Baja's is a great little location to get mexican food in orange. After trying to go to another mexican restaurant and running into a little issue, we decided to stop at Baja's. I will agree with the others that the smell of tires is slightly in the air when you first walk in but it goes away very quickly after you sit down. Food: The menu is a tad small but there are plenty of great options. I got the enchiladas while my friend got a burrito. Both arrived hot and cooked perfectly. The portions of food are well above what you need and are paying for. Service: The service staff was attentive and very pleasant. they were happy to give advice or slightly modify the menu item to fit the need of the customer. read more

Great, Authentic Mexican Cuisine. Awesome traditional "Baja-style" Mexican cuisine. Fresh salsa bar, daily ceviche, and perhaps the best fish burrito you will ever have outside Mexico! The only thing preventing a "5-star" rating is the strip mall setting it's located in, next to a tire shop! The food is definitely 5-star worthy. read more

I love Mexican food... I grew up on it... and so I am always on the look out for good Mexican food on the East Coast (a place that seems to never have good Mexican food). At the recommendation of a friend I tried Baja's. It is certainly not the WORST Mexican food I have ever had... but its not the best either. The service was a bit lackluster (we waited some 10 minutes before someone came to ask if we would even like a glass of water... and another 10 minutes before it even showed up). As to the food, the servings were large enough to where I (who am a healthy eater) ended up taking home half of my burrito. For the most part the food was good, but nothing to write home about. The desserts though were particularly bad... the flan had no jiggle, the tres leches was dry... and both were fairly flavorless. Overall, while I dont regret having visited for dinner... but I dont think that I will be going back any time soon. read more

Like the food and margaritas. Loud but expected with this casual a place. Salsa bar is yummy. If you're on the fence, give it a try. Stand by my previous review: Have been to Baja's many times and have always enjoyed the food and margaritas. The downside (although it could be decidedly worse) has consistently been the servers and atmosphere. This is a casual restaurant with little frills. Not great for intimate dinners as it can be loud, but perfect for family or friendly get togethers. read more

LOVE this place. The prices are great. The drinks are amazing and the food is fantastic. Their nachos are to die for. (Its a huge serving so don't be surprised if you get full on just nachos) I love the salsa bar. So good and convenient. The shrimp enchiladas are deff my favorite. Its a small place tucked away on the post road. The staff is always friendly and so great to their customers. Deff recommend this place for anyone craving some amazing mexican read more

Their food is consistently good, their salsa is amazing. I love the mild chunky one mixed with the smooth orange one. The atmosphere is non existent. It's a nice place, not too loud, comfortable. read more

In my opinion the best Mexican I have had besides when I was in Arizona. Food is always delicious and huge portions. They have a salsa bar where you can get all different kinds of salsa. Margaritas are delicious. It also gives you an authentic smell of Mexico City being next to a tire shop but in my mind it enhances the flavors! Go here and get some Mexican food. You will not regret it! read more

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I am adding onto a previous review I typed in 2012...this place still ranks in the top 5 restaurants I have patronized. My husband and I have always had great service and food in this restaurant. The servers are extremely personable.The drinks are great!! Yes, a drink special would be nice, but this is a "Mom and Pop" establishment, not a big chain restaurant. So, we understand why having a drink special wouldn't make a difference. I noticed that there are a lot of regulars who return to this restaurant...myself and my husband, included! Those who have given this place a bad review should give this restaurant another try...not every restaurant is perfect all of the time. Also, one reviewer stated that she "tried to like the food" does that mean most of the food was eaten off of the plate and then, she STILL wanted a refund for that order after receiving a second order?...not trying to be rude, just trying to understand your point. read more

My favorite Mexican spot in CT. We no longer live local, and anytime we are in town we stop by. Great service, great atmosphere, and no ooze can beat theree salsa bar!!! read more

Spent a lot of money on 4 items take-out. It all looked the same except for the burrito we ordered. Hard not to recognize that. All other entrees served on a variety of paper plates topped with another plate or foil. Wouldn't say it was awful but pretty close! Threw out half of it as it was just platefuls of who knows what. Mexican food is generally pretty good wherever you go. We probably would of had a better meal down the road at Taco Bell(which we've never been to) at a fraction of the price. I've never wrote a review on a restaurant before but just felt I had to. Go somewhere else! read more

Easy to miss hole in the wall on the Post Road that I found most locals know to hit up. A coworker finally shared this place I had never been along with a gift certificate for a present years ago. Since then I have been back often. As mentioned the homemade chips and range of salsa is always a treat. The guacamole is good but it seems to have a touch of sour cream which I could do with out. The portions are large, bring your appetite. Food is simple and tasty, traditional mexican-american menu, with a variety of seafood options (it is called Baja's). The fish tacos are tasty. The ambiance is lacking but don't let that stop you from trying it. I rather save the few nights out a month on somewhere with a bit more atmosphere or some place new. I find this spot a great choice for take out when the urge for mexican strikes and I am in the neighborhood . read more

I started coming here when they first opened 25 years ago. It was half the size and did mostly take out. I was so happy since it was the only Mexican food in Connecticut to what was comparable to when I lived in California and Arizona. It was my favorites for many years. Slowly their quality faded and we rarely went. My wife I decided to try it again. We should have know when the basket of chips were stale that we were not going to be impressed. My wife had a carne asada quesadilla and I had a mauchaca burrito. The meat in the quesadilla was extremely tough and chewy. The taste was ok but not anything special. My burrito had plenty of the filling and was good. The best thing was the homemade salsa bar which has several types medium and mild on one side and hot and hotter on the other. I was not impressed and will probably not go back. read more

Over $50 on a to go order and still told I'd need to pay to have a larger cup for pickled jalapeños from the salsa bar when they're unlimited if you don't order to go. read more

Baja won't draw you in with the ambiance, but the food and reasonable prices will bring you back. Now that we have a little baby, this is the kind of restaurant we really appreciate: relaxed and casual. The food is pretty much American style Mexican food. Endless chips (eat in only) and a salsa bar. I usually get the chimichanga, but I have tried quite a few offerings on the menu. Not a huge fan of their shrimp --they give you a lot but they are tiny-- and when they say the item comes with "guacamole and sour cream" they actually mean it has some sort of blended dip of the two. read more

Whatever Baja used to be it is no longer that. I stopped in for a meal Saturday afternoon with my fiance it and I was very underwhelmed with the quality of the food. It is not part of authentic and has definitely been toned down to cater to the American palate when a place says authentic I expect to eat what comes from your mother and grandmother's kitchen. I had a chimichangas the meat was bland at best I saw onion tomatoes and pepper but it still lacked flavor. There was a distinct absence of spice and it could have used a heap more salt. It was said to come with guacamole but there was none and the server proceeded to tell me that it was on top of sour cream I just couldn't see it last time I checked guac is green and there is no mistaking when it has been added. She offered to bring me some more, when there was none to begin with, when she brought the ramekin out sure enough the gauc was green but I digress. I didnt even bother to ask for lettuce because the way that went I figured she would tell me it was there as well. My fiance had enchiladas verda and it was equally gross I can't attest to anything other than the sauce because that's all I was willing to taste and it was off in all of the worst ways. Before leaving I needed to use the restroom and let me just say that I'm sure an abandoned truck stop restroom would be better. Not only was it a dark color which in my opinion is used to hide filth in a restroom it stunk to the high heavens and it was indeed filthy. Excrement was on the toilet as well as under the lip of the seat and you could tell it had been there for sometime. Will I be back no. Would I reccomend yes, I would reccomend you save your money and head to Long Wharf with a 6 pack and enjoy your food. read more

Price: The food is overpriced for what you get. Margaritas are and beer are way too expensive. Their vegetarian menu is limited. The food is so-so. The grilled veggies are cooked at a too high a temp ,so instead of getting a nice saute flavor, they taste burned. To cover the mediocre flavor, they smother it with cheese. The best thing about the place are the chips. They have a salsa bar, which is interesting, but they give very small plates, and it spills as you take it back to the table. The bad thing is they charge for chips on a to-go order. read more

Casual atmosphere, big portions and delicious margaritas. What more can you ask for? There hasn't been a thing on the menu that I've tried and haven't liked. For appetizers their ceviche and the nachos with everything on them are delicious - they are huge portions so make sure you go with an appetite. For entrees, I am a fan of the shrimp enchiladas. It's stuffed with shrimp and the red cabbage really adds to the deliciousness. If you want a burrito, you can't go wrong with Rafael's especial. Partner it with "The Perfect Margarita" and trust me you'll be back! read more

By far my favorite Mexican place. The food is always amazing and people who work there are great. Plus you get your food very quick. The homemade chips and the salsa bar are just a couple reasons to continue to go back. I wish I lived in the area bc I would be there way more often. The best Mexican food I have had. read more

I have been eating at Baja's for over 20 years, and it only gets better and better. If your looking for TRULY authentic Mexican food, this is your place. Baja puts ALL other Mexican restaurants to shame. Yes the place is a whole in the wall, but the service and food is what you come for. In all my travels worldwide I have never had Mexican food as good as Baja outside of Mexico! read more

Been eating here for eight years, carne asada burrito is incomparable and not too expensive.

This has been our favorite Mexican restaurant since the old local ones closed down. Great salsa bar, great food, great drinks, and great service. Good for a comfortable date, or when we bring out kids. read more

The waitress was very nice, but not personable. She mumbled which kills me but did her job. The margarita, ehh, definitely had better. I had the taco and enchilada combo. The taco shell tasted stale and whoever rolled the enchilada made a mess, then tried to hide it with cheese. I liked the salsa selection though, and the chips were really fresh. I didn't like the rice, no flavor. And I asked or refried beans and they only had black or pinto which is okay. Not blown away, had better. El Torero even after it's moved to West Haven still takes my vote on Mexican food. read more

please note: i do not believe anyone who has given this place a good review has ever had a decent margarita or been to a decent mexican restaurant. for good food and margaritas do not go here... go to on the border, puerta vallarta, or chilis right down the street. hell, just go to chipotle for great tasting, marinated chicken. now for my review: my friend has wanted to try this place for years, and it was his birthday, so we went. we ordered two margartias, and things got miserable fast. the recipe for a margarita is not 1:1:1 tequila:triple sec:roses lime. if this place has mexican owners, they should be ashamed. the drinks were foul... like i was tasting some waste fluid from the town fair tire next door. i brought the drinks back to the bar and returned them as politely as i could and a new bartender said he would make them again, free of charge. the second drink came to the table and was just as bad. there was no fresh lime juice, agave nectar or cane sugar behind the bar. now for the food: if i was the server, i'd be embarrassed to bring it to the table and present it to the guests. i had a $13 burrito, the "ultimate burrito," but there was nothing ultimate about the unmarinated, boiled, and old-tasting chicken that was in the very plainly presented tortilla-wrapped catastrophe. my friend ordered a $15 house special after he was confused by the server describing the mole sauce as "chocolately." the dish looked like it had been run over by a tire next door. this was not a $15 dish. another friend ordered a shrimp appetizer which came as an unidentifiable mound of salad with ground up shrimp mixed in. she didn't touch it and returned it. we were so hungry that my friend and i actually ate some of the tire tread on our plates, and when the check came, the margaritas were removed, but the ground shrimp was still on the check. when my other friend said something, the server said she had to pay for it cause it was seafood and seafood is expensive. she asked for a manager, and ten minutes later, after we watched 3 people have a conversation about us in the back of the dirty room, another disheveled woman brought the check back and told us the shrimp was taken off. needless to say we got out of there as fast as we could. the only way i can make sense of how this place is still in existence is that people will eat gross food and drink very bad margaritas and just don't know what things should taste like. read more

Let me start off with something positive. The salsa bar is excellent, a good variety and authentic tasting salsa. However, they gave me a plate.. Yes, a flat plate to put my salsa on. I had to ask for a bowl to put the salsa in and the waitress came back with a take home plastic little container. Now for the food... Sigh.... Trust me, I know GOOD Mexican food. Being Mexican myself, I try not to critique the food too bad but this was just a bit much. I ordered the number one which came with a chicken taco, enchilada, rice and beans. Portion sizes are big which was great, but when I saw the taco, I knew it was going to be bad news. I thought to myself where is my enchilada? It was buried under the sauce that it comes with that tasted like the kind you buy at the store.. YUCK!!!!!! It had a sweet taste to it. Bless your hearts if you haven't tried authentic enchilada sauce!!! Enchiladas are NOT supposed to taste that way ew ew ew. Now on to the taco.. That chicken tasted like leftover rotisserie chicken EW! I was so disgusted I couldn't continue eating either. So, I was left with the rice and beans.. You usually can't go wrong with those except the beans tasted slightly burnt.. Needless to say I'm glad I stuffed myself with chips and salsa because I left hungry and very disappointed that this place serves "Mexican" food. It really really saddens me for the rest of you. Because Mexican food is SOOOO delicious and this is NOT a representation of Mexican food. :-( chipotle even tastes better!! I am even willing to share my enchilada recipe but don't continue giving these poor people that kind of sauce! It's almost offensive. read more

As we were coming out of Chucky Cheese one day (me wearing my Whack A Mole gold medal) I said to my partner, "hey! wait, what's that across the street next to Town Fair Tire? I do believe it's a mexican restaurant with a salsa bar!" Don't worry, once your inside that strong "new tire" smell does go away. We love this place for it's good authentic mexican food and it's simplicity. Nothing fancy. And until I read the review from others I never really noticed that the service was bad. I guess it is. Maybe because I'm knee deep into my delicious margarita, home made chips and my half a dozen or so variaties of salsas and pico from the salsa bar I just don't notice. And when I'm there, I know what I want. Carnitas! Mother of god, who knew pork could taste this good. The other white meat indeed! Marinated and slow cooked (for-freaking-ever) this stuff comes out hot, shredded. and tender. Assembly is required but the sides of beans, rice, cheese, warm tortillas and the salsa for the salsa bar make this meal perfect. If you're not into pork the Baja Quesadilla with chunks of carne asada, fresh guacamole & cheese is the next best thing. While you're there, relax and get a second margarita, or a negro modelo, ask for a second basket of chips (yup, they're free) and go back the salsa bar. Funny, I'm never tempted to get dessert at a Mexican restaurant. I think I'm usually too full from the quantity of food I get and that I eat eat way too fast. But I agree with Jordan's review - if my flan didn't jiggle there would be hell to pay - muchachos! read more

My husband and I have been here quite a few times over the past couple of years. We have never had a bad experience or meal. The salsa bar is delicious- the pico is very fresh and they are have some nice spicy salsas! Chips are fresh and the waitresses are always happy to refill your basket. The chile relano is my absolute favorite thing on the menu. And I love the diablo sauce! My husband is always switching up his order, never been unhappy. He has had everything from the shrimp burrito to the pork platter. Would highly recommend Baja! read more

They have the best chicken molé! They also have a fish burrito that is delicious! My favorite place for mexican food. The fresh salsa bar is amazing too. read more

We went here on the recommendation of some friends. Let's start with the ambiance: this is a no frills kind of place, which isn't a big deal if the food and service is good. That brings us to the service. The waitress screwed up our order and took forever to bring over the drinks. The drinks took almost as long as the dinner. She was also pretty rude, not just to us, but to the tables around us. Now let's go to the food. This is by far the worst food I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant. It tasted like it was sitting around in a buffet under warm lights and dumped on the plate. We were in and out in about 20 minutes. This place is terrible and makes the Taco Bell next door look good. We ended up leaving after paying the bill and going to another, much better restaurant for some appetizers and drinks to make up for the terrible food and service from Baja. I really don't understand why we were rushed and for the most part ignored since they were only 1/3rd full and had plenty of staff. There are a dozen better mexican places around. This place is not worth visiting. read more

When they say "Authentic" they mean authentic. And I heard it from my mexican friends whom we took there. Big fan of the spiest salsa from the salsa bar. Shrimp Diabla is my fav. from the menu. Yet to try their drinks and brunch menu. read more

First meal and it will not be my last. My Margarita was devine, the salsa bar was awesome and my meal delicious! Thank you, can't wait to return. read more

Aside from the fact they're located directly next to a Town Fair Tire (which make some people complain about a "tire smell" I had the fortune not to encounter) and have a generally lame tap and booze selection, I cannot complain in the least about the food and the service. The waitresses were not only affable, but even sat and had a drink with us post-closing time. They all but doted upon us, making we three gentlemen feel like the ballers we truly are not. And the food...effing solid, authentic mejicano cuisine (as far as a gringo like me can deduce). The salsa bar made my heart skip a beat from the get-go, and the enchiladas, chicken burritos, and beef tacos were muy delicioso, to say the least. The bill was reasonable, especially considering the endless supply of homemade chips that never ceased to be on our tabletop. Highly recommended. read more

What a surprising find! Great, fresh food, quick service and a convenient location make this a new favorite for me. The portions are massive though, so bring a friend and split one of the ginormous burritos! Very clean place, friendly staff and a nice variety of traditional selections. The offer a salsa bar with some great choices! I've never had enough room to try desert, but they look amazing! A fun place to visit with a group of friends! read more

I agree it's not as great as it used to be but its a hell of a lot better than most disgusting gimmicky Mexican places around here. This is still the only place that serves machaca and it still kicks ass so I will stick with 4 stars :) read more

Went to Baja's tonight for Cinco De Mayo, there was a line but we only waited about 10 minutes as where other places had 1 and a 1/2 to a 2 hour wait! We have been here before and know we liked the food so we decided to go here! My husband and I did think the food was priced a lithe high, however you got a lot of food. Still I have been to other Authentic Mexican restaurants before and the food was way cheeper for the same large portion. We were a little disappointed that my son's soda was $2, I don't think $2 for a soda in a small glass with tons of ice is reasonable. Also we ordered tacos and enchiladas and they didn't come with sour cream and I wanted guacamole so that was an extra $2 for a small ramekin full. I don't mind $1 for the guac, but $1 for sour cream when it should come with tacos, that is a little ridiculous! We spent $6 on just 2 drinks and a side of guac & SC, that is just to much in my eyes...We will go again, because we do really enjoy their food...just won't go as often as we would like! You also get all you can eat chip and salsa bar with plenty of different salsa's to choose from, so I guess that help balance it out a bit! The decor is nothing to call home about, however my feeling is, if the food is great and the service is great and its clean I could care less how they decorate! Sometimes the best things come in the smallest, simplest packages. Management was wonderful, and so were the servers, everyone was so friendly, upbeat, and didn't leave you sitting to long before coming over and asking if you needed anything. For one of their busiest holidays of the year, they did excellent and we didn't feel rushed. read more

Overall, the food was decent but it is way overpriced. I ordered the "Jumbo Camarones" which was supposed to have 6 U-15 shrimp for 18.99. However, if these were 30-40 count shrimp, I would be surprised (I cook frequently and often use shrimp- these were small and not even close to U-15). When I mentioned this to the waitress, she didn't seem to care or be concerned and said "I'll let them know" and did absolutely nothing but give us our check. I've had larger shrimp at Baja Fresh (twice as many for 1/3 the price). Overall a middling experience at best. I would not recommend Baja's. read more

The fish tacos and the carnitas are really the best around. YES THERE IS A KIDS MENU, our little girl tucked into the chicken quesadilla like she hadn't eaten all day. Yes, it's loud. Yes you smell tires (store next door) when you walk in but never at the tables. Yes, it's a fun place with good food! read more

I'm sorry but the food here is not good. Never coming back. Btw after 20ish min my stomach got missed up.

My god the shrimp enchilada was amazing. Whatever that white sauce was it made me tingle with enjoyment. Yummi!!

It's been a few years since I have been here and I still enjoy it. My review is probably biased because I always order Raphael's Especiale. I really really like it. This time I ordered it with pork. It was delicious. It had mole sauce and melted cheese over it. It doesn't get better than that! The only thing I don't care for is the tire smell from Town Fair Tire next door, I wish one of them would move. read more

Authenitc Mexican!! Everything is fresh and homemade, right down to the salsa bar. While it is a bit pricey, it is worth it as you can't get anything close to the quality anywhere around CT. We were brought here by friends who had moved to the US from Mexico. read more