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Mekiko Cantina

4.0 (549 reviews)
PriceyTacos
Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Mekiko Cantina Photos

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MEKIKO CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Touristy
Trendy

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Stephen S.

Mekiko Cantina seems more adapted for a general audience rather than those familiar with authentic Mexican flavors. Our waiter didn't do that good of a job of making sure our glasses were filled. The Birria taco sauce tasted like oil.

Pork Nachos (sub grilled chicken)
Cathrine S.

Delicious Mexican food in Ko Olina, we love stopping in when visiting the area. Highly recommend their happy hour! Their chips and salsa flight is delicious and a must try as well. We've never had trouble getting a spot here even on busy weekend nights!

Churros dessert
Mina K.

A favorite place of ours to sip, share, eat and relax! All items on the menu are easily delish, fajitas come on a sizzling hot plate with plenty of sides to dress it up. Even their chips are fresh and crunchy to pair with the salsas! Although it was busy, our server did a great job at staying attentive and kind!

The bar
Beth E.

We went around 5:40p and got right in. It took a little bit to have someone acknowledge us, yet it did give us time to review the menu and be ready when our server did arrive. My love ordered the Al Pastor Tacos which he liked. I ordered the Shredded Beef Enchiladas which I thoroughly enjoyed. Our server was great. The vibe here was good. They even had a lady playing live music for those dining outside. All the food we saw being delivered looked and smelled delicious. The place is definitely worth a try when you are in the area.

Bacon wrapped shrimp
Sharmeen F.

Oh man, this place was SO good! It's right across the street from the Aulani Resort that we were staying at and we went multiple times because we loved it so much! The bacon wrapped shrimp were crispy, huge, and flavorful. The birria tacos had a huge portion of meat and the consommé was delicious. The fajitas came out sizzling and flavorful. The tortillas were homemade and worked well with everything. The margarita flight had a mix of sweet, sour, and spicy drinks that paired well with our food. Our servers were always so nice and gave great recommendations. Don't miss this spot if you're in Hawaii!

Macho Mekiko burrito. Just okay. Not great.
Michelle M.

This place is a short walk from our hotel and we love Mexican food so we decided to check this place out. We were seated quickly and sat indoors. The music is pretty loud so it was hard to hear the other people at our table. We ordered the quac and chips as a starter, which was good. I ordered the fish tacos and my husband had the macho Mekiko burrito. The fish in my tacos was very dry and tough and there wasn't a good sauce on them. The corn tortillas fell apart after a few bites. I did like the cilantro on top but that was the best thing about them. My husband's burrito was just average. We were underwhelmed with our meal and I wouldn't go back. There are so many other good places to try that we wouldn't waste our time again. The service was good though.

Margaritas and tacos and chips and salsas

Amazing margaritas and barria tacos!! Order the chips and 3 different salsas. Ashley was our sweet server. She explained the menu to us and came back to check on us all often. Margaritas are delicious and strong!! We highly recommend eating here. They have a happy hour.

Grilled ono tacos with a side of Mexican rice.
John F.

Heard a lot about Mekiko Cantina by people who found it to be a more affordable restaurant option in the area, particularly at happy hour. The happy hour deals looked okay, but we missed that window and instead ordered off the regular menu. My wife and I each ordered the grilled ono tacos, which came with a side of rice, and while the entrees were certainly okay, they didn't wow us, especially for the price. I will say that the side of rice was quite good. The ambience is loud, and there is both indoor and outdoor seating. Service was okay but didn't wow us either. Being from Arizona, I have many really good Mexican food options to choose from at home, and this isn't bad Mexican food for Hawaii, I suppose, but it doesn't quite rise to the level that will necessarily bring me back. Granted, there aren't a lot of restaurant options in Ko Olina, and I would certainly do it again in a pinch or if someone with me wanted to go, and very likely I'd be willing to try happy hour, but I don't plan to go out of my way to eat here again the next time I'm in the area.

Our son got the Keiki burrito with Rice.  It's always good if they finish the whole plate
Cheryl L.

Great spot to go for happy hour with the family. It's walkable from the hotels Aulani and Four seasons and without the resort prices. Love the idea to eat off the hotel property. The staff was helpful and the bathroom was clean. The inside is cute and they were playing reggaeton so we were happy to hangout there after our meal.

3 mini churros for that price..
Eli N.

We went back to Mekiko's Cantina recently only because our neighbors wanted to meet for dinner. Honestly, I had serious hesitation -- the last time we ate there, the service wasn't great -- and unfortunately, this visit wasn't any better. First off, it's not authentic Mexican food -- it's Tex-Mex, and the portions are small for the prices you pay. The food itself is just okay at best -- I'd rate it a 5 out of 10. The truth is, I think a lot of people go there simply because they're staying in Ko Olina, and there aren't many dinner options nearby. If you don't have a car or don't want to eat at the resorts, you basically end up there by default. Also, no complimentary chips and salsa -- you have to pay for it, which is rare for a "Mexican" restaurant, but I guess that's Hawaii pricing for you. The service was the biggest letdown. As we were still eating, a busboy started clearing plates right in front of us without even asking if we were done. It felt rushed and careless. Then when we asked for dessert, the staff acted irritated, as if we were bothering them or keeping them past closing time. Speaking of dessert -- we ordered the churros, and that was another disappointment. For $17.99, you get three mini churros with three sauces. There's literally more sauce than churros. Three tiny churros for nearly eighteen bucks -- it felt like a joke. The ambiance doesn't help either -- the restaurant feels like a cafeteria, and the music doesn't fit the theme (Cuban and generic Spanish music in a Tex-Mex place?). The low point came after dinner. My daughter had left her food behind, and we realized it just minutes later. I called immediately -- about five minutes after we left -- and asked if it was still there. The manager said they throw out everything as soon as customers leave, which I found ridiculous considering how quickly they cleared our table. It's a small restaurant -- they easily could've noticed us walking out and called out. I asked if they could remake the tacos (just three plain ones), but the manager refused, saying they don't do takeout. She offered to make them the next day with a discount but wouldn't comp them. We had a brief argument, and I drove back. Once there, a different manager -- Sal -- came out. Sal was great: professional, polite, and understanding. He apologized and made the tacos for us right away. Sal was the only bright spot of the evening. He understands customer service and deserves recognition. Because of him, I'm giving this place two stars instead of one. But overall, Makiko's still misses the mark -- poor service, off-theme atmosphere, and food that's just average. If you're in Ko Olina and want real Mexican food, skip Mekiko's -- unless you're really hungry and don't want to drive anywhere.

Guac and salsa flight - medium and spicy salsa
Aly T.

We are staying in Ko Olina, and wanted something for lunch, and found this place. It was pretty empty when we were here, so not too loud. The service was great - efficient and super friendly. The food was outstanding. We ordered the guacamole and salsa flight (spicy and medium), a couple of margaritas, and Diablo shrimp. Everything was delicious, fresh, and as spicy as mentioned. Would definitely come back!

Tears of Llorona

Definitely a great place for lunch. Service was a little slow initially but it's expected when there's not too many staff. We waited a bit to be seated but just decided to walk inside and sit at the bar. Perhaps a sign at the podium saying come inside to be seated would be helpful. Drinks they have an extensive selection of tequila. Including a few additive free selections like fortaleza, cordigo, don fluano and Ocho . I really enjoyed the Tears of Llorona as I don't see it too often. Food was great. Will be back again

Mark R.

Our server Frank was great! From the time we arrived the hostess was so nice. Service was great it food was even better! Owner Sal came by check on the service and he was a delight as well. We sat on the patio which added to the experience. We totally recommend this great Mexican cantina!!

kalua pork nachos

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Service was amazing and the food just as great! Server and management did an amazing job of making our party feel taken care of.

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Mekiko Cantina Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mekiko Cantina

When is happy hour?

3:00 till 5:00; Great margaritas.

Tried ordering take out but they stop taking take out orders at 5:30pm?

5:00 yes

Do you have gluten free options?

Yes

Do you take reservations?

They don't accept reservations.

Do you need reservations for dinner?

I would recommend it. We tried to walk in for dinner and were told it was a 40 minute wait, but we got lucky and they had a bar table open shortly after.

View All 6 Questions

DB Grill - Kimchi Pancake

DB Grill

4.1(1k reviews)
2.1 mi
$$

Just had my mom's surprise bday party here in their upstairs mezzanine area and it was amazing! I…read morebooked with Tessa and she was very helpful (and patient because I reply very slow lol). The booking was very straightforward, they don't charge a space rental fee as long as your party spends at least $1000 on food and drinks altogether. It doesn't have to be on one check, as long as it all adds up. We were able to decorate the area a bit for the party. Of course if you plan on partying here be wary of making too much of a mess or damaging things. Kiki then helped me preorder all the food for the party, and she also assisted with the surprise. Ashley was our server for the night and she did amazing! I was bothering her and Kiki and asking them questions all night and they were so nice and patient the entire time. Everyone was so kind and accommodating, it was as if they were family friends :) the speed of service was great too. I know we put the bartenders to WERK but the drinks still came out in such a timely manner. Finally, the food and drinks were BOMB. I've only been here a couple times before this, so I got to try a lot of items i haven't before at the party. Everyone was raving about the food! So many people who haven't been to DB grill before said they found their new spot. And if you like to drink, they have something for everyone. My grandma kept asking for more soju cocktails . The only thing I would warn about is that the AC is poppin upstairs, so bring a jacket. I would give 10 stars if I could. We love the DB grill crew!!!

**DB Grill was a mixed experience for a get-together with friends.**…read more The food was actually pretty good overall. We tried the wings and poke nachos, and both were solid. The portions were good, the prices were decent, and it's the type of menu that works well for sharing with a group. Service was okay. The staff wasn't overly friendly, but they were efficient. Parking was good, and the overall vibe was chill, though it did get a bit noisy. The biggest issue was the condition of the restaurant. The place felt pretty run down. The floors were very dirty, the seats were torn and patched with electrical tape, and the windows were so dirty that we actually thought the restaurant had shut down one day when we were walking by. The bathrooms were also pretty gross, even for a casual bar/restaurant. I wanted to like it more because the food itself was good, but the cleanliness and upkeep really took away from the experience. They definitely need to do a better job maintaining the place. I'd probably only return if I heard they had cleaned up and refreshed the entire restaurant.

Photos
DB Grill - Bar area

Bar area

DB Grill - Crispy Garlic Shrimp

Crispy Garlic Shrimp

DB Grill - DB Grill at Kapolei Commons, Storefront.

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DB Grill at Kapolei Commons, Storefront.

Paniolos - Kapolei - Bowl with a tiny portion of chopped steak

Paniolos - Kapolei

3.4(279 reviews)
2.1 mi
$$

We try this place for the first time. They greeted us a we…read morecame in. As we were deciding what to choose, the 2 girls weren't as friendly n polite just stood there. Never offended any help or suggestion. The looks was as if they were bored. We got the carnesada burrito n shredded beef nachos. The place is clean n cool. I think when the other worker lady walked in they moved more. Thinking it was their boss. Customer came in n they moved faster n more polite. Good to see. As a customer I always watch who ever working n how the greeted n serve their people. Now the nachos I got was shredded beef n refried beans with the melted cheese n toppings. The food is good n nice portion the give. Burrito was good n fat, pretty feeling. Cured our appetite The 1 star missing is because they need better customer service n be more friendly n better service. Will I come back .... yes because the food is good

Met a friend for lunch. Had take out at the one in Kahala but never been to this one. Sorta like…read moreChipotle's in the mainland where you get to choose items. Went at 11 when they opened and we were the only ones for a while but then it picked up and lots of take out and towards the end a couple more that ate inside. The place is clean, which should always be the standard. The three women helping make the orders were okay, not really friendly (except to a regular who had not been in for a while) but really no complaints. They did their job. Choices were varied, a little something for everyone- meat/no meat, burrito/bowl/taco. Your choice (like I mentioned earlier, a little like Chipotle except for the Kailua pork). Would go back again, maybe next time I see a movie. Plenty of parking and prices are reasonable.

Photos
Paniolos - Kapolei
Paniolos - Kapolei
Paniolos - Kapolei

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Monkeypod Kitchen - Garlic Truffle Oil Fries  and Mai Tai  so good

Monkeypod Kitchen

4.0(5.4k reviews)
0.0 mi
$$

What is delightful location. Many social media post advised us to have at least one meal here as…read moreopposed to our resort. We had two during our short visit. I will note that the prices were not significantly or even notably less than the prices at the resort, but it still made for a short walk and great service. If you are driving, there's plenty of parking in the plaza is nice to walk around. In an unrelated incident, someone had fallen and needed to go to the hospital. The staff were all attentive, but also not in the way. I believe that says something good about the vibe.

I've been to the Monkeypod in Waikiki but it's graduation season, so I didn't want to go into town…read more Decided to go to the one on Ko Olina instead. Same sort of a ambiance. Very loud. Spacious. Great spot for large parties even though it was only my date and me. It's Ko Olina so on the second floor it's open air seating which can be bad if you are facing the sun at sunset. I had the fish & chips which we just ok. The fish was fine. It was well cooked and crispy. But the fries were completely sogging and gross. I mean they tasted ok but who likes to eat limp, soggy fries? My date had the poke tacos as her main and she enjoyed them. We also did this chocolate creme pie for dessert which was pretty good. All in all, i would say i much prefer the Waikiki location. Perhaps it was just a busy night for the cooks, but I don't know if I'd give them another shot. On the plus side, since it's ko olina there was plenty of parking around but because it's ko olina it's expensive to park.

Photos
Monkeypod Kitchen - Banana Cream Pie Strawberry Cream Pie

Banana Cream Pie Strawberry Cream Pie

Monkeypod Kitchen - Guava cream pie

Guava cream pie

Monkeypod Kitchen - Virgin mai tai

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Virgin mai tai

Mekiko Cantina - tacos - Updated May 2026

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