Baja Cantina

The Scene – This massive bar looks like it was air-lifted out of Mazatlan, with its ramshackle-cantina feel, a sprawling patio with a roaring fire pit, and a crowd of rowdy revelers. The interior bar is equally crowded, but worth wading through when fish-taco cravings hit. Otherwise, sit and chill on the front patio, where the beach atmosphere is best appreciated on weekend afternoons and weekday evenings. However, those looking for a more festive vibe should head here on a Friday or Saturday night, when it transforms into a hot singles spot. – – The Draw – Though some…

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Editor's Tips

Parking:: Finding a street spot can be difficult, so use the valet or the beach lot at the end of Washington.
Look Good:: Flip-flops, boxer shorts and a sunburn--anything goes, so don't plan on dressing up; you'll look out of place.

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User Reviews (27)

ambiance	95.55999755859375% positive	“Take a date and take a cab: The margaritas taste really good and the atmosphere is fun.” “But it has a very charming ambiance and can be a great place to eat outside.” “Overall, the place is fun.” “Marvellous location, great service, delicious meals,even for the one of us who had never eaten Mexican food before, went there twice a day (noon cold drinks and hot salsa), evening great dinner,highly recommendable.” “Awesome RITAS, free chips and cool atmosphere.” “Baja Cantina can be a great place to get a fun group of people together.” “The weather was great, the food was great, the sevice was great (although it did take us a bit long to get our ritas), and the overall ambience was great.” “great atmosphere, Huge patio to party and make new friends.” “Baja is fun, fun, fun”
drinks	90.0% positive	“There's a great taco bar & an unlimited chips & salsa disposal, so you can just help your self.” “This Mexican bar and eatery is a good place for a laid-back dinner, even late in the evening.” “Interesting people watching in the bar.” “go for the bar- bartenders are all very friendly and funny and make you feel at home.” “Decent mexican food with a great bar scene” “This is what a good beach bar should act like.” “Great place to meet people, good strong drinks!” “The food is adequate, if a little expensive, but the drinks are excellent and the free chips and salsa make hanging out there awesome.” “Marvellous location, great service, delicious meals,even for the one of us who had never eaten Mexican food before, went there twice a day (noon cold drinks and hot salsa), evening great dinner,highly recommendable.” “This place has some pretty decent mexican food but the bar scene is definitely worth it.” “Probably my favorite bar in Venice (address says Marina del Rey, but vibe is totally Venice).” “The bar tender was cute and he recommended a very good wine to me.” “The drinks are great, excellent service & good people.” “Can't order the bar grilled shrimp in the restaurant section, get your fill before moving from the bar to the restaurant.”
food quality	87.37000465393066% positive	“Try the El Bundigas soup- really, really good.” “The food was good though.” “Decent mexican food with a great bar scene” “The weather was great, the food was great, the sevice was great (although it did take us a bit long to get our ritas), and the overall ambience was great.” “The food isn't the best Mexican fare in town, but it's priced decently.” “Food is solid Mexican fare- good burritos and fajitas, and excellent fish tacos.” “Yummy chips and salsa and I have always had good experiences no matter what entrees I order, although Jose's Toothpicks are my favorite.” “My babe loved her salad and even took a photo of it because it was so colorful!” “My girlfriend loves the shrimp feta enchilada-type dish (which isn't really authentic Mexican anyway but it's good).” “Can't order the bar grilled shrimp in the restaurant section, get your fill before moving from the bar to the restaurant.” “It came hot, the fish was fresh and tasty.” “There's a great taco bar & an unlimited chips & salsa disposal, so you can just help your self.” “Drinks are good, big, tasty and strong.” “This place has some pretty decent mexican food but the bar scene is definitely worth it.” “baja cantina has the best feta shrimp enchiladas ever black beans delicious and not to mention their pina coladas they r the best me and my husband travel 45 min at least once a week to eat here its deliciousssssssss!” “The margaritas are quite tasty and they are used to dealing with office parties and birthday celebrations.” “Marvellous location, great service, delicious meals,even for the one of us who had never eaten Mexican food before, went there twice a day (noon cold drinks and hot salsa), evening great dinner,highly recommendable.” “The food was delicious.” “The food is adequate, if a little expensive, but the drinks are excellent and the free chips and salsa make hanging out there awesome.”
overall	100.0% positive	“But it has a very charming ambiance and can be a great place to eat outside.” “Baja Cantina can be a great place to get a fun group of people together.” “This Mexican bar and eatery is a good place for a laid-back dinner, even late in the evening.” “all in all a great place.”
service	90.0% positive	“Interesting people watching in the bar.” “oh and lots of pretty beach people!” “Great place to meet people, good strong drinks!” “The staff was cool, (chicks in the front were a little dry, but the cocktail staff rocked).” “The drinks are great, excellent service & good people.” “Marvellous location, great service, delicious meals,even for the one of us who had never eaten Mexican food before, went there twice a day (noon cold drinks and hot salsa), evening great dinner,highly recommendable.” “Our waiter was great, on time with EVERYTHING.” “go for the bar- bartenders are all very friendly and funny and make you feel at home.” “The wait staff is quite friendly here in spite of being extremely busy.” “have been coming here for 5 or 6 years and have always had good service, no terrible experiences.” “Nice patio for drinking margaritas in the sun, and gorgeous waitresses.” “Baja Cantina can be a great place to get a fun group of people together.” “Friendly staff.” “Great bartenders who make you feel right at home an.”
value	100.0% positive	“This place has some pretty decent mexican food but the bar scene is definitely worth it.” “It's hard to score a free spot, so the best option is to valet it, but naturally that costs money.” “The Cadillac Margaritas were great - the Grande size was perfect; pricey but way worth it.” “The food is adequate, if a little expensive, but the drinks are excellent and the free chips and salsa make hanging out there awesome.”
wait time	100.0% positive	“The weather was great, the food was great, the sevice was great (although it did take us a bit long to get our ritas), and the overall ambience was great.”

08/10/08

Great place

by Guenter

3 German couples, after a 2weeks trip along the west coast ,Baja Cantina became our second home for the last six days at Venice Beach.Marvellous location, great service, delicious meals,even for the one of us who had never eaten Mexican food before, went there twice a day (noon cold drinks and hot salsa), evening great dinner,highly recommendable. By the way, all those guys over there in L.A. and the whole of California were very,very friendly

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07/18/08

Chips and Salsa at the door

by sbeckley40

First off, the place has free chips and salsa available at the front door, all you can eat. Food is solid Mexican fare- good burritos and fajitas, and excellent fish tacos. Try the El Bundigas soup- really, really good.

I go for the bar- bartenders are all very friendly and funny and make you feel at home. Nice patio for drinking margaritas in the sun, and gorgeous waitresses. Cheap valet right at the door, so no worries about parking. Probably my favorite bar in Venice (address says Marina del Rey, but vibe is totally Venice). :)

Pros: Great bartenders, cool outdoor patio, hot waitresses, valet parking

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07/17/08

No chips and salsa!

by doll83

This Mexican bar and eatery is a good place for a laid-back dinner, even late in the evening. We arrived there at 11pm and were seated promptly. On the patio patrons can enjoy fireside dining while watching sports on the numerous screens. It took a long time until the menu arrived at our table. After ordering salmon tacos we didn't get any chips and salsa-- which is actually a common practice in Mexican restaurants. The food was good though. It came hot, the fish was fresh and tasty. The service was so kind though to bring us extra guacamole without adding it to the bill.

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10/30/07

This Place Was Cool!!

by skelaxin99

To start our day on the coust during our one week LA vacation, my GF and i decied to drive around and look for a Mexican food place to eat.

We found Baja Cantina. It looked really neat from the outside and you could tell that the inside decore would be interesting as well.

The entry way and main bar was very, very dark and juxtaposed the brightly lit outdoor patios on either side.

We decided to sit on one side of the patio where there was only a family eating close to us.

My babe loved her salad and even took a photo of it because it was so colorful! I had the salmon tacos with mexican rice on the side. She had a house margarita and i had the same.

We must have looked like tourists because we were acutally BROUGHT our chips and salsa as opposed to getting them on you own at the entrance which is one of the neat quirks about this place.

The weather was great, the food was great, the sevice was great (although it did take us a bit long to get our ritas), and the overall ambience was great.

Apparently, on the weekneds, this little place tourns into a young and old surfer hangout with live music in the patio from time to time.

Guess showing up on a weekday at around 11am was too early for the beach party!

Pros: Great Looking Place, Great Food, Great Ambience, and Great Spirits
Cons: Maybe Just A Tad Bit Slow In Getting Our Drinks

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08/15/07

Great Cadillac Margaritas!

by bigjd1

The Baja Cantina was a great experience. The Cadillac Margaritas were great - the Grande size was perfect; pricey but way worth it.

The staff was cool, (chicks in the front were a little dry, but the cocktail staff rocked). Our waitress was Shannon. She kept the drinks coming and made sure we had refills on everything.

The TJ Taxi was pretty good. (It's a chicken burrito served very large).

Overall, the place is fun. I'd rate it higher than any of the mexican places in Old Town San Diego or Kansas City, two other areas I've frequented the mexican bars.

Baja Cantina

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Editor's Tips

08/10/08

Great place

by Guenter

07/18/08

Chips and Salsa at the door

by sbeckley40

07/17/08

No chips and salsa!

by doll83

10/30/07

This Place Was Cool!!

by skelaxin99

08/15/07

Great Cadillac Margaritas!

by bigjd1

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