Bustling outpost of a small chain serving margaritas & California-inspired Mexican eats.
Rina
Miguel’s Cocina in San Diego is a wonderful place to enjoy Mexican food with an amazing ocean view. The restaurant is located right by the water, and one of the best parts of the experience is being able to enjoy the view from your seat. Whether you’re visiting during the day or around sunset, the scenery adds a relaxed, vacation-like atmosphere that really elevates the meal.
The restaurant itself has a lively yet comfortable vibe, making it a great spot for both locals and visitors. The seating is well arranged to take advantage of the water view, and it’s a great place to sit back, unwind, and enjoy good food with friends or family. Service was friendly and attentive, even though the restaurant can get busy due to its popular location.
We started with the calamari, which was surprisingly different from the usual style. Instead of being overly crispy or heavy, it was very soft and tender. This made it stand out compared to the typical fried calamari you find at many restaurants, and it was enjoyable in its own way, especially if you prefer a lighter texture.
We also ordered tacos, and they were very good. The flavors were well balanced, the ingredients tasted fresh, and the portions were satisfying. Overall, Miguel’s Cocina is a great choice if you’re looking for tasty Mexican food paired with a beautiful ocean view. It’s a place worth visiting at least once when you’re in San Diego, especially if you enjoy dining with a view.
… morePablo Ulloa
This Mexican restaurant has a fun atmosphere, but our service was delayed. After being seated for several minutes, I had to ask the manager if someone could take our order. The service felt a little all over the place, and we had to wait for refills as well. It was slower than expected.
… moreMoni G
Miguel’s Cocina was a phenomenal experience. Came here on a Sunday afternoon with a party of 4 and requested a table outside. I was given a 30 estimated time but waited about half of that time. They brought us water right away and had children coloring page and crayons available right away. Chips and salsa came quickly as well, also cheese jalapeño sauce, yum! The food was really good as well! We ordered the kids the carnitas plate which came with beans and rice, they approved! The carne asada plate was so flavorful I like it better than any other meat I’ve had recently. I ordered the Enchiladas Sucias and was satisfied by how filling it was. There was plenty of shredded chicken in there and the green salsa was so good. Our margaritas did not disappoint as well, strong because of the reposado tequila but yum! Churros and ice cream was delicious! The harbor view was spectacular. Loved it here!
… moreJeran Cox
Great food.
The fried squid was the most perfectly soft succulent I’ve ever had in my life. Just wow.
The view of the harbor was nice.
The waiters were quite busy. I only saw my server twice. That was a bit disappointing, but it did keep me from over ordering food.
… moreMarcos Castaneda
Just walking into Miguel’s Cocina you’re surrounded by eye pleasing decoration pieces and the vibe of a waterfront restaurant. The music is very well selected, so the ambient is set up good. I sat on the outside tables next to the water and they even asked if the sun was too hot so they could bring the shade down. Initially they brought out corn chips which were warm and recently made as well as the salsa which was tomato based, tasty, and well seasoned. It wasn’t too hot, but you can feel the spice. They also brought out their signature white sauce which tastes like drippy white cheese mixed with some peppers, it’s a 10/10 sauce. I ordered the Carne Asada (Medium). The carne asada was cooked all the way through, so it wasn’t medium except on the thicker part which was maybe a bite size area. However the seasoning and marinade was tasty and the little char pieces also added flavor. The orange rice is a classic and the flavors were there, the beans with the cheese on top were also flavorful and the texture on both was great. They also serve the dish with three tortillas and they also tasted delicious. I ordered the Calamari which i’ve never tried before so I didn’t have a reference to, but it tasted bland. Not sure if the calamari itself was not seasoned correctly or if the breading wasn’t seasoned well, but it was only alright. They served the calamari with the white sauce, a lime wedge, a green onion, and some pico de gallo. Overall experience was great, but the food might need a little bit more work done. GREAT service, Mariana was keeping up with the food and her attention was amazing. Would come again mainly for the ambient and location.
… moreAlexandria Bolduc
The food is amazing but honestly the staff was even better. We had a great time. We had fish tacos, carne asada, and taco of the month. Also Passionfruit margaritas was delicious. If you can get a outside seat do it! The views are beautiful.
… moreJong Ho Kim
This is a wonderful restaurant with a great view, located on the second floor of the beach. The food is delicious, the service is good, and the prices are reasonable. The most expensive dish was the fried seafood, which was around $24, but most dishes were around $18. I smiled as I watched a few people, who seemed to be friends, sitting at the bar and cheering cheerfully.
… moreMellissa Wallace
I liked the location, on the water. It was a little too loud for me. No espresso, just regular coffee. Food and service was good.
… moreMike
5 stars all around. Amazing food, big portions, great value. Service is top notch and beautiful views. When the sun started to heat up the outside, they accommodated by table where people wanted the blinds lowered to. All around phenomenal place to eat and have an amazing experience.
… moreE Lee
Came as a large group with a reservation and they did excellent in caring for us. Drinks came out all together. Food came out in a quick fashion. It did feel very celebratory. Fajitas are good and prefer the steak. Shrimp was cooked well but I felt could be more seasoned. Chicken and pork were dry. Flour tortillas were the way to go. Carajillo was good.
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