Happy Taco Tuesday! You can find some amazing Mexican food in a mostly shut down mall's food court…read morein Kailua-Kona. El Mercadito Rincon Mexicano is not fast food, but cooked to order. So everything is fresh and my homemade chips for my nachos were warm and crispy. The carne asada nachos was piled high and I just barely finished it all. The service was great and the cashier even noticed the mess I was making to my face and offered some extra napkins. You can find lots of Mexican snacks/candies here along with cooking ingredients for purchase. I will definitely be coming back, because it's hard to find a place that also serves lengua (beef tongue). Well isn't nachos just deconstructed tacos? #bigboyproblems

Located in a tiny food court in the back of an abandoned building is this hidden gem!…read more Originally we came for the chicken place. But they were closed. The other options didn't look as good, so let's order! Got the carne asada plate with the flour tortillas. Slight wait, but the food was worth it! Is it the best in the world? No? Is it good for Hawaii? Damn right! The rice and beans were seasoned well and pretty damn good! The guac was solid and the tortillas were perfectly heated up! The downside, the meat had very little flavor. Did not taste marinated and grilled at all. Assumed it was cooked on a flat top. Slightly disappointed, but it's still way better than a lot of others places here! If you're craving good Mexican food, this is a solid choice!

This is the best Mexican food in Kona. We eat there way too much. Their sauces are delicious and…read morequality is fantastic. Their carne asada burrito is divine.

Place was packed at 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night! Luckily, by the time I ordered, they had cleaned…read morea table. I've only been here a handful of times and I've never remotely seen it this busy! Great food as always!

We like this spot for convenient good burritos and tacos. It's got a local but chipotle style…read moreservice. But the rice was soooo mushy last time I've got to take a star off because it was a big bummer in my burrito I was trying to get it out.

When visiting the North Shore, please stop by for the tacos. Pork and Fish can't miss either way…read more We tried the pork as it was off season and not very hungry. Very good taco and everyone was so nice with a true Aloha vibe.

Walked in and received quick friendly service and good food and drinks!…read more Mahalo- Gracias for the grinds. Fresh chips and salsa served as soon as we sat. Margarita variety menu was fun! Nachos and caviche were both good. Enjoyed the vintage decor too. We shall be back for more.

TLDR: Recommended for people that want to control their calories because the food doesn't inspire…read moreyou. Everything was OK, but not good or great. The place is clean enough and we we seated quickly, but that was about the end of what I feel they did well. The wait staff was efficient though not friendly in a manner that we've come to expect of the big island. We asked for a sample taste of the Chili Verde, but were denied. I probably would have ordered the Chili Verde, but I am particular about what I think is great Chili Verde and they seemed afraid to let us try it. I've never had that experience at a restaurant before and should have taken it as a sign to go somewhere else. The rest of our food was OK. It didn't taste bad, but it was bland to unappetizing. Our table had a chili relleno, burrito, tamales, and a taco/enchilada combo. None of us finished our plates because the food was...not great. There are so many great options along that strip in Kona...just keep walking and you'll find a better option.

OMG! Such yummy Ono tacos. I've never had better! Grounds…read moreare nice with seating under shade trees. Only downside was that there were a ton of flies (not that it's the fault of Shaka Tacoz). Our meal was ready in less than the promised time so bonus points.

We absolutely love Shaka Tacoz…read more We come to Kona annually, and getting the Ono Taco is a tradition for us. The fish is cooked perfectly, and the tacos are perfectly seasoned. The plate includes three tacos, and we always get the mango chili sauce. The sauce is rated with "two chili's," so it has some kick, but it won't burn your taste buds (they do have hotter sauces). We've always had great service. They have all been welcoming and friendly. There are plenty of parking spots and other shops to visit. When you order, you can either wait or get a text when your food is ready. Plenty of tables throughout the place are shaded, which is perfect. For me, it's not an issue, but flies and other bugs can buzz around your food (I just shoo them away). We 100% recommend Shaka Tacos.

Great meal. Fish burrito was fantastic. The mango hot sauce was delish. Worth the stop if you're…read morein the area.

We've been on the Big Island for five days, and Shaka Tacoz is by far the best food we've had!…read more I ordered the Tacos de Birria, and wow -- they immediately took me back to my hometown of San Diego, a place I haven't lived in for almost 40 years. That kind of flavor brought back memories I didn't expect from a taco! Everything was absolutely delicious, and I already know this won't be my last visit. I'll definitely be back -- and next time I'm bringing all three of my sons with me! If you're on the Big Island, do not miss Shaka Tacoz!

Our first visit to Patricio's for lunch today. Not sure what to expect, but had a very pleasant…read moreexperience. Ordered food at the counter and called by name to pick up at the counter. We ordered the carne asada taco and chili relleno combo plate. Also ordered a bean and cheese burrito. The taco and relleno were well prepared. The carne asada was moist and tasted great on a corn tortilla with cilantro/onion. The relleno was spot on. The chili was cooked through and just the right amount of cheese stuffed inside the pepper. Sauce was spot on. Good selection of beer and soda. Restaurant was clean and the staff were great. Thank you for a great meal. We will be back.

WOW! The last thing I ever expected, was great Tex-Mex in the strip shopping center, a mile from…read morethe Kona (Hawaii) airport! They had a really great menu... pictures which I have included. I got the Chili Relleno and a chicken enchilada combination meal. It was exceptionally good! The Relleno was full of cheese! Some of the best refried beans I've ever had came with it. And, excellent hot sauce! Service was very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is in this area. I definitely be back!

Always delicious Nice menu for burritos and taco and…read morequesadillas Really nice taco salad Shrimp taco w Yummy mango salsa Can't go wrong w quick service Was suggested by a friend No wonder friendly service! Homemade taste! Little picnic tables

So I've seen their signs and seen them online, but never made my way over to try them out!! That…read morechanged today! I needed something from Home Depot and they are located right in the parking lot! I ordered 2 asada and one quesabirria tacos. I asked for their hottest hot sauce, which I was told was the red sauce. The order didn't take too long to come out. Again this was an advanced food truck with a remote buzzer to let you know when your food is ready! I guess I'm used to the old school roach coaches where they just yell at you when your order is ready! My overall impression was that the flavors were a little on the bland side, but overall very good. The quesabirria taco was crispy on the outside and with soft melty cheese and moist tender meat on the inside. Adding their not so hot red sauce gave it much more flavor, but it could have used a little more heat in my opinion. Could have also been helped if it came with the consume. My fault, I forgot to order it, but for an extra $3, not sure it would have made that much of a difference. I was very impressed with the little asada tacos. Pretty small, but packed with meat and more flavorful than the quesabirria. Maybe because these came with salsa already applied! That may be the reason. Either way, pretty darn good show for a Hawaiian Mexican experience. I'd do it again. Probably get 3 or 4 asada tacos next time.

This was my first time eating here, and I can confidently say it won't be my last!…read more From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by Kayla at the register. I was completely overwhelmed (in the best way!) by all the delicious-looking menu options and had no idea what to order. She was so patient, kind, and genuinely helpful. She recommended the chicken enchiladas with both the green and red sauce so I could try each one and figure out which I liked best. It was the perfect recommendation! I was also surprised by how quickly the food came out, especially since there were a few people ahead of me. When I got my plate, I couldn't believe the portion size--it was HUGE! Every bite was absolutely delicious. Both sauces were amazing, but the green sauce was definitely my favorite. And the margarita? So refreshing and delicious! One of my favorite parts of the experience was chatting with some of the regulars, who told me the owner is the chef and that he, his wife, and their kids have been running this family business for years. I love supporting local, family-owned restaurants, and after hearing their story, it made the experience even more special. Amazing food, generous portions, outstanding customer service, and a welcoming family atmosphere. I already can't wait to come back and work my way through the rest of the menu. This place definitely earned a loyal customer!

I have been looking for a good Mexican food so I thought to try this place so we got the carne…read moreasada and carnitas burritos. There were too much beans in them but the meat were good. I will try their tacos next time.

We went for a stroll along the strip and all of a sudden we were hungry for lunch. My son and his…read moregirl friend checked out the menu the other day and wanted to try this place out. We were seated immediately and as we were waiting for our server, my wife and friend were close by and wanted to meet us. We asked if we can move to a larger table and they were good! Our server was excellant with all the food choices for my son with allergies and checked with the kitchen just to be sure. I ordered the Duo Bao with Fried Shrimp and a side of fries. As for Pupus we ordered the Mac N Cheese Balls and Vegetable Empanadas. The appetizers came in quickly and they were hot and fresh. The Mac N Cheese balls were really good! It was coated w/ panko so it was really crunchy and had guava BBQ sauce along with sriracha sauce and topped with green onions. I must say it was very good. I loved the Veggie Empanadas! It had a balanced blend of the blackbeans, corn, jalapenos, onion and cheese sauce. The crust was handmade and yummy, Next is my Dua Bao with Fried Shrimp. The homemade sauce was sweet and balanced the dish with the pickled onions. I really loved the serrano peppers. The fries were good! Overall, from service to the foof, it was great!

Service is good--very attentive and friendly. Parking is available on-site for $24…read more Upstairs has beautiful waterfront views. The food is decent, with a few gluttonous bites, but overall nothing that really stood out beyond the watermelon salad. It was my favorite--fresh, firm, and sweet, with bites of mint and arugula that made it delightful. The mac bites are tasty when eaten hot. The drinks feel like part of the tourist attraction--cute, sweet, and fun for the experience. Overall, the views and service are the highlights. The food was decent, but for me, a solid 3-star experience.