One word and one word only. Carnitas. You know the ones with crispy edges and melt in your mouth fatty pieces. The ones you prayyyyyyy you get invited to the cookout to try. Those. You can get those on a street taco for less than $2.50 on Tuesdays. I would get a bowl of just the Carnitas. Omg. They were so good, I assume the rest of the menu is amazing. Go there. read more

Yall im from San Antonio and so im pretty knowledgeable on what good Mexican food tastes like. Javis is legit good. Not just good for Hawaii. But legit good. Not great. But a solid 7-8/10. I had the grilled pescado mazatlan I think they called it. Well cooked fish. The sauce on top was a tomato based one that was really good. I thought the rice lacked flavor--you can always tell because it was very light red instead of a more vibrant red which means there wasn't enough tomato juice while cooking the rice or whatever. Black beans were plentiful, tender, and tasty. My date had the enchiladas verde. Yall. I'm not a green chili guy. I like the tomato based kind much more. But, I'm not joking here, I could drink that chili verde all day. It has this really tangy taste to it that is just perfect. I had good envy because of the sauce. Also the free chips & salsa was good. The chips were probably store bought and I feel like maybe the salsa too? If it was, they need to tell me where they get it because I loved it. The restaurant is smallish on the inside but can accommodate a larger crowd. The parking lot is cramped so if you go when it's busy, I'd recommend parking on the street and walking cuz I'm 100% sure cars get bumped while maneuvering in that lot all the time. Would recommend to anyone who needs a good Mexican food fix. Prices are typical for Oahu. 4 stars cuz they didn't have fish tacos which I was craving and the bland rice. read more

100/10 -- the bestttt mexican food on the island. (argue with ya mama!). was out in kaneohe for a doctor's appointment and drove past, literally so happy we found them!! they used to be in wahiawa a couple years back and we religiously ate at javi's. when they closed unexpectedly, we were so so sad!! no idea they relocated!! at first, we thought it was just a coincidence, but that flavor was undeniable! recognized it immediately. service was great! despite having one server in the middle of the day catering to 5+ tables, our waitress was attentive and quick on her feet. food came out fast...we even ordered seconds LOL! really hope they stick around, they need to be on social media! so happy to have found javi's again. will make the drive out to kaneohe regularly. read more

Javis Mexican Grill - chicken quesadillas and steak tacos - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

The food here is delicious! The portions are also quite amazing and the prices are very reasonable. We arrived when they opened so we were the only customers for a little bit and received exceptional service. The place is clean and nicely decorated and gives a warm feeling that makes you just want to stay in chat even after you have finished eating. read more

See all

It was a taco Tuesday, and they only had 2 people in the BOH, and 2 FOH employees when we got there. But the service was GREAT! The atmosphere was lively, and the restaurant clean. Their bar top was empty too. They had a massive party dining in, and a full house. But our food didn't take long at all! Prices are really good too! I ordered their Menudo, and it was SO FREAKING DELICIOUS!! My abuelita would be happy to eat it! We will 100% be back! read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Menudo in a HOT stone bowl - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

I've tried some different spots and I really enjoyed the ambiance of this one. Lots of seating a great quick service with a bar in the back, accessible bathrooms, and lots to choose on the menu. I ordered the shrimp and it was good. I also liked the beans and rice, nothing crazy. Our waitress was so kind and on top of things she really made the experience. Something to know is they don't normally split checks so be aware if you're in a group! read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Shrimp - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Came back as I was craving mexican. I saw taquitos on the menu and that sounded good, so I deduced to try it out. They were so crispy and had great flavor. I added some tapatio sauce on top of it and it was winners! Of course I ordered my usual beef chimichanga. It was delicious and massive as always. Take out was ready in 20min and the server was super friendly. Will come back next time the craving hits! read more

See all

Good Mexican food is difficult to find on Oahu but Javis is solid! 4.5 stars We went on a Sunday afternoon and had low expectations given our experience with Mexican food in Hawaiʻi but we were pleasantly surprised. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros (bonus points for serving this all day and not just for breakfast!) my husband got the chimichanga and loved it, it was a very generous portion. My only complaint is the free chips were kind of stale and could use some salt, but also it's free so I appreciate that they are offered. If you like spicy ask for hot sauce because it's not spicy at all, at least what we ordered. Waitress was super sweet, food took about 10-15 minutes which is reasonable since it's made to order. Love the colorful ambiance and the seating area has so much more space than I expected. Plenty of parking in the outside lot. Will return when in Kaneohe. read more

See all

Located at the old El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant in Kaneohe is Javis Mexican Grill on the way to Windward mall. I had the crispy taco plate I ordered 1 shredded and 1 ground beef taco with refried beans & rice. The taco came out nice and crispy and packed with beef, out of the 2 I preferred the shredded beef it had more flavor and texture. The refried beans and rice were okay. My wife had the mini quesadillas with our refried beans & rice and she enjoyed her meal. Parking in font of Restaurant and shared by other restaurants and shops and can get pretty limited parking spaces. Staff were friendly even though they were pretty busy. Ending our meal they left a charge card machine and didn't say anything, so after a while had to flag down the waitress and ask if they only do charges? She said oh let me check if they have cash and it took awhile before she came back and said we can take cash, she had enough to give us change. If you don't want to wait just charge it! Restroom are large and clean read more

See all

Before it became "Javis" this place used to be El mariachi's. And let's be clear they had better quality of Mexican food. For javis to be rated as a 4star on yelp is CRAZY. And most reviews raving about this crap Mexican food is mind blowing because what I just ate I probably could have made better myself and I ain't even Mexican. Too lazy to cook I had my husband go get us some food from javis since it's literally across the street from our apartment complex and I should of trusted my gut and sent him to chile relleno instead in kahaluu. If you never been I promise you will enjoy it way better than this place. I had a chimichanga plate rice/black beans as for my choice of meat I wanted to try something different barbacoa meat basically tough cuts of beef slow cooked down until tender so basically shredded beef cuz that's what it looked like. Hubby got flautas and got us basic chips and salsa. I love me a good salsa but the one we got was watered down and tasted like they use canned diced tomatoes no FLAVOR. I've had some good chimis shoot even deep frying a beef and bean burrito tasted better then the crap I was given. SO BAD! No seasonings bland and boring and soggy AF just SAD! I wouldn't recommend this place to ANYONE. We wasted our money for sure. I'll never be coming here again . Try out chile relleno and thank me later Deuces read more

Finally made it in after passing by so many times, and glad I did! The restaurant is spacious with nice decor, giving off a warm and inviting vibe. There were so many tempting options on the menu, but I went with the combo plate. Here's what we had: * Chips and salsa - Complimentary when dining in. We were starving and polished off 2-3 baskets before our food arrived! Fresh and addicting. * Carne a la Tampiqueña - Absolutely delicious. The meat was tender, flavorful, and cooked just right. * Combo plate (burrito + taco) - I chose a steak burrito and a carnitas taco. OMG, the carnitas were incredibly juicy and tender. The steak burrito was also packed with flavor. Overall, the food was fantastic, and the service was just as great. Definitely coming back whenever I'm on the Windward side! read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Combination (burrito and taco) - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

85% great food and service. The rest, it's like my orders are always wrong, my beer drinks wrong, the service sucks, food not as fresh, skimping on the steak, beans not good. But prices stay up up up! Sorry but I need consistency every time or my $ and times go elsewhere. read more

By far one of the worst Mexican restaurants I've ever been to. Ceviche was horrible. Came out warm and I knew something was wrong with it and to be honest for them to even serve this and think it was okay blows my mind. I only took a few bites and still I had the worst stomachache I ever had before. The combo plate was okay and let's not even talk about the flan. The bottom was burnt and it was very airy unlike any I've ever had. All in all it was an alright experience paired okay service with a Mexican themed atmosphere inside. The best thing out of everything I ordered was probably the margarita but note that was still kinda bad but it tasted alright. I'd highly recommend to get the stronger margarita as the regular one tasted more like juice. I feel bad for leaving this review but I feel I have to let the people know because the reviews for here are very mix. Figure I'd update the people and let them know what to get and what to stay away from. If I could leave no stars I would only because of the sickness I received that lasted longer than a few days I want to say that I got from the ceviche. read more

See all

Javi's Mexican Restaurant has officially made the move from Wahiawā to Kāneʻohe, and it is absolutely worth the drive. The food is everything I look for in authentic Mexican cuisine--fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and portions that leave you happily full. Every bite feels like being transported straight to the motherland. The new location has the same welcoming vibe, and the quality hasn't changed one bit save some room for dessert, if anything, it's even better. This is the kind of place you go out of your way for. Marie read more

See all

Talk about hidden gem! In all the years I've been to Adela's, I bypassed Javi's, thinking it was just this tiny little takeout storefront. Maaaan was I so wrong. Walk in and veer to the right, you're transported to a hacienda. Dude, I felt like teleported south of the border. Horchata is served in a cute little pitcher. Fresh tortilla chips and pico de gallo. Husband and I shared a guacamole grande...it was chock full of avocado. Asada torta was tasty...only bummer was that it's served on a square ciabatta and not a bolillo...just as well, since we had two rounds of tortilla chips lol If you're craving comida Mexicana, this hits the spot! read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Happy Taco Tuesday lunch in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii... Javis Mexican Grill took the place of El Mariachi in the strip of businesses behind Aloha Gas Station. It shares the same parking lot with Adela's Country Eatery, so it's sometimes very crowded. I arrived around opening time of 11am and was seated right away. Amber was the competent, efficient, and friendly server. She really hustled and took care of the entire room! I asked Amber about the Taco Tuesday specials. There's a separate menu with five types of street tacos for $2.60 each. I chose the Ground Beef, Shredded chicken, and Carnitas. Wow I was super surprised at the delicious flavors and textures! For example, I expected the chicken to be dry and bland, but it wasn't! The shredded chicken was soft and moist! The ground beef was okay in comparison to the Carnitas - it was an explosion of nastiness! Of course, the three tacos had some salsa and onions for toppings. It was a bit spicy for me, but i had a large horchata to wash everything down. It wasn't watered down nor too sweet, but just right! The complimentary chips and salsa were excellent also! I ate everything because the chips were light, crisp, fresh, and warm! I'm so glad that I finally tried this "new" restaurant. It changed management in the summer of 2024. If you're on the Windward side, check out this spacious Mexican restaurant with festive decorations and convenient restroom. The bar is very inviting, too! Note to self: try the taco salad, garlic Shrimp, taquitos, crab chimichanga, and adobada quesadillas next! read more

See all

I got the steak plate and maybe I should have gotten something else! Next time! But my experience is only on this steak plate because I haven't eaten here before. read more

We went to Javis a couple months ago and I had been meaning to post a review because I reserved a table via Open Table, and when we got there they told us the dining room was full. We had to sit by the front door, on a wobbly table. The food to a bit long, but seeing as they had a "full dining room," that was too be expected. Again, keep in mind, we are sitting by the door where people enter and exit... and we had only seen a couple people leave, so we figured they must be super busy. It took around 20 minutes (after we ordered) for my appetizer to arrive, at which point I went to find the lavatory to wash my hands (the menus were very sticky when we were handling them). While walking through the dining room to the restroom, I noticed around 60% of the dining room tables had guests... the other tables were just dirty. Yes, the dining room was full, but not with people. It was full of dirty dishes. It's sad that our friend's last dinner in Hawaii was this experience. Don't bother making a reservation, if you do decide to go here. read more

Same spacious venue with polite staff and hit/miss parking, but ever since it changed the name from Mariachi's to Javi's the ingredients changed and the taste isn't the same, especially the enchiladas. We've been eating here for 8-9 years on and off and my kids would tear up the enchiladas (red and green). We've given them a few chances due to limited options on Windward side, and we probably still will but the taste is not what it was. I know the costs have gone up over the years, but hopefully they return to the old brands or recipes so that we can enjoy it like we used to. read more

OMG greeted with smiles and warm welcome immediately after opening the door. A waitress took us to a table and asked if it was ok. We sat down and immediately got served water and fresh tortilla chips and the best EVER homemade salsa. I swear we had the most genuine waitress ever and her name was Calie (sp?) who was home from LV for the summer. The best of luck to you in your future endeavors. The food was on point. We ordered the chicken burrito with beans and rice and of course menudo which was perfect. The place was very clean even the restrooms. We went early because the parking is very limited. We will return. read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

The service here was really good. When we arrived, there was only one other table seated. I don't remember our servers name but she was attentive, kind, and quick. Also, she picked the music, and it was great haha The decor of the restaurant was really nice with something different to look at everywhere yet it was cohesive and enjoyable. My husband and I both ordered carne asada tacos with soft corn tortillas with rice and beans. Our son, who is a VERY picky eater, had a side order of Spanish rice. Our son LOVED the rice and ate his entire plate. Not even a grain of rice was left haha. My husband and I enjoyed our food; however, we did feel it was a little bland. I ordered my tacos with extra cilantro (pictured) and also had to request lime on the side. Usually tacos are automatically served with lime so that was odd. I really enjoyed the rice and beans mixed together and I also finished my entire plate. We will definitely be back. read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Carne Asada Tacos with Rice and Beans - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant, but unfortunately the food was very bland and lacked flavor. The biggest issue was finding a bug in our basket of chips, which was very disappointing and concerning. The staff was pleasant, but overall the experience fell well below expectations. I hope management addresses these issues and improves the dining experience for future guests. read more

Chrissy has been working there for as long as I can remember even with the owner change. Always great service whenever we go and food is always great. Price point is average, never over crowded when we go. One of our fav Mexicans spots on the windward side. read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Shrimp ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

Food was meh, the avocados used for the guacamole weren't ready yet. The queso fundido was missing flavor. Service was okay. Towards the end you could tell the server was ready to clock out. Ambiance was nice. I think I a little bit more lovely music and ambience would have been perfect. We went for a late lunch. read more

Service was amazing! All the workers had excellent customer service and were very attentive and great positive energy. This use to be El Mariachi, but the menu seems to be the same. They have their bar up so you can order alcoholic beverages! The beans were very flavorful and the rice was super fluffy! I ordered the Sopes with shredded chicken. I usually like my sopes with refried beans so next time I would ask to substitute the black beans with refried beans and ask for extra salsa verde. The other two dishes were very tasty. Our waitress made a great recommendation with the Chile Rojo. I've never tried this Mexican dish before but meat was tender and flavorful. I would say it's a medium spice level, it's not too spicy where it overpowers the meal, but instead the spice adds to the flavor. read more

See all

Everything was great from service, food quality, and vibe. Parking was easy and generous portions for both food and drinks. I had the blended strawberry margarita and the carnitas plate. They are so generous that I had leftovers for two more meals. Hubby got the combo taco and enchiladas and also commented on how huge the taco was. Our daughter had the chicken flautas plate. Delicious! read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Strawberry margarita-$12. - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

We came here on a Saturday night and it wasn't too busy which was great. Food was delicious. They bring out Chips and salsa for free. Loved the salsa. They kept asking if we wanted more chips. The food took a little longer than most Mexican food places. I ordered a li hing mui margarita and beef enchiladas. The margarita was huge! I enjoyed it. My husband ordered shrimp enchiladas. One bummer was how my food came out 7 minutes before his. I tried to wait for him, but ended up eating before his meal came out. Great ambience. There are Mexican paintings and I liked the look of the bar and the food restaurant. read more

See all

I would normally give this place 4-5 stars & would definitely recommend to others, but my steak fajita burrito today was off. The overall taste was just not there today & the steak tasted a little weird (old?) & some of the pieces had a lot of gristle. Not sure if smne else was doing the cooking. read more

I'm not the biggest fan of Mexican food but compared to other places I've been this place is pretty good. We had a large group & they did a good job keeping up with all of our orders. But they do add an automatic 20% gratuity for parties over 8 and they do not do split checks so keep that in mind if you have a large party. As for the food I enjoyed the appetizers more than my main dish. We got the garlic shrimp & garlic mushrooms which seemed odd for a Mexican restaurant but they were both really good. Must order if you come here. For my main I got the chicken chalupas. The taco shell got really soggy with all the toppings so it was a little difficult to eat & the chicken didn't have much flavor. I would order something else if I came here again. They do serve alcohol including margaritas. I did not order any but they looked very refreshing. The parking lot is kind of tight but there is street parking if anything. read more

See all

Visited Javi's on a whim...it is wildly unassuming in a small strip mall off Kam. Once you walk in you'll be surprised at how big and bright it is! The menu has a ton of variety and at great prices. I had the Fajita Burrito and it was HUGE and so good, but here's the real deal - I am NOT a Spanish rice girl, but my youngest loved his and asked me to try it...it was really, really good! The service was friendly, attentive, and very accommodating especially with my picky eater's needs! I would definitely say to pop in when you're nearby and honestly - we leave near JBPHH and we'd drive out to Javi's just to eat!! read more

Pretty little place. Hard working, friendly wait staff Parking isn't abundant however read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Enjoyed the steak fajitas. They have their liquor license now - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Ono.......Carne Asada & Birra Tacos everytime!!!!! I lived LA many years & have ohana in New Mexico & AZ - this place is legit. Nuf said.

The ambience is still the same as the former Mexican restaurant at this location. It has the same tables, chairs and decorations. The food is worse but palatable. The complementary chips and salsa deterred me from ordering nachos because I didn't want to eat hard tortilla chips. I prefer my chips light & crispy. I ordered a chimichanga and outer flour tortilla was crispy but inside was soft. The carnita filling was good. The rice and beans that accompanied most plates, was also good but not great. The blended margarita was mostly ice. When we were ready to leave, my friend asked if I wanted more time to finish my margarita. My response was, lt's just all ice. I sucked up the liquor a long time ago. The service has improved greatly. Our waitress was attentive and anticipated our needs. Shefrequently checked on us to see if we needed anything. In inclusion I would eat here if I was in the area, but this is definitely not a destination spot for Mexican food. read more

Javis is our favorite Mexican restaurant on Oahu. We visit the island twice a year, and we have to stop in for some delicious Mexican every trip. Their strawberry margarita tastes like a strawberry Starburt, and we have been pleased with every dish we have ordered. If you are craving Mexican food stop in and give them a try. The service is fantastic and the food is amazing. read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

The food here was absolutely delicious! The carnitas were flavorful, the quesadillas cheesy and satisfying, the rice perfectly seasoned, and the beans tasty and hearty. My family came in expecting a small taco spot, but we were pleasantly surprised to find a welcoming sit-down restaurant. Service was friendly, the food came out in a reasonable time, and the overall experience exceeded our expectations. Definitely SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA APPROVED! read more

Came in to get a late lunch and ordered the chili rojo and margarita. Both the drink and the food were delicious. Big portions on both the plate and drink. Also, great service. I'll be back when in the Kaneohe area. The Ambiance is chill and clean. Part of the parking lot was roped off but there was still ample parking when I went. Only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because I really wish there was more meat in the chili rojo. Other than that ... I'm glad I came across this restaurant. read more

Javis Mexican Grill - Chile Rojo - Mexican Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

We've been meaning to try El Mariachi so we walked in tonight (Friday) around 6:30pm. There were maybe 3 other tables sat. We ordered: - Beef Taquitos (appetizer) - Steak Chimichanga - Shredded Chicken Chimichanga - Steak Fajitas - Side Spanish Rice - Lemonade In our opinion, the taquitos were dry, the chimichangas were ok, instead of shredded chicken we'd probably try the grilled chicken instead hopes that it wouldn't be as dry as the shredded chicken. The steak fajitas were also ok. I was hoping for bigger pieces of steak, but the portion was large and I have left overs for breakfast and lunch tomorrow. The Spanish rice was not it. It was mushy and lacked flavor. The lemonade was too sweet. Overall the service wasn't the quickest but it was friendly. I can't compare Javis to El Mariachi since this was our first time here, but until I hear otherwise, we'll probably be driving elsewhere when we're craving Mexican food. PS-I was hoping for margaritas, but I'm assuming they don't have a liquor license. read more

See all

Just slightly "away" from Windward Mall, once you find it, you will have excellent Mexican food. In spite of a full house, service was still personal and attentive. Drinks were as advertised - well prepared!! read more

Walked in around 7:00pm and was seated within a few minutes. Waitress was amazing with taking the orders. We never had to worry about any empty chips & salsa. Their salsa is the best I've tasted here on the island . The mango margarita had just the right amount of tequila in it. Hands down best Mexican grill by far. read more

If you like horchata, you should definitely get this one. It comes in a huge pitcher and it's also very sweet but not in an overpowering way. The food is always a hit with me. Usually, I get the chimichanga but I tried the sopes recently and they absolutely packed on the toppings. A+, no notes. This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Kaneohe :) The atmosphere is quiet and the service has always been nice whenever I'm with friends or family. read more