I was very curious to visit Baja Cantina for a few reasons. Most recently, they were a winner on the TV Show The Chopping Block in which they earned the show’s highest rating and muy praise from the critic Alan Saunders who said “I could marry the (Chicken) Mole.” I was also curious as Rob, the outspoken and at times arrogant chef of Baja Cantina, not so subtly spammed my recent Flying Fajita Sistas visit and there was a little exchange of words between him and a FFS supporter. Watching the show it seemed that his main goal was to win the $20,000 and adamantly resisted change so I was curious to see whether the food continued to do marriage worthy.
Tonight we’re visiting for Teena’s birthday for what she calls “The Battle of the Burrito” (well she works in Marketing so she can’t help it 
). We also have Gina, the Tex Mex lover and Canadian who would often cross the border in search of good Mexican food. Getting into the restaurant is a struggle for me – as I tug on the left hand set of doors I find them firmly closed shut but I can see two diners inside mid-meal. They point me towards the other set of doors to the right which I manage to open and enter slightly embarrassed. A few minutes later I watch my friend Gina do the exact same thing with the doors and we both wonder why there wasn’t a sign saying to use the other door. Our waitress tonight is friendly and happy to recommend items. We choose a few dishes including the two dishes that the critic raved about on show and as we wait for our food, more patrons enter, some sit in the front room whilst a large group sit out in the back garden area. The menu is very reasonably priced with most mains hovering around the $14-$16 area with the most expensive being $20. I see Rob the chef on the phone and the tattooed waiter serving tonight.
Sangria $14
We start with a big jug of sangria which is nice and fruity. I don’t usually drink a lot of alcohol as I have an allergic reaction to most wines, especially if they’re the cheap and nasty variety but this was pretty good and packed with fruit and luckily I didn’t have a reaction.
Chimichanga with chorizo and potato $20
Our food arrives shortly after and we start with the Chimichanga with House made Mexican chorizo. Our waitress explained that it is different to Spanish Chorizo in that it is the mince without being encased in a skin. It’s delicious and filled with rice, beans, potato and plenty of chorizo sausage and spice. Whilst I felt that the Flying Fajita Sistas Chimichanga was a little dry, this is not, especially when paired with the guacamole.
Baja Fish Tacos $20
The Baja Fish Tacos are next and I asked the waitress if it is fresh rather than frozen fish and she confirms that they are using fresh fish (they used frozen prior to the show). As there are two tacos which we were already forewarned about, we decide that they’re a bit hard to divvy up so we ask for another so we can each have one.
They bring us two extra instead which is nice of them and nice for us as these are delicious. Filled with freshly cooked battered flathead fish it’s also stuffed with a coleslaw type of salad and dressing. The accompanying rice is flavoursome and the black beans a perfect accompaniment.
Chicken Mole $20
The third dish is the Chicken Mole, the one that the critic declared that he would marry if he could. If you haven’t seen the show, it’s one that was previously served off the bone with the sauce on top rather than having the chicken cooked in the sauce but after some heated discussion with Matt Moran, it was cooked in the sauce and served on the bone. We see that it’s still served in black ceramic pots, on the bone and cooked in the sauce and sitting on a bed of mole sauced rice with some accompanying refried beans and 3 flour tortillas. The mole is delicious, as gorgeous as a mole should be and often isn’t, the chocolate judiciously applied so that it’s sweet but not overpoweringly tasting of chocolate, instead more given a mysterious air from the chocolate. The rice underneath is gorgeous and whilst we appreciate the tortilla, we don’t really need it. The refried beans with a streak of yellow fat have an unusual and not very appetising aftertaste and we leave most of those.
After a little break we ask to see the dessert menu. The dessert menus are yet to be printed but the waitress tells us the selections: churros, pineapple sorbet, chocolate caramel cake and deep fried ice cream. We ask whether the deep fried ice cream is the same as the one served at chinese restaurants and she describes it as cornflake rolled ice cream that has been deep fried with a caramel sauce on top. She tries to steer us away from the pineapple sorbet and we appreciate her honesty. We order the caramel cake and the deep fried ice cream out of curiousity.
Deep fried ice cream $7
The deep fried ice cream is similar to what was described but seems to lack any sort of deep frying at all, just a timbale of ice cream with some crunchy nut cornflakes stuck to it with some butterscotchy caramel sauce. We’re more confused than anything about where the deep frying comes into it.
Caramel Chocolate Cake
The caramel chocolate cake concerns us. The Caramel sauce is different from the butterscotch caramel of the ice cream and indeed it tastes just like Cottees Diet Caramel bottled sauce and after one sample spoonful we push it away, the aspartamey taste too odd and bitter for us. Our waitress asks us how our desserts were and we hesitate for a second before explaining that whilst the ice cream lacked deep frying it wasn’t bad, the caramel chocolate cake gets a resounding thumbs down for us. She apologises and explains that the Head Chef insists on using bottled caramel sauce for it and deducts it from our bill.
Teena and Gina ask how I would compare it to Flying Fajita Sistas and it’s hard to say as I had different dishes but of the dish in common, I did prefer Baja’s Chimichanga. Atmosphere wise they’re both different with Flying Fajita Sistas being a noisier, more dimly lit place to eat whereas Baja seems to have a more family atmosphere. However I will bring my husband back for the Chicken Mole and to try more because as much as we didn’t like the desserts, we adored the mains.
If you’re curious to see the episode of The Chopping Block that featured Baja Cantina, the entire episode is on Youtube (broken up into 6 parts).
Baja Cantina
43-45 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, Sydney, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9571 1199
Open:Lunch Monday Thursday to Saturday 11:30-2:30pm
Dinner 7 days 6pm til late
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28 Comments | Add your own
Mmmm Sangria… The desserts, I have to say, look surprisingly bad. But everything else, especially that chicken mole, I could certainly go for!
Rob does give the impression of an arrogant idiot. A pity as obviously he can cook when given the right direction (and he doesn’t quit).
I’ll give them a try when I’m next in Glebe
I think I remember watching this show when we were in Australia. How fun that you actually tried it out!
I liked this place, my favourite was the taco supremo but the chicken mole was good. I wanted to try the sangria but my boyfriend doesn’t drink and I’m not sure I could manage a whole carafe by myself!!
I’m allergic to alcohol too which is so inconvenient!
How weird that it said the icecream was deep-fried.. what the?
I used to live in Glebe (pre-chopping block) so it’s interesting to see the changes menu wise. The chicken mole has always been good just don’t try their white wine sangria…
The desserts look awful! The ice cream looks like just a normal scoop rolled in cornflakes…which I’m sure is delicious but I would never get that in a restaurant…
The chicken mole sounds intriguiging! I’ve never had mole before…should have tried it when I lived in the states! Now in malaysia I’m sure I never will…guess I’ll have to find a recipe and make it
delicous food even though you were disapointed by desserts
Oh how I wish you lived in Perth then I would have some idea where to go for dinner !!!! I love your reviews I was thinking if I read three a day I could stop eating and just imagine eating from your great writing ! thanks
I went back and read the “exchange” between Rob and Jen on the FFS post – hilarious. They are so transparently spamming, like some of the reviews on eatability – it’s almost insulting to (y)our intelligence.
This looks good, and is convenient to my “yank” boyfriend who craves Mexican food. The problem is, I can’t stand chilli, even a little bit. Do you think there’s anything (aside from plain tortillas or rice) that I could eat in such an establishment?
Hi Y-Yes I think we should have stopped at the mains!
Hi Cappucino-Haha yes I am glad that he listened to the advice as the food was good. I wish they’d critiqued the desserts though!
Hi Barbara-Haha ok so you’d definitely know what I’m talking about
I had to go after seeing that episode.
Hi Lisa-We didn’t have the room for a taco supremo but I think we’ll have to go back and I’ll try it then
Between the 3 of us we didn’t finish the sangria (most were driving home).
Hi Bria-I know, although it’s probably not a bad thing in the long run
Hi K-I know, very puzzling indeed about the non deep fried deep fried ice cream
I’d love to go before and after the show to see exactly what they were like! They didn’t have a white wine sangria on offer so perhaps they heard the feedback on that?
Hi Alexandra-yeah it wasn’t bad although that’s the kind of thing I’d eat at home if the pantry was dwindling. Perhaps if you track down a good recipe for it you could create it at home?
Hi snookydoodle-Yeah I should have listened to my instincts and quit at the mole so I could’ve left with that taste
Hi sonia-Thankyou so much! That’s so lovely of you to say, I appreciate it very much!
Hi SydneyGal-Hehe not so subtle is it! I just think it was silly talking about spamming on another site when they were doing it themselves on mine. *tsk tsk* double standard…. I think the things that are cooked fresh like the fish tacos would be good (I mean as opposed to things like beans and the mole etc which are already cooked). I’m sure they could tone things down for you too like the fajitas and things like that too
Now you’re talking my language! Hot pink walls, chimichangas, whee doggies! When can I stroll in?
Thanks for the link to the episode! I was waiting to catch it since I’ve eated at baja cantina a few times (and enjoyed it) but I obviously missed it, so it was very cool to read your detailed review with reference to what happened on the show. Thanks again for all your fantastic work!
Hi Blond Duck-Hehe anytime but I think it’s a bit far from Texas!
Hi Syn-Thankyou so much for your lovely compliment! You’re most welcome. I think so many people were curious after that episode, me included
yes, i remember the first time i ordered fried ice cream–so misleading and completely disappointing.
the rest of the food looks phenomenal, although i would require much more guacamole than that one dab.
blythe was half-expecting that rob would start spamming this post with fake comments about how the dessert was misunderstood.
what a contrast though, between the dishes that had been done over and those that hadn’t!
Hi grace-I just don’t know how ti can be called that if it’s not deep fried
Yes actually that’s a good point, some more guacamole would have been good!
Hi blythe-Maybe he will!
I am curious about the dessert though so I would love to see what he says.
Hey, great review. I’m from the USA and I’ve been looking for a mexican restaurant to eat. It’s one of the things that I really miss. I’ve been hesitating to try the two restaurants on glebe point rd because of past experiences with Mexican food here. So far, it’s been the equivalent of canned chili on a tortilla with some melted cheese. It sounds like baja and flying sisters top that.
I also watched the tv show. I think the perceived arrogance of the chef is a cultural thing. He just seemed a little defensive towards his former boss.
oh, and deep fried ice cream is also an American thing. It’s not really deep fried. It’s called that because it the hard outer shell is similar to what happens when you deep fry stuff.
Hi Ryan-Yeah both Baja and Flying Fajita Sistas both top that! Hmm I have to disagree about his arrogance, to me Matt Moran was there to help him (and his advice did result in much better dishes) but he repeatedly insisted that his way was better. But of course everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.
I think that most Australians would expect a similar dish to the Chinese restaurant Deep fried ice cream which is actually deep fried (being a stalwart of an Australian childhood). The waitress did say it was deep fried though so that’s why we also expected it.
arriba arriba andale andale!
Hi,
Thanks for checking us out. We have added a new dessert menu. I just wanted to let people know that I was asked to be on the chopping block. Matt and I have history and the producers knew and wanted to get a heated debate. He was not there to help me, but to get a dramatic show. I’m and pretty humble and mellow person, if you can conclude otherwise based on a 30 minute “reality” tv show, well, good on ya. We have added many new dishes and have a new menu coming out soon. Though we don’t go for the gimmicky stuff, like “wall of fire,” we do concentrate on authentic, fresh and tasty food. Give us a go.
Hi rob-Thanks for your comment and good to hear that you have a new dessert menu. Actually my opinion was formed from both the show and when you wrote a negative comment about FFS on my FFS review and this story. I have to tell you, it’s not appealing when you put your competitors down. If you think otherwise, good on ya.
I love baja i must admit.. I am a regular.
fantastic that there is now a desert menu but where is the tea and coffee?
Without tea and coffee they leave me no choice but to have churros next door yet again for my sugary fix.
i actually havent had any room in my stomach for any desert here! i’ve been twice both times were okay the servings are massive & pricing is pretty good. i’ve been told abt flying sisters aswell i want to try that next time for mexicana ^_^
oh and there is another one in darlinghurst my friends keep telling me to try, do u know the one im talking abt?
Hi Christine-They don’t serve tea and coffee? Yes seems like something that would definitely have diners lingering over dessert.
Hi betty-Yes the pricing and food is very good here. Is that Mad Mex on Oxford street? I’ve heard it’s quite good but never been-yet!
I will certainly have to give this place a go, but from what I’ve seen here and on “Chopping Block”, it would seem that, yet again the use of “authentic” and “Mexican” in Australian restaurants is a contradiction in terms.
I grew up on the Calif/Mex. border and visit both countries once a year still. If the Aussie restaurant chefs have ever visited there, it’s had minimal impact on the menu.
I apologise for the frankness of my post, but 30 years of frustration searching for good Mexican food here does that to you. Hope I am proved wrong when I visit Baja Cantina.
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