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    Buho Cocina Y Cantina

    3.4 (1.8k reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Bars, Salad
    Closed 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Buho Cocina Y Cantina Photos

    Business Info

    BUHO COCINA Y CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    DJ

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    Bryson S.

    Awesome outdoor spot for brunch. LGBTQ friendly and we went for a drag show to support a friend. Can definitely get hot out there if the sun is blasting, since it's outdoors. We got calamari and green chili chilaquiles with steak and it was good! Forgot to snap pics. Check them out for their next show! They did run out of guac though so order that early!

    The habanero chicken wings.
    Danan F.

    The best thing here is the view and the habanero chicken wings which were pretty killer. Service , just so so so. Pretty expensive for a shot glass full of salsa. It was a complete joke. I have found in the state of Hawai'i, salsa and chips are "not on the house". There never seems to be any queso any Mexican menus either. The guacamole portions are very small as well. Then for our server to suggest that we will need three orders of chips and salsa that were $6each! Then to come out in small one ounce ramekins for 12 people had to be a joke. We honestly couldn't believe it. The chips seemed stale and super chewy. The carne asada tacos were not amazing and very bland, no caramelization on the beef . No flavor and the corn tortillas were cold for all of our tacos. We ordered shrimp tacos, chicken, carne asada and the fish, Caesar salad. Chicken was decent. Shrimp ok, the sauce was so so. The fish tacos were not good, and the sauce served on the tacos wasn't good at all unfortunately. The Caesar salad is not near a classic Caesar. I think the menu should suggest " Caesar salad with a twist". The salad had boiled eggs, and pico de gallo. Wasn't terrible. Just like a cob salad with a Mexican take on it. Not bad just not it. The jalapeño poppers, couldn't have been fresh or handmade. Tasted like the ones from Costco and tossed on a plate. No presentation whatsoever. Just plain. The margarita (The Classic), just average. Pretty sour. All of the classic margaritas we ordered were inconsistent with presentation. The bartender seemed off since drinks were inconsistent. Some had lime on the rim, others didn't. Some tasted stronger than others. Just unfortunate. The chicken habanero wings were incredibly amazing and honestly they should just convert to a wing place and specialize in wings. This may be the ticket honestly. There aren't enough wing places on the island. The crisp on these wings and the with seasoned breading were actually pretty perfect a the sauce was great. I would also suggest putting the sour cream sauce that wasn't exactly sour cream but not ranch in a ramekin. Just an ice cream scoop of this on a warm plate and wings thrown on the plate isn't the best. You can't really dip it. You needed a fork to get the dip on the wings. All great combos for the wings. Just lazy presentation. Overall just sloppy, and lazy plating, and service. We are grateful to have received the locals discount since we do live here. Then last but not least. No toilet paper in two of the three stalls of the girls bathroom at 6:45pm. Toilet paper all over the ground and not clean. This place was not packed. I do understand that this place does dancing later into the evening, so I would totally understand why the bathroom is subpar. Men's bathroom was dirty with paper on the floor. We had $171 dollar check and that was with a 18% gratuity added in. We had to ask for the check while servers and the host chatted by the elevator. The others checks on the table included were $163 and the other was $201 They served 12 people. The view was and is spectacular. Please note: I eat all over this island and 90% of my reviews are positive. I rarely give harsh reviews.

    Table area
    Joy H.

    Had a blast here! They made sure we had drinks and food all on time! My birthday party was beautiful decorated. I was bummed that there were no Habenero mango wings... it was taken off the menu. But we had the other things.

    On Open Table- parking fees
    Suzie A.

    BEWARE if you're parking your car in their building. On Sunday Dec 7 we enjoyed our meal in an almost empty restaurant. This place claims they will validate your parking for a flat rate of $5. However that night the manager said he ran out of 3-hour validation stamps and couldn't give us the 10-hours validation stamp because it was for employees only. Our car was charged $15 to exit and our guests' car was charged $15 as well. After spending $250 at their restaurant it would have been good if manager approached our table to apologize and offer a $10 gift card or something to that effect. We are locals that drove into Waikiki to show our guests a nice meal- but was bummed at the end how it was handled- or not handled. We won't be returning. It's a small thing in the end- but there are other Mexican places on the island with good food, free parking and better management style. This one- no management aloha.

    Jay S.

    Casual,Pleasant, Rooftop Mexican restaurant in downtown Honolulu. Adjacent garage parking with great ticket validation discount for parking. Service: 5/5 Their outstanding feature was service. They servers were friendly, efficient, and helpful with the menu. They gave our group a great table next to the street, where we could observe the holiday parade on the street below. They are also a good place to watch Friday night fireworks. Food: 3/5 Food was served quickly and hot. We liked the tacos (after we added sauces) better than the burritos. Guacamole was tasty. Facility: 4/5 Cheerful, with Mexican decor. Open air covered dining. Location: 5/5 for convenience - restaurant and parking are conveniently located downtown in a popular shopping area.

    Buho tacos for six with two proteins (we chose shrimp and steak). Great flavors and hot flour tortillas
    Rob P.

    Octopus legs were amazing. As was the ginger margarita and apple empanada, friendly service and chic ambiance. Love going here with my family

    Fish Tacos (before)...
    J R S.

    They should spell the whole name out to Butt Hole...because that's the only thing you're gonna' be thinking about the next day as this food poisoning worthy food goes through your body. Fish tacos keep coming out of me. BAD.

    The restaurant which is outside
    Ma'aka M.

    Went for a Drag brunch event. Not sure why the service was bad. Could have been a lack of staff, organization or management. Waiting at our today to order food and drinks for about 12 mins. Had to walk up to bar to order and no one communicated that they see me will help me in a bit. They were making drinks for orders from the reservation tables. The regular all were waiting to be served. Finally a kind gentleman ask for my order and said sorry for the wait. He was very busy. This is not his fault. Very nice of him to acknowledge the long wait. While I was getting drinks, a server came to the table was being served for orders.

    California Burrito and wet burrito

    Drinks were good, and the food was okay overall. I ordered the California burrito, but it tasted more like a burger, which kind of missed the point of a burrito for me.

    Paloma
    Diana M.

    We were looking for some younger crowd nightlife when we stumbled upon this place. They are located right on the Main Street and have a side elevator accessible from the sidewalk. At night they have a bouncer outside. The line move relatively quick and we got in the elevator. Once upstairs, you have the big bar in your left, some tables, some standing big square table, a DJ booth and a dace floor in front. The bar was nice and you were able to get drinks without much of a hassle. The music was a mix of Latin music with some EDM, and hip hop. From the Latin music, they played: Salsa, bachata, merengue, reggaeton, ballenato, and Banda. There was surprisingly a lot of underaged kids at the beginning. They just don't get a wrist band. We saw a bouncer removing one because he was drinking from his friend's drink. Last call was around 1am and everyone was leaving around 1:30am. This place didn't look that alive Wed-Thu, Fri-Sat 85 was really going.

    Justin H.

    Very good food here. Good service and nice clean table seats as well. One thing that really bother me was after 8pm turns to a night club , so might not be as good for family time. Gotta come early to eat here. And security people were rude

    Whitney F.

    Very cool location with natural, organic decor. Service is very friendly and welcoming; our server had some awesome suggestions for hikes and sunrise and sunset view locations. The presentation of the food is beautiful, and there are some good options for shareable dishes as well. We wanted a little more flavor with the proteins (seasoning and salts) but we are a half Hispanic household so perhaps we are just use to a different style of Mexican food. Overall I do recommend a visit to this restaurant.

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    9 days ago

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    2 months ago

    The service was terrible when we went to eat but the people at the bar they would help you but the people seating you don't !

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    Page 1 of 45

    Buho Cocina Y Cantina Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Buho Cocina Y Cantina

    When is happy hour? What is their taco Tuesday's special?

    Happy hour 5-6:30pm $7-$9 margaritas and $6-$9 bites Taco Tuesday $3 off taco plates 5-10pm

    Do they have gluten free items on the menu?

    Your best option would be to call the restaurant and ask, because their online menu is completely different from the menu at the restaurant. Very limited items now.

    Is there a happy hour? Can you currently dine in? Do they have live music?

    You can dine in, they do still offer happy hour every day but no dancing or live music.

    Are you open for lunch on Wednesday with outdoor seating?

    We Open Avery Day from 4pm.

    Is it open for dine in now?

    We open for dine in every day, outdoor seating, roof top.

    Does anyone know where to park when dining here?

    There's a parking garage right at the bottom of the building. You can take the elevator up to the restaurant.

    Do they have Tuesday Taco specials?

    I believe so but check their website to be sure .

    How about dress code?

    Casual attire.

    What time does late night happy hour start?

    10PM to Close

    View All 11 Questions

    Margaritas

    Margaritas

    3.9
    (872 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    The open air atmosphere is pleasant and offers a fun, yet relaxed ambiance that pairs well with…read morewhat I would call the best margaritas on island. My personal favorite is the jalapeño margarita made with infused tequila. It's spicy and savory and totally hits the spot. The food is also great. The chips are super crispy so you don't have to worry about breaking them when you dip a big scoop of salsa or guacamole. The service is friendly, professional and efficient. The enchilada plate was not a traditional type enchilada , but it was extremely good. It's light, flavorful and the perfect portion to fill you up. I always leave satisfied. Highly recommend for a night out with a partner or friends. As the name states , the margaritas are the real highlight here!

    Oh jeez..where to start. Hardly ever give 1 stars, but the experience paired with prices were…read moreterrible. Happy hour ends at 6 pm, but we walked in by 5:50 and sat down. Waitress was super sweet, but her manager couldn't honor the happy hour pricing, because they took the order at 6:03, although we were sat down ready to order..not our fault you didn't come to take our order.. Price: 2 birria tacos for $17 I get everything is expensive here but this is straight up asinine. Not for this sad looking plate with a dried wedge of lime. Is that supposed to do anything at this point This tells me management is profit maxing without doing anything else to make this into a remotely decent restaurant. Reminder to look into restaurants before going! We saw outdoor area and wanted to grab some margs and left with a bill we thought was the biggest waste of our money so far in 2026. Not to mention their roof leaks so you're not even safe from rain! I highly recommend Taco Bell or any local food trucks! ‍ gd I haven't felt scammed like this in a hot minute.

    Photos
    Nachos
    Nachos
    Birria Tacos
    Birria Tacos
    Margarita Flight

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    Margarita Flight
    Da Cantina

    Da Cantina

    4.9
    (12 reviews)
    5.4 mi

    Sister location and part of the original Alejandro's next door. If you've eaten at Alejandro's then…read moreyou know what I mean. Only difference now is they are a sit down establishment serving margaritas and the like. I try carne asada at almost every Mexican eatery I stop at and this place rises to the top. Authentic taste; as if you were somewhere in Mexico. Any menu item is well flavored. That's all you need to know. Oh, their portions are huge so be mindful when ordering. If I had to pick one thing bordering negative it is the location as they are on Kalihi Street well into the Kalihi Valley. But, you will get used to it after your first visit; afterall, it's worth the journey into the "valley" Couple things you should know and that is chicken enchiladas are not made daily. I think it's Tuesday and Thursday? Not sure but it is limited. If you don't already know, their Kapahulu location closed a few years ago. They do intend on opening another location in Pauoa Valley I'm told and another location in Pearl Kai... I hope I'm not spreading rumors.... Regardless.... get there or be square!

    This is a really great local find in the middle of a neighborhood. Good spot to have some tacos…read moreand watch sports. The bar seats were all taken by locals from the area. First time driving through this part of Kalihi. Reminded me of where I used to live in Waipahu.

    Photos
    Da Cantina
    What a carne asada burrito looks like inside the wrap
    What a carne asada burrito looks like inside the wrap
    Da Cantina

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    Taqueria El Ranchero

    Taqueria El Ranchero

    4.0
    (2.4k reviews)
    19.6 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Tacos in the cantina
    Tacos in the cantina
    WATERMELON SANGRIAS
    WATERMELON SANGRIAS
    SEAFOOD WET BURRITO

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    SEAFOOD WET BURRITO
    K-Mex HI

    K-Mex HI

    4.5
    (81 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    With only a few hours between church services on the weekend my fiancé and I tend to go to our…read morenormal hot spots - ramen, curry, burgers, the occasional k-bbq and pho joints. But we were looking for something different, quick, and tasty. That's what we got at K-Mex HI although to be quite frank - the parking lot here is terrible! Mostly due to their location in the middle of the street with a handful of street parking locations shared with multiple other businesses down the lane. It took us 3 rounds of driving before we ended up deciding it was better to drop me off to order and pick up the food and have my man drive around into another larger parking lot to wait the 15-ish minutes it would take for our food to be ready. The owners were so nice. Answering all of my insistent questions, smiling when I ended up ordering something different from what they recommended on the menu (my bad - it's a question I ask all businesses even though I usually decide what I want beforehand LOL). They asked if I needed a bag, if I needed utensils and napkins, and even checked in on me while they made the food! Awesome service and I'm sure it would be the same if we decided to eat in. I liked the atmosphere. It was small but homely, clean, and there were a few small fish tanks in the corner! 15-ish minutes later, food packed up - I jumped back in the car and we drove down to South Shore Market in Ward to eat at the tables and take a glance if Ocean Taste's line was... long (it was). And let me tell you... the food? Delicious. The amount of food? Good for the price! And overall pretty darn great experience. I wasn't the biggest fan of the spicy pork (not my preference). But my fiancé liked it and his only comment was that it was a bit greasy for his liking. Reminded him he was in-fact eating spicy pork which is normally served on his plate lunch in a piece of tinfoil so the oil doesn't get everywhere! The carne asada was super delish along with the gochujang hot sauce cups we found at the bottom of the bag. I'd get K-Mex HI again if I was in the area but I'd love to see them in another location where I can more easily park! That's the only real bummer about this place and has deterred me from returning. :(

    Cute little taco place nestled between a couple buildings off to the back end. They have a "double…read moreparking " lot which means if you leave before the person parked behind you then you need to wait or hope they move for you. We got lucky because it was only take out/pick up orders so nobody stayed parked behind us for long. There is also street parking. I had 3 tacos and did 2 chicken and 1 beef. They have several sauces to choose from that range from hot to hotter imo lol...a Tapatio and some other brands. Mine actually tasted great without it. The restaurant has a few tables, a couple fish tanks, flat screen tvs and just an overall cute vibe. Everything looked clean.

    Photos
    Indoor seating
    Indoor seating
    Entrance to K-Mex HI
    Entrance to K-Mex HI
    K-Mex HI

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    Buho Cocina Y Cantina - mexican - Updated July 2026

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