Spike's Bakery

Spike's Bakery, situated in the heart of San Bernardino, California, is far more than a typical neighborhood bakeshop. For local residents in the Inland Empire, this establishment has cemented its reputation as a cultural and culinary cornerstone, specializing in authentic Mexican baked goods and savory comfort foods. It’s the kind of local gem that generations of families trust for special occasion cakes and essential holiday meals. The focus at Spike's is a delightful blend of tradition and flavor, offering a no-frills, high-quality approach to crafting everything from custom celebration cakes to everyday sweet bread and hearty meals.

While the name prominently features 'Bakery,' the true breadth of its offerings is what captures the loyalty of the California community. Patrons consistently praise the bakery for its incredible cakes—known for being both moist and delicious—making it a go-to for baptisms, birthdays, and other significant events. However, what truly sets Spike's Bakery apart in the local context is its exceptional savory menu, particularly its much-loved tamales and, on certain days, Menudo. This dual focus ensures that whether you have a sweet tooth or are seeking a savory, authentic Mexican meal, Spike's has something fresh and satisfying ready for you.

The friendly and professional team at Spike's ensures that every visit, even during the busiest holiday seasons, is managed efficiently. While some patrons have noted perceived changes in tamale size over time, the overall consensus remains that the quality and flavor of the key items—cakes, sweet bread, tamales, and menudo—are consistently excellent. It operates on a quick-visit model, perfect for busy Californians who need to grab a box of fresh sweet bread or a dozen tamales for dinner without delay.

Location and Accessibility

Spike’s Bakery enjoys a highly practical and convenient location within the Westside Shopping Center in San Bernardino, CA. This central placement makes it a straightforward stop for anyone traversing the area, serving the local neighborhoods with easy access. The location on West Highland Avenue is well-known, allowing locals to integrate a quick visit into their daily routines effortlessly.

For the convenience of all customers in the California region, the bakery provides excellent accessibility features. Finding parking is made simple with a dedicated free parking lot available to patrons.

Key accessibility features include:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance: Ensuring a welcoming entry for all community members.
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot: Providing convenient and reserved parking spaces.
• Free parking lot: Easy and hassle-free parking for a quick, in-and-out experience.

This thoughtful arrangement for accessibility ensures that a visit to Spike’s Bakery is smooth and comfortable for every resident in San Bernardino and the wider Inland Empire.

Services Offered

Primarily operating as a dedicated bakery, Spike's extends its services beyond traditional baked goods to include a range of authentic Mexican culinary specialties. This strategic combination of sweet and savory catering makes it a unique and valuable resource for the community.

The core services and offerings include:

• Specialty Cakes: Custom-ordered cakes for all occasions, consistently praised for being moist, delicious, and reasonably priced (as noted by a customer review regarding a baptism cake).
• Mexican Sweet Bread (Pan Dulce): A wide variety of traditional Pan Dulce, although availability can fluctuate, as some customers have mentioned temporary discontinuations.
• Fresh Tamales: A year-round favorite, with options including chicken, pork, and the highly-recommended jalapeño-queso tamales. Tamales are especially popular around the holidays, often requiring advance orders.
• Menudo and Pozole: Hearty, traditional Mexican stews, with Menudo being a celebrated weekend or Sunday specialty, often selling out early due to high demand.
• Savory Mexican Dishes: The broader menu, though subject to local variation, often includes other staples such as burritos, tortas, and tacos, although the tamales and menudo remain the most celebrated savory items.
• Coffee: Offering standard coffee to pair perfectly with the selection of fresh Pan Dulce.
• Takeout Service: Designed for a quick visit, all items are prepared for fast and efficient takeout, catering to the busy local clientele.

Features / Highlights

Spike’s Bakery is distinguished by several key highlights that resonate with the California community, making it a reliable and cherished local business:

• Authentic Tamales: Widely considered among the best in the area, particularly the highly-rated jalapeño-queso and chicken varieties. They are a beloved tradition, especially during holiday periods like Christmas.
• Celebration-Worthy Cakes: The quality and value of their custom cakes are a major highlight, with customers frequently recommending them for major family events due to their taste and moisture.
• Sunday Tradition: The weekend popularity of their traditional Menudo and the desire to purchase tamales for Sunday football breakfast demonstrate its role as a key fixture in local weekend routines.
• Fast, Efficient Service: The model is geared toward a Quick visit, making it ideal for grabbing essential baked goods or a savory meal without a long wait.
• Accepts Modern Payments: For maximum customer convenience, the bakery accepts Credit cards, Debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
• Specialty Salsas: Patrons highly recommend purchasing their homemade, fire-roasted salsa, often available in an 'extra hot' variety, to accompany their savory items like tamales.
• Local Focus: The bakery is known for accommodating its local customers, even making efforts to serve those who arrive just before closing.

Contact Information

For ordering a custom cake, placing a large tamale order, or any other inquiries, customers can reach Spike’s Bakery using the information below. It is always recommended to call ahead for holiday tamale orders to ensure availability.

Address: Westside Shopping Center, 1708 W Highland Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92411, USA

Phone: (909) 887-9591

Mobile Phone: +1 909-887-9591

What Is Worth Choosing

For any local in the San Bernardino or Inland Empire region, Spike's Bakery is worth choosing for several compelling reasons that extend beyond the typical bakery experience. While they consistently deliver on excellent baked goods—including a highly recommended, moist, and reasonably priced cake—their savory specialties are what turn a casual visit into a loyal patronage.

The top choices you should plan to select are undeniably the tamales and custom cakes. Customers speak highly of making the tamales a centerpiece of their holiday traditions, particularly praising the distinct and delicious jalapeño-queso tamales. For those with a sweet tooth, the custom cakes are a dependable choice for any celebration, often described as a "slice of heaven in every bite."

If you visit on a weekend, arriving early to secure a container of their highly-coveted Menudo, often lauded as a must-try Sunday staple, is also strongly advised. Pair any savory item with a side container of their refried beans and a dose of their homemade, fire-roasted salsa to get the complete, authentic, and satisfying meal experience that keeps locals returning for decades. Spike’s Bakery is a vital San Bernardino spot for authentic flavor, speed, and tradition.