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    El Jalisciense

    4.2 (317 reviews)
    ModerateFood Trucks, Mexican
    Closed 6:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    El Jalisciense Photos

    EL JALISCIENSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Reviews With Photos

    Mangoniada and Horchata
    Janice L.

    A day off with the Kids and Grandbaby to Waikele! Early lunch crave for Mexican and excited to come back to El J's. Ordered the street beef taco with fresh salsa and a lime. Battered fish with guacamole taco, Quesadilla plate with guacamole, sauce & sour cream. Along with a nice cold horchata and Mangoniada so refreshing with a tang! If you all hungry after shopping at Waikele Premiums check these guys out and other food trucks in the back parking area by Coach. They've got good grinds! Mmm!

    Beneeta D.

    I've never tried the food trucks in Waikele behind Coach, so I decided to give it a try. I've had a less than good experience with Mexican food on this island, so I was not sure what to expect. The food is actually really good. I got a shrimp taco spicy and a birria taco plate. The shrimp taco was loaded with shrimp, definitely worth the price. The birria was good but the rice and beans were just ok. The person who took our order was unpleasant, she did not seem to care either way if we ordered or not. I would come again.

    Carne asada burrito
    Sarah M.

    We finally found a burrito that is worth the price. It is twice as big as other restaurants. The chicken tacos are good too. They offer mild or spicy salsa so you can enjoy your food at your level of spiciness. They have a couple of tables outside the food truck so you can eat there if you are still shopping at Waikele.

    Picture of the food truck.
    Jay T.

    Unexpectedly went to Waikele and found this trucks unknowingly lol. I wanted a Mangonada but they were sold out ! So I need to try it at least once ! But it must be good if it was sold out already. I ended up getting Horchata and Elote in a cup! The Hotchata was awesome and the elote was delicious. Next time i return I am getting a burrito ! The person handling the register was extremely kind as well! Both items quickly came out too! Tons of parking and they also have seats at the end !

    3/3/24 Menu board on truck
    Val D.

    Located in back of the coach store in the upper waikele outlet stores parking lot, decided to buy food from this truck since I was buying from another truck read the reviews and the farmer's market was dwindling in food tents, but I wasn't too impressed. California beef burrito - 3.5 stars - for $17, it had ground beef, fries and other items. It was pretty big and loaded, and although a little bland, the fries added in gave it a special twist. Enchilada plate - 3.5 stars - for $16 I got 2 enchiladas that were made to order, and not liking a lot of salt, was flavored just right, but the beans were salty. The rice was ok. Service - 4 stars only because the wait is long because there were 4 people before us, and it took more than 15 minutes just to order, then another 15 minutes for the food to be ready for pick-up. The food truck cashier/server was very friendly, talkative and nice. Lots of parking since it is located at the waikele premium outlets upper parking area.

    Two steak tacos and one pork Taco Only
    Savanah M.

    The pork tacos were very tasty and the lady helping me was so kind and helpful. She let me try the pork to make sure I liked it. The salad was yummy too.

    Menus

    For and authentic and loving environment and good food this is a go to my wife can't go trough kapolei without stopping here for some foood I recommend the torta sandwhich Jesus this food got some love with taste and portions bradda and aunty work hard so let's show some love for these guys aloha -

    Chicken enchilada
    Halei J.

    I just happened to stumble across this place. I was shopping at the outlets and was looking for food and saw some people with some takeout and found all the food trucks. I decided on Mexican. I ended up ordering a chicken enchilada, it was pretty good, it came with salad, rice and beans. The lady who served me was really nice. Can't wait to come back on my next holiday.............

    Birria 7. Torta (#12)
    Shirleen W.

    Food truck is located in the corner of Waikele Shopping Center. They offer mexican cuisine and had to check it out to take a break from our shopping. I highly recommend getting their carne asada torta because not only it is flavorful, but it is large considering the value. The price can be off-putting, but I think it is worth it to try their other items.

    7. Torta
    Abigail A.

    If you're a fan of Bahn mi you'll be a fan of their torta! I just wished it had a bit more meat and maybe beans on the side. Very delicious and large of a bread. Would order again but probably would try it with a different meat. Maybe also have my own beans on the side too!

    Chicken enchiladas!
    Patrick H.

    In the form of a Jeopardy Response: A. Excellent Mexican food offerings served from a food truck behind an Outlet Mall. Q. What is something that only happens on O'ahu? We sampled the chicken enchiladas and tossed in a couple Al Pastor tacos for good measure. Ample portions of quality Ingredients makes El Jaliscience a great value and worth the drive from town. I liked that the enchilada sauce is not too "saucy" but still packs a punch of flavor. You get your choice of meats...we went with chicken and it was well executed, nicely seasoned, fresh and hot. The enchiladas are topped with guacamole and shredded chihuahua cheese. We opted to leave off the sour cream. Excellent Spanish rice and very simple frijoles, which are clearly not coming from a can accompanied. My one minor feedback would be that the frijoles needed a little salt. For me...the Al Pastor taco was the star of the show. I went with Spicy...and it was spicy! Not burn-your-taste-buds-out spicy, but not wimpy either. Service couldn't have been friendlier and the whole ambiance of the food truck park is just charming. Plenty of seating options or you can follow that time honored O'ahu tradition and eat in your car. Olè!

    Carne Asada Torta - Huge and Excellent!

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    The service was great. We had the Taco and Enchilada plates. however the taste of the food was disappointing. Price point is reasonable.

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    7 months ago

    Giving 5 stars because this is the only Mexican food truck that taste exactly like the burrito trucks back home in California!

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    9 months ago

    Good food in kapolei mexican food truck. Lady was kind to help. Ambience casual not much seating area though

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    Page 1 of 8

    El Jalisciense Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Jalisciense

    What's in the California burrito?

    Fries cheese guacamole salsa sour cream and your choice of meat

    View All 3 Questions

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    Taqueria el Ranchero - Kapolei

    Taqueria el Ranchero - Kapolei

    3.4
    (893 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    This place has a great happy hour. Offers many deals on food…read moreand drinks. My michelada was not apart of the happy hour menu but was $15. The tamale is $5 each. They are so big and delicious! Also ordered the chorizo queso (not pictured). When seated you are served with complementary chips, red salsa and green sauce. The resturant is pretty big and has lots of seating along with a bar area for seating. The service was friendly and our food came out quickly.

    July 13 2026 Horrible Place. I had gotten 150 Dollars worth of food. I had gotten Chorizo Queso and…read moreFajitas. They gave me 3 Pieces of chicken in MY fajitas. Before that I had to go back inside to grab the queso because they forgot then I had to go back in AGAIN because they forgot the chips. After I arrive home I open my food and see the Fajitas with 3! Pieces of chicken, they were cold and bland, they also gave no silverware and gave me all beans no rice along with to sad and cold corn tortillas. I then Called customer service and the first assistant was rude and basically said that the chef had ran out of chicken so they couldn't give me more. I was then transferred to the manager of the store and she told me that I could drive back from Waikīkī to get more pieces of chicken but it's like how would you give me more chicken if you guys were out? And The queso dip was 20 DOLLARS, and the manger said that the 20 queso didn't include chips. Btw the queso cup was the size on a medium ice cream up. You could go anywhere else and get a LARGE cup of queso for 20 and it would be more. The manager then pretended the she couldn't hear me and hung up the call. I managed to call her back and she told me that I would have to contact DoorDash for a refund. 0/10 Horrible customer service. It is crazy how you treat customers like that when they are the ones KEEPING you in business. The manger definitely needs to have work on and needs to improve how she runs things in the restaurant. 0/10 The food was disappointing and disgusting. The fajitas were super bland and the beans smelled the like they were expiring and that's coming from someone who eats beans very often. The chicken was also bland and veggies along. The manger wouldn't refund me full and only said partially. How she handled the situation was not professional at ALL.

    Photos
    Bar and other seating area
    Bar and other seating area
    The Spread...
    The Spread...
    Margarita

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    Margarita
    Mekiko Cantina

    Mekiko Cantina

    4.0
    (557 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$$
    Outdoor seating
    Live music

    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.

    A very welcoming place. The restaurant was not that busy. We ordered a Pina margarita. The ceviche…read morewas not fresh, very bitter, I don't recommend. The Chicken Taco salad tasted like a Taco Bell taco salad. The enchiladas were okay. Overall this was not what I expected for a Mexican restaurant. The restaurant does have a bar and outdoor dining.

    Photos
    Chicken street tacos.
    Chicken street tacos.
    Fajita Trio | Chicken, Steak, Shrimp & Veggies
    Fajita Trio | Chicken, Steak, Shrimp & Veggies
    Fresco salad with carne asada

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    Fresco salad with carne asada
    Paniolos - Kapolei

    Paniolos - Kapolei

    3.4
    (280 reviews)
    1.9 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
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    Acapulco

    Acapulco

    3.6
    (614 reviews)
    7.4 mi
    $$

    Planning the "expedition" for Mexican grinds in Waipio/Waipahu…read more When Bruddah Fran C. and Sistah Gail U give a thumbs up to a restaurant, you have to stand up and take notice. I happened to be in the Waipio area, a rarity for me, and decided to see what might be worth taking back home. I had never heard of Acapulco but was in the mood for Mexican grinds and when yelpers Fran and Gail reviews popped up, I knew this was one to try. They have indoor and outdoor dining options. Both spaces are very clean. I ordered two plates to go. Both plates came with rice and beans which were delicious. The gave a nice quantity of food. My meal of choice was the combo chili relleno and a beef enchilada with the red sauce. Both were delicious and did not get drowned out by the sauce and cheese. Excellent balance and taste. With gas prices being what they are, coming here is only going to happen when I'm in the area. But the delicious taste will make me think hard for any excuse to get to Acapulco restaurant when I'm in the mood for Mexican grub.

    I can't speak for the service because I always get takeout (Although from what I can tell, it's…read moreexceptional) but I had to leave a review for this restaurant. I've moved over 60 times in my life and have eaten at multiple michellin rated restaurants, and I've only left about 2 or 3 reviews for restaurants. But please, please, please believe me when I say, the food here is PERFECT. The seasoning, the quality, every bite full of flavor and culture. This is THE BEST mexican on oahu, and could hold it's own even in the mainland. Please do yourself a favor and treat yourself to the food here. If you enjoy full bursting flavor in every bite and hate bland food. Then you OWE it to yourself to try this! Why the rating isn't a perfect 5 stars, I don't know, but I wish I could give this restaurant 10000 stars for the joy that their cooking has consistently brought me. Thank you for always being the best!

    Photos
    Inside the restaurant...........
    Inside the restaurant...........
    Burrito
    Burrito
    Modelo Especial Beer

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    Modelo Especial Beer
    Da Crawfish and Crabshack

    Da Crawfish and Crabshack

    4.0
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Happy hour specials

    gonna keep this simple i ordered hamburger steak plate lunch…read more garlic noodles hamburger steak spaghetti salad value i can see why their lunch specials are popular. it's good at a very good price. in this economy, this is a steal. the servers were working their asses off serving the tables and juggling the lunch orders. hats off to them.

    We tried the Da Crawfish and Crabshack's (Kapolei) $9.99 weekday Lunch Specials that they offer…read morefrom 11 am - 3 pm. Huge disappointment. First, the actual plates aren't close to the portions pictured in prior reviews. We ordered the Smoked Chicken which was more like "Skimpy" Chicken soaked in vinegar. The Pork Adobo was drenched with "sweet/sour sauce" which left a lasting aftertaste in your mouth. The Pork Ribs were actually the closest to previous pictured plates - tasted like "salt and vinegar" instead of "salt and pepper" - still skimpy (little meat covering huge bone inside)! Their "garlic noodles" had so much garlic that I'm sure that Vampires and Draculas will stay away from me for a week. The rice tasted like "day-old refrigerated" rice which was microwaved. I becomes solid if not eaten immediately. So shame. I can't imagine the other selections are any better so I'll just refrain from returning again. I would not eat this food even if you gave it to me for free. I believe you'll get a bigger bang for your buck by using the BOGO coupon at Loco Moco Kapolei located in the same mall.

    Photos
    Combo #1 $29.99
    Combo #1 $29.99
    Da Crawfish and Crabshack
    Lunch special. $14. Add a $1 beer during happy hour and you can't go wrong.

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    Lunch special. $14. Add a $1 beer during happy hour and you can't go wrong.
    Chili's

    Chili's

    3.5
    (829 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    This was a very disappointing dining experience. The restaurant was not busy, yet there seemed to…read morebe an unreasonable number of greeters, all looking confused, and it still took far too long just to get us seated. After being seated, we waited about 5-7 minutes before our server came to our table. She took our drink and meal order, but our drinks didn't arrive until after our food was served. By then, we had been sitting at the table for approximately 45 minutes. Our server was very nice, but unfortunately the overall service was poor and lacked attentiveness. I was actually surprised that my husband still left a 20% tip. Sadly, the entire experience was frustrating and disappointing. I can't recommend this restaurant based on the service we received

    Came at 9pm Friday after KHS graduation so of course it was busy but our party of 5 was seated…read morewithin minutes. Our server was really good, I ran to the car after getting seated so missed her name but had all our waters on the table when I came back in minutes later. She also refilled our waters frequently thru the night (idn't expect that on a busy Friday night & most servers anywhere aren't even that attentive when slow). I should've got her name, but she's a local, petite girl. Now to the food. The keiki pizza came out quick and none of the kids liked it. That was a first anywhere, they love pizza but felt it tasted like a not fully cooked microwave pizza. The rest of our food took longer to come out!, like 20 minutes but we had chips and salsa we snacked out...mmm (Got a refill bag to take home too). The med rare sirloin steak was really tasty but was so small. The menu says 6 Oz but looked like 5 tops (my picture angle makes it look bigger). When that little amount of food is given those ounces matter! The triple dipper was pretty good, I had chicken crispers (perfect), southwestern egg rolls (too runny that night) & fries (didn't taste or look like had any seasoning). The hot boneless chicken wings were a bit cold but had lots of sauce. It was loud as usual but we were in our own corner. It was very cold, that's why I ran to the car to get the kids blankets but I could've used one too lol. The restaurant was clean, but the women's restroom had water on the ground in the 1st stall that traveled to the sink and 2nd stall some. I didn't go in that one to see what the issue was, but i didn't hear anything running. Overall it was ok, but our server was awesome!

    Photos
    Chili's
    Chili's
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    El Jalisciense - foodtrucks - Updated July 2026

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