Baja California Tacos has two locations, both in the city of Los Angeles, but the one on Venice (as opposed to the one on Vermont) is the one that we visited as it sits on the boundary between L.A. and Culver City. It’s also located on that nice strip that has one awesome eatery after another. Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine is nearby, as is Al’s Hot Chicken. You could feasibly park your car and then get a different meal for each member of the family.
The vibe is very casual. The signage is fluttering plastic, the service is cafeteria-style, the menu is on the wall. Frankly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. The service is warm and friendly, the place smells incredible and, most importantly, the food is awesome.
“At Baja California Tacos, experience mouthwatering, and finger-licking enseneda-style tacos with an original and perfected old recipe,” they say online. “We specialize in seafood tacos, ceviche, and seafood cocktails. We also offer a range of favorite Mexican food. Stop by or check out our menu to order pickup or delivery.”
“Owned and managed by a pioneer of the Culver City community for more than five decades,” they say. “We are known for our experience in the food and beverage industry, in addition to meat, seafood, and produce distribution. Baja California Tacos is a food experience that will have consistent knowledge of all the products we use, but with the promise of the freshest ingredients and most authentic flavors.”
“Enseneda-style” means lightly battered. With that in mind, we opted for the whole fish plate, which is essentially fish & chips, with a colorful twist. The ensenada-style hunks of tilapia are mouth-watering. The fish is light and full of freshwater flavor, while the batter is spiced and seasoned to perfection. The fries were well done, seasoned beautifully and more delicious than regular fries really have any right to be.
We also sampled the fish tacos, which were better still. The same pieces of fish are served on two flour tortillas with shredded cabbage, diced tomato and cilantro, then splashed with a mayo-esque sauce. It all tastes perfectly fresh and lip-smackingly good.
This was our second trip to Baja California Tacos, and we had completely different dishes this time but everything was still magnificent. Their menu runs deep, so we suspect you can get anything and it will be great. Go ahead – test them.Baja California Tacosis located at 10831 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles 90034. Contact 424-603-4080 or visit bajacalifoniatacos.com.