Don Goyo's Mexican Food

After Dean's Drive Inn moved over to a bigger location in the heart of Kaneohe town (formerly occupied by Zippy's), Don Goyo's Mexican Food moved in, offering decent portions of hearty and authentic Mexican food. As a fan of Mexican food, I was happy to see another option for Mexican food in Kaneohe. 

Our friends were coming over for dinner one Friday evening, so we decided to order take out from Don Goyo's. I called in our order ahead of time (we found pictures of the menu on Yelp) - the gentleman who took my order over the phone was very friendly. When we arrived to pick up our order, it was ready and waiting for us. I love it when take-out orders are ready by the time promised by the restaurant.

Portions were very fair and the food was delicious. It probably would have tasted even better had we dined-in since Mexican food is always best when it comes out fresh from the kitchen.  But since my kids haven't taken a liking to Mexican food yet, we'll probably have to stick to take-out for the time being.

Chimichanga

Combination plate: chile relleno and enchilada

Super burrito

Inside the super burrito

Mini-quesadillas appetizer

Don Goyo

45-773 Kamehameha Highway (Adon Plaza)

(808) 236-1305

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New Location: Tacos Zarate

Back in 2011, I wrote about Paul Zarate's pop up at Prima in Kailua. Back then, he was doing business as Zaratez Mexicatessen, and he was primarily working out of a food truck and at farmer's markets. 

Since then, he opened his first brick-and-mortar on South King Street, and just last week he moved over his brick-and-mortar to Kahala in the space formerly occupied by Honolulu Burger Company (under the H-1 freeway next to Kahala Nails and Lam's Chinese Garden).

I recently popped in for a quick lunch with a friend to check out his new dig and I'm liking it a lot better than his former location. There's a lot of free parking, and it's a lot more spacious. 

The menu is pretty simple and straightforward - burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and alambres. 

I was in the mood for something light, so I went with a fish taco, which comes with a handful of chips and salsa.  It was the perfect size since I had eaten a small lunch a few hours prior.  

My friend ordered the quesadilla with chicken. I sampled a piece and liked it, but if I were to come here again I'd stick with the fish taco or try the alambre. 

Tacos Zarate

4210 Waialae Avenue

(808) 892-1565

Website: http://www.tacoszarate.com/

Monday: Closed

Tuesday - Saturday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sunday: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

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New Eats: BIC TACOS

Thanks to Yelp I learned that a new fast casual taco eatery recently opened in downtown Honolulu - BIC TACOS. I immediately texted one of my BFFs who loves Mexican food as much as I do, and she said that she was just thinking about me because someone had just handed her a menu and coupon for a free taco from this place, so she was planning to invite me to join her for lunch one day.  Yay!

When we arrived at BIC TACOS just before noon, the line was out the door.  The line moved very quickly and I'd say it took us less than 10 minutes to get our food.

My friend ordered the Nachos with carne asada and all the fixins (rice, beans, pico de gallo, grilled onions, peppers, sour cream, cilantro, and salsa.  It was a nice portion for $8.99.

Nachos

She got her free taco with house-made chorizo and medium spicy salsa - she said it was super SPICY (the chorizo and salsa) but delicious!

I ordered two tacos for $5.99 - one with grilled chicken, one with carne asada.  The tacos were really tasty, but sloppily prepared/presented, and skimpy on the ingredients.  

Great concept and great flavors, but the tacos fell short.

BIC TACOS

841 Bishop Street (Davies Pacific Center)

(808) 260-4040

Hours: Monday - Friday 6am - 6 pm

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Oahu Mexican Grill

OMG stands for Oahu Mexican Grill, but it is also the first thing that comes to mind when you see your burrito being made to order right before your eyes!  

OMG opened for business back in May of this year, and I hear they're getting busier and busier as word gets out about this joint where you can get a burrito, taco, or bowl made your way.  All of their meats are free of hormones, steroids, antibiotics, but full of flavor.  Not into meat, not to worry, they do have vegetarian options!

Parking is available at University Square Parking Lot (at the corner of University and S. King Streets) and they validate up to one hour (per their website).  

Your meal is made to order right in front of you 

I was amazed at how he was able to fold my burrito without ripping the tortilla

Massive in size

Cross-section of my kalua carnitas burrito

Oahu Mexican Grill

2633 South King Street

(808) 724-6683

Website: http://www.omg.menu/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/omghonolulu/

See what they're saying on Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/oahu-mexican-grill-honolulu

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Buho Cocina y Cantina Grand Opening July 5th

Imagine yourself on a rooftop, 12,000 square feet, to be exact.  You can feel the warm summer sun on your face.  You're sipping a margarita from the 55-foot bar and you can smell the delicious aromas of contemporary Mexican food.  You don't have to travel to a luxurious beach resort in Mexico because you can experience it all on the 5th floor rooftop deck of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza at Buho Cocina y Cantina, opening July 5th. 

     

Gem and I were so fortunate to attend Buho's media preview party!  We tasted their specialty cocktails and sampled some of their signature dishes by Mexico City-born chef Arturo Silva. Guests that night were greeted by a live mariachi band and witnessed a taco eating contest with some local celebrity contestants.    

Come July 5th, Buho customers can expect traditional fare such as salsa and nachos with freshly made tortilla chips.  But many menu items will boast a modern vibe like the prosciutto wrapped jalapeno poppers and Kauai shrimp ceviche.  The restaurant plans to use as much locally sourced food and produce as possible and everything is fresh.  

I loved everything that I sampled that night and I thought that each dish had just the right amount of heat.  My favorites were the Kauai shrimp tacos and the jalapeno poppers.  I am excited to return to this beautiful restaurant next month.  

Visit buhocantina.com for a complete menu and for information on hours of operation.

The house made tortilla chips come with 3 salsas.

The ice pool keeps the Coronas nice and icy.

L-R Kauai shrimp tacos, ceviche sample, goat cheese quesadilla, proscuitto wrapped jalapeno popper, jidori chicken, baja buzz, and skinny margaritas.

We were lucky to meet Hide Sakurai, owner of Buho and Shokudo Japanese Restaurant and Bar. 

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El Palenque

I LOVE Mexican Food, and we recently tried food from El Palenque in Wahiawa for the first time.

Side order Guacamole

Chicken Chimichanga

Steak Burrito

Everything was so flavorful - the rice, the beans, the guacamole, and the chimichanga were so delicious (my husband had the burrito, and he said it was good too).

I think El Palenque is my new favorite Mexican restaurant!  


El Palenque
177 Kamehameha Hwy  Wahiawā, HI 96786
(808) 622-5829

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Off-Island - Rubio's

Rubio's is one of my favorite restaurants to go to on the mainland whenever I'm craving Mexican food, and there was one nearby the hotel where we were staying in San Diego, so we stopped by one night to pick up some dinner.

My husband ordered the Any Taco and Salad Plate, and he chose Chipotle Orange Shrimp Salad...

and a Grilled Gourmet Taco with Steak.

I ordered the Nachos with Chicken.  It was a very generous serving full of chips, chicken, cheese, beans, and more, that lasted me two meals.

Everything was delicious!  I wish they'd open up a location in Hawaii!

Rubio's: 10785 Scripps Poway Parkway, San Diego, CA  92131; 858-578-1981

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El Mariachi II Mexican Restaurant

@nanigurl continues her quest to get me to like new Mexican restaurants, so the last time we met for dinner we dined at El Mariachi II Mexican Restaurant in Aiea.

The complimentary chips and salsa.

The salsa was okay, and so were the chips.  The chips did taste a lot better with salt on them (@nanigurl loves to put salt on her chips!).

We requested another basket of chips, and it wasn't until we got our bill that we realized it wasn't free (it was either $1 or $1.50 - the server's handwriting was not very legible).  Regardless, it would've been nice if she had advised us that there's a charge.

@nanigurl ordered the Two Taco Plate - one Steak, the other Chicken. 

I ordered what I usually order at Mexican restaurants - Chicken Chimichanga.

Despite having sauce on it, I thought it was really good!

We finished the meal off with some Fried Ice Cream.

It was good, but I've had better.

The service was okay, and I liked my meal, and overall I thought El Mariachi II is a good Mexican restaurant...but still not my favorite.

The search continues...

El Mariachi II Mexican Restaurant: 99-205 Moanalua Rd, Ste 212, Aiea, HI 96701, (808) 487-8226

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