El Tio Alex Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga

This place is hidden in a very non-descript business park off of Fourth and Center in RC, and Fourth has been under construction forever, thus making it even harder to find, but oh, my goodness, it is so worth your while!

Despite being next to an accounting firm, in an area of really sterile architecture, the restaurant has a wonderful ambiance the minute you walk in. This time of year, the owner has put up a Xmas tree comprised of Dodger ornaments. She says that it was a gift put together by customers. This says so much: that she has such loyal and loving customers who would do this for her.

Aside from the seasonal Dodger (YAY!) tree, though, the whole restaurant is nicely decorated. It is clean and spacious, and there are multiple big screen TVs and music. There is a back room area for larger parties, and everything is laid out very efficiently.

The staff is friendly and professional, and, as we caught them today during a lull, we were able to find out quite a lot about the restaurant. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! You are to order at the counter, then they will bring your food to you. Even so, they check on you regularly, to make sure that everything is good. (It is much better than good, but it's nice that they ask!) They also mentioned that they have a Sunday Brunch special, which sounds amazing.

Now to the most important part--the food. Oh my goodness! I have been here several times, and every time, I find a new favorite entree. Today, I was feeling a little under the weather, so I ordered the Chicken Tortilla soup, along with a "small" side salad. My friend ordered the Menudo and the Beer Batter Fish Tacos with rice and beans. In the past, I have had the grilled fish tacos, which were mouthwateringly good, due to something in the spices they use. Their burritos are also a joyful experience! All so good!

In a charming understatement, the young woman told us, "the servings are kind of generous." Ha! We ended up taking home at least half of our meal, to enjoy another day. Even as delicious as everything was, we had to admit defeat at barely halfway through. And I'm looking forward to the leftovers!!!

Highly...

First time trying it. Initially, you get seated down and handed a menu, but once you order your good, you need to stand up and pay at the register. Why did I sit first ?? Then you get chips and salsa, which are decent, and salsas have some flavor but aren't spicy at all. The waitress let me know that the salsa for the enchiladas I ordered wouldn't be spicy at all either, but I went ahead and still got the enchiladas verdes with rice and beans. For my drink, I got Jamica, and she let me know it was from the machine, which sucks but I still got it. Once my food and drink came out, I had one regret and disappointment after the other. Water lacked flavor tasted like one of those waters with fruits and pears in them like just plain water with a hint of Jamaica. The enchiladas barely had any sauce on top plus a mix of american yellow and white cheese that at least was melted and poured onto the beans. Tortillas were hard and undercooked. Chicken was not grilled but was shredded with possibly seasoning for what would be a different plate such as Tinga. The sour cream was given on the side, and I had to smear it onto my enchiladas.. on the side was a bit of lettuce and one slice of tomato. The worst and what made this plate disgusting and hard to continue eating was the beans they were so DRY and tasted like they were canned. The only good thing this plate had was the rice. It was well cooked and had good flavor, but everything else sucked and tasted horrible. I understand it in a business complex and probably caters to white customers, but man, it was so bad was not spicy and bland, but only the rice was good. I just almost finished it because I was starving and wanted mexican, but had I not been so hungry, I'd ask for a refund after the first bite. Total was $18.21 and for the quality it's overpriced. Place was real emty too when I came in. Should've taken that as a sign but...

The owner was rude felt discriminated because we asked for a booth and she said we will clean it for you so we weighted and to our surprise she gave it so some one else after we had asked for it and had also ordered food I felt so discriminate that I didn't even eat the food we just walked out. Don't recommend it first and last time ever coming to this place...no your husband did talk to me but he wasn't the problem and I didn't want a discount nor free food I was a paying customer who was trying to have lunch with my family.... Your the one that told My wife do you have a problem I'm the owner as if we were trash why would I take your food it went right to the trash. Why would I go somewhere were we aren't wanted I might haven been in my work clothes but that doesn't give you the right to treat us the way you did. And the other couple that came through that door witch you gave our booth to had not even ordered anything..was it because they didn't have work clothes and were white and I was in my work clothes and I'm Mexican hope you the best luck. I'm pretty sure we're the only ones because I heard your husband telling you to not mis treat customer before we made the complaint that's very...