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New Tex-Mex eatery replaces shuttered Baja Fresh units in O.C.
July 6th, 2009, 4:49 am · 22 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Updated 8/28
Baja Fresh in Santa Ana (2220 E. 17th Street) shuttered last week and re-opened under the name Mesa Grill.
The change is not a surprise. Baja Fresh franchisee Tom Hodgson recently converted two other Baja Fresh restaurants to his own independent Tex-Mex brand. Those eateries include one at South Coast Metro in Santa Ana (3941 S. Bristol St). 8/28 update: Bristol St. Mesa Grill closes
However, a converted location in Costa Mesa (171 E. 17th Street.), has already closed.
I’m not sure why the Mesa Grill in Costa Mesa, which featured more BBQ dishes, didn’t last. Maybe former Baja Fresh customers were a bit in shock over the change.
Unlike Baja Fresh, Mesa Grill sells roasted chicken, pulled pork and buffalo wings.
I went to the new Mesa Grill on 17th Street in Santa Ana on Sunday and it definitely took me awhile to adjust to the menu.
Many Baja favorites (steak, chicken and shrimp tacos and burritos) were on the menu, albeit disguised under different names such as Burrito Supreme and Alta Mesa Burrito.
However, I was more intrigued by the Tex-Mex dishes.
The Santa Fe Platter for Two, for example, came with roasted chicken, pulled pork, Mesa Wings (buffalo wings); steak barbecued beans, roasted red potatoes, salsa and corn tortillas (Cost: $18). It was more than enough food for two people.
Pulled pork, by the way, seems to be a key meat offering on the menu — offered as a choice on tortas, tacos, quesadillas, burritos and a barbecue salad. The tender meat was seasoned perfectly and delicious. I couldn’t stop eating it.
 Pulled Pork and Chicken Wings |
 More Tex-Mex dishes on menu |
 Tortilla and potato chips. |
I also devoured the cilantro dip we got with the Chamo Quesadilla. The dressing/dip, the staff told me, was one of the new “non-Baja Fresh” items made specifically for Mesa Grill.
Other Mesa Grill menu notes: Besides tortilla chips, the restaurant serves homemade potato chips. It also offers white rice, Yankee flautas, roasted tomato soup, and chicken wings.
Final thoughts: I’d recommend you give this place a shot. The employees are the same Baja Fresh workers — only friendlier and more eager to please.
I also got a $2 off coupon for when I come back.
Speaking of Baja Fresh, stay tuned for more news later this week on the Cypress-based chain.
Tell us: Have you eaten at one of the new Mesa Grill restaurants? If so write-in and let us know what you think.
MORE CLOSURES: Click here for a list of other restaurant closures in O.C.
(Thanks to all my readers who sent me an email about this Baja Fresh news. Your tips are appreciated.)
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Yes, I’ve ate there, and I had a review planned but just couldn’t do the review. We aren’t planning on going back, the food was below average from both mine and my wife’s perspectives. I had some ribs and the cole slaw, I’d never had red cabbage cole slaw, and I’ll never have it again.
Dan: Are you talking about the Mesa Grill & BBQ that closed ??? Because, that one, from what I recalled focused more on bbq food, while this new Mesa Grill on 17th streets seems to offer more Tex-mex, fresh-mex foods….
I ate there the other day, not even aware the place had changed names. The chicken salad (can’t remember the name) was excellent, as was the salsa. The manager (owner?) made a point to come by and check on us as did the cashier. I would go back.
My family ate at the Costa Mesa location. It closed because, it was terrible. The food was cold and the staff was unprofessional. Baja Fresh has much better food. Please don’t close anymore Baja Fresh the Tex Mex thing sucks.
Is it safe to assume this Mesa Grill chain is not related to the Mesa Grill restaurants owned and operated by Bobby Flay?
Lame…bring back Baja Fresh in Costa Mesa and the South Coast Area! Hopefully, the franchise owner who owns the South OC Baja Fresh stores won’t make the same mistake by keeping Baja Fresh open.
Yes, I ate there and it was terrible. I think the owner should of tried something totally different and stayed away from anything Mexican. Who goes to a mexican restraunt for american food???
This IS NOT Tex Mex. Don’t let anyone kid you into thinking this is what Tex Mex is like.
I’m from Houston and this new concept is far from Tex Mex, more of a name driven concept than food style concept.
I’d rate my food at the South Coast location as average, the meats being so-so in taste and the sides non-descript.
Steak was so-so and chicken OK, but not really a grilled flavor.
Chips are simply Baja Fresh under a new name.
I give this concept a year before it either closes or is sold.
They can close all the Baja Fresh’s. It’s not authentic at all. Always had bad food, dry chicken, cold tortilla’s etc….
Well, speaking of closed..I just got a tip from reader Scott, that, the Baja Fress at 5781 Santa Ana Canyon Rd. in Anaheim Hills is now closed. This franchise was also owned by Tom Hodgson. Stay tuned…
We ate at the Costa Mesa 17th street location. The only thing good there was the FatT ire beer on tap! The food was horrible! It was one of those moments wow this is truly a waste of money. They will not be missed on 17th street!
The Baja Fresh on 17th is place I visited at least 3 times a week on my lunch. The menu was great , the flavors are great and I always enjoyed my meal. Sooooooo I love love love Baja Fresh….
hmmmm something positive about the new menu…. the ROASTED POTATOES…
Sadly to say the new TEX MEX style just drives me crazy. The food was just horrid. I didnt enjoy my meal what so ever , I ate less than half of my meal… and I’m sad to see my GO-TO LUNCH at BAJA FRESH to resort to somewhere else…
B: Did you try the “pulled pork” …???
I did try the pulled pork…. it was kinda salty . Really tasted more like sliced Bacon lol
My family and I ate at the new location near South Coast Plaza. I agree that the pulled pork is good, coconut chicken (okay), and the kids chicken strips were sub-par. The real problem with this restaurant was the staff. We went at lunch, it was deserted, the food was most definitely cold and the service was terrible. After reading your great review, I expected great service at least, we definitely did not receive it.
The Salsa at the one on 17th was terrible - way too much black pepper made the two I tried inedible. (And I love spicy food) Pork was good, steak way over-cooked.
Never again.
Mesa Grill on 17th St. in Santa Ana, and Mesa Grill and BBQ on 17th in Costa Mesa, are two of the worst resturaunts I’ve ever ate at in my entire life. Check this out… I ordered my meal over the phone today (8-18-2009) and when they answered they phone they said nothing of the change or the name of the place. So I ordered my favorite BAJA FRESH items by their names, such as a BAJA BURRITO and the guy on the other end just complied with my order. When I got there I saw the changes and saw that they didnt mention that everything was different. I was in a hurry so I had no choice to try this food, already knowing the one in Costa Mesa SUCKED because we gave it a try once. They got me twice now, but the food tasted like dog food so I’ll never go back! Bring back Baja Fresh!! Stupid Owner of these places much be a cheap skate becasue no person with any business background would invest in the hell hole!
Not sure how recently you went to the one in CM, but as stated in the story above, the converted location in Costa Mesa (171 E. 17th Street.), has already closed.
FYI: I went back to Mesa Grill today, and ran into the owner Tom Hodgson. He confirmed that he closed the other Santa Ana Mesa Grill. Read full story: http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com/2009/08/28/another-mesa-grill-closes/31947/
I felt sorry for him, because he is essentially starting his business over as a one-unit operation after expanding his Baja Fresh franchises. I know many of you didn’t like the CM food. But the Santa Ana store is clean, and offers some really good home-made dishes. Ingredients are fresh and portions are great. I just ordered a chicken salad that had a ton of diced chicken and the most beautiful sliced, red tomatoes.
“The employees are the same Baja Fresh workers — only friendlier and more eager to please.”
Friendlier employees? Would these be the same ones who goofed up our order for a kids meal, then told us that we must’ve ordered wrong (our receipt was correct), and then finally shouting at us as we left to “grow up! kids meals are for kids!”? I was glad to see Baja Fresh shuttered on Bristol, and I never gave the Mesa Grill a try. Now that I know it was the owner and employees, I’m glad I never did!
The 17th street Santa Ana isn’t very good. Everyone in my office has been once and not gone back. I’m sorry for the guy, but the food was mediocre and expensive. We’ve all switched to the Chipotle across the street. I liked the Baja Fresh menu and salsa a lot better.