La Baja brings authentic Mexican cuisine to Oshkoshians looking for change
Spec-taco-ular! That may be an understatement regarding Oshkosh’s excitement for the opening of a new Mexican restaurant, La Baja, a little over two and a half months ago on 600 W. 9th Avenue.
After years of working within the industry, Alejandro Carrillo, founder and owner of La Baja, was ready to take the next step.
“I started working as a server 23 years ago. My neighbor in Tijuana, Mexico brought me to Dubuque, Iowa, where his cousin opened a Mexican restaurant with Tex-Mex,” he said. “Then I had been thinking about opening my own restaurant, and I thought, why not?”
However, ownership has come with quite a learning curve.
“I thought I knew everything, but it has been hard. I thought it was impossible- it’s not,” he said. “It’s just a process. For me the hardest part was legal stuff. I thought I knew it all, but I really didn’t.”
Carrillo’s extensive love and appreciation for his home in Mexico has kept him motivated and conscious of why he started his business to begin with.
“I grew up in Tijuana, Mexico. I know all of Baja California because most of my family lives there. I have half-brothers who fish, and I have made food for all of them,” he said.
Carrillo’s influences within his early life in Mexico have not only helped him create food that he is very proud to serve to his community, but also motivated him to keep cooking.
“I learned how to cook from my mom; she used to cook everything from scratch. I learned everything from her, and from my dad as well because they are both really good cooks,” he said. “My mom is from southern Baja California and my dad is from the northern part. I want to make them proud.”
Carrillo takes great pride in making authentic foods from home.
“My entire menu is hand-picked with all my favorite stuff,” he said. “We just think about our favorite foods from there, and it’s street food. We still have some high-class food, but the street food we sell really represents this region.”
Although Carrillo’s food may have originated from Baja, California in Mexico, he is very much present within Oshkosh.
“I try to be a part of the community,” he said. “I just want to be here for a long, long time. I have a family, and I have kids. I just hope that I will be successful with Oshkosh, and that I bring Oshkosh real, authentic Mexican food.”
Sophomore Ryan Jansen has been able to taste the love put into La Baja’s food.
“La Baja feels a bit more authentic than other restaurants,” she said. “Other Mexican restaurants I’ve been to are good in their own right, but oftentimes feel like an Americanized version of Mexican food. The tacos at La Baja don’t have any lettuce or tomato or anything on them. They come like if you were to get a street taco from a food truck.”
La Baja has been able to make positive, lasting impressions among its customer base.
“My experience at La Baja has been phenomenal everytime,” Jansen said. “I actually go there quite a bit- about every other week with my family. Every time we go, it’s so fantastic and we’re greeted with smiles, and the workers there are so friendly. It’s just a really welcoming atmosphere.”
Jansen has also had positive experiences with the restaurant’s willingness to accommodate her dietary restrictions.
“Since I have celiac disease, and I can’t have gluten, so I get tacos without the tortilla,” she said. “They do have corn tortilla options that are gluten free, so you can enjoy tacos if you have gluten sensitivity. However, since I can’t have anything with cross-contamination, I just like to be extra careful.”
La Baja’s commitment to food safety and avoiding cross contamination has proven to be very thorough.
“I really like this place because they don’t fry anything else in the fryer, so I can have the tortilla chips and salsa,” she said. “Oh my god, this salsa is so freaking delicious here. You can just tell that it's so homemade and made with love. I haven’t gotten sick eating there as a celiac person, which is really awesome.”
Jansen has seen first-hand how Carrillo’s love and passion for his food and background has shown through his dishes.
“The food is so amazing every single time,” Jansen said. “You can tell that there’s a lot of love in the food and in the building and the business in general.”
Carrillo hopes that the momentum of his business will continue to grow.
“As long as people like our food, we will continue to be here and serve.”
by Kassandra Bowlus-Jasinski
Published April 29 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue VII