Vintage Restaurants to Enjoy on Route 66 in San Bernardino County
Get a true taste of Mother Road history at the classic eateries along this stretch of Route 66!
Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe by Beth MurrayCalifornia Historic Route 66 Association
Vintage restaurants on Route 66 in San Bernardino County
California's San Bernardino County, the largest county in the nation, offers a true taste of Mother Road history! Delectable options range from classic burger joints and old-school coffee shops to vintage steakhouses. Note: this restaurant tour goes from east to west.
The Mojave Desert
Wagon Wheel Restaurant by Beth MurrayCalifornia Historic Route 66 Association
Wagon Wheel Restaurant (Needles, CA)
The Old West-themed Wagon Wheel Restaurant has been serving locals and hungry travelers alike since 1978. Its building has been providing food far longer, though - having begun in the 1950s as Lynn's Broiler.
Ludlow Cafe by Beth MurrayCalifornia Historic Route 66 Association
Ludlow Cafe (Ludlow, CA)
Not to be confused with the Ludlow Cafe that operated 1940s-1960s, this version opened in 1971 as Friend's Coffee Shop. The restaurant's Googie-style, A-frame design (with stained glass!) contrasts nicely with the mine equipment out front, representing the area's mining heritage.
The Barn by Beth MurrayCalifornia Historic Route 66 Association
The Barn (Newberry Springs, CA)
The Barn, open since 1952, is a roadhouse offering food, a bar, pool tables, and live music. In 2025, the National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded The Barn a $50,000 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant.
The Village Cafe by Kelli ShapiroCalifornia Historic Route 66 Association
Village Cafe (Barstow, CA)
With eye-catching neon signs on both its roof and its facade, the Village Hotel and Cafe has made appearances on Barstow postcards for decades. Although its guest rooms are no longer open to tourists, the building is still home to a great Chinese restaurant with good prices!
Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe (Victorville, CA)
Open for breakfast and lunch five days a week, this 1947 burger joint is known for its large portions and milkshakes. You might recognize it from TV or film, ranging from Quentin Tarantino's acclaimed Kill Bill: Vol. 2 to the long-running series Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
Outpost Cafe by Kelli ShapiroCalifornia Historic Route 66 Association
Outpost Cafe (Oak Hills, CA)
At Route 66's intersection with U.S. 395, the Outpost Cafe operated 1928-1964. When the state took it for highway expansion, its owners won a suit for more compensation. They then opened this larger, A-frame restaurant and an adjacent truck stop nearby. Both remain busy today.
San Bernardino County's foothill communities
Mitla Cafe (interior) by Beth MurrayCalifornia Historic Route 66 Association
Mitla Cafe (San Bernardino, CA)
After this family-owned gem opened in 1937, it served as a center of local Latino culture. In the 1950s, Mitla's tacos inspired local restaurateur Glen Bell to start Taco Bell. The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded Mitla a Historic Small Restaurants grant in 2023.
Tap to explore
Peppi's (Fontana, CA)
A 1948 walk-up stand long known for its grinders and pastrami dishes, Peppi's offers patio dining under its built-in canopy. Its menu has included some Mexican food for years, but it has now expanded to provide Korean BBQ specialties (including bulgogi and galbi) as well.
Magic Lamp Inn (exterior) by Kelli ShapiroCalifornia Historic Route 66 Association
Magic Lamp Inn (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
Rub the lamp and make a wish! Trimmed in neon and with a flame coming out the lamp's spout, the Magic Lamp Inn's sign alone should be enough to bring you in. This 1955 fine-dining establishment's excellent food seals the deal. Get a reservation, follow the dress code, and enjoy.
Sycamore Inn (Rancho Cucamonga, CA): On the site of an 1848 stagecoach stop and tavern, this rustic, 1920 building once provided guest rooms upstairs for weary travelers. The upscale steakhouse is still a great supporter of Route 66 today.
Tap to explore
Red Hill Coffee Shop (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
The Red Hill Coffee Shop operated from 1943 to 1949; its building then held other restaurants. Having returned to its Red Hill moniker in 1972, the breakfast-only spot serves traditional diner favorites. In adjacent Fontana, a newer branch of the restaurant also sits on Route 66.
Other classic Rancho Cucamonga, CA restaurants: The Deli, a simply-named but popular sandwich shop, opened in the 1960s inside a much older building. It is located almost across the street from the restored Cucamonga Service Station (a 1915 gas station that now serves as a small museum and gift shop). Nearby is Vince's Spaghetti, a casual Italian restaurant that opened in 1984. It is a branch of Vince's original, 1945 location in adjacent Ontario; both sites are locally beloved.
Mitla Cafe by Beth MurrayCalifornia Historic Route 66 Association
Vintage restaurants on Route 66 in San Bernardino County
While burger joints may be the first thing that you imagine for a Route 66 restaurant, the many historic eateries along the Mother Road in San Bernardino County offer so much more. From Mexican food to steakhouses to Italian, here, the highway won't leave you hungry!
Kelli Shapiro and Scott Piotrowski, CHR66A board members
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