Mijares Mexican Restaurant

Mijares Mexican Restaurant in Pasadena is a total gem—it’s been around for over 100 years and you can see why it’s one of the most popular Mexican spots in town. It’s always buzzing, especially on weekends, with tons of events and functions going on. We swung by for dinner before hitting a concert at the Playhouse, and the food blew us away. Super authentic vibes—the Baja special was a knockout with all kinds of seafood cooked up Mexican-style, and my wife’s steak fajitas were just as incredible. Service was spot-on, and the tableside guacamole? So good, it’s practically a show of its own. That said, it’s not perfect—parking’s a bit of a pain, super small lot, so we ended up on the street. Inside, it gets loud, like really noisy, but you can dodge that by asking for patio seating. Still, the food and vibe make it worth it. If you’re in Pasadena, Mijares is a must-try.

Saw this place listed on Happy Hopper and decided to head out and have a margarita that the reviews raved about. I walked up to the door and didn't see anyone at the front so I waited a bit. There were two men talking and I made eye contact with one of them. I figured I'll step inside a bit to be seen. Still nothing. The two men continued talking. It's been about 3ish minutes already. Four people come in and IMMEDIATELY one of the two guys goes and greets them. They nicely pointed out to him that I was here first. And this guy's response? "I'll get to you in a minute" and continues seating them. I should have walked out at that point. This dude saw me walk up AND walk in and completely ignored me. Whatever fine. I still wanted that happy hour. Unfortunately, happy hour is only offered in the bar area and I had my dog. I believe there is a patio that's adjacent to the bar but it was not set up. I still got to enjoy a margarita and chips. The margarita was delicious! ($15 skinny Marg) I ordered a bean and cheese burrito ($10.50) and it was a great size but the beans lacked flavor. I believe if a Mexican restaurants beans are not good then the other food is not good. Therefore I did not try anything else. I ordered limes and got the driest limes ever. These things have been sitting out for days because the pulp crumbled when I squeezed them. (See photo) Bad experience all around. My water was awesome but the damage was done. Never again.

I hosted my mom's 70th birthday party at Mijares in the banquet room and everything was awesome! The staff was attentive and all the guests were super happy with food, drinks, and atmosphere. Definitely great spot to host a smaller event (under 100 guests). Parking can get a bit hectic but street parking is pretty easy.

Traditional Mexican reataurant with a great food selection. I love that they have a large patio seating area, great to just get appetizers and margaritas, or to have a relaxing lunch with friends. I loved their rib eye steak and their flautas.

There's a reason why Mijares has been around for so long -- the food here is the best. A family restaurant that absolutely delivers. Excellent guacamole and the "garbage" burrito can't be beat. Highly recommended.

Mijares is a long time, community and family favorite! Can’t recommend strongly enough. Chile Rellenos,, Mijares enchiladas, deluxe burritos are all personal favorites. We have enjoyed being serenaded around Christmas time by mariachis many times. 💚

We just walk in And This woman nothing friendly Her face was like sour lemon 🍋 totally She look at me like I’m nothing totally bad experience, then I order chilaquiles The chilaquiles was more like nachos whit green salsa the beans no flavor the rice ok I dint finish at all I had bad experience but good luck to you if you go. The servers was friendly Very clean the place and clean bathroom to

Staple mexican restaurant in Pasadena. It has a long history being open since 1920. Foodwise thought it was pretty decent. Flavor is very mild. Didn't really have any distinct flavor or seasoning that had a wow factor. I ordered the shrimp and lobster enchiladas. Portion was generous, but the filling in the enchilada was not. Overall food was okay. Think there's other Mexican restaurants I would rather go to on repeat.

Three words: Cinco de Mayo. Says it all, yes? I figured it would be a zoo at happy hour and dinner today, so I snuck in for lunch instead. Busy, but my plan was executed to perfection. They sat me quickly, immediately brought out chips and salsa and water, and dare I say...a margarita? How did that get ordered? Anyway, a carne asada burrito and margarita was just what the doctor ordered. Or I ordered. Ok. It was me. The chips were fresh and warm, very good salsa. The burrito was big, hot, fresh, delicious, and I couldn't finish it all. Margarita? OK, I finished that. Did I mention it was Cinco de Mayo? Congrats on a century of serving great food, Mijares, and cheering you on for a century more.

Service was good. Ambience What I don't understand is why they don't offer Shrimp Cocktails? They have mariscos on the menu. I ended up ordering a chile relleno, the chile was not fresh, ortega canned chile is what it tasted like. Very disappointed for the price.

What a shame. Will someone please explain to me how this restaurant can continue to operate - and host large crowds - with such mundane, poor quality Mexican food?? It's really unfortunate, as their brunch is actually pretty good, and the patio seating lovely, but our experience last Thursday was not the first time our family has been disappointed with the most rudimentary of dishes - hard tacos in stale, supermarket grade shells with mealy ground beef(ground beef in a $10 taco?), beans and rice that taste as if from a can, and an enchilada(how do you screw up an enchilada?) with a core of unmelted cheese and bland, canned sauce. The chicken in my wife's tostada almost inedible. Even the salsa was bland.. and don't even get me started on their margaritas.. This is gringomex at its' worst.. at prices that make the experience that much more annoying. I seldom write reviews of our local restaurants based on one visit, as I try to give them the benefit of acknowledging that every restaurant has a bad day now and then, but this is not the first time we have experienced lousy food at "Pasadena's Oldest Mexican Restaurant". Unfortunately, my wife's family seems to want to eat here when in town for old times' sake.. and simply will not even try to appreciate the wealth of fantastic Mexican spots all over LA that serve much more authentic - and reasonably priced - food. One extra star for the Sunday Brunch.. which begs the question: why is their brunch so much better?

Classic Mexican restaurant Food is so fresh and tastes home made. Nice that they do have happy hour. Menu is huge and place can accommodate large parties too. They do have plenty of parking

Mijares has been in business for 100+ years, they are a favorite among locals. Whether you are here by yourself, dinner for two, or a private party in the banquet room, they've got you covered. It's a lively place with a full sports bar with high-top tables when you enter, or request a table in one of their dining rooms. I do like the Guacamole that is prepared tableside, it's worth every penny and calorie!!! My usual meal for lunch or dinner is Chicken Mole Enchiladas, the sauce is rich and thicker than the green or red Chile version. If you want to try a variety, they have an appetizer sampler, sizzling fajitas, fully-loaded nachos, cheese or shrimp quesadillas (non-meat). Be adventurous and try the "Garbage" burrito filled with everything (lol) and your choice of chicken, beef, pork or veggie style. Make reservations by calling 1-626-792-2763 and don't forget to tell'em that Rosemary sent ya!!

Good food, traditional atmosphere, great servers. Ample parking. Good place to meet friends.

This family owned restaurant originated from their Grandmother Jesucita Mijares, who came from Guadalajara, Mexico. They have been serving Authentic Mexican Cuisine for 104 years, making it one of the oldest ever in the Los Angeles area. This is the restaurant that Mario Lopez recommended so we wanted to try it. They have indoor seating and a lovely patio area. There's seating at the bar as well. Friendly and attentive service from Marco S. and Rudy. We tried: GUACAMOLE ESTILO MIJARES CHILE VERDE FAJITAS DE LA CASA DELUXE BURRITO TACO SALAD MARGARITAS We got there they opened at 11am on a Saturday. It wasn't busy yet so we were able to park in their parking lot and get seated right away. Love the decor throughout the restaurant!!

Great food for both adults and kids - family favorites are the vegetable fajitas, chicken enchiladas and kids chicken tacos. Highly recommend and their current rating is undeserved

Sadly, Mijares is a fail on food and drinks at an epic location. Honestly, I've never had such a bad margarita. The food barely passes for mediocre and is very, very overpriced for what you get. Sorry to say it, but the heyday for this restaurant is long passed!

Came here for a big family gathering and Mijares definitely has the space, ambiance, and parking for that. The wait staff were fabulous and attentive during the 4-5 hr party. Space was big enough for even a small dance floor and our own DJ set up. It was a traditional Mexican buffet style which Mijares has various kinds of party packages listed on their website to choose from. Food was delicious-the highlight for me was the fish which was really flavorful in this tomato based marinade. the beauty of handling big groups would be to have a buffet so no one needs to wait and you can eat to your hearts desire. Drinks for the evening included tea, coffee, beer and margaritas (over the rocks or blended). Overall, if you are looking for a mid size venue for a big gathering, consider this place!

Sat at the bar, had one of their signature margaritas, chips/salsa and Chili Colorado. The margarita was okay. Surely not worth going out of my way for. The salsa was pretty good. The Chili Colorado was decent. The place has been around for a very long time... as is most of the cliental. Service was good enough and the ambiance was nice.

Sunday brunch is a MUST! They have such a variety of food (ie seafood, meat & chicken dishes, salads, and desserts). The service is always impeccable there! And ambiance is lovely. Can't wait to return!

Mijares! You did not disappoint. I've heard a lot about you. I thought if it's good enough for Mario Lopez, it's good enough for me. He recommended you on instagram. (Yes, Saved by the Bell Mario Lopez-lol) Wow! I had the chile verde and it was just like my aunt's home cooked one. The best! Ruben, our server was so nice. A Mexican restaurant with decor from top to bottom that made me feel right at home. The margaritas were on point! You had music playing in the background; Aleks Syntek was singing "Tu Necesitas" and I was sold! #iykyk I will be back asap! Happy February!

Food was very blend, I got a taco and a tamale which I don't recommend. The tamale was not that great. Service was good and ambiance was nice. But overall probably won't return.

A wonderful patio! A clean, festive, exciting atmosphere and some of the BEST Mexican food in Los Angeles! Excellent service and a chimichanga that will blow your mind. This place is the real deal, enjoy!!!

My family living in Pasadena suggested we have dinner here as they hadn't been in awhile and love this place. Large free parking lot and street parking in the area. Large restaurant, plenty of seating. We both ordered the shrimp and lobster enchiladas. I also had a suprema margarita which was well-made. First, the chips and salsa were excellent. Not too salty. The enchiladas were amazing- great taste and both the refried beans and rice were very good. Service was excellent- servers were all smiling and friendly. Couldn't pass up the delicious fried ice cream for dessert. We had any early dinner - the place was packed- including the bar- when we left. Looking forward to visiting again on my next trip.

Brunch buffet was a solid 7.5 out 10 even an 8 Nothing was wrong staff were attentive it comes with two mimosa or glass of champagne And they have a variety of items such as Mexican breakfast chili quilles ribs nuggets pozole fruit dessert there's a lot to chose from there is a lot of seating in door the bar dinning room they have tvs at the bar to watch sports as well

I was last there for my great uncles birthday party in a private room. Food was delicious then. Had dinner there earlier this evening with friends. I ordered Albondigas and taquitoes alacarte. I order flan to go for tomorrow. We shared the churros that came with whip cream, chocolate and caramel dipping sauce on the side. Service is excellent.

Highly recommended, wasn't all that authentic tasting as I thought it would be. A great venue for parties and get together for margaritas, nonetheless. I enjoyed the classic aspect of it with its historical touches. I would be interested in Sunday brunch.

Let's me start by saying you need to be super patient & wait for a table about 30min -45min no reservation first come first served. I called that's what the hostess said we don't take reservations. We get there at about 5:45pm restaurant has no parking because it's only 20 spaces and packed. We had to park at the shopping center close by. About 47min later they called our name table ready took about 24min to get out food . Ordered taquitos and enchiladas good . The waiter was super nice and fast . Over all you need to to be patient to be coming to this place and have extra time to wait around. Excellent Margaritas

Celebrated Cinco de Mayo with great friends and family. Mariachis were great as usual and had a great time!

Beautiful ambiance and quite tasty dishes at Mijares. We met the family here for a celebration and were pleased with how our large group was accommodated. The rustic wood table and chairs really felt as if I were in my grandmother's home than in a restaurant. The service was quick and our orders (and there were many) arrived quickly. I ordered the Shrimp and lobster enchiladas which understandably were pricy because of the ingredients. The rice and beans however, were better than the enchiladas! The parking lot is not very big, but there is parking outside off the side street. Enjoy your visit!

Just had a birthday dinner here. The outdoor patio is super cute. Just remember, this is pseudo fancy Mexican food, and the prices reflect that. The food is solid, the chips and salsa hit the spot, as did the guacamole, but the food itself isn't anything super special. The patio though - yes. Very cute. They put our party of 7 at a round table, which was perfect.

We went to Mijares Mexican restaurant for cinco de Mayo and we were in for a treat! They were having a tequila tasting event and we got so much tequila for free! The food was pretty yummy, but a bit Americanized. I did like that they had a guacamole cart where they made them fresh at our table. What really made our day was the mariachi band that played coco loco for the kids! Fun times with the family on Cinco de Mayo!

incredible food and service! guac is to die for! mango frozen margarita is so good, refried beans one of the best, and burritos And enchiladas excellent sauce!!!

What a find! It's tucked way back from the road so we didn't know what to expect. As we walked in we found this large Mexican restaurant with tons of people inside. The food,service, and servers were awesome! It has a lot of history and has been in that location for years. I would highly recommend!

That is really good, atmosphere was awesome. I got the special enchilada and steak combo that was around $30. Pretty good.

I've been here before and had a great experience. This time I ordered the steak picado, I attached a pic. I eat meat only about three times a year, it was WORTH it. Man was it yummy. The waiter was great, I didn't get his name but the manager noticed that my friend didn't get the right portion of shrimp and he brought some more. We didn't realize but appreciate the great service. I'm a fan and no disrespect but the food is not white washed Mex food. The real deal! The waiter recommended to try the chicken instead of the beef next time for the same plate...I am definitely going to do that. They have a really nice patio too. Check out this hidden gem, if you'd like.

I'm the official "Duke" of Mijares according to Yelp, so it comes as no surprise that I am here a lot. I usually sit at the bar and Jose B. takes care of my food and drink needs. Even when I'm not drinking the best Margaritas I've ever had, he'll help me out with non-alcoholic beverages and whatever food items I might order. Whatever cocktail you may be in the mood for, Jose has you covered. Don't be shy - no muss, no fuss!

Food and service exceptional. recommend this as a great pasadena resource. Make reservations to get seated quickly

3.5 Mijares Mexican restaurant in Pasadena Wonderful Sunday brunch Outdoor seating Smells that will drive one crazy Buffet includes posole, enchilada, pan dulce Beautiful ambience, not cheap Street parking Watered down mimosa

Came in to have an after work meal with some friends/coworkers. Mary was my server and she was so amazing. Whenever we needed anything she'd show up at our table like magic. She was super nice and cheerful! Loved her! She needs a raise! Definitely coming here again to see her.

Authentic food, good service, and nice atmosphere... What more can one ask for on a comforting night out with ones loved ones? Enjoy everyone!

I love this place! Jose the bartender is so welcoming, excellent at his trade, and makes one feel welcome. In fact all the employees are very kind, smiling, eager to please. The food is very good. What can I say? I'll be back soon for my margarita and chili relleno. Thanks for a lovely evening at Mijares! Debbie T

Great food and drinks! Friendly staff and a nice outdoor patio in the back. Park in their lot or street parking. They get busy on weekends at 6 pm for dinner but if you happen to go at off hours they can seat you in the patio or inside pretty quickly. Takes reservations.

I wanted to love this place after learning its history. Sadly, I wasn't impressed. The chips and salsa were flavorless, tasted store bought. I had a cheese enchilada, chicken taco and a potato taco, definitely nothing to write home about. I tried my daughter's serving of chile verde, it was meh, too. Everything was super mild and lacked flavor. The drinks were ok, nothing special either. Our server, Albert, was very nice and friendly. Glad we tried it but I doubt we'd drive an hour in LA traffic again to try something else from their menu. Too bland for my taste buds.

BEST CARNITAS, SERVICE AND MARGARITAS ==================================== I have been to Mijares so many times since 2001, and I cannot believe I had not written a review until now. On Saturday, July 22, 2023 my sister and I were driving down the street on our way to another restaurant and I spotted Mijares. I told her they have great Mexican food which is really difficult to find on the Big Island. It was spur of the moment and we popped in around 11:30 a.m.. We were seated immediately on the back patio which we asked for and that was nice other than the couple near us who wouldn't shut up and kept talking really loud. First they talked about hummingbirds for about fifteen minutes and then they shifted to beer. Thankfully after a few sips of our margaritas we were finally able to tune them out. Our main server, Fidel A., was prompt and so helpful from beginning to end. His assistant who delivered the drinks and food was great too. We ordered our margaritas and they came out within five minutes. My sister loved her mango margarita with Tajin on the rim. I loved my cadillac margarita with jalapenos. Those were $15.00 each. We both ordered the Alicia's street tacos, but I ordered three carnitas and my sister ordered one carnita, one chicken and one carne asada. Each of those plates which included rice and beans was $18.95. The tacos didn't come with cilantro so we ordered a little bowl of that for $2.50 and a bowl of jalapenos for $2.50. After my sister had tasted her tacos she wished she had ordered three carnitas. I loved mine. I highly recommend this restaurant. There is plenty of parking in the lot and on the street.

I love this place. The downsides are the distance from me in the I.E and when you sign up for the email birthday club, you have to use it within the 30/31 days of that month. Great. The problem is my bday is on Halloween and they closed early so I didn't get to go. Other than that the food is top notch, margaritas are second to none and the service is good. Just go at a less busy time.

We expected this to be family friendly but it wasn't. My toddler was having an outburst but was in the midst of calming down when the manager came to tell us we needed to leave if he doesn't quiet down soon. The other tables around us seemed understanding and were giving us sympathetic looks....but the manager was making it a bigger deal when our son was already calming down.

A gem in Pasadena! I visited Mijares for the first time last night with a few girlfriends, and had never heard of it! It's a longtime family-owned restaurant that's been around since 1920. It is a sitdown Mexican restaurant similar in vibe/casualness as an Acapulco or El Torito, but that's where the similarities should stop. Mijares is LEGIT! There is a nice seating area near the front while you wait for your party to be called. This was really nice, as at some other restaurants you may find yourself standing awhile. The wait for our party of 4 on a Saturday at dinner time was about 20 minutes. Not bad at all. Inside, there is a bar area, a party room, and a good amount of seating inside and in an outdoor patio area. Staff (Hosts, and our Server) were very pleasant and attentive. We were given the usual complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were fresh, but not much flavor (easy enough to add salt, if you want it). Table size guacamole was delicious as well. Our party ordered a variety of margaritas, which were all tasty (menu has a WIDE selection of margaritas). For meals, I ordered the shrimp and lobster enchiladas plate, which was AMAZING! Sadly, I can't recall what my friends ordered, but we all fell silent while eating..a good indication that we were all in BLISS! I always jump right into my food before snapping a pic. I promise I'll get better...someday!

Everything was very well thought out. It gets a little noisy but can't stop that when people are having a good time. Nicely done!

Came here for a work event. The food was good, but it's the drinks and dessert that made this place a winner. I rarely drink alcohol, but the Costa Azul margarita had me secretly wanting a 2nd and a 3rd round. But like I said, it was a work event, so I had to play it cool. After a delicious lunch we were all pretty stuffed but the server convinced us to try dessert. A few of us wanted the fried ice cream and the server just had to suggest that it was big enough to share, so three of us agreed to share. Darn that server (joking) and work place etiquette (seriously)! The fried ice cream was amazing and I could have gladly enjoyed it by myself (sheesh!). This is a great place for families and large groups. There is plenty of indoor seating, but it really nice to sit on the patio.

Go anywhere but here - worst service and blandest Mexican food I've ever had. Not kidding or exaggerating. If you need details here goes... We waited forever for any type of service. Finally ordered drinks and food. The food came out before the drinks. My BFs order was wrong but he said he would be okay eating it. Took forever to get the bill. My bf had to go find the guy. They charged us for everything and when we pointed out that service issue the guys said we got a deal bc the dish my BF got would have actually been more. And the food was terrible. We joked the whole car ride home about how awful it was. Plus it's a rip off. So there. They suck.

Family-owned, Mexican comfort food style restaurant with a California/Califa ranchero style interior- a Pasadena staple for a reason; they have the refried beans and red rice you would hope for from such a promising outside aesthetic. The extensive margarita menu and bar and outside patios are worth the mention- could be a first date type of place? Inside I noticed many families across a spectrum of ages dining together under the colorful papel picada banners. Long tables and booster seats are ready to accommodate. I requested hotter salsa for my meal, but their red salsa served with chips and the lime-tart tomatillo green salsa seem to satisfy the broader spectrum of guests. Special mention for the guacamole station on wheels with a preparer visiting your table, assembling and mixing, from fresh avocados and standard ingredients upon request. Next visit with our octogenarian friend, I'll save room for the flan.

Great family friendly environment with excellent service. The bar is also fun to watch the ballgames, connect with the community, and enjoy a Margarita served up by our favorite bartender, Jose.

Came here recently with my boyfriend and friends. Had a lovely time, and the food was delicious! First off, I always love free chips and salsa. The chips and salsa here did not disappoint! Well made, crispy, hot and fresh tortilla chips paired with a well seasoned and tasty salsa. We were off to a good start! My boyfriend and I shared fajitas; it came on a sizzling platter and was also well seasoned with a generous portion. We had the choice between corn, flour, or 1/2 corn 1/2 flour tortillas. Of course, we had to try both. Personally, I preferred the flour to the corn. It seemed pretty clear to me that they made their own flour tortillas (likely also made their corn too then). We all shared a fried ice cream for dessert. To me, this is where the meal fell a little flat. It seemed like they used cereal for the batter; I was not the biggest fan. However, all-in-all, the food was good; the servers were friendly, and I would come here again.

Mijares in my opinion is the best Mexican Restaurant in Pasadena area The help is outstanding and the birthday club is great I will be there to celebrate my 91st birthday. Thank you Mijares

I felt more at home at this quaint Cantina with a cute little bar with festive decorations after the Dia de los Muertos celebration. The dining room seemed cozy, but I really did not get a chance to tour the entire establishment. I was smitten by the reception, who is so kind, and asked how I wanted my To-Go meal, with several options to choose from. For me, if the staff is pleasant, I tip better and enjoy my time even better when dining at the restaurant!

I was so, so, so excited to visit this place with my family for the first time. I was prepared for some LA history, some good food and a fun experience. We're local too, so we had our sights set on awesomeness. Alas. Though I'm sure people love this spot and there are loyalists, bottom line, this is a terribly expensive and pretty terrible restaurant. The vibe is -sigh- festive. I found parking, so um, that's cool. Expect a LOT of............................................... waiting. Waiting in line. Waiting for servers. Waiting for food. Waiting to have your order taken. Waiting for "do you need anything?", waiting and waiting. What should have been a 90 minute experience took 11 hours. Like, set up a sleeping bag and get ready. The server was spirited and pulled in too many directions. The food. Yeah, so onto the food. No imagination, generic, without personality or signature and the worst part - CRAZY expensive. $14.95 for a spoonful of fresh guac. $22 burritos. $10 for one NA beer. One appetizer, three basic "entrees" and a few economic beverages and dessert. $200. This would have been fine if the food was elevated, but honestly, skip this. The historical gravitas and importance does not offset the actual experience, which, in the end, fantastically disappointing and expensive. :( Will not be returning.