Mi Casa — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

As of now, I’m giving them a 1 star review. I’ve eaten here since I was a kid, and my mom has since 1974 when she worked at Hughes Aircraft. We spend an average of $50 per visit, and sometimes come in twice a week. Once in a while we’d deal with a worker who came off as prejudice, but never enough to pay it much mind.

Last week, I came in with my mother during Happy Hour to watch the Lakers game. Unfortunately, the night was almost ruined by the bartender, Chuck, who gives me serious KKK vibes (btw, Orange County has a fairly large KKK following, so I wouldn’t doubt it). I came in after my mother (who is over 60 years old) had sat down and she quickly informed me that a customer made a rude comment to the bartender about her and Chuck came in agreement with that rude comment by pointing at my mother and saying something slick. However, my mother shrugged it off and kept it moving.

Later that night, we had asked our waiter (who was very professional) about changing one of the TVs to the Lakers game. Apparently, only the bartender has access to the remote and he had claimed he was too busy. However, due to the fact that he had already been rude towards my mother, I kept my eye on him. As I observed him, I noticed he was simply appearing busy so he wouldn’t have to change the channel. Btw, our waiter had asked him multiple times to change it, and it took about 20 minutes for him to do so. Luckily, the game started a little late, so we were right on time!

Later that night, my mother began to doze off as I continued to watch the game, and not even 2 seconds later he’s waking over to our table and telling her that we’ll have to leave is she falls asleep. At that moment, he woke up a sleeping giant. So, we have a little back and forth as my mom calls him out for his earlier behavior when she originally walked in. I then tell him, “We get your point. You can leave now.” He then walks away.

Later that night, he turns off the TV I was watching before the game is even over, so I ask him why he decided to do that. He said it’s because he’s closing up shop. Fair enough. However, there were multiple TVs no one was watching, and he left those running. So he asks me if I’d like him to turn it back on, and I say yes, so he proceeds to do so.

As I’m leaving after the Lakers win, I look him straight in his eyes and say, “I hope you have a wonderful life and you get everything you deserve.” He looked shocked, but idk why. If you’re putting out positive energy, it’ll find it’s way back to you. If you’re emitting negative energy, that too will find it’s way back.

So I leave and go to the car. My mother comes out several minutes later and tells me about the exchange she had with him and his manager. Apparently, his manager is not understanding at all. She tried to place all the blame on us, and held him responsible for nothing. That let me know that these people do not deserve my money. I work 50+ hours a week to make a good living and I am not giving my money to people who do not deserve it. I work too hard...

So check it out, I have been visiting this restaurant since I was in diapers.

Over the years they've had a couple different locations but this is the original and my favorite. The owners are great people and I've enjoyed watching the evolution of the different family members run the restaurant over the past 40+ years. I remember going in this place back when grandpa ran it, then his children were always at the front counter and created such an awesome environment. Nowadays it's run by I guess you could say the grandson and a group of awesome managers that really make you feel like family. The waitresses and the bartenders and even the bus boys wave to you when you walk in the door.

The food is really good, not like other Mexican restaurants in the area, it's very unique!

If you've lived in Costa Mesa long enough there seems to be a cross town rivalry between MiCasa and El Matador and I think it's safe to say that you either like one or the other and to my knowledge there's not very many people that like both . I am a MiCasa person and I will eat here 2 to 3 times a month, we always like to sit in the Burro Room where the environment is lots of fun and full of really cool unique people.

If this is your first time visiting this restaurant I would highly recommend the chicken fajitas, I wish they would put more onions in the fajitas and less peppers but I still order the fajitas 90% of the time. You can't go wrong with crispy shredded beef taco, the enchiladas are good and what makes this place really stand out is there guacamole, chips and cheese and the case of dip. Now let's talk about the margaritas, the margaritas are awesome and the waitress staff and the bartenders really do a good job keeping everybody happy.

I wish they had a couple big TVs, the TVs that are in the burro room aren't the greatest but I heard a rumor that a remodel is coming soon.

Bottom line is if you've never been to MiCasa I highly recommend you pay this place a visit. I'm not even gonna tell you about their secret salsa because I'm not sure they want me to mention it but damn it's good . I've been telling the owner for years to make a trio plate where you can get what I call the secret salsa, a little bit of queso and a little bit of their guac because again I think it's their guac and the queso that makes his place stand out from all the other Mexican restaurants...

We have been going here since the early Roar’n 2000s, and every time since, to every Stressgiving, Christmas, pre-New Year and/or out w/ the girlfriends; this is the go-2 restaurant of the O.C., the restaurant that you definitely will not see Tamara & Vicky chowing down on or off the cameras, but instead see a bunch of good local folks, the sincere meaning of the La Familia Mexican Restaurant that makes you feel right at home, and right with your wallet, no matter where you are visiting from.

Where mi Casa’s can easily accommodate a few patrons (in the restaurant or bar) to a large party with over 20 (and on one long table), to plenty of booth table options (for up to 4 people) during date night. Kid friendly, even in the bar table seating area, and bar stools for over a dozen drinkers, welcoming and well opened entry, clean bathrooms, plenty of parking (well lite), but it does get busy especially during the holidays, where I am assuming they take reservations, but we have always walked-in and got seated immediately after arriving.

Then there is the Happy Hour🍻 or just strolling back to the bar (w/ no H.H.), where one of the most hardworking waitresses (Shasta) I have ever witness serving multiple tables at a time, will welcome you, inform us on the deals and give great recommendations on how we can improve our experience and not costing us more, by starting us out right with a few Margarita’s ($5 each), Cadillac ($6 each) and see photos for add’l costs/savings for food and alcohol beverages.

The portion servings (especially the 🐔🧀 🌮 chicken cheese tacos) are plenty and my husband of near 300 lbs gets overfilled with all-u-can-serve chips and salsa w/ one (not 2), but 1 🐣 🧀 🌮 served w/the delicious house Refried Beans and Rice, costing under $20 per person in general.

On this particular date (1/31/21), in addition we had order 4 chicken 🐔 cheese 🧀 tacos 🌮, beans, rice, chips and salsa. To see what I am talking about (see photo) the tray of tacos is that of 4 tacos.

Highly, Highly Recommended for folks in and outside of Orange County that enjoy Great Tasting Mexican Food, AND for a...