Another Mexican restaurant on Forbes

Baja Fresh

3615 Forbes Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

(412) 687-7700

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Baja Fresh

3615 Forbes Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

(412) 687-7700

What is it with the Mexican restaurants in Oakland lately? I’m sure you’ve been asking yourself the same question. Forget Taco Bell – authentic Mexican food seems to be pretty popular on Pitt’s campus.

Not only does Taco Bell have to worry about competition from Qdoba, the efficient fast food Mexican grill that showed up last year, but they’ve got to watch out for Baja Fresh, the latest arrival to come to Forbes Avenue.

With a menu that ranges from burritos and enchiladas to taquitos, Baja Fresh brings even more Mexican flavor to campus.

A little more expensive than a Taco Bell dish, you’ll get more filled up with their entrees. The question then is: Is your break between classes worth it?

Perhaps, if you have seven to nine minutes to spare after waiting in their line of curious new customers. After all, the sign that is posted on their bright white wall says, “Food cannot be made at microwave speed.” At least Baja Fresh is honest – though I think the employee lied when I was told the maximum wait was nine minutes. Perhaps it was that my anticipation got the best of me.

With my few extra minutes ticking by, I took notice of several things about Baja Fresh. First, the paint job that hits you as soon as you walk in really starts playing tricks with your mind. It’s whiter than a Crest whitening strip bleach job. Add to that the beaming lights in every inch of the room, and you might get a little woozy before mealtime.

As I looked down at the table to focus on something else, and listened to the Mexican music, my number was called. Alert and starving by this time, I found the journey to obtain my food quite a struggle because of the traffic flow. I’m not going to give Baja a hard time, though. This is only the first couple weeks. Things may change. Meanwhile, walking back with full hands this time, after running into only one couple, I had my eye on the prize: the salsa bar.

Made fresh daily, the salsa bar is a stand with nearly every type of mild to hot salsa: salsa verde, pico de gallo, and their enchilado salsa. The dizziness ended while my mind raced to figure out which salsa I should use on my chicken taquito.

Heck, why not try all of them?

And when I bit into my chicken taquito, you can imagine that I was a little bit excited and overjoyed at the same time. I’ll tell you this much, the food was good, but if you’re going to have to wait up to 10 minutes with your numbered ticket, you should at least have a server coming to your table with your tacos. Perhaps this is price you pay for freshness.

Fresh seems to be Baja Fresh’s major selling point. Maybe it’s their version of a Mexican Subway. I’m sure Jared is getting tired of eating fresh at Subway seven days a week. I’m not sure how the calorie factor works out in comparison to a six-inch sub and a bag of Baked Lays, though.

Your refillable jumbo-size souvenir cup makes everything worth it – even the wait. However, maybe not the embarrassment you’ll face from McDonald’s patrons across the street when you exit. Since the cup is rather big, there is no possible way to camouflage your affection for Baja Fresh. Sipping from your straw, you’re practically a walking bumper sticker. The food was great, but maybe not enough for me to wish to hold my cup up high.