Miguel’s Cocina
5980 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA, 92008
Miguel’s Cocina Menu
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Address :
5980 Avenida Encinas
Carlsbad, CA, 92008 - Phone (760) 759-1843
- Website https://www.miguels-cocina.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Joe G.
Great service from the minute we walked in. Steak fajitas were 99% perfect soft meat and almost perfect vegetables. The mushrooms in them were just tasty and perfectly caramelized. The cheese dip is awesome as advertised. We had never been there before but from the looks of it lots of people are also fans of this place. Looking forward to eating here again next time we're in town.
(4)Big S.
Great food, good drinks and good service!
(4)Joe C.
The three of us had lunch at this new restaurant. I am sure glad we got there early because this very large place quickly filled up. First of all the place is beautiful and a hostess led us to a booth that we did not care for but she gracefully brought us to a booth much to our liking. Very pleasent. We were quickly atttended to with a huge basket of chips with 2 kinds of salsa one regular mild and the other was a warmed cheese--both were deicious.what was really nice was that since we were a party of 3 they made sure at least 2 of each salsa on the table at all times This was the start of great meal with some of the best service we have ever had. We were never in need of chips and salsa-or drink refills or what ever by this attentive and caring staff. My favorite is chili Colorado or Verde They had the Verde and it was the best ever. A real taste treat. The refrito beans were also excellent and the portions were so large we had to have take away boxes at the end.Beef flautas was ordered by the third party and it was also excellent. Be assured we wil return
(5)Jennifer R.
I've been here twice over the past month, once for dinner and once for happy hour. Dinner: Ok, I like it when a kitchen is efficient, but it is NEVER a good sign when your food comes out literally 3 minutes after you order entrees. This is not McDonald's people!! When I tried a bite of my enchiladas, my fears were confirmed. They didn't taste fresh, and they were SUPER salty. And I like salt. My glass of sangria was pretty good though, so that helped to ease the pain. Service was fine, but nothing to write home about. Happy Hour: I had a better experience at happy hour, probably because it didn't involve very much food. The margaritas here are REALLY good. But again, the food was just....not. The carne asada fries were mushy and weird, and the flautas were just basic. Maybe I just expected more because this is the same restaurant group as Brigantine? Overall, it's a beautiful restaurant, and I really really wanted it to be good! Maybe someday I'll try again, but it's going to take awhile for me to get over the first impression(s).
(2)Linda N.
best white sauce ever and the waiter i had was amazing. he was right on point and would always refill our water and came back with more white sauce right away. we were planning on taking our time at dinner but they brought out the food quick. its was hot and delicious. my bf got the carne asade quesidelli, he said it was the best he ever ate. considering he is picky with food, he loved everything here. we also ordered the fried ice cream. It was the first time i had fried ice cream, it was good!! what got me loving this place was the great service I got. I didnt get his name but he was awesome.
(5)Judi K.
Wow. Service***** Food ***** Atmosphere**** What a great place and great food. queso fundido fantastic .. Gaucomole to die for. Warm chips and salsa and cheese dip werethe best
(5)Mike H.
8 people descended on Miguel's Cucina the other day. 6 were okay with the meal one was ambivalent and one, me actually, was wondering, why were we there? The setting is a design firm's interpretation of an Iowan's idea of a Mexican restaurant in Oklahoma. Warm and inviting in a non threatening sort of way. Unfortunately for me that is the theme of the food, also more Chili's than chili. Just one example or I will be typing all day, The first flavor to strike the tongue of the chicken mole is sweet, not heat, not cinnamon, not chocolate not any of the 20-30 ingredients that make up a good mole sauce just sugar, salt and fat. I only had one margarita. Weird, I know but the one I tried was sweet enough to be banned in New York City. Remember 6 people enjoyed their meal. If you have visitors from the country fried parts of the world take them. They will feel as if they have been to Mexico and drank the water. People do enjoy sugar, salt and fat. My problem is that there is so much more to Mexican cuisine that I hate to waste a meal on this. Mike
(2)Patrick M.
Good food, great service. Fast and friendly staff paid special attention to our kids. The margs and cheese dip were excellent. Definitely recommend.
(4)Brandon S.
best chile rellenos in town. Yea i cant spell chile relleeno but I sure can eat em. queso dip with salsa is bomb too
(5)Valerie V.
Stumbled on this after our first choice (from yelp) was super packed and had a long wait. So we did a quick search and came here after legoland. Great for families but note it's Americanized Mexican kinda El torrito but a bit fancier decor. We were craving ceviche, but it was just strange here. Almost like a shrimpy flavor, mixed with cocktail sauce/mayo. Definitely not the fresh limey/cilantro taste that i'm used to. The chips were also puffed and really oily. I do like the cheesy sauce they give w/the free chips (normal not like the ceviche chips_. The salsa is just like pace picante, not my fave. Def. not authentic and not spicy. I asked for anything spicier and they gave a creamy (orange color) habanero which was good, but use with EXTREME caution since I put a lot on my taco and my mouth was on fire. ( I can take a lot of heat) but it's like they didn't have anything in between besides cholula. No bueno for a Mex place. Got the swordfish tacos which were good but not the best. Hubbie loved his shrimp burrito w/white cream sauce. The others got a fajita platter and seafood dish in red sauce. The cucumber jalapeno margarita was great. My friends strawberry margarita was more slushy and really sweet so stick to a classic. Overall it was good, but not the authentic good mexican we were hoping to find. Won't be back.
(3)Ed M.
Unfortunately, coming to this place was a "bad" idea. We were greeted by two people who basically gave us menus and told that "its an open table, so please help yourself find a suitable table for yourself". WTF what kind of hosts or restaurant would allow new customer to wander around and find a table for themselves? What's next, a self-check out? There were an abundance of employees and night managers/supervisors standing around talking about non-sense. Retraining business etiquettes needs to be address. overhearing employees conversation was not kosher. Please tend to your customer not your fellow employees. Keep in mind that customers brings money into the business, not your own employees!!!! The chips were great. The spanish rice was dry and overcooked. The food was blah!! There are a lot of mexican chain restaurant and I would not recommend going here for family or company meeting. I might try it again in hopes that things changed. TBC. :)
(1)Prncs D.
sooo, this is an update! 3 months after Miguel's opened we decided to give them one last chance. We were pleasantly surprised! We went for happy hour. I ordered the carnitas taco plate. 2 delish tacos with rice/beans...the meat was super tasty....too much food for me. hubby ordered queso fundido, a dish of melted cheese & I believe chorizo served with tortillas. Both dishes were really good! He was disappointed in the limited "happy hour" drink selection..basically beers & margaritas..long islands were still $10. Next week, we went with a goup of 10 adults & 2 kids on a Sunday at about 3. Once again, we were seated promptly. Waiter was totally on board even with our large group. Hubby asked for a taco salad with carnitas instead of chicken or beef...no prob! I once again got the carnitas tacos but no rice & beans..I really love them & they are pretty filling. I could definitly see a huge difference as far as customer service. Everyone seemed focused; no milling around ignoring customers like a few months ago. My Only complaint: like so many other places "Happy Hour" is so limited plus its NOT cheap anymore...oh well, so much for the good ole' days lol
(4)Cole C.
The best part about Miguel's is the cheese dip. It's all down hill from there. Actually, the bar area is pretty awesome too. It's HUGE, and I love the big family-style tables. They really did a great job turning Marie Calendars into something wonderful looking. Unfortunately, the food just doesn't measure up. We ordered a splattering of everything: a tamale, a chile relleno, a taco, soup, steak and an enchilada. If I'd only ordered the marinated & grilled steak and the chile relleno, I'd probably give Miguel's 4 stars, but the rest of the food was pretty sub-par. Mexican food really shouldn't be that hit-and-miss. I may go back at some point for happy hour at the bar and a big bowl of queso dip... or maybe I'll just pickup some Velveeta and Rotel on my way home and save myself the trip to Miguel's.
(2)Anthony K.
Miguel's is a great new restaurant. Kinda hard to find a place in the Carlsbad area at 5pm that doesn't have a wait but this is the place! No wait for a party of 7 on a Sunday!! This place is huge!! Tons of seating and a nice size bar! The bartender Kyle is awesome! Great drinks and great food. The chips and salsa before the meal were so good I almost didnt have room for the meal!! The cheese/ salsa mix was too good. Service was A-ok and food came with no complaints! My nachos had a hefty portion of shredded chicken and a large meal overall. Will be returning soon!!
(4)Emma G.
Its good! I will go back!
(4)Chris G.
Not sure where all the negativity is coming from but our experience was above par. We went for lunch Saturday afternoon and were promptly seated. First of all, great work on this place! The architecture is amazing and all the seating is very good quality and modern looking. There is a huge rectangular bar in the middle of the restaurant, with cool LED lighting all over lighting up the different alcohol bottles. Food was excellent, I was nervous after reading reviews but I think they just got the hiccups you can expect from any new launch. It seems like the kinks have been worked out and everything tasted great, looked great, and went down easy. Saved the best for last - the drinks! I think I before leaving I must of thanked our bartender twice for making the best drinks we've had in a while. A good drink is not drowning in alcohol, but one that combines the flavors nicely AND gets ya nice and warm. Best margaritas I've had in a long time, very fresh, hand squeezed and fair price. Despite what ratings they may have, give it a try for yourself, def worth it.
(4)Julie P.
I have come here probably about 10 times, since I work not too far. The food has been constantly delicious. The white sauce they give you with your chips is a nice touch, and I love the salsa verde they put on their enchiladas! The chicken caesar salad with cheesy bread is another winner. The interior is quite stunning for a Mexican restaurant (or any restaurant, really), and they have an excellent bar and a nice assortment of various seating. This place is perfect for Happy Hour as well. The prices are pretty good too. The staff is always on top of their game, and very accommodating. I think in all the times I've gone, I've only had 1 order wrong, and it was quickly corrected. The bathrooms are always clean, as is the rest of this place. I really cannot think of anything negative to say about my visits. My co-workers also love the place. I have to visit more sparingly because I don't want to get burned out on it. I still like to visit this place a few times a month during my lunch breaks. Definitely recommend the Carmen Miranda if you want a non-alcoholic alternative to the piña colada... yum.
(4)C A.
Great place to eat. Try the queso or cheese sauce with the tortillas. Food was good, but the margaritas could use a little help.
(3)Lon R.
When this place first opened we were thrilled, thought it was great. Still good, but our meal tonight was SO salty we had to leave most of it on the plate. Even the refried beans were very salty. My wife's carnitas were not edible. Won't be back.
(2)Kelly C.
This place has the greatest queso dip of all time! My Pops was excited for Mexican food and Miguel's nailed it!!! I think this place is amazing!
(4)Kelly V.
Amazing food and beautiful ambiance. Love the fast service...it is super crowded today on a weekday night but the food arrives pretty fast...love it. Try their new mud pie...it's awesome.
(5)Sarah L.
I came here with friends around 8:00 p.m. on a weekday night and it was pretty fun. Service was fast and the waitress was super nice. I went again with my boyfriend, Wednesday night around 6:00 p.m., not as great an experience as the last. Our server was a little rude and forgetful. We seriously came back just for the chips, salsa, and mysteriously delicious white sauce. I don't know what that white sauce is, but it got me hooked. As for prices, appetizers are around $8.00, house favorites/specials range from $9.50 to $20.00ish, combos and favorites are around $10.00 to $12.00. Food was....meh. I can get better tasting Mexican food at Santana's, Mr. Taco, Albertacos, etc. Drinks were yummy! The margaritas are cheap and worth a try. The bar and lounge area is pretty chill and has a lot of tables. Atmosphere is very nice. The decor and lighting set the mood. Plus the place is clean! Good place to hang with friends, but don't expect the greatest food. Definitely a cool place to get some drinks, share some appetizers, and snack on chips with THAT SUPER YUMMY WHITE SECRET SAUCE :o
(3)Bill J.
Mike's Kitchen. Two stars for the food. Serviceable tourist Mexican--nothing special. OK service, so no badness there. Pretty good alcahoolic bebridges, so one more star for you, Mikey. If you have folks visiting from some land-locked state where ChiChi's or Acapulco is the standard, they will feel safe at Miguel's. And you won't mind the food, and may like the drinks. Definitely just to the plus side of so-so! Beats Marie Callendar's (which used t'be at that location), I guess.
(3)D S.
So psyched when Miguel's showed up in Carlsbad, no more driving to RB. Ate at Carlsbad location for first time, and last time. Worst food experience ever. And that's saying a lot for north county, the barren desert for good restaurant food. Food was cold and overcooked, drinks tasteless. Hasta la vista Miguel's Carlsbad.
(1)Sears G.
I have been going to Miguel's pretty much since they opened, Their swordfish taco's are in my opinion the best around. The atmosphere is pleasant and service is good as well.
(5)ChrisandAlene L.
Food and atmosphere was amazing! Service friendly. Prices for portions was average. My new favorite mexican restraunt! The chips and white jalapeno dip was phenomenal!
(5)Kelsey F.
I'm so excited because I just recently moved from Las Vegas and I'm so surprised by all the amazing Mexican restaurants around here. But this one takes my heart! It's so comfortable walking in and being greeted by nice people. Not only are the people good but the food is even better! If your ever around here you gotta check it out!
(5)Katrina L.
Brand spanking new place and my coworkers and I wanted to get a taste of what they served for lunch. I ordered the 2 fish tacos plate with rice and refried beans. I didn't like the refried beans much as they seemed to leave a funny aftertaste in my mouth. The rice was good. The tacos had a generous portion of battered fish that was juicy on the inside. Turn-off for the fish tacos was the white sauce they used in them. It tasted like ranch. Enjoyed eating their complimentary hot cheese dip with the chips provided. I thought the salsa was a bit watery. Servers were friendly, helpful, and nice. I really enjoyed sitting the lounge area where they had wide windows, couches, homey chairs, and coffee tables to eat on. Definitely unique decor and style. A bit pricey for Mexican food in the North County area, so I would consider coming here only for Happy Hour. Be aware that it can get crowded since it just opened up.
(2)Shannon D.
I have been waiting for this place to open up for about a year. Boy was I let down. Okay, so the restaurant interior is pretty cool and I would love to live in the back room with the firepit and cool chandeliers and big wooden table. And so what if the pozole and amazing white cheese sauce is as good as it is at the Point Loma location. It's still not the same. This location has definitely changed its feel to cater towards a "North County crowd." I noticed that menu prices are higher. For example, at the PL location you get complimentary champage/mimosa with an entree order. Here, you must pay the $3 for that. In PL, the pozole is ~$6 for the bowl. Here, it's $9. And there are WAY too many staff members walking around, doing nothing. Seriously, there are probably as many waiters/bus people as there are patrons. We visited this location again a couple of weeks ago, and although there were a TON of people working at the moment, we couldn't seem to get consistent/enough service in the lounge area. Because we kept having to ask different waiters for orders and had different waiters serving us, they understandably messed up our bills. One of the happy hour specials is $1 off of their margaritas. I ordered the one infused with habanero. I think they forgot to add the tequila. Seriously, $9 for a margarita that tastes like lime and a bit of habanero? My friends couldn't taste the tequila in the house margaritas they ordered either. (and no, we're not a group of raging alcoholics that make our own margaritas with a ton of tequila in them). The food is still pretty good, but it's an overall let down compared to what I was used to in PL, something I like to call "The REAL Miguel's experience." We used to bring out-of-town guests to the location in PL when we lived down there, but I don't think we'll be continuing the tradition up in Carlsbad. Shame.
(2)Bruce C.
This place was a joke !! The food was absolutely disgusting, the special margaritas were weak and tasteless, the queso fundido was awful, both the chorizo and the cheese was of inferior quality, the staff had no clue that it came with tortillas !! there jumbo shrimp consisted of 4 bacon wrapped small size shrimps once unwrapped, the rice and beans was uneatable, any local taco shop serves better quality rice and beans at the very least to begin with..... Way over priced for less then mediocre food and service, a real shame because the decor is definitely really nice !!
(1)Billy A.
My family and I went was craving some Mexican food and decided to pay Miguel's a vist instead of going to Old Town San Diego. The food was a little bland, the pomegranate margarita was also a little bland. However, the reason for giving them 4 stars is because I asked the manager prior to being seated to sing "Happy Birthday" to my 4 yr. old daughter and he and his staff did it with very well. When I asked my daughter what was the best part of her birthday, she said "when the people singed Happy Birthday to me..." Back to the food...the portions were plentiful and the best part of our meal was the chips, salsa, and cheesy jalapeño sauce we received before our food had arrived. I'm a fan!
(4)Alissa K.
I came here for a Friday happy hour - three stars because I need another visit to really know what I think of the place. Before I even had a chance to completely sit down at the bar, a rep for a tequila company in "club gear" gave me the pitch - and nearly interrupted me as I ordered. Very awkward, and weird first impression of their restaurant. The complimentary salsa / queso was good - not amazing. We had a couple of the other appetizers, but not really enough of the menu to give an accurate review of the food. The happy hour prices were good, the margaritas were strong, and the wait staff was attentive, so I am sure I will be back again soon.
(3)Janet G.
My husband & I loved this restaurant. The cheese sauce that they serve with the chips is amazing! I have a perfect house margarita that they gave me the happy hour price at the dinner table (some places make you go to the bar). Wonderful food, and the ambiance is perfect. It's in the old Marie Callendar's building.
(5)Euro C.
I've even here 3 times. The 1st trims everyone liked what they had. The 2nd time was ok, this last time I found the food to be inedible. The tamales were just gross. I said something to the waitress and then had to ask her to take it off my bill even though I only had about 2 bites. I took the other half of my meal home and wound up throwing it away after a few days. I actually opted to eat a frozen burrito at home one night rather than hear up these leftovers. I think I will give it another try since the first 2 times were ok. I like the ambiance.
(3)Burkan B.
Nice place but mediocre food at best. I didn't like the chips, salsa or the carna asada I ordered. Chips didn't taste fresh and the carna asada was cold. It was more of a veggie burrito then a carna asada burrito.
(2)Herb K.
Went to Miguel's on a Friday night, it was busy, but we got seated right away and they brought us a sling for our baby carrier. The server, runner, and busser were all friendly and very quick. Our food came out in no time and I was shocked considering the dinning room was packed. The food was really good and cheap and because of our experience this will be our new favorite Mexican restaurant!
(5)Andy H.
3.5 stars. I'm super picky about my Mexican food. By no means am I a connoisseur of Mexican food but I do know fresh and good service. I had heard about this place from a client of mine and wanted to check it out. I called the number on the website, which didn't work so I had to call another location just to see if they were opened. I came on a friday and during happy hour, this place was PACKED! After have 3 hostesses just stare at us, a gentleman approached us because he could tell we were waiting to be seated or give us a clue to what areas of the lounge/bar area we could sit in. Thankfully, we found a booth, and was proceeded to be assisted by 2 very nice waiters. Both eagered to help us which was a plus in my book. But then again, I came with a very attractive female so I wouldn't be surprised. (Insert shout out to Ariana!). We were recommended to try the shaker Brigantine Margarita which was a shaker worth of 2 drinks for $8 during happy hour. VERY WELL WORTH IT! As we were waiting, they brought out chips, salsa, and [oh my what was this?!?] white queso. It was very hot and spicy but seeing as it was Cinco de Mayo Weekend, what the hell! We ordered the fish tacos (2.50/taco) and the shredded beef flautas (6 i believe). Fish taco: felt fresh with a light batter that didn't overwhelm or dry out the fish. I didn't care for the sauce or the red cabbage. I actually felt that it masked the taste of the fish which, in my book, is a no bueno... Regardless, it was delicious but a bit expensive. Beef Flautas: i just loved the texture of the crispiness to the tenderness of the beef. Again, I felt bad because the star of the dish was shrouded on garnishments of hoards of lettuce, sour cream, a pico de gallo and guacamole that turned brown quickly. Service, was great and had no qualms about that but I definitely felt that the food missed that mark on presentation. Sometimes that could ruin the star of the meal. Aside from being a bit overpriced Mexican, I would come back for the happy hour.
(4)Radhika K.
You would think after spending all the money on remodeling this restaurant that they would pay a little attention to the food quality. Guess not. The chips and salsa taste store bought, so does the gross creamy sauce that all these people are saying is so good. Really I just don't think anyone cares what food tastes like anymore. I had steak fajitas the easiest thing to make and it was floating in grease, the meat was tough and it had some mushroom stems in it the size of a friggin wine cork. We asked the bus boy if they were always so greasy and he said yes. At least he was honest. Friendly staff but that won't be enough to get me to return. My mouth and tongue is also irritated from all the salt.
(1)Kimberly S.
food was mediocre, boys were crazy about the queso which was okay. service was lacking which was sad cause it was not that busy. we were seated pretty promptly but i felt the hostess cared more about flirting with the other staff then seating us. drink orders were taken after a few minuets, we ordered 2 margaritas and a soda. even though we were right by the soda bar it took longer for that to come then our other drinks. it took at least another 10 min before anyone asked if we were ready to order even tho we had all put our menus down. food came in a timely manner and was okay for tex mex. i was not very impressed. i may go again for just cocktails and appetizers but the menu was not very impressive. i probably would not recommend going here to a group of friends for dinner unless they are crazy about the queso.
(3)Travis W.
This place is our favorite Mexican Food restaurant but tonight we had particularly amazing service. Our waiter Nicholas and Francisco the chip guy were absolutely amazing. Prompt, friendly, polite. Every need was met. This is the best Mexican food restaurant in North San Diego County.
(5)rocky m.
Just a few things bout this wana be mexi restaurant..pretty much everything on the menu is not that edible..chips ok..drippy queso sauce an weak salsa..bartenders not very knowledgeable w/ 2 speeds..slow an none..as long as these don't know any better tourists are in town, miguels will stick around..but you can't fool da locals..
(2)A W.
I'd hate to say this, but the food was garbage. Felt ill after eating their disgusting rendition of carnitas. Also, my girlfriend threw up when we got home. Yikes!!!!
(1)kurt h.
We arrived on a weeknight at 8pm. There seemed to be a fair amount of people there still and we were quickly seated. Our server was with us right away and we placed our orders. Our chips arrived along with the cheese dip and very generic tasting salsa (tasted like pace picante sauce from a bottle). We asked for lemons for our water and got them after reminding our server as she had forgotten. The food: The food arrived oddly quick (just a note). I had a carne asada quesadilla and I liked it, it wasn't all that big, but came with a decent amount of beans and guacamole, no rice. My family's food seemed good enough but not overwhelmingly fantastic. The prices seemed a bit on the steep side. Drinks: Water, I don't drink much alcohol anymore. Overall experience, I might try it again, but it doesn't rank very highly on my favorites list.
(3)Jason W.
Great atmosphere and decor. The cheese sauce is amazing and addicting. Overall the everything we had to eat was really well done. Keep the margaritas coming!!
(4)Topher P.
Food was too salty and the margarita was like they just poured the premade mix and forgot the rest.
(2)J C.
Thank you Claim Jumpers for sucking. The hostess at CJ told me to wait 45min to be seated at a half empty restaurant at 5pm. This lead to my first introduction to Miguel's. As busy as they were, they made seats available for my family in the lounge in 5 minutes. This was a bonus because it meant that we can order from the Happy Hour menu. The carne asada fries looks like a soggy mess but dam, probably the best tasting carne asada fries I have ever had. Made a mistake and ordered 3 fish taco which were $2.75 each. Didn't expected Happy Hour tacos to be so gigantic. The fish in the tacos were the size of my hand. Everybody in my family suffered the same problem. We had way more food than we could handle for such a deal and it tasted great. My new favorite place when we are staying in Carlsbad.
(5)Erica N.
I've been there twice and both times my party and I had major confusion over the host not being clear when we asked to be seated. I'd advise the management to retrain their hosts to say something like, "If you'd like to sit in our dining room, I can seat you. Or if you'd like to sit in the lounge, feel free to seat yourself in the right side of the restaurant. If you'd like happy hour, you must sit at the lounge." It took two visits to understand that because they were just not clear. (Took off one star.) The "lounge" is basically the bar area. You can actually sit at the bar or there are high tables and low tables where you can seat yourself and a server will come over (just like in the dining room). The lounge is just a little less formal with the seating, the music is louder and there are TVs. On my last visit, we accidentally showed up during happy hour and took advantage by ordering several items and just sharing for our dinner. I do appreciate that you can order happy hour in the "lounge" and don't have to sit directly AT the bar, the way you do at some establishments. For two of us, we ordered 2 tacos, flautas and a quesadilla. It was all delish, but we honestly could have ordered less because we left with leftovers. The tacos are filled generously. And you can't forget the best part, the queso (or cheese sauce)...or I believe they call it white sauce, they bring out with the chips and salsa while you wait for your meal. That stuff is YUM and addictive :)
(4)Deanna M.
The food here is not the best nor most authentic mexican food around, which can confuse some passersby. But I have to say I have had nothing but good experiences in my handful of visits to this restaurant. The food is always good (especially the white queso dip!), the service is good enough, and it is a fun atmosphere. If you are looking for an upscale experience, this is not the place to go. If you are looking for a fun restaurant with decent food, then come here.
(4)Kevin A.
We have been here twice and have never been disappointed. Service was excellent. Our server was freindly and well versed on the menu. The decor is very nice and great for large groups as they have a separate area for buffets/meetings. Parking lot is a challenge on weekends. The chips with salsa and the cheesy dip are fantastic. They keep filling the chip basket without being asked. On busy weekend's they have a pager that will alert you when your table is ready instead of trying to listen for your name.
(4)Paul S.
When you think mexican food you dont think Carlsbad. But wow this place is amazing. This place is located about a mile away from Legoland which is great since Legoland closes so early. They have what is probably the best cheese dip with fresh made chips. The Carnitas platter is the best I have ever eaten the meat is moist and juicy with all the trimmings avocado,salsa,cilantro,onions. The service is completely underrated we had a server last night Joy who was 2nd to none. Everything that was needed she got in a flash. The kids loved their taquitos and taco which were no different than the ones in the adult platter A+ for that as most places skimp on the kids meals. Overall amazing dinner next time we are at Legoland we will definently be back.
(5)Jay P.
A spacious upscale restaurant with nice quiet atmosphere we ate here after a long day at Legoland and really enjoyed it. To start with they serve Queso dip with the free chips which has to be best thing ever and the only restaurant in California I've ever come across that offers this. So right there, HUGE WIN. I ordered the combo steak/chicken fajitas which were excellent and then we ordered the apple chimis with vanilla ice cream for dessert which was super tasty! The server was super friendly and attentive and accommodating to our needs as parents of a preschooler.
(5)Scott E.
If you looking for great mexican food, Don't go to Miguel's Cocina. This is not mexican food. The atmosphere is good, a little noisy though. The food is tasty, just not mexican. Service is so so...... Shared a mud pie that was very lacking and tasteless.
(2)Melissa T.
Love the queso dip! The service is kind of slow, and sometimes they get it wrong. I would try to avoid going here for a quick lunch. The food is delicious though.
(4)Peter P.
Ugh. What an insult to Mexican food. It screams, "I' ve never left North Dakota and I imagine this is what food in Mexico tastes like." The pleasant service saved this from being one star.
(2)YP D.
I guess I have low expectations of chain Mexican restaurants, but I enjoyed dinner there with my brother's family and all the kids. The booths are large and comfortable and they have adult margaritas that are great and kids drinks with lids. The kids meals come with real fruit - not canned, and the chips were fresh.I seemed to enjoy my marisco the most, while the others were ok with their's. Its an above average place to go with the kids.
(4)Misty V.
YUM!!! The cheese they give you with your chips is addicting. After filling up on cheese and chips, they brought our plates. They were out of lemonade for my non soda drinker kid so they customized a sweet drink just for him. The food was excellent, the service was stellar. We were in town for two days and almost went back a second time.
(5)Allison T.
Calamari tacos and enchiladas suizas... DO IT!!!!!!!! Miguel's is our go to Mexican joint in north county. It's delish every time, don't let the chain fool ya!
(5)Nicole O.
I was looking for a restaurant with queso fondito while staying in Carlsbad when I found Miguel's. I was planning to go to happy hour when we met up with some family that also happened to be coming into town, so we made it dinner instead. Once we arrived I was surprised how nice the place was. On a Friday night out table of 6 was sat right away, which was also surprising because the place looked very busy. The chips and salsa were good but as all the reviews mention the cheese dip was the best. Our waiter was very nice and attentive. I got the enchilada suiza, which had a great sauce but wasn't my favorite but everyone else's food looked great and was very yummy. We never did get the fondito, but I will definitely be going back to try it soon. This place is huge and perfect for everything from date night to a family dinner with kids
(4)Grace C.
This place is AWESOME! Their fresh Mahi Mahi tacos were great they tasted like fresh fish. Loved it. The margarita was pretty good and the chips and jalapeño sauce was delicious! I'm a Mexican and I would come back to this place any time! Service was excellent and fast!
(5)Shawn N.
I was going to go to Las Olas but decided to try Miguel's instead. I learn my lesson and regret going to Miguel's. Their service is slow, the chips taste like plain Doritos. I ordered the Carne Asada burrito plate for $11.50 it arrived I took two bites and it was overwhelmingly salty! Plus the portions are ridiculously small. I pushed all the salsa and guacamole off the burrito and it was the size of a taco. I sent it back to the kitchen. I was offed to replace it with something else but I refused. Should have gone to also Las Olas.
(1)Erin L.
Went here on Friday for a friends 30-something birthday. Presentation of the meals and the proportions left me happy, satisifed and having lunch. I had ordered the swordfish tacos, my husband carne asada, fruit for my son and rice. The service was great, drinks were never empty and the staff was friendly. Bathrooms are clean which is a sign that the kitchens are too. (I had been in the restaurant business for 10 years - from high school up to support my college education, BS and MA and that is a sign the kitchen is clean)
(5)Jose M.
Service : 4 Ambiance : 4 Food : 3 Drinks : 3 First impression was good as I walked into the restaurant the place looked clean and plenty busy. I was told it'd be a fifteen minute wait and they recommended I check out to the seats at the bar. I declined their recommendation and three minutes later had a table. Chips & Salsa: Mediocre, when they're at the bottom of their bag/barrel/whatever and have nothing but fragments of what used to be tortilla chips, they should really be tossed out. Not here, here you'll get these served to you! The salsa was about on par with what you get at a national grocer; it was salty and tasted like canned tomatoes. They do bring out a cheese sauce with your chips which was tasty, but hey I like nacho cheese. Drinks & Appetizer: The drinks where not special. The habanero margarita they have was disappointingly not spicy at all. A little lacking in the tequila, however you get a decent amount for the price. I got a simple quesadilla as an appetizer; it was about what you would expect. Better than one from a taco shop, but disappointed it was only garnished with cut up lettuce, a raw green onion, and a slice of a radish. This should really come with a little bit of guacamole or a prepared fresh salsa. Entrees: My wife is a vegetarian and had their Chile Relleno & Green Chili Corn Tamale. The waitress picked up on the fact that she was a vegetarian and warned us that the rice is made with chicken stock and doubled up on the beans instead. Unfortunately when they brought her food, they had placed a Pork Tamale in place of the Corn Tamale, the waitress quickly rectified the issue though. My wife enjoyed the Tamale and thought the Chile Relleno was average. I had the swordfish tacos. The good: slaw in the taco was good and the beans on the dish were good. The Bad: same kind of corn tortilla used at Rubio's, it's ok but not what I would expect at a sit down Mexican joint, fish was overcooked. Overall the place was Ok, I probably will not be back as there is definitely better Mexican food places. Main reason for the 3 is that at a restaurant I weigh my thoughts on the food heavier than the rest and the food was just not impressive.
(3)Rachel B.
I was very pleasantly surprised by how good this restaurant was when my husband and I went here. I do not typically like Mexican restaurants, they always seem to fall short, but I could not get over how great my meal was. I ordered the Torta and it was very flavorful! And the cheese dip they offered with the chips was amazing!!! So good! The service was also very favorable. I would have given it five stars, but our drinks were left empty for a little while and that is my husbands pet peeve. However, besides that little thing, I highly recommend this restaurant!!
(4)Callie D.
Great food, great prices. My boyfriend and I have came here several times and I always end getting the same thing. Swordfish tacos with extra lime. AMAZING every time. And we love the queso they bring beforehand. We live 2 exits away, will return!
(5)Paul M.
I've been a fan of Miguel's down in San Diego for the longest time so I was excited to see one around the corner from the hotel I was staying in. The first thing I noticed was how much bigger this location is compared to the ones in other locations. it was nice to not have to wait a long time and have a very spacious dining area. The service and food was on par with the other Miguel's I'd been too and all of your favorites are still here (especially the jalapeno cheese dip!!!). If you're in North County, Miguel's is consistently some of the best Mexican Food you'll find.
(5)Rome T.
We had a going away party and the people at Miguel's were incredibly accomodating. Definitely recommend this for group events.
(5)Andrea B.
Three times is not a charm for this place. First visit went well, fish tacos were excellent. Second time the food was so bad we spoke to the manager and asked if they had fired the first cook. I decided not to try this place again - but my husband wanted to give it one more chance. I hate inconsistency,agreed. The table we were seated at had chairs that were extremely low,which made the table seem too high. We felt like we were sitting in a hole. My drink came in a tall tulip glass with a straw and was filled with ice. Now, there was no way, other than standing up that I could drink that. It was too full to pick up and hold off to the side to drink. My husband ended up with part of it in his lap. The waited, upon request, took it back and had it in a 'bucket' glass, really watered down. Now I begin by seeing how fresh the chips are. CAN YOU SAY STALE and dry? Should have left then. The fish tacos were mostly batter and red cabbage. Very dry with no sauce, sour cream or avocado to moisten it, Only bright spot was the staff. Over priced, poor quality food and watery drinks. Not making it back - ever.
(2)Bhumi T.
Went here for dinner Sunday night for Cinco de Mayo. Surprisingly, our party of 4 got seated quickly. Probably because this place is huge with alot of seating. We didnt go tot he bar, but noticed how big it was. After we were seated, the wait staff brought over a chip, salsa and cheese sauce. The cheese sauce was a nice addition to the regular chip/salsa you get at other places. I ordered the jalapeno margarita, delicious, but didn't have that spicy kick i was expecting. I also had the vegetable enchiladas, which were nice and flavorful. Husband ordered a pork dish which he found to yummy. Our waiter was also very attentive and quick with the service. Everyone is nice and friendly. Over all a nice clean place. Defiantly a step above Acapulco's and El Toritos. We'll be back for more.
(4)Brad P.
I'm a fajita lover. I ordered the combo fajitas, shrimp, chicken, & steak. Everything tasted good, however it had two miniature salad shrimp in it. The waiter, who was very inattentive, said that was normal. I would not recommend coming here if you like fajitas.
(1)D J.
Good food
(4)Jackie A.
So so place... when they first open the food was very good, but the last few times its been over cooked, dried out, and bland... service was very slow.
(2)Kiwi T.
Don't come on a Sunday morning because the male waiters are too busy flirting with the female staff to give you any service! A complete 180 from the amazing service we received in the past. If you come here, make sure your server is female.
(2)Nerissa C.
Great corporate style Mexican. Enjoy their white sauce with chips and salsa. Burritos are delicious! Need to make it in for happy hour
(5)DJ S.
We stopped in for a late lunch at about 1:30 and had the worst experience ever! It was open seating so the hostess said we could sit anywhere. My wife and I sat down with our 2 loud kids and a baby and immediately receives our chips and salsa and water. Then we sat there for 15 minutes. We overheard the waiter ask the table next to us if they finally got the order tasting right? That was the first tip the the quality wasn't going to be that great. They can't perform during a slow lunch service. After waiting around for a server for 15 minutes we decided it would be best to cut our losses and just go. With servers standing around hanging out, it was amazing to me that when we tried to get their attention they were all too busy. The kicker is when we got up to go the waiter that was helping out the table next to us said 'thanks for coming in'. Was he really that oblivious? Really? The manager asked for us to stay and he would see that we were taken care of but it was too late. And the cheese sauce for the chips was marginal at best. Hopefully if you decide to Go to this place, you have a better experience than I did. Good luck!
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