In the morning and early afternoon, Baja Bistro functions as a coffeehouse and Mexican diner, with Stumptown coffee, pastries, chilaquiles, breakfast tacos, and so forth. At dinnertime, Baja Bistro becomes a casual outpost for authentic Baja California–style Mexican cuisine. Owner Oscar Castro says, “All our recipes are my mom’s and grandmother’s… everything’s created in-house—tortillas, tortilla chips, salsa. Even the margarita mix is fresh-squeezed.” The result is simple, humble, family-style Mexican food of a quality that can’t be faked. And speaking of margaritas, starting at 3 p.m., Baja Bistro’s bar is open, offering a happy-hour menu until 6 p.m. and drinks all night long—and becoming very, very gay on Wednesdays. This place is magical.