For Carlsbad Mexican food near Poinsettia Park, Miguel's Cocina on Avenida Encinas is the North County outpost of a six-location San Diego group operating since 1982. The proprietary jalapeño white queso — a creamy blend of jalapeños, cheese, and a guarded spice ratio — has anchored the chip-and-dip starter for over four decades, a kind of signature condiment program rivaled in the Poinsettia corridor only by the craft-beer cheese boards at Draft Republic Carlsbad. Handmade tortillas and California-inspired plates like the Plato Azteca and pork belly taco plate separate the menu from standard Baja-style taco counters. The full bar mixes house margaritas anchored by fresh lime juice and stocks San Diego craft drafts on rotation. A center island bar seats guests facing four screens, and the main dining room accommodates parties of six or more by reservation — a capacity that parallels the group-dining setup at King's Fish House on the same Avenida Encinas stretch. The Combo Fajitas sizzle-plate arrives with grilled steak, chicken, and shrimp over caramelized onions and peppers, served alongside rice, refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, and the house pico.