Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Baja Cantina & Grill in Carmel

4.4 (199) 7166 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923, United States

Categories

Mexican restaurant

Location on the map

Carmel, Monterey County, California, US

Phone: +1 831-625-2252
Site: http://carmelcantina.com/

Opening hours

Monday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Tuesday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Wednesday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Thursday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Friday:11:30 AM–10 PM
Saturday:11 AM–10 PM
Sunday:11 AM–9 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.4

199 Reviews for Baja Cantina & Grill 2024:

Review №1

2024-04-30 03:04:13

Phenomenal! Excellent food, excellent service and excellent experience overall. Well worth the stop! Came here at the recommendation of a friend and will be back. Came on a Monday night at the end of April and there was no wait around six pm for a table of six. Prices are what you would expect for the area but well worth the cost! I had the blacken chicken burrito and my wife had the TJ Taxi, both of us enjoyed our meals. The kids meals were really good as well, the chicken tenders comes with a cool paper car. The margaritas, while expensive were well worth the money! We will be back again.

Review №2

2023-04-11 21:50:43

Really great place for Mexican food in Carmel Valley. We came on a Tuesday afternoon and were seated right away. Our server Angel was absolutely phenomenal, so kind and polite. He even took a photo for us as well. Huge shoutout to him!!! Everything came out pretty fast, and all the food was tasty. I would definitely come again just based on the service alone.

Review №3

2024-06-21 20:30:50

I dont want to sound racist but.... this is not Mexican flavored. Sorry to say, but its whitewashed food(lacking seasoning and spice). The staff was nice and we got our food promptly. Drinks also were not good, unfortunately. Got flavorless margaritas and watered down sangria. For the prices I was expecting a lot more.

Review №4

2024-07-02 13:45:07

We visited about 6:30p. We tried to sit outside which was not an option due to the propane heaters leaking propane. The leak is so bad you can smell the propane. The hostess said thats just the way a heater smells. We told our server and any employee that would listen but no one cared. This and the fact that it was filthy with food scraps on the floor from the day. Eat here? NO WAY!!! My question is, since no one cares, what do you think the kitchen looks like?

Review №5

2023-09-16 00:48:59

It has been a while since last time Ive dined in for lunch. Finally back for late lunch with family. Same atmosphere but less crowded meaning less noise 😉. The fajita combo we had this time around was just so-so, same goes with the Margarita. The TJ taxi however is real delight 😊

Review №6

2024-05-26 01:45:26

I have been going there for the past 10 years. Service was always good. This time was different. Seated and we asked for a booth and they stated they were all reserved. An hour later we are ready to leave and the booths are still empty, waiter didnt offer chips and salsa, i asked if they had some and he stated they do but they charge for them. I already knew that. Probably not returning. Service is just getting worse year after year.

Review №7

2024-05-13 02:54:45

Delicious, authentic Mexican food with a very varied menu, and the service is great, too. Enormous patio as well as two rooms with tables, and the bar. I was most recently there on a Friday evening and it was very busy. Its not in a residential area, and I heard a number of people say they were from Monterey, so its definitely a destination, and its worth the drive.

Review №8

2024-04-07 17:29:12

Beautiful outdoor seating, they could do better with cleaning. There was food on the floor in several areas. The food was not bad, cheese enchiladas and catch of the day tacos were our favorite. Service was very friendly. Dont order a michelada if you really enjoy them. My suggestion is that theyre better off taking them off the menu until they can make a decent one.

Review №9

2023-07-31 21:48:29

Nice restaurant. Food was good. Service was ok. The decor is fun and definitely on theme. Pretty busy place when we visited.

Review №10

2023-11-27 03:42:38

It’s an icon. During busy tourist times it’s packed. The rest of the time it’s a locals jewel. Last Saturday morning of every month is Cars and Coffee. Best free car show on the West Coast!!

Review №11

2024-03-19 03:06:46

Excellent food and service! Passing thru but highly recommend!

Review №12

2022-05-15 01:13:38

Fun destination restaurant in Carmel Valley. It has a really cool vibe with both indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outside on the patio where there were several long communal style tables and a few smaller tables along the perimeter.We started with a couple of margaritas ($15 each). I got the original, which doesnt have sugar. It was tart, delicious and refreshing. We also ordered the chips, salsa ($4) and small guacamole ($8). Chips and salsa were really good, but the guacamole was off in texture, taste and spice level. My husband ordered the steak fajitas and he said they were okay. I had the blackened burrito with prawns and chicken. It was okay as well, but needed spice so I got a side of habanero sauce.I would go back but maybe for drinks and appetizers and will skip the guacamole.

Review №13

2024-05-06 21:10:05

Horribly small dance floor! It’s literally 5 feet of space between the band and tables and it doubles as a walkway. Amazing bands like the Money Band play there but the dance floor is elbow to elbow. They need to remove a few tables up front when a band plays. I would not return or recommend going to see a band there because of this reason alone.

Review №14

2024-06-22 13:47:21

Always a great time at Baja. Lots of great food choices, amazing bartenders and good service. Its on our go-to places for a fun night out!

Review №15

2024-05-29 02:02:24

If I could give this place Negative stars. I would!Food has no taste at all. Beans are dry and rice is burnt from being warmed up over and over again. Guadalajara Carnitas were tasteless. Soup was distasteful and presentation overall of food was horrible. To top it off food was overpriced. Please save your time, money and gas. Only good thing about this place was the esthetic to take pictures.

Review №16

2022-06-03 14:13:52

I only go to the Baja when they have live music. The food is okay and the servers try hard but the tables arent set up very sensibly and the hostesses are clueless. They will hold on to tables and seats long after its clear reservations are clearly not coming. Last night we waited more than an hour for food while the majority of the seats around us sat empty. The seating situation has been like this long before covid and staffing shortages. Like another one of my favorite places, it seems this one has no floor manager overseeing everything...and that is not working out well.

Review №17

2024-05-19 22:33:15

I have been going to this restaurant for many years. I used to love their food but they are going downhill lately. I dont know what is happening but they are skimping on the enchilada sauce they are skimping on cheese over the enchiladas and quite a few times lately I have gotten my meal with no garnish of green onions. That was one of my favorite things about the dish. They have cut out happy hour they have raised their prices and now they are skimping on different things that made their food good. Getting more and more disappointed to the point that I may not go anymore even though it was one of my favorite places for many years

Review №18

2022-09-16 16:09:26

Great food and great service, where locals like to eat and drink. There is live music in the outside dining area between 6:00 and 9:00 on Thursdays. So you have to decide if you want loud and rowdy or quieter and pleasant. Inside dining is darker, which of course can have its purpose. We arrived at 3:45 just in time to order lunch. We sat outside in the sunshine, trees, flowers and birds, and enjoyed it immensely.

Review №19

2022-08-08 02:39:04

Plus 1 star for our amazing hostess, and another for the atmosphere. The food was a disappointment. Mocajete was underwhelming, carnita’s were dry, and pretty sure their handmade tortillas are from the grocery store. Can’t say much about the drinks, good buzz?

Review №20

2019-05-18 22:10:01

Always a good time. Great ambiance. My new favorite dish: Monterey Bay Quesadilla with prawns and artichoke. The dill dipping sauce was amazing. Couldnt finish it, because of the complementary chips and salsa that were served before the meal were too good to pass up.

Review №21

2020-11-30 01:46:38

It’s been awhile I’ve been there. Sometimes they were not consistent and bad service. This was 2 years ago. I stopped dining until 3 months ago. Now a few servers are great some need more training. I pick one server as my favorite but she don’t work nights as server now, Alissa. The food is great I order a few items like The Cattlemen, Chili Verde en Molcajete and Chili verde burrito

Review №22

2023-02-18 17:45:34

3rd time visiting here, came for a app and a round of drinks. Service was a bit slower to get our order but pretty good the rest of the time. It was slow week night and the bar was about 15% occupied. We ordered the mezcal margaritas $15 each which we always remember being amazing each time. This time they sucked, they just taked like a big glass of oj and a shot of mezcal. Left everything to be desired. You just felt bloated after because all of the oj (definitely not fresh oj) we also ordered nachos and no complaints on those, they were very tasty and delicious. Going forward I would probably go for a happy hour here but at full price I would never get another cocktail. Nachos I would totally get again.

Review №23

2022-11-15 04:55:04

The vibe is great. We were able to bring our dog inside which was excellent. I would make a reservation we went at like 5pm and by 630 it was packed. They have a bar area as wellChips and salsa were great and the chipotle bean dip. Friends who go to the area say it’s excellent and I agree. 2 appetizers. 3 plates chips and salsa and I drink was about 150$ with tip. But in Monterey not bad.

Review №24

2021-03-08 03:33:08

My wife and I stumbled upon this place after a round of golf. It was quite enjoyable. There wasnt await despite how busy it was, and the food arrived quickly. If youre in the area and craving mexican fare its definitely worth a shot!

Review №25

2019-04-13 16:50:32

Good place to eat on a beautiful day in Carmel Valley! Enjoyed the outdoor seating. Husband ordered the street tacos. The salsa that comes with the street tacos has a kick to it....so be careful if you cant handle the heat! I ordered the chicken enchiladas with mango salsa, beans and coconut rice. Overall...food was good.

Review №26

2023-10-05 17:37:06

The Chilli Relleno is the best Ive ever had. Get it ala-carte for the best experience! The margaritas are also Legit!

Review №27

2016-08-30 06:52:57

Been here several times and havent had anything bad on the menu. Everything is great and you cant go wrong with any of the margaritas. If you like it spicy, ask then for their habenero salsa.

Review №28

2022-05-10 14:30:36

Rustic, casual vibe, attentive staff, good food. Nice mountain views. Authentic racing decor from past decades is legend!

Review №29

2023-05-31 17:49:01

A little expensive but LARGE portion sizes that all tasted great. Come out when you are hungry.Pretty busy with a lot of decoration.My biggest issue was the lighting was super dark making it hard to read the menu.

Review №30

2018-11-15 06:40:25

I absolutely love this place! We went there on Halloween and it was so much fun! Food (tortillas appetizer) was delicious and service was great (even after we changed our drink for another one).

Review №31

2024-05-27 15:46:42

Went for my father in laws birthday. When my husband tried to get a table, they said we had to have our whole party together. So we waited. Next thing you know, my party got a table and told us they were ready for us. Even though our party was not ready. The table outside was lousy for 2 major reasons. It had gum stuck to the top of the table. It got on my shirt, and my hand they didnt even care even though it was said loud enough. My mother in laws menu had gum all over it as well. Then it was covered in bees. We finally asked for a table inside. As we waited, they sat us as a table inside. Overall, everything went well.

Review №32

2020-03-08 03:53:33

Low key Mexican food in an old gas station setting. Large menu with all your Mexican classics, even Tamales. My dish was lacking flavor and I wasnt a fan of the coconut rice. It was way too sweet. Absolutely worthy to check out though. Great for kids.

Review №33

2024-05-28 06:37:28

Fantastic place worth the drive from Monterey or Carmel be the Sea

Review №34

2024-02-14 03:22:30

We dine there several times per year and always enjoy our meal and the fine service. I usually get a chimchanga because so few restaurants offer it, and now its not offered here either, so only 4 stars for food today.

Review №35

2022-11-20 04:01:46

I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant. The food was pricey and just alright (the best thing being their tortilla soup). Drinks were very expensive, lightly poured, and not even that good. The service was decent but overall not impressive. The best thing about this restaurant was the ambience. The restaurant felt rather unique with the overwhelming decor. I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to people that enjoy food or specialty cocktails as they don’t peak in either category. If you want to go to a bar with cool ambience this is the place. Not impressed with Baja Cantina.

Review №36

2023-12-18 18:49:20

Ambience and service are great. Food is very disappointing. Have now gone over 10 times and guests agree that food is very bland and ordinary. Fajitas were over cooked, veggies limp and heavy sauce. Nothing spicy. No choice in salsa. Will take friends for great Margarita and skip the food.

Review №37

2023-07-11 17:33:16

Ambience was very good. restaurant was made of all different car racing photos and statues. We are vegetarian so they kindly customize dishes as per our choice

Review №38

2024-04-26 03:14:04

First time, and I forgot to get pics. Killer Cadillac Marg, awesome steak nachos. They let us in with only 20 min to close and were awesome about it.

Review №39

2021-03-17 21:44:10

Very cool setting. Loved the outdoor area. Was very easy to maintain distance during covid-19 times.The food was very good. They had a variety of vegetables as a filling for our very custom chimichanga.

Review №40

2024-01-05 22:14:50

Took my son to Baja Cantina during his winter break from college. We very much enjoyed the carnitas burrito and pork quesadilla. There is a charge for chips and salsa. The server was friendly and efficient, and he refilled the chips, salsa, and my sons soda promptly when needed. I really liked the Skinny Margarita. It is somewhat dark inside, and the tables are pretty close together. Overall, our experience was positive.

Review №41

2021-10-21 21:42:14

Very delicious. Got the coconut margarita which was amazing and the mango enchiladas. Got a little slow when we were ready to pay and go.

Review №42

2023-12-24 03:27:33

Sweet spot for a nice hot bowl of chicken tortilla soup on a rainy day. They do not skimp on the chicken or veggies and the portion size was ample.Ill be back to try more menu items!

Review №43

2022-07-13 05:13:05

Came here for dinner with a couple friends and we ordered the mango chicken enchiladas, nachos and quesadilla. We enjoyed our food! Service was good too

Review №44

2021-04-01 03:55:56

Best chips and salsa i have had. Nachos were great. Everything else was excellent and the portions were ridiculous. Fun atmosphere on top of all that. Great place.

Review №45

2023-09-09 23:12:00

Last time we are going here. Maybe our 20th time there in the past 4 years. Probably the last time I imagine. 2 adults, 2 small children, no premium drinks....$125+ for some so-so Mexican food? The prices have gone STRAIGHT UP, OUT, & OVER THE FENCE in the past 4 years. Absurd. Not once did our waitress ask if we wanted our ice tea refilled. My chimichanga looked liked someting off the CHILDS menu (it was RIDICULOUSLY small, about 1/2 the size of a supermarket frozen burrito). Food is nothing special at all, so-so at best. There are FAR better Mexican resturants nearby....Peppers in Pacific Grove is far and away much better. Baja Cantina has good atmosphere but unless youre a multi-millionaire (like many around here are) and you dont mind so-so quality food.....I would NOT suggest this place anymore.

Review №46

2022-07-09 22:34:51

Delicious food but less vegetarian options. Even their chips are fried with meat oil.

Review №47

2023-12-02 01:45:57

Were lifetime locals. Weve been coming to Baja since they opened. Have to say...our visit this past Wed. Left us not thrilled. Service was excellent, as always. Atmosphere, perfect, as we got our favorite table. However, the food- the main event- ...WHAT happened???Cattlemans burrito was not good....the meat was very old beef of some kind imitating pot roast- def not beef strips. However, had not had it before, so nothing to compare it to.I ordered fish tacos and was thrilled to be told ( by our over the top server) that it would be salmon. I was excited! Then, suspicious, when it was delivered as I could really smell the salmon. I ate it anyway. Then we tipped gladly as service was really great.Glad we lived close by.....as my dinner shot right thru...No details needed.I can say, the chefs/cooks/kitchen staff definitely did not present to the level of the past....starting with the old/ stale chips.So, in a fair assessment, over decades of memorable visits, having one disappointing visit will not deter us from coming back, but I might choose a weekend for that. Idk.

Review №48

2022-03-21 08:18:46

Writing this review after visiting this place thrice. If you are an mexican cuisine lover, then this is must visit place. Loved the ambience, quality of food and drinks, and quality of service. Their sizzling hot plate chicken fajitas is my favourite. Decently priced, unlike some of the downtown restaurants which are overrated just because of the location, just few minutes away from downtown this is definitely a must visit restaurant for food and drinks.

Review №49

2024-01-28 19:16:24

Mine is the small Mezcal Margarita! Good food & cocktails

Review №50

2021-04-25 03:32:48

Food is Bland. Service is slow but the server super pleasant. And they are snooty about holding your table if you dont show up early. Molcajete is in a small pastic bowl with a taco shell. No spice on anything. Everything tastes the same,from beef to chicken to chile verde. Laguna Seca toothpicks are two big flautas not fried long enough.

Review №51

2019-05-04 15:13:49

Awesome restaurant, with a great community of people. If youre an auto enthusiast, their Thursday night car show is enough to make you want to go check it out.The food is good, and pricing falls in line with traditional sit-down Mexican food pricing.I would recommend the Blackened Chicken Burrito. Very tasty, and filling.

Review №52

2020-02-27 08:19:06

Great day for sitting out on the sunny patio.. service was great, we had dannika, she was very attentive, and friendly..even though baja cantinas a little off the beaten path, ith its old school gas and car theme, and a few other shops in the same place...its easy to find, a dependable establishment, it has indoor or outdoor seating with a stand alone oval bar, to sit at ..or couch and fireplace ..if you need to wait for searing..its been a consistent go to, for years.. however, it does get jam packed in summer, MAKE RESERVATIONS, or it could take hours to eat, especially if they have live music, they also have their car event s .., hot august nights,and much more. the weather generally stays nicer than in downtown carmel, since the fog( if it gets there at all) takes alonger time to get there. Warning... have fun, but DO NOT think about about driving out of there if you have been drinking, its well.....just dont, please..and have fun,

Review №53

2021-07-18 19:45:31

Great place. Good food. All the decorations steals a racers heart. I got lost in the decorations. Check it out. The waiter lagged a little bit. But good stop

Review №54

2020-02-26 11:59:35

The Most exquisite food Ive had & Im not an easy person to convince when I eat out.. Therefore may it be know that Im picky about what & where I fine outBaja Cantina falls into ever category of excellenceIf your in Carmel Valley by the Sea you had better stop in because if you miss this location you never eaten real food prepared by the best of the best.Scenery is amazing just the right spot

Review №55

2023-09-26 14:53:39

Definitely recommend. Food was excellent!

Review №56

2024-05-28 00:34:55

Super friendly atmosphere and great salads. This place absolutely rocks

Review №57

2020-12-11 18:13:55

Had a good time celebrating my birthday. Seating outside due to Covid-19. Our waiter was attentive to what we needed, Mathew. Food was good. I had something new, Enchiladas Suisas with chicken. Very good. Drinks were good 👍

Review №58

2023-11-04 21:23:37

Interior and exterior seating both have great atmosphere for opposite reasons! The food is always spot on and the mixed drinks are great. Their prices are medium to high for Mexican food, but its a great restaurant every which way.

Review №59

2019-07-17 05:02:22

The Organic Margarita was okay. Friendly staff and efficient service. Spacious patio sitting.

Review №60

2021-06-27 17:29:46

Great service, amazing food, cool atmosphere. Their chips and salsa game is fantastic. Only trouble was that they lost our reservation but we were able to be seated quickly.

Review №61

2020-03-14 20:40:28

Extravagantly decorated, fun, lively Cali-Mex Mexican restaurant with a huge outdoor patio. Near the mouth of Carmel Valley. Food tasted great, the mole pork enchiladas were fantastic, coconut rice was really tasty with a slightly sweet crunch... but the regular red Mexican rice was even better! Good big local craft beers. Attentive staff but the place does get crowded - protip call for reservation instead of online.

Review №62

2021-06-22 07:40:07

Really good food and drinks. Had a great time on Fathers Day :)

Review №63

2024-05-27 20:30:04

Charming atmosphere for excellent Mexican food. Lots of TVs, too, for sports fans

Review №64

2023-11-11 01:18:39

Great Atmosphere and good service, but the food is pretty mid. When you factor in the price you pay for the food I would give the food max 2 stars. If you want a great place to hang with friends and do not care about overpaying for mediocre food, this is your place!

Review №65

2018-05-27 18:03:26

Amazing food, drinks and Atmosphere. Angel our server was on top of his game I will be back again and again!

Review №66

2023-10-15 23:52:47

Food is consistently great, portions are generous. Highly recommend the cochinita pibil. Good cocktail menu. Service has always been attentive and friendly. Atmosphere is automobile memorabilia/roadhouse chic.

Review №67

2024-04-14 03:05:44

Delicious food and great service. I love their margaritas too! Highly recommend Baja Cantina for lunch and dinner. We have had dinner and lunch here several times. Continues to be one of our favorite places where we get good food at a reasonable cost.

Review №68

2022-07-17 19:46:20

Delicious food and well worth the drive into the beautiful valleys.

Review №69

2022-08-17 04:17:04

Awesome combination dinner. Great service. Nice atmosphere.

Review №70

2024-04-15 20:22:10

A very great place with well-made food, well-manored staff, and a charming appeal.

Review №71

2020-08-14 18:12:13

Good food. Great service. We enjoyed lunch on their patio. They have a lot of memorabilia from Laguna Seca Raceway.

Review №72

2024-05-12 00:35:24

Last few times with Family very poor and unfriendly service. And today when we went it wasnt even busy. Been coming to this place since it opened!

Review №73

2017-11-28 21:13:19

Great food, unique ambiance, good value for money.

Review №74

2020-02-19 21:55:13

We both loved our meals. Topped it off with flan. Yum!

Review №75

2024-04-28 15:43:08

The steak & pineapple quesadillas (with mango chutney/salsa) are wicked good!

Review №76

2017-06-26 07:29:44

Great bar, killer margaritas, tasty food, and lovely environment. Perfect place to come for lunch after a nice hike at Garland Ranch only about 5 minutes away.

Review №77

2023-08-09 22:42:28

Delicious and tasty beverages for adults (kids too!). The service is always stellar and it’s comfortable and clean. Baja Cantina is a local FAVORITE, so if you’re visiting and want to know where the locals go, this is one of those places.

Review №78

2019-08-18 04:40:43

Awesome place very good kitchen quick service and our waitress Naomi she made the 5* awesome service

Review №79

2016-09-03 15:30:38

Awesome place to hang for drinks and dinner. The place is rocking whenever theres a car event. This is the place to see the cars at Concours if you dont want to pay to get into Concours...

Review №80

2019-09-11 15:43:55

A Carmel Valley institution for Motörhead’s! Plus good Mexican food & service. Had the mango chicken enchiladas & chicken quesadillas. Good salsa & chips.

Review №81

2023-10-09 04:00:43

Amazing food and great atmosphere!

Review №82

2018-06-24 21:13:42

Pretty cool place for a weekend brunch. Good customer service.

Review №83

2024-01-17 04:02:40

Amazing dinner and serviceAnd huge portions so I had plenty of leftovers 👍👍👍

Review №84

2021-06-03 01:36:25

Great service, good food but we didnt prefer the carmel churros.

Review №85

2021-09-20 06:56:46

Delicious food 🍱 and margarita 🥂5 ⭐️

Review №86

2023-05-20 02:46:10

The owner of this establishment had a pedigree in F1 racing and everything Motorsports and its reflected on the walls with the rich Heritage of signed photographs engines motorcycles everything motorized memorabilia is a treat to walk through and A Feast for the eyes. The services excellent and the food matches the atmosphere and service in its presentation and taste highly recommended

Review №87

2021-05-13 01:30:15

Good restaurant and the drinks are wonderful. Have a Baja Cadillac Margarita

Review №88

2023-02-20 19:32:57

Had a birthday lunch. Enchiladas with roasted pork & green sauce, black beans & rice. It was very good. Ordered dessert. Took a while to get that but it was delicious. Had a candle in it. Waiter was very nice.

Review №89

2023-05-15 00:53:53

Our server was wonderful …The hostess was the rudest experience My Mother and I had .. yelling at usI made a reservation at the wrong location.. due to internet ranking searchasked one of the servers if we could sit my mother is older and not feeling wellHe said yesThe hostess saw us and yelledGet up you can’t sit there you need to check inAnd proceeded to ignore us and seat others.. she would not listen to what I was even saying ) I further explained the internet search and situation to try and help their businessShe said over and over raised voiceLet me do my job, Let me do my jobI would have left if my mother was not hungry )Worst restaurant experience everAnd I’m in the 5 star Hospitality Food and Farmer World.ShockingFood average

Review №90

2022-04-29 11:37:08

First visit last night.Terrific atmosphere and service.Food was lovely.

Review №91

2021-03-02 05:20:09

Okay food. Not my 2go place for Mexican food. Great place to hang out and great alcoholic drink. Service was good. Ill definitely be back.

Review №92

2022-08-23 22:37:25

Food was great and the selection of margaritas was outstanding. Came with a group, and we all tried different items of the menu. Service was fast and our server was friendly and on point. Loved all the automobilia they have on display as well!Took a star for the menu. It’s very small print and jam packed - also the hierarchy seemed to be all over the place, making it hard to really comprehend what kind of food is what.

Review №93

2024-06-25 17:19:19

Awesome food and a fun atmosphere!

Review №94

2023-08-19 04:19:09

We have enjoyed Baja Cantina more in the past couple of years, but tonight was disappointing. The chips were too spicy and the margueritas were not as good as in the past. Great patio.

Review №95

2023-03-18 05:03:18

Probably would’ve been nice, but we weren’t served. Host couldn’t tell us if the seating was open, server told us to talk to the host. We sat for 20 min without being served…only people of color in there by the way, super rude. Server walked away from us 3 times without even so much as a menu

Review №96

2018-10-23 23:48:56

Love this place. The food and drink is great. But the people really make this a must visit place. Also tons of racing memorabilia.

Review №97

2022-03-02 09:41:27

The food was bland and our margaritas had no lime and definitely no alcohol in them. It was like water with ice. Something went wrong. When we told our server he said they make the Margarita mix in the morning, but he did not offer to get us a new glass.Slow service. Did we arrive too early? Not a fan of the barfly scene on the interior..we arrived around 4:30 and the bar was already full of men staring at us as we waited to be seated. We are locals but never came here, but of course it’s a local haunt and has a reputation. Everything we ordered was tasteless- definitely not authentic Mexican food. So if you’re looking for traditional Mexican food this is not the place. And the prices are way higher. Only come for the atmosphere.

Review №98

2017-12-29 16:18:44

The best authentic Mexican around! Loved this place.

Review №99

2023-04-11 04:12:38

First time there and it gave me the impression it was a locals regular and people were friendly and enjoying themselves, I like that! I had the tostada salad with chile verde and it was really good. I love spicy bloody Marys and theirs was quite tasty as well. Im sure well be back when in the area.

Review №100

2023-09-11 22:28:48

The food was so good we went back the next evening

Review №101

2023-08-07 02:59:25

Not the best food but not the worst. I went with my wife hoping for a tasty bit of food and it was ok but if I go back, itll be with a group of guys from the car club for atmosphere not for culinary excellence.

Review №102

2019-07-21 23:00:40

Great service, yummy food and loved the decor

Review №103

2023-09-12 13:29:08

Authentic Mexican food in a lively environment. Masterful execution of food . Attention from wait staff was great. Good music outside. Quieter atmosphere inside.

Review №104

2022-04-05 05:13:29

Awesome place! The staff is just so genuinely friendly and food is over the top #amazing so many different items to choose from and the drinks that were made by the bartender were fresh and presented perfectly. Highly recommend when weather is nice since the patio seating is just outstanding.

Review №105

2023-02-11 16:19:28

Really great atmosphere! Lots to choose from on the menu which at times can be overwhelming. The food was yummy, I found the rice to be a tad dry. But overall, very good flavours and variety!

Review №106

2023-10-01 04:23:48

Best restaurant for people who love car racing and good food

Review №107

2023-11-15 06:00:51

Cool place, but the food is overpriced and lacks taste. I will stick to true Mexican food from La Bahia, Zarapes, Papa Chevos, and Las Cazuelas.

Review №108

2016-08-16 01:58:30

Fun, amazing, Bond car lovers dream. Mole, Margarita, Spicy salsa!! GREAT.

Review №109

2018-02-14 03:21:52

Great food, fun atmosphere. Bathrooms ate cleans but it would be nice to have seat covers available.

Review №110

2023-10-02 00:05:50

Patio seat by the fire - perfect everything. My husband ate here nearly 10 years ago, so while we were in town we decided to swing by. Very nostalgic!

Review №111

2022-12-31 16:14:15

Great atmosphere, so so food. Corn tortillas are handmade and were the best part of lunch. The croutons (though advertised as) are not. Chicken in tacos was dry and bland. I dont know about the carnitas bc though I ordered a taco, I got chicken instead. If you really, really like cumin youll probably enjoy the salsa. Margarita wasnt made with fresh lime juice...

Review №112

2023-04-14 03:53:48

Will not be back with the family. My order of chimichanga where bad. I mean bad in the sense of rotten. Rotten beef and rotten chicken. I. An believe they couldn’t even smell it coming out of the kitchen. Kiddos got meal with tortillas that where pretty disgusting. Your better off going somewhere else.

Review №113

2023-05-19 22:57:17

This is one my favorite place to have lunch on a day off. I bring my toddler and we eat outside. Food is good, great service, theyre very accommodating and really I have no complaints, everything is great.

Review №114

2023-09-16 18:32:07

The service and food here is excellent. The pasta was especially good, better than many Italian places. Highly recommend!

Review №115

2022-02-07 02:52:32

Hostess and servers are very poor. Took almost 20 minutes to get seated in a not busy restaurant. We had to ask 3 times to get our drinks refilled as well as waited 15 minutes once we finished eating for our server to show up to get bill. The food as usual was very good. Would like to have given 5 🌟 but the people working there are holding you back.

Review №116

2018-08-06 01:49:57

Love everything thing about it!!! Exspeacily when the group Retrospect is playing there, they need to get this AWSOME BAND to play there MORE OFTEN an my friends an I would go more often!

Review №117

2022-12-25 08:07:55

We were vacationing at Quail Lodge across the street for a week and loved Baja Cantina so much we ate there 3 times. We shared the 4 combo platter and were able to try their different enchiladas & and tacos, which were all so amazing. We also had the pineapple deep fried ice cream, and it was delish! I highly recommend a tasty meal at BC!

Review №118

2021-09-21 15:07:42

Came here for an early dinner after visiting refuge. The food was amazing, I had the full slab of ribs, garlic fries, & added the three cheese enchilada. My wife had the tropical mango enchilada. Food was great. Ribs had great flavor and texture, it was fall off the bone, but not too much where its mush, garlic fries were amazing, crispy & sticky with garlic. Theres cheese enchilada was added for $6, you also have the option to add a shrimp skewer for $10, my buddy has the shrimp skewer and said it was really good and well cooked. My wife loved her enchiladas and tropical rice. Even the chips and salsa was really tasty. Service was amazing, our server was very attentive, and was always there at the right time. She has another beverage ready for me when I was half way thru. Will definitely come back when Im in the area.

Review №119

2021-07-17 18:59:00

I wish I could give a 0. We came to this place for the first time after reading the reviews. I wish we had not. We stopped by to order a takeout. We were directed to the bar, where a female bartender took our order. While we were waiting, we ordered a drink. We waited for about 20 minutes, it was busy. But that is not why I am writing this review. The bartender completely ignored us while we waited and had our drink. She did not give us chips and salsa like she did to other people even the people who were also waiting at the bar and around the big table next to the bar. She just completely ignored us like we were not there. She asked other people questions and checked on them but not us who were sitting just there. And we paid her the tip! Overall, the food was great, but an absolutely horrible service for a Carmel Valley restaurant with so many good reviews. Will never return.

Review №120

2023-04-18 05:56:35

One star for food because they charge for chips and salsa. Use to be complimentary, but not any longer. Theyve also bumped their prices up all around. So sad. I thought they would at least consider those who keep the business afloat, locals!

Review №121

2021-08-23 15:46:08

Good time and good eats! Chili Verde burrito was well prepared.

Review №122

2021-10-26 22:58:36

I normally love and enjoy my meal, but this time was different. The food was cold (chicken burrito without the burrito) and the lettuce was old and withered, asked for extra rice didnt get it. And then I was charged 2 different amounts, very noisy and dark. But hey, Id eat there again, I think? Normally Id give it a five 🌟 rating, but for this time a three 🌟.

Review №123

2022-10-16 01:55:31

Very bad service once we ordered our food server only came by once to refill water and proceeded to spill it all over the table and left without cleaning it up or even saying anything. As for the food, my wife ordered the chicken tortilla soup which was very oily and very minimal chicken and I ordered the chimichangas which came on a plate that was flooded with beans on the side as well as soggy lettuce the chimichangas themselves for $20 I expected at least a decent portion but they only took up about 1/5 of the plate extremely minuscule in size was not satisfied at all with the taste.

Review №124

2014-11-10 03:37:32

We have been here before, its a bit of a drive for us, but we have always have good service and food. This evening was no exception. We were celebrating a friends birthday. Food came quickly. It was cooked correctly. Our waitress was exceptional. A great evening. I was a little concerned because of some of the other negative reviews. I felt a more recent review was required to set the record straight.

Review №125

2022-07-20 03:50:46

My family and I just had a flawless experience at this fantastic restaurant. Excellent service, incredible food (so flavorful and beyond delicious), and the interior of the restaurant was really fun (very entertaining for my whole family).. If and when we are ever back in Carmel, we will surely return.

Review №126

2019-10-29 21:15:57

Totally unique, charming, suprisingly alive, cool, insanely decorated place.. will always remember and surely be back one day❤️

Review №127

2017-07-13 04:29:15

I like the place overall. Food is fairly decent. Big patio!!!! Margaritas are GREAT! Couldnt believe when our server told me they dont carry any extra spicy hot sauce. I feel that he blatantly lied to us, because he couldnt be bothered to fulfill our request.

Review №128

2022-06-29 20:01:36

The food is delicious here, but I only gave 3 stars because they have become stingy with charging now for chips and salsa and their large guacamole is the size of their half portion in the past. The prices have really increased enough to make this not very affordable unless it is for a very special occasion. We are used to coming here every month or so, but unfortunately it will be quite awhile before we return here.

Review №129

2023-02-01 04:16:10

Absolutely fantastic everyone in our group loved their meal...I got to be guacamole burger it was delish!! My son got tacos, mom got fajitas...all were excellent. We will be back again for sure!!

Review №130

2023-07-30 19:52:04

This is our favorite restaurant in Carmel. The food is insane and we love sitting outside on the deck. Highly recommend!

Review №131

2023-07-10 01:01:49

Came in for lunch today and had Mary as our waitress ! She was do caring and took care of my food Allergies.. it only was she awesome but the food was incredible!!! Will be back

Review №132

2019-09-07 22:49:38

Lively place with outdoor seating as well as inside. Bands every Thursday from June through October. Food was very good. Be aware that it is popular and does get crowded. On those nights service will be slow due to the number of patrons. Dinner selections will be in the 18 to 30 dollar range.

Review №133

2023-11-20 03:24:15

Bad food, really bad service. So disappointed I didn’t go to Salinas. Literally the worst Mexican food I’ve had in years. Can’t get the taste out of my mouth.

Review №134

2022-05-15 04:57:49

I have been going to Baja Cantina for over 25 years and it is often my go to place to bring friends and family from out of the area. We brought our friends this evening and had a very unpleasant experience. It was slammed and the team was taxed - I get that and we were in no hurry to get our food or drinks or even chips which all took some time. When the food and drinks arrived they were fabulous as always. We were in a room in the back with very poor acoustics - we were a party of six and we could not hear beyond our immediate table neighbor what they were saying. What made it even more disruptive was large party with several young children sitting to the side. The entire time, they were screaming at an even higher decibel than the noise of the room. The group was also screaming at the server as they were busy and we were all waiting for their food longer than usual. The parents seemed oblivious to the noise level of their children so I turned to the kids and put my finger to my lips to keep the sound down. As we were winding down our meal, a mom at the table turned and said I needed to leave NOW, that I had no right to quiet their children. I was stunned and we left. It felt threatened and we did leave. It was upsetting and I actually tried to call the Manager upon our return but no one picked up the phone. I know times are tough but I would hope we can all maintain some semblance of civility of decorum. I have grown children and loved to take them out for meals but they also knew how they needed to behave. I also think the management should have stepped in to help mediate the situation. We simply came to enjoy our friends and have a meal without excessive noise and drama.

Review №135

2019-08-08 04:48:04

The restaurant has a warmth about it. All around you are racing paraphernalia and old motor oil ads. The staff are friendly and courteous and they are attentive. The food is good and plentiful . The burger I hadwas thick and the fries were plentiful. I highly recommend this establishment for a good meal.

Review №136

2015-12-31 06:05:39

Best food, best service, & best location! The shrimp is amazing. My mom ordered the mango enchiladas, and they were sweet and truly delicious. Due to the overwhelming food and mouthwatering margaritas, I got distracted and left my purse. Matt, an employee, was so friendly and reassured me that my purse and all my belongings were safe. Not only is the food well worth the calories, the customer service is a rare find. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone!

Review №137

2024-05-14 05:09:09

😊 great!

Review №138

2021-04-01 20:34:37

This is a must stop and see, been coming here for over 20 years. Never a disappointment. Everyone is friendly, food is amazing, the ambiance, both inside and outside, is beautiful. The bar scene is always rockin, even though Ian isnt there anymore, its still an awesome place to visit.Be papered for a small wait during busy hours, but TRUST ME, its worth the wait.Cant wait till I get back there again.Cheers.

Review №139

2022-11-08 23:10:52

I was on a Retreat in Carmel and Baja Cantina and Grill was our second night dinner. I had the Bacon Wrapped Prawns, Scampi Style. There were 10 of us and we all ordered something different. We all agreed at the end of our meal that it was So Good, no matter what we ordered! They also have a nice selection of Tequila. We all agreed that we would Recommend the Baja Cantina and Grill to Anyone going to Carmel!

Review №140

2013-04-23 19:44:08

I just hosted a large going away event for my co-workers and friends. The food was amazing and I was surprised how quickly our order was prepared. In fact, I had to move the toast until after the dinner because of how quickly the food was served. Sarah, our waitress, was excellent and very attentive to all of the sudden changes in our schedule. I do highly recommend this restaurant and please regard the following as just a bit of constructive criticism.I checked Good for service, not because of the our waitress (whom I tipped very generously for all her hard work), but because of the management/senior staff. Given our large party, I expected to see the manager check on us. When I did speak to someone senior (I dont know if she was staff or a Manager) about trying to have appetizers ready in advance, she was quite curt and said something to the extent of we dont do that here. While her response might have been understandable for an outlandish request, I thought my request was fair. Given the amount of money we spent, it would haven been nice if they were a little more accommodating.

Review №141

2019-10-22 22:00:49

Friendly ambiance.. Great food. Live music that appeals to everyone. Good table service. Polite management. Can get a bit crowded. I was there on a weekend. Beautiful decorations that expressed a country feel and harvest expression. Go for the ambiance, food, drinks and fun. Full bar service.

Review №142

2024-06-03 20:45:15

A little pricy but its good.

Review №143

2020-12-05 05:56:42

Such great food, great flavors and consistent! I loved my blackened shrimp tostada! Very kind and professional servers. Patio dining with fireplace is so cozy. Fun atmosphere even in this terrible time when things are so different!

Review №144

2021-05-14 18:46:52

Always skeptical of places like this with books for menus but I was pleasantly surprised. Everything I tried that our table ordered was fantastic. Massive portions, juicy burgers, great chips and salsa. Neat automotive themed interior.

Review №145

2017-04-03 09:01:02

Great place for cocktails, especially tequila drinks, and lots of great, fast service. Had a late dinner there, and ordered the mole chicken. It was unbelievably good. We made reservations, were seated promptly, and given tortilla chips and very good salsa. We ordered and about 7 minutes later we had our food. It was well done, and a good amount for the price.The restaurant itself is decorated like an old-timey gas station and motor cycle garage. There is wonderful seating outside, a bar with livingroom seating inside, and a large restaurant seating area. Great parking lot, too. Highly recommended.

Review №146

2020-02-20 00:33:25

I went there for lunch. It has been awhile since Ive been there, about two years. I was pleased to find the the menu had quite a selection. The staff is friendly and service is excellent. They offer good food at moderate prices and also have a full service bar to complete the package. If your in the Carmel / Carmel Valley area, give them a try.

Review №147

2023-03-28 21:12:38

Food & Service was great, but a little dark, to read the menus. Seen customers using their cell phone lights to see better

Review №148

2021-12-14 01:59:15

This is my husbands favorite restaurant. It is the sister restaurant to Turn 12 in Monterey. It has a lot of historic automobile memorabilia. During the summers, it has Hot Chili Nights and people show up for an impromptu car show which is fun for car enthusiasts. The food is fun and California/Mexican. I havent had a bad meal here.

Review №149

2024-06-10 00:22:05

Loved the atmosphere and the food was very tasty! Fantastic people.

Review №150

2022-08-07 21:55:55

Oh man, I really dont like giving a subpar review, but unfortunately, I am this time. The good things first, the beer was cold and the wine was good. Chips, salsa, and quacomole were good, as well as the Monterey Bay quesedilla. Now the bad..I ordered a second beer, and only got the beer. If you serve a glass with lime on the first beer, do it on the second. Our order of chimichangas, the reason we came here, was so disappointing. First off, they have shrink immensely in size. Picture a half a corn cob wrapped in tortilla. The beef did not taste good, and over done. The chicken was just ok. I can open a can of beans and warm them up just as well as what was on our plate. Overall, very disappointing when we have always looked forward to coming here. Consistency is king.

Review №151

2021-05-24 20:23:36

Terrific food, and a fabulous patio. Fajitas for two always gives me leftovers for a couple of days. Service is always friendly, and even of the music channel they usually play sucks, the place has a good vibe!

Review №152

2019-08-21 16:57:33

Great place, good food, good times. I went there for the first time for a party so the whole place was closed for the event and they provided a buffet that was one of the best I have had. The atmosphere was perfect, they had a good selection of beer, and they provided live music for the party. I would love to try it with my family to see what a normal day is like there.

Review №153

2021-03-21 23:57:20

Great food good service. Plenty of parking. Margaritas 🍹good.

Review №154

2020-07-15 02:21:05

Ordered to go, picked up on time, walked back across the street to our hotel.(2 min walk) got the food out and discovered everything was cold, tortillas obviously taken out of package, not warmed up and thrown in to go container. There were no utensils, napkins and the guacamole was missing.I went all the way back, waited in line again and server responded when I explained what my complaint was. She responded, ^do you want me to reheat it?^. I said,, I just want you to fix it. She never apologized or anything. Eventually I got the warm food. It was good, but for $19.00 a plate for takeout, quality control and customer service should be a whole lot better. Very disappointed.

Review №155

2019-07-19 21:19:32

Amazing atmosphere and service but most of all the food! We used to live here and just had to come back because its amazing and even though I went in with high expectations I was still floored. I dont think you could go wrong with any order but the mango enchiladas with the coconut rice was especially amazing!

Review №156

2022-09-04 04:03:36

The best restaurant in Carmel! Order the nachos, margarita in the shaker, smothered tacos, and churos. Also thanks to Jennifer our waitress for explaining the menu and giving us extra time at our table to visit

Review №157

2022-08-28 02:32:46

I was disappointed with the food. The chip were too hard. I had the chili verde mocajette. The name sounds fancier than just chili verde. But it was just dry carnitas in a stone bowl. It had almost no sauce. i have have had much better chili verde with an. authentic sauce. The quesadilla was a little too dry.

Review №158

2018-08-30 20:15:21

Went to Baja with the in-laws & some visiting relatives for the first time in quite a while and actually felt like it was even better than I remembered. This is one of my favorite places for mexican food on the peninsula, and while it can get very crowded we were lucky to be there when it wasnt too packed in there. The portions are super generous and prices are reasonable. Ill definitely be back sometime soon.

Review №159

2020-01-03 05:29:01

Great service, tasty food, does good business for being outside of downtown Carmel. Prices are excellent for portions. If you go Golf at Quail lodge and build up an appetite stop by here afterwards you wont be disappointed.

Review №160

2019-09-17 17:42:33

Service was VERY slow and inaccurate. It took some of us almost 30 minutes to get the tortillas to go with our meals and that was after waiting over an hour for the food! Food wasnt that great either for someplace that was locally said to have great Mexican food.On my connecting flight home I had a layover in Phoenix for a few hours and ended up taking an Uber out to the city SPECIFICALLY to get some decent food just so I could get the memory of this place off my tongue.

Review №161

2017-06-01 22:38:24

Have enjoyed visits over many years. Drinks are good strong and reasonable price. This time the food was not good. The fish was overcooked and hard. The coconut shrimp chewy. Not what we expect from here as first place we always come to.

Review №162

2023-07-27 20:21:52

Motorsports themed venue. Big parties have limited food selection menu, which makes sense. Will return.

Review №163

2018-05-30 15:23:05

Good food. I enjoyed sitting out I the porch. Great atmosphere.

Review №164

2022-02-22 10:40:42

While food was good, service was abysmal. We were a larger party (10), but they werent that busy. The birthday boy in our party never received his meal until we were ready to leave.

Review №165

2023-10-05 18:42:27

Mexican and margarita this is the place to hang 🙏

Review №166

2024-05-23 01:40:02

Awesome display of road nostalgia and festive atmosphere

Review №167

2020-11-28 13:05:26

Really nice and attentive employees. very quick to serve the food. as soon as we were seated the chips and salsa was served! plenty of outdoor seating with heaters in case you go at night when it can get really chilly. as for the food you can tell they really dont have a specialty. the Mexican food was okay and the bbq was just okay as my family ordered both. the chips and salsa had a distinct flavor too, seemed like a weird mix between bbq and mexican 👎🏾.

Review №168

2018-11-21 16:40:34

Okay...this place was shocking to me. I went with the SO, it was her idea to want to go. Ive been looking for a decent restaurant with some decent Mexican food for a while. She was recommended this place from a friend, find out its in Carmel and I automatically think its gonna be an arm and a leg for food...Its right next to Quail Lodge and as you walk up the ramp on the side, you see they have a large spacious patio with everything nicely lit. Youre greeted by the hostess as you enter the restaurant and everything is adorned / decorated with car memorabilia of the 50s, 60s and up. Since we came at night, the only thing I wished we had done was come during the day just to see everything more clearly as the lighting inside is subdued.Long story short, the interior is fantastic. There was a bit of a wait on food but it was a busy night. Ended up getting the combination plate with sides of beans and rice, a Chile relleno, an enchilada of pork, and a taco of asada, all for a very reasonable price. I highly recommend trying the enchiladas as I think its one of the best I ever had. Will definitely be coming here again!

Review №169

2022-12-12 05:17:43

We stopped in on a whim on on our way home from the Tree lighting and what a pleasant surprise, the food was phenomenal! The atmosphere is dark and cozy and the service was great!

Review №170

2022-08-04 04:04:07

Food is always good and served by friendly wait staff. Great spot for large groups sitting outside. Prices are reasonable for the overall experience.

Review №171

2019-09-01 19:09:13

This fantastic restaurant is an important part of our annual car week pilgrimage. Love the decor, the easygoing attitude, and the fun atmosphere. And every menu item weve tried has been a winner.

Review №172

2023-07-31 20:11:55

Delicious food at an excellent location. Service was great and I will definitely go again!

Review №173

2022-07-16 19:07:52

Profiling customersOn 6-30-2022 I drove 3 1/2 hrs. to pick my son up at Robert Louis Stevenson summer school & dine with my family member in Monterey. Since Ive financially supported this establishment since 2000, when Dr. Tarsitano gifted the staff with complimentary luncheons, your establishment has ALWAYS been one of my favorites! Yesterday my sister & I had an unpleasant, racially profiled, unprofessional, unwarranted, unprecedented, and lastly unacceptable experience with Lauren, our 8 yr. veteran server......I will start from the top: We were told I now have to pay for chips & salsa unless I purchase guacamole 🥑 because of a recent change, no straw(s); my sister had to request a straw & ultimately so did I, requested that my fountain drink accompany my entree BUT Lauren brought the drink directly after serving the chips & salsa, never returned to our table once to check ✅ on, drinks were never addressed for a refill, my sister had to request a refill by showing the waitress her empty glass when I asked another server for a spoon, had to request napkins as well for our meal, when I requested containers to go for my partially eaten meal, no container was provided for my chips or salsa though a fee 😂 would have been associated if I didnt purchase guacamole?? To make along story short, our dining experience was HORRIFIC for everything listed above & some things I didnt mention. Lastly an hour after our departure, my sister was regurgitating and had diarrhea at Del Monte Shopping 🛍️ Center !! I will DEFINITELY look forward to hearing from HR re: this isolated experience (not in 22 yrs. have I EVER been racially profiled like we were by your server, Lauren!) Racism is embedd in the fabric of America & Im NOT American.

Review №174

2016-07-22 05:43:00

I always recommend this restaurant and maybe its because it was lunch or during the week but we werent impressed. Our waiter was not smiling or very conversing. I ordered the chimichanga. It seemed small and overcooked under the heat lamp. But the rice and beans it came with were really good. The salsa is delicious and fresh. Hoping next time we go well have better results.

Review №175

2023-10-09 10:07:17

Baja Cantina is the Siebkens of Laguna Seca. Great food, racing heritage atmosphere, cozy setting.

Review №176

2020-08-30 01:55:40

Called in a take out order had to call him three times to finally get through to someone. The order was supposed be ready in 20 minutes 35 minutes later it was finally ready. I got it home at 2 1/2 miles from the restaurant. It was ice cold enchilada no dressing on the salad called back in and told them and I was told bring it back and will replace it I’m not about to go back in and go through all that again terrible customer service. These days especially you need to improve customer service. Arrogant and cavalier attitude.

Review №177

2022-05-07 22:36:06

Ive always grown up with the idea that you judge a Mexican place by its chips and salsa. Well I have finally visited a place that doesnt fit that mold.The chips and salsa were delicious as a starter. I really appreciated the crunch and seasoning of the chips.We ordered the Guadalajara Carnitas and the Veggie Tostada for the vegetarian( Sadly there are not too many vegetarian options here unlike most Mexican restaurants).The carnitas were really tender, but lacked seasoning. They are served with a side of beans rice, and other condiments. None of those made a difference to combat the lack of flavor of the food.The vegetarian tostada was a mish mash of undercooked veggies, lettuce, a huge chunk of sour cream and unseasoned black beans.I would not go here if you are expecting a delicious and authentic Mexican meal. Either today was an off day or the local scene in Carmel for Mexican food is lacking.Service staff was great, thank you for that!

Review №178

2018-03-07 03:28:42

OK, I get emotional with this review!Yes, they have a great Margs, great tacos etc.!But this is my parents old stomping grounds, so say no more...we love it here! Very popular, so you may need to make a reservation, or wait a bit. Fabulous outdoor seating by the way!

Review №179

2021-08-14 21:47:42

Good place to eat but for lunch outside its little bit hot for the temperature

Review №180

2017-11-10 02:55:13

Had a 6:30 reservation on a Wednesday. For there 10 minutes early. A number of empty table but was told they would set us closer to our reservation time. A little after 6:30 we got sitted. A bus boy game by dropped some chips and salsa off they we did not order and that was the last wait staff we saw. Three waiter staff looked at us but never stopped at the table. After 20 minutes we got up and left. As we walked out we asked the person who sat us if he was the manager. He said yes and we told him what happened and he was just like oh well sorry! I would not recommend this place to my worst enemy!!

Review №181

2017-07-12 11:10:54

Fun place, friendly staff and great margaritas, food is good too.

Review №182

2016-07-04 15:56:13

We have visited this place for years. The food is authentic, chips fresh, salsa yummy (we always get refills). We love sitting outside on the patio (which is tented in the winter). They frequently have bands, nightly specials, car events. Always something interesting. Cant give it anything but 5 stars.

Review №183

2021-05-27 22:36:11

Ive heard of Baja but never been, kinda out of our way. I was in the area and and weather was nice so we took a ride and let me tell you it was worth it. a nice scenic drive, a Carmel Valley beauty. The enchiladas were delicious and tacos were fantastic. Paired them with some Top Notch margaritas and everything was perfect. Thank You Baja Cantina!!!

Review №184

2021-08-01 05:54:43

Solid cantina with a great cocktails. The drinks are well made and reasonably priced. Food is fresh and well prepared. I would not consider it authentic Mexican cuisine, but it is tasty.

Review №185

2021-09-15 20:26:55

Reasonably priced drinks; fish tacos not what I was expecting (two big and overly complicated tacos - simpler, smaller and more of them would have been better); nice bar tender and waiters; nice outdoor seating.

Review №186

2014-09-20 18:39:07

We went to Baja Cantina last night for a birthday party. The patio is beautiful and the food is average. But the service is poor. They are very unaccommodating. We were with a party of 20 people and we wanted to sit together and have separate bills. The waitress said, No, we cant do that. When we insisted she said we had to speak with the manager. He came over and stated the policy. They dont split bills and we couldnt sit together. So, after dinner we spent a half hour trying to sort out the bill. This is not a good place to go if you have to get home for baby sitters. I like restaurants that try to accommodate their patrons and make the experience easy and fun. So, I cant recommend Baja Cantina.

Review №187

2022-08-03 04:47:05

Always sit at the bar! Daniel is amazing. Whether you are ordering the tacos or the enchiladas you will not be disappointed. Also, order the strawberry margarita!!

Review №188

2021-12-06 17:54:35

We stopped here as a few friend recommended it. I cant wait to go back. So unique! We enjoyed the street tacos and more. Friendly and fun staff to make your experience rememberal.

Review №189

2012-10-04 00:42:50

I and my family have been coming here for over 20 years. Obviously we like it. However, with that said our repeat business is not because of great sevice as most of the time it is at best fair. Come for the best margaritas, generally good food and interesting decor.

Review №190

2022-07-09 23:58:29

I love this place so much but when I went there today I saw multiple workers dip their bare hands into the bin of chips to put them into the chip baskets. I was astonished that Baja Cantina doesn’t have a sanitary policy of grabbing chips to serve. I saw one person use both bare hands to grab chips, I saw another use one bare hand and a third person used the chip paper to grab the chips. I sat at the high top tables outside. I have never been able to see them fill the chip baskets so I was really surprised to see this unsanitary condition. These people did not wash their hands. I saw one young wipe his hands on his pants, one went on to wipe a table before digging his hands back into the chip warmer bin. Really unbelievable. I’m so sad to see this. Yuck. I really don’t want germy chips.

Review №191

2022-06-27 18:17:06

The food was really good. Although the female manager in the kitchen area shouldnt have been yelling at employee. Especially in front the diners.

Review №192

2020-01-31 07:00:24

I ordered the herb chicken tacos $18.99. You get 2 open faced tacos with a salad on your plate. It was a really good dinner and had a lot of grilled chicken on the tacos. Soft flour taco tortillas. My husbands plate was the cattlemans burrito $17.99, that came with salad. A jumbo burrito stuffed with meat, it covered his plate with the salad. Be prepared to spend just about $20 per plate. Well worth the money.

Review №193

2021-08-28 15:33:57

Told the water we were vegetarian… ordered food that we confirmed was vegetarian.had to send half of the orders back not once, not twice, but multiple times. after the 2nd mistake we just asked to leave.was still charged for the meal! nuts.if you have food allergies or restrictions, try another place!

Review №194

2016-09-15 23:20:33

Out in the beautiful foothills of Carmel area, this restaurant was casual, quality, and fun. We had good service and our meals were moderately good. The ambiance and setting really made the restaurant feel more charming and enjoyable.

Review №195

2020-01-01 01:55:54

Crowd pleaser. Tenders and fries for the younger set, abundant choices for the grown ups. Great salsa. Out-of-this-world carnitas. Local vibe, friendly service, clean bathrooms. A favorite every time we visit the area.

Review №196

2017-10-15 02:15:10

Ordered a medium burger, came well done but ate it any way, was good except over cooked. Ordered a mixed drink and it came, was good and wanted to order another, waiter never came back, asked another waiter to ask our waiter to bring another drink. No-one came and later our waiter came with tag. Food ok, drinks good, service sucks and drinks over priced.

Review №197

2019-05-21 20:45:16

Wow, that was soooo good. Only problem was Ajas service was so fast I dont remember what I ate. I think it tasted really good, too. Note to self, pitchers of margaritas kick in really fast. For best results, just show up here.

Review №198

2016-02-25 19:48:01

Cool place. Beautiful location. Pretty good Mexican. The patio is nice to sit at (but some of the tables are awkward). Basically, I cant remember much (I go to many cantina style restaurants) but enough to know that I would visit again if Im in the area. I remember the service wasnt great and it took long to get their attention but I left thinking ok. They benefit from nothing else around and their location but would have to up their game if serious competition moved in...

Review №199

2020-06-20 05:42:09

Decent spot for some Tex Mex. Food and drinks are a bit pricey. A meal for two with drinks set us back a little over $80.If youre near Carmel Valley I recommend checking it out. The decor was my favorite part.