Tlaxcalli

Not sure how to pronounce it...Though I know where you can find them...right on Smith Street right across from Po'ai and like many biz in Chinatown it's all street metered parking though on Sundays it is free so it may take a slight effort but yes it's so worth it. I've always wondered about this biz as I've frequented many surrounding area and it's probably their hours that made it a challenge for me with my schedule but was excited when I finally got to give them a peek.Walking in I love the vibe as it's so spacious and vibrant with a cute bar and some unique artsy wall decor and they do have a lovely outdoor seating as well we decided to stay indoor and grabbed a table.Glancing over the menu which is quite extensive to very organized by category which I noticed their Weekend Breakfast and you know I do love a limited item selection and couldn't resist besides it's quite a bit of choices to choose from but it was the Chilaquiles for me which the owner agreed since it's only available on the weekends and dining in would make the perfect to enjoy fresh as it's basically a smothered tortilla with red ranchera sauce, cheese and two eggs along with a side of beans was the heavenliest bite that was so comforting.This husband and wife team is so cool as she runs the front and did amazing to describe the menu and agreed with my selection for many reasons is a lovely place to enjoy and escape as well with the fun and festive vibe is unique in this part of town.Thank you!

We had a great experience here once for Sunday lunch when a female host welcomed us warmly. Hoping to have a similar experience, we returned on another Sunday, but the place was completely empty. When we asked for a table for six, the only male employee there initially refused to seat us because one person in our group was wearing a sleeveless shirt.Moments later, he changed his mind, saying he would "make an exception," but by then, the first impression had already been made. We chose to eat elsewhere--hospitality matters.

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!

We came on a Friday evening at 5 pm right before the lunar new year festival began. It was not busy at all, and we also chose to sit outside. Their outside area is super nice, with plenty of seats as well as koi fish in a small pond. We started with an appetizer, tostadas de Tinga de huehxolotl, it was great. It had turkey and pickled onions, great to share. Then, we had a variety of tacos. I had the fish tacos, taco capeados mazatlan. It was good, comes with 3 tacos. One thing I didn't enjoy much was the red salsa on top. It had an interesting flavor that I would prefer without. Other things we got were the asada taquero tacos, which was pretty dry unfortunately. We also tried the short rib tacos which was good but didn't have the Brussel sprouts that I felt was an important part of the tacos, but we subbed it out for onion and cilantro. Finally tried the Tacos De Camaron. It was good with the potatoes in it, although the same red salsa was on top which we didn't enjoy. Overall it was an authentic Mexican place that was refreshing to try in the China town area!

Really enjoyed the food, drink and service here. Had a great experience. Highly recommend it. I got an octopus dish and a mezcal cocktail. I discovered this restaurant though happy accident while exploring the downtown streets. There weren't many people in. The dishes seemed to be traditional Mexican. I couldn't figure out why there weren't more people there. Apart from the inner seating there is a great place to sit outside away from the streets. I enjoyed the brutalist style of the building from the outside where you notice big blocks of stone that the building is made of.

Tonight I was craving authentic Mexican food. My son and wife went and picked up from this location, chile, colorado. I must admit that this was the best chili colorado i've had. They completely sold me on this place. I believe this will be my go to for authentic mexican food. I definitely will be going and eating at this location very soon and trying more of their menu. Need list to say very pleased after eating I was left wanting even more. Thank you for a great experience!

REAL BIRRIA to lead with thats has actual goat like its supposed to be and so far the only place that seems to have it on Oahu. This is not an On The Border or El Rancheros; fresh ingredients not covered in cheese, no flour tortillas or in excess portion sized burritos filled with french fries. Pricing trends with the China Town reaturants per plate but the quality matches the price. Molé had great depth and the agua chiles matches flavor and value of Da Seafood Cartel. The cocktails are of equal quality and not the typical oversized margarita specials from Chili's. Again, if you're looking for that atypical mexican chain resturant, this isn't it, real mexican as it should be.My only qualm, and this is my half-asian ass speaking, is I wished I had a side of ramen to put in the birria juices because it hurt a little to see that delciousness leave without being consumed. AUTHENTIC

I'm going to give it 4 stars because I hope they will get more popular and be around for a while. First the selfish reasons I like Tlaxcalli: close to our home, walking distance means we can enjoy the drinks. Outdoor seating is always worth a star because we hate AC, we do live in Hawaii so why not enjoy it? Tasty authentic food from the region of Sinaloa, even though it has a darker criminal history along with its culinary renown. Everything we've tried has been good, we've been here 3x. I also tried mezcal for the first time at our writer's recommendation and enjoyed its smooth smoky flavor. Thank goodness we could walk home!What I don't like: there is a kitchen fee, which feels like a hidden fee. I'd rather pay an extra 50cents or dollar for their food than find the total unexpectedly higher. They are not the only restaurants doing this, but it makes me less motivated to tip. The entry is kind of dark and empty so I would make it brighter, even if I am just passing through to the patio. Maybe put a planter to separate the inside bar and create a pathway leading outside. Lastly, the name is a bit hard to pronounce. It wouldn't hurt to have it on the menu or when seated for their name to be said clearly before being seated.As you can see, my comments for improvement are about minor things that would elevate the experience, but nothing bad about the food and server.

Unreal flavors..unreal mezcal and tequila collection. The best mexican food in hawaii, hands down. Owner is making it all himself, and he cares about the food he puts out. You can tell just by how hes in the back cheffing it up. Not your typical average burrito spot, he has unique authentic mexican dishes you wont find just anywhere. AmazIng drinks too. Tuna ceviche, guacamole, duck taquitos, shortrib tacos, mango enchilado.

Atmosphere: Unwelcoming Food: Bland and disgustingService: Rasict remarks from ownerBest thing you can do during your Hawaiian vacation is not eat here. Spend your cash elsewhere.