Baja Fresh Mexican Grill

We used to eat here all the time. Now it’s dead. RIP Baja Fresh.
If you need cheap Mexican fare in the Conshy metro, try El Limon…

I give Baja Fresh 4 stars because I really really like their steak enchiladas with rice and black beans. Don’t know about anything else. The restaurant is not the cleanest at this location, but it doesn’t bother me too much.
I’ve visited the Conshohocken site several times and my enchiladas were always consistently good. After the drippings of my ‘ladas remain in the bottom of my plate, i mix in the beans and rice, tomato’s and cilantro and sour cream (sorry if this description is gross, maybe I should have just said I mix in the enchilada sauce). By the time I’m finished eating, I’m usually so full you have to wheel me out.
I’m hungry now…

My wife and I used to eat at Baja Fresh all the time, and usually enjoyed the meal.
Not any more. This place has been run to the ground. I’m wondering if it’s changed management… Or better yet, no management at all. I had the WORST burrito in my life. From now on, we’ll go to Qdoba across from the Plymouth Mall.
To make matters worse, while I’m choking on my lousy food, one of the employees is sweeping the dusty floor. I cringe at the thought of what’s being kicked up in the air and landing on my food. Also, the bench seating was badly worn, ripped and in very poor condition. Even though the floor was swept while eating my food, the overall appearance of this place is FILTHY. One more thing, in my opinion, the tattooed, pierced girl taking orders & serving food should not be greeting the public. Aren’t there any clean-​cut people wanting a job?

Yesterday my boyfriend and I stopped by to grab dinner at Baja Fresh since we were doing some shopping in the area.
I have eaten at Baja Fresh multiple times at multiple different locations in Manhattan, LA, SF, etc. It is not Mexican food but rather tex mex chain.
As far as tex mex chains go Baja Fresh is one of my favorites. I would rate them in the order as listed below.
1) Rubio’s
2) Baja Fresh
3) Qdoba
4) Chipotle
As far as this location in particular, I would have to admit the floors/​tables are a little dirty but aside from the aesthetics the staff is helpful, friendly and they have never messed up my order at this location. I have been to other locations where I have asked for my burrito without sour cream and multiple times end up getting a burrito with what in it? Sour Cream!
Yesterday I decided to try something different and went with the three taco combo. First off, it was plenty of food and second the tacos were so tasty. I think I will get that option more often.
Lastly, another additive that I love about Baja Fresh aside from their yummy food is that they GIVE you Chips and have a salsa bar. Unlike other places like Chipotle, where you have to pay extra for them.

Probalby a solid 3.5 stars, but I’m ’rounding up’. When we lived out here before, we would visit this location with some regularity — between trips to IKEA, and dropping off and picking people up at the airport, etc. I’ve visited several Baja Fresh locations — Watchung, NJ; Manhattan; SF.
Yes, this location is grungy. But, the food was fine.
If you’re not familiar with the chain, then put it in the strata of Moe’s, and Chipotle. The experience is not ‘hip’ like Chipotle, and the burritos are different, but it is a Tex-​Mex chain. This is NOT a Mexican restaurant. This is a chain. This is fast food.

Having lived in Southern California for nearly a decade where Baja Fresh is ubiquitous, I am certainly an experienced Baja-​customer. When I discovered one in my new area I was thrilled! They make fresh chips. They have a salsa bar. Everything is flavorful! Or… not.
The first time I went it was to grab some chips and salsa, having been craving some fresh, flavorful versions of each. I got it to go. The salsa bar? Well, they didn’t have salsa verde. The salsas were completely different from the ones I was used to in LA. The 6 pepper «spicy» salsa wasn’t that spicy and was honestly just too salty. Okay. The chips were also not up to par and still greasy from the fryer. But hey, at least they were fresh chips, right?
My husband and I decided to try it again for lunch yesterday. This time they did have salsa verde, which was thin and had a lot of cilantro flavor, but not too bad. No chopped onion or cilantro on the salsa bar, though. I got my usual, the grilled veggie burrito. Which came with… romaine lettuce? Uh, it doesn’t come with romaine lettuce, but it was there anyway. LOTS of it. My husband got the nacho burrito and said it tasted like they forgot to put the queso on it. 0 for 2, Baja Fresh.
The place is also dirty — I certainly wouldn’t order seafood there. And slow. They were dealing with a catering order, but it still took 10 – 15 minutes for our food to come out. And the workers looked flustered and like they didn’t know what they were doing. I wanted my burrito ranchero style (topped with sauce and cheese, put under the salamander), and the cashier had to walk over and tell the cooks what to do.
Almost immediately after our lunch, my husband felt ill, which lasted most of the night. So I doubt we’ll be back to this location.

OK well lets see I gave this location another chance, a do over you might say seeing the first time around might have been an off day. Nope, I was wrong same as my first visit here.
The counters and displays were a mess, you could see beans and rice being over cooked, the pico de gallo looked pico-​less! The staff making or prepping the orders looked like they would rather be some place else. I asked a question, nearly got my head torn off as if I insulted you by asking for you to mix the guacamole. For this being a chain location I hope this isn’t like this everywhere.
Team Baja you are not looking so fresh over here. More like «BAAA HAAA «with the sides looking like its not the freshest of fresh !
My first visit I had ordered the «Baja Taco» (steak) with some chips and a cup of their smoky queso cheese. The taco wasn’t what I expected, I was looking for some kind of flavor, little kick to the taste buds with this. The cilantro tasted dried out. no taste to it. The pico had run its course just not even a hint it being hot, almost like watered down. I had to add extra salsa to it just for me to notice anything. The steak … well over cooked had a leathery chew to it, I was afraid I was going to sprain my jaw, or pull something lol.
The only thing that saved it was that queso, that was good, nice kick to it with their chips. Why could they put this kind of effort into their tacos’ or sides.
Second visit was the same outcome as the first, this time I went for one of their burritos, a «Pork Diablo ’ ! With a name like that you are hoping for some kind of fire alarm to go off in your taste buds. It was ok in the spice realm with a chipolte sauce they put on there with the pepper jack cheese. Everything else. failed, can not even say mediocre for this. The Pork carnita was bland, no taste, too stringy, the black beans (option of black or pinto) over cooked which ruined the burrito as it came apart a third of the way. The rice was well over cooked which turned to a big brick of mush mixed with everything else, cilantro I could barely taste. Another disappointment on team Baja
So the 2 stars is for that queso and their salsa bar, the only thing that saved this. The staff the first time around wasn’t the friendliest, maybe it was a bad day for them my first time. Cleanliness is sub par, they gotta stay on top of things with orders being made. I am not sure if I will stop in again, at least not for another few months. Hopefully something has changed,

I was really excited to try Baja Fresh after watching an episode on Undercover Boss last year. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm died after my experience.
Here’s the skinny:
PROS: nice location, parking, salsa bar and ok service.
CONS: Everything else: dirty facility with guacamole and sauces on the floor and a few tables.(I’ve never seen anything like this in any Chipotle I’ve been to); food was nothing special (rather bland IMO) and it cost about a buck more than Chipotle. I couldn’t wait to leave and don’t plan to go to that location (or maybe any BF) again.
Definitely DO NOT recommend!

This Baja Fresh is in the strip mall on the westbound side of Ridge Pike, not eastbound as some GPSes show. Since it is a strip mall with an adequate parking lot, I didn’t have any problems parking. However, I do not know if this strip mall is busier in the day. I was there on a weekend evening.
I ordered a carnitas nachos. I thought the food was really only average, not something I would go very far out of my way for. However, they did have an interesting cranberry salsa in the complimentary salsa bar. What I didn’t like is the employee banter. While I was there, I overheard some racist jokes from them and even if not directed at me personally, I did think those were inappropriate.

Baja fresh prides itself on fresh ingredients, and made to order food. no cans and no microwaves are part of their motto. I can’t say that they always live up to this, but I certainly feel there is a lot to credit this chain for.
The selection is definitely the largest of any burrito-​ey chain; there is something for pretty much anyone. They also have constantly rotating specials to keep things interesting, most recently their summer tacos were pretty good. you’ll also hardly ever have to pay full price as you can find coupons anywhere from your last receipt to emails sent often to your inbox.
The salsa bar is sadly what most keeps me coming back. Several salsas, fresh cilantro and limes are all unlimited. I also like their new focus on biodegradable packaging, to go along with their longstanding option to buy a cup and bring it back with you for cheap refills.
Customer service has always been good to me here as well. Friendly counter workers, and even the guys mopping the floors say hello with a smile. My only issue is that I can never seem to get more than just warm food, and it’s always cold by the time I get it home. also sometimes the pico de gallo looks made with unappealing tomatoes and should have not been put out for use.

So it’s not genuine Mexican. And yes, it’s a chain. But here I am, thorough Latino, with a Gringo WASP partner. And if I took him to a genuine Mexican place, his stomach would be a volcano for three days and I’d never hear the end of it.
We got here during a whirlwind shopping afternoon, fresh from the Lowes and prior to the REI stops. My partner had the steak tacos and I had the Chipotle avocado chicken salad. He did remark that he’d rather have had the regular ground beef tacos. My salad was awesome.
I love their salsa bar. With their chips, it is fresh salsa, and it is good. Besides, we were hungry. Good lunch and good surroundings.