Rockin' Baja Lobster - Old Town

3890 Twiggs St, San Diego, CA 92110, United States
+1 619-260-0305
$$$ Seafood restaurant , Bar & grill , Mexican restaurant
(5208 Reviews)

Rockin' Baja Lobster - Old Town is a lively seafood-focused restaurant and bar that brings a vibrant mix of Mexican flavors and coastal flair to San Diego’s historic Old Town neighborhood. It fits naturally into a casual, energetic scene where both locals and visitors come to enjoy robust seafood dishes paired with creative margaritas and craft beers.

The atmosphere here feels approachable and fun, with a hint of Louisiana-style kick reflected in the menu and drink offerings. Whether you’re stopping by for a midday meal or hanging out during happy hour, the place hums with an upbeat, friendly vibe—you’ll find groups sharing large seafood buckets and couples sampling tacos at the bar. Outdoor seating is available, but the bustling interior, peppered with nods to rock & roll and beach culture, carries the energy day and night.

The menu is centered on seafood served with bold, zesty seasoning. Signature buckets featuring shrimp, lobster, and king crab come with unlimited sides like cilantro lime rice and ranchero beans, ideal for sharing and making a meal out of. The shrimp tacos and lobster tacos are often praised for fresh, bright flavors and just-right cooking. For a lighter bite or starter, options like lobster and shrimp bites or warm lobster rolls offer satisfying bursts of taste that complement the house margaritas, which many find delightfully strong and well balanced.

Dining here works well when you’re up for something lively and a bit festive—perfect for casual celebrations or simply an afternoon of flavorful seafood paired with a good drink. The experience is enhanced by extras like a salsa bar to customize your own heat level and a dessert of fried ice cream or churros to round out the meal. Service tends to be upbeat and attentive, moving quickly even during busy spells.

Locals appreciate Rockin' Baja Lobster as a go-to spot for generous portions and a menu that reflects San Diego’s coastal heritage with a peppering of Mexican and southern influences. It’s best visited in the afternoon to early evening, especially during happy hour when specialty tacos and cocktails are highlights, but the kitchen keeps things flowing well throughout the day.

Highlights
Has fast service
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Has live music
Good for watching sport
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves alcohol
Has all you can eat
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves happy-hour food
Serves healthy options
Serves late-night food
Has private dining room
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Best for
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Valet parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

11:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 8:30 PM

5208 Reviews
Mida Dee

27 Dec 2025

Not sure what the name of the plate was but it was delicious. It is for 2 people and comes with unlimited ranchero beans and cilantro lime rice. It also came with a salad, and a fried ice cream for dessert. Service was good too.

Ashley Briggs

25 Dec 2025

Fun spot with a Louisiana-style kick! We ordered the Big Baja to Alaska bucket with extra shrimp. Great presentation and really tasty. It comes with the Lobster Chowder, rice and beans, a Cesar Salad, and fried ice cream. The lobster chowder was delicious, and the salsa bar with chips adds a nice touch. Lobster and shrimp were definitely the highlights, though the king crab wasn’t quite as good as expected. Overall, a fun atmosphere with great staff and solid seafood.

Puneeth Veerabhadrappa

19 Nov 2025

Stopped by Rocking Baja Lobster & Grill in Old Town San Diego for a quick lunch. The ambience was great and the food was good too. The tequila lime shrimp were packed with flavor—perfectly cooked with a zesty, well-balanced citrus kick. The lobster and shrimp bites tasted good: crispy, flavorful, and great for sharing.The corn ribs were a fun surprise, similar to the Elotes i have tried in many other mexican restaurants, creamy and rich in flavour. We also tried a few tacos, all solid with fresh ingredients and generous fillings, however felt these could have been made a little better. The seafood skillet melt stood out as a comfort dish done right—cheesy, hearty, and loaded with seafood, served hot and full of flavor. Lively atmosphere, good portions, and friendly service make this a great spot in Old Town for Mexican-seafood fusion and drinks. Definitely worth a visit when you’re in the area.

Elisha Jones

26 Oct 2025

I have never had a bad experience! Everytime I go to San Diego this is my go spot. This time I tried the El Gorda family platter. It was so much food for 4 people with plenty of leftovers. Everything was cooked and seasoned well.

Sathiyan Kutty

18 Oct 2025

I haven't rated a restaurant 5 star in a while but this definitely meets the standard. Went during happy at 3 pm on Friday. House Margarita was amazing, they did not hold back on the tequila. The lobster taco on the happy hour menu was the best I've had. All the palapa menu items were incredible and the lobster and shrimp were perfectly cooked and were brought out in less than 8 minutes. They have a killer self service salsa bar and everything was so fresh. Make me want to move to San Diego. Great place for families, friends and I was told that it is a great place for locals as well. Waiting staff were super friendly and attentive. Don't miss this place if you are in Old Town.

Le Cretique- Rube in the Hood

27 Sep 2025

Recently I was with a group of 20 from work. We were seated in a side room. Excellent seating!! Our server was Manny. He was just an awesome server. With all the requests for drinks special orders Manny kept it all in stride. He got all the orders perfectly correct. Ordered the Surf and Turf but wanted more carne asada than shrimp. I ordered the coffee&Kahlua which when it came was cold Manny replaced the drink. The service was exceptional!! Everyone got their food in good time. We had a blast because the entire evening went flawlessly. Food out of this world delicious!! Parking in Old Town is crazy. Rocking had ample parking spaces for our group. I am disabled and sure enough there was disabled parking. Gotta go... I mean when you gotta go you don't want to be hunting for a bathroom. Rockin got you covered. Bathrooms,(very clean ), right as you enter the restaurant Too much to drink well as you exit bathrooms are right there!! ZRockin is easy to find all lit up with torches illuminating the restaurant. Why go anyplace else in Old Town? Rockin has it ALL! Good food, excellent service and a fun atmosphere. Will I be going back? You better believe it This place Rocks!! When you get there just tell them Le Critique Rube in the hood recommends this place so... it must be awesome!! MANY MANY.... MANNY

R A

15 Sep 2025

Food was delicious everyone was happy. We had reservations and were seated right away. There is $7 valet for parking. Seating at the outdoor terrace was nice, good for large group 5+. Lobster roll was delicious and very filling. The tacos were overpriced; the meat was tender, although the shrimp in the taco is spicy. The fajita was good, and enough for two people to share since it comes with sides too. The most popular item out of the group were the appetizers: calamari was so delicious and crispy, and the oysters with the flavorful sauce it comes with. There is a salsa bar thats self serve, wide variety. They served chips when you are first seated. And they serve mexican cola and fanta for drinks if you ask. Good spot in Old Town, would come again.

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