Baja Sharkeez
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If you’ve lived in the South Bay for a while, chances are you have a Baja Sharkeez memory.
Maybe it involved a late night on Pier Avenue. Maybe it was a post-beach margarita in Manhattan Beach. Or maybe you’re more familiar with Sharkeez as the place you used to go out than somewhere you’d specifically plan to go for dinner.
That’s about to change.
Baja Sharkeez officially dropped its new menu on September 15, giving South Bay locals a new reason to stop by during the day and putting a much bigger spotlight on what’s coming out of the kitchen.
The restaurant’s current South Bay locations include Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, with the brand continuing its longtime Baja-inspired restaurant and bar concept.
A South Bay Story That Started Before Sharkeez
Before there was Baja Sharkeez, there was the Red Onion.
When that chapter came to an end, father and son Ron and Greg Newman found themselves at a crossroads. Instead of simply moving on to the next restaurant, the two took a trip to find inspiration for what could come next.
That trip helped spark the idea for Baja Sharkeez, a laid-back beach cantina inspired by the energy of Baja, beach towns, and the communities they knew well.
The concept eventually grew beyond its original location, becoming part of a larger collection of South Bay restaurants and nightlife spots, including Sharkeez El Porto, Tower 12, Palmilla, Esperanza, and Sandbar. Baja Sharkeez’s own history describes the brand as a collaboration between Ron’s decades of restaurant experience and Greg’s perspective on college and beach communities.
Now, decades later, the family is bringing that experience back into focus with a menu designed to give the food its own moment.
A Whole New Focus on Food
The new menu isn’t just a few additions here and there.
According to the Sharkeez team, this is a complete reimagining of the menu, with more than 30 tasting sessions spent working through the details of the food. The goal was to take everything the team has learned through decades in the restaurant business and put that experience directly onto the plate.
And there’s a pretty good variety to explore.
The new menu features everything from tacos and burritos to fajitas, shareable plates and Surf Mex-style combinations. Sharkeez’s longtime menu has centered around Baja-inspired Mexican favorites, including tacos, burritos, wood-fired plates and sizzling fajitas, so the new direction builds on a foundation locals already know.
What to Order From the New Menu
One of the dishes getting attention is the Carne Asada Taqueria Tacos, bringing together grilled carne asada with toppings on corn tortillas. It’s a good fit for anyone who wants something classic but still very much in the Sharkeez wheelhouse.
For a table that wants a little bit of everything, the Surf Mex Style Combos bring together different proteins and sides on one plate. The new menu also puts a fresh spin on the restaurant’s fajitas, including the Mixed Grilled Fajitas loaded with grilled steak, chicken, and shrimp alongside peppers and onions.
Then there are the dishes built for sharing, or for ordering when you walked in hungry.
The Big Dipper Platter combines mini burgers with crispy bites and dipping sauces, while the Dirty Tank’d Fries take the loaded-fry route with plenty of toppings piled over crispy fries.
And if you want to try one of the menu items with a little family history behind it, look for the Ron Newman Tank’d Burrito, named after the co-founder who helped start the Sharkeez story in the first place.
The current Sharkeez menu also includes longtime favorites like Birria Crusty Queso Tacos and the Famous Original Baja Fish Tacos, and the Chipotle Chicken Flautas.
From Nightlife Spot to Lunch Stop
For a restaurant that has long been associated with nightlife, the new menu is also a good excuse to look at Sharkeez a little differently. But now there’s a reason to swing by for lunch, meet a friend for an early dinner, or grab a table before your evening plans. If your current nighttime routine looks more like being home before 8 p.m., Sharkeez has you covered.
A New Chapter for a South Bay Classic
What started with a father and son looking for their next idea eventually became a South Bay institution with decades of memories attached to it. Now, the new menu is a chance to add a few more.
Whether you’re a longtime Sharkeez regular or someone who mostly remembers the restaurant from nights out, the new menu gives you a reason to come back and see what’s changed. The new Baja Sharkeez menu is available now, following its September 15 launch. So grab a table, order something you’ve never tried before, and see what the team has been working on.
