Baja Fresh — Restaurant in Mission Viejo

I received a $10 reward from Baja Fresh by signing up for their text alerts. So I used my FREE $10 to try Baja Fresh for the first time!!

I order the Street Taco Trio which comes with 3 soft corn tortillas filled with grilled chicken, steak and carnitas with black beans and rice and two choices of sauces. I chose Salsa Baja and Salsa Verde (medium) salsas. And it only took about 15 mins before my food was ready!

I arrived at the location during this lovely, warm afternoon which is really beautiful and peaceful I might add!

Arturo made my visit the best!

I walked up to the Pick Up Here area and let him know my order was ready. He was so kind. I let him know this was my first time trying Baja Fresh and that I was excited to try it and see what it tasted like!

He went above and beyond and let me know that the other sauces, though I couldn’t choose them online, were up for grabs to try them out and see what I liked! He even recommended I try the Salsa Mango Mild sauce with the tortilla chips if I like that “sweet” taste to go along with my chips! He invited me back and said “hey, after you find out what you like, the next time you come, hey you know what to get!!” His positive spirit and energy truly brightened my day, I had to give him a shout out and give Baja Fresh a review!!

Thank you, Arturo!!

Now, how is the food?

So I started with the black beans and rice. The beans are soft and delicious and the rice has a really flavory seasoning to it! The flavors both complement each other so well. Then I moved to the Steak Taco. I wish that there was some mild red sauce to go along with the Chicken and Steak tacos to give them just a spice of flavor. But the Carnitas taco?! Oowee, that was the best out of the 3. The meat, the flavor and the taste, I truly enjoyed it!

Also, Arturo was right; the Salsa Mango does go quite perfect with the tortilla chips in giving it an uplifting sweet taste after eating the meat.

It was a blessed meal. I thank the Lord and Baja Fresh for it.

Overall my rating including the service and food = 4 out of 5...

The diabolo burrito is always good! I would have honestly given 5 stars if it wasn't for one sour experience with one employee tonight. I called before going to make sure the place closed at the time on Google. As soon as someone picked up the phone there was no "Welcome to Baja Fresh" or some other introduction, the girl immediately said "Please hold" and didn't give me time to say anything. I thought maybe it was just busy at the moment and she didn't actually put the phone on hold because I could hear the background. I waited a few minutes but decided to just call back since I just needed to confirm the closing time, and when I redialed and the same girl picked up she immediately just asked if I was the person she put on hold before, and then I just said I wanted to check the closing time and then hung up once she confirmed. I went yo order the food in person and the cashier was super nice. When my order was called I think the girl who picked up the phone was the one calling and giving the orders that were ready out, because as soon as she saw that I was coming up to receive the order she called she shoved the food at me and said "Have a good night ma'am!" She also didn't act the same way to another customer who picked up their order right after me, so that was pretty pathetic. But the cashier was super nice and the good...

The dining landscape has undoubtedly changed in recent years, with many casual food restaurants opting to cut corners in service and quality under the pretense of cost-saving measures. However, Baja Fresh in Mission Viejo, CA. stands as a commendable exception to this trend. By maintaining a clean environment, offering a diverse and appealing menu, and providing outstanding service, they have not only upheld their commitment to quality but have also preserved the cherished tradition of a complimentary Salsa Bar. In an age where such offerings have become increasingly rare, Baja Fresh reminds us that the essence of great casual dining lies in an unwavering dedication to excellence in both food and service. If you are a regular, or a new patron, try my favorite: Grill Wahoo "bare" style serviced in a bowl. This low carb, high protein dish is servede with cabbage, guacamole, black beans (upon request), and salsa verde. Ask David for his special fish sauce made with vinegar, and mayonnaise (see...