2 Best Restaurants in The Inland Empire, California

Known for having the best poke bowls in California, this food-shack-turned-restaurant has a friendly, service-oriented hipster staff and dishes like smoked teriyaki chicken and Hawaiian pulled pork that blend the flavors of Tahiti, Jamaica, Hawaii, and other tropical spots. The tiki-style setting and consistently fresh food make this family-run restaurant a favorite in town, so plan to wait during high season. If you ask how sashimi-grade tuna lands in Big Bear, prepare to hear “from mystical mermaids” (it’s a secret source). 

A favorite of college students and their visiting parents, this storefront dining room has a warm and cozy feel and menu choices that include long-bone pork chops, osso buco, and pan-roasted salmon with blood-orange rosemary sauce. Bruschetta, fried calamari, truffle arancini, and other small plates, some seasonal, always entice.