Baja Haus Is A Taste of Endless Summer in a Wayzata Strip Mall

Billy Tserenbat has built a career upon defied expectations. His restaurant career began in Minneapolis with a food truck serving sushi. The irresistible Edo-style sushi quickly won over skeptics and the chef’s enthusiasm was infectious. Soon he opened a store front for Sushi Fix in a strip mall in Wayzata. This was the precursor to the restaurant boom happening in the western Minneapolis suburb. Next, the Mongolian immigrant expanded the restaurant and added a fantastic bar with an extraordinary whiskey selection. What’s the next logical move? Open a Baja-style restaurant further down the strip mall, of course. For this project, Tserenbat teamed with Josh Friedt.

And as unlikely as it seems, beginning today there is a slice of Southern California with bright walls, brilliant-fresh seafood and light, refreshing collection of cocktails from the full bar. Baja Haus was still putting the final touches on a few details when we visited last night (like getting a sign up. If going, the restaurant is at 830 Lake Street in Wayzata.)

Joy Summers

The menu boasts a selection of ceviches, fish tacos, oysters with a Baja-style mignonette; whole roasted fish entrees stuffed with fresh fruit salsas, and more. The cocktails are light, bright and make fantastic use of clear sprits. Early in the planning stages, Tserenbat promised a great margarita and the bar staff delivers several. Despite only having seating inside, the white washed walls, glinting tile like fish scales, Jaritos bottles, candy-colored bicycles suspended from the ceiling create a feeling of sitting right on the beach.

Once the lake opens up and boating season gets underway, this will be an ideal location to wander in for some respite after a day in the sun. For now, it feels like summer has arrived in one select spot near the end of the main drag in Wayzata. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. today.