I enjoy coming here every time because the food quality is consistent. I love margarona which is margarita with mini Corona beer on a hot day like today! My favorite is chicken enchilada plate. I can do single or two enchiladas with side of rice and beans. It is located right on the main street of downtown Hilo and right next to Farmers Market. Great place for lunch! read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Single One Enchilada, Beans and Rice $15 - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Reuben's is located in Hilo town, fronting the Hilo Bay. We were just walking the town to get in some exercise and came across Reuben's. Since it was almost lunch and we were getting a little hungry why not check them out. The restaurant has a nice Mexican flare to it and a lot of seating. I decided on the two enchilada combination which came with rice and beans. Loved the rice and beans, but found the fillings too be a little salty. Still edible downed with a beer it was filling. There is no complimentary chips and salsa offered.. Booo... Prices are pretty reasonable, AC comfortable and nice vibe. I like the atmosphere of this place and probably come back to try another dish. Hopefully it won't be too salty. 3.5 Stars... read more

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The portion sizes are generous, so you definitely get your money's worth. However, I value food quality more than portion size, and this restaurant didn't fully meet my expectations. The food was just average--nothing really stood out as delicious. I ordered the red pozole with pork, but I had wanted chicken instead, so that was disappointing. We also ordered the carnitas, a burrito, and a lengua taco. Unfortunately, everything was just okay and lacked the flavor I was hoping for. Overall, I don't think I'll be returning when I'm craving Mexican food. I'd rather make it at home than come back to this restaurant. read more

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After going over the Yelp reviews we ll have dinner here in a while. We ll decide if its take out when we get inside. UPDATE: This was a great mexican dinner , dine in. : chips n salsa, enchaladas, a renello and a steak taco and pork tamale. all with rice n beans n corn tortillas. Yes, we came to eat. It was Delish. Exlnt Service. Nothing from the bar. Very Affordable! read more

It's a little tiny hole in the wall, and as soon as you walk in it looks like Mexico! We loved it!! They greet you as soon as you enter, you're allowed to pick where you sit.. The menu has so much variety!! But our waitress was super helpful with explaining! I got the #26 steak, bell peppers, tomatoes and onions with beans and rice!!! So so good!!! The steak was not rubbery or hard to chew! The rice was so flavorful and the bean had melted cheese, so yummy!! Served with flour tortilla!!! It was definitely 10/10 We also got the birria special they had for the day 4 tacos was swallowed before getting a picture lol 10/10 for sure read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Service good. Ambiance was festive and lively. Food ok. It was nothing spectacular. read more

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First and foremost, I'd like to thank my dear friend Cait's husband, Steve--thank you for the great recommendation! We stopped here after visiting the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, and the food was absolutely incredible. We ordered the flautas and enchiladas, and let me tell you--yum, yum, yummy! We also enjoyed a couple of delicious drinks that perfectly complemented the meal. Unfortunately, we didn't get any "before" pictures, just the aftermath--but hopefully, that's proof of just how good the food truly was! Plenty of seating and the staff were incredible with their personal plate recommendations. read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Two Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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My group went to have margaritas after a day of shopping. The guava margaritas was good but when we ordered a classic pitcher of margarita we had a send it back, because it tasted like lime water. The bartender was not happy when we sent it back pitcher back, he Vigorously, blended it with nothing and returned it to our table. We paid for it but won't go back. We'll not ever go back. I've never been to a mexican restaurant that doesn't know how to make a classic margarita.No. read more

I've been a fan of Ruben's for over 32 years. It's a great family restaurant, perfect for lunch or dinner. Or even a big family gathering. If you're an enchilada fan, go for the beef! read more

When I went to get my to go order, I was not greeted. I stood by the bar for a bit until a lady said the one in the back can help me. Not once did that lady look up. She just rung me up and said "sign here". Not a thank you or anything. When I got home, there was only one crab enchilada in the combo when there were supposed to be two. They had still charged me $28. Never going back again. read more

I have been going to Reuben's for 30+ years. They are, without a doubt the best Mexican food restaurant on the island. Service is warm, friendly and efficient. Food is excellent - my personal favorites are Chile Relleno and Steak Taco but I have never had anything bad. It's not TexMex or CalMex but the region it is from has some very tasty dishes. Would recommend. read more

Food here was amazing! Very well seasoned and very tasty! The margaritas were very alcohol forward and well priced for what you get. Such a great experience! Would highly recommend! read more

I've gone a number of times because it's pretty good for Hawaiian mex. The last time, it seems they've raised the prices. I bought an ala carte burrito, plus one to go for a friend, along with a glass of house wine. bill with tip was $55. Lunch. Not local style. but it is by the tourist stuff. So, I'm out. read more

Food was sooooo good! Best Mexican in Hawai'i. I live on O'ahu and came on a recommendation from sis. So worth the visit. Ambiance good. Authentic Mexican. I went college in San Diego so it's legit. Beans and rice were . The chile relleno and taco were a bonus and equally good. Service was great and prompt. I was on a time crunch to catch a flight. Nothing disappointed. There is a bathroom to wash hands if you adventurer earlier. I had a margarita... the food was the star. Def. read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - This was the best Mexican food I've had in Hawai'i. I live on O'ahu and have waited for beans and rice like this. - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We were vacationing on the Big Island and decided to make the 2 hour drive from the Kona coast to Hilo so we could stop to check out the Rainbow & Akaka Falls. The other family members were ATV riding somewhere on the Hilo side. We all agreed we would meet in Hilo for lunch. The first eatery my daughter found was an hour wait. She found Reuben's on the phone and we set out to look for it. There was construction in front of the restaurant, which is why it took us a while to locate . When we entered we were warmly greeted and thought we'd be a party of 10 but there was 6 of us present. They quickly assembled tables to accommodate us and we were seated right away. Thankfully, it was not crowded. Our waitress was very sweet, friendly, and attentive; I took her photo by the sign showing how many margaritas have been served. The restaurant including their rest rooms were very clean. The decor was festive and you felt like you could be somewhere in Mexico instead of Hawaii! The original owner is from Nayarit, Mexico and established Reuben's in 1979. Currently, his son is running the restaurant and he too was very friendly. We ordered and the food came out in a timely manner. The chips, salsa, and guacamole were delicious but not complementary like on the mainland. My Chile Relleno plate was tasty and reasonably priced. Hubby had the 2 cheese enchiladas and enjoyed it. Our entire party agreed that the food was fantastic for being in Hawaii. The other family members were late so they ate somewhere else but they really missed out. We would not hesitate to return here if we ever visit the Hilo area again. We enjoyed our meals and enjoyed their top-notch hospitality! read more

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The service is excellent and the servers are friendly. We love the authentic Mexican food especially the carne asada, enchiladas, and the chili relleno. read more

A past eat-in at the restaurant while enjoying my fav carne asada dish! Always enjoy the atmosphere in dining in and the pleasure of greeting the late Ruben Arambula Villanueva, Sr. Thank you sir so very much! read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The Esquite special was awful. The staff was SUPER friendly. Not exactly the Mexican food I get at home but one step up from Taco Bell. The price wasn't horrible. read more

Service very friendly. Ambiance fun vibe with the artwork and decor. We had the carne asada nachos and I would say they were really really good and very satisfying. Portion size was good and toppings were well balanced. Carne asada was tender. read more

Great spot to binge crab enchiladas, Chile relleño and margaritas. The Birria rocks as well. Some of the funnest servers around.excellent margaritas. Excellent. read more

Great steak tacos! Would've gave it a 5 star, but you have to pay for chips & salsa. My husband had tacos, I had a soup, and had to ask for tortillas which they charged $2.00 for tortillas. Most Mexican restaurants give you salsa & chips and tortillas with your soup. Otherwise the food was great! I would eat there again! read more

Ambience: not much just very loud. The food was not very good. The refried beans were like soup, the enchilada and burrito were filled with salt and lacked any other taste except for a watery sauce. The prices were way too high. I left thinking Taco Bell would have been a better choice. The only positive was the service was very good. read more

Hailee (our server) was so wonderful she made the experience five stars! The food was great too, a taste of home (Texas lol)

I would have given 4 stars but a couple things prevented me from rating that high. Cons: They charge for chips/salsa, even your first one! Strong smell of Pinesol when you walk in the door, not appealing in restaurant. Chips served cold, had to ask to warm up. The old owner sitting in the back of dining room falling asleep after eating. Ok Pros: Food was good, appreciated the crab not tasting like frozen or canned. Classic Margaritas tasty w/ a kick Friendly service. Like the Mexican decor/vibe although older and casual. read more

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Parking for the area is always a challenge and not to blame the restaurant but the area needs a bit more security and cleaning. We were greeted right away and the server automatically asked if we wanted to order drinks. I am a sucker for a good margarita so I ordered the Lilikoi flavored with li hi mui on the rim. Then proceeded quickly to order an early dinner. The food was good enough to finish and because tacos don't fill you up for too long I order a take out. No major complaints but you need to add salsa to everything to add more flavor. The food was lacking salt/seasonings but came out fresh and good enough to eat. Service was good but the ambiance and area keeps me from returning. read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Two Fish Taco meal, Two Crispy Carnitas Tacos and a Lilikoi margarita - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Staff was super nice. Chicken tacos were great. Beef tacos were more of a stewed meat. My friend liked them, just different for us. Beans and rice were good, just needed a tad more salt. Strawberry Margarita was just ok. Salsa was good. Green salsa was different. Has a fruit island flare to it. It was spicier than the red salad. read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Flavored Margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The food was great! Service was awesome! The servers were very attentive. Only downsides: chips over-fried and salsa hot. Server did not warn of heat and did not ask if hot was okay. read more

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Amazing cheese enchiladas and chile rellenos. Great family vibe. Love the salsa and guacamole!

My friend brought me here as I'm an "out of towner" who likes to try local places. My friend obviously has good taste because this place was THE BEST Mexican restaurant that I've been to in Hawaii! Ambience: Clean. Good music. Adheres to Covid standards. Decorated with a Mexican theme. Cool, but not cold. Location & Parking: conveniently located minutes from my hotel, in old Hilo Town, with lots of common area parking right outside the entrance, in the parking lot. Customer service: Great! Our waitress was articulate, friendly, just the right amount of attentive, and got every one of our orders right. Food came out in a timely manner, as well. Margorona: THIS.DRINK.RIGHT.HERE...Yummmmmmm! A blended strawberry margarita with Lihing powder in the drink and on the rim, with a Coronita tipped in. From now on, when I come to Hilo, THIS IS MY DRINK. Chips and Guac: The chips were not greasy at all, tasted freshly made, lightly seasoned, but that guac...but that guac! So tasty! I was so stuffed from my dinner, but I couldn't stop eating the chips and guac Carne and cheese enchilada combo plate: comes with seasoned rice, beans, cheese. This is the most flavorful, tender, perfectly cooked carne asada that I've ever had. The cheese enchilada was the right amount of gooey, and complimented everything well on the plate. I.ATE.EVERYTHING!!! There wasn't even any residue left. So, I'm already planning my next trip to Hilo around eating here. Reuben, you have gained a new customer for life. I'm read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Strawberry Lihjng Margarona with lihing rim and lihing in the blended drink - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Great food, drinks and staff! Atmosphere fun and lively. Great bartenders. One of the best restaurants in Hilo. And definitely the best Mexican on the island read more

I came to this restaurant because I heard many good things about it , and I wanted to try real Mexican food as some recommendations told about. We entered the restaurant and the welcoming want the best even tho it was empty . I felt rushed to order considering their menu is not short they should allow the clientele to look a few more minutes before going to the table and ask if we are ready ( on drinks and water I'm always down for right after we sit) Now , about the food I was very disappointed, Mexican rice tasted like it was a day or couple days old with too little flavor , most of food that we tried lacked of flavor Unfortunately is a no coming back for me . read more

Super nice place, extremely friendly staff, and a great stop on your Hilo bay downtown shops walk. Had a top shelf margarita, totally awesome, and bean, cheese, and jalapeño nachos. Oddly enough, the jalapeños were on the side and ice cold. That baffled me but the nachos themselves were cooled perfectly and super tasty. We also noticed they have the big red button that turns the volcano on and off....at least that's what we assumed it did. Go in and check it out for yourself, the food we saw going by looked amazing. read more

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Walked in on a Tuesday was say immediately. We were greeted with smiles and some water. Ordered some chip and salsa and a virgin lava flow for my daughter. Felt like I walked into someone's home with how comfortable I felt. The cheese enchilada hit the spot and everything tasted fresh. Definitely recommend read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Cheese enchilada with beans and rice added avocado and sour cream(Topped with green Hot Salsa) - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We heard about this place from some locals. So we decided to hit it up for dinner, and kind of regretted it. I ordered a combo plate with two shredded beef tacos and comes with rice and beans. Everything was nice and hot (warmth not flavor), tacos had plenty of meat, nice a crispy. The beans were a little runny but I like them that way and they had plenty of cheese and flavor. The rice was fair, a little bland. Husband ordered the chicken mole and was not impressed. The mole sauce was light and bland and came with two thighs with bone in. Overall he said his whole meal was bland. We were seated quickly, talked to several waitresses that were fast and efficient, but we did specifically have to ask for chips and salsa. Not sure if that is normal, because we experienced the same chip and salsa hoarding experience in Kauai. But anyway, once we got the chips and salsa it was pretty good, chips were thick and crispy and came with two salsas - the green one has some kick. We went later in the afternoon and they had the a/c going in the dining area, and it was pleasant. Lots of tables in a small space, but everything is open, no privacy. Tables filled up quickly but they rotated folks though quickly, they also have a bar but we passed on drinks this time around. Pricing was fair, and may go back and try it again. Overall, bland on flavor but ok on the pocket book. read more

We eat here when on the Hilo side. Always great food at affordable prices. I have a booth at a farmers market, and always recommend Reuben's to visitors going to Hilo. read more

It's actually good mexican food in big island. This restaurant is a must try! they hve free chips too read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Two Enchiladas beans and rice - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The food was mediocre but I didn't leave hungry. My biggest complaint was the establishment's unethical attempt to charge me a 3% surcharge for using a credit card to pay despite this arbitrary policy not being advertised anywhere. Challenged it and they removed the charge. I will not do business at greedy establishments that attempt to swindle customers. read more

I find it annoying all the people from off the island bashing this place. I have been eating here for years. My favorite Mexican restaurant on the island. Who cares about getting charged $2 for chips and salsa? You don't get free crap in Hawaii. I'm pretty sure if you are regulars they don't charge. I don't pay attention to such trivial things. Hawaii is super expensive even for restaurants, I want them to stay in business. If you want more they will bring you some. The beans are made from scratch. You can taste the difference. The rice is sticky Mexican rice, which is what it should be in Hawaii. Delicious!! I have been eating the chicken burrito for 8 years. I put a whole bowl of the super spicy green salsa on it. My hubby often has the Chile relleno and carna asada, I steal hubby's guacamole. We haven't eaten here since everything shut down in March, we finally ate here again a few days ago. We loved EVERY BITE!! They now have queso on the menu but I never have room for it. Everything was perfect!! All the regular wait staff are gone which is sad, we knew them pretty well. The food here is fresh and made from scratch. Carne Asada, Chile Relleno, Chicken burrito read more

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Coming from Southern California, being used to yummy Mexican food, & having read the reviews I was worried this wasn't going to be great but it was! Our food was super tasty! FYI this place is almost impossible to reach on the phone there is only one line and it is non stop busy.. so I called hours ahead and got through after 10 tries and ordered for a later pick up. You can make reservations; if you don't you will definitely have to wait to sit. The salsas and sauces are yummy, a real crab enchilada, what! So cool. Chile relleno and burrito on point. They have a keiki menu as well. The margarita though, I love all things lilikoi and I haven't seen this as an option really anywhere that I can think of so this was special! You can get it frozen or on the rocks. So happy that the only Mexican spot in town is delicious! read more

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I am so sad that I have to leave a bad review... but this food was so gnarly. It was so bad I think it's actually offensive to hispanics everywhere. The rice is flavorless, no color, everything is SO salty. I rarely feel inclined to review a place but I am actually aghast at the quality of food. read more

Reuben's Mexican Food - Mexican Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii