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    Paniolos - Kapolei

    3.4 (280 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Paniolos - Kapolei Takeout or Delivery

    Paniolos - Kapolei Photos

    Business Info

    PANIOLOS - KAPOLEI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Paniolos - Kapolei

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    Reviews With Photos

    Bowl with a tiny portion of chopped steak
    Michael K.

    This place is well suited for a paniolo with a small appetite. I happened to be riding my horse around 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.

    StaciLei T.

    Craving a Chipotle style burrito bowl? Paniolos is the closest thing we have to Chipotle in Hawaii. It's super convenient and customizable- with the options to make your own burrito, bowl, or tacos. Super simple process: pick between white rice or brown, black or refried beans, protein, veggies, sauces etc. I came in about 20-30 minutes before closing, so they were out of a few different proteins but they still had the kalua pig out- which was super ono. Maybe not my first choice, but glad that I got to try it. Very tender, you can tell they slow cook it for a while. I will say that the bowls are a bit smaller than Chipotle's for the same price- but hey, it's Hawai'i so I get it. This spot is located in Kapolei Commons nearby the movie theatre. Lots of parking, a great spot to stop by when you're shopping around Kapolei!

    Aaliyah H.

    If you're looking for the closest thing Hawaii has to Chipotle, Paniolo's in Kapolei is it! I got a chicken bowl for just $15, this price is including the $2.99 charge for avocado, and it was absolutely worth it. The portions are solid, and they have a lot options for everyone. The atmosphere really embraces the Hawaiian cowboy theme, with more than just sodas for drinks by adding in some limeade and churros to their menu. Plus, one of my favorite things? You can get extra chips on the side--perfect for turning your bowl into nachos! That's the pro tip for those who haven't been to chipotle yet. Service was good for when we went in. There were three people and the assembly line worked really well. I think the downside was when we stayed long enough, we felt in our eyes they were browning the onions and we had to step out LOL. Whether it's lunch, brunch, or dinner, this place is a winner. My friends and I ended up here because Island Vintage Coffee was packed, but honestly, even if Island Vintage is open, my husband and I will most likely choose Paniolo's whenever we're in the area. Highly recommend!

    Marissa K.

    Got their nachos! Their nachos comes stacked! Look at the photo! Yummy! Love their salsa!

    Hannah D.

    soo good!!! reminds me of chipotle... tastes even fresher though! workers always nice and give great portions!! so yummy every time

    Kalua pork burrito made with mush
    Janet N.

    This place used to be our go to place...not anymore. My husband loved the kalua pork burrito with extra meat from there, but on January 16, 2026 we ordered to go. His burrito had no meat and if it did it was puréed, there was nothing but mush with rice, beans, cheese, and guacamole. After a couple of bites my husband stopped eating the burrito when he realized there was no meat. I call the restaurant they told me the burrito was mushy because of the refried beans. The restaurant refused to give me a refund or another burrito. After being a customer for over 6 years we will never be going back again.

    Burrito bowl.
    Harry B.

    Think chipotle but better.... Food was a step up.. but same setup with a Hawaiian panoplie vibe. The service was quick and friendly. Order at the line and build your taco or burrito bowl. Take out or dine in. Little up charges for extra... but the meats, veggies, and extras are all tasty. Quick easy and good.

    the outside of the restaurant
    Irene M.

    Having a bowl of a time... Had a bowl for lunch and for dinner as well lol! Love Palolos in Kahala so you know I had to give this Kapolei Commons a peek and was happy to see that this location has seatings...both indoors and outdoor but what really impressed me is that each booth has an outlet to recharge yourself along with your electronics. As soon as you walk in the scent of yumminess takes on your senses but I stuck to my usual Bowl with brown rice and paniolo meat topped with cheese, romaine, corn and sour cream, I just love it when you're able to create your own. The service here is friendly and fast paying attention to your request and options. A new favorite whenever I'm in the area. Thank you!

    Nachos w/ Grilled Steak
    Mary T.

    The Chipotle of Hawai'i!!!! Yeah I said it. Walked in right away see them making fresh tomatillo salsa on the grill. Everything's freshly made, the guacamole is great, salsa is delicious, something here for everyone. On a diet? They offer bowl/salad style options. The meat is great quality and flavorful. They serve you great portions for the price is is SOoo worth it!! You got to try this place.

    Got the bowl with chicken, cilantro rice & all the toppings. Good portion and tasty
    Raelene Y.

    Chicken bowl with everything on it, it was my first time here and I will be back. It's an order line and self serve drink machine and seats.

    World's smallest burrito?
    Jon G.

    Will not be back. When my daughter saw my burrito, she started laughing. She asked me what happened. It was my first time here and she said the burritos are usually way bigger than this. I placed it next to a beer can to show the size. Wrong way to entice customers to come back. Thumbs down. Taste was all right, not knocking it. I would rather eat at Taco Bell!

    Joshua C.

    LOL the saddest bowl I ever ordered. This place has gone down hill recently, and won't be back. Literally NO MEAT, no cilantro, no limes. I got maybe a tablespoon of meat. Ridiculous, this place will be closing soon.

    Paniolo Steak tacos

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    4 months ago

    Everything was delicious and staff were very friendly. Very similar to Chipotle in the states. Definitely would go back again.

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    8 months ago

    Good quick service. This place reminds me of a Chipotle but better. Everything was fresh and delicious. Will be going back soon.

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    10 months ago

    FOOD WAS FRESH, TASTY AND SATISFYING. Service was quick and friendly. Line was long, but moved fast...great location too.

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    Ask the Community - Paniolos - Kapolei

    Do they have taco Tuesday specials?

    NO, the gal acted insulted that I even asked. Then she looked down her nose at me from then on, which I considered rude

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Taqueria el Ranchero - Kapolei

    3.4
    (893 reviews)
    2.8 mi
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    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)
    2.1 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
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    Fresco salad with carne asada
    Acapulco

    Acapulco

    3.6
    (614 reviews)
    8.3 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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    Da Crawfish and Crabshack

    Da Crawfish and Crabshack

    4.0
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.0 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)
    1.1 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!

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    Chili's
    Chili's
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    Paniolos - Kapolei - mexican - Updated July 2026

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