Alejandros Mexican Food - Honolulu

★★★★☆ 4.3 (959) • $$

"We stopped here for lunch on the way to our hotel on the North Shore. It is pretty close to the airport so it was very convenient. The place is a dive and I mean that in a good way. The outside is very modest, and that same modesty carries to the inside. The Yelp description says waiter service but in fact you order at the counter and then wait while they prepare.There are two small tables outside but that is about it. Service was very fast. There were a good number of people coming and going while we were there. We ordered the taco plate: 3 tacos, rice, beans, and drink for $13.50. There are other protein options but we opted for ground beef. The ground beef was nicely seasoned and very flavorful. Comes with corn tortillas. The rice was excellent. The beans were also well seasoned. Overall, it was a very good lunch. They also have burritos and quesadillas that I hope we get to try during our stay on Oahu.The 4 stars are for the dicey-ness of the restaurant but the food is close to 5 stars."

Paniolos - Kailua

★★★★☆ 3.9 (533) • $$

"I always have a "bowl" every time...Located in the Kailua Shopping Center Paniolos is a great create your own or what they call "Design your own" Mexican food either in a form of Burrito, Bowl or Tacos and in three easy steps you got your designer meal woohoo!Love that they have Cilantro Lime Brown Rice which is my favorite and since I don't get beans they do offer to give you extra rice or what I do is some chopped romaine, you then choose your protein (which on this point determines the price) and on this visit it was grilled veggies which then is the toppings...cheese AND sour cream, salsa, jalapeños, lime, corn. Sometimes I get some chips and salsa to make it a deconstructed nachos but their bowl is quite massive so kept as is today.They do have a table and window bar seating on the inside and some tables outside as well so enjoying your meal is a nice and relaxing and their staff is just really nice and friendly I just love the vibe here.Thank you!"

Bowles Burritos

★★★★☆ 3.9 (509) • $$

"This hole in the wall dive bar has da BEST Shredded Beef Burrito ( GET IT WET!) The service is always friendly and attentive when building your custom Mexican food made to order!Mondays are trivia night and Tuesday's Live music.No time to enjoy the local crowd for the fun.Ordered my food to go so I can get home to my girls (4-poodles) lol!Definitely my GO TO Shredded Beef Burrito Spot here in Kailua!Yum! Yum! Mouth is watering as I type this 5-STAR REVIEW!"

Don Goyo’s Mexican Food

★★★★☆ 3.9 (494) • $$

"Discovered a Mexican spot in Kaneohe. Ample parking in the front of the restaurant. Ordered the...- Chicken nachos $18 - okay portion but yummy. Chicken was tender. - Carne Asada $23 - steak was slightly too cooked when we got it home. But flavor was good. - Lengua quesadilla $19 - not many Mexican spot have lengua. First time trying it with quesadilla. Really yummy.Did takeout. Overall, the food really good."

Taco Kabana

★★★★☆ 4.3 (371) • $$

"Hole in the wall place, no frills, but good food. I got the bowl with steak and it was delicious. You order at the counter, pay, and go sit down. They'll bring you the food. Definitely worth a visit. Parking up front but it's a busy street. Good quick service and good prices."

Mexico Lindo Kailua

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (779) • $$

"It's been awhile since I have eaten here. My boyfriend wanted to spoil me today. We were the only ones in the restaurant around 10:30 or 11 am. We were hungry. I couldn't finish my dish but I ended up having the lobster enchiladas which came with rice and beans. I also ordered a lychee margarita which was a little bit sour. Tasted like a hard lemonade. We also decided to get chips and salsa. The green sauce was the best and tasted delicious. My boyfriend got the shrimp dish and he let me try his shrimp. Really good. My lobster enchiladas was good but a little salty when I got to eat the lobster. I literally couldn't finish them. Service was excellent by our waitress. She was nice and catered to us. I would definitely come back here again."

El Jalisciense

★★★★☆ 4.2 (299) • $$

"I just happened to stumble across this place. I was shopping at the outlets and was looking for food and saw some people with some takeout and found all the food trucks. I decided on Mexican. I ended up ordering a chicken enchilada, it was pretty good, it came with salad, rice and beans. The lady who served me was really nice. Can't wait to come back on my next holiday............."

La Birria

★★★★☆ 4 (329) • $$

"Bring cash. They charge a lot to use cards here. Woman at the register wasn't that friendly but I'm from Cali so it's whatever. As long as the food is good - she is just taking my order and handing me food. Also!! It's not located inside the mall. It's WAY down toward the edge of the 99. Near where it was the old sears building is what I have been told by my local friends. Across the street you can see the T mobile and AT&T stores. It's just a little food truck and we are thankful we finally found the correct location. The tacos are delicious. They are smaller street sized tacos but are stuffed with meat. They have the perfect amount of cheese, onions and cilantro. We ordered the Mexican roulette and had so much fun. Then we found the firecracker and wowza. The flavor was so good but the heat burnt off all my taste buds. We all tried it. It's hot and not an enjoyable one. I could drink the consume. In fact I added it to a pack of saimin noodles with some lime juice. So technically... just do it. I'm sure their ramen here is also delicious but I just want noodles and broth no meat. Our next box we picked up we skipped the hiding hell fire and opted for a regular box. It's a crowd pleaser at my house."

Aloha Tortilla Factory & Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (156) • $$

"I happened on this place attending "Night Market" at Aloha Tower... They are located in the only permanent individual structure in fromt of the tower.When I went there was only a special event menu (pic) so I am not sure what their selections and prices are when their is no event. Special event selections was the usual mexican fare anywhere and pretty much everything was $10.00. I went with their 2 tacos ($10). It consisted of two decent sized stuffed tacos (steak avocado onion) and it came with guacomoli - salsa and some kind of spicy sauce (all in seperate containers) and it even came with tortilla chips on the side...Everything was meticulously put together and prepared and was "onos"!! Quality ingredients put together with love. I believe they would normally have chairs tables and umbrellas (hence "cafe" in name) ... If their prices is same as event pricing then its a good value with good portions and just tasty!! Definetely a good option to check out when at the towet."

Tlaxcalli

★★★★☆ 3.5 (244) • $$

"Lunch in Chinatown, Honolulu, Hawaii...Who would have known that there's authentic Mexican cuisine amidst Asian restaurants?We wanted something different and we got it!We've passed by Tlaxcalli on Smith Street several times and thought: one day, we'll try this place. Finally, the day came!It was a Sunday when metered street parking is free! We walked in and had a choice of indoor or outdoor seating. We chose indoors because it was warm and humid outside. Thanh was our server. She's "sometimes" the owner since she is Vietnamese and her husband is Mexican. That was her explanation!I couldn't decide between shrimp tacos and Braised short ribs tacos. Thanh said that the short ribs would have more flavor because of the wine sauce. I agreed. The meat was tender and tasty! The three tacos (with cool presentation) had some oil which i squeezed out from the corn tortillas. It was a bit peppery for me, so i drank a lot of water. The grilled Brussels sprouts added more texture and depth to the tacos! Yummy!I'm looking forward to returning on a Sunday!"

Los Garcia's

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (308) • $$

"Mellow little mexican restaurant Chips were really good, salsa was ok. To me, chips & salsa tell you how good/bad a mexican restaurant is. Got the taco salad with grilled chicken. It was loaded. Would totally get this again, minus the refried beans that were also inside the salad. Tamale & enchilada plate was hefty too. The tamale is the bigger looking rollInterior seemed a bit dusty even though we went when they first opened. Probably because their only ventilation is through windows and fans, no AC"

Paniolos - Kapolei

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (249) • $$

"Having a bowl of a time...Had a bowl for lunch and for dinner as well lol! Love Palolos in Kahala so you know I had to give this Kapolei Commons a peek and was happy to see that this location has seatings...both indoors and outdoor but what really impressed me is that each booth has an outlet to recharge yourself along with your electronics.As soon as you walk in the scent of yumminess takes on your senses but I stuck to my usual Bowl with brown rice and paniolo meat topped with cheese, romaine, corn and sour cream, I just love it when you're able to create your own. The service here is friendly and fast paying attention to your request and options. A new favorite whenever I'm in the area.Thank you!"

Mayita's Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (132) • $$

"I like how calm and nice the owner was making the food! He has lights and a table to dine at.The music is charming as well.I was riding past on my bicycle and was able to order my food and have it in my hand in 5 minutes.They have an assortment of sauces. But what really caught my attention was the HOMEMADE red salsa and green salsa. There is onion, limes, cilantro, jalapeños ect fresh cut out for us to grab from as well.All in all I was ECSTATIC to eat the food. Being a delicious truck I think he should invest in a Venmo QR code because the burrito was $14.I got the steak burrito because a loyal customer before me told me it is the best. It is rather long in length and a hefty burrito. Fresh ingredients inside and allowed the other condiments I added to blend together to create one of the best burritos I have had on island in 6 years."

El Burrito

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (204) • $$

"Forever and Ever...El Burrito has been at this location for what seems like forever. This little corner property at the corner of Piikoi and Kapiolani has resisted change and gives you a glimpse of what the surrounding Ala Moana Center area was once like- before the high-rise bldgs started to dominate the neighborhood. Parking is basically on the street. They are currently takeout, but hoping to do indoor dining again. I would stop by for a bite to eat when I had lunch with working friends when my appointments were downtown. The authenticity of the food could be challenged but this pretty much holds true for so many restaurants. Many restaurants make the motherland dishes with a pinch of large local touch. What I do know, the foos is enjoyable and the service great. Our go.to orders are the chicken enchilada and chili relleno plates. The sauces are on the mild side which is how we like it but they will spice it up upon request. Although the chips/salsa is not included the cost is reasonable and the serving pretty generous. This is definitely a place we enjoy getting take out from and it's a short walk from Ala Moana shopping center. When the skyline rail finally gets to Ala Moana Centet I hope El Burrito is still there to provide good local style Mexican Kau Kau to the masses. Give'um a try when in the area- support local!"

Jalapenos 808

★★★★☆ 4.1 (105) • $$

"Takeout lunch from Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii... Jalapeños 808 used to pop up on my Yelp feed when it was a Hot New Business. I procrastinated, but finally made it to this clean, cool restaurant (even though it's not Hot and New anymore). First off, the word, Jalapeños, made me cautious because I don't care for spicy food. I added all veggies to my Burrito, except the jalapeños!Second, I read a review that mentioned that it was kind of like a Chipotle experience. Well, it's good because you can customize your meal. It's made in front of the customer, and they ask you what you want in your meal... like refried beans vs. Pinto beans... and "yes" to diced onions!It was a really quick experience. I parked right in front, walked up to the register, ordered, and watched my Burrito being made. So fast!I did takeout because I wanted to cut the Burrito in half and get a photo. The Al Pastor Burrito didn't disappoint. It was gigantic, colorful, and filling. It could use a bit more seasoning... like salt? However, I had food coma afterwards... zzz!Note: it's easier to enter the parking lot from Ku'ulei Street. Dining-in is available... there are several chairs and tables!"

Paniolos - Honolulu

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (146) • $$

"Ummmmmmmmmmm, what a great burrito!!!I had Paniolos inside of Kahala Mall bookmarked for the longest time, as I remembered seeing my Yelp buddy - Bruddah Daniel C. posting some foodie pics from this place, but every time I'm thinking about Mexican cuisine, somehow I end up at a different Mexican joint. Lol!As luck would have it, I finally had the opportunity to give Paniolo's a try, as my friend - Nat N. had suggested this place to try.Paniolo's kinda reminds me of a "Mexican Subway" where you order & build your own meal. Paniolo's menu is pretty basic, as they offer burritos, tacos, & bowls.In my case, I was here to give da burrito a try!1st, you pick you base - they had the following choices -a, cilantro lime white riceb, cilantro lime brown ricec. romaine hearts2nd, you pick your beans. They had the following items -a. pinto beansb. black beansc. refried beans3rd, you pick you proteins or vegetables. They offered the following choices :a. grilled vegetablesb. tofuc. free range chickend. kalua pige. Paniolo steakf. grilled steakTo top off your creation, they offered an array of toppings like -cheese, sour cream, salsa, onions, cilantro, jalapeño, limes, greens, & guacamole.So I built my burrito with the cilantro lime brown rice, black beans, free range chicken, and I had them dump a crap load of toppings to kick my burrito up a notch, and I must say I was pretty happy about my creation!My friend ended up getting a veggie steak bowl, which looked pretty darn good!What can I say about my burrito???Since I could choose what I wanted in my burrito, I was most certainly pleased with my creation! The ingredients they used were fresh, and they were very generous with applying the items into your creation!I enjoyed my burrito so much, I'm already thinking about coming back here soon to build me another burrito!!!! :DGreat efficient service, fresh ingredients, and reasonable prices.........Paniolo's is WINNAH'S!!!Chance 'em! No can go wrong!"

Hau Tree Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (132) • $$

"Great food great vibes. First time here and the service is great. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. We'll be back to eat here again."

Tio's Burritos

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (60)

"(Tookout 11/04/24 MO @ 5:00pm): Uncle's making burritos as well as other Mexican food favorites!In my quest to explore the various cuisine scenes throughout O'ahu's Windward side (east shore of the island) after a recent acquisition of an investment/private-use property, I finally made my way to Tio's Burritos. As a born and raised Angeleno, I loved Mexican food and always craved it whenever I returned home from an extended stay away. Needless to say, Mexican food was hard to come by in Hawaii outside of Taco Bell, but I have seen random mom & pops like this one in recent times or places that served burritos and tacos but not necessarily a Mexican restaurant. Were Tio's burritos - along with some tacos and chips * salsa - up to the challenge with their island-style Mexican food!?PURCHASEPiledriver Burrito w/Carnitas + Chips & Salsa ($15.00): A thick burrito stuffed with carnitas, pinto beans, Spanish rice, salsa verde, shredded cheeses, onions, cilantro, and jalapeños, this two-hander wasn't messing around! Packed to the point that I felt it was about to burst if I didn't cut it in half https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=0aCVC2YMzzhSTEmGlF-bbA before I dove in, every bite had a bit of everything which I truly loved. The ingredients were fresh and plentiful, but I wished I had more carnitas than rice and it was more spicy (very low on the spicy meter). I managed to split this into two meals which saved me some money. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=vknbbvMnC5AC5zoohi4OBw3pc Ghost Pepper Tacos w/Tinga Chicken + Chips & Salsa ($15.00): I was sold on the ghost pepper for some extra spiciness, and although there was some, I could've handled more heat. With your choice of meats, I opted for the rarely-selected tinga chicken. The meat was nicely plentiful, seasoned, shredded, and succulent. The rest of the tacos were built out with the usual dressings, but honestly it was the amount of meat that was the highlight. The tortillas were overmatched by the weight of the ingredients. I also managed to save one for another meal. Five dollars per taco was a tad hard to accept, but ultimately my tummy was happy. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=bdSaDcmVZDqX-ec-85wy6QSide Chips ($2.00): Apparently, I didn't read that my burrito and tacos came with chips & salsa, or I wouldn't have ordered an extra bag! No worries, their tortilla chips were homemade and wonderfully had the stains of oil as each chip was crispy to near perfection. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=CO2vaAE5PwoACynjuHpvEQSalsa (COMP): I appreciated this, but it lacked flavor and spiciness. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=QCOAh1yTQ7uY-FZL2Gb9_ASERVICEI simply placed my order at the front kiosk, hung around for about fifteen minutes or so, and then an attractive young woman appeared, called out my name, and handed me my order with a cheery smile and a "come back again" salutation; easy-peasy - mahalo!PARKING (FREE)Located in the outdoor Hawaii Kai Towne Center, there were plenty of spots, and I was able to park relatively close to the business - 'nuff said!ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCELocated inside the Tex 808 BBQ & Brews, although they appeared to share some dining space https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=bTNxGrYSxTDZsM7JkvDZPQ they were basically a takeaway food business (I'm sure you were allowed to have your meal there, too, even though the restaurant obviously served food). They had an order kiosk, a view into the kitchen, and an area where completed orders were placed. Decent natural lighting came in through the front door and various windows while bright electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were several TVs with the volume turned up for your background sound. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=O_5oy48_JKQYJahMtYcfZAATTIRETotally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.OVERALLI was pleasantly surprised by Tio's Burritos, and would consider another visit. I've barely scratched the surface for Mexican food in Hawaii, but this was a nice start. Sadly, the meat choices were limited to the standards and didn't include my favorites such as cabeza, chorizo, and lengua. And, the menu selection was simple and tight. I enjoyed the food and service with the prices a tad elevated. Lastly, whenever possible I liked to support small family-owned businesses. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $34.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS"

Taco Bell

★★☆☆☆ 2 (122) • $

"Cravings...Taco Bell has mom constantly craving their tacos...Taco Supreme to be exact and it has to be crunchy she's not a soft taco person and let's not even talk about those street tacos with her lol!This Moanalua Shopping Center location is a nice convenience though just a short distance from busy Nimitz Hwy and the Freeway it seems to have it's own vibe among other foodie choices they do have a drive thru as well making it an easy way to grab and go your cravings.Though I do have their app did decide to walk in and see how cozy this restaurant is as it is quite small though offer all the usual that we search for including a self ordering kiosk and a shelf to pick up your online order. The staff here is constantly busy fulfilling the orders but was very nice and polite taking my order.Yes the dining room is quite small though had enough tables for the random ones that dine in including a hightop bar table which has hooks to hold your items is a nice convenience and a restroom as well making it a full experience here and my order was make fast and perfect as I made modifications, all condiments sauces, utensils and napkins are self served making it easy to not always have excessive sauces and just what you need...happy belly.Thank you!"

Serg's Mexican Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.6 • $$

"Nestled in Manoa, you'll find a little Mexican food gem called Serg's. We arrived just before the lunch crowd so there were plenty of parking and plenty of seating. However, you can imagine that it can pretty crowded pretty quick.You order at the window and pick up your food when it's ready. The lady at the window was very friendly and the food came out quickly. I ordered the taco salad and it was delicious. The eating area was open allowing the breeze to blow through. There was Mexican music playing over the speakers adding to the experience. Highly recommended!!!"

Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Dinner in Honolulu, Hawaii...Our dinner group had already taken Father Rizal to have Korean, Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine...How about Mexican food next?Luckily, the group agreed and I suggested Los Chaparros Mexican Restaurant because I had never been there before. My dentist knew where to park (on Beretania Street) because the small, free lot in front of the restaurant was full. I called to make a reservation, but was unsuccessful. We went a little after opening time to beat the crowd and get a table. Service was cheerful and efficient. The interior was festive and had colorful decor. The atmosphere was energetic in a dimly lit environment.I got the Taco Supremo with shrimp... without jalapeños. It was still a bit spicy for me... and filling, so I took half home. The flour tortilla held up well, the veggies were fresh, and the shrimp were plump and firm! Yum!I'm glad that I finally got a chance to dine at this old school establishment! I'd go again!Thanks for the crunchy complimentary chips and salsa (with a kick)!"

Taqueria El Ranchero

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"Was excited to try this place. I know it's been around for a long time but we've never went here until tonight. We walked in at around 7:00pm on a Friday. There were several people in line but the girl at the register was awesome and worked quickly.We ordered a carne asada combination plate, a shrimp burrito, French fries and birria tacos. My husband said the steak was kinda chewy but they gave a good amount of it. He whacked the whole plate. My shrimp burrito was full of shrimp and I can't believe I ate the whole thing! So stuffed!! My cousin had the order of birria tacos which came with 3 tacos. She said it was really good and tasty. The French fries looked kinda stale, I didn't try it but my cousin ate all of it.I like the atmosphere, it was interesting to see the open kitchen. They were quite busy the whole time we were there. People kept coming in to eat in and to get take out. The music is kinda on the loud side but we didn't have to yell to talk to each other. Would definitely go back again and try something else as they have a pretty extensive menu."

Surf N Salsa

★★★★★ 4.5 • $$

"One of our favorite Mexican restaurants on the island! So good! We love to get the crispy carne asada taco plate. We have tried the fries, which are good as well but we prefer the taco plate. While it is a food truck, there is seating in the front and back of the food truck. There has often been a line whenever we have gone so I would be prepared to wait. There is parking in the lot in front of the food truck, which can get crowded. The service is friendly and the outside tables and decorations are cute. These tacos are super good and every time we have gone, they have been filling and yummy!"