Born in the midst of the mysterious Costa Rican wetlands. Johnny was born during a dangerous expedition in an attempt to find the much sought after “Golden Fossil,” a metallic bone that was rumored to grant mysterious powers. During the treacherous expedition, Johnny’s mom gave birth to him at the same time a nearby volcano erupted. His parents would forever say that Johnny’s fiery passion came from all the magma that surrounded their camping site for weeks.

Johnny was able to surf before he was able to walk, which says a lot, since he lived nowhere near the ocean. He was however shredding waves that his enthusiastic father artificially created in the family bathtub. When Johnny was finally able to walk, he could successfully complete a “frontside air reverse” in the same little bathtub. Because of this, his parents started bringing little Johnny all around the world with them so that he could enjoy all of the beautiful beaches and most extravagant waves of the world.

During one of his travels with his parents, Johnny befriended a dolphin in the Pacific waters. One morning, there was an incident with a great white shark. Johnny had been surfing at his usual spot when the shark attacked, but luckily for him, he wasn’t alone that day. The dolphin, being quite disturbed by the attempted attack, came immediately to the rescue. After a long, drawn out battle between the two creatures, the brave dolphin slapped the shark on the nose with its large, grey tail, sending the whimpering shark away. After that day, Johnny named her Nosekicker and they became good friends throughout the years.

Johnny was very curious as a child. He managed to get his hands on a bottle of tequila, thinking it was some kind of delicious sugary drink. His father saw this and sat him down saying “Son, it’s time you learn what tequila is.” After that moment, Johnny developed a passion for learning about tequila and trying to perfect the ideal margarita. And that is how Johnny began learning how to bartend. He came to love this exquisite art throughout the years, improving his skills by traveling across the world and studying “mixology,” the science of cocktail creation. In fact, he’s been at the inception of many famous cocktail recipes.

Today, Johnny’s life adventure brings him to San Diego, the city of sunsets, surf, and seafood. He picked up a job where his fascination with people and tequila could be satisfied while he embarked on his next great adventure.

“That’s how I ended up working at On the Border. I’m not interested in the money. I live a very simple life. But the people are fascinating and the tequila is incredible. It marks the beginning of my next great adventure in sunny San Diego.”

#5

Share a borderita as big as your love is!

#4

Take a shot of tequilove (tequila made with and for love) for each year you and your significant other have been together (older couples beware).

#3

You can make your own declaration of love with a romantic written love letter accompanied by a pink watermelon margarita!

#2

A half heart shaped taco to complete your significant other’s taco to realize how much you tacolove her/him!

#1

Hide a ring in your significant other’s empanada. Gentlemen, remember the bigger the rock, the more likely she is to choke!

Black beans offer many of the benefits of meat, including a high iron content, without the disadvantages of fat. Their fibers regulate both intestinal transit, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Corn contains many trace elements, minerals and vitamins such as vitamin B (which is 2-3 times higher than in the rest of the vegetables), vitamin C, magnesium, zinc or iron. Corn is proving very beneficial to the nervous and muscular balance. This grain is also one the most antioxidant !

Often singled out because of their high fat content, avocados are actually a good source of vitamin E and a powerful antioxidant. The avocado has a a high level of unsaturated fatty acids, that support the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system and blood circulation in the body. It is therefore a much better energy asset than that of most other fresh fruit !

We’re still stuck in winter despite what San Diego’s forecast may say. So why not warm yourself up with some of On The Border’s hot dishes? From steaming soups to sizzling grilled fajitas, OTB is bound to have something to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Feeling a bit under the weather? Don’t just settle for any chicken soup, try OTB’s Chicken Tortilla Soup. With our nutritious slow-cooked pulled chicken, simmering fresh vegetables and rice topped with delicious avocado, the Chicken Tortilla Soup will cure any bug you may catch this winter, or hangover (hey, we’re not judging).

Looking for a healthier alternative? Try our Fresh Grill Menu! Better yet, try our Tomatillo Chicken. Freshly made tomatillo sauce drizzled over a heaping layer of seasoned pico de gallo and queso fresco is just the beginning of this signature dish that will be sure to blow away “old man winter.” It is also served with perfectly sautéed vegetables and cilantro lime rice, which will certainly “hit the spot.”

Want something even hotter? Go for our Fajita Menu and feel the steam sprout out from the grill to your nose. Our Baja Chicken Fajitas are mesquite-grilled to perfection. So good, that you’ll go look for a dictionary to find out what the true meaning of “mesquite” is. Accompanied by a medley of sautéed vegetables and topped with pico de gallo, freshly sliced avocado and the most incredible and melted-to-perfection Jack cheese, you’ll be sure to say “THAT WAS MUY DELICIOSO!”

Whether you’re a fan of homemade soup or grilled-to-perfection dishes, OTB is the perfect place to forget about that winter gloom, and enjoy a nice, relaxing evening with family and friends. It may be mildly cold outside, so instead of waiting for that San Diego sun to show up, come enjoy something delicious and warm at On the Border.

At Least One Margarita Every Week
Work can be stressful, LIFE can be stressful. Don’t forget to set aside time to unwind. Many of our fans like to enjoy a refreshing margarita while imagining they are off the coast of Mexico somewhere warm. Whatever your style is, take some time for you and enjoy a delicious margarita.

Low Calorie Margarita:
2 oz of silver/clear tequila
The juice from a lime
A splash of triple sec

Happy Hour
Whether you’re trying to spend less or simply unwind after a long day of work, happy hour is the perfect remedy.  We’ll make this easy on you because On the Border has Happy Hour EVERY DAY (even on Saturdays) from 3-7 in the bar and patio area.

Become A Tequila Connoisseur.
On the Border San Diego offers some of the best Tequila with one of the most diverse selections. Why not take advantage of it? Learn about the different kinds of tequila while enjoying its delicious flavor. On the Border has many delicious tequilas to choose from including Patron, Herradura, Azunia, Bracero, 1800 and many more! OTB also holds occasional tequila tasting events (through our Meetup group)where anyone is free to come in and try different kinds of tequila.

Try Something New. It Might Surprise You.
So you found that signature dish at OTB that you really like. Great! But you order it every time because you already know you like it. Try something new next time you go in. We have over a hundred different delicious food combinations made with the freshest ingredients. You may end up finding your new favorite dish. Trust the chefs and let On the Border “wow” you with our specialty entrees! We also have some delicious “Border Smart” alternatives to choose from. In the mean time, pick out your next meal online now.

Add Desserts to the Routine.
Why cut out the things you love completely? You deserve to treat yourself every now and again. OTB has some incredible desserts to choose from that are perfect for devouring or sharing. One of our personal favorites: the cinnamon sugar Sopapillas topped with your choice of honey and chocolate sauce. And who could go wrong with the Sizzling Apple Crisp? Don’t cheat yourself, treat yourself.

This means it’s time for some real food. Here is a list of a few On The Border holiday favorites:

Looking for a good party in your mouth? The confetti rice salad is calling your name. A medley of black beans, corn, rice and vegetables tossed with lime juice and a spicy hint of Smoked Jalepeno Vinaigrette. Conveniently offered as a party platter, it’s surely going to be a topic of discussion at your next holiday potluck.

Have you tried our amazing sopapillas? Nothing brings the sweetness of the holiday season like our On The Border Sopapillas for dessert. Imagine, a plate of five warm, fluffy Mexican pastries, sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar. Served with honey and chocolate sauce for dipping.

Craving some sizzling, fresh-out-of-the-pan, chicken or steak ready for you to dive your forks into? Give this a try. Our Monterey Ranch Chicken Fajita, which is topped with crispy bacon crumbles, pepper Jack cheese and creamy Ranch dressing… or our Smothered Steak Fajita which is loaded with sautéed mushrooms and onions, melted cheddar and pepper Jack cheese! (Wow, now I am getting hungry writing about this!)

Feel like keeping it simple? You can never go wrong with the Classic Burrito here at On The Border.  You have a choice between shredded or ground beef, slow-cooked pulled chicken or roasted pork. We’ll have to warn you: It can be a tough decision–but you can rest assured that no matter what you decide, you will be happy with! Yes–it’s that good. Along with whichever you decide, you will have pico de gallo and cheese topped with choice of red chile sauce, fresh sour cream sauce, queso, or ranchero sauce! Can you say “yum”?

Can’t decide between a burrito or a  fajita? Why not have both with The Big Bordurrito, which is a fusion of our fajita chicken or steak, AND burrito! Imagine, your choice of fajita steak or chicken, Mexican rice, cheese, black beans, caramelized onion and red peppers, and sour cream sauce, served with a side salad. Perfect way to get the best of both worlds!

If you haven’t tried any of these delicious plates, you still have time to try them all out before the New Year! Treat your friends and family to the best holiday gift ever and bring these festive dishes to your next holiday party.

Click here for catering 411!

Trust us, you won’t regret it. Happy Holidays amigos!

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Don’t forget to stop into On the Border @ Mission Valley tonight (Friday November 18th)! We will be hosting a casual Bracero Tequila Tasting between 7 and 9pm! Come and expand your tequila palate while enjoying some delicious border-style Mexican food!

No RSVP is necessary, but if you want to stay up-to-date on this event and all future OTB tequila tastings, be sure to join our Meetup group!

We hope to see you all there!

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has Happy Hour all seven days of the week! Hungry? Stop by OTB for 1/2 off appetizers, which include our Stacked Nachos, Chicken Flautas, Pork Mini Tacos and more. Thirsty? Enjoy our discounted domestic and imported draft beers!

Don’t forget about our day-specific Happy Hour prices as well! From Margarita Mondays to Fruity Sundays, the whole week, every week, is a fiesta!

Check out our Special Offers for the month:

Featured Meal of the Month

Firecracker Stuffed Jalapenos

Six tempura-battered jalapenos stuffed with mixed cheeses and chicken. Made fresh in our kitchen. Served with original queso.

Monterey Ranch Chicken Fajitas

Topped with crispy bacon crumbles, pepper Jack cheese and creamy Ranch dressing.

Sopapillas

A plate of five warm, fluffy Mexican pastries, sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar. Served with honey and chocolate sauce for dipping.

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