Rockin' Baja Coastal Cantina Reviews

Great please and great food, enjoyed lunch with 4 different dishes. Caesar salat with scrimp, Coates bucket and tacos trio, the taco amigos is some of the best tacos I ever had, with lobster, scrimp and beef, the special dressing was amazing

Good food, great drinks, make sure you get a table street side so you can people watch. Food, service and drinks were just as good as the Old Town location. I would definitely go back next time I am in San Diego.

We stopped by for lunch our first day in San Diego. They have an okay beer selection, not great. They aren’t known for their beer, but rumor has it their margaritas are excellent- not sure because we had beer. Their tacos were amazingly good. Highly recommend the tacos.

We went to this restaurant on the recommendation of a native of SD. They are conveniently located on a busy corner which makes for good people watching. We were seated on the patio. The service was not quick but they were friendly. The menu consists of some meals called "buckets" - pay attention, they are a "per person" menu item! The tacos were good but not amazing. There is a "make your own nachos" bar inside - but our waitress neglected to tell us about this, and we had to find out on our own by going inside. My highlight of this restaurant was the "margarona margarona" - a huge margarita with a corona in it - at a very decent price ($15US).

Sunday night 7pm dinner for 2. only several tables occupied music was a bit loud for my wife at first. Well supplied complimentary taco chips and salsa bar. A couple of nice salsas, none bad. My wife had Lobster Bites (15.xx) and I had Carne Asada Burrito (18.xx). Lobster bits were tasty but a tad over battered. My burrito was huge mild and a bit on the ricey side. Nice selection of Mexican beer, Service was casual friendly and attentive

Crispy calamari, ceviche stacked. the golden Sombrero bucket. Lobster tail exquisite. Good deserves full score. Nice Margaritas (try Cadillac) and beer (try Modelo Esp). Atmosphere indoor and outdoor, noisy live music. Friendly, reasonably quick service for a busy Saturday evening.

I had dinner here during my recent business trip. I had the fajitas. Wonderful. There are so many choices on the menu that I wanted to try. It was raining like crazy that night, and the waitstaff made sure we were taken care of while waiting for the rain to slow down...it didn't! My co-worker had the lobster tacos, which looked really delicious, so try those too. Overall a good experience!

Went her for lunch while exploring the Gaslamp and were not disappointed.They serve Baja style seafood and drinks.We both had the trio of seafood tacos with one each of fried fish,shrimp and lobster. They were very good. Service was good and pricing reasonable.Would return again maybe to try one of their special "Bucket Dinners"

A really great casual Baja style Mexican - yummy salsa bar, the grilled pineapple margarita was so good with the salted chili rim and then I tried the tres amigos tacos- 3 of the best tacos I’ve ever had. The steak was tasty and tender, the shrimp paired great with the toppings and the lobster was cooked perfect and so sweet. Loved the toasted cheese in the tortilla, added flavor and kept it from falling apart. Traveling for work and staying at the Omni, this place was only a block away- great access from Petco Park or anywhere near convention center.

Cannot express wait a treat it was to be treated with such outright amazing service from the moment I walked in the door until I left. I had to ask for the managers name so I could thank her in person for the food; staff, and amazing atmosphere!! Thank you Chrystal!! I hope that is her name!!! Great show and Rockin' Tacos Rockin' Baja Coastal Cantina!!!

We got the Burrito Tres Bandidos. Oh my goodness it was absolutely amazing! It was so big 3 of us shared it and we all loved it.

Visited for dinner whilst here for a conference. We ordered a starter and a fajita plate. So much food for 2 people that we couldn't finish it. The beef was very tender. It was all very tasty. Great tasting sangria. Our waiter (Tyler I think his name was) was very attentive and helpful. Very well priced and big serves. Highly recommend this place if you're in town.

My husband and I ate here around 11:30am on a Monday. Stephanie was our waitress, and she was great! She made sure our glasses were kept full. I had the Arnold Palmer to drink. It is half lemonade and half tea. To me, it didn’t really have a taste. Food wise, I had the chicken fajitas, and my husband had the fish and chips. Portions size was more than plentiful! My husband’s fish was huge! He had three pieces of monster fish! He said it was really tasty as were the chips (fries). Whatever tartar sauce they use is delicious! He didn’t really care for the taste of the coleslaw though. My chicken fajitas were lacking in flavor. They just tasted like they had no seasoning. However, the rice and beans that came with the fajitas was very tasty! The guacamole was also very good. They also have a free chips and salsa bar which was really nice. The chips tasted homemade and fresh. They had just the right amount of salt. The selection of salsas was also very good. I thought the price was fair for the portion sizes. It wasn’t too expensive. I would definitely go back to the Rockin’ Baja if I’m in the area again. It is a great place.

Afternoon lunch sitting outside with Tacos is great way to spend a Tuesday afternoon with some great people watching too. Decent prices for the Taco Tuesday and I would give them a 7 out of 10.

I think my expectations were set too high by the reviews. I was hoping for a vibrant place with good food and cervesa. The food was good and the beer was fine. The place was dead. Perhaps 6:30 on a Wednesday is not the best time to find a crowd, though as I left I saw other places hopping. Manny did his best. He took good care of me, as well as many others. It seemed like he had most of the outside tables, which were the only ones occupied. I think it would have been better if I were with friends. The unlimited nacho bar is really awesome!

Took a group of 13 people to dinner after a group function. The reserved a great table in the back of the restaurant, providing privacy and the ability for all of us to talk. Food and drinks were prompt throughout the meal and we never had to wait for anything. Give them a try!

My husband and I arrived in San Diego late on a Thursday night, and walked down to Rocking Baja from our hotel. The Lobster Lover's Combo and Seafood Skillet were good choices, served piping hot and with more than ample quantities of good food! Our waiter was very busy (perhaps more staff needed even though it was a Thursday night?) but we were sitting outside and just enjoyed the relaxed dinner.

Deanna was our server for life lunch and she suggested drink and menu items that were fire! We enjoyed everything and suggest a visit to this restaurant if you are anywhere near the Gaslamp area of San Diego.

Because our reservations had a high chair, it took a little longer cause the tables have different heights. Outside of that, service was great. Atmosphere is very busy. Food was good, beer selection left something to be desired but overall I would go again.

Very loud but we were there during the last game of the Cavs and Celtics so could have been the crowd. TVs to watch but not a huge number. Nachos looked great but were super soggy wound up getting a basket of chips to pick the toppings off.

Stopped in on a Friday before Padres game and this place had it going on! I sat at the bar (big crowd) and Manny took great care of my needs. Only down check was I couldnt get a Tshirt! Great chips & salsa - Habanero is pretty warm.Cooled by cheap Tecate drafts!

It’s nothing special, the lobster and shrimps the last few times I’ve gone has been over cooked and rubbery. The servers had to be reminded many times I didn’t speak Spanish, and they speaking to me in Spanish which was rude.

We ate here Saturday afternoon and loved the food and sidewalk seating atmosphere. We had fish tacos, fajitas and cheese enchiladas. It was all very good and service was great too.

Yet another local businessman who feels the need to force his political views on his customers by adding a 3% surcharge rather than just increasing prices. That may explain why it was so empty, while other places on the block had lines up the sidewalk. It's a sports bar, with counter-height seating. The best feature is the self-serve salsa and chip bar, with the usual salsas as well as mango/pineapple and pickled carrots. I had a Baja California bowl, with rice, black beans, grilled chicken, pico de gallo, avocado, black bean salsa, sweet greens and tortilla strips. To say it was filling is an understatement. With a 12-ounce XX Amber and the surcharge, it came to just under $20. Reasonable for the area. The Mon-Friday lunch special looked like it would be a good deal.

The food, atmosphere and service are both top shelf, casual and most enjoyable. We had lunch and thoroughly enjoyed our food and the ambiance. Very casual, with plenty of chips and dip to munch on while waiting for your meal. Staff is friendly, service is good and the food is delicious.

Went for lunch, the tacos were good and ample portions. Staff was nice and attentive. I like the self serve nachos and salsa bar.

The best Lobster in a long time! On our first night of our staycation, my husband and I craved seafood. We walked all over Old Town until we settled on Rockin' Baja. We ordered the Golden Sombrero Bucket. This was a meal for two and boy was it! It included 2 whole Atlantic Lobsters, King Crab Legs and Shrimp; cooked perfectly. Our hands were all over it! The bucket also included chicken, skirt steak and seasoned corn. Beans, Rice and tortillas on the side. We were stuffed and glad to walk it off on the way back to our hotel. We already plan on going back! If you ever find yourself in Old Town San Diego, you must come here. The searing is nice and casual. There's seating with a fire pit too.

Awesome Lobster Corn Chowder, and Lemon Drop Martinis. And complimentary chips and salsa!! Definitely would come back!

Amazing Long Island. Food was great, but their free all you can eat chips and salsa bar won me over.

Visited this restaurant twice during our stay in sunny San Diego and they were just fantastic. Food was excellent coupled with excellent service. The place is packed lunch and dinner and the team makes it a breeze. Carry on the good work.

Great place to drink and eat lightly. Downstairs is good for full meals but the people and snacks upsatairs have a distinctly Ca vibe and friendliness. Enjoy

Stopped in for a drink, had a few more. Good fried calamari. Good fish tacos. Even during comic con it wasn't too busy or too slow. Would recommend.

Dined here after a trade show at the Convention Center. Easy to walk to. Extensive selection of tequilas and drinks. Waitress was very helpful. Enjoyed the many options at the salsa bar. Shrimp tacos were fresh and delicious.Outdoor seating was lovely with nice view of street activities.

We stopped in for dinner this evening and we were not disappointed . They offered a chips and salsa bar that you could help yourself to different salsas with chips . We ordered the sizzling steak fajitas( great seasoning on the steak) and a burrito tres amigos and both dishes were amazing. Our waitress was so nice and attentive.

So had a splendid meal and Ambience was great....the lobster was great and the waiter did a splendid job in serving us

Been eating here every time i am in totem for years. Food was just average this time. Wait staff removed my drink whilei went to salsa bar. Waitress was extremely lax in checking on things. Chicken in fajitas was rubbery and shrimp were tough. Just wasn't nearly as good as in years past.

Most is served Baja style- steamed, grilled, citrus-y. Wonderful. Service excellent. Very plentiful portions and good prices. I had fish and chips, beer battered cod with great fries. Delicious. Another time had a cheese seafood dish with shrimp, lobster, scallops that was excellent. They have a gratis chips and salsa bar with various sauces that are great for appetizers and with entree.

It was crowded and loud on a Friday night, but the service was good and the tacos excellent. Had the 3 taco sampler, and they were all tasty. We had a large group and it was tough to hear each other, but the place was lively and we had a great time.

It was ok. It had outdoor seating in the sun so we stopped. The restrooms were dirty and food was ok. There was a 3% surcharge ‘for increased costs’ added to our bill that left a bad taste. There’s so many other options....

Really surprisingly great salad with chicken the other day. My family enjoyed all the food they ordered.

Good seafood dishes at reasonable prices. Generous portions. Service is good. You can enjoy watching your favorite sport while eating Try the Lobster Bites! Give it a try!

We visited over Christmas and was thankful they were open Christmas Eve. There was a playoff game or some sporting event my husband wanted to watch and I wanted Mexican (Nachos are my super food!); we both won! Service was slow, but it was a holiday, so I didn’t mind. Salsa bar was great!

Decent Mexican food, unlimited help-yourself chips and salsa bar, and good house margaritas for $8. Inside sports on tv, kinda 'bro atmosphere, appropriately loud. Outside tall tables along the sidewalk are calmer and offer good perch for observing the Gaslight scene on 5th Avenue. Also, attractive young servers offer friendly, efficient service.

Rockin' Baja has a few locations around SD and I've been to a few of them. While their menu isn't going to challenge the boundaries of Mexican cuisine, every meal I've had has been flavorful, fresh and pretty true to form. At night, it's more of a party scene with drinking and a "Margaritaville" vibe, but as a lunch spot, it's quiet, you can get a cold beer, good tortilla chips and salsa at the salsa bar, and it will all be served up by a friendly staff. Fish Tacos are their thing so if you only visit once, I'd recommend them!

First time at this restaurant, good atmosphere to hangout with friends and have a beer. Food is O.K. It's supposed to be a Mexican restaurant but food really is too americanized, of course, this review comes from a Mexican raised individual. Guacamole is 100% Mexican, it's delicious.

My family ate here while visiting because of a business trip. The food was great and Taco Tuesday made it a good deal.

We love going to the Rockin' Baja when we visit Old-Town San Diego. Their food is always fresh, tasty, and plentiful. The servers are the best, they are very personable and friendly. We love the salsa bar as well especially the mango salsa. During the spring, fall, and summer months, they have live music on the patio which is just on the other-side of the freeway guardrail. It is a very lively place to visit, not for quiet dining. We can't wait to go back again.

Must try the pineapple mango salsa!! The local IPA was really great. The blackened ahi tacos were very good.

We decided to try the food here. It's during the CV-19 event so that affects things. The gentleman taking the order was polite & friendly. The tree of us ordered lobster tacos, fis & chips, & salad along with marguerites. We were allowed to wait inside in the shade. Nearby, we found some shaded grass & had our picnic. All the food was great. We'll be back.

Read reviews and wanted to go to old town so chose this spot. First off there was live music and it was a great night to sit outside, like the decor. Then I went to the complimentary salsa bar and tried 'em all! My husband and I both ordered the tres Amigos tacos - 1 shrimp, 1 lobster, and one beef. It was amazing! I'm moving to the area this summer and can't wait to come back.

staff is friendly and food is delicious. prices are very reasonable here. big plus is the drinks are great!

Nice place food was good. Free chips and salsa bar, very good Margaritas with many varieties.Great service.

Jalepeno stuffed with shrimp, bacon and cheese to die for! So rich and filling but delicious! Their buckets of seafood looked awesome.

Rockin' Baja Coastal Cantina is a block north from SD Convention Center and in the heart of the Gaslamp District. I’ve been coming to this place for years and I had an issue only one time-food took more than 30 min to come but they didn’t make us pay because of that. Love their food, the free chips and salsa and the price. This year they’ve added a 3% surcharge “to help defray increased cost” which I don’t like.

great food right on the gaslamp area. good staff. i guess we closed the place but they didnt chase us out

I totally did not think that the food here was going to be 5 star but is was. I had the mango salsa, lobster enchilada, 1/2 pound of carne asada and a cheese enchilada beans and rice. GREAT MEAL! I Added a corona and I didn't care who lost the game. 5 star

My wife and I ate at Rockin Baja Lobster Gaslamp District during our trip to San Diego over Labor Day and this one one of the restaurants that we enjoyed. Very busy area that's allot of fun to people watch while enjoying cold beer & good food. My wife had the Blackened Fish Taco's that she truly enjoyed and I had the regular Baja Bucket which was good but I wouldn't rave about it. All in all a satisfying place will standard run of the mill pricing $$ that you would expect at the restaurants in the area. I would eat there again if in the area.

I've been visiting this spot since 2012 and I keep forgetting to write up a review until now! Friends and I come here ever year for dinner after spending all day at Comic Con and it's now became a tradition. I have yet to have a bad experience. Even at its busiest the longest we had to wait was 25 minutes. Well worth it. Food is great and reasonably priced and all of the wait staff is great. This year our server was Luis and he was awesome! Also I truly come here for their mango salsa. It's still the best after all these years. They have other kinds like pico de gallo (mild) and roasted tomatillo (spicy). There are different types of salsas varying in spiciness that should please everyone. New to me this year was the "do not bring outside drinks" rule. I've done so in previous years without issue. Not a big deal, just something to keep a note on.

Rockin' Baja Coastal Cantina was the perfect spot after a long day of traveling since we were starving!!! The free all you can eat chips and salsa bar was perfect to munch on while we waited for our food. The food is fantastic! We all left super full and very happy with our selections. The wait staff was incredibly attentive and kind. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed early due to renovations, however, we were NOT rushed to finish our meal and leave. We very much appreciated being able to finish our meal and not be rushed. Wish we lived closer so we could visit again soon!

I don't understand all the higher ratings... This place is bad. The service was ok, nothing special but the food was disappointing. I went for the Baja bucket and got a big pot of cooked meat that didn't really taste too good. It reminded me of the sort of thing you'd get at a dodgy kebab shop back home. My girlfriend's dinner was no better. Her enchiladas were soggy and flavourless. Avoid this one.

While at the convention we decided to try this place. It was busy, so it made sense to try. The food was really good. The fish taco were excellent. Highly recommend this place.

Great menu and extensive bar choices. Wonderful staff. Food very delicious and very good value. The unlimited chips and large selection of dips at an attractive self serve bar was a nice unexpected extra.

We nabbed a street side high table so were able to watch all the street action which was great in itself. The guy who served us was friendly and prompt. We loved the free nacho bar while waiting for our meals which were very good as well.

We ate here a few times during our trip. The food was great. We loved the Salsa bar and chips. I'm certain that we tried ever salsa they had. All of the were very good.

This was our third time in San Diego and our second time at this restaurant. The food was delicious and the waiter was great. Even my extremely picky daughters loved their food. Will definitely come back next time we’re in San Diego.

I just had the best lobster ever and for a very good price. The lobster was simple, tasty and had it was cooked perfectly. This is a place I would usually pass on because of the sportsbar/touristy/cheap look it has but I was tired, wanted a bite and the prices were good. And boy was I in for a surprise. The food was EXCELLENT and the service very attentive and nice. My waitress knew just when to leave me alone and when I needed attention. It made my evening a special one!

While visiting some family, I met up with them here. None of us had been here before. It's located in Old Town. Half the seating is indoors and half outside. They have a water feature that masks the freeway noise. Everyone got a different entree and everyone ate everything on their plates. All said how good everything was. They specialize in Lobster dishes. Service was great and they have a serve yourself chips and salsa bar with plenty to choose from. Food was a good value for the price.

It was before the lock down and we were lucky to find this restaurant.It was a coincidence and we really enjoyed the food here.My friend had a lobster and I had tacos with shrimp and lamp.Both weee delicious and so lovely.Recommended.

We walked right in on a Sunday evening and it was not crowded at all. Actually only a handful of tables taken. Server was terrible right from the start and wish we would have left then. Chips and salsa Bar was nice... food took FOREVER. Over an hour and the restaurant wasn't even slightly busy?! Server never came to check on us or apologize. Finally the food came out and blamed it on a "large to go order". Took forever to get drinks, wasn't offered dessert, had to track him down for a check. Tacos weren't bad, but I wouldn't recommend this place.

We went there for dinner with a party of 10 and it was excellent. The food was really good, especially the blackened Ahi tacos with a wasabi sauce. Excellent tortilla chips and dip bar that you can help yourself to, and very good margaritas. Others in our group got the fajitas and fish and chips and all were happy. The hotel didn't steer us wrong, we'd go again.

Rockin Baja is a cool spot for lunch, dinner or drinks. Very laid back. Surf and turf tacos are great. Cold beer and a nice vibe.

Unfortunately poor, slow service is what becomes memorable. The street tacos were very good. But an hour for lunch when all we had were tacos is way too long. I'm also not a fan of buffets and the chips and salsa are served this way.

My Manhattan, my husband's bourbon and seven were watery. Other people at the table enjoyed the margaritas. Good Guacamole and chips. Service was nice, when she came by the table. Reasonable prices and nice patio to sit outside. Would not go there again.

We went there after going whale watching; had a craving for seafood. I had the Fajitas De Baja and my friend had the Lobster Lover’s Combo. We went to the Gaslamp Quarter location.

we came here on a suggestion from my friend's husband. The food and service was excellent! What I liked about this place was the large seating area (both inside & outside seating available) AND the serve yourself chips and salsa bar!

Arrived at happy hour. Very good and gooey Mexican street corn and street tacos. Wife had Lobster bites and fries, very good and not over deep fried. Highly recommend, very casual without being a drunk bar. Families would enjoy.

Had a self serve chips and salsa bar. The ceviche appetizer was excellent. Both of our meals were very good with good portions. Beer was cold and had a good selection.

I would like to start off with that our server was exceptional. We ordered the calamari which was just tough for me and returned with no issues from the staff. The chip and salsa bar was great especially that I enjoy hot condiments. We ordered the trio taco and a chicken and shrimp fajita both was great and the portions are very large.

I had Tres Compadres tacos and they were all fabulous! I also loved the free salsa bar with a wide variety of salsa good for any taste. The wait for food was a little longer than expected, but the server made up for it by getting our checks taken care of really fast for us. Really good considering there were five of us and we request separate checks. Speaking of the server, he took our order by memory and the amount of "oh, and can you..." type of changed my party made, I was sure someone's order would be missing something or messed up...nope, it was perfect. I was impressed.

Early hour visit for diner. Was actually my first time crab and it was amazing. Also the chicken, meat and shrimps in the basket were ver good. Staff was as friendly as they should be

Very festive environment. I and my wife visited the old town branch day after the thanksgiving. The place was full with customer. We had to wait about 25 minutes to get our table. Initially the front desk promised us to give a table in 10-15 minutes. I had to check with her after 25 minutes to get a table (it seemed to me that they missed us as I saw people coming after us was getting a table). This place had live music. We both agreed that the music was okay (not excitng :) The restaurant has one of the best salsa bars I tasted in any of the Mexican restaurants in USA. They keep filing the bar with fresh ingredients including mango salsa, jelapeno, coriander, cabbage, etc. We wanted to get one of their seafood buckets, but our server informed us that the seafoods are cooked with pork lard (pig fat). As we do not eat pork, we could not order any of their seafoods. Instead we ordered Baja Special Fajitas and Surf and Turf Tacos. Baja special fajitas was okay. It comes with chicken, shrimp, and beef. However, they put only two pieces of shrimp, few stripes of carne asada and most of the dishes contain all chicken. I hate that when a restaurant tries to trick its customer like this. The surf and turf tacos were very poor. My wife could not eat as the beef has a weird dirty smell. The food was not fresh at all. Negative: - Very tight parking. You have to pay $5 for parking. - Selective options for Halal and Kosher eater (who does not eat pork) - No fresh food - Food is not tasty (please read our experience above) Positive + They provide you a complementary post-card with your dinning picture + Live music + Festive environment + Excellent salsa bar

Good food reasonable price. Even looks like the decor has been updated. Well worth a visit. Friendly wait staff.

An year passed since my visit to San Diego - and most likely another will pass until I get back again - and there were 2 places I wanted to revisit again (the other 1 you'll find in another review) and this was definitely 1 of the 2. So here it is what I found 1 year after: - location did not change at all - but due to the beautiful weather we've been seating outside this time. - service - still very good, nonetheless due to the fact that the place was packed every day of the week we've been there, minor accidents did occur. (hence the less than perfect score). - food - still excellent, my all time favorite the Tacos Tres Amigos - 1 beef, 1 shrimp and 1 lobster taco - served with beans and rice, very tasty and more than enough for a lunch to get you through the second half of a day a of meetings. It is truly comfort food that you will find in this 3 tacos - the sauce is just a little overwhelming the meat and the seafood but still it is not bothering and is still a great dish to have. - at the salsa bar you can load your basket with chips and salsas of your choice - the red thick 1 is hot , but well balanced and it goes great before your taco is coming. - prices still pocket friendly and very good, I did choose the Mid-Range to reflect the quality of the food not necessarily the prices - they take a good mix of cards to pay so is no issue if you use Visa , Mastercard or Amex... all are welcome. Overall - after an year is still excellent food I found here - in 1 week we've been here 3 times for lunch - so I recommend you pay them a visit when you are in San Diego! (I'll be back in 2020 for sure!).

Combination sports bar and mexican cantina, this place offers a salsa bar for those that are not faint of heart (very spicy). My wife and son split the golden sombrero bucket and that had a lot of meat in it. Two whole lobsters, three kinds of crab legs, shrimp, skirt steak (that was marvelously seasoned) and chicken. Enough for more than two. I had the burrito del mar and it was huge, stuffed with shrimp, lobster chunks and scallops in a spicy creamy sauce. (You should detect a common thread here, spicy) My son's wife had a salad and the soup. Everything was wonderful and it was fairly reasonable for the area. Great service and very good food.

If you like seafood and you like tacos or if you want fish done very good - well this is a place for you. I've been to San Diego this year in February for 1 week - during 1 week I eat here 3 times (and believe me, when I'm travelling I like to experiment). Briefly (so you don't get bored reading this): - service - nothing to complain , even 1 evening when the place was packed waiting time for getting our order was well inside 10 minutes and the drinks and food arrive very fast (taking in consideration the amount of orders they had to handle). - food - the Lobster Tacos are amazing, the Shrimp Fajita simply great. The chips and salsa bar with a great selection of salsas - such a great idea to have a beer with some chips before your food arrives. - everything was very clean ( given that it's not a fine dinning restaurant type of place) and the atmosphere very nice. - very good value for money - I would say cheap from my perspective (yet again "cheap" is in comparison to other places I've been around the world) - so definitely worth it. When you are in San Diego and you are searching for a place to eat or to have a few drinks in the Gaslamp Quarter I'm pretty sure you will not be disappointed picking this place.

I went for my nephews 26th birthday, I took my 10 year old grandson with me. We joined 12 other family members, and this has not been the first time. We all were very satisfied. The staff were very friendly and did a great job. Great place to go if you are in old town San Diego.

There are SO many places to choose for a meal ( or drinks & nibbles ) in SD's famous Gaslamp District. We picked Rockin' Baja for lunch & were pleasantly satisfied. Our food tasted truly West coast Mehico -- tacos were authentic as were our enchiladas. We enjoyed the chips and salsa from he complimentary and ample serve yourself "bar". There were over a dozen different types of salsas or toppings - all equally as well-made. Get a table outside ( if you can) and enjoy a cold beer or margarita while dining and watching the many and diverse passersby.

We stopped here for lunch and drinks. The salsa bar has a great selection and the drinks were creative. We enjoyed our tacos, and would definitely return. Service was excellent

Fantastic spicy cucumber and then spicy watermelon margaritas! Yum! My co-worker had a Tito's lemonade and then a Long Island. Both were superb. Guacamole appetizer was delish and worth the money. We ordered two for six of us. Seafood enchiladas, surf and turf tacos, and steak tacos were a hit. Service was a bit slow. Prob a good thing so we didn't drink too much. Only downside was the noise level. Too loud to carry on much of a convo. We were seated inside. Fun atmosphere.

Got tacos that were amazing. Decent drink selection. The chips and salsa bar was a nice touch. Staff was great too. Definitely a place to get hang out and get great food from.

We visit San Diego every year and the Rockin Baja is always on our list of places to visit. The lobster chowder is second to none, the serve yourself salsa & chip bar is always fresh and full, the queso is fresh & thick and the lobster tacos are our absolute fave! Also the blood orange margs go down like a treat. Highly recommend it to anyone in the area.

So it was a really nice place we got seated right away we had about 35 people in our party service was a little slow but I guess that's kind of expected when you have that many people in your party they were able to break up the checks her family food was excellent very big portions drinks were great and we got to watch UCLA vs USC game in our own private little area so overall it was a pretty good experience

We happened upon this restaurant just strolling by and so glad we went in. The food was delicious (we shared the Baja bucket) and service was excellent and very friendly. Highly recommend for a chilled and authentic dinner place.

Been back three times. Two for lobster roll and other for lobster Really good. Complimentary and well stocked chips bar

Decent Mexican in downtown SD. Self serve salsa and chips with loads of fresh choices - delicious. Margaritas were tasty. We ordered traditional quesadillas, blackened fish tacos and ahi tuna. All tasty and fresh. We sat outside. The inside was a little dingy I thought but overall good service & good food.

We had the Big Baja Bucket ! It was great with more lobster than we expected. All was good ! The corn on the cob with butter was great !

The food was a fine cross of mexican and seafood but not particularly spectacular. Enjoyed the fish tacos and the chips and salsa but the Margarita was probably the highlight of the meal.

We weren't really looking for a sports bar ambiance but the food and service were fantastic. They also have outdoor seating options.

We here with a group of 8 and we had an amazing time. The services was excellent and the food was great! I would definitely go back when in SD.

Food is pretty good and not too expensive, particularly for the GasLamp. Other folks raved about the chowder, although I found it merely pleasant. Good enchiladas. I visited fairly late in the evening (8pm) and I wouldn't want to be there at peak times, as it was fairly loud despite being far from crowded. Lots of TVs, showing just about everything happening at any given moment in the world of sports. They were a little short-handed the evening I visited. Although it wasn't quick service, it wasn't terribly slow either. I have the impression that they are accustomed to doing better. I wasn't in a rush, so it didn't bother me a whit; they were more concerned than I was, which I appreciated.

I cannot tell you ow much I loved this meal. I ordered the baja bucket and the elote'.... It was amazing. It came with a salsa bar and all you can eat rice and beans....

Our server recommended the 'buckets', I ordered the Baja Shrimp and Crab Leg bucket and the other guest had the Surf and Turf bucket. The seafood was overcooked, greasy and tasted horrible. The crab legs were so overdone that there was no meat left inside the smaller legs. The side dishes were mediocre at best. Literally, our hands were covered in grease from everything being deep fried.

The Rockin' Baja is also one of my favorite places in San Diego - in the Gaslamp quarter ... I have a few spots, have to admit, that I always visit when I'm in SD ... this is one of those places. location - on the 5th Ave in San Diego, with a good seating capacity , indoors and outside, we've been seating outside ... and even with the distancing and the current C19 situation they manage. service - fast and good - nothing to complain on the matter. food - after several years the tacos taste the same - great mix , of beef, shrimp and lobster taco - the Tres Amigos combo - not over spiced but with a kick , taste of the shrimp and lobster is there, not drenched in sauces so you cannot enjoy anymore what you've ordered ... so a really good choice that stands the test of time. the drink menu is also extensive but we went for the all-time favorite choice of ale to wash down the tacos - Pacifico Especial from the draught ... very good. prices - still a very good price to quality ratio ... and majority of credit cards are accepted. A great place if you love tacos this is the place for you. Enjoy!!

Casual, with a Mexican style fish menu, salsa bar and t.v.s The buckets are our favorite meals, although we've had other things and it's all good. Staff is helpful without hovering.

Our family visited San Diego for part of Memorial Day weekend (2019). We were looking for Baja cuisine, which we interpret as Mexican cruise that showcases fresh seafood. My husband found Rockin’ Baja and I’m glad he did. We arrived around 5 on Friday evening and got a table immediately. We chose to sit outside. Our two kids were with us and there was something for everyone on the menu. There was a happy hour special going on, so we ordered the street corn ($5), the calamari and the Mexican shrimp cocktail (both $9). My husband and I split the seafood enchiladas (two enchiladas with rice and beans). My oldest child got the bacon avocado burger, and my youngest child got the kid’s cheeseburger. Our server was really nice and our food came out quickly. I would go again if we had the chance, and I would recommend this place to others planning to go to SD

We split shrimp and lobster tacos. Fantastic food, service and price was great too. Casual and fun for all ages.

I was looking for a place close to the convention center prior to catching a late flight home and saw that they were having Taco Tuesday specials. The tacos were great and priced between $2 and $3 each. I sampled 3 different ones with the fish taco being the favorite of mine. Great decor in the restaurant and the service was excellent.

A nice lunch in the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego. The salsas served with complimentary chips were terrific, Our server, Bartender Josie, was both gracious and attentive. Our mains were Short Rib Tacos and Portobello Mushroom Fajitas. Both were served piping hot from the kitchen and were delicious. We look forward to another visit soon.

Overall our experience here was very average. Nothing stood out as particularly good or bad. The tacos were good but on the small side. No sides were included, and chips and salsa had to be paid for in addition to the meal. I would not necessarily recommend this restaurant to others, but it is very close to the conference center and gaslamp district, which makes it convenient. Overall, a fine visit, just nothing exceptional. Service was a bit slow for a Mexican restuarant.

The resturant seems very popular. Was busy with most tables full. The noise level was very high. Service was good and the waitresses seemed to be working as a team. Food very very ordinary.

An overpriced, cold, dry, bland taco for which we waited almost an hour. A total rip-off. Service was friendly. I really fel sorry.for the table service people who were doing their best to compensate for the tragedy happening in the kitchen.

This place was recommended by my boss before my trip. It takes seafood and combines with some Mexican standards such as tacos, burritos and enchiladas. They have a fresh salsa bar with over 8 options. I had the blacken fish tacos with a sirachi aioli with a cup of their lobster corn chowder. It was all good! Server was friendly and helpful! You can sit inside or outside. Some of the inside tables have windows that are totally open to the outside on nice days!

Great options with many options for food and drink. They are quick to seat and room for many. Staff are helpful and have great service. Recommend the margaritas and tacos de tres amigos and take advantage of chips and dip! On Tuesday it wasn’t busy.

As long as you know what you are getting and have those expectations, you will not be disappointed with the food. I had two different tacos (Ahi and Shrimp) on two different visits. Very tasty and good sized portions. Free chips stand was good and too filling!

Ok, if you want a wonderful display of food that tastes as good as it looks, here is your place! Oh my goodness the buckets are to die for! Crab, shrimp and lobster tail! Corn, beans and rice. We rolled out of there happy and past content! Make this a definite stop! (And ckn enchiladas were yummy too for non seafood folks!)

I did not like this restaurant at all. Located on Fifth in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, the restaurant promises lobster and other seafood served just like at Puerto Nuevo, Mexico. I have been to Puerto Nuevo, a small fishing village on the Pacific coast about 45 minutes into Mexico from Tijuana. The lobster and all of the side dishes were wonderful there. Not so here at Rockin' Baja. First of all, the place was dirty. I was seated at a filthy table and, even after the table was bussed, it was still dirty. Second, the amount of food that is served with one meal was a real turn-off for me. Perhaps others would appreciate it, but the amount was overwhelming to me. A stack of tortillas, a large bowl of refried beans and rice, and a large corn on the cob. The tortillas were ok, the refried beans and rice were ok, but nothing special, and the corn on the cob was tasteless. The big disappointment, however, was the lobster. I had a bucket with about 6 to 8 small lobster tails AND THEY WERE FRIED AND GREASY. Yuck! and it was difficult to get the meat out of the shell. The price of this lobster bucket was $39.99 plus tax and tip. Even with a 10% discount coupon provided to me by the hotel, my bill was still into the low 50's for a meal most of which I did not eat and certainly did not enjoy. This restaurant would benefit from giving less food and improving the quality.

We ate here during our summer vacation, the food was good with some nice fish dishes, the service was a little lacking and the server then rang another $10 on my credit card when they finalised the bill. To be fair, they refunded the $10 the following day when I returned, but it left bit of a sour taste.

Great casual place to enjoy some excellent Mexican food. Lots of flavour in the Tacos and well priced.

Visited here during happy hour, had the 3 tacos and they were delicious! I think they only cost around $5! Ordered a size of garlic fries and they tasted great and came in a bucket! Great spot for people watching

25 minutes to get a glass of wine 🍷 had to ask for a waiter twice. Too many restaurants to deal with this, go somewhere else!

My wife and I were in the area searching for a good place for lunch. My wife says let's go to rockin baja, we had gone there for dinner a couple years ago as a group. So we stopped in there was only about a two minute wait. Man am I glad we stopped! I had forgotten about that awesome salsa bar with just what I was craving. Hot carrots, oh man that hit the spot. And the pico was better than I remembered good flavor and just the right size pieces .(I only wish they had bigger containers to put it in)That was just the warm up we then ordered the ceviche it was delicious the cilantro sauce on top was quite tasty. I couldn't wait for my wife to decide she needed to stop to save room for the fajitas. Yum more for me! A few minutes after finishing the ceviche oh baby here comes the sizzling steak & chicken fajitas. I could hear it all the way across the place. Leaving a trail of steaming goodness in its wake. I don't remember the waiters name but he was very helpful kind and knew the menu. He didn't mind sharing a suggestion when asked. This is often not found elsewhere. I know we'll go back again next time we come to town. Stay hungry my friends!

I always get the "Baja Bucket". It's great to share with 2 or more people and my out of town guests always enjoy the food and atmosphere!

We had a wonderful evening here enjoying the Chips w Salsa Bar and the yummy food. After sampling some delicious choices from the salsa bar, we ordered Shrimp tacos and the Chicken Tenga Burrito. Both were excellent! You won’t be disappointed if you stop here while in Old Town.

Delicious food, quick service, friendly staff reasonable prices, and portions large enough to share. The bucket of Fish & Chips is a must as well as their street tacos. Both are large enough to share and both go well with their Margaritas. The restaurant is perfectly located across the street from the Convention Center, so if you find yourself at the center, there is no need to drive and find parking when you're hungry.

OMG, they have a salsa bar is all I thought. The food was wonderful, the staff is super friendly and helpful when trying to pick WHAT's great. Just be careful of the photographers while eating your meal. They can be annoying and take a picture that cost $30 bucks!

Good tacos and salsa bar. This is a fun place in the Gaslamp district very near the Convention Center. The help your self salsa bar was great.

Once more when we where in a hurry to grab some lunch with a very dear friend of mine it did not take more than 2 sec to decide - Rockin' Baja was the place of choice - why ? here it is : location - on 5th Ave very close to San Diego convention center. Seating inside and outside options - with more seats inside. But it is very nice to seat outside and enjoy the sun in February. service - fast is the word - once we got seated, the waitress was with us in like 2 min took our order and in like 3 min we got our drinks and very fast the food arrived - not more than 15 min since we entered the place. Now if that is not fast service, dunno what it is. food - the menu is extensive and you have a lot of options to choose, now the bottom line is we have our favorite dish - the "Taco Tres Amigos" you get a beef taco, a shrimp taco and a lobster taco - all of those are excellent, spiced just enough to bring forward the flavor and also the sauce is not covering everything but it is completing the taco. And of-course with beans and rice to the side it goes just great. prices - pocket friendly - nothing to complain about. Overall a great place - a must go every year when I am visiting San Diego and very likely I'll be back next year...

I've traveled and stayed in the Gas Lamp area several times and Rockin' Baja is a must. As a matter of fact on my most recent stay I ate there 3 times over 6 days. Just a great vibe, awesome food and cocktails and the staff are simply terrific. The pricing is more than fair for the quality and service and I'm already looking forward to going back next year.

San Diego weather is so good, sit outside and enjoy the sites on the busy street. Margaritas' by the pitcher, a little too sweet, but nothing a few lime wedges didn't correct. 5 people ordered 5 different taco combos. Everyone shared bites. Delicious. Lots of local craft beer to choose from. OK wine list. Service was a little slow and the server brought a second glass of wine 30 minutes after it was ordered. But for serious Mexican seafood in a fun atmosphere, came have enjoy.

Several of us stopped here for a quick lunch while attending a meeting at the convention center. We all loved the fish tacos! Service was quick. Chips were crispy. Would definitely recommend!

Visited on thanksgiving and had thanksgiving bucket. Huge and excellent quality. Server helpful and friendly and whole place had a really nice vibe. Will definitely go again next time we're in San Diego. Very reasonably priced for quality of food.

We were enticed to this restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter by good reviews which proved to be totally unmotivated: the atmosphere was a combination between a sports pub and a frontier cantina, the food was well below average (how can fresh nachos be stale?), the service was terrible. Indeed, we did not get any food poisoning, but the overall rating is ‘Nope’.

A friend recommended that we stop by and try one of the buckets which was huge and delicious! The Lobster Corn Chowder was killer and the rice and beans kept coming! The salsa bar with the mango salsa and the classic were delicious as well! Nice place to eat in the Gas Lamp District!

Definitely recommend this restaurant. Our first visit we arrived pretty late but that wasn't a problem, our server was fantastic.

It was good tacos, but nothing THAT special.. I think a bit overpriced compared to the dishes. The nachos & salsa "buffet" however was great! Quick service, nice interior, maybe a bit touristic....

For an appetizer, we had the Lobster Bites. Very tasty, but our entrees blew it away. The Tacos de Tres Amigos is outstanding. The lobster, shrimp and carne asada were all positively delicious, and each had its own distinct flavor. Really top notch. The restaurant chain describes themselves as "rockin'" which evidently means that the music is loud, signs on the walls denigrate vegetarians and joke about tequila helping ugly people get laid, and the waitresses wear Hooter-ish clothing and make-up. I'm not vegetarian or prude, but it's just not my brand of humor. If you like that vibe, then go for it because the food won't let you down.

Want amazing food but dressed in shorts, flip flops, and tshirts? Rockin' Baja Coastal Cantina! Enjoy excellent chips, salsa, and amazing entrees. Even if hungry, consider splitting the gringo burrito - it is plenty for two people!

If you are looking for authentic Mexican cuisine, go somewhere else. This place was OK but it tasted like every other chain Mexican Restaurant (i.e. Paradiso). The steak on the taco was very bland, and the quesadilla was so greasy and soggy we didn't even want to eat it after the first few bites. There are a lot of other great places in the Gaslamp District to eat at.

We stopped here for lunch during a day trip to San Diego. The restaurant is in the Gaslamp district, not far from the Convention Center, so it was ideally located on our "tourist" route. The food is good and very plentiful. Our teenage daughters couldn't finish their main courses (without a starter or dessert). In retrospect, sharing would have been the right thing for them, which would have put the already not very high prices (for the USA) into perspective. So we still had a doggy bag for the next day.

Stopped by for dinner. Service was very good. Lobster roll was tasty. A bit pricey, but everything down here is. We will be back

There were several dining places around Gaslamp area and all with outdoor/indoor seating. We liked open self serve buffet style nachos appetizer. Overall, the food was not so flavorful but filling.

Enjoy the night life good food, great service, and great place to hang out and have a few drinks and make new friends

Fun twist on fresh Mexican food. Self-serve salsa bar with about a dozen items. The seafood in cream sauce over rice was yummy. We ate it like dip on tortilla chips. Good, fresh guacamole. Tacos were ok. Very reasonable prices. Large portions. Outdoor sidewalk patio tables were great for people watching. Ate there twice within a week. Friendly servers.

The food was really good and so was the service, overall a very good place for dinner. Definitely recommend!!!

I ordered the blood orange rita and the TJ style street tacos with ranchero beans and citrus lime rice. Both the rice and beans were delicious! The chicken in the tacos was a little dry, but the avocado sauce helped offset that. The blood oragne rita was a good blend- not too sweet, not to bitter. Despite being super busy during Comic-con the server was attentive and the food came out quickly.

The tacos here were the best I have ever tried and were simply delicious. The cost of the meal was great but the drinks were expensive so stick to the beer. The staff and their service was great.

Stopped by for a late lunch after flying into San Diego for a convention.....Rockin' Baja was right outside the hotel so it was convenient, the food was good, and the service excellent....

This is my go to place in San Diego, I really enjoy it for lunch, food is consistantly good, and they have a salsa bar.

Had a quick dinner. Fish tacos were good, service quick. Not outstanding but quite enjoyable. They served taco chips and the salsa was very good. Definitely would go back.

I got the tres amigos and my steak was chewy, the shrimp were a little under done and my lobster, though tasty, was too crunchy for my taste as a part of the knuckle was left in with the meat. The chips and salsa were good.

I tend to shy away for what I perceive to be chain or theme restaurants, but while there are several Rocking Lobster locations the San Diego Gaslamp location is terrific. Street tacos are fun food, but if not prepared properly can be dry and tasteless. Rockin Lobster gets it right. Delivered quickly and efficiently, these tacos were outstanding and every bit as good as those I’ve had at much more expensive restaurants. The service and food quality had us going back a second time, which is rare when I’m on the road.

I wanted to get crab while we were in town and this place had good reviews, a yummy-looking menu and was very close. Service was excellent, drinks were tasty, strong and easy on the wallet. You get what you pay for with seafood, so my expectations were tempered by the prices and I was pleasantly surprised. I got a bucket (kinda like boils at other bib-wearing seafood places) with shrimp, crab and small lobster tails. Everything was well seasoned but overcooked. It comes with corn on the cob and rice and beans. For me rice and beans are usually fillers that I stay away from but their cilantro rice and beans were very good. We also had a tasty lobster corn chowder (I suspect it was crawfish and not lobster but was yummy nonetheless). There's a good chips and salsa bar and a lot of tacos on the menu. Hubby got the lobster taco and enchilada and loved them. There's also lots of TVs to watch all the sports and outdoor seating. Moral of the story: stellar service, OK food.

Who knew that I would have the best caesar salad EVER at a mexican fish place - the dressing was the best I've had. We also had ahi tuna tacos - fresh, fresh, fresh. This place gets crowded quickly at both lunch and happy hour so make sure you get there early. Whatever you order is going to be great.

It was good, it wasn't anything that really stood out to me as being memorable but it certainly wasn't a standout spot. The margarita was good, my tacos (sirloin tacos) weren't bad, but I found them to be a little fatty. Our friends ordered the fish and chips which I didn't try but it was a very generous portion. I definitely recommend sitting outside!

This restaurant is downtown not far from the convention center. It has nice outdoor seating with umbrellas and inside seating at the bar or at tables. We started off with the complimentary chips and salsa bar that is loaded with different salsas, sauces and veggie for the fresh chips. They had a drink special so we had a well made margarita then proceeded to the special lobster tacos. Soft flour tortillas loaded with tomato, lobster, avocado, peppers and onion with a delicious sauce. It was AMAZING!!!! The service was great, the hostess was friendly and accommodating, the waitress was efficient and helpful.

My wife and I had a very nice dinner here. We were pleased with the quality of thier tacos and also had a good beer selection. They also had a chip bar with salsa, pico de gallo, etc. Overall nice friendly atmosphere.

Great spot in the Gaslamp district for Taco Tuesday. The Carne Asada taco was our favorite with the Surf and Turf taco not too far behind. Service at lunch was very good as well!

Had lunch and dinner here while on a business trip. The outdoor seating is a great option to enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather.. The food is above average (guacamole and salsa bar are excellent!). Servers during both visits were friendly and attentive. Maybe a little slow but hey, it's Cali. I would visit again and highly recommend to others.

We chose this restaurant as our 'Taste of Mexico' experience during our first visit to San Diego.Taste is exactly what we got, with the tortilla chips, tacos, cocktails and ambiance. The Gaslamp district has no shortage of restaurant options so we were delighted the Rockin' Baja didn't disappoint. Reservations are recommended as it is a popular location, for good reason.

So our first time in here we thought we would stop for some lunch taco's. Great friendly server, took our order, we tucked in to the Nacho bar. Didn't mind the wait to start as we kept busy with the Nacho's. Server then came along to advise there was an issue with the kitchen and there would be another 30 min wait for our food. My other half was attending a conference so we couldn't wait that much longer. The server did everything she could to improve the time but wasn't successful. No discount offered for the drinks we did had. We came back though on Taco Tuesday as we liked what we saw and didn't want to miss out, glad we did. The food was excellent and fantastically cheap. We would go back again

Not sure how this place got an average of four stars from previous visitors… Everything was extremely average at best. Margaritas were overly sweet, definitely from some kind of a mix. The salsa was good, but the chips were old and premade. Main course was kind of tasteless and really average… Given that we are in San Diego, I would’ve expected much much better Mexican.

Great eats and better than Tacos in Baja...some times things are just nbetter with a little California touch!

Great atmosphere, awesome food and amazing staff. The menu offered a good selection and everything we tried was great! Staff is amazing - every one was friendly and just added to the over all experience.

It doesn’t get any better than this. If you’re looking for good fish and margaritas, this is a place to go. The fish and chips bucket is amazing! Thy also provide a complimentary chips/salsa bar. Damn good! Oh, the staff? Always top of the line. We’ve been there before, and it’s an absolute must!

Rockin' Baja is situated between Petco Park and the Shout! House, so it was the perfect place for dinner. We had drinks and split the steak, chicken & shrimp fajitas. Black beans and rice completed the meal and we still couldn't finish it all. It was very good. Our server was friendly and efficient.