Baja Taqueria

I live in NYC, was visiting family in California. I heard about this place went and got a bunch borritos for take out for family. Tacos are huge, and made fresh as you wait. I'm not a fish eater but family loved the fish. I had a vegetable one and loved it. Went back the next morning and got another for my flight home. Out door seating in rear. Plenty of tables, place is huge and great staff. Owner is really nice. Place is spotless, including restrooms. Plenty of room for wheel chairs and street level entrance.

Ordered Two taco combo plate. Fish taco was really well cooked. Chicken was fine, but not as good as the fish. The bluegrass show made the atmosphere excellent and was a lot of fun.

No street tacos here but good sea food tacos and great salsa. Very expensive though $7.11 +tip for one taco

A visit to Baja Taqueria is always a high point of any day for me. I’ve tried a number of items on the menu but my favorites are the fish taco and the bean and cheese burrito. I also cherish a stop to the salsa bar to pick up the spicy goodness of a little heat to fire up my entree. There are several areas to eat on site - by the street-view window or at one of several tables inside or outdoors. I have encountered smiles and wonderful service from the staff. Overall whether I eat in or take out my tummy is happier because I stopped here.

I did a take out pickup for their combo chicken taco and fish taco. Both were outstanding. Both were prepared so well with generous portions. The side of rice and beans were also very good and it comes with chips. A definite repeat. So lucky to have this place handy on my way home. Healthy eating that tastes so good.

I found Baja taqueria to be a very pleasant dining experience and the cashier was very helpful our food came in a timely manner The salsa bar was clean and well stalked we ate on the back patio on a nice day The food was plated well I'm very tasty

Received the wrong item ordering thru their website. I called to get a refund and staff said they didn’t know how to do that. It’s disappointing that they couldn’t address a simple refund.

Really disappointed! I ordered their regular nachos and paid $12. The chips were soggy and it didn't have very much cheese. It's supposed to have beans and I got a sprinkle of them. I thought maybe there were more beans underneath the jalapeños and their salsa fresca but there was maybe 3 little beans. See the picture for what it looked like right after I opened it. It may look like they gave me a lot but it was literally 1 thin layer of chips. Way overpriced for what they gave me. Go to The Burrito Shop on College instead.

This taqueria serves quite a bit more than just tacos and has some pretty good seafood to stuff in those corn tortillas, Baja style! Baja Taqueria packs a lot in their menu and occasionally offers specials off menu. Despite the variety, it's pretty much the same stuff just packed in different forms and served with different sides. Tacos, burritos, wraps, quesadillas, and combo plates are the main offerings and you'll have a variety of meats (or meat alternatives) to go with them. The shop seems small from the front where you order, but they have a whole area in the back for dine-in and it's quite spacious. The tables and chairs are easily moved and the room can probably accommodate a few small to medium sized parties or a large party. They have a relatively clean bathroom that is accessible as well. After we ordered, we went to seat ourselves in the back as we waited for our food. They'll call your name when the food is ready and you'll need to pick it up from the counter. There isn't much service aside from taking the order and cooking it; there is a self-service bus station but we didn't see staff members coming to clean the tables too often. We came in on a weekday afternoon for a late lunch/early dinner and it was pretty quiet. There were a few patrons getting takeout and a couple others who dined in. With the music playing and the artwork decorating the walls, the experience was peaceful and pleasant. I ended up ordering the Cajun fish taco platter. This plate was beautifully crafted to highlight the delicious white fish seasoned and grilled to perfection wrapped in corn tortillas and topped with tomatoes, onions, and lettuce. The fish melts in your mouth and is flavorful with each bite. They're not very big so they'll be gobbled up quick but the healthy helping of rice and beans as sides were fillers for the meal. The price point seemed relatively high by a little compared to other taquerias in the area however they do have happy hour every day between 3-6 for their beer and sangria. Perfect combo to go with your meal! Parking can be rough as it's mostly street parking with meters or permits required. You may get lucky in the surrounding residential neighborhoods with some free spots but they're few and far in between. Overall, Baja Taqueria is solid when it comes to Mexican food with some Baja flare. You won't get much service during your meal but the staff here will make sure your food comes out clean, delicious and presentable. You may be spending a bit more given that you're in a nicer area of Oakland but the difference isn't by too much compared to other cities. If you're in the area and happen to be hankering for some tacos or burritos, perhaps considering stopping by for a quick bite or a drink if it's happy hour time!

My mom and I came here after running some errands in the area and wanted tacos. I had the lobster tacos and she had shrimp and fish tacos. Not only were the lobster tacos themselves bomb but I was SO happy to finally find somewhere in the bay that serves them! The chips were crispy and not oily. Loved the green salsa that came with the chips. The person who took our order was friendly and brought our order out quickly. Even though we came around lunch, it wasn't crowded. They have a lot of tasty options, both Mexican and fusion wraps. I look forward to returning and exploring the menu more!

The food is incredible!!! Service is super fast and very friendly! Cute atmosphere :) i absolutely LOVE the chicken burritos (the grilled chicken is so simple but sooooo yummy)!!! That is my go to! The hole mole wrap is also delicious. The medium salsa is the absolute best! It makes the chicken burrito even better!

Came here for lunch and ordered the Chile Verde burritos to go. What i got was a bean and cheese burrito. Completely pork free and a waste of money. Dont know how you make a burrito and don't include the main ingredient, but I recommend not trying this place out. Rice and beans weren't even good.

I ordered my food through ChowNow twice in less than in one week and I had to call about their service both times. I don't know if it was them or the restaurant (same one both times). First time (Friday night) - I ordered ahead and the order was confirmed. But, when it was time for the order to arrive, no one came or called. I managed to call ChowNow and was told that the order had been cancelled; I don't know who cancelled the order. Second time (3 days later, Monday afternoon) - Someone confirmed the order and then couldn't-wouldn't come down the stairs to the front door. I have trouble with stairs. When I opened the bag 1) I didn't find any drink - bottled drink ($3.50) and utensils and 2) I didn't find the flan that I'd ordered ($9.00), instead there were 2 cookies. I don't know if the substitutes were anywhere near the same price. And, there was no warning. The food was luke warm I don't know if I'll give ChowNow a 3rd try. When I've eaten at Baja Taqueria before, I have enjoyed the food very much. But delivery is another story.

Was walking down Piedmont for something good for a late lunch being that it was an odd time (3pm) most places were closed, but seeing Baja I could imagine delicious fish dishes since Baja is known for their fish. Im really glad we came across this place and they were open! Our orders: Plantain Plate - delicious! Came with black beans and rice. The plantains were a perfect ripeness not too soft and crisped nicely on the outside soft on the inside. Loved this dish Baja Sampler - came with carne asada, pollo asado, rice and pinto beans. The chicken had such a good smoke taste and carne asada nice and tender i liked how it was chopped. Cheese enchiladas - my picky sister ordered this and finished the whole plate! She loved it Fish tacos - this is a must! Sooo juicy and crispy, cooked real baja style had cabbage on top too. All the food was great, the portions are generous, food is fresh. Also loved all the salsa's they had. The salsa verde flavor is amazing.

Called on 6 July around 11:30 am. Was put on hold for over 10 minutes. During that 10 minutes the lady that answered the phone took at least 3 more orders from people at the counter as we could hear everything she said. At minute 8 I said excuse me maam but she never replied. Tried that for 2 minutes. Finally hung up. I live in the neighborhood but will not be eating there anymore.

This was a really solid meal. Dropped in on a Friday afternoon for a late lunch and there were a few people eating in and a couple guys ahead of me waiting for their food. I was in the mood for tacos and their menu really talks up their fish tacos, so I went with their two-taco combo, which usually comes with a chicken and a fish. I asked the cashier if I could replace the chicken taco with a chili verde one and while she was initially hesitant, she said she'd do it for me. Wasn't too long of a wait for food after that, maybe 10 minutes. Everything was very delicious. I can't decide which taco I liked better but you won't go wrong with either. There was a very generous helping of chili verde on the taco and the piece of fish in the other one was pretty sizable. Not too much cabbage (in other words, it didn't feel like I was getting filler instead of the more expensive fish) and the combo of salsa fresca and sour cream was really nice with the fish. The breading on the fish was crispy and the fish was tender but not gummy or overcooked on the inside. Good rice and beans rounded out the meal. I'd definitely come back here again. Cashier was nice, the interior is bright and cheery, and there's a pretty decent amount of seating.

Located on Piedmont Avenue Parking can be hard to find at times Let me mention first that their salsa is good!! Authentic !! Called in my order Got a small tortilla soup Friend got Cajun fish salad ( his favorite) Soup was pretty tasty!! But a small is definitely a small!! I should have ordered a medium..... Cajun fish salad is also really good and well put together Ingredients are fresh Customer service is friendly Indoor/outdoor seating available Prices are reasonable Food is solid !!

I'm a vegetarian and been eating their veggie friendly food since soon after they opened thirty years ago (happy 30th bday btw!). My mom has too put always get their fish tacos. We love their food including free chips and salsa, the workers, some of whom have worked there for a few decades, and the bright warm spacious seating area... never too crowded and there's a lil patio out back. Sweet lil enclave of musical instruments above the front entryway. Prices are reasonable. Just wish the veggie burritos had plátano inside and didn't sell it as a $6 side. The clientele are regular working class folks and feels like the pre-dot com bust days of the Bay.

I was in Baja Taqueria today and there was a drunk guy swilling more and more beer. He reached out for me and grabbed me on my shoulder. I had to run out of the shop. No one there helped. They kept serving him more beer! The kid behind the counter did nothing. They looked the other way. I could not believe it. What a lousy thing to happen. The workers there did not have the presence of mind to call the police. They just shrugged their shoulders and filled up his beer glass!

Solid. After waiting over an hour for prescriptions at Kaiser, I just wanted some fast local takeout to chow down on at home. I've wanted to try Baja Taqueria for a while now, so I bopped in. Ordered the steak and prawn burrito deluxe (crema, salsa, & guacamole), and an order of the Baja Fries (steak cut fries). Chips and salsa came with the order as well. Order was made fresh, so frozen prawns were sautéed before joining the steak in the burrito. Likewise, fries dropped right after I ordered. About 8-10 min later I was walking out with a bag of joy. Prior to pandemic I would have eaten-in right then and there. But our new reality meant waiting another 10 min to drive home. Was not disappointed when I finally opened the bag. Burrito was still warm and each bite was simply delicious. Prawns were well seasoned and cooked beautifully ... not rubbery. Steak was tasty and moist. Everything worked super well together. I selected the hot salsa, and it spiked every bite with flavor without blowing my head off. Baja fries would have been better without the 10 min drive home. But they were still warm and a few had some crunch remaining. Next time I'd like the fries inside the burrito. Good food and pleasant service make for a win in my book. I'll be back!

Less than average enchilada. The chicken enchilada with the red sauce that tasted super odd, was no where near what a good enchilada should taste like. The chips and salsa are good, rice is flavorless. I'd rather go to a more authentic Mexican restaurant. Although they do serve a good fried calamari here, best to stick to that. Lesson learned

Disgusting margarita. Watered down & the alcohol was ridiculously cheap tasting. Price was conveniently left off the menu. $10 happy hour which is hardly a discount. Go to Monkey King down the street if you want bomb drinks.

I love getting their fish tacos! Nice crispy chips - get the red salsa to pair. Pretty good portion of fish, can't go wrong with this spot!

Cashier was a bit of a dick and very patronizing, you'd think after him living on this earth for over 60 years he'd learn the most basic level of customer service.

Haven't come here in years. Stopped by with a friend just before Covid and got a burrito. Pretty unremarkable. Well, gave it another shot today. Went in at about 1130. Ordered a chicken burrito... which came with a basic mix of: beans, rice, salsa and chicken for about $12. Good news!! For an extra $2.50 you can add sour cream, cheese and avo. Ok... a little pricy but why not. But for $14.50 (plus tip), you're looking at $15 or $16.... hoped it would be awesome. What I got was a crappy, garbage-burrito that was so cold, the tortilla felt cold to my hand. The cheese inside was not only sparse but wasn't melted (because it was dead-ass cold). The beans were lukewarm, the chicken was lukewarm. It was not at all fresh or hot. The avo was also just a small blop and can't really see it in the picture. Didn't taste very good, wasn't "bad"... just really bland and not at all worth it. Won't ever come here again, complete waste of money. You are better off going to the bottom of the block and just eating at Doña. Some of the best real Mexican food I've ever had for WAY less. This place is garbage and doesn't seem to have any pride in what they serve. In one very short summary: this place sucks.

Baja has always been one of my top spots for fish tacos in the area. I usually get the fish tacos when I come here, but do like the salad with fried calamari! More recently, I have been coming here for some nachos to compliment the fish tacos. Also recently ordered the grilled steak tacos that were very tasty. During this pandemic, it's been nice to know that they are open for quick takeout orders. They have social distance stickers on the floor, a hand sanitizer for customers. Never had their alcohol until last week, and I enjoyed their margarita for takeout. I came back a few days later for more food, but really for the margaritas. Their Sangria looked really good, their staff told me it includes brandy and you can see lots of fresh fruit! I came back for a third time this week just now, and ordered the Sangria with nachos again. The dinner was delicious, my only regret was not having a second Sangria. Baja has other items like Thai wraps, calamari burritos, cajun fish that make me want to branch out to other dishes. They have nice staff, and very good food. I recommend you stop by for some great fish tacos and a Margarita when you're near the Mosswood/Temescal area of Oakland.

While I don't have a punch line statement for Baja, I think it says something when I consider it to be one of my go-tos for Mexican food. I think they set themselves apart from their counterparts with a focus on seafood offerings. I can enjoy any of their calamari variations (fried appetizer, spicy burrito, etc) and since calamari isn't always available at other Mexican restaurants, they have this advantage when I am choosing between the spectrum of vendors. While the salsa bar is no longer self-service, back when during the pre-pandemic days, they had a generous policy - both cups and salsa were all up for grabs at the customer's discretion. One minor mishap personally - I did have a failed attempt to enjoy their fish burrito (fish tasted bland). I am probably back to sticking to my calamari options.

Baja has been a solid choice for my usual shrimp and steak burrito near my place and has been on Piedmont Ave for a long time. Their food has always been fresh and flavorful, they use organic rice and non-GMO corn, and provide complimentary chips and a variety of fresh salsas. It's not your usual taco truck fare but I appreciate that they use high quality ingredients. When I used to work in Kaiser Oakland Medical Center, Baja was a popular choice for when we ordered lunches for the teams. Their menu boasts something for everyone- tacos, burritos, wraps, salads, nachos, even vegan and gluten-free options. Prices are decent but may have slightly increased due to Covid and the area. Come support your local businesses!

Came to get a quick bite during lunch break. The fish taco lives up to its fame - very delicious. Perhaps a little too much sour cream but still very good. I also ordered the calamari burrito - do not get it. It was a giant mush of rice and sauce. I opened the burrito up to see where the calamari was - it was in there but very little of it. The calamari was also no bigger then a dime or nickel size ( whole) The staff is very nice. Parking is tough. And the wait time - specially if you are in a hurry - just know that it will be a minimum 15 min sometimes 20 min. Call in your order if you can. Vibe: fast food / mostly take out. The restaurant - sit down area is cold and not welcoming.

My fav thing here is the squid burrito. My second fav is the fish taco. I was craving tacos today and made a to go order for shrimp and fish tacos with chips and salsa verde and chipotle salsa. I used to love their salsa! BUT I'm sad to say that my tacos were disappointing - they gave way too much mayo dressing with the cabbage, my fish was super tiny (didn't fit in the tortilla), AND the salsa verde was stuck together like a jelly. To top it off, these 3 tacos cost me over $22. I'll give them another chance and come back for the squid burrito eventually. But for now, I'm cool off the tacos.

For some reason I never went here until just now - I love fish tacos, and this place is called Baja, so one would think it'd be a natural fit. Well I finally tried it and it's awesome. The eponymous Baja fish tacos are indeed good, but even better are the prawn tacos, which look expensive on the menu but they really load them up so it's worth it. The real +1 star is that they double-tortilla the tacos. IMHO fish tacos should always be double-tortilla, a single one just doesn't cut it. Great outdoor seating too.

Our first choice was closed so we walked up towards Baja and glad we did. It has been a while since we've been there but was nice to see different items such as Lobster and birria tacos. We had street tacos and a fish burrito this time but we'll have to come back. All was delicious.

To be honest i have tried a tastier burrito than this . This burrito is so simple it has no flavor The spicey cajun wrap tated so fishy i could barely taste the cajun; the steak and prawn burrito didn't impress me at all .

Honestly, Baja is pretty damn solid when it comes to their burritos. I've always felt like this part of Oakland was lacking in the Mexican food department, but Baja definitely holds its' own. Is it the best and most "authentic" Mexican food spot in this area? I'd be lying if I said it was. But when you're craving for a thick, meaty burrito that actually tastes good, Baja shows up and shows out. Me and burritos are a rare occasion. I really have to be craving for a burrito to go out of my way for it. On this particular day, I was having one of those cravings. I was hanging near Piedmont Ave and eyeballed this place in the distance. Thought, "Why not?" And ran down the street. I would describe it as one step up from a hole in the wall, but not quite a taqueria. Not authentic and a bit pricey but super convenient. Sometimes that's all that really matters. I ordered their steak and shrimp burrito and was so surprised with the size. At first I was like "$13 for a f*cking burrito?". But after I saw how big it was, I realized that it was really two meals in one. And it really WAS two meals for me. Ate one half that night and the next half the next day for lunch. Also, steak and shrimp always tend to be the most expensive anyways. It's pretty much a fancy ass burrito, and ya girl was feel quite fancy. The burrito itself was very flavorful. All of the wonderful components that you'd normally expect were there, and it was actually packed full of meat and not just rice and beans. It was super filling and very good. That SALSA was friggin' baaaangin'!!! Spent waaaay too much damn time at the salsa bar, but it was all for a good cause. And homeboy hooked ya girl up with an EXTRA bag of chips... ooohhh it was on! I tore that sh*t UP! Excuse my French... I did have to wait a long time. Like a REALLY long time. And unusually long time. I think that's why I got hooked up with the extra chips. I think they felt bad, but it worked in my favor. It was pretty busy that night. If you're in a rush, this may not be the spot for you. You gotta be patient and let them perfect the burrito first!!! So anyways... can't really comment on anything else here because I haven't tried anything else... YET. Oh, there's definitely another visit coming in the future. If you're a burrito fan, I would highly recommend the steak and shrimp burrito. It's hits the spot like whoooaaa!

Always come by Baja for some tacos whenever I'm in Piedmont. The chicken tacos were really juicy and flavorful The fish tacos were delicious! Perfectly fresh and crisp The chips are light and perfect! Their salsas are so fresh, always glad to take an extra container to bring home

Baha'i Taqueria is the best it is the absolute best, by all means you must try it. It won't disappoint

Stopped here for lunch, was craving a burrito. For 17$ it definitely was not worth it. Paid an extra 1.25 for a tomato tortilla. Super cold and lack of flavor. Portion was pretty small for the price. Previous reviews are spot on with the images of their burrito size. Pretty disappointed in it all. Probably will never come back. So many better places elsewhere for a reasonable price.

Been going here for a decade. Food is good. I like their baja sampler and my wife likes their steak and lobster burrito. This place however is not for quiet dining. A peaceful mail will not be possible as the staff hoots and holler as if they are in Tijuana. They feed on each others energy as one gets louder the whole bunch gets out of control. Sometimes that's the reason they can't get the order right. Check order before leaving. Barely anyone eats in anymore.

Been coming here for decades. Chicken taco and Thai chicken wrap are my go-to's, and always excellent.

I went here for the first time about two weeks ago and my family and I loved the burritos! I had the steak and prawn burrito. They did not skimp on the shrimp, as with each bite, there was shrimp. I loved the mild salsa as well. The customer service was great. It's a casual place to eat. This time around my order was to go, but next time, I'll try dining in.

The fish taco was really good, but the steak taco was only okay. The service was great as well, very friendly. Definitely would come back here for another fish taco. Also they have tasty Mexican beer on tap which is pretty awesome.

Nachos Machos are my favorite. Staff is always very friendly. The ambiance is colorful fun and welcoming. I look forward to coming here every time I visit family in the Bay Area

Sooooo good. I had a quesabirria taco and some pork chili verde street tacos. Tasted incredibly fresh & delicious! Basic service, order at the counter & they call your name when it's ready.

Good burritos, favorite tacos and burritos in town. Shrimp and steak burrito is my favorite

Based on my great experiences here and the 3.5 star Yelp rating I see overall, I think what you order here greatly impacts your experience. I'll preface my review with the disclaimer we've only ordered burritos, salads and quesadillas. I've had their grilled chicken burrito with refried and traditional rice and have never been disappointed. Their salads are hearty and quesadillas tasty. Their salsa bar is vast and we love their green and red roasted kind. Chips are good and like most taquerias I've been to. As with most businesses on Piedmont Ave, Kaiser is close by so expect the lunch rush between 12:45-2pm. Pros: Delicious Mexican food, lots of seating. Cons: Lines at lunch. Bottom line: Reliable affordable Mexican food.

The people working there seemed very nice but the food is tasteless . I even had to add salt to the fish tacos to taste anything at all. The tortillas were uncooked and not edible. The overly priced "lobster" burrito maybe had actual lobster in it but if it did you would never know it. Very disappointed. Will never waste my money there again.

Thank you for your time to respond but I don't think I'll be returning after last experience the food was that mediocre. I know Covid is impacting all of us but entire feeling of your business had changed and I noted this upon entry - I wish you the best.

Baja has been a neighborhood staple for many years. I've frequented the quaint establishment several times and I enjoy every meal! From the Nachos Machos to the Steak Burrito that I order " mojado" with mole. The chips are so damn good coming out hot & crispy that is a meal unto itself as far as I'm concerned! My only complaint is the portion sizes. I'm used to a much larger portion of nachos or a larger size burrito at other restaurants but again Baja is a neighborhood staple and the taste and fresh ingredients keep me coming back! Plus the menu has so much variety and a fully visible kitchen is a huge plus with me!

I feel this place is deserving of a solid 3. 5 stars. I discovered Baja taqueria while searching for the best fish tacos. This place is really overpriced unless you come on Tuesday when they have 40% off. I ordered the fish salad which is really good. It came with a light Olive oil dressing. The fish was a good size and fresh. My bf ordered a burrito and he wasn't that impressed. They do have really good salsa here. I couldn't stop stuffing my face with the chips! The margarita was blah. Just sweetness and calories, no real kick. I'm having a hard time adjusting to bar area prices coming from So Cal where Mexican food and tacos are plenty and cheap. I'll have to return to try the fish taco.

I've only ordered the salads here, because I'm on keto. And they've been really tasty. I've had the fish, prawn, and steak with my salads. All have been yummy. Some days the amount of protein feels a little sparse, but nothing egregious. Convenient to order online, and staff has been friendly. Will look forward to dining in when it's safe to do so (due to COVID)

Tacos are much better now. IMO they went through a not so good stage but I think they are mostly back. My biggest issue is that some staff are SO loud and that starts very loud interactions across the restaurant. I've tried trice lately and have now given up on eating there.

Fast and easy spot. Their portions are generous but nothing to write home about. Service is fast and friendly. I really only like their plantain plate. My boyfriend likes their chicken dishes a whole lot while I think they lack flavor. Parking on Piedmont Ave can be a pain.

The habesha lady at the front that answers the phone is just terrible at her job!! I usually order ahead to pick up and she's had me waiting for more than 5 minutes!! I hang up and call back but it goes straight to voicemail. It's extremely frustrating! I don't understand why it's so hard for her to take a quick phone order...I don't mind waiting if she takes one live persons order but I can hear that she takes order after order after order and never comes back to the phone! They don't know how to multitask. They seriously need to work on their customer service skills starting with that lady who doesn't know how to take a phone order in a timely manner. I don't recommend this place for the poor customer experience. I'm done with them.

Great local spot. I love their chips, and their chipotle salsa is one of my all time favorite taqueria salsas. I'm a big fan of their steak and prawn burrito. Highly recommended.

Excellent verdeJ Friendly service clean work area. Been here half dozen times and never had a bad meal. Lobster burritos yum. Wish they were open later

This place didnt really look like much on the outside. I ordered a chicken taco and a sangria. It was nice to see that the sangria could be taken out of the store. I was very unimpressed by the tacos. They were okay and tolerable, but I wish there was more variety.

They are getting two stars. One for stellar service and attention to detail. The Second Star is for the free chips. My girlfriend and I got calamari, a lobster burrito, as well as a steak and lobster burrito. The regular calamari was at $8.00 there was 6-7 pieces of soggy undercooked calamari. The lobster burrito was soupy and disgusting. They are focusing on the name of the burrito and lacking quality.