Splash Baja

Splash is south Rosarito's worst-kept secret: a palapa-style restaurant planted on the ocean's edge at Km 52 of the free road, in the Primo Tapia area, which has spent years collecting reviews from pilgrims swearing this is the best-value seafood on the whole Rosarito-Ensenada corridor. TripAdvisor keeps it in Rosarito's top ten (4.3, #7 of 120-plus restaurants).

The script never changes: octopus, lobster, fish tacos, clams and shrimp done a dozen ways — all fresh, all abundant, at prices reviewers describe over and over as surprisingly reasonable, and noticeably friendlier than Puerto Nuevo's. Dollars accepted, naturally. The terrace literally hangs over the rocks: you eat with the Pacific breaking below and, with luck and the right season, dolphins or whales in the distance.

The vibe is happy beach cantina: live music Thursday through Sunday, irresponsibly sized margaritas, and a mix of expats from the nearby communities, Mexican families and San Diegans who long ago adopted the place. Open every day from 9 AM "until the last person leaves," as they like to boast; breakfast over the ocean is the least-known plan and possibly the best one.

Due honesty: this is not fine dining and the reviews acknowledge it — some dishes land better than others and more than one visitor finds the table salsa bland; in exchange, the product-price-view ratio is very hard to beat.

Getting there: about an hour from the San Ysidro border — roughly 20-25 minutes south of downtown Rosarito on the free road toward Ensenada; the sign appears on the ocean side at Km 52, past Primo Tapia. Bring some cash just in case, and don't make plans for after sunset: you'll want to stay.

Don't miss

• ◆Octopus
• ◆Whole lobster
• ◆Fish tacos
• ◆Breakfast over the ocean