Thalia's enchiladas were bomb lol We had a passion margarita and we were low key super chill by the time we finished our meal. The severs were attentive throughout and the view was great. Can't wait to be back for sunset and even during winter for some albóndigas and chocolate abuelita! Parking was totally chill and accessible and there are some mini hiking and rock climbing areas near the cliff. anyways, if you haven't been you're missing out!

Not an honest place... went for a lunch and charged me $4.25 each for hot tea which I only asked for water. When I get the check, the 20% tips was already included. After the waitress swiped my credit card and gave me another receipt, it was asking me to write the tips, I wrote that the total already includes tips. However, when I checked my credit card statement, they ended up charging me another 15% tips on top of 20% that was already included. What a dishonest place!!!

Excellent food and service. Nice view. Beautiful area to visit and support after the horrific winter storm this area endured.

My bestie Anaiza brought me here for my bday and I could not be any happier. The view was amazing; staff was super nice and helpful; and food was delicious! The passionfruit margarita was so refreshing! I also ordered a combination plate but I am definitely coming back to try their torta and abondigas. It's super difficult to find a spot with great food and great vibes. This place definitely checked off both.

Great views, very good food and excellent service. Definitely worth the stop just for the view. Parking is a bit tough when busy so avoid peak times. Food is good to very good. Salsas can be better at other laces, but chips were so fresh, they really didn't need much. GF loved the albondigas, which was the daily special and I really enjoyed my combo with Chile relleno, enchilada and taco. Most surprising was the ground beef taco. Seasoned really well and lots of veggies, made it almost like a taco salad. Also had a shredded beef, which is usually my go to for hard shell, but will only get ground beef here.

The servers are really nice, and we were able to get a table right away in a Saturday afternoon. This is my favorite spot when in big bear and lake arrow head because of the view, the view 10/10 to see. We had the shrimp tostada 4/10 even though it had a lot of shrimp it was not good at all, it tasted like bad frozen shrimp I get it that it's not that close to the sea but I think shrimp at Costco taste good lol, the chorizo burrito 7/10. I've gone before and also had the taquitos and remember them being really good, but this time the food wasn't as good.

We had a wonderful time at Hortencia's. The view was amazing! We sat outside on the patio. They have really nice coverings but it happened to be 91f and we could have used a fan. :-/ just saying. We took our dog Blackie and they were very nice to her. We had the Lobster Taco and Carni- Asada Taco. We realized later they had "Mexican style" or "American Style". Mexican Style was good but I guess I prefer less cabbage and more of their delicious sauce. I drive a HC scooter and it is a good thing I'm am an amazing driver! I had very little room to negotiate through the very funky dining area on the way to the patio. After looking around on the patio we realized there might be a better way to exit and ask our very nice and professional waitress if there might be a better option. She said, I'll ask instead if you can use the locked door to the front parking lot. Fortunately we were guided through (also quite a squeeze lol). Altogether a worthwhile drive for a beautiful view!. After sitting down and giving our orders a really nice couple from Kentucky sat by us who were on their way up the Coast Highway. We had taken that trip many years ago and shared some tips for the trip. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming!