Have been craving Mexican food for a couple of days and this was Great! Easy to miss, so get good directions, great food!

Excellent Mexican food!!! We are from San Diego, and know the good stuff when we taste it. It's a little hard to find, at the back of a large multi shop building, Kohala Trade Center, look for the sign and head back thru the turquoise painted entryway. More parking in back. Simple set up, patio open air seating,serve yourself order window. Great food! read more

Stumbled on this delicious Mexican restaurant because other lunch places in town were closed. Having lived for twenty years in Los Angeles, I have eaten lots of great Mexican food through the years and this meal ranked near the top in terms of freshness and taste. Happy to have had a meal here on our travels. I highly recommend. read more

Probably the best Mexican on the island and its here in Kohala! They make their own chips and sauces and even if you live in a place with great Mexican cuisine you should give them a try. My favorite is the Chile Colorado burrito covered in red sauce. read more

Love this place! If you are in Hawi a must go to eat! Authentic Mexican food - they don't serve beer but go down to the local store and pick up a six pack- and the guacamole is yummy! It's a hidden gem for Mexican food on the island. read more

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Cash only. Good value for your money. Long wait. Full meal includes rice & beans & entree and small salad. In addition to street parking there is parking in the back. read more

We walked into the restaurant, asked for restrooms, we were told that restrooms are for guests only. We told the " manager" that we wanted to order food. She sent us to the back. We found the restrooms with locked doors. We went back to her and asked for the key. She ignored us completely. We felt treated like animals. Will never go back there. We called the restaurant to complain and they hung up on us. read more

Finally!!! REAL Mexican food!!! Moving from Oxnard, CA we were used to authentic Mexican food any time of the day.... This place is excellent, highly recommended for flavorful, authentic family made food... A regular stop on the island read more

We stopped here on our way back from hiking. We had our kids and they loved the food as did my wife and I. It will be one of those places we remember and come back to next time we're on the Big Island. Great prices too! read more

Great stop. CASH ONLY! No WiFi and if you sit outside, you get the sound of the restroom The food is great though

Mi Ranchito has the best Mexican food I have had in the islands. I am originally from San Diego and thought that I would have to give up Good Mexican Food after moving here. What a pleasant surprise to find Mi Ranchito right in North Kohala! Maria and the family are from Michoacán and their food is the real deal. read more

This is probably the worst meal I've had in decades. Tough chips, watery hot sauce, bland fish in the tacos and greasy chile rellenos. Definitely not worth the drive or the money. If your craving fish tacos check out Kohala Burger and Tacos in Kawaihae. read more

Needed a quick bite and haven't had Mexican food in almost two weeks...needed my fix real bad. I was not disappointed! The cook was from Michoacan and did it right. I had two carnitas tacos w guac. My wife had the toatada salad that was full of meat. Beans were spot on too! The chips were strangely addicting! Hawi HI isn't a place when I think Mexican but if you need it you got it. read more

This is the best Mexican food I've had since I lived in Mexico! Ive eaten here 2 nights in a row and will be coming back a few more times before my trip is done. The soft taco azada plate was sooo tasty. Perfectly seasoned, generous portions of meat, and so juicy. Yum. The azada burrito was good too, and so gigantic. I only finished 1/3 of it and took the rest home. The guacamole is nice and chunky, but could use more cilantro. I love their salsa. It's the perfect level of spicy! Basically, this place is delicious and you need to experience it. read more

Mi Ranchito - #8 soft tacos carnitas with extra cilantro. I'm in Food Heaven! - Mexican Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

About five years ago I did this restaurant two stars. What a fool I was! After being reassured that my experience was a surprise to so many of the locals here, I went back to check it out again. Five years later I'm still going back but no longer to check it oot. Now I know this some of the best Mexican food I've ever tasted. The staff will go out of their way to make sure your food is exactly the way you want it. I may still be considered a fool by many of my friends in town, but never because I love this restaurant! read more

My family and I were there about two days ago. We are from South Texas. To be completely honest, the food was actually really good. However, the reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the service or lack thereof. Just terrible. Not sure if one of the women is the owner or if they are just employees but the service sucked. Not once during our entire time did any of the girls break a smile. My wife had ordered some nachos and she politely asked for some small plates and the front girl just grabbed them and handed them to her without saying one word. Before we left, my 5 year old needed to go to the bathroom and we asked for the bathroom key and she stated that they didn't even have a bathroom. If the owner of this restaurant would just change the service aspect, I could easily see this place being always packed with people. The food is there just severely need to work on the service aspect. When we got there, there was a gentleman placing his order and at the end, he asked her three times if he had to pay now or later? She didn't even respond until after the third time and she was inches from him. Just the attitude of "I don't want to be here and I don't want to be serving you." For us, if we lived there, I would totally stop from going there. I can easily spend my hard earned money at other establishments that truly want your business. read more

Almost walked right past this place. Their homemade chips are the best. The salsa was good but too hot. Got the fresh guacamole w/out peppers to balance the hot salsa. I really liked the enchilada / Chili relleno. Great price & great Mexican food. read more

Mi Ranchito - Mexican Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

Maria. Please chips are stale put left overs in the refrigerator and please Beans too Much SALT Yuck. We love the Mexican food but chips stale and beans salty. read more

I have eaten here many times and have always been happy with the food. On this occasion, 1-8-20 I was greeted by an employee I had never seen. Young, maybe 18-20, on the overweight side (5'5" maybe 180) who was very rude. Every time I asked how I wanted my food (what kind of sauce, what kind of meat, like they ASK you to tell them) she said either "that will cost extra" or "We can't put carne asada in a crunchy shell, only a soft tortilla". BS, they have always done it in the past. She was clearly unhappy to be there and taking things out on the customer. When I told her I would gladly pay extra for whatever she was trying to extort from me, she only got angrier. I ordered the same plate I had a week before (which was one of the best Mexican meals I had in a very long time) but there was hardly any green sauce on my dry enchilada even though I paid more for it. The red sauce served with the chips had been watered down until it had no flavor (a week before it was beautifully hot and flavorful, and thick, so much so I bought two quarts for my fridge). She dropped the food off in a huff and when she left to drive someone somewhere, she unhooked the swinging door so it would bounce against my chair. I ALWAYS treat restaurant staff kindly and take good care of them when it comes to tipping. I hope she enjoyed her .76 cent tip. Whatever ruined her day should not have been taken out on a loyal customer. I only gave 2 stars because other visits were so good. Today she earned a negative five stars. IF YOU ARE READING THIS: there are other restaurants in Hawi! Fire your bad employees if you want my business. read more

The food is extremely fresh and delicious. I will come back here again and again!!! I ordered the chicken burrito and it did not disappoint. Their beans are made just right and the cheese was excellent. read more

Nobody with much culinary experience would consider this a notable Mexican restaurant , but they manage to prepare Tex-Mex staples reasonably well. And of course they're the only game in town in Hawi if you want Mexican read more

Just went, was supposed to be open but it was closed even though there was a sign saying it would be closed tomorrow, not today.

A very good affordable place to eat. The lady their is super nice! The only thing is that it is cash only, but a ATM down the street not to far! read more

Mi Ranchito - Super Good Super Nachos! - Mexican Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

We're used to the amazing Mexican food we used to enjoy living in southeastern Arizona, and Mi Ranchito comes very close. The adobada (burrito or tacos) is superb, as is the carne asada. I really love the chile relleno. My husband's favorite is chile Colorado. This is a walk-up-window kind of place (or you can call in your order), cash only, closed after lunch until 5:30 pm, and very nice people offering fast service. Enjoy! read more

So good. Awesome veggie burrito with amazing red sauce. Some of the best salsa I've tasted. Sweet little find in Hawi.

Get ready to wait 30+ minutes if there's any pick up orders ahead of you. There's probably only 1 or 2 people working so service is very slow. The food was good but not worth waiting so long for unless you're looking to take a nap as well. read more

After reading all of the amazing reviews, we decided to try it. We went at 11 and they told us they wouldn't be opening yet and we had to wait until 11:30, despite what their Facebook page said. We returned at 11:30 and there were a couple people waiting but no indication that they were open. We waited around for 25 minutes, but no one showed up or said anything to us at all. We looked around for a window to order from, but it was unclear. It was very confusing and we will not be going back there. read more

Live in the area and come here often. These are hard working ladies who keep the food real, fresh, and consistent. Anything w green chili sauce and the crispy tacos is what I go for. When Maria went to visit extended family in Mexico her mom stepped in while she was gone. I couldn't believe the food could get any better but wow! Looking forward to her return! Also the liquor store next door is closed down... Probably for good but its still BYOB CASH ONLY read more

Hawaii is beautiful, Hawaii is relaxing, Hawaii is home...but Hawaii does not "do" Mexican food...or so I thought. When I moved back home from SF I had said my good-byes to hole in the wall taquerias, to fresh tortillas, to taco trucks better than any restaurant. I've tried as many Mexican restaurants in Hawaii as I dared from Luquin's to Reuben's to some shop in Shipman Park...and each time utter disappointment. Then out of starvation and maybe a sliver of hope we tried Mi Ranchito while driving through Hawi. The string of tourist trap shops we passed were not encouraging. The fancy-schmansy liquor shop next door was another red flag. Then...the order window was a good sign, the spanish coming from the kitchen - good sign. The menu was extensive but not all tex-mex. If you didn't know what Carne Azada was there were no explanations for you - good sign. The big soaring white dove of hope was the delivery of the food - the tortilla on my burrito was griddled warm...(not the stupid steam thing). Then the first bite - the beans had FLAVOR!!! Praise the bean god. The chili verde had beautiful chunks of pork and a delicate green chili flavor. The Carne Azada was real steak, juicy and freshly cooked, the carnitas spilled out of the burrito that was bigger than my head. The sour cream was the real Mexican Crema, the guacamole was the best in Hawaii (as promised). It may be a 1.5 hour drive to Mi Ranchito, but I will rest easier tonight knowing that I don't have to board a plane to be able to get my fix. You can't ask me if I would give 5 stars if this restaurant were planted in the Mission. Right now I would say yes, it is THAT good. 5 stars for being out in the boondocks Hawaii where people have to eat because there are only 2 other restaurants in a 20 mi radius. read more

We visited the Mi Ranchito booth at the Kohala Country Fair. The taco salad was huge and stuffed to the brim with beans, beef, veggies, cheese and sour cream. The enchiladas were generous in size and the plate came with salad, beans, and extra rice. These two entrees could easily feed three or four people. The staff was wonderfully friendly, and offered a horchata while we waited. It was refreshing and satisfying as both a beverage And a dessert ... I will definitely visit their restaurant soon! read more

Very nice place, not fancy but the food made us miss our O.C. Home. It was a quick fix. Very recommended

We did not eat here however the lady was not nice at all. We ate across the street at the barbecue chuckwagon, and it was very good. When we asked him for a bathroom he instructed us that the center across the street has the bathroom. The lady who works there was cheery when she greeted us but turned it all and sour when we asked for the key for the bathroom. The female bathroom did not have toilet paper and when asked about it the lady said they "did not have any" the boys restroom did have some toilet paper though. Upon leaving I told her to have a nice day which she promptly ignored and said nothing. Her young child was playing all over the floor as well. It seemed more like a day care than a restaurant. read more

First off, I have to say I'm a Mexican raised and fed by a Mexican mama, thereby making me somewhat of a Mexican food snob. Now here's my review: We tried to eat at Bamboo but it was closed and the smell wafting from Mi Ranchito beckoned me. We decided to give it a whirl even though I had my doubts about a tiny place situated on this very northern tip of the Big Island. When I say quaint, I mean very quaint but when I say darn good food I mean it too!!! My cousin had the green chicken enchiladas, her husband had the steak picado, and my husband and I had a couple of burritos and we were all stuffed to the gills. That smell that made us go there did not let us down. So, if you're ever in Hawi and you happen to have a hankering for some really ono Mexican food, Mi Ranchito is your place! read more

I usually love this place, but tonight I realized that if certain family members aren't in the kitchen, don't bother! Waited 45 minutes for my order. Got it home to find the refried beans were the consistency of soup, rice had no flavor & mushy, beef burrito was blah & basically no love put into it. Bummed! read more

This is the worst Mexican restaurant I have ever been to. Overly expensive for food that had no flavor. My entire group did not enjoy what we ate. Steak burritos tasted like old feet. Quesadillas reminded me of the taste and smell of chemicals. And to top it off the whole restaurant was filled with flys. If you've ever had authentic Mexican food you will be thoroughly disappointed. read more

Best Mexican food on the island. As close to authentic as you will find anywhere in Hawaii. Small walk up and order, but after you find a seat the service is pretty good. After eating Mexican food at other restaurants on the island and being disappointed, this is my go to place. read more

Great food... Fresh ingredients...! Better than some places in Los Angeles where I live. Try it and you won't regret it...

Hidden place with cheap, yummy Mexican food. The decor is not much, but the food is the gem. I had the verde pork burrito and my husband had the enchilada combo. The verde pork burrito was better than most of the type I have ate in Arizona. My husband loved his enchiladas. We happily payed our cheap bill after being stuffed to the brim. We also saw some locals coming in and ordering to-go... That's always a good sign. read more

My kid loved the bean and cheese burrito, saw the table next to us order some chicken nachos and it looked and smelled delicious!

Good proportions. However the burrito I order was subpar. Asked for an extra side of sauce to give it flavor and said it would be an extra $1 charge. No grilled veggies when I asked for vegetarian. Just cheap costco salad that tasted old. Will not return nor recommend. read more