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

JOSE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

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

JOSE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

JOSE'S MEXICAN CAFE AND CANTINA

Finding good Mexican food in Hawaii is nearly impossible. No one gets it quite right. Joses is close to home and does a pretty good job. I like the taco's, but they are a bit expensive. ($13) for three. They seem to have gotten smaller over the years. I get the shredded chicken and beef. We also tried the fish taco this visit. It was just o.k. Joses is a great place for a cold beer, chips and salsa and some Mexican food. I would go here more often if my family would let me. They can only take so much Mexican. I could eat it every day and be happy.
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/2011/07/joses-restaurant-mexican-food.html
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2008/03/joses-mexican-restaurant.html

TACO DEL MAR

TACO DEL MAR

There is a reason why Taco Del Mar's are opening all over Hawaii. The food is good. It is not at the level of the taco places in San Diego, but for fast Mexican food it does just fine. The meats actually have flavor, the hot sauce actually has some kick, the beans and rice are actually good. The portions are also big while the prices are actually reasonable. I noticed most patrons consuming the Mondo Burrito's. This is like a pound of meat, rice, beans, cheese and salsa packed in a soft tortilla ($5.99). My daughter loves the burritos. They offer a kids size ($3.39) and let you pick the ingredients. The kids menu also comes with beans and rice and chips. The menu is pretty simple here. There are six main items to choose from; Carne Asada Steak, Shredded Beef, Braised Chicken, Carnitas, Ground Beef and what they call Alaskan Fish. You pick the meat or fish and pack it into a soft taco, hard taco, burrito, enchilada, salad or quesadillas. Then you pick black beans or refried and then load on the fixins. I opted for two hard tacos ($4.39). One Shredded Beef and one Braised Chicken. They are large and filled with meat, then topped with cheese, lettuce and Pico De Gallo. I went for the "hot" sauce and it had the perfect heat and good flavor. My only complaint is that they use pre-made taco shells. Other than that they are amongst the best tacos you can find in Hawaii. We also tried the Fish Tacos. Lightly battered fish in a flour tortilla and topped with cabbage and Pico De Gallo. Pretty good, but not at the level of the San Diego Fish Tacos. The beans and rice are very good compared to other places. I have been complaining for 17 years that Hawaii does not have any good Mexican restaurants. Taco Del Mar helps out but I would really love for Roberto's or Juanita's from San Diego to open here.