I cannot say enough amazing things about Jay R at Taqueria El Ranchero in Kapolei. He is truly one…read moreof the best servers we have ever encountered anywhere. Jay R doesn't just provide great service, he anticipates what you need before you even have to ask. He remembers our order, brings our drinks before we've even ordered and always makes sure we get the extra off menu salsa we love with our chips. Even on days we are not in his section and have a different waiter. It's those little details that make you realize how genuinely attentive he is. But what really says everything about Jay is how far he will go for his customers. One evening, one of our kids was freezing cold and wanted a hot chocolate. They didn't have it at the restaurant, so Jay actually went across the street to get one for him without even telling us. Who does that?! We were completely blown away. Jay is the epitome of going above and beyond. He has an incredible ability to make people feel seen, valued, remembered and genuinely cared for. That kind of service is rare. You can teach someone how to take an order or serve a table, but you cannot teach the level of thoughtfulness and genuine hospitality that Jay naturally brings to the service he extends. We come back weekly because we love the food, but Jay is a huge part of what makes Taqueria El Ranchero special for our family. He deserves every bit of recognition possible. If management is reading this, please know what an exceptional person you have representing your restaurant. Jay R. is truly outstanding!

Gave an extra star because they have a big spot with plenty of seats and good food…read more They were supposed to auto-charge gratuity for our party of 6 which irritates me, but they didn't and took a chance. We had other meals for our party and everyone liked their food We checked out the Hawaiian food place nearby and it was very loud with live music, and this place was quiet enough for us to talk and hear each other All the meals were big enough for takeout of leftovers.

First time trying this place and I'm glad I gave it a chance. It definitely won't be my last…read moreeither! Came in around 2pm and surprised I made it during their lunch hour specials. We were immediately greeted when we entered by the entire staff. Our server Rebecca was very pleasant, informative and always checked in on us. Took advantage of their lunch hour specials. I did the math, it was about 30% cheaper than the already reasonable regular menu price. Ordered some queso dip with chips, 3 tacos, an enchilada plate that came with rice, beans and a taco. Everything we ordered was hot, made fresh, seasoned well and flavorful! Nothing was bland or cold at all. Super happy with my experience and glad I stopped by!

Service was good, yet they served us iced tea when we ordered Plantation Iced Tea. Prices are on…read morethe higher side. Presentation is lacking. A lonely burrito slapped on a barren plate, lacks imagination or creativity. Food quality was meh. We got there around 1pm on a Saturday and the place was empty. First off, to me everything had a fishy taste to it, even the salsa. I don't think I will be back to this place.

Mekiko Cantina is always one of the restaurants my family and I go to when on the Oahu island of…read moreHawaii. It's one of the main restaurants that a small group of hotels offer, along with a sports bar, Eggs and Things, Monkeypod, and a new poke place that's in the same shopping center with the ABC store. Mekiko Cantina sits in a gorgeous location right in front, with plumeria trees and green all around. They have indoor and outdoor seating, both are fine, but you do get the benefit of AC inside if it's too humid for your liking. Our family ordered and the food came out not too much longer. In the meantime, we got a chip platter and frozen mango alcoholic drinks which were tasty and a good size! The food is basic Mexican food, like tacos and rice and beans. It's all somewhat unseasoned though, meaning you should probably add something yourself. Truthfully, it's not the best Mexican food ever, but they offer a nice view, indoor and outdoor seating, a good atmosphere, and basic food. The service is fine, as we've never had an issue here with much. Additionally, this is one of the few restaurants that accept the meal vouchers that some of the hotels give to their guests to redeem, so if you do use the voucher, expect to pay for tax and tip, typically.

The food was okay, mixed reviews depending on what each person got! We had a large party of 13, and…read morethey got us in; we appreciate that. Our main server was great; the other server helping out was not. She brought two steaming hot dishes and didn't take care to bring them to our table, especially since we had several young kids with us. As she was walking with the hot dish over heads seated at the table, hot oil accidentally fell on my granddaughter's face next to her eyes. The manager (I guess he was the manager) and the main server came to check on her, but the server who caused the accident came out about 15 minutes later, said sorry, then immediately turned around and left before any of us could look up to acknowledge that she was even apologizing! It looks like she was sent out to apologize and came out unwillingly! I understand accidents happen, but how you deal with the fallout is what matters! It definitely was not worth the mandatory 20% gratuity for large groups!

Pulled over when we saw this sign for birria tacos from this lady and her sign! We got 3 plates of…read more3 birria tacos on each plate for $17 per plate. We got limes, consume and chili with each plate too. The meat was seasoned perfectly and the tacos were big!!! The lady was nice and food was amazing!!!! If you see her around you better stop!

Good food and good service. The inside decor is fun and cheerful. It is a small restaurant, but…read morecomforting and quiet. Everything is fresh. They have a coffee flan, which was great for coffee lovers. I would definitely go again. The server was very sweet. Mahalo.

We had a difficult time finding the entrance (there was a truck blocking the signage--I'm assuming…read moreit was the owner's because they were unloading). We walked in and had to ask if they were open as we weren't immediately greeted. We got to choose our seats and tried to find the coolest spot because it was hot inside! According to the server--their ac was broken. It reminded us of traveling to Mexico and eating at the restaurants there . The decor is very similar and authentic to restaurants in Mexico. They even had lots of the candies found there surrounding their register area. The server was super friendly and attentive once we were seated, I just wish she would've written down our order instead of trying to take it all by memory as she got some things wrong with our order. Now onto the food. Mexican food in Hawaii is nothing to write home about. This was no exception. Our family of 4 ordered: the California Burrito, the super burrito (I actually ordered the chimichanga but it came out as a burrito), Birria tacos, Birria quesadilla, a bean and cheese burrito (the hubby's favorite thing to order at a Mexican restaurant) and because it was taco Tuesday--the carne asada street tacos (which I think the server forgot because we had to remind her) and the flan for dessert. The burritos were of good size and nicely filled. I enjoyed the super burrito but it needed the red sauce that was put on the table. The shrimp inside was very flavorful. My daughter loved her California burrito (it has French fries in it--lol). The birria was delicious--the consommé was pretty bland though. The bean and cheese burrito was cold in the middle and not as generously sized as the other burritos. The best thing that we had was the flan. I love flan and the texture of theirs was amazing. The sauce was a mixed review with the family. I liked it and the fact that there was a lot of it. There was a slight fridge taste but it was still delicious. My husband tried to make a suggestion about moving the large truck that was in front of the restaurant blocking the breeze from coming (remember the broken AC...and this is a hot August afternoon) but upon telling our server he felt dismissed. He was told that the AC was broken and supposedly to be fixed soon, but she didn't acknowledge his suggestion to move the vehicle to let some air in--it's disappointing that when a customer that takes the time to provide genuine feedback to be left feeling dismissed instead of appreciation for the feedback. I feel bad for whomever may have dined after us as it was mighty warm in there...

Duck fat fried rice was awesome! Fried chicken was awesome!…read moreWatercress tofu salad was awesome! Service was awesome! Portions are reasonably priced. Ceilings are very high and feel spacious. Side bar and upstairs private area for party. Sports bar feel with televisions. Only thing is not all we're on and the units are too small for the space. Other than that, it's spacious and clean. No pictures this time.

This was our first time and we went for a late lunch. There were very few people there because it…read morewas an off peak time so the service was very quick! The food and drinks were good! Great portions and flavors. We enjoyed the kimchi pancake, duck fat fried rice, chicken wings, and tacos. I had a seen a previous review about it being dirty , the floor definitely had not been swept in a while. But everything else (tables, benches) seemed clean and I watched them spray down used tables. We would come back again!

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

Paniolos is a clean establishment with a helpful staff. We say Paniolos is the Chipotle of Hawaii…read morebecause there are no Chipotle's in Oahu. We've been to this establishment twice and it's been disappointing both times because like Chipotle they are stingy with their food. They have spoons to scoop the rice, beans, proteins and veggies but they don't give you a spoonful. It was disappointing watching them spoon the Kalua pork into my keiki meals. The amount of pork was slightly above the lip of the spoon (just slightly) and they proceeded to empty the spoon to where it was well below a spoonful. (The idea being better to give them less over a little too much??) I didn't ask for more because I didn't want them to charge me for "extra" protein. Paniolos needs to do better and give customers their fair share. Unfortunately I didn't take photos but trust that this place isn't generous with its servings. I've tried a Paniolos steak burrito and it was bland. You'd assume it would be full of flavor because it's sitting in seasoned juices but it wasn't. The Kalua pork was flavorful. I gave 2 stars because it is very clean, the food was hot and the staff were nice.

I lived in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas for 21 years of my life. So when I say I miss Mexican food…read moredearly, it is an understatement. As soon as I walked into this place, it brought me back home. My best friend Andrea, who is Hispanic, as soon as she saw the Telemundo on TV, she stated that it was authentic. Lol. They nailed the decor. So how was the food? I enjoyed the burrito, I had the steak. I actually was influenced by one of the yelp reviews to order this three plate combo. I thought it was a very filling meal. I did also enjoy the enchilada and the tamale. They gave free chips and salsa upon entering. The second one is an extra charge. A box to go is a $.50. Overall, it was a great experience and a very substantial meal. Our server was quick and hospitable. I ordered flan as an appetizer, and it did not disappoint. 10 out of 10 would come back again for the burrito.

El Mariachi tends to hit and miss. A lot. My most recent dinner experience was just OK…read more Service was friendly and attentive. Our food? Hmmm... I think Taco Bell would have satisfied my cravings and that says a lot! More consistency is needed in the kitchen.

Frida's is one of my weekly go-to spots and for good reason. Whether it's the Supreme Nachos,…read moreFrida's Fajitas, or the Birria Quesadillas, the food is always fresh, flavorful, and consistently good. The owner and staff provide genuine ʻohana-style customer service and always make you feel welcome. You can tell they care about both the food and the people they serve. The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the quality is hard to beat. Great food, great service, and great value. And don't leave without trying the fried ice cream. Highly recommend!

Walk into their large dinning area. There were several tables seated. After taking a table by the…read morewindow, our server greeted us and presented the menu. Along with complimentary chips and salsa. Additionally, they brought out three house made hot sauces. Lots of choices to pick from on the menu. Service was meh. Prompt greeting, order taking then they hung out at the register. Food was excellent. Good quality ingredients. I like the crispy bits on the meat in my burrito. The beans reminded me of the homemade beans my neighbor used to cook for is.

I live on West Side, was so excited to see another Mexican food truck next to Coral Crater…read more Had to try and was so Happy I did. Delicious food!!! I'm from Cali so you know I have to get my fix. Come check this Local Family business. Keep up the great food to Nelly and Familia

CASH. ZELLE PAYPAL. NO CHARGE CARD…read more El Jalisciense offers authentic Mexican food. LOCATION Food truck can be found on Midway road. lots of space to pull over safely. FOOD I ordered Bria tacos ala carte. The meat was very soft and flavorful. I definitely will go back and try the chicken enchiladas. Price is about the same as the eating at a restaurant. $$ RECOMMENDED