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    Nelly's Tacos

    4.4 (183 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Food Trucks
    Closed • 10:00 am - 4:30 pm

    Nelly's Tacos Photos

    NELLY'S TACOS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Nelly's Tacos

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    Entrance

    Been to Oahu 3 times now... and these are the best by far. As a Mexican who grew up in LA, I can confirm these are as authentic as it gets on the island. I will say it doesn't look pretty but that's just it, it's authentic and feels like ur in the ranch in Mexico just enjoying some tacos. So if ur Latino go show some love to these people just trying to live their dream in Hawaii. Besides the shrimp spot is horrible.

    Their new sign
    Joe W.

    If you Craving Authentic Mexican Food on the North Shore of Oahu, Nelly's is the hidden gem of Kahuku. A true Mom and Pop food truck, ran by Benito and Nelly originally from Mexico. The Only thing better than their friendly demeanor and big heart is their food... Our Service was fast and friendly... however during rush hour, it may take a while for some dishes cause they make everything from scratch with just the two of them in the truck. The ambiance is quant, a true food truck with covered park benches to enjoy your meal. They are located with other food trucks across the street from Kahuku high school. Their truck is set back from the road behind Geovani's Shrimp truck. Just look for the sign in the pics

    Delicious tacos !
    Nicole S.

    Some of the BEST tacos I've ever had! We got one of each in the 4 taco plate and every single one was amazing. We also got an additional fish taco that was excellent. It is a food truck but there are a few tables and chairs. The people who run it are so sweet and friendly. If I lived here I would be eating here every day!

    This spot offers authentic Mexican flavors that are hard to find in the island. The flavors are bold, the tortillas taste homemade, and the meats are seasoned perfectly. The fish tacos are especially fresh and delicious. Super friendly service. For those looking for authentic Mexican cuisine on Oahu, Nelly's Tacos is a must-visit destination.

    Carne Asada burrito
    Allyssa P.

    Eh...better off trying the other food trucks. We should've known by the lack of a line and the not so friendly lady. She was on her phone when we were trying to order and she want very nice. We got a steak burrito and it was pretty big but the meat was dry and we were told it was going to be spicy, but it was not. Lol Don't waste your time, go to Giovanni's or the Hawaiian/Korean truck.

    Fried tacos
    Caroline Y.

    I don't recommend this food truck, the food is very bland and greasy. I should've went to the other truck behind it. The service was very slow, the truck looked.. fine I guess. And the sides of beans and rice were pretty small, the beans tasted almost starchy and watery, and the rice was probably the best thing on the plate. The chicken had no flavor and the sauce was pretty flavorless and I ordered the mild. The place had an okay seating area but we ended up going to the other one with Giovanni's shrimp truck.

    Fish tacos. Good flavor and crunch. Loved the cilantro and onions with it.
    Michelle M.

    Loved these tacos!!! The fish tacos had some good crunch with the purple cabbage, and we really liked the cilantro and onions. They were super flavorful. The beef tacos were amazing! Such great flavor. The chicken tacos were pretty good. The pork was really tasty but our favorites were the beef and fish. The plain quesadilla wasn't that great (thus only 4 stars) but the chicken one was really good! Totally authentic Mexican.

    Nichole S.

    Came to Nelly's because I was craving Mexican food. I almost drove past this truck so you definitely need to pay close attention when driving here. I ordered fried chicken tacos aka flautas. Came with 3 rolled tacos & rice & beans. Food was good and definitely hit the spot!

    Fried chicken tacos
    Nik S.

    Awesome authentic Mexican food on the North Shore. Fried tacos are delicious! If you can't decide - get the mix plate comes with a little bit of everything. If you're starving, this is the place to go because they're super fast too! While everyone else is waiting 30 minutes for shrimp nearby, you can be done eating and on your way to the beach. Cash only!

    Fried tacos

    BEST MEXICAN FOOD ON THE ISLAND! The fried tacos were the bomb! The rice was really fluffy and beans were so good. Nice covered area to eat with music playing in the background. Most authentic Mexican food, the owners are from Mexico and have had their food truck here for 14+ years! Seriously don't miss out on this hidden gem!

    Rolled chicken tacos were bomb!!!
    Kat K.

    We found our new go to spot for tacos! Just cruising the island on a Saturday afternoon and originally going for Giovanni's garlic shrimp while in line, we saw someone with this huge plate of carne asada tacos and it looked absolutely ono. We ended up asking where he got it and we left the shrimp truck line for this...and well worth it!

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    1 year ago

    Not pretty from the outside, but FANTASTIC tacos! Try them! Quesadilla was also good- beans were good- rice was white rice.

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    1 year ago

    Good prices and good authentic Mexican food on the north shore. Other restaurants near are overpriced and shitty.

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    3 years ago

    Beautiful and friendly couple from Mexico. The food was delicious! Highly recommend! Please give this place a chance.

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    Papi's Taco's - Tacos (@miguelmoralesphotography on Instagram)

    Papi's Taco's

    4.5(209 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    I first came across Papi's Tacos back in 2019 when I came to this area to check out Cheesus Chrust…read morefood truck (no longer there) and had dessert at Aloha Rolls (no longer there either). Papi's Tacos was across from Aloha Rolls. Alex had the football game on (Philadelphia vs someone), and we just started talking. We sat there for an hour talking. He was super friendly and cool. He even offered me a beer. I was skeptical that the food would be as good as back home (I'm from Southern California), but, upon learning he was from Santa Ana, I figured he knew what good Mexican food should taste like. I didn't buy anything then, as I was already full and had food left over, but lamented it. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I specifically drove from Waikiki to this area to get food from Papi's Tacos. I do recommend the drive along the windward side of the island if you aren't pressed for time. I got the super burrito with carne asada and my GF got two carne asada tacos. Both were amazing. If you're on Oahu, make the trip, you won't regret it. Hale'iwa is a nice little time to check out in the area as well.

    This is not a one star review due to the service and salsa. The lady taking orders in front was…read morewarm, welcoming and recommended the chipotle chicken as her favorite. They have a mini fridge with bottled water for sale and complimentary salsas with heat levels clearly labeled. I tried the spiciest one and it was awesome, authentic, fresh and full of vibrant flavor with a blast of heat. The burrito itself was a decent portion but so mediocre, the rice was under seasoned and totally over cooked to the point it had the same mushy consistency as the refried beans. The chicken was flavorless and kind of tough so I was actually grateful there were so few pieces. I requested extra cilantro and it was equivalent to a half a teaspoon sprinkled about the whole burrito. Sorry to say I will not be returning and would not recommend this truck if you're in the area.

    Photos
    Papi's Taco's
    Papi's Taco's - Fish and shrimp tacos

    Fish and shrimp tacos

    Papi's Taco's

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    Surf N Salsa - Al Pastor Crunchy Taco

    Surf N Salsa

    4.5(1.3k reviews)
    13.4 mi
    •$$

    What a great new space, much more open and inviting than the old Haleiwa location. After a late…read moremorning surf I was dreaming of chips and guac. My friend told me there was a great place in Waialua, so we drove straight over. Because it was a Saturday, we were going to place an online order and pick up to take home, but for some reason they were not accepting orders. When we arrived around 12:45 we were surprised to see lots of seating options, so we just chose to stay and eat. There were only 2 other people in line when we order our tacos and received a buzzer to wait. Not featured in my photos are the chips and guac that were ready for us within minutes. We demolished it, 10/10 chips and guac! We waited about 20 minutes for the tacos to cook, fresh out the kitchen they were very yummy. Two tacos were more than enough, I was so full and ready to take a nap. Such a cute spot, I'll definitely be back.

    We came at 8:38 pm when the main kitchen was already closed but the taco stand was open so we got…read moreus two plates of 4 tacos for about $27. We tried each salsa. The red one is SPICY!!!! We also ordered the mango, guava, and lime Jarritos. It was the perfect dinner to end my days off. Tacos on a Thursday night off? Si, por favor! Wow. We loved the tacos so much, we ate 10 tacos. Lol. Thank you for the hospitality!

    Photos
    Surf N Salsa
    Surf N Salsa - Carne asada fajitas plate (house made flour tortillas not pictured)

    Carne asada fajitas plate (house made flour tortillas not pictured)

    Surf N Salsa - Chimichanga plate (interior - lengua)

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    Chimichanga plate (interior - lengua)

    Taqueria El Ranchero - Shrimp taco

    Taqueria El Ranchero

    4.0(2.4k reviews)
    13.5 mi
    •$$

    My foodie friends wanted to make sure we stopped here on our food adventure. I always love coming…read morehere because the Mexican food is pretty good! But what I didn't know was that they don't have a happy hour...they have a HAPPY DAY!!!!! 10-6 PM! So even though we were not really hungry cause we just had lunch, we ordered some crispy tacos...which are four minis. The day was getting happier and happier! The bartender was great! Friendly and attentive! And it still has the same great vibe to just relax and enjoy! Gracias and Mahalo El Ranchero!

    The food at Taqueria El Ranchero is still very good, and the prices are reasonable. I had the wet…read moreseafood burrito with shrimp, and as usual, it had an impressive amount of shrimp in it. Flavor was solid, portion was generous, and the food itself is the main reason I keep coming back. The ambiance is chill and local. Most of the afternoon crowd seemed to know each other, which gives the place a comfortable neighborhood feel. That said, the inside is a little dingy and could probably use a renovation. The issue on this visit was the service. When we got there, it was pretty empty, maybe 4 or 5 people sitting at the bar. The guy working behind the bar seated us, but then never brought menus, never brought water, and never came back to take our order. When my friend tried waving him down, he ignored us. Eventually another employee came in, and the bartender just told him, "Go take his order," without acknowledging us at all. I don't know if he was only working the bar that day, but he could have at least brought water, menus, or simply said someone would be right with us. Instead, the whole interaction came across as dismissive and unnecessary. Food was very good as always, but service matters too. Based on this visit, I'd call it 3 stars overall.

    Photos
    Taqueria El Ranchero - Tacos in the cantina

    Tacos in the cantina

    Taqueria El Ranchero - WATERMELON SANGRIAS

    WATERMELON SANGRIAS

    Taqueria El Ranchero - SEAFOOD WET BURRITO

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    SEAFOOD WET BURRITO

    Nelly's Tacos - mexican - Updated October 2026

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