Baja Cantina

I’ve already been here twice within the last 2 days. The food is delicious!!! It’s flavorful and fresh. The salsa and the queso are delicious as well. If you like spicy you’ll love the salsa.The margaritas will get you right!!! They’re the type of margaritas that will sneak up on you and they are HUGE! This place has earned a spot on my favorites list. The service was wonderful. Both times I’ve gone everyone has been amazing.

This is a very quaint neighborhood Mexican style cantina off of North Tarrant near 377, although there are several other locations. The entrance and signage is very difficult to see and I would not have noticed it if I wasn’t told it was there. There is a large tree blocking most of the signage, so a little pruning would do wonders for them. Inside decor is clean, not cluttered, and very open. The staff is very friendly. Chips and queso were provided, and I have to say the salsa has a solid kick to it with a nice lingering heat. Chips are a nice thickness (not too thick but won’t break constantly) and fairly standard. We asked about queso and perhaps one con carne. I found out there is one version not listed on the menu called Issa’s Queso, a combination of choice of meat (chicken, ground beef, fajita, chorizo, etc.) with guacamole, pico, and sour cream. It was quite good and we enjoyed it. We then ordered a Burrito Plate and Enchiladas Suisas. I have to say the presentation of the burrito plate was strikingly boring and didn’t inspire great expectations. It turned out to be passable. The enchiladas actually were impressively plated, colorful, and inviting. A delight to see. Digging into the first bite, starting in the middle, my first impression was the chicken was a little tough and a little dry. Continuing on, this faded, yet my opinion still stands that starting with a touch more moisture would go a long way to up this dish slightly. The Suisas sauce was on the lighter side with the sour cream yet works well. The interesting, and a little surprising, addition was the softly sautéed squash and cucumber (yep, cucumber). It actually works quite nicely and adds character. They have a nice little bar and feature margaritas prevalently. I hear this is a neighborhood gathering spot (I was there during mid-afternoon lull) but I can imagine weekend nights could find a crowd. I wish I could go 3.5 here but have to try it again, and I will.

The atmosphere is very unique and resembles a taco shop off the coast which makes the experience very emersive. The overall quality of the food is authentic with a traditional presentation and taste. I feel that the portions of the plates compared to the prices are inadequate. Nearby similar restaurants offer a better quantity for similar prices. The margaritas were excellent especially the coconut flavored one with a big glass making the price of $13 dollars worth it in my opinion. Great local restaurant that anyone should check out if in the area.