Ch-Ch-Chain: Rockin' Baja Lobster

*** Rockin' Baja Lobster no longer offers the Buffet.

I'm sure you know of places like "Baja Lobster", a "Coastal Mexican Cantina & Grill" that's really a theme chain restaurant in disguise. You've seen those commercials, drunken Gringos, dancing in a conga line to Kool and the Gang, or faux Mariachi Music. A good time to be had by all; the life of the party! This is probably the last place in the world you'd expect to find me; in a usually crowded, sometimes tourist filled destination, in the land of eternal Happy Hour! But there is something that I do enjoy about Baja Lobster, during the off-season, it's pretty quiet, and there's a $7.99 lunch buffet that has a Caesar Salad that I really enjoy.

Well, surprises of surprises, when we arrived the buffet is now $8.99. Well, we were here so might as well grab a bite anyway. Oh, and by the way, when is a Buffet not "pronto". As we entered we could smell the remains of last night's "festivities", you see the scent of Lysol was still very strong. Obviously some person or persons probably had a bit too much "fun" last night! The dining area is a courtyard that's been covered, sort of leaving everything in a state of terminal dusk,  hey it's always Happy Hour here right? There's a waterfall with plastic and real crab shells and other sea creatures creating some nice "white noise".

Since I decided to not do the buffet, I looked over the menu and ordered the California Chicken Melt($7.50), and the Waitress informed me that I could go ahead and help myself to the salad bar. So I was in luck, I'd get my salad anyway!

The most interesting item at the salad bar, was a orange - brown - grey mass, looking for all the world like Hummus on steroids. It's actually Honey- Chili Butter; which you can spread on some of the warm tortillas that are provided. The Caesar Salad was good, with the salty, creamy dressing, you could also distinctly taste the anchovy. We did detect a change in the dressing though; there used to a good amount of creamy cheese in the dressing, that component seemed to be missing. After a short wait my Chicken Sandwich arrived:

More appropriately, this should be called an Avocado Sandwich with a chicken garnish. I don't think I've ever had so much avocado on a sandwich. It's probably for the best, the chicken breast fillet was dry and tasteless, but the avocado and bacon were tasty. I enjoyed the fries, they were flavored with chili powder and tasted great with the Aioli, which I think was for the sandwich, but I used them for the fries. Overall, not a bad lunch.

You can still get a Caesar Salad if you want to($5.95):

Or even the buffet, and not have to worry about the Conga Line, or crowds - if you go for lunch......

'Rockin' Baja Lobster
3890 Twiggs St
San Diego, CA 92110

Comments

[Angie]

Kirk--

Wow, that mass of butter is impressively large. Never would have guessed what it was.

LOL about the avocado sandwich with chicken. Funny how Americans insist on cooking or buying skinless, boneless, white meat chicken, but then we smother it in bacon, avocado, aioli, etc. Or deep fry it into nuggets or "fingers."

Glad to see another salad on your blog. :-)

[Rachel]

Hehe that butter looked like a leg of ham from glancing at the photos. Sorry the chicken was dry but yaay you got the caesar. Mmm its nice to have a good taste of anchovy in it. I have had some caesar dressing that tasted more like plain mayonaise.

I guess you need to ch-ch-chain the fools who got drunk there at night :D

[Kirk]

Hi Angie - That butter is a bit scary.... I'm wondering how many people actually order the Chicken Sandwich thinking ti the "Healthy choice" on the menu?

Hi Rachel - I know another actual real life salad!

[Green Turtle]

What a disappointing looking buffet at $9 as well as the $7.50 chicken sandwich and fries. Way overpriced. Looks like I'll be avoiding this place. For a salad buffet, just go to the Souplantation with the $6.39 coupon or for more meat, Super Sunrise Buffet or Great Moon Buffet, still cheaper than the $9 at this place.

[Kirk]

Hi Green Turtle - I thought the buffet was good at $7.99, but now nah! We like Souplantation, but will usually go for an early dinner, before all the crowds of rude old people, and families with kids running around...I also enjoy Thai Cafe's Buffet lunch as well as even the small $5.99 Buffet at Shanghai City.

[Rachel]

OH! yes you do kirk ! I should have jumped at your going green ;) but a good caesar has too much bacon and anchovy and cheese to be a real salad :P Well good for you for having avocodo on your sandwich too!! *beam brightly*

[Kirk]

Rachel - Always looking out for my personal welfare!

[Annie]

Yummy, I would have been in avocado heaven with that sandwich!!!

[Kirk]

Hi Annie - It would probably have been a better sandwich without the chicken in it. Just a bacon/avocado sandwich!