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| Catering seems to the currency of the realm these days |
Exterior: 4/5
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| Photo taken from the parking lot |
Situated on Cass Street in Wabash close to the highway-side edge of town, Jalapeno Baja does nice things with its curb appeal. They have signage with a little jalapeno character wearing a sombrero and an attention-grabbing color scheme. I could have handled more identifying decorations on the side of the building near the parking lot - I had a vague sensation when I walked in that I was someplace I wasn't supposed to be. Overall, though, this place looks attractive and professional.
Ambience: 4/5
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| Attractive color scheme all around |
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| I entertained myself by trying to figure out what kind of fast food restaurant the place used to be |
The decor inside the restaurant reflects the campy cartoony Tex-Mex vibe established by the building's exterior. There are still attention-grabbing colors and fun things to look at. The main seating area is a bit cramped, with tables and booths close to each other. A group of people sat down at the booth across from mine and I was a little worried we were going to be chewin' on each other's knees. Everything seems well-kept, though, and the fact that there was a local crowd hanging out there for lunch shows that this place is a Wabash mainstay.
Variety: 4/5
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| Strawberry Tres Leches Cake |
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| One of the many sauces offered on the condiment bar |
The menu here isn't super-extensive, but they get bonus points for the fact that things are incredibly personalizable, and also because they have a separate breakfast menu with cool options. You can do tacos, nachos, burritos, quesadillas, and various compositions of bowls for lunch and dinner. If you're dining in you get to try out their sauce bar, which has oodles of choices that all looked like fun. I also highly recommend checking out the dessert fridge, which includes the tres leches cake pictured above as well as a strawberries and cream dish and a churro cheesecake. You get a lot of freedom here to create something you'll like.
Quality: 4/5
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| Burrito Bowl |
Eating here felt like eating at Chipotle or Qdoba, but with more love in the food. It's the desserts that tip the balance, honestly - you're not going to find anything like them at a chain burrito place. I enjoyed that they had enough options that I could customize my burrito bowl, but not so many that I felt overstimulated trying to make decisions. My food choices all came together well and I was satisfied with the outcome.
Kid-Friendly: 4/5
I was flying solo on this trip, but if I'd had my kids with me I think they would have found things to eat (even if it was dessert for dinner). There are kids' meals offered here, and if your kids don't like the taco or quesadilla meal options they offer you could probably put something together a la carte to make them happy. The place has a homey vibe that I think would feel welcoming even if your kids were unruly.
Would Eat Again?: Green Light
I had a satisfying lunch here and would be happy to back. If you give Jalapeno Baja a try keep in mind that the portions are HUGE. I was just visiting town and couldn't really keep leftovers with me so I tried to wolf down as much as I could until I felt like I was going to explode. Under different circumstances I probably would have been able to make two meals out of what I ordered. Overall I very much enjoyed the happy vibe and the local feel.
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