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    K-Mex HI

    4.5 (81 reviews)

    K-Mex HI Photos

    K-MEX HI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - K-Mex HI

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jackfruit torta
    Sydni K.

    K-Mex was one of the few restaurants open on Fourth of July, and I'm glad I discovered this spot! They're located on Kawaihao Street next to other small businesses. I think there were a few parking stalls. I placed an online order and walked to pick it up. There was some seating inside. The lady working was friendly and helpful. They have Korean-Mexican inspired dishes. I got the bulgogi burrito and the jackfruit torta. The bulgogi burrito was very hefty, and the bulgogi was super flavorful. I had no clue what a torta was, but it was basically a sandwich with lettuce and jackfruit. I rarely have jackfruit, but it was really juicy and tasty. I really liked the food here and their unique twist on Mexican food. I will definitely be back to try more of their items!

    Chicken bowl add veggies & guac
    Michelle N.

    Finally got to try this place. We came with the last 40mins open so they were out of queso and beans. We placed an order of Chicken bowl - fiance was pleasantly surprised how good the chicken was. He was also really happy he added the veggies. He said he'll pass on the guac next time. Spicy pork burrito- friend enjoyed it! Spicy pork bowl- very filling and my friend had leftovers Steak burrito- I enjoyed it but definitely felt it needed the beans to be more complete. Cute place, had several tables inside for seating. Will be back to try the spicy pork !

    Dan A.

    Firstly, I am a recent convert to lactose-ovo vegetarianism. The majority of food establishments offer limited options for vegetarians , let alone vegans, and K-Mex HI isn't any different in this regard. Located on Kawaihao Street and Ward Avenue...not sure where you park. They are inside a small driveway...but they do have signs up. Open for a little over a year. I got takeout, there is a small dining area, by ordering online. On time...actually got a notification a few minutes before my scheduled pickup time. I had the mixed vegetables bowl. They offer options Mexican rice...pinto or spicy black beans...kimchi salsa...cheese...one can also select to not include those options. A bit disappointed as I do not care for bell peppers unless they are cooked well-done. Too crunchy and too many peppers. Offered a side container of hot sauce...and it was hot. They also offer jackfruit as a substitute for animal protein...and I will try that option on my next visit. I've had jackfruit tacos before and they are okay. K-Mex...can't say it doesn't make sense, especially since cheese is incorporated into many Korean street foods.

    Rebecca T.

    Been there twice. I remember the first time going there their carne asada was delicious. But the second time around it was just OK. My husband enjoyed their spicy pork and it was pretty flavorful although I thought it's a bit too sweet, same as their bulgogi. The service was very friendly and you order at the counter. They made our food fresh so it's worth the wait. It's a small mom and pop shop with just a few tables. We were the only table in the restaurant on a weekday for lunch. It's located at the part of queen street that is not paved well with pot holes and without a sidewalk, also not much parking, so that could make driving and walking there a bit tricky.

    Storefront
    Nadine C.

    Breakfast in Kaka'ako, Honolulu, Hawaii... This was my first meal of the day at 10:15am, so - technically, it's Breakfast! I actually wanted to visit Waba Snacks, which is in the front of the property. The Waba Snacks staff told me to come back in about 20 minutes because the machine wasn't ready yet. The young man at the front handed me a takeout menu for K-Mex HI and showed me how to get to K-Mex HI through their back door... cool! The two businesses are associated with each other! K-Mex HI is a quiet, clean, trendy spot with Instagram opportunities. The two big screen TVs and the condiment bar keep customers entertained. There's an air conditioning unit and a ceiling fan that circulates the cool air sufficiently. Service was on the brisk, but efficient side. Interaction was something like this: Me: I'd like to get the bowl with the kimchi salsa on the side. Gal: choose a protein Me: beef bulgogi Gal: pinto or black beans? Me: black Gal: Here or To go? Me: here (She told me the total price.) Me: (looking at the refrigerator to my left) May I add on? A tamarind... no... a watermelon? Gal: (not smiling) (gave me the total) I took a seat and snapped a few photos. She brought my bowl to me and told me that the bottle opener was on the wall and pointed. Alright! My bowl was OK. I detected some spice in maybe the Spanish rice? I tried some kimchi salsa - yup - a bit spicy for me. The bulgogi, cheese, onions, sour cream drizzle, and beans were average. The watermelon Jarritos was refreshing! I was lucky to get a parking space on the street. This is a rather industrial area with limited parking. I'd return if there was an empty parking spot. I didn't want to park in front of Waba Snacks... other customers might need to park there... As I was placing my glass bottle in the recycling bin, the gal asked how everything was. She even said, "Have a nice day!" Thank you!

    Burrito bomb!
    Therese H.

    Been walking past their sign on the way to other stores and restaurants on the same street, and finally stopped in with a friend to grab lunch. So glad we finally did - I enjoyed Korean Mexican fusion more than the food truck closer to our work, and the prices were better! I'm not a fan of spicy foods so I asked them to hold the kimchi salsa in my street tacos, and opted to add sour cream and guacamole for extra. These babies were packed with meat and flavor - I got Spicy Pork Bulgogi, Beef Bulgogi and Mojo Chicken (fourth meat choice is Carne Asada Steak, which would be a buck extra). For vegetarians, they gave jackfruit tinga and grilled veggies. Will definitely be back, and will try to save room for the Korean desserts in place owned by the owner's mom in front!

    Tacos and Mexican coke
    Jeremy G.

    Today on my lunch break I wanted to try something different from what I've been having these past few weeks. Tacos, Korean? por qué no los dos? K-Mex HI delivers on that mix of Mexican/Korean other shops try to send! My tacos were delicious, the service was amazing, and the dinning area was great, all at a good price. I ordered the three tacos and got one Regular and spicy bulgogi, and one Carne Asada. They all come topped with onion, cilantro, and a Kimchi salsa which tasted amazing. Over all these tacos really hit the spot and some, But if I had to choose a favorite between these three I'd have to go with the spicy bulgogi. It had a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, then mixed with the kimchi salsa brought it all together. The price for three tacos was 13.00$, that's nearly 4 dollars a taco which is cheap compared to other places on the island! Also with that; the atmosphere and service made it all the better. I only waited about 5 mins for my food which was perfect since I was only on a 30 min lunch break. I sat and watched the tv right next to my table and enjoyed the relaxing mood that covers the entire restaurant. The server was super friendly and was very helpful with the menu as well. I can definitely see this being a great Pauhana spot in the future, or even somewhere I'd have my birthday at! I honestly couldn't believe how empty this place was when I finished eating. All that's left to be said is that K-Mex HI is a super underrated spot that needs more love, stop by for your weekly taco craving and give it a shot. Enjoy the spacious dinning room, order any of the other menu items that catch your eye and relax. Until next time!

    Bowl with Soicy Bulgogi
    Irene M.

    Let's taco bout K-Mex HI... Formerly Tacoholics HI from Ohana Hale Marketplace and almost a year since its closure, they took a much needed break and reorganized it all found a new home right along Kawaiahao Street with only being two weeks newly opened the only way to find them is a banner/sign right on the fence of their parking. Right behind waba snacks vibrant pink storefront which they do share more than a family/sister biz it's the same lot and theirs no sign on their front door which looks more like a residence but just walk through the sliding door outlined in orange and there they are. Love the simple decor with some tables and bar counter, cute inflatable Jarritos and fun Instagram wall "Life is too short to be HANGRY"...so true lol! What something I instantly discovered is there isn't any air-conditioning and I was already hot just waiting which makes me image what it'd be like during summer ewww!! With that I decided to take my meal home for dinner and got a bowl for $13 which includes rice, beans, cheese, onion, kimchi salsa, sour cream and choice of protein (Korean inspired: Beef Bulgogi or Spicy Pork Bulgogi), (Mexican Inspired: Carne Asada Steak +$1 or Mojo Chicken) or (Vegetarian/Vegan: Jackfruit Tinga or Grilled Veggies). Also available are Burritos, Tacos, Quesadilla, Tortas and Salads I was tempted to get a side of Chips and Kimchi Salsa but will keep for the next visit. I decided to top my bowl with Spicy Pork Bulgogi and what a yummy well balanced bowl it was. The rice was seasoned just perfect so yummy and paired with the protein so well the freshness of sour cream, Kimchi salsa added that extra fun of Korean Mexican fusion for sure. What I'm not excited is parking (though any spot is greatly appreciated) situation as it's right beside waba snacks along the fence and someone may be parked right behind you and to ask to be let out is not my ideal situation...also hoping they add some air conditioning as well so that we can feel comfort like they put into their dishes. Thank you!

    Cute wall decoration. And true.
    Michelle S.

    Tucked away at the end of a driveway between The Rice Factory and car repair joints, I have hopes for this place. Especially since I'm always in the area and on the lookout for food. They have what I would consider to be a solid, basic menu of options to go with your choice of Korean or Mexican inspired fillings. Had a spicy pork burrito. The fillings were pretty tasty and uh...filling. Only thing I would wish for is less rice and maybe more kimchi salsa or lettuce to break up heaviness. Grilled veggies are available for an extra cost. All in all, the service was quick and friendly and the food was good. I'll be back.

    Inside
    Vincent T.

    Felt like having Mexican food which doesn't happen very often. Decided to try this 4.45star place from Yelp. I ordered the carne asada burrito and can't say I was impressed by the flavor. Some pieces of the beef was dry and hard. The burrito was on the dry side also. I mean if I compared it to Maui Taco's. You can find better.

    Bulgogi Burrito
    Liz W.

    Was craving Mexican and my fiancé found this place on maps. Walked in and it looked like we were some of the first customers. Plenty of seating, very clean and spacious. I ordered the Bulgogi Burrito (no beans). My fiancé ordered the carne asada tacos. The food came out fairly quickly. The owners are very nice, chatted with us for a bit and even gave us some complimentary chips and fresh made guacamole - so delicious. Everything was great! The burrito was huge! Bigger than my water bottle, and I really liked the flavors of the bulgogi inside the burrito with the kimchi salsa and rice. Try the green habanero sauce - it's amazing, not too spicy and compliments the sweetness of the bulgogi well. I've always really loved Korean and Mexican fusion (it's been popular where i come from in southern california for well over a decade). this restaurant is no exception. Exciting flavors presented beautifully. Will definitely be back!!

    Loaded spicy pork bowl! Added grilled veggies and guac.
    Steph K.

    Easy online ordering service. We ordered steak tacos (set of 3) and a steak bowl. The restaurant called us a couple minutes after our order informing us that they were out of steak, so we decided to get spicy pork instead. When we went to pick up our food, the worker (I think the owner?) told us we could grab a Jarritos for free on him since he didn't have steak for our original order. He's so nice! For the tacos, we added cheese. For the bowl, we added grilled veggies and guac. The tacos were filled with meat and each taco was wrapped in 2 corn tortillas. The bowl was loaded to the max, which I loved. It had a nice kick to it. Not sure if it's from the spicy pork or from the kim chee salsa. They have a decent amount of sitting if you decide to dine in. Parking is very limited. Basically only street parking. We went at around 6:30pm so we luckily found a spot. We will definitely be back to try the steak!

    The spread
    Kayla T.

    Small restaurant in the kakaako area. I've never heard of this place but after seeing it on Yelp, I decided to give it a try. The menu had a few options to choose from including burritos, tacos, bowls and a sandwich. They also had some side dishes which we went with the chips and Queso. It was a unique concept in which some of the meat options were Korea style bulgogi or spicy bulgogi. It definitely added more of a sweet and spicy to your usual Mexican food. The portions looked small but I was very full after eating. The food also comes out relatively fast, one thing to note is that they don't have water cups so bring your own water.

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    10 months ago

    I went today and they closed. Please tell me you are relocating. I need that spicy bulgogi burrito!

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    Ask the Community - K-Mex HI

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    Such a great find for Mexican food on the island! Everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and…read morereally hit the spot--but the bean and cheese burrito deserves a special shoutout. It was simple, comforting, and absolutely delicious. My son, who's from California and very serious about his Mexican food, said it was the best bean and cheese burrito he's ever had--which is definitely saying something! The portions are generous, so you definitely get your money's worth, and the spicy sauce has the perfect kick with amazing flavor that takes everything to the next level. If you're craving satisfying, authentic-tasting Mexican food, this place is a must. We'll definitely be back!

    We skipped breakfast and lunch so my son could make weight, and the second he cleared the scale he…read morecalled Mexican food. Easy pull off LikeLike with stress free parking. The crew inside was welcoming, quick, and the meat was on point. They even came outside to check on us. My son is a picky little dude and started picking onions off his chicken quesadilla. I told him to speak up. The guy smiled, said he had it, and brought out a fresh one with no onions. My son crushed it and even used their mild salsa, which is wild because he thinks everything is spicy. My burrito had great flavor and the asada was legit. I even called home for extra orders so everyone could try it. They loved it too. This spot isn't in our usual area, but I'm glad we found it because it's hard to find solid burritos in Hawaii.

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    We got here on a Monday, the day before Cinco de Mayo. We were having dinner with family before…read morethey returned home from vacation. Mexican sounded good to everyone so we picked this spot and we're all very happy we did. Our server was kind and attentive. The place was lovely and decorated with just the amount of fun you expect. Some great photo ops in there. He even told us they were having a mariachi band tomorrow and invited us to come back. The food from the start with nachos and salsa to the end with tres leches was all delicious. I ordered the chorizo queso and it was fantastic. My son ordered the guacamole and it was so fresh and limey. Also delicious. My grandkids shared a quesadilla which was definitely large enough to do so with. My oldest grandson ordered a torte and he loved it. Also a generous portion. My son and I both ordered the grande burrito. He got his wet and I didn't. His was served on a plate and mine came wrapped in foil in a basket. I wish it would have also come on a plate. I like to cut it up to eat and the foil made that difficult to do. We ordered the tres leches to go because we were all so full. Enjoyed it the next day. Three of us could share on piece. It's delicious but very rich.

    We visited this establishment as part of a group. We had difficulty communicating with our…read morewaitress. I believe she didn't quite understand us, and we didn't quite understand her either. It took a while to order and to get her attention throughout our time there, but we eventually received everything we ordered. The birria was very tasty, with juicy meat and a crispy shell. The Margarita flights were small, mini tastings which left us wanting more (and yes, we did order more). Regarding the tres leches, it's not the greatest we've ever had but not the worst. Yelp limits how many photos are posted with my review, but there should be 19 photos.

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    SEAFOOD WET BURRITO

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