JOSE'S MEXICAN CAFE & 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 Shredded Beef Tacos and Jose's is just about the only place on Oahu that serves them.

On this visit the Tacos had very little beef and in fact could barely taste it.  Not like before and how I remember them.  The Chicken Enchilada was pretty good but this meal did not hit the spot or satisfy.  Sad that Hawaii and no good Mexican food.

Click links below to view previous posts on Jose's Mexican Cafe & Cantina;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2023/10/joses-mexican-cafe-and-cantina.html

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 & CANTINA

SAME LOOK FOR DECADES

JOSE'S MEXICAN CAFE & CANTINA MENU

CHIPS N' SALSA

SHREDDED BEEF TACOS AND CHICKEN ENCHILADA

ALEJANDRO'S MEXICAN FOOD - KAPAHULU

ALEJANDRO'S MEXICAN FOOD

949 KAPAHULU AVE

HONOLULU, HI 96816

808-888-8090

HOURS:  Daily 11AM - 9PM  / Sunday 4PM - 9PM 

http://www.alejandrosmexicanfood.com/kapahulu-location

https://www.yelp.com/biz/alejandro-s-mexican-food-kapahulu-honolulu

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

https://www.facebook.com/808alejandros/

As readers of my blog know, I love Mexican food more than anything.  Problem is there is no good Mexican food on Oahu.  Alejandro's is the exception and boy am I glad they opened a second location closer to home.  The new Alejandro's Kapahulu is a beautiful space with a full bar, wide screen tv's and the same menu as their original location.  Pretty much only Burritos, Tacos and Quesadillas.  Wish they offered more.  I ordered the Carne Asada Burrito "Wet" ($13) and had to deconstruct it a bit to stay low carb.  I basically just ate the Carne Asada and Pico de Gallo while avoiding the Beans, Rice and Tortilla.  Believe it or not this Burrito was still delicious and it did satisfy me.  I highly recommend Alejandro's.

UPDATE:  This location has closed.

CARNE ASADA "WET" BURRITO

DECONSTRUCTION BEGINS TO STAY LOW CARB

AVOIDED THE BEANS, RICE AND TORTILLA TO STAY LOW CARB

JOSE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

JOSE'S RESTAURANT

HONOLULU, HAWAII 

I was not going to blog about Jose's again because there are already four reviews of the place on my blog.  Always enjoy eating here.  This last trip was really good because of the service.  Our server named Kate was a true professional.  If anyone understands how to take care of a guest it is Kate.  From the time we entered to the time we left she was happy and working hard to make sure everything was right.  At the end of our meal she walked up to the table with a carton of toys.  She asked my daughter to choose a gift.

My daughter took a small bunny and has slept with it every night since.  Even brought it to church on Sunday.  I always order the Three Tacos ($11.95).  These tacos are not too large and are filled with a marinated shredded beef and topped with cheese and tomato slice.  Simple and fresh with a nice home made crunchy shell.  The Carne Asada Plate ($22.95) is a huge cut of New York Steak smothered in grilled onions, green chilies and a hint of jalapeño.  Served with large amounts of Mexican Rice and Refried Beans.  The beans are topped with a pretty good helping of cheese.  Nice to scoop up with the chips.  The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare as ordered.  I like Jose's and especially the service from Kate!
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/2011/07/joses-restaurant-mexican-food.html
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2009/09/joses-mexican-restaurant.html
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2008/03/joses-mexican-restaurant.html

COLD MEXICAN BREW WITH CHIPS AND SALSA.
NOT A BAD WAY TO START A SATURDAY NIGHT MEAL

JOSE'S AT NIGHT.  A KAIMUKI LANDMARK FOR
OVER THREE DECADES

INTERIOR IS DATED AND IN NEED OF A
MAKEOVER BUT I STILL LOVE IT.

THREE SHREDDED BEEF TACOS IN MY STANDARD ORDER.
NEXT TIME I AM TURNING ON THE FLASH FOR A BETTER PHOTO

CARNE ASADA STEAK IS COVERED IN ONIONS, GREEN CHILIES
AND A HINT OF JALAPENO FOR KICK

FREE GIFT FOR THE KIDS

BC BURRITO

BC BURRITO
HONOLULU, HAWAII

I ate at BC Burrito years ago when they first opened. Back then, I remember that it was terrible and never went back.  The place has remained open for many years so I decided to give it another try.  When you enter BC Burrito it seems like a mess.  Attention to details or cleanliness is not a priority.  Neither is customer service.  We did not receive a "hi", "bye" or anything else.  We approached the counter and looked up at the menu that is on the wall.  All Burritos and one Taco option.  You are supposed to select your filling (Chicken Mole, Chicken Bay Leaf, Carnitas, Chile Verde, Veggie, Carne Asada, Soyrizo or Shirmp) and then add your toppings.  A Regular 10" Burrito is $6.29.  Add $.50 for Cheese and $1.00 for Guacamole.  The Gutbuster Burrito with two 12" tortillas will set you back $15.  A Super Burrito in a 12" tortilla with cheese, rice, beans, filling and salsa is $7.29.  We ordered a Regular Burrito ($6.29) with Chicken Bay Leaf.  First off the burrito or Jalapeño Tortilla that we chose smelled terrible.  The chicken tasted like it was just boiled.  Very little flavor.  After two bites I threw in the towel on this dog.  The Carne Asada Taco ($4.49) consists of two overlapped 6" corn tortillas, beef, melted cheese, black beans and salsa.  This taco should not have been served.  The tortilla was so old that it was cracked in pieces.  You could not pick up either end of the taco without the tortilla breaking apart.  Never could get to eat this like a taco.  We had to get a fork and pick out the Carne Asada that was more like stewed meat.  It had flavor, but not like a Mexican restaurant.  BC Burrito is not my favorite.  It really has no Mexican flavors with the exception of the salsa.  We bolted down the street after eating here to have a good lunch.  Will never return to this place.  

UPDATE 3/13 - BC BURRITO CLOSED.  SOMETIMES I CALL EM RIGHT

BC REGULAR BURRITO WITH CHCKEN BAY LEAF

BC BURRITO ON WAIALAE AVENUE IN KAIMUKI

MENU IS ON WALL.  ORDER AT THE COUNTER.

HOT SAUCE TABLE

MENU (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

HOW TO ORDER YOUR BC BURRITO
(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

SIDE ORDER OF CHIPS AND SALSA ($1.85)

CARNE ASADA TACO

TORTILLA SPLITTING INTO PIECES

IMPOSSIBLE TO PICK UP THE TACO.
THE TORTILLA JUST RIPPED APART.

SERG'S MEXICAN KITCHEN

SERG'S MEXICAN KITCHEN

MANOA, HAWAII

Finally made it to Manoa to try Serg's Mexican Kitchen.  Reviews on this place have been pretty good.  Serg's sits in what is like a parking lot next to a Pizza joint and a Crepe parlor.  There are a few parking stalls on both sides of the restaurant.  Seating is outdoors under a large tarp.  We ordered at the counter and several minutes later our named was called and the food was up.  During our wait for the food, I asked the guy at the window for some salsa.  He pointed to the right and there was a little salsa bar with bottles of around five types of salsa plus marinated jalapenos, onions and carrots.  I poured samples of each salsa into the small plastic cups placed next to the bottles.  Really liked the Tomatillo Hot, Avocado Hot and Red Hot sauces.  These are really good salsas that really helped boost the flavor of each dish.  The first dish we tried was Serg's Famous Flautas ($9.25) served with Beans and Rice.  This is a 12" tortilla stuffed with your choice of chicken, shredded beef, pork carnitas, al pastor or vegetarian. The Flautas are topped with sour creme, avocado salsa and Queso Fresco cheese.  We went for the chicken and found it to be rather dry and flavorless.  I added a bunch of salsa and enjoyed the flavor mixed with the sour creme, avocado salsa and cheese.  We tried several different tacos at ($2.75) each.  The menu lists the tacos as Mexico City Style Street Tacos.  The are simply large portions of meat in a lightly fried corn tortilla.  Topped with a hint of onion and cilantro.  I liked the Carne Asada taco best.  I added the Avocado salsa to kick it up a notch.  The chicken taco was a disappointment.  Cubed chicken on a tortilla.  The chicken lacked flavor and had no other condiments to boost the flavor.  The Pork Carnitas was o.k. but really greasy.  Again topped with nothing but a few small onions and cilantro.  I have had tons of Street Tacos in Mexico.  While these are good, they don't bring me back to those flavors of Mexico.  The Fish Taco ($3.25) and Rice and Beans ($1.95) was not a bad dish.  We went for the grilled fish.  It was topped with a mayo based cole slaw.  We were surprised that none of our dishes had any fresh tomato or salsa on the plates.  Only the salsas in the large bottles.  What I can say about Serg's is that I would like to go back.  This is much better than 99% of the taco joints in Hawaii where I eat once and never return.

Click links below to view another post on Serg's Mexican Kitchen:

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2013/12/sergs-mexican-kitchen-revisited.html
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2013/09/wings-and-things-by-serg.html

CHICKEN, CARNE ASADA AND CARNITAS MEXICAN "STREET" TACOS

ORDER AT THE WINDOW AND SIT UNDER THE TARP

NICE SELECTION OF SALSAS - AND THEY ARE GOOD!

ENJOY SOME HOT CARROTS, JALAPENO AND ONION

SERG'S "FAMOUS" FLAUTA

GRILLED FISH TACO WITH RICE AND BEANS