I’ve heard mixed things about this place. Shane, our roommate, been here once a while back and since then he refuses to come back. Later we hear that it’s the shiz nit from some of our other friends. We decided to go see for ourselves.

The inside of this place is very spunky and festive. Servers are dressed in cholo style atire. Besides the decor it went with the whole theme of the restaurant.

Spinach And Cheese Enchiladas Verde served with black beans and rice, $12.25. I loved this dish. The spinach was fresh, not pre-made or soggy. The enchiladas were not dry and the cheese was hot and melted. I wasn’t too impressed with the rice, but the enchiladas were the main entree and what really mattered.

Fish Burrito, $12.75. It was ahi fish and I really wish I had taken a picture of the inside for you guys to see. Ray said the beans tasted like they came out of a can but he loved the burrito.

Margaritas made with Patron tequilla. Yum. Mexican food is just so much better with a good margarita, don’t you agree? I don’t remember the price, but I do remember that they were a little watery.

We drove back home with satisfied bellies. When we saw Shane we said, “man, I don’t know what your talking about, Cholos is good.”
When it comes to opinions, take them into consideration, but it’s always best to have one of your own and now I do. Cholos is good Mexican food, no where near the best, but it’s good. As far as cheap goes, I don’t think so but it’s affordable.

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Cholos Home Style Mexican
66-250 Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, HI 96712
(808) 637-3059

So right next to Tropicana lies a small taco shop called Tacos Baja. We’ve driven pass this place several times when it was still in the process of being built. I remember thinking, “We’re definitely gonna check it out. This island is in desperate need of some good Mexican food.” Well now that I’ve been here I can tell you that this place sucks donkey dick.

There’s seating outside, where you order, and seating inside.

I am a little perturbed that this place even claims to be authentic. The only thing close to being authentic is the decor, but most certainly not the food.
Ray ordered the combo chicken enchiladas meal, $6.95. It came with rice and beans and 3 enchiladas. I don’t care what anyone says, these were not chicken enchiladas. We all agreed that this tasted more like a chicken Cesar salad wrapped in a corn tortilla. Correct me if I’m wrong, but enchiladas are usually smothered in sauce and melted cheese. It doesn’t even have to be smothered, but some kind of sauce would be nice, even a little. This had no enchilada sauce what so ever, just chicken, lettuce, grated cheese and I think it was a light chipotle cream, that tasted like Cesar dressing because of the cheese that accompanied it. Even eating them were an issue. They couldn’t stay together long enough for him to shovel it into his mouth since there was nothing holding it together.
Rice, beans and dry enchiladas, wow, can somebody get me something to drink. I got cotton mouth just by looking at this picture.

As for me, I ordered shaved ice from Tropicana next door to start and two fish taco. The price for fish varies from market price. I think I paid something like $6.00 for both.

Now don’t everyone go running out the door all at once for some authentic fish tacos. Seriously, cabbage, fish and a corn tortilla, how exhilarating can a these tacos get? If you want fake Mexican food come here and don’t forget to get something to drink. If it’s authentic food you crave, this is not the place for you my friend.

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Directions

Baja Tacos
3040 Waialae Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 737-5893

There are some people that drive by a really ostentatious place and say, “Wow, that looks fancy, we should go there for dinner one night,” Well, I’m the same way, but with hole in the walls. I say, “Wow, that place looks really dingy, we gotta go there.” That’s exactly how I felt the first time I laid eyes upon Diegos Taco Shop.
It’s a small boxy place. You walk in, menus up above, order at the register, grab a table and wait for your food. Usually places like this is family owned and operated. I remember seeing another Diegos Taco Shop in Pearl City a while back, so they must be doing good for them to want to branch out. I don’t know if the guy that took our order was a “Diego” but I do remember that he was very gracious and friendly.

Ray got a carne asada burrito. It cost $5.95 and was ginormous.

His complaint was that it didn’t come with refried beans inside and it didn’t come with cheese, but you can’t deny that they’re really generous with the amount of meat they give.

I ordered the fish taco for $3.15. I have no complaints, just preferences. While cabbage works, lettuce is just ideal on a taco, or even a burrito for that matter.

And a chicken taco for $1.65.

And of course I scurried the menu for dessert and all I could find was a churro. I believe it was $1.00. It was alright. My mom, who is Chinese, makes a better churro than this.

Overall I’m a fan of this place. The food was a little too salty, yet still tasty and very affordable.

Now that I know how their dishes are prepared I will be better prepared at ordering the next time around; extra, extra, cheese, and please substitute the cabbage with lettuce, spank you very much.

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Diego’s Taco Shop
2239 S. King St.
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 944-2949