Baja Cantina - Carmel

Name: Baja Cantina - Carmel
Address: 7166 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, CA, United States, 93923
Telephone: (831) 625-2252
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.5

4.5 (623)

$30 and under

Mexican / Southwestern

7166 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, CA 93923

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 24, 2025

10:00 PM

Booked 11 times today

About this restaurant

Great for outdoor dining
Good for groups
Neighborhood gem

Baja Cantina is a fun and energetic place that is known for its exceptional automotive memorabilia collection and excellent food. We have a large outdoor patio that is perfect to sit and relax on a sunny afternoon with one of our award winning margaritas. We have special events all year round, including our famous classic car gatherings, holiday parties, tequila tastings, and sporting events. ****We only accept online reservations during off-peak times. If you can’t find a time you want online, please give us a call.***

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican / Southwestern, Contemporary Mexican
Hours of operation
Weekend Brunch: 11:00am - 2:00pm; Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 4:00pm, Saturday - Sunday: 11:00am - 4:00pm; Dinner: Nightly: 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Phone number
(831) 625-2252
Website
http://www.bajacantina.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Mauro Cuevas
Catering
We offer a full range of catering options from simple deliveries to buffets. Have one of our uniformed chefs come to your location and prepare our famous tacos and quesadillas on our custom built comal. We cater groups as small as 10 guests, or groups upward of 600 guests.

Location
7166 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, CA 93923
Neighborhood
Carmel Valley
Cross street
Valley Greens Drive
Parking details
We have both a private lot and plenty of street parking as well.
Public transit
Monterey-Salinas Transit stops at Valley Hills Center.
Entertainment
Live music Thursday through Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons (during summer months). We have a classic car gathering every Thursday night (also during summer months). All the best NFL matchups are shown on our multiple big screen televisions.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 623 people are saying

Baja Cantina - Carmel reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.4Service
4.4Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

California Central Coast
Kid-friendly
California Central Coast
Good for groups
California Central Coast
Hot spot
California Central Coast
Great for outdoor dining
Monterey / Carmel
Kid-friendly
Monterey / Carmel
Good for groups
Monterey / Carmel
Hot spot
Monterey / Carmel
Great for outdoor dining
Monterey / Carmel
Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Baja Cantina in Carmel offers a vibrant atmosphere with a notable patio area, making it a "fun and festive" place to dine. Guests appreciate the "great quality food" and "excellent service," especially recommending the margaritas and chips. While some mention mixed experiences, many praise the "wonderful atmosphere" and "tastebud tantalizing" menu.

623 Reviews

R
Rose VIP
California Central Coast4 reviews
1.0
Dined on June 15, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
It’s been years since we revisited Baja Cantina, we had good experience back then, things have definitely changed. Not sure if it’s new ownership , Service was horrible, it started from the hostess, we had dinner reservations, acted like we’re a nuisance, not very welcoming definitely need some work with customer service!!! Our waiter was mediocre, did not understand what we’re ordering, first my margarita was served on the rocks instead of blended, my daughter got her sides wrong “fries “instead of rice. waiter wasn’t as attentive. He did not offer to correct our order. Won’t be coming back!!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
California Central Coast1 review
5.0
Dined on June 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our server could not have been any more gracious and fun. The food used to be outstanding and fairly priced. Like 99% of other restaurants now, the economics of business force their hand with quality. Baja Cantina is still a fun, happy and enjoyable experience. We’ll be back on a band night - thanks for all the great memories! The fireplace patio is best in the area. Thank you!
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s
stephen VIP
San Francisco Bay Area4 reviews
1.0
Dined on June 9, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 3
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
Terrible service e for the second straight visit and prices for drinks hit new highs
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M
Marilyn VIP
San Francisco Bay Area18 reviews
3.0
Dined on May 29, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Baja has really gone downhill. We've been coming for years ~ food quality was sub-par and service was slow. Sad to see. Still a fun place for chips and margs but wouldn't recommend a full meal.
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L
Laurie VIP
Tucson142 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Truly a local favorite!!!!! Wonderful atmosphere, food and service!
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VA
VeraA
San Francisco Bay Area5 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent customer service and tasty food
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T
Tracy VIP
San Francisco Bay Area38 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The patio at Baja Cantina is a great place to eat and drink. We had a very cheery and welcoming server, and the food is always solid.
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C
Christopher
New Orleans / Louisiana2 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I survived the first couple years of college in the late ‘70s by eating at the Long Beach Marina Pacifica Baja Cantina’s Happy Hour. My memories of the eatery are deep. The incarnation of Pat Phinny’s creative mind are more than fulfilled at his home base food establishment in Carmel Valley. The imaginative Mexican faire on the menu is engaging and tastebud tantalizing. I enjoyed a very well prepared chili verde burrito and my friend a “combo” plate. The dinnerware was clean with “tongue-trails” when we concluded dinner. The outdoor seating area is ample, the bar well stocked, and the restaurant whimsically outfitted with a deep and wide collection of vintage and classic automobile and car-racing memorabilia. Well done Pat. All my meal lacked would’ve been a visit with you.
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R
Richard VIP
Phoenix / Arizona11 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a great dinner with super service as usual for Baja cantina! It’s a geat place and we are lucky to have it so close!
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L
Linda VIP
California Central Coast16 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great mexican food and huge portions. Has good music on certain nights and you can sit outside by heated lamps.
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FAQs

Baja Cantina - Carmel is rated 4.5 stars by 623 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 24, 2025

10:00 PM

Booked 11 times today

7166 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, CA 93923

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Valley Greens Drive
Neighborhood
Carmel Valley
Hours of operation
Weekend Brunch: 11:00am - 2:00pm; Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 4:00pm, Saturday - Sunday: 11:00am - 4:00pm; Dinner: Nightly: 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Mexican / Southwestern, Contemporary Mexican
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
We have both a private lot and plenty of street parking as well.
Public transit
Monterey-Salinas Transit stops at Valley Hills Center.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Mauro Cuevas
Entertainment
Live music Thursday through Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons (during summer months). We have a classic car gathering every Thursday night (also during summer months). All the best NFL matchups are shown on our multiple big screen televisions.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.bajacantina.com/
Phone number
(831) 625-2252
Catering
We offer a full range of catering options from simple deliveries to buffets. Have one of our uniformed chefs come to your location and prepare our famous tacos and quesadillas on our custom built comal. We cater groups as small as 10 guests, or groups upward of 600 guests.

Baja Cantina - Carmel

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

What 623 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Baja Cantina - Carmel restaurant rated?

Is Baja Cantina - Carmel currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information