Taco Bajaa Fresh

Wow! Amazing food. I just moved here from Phoenix and would have never guessed that I would find the most delicious and authentic Mexican food I’ve ever had: here in Akron! If you’ve never eaten here, you’re missing out.

Most «tacos» in the States are very Americanized but these are authentic tacos! Full of flavor & delicious. We tried the tacos, a gordita (yum!), and a tostada. Will be back again!

Searching for tacos in Akron? This is your spot. The Al Pastor (marinated pork) tacos are my favorite along with the Asada (beef). They’re so good that we have instated «taco Tuesday’s» just as an excuse to come here. They’re very affordable too!

I lived in the DC metro area where there’s a TON of authentic Mexican spots for good food. Siri led me to this place and I’m so glad she did!!! First the TORTAS!!! The best I’ve had and I’ve eaten them in Mexico. The bread was soft, the carnitas was tender, and mayo was perfect. I also got two carne tacos and they was perfect! I ordered the posole (a hominy corn soup) and I haven’t had any that good since in came out of my mother in laws kitchen. Great food and awesome service.

This family run restaurant is absolutely on point for tacos al pastor. We haven’t strayed from them since our first visit. Now we find ourselves tingling every time we are near the Copley road exit on I-​77. Parking is a little inconvenient and it’s a cash-​money kinda place so come prepared!

The search is over. After moving from Texas just over a year ago I have been in search of the hole in the wall taqueria with authentic Mexican food. This place is fantastic. I have searched far and wide for good Mexican food and almost every Yankee up here in the north has given me terrible recommendations for «good» Mexican food. This place is legit. Lime wedges with the tacos which are covered in cilantro and onions. Perfect. Gordita was delicious as well. Go here. You will not be disappointed.

Was eating my food, saw a roach crawling up the wall next to me. I’m a Texas native, so I know good tacos, but I will never be eating here again.

Absolutely amazing food. After instantiating Taco Tuesday at work we tried every place in town. This has the best tacos, hands down!
If you’re looking for a delicious non-​taco meal check out the carne asada plate. Bring cash.

Not the best area to visit. Not much parking in front either. There are only a few tables at this eatery and apparently you should order your food at the front cashier first. Doesn’t give you much time to peruse the menu to decide what you want so best to check out the menu posted in the pictures section here on Unilocal.
We had taco’s and there were prepared fresh. The grilled steak taco’s were excellent. My two pork taco’s on the other hand had hardly any meat – I’m taking maybe 3 slivers! We also ordered pico de gallo on the side which was very fresh although had some really hot jalapeño peppers in them. They also screwed up our order but were quick to correct it.
Although the food we samples was good. Doubt I’ll be back.

Overall: Authentic Mexican in Akron for a reasonable price. Not the best tacos I’ve ever had (in San Diego) but the best that I’ve had in Akron thus far.
Food: We tried the Asada (beef), Lengua (tongue), Carnitas (pork), and Chorizo tacos (unfortunately Al Pastor was not available). All of them were well seasoned and flavorful, and served on two tortillas each. My favorite was the Lengua. The texture of the Chorizo was a bit mushy. Portion sizes were decent; I was quite full after three. They included cucumber, radish, guacomole, lime, and hot sauce on the side. Each taco was between $ 1.25 to $ 2.
Atmosphere: The restaurant is located in a questionable-​looking part of town next to a Mexican market. Parking in front is tight (I may or may not have backed my car straight into the curb while the guys on the outdoor grill were watching). You order at the counter (also where the menu is located), pay at the supermarket next door, and return to pick up your order. All food is made to order.

The tacos al pastor here are amazing. We were in Akron because there was a shortage of Apple store appointments for an iphone repair in Cleveland, so we thought we’d make the trip worth it with some tacos.
Wow, was it worth it!
I’d make the trek back here just for these tacos again. And on top of the tacos being so amazingly delicious, the service is wonderful. This small family owned joint is just all around awesome. Check it out!

This is a small business with some of the best food I’ve ever tasted! Certainly a must try!

Authentic, in every sense of the word, Mexican food. If you order a lot, they will back up, but for 2 or 3 people it is a good stop for food.
Always enjoyed the food.

Still trying to figure out what the extra «a» in «Bajaa» is for. It may just be one of those lovable quirks that occasionally come with the territory at funky, hole-​in-​the-​wall «ethnic» food joints. Or it could be what the place needed to avoid copyright conflicts with that West Coast chain of a similar name.
At any rate, this little find is a true step into the barrio, reminiscent of a mom-​and-​pop operation in the back streets of Puebla or Guadalajara. Rustic, minimalist, and beckoning your adventurous spirit. Hand-​drawn neon «Order Here» signs invite you to the counter where a friendly but not artificially fawning Mexican lady stands next to a large jar of fresh horchata, awaiting your order. Step right up!
Towards the kitchen, there’s a lone picture on the wall of La Malinche, the famous indigenous interpreter for Hernán Cortés during his conquest of Mexico. Some call her the ultimate traitor, who sold out the Aztecs; others honor her legacy as the mother of Mexico’s first biracial child. In this particular picture, she is drawn with bodacious curves and flowing hair like Salma Hayek, as she is embraced from behind by a dashing, muscular and dark-​eyed Cortés. If the picture is any indication, this restaurant looks back on Mexico’s colonial creators — and the culture of food born out of their union — with a sense of romantic pride.
Once you’re there and tucked away at one of the tippy white tables, you won’t find much to complain about: tacos, sopes and gorditas are eye-​poppingly cheap; food is served very fresh and garnished with love. Choose your category first (taco, sope, gordita, etc) then choose your meat from a list of 8 types: all the classics are there (asada, chorizo, carnitas, pastor etc), as well as a few of the weird ones (lengua). The wait can be a little longer depending on the volume of the restaurant; this is a two-​lady show, and good food takes time.
Look out the window at the edgy Akron hinterlands that surround you as you enjoy your tacos. Authentic Mexican tucked away in the decay of the Rust Belt: its a strange sensation that you can somehow savor.
Bajaa is the type of place that Los Angelians and Chicagoans take for granted. A high-​quality hole-​in-​the-​wall that is there to feed the humble public and support the ownership’s family, not to grow into the next big strip mall «chain concept» or compete on Top Chef.
Put it on your Akron bucket list.

I want to cry just thinking about this place. That is how good it is! Go with whatever is the «special of the day». You will not be disappointed! Albondigas? Sí! Chiles rellenos? Por supuesto!
The tortas, though… the tortas!!! Aye aye aye. So good.

Made it to Taco Bajaa Fresh for dinner tonight. We had Tacos Al Pastor, guacamole, mixed fajitas, a cheese quesadilla for the little monster and a hot chocolate that I grudgingly shared with the husband (champurrado? It’s only available during dinner). The little monster ate all the shrimp from the fajita so I can only vouch for the deliciousness of the steak and chicken. Everything else was about ten times tastier than the cold takeout from my first experience.
There was a steady stream of takeout customers the whole time we were there and all the conversations were in Spanish. Again, this is a hole in the wall — Laminate tables, pleather seats, Spanish language TV blaring in the background, paper menus and a server who had to get (the owner?) from the kitchen to help translate our order. There’s a mexican store next door — we didn’t make it in there this time, that’s saved for our next visit.

Absolutely the most authentic Mexican food around for a super good price! Love the ladies who work there and their soda is refreshing

Let me start off by saying this is probably some of the most authentic Mexican cuisine you can hope to get living in North East Ohio. Everything they make is fresh and most of their ingredients are likely sourced from the Mexican market right next door. People will be put off by the sketchy appearance of the store or area but trust me– just go.
I could leave an entire separate review for the market alone — Living with two Mexican roommates, they tell me its the real deal so I will take their word on that. If you want to see the type of groceries they sell in Mexico, go there. Be warned-​everything has chili powder in it… everything.
Back to the actual restaurant. The place is ran by two people from what I have gathered– one runs the register and the other seems to be the cook. Know that when you sit down for a meal here– it is not like the other Mexican chains that you are used to. The food doesn’t come out in 5 minutes. You will be in for a little bit of a wait… but trust me when I say it is worth it.
The food they prepare is always hot and perfectly seasoned. They make everything from scratch and nothing is left under a heating lamp. I love their tacos– barbacoa, chorizo, carne asada, are among my favorites. My roommate said their enchilada verdes are to die for as well. Order some chips and salsa to go with the meal and you are in good shape.
It is probably in your best interest to stop reading this review here. What follows has nothing to do with the restaraunt or the food. It is just nonsense but may pertain to you if you have a sensitive stomach…
Here’s where the review gets weird. For the longest time my roommates and I could not find what this place is called (we know now).but it had left us with a dilemma as to what to call this place. So after much deliberation we decided on ‘Stankeys’. This is not because the odor of the store or the surrounding area but more about what happens after you eat this food… Yes those with sensitive stomachs beware– this is not your normal Mexican food, it is authentically seasoned and prepared and may not be as easy to adjust to. You can call this place Taco Baja Fresh but I prefer Stankeys and will continue to lovingly refer to this place as that.
So if you see a couple of kids in their mid-​20s laughing and talking about this place called Stankeys that would be us. Thanks for reading my novel about this wonderful restaurant– I don’t normally leave reviews unless I feel really strongly about the food. Just eat at Stankeys.

The chile con queso was EXCELLENT! My date got a barbacoa gordita and a beef tongue gordita– he said both were great, but the barbacoa was beyond excellent. I got fajitas (vegetarian) and got a wonderful spread of avocado, rice, beans, and other fixings. Great price, wonderful food. Only con: the parking lot is very tiny. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food, this is it.

Amazing seemingly authentic food. This Extra text is for length. Here is even more to make them happy.

Nice people and great tacos. Don’t let the area or the place scare you. Great flavors!

4 stars for the tacos, rice n beans. Didn’t care for the pollo chimi.