We were back for another lunch in Taco Tuesday. I still think this is one of the best taco deals in town, especially if you like fish tacos. I love their fish taco and the calamari tacos. This location always has great size portions and sometimes I can only eat one taco. We went to celebrate my kids, birthdays, they indulged in surf and turf burritos. A large slice of mud pie was delivered with a candle for their birthday as well. This restaurant is consistently delicious, great service, and a family friendly environment. The bar typically has lots of people sitting at it, watching a game on TV as well. We will be back read more

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I've been here a few times during day but never in evening. Nice atmosphere. Dark ambience and nice setting. It wasn't too busy when I stopped by but I believe the restaurant was closing in an hour. I feel you can never go wrong with Miguel's. Their chips and white cheese deep alone can keep me occupied. Fatima was my server. It was late so we did not really interact besides me ordering. I was solo and ordered the chicken chimichanga with extra rice. It was really good. I had so much chips and dip that I couldn't finish my meal. I ended up taking the rest home. read more

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Oh my gosh--this place was fantastic. I came in after seeing great reviews and it absolutely delivered. I can confidently say this was the best margarita I've ever had. It was sweet, packed with flavor, and the mango with tajín combination was incredible. I didn't need a reservation, which made it an easy stop. My waiter was so kind and helpful, which made the experience even better. The fajitas were perfectly cooked with great flavor and generous portions. I also really loved the queso. Overall, a 10/10 experience and I will definitely be back! read more

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Amazing food and service. Our waiter was super attentive and the food was brought out promptly. Got got a free basket of chips with a spicy jalepeno type sauce in addition to the salsa. I normally don't like spicy dips but this one was addictive. Got we got the three taco combo, enchilada combo, and a kids quesadillas. The chicken mole taco was really good even though im not a big mole fan, the shrimp taco was the best one of the three, while the pork belly was somewhat tough but still good. Highly recommend this place for any gatherings or just a casual meal. read more

Miguel's Cocina - Taco combo - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We went twice the week we were down in Carlsbad. We really love tacos and Miguel's has the best in town. Our server was Ashley W she was awesome so friendly very helpful and she made both times special. Great lady she gets 10 stars!! read more

I usually stay away from Mexican restaurants that claim to be authentic, until a couple of years ago that I decided to try Miguel's Cocina. This establishment is the exception that has kept me coming back over the years. From the beautifully decorated hacienda style to the queso dip and endless menu options you are bound to keep coming back as well. The service is standard and rather quick, the food is ultimately what stands out. I can say that they truly do serve authentic dishes. If you do anything please pleaseeeee order extra queso, you will not regret it! read more

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We loved coming here for Sunday Happy Hour. The hostess found us a high top table for 4 where we could all watch the game on their many screens. The drinks were good. We had mules, beer and well drinks. All were on the special Happy Hour Menu. We ordered food off the Happy Hour menu, too. Calamari, nachos, ceviche, and flatbread. When we go back we will order all of those minus the nachos. You already get chips, salsa and white cheese sauce when you sit down. Alex was a funny and attentive server who kept us aware of the Happy Hour time. The restaurant has a huge bar with many screens as well as other seating areas in the back. It's a good place from r families, too. read more

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I met a friend here for happy hour. It was my choice to come back. I arrived early and was promptly greeted and seated. She asked if we were okay with high top seating and that was fine. I was immediately brought chips with salsa and queso whilst I looked over the happy hour menu and waited for my friend to arrive. I ordered an ultimate margarita. It was much better than the last time I was there. The staff checked in on me several times while I waited. As soon as my friend arrived, our server checked in to see what she wanted to drink. She ordered a glass of Pinot noir and he had it to her in lightning speed. Our order was taken and our requested waters were brought. We both got the albondigas soup, and shared guacamole. Everything tasted good. She liked her soup so much that she ordered one to go for lunch tomorrow. This experience was so much improved from my last. The staff was very friendly and attentive and everything tasted really good. It's a good happy hour deal and we will come back. read more

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Loved celebrating my birthday here! Thank you so much! We sat at the bar and the lovely bartender was attentive, kind and helpful! Thanks To your email I saved a little on our bill and was offered a sweet treat at the end of our meal! Our drinks were made fresh and delicious- and we even enjoyed tacos, enchiladas and don't get me started on your fresh chips, salsa and the white cheese sauce!!! Omggg it's so good! Thank you feeling so happy read more

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I wrote a review of Miguel's Cocina a couple of years ago. Most of what I said there is still true. What prompts me to write this update is that there seems to be a new edition of the menu, which has fallen victim to the current fashion in the graphic-design world of using a small low-contrast type face, which makes it almost impossible to read. The purpose of text on a menu is to be readable, not to look pretty or win design awards. Here is a photo I snapped of a section of their menu, showing the thin light-grey lettering that explains what the dish might be to those people who can actually read it. Tonight I had planned to try something new on the menu but I couldn't read it even with a flashlight, so I ordered an old standby whose name I knew. It was delicious, but I had been anticipating some variety. As I look at this photo, I think it actually is easier to read than was the original. Maybe the secret to being able to read the menu is to take a picture of it on your phone and then read it on your phone. Slow but probably effective. Black ink, people, not light grey. And don't go smaller than 9 points. (I edited this review a week after I posted it to re-insert the photograph, which had somehow vanished.) read more

I don't usually write reviews, but after 3 days of absolute hell I feel like I have to. In 18 years working around the world -- from Michelin-star kitchens to superyachts and private estates -- I've somehow never had food poisoning. After only eating the ahi tuna and a single fish taco all day, it's pretty obvious what the culprit was. I finally had a week off with my daughter after being away for work, and I ended up spending most of it vomiting and stuck on the toilet. Pretty depressing way to spend rare time off. The worst part is there was barely any actual ahi in the dish -- it was mostly chopped garnish -- so who knows whether it was poor food handling or fish that was off. It didn't taste spoiled, so my guess is food handling. Thanks Miguel's Cocina for the overpriced food poisoning experience read more

This is the first time I have been to this location, and I came with a few family members. I love that they still do the free Queso and chips and everyone enjoyed that. Parking here was very plentiful which was great. The food here definitely isn't that authentic but is pretty solid for a chain. I ordered the surf and turf burrito which had a sauce over the top making it "wet" which I don't see often on menus, so try to order when I do. It was good but not the best I've had and wasn't that much of a fan of the sauce they used, as it tasted like something that could have come from a jar. Someone in our party ordered the chicken tortilla soup, and they said it had a lot of flavor and they enjoyed it. Another in our groups had the credit asada tacos which they said were good. We all enjoyed the beans as they had a lot of flavor in them. The rice was okay, pretty much standard of what she would get that most restaurants, not a lot of flavor, we add salsa to it to give it more flavor. Overall not the worst for a sit down chain restaurant. Id say with a try at least once if you are in the area. read more

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I was trying to pre plan by making sure my baby would be comfortable at a restaurant since we had family in town to enjoy time out for this special occasion. I asked the hostess if we can have a booth instead but she declined my request because apparently they are only for reservations. Literally there were plenty of booths to accommodate us instead they put us at a table. Then I asked if I can have a high chair and she said loudly yes! With an attitude. That already felt stressful already as we walked in maybe she was just having a bad day. We tried to enjoy our time as much as possible on the table which our waiter was really nice. Time went by and my baby didn't enjoy being in the high chair for long and I knew if we had a booth she would be able to just relax a bit more. Food was good though! We got the asada plate, shrimp enchilada, steak plate, and torta plate. It came with rice and beans. Overall service wasn't very great but food was delicious. read more

Delicious. Yummy food and drinks. Never been before but will def come back. Service is great. Connor and Hailey T are great.

Gotta love their white queso dip! They still have a great happy hour menu! We ordered beef nachos, flautas, and sopes. The best was the beef nachos. Wasn't a huge fan of the sopes, and the flautas were okay. You can't beat $7 each though! The server was nice and came by many times to check on us. We were in the lounge area but I like that the lounge area is still considered bar area for the happy hour price. Great place for group setting and family dinner. read more

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I want to thank Liv, Ashley, Jessica and Hannah for such a wonderful evening! These individuals made life so easy for me and my son who is on the spectrum. My son has a problem with going into restaurants, especially ones that have music playing in the background. It triggers him. But management allowed us to sit in an area that was much more quiet and my son was able to sit the whole time while we visited family from the area. I am so grateful to Miguel's cocina and staff for treating me and my family with such respect. As far as the food goes, it is nothing less than amazing! I ordered the Carne Asada dinner plate. The meat was so tender it melted in my mouth. The beans- oh my gosh -they were so awesome! Not to mention the rice and the homemade corn tortillas! If you're ever in the area, you'd have to visit this place. The food is amazing and the staff is even more amazing! read more

Miguel's Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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My family and I came here from out of town. I ordered the carne asada tacos and substituted the lettuce for pickled red onions. My mother got a burrito and my father got the carne asada fajitas. My food, the tacos, were honestly the worst tacos I've had yet. Very very greasy, pickled red onions were old, and had such a weird sweet taste to them? I couldn't eat the second one. I started to feel sick. I'm not sure how they cooked it, almost like it was cooked in a crock pot and sat overnight. My mother said her burrito was the same way with her steak in her burrito. She was severely disappointed. My father was the only one who got good food. Carne asada tasted great to him. If you're looking for a restaurant based on ambiance and service, then go here. If you want AUTHENTIC Mexican food then go to a typical hole in the wall. read more

Miguel's Cocina - Carne asada tacos substituted lettuce for pickled red onions - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Miguel's Cocina in Carlsbad is a lively spot with a fun, welcoming atmosphere and plenty of space to dine comfortably. One of the highlights is the complimentary chips with their creamy jalapeño cheese dip and salsa definitely a must try. We had the tostadas, which were really good, and the shrimp burrito, which was super flavorful and satisfying. Our server checked on us frequently and made sure everything was taken care of, which made the experience even better. Overall, a great place for tasty Mexican food, attentive service, and a vibrant dining vibe. read more

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Thursday Date night dinner was the husbands' choice...Not a bad idea. Since I wanted to fuel up on some protein anyhow. Mainly n preparation for me going to donate some blood tomorrow and I was for sure hungry after working out at the gym! We were greeted with smiles and kindness by everyone we encountered. We were seated quickly in a booth near the hosts station. Much more comfortable of an experience when it isn't the hustle bustle of the weekend. Tonight I decided to switch up my regular routine order. I got the cup, instead of the bowl, of Albondigas soup and ordered the Mexican Chopped Salad for the first time. It comes with a choice of chicken or steak. I opted for the steak. Pre-dressed. Maybe next time I'll get the dressing on the side just in case I don't finish all the greens. Salad just isn't the same as leftovers anyway. I did share too. So it's a generous portion. Appreciated that. Fatima was our lovely server for the evening and she was wonderful to us. She checked on us in perfect harmony to our meal & even brought us refills when our drinks were dwindling. I enjoyed my Lemonade very much. We left very satisfied and this visit everything went smoothly. I highly recommend coming on a less busy weekday! They had fun Mexican music playing and with my happy tummy & mood of the music I was doing a little wiggle wiggle in my seat. read more

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Stopped by here on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy but there was no wait time . I wish I could have remembered our waiters name but he was great , very attentive. They had a margarita that sounded so good but I don't drink so I got the virgin version . It was the mango chamoy margarita and it was pretty darn good . My wife had the spicy margarita and she loved it . The food was great , starting with the free queso that comes with chips and salsa . I got the Ensenada shrimp tacos and they were amazing ! I might get that again but ask for grilled shrimp instead of fried, but it was top notch . My daughter got the carne asada tacos and said they are new favorite tacos . This was our 1st visit at this location since moving to the area , but this might be our new fav local spot for Mexican food ! read more

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Tried this place on a high recommendation from the concierge at the Marbrisa. Didn't receive my discount as they are on the list of recommended restaurants but it's ok. To the food, tried the nachos (up charge for just white meat) they seemed like microwaved nachos with the ingredients just in the center plenty of chips naked. Didn't really have much flavor the guacamole was decent. The salsa I wasn't a fan or that queso was bland. Figured I'd go with nachos as a first try but I was disappointed, safe to say I probably won't try anything else. Service was friendly so that's why it's gets a 3 star. read more

Miguel's Cocina - Chicken Miguels Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Staff greeted and seated us immediately. The restaurant is very large so they have plenty of seating for small and large parties. Chips and salsa are complimentary and the chips were still warm. We ordered the following: kid's cheeseburger with fries kid's chicken tenders calamari appetizer- strips only but they were average. It's a texture thing and I prefer mine crispy and with the tentacles 3 item fajita (pork, shrimp, steak)- plenty of grilled veggies but the pork was mostly gristle and fatty so I didn't have much. Taste of the food was fine and it was perfectly seasoned Beef ribs- a tad too salty but flavor was okay portion size was good read more

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My boyfriend's entree tonight at Miguel's. Obviously not a filling portion whatsoever, but the staff did not agree. After our waitress Hannah gave us our food, she did not come and check on us, in fact, I had to alert her and the manager by the kitchen to come and take a look at the portion. The manager did not say a word. (This was after he had come to our table to recheck ids...) After the waitress came to pick up his plate, the manager came out with the same plate (food cold) and an additional scoop of rice. The manager told me the portions are pre -measured and come out "as is". I was more unhappy with the food more than anything, even though talking with this staff was like a brick wall. lol read more

Miguel's Cocina - Carne Asada Tacos ($26-$28) - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

They kept ID'ing me like I'm not visibly over 21... then they serve me this sad little half nut portion size... food was actually pretty good though Im not gonna lie But man I only got like 2 bites worth... I mean Im not fat or anything lol... thanks... read more

Miguel's Cocina - Son this sad ass little portion size Im crine - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Came by yesterday for dinner time with my family. The restaurant was very busy but we were sat right away. I got chicken and steak fajitas, my daughter shared with me and also got a cup Of albondigas soup. My husband got pork tamales plate . We all enjoyed our food. Our server was a nice gentleman and he was attentive when he had the chance to be , like I said they were very busy here. It took a while to get the food but it was fresh when it came out . The restaurant is spacious and nicely decorated. read more

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Love this place! Food is always spot on and the service is great. From the moment I walked in was greeted with a smile and seated right away. (Benefit to coming just before lunch rush haha) Karina was awesome. Kept my drinks full, was perfectly attentive, and was great to have as a server :) Look forward to next time read more

Delicious food! The vegetarian enchiladas were great, The kids nachos were a hit, the vegetarian chimichanga was also delicious and our server was very attentive and kind. Overall a great place to eat after a trip to Legoland or a visit to the flower fields. read more

We enjoyed the complimentary chips and salsa as well as the queso ordered on the side. The salsa and queso were good, but the chips themselves were a little bland. Carnitas street tacos and flautas we tried were decent. Wouldn't order either item again. Staff was nice, but not very attentive. I left thirsty and it wasn't very busy. read more

We had a reservation on February 18 at 7:00 PM for my 34th birthday and I just have to give a huge shoutout to Sherry and our server for making our evening so special. From the moment we arrived, Sherry was warm, welcoming, and incredibly attentive. Our server -- a kind gentleman with a mole on his face (can't remember his name) was just as amazing. He was patient, attentive, and so genuine. His energy was calm, professional, and full of positivity. You can really tell when someone takes pride in what they do, and he absolutely does. Both of them went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. It wasn't just great service -- it was exceptional customer service delivered with real care and heart. Thank you both for making our night memorable. We truly appreciate you and will definitely be back! read more

Miguel's Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We liked it so much we went 2 days in a row. We watched them hand make tortillas. The service was fast and we were impressed. Happy hour is also a good deal. We ordered 3 carnitas tacos & nachos from the HH menu. They had a good kids menu too. Fresh ingredients. #happyfamily read more

I ate here 4 times this week (attended a conference at a nearby hotel) and a couple of times last year while attending the same conference. The star of the show, in my opinion, is the CHILE RELLENO! They do such a nice job and it's really tasty!! The service is fast and friendly. Juan was my server on 2 of the 4 days and he was really friendly and attentive! On 3 of my 4 days, Liv was a hostess, and she was always very friendly and helpful- checked in with me to make sure everything was good - outstanding customer service! The desserts are pretty solid - my fave is the coconut flan! The chips and salsa are really good here, and they give you a little thing of queso along with the salsa, which is awesome. Just don't eat TOO much or else you won't have room for dessert. Miguel's is definitely my go-to when in town. read more

Miguel's Cocina - Coconut flan - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Service was great . Chips and salsa always hit the spot . If you like spicy ask for their spicy salsa ( it's either habanero or diablo) . Their shrimp tacos empanizados were pretty good . I got a spicy margarita . read more

Miguel's Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I went on taco Tuesday ready for a good Taco at Happy Hour. I first had Margarita and it did not taste the same as a few months ago, it was barely ok. I then ordered the Blackened Swordfish taco and first bite was a mouthful of tortilla dough and then the fish tasted old and smelly. I don't know what has changed but up till a few months ago I loved this place. I will say they customer service was super the they readily took it off my tab. So I'll rate the food at 1star and the SERVICE ST 5 STAR read more

The cheese enchiladas were excellent and the swordfish tacos were very good. The service was fast and efficient in a nice setting. We sat at a comfortable booth for lunch. For an authentic Mexican restaurant experience, Miguel's is a good choice. They should offer a lunch menu for better value. read more

let me start with a couple of prejudices: chili is a pepper. Chile is a country in South America. I understand this is a multi-sided debate but I resolutely stand behind my preferences. secondly, I have to confess to knowing better. MIGUEL's COCINA is a chain, and deserves very low expectations. no idea who Miguel might be but confident he spent very little time in abuela's kitchen, and when he was there, instead of dedicating himself to learning the minutiae of her recipes, I'm guessing he was stuffing his chubby little cheeks with delivery pizza. I balked when my eighteen-year-old requested Miguel's for dinner. I took comfort in relatively fond recollections of their 1/2 pound CANTINA BURGER. apparently, whoever cooked my kid's (which I had a bite of) during our last reviewed visit might not have learned a thing in abuela's kitchen either, but their time at Denny's was well spent. but I chickened out when the server came to take our order, too embarrassed to ask for a burger in a Mexican restaurant, and got the CHILE VERDE instead. far and away the saddest rendition of that dish I've ever experienced. pretty sure Wyatt felt the same way about his POBLANO CHILE RELLENO because he apologized for suggesting MIGUEL's CANTINA on the drive home. I laughed while he explained his reasoning: when he was six or seven, he remembered eating there for my birthday. he was raised to believe birthdays are high holy days and birthday dinner requests sacred, both knee-jerk reactions to my experiences growing up and into adulthood whenever my mother was involved. what he couldn't know was that his abuela (my mom, who was German on both sides) did NOT feel the same way. it's a long running family joke and source of considerable consternation that I was raised knowing that every year on my birthday (or on the anniversary of my birth as my dad was overly fond of pointing out) my mom would ask politely where I wanted to go, I would answer, and then we'd eat wherever she wanted eat. apparently, he remembered the year she was craving chain Mexican. ps: this is a flashback to my previous review. now I have four dogs and they got EVERYTHING in our doggie "bag." pps: remember the line from "Now You See Me 2" when the crew comes to in Shanghai and everybody's eating Chinese food and one of the characters (Woody Harrelson, I think) says "here they just call it food." if you didn't grow up eating the homey goodness of a culture every day, PLEASE don't praise the authenticity of a restaurant's cuisine. ppps: Miguel, guessing your kitchen staff includes several cooks who grew up helping mom and grandma make dinner. be a good idea to ask them to rework your recipes. just saying ... read more

Miguel's Cocina - CHILE VERDE (teeny, tiny "chunks" of pork simmered in a green chile sauce) with beans, rice, and tortillas - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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While staying at the Carlsbad Seapoint Resort, my hubby and I tried this restaurant for the first time. Our Resort gave us a HGV reward card and this was one of the restaurants. Overall, the food was great and very different ambiance. We shared Chicken Fajitas with Flour Tortillas and as for the HGV reward (free appetizer with a purchase of an entree), we ordered the empanadas. The Fajitas had a good flavor and the empanadas were kinda different (I'm used to the Filipino style empanadas). Will come back and try this again if we are in the area. Our waiter was very helpful! read more

Miguel's Cocina - Free chips and salsa plus they give cheese with Jalapeño bits - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Favorite place to come when we are in Carlsbad. Their ceviche is 1000/10. The fish is fresh and really good. The app portion is just really tiny in my opinion. My man gets the surf and turf and me and my daughter get the birria de res! Definitely a must try. read more

Miguel's Cocina - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Have come here twice now for the queso! Complimentary chips and salsa and QUESO for the table. I could easily come just for that! They also have happy hour deals on bites daily and Taco Tuesday- in this economy I should be eating here every night. The service is quick friendly and attentive and portions are generous for the price. The tacos are also tasty, can't wait to try the rest of the menu. The desserts menu was also impressive, there was an array of diff types of deserts, have only tried the mudcake, was frozen and tasted like coffee and a large portion at a great price. read more

Saw this restaurant from the off ramp while going to my hotel. I checked out the menu and saw there were some vegan options. The family decided to go and check it out. Chips, salsa, and drinks were kept flowing! The restaurant total understands large parties and kids! There is a lot of parking. Service was great and so was our server. She let us know ahead of time the house margs have a little bit of oj. They were delicious! I got the spicy pineapple. Yummm. Looks like locals and non locals go! Highly recommend. read more

Miguel's Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I love Miguel's. Their food is typically good along with their cocktails. The Great - The queso! The Good - The food and cocktails The Bad - The Adobada does NOT taste like adobada The Ugly - NA I will explain about the Adobada. Typically my experience is the Adobada would have a citrus taste. Like, you can taste the pineapple it was cooked with. Miguel's is more like pork belly, which is delcious, but not what I was looking for. read more

Miguel's Cocina - Combo Fajitas with Adobada & Mushrooms - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California