JOSE'S MEXICAN CAFE AND CANTINA

JOSE'S MEXICAN CAFE AND CANTINA

1134 KOKO HEAD AVENUE

HONOLULU, HI. 96816

808-732-1833

www.joseshonolulu.com

https://www.instagram.com/josesmexicanfood/?hl=en

www.facebook.com/pages/category/Tex-Mex-Restaurant/Joses-Mexican-Cafe-Cantina-353245718069837/

www.yelp.com/biz/joses-mexican-cafe-and-cantina-honolulu

Craving Tacos and and Enchilada so we hit Jose's for some lunch.  Always amazed when I walk in here as it has not changed in 30 years.  I like the Shredded Beef Tacos and Chicken Enchilada.  It's no Javier's, but what the heck were in Hawaii.

Click links below to view previous posts on Jose's Mexican Restaurant;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2021/08/joses-mexican-cafe-and-cantina.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2019/04/joses-mexican-cafe-and-cantina-1134.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2018/06/joses-mexican-cafe-and-cantina.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2013/01/joses-mexican-restaurant-and-cantina.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2011/07/joses-restaurant-mexican-food.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2009/09/joses-mexican-restaurant.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2008/03/joses-mexican-restaurant.html

JOSE'S MEXICAN CAFE AND CANTINA

NOT TOO CROWDED AT LUNCH TIME

JOSE'S MEXICAN CAFE AND CANTINA MENU

GOOD CHIPS N' SALSA

SHREDDED BEEF TACOS AND CHICKEN ENCHILADA

 

LOS GARCIAS - SAN JOSE, CA

LOS GARCIAS

1390 OLD OAKLAND ROAD

SAN JOSE, CA

408-441-1401

https://www.yelp.com/biz/los-garcias-restaurant-san-jose

https://www.instagram.com/losgarciasrestaurantsj/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/losgarciasrestaurantsj/

Loved the food and service at Los Garcias in San Jose.  This meal hit the spot and satisfied my cravings for Mexican food.  Just wish we had more days here so I could go back again and again and try different menu items.  

LOS GARCIAS - SAN JOSE, CA

GLAD WE FOUND LOS GARCIAS

FAMILY BUSINESS IN SAN JOSE

COMFORTABLE SPOT

LOS GARCIAS MENU

GREAT CHIPS AND SALSAS

FRESH CHIPS

LOVED THE SALSAS AND HAD TO ORDER MORE

MEXICAN BEER GOES PERFECTLY WITH MEXICAN FOOD

CHICKEN ENCHILADA WITH CRISPY BEEF TACO

CHILE RELLANO WITH CARNE ASADA TOSTADA

 

REALGOOD CHICKEN BREAST LOW CARB ENCHILADAS

DINNER AT HOME

Nice to be able to hit the freezer and get a quick low carb Chicken Enchilada dinner.  The RealGood Foods Chicken Enchiladas are really good.  I doctor them up with some extra Cheese, Pico de Gallo, Cilantro, Lettuce and Hot Sauce.  Totally satisfying and filling.

Click link below to see previous post on RealGood Chicken Enchiladas;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2021/05/realgood-chicken-breast-grande.html

REALGOOD FOODS LOW CARB CHICKEN BREAST ENCHILADAS

 

SHREDDED CHICKEN AND GREEN CHILI ENCHILADAS

SHREDDED CHICKEN AND GREEN CHILI ENCHILADAS

DINNER AT HOME

Still craving Mexican food after a few days in San Diego.  Had a Costco Rotisserie Chicken so I decided to shred some up and make Shredded Chicken Enchiladas.  Added sautéed Onions and Green Chili's and made up some darn good Enchiladas.  Only thing I will do different next time is ladle down some of the Enchilada Sauce onto the the plate and then place the Enchilada on top.

SHREDDED CHICKEN AND GREEN CHILI ENCHILADA

ENCHILADAS RIGHT OUT OF THE OVEN

TOPPED WITH ENCHILADA SAUCE, CHEDDAR AND MONTERREY JACK CHEESE 

RANCHO CHICO MEXICAN RESTAURANT - COLVILLE, WASHINGTON

RANCHO CHICO

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

COLVILLE, WASHINGTON

Never would have thought that you can get GREAT Mexican food 90 minutes north of Spokane and 60 miles from the Canadian Border.  After arriving in Colville around 5:30 pm, we found that most everything was closed in Colville on Sunday.  Rancho Chico was basically the only place open.  We entered to find the place filled with locals enjoying a relaxed Sunday dinner on a beautiful 90 degree day.  I was amazed to find a really extensive menu of traditional Mexican dishes and dozens of specialties.  I went with a Combination Plate for $10.95.  My plate included a Chicken Enchilada, Shredded Beef Taco and Pork Tostada served with a huge portion of beans and rice.  I loved everything on the plate and was very impressed with the Pork Tostada.  The large pieces of Pork were tender and delicious.  This is really good Mexican Food and the newest Taste of Hawaii Favorite!

RANCHO CHICO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

THE MAIN STREET IN COLVILLE ON SUNDAY NIGHT

BEAUTIFUL MURALS ON WALLS AND COMFORTABLE ATMOSPHERE

GREAT CHIPS AND SALSA

COMPLIMENTARY CABBAGE DIP FOR CHIPS

MY FRIENDS DINNER.  DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT HE LOVED IT

COMBINATION PLATE WITH ENCHILADA, TACO AND TOSTADA

SHREDDED BEEF TACO

CHICKEN ENCHILADA

COMPLIMENTARY DESSERT

JOSE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

JOSE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

HONOLULU, HAWAII

You can search this blog and see that I reviewed Jose's in 2008 and 2009.  Both good reviews.  This blog is no different.  I was craving tacos again after attending church on a Sunday.  As usual, we go back and forth on where to go and come to the conclusion that there are no good taco joints in Hawaii.  Most of the time we end up at Jose's and end up pretty happy.  Jose's is more of a sit down restaurant.  By no means a taco joint.  It has a small bar area and lots of comfortable booths and tables.  While I notice the place is lightly staffed with sometimes the bartender attending to all the tables, there has never been a long wait for food, the food is always hot and the service is really good.  My only complaint about Jose's is the prices.  As a former restaurant owner who understands food costs and overhead, I know that Jose's is doing what they have to do to make a profit and keep the doors open.  The first basket of chips and salsa is complimentary at Jose's.  $2.50 for each thereafter.  I gave away chips and salsa for free at my Cantina and if I did it again, I would charge after the first basket too.  Chips are warm and served with a really good salsa with just a hint of heat.  I always go for the 3 Tacos Ala Carte ($11.95).  I tried the Shredded Beef and Chicken.  Both were excellent.  Still one of my favorite tacos in Hawaii.  The Combination Plate with two selections is ($15.95).  My wife tried (1) Chicken Enchilada and (1) Shredded Beef Enchilada with Rice and Beans.  She loved the Chicken Enchilada that was covered in melting cheese, but did not care for the Red Sauce on the Shredded Beef Enchilada.  I tried both and preferred the Chicken for the same sauce reason.  My daughter loved her Kids Bean Burrito ($6.70).  She devoured the thing and said it was awesome.  Jose's rates high on my list of the Best Hawaii Mexican Restaurants.
Click links below for more posts on Jose's Mexican Restaurant;
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2013/01/joses-mexican-restaurant-and-cantina.html
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2012/04/joses-mexican-restaurant-kaimuki.html
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2009/09/joses-mexican-restaurant.html
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2008/03/joses-mexican-restaurant.html

GREAT CHIPS N' SALSA

3 TACOS ALA CARTE

(1) CHICKEN AND (1) BEEF ENCHILADA W/RICE AND BEANS

KIDS BEAN BURRITO WITH CHEESY TORTILLA CHIPS

LOS CHAPARROS MEXICAN RESTAURANT

LOS CHAPARROS MEXICAN RESTAURANT

HONOLULU, HAWAII 

I visited Los Chaparros when it first opened around five years or so ago.  Was not too impressed then and my return visit was about the same.  This is a nice clean restaurant with limited parking in front.  The chips and salsa were good and I loved the Jalapeno Won Tons.  Crispy Won Tons filled with cheese and a bit of jalapeno.  For my entree I chose a shredded beef enchilada with red sauce.  This was pretty bland.  The beef alone had a bad taste, but when you cover it up with cheese and sauce it was eatable.   The sauce had no flavor.  The Chicken enchilada was about the same.  Pretty bland.  The Carne Asada Taco was huge.  Two tortillas filled with a mountain of beef.  This was o.k. but again no real flavor.  Keli tried the Kids Bean and Cheese Burrito and could not eat it because it was filled with sour creme which she does not like.  The service and employees were friendly and efficient.  This is not bad Mexican, but I am so picky which means I probably will not return.  Prices are not too bad for the portion sizes.  This entire meal ran about $39.

LOS CHAPARROS MEXICAN RESTAURANT

LOS CHAPARROS MEXICAN RESTAURANT

CHIPS AND SALSA - FIRST BOWL COMES WITH MEAL

JALAPENO WON TONS

JALAPENO WON TON

CARNE ASADA TACO

BEEF ENCHILADA WITH RED SAUCE

COMBINATION - CHICKEN ENCHILADA WITH CARNE ASADA TACO

KIDS BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITO - BEWARE - FILLED WITH SOUR CREME