It’s finally come to this! L.A. TACO is leaving Los Angeles and moving east of East L.A. to the Inland Empire ... FOR GOOD!

What can we say? The rent is too damn high! The parking spots are few and far between! The transplants are transplanting and telling everybody that Echo Park and Silver Lake are the Eastside!

So we’re jumping ship to the IE, where the rents are lower, the McMansions are spacious, and maybe there are transplants, but they haven’t told anyone that west is east and up is down.

So goodbye, L.A., and goodbye, L.A. TACO. 

We are turning the page and entering our new era. Welcome, IE Taco! That's right, we're getting rid of that pesky period in between L and A that we use to not confuse people with Louisiana.

Please visit us at our new office location inside the Inland Center Mall. You can find us posted up next to Wetzel’s Pretzels. Editor-In-Chief Javier Cabral will also be starting a side hustle shoveling snow and installing snow chains (if it ever snows again), proudly serving Crestline to Big Bear.

And you heard it here first, catch TACO MADNESS 2027 at the Calico Ghost Town’s parking lot! 

The connections between Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, from San Bernardino and Riverside counties, extend beyond state and interstate highways. Plenty of us in L.A. have family and friends in the region whom we always feel bad about not seeing as often. The region has grown exponentially, by all accounts, especially since the turn of the millennium. According to data from the U.S. Census, there are nearly five million people living in Riverside and San Bernardino counties combined.

Many of the Inland Empire’s cities are pre-suburban. As Los Angeles crept east, it engulfed established communities with real histories. Some were destroyed. Some survived: cities with 175 years of history, extraordinary architecture in homes, churches, and public buildings constructed during California’s golden era. In 1900, Riverside was the wealthiest city per capita in the nation.

None of that is visible from the freeway, which is why the perception persists: The IE is tract homes, strip malls, and a goat in the yard. The affordable automobile made suburban expansion possible, and the world that grew up around the car’s early dominance was built for driving. The Inland Empire is where that culture was invented. It’s the birthplace of McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and much of the fast food infrastructure Americans use without thinking about where it came from.

Fine dining destinations are scarce, but it's also the birthplace of Mamá Por Dios, so that makes up for that! That’s not to say that you can’t eat well. What the IE has instead are restaurants that may lack the polish or panache of Los Angeles and Orange County fine dining but function as durable cultural and community institutions, deeply embedded in the region's identity. They survived not because critics found them, but because the people who live here never stopped going.

From the Orange Empire to the Inland Empire

As with all land in southern California, what we now refer to as San Bernardino and Riverside counties was once inhabited by different native nations, some of which have descendants in the area. Today, there are currently 13 federally recognized tribes in the Inland Empire, such as the Yuhaviaatam of San Manuel Nation, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians.

Meanwhile, remnants and recreations of Spanish missions and outposts, such as the San Bernardino de Sena Estancia in Redlands, are reminders of 19th-century California.

In the late 19th century, two major developments changed the region: the expansion of orange groves and the Industrial Revolution. Eliza Tibbets planted the first oranges in Riverside in 1873, using two branches of the navel orange tree. One of these plants still bears fruit today on the corner of Arlington Avenue and Magnolia Avenue as a protected California Historic Landmark known as the Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree. Orange groves soon covered acres of land in Riverside, Redlands, San Bernardino, Rialto, and Corona.

The region’s citrus industry expanded thanks to the railroad system, with refrigerated cars carrying oranges across the United States from what was dubbed The Orange Empire, a name used to describe the region until the 1970s, when the Inland Empire slowly overtook it. The Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and Southern Pacific railroads were pivotal to shaping the growth of the region. 

The Inland Empire from the Late 19th to the Late 20th Century

The IE began its shift from a rural region to a suburban one in the 1950s, which accelerated in the 1990s amid a boom in housing and population boom. The growth has led to many changes. There are far fewer orange groves today than there were a century ago. The logistics industry, heavily reliant on massive warehouses and fleets of commercial trucks and planes, has slowly come to dominate the region. The expansion of the 10 freeway, coupled with the construction of the 210 and 215 freeways, separated many communities but also provided literal avenues for thousands of new residents, leading to additional commutes to work. It also shortened travel distances for semi-trailer trucks throughout Southern California.

There are fewer freight trains running through the region, as evidenced by the number of abandoned tracks, but trains remain a staple of the IE. The Union Pacific Railroad in Rialto and the BNSF in San Bernardino, for example, have railyards that remain in use today. Not to be outdone is the Metrolink passenger train system, which has expanded in use and coverage since its founding in 1992 and is the third-largest passenger train system in the country.

What Is the Inner Inland Empire?

The IE is massive; approximately 60 miles from north to south and about 50 miles wide. Too massive, in fact, for one of our guides to cover, so we decided to write multiple guides on different regions of the IE. Combined, they’ll create a superguide or Voltron of IE food and unique locations for our members to enjoy.

Our first guide to the IE begins with an introduction to the Inner Inland Empire. This stretch of land follows the 10 freeway east heading out of L.A.

We start in Pomona, which is technically still in Los Angeles but is also a city many consider more connected to the IE than to L.A. One reason for this, in our opinion, is that the San Jose Hills, which are home to Forest Lawn Cemetery and Cal Poly Pomona on the southern side of the 10, serve as a de facto border and funnel into Pomona and eventually out of Los Angeles. There’s something about the physical and visual sensation of driving up and over the hill that puts you into a new headspace, even more so if you’re driving west into L.A. with the downtown high-rise buildings visible in the distance.

East of Pomona is the city of Claremont, which—drum roll, please!—is STILL in Los Angeles! It isn’t until you drive past Claremont and into the mirror-image-ly named Montclair that you finally enter the IE via San Bernardino County. Speaking of which, keep an eye out for the freeway sign that points out the county line.

Eastward bound (but not down), it’s a straight shot through the inner corridor of the IE and into a dozen cities: Montclair, Ontario, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Bloomington, Rialto, Colton, San Bernardino, Loma Linda, and Redlands, with a short detour south into Riverside County and the City of Riverside.

Our introductory guide to the Inner IE isn’t comprehensive. That’s for future guides about the IE. Until then, enjoy this introduction to a few parts of the IE, easily reached via the 10 freeway, for your next day-trip staycation.

POMONA

We love Pomona. Plenty of us at the office have notched many a night in the Downtown Pomona District for the monthly art walk, a ton of shows at The Glasshouse and The Fox Theater (we’ve honestly lost track!), or downing drinks at DBA 256 or Characters.

Let’s start you off with a bit of history, which you can read about in our 13 Forgotten Things About One of L.A. County’s Most Overlooked Cities piece from 2023. 

We also dropped a Pomona taco guide in 2023, and it appears that most of those spots remain intact, thankfully. Take a peek in that guide, and you’ll note that Borreguitas is mentioned on that list. They are one of the competitors in this year’s TACO MADNESS (please go vote!). If you have time on your hands and don’t want to wait until May, get your ass down to Pomona and try out their vegan tacos.

DONAHOOS CHICKEN

Bring up Donahoos Chicken to anyone from the Inland Empire, and you’ll see an instant smile on their face. This is the IE’s favorite chicken. Opening its first location in Pomona in 1969, this classic chicken spot has long been a destination people commute to, and with strong support from their patrons, they’ve expanded across the Inland Empire, with locations in Ontario and Riverside.

Forget your favorite fast-food chain chicken spots. A $12 special from Donahoo’s, you’re served a box with three juicy chicken strips, steak-cut fries, a dinner roll injected with butter, and a choice of sauces (we recommend the hot sauce). It’s a deal not shy of quality. It’s one of my absolute favorites, and once you try it, you’ll find yourself wanting to go every time you’re in proximity.

1074 N. Garey Ave. Pomona, CA 91767 (with additional locations in Ontario and Riverside)

POMONA FISH MARKET

A popular fish spot among locals and open since 1937, Pomona Fish Market has been a staple in the community, serving locals and visitors alike for over 90 years. This establishment is something you can’t find every day. Small location, tight operation, high-quality seafood, accessible pricing, and high patron volume.

As a teenager, I wasn’t big on seafood, and finding myself here at 31, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the vibe was promising. I came by for the lunch special (served 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and was served three fried red snapper strips, hushpuppies, fried jumbo shrimps, fries, and a drink for under $14. It’s a heaping of meaty fish with a flavorful seasoning coating that will surely hook you for more.

295 S. Park Ave. Pomona, CA 91766-1550

THE BRICK DELI AND EATERY

You're at the end of the A Line, the longest light rail in the world, by the way. Or maybe you're just beginning your descent into Los Angelestitlán. The Brick Neighborhood Deli is here for you no matter the situation, layering locally sourced bread in a wide range of sandwiches for every type of eater, from traditional BLTs to not-so-traditional chicken shawarma smothered in tahini, and vegetarian lentil-and-cheese sandwiches that will make any old-school hippie swoon.

It's the kind of place where the woman taking your order at the checkout will brighten your day with her enthusiasm and good vibes. Taking the train in the morning? Brick Deli offers breakfast sandwiches like a sourdough with hot capicola, scrambled eggs, and pepper jack cheese. Definitely bookmark this place if you need a spot to pick up some sandwiches for a hike in the San Bernardino wilderness. This place gets bonus points for having a James Beard quote on its wall: "Too few people understand a really good sandwich."

105 E. Arrow Hwy. Pomona, CA 91767

CLAREMONT

We were on a roll three years ago because we also busted out a taco guide for Claremont, aka the last stop before crossing into San Bernardino County. Take a quick dive into our Five Best Tacos in Claremont guide when you have a chance.

LOS JARRITOS

Originally located in Pomona for 39 years, Los Jarritos closed for a few months to relocate and, after months of searching, has now settled in Claremont. There’s a lot to say about this place, and it goes with a big claim attached to it. I truly believe it's hard to find a simple Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles that serves comforting plates with good beans and rice. Los Jarritos is by far one of my favorite restaurants, though I ironically disliked it as a teenager.

So what makes this place so special? Consistency and simplicity.

While highly known for their menudo, it’s all about their cheese enchiladas, shredded beef tacos dorados, and of course, their beans and rice. This enchilada-and-taco combination plate is tossed into the oven just before being served, and upon arrival, you’ll see cheese stuck to the edges of the plate. This style of plating guarantees to provide the ultimate hangover cure or hit you with a dose of nostalgia for home-cooked Mexican food that’s been absent in your life.

Both red and green enchiladas are great bets; Monterey Jack cheese is a star player here. Their shredded beef taco, served with a touch of lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese, is packed tightly together, making it both refreshing and comforting. Mix a bit of the enchilada sauce into your beans and rice, and you've got one big bite packed with flavor.

921 W. Foothill Blvd. Claremont, CA 91711

IRON & KIN COFFEE CO

The beauty of Claremont is that its downtown area is easily accessible by train. Step off the Metrolink, and you’re steps away from a bevy of options in dining and shopping known as The Claremont Village that deserves its own guide.

We recommend walking over to The Claremont Packing House, a shopping center and local historic landmark, and head straight for Iron & Kin for a delicious jolt of caffeine. You’re going to need it if you’re going to walk around downtown! The spacious cafe is typically bustling with activity from students from nearby Pomona College. It’s on the first floor, past Lost Levels, the video game store, and the arcade.

The menu options for coffee, tea, and food are limited, but all are delicious options. They also serve a coffee with Old Forester Bourbon, if you need some additional hair on your chest.

536 W. 1st St. Claremont, CA 91711

MONTCLAIR

1 Dumpling N Noodle

This nondescript spot is a blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it type. It sits north of the 10 freeway, and you won’t know it’s there unless you search for the bright red-and-yellow signage as soon as you leave the offramp. Otherwise, this spot looks like just another warehouse.

The interior isn’t as drab, but we’re not here for the aesthetics anyway. The vibe and the food here are impeccable. Open up the menu and the first page has dumplings galore. I prefer mine steamed or boiled so I can get that chewy taste with the bit of soup tucked away inside as a happy surprise.

9335 Monte Vista Ave, Montclair, CA 91763

ONTARIO

The Toyota Arena

Imagine that the Crypto Arena was shrunk in half and moved to the Inland Empire. That’s basically the Toyota Arena in Ontario. The venue is small enough to ensure that every seat in the house has a great view, yet large enough to create the unique ambiance of a thousands-plus-seater arena.

The venue routinely attracts big talent. Bad Bunny performed here a few times, and you can bet it was cheaper than one of his shows in L.A. around the same time. Los Tigres Del Norte, Becky G, and Run the Jewels have performed here in recent months. Both World Wrestling Entertainment and All Elite Wrestling have brought shows to the arena.

The venue also gets plenty of use for sports. The Empire Strykers of the Major Arena Soccer League play here, as do the Ontario Reign, the American Hockey League affiliate of the L.A. Kings.

There are plenty of hotels in the area, too, so you can party all night without having to worry about the commute afterward.

Vince’s Spaghetti

Growing up in Pomona, I’ve known about Vince’s Spaghetti for a very long time. As I’ve matured and started living in Los Angeles, I've found myself homesick and missing the simple things, like dining out. Going to these types of restaurants with my family on the weekends, not overthinking my order, and, for me personally, not feeling so stretched when paying a bill. But sometimes it's difficult to find places like this, which is why I made my first visit to this valued staple. If you’re looking for a cheeky place to visit, a dose of nostalgia, and want a real taste of first-generation Italian-American food, Vince’s Spaghetti is your stop.

Open since 1945, Vince’s Spaghetti is one of the oldest restaurants in Ontario and serves its community over 30 tons of spaghetti a month. There are many places that pay homage to this style of restaurant, but at the end of the day, taste, legacy, and passed-down recipes are what make it truly authentic to this region of southern California and cannot be replicated. Dim lights, dining booths, vintage wine barrels, and superior service from the staff that will have you coming back for more. Red sauce joints are something you hear quite often, and this is definitely added to the list without the steep prices. Their spaghetti with meat sauce is one of their staples, and even a half portion arrives with a generous serving and includes a nice pairing of soup or salad and bread. Add pre-grated parmesan (the powdery type to make it "snow") from the cheese jar, and now you’re in business. $8 wine, a true blast from the past.

1206 W. Holt Blvd, Ontario, CA 91762 (with additional locations in Rancho Cucamonga and Temecula)

UPLAND

Toro Y Pampa Argentinian Food

Step inside, and the wall décor will leave no doubt that you’re inside an Argentine food restaurant. The walls are covered in photos of Argentine futbol clubs, the Argentine national team, portraits of Messi and Maradona, and there’s a fake World Cup trophy inside to boot.

Toro Y Pampa is a small space off Euclid Avenue, the main road in town. The restaurant offers tostados, sandwiches, a few options in grilled meats, pizzas, aka all the good quasi-Italian-inspired Argie delicacies! Everyone raves about the empanadas, and it’s easy to see and taste why. Don’t leave without picking up a few candies from Argentina, either.

915 N Euclid Ave. Upland, CA 91786

RANCHO CUCAMONGA

Rancho Cucamonga is interesting in that it hosts a couple of historic restaurants, but it’s also building itself into a home for modern, upscale eateries.

There’s a thousand-foot (by my guess-timation) stretch of Foothill Boulevard that is home to two historic restaurants on opposite sides of each other. The Sycamore Inn opened in 1848 and has been there ever since. You’ll find no shortage of amazing steaks there. Its opposite is the Magic Lamp Inn, itself a historic steakhouse in its own right, which opened in 1955.

Nowadays, Rancho is home to spots such as Durango Cocina, which we highlighted last year, that are looking to create their own gastronomical history in the city.

“You can eat the whole delicately fried heads of the serrano salsa-marinated Mexican shrimp poking up like whack-A-Moles in his aguachile rojo, while cheese dumplings are stuffed with Mennonite cheese and albondigas abound, served in a traditional caldillo (stew) Duranguense made with seven chiles, with a grip of molletes on the side,” wrote Hadley Tomicki.

Durango Cocina - 12255 Base Line Rd, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739
Magic Lamp Inn - 8189 E Foothill Blvd, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
The Sycamore Inn - 8318 Foothill Blvd, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

FONTANA

Xol Coffee

When visiting new cities, it’s always difficult to find coffee shops that resemble anything close to what you have at home. We’re pretty spoiled with options to say the least, but Xol Coffee adds to the list of great coffee shops to visit when in the Inland Empire. Located near a quiet neighborhood, you arrive in a small parking lot and discover Xol Coffee in what used to look like a small tienda. Greeted by the lovely Evelyn Martinez and Brenda Robles, this woman-owned coffee shop has been serving the Fontana community for the past seven months. When learning about their barista background, they chuckled and shared that they were autodidacts and wanted to open up the spot as a third space. Tired of commuting to Redlands and Riverside to find good coffee paired with a nice atmosphere, they wanted to learn by themselves and provide something for their neighborhood.

With an array of tasteful specialty lattes to choose from, you won’t be disappointed with any of their offerings. Quality and care are proven here as they source the best coffee beans from Latin America.

16820 Valley Blvd, Ste B, Fontana, CA 92335

Tacollyn

We found this spot last year off Sierra Avenue, but they also vend at a few other locations in the IE.

“There are four flavors, including a classic papa con queso (potato with cheese), a popular chicharrón prensado, carnitas with frijoles (refried beans), and their newer item, soyrizo. All come topped with crunchy shredded cabbage, lettuce, thinly sliced purple onions, carrots, and a couple of drizzles of their green and red salsa,” wrote Janette Villafana.

3864 Sierra Ave., Fontana, CA 92336 (additional locations in Bloomington and Phelan)

RIALTO

Sabor Yucateco

Looking for a real food tour of Yucatán? Look no further. Located in Rialto, you’ll discover Sabor Yucateco, one of the only authentic Yucatecan restaurants in the Inland Empire serving amazing panuchos, cochinita pibil, and relleno negro. Walk inside, and you’re hit with the nostalgia of an abuela's living room with remnants of a party that happened last night. With an array of options, there is no wrong choice. We recommend selecting from the Trios Yucatecos and ordering the #9 to sample it all.

Simple is hard to execute, and with these fine tacos de cochinita pibil, they show you how less is more. Served in street-style corn tortillas and paired with pickled red onions, each bite packs an explosion of flavor. The panuchos and salbutes are a refreshing must, served with lettuce, black bean paste, and avocado. As the plate comes with seven different items, each with its own beauty, the taco de relleno negro will keep you hooked. You’ll find yourself drawn and perplexed by its smokiness, something you’ll keep examining what you’re tasting in every bite. A real fun taco and experience you have to try.

303 E Foothill Blvd unit D, Rialto, CA 92376

Cafe & Deli El Rancho

This spot is a five-minute walk from Sabor Yucateco. That’s the beauty of Foothill Boulevard in Rialto: there’s no lack of good food from small, family-owned businesses, old or new. Cafe & Deli El Rancho used to be called El Rancho Antojitos Salvadoreños. I’m not sure why the name was changed, but the newer name makes more sense. The vibe definitely hits the mark for a chill cafe and deli, and the original name lives on in a little food cart that usually sits outside the cafe.

My personal favorite is showing up early for breakfast and ordering the desayuno típico. The spot serves all the Salvadoran delicacies, including quesadillas, banana leaf-wrapped tamales, empanadas, and, of course, pupusas. They also serve delicious drinks including coffee, horchata, maracuya, marayon, guanabana, and arrayan.

Bonus points if you roll up bumping Espíritu Libre!

214 E Foothill Blvd., Rialto, CA 92376

La Vaca y El Buey

If the outdoor aesthetics of a place are important to you, then I suggest you avoid this area. La Vaca Y El Buey sits next door to a vape shop where people hang out in the parking lot to vape together. Hopefully that doesn’t bother you, because if it does, you’ll find yourself missing out on some of the best buche in town.

This spot is a literal hole in the wall, with five tables and two television sets that play Liga MX whenever a game is on. My go-to is a burrito packed with beans, rice, and their delicious buche. They keep their buche gamey, which I love because it reminds me of cueritos, and I prefer it because some spots cook their buche to give it a bit of a crispy exterior, which isn’t my thing.

2872 W Rialto Ave, Rialto, CA 92376

COLTON

Cabeza de Res Taculichi

A must stop when you’re in the Inland Empire, and honestly, worth the trip. Previously covered by Jeanatte, this special Sinaloanese restaurant is one of the most exciting experiences I’ve had at a restaurant this year. Something I haven’t quite had since I’ve been in Mexico. From the staff and service to the assortment and, most importantly, the food, Taculichi has it all dialed. If you have yet to try tacos de lengua, cabeza, or brain, this is the best place to be introduced to the world of these dishes.

A must try is the tortilla con asiento, which is prepared with pork rind paste, cheese, and head. Given the option of being served soft or semi-dorado, we definitely recommend ordering it semi-dorado, but if you’re with friends, order both and compare. Tacos de lengua and Cabeza de res are a great way to explore the rudiments of what makes this restaurant great. Make sure to ask for consome on the side and enjoy! Take a full dive on the restaurant here.

1497 N Mount Vernon Ave., Colton, CA 92324

SAN BERNARDINO

Nine Eight Five Coffee

This spot opened its doors four years ago, and I’m glad it did. Located across the street from the Inland Center Mall, the way the folks here make their sandwiches is a work of art. They have a nice selection of coffees, cold brews, and teas, and I’m excited to dive in to their Spring menu.

One thing to keep in mind is that this place is usually packed because of its location: it’s next door to a charter school and the students love to eat there, at times snaking a long line around the building. Time your visit accordingly.

985 S E St., Unit B, San Bernardino, CA 92408

Gorditas Estilo Aguascalientes 

Gorditas Estilo Aguascalientes is a must-visit and a must-trek spot. Coming across places like this is one of the things that sparks inspiration in rediscovering food. It’s all about the experience, staff, and most importantly, the food you just can’t find anywhere else. It all starts at Waterman Swapmeet, where you walk in and are greeted by jewelry stores, piñaterias, and vaqueros gathering with family to eat. Once you go through the labyrinth of the interior, you follow your nose and find yourself at Gorditas Estilo Aguascalientes. Look around you, and you see most hand-crafted gorditas on paper plates on everyone's tables. Quality is the word here, and these handmade gorditas are incomparable and like no other. Everything is made from scratch daily; nothing is frozen or used again. 

Gordita de deshebrada and chicharrón verde are standout choices here with your choice of adding cheese, homemade beans or rice. With an extensive amount of options, you can’t go wrong with any choice your stomach decides to take you. Since you made the trek, why not take a dive? Their moronga (blood sausage) is one of their most notable offerings to locals. With their sauce that's mixed and cooked with the moronga, it’ll convert any first timer to try this specialty. If you’re there on the weekends, make sure to try their birria estilo aguascaliente. Clear broth consome, salsa on the side, and birria waiting to be dipped in the fixings. As the owners say, “La gente de Aguascaliente saben.” It’s a style of birria you just can’t find anywhere else.

999 N Waterman, San Bernardino, CA 92410

REDLANDS

Redlands Public Market

Redlands is slowly growing into the food capital of the Inland Empire. There are tons of options to choose from, which will keep you busy for weeks to try out. The easiest thing to do at the moment is to direct you to the Redlands Public Market.

The RPM hosts over a dozen restaurants serving sushi, French pastries, BBQ, hot chicken, Mazatlán-style seafood, and more. There’s also a host of other options, including live music, breweries, a rare market, a natural market, and more.

330 Third St., Redlands, CA 92374

Le Chat Noir Bookstore & Cat Lounge

Cat lovers, book lovers, and coffee lovers unite! Le Chat Noir Bookstore & Cat Lounge gives you all three of these things at once in the same location.

Picture this: you visit out of curiosity and grab a drink and a snack from the upstairs area. You notice there’s a book club having a spirited conversation downstairs and join in. Suddenly, one of the cats has decided to sleep on your lap. You learn that the cat, as with all the other cats here, is available for adoption.

You leave with a drink, a book, new friends, and a cat you just adopted because you couldn’t say no to that face. Don’t say you weren’t warned!

19 East Citrus Avenue, Suite 104, Redlands, CA 92373

Slow Bloom Coffee

If you unionize it, they will come. Slow Bloom happened after the employees of Augie’s Coffee were laid off in retaliation for their attempts to unionize. Those employees stuck together, launched the Slow Bloom Coffee Cooperative, and eventually opened their own worker-owned coffee shop in Redlands.

The menu is constantly updated, and they recently added a Spring menu featuring a cucumber-kiwi soda that is deliciously tart. They have limited pastry and food options, but they do, on occasion, invite a food pop-up to the space.

Heads up: The space is small, and there have been times I wasn’t able to find a seat inside or at the larger patio outside.

420 W Colton Ave, Redlands, CA 92374

RIVERSIDE

Our guide to Riverside was compiled and written by Zach Cordner and Ken Crawford of The Riversider Magazine.

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture

The aesthetic vernacular of Southern California is Chicano. The history of Southern California is Mexican and American. The Cheech is the first museum of its scale to exclusively honor Chicanos' artistic contributions.

In only a few years, it has become precious. Chicano or not, the museum has built community support in a way that few institutions manage. It is a manifestation of action born from community vision and has become a point of coalescence for Riverside and for the Chicano community.

The museum is sprawling, two stories tall, and worth taking your time with. As you enter, anchoring the grand sala is a 26-foot lenticular artwork by brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre. Lenticular art is like those stickers you had as a kid that changed depending on the angle. At this scale, it is something else entirely. People get lost in it. The rest of the first floor is a rotating collection of Cheech Marin’s personal art collection. The second floor hosts exclusively curated and traveling exhibitions.

Taking a picture with the Cheech statue out front is now an essential, memorable moment. Do it. Then go inside and spend some time with the de la Torre piece before you do anything else.

3581 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA, 92501

California Citrus State Historic Park

At the time of the 1900 census, Riverside was the wealthiest per capita city in the country. That wealth came from citrus. The industry isn’t dead, but it doesn’t drive the economy like it once did. The California Citrus State Historic Park is where that history lives.

The museum is free with paid parking and gives you a real look into what the industry once was. Take the guided tour through heritage groves and infrastructure that has survived since citrus was king in Riverside. At certain times of year, exotic citrus tasting is available. That alone is worth the trip.

Beyond the history, the park itself is a nice place to spend an afternoon. It sits near a bike path, hosts large community festivals year-round, and is available for rent for weddings and private events. The combination of public space and museum adds depth to your day at the park.

9400 Dufferin Ave, Riverside, CA, 92504

OASIS CAFE

It takes at least twenty minutes to get to La Sierra University from downtown Riverside. Many people from the downtown area tend to stick to their neighborhood. People from La Sierra are closer to the shopping and dining in Corona and Norco, and don't make it downtown very often.

This is a snack bar just outside a vegetarian grocery store that has been feeding the LSU community for thirty years. La Sierra is a Seventh-day Adventist university. Seventh-day Adventists are health-conscious and largely vegetarian. The Oasis Cafe has built its reputation on scratch-made plant-based food that doesn’t look or taste “fake” in any way: deli sandwiches, veggie burgers, and some of the best pupusas in Riverside.

The menu is wider than you'd expect. Desserts, smoothies, and beverages, all made in-house. The portions are generous, and the prices are honest. Thirty years of dietary trends have come and passed. The Oasis is still here, making the same food it has always made, for the same community it has always served.

If you are skeptical of plant-based food, this is the place to have your mind changed. Order the pupusas. Order something with the house-made bread. You will not feel like you missed anything.

11484 Pierce St. Riverside, CA, 92505

D'ELIA'S GRINDERS

There is nothing like a good sandwich, and Riverside has a lot of places to scratch that itch. People are passionate about their favorite shop, and D’Elia’s is one of many that could have made this list. It ultimately came down to longevity and customer loyalty.

The Perrone family has been baking the bread from scratch and running the place since 1955. Three generations. That makes it the oldest restaurant in Riverside and puts them in rare company. It is the kind of place expatriate Riversiders stop at first when they get back to town. Before you even get to mom’s house, the sandwich is the first stop of the Riverside reunion.

Fair warning: There is some controversy around the bread. It is a light, crusty Italian-style grinder roll, baked fresh every day. Some people love it. Some think it's too crusty, even “sharp.” Those who love it are passionate and would revolt if anyone ever tried to change it. They now offer an agave wheat option for people who prefer a softer crust.

2093 University Ave. Riverside, CA, 92507

ZACATECAS CAFE

Zacatecas Cafe serves the kind of old-school Mexican American food that once ruled the Southern California food scene. Some call it CalMex. I like “combo plate” Mexican.

Blended beans topped with yellow cheese, blasted until it bubbles under the salamander broiler. The waitress calls you mijo. She will remind you the plate is very hot.

The classics are all here: tacos, enchiladas, the combinations that made the genre what it is. But Zacatecas goes further. Chicken mole and chicharrón with nopales offer a little variety without getting too scary for the non-adventurous eaters. The food is good. They wouldn’t have lasted 50 years if they didn’t get the basics right.

Almost as important as the food is where Zacatecas sits. The restaurant has operated at three locations, all along University Avenue east of the 91, in one of the longest-surviving Mexican-American neighborhoods in the Inland Empire. Down the street is UC Riverside. That proximity made Zacatecas a natural meeting point between the neighborhood and the university. During the Civil Rights Movement, it was a gathering spot for student activists. It still hosts community meetings today.

The Medina family, who founded and still run the place, is as much a part of Eastside Riverside history as the street itself. William Medina, son of the founders and local historian, wrote a novel, "Cafe Stories: Riverside's Zacatecas," based on his experiences growing up at Zacatecas.

3767 Iowa Ave. Riverside, CA, 92507

BONUS: OAK GLEN

APPLE ANNIE'S BAKERY & RESTAURANT

If you’re looking to get away from L.A., get some fresh air, and get a dose of rural novelties, Oak Glen is the place to be. On your route here, you’ll find yourself driving down a few miles on windy, empty roads and cute mom and pop shops every few miles that you can pull over and check out. Once you pass a few apple fields and cider shops, you’ll find a small plaza, where you find this sweet pastry spot.

Apple Annie's has been serving the IE community for over 50 years and has a great selection of puff pastries, pies, and, one thing you have to try when visiting, apple burritos. A warm pastry filled with apples in the shape of a burrito, it's a fun, tasty novelty to try. Make sure to explore around the plaza!

39062 Oak Glen Rd. Yucaipa, Oak Glen, CA 92399