Al Pastor

The ingredients are excellent! I would, however, recommend that you get soft shell tacos instead of…read morethe fried tacos : why? Too oily, and takes away from the taste of their marvelous ingredients. I explained to Beto, my distaste for extra oil, and he recommended several things: order soft taco and as I am a huge fried ice cream fan- he said he could give it to us without the oil. To my amazement.... it tasted delicious! So, I would recommend nothing fried here. Their ingredients and attention to flavor are perfect! Beto was so flexible to our needs and desired taste: he knows his cuisine. It is loud here and on the main strip in Kapaa- so be ready! Love this place though! La Fiesta I would love to give a shout out to Beto who recognized my dietary needs and was very proud of the restaurant that he works for- and again- the fried ice cream without being fried was excellent: mahalo Beto! Beto listens!

Good Mexican Food. We were promptly created, services was…read moregood. Taco & Cheese Enchilada Plate was very good. The Chimichanga was full of tasty shredded beef. Prices are reasonable. Free street parking.

Inside restaurant

Chile relleno and vegetable enchilades

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House margarita

El Taco Feliz

4.7(381 reviews)

0.4 mi

Friendly fast service and the food was delicious!…read more We had the carnitas bowl, carnitas bowl, and fish tacos. It was all delicious and fresh. Definitely a little bit hidden, right next to the bigger Mexican restaurant, but a total gem!

This was the cutest little food truck! It was so colorful and welcoming. I ordered a veggie burrito…read moreand all the vegetables tasted fresh and yummy. The service was also quick taking less than 10 minutes. Definitely recommend this place!

Diablo burrito, Feliz bowl (mahi), mahi mahi tacos

Fish tacos

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El Rey Del Mar

4.6(138 reviews)

1.5 mi

Quiet when we arrived and wasn't sure what to expect. The crew was very polite and attentive,…read morehelped answer me u questions. I must say, the food was fantastic! The pico, Guac, enchiladas (LOVED the sauce) and a huge Carnitas Burrito did NOT disappoint. Would recommend this place 100% Avoid the fast food and check out this quant family restaurant that takes pride in their cooking!!

Always filling and delicous!…read more Recommend the seafood mix ceviche! So fresh, and taco is cooked to perfection! Always our go to appetizer! Watermelon Fresca... who knew you could order it in an X-LARGE! This thing is huge, of course i shared it, so it's like ordering to smalls :) Victor and his family are always attentive to customers, and call orders! One of our weekly restaurants we enjoy going to. Music and movies will be playing on their tvs. So if you want to go out for a dinner and movie.. perfect place to go!

Taco salad, ACP plate, Horchata

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Paco's Tacos Cantina - Kapaa

3.9(492 reviews)

0.6 mi

We had a great experience! The carne asada tacos were packed with flavor, the meat was tender and…read morewell-seasoned, and the toppings were fresh. The burritos were huge, filling, and delicious with just the right balance of ingredients. The chile relleno was cooked perfectly with a flavorful sauce and plenty of cheesy goodness. Everything tasted fresh, the portions were enough, and the service was friendly. We'll definitely be coming back the next time we're craving great Mexica food while on Kauai!

I had the camarones a la diabla seafood plate, which had decent flavor and a nice spice level, it…read morewas a good, average plate. We also shared chips and salsa, which were fine but fairly basic with queso dip as well. My wife had the three Baja fish tacos. The fish was beer battered and fried, and while it was cooked fine, the overall flavor was just okay. She mentioned the corn tortillas tasted average and they were edible and decent.

Pit Stop

Chicken tacos

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Monday Margarita & tequila Fortaleza

Monico's Taqueria

4.2(965 reviews)

1.6 mi

Ipon entering the parking lot it looks small but there's lots of parking! As you approach and open…read morethe door, it gives you Mexico in a restaurant! My girls loved the environment, so clean and very quiet and welcoming! We had the carne asada nachos- 10/10 it was huge and mans was it stuffed to the top! The steak was cooked to the right temperature, literally melting your mouth and is not chewy! The guacamole was full of flavor! And man it was so huge it made me full!! We also got the kids bean burrito my little loved it and ate almost the whole burrito! We also ordered the quesadillas only cheese! It was played so cute! It came with fried rice and some fried beans in a little sauce bowl! The baby loves it!! And her cheese was pouring out the sides!! All in all the customer service is what topped it for us!! To have them interact with us and feed the donkeys and give a little knowledge of the animals next door was just awesome!! We definitely enjoyed our lunch and will be coming back in future!

Seared ahi tacos- some of the best ever because of the quality of the fish used. Plated with very…read moretasty beans and rice, another great dish to have post beach, sun and fun. Note- chips and salsa are $9 and there's a surcharge for using CC's.

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El Rey Del Mar

4.7(247 reviews)

0.1 mi

Best mexican food EVER!!! Great beer battered tacos! Decent prices too. Will be back!read more

Food was just okay. The real issue is they charge an insane amount for basic add-ons, for example,…read more$6 for a small cup of salsa, $3 for lemon, $5 for jalapenos. The owner/manager must have seen our shock because he stood by our table and explained why he had to charge these extra prices due to high grocery costs in Hawaii. Other places in Kauai do not have these insane extra charges. We were being nickel and dimed for everything far beyond what would be expected for food costs in Hawaii. Would not recommend.

First time here.

Quesabirria

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5 tables available

Little Fatties

4.9(100 reviews)

0.8 mi

Fast service, AMAZING food. We made a stop here several…read moretimes on our trip. Tacos are a good size, very filling. Small seating area outside so just keep that in mind if you have a larger party (it was fine for us four).

Parking is pretty plentiful even on a Saturday late afternoon right in front of the food truck…read more They have several dining tables available under a tent. Prices are on the higher side, but coming from SoCal SD different expectations for tacos + prices. Service was good, and employees were nice. Tacos were pretty good. Vibes were good.

Beef Barbacoa and Pork Carnitas tacos

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Little Fatties Food Truck

Fillo’s

4.6(209 reviews)

2.4 mi

So nice, we went back twice. Absolutely delicious carne asada tacos, rice and beans and chips and…read moresalsa. Salsa is more of a watery consistency but has a great flavor. The chips came out warm and crispy too which is always a good sign. I love the shredded cabbage on the side to add for a bit of crunch. It's a small, order at the counter place which only offers about 6 tables but most people order it for takeout. We had the food in the restaurant both times and enjoyed our meals hot and fresh.

We went to the brick and mortar location in Kapa'a as our first meal on vaycay in Kauai-- as…read moresomeone raised in California, who has now lived in O'ahu for 10 years, let me just say... This is one of the best Mexican spots in the entire state of Hawai'i. . I might make my husband take us back so I can have chilaquiles before we leave. We had fish tacos & birria tacos for lunch-- . Each was good in its own way. They do NOT skimp on portions here, this place is a Kauai must-eat!

Inside

Al pastor burrito with the two salsas

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Birria Tacos

Mermaids Cafe

3.9(785 reviews)

0.4 mi

Went to mermaids today and got a chicken focaccia sandwich. The guy who greeted us and took our…read moreorder was super friendly. He let us know our order would be about 15 minutes and he was correct with his estimation. There was ample outdoor seating to wait at (or eat at if you choose). The sandwich itself was very tasty. The focaccia was nice and soft, however the seasonings on the top kept sticking to my fingers while I tried to eat. I loved it and would recommend this for a nice, fresh lunch. There are lots of shops, etc. in the area to also explore after you get a bite to eat from Mermaids.

Came here on a rainy day for lunch and overall had a great meal. I got the ahi focaccia sandwich,…read morewhich was a really unique dish. The pesto aioli was sooo good and the veggies that it came with were so fresh. The staff were super friendly and we ate at the bar tables looking over the kitchen, where all the ingredients looked very fresh. Overall a great spot for a quick lunch!

Heather Brown mural take 2

Tofu & veggie curry plate

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Mermaids is back and better than ever!

Sleeping Giant Grill

4.6(1.6k reviews)

2.2 mi

Welcoming, kind, cozy, delicious, amazing people, amazing service. I cannot speak highly enough…read moreabout this place. Looks like a hole in the wall but I assure you it will be some of the best food of your life! Everything we ate was delicious- the ahi tuna wrap was spectacular, as were the Ono tacos and shrimp tacos. The guy working behind the register was so kind and even took us back to see the tuna they were prepping for the next day! This place is a must try! When a place serves food on plates like these- you know it's gonna be good! MUST TRY!

Food 9/10 I had the grilled mahi mahi and it was one of the…read morebest meals I had on the island Service 9/10 They were nice and the service was fast Ambiance 8/10 The place was small but we sat outside so it didn't feel dark and cramped.

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Inside

Ono grilled over salad 4/5

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21 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Kristen K.

12 years ago

My husband and I spent a week on Kauai for our honeymoon, we drove by Al Pastor several times but didn't stop because we live in the LA area and there are tacos everywhere here. But one day we decided to stop for lunch before we did shopping in the area. While we were waiting for our food we asked another couple who was eating if the food was good. They said it was their 3rd visit in as many days. We thought that was strange, because Kapa'a has so many fun places to eat. But then our food came and we understood why. It was amazing. The al pastor tacos were our favorite. We even went back the next day for more. If you have trouble adjusting to Kauai time and don't want to sit and enjoy your surroundings while they make your lunch, then call ahead and they will have it waiting for you. They are only open for lunch. read more

Robin D.

Elite 21

117

376

138

12 years ago

Y'all, I live in Austin, where we have amazing tacos, so I'm always hesitant to venture out for tacos when I'm on vacation. I'm a recent convert to al pastor, thanks to the al pastor burrito at Verde (my favorite restaurant on Kauai!). Given my new found interest in al pastor, and all of the great Yelp reviews for this truck, I decided to give it a try. Oh man, the al pastor tacos were delicious. The rice was really good and the beans were good. I was impressed! The food was on par with our excellent Austin restaurants. The girl who took my order was very sweet and she brought my food out to me in only a few minutes. I'll definitely be back! Once again, thanks to Yelp for helping me find this place! read more

Seth K.

517

11 years ago

Best chicken tacos on the island in my opinion. Never had anything bad there but I find myself craving the chicken tacos. I don't know how they get it that juicy, but I love it. I get mine with the spicy green sauce and it's icing on the cake. The sauce is really spicy but adds awesome flavor to the mix. I don't care for the milder red sauce but I hear a lot of people like it. To each their own... :) Thumbs up on this little truck and double thumbs up on the chicken tacos! read more

A F.

5 years ago

amazing tacos the habanero salsa is amazing super hot. the carne was soooo fresh and so were the tortillas. toppings were amazing. rice was exceptional... the beans were whole noy refried as an option which was ok... i mashed them myself with a fork which i have no problem with but they were not salty at all. definitely lacked salt on the beans.... which you can add yourself. overall amazing spot! read more

Cody H.

12 years ago

so we stop here to day, on a beautiful kauai day and had lunch. It was my first time here it was amazing. everything delicious. I had the el pastor taco and they where the best i have here on the island . They hit the spot after a long day at the beach. It was a must try on the eatside! read more

Lorri S.

130

11 years ago

I wish I had taken a picture to post but before I ate too quick!! The fish taco was so fresh and delicious. By far the best I have had. Thank you so much! I will be back. read more

Kae W.

4 years ago

Best Fish Tacos on the island! They are affordable and loaded. One taco comes with 2 shells and enough to make into 2 tacos. Don't pass this one up! read more

Cody C.

5 years ago

Amazing tacos! The people are very nice and the menu is great. They have plenty of great options and all the food is amazing.

Christopher B.

14 years ago

Im in Cali now CRAVING there tacos... So good and the lady working was awesome. AWWWWW I want a taco al pastor sooo bad!!!

Jason Z.

8 years ago

Tried shrimp taco. Very delicious. And lots of shrimps in the taco.. Definitely worth trying when you are here in Kauai. read more

Jimmy J.

12 years ago

was walking on the bike path stop heat and got the best mexican food i had in a long time. And i am from LA.

Byrene W.

2 years ago

Best Fish Tacos on Kauai and in all of Hawaii!!! Lengua Tacos are amazing, Best customer service!!! read more

Sandra P.

7 years ago

Great food and nice portions of meat. I'd eat here again. All 10 of us liked our food choices.

Rachel R.

5 years ago

Very delicious tacos! Quick and friendly service. Would definitely recommend to a friend.

Dameon G.

14 years ago

3 total visits in the 8 days we were on the island, each time the food was exceptional.

Miguel S.

10 years ago

The food is OK. Decent Service. I do think that the prices are a little bit expensive.

Casey C.

3 years ago

The best fish tacos on the island. You actually get plenty of fish in them. Delicious!

Ron M.

11 years ago

Awesome fish, beef, chicken, and pork tacos...we tried them all! Really really good!

Amber S.

11 years ago

Steak tacos were great! A great little find in Kauai!

Jennifer L.

14 years ago

Best fish tacos I've ever had, period. Do it.

Al Pastor - mexican - Updated September 2026

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4.5

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Vacationing in North Shore Kauai at the Club Wyndham Bali Hai Villas. Carlito's Way food truck sits…read morein the parking lot here and let me tell you, their food is awesome. We have tried many of their tacos and they are awesome. Price is reasonable for the area, but excellent in my opinion for what flavors you get and the portions to boot. We have also tried the burrito and taco salad. The burrito is like over a pound of goodness (sorry had to take some bites before the pics). The ingredients are fresh and flavorful. I highly recommend the Al Pastor if you can eat pork. Their beef and shrimp tacos were good. It seems like a husband and wife team, but they were really nice and even remembered my wife when we came back a second time. I want to get more before we leave tomorrow, but might not make it. Their hours are 11:00AM - 6:00PM, Monday - Friday. They're located here at the Dropped pin in Longitude/latitude. (22.2244952, -159.4809666) I know at this point they don't have a lot of reviews, but let's change that. They are definitely a 4-5 star in my book for Mexican street food.

I've traveled a lot of the world and NEVER have I eaten a more delicious fish taco anywhere in all…read moremy life than the one I savored today from Carlito's place. I was hungry and wanted to eat quickly, but the second I put the first bite of fish in my mouth, time slowed down as the flavor seemed out of this world. I was compelled to hold this oh-so-fresh delicacy on my tongue, savoring the juicy, succulent, perfectly spiced, lime-infused (and I think love-infused) fish slowly. This fish taco was simply unbelievable. I cannot describe it. You absolutely must try it for yourself. It was just wow. We're here for several more days on vacation and I want to go back every day--and take our friends--and tell everyone about Carlito and this amazing food! Even the service from the two kind gentlemen working in this simple, humble food truck was gracious and top-notch. I mean...wow. I seldom write food reviews, but this fish taco was epic. (Thank you, Carlito. You're amazing!)

Tiki Tacos

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Tiki Tacos was outstanding. I honestly have no complaints. As someone from New Mexico who takes…read moregood tacos seriously, these are hands down the best tacos I've had on the island. The Surfing Pig is a must-try, especially with the extra hot sauce. The flavors were incredible, the ingredients tasted fresh, and everything was packed with flavor. If you're looking for great tacos, this place is absolutely worth a visit. I'll definitely be back.

Tiki Tacos was an absolute winner…read more I went with the Kahuna Fish Taco and the Tiki Fire Pork Taco, and both were fantastic. The pork was so crispy it was basically a bacon taco in disguise, piled with fresh cabbage slaw and a sweet-spicy salsa that had me seriously considering ordering another round. The fish taco was fresh, bright, and exactly what you want from a taco stand a stone's throw from the ocean. The homemade tortillas were the real star of the show. Warm, fresh, and packed with flavor, they elevated everything wrapped inside them. The kids both got quesadillas, and the highest compliment a parent can give is that there wasn't a molecule left on either plate. My wife ordered the tofu tacos and thought they were fine - not great, not terrible. But let's be honest: nobody flies to Hawaii and says, "Take me to the best tofu taco stand on the island." The staff was friendly enough, the atmosphere was fantastic, and the walls were covered in cool artwork and quirky local references that gave the place a ton of personality. If you're in Kapaʻa and craving tacos, put this place on your list. I'd come back in a heartbeat.

La Playa Mexicana

(29 reviews)

Save yourself and your family from disappointment and DO NOT go here. Granted, I am visiting and my…read morehome town has high quality Mexican food, but this food was absolutely diabolical. Service is OK, had a nice conversation with the hostess...but that food was downright abhorrent. $17 for chicken nachos with no cheese, maybe a spoonful of scrap meat, and dripping wet from the refried beans, watery salsa, and guac. It was terrible. My girlfriend got huevos rancheros and said it had no flavor; she got hot sauce which added nothing but more wetness. Always happy to support small businesses but for the love of God learn how to cook a decent meal if you're opening a restaurant.

Sloppy wet unseasoned food. Potentially the worst Mexican I've had in my life. Staff was nice…read morethough UPDATE: I have NEVER farted in my life the way I am hours after eating that "food". Stay away.

Casa Kalaheo

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What a fun place, best ambiance on Kauai.!! Service is awesome! I had Grandmas Recipe, chorizo and…read moresteak. Nice touch. Veggie tacos and Mocktails also complete the menu for everyone. Bring the family. Casa Kalaheo has got you covered.

Friendly, clean, and cute. TASTY AND FRESH! We will be…read moreback asap. Would greatly recommend to all come have fantastic food and support.

Sysko K Subs

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How cool to find out the owner is retired from California! He was very friendly & personable!…read more Their food is awesome. They were unfortunately out of chicken & pork tamales but we were lucky to try the veggie tamales! The masa was very tasty & light plus the filling of some cheese, onions, peppers & tomatoes made for a perfect tamale---very delicious! We placed a huge order: Jeni Special, 2 ground beef burritos, 2 taco salads, Rollin Ruben, fish & chip's & lastly avocado toast. Everything was delicious! The reason for one star taken off was that the avocado toast was missing eggs & the macaroni salad & the fish & chips came without the tartar sauce (wrong sauce given). Really good food from a food truck. We wouldn't hesitate to go back but we'd double check the accuracy of the order.

OMGGGGG THE TAMALES ARE BOMB!! The best masa and fillings! The lady that owns it AND MAKES ALL…read moreTHE YUMMY FOOD is super nice and so passionate about her food! A true chef! I love to support woman who are working hard making their dreams come true!! If you are visiting, you NEED to hit this spot up! PS Get the Organic Lemonade Sooo delicious! We stopped here after hiking Hoopii Falls! It was so refreshing after the hike up! Definitely coming back before leaving the island for more tamales! Aloha

Da Crack Mexican Grinds

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Yo! This is great Mexican burritos and tacos. Great…read more Really can't not eat here all the time. So darn good. The shrimp tacos. The shrimp burrito. The fish tacos. Even the pork tacos. So good. I cannot describe how good they are. Best flood. The service is a window. So take the order. What for the food. That's it, pretty simple. And it's right down the street from a lot of beaches. It's great after a day in the sun. Simple setting next to the market. Go get yourself some. You will live it.

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Tony’s Catch

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Some of the best fish tacos of my life I was looking for a…read morequick lunch close to our Airbnb and came across Tony's Catch on Yelp. It had been named one of Yelp's top food trucks in the nation, so I had to give it a try--and it did not disappoint. Located right on the side of the highway in Kapa'a, Kauai, Tony's Catch sits in a group of about six other food trucks. From the outside it looks pretty simple--just a white truck with a menu--but don't let that fool you. I ordered the mahi-mahi fish tacos, which came with red rice and beans, and I have to say they were some of the best fish tacos I've had in my life. My wife ordered the fish and chips (also mahi mahi), and it was delicious too. I've eaten at plenty of food trucks over the years, and this one takes the top spot. Overall: 5 stars for the food, 5 stars for the location--right next to the beach. I totally recommend it.

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