Mi Casa es su Queso

This restaurant is part of my childhood. There's no longer a cigarette machine, but not much else has changed. It's "Mexican Food" as it was understood by Anglos in 1972 Costa Mesa. Hard shell tacos, refried beans with rice with every entrée, no surprises, and literally deadly quantities of cheese.

For adults there is a great emphasis on margaritas.

Mi Casa is not Mexican food. Most people who are aficionados of good food would not consider it to be worth considering at all. I like it. It's my childhood, and there is nothing modern about it. No authentic cochinito en pibil, but no Chili's waitresses with flair upselling me on the Chi-Chi-Tastic Balsamic Nacho Wrap, either.

They never lost the red leather booths or the hanging baskets at Mi Casa, or the sixty year old women in miniskirts and tights serving food, or even the original tables, which as you can see were from a Roy Rogers steakhouse circa 197... 1971, I bet.

Why yes, I would like another margarita, ma'am.