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    El Jalisciense

    4.2 (317 reviews)
    ModerateFood Trucks, Mexican
    Open 6:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    El Jalisciense Photos

    EL JALISCIENSE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    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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    6 years ago

    Tried their burrito and it was super jumbo could only eat half, so if your hungry grab a burrito...so ono.

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    5 years ago

    I don't normally eat here but the few times I did the food was really good. Stop by and give it a try, I think you will be really surprise.

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Their Al Pastor quesadilla is great! Also, one of my favorite places to get horchata!

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    Page 5 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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    Mekiko Cantina

    Mekiko Cantina

    4.0
    (555 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.

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

    Frida Taqueria

    4.3
    (316 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    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 were excited to try this place after reading the Yelp reviews and craving Mexican food. I don't…read moreusually leave negative reviews because I know restaurants can have an off day, so I try to give them the benefit of the doubt. We're also not people who only enjoy fancy restaurants--we're just as happy grabbing musubi from 7-Eleven or pork hash from the Manapua Man. Good food is good food, regardless of where it's from. We placed an online order for pickup, and the first item we opened was the carne asada plate. Right away, everything looked very dry. The meat was tough and chewy, and the rice was clumpy and dry, almost as if it had been sitting out for a while. It wasn't a great first impression. The biggest disappointment, though, was the tres leches cake. We love tres leches and order it whenever we get the chance, whether it's from a restaurant, farmers market, or a local home baker. We ordered two slices. After one bite of the first slice, it had a distinctly sour taste that reminded us of spoiled milk, so we stopped eating it immediately. Before trying the second slice, we smelled it first, and it had the same spoiled milk smell. To make sure we weren't imagining it, we brought both slices to family members, and everyone agreed that they smelled like spoiled milk. At that point, we no longer felt comfortable eating the rest of our order. Although the horchata tasted fine, we ended up throwing everything away because we had lost confidence after the dessert experience. I can only speak on our experience, but unfortunately it was a very disappointing one. I understand that not every meal will be perfect, but serving a dessert that smelled and tasted spoiled was concerning. Hopefully this was an isolated incident, but based on our visit, we won't be returning.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Cheesecake
    Cheesecake
    Storefront... can't judge a book by its cover!!!

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    Storefront... can't judge a book by its cover!!!
    Paniolos - Kapolei

    Paniolos - Kapolei

    3.4
    (281 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

    This place is well suited for a paniolo with a small appetite. I happened to be riding my horse…read morearound Kapolei and got hungry, so I stopped at this Mexican restaurant. Food was tasty, but the protein portion was fitting for a keiki cowboy. Me being of the large paniolo variety would have liked a bit more chopped steak in my bowl. I wish they offered a extra protein option or a mega portion bowl. Aside from being a featherweight in the meat department, the ingredients were fresh and tasty. I got guacamole, which was extra of course. The salsas were tasty and the rice, onions, and lettuce were all good. Service was good and it was quick to go in, order, and get my bowl while my horse waited in the horse parking area in front of TJ Maxx next to a primer grey Honda Civic.

    Photos
    Paniolos - Kapolei
    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
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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.

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    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
    (834 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    I had some time to kill while my Jeep was getting an oil change at Goodyear, so I walked around the…read morecorner to Chili's Grill & Bar. It turned out to be the perfect way to wait. I grabbed a cold Heineken and an order of the Texas Cheese Fries, and they definitely hit the spot. The fries came out hot, loaded with cheese, bacon, jalapeños, and ranch, and paired perfectly with the beer. The bar area was comfortable, the service was friendly, and it was a relaxing place to hang out instead of sitting in a waiting room. If you're getting your car serviced nearby or just looking for a casual spot to unwind, I'd definitely recommend stopping in here. I'll be back the next time I'm waiting on my vehicle.

    We came to Chili's in Kapolei to redeem a gift card we won at an auction after not having been here…read morefor several years. Unfortunately, we left pretty disappointed. We used to be regulars back when they had great value deals like the 3 for $10 meals and complimentary chips and salsa through the rewards program. It was surprising to learn that the rewards program is no longer offered, and we couldn't find any indication of that before visiting. The biggest surprise was the pricing. Most entrées were around or over $20, which felt really steep for the quality and portion sizes. The sides were small, and overall the meal just didn't feel like a good value. To me, not even filling the plate with fries is cheap for a $19 black bean burger. Our bill was around $70, and for that price, there are so many better dining options on Oʻahu with fresher, higher-quality food. The service was fine, but the food and value just aren't what they used to be. It's disappointing because this used to be one of our go-to casual restaurants.

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    Chili's
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    El Jalisciense - foodtrucks - Updated August 2026

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