Before Christmas, I got invited to Baja Portsmouth, where I got to sample some Mexican dishes and chat with my blogger friends. I then decided to return with my family and enjoy the food in a more relaxed way on a weekend lunchtime.
About Baja
Set in the heart of the city centre, this Mexican eaterie sits at Catherine House on Stanhope Street. Introducing more independent restaurants to the city centre is a bonus that indie lovers will love.
This is the second site for Baja as they also own a restaurant at Whiteley Shopping Centre. It is in a great location for footfall and speaking to Rob Lee, one of the owners, he said, “We were keen to try to expand on the success of the first restaurant in Whiteley and as Portsmouth is our hometown, we were really happy to be able to find a perfect space in a really central location. We are excited to welcome the city’s residents to our restaurant.”
Sitting in a location that is close to Commercial Road, the train station and Victoria Park means this is a great spot for families, shoppers and students, so can appeal to all. I love the fact that it is not far from the theatre so could be a pre-theatre and Portsmouth Guildhall meal location.
My Experience
First of all, I loved the interiors. Having a very chilled vibe and using lots of natural materials really draws you into a space that feels like you could be abroad somewhere like Bali. The owners said they wanted a Californian-style Mexican, and to me, gives off a sunshine, holiday vibe that I totally love.
Being central is key to a lot of food businesses and I like that other popular independent food places are close by. Busan Bites, Natty’s Jerk Kitchen and Nosh Box all sit in very close proximity, so that has created a bit of an indie food buzz in the city.
Going along with my family after a shopping day, we all enjoyed the food. The first time I visited, I had the burrito and I also had this on my second visit. My son who is gluten intolerant had chicken and chips. He felt the chicken was good as the seasoning was flavoursome and the chips were cooked well.
I chose the burrito on both of my visits as it was so delicious. A fabulous portion size for a reasonable price so I felt I got value for money. Using chicken thigh gave it so much flavour and I loved how extensive the choices of fillings were.
There are 4 different base filling options to choose from in the Burrito section of the menu, and then 6 extra filling options including 4 meat options and 2 vegetarian ones. I had the San Francisco with Tinga Chicken and loved this.
The Menu
Picar is the small plate menu and I had friends that tried the Belly Bites and liked them so if you don’t want a big meal, this section is a good choice to choose from. There is a huge list on the Taco section and I love the idea of trying something from this part of the menu next time I go there.
Asada Fries is a list of loaded fries with different toppings. A popular choice amongst my group was the chicken thigh option. I like the fact that there are 6 sections to the main food menu and then a Desserts section too which allows for choice and also to venture back and try something different.
Why I Would Go Back
The atmosphere is nice and relaxed, and I feel the extensive menu draws you back to try something new. I love the location as offers an independent vibe but is close to lots of amenities. I love to shop and eat at independents, so for me, if I have to venture into the city centre I now know I have a cool place that serves up good food, offers decent customer service and is not too expensive.
Opening Hours
Baja Portsmouth opens for lunch during the week, doing a lunch session 12.30pm until 3pm and then reopens at 5pm. It opens on Sundays 12pm until 6pm.
