Midtown Lunch

The blog Deep Fried Kimchee has posted an interview with the owners of the soon to open Baja Fresh (on Lex btw. 44+45th), where they promise to offer the same quality of food and service Baja Fresh is known for on the west coast.” They also say that all the produce will be “locally grown”, and that there will be an off the menu “dos manos” burrito that is twice the size of a normal burrito (I seem to remember this being a standard menu item at all the Baja Fresh locations in L.A., but maybe they’re making it some sort of secret thing?)  So far so good… and they’re still shooting for a mid-may opening. 

Related:
What To Expect From Midtown’s New Baja Fresh
My Prayers Have Been Answered: Midtown Baja Fresh Confirmation

Photo courtesy of nycblondieandbrownie

Got this email from Lunch’er FB this morning: “The upcoming Baja Fresh on Lexington between 45th & 46th just got new brown paper covering the windows.  A new sign in the window now indicates it will open in May of 2009.”  Confirmed by Blondie and Brownie.  As we get closer and closer, I worry more and more that this place is not going to live up to my west-coast-Baja-Fresh-loving expectations.

Actually, maybe I should rename this “what I expect from Midtown’s Baja Fresh”.  When I passed through L.A. this past week, I took the liberty of enjoying a Baja Chicken Burrito from Baja Fresh, rekindling my excitement and raising my expectations for the branch of the chain we are getting on Lexington btw. 45+46th. I’ve heard that the Jersey locations are not that good, and quite frankly I will accept nothing less than a perfectly executed West Coast version of Baja Fresh, at the top of its game.

Example: the photo you see above is a salsa bar.  More importantly, it’s a FREE salsa bar.  And it doesn’t just have pico de gallo, salsa verde and two other kinds of salsa.  It also has cilantro, limes, pepperoncinis, and sliced jalapenos. Take what you want… as much as you like!  They better not pull any “this is NYC, we can’t afford a free salsa bar” shenanigans.

Oh, and that goes for the free chips as well.

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Last October it was just a rumor, but today it is confirmed! Baja Fresh will be opening its first Manhattan location in the old Zen Burger space on Lexington btw. 45+46th. Is Baja Fresh the best Mexican food of all time? Definitely not. I don’t know if East coast Baja Fresh is even as good as the ones on the West Coast (I’ve heard they’re not.) But I do know this… when I lived in L.A. the baja chicken burrito from Baja Fresh was my goto lunch (it alternated with the orange chicken and lo mein combo from Panda Express.) So, a Midtown Baha Fresh means I will never have to even consider eating at Chipotle again.

Now if we can only get a Panda Express, Chick Fil A, In N Out Burger, and El Pollo Loco to follow suit- we’ll be golden!

Step aside Chipotle and Qdoba, rumor has it a far superior option is coming to town. A manager from a recently opened Midtown Lunch’ing spot told me the other day that three of his friends have a franchise license from Baja Fresh and plan on bringing a location of the chain to 8th Ave in the 50s.  That’s Midtown people! No word on timetable or exact location…

Why I like Baja Fresh 10 times more than Chipotle and Qdoba, after the jump…   Read more »