Miguel's Jr.

Miguel's Jr. 141 E 17th St Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 646-2049 Listing on Rely Local Listing on TripAdvisor Official Site • Facebook Page

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Shortly after this blog started James submitted a review of a place in Corona called Miguel's Jr. I wondered then if a Miguel's Jr. would ever open up in Orange County. A little over five years later that time came. Miguel's Jr. opened up in the Newport Mesa area in November 2011. James and his wife made it to the opening night. I made it a few months later for several visits (including one with them) and took numerous pictures. Here are some of them and if you click on any of them it will take you to the complete flickr photo album. Everything is made fresh at Miguel's, so fresh in fact that they don't even have a freezer on the premises.

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And here is James' prior review (from March 12, 2006) of the Miguel's Jr. in Corona:

Miguel's Jr. Menu

On Friday, March 10, 2006 at 8:45pm I went to the Miguel's Jr. on Compton Ave. in Corona, CA. Of course this is NOT in Orange County, however since many OC dwellers pass through Corona, and since Miguel's Jr. is not in Orange County yet, I thought it would be a good place to review.

I usually get the "Famous Garbage Burrito" when I go to Miguel's Jr. -bad name for a good burrito. This time I got the combination plate #10 (Enchilada & Taco) I got chicken instead of beef in the taco. The taco came separately from the plate and was one of the best tacos I've had. It was not too crunchy, but not too soft either, and the chicken was great.

I like the salsas at Miguel Jr. -both the famous salsa (red and medium spicy) and the chile de arbol (yellow and milder). They are both unique and tasty. Since the drive thru at the Compton Ave. location is open til midnight on Friday and Saturday now, and is next to the 15 freeway, you can stop on your way back from (or to) the desert or river or whatever and get food.

Thanks, James.

El Taco/Taco Jr.

Taco Jr. 2101 Harbor Blvd Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (714) 642-6230 Listing on Trip Advisor Listing on Yahoo! Local No known official website.

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El Taco 615 S Euclid St Anaheim, CA 92802 (714) 535-2059 Listing on Menuism Listing on Yelp No known official website.

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If you've ever wondered what Mexican fast food tasted like before it got too kitschy and mass-produced then take a trip to El Taco (not to be confused with Del Taco, Taco Bell, or other such establishments). El Taco has been around since 1958 and is still making its food the same way, with fresh ingredients and most of the fixin's prepared right in the store. All its locations seem to be the originals and you can tell that they have never bothered to update their architecture, but as quaint and charming as it is you don't really want them to. They have an extensive menu featuring nachos, salads, quesadillas, soft and crisp tacos, tostadas, burritos, taquitos, chile rellenos, flautas, and breakfast burritos and tacos. They even have the bun taco and reference it on their menu as something of a Mexican sloppy joe. Out of the different items I tried on several visits the item that needed the most help were the nachos, which were somewhat lifeless and topped with an even more lifeless layer of bland guacamole, which seemed to just be pureed avocados. Apart from this flaw everything else was respectable and can be enlivened with their red or green sauce made on the premises and served in little plastic cups.

For some reason the location on Harbor Blvd. in Costa Mesa has been renamed "Taco Jr." but there is still some "El Taco" branding if you look for it.

Read Dan's review of their Orange location at Eat in OC.

Eat Chow

Date of Visits: May 14, 16, and 26 2009

Eat Chow 1802 Newport Blvd Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 650-CHOW Listing on Yahoo! Local Listing on Ask.com's Citysearch Official Site

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Here's another place that, like Mollie's Country Kitchen, is not a Mexican restaurant per se, but has so many Mexican items that it easily qualifies for inclusion here on the blog. A hip little eatery connected by the hip to a hip little clothing store (The Closet), Eat Chow serves fresh, healthy, crisply presented entrees at a reasonable price ranging from $8 - 14.

The breakfast menu itself has a whole Mexican section with items such as Huevos Rancheros, Chilaquiles, and an Egg White Burrito. But they also often have Mexican items for breakfast on their specials menu, such as the Chorizo Scramble (shown above). For lunch and dinner they have Baja Style Fish Tacos and Vegetarian Tostadas on their regular menu:

Baja Style Fish Tacos

I think the only problem I had at Eat Chow was that the tacos were stuffed so full that I had a hard time keeping them together as I picked them up to eat them. The waiter walked by and saw my struggle and remarked, "Keeping it together there?" But that's a problem that's almost a plus. And they also, as with breakfast, have Mexican items frequently appearing on their specials board, such as the light and tangy shrimp ceviche:

And the crispy beef tacos:

These tacos remind me of the infamous Jack in the Box tacos but taken to a gourmet level, with fresh lettuce and tomato, no triangular slice of orange cheese, and some Salsa Macho on the side.

And the tortilla soup, made completely on the premises:

It's worth mentioning that Eat Chow gets its tortillas from the legendary El Toro Bravo. That certainly adds to their street cred. Speaking of streets, be aware that Eat Chow is physically on 18th St., just around the corner from Newport Blvd. It is part of the same building as The Closet and you will be able to see The Closet from Newport Blvd. and Eat Chow shortly after you turn onto 18th St.

Finish off your meal with a flan, deep and rich, topped with a strawberry flower:

After you eat at Eat Chow you can take your receipt next door to The Closet and show it to them to get 20% off any regularly priced purchase so you can get fed and clothed in one stop.

Chilaquiles

Click here to see the complete album (16 photos so far) at .

El Toro Bravo - Review #1

El Toro Bravo Tortilleria 745 W 19th St Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (949) 631-4464 Listing on Yahoo! Local Listing on Ask.com's Citysearch Official Site

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Walking the Costa Mesa beat, guest reviewer Shelly Borrell checks in with her review of El Toro Bravo on 19th St.

El Toro Bravo Tortilleria is tucked back in the corner off 19th Street in Costa Mesa, near Wallace Avenue. You'll never see it just driving by. Although I live right down the street, Christian had to tell me about it and I'm glad he did. They make and sell their own chips and tortillas on the premises, which you don't see too often. The Tortilleria is set back in a small strip mall near Jugos Acapulco and Smart & Final, both of which are visible off 19th Street. Once you see those locales you'll be getting warmer.

El Toro Bravo has two doors—You enter on the left, curve around, then exit on the right. The system works well. There is no dining inside. As you make your way through the line, you'll first see prepared dishes with various meats in sauces and enchiladas. Then as you curve around to the right, you'll see the meat choices that are listed on the hanging menu, ready to be chopped up and added to a taco or sold alone to make your own.

This visit I tried 3 different meats, Barbacoa (Beef), Carnitas (Pork) and Pollo Rostisado (Chicken). I had 3 tacos with rice and beans, which is a good way to taste a sampling of flavors. All meats were fall off the bone good, but they do just chop it up all together, so you might want to inspect your taco before diving in. I had to pull a couple cartilage pieces out of my chicken taco, but after that I enjoyed it very much.

The Tortilleria goes through a lot of corn making its own tortillas, chips and tostada shells. It's fun to get a glimpse of the process while progressing through the line. I should add that the portions are very generous. My 3 taco combo must have weighed about five pounds. And those ordering the meat and fixins on the side also received a sizeable portion of all. Overall, I think it's a great place to purchase tasty cooked chunks of meat for a party. I think your guests would appreciate it. They'll also deliver or cater upon request. I'm glad it's in the neighborhood and I finally made it over there.

Click here to see the unedited album (19 photos) at .

Super Pollo - Review #1

Super Pollo 1731 Superior Ave Costa Mesa, CA 92627-3614 (949) 642-7574 Listing on Yahoo! Local Listing on Ask.com's Citysearch No known official website.

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Here's Shelly, our Costa Mesa correspondent, reporting on a place I told her I thought I'd seen before while driving around. Basically all I said to her was, "I think I've seen some place in Costa Mesa that has a cartoon chicken on it." She said she knew the place and had been there before and about two weeks later her review was submitted.

You've seen it for years if you live in the neighborhood, or pass through on Newport Boulevard. It's tucked back just a little on Superior. There's a chicken wearing a cape painted on the front, hence the name. If you haven't been there, and you should go there, it's a Grilled Chicken/Mexican Restaurant that's been in operation since 1984. It's mainly a place to get good take out, since there's only ten seats inside the small grill, plus three more tables outside. It's well kept and the employees have always been Super Friendly, pardon the pun.

I've eaten there about six times. One can't go there (initially anyway) without getting the Grilled Chicken with Garlic Lemon Butter -- Its flavor always draws me back for more. When ordering the Grilled Chicken, you'll get to pick a seasoning. The picture taken of the partial menu shows the options. This visit I opted for the ¼ Chicken Meal with a leg and thigh (vs. a breast and wing), which comes with beans, rice and tortillas, corn or flour.

This time I also tried their Taquitos. The meal comes with four Taquitos, rice, beans and guacamole. Since I wanted to try both the Beef and Chicken Taquitos, I ordered ½ and ½, which isn't a problem if you wish to do the same. I wanted to try their beef, but when I got to them, I learned they were all chicken. They must have forgotten -- I was chatting them up quite a bit. Now I have another reason to go back. Please note, the chicken ones were perfect, crispy with nice pieces of white meat chicken inside. The salsa is also worth mentioning -- It's spicy with a really great flavor.

To add a little weight to this assessment, I'll give you some related background about me. I once worked for the El Pollo Loco Corporation for about two years. One requirement for all corporate employees is to work in a restaurant once a year, which I did twice. In doing so, I learned a lot about grilling chicken and making salsa, therefore I respect it when others can make it just as good, if not better. Super Pollo does it right.

Super Pollo also offers Burritos, Tacos and a few other items. The place is too small to take a picture of the full posted menu. For guidance when you get there, the chicken items are on the left of the menu and a variety of beef (Carne Asada) and fish items are on the right. In the event you've been confused on just how to get there, just take Superior North until it practically ends, or South where it virtually begins, then you can't miss it.

Note: Take a look at the pictures, the blue door in front appears to be the main entrance, but it's not. It's the entry into the kitchen, employees only. You will enter through the side door with all the stickers.

Thanks, Shelly!

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