Baja, Eh, Fresh Enough

Baja Fresh has arrived in NYC. This is a good thing considering we have no Baja Buds here, no La Salsa, n0 Jack in the Box, and very few Taco Bells even. (OK, kidding on the last couple there, but only sorta.)

I stopped by the brand new Baja on 46 and Lex last night for a steak Burrito Mexicano + jack cheese + jalepeenyos. It was a decent enough meal. Far better than decent, even, if you consider Baja's cali/mex competition in NYC: Chipotle and Qdoba. Chipotle (CMG) is arguably the worst 'mexican' restaurant on the planet. Here's why:

1) Chipotle's chicken, pork and especially steak taste like windex.
2) Besides its pico de gallo, Chipotle's salsas taste like windex
3) Chipotle does not offer jalepeenyos
4) Adding guac to a burrito costs over $2
5) Chipotle's employees hate you
6) Millions of Americans think Chipotle is what Mexican food is all about

The one redeeming thing about Chipotle is that it's a great place to steal a bottle of Tabasco without feeling an ounce of guilt.

Qdoba is an abomination. If you ask for cheese in your burrito, the miserable 6 ft. Amazon behind the counter will dump a ladle-full of tart nacho cheese into your tortilla and then spend 3 minutes trying to figure out what your meal costs.

In light of the competition here, last night's dinner wasn't half bad. The steak seemed of a lower quality than usual, and the hot yellow peppers offered at the salsa bar weren't quite as hot as they should be (I ate 7, a sign of diminished freshness). But the fact remains: there IS a salsa bar at Baja Fresh. This alone raises the chain above its competition in NYC. Now it's only a matter of time before Baja Fresh comes downtown. I suggest right next to Chipotle on 8th and Mercer.