Fish Tacos and Late-Night Scene Mark Venice's Mexican Dive Bar

Patrons visit Venice’s Baja Cantina as much for the scene as for the food.

The décor looks as if it belongs to one of the dusty watering holes that dot Baja’s coastal highway. The eating area is divided into an outside patio and a dark and cozy interior.

Start your meal with bottomless chips and salsa washed down by a cooling margarita. The food is classic Mexican fare, tasty fajitas, plump burritos, and as befits what looks like a beachfront dive, first-rate fish tacos. The El Bundigas soup is a treat.

There is valet parking, but, , Baja is walkable or bikable from anywhere in Venice.

Prices are reasonable for what you get. There's no secret to the formula that has kept Baja popular for decades.

As a bit of historic note, James Rockford in  the TV series “The Rockford Files” spent one entire episode trying to get into a hot new restaurant, which was revealed by the show’s end to be nothing more than Venice’s very own Baja Cantina.