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Mitla’s owners eventually wised up and invited him to learn how to properly prepare them.

Mitla Cafe, meanwhile, became an Inland Empire institution, hosting the likes of Cesar Chavez and other Mexican American leaders.

Unless you were from the Inland Empire, you probably had never heard of Mitla Cafe — and shame on you and me for not knowing.

The last few years have been tough for Mitla, and not just because of COVID-19.

To save money, Montaño and Oquendo now close Mitla on Mondays and Tuesdays.