Great food! Roomy enough for small groups, really enjoy the ceviche, pork tacos. Parking a little challenging but worth the stop. Chat it up with the owner, a very interesting and well traveled soul. Love the color and deco inside. Will we go back, yes, and have multiple times. read more

Was a wonderful stop on our way from Hilo to Waipio Overlook. Food was fresh, delicious and authentic. I'm from Texas so was surprised to find such good Mexican food in the middle of Hawaii. The owner is kind and attentive. A definite stop if you're in the area! read more

We stopped by after a long day of hiking. The owner is very nice and was kind enough to offer some tangerines to us and provided great recommendations for the rest of our trip, on top of that the food is AMAZING. We had the black bean tostada and the tamale...both were some of the best Mexican dishes we've had. The tamale especially was phenomenal.We wish we had had more cash on us, we would've definitely bought more. read more

Stopped in for something to take home for dinner. The owner suggested his tamales. Very tasty and easy to heat up at home. Masa was light and flavorful, chicken filling was just right. Highly recommend read more

COBA has THE BEST guacamole on the island!!!! Seriously cannot get over how great and yummy it is!

Do not pass on by! If you do, turn around and go back! If you are heading south to Hilo or north to Waimea, STOP! You won't be sorry. This little road side cafe is the epitome of "hole in the wall". The food is excellent. You feel as though you are walking into a family kitchen, conversation starts immediately with other guests or the owner, Ren. House specialty is home made tamales. Get one for an appetizer then follow up with guacamole side and the excellent chicken enchiladas. Note, cash only. Also offered is coconut water from fresh coconut, seasonal mango/banana bread, and if you are really lucky deep dish pizza. Donnas Cookies is right next door. Meander over there for cookie sampling after your meal. read more

Driven by this place a bunch and it was time to stop by. It was such a good move. We got fresh coconuts to drink, a steak burrito, chicken tamales and guacamole and chips. All was homemade and fresh. The taste yummy. Do yourself a favor and stop here and get some yummy Mexican food. read more

We found this gem right on the side of the road. Reneldo cooks the best Mexican food I've had and were from Southern California. We started with the guacamole and chips, I highly recommend the guacamole! I ordered two bean tostados and the black beans were fantastic! Add to that the salsa verde he put on top of it and these were great. My daughter had the cheese enchiladas which I tried and the sauce he put over the top just made the dish! My wife and my daughters boyfriend had the steak tacos and they loved them. I highly, highly recommend this restaurant and we had a great time speaking with the owner and chef Reneldo. Thank you! read more

This is a little roadside stand type restaurant I almost drove past, very near Paauilo, that you encounter on the road between Hilo and Waimea. This guy is whipping up gourmet level food in his tiny kitchen. Great stuff -- we had the guacamole, the tacos, the homemade pizza for 5 bucks a big slice. Best food I ate in Hawaii since arriving on Big Island two weeks ago! This guy needs discovered by a foodie tv show. read more

Excellent place for authentic Mexican food. Try the guacamole, it was amazing! Everybody agreed it was some of the best Mexican food we've had in a long time. A little rough on the outside but completely worth it. read more

This restaurant had awesome food. We had tamales and taquitos, tasted very good, and fresh. We had driven by several times and couldn't tell it was open. I am so happy we stopped today! The owner was friendly, and we felt welcome. We will definitely return read more

This little restaurant is the best kept secret on the big island!!! A sleepy little place next door to the best cookies on the big island, the food was as good as the finest Mexican restaurants in Cancun or Mexico City itself! The swordfish ceviche with the red onion garnish with as the most tasty and balanced, pure delight! The chicken taquito is unmatched as the balance between the roasted chicken and the green salsa wrapped up in a fresh petite flour tortilla was literally the BEST Taquito I have ever eaten!!! I've been to Mexico more than a dozen times looking for fine Mexican food. This little place rivals the best of the best with freshness, quality and delicate balance! If you ever get near this place, do yourself a favor and stop in for the best Mexican food in all of the South Pacific! read more

Nice roadside stop for a quick bite. The owner has worked for chef Rick Bayless, in Chicago and cooks in the same vein. Nice prices too.

Coba is my absolute favorite mexican spot, on the island or on the mainland. All of the food is excellent. I go every time I come home and bring all of my friends and family. I am vegetarian and love the enchiladas with the black beans (made with coconut oil instead of fat) with fresh guac. My sister and friends love the steak tacos and have never had tamales this good. Ren the owner is a sweetheart and makes everyone feel welcome with his Aloha vibes. I like to sit on the cute patio with the giant staghorn ferns and jade vines (especially this year). He will crack open a fresh young coconut for you so that you can drink the water and then scoop out the rest of the meat - perfect after beaching or hiking all day. read more

Great find on the Hamakua Coast! Big servings of guacamole made with local avocados and served on yummy taquitos and empanadas. Tacos and fresh baked mango bread are delicious! Owner is so nice to chat with while he's making your food. Open daily! Cas read more

Amazing food - especially the tamales which are hone made. Yum! We highly recommend it

My boyfriend and I visited the big island from Tacoma, Wa. We heard about the amazing tamales here, and had to check it out for ourselves. We're pretty harsh food critics, and huge fans of Mexican food, and this place blew us away! Best tamales we have EVER had!! We also had the guacamole and ceviche-which I highly recommend as well! If you are passing through, be sure to stop and check this place out! read more

This place is right off the road and you wouldn't expect it, but it's the best meal we had when we were on the big island. Everything is made fresh. The tacos are absolutely delicious. read more

My family stopped here on cinco de Mayo. The owner Ren made us feel so welcome and comfortable. We are huge tamale fans. My wife's grew up with tamales and Ren's were better. My wife said they were the best she has ever had. Thank you Ren for an amazing meal that my wife and kids are still talking about. Aloha! read more

Best Mexican food I've ever had in Hawaii by far--a TREASURE on the Hamakua coast. Best chicken tacos (tortillas fried perfectly to melt the cheese inside, with a delicious chili sauce, chicken, fresh lettuce and tomato and guac--I had no idea tacos could be so good). Absolutely amazing tamales. The name 'Coba' references a Mayan ruin. It's rare to find a place where the owner still prepares all the food---you can feel the care and love. So, so grateful to have found this restaurant. Slow down on the Hilo side of Paauilo town and pull over to the side of the highway right next to Donna's cookies. read more

Great hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere between Waipio Valley & Hilo. Don't drive by too fast you'll miss some great food.

This was a very pleasant surprise after going to the Wipio Valley. Definitely great Mexican food and a good way to split up the drive to Hilo. Definitely recommend read more

Small spot with great home cooked Mexican food! Amazing tamales! Personal service from the owner was great!

Love this roadside spot! Great prices and great food made with care and love and it shows! I got the chicken tamale and steak tacos. Both were delicious. The steak is bomb and owner makes a great salsa. read more

Though we didn't get to try a full meal here, my boyfriend and I stopped in while exploring this island and got to meet the owner Reneldo who was incredibly nice and even offered us some banana bread on the house after we mentioned that we'd heard The Big Island has good banana bread.The place had a real local feel to it and there was a couple sitting outside who seemed to be enjoying their meal. Hope to make it back for lunch some day. Thanks, Reneldo! :) read more

Quaint little spot serving really good Mexican food. We had dietary restrictions and the chef catered to our needs beautifully and gave us comforting food that we really enjoyed!! read more

Fun spot, great Mexican food, outdoor seating. Would love if he sold beer. Cash only!

Fresh, clean food with flavor and love. Marlin ceviche done right with crispy tostada and pickled onions. Tamale with rice and beans couldn't have been better-- best Mex on the island. Can't wait to go back. read more