Arturo Ibarra opened San Miguel Grill in October 1992 with his three brothers, two sisters and two cooks. Together, they have been creating traditional Mexican dishes in McKinney for the past 24 years.
Ibarra said he thought becoming a popular dining option would take time.
“We opened on a Monday, and by Friday, I needed to hire more people,” he said. “I thought starting a new business was a slow process. By that Friday, we had so many customers that I was the host, cashier and waiting tables.”
Within four years the family-run restaurant needed more space, and in 1996 the restaurant expanded by 1,000 square feet.
“When we opened, we had two rooms and 12 tables in each room,” Ibarra said. “That was not enough, and we wanted to accommodate our loyal customers.”
Ibarra says his menu is a combination of traditional Mexican food and Tex-Mex favorites.
“The food at San Miguel is all inspired by central Mexico, where I am from,” he said. “They say central Mexico is where all of the good food and good traditions were born. It’s considered the heart of Mexico because it’s where so much comes from, so I’m happy to bring some of this to McKinney. We also offer Tex-Mex for those who enjoy that flavor.”
Ibarra said his biggest challenge is making sure he always has something new to offer his customers.
