It's been a family tradition to go here when we can all get together since some family members live out-of-town. We went on 12/27/23 and were really disappointed with the seating, the rude employees and especially with the food. Our party of 7 was seated in an open room next to the door to the patio. It was nighttime and cold, and the door was closed. The servers working the patio kept propping the door open and we would get up and shut it, then they would come through and prop it open again. When my daughter got up and closed it again the male server gave my daughter a dirty look and opened it again! It was uncomfortable and also cooled off our food. There were not any heaters in the room that we were in. Our server was fine though. The quality of the food has really gone downhill over the last couple years. The Cabo Surf & Turf Platter was disgusting. The lobster was mushy, mealy, most likely boiled, and it smelled fishy. It was not grilled or charred and did not have the garlic butter sauce on it. The King Crab in the bucket was not fresh. The shrimp on our other orders was not grilled and was flavorless and also mushy. The short rib tacos de barrio - super salty and not much meat in the tacos. The corn on the cob was overcooked and dry, the rice and beans were not as flavorful as in the past. We spent over $400 for food, service, taxes and the additional surcharge. What a let down and waste of money. Sadly, we won't be back, we will go to other places that serve Baja style seafood the way it's supposed to be. You may do better next time, but we won't know because we won't take that chance again.
Lorenzo W.
Not so Rockin' :( I had an interesting time at Rockin' Baja Lobster, it's a fun venue and seems like it's more of a drinking spot than restaurant. The drinks look tasty and the food isn't bad but it needs work. I had the seafood skillet and it had globs of Poblano cream and cheese, the consistency was so thick I couldn't enjoy the seafood as much as I wanted to, it's very overpowering. On the other hand, the seafood is very fresh and tasty, my lobster, scallops etc. were amazing! Too bad I couldn't enjoy it too much. The service was iffy, the server we had took a really long time just to take our order and he messed up one of my party members' order. He was a nice guy but I could tell if you're not a regular, you get less attention. I'd give this place one more shot and if I'm not totally impressed I don't plan on coming back unless I have to.
Marla S.
A place with "Lobster" in the name isn't going to be good for vegetarians or vegans. And this place isn't. Weirdly, when you walk past the hostess station, the first thing you see and smell is the bathrooms; not auspicious. I came with a group, hoping for the best. We were seated at a huge donut-shaped table with a tall fire pit in the middle; a neat a idea but not at all conducive to conversation.Nevermind being vegan; even a vegetarian would struggle here. Other than the quesadilla, not a single vegetarian entree on the huge and slightly complicated menu. I ended up ordering the steak tacos, sans steak and cheese. I asked them to, I don't know, double the beans or something, so it would still be a meal, and it appears no attempt was made. The server, for what it's worth, was very sweet and expressed hesitation over charging me full price for the tacos without the meat. She even offered to put the meat on the side, which I know was well-intended. The only other real positive I can offer is that they have a wide variety of yummy salsas (and thankfully so - the tacos had not much going on otherwise).Last, they engage in the obnoxious practice of going around to every table with a Polaroid camera and asking if you want your picture taken. Ugh. It was serviceable, but I won't be back. This one is among the many that generally don't seem to GAF about the experience of vegetarian or vegan guests.
Hanna K.
I have been coming to Rockin Baja for over 20 years. I always tell anyone who asks where to go in San Diego, I send them to Rockin Baja. Tonight may end that 20+ year run. -Your menu has become so expensive that it is no longer somewhere we can go to for a fun night out. -I ordered a beer, this has always been my favorite place to get beer. Always so cold and perfect tasting. Tonight the beer glass smelled like a dirty bar floor and the beer tasted flat and like it had been sitting in a keg for 10 years without being cared for. -You have removed all the items from your menu that my family loves so much. Chicken Fajitas and the chicken and cheese enchiladas. -We had a side of guacamole, sour cream and cheese. The cheese was hard as a rock. The sour cream was hard and lumpy and the guacamole tasted off. -The flour tortillas we got with our meal were warm but crunchy and not soft like they usually are. -All we could smell while eating was the propane coming from one of the heaters. -Lastly we had to wait 20 minutes to get our check after we finished eating. I am really going to miss coming here and celebrating all my family events. But it is no longer affordable or enjoyable. I hope one day this place goes back to the standards I came to love. Thank you.
Shie S.
Always love coming here when we visit San Diego. Nothing beats the seafood, chicken, and steak combination. It has always been consistently good. The seasoning they use are always on point. We are never disappointed when we dine here. A must stop when visiting the area.
Vincent S.
I've been wanting to try this place for some time. This is located in Old Town San Diego, just walking distance from the Main Street and attractions. The host was very friendly and seated us quickly. We arrived at about 12 but was able to beat the lunch hour rush on a Saturday. Once inside, the atmosphere was perfect, from the plants and water fountain, to the music in the background. Food has a bit of sea food, Mexican food and burgers. Just what we needed. My son tried the birria tacos, which were good. I had the fajitas de Baja, one of their signature dishes. It was surprisingly good and came on a hot skillet that kept it warm. I'd recommend this place for anytime of the day or year, for all ages.
Mags W.
Prompt service, friendly staff, good sized serving sizes and open air bar area. Super inviting and there were tv screens if you want to watch your favorite teams.I had a great time!Was that a corona-rita or an marga-rona?!?Either way, it was huge!!!!!My chi-chi was ah-mazing!I'll for sure be hitting this spot again the next time I'm in SD.
Bryan And G.
We enjoyed Cerviche with Tortilla Chips at Rockin' Baja Lobster Coastal Cantina, at this year's Taste of the Gaslamp 2023. Although the service was excellent, the food was somewhat sparse compared to the other restaurants.
Jeno S.
Let's dive into it with some zest! So, you know how it is - we were on a mission for an epic birthday shindig, and Rockin' Baja Lobster was our prime target. We wanted that perfect combo of good times and post-party bar-hopping potential. And let me tell you, this spot delivered in spades. The moment we walked in, the vibes hit us like a wave, and the music? Oh man, it was like the soundtrack to the party we didn't even know we needed.With every sip of our drinks, the energy got amped up a notch. It was like the music and laughter were dancing in perfect harmony. And the best part? The company was top-notch. There's something magical about being surrounded by friends who are ready to create memories that'll last a lifetime.The birthday celebration? Let's just say it went from "yeah, this is gonna be fun" to "HOLY SMOKES, this is epic!" From start to finish, the night unfolded like a page from a wild adventure novel. And trust me, the drinks played a big role in making that happen. Those concoctions were like little cups of liquid courage, fueling our laughter and ensuring the good times never stopped.In summary, if you're searching for a place that's all about those good vibes, killer music, and drinks that bring the party, Rockin' Baja Lobster should be your go-to. It's more than just a restaurant - it's a hub of excitement and camaraderie. So don't hesitate - grab your crew, head on over, and brace yourself for a night you won't forget.
Definitely a hidden gem! We came in here for dinner after having some cigars down the street. We had a party of 5 and we decided to sit at the bar which was perfect. We ordered our drinks and food at the same time and the timing couldn't of been more perfect. We literally got our food like 5 minutes after our drinks came out. Our bartender Janeth was the best, she took care of us and even put on the Laker game for us. The vibe was also very mellow but we can tell we definitely want to come back here on the weekend. For parking it is easy they have some available but if that gets packed across the street from the is a lot you can pay to park. There is also another lot a block away where you can pay to park. Very easy but I imagine it gets crowded on a weekend. I highly recommend this place you will not regret it. The drinks are delicious and the food even better, you can tell they got that sazón on the meat!
Loretta Arenas
Good food, amazing service, and great ambiance! I had one of the bowls and it was more than enough food ant a reasonable price. Also, their chips are so delicious! Sounds weird but, just trust me. ☺️
Bob Eagleson
Could only do take out, but they rise to the occasion. As always, delish food and margaritas...also bought a $70 gift card with a $30 bonus!!! Gotta support our establishments!!!
Lisa S
Oh yeah. Good time even with a missing band. The good with the bad.
Jonathan Hoster
They’re known for the buckets, and the buckets are awesome!! Delicious seafood, chicken adobo and carne asada! The salsa bar is amazing, too!
It's been a family tradition to go here when we can all get together since some family members live out-of-town. We went on 12/27/23 and were really disappointed with the seating, the rude employees and especially with the food. Our party of 7 was seated in an open room next to the door to the patio. It was nighttime and cold, and the door was closed. The servers working the patio kept propping the door open and we would get up and shut it, then they would come through and prop it open again. When my daughter got up and closed it again the male server gave my daughter a dirty look and opened it again! It was uncomfortable and also cooled off our food. There were not any heaters in the room that we were in. Our server was fine though. The quality of the food has really gone downhill over the last couple years. The Cabo Surf & Turf Platter was disgusting. The lobster was mushy, mealy, most likely boiled, and it smelled fishy. It was not grilled or charred and did not have the garlic butter sauce on it. The King Crab in the bucket was not fresh. The shrimp on our other orders was not grilled and was flavorless and also mushy. The short rib tacos de barrio - super salty and not much meat in the tacos. The corn on the cob was overcooked and dry, the rice and beans were not as flavorful as in the past. We spent over $400 for food, service, taxes and the additional surcharge. What a let down and waste of money. Sadly, we won't be back, we will go to other places that serve Baja style seafood the way it's supposed to be. You may do better next time, but we won't know because we won't take that chance again.
Not so Rockin' :( I had an interesting time at Rockin' Baja Lobster, it's a fun venue and seems like it's more of a drinking spot than restaurant. The drinks look tasty and the food isn't bad but it needs work. I had the seafood skillet and it had globs of Poblano cream and cheese, the consistency was so thick I couldn't enjoy the seafood as much as I wanted to, it's very overpowering. On the other hand, the seafood is very fresh and tasty, my lobster, scallops etc. were amazing! Too bad I couldn't enjoy it too much. The service was iffy, the server we had took a really long time just to take our order and he messed up one of my party members' order. He was a nice guy but I could tell if you're not a regular, you get less attention. I'd give this place one more shot and if I'm not totally impressed I don't plan on coming back unless I have to.
A place with "Lobster" in the name isn't going to be good for vegetarians or vegans. And this place isn't. Weirdly, when you walk past the hostess station, the first thing you see and smell is the bathrooms; not auspicious. I came with a group, hoping for the best. We were seated at a huge donut-shaped table with a tall fire pit in the middle; a neat a idea but not at all conducive to conversation.Nevermind being vegan; even a vegetarian would struggle here. Other than the quesadilla, not a single vegetarian entree on the huge and slightly complicated menu. I ended up ordering the steak tacos, sans steak and cheese. I asked them to, I don't know, double the beans or something, so it would still be a meal, and it appears no attempt was made. The server, for what it's worth, was very sweet and expressed hesitation over charging me full price for the tacos without the meat. She even offered to put the meat on the side, which I know was well-intended. The only other real positive I can offer is that they have a wide variety of yummy salsas (and thankfully so - the tacos had not much going on otherwise).Last, they engage in the obnoxious practice of going around to every table with a Polaroid camera and asking if you want your picture taken. Ugh. It was serviceable, but I won't be back. This one is among the many that generally don't seem to GAF about the experience of vegetarian or vegan guests.
I have been coming to Rockin Baja for over 20 years. I always tell anyone who asks where to go in San Diego, I send them to Rockin Baja. Tonight may end that 20+ year run. -Your menu has become so expensive that it is no longer somewhere we can go to for a fun night out. -I ordered a beer, this has always been my favorite place to get beer. Always so cold and perfect tasting. Tonight the beer glass smelled like a dirty bar floor and the beer tasted flat and like it had been sitting in a keg for 10 years without being cared for. -You have removed all the items from your menu that my family loves so much. Chicken Fajitas and the chicken and cheese enchiladas. -We had a side of guacamole, sour cream and cheese. The cheese was hard as a rock. The sour cream was hard and lumpy and the guacamole tasted off. -The flour tortillas we got with our meal were warm but crunchy and not soft like they usually are. -All we could smell while eating was the propane coming from one of the heaters. -Lastly we had to wait 20 minutes to get our check after we finished eating. I am really going to miss coming here and celebrating all my family events. But it is no longer affordable or enjoyable. I hope one day this place goes back to the standards I came to love. Thank you.
Always love coming here when we visit San Diego. Nothing beats the seafood, chicken, and steak combination. It has always been consistently good. The seasoning they use are always on point. We are never disappointed when we dine here. A must stop when visiting the area.
I've been wanting to try this place for some time. This is located in Old Town San Diego, just walking distance from the Main Street and attractions. The host was very friendly and seated us quickly. We arrived at about 12 but was able to beat the lunch hour rush on a Saturday. Once inside, the atmosphere was perfect, from the plants and water fountain, to the music in the background. Food has a bit of sea food, Mexican food and burgers. Just what we needed. My son tried the birria tacos, which were good. I had the fajitas de Baja, one of their signature dishes. It was surprisingly good and came on a hot skillet that kept it warm. I'd recommend this place for anytime of the day or year, for all ages.
Prompt service, friendly staff, good sized serving sizes and open air bar area. Super inviting and there were tv screens if you want to watch your favorite teams.I had a great time!Was that a corona-rita or an marga-rona?!?Either way, it was huge!!!!!My chi-chi was ah-mazing!I'll for sure be hitting this spot again the next time I'm in SD.
We enjoyed Cerviche with Tortilla Chips at Rockin' Baja Lobster Coastal Cantina, at this year's Taste of the Gaslamp 2023. Although the service was excellent, the food was somewhat sparse compared to the other restaurants.
Let's dive into it with some zest! So, you know how it is - we were on a mission for an epic birthday shindig, and Rockin' Baja Lobster was our prime target. We wanted that perfect combo of good times and post-party bar-hopping potential. And let me tell you, this spot delivered in spades. The moment we walked in, the vibes hit us like a wave, and the music? Oh man, it was like the soundtrack to the party we didn't even know we needed.With every sip of our drinks, the energy got amped up a notch. It was like the music and laughter were dancing in perfect harmony. And the best part? The company was top-notch. There's something magical about being surrounded by friends who are ready to create memories that'll last a lifetime.The birthday celebration? Let's just say it went from "yeah, this is gonna be fun" to "HOLY SMOKES, this is epic!" From start to finish, the night unfolded like a page from a wild adventure novel. And trust me, the drinks played a big role in making that happen. Those concoctions were like little cups of liquid courage, fueling our laughter and ensuring the good times never stopped.In summary, if you're searching for a place that's all about those good vibes, killer music, and drinks that bring the party, Rockin' Baja Lobster should be your go-to. It's more than just a restaurant - it's a hub of excitement and camaraderie. So don't hesitate - grab your crew, head on over, and brace yourself for a night you won't forget.
Fancy dinner time with Teresa and Rissa
Restaurantji Recommends
Definitely a hidden gem! We came in here for dinner after having some cigars down the street. We had a party of 5 and we decided to sit at the bar which was perfect. We ordered our drinks and food at the same time and the timing couldn't of been more perfect. We literally got our food like 5 minutes after our drinks came out. Our bartender Janeth was the best, she took care of us and even put on the Laker game for us. The vibe was also very mellow but we can tell we definitely want to come back here on the weekend. For parking it is easy they have some available but if that gets packed across the street from the is a lot you can pay to park. There is also another lot a block away where you can pay to park. Very easy but I imagine it gets crowded on a weekend. I highly recommend this place you will not regret it. The drinks are delicious and the food even better, you can tell they got that sazón on the meat!
Good food, amazing service, and great ambiance! I had one of the bowls and it was more than enough food ant a reasonable price. Also, their chips are so delicious! Sounds weird but, just trust me. ☺️
Could only do take out, but they rise to the occasion. As always, delish food and margaritas...also bought a $70 gift card with a $30 bonus!!! Gotta support our establishments!!!
Oh yeah. Good time even with a missing band. The good with the bad.
They’re known for the buckets, and the buckets are awesome!! Delicious seafood, chicken adobo and carne asada! The salsa bar is amazing, too!