Baja Willies Mexican Restaurant

So low in the flesh, so high in the bone
Oh Willie, we hardly knew ye

My boyfriend has been begging me to come here since moving to HB. I finally obliged, mainly because I wasn’t in the mood to make a choice myself. I don’t know what the big deal was to be honest.
The parking lot was completely crowded upon arriving. They share a lot with Woody’s Diner, but neither restaurant was really crowded in comparison to the number of cars in the lot. I’m guessing the movie theatre crowd across the street came here to avoid the parking lot fees on their side of the street… anyway…
We were seated in a booth and menus were already on the table, despite the fact the host was holding our menus… he even seemed surprised… I guess the couple sitting at this booth got up and left and had it not been for my boyfriend, I probably would’ve joined them…
It took about 10 minutes before someone noticed us (oh! and there were only 2 other tables inside that had customers, so it wasn’t because they were busy!!) and asked to take our drink orders and bring us some chips. Then another waiter asked for our drink orders and then our waitress asked about our drink order! Really!!!
I ordered the Enchilada Vallarta and my boyfriend ordered the Enchilada Mazatlan. The drinks were good… they weren’t watered down at least. And the food was decent. Not great or memorable, but decent and plenty of it. The ambience was kinda cheesy. There was no continuity of furniture throughout the place and my boyfriend realized that the 2-​tops were actually furniture booths from another restaurant that has since closed down! Maybe everyone goes there for the happy hours, I don’t know… but I don’t think I’ll make it a priority to return to this restaurant…
I’ll probably go over to Taco Surf instead…

I went to Baja Willie’s for lunch yesterday. They ran one of those ads for a free lunch or dinner with purchase of one of equal or greater value plus two drinks. They said nothing about «Not valid on Sunday».
Since we were already seated when we got the news that they would not honor their own coupon we went ahead and selected the buffet lunch.
In their ad they claim to be a «Fine Mexican Restaurant & Cantina» but I’ve eaten in a lot of Fine Mexican Restaurant & Cantinas all over Mexico, the South West and So Cal. This was not one of them. The food was on the over salted and greasy side. The ribs, while they lasted, were flavorful but fatty with lots of connective tissue and before noon were gone and not replaced. Some of the other selections were okay except for being over salted, the horchata (or sometimes called orxata) was watery, the churros were doughy on the inside.
We had a good waitress but a waiter of busboy would reach over a banister and across the table to pick up empty plates instead of walking a round the banister and picking them up from the aisle side.
The dishes looked to be mismatched bargain plates and though plentiful,
had food and hair on them so you had to go through a few to find a clean one.
The décor was old and outdated and included an old telephone booth (no phone) and a couple of horses from an old merry-​go –round. Not sure what they all had in common.
If you want a better meal where the owners honor their coupons, have clean plates, keep the chaffing dishes stocked and don’t charge any more for the Sunday brunch, try El Ranchito or Acapoco Restaurant in Costa Mesa.

I feel bad giving such a bad review for this place because the service was actually really nice. But this time it really doesn’t make up for awful food. My boyfriend and I came here trying to rush before a movie over at $ 3 theater because we couldn’t get in at Gyu-​Kaku after waiting for a long time. We had been here once before on Cinco de Mayo and were only drinking, but even then we weren’t impressed.
I have to say, the interior in the place is one of the most awkward I’ve seen, and it was completely dead on a Friday night. We should’ve known by how empty this place was, but we didn’t have many other options. The salsa they bring you with the chips is not very good, but I’m glad there were chips to fill up on. I ordered the chile relleno, and Mr. Nikki M ordered an enchilada. My chile relleno had the nastiest coating in the outside. It literally tasted like bad scrambled eggs… yuck! Boyfriend was not keen at all on his enchilada, Usually if nothing else is edible, you can at least stomach the rice and beans… this was not the case here.
Very poor experience here, and not sure I’ll ever be back. Unless someone convinces me the drink specials are worth it.

Great Service… check
Great Carne Asada Burrito… check
Trivia & Texas Hold um… check
Great Bartender named Tom
Free fresh buffet every night from 10pm to 2pm
Definitely a must try

The food is nothing to rave about. But the champagne brunch on Sundays is worth trying.
Now if you want the dive bar, friendly atmosphere kind of place, come here on a Friday or Saturday night. Drink prices are reasonable and after 10:00PM they have a taco, sandwich, posole bar, free for those who at least buy a drink (alcohol or not).
I’m a local who comes here quite often with my wife. I never see fights, the occasional douche bag or two, but in HB they are quite common. Otherwise, it’s a nice kick back place with an outdoor patio, nice bartenders & servers.
*****Dammit, found out they closed for good on Halloween… RIP!

I see a lot of negative reviews on Taco Willies but I don’t get it. Someone said «It feels more like a run down dive bar than a restaurant.» Hey, I like dives and this place is not, at all, run down. It’s Orange County. Everything in Orange County has to be Disneyland clean. It’s a capitol crime to be old, or run down in Orange County.
I like the place. They have a lot of locals that frequent the place which adds atmosphere and the happy hour taco bar has a lot more than the run-​of-​the-​mill taco bar.
Check out the happy hour and I’ll bet that you’ll be back.
I know that I will.

The service was great and the drinks were a bargain. We went on a Sunday so the buffet was their main item, but we all went for menu items. I had steak fajitas, which were so tender and flavorful. They did not look quite normal, maybe they were pounded?, but they tasted great. Rob had some sort of fillet of beef with bacon wrapped chilies which were the star of his meal, while the fillet was not really a fillet and a little over cooked. Ken had the standby of Carnitas which were a little dry but nice and crispy the way that he likes them. Beans and rice were standard, somewhere a Mexican Grandma is hanging her head in shame, how hard can it be to make real rice and real beans instead of opening a can or box?
Overall the price for the food was a little high and that was with us using a
$ 25 certificate. The drinks were strong and cheap, would recommend for drinks and try the taco bar that others have written about here.

So, my now husband and I went on our first date here… how romantic, I know. I can’t believe I actually married him after eating at this place! Just kidding.
Really though, after reading the reviews of the people who go here for happy hour– I can see why it’s still in business. There aren’t many dive bars left these days and this definitely qualifies as one. We were the only couple/​people having dinner in the place. From where we were seated, it sounded like the people in the bar were having fun.
The food was awful. The food gets a 1 star. But, I decided to upgrade my rating to a 2 star because I can see where people who want to go to a crazy/​weird dive bar could benefit. Just don’t eat anything until you have had several drinks and can’t taste it.

Okay so its not a fancy bar, but for some reason my friends and I keep going here on a weekly basis! One day after eating at Gyu-​Kaku across the street we decided to check out Baja Willies out on a whim. The night is young, ehh what the hell lets do it and see what happens.
So it’s a straight up a hole in the wall mexican bar/​restaurant. They have plenty of seating and a self-​serve taco bar. Basically, all you have to do is buy a shot or a beer, and your entitled to eat as many tacos as you want! In all honesty, the tacos are not worth reviewing but I think it’s definitely worth it to end the night here, especially if you’ve been drinking prior. The bartenders are really nice and they hook you up with real shots. Plus they’re open really late too so its a nice place to get a couple shots, sip on some Corona’s, shoot the shit. The only time I ever drink tequila is probably when I go here. Hey man, when in Rome.

What to say about this place…
My boyfriend and I were craving some Mexican food so we thought we would try this place. The service was good, and the waitress was very attentive. The drinks were reasonable and strong. I would totally come back for drinks… not for food.
To start, the chips were stale. Like 3 days stale. I had the one of the ‘signature dishes’ enchiladas rancheras’ (or something like this) and they were beyond awful. The enchiladas were filled with cheese and cold, the beans were really hot, and the rice was mediocre at best. And the thing that gets me, is all of this had absolutely no flavor. Bland is an understatement.
As I mentioned, the waitress was great and took my dish off the bill, but my boyfriend was equally unenthusiastic by his bacon wrapped shrimp.
We did not know the taco bar was free or available, we just thought it was a buffet that was on the menu. It would have been nice if anyone told us that.
I will go back for drinks, but that is all.

This review is strictly for their late night drinks. I’ve only come here past nine for drinks and have never tried their food. I love their laid back atmosphere. Some people think its just another trashy hole in the wall type mexican joint, but I love it. The bartenders are nice, especially the owner guy (i think he’s the owner). They pour stiff drinks.
On the weekends, after 10 they set out some free food. With a purchase of a $ 4 drink, you can pig out on their free food! What a deal! They set out make-​it-​yourself sandwiches, chips, tortillas, rice, beans, beef, and a whole condiment bar. This definitely saves me money on my late night alcohol eats. I love sitting out on the patio with friends. Drinks are average price, $ 6 shooters. I’ve never paid for anything else, but none of my friends complain about the prices.

Will never go back again.
The food is mediocre and the bartender/​assistant manager on Friday nights (tall, thin, older, gray hair) is an absolute raging idiot. Calls himself «Flaco.» We have never been treated so badly at any restaurant.
I will never give this place another dime of my money.

Most amazing Sunday Champagne Brunch around! You can not drink the champagne fast enough before they refill your glass, the buffet is HUGE and includes an omelet bar, and if you compliment strange men on their t-​shirts they are likely to buy you a free cocktail and give you a lap dance… at least that is my experience.
Be there. Sunday. 10am-​2pm.

How come I haven’t written a review of this place yet ?! Hello, we’ve been coming here since we were kids when the parents wanted to get buzzed thanks to the champagne brunch !
Well unfortunatley, I hadn’t been back here in probably 3 years and when we were coming back for my aunts birthday I was STOKED ! I was imagining the delicious buffett filled with enchiladas, ribs, rice, beans, salad bar, pozole, menudo, omellete station, waffle bar… endless.
BUST.
Looks like the place has gone downhill fast. The interior is exactly the same however the food is well, flavorless. The only thing that was excellent was the salad bar and really, how do you mess up lettuce and all the toppings ?
This place is forgettable and I will not be back. I would rather cross the street to The Loft for a little hawaiaan action. Yummy.

Ick!
I’ve definitely had better Mexican food than this place offers. I understand reading the other reviews people liked the place for their drink specials, but putting that aside… the food is awful.
I don’t drink so I went for the food… Taco Tuesday. WOW, my hands smelled like a wet dog afterwards. I’m so sorry, but I just did NOT like the tacos, meat, presentation, etc… The staff was courteous and I am willing to give it another shot… maybe a quesadillas? I mean you can’t go wrong with cheese and tortillas, right???
Sorry Baja Willies… me no like.

The drinks are cheap, the staff is inattentive, the chips and salsa are ok and the food could be better… but if you’re looking for a low key night and want to grab a drink and something to munch on before catching a $ 3 movie… this is the place to go! If the $ 3 theater wasn’t across the street, I’d have definitely not come back. This is never a place you crave to eat, but its great to just hang out and drink.
Take a good look at the menu WHEN you get it. Decide on your drink, food and anything else you might want. They’ll come back pretty quickly the first time, so no dilly dallying and chatting with the people you came with. Game face!!!

Jeez, Laura S, have you not been to Mexico or any authentic taquerias in SoCal before? Not that BW’s is authentic, but It has that kinda flavor. Besides it ain’t dirty… it’s just sticky!
It is as another Unilocaler implied; a dive bar attached to a Mexican restaurant. Fun, edgy, and the Sunday mariachi serenaded brunches are a blast. Drink a few margies, eat some ok brunch buffet comida, and you will soon get in the spirit.
It’s a great place for groups, but bring the kids only if they are used to f’ bombs, assorted acts of drunken behavior, you know, like Rosarito!

Came here for happy hour yesterday. They have a damn good happy hour. I’m not sure how much things are individually, but we had 2 margaritas, chips and salsa, and 1 happy hour taco bar plate for $ 9. Not bad!
The taco bar isn’t just taco’s either. They have nachos and salad too. It’s probably one of the largest happy hour food set-​ups i’ve seen.
But, this place is dirty and has a somewhat creepy feel to it. I can’t really explain it. But, I probably won’t be coming back because of this. It feels more like a run down dive bar than a restaurant. The patio is big and open, but it’s really dirty.

I’ve been here three times now. Basiscally once a year when I get a entertainment book coupon. Two of the three times were very good. My 1^st and last visit I had the ground beef burrito which was full of flavor and I enjoyed very much. The 2^nd visit I had the flautas which were greasy and disgusting, giving me a nice stomach ache later. My wife got their enchiladas last time and enjoyed them. Service was great, drinks refills were always happening, and chips/​salsa were tasty. Not sure if I’d come without a coupon, it kind of fits into the Rodrigo’s/Don Jose’s category of food. The décor is kind of strange… Carousel horses and mismatched vinyl booths. I asked the waiter about it and he said they got the boothes and horses from a closed down Applebees.