12 Best Mexican Restaurants near Lihue

“Obviously Taco Bell is not fine dining. I enjoy some fine dining!But as far as fast food goes, it don't GET no betta! The food is consistently good and always looks and tastes very fresh. AND in this time of a fast food burger meal costing upwards of of $17, it's pretty darn reasonable!“

“Verde is one of our family favorites...Kids love it we love it. The atmosphere is epic, the food is awesome, and major shout out to our most recent server! She was attentive, but more than that she was dynamic and seemed like she genuinely cared about our experience. She was behind the bar when we first arrived and then our server, she interacted with our son and equally with us offering suggestions and a great experience. Mahalo nui loa to Kolo and Verde for providing a excellent family night out in the big city!“

“First, I'd suggest imagining yourself in the middle of a verdant green mountainous landscape floating in the Pacific Ocean. Only a few buildings dot the miles-long single-lane path that cuts through the vegetation on this beautiful island in a place it seems that time has forgotten. That's where every review of this restaurant should begin. On Kauai, where only a few restaurants are still in business after the pandemic... On Kauai, where less than a handful of Mexican people live... On Kauai, where not every restaurant is open every day... Mariachi's is perfect for Kauai. We visited on a holiday weekend, Friday night, staying at a resort nearby. It's Kauai, so it's no surprise both local pizzerias were closed. The popular restaurant on the beach was on a 45-minute wait. The only other place in this center was also full of big families. However, Mariachi's piping Mariachi music into the air, and the hostess greeted me in Spanish. There were a few empty tables. We were taken to a balcony table overlooking the garden landscape. Soon after, we were drinking tequila shots and pouring from a pitcher of Modelo Especíal. Perfecto. The menu has everything from nachos to chile rellenos. The tempting meat options include carnitas, shredded and ground beef, roasted chicken, and fish and shrimp. The items are reasonably priced, too, ranging from $14-$22 for each plate. We ordered burritos, tacos, and nachos with shredded beef, carne asada, and chicken. The food was delicious. In this environment, at this moment, everything was perfect. I hope others get to come and enjoy the experience. The staff was really helpful and friendly too. Gracias por todo!“

“We have heard great things about this truck, so we finally tried it and are so glad we did! We ordered the shrimp tacos and Cali Burrito, and both were delicious. The salsas were particularly good, with the right amount of heat. I look forward to going back and trying other items on the menu!“

“Wow! From their website, I wasn't sure what to expect. Is it takeout now? Is there seating? Is it fast food? But turns out, It's a roomy restaurant with seating inside and outside. It had rained that afternoon and if it rained again we were warned that we might get wet, so we opted for indoors. They have a pretty extensive Mexican menu. The grilled corn on the cob appetizer caught my eye; in NYC, I only ever see that at a street fair, but this sounded good, grilled corn, 3 pieces, with butter and a sprinkle of cotija cheese (or maybe it's queso, I'm not sure). We shared the 3 pieces - basically a short ear of corn, cut into thirds. It was sweet corn and really tasty. Catch of the day was blue marlin, something we never have seen on the east coast, and it was amazingly delicious. So we both ordered the fajita with catch of the day, after our server explained blue marlin as a firm white fish. The fajita pan was chock full of fresh vegetables and the fish, with 3 tortillas (choice of corn or flour, we took corn), plus we each got a plate that had guacamole, sour cream, a scoop of Spanish rice and a small bowl of beans (server assured me that there was no meat in the beans preparation). This meal was so filling and so satisfying and really prepared well. We both loved it! And we shared a Modelo especiale that was on draft. Who'd have ever predicted that one of the best meals we'd eat while in Hawaii would be Mexican food?!?!“

“Exceptional tacos. Low key, no frills casual eatery.Owners & staff are incredibly friendly and helpful navigating the big menu. We went 2x in 3 days. Fresh griddled tortillas are on point. Imakalua pork is a MUST try. It's super tender & juicy, packs amazing flavor and they put a crisp on the bottom side of the pork that is what couldn't keep me away. Fresh Mahi Mahi & shrimp tacos were awesome and definitely try the mango & serrano homemade hot sauces.Don't miss this spot in Kauai.“

“Tiny little food truck serving up BIG flavors. Might be some of the best tacos I've ever had. Hubby and I traded tacos from getting an order of two each and both were delicious. Octopus Tacos had great sauce and cooked perfectly - you can tell how fresh by the buttery texture. Grilled fish enchilada taco was especially good with the added hot sauce. Highly recommend this spot if you're looking for seafood tacos with flavor at a reasonable price. We parked in the lot next door which seemed fine, we ate so quickly at the picnic tables there that not sure if you can get in trouble parking there or not“

“I really HATE sharing good places, only because it makes the line even longer, but these folks not only need a shoutout but another Crack. Phenomenal Mexican food for the Island. Quality eats, good price, great service with hard working folks. Mucho mahalos. Burritos, tacos, bowls all good“

“La mejor cocina mexicana en Hawaii!I grew up with Mexican food and nothing makes me happier than finding the real deal. I was pleasantly surprised to find such authentic Mexican food in Kapaa. Mom makes the masa for the tortillas herself. What a difference. Fish tacos are grilled with classic toppings and the all important lime on the side. Rice and beans, a staple in Mexico, are tasty, with the right texture and seasoning and not just fillers. Chile verde also hit all the right notes. Hawaii pricing but that’s just how it goes. Grateful they’re here and truly the best in HI.“

“Taco truck with umbrella shaded tables, views of the beach and fresh caught mahi.I ordered a side of the fish along with my tacos and was not disappointed.Perfectly cooked Mahi seasoned with just enough salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavor.Super generous portions and delicious sauces and guac.BONUS: acai, thai, and coffee food trucks nearby as well.“

“Loved going to this truck when it was parked at The Warehouse in Lawai. I've eaten tacos and burrito bowls from here it's always delicious and the service is so fast and friendly , they will answer any questions you may have about the menu. I came here more than a few times I really enjoyed it. And the prices were decent too, not too expensive.“

“Taco connoisseurs here. 5 star flavor, took off a star just cuz they were super expensive. But their blackened fish tacos and bowl were extremely good and we’d get them again. The shrimp tacos were great too. They were out of carne asada which must mean they’re good (we went at the end of the day). The food looked like their photos and was delicious.“