Supervisor Barger Honors Pasadena Restaurater Rlene Mijares de Lang as Fifth District Woman of the Year

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger will honor Rlene Mijares de Lang, co-owner and executive officer of Pasadena’s renowned Mijares Mexican Restaurant, as the Fifth District Woman of the Year at the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting. The recognition ceremony will take place on Tuesday, March 19, at the start of the meeting. 

Supervisor Barger said the recognition for Rlene Mijares de Lang underscores her exceptional contributions as an outstanding role model for the 5.2 million women residing in LA County. 

As the oldest Mexican restaurant in the county, Mijares Mexican Restaurant holds a special place in Los Angeles’s culinary heritage. It’s also the oldest Mexican restaurant in the city of Pasadena and the oldest operating Mexican restaurant in the state of California. 

The restaurant, which is turning 104 this year, is a venerable Latina-owned business with a rich history. It was started in 1920 by Jesucita Mijares, Rlene de Lang’s grandmother. 

Rlene Mijares de Lang was born in Pasadena. She represents the third generation of Mijares family members dedicated to preserving the restaurant’s legacy. Leading a team of over 60 employees, de Lang’s responsibilities are overseeing daily management, corporate affairs, operations, catering, finance, and marketing. 

Prior to joining the family business in 1988, de Lang served as a public school teacher, specializing in grades K-4 and bilingual education. She is actively involved in various community boards, including the Pasadena Community Foundation, Huntington Memorial Hospital, St. Andrews School, and the Pasadena Art Alliance. She is also a recipient of the prestigious Cardinal’s Award from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.