Baja Bean Co.

This bar/​restaurant has a nice patio with a young crowd, a cool place to hang out at. The prices aren’t expensive, the food is passable. The service was pretty good, our server was attentive and friendly. It is a chill atmosphere and great for families with children or big groups.

This place has never appealed to me (it’s run down and dirty), but I went for a friend’s graduation get-​together. I used a credit card to open a tab, had two drafts, then went to close out. I paid in cash (since I actually had it) and assumed that was that. And then I saw a $ 15+ charge on my card. First off, my tab was paid. Second, my tab was barely half that! I’m in the process of disputing the charge, with no help from Baja staff. Obviously, the bartender pocketed my cash and charged my card, tacking on an absurd gratuity, I assume. So if you visit this sketchy dump, at least pay in cash as you go and DO NOT give anyone your credit card.

The food is gross and it smells like a gross fraternity. The waitress I had was rude and a drunk guy came up and sat himself at our table. Overall a gross experience. Do not go to this restaurant.

I hate to write this review because one of the bartenders is a friend of mine. Having said that, the food is terrible, the servers give you an attitude and the crowd that goes there are annoying frat boys and sorority girls looking for free drinks.

Really tasty food at an affordable price. Their drinks are super cheap even when it’s not happy hour. I love the taco salad, has an excellent tortilla bowl. The margaritas are great, and the cheese dips are awesome too. The atmosphere takes it up a notch too. Highly recommend :)

Their customer service is probably the worst I’ve ever experienced. They are SO rude. I got there with some friends of mine and the vibes were just bad right away. I have never been treated this way by a server. It’s not even what they say to you it’s how they say it, like they obviously don’t want you to be there. Will definitely not be going back.

I had no food here so can’t speak to its quality. Constant Companion and I had margaritas at the outdoors bar on a warm autumn day and it reminded me of Key West — except of course it’s right next to heavy traffic which makes it less than idyllic. Also — what is up with the really high bar? Not exactly ergonomic for us of average height. While the bartenders didn’t seem «pissed off» (as another reviewer mentions) they were not the friendliest bartenders I have ever encountered either.

This. Place. Is. Gross.
The only reason you ever need to come here, and the only reason it got 2 stars, is to either play pool or sit outside in their somewhat cool outdoor bar. Unfortunately, this place is one of the few places in the fan that have both of those things, which is a big reason they get any kind of business. Every time I come here the service is abysmal. Everyone is pissed. Pissed at each other, pissed at their job, pissed at their guests… you name it, and they’re pissed off about it. Asking for a beer is the biggest inconvenience to them, and it will take them forever to even acknowledge your presence. Outside, they serve all of their drinks in plastic cups, and the cups are smudgy with fingerprints all over them. Inside I have ordered drinks that have bits of shredded lettuce floating around on the top??? So gross. Don’t ever go inside. Ever. There is old food everywhere. On the floors, the window panes, the tables, the pool tables??? Everywhere. More than once I have seen various crawling insects on their floor and window sills. I would never dare try their food, but it looks like basic crappy Mexican food. People have told me that it sucks.
One time I had a bartender that was pretty fun here, but otherwise I would either stay away or take a long, hot shower once you get home. Yuck.

Been here numerous times over the course of 5 – 6 years. Done some fun things a few years back like play a Mario Kart 64 tournament and other things like getting really drunk. Other than that the more coherent times the bartender (usually whoever is at the front or main bar) is always a «jerk».
They (yes, all of them so far) always have a bored, annoyed, standoff, distrusting, errrr negative vibe and attitude. I mean I popped in here on a Monday around 10 – 11 (not too late to piss anyone off) and ordered easily, fluently, and somewhat expensive for that type of bar. I even asked about a pool table after the same three people had been playing for three hours and I got some sassy response… I assume they are regulars and always play or something, which looked to me like I was going to have a higher tab, tip better, and be easier and less clingy. Why don’t I deserve any respect? There’s literally nothing else to do but please the eight people around you. Come on.
Under appreciated overall… and of course as all bars alike this the bathrooms are kind of raunchy feeling and looking after a long night, but that’s expected. Dunno. If I ever roll through there again I’ll update as necessary.

The beer and pool may be good, the bartender genial, but the food isn’t even mediocre. The chicken ranchero burro seemed to contain a prepackaged sliced-​chicken-​like product. The kale salad purported to contain red onions, but I couldn’t find them. A bad experience.

No place I’d rather be.
Yeah, the restrooms can feel a bit cramped; the building was formerly an elementary school way back when.
Yeah, the patio and front bar get slammed on weekend nights; VCU is literally a block away.
However, you won’t find a better crew of bartenders in The Fan. If you treat them right, they remember your name. Say hi to El Jefe when you see him and he might greet you with a good story about the pathetic San Diego Chargers or that turncoat Shaka Smart.
Karaōke, stand-​up comedy, poker, pool, and Golden Tee tornaments fill the weeks for all to enjoy. Come get your Sombrero on your birthday and watch the common folk buy your drinks.
Don’t believe all of the negative things you hear about this place. It’s a real, no-​frills, Rumple-​slinging, VCU-​supporting, bar of the People.
Please enjoy responsibly.

Love this place… Outdoor covered patio, pool tables, full bar and TV’s — lots of fun! Great VCU Watch Party location!!!

They get one star because the staff was friendly. Essentially they mis represent themselves. This establishment is not a Mexican restaurant. Basically this is a restaurant for drunk college kids craving fried food after binge Drinking. Dont get me wrong, it has its ups, it just has nothing to do with Mexican food. The beer comming out of the tap was sort of flat and the bathroom was HORRRIBLE. I mean how do you open at noon and the bathrooms are disgusting from the night before. Plain and simple it’s a bar.

Came here for the first time for a beer with my partner and super friend. We were expecting a strange experience — and that’s what we got.
The time was 9:00 pm, the hostess let us choose wherever we wanted (dinner service was over.) we ordered beers — things were eyebrow raising, but nothing to write home about.
Flash forward — 10 o clock — super friend (Kristen) needs to use the restroom. In the time she was gone 3 separate people asked to steal her chair. When she came back she said a person also going to the restroom said to her «this place is bad right?» You be the judge.
Two stars for the sake of being elusive.

I would not recommend this place unless you’re coming to take shots. The food is not that great and neither are the servers.
They do have awesome drink concoctions, however, and give away free sombreros to people turning 21. Like I said, a college-​age drinking spot, nothing more.

I used to live 2 blocks from here and since I very much disliked home team, I made it my go-​to bar since it used to be a stopping ground for the bottom and back. I also started my twenty first here. I will say, the patio is good. But they certainly don’t own up to what it could be. Also, the inside bartenders are some of the worst I have ever encountered. I have since moved back to Richmond, coincidently 3 blocks from here.
Decided my last birthday to go out for one drink while my boyfriend and the kid were at home already asleep. My birthday is the day after Christmas, so naturally, no one is ever really nice to me on my birthday and I have graciously accepted it. But upon coming in, I had the rudest experience with the girl checking IDs, to which I decided to at least make light of with the bartender so I could at least bring it up. He responds again rudely about how none of them want to be there on Christmas night. I had horrible service and ended up leaving immediately after my drink. I left a pretty nice tip too at least to say sorry for having to work. I haven’t sat inside since.
The people outside a lot friendlier I will say.
Overall:
Mediocre beer selection
Underutilized patio
Shit service inside
If you want to go here, I wouldn’t not recommend it because Baja is really a key RVA bar. But don’t sit inside.

Worst service I’ve seen in Richmond. Came into restaurant mid afternoon it was not that busy, but I was greeted by no one. Sat outside, still saw no servers. Approached bartender and asked for menus. She looked Iike she just ate something sour and acted like I was inconvenience her. Sat for another 10 mins, still no servers and bartender left bar and disappeared. Restaurant 101: NEVER LEAVE THE BAR. So we walked out and took our business elsewhere. This place has great potential to be good. New employees or management Is needed. I inquied with a local to ask if it was always like this, and they said this female bartender I. Encountered was always this horrible.

I went in the other day for their ½ off quesadillas they have on Wednesdays. Not only did I have the best quesadilla culinary experience but I also found Jesus. In my quesadilla!!! They wouldn’t acknowledge the miracle that happened before me but obviously this place is blessed. Thank you so much Baja Bean and I will be back! Just keep that Diablo sauce away…

This place is very conveniently placed on Main. It has open space outside, which is where I recommend you soend the bulk of your time. The inside is in the basement of a building, so it can get kinda dark and dreary in there. Plus, they have billiards on one side and I have never been a fan since they seem to attract more drama than is necessary to shoot some pool.
The bartender is nice and very accommodating. The menu is all heavy stuff, cheese, burritos, beans, flour and more flour so if you’re looking to find some healthy foods, you got about 4 options and that’s it. And those are only salads. With that being said, if you want some good fries for cheap and a big portion size, come here. $ 2 for a big basket of fries is hard to beat and perfect finger food if you’re just wanting to have a couple of beers.
The crowd here is on the more obnoxious side, college students who may become loud after a couple rounds. But what is city life without obnoxious college students?
I wouldn’t give this place four stars because the place, in truth, does not really warrant 4 stars, which is usually the highest rating I give a good place anyway. The inside gives off a dreary feel while dealing with a bigger obnoxious crowd on busier nights is enough to turn anyone off. But the 3 stars is for the service and the outside space and the convenience. And the price. One beer from the tap, 2 bottled, and a basket of fries for $ 17 and some change, that’s a hard deal to pass up.

Outdoor patio and bar — amaaazing
Food — disgusting. My boyfriend, myself, and a friend came here one night (it was between here and Plaza Azteca and our friend said «eh, Mexican food is Mexican food» — WRONG). I got the guacamole platter and didn’t even touch the two salsas is came with. It also came with flour and corn tortillas, one of the types was soft and oily.
Drinks — cheap, that’s the main draw
Bathrooms — most disgusting, revolting, stomach turning bathrooms I’ve even been in (if I could think of some more adjectives I’d write them). Granted, it’s been while since I’ve been here, so maybe they’ve redone the bathrooms? Hopefully?
So basically go for drinks and the patio and cross your fingers you don’t have to pee.