OC Food Diva: Miguel’s Jr. in Redlands, California is now open

The menu items in this post were provided by Miguel’s Jr. but the opinions expressed here are my own.

On May 12, 2017, Miguel’s Jr. officially opened its 16^th location in Redlands, CA. This new 3,000 square foot location is among the first to serve Miguel’s Jr.’s new fresh-squeezed, all-natural lemonade and house made horchata. This legendary chain of restaurants started in 1973 when Mike and Mary Vasquez took over an existing restaurant in Corona, CA and renamed it “Miguel’s” in honor of Mike’s grandfather. By 1975, they expanded with a fast food concept and named it “Miguel’s Jr.” and became an instant favorite. The home-style Mexican food is inspired by Mary’s childhood in Central Mexico.

Family recipes that have not been changed for more than 40 years:

100% stone ground tortillas and tortilla chips
Fresh hand-stretched flour tortillas with no preservatives
Premium pinto beans that are presorted, hand washed, and slow-cooked twice daily in small batches
Fresh hot sauce and salsa made every morning
Premium rice cooked twice a day and 100% trans-fat free
100% Longhorn cheddar cheese grated daily
Premium pasture raised, all natural, hormone free Midwest corn fed beef
All natural and hormone-free chicken cooked on the bone and hand shredded every morning
Premium Hass avocados delivered every other day in refrigerated trucks
Farm fresh cracked eggs, not from a carton

The interior of this Miguel’s Jr. is fresh and bright. The employees are happy and friendly with a “Mi Casa Su Casa” hospitality. If you have never been to a Miguel’s Jr. before, don’t hesitate to ask for a recommendation on what to order.

Hot Sauce and Other Fresh Stuff: Miguel’s Jr. Famous Hot Sauce, Escabeche (marinated mix of jalapenos, carrots, and onions), jalapenos, cilantro, onions, and Chile de Arbol.

Homemade Horchata ($2.19, refills $.80) is made with 100% all natural pure cane sugar. The house made horchata is a recipe that Mary developed. I love horchata! It should be creamy, slightly sweet, and have cinnamon notes. Mary’s version hit all my expectations. I even got a refill for the road. Rating: 5/5

Orange Bang ($2.19, refills $.80) is one of my childhood favorites. They have it constantly churning in one of those old-style drink mixers. You know what I’m talking about, it kind of looks like a water fountain inside a clear, rectangular tank. My brother and I would get this drink after school at the local AM/PM mini mart. It tastes like a 50/50 bar in liquid form.

Chile Verde Pork Dinner ($8.89) is marinated chile verde pork served with rice, beans, and flour or corn tortillas. The pork was tender and the chile verde complemented the pork without being overly spicy. I am very picky about Spanish rice. Most restaurants do not flavor it correctly (sometimes not at all) so I usually end up getting double frijoles. I have to say that Miguel’s Jr.’s version is very tasty. The refried beans were rich and creamy. The longhorn cheese added nice gooey texture and flavor. Rating: 4.9/5

Machaca Breakfast Plate ($6.49) served with Spanish rice, refried beans, and tortillas. The machaca had a strong beef flavor and was quite tender. It worked well with the eggs, tomatoes, and onions. It reminded me of a breakfast scramble. Rating: 5/5

Taco Salad ($9.89 with carne asada) is made with refried beans, lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, homemade creamy guacamole, house dressing, and choice of meat on top of crisp tortilla chips. This salad was fresh, tasty, and visually striking with vibrant colors. The carne asada was perfectly cooked to a medium rare. There was so much flavor going on from the marinated carne asada to the cheese and creamy guacamole, the dressing was not necessary. Rating: 5/5

With 16 locations in Orange and Riverside Counties, Miguel’s Jr. is in reach for any SoCaler.

Ambiance: 5 out of 5

Décor: 5 out of 5 stars

Service: 5 out of 5 stars

Food: 5 out of 5 stars

For more information:

Miguel’s Jr.

27521 San Bernardino Ave.

Redlands, CA 92374

+1.909.557.2220

Hours: Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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