It was okay. Casual. Don't do the bucket. Not worth it. Lacked flavor. Better deals on menu mains. Service was good. read more

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Ate here for the first time today after someone recommended it to us for the seafood. We came in without much information other than hearing the seafood was good. Right from the start, we had kids with us, but the hosts never mentioned or provided a kids menu. Later, the server gave us one only after we asked if they even had a kids menu. Honestly, it felt like we probably would not have seen it at all if we hadn't asked. The food itself was okay other then meats being really dried and corn half done in water, the soup was good but the service hurt the overall experience. After we got our food, we needed a few things throughout the meal, but our server was almost nowhere to be found. We asked another server for help, and he mentioned she was doing side work/closing duties. We were there around 8-9 PM, so that part is understandable, but someone should have communicated that another server would be helping our table. That felt like a pretty basic service mistake. We also ordered a Baja Bucket, but later noticed there was a holiday bucket for about $10 more that included more seafood and seemed like a much better deal. The server should have mentioned that option or at least tried to upsell it so we could make a better choice. Another issue was the salad/sauce bar. Nobody mentioned it to us at all. We asked for salsa, and the server simply brought some out instead of mentioning there was a salsa bar available. Small details like this really affect the dining experience, and I think we would have enjoyed our meal more if things had been explained properly. Lastly, the restaurant adds a 5% surcharge supposedly to pay employees better. But if customers are paying extra fees and menu prices are already going up, the service should reflect that. Comparing the menus from 2025 to 2026, the bucket prices already increased by around $10. At that point, it would make more sense to simply raise menu prices and let customers decide if the food and service are worth it instead of adding extra surcharges. Overall, the seafood okay, but the lack of communication and service definitely left a disappointing first impression read more

It is with deep dismay and serious concern that we write to detail an utterly unacceptable and profoundly disturbing experience at your establishment. Our recent visit was marred from the outset by an immediate sense of unease, compounded by a significant delay before any staff member acknowledged our presence. Upon Santana's eventual approach as our server, his demeanor was overtly rude and dismissive, setting an unwelcome precedent for the remainder of our interaction. When we politely requested additional baskets of chips, a common and innocent enjoyment, Santana responded with an incredibly unprofessional and sarcastic remark, suggesting we were "only there to eat the chips." He then audaciously added, "when I came back over here you guys better have eaten all the chips." This was not perceived as humorous but as an intentional slight, creating an immediate atmosphere of discomfort and disrespect. The situation further deteriorated when my simple drink order, a piña colada, was served conspicuously missing its customary whipped cream and cherry garnishes. When I politely inquired about their absence, Santana flippantly declared he had deliberately omitted them because the drink was "not cold." This arbitrary and unsolicited decision, made without any consultation, was profoundly unprofessional. He then grudgingly presented the garnishes in a separate bowl, forcing me to awkwardly assemble my own drink, which inevitably led to a messy and unappealing outcome. My subsequent suggestion for the drink to be remade or presented correctly was met with immediate and profound disrespect. Santana repeatedly and condescendingly asserted, "all you care about is presentation," completely trivializing my valid concern for a properly served beverage. The escalating hostility from Santana prompted my husband to calmly intervene, seeking to understand the inexplicable difficulty in receiving a correctly prepared and presented drink. To our absolute horror and disbelief, Santana's response to this composed inquiry was not merely disrespectful, but an egregious act of aggression: he hurled racial slurs directly at my husband. This reprehensible and vile outburst instantly transformed a negative dining experience into an intolerable and deeply traumatizing ordeal, demonstrating a complete abandonment of professional conduct and basic human decency. Overwhelmed by shock and disgust at Santana's abhorrent behavior, we found ourselves compelled to immediately vacate your premises, abandoning any thought of ordering food. This profoundly disturbing encounter stands in stark contrast to the exemplary service and welcoming ambiance we have consistently enjoyed at your Old Town establishment, highlighting a stark discrepancy in the quality of experience. Such reprehensible conduct by a service professional is not only inexcusable but severely damages the reputation and integrity of your brand. We trust you will treat this incident with the utmost seriousness it deserves. read more

The main attraction for me was to taste the birria and grilled octopus taco. I was very disappointed. The birria tasted ok, but the octopus was not grilled. It was a little chewy and lacked any flavor. The chowder did not looked appetizing at all. The ahi tuna mini tacos also lacked flavor. Costumer service was "ok" but the food was lacking. I've been there before and recall the food being very tasty. Not this time. It was more like a quick attempt to serve "something". read more

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Perfect weather and yummy seafood! The only downside was it took several minutes for someone to take our drink order but after that all went well. Ordered a Bloody Mary, it was pretty good, just the right amount of spice. Chips and 3 different salsas were brought to the table. For food we ordered the original bucket for two for $89. It came with 4 lobster tails, 12 shrimp, steak, chicken, 2 full sized corn-on-the-cob, tortillas, unlimited beans and rice, and 2 different butters, side salad or soup. The lobster corn chowder had a nice depth of flavor. The Cesar salad was average/good. What really stood out was the flavor of all the food. Even the tortilla chips were seasoned! Everything tasted great and I think this will be our go-to order from now on! Oh! The meal also includes a fried ice cream dessert-this was also yummy! read more

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The best part was the free tortilla chips and the salsa bar. The fried ice cream that came with the Baja bucket was great too. The Baja bucket was ok. I'm more a Cajun seafood boil type person, so didn't feel worth it to me. read more

Rockin' Baja Lobster - Mexican Near Me - Oceanside, California

Two stars. You walk in expecting coastal indulgence, salt air, cracked shells, butter dripping like a bad decision you'll gladly make twice. Instead, you get seafood that feels like it already lived a full life, earlier in the day. The lobster and crab? Tired. Like they'd been reheated out of obligation, not love. Chips showed up stale, like they'd been sitting around waiting for someone to care. No one did. Drinks? Had to request a refill of water and soda. Steak and chicken came out just as lifeless, dry, overcooked, the culinary equivalent of shrugging shoulders. Credit where it's due, the tortillas were warm, the butter did its job. But butter can only carry so much of the conversation before you realize you're dining with ghosts of what this meal could've been. No changing table in the men's bathroom. Again, us millennial fathers are ready to change a diaper, as I was leaving a new day with a stroller asked as I was leaving the bathroom with baby in hand..."changing table".... I just shook my head no, gave him the nod and went on my way. read more

Love coming to Rocking'Baja Lobster for their lobster lol My husband and I always share their Baja Buckets. They also make delicious alcohol drinks. You can eat by the patio or by the Oceanside Harbor. Their food is delicious!!! The Fried Ice cream was very good, nice way to end the meal. Service was friendly and fast. The best part is after all that food you can take a walk by the beach. Love this place read more

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Went here with a large party to spend the night at the Oceanside Harbor. The waitress was very attentive to our table, and extremely friendly. I ordered the Cali Surf & Turf burrito which was massive and a great value for the price! Very yummy, nothing too special to set it apart from other great San Diego burritos, but hard to beat the Oceanside Harbor atmosphere. read more

Rockin' Baja Lobster - Cali Surf & Turf Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Oceanside, California

Still my favorite place to eat! With a coastal south of the border vibe, and flash fried seafood buckets, there's no other place like it. Salsa bar is help yourself and as much as you like- with red, green, mango, jalapeños & grilled onions. Service is excellent and friendly but prepare to take some time to find parking if you're visiting in a weekend because the lot is packed. read more

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Rockin Baja Lobster is seriously one of Oceanside's finest! Where else can you get a feast like this--4 lobster tails, 2 pieces of asada, corn on the cob, about a dozen buttery shrimp, 2 chicken breasts, and all the rice and beans you can handle?! Everything was seasoned perfectly, and those sautéed green onions with a hint of lime took it to another level. This place is a whole experience--come hungry! With about 89.00 feeds five! read more

Rockin Baja Lobster is a great spot to take a date or group of friends at the Oceanside Harbor for a good time. Big salsa bar with some spicy options. In the summer there can be a wait but it's worth it. I love the seafood enchiladas on flour tortillas so much. Creamy goodness. I love the bird watching here. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Great for big groups but also couples. Yummy! read more

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Waiter sucked and fish and chip options did not allow for someone that cannot eat 3 pieces of fish maybe a portion for seniors that can't eat as much!! read more

Our appetizers came after our meals by at least 20+ min. my daughter's meal was missing her lobster tail. they did bring her one on the side. the shrimp in our bucket was cold and our server must have known things weren't great because we didn't see her after our food came out before our appetizers again until we got the bill.On top of it all they add a service fee? seriously? on top of tipping? read more

Puerto Nuevo Lobster in Oceanside - Yum!! Located rt on the ocean , parking can be scarce & tricky on a busy time of day Quickly was seated at our table and was served some great tasting corn chips They had a self serve salsa bar that had many different varieties of salsa. My favorite was the mango salsa & they all smelled delicious! We ordered margaritas. Mine was a tasty lime & Jalapeño topped with tajin on the rim. The waiter was very helpful and had many recommendations. We ended up ordering the Puerto Vallarta lobster dinner along with a few appetizers. Lobster tacos were a very tasty treat. Kitchen staff seemed very cleanly, using gloves and protective gear. We were brought extra napkins & a plate to share They served fresh flour tortillas with a whipped butter cinnamon honey chili. They serve a variety of Draft beers, Appetizer menu $5-7 from 3-6pm. We spent about 1.5 hours for dinner & ordered the dessert sampler & they let us get more churros in place of the lava cake ( very accommodating). I would highly recommend trying this restaurant and would definitely come back for more seafood. The Harbor area had many boats to look at although it was raining so we went straight back to our vehicle. Thank you for the wonderful service! read more

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Went here for the last time Sunday night. Checked the hours and they closed at 9:30 so we arrived around 8. We didn't have to wait to be seated. They had several IPA's on tap, 16oz or 25oz options I think. The large mugs were frosty which I love. My oldest had a virgin Mai tai and my youngest a Shirley Temple. They liked their drinks. The 4 of us shared the Golden Sombrero Feast. They give you chips and you help yourself to their salsa bar. The Ranchero (?) salsa was good. The 2 Caesar salads to start were yummy. The food came out pretty quickly. The Atlantic lobsters tasted good but were a bit of work for a little meat. Wish this bucket came with local West Coast lobster. The bucket came with 3 King Crab legs. The meat was good but the shell was soft and the metal crab cracker things were useless. Not sure what the soft shells indicated about the freshness of the crab. We all liked the shrimp. The rice and beans with cotija cheese was good (2 bowls came with the bucket). The chicken and carne asada were seasoned the same and overall were not good. 2 ears of Mexican corn came with the bucket and those were bomb. The fried ice cream dessert was small but delicious. We were finishing up our beers and were one of the last tables in the joint. They were stacking the chairs on the tables and one employee dropped a chair on the back of my chair. We felt rushed and it wasn't yet 9:30pm. If I was a tourist and came here during the day, sat outside enjoying the view and cold beer I'd come back; however, for the $250 we spent and for the quality of food/service we had, this was our last hurrah at Rockin Baja. read more

Rockin' Baja Lobster - The Golden Sombrero Feast - Mexican Near Me - Oceanside, California

I had an awesome experience at Rockin' Baja Lobster Oceanside. The atmosphere is exactly what you want when you're by the coast. The food was the highlight. Everything came out fresh and flavorful, but the lobster and shrimp dishes were especially unreal. The portions are generous, and the build-your-own combos make it easy to try a little bit of everything. Their tortillas and sides were on point too. Service was quick and friendly, even when it got busy, and the staff made the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. It's the kind of place that works just as well for a casual lunch as it does for a group night out. If you're in Oceanside and want good food, strong drinks, and a fun atmosphere, this place is definitely worth checking out. I'll 100% be back. read more

My friends brought me here for an early dinner. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and we chose to sit outside with a great view of the Oceanside Harbor. Service was good. We shared the Ceviche Stack as an appetizer--it was fresh, delicious, and a generous portion. I ordered the Baja Supreme Bowl with Rib Eye Stack for my main dish and really enjoyed it. The fried ice cream was the perfect sweet ending! read more

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I've been coming here pretty much my whole life and it's always been pretty consistent! The bucket deals are amazing and if I was rating on those alone it would be 5 stars! I've tried other menu items and a few I liked but a few were mediocre. This visit the carne asada and lobster in the tacos were over cooked and the shrimp undercooked. The shrimp in the tacos is the small frozen shrimp and it would be better if they used the same shrimp of better quality they use in the buckets. The beans and rice were delicious and the drink refreshing! The service is usually pretty good! This visit the service was excellent! We sat at the bar and the server was super talkative and friendly. She was also super attentive making sure we had refills! They remodeled about a year ago and the bar area is much nicer! I will always come to Rockin Baja Lobster because all and all they have great deals and a good vibe! When you are down at the harbor they are a must visit! read more

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My husband and I went for a nice relaxing dinner Service was a bit slow and with what we ordered we thought it would have been fresher and hotter The king crab legs were rubbery we couldn't even use the crab crackers to open them we have to use a fork to get the little bit of meat out of them and it came with 4 small lobster tails and we got 3 tails and one empty shell we had to let them know and we had to show them wha we had to confirm we were missing a tail and they took quite a bit of time to bring us a fresh one. Definitely not what it used to be. And not as relaxing or enjoyable as we were hoping for read more

We came here on a whim! Walking the marina and got hungry! We most definitely will be back! The lobster tails were so juicy!! Our waiter was constantly making sure we had everything we needed. Access to this place was so easy! And right on the water - we will be back for more seafood:D read more

Rockin' Baja Lobster - 2 people platter - Baja Surf and Turf Bucket Street Corn - Mexican Near Me - Oceanside, California

I wavered between 3 and 4 stars and decided to be generous with 4. Good food, nice marina view, live music, an adequate experience overall. My husband and I were here on a Friday evening and decided on the Baja Bucket. Four 4oz tails, a dozen shrimp, carne and pollo with a tortillas- included a Caesar salad and fried ice cream for dessert for $89. Our main dish came up prior to the salads... they were an "oops, we forgot". Then the tortillas came another late moment. No big deal since we avoid carbs but had a bite... warm and yummy with spiced honey butter. Waited awhile for our plates to be cleared. My wine glass empty- no offer for a second. Too late now. Dessert is fried ice cream. I'll state again that we avoid carbs and sugar but I couldn't give a fair review without a bite, right? lol. Yummy! read more

Doesn't look pretty but the calamari and fried lobster tacos was delicious. Not sure what they add to the light breading but it's addictive. Just stopped for margaritas and a little bite. Free chips and a help yourself salsa bar in the back. Attentive and friendly staff. Only complaint is I hate the chairs read more

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The food was good. Nothing special. They have a really good happy hour menu! The service was amazing. Our server Alex was very friendly and on top of his game! I like how much room there is. There's outdoor seating as well with heat lamps. However, if you choose to eat outside, be careful of the birds! Bathroom was clean. read more

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The only thing rockin' was my digestive system. If you're looking for a night to remember... don't come here -- unless you enjoy intestinal distress, uncooked rice, and the thrill of wondering if your hamburger is actually still mooing. I ordered the shellfish tacos and have been conducting a full-blown toilet tour of Southern California ever since. At this point, my bathroom and I are in a committed relationship. My wife got a hamburger so rare, it should've been handed to us with a birth certificate and a leash. The rice? Oh, you mean those crunchy little mystery pebbles pretending to be food? I've had better luck chewing aquarium gravel. Everything was gross. Overpriced. And possibly a CDC case study in the making. If you're into Russian roulette with your GI tract, go for it. Otherwise, there are better places to set $70 on fire read more

Rockin' Baja Lobster - Mexican Near Me - Oceanside, California

Amazing place! We ended up here just before New Year's as we were staying at Camp Pendleton. We got the lobster feast bucket and it was heavenly. Great service and reasonably priced. Will definitely return! read more

Rockin' Baja Lobster - Lobster!!! - Mexican Near Me - Oceanside, California

My family and I went to the Oceanside location on Mother's day and the service was a complete disaster! The waiter by the name of Santana was not only rude but unprofessional. My daughter ordered a drink that should have come with whip cream and a cherry. Santana brings the drink with neither and when my daughter asked about it he said, "oh you into presentation" and brought a bowl of whip cream and cherry! He didn't even try to take the drink back to get it fixed properly. Then we asked for extra chips and he said, ya'll betta eat them all and did yall come to just eat the chips". Me and my family were so insulted that we left and went to the old town like nation and spent $500 and a $60 tip. Santana's attitude was uncalled for and he waa honestly the worst waitrr than i have ever encountered in my 25 years of going to Rockin and we will not go back to the oceanside location! read more

We were there on Saturday with a group of twelve. We had family from out of state and just wanted to enjoy the day with drinks and apps near the water. We stopped into rockin Baja lobster and were greeted immediately. I have to say that the manager or general manager I'm not sure, her name is Savannah. She is amazing! So I just wanted to give a shout out to her and her staff for a nice and relaxing afternoon! Next time we are in the area, we will stop in again. read more

Bland garbage. Disgusting margaritas, overpriced menu, tacos falling apart, crappy salsa bar, horrible service (zero sense of humor) birds everywhere, really nice view though kinda. read more

It's in a great location. However do not sit at the outside tables in the front near the walkway it's not a good dining experience. They bring out chips but the salsa bar was not good. The salsa was so runny like it had water added to it to make it go further. The drinks were ok. The server was really nice but service was so slow. Not somewhere I would go back to. read more

Rockin' Baja Lobster - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Oceanside, California

Free chips and salsa! Decent salsa options! Good variety for happy hour! Got the carne asada fries and queso pablano both on happy hour menu! Perfect to share! read more

Rockin' Baja Lobster - Mexican Near Me - Oceanside, California

Location is nice in the harbor area along the docks. A few large TVs which was good for watching baseball and a decent bar happy hour 4-6pm. We had a few appetizers, corn, mussels, chips, and drinks. Everything was good including service. Only thing is your bill includes a service charge 5% plus 8% tax plus whatever your tip is hence gets a bit pricer to hang out... your not told of this so pay attention. Review of 10/24/2025. read more

Rockin' Baja Lobster - Chips & salsa - Mexican Near Me - Oceanside, California

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Was told there's a 5% surcharge for "employee health insurance". Walked out. With what they charge, that 5% (and more) is built in already!pay attention to how the reviews are sorted. The good reviews are all OLD. read more

Spent 78 bucks to be annoyed. Spent 40 min waiting on a quesadilla appetizer. Also they do not bus the outside tables immediately so the birds go crazy! We had thirty birds on top of us. Also had to get our own napkins. Not a great experience and probably won't be back for a while. I still tipped 20 percent because I'm in the industry and can recognize things happen but the server and manager could have checked on us more and been more communicative about the delays. read more

This was my second time having dinner here. The first was several months back where my appetizer (meal) took so long to come out that the other two people I was with were completely finished with their meals. My daughter was melting down by the time my food had come so I had to get it boxed up and ate it at home after sitting there for an entire meal with nothing to eat. No meal comps or apologies from the staff. Tonight, my husband and I came in for dinner. We ordered water and two taco plates (total of 6 tacos). Our waitress never checked on us or refilled our water or chips but was tending to all the other tables around us numerous times. My husband and I sat at our table with empty water glasses and an empty chip basket for over an hour until we decided to get up and leave. For the amount of money this place charges for their food, I'd expect a water refill at the bare minimum. Will never be back. read more

Everything was great! This was our first time coming in and Adriana served us at the bar. Drinks were amazing and she was so sweet and attentive. We had the chicken street tacos and they were awesome. My husband loved the rice and beans (and he's usually pretty picky about food because he's a great cook). Will definitely be back and hopefully when Adriana is behind the bar! read more

Well the food was good and it came out pretty quick as well. We had the Baja for two and both enjoyed it. Staff was friendly and location is perfect as well. Sit outside with a great harbor view. read more

I waited to write this review to post it near a positive one. What a terrible experience. This is one of our friend's favorite places in the harbor, and he was excited to share dinner with us to celebrate our marriage. Do I start with the poor service or the food? It went downhill when our buddy asked for a big table, and the hostess went to ask a manager if it was okay. She was frustrated with our request but we wanted to share a bunch of items. We got put in the corner where we were largely ignored. Flagging down random employees for utensils, drinks, to-go boxes, etc. became the theme of the night. We shared an appetizer plate, a couple other items on the app menu, and a baja bucket. The server was not intuitive enough to bring us plates or more than two forks. We had to ask for more napkins as well. Knowing there's three of us, it felt like a joke when they did things like only bring two wet naps, two spoons to share the dessert. The food was "just okay"; it was all cold. Granted we came in the evening in winter but we ate inside. The crab was very fishy, the corn flakes on the dessert were stale. The carne asada was greyish in color... do I need to go on?? Overall, I plan on never returning and am making sure to share my experiences with everyone possible. Pros: - chicken thighs in bucket were nicely charred and delicious - mango salsa was good Cons: - see above!!! read more

Highly recommend for a romantic date night at night Seat outside and enjoy the views! Make sure you go when they have live music! read more

This is a place we eat every time we come to Oceanside Harbor. Tonight was not so good. Our server seemed pre occupied. Our Margaritas were very weak and watery. We were there at happy hour 4pm. The salsa bar was un kempt. Had to ask 3 times for it to be attended. Our corn ribs were good but slow in coming out. My husband's Carne asada taco was fine, my Mahi Mahi taco was dry and chewy. Worst taco I have ever had there. We hope things improve next time we come. read more