Featured image credit: Vince’s Spaghetti
It makes sense that the diverse Rancho Cucamonga community would offer a wide variety of culinary curiosities. Maybe that’s why it’s so challenging to pin down a “taste of Rancho Cucamonga”. Instead, you have to let the area’s plethora of restaurants speak for themselves. And as much as the city uses Victoria Gardens as its axis, several of the city’s best eateries predate the iconic shopping hub. So, make sure to take note of your favorites as we examine five of the best Rancho Cucamonga restaurants.
The Deli: Best Sandwiches in Rancho Cucamonga
A great deli isn’t that hard to find in the LA area. But there’s still often something a bit corporate about the standard LA deli. If you’ve ever got a hankering for that traditional deli feel, Rancho Cucamonga has you covered. That’s right: one of the most celebrated Rancho Cucamonga restaurants is a spot that, at first glance, just appears to be a simple deli.
Yet, within the aptly dubbed “The Deli”, you’ll find some of the most absurdly delicious sandwiches you’ve had in Rancho Cucamonga. Maybe even LA. Possibly the world? And you don’t have to catch them on a good day. The Deli’s been doing this for decades with consistency. From the meats to the veggies to the bread itself, everything is quality.
Even the atmosphere feels like an old school deli. Of course, there are some unique eccentricities. For example, the working model train that circles the space as you place your order. But that character, along with a heaping helping of flavor, helps keep the Deli on the map.
Barboni’s Pizza: New York By Way of SoCal
Every neighborhood needs to have its stand-out pizza spot. In Rancho Cucamonga, that would likely be Barboni’s Pizza Alta Loma. Barboni’s keeps things pretty simple and straightforward with 9 house pies (not counting the standard cheese pizza).
Of course, you can dip into their starters or get creative with custom orders. Many would argue that their house selections are masterful works of art. But hey, if you want to mess with perfection, that’s on you.
Like several of the Rancho Cucamonga restaurants on our list, Barboni’s has been around for decades. Some may even argue that it’s the most authentic New York-style pizza you’ll find outside the Big Apple. We’re not wading into that one. But for anyone homesick for that kind of authenticity, Barboni’s has been known to scratch the itch.
Vince’s Spaghetti: Some Things Never Change
Since 1984, Vince’s Spaghetti has been serving up pasta to the hungry masses of Rancho Cucamonga. How much pasta, you ask? According to Vince’s, they serve an average of over 30 tons of spaghetti monthly. So, yeah, they’re popular.
Part of the appeal is the quality of the spaghetti, always served in large portions with a side of salad and bread. But the price is a factor too. Vince’s Spaghetti remains reliably affordable, proving that flavor doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.
Tradition is ingrained into Vince’s Spaghetti. They’ve never moved from their location and still serve most of the original dishes with the same recipes. But at least one thing has changed over the years. It became the first of the various Rancho Cucamonga restaurants to invest in solar power. So, we suppose you could say California sunshine is an important ingredient in every dish.
Sycamore Inn: History Abounds in This Route 66 Sanctuary
The Rancho Cucamonga restaurants we’ve covered thus far are perfect for casual dining. The Sycamore Inn on the other hand is more appropriate for a special occasion. This sanctuary has been providing respite and refreshment to the weary travelers of Route 66 since 1848!
But unlike Vince’s Spaghetti, the Sycamore Inn has uprooted from its original location. Yet, it can still be found along iconic Route 66 and has resided in its current spot since the 1920s.
The Sycamore Inn offers the best steakhouse experience you’ll find in Rancho Cucamonga. To this day, you can count on its famous minestrone soup just as much as death and taxes. Of course, the soup goes down a lot easier.
El Perico Ranchero: Arguably the Best of the Many Rancho Cucamonga Restaurants for Mexican
Like much of the Greater Los Angeles area, Rancho Cucamonga provides a plethora of options for authentic Mexican cuisine. Arguably the most popular in the city, El Perico Ranchero, has been serving up traditional Mexican fare for over 60 years.
The Mexican eatery isn’t exactly unique to Rancho Cucamonga. They have a second location in nearby Upland. But they’re still regarded as an integral thread in the fabric of the community. This is partly because El Perico Ranchero remains family-owned to this day.
While the food is El Perico Ranchero’s big pull, the service is also second-to-none. Between the heaping helpings of guac, top shelf Margaritas, and community vibe, what’s not to love?
