Mexican

A killer steak taco/chili relleno combo from El Mariachi, a fabulous spot out in Kaneohe, on the Windward side of the island.

Mainlanders visiting Hawaii often miss the authentic Mexican eateries that spring up on every corner back in the states. For a while now we have had quite the reputation for not having any authentic Mexican food outlets, but that is slowly beginning to change. Along with other ethnic outlets, there has been a recent uptick of Mexican offerings, and some of them are sure to please even the most die-hard traditionalists. Others serve up tasty food but in Americanized Tex-Mex or Cal-Mex styles.

La Bamba on Kapahulu Ave. - Un-Americanized, un-adulterated flavors and tastes for a true Mexican experience.

Note: La Bamba has now closed down, but they are currently looking for a new location. Let you know as soon as I hear anything!

La Bamba. 847 Kapahulu Ave. in Kapahulu. 737-1956. Lunch and dinner daily, except closed on Saturday. Parking on street. Prices: $$. Map. A great choice for home-made, no-frills Mexican food that is about as authentic as it gets in the islands - yeah, I know - that's saying a lot! The guacamole is well-known amongst regulars here, and comes piled high with large chunks of ripe avocado and tomato, and the chili relleno, though not very substantial compared to the other dishes which have larger portions, is one of the better variations I’ve had. Parking can be difficult, as there is none except on the street, but the authentic cuisine is definitely worth the trouble.

A great ceviche is found at El Mariachi.

El Mariachi. A Closer Look. 2 locations: 45-1151 Kamehameha Hwy. in Kaneohe, 234-5893; and 99-205 Moanalua Rd. in Aiea, 487-8226. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in Center lots. Prices: $$. Map. Out in Kaneohe sits a humble, but fabulous Mexican restaurant, indeed! Bold flavors and big plates are the norm here, with an authentic taste and quality tough to beat anywhere on the island. For starters, they are beginning to build a reputation around ceviche, using fresh, locally-caught fish splashed in lime and tossed with onions, tomatoes, and herbs. Sitting in the acidic citrus, the fish turns white and sports an almost cooked texture. They also feature house-made sopes of pork or chicken, tamales, flautas, chimichangas, chile rojo, chile verde, and much more. The carne asada here is absolutely mouth-watering and delicious – the decent-sized rib steak doesn’t come already cut like many places, but still intact and packed with seasonings and herbs for a taste you won’t quickly forget. A relative newcomer on the scene, the dining room is reasonably clean, bright, and very casual. Great spot to try on the Windward side.

Well-flavored, full-bodied, and festive, Torito's is a great place for Mexican meals and a drink or two.

Torito’s. A Closer Look. 2919 Kapiolani Blvd. at the Market City S.C. in Kaimuki (map shown), 735-7991, parking in center lot. Also a small stand at the International Marketplace in Waikiki. Prices: $$. Map. While the Waikiki location is an open air food court, the Market City spot is perfect for a casual dinner and some drinks. The full-sized burritos, home-made chips and salsa, sizzling fajita's, and a great chicken mole are enough to bring you back again and again. There are nightly specials listed on the wall for discounted prices.

That's a lot of beef - Diego's doesn't bother with veggie or bean fillers in their very tasty beef burritos.

Diego’s Taco Shop. 2 locations: 2239 S. King St. in McCully/Moiliili, 944-2942 (map shown); and 719 Kamehameha Hwy. in Pearl City, 456-7578. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking outside store (Pearl City) or on street (King st.). Prices: $. Map. This hole-in-the-wall, very casual taqueria has great tacos and a famous carne asada burrito, both filled almost entirely with lean, seasoned beef that is packed with flavor. You won’t find the Taco Bell variety loaded with lettuce and tomato, or much rice and beans at all – this is the real thing and perfect for the carnivore in you.

Azteca. 3617 Waialae Ave. in Kaimuki. 735-2492. Lunch daily except Sunday, dinner nightly. Parking in lot behind store or on street. Prices: $$. Map. This quaint little family eatery serves up a good carne asada steak made from Spencer steak cuts and, in my opinion, an even greater carnita, or pork, in a taco, enchilada, or any other form. For dessert, the flan is very popular and often sells out. The owner, Sara Sanchez, is delightful and always smiling, with a warm, motherly personality that will make you feel right at home.

La Familia. 94-226 Leoku St. at the Waipahu S.C. in Waipahu. 671-8776. Lunch and dinner daily, except closed on Tuesday. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. In the un-touristy town of Waipahu, you’ll find a hole-in-the-wall where English is grudgingly spoken and customer service is at a minimum, but the food is authentic and delicious. You’ll be able to tell from the first thing that usually hits your table, salsa and chips, that you are in for a great Mexican meal. Fresh tomato, onions, cilantro, and lime with bits of spicy chili peppers are all you ever need. The pork (carnita) dishes are excellent and preferable over the beef (carne asada), which can be a little on the tough side.

El Burrito. 550 Piikoi St. near the Ala Moana S.C. 596-8225. Lunch and dinner daily, except closed on Sunday. Parking on street. Prices: $$. Map. Right across the street from the Ala Moana Shopping Center sits what used to be a run-down looking hole-in-the-wall for as long as I can remember, but they have recently renovated for the better with a light pastel-green that makes it look like a completely different restaurant. They serve up a wide variety of authentic Mexican foods that can be ordered in various combinations. The beef burritos are stuffed just the way I like ‘em – not with rice or beans and other fillers, but with tender shreds of beef cooked in rich, flavorful seasonings. The marinated pork with onions in the chef’s special sauce is another good choice, as is the chili verde, either in a burrito or in a bowl.

The restaurant, not the car! Cholo's in Haleiwa town.

Cholo’s. 66-250 Kamehameha Hwy. at the North Shore Marketplace in Haleiwa. 637-3059. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. Cholo’s is quite the happening spot out on the surf-hip mecca of Haleiwa. The atmosphere is casual, contemporary, and cool. Fresh fish tacos, chicken fajita’s, spinach enchilada’s, veggie burrito’s, and much more on a large menu of choices to choose from. The many imported wall decorations brought in from Mexico are like a mini-flea market and all for sale, by the way.

Just Tacos Grill and Cantina. 95-1249 Meheula Pkwy. at the Mililani Town Center. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night till 2am Friday and Saturday. Parking at center lot. Prices: $$. Map. Just Tacos is not just tacos anymore! The original spot at the Remington College building in Downtown, 1111 Bishop St., and the latest, at 1029 Makolu St. at the Pearl City Shops, are both take-out-style eateries, but this Mililani location is a full-fledged grill and cantina, with an expanded menu and over 300 different kinds of tequila, many from Mexico and not found anywhere else on the island! Late-night weekends get pretty rowdy, with DJ’s, dancing, live entertainment, and a party-hearty crowd. Meal-times, however, are much tamer, with the same build-your-own tacos as the other shops, as well as flautas, fajitas, enchiladas, taco salads, and many drink-friendly appetizers like fried calamari, spicy jumbo shrimp, fresh fish ceviche, and guacamole. And don’t forget about the other two spots, which are very popular and also roll out some truly authentic tacos and more from freshly-made corn tortillas to order, with just the right amount of seasonings, cheeses, and other fillings to not become “Americanized!”

Tacos Ricos in Kapahulu with a set of simple, authentic, no-frills Mexican street tacos waiting to be dressed at the self-serve salsa bar.

Tacos Ricos. A Closer Look. 525 Kapahulu Ave. in Kapahulu. 636-4946. 12pm-2am daily, except closed at 12am Sunday. Parking only on street. Prices: $. Map. Located at the former Waiola Shave Ice shop, this corner shop just above Rainbow’s Drive-Inn is super-casual and laid-back, and they won’t take cards or give a whole lotta customer service. Street taco’s are easily the most popular items here, all served on two small, four-inch, toasted corn tortillas, topped with various meats like a familiar carne asada, ground beef, and carnita, along with less-familiar items like beef tongue and a stewed pork called conchinita. A self-serve salsa bar is used to finish the tacos, with added toppings such as cilantro, onions, cabbage, guacamole, verde, rojo, and pickled radishes and onions. Besides that, there are very few other items – a giant burrito, loaded nachos, and a great whole or half pollo asada (chicken), rubbed and grilled in Mexican spices. With hours till 2am, Tacos Ricos is a great late-night option, as well.

Deep-fried flautas are the specialty of the house at Sergio's in Manoa, which serves all manner of Mexico City-style street foods.

Serg’s Mexican Kitchen. Map. 2740 E. Manoa Rd. in Manoa. 988-8188. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Friday and Saturday till 11pm. Parking fronting Store. Prices: $. A Closer Look. With great Mexico City-style street foods done inexpensively (for Hawaii!), Chef Sergio introduces, to name a few items, mini-chimichanga’s, quesadilla’s, mahimahi vera cruz, whole chicken w/guajillo spice and orange rub, steak picado, a variety of simple, great taco’s, and a really great flauta, which is the specialty of the house. Deep-fried, delicious, and served with your choice of meaty fillings, they are presented as a single, long tube, covered in avocado salsa, sour cream, and queso fresco, a white, creamy, crumbly type of Mexican cheese. There’s also a variety of other traditional treats, such as horchata’s (rice water w/cinnamon and sugar), raspado (Mexican shave ice), helato frido (deep-fried ice cream), elote (roasted corn drizzled with mayo, cheese, lime, spices, and other ingredients), and even bowls of tripe-filled menudo on Friday and Saturday. It’s byob here - perfect for the hordes of college students flowing out of nearby UH! The open-air dining and order-at-the-counter set-up keeps costs low, with the most expensive single item going for $8.95.

It's always a festive occasion at Mexico Lindo's, with great dishes like these sauteed mushrooms.

Mexico Lindo. A Closer Look. 600 Kailua Rd. in Kailua. 263-0055. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. This casual eatery sports a festive Kailua contingency where margarita’s and Mexican beers flow freely, and strong, bold flavors in Mexican cuisine complement the drinks well. The menu is large and diverse, with pupu items like champinones (sauteed mushrooms), shrimp w/chorizo sausages, bean or queso dip, and ceviche, along with the rest of your favorites like mojo de ajo, sopes, tamales, chimichangas, burritos, and enchiladas.

An absolutely delicious diablo shrimp plate from Mexico Restaurant in Kalihi.

Mexico Restaurant. Map. 1247 N. School St. in Kalihi. 845-9059. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking fronting store. Prices: $$. A Closer Look. Mexico Restaurant in Kalihi is sister location to Mexico Lindo in Kailua, and both are similar in every way, whether it comes to the food, décor, or atmosphere and general feel of the place. Bold, strong flavors are the norm, with killer appetizers like garlic sauteed mushrooms, garlic or chipotle scallops, a gooey-hot sizzling queso (cheese), and shrimp in garlic, chipotle, Diablo, or chorizo – all fabulous! The same wide variety of other entrée choices are also available, whether it be enchiladas, tacos, fajita’s, and taquito’s or a plate of machaca, carne arriera, or Acapulco pescado. Fun, buoyant atmosphere conducive to strong drink, and it does get busy with a mix of local and Military personnel enjoying good food and good times. The parking lot seems adequate, but it fills quickly, and you may have to park on the street.

Killer Tacos. 66-560 Kamehameha Hwy. in Haleiwa. 637-4573. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking outside store. Prices: $. Map. This small store on the Waialua side of Haleiwa is known for their large fish tacos and burritos, which are lightly batter-fried and stuffed with rice and other fillers. Otherwise, there are kalua pork, chicken, beef, and veggie choices as well. Items are ordered and picked up at the counter, with tables scattered inside and outside the shop.

Los Chaparros. 2140 S. Beretania St. in McCully/Moiliili. 951-6399. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking outside store. Prices: $$. Map. Los Chaparros is a clean, comfortable restaurant with warm and inviting hosts. You will find traditional foods like the mojo de ajo, with either marinated fish or shrimp, chicken mole, and many combination plates, but once in a while they throw you a curve with an off-the-wall item like won-ton-wrapped jalapeno peppers!

A sampler pupu platter from long-time resident Bandito's, at the Pearl Ridge Shopping Center East.

Banditos Cantina. A Closer Look. 98-151 Pali Momi St. at the Pearl Ridge S.C. East in Pearl City. 488-8888. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in lot behind store. Prices: $$. Map. One of the better old-time Mexican restaurants on the island, featuring a menu that often ventures north of the border with fries, buffalo-style chicken wings, sandwiches, burgers, and ribs. Mexican entries include flautas, taquitos, snow crab enchiladas, fish tacos, and chile rellenos. Many items can be ordered in combination plates of two or three separate choices.

Large burritos are the most popular item at La Isla Burrito.

La Isla Burrito. A Closer Look. 661 Keeaumoku St. at Sam Sung Plaza in McCully/Moiliili. 947-5263. 9am-19pm Monday-Thursday; 9am-2am Friday-Saturday; Sunday closed. Parking in Plaza or on street. Prices: $. Map. Located across the street from Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club, this inexpensive, no-frills Mexican eatery features a no-nonsense menu all priced at $7.50 or less, including familiar faces like tacos, enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas, quesadillas, and a massive burrito (lots of rice and beans), to name a few. There’s also Mexican sandwiches (tortas) and complete plates of chile verde, ranchera, carne asada, and an especially good carnita plate. Only a few small tables fill the small facility, so it’s mostly take-out. Though closed on Sundays, La Isla Burrito does open at 9am for breakfast, with a small list of huevos rancheros, chorizo, and other breakfast items, as well as staying open till 2am on Friday and Saturday!

El Charro. 111 Sand Island Access Road in Kalihi. 845-9637. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday-Saturday, 8am-4pm Sunday. Parking outside store. Prices: $$. Map. The last time we went to this eatery they served us salsa straight out of a jar from the supermarket shelf, and a chicken selection in a green sauce that tasted like a marriage between a Thai coconut milk curry and a can of Cambell’s cream-of-something or other. Hopefully my experience caught them on a rare bad day, as I hear there are different chefs and the main one does a great job, with a tender carne asada that, I hear, comes bursting with rich, juicy flavors and is well worth the trip.

Cha Cha Cha Salsaria. Hawaii Kai S.C. in Hawaii Kai. 395-7797. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. The biggest Mexican restaurant in Hawaii Kai is a simple, casual eatery with a California-style atmosphere and dishes, very suitable for quick lunches or evening dinner and cocktails. There are a wide variety of menu items like jalapeno poppers, sizzling fajitas, chimichangas, jerk chicken burritos, and a chile relleno casserole with layers of Poblano chiles, three different cheeses, a light egg batter, and a spicy red chipotle salsa served on a bed of rice with black bean sauce.

Maui Tacos. Various locations around the state and two on Oahu: 539 Kailua Rd. in Kailua (map shown), 261-4155; and 95221 Kipapa Dr. in Mililani, 623-9405. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking outside both stores. Prices: $. Map. This international chain has a hip, surf-themed inspiration to its restaurants. The menu is Cal-Mex (or perhaps Cal-Mex-Hawaiian) and progressive, with both standard Mexican fare as well as such innovations as Mexican sushi, mango chicken salad in a crispy tortilla bowl, and a host of vegetarian dishes. The serve-yourself salsa bar is filled with several different home-made salsa’s that are pretty darn good.

Wahoo’s Fish Taco. 940 Auahi St. at the Ward Gateway Center. 591-1646. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $. Map. This casual eatery has a Starbuck’s-like vibe to it, and is a comfortable place to get some cheap Cal-Mex food and maybe a margarita or cold beer. There is a walk-up counter to order, and the menu can be confusing because of the many mix-and-match combinations that can include tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and taquitos with various fillings, as well as different sides of beans, salads, and rice. There are also many dishes of the progressive, funky kind not normally found in a Mexican outfit, such as teriyaki carne asada, Polynesian shrimp, and blackened chicken bowls.

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