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Name: Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine
Address: 66-165 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI, 96712
Telephone: (808) 637-7717
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.82

Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine

66-165 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI, 96712

(808) 637-7717
Store is closed

Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine Menu

Sopa or Ensalada

Fresh Local Greens

Tijuana Caesar Salad

Sopa Del Dia

Fresh Local Greens

Tijuana Caesar Salad

Sopa Del Dia
Entrees

Opakapaka A La Vera Cruz

Pescado De La Dia Ajillo

Paella Valenciana

Ribeye Asada

Enchilda

Champinones A La Parilla

Carnitas

Caldo De Siete Mares

Opakapaka A La Vera Cruz

Pescado De La Dia Ajillo

Paella Valenciana

Ribeye Asada

Enchilda

Champinones A La Parilla

Carnitas

Caldo De Siete Mares
Tapas or Botanas

Guacamole De La Casa

Quese Fundido

Camarones Ala Plancha

Ceviche

Almejas al Vapoor

Calamar Frito

Guacamole De La Casa

Quese Fundido

Camarones Ala Plancha

Ceviche

Almejas al Vapoor

Calamar Frito
Marisco or Crudo

Caldo Di Hacha Aguachile Chile Water

Island Style Sashimi

Campechana De Mariscos

Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Oysters on The Half Shell

Caldo Di Hacha Aguachile Chile Water

Island Style Sashimi

Campechana De Mariscos

Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Oysters on The Half Shell
Burritos

Ahi-Blackened or Grilled Seared Rare

Fisherman's Catch

San Felipe Style Beer Battered Fish

Carne Asade

Pollo Deshebrado

Vegetarian

Ahi-Blackened or Grilled Seared Rare

Fisherman's Catch

San Felipe Style Beer Battered Fish

Carne Asade

Pollo Deshebrado

Vegetarian
Quesadillas

Carne Asade

Pollo Deshebrado

Vegetarian

Carne Asade

Pollo Deshebrado

Vegetarian
Tacos

Ahi-Grilled or Blackened Seared Rare

Fisherman's Catch

San Felipe Style Beer Battered Fish

Gobernador

Carne Asade

Pollo Deshebrado

Vegetarian

Ahi-Grilled or Blackened Seared Rare

Fisherman's Catch

San Felipe Style Beer Battered Fish

Gobernador

Carne Asade

Pollo Deshebrado

Vegetarian
Carne Chips or Fries

Fresh Tortilla Chips or French Fries

Fresh Tortilla Chips or French Fries
Sides

Chips and Salsa

Chips and Guacamole

Side Rice and Beans

Guacamole

Sour Cream

Pico de Gallo

Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese

Chips and Salsa

Chips and Guacamole

Side Rice and Beans

Guacamole

Sour Cream

Pico de Gallo

Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese
Beverages

Bottled Water

Can Soda

Can Juice

Gatorade

Horchata

Bottled Water

Can Soda

Can Juice

Gatorade

Horchata

Healthy Meal suggestions for Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine

Sopa or Ensalada

Fresh Local Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tijuana Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sopa Del Dia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Local Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tijuana Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sopa Del Dia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Opakapaka A La Vera Cruz [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pescado De La Dia Ajillo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Paella Valenciana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ribeye Asada [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Enchilda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Champinones A La Parilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carnitas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caldo De Siete Mares [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Opakapaka A La Vera Cruz [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pescado De La Dia Ajillo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Paella Valenciana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ribeye Asada [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Enchilda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Champinones A La Parilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carnitas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caldo De Siete Mares [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tapas or Botanas

Guacamole De La Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quese Fundido [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Camarones Ala Plancha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ceviche [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Almejas al Vapoor [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamar Frito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole De La Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quese Fundido [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Camarones Ala Plancha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ceviche [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Almejas al Vapoor [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamar Frito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Marisco or Crudo

Caldo Di Hacha Aguachile Chile Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Island Style Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Campechana De Mariscos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic Shrimp Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oysters on The Half Shell [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caldo Di Hacha Aguachile Chile Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Island Style Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Campechana De Mariscos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic Shrimp Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Oysters on The Half Shell [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Burritos

Ahi-Blackened or Grilled Seared Rare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fisherman's Catch [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

San Felipe Style Beer Battered Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne Asade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Deshebrado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ahi-Blackened or Grilled Seared Rare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fisherman's Catch [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

San Felipe Style Beer Battered Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne Asade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Deshebrado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Quesadillas

Carne Asade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Deshebrado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne Asade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Deshebrado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tacos

Ahi-Grilled or Blackened Seared Rare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fisherman's Catch [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

San Felipe Style Beer Battered Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gobernador [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne Asade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Deshebrado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ahi-Grilled or Blackened Seared Rare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fisherman's Catch [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

San Felipe Style Beer Battered Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gobernador [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne Asade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Deshebrado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Carne Chips or Fries

Fresh Tortilla Chips or French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Tortilla Chips or French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Chips and Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips and Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Rice and Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sour Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pico de Gallo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips and Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips and Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Rice and Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sour Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pico de Gallo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages

Bottled Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Can Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Can Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gatorade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Horchata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bottled Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Can Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Can Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gatorade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Horchata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Haleiwa for healthy meals suggestion.

Haleiwa Joe’s Seafood Grill ( 66-011 Kamehameha Hwy )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Cholo D.

1st timer; celebrating Hinamatsuri (girl's day) with another Luibueno-virgin. We yelped suggested places to eat and somehow landed on Luibueno's because neither of us had explored it yet. Prior to arrival, I took it upon myself to call ahead in case of wait time -- approximately 25 minutes -- not bad. We arrived to a hostess who greeted us and immediately walked us over to a table. No wait time? Albeit it was a Tuesday night, +2 points Luibueno. (Sidenote: my date and I are easily built for contact sports; he's a linebacker and i'm no bitty betty. While the absence of wait time was much appreciated, the excitement quickly left after our hostess sat at a tiny-cramped-window table. -1 point) At this point, we met our waiter, "Mitch." Great guy. He suggested a few seafood entrees, ordered our drinks, and served us well without ever skipping a beat. His services were much appreciated. +2 points. Most important, the food. There was a variety of authentic mexican entrees and desserts. Chicken, pork, beef and fish, infused with local flair, and flavor. (Blackened Ahi with Guac, and a creamy hibiscus sauce -- to die for). Price was reasonable ($15/plate), and portions were huge. +2 points. With thanks to our waiter, chef, and the lack of persons dining at Luibuenos on that particular night, we were able to enjoy a quiet, well deserved meal and each others company. We recognize these moments are a rare occurrence, but if our experience inspires another couple to spontaneously explore new places and new food, then its all worthwhile. Salud!
(5)
Ashley O.

Love the hibiscus margarita from here! We do drinks here once a week and usually split an appetizer. The food here is fantastic but a little pricey. Plates run from about 12-23 bucks and margaritas about 10-12. The tacos are great. I usually get the beer battered mahi a la carte. For a nice two person dinner with drinks be prepared to spend between 60-90 dollars. The wait to get in can be a little long but the food, atmosphere and service are worth the wait. If your looking to get seats at the bar, I would recommend putting your name in for a table first and waiting it out. Your more likely to be seated first. We couldn't be more happy to call this little spot our go to place for drinks and tacos! I Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Kate P.

Just don't. We've gone here serval times over the past three years and always thought it was decent enough. The first couple of times it wasn't terrible, we normally take our food to go. Occasionally dining in. Then we started getting food poisoning. Not even joking every single time we ate here. From September of 2014 to last night we have eaten here four times. 3 of those times I was hugging the toilet all night long. The other 1 time it was my husband. I tried to play it off as a coincidence but after the 4th time---- come on now. Get your shit together. Don't risk it, it's not that good anyway.
(1)
Dana B.

One of the best Mexican restaurants on the island! We stopped in for a late lunch & stayed for happy hour! I had a Carne Asada taco & then tried the potato taco and the beer battered fish taco during the happy hour special. We enjoyed everything but my favorite was the beer battered fish taco, you have to try it!
(5)
Cierra R.

Great food! It's hard to find Mexican food on this island but this place hit the spot! I had the carne asada burrito and it was delicious! The rice and beans were perfect and our waitress was fantastic and super friendly. Trumps Cholo's across the street.
(5)
Rissa K.

Wow love this place! There are not so many great Mexican restaurants but this place here seems legit! Must try their Carne Asada burrito! Mmm so good!
(4)
Brandi F.

Since we are moving back to the mainland this week today was our last chance to try Luibuenos. Our server was very friendly and service was pretty quick. The dining area by the windows is very cramped. My husband ordered the carnitas and I ordered the blackened ahi burrito. I asked if it would be seared rare and was assured it would be. The complimentary chips and salsa weren't too bad but beware there is a TON of garlic in the salsa. Our food was brought to us by a random employee and I was brought tacos and not a burrito. I waited a few minutes for our server to try and rectify the mistake .... eventually I gave up and said screw it because it was lunch and I was hungry. The beans and rice were not hot, even with waiting a few minutes for our server they still should have been warm and the rice was a little dry. My "seared rare" ahi tacos, although the flavors were good the ahi was overcooked, nothing rare or seared here. My husband enjoyed his carnitas, he said it was really flavorful but was looking for some cheese and sour cream lol. Spending 50 on lunch, no drinks and no desseet just 2 meals, the food should have left me very impressed. I'm glad we're got to try this restaurant, it was on my Hawaii bucket list, but if we were staying on island we wouldn't go back.
(3)
Ed C.

I was in Wahiawa recently for nine days and stopped at Luibueno's four times either on my way to or from the North Shore. It's a great place to visit for an adult beverage with a bowl of chips and salsa or something fresh from the menu, which is a little pricey, but it's the best restaurant in Haleiwa. Friendly staff, clean rest rooms and icy cold beer is what will bring me back again on my next visit.
(4)
Cat M.

Stopped here to try the food and we were impressed. Good Mexican food with flavor! Had the Carne Asade burrito and fish tacos - definitely coming back.
(5)
Tiffany B.

Beats CHOLO's hands down/best Mexican in Haleiwa, maybe on the island. Good vegetarian options available though not readily advertised. Good portions. Comfortable ambiance.
(5)
Darrell P.

This is our first time at Luibueno's and for us, first impressions are the most lasting ones and this place was no exception. We got here with perfect timing because it started to get full a little after we were seated. Inside ambiance was casual. I liked the dark wood tables and chairs. The bench seat we had was high off the floor where my feet couldn't touch the ground but there was a place to set your feet instead of having it just dangle. All the wait help were dressed in black so theres no mistaking who works there. Even the napkins were black which I really dug on! We decided to go with the tapas menu. We ordered the Mexican prawns sauteed in garlic and Chile de Arbol. Fresh steamed clams in garlic butter broth and Mexican shrimp cocktail. The Mexican Prawns were perfect. Niceley sautÃ©ed and not overcooked. With the lemon squeezed over, it made the bed of cabbage that it was on taste so good. It didnt overpower but you could taste both garlic, butter and the lemon. The steamed clams were just unreal. Again like the shrimp, these clams were perfectly tender and not overcooked but it was the broth that these clams came with is what takes the cake. It was delicious. The toasted baget that comes with it to mop up that broth but when that runs out, use your spoon for the rest. When we ordered the Mexican shrimp cocktail, the waitress told us that this is not like your traditional shrimp cocktail. It wasn't. It came out in a large goblet filled with a clamato sauce and a whole mess of diced up shrimp, onions,cilantro and avocado that made this dish so delicious as well as interesting. There was a tortilla shell with a lime wedge on top kinda made this look like a hat and the waitress said this was a new addition to the menu. Of course all of this goodness was washed down with the classic Cadillac Margarita substituted with Patron Silver instead of the 1800 stuff. The wife had the classic Mojito. These drinks were far better tasting than the place across the street. I know you know who I'm talking about. Everything about this place to me in comparison to the other place, the food and the drinks just screams quality. The waitress we had was very friendly and professional, not overly intrusive on checking up on us but our drinks kept coming and our water was always full. This definitely is our new to go to spot in Haleiwa.
(5)
Sarah L.

LONG waits unless you go before 6 or after 8 on Friday Saturday or Sunday. If you are larger than a party of 2, I wouldn't plan on going during that time unless you want to wait at the bar for up to a hour. That being said, my husband and I ate here 2 out of the 5 nights we stayed in the North Shore. The Ahi tacos are THAT GOOD. Seriously, I think I heard angels sing. We had them both ways. I preferred grilled he preferred blackened but either one was for reals good. Second time we shared the plate with rice and beans and got one additional taco. Salsa is great. a "small" side of guac to go with the dinner was pretty darn big and was a nominal charge. Seriously go. But maybe on a weeknight, or early or late. Not the best place for large groups during busy times. Crazy loud.
(5)
Cynthia A.

This has been my favorite on the north shore since they opened! Always fresh, always served with aloha. Delicious margaritas and other cocktails, good beer and wine selection. Try the blackened ahi burrito with beans and rice. Plenty of veggie options too. The specials are always expertly crafted. The staff is top notch. They always take the time to chat with us, even when they are slammed. Great place for a quick and tasty bite after a day at the beach, or a classy special occasion. Lui's is the best!
(5)
Troy D.

Great fish tacos. Chips and guacamole was very good. Very attentive wait staff. Highly recommend.
(5)
Mary S.

Luis is doin it right the hubs said. I couldn't agree more. The meal last night in one word was amazing. I put the fried fish taco on par or better than what I've had in Mexico and SoCal. The fire water scallops-get them!!! Our server mark was nice enough to save the juice from that dish in a little to go cup. (I'm not kidding) When I tried drink it my husband said wait!!!! He wants to try to find some fresh scallops and attempt to make it while we are here. Yep. That good. Luis was amazing. In addition to introducing himself to us (he's originally from SD-go Chargers!) I saw him stop and talk to all the tables that were around us. We bonded with our server Mark over good music. (ask him about the concerts he's been to) OH! The salsa. Had to take a to go cup of that home too! My husband wanted to drink that one. He said, I can't stop eating the chips the salsa. It's like crack. It was too funny and I couldn't agree more. Chips were thin and warm and I'm not sure what's in that salsa but it's incredibly yummy and yes, highly addictive. The carnitas was very flavorful and it comes in a build it your taco style that's cool. Just writing this review makes me want to go back. Not overpriced but whatever you pay its worth it! Trust me on this one.
(5)
HaleiwaTodd W.

I met Louis years ago on a Hawaii Film Industry set. The Hawaii film industry only hires the best of the best. They have the $$$ to spend, so if he was good enough for them, he's good enough for me. I continued eating there often and have never been disappointed. And on top of the food, Louis is a genuine friendly person of aloha and the people who work for him are also genuinely friendly and professional. Hands down Luibueno's is 5 stars.
(5)
nikki T.

Long story short. just don't, we won't ever again Entered around 1pm it was not busy. Ordered drinks and food. 1 Hour, yes one whole hour to get food after ordering. Our waiter seemed to think it was funny or something, I couldn't quite tell but we could see right into the kitchen and they hadn't even started our food at that point. 4 plates out of 6 incorrect plus we were missing items entirely. All the Rice was crunchy, fish tacos cold in the center. The burritos were cold, even after being remade "right". One was still missing add on sour cream that we were charged for the other was ordered with rice inside and the rice was crunchy in that too. I'm struggling to find a positive comment here....manager on duty handled it fairly well. That's about the only redeeming moment. I'm so embarrassed because we brought visiting family here and ended up wasting a huge chunk of the afternoon waiting for food then trying to get some burritos right because we were absolutely starving. Seriously had our waiter told us they hadn't even started our good we would have canceled, paid for the drinks, chips and salsa and walked out. We would have had a better experience just leaving. All in all this place must thrive off tourists entirely because anyone kamaaina wouldn't ever be back after this experience, we will never be back. I usually give a second chance but in this instance I can easily say HELL NO!
(1)
cayle l.

My favorite place to eat in Haleiwa! The food is always good and the people working are always nice. Sometimes it's a bit crowded but that just means it's worth the wait! My fav is their carne asada burrito or tacos, soooo tasty! And they have the best salsa! I would eat here everyday if I could afford it, by far tastiest food in Haleiwa
(5)
Chris A.

I was extremely devastated when the Luibueno's food truck abruptly left Schofield Barracks maybe over a year ago. I was a regular customer & I called them like clockwork for about 2 weeks straight only to find a dead line on the other end. So I was really excited to finally make it out to their storefront in Haleiwa last week. The restaurant has a nice, casual atmosphere. The dining area is pretty narrow and compact, however we arrived at noon on a Friday and there were only (4) tables occupied during our entire stay. I guess they are only busy during happy hour which is Monday through Friday 4-6pm and every night from 9:30-10:30pm. Service was great, & the food was delicious. I fell in love with their quesadillas, burritos, and carne chips from their "late" food truck but I wanted to try something different on this visit. Even though I don't care for corn tortillas, I really enjoyed their grilled mahi and carne asada tacos. Their rolled tacos were extremely appetizing as well. I also loved their complimentary chips & salsa. The salsa may be a bit too spicy for those who can't handle some heat, but it was just perfect for me. I'm not sure if I'm putting the old food truck on a pedestal, but everything I ate there was much more memorable than this visit to their restaurant, but this place definitely fulfilled my anticipated need for good Mexican food. My only complaints here were our desserts (which were placed to go). The churros were burnt to pure blackness and the empanada(s) didn't come with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as indicated on the takeout menu & it consisted of just (1) empanada. I forgive them though because I was pleased with their food (hopefully the desserts were just an isolated incident). Even though there are so many places to grab a great meal in Haleiwa (all the various food trucks in particular), this is one restaurant you'll have to check out especially if you love Mexican food.
(4)
Keith W.

if you are going to go to Luibueno's one time then you have to order the Two Taco EntrÃ©e with Rice and Beans. And when you do that....pick the Ahi taco and the beer-battered Mahi! Wow it was amazing. The refried beans were also homemade and felt authentic. Luibueno's has a great drink selection and our service was top notch.
(4)
Tina P.

Delish Mexican food. Highly recommend the tacos!! I had the ahi, mahi and hubby had the potato one. Oh they were all good but the potato one was amazing!!! Li hing mui margarita was awesome!! Kids meal came with a drink and ice cream they were happy campers!! Overall pretty good and excellent service!!!
(4)
Priscilla S.

The wait to get in on a Sunday at 230 was almost 30 min for 4 adults. The place is tiny but the food is yummy. I had beer battered fish taco and a seared ahi taco. Both were really delicious and costed $17 with rice and beans. My brother also had the fish enchilada and that was yummy. To finish it off we ordered fried ice cream! Delicious! Covered in corn flakes. If you are in Haleiwa and want Mexican seafood. I would definitely stop here!
(4)
Tina V.

Was here yesterday (Friday night) and it was fully packed, with a great atmosphere though. We were seated pretty quickly and were serviced with a smile. Fish of the day (swordfish) was great with a tad bit too much garlic for my taste but good nonetheless. The seafood paella (staff recommendation) was average, rice was a bit overdone and the mussels and shrimp unfortunately didn't taste fresh at all and were actually really chewy, which was a but of a bummer especially since it was recommended as delicious and signature dish by our waiter.
(3)
Wendy H.

Really excited to have found this amazing place!!! The story of how this restaurant came to be really hits close to home since half Mexican and went to school in San Diego!!! About the food: Great Mexican taste! We started with the calamari. Simply delicious! I'm so picky with calamari because many places screw up big time! But not here!!! It is fresh and the chipotle aioli its perfection! I ordered the beer battered fish tacos because well San Diego spoiled me with the best fish tacos so I wanted to give these a shot. The mahi mahi is amazing! I love places that keep it authentic and use CORN TORTILLAS! I cannot stress this enough! Flour tortillas on a taco is not authentic Mexican! One thing only... I asked for extra chipotle aioli to put on my tacos... In San Diego they use a similar type of sauce and since the aioli was so good I wanted to have that on my tacos. Last but absolutely not the least: This place has micheladas! If you don't know what these are you have to give it a try!!! I had it with modelo especial and it was very refreshing! Only thing missing was the chili powder (tajin) on the rim of the cup. Other than that I was so glad that this is a drink on the menu! Go here! Eat and enjoy it!!! Will not regret it!
(5)
Barry W.

Excited to find the glowing Yelp reviews of Luibueno's, after searching in vain for compelling Mexican food on Oahu. The verdict here was a split decision. The food at Luibueno's was actually quite good. We had a seared Ahi taco and a full rack of bbq ribs. The taco was executed well enough, though I think the Ahi tends to get lost a bit. That's a shame, as the fish itself was fresh and cooked right -- seared on the outside, basically raw on the inside, with no hint of fishiness. The rack of ribs was HUGE. Two of us ate the ribs and we still had enough left over for a full meal later! The plate was completed with a large, roasted corn-on-the-cob (beautiful, but needed salt) and a Mexican-themed cole slaw (mayo-based, with pineapple -- it was alright). Service was also excellent. Our waiter was attentive, bringing water, chips, and salsa as needed (which was often). One miss was that he didn't tell us about the fish of the day, a Garlic Marlin that I think we would have enjoyed had we known about it. But no complaint here. So why only 3 stars? Because the food was not great Mexican food, which is what we were really hungry for. It was well-done for what it was, but this kind of food could and would be served in just about any generically American restaurant. If that's what you're looking for, I'd give this place 4 stars and have no hesitation recommending it. But not what we were looking for that night.
(3)
Angela D.

We like this place but it is so dang expensive! I wouldn't call this authentic Mexican food, but it is good. The vibe is cool, and we have enjoyed our visits here. We just wish the prices weren't so inflated.
(3)
Mariacecilia B.

Found this place on yelp while visiting Oahu with my boyfriend for my birthday. Sooooo glad I did! The wait was not bad yet the place was packed, and for good reason! My boyfriend had some of the freshest fish tacos he's ever had and thought they were excellent. I had the shrimp gobernador tacos which I had never even heard of. OMG, delicious! Seriously the best food I had on the island. I've been craving it ever since but being from the mainland I can't exactly get my fix any time soon. (I've been searching for recipes to try and recreate the dish but I'm sure it won't be as good as Luibueno's). There was live entertainment , a very talented young woman played her guitar and sang beautifully. She even did a duet with a friend's daughter of let it go. So basically: Impeccable food Great service Awesome entertainment Nice atmosphere Reasonably priced
(5)
Kym M.

We came here based on the reviews and a recommendation from a friend we met while in north shore. We came on a Wednesday night and it was packed, but still were seated within 10 minutes. The service was alright but it was a busy night so very understandable. I ordered the margarita which was good and there was enough left in the shaker for a second drink which is always a plus! The food... We ordered chips and guacamole, where the guac was good but their chips tasted stale or maybe it's just not the way brand of chips. Next we ordered the ahi ahi appetizer, and unfortunately we were not impressed. I personally did not like the plate at all, it did not taste fresh and it was came soaked in a sauce that I did not like ( tasted like a cranberry based sauce but honestly not sure). We ordered the grilled mahi-mahi tacos, which were surprise my really good! I'd recommend the Mahi Mahi tacos and the Margs, but be cautious of the ahi ahi appetizer!
(3)
Dana K.

Wow. Just. Wow. I didn't think that this level of authentic Mexican food was available on Oahu. I was so wrong. Enter Luibuenos. Top 10 list of reasons to come here 1) the service is some of the best we've had anywhere on the island. Our server was great, the whole staff was attentive to us and other tables. Everyone was smiling and helping 2) the drinks are totally worth the price. And I don't say that often. Strong and flavorful. How a margarita should be. This bartender deserves awards people. 3) salsa is fresh. Can't say enough about this. 4) guac is flavorful. Chunks of avocado, cilantro, and onion in every bite. 5) so good with our kids. The service was friendly. Their weird food preferences were honored and she even made them smile a lot. 6) carne asada tacos. Trust me 7) good portions for what you pay 8) did I mention the service? I can't say enough. But really. The service. 9) atmosphere isn't cheesy. It's calm, relaxing and mixes well with the local surf town feel. Even when it's crazy busy 10). I don't know who Lui is or was but they got it right. Keep it up. We love you and will be back. Often.
(5)
Reid I.

I wanted to try here for a while every time I pass by. We wanted eat someplace before heading out to the beach and decided to go here. We were seated right away by the tables facing the bar. They started with complimentary chips and salsa which is always a plus. Ordered the Guacamole de las Casa which was very flavorful. I ordered the carne asada burrito. It was a good size bite that was delicious. Great service and nice ambiance. Has tvs by the bars to catch your fav sports. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Jay G.

In the movie, "I Love You Man," Jason Segel claims that the BEST fish tacos are found at "James' Beach" down in Venice Beach, CA. "Literally. Ranked." Even going so far as to call them "The Tits!" Well Jobin, you city slicka, you have been misinformed because the Grade A pair of tits you are referring to are found on the island of Oahu, nestled in Honolulu, HI, fried up in the hidden gem of Luibueno's Mexican & Latin Cuisine. The mouth-watering fish tacos you will find at Luibueno's are truly, hands down, "The Tits." Literally, RANKED [by yours truly]. If there was any one place you had to have the best fish taco's of your life, Luibueno's would be it. The particular night we strolled in just happened out of spontaneity. The place was PACKED but the lovely host somehow got us seated immediately. They nailed the chips & salsa. But, then again, who the hell messes up chips & salsa? There was an awesome guitarist/artist there that night, who sang some originals and blew me away with a cover of "There Is A Light" by The Smiths and blew the rest of the restaurant away when she covered the Frozen Anthem "Let It Go" with a little one, Not sure if live entertainment is something they do regularly, but it was insanely awesome and they should definitely bring that gal back. Service, ambiance, and experience were top notch. Luibueno's has some of the best food you will find on the entire island. No. Scratch that. They have some of the best food you will find on the entire planet.
(5)
Randy M.

Awesome place! Initially was gonna head to Cholos but as I was stuck in the usual slow Haleiwa traffic I remembered the commercials & popped in here with my sister. Luckily I found parking in the shared back lot. We were promptly seated & found the staff friendly & attentive. The lighting was a wee bit dark in here but was soon forgotten when our drinks got here. We both ordered the mango margaritas & it was out of this world, I ordered the carne asana burrito all carte instead of the meal. Thank god cause it was big & filling & I don't think I could have finished the rice & beans which would have come with the meal. Of course chips & salsa was standard & also ordered a small guacamole to go with it. I'm normally not a guacamole person but I'd make an exception for theirs. All in all I would stop by here again if I was in the area.
(4)
Shane D.

First of all, the seating situation is insane. If you have more than four people for your table (we had five), there is basically two places they can accommodate you. Second, their prices seem excessive. I understand some things cost more, but they are charging high end establishment prices for a glorified bar atmosphere that is kind of cramped. Even by Oahu standards I think they are changing too much. Third, the drinks need work. Either they are using cheap alcohol or just don't know how to mix very well, but the drinks were definitely NOT worth the large price per drink. Now that I have gotten that out of my system, I do want to say the food here is top notch and full of flavors. The fusion of seafood with Mexican is just outstanding. I also want to call out the servers and hostesses work really hard to make sure you are enjoying your visit to this restaurant. I think the biggest problem is they are trying to cram too much into too little space. But real estate is super expensive so I can see why they are trying to maximize what they do with the space provided. I honestly don't know how the servers can get around this place when it gets busy, space being so tight. At any rate, if you have a small enough group and stick to beer or wine for alcohol, this place will make you fat and happy...as long as you are ok with the ding to your wallet.
(3)
Caleb S.

Food: 4.5 stars Service: 4 stars Soda Pop: Coke products After strolling the shops in Old Town Haleiwa and then refusing to wait 45 minutes for the shaved ice at Matsumoto's, we stopped by Luibueno's. Sat down immediately and had our drink orders taken within minutes. They serve chips and salsa, which is a little spicy and has great flavor. Added the guac as a side and wasn't disappointed. I recommend the beef chalupa street tacos, use some of the guac on them and prepare for a taste explosion. My girlfriend got the scallops, which were fantastic as well. This was a bit on the pricey side, so not an everyday stop.
(4)
Mark Y.

My first time here this past weekend but stepping into this place did bring back quite a few memories. Back in the 80s and 90s, I used to eat here frequently when it was Rosie's Cantina. This was our normal eating spot after surfing the north shore during the winter seasons. I remember back then, Rosie's had a 3 item combo that was $8.50. I always ordered 3 chimis and all 3 were huge. It was rare for me to eat all 3 in one sitting but on a few occasions I did...along with baskets of chips and salsa and the rice and beans. A lot of food but well, this body wasn't built in a day! :) Anyway, Luibueno's is a solid replacement for my Mexican fix so I'll gladly dine here whenever I'm out in the country. We both started with some margaritas, I had the Li Hing and my friend had the Spicy C&C, both were delicious and hit the spot after all that driving. For our meal, my friend ordered the Sauteed shrimp tacos (2 tacos) which he said were good...I couldn't taste it unfortunately since I'm allergic to shellfish. I ordered the Bear-battered mahi tacos (2 tacos) which I thought were really good. The mahi had a nice crunch that the cabbage, onion, cilantro and cheese accompanied nicely. There was also a crema on it that balanced everything out. Another thing I should add is that these are soft tacos and each one came with 2 tortilas like the ones I've had at places in Socal. Complimentary chips and homemade salsa were delicious and refilled when we ran out. We both passed on dessert since we were pretty full. Plus, I am in a constant struggle with trying to undo the decades of "body building" I've done.
(4)
Kara P.

Food was great..I have a new favorite at Luibuenos! !! Great place to stop off and have a nice late lunch w a few cold brewskies. Our service was not that great but I feel that to be an isolated incident. I will return to Luibuenos when I can make the drive from the west side!!
(4)
Michele B.

Amazing. Everything about this place. If you're in Oahu, take the drive to Haleiwa. This town alone has the cutest charm with some great stores, and it has Luibuenos. Great service. The food is so delicious and fresh. And you MUST order the pineapple infused margaritas.
(5)
Kelsie M.

Love the margaritas here! Things are a bit on the expensive side, but I usually go at happy hour. Also, the fish tacos are the bomb.
(4)
The F.

Excellent service at lunch by a Caucasian female, sorry wish I remember her name, Jena maybe? Eh not sure. But she was friendly, checked onus and served with a smile. Hope to get her table again. Finally! Excellent Mexican food. We started with the basics and we were happy with the Carne asada tacos plate. But filled up on the chips and salsa only because the salsa was made perfectly. Perfect cilantro, lime or lemon, and garlic well blended. We had to buy a tub to take home. The restaurant tables and floors appeared clean and the place look appealing to the eye. Thank you for the great service, food, and atmosphere. Only one thing missing... fresh made tortilla chips. The ones you have are ok. We will be back weekly if we can lol. Can't eat too much, may gain too much weight. So far best place on the island. This is coming from Hispanics who are born and raised in Los Angeles and Orange County.
(5)
Kendra S.

Oahu has been missing one thing that is crucial to my diet, delicious Mexican food. After a year of being deprived this staple, I found it!!! How did I survive this long without your tasty goodness?! Located in Haleiwa, this restaurant looks sleepy and quiet on the outside like the town. Open those doors and this place is packed! The staff is very friendly and eager to offer recommendations. My go to is of course a margarita on the rocks to start followed by either tacos or burritos. Burritos are actually not Mexican but a Tex-mex, California thing. Being from San Diego born and raised, I've been spoiled by the abundance of quality Mexican food at my fingertips. It's a staple for us. Moving here it has been hard for my husband. He is a Mexican food snob and he couldn't stop raving about this place. I ordered the ahi burrito and it was sooo delicious! My margarita was on point, I just wish it was a little bigger but who doesn't wish that? My husband ordered the infamous carne asada burrito and it was to die for. Even my vegan mother was happy with her dish (after she scrapped off the cheese). This is my new go to place and I am overjoyed to find it!
(5)
Kim M.

Yummy. Had the beef enchiladas super good. My husband had the chicken enchiladas and I stole a bite, very good as well with different sauce than the beef. Margaritas were excellent !! Chips and salsa , salsa having just perfect heat to satisfy.
(5)
Kyle B.

Stopped here twice while hanging out in Haleiwa the past week. First time was just for drinks and some apps. Service was good, chips and salsa were very good, guac was good, queso fundido with chorizo was just ok. Second time we went for dinner and got some margaritas and I got the paella. I have to say, my expectations were not very high at all given I have found most places' paella to be fairly mediocre and thought this would be no different, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The paella was absolutely packed with seafood, all of which was cooked perfectly. The rice was also delicious and cooked perfectly. Probably on the pricier end for Haleiwa, but a nice place with good food. Definitely worth a visit if you are traveling through.
(5)
Misty P.

I came here a while ago during a trip to the North Shore. I've always heard of Luibueno's and I am always game for trying some new Mexican establishment in Hawaii since there aren't many good restaurants here. There's plenty of parking on a weekday. If the lots are full fronting the restaurant, just drive to the right side and there is a bigger lot. I went for lunch and it wasn't too crowded, but not empty either. They serve you complimentary chips and salsa. I liked the salsa. It was kinda watery but had a nice kick to it and you could tell it was fresh and not canned. I ordered the two tacos with carne asada. It came with Mexican rice and refried beans with real Mexican white queso on it instead of the Americanized yellow stuff. The two tacos were great. Real tacos, not the fried shell kind. The meat was tasty and I like the toppings of fresh cilantro, and crema. The rice was okay but a bit dry. I loved the beans and cheese. Very delish. For lunch it was a bit pricey, but it was a good meal. Definitely better than Cholo's across the way.
(4)
Ali V.

Not as happy as I was last time.... Maybe cause I was drunk? Ribs are horrible and the service sucks
(2)
Tiffany R.

We went out here for dinner tonight and it was my first night. First off, I'd like to say that the atmosphere in there feels really nice and warm hearted or maybe I feel that way about all Hawaii restaurants since the people here are so friendly. Anyways I ordered a steak and it was super buttery and soft and served on some potatoes and sauce! Hostess was a blonde sweet girl and the waiter was very friendly! Also I recommend the desert menu. I contemplated between the flan and fried ice cream. I got the fried ice cream with butter scotch! It was super good. If you haven't been here yet, be sure you do!
(5)
Wayne W.

This is my favorite hangout on the north shore the beer battered fish tacos and carne asada quesadillas good and the have the best margaritas anywhere!! Service is good and the owner runs a tight ship!! Highly recommended
(5)
Taylor B.

$13 for a burrito with nothing else on the plate. I am not picky about presentation but it was seriously just a burrito on a plate. Service was great, they filled out waters up consistently. It is pretty cramped in there, it's a small place. You better get there before peak hour or you will be waiting a long time. I wouldn't go back if I had the chance.
(2)
Trevor T.

Meh, very pricey. Good food, but a bit overpriced. I'll give it a break since being on the north shore means limited offerings. I came here for lunch post-surf (wanted to switch it up from another Mexican place across the street). There's a full bar, and it looks like a fun place if you're in Haleiwa town at night. I'll have to come back to see if my feeling goes from "I might come back" to "gotta come back" after a happy hour/evening at Luibueno's. I will say that the servers were all friendly. I'm just "meh" cuz the perceived price vs alternative options in the area. Will be back.
(3)
Terence H.

Absolutely DISAPPOINTING for the overall rating! Two stars is polite. First what bar brings a bottle beer when you ordered draft and asks if it's ok? On the first beer if that. Then my friends tacos meat drained so much meat juice on the plate it created a puddle and when the waiter picked up the plate it spilled on the floor and almost hit my foot. Then my burrito was the kicker and the reason for this review. My pollo burrito was $13 and it was filled with only chicken rice and beans. The tomatoes and cabbage mix was on the side and there was absolutely no salsa anywhere! I had to build my own burrito after it was brought to me using the salsa from the chips and salsa that is sent to each table while you wait. Over priced and over hyped on here and not worth the time or money! Quick update, the bill came and they actually charged for the side of lettuce and salsa!!! Ridiculous! This finally promoted me to approach the manager. I voiced my concerns and he did NOT apologize and just said I can take that stuff off. How could he not apologize?! Careless management = careless service = careless food!!! They credited back the sides and the beer and that was all. I would highly NOT RECOMMEND this place!!!
(2)
Teresa H.

Hubby and I were staying on the North Shore and thought we would dine somewhere in Haleiwa and this is where we ended up. We were able to get seated very quickly and our server Moses was great. Their complimentary Chips and salsa were delicious - their salsa was nice and spicy! I ordered the Portebella mushroom enchiladas which were delicious! Hubby had the burrito with beer battered fish (which was a house favorite) and it was also really good. I had a mojito which was refreshing with fresh mint and limes (no one can really mess up a mojito right?) Oh and how can I forget the deep fried ice cream with honey for dessert! It was on a bed of corn flake cereal that made the texture quite tasty! Overall great spontaneous dinner date and good Mexican food, which we don't really have on island so we were very pleased! Definitely a must try!!
(5)
Tze M.

This place is always packed! Even the bar is packed! I only stopped here for a drink, so my friends and I sat at the bar. We got a full order of oysters, it was so good! It tasted fresh! Served half shell, on ice with sides of horse radish, and what ever sauce you request. Next time if I get a chance, I'll have to try the food there.
(4)
Rockie N.

I live in Southern CA, so eating Mexican food on the road is usually left to... well, Mexico. Ended up here on a whim due to a little travel fatigue and the need for booze and lunch. All other options in town were "meh". This was familiar. The salsa alone alerted us that this place is legit. I've been obsessed with Li huing mui, and Luibueno's margarita blew me away! The beer battered mahi taco RULES. The best part? They serve food LATE for the dinner-challenged - and there's a happy hour from 9:30-10:30pm. The street taco plates are a must and the beers are the COLDEST. They've got the market cornered...
(5)
Christina D.

This my first time here and i gotta say, I enjoyed my visit. The wait time was short and my food really good. I ordered the Gubanador (shrimp taco) with beans & rice. The spices they used was spot on for me. Not too spicy & I loved that the pico de gallo was separate on the plate sice I am not a fan. My party got the paella (which was good but small) & the portabella enchilada (which she didn't like. Said it tasted plain & not too much flavor). The ambiance was great after a day at the beach. Really laid back & relaxing. My one complaint...because I am very very picky about where I go to the bathroom. They have one unisex bathroom (which was clean so YAY) but the door wouldn't lock. No locking bathroom door does minus you a star in my opinion sorry lol.
(4)
Raina S.

I had moderate hopes for this place, since they have a much higher Yelp rating than other Mexican spots in Haleiwa. Sadly, I liked Cholo's better, and even they're not very good. As many others have said, the service is great here. We started out with chips and salsa and a couple of margaritas. These were okay. Next up was an order of queso fundido, with strips of chiles on top of the cheese, which made it hard to get both onto a tortilla chip. No chorizo, which I was hoping for. My daughter ordered a chicken burrito, which she barely touched. She said it tasted terrible. I tried the carnitas which were bland and extremely dry. My husband's tacos were soggy. The flavors were just not good. Having heard the owner was from San Diego, I was expecting more authenticity. My quest for good Mex on Oahu continues.
(2)
Chris P.

Don't know why we haven't heard of this place before but we sure are glad we found it!! Totally authentic SoCal Mexican! Great pico, great guacamole, awesome carne asada! Now they only need a California burrito on the menu! Intimate is putting it nicely. They sure do put as many tables as they possibly can fit in this tiny place, but the food made the "crampedness" totally worth it. Horchata, jamaica, and a bunch of Mexican beers on tap make the place even better. Check this place out!!
(5)
Edward G.

Best Mexican food on the north shore. A tad pricey, but great food, service, and drinks. My favorite restaurant in Haleiwa!
(4)
Garett D.

Li Hing Margarita was on point! Went well with the fish tacos! Great vibe and delicious seafood!
(5)
Ben M.

Great spot for tourists. For locals, it's pretty much a happy hour and late night happy hour spot. Good drinks if that's your thing. Fish tacos either fried or grilled are always on point. The better of the two "Mexican" food spots on the north shore. (Kind of hard being spoiled by Mexican food in CA) love the never ending supply of chips and salsa while having drinks, a great compliment. Guacamole is delicious as well.
(4)
Robert B.

What an amazing restaurant. Extremely friendly knowable staff - marvelous food. Totally enjoyed the appetizer lunch my group shared. The fish taco's were especially delicious and was a highlight as was the ahi tuna.
(5)
Matthew B.

2/10 I've gotten diarrhea at nicer places. Bland guac, carne asada burrito was warm.
(2)
Noe H.

This place is always crowded... From the outside check in those girls are always nice and they try to find u a table asap. The food and service is also GOOD!
(5)
Lauren M.

Very good Mexican food! I got a chicken burrito and all the ingredients tasted so fresh and packed in so much flavor. I got two sides of rice instead of beans and it was delicious Mexican rice. I was able to bring half of my meal home for lunch the next day. The chips and salsa were pretty good also.
(4)
Stephanie B.

Nom, nom, nom! Great deals at happy hour (4-6 weekdays & late at night), great service, nice ambiance. I'm from CA, hubby is from Texas and we currently live on the East Coast where good Mexican food doesn't exist. We're always on the look out for decent Mexican food and this hit the spot. Happy hour food--it was all awesome. Ceviche was great, came out in three portions, and was super cheap at only $6. Tacos were generously portioned with meat--I tried all of them as my entree--loved all of them (6 for $12). The rest of the table was totally happy with the paella, shrimp cocktail, and kids meals. Happy hour Margaritas weren't too "medicinal" and that's just fine with me. I ordered a Mai Tai and it was waaaay too boozey for me to finish--it was the real deal though.
(5)
Gen M.

Love this place, finally had a banging burrito!!!!. My husband had the carne asada quesadilla and loved it also. Will definitely be going back.
(5)
Rich M.

Saw an advertisement for Luibueno's on the TV at the hotel and decided to check it out for lunch. I arrived at the restaurant and found an open table in the bar area. Didn't have to Wwaite long before a waitress came to my table. Looking at the menu I thought it was a little pricey for Mexican compared to stateside but I said I'm in Hawaii. So I ordered two tacos (carne asada and shrimp) with rice and beans. The carne asada was decent but the taco didn't come with sour cream which was disappointing. The taco was ok. Then I went in on a the shrimp taco and was disappointed. The shrimp taco was more like a quesadilla. Grilled on one side and soggy on the other. In addition it was lacking shrimp. For the price ($8) I was expecting decent size shrimp. What I got were a few baby shrimp. In addition the rice and beans were bland. Overall the meal was just ok. Not the best that I have had. My total bill was $18. Definitely not worth it. Don't think I will be coming back.
(2)
Mark B.

It is odd reviewing a Mexican restaurant in Hawaii. I met the owner and there long time family friend was our waiter. He explained the history of the place and the move he made to Oahu to eventually work there. The food was quite good. I am very particular about my Mexican food despite where it originates. My partner and I both live in Arizona and we took his parents around the island on a tour stopping here for dinner. They are also from AZ and we found the food to be authentic and a good value. Conveniently, the island offers seriously fresh fish and seafood. There can be found a slight Hawaiian style to the Mexican food giving it a fresh unique flavor. We experienced a variety of appetizers and we each ordered a separate entrÃ©e. All were quite good. So if you live on the island or just a visitor and you are craving the flavors of the SW/Mexico stop in, grab a margarita and have some chow.
(4)
Berneta A.

Luibuenos has three things going for it: 1) air conditioning 2) parking 3) clean bathrooms that smell good Other than that you can get better Mexican food at Taco Bell at UH Manoa campus for way cheaper. Let's start out with the drinks, they are super strong! The tamarind margarita my boyfriend ordered got better as the ice melted to dilute it and was quite tasty after a while, however, my Caipirinha was a literally a glass of limes and cuca fresca cachaca. I can make that at home and for $9 and $8.50 respectively that was way too over priced. I ordered the ahi enchiladas which were overcooked, dry and salty. Our server Meghan asked us if we wanted hot sauce which, never appeared. Hot sauce would have definitely helped the taste a bit. That was not worth $18. My boyfriend's chicken quesadilla had about the same amount of taste and flavor as cardboard. My dogs were stoked to get the left overs, which was half of both out dishes because they tasted so bad. One star for the three items I mentioned above ( it's very hard to find clean bathrooms on the north shore) and another for the free chips and salsa. We spent $56 on 2 terrible Mexican dishes and 2 drinks. Bottom line, go get chicken from rays kiawe broiled chicken across the street. For $13.50 you can get a mouth watering whole kiawe chicken, pineapple slaw and rice and have money left over for lots of shave ice!
(2)
Jorge G.

Been all over this island, tried all kinds of restaurants and I have to say, "This has been the best food I've had since arriving to Oahu". The Mahi fajitas were awesome (fish, peppers and onions cooked perfectly) and extremely tasty. The churros were served with a presentation that can be posted on a magazine. I recommend anyone that comes to Oahu to take a drive to the North Shore and try Luibueno's out. Absolutely fabulous, definitely a place to come back to!
(5)
Chad F.

The Beer Battered Fish Taco, Mushroom Enchiladas, and Cadillac Margaritas are all you need. Oh, and the Quesadilla is HUGE!. Best Mexican this side of Cali.
(4)
Sara K.

Yum! The pork was amazing and the service wonderful! Our waitress even dealt quickly and kindly with an ultra-demanding member of our party, even though they didn't deserve it. We'll definitely be back!
(4)
Vanessa C.

Came here on a Tuesday night at 9pm. Busy night. Food was pretty good! Happy hour menu that starts at 930 helped with a few bucks which was nice. Star off was because of the service. Waiter was nice but too busy. I enjoyed that this place was open late because I was turned down by a lot of closed kitchens near by
(4)
Nick M.

This was my second time here and it will be my last time. They open at 11, but on this day they opened 20 minutes late due to their computers being down. I fail to the the connection between getting a seat and a computer issue. I would understand if I couldn't place an order just yet, but I'd rather wait inside seated than outside holding a 7 month old baby. Once they finally let people in the hostess asked if I would like bar seating, again I'm holding a baby in my arms, when told her we needed a table she said it would be another 5 minutes. I thought maybe they needed more time to get tables set up, but no it was so she could write the specials on the chalk board out side. We finally got seated after a long wait for a high chair, we started feeding my bay and she dropped the napkin on the floor. My wife and I were looking for it and the hostess picks it up of the ground and attempts to give it back to my child... we kindly.declined and asked for a new one. Eventually got our food, to me it was mediocre at best I got the Carne asada burito with pico. While I usally like alot of meat this was one time I could have done with a little more fixings, mainly to kill the over salted beef. The overall experience was incredibly disappointing, I was hoping the food would make for a better experience.
(1)
Andrew D.

There was really fast service here, and the food was pretty good. It was pretty expensive, and the portions didn't match great, but the service made up for that. They were very good about refilling drinks, chips and salsa, and our party was one of 23 people. Overall a good experience.
(4)
Heather H.

Came here twice, but definitely not thrice. Whenever I come to Hawaii, the first thing on my list is to get the best grilled fish tacos nearest to me! Our Air BnB hostess suggested this spot for tacos and margaritas. Both nights we came to a packed out place for happy hour. Out of all the appetizers, get the house made guacamole! Everything else feel flat and greasy. The Ahi-fish tacos, seemed to be pan fried, which meant more grease and covered in store bought cheese. Not something I would spend full price on, over $13 for two tacos. Not bad, but certainly not the best or freshest place for island eats.
(3)
David B.

Coming from San Diego .. I can give this place 5 STARS as a great Mexican restaurant. Really good flavors .. obviously they have a chef, not just a cook, and good value. Great ambiance and nice thin tortilla chips!! Ceviche was great and the service was good too. Recommended.
(5)
Tai M.

We really enjoyed this place. Had a short wait of 5 minutes to get a seat for 2 on a Saturday evening. The place is small but cute. I would definitely go back to this place if it were closer. Complimentary chips and salsa are given to you upon seating, and they give free refills if you want. Husband had the paella and I had a 2 taco combo plate. I couldn't decide between filling so they let me mix, and I had 1 mahi taco and 1 carnitas. The mahi was excellent - tender and flavorful, and it had the perfect balance of warm and fresh that I like - warm tortillas and mahi with a refreshing sauce. The carnitas was good, but I'd go back and get the mahi in a second. My husband enjoyed the paella which is rare to see on a menu. The squid was tender and they were generous with the seafood. The rice didn't have the paella crisp you'd get from cooking it in a traditional paella pan, but it was still good. I had the sangarita, which was sangra with tequila. A little too strong for me, but once the ice melted a bit it was fine. I should have gone with the regular sangria. Will definitely be back on our next trip to the north shore.
(4)
Brittany C.

I visited here while on vacation and I was not impressed. The portion size was nice but I would have rather had qdoba or chipotle. The chicken had a funny taste to me but I did enjoy the live music.
(2)
Candace C.

Being someone that lives on the island and pretty close to haleiwa, I really like luibuenos! They have great staff, food and amazing drinks. The staff are friendly and attentive to anything you need. They give you great advise/suggestions for food and drink choices. I have never been disappointed any time I have gone to this restaurant, whether is be the food or drinks. The food has great flavors and cooked perfect. The margaritas are exceptional! The flavors are out of this world! If you like spicy they have a great spicy C&C margarita that is my new favorite "go to" drink. It has serrano peppers, cucumber and cilantro making it very refreshing. Its kind of like a mexican mojito. They make all their margaritas fresh and they also have fruit and even jalapeno infused taquias :) yum. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Definitely take guests or family there. The only thing they dont have is outdoor seating. Great restaurant overall! :)
(5)
Keola m.

My dinner experience here was fantastic. Arrived at about 630pm on a Tuesday. A party of 7 got seated and while we were waiting a gentleman (probably the manager) came out to see if we were being helped. When we replied no he immediately seated us. The place seemed very busy but the service was consistently friendly and prompt. It makes a big difference to me when the waiter and server are very happy with what they are doing. Always smiling and not afraid to make conversation. Started with the complimentary chips and salsa which was freshly made and tasted great. The appetizer was the fried calamari with a great creamy dip. A-mazing! Then dinner came. BEER BATTERED MAHI TACOS - all I can say is .... WOW!!!. Fresh Mahi with grated cabbage and a cream sauce and other stuff hat tastes effn amazing. Ill be back for more of that. I sound like an addict. haha Oh, I also had the monster sized Quesadillas. Tasted great. (not a great as the tacos .. haha) But, great non the less. Lots of free parking. Imma be back for more of that Beer Battered Fish. Yum!
(5)
Kristin H.

Was good! First time at Luibuenos, had a hankering for something with fish and had their grilled ahi burrito. It. Was. Phenomenal. The fish, sauce, and combination of ingredients in a hefty size burrito made my day. Can't wait to go back! The only downside was price! As delicious as it was, I think $13 was too much. It was an added $3 for beans and rice. Crazy.
(4)
Vivian C.

The atmosphere looks nice. Folks are really nice from the servers to the hostess. But I'm disappointed in the food. I ordered the carnitas and the pork was cold. The rice and beans did not taste good either. From the look of the restaurant I thought the food was going to be incredible, no it's not. This isn't a place to go if you are hungry for good food. Highly disappointed in the food. Also I ordered a sprite and the server poured water into my cup when it was low. She never got a cup for my 5 year old to drink out of...thinking she was going to get a plastic cup for him.
(1)
Laura R.

Blah! Our server was nice. That's where the two stars come from. The complimentary chips and salsa were super yummy also. I got the chicken enchiladas. Dry and zero flavor. Not one thing I liked about. They were almost inedible. The husband got one fish taco and one steak taco. I liked his steak taco but he hated it. He loved his fish taco. Seafood isn't for me so I did not try it. My daughter got a chicken taco that she ate. That doesn't say much because she knew she wasn't getting her shaved ice if she didn't eat her lunch. Would I go back? Nope. No way. It took FOREVER food our food to come out. Would my husband come back? Probably but just for the fish taco. He also thought my enchilada was dry and lacked flavor.
(2)
Mia H.

Definitely planning on coming back here! Hubby and I shared 1/2 dozen oysters and it was sooo good! I get squeamish sometimes about raw or undercooked oysters but these were so clean and fresh tasting that I chewed them rather than just gulping them down. For my entrÃ©e, I had grill mahi fish tacos which were also amazing. The reason I gave four stars was due to the slow service. The staff provided good service, it just took a while to get seated and to receive our food in a half empty restaurant. Other than that, everything was superb!
(4)
Nard B.

Only great thing about this place was service. I've had a lot of good Spanish dishes (they don't just serve Mexican dishes, but others as well), but the dishes were not that great at all. First the chips that came with the salsa was very, very stale. Another round came by and was still the same. Then the prices were just too expensive for these meals cause just adding beans and rice to any single dish is almost an extra $6-$10 dollars. Horchata was good though. Overall, I like the people and the atmosphere but food was soooo sorry. On the next!
(2)
JOY R.

RUN!!!! Don't walk, run.... to Luibueno's for the GRILLED MAHI TACOS.... By far the BEST fish tacos I have ever had!!!! We came at the recommendation of our friend Samuel Levitz of Oahu Rental Vacation, and he absolutely steered us in the BEST direction! My husband ordered the Ahi Fajitas special and they were amazing.. but the GRILLED MAHI TACOS knocked us on our butts!!!! SO DELICIOUS!! Skip the beer battered ahi.. get the GRILLED MAHI TACOS. If you are a margarita fan, you must try their LI HING MUI MARGARITA... we got the 56 - 60 oz margarita with extra li Hing Mui on the rim.... YUM, YUM, YUM!!!! Service was great from the cute curly haired Mexican - American hostess & Clint, our waiter from San Diego! Can't speak for any of the other food on the menu... but I will scream about the GRILLED MAHI TACOS! ! We will be back!!!!!
(5)
Matt B.

If you are looking for some pretty darn good Mexican food I would highly recommend. Especially if you order the Beer Battered tacos or Burrito. Service was descent speed wise but very friendly. A little on the pricey side but so is everything in The North Shore.
(5)
Thad B.

Just OK. I'd go to Cholo's before returning here. Short ribs are probably the best thing on menu.
(3)
Robin N.

Great restaurant! Not just Mexican food, but solid seafood dishes as well. We ended up eating here 3 times during our 10 day stay and had excellent food, drinks, and service each time. My kids were told they should try the carne asada quesadilla and were completely STOKED with their choice, they ordered it all 3 times we came in! It's a very large portion and the carne aside tasted as good or better than our favorite place in S.D. My wife and I explored the menu a bit and had great food each time. Blackened seared ahi burrito and tacos were all time. The ribeye asada with tequila DREAM sauce was epic. The guac is insane. The grilled fresh fish entree was killer. Tecates in a can (bring your own koozie), $3 Pacificos on happy hour, and so much more. I could go on and maybe I will after I go back and eat there more on the next trip! Eat at Lui's!
(5)
Jason H.

Thanks to John last night who gave amazing service last night! The hostess that gave me trouble that last few times were not there. I was sat immediately... Had my margarita shortly there after and chewed down on some great guacamole and chips!
(4)
David L.

I am not sure how this place got good reviews. Went here based on reviews and 4/5 stars. Had the taquitos that were overcooked and drenched in sauce to try and cover it up. Then tried mama silvas guacamole that was fizzing and had a weird aftertaste like extra chemicals or something. Tried the mahi tacos that had some extra cartilage that made me gag!
(1)
Taylor S.

Best mexican food and drinks! If you like piÃ±a coladas, virgin or not, then this is the place for you!
(5)
Stephanie C.

Stopped in with a friend after having been rained out of a nearby hike we had planned to do because it smelled really tasty as we walked by :P Hostess managed to squeeze us into the last table for two left, by the window, which I think was actually a nice spot. The salsa is a decent smooth salsa (not chunky) and is fairly mild, which is good for me because I'm a bit of a heat wimp. The guacamole appetizer was also pretty good and had a nice amount of cilantro, which I like ;) I had the portobello enchilada and my friend got the enchiladas with beef--both come with a LOT more side than I was expecting! If you like rice and beans, you will get your fill here, for sure. The waitress didn't bat an eye when I asked to make sure my portobello enchilada was vegetarian, too, so I suspect they do get vegetarians in here (esp. since they have specifically vegetarian items like the vegetarian burrito). The enchilada was delicious--the portobellos are nice and thick sauteed slices, just the way they should be :D Yum! The look is that of a cute little Mexican restaurant; the interior decor is on the modern side, but the little roofed structure inside with the tile roofing was a nice touch :) The waitress was friendly and well prepared, if a little busy (the whole restaurant appeared to be filled to capacity at the time), but they had staff coming by and topping off our water and getting refills for my lemonade pretty consistently, so that's always a plus. Overall, a nice place for lunch!
(4)
Jurija M.

Been here a few times now and it is certainly not a bad place for some Mexican/Spanish flare and fair. My favorite part about dining here is the salsa. It has a good kick to it and it's definitely the best salsa I've had on the island thus far. My favorite appetizer is the the queso fundido. It is greasy, oily goodness! They should serve at least 1-2 more little breads with the dip however. I enjoy a solid burrito from here and my boyfriend loves the carne asada tacos. He says "You can never go wrong with them." Lui's loses a star for their WEAK drinks! I really can not believe how WEAK these drinks are. Someone needs to learn how to pour! Please!
(4)
Laura R.

Very cool original Mexican restaurant on the North Shore. Enjoyed the chips and salsa with guacamole and a spicy C&C margarita! For a main course we shared the mixed green salad and the spicy prawns! Great flavors and so filling!
(5)
Therese P.

First time to visit. Came in on a Sunday past 1pm and got seated right away. Server very attentive but not warm either, you know she's just doing her job. Can't get enough of the salsa, spicy and flavorful. Hubby ordered horchata twice. He finished the first glass way before the entree was served. It's that good. The carnitas plate that I ordered wasn't what I was expected. Looks more like an adobo. I didn't enjoyed my Lilikoi margarita, too strong for my taste. Alcohol was so overpowering I can't even taste any hint of Lilikoi in it. Carne asada plate hubby ordered was so yummy. Will be back next time to try the burrito.
(4)
Allan P.

Food was amazing. Service was slow. Just found on my bank statements that they decided to tip themselves a little more than what I did. 1 star for dishonesty.
(1)
E S.

Do not order the guacamole! It tasted old and disgusting, did not taste any like guacamole! Also, the guava margarita did not taste anything like guava but a generic margarita. Overall, the quality of the food did not merit the substantial bill.
(2)
Reid S.

My experience at Luibueno's was just okay. Nothing outstanding or interesting, just another Mexican restaurant on the north shore. I'll admit, I'm not too keen on Mexican food, I've never had really awesome Mexican dishes. I ordered the burrito with chicken (even though I wanted shredded beef) and it was decent. Nothing terrible, but I could've had it seasoned more. It lacked a flavor, if only I could pinpoint it. The lihing margarita was delicious though. Not quite like Ryan's, but still delicious and refreshing, especially when tackling the bracing Oahu sun. Presentation wise the food looked very good, my Instagram followers were very pleased lol Service was strange. My friend and I waited a long time to get seated for lunch. It wasn't very crowded so I don't know where this wait was coming from. We didn't know where to wait either. It was so hot outside, but waiting inside made us feel like we were in the servers' way. Another couple arrived and the hostess did not know who had come first, which was not very professional. If only there was someone watching the front door, maybe more people would feel compelled to walk in on a whim. It just so happened that I was craving Mexican food and they were the closest place that could give me a burrito. All in all decent, service needs to improve.
(2)
Jason B.

This place is awesome, really great service, amazing fish tacos and happy hour.....I'd recommend this place to anyone!!!
(5)
Caleb L.

Great food for the price. Came here off a recommendation from a friend. There is plenty of parking behind the restaurant. Seating is plentiful and we were able to sit on an alcove at street level. This gave us a decent view of downtown Haleiwa. Carne Asada was a bit dry but the fish is where this restaurant excels. Highly recommended.
(4)
Michael B.

Excellent service, excellent food, prices are comparable to other places in the immediate area but with better quality of food! Ahi fajitas are a current temporary item that they are apparently considering making permanent, they are delicious, so hopefully they do! The ribs looked amazing, I asked the guy eating them and he confirmed that! I'll be trying those next time! Margaritas are also really great with a house made sour!
(5)
Jason S.

Awesome food and atmosphere. This is a great place if you are craving solid Mexican food. Guac is insane. Fish burrito was huge and very tasty. Get the churro and hot chocolate to finish it off.
(5)
David N.

Fantastic Mexican in Oahu! As a Hawaii transplant who grew up in Southern California, my standards for Mexican are high, and in general I've been disappointed with Mexican restaurants in Hawaii. I was not disappointed today. Prices aren't low, but the food was excellent and portions generous. My brother and I split 6 taquitos and we each ordered 2 tacos a la carte (assuming the tacos would be small), and we walked out stuffed. All of the food was highly flavorful and struck me as pretty authentic--certainly satisfying to this SoCal boy. The dining room was tastefully appointed and the service was professional and friendly. Recommended!
(5)
Wes J.

Stopped here after a long day, kids were tired and so was I. I thought this place was pretty good. Their homemade chips were good but weren't outstanding. What they do well though is their fish tacos, OMG, these were amazing. Love, love, love them! Waitress was nice and the place was pretty clean. Typical Mexican restaurant decor but wasn't over done. All in all this was a nice experience that we would gladly do again! Prices weren't bad either for the quality food they put out.
(4)
pat m.

We were disappointed so many times last Wednesday. We were really looking forward to some good food - and Luibueno's was crowded. The hostess gave us a 15-20 min. wait time and took our phone number. After 25 minutes of window shopping we came back and had to wait more. We ordered and the food came in shifts so the three of us didn't eat together. My husband's was out first- not in a short time- and was refrigerator cold. Then my son't tacos came out and were fine. Then my husband's again and it had been microwaved but still had cold sections. The waitress was so busy it took a while for her to get to us. In that time, I realized my order never came. When she finally got back to us, my son was done eating and her response to everything was 1 "sorry about that". She also put the blame on whoever plated, because she wasn't the person who brought our food- she was too busy. While that's the subject of a whole other discussion about customer service, Luibueno's spent the inside cover of their menu expounding on their excellent customer service--therefore, while the food was meh, the service was deplorable. 1 star doesn't cover our loss of an hour and having to find lunch (Goivanni's garlic shrimp truck down the road :) worth a second visit.
(1)
Candy P.

Sooooooo good! Wonderful atmosphere, great friendly and knowledgeable staff, and the food was yummy! Had the queso fundido with calabasitas, vegetarian burrito, portobello mushroom enchiladas in a freakin amazing red sauce and fried ice cream with butterscotch!
(5)
Kenia D.

So, we are a really frequent costumers! Every single time that I came here was just perfect!! Until today !!! April 11 2015 ! This waitress HEIDI was rally disrespectful!!!! She actually throw our order on our table no napkins! No nothing!!!!! On top of that ! We ask to split our check (because we were 8 people) and she throw a pen on the table an sd that we need to split our check our self!!! And this is not enough !! We actually talked with the manager about our awful experience and he actually give her all the rights to do what she were doing!!
(1)
Grace L.

We always get mexican food when we venture out to the north shore so we decided to try luibuenos out. I had the carne asada burrito. It was okay. They don't put rice in the burrito so it was just like...a lot of steak and this sour cream sauce kinda thing. I'm not sure what the sauce was but it was white and tasted like sour cream (minus the consistency). I had it ala carte because I wasn't feeling that hungry so I can't comment on the flavor of their rice at all. I was just disappointed because when I think burrito...I'm thinking the whole shbanngg with rice, meat, sour cream, guac, salsa, etc. Ok so you're probably wondering why I gave it four stars? Oh my gosh, the FISH TACOS. I've had some really really awful, dry, bland fish tacos at other places. For that reason, i literally NEVER get fish tacos anywhere. I've never had a place that can cook it well...except LUIBUENOS. It's battered fish tacos so the crunch gives it an amazing texture. The flavors are amazing. I've been craving it so bad but we haven't had the time to drive out there. Hopefully sometime soon... Also, I went to school in SF for a year so I've eaten some pretty bomb mexican food. I don't think this place cuts it in terms of authentic mexican cuisine. However, the fish tacos are amazing and perfect. It's a must try. I insist. It's so good that I am willing to overlook my carne asada burrito just for this and bump it up a star or two.
(4)
Robert F.

Service is great Chips and salsa are delicious Sangria is on point San Felipe burritos were delicious
(5)
Kalani S.

We started with the 2 margaritas, one was the Don Julio Cadillac and the other was the Spicy C&C If you love cheese, we recommend the Queso Fundido for the appetizer, it's like fondue and very tasty, we added the chorizo for a full flavor For the entree we ordered the Carnitas and the Shredded beef enchiladas. The corn tortilla that came with the Carnitas was warm and not dry, the pork was tender with a nice balance of sauce. The enchilada hit the spot for me. The tortilla, sauce and the shredded beef were well balanced, it wasn't too hot but just right for me to order another Margarita. I have to say this Mexican restaurant is by far the best on the island. I have been to many Mexican restraurants from Ko'olina, Hawaii Kai, Aiea, McCully/King etc. Kudos to Jane the great server we had and Luibueno's
(5)
Chrystal N.

Seared fish tacos r awesome. Fresh and delicious, had the beer battered fish taco and shrimp taco also. Both were good. The seared fish tacos r the best of the 3 fish tacos they offer, that is what i thought. Beans rice boring. Skip it. Steal some from your kids plate! Well if you have kids! Kids portions are great. Service could of been a bit better.
(4)
Mikeal H.

Last time I came here I got the enchiladas (beef and ahi). It was a 5 out of 5 meal. Great taste. Delicious. BUT HOOOOLY GUACAMOLE (pun intended) THESE AHI FAJITAS HAVE ME RETHINKING LIFE. All the people I've hurt, lied to, been mean to, and disregarded I AM SORRY. Life has so much meaning and in the past I have been guilty of not appreciating the things around me. Your first bite makes you want to hug the people at the next table. Your second bite you stand up and drop the spoon (aka drop the mic). With every bite a new epiphany and a new way to celebrate. My last bite caused the restaurant to erupt with applause and a congratulatory lap around the room. High fives for all and it was the best night of my life. I asked the waitress to hug the chef, I hope she did. AHI FAJITAS (it was the day's special) Meat was TENDER and the onions and peppers that complimented it were cooked just right. The whole meal had a great balance of salt, spice, and zest. AHI FAJITAS. Do not get anything else unless it's a michelada.
(5)
Jackie G.

I don't get what the hype is about this place. Service and food was mediocre. I ordered the shrimp tacos and it had two tacos with 5 tiny shrimp in each taco. My husband got the fresh catch burrito and it was mostly beans and aioli with tiny bits of fish. Mostly disappointed after having eaten awesome fish tacos at monkeypod kitchen across from the JW Marriott earlier that day. Salsa tasted fresh and homemade but beware! It is very spicy! Ambiance was very loud but maybe because we had dinner at 9 pm. We had to repeat ourselves and yell across our small table.
(3)
Mark M.

Just ate lunch here, and couldn't be more pleased with the service and food. The salsa has a little bit of kick to it, and actually has flavor. I ordered carne asada tacos, which came out ten minutes after ordering them and they were delicious. If you find yourself nearby, give the place a shot.
(5)
Kimo S.

Heading out from the North Shore we decided that Mexican would be a great way to fill ourselves up for a long drive home. Lauren V. had been raving about the beer battered fish tacos so it only made sense that we would give them a chance. The (free) fresh chips and salsa were perfect and a great way to wait for our lunch to arrive. Our waitress was pleasant and took our orders promptly for Margarita's (Li Hing and Mango) and came back quickly to take our food order. Bonus points for that. Our food came out relatively quickly and Lauren V. stuck to her guns and ordered the beer battered fish taco plate and I opted for the beer battered fish taco burrito. I have to say, both dishes were great but could have used a little more "heat" to them. When I think of "authentic" Mexican I think of spices and heat with the flavor profile. The battered fish was quite good, the fish was still tender and not overcooked or dry. Flaky, moist and tasty so I was pretty happy. The only gripe I had is that I found more pieces of just fried batter than fish. Perhaps in a burrito it is easier to hide this but it was easy to find when i was eating it. I felt that I got 75% of the fish that Lauren V. got because of the excess fried batter that was buried in my burrito. Still, I'll probably give them another shot when we're back that way but I might want to ask them to make sure my fish pieces are legit and not over battered.
(4)
Kristie K.

Great drinks, great food! I had a pineapple infused taquilla margarita, great refreshing drink! Also had a mahi & carne asada taco, both EXCELLENT!!!!! Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Kimberly D.

Used to be great but totally missed the mark last Sunday. We hadn't been up to the NS for months and we're really looking forward to our dinner after walking around Haleiwa Town. Started off bad with overlooked calamari that was not fresh and an aioli that was flavorless. I had chicken quesadilla that was barely edible. The chicken had an odd flavor. I ate less than half and threw the rest away. Fish tacos? Meh. Carnitas were flavorless as wee the sides. Margaritas were good, but we walked out after spending over $100 with tip and feeling shafted. Used to be our go to :(
(2)
Ely B.

Ten stars! This place is great -- it's the perfect stop after a long day at the beach. We were on the island during off-season (late April) so it was never overly crowded and we never had to wait for a table. I would highly recommend the happy hours, they are an excellent deal -- you get plenty of food for your $$ and the margaritas are delicious. I had the chalupas two different times and desperately wanted to smuggle some of that salsa back home to Seattle. Aside from the great food, our server Jayne was AMAZING. She was hilarious and always on top of things. She had a ton of great recommendations for things to do/see while on the North Shore as well (one of them wound up being our favorite beach during our entire stay). Thanks Jayne!
(5)
Lauren V.

I ADORE Lui Bueno's beer battered fish. I've been here several times. I switch back and forth between the beer battered fish tacos and the burrito. The only downside to eating here is that it can get crazy busy. If you are hangry skip their evening happy hour. It is close to impossible to get a seat. I always go here with the expectation that I'll have to wait 45 minutes for a seat and about 30 minutes for food. The wait is killer but I am so happy once I have those tacos in front of me. I took my boyfriend here this past Sunday (for lunch around noon) to experience the awesome tacos and we were seated in 5 minutes and our food and drinks were delivered within 10. I was just amazed. I'm giving Lui Buenos 4 starts for their beer battered fish. Minus 1 for the wait that I usually experience.
(4)
Jett P.

Excellent service! Great for families! I came with my kids and they were so kind and patient. The kids even got ice cream for dessert! Yum! I have been a few times and I'm always impressed. I especially love the margarita! Mmm... Must go here if you know good Mexican food!
(5)
Azlina H.

I have been here a number of times, and have never had a bad meal. Service is usually great. But the last time we were in, the bartender was interesting. My husband ask for some water....there was such an absense of response, verbal or otherwise, I thought the man did not hear him. Then water he put a glass of water in front of us. Hmm...? Not sure what that was about. The hostess and waitress were great. The salsa is always fresh. Love the salsa and chips. Careful not to fill up on those before your order comes. My favorite is the quesadilla.....large enough for 3 meals for me. The last time I came, I ordered the taquitos from the appetizers list. Six, to share.....it was delicious. And very filling. The best rolled taco ever! The sauces they were served with were delicious. I ordered a salad, and flan...don't forget flan. Life is short, seriously, eat dessert! Our friends who had never been there before, loved the quesadilla (which I recommend)....declared the best quesadillas, ever. Yes, we will be back. Again, and again. Mahalo for the good times. See you again, soon.
(4)
Steven D.

This restaurant far exceeded my expectations. I love Mexican food, and coming from California, I never thought we'd find such good Mexican food in Hawaii. According to the (really long!) background story in the menu, the owner was originally from San Diego and was on a mission to open a good Mexican restaurant on Oahu; I'd say he succeeded! The complimentary chips and salsa tasted fresh, the servers were friendly and quick, and the entrees were awesome. I highly recommend the chipotle sauce ahi enchiladas. I also liked the shrimp tacos, and the rice and beans were great too. As for drinks, I had the jalapeÃ±o cocktail, which was very tasty. A couple people had margaritas, which looked pretty cool (blended and frozen like a Slurpee), but were actually not very flavorful. If you like spicy, definitely go with the jalapeÃ±o drink instead!
(5)
Stephanie B.

I always have a good experience here. The margaritas taste great! The food was well cooked and tasty and the wait time was about 30 minutes for two people. I had the chicken enchiladas and my husband had a burrito which was pretty big. I like the atmosphere, but the tables are a little too close together and the bar chairs are really close together. The staff was friendly and overall it was a great place for date night.
(5)
Andy A.

This the catch of the day. Fabulous. And the burrito is carne assada and is delicious. Goes really really well with guacamole and taquitos with beers and margaritas. We tried 7 stars but you can find out for yourself.
(5)
Sam E.

The wait was long because it was pretty busy on a Sunday night but that was just a testament to the delicious food and fabulous service we received. Our server, Chelsea, was on top of it refilling our chips and never letting our drinks get empty :) Muy bueno!
(5)
Celia B.

Everytime I come to the north shore I make sure to stop here! It is my favorite Mexican restaurant on island, although I wouldn't call it authentic, of course it's more upscale and trendy. The margaritas are fantastic! I especially enjoyed the guava margarita with he li-hing rim. We have also tried to lilikoi margarita, the skinny margarita and the spicy margarita, all of which have been enjoyable. The food is delicious and of high quality! They serve you complimentary chips and salsa, both of which are fantastic. The guacamole is a great addition, as well. My favorite item on the whole menu is the local greens salad. It's so hard to find a local and fresh tasting salad on this freakin island! But what makes the salad super addicting, aside from the fresh ingredients, is the dressing, both house made, and both are delicious. I usually split my salad up and do half and half, I simply can't choose! :) The calamari was great, and same with the tacos. We primarily come for drinks and appetizers, but I have no doubt that everything else on the menu is extremely delicious. The service has also always been over the top fantastic, as well! I really have no complaints about this place. Yes, it's pricy, but that's why it's so good. You're paying for the high quality, amazing food.
(5)
Tracy S.

This place was busy but we sat quickly for a party of 5 and the service was more than friendly. Talk about a great selection of drafts, they have it and a great drink menu to boot. The guacamole was a little bland not as good as we had hoped but still fresh. Salsa had the perfect amount of kick and is thinner. My mahi burrito was huge and had a bit of a kick. We didn't really need the beans and rice as it was already in the burrito. The pork carnitas were the bomb and so much we had to take home but the ahi tacos were overdone when requested rare and pretty small compared to the other dishes. The kids had a huge quesadilla plate and surprised them at the end with ice cream. The atmosphere is colorful and the smallness makes it really my style. Although I did not have the mixed drinks, I will next time as the table beside us ordered and we could not stop staring. The 3 rating was due to the tacos, the guac and after requesting a to go box, it was not related to our waiter which caused a delay however would still recommend for you to try.
(3)
Paul D.

Get the paella and the mussels in wine sauce. Both are the bomb.com ! Best latino food on the north shore. If on vacation, this is a must go type of place.
(5)
Joshua B.

Terrible hostess, three times in a row now this place has had terrible front end staff. They DO NOT know what they are doing. They have a so called list they go off of but they don't use it. DO NOT come here if you only have 2 in your party lol you will never ever get seated. Three or four or more can walk right up and get a table but if you are a party of 2 you will wait and wait and wait as you watch group after group after group walk up and get a table before you. Who's ever policy this is not to seat 2 people to a 4 seater table has lost their mind. This is strike three. Very disappointed but what should I expect from this place after it happening over and over.
(1)
Jeff G.

Usually, I love this place, but we went to Luibuenos for lunch on a Thursday, and was a little disappointed. The service was fair; not horrible, but we were left waiting for a few things at times. The food was pretty good, but I could have made better beans and rice at home in 5 minutes. Just order the item by itself, not the entree, which includes the wallpaper paste beans and styrofoam rice. But by far, the worst part was the bar service. The bartender was an older woman, probably around 50ish, and was more concerned with talking to her bar customers than making quality drinks. On their menu, they have an excellent margarita made with fresh lime juice, agave syrup, and Cointreau. It is served in a custom shaker, and shaken and served at the table. The first one we ordered was perfect, no complaints. But the next one was do terrible, it was like we were in a different restaurant. First off, it wasn't served in the shaker, which was our first red flag. When we tasted it, it tasted like lime juice on the rocks. I asked for an extra shot of agave to balance the sour, but it didn't help. I actually question whether or not we got the quality margarita we ordered. But, the server did remove the offending margaritas, and we did leave fairly happy. Bottom line, the food is decent, (except for the beans and rice) just be careful of the bar service, especially if the older woman is working.
(3)
Nicole K.

Had a large group of us (9) on a Tuesday night around 7pm. They don't take reservations between 6 and 8:00. We had a nice table situated near the kitchen. Service was excellent, and they even showed us a picture of the special fish of the day. Only downfall was I ordered the scallops with vodka cream sauce thinking I would get a pasta but it ended up being on Spanish rice. It was good but I was expecting to eat pasta
(4)
Sal M.

Not as good as I hoped. Another Mexican restaurant that has no authenticity. Very pricey for its food. I spent $40 on myself for food that was no where worth it. The drink was small for the price as well. Everything about this place seemed good until I actually went in. Never going to try to this place again.
(2)
Lauren C.

I've been to a few of the more popular Mexican restaurants in town and I used to eat at a popular North Shore Mexican place until I gave this place a try. It was Boyfriends idea to try this place which was a big surprise because he's not really a Mexican food kinda guy. I was happy he suggested it so I didn't mind the long ass car ride it took to get here. There was a wait since we came during lunch time but I liked that I could leave my phone number so I could browse the shops in Haleiwa instead of being stuck outside their door waiting to be called. The first thing I noticed was that this place is super tight. As in the literal sense. I practically had to walk sideways to get to our table and once we were there, we were seated smack dab next to the other table. The design of the dining area is kinda funky and it's obvious that they're trying to pack in as many tables as they can. Boyfriend usually always gets carne asada burrito whenever and wherever we eat Mexican. I was torn between the carne asada burrito or the fish tacos. I love fish tacos and not many places can make it that good so I was curious to try. I couldn't make up my mind between the two so instead of tossing a coin, I decided to get both. I figure I could always eat the rest for dinner. The carne asada was okay. The meat was a bit tough for my taste but Boyfriend seemed to have really liked it. My mahimahi tacos on the other hand was really good. The fish was nice and flaky and didn't taste as if it was frozen for a long time. The slaw and sauce paired well with the fried fish. This is now my favorite place for fish tacos! It's a bummer that this place is such a journey otherwise I would eat here more often!
(4)
Stephanie W.

My husband and I always love to go there for special occasions. We always enjoy their own made margaritas with the blackened Ahi and calamari to start. Hubby usually gets the chef's special of the night and I usually get the Paella or fish tacos.
(5)
Mercedes S.

Great Mexican food and Seafood. I had amazing ceviche tostadas. The strawberry margarita was delicious. Great bartenders, servers and Louie is always awesome
(5)
Amber B.

Best Mexican food with a Hawaiian ambiance. My husband loves Mexican and I enjoy seafood. I got the seared ahi tacos and they were cooked to perfection. Delicious flavor and good size piece of fish. My husbands burrito was FILLED with meat! Nice service too!
(5)
Dana A.

We were there on 04/26/2013 Great place on the island for Mexican food. The service was phenomenal. Great vibe and very friendly workers. Luis (the owner) came by and spent some time talking to us and genuinely cares about his customers and their experiences. We shared stories from So Cal and the food was really reminicient of the Baja style. Grilled Shrimp taco was awesome and the Ahi taco was a new favorite. I will head back the next time I am on the island
(4)
Jules S.

I like this place "mucho". The food and drinks rock big time. I ordered a special, which was over priced, but after I ate it $30 didn't sound so bad. Everyone's food was awesome. One setback is that the place is really cramped. If you have a party of 5 or more, call ahead of time or you'll wait 30-45 minutes if they're busy or you can bunch up some bar tables together, like we did, if you like drunk people brushing up against you all the time. Mucho bueno, Luibueno!
(5)
Mila A.

This place has the worse Mexican food I've ever tasted. I got a beef quesadilla instead of chicken. Hours later i had severe stomach pain from eating their food. I may have gotten food poisoning from eating their mediocre Mexican food. I should have just gone to taco bell but this was the only Mexican restaurant in North Shore. Your better off eating at Mackys shrimp truck. They have awesome shrimp dishes.
(1)
Daniel M.

Very good the fish tacos are fantastic it's a little pricy but everything in Hawaii is. We also saw jack Johnson well we were here!!!
(5)
Marty G.

Broken card reader. They skip orders and different people ask you the same questions about your order. Left after waiting a ridiculous amount of time for food without even getting it. Avoid truck at all costs.
(1)
T W.

Had a great dinner on a Sunday night. The hostess (she's working on her 3rd degree) was friendly even though she was bombed with hungry, waiting customers. Our waitress, Brittany, was delightful - helpful, friendly and efficient. We had delicious chips that were warm with just the right amount of salt on them and the salsa was a perfect match. The chicken enchaladas were great and so was the vegetable quesadila. Don't miss this restaurant!!
(5)
Travis M.

Made our way here for the 1st time because Cholo's was too busy, and right off I found the service to be very friendly, and the ambiance to be very inviting and clean (especially after going to their restroom and then remembering what it was like in here back in the Rosie's days, lol) Their margaritas and food were pretty good, but a little pricey, I especially liked the complementary fresh chips and salsa. Kari had their fried eggplant over rice dish which she found very tasty, and I had the 7 seas soup which had all sorts of seafood in it and very delicious, but not filling enough for me. All in all, the overall experience was "not bad," but because of their high prices, I don't think I'll be going back there again; unless I was in the area, w/ a bunch of friends who really wanted to dine there.
(3)
Patrick G.

After seeing this place a number of times on numerous weekends on the North Shore, I finally ventured inside this weekend to try the food. I have always been a fan of Mexican food and I have always been even more of a fan of Mexican fusion foods. Hawaiian seafood in a Mexican themed dish sounds like a sure homerun in my book. The food was good, but it wasn't anything to write home about. I had the ahi burrito and a Michelada. The Michelada wasn't quite right, but that was to be expected at a Mexican restaurant in Hawaii. In terms of the atmosphere, the restaurant was decorated nice for Halloween and the waiter was very friendly and talkative. Overall, nothing special but an interesting concept.
(4)
Savannah C.

Came here early on a Tuesday with my mom who was visiting. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat Mexican here, but if you're in Haleiwa and craving Mexican this should do the trick. There were only a couple other people there besides ourselves. Hostess and waitress were both friendly. Service was great, kind, attentive, never had to ask for anything. The chips and salsa are actually pretty good. Unfortunately, didn't get a chance to taste the margaritas. Mom and I both had the chicken enchiladas with green verde sauce. It's a cream based sauce with a unique taste, almost sweet, but it has a kick! I really enjoyed it. The rice and beans weren't bad either. Like I said, I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but there is ample parking, AC if it's hot out, and the service was great.
(3)
Lindsey C.

Great Mexican place in Haleiwa! We went for lunch before our catamaran cruise since my little sister loves Mexican food and it was the perfect choice. We started with drinks, I had the house margarita and it was good. We got the queso dip and I would skip it next time. It was just melted cheese that congealed when it cooled down and there was nothing "dip" about it. The special of the day was the king crab enchiladas and we all ordered it! My sister got a chicken quesadilla but all of the adults got the same thing. We all loved it! The crab pieces were huge and the flavors weren't too strong. Great job!
(4)
zia s.

Excellent place! The margaritas are amazing - you can't beat sweet and sour made from scratch! Abby, the bartender who took care of us, was sweet, REAL, and great at what she does. We actually loved this place enough to go to it TWICE in one day. Quick stop on our way to the beach, and then a longer stay on our way back before chillin' at our friends' house. I can't wait to go back. Luibueno's DEFINITElY beats Cholo's. Don't be fooled by the ads! Haha.
(5)
Jesse B.

Considering how great the reviews have been for this place, I am shocked I have a terrible one. I arrived around 4:00 pm for a late lunch, which meant the place was slow. So why did my meal and service take 2 times the length it should have?! And not only that, but the Pork Belly tacos were overcooked and underwhelming. I had to ask for my check, then sit patiently (or rather impatiently) while she moseyed her way to get it, then sit for a while longer waiting for her to get it from me, etc. SO inconsiderate. I will not be back. When I go out for a meal anywhere, I just want my time to not be wasted.
(2)
Heather T.

We had good fish tacos with the daily catch. Good, but not great. The chips and salsa were good too. Overall, if we hadn't had other outstanding food for this particular vacation day, this would have rated better.
(3)
Esmeralda G.

Very disappointed! The rice was undercooked and the beans had no flavor. Tacos were delicious. Orchata was water downed they filled that sucker up with so much ice hence being watered down. The service was horrible, we didn't even get our waitresses name. She only came around twice didn't check on us just to bring us water and it wasn't even busy. Def not the best Mexican food on island
(2)
David F.

where do I start. WELL i will never understand why Mexican food is so hyped up. This place in particular has the soggiest and smallest juiciest beef tacos I ever had, the menu goes for $6 for one tiny taco or $14 for 2 tacos and a small portion of rice and watery beans. Overall, just like 99% of all mexican restaurants, this is another mediocre restaurant. STAFF is very nice and waitress was a lot of help while digging thru the fancy menu. 1 star is too many.
(1)
Niki J.

Wanted some Mexican food on the way home from Lake last weekend, saw all the good yelp reviews and stopped here. Definitely not anywhere as good as I was expecting. Ordered the guacamole which was pretty good and was a good amount, had the carnitas for dinner, everything was just very bland. No seasoning to the rice of beans, the pork was way too chunky for tacos so we had to shred it before making a taco. Overall everything was just blah... and for the price I was a disappointment. Next time I will be going back to.cholos across the street.
(2)
Mona C.

Delicious, nuanced, and fresh Mexican food, wonderful service...this place is one of the best I've been to, with many vegetarian options.
(5)
Mercedes F.

The food is not good at all. I tried the steak quesadillas & it taste & looked like artificial steak. The food at Taco Bell taste better. Everything I tried was horrible & over priced!
(1)
Alex M.

The beer battered fish tacos are awesome and they had big swell on draft. That should be enough said. This is definitely the choice for Mexican in Haleiwa, don't bother contemplating the other options.
(4)
Samantha R.

Not authentic Mexican but good quality food and good service. Best margaritas on this side of the island. ;)
(4)
Devon M.

My wife surprised me and treated me here after a hard days work. We drove towards the North Shore and when we pulled up to the place we remembered that we have been here before.. food was so good we had to come back. My waiter looked like Chris Farley! He wasn't quite the comedian but was a great server. Now on to the food.. We started with Calamar Frito. The calamari was crispy and served with chipotle sauce. One word to describe it was delish. Between the appetizer and the chips and salsa dip we was given I wasn't sure if I'd be able to eat my meal. I ordered one taco and one burrito. The Gobernador taco was tasty. Had shrimp, avocado lettuce and melted cheese. The Baja Style Carne Asada burrito was even better had grilled marinated steak topped with onions, cilantro, guacamole and salsa. Mmmm. I ordered a lager but the waiter came back with a drink that was 3/4 full so said that it was on him. It was good but I had drinks at home so didn't even need to order anymore drinks. I want to say this is the best place to eat in Haleiwa but I haven't tried them all yet. Def will be coming back again and again.
(5)
James M.

Pleasant in every respect, save for the food itself, which was pretty basic. It was very middle of the road. I know the North Shore is limited in its dining options, but we had better food from a food truck we stopped at the following day. Ultimately, you can only really rate a restaurant, ultimately, on it's food, and this place was very average.
(3)
Russel M.

This place is the Bomb! One big problem it's not near Honolulu but in Haleiwa. We were amazed from the beginning to end of our experience there tonight. We started with excellent Chips and Homemade Salsa (med) and the best we've had in Oahu by a mile. Next the Cadillac Marg ($10-) first class with fresh Lime juice and high quality Teq, etc. A winner! The Shrimp Ceviche ($8.50) and Fresh Pan Seared Fish ($24-) were great! Good portion size also. Overall we can't wait to go back to try some other dishes. Service was very good and our servers name was Mark.
(5)
Worthy A.

Just took a friend visiting the island to Luibueno's which I've been to dozens of times before. Again, the place isn't what it was when it first opened. It almost feels like they are getting tired. What I mean is they had amazing specials of the day whenever I visited before. Now, there hasn't been a dinner special in the past several times I went. Perhaps I am going on the wrong nights but I always really enjoyed the creative nightly specials. I also experienced an issue with a steak I ordered the other night. Even though the server apologized and handled it very well, it was more on the cook. I ordered it medium rare and it was served to me slightly seared on both sides leaving a good 80% of the inside raw and very cool to the touch. This was very rare. I asked the server if they could try to get it up to med rare and it was returned to me over 15 minutes later (my friends had already finished their dinner) well done with no pink in the middle and the meat was tough. For a $28-$29 steak, I expected better. Not sure how often I'll continue to visit Luibueno's I hate to say.
(3)
Marylinda C.

Liked it so much we went here twice. Must try the scallop appetizer marinated in lime juice. Wasn't thrilled with the margarita but the orange frozen daquiri was amazing. I don't remember the name of the drink but it was very sweet and outstanding! The guacamole is seasoned perfectly. The sea bass was a little dry but the atmosphere is fun and service impeccable.
(4)
Raymond S.

Fantastic Mexi Food!!! Hard to find good Mexican food on the island, but this is one place that comes close to San Diego Mex Food...Vary Decent Carne Asada Burrito. The Chips and Salsa was great.... The Salsa was not to spicy. Id say about a Med or less. The Staff was very friendly and attentive. Great service!!!! We ordered our food and less than 5-7 min our food was out to us hot and ready. A definite must try... *NOTE* If u are craving more try their Mobile Trailer on Schofield Army Base.. They have items that are only offered there...*NOTE* ,
(4)
Silja H.

A very high- class yet casual joint. The folks running this place must know a thing or two about good food and good service. The fish tacos are great; kids meals come with a complementary ice cream; and there is a full bar staffed with knowledgeable,nice peeps. :)
(4)
Dee W.

After searching for 6 months all over the island to find real Mexican food, my search stopped here! As a California native, I had my pick of great family run Mexican restaurants and hole-in-the-wall joints. When we moved to Oahu, this was the one thing I missed about the Mainland. To those who are unaware, places like Just Tacos, Taco Del Mar, and Taco Bell are NOT Mexican food restaurants. They're horrible impostors. This place has the ambiance and feel of a hip Mexican restaurant. We stopped in at 6 on a Friday, and the place was busy, but we didn't have to wait to be seated. The staff was friendly, our waitress was knowledgeable about the entrees, and all the service was prompt and efficient. The salsa was really good, had a little kick to it. Since I like my salsa hot enough to breathe fire, they had 4 different hot sauces to choose from that I added to give it a little more flame. The jalapeno margarita was amazing. Get it on the rocks (blended margaritas are for sissies). The food is great. The San Felipe Style Mahi Taco took me back to college Spring Breaks in San Felipe and Rosarito, buying tacos off a street vendor after a Dos Equis-filled day or night (but without the risk of e-coli that comes with buying meat off a grill cart in Mexico). Everything is made fresh. The portions were decent, which was not typical of the usual Mexican place, as they usually provide enough for 3 people. However, I don't enjoy leftovers that much, so it was a perfect portion to fill me up without overstuffing me. Until dessert, that is. The fried ice cream was awesome and worth coming home and getting into your fat pants. I thought everything was priced very reasonably, especially compared to so many other restaurants on the island, and we didn't even make it during happy hour when the prices are cheaper. I may be haole, but I'm no gringa when it comes to Mexican food. This place is the real deal!
(5)
Sofie S.

Wow! I can't believe all the positive reviews for this place. The cadi marg was great, the ahi tacos also great, but the beans & rice were similar to taco bell, really lame. And the meal was way overpriced. You are better off at Cholo's.
(2)
Mandolin D.

Reasons I will go back to Luisbuenos: Fresh Salsa made daily Fresh Lime juice in the Margaritas Fresh Vegetables used in dishes are grown locally Fresh Jalapenos that are grilled to order that are actually hot..YES PLEASE. As an appetizer I ordered the queso dish that comes with bruschetta bread. This was basically heaven in a pan. iMuy Delicioso! Then I moved onto to the veggie tacos which were great as well. The only tragedy is I had no room for the handmade desserts. Looks like I will have to go back again! For those non-vegetarians out there the menu has a plethora of fish/shrimp and carne asada items to choose from. Looks like Cholo's finally has some stiff competition!
(5)
Matthew L.

Possibly the worst restaurant in Haleiwa, but definitely the worst for the money. As a local resident, I've eaten here several times and tried to enjoy it, but every visit is a disappointment. The food is mediocre at best, the service is sub-par, the tables are too small. The restaurant feels cramped all the time. It also seems like they put minimal effort into the food. It would be awesome if this restaurant made a true effort because it has potential...but sadly that isn't the case. Spend your money elsewhere.
(2)
Candice N.

This was our first stop on our 4 day staycation to Oahu from Maui and what a great decision that was! The food, the service and the ambiance were fantastic! I had the seared ahi tacos and my friend had a huge burrito. We were so full and ended up beaching it all day. I'm a tequila drinker and can appreciate a good margarita. They were top notch! I highly recommend the Li Hing Mui Margarita and the Cadillac was delicious as well... Great grinds!
(4)
Meli B.

Four words...Best Fish Tacos Ever!!! We also had some yummy margaritas...Li Hing and Tamarindo! I will definitely be back when we go to North Shore again!!!
(5)
Chris D.

Best Mexi you will find !!! on that Rock!!
(5)
Kyle G.

Not too bad.
(4)
Rhonda M.

I will never go to the north shore again without visiting this restaurant. Great service and food.
(5)
Valentina L.

This is one of the very few classy bars on the North Shore. Although it closes early : 10 ish. If you sit at the bar, be prepared to be like a little kid with the poorly measured BAR HEIGHT coming up to your chest practically. They do fill you up with chips and homemade salsa though. During SURF SEASON, expect it to be wall to wall grommits and kids with trucker hats....a HUGE TURN OFF for me, and I am sure most mature adults! Surf movies dominate the televisions most times. The staff is not very attentive, and mostly seem bitter to be there. My fave bartender: JASON, he is good to me. V's favourite drink: LILIKOI MARGARITA I don't eat seafood, so don't ask! The food is good, but very pricey....
(3)
Lani L.

The are only a few things worth going here for: friendly staff, decent drinks, and free chips and salsa...other than that the food is very mediocre and not worth the price. as an example, the deep fried ice cream is pre-deep friend...re-frozen...and rolled and garnished with store bought corn flakes...so when u get it, the outside is rubbery and stale. The clams and broccilini soup were decent picks tho. Read the other reviews and feel that my experience of the place, was unfortunately negative in comparison. In my opinion, this place cannot compare and/or compete with the other well established places here on the north shore.
(3)
Ashlynne C.

AMAZING! We ate here for the first time the other night, & I can honestly say we were blown away by this place... We were seated immediately by a welcoming hostess & greeted shortly thereafter by our server (whos name escapes me at the moment) who was fantastic! We ordered cadillac margaritas & our water was immediately filled (a BIG plus for me!) They were delicious! Complimentary chips & salsa came next- fresh, & hot chips with amazingly fresh salsa with a little kick! For appetizers were ordered the guacamole (one of the best I've ever had, and a HUGE portion!) and scallops in chile water. The scallop dish was unlike anything I've ever had in my life - it was almost like a scallop ceviche & it was phenomenal. For our dinner entrees we decided on the special (a pasta dish with scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, ham & onions in a tomato sauce) & scallops over rice in a tequila cream sauce. Both were out of this world. The seafood was cooked PERFECTLY & was all clearly fresh & top of the line. My husbands dish was over flowing with seafood! i was shocked at how much was in there! Such a delicious meal for such a reasonable price! The scallops in my dish were the biggest I've ever seen! The rice was fresh & cooked to perfect, & the sauce... oh my gosh. Had there not been other people in there I would have literally licked it off the plate. Our server was super nice & chatted with us for awhile. He clearly knew everything there was to know about the menu (& I overheard him explaining the differences in the variety of tequilas they offer & learned a little more about booze too!) and made recommendations for us - I love that! As we were leaving, everyone from our server to the bartender to the hostesses outside all said goodbye & thank you to us! That was nice! :) From start to finish it was absolutely amazing, & with the menu being full of delicious items to try, I know we'll be back here again & again!
(5)
Krystel P.

Love this place! Beer battered fish tacos and their complimentary chips & salsa are great. Fresh ingredients and tasty Mexican food on island. Their Cadillac Margaritas are perfect, def my top 5 of all time. Strong with fresh squeezed lime Jen makes the best of the best!!!!
(5)
Margaret L.

We ended up here by accident. We were hoping to hit the food trucks, but were too late. The atmosphere was good, and the service was great. I got a chicken burrito which was delicious, but very garlicky. Everyone at our table decided the shrimp were the shining star.
(4)
James A.

This place was really, really great. I'm going to lead off with the negative: the only letdown was the fried calamari appetizer. The cervice and garlic shrimp starters were really good. But it was the tacos - man, the tacos were amazing. Blackened ahi, shrimp "gubernador", beer battered fish. All done to perfection; a really fantastic blend of flavors. And the slightly crispy taco shells were really good, too. To top it all off, the drinks and dessert were great - margaritas done really well, and the Mexican doughnut with hot chocolate... I can't remember what it's called, but damn it was good!
(5)
Avery C.

So went here about a month ago. I'm a SoCal guy, and Mexican food is something for which I have a special love. This wasn't love. This wasn't even like. This restaurant has a seafood twist, which is great because I also love seafood. Ended up getting some fish tacos. Positives -- 1. The options on the menu at first really impressed me. I've wanted to try Paella for a long time and it was on there. And of course, the fish tacos caught my eye. 2. The restaurant is reasonably clean and I liked the atmosphere. Negatives -- 1. The guac tastes like it bathed in citrus. I understand that a little lemon keeps it from turning brown, but it should never be applied so liberally that it tastes like mashed lemon. 2. The fish itself was mediocre at best. Kind of dry, and it wasn't battered and generally speaking a good fish taco has a nice crunch to it from more than just cabbage. 3. Had a long wait. Normally, I will forgive everything else as long as the food is good. It wasn't though, so it just added to the dissatisfaction in retrospect. 4. Wasn't cheap. Again, I'm fine with paying well for a good meal, but when you wish you had went through fast food instead of going... well, you understand. I think if you are looking to grab a drink with a buddy this would be a good spot. But this is not the place to come and get a good Mexican dinner.
(2)
Kim B.

get the fish taco. and then follow it with the margarita. best damn food
(5)
Bridget S.

Absolutely the best dinner in haleiwa !! Seared scallops was awesome !! Great job!!
(5)
Hillary M.

Some friends told me this place is always packed, so my husband and I decided to check it out. We had the ahi burrito and guacamole. The guac was very good, but definitely not great. It was lacking acidity, and could have benefitted from some lime juice. The ahi was seared rare, and was delicious. The burrito itself was poor, however. The black beans were dry. The "white sauce" tasted like mayonnaise. It was puny and anemic. We had been told the burrito was huge and we should split one. When we received the burrito and confronted the waitress, she told us they were out of the big tortillas. She said she could not give us a discount, even though the burrito was half the size of the normal ahi burrito and we left hungry. If you are unfamiliar with Mexican cuisine, or even Border cuisine, you will be happy with this restaurant. If you know the difference between the two cuisines mentioned above, then do not bother to wait an hour for a table at this mediocre restaurant. P.S. - I found out later two friends of mine (unknown to each other) have gotten FOOD POISONING from this restaurant!!! Reason enough to skip it.
(2)
Anela A.

Went here fir lunch because i think Cholos is overrated. Excellent service, fish tacos are bomb!!!! Shredded chicken for burritos is so flavourful and juicy. Definitely the next Mexican on the island.
(4)
Alaynia K.

Love their chips and salsa!!! There enchiladas are awesome and there beer battered fish tacos are wonderful! Our favorite Mexican restaurant on the island!
(5)
Rich G.

The owner being from San Diego and I living there, I hit up LB's when I am in Hawaii for work. Love the traditional Mexican with island flavors. Bested ocean on the island by far.
(5)
Shane W.

Upscale Mexican and Latin restaurant. Standard expected fare was good - nice salsa, fresh gauc (although needed more seasoning) and killer fish tacos. Crafted entrees were a nice touch - they have an actual chef rather than just like cooks kicking out food. Definitely give it a try.
(4)
Nanz D.

foods great! especially the FISH tacos!
(5)
Tanya M.

Yay! A great addition to Haleiwa. I was a little leary since Rositas was such a dump (no wonder it went out of biz), but wow Luibeuno's is FANTASTIC replacement! We went during their lite menu/happy hour. I ordered horchata, a san felipe fish taco (I actually used to eat these in San Felipe so I was stoked to see them on the menu) and a ceviche tostada. The hubs had a carne asada burrito and a coke. Horchata: Pure pefection...nuff said. Salsa: Great salsa that comes with the chips and salsa...we devoured it about 5 seconds. San Felipe Fish Taco: OMG, so freaking good. The corn tortilla was warm, soft and tasty. Battered fish was delish. Maybe a tad less cabbage. The white sauce/crema was good and the red sauce gave it a different twist/zip. Ceviche: Very fresh. Served on a tostada but lined with a lettuce cup so the tostada doesn't get all soggy...genius. Great flavor. Served with a few slices of avocado, just like it's supposed to. Carne asada burrito: carne asada was a good cut of meat and great flavor. Rice and Beans were pefectly flavored. Guacamole tasted like the kind I make at home...delish. Only downfall, I was stuffed after the chips/salsa and fish taco. I had my ceviche boxed up AND I left it on the table...grrrr. The service was AWESOME too. We were pleasantly surprised as we looked around the restaurant that all the servers/bartenders/bussers were smiling and genuinely having a good time except the brunette behind the bar..she seemed manageresque...anyways she was a drag/scowling the whole time. This will definitley be my go to Mexi restaurant...too bad I live on the South Shore :(
(5)
Melissa J.

The only positive thing I can say about this place was they serve great guacamole -- a very generous portion for a fair price. I can't justify driving all the way up to North Shore though for guacamole. Save your money. Unless it's happy hour and you are in the mood for guacamole.
(2)
Nina J.

Their chips and salsa are AWESOME!!! I think I could have ate that all day long! I also got their fish tacos... best in Hawaii! I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Leigh W.

Amazing fresh homemade salsa, to die for. Trust me you will go thru multiple baskets alone of chips and salsa! Great tacos and burritos.
(5)
Evan N.

I have to agree with a lot of people that the fish tacos were pretty amazing. Even their food truck serves a great fish taco. That being said though the place was not necessarily for a large group or people with kids. All the tables were small 4-6 max and a large bar area. The servers were very knowledgable of the food and were very quick and helpful. I did enjoy their margaritas and their seafood was good.
(3)
James D.

I only ate at 2 places with waiter service for my week in Hawaii and I am glad I went here. I had the fish taco's and were tasty. Service also good. The only bad point my buddy got a Mojito and all ice! like 2 sips and gone, not worth the money. Beers were good and selection good. Overall I would go back.
(5)
Jay O.

Love this place. Killer Margaritas, great vibe, attentive service and delicious food. Fresh seafood rules the menu and should, the scallop aguachile gets two thumbs up and the ceviche had a refreshing twist to land another two thumbs up. The prices initially seemed to go hand in hand with other remote destination restaurants however to my pleasant sup rise they had a backside to the menu that had ala carte tacos, burritos etc. that has allowed me to make this a frequent stop. They have completely gutted and rebuilt old Rosies Cantina and now it is fresh, creatively designed with a completely visible high end kitchen, clean bathrooms and has the best Bar North of Waikiki. I am a HUGE fan of this place... Aloha
(5)
Al E.

Great service, great food. Wife had an octopus margarita - definitely interesting! Would certainly recommend calling in here if you are on the North Shore.
(5)
Mami S.

awesome fish tacos and great drinks. really cool place to hang out too with good service and fun atmosphere! the ladies and I love to let loose here and have fun!
(5)
Amy P.

Love this place. We visited once and have been coming back almost every week. I usually get the beer battered fish tacos and they are delicious! Personally don't care much for the rice and refried beans but the drinks are great. Hubby always orders the carne asada and it is a really huge ribeye steak-almost Flintstones size! Well worth it in my opinion. And the oysters are yummy too. We will definitely return. Only issue I had was during happy hour when shifts were changing, the waitress kinda rushed us at the end which I understand long day, end of shift but thought was a bit rude. Other than that, we really love this place.
(4)
Lea K.

Another great place recommended by Yelpers! What a change from the previous mexican restaurant that was here; not only is the food a million times better, but the ambiance & service are great as well! The inside of the restaurant still has the upper seating level, but half of the room has tables & a bar on the ground level which is great for accessiblity. The decor is clean & kind of modern-cantina-esque :) The menu had lots of delicious sounding choices, the only downside being that the prices were kind of high ($13-16 for 2 taco plate) but that's not surprising in busy Hale'iwa. They also had a pretty stunning drink menu--so many creative & delicious sounding margaritas, tequila-tinis and cocktails. I got the Hibiscus infused Melon tequila-tini which was delicious but very strong! I'm definitely going back to try more of the mixed drinks and the horchata. For lunch, I ordered the San Felipe fish tacos & my husband got the Baja Style carne asada tacos. Both were served with rice & beans. The San Felipe tacos were so yummy! I think they make their own corn tortillas because i've never seen such a thick & delicious corn tortilla served before.. it didn't break up & get soggy. I loved that they didn't skimp on the amount of fish in the tacos. I tried my husband's carne asada tacos (same stunning corn tortillas) that were filled with guacamole, onions & cilantro. Although they were good, they don't compare to El Mariachi 2's carne asada tacos!! Overall, a very nice place with great food! I wanna check out happy hour next time.
(4)
Tony D.

The search for good Mexican food on Oahu continues. Overall things were good but not great. Good service,drinks,food and atmosphere but nothing stands out. We went at Happy hour so prices were very good 2 entrees and 2 margaritas for under $50 We both had the pollo tacos and they were good. Perhaps the seafood versions are better but I struggle when chicken tacos are made with thigh meat and not breast. The salsa and chips were good and so where the margaritas. Took a little time to get seated but the staff was very helpful and responsive. Plenty of refills on the drinks and the salsa and chips. Sat by the window nice small table with view to the road. Overall we would go back if we were in the area but would not drive up just to eat there.
(3)
Michael R.

The food out shines the setting. Maybe since we went later the bar scene was more prevalent. Our server was great as well. I had the carne quesadilla and the fried ice cream.
(3)
Mike L.

I know we took a chance on eating here, but it was our last night on our amazing trip and we just wanted to try something different. The place is cool, but the food is not that great. We both ordered tacos and they were seriously lacking in flavor. The best one was the fish taco that I had. Also our server was not very good, honestly she looked a little high, maybe she was. She would forget things and was very slow to come around. I would only go there for drinks, but I would try to eat some place else.
(2)
Jess R.

This restaurant alone makes me want to revisit Oahu. Fo' real. Came after doing some location scouting in the area for a photo shoot, and loved it so much, we brought the whole crew here two nights later. :) The margaritas are bomb.com .... Homemade (really! not from a mix! I hope they never change that....) and STRONG! Just how a lush like me likes them! The servers we had for both nights were great. Fun, friendly, and full of GREAT recommendations. I'm not going to kid - the fish tacos are a must. Yeah. Really. Mahi-mahi fish tacos. Even if you are dying to order something else on the menu, get the fish tacos too. :) Other great things tried were the Callo de Hcha Aguachile and the Puerto Vallarta Style Sashimi. The latter was so good that we even ate the bed of cabbage. We really loved it here, and i look forward to returning with my boyfriend down the road. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Ariana L.

I like this place. Unfortunately there was no real awesome factor that will keep me coming back. I actually really liked the atmosphere. The full bar, and seating arrangements were inviting and the ambiance was very relaxing. I also liked that I could make a quick reservation through OpenTable on Yelp on the way to the restaurant. Parking was also a breeze but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. It was 3pm on a Wednesday. Now on to the important stuff, the foooood. I had the Beer Battered Fish Burrito that came with black beans, lettuce, cabbage, onions and a couple of different sauces. We also ordered the calamari and had the quintessential chips and salsa. The calamari was deeelish. Just enough fried nom nom and pretty tasty. The chips and salsa however were kind of a miss. The salsa had way too much herb seasoning and you just couldn't get past that. Meh. My burrito however was pretty good. The Fish was cooked well and the flavors all worked really well together. But what made me really like it was the price. My burrito was BIG and $7 during happy hour. Yayyy for value! Service was alright. We had to flag someone down which is never a good thing but they were nice and informational. I liked this place and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fast fix if you're so hungry you can't wait for the drive back into town but if not I think a bit of Yelp research will produce somewhere a little more satisfying.
(3)
Nicole R.

We were driving around the North Shore and I really wanted to try the shrimp trucks but they close super early. I was disappointed but we had to eat so we just gave this a try based on yelp reviews. I am so glad! Best meal of my trip. I had the shrimp tacos. I think they deep fry them. We had a good service. It is a little cramped, but cute, and not fast food style which a lot of places are in Hawaii.
(5)
Graham T.

Excellent food and service! The hostess who greeted us at the door was very friendly, too. Great place for dinner in Haleiwa!
(4)
Jon M.

I think my search for quality Mexican food on Oahu just ended. Luibueno's is it. I'm not even sure I'll find better Mexican food on the island if I keep looking. We stopped here for lunch on a Saturday and I was impressed with everything from the food to the drinks to the service. I had the carne asada burrito and it was delicious. The spices they used on the meet were fantastic. I loved it. On top of the delicious taste it also came plated very nicely. Bonus points for presentation. The chips and salsa were great as well. The salsa was exceptionally tasty. I also tried the regular margarita and the guava margarita. Both were awesome. Both tasted as though they were made with fresh ingredients and not a generic mix. They were quality, delicious drinks. The service was great also. Pretty quick, bartender was on her game, food came out promptly, kept our chips and salsa full, nothing to complain about. She was also friendly and chatted with us the whole time. Ambiance reminded me of many socal slightly upscale mexican restaurants. It was well laid out so that almost all tables seemed as though they were private. The bar was comfortable with purse hooks for my girlfriend. Everything was very aesthetically pleasing. In summary, we had a fantastic dining experience at Luibueno's and will definitely be back. We'll probably make the trip to the north shore just to eat here on occassion. If you're like us and searching for a delicious mexican restaurant to fill that insatiable SoCal mexican craving, look no further. Luibueno's is the best on the island.
(5)
Katie K.

This is the place to go if you're looking for good Mexican food on North Shore! We all know about that Other Mexican food place in Haleiwa, but if you take away their hype, and decide you prefer good service and good food, try Luibueno's instead! Before I even get to what I ordered I have one word for you: Guacamole!!! Its amazing. I went their with my auntie and uncle and the three of us ended up inhaling our first generous sized side of guac and having to order a second round by the time our entrees arrived! Soooo goood! Since we were there in the mid-afternoon, it turned out that it was happy hour. My aunt and uncle ordered off the regular menu, and I opted to order a few things off the happy hour menu. I got two fish tacos and an order of ceviche. Both were great, and even though these were happy hour portions, with prices to match, I still ended up taking home some leftovers! Overall, I was really satisfied with my dining experience at Luibueno's and will definitely return next I'm up North and craving Mexican!
(4)
Di H.

We order frequently from the truck at the Schofield PX parking lot. The Mahi burritos are awesome. They are so big that I get lunch and dinner out of them.
(5)
Danny D.

I came here a while back and was actually impressed. I've been meaning to write this review for a while and finally got around to it because I know this place deserves it. I heard it was good but after I tasted the food and met with the owner who has wonderful customer service I know I will be back here on my next trip to Hawaii. If you haven't been here, it's worth trying. I've sent 2 groups of friends here since I came a couple of months ago and they too came back and told me They notiiced the staff has made excellent improvements everytime they come back. Thank you again Luibuenos for treating my friends and my family the best!!
(5)
Rai A.

Server was excellent and brought out a basket of crispy chips with fresh salsa immediately. The salsa had a nice garlic overtone with a spicy kick. Started the meal with ceviche.. Pretty generous portion served with a round tortilla and hot sauce. Good, but would have preferred a little more citrus. Main was paella. It came in an 8" iron pan with a generous serving of rice topped with mussels, clams, shrimp and scallops. Flavorful and deceivingly large. Despite being pretty stuffed I has to try the churros, drizzled with chocolate and honey and served with a cup of hot chocolate. The churros were crispy outside with a nice warm doughy chew inside. Dipped in the chocolate/ honey with a sip of hot chocolate was perfect!
(4)
Ashleigh B.

My friends and I come here regularly for the happy hour! The beer battered fish tacos WERE bomb, but since they've changed the menu I feel like I'm buying chicken mcnuggets from McDonalds I'm being I'm being jipped they were so small half the size they use to be BUUUUU LUIS!!! Over this place for HAPPY hour I was more bummed then happy!!
(1)
Chris H.

Place is very small, but food is great. Wife and I got 4 different tacos, all were exceptional. I got the beer battered Mahi and Gobernador (shrimp), she got the chicken and steak. All meats and toppings were excellent. Good happy hour offerings and the chips and salsa were delicious. Will go back before we leave Hawaii.
(4)
Darrell D.

Coming for dinner the service was fast and friendly. Recommend the ahi tuna seared taco....it's got a spicy kick:)
(4)
Mel M.

After spending part of a lazy Sunday morning looking for Ehukai Beach (where are the signs for that place anyway?) we finally found said beach after resorting to phoning a friend who lives in the area for directions We decided to stop by Luibueno's at Hale'iwa after rave reviews from my friend who swears it is exponentially better than Cholo's...wait maybe not exponentially as he stated ten times better. In any case, we found the place, got parking space in front of the restaurant...and witnessed a host who seemed bored out of her mind. She greeted us warmly, however, and got us to our seats quickly. The place was nicely decorated and, save a brief moment when my glass of water ran out, the wait staff seemed competent. Oh yeah, the complementary chips and fresh salsa were great. We perused the menu, and because of the fact that my wife and I seemed to have been grazing all morning long, opted for the ala carte menu choices...not to mention that the combo meals are about $10 more expensive for additional rice and beans. My wife had the the steak burrito and I opted for the grilled ahi burrito. The waiter whose name shall remain anonymous but he goes by Rick, switched the order and it wasn't until I've had two bites of my wife's steak burrito and she's had two of my ahi burrito did she notice that her steak tasted fishy :-). The dishes were tasty and were served in relatively large portions...definitely stick with ala carte vice the combo/plate. My ahi burrito was tasty but I think I still prefer Cholo's fish tacos. I gave this place 3 stars because of the rather hefty prices.
(3)
Greg S.

During my last of hundreds of visits to Oahu, we stumbled into "Luibuenos" luibueno.com as we drove thru Haleiwa. This place is a MUST VISIT if you are up by Oahu's North Shore. Be sure to eat a light breakfast so you can save room for an awesome lunch or dinner. We were served chips and salsa right off the bat and when I saw a bowl of guacamole pass by we told our waitress we needed one of those too for our chips. My wife had just an appetizer; "Camarones ala Plancha" which were huge prawns sautÃ©ed in garlic and Chile de arbol. OMG! The rich buttery and spicy garlic sauce was unbelievably tasty so my wife was well pleased and satiated with just that dish and the chips and guacamole (plus she stole some of beans and rice). Note: The prawns are just a little spicy and for my tastes, the spice was spot on! But for children, they may find this dish a little too spicy but it really isn't too bad. I had a taco entrÃ©e which was a choice between any 2 of 7 taco choices. I picked the Blackened Ahi & sautÃ©ed shrimp tacos. We went back 3 days later for another lunch, but this time we were smarter and didn't eat anything for breakfast. The 2nd time around, we both ordered the "Camarones ala Plancha" again but I added an ala carte beer battered fish taco. The "Camarones ala Plancha" appetizer is 5 super jumbo prawns served over some plain shredded raw cabbage. The shrimp come massively soaked in butter, garlic, and a Mexican Chile sauce. All of the juices get soaked up with the cabbage and if you order a side of guacamole you can blend that and a little bit of awesome salsa for a flavor explosion delight of ultimate goodness. And holy cow, the beer battered fish tacos are out of this world amazing and perhaps the best I've ever had. If you ever find yourself on Oahu's North Shore and don't go to Luibuenos and order the "Camarones ala Plancha", beer battered fish tacos, and a side of guacamole, you are making a very serious error in judgment. Luibuenos rocks out of this world!!!
(5)
Honest T.

Nice ambiance, good drinks, free chips and salsa, tasty fish burritos, almost feels like Mexico! They have a happy hour from 330 to 5 and 930 to 1030 and the fish burritos are only 6 bucks... next time I might get two, one for later... they're that good. Fish, Black Beans, Sour Cream, Cheese, yes... they have really good hot sauces too. Did I mention free chips and salsa?? Add a Pacifico on draft for 3.75... two people, two burritos, two beers, tip... $25 out the door during happy hour. That is... if you can resist the tempting margaritas and lychee martinis.....
(4)
Janna B.

Food was pretty good here. We enjoyed our dinner. It was my first time eating there, and was planning on going to Cholo's. But decided to try Luibueno's instead. We were both happy we tried it. I had the steak tacos, and my dinner companion had the steak burrito. Both were delicious. I must say that I am giving this rating mainly based on the service. I had the best service here, that I have had anywhere besides high end restaurants, like Roy's and Ruth's Chris. Our server was exceptional!
(4)
Esteban W.

I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when I was asked to "wait to be seated" and then told that the hostess would be with me by the bartender. It should have also been a sign when the hostess took her time and we ended up waiting for nearly 7 minutes, outside. I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when a sunburnt haole chick outside walked past us (as we were waiting for the hostess) and said to herself, "Why am I waiting outside like a stupid dumbass?" Or maybe I should have taken it as a sign when our hostess gave our table to another group of people, or maybe when she tried to talk us into sitting with the random tourists (I guess to make less work for her). I should have taken it as a sign when, while the hostess was walking us to our table, I notice half the restaurant was empty... why did I have to wait so long outside? Why weren't we asked if we wanted to sit at the half empty bar? And why was the sunburnt haole seated before us? I should have never come here. I should have listened to the signs to not come here, maybe when the server told me I needed to "expand my horizons" since I was in a Mexican Food restaurant... Me? Expand my horizons? At THIS restaurant? I'm sorry? Next time I will talk with an accent, wear a poncho and carry a bottle of tequila with a worm in it and have a Chihuahua under my arm so that I look more Mexican. I'll come stumbling in with my sombrero from my afternoon 'siesta' from underneath my cactus and ask, "Where do I park my burro?" as I order my next cervesa. Maybe, next time I come in, to appear more "Mexican", I will steal the job of a white server. I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when my margarita came with floating a mosquito. But hey, maybe they were trying to make me feel more like I was in Mexico. I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when they said that they do not take my island discount, i.D. Card during happy hour, but then charged me full price for my happy hour appetizer...during happy hour. I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when the server only brought Guacamaya hot sauce to the table as an option...even though they also serve Cholula and Tapatio, but he didn't even mention those as options. I should have also taken it as a sign when the server fingered our straws when we asked for straws for our waters. I should have never come here, especially since our server, looking like a beach bum, surfer version of Colin Ferrell, broke a cardinal restaurant law; When I asked him, "What's popular from the menu today?" he responded with, "Everything's good on the menu"... no shit? I would hope that the executive chef, manager and the owner didn't spend countless hours over a menu, only to include bad items on it as well. Colin Ferrell couldn't even bullshit me as to a favorite dish he liked on the menu, meaning one of two things: He's a dipshit, or, he doesn't eat the crappy food there. BTW, that's why you got a shitty tip, you Colin Ferrell look-a-like. I barely like any of your movies anyway (yeah, phone booth? 81 minutes of you on a phone, WTF!). OVERALL: The GOOD: I ordered a San Felipe beer battered fish burrito. Surprisingly, it was decent, and if I was forced to eat this food again, against my will, with a gun to my head and crotch, I'd enjoy this burrito. I was born in San Diego, grew up in Tijuana and often vacationed in... San Felipe, MX - so in the end, I probably didn't expand my "horizons" as Colin Ferrell had hoped. On a side note, if you work for a restaurant, at the very least, give your customer ONE item you recommend. EVEN if you're bullshitting. AND, make good food. 15/365
(1)
Greg S.

If you are looking for great Mexican food on Oahu, you are in luck. Luibueno's on the North Shore, what a treat. Our server, John, provided excellent service and advice. The chips and salsa...we had seconds!!! My wife had the blacked ahi taco and I had the carnitas. Both deserved the 5 star rating. To drink we both had the house sangria....not too sweet with nicely marinated fruit bits...also very good. To finish, we shared an order of flan, which was light and tasty. We highly recommend Luibueno's to anyone on island or visiting that wants to have an excellent meal.
(5)
David H.

While the service was helpful and the atmosphere was not too noisy, the food disappointed. My mahimahi burrito had too many onions in it--they overwhelmed the other flavors. The rice was dry and black beans had little flavor. My wife's carne asada tacos were supposed to have guacamole in them. She couldn't find it. Next time we want Mexican food, we will just stay in Wahiawa and eat at El Palenque.
(2)
Tani S.

On a vacation on Oahu with our four year old and our Japanese au pair and unfortunately yelp led us astray... this place was horrible. :( I honestly can't understand why it has such high ratings. It's overpriced and not yummy food. The prices were shocking. Our four year old ordered off of the children's menu where each dish was $9... uh? Most children's meals at moderate restaurants are betweeen $5-6... the waiter finally agreed to only give our daughter two burritos minus the soft drink and ice cream at $5.75 but they looked like crappy store bought tortillas with refried beans. The refried beans with our dishes tasted off... and the cumin in the rice tasted as though it had been tossed on last minute (the spices tasted raw). I had the veggie burrito and it was overfilled with beans, rice, and cheese with a small amount of veggies. Yes, we lived in Southern California for a number of years and got used to tasting yummy Mexican but even the Americanized stuff you get at Chipotle or Acapulco is much better! This place was horrible and so overpriced. It was the first time on my vacation where I felt duped by heading to a tourist spot.
(1)
Ralph Y.

We've been to Luibueno's several times for both Lunch & Dinner. I love the fact that they are more than simply another Mexican joint. Not to many places would step up and try to make paella. Fresh catch is usually a winner and rarely have we been disappointed. The only thing that was just average was the calamari. Everything else is usually top notch. Even the chips are excellent...thick cut and very lightly salted
(4)
Joy B.

I've always really liked this restaurant. Its a bit small and can get cramped very easily but its a nice change. I had the scallops and oh my goodness they were amazing. Would def recommend to others. Our waitstaff was very attentive and made good recommendations. Will return.
(4)
Jennifer P.

My bf, my sister and I went through 3 servings of their chips and salsa. The salsa was so yummy! My sis and I split the fish taco entree and the fish of the day was opa! Very yummy and one of the best fish tacos I've ever had. I recommend getting ala carte instead of the entree however, unless you're splitting the tacos like my sis and I did. Entree is like $8 more and if you get the taco, you get one extra taco and refried beans and rice. If all you get is the burrito entree, all you're getting extra is refried beans and rice. Worth the extra $8? Nope. Also had the fried calamari for an appetizer. The calamari itself was good, but the chipotle aioli they served with it seemed kind of heavy. It tasted good...just not the right choice I think for calamari. Anyhow, good Mexican place to check out.
(4)
Yael T.

Since our stay in Hawaii, we have been looking for a great mexican food restaurant. Raised with Authentic Mexican food, this establishment was really up to par. Everything was delicious.. Ranging from the freshness of the salsa, to the absolute perfection of the micheladas we enjoyed here. There are places where even when the food is good, the service sets the mood for a great dining experience. Our server Mike was very flexible with our requests and was attentive in providing great service, whilst not being too pushy. Highly, highly satisfied with this experience.
(5)
Sonny M.

The late happy hour starts from 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm nightly...They have some of the best deals on their happy hour menu...My favorites are... fish tacos $3.00 oyster shooters $2.50 and great cab wine $4.00... All the bartenders are always friendly ...Hostesses always greet you with a great smile...A real happening place! Uncle Sonny
(5)
Pete Y.

This is now my favorite Mexican restaurant on the island. Normally I wouldn't drive from Honolulu to Haleiwa just to eat cause there's no restaurants up there worth the drive - until now. Had seafood enchiladas w/poblano sauce (special) . Broke da mouth! Wife had veggie tacos - very tasty. Chips and salsa are excellent. Wait staff are top notch.
(5)
Lanny M.

This place is great, All items on the menu are good, food is fresh and good
(5)
Brooke M.

Well I guess hell froze over. Hawaii now has a GOOD Mexican restaurant! I recommend the queso fundido appetizer, a mix of manchego and goat cheeses which you can order plain or topped with something extra (we got the sauteed veggies). They don't give you much bread with it but it goes great with the free tortilla chips too. The tamarind margarita was quite good as well. Very big and served in a glass rimmed with chili powder. The decor is a fresh facelift from the former Rosie's Cantina, and just so much better overall. Definitely going back!
(4)
Harold P.

The reason to come here is to drink, it's all about the margaritas and not about the food. They make their own fresh squeezed sweet and sour mix which seemed to vary slightly each time I stopped by and when I asked it really depended on who made the mix for that batch or day. So I kept asking each new bartender I met and the best ratio that I like is when they mix 2/3 lime to 1/3 lemon and when the simple syrup was not too sweet. Lip smacking. Be prepared to have a designated driver because you won't be able to stop at 1 or 2. Since this became our drinking hole during our stay at the North Shore I had a chance to taste a lot of different items on the menu. Queso Fundido - not creamy enough but I guess that's a good thing because then it's made with real cheeses and not a Velveeta slurry. Eat it fast though because it hardens quickly. Fresh Local Green Salad - very good though the dressing tasted a bit like a salty soy sauce mayonnaise that would expect to find on an Ahi sandwich Carne Asada tacos - you really can't taste the meat because it's covered in a mound of guacamole and powerful onions. San Felipe Style Beer Battered Mahi tacos - good but the red roasted salsa lacked flavor and was kind of watery. It seemed like the same salsa they put down with the chips. Fisherman's Fresh Catch - overpriced for what you get in my opinion. I opted for the Vera Cruz preparation and it came out with some tomatillo gelÃ©e and tomato wine sauce that was way too sweet for the fish. Staff is very friendly, owner is very nice - that counts for a lot when you're drinking. ;-)
(4)
Michelle M.

My favorite foodie friend and I dined here on Saturday evening. I had passed by this place several times and kept saying "Dang, I really want to check this place out!"...Since we had both been thinking about it, and we felt we deserved a little Saturday night treat, so we did! The night seemed promising because as we walked up to the host podium, we were greeted by a couple that had just dined..."WOW! You have to try that special! It's to die for!"...with that kind of endorsement, you knew we had to get that! The place is nice, a bit clostrophobic for me, but it was clean, well decorated and definitely made the place seem busy from the street. I was surprised to see that it really wasnt all that busy once we walked in the door. Greeted immediately and seated immediately, we thought that the service was really attentive. We listened to our servers suggestions and ordered the following: Fried Calamari- Overly breaded, cooked just fine but it tasted like the fryer was in need of an oil change. Ahi Tuna Fish Cakes--Great flavor and texure but again, the oil had left a marked after-taste. Chef's Special--My friend selected the Opa, served with Spanish Rice (he's on a pescaterian kick lately), and topped with a tomato compote. The fish was well seasoned and presented nicely...but it was just slightly overcooked. Battered Fish Tacos--Yick! I did not really care for this dish at all. The beans and rice were a little cold, and the fish was rather soggy. Although the food was less than what we had hoped, we were pleased with the service! Our server was very knowledgable about the source for all of their fresh fish and produce. he did a great job selling us on everything that we ordered! Loved the attentiveness but he definitely allowed us to feel as though he respected our privacy. Would I dine here again...maybe.
(3)
Linda Z.

If you are elderly or are allergic to flavorful food, by all means, try this North Shore restaurant. Don't be fooled by the comfortable-looking dining area, you too can have 'the blandest thing on the menu.' Also, if you are dining here for lunch, be careful - if you order one taco ala carte, the waitress will bring you two and charge you double - how exciting and borderline dishonest! I had the taco with a poblano potato mash (which ended up being two because I said ala carte - confused? Yes, so was I because I had read the menu...). The taco arrived mushy rather than crispy and was leaking water and had zero flavor. You know a Mexican/Latin restaurant is not terribly authentic when you ask for hot sauce and you have a choice between two grocery-store varieties (Tapatio and some other equally bleh brand) - even Killer Tacos has a habanero sauce and others to choose from. I tried to make the tacos here better with it but was unsuccessful. I asked the waitress if she had any hot peppers and she brought me a little dish of fresh jalapenos - they weren't hot but at least made the food a little more palatable. My husband ordered the same thing as an entree and was equally creeped out by the nursing home quality of the cuisine - though his included what tasted like canned black beans w/no seasoning and some rice that had color but no taste. We paid almost thirty dollars for this low-quality meal. If you are looking for lunch on the North Shore, you are better off going elsewhere. Don't be fooled by the tourists who give this place 5 stars.
(2)
Valerie R.

Pretty dang good for Hawaii! Came in here starving after a cub scout event on the North Shore and luckily we were seated promptly. The interior is inviting - it has a good combination of regular tables, high tables and benches. Our margaritas came out fast. I tried the pineapple margarita and it had just the right amount of tang. The chips and salsa were a godsend. The boys gobbled them down, but not before I got a chance to taste. Loved the salsa. I opted for the ahi taco blackened a la carte. I knew it wasn't going to come out with beans or rice, but I was surprised when it was a single taco vs. two tacos. Either way, it ended up being the perfect amount of food because I'd also ordered an appetizer of calamari. The ahi was seared and there was a drizzle of a cilantro cream combined with a fiery red sauce. So good! The breaded calamari with the chipotle aioli was pretty tasty, too. It wasn't chewy and didn't feel heavy at all. One of the boys snagged up a bunch and I was glad to see some food bravery from a six yr old! I would go back here for sure.
(4)
Evan F.

Lui Buenos is just as the two stars indicate ... "I've experienced better." Much better. The food is clean but expensive. Honestly, nothing on their menu stands out to me as great Mexican.
(2)
Sergio L.

Great burritos. Beans on the side were bland.
(4)
E N.

Fairly authentic / representative of Baja seafood culinary traditions.. with a few local influences added... execution however falls short. Started off with a Scallop Aguachile (this is a style of ceviche popular in Baja & Sinaloa)... the quality of the scallops was good, however they forgot the chile part of the Aguachile, and they went way over board on the Maggi (Mexican style Soy / MSG Sauce).. while not even salting the scallops. Also had the Camarones a la Plancha... medium size shrimp cooked on the griddle with chile flakes, garlic, black pepper & a little Maggi. This dish was well executed... not spectacular or dreamy... but well executed. Went with the Caldo de Pescado (Fish Soup) as the entree... classic light Mexican soup with some zucchini, tomato, cilantro, onions etc., It lacked a bit of salt, lime juice & love. For dessert had the Churros with Mex Hot Chocolate... they were prepared on site but they screwed them up.. they were both oily & burnt, the oil also had after taste from corn chips & fish etc... so they are sharing the oil... a big no-no. The oily component means they fried them at too low temperature... the burnt component suggests they probably raised the temperature after realizing they had screwed up. Other than that the dough flavor & airyness was promising. All in all... a real Mexican restaurant with a reasonably nice dining room... but execution is not there... their food falls short on taste & execution. If this place were in Tijuana I don't think they could stay in business... but this is probably the first authentic sit down Mexican place on Oahu, they just have no competition to keep them honest. In the grand scheme of things 3 years ago North Shore just had that hideous place Cholo's... now there are a number of places serving authentic tacos etc., so I can see the Mex offering has progressed quite a bit... and maybe in another 3 years we might have a real deal Mexican place on the island.
(3)
D H.

Best fish tacos I've ever had. (Beer battered) so yum! Full of fresh flavors. Shrimp tacos really good too. Great chips and salsa. Wonderful atmosphere. Good service. Way better food than Cholos.
(5)
Rafie G.

Grear service
(5)
Marc K.

It was sooo busy! Make sure you make a reservation before hand. The place is nicely organized with the bar on the right, dining tables on the left and a family/group area at the back that resembles a gazebo. Although they are known for their seafood (at least that's their claim) I had the 14oz Ribeye Asada (Grilled Ribeye topped with chipotle butter and grilled green onions served with Spanish rice and calabacitas). It was tender and delicious. Make sure you start with the Island Style Sashimi (fresh sushi grade Ahi served on a bed of cabbage with pickled Ginger, wasabi and soy sauce). Next time I'll probably come a bit earlier to enjoy their martinis. The stuff members were really friendly, to be expected from the North Shore crowd.
(4)
Kimberly H.

My husband and I were craving Mexican, we decided to try this place out. We were surprised at how much seafood based dishes were on the menu, we are used to the Mexican restaurants that have your food out 5 minutes after you order it, anyways, I ordered the pork chipotle and he order the seafood paella. The dishes were delicious and the salsa was garlicky and very tasty. This restaurant is pricey and the serving sizes appeared to be measured but overall delicious. If I am craving just straight up Mexican food, this would not be my first choice. My children stated that Taco Bell was better, I guess they wanted What they are used to eating in terms of Mexican. The restaurant seating is too close, people trying to squeeze through between tables ended up bumping into me with their butts, gross!
(4)
Christa M.

This place was great! Good atmosphere, a bit small, but nice. If you're going with 4 or more people on the weekend, definitely make a reservation! Margaritas are reallllly good, and so are the chips and salsa you get when you sit down. I got the Fisherman's Burrito with the catch of the day and it was delicious. My friends got the ahi or fish tacos and enjoyed those as well. Our service was a bit slow, but overall I'd recommend going to Luibueno's!
(4)
Stef H.

Tacos were good. Service was not. Our Queso Fundido was burnt and not cheesy at all. We were looking forward to some ceviche when the waiter came back 20 minutes later to tell us they were out, then proceeded to recommend a Caesar salad... I was confused. Besides starting with the letter C, those two are in no way similar. I won't be returning.
(2)
Scotty M.

This is the only place on island that I've found satisfies my craving for real Mexican food. Being originally from SF and having spent a lot of time in Mexico, my standards for the cuisine are high. Luibueno's has that Baja-style food down perfectly! Their mango margaritas are awesome too.
(4)
Shana K.

As the last guests to enter, my party was welcomed and seated. We weren't hurried through our meal. With a new menu dish served and unsuccessfully received, Ed, the establishment manager, rectified the situation by having the kitchen bring out a savory burrito. Good food is a prerequisite for dining out, but excellent service brings guests back for more!
(5)
Jessica B.

We love Luibueno's! The menu is great and reasonably priced considering the location. The new drink menu is fabulous- we love the jalapeno infused cocktails. The kitchen is always offering delicious and creative specials. If you have a big group you NEED a reservation. They have only one or two tables to accommodate parties larger than 5! This means a LONG wait time if you don't call ahead. :)
(5)
Precious V.

One of the worse places to eat on the north shore....unless you like dirty forks, an non attentive server, dont care whether your food gets to you, youre not thirsty, you dont need menus and you like the feeling of being ignored. really cant rate on the food since we never got ours. It took 20 minutes to get a friggin coke. Guacamole never made its way out either. Maybe they were waiting for the avocados to grow.... I'm not sure. after waiting 45 minutes with no food and no service we finally decided to walk out.... what makes the whole thing worse is bad we were treating a friend who is visiting the island. It really made the north shore look bad. totally ashamed that we had recommended this place at all. Got to talk to the manager, ed, but it was a little too late. Seemed very concerned, but we didnt feel any better... Off to another restaurant!! But even McDonalds would be a HUGE step up from this disapointment. Adios Lui Buenos! Never coming back here.
(1)
John L.

I rated it 5 stars because this is "as good as it gets" for Oahu! Being from Texas you get spoiled with really good, really cheap Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants. I went with my wife and another couple (from Texas) and we all enjoyed our meals. The steak, burritos and Tacos were really good. Nice and clean, great service, parking was easy and the wait wasn't too bad. The only negative would be the pricing, $15 burritos are a little pricey in my book and the other menu items were up there as well. Maybe I am accustomed to less expensive Mexican food. If you want pretty good Mexican food and don't mind paying the price, this is about the best I've had on the island during my search for a good Mexican Restaurant.
(5)
Mark H.

Had a craving for some fish tacos and tequila and this place fit the bill. Awesome guacamole, nice tequila menu and really tasty fish tacos. Mission accomplished. Will definitely come back for more. Service was awesome.
(5)
Sierra T.

They serve the best black and blue fish tacos! Service is good. Nice bar
(4)
Tara K.

Stopped in for lunch and had the veggie burritto. Was different that what I was expecting, though it was good. Chips and salsa were very good! Has nice ambience and decor - casual, but a good place for a date too. I think our server was a bit new, but she was very friendly.
(4)
Tom W.

This is a review of the Luibeno's taco truck in the Waimea Bay parking lot, not the sit-down spot in Hale'iwa. Steak burrito plate was a very good split for my two teenage boys at the end of an afternoon swim/snorkel and the pulled pork sandwich was hot and yummy. Everything cooked to order of course and the price really fair considering the locale. We'll try it again our next stop at Waimea.
(4)
Phil A.

Ok food at best @ more $$$ than it is worth. It is the islands so you cut it some slack. Would not make it in California at these prices. Decent beer selection.
(3)
Jack B.

Favorite dinner joint on the north shore even though my wife isn't a fan anymore. This should really be a four star, but compared to most everything else on the N.Shore, it's a winner. Ceviche is awesome.
(5)
Chris O.

This restaurant is racist!!! DO NOT I repeat DO NOT go there if u r Asian. Service was the worst ever. Non attentive at all. Not even a glass of water. Silverware was dirty! I would gv this place NO stars.
(1)
Noe S.

I've never been to the restaurant in Haleiwa but I ate at their lunch truck at Waimea Bay. We ordered two carne asada burrito. They were huge! The BF and I definitely could of shared one. It was stuffed with soft juicy steak, salsa and guacamole. The rice on the side was a bit spicy for me but very tasty and the refried beans had what I think was parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. What the heck? But it worked. Very good. The BF even loved it and he doesn't care for Mexican food. We will definitely be trying the restaurant next.
(4)
Jim H.

Garlic shrimp, spicy calamari, delicious #Hawaii beers, and a mahi burrito. About $50. Well worth it for a stuffing meal in Hale'iwa.
(4)
Shell C.

Great happy hour! Catch of the day fish tacos, oyster shooters, sautÃ©ed scallops, ahi tacos, shrimp n avocado tacos, and enchilada special were all great. I always stop here when I'm in the north shore.
(5)
Grand Y.

The fish here was really fresh. For the north shore, the prices were really reasonable. The service was outstanding. The ambiance was a cut above the other spots here. We got the burrito platters, which came out to about $14 each for a medium-sized burrito, beans, and rice. I love that I asked that the ahi tuna not be cooked at all in my burrito, and that's exactly how it came. The wine list is not inspiring - it's basically the $10 wines from Safeway, just marked up. The restaurant is a bit loud, but we were also seated not 2 feet from the evening's singer.
(4)
John K.

YOU MUST EAT HERE! I consider myself a foodie and am quite critical or where I eat. During my recent visit to the North Shore, my family and I dined at Luibuenos and it was AMAZING! The margaritas were the best I have EVER had. The guac, salsa and queso were OUTSTANDING. Make sure you order the Camarones ala Plancha for an app and the Gobernador for an entree. We will always come back here every time we go to Hawaii! WAY TO GO LUISBUENO'S!!
(5)
Curtis C.

Went today for the first time. I had a great meal with friends and would definitely go back. Split the San Felipe style battered mahi mahi fish tacos. Excellent, and very classic baja style. Super fresh fish made these even more delicious. One of my friends had the shrimp taco with local Kahuku shrimp, I didn't try, but he said it was delicious. Other dishes we had were Island Style Sashimi (ahi), and gazpacho. Both were excellent. Prices are totally reasonable for the quality of the food and the atmosphere. Everything is super clean, fresh, and new. Give it a try!
(4)
Kuulei J.

I'm loving it.... the food was goood and the top shelf drink was even better!! :)
(4)
Tanner E.

Probably the best place on the North Shore. The BEST Ahi burrito I've ever had hands down. A good seafood/mexican blend.
(4)
Nyhica Z.

This was the first restaurant I ate at when I moved to Hawaii. I'm from Cali, so I'm a bit of a mexican food snob, but this place is a little classier than your typical mexican food joint. Our waiter was a super ditzy guy and kept having to be followed up by the other servers that actually knew what they were doing. The food was pretty good, but like I said, not your typical mexican food, and for the prices we paid, it better be different. I ordered the blackened ahi tacos. and I guess they were worth the high prices. I'll have to go back and see how I really feel about the place. The chips and salsa were also good.
(3)
Nicole D.

Randomly stopped in here after a trip to Waimea. I was craving a margarita and mexican food and this place more than satisfied my cravings. I lived in Arizona for 5 years and also cook authentic mexican, so I know my way around a tortilla and a margarita. The margarita was delicious...they make their own sweet & sour...which is key. Everything on the menu looked great, but I ordered the "Fisherman's Catch Burritio" and it was prepared with Seabass. One of the best I have ever had and reason #1 being was that it wasn't a 5lb burrito stuffed with a bunch of crappy ingredients. The homeade salsa that was brought with the chips was YUMMY. Just the right amount of smoke and spice. I ate at the bar and the staff was attentive and very friendly. This is an absolute must visit if you are near Haleiwa. They have plenty of flat screens too, if that's your need. My only complaint was that they had them in the dining room as well. I looked around and the families that were dining weren't talking to each other, instead staring at the boob tubes.
(4)
Jeannie A.

Really good food and great service. We had chicken and fish tacos, the salsa is so fresh and yummy, churros dessert rocked and it is without a doubt one of the best restaurants on the north shore.
(4)
Natalie W.

Good spot on the Northshore- has a little more swank and shiny feel then the other local spots. Great service with our weekend meal- felt like the mainland. Ordered the fish of the day in two forms- burrito and tacos. The dishes had unique flavors and tasted very fresh. They feature Hispanic fish dishes in addition to regular menu items. FYI's~ * Unique margarita menu- boozy drinks but very tasty * Happy Hour in lounge section with high bar tables and counter stools * Some of the best sounding items are on the pupu menu * Most menu items under $15
(4)
Kathleen T.

We won't go back to Luibueno's. After being seated for lunch, we waited 25 minutes just to get our drinks. When our food hadn't arrived by 40 minutes we said we needed to leave. Our waitress said she would check on it and pack it up. She did pack it up but when we opened it our food was cold. Too bad service was so bad because once we got home and heated the food it was pretty good. (0 for service, 3 on food)
(2)
William C.

Best Mexican in Hawaii Up-scale Baja Cal style Mexican cuisine with great service, atmoshphere, and awesome food & drinks! Great Guacamole The Gobernador is amazing!!! Good Queso Great Margaritas! Great Chips Great refried beans I'm from Texas so I know the diffirence between Tex-mex and Cal-Mex. After eating here many times I would put Luibueno's up against any of the top Mexican resteraunts in Texas or California.
(4)
Linda P.

Reasonably priced burrito a la carte or entree, but the other entree dishes although sounded delicious ranged from $24 to $29 so those are a little pricier. The garlic shrimp appetizer was such a great choice thanks to yelp reviews I'm very happy. It was about 5 or 6 shrimp scampi style with garlic on top but delicious especially for a garlic fanatic so 4 star for me. Rest is like 3. So average 3.5star Beer battered mahi burrito had a sauce oozing out, and although I enjoyed it, my partner felt there wasn't a crunch to the fried fish as a result of the sauce making the fish soggy. The Ahi burrito was also tasty, but similar to the battered mahi, it all depends on what kind of fish you feel like eating. It felt like both burritos had an abundance of black beans inside. And the entree portion comes with rice and beans. If you are like me, I wish I told them black beans, because it comes automatically with refried. =(
(3)
Rowdy C.

Being from "tex-mex" country, we were a bit skeptical about Mexican food on the island. And although it wasn't tex-mex, it was delightful. The Mahi Mahi tacos were great with a spicy sauce, and the salsa was great as well. It was a small place and we were put at a table by a drink station. Waitress was average, gone for extended periods, but not horrible. We'd eat there again for the tacos alone...plus chips and salsa are a staple of my diet.
(4)
Brent M.

Great little upscale Mexican and Seafood spot in downtown Haleiwa. Great chips and guacamole, great vibe and pretty good entrees. One of the few higher end places around but not too expensive
(5)
Helen C.

Decent margaritas with a mix of locals and tourists, with a heavy lean to the latter. We stopped by just for a few round of drinks and dessert so I can't speak for main kitchen dishes, but their home made churros with Mexican hot chocolate was pretty tasty. A tad over fried in my opinion and the Mexican chocolate didn't have the usual bite but overall, good enough to make me want to return for a visit to try their food. Don't know if it's a good or bad thing, but minus the very casual dress among the patrons, I couldn't really differentiate this place from a lot of Mexican joints in Los Angeles. What I didn't like about it was the long wait to get in and get served. When we got there, we overhead the host telling a family the wait for dinner would be close to an hour. Yikes. We were told the bar seating area was first come, first serve so we went in hoping for the best. It was initially standing room only but a small bar table opened up relatively quickly (note: you can get dinner at one of these tables so if the wait is long, this may be your best bet).
(4)
Caroline F.

This is one of my regular places! I absoultely love Luibueno's,and the food here is always so delicious! I always get the ceviche appetizer, and of coarse a margarita, which are some of the best on island for sure! The service here is also great!.. The first few times I came here I always got this one server named Mark, now I always ask for him! He is very knowledgeable, and I always make him order for me because I never can decide! Every time Im always pleased with his selection, which is usually one of the fresh catch specials of the night. The one complaint I do have about this restaurant is the lack of space. Some of the tables are pretty close to each other, and you maybe sitting back to back with the person behind you! But Overall Luibueno's is one of the nicer, more quality places to eat on the North Shore. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Taj B.

My favorite mexican food on the island by far!!! AMAZING free chips and salsa wether you are sitting down for a drink or a full meal. The best guacamole I have ever had in a restaurant! Vegetarian meals or amazing steak asada tacos! I love this place!
(5)
Lauren G.

Best Mexican ive found on the island hands down. Fabulous service, great margaritas, bottomless chips and salsa and some very good quesedillas, fish tacos and burritos. What more do you need? Definitely try and hit happy hour from 3-5 if you can!
(4)
Jessica S.

It's no Rosie's. It's barely Mexican food. While the main dish was OK (I had fish tacos, my husband had a burrito) the sides were bland and the service slow. The atmosphere is not very North Shore and the menu is way overpriced.
(2)
Sylvia F.

went here again (total of 3 times now this summer), and the food does not cease to amaze me. Again, got a fish taco (beer battered mahi) and carne asada taco a la carte. Their bottled hot sauce selection helped (sort of like what Cha Cha Cha's has, a bunch of different kinds of bottled hot sauces), and i had their cadillac margarita. Damn tasty dinner. The salsa was flowing freely too (again, i'd drink that stuff. literally). If you haven't been and you go through haleiwa, it's worth a stop. Pricey, but worth it. Get the tacos a la carte, saves a bit of dough but deinitely makes your mouth happy. oh by the by, the fish tacos very much remind me of the tacos at South Beach Bar and Grille in Ocean Beach. Touted to be home of the worlds best fish taco (it just might be, or at least one of the best in San Diego), i'm glad i've found something in Hawaii that mimic's San Diego's finest. My lips, i mean my mouth, get all wet just thinknig about it. Yummy!
(4)
Victoria A.

I definitely need to go again... I unfortunately didn't get a chance to enjoy myself. Parking: Not so great Atmosphere: Nice Service: ?? I don't know... Our server seemed a bit scatter-brained; but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. Food: Good... but I think it could be more flavorful Drinks: LI HING MUI MARGARITA :) Next time I'm in North Shore, I have to make another stop. :)
(3)
Ken G.

Paella excellent. Service friendly and timely. Background Muzak blend of Spanish music and reggae. Not my cup of tea
(4)
Dacia R.

The food was great I had the chicken burrito it was wonderful had a lot of flavor. I will go there again. They have the best happy hour in haleiwa 3-5pm and 9:30 to close $3 fish tacos and more. The only thing wish they would do is take a few tables out because I felt really crammed in there. Other then that it was great.
(5)
Jess A.

My most favorite restaurant on the North Shore by far! I love the beer battered fish tacos & the flan is delicious. Top it off with a blended fruit margarita and I'm in heaven.
(5)
Jeffrey D.

Service was great, as was the food. Had the quesadilla and tuna fish tacos, both came out quickly and steaming hot. The margarita's were tasty, but didn't knock our socks off tipsy-wise, which is good, because we still wanted to drive around and sightsee.
(4)
Caroline T.

Don't you just love saying KAMEHAMEHA? :D After a swim at North Shore or a nice easy hike from the waterfalls of Waimea Valley, we came across this foodtruck. We only ordered two orders of the Ahi Baja style fish tacos before they closed and we had to go back into town and eat dinner with the family. WOOHoo so much favor in my mouth! My son wished he ordered more than two. I'm from Texas and I know texmex, this is pretty good fusion of flavors. Yea is pretty pricey but I think eating a tasty meal and watching the sunset is perfect.
(5)
Kari L.

Upon arriving to the North Shore the discussion of "where to eat?" is always brought up. Always being a fan of Cholo's, we thought it would be nice to try something different. We came across Luibueno's and let me tell you, WE WERE NOT LET DOWN! Going inside for the first time you might feel a little under dressed, but come on, this is Hawaii. Our server was in a very classy black button up collared shirt and was very polite. You get a complimentary basket of chips and salsa, which was delicious. The salsa was gone in no time and left us wanting MORE. We had a delicious drink called the Mexican Pineapple Infusion, NO COMPLAINTS!! One drink was plenty, no shorting us on alcohol. Our appetizer came out, Queso Fundido= EXCELLENT choice! Not something you share with 6 people, but us 3 ladies had enough to go around. Ive never ate a 'fish taco', and hearing that opah, my favorite fish from the pacific, was the fish used in the Fisherman's catch, I instantly knew that was what I was having. NOT DISAPPOINTED in the least! It was delicious! If your wanting elegance, great atmosphere and cleanliness this is place. If your looking for sand on the ground, outdoor seating and chickens walking around freely, then go to Cholos.
(4)
Ryan D.

The food is way over priced, the wait staff must be bored and the seating is cramped.
(2)
Kit T.

Ooof. This is the old "Rosie's Cantina" space, remodeled to be a sort-of-a-bar-sort-of-a-restaurant space. Even though Rosie's had it's down sides, this place is a sort of expensive, tarted up, preppie meat market. Half the space is a loud bar area for the meat market (which always seems empty), dining tables are squeezed in behind a cubicle wall toward the windows. For goodness sake, people, stop with the "I want a nightclub in my restaurant" thing! It is an ambience-killer! Had the ceviche (decent, but nowhere near the quality or flavor of El Mariachi's - pretty skimpy for the price $10), the garlic shrimp (saved it from a one-star rating, they were expensive ($11 for 6 shrimp) but delicious. Hubby has a burrito - huge, bland, dull. Nothing to see here, folks, (prior reference to Cholo's as a good alternative is REVOKED due to their naked astro-turfing of their Yelp rating. 50+ five-star reviews per day, from brand new accounts with only one review? Bullshit!
(2)
Kathy H.

Waiter had no food knowledge. Bartender wasn't nice. Got charged for a drink I didn't drink. Food was poorly cooked
(1)
Brandee T.

I love coming to Lui's! After he catered our wedding, I was hooked on his food. We stick to the basics (quesadillas, burritos, tacos) and we are never disappointed. The guac is also amazing! The people are friendly and service is fast. It's one of our favorite places to eat on the North Shore!
(5)
Diana A.

Fresh Mexican food with friendly service. I had the Ono fish veracruz style. Delicious with the veggie side and rice. Tasty margaritas. Ahi fish tacos were delicious as well. Awesome guacamole, tasty chips (not greasy) and spicy salsa. I'd recommend this place for Mexican food. Also has a nice ambience especially the tables by the window.
(4)
Inevitable W.

My wife wanted to try they paiella - normally we go to Cholo's when we do the Sunday drive to the North Shore, but this time she wanted paiella (she saw an article in MidWeek). Anyway, we go there in October (pre-winter madness). Found parking up front, and were seated in less than 5 minutes. The adventure begins on a good footing. The restaurant is upscale dining compared to Cholo's famiily style, but the board short/slipper cientele is expected (this is Hawaii). Chef Luis has attended to all the details: The service was fast and frequent, the place settings were sparkling, the seating can accomodate me and my girth - I don't have to adjust everytime someone walks behind me. Chips and salsa were replenished without asking. On to the ordering: You must first understand my reluctance to take my wife to any restaurant because she is such a pain to the waitstaff - it's quite an embarrasssment to me. Typically she has trouble making up her mind, even if she knows what she wants (paiella). When she does make up her mind, she doesn't like what the establishment offers, and has to modify the menu item to her liking. Today's example: "I'd like to try the paiella, but I don't want the calimari or the mussells, and can you replace those seafood items with shrimp? There's many more such examples, but you get the drift. The waitstaff was patient and understanding of my wife's special needs. She got what she wanted, with a smile. I got what I usually go for (burrito). Delicious, spicey, flavorful. The kids got their kid's menu items, which were maybe a bit spicy but were well recieved regardless. I'm not a drinker (anymore) so I can't comment on the fufu drinks. My coca-cola glass, however, never ran dry. Credentials - my wife is Dominican, and has eaten Spanish Paiella all her life (less the mussels and calimari). She was impressed. I was thankful the waitstaff was so accomodating --I have to give it a 5 out of 5
(5)
Rafael F.

Pricey, food ok unless you've been to San Diego lately, obnoxiously rude bus boy brings the rating below avg. If I'm spending over $170 on a Dinner (albeit Hawaii) I want to leave satisfied...not the place...their loss, we'll stick to Mexico Lindo in kailua or Serg's in Waimanalo
(1)
Cat F.

A delicious meal with excellent service. We went for an early dinner (6:30pm) in mid-October and were seated right away. The service was excellent with multiple servers attending to our table - filling water, more chips and salsa, clearing plates, etc - and were all efficient and pleasant. Food-wise, the complimentary chips and salsa were pretty authentic and fresh. We ordered the burrito and carne asada tacos (entrÃ©e size) followed by deep fried ice cream as a dessert. The food was served quickly and hit the spot! Portions were a good size, too, not too big (which happens a lot in American restos). I wasn't expecting amazing Mexican food in Hawai'i but was pleasantly surprised and would definitely go back again if I'm craving mexican fare. My only complaint is that the air conditioning is up way too high in this place!! Turn it down! This is Haleiwa-town after all! mahalo Luibueno's!
(4)
Paul R.

Expensive but good
(4)
Lala E.

Tried Luibueno's yesterday for the second time and, unfortunately, this time I was not as impressed as the first. The first time my husband and I visited Luibueno's last summer, I had the shrimp taco which I think is called the Gobernador. I really liked it. Yesterday, me and my husband were on the North Shore and were in the mood for Mexican, so we headed back to Luibueno's. I loved the Gobernador the first time, so I ordered it again. This time however, it wasn't so good. Still had the avocado slices on the side, which I love, but this time it was super super greasy. I picked it up and grease dripped out like a leaky faucet...no bueno. And it was $7.95!!! We also ordered the Queso and Ceviche as appetizers. The Queso was a major rip off. $11.50 for a dish six inches in diameter and about 1/4 of an inch high. Basically, it amounted to a thin round of fried cheese. I guess I was expecting more of a dip, but this Queso wasn't. It was 1/4 inch of fried cheese with 4 small slices of bread...for 11.50! The Ceviche was on happy hour so was it was somewhere around $5.50, and it was alright. Some of the fish chunks were really chewy, but it was a really good sized portion, so I didn't mind so much...especially after the manini sized Queso. For drinks we had the happy hour margarita, which tasted like straight sweet and sour. The hubby and ordered 2 shots of tequila on the side just to kill the strong sweet and sour taste. So...all in all... 2 greasy shrimp tacos 1 thin piece of fried cheese (Queso) 1 Happy Hour Ceviche 2 Happy Hour Margaritas 2 shots of Tequila $65.00 before tip...:( Not totally giving up on Luibueno's, but after this experience, it may be a while before I go back. The first time we came, we just shared a Gobernador entree and had a couple beers, and the food was good...which may explain why I didn't feel ripped off. But this time, with the greasy tacos, Queso-that-wasn't, and weak margarita, it'll be a while. Next time I go the North Shore, i'll probably just stick to Giovanni's.
(2)
Robert M.

The good- Actual creative Mexican dishes done by real chefs...not just enchiladas and beans. My wife loved her mahi fish tacos. Excellent chips and salsa Very good drinks/margaritas The bad The ahi on my ahi tacos was way overcooked. They advertised seared, and as any good local boy knows that means it is still raw on the inside. However the ahi was cooked all the way through...not good. Prices kind of high. Overall- very good Mexican food, some of the best in Hawaii.
(4)
Kristen J.

My husband and I came here while staying on the north shore. We were seated in the bar immediately, but the server was super busy and it took awhile for us to be helped. Once helped, she was very speedy and friendly. Their margaritas are awesome! We ordered their guacamole also, and it was very fresh and tasty! The prices here are very affordable, especially in comparison to some of their north shore competition.
(5)
Kaitlyn M.

My friends and I originally planned to stop by for the enticing happy hour prices, but when we got there a little past 5, we were disappointed to find that happy hour runs from 3pm-5pm, a fact conveniently left out of any source found during our en route iPhone research. We were planning on sitting at the bar but it was full so we were sent to the back near a table with an extremely young family, not exactly the atmosphere we were looking for. Planning on eating a real dinner afterwards, we ordered the ceviche as something light to nibble on as we enjoyed our sangrias. Pleasantly surprised at both the quality and the presentation of our appetizer and drinks, we quickly designated Luibueno's as the higher-class option for North Shore daytrippers to consider in lieu of Cholos. However, the food had to hold its own in the overall experience of the restaurant. The service was lacking in all of their interactions with us, and the layout of the restaurant was an uncomfortable mix of tall and short tables and bare booths in back corners. Ultimately, I would like to give Luibueno's another shot to woo me with their lighter, prettier presentations of North Shore mexican fare.
(3)
Michael W.

We ordered the Paella Valenciana (seafood with saffron spiced rice) and ahi enchiladas. Both were extremely tasty. The service was superb - the waiter was very knowledgeable. This was our first visit - we'll be back!
(5)
Maria V.

back in 2010. i would have given this a 4. i went last night for my birthday and was seriously disappointed. so were 2 other dishes on the table that other people had ordered. too bad. the place used to have a better ambiance. the ceviche was disappointing. my son, who eats anything- wouldn't finish his burrito. my sister's vegetarian taco's ...well, ...were left on the plate. i can say that the pacifico on tap was excellent and so was the salsa! Sorry luibuenos. i don't know what happened from 2010 to 2013 but i hope you feel better soon.
(2)
Brett S.

Worst service I have ever experienced. First off the hostess told us it would be a 30 minute wait at most and in reality we waited over an hour until we finally said screw this. In between that time we bellied up at the bar in which we received no chips and salsa and the two rudest bartenders I have ever met in my life.
(1)
Fred F.

Really good mexican food. I always get the beer-batter fried ono tacos! The margaritas are huge and the drinks aren't bad either although they are a little bit pricier. I do not think the owner is that great though. He was screaming and swearing at someone he was trying to kick out of the bar in front of the entire restaurant. And this was in the middle of the day!
(4)
Jeff W.

I wont waste my time going here again. There are better places to spend your money on the North Shore, Cholo's, Opals, Breakers etc.. Yeah its Mexican yes it's seafood, but they haven't figured out secret to make it great!
(2)
Robert C.

The best Mexican food on the island and the best seafood outside of Honolulu. This is my go to place for a nice dinner with the wife. i have always been satisfied with the food, service, and live music on Friday nights. Highly recommend.
(4)
Luis R.

The food was amazing I had the beer battered Ahi and it was delish', great service too, didn't have to wait too long for the food to come out. Great experience here, recommend it to anyone looking for a new place to go
(5)
Nick M.

So this place was awesome! We were on the island for about a week and this place was so good we went back twice! Both times I got the beer-battered fish burrito, and it was amazing. We also got margaritas a couple times which were pretty damn good. I'd definitely recommend it!
(4)
Philip C.

Delicious Mexican food! The Paella Valenciana is absolutely phenomenal -- so good that I actually just left there and writing this review on my way back home to Kapolei. The Li Hing Mui margarita was really good too. This was my second time eating here, and it was even better than the first. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Terry O.

Went to Luibueno's on the recommendation of a friend that said they had great magaritas...True! The magaritas were made from fresh juice, not mixes. Tried the sangria too, it was great as well! I love the atmosphere; it is very nice and a little upscale; just what the area needs. The bar area is really nice and comfortable. Our bartender Eric made us feel right at home. We didn't have much time to spend there, so we ordered the veggie quesadilla to sample the happy hour tapas. They add saffron in the mix, and it was fabulous. I highly recommend trying it, even if you are not of the vegan persuassion. The only reason they don't get 5 stars from me is because of the big flies that come in and buzz the bar. It's not really the restaurant's fault, as they dart in when patrons open the door. Other than that, you owe it to yourself to give the place a try.
(4)
Paige Miki O.

After Rosie's, we were hoping that this place would be better. we were wrong... first off, the place is still as dirty as Rosie's was - but the food is worse. all they did was add a couple cardboard walls that they painted over. at least Rosie's food was good! We ordered the seafood paella and the fishmonger's burrito. The paella was like, $30. When it came, the serving was SO SMALL! It looked and tasted like oily fried rice with seafood in it. My mom was so disappointed - she expected an awesome authentic paella. but we got seafood fried rice. the burrito on the other hand, was pretty ok. it was a nice sized burrito (good thing it was, cuz it was $10 for just the burrito). They have a cooler where they sell fresh fish (like in a super market) but we were there around dinner time and the fish was dry and turned BROWN. it was obvious that it had sat there all day (or two). Cause for health department concerns... My mom had a tamarind margarita. She said it was ok, but didn't like the paprika around the rim. all in all, i'd rather go to Cholos :/
(2)
Mary N. B.

AVOID - "JUST IN CASE!" We had an awful dinner. To start there was no place to wait in the area outside. We went to dinner early to avoid the Saturday rush. 5:30pm. So restaurant was half empty we got sat on a tiny table in the middle of two high traffic walk ways. We wanted to move to a table that felt a little less like we were sitting in the middle of H3 but we decided to just stay and enjoy. We ordered an appetizer. The ceviche was good. However, the one large chip we got was not nearly enough to serve the ceviche on. Less than 5 minutes later our food came. I ordered enchiladas - and I could tell immediately that my plate was made a long time ago. The sauce had all soaked in - the refried beans had a shell that formed at the top the shredded beef was like eating a roll of napkins. It was obviously made before we even sat down. It was cold and dry. I ended up using the salsa from our chips to lubricate it enough to get down my throat. But this was not what ruined it all. My boyfriend ordered the carnitas which also came before we had two bites of our appetizer. (The meat was prepared in large quantities and they serve it like fajitas so it came with everything so that you make your own.) Well our little table could not hold the chips and salsa, the appetizer we JUST got, our waters, the two small appetizer plates, my old krusty enchiladas, and my boyfriends entree plate, the warmed tortillas container with a cover, and the plate with fixings for the carnitas (sour cream, guac, pico) that came stacked on top of the tortillas container. There was no place for him to put the plate with all the fixings down anywhere unless I held it so he could take out 1 of the 2 small tortillas...yea they gave just two. So we asked the waitress if we could move to one of the 3 empty larger tables that surrounded us. She came back and said "I'm sorry out hostess wants to save these tables for the Saturday night rush JUST IN CASE." So when we asked her how are we supposed to eat she tried to play puzzle with our dinner. I finally had to put the appetizer that we still didn't even have time to enjoy on my plate and give up that plate. By then my enchiladas were turning into cement and dust. (At this point my potagee temper was peaking and I wanted to flip the table.) My boyfriend tried to stuff as much as he could in the two small tortillas and still had half a plate of food left. "Would you like a dessert menu?" Really? When our plates are still full? Ok, this is over. Check please. Oh and the table we asked to move to was still empty when we left. Many of the other reviews were nice but we got the shittest Saturday night treatment ever. (I was a waitress for a couple years - yea I get the couple that wants to sit at the cozy 4 top on busy evenings - but when THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NO ROOM FOR THEM TO EAT it would be common sense to move them instead of "lets try this plate here, hang this plate off the table a bit, shove the drinks to the edge of the table so that the guests are totally nervous while they are eating. I shoulda knocked the damn glass over. Oh and the hostess pretty much telling the waitress "no u get a crappy tip cause I wanna save the table for later JUST IN CASE." Never again.
(1)
Patty H.

Luibueno's is located at the old Rosie's Cantina location in the Haleiwa Shopping Plaza. As far as Mexican food goes......I've had better on the mainland. As far as Mexican food in Hawaii? Well, this place is ok. Go for lunch, the price won't kill your wallet. The fish tacos are (to me) one of the better menu items. Depending on their catch. The fish can be very fishy tasting even when having the beer battered fish. Something my teenage son will not touch with a 20 foot pole (and teenage kids eat any and everything). If you're in the country and want some good fish tacos, stop on by. It is the only dish I would come back for.
(3)
Timothy O.

Wow, simply wow. I do not mean this in a good way. I was surprised with all the positive reviews of this place. I guess I visited this place on the wrong day at the wrong time. I would hope that my experience was unique and that the experience is not commonplace for this establishment. I am a very big fan of Mexican food and I like to try the different variations and restaurants throughout the island. My fiance and I wanted to try this place out since she heard about it on the cheap eats or some news broadcast, so it had to be great right? We arrived around 1:30 pm or so and were immediately seated. Great start right? Wrong! Let me start with describing this place... I cannot complain about the decor as it did feel warm and inviting. However, the spacing of the tables was close (to put it nicely). I felt as if I was sitting in someone elses lap!!! I would not consider myself a big person, yet I found that I was squashed between the tables edge and my chair resting directly against the chair of the customer behind me. I had to continuously apologize to the customer behind me for bumping into her. My fiance had similar problems on her end as well. I felt less claustrophobic on airline flights. (Lost my repeat business on this fact alone) I am not a clean freak but I do enjoy cleanliness, especially at a restaurant. I had the "urge" to wipe my silverware as it was very splotchy and appeared to be cleaned very poorly. I guess it's a common thing here not to clean dishes because my glass had a dark shade of lipstick freshly placed on my glass. *Sigh* ( Lost my repeat business on this fact) We were greeted once within 15 minutes and that was only the bus boy to fill our glasses with water (which due to the dirty glass, I did not have the urge to drink). When the waiter finally showed up to take our order I was about to walk out... I have never done this in my life. However, while we were waiting, another family that had been waiting across from us prior to our arrival had decided enough was enough. I guess they had just received drinks and chips to tide them over but were offered no customer service beyond this. They had not been helped at all, that we noticed within the 15 minutes that they were there, and they had kids. As the family was walking out we overheard the mother state, "The service here is ridiculous." (Lost my repeat business on this fact) Since the waiter came right before we were about to leave I decided, "what the hell, let's give these guys a shot." We ordered 2 margarita's, fried calamari, ceviche, and oyster shooter to start. We shared a carne asada (steak) buritto between the 2 of us. At the end we did not feel like dessert. By the way... it took 7 minutes (I timed it) for the waiter to get our margarita's. By the time our drinks got to us they were watered down. Usually, alcohol might help to save a bad situation but failed here. How do I rate the food? Below Average to Poor!!! Once again, it may have been a bad day. The Chef/Cook may have had a death in the family or lost their dog, but as for the food, everything was sub par. The calamari was burned (crispy dark brown) and tasted like seafood chips. Ceviche??? Really? The only thing that I tasted was tomato's... if there was seafood in there I would be pleasantly surprised. The carne asada was poorly seasoned, I have tasted better carne asada from a grill from a drunk friends backyard BBQ. (dare to guess... Lost my repeat business here too) Are my standards high? No, not at all. However, I believe in good food and good customer service and I received neither here. I am sad to say that I have received better customer service at dives and less pleasant locations than this establishment. Would I recommend this place to family, friends, associates? No! First impressions are the most important and this place impressed me in all the wrong ways. Unless a out of town friend invited me to eat here and pay I will probably not revisit this place again.
(1)
Lisa L.

Stopped here for lunch during our day trip to North Beach. The chips and salsa to start were very good. I had the chicken quesadilla and it was probably the best I've ever had - almost enough to feed two. My boyfriend had the carne asada tacos and the too were very good, the service was prompt and friendly - definitely a good place to try during your visit to the island.
(5)
Melissa S.

My local friend told me this was the best Mexican on the island....right. Overpriced and underflavored. Nice atmosphere, but no thanks. Still better than Cholo's ("aka Chorro's") though.
(2)
Tysen C.

Stopped in Haleiwa with no particular food plans. The smells coming out of the kitchen made us choose Luibueno's. The shrimp tacos are fantastic--very rich and flavorful! The fiance liked the beer battered mahi taco even better! Good salsa--very mild, but they offer spicier hot sauces (Tapatio and the like) with the entrees. The service was good, just a tad overbearing at times. Our waiter liked to talk and talked very loud. But...he made good recommendations and was nice so I should just shut up, huh? We'd come back!
(4)
Jan S.

Sorry Luibuenos fans, but this place was overpriced for mediocre food with a poor selection of beer on tap. Very disappointed. However, service was great and I had a sample of the sangria which was killer, knock-you-on-your-ass killer and I would recommend coming in for that then moving on for a better place to eat.
(3)
Sonia S.

My family and I were craving Mexican food! So I turned to Yelp to help us out and everyone raved about this place. Big Let down! Theres a hostess station outside of the restaurant.. but there was no hostess so we walked in.. and it took awhile for someone to pay attention to us. The atmosphere is set more as a fine dining, not ideal when you're bummy from the beach. I ordered the Chicken burrito it was OK. My family ordered the beef tacos, they hated them. Big waste of food and money. I would much rather have found a taqueria.
(1)
Al D.

When I came here, the kitchen was preparing dishes for servers to sample. Problem was that they were all on shift so they stood at the kitchen scarfing down food (with their hands sometimes) then would serve a customer their food at their table without washing their hands. I thought this was gross but had a clear view of the kitchen and watched it happen (after we had gotten our meals, thank goodness). Overall the food was bland. The empanada was very tasty though.
(2)
Mike Q.

Food not that good
(2)
Stacy B.

We waited for 15 minutes, at 2pm when it was slow. Food was bland. Not even close to Mexican food. Tourist trap. Wanna be gourmet food! Someone needs to remind the owner he's selling Mexican food...at least cholos food taste great!!! You can dress your servers all in black and make it look professional but it doesn't matter. Food sucked. Over priced. Never again.
(1)
Morgan T.

Oh man, this place was great. After visiting a sketchy place for lunch, I was really ready to get some McDonald's or something. We came here instead and I'm so glad we did!! The service was friendly and quick, chips and salsa were great, and the entrees were fantastic. The prices were quite reasonable and we enjoyed the giant margarita! Would definitely return again and again.
(5)
Buster S.

So we've been in the islands for a couple weeks and have found excellent food everywhere we've gone...that is until tonight. After reading all the good reviews we thought we would try Luibuenos, a mistake for sure on our last night here. After we were seated the chips and salsa arrived. The chips were either not very good chips or they were stale with OK salsa. I ordered blackened ahi tacos with rice and beans and my wife ordered mahi tacos. Hers looked sort of like tacos, however mine was a half a cigar sized piece of ahi with dressing and cilantro on it on a tort. What? I thought the menu said ahi TACOS, my mistake. The beans can best be described as a bean colored lard paste, uk! When my wife asked if there was lard in the beans she was offered vegetarian black beans, she said, " thank you that would be nice." Just a tip here, that choice would have been a good thing to make us aware of when the waitress took the order. The beans came, we finished our meal and asked for the bill. Of course there was a charge on the bill for a side order of beans. I did not find the service worthy of a tip, nor did I find the food worthy of a return trip. Beware.
(1)
Dean C.

Service rocked, the Sol was uber cold, food came out quick, and was really good! The only downside was that it was less Tex Mex than expected. It gets my vote for Mexican on the north shore though.
(4)
Saul M.

Wed. dinner using a Groupon 50% off certificate. Easy parking in the lot. Waited only 1 minute for a table. The waiter & all the staff were excellent throughout the evening. The chips & salsa were better than most...especially the salsa. We ordered from the daily specials menu. First, a soup which tasted like lobster bisque, but contained fresh whole shrimp...just fabulous! Then an entree made with grilled monchong fish covered with a salsa & over a mashed stuffed yucca fritter...just as fabulous! Neither was traditional Mexican cuisine. While I enjoyed listening to the live guitar & singing...from our table it was a bit loud. The prices where on the high side. Our monchong fish entree alone was around $30. I was thinking it should have been priced at $20, no more than $25. While I would return, due to the higher prices it would be for a special occasion.
(4)
Dan M.

Awesome salsa and there happy hour beer battered fish tacos are off the chain. Go get a Mexican brew and some fish tacos and enjoy the orgasm in your mouth.
(4)
Beth S.

Wonderful service and terrific food. We got the queso fundo and it was very delicious-- tasted fresh and light! My husband got the shrimp enchiladas special and i got the vegie burrito. Very large servings which came rather quickly after our appetizer. The place was packed, yet our waiter was pleasant, attentive and very nice. The manager came over to check on us and ended up getting us our to go boxes. Very nice place, but i think you should get reservations as we lucked out getting a table at 6:30pm.
(5)
Summer N.

Four stars for the beer-battered fish burrito! The fish burrito was massive--filled with black beans and crispy, but not overly fried mahi, and some kind of awesome sauce that made me finish the entire burrito, despite my earlier declarations that I was "not that hungry." My husband had ordered the food to go--which was a shame because all tacos and burritos are half off during their late night happy hour (9:30-10:30 pm). The regular prices are pretty steep--$11 for a burrito ala carte, and $14 with beans and rice. I debated between three or four stars for about a half hour before coming to my senses, because let's face it, finding amazing Mexican food in Hawaii is as rare as finding decent sushi in a landlocked state.
(4)
Julia G.

Luibueno's es Muy Buenos!!! :-) I am so thrilled and relieved to FINALLY have found a delicious Mexican restaurant here on Oahu! It took MANY fails at various restaurants around the island to get to this ONE gem. Let's see... to start of with the ambiance is festive. Great music is blasting and the walls and decor are all vibrant with color and decorations. Margaritas ARE amazing. They are made with fresh lime juice, not the sweet and sour mixes and taste wonderful. It has a lovely fresh flavor that is refreshing and something I never find in margaritas. The salsa is very good, too, and they offered unlimited chips and salsa. The carne asada is very tender and flavorful and yummy! Everything seems made from scratch and is as authentic as I have tasted. Being from San Diego, I do get very picky about my Mexican food, but after learning the owner is from San Diego, I understand why I love this place so much. I had a shrimp taco (The Gobernator?) and a carne asada taco. Both are served on soft corn tortilla. Served with beans and rice, everything tasted wonderfully. Fried ice cream is very yummy. Churros, too. Everyone in my party was a satisfied customer. Our waitress informed us that this actual restaurant opened about a month ago. I wish they would open one closer to Hawaii Kai now! ;-) However, it is definitely worth a drive when I get a Mexican food craving.
(5)
Susan E.

Won't be back, unfortunately. They did seat us in record time, which was appreciated. However, the place is insanely loud (no fabrics or carpets anywhere to absorb sound) and the food was mediocre. We started with the "queso", which was nothing more than shredded cheese in a mini skillet. It took forever to come out and when it did, there was an oil slick on top (i assume because the cheese separated while sitting in the window under the heat lamp). It wasn't spoonable or able to be dipped, rather tough and stringy. Awful! My husband had a rather tasteless steak, which was presented with a grilled (but slimy looking) green onion on top. I had the ahi enchiladas, which hit the table smelling like old gym socks (I kid you not!). I just ate the rice and beans, which was passable. We didn't stay for dessert.
(2)
Michelle B.

Fantastic place to eat at the north shore! Food and service is fantastic. Their fish of the day is always amazing. Also try their homemade horchada (sp?).
(5)
Doug W.

Great option in Haleiwa. We had the steamed clams, ahi tacos, and guacamole. 5 stars for the tacos. 4 for the rest. Decent mahito. Priced reasonably. Would definitely return.
(4)
Matt B.

This was the one place in town we kept coming back to as it was our favorite in Haleiwa. One of those places where you can just tell that everything is incredibly fresh and the chef knows what they're doing. Possibly one of our favorite things was the spicy salsa and tostitos they bring out with your drinks to nibble on. Or maybe nibble on is the wrong word.... maybe devour or inhale would be a better descriptor. Anyways, everything we ordered was amazing and the service was always super friendly and helpful. As for the drinks, they were really good but you could tell they put more than double the amount of alcohol that the average restaurant puts in (for the same price), which made me more than happy, but my wife thought they were too strong.
(5)
Holly B.

I'm a yelper, but I take yelp ratings with a grain of salt. Expected great things from this establishment, but the servings were small, the price high, and the offerings were neither inventive or original. While the waitstaff were friendly, this was a disappointment.
(3)
Fernando R.

Best Mexican and Latin Cuisine on the island .. Makes me feel like I'm at home again.. :) I would recommend the Paella Valenciana Entree ...
(5)
Beth L.

I have been here twice. The first time was ok. Average only really. The second time I went because It was raining and I had company. Had to go somewhere. my friend got horrible food poisoning. Buyer beware.
(1)
George P.

Very friendly door person and wait staff. Real north shore calmness if you know what I mean. Ordered the clams and shrimp appetizers. Clams was good. Garlic buttery shrimp scampi (also good) had a Mexican spice to it. The shrimp was quite spicy (hot) and had a grilled flavor. Be aware if you are sensitive to heat. Also got the grilled Mahi tacos. That was the best of the 3 items we ordered. While there we saw a seafood paella delivered. That looked fantastic. Next time....
(4)
Tiffany T.

Hands down best mexican food on island. The service is just as awesome as the food. Be sure to try their Jalapeno drinks, they're both so so good!
(5)
Jaclyn L.

What a tasty little find on our drive around Oahu! Delicious food, creative cocktails, friendly service! Highly recommend. We ordered the ceviche duo, grilled ahi burrito, portobello enchiladas. Yummy!
(5)
Teri W.

What a gem in Haleiwa!!! Always crowded for good reason - food is EXCELLENT! Especially the Scallops served on a bed of sautÃ©ed veggies with seasoned rice and a fantastic sauce. They could offer this with scallops, shrimp, fish, etc....or all by itself and it would be fabulous! Their homemade salsa is very good and they offer additional hot sauces if you want more kick but allowing everyone at the table to enjoy it when first served. Fresh fish specials were excellent and when we complimented the sauce, waiter immediately asked if we'd like extra - YES! And it appeared. Usually great service even when busy though they actually do a better job when completely full. If going for early dinner know that it still moves at the same pace as when full. We've been 6 times this month and enjoyed every meal. And, amazingly, their wine by the bottle prices are very low...buy the bottle and take the rest home! Going back tonight - can't wait!
(5)
Karen D.

Excellent service, drinks, and food! Highly recommended! Has only been open for 3 years, being the north shore baby restaurant, and I am impressed!!!!! Happy hour from 3-6 with the best tacos and drinks. We loved it and would definitely return.
(5)
Abi S.

I'm from Houston Tx so I it was a must to hunt down a decent mexican restaurant. I believe Luibuenos is definitely to my liking. Prices are higher, with a smaller menu- but the delicious taste makes a lot of sense. My husband had plate envy when they brought out my fish enchiladas. we came back a couple times more and it was still yummy. I truly recommend whenever you're over at the North Shore.
(5)
A E.

Service was ok. Fish taco were pretty good but the tortilla was like rubber. The meat in the enchiladas was super hard and dry . My wife and sister in law had them and told the waitress about it. She said sorry......... That was it. Didnt want to make a big deal about it, we just wont go back there again.
(1)
Diane E.

Having recently moved to Hawaii, I had asked some co-workers for recommendations for a good Mexican restaurant. It just happened that one of my Northern California friends is visiting me this weekend, and as we were driving around the island today, we arrived in Haleiwa just in time for lunch. We started off with the chips and guacamole. Yum! So much guacamole that we only ate half of it and brought the other half home. I then had the grilled fish burrito...big enough to bring half home. My friend had the ahi enchiladas and said they were good, although a little bit too heavy on the sauce for his taste. Friendly and fast service With full bellies, we completed our trip around the island before the food coma really set in. This place may end up being my go-to lunch/dinner place whenever I visit the North Shore.
(4)
Rod U.

Great service and a clean and inviting ambiance create an expectations that is not met. Luibueno's is the typical Hawaii Mexican restaurant. That is to say, its not Mexican by any measure other than they serve tequila. Props for the complementary chips and salsa. Very fresh home made chips and good quality salsa. Pay for a side of guacamole. Its worth it. A huge serving made of at least two avocados. Great balance of creamy avocado, sweet onions, and herbaceous cilantro. The queso fundido is eye opening good. Great combination of melted cheeses and slices of toasted baguette make for the ultimate grilled cheese experience. Only problem, pricey at $11.50. Mains need help. The good, the beer battered mahi for the fish tacos and burritos. Well seasoned and moist. The not so good, the blackened ahi is totally overcooked, dry and coated with an inexpensive chili powder that taste like dirt. Strike one. The extremely densely packed burritos are filled with undercooked, crunchy black beans. Strike two. Finally, raw, crunchy rice as a side. Strike three. It's not all bad, there is potential. Most fish dishes come with a "white sauce" that taste like a combination of creamy ranch dressing and hot sauce. Its all good and works well to bind the less than perfect ingredients together. Food prices are high (think Waikiki). Drink prices are low. Two visits as part of a progressive dining romp of historic Haleiwa town. Same old same old... Stick to a starter and have a li hing mui margarita you won't go wrong, at least for now.
(2)
brian d.

Meh. So so. Ahi enchiladas were disappointing. Another patron's burrito looked big, maybe try that if you have to eat here. Service was rushed, music too loud, food a bit salty, basically all the standard ploys to get you to drink more and leave fast. Unauthentic in every way. Not the worst trap around but don't expect great things.
(2)
Al R.

The food and service was fantastic. Jane offered to customize the meal to our liking. The chips and salsa were so good. Best fish tacos I have had in a long time. Everyone of the servers worked together to make our meal memorable.
(5)
Reza A.

Good place to go on the North Shore if you are looking for a nicer restaurant with decent food and good service. My girlfriend and I went here for lunch. The first thing that stood out to us was the great service. Both, the hostess and our server were super friendly. The restaurant is nicely decorated inside and definitely more upscale than most other places on the North Shore. We each ordered three Tacos (two Ahi Tacos and one Mahi Taco) since that's what they are famous for. The quality of the fish was very good and the overall taste of the tacos was pretty good, too. There was maybe a bit too much sauce on the tacos for my taste (with Fish, I prefer rather less than more sauce), but nothing to major. Overall, a good experience, and if it hadn't been $50 for the Tacos and two beers I would have given it 4 stars.
(3)
Kevin B.

I've been here a million times and can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. Luibueno's has been our 'go-to' restaurant on the North Shore for about 3 years now. In my estimation, their beer-battered fish tacos are the best on the island. Period. My wife and I are pretty particular about Mexican food (coming from San Antonio), but this place is legit. Their drinks menu is creative, and they stock several low- to high-end tequilas, which their drinks are built around. Only thing separating them from a five-star rating, is that their service can be a little scatter-brained at times, but nothing that keep us from going back here time and again.
(4)
Angel F.

I almost didn't go here because of the star rating, but my husband said to give it a try. I'm glad we did. It was a fresh, Baja type twist on Mexican food. Nothing greasy or heavy. I recommend the queso fundido. It was over priced for the amount we received but the taste was worth it. The cheese dip was topped with a little bit of goat cheese. The ambiance was perfect. The restaurant is small but you don't get the overcrowded feeling. Our server, Clint I believe, was an awesome waiter.
(5)
Sonia S.

Chips and salsa were great, carne asada was better than I've had, but service was meh... Went on a Sunday night and it was pretty packed. We didn't have to wait long for a table, but our server was slooooow and hard of hearing. We kept having to repeat our order, which was irritating the living daylights outta me. Geez! After just finishing a huge shave ice at Matsumoto's, we weren't really hungry, but since we trekked all the way out to the NS, I had to try Luibueno's. *Carne Asada ~ You can order a burrito, a single taco, dos tacos with rice and beans...I decided to order uno taco. One small corn tortilla with marinated bits of steak, onions, cilantro, guacamole and salsa. The meat was flavored just right and nice and tender. The only thing I don't care for is the corn tortilla. It always seems to break apart more easily than a flour tortilla, especially when the juices from the steak and salsa start running down your wrist and arm....hate that. A one napkin taco turns into five. *Campechana de Mariscos ~ My gf ordered this. A combination of cold seafood (octopus, scallops, shrimp, and oysters) in a red sauce served with chopped cilantro, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes and sliced avocados. Served with a tostada and a lime. This was like having a cold, tomato gazpacho....the downside, there were more onions than anything else. After she ate all the seafood, nothing left but spoonfuls of onions. If you don't like onions, I would order this one "hold the onions" please. Overall, it was ok and I have been craving Mexican, I wouldn't drive out special to the NS for this meal.
(3)
Carey H.

Hands down, best part about it was the AUTHENTIC HORCHATA!!!!! This is very hard to come by in Hawai'i... We have been to many Mexican restaurants and they all add condensed sweetened milk, big no no! Crazy good here! The service was awesome! We ordered what our server suggested and it was fabulous... My husband and I shared the fresh catch entree and it was more than enough. Totally worth the drive and we'll be making our way out there again.
(5)
Joshua D.

Great food, awesome service. We live in Cali and I can tell you this place would put most of our Mexican restaurants to shame. Chicken quesadilla was amazing. Carne Asda street tacos are also great.
(5)
Kainalu K.

I'm usually about 50/50 on going to Luibueno's. We joke that it should be be Lui-no-bueno. How can you beat a long inviting bar, surfing on the flat screen, and MAUI BREWING COMPANY on tap? Made fishy ceviche and old oil to deep fry fish. Today fresh greens... Awesome! JalapeÃ±o infused tequila margarita was tasty too. Try it out, expect little and you might be surprised. BTW, staff is super friendly
(3)
J R.

We ate here three times in a row. Just could not resist the shrimp tacos. The margaritas are classic and great. Being from California I didn't expect it to be anything special. Turns out the owner is Mexican-American from Southern California. He nailed it. If you're on the North Shore you should visit Haleiwa and eat here. The service was great and prompt. Everyone we talked to there was really welcoming and even moved us so we could see the Pipeline Pro on TV - their suggestion. mmmmm Shrimp Tacos.
(5)
Gspot H.

Love this place on the North Shore. Always parking. Staff are nice. Food is really great. And The Chef makes tremendous Soup.
(5)
Jessica O.

Fantastic food and drinks!! The hibiscus seltzer is phenomenal! They make every bring from scratch, including horchata, hibiscus syrup, salsa etc. a must if your heading to Haleima!!!
(5)
Penn A.

Lui buenos has the best Mexican food on the north shore! Their guacamole and margaritas are absolutely amazing. The atmosphere is great and no matter what day of the week you go here, you're guaranteed to have a good time. Not two mention they have two happy hours! The staff is amazing, food is outstanding, lui buenos is definitely my favorite place to eat in Haleiwa.
(5)
Mark S.

We were on a leisurely drive to the north shore with no other real plan when we pulled into a parking lot to find a washroom. Seriously, thats how we found this gem. Once we sat we received a bowl of chips and some pretty good salsa, which we dug into pretty quick and got refilled. I ordered a fish taco and a great ceviche. The taco was ok, the ceviche he was great. Don't get me wrong, for the happy hour appetizer price of $3.00 the taco was good. I just wouldn't drive to the north shore for it. I probably wouldn't go back if it were not for the ceviche. It wasn't bad, just at there are so many neat places to try when you are in Hawaii, why double up on something slightly better than average. However, the salsa and the ceviche make this eating experience worth trying again. I'll probably go back this trip.
(4)
Ryan V.

Ok. Being part Hawaiian, living in San Diego, I know Haleiwa well and we SD'ers now good Mexi. Lui's is spot on. Owner is from Chula Vista, and he nailed Baja style food and drink and atmosphere to a tee. Killer food, friendly staff and good drinks. Lines move fast and the decor is very "Puerto Nuevo". If I had to complain about something for you non-5-star trusters, it was 70 outside and inside was like 60 inside. Thought I was in a Vegas casino, but someone else must have complained and it was turned down.
(5)
Birdie T.

Drove all the way from Waikiki on a recommendation for this amazing restaurant! We were beyond satisfied with our meal. The food was incredible & the staff was so friendly & took such good care of us. Definitely one of our favorite meals of our vacation. When on the North Shore this place is a must!
(5)
Kevin B.

Not sure why all these 5 stars are on here. Food is avg for Mexican in Hawaii and below avg compared to most in Cali. I had the enchiladas, with a sauce too sweet to be close to authentic. The glasses which are preset on all the tables were dirty. The service was horrible. No refills the entire time. The waitress' hever really checked on us. We have 3 kids and they brought one ice cream (comes with kids meal) then our other two had to wait at least another 6-7 min for theirs. Overall it ended up costing over $80 with no alcohol. Too much for crap service and worse food than we could have gotten for half the price else where.
(1)
George G.

Had the Mahi tacos with rice and black beans entree. The waitress was good and friendly. Can get busy, recommend making reservation on yelp via the link.
(4)
Renee G.

Really good! Best shrimp tacos and margaritas! Great atmosphere too and the owner is super sweet and a cutie ;) lol
(5)
Ann F.

I took a friend of mine to birthday lunch and was so pleased with this fairly new restaurant on the north shore. My family has lived in New Mexico for decades so I am very discerning when it comes to mexican cuisine. To my delight - the food was delicious, with lots of vegetarian choices for my friend. We had dessert as well - the fried ice cream and it too was delicious. I loved the decor and the mexican music. Our hostess and server were pleasant and prompt. This is on my list of places to return to often.
(5)
Susie I.

Luibueno's has great fish dishes. My friend and I loved the salsa - it was simple and fresh. We shared the steamed clams (almejas al vapor) and spicy garlic shrimp (camarones ala plancha) to start. We also split a mahi mahi special of the day. Enjoyed everything and sharing made it affordable. Washed it all down with a decent margarita. Also tried the sangarita bueno, which was basically just sangria. Decent cocktail but nothing to write home about. The friendly waiter filled us in on the surf competition gossip, which seems to be the thing to do when on the North Shore in November. I'd definitely go back for the fish dishes.
(4)
Sherry B.

I know in a previous review I said I don't get fish tacos bc I've had the best in FL, but they were highly recommended on yelp and by the waiter, so I went for it expecting to be completely disappointed by my overpriced fish tacos. WRONG!! We had the grilled ahi and the grilled mahi mahi (grilled mahi mahi is an extra dollar) fish tacos. I LOVED the blend of the grilled ahi fish tacos. I'm not even a fan of corn tortillas and loved this taco. That ahi was cooked perfectly with a cool rare center. The sauce(s) were just fantastic, such bold flavor. I wish we had arrived before 6pm (weekdays) to enjoy them on happy hour special but whatever, I'm so glad I tried this entree. The grilled mahi mahi was good but not as good as the ahi. My husband thought they tasted the same. The strawberry margarita (on the rocks)...not that good. I would not order again or recommend one.
(5)
Andrea R.

This place is hands down the best surprise we've had in terms of food. Never mind the poke, this Mexican restaurant is better than some of the best I've been to in Mexico. Drinks, entree and dessert, spot on. Order the tamarind margarita (and for dessert the churros)...thank me later! ;)
(5)
C M.

This place is always my favorite spot when I'm in Haleiwa! Happy hour starts at 4 and they have cheap drinks and food. Their beer batter fish burritos, and ahi tacos are great. Chips n salsa are bomb. And original and lihing margaritas are delicious huge and fancy! They have a good choice in Maui Brewing Draft beers also. Hits the spot after a hot day at the beach.
(5)
Megan G.

Came back once again for a farewell to Haleiwa dining (on a regular basis that is) dinner. My fiancee and I have been regulars since it opened and we really will miss this place! We just bought a house and will be moving to Kailua next week so we had to come back for one last margarita and meal. Clint is such a great waiter!! So glad to have had him our last night. We actually ordered an appetizer last night and I must say I am a little sad we had never oredered this particular dish before... the clams!! (alemajas al vapor I think on the menu) SO good. Get these... garlicky and yummy, I wanted a spoon to sop up all of the delicious broth. He got the paella, I had the chilled mairscos salad, and all did not disappoint. The passion-tini rocks too... sweet and strong. (kinda like me). We will be sure to be back when we head up to visit in the future, but until then, Thanks Luis, Clint and all the great servers who have made a really great impression on us both!!
(5)
Duy L.

**This is a review for the FOOD TRUCK only** Saw the food truck on a Friday morning, June 15, 2012 (sorry, long overdue review!). Prices were pretty ridiculous for a fish taco, but we were a little tired from snorkeling and had a craving for a little pre-lunch snack. Fish was nice and crispy, they didn't overdo the crunchy lettuce, and there was a good drizzle of a tasty white sauce. Little squeeze of the lime and we were happy campers. The rice and beans were an extra we coulda lived without though.
(4)
Carol K.

It's the line factor. You know if a place has a line out the door and at least a 30 minute wait on a Sunday night that the food must be good. . . . .and the line factor didn't fail me this time. Leave it to the men in my group to sweet talk the hostess in somehow moving us up to a mere 10 minute wait (good because the place was packed and everywhere we stood to try and get a drink seemed to be in someones way!) We were shown to a table for 4 on the upper level tucked away in the corner . . .perfect! The menu has alot going on- from traditional American Mexican food to fresh fish, ceviche, oyster shooters . . .you name it- it's probably here on the menu. We ordered a range of things to start but the best was the ceviche. Fresh, tasty, I only wish they had served more chips with it instead of the one corn tortilla. It didn't occur to us until after we left that our table never got the complimentary chips and salsa . . those would have been perfect with this dish. The others at the table ordered salads which were fine but nothing remarkable. We ordered a ribeye steak for my friend, and the fish special of the day for me done in their traditional garlic sauce. Holy cripes! There was so much garlic on my fish that I couldn't eat it but my garlic loving friend was in heaven. Good for me that he shared his steak with me which was quite good. Our friends went with the fish tacos which they raved about. All in all, service was friendly as were the locals since we were laughing so loudly that we thought we were bothering them so we ended up buying a round for the tables closest to us. Turned out that was a good plan as we ended up knowing some of the people who then gave us great suggestions for our next day in "Paradise"! All in all, certainly not the best Mexican food I've had, but a pretty good effort for the North Shore of Oahu!
(4)
Jennifer G.

We should of left right when we spoke to the hostess. We had a group of 5. The hostess was very rude. She rolled her eyes at us when she took us to our table. She was not friendly at all. The seating is terrible. We were all crammed in a tiny table. They should redo the layout of the building. The glasses were filthy. We had chips and salsa and a side of guacamole. It was pretty good. Chips a little thick though. I ordered the chicken burrito. I did like it and it filled me up. It took forever to get the bills. It took so long a different waiter even came and asked if we needed our food to go. The original waitress come back finally. Even though we all had different, bills, she didn't have to throw them on the table. Then get an attitude cause we all received military discount. I won't be back. The service was terrible.
(2)
Rae W.

What's not to like about this place? As soon as you walk up, the hostess greets you and seats you in a manner I no longer expect. The waiter comes over right away to get your drink order, and if you order something you rarely drink--as I did--he answers questions without talking down to you. The strawberry margarita was fabulous, by the way! My partner ordered an ahi burrito and I ordered a carne asada burrito. Both came plated prettily, and they were so huge I couldn't finish mine. One caution--if you do not like cilantro, tell the waiter. There's quite a bit inside the burrito. But if you like it, you will love this place.
(5)
Gina B.

Lui Bueno's was an unexpected surprise for us to come across... We were actually waiting to eat at Cholos which is the usual spot in Haleiwa but the wait was too long & I was HUNGRY!! Yelped it and there it was...good reviews and less then 5 minutes away! When we got there it wasnt too busy, waited about 5 minutes for our table. As we entered I thought the restaurant was clean, nice decor and great ambience... We loved the the fresh food and yummy margaritas!!! Freshly made Salsa with chips while you wait... everything we orderd tasted freshly homemade. Avocado guacamole, shrimp ceviche, Prime rib carne asada fajitas, Fish tacos. Also MUST try the Tamarind & the Li HIng Mui Margaritas on the rocks....DELISH!!! W will be back!!! The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was because we asked for extra salsa for our chips and it took a while, had to ask again.... But overall this place has GREAT Food!! So good it was worth the price we paid... =) Definately Enjoyed our experience here.
(4)
Ali S.

My BF and I were on vacation and found this place on Yelp while we stayed at Turtle Bay. We decided to have dinner here on 12/07 and I gotta say, I was so impressed! The place was crowded and we were pretty hungry. I really wanted seafood and this place had great reviews. Normally, we try to go for the local cuisine but hey, why not try Mexican food in Hawaii??? We got a table right away by the window. It was cozy... Lol. The place is a little on the small side but we had enough room for the two of us. I ordered the seafood soup and my BF ordered the Paella Valencia. O.M.G! Both dishes were heaven! The paella (normally I've only tried Spanish paella) was so flavorful and FULL of seafood. It was more than enough for one person but it was so good my BF killed it. The seafood soup was perfect! Almost like a Sopa De Res but with seafood. We both had mussels, clams, shrimp, squid and scallops. Mine also came with soft shell crabs. Squeeze some lemon and add some hot sauce....mmmmmm!!!! We had a flan for dessert, which was really good as well. Not too sweet and the perfect consistency. The service was pretty good. They were responsive and very friendly. Really wish I had some paella right now! This place was definitely worth it! Highly recommend it to anyone out this way!
(5)
Mark T.

after looking at the yelp reviews of other restaurants in Haleiwa , the dinner options seemed bleak had dinner there last night and overall the experience was worthwhile. the drinks were enormous , the food was tasty and good . the hostess was very nice the only negatives It was a little pricey for Mexican food. the restaurant should be $$$ not $$ Our server- Moses- although helpful and attentive ran around like a mad man , kind of killing the relaxed atmosphere we were trying to enjoy. when their computers went down he seemed totally lost and manually processing our credit card seemed like a major effort Despite this they seem to have basic food service down moreso than their competitors if you are staying in the North Shore area, I'd recommend eating here over any other places in the area
(4)
Dani B.

Went for happy hour, had the fish tacos which were awesome and sangria which was powerful. Really tasty
(4)
Lekili D.

Where oh where do I start! Tapas To Do List: Callo de Hacha Aguachile: Chile water scallops in lime juice with red onion and cucumber slices Campechana de Mariscos: Tall bowl of cold seafood (octopus, scallops, shrimp & oysters) with plenty cilantro, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes and avos - topped with tostada (enough to be a meal) Tacos: Ahi blackened and Veggie tacos are great (served ala carte or entree with beans and rice) Entrees: Any fish entree is guaranteed fresh, fresh, fresh! Make sure to ask about chef specials, which always include awesome flavors - cilantro hazelnut pesto, papaya citrus honey glazes, cilantro garlic rice, deep fried avos...I could go on and on and on... They make a good margarita - blended, no salt :) And the one bar I've found that has my Don Julio Blanco!
(4)
Amanda Z.

During a recent day trip to the North Shore, I wasn't really feeling the shrimp truck scene, so we decided to check out Luibueno's, and am glad that we did. Although it is on the pricey side, the food was delicious and well worth the price. First came out the chips and salsa. I really liked the salsa, it had a bit of heat to it. I ordered the fried eggplant on a bed of rice covered with all kids of veggies (fresh corn, zucchini, capers, olives, bell peppers, etc.). I was super intrigued to see eggplant on the menu, and was really surprised and happy that I ordered it, because it was DELICIOUS!! The lightly fried eggplant paired nicely with the sauteed veggies and the fluffy rice. Yum, I wish I could eat some of it right this second! I also tried some of the ceaser salad (homemade dressing), burrito and carne asada taco, all of it was yummy.
(4)
Jeffery R.

So far this is the best Mexicanish food I have found on Oahu. The chips and salsa were fresh and tasty. The place itself is really small, but it is set up in a way that gives you a little bit of privacy. The hostesses were nice, even though I had a group of 5, so disregard the 1 stars that whole group wrote because they had a bad time. The prawns were huge, and extremely tasty, it took me (6'1" 230lbs) 3 bites to finish one. I wasn't especially impressed by the queso fundido, but my wife loved it. Parking was plentiful which is a big+ especially in Haliewa. Our waitress was on her game and very nice. For my main course I ordered the carne asada quesedillas, but was left desiring a little bit more meat. My daughter had the carne asada burrito and it looked amazing. My wife really enjoyed her shrimp tacos, and they appeared to have plenty of flavor. Next time I go I think I will try something with fish as I believe that is what they specialize in. I'll write a new review when I do as opposed to just updating this one, because almost every dining experience is different for me, even when at the same place.
(4)
Luis D.

It should be 0 starts the details simple don't go here... I'm Mexican ate real Mexican food my whole life, lived in Tx had some of the best tex mex food a word of advice I know why I'm grading this place like this cause it doesn't deserve to be called Mexican restaurant, I had a quesadilla and some tacos they were bad I know you are thinking maybe it was just the day, no I have eaten here three times and the food will never equal similar or look like authentic Mexican food, Damn taco bell is more Mexican than this, the closest to Mexican food on the island and I'm talking about the whole island is papenques in Wahiawa
(1)
Sandra B.

I came here for a date night with my husband. We both love Mexican food but did not care for the food here. My paella had a burnt taste and the rice was on the mushy side. My husband didn't care for his plate as well. Perhaps we should have stuck with the beer battered fish tacos since it seems that is what most people rave about. I will give this place another try because the staff was decent, the place was clean, and I enjoyed the fun ambiance. Also the salsa tasted fresh. I am really hoping that we came on the cook's bad day. On a side note, their cocktails were yummy but a little strong. I'm giving this place three stars because the first half started so well (first impressions, chips and salsa, drinks, and ambiance made it a fun date night). It was the main course that took the stars away.
(3)
Gloria G.

The ambiance and the food presentation are well done. The food, although it is a bit Americanized was good because their chef spins off his own style. It was a great second time coming to their restaurant on New Year's Eve. However, they didn't miss anything we asked for. Definitely one of our family's favorite!
(4)
Ruby S.

Top notch homemade salsa got us craving for more. Just the right amount of spices and flavors equals a match made in heaven for crunchy, no oil residue tortilla chips. Refried beans tasted fresh, not oily which we enjoy. Rice complimented our meal. Beef carne asada burrito certainly satisfied our Mexican food craving. Excellent and accommodating customer service. We didn't mind spending a little extra $$ on our entrees. Have to give four stars for finding and tasting too much salt on last layer of chips in two baskets. Attempting to remove salt remedy from tortilla chips didn't cut it for us.
(4)
Evan G.

Always a top notch spot to go! Best Mexican food on the north shore and killer margaritas. Beer battered fish burritos or tacos is a must.
(5)
Zachary H.

I haven't eaten here too recently but have had good to very good experiences overall. The most memorable experience was actually when I ordered the special one day, which was a kind of fish prepared two ways, and it came out a bit overcooked. I pointed it out to the waiter and he immediately apologized and quickly pushed out a whole new dish for me. It was really really delicious. Then the owner/manager came out and offered us free deserts for the inconvenience. I really appreciate when the people in charge take initiative in situations like this.
(4)
Scott T.

The fish tacos were better than any I've had in California. My wife ordered a Fish, Steak, and Shrimp taco and loved all three. Moses was an awesome waiter, and the restaurant had a great atmosphere.
(5)
melanie j.

One of the best Mexican food places on the island! Great service, delicious food, and legit recipes. If I lived closer, I would eat here a few days a week :)
(4)
Meg M.

Luibuenos is a tough place to rate because I have had mixed feelings and experiences every time I have been. At first, seeing it open up, I was skeptical that there was room for 2 Mexican restaurants in Hale'iwa. But, I mean if it had better food then Cholos, I was all for it. Luibuenos has evolved from those beginning days into a place that is great to go with friends for happy hour or dinner on weekend nights. I decided, after my visit this weekend, to rate it 4 stars, because I love having it as a choice in Hale'iwa but I have never had a consistently wonderful experience when I have gone. Here is the low down.... Things I love about Luibuenos: - The great happy hour deals (and that they reoccur if you manage to make it to 9:30 pm) - It's not just for tourists! - The amazing service and attentiveness of the staff (Lui himself waits tables most nights!) - Bottomless chips and their spicy, fresh salsa - The grilled ahi- put on top of the local salad it is my favorite meal but it is also excellent in the burritos and fish tacos- never overdone - The selection of local fishes every night and how they are woven into the specials (the Machong is such an awesome choice every time....) - The mojitos and margaritas (you don't need the Cadillac- the house one is pretty strong!) Things I don't love about Luibuenos: - The fact that happy hour is from 3 to 5pm - No outdoor seating - The wait (weekend nights it can be up to an hour sometimes) - The specials themselves... the few times I have had them, they haven't been worth the higher price - The sometimes TOO attentive staff, you know what I mean Mary A.!
(4)
Jennie H.

$3 fish taco happy hour and cheap happy hour drinks (and other food) make this an AWESOME stop after spending the day at Mokuleia or other North Shore beaches. The staff are super friendly, and when you're paying happy hour prices, it's not too expensive. I like the decor and the bathroom is really nice too! (We visited it several times since we were there with our recently toilet-trained toddler!!) We've eaten dinner there before, and it was good, but I think happy hour is the way to go if you can swing it. Now I want to go and have some fish tacos again!
(4)
Erin C.

Had the Cadillac margarita and shrimp tacos! Best Mexican food I've had in a long time. Service was super as well!
(5)
Ashley L.

Liked the mahi mahi fisherman's catch tacos. Also, I asked for a strawberry/guava margarita and it was great!
(4)
Francesca L.

Make a reservation if you have more than 4 people! Came in on a Wednesday night for dinner with friends and their kids, there were 6 of us and they first tried to sit us awkwardly in the bar, then gf's hubby walked around and found 2 normal tables for us to sit at--uhh thanks for telling us? Anyway, it was fine. We made a kids table and an adults table. The chips and salsa were pretty good, the salsa isn't spicy, and it's the watery, not chunky type, but I liked the flavor. For my meal, my friend and I shared the fish taco dinner. I thought the fish tacos were really good. The fish had this smokiness and a great flavor. I would definitely go back for these tacos. Overall I enjoyed my food, the seating situation wasn't ideal, waitress was pretty cool. I'd go again
(4)
Adam L.

WTF!!! I live in Southern California. How is it that the best Mexcian food I have ever had is on the North Shore of Hawaii? Luibueno's is a must for anybody who is looking for a fantastic meal, be it mexican, seafood or mexican seafood. The Beer battered fish burrito is out of this world. The ahi tuna enchilada is like the hottest sex you ever had. This is a foodie's dream. And Lui himself is a warm and gracious host. Whoever gave this place a bad review cannot be taken seriously.
(5)
Nick W.

It beats Cholo's, but what doesn't? Overpriced tourist trap with mediocre Mexican fare on the Northshore. So bland, not very filling for the price. 2 stars only because they make a pretty decent salsa.
(2)
Christa L.

If you're craving Mexican food while visiting the North Shore, you should definitely try Luibueno's. We've been here several times and have never been disappointed. If you're unsure of what to order, you should definitely try the fish tacos. They're delish!
(4)
Tiffany R.

I went to this restaurant with my husband and some friends. Had a poor experience and just sent this email: "Hello, My husband and I visited your restaurant along with a couple of our other friends today, June 23, 2013. We have eaten at the food truck and loved the food, so we were excited about going to the restaurant. We did not have a pleasent visit. While the food was pretty good, the service was pretty bad. First of all, the hostesses were very caddy. There were three young girls working the hostess stand today. When we walked up to the restaurant there was a group of people in front of us waiting to be seated, the girls took that group and then asked us how many were in our group. We told them, four adults and two babies. So, they were looking at their stand and chit-chatting about the servers. They were bad mouthing one of the servers, talking about how she was new, and when she was working. The young girl who seated the group in front of us came back and they all three gossiped for a minute and then decided where we should sit and the same young girl who sat the other group sat us. I held the door open for my party, even though there were THREE hostess, one of whom was directing us to our table and the other two were gossiping behind their stand. So, your restaurant was already off to a poor start, but we had a good experience at the truck so I was trying to over look it. After we were seated our waitress came and filled our water glasses, which appeared to be dirty, and asked if we would like anything else to drink. Drinks were ordered, and I asked about the soup of the day. She told me about it and I decided that I would be ordering that and then she said that they just updated the board and the restaurant was out of the soup. It was 3:30. Kind of early to be running out of food, but this happens to me at just about every restaurant out here, so I just let it go and found something else on the menu. We were seated near the kitchen, and I could see the food coming out for the servers to pick up at the window. I could also see that the servers did a lot of hanging out around that window. They could have been refilling drinks or checking on their customers. I would like to say that our waitress was somewhat descent. She did refill our water glasses often, but someone at our table did have to ask for more chips and for a refill on their sprite. We also had to ask her to split our check because she did not bother to ask us if this should be done. What really upset me was when I saw a girl standing at the pick up window for the food, stick a fork in a sauce on a customers plate and taste it! After she tasted the sauce, I saw her wipe the plate with a towel, because I am assuming some dripped from her fork. Then, a few minutes after that I saw her grab a different plate from the window and wipe some of the food with her HAND! That is totally disgusting! I don't think the girl was a server that afternoon. It looked like she was just helping take food to tables. She was a shorter girl, with a thick dirty blonde bun, and she was about medium built with freckles. She brought my husband some sour cream about ten minutes after he asked our waitress for it. I would give you a name but no one their wears a name tag. On our way out of the restaurant I was carrying my five month old in a carrier, and I had to open the door for myself, even though you have three hostess at the front entrance of your restaurant. Our friends got out of the restaurant a little bit before my husband and me, and I mentioned that I had to open the door for myself and they told me they had to do the same, and they had a stroller. If you have three hostesses at the front of your restaurant someone should at least open the door for people who have their hands full on the way in or out. We all live here on the island, my husband and I live on the North Shore. We will never be going back to this restaurant. It seems to be poorly managed and the employees seemed to be poorly trained."
(1)
Anela L.

We usually go to Cholo's but we wanted to try Luibueno's since so many people have recommended it to us. They said it is more than Mexican with fresh seafood. We were seated immediately after the lunch rush and were both shocked at the attention to detail of this place. Red walls, nice silverware, even the paper napkin and coaster had detail which I appreciate. Was I on the mainland again? They even have Spanish music in the background, I was impressed. They found us a seat that accommodated our stroller which was actually with a perfect view of the kitchen... I was a bit nervous about that. Other than hearing the cooks talk about hooking up with black girls, they were pretty quiet. The chips and salsa kept coming and were being refilled constantly until we finally said stop... which is amazing for Hawaii. We ordered the gazpacho soup, paella and flan. The gazpacho flavor was perfect and chilled and the toasted was buttery and warm. I was shocked with joy. We usually go to Barcelona for the perfect paella. My husband was very impressed with the flavor, fresh seafood and the server told us that they do make the rice beforehand each day, which is nice because we got it quickly. It was quite small but enough for 2 people. We ended with the flan because this is the true test of a great Spanish restaurant and I am addicted to it... and it was amazing. It was quite pricey and we did have sticker shock as we are usually eating off a truck in a more casual setting. $60 for lunch was alot but we both left full, taken care of and happy with all of the flavors. This will be our once in a blue moon spot but well worth it.
(4)
Marcy U.

Great selection of Margaritas as well as appetizers and entrees. The homemade tortilla chips are light and crisp and salsa fine and flavorful. Loved the atmosphere and the energy was high. Four of us went on a Friday evening for dinner and although the place was packed, we were seated within 15 minutes. Service was quick and while he was crazy busy, our server Clint spent the time to go over the entire menu with us and answer all of our questions. The food was delicious albeit portions a little on the small size. I have to say that Clint was a big part of why our experience was such a positive one. I will definately be back as well as recommend.
(4)
Anna S.

We've lived on Oahu for a year and frequently eat in Haleiwa, but somehow never tried this place until now. Best Mexican we have found on the island. Great fresh lime margaritas and fresh, high quality food. Not the type of cuisine you see much in Hawaii... which makes it a must!
(4)
Harvinder K.

Really good mexican food, maybe the best in the north shore. I went here a few months ago and cant recall everything we had, but here is a try. 1. my friend has the Fish Tacos and said they were mouthwatering and possibly the best she's had in a long time 2. I had the veggie tacos which were great. 3. lastly, I remember the chips and salsa being really good.
(4)
Wanda D.

The food is excellent and the portions are large, better Mexican food than Cholo's....The coffee is way too strong for my taste, that's my only complaint. I found their prices reasonable for the area, it is a tourist town. Highly recommended...I will go again!
(5)
Joyce K.

the food here was just alright--the fish was done nicely (ahi in both the tacos & burrito), but the shrimp (gobernador) tacos were mediocre. there were probably a total of four shrimp between my two tacos, which were grilled/fried within the corn tortillas, leading the tortillas to be near cardboard consistency. the chips and salsa were good--standard with a nice kick to the salsa. in sum, not a bad place to go to for some somewhat authentic Mexican, but would not go back or out of my way to try again.
(2)
Sandy T.

It's great that Haleiwa has another new place to choose from to grab a drink. Great food, love the location, and impeccable service. The waitstaff and bartenders definitely provide some of the best service on the North Shore. Especially Marilyn.... WOW what a true customer service professional!
(5)
lisa h.

YUM! Chips and salsa = perfect. Ahi burrito = insane...seared ahi, delicious beans, a tasty treat. My husband got fish tacos and, while they weren't the best he's ever had, they were really good. Margaritas = YUM! Obviously freshly made and just right. Service (other than the *slightly* grumpy-seeming hostess) was attentive and really nice. Our waiter was always available but not too hover-y. My faith in North Shore dining has been, if not restored, then definitely perked-up. Luibueno's is a little pricey (I think the kids' meals were around $10; we didn't have our kids with us, but I took notice--not gonna pay $20 for a dinner my 2 girls might or might not eat...) but a nice splurge. Decent balance of tourists and locals. Nice interior--well done, modern and inviting. We'll defnitely make this a regular, splurge-y , destination when we want to eat dinner in (Haleiwa) town.
(4)
Anne M.

Fantastic fish tacos.... Best margarita I have ever had. Great service.
(5)
VG d.

Loved the ambiance (heavy black napkins, nice touch). Good service! Loved the fresh chips, salsa was good but would be even better with some fresh cilantro! LOVED LOVED LOVED the ceviche. This appetizer seriously ROCKED! The caesar salad was unremarkable. Caesar salads can be fabulous, this was boring. Try big shaves of cheese, more anchovy in the dressing perhaps. Big garlicky croutons. You know what to do ;) The fried calamari was good, for what it is (squid is bland). The breading was tasty and light as a feather, but it needs just a little more effort, a bit spicier perhaps? A really good start, however. Your lychee martini's were DIVINE. Slurp slurp fabulous! The POSITIVES outweigh the one negative. In my opinion, fish tacos with cheese are a culinary abomination. (My background is Food & Beverage, quality control/menu development, 4 star restaurants in wine country (Sonoma, CA), so I think I can safely say this: cheese in a fish taco isn't done because it doesn't work!) BUT I'LL BE BACK no matter what, ej Jefe because your chow rocks!
(4)
Chris S.

This was the best meal we had on the island; the service was friendly and fast, the food was delicious and cooked to order. Unlike many Mexican restaurants, the salsa was actual salsa, not a tomato paste! Our server was Chelsea and she was amazing, we ordered oysters, queso and a few tacos, all were served vey quickly and delicious. I would recommend this place over any on the island, great staff and food
(5)
ToddKat K.

Place was on FIRE for Cinco de Mayo. The owner made the night for myself and the lady. Louie was handing out all kinds if party favors from Vans, Jose Cuervo, etc. This got the party crackin' all night long. Also, food was great and the drinks were ice cold. Great place and good times!
(5)
Justin R.

Esteban W. suggested that we check out this Mexican restaurant on our spontaneous trip to the North Shore. After what took a few hours, because of a few stops along the way, we finally got to the restaurant. Both very hungry and tired from the Crossfit WOD, we were ready for some Mexican food in Haleiwa. Right from the beginning, the service was pretty bad. After standing at the "Please wait to be seated" sign for a few minutes, Esteban finally went in to see if we could be seated and they told him that someone would be helping us soon. So as we continued waiting, a party of four impatiently waited behind us. After waiting about three seconds their group leader decided to go in and repeat what Esteban just did, they instantly gave his party a table. When the hostess finally remembered that there were two people waiting she brought us in and asked if we wanted to sit next to the impatient party before us. The two tables on either side were a little too cramped for all of us, so instead we were seated on another level of the restaurant. Whoever the developer/interior designer was for this place probably forgot to calculate how much space is needed to pull out a seat without having to hit the person behind you because 3 centimeters is definitely not enough... The table was neatly set although the first thing that caught my eye was the cleanliness (or lack thereof) of the drinking glass. I guess that they forgot to at least wipe the glass because there were water spots all over it. Alexander, our waiter, was not very helpful. When asked what was popular or even for his recommendation of a dish, he just said that EVERYTHING was good. I'm guessing that nothing really stood out for him? Minus points... So Esteban W. and I were left to just take a wild guess as to what to order. We got there just in the middle of Bueno Hour (aka Happy Hour) which was from 3-5 pm. The regular price of the Classic and Li Hing Mui margaritas were both $7.75 but during Happy, I mean Bueno Hour, the Classic was $6. Despite this, I asked if it would be ok to have the Li Hing Mui one for $6 since they originally were the same price. Unfortunately it stayed at $7.75. Either way Esteban W. ordered a classic while I still stuck with the Li Hing Mui. You'll probably read this in his review as well but there was a mosquito, body and all, in his drink. No bueno... As for my meal, I got the Carne Asada Burrito entrÃ©e (about $10.75) and it was actually pretty good. What was disappointing was the amount of rice and beans that made it an "entrÃ©e" which combined, was less than the amount of rice you would normally get in a mini plate at a local plate lunch place. Overall, I would not want to return because of the service and how little they pay attention to the sanitation of the restaurant. However if I know I will be craving Mexican food during my next trip out there, I will definitely bring my own food or spend a little more and get a more satisfying meal from Mexico/Mexico Lindo, Torito's, or Serg's.
(1)
Kay M.

Amazing food. I had grilled Ahi burrito, it was down right awesome. Service was good, great location, free tortilla and salsa. Can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Video T.

The arrival of any new eatery in little Haleiwa town is exciting, but Luibueno's even more so to me since I have the lingering memory of the delicious fish tacos from the old Luibueno's truck that was around a few years ago. It seemed that most of the North Shore showed up to have dinner at Luibueno's this past weekend - the one week anniversary of it's opening - because the place was SLAMMED! Be prepared to wait over an hour for a table on the weekend, because they don't take reservations for parties smaller than 8. The bar has a great selection of Mexican beers, and an extensive specialty cocktail and margarita menu. The Tamarind Margarita was my personal favorite - not too sweet, not to tart, and you could taste the tequila . I would definitely come back to eat and drink at the bar with friends. The tortilla chips were nothing special but the table salsa is great - could be a little hotter for my taste, but still delicious. My group ordered exclusively fresh seafood from the pupus menu, tapas style, and we were all extremenly satisfied with our choices. The absolute standout was the Scallop Aguachile. Tender Scallops swimming in a salty spicy mix of cucumber, onion, lime and chile and maybe some mystery spicing? The flavor was so divine that we dumped the extra juice onto our ceviche plate. The bright flavor of the ceviche pescado had a nice balance of lime, chile, and tomato. I would've liked it even better with the fish in larger firmer chunks. (Maybe this was a time-saver to "cook" the fish faster?) The small fried tortilla underneath was not enough for the ceviche portion, so we had to use the not as good table chips to finish the plate. Steamer clams came in a delicious savory broth, but need more toasts to mop up the goodness. Two of our party quickly became addicted to the horseradish kick of the Oyster Shooters, so we skipped the full oyster plate for next time. For dessert we shared the flan, fried ice cream with caramel sauce (strawberry and fudge are also sauce options), and the apple empanada. None of the three were too exciting, but the cornflake coating on the fried ice cream was a nice salty sweet crunch to end the meal with. I'm looking forward to returning on a less busy night and exploring the menu further. We didn't even make it to tacos and entrees!
(4)
Sabina P.

Luibuenos was a recommendation from my boss's boss, whom I don't know that well, so I didn't know what to expect. We were hungry from our drive to the North Shore and decided to give it a go. The guac and chips were great. Their seafood was excellent. Will definitely visit again if we make it back to the North Shore.
(4)
Melissa K.

5 stars because it was one of the few places on North Shore still serving food past 9 pm with a Happy Hour menu. Yummy fish taco's, plenty of chips and fresh salsa, ice cold beer, friendly service and excellent company,
(5)
Chris D.

Everything is so fresh and authentic! Best Ribeye Ever!
(5)
Steffen G.

On a flight back from San Diego to HNL one day I happened to sit next to the owner of Luibueno's. The restaurant hadn't opened yet and he was telling me about just getting back from Mexico with new recipes for his restaurant. We joked about the horrible mexican food on Oahu and he told me to pop by in a few months when the restaurant was open. Had that day not happened, I likely would not have ever tried Luibueno's. Coming back from the beach we decided to stop in just to take a look. It's in kinda an old strip mall and a first pass at the menu I was a bit hesitant to give it a try. It seemed like a nicer restaurant and we were just strolling in from the beach, but it's Hawaii after all. At first the prices seemed a bit expensive (and the Entree section is a bit expensive for Hawaii, and for what I'm used to paying in San Diego). I then realized that I've paid about $10 for what is called a "burrito" at Wahoo's (which is also called "Mexican" food). I got the beer battered fish burrito entree and my boyfriend got the pollo asada burrito (I think that's what it was). The food came out absurdly fast. We had placed our order right when we sat down, then placed our beer order a bit later and the food came out before our beers were even poured. The food was great by any standard. The rice was light and fluffy, the refried beans were also light. The beer battered burrito was delicious. I cannot even recall the last time that I had something that was beer battered that actually tasted beer battered. The fish was crispy on the outside and had a slight hint of beer flavor, the seasonings were amazing. The pollo asada burrito was equally delicious, although completely different in flavor. It was nice that each dish had its own characteristic flavor. Another bonus was that they had Maui Blonde on tap. It's one of my favorite beers and I don't think I've ever seen it on tap anywhere.
(5)
Paige H.

Great Mango Margarita followed by excellent entree fresh ono. Mark was the best server he treated us like family and shared allot about being a local in the North Shore!
(5)
Mr. tyson R.

Love the special of the day. But don't remember the name. Sorry. Owner is super nice! Go to this joint!!
(5)
Bryan E.

We stopped as we passed through Haleiwa on our way back from Waikiki to Turtle Bay. Yelp did not steer us wrong! Clean, well priced, fast service, enough parking, and a good selection of drinks. The complimentary salsa was great and held us over for dinner.
(4)
Alexander D.

Yeah, the entrees are pricey, but the burritos and tacos aren't, and they're friggin' great. Friendly staff and a generous happy hour. Get the Fisherman's Catch or Beer-Battered Mahi Mahi, a High Surf Advisory 56-ounce margarita, and you'll soon realize this is the best Mexican on the North Shore by a country mile. Or you could be a tourist and go to Cholo's for a Cockroach Enchilada.
(5)
Ralph R.

Fresh catch burrito stuffed with some ono (tasty) Ono (wahoo) was very tasty, as was the pineapple margarita. Kids had bean and cheese burritos, and the portions were large, so nobody went home hungry.
(4)
Kulia V.

We came to this place because the line at Cholo's was ridiculous. There were only 2 of us so we decided to just eat at the bar. The free chips and salsa were amazing. The chips were light and not oily and the salsa was fresh. Killed our basket in 5 minutes and asked for more. Then we got the tostada ceviche. It was so tasty and fresh. It comes with slices of avocado that go really well with the dish. Then we shared the carne asada tacos. The tortillas were cooked perfectly and the meat was yummy! They also had my fav beer ( Widmer Hefeweizen) on draft which is another plus. But next time I'll probably try their freshly made margaritas. Would definitely come again!
(4)
Lynn S.

We love this place and would like to move it to Hawaii Kai so we could be regulars. Happy Hour is great, with $5 to-die-for cevice and nicely priced drinks. Our server, Mike, was excellent. The decor is chic. Prices are fair. We loved our ahi burritos, and after a disasterous Mexican food meal last night, we really craved good Mexican food today. Fresh fish, fresh everything, great place. If you're on a tight budget, go during Happy Hour.
(5)
Eric H.

I asked the locals where to go and got this rec- it was great. Awesome battered fish tacos, also had veggie paella which was equally good. Nice drink selection, beers on tap, generous margaritas- even chips and salsa were good. We got there at about 7 on a Saturday with no reservation and only had to wait 10 min, but it looked like the place cleared out at 8. Friendly staff and clean place playing 80's on the jukebox- not sure what else you could want from a joint. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
Joey G.

Gave one star cause I had to. Place sucks, go down to Cholos, better drinks ,better service, better prices, better atmosphere and REAL Mexican food. Don't waste your time at luibuenos, the waiter there actually said " we use the unused parts of fish for our special today", without laughing, he was serious.
(1)
Danny M.

This place is great! We love the beer battered mahi tacos. I get them on a piece of romaine lettuce and it's just as good, if not better! The mango margarita is delicious and I don't even like margaritas. The chips and salsa is always tasty. Their specials are always very good as well. My husband loves to try the different specials, they can be pricey, but good! Definitely go here if you want some good Mexican food on the north shore.
(5)
Dave K.

Luibeunos is the best Mexican food on the island hands down. The best fish taco I have ever had and I have had my share living in Florida. If you go to the North Shore don't miss it.
(5)
D J.

Very good margaritas made the real way. Had the garlic shrimp app and carne asada taco entree I'm stuffed. Cool bartender.
(4)
Zoe B.

My husband and I went there again yesterday for lunch. My husband ordered a carne asada burrito and I ordered Caldo de Siete Mares, which is shrimp, scallops, octopus, snow crab, mussels and white fish in their so called home made seafood broth topped with cilantro, shaved onions and zucchini. My husband enjoyed his burrito and I didn't like my soup. It was very weird taste that didn't bring out the sweet flavor of the seafood....as a matter of fact, the soup didn't have seafood taste, just bitter lime taste. I wasn't sure what to do, so I forced myself to just ingest the seafood meat and leave the soup alone....but at one point I couldn't really bare it anymore and then stopped. The waitress stopped by and asked if everything was okay. I told her the soup was appealing to me. At then she said I could order something else and take the soup off the tab. I was a bit surprised they would be willing to do that. However, the soup had killed my palate. So I only ordered one ala carte carne asada taco to fill my stomach. Though the soup was disappointing, the waitress was very helpful and nice in dealing with the incident. Though we don't need to pay for the soup, we decided to tip her by calculating from a sum of the burrito, the soup and the taco. She deserved it and I gave it cash to her to make sure it went to her pocket. That's why it was 3 star this time due to the soup, but service wise, it's still a 4 to 5 star for this restaurant.
(3)
Kim L.

Went here for happy hour and got a bunch of the tacos. I think 15 tacos for 35$. Very very yummy and we loved their homemade salsa. We would definitely go back.
(4)
Bill S.

The food is generally awesome! Love everything but the rice and beans (mediocre at best). Caesar salad is great. The tacos are good to great (the Baja style beer-battered fish tacos are to die for). A bit cramped and a very loud. But the food is great, and I've been known to drive there from Waipahu just for dinner!
(5)
Jason J.

Whole lotta Tex in that Mex. Despite that the ribeye was excellent as was the horchata and queso fundido. Salsa was good but unremarkable.
(3)
Marc H.

This food was crap. Generic Mexican beans and bland fish. Yech.
(1)
George R.

Decent mexican food.. upgrade from cholo's on the N shore.
(3)
Jessica H.

Can't wait to come here again! Went on a Tuesday night at around 8. Still had to wait for a table...so I'm guessing, on the weekends, you'll be waiting for a table forever. The place is small and can get pretty loud. The atmosphere is nice and fun to be in. Ordered the calamari, yummo! Also had the fish tacos, very delish! The drinks are the best! Very strong! :). Prices of the food and drinks are worth it! It's hard to find good mexican restaurants on the island!
(4)
James W.

My wife and I made our first trip to Hawaii this past week. We are staying on North Shore's Turtle bay Resort. We got tickets to the Seafood Fest at the resort. Lucky us, we ended up meeting LUIBUENO'S employees and the wife of the owner. What sweet ppl. after trying the fish taco, we were sold. We ended up going for both lunch and dinner. The prices weren't bad but the food was amazing. Our waiter, Mark was awesome. If you are looking for a great place to eat and feel like family, try it out, you will love it! Can't wait to visit the island again and eat some more Luibueno's!!!
(5)
Eric D.

Great Happy Hour Menu! Ceviche is a must! Ambience is nice! We'll be back, guarant.
(4)
Jackie P.

We stumbled on this place after a day at Waimea and Shark's Cove, hungry and not wanting to drive around Haleiwa forever looking for parking (and Opal Thai was closed.) What a find! So good. My boyfriend got the Scallops (amazing), I had the Ahi Taco's (awesome) and the salsa is some of the best restaurant salsa that I've had. Definite recommend.
(4)
norma p.

this place was OK. we got there during happy hour, but our waiter failed to tell us, we had to ask after hearing another waiter tell a table close by. the chips were just OK and so was the margarita... nothing special. we ordered the happy hour fish taco's which were $3.00. they were good but i wouldn't go here any other time other than happy hour, its way to expensive and not delicious enough.
(2)
Tyson J.

Best mexican food on the island.. I love this place.. Friendly service... Def will go back every week
(5)
Michelle M.

whenever there's a negative experience in service culture, a business' response and timeliness is crucial to winning back the guest. luis, the owner of lui bueno's, was sincere, genuine and quick to contact me. he offered apologies, explained his concept for the restaurant and also invited me to come back and give lui bueno's another try. i'm not going to lie, i was pretty upset after my last experience, i've never given a 1 star rating before! but, i appreciate luis' honesty and let's face it, accidents happen. i was never upset about finding a surprise in my food, i was upset about the lack of reaction or service from the staff after the incident. however, luis' compassion was evident over the phone and talking him completely redeemed the poor service i received. with that being said, the four stars are not for the restaurant but for luis. when i return (because the food is pretty yummy), i'll be sure to let him know how it goes.
(4)
Bryon T.

Luibuenos is a nice addition to Haleiwa/North Shore! Good/quality customer service! Food is very good! Good seafood and carne asada! Love love the battered fish tacos! Awesome salsa...hard to find in Hawaii! Happy hour specials, decent prices! Portions could be a tad larger, but other than that, I highly recommend Luibuenos! WAAAAAAYYYY better than Cholos (horrible)!
(4)
Noeru N.

Opah Fish Taco was memorable! Tamarind Margarita was unique. Service was decent. Did I mention the Opah Fish Taco was awesome?
(4)
C O.

I'm so excited on so many levels that Luibueno's is open in Haleiwa. For years North Shore has been a culinary wasteland of terrible, kitchy, overpriced tourist-trap-dining-crapholes. Cholo's pretends to serve Mexican food, Storto's insults the populace with their sugary sandwiches, and two local establishments have become famous for serving snowcones. Really? It's just a snowcone. Anyway, sorry for the digression. Luibueno's. Ahh, I still savor the wonderful flavors. They updated the decore since they took over for the cantina that used to be here and have drastically changed the menu and serve actual, authentic, delicious Mexican food. I LOVE THIS PLACE. This is, by far, the best Mexican food on the island. I know Esteban will come in and say its not actually authentic, but I don't care. Somewhere in Mexico there is a mom-and-pop restaurant that would kill to serve this food---that makes it authentic enough for me. The service is spot-on and friendly. Their chips are fresh made in the kitchen and the salsa is heavenly. Their margaritas are made from actual juice (not that bottled premade junk) and their prices are great for what you get. The menu is extensive, everything is offered ala carte and as a full meal. They have fresh ceviche, serve fish that is locally caught that day, and offer the usual range of proteins (pollo, carnitas, beef). My love of the North Shore grows with each passing week my wife and I head up there. First, Haleiwa Eats caught our attention. Then, it was Opal Thai. Then the fish and chips guy by Opal's truck and now Luibueno's! No wonder I'm getting FAT!
(5)
Nancy H.

we were in hawaii a few weeks ago for vacation, and after driving around the island for a while we decided to stop at this gem. it was amazing!!! the food was absolutely delicious, and some of the best i've eaten anywhere in quite some time. the waitress was nice, attentive, brought us refills of drinks/chips/salsa without us asking (always a plus in my book). the place itself was on the smaller side, but what they lacked in restaurant size they made up for in tasty food!! i had some chicken tacos. oh god they were SO GOOD! the verde sauce was amazing. their rice was fluffy, their chips tasted home made. their salsa dear lord was GOOD! i had queso with chorizo in it w/ crostini....the list goes on and on. this place is tops, and if you're looking for some tasty mexican food on honolulu go here. service, food, atmosphere=AMAZING!!
(5)
Mike H.

Great Mahi Mahi burritos and tacos. Plus the prices on the daily happy hour can't be beat! The service was great but the oyster shot was very disappointing. It was cheap enough but tasted like the oyster came out of a can and then a cocktail sauce monster vomited over it.
(4)
Jose C.

Luibueno's is a nice place for a lunch or dinner. The two taco plate I had was very good. Opah was the catch of the day and tacos had a generous portion of fish. This place is no taco stand and you will pay what I thought was a bit steep for two tacos, rice and beans. But if you want to sit down for a nice meal in a clean place with good service, Luibueno's is a good choice.
(4)
Rebecca S.

i adore this place. it's my new home away from home in haleiwa. it has a warm atmosphere, excellent service (esp by hawaii's standards), TWO happy hours and the food doesn't disappoint. we always sit in the bar area and typically try to hit one of the happy hours when drinks are cheap(er) and they offer a special discount menu with tacos, ceviche, etc. the margs are maybe too tasty...they make them with fresh-squeezed lime juice and they're unreal. the sangria is good too, and they have a great wine list with lots of options from chile and spain. for food, you can't go wrong with the fisherman's burrito, the paella or one of their fish entrees. the word has apparently gotten out because i've never been in here when it's not buzzing.
(5)
Remee A.

Service was horrible and the food had no flavor!
(1)
Mel V.

I have to give four stars because the last time I went with family the service was atrocious - and I don't use that word often. Ex: After not seeing our waitress for at least 10 minutes and needing a water refill for my sister I had to walk up to find her and she was literally 15 feet away chatting and still didn't come over for another 5 minutes - that's pretty ridiculous - then she brought out the wrong plates and left one dish out entirely until reminded. Could have been a bad day for her but some effort to make good would have been nice - didn't happen. However, everything was very tasty and the gluten free options were necessary in our crew. The first time I went I had a grilled ahi burrito - AH-mazing!! - my friend had the scallop special and made it in to the Clean plate club that night! Even after we noshed like scavengers on the chips and guac which was also just as delicious on my second trip. This weekend they have a Cinco de Mayo event that my next island visitors will get to experience with me (my first time) and I'm very much looking forward to it!
(4)
Amy S.

One of my favorite places on the North Shore.
(5)
Izzy B.

The food was excellent, creative without straying too far from traditional mexican food. Great design, too . . . modern and casual. A fun place for a small group.
(5)
Shannon C.

I had lunch there this past weekend with my husband, son and parents. The restaurant is very clean and nice but the food was just okay. We ordered the queso and fried calamari for starters (both was okay). My husband had a scallop dish the waiter recommended which was $28.95 (I think) that he didn't care for, my dad had the carne asada burrito which he said was okay and my mom and I shared the ahi tacos (nothing special) and a clear broth soup with fish (very refreshing and the best thing we ordered). The bill came out to about $120 with tip. I think that's a little too much for Mexican food. We could've ate at El Mariachi 2 twice and enjoy it more there.
(2)
Sean O.

Took a chance on this place on our first night staying on the north shore of Oahu and loved it. Great selection of food and friendly staff. Tasty Fish Chowder type soup on special that night together with the Paella made for an excellent evening.
(4)
Troy M.

I had burrito not bad not nothing outstanding. Great service and the place was nice. Need to give it another try.
(3)
B. S.

Luibueno's has been on my mind to try out since I'm always across the street eating chicken. I went here a few months ago, and Im finally writing this.. The food is good, and the portions are fair. Its good mexican, not great. I'm kinda spoiled being born in philadelphia and was surrounded by friends who could cook killer Meixcan food. I would give this 3 1/2 stars if i was allowed. Not quite 4. The margaritas are good though! Pricey though. :P
(3)
Karen A.

I had the beer battered fish burrito and it was great; it was a little spicy for me but I think everything is too spicy. My husband had the ahi burrito which was supposed to be lightly seared but was basically well done. He said it was still good. Service was great. It was my husband's birthday so they gave us free dessert.
(4)
Casey W.

Great happy hour. Calamari and the fish tacos were perfect. Service was fast and friendly. A must go.
(5)
Sam V.

Best place on Oahu for real fresh Mexican food... Don't forget to have a margarita made from scratch with fresh limes..
(5)
Daniel L.

Luibueno's is far and away our favorite Mexican restaurant on Oahu. The camarones a la plancha are fantastic. We order the fisherman's catch burrito and ask them to add chile de Ã¡rbol sauce.
(5)
Janine L.

Smallish, stylish, good. Walking in it is hard to feel the size of the place, they disguise it pretty well with small walls to spit it up. The colors and decor are nice, colorful and fresh but not the obnoxious orange and cheap finished. It actually feels like an Italian Bistro- the wait staff in black, the black napkins and colors on the walls. The bar s good sized ( and they have several Tequilas that I haven't seen on island) but there are not many large tables. They have a wonderful musician playing guitar and singing, mellow Eagles, Croce, America tunes. The beer was really cold- very nice. Chips and salsa were OK- they need to get better bowls for the salsa so you can dip your chips. We both ordered fish tacos- his was seared Ahi, mine beer battered Mahi. They food came really promptly -The tacos were really good, soft, fresh tortillas, fresh tasty fish, nice cabbage and salsa with a light sauce. The beans and rice were bland. Our waitress was Katrice and she was awesome. We will go back again and try the scallops.
(4)
annette p.

I had been craving a carne asada burrito for quite some time, so when we were heading back from a traffic catastrophe during the Haleiwa Arts Fest, we figured Luibueno's would be a nice stop for grub. The restaurant design is nice, and they were accommodating us well with a two-year-old. Granted, it does seem like a better restaurant for older kids and such, but our babe didn't make too much of a mess this time. On to the food. We came during HH, so we got two app's, the oyster shot and the whitefish ceviche. Oyster was wonderful and fresh, supplied with plenty (maybe too much??) cocktail sauce and lemon. I am not a huge fan of ceviche in the first place (I probably have never had a good plate of it) and their dish did nothing to improve that sentiment. I thought the fish itself was very dull in flavor, and that it did not soak up any of it's surrounding citrus juices nor it's herbs. Oh well, the tostada that came with it was fresh and delish. For entrees, we simply got one carne asada and one pollo asada burrito. My burrito satiated my craving for carne asada, but I still miss the greasy in-house-made tortilla taste from the burritos available in my hometown of San Diego, with the fresh guacamole and the well seasoned big slices of steak inside. The burrito at this restaurant was decent for Hawaii. The steak was chopped in small bits, eliminating some possible flavor it was lacking. The guac wasn't horrible but it certainly did not taste fresh. The rice and beans the burrito came with were not worth ordering. Honestly, you can get better rice and beans from taco bell. The pollo asada was a-ok, chicken was actually well seasoned and grilled to perfection, but there was too much rice inside the burrito for my liking. All in all, not a horrible experience, service was great...ambiance is nice, chips and salsa were good. I just feel silly paying 12 dollars for a small carne asada burrito that doesn't taste half as good as the burritos ordered at any 24-hour taco shop in San Diego. I would come again but I would just order a whole lotta oysters, they seem to get that part right.
(3)
Carol L.

Free chips and salsa!! We came during happy hour. I suggest u do the same! I had the soft fish tacos!! MMM delish! refreshing guud. I placed the salsa and caliente sauce!! Oouuu!! Hubby had carne asada burrito which was gone in a matter of minutes had guac in it! Soo flavorful! A must visit when yr in the North Shore. (FYI, Cholos is sooo overrated!) The only complaint is the unfriendly near dead hostess/greeter outside the door. She did NOT even say HELLO or GOODBYE! WHY WHY even have someone outside. Management! SAVE yr $$$$ get rid of her or send her to school! 1st impression: unfriendly stand off~ish. I have never come across someone sooo "stuck up" Thank goodness the server Clint made up for the whole experience. Thus the 4 stars otherwise you would have gained a 5 "stellar" experience. Hopefully, she will be gone the next time I come here.
(4)
Christa W.

They have those fish tacos that are actually deep-fried. Hard to find in Hawaii. LOVE.
(5)
Brenda W.

The blackened fish tacos are really good. Kinda pricey but for good fresh fish totally worth it.
(4)
Sandra B.

Being from Texas, we have high standards for Mexican food. This food was not bad, but it was overpriced.
(3)
Tom S.

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about with Lui Buenos. The food is pretty good. I give them extra credit for creativity. What I don't like are the high prices and the very average service. Go for an extravagant and unusual Mexican meal. Don't go if you are looking for a simple burrito.
(3)
Mark M.

Probably drove past this place 100 times when heading to the North Shore and never gave it a second look. My wife wanted some Mexican food so instead of heading off to the same old places we headed to our old trusty friend Yelp for help with our decision. Yelp delivered! Great reviews from fellow Yelpers led us here. From the moment we showed up we received 5 star service. Once seated it only got better, our waiter Mark was the probably one of the nicest professional waiters I ever met (he could teach people what being a waiter should be) then the fun began, the food started showing up salsa, guacamole, freshly made chips was the start of an incredible meal, steak and fresh catch Mahi mahi burritos for dinner were incredible, the refried beans were the best I ever had. For dessert I would recommend the fried ice cream with honey, once again I must say "the best I ever had" you owe it yourself to give this place a try and for a true 5 star dining experience I hope you get Mark as your waiter.
(5)
tiffany c.

Alright so Luibueno's has been open for a few months now, and I have to say it is my favorite restaurant on the North Shore. The margaritas are great. I've even drank and entire High Surf Advisory (56oz margarita) by myself. It was pretty good, only down side to a margarita that big is it fills you up. The food is wonderful, very fresh. The rice is the best mexican rice on the island. My favs on the menu are the Ajillo sauce fish and the pollo asada burrito. So so good and the price is very great, we've actually had a meal for 2 with 2 margaritas for around $50. I will continue to return here over and over again.
(5)
Jon L.

I was impressed! I had no idea that there was a place even on this level in Haliewa. I was up there as I usually am on the weekends, and as I usually do, head back into town to eat (lets be serious now). However, I checked my trusty yelp app on my iphone and found this place. It's in the dingy brown building that has the First Hawaiian, and some other random stores that sell random junk to random people. So we actually rolled in there during their happy hour, and the happy hour menu was amazing. Calamari - great. Burritos - great. Beer battered fish tacos - great. I got 3 things off the regular menu: 1. The ceviche: eh. it was ok. It wasn't bad. Maybe I just don't like ceviche? 2. This dish with slightly cooked scallops and chile powder, onions, and cucumbers. Weird but really good! 3. Oysters from New Zealand. Good! The service was fine, and we were sat promptly (then again it was around 4:30pm). The regular menu is priced for an upscale-ish seafood restaurant. This would/will make a great date place!
(4)
Z Z.

I'm not sure what's up with all the rave reviews for this place. I went here on my birthday and was completely disappointed with both the food and service. Luibueno's is pretending to be an upscale Mexican joint, but it is more like a crappy Taco Bell with nice decor. Here are the problems I experienced. First, the gazpacho was disgusting. I tried to eat it, but gave up after a few spoonfuls. Our waiter failed to come by our table to check on us and some other random waiter took my uneaten gazpacho away without asking us if anything was wrong, even though it was a full bowl. Next, I tried a $30 scallop dish that contained 3 scallops and a "tequila" sauce that had no trace of any tequila. I also tried the battered fish burrito that was completely loaded with mushy black beans and 2 small (pinky sized slivers) of fish. The bean mush was so prevalent that it overwhelmed the taste of the entire burrito and completely ruined it. Even though it was my birthday, our waitress rarely came by our table and was unfriendly and apathetic. The only highlight of the dinner was the free apple empanada that I got, which I enjoyed. Unfortunately, I will be forced to return to Luibueno's since I have another voucher from Playhawaii that I have to use. If it wasn't for the voucher, I would not be returning. Just in case you are reading this and are not familiar with this restaurant or Mexican food in Hawaii, I'll let you in on a secret. Hawaii doesn't have good Mexican food. You may find a Mexican restaurant that is OK, but most are horribly bad. That is just a fact. Second, this restaurant location is cursed. There have been other Mexican restaurants in the same building prior to Luibuenos, and all have gone out of business. Luibuenos is doomed and not even good Yelp reviews can save it from its ultimate demise. HAHAHA...down you go Luibuenos...you suck!
(1)
Roman C.

We came in expecting your average taco and enchilada combos and were wowed by the sophistication of the menu. Our server, brandon, recommend the margarita on ice which was super tasty. He also said the agua Chile was good spicy style. He was right twice. We also ordered an amazingly fresh, locally grown, organic salad, which had a killer dressing. He also steered us towards the fresh catch of the day, opah over fingerling potatoes, topped with an off the hook sauce that just blew my mind. Brandon was on his game, and the iron chef in the kitchen just killed it good! Those guys rocked our world. Can't wait for our next north shore excursion.
(4)
Mindy N.

Given the Yelps about this place, I had pretty high expectations. My husband and I went for lunch; he had the veggie tacos and I had the fish tacos. They were both OK...nothing special. I overheard another diner saying to his server that his taco was the best he's ever had, so clearly some people really dig this food, but I don't get it. It didn't seem much different from something I could make at home. Even the tortillas appeared and tasted like store-bought...for the price they charge, homemade tortillas would be nice.
(2)
Hawaiian B.

This place is really a great enrichment to the North Shore. It is a real bar and an excellent restaurant. Their Margertitas,Ceviche, and Paella make me very happy. The wait for a table gives you time to enjoy the bar or sit down on one of the tables across from the bar. There is additional parking across the street.
(5)
monica c.

Shrimp ceviche was delicious & they even brought out my favorite hot sauce! Totally reminded me of San Diego..I also had the mahi fish tacos I'd definitely go back again!
(4)
kalib P.

Outstanding food and service! We've been there many times to sit at the bar and every bartender has been friendly, courteous, and quick to serve. We even took home some smoked salmon once, it was to die for. It's nice to have good Mexican food and a cold beer! Sorry, Cholos. Luibueno takes this one.
(5)
B W.

Had the blackened ahi tacos. Very good with the two sauces mixed. Great salsa. Tried the carne asada burritos also very good. Not cheap but not too bad.
(4)
Len E.

Outstanding. This is some of the best food on the north shore. Definetly try this place if u like Mexican and seafood. But I've seen the steaks and they look great too.
(5)
Melanie E.

The service was awful. We were not offered chips and salsa, my order was wrong, then they ran out of what I originally ordered, and then, worst of all, there was a hair in my food!!! I would not recommend this place.
(1)
Nikki C.

Luibueno's is incredible. The food is creative and consistently fabulous. The staff is amazing. Lui, his wife, and beautiful baby girl make you feel so welcome and appreciated. This fantastic restaurant brings a new and appreciate flare to the North Shore. We love Lui's!
(5)
M R.

Went here on a Sunday night during my vacation and business was steady. Got a table right away. Had the ahi plate ( I believe?) for an appetizer and it was really good. Sauce was delicious. Had the ahi tacos for dinner and they were very good as well. Great meal, didn't disappoint. Friendly server and prompt service. Good place.
(4)
Bettina O.

Great service, great fish and great atmosphere.
(5)
Keith S.

As somebody who grew up in Chicago and has had a lot of experience trying Mexican food, Libueno's was horrendous! I was pretty hungry when we got there so I didn't want to gamble on something I knew nothing about so I tried to play it simple going with basic tacos, rice and beans. As for the tacos, the meat was really bad. Honestly I think Taco bell had better tacos. The refried beans were ok but the rice I honestly thought had been microwaved from the previous day. I truly am not a picky eater at all and rarely ever come online to give a place a bad review but this place was just aweful. On top of it, for my taco, rice and bean plate I paid over $10 for it! Stay away from this place if you can. I've tried the other place across the street before (forgot the name) but that Mexican place is by-far 10 times better... Just stay away from the horchata when you go there... They use the cheap mix at home stuff that tastes like soap!
(1)
Robin W.

Definitely not worth it. If you want mexican food, keep driving. My family and I stopped here for lunch after a long morning at the beach at waimea bay. Being from San Diego I pride myself in knowing what good mexican food is and this was definitely not it. So you might not know the difference between good authentic mexican food and just food, but still this place is not the place to go to. The service was extremely slow and completely missed our table at least four times when going around with the water pitcher. When my dad ordered another beer towards the beginning of his meal it was delivered until we were about to get our check and only becauese he had asked about three different servers for it. Also I was offered a beer because they could not tell that I was drinking a water with lemon because it was empty for such a long time. The food was not very good. The rice and beans tasted funny and the way to really tell if it's a good restaurant or not is based on these two Mexican staples. The chicken taco by itself was suprisinly good however if you order it a la carte, which is only one small taco, it will cost you six dollars, and no taco is ever worth that much. Might as well pay the extra two dollars for another taco and disappointing rice and beans. As a starter I ordered the queso and it came with toast. First of all I don't remember Mexican restaurants having french baguettes as options but this place had it. For $11.50 the queso was small and not very good, I would definitely not order it. This place was way to expensive for the food quality and service. If you're driving in Haleiwa after the beach for lunch, might as well just get some shave ice, can't lose there.
(1)
Alexander S.

Luibueno's is Haleiwa's newest establishment (taking over the space from the former defunkt Rosie's Cantina). The interior has been redesigned, and everything has been upgraded (from what I gather, Lui was a former chef at Turtle bay, who after running a lunch wagon, opened up this restaurant). My friends and I go every other week or so. We rotate the restaurants we visit in Haleiwa to ensure we are not getting bored at just one (typical rotation is Jameson's, Haleiwa Joes, Breakers, and now, Luibuenos). The food is excellent (during dinner hours)- Stay away during lunch as the lunch chef (pray it isnt Lui) hasn't caught onto the menu prep for the seafood during lunch. But, dinner is great. My only complaint/gripe (and this is commonplace talk between myself and many other north shore residents), that the portions are TOO big. I understand Lui's intent that he doesn't want people to leave hungry, but bigger portions=bigger prices, and some of the prices for the meals are a little ridiculous. The one thing I have not seen on this island, which I feel would have been an incredible success, is a Tapa's restaurant, with food the quality of which is seen on Luibueno's menu. Maybe change the lunch/happy hour menu to offer Tapa style plates, with some drink pairing? Anyways, the food=great. I haven't tried the mexican side of the house, but the spanish seafood dishes are excellent (my friend constantly raves about the Scallops, while I always get some form of the ceviche that they have). Highly recommend the Margheritas as well, as they hand make them, as opposed to every other place on the island that uses mixed drinks. The bartenders are knowledgable, the staff is friendly for the most part, and it makes for a nice dining experience after a long day at the beach.
(4)
carissa l.

I was pretty impressed by the drinks and the food here. the service was also good!
(4)
Junie E.

We were celebrating a birthday...it was her choice to try Luibueno's for the first time and we were pleasantly surprised! We ordered fish taco's, carne asada tacos, shrimp tacos, fish tacos, guacamole and ate 3 baskets of chips. Oh, and 2 margaritas. I did not care for the shrimp taco because it was salty and greasy but we enjoyed everything else. As for service Adam was the best! We kept asking him questions about how the food was prepared and which were his favorites. He was very patient and catered to your every need. We would definitely go again and tell all our friends and family.
(5)
Kimberly W.

THEY TREAT MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS LIKE CRAP! The WORST place to eat on the island after all I never even got in. PISS POOR SERVICE for the host of the restaurant. Especially the young short haired blonde girl who got in pissing contest of making sure to tell us that we were only there for 45 MINUTES and she insisted that we WAIT another 15 minutes. HELLO DUMB BLOND 45 plus 15 is one whole hour. WOW! SERIOUSLY!! Who wants to wait another 15 minutes to an hour. She let in 20 other people and insisted that they were waiting at the bar when we just seen all of them come from the parking lot. WENT TO TACO BELL instead. GET THIS THEY ALSO TRY TO OFFER YOU TO SIT IN FRONT OF THE KITCHEN on a bar like table facing a mucas colored wall with two small SLITS in it with a window watching the cooks who are eating the food as well as cooking the food. Eeew! Not only that the seats are right by the BATHROOM which smells. YUCK!! THIS PLACE is TOO SMALL. All who is reading this go to CHOLO's Mexican Restaurant where you will definitely be treated right or just go to TACO BELL the locals in Hawaii will treat you better!!
(1)
Rebeccs H.

This place is good. I would have given it only 3 stars if not for their amazing jalapeÃ±o margaritas! I used to make these at a place I used to bartend at in new Hampshire so it was a blast from the past! We had the calamari and the ceviche for an appetizer. Neither were really good... The calamari was way over-cooked, dried out and chewy. The ceviche wasn't very flavorful at all, which you wouldn't expect from fresh fish cooked in citrus juices. I was very disappointed. The reason for the 4 stars was, first and foremost, the jalapeÃ±o margarita.... Second was their amazing salsa. My husband would eat Mexican every meal if he could so I have been to many places all over the island. I personally prefer the fresca type because of the crunchy onions and ample cilantro, but most places have bland salsa which just makes you keep eating chip after chip without any satisfaction at all. Luibueno's salsa isn't the fresca type but it is chalk full of flavor! Cilantro, tomatoes, onions, spice hmmmm delicious! The third reason was our entree. We got the Carne asada tacos. Absolutely delicious! The atmosphere is nice. I never went to Rosie's cantina but apparently it is a BIG step up. I enjoyed it and will be going back!
(4)
Start T.

Great mango margarita and love the beer battered Mahi Mahi taco. Kids menu is $8.95 and for that price I was so surprised at how stingy their portion is. I ordered chicken taco for my son and he only got one small taco with rice and beans. And the ice cream that comes with their meal is not even a full scoop---more like a quarter of a scoop. Really?
(3)
A. T.

Great service and yummy chef's choice seafood stew, five stars. Gave me one less scallop than my friends, minus one star. Churros that looks like dogsh*t, plus-minus.
(4)
Vanessa T.

We stopped off her on a whim. Being from Texas and raised in a Tex-Mex kitchen, I know better than to expect what I would expect in Texas. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised. After reading the reviews, I can understand how some people feel that it's over priced, but it is Hawaii and all ingredients are local. I have absolutely no problem paying for anything at Luibuenos. I'll admit that the service is slow at times, but once I get my jalapeno infused cocktail, all is good in the hood. The margaritas are good, but not as good as Just Tacos in Ko'Olina, but the food is wonderful. I can honestly say that I've not had better ceviche on Oahu or on the mainland. We were most thankful for the shrimp served head on. If you've never shrimp this way, you really don't know what you're missing! There is no shame in sucking a little head. Shrimp heads that is. The pupus are great for sharing and the tacos and entree proportion are manageable. I would've rated five stars, but I've had better margaritas. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to go back this instance!
(4)
Lisa R.

The restaurant has been open for less than two weeks, they have some work to do to iron out a few kinks. That being said most everything we tried was fabulous! We started with the scallops appetizer, I can't remember the name, but they were marinated in lime and some sort of chilli sauce or pepper. Wow! Nice mix of flavors. I also had the gaspacho, very tasty! Unfortunately, the appetiizers came out before the entree's. Almost immediately, the waitress realized that someone had brought out my paella before weo got our appatizers, and she took the paella away and brought out the soup and scallops. When we did get out entrees, my husband was very pleased with his dish. He ordered the fresh catch (can't remember the fish) Veracruz style. I ordered the seafood paella and I must say I was less than pleased. It was dry, and it looked as though it had been sitting under a heat lamp waiting for me to finish my soup. The rice was hard and dry on top, mushy and globbed together on the inside, and burnt on the bottom. The seafood was a little on the dry side, and looked like it had been piled on top of the rice instead of being cooked with it. It was a big disappointment, considering that everything else was so good. I tasted my husband's fish and it ws flavorful and moist, just like it should be. Would I go back? Yes, I just won't get the paella again unless they rework the dish.
(4)
Laurie M.

yuuuummmmy!!! Super friendly staff and amazing food!
(5)
Jackie V.

My search for fish tacos brought us to Luibueno's. I got the cadillac margarita (since they were out of mint = no mojitos) and beer battered fish tacos and thought they were delish. Tip from a hungry girl: the two tacos are plenty; no need for the rice & beans. I have to say these tacos were some of the better I've had anywhere - but to be fair it is hard to find great fish tacos in the northeast. Very quick service - they sure know how to get people in and out. Although that's usually a good thing, I do like to sometimes linger and have another drink but since they were so busy, I felt a little rushed. Overall - good meal and atmosphere. Good for a night out when you don't want to eat at a food truck (even though you love them) every night on vacation.
(4)
Michelle E.

Salsa was great and so was wait staff. But the taste of everything was just TOO much. The ceviche was loaded with lemon! The ribs(which were only warm) sauce was too sweet. The sweet in the pineapple coleslaw was too sweet. And then the corn was a con of corn that was fire toasted....thought it looked amazing, but the cheese breaking/coating was too much. Even after I scraped some off it was still over powering. But the salsa is the tastiest on the island!!
(3)
Rebekah L.

A local up street from this place recommended Luibeuno's. I'm so glad she did! This place is awesome! Their chips & salsa are the best I've ever had. For my meal I had a combo with two shrimp tacos with rice & beans. The tacos were good but a bit on the soggy side. The shrimp are in some kind of sauce which is why the tortillas were soggy. I tasted the chicken from my daughters taco and it was very good. It was shredded white meat. We were seated right away and our server was really nice and available when needed. If our server wasn't nearby the others were more than happy to help us. Overall this place is delicious and I'd go back.
(5)
Jessica V.

After reading various reviews I figured I would give this place a shot since it had an overall 4 stars...I should have trusted the negative reviews. I ordered the ceviche and shrimp tacos and the few actual pieces of fish they had (mostly tomatoes and onion) was just meh. As for the shrimp tacos, I can't believe they would actually serve someone the nasty greasy burnt tacos they gave me. What's worse is they tried to hide it by putting the worst of the burnt side down...as I'd I would notice. Horrible- will def not be returning ever again.
(2)
Amber P.

Great food and service! Crazy busy (for good reason), small quarters, so be prepared to be get friendly with your neighbor and get bumped into while you eat, lol. Overall a great little place!
(4)
Diana C.

We were hungry and needed a place to go... Food was nothing special, just average, the service was nice, nicer than I expected for sure. I'm usually a sucker for good food and decent service, but not the other way around (so I can't bump my rating up just on friendly service). We ordered a few of the tacos and while the quality of the fish seemed pretty good, the flavors weren't really outstanding. Just nothing memorable is all I remember. The prices were too high to really justify the food and even the nice service couldn't make up for that. O'well, live and learn.
(2)
Gary H.

A touch of San Diego when I come to northshore. Abbi is great behind the bar and Lou has done a great job of bringing Latin authenticity to Hawaii. Love
(5)
Peter P.

I got the crispy fish tacos......they were unbelievable!!! I also had the queso dip with fresh Spanish cheese and that was awesome too. The only thing I didn't like we're the re fried beans and the rice as I found them stale. Nonetheless, great spot
(4)
Allison S.

Food was okay. Not great, not horrible, but nothing special. I had the blackened fish tacos, they were okay..... The guacamole was good, and so was the margarita. My husband did not like the carnitas, but my daughter liked the carne asada quesadilla. So it was kind of a 50/50 with our group. Like I said..... it was okay... not really good.... not really bad...
(3)
Joshua A.

I've been going to Cholos every time when my wife and I go to the north shore- so finally on a busy Friday late afternoon we decided to give this place a try. First off- this place is very noisy and gets packed. The service however is great- waters are filled and bussers are quick to clear your plates. Now for the food- Not your traditional Mexican cuisine. Latin and Mexican with a slight twist would be a more suitable designation. No shredded beef chimichangas here- but you can get any of their burritos "chimichanga style" for an extra couple of bucks. Lightly crisped and delicious! I got the blackened Ahi tacos and it was good. (Next time I'm gonna try the beer-battered fish tacos- that looked GOOD) For dessert- we tried their fried ice cream as it looked outstanding. After tasting it- slightly disappointed as the outside crust was made of cornflakes and some of it tasted a little stale and got kinda mushy. Overall- this place is good enough for me to come back here and try some of their other offerings!
(4)
Phillip N.

The bar selection was great if you love Margaritas. Their beer selection is standard for the area. The food was outstanding. My wife said that the fish tacos were the best that she ever had and I tried a few kinds of tacos and they were all excellent. I preferred the pork over the beef.
(5)
Jacob H.

Service was good, our drinks were mixed up but nothing to complain about. Good was awesome! Environment was upbeat, clean and everyone was friendly. We will return!
(5)
Ro V.

Came here with a couple of my buddies on our trek around the island, pretty good here fish tacos are killer!!!!
(4)
John T.

Ok coming from socal my family and I should of known that we live in the mecca of Mexican food. Now why did we want to try this place.. it was highly recommended by my wife's coworker. I was already hesitant going here but hey why not try it and see.. it might prove me wrong. Well I should of stuck to my instincts. My wife ordered the ceviche which came on two small tostada. My wife wasn't too pleased with it. It's tasted like store bought ceviche. Nothing you probably haven't tasted. I got a blacken ahi taco, a batter fish taco, and a potato taco.. The food look pretty good when It came out. I decided to try the blacken ahi tuna taco.. i was literally impressed with it was actually really good. It had a lot of flavors and can say that is one of the best fish tacos I ever ate. Then it's came downwards.. i tried the potato taco and it was ok. Nothing spectacular that you have to try. Then last I tasted the batter fish taco and it was no bueno. It had too much batter and it was really greasy. My daughter got the ribs.. (:ribs at a Mexican joint...should of known it will go bad) but actually the ribs plate was actually good. It wasn't bbq but I think smoked. It had good flavors Overall food was a mediocre to me. Maybe because I came from the mecca of Mexican food. I know they are trying to have a baja style but they are way far from it. They should change it to bbq place because the ribs were great. I wouldn't come back here again. Next time I'll just wait to go back home to eat it. What gave the 3 stars was because of the waiter. His name is Clint and he is very nice and talkative. He wasn't those type of waiters that just take your food. He was really outgoing and seem to really love his job.
(2)
Stacy P.

Two or three stars for the food, four for the margaritas. Great margaritas (but stay away from the one made with dates... holy crap it was awful). Service was good, too. We started with an order of the queso topped with vegetables, and that was excellent. I should have ordered another for lunch, but went with the beef tacos. They really had no seasoning at all, nothing to make them special in any way. If I returned to Haleiwa, I'd definitely try one of the many, many other eateries in town. But, if I were just looking for a drink, a trip to Luibueno's bar would be all right.
(3)
James B.

HAPPY HOUR! Excellent service, welcoming staff, QUALITY food. Their Beer Battered Fish Tacos are excellent! All of their specialty tacos are great as well. I ate Cholo's mexican restaurant (down the street) twice before realizing I was wasting my money of poor quality food, only because I was hungry. Lui B's is quality food and well priced.
(4)
Heather Z.

Michael was our waiter and he was very proficient in describing the food! Everything was amazing!!! We had an assortment of food because there were seven of us, and EVERYTHING was amazing and I not even a fish person. I had the mushroom enchiladas and a side of mashed potatoes (they had poblano peppers they were amazing)!!! Everything we tried was amazing and the price was great!!
(5)
Khoa D.

Not sure about the positive reviews for this restaurant. The only positives I see are 1) friendly staff and 2) only place on the North Shore opened after 8 pm for dinner. The staff is friendly but our waiter was either new or pretty incompetent. He failed to refill water or offer soft drinks or dessert for the kids which came with their dinner. The ahi enchiladas were pre-cooked, dry and way over salted. In fact, the fish was so dry and tough, I thought I was eating my wife's beef enchiladas. The signature fried ice cream was stale. The nice location, dining room and high price would have you believe this was a decent eating establishment. If you're on the North Shore, stick with the food trucks and follow the crowds. Simply put, this place needs a chef not a cook.
(1)
Michelle W.

Went here a while ago with my best friend. We had some martinis and tacos and really enjoyed our visit. It's always busy and the service was great! My ahi tacos were delicious. I'd go here again if I ever make it back to the island.
(4)
Dorothy L.

Wow the food was delish!!. Too bad my server took out the wrong order . My party had to wait For an ADDITIONAL 20 minutes in order for us to eat together. I ordered guacamole and paella which were both delicious. They also offer complimentary chips and salsa to everyone!! The Salsa was amazing! Refill please!
(4)
Erin F.

Their guacamole is seriously better than the guacamole I had in Mexico. OMG I want more. So good. Their chicken quesadilla was also amazing, tasty, and fresh. I would rate this five stars but I thought the drinks were pretty terrible. Bleh. The food more than made up for it though! If you're in Haleiwa you need to eat here!
(4)
Veronica P.

I'm giving this place a 3 coz we waited literally 45minutes for our food. However, we would have given it a 5star coz the food is definitely authentic and delicious and the specialty drinks "margaritas" are also well mixed. Yes, we will go back and still recommend the place. Hopefully next time we won't be waiting that long. Sorry.
(3)
Al S.

My first visit here and I'm a little disappointed. I had the carne asada burrito and it was very much lacking flavor. The refried beans needed a lot of help flavor wise as well. Also, most locations that serve Mexican food include the beans and rice inside of the burrito and not on the side with an extra charge. A friend had the ahi and was satisfied but it's pretty hard to screw up ahi. The salsa, guacamole and chips were on point.
(3)
Chenyu Z.

Here's the thing. I don't really like Mexican... And yes, five stars. I came in with my boyfriend and a group of his friends. We ended up sitting next to each other at separate tables because the wait was ~30 minutes for a table of six and we were hungry!! This was for lunch around 1 or 2 on a Saturday. We saw a decent amount of four and two tops empty and the inside isn't incredibly large so I'd recommend calling ahead for larger parties. Free chips and salsa (spicy, but we both love spicy so it was all good) when we sat down. We ordered and shared 6 Taquitos and the Chipotle BBQ baby back ribs. I also had the lilikoi (passionfruit) smoothie. Taquitos were great but we were too busy attacking the ribs. They were delicious! Perfectly flavored and so tender!! Just the right amount of sauce to be slightly messy but very yummy. I loved pineapple jalaopeno slaw (coulda ate a bowl of that) and it paired well with the flavors of the ribs. The mexican street style corn was also delicious. Smoothie was also very good. Some separation occurred towards the end of our meal (I think the sugar/syrup separated out or something) and it looked kinda gross. But the taste was on point! Only issue was the seating by the windows were a bit cramped. The gentleman behind me kept pushing his seat into mine, no matter how much we moved the other direction. Service was good, though a little slower than I would have liked. It had slowed down by the time we were seated but it took us five minutes for us to just have water brought over. We were seated in view of the waiter station and there were people there often just hanging around. Our waitress was busy but very friendly and sweet. She was really great, wish I caught her name - she's blonde with a really pretty face if that helps!
(5)
Audra E.

Closed for remodeling. Not sure for how long. Went to Bob's Pizza across the road. Great location, looks like it will be nice when it reopens.
(1)
Gabe A.

Wow! Blows the other (don't want to mention any names, but, rhymes with "Schmolo's") North Shore Mexican restaurant out of the water! Not the same 'ole boring tacos/burritos, etc. Great and helpful servers. A bit pricey, but that's to be expected...this ain't TJ!
(5)
Jeremy S.

Well, I used to live in Haleiwa and was obsessed w/ Luibuenos! I would eat the blackened seared ahi burrito at least twice a week, every week! Over the time I spent on the island, I tried almost everything on the menu and was never once disappointed! not only is the food always wonderful, the service is some of the best on island! You can tell the service staff loves their jobs and makes you feel like you are family! After being away from Hawai'i for a year, went and visited last week for my birthday. I found out it was also my friend's birthday who was visiting from LA so we opted to bday dinner together. Obviously we went to Lui's, and it was one of the best dinners my friends and I ever had! Our server Jayne was amazing! Knowledgeable, friendly, and totally on top of it! The owner came and touched our table to make sure we were having a great time, and all the staff we encountered were just delightful. Go to Luibuenos if you want good service and good food on the North Shore!
(5)
Shawn C.

I grew up in SOCAL and spent my summers in Baja, so while i'm certainly no expert I do know a little about Mexican food. Most of the Mexican restaurants I've tried on Oahu were very disappointing (see my review of spectacularly bad Mexico Cantina.) That's why Luibuenos is such a refreshing change. I've only eaten there five or six times over the last few years but the food has been consistently good. Recently I stopped by with a friend at 5:30 on a Sunday evening looking for a drink and some pupus. The place was pretty packed and no room at the bar so we took a small table near the entrance. Right away we were given the customary chips and salsa, and I have to say their housemade salsa is excellent. We started off with an order of guacamole, which was incredibly fresh and clearly made to order. My only quibbles are that it was a fairly small portion for $8 (but then again how much guacamole do you really need?) and I thought the menu said it was topped with pico de gallo but it wasn't. Perhaps I was mistaken about that. Next we had a look at the drink menu and found the usual assortment of margaritas, mostly in the $9 - $10 range. They also have an impressive selection of tequila and mescal, none of which are cheap. After scouring the drink menu and quizzing our server to the point where i think he may have been getting a little impatient with us, we decided on beer. They have a pretty good selection of beer on tap and in bottles, including most of the popular Mexican beers (Dos Equis, Pacifico, Bohemia, Modelo, etc.) We ordered a couple of Negro Modelos on draught, which turned out to be a pretty good choice. We had originally planned only to have a cocktail and appetizer, but it was getting late in the day and that turned into dinner. We ordered a carne asada quesadilla to share, which turned out to be plenty of food. (Ok, technically that is just a couple of drinks and an appetizer.) The carne asada was well seasoned and very flavorful, and came with little cups of sour cream and guacamole. Between the chips and salsa, guacamole, and the well stuffed quesadilla, we left there pretty full. Now I know Mexican food isn't exactly health food, but you dieters will leave there feeling a bit guilty. Personally, I have no remorse, and I'm pretty sure I'll be back again soon for more of their tasty salsa.
(4)
Ryan M.

Went here after a trip to Sharks Cove. My group had beer battered fish burrito ($7) on happy hour from 4-6pm, the fish tacos ($12), and beef tacos ($11) all of which were awesome. Here's my breakdown: Service: 10/10 Server was knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. Atmosphere: 9/10 Good atmosphere. Mexican style music playing and proper decorations. Just a little tight/awkward on some of the seating. Food: 8/10 Everything was very good. All the tacos and appetizers were great! Appetizers were great as well. Portion sizes were average, so definitely don't share! Margaritas were strong and tasty! Price: 8/10 We hit happy hour so everything wasn't so bad, regular prices menu is between 10-20 a plate unless you get seafood which will be more. For 5 people, with sodas and multiple beers and a margarita, 3 appetizers, and 5 meals it was $100. Not bad. Overall:10/10 I would go back again! Definitely a great place to eat. They even gave my brother a free dessert for his bday! No complaints here!
(5)
Lara F.

We've come here a couple times, so this is long overdue! We love coming here and having their oysters! A full set is $30.00 and it's 6 half shells for two people. Their margarita's are a favorite, especially the Li Hing Mui. My husband got the Caipirinha which I did not like, but he thought was good. Their salsa is awesome and you just can't have one serving. I love the calamari. My husband ordered the rib eye with jalepanos sauce...To die for!!! Definitely a great place to get good food and great service!!! Ask for Jane, she's a sweetheart.
(4)
Ryan N.

I don't get the reviews. Less than average Mexican food: Costco quality guac, V-8 flavored shrimp cocktail with barely any shrimp, tiny tuna tacos. Top that off with abysmal service and not worth a stop.
(1)
Brian A.

An attractive restaurant with a pleasent atmosphere but the food is sub-par. Perhaps it's best to avoid it completely if you're a big fan of Mexican food because it's far from authentic and the Latin influence in the food throws it off. However the chips and salsa were awesome, service was attentive and the house margarita was good. Just highly disappointed by the food.
(3)
Nicole S.

Subpar. That being said, this is basically your only dinner option in town, so it's worth a try. But just don't expect actual good, authentic Mexican food. The positive: Drinks are fairly priced Free chips and salsa The not so great: Ahi tuna tacos - don't taste fresh, not worth ordering Refried beans- very bland and flavorless, not worth ordering Chicken tacos - while I didn't order them, they looked gross. Pulled chicken that didn't look like they were seasoned or flavored in any way.
(2)
Brenna M.

Luibueno's is delicious! I've been here quite a few times over the last two years and have not been disappointed yet. The servers are great, and you never have to wait too long for food. It is a little pricey, but I think its well worth it. The portions are great and I usually end up going home with leftovers. My favorite!
(5)
Ashly M.

Fish tacos!!!! I get them everytime I come here! I like Just Tacos Fish tacos also but what takes the cake between Lui's and Just Tacos is the Margaritas and Lui's has a happy hour, Just Tacos does not! Lui's has fantastic Margaritas! Lui's can get pricey but all the food is amazing that its worth it. People here are a mix of locals and vacationers. Chips and Salsa to start off with, service is excellent and they have events here from time to time. One of my favorite places to have happy hour on the north shore! - Oh yeah! They have a happy hour! Shout out to Manny on his margaritas! - I'm sorry I love them can't say it enough! Beer Battered Fish tacos and Margaritas is a great way to make this hapa haole happy!
(5)
Nina G.

The best mexican food on the North Shore and the seafood was excellent! The service was great, the margarita's were fantastic. We are frequent visitors on the North Shore and could not do Cholo's anymore, its not great! We went to Luibueno's 3 times in the time we were there and all the dinners were great. We absolutely recommend this place to anyone who likes great food, it is casual but nice and you are sure to have a good time.Try the dessert too, we had the churros with hot chocolate and the flan, can't compliment this place enough. It's even going to take over Lei Lei's in my opinion.
(5)
Brian B.

Moving to Hawaii from San Diego I'm always a little apprehensive about Mexican food. Luibueno's has good eats and plenty of Mexican beer on tap. It took a little longer than expected to get seated then even longer to get waited on. We eventually moved to the bar where the service was better. The food was good and worth the wait. This is a good sit down, family style restaurant in Haleiwa.
(4)
Jamie W.

Food was amazing!! Service was great! Had the scallops w vegetables and rice in a spicy cream sauce. It was amazing. Our friends had the beer battered Mahi tacos and they were amazing. Interesting cocktails. Overall a great experience. We will be back!
(5)
Rachel C.

My mom, brother and I went here for dinner and were very disappointed. My mom got some sides(beans, rice and tortillas) and thought that two tortillas was a bit crazy for the price. My brother got a burrito which he thought was okay. And I got the cheese enchilada. Let me tell you!! The sauce was disgusting and tasted like tomato sauce and the cheese on the inside was not even melted. Seriously!?!? That's not what you should get for that price!! We were very happy with our drinks and the service though. But we still wouldn't recommend it.
(2)
Mari R.

Luibueno's is a great place to go if you are having a beach day in North Shore and get a craving for Mexican. I usually get the fish tacos and Luibueno's is really good at not over dressing the taco. Other places that I have gone to have a little too much mayonnaise or lemon but they seem to get it just right. Also their fish is fresh and battered to perfection. Additionally, you get a free of chips and salsa as soon as you sit down that is refillable along with all soft drinks. This is a great restaurant with delicious food and a great atmosphere. Perfect for lunch or happy hour after visiting the beach.
(4)
Kaitlin B.

The place was small, but they had an excellent fish taco. We've been looking for a good fish taco on the north shore, and we finally found it. The beer battered mahi fish taco is the closest thing on the north shore to a Baja fish taco. Salsa was excellent! I had to keep asking for more chips and salsa, (it was a little embarrassing). It does have a little heat, but so tastey.
(5)
J S.

Somewhere between 2.5-3.5 stars. For this area, you might be pushing 4 stars simply because there is nothing else to eat in the area...especially after 6pm. Ate here twice during our time on the North Shore and it was decent-good. Basic Mexican, straight forward, no frills. Waiter(s) a little slow but not terrible. I would recommend this place to anyone staying on the North Shore only because there isn't a whole lot else to eat in the area. If this were in a major city or a must bustling downtown area, it might not be worthy of the 3 star rating. Give it a whirl...just don't have high expectations.
(3)
Amy Y.

My friend took me to this place because there was fried ice cream. I really wanted to try that. So might as well have lunch there too. There wasn't a wait so we got seated right away. It looked like a really nice and fancy looking restaurant, but doesn't look like $$$$$ kind of place. From the name, obviously it's a Mexican restaurant. After looking through the menu, I order the Burrito-beer mahi or something, my friend order something similar. They provided chips and salsa for appetizer. I miss those chips soo much after leaving Arizona. Anyways, our food came out pretty quick. We ate and it was pretty filling because my friend and I had to take it home. So finally the moment where I eat FRIED ICE CREAM! Oh boy, something to die for. Never have I tried fried ice cream, and it was delicious. The ice cream was not too sweet and still in its round-shaped form covered with corn flakes. Adding butterscotch with it was more amazing. I would so go back for that, if only it wasn't soooo far from where I live. T____T I knocked off a star because of their service. It wasn't too busy, yet service was pretty slow. I'l be back for you...oooh heavenly fried ice cream...because you got me hyper after.
(4)
Clarence F.

I did not enjoy the meal that i ordered which was the shrimp tacos. First let me tell you that i was expecting some large gulf shrimp in my tacos and not the 6 very small overcooked popcorn shrimp. The shell was so greasy that i could not eat it. The menu items are overpriced way too much and the menu is not pleasing to the eye. I would have gone to Cholo's but the last time i ate there they were having cockroach problems running over the food being served. The seating is too close together especially for the tables for two on the balcony portion.
(1)
Rissa M.

MMM! I love this place after a long day on the north shore of beaching and hiking. Mostly because I can stuff my face guilt free after being so active all day. It's fairly easy to get a table here at the odd "after-lunch" hours at around 3pm-4pmish. They have happy hour which I believe starts at 4pm and has a fair selection of food and cocktails. I especially like coming here because they have a full bar, and the food is pretty delicious and has a more upscale atmosphere than a lot of there restaurants out here. I mean, if given the choice between Luibuenos and Cholos, I would definitely choose Luis. The atmosphere is pretty casual and the service is always spot on. I am in love with their beer-battered fish tacos which i usually drench in the free salsa that is served with the free tortilla chips when you are waiting for your meal to come out. They come ala carte or entree style served with rice and choice of re-fried or baked beans. LASTLY-- i like to top off my meal with a Li Hing Margherita! So delicious and they go heavy on the tequila so all you light weights watch out! I mean, when i'm on the north shore, I plan on relaxing and whats relaxation without a bit o booze. Anyways! The food isn't anything to rave about but the place gets the job done when it comes to satisfying the taste buds. Not too mention the service is friendly. Just careful if you meander here on an evening on the weekend. It gets quite packed here, especially near the bar area-- I guess there aren't many options for drinking out here so people tend to want to come here for its food and full bar. I am already craving the tacos just a day later -- but it's okay I will definitely be back for them soon!
(4)
Lorlay B.

Food is really good. Haleiwa is kind of far but worth it. I'd come eat here again if I'm on this side. Clean, good up beat music, nice staff, free parking.
(5)
Daven W.

Maui Brewing Co. Big Swell IPA on tap. Kona Brewing Co. Castaway IPA on tap. Need I say more?
(4)
Vance F.

Small menu but everything here is good. One of the best oysters I have ever had. The apple empanada was pretty dang good. Nice atmosphere, intimate setting with lots of energy here. Jane our server is awesome!
(4)
Amber N.

Mike was my server. Did a good job. Had the oysters. They were fresh and delicious. Calamari was good. Shared the beef enchiladas- It was good but maybe chicken would have been better. Got the last flan for the night :)
(4)
Nichole W.

Their guacamole tastes overly salted and disgusting. We ordered rolled tacos and they came completely drenched in this horrible water with tomato in it liquid. Everything is over priced. Listened to the employees talking shit at the bar about other customers, it was very uncomfortable. This place is a bunch of hype. Don't bother.
(2)
George B.

Hands down, Lui's is the best place for Mexican food on all of Oahu. Highlights are their steamed clams, spicy C&C margarita, fish tacos, and of course, their delicious chicken quesadillas. Prices are reasonable for what you get. The service is excellent, especially by Jayne.
(5)
Eric L.

We were pleasantly surprised to find a good Mexican restaurant on Oahu. They make their margaritas the right way... No store bought mixes, only fresh squeezed lime juice, water, sugar, and of course tequila! I ordered the house Margarita and my wife ordered a Strawberry one. Hers was amazing! Mine needed a little sweetening. The waiter courteously, without hesitation, took it back and returned shortly with a perfect Margarita! The food was delicious too. Anything with fish was a great choice, from the scallops to the fish tacos to the fish burrito. They were all cooked perfect, not overcooked (dry) nor raw. The seasoning and spices were nice too. The pricing was fair. All this added up to a busy restaurant. We arrived around 6 pm on a Wednesday and were seated immediately. When we left at about 7:45. There was a waiting list of about 15 minutes.
(5)
Melissa J.

Last night was Mommy's night out with five other friends. Our server, Mark, was excellent! Dear manager, please let him know that we had a great time and thanks to him our night without kids was even more fantastic! Highly recommend this place, looking forward to taking my husband here one night! Got the beer battered fish tacos and the passion-tini. Both excellent. My bill was $28.84 (gratuity already included). Thanks Mark for a wonderful experience!
(4)
Becky B.

The best mexican food I've found in Hawaii! We met the owner and he said that a lot of their ingredients (including the carne asada!) are shipped in from San Diego so I can see that they are serious about making the best product possible. We ordered the queso fundido with chorizo, ceviche, carne asada tacos, fried mahi mahi tacos, potato tacos, fried ice cream and margaritas. All of it was excellent! The carne asada was very flavorful and I wanted more! Every time I've had potato tacos in California they are kind of mashed but definitely have chunks in it so I was skeptical about these since they are creamy mashed potatoes but it was a highlight of our meal. The Serrano peppers in the potato tacos complimented the dish perfectly. The only thing I will say is that we went on a Tuesday night and it looks like a pretty busy happy hour spot so if you're looking for a quiet date spot this is not it BUT the food is worth it!
(5)
Daniel L.

Delicious and fun. Arrived early to avoid the crowd. Drinks and appetizers were very good and the star was main course. Had a great time and looking forward to returning.
(5)
L R.

Crowded little place. Waitstaff kept bumping into each other and me when I got up to use the restroom. We shared the carne Asada tacos and they were some of the best we've had . . . and we're from SoCal. Food's a little spicy but we like it that way. Highly recommend!
(5)
Tracey A.

I can't recall the last time I went more than 1 week without consuming Mexican food. It's a bad, lovely habit likely responsible for the freshman 15 following me into AARP years. In danger of going cold-turkey and risking the DTs, I sought out Luibueno's at the end of a trip up the Northshore and after a stop for shave-ice at Matsumoto's. Yes, I ate dessert first. What I liked: Remarkably nice hostess, waiter, and bus-man who engaged in genuine and welcoming way that made me want to award Luibueno's an Oscar for excellence in service. The chips, salsa, and margaritas were also sheer excellence, as was our seat in the bar area, with a full view of a televised surfing competition. I think I actually liked that location more than I'd have liked being in the dining-only portion of the place. I had less love for my Ahi-burrito which had been made with a less than warm tortilla. Nothing buzz-kills like a hot filling surrounded by a cold tortilla. Where's those tortilla steamers when you need 'em? In the end I wound up eating the filling out of the center (good) and overeating/drinking, as usual, chips, salsa, and tequila. I'd come back again and do almost everything the same, but for dinner I'd order differently and might just skip the entrees entirely. It certainly wouldn't be the first time I've gotten by on just chips, salsa, and tequila.
(4)
Tabitha L.

Long over due review! Went here a while ago for dinner/happy hour after a beach day and it was GREAT! The Sangrias were beyond perfect and STRONG, definitely a plus. We ended up getting the 6 tacos off the happy hour menu, and devoured them! I think the food is actually better than the competition across the street ;) Definitely a new favorite when visiting the North Shore
(4)
E V.

Had lunch here with a girlfriend who lives here. We paid about half of what we spent on any other meal the week I was here. The chips were fresh, the Sangria was the best I've had in the US. It reminded me of the Sangria I had in Portugal. Highly recommend.
(5)
Kris S.

Decent Tex-Mex food for Hawaii but it is overpriced.
(3)
Sally H.

I've been coming here since they opened a few years ago and it is one of the few places where one can go and have pupu, drinks and conversation. We time our visits around happy hour (they have early and late evening happy hours) since Luibueno's can be a bit pricey. The food is terrific, the beer selection is very good and the atmosphere is pleasant. Generally the staff is very good, but every so often the hostess can be a bit snooty, especially if you arrive later in the evening. Far better than Cholo's and, overall, a good choice.
(4)
Robert R.

foods good but the service is now so poor, i will not be back.
(1)
Shinanagins O.

Based on reviews expected good things from this place. Our table ended up laughing about how bad things were and turned the horrible margaritas into a drinking challenge.
(2)
Jason H.

This is by far my preferred Mexican restaurant on Oahu. No other compares. The food, salsa and drinks are always great. The atmosphere and music makes me feel like staying. Mahalo Lui!
(5)
AsianRunningDiva S.

Came here last night and the wait on a Saturday night was an hour at 7:15pm. Service was great once we did get seated! Free chips and salsa, and our drinks got to us quickly. For food, I got the special stew which wasn't spicy but had lots of flavor. The carnitas weren't that good...the pork was over cooked which kind of ruins the meal! With 3 dos equis drafts for $4.50 each, stew, and carnitas all for $40!:)
(3)
Teresa F.

We have been here twice. Best margarita I have ever had. I always worry when I order them that I am making a huge mistake since apparently hardly anyone knows how to make a good one. Well, their bartender does! Friendly and prompt service, nice atmosphere, yummy food. I love the Mahi Mahi tacos and especially that you can order just one without the sides. The chips and salsa are so good that I don't stop eating them! I will be back for more!
(4)
Marina F.

Was absolutely horrible!!! My husband and I will never be going back there ever again! So first off the seating arraignment is horrible simply because there's to many people cluttered in tiny areas. And we were sitting in the middle of the restaurant and I could not eat my food because waitresses kept on bumping into me the table was to small for all our food, my husband has a broken hand and people kept on bumping into it. The chevice was bitter as Hell and when we asked to move tables so we could eat comfortably and the waitress was rude. Very disappointed. I was thinking about talking to the manager but I didn't even want to waste my time simply because just about everyone working there was very snobby. Horrible place to eat!!!
(1)
Jesse O.

I'm so glad we came here. Everything about this restaurant was flawless. The owner was awesome touching tables and making sure everything was perfect. It was a pleasure meeting you! Our server Jayne gave us the best service I've EVER encountered. She was on top of everything and everything was timed perfectly. She answered all our questions and was extremely knowledgeable. She was hilarious, attentive, and every time she would leave or table we would talk about how fabulous she is. Give this girl a raise! They treated our table like we were family. The food was stellar the burritos were perfect and the complimentary bday desserts of churros and empanadas were to die for. I can't wait to come back
(5)
Victoria G.

Today's visit was our second one here at Luibuenos. One sentence can sum everything up: IT WAS AMAZING! Even though we got here at almost 10:30pm, our orders couldn't have come out more delicious. We had beer battered fish tacos, and calamari. The tacos were the best ones I have ever had. The fish was fresh island fish and it was literally falling apart (in a good way). The calamari was perfectly fried and came with delicious aioli. Our server, MARK, was very polite, friendly and down to earth and provided us with excellent customer service. The drinks were also good. We had the 56 oz lilikoi margarita. Overall, Luibuenos is a great place for tourists as well as locals (ex.military). The atmosphere is safe and pleasant. We will definitely be returning here very soon. Hands downs to the management and staff. You all are incredible. Keep the good work up!
(5)
Michael H.

Good margaritas, especially Cadillac margs. Chips and salsa obviously house made and good. My wife had tacos, one chicken one ahi. She felt they were very good. I went with fish of the day, mahi mahi. Fish was fresh and moist but spicy jalapeÃ±o sauce masked flavor of the fish. 3.5 stars, leaning toward the lower end for me.
(3)
Christina H.

Luis made us feel at home (Los Angeles-San Diego) with great aloha welcome...we had fish tacos, portabella mushroom enchiladas and carne asada quesadillas and everything was delicious. The tamarind and diamond margaritas were also super tasty! It was one of the best meals we've had in 8 days in Oahu. Love this place and the hostess was also working hard to get guests in quickly.
(5)
Cassandra P.

My husband and I went here the other evening for a nice dinner after having our photos taken on the North Shore. It was recommended by the amazing, wonderful photographer for their fish tacos. So we had to go. They had to a great draft beer selection. We got the cheese queso for our app. The fish tacos were great - we got the blackened ahi and it had a great kick to it! We ordered the churros for dessert and I think next time I won't order anything but 2-3 plates of churros.... *mouth watering* Very much recommended. The atmosphere was a little noisy and we sat by people that kept getting up and down in their seats - I feared for my drink being knocked over into my lap. But hopefully the next time we go, which we will totally go again, we won't be sat next to crazy people. The server was a little slow and took more time than needed to get our drinks... But again, the crazy table next to us kept her hopping the whole time we were there.
(4)
Robert S.

Excellent in many categories. Service, Atmosphere, and Food. At 5:30 on a weekday there is a (small) line waiting to be seated. A mix of the local patrons and a good amount of visitors. Chips & Salsa (comp) are wonderful. The salsa is not overly spicy and the chips not at all greasy. A nice selection of Margaritas from basic to ultra top-shelf. Many flavors too. Food wise I had the Ribeye Asada and I joked with the Barmaid "I usually expect a certain level of fat and grissel in my steak and mine had nearly none of either". AKA Great Steak.
(5)
Mathew E.

We have been looking for great Mexican food here in Hawaii since moving from the mainland several years ago. Luibuenos's does not disappoint. A quick caveat though; we almost always have the beer battered Fish tacos. They are the best that I have ever had, perfectly seasoned & fried. Their rice and beans are tasty. The house made salsa is great as well, although their chips have a little bit of a store bought taste to them. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is that over 4 different visits, the service has been a little inconstant If your in Haleiwa . & looking for great food, I would highly recommend.
(4)
Lisa W.

I'm still dreaming about the food I ate here. It was one of the most memorable meals I had in Oahu. Such an amazing food experience. The fish tacos are a MUST!! The food here is incredible!
(5)
April S.

Love this place. The portion sizes are huge for the money. I've only had the quesadilla and it was delicious. My husband had the carne asada and said it was great! The margaritas are huge and amazing.
(5)
Eva V.

The hostess in the front was lame! We stood there for a while, right in front of her face, before WE had to greet HER. Our waitress was not genuinely nice. She came once, just once, to take our order and refill our waters. The vibe in there was just... blah. I was pretty annoyed. The service here made this experience a dissatisfying one. We had the ahi tacos... How sad! Small portions. Literally a three inch piece of fish, a squirt of sauce, garnish and nothing else. We also had happy hour chicken and beef tacos which were okayyyy, not that flavorful. The complimentary chips and salsa were really good though! My fiancÃ© had a beer. It took a little long to come to the table, but whatever. I had a margarita. It was fine. Overall, Service isn't great at all. Drinks are good. Food is alright. Just come during happy hour.
(1)
Judy M.

If I could leave no stars I would have. This place sucks ass never go here the food sucks and the service does too. The manger is an idiot. Please listen to this review I promise you, you will be disappointed. Mexican food my ass, the enchiladas tasted like ketchup and the rice taste like it came from the box. This comment is from a Hispanic person so don't even bother eating mexican food here trust and believe.
(1)
Stephanie A.

This is an AMAZING place, if you like getting your credit care information stolen. If not, then stay away. My husband and I would frequent this place often, as we both love Mexican food. When my mom came to visit, we took her here for a good lunch. Food was great, as always, service was decent, and then it paid with my card and we left. A month later I get my statement with a charge from them... I called my bank to see why I was randomly charged and it turns out someone wrote down all my information and keyed it in. Needless to say, my card had to get cancelled and there's now an ongoing fraud investigation. It's too bad because the foods not bad. Very unfortunate that the staff did this.
(1)
Blake W.

Great happy hour and and the street tacos are priced reasonably on the happy hour menu, if you order 6. Decent craft brew selection. It is a bit classier than the cholos, across the street, and just a tad pricier but more of an authentic menu. Good spot here in the north shore.
(4)
marie t.

Ordered the special: opa with risotto & the scallop plate. 4stars=opa, cooked a seasoned well, decent portion. 2stars=risotto, too salty, almost inedible - too bad, hopefully not the norm 4stars=the scallops, sweet, perfectly cooked, lived the sauce. Excellent atmosphere and service, more like 3.5 stars over all and that is great rating from me.
(3)
Bridget G.

The mahimahi I ordered was sour and had zero flavor.. Told the waitress and she took my barely eaten plate, still charged me for it and didn't apologize, nothing- won't be back.
(1)
Amy B.

My friends and I were hungry after a morning hike and decided to try this place out. As soon as we got to the door and told the hostess that we'd like a table for 5 she rolled her eyes at us and acted as if we were bothering her. She went in the restaurant and returned a few minutes later, got our menus and we followed her in the restaurant. She led us to a tiny table that was meant for 2 or 3 and sat us. After looking around it seemed like that was really the biggest table they had so I definitely wouldn't recommend this place for groups. While we were waiting for our waitress we noticed that the glasses that they gave us were filthy. The waitress was not to excited to be serving us and seemed like she'd just rather be elsewhere. She brought us out chips and salsa and took our drink orders. The chips and salsa here are very good. We ordered some guacamole to go with it and it was also very good and very fresh. When we asked the waitress to put all of our orders on separate tabs she agreed to do it but seemed a bit put out by it. I ordered the Pollo Asada Quesadillas. It came with a side of some kind of green sauce that I forget the name of. It was delicious. It was a lot for just me and I only ate half of it and got the rest to go. This place gives a Military Discount but they are not going to tell you about it. You have to know about it and ask. The waitress scolded us upon returning with our checks telling us that they cannot give the discount unless it's all on one check but she did it anyway. She acted like she was doing us a huge favor. When she returned with our checks she just dropped all of them on the table and walked away. Usually if you have separate checks the waitress will hand the correct ones to each person but this chick just dropped them right on the table. I'd never seen anyone do that before. When we paid our bill and left the hostess that was rude to us when we walked in held the door open for us. She looked each one of us up and down with disgust on her face and when she was thanked by one person in our party she grunted a very rude and unmotivated 'you're welcome.' We were made to feel like we didn't belong there and the ONLY reason I'm giving this review more than one star is because I enjoyed my food. And possibly more because I was having a good time with my friends. I will not be returning to this place. The service leaves much to be desired. I didn't see a name tag on the hostess but she was average height white girl with long, straight brown hair. She was not thin but not fat. She had a snooty, disgusted look about her. If you see her, don't make eye contact.
(2)
LeaDan Y.

Since we drove to Haleiwa Town just for this experience, I was glad that I was not disappointed. The food and service were both outstanding. I feel as though they are prepared for every customer who walks into their doors. They know their menu and provide quick and friendly service. We ordered the oysters to start, which honestly was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit this restaurant. My boyfriend loves Mexican food and I love seafood, this place has a perfect blending of the two. I had the Callo de Hacha en Crema de Tequila, which was muy deliciosa! We shared the friend ice cream because, seriously, after the amazing meal and margaritas, there was no way we could eat our own dessert AND the friend ice cream comes in a size that SHOULD be shared (unless you don't care about calories and sugar intake in which case, go for it). We are definitely making the trip back to try more items off of the menu.
(5)
P L.

WORST customer service EVER and food was okay. When I first arrived 2 hostesses stood by the entrance but I was not greeted by neither of the 2 girls. I, then had to ask for a table for 2. She looked at me like I just interrupted her conservation with the other girl and told me there was a wait. The wait was understandable. After being seated our waitress approached the table immediately asking for drinks. No kind of welcoming what so ever. We ordered our appetizers which came in a timely manner. $8.00 for Avocado dip which had no taste. We waited almost 15mins before the waitress came back to ask for salt. The calamari and our entrÃ©e was okay. Nothing I would ever go back and eat again. We had to ask for refills after leaving our empty glasses at the edge of the table for over 10mins. After she brought it back, I drank it and realized that they refilled our drinks in the wrong cups. We had a Coke and Fruit punch. She refilled the Coke in the cup that had Fruit Punch and Fruit Punch in the Coke glass. In the middle of us eating our entrÃ©e the waitress is already offering us dessert. We turned down dessert and just asked for the check. To our surprise she actually said thank you after bringing back our credit card and receipt. After that experience we still left a 20% tip which wasn't deserved at all. Even as we walked out the same 2 hostesses couldn't even say Thank you or even a good bye. Nothing. Overall, service was just done by routine and nothing more. I will never recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Shayna K.

I'm no Mexican food connoisseur, and maybe the other reviewers are, but I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be with this place. I loved the quality of the chips and salsa, and that they gave us a refill on the house. I liked that they had a keiki menu even though it was $8.95 for chicken tenders (a little steep for 4 tenders, but they were better and bigger than nuggets I guess). BUT when all our tacos came out (after a really long wait) on soft fajita-style flour tortillas instead of in a crispy corn taco shell, my high hopes balloon deflated. My husband said the tortillas were weird and tasteless (though they are probably more authentic than we're used to e.g. Taco Bell). That and everything else was way TOO SALTY. The sauteed veggie taco filling, the refried beans...all too salty except for the chips (perfect amount of salt) and the rice. But alas we left totally stuffed, mostly from the two batches of chips we devoured while waiting.
(3)
Laura K.

Food was ok... Service was less than stellar.... We went on the night before the 'hurricane' so it was packed which isn't out of the ordinary... In June when we came the fish tacos were soggy and the carne asada tacos were tough and over cooked... The guac is gargantuan and way yummy...
(2)
Xuannie C.

We came here to eat since we were in the area. After taking some family to check out the Dole Plantation and Turtle Beach we got hungry and decided to come here. My boyfriend usually comes here every now and then with his buddies to eat so he suggested we come here. The only Mexican food I usually eat is just Taco Bell. We came during happy hour time and got seated right away. Our waitress was very knowledgable as she answered all of our questions in detail and thoroughly. I ordered the calamari as I do almost everywhere and it came out with a delish sauce. That was gone quickly. I had ordered the chicken quesadilla and my boyfriend got the chicken burrito. Be aware that most terms are not in English however don't hesitate to ask for a translation before ordering or else you'd end up with an entree you wouldn't eat. :) The burrito was humongous! A meal made for two it seemed like. Boyfriend loved it however there seemed to be more beans than chicken, and I do mean over hundreds of them because it resulting in butt farts in the car on the way home,yikes for me. The quesadilla was yummy! It was hot, big portioned, and I was full after one and a half slice. His mom didn't like it too much because there was too much cilantro but as for me I liked it just fine. I would go back again just for the quesadilla next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Hannah G.

My favorite place in Oahu. They have such good service and their food is amazing! I have never had a bad meal and I have never been with anyone who did not love their meal! We came in on a very very busy Friday night and we had fantastic service! Our server was Mark but really the whole staff did everything to make sure we were good. If your on the north shore go there! Love it
(5)
Brandon C.

I think Luibuenos has the best beer battered fish tacos on the island. Go there for a quick lunch and some delicious draft beers for a nice lunch. The happy hour here is my favorite. Its from 4-6pm on weekdays. They have a special on all of their tacos, coming in packs of six-great for sharing. They also have specials on all of their southwestern draft beers, including Pacifico, Dos Equis Lager, and Dos Equis Amber. There are a few others, but can't remember them off hand. It's also very close to some great shopping and some amazing homemade ice cream right around the corner. Enjoy!
(4)
Jesse K.

We are regulars at Cholo's, the more famous place up on the North Shore. We like to go up to the North Shore and end our day with margueritas and mexican food. This time we thought we'd try Luibueno's instead of Cholos. EVERYTHING WAS WAY BETTER. Prices were the same, and from the excellent service (5 star) to the taste of the food. Definitely coming back here. The refried beans were kind of... just okay, but everything else was really tasty. I had battered mahi fish tacos, and my wife had The Carnitas plate which she really liked. (That plate could have used 4 or 5 tortillas instead of 3) But over all, we were super pleased. Mui Bueno.
(4)
Jake M.

Luibueno's was a bit of a disappointment. The decor inside was nice, but our frontside seating meant that group after group of tourists gawked in at us as they walked through Haleiwa. 5 stars for service, they were quick and courteous and we never waited for anything. The food was a little lacking. I ordered the "Gobernador," or shrimp tacos. The menu described them as having: "cheese, sauteed shrimp with pico de gallo, lettuce, avocado." Given that description, I felt cheated when they were served. THEY DEEP FRIED THE TACOS WHOLE. When I peeled the crispy husks apart to put in the tiny tuft of lettuce and small SLICE of HARD avocado inside, I found something loosely resembling the rest of the ingredients. My date ordered the ahi enchilada a la carte, and it was tasty, but tiny. At $8, she wasn't really satisfied with what she got, either. Maybe the other menu items or the alcoholic beverages (we didn't have any) are better, but with the wealth of other restaurants on the North shore, I doubt we'll bother giving this place another chance.
(2)
Kenneth G.

Food is mediocre and over priced I ordered the ribeye Asada it took 45 minutes to receive my meal the waitress looks as if she smokes two blunts a day and I just had a horrible experience here if you have time to wait at this place and like mediocre food go to luibuenos
(1)
Jack K.

The food here is of decent quality but way over priced. I ordered the ahi taco entrÃ©e which was $16, and was very disappointed when it arrived. My friend and I looked at the dish and could not believe how small the portion was.Two of the smallest tacos I have ever seen in my life were on the plate, and there were insufficient sides to go along with it. I spent $16 and left hungry. I will not be eating here again. I have eaten here in the past as well but it was so long ago I cannot exactly remember my experience, but I do remember that the food was nothing special. Most restaurants on the north shore are overpriced anyway. If you're on vacation it is good, but not if you live here.
(2)
Beth P.

My home-state Californian Mexican trucks and joints are hard to beat, but this is by far the best we've had on the island and we love that there's TWO happy hour blocks. Can't beat that deal and quality!
(4)
Jonny R.

good is good, but don't be fooled, it's not mexican, we'll maybe the drinks, but the food is still good. Place is a lil cramped so if you have a big party just order the 56oz marg and chill. Food is good, service great, bar scene seems to pretty cool as well. Local place but not local flavor. Queso Fundido is the go to appetizer for sure! Order 2! yes, they're that good!
(4)
Arlette P.

Food was pretty good. Salsa and chip great. Guacamole even better. Hubby had Blackened Mahi plate it was good, rice could be better. I had a Carne Asada taco. It was a good serving of meat and guac. Meat needs a bit more flavor. All in all food and service was good.
(4)
Nana I.

Great Mexican food! We had the ahi enchiladas, clams, margarita, and guacamole. All were delicious. The enchilada had a great creamy rich sauce on them and were flavorful. I highly recommend this place if you are in Haleiwa. Service was great too. Kid friendly.
(5)
Johnny U.

So random that I would find some of the best Baja cuisine in North Shore area. Ahi and mahi tacos are delish and they have an impressive tequila and mezcal selection. Yes, they have mezcal, and varieties too, in North Shore. So random!
(5)
Debbie R.

I like Cholos, but Luibueno's has them beat in the food department. Not so much in the margarita department . . . their margaritas were not very good. However, they had a nice selection of other cocktails, one of which I tried - had jalepenos in it - and I LOVED it! But when I eat Mexican food, I have to have a margarita. . these were lackluster, and think they may have forgotten to add the tequila! As for the food, it was fresh and delicious. Everything was tasty and for Mexican food, healthy. My husband had their special pork dish and it was flavorful and unique. I had the carne asada burrito . . it was so yummy that it wasn't until after we had all finished eating that we all realized that most of our dishes didn't even have cheese in them . . didn't even miss it! Not sure why all the reviews below dissed the service . . . we were given stellar service. We had a party of 15, and our waiter rocked. He was on it with drinks, chips and when it came time for the bills, he got them all right - and we had to have split checks 6 different ways . . . They'd get 5 stars if not for the weak, tasteless margarita that I had . . . I'll be coming back here for sure!
(4)
Janel N.

Ate here at happy hour... Got the chalupas and calamari and a Sangria. Food was good. The Sangria was way too strong as it should have a least a taste of fruit. It tasted more like a shot! Not enjoyable.
(3)
Mac J.

Speedy service!! Customer service is attentive for such a busy place. The menu selection is definitely not fast food. You can taste the gourmet effort! The cleanliness is apparent throughout when directly compared to the other Mexican restaurant about a half mile away. Parking is abundant as well.
(4)
Kristine B.

The food was excellent!!! Here's a tip: if they are ever having specials, get it! The owner is also a cool guy. He came over to all the tables and chatted for a bit. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Terry K.

Yelp Challenge 365 #198/365 I'll be honest. my review is simply on their maggies and appetizers. But let me preface this review by saying THEY HAVE PARKING..... ample parking as Luibueno's is lcoated in a Haleiwa mall. Okay, they have parking and they had maggies! On a hot weekend day? What better place to go where the restaurant is air conditioned (climate control) and no hassle on the parking. They give you basket(s) of tortilla chips with their homemade salsa. The salsa's not bad at all, considering. We ordered chimichangas and fish tacos to chase or maggies. This was not my first visit and on my first visit, I had the opportunity to taste their meals....and truthfully, I would not make a special journey to this place BUT I was in the neighborhood so what the heck right? The maggies were great (get the caddilac maggie; no salt on your glass). The mix is orange juice and a hint of lime compared to the regular maggies. Priced right and a goes well with snacks in the afternoon, to tide you over for dinner.
(3)
Daniel D.

Wow, my GF and I were completely blown away by this restaurant! I'm not saying we had low expectations but we had originally came to Haleiwa for Thai food so we were kind of upset that Opal had not opened for lunch. Nevertheless it enabled us to find this great place! I'm not saying we're experts but we are from CA and our standards for Mexican food are pretty high. This place made me miss home! B R I E F S U M M A R Y -- Excellent chips & salsa -- Excellent and super fresh guacamole (OMG so good) -- Great service -- Atmosphere/ambiance almost made me forget I was in North Shore -- Average carne asada tacos -- Super fresh Ahi (blackened) tacos -- Owner's family is from Mexico but he's from San Diego & moved to Hawai'i for surfing and married a local from Kauai! (a little history) At least once a week I need guacamole and I had been craving some fresh guac since we left the main land. Fast forward to a few days of way too much Hawaiian food and I was so happy to find this place. Again we had planned to have Thai food at Opal's but he didn't open for lunch. I looked up all the restaurants on my yelp app and this place set off my yelpdar! =) It was pretty hot in Haleiwa so it was nice to come into a cool restaurant that almost made us feel like we were home in California! We eat Mexican food at least once a week so as soon as the chips and salsa came out, we started munching away. I knew I had to order some guacamole to satisfy my craving. I literally almost licked the bowl clean! Speaking of which the bowl was huge! The guacamole was so fresh and flavorful. I would have to say it was probably in my top 5 guacamole EVER. Since we had loaded up on chips, we didn't want to get something too heavy so we both ordered tacos. I'm not a huge fan of seafood so I went with the good ol' carne asada. The meat was fresh and flavorful. I loaded on extra salsa and guacamole and it sent me into heaven! My GF ordered the blackened Ahi since our server recommended it. I mean you're in Hawai'i where the Ahi is super fresh and I had a bit and it was so good. I almost wish I would have ordered the Ahi instead. So if you're a fan of seafood, definitely get the Ahi if you want fish tacos. They had like a creama or sour cream that balanced the blackened spice on the Ahi. Very good! Overall the experience was great. I never expected to find a great Mexican restaurant in the North Shore! We don't really drink so we didn't get to try any margaritas or anything but I could definitely see people enjoying a drink here since they have a pretty nice bar. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for some good Mexican in Hawai'i!
(5)
S.L. G.

Great food!! I am pretty much addicted to their rib eye steak. I also love the carne asada!! The salsa is fresh and delicious.
(5)
Shane H.

First time on the island and I was seeking a Mexican food place close to what we have at home. I was happy to come across Luibueno's especially since the owner is from San Diego! The place is rather small and fills up for dinner/happy hour. We came around 12:30 and it wasn't happening until we left. It filled up fairly quick though. Wait staff is very friendly and promptly addresses your needs. Food was EXCELLENT. I ordered the blackened Ahi burrito with rice and beans ($13) and I couldn't be more pleased. Absolutely delectable! My family ordered similar dishes. The beer battered fish burrito is also well worth the money as well. We will definitely come back here. Highly recommended. Especially for the pricing of happy hour.
(4)
Carla P.

Really good beer battered fish tacos!! And oyster shots...the inly place I know open past nine pm at northshore!! Good chips n salsa
(5)
Brandon S.

Loved the beer battered mahi burrito. Lots of flavor. They have some very unique margaritas. Best of all they have fried ice cream.
(5)
Marie M.

Went out with a group of 8, only took about 5 minutes to get seated. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and commented several times at how good everything was. The blackened Ahi tacos were delicious and I tried several of the other dishes that were just as good! Our server was Moses and he was very attentive and pleasant! We will definitely be returning soon!
(5)
Diana B.

We've been going to Luibueno's for a few years now and we usually have an excellent experience. The food is delicious and I highly recommend the Ahi Enchiladas, or any of the fish tacos! Although, the San Filipe beer battered fish tacos are my favorite and I'm more biased to pick those as the best;) Parking is very ample. Service is good and the whole staff is friendly. It can be sort of crowded or packed on weekends, but it's still always a great casual dinner!
(4)
Stacie B.

The food here was delicious, albeit on the pricey side. The salsa was really, really good but beware its garlicy. Kind of crowded and close quarters sitting at the bar, but the bartender was very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Anastasia R.

Luibuenos is my go to Mexican restaurant. I would eat here more often but it's so far from where I live. Happy hour here is the best but I don't mind paying full price for their fish tacos either. Today the kitchen went out of their way and fulfilled my sons request for something off of the menu. The waitress warned us that they might say no but she came back saying they'd hook us up. I have never had anything bad here. This place is NorCal girl approved!
(4)
Michael C.

Awful and overpriced. I don't know what kind of black magic happens to Mexican food once it crosses the Hawaiian shoreline, but Luibueno's is no different than every other awful Mexican restaurant in Hawaii. I really wanted to like this place. I really want to like every Mexican restaurant I get my hopes up for; to be even ONE diamond in the rough of every crap Mexican restaurant in this state -- only to be disappointed every... single... time. When the Mexican food in an airport terminal in California beats every Mexican restaurant in Hawaii, something is definitely wrong. FOOD: Possibly the worst Fish Tacos and Quesadilla I've ever had in my life. Skimpy in portion, over-battered, covered in too much random sauce, not enough natural flavor and too much potency as if trying to cover up the lack of quality. The Quesadilla was dry and almost inedible. My date couldn't even choke it down. I ended up scarfing it down because the portions were so small and I was still hungry after eating my plate. Her plate looked sad on arrival. Mine looked like it had some hope with rice and beans, but after eating it, it tasted like rice-a-roni and beans out of a can. Chips were ok, Salsa was ok, although my date complained that it was too spicy of a salsa to be served as the standard salsa. I thought it wss fine, just watery and not strong enough. None of the dishes I ate or saw looked like they were made with any level of actual skill in cooking Mexican food. PARKING: Parking is sometimes an issue, as Luibueno's is in the most crowded part of Haleiwa facing Kamehameha Highway (near Pizza Bob's, Longs, across the street from Kua'aina). There are always a lot of people here, but you can usually find a space if you hunt around for one. ORDERING/ SEATING: Full service. Order from a fairly small menu. About 5 tables of 4, 6 tables of 2, and a bunch of bar seating. SERVICE: Excellent. Our server kept us waited on and our waters full, checking back three times to make sure that everything was okay. That wasn't what made me rate excellent though - I watched the way the staff handled another customer who had come in and was acting like a total asshat to the staff, getting in their face, and they handled his situation calmly, with a smile, and made sure he got what he needed without any further fuss. I was impressed, considering one of these guys could have probably pounded that asshat's face into the ground. 20% Tip left here. ATMOSPHERE: Kind of an odd, southwestern, Neo-SoCal decor, lots of black, dark colors, black uniforms, clean and modern, but casual enough for touristy Haleiwa. Two levels, one with seating and large window view of the town outside, another next to the bar with tall bar tables and stools. COST/ VALUE: Terrible. $14 for a Quesadilla, $16 for two Fish Tacos, rice and beans. And neither had enough portion to fill either of us up. Neither of these are difficult to make, and neither of these contain ingredients expensive enough to justify such meager portions at such a high cost. VERDICT: 2/5 - Avoid. You pay way too much for too little food that doesn't even taste good. If you are from California or anywhere near the Mexican border, this doesn't even beat out commercialized chain faux-Mexican. If you're looking for good eats in Haleiwa, give Opal Thai on the other side of the building a try, or Kua'aina across the street, which may be overhyped but is at least reliable. Once again, unfortunately, my quest for good Mexican food in Hawaii has come to a disappointing failure.
(2)
LuLu M.

Super cool to have such a hip and trendy restaurant on the north shore that also - and most importantly - has good food! Came here on a Saturday night and although the dinner tables were full, we lucked out with 2 seats at the bar (and serviced by the fabulous bartender, Jen!). We ordered the blackened ahi tuna tacos, the steamed clams and the calamari. There was a slight mix up with my friend getting carne asada tacos instead of ahi, but they remedied that pretty quickly. Also, they gave a generous portion of steamed clams that had a great sauce and tons of garlic but here are my two complaints: 1) The clams came with one piece of toasted bread. I asked for extra bread to dip it in to the remaining broth and they brought me 2 super thin slices of baguette AND charged me 50 cents! That was ridiculous. 2) the calamari was slightly cold = not very crispy = soggy calamari. I've had way better calamari for sure. So overall, liked the vibe, the customer service and selection of food, but a little to be desired in what they charge you for and how quickly it's served.
(4)
JP O.

1st and last time going there. Walked in and the place was the size of a closet. I don't want someone on top of me while I eat. When the food came out the food runner asked if we needed anything... once I told her what I needed she sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes... seriously? The food was bland I jad to doctor it up with a ton of hot sauce. Finally the price! 3 people cost $80?! 1 Quesadilla, 4 tacos, and a beer get serious. Don't go here! I've been to almost every Mexican restaurant on island... all the same.
(1)
Lys L.

Good food Reasonable priced Horchata is soo good Guachamole is good but they didn't tell us the up charge was 8$ when the menu said 3$ Only downside is I was going to order the raw oysters but they don't have saltine crackers to go with it :( Other than that it was good, I'd go back again. Server was mosses, good waiter
(4)
Dez H.

I always wanted to try this food truck since its so conveniently located on schofield in the px parking lot plus close to my job. Didnt have to actually go though because my husband brought me lunch! I got the carne asada chips. When i opened the to-go box i was delighted to see 3 hefty piles of salsa fresca, chopped steak, and guacamole. Underneath that were tortilla chips topped with a creamy white cheese, not too much, not too little. On the side was a cup of salsa. It was actually the best mexican food i have had on this island, although its hard to find mexican here period. It was the perfect portion for a lunch and was filling for the right price of $6. I vowed to make that my new regular place for lunch! It tasted like real mexican food that i woud expect to get in san diego, which is where i am from, which is what ive been missing since living here. Iif you have a chance, check them out for yourself.
(5)
Emi H.

I do not care for Mexican food and I honestly believe it's because I grew up in Hawaii where let's face it, we don't have the greatest selection of Mexican fare. So when my friend Russ M suggested we visit Luibueno's to grab a bite before a wedding, I begrudgingly agreed. On one hand, Mexican food is almost always last on my list, but on the other hand, Russ M rarely steers my stomach in the wrong direction. We parked and I was lucky enough to meet Lui in person. He was proudly showing off his brand new food truck in all its glory. A very nice man, but that did not mean I was going to enjoy his food. Inside we went and Russ M ordered up oyster shooters, baja style fish tacos and scallops for our table. While we waited for our dishes we happily nibbled on freshly fried chips, salsa and guacamole. Our food came quickly and we cheered to friendship as we threw back our oyster shooters. Nothing too crazy but a nice start to our afternoon snack. I didn't expect enjoy the baja tacos because the fish was deep fried and drizzled in a creamy sauce. But to my surprise, the tacos were delicious and in between biting and chewing I smiled and shook my head up and down in approval. The scallops were definitely the shining star of our visit and were beautifully plated on a mix of rice and vegetables. These suckers were huge and full of flavor. I can't say that I've ever had a better scallop in my entire life! My boyfriend hasn't stopped talking about them all weekend because that's how impressed we were by them. Overall service was spot on and very quick. We had an amazing time and I'm looking forward to returning for a full meal in the near future. Thanks Lui! Yelp 365 Challenge: #212/365 (The Muy Bueno)
(5)
Lu S.

Excellent service; the paella was the BOMB! I had the Ono special last week - a little over cooked, but the rice, baby cilantro and veggies made up for it. Also - the Hibiscus Margarita is very good. Worth the drive and the wait!
(5)
J A.

Great place to eat with an energetic vibe and friendly workers. We met the owner Lui and he took the time to chat with us for a few minutes. That's a rarity these days. The li hing margarita was absolutely delicious and so was the food. Calamaro Frito The batter was a bit soft, so it was different from what we're accustomed to eating (crunchy batter). The aiole had a nice taste with mild spiciness. Ribeye Asada Definitely not the best cut of ribeye. Standard asada. Your choice of corn or flour toritlla. Pollo Deshebrado burrito Very, very tasty. My favorite of all dishes we ordered. So good that I may end up re ordering this the next time rather than trying a new dish.
(4)
Erick D.

This is one my regular stops when I'm on my way home from the beach. First off, don't go here unless you're willing to drop a little bit of cash. They are a little pricey, but you're paying for quality, not quantity. And that's why I only give them 3 stars, the portions are too small to warrant anything more than 3 stars. Drinks: Excellent! I recommend the pineapple-vanilla bean infused tequila. (Ask for it in a martini glass, you'll feel like you're getting your money's worth.) It has this wonderful, buttery texture from the vanilla bean, and, yes, they use REAL, WHOLE vanilla beans. Like I said, great attention to quality. If you're only up to having one drink, and if you want something that will go straight to your brain, try the Sangria. Shazam! They even throw in a few pieces of fruit that have seemingly been soaking in some kind of spirit for DAYS; rum? I honestly don't know, but the fruit alone will get you to your happy spot. Food: If you like raw oysters, this is the place. I usually just order an appetizer and a half order of oysters on the half shell. I was a little disappointed with the calamari this past time; I believe it was $9 and I could see the bottom of the plate when it was dropped off. There MIGHT have been 10 pieces, I doubt it, though. I don't know what to think of that. I will probably send the calamari back next time if it is still that skimpy. Someone else commented on the salsa. It is good! Spicy! And good. So dip in carefully if you're not a fan of spicy salsa. Overall, a decent place to unwind after a day at the beach. Don't forget your wallet, and don't go in starving, because you might leave hungry.
(3)
Price J.

What a pleasant surprise! Tasty Mexican Food on the North Shore. Reasonable prices and margaritas with a kick to them. We will return on out next trip to Oahu!
(4)
Bessy L.

One star for the happy hour drinks, chips & salsa, the drinks were strong and not watered down, the salsa soooo good, the quality of chips is good, but I will only come back to this place for the drinks, salsa & chips, but not good for a real mexican food they could do better and customer service NOT GOOD :( The hostess not very friendly and the waitress seemed a little frustrated, but the bus boy was very nice, he kept coming back to the table every time my glass of water was half empty, If youre just in a need of snack this is the spot, not a real meal .
(1)
Lane A.

Poor service but decent food. For Mexican Cholos turned out to be a better dining experience.
(1)
Melanie C.

A little piece of commercialized restaurant feel on the North Shore (although I don't know if it's locally-owned or not). As in, great 'sequence of service', professionalism, and crowd-pleaser Mexican dishes. Happy hour is popular... $6 Hawaii-style margaritas, ~$11 plate of 6 mini tacos. Good chips and super-raw-garlicky salsa.
(3)
John D.

Nice little Mexican place. Great Happy Hour specials and the prices are good considering we are on the North Shore. The server was quick and took great care of us. Great place to get some fish tacos after a long day on the North shore.
(4)
K M.

Good food/good salsa. Love driving into North Shore for a good dinner here.
(4)
Isela W.

This place is so awesome!!!! The food and drinks were excellent. The customer service was so great if I could give it 10 stars I would. Our food was late and they brought us out some shrimp (on the house) to compensate. Now that is great service. Will be back.
(5)
Court D.

Great food, good portions and excellent drinks. Ahi burrito is fresh and tasty. Good ambience and festive atmosphere.
(5)
Crystal R.

My husband and I visited this place on a recommendation from the owners of the beach house we are renting. We ditched the kids and came here on Friday evening. Our waiter was nice (can't remember his name)... No wait, we were seated quickly. Ordered some drinks and appetizers for the evening. I ordered the ceviche and the husband ordered the veggie quesadilla. Both were good. The place is packed with tourists and pretty loud so if that's what you like, then this is the place for you. Not likely we will be back though.
(2)
Derek W.

I've been on-island for about a year now, and this remains the best Mexican food I've had. The restaurant has a fun environment and the staff has always been professional. They make good, strong drinks, and I recommend the guacamole as a starter. The owner is a really cool guy as well. He has frequented our table on numerous occasions personally recommending changes/customization to certain meals on the menu based on what he grew up eating. And his recommendations have all been stellar. Great place, great food, I'd recommend it to anyone.
(4)
Nate J.

This is one of our favorite places to go on the island so far. We go every time we're in North Shore. Chips and salsa are great, seared ahi tacos are amazing, the pork burrito (can't remember exact name) was delicious. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Every server we've ever had was knowledgeable, attentive, and very helpful. The only negative I can think of is that the hostesses have been pretty snooty every time we've gone. Once, while we were waiting to be seated, my wife asked where the restroom was, and the hostess she asked seemed really put-off by her request, along with other things. If it weren't for that, or if it had only happened once, this would be a five star review. Place is amazing.
(4)
Kelly G.

Luibueno's was packed for a Friday night! Came pretty late because Haleiwa Joe's kitchens were closed and was able to get in on their happy hour menu. There were no servers up front and the one we found said he didn't serve our area but would be happy to serve us regardless, plus points for awesome service! Once we were seated, we were immediately served chips and salsa, more points in my book. Hibiscus mojito was very strong with the tequila in a strange way. Sangria was pretty good, for me it was on the sour side? Carne asada burrito decently good. Long Island deceptively strong but yum. Ceviche was YUM YUM YUM! The boyfriend says its even better than his (Peru native) mom's ceviche! (plus points!) Overall great ambiance and decent food and drinks. Great place in the North Shore to visit!
(4)
Lindsey S.

I love love love this place!!! Everyone should know about their prawn appetizer and their jalapeÃ±o alcoholic drink... Out of this world.
(5)
Paul C.

Awesome fish tacos! The giant margarita was also fun!
(4)
Daniel K.

I ate here with a group of 7 without reservation on a weeknight without any problems. The restaurant was still full when we went, so I expect that on a weekend a reservation might be a good idea. The service was FANTASTIC. Our waitress (Julia) was the best ever. Seriously! If you are Luibuenos management and are reading this, give her a raise. She was attentive and explained the specials and menu options thoroughly. We all left the that night and agreed that she was one of the best waitresses we had ever had. The food was delicious and had pretty reasonable portions I got the two taco entree and a few others got the burrito entrees. We all were satisfied. The only slight negative we had was the price, it wasn't outrageous but was definitely cheap. It seemed like $15 was the low end price range and on up from there. In the end we all left full and happy, a great way to end the day on the beach. If you're looking for Mexican and are in Haleiwa or the North Shore Luibuenos is worth the stop!
(5)
Joey T.

I give the place 3 stars. The atmosphere was pleasant and relaxing. Very mellow and nice compared to the bustling two way road outside. I was actually recommended to this place by a friend who said the food was awesome. I thought the food was great, but not awesome. Not something that will stand out in memory out of the Mexican restaurants I've been to throughout Asia and home. The service was actually pretty sub par compared to the other reviews I've read here. Not sure if I got a waitress who was having a bad day or what. The price was not really worth the quality when I've had better quality for less. Food: I give 4 stars. The food was great, I had the seared Ahi Tuna Fish Taco, blackened. This was actually a great dish, despite the small serving that I'm used to having in other Mexican restaurants. Their nachos and salsa was mediocre. The nachos was basically Tostitos and some salsa from the can. I've had homemade salsa and homemade nachos at other restaurants I've been to and they actually had a choice of how spicy you want your salsa to be which should always be the case. The calamari was alright, but it was pretty oily. Might want to tone down on the oil unless you want to give your customers clogged arteries. Service: I give 2 stars. Our waitress was pretty horrible. She took her time coming to get our drinks while servicing other customers immediately. Our entrees took a long time to get there. She never refilled our drinks, and only did so because we had to actually call out to her. She was only assisting one other table in our section. I would give zero stars for service. But where she lacked in service, her co-workers actually did the work for her. Thank goodness for them. :) They saved us from having a completely horrible experience. Price: I give 2.75 stars. The price was pretty expensive considering our portions. $50 for two people. And we just had regular entrees and one appetizer. Might want to think about bringing your price point down because there are a bunch of better Mexican restaurants who actually serve more and are of better quality. I would recommend to try it out, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again.
(3)
Katie O.

If you came for Cinco de Mayo, you know as well as I do how packed this place can be. I'm not sure what it's like normally, but it was stuffed and it took an hour to get a seat for dinner. However, we'd already eaten here earlier in the day for lunch and were so impressed that we had to come back. The fish tacos are amazing, and the guava margaritas with li hing mui powder on the rim are absolutely delicious.
(5)
Nina B.

Good food. The fish tacos had a great flavor. Salsa is awesome, especially if you like garlic! The sangria is quite STRONG- but delicious. My kids got a scoop of ice cream with their kids' dinner and the ice cream, Dave's Hawaiian Ice Cream, was phenomenal!! Now, looking to purchase some of the ice cream. Service was top notch.
(4)
caly m.

I have had many tacos in my lifetime but Luibueno's is by far one of the best, if not the best! Our server was Moses and he was very friendly and efficient, looked around to serve his customers and made sure to fill water glasses when near empty and the same with salsa. We ordered 3 tacos a la cart -- beer battered fish, ahi tuna and shrimp with avocados. We each got 3 tacos and it was enough to satisfy my appetite. The shrimps came out juicy and cooked just right, and the taco soft taco shell was fried to make the texture more crunchy; and this I loved. My favorite taco was ahi tuna, but all tacos were amazing. I must have been in the zone and mesmerized by the experience that I was able to filter out the loud toddler sitting next to me. This place is taco heaven, and I will look forward to visiting again the next time I visit.
(4)
Maria W.

Food was just OK in my opinion. So many great reviews on here, but it didn't live up to the praise in my opinion. Now, I'm not a seafood lover, and maybe that's their specialty, but their chicken lacked flavor and the salsa didn't have much of a kick. Oh, and the otherwise attentive waiter completely forgot about our appetizer, but we forgave easily because the food came out so quickly we didn't really need an appetizer.
(3)
Monica L.

Ate here the other day. It wasn't busy at all so we got seated fast. Poor hostess that stands outside when it's so muggy. The tables are kinda packed together in the front by the bar. So I had to move around a bit to get through. We ordered a carne Asada burrito combo and the carne Asada taco combo. (Combos come with beans and rice). Our food came out quick which was a plus!! The rice was really disappointing. I always love Mexican rice...sadly it was hard and fell apart with each scoop I took. The meat was marinated good but it was chewy and tough which was eh....I don't think it was worth the price at all. The waitress was nice and didn't burden us too much, she came at the right time to get our plates, fill water, and give us our checks. Overall...I think I am still in the hunt for good Mexican food in Hawaii. I guess this place was alright, we had high expectations for this place. Maybe next time we will try their fish tacos (or ahi? I don't remember).
(3)
Just Us ..

I think it started when I stood at the "please wait to be seated" sign. eventually I was seated at the bar. maybe they do things different here but where I come from, usually you can walk in & seat yourself at the bar but are seated at a normal table by the hostess... or at least they ask if you have a preference... duh... u know cos I like sitting in chairs at the bar where my feet can't reach the floor. food itself (calamar frito, enchilada) not great.
(1)
Mikey H.

This was our first time staying in Haleiwa and not knowing too much about the area, we slowly drove through town looking for some place to eat. We did see Cholo's but it looked too touristy, and then we saw Luibuenos and decided to go in. Friendly greeting and given a table. Why do people sit so far back from their tables that the person sitting behind has no room??? Bad manners is worse than having no money! Our server was great! Friendly and courteous. We read the owner was from San Diego, and she said he was there and would ask him to stop by. The salsa that came with the chips was spot on! and the guacamole was very good. We made it for happy hour so I ordered tacos: fish, beef, and al pastor. The fish was alright. The beef was delicious and the al pastor reminded me of the ones I had in Mexico City just recently. The margaritas were excellent, but not as strong as what we're use to. Overall, this is a great place to come to! We didn't get a chance to talk story with the owner because it was really busy. Maybe next time! Muchos gracias Luis and staff!
(4)
Nat W.

So I went to Luibueno during the happy hour and it was an okay experience. All tacos are $4 and they are just average. Pescado (grilled fish) taco was too fishy and beef brisket taco was dry and the hard taco shell got somewhat soggy. I think pork taco is the best of all. I also ordered ceviche and it was bit strange....It was served on a tortilla...again the fish wasnt the best. I think the best thing I had here was chips and salsa. What I liked about this place was the service. I am very very surprised that some people say this place offers an authentic Mexican food....I have had better tacos from a food truck on Oahu. Honestly Mexican food in Hawaii sucks, especially if you have lived on mainland.
(3)
Dave F.

I've always wanted to come here to Luibueno's, but to be honest, I didn't want to drive all the way out to Haleiwa. Well, I got my chance recently. I had gone out to Kaiaka Beach to pick up some driftwood and also went to Pipeline to take some photos of the sunset. I gotta say, it was a gorgeous evening and after getting the shots I wanted I was hangry!! At first I was gonna drive back to town, but I remembered hey, we can go to Luibueno's! My dining companion cheerfully agreed and so we were on our way there! As I pulled into the parking lot, I luckily scored a great stall right in front of the restaurant! This was super neat since I could leave my photo gear in the car without lugging that "small fortune" of equipment with me into the restaurant! (smiles) There is a reception booth right outside of the door and we were cheerfully greeted. After being informed it would be a roughly twenty minute wait for a booth, we opted for a bar area seat. This restaurant is a very lively place and there were lots of diners having a great time! Our waiter was very prompt in bringing our waters out and explaining their menu and specials to us. Next was the standard basket of fresh made tortilla chips and salsa. We were both commenting on how good the salsa was! I'm not much of a cilantro person and this salsa was definitely not overpowered with it! Really good. As for the main entrÃ©es, I decided on the shredded beef enchiladas and my dining companion went with the special of the evening which was ahi fajitas served on a sizzling platter. It didn't take too long for the dishes to come out and we were ready for them! The ahi fajitas were sautÃ©ed with peppers and onions and a spicy sauce added to it. It also came with choice of flour or corn tortillas and the standard rice and refried beans. My enchiladas were just ok, maybe a bit more enchilada sauce would have made a big difference since I thought they were a bit dry. The rice and beans were good and pico de gallo was also included. The fajitas were spicy, but good. I liked the peppers and onions and how they complimented the ahi. I think I could just have the veggies sautÃ©ed in that sauce with the rice and beans. We were offered dessert, but we were pretty much stuffed! They offer a points program in which they will enter your phone number in their system and you can get discounts and stuff. I also learned they will be opening a second location in Kapolei later this year. I feel lucky that there are a lot of Mexican restaurants located throughout the island to try! When they open their second locale, I'll go check it out. All in all it was a satisfying dining experience for us with great service, a solid three star, A-Ok meal!!
(3)
j h.

Based solely on that we got there 10 minutes after they opened and instead of letting us in, they made us wait outside in the heat. We, as well as other patrons, waited for about 15 minutes. Then decided to go elsewhere since there was no one to let us in or let us know what was going on. Very unprofessional!
(2)
Mark H.

Luibueno is my Bueno! Seriously folks, this is some damn good Mexican food. The sad part for me is that it's so far from where I live back in Florida. If I lived on Oahu, I'd eat here until I owned part of the business. Clint was our waiter, and dude was on the ball. He summoned our delicious cocktails from the bar super quick, and got our order in so fast we barely had time to finish the chips and salsa before our food was out. I ordered the shredded chicken burrito. It was huge and God damn tasty. But as good as it was, the star of the show was the queso fundido with chorizo. I've eaten this stuff all over the world, including Mexico and I'm telling you now, this shit is legit. Order it. Order it now. Damn I am gonna miss this place, but it's very fitting that my 808th review was an awesome place in Hawaii.
(5)
Matthew R.

The Ahi Enchiladas were fantastic... the carne asada quesadillas were a bit lacking in flavor... Flan and espresso martini made up for it. All in all a great place for grinds and drinks.
(4)
Steve S.

If you are interested in a taste of Mexican style home cooking, this is definitely the place to go! I came here with my wife and friend and enjoyed an evening meal together. We ordered a burrito, fish tacos, quesadillas and sangria. The fish taco was amazing and huge. It could be a meal on its own (and I kinda wish we just had that cause I was really full not barely making a dent in the quesadilla). Anyhow, I love the taste of the quesadilla! The shredded chicken combined with spices and cheese brought a lot of flavor to the quesadilla with less of the oily, greasy feeling that you get with most quesadillas I'm used to. The burrito was packed. My friend ordered a side of mashed potatoes that had this spicy in it that really made you go for more. My one flaw to such an awesome me is the Sangria. It was too strong and tasted more like bitter wine. The waiter was nice enough to get me some sprite to mix it into the Sangria but I think I would have preferred another drink. Overall though, I do recommend this place for the food!!!
(4)
Cynthia B.

Found this little gem while avoiding the cholos due to lack of carnitas. The restaurant was louder, but it was a Friday night so it's expected. The staff were friendly and provided above and beyond customer service. The food was good and seating was adequate. Great atmosphere and staff along with great food will be bringing us back often.
(5)
Brittany R.

Luibueno's is one of my favorite Mexican places on island. The food is always delicious and the service is usually pretty good. The staff is very knowledgeable about gluten free options and they have a lot. My biggest complaints are it gets pretty crowded and cramp and the noise levels sometimes makes it impossible to hear the person you are dining with.
(4)
Food C.

Best mexican on Oahu!!!! Service is absolutely wonderful, great vibe, great food
(5)
Tony P.

Tip: the restaurant is set up to accommodate mostly 4's, so it can take a while to get larger parties seated, especially during the lunch rush. This was our second visit over the past year. First visit was a definite 4 stars with our large group enjoying the service and tasty food, from the fresh guacamole, ceviche, mahi tacos and meaty carnitas. This visit was okay but not to the standards set by our first. Our server was very good. He was efficient and friendly, but could be more proactive on filling drinks on a scorching hot day. The kids meals came out quickly, but the chicken fingers were dark brown and overcooked. Then the guacamole came out and it definitely wasn't fresh. I don't know if they used overripe avocados or it had been sitting, but it had that slightly turned, sour fermented flavor. Then the food came out and something was off with the preparation of most dishes. The fried calamari was really salty, oily and over fried. The carne asada was also salty, and the quesadilla used the same sour guacamole. Now for the positive. Besides the good service, the house salsa is excellent. Very fresh favors with just the right amount of spice. For my tastes, the refried beans are the best I've had on island. I never thought I would use the word "light" to describe refried beans, but that's what they are. Besides the guacamole problem, the quesadilla was crispy and cheesy. My wife's shrimp taco was really tasty. I'll probably order that next time. This visit was an okay overall experience because of the food issues. But we will definitely give it another chance because of our first visit.
(3)
Nikki H.

This place was better than expected, food wise. The space seems really small and crowded. I was sat in the bar area with my 3 yr old, and the tables in there are pub height, so I was sorta concerned with him sitting on one of the stools. Our waitress was nice, and brought out drink with chips and salsa rather quickly. The prices are for tourist, I paid $17 for ONE quesadilla, no rice, no beans, JUST a quesadilla. I'll admit that it was delicious and I was able to take leftovers home, but that's ridiculous. Will I come back here? Uh, no. But if you're on vacation, craving some Mexican food, and have a bunch of money to spend, well this is an excellent spot!
(3)
Ernest P.

Was in the neighborhood and read the reviews... So why not go? Service from the hostess is GREAT! Drinks are different and unique. Ordered the Paella... Hmm. This supposedly is the number 1 dish in the restaurant. Pros: EXTREMELY fresh and hot. Cons: NOT seasoned at ALL. Paella is definitely meant to be flavorful. This dish had zero salt or seasons. For the high price of $28, I'm 100% disappointed. Based on their " # one dish" , I'll never return. ..
(2)
John R.

Yes, yes, yes. THIS is the best Mexican restaurant on Oahu. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was spot on, and our waiter was so friendly and professional. My fiancee, who really hates Mexican food (I admit it: I dragged her in) just absolutely loved it, which was the first time ever! I'd give it six stars if I could. I only wish we had ONE like it (anywhere) in Japan.
(5)
Jeannie A.

Really good food and great service. We had chicken and fish tacos, the salsa is so fresh and yummy, churros dessert rocked and it is without a doubt one of the best restaurants on the north shore.
(4)
Natalie W.

Good spot on the Northshore- has a little more swank and shiny feel then the other local spots. Great service with our weekend meal- felt like the mainland. Ordered the fish of the day in two forms- burrito and tacos. The dishes had unique flavors and tasted very fresh. They feature Hispanic fish dishes in addition to regular menu items. FYI's~ * Unique margarita menu- boozy drinks but very tasty * Happy Hour in lounge section with high bar tables and counter stools * Some of the best sounding items are on the pupu menu * Most menu items under $15
(4)
Kathleen T.

We won't go back to Luibueno's. After being seated for lunch, we waited 25 minutes just to get our drinks. When our food hadn't arrived by 40 minutes we said we needed to leave. Our waitress said she would check on it and pack it up. She did pack it up but when we opened it our food was cold. Too bad service was so bad because once we got home and heated the food it was pretty good. (0 for service, 3 on food)
(2)
William C.

Best Mexican in Hawaii Up-scale Baja Cal style Mexican cuisine with great service, atmoshphere, and awesome food & drinks! Great Guacamole The Gobernador is amazing!!! Good Queso Great Margaritas! Great Chips Great refried beans I'm from Texas so I know the diffirence between Tex-mex and Cal-Mex. After eating here many times I would put Luibueno's up against any of the top Mexican resteraunts in Texas or California.
(4)
Linda P.

Reasonably priced burrito a la carte or entree, but the other entree dishes although sounded delicious ranged from $24 to $29 so those are a little pricier. The garlic shrimp appetizer was such a great choice thanks to yelp reviews I'm very happy. It was about 5 or 6 shrimp scampi style with garlic on top but delicious especially for a garlic fanatic so 4 star for me. Rest is like 3. So average 3.5star Beer battered mahi burrito had a sauce oozing out, and although I enjoyed it, my partner felt there wasn't a crunch to the fried fish as a result of the sauce making the fish soggy. The Ahi burrito was also tasty, but similar to the battered mahi, it all depends on what kind of fish you feel like eating. It felt like both burritos had an abundance of black beans inside. And the entree portion comes with rice and beans. If you are like me, I wish I told them black beans, because it comes automatically with refried. =(
(3)
Rowdy C.

Being from "tex-mex" country, we were a bit skeptical about Mexican food on the island. And although it wasn't tex-mex, it was delightful. The Mahi Mahi tacos were great with a spicy sauce, and the salsa was great as well. It was a small place and we were put at a table by a drink station. Waitress was average, gone for extended periods, but not horrible. We'd eat there again for the tacos alone...plus chips and salsa are a staple of my diet.
(4)
Brent M.

Great little upscale Mexican and Seafood spot in downtown Haleiwa. Great chips and guacamole, great vibe and pretty good entrees. One of the few higher end places around but not too expensive
(5)
Helen C.

Decent margaritas with a mix of locals and tourists, with a heavy lean to the latter. We stopped by just for a few round of drinks and dessert so I can't speak for main kitchen dishes, but their home made churros with Mexican hot chocolate was pretty tasty. A tad over fried in my opinion and the Mexican chocolate didn't have the usual bite but overall, good enough to make me want to return for a visit to try their food. Don't know if it's a good or bad thing, but minus the very casual dress among the patrons, I couldn't really differentiate this place from a lot of Mexican joints in Los Angeles. What I didn't like about it was the long wait to get in and get served. When we got there, we overhead the host telling a family the wait for dinner would be close to an hour. Yikes. We were told the bar seating area was first come, first serve so we went in hoping for the best. It was initially standing room only but a small bar table opened up relatively quickly (note: you can get dinner at one of these tables so if the wait is long, this may be your best bet).
(4)
Caroline F.

This is one of my regular places! I absoultely love Luibueno's,and the food here is always so delicious! I always get the ceviche appetizer, and of coarse a margarita, which are some of the best on island for sure! The service here is also great!.. The first few times I came here I always got this one server named Mark, now I always ask for him! He is very knowledgeable, and I always make him order for me because I never can decide! Every time Im always pleased with his selection, which is usually one of the fresh catch specials of the night. The one complaint I do have about this restaurant is the lack of space. Some of the tables are pretty close to each other, and you maybe sitting back to back with the person behind you! But Overall Luibueno's is one of the nicer, more quality places to eat on the North Shore. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Taj B.

My favorite mexican food on the island by far!!! AMAZING free chips and salsa wether you are sitting down for a drink or a full meal. The best guacamole I have ever had in a restaurant! Vegetarian meals or amazing steak asada tacos! I love this place!
(5)
Lauren G.

Best Mexican ive found on the island hands down. Fabulous service, great margaritas, bottomless chips and salsa and some very good quesedillas, fish tacos and burritos. What more do you need? Definitely try and hit happy hour from 3-5 if you can!
(4)
Jessica S.

It's no Rosie's. It's barely Mexican food. While the main dish was OK (I had fish tacos, my husband had a burrito) the sides were bland and the service slow. The atmosphere is not very North Shore and the menu is way overpriced.
(2)
Sylvia F.

went here again (total of 3 times now this summer), and the food does not cease to amaze me. Again, got a fish taco (beer battered mahi) and carne asada taco a la carte. Their bottled hot sauce selection helped (sort of like what Cha Cha Cha's has, a bunch of different kinds of bottled hot sauces), and i had their cadillac margarita. Damn tasty dinner. The salsa was flowing freely too (again, i'd drink that stuff. literally). If you haven't been and you go through haleiwa, it's worth a stop. Pricey, but worth it. Get the tacos a la carte, saves a bit of dough but deinitely makes your mouth happy. oh by the by, the fish tacos very much remind me of the tacos at South Beach Bar and Grille in Ocean Beach. Touted to be home of the worlds best fish taco (it just might be, or at least one of the best in San Diego), i'm glad i've found something in Hawaii that mimic's San Diego's finest. My lips, i mean my mouth, get all wet just thinknig about it. Yummy!
(4)
Victoria A.

I definitely need to go again... I unfortunately didn't get a chance to enjoy myself. Parking: Not so great Atmosphere: Nice Service: ?? I don't know... Our server seemed a bit scatter-brained; but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. Food: Good... but I think it could be more flavorful Drinks: LI HING MUI MARGARITA :) Next time I'm in North Shore, I have to make another stop. :)
(3)
Ken G.

Paella excellent. Service friendly and timely. Background Muzak blend of Spanish music and reggae. Not my cup of tea
(4)
Dacia R.

The food was great I had the chicken burrito it was wonderful had a lot of flavor. I will go there again. They have the best happy hour in haleiwa 3-5pm and 9:30 to close $3 fish tacos and more. The only thing wish they would do is take a few tables out because I felt really crammed in there. Other then that it was great.
(5)
Jess A.

My most favorite restaurant on the North Shore by far! I love the beer battered fish tacos & the flan is delicious. Top it off with a blended fruit margarita and I'm in heaven.
(5)
Jeffrey D.

Service was great, as was the food. Had the quesadilla and tuna fish tacos, both came out quickly and steaming hot. The margarita's were tasty, but didn't knock our socks off tipsy-wise, which is good, because we still wanted to drive around and sightsee.
(4)
Caroline T.

Don't you just love saying KAMEHAMEHA? :D After a swim at North Shore or a nice easy hike from the waterfalls of Waimea Valley, we came across this foodtruck. We only ordered two orders of the Ahi Baja style fish tacos before they closed and we had to go back into town and eat dinner with the family. WOOHoo so much favor in my mouth! My son wished he ordered more than two. I'm from Texas and I know texmex, this is pretty good fusion of flavors. Yea is pretty pricey but I think eating a tasty meal and watching the sunset is perfect.
(5)
Kari L.

Upon arriving to the North Shore the discussion of "where to eat?" is always brought up. Always being a fan of Cholo's, we thought it would be nice to try something different. We came across Luibueno's and let me tell you, WE WERE NOT LET DOWN! Going inside for the first time you might feel a little under dressed, but come on, this is Hawaii. Our server was in a very classy black button up collared shirt and was very polite. You get a complimentary basket of chips and salsa, which was delicious. The salsa was gone in no time and left us wanting MORE. We had a delicious drink called the Mexican Pineapple Infusion, NO COMPLAINTS!! One drink was plenty, no shorting us on alcohol. Our appetizer came out, Queso Fundido= EXCELLENT choice! Not something you share with 6 people, but us 3 ladies had enough to go around. Ive never ate a 'fish taco', and hearing that opah, my favorite fish from the pacific, was the fish used in the Fisherman's catch, I instantly knew that was what I was having. NOT DISAPPOINTED in the least! It was delicious! If your wanting elegance, great atmosphere and cleanliness this is place. If your looking for sand on the ground, outdoor seating and chickens walking around freely, then go to Cholos.
(4)
Ryan D.

The food is way over priced, the wait staff must be bored and the seating is cramped.
(2)
Kit T.

Ooof. This is the old "Rosie's Cantina" space, remodeled to be a sort-of-a-bar-sort-of-a-restaurant space. Even though Rosie's had it's down sides, this place is a sort of expensive, tarted up, preppie meat market. Half the space is a loud bar area for the meat market (which always seems empty), dining tables are squeezed in behind a cubicle wall toward the windows. For goodness sake, people, stop with the "I want a nightclub in my restaurant" thing! It is an ambience-killer! Had the ceviche (decent, but nowhere near the quality or flavor of El Mariachi's - pretty skimpy for the price $10), the garlic shrimp (saved it from a one-star rating, they were expensive ($11 for 6 shrimp) but delicious. Hubby has a burrito - huge, bland, dull. Nothing to see here, folks, (prior reference to Cholo's as a good alternative is REVOKED due to their naked astro-turfing of their Yelp rating. 50+ five-star reviews per day, from brand new accounts with only one review? Bullshit!
(2)
Kathy H.

Waiter had no food knowledge. Bartender wasn't nice. Got charged for a drink I didn't drink. Food was poorly cooked
(1)
Brandee T.

I love coming to Lui's! After he catered our wedding, I was hooked on his food. We stick to the basics (quesadillas, burritos, tacos) and we are never disappointed. The guac is also amazing! The people are friendly and service is fast. It's one of our favorite places to eat on the North Shore!
(5)
Diana A.

Fresh Mexican food with friendly service. I had the Ono fish veracruz style. Delicious with the veggie side and rice. Tasty margaritas. Ahi fish tacos were delicious as well. Awesome guacamole, tasty chips (not greasy) and spicy salsa. I'd recommend this place for Mexican food. Also has a nice ambience especially the tables by the window.
(4)
Inevitable W.

My wife wanted to try they paiella - normally we go to Cholo's when we do the Sunday drive to the North Shore, but this time she wanted paiella (she saw an article in MidWeek). Anyway, we go there in October (pre-winter madness). Found parking up front, and were seated in less than 5 minutes. The adventure begins on a good footing. The restaurant is upscale dining compared to Cholo's famiily style, but the board short/slipper cientele is expected (this is Hawaii). Chef Luis has attended to all the details: The service was fast and frequent, the place settings were sparkling, the seating can accomodate me and my girth - I don't have to adjust everytime someone walks behind me. Chips and salsa were replenished without asking. On to the ordering: You must first understand my reluctance to take my wife to any restaurant because she is such a pain to the waitstaff - it's quite an embarrasssment to me. Typically she has trouble making up her mind, even if she knows what she wants (paiella). When she does make up her mind, she doesn't like what the establishment offers, and has to modify the menu item to her liking. Today's example: "I'd like to try the paiella, but I don't want the calimari or the mussells, and can you replace those seafood items with shrimp? There's many more such examples, but you get the drift. The waitstaff was patient and understanding of my wife's special needs. She got what she wanted, with a smile. I got what I usually go for (burrito). Delicious, spicey, flavorful. The kids got their kid's menu items, which were maybe a bit spicy but were well recieved regardless. I'm not a drinker (anymore) so I can't comment on the fufu drinks. My coca-cola glass, however, never ran dry. Credentials - my wife is Dominican, and has eaten Spanish Paiella all her life (less the mussels and calimari). She was impressed. I was thankful the waitstaff was so accomodating --I have to give it a 5 out of 5
(5)
Rafael F.

Pricey, food ok unless you've been to San Diego lately, obnoxiously rude bus boy brings the rating below avg. If I'm spending over $170 on a Dinner (albeit Hawaii) I want to leave satisfied...not the place...their loss, we'll stick to Mexico Lindo in kailua or Serg's in Waimanalo
(1)
Cat F.

A delicious meal with excellent service. We went for an early dinner (6:30pm) in mid-October and were seated right away. The service was excellent with multiple servers attending to our table - filling water, more chips and salsa, clearing plates, etc - and were all efficient and pleasant. Food-wise, the complimentary chips and salsa were pretty authentic and fresh. We ordered the burrito and carne asada tacos (entrÃ©e size) followed by deep fried ice cream as a dessert. The food was served quickly and hit the spot! Portions were a good size, too, not too big (which happens a lot in American restos). I wasn't expecting amazing Mexican food in Hawai'i but was pleasantly surprised and would definitely go back again if I'm craving mexican fare. My only complaint is that the air conditioning is up way too high in this place!! Turn it down! This is Haleiwa-town after all! mahalo Luibueno's!
(4)
Paul R.

Expensive but good
(4)
Lala E.

Tried Luibueno's yesterday for the second time and, unfortunately, this time I was not as impressed as the first. The first time my husband and I visited Luibueno's last summer, I had the shrimp taco which I think is called the Gobernador. I really liked it. Yesterday, me and my husband were on the North Shore and were in the mood for Mexican, so we headed back to Luibueno's. I loved the Gobernador the first time, so I ordered it again. This time however, it wasn't so good. Still had the avocado slices on the side, which I love, but this time it was super super greasy. I picked it up and grease dripped out like a leaky faucet...no bueno. And it was $7.95!!! We also ordered the Queso and Ceviche as appetizers. The Queso was a major rip off. $11.50 for a dish six inches in diameter and about 1/4 of an inch high. Basically, it amounted to a thin round of fried cheese. I guess I was expecting more of a dip, but this Queso wasn't. It was 1/4 inch of fried cheese with 4 small slices of bread...for 11.50! The Ceviche was on happy hour so was it was somewhere around $5.50, and it was alright. Some of the fish chunks were really chewy, but it was a really good sized portion, so I didn't mind so much...especially after the manini sized Queso. For drinks we had the happy hour margarita, which tasted like straight sweet and sour. The hubby and ordered 2 shots of tequila on the side just to kill the strong sweet and sour taste. So...all in all... 2 greasy shrimp tacos 1 thin piece of fried cheese (Queso) 1 Happy Hour Ceviche 2 Happy Hour Margaritas 2 shots of Tequila $65.00 before tip...:( Not totally giving up on Luibueno's, but after this experience, it may be a while before I go back. The first time we came, we just shared a Gobernador entree and had a couple beers, and the food was good...which may explain why I didn't feel ripped off. But this time, with the greasy tacos, Queso-that-wasn't, and weak margarita, it'll be a while. Next time I go the North Shore, i'll probably just stick to Giovanni's.
(2)
Robert M.

The good- Actual creative Mexican dishes done by real chefs...not just enchiladas and beans. My wife loved her mahi fish tacos. Excellent chips and salsa Very good drinks/margaritas The bad The ahi on my ahi tacos was way overcooked. They advertised seared, and as any good local boy knows that means it is still raw on the inside. However the ahi was cooked all the way through...not good. Prices kind of high. Overall- very good Mexican food, some of the best in Hawaii.
(4)
Kristen J.

My husband and I came here while staying on the north shore. We were seated in the bar immediately, but the server was super busy and it took awhile for us to be helped. Once helped, she was very speedy and friendly. Their margaritas are awesome! We ordered their guacamole also, and it was very fresh and tasty! The prices here are very affordable, especially in comparison to some of their north shore competition.
(5)
Kaitlyn M.

My friends and I originally planned to stop by for the enticing happy hour prices, but when we got there a little past 5, we were disappointed to find that happy hour runs from 3pm-5pm, a fact conveniently left out of any source found during our en route iPhone research. We were planning on sitting at the bar but it was full so we were sent to the back near a table with an extremely young family, not exactly the atmosphere we were looking for. Planning on eating a real dinner afterwards, we ordered the ceviche as something light to nibble on as we enjoyed our sangrias. Pleasantly surprised at both the quality and the presentation of our appetizer and drinks, we quickly designated Luibueno's as the higher-class option for North Shore daytrippers to consider in lieu of Cholos. However, the food had to hold its own in the overall experience of the restaurant. The service was lacking in all of their interactions with us, and the layout of the restaurant was an uncomfortable mix of tall and short tables and bare booths in back corners. Ultimately, I would like to give Luibueno's another shot to woo me with their lighter, prettier presentations of North Shore mexican fare.
(3)
Michael W.

We ordered the Paella Valenciana (seafood with saffron spiced rice) and ahi enchiladas. Both were extremely tasty. The service was superb - the waiter was very knowledgeable. This was our first visit - we'll be back!
(5)
Maria V.

back in 2010. i would have given this a 4. i went last night for my birthday and was seriously disappointed. so were 2 other dishes on the table that other people had ordered. too bad. the place used to have a better ambiance. the ceviche was disappointing. my son, who eats anything- wouldn't finish his burrito. my sister's vegetarian taco's ...well, ...were left on the plate. i can say that the pacifico on tap was excellent and so was the salsa! Sorry luibuenos. i don't know what happened from 2010 to 2013 but i hope you feel better soon.
(2)
Brett S.

Worst service I have ever experienced. First off the hostess told us it would be a 30 minute wait at most and in reality we waited over an hour until we finally said screw this. In between that time we bellied up at the bar in which we received no chips and salsa and the two rudest bartenders I have ever met in my life.
(1)
Fred F.

Really good mexican food. I always get the beer-batter fried ono tacos! The margaritas are huge and the drinks aren't bad either although they are a little bit pricier. I do not think the owner is that great though. He was screaming and swearing at someone he was trying to kick out of the bar in front of the entire restaurant. And this was in the middle of the day!
(4)
Jeff W.

I wont waste my time going here again. There are better places to spend your money on the North Shore, Cholo's, Opals, Breakers etc.. Yeah its Mexican yes it's seafood, but they haven't figured out secret to make it great!
(2)
Robert C.

The best Mexican food on the island and the best seafood outside of Honolulu. This is my go to place for a nice dinner with the wife. i have always been satisfied with the food, service, and live music on Friday nights. Highly recommend.
(4)
Luis R.

The food was amazing I had the beer battered Ahi and it was delish', great service too, didn't have to wait too long for the food to come out. Great experience here, recommend it to anyone looking for a new place to go
(5)
Nick M.

So this place was awesome! We were on the island for about a week and this place was so good we went back twice! Both times I got the beer-battered fish burrito, and it was amazing. We also got margaritas a couple times which were pretty damn good. I'd definitely recommend it!
(4)
Philip C.

Delicious Mexican food! The Paella Valenciana is absolutely phenomenal -- so good that I actually just left there and writing this review on my way back home to Kapolei. The Li Hing Mui margarita was really good too. This was my second time eating here, and it was even better than the first. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Terry O.

Went to Luibueno's on the recommendation of a friend that said they had great magaritas...True! The magaritas were made from fresh juice, not mixes. Tried the sangria too, it was great as well! I love the atmosphere; it is very nice and a little upscale; just what the area needs. The bar area is really nice and comfortable. Our bartender Eric made us feel right at home. We didn't have much time to spend there, so we ordered the veggie quesadilla to sample the happy hour tapas. They add saffron in the mix, and it was fabulous. I highly recommend trying it, even if you are not of the vegan persuassion. The only reason they don't get 5 stars from me is because of the big flies that come in and buzz the bar. It's not really the restaurant's fault, as they dart in when patrons open the door. Other than that, you owe it to yourself to give the place a try.
(4)
Paige Miki O.

After Rosie's, we were hoping that this place would be better. we were wrong... first off, the place is still as dirty as Rosie's was - but the food is worse. all they did was add a couple cardboard walls that they painted over. at least Rosie's food was good! We ordered the seafood paella and the fishmonger's burrito. The paella was like, $30. When it came, the serving was SO SMALL! It looked and tasted like oily fried rice with seafood in it. My mom was so disappointed - she expected an awesome authentic paella. but we got seafood fried rice. the burrito on the other hand, was pretty ok. it was a nice sized burrito (good thing it was, cuz it was $10 for just the burrito). They have a cooler where they sell fresh fish (like in a super market) but we were there around dinner time and the fish was dry and turned BROWN. it was obvious that it had sat there all day (or two). Cause for health department concerns... My mom had a tamarind margarita. She said it was ok, but didn't like the paprika around the rim. all in all, i'd rather go to Cholos :/
(2)
Mary N. B.

AVOID - "JUST IN CASE!" We had an awful dinner. To start there was no place to wait in the area outside. We went to dinner early to avoid the Saturday rush. 5:30pm. So restaurant was half empty we got sat on a tiny table in the middle of two high traffic walk ways. We wanted to move to a table that felt a little less like we were sitting in the middle of H3 but we decided to just stay and enjoy. We ordered an appetizer. The ceviche was good. However, the one large chip we got was not nearly enough to serve the ceviche on. Less than 5 minutes later our food came. I ordered enchiladas - and I could tell immediately that my plate was made a long time ago. The sauce had all soaked in - the refried beans had a shell that formed at the top the shredded beef was like eating a roll of napkins. It was obviously made before we even sat down. It was cold and dry. I ended up using the salsa from our chips to lubricate it enough to get down my throat. But this was not what ruined it all. My boyfriend ordered the carnitas which also came before we had two bites of our appetizer. (The meat was prepared in large quantities and they serve it like fajitas so it came with everything so that you make your own.) Well our little table could not hold the chips and salsa, the appetizer we JUST got, our waters, the two small appetizer plates, my old krusty enchiladas, and my boyfriends entree plate, the warmed tortillas container with a cover, and the plate with fixings for the carnitas (sour cream, guac, pico) that came stacked on top of the tortillas container. There was no place for him to put the plate with all the fixings down anywhere unless I held it so he could take out 1 of the 2 small tortillas...yea they gave just two. So we asked the waitress if we could move to one of the 3 empty larger tables that surrounded us. She came back and said "I'm sorry out hostess wants to save these tables for the Saturday night rush JUST IN CASE." So when we asked her how are we supposed to eat she tried to play puzzle with our dinner. I finally had to put the appetizer that we still didn't even have time to enjoy on my plate and give up that plate. By then my enchiladas were turning into cement and dust. (At this point my potagee temper was peaking and I wanted to flip the table.) My boyfriend tried to stuff as much as he could in the two small tortillas and still had half a plate of food left. "Would you like a dessert menu?" Really? When our plates are still full? Ok, this is over. Check please. Oh and the table we asked to move to was still empty when we left. Many of the other reviews were nice but we got the shittest Saturday night treatment ever. (I was a waitress for a couple years - yea I get the couple that wants to sit at the cozy 4 top on busy evenings - but when THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NO ROOM FOR THEM TO EAT it would be common sense to move them instead of "lets try this plate here, hang this plate off the table a bit, shove the drinks to the edge of the table so that the guests are totally nervous while they are eating. I shoulda knocked the damn glass over. Oh and the hostess pretty much telling the waitress "no u get a crappy tip cause I wanna save the table for later JUST IN CASE." Never again.
(1)
Patty H.

Luibueno's is located at the old Rosie's Cantina location in the Haleiwa Shopping Plaza. As far as Mexican food goes......I've had better on the mainland. As far as Mexican food in Hawaii? Well, this place is ok. Go for lunch, the price won't kill your wallet. The fish tacos are (to me) one of the better menu items. Depending on their catch. The fish can be very fishy tasting even when having the beer battered fish. Something my teenage son will not touch with a 20 foot pole (and teenage kids eat any and everything). If you're in the country and want some good fish tacos, stop on by. It is the only dish I would come back for.
(3)
Timothy O.

Wow, simply wow. I do not mean this in a good way. I was surprised with all the positive reviews of this place. I guess I visited this place on the wrong day at the wrong time. I would hope that my experience was unique and that the experience is not commonplace for this establishment. I am a very big fan of Mexican food and I like to try the different variations and restaurants throughout the island. My fiance and I wanted to try this place out since she heard about it on the cheap eats or some news broadcast, so it had to be great right? We arrived around 1:30 pm or so and were immediately seated. Great start right? Wrong! Let me start with describing this place... I cannot complain about the decor as it did feel warm and inviting. However, the spacing of the tables was close (to put it nicely). I felt as if I was sitting in someone elses lap!!! I would not consider myself a big person, yet I found that I was squashed between the tables edge and my chair resting directly against the chair of the customer behind me. I had to continuously apologize to the customer behind me for bumping into her. My fiance had similar problems on her end as well. I felt less claustrophobic on airline flights. (Lost my repeat business on this fact alone) I am not a clean freak but I do enjoy cleanliness, especially at a restaurant. I had the "urge" to wipe my silverware as it was very splotchy and appeared to be cleaned very poorly. I guess it's a common thing here not to clean dishes because my glass had a dark shade of lipstick freshly placed on my glass. *Sigh* ( Lost my repeat business on this fact) We were greeted once within 15 minutes and that was only the bus boy to fill our glasses with water (which due to the dirty glass, I did not have the urge to drink). When the waiter finally showed up to take our order I was about to walk out... I have never done this in my life. However, while we were waiting, another family that had been waiting across from us prior to our arrival had decided enough was enough. I guess they had just received drinks and chips to tide them over but were offered no customer service beyond this. They had not been helped at all, that we noticed within the 15 minutes that they were there, and they had kids. As the family was walking out we overheard the mother state, "The service here is ridiculous." (Lost my repeat business on this fact) Since the waiter came right before we were about to leave I decided, "what the hell, let's give these guys a shot." We ordered 2 margarita's, fried calamari, ceviche, and oyster shooter to start. We shared a carne asada (steak) buritto between the 2 of us. At the end we did not feel like dessert. By the way... it took 7 minutes (I timed it) for the waiter to get our margarita's. By the time our drinks got to us they were watered down. Usually, alcohol might help to save a bad situation but failed here. How do I rate the food? Below Average to Poor!!! Once again, it may have been a bad day. The Chef/Cook may have had a death in the family or lost their dog, but as for the food, everything was sub par. The calamari was burned (crispy dark brown) and tasted like seafood chips. Ceviche??? Really? The only thing that I tasted was tomato's... if there was seafood in there I would be pleasantly surprised. The carne asada was poorly seasoned, I have tasted better carne asada from a grill from a drunk friends backyard BBQ. (dare to guess... Lost my repeat business here too) Are my standards high? No, not at all. However, I believe in good food and good customer service and I received neither here. I am sad to say that I have received better customer service at dives and less pleasant locations than this establishment. Would I recommend this place to family, friends, associates? No! First impressions are the most important and this place impressed me in all the wrong ways. Unless a out of town friend invited me to eat here and pay I will probably not revisit this place again.
(1)
Lisa L.

Stopped here for lunch during our day trip to North Beach. The chips and salsa to start were very good. I had the chicken quesadilla and it was probably the best I've ever had - almost enough to feed two. My boyfriend had the carne asada tacos and the too were very good, the service was prompt and friendly - definitely a good place to try during your visit to the island.
(5)
Melissa S.

My local friend told me this was the best Mexican on the island....right. Overpriced and underflavored. Nice atmosphere, but no thanks. Still better than Cholo's ("aka Chorro's") though.
(2)
Tysen C.

Stopped in Haleiwa with no particular food plans. The smells coming out of the kitchen made us choose Luibueno's. The shrimp tacos are fantastic--very rich and flavorful! The fiance liked the beer battered mahi taco even better! Good salsa--very mild, but they offer spicier hot sauces (Tapatio and the like) with the entrees. The service was good, just a tad overbearing at times. Our waiter liked to talk and talked very loud. But...he made good recommendations and was nice so I should just shut up, huh? We'd come back!
(4)
Jan S.

Sorry Luibuenos fans, but this place was overpriced for mediocre food with a poor selection of beer on tap. Very disappointed. However, service was great and I had a sample of the sangria which was killer, knock-you-on-your-ass killer and I would recommend coming in for that then moving on for a better place to eat.
(3)
Sonia S.

My family and I were craving Mexican food! So I turned to Yelp to help us out and everyone raved about this place. Big Let down! Theres a hostess station outside of the restaurant.. but there was no hostess so we walked in.. and it took awhile for someone to pay attention to us. The atmosphere is set more as a fine dining, not ideal when you're bummy from the beach. I ordered the Chicken burrito it was OK. My family ordered the beef tacos, they hated them. Big waste of food and money. I would much rather have found a taqueria.
(1)
Al D.

When I came here, the kitchen was preparing dishes for servers to sample. Problem was that they were all on shift so they stood at the kitchen scarfing down food (with their hands sometimes) then would serve a customer their food at their table without washing their hands. I thought this was gross but had a clear view of the kitchen and watched it happen (after we had gotten our meals, thank goodness). Overall the food was bland. The empanada was very tasty though.
(2)
Mike Q.

Food not that good
(2)
Stacy B.

We waited for 15 minutes, at 2pm when it was slow. Food was bland. Not even close to Mexican food. Tourist trap. Wanna be gourmet food! Someone needs to remind the owner he's selling Mexican food...at least cholos food taste great!!! You can dress your servers all in black and make it look professional but it doesn't matter. Food sucked. Over priced. Never again.
(1)
Morgan T.

Oh man, this place was great. After visiting a sketchy place for lunch, I was really ready to get some McDonald's or something. We came here instead and I'm so glad we did!! The service was friendly and quick, chips and salsa were great, and the entrees were fantastic. The prices were quite reasonable and we enjoyed the giant margarita! Would definitely return again and again.
(5)
Buster S.

So we've been in the islands for a couple weeks and have found excellent food everywhere we've gone...that is until tonight. After reading all the good reviews we thought we would try Luibuenos, a mistake for sure on our last night here. After we were seated the chips and salsa arrived. The chips were either not very good chips or they were stale with OK salsa. I ordered blackened ahi tacos with rice and beans and my wife ordered mahi tacos. Hers looked sort of like tacos, however mine was a half a cigar sized piece of ahi with dressing and cilantro on it on a tort. What? I thought the menu said ahi TACOS, my mistake. The beans can best be described as a bean colored lard paste, uk! When my wife asked if there was lard in the beans she was offered vegetarian black beans, she said, " thank you that would be nice." Just a tip here, that choice would have been a good thing to make us aware of when the waitress took the order. The beans came, we finished our meal and asked for the bill. Of course there was a charge on the bill for a side order of beans. I did not find the service worthy of a tip, nor did I find the food worthy of a return trip. Beware.
(1)
Dean C.

Service rocked, the Sol was uber cold, food came out quick, and was really good! The only downside was that it was less Tex Mex than expected. It gets my vote for Mexican on the north shore though.
(4)
Saul M.

Wed. dinner using a Groupon 50% off certificate. Easy parking in the lot. Waited only 1 minute for a table. The waiter & all the staff were excellent throughout the evening. The chips & salsa were better than most...especially the salsa. We ordered from the daily specials menu. First, a soup which tasted like lobster bisque, but contained fresh whole shrimp...just fabulous! Then an entree made with grilled monchong fish covered with a salsa & over a mashed stuffed yucca fritter...just as fabulous! Neither was traditional Mexican cuisine. While I enjoyed listening to the live guitar & singing...from our table it was a bit loud. The prices where on the high side. Our monchong fish entree alone was around $30. I was thinking it should have been priced at $20, no more than $25. While I would return, due to the higher prices it would be for a special occasion.
(4)
Dan M.

Awesome salsa and there happy hour beer battered fish tacos are off the chain. Go get a Mexican brew and some fish tacos and enjoy the orgasm in your mouth.
(4)
Beth S.

Wonderful service and terrific food. We got the queso fundo and it was very delicious-- tasted fresh and light! My husband got the shrimp enchiladas special and i got the vegie burrito. Very large servings which came rather quickly after our appetizer. The place was packed, yet our waiter was pleasant, attentive and very nice. The manager came over to check on us and ended up getting us our to go boxes. Very nice place, but i think you should get reservations as we lucked out getting a table at 6:30pm.
(5)
Summer N.

Four stars for the beer-battered fish burrito! The fish burrito was massive--filled with black beans and crispy, but not overly fried mahi, and some kind of awesome sauce that made me finish the entire burrito, despite my earlier declarations that I was "not that hungry." My husband had ordered the food to go--which was a shame because all tacos and burritos are half off during their late night happy hour (9:30-10:30 pm). The regular prices are pretty steep--$11 for a burrito ala carte, and $14 with beans and rice. I debated between three or four stars for about a half hour before coming to my senses, because let's face it, finding amazing Mexican food in Hawaii is as rare as finding decent sushi in a landlocked state.
(4)
Julia G.

Luibueno's es Muy Buenos!!! :-) I am so thrilled and relieved to FINALLY have found a delicious Mexican restaurant here on Oahu! It took MANY fails at various restaurants around the island to get to this ONE gem. Let's see... to start of with the ambiance is festive. Great music is blasting and the walls and decor are all vibrant with color and decorations. Margaritas ARE amazing. They are made with fresh lime juice, not the sweet and sour mixes and taste wonderful. It has a lovely fresh flavor that is refreshing and something I never find in margaritas. The salsa is very good, too, and they offered unlimited chips and salsa. The carne asada is very tender and flavorful and yummy! Everything seems made from scratch and is as authentic as I have tasted. Being from San Diego, I do get very picky about my Mexican food, but after learning the owner is from San Diego, I understand why I love this place so much. I had a shrimp taco (The Gobernator?) and a carne asada taco. Both are served on soft corn tortilla. Served with beans and rice, everything tasted wonderfully. Fried ice cream is very yummy. Churros, too. Everyone in my party was a satisfied customer. Our waitress informed us that this actual restaurant opened about a month ago. I wish they would open one closer to Hawaii Kai now! ;-) However, it is definitely worth a drive when I get a Mexican food craving.
(5)
Susan E.

Won't be back, unfortunately. They did seat us in record time, which was appreciated. However, the place is insanely loud (no fabrics or carpets anywhere to absorb sound) and the food was mediocre. We started with the "queso", which was nothing more than shredded cheese in a mini skillet. It took forever to come out and when it did, there was an oil slick on top (i assume because the cheese separated while sitting in the window under the heat lamp). It wasn't spoonable or able to be dipped, rather tough and stringy. Awful! My husband had a rather tasteless steak, which was presented with a grilled (but slimy looking) green onion on top. I had the ahi enchiladas, which hit the table smelling like old gym socks (I kid you not!). I just ate the rice and beans, which was passable. We didn't stay for dessert.
(2)
Michelle B.

Fantastic place to eat at the north shore! Food and service is fantastic. Their fish of the day is always amazing. Also try their homemade horchada (sp?).
(5)
Daniel D.

Wow, my GF and I were completely blown away by this restaurant! I'm not saying we had low expectations but we had originally came to Haleiwa for Thai food so we were kind of upset that Opal had not opened for lunch. Nevertheless it enabled us to find this great place! I'm not saying we're experts but we are from CA and our standards for Mexican food are pretty high. This place made me miss home! B R I E F S U M M A R Y -- Excellent chips & salsa -- Excellent and super fresh guacamole (OMG so good) -- Great service -- Atmosphere/ambiance almost made me forget I was in North Shore -- Average carne asada tacos -- Super fresh Ahi (blackened) tacos -- Owner's family is from Mexico but he's from San Diego & moved to Hawai'i for surfing and married a local from Kauai! (a little history) At least once a week I need guacamole and I had been craving some fresh guac since we left the main land. Fast forward to a few days of way too much Hawaiian food and I was so happy to find this place. Again we had planned to have Thai food at Opal's but he didn't open for lunch. I looked up all the restaurants on my yelp app and this place set off my yelpdar! =) It was pretty hot in Haleiwa so it was nice to come into a cool restaurant that almost made us feel like we were home in California! We eat Mexican food at least once a week so as soon as the chips and salsa came out, we started munching away. I knew I had to order some guacamole to satisfy my craving. I literally almost licked the bowl clean! Speaking of which the bowl was huge! The guacamole was so fresh and flavorful. I would have to say it was probably in my top 5 guacamole EVER. Since we had loaded up on chips, we didn't want to get something too heavy so we both ordered tacos. I'm not a huge fan of seafood so I went with the good ol' carne asada. The meat was fresh and flavorful. I loaded on extra salsa and guacamole and it sent me into heaven! My GF ordered the blackened Ahi since our server recommended it. I mean you're in Hawai'i where the Ahi is super fresh and I had a bit and it was so good. I almost wish I would have ordered the Ahi instead. So if you're a fan of seafood, definitely get the Ahi if you want fish tacos. They had like a creama or sour cream that balanced the blackened spice on the Ahi. Very good! Overall the experience was great. I never expected to find a great Mexican restaurant in the North Shore! We don't really drink so we didn't get to try any margaritas or anything but I could definitely see people enjoying a drink here since they have a pretty nice bar. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for some good Mexican in Hawai'i!
(5)
S.L. G.

Great food!! I am pretty much addicted to their rib eye steak. I also love the carne asada!! The salsa is fresh and delicious.
(5)
Shane H.

First time on the island and I was seeking a Mexican food place close to what we have at home. I was happy to come across Luibueno's especially since the owner is from San Diego! The place is rather small and fills up for dinner/happy hour. We came around 12:30 and it wasn't happening until we left. It filled up fairly quick though. Wait staff is very friendly and promptly addresses your needs. Food was EXCELLENT. I ordered the blackened Ahi burrito with rice and beans ($13) and I couldn't be more pleased. Absolutely delectable! My family ordered similar dishes. The beer battered fish burrito is also well worth the money as well. We will definitely come back here. Highly recommended. Especially for the pricing of happy hour.
(4)
Michael C.

Awful and overpriced. I don't know what kind of black magic happens to Mexican food once it crosses the Hawaiian shoreline, but Luibueno's is no different than every other awful Mexican restaurant in Hawaii. I really wanted to like this place. I really want to like every Mexican restaurant I get my hopes up for; to be even ONE diamond in the rough of every crap Mexican restaurant in this state -- only to be disappointed every... single... time. When the Mexican food in an airport terminal in California beats every Mexican restaurant in Hawaii, something is definitely wrong. FOOD: Possibly the worst Fish Tacos and Quesadilla I've ever had in my life. Skimpy in portion, over-battered, covered in too much random sauce, not enough natural flavor and too much potency as if trying to cover up the lack of quality. The Quesadilla was dry and almost inedible. My date couldn't even choke it down. I ended up scarfing it down because the portions were so small and I was still hungry after eating my plate. Her plate looked sad on arrival. Mine looked like it had some hope with rice and beans, but after eating it, it tasted like rice-a-roni and beans out of a can. Chips were ok, Salsa was ok, although my date complained that it was too spicy of a salsa to be served as the standard salsa. I thought it wss fine, just watery and not strong enough. None of the dishes I ate or saw looked like they were made with any level of actual skill in cooking Mexican food. PARKING: Parking is sometimes an issue, as Luibueno's is in the most crowded part of Haleiwa facing Kamehameha Highway (near Pizza Bob's, Longs, across the street from Kua'aina). There are always a lot of people here, but you can usually find a space if you hunt around for one. ORDERING/ SEATING: Full service. Order from a fairly small menu. About 5 tables of 4, 6 tables of 2, and a bunch of bar seating. SERVICE: Excellent. Our server kept us waited on and our waters full, checking back three times to make sure that everything was okay. That wasn't what made me rate excellent though - I watched the way the staff handled another customer who had come in and was acting like a total asshat to the staff, getting in their face, and they handled his situation calmly, with a smile, and made sure he got what he needed without any further fuss. I was impressed, considering one of these guys could have probably pounded that asshat's face into the ground. 20% Tip left here. ATMOSPHERE: Kind of an odd, southwestern, Neo-SoCal decor, lots of black, dark colors, black uniforms, clean and modern, but casual enough for touristy Haleiwa. Two levels, one with seating and large window view of the town outside, another next to the bar with tall bar tables and stools. COST/ VALUE: Terrible. $14 for a Quesadilla, $16 for two Fish Tacos, rice and beans. And neither had enough portion to fill either of us up. Neither of these are difficult to make, and neither of these contain ingredients expensive enough to justify such meager portions at such a high cost. VERDICT: 2/5 - Avoid. You pay way too much for too little food that doesn't even taste good. If you are from California or anywhere near the Mexican border, this doesn't even beat out commercialized chain faux-Mexican. If you're looking for good eats in Haleiwa, give Opal Thai on the other side of the building a try, or Kua'aina across the street, which may be overhyped but is at least reliable. Once again, unfortunately, my quest for good Mexican food in Hawaii has come to a disappointing failure.
(2)
Stacie B.

The food here was delicious, albeit on the pricey side. The salsa was really, really good but beware its garlicy. Kind of crowded and close quarters sitting at the bar, but the bartender was very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Anastasia R.

Luibuenos is my go to Mexican restaurant. I would eat here more often but it's so far from where I live. Happy hour here is the best but I don't mind paying full price for their fish tacos either. Today the kitchen went out of their way and fulfilled my sons request for something off of the menu. The waitress warned us that they might say no but she came back saying they'd hook us up. I have never had anything bad here. This place is NorCal girl approved!
(4)
LuLu M.

Super cool to have such a hip and trendy restaurant on the north shore that also - and most importantly - has good food! Came here on a Saturday night and although the dinner tables were full, we lucked out with 2 seats at the bar (and serviced by the fabulous bartender, Jen!). We ordered the blackened ahi tuna tacos, the steamed clams and the calamari. There was a slight mix up with my friend getting carne asada tacos instead of ahi, but they remedied that pretty quickly. Also, they gave a generous portion of steamed clams that had a great sauce and tons of garlic but here are my two complaints: 1) The clams came with one piece of toasted bread. I asked for extra bread to dip it in to the remaining broth and they brought me 2 super thin slices of baguette AND charged me 50 cents! That was ridiculous. 2) the calamari was slightly cold = not very crispy = soggy calamari. I've had way better calamari for sure. So overall, liked the vibe, the customer service and selection of food, but a little to be desired in what they charge you for and how quickly it's served.
(4)
JP O.

1st and last time going there. Walked in and the place was the size of a closet. I don't want someone on top of me while I eat. When the food came out the food runner asked if we needed anything... once I told her what I needed she sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes... seriously? The food was bland I jad to doctor it up with a ton of hot sauce. Finally the price! 3 people cost $80?! 1 Quesadilla, 4 tacos, and a beer get serious. Don't go here! I've been to almost every Mexican restaurant on island... all the same.
(1)
Lys L.

Good food Reasonable priced Horchata is soo good Guachamole is good but they didn't tell us the up charge was 8$ when the menu said 3$ Only downside is I was going to order the raw oysters but they don't have saltine crackers to go with it :( Other than that it was good, I'd go back again. Server was mosses, good waiter
(4)
Dez H.

I always wanted to try this food truck since its so conveniently located on schofield in the px parking lot plus close to my job. Didnt have to actually go though because my husband brought me lunch! I got the carne asada chips. When i opened the to-go box i was delighted to see 3 hefty piles of salsa fresca, chopped steak, and guacamole. Underneath that were tortilla chips topped with a creamy white cheese, not too much, not too little. On the side was a cup of salsa. It was actually the best mexican food i have had on this island, although its hard to find mexican here period. It was the perfect portion for a lunch and was filling for the right price of $6. I vowed to make that my new regular place for lunch! It tasted like real mexican food that i woud expect to get in san diego, which is where i am from, which is what ive been missing since living here. Iif you have a chance, check them out for yourself.
(5)
Emi H.

I do not care for Mexican food and I honestly believe it's because I grew up in Hawaii where let's face it, we don't have the greatest selection of Mexican fare. So when my friend Russ M suggested we visit Luibueno's to grab a bite before a wedding, I begrudgingly agreed. On one hand, Mexican food is almost always last on my list, but on the other hand, Russ M rarely steers my stomach in the wrong direction. We parked and I was lucky enough to meet Lui in person. He was proudly showing off his brand new food truck in all its glory. A very nice man, but that did not mean I was going to enjoy his food. Inside we went and Russ M ordered up oyster shooters, baja style fish tacos and scallops for our table. While we waited for our dishes we happily nibbled on freshly fried chips, salsa and guacamole. Our food came quickly and we cheered to friendship as we threw back our oyster shooters. Nothing too crazy but a nice start to our afternoon snack. I didn't expect enjoy the baja tacos because the fish was deep fried and drizzled in a creamy sauce. But to my surprise, the tacos were delicious and in between biting and chewing I smiled and shook my head up and down in approval. The scallops were definitely the shining star of our visit and were beautifully plated on a mix of rice and vegetables. These suckers were huge and full of flavor. I can't say that I've ever had a better scallop in my entire life! My boyfriend hasn't stopped talking about them all weekend because that's how impressed we were by them. Overall service was spot on and very quick. We had an amazing time and I'm looking forward to returning for a full meal in the near future. Thanks Lui! Yelp 365 Challenge: #212/365 (The Muy Bueno)
(5)
Lu S.

Excellent service; the paella was the BOMB! I had the Ono special last week - a little over cooked, but the rice, baby cilantro and veggies made up for it. Also - the Hibiscus Margarita is very good. Worth the drive and the wait!
(5)
J A.

Great place to eat with an energetic vibe and friendly workers. We met the owner Lui and he took the time to chat with us for a few minutes. That's a rarity these days. The li hing margarita was absolutely delicious and so was the food. Calamaro Frito The batter was a bit soft, so it was different from what we're accustomed to eating (crunchy batter). The aiole had a nice taste with mild spiciness. Ribeye Asada Definitely not the best cut of ribeye. Standard asada. Your choice of corn or flour toritlla. Pollo Deshebrado burrito Very, very tasty. My favorite of all dishes we ordered. So good that I may end up re ordering this the next time rather than trying a new dish.
(4)
Erick D.

This is one my regular stops when I'm on my way home from the beach. First off, don't go here unless you're willing to drop a little bit of cash. They are a little pricey, but you're paying for quality, not quantity. And that's why I only give them 3 stars, the portions are too small to warrant anything more than 3 stars. Drinks: Excellent! I recommend the pineapple-vanilla bean infused tequila. (Ask for it in a martini glass, you'll feel like you're getting your money's worth.) It has this wonderful, buttery texture from the vanilla bean, and, yes, they use REAL, WHOLE vanilla beans. Like I said, great attention to quality. If you're only up to having one drink, and if you want something that will go straight to your brain, try the Sangria. Shazam! They even throw in a few pieces of fruit that have seemingly been soaking in some kind of spirit for DAYS; rum? I honestly don't know, but the fruit alone will get you to your happy spot. Food: If you like raw oysters, this is the place. I usually just order an appetizer and a half order of oysters on the half shell. I was a little disappointed with the calamari this past time; I believe it was $9 and I could see the bottom of the plate when it was dropped off. There MIGHT have been 10 pieces, I doubt it, though. I don't know what to think of that. I will probably send the calamari back next time if it is still that skimpy. Someone else commented on the salsa. It is good! Spicy! And good. So dip in carefully if you're not a fan of spicy salsa. Overall, a decent place to unwind after a day at the beach. Don't forget your wallet, and don't go in starving, because you might leave hungry.
(3)
Price J.

What a pleasant surprise! Tasty Mexican Food on the North Shore. Reasonable prices and margaritas with a kick to them. We will return on out next trip to Oahu!
(4)
Bessy L.

One star for the happy hour drinks, chips & salsa, the drinks were strong and not watered down, the salsa soooo good, the quality of chips is good, but I will only come back to this place for the drinks, salsa & chips, but not good for a real mexican food they could do better and customer service NOT GOOD :( The hostess not very friendly and the waitress seemed a little frustrated, but the bus boy was very nice, he kept coming back to the table every time my glass of water was half empty, If youre just in a need of snack this is the spot, not a real meal .
(1)
Lane A.

Poor service but decent food. For Mexican Cholos turned out to be a better dining experience.
(1)
Melanie C.

A little piece of commercialized restaurant feel on the North Shore (although I don't know if it's locally-owned or not). As in, great 'sequence of service', professionalism, and crowd-pleaser Mexican dishes. Happy hour is popular... $6 Hawaii-style margaritas, ~$11 plate of 6 mini tacos. Good chips and super-raw-garlicky salsa.
(3)
John D.

Nice little Mexican place. Great Happy Hour specials and the prices are good considering we are on the North Shore. The server was quick and took great care of us. Great place to get some fish tacos after a long day on the North shore.
(4)
Kelly G.

Luibueno's was packed for a Friday night! Came pretty late because Haleiwa Joe's kitchens were closed and was able to get in on their happy hour menu. There were no servers up front and the one we found said he didn't serve our area but would be happy to serve us regardless, plus points for awesome service! Once we were seated, we were immediately served chips and salsa, more points in my book. Hibiscus mojito was very strong with the tequila in a strange way. Sangria was pretty good, for me it was on the sour side? Carne asada burrito decently good. Long Island deceptively strong but yum. Ceviche was YUM YUM YUM! The boyfriend says its even better than his (Peru native) mom's ceviche! (plus points!) Overall great ambiance and decent food and drinks. Great place in the North Shore to visit!
(4)
Lindsey S.

I love love love this place!!! Everyone should know about their prawn appetizer and their jalapeÃ±o alcoholic drink... Out of this world.
(5)
Paul C.

Awesome fish tacos! The giant margarita was also fun!
(4)
Daniel K.

I ate here with a group of 7 without reservation on a weeknight without any problems. The restaurant was still full when we went, so I expect that on a weekend a reservation might be a good idea. The service was FANTASTIC. Our waitress (Julia) was the best ever. Seriously! If you are Luibuenos management and are reading this, give her a raise. She was attentive and explained the specials and menu options thoroughly. We all left the that night and agreed that she was one of the best waitresses we had ever had. The food was delicious and had pretty reasonable portions I got the two taco entree and a few others got the burrito entrees. We all were satisfied. The only slight negative we had was the price, it wasn't outrageous but was definitely cheap. It seemed like $15 was the low end price range and on up from there. In the end we all left full and happy, a great way to end the day on the beach. If you're looking for Mexican and are in Haleiwa or the North Shore Luibuenos is worth the stop!
(5)
Isela W.

This place is so awesome!!!! The food and drinks were excellent. The customer service was so great if I could give it 10 stars I would. Our food was late and they brought us out some shrimp (on the house) to compensate. Now that is great service. Will be back.
(5)
Court D.

Great food, good portions and excellent drinks. Ahi burrito is fresh and tasty. Good ambience and festive atmosphere.
(5)
Joey T.

I give the place 3 stars. The atmosphere was pleasant and relaxing. Very mellow and nice compared to the bustling two way road outside. I was actually recommended to this place by a friend who said the food was awesome. I thought the food was great, but not awesome. Not something that will stand out in memory out of the Mexican restaurants I've been to throughout Asia and home. The service was actually pretty sub par compared to the other reviews I've read here. Not sure if I got a waitress who was having a bad day or what. The price was not really worth the quality when I've had better quality for less. Food: I give 4 stars. The food was great, I had the seared Ahi Tuna Fish Taco, blackened. This was actually a great dish, despite the small serving that I'm used to having in other Mexican restaurants. Their nachos and salsa was mediocre. The nachos was basically Tostitos and some salsa from the can. I've had homemade salsa and homemade nachos at other restaurants I've been to and they actually had a choice of how spicy you want your salsa to be which should always be the case. The calamari was alright, but it was pretty oily. Might want to tone down on the oil unless you want to give your customers clogged arteries. Service: I give 2 stars. Our waitress was pretty horrible. She took her time coming to get our drinks while servicing other customers immediately. Our entrees took a long time to get there. She never refilled our drinks, and only did so because we had to actually call out to her. She was only assisting one other table in our section. I would give zero stars for service. But where she lacked in service, her co-workers actually did the work for her. Thank goodness for them. :) They saved us from having a completely horrible experience. Price: I give 2.75 stars. The price was pretty expensive considering our portions. $50 for two people. And we just had regular entrees and one appetizer. Might want to think about bringing your price point down because there are a bunch of better Mexican restaurants who actually serve more and are of better quality. I would recommend to try it out, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again.
(3)
Katie O.

If you came for Cinco de Mayo, you know as well as I do how packed this place can be. I'm not sure what it's like normally, but it was stuffed and it took an hour to get a seat for dinner. However, we'd already eaten here earlier in the day for lunch and were so impressed that we had to come back. The fish tacos are amazing, and the guava margaritas with li hing mui powder on the rim are absolutely delicious.
(5)
Nina B.

Good food. The fish tacos had a great flavor. Salsa is awesome, especially if you like garlic! The sangria is quite STRONG- but delicious. My kids got a scoop of ice cream with their kids' dinner and the ice cream, Dave's Hawaiian Ice Cream, was phenomenal!! Now, looking to purchase some of the ice cream. Service was top notch.
(4)
Doug W.

Great option in Haleiwa. We had the steamed clams, ahi tacos, and guacamole. 5 stars for the tacos. 4 for the rest. Decent mahito. Priced reasonably. Would definitely return.
(4)
Matt B.

This was the one place in town we kept coming back to as it was our favorite in Haleiwa. One of those places where you can just tell that everything is incredibly fresh and the chef knows what they're doing. Possibly one of our favorite things was the spicy salsa and tostitos they bring out with your drinks to nibble on. Or maybe nibble on is the wrong word.... maybe devour or inhale would be a better descriptor. Anyways, everything we ordered was amazing and the service was always super friendly and helpful. As for the drinks, they were really good but you could tell they put more than double the amount of alcohol that the average restaurant puts in (for the same price), which made me more than happy, but my wife thought they were too strong.
(5)
Holly B.

I'm a yelper, but I take yelp ratings with a grain of salt. Expected great things from this establishment, but the servings were small, the price high, and the offerings were neither inventive or original. While the waitstaff were friendly, this was a disappointment.
(3)
Fernando R.

Best Mexican and Latin Cuisine on the island .. Makes me feel like I'm at home again.. :) I would recommend the Paella Valenciana Entree ...
(5)
Beth L.

I have been here twice. The first time was ok. Average only really. The second time I went because It was raining and I had company. Had to go somewhere. my friend got horrible food poisoning. Buyer beware.
(1)
George P.

Very friendly door person and wait staff. Real north shore calmness if you know what I mean. Ordered the clams and shrimp appetizers. Clams was good. Garlic buttery shrimp scampi (also good) had a Mexican spice to it. The shrimp was quite spicy (hot) and had a grilled flavor. Be aware if you are sensitive to heat. Also got the grilled Mahi tacos. That was the best of the 3 items we ordered. While there we saw a seafood paella delivered. That looked fantastic. Next time....
(4)
Tiffany T.

Hands down best mexican food on island. The service is just as awesome as the food. Be sure to try their Jalapeno drinks, they're both so so good!
(5)
Jaclyn L.

What a tasty little find on our drive around Oahu! Delicious food, creative cocktails, friendly service! Highly recommend. We ordered the ceviche duo, grilled ahi burrito, portobello enchiladas. Yummy!
(5)
Teri W.

What a gem in Haleiwa!!! Always crowded for good reason - food is EXCELLENT! Especially the Scallops served on a bed of sautÃ©ed veggies with seasoned rice and a fantastic sauce. They could offer this with scallops, shrimp, fish, etc....or all by itself and it would be fabulous! Their homemade salsa is very good and they offer additional hot sauces if you want more kick but allowing everyone at the table to enjoy it when first served. Fresh fish specials were excellent and when we complimented the sauce, waiter immediately asked if we'd like extra - YES! And it appeared. Usually great service even when busy though they actually do a better job when completely full. If going for early dinner know that it still moves at the same pace as when full. We've been 6 times this month and enjoyed every meal. And, amazingly, their wine by the bottle prices are very low...buy the bottle and take the rest home! Going back tonight - can't wait!
(5)
Karen D.

Excellent service, drinks, and food! Highly recommended! Has only been open for 3 years, being the north shore baby restaurant, and I am impressed!!!!! Happy hour from 3-6 with the best tacos and drinks. We loved it and would definitely return.
(5)
Abi S.

I'm from Houston Tx so I it was a must to hunt down a decent mexican restaurant. I believe Luibuenos is definitely to my liking. Prices are higher, with a smaller menu- but the delicious taste makes a lot of sense. My husband had plate envy when they brought out my fish enchiladas. we came back a couple times more and it was still yummy. I truly recommend whenever you're over at the North Shore.
(5)
A E.

Service was ok. Fish taco were pretty good but the tortilla was like rubber. The meat in the enchiladas was super hard and dry . My wife and sister in law had them and told the waitress about it. She said sorry......... That was it. Didnt want to make a big deal about it, we just wont go back there again.
(1)
Diane E.

Having recently moved to Hawaii, I had asked some co-workers for recommendations for a good Mexican restaurant. It just happened that one of my Northern California friends is visiting me this weekend, and as we were driving around the island today, we arrived in Haleiwa just in time for lunch. We started off with the chips and guacamole. Yum! So much guacamole that we only ate half of it and brought the other half home. I then had the grilled fish burrito...big enough to bring half home. My friend had the ahi enchiladas and said they were good, although a little bit too heavy on the sauce for his taste. Friendly and fast service With full bellies, we completed our trip around the island before the food coma really set in. This place may end up being my go-to lunch/dinner place whenever I visit the North Shore.
(4)
Rod U.

Great service and a clean and inviting ambiance create an expectations that is not met. Luibueno's is the typical Hawaii Mexican restaurant. That is to say, its not Mexican by any measure other than they serve tequila. Props for the complementary chips and salsa. Very fresh home made chips and good quality salsa. Pay for a side of guacamole. Its worth it. A huge serving made of at least two avocados. Great balance of creamy avocado, sweet onions, and herbaceous cilantro. The queso fundido is eye opening good. Great combination of melted cheeses and slices of toasted baguette make for the ultimate grilled cheese experience. Only problem, pricey at $11.50. Mains need help. The good, the beer battered mahi for the fish tacos and burritos. Well seasoned and moist. The not so good, the blackened ahi is totally overcooked, dry and coated with an inexpensive chili powder that taste like dirt. Strike one. The extremely densely packed burritos are filled with undercooked, crunchy black beans. Strike two. Finally, raw, crunchy rice as a side. Strike three. It's not all bad, there is potential. Most fish dishes come with a "white sauce" that taste like a combination of creamy ranch dressing and hot sauce. Its all good and works well to bind the less than perfect ingredients together. Food prices are high (think Waikiki). Drink prices are low. Two visits as part of a progressive dining romp of historic Haleiwa town. Same old same old... Stick to a starter and have a li hing mui margarita you won't go wrong, at least for now.
(2)
brian d.

Meh. So so. Ahi enchiladas were disappointing. Another patron's burrito looked big, maybe try that if you have to eat here. Service was rushed, music too loud, food a bit salty, basically all the standard ploys to get you to drink more and leave fast. Unauthentic in every way. Not the worst trap around but don't expect great things.
(2)
Al R.

The food and service was fantastic. Jane offered to customize the meal to our liking. The chips and salsa were so good. Best fish tacos I have had in a long time. Everyone of the servers worked together to make our meal memorable.
(5)
Reza A.

Good place to go on the North Shore if you are looking for a nicer restaurant with decent food and good service. My girlfriend and I went here for lunch. The first thing that stood out to us was the great service. Both, the hostess and our server were super friendly. The restaurant is nicely decorated inside and definitely more upscale than most other places on the North Shore. We each ordered three Tacos (two Ahi Tacos and one Mahi Taco) since that's what they are famous for. The quality of the fish was very good and the overall taste of the tacos was pretty good, too. There was maybe a bit too much sauce on the tacos for my taste (with Fish, I prefer rather less than more sauce), but nothing to major. Overall, a good experience, and if it hadn't been $50 for the Tacos and two beers I would have given it 4 stars.
(3)
Kevin B.

I've been here a million times and can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. Luibueno's has been our 'go-to' restaurant on the North Shore for about 3 years now. In my estimation, their beer-battered fish tacos are the best on the island. Period. My wife and I are pretty particular about Mexican food (coming from San Antonio), but this place is legit. Their drinks menu is creative, and they stock several low- to high-end tequilas, which their drinks are built around. Only thing separating them from a five-star rating, is that their service can be a little scatter-brained at times, but nothing that keep us from going back here time and again.
(4)
Angel F.

I almost didn't go here because of the star rating, but my husband said to give it a try. I'm glad we did. It was a fresh, Baja type twist on Mexican food. Nothing greasy or heavy. I recommend the queso fundido. It was over priced for the amount we received but the taste was worth it. The cheese dip was topped with a little bit of goat cheese. The ambiance was perfect. The restaurant is small but you don't get the overcrowded feeling. Our server, Clint I believe, was an awesome waiter.
(5)
Sonia S.

Chips and salsa were great, carne asada was better than I've had, but service was meh... Went on a Sunday night and it was pretty packed. We didn't have to wait long for a table, but our server was slooooow and hard of hearing. We kept having to repeat our order, which was irritating the living daylights outta me. Geez! After just finishing a huge shave ice at Matsumoto's, we weren't really hungry, but since we trekked all the way out to the NS, I had to try Luibueno's. *Carne Asada ~ You can order a burrito, a single taco, dos tacos with rice and beans...I decided to order uno taco. One small corn tortilla with marinated bits of steak, onions, cilantro, guacamole and salsa. The meat was flavored just right and nice and tender. The only thing I don't care for is the corn tortilla. It always seems to break apart more easily than a flour tortilla, especially when the juices from the steak and salsa start running down your wrist and arm....hate that. A one napkin taco turns into five. *Campechana de Mariscos ~ My gf ordered this. A combination of cold seafood (octopus, scallops, shrimp, and oysters) in a red sauce served with chopped cilantro, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes and sliced avocados. Served with a tostada and a lime. This was like having a cold, tomato gazpacho....the downside, there were more onions than anything else. After she ate all the seafood, nothing left but spoonfuls of onions. If you don't like onions, I would order this one "hold the onions" please. Overall, it was ok and I have been craving Mexican, I wouldn't drive out special to the NS for this meal.
(3)
Carey H.

Hands down, best part about it was the AUTHENTIC HORCHATA!!!!! This is very hard to come by in Hawai'i... We have been to many Mexican restaurants and they all add condensed sweetened milk, big no no! Crazy good here! The service was awesome! We ordered what our server suggested and it was fabulous... My husband and I shared the fresh catch entree and it was more than enough. Totally worth the drive and we'll be making our way out there again.
(5)
K M.

Good food/good salsa. Love driving into North Shore for a good dinner here.
(4)
Crystal R.

My husband and I visited this place on a recommendation from the owners of the beach house we are renting. We ditched the kids and came here on Friday evening. Our waiter was nice (can't remember his name)... No wait, we were seated quickly. Ordered some drinks and appetizers for the evening. I ordered the ceviche and the husband ordered the veggie quesadilla. Both were good. The place is packed with tourists and pretty loud so if that's what you like, then this is the place for you. Not likely we will be back though.
(2)
Derek W.

I've been on-island for about a year now, and this remains the best Mexican food I've had. The restaurant has a fun environment and the staff has always been professional. They make good, strong drinks, and I recommend the guacamole as a starter. The owner is a really cool guy as well. He has frequented our table on numerous occasions personally recommending changes/customization to certain meals on the menu based on what he grew up eating. And his recommendations have all been stellar. Great place, great food, I'd recommend it to anyone.
(4)
Nate J.

This is one of our favorite places to go on the island so far. We go every time we're in North Shore. Chips and salsa are great, seared ahi tacos are amazing, the pork burrito (can't remember exact name) was delicious. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Every server we've ever had was knowledgeable, attentive, and very helpful. The only negative I can think of is that the hostesses have been pretty snooty every time we've gone. Once, while we were waiting to be seated, my wife asked where the restroom was, and the hostess she asked seemed really put-off by her request, along with other things. If it weren't for that, or if it had only happened once, this would be a five star review. Place is amazing.
(4)
Joshua D.

Great food, awesome service. We live in Cali and I can tell you this place would put most of our Mexican restaurants to shame. Chicken quesadilla was amazing. Carne Asda street tacos are also great.
(5)
Kainalu K.

I'm usually about 50/50 on going to Luibueno's. We joke that it should be be Lui-no-bueno. How can you beat a long inviting bar, surfing on the flat screen, and MAUI BREWING COMPANY on tap? Made fishy ceviche and old oil to deep fry fish. Today fresh greens... Awesome! JalapeÃ±o infused tequila margarita was tasty too. Try it out, expect little and you might be surprised. BTW, staff is super friendly
(3)
J R.

We ate here three times in a row. Just could not resist the shrimp tacos. The margaritas are classic and great. Being from California I didn't expect it to be anything special. Turns out the owner is Mexican-American from Southern California. He nailed it. If you're on the North Shore you should visit Haleiwa and eat here. The service was great and prompt. Everyone we talked to there was really welcoming and even moved us so we could see the Pipeline Pro on TV - their suggestion. mmmmm Shrimp Tacos.
(5)
Gspot H.

Love this place on the North Shore. Always parking. Staff are nice. Food is really great. And The Chef makes tremendous Soup.
(5)
Jessica O.

Fantastic food and drinks!! The hibiscus seltzer is phenomenal! They make every bring from scratch, including horchata, hibiscus syrup, salsa etc. a must if your heading to Haleima!!!
(5)
Penn A.

Lui buenos has the best Mexican food on the north shore! Their guacamole and margaritas are absolutely amazing. The atmosphere is great and no matter what day of the week you go here, you're guaranteed to have a good time. Not two mention they have two happy hours! The staff is amazing, food is outstanding, lui buenos is definitely my favorite place to eat in Haleiwa.
(5)
Mark S.

We were on a leisurely drive to the north shore with no other real plan when we pulled into a parking lot to find a washroom. Seriously, thats how we found this gem. Once we sat we received a bowl of chips and some pretty good salsa, which we dug into pretty quick and got refilled. I ordered a fish taco and a great ceviche. The taco was ok, the ceviche he was great. Don't get me wrong, for the happy hour appetizer price of $3.00 the taco was good. I just wouldn't drive to the north shore for it. I probably wouldn't go back if it were not for the ceviche. It wasn't bad, just at there are so many neat places to try when you are in Hawaii, why double up on something slightly better than average. However, the salsa and the ceviche make this eating experience worth trying again. I'll probably go back this trip.
(4)
Ryan V.

Ok. Being part Hawaiian, living in San Diego, I know Haleiwa well and we SD'ers now good Mexi. Lui's is spot on. Owner is from Chula Vista, and he nailed Baja style food and drink and atmosphere to a tee. Killer food, friendly staff and good drinks. Lines move fast and the decor is very "Puerto Nuevo". If I had to complain about something for you non-5-star trusters, it was 70 outside and inside was like 60 inside. Thought I was in a Vegas casino, but someone else must have complained and it was turned down.
(5)
Birdie T.

Drove all the way from Waikiki on a recommendation for this amazing restaurant! We were beyond satisfied with our meal. The food was incredible & the staff was so friendly & took such good care of us. Definitely one of our favorite meals of our vacation. When on the North Shore this place is a must!
(5)
Kevin B.

Not sure why all these 5 stars are on here. Food is avg for Mexican in Hawaii and below avg compared to most in Cali. I had the enchiladas, with a sauce too sweet to be close to authentic. The glasses which are preset on all the tables were dirty. The service was horrible. No refills the entire time. The waitress' hever really checked on us. We have 3 kids and they brought one ice cream (comes with kids meal) then our other two had to wait at least another 6-7 min for theirs. Overall it ended up costing over $80 with no alcohol. Too much for crap service and worse food than we could have gotten for half the price else where.
(1)
George G.

Had the Mahi tacos with rice and black beans entree. The waitress was good and friendly. Can get busy, recommend making reservation on yelp via the link.
(4)
Renee G.

Really good! Best shrimp tacos and margaritas! Great atmosphere too and the owner is super sweet and a cutie ;) lol
(5)
Ann F.

I took a friend of mine to birthday lunch and was so pleased with this fairly new restaurant on the north shore. My family has lived in New Mexico for decades so I am very discerning when it comes to mexican cuisine. To my delight - the food was delicious, with lots of vegetarian choices for my friend. We had dessert as well - the fried ice cream and it too was delicious. I loved the decor and the mexican music. Our hostess and server were pleasant and prompt. This is on my list of places to return to often.
(5)
Sherry B.

I know in a previous review I said I don't get fish tacos bc I've had the best in FL, but they were highly recommended on yelp and by the waiter, so I went for it expecting to be completely disappointed by my overpriced fish tacos. WRONG!! We had the grilled ahi and the grilled mahi mahi (grilled mahi mahi is an extra dollar) fish tacos. I LOVED the blend of the grilled ahi fish tacos. I'm not even a fan of corn tortillas and loved this taco. That ahi was cooked perfectly with a cool rare center. The sauce(s) were just fantastic, such bold flavor. I wish we had arrived before 6pm (weekdays) to enjoy them on happy hour special but whatever, I'm so glad I tried this entree. The grilled mahi mahi was good but not as good as the ahi. My husband thought they tasted the same. The strawberry margarita (on the rocks)...not that good. I would not order again or recommend one.
(5)
Andrea R.

This place is hands down the best surprise we've had in terms of food. Never mind the poke, this Mexican restaurant is better than some of the best I've been to in Mexico. Drinks, entree and dessert, spot on. Order the tamarind margarita (and for dessert the churros)...thank me later! ;)
(5)
C M.

This place is always my favorite spot when I'm in Haleiwa! Happy hour starts at 4 and they have cheap drinks and food. Their beer batter fish burritos, and ahi tacos are great. Chips n salsa are bomb. And original and lihing margaritas are delicious huge and fancy! They have a good choice in Maui Brewing Draft beers also. Hits the spot after a hot day at the beach.
(5)
Megan G.

Came back once again for a farewell to Haleiwa dining (on a regular basis that is) dinner. My fiancee and I have been regulars since it opened and we really will miss this place! We just bought a house and will be moving to Kailua next week so we had to come back for one last margarita and meal. Clint is such a great waiter!! So glad to have had him our last night. We actually ordered an appetizer last night and I must say I am a little sad we had never oredered this particular dish before... the clams!! (alemajas al vapor I think on the menu) SO good. Get these... garlicky and yummy, I wanted a spoon to sop up all of the delicious broth. He got the paella, I had the chilled mairscos salad, and all did not disappoint. The passion-tini rocks too... sweet and strong. (kinda like me). We will be sure to be back when we head up to visit in the future, but until then, Thanks Luis, Clint and all the great servers who have made a really great impression on us both!!
(5)
Carol K.

It's the line factor. You know if a place has a line out the door and at least a 30 minute wait on a Sunday night that the food must be good. . . . .and the line factor didn't fail me this time. Leave it to the men in my group to sweet talk the hostess in somehow moving us up to a mere 10 minute wait (good because the place was packed and everywhere we stood to try and get a drink seemed to be in someones way!) We were shown to a table for 4 on the upper level tucked away in the corner . . .perfect! The menu has alot going on- from traditional American Mexican food to fresh fish, ceviche, oyster shooters . . .you name it- it's probably here on the menu. We ordered a range of things to start but the best was the ceviche. Fresh, tasty, I only wish they had served more chips with it instead of the one corn tortilla. It didn't occur to us until after we left that our table never got the complimentary chips and salsa . . those would have been perfect with this dish. The others at the table ordered salads which were fine but nothing remarkable. We ordered a ribeye steak for my friend, and the fish special of the day for me done in their traditional garlic sauce. Holy cripes! There was so much garlic on my fish that I couldn't eat it but my garlic loving friend was in heaven. Good for me that he shared his steak with me which was quite good. Our friends went with the fish tacos which they raved about. All in all, service was friendly as were the locals since we were laughing so loudly that we thought we were bothering them so we ended up buying a round for the tables closest to us. Turned out that was a good plan as we ended up knowing some of the people who then gave us great suggestions for our next day in "Paradise"! All in all, certainly not the best Mexican food I've had, but a pretty good effort for the North Shore of Oahu!
(4)
Jennifer G.

We should of left right when we spoke to the hostess. We had a group of 5. The hostess was very rude. She rolled her eyes at us when she took us to our table. She was not friendly at all. The seating is terrible. We were all crammed in a tiny table. They should redo the layout of the building. The glasses were filthy. We had chips and salsa and a side of guacamole. It was pretty good. Chips a little thick though. I ordered the chicken burrito. I did like it and it filled me up. It took forever to get the bills. It took so long a different waiter even came and asked if we needed our food to go. The original waitress come back finally. Even though we all had different, bills, she didn't have to throw them on the table. Then get an attitude cause we all received military discount. I won't be back. The service was terrible.
(2)
Gina B.

Lui Bueno's was an unexpected surprise for us to come across... We were actually waiting to eat at Cholos which is the usual spot in Haleiwa but the wait was too long & I was HUNGRY!! Yelped it and there it was...good reviews and less then 5 minutes away! When we got there it wasnt too busy, waited about 5 minutes for our table. As we entered I thought the restaurant was clean, nice decor and great ambience... We loved the the fresh food and yummy margaritas!!! Freshly made Salsa with chips while you wait... everything we orderd tasted freshly homemade. Avocado guacamole, shrimp ceviche, Prime rib carne asada fajitas, Fish tacos. Also MUST try the Tamarind & the Li HIng Mui Margaritas on the rocks....DELISH!!! W will be back!!! The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was because we asked for extra salsa for our chips and it took a while, had to ask again.... But overall this place has GREAT Food!! So good it was worth the price we paid... =) Definately Enjoyed our experience here.
(4)
Ali S.

My BF and I were on vacation and found this place on Yelp while we stayed at Turtle Bay. We decided to have dinner here on 12/07 and I gotta say, I was so impressed! The place was crowded and we were pretty hungry. I really wanted seafood and this place had great reviews. Normally, we try to go for the local cuisine but hey, why not try Mexican food in Hawaii??? We got a table right away by the window. It was cozy... Lol. The place is a little on the small side but we had enough room for the two of us. I ordered the seafood soup and my BF ordered the Paella Valencia. O.M.G! Both dishes were heaven! The paella (normally I've only tried Spanish paella) was so flavorful and FULL of seafood. It was more than enough for one person but it was so good my BF killed it. The seafood soup was perfect! Almost like a Sopa De Res but with seafood. We both had mussels, clams, shrimp, squid and scallops. Mine also came with soft shell crabs. Squeeze some lemon and add some hot sauce....mmmmmm!!!! We had a flan for dessert, which was really good as well. Not too sweet and the perfect consistency. The service was pretty good. They were responsive and very friendly. Really wish I had some paella right now! This place was definitely worth it! Highly recommend it to anyone out this way!
(5)
Mark T.

after looking at the yelp reviews of other restaurants in Haleiwa , the dinner options seemed bleak had dinner there last night and overall the experience was worthwhile. the drinks were enormous , the food was tasty and good . the hostess was very nice the only negatives It was a little pricey for Mexican food. the restaurant should be $$$ not $$ Our server- Moses- although helpful and attentive ran around like a mad man , kind of killing the relaxed atmosphere we were trying to enjoy. when their computers went down he seemed totally lost and manually processing our credit card seemed like a major effort Despite this they seem to have basic food service down moreso than their competitors if you are staying in the North Shore area, I'd recommend eating here over any other places in the area
(4)
Dani B.

Went for happy hour, had the fish tacos which were awesome and sangria which was powerful. Really tasty
(4)
Lekili D.

Where oh where do I start! Tapas To Do List: Callo de Hacha Aguachile: Chile water scallops in lime juice with red onion and cucumber slices Campechana de Mariscos: Tall bowl of cold seafood (octopus, scallops, shrimp & oysters) with plenty cilantro, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes and avos - topped with tostada (enough to be a meal) Tacos: Ahi blackened and Veggie tacos are great (served ala carte or entree with beans and rice) Entrees: Any fish entree is guaranteed fresh, fresh, fresh! Make sure to ask about chef specials, which always include awesome flavors - cilantro hazelnut pesto, papaya citrus honey glazes, cilantro garlic rice, deep fried avos...I could go on and on and on... They make a good margarita - blended, no salt :) And the one bar I've found that has my Don Julio Blanco!
(4)
Amanda Z.

During a recent day trip to the North Shore, I wasn't really feeling the shrimp truck scene, so we decided to check out Luibueno's, and am glad that we did. Although it is on the pricey side, the food was delicious and well worth the price. First came out the chips and salsa. I really liked the salsa, it had a bit of heat to it. I ordered the fried eggplant on a bed of rice covered with all kids of veggies (fresh corn, zucchini, capers, olives, bell peppers, etc.). I was super intrigued to see eggplant on the menu, and was really surprised and happy that I ordered it, because it was DELICIOUS!! The lightly fried eggplant paired nicely with the sauteed veggies and the fluffy rice. Yum, I wish I could eat some of it right this second! I also tried some of the ceaser salad (homemade dressing), burrito and carne asada taco, all of it was yummy.
(4)
Ruby S.

Top notch homemade salsa got us craving for more. Just the right amount of spices and flavors equals a match made in heaven for crunchy, no oil residue tortilla chips. Refried beans tasted fresh, not oily which we enjoy. Rice complimented our meal. Beef carne asada burrito certainly satisfied our Mexican food craving. Excellent and accommodating customer service. We didn't mind spending a little extra $$ on our entrees. Have to give four stars for finding and tasting too much salt on last layer of chips in two baskets. Attempting to remove salt remedy from tortilla chips didn't cut it for us.
(4)
Jeffery R.

So far this is the best Mexicanish food I have found on Oahu. The chips and salsa were fresh and tasty. The place itself is really small, but it is set up in a way that gives you a little bit of privacy. The hostesses were nice, even though I had a group of 5, so disregard the 1 stars that whole group wrote because they had a bad time. The prawns were huge, and extremely tasty, it took me (6'1" 230lbs) 3 bites to finish one. I wasn't especially impressed by the queso fundido, but my wife loved it. Parking was plentiful which is a big+ especially in Haliewa. Our waitress was on her game and very nice. For my main course I ordered the carne asada quesedillas, but was left desiring a little bit more meat. My daughter had the carne asada burrito and it looked amazing. My wife really enjoyed her shrimp tacos, and they appeared to have plenty of flavor. Next time I go I think I will try something with fish as I believe that is what they specialize in. I'll write a new review when I do as opposed to just updating this one, because almost every dining experience is different for me, even when at the same place.
(4)
Luis D.

It should be 0 starts the details simple don't go here... I'm Mexican ate real Mexican food my whole life, lived in Tx had some of the best tex mex food a word of advice I know why I'm grading this place like this cause it doesn't deserve to be called Mexican restaurant, I had a quesadilla and some tacos they were bad I know you are thinking maybe it was just the day, no I have eaten here three times and the food will never equal similar or look like authentic Mexican food, Damn taco bell is more Mexican than this, the closest to Mexican food on the island and I'm talking about the whole island is papenques in Wahiawa
(1)
Sandra B.

I came here for a date night with my husband. We both love Mexican food but did not care for the food here. My paella had a burnt taste and the rice was on the mushy side. My husband didn't care for his plate as well. Perhaps we should have stuck with the beer battered fish tacos since it seems that is what most people rave about. I will give this place another try because the staff was decent, the place was clean, and I enjoyed the fun ambiance. Also the salsa tasted fresh. I am really hoping that we came on the cook's bad day. On a side note, their cocktails were yummy but a little strong. I'm giving this place three stars because the first half started so well (first impressions, chips and salsa, drinks, and ambiance made it a fun date night). It was the main course that took the stars away.
(3)
Gloria G.

The ambiance and the food presentation are well done. The food, although it is a bit Americanized was good because their chef spins off his own style. It was a great second time coming to their restaurant on New Year's Eve. However, they didn't miss anything we asked for. Definitely one of our family's favorite!
(4)
Evan G.

Always a top notch spot to go! Best Mexican food on the north shore and killer margaritas. Beer battered fish burritos or tacos is a must.
(5)
Zachary H.

I haven't eaten here too recently but have had good to very good experiences overall. The most memorable experience was actually when I ordered the special one day, which was a kind of fish prepared two ways, and it came out a bit overcooked. I pointed it out to the waiter and he immediately apologized and quickly pushed out a whole new dish for me. It was really really delicious. Then the owner/manager came out and offered us free deserts for the inconvenience. I really appreciate when the people in charge take initiative in situations like this.
(4)
Scott T.

The fish tacos were better than any I've had in California. My wife ordered a Fish, Steak, and Shrimp taco and loved all three. Moses was an awesome waiter, and the restaurant had a great atmosphere.
(5)
melanie j.

One of the best Mexican food places on the island! Great service, delicious food, and legit recipes. If I lived closer, I would eat here a few days a week :)
(4)
Duy L.

**This is a review for the FOOD TRUCK only** Saw the food truck on a Friday morning, June 15, 2012 (sorry, long overdue review!). Prices were pretty ridiculous for a fish taco, but we were a little tired from snorkeling and had a craving for a little pre-lunch snack. Fish was nice and crispy, they didn't overdo the crunchy lettuce, and there was a good drizzle of a tasty white sauce. Little squeeze of the lime and we were happy campers. The rice and beans were an extra we coulda lived without though.
(4)
Susie I.

Luibueno's has great fish dishes. My friend and I loved the salsa - it was simple and fresh. We shared the steamed clams (almejas al vapor) and spicy garlic shrimp (camarones ala plancha) to start. We also split a mahi mahi special of the day. Enjoyed everything and sharing made it affordable. Washed it all down with a decent margarita. Also tried the sangarita bueno, which was basically just sangria. Decent cocktail but nothing to write home about. The friendly waiter filled us in on the surf competition gossip, which seems to be the thing to do when on the North Shore in November. I'd definitely go back for the fish dishes.
(4)
Rae W.

What's not to like about this place? As soon as you walk up, the hostess greets you and seats you in a manner I no longer expect. The waiter comes over right away to get your drink order, and if you order something you rarely drink--as I did--he answers questions without talking down to you. The strawberry margarita was fabulous, by the way! My partner ordered an ahi burrito and I ordered a carne asada burrito. Both came plated prettily, and they were so huge I couldn't finish mine. One caution--if you do not like cilantro, tell the waiter. There's quite a bit inside the burrito. But if you like it, you will love this place.
(5)
Meg M.

Luibuenos is a tough place to rate because I have had mixed feelings and experiences every time I have been. At first, seeing it open up, I was skeptical that there was room for 2 Mexican restaurants in Hale'iwa. But, I mean if it had better food then Cholos, I was all for it. Luibuenos has evolved from those beginning days into a place that is great to go with friends for happy hour or dinner on weekend nights. I decided, after my visit this weekend, to rate it 4 stars, because I love having it as a choice in Hale'iwa but I have never had a consistently wonderful experience when I have gone. Here is the low down.... Things I love about Luibuenos: - The great happy hour deals (and that they reoccur if you manage to make it to 9:30 pm) - It's not just for tourists! - The amazing service and attentiveness of the staff (Lui himself waits tables most nights!) - Bottomless chips and their spicy, fresh salsa - The grilled ahi- put on top of the local salad it is my favorite meal but it is also excellent in the burritos and fish tacos- never overdone - The selection of local fishes every night and how they are woven into the specials (the Machong is such an awesome choice every time....) - The mojitos and margaritas (you don't need the Cadillac- the house one is pretty strong!) Things I don't love about Luibuenos: - The fact that happy hour is from 3 to 5pm - No outdoor seating - The wait (weekend nights it can be up to an hour sometimes) - The specials themselves... the few times I have had them, they haven't been worth the higher price - The sometimes TOO attentive staff, you know what I mean Mary A.!
(4)
Jennie H.

$3 fish taco happy hour and cheap happy hour drinks (and other food) make this an AWESOME stop after spending the day at Mokuleia or other North Shore beaches. The staff are super friendly, and when you're paying happy hour prices, it's not too expensive. I like the decor and the bathroom is really nice too! (We visited it several times since we were there with our recently toilet-trained toddler!!) We've eaten dinner there before, and it was good, but I think happy hour is the way to go if you can swing it. Now I want to go and have some fish tacos again!
(4)
Erin C.

Had the Cadillac margarita and shrimp tacos! Best Mexican food I've had in a long time. Service was super as well!
(5)
Ashley L.

Liked the mahi mahi fisherman's catch tacos. Also, I asked for a strawberry/guava margarita and it was great!
(4)
Francesca L.

Make a reservation if you have more than 4 people! Came in on a Wednesday night for dinner with friends and their kids, there were 6 of us and they first tried to sit us awkwardly in the bar, then gf's hubby walked around and found 2 normal tables for us to sit at--uhh thanks for telling us? Anyway, it was fine. We made a kids table and an adults table. The chips and salsa were pretty good, the salsa isn't spicy, and it's the watery, not chunky type, but I liked the flavor. For my meal, my friend and I shared the fish taco dinner. I thought the fish tacos were really good. The fish had this smokiness and a great flavor. I would definitely go back for these tacos. Overall I enjoyed my food, the seating situation wasn't ideal, waitress was pretty cool. I'd go again
(4)
Adam L.

WTF!!! I live in Southern California. How is it that the best Mexcian food I have ever had is on the North Shore of Hawaii? Luibueno's is a must for anybody who is looking for a fantastic meal, be it mexican, seafood or mexican seafood. The Beer battered fish burrito is out of this world. The ahi tuna enchilada is like the hottest sex you ever had. This is a foodie's dream. And Lui himself is a warm and gracious host. Whoever gave this place a bad review cannot be taken seriously.
(5)
Nick W.

It beats Cholo's, but what doesn't? Overpriced tourist trap with mediocre Mexican fare on the Northshore. So bland, not very filling for the price. 2 stars only because they make a pretty decent salsa.
(2)
Christa L.

If you're craving Mexican food while visiting the North Shore, you should definitely try Luibueno's. We've been here several times and have never been disappointed. If you're unsure of what to order, you should definitely try the fish tacos. They're delish!
(4)
Tiffany R.

I went to this restaurant with my husband and some friends. Had a poor experience and just sent this email: "Hello, My husband and I visited your restaurant along with a couple of our other friends today, June 23, 2013. We have eaten at the food truck and loved the food, so we were excited about going to the restaurant. We did not have a pleasent visit. While the food was pretty good, the service was pretty bad. First of all, the hostesses were very caddy. There were three young girls working the hostess stand today. When we walked up to the restaurant there was a group of people in front of us waiting to be seated, the girls took that group and then asked us how many were in our group. We told them, four adults and two babies. So, they were looking at their stand and chit-chatting about the servers. They were bad mouthing one of the servers, talking about how she was new, and when she was working. The young girl who seated the group in front of us came back and they all three gossiped for a minute and then decided where we should sit and the same young girl who sat the other group sat us. I held the door open for my party, even though there were THREE hostess, one of whom was directing us to our table and the other two were gossiping behind their stand. So, your restaurant was already off to a poor start, but we had a good experience at the truck so I was trying to over look it. After we were seated our waitress came and filled our water glasses, which appeared to be dirty, and asked if we would like anything else to drink. Drinks were ordered, and I asked about the soup of the day. She told me about it and I decided that I would be ordering that and then she said that they just updated the board and the restaurant was out of the soup. It was 3:30. Kind of early to be running out of food, but this happens to me at just about every restaurant out here, so I just let it go and found something else on the menu. We were seated near the kitchen, and I could see the food coming out for the servers to pick up at the window. I could also see that the servers did a lot of hanging out around that window. They could have been refilling drinks or checking on their customers. I would like to say that our waitress was somewhat descent. She did refill our water glasses often, but someone at our table did have to ask for more chips and for a refill on their sprite. We also had to ask her to split our check because she did not bother to ask us if this should be done. What really upset me was when I saw a girl standing at the pick up window for the food, stick a fork in a sauce on a customers plate and taste it! After she tasted the sauce, I saw her wipe the plate with a towel, because I am assuming some dripped from her fork. Then, a few minutes after that I saw her grab a different plate from the window and wipe some of the food with her HAND! That is totally disgusting! I don't think the girl was a server that afternoon. It looked like she was just helping take food to tables. She was a shorter girl, with a thick dirty blonde bun, and she was about medium built with freckles. She brought my husband some sour cream about ten minutes after he asked our waitress for it. I would give you a name but no one their wears a name tag. On our way out of the restaurant I was carrying my five month old in a carrier, and I had to open the door for myself, even though you have three hostess at the front entrance of your restaurant. Our friends got out of the restaurant a little bit before my husband and me, and I mentioned that I had to open the door for myself and they told me they had to do the same, and they had a stroller. If you have three hostesses at the front of your restaurant someone should at least open the door for people who have their hands full on the way in or out. We all live here on the island, my husband and I live on the North Shore. We will never be going back to this restaurant. It seems to be poorly managed and the employees seemed to be poorly trained."
(1)
Anela L.

We usually go to Cholo's but we wanted to try Luibueno's since so many people have recommended it to us. They said it is more than Mexican with fresh seafood. We were seated immediately after the lunch rush and were both shocked at the attention to detail of this place. Red walls, nice silverware, even the paper napkin and coaster had detail which I appreciate. Was I on the mainland again? They even have Spanish music in the background, I was impressed. They found us a seat that accommodated our stroller which was actually with a perfect view of the kitchen... I was a bit nervous about that. Other than hearing the cooks talk about hooking up with black girls, they were pretty quiet. The chips and salsa kept coming and were being refilled constantly until we finally said stop... which is amazing for Hawaii. We ordered the gazpacho soup, paella and flan. The gazpacho flavor was perfect and chilled and the toasted was buttery and warm. I was shocked with joy. We usually go to Barcelona for the perfect paella. My husband was very impressed with the flavor, fresh seafood and the server told us that they do make the rice beforehand each day, which is nice because we got it quickly. It was quite small but enough for 2 people. We ended with the flan because this is the true test of a great Spanish restaurant and I am addicted to it... and it was amazing. It was quite pricey and we did have sticker shock as we are usually eating off a truck in a more casual setting. $60 for lunch was alot but we both left full, taken care of and happy with all of the flavors. This will be our once in a blue moon spot but well worth it.
(4)
Marcy U.

Great selection of Margaritas as well as appetizers and entrees. The homemade tortilla chips are light and crisp and salsa fine and flavorful. Loved the atmosphere and the energy was high. Four of us went on a Friday evening for dinner and although the place was packed, we were seated within 15 minutes. Service was quick and while he was crazy busy, our server Clint spent the time to go over the entire menu with us and answer all of our questions. The food was delicious albeit portions a little on the small size. I have to say that Clint was a big part of why our experience was such a positive one. I will definately be back as well as recommend.
(4)
Anna S.

We've lived on Oahu for a year and frequently eat in Haleiwa, but somehow never tried this place until now. Best Mexican we have found on the island. Great fresh lime margaritas and fresh, high quality food. Not the type of cuisine you see much in Hawaii... which makes it a must!
(4)
Harvinder K.

Really good mexican food, maybe the best in the north shore. I went here a few months ago and cant recall everything we had, but here is a try. 1. my friend has the Fish Tacos and said they were mouthwatering and possibly the best she's had in a long time 2. I had the veggie tacos which were great. 3. lastly, I remember the chips and salsa being really good.
(4)
Wanda D.

The food is excellent and the portions are large, better Mexican food than Cholo's....The coffee is way too strong for my taste, that's my only complaint. I found their prices reasonable for the area, it is a tourist town. Highly recommended...I will go again!
(5)
Joyce K.

the food here was just alright--the fish was done nicely (ahi in both the tacos & burrito), but the shrimp (gobernador) tacos were mediocre. there were probably a total of four shrimp between my two tacos, which were grilled/fried within the corn tortillas, leading the tortillas to be near cardboard consistency. the chips and salsa were good--standard with a nice kick to the salsa. in sum, not a bad place to go to for some somewhat authentic Mexican, but would not go back or out of my way to try again.
(2)
Sandy T.

It's great that Haleiwa has another new place to choose from to grab a drink. Great food, love the location, and impeccable service. The waitstaff and bartenders definitely provide some of the best service on the North Shore. Especially Marilyn.... WOW what a true customer service professional!
(5)
lisa h.

YUM! Chips and salsa = perfect. Ahi burrito = insane...seared ahi, delicious beans, a tasty treat. My husband got fish tacos and, while they weren't the best he's ever had, they were really good. Margaritas = YUM! Obviously freshly made and just right. Service (other than the *slightly* grumpy-seeming hostess) was attentive and really nice. Our waiter was always available but not too hover-y. My faith in North Shore dining has been, if not restored, then definitely perked-up. Luibueno's is a little pricey (I think the kids' meals were around $10; we didn't have our kids with us, but I took notice--not gonna pay $20 for a dinner my 2 girls might or might not eat...) but a nice splurge. Decent balance of tourists and locals. Nice interior--well done, modern and inviting. We'll defnitely make this a regular, splurge-y , destination when we want to eat dinner in (Haleiwa) town.
(4)
Anne M.

Fantastic fish tacos.... Best margarita I have ever had. Great service.
(5)
VG d.

Loved the ambiance (heavy black napkins, nice touch). Good service! Loved the fresh chips, salsa was good but would be even better with some fresh cilantro! LOVED LOVED LOVED the ceviche. This appetizer seriously ROCKED! The caesar salad was unremarkable. Caesar salads can be fabulous, this was boring. Try big shaves of cheese, more anchovy in the dressing perhaps. Big garlicky croutons. You know what to do ;) The fried calamari was good, for what it is (squid is bland). The breading was tasty and light as a feather, but it needs just a little more effort, a bit spicier perhaps? A really good start, however. Your lychee martini's were DIVINE. Slurp slurp fabulous! The POSITIVES outweigh the one negative. In my opinion, fish tacos with cheese are a culinary abomination. (My background is Food & Beverage, quality control/menu development, 4 star restaurants in wine country (Sonoma, CA), so I think I can safely say this: cheese in a fish taco isn't done because it doesn't work!) BUT I'LL BE BACK no matter what, ej Jefe because your chow rocks!
(4)
Chris S.

This was the best meal we had on the island; the service was friendly and fast, the food was delicious and cooked to order. Unlike many Mexican restaurants, the salsa was actual salsa, not a tomato paste! Our server was Chelsea and she was amazing, we ordered oysters, queso and a few tacos, all were served vey quickly and delicious. I would recommend this place over any on the island, great staff and food
(5)
ToddKat K.

Place was on FIRE for Cinco de Mayo. The owner made the night for myself and the lady. Louie was handing out all kinds if party favors from Vans, Jose Cuervo, etc. This got the party crackin' all night long. Also, food was great and the drinks were ice cold. Great place and good times!
(5)
Justin R.

Esteban W. suggested that we check out this Mexican restaurant on our spontaneous trip to the North Shore. After what took a few hours, because of a few stops along the way, we finally got to the restaurant. Both very hungry and tired from the Crossfit WOD, we were ready for some Mexican food in Haleiwa. Right from the beginning, the service was pretty bad. After standing at the "Please wait to be seated" sign for a few minutes, Esteban finally went in to see if we could be seated and they told him that someone would be helping us soon. So as we continued waiting, a party of four impatiently waited behind us. After waiting about three seconds their group leader decided to go in and repeat what Esteban just did, they instantly gave his party a table. When the hostess finally remembered that there were two people waiting she brought us in and asked if we wanted to sit next to the impatient party before us. The two tables on either side were a little too cramped for all of us, so instead we were seated on another level of the restaurant. Whoever the developer/interior designer was for this place probably forgot to calculate how much space is needed to pull out a seat without having to hit the person behind you because 3 centimeters is definitely not enough... The table was neatly set although the first thing that caught my eye was the cleanliness (or lack thereof) of the drinking glass. I guess that they forgot to at least wipe the glass because there were water spots all over it. Alexander, our waiter, was not very helpful. When asked what was popular or even for his recommendation of a dish, he just said that EVERYTHING was good. I'm guessing that nothing really stood out for him? Minus points... So Esteban W. and I were left to just take a wild guess as to what to order. We got there just in the middle of Bueno Hour (aka Happy Hour) which was from 3-5 pm. The regular price of the Classic and Li Hing Mui margaritas were both $7.75 but during Happy, I mean Bueno Hour, the Classic was $6. Despite this, I asked if it would be ok to have the Li Hing Mui one for $6 since they originally were the same price. Unfortunately it stayed at $7.75. Either way Esteban W. ordered a classic while I still stuck with the Li Hing Mui. You'll probably read this in his review as well but there was a mosquito, body and all, in his drink. No bueno... As for my meal, I got the Carne Asada Burrito entrÃ©e (about $10.75) and it was actually pretty good. What was disappointing was the amount of rice and beans that made it an "entrÃ©e" which combined, was less than the amount of rice you would normally get in a mini plate at a local plate lunch place. Overall, I would not want to return because of the service and how little they pay attention to the sanitation of the restaurant. However if I know I will be craving Mexican food during my next trip out there, I will definitely bring my own food or spend a little more and get a more satisfying meal from Mexico/Mexico Lindo, Torito's, or Serg's.
(1)
Kay M.

Amazing food. I had grilled Ahi burrito, it was down right awesome. Service was good, great location, free tortilla and salsa. Can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Video T.

The arrival of any new eatery in little Haleiwa town is exciting, but Luibueno's even more so to me since I have the lingering memory of the delicious fish tacos from the old Luibueno's truck that was around a few years ago. It seemed that most of the North Shore showed up to have dinner at Luibueno's this past weekend - the one week anniversary of it's opening - because the place was SLAMMED! Be prepared to wait over an hour for a table on the weekend, because they don't take reservations for parties smaller than 8. The bar has a great selection of Mexican beers, and an extensive specialty cocktail and margarita menu. The Tamarind Margarita was my personal favorite - not too sweet, not to tart, and you could taste the tequila . I would definitely come back to eat and drink at the bar with friends. The tortilla chips were nothing special but the table salsa is great - could be a little hotter for my taste, but still delicious. My group ordered exclusively fresh seafood from the pupus menu, tapas style, and we were all extremenly satisfied with our choices. The absolute standout was the Scallop Aguachile. Tender Scallops swimming in a salty spicy mix of cucumber, onion, lime and chile and maybe some mystery spicing? The flavor was so divine that we dumped the extra juice onto our ceviche plate. The bright flavor of the ceviche pescado had a nice balance of lime, chile, and tomato. I would've liked it even better with the fish in larger firmer chunks. (Maybe this was a time-saver to "cook" the fish faster?) The small fried tortilla underneath was not enough for the ceviche portion, so we had to use the not as good table chips to finish the plate. Steamer clams came in a delicious savory broth, but need more toasts to mop up the goodness. Two of our party quickly became addicted to the horseradish kick of the Oyster Shooters, so we skipped the full oyster plate for next time. For dessert we shared the flan, fried ice cream with caramel sauce (strawberry and fudge are also sauce options), and the apple empanada. None of the three were too exciting, but the cornflake coating on the fried ice cream was a nice salty sweet crunch to end the meal with. I'm looking forward to returning on a less busy night and exploring the menu further. We didn't even make it to tacos and entrees!
(4)
Sabina P.

Luibuenos was a recommendation from my boss's boss, whom I don't know that well, so I didn't know what to expect. We were hungry from our drive to the North Shore and decided to give it a go. The guac and chips were great. Their seafood was excellent. Will definitely visit again if we make it back to the North Shore.
(4)
Melissa K.

5 stars because it was one of the few places on North Shore still serving food past 9 pm with a Happy Hour menu. Yummy fish taco's, plenty of chips and fresh salsa, ice cold beer, friendly service and excellent company,
(5)
Chris D.

Everything is so fresh and authentic! Best Ribeye Ever!
(5)
Steffen G.

On a flight back from San Diego to HNL one day I happened to sit next to the owner of Luibueno's. The restaurant hadn't opened yet and he was telling me about just getting back from Mexico with new recipes for his restaurant. We joked about the horrible mexican food on Oahu and he told me to pop by in a few months when the restaurant was open. Had that day not happened, I likely would not have ever tried Luibueno's. Coming back from the beach we decided to stop in just to take a look. It's in kinda an old strip mall and a first pass at the menu I was a bit hesitant to give it a try. It seemed like a nicer restaurant and we were just strolling in from the beach, but it's Hawaii after all. At first the prices seemed a bit expensive (and the Entree section is a bit expensive for Hawaii, and for what I'm used to paying in San Diego). I then realized that I've paid about $10 for what is called a "burrito" at Wahoo's (which is also called "Mexican" food). I got the beer battered fish burrito entree and my boyfriend got the pollo asada burrito (I think that's what it was). The food came out absurdly fast. We had placed our order right when we sat down, then placed our beer order a bit later and the food came out before our beers were even poured. The food was great by any standard. The rice was light and fluffy, the refried beans were also light. The beer battered burrito was delicious. I cannot even recall the last time that I had something that was beer battered that actually tasted beer battered. The fish was crispy on the outside and had a slight hint of beer flavor, the seasonings were amazing. The pollo asada burrito was equally delicious, although completely different in flavor. It was nice that each dish had its own characteristic flavor. Another bonus was that they had Maui Blonde on tap. It's one of my favorite beers and I don't think I've ever seen it on tap anywhere.
(5)
Paige H.

Great Mango Margarita followed by excellent entree fresh ono. Mark was the best server he treated us like family and shared allot about being a local in the North Shore!
(5)
Mr. tyson R.

Love the special of the day. But don't remember the name. Sorry. Owner is super nice! Go to this joint!!
(5)
Bryan E.

We stopped as we passed through Haleiwa on our way back from Waikiki to Turtle Bay. Yelp did not steer us wrong! Clean, well priced, fast service, enough parking, and a good selection of drinks. The complimentary salsa was great and held us over for dinner.
(4)
Alexander D.

Yeah, the entrees are pricey, but the burritos and tacos aren't, and they're friggin' great. Friendly staff and a generous happy hour. Get the Fisherman's Catch or Beer-Battered Mahi Mahi, a High Surf Advisory 56-ounce margarita, and you'll soon realize this is the best Mexican on the North Shore by a country mile. Or you could be a tourist and go to Cholo's for a Cockroach Enchilada.
(5)
Ralph R.

Fresh catch burrito stuffed with some ono (tasty) Ono (wahoo) was very tasty, as was the pineapple margarita. Kids had bean and cheese burritos, and the portions were large, so nobody went home hungry.
(4)
Kulia V.

We came to this place because the line at Cholo's was ridiculous. There were only 2 of us so we decided to just eat at the bar. The free chips and salsa were amazing. The chips were light and not oily and the salsa was fresh. Killed our basket in 5 minutes and asked for more. Then we got the tostada ceviche. It was so tasty and fresh. It comes with slices of avocado that go really well with the dish. Then we shared the carne asada tacos. The tortillas were cooked perfectly and the meat was yummy! They also had my fav beer ( Widmer Hefeweizen) on draft which is another plus. But next time I'll probably try their freshly made margaritas. Would definitely come again!
(4)
Lynn S.

We love this place and would like to move it to Hawaii Kai so we could be regulars. Happy Hour is great, with $5 to-die-for cevice and nicely priced drinks. Our server, Mike, was excellent. The decor is chic. Prices are fair. We loved our ahi burritos, and after a disasterous Mexican food meal last night, we really craved good Mexican food today. Fresh fish, fresh everything, great place. If you're on a tight budget, go during Happy Hour.
(5)
Eric H.

I asked the locals where to go and got this rec- it was great. Awesome battered fish tacos, also had veggie paella which was equally good. Nice drink selection, beers on tap, generous margaritas- even chips and salsa were good. We got there at about 7 on a Saturday with no reservation and only had to wait 10 min, but it looked like the place cleared out at 8. Friendly staff and clean place playing 80's on the jukebox- not sure what else you could want from a joint. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
Joey G.

Gave one star cause I had to. Place sucks, go down to Cholos, better drinks ,better service, better prices, better atmosphere and REAL Mexican food. Don't waste your time at luibuenos, the waiter there actually said " we use the unused parts of fish for our special today", without laughing, he was serious.
(1)
Danny M.

This place is great! We love the beer battered mahi tacos. I get them on a piece of romaine lettuce and it's just as good, if not better! The mango margarita is delicious and I don't even like margaritas. The chips and salsa is always tasty. Their specials are always very good as well. My husband loves to try the different specials, they can be pricey, but good! Definitely go here if you want some good Mexican food on the north shore.
(5)
Dave K.

Luibeunos is the best Mexican food on the island hands down. The best fish taco I have ever had and I have had my share living in Florida. If you go to the North Shore don't miss it.
(5)
D J.

Very good margaritas made the real way. Had the garlic shrimp app and carne asada taco entree I'm stuffed. Cool bartender.
(4)
Zoe B.

My husband and I went there again yesterday for lunch. My husband ordered a carne asada burrito and I ordered Caldo de Siete Mares, which is shrimp, scallops, octopus, snow crab, mussels and white fish in their so called home made seafood broth topped with cilantro, shaved onions and zucchini. My husband enjoyed his burrito and I didn't like my soup. It was very weird taste that didn't bring out the sweet flavor of the seafood....as a matter of fact, the soup didn't have seafood taste, just bitter lime taste. I wasn't sure what to do, so I forced myself to just ingest the seafood meat and leave the soup alone....but at one point I couldn't really bare it anymore and then stopped. The waitress stopped by and asked if everything was okay. I told her the soup was appealing to me. At then she said I could order something else and take the soup off the tab. I was a bit surprised they would be willing to do that. However, the soup had killed my palate. So I only ordered one ala carte carne asada taco to fill my stomach. Though the soup was disappointing, the waitress was very helpful and nice in dealing with the incident. Though we don't need to pay for the soup, we decided to tip her by calculating from a sum of the burrito, the soup and the taco. She deserved it and I gave it cash to her to make sure it went to her pocket. That's why it was 3 star this time due to the soup, but service wise, it's still a 4 to 5 star for this restaurant.
(3)
Kim L.

Went here for happy hour and got a bunch of the tacos. I think 15 tacos for 35$. Very very yummy and we loved their homemade salsa. We would definitely go back.
(4)
Bill S.

The food is generally awesome! Love everything but the rice and beans (mediocre at best). Caesar salad is great. The tacos are good to great (the Baja style beer-battered fish tacos are to die for). A bit cramped and a very loud. But the food is great, and I've been known to drive there from Waipahu just for dinner!
(5)
Jason J.

Whole lotta Tex in that Mex. Despite that the ribeye was excellent as was the horchata and queso fundido. Salsa was good but unremarkable.
(3)
Marc H.

This food was crap. Generic Mexican beans and bland fish. Yech.
(1)
George R.

Decent mexican food.. upgrade from cholo's on the N shore.
(3)
Jessica H.

Can't wait to come here again! Went on a Tuesday night at around 8. Still had to wait for a table...so I'm guessing, on the weekends, you'll be waiting for a table forever. The place is small and can get pretty loud. The atmosphere is nice and fun to be in. Ordered the calamari, yummo! Also had the fish tacos, very delish! The drinks are the best! Very strong! :). Prices of the food and drinks are worth it! It's hard to find good mexican restaurants on the island!
(4)
James W.

My wife and I made our first trip to Hawaii this past week. We are staying on North Shore's Turtle bay Resort. We got tickets to the Seafood Fest at the resort. Lucky us, we ended up meeting LUIBUENO'S employees and the wife of the owner. What sweet ppl. after trying the fish taco, we were sold. We ended up going for both lunch and dinner. The prices weren't bad but the food was amazing. Our waiter, Mark was awesome. If you are looking for a great place to eat and feel like family, try it out, you will love it! Can't wait to visit the island again and eat some more Luibueno's!!!
(5)
Eric D.

Great Happy Hour Menu! Ceviche is a must! Ambience is nice! We'll be back, guarant.
(4)
Jackie P.

We stumbled on this place after a day at Waimea and Shark's Cove, hungry and not wanting to drive around Haleiwa forever looking for parking (and Opal Thai was closed.) What a find! So good. My boyfriend got the Scallops (amazing), I had the Ahi Taco's (awesome) and the salsa is some of the best restaurant salsa that I've had. Definite recommend.
(4)
norma p.

this place was OK. we got there during happy hour, but our waiter failed to tell us, we had to ask after hearing another waiter tell a table close by. the chips were just OK and so was the margarita... nothing special. we ordered the happy hour fish taco's which were $3.00. they were good but i wouldn't go here any other time other than happy hour, its way to expensive and not delicious enough.
(2)
Tyson J.

Best mexican food on the island.. I love this place.. Friendly service... Def will go back every week
(5)
Michelle M.

whenever there's a negative experience in service culture, a business' response and timeliness is crucial to winning back the guest. luis, the owner of lui bueno's, was sincere, genuine and quick to contact me. he offered apologies, explained his concept for the restaurant and also invited me to come back and give lui bueno's another try. i'm not going to lie, i was pretty upset after my last experience, i've never given a 1 star rating before! but, i appreciate luis' honesty and let's face it, accidents happen. i was never upset about finding a surprise in my food, i was upset about the lack of reaction or service from the staff after the incident. however, luis' compassion was evident over the phone and talking him completely redeemed the poor service i received. with that being said, the four stars are not for the restaurant but for luis. when i return (because the food is pretty yummy), i'll be sure to let him know how it goes.
(4)
Bryon T.

Luibuenos is a nice addition to Haleiwa/North Shore! Good/quality customer service! Food is very good! Good seafood and carne asada! Love love the battered fish tacos! Awesome salsa...hard to find in Hawaii! Happy hour specials, decent prices! Portions could be a tad larger, but other than that, I highly recommend Luibuenos! WAAAAAAYYYY better than Cholos (horrible)!
(4)
Noeru N.

Opah Fish Taco was memorable! Tamarind Margarita was unique. Service was decent. Did I mention the Opah Fish Taco was awesome?
(4)
C O.

I'm so excited on so many levels that Luibueno's is open in Haleiwa. For years North Shore has been a culinary wasteland of terrible, kitchy, overpriced tourist-trap-dining-crapholes. Cholo's pretends to serve Mexican food, Storto's insults the populace with their sugary sandwiches, and two local establishments have become famous for serving snowcones. Really? It's just a snowcone. Anyway, sorry for the digression. Luibueno's. Ahh, I still savor the wonderful flavors. They updated the decore since they took over for the cantina that used to be here and have drastically changed the menu and serve actual, authentic, delicious Mexican food. I LOVE THIS PLACE. This is, by far, the best Mexican food on the island. I know Esteban will come in and say its not actually authentic, but I don't care. Somewhere in Mexico there is a mom-and-pop restaurant that would kill to serve this food---that makes it authentic enough for me. The service is spot-on and friendly. Their chips are fresh made in the kitchen and the salsa is heavenly. Their margaritas are made from actual juice (not that bottled premade junk) and their prices are great for what you get. The menu is extensive, everything is offered ala carte and as a full meal. They have fresh ceviche, serve fish that is locally caught that day, and offer the usual range of proteins (pollo, carnitas, beef). My love of the North Shore grows with each passing week my wife and I head up there. First, Haleiwa Eats caught our attention. Then, it was Opal Thai. Then the fish and chips guy by Opal's truck and now Luibueno's! No wonder I'm getting FAT!
(5)
Nancy H.

we were in hawaii a few weeks ago for vacation, and after driving around the island for a while we decided to stop at this gem. it was amazing!!! the food was absolutely delicious, and some of the best i've eaten anywhere in quite some time. the waitress was nice, attentive, brought us refills of drinks/chips/salsa without us asking (always a plus in my book). the place itself was on the smaller side, but what they lacked in restaurant size they made up for in tasty food!! i had some chicken tacos. oh god they were SO GOOD! the verde sauce was amazing. their rice was fluffy, their chips tasted home made. their salsa dear lord was GOOD! i had queso with chorizo in it w/ crostini....the list goes on and on. this place is tops, and if you're looking for some tasty mexican food on honolulu go here. service, food, atmosphere=AMAZING!!
(5)
Mike H.

Great Mahi Mahi burritos and tacos. Plus the prices on the daily happy hour can't be beat! The service was great but the oyster shot was very disappointing. It was cheap enough but tasted like the oyster came out of a can and then a cocktail sauce monster vomited over it.
(4)
Jose C.

Luibueno's is a nice place for a lunch or dinner. The two taco plate I had was very good. Opah was the catch of the day and tacos had a generous portion of fish. This place is no taco stand and you will pay what I thought was a bit steep for two tacos, rice and beans. But if you want to sit down for a nice meal in a clean place with good service, Luibueno's is a good choice.
(4)
Rebecca S.

i adore this place. it's my new home away from home in haleiwa. it has a warm atmosphere, excellent service (esp by hawaii's standards), TWO happy hours and the food doesn't disappoint. we always sit in the bar area and typically try to hit one of the happy hours when drinks are cheap(er) and they offer a special discount menu with tacos, ceviche, etc. the margs are maybe too tasty...they make them with fresh-squeezed lime juice and they're unreal. the sangria is good too, and they have a great wine list with lots of options from chile and spain. for food, you can't go wrong with the fisherman's burrito, the paella or one of their fish entrees. the word has apparently gotten out because i've never been in here when it's not buzzing.
(5)
Remee A.

Service was horrible and the food had no flavor!
(1)
Mel V.

I have to give four stars because the last time I went with family the service was atrocious - and I don't use that word often. Ex: After not seeing our waitress for at least 10 minutes and needing a water refill for my sister I had to walk up to find her and she was literally 15 feet away chatting and still didn't come over for another 5 minutes - that's pretty ridiculous - then she brought out the wrong plates and left one dish out entirely until reminded. Could have been a bad day for her but some effort to make good would have been nice - didn't happen. However, everything was very tasty and the gluten free options were necessary in our crew. The first time I went I had a grilled ahi burrito - AH-mazing!! - my friend had the scallop special and made it in to the Clean plate club that night! Even after we noshed like scavengers on the chips and guac which was also just as delicious on my second trip. This weekend they have a Cinco de Mayo event that my next island visitors will get to experience with me (my first time) and I'm very much looking forward to it!
(4)
Amy S.

One of my favorite places on the North Shore.
(5)
Izzy B.

The food was excellent, creative without straying too far from traditional mexican food. Great design, too . . . modern and casual. A fun place for a small group.
(5)
Shannon C.

I had lunch there this past weekend with my husband, son and parents. The restaurant is very clean and nice but the food was just okay. We ordered the queso and fried calamari for starters (both was okay). My husband had a scallop dish the waiter recommended which was $28.95 (I think) that he didn't care for, my dad had the carne asada burrito which he said was okay and my mom and I shared the ahi tacos (nothing special) and a clear broth soup with fish (very refreshing and the best thing we ordered). The bill came out to about $120 with tip. I think that's a little too much for Mexican food. We could've ate at El Mariachi 2 twice and enjoy it more there.
(2)
Sean O.

Took a chance on this place on our first night staying on the north shore of Oahu and loved it. Great selection of food and friendly staff. Tasty Fish Chowder type soup on special that night together with the Paella made for an excellent evening.
(4)
Troy M.

I had burrito not bad not nothing outstanding. Great service and the place was nice. Need to give it another try.
(3)
B. S.

Luibueno's has been on my mind to try out since I'm always across the street eating chicken. I went here a few months ago, and Im finally writing this.. The food is good, and the portions are fair. Its good mexican, not great. I'm kinda spoiled being born in philadelphia and was surrounded by friends who could cook killer Meixcan food. I would give this 3 1/2 stars if i was allowed. Not quite 4. The margaritas are good though! Pricey though. :P
(3)
Karen A.

I had the beer battered fish burrito and it was great; it was a little spicy for me but I think everything is too spicy. My husband had the ahi burrito which was supposed to be lightly seared but was basically well done. He said it was still good. Service was great. It was my husband's birthday so they gave us free dessert.
(4)
Casey W.

Great happy hour. Calamari and the fish tacos were perfect. Service was fast and friendly. A must go.
(5)
Sam V.

Best place on Oahu for real fresh Mexican food... Don't forget to have a margarita made from scratch with fresh limes..
(5)
Daniel L.

Luibueno's is far and away our favorite Mexican restaurant on Oahu. The camarones a la plancha are fantastic. We order the fisherman's catch burrito and ask them to add chile de Ã¡rbol sauce.
(5)
Janine L.

Smallish, stylish, good. Walking in it is hard to feel the size of the place, they disguise it pretty well with small walls to spit it up. The colors and decor are nice, colorful and fresh but not the obnoxious orange and cheap finished. It actually feels like an Italian Bistro- the wait staff in black, the black napkins and colors on the walls. The bar s good sized ( and they have several Tequilas that I haven't seen on island) but there are not many large tables. They have a wonderful musician playing guitar and singing, mellow Eagles, Croce, America tunes. The beer was really cold- very nice. Chips and salsa were OK- they need to get better bowls for the salsa so you can dip your chips. We both ordered fish tacos- his was seared Ahi, mine beer battered Mahi. They food came really promptly -The tacos were really good, soft, fresh tortillas, fresh tasty fish, nice cabbage and salsa with a light sauce. The beans and rice were bland. Our waitress was Katrice and she was awesome. We will go back again and try the scallops.
(4)
annette p.

I had been craving a carne asada burrito for quite some time, so when we were heading back from a traffic catastrophe during the Haleiwa Arts Fest, we figured Luibueno's would be a nice stop for grub. The restaurant design is nice, and they were accommodating us well with a two-year-old. Granted, it does seem like a better restaurant for older kids and such, but our babe didn't make too much of a mess this time. On to the food. We came during HH, so we got two app's, the oyster shot and the whitefish ceviche. Oyster was wonderful and fresh, supplied with plenty (maybe too much??) cocktail sauce and lemon. I am not a huge fan of ceviche in the first place (I probably have never had a good plate of it) and their dish did nothing to improve that sentiment. I thought the fish itself was very dull in flavor, and that it did not soak up any of it's surrounding citrus juices nor it's herbs. Oh well, the tostada that came with it was fresh and delish. For entrees, we simply got one carne asada and one pollo asada burrito. My burrito satiated my craving for carne asada, but I still miss the greasy in-house-made tortilla taste from the burritos available in my hometown of San Diego, with the fresh guacamole and the well seasoned big slices of steak inside. The burrito at this restaurant was decent for Hawaii. The steak was chopped in small bits, eliminating some possible flavor it was lacking. The guac wasn't horrible but it certainly did not taste fresh. The rice and beans the burrito came with were not worth ordering. Honestly, you can get better rice and beans from taco bell. The pollo asada was a-ok, chicken was actually well seasoned and grilled to perfection, but there was too much rice inside the burrito for my liking. All in all, not a horrible experience, service was great...ambiance is nice, chips and salsa were good. I just feel silly paying 12 dollars for a small carne asada burrito that doesn't taste half as good as the burritos ordered at any 24-hour taco shop in San Diego. I would come again but I would just order a whole lotta oysters, they seem to get that part right.
(3)
Carol L.

Free chips and salsa!! We came during happy hour. I suggest u do the same! I had the soft fish tacos!! MMM delish! refreshing guud. I placed the salsa and caliente sauce!! Oouuu!! Hubby had carne asada burrito which was gone in a matter of minutes had guac in it! Soo flavorful! A must visit when yr in the North Shore. (FYI, Cholos is sooo overrated!) The only complaint is the unfriendly near dead hostess/greeter outside the door. She did NOT even say HELLO or GOODBYE! WHY WHY even have someone outside. Management! SAVE yr $$$$ get rid of her or send her to school! 1st impression: unfriendly stand off~ish. I have never come across someone sooo "stuck up" Thank goodness the server Clint made up for the whole experience. Thus the 4 stars otherwise you would have gained a 5 "stellar" experience. Hopefully, she will be gone the next time I come here.
(4)
Christa W.

They have those fish tacos that are actually deep-fried. Hard to find in Hawaii. LOVE.
(5)
Brenda W.

The blackened fish tacos are really good. Kinda pricey but for good fresh fish totally worth it.
(4)
Sandra B.

Being from Texas, we have high standards for Mexican food. This food was not bad, but it was overpriced.
(3)
Tom S.

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about with Lui Buenos. The food is pretty good. I give them extra credit for creativity. What I don't like are the high prices and the very average service. Go for an extravagant and unusual Mexican meal. Don't go if you are looking for a simple burrito.
(3)
Mark M.

Probably drove past this place 100 times when heading to the North Shore and never gave it a second look. My wife wanted some Mexican food so instead of heading off to the same old places we headed to our old trusty friend Yelp for help with our decision. Yelp delivered! Great reviews from fellow Yelpers led us here. From the moment we showed up we received 5 star service. Once seated it only got better, our waiter Mark was the probably one of the nicest professional waiters I ever met (he could teach people what being a waiter should be) then the fun began, the food started showing up salsa, guacamole, freshly made chips was the start of an incredible meal, steak and fresh catch Mahi mahi burritos for dinner were incredible, the refried beans were the best I ever had. For dessert I would recommend the fried ice cream with honey, once again I must say "the best I ever had" you owe it yourself to give this place a try and for a true 5 star dining experience I hope you get Mark as your waiter.
(5)
tiffany c.

Alright so Luibueno's has been open for a few months now, and I have to say it is my favorite restaurant on the North Shore. The margaritas are great. I've even drank and entire High Surf Advisory (56oz margarita) by myself. It was pretty good, only down side to a margarita that big is it fills you up. The food is wonderful, very fresh. The rice is the best mexican rice on the island. My favs on the menu are the Ajillo sauce fish and the pollo asada burrito. So so good and the price is very great, we've actually had a meal for 2 with 2 margaritas for around $50. I will continue to return here over and over again.
(5)
Jon L.

I was impressed! I had no idea that there was a place even on this level in Haliewa. I was up there as I usually am on the weekends, and as I usually do, head back into town to eat (lets be serious now). However, I checked my trusty yelp app on my iphone and found this place. It's in the dingy brown building that has the First Hawaiian, and some other random stores that sell random junk to random people. So we actually rolled in there during their happy hour, and the happy hour menu was amazing. Calamari - great. Burritos - great. Beer battered fish tacos - great. I got 3 things off the regular menu: 1. The ceviche: eh. it was ok. It wasn't bad. Maybe I just don't like ceviche? 2. This dish with slightly cooked scallops and chile powder, onions, and cucumbers. Weird but really good! 3. Oysters from New Zealand. Good! The service was fine, and we were sat promptly (then again it was around 4:30pm). The regular menu is priced for an upscale-ish seafood restaurant. This would/will make a great date place!
(4)
Z Z.

I'm not sure what's up with all the rave reviews for this place. I went here on my birthday and was completely disappointed with both the food and service. Luibueno's is pretending to be an upscale Mexican joint, but it is more like a crappy Taco Bell with nice decor. Here are the problems I experienced. First, the gazpacho was disgusting. I tried to eat it, but gave up after a few spoonfuls. Our waiter failed to come by our table to check on us and some other random waiter took my uneaten gazpacho away without asking us if anything was wrong, even though it was a full bowl. Next, I tried a $30 scallop dish that contained 3 scallops and a "tequila" sauce that had no trace of any tequila. I also tried the battered fish burrito that was completely loaded with mushy black beans and 2 small (pinky sized slivers) of fish. The bean mush was so prevalent that it overwhelmed the taste of the entire burrito and completely ruined it. Even though it was my birthday, our waitress rarely came by our table and was unfriendly and apathetic. The only highlight of the dinner was the free apple empanada that I got, which I enjoyed. Unfortunately, I will be forced to return to Luibueno's since I have another voucher from Playhawaii that I have to use. If it wasn't for the voucher, I would not be returning. Just in case you are reading this and are not familiar with this restaurant or Mexican food in Hawaii, I'll let you in on a secret. Hawaii doesn't have good Mexican food. You may find a Mexican restaurant that is OK, but most are horribly bad. That is just a fact. Second, this restaurant location is cursed. There have been other Mexican restaurants in the same building prior to Luibuenos, and all have gone out of business. Luibuenos is doomed and not even good Yelp reviews can save it from its ultimate demise. HAHAHA...down you go Luibuenos...you suck!
(1)
Roman C.

We came in expecting your average taco and enchilada combos and were wowed by the sophistication of the menu. Our server, brandon, recommend the margarita on ice which was super tasty. He also said the agua Chile was good spicy style. He was right twice. We also ordered an amazingly fresh, locally grown, organic salad, which had a killer dressing. He also steered us towards the fresh catch of the day, opah over fingerling potatoes, topped with an off the hook sauce that just blew my mind. Brandon was on his game, and the iron chef in the kitchen just killed it good! Those guys rocked our world. Can't wait for our next north shore excursion.
(4)
Mindy N.

Given the Yelps about this place, I had pretty high expectations. My husband and I went for lunch; he had the veggie tacos and I had the fish tacos. They were both OK...nothing special. I overheard another diner saying to his server that his taco was the best he's ever had, so clearly some people really dig this food, but I don't get it. It didn't seem much different from something I could make at home. Even the tortillas appeared and tasted like store-bought...for the price they charge, homemade tortillas would be nice.
(2)
Hawaiian B.

This place is really a great enrichment to the North Shore. It is a real bar and an excellent restaurant. Their Margertitas,Ceviche, and Paella make me very happy. The wait for a table gives you time to enjoy the bar or sit down on one of the tables across from the bar. There is additional parking across the street.
(5)
monica c.

Shrimp ceviche was delicious & they even brought out my favorite hot sauce! Totally reminded me of San Diego..I also had the mahi fish tacos I'd definitely go back again!
(4)
kalib P.

Outstanding food and service! We've been there many times to sit at the bar and every bartender has been friendly, courteous, and quick to serve. We even took home some smoked salmon once, it was to die for. It's nice to have good Mexican food and a cold beer! Sorry, Cholos. Luibueno takes this one.
(5)
B W.

Had the blackened ahi tacos. Very good with the two sauces mixed. Great salsa. Tried the carne asada burritos also very good. Not cheap but not too bad.
(4)
Len E.

Outstanding. This is some of the best food on the north shore. Definetly try this place if u like Mexican and seafood. But I've seen the steaks and they look great too.
(5)
Melanie E.

The service was awful. We were not offered chips and salsa, my order was wrong, then they ran out of what I originally ordered, and then, worst of all, there was a hair in my food!!! I would not recommend this place.
(1)
Nikki C.

Luibueno's is incredible. The food is creative and consistently fabulous. The staff is amazing. Lui, his wife, and beautiful baby girl make you feel so welcome and appreciated. This fantastic restaurant brings a new and appreciate flare to the North Shore. We love Lui's!
(5)
M R.

Went here on a Sunday night during my vacation and business was steady. Got a table right away. Had the ahi plate ( I believe?) for an appetizer and it was really good. Sauce was delicious. Had the ahi tacos for dinner and they were very good as well. Great meal, didn't disappoint. Friendly server and prompt service. Good place.
(4)
Bettina O.

Great service, great fish and great atmosphere.
(5)
Keith S.

As somebody who grew up in Chicago and has had a lot of experience trying Mexican food, Libueno's was horrendous! I was pretty hungry when we got there so I didn't want to gamble on something I knew nothing about so I tried to play it simple going with basic tacos, rice and beans. As for the tacos, the meat was really bad. Honestly I think Taco bell had better tacos. The refried beans were ok but the rice I honestly thought had been microwaved from the previous day. I truly am not a picky eater at all and rarely ever come online to give a place a bad review but this place was just aweful. On top of it, for my taco, rice and bean plate I paid over $10 for it! Stay away from this place if you can. I've tried the other place across the street before (forgot the name) but that Mexican place is by-far 10 times better... Just stay away from the horchata when you go there... They use the cheap mix at home stuff that tastes like soap!
(1)
Robin W.

Definitely not worth it. If you want mexican food, keep driving. My family and I stopped here for lunch after a long morning at the beach at waimea bay. Being from San Diego I pride myself in knowing what good mexican food is and this was definitely not it. So you might not know the difference between good authentic mexican food and just food, but still this place is not the place to go to. The service was extremely slow and completely missed our table at least four times when going around with the water pitcher. When my dad ordered another beer towards the beginning of his meal it was delivered until we were about to get our check and only becauese he had asked about three different servers for it. Also I was offered a beer because they could not tell that I was drinking a water with lemon because it was empty for such a long time. The food was not very good. The rice and beans tasted funny and the way to really tell if it's a good restaurant or not is based on these two Mexican staples. The chicken taco by itself was suprisinly good however if you order it a la carte, which is only one small taco, it will cost you six dollars, and no taco is ever worth that much. Might as well pay the extra two dollars for another taco and disappointing rice and beans. As a starter I ordered the queso and it came with toast. First of all I don't remember Mexican restaurants having french baguettes as options but this place had it. For $11.50 the queso was small and not very good, I would definitely not order it. This place was way to expensive for the food quality and service. If you're driving in Haleiwa after the beach for lunch, might as well just get some shave ice, can't lose there.
(1)
Alexander S.

Luibueno's is Haleiwa's newest establishment (taking over the space from the former defunkt Rosie's Cantina). The interior has been redesigned, and everything has been upgraded (from what I gather, Lui was a former chef at Turtle bay, who after running a lunch wagon, opened up this restaurant). My friends and I go every other week or so. We rotate the restaurants we visit in Haleiwa to ensure we are not getting bored at just one (typical rotation is Jameson's, Haleiwa Joes, Breakers, and now, Luibuenos). The food is excellent (during dinner hours)- Stay away during lunch as the lunch chef (pray it isnt Lui) hasn't caught onto the menu prep for the seafood during lunch. But, dinner is great. My only complaint/gripe (and this is commonplace talk between myself and many other north shore residents), that the portions are TOO big. I understand Lui's intent that he doesn't want people to leave hungry, but bigger portions=bigger prices, and some of the prices for the meals are a little ridiculous. The one thing I have not seen on this island, which I feel would have been an incredible success, is a Tapa's restaurant, with food the quality of which is seen on Luibueno's menu. Maybe change the lunch/happy hour menu to offer Tapa style plates, with some drink pairing? Anyways, the food=great. I haven't tried the mexican side of the house, but the spanish seafood dishes are excellent (my friend constantly raves about the Scallops, while I always get some form of the ceviche that they have). Highly recommend the Margheritas as well, as they hand make them, as opposed to every other place on the island that uses mixed drinks. The bartenders are knowledgable, the staff is friendly for the most part, and it makes for a nice dining experience after a long day at the beach.
(4)
carissa l.

I was pretty impressed by the drinks and the food here. the service was also good!
(4)
Junie E.

We were celebrating a birthday...it was her choice to try Luibueno's for the first time and we were pleasantly surprised! We ordered fish taco's, carne asada tacos, shrimp tacos, fish tacos, guacamole and ate 3 baskets of chips. Oh, and 2 margaritas. I did not care for the shrimp taco because it was salty and greasy but we enjoyed everything else. As for service Adam was the best! We kept asking him questions about how the food was prepared and which were his favorites. He was very patient and catered to your every need. We would definitely go again and tell all our friends and family.
(5)
Kimberly W.

THEY TREAT MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS LIKE CRAP! The WORST place to eat on the island after all I never even got in. PISS POOR SERVICE for the host of the restaurant. Especially the young short haired blonde girl who got in pissing contest of making sure to tell us that we were only there for 45 MINUTES and she insisted that we WAIT another 15 minutes. HELLO DUMB BLOND 45 plus 15 is one whole hour. WOW! SERIOUSLY!! Who wants to wait another 15 minutes to an hour. She let in 20 other people and insisted that they were waiting at the bar when we just seen all of them come from the parking lot. WENT TO TACO BELL instead. GET THIS THEY ALSO TRY TO OFFER YOU TO SIT IN FRONT OF THE KITCHEN on a bar like table facing a mucas colored wall with two small SLITS in it with a window watching the cooks who are eating the food as well as cooking the food. Eeew! Not only that the seats are right by the BATHROOM which smells. YUCK!! THIS PLACE is TOO SMALL. All who is reading this go to CHOLO's Mexican Restaurant where you will definitely be treated right or just go to TACO BELL the locals in Hawaii will treat you better!!
(1)
Rebeccs H.

This place is good. I would have given it only 3 stars if not for their amazing jalapeÃ±o margaritas! I used to make these at a place I used to bartend at in new Hampshire so it was a blast from the past! We had the calamari and the ceviche for an appetizer. Neither were really good... The calamari was way over-cooked, dried out and chewy. The ceviche wasn't very flavorful at all, which you wouldn't expect from fresh fish cooked in citrus juices. I was very disappointed. The reason for the 4 stars was, first and foremost, the jalapeÃ±o margarita.... Second was their amazing salsa. My husband would eat Mexican every meal if he could so I have been to many places all over the island. I personally prefer the fresca type because of the crunchy onions and ample cilantro, but most places have bland salsa which just makes you keep eating chip after chip without any satisfaction at all. Luibueno's salsa isn't the fresca type but it is chalk full of flavor! Cilantro, tomatoes, onions, spice hmmmm delicious! The third reason was our entree. We got the Carne asada tacos. Absolutely delicious! The atmosphere is nice. I never went to Rosie's cantina but apparently it is a BIG step up. I enjoyed it and will be going back!
(4)
Start T.

Great mango margarita and love the beer battered Mahi Mahi taco. Kids menu is $8.95 and for that price I was so surprised at how stingy their portion is. I ordered chicken taco for my son and he only got one small taco with rice and beans. And the ice cream that comes with their meal is not even a full scoop---more like a quarter of a scoop. Really?
(3)
A. T.

Great service and yummy chef's choice seafood stew, five stars. Gave me one less scallop than my friends, minus one star. Churros that looks like dogsh*t, plus-minus.
(4)
Vanessa T.

We stopped off her on a whim. Being from Texas and raised in a Tex-Mex kitchen, I know better than to expect what I would expect in Texas. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised. After reading the reviews, I can understand how some people feel that it's over priced, but it is Hawaii and all ingredients are local. I have absolutely no problem paying for anything at Luibuenos. I'll admit that the service is slow at times, but once I get my jalapeno infused cocktail, all is good in the hood. The margaritas are good, but not as good as Just Tacos in Ko'Olina, but the food is wonderful. I can honestly say that I've not had better ceviche on Oahu or on the mainland. We were most thankful for the shrimp served head on. If you've never shrimp this way, you really don't know what you're missing! There is no shame in sucking a little head. Shrimp heads that is. The pupus are great for sharing and the tacos and entree proportion are manageable. I would've rated five stars, but I've had better margaritas. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to go back this instance!
(4)
Lisa R.

The restaurant has been open for less than two weeks, they have some work to do to iron out a few kinks. That being said most everything we tried was fabulous! We started with the scallops appetizer, I can't remember the name, but they were marinated in lime and some sort of chilli sauce or pepper. Wow! Nice mix of flavors. I also had the gaspacho, very tasty! Unfortunately, the appetiizers came out before the entree's. Almost immediately, the waitress realized that someone had brought out my paella before weo got our appatizers, and she took the paella away and brought out the soup and scallops. When we did get out entrees, my husband was very pleased with his dish. He ordered the fresh catch (can't remember the fish) Veracruz style. I ordered the seafood paella and I must say I was less than pleased. It was dry, and it looked as though it had been sitting under a heat lamp waiting for me to finish my soup. The rice was hard and dry on top, mushy and globbed together on the inside, and burnt on the bottom. The seafood was a little on the dry side, and looked like it had been piled on top of the rice instead of being cooked with it. It was a big disappointment, considering that everything else was so good. I tasted my husband's fish and it ws flavorful and moist, just like it should be. Would I go back? Yes, I just won't get the paella again unless they rework the dish.
(4)
Laurie M.

yuuuummmmy!!! Super friendly staff and amazing food!
(5)
Nina G.

The best mexican food on the North Shore and the seafood was excellent! The service was great, the margarita's were fantastic. We are frequent visitors on the North Shore and could not do Cholo's anymore, its not great! We went to Luibueno's 3 times in the time we were there and all the dinners were great. We absolutely recommend this place to anyone who likes great food, it is casual but nice and you are sure to have a good time.Try the dessert too, we had the churros with hot chocolate and the flan, can't compliment this place enough. It's even going to take over Lei Lei's in my opinion.
(5)
Dana A.

We were there on 04/26/2013 Great place on the island for Mexican food. The service was phenomenal. Great vibe and very friendly workers. Luis (the owner) came by and spent some time talking to us and genuinely cares about his customers and their experiences. We shared stories from So Cal and the food was really reminicient of the Baja style. Grilled Shrimp taco was awesome and the Ahi taco was a new favorite. I will head back the next time I am on the island
(4)
Jules S.

I like this place "mucho". The food and drinks rock big time. I ordered a special, which was over priced, but after I ate it $30 didn't sound so bad. Everyone's food was awesome. One setback is that the place is really cramped. If you have a party of 5 or more, call ahead of time or you'll wait 30-45 minutes if they're busy or you can bunch up some bar tables together, like we did, if you like drunk people brushing up against you all the time. Mucho bueno, Luibueno!
(5)
Mila A.

This place has the worse Mexican food I've ever tasted. I got a beef quesadilla instead of chicken. Hours later i had severe stomach pain from eating their food. I may have gotten food poisoning from eating their mediocre Mexican food. I should have just gone to taco bell but this was the only Mexican restaurant in North Shore. Your better off eating at Mackys shrimp truck. They have awesome shrimp dishes.
(1)
Daniel M.

Very good the fish tacos are fantastic it's a little pricy but everything in Hawaii is. We also saw jack Johnson well we were here!!!
(5)
Marty G.

Broken card reader. They skip orders and different people ask you the same questions about your order. Left after waiting a ridiculous amount of time for food without even getting it. Avoid truck at all costs.
(1)
T W.

Had a great dinner on a Sunday night. The hostess (she's working on her 3rd degree) was friendly even though she was bombed with hungry, waiting customers. Our waitress, Brittany, was delightful - helpful, friendly and efficient. We had delicious chips that were warm with just the right amount of salt on them and the salsa was a perfect match. The chicken enchaladas were great and so was the vegetable quesadila. Don't miss this restaurant!!
(5)
Travis M.

Made our way here for the 1st time because Cholo's was too busy, and right off I found the service to be very friendly, and the ambiance to be very inviting and clean (especially after going to their restroom and then remembering what it was like in here back in the Rosie's days, lol) Their margaritas and food were pretty good, but a little pricey, I especially liked the complementary fresh chips and salsa. Kari had their fried eggplant over rice dish which she found very tasty, and I had the 7 seas soup which had all sorts of seafood in it and very delicious, but not filling enough for me. All in all, the overall experience was "not bad," but because of their high prices, I don't think I'll be going back there again; unless I was in the area, w/ a bunch of friends who really wanted to dine there.
(3)
Patrick G.

After seeing this place a number of times on numerous weekends on the North Shore, I finally ventured inside this weekend to try the food. I have always been a fan of Mexican food and I have always been even more of a fan of Mexican fusion foods. Hawaiian seafood in a Mexican themed dish sounds like a sure homerun in my book. The food was good, but it wasn't anything to write home about. I had the ahi burrito and a Michelada. The Michelada wasn't quite right, but that was to be expected at a Mexican restaurant in Hawaii. In terms of the atmosphere, the restaurant was decorated nice for Halloween and the waiter was very friendly and talkative. Overall, nothing special but an interesting concept.
(4)
Savannah C.

Came here early on a Tuesday with my mom who was visiting. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat Mexican here, but if you're in Haleiwa and craving Mexican this should do the trick. There were only a couple other people there besides ourselves. Hostess and waitress were both friendly. Service was great, kind, attentive, never had to ask for anything. The chips and salsa are actually pretty good. Unfortunately, didn't get a chance to taste the margaritas. Mom and I both had the chicken enchiladas with green verde sauce. It's a cream based sauce with a unique taste, almost sweet, but it has a kick! I really enjoyed it. The rice and beans weren't bad either. Like I said, I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but there is ample parking, AC if it's hot out, and the service was great.
(3)
Lindsey C.

Great Mexican place in Haleiwa! We went for lunch before our catamaran cruise since my little sister loves Mexican food and it was the perfect choice. We started with drinks, I had the house margarita and it was good. We got the queso dip and I would skip it next time. It was just melted cheese that congealed when it cooled down and there was nothing "dip" about it. The special of the day was the king crab enchiladas and we all ordered it! My sister got a chicken quesadilla but all of the adults got the same thing. We all loved it! The crab pieces were huge and the flavors weren't too strong. Great job!
(4)
zia s.

Excellent place! The margaritas are amazing - you can't beat sweet and sour made from scratch! Abby, the bartender who took care of us, was sweet, REAL, and great at what she does. We actually loved this place enough to go to it TWICE in one day. Quick stop on our way to the beach, and then a longer stay on our way back before chillin' at our friends' house. I can't wait to go back. Luibueno's DEFINITElY beats Cholo's. Don't be fooled by the ads! Haha.
(5)
Jesse B.

Considering how great the reviews have been for this place, I am shocked I have a terrible one. I arrived around 4:00 pm for a late lunch, which meant the place was slow. So why did my meal and service take 2 times the length it should have?! And not only that, but the Pork Belly tacos were overcooked and underwhelming. I had to ask for my check, then sit patiently (or rather impatiently) while she moseyed her way to get it, then sit for a while longer waiting for her to get it from me, etc. SO inconsiderate. I will not be back. When I go out for a meal anywhere, I just want my time to not be wasted.
(2)
Heather T.

We had good fish tacos with the daily catch. Good, but not great. The chips and salsa were good too. Overall, if we hadn't had other outstanding food for this particular vacation day, this would have rated better.
(3)
Esmeralda G.

Very disappointed! The rice was undercooked and the beans had no flavor. Tacos were delicious. Orchata was water downed they filled that sucker up with so much ice hence being watered down. The service was horrible, we didn't even get our waitresses name. She only came around twice didn't check on us just to bring us water and it wasn't even busy. Def not the best Mexican food on island
(2)
David F.

where do I start. WELL i will never understand why Mexican food is so hyped up. This place in particular has the soggiest and smallest juiciest beef tacos I ever had, the menu goes for $6 for one tiny taco or $14 for 2 tacos and a small portion of rice and watery beans. Overall, just like 99% of all mexican restaurants, this is another mediocre restaurant. STAFF is very nice and waitress was a lot of help while digging thru the fancy menu. 1 star is too many.
(1)
Niki J.

Wanted some Mexican food on the way home from Lake last weekend, saw all the good yelp reviews and stopped here. Definitely not anywhere as good as I was expecting. Ordered the guacamole which was pretty good and was a good amount, had the carnitas for dinner, everything was just very bland. No seasoning to the rice of beans, the pork was way too chunky for tacos so we had to shred it before making a taco. Overall everything was just blah... and for the price I was a disappointment. Next time I will be going back to.cholos across the street.
(2)
Mona C.

Delicious, nuanced, and fresh Mexican food, wonderful service...this place is one of the best I've been to, with many vegetarian options.
(5)
Mercedes F.

The food is not good at all. I tried the steak quesadillas & it taste & looked like artificial steak. The food at Taco Bell taste better. Everything I tried was horrible & over priced!
(1)
Alex M.

The beer battered fish tacos are awesome and they had big swell on draft. That should be enough said. This is definitely the choice for Mexican in Haleiwa, don't bother contemplating the other options.
(4)
Samantha R.

Not authentic Mexican but good quality food and good service. Best margaritas on this side of the island. ;)
(4)
Devon M.

My wife surprised me and treated me here after a hard days work. We drove towards the North Shore and when we pulled up to the place we remembered that we have been here before.. food was so good we had to come back. My waiter looked like Chris Farley! He wasn't quite the comedian but was a great server. Now on to the food.. We started with Calamar Frito. The calamari was crispy and served with chipotle sauce. One word to describe it was delish. Between the appetizer and the chips and salsa dip we was given I wasn't sure if I'd be able to eat my meal. I ordered one taco and one burrito. The Gobernador taco was tasty. Had shrimp, avocado lettuce and melted cheese. The Baja Style Carne Asada burrito was even better had grilled marinated steak topped with onions, cilantro, guacamole and salsa. Mmmm. I ordered a lager but the waiter came back with a drink that was 3/4 full so said that it was on him. It was good but I had drinks at home so didn't even need to order anymore drinks. I want to say this is the best place to eat in Haleiwa but I haven't tried them all yet. Def will be coming back again and again.
(5)
James M.

Pleasant in every respect, save for the food itself, which was pretty basic. It was very middle of the road. I know the North Shore is limited in its dining options, but we had better food from a food truck we stopped at the following day. Ultimately, you can only really rate a restaurant, ultimately, on it's food, and this place was very average.
(3)
Russel M.

This place is the Bomb! One big problem it's not near Honolulu but in Haleiwa. We were amazed from the beginning to end of our experience there tonight. We started with excellent Chips and Homemade Salsa (med) and the best we've had in Oahu by a mile. Next the Cadillac Marg ($10-) first class with fresh Lime juice and high quality Teq, etc. A winner! The Shrimp Ceviche ($8.50) and Fresh Pan Seared Fish ($24-) were great! Good portion size also. Overall we can't wait to go back to try some other dishes. Service was very good and our servers name was Mark.
(5)
Worthy A.

Just took a friend visiting the island to Luibueno's which I've been to dozens of times before. Again, the place isn't what it was when it first opened. It almost feels like they are getting tired. What I mean is they had amazing specials of the day whenever I visited before. Now, there hasn't been a dinner special in the past several times I went. Perhaps I am going on the wrong nights but I always really enjoyed the creative nightly specials. I also experienced an issue with a steak I ordered the other night. Even though the server apologized and handled it very well, it was more on the cook. I ordered it medium rare and it was served to me slightly seared on both sides leaving a good 80% of the inside raw and very cool to the touch. This was very rare. I asked the server if they could try to get it up to med rare and it was returned to me over 15 minutes later (my friends had already finished their dinner) well done with no pink in the middle and the meat was tough. For a $28-$29 steak, I expected better. Not sure how often I'll continue to visit Luibueno's I hate to say.
(3)
Marylinda C.

Liked it so much we went here twice. Must try the scallop appetizer marinated in lime juice. Wasn't thrilled with the margarita but the orange frozen daquiri was amazing. I don't remember the name of the drink but it was very sweet and outstanding! The guacamole is seasoned perfectly. The sea bass was a little dry but the atmosphere is fun and service impeccable.
(4)
Raymond S.

Fantastic Mexi Food!!! Hard to find good Mexican food on the island, but this is one place that comes close to San Diego Mex Food...Vary Decent Carne Asada Burrito. The Chips and Salsa was great.... The Salsa was not to spicy. Id say about a Med or less. The Staff was very friendly and attentive. Great service!!!! We ordered our food and less than 5-7 min our food was out to us hot and ready. A definite must try... *NOTE* If u are craving more try their Mobile Trailer on Schofield Army Base.. They have items that are only offered there...*NOTE* ,
(4)
Silja H.

A very high- class yet casual joint. The folks running this place must know a thing or two about good food and good service. The fish tacos are great; kids meals come with a complementary ice cream; and there is a full bar staffed with knowledgeable,nice peeps. :)
(4)
Dee W.

After searching for 6 months all over the island to find real Mexican food, my search stopped here! As a California native, I had my pick of great family run Mexican restaurants and hole-in-the-wall joints. When we moved to Oahu, this was the one thing I missed about the Mainland. To those who are unaware, places like Just Tacos, Taco Del Mar, and Taco Bell are NOT Mexican food restaurants. They're horrible impostors. This place has the ambiance and feel of a hip Mexican restaurant. We stopped in at 6 on a Friday, and the place was busy, but we didn't have to wait to be seated. The staff was friendly, our waitress was knowledgeable about the entrees, and all the service was prompt and efficient. The salsa was really good, had a little kick to it. Since I like my salsa hot enough to breathe fire, they had 4 different hot sauces to choose from that I added to give it a little more flame. The jalapeno margarita was amazing. Get it on the rocks (blended margaritas are for sissies). The food is great. The San Felipe Style Mahi Taco took me back to college Spring Breaks in San Felipe and Rosarito, buying tacos off a street vendor after a Dos Equis-filled day or night (but without the risk of e-coli that comes with buying meat off a grill cart in Mexico). Everything is made fresh. The portions were decent, which was not typical of the usual Mexican place, as they usually provide enough for 3 people. However, I don't enjoy leftovers that much, so it was a perfect portion to fill me up without overstuffing me. Until dessert, that is. The fried ice cream was awesome and worth coming home and getting into your fat pants. I thought everything was priced very reasonably, especially compared to so many other restaurants on the island, and we didn't even make it during happy hour when the prices are cheaper. I may be haole, but I'm no gringa when it comes to Mexican food. This place is the real deal!
(5)
Sofie S.

Wow! I can't believe all the positive reviews for this place. The cadi marg was great, the ahi tacos also great, but the beans & rice were similar to taco bell, really lame. And the meal was way overpriced. You are better off at Cholo's.
(2)
Mandolin D.

Reasons I will go back to Luisbuenos: Fresh Salsa made daily Fresh Lime juice in the Margaritas Fresh Vegetables used in dishes are grown locally Fresh Jalapenos that are grilled to order that are actually hot..YES PLEASE. As an appetizer I ordered the queso dish that comes with bruschetta bread. This was basically heaven in a pan. iMuy Delicioso! Then I moved onto to the veggie tacos which were great as well. The only tragedy is I had no room for the handmade desserts. Looks like I will have to go back again! For those non-vegetarians out there the menu has a plethora of fish/shrimp and carne asada items to choose from. Looks like Cholo's finally has some stiff competition!
(5)
Matthew L.

Possibly the worst restaurant in Haleiwa, but definitely the worst for the money. As a local resident, I've eaten here several times and tried to enjoy it, but every visit is a disappointment. The food is mediocre at best, the service is sub-par, the tables are too small. The restaurant feels cramped all the time. It also seems like they put minimal effort into the food. It would be awesome if this restaurant made a true effort because it has potential...but sadly that isn't the case. Spend your money elsewhere.
(2)
Candice N.

This was our first stop on our 4 day staycation to Oahu from Maui and what a great decision that was! The food, the service and the ambiance were fantastic! I had the seared ahi tacos and my friend had a huge burrito. We were so full and ended up beaching it all day. I'm a tequila drinker and can appreciate a good margarita. They were top notch! I highly recommend the Li Hing Mui Margarita and the Cadillac was delicious as well... Great grinds!
(4)
Meli B.

Four words...Best Fish Tacos Ever!!! We also had some yummy margaritas...Li Hing and Tamarindo! I will definitely be back when we go to North Shore again!!!
(5)
Chris D.

Best Mexi you will find !!! on that Rock!!
(5)
Kyle G.

Not too bad.
(4)
Rhonda M.

I will never go to the north shore again without visiting this restaurant. Great service and food.
(5)
Valentina L.

This is one of the very few classy bars on the North Shore. Although it closes early : 10 ish. If you sit at the bar, be prepared to be like a little kid with the poorly measured BAR HEIGHT coming up to your chest practically. They do fill you up with chips and homemade salsa though. During SURF SEASON, expect it to be wall to wall grommits and kids with trucker hats....a HUGE TURN OFF for me, and I am sure most mature adults! Surf movies dominate the televisions most times. The staff is not very attentive, and mostly seem bitter to be there. My fave bartender: JASON, he is good to me. V's favourite drink: LILIKOI MARGARITA I don't eat seafood, so don't ask! The food is good, but very pricey....
(3)
Lani L.

The are only a few things worth going here for: friendly staff, decent drinks, and free chips and salsa...other than that the food is very mediocre and not worth the price. as an example, the deep fried ice cream is pre-deep friend...re-frozen...and rolled and garnished with store bought corn flakes...so when u get it, the outside is rubbery and stale. The clams and broccilini soup were decent picks tho. Read the other reviews and feel that my experience of the place, was unfortunately negative in comparison. In my opinion, this place cannot compare and/or compete with the other well established places here on the north shore.
(3)
Ashlynne C.

AMAZING! We ate here for the first time the other night, & I can honestly say we were blown away by this place... We were seated immediately by a welcoming hostess & greeted shortly thereafter by our server (whos name escapes me at the moment) who was fantastic! We ordered cadillac margaritas & our water was immediately filled (a BIG plus for me!) They were delicious! Complimentary chips & salsa came next- fresh, & hot chips with amazingly fresh salsa with a little kick! For appetizers were ordered the guacamole (one of the best I've ever had, and a HUGE portion!) and scallops in chile water. The scallop dish was unlike anything I've ever had in my life - it was almost like a scallop ceviche & it was phenomenal. For our dinner entrees we decided on the special (a pasta dish with scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, ham & onions in a tomato sauce) & scallops over rice in a tequila cream sauce. Both were out of this world. The seafood was cooked PERFECTLY & was all clearly fresh & top of the line. My husbands dish was over flowing with seafood! i was shocked at how much was in there! Such a delicious meal for such a reasonable price! The scallops in my dish were the biggest I've ever seen! The rice was fresh & cooked to perfect, & the sauce... oh my gosh. Had there not been other people in there I would have literally licked it off the plate. Our server was super nice & chatted with us for awhile. He clearly knew everything there was to know about the menu (& I overheard him explaining the differences in the variety of tequilas they offer & learned a little more about booze too!) and made recommendations for us - I love that! As we were leaving, everyone from our server to the bartender to the hostesses outside all said goodbye & thank you to us! That was nice! :) From start to finish it was absolutely amazing, & with the menu being full of delicious items to try, I know we'll be back here again & again!
(5)
Krystel P.

Love this place! Beer battered fish tacos and their complimentary chips & salsa are great. Fresh ingredients and tasty Mexican food on island. Their Cadillac Margaritas are perfect, def my top 5 of all time. Strong with fresh squeezed lime Jen makes the best of the best!!!!
(5)
Margaret L.

We ended up here by accident. We were hoping to hit the food trucks, but were too late. The atmosphere was good, and the service was great. I got a chicken burrito which was delicious, but very garlicky. Everyone at our table decided the shrimp were the shining star.
(4)
James A.

This place was really, really great. I'm going to lead off with the negative: the only letdown was the fried calamari appetizer. The cervice and garlic shrimp starters were really good. But it was the tacos - man, the tacos were amazing. Blackened ahi, shrimp "gubernador", beer battered fish. All done to perfection; a really fantastic blend of flavors. And the slightly crispy taco shells were really good, too. To top it all off, the drinks and dessert were great - margaritas done really well, and the Mexican doughnut with hot chocolate... I can't remember what it's called, but damn it was good!
(5)
Avery C.

So went here about a month ago. I'm a SoCal guy, and Mexican food is something for which I have a special love. This wasn't love. This wasn't even like. This restaurant has a seafood twist, which is great because I also love seafood. Ended up getting some fish tacos. Positives -- 1. The options on the menu at first really impressed me. I've wanted to try Paella for a long time and it was on there. And of course, the fish tacos caught my eye. 2. The restaurant is reasonably clean and I liked the atmosphere. Negatives -- 1. The guac tastes like it bathed in citrus. I understand that a little lemon keeps it from turning brown, but it should never be applied so liberally that it tastes like mashed lemon. 2. The fish itself was mediocre at best. Kind of dry, and it wasn't battered and generally speaking a good fish taco has a nice crunch to it from more than just cabbage. 3. Had a long wait. Normally, I will forgive everything else as long as the food is good. It wasn't though, so it just added to the dissatisfaction in retrospect. 4. Wasn't cheap. Again, I'm fine with paying well for a good meal, but when you wish you had went through fast food instead of going... well, you understand. I think if you are looking to grab a drink with a buddy this would be a good spot. But this is not the place to come and get a good Mexican dinner.
(2)
Kim B.

get the fish taco. and then follow it with the margarita. best damn food
(5)
Bridget S.

Absolutely the best dinner in haleiwa !! Seared scallops was awesome !! Great job!!
(5)
Hillary M.

Some friends told me this place is always packed, so my husband and I decided to check it out. We had the ahi burrito and guacamole. The guac was very good, but definitely not great. It was lacking acidity, and could have benefitted from some lime juice. The ahi was seared rare, and was delicious. The burrito itself was poor, however. The black beans were dry. The "white sauce" tasted like mayonnaise. It was puny and anemic. We had been told the burrito was huge and we should split one. When we received the burrito and confronted the waitress, she told us they were out of the big tortillas. She said she could not give us a discount, even though the burrito was half the size of the normal ahi burrito and we left hungry. If you are unfamiliar with Mexican cuisine, or even Border cuisine, you will be happy with this restaurant. If you know the difference between the two cuisines mentioned above, then do not bother to wait an hour for a table at this mediocre restaurant. P.S. - I found out later two friends of mine (unknown to each other) have gotten FOOD POISONING from this restaurant!!! Reason enough to skip it.
(2)
Anela A.

Went here fir lunch because i think Cholos is overrated. Excellent service, fish tacos are bomb!!!! Shredded chicken for burritos is so flavourful and juicy. Definitely the next Mexican on the island.
(4)
Alaynia K.

Love their chips and salsa!!! There enchiladas are awesome and there beer battered fish tacos are wonderful! Our favorite Mexican restaurant on the island!
(5)
Rich G.

The owner being from San Diego and I living there, I hit up LB's when I am in Hawaii for work. Love the traditional Mexican with island flavors. Bested ocean on the island by far.
(5)
Shane W.

Upscale Mexican and Latin restaurant. Standard expected fare was good - nice salsa, fresh gauc (although needed more seasoning) and killer fish tacos. Crafted entrees were a nice touch - they have an actual chef rather than just like cooks kicking out food. Definitely give it a try.
(4)
Nanz D.

foods great! especially the FISH tacos!
(5)
Tanya M.

Yay! A great addition to Haleiwa. I was a little leary since Rositas was such a dump (no wonder it went out of biz), but wow Luibeuno's is FANTASTIC replacement! We went during their lite menu/happy hour. I ordered horchata, a san felipe fish taco (I actually used to eat these in San Felipe so I was stoked to see them on the menu) and a ceviche tostada. The hubs had a carne asada burrito and a coke. Horchata: Pure pefection...nuff said. Salsa: Great salsa that comes with the chips and salsa...we devoured it about 5 seconds. San Felipe Fish Taco: OMG, so freaking good. The corn tortilla was warm, soft and tasty. Battered fish was delish. Maybe a tad less cabbage. The white sauce/crema was good and the red sauce gave it a different twist/zip. Ceviche: Very fresh. Served on a tostada but lined with a lettuce cup so the tostada doesn't get all soggy...genius. Great flavor. Served with a few slices of avocado, just like it's supposed to. Carne asada burrito: carne asada was a good cut of meat and great flavor. Rice and Beans were pefectly flavored. Guacamole tasted like the kind I make at home...delish. Only downfall, I was stuffed after the chips/salsa and fish taco. I had my ceviche boxed up AND I left it on the table...grrrr. The service was AWESOME too. We were pleasantly surprised as we looked around the restaurant that all the servers/bartenders/bussers were smiling and genuinely having a good time except the brunette behind the bar..she seemed manageresque...anyways she was a drag/scowling the whole time. This will definitley be my go to Mexi restaurant...too bad I live on the South Shore :(
(5)
Melissa J.

The only positive thing I can say about this place was they serve great guacamole -- a very generous portion for a fair price. I can't justify driving all the way up to North Shore though for guacamole. Save your money. Unless it's happy hour and you are in the mood for guacamole.
(2)
Nina J.

Their chips and salsa are AWESOME!!! I think I could have ate that all day long! I also got their fish tacos... best in Hawaii! I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Leigh W.

Amazing fresh homemade salsa, to die for. Trust me you will go thru multiple baskets alone of chips and salsa! Great tacos and burritos.
(5)
Evan N.

I have to agree with a lot of people that the fish tacos were pretty amazing. Even their food truck serves a great fish taco. That being said though the place was not necessarily for a large group or people with kids. All the tables were small 4-6 max and a large bar area. The servers were very knowledgable of the food and were very quick and helpful. I did enjoy their margaritas and their seafood was good.
(3)
James D.

I only ate at 2 places with waiter service for my week in Hawaii and I am glad I went here. I had the fish taco's and were tasty. Service also good. The only bad point my buddy got a Mojito and all ice! like 2 sips and gone, not worth the money. Beers were good and selection good. Overall I would go back.
(5)
Jay O.

Love this place. Killer Margaritas, great vibe, attentive service and delicious food. Fresh seafood rules the menu and should, the scallop aguachile gets two thumbs up and the ceviche had a refreshing twist to land another two thumbs up. The prices initially seemed to go hand in hand with other remote destination restaurants however to my pleasant sup rise they had a backside to the menu that had ala carte tacos, burritos etc. that has allowed me to make this a frequent stop. They have completely gutted and rebuilt old Rosies Cantina and now it is fresh, creatively designed with a completely visible high end kitchen, clean bathrooms and has the best Bar North of Waikiki. I am a HUGE fan of this place... Aloha
(5)
Al E.

Great service, great food. Wife had an octopus margarita - definitely interesting! Would certainly recommend calling in here if you are on the North Shore.
(5)
Mami S.

awesome fish tacos and great drinks. really cool place to hang out too with good service and fun atmosphere! the ladies and I love to let loose here and have fun!
(5)
Amy P.

Love this place. We visited once and have been coming back almost every week. I usually get the beer battered fish tacos and they are delicious! Personally don't care much for the rice and refried beans but the drinks are great. Hubby always orders the carne asada and it is a really huge ribeye steak-almost Flintstones size! Well worth it in my opinion. And the oysters are yummy too. We will definitely return. Only issue I had was during happy hour when shifts were changing, the waitress kinda rushed us at the end which I understand long day, end of shift but thought was a bit rude. Other than that, we really love this place.
(4)
Lea K.

Another great place recommended by Yelpers! What a change from the previous mexican restaurant that was here; not only is the food a million times better, but the ambiance & service are great as well! The inside of the restaurant still has the upper seating level, but half of the room has tables & a bar on the ground level which is great for accessiblity. The decor is clean & kind of modern-cantina-esque :) The menu had lots of delicious sounding choices, the only downside being that the prices were kind of high ($13-16 for 2 taco plate) but that's not surprising in busy Hale'iwa. They also had a pretty stunning drink menu--so many creative & delicious sounding margaritas, tequila-tinis and cocktails. I got the Hibiscus infused Melon tequila-tini which was delicious but very strong! I'm definitely going back to try more of the mixed drinks and the horchata. For lunch, I ordered the San Felipe fish tacos & my husband got the Baja Style carne asada tacos. Both were served with rice & beans. The San Felipe tacos were so yummy! I think they make their own corn tortillas because i've never seen such a thick & delicious corn tortilla served before.. it didn't break up & get soggy. I loved that they didn't skimp on the amount of fish in the tacos. I tried my husband's carne asada tacos (same stunning corn tortillas) that were filled with guacamole, onions & cilantro. Although they were good, they don't compare to El Mariachi 2's carne asada tacos!! Overall, a very nice place with great food! I wanna check out happy hour next time.
(4)
Tony D.

The search for good Mexican food on Oahu continues. Overall things were good but not great. Good service,drinks,food and atmosphere but nothing stands out. We went at Happy hour so prices were very good 2 entrees and 2 margaritas for under $50 We both had the pollo tacos and they were good. Perhaps the seafood versions are better but I struggle when chicken tacos are made with thigh meat and not breast. The salsa and chips were good and so where the margaritas. Took a little time to get seated but the staff was very helpful and responsive. Plenty of refills on the drinks and the salsa and chips. Sat by the window nice small table with view to the road. Overall we would go back if we were in the area but would not drive up just to eat there.
(3)
Michael R.

The food out shines the setting. Maybe since we went later the bar scene was more prevalent. Our server was great as well. I had the carne quesadilla and the fried ice cream.
(3)
Mike L.

I know we took a chance on eating here, but it was our last night on our amazing trip and we just wanted to try something different. The place is cool, but the food is not that great. We both ordered tacos and they were seriously lacking in flavor. The best one was the fish taco that I had. Also our server was not very good, honestly she looked a little high, maybe she was. She would forget things and was very slow to come around. I would only go there for drinks, but I would try to eat some place else.
(2)
Jess R.

This restaurant alone makes me want to revisit Oahu. Fo' real. Came after doing some location scouting in the area for a photo shoot, and loved it so much, we brought the whole crew here two nights later. :) The margaritas are bomb.com .... Homemade (really! not from a mix! I hope they never change that....) and STRONG! Just how a lush like me likes them! The servers we had for both nights were great. Fun, friendly, and full of GREAT recommendations. I'm not going to kid - the fish tacos are a must. Yeah. Really. Mahi-mahi fish tacos. Even if you are dying to order something else on the menu, get the fish tacos too. :) Other great things tried were the Callo de Hcha Aguachile and the Puerto Vallarta Style Sashimi. The latter was so good that we even ate the bed of cabbage. We really loved it here, and i look forward to returning with my boyfriend down the road. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Ariana L.

I like this place. Unfortunately there was no real awesome factor that will keep me coming back. I actually really liked the atmosphere. The full bar, and seating arrangements were inviting and the ambiance was very relaxing. I also liked that I could make a quick reservation through OpenTable on Yelp on the way to the restaurant. Parking was also a breeze but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. It was 3pm on a Wednesday. Now on to the important stuff, the foooood. I had the Beer Battered Fish Burrito that came with black beans, lettuce, cabbage, onions and a couple of different sauces. We also ordered the calamari and had the quintessential chips and salsa. The calamari was deeelish. Just enough fried nom nom and pretty tasty. The chips and salsa however were kind of a miss. The salsa had way too much herb seasoning and you just couldn't get past that. Meh. My burrito however was pretty good. The Fish was cooked well and the flavors all worked really well together. But what made me really like it was the price. My burrito was BIG and $7 during happy hour. Yayyy for value! Service was alright. We had to flag someone down which is never a good thing but they were nice and informational. I liked this place and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fast fix if you're so hungry you can't wait for the drive back into town but if not I think a bit of Yelp research will produce somewhere a little more satisfying.
(3)
Nicole R.

We were driving around the North Shore and I really wanted to try the shrimp trucks but they close super early. I was disappointed but we had to eat so we just gave this a try based on yelp reviews. I am so glad! Best meal of my trip. I had the shrimp tacos. I think they deep fry them. We had a good service. It is a little cramped, but cute, and not fast food style which a lot of places are in Hawaii.
(5)
Graham T.

Excellent food and service! The hostess who greeted us at the door was very friendly, too. Great place for dinner in Haleiwa!
(4)
Jon M.

I think my search for quality Mexican food on Oahu just ended. Luibueno's is it. I'm not even sure I'll find better Mexican food on the island if I keep looking. We stopped here for lunch on a Saturday and I was impressed with everything from the food to the drinks to the service. I had the carne asada burrito and it was delicious. The spices they used on the meet were fantastic. I loved it. On top of the delicious taste it also came plated very nicely. Bonus points for presentation. The chips and salsa were great as well. The salsa was exceptionally tasty. I also tried the regular margarita and the guava margarita. Both were awesome. Both tasted as though they were made with fresh ingredients and not a generic mix. They were quality, delicious drinks. The service was great also. Pretty quick, bartender was on her game, food came out promptly, kept our chips and salsa full, nothing to complain about. She was also friendly and chatted with us the whole time. Ambiance reminded me of many socal slightly upscale mexican restaurants. It was well laid out so that almost all tables seemed as though they were private. The bar was comfortable with purse hooks for my girlfriend. Everything was very aesthetically pleasing. In summary, we had a fantastic dining experience at Luibueno's and will definitely be back. We'll probably make the trip to the north shore just to eat here on occassion. If you're like us and searching for a delicious mexican restaurant to fill that insatiable SoCal mexican craving, look no further. Luibueno's is the best on the island.
(5)
Katie K.

This is the place to go if you're looking for good Mexican food on North Shore! We all know about that Other Mexican food place in Haleiwa, but if you take away their hype, and decide you prefer good service and good food, try Luibueno's instead! Before I even get to what I ordered I have one word for you: Guacamole!!! Its amazing. I went their with my auntie and uncle and the three of us ended up inhaling our first generous sized side of guac and having to order a second round by the time our entrees arrived! Soooo goood! Since we were there in the mid-afternoon, it turned out that it was happy hour. My aunt and uncle ordered off the regular menu, and I opted to order a few things off the happy hour menu. I got two fish tacos and an order of ceviche. Both were great, and even though these were happy hour portions, with prices to match, I still ended up taking home some leftovers! Overall, I was really satisfied with my dining experience at Luibueno's and will definitely return next I'm up North and craving Mexican!
(4)
Just Us ..

I think it started when I stood at the "please wait to be seated" sign. eventually I was seated at the bar. maybe they do things different here but where I come from, usually you can walk in & seat yourself at the bar but are seated at a normal table by the hostess... or at least they ask if you have a preference... duh... u know cos I like sitting in chairs at the bar where my feet can't reach the floor. food itself (calamar frito, enchilada) not great.
(1)
caly m.

I have had many tacos in my lifetime but Luibueno's is by far one of the best, if not the best! Our server was Moses and he was very friendly and efficient, looked around to serve his customers and made sure to fill water glasses when near empty and the same with salsa. We ordered 3 tacos a la cart -- beer battered fish, ahi tuna and shrimp with avocados. We each got 3 tacos and it was enough to satisfy my appetite. The shrimps came out juicy and cooked just right, and the taco soft taco shell was fried to make the texture more crunchy; and this I loved. My favorite taco was ahi tuna, but all tacos were amazing. I must have been in the zone and mesmerized by the experience that I was able to filter out the loud toddler sitting next to me. This place is taco heaven, and I will look forward to visiting again the next time I visit.
(4)
Monica L.

Ate here the other day. It wasn't busy at all so we got seated fast. Poor hostess that stands outside when it's so muggy. The tables are kinda packed together in the front by the bar. So I had to move around a bit to get through. We ordered a carne Asada burrito combo and the carne Asada taco combo. (Combos come with beans and rice). Our food came out quick which was a plus!! The rice was really disappointing. I always love Mexican rice...sadly it was hard and fell apart with each scoop I took. The meat was marinated good but it was chewy and tough which was eh....I don't think it was worth the price at all. The waitress was nice and didn't burden us too much, she came at the right time to get our plates, fill water, and give us our checks. Overall...I think I am still in the hunt for good Mexican food in Hawaii. I guess this place was alright, we had high expectations for this place. Maybe next time we will try their fish tacos (or ahi? I don't remember).
(3)
Dave F.

I've always wanted to come here to Luibueno's, but to be honest, I didn't want to drive all the way out to Haleiwa. Well, I got my chance recently. I had gone out to Kaiaka Beach to pick up some driftwood and also went to Pipeline to take some photos of the sunset. I gotta say, it was a gorgeous evening and after getting the shots I wanted I was hangry!! At first I was gonna drive back to town, but I remembered hey, we can go to Luibueno's! My dining companion cheerfully agreed and so we were on our way there! As I pulled into the parking lot, I luckily scored a great stall right in front of the restaurant! This was super neat since I could leave my photo gear in the car without lugging that "small fortune" of equipment with me into the restaurant! (smiles) There is a reception booth right outside of the door and we were cheerfully greeted. After being informed it would be a roughly twenty minute wait for a booth, we opted for a bar area seat. This restaurant is a very lively place and there were lots of diners having a great time! Our waiter was very prompt in bringing our waters out and explaining their menu and specials to us. Next was the standard basket of fresh made tortilla chips and salsa. We were both commenting on how good the salsa was! I'm not much of a cilantro person and this salsa was definitely not overpowered with it! Really good. As for the main entrÃ©es, I decided on the shredded beef enchiladas and my dining companion went with the special of the evening which was ahi fajitas served on a sizzling platter. It didn't take too long for the dishes to come out and we were ready for them! The ahi fajitas were sautÃ©ed with peppers and onions and a spicy sauce added to it. It also came with choice of flour or corn tortillas and the standard rice and refried beans. My enchiladas were just ok, maybe a bit more enchilada sauce would have made a big difference since I thought they were a bit dry. The rice and beans were good and pico de gallo was also included. The fajitas were spicy, but good. I liked the peppers and onions and how they complimented the ahi. I think I could just have the veggies sautÃ©ed in that sauce with the rice and beans. We were offered dessert, but we were pretty much stuffed! They offer a points program in which they will enter your phone number in their system and you can get discounts and stuff. I also learned they will be opening a second location in Kapolei later this year. I feel lucky that there are a lot of Mexican restaurants located throughout the island to try! When they open their second locale, I'll go check it out. All in all it was a satisfying dining experience for us with great service, a solid three star, A-Ok meal!!
(3)
Ernest P.

Was in the neighborhood and read the reviews... So why not go? Service from the hostess is GREAT! Drinks are different and unique. Ordered the Paella... Hmm. This supposedly is the number 1 dish in the restaurant. Pros: EXTREMELY fresh and hot. Cons: NOT seasoned at ALL. Paella is definitely meant to be flavorful. This dish had zero salt or seasons. For the high price of $28, I'm 100% disappointed. Based on their " # one dish" , I'll never return. ..
(2)
Mikey H.

This was our first time staying in Haleiwa and not knowing too much about the area, we slowly drove through town looking for some place to eat. We did see Cholo's but it looked too touristy, and then we saw Luibuenos and decided to go in. Friendly greeting and given a table. Why do people sit so far back from their tables that the person sitting behind has no room??? Bad manners is worse than having no money! Our server was great! Friendly and courteous. We read the owner was from San Diego, and she said he was there and would ask him to stop by. The salsa that came with the chips was spot on! and the guacamole was very good. We made it for happy hour so I ordered tacos: fish, beef, and al pastor. The fish was alright. The beef was delicious and the al pastor reminded me of the ones I had in Mexico City just recently. The margaritas were excellent, but not as strong as what we're use to. Overall, this is a great place to come to! We didn't get a chance to talk story with the owner because it was really busy. Maybe next time! Muchos gracias Luis and staff!
(4)
Nat W.

So I went to Luibueno during the happy hour and it was an okay experience. All tacos are $4 and they are just average. Pescado (grilled fish) taco was too fishy and beef brisket taco was dry and the hard taco shell got somewhat soggy. I think pork taco is the best of all. I also ordered ceviche and it was bit strange....It was served on a tortilla...again the fish wasnt the best. I think the best thing I had here was chips and salsa. What I liked about this place was the service. I am very very surprised that some people say this place offers an authentic Mexican food....I have had better tacos from a food truck on Oahu. Honestly Mexican food in Hawaii sucks, especially if you have lived on mainland.
(3)
Mark H.

Luibueno is my Bueno! Seriously folks, this is some damn good Mexican food. The sad part for me is that it's so far from where I live back in Florida. If I lived on Oahu, I'd eat here until I owned part of the business. Clint was our waiter, and dude was on the ball. He summoned our delicious cocktails from the bar super quick, and got our order in so fast we barely had time to finish the chips and salsa before our food was out. I ordered the shredded chicken burrito. It was huge and God damn tasty. But as good as it was, the star of the show was the queso fundido with chorizo. I've eaten this stuff all over the world, including Mexico and I'm telling you now, this shit is legit. Order it. Order it now. Damn I am gonna miss this place, but it's very fitting that my 808th review was an awesome place in Hawaii.
(5)
Matthew R.

The Ahi Enchiladas were fantastic... the carne asada quesadillas were a bit lacking in flavor... Flan and espresso martini made up for it. All in all a great place for grinds and drinks.
(4)
Steve S.

If you are interested in a taste of Mexican style home cooking, this is definitely the place to go! I came here with my wife and friend and enjoyed an evening meal together. We ordered a burrito, fish tacos, quesadillas and sangria. The fish taco was amazing and huge. It could be a meal on its own (and I kinda wish we just had that cause I was really full not barely making a dent in the quesadilla). Anyhow, I love the taste of the quesadilla! The shredded chicken combined with spices and cheese brought a lot of flavor to the quesadilla with less of the oily, greasy feeling that you get with most quesadillas I'm used to. The burrito was packed. My friend ordered a side of mashed potatoes that had this spicy in it that really made you go for more. My one flaw to such an awesome me is the Sangria. It was too strong and tasted more like bitter wine. The waiter was nice enough to get me some sprite to mix it into the Sangria but I think I would have preferred another drink. Overall though, I do recommend this place for the food!!!
(4)
Tony P.

Tip: the restaurant is set up to accommodate mostly 4's, so it can take a while to get larger parties seated, especially during the lunch rush. This was our second visit over the past year. First visit was a definite 4 stars with our large group enjoying the service and tasty food, from the fresh guacamole, ceviche, mahi tacos and meaty carnitas. This visit was okay but not to the standards set by our first. Our server was very good. He was efficient and friendly, but could be more proactive on filling drinks on a scorching hot day. The kids meals came out quickly, but the chicken fingers were dark brown and overcooked. Then the guacamole came out and it definitely wasn't fresh. I don't know if they used overripe avocados or it had been sitting, but it had that slightly turned, sour fermented flavor. Then the food came out and something was off with the preparation of most dishes. The fried calamari was really salty, oily and over fried. The carne asada was also salty, and the quesadilla used the same sour guacamole. Now for the positive. Besides the good service, the house salsa is excellent. Very fresh favors with just the right amount of spice. For my tastes, the refried beans are the best I've had on island. I never thought I would use the word "light" to describe refried beans, but that's what they are. Besides the guacamole problem, the quesadilla was crispy and cheesy. My wife's shrimp taco was really tasty. I'll probably order that next time. This visit was an okay overall experience because of the food issues. But we will definitely give it another chance because of our first visit.
(3)
Nikki H.

This place was better than expected, food wise. The space seems really small and crowded. I was sat in the bar area with my 3 yr old, and the tables in there are pub height, so I was sorta concerned with him sitting on one of the stools. Our waitress was nice, and brought out drink with chips and salsa rather quickly. The prices are for tourist, I paid $17 for ONE quesadilla, no rice, no beans, JUST a quesadilla. I'll admit that it was delicious and I was able to take leftovers home, but that's ridiculous. Will I come back here? Uh, no. But if you're on vacation, craving some Mexican food, and have a bunch of money to spend, well this is an excellent spot!
(3)
Chris A.

I was extremely devastated when the Luibueno's food truck abruptly left Schofield Barracks maybe over a year ago. I was a regular customer & I called them like clockwork for about 2 weeks straight only to find a dead line on the other end. So I was really excited to finally make it out to their storefront in Haleiwa last week. The restaurant has a nice, casual atmosphere. The dining area is pretty narrow and compact, however we arrived at noon on a Friday and there were only (4) tables occupied during our entire stay. I guess they are only busy during happy hour which is Monday through Friday 4-6pm and every night from 9:30-10:30pm. Service was great, & the food was delicious. I fell in love with their quesadillas, burritos, and carne chips from their "late" food truck but I wanted to try something different on this visit. Even though I don't care for corn tortillas, I really enjoyed their grilled mahi and carne asada tacos. Their rolled tacos were extremely appetizing as well. I also loved their complimentary chips & salsa. The salsa may be a bit too spicy for those who can't handle some heat, but it was just perfect for me. I'm not sure if I'm putting the old food truck on a pedestal, but everything I ate there was much more memorable than this visit to their restaurant, but this place definitely fulfilled my anticipated need for good Mexican food. My only complaints here were our desserts (which were placed to go). The churros were burnt to pure blackness and the empanada(s) didn't come with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as indicated on the takeout menu & it consisted of just (1) empanada. I forgive them though because I was pleased with their food (hopefully the desserts were just an isolated incident). Even though there are so many places to grab a great meal in Haleiwa (all the various food trucks in particular), this is one restaurant you'll have to check out especially if you love Mexican food.
(4)
Keith W.

if you are going to go to Luibueno's one time then you have to order the Two Taco EntrÃ©e with Rice and Beans. And when you do that....pick the Ahi taco and the beer-battered Mahi! Wow it was amazing. The refried beans were also homemade and felt authentic. Luibueno's has a great drink selection and our service was top notch.
(4)
Tina P.

Delish Mexican food. Highly recommend the tacos!! I had the ahi, mahi and hubby had the potato one. Oh they were all good but the potato one was amazing!!! Li hing mui margarita was awesome!! Kids meal came with a drink and ice cream they were happy campers!! Overall pretty good and excellent service!!!
(4)
Priscilla S.

The wait to get in on a Sunday at 230 was almost 30 min for 4 adults. The place is tiny but the food is yummy. I had beer battered fish taco and a seared ahi taco. Both were really delicious and costed $17 with rice and beans. My brother also had the fish enchilada and that was yummy. To finish it off we ordered fried ice cream! Delicious! Covered in corn flakes. If you are in Haleiwa and want Mexican seafood. I would definitely stop here!
(4)
John R.

Yes, yes, yes. THIS is the best Mexican restaurant on Oahu. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was spot on, and our waiter was so friendly and professional. My fiancee, who really hates Mexican food (I admit it: I dragged her in) just absolutely loved it, which was the first time ever! I'd give it six stars if I could. I only wish we had ONE like it (anywhere) in Japan.
(5)
Cynthia B.

Found this little gem while avoiding the cholos due to lack of carnitas. The restaurant was louder, but it was a Friday night so it's expected. The staff were friendly and provided above and beyond customer service. The food was good and seating was adequate. Great atmosphere and staff along with great food will be bringing us back often.
(5)
Brittany R.

Luibueno's is one of my favorite Mexican places on island. The food is always delicious and the service is usually pretty good. The staff is very knowledgeable about gluten free options and they have a lot. My biggest complaints are it gets pretty crowded and cramp and the noise levels sometimes makes it impossible to hear the person you are dining with.
(4)
Food C.

Best mexican on Oahu!!!! Service is absolutely wonderful, great vibe, great food
(5)
Maria W.

Food was just OK in my opinion. So many great reviews on here, but it didn't live up to the praise in my opinion. Now, I'm not a seafood lover, and maybe that's their specialty, but their chicken lacked flavor and the salsa didn't have much of a kick. Oh, and the otherwise attentive waiter completely forgot about our appetizer, but we forgave easily because the food came out so quickly we didn't really need an appetizer.
(3)
j h.

Based solely on that we got there 10 minutes after they opened and instead of letting us in, they made us wait outside in the heat. We, as well as other patrons, waited for about 15 minutes. Then decided to go elsewhere since there was no one to let us in or let us know what was going on. Very unprofessional!
(2)
Tina V.

Was here yesterday (Friday night) and it was fully packed, with a great atmosphere though. We were seated pretty quickly and were serviced with a smile. Fish of the day (swordfish) was great with a tad bit too much garlic for my taste but good nonetheless. The seafood paella (staff recommendation) was average, rice was a bit overdone and the mussels and shrimp unfortunately didn't taste fresh at all and were actually really chewy, which was a but of a bummer especially since it was recommended as delicious and signature dish by our waiter.
(3)
Wendy H.

Really excited to have found this amazing place!!! The story of how this restaurant came to be really hits close to home since half Mexican and went to school in San Diego!!! About the food: Great Mexican taste! We started with the calamari. Simply delicious! I'm so picky with calamari because many places screw up big time! But not here!!! It is fresh and the chipotle aioli its perfection! I ordered the beer battered fish tacos because well San Diego spoiled me with the best fish tacos so I wanted to give these a shot. The mahi mahi is amazing! I love places that keep it authentic and use CORN TORTILLAS! I cannot stress this enough! Flour tortillas on a taco is not authentic Mexican! One thing only... I asked for extra chipotle aioli to put on my tacos... In San Diego they use a similar type of sauce and since the aioli was so good I wanted to have that on my tacos. Last but absolutely not the least: This place has micheladas! If you don't know what these are you have to give it a try!!! I had it with modelo especial and it was very refreshing! Only thing missing was the chili powder (tajin) on the rim of the cup. Other than that I was so glad that this is a drink on the menu! Go here! Eat and enjoy it!!! Will not regret it!
(5)
Barry W.

Excited to find the glowing Yelp reviews of Luibueno's, after searching in vain for compelling Mexican food on Oahu. The verdict here was a split decision. The food at Luibueno's was actually quite good. We had a seared Ahi taco and a full rack of bbq ribs. The taco was executed well enough, though I think the Ahi tends to get lost a bit. That's a shame, as the fish itself was fresh and cooked right -- seared on the outside, basically raw on the inside, with no hint of fishiness. The rack of ribs was HUGE. Two of us ate the ribs and we still had enough left over for a full meal later! The plate was completed with a large, roasted corn-on-the-cob (beautiful, but needed salt) and a Mexican-themed cole slaw (mayo-based, with pineapple -- it was alright). Service was also excellent. Our waiter was attentive, bringing water, chips, and salsa as needed (which was often). One miss was that he didn't tell us about the fish of the day, a Garlic Marlin that I think we would have enjoyed had we known about it. But no complaint here. So why only 3 stars? Because the food was not great Mexican food, which is what we were really hungry for. It was well-done for what it was, but this kind of food could and would be served in just about any generically American restaurant. If that's what you're looking for, I'd give this place 4 stars and have no hesitation recommending it. But not what we were looking for that night.
(3)
Angela D.

We like this place but it is so dang expensive! I wouldn't call this authentic Mexican food, but it is good. The vibe is cool, and we have enjoyed our visits here. We just wish the prices weren't so inflated.
(3)
Mariacecilia B.

Found this place on yelp while visiting Oahu with my boyfriend for my birthday. Sooooo glad I did! The wait was not bad yet the place was packed, and for good reason! My boyfriend had some of the freshest fish tacos he's ever had and thought they were excellent. I had the shrimp gobernador tacos which I had never even heard of. OMG, delicious! Seriously the best food I had on the island. I've been craving it ever since but being from the mainland I can't exactly get my fix any time soon. (I've been searching for recipes to try and recreate the dish but I'm sure it won't be as good as Luibueno's). There was live entertainment , a very talented young woman played her guitar and sang beautifully. She even did a duet with a friend's daughter of let it go. So basically: Impeccable food Great service Awesome entertainment Nice atmosphere Reasonably priced
(5)
Kym M.

We came here based on the reviews and a recommendation from a friend we met while in north shore. We came on a Wednesday night and it was packed, but still were seated within 10 minutes. The service was alright but it was a busy night so very understandable. I ordered the margarita which was good and there was enough left in the shaker for a second drink which is always a plus! The food... We ordered chips and guacamole, where the guac was good but their chips tasted stale or maybe it's just not the way brand of chips. Next we ordered the ahi ahi appetizer, and unfortunately we were not impressed. I personally did not like the plate at all, it did not taste fresh and it was came soaked in a sauce that I did not like ( tasted like a cranberry based sauce but honestly not sure). We ordered the grilled mahi-mahi tacos, which were surprise my really good! I'd recommend the Mahi Mahi tacos and the Margs, but be cautious of the ahi ahi appetizer!
(3)
Dana K.

Wow. Just. Wow. I didn't think that this level of authentic Mexican food was available on Oahu. I was so wrong. Enter Luibuenos. Top 10 list of reasons to come here 1) the service is some of the best we've had anywhere on the island. Our server was great, the whole staff was attentive to us and other tables. Everyone was smiling and helping 2) the drinks are totally worth the price. And I don't say that often. Strong and flavorful. How a margarita should be. This bartender deserves awards people. 3) salsa is fresh. Can't say enough about this. 4) guac is flavorful. Chunks of avocado, cilantro, and onion in every bite. 5) so good with our kids. The service was friendly. Their weird food preferences were honored and she even made them smile a lot. 6) carne asada tacos. Trust me 7) good portions for what you pay 8) did I mention the service? I can't say enough. But really. The service. 9) atmosphere isn't cheesy. It's calm, relaxing and mixes well with the local surf town feel. Even when it's crazy busy 10). I don't know who Lui is or was but they got it right. Keep it up. We love you and will be back. Often.
(5)
Reid I.

I wanted to try here for a while every time I pass by. We wanted eat someplace before heading out to the beach and decided to go here. We were seated right away by the tables facing the bar. They started with complimentary chips and salsa which is always a plus. Ordered the Guacamole de las Casa which was very flavorful. I ordered the carne asada burrito. It was a good size bite that was delicious. Great service and nice ambiance. Has tvs by the bars to catch your fav sports. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Jay G.

In the movie, "I Love You Man," Jason Segel claims that the BEST fish tacos are found at "James' Beach" down in Venice Beach, CA. "Literally. Ranked." Even going so far as to call them "The Tits!" Well Jobin, you city slicka, you have been misinformed because the Grade A pair of tits you are referring to are found on the island of Oahu, nestled in Honolulu, HI, fried up in the hidden gem of Luibueno's Mexican & Latin Cuisine. The mouth-watering fish tacos you will find at Luibueno's are truly, hands down, "The Tits." Literally, RANKED [by yours truly]. If there was any one place you had to have the best fish taco's of your life, Luibueno's would be it. The particular night we strolled in just happened out of spontaneity. The place was PACKED but the lovely host somehow got us seated immediately. They nailed the chips & salsa. But, then again, who the hell messes up chips & salsa? There was an awesome guitarist/artist there that night, who sang some originals and blew me away with a cover of "There Is A Light" by The Smiths and blew the rest of the restaurant away when she covered the Frozen Anthem "Let It Go" with a little one, Not sure if live entertainment is something they do regularly, but it was insanely awesome and they should definitely bring that gal back. Service, ambiance, and experience were top notch. Luibueno's has some of the best food you will find on the entire island. No. Scratch that. They have some of the best food you will find on the entire planet.
(5)
Randy M.

Awesome place! Initially was gonna head to Cholos but as I was stuck in the usual slow Haleiwa traffic I remembered the commercials & popped in here with my sister. Luckily I found parking in the shared back lot. We were promptly seated & found the staff friendly & attentive. The lighting was a wee bit dark in here but was soon forgotten when our drinks got here. We both ordered the mango margaritas & it was out of this world, I ordered the carne asana burrito all carte instead of the meal. Thank god cause it was big & filling & I don't think I could have finished the rice & beans which would have come with the meal. Of course chips & salsa was standard & also ordered a small guacamole to go with it. I'm normally not a guacamole person but I'd make an exception for theirs. All in all I would stop by here again if I was in the area.
(4)
Shane D.

First of all, the seating situation is insane. If you have more than four people for your table (we had five), there is basically two places they can accommodate you. Second, their prices seem excessive. I understand some things cost more, but they are charging high end establishment prices for a glorified bar atmosphere that is kind of cramped. Even by Oahu standards I think they are changing too much. Third, the drinks need work. Either they are using cheap alcohol or just don't know how to mix very well, but the drinks were definitely NOT worth the large price per drink. Now that I have gotten that out of my system, I do want to say the food here is top notch and full of flavors. The fusion of seafood with Mexican is just outstanding. I also want to call out the servers and hostesses work really hard to make sure you are enjoying your visit to this restaurant. I think the biggest problem is they are trying to cram too much into too little space. But real estate is super expensive so I can see why they are trying to maximize what they do with the space provided. I honestly don't know how the servers can get around this place when it gets busy, space being so tight. At any rate, if you have a small enough group and stick to beer or wine for alcohol, this place will make you fat and happy...as long as you are ok with the ding to your wallet.
(3)
Caleb S.

Food: 4.5 stars Service: 4 stars Soda Pop: Coke products After strolling the shops in Old Town Haleiwa and then refusing to wait 45 minutes for the shaved ice at Matsumoto's, we stopped by Luibueno's. Sat down immediately and had our drink orders taken within minutes. They serve chips and salsa, which is a little spicy and has great flavor. Added the guac as a side and wasn't disappointed. I recommend the beef chalupa street tacos, use some of the guac on them and prepare for a taste explosion. My girlfriend got the scallops, which were fantastic as well. This was a bit on the pricey side, so not an everyday stop.
(4)
Mark Y.

My first time here this past weekend but stepping into this place did bring back quite a few memories. Back in the 80s and 90s, I used to eat here frequently when it was Rosie's Cantina. This was our normal eating spot after surfing the north shore during the winter seasons. I remember back then, Rosie's had a 3 item combo that was $8.50. I always ordered 3 chimis and all 3 were huge. It was rare for me to eat all 3 in one sitting but on a few occasions I did...along with baskets of chips and salsa and the rice and beans. A lot of food but well, this body wasn't built in a day! :) Anyway, Luibueno's is a solid replacement for my Mexican fix so I'll gladly dine here whenever I'm out in the country. We both started with some margaritas, I had the Li Hing and my friend had the Spicy C&C, both were delicious and hit the spot after all that driving. For our meal, my friend ordered the Sauteed shrimp tacos (2 tacos) which he said were good...I couldn't taste it unfortunately since I'm allergic to shellfish. I ordered the Bear-battered mahi tacos (2 tacos) which I thought were really good. The mahi had a nice crunch that the cabbage, onion, cilantro and cheese accompanied nicely. There was also a crema on it that balanced everything out. Another thing I should add is that these are soft tacos and each one came with 2 tortilas like the ones I've had at places in Socal. Complimentary chips and homemade salsa were delicious and refilled when we ran out. We both passed on dessert since we were pretty full. Plus, I am in a constant struggle with trying to undo the decades of "body building" I've done.
(4)
Kara P.

Food was great..I have a new favorite at Luibuenos! !! Great place to stop off and have a nice late lunch w a few cold brewskies. Our service was not that great but I feel that to be an isolated incident. I will return to Luibuenos when I can make the drive from the west side!!
(4)
Michele B.

Amazing. Everything about this place. If you're in Oahu, take the drive to Haleiwa. This town alone has the cutest charm with some great stores, and it has Luibuenos. Great service. The food is so delicious and fresh. And you MUST order the pineapple infused margaritas.
(5)
Kelsie M.

Love the margaritas here! Things are a bit on the expensive side, but I usually go at happy hour. Also, the fish tacos are the bomb.
(4)
The F.

Excellent service at lunch by a Caucasian female, sorry wish I remember her name, Jena maybe? Eh not sure. But she was friendly, checked onus and served with a smile. Hope to get her table again. Finally! Excellent Mexican food. We started with the basics and we were happy with the Carne asada tacos plate. But filled up on the chips and salsa only because the salsa was made perfectly. Perfect cilantro, lime or lemon, and garlic well blended. We had to buy a tub to take home. The restaurant tables and floors appeared clean and the place look appealing to the eye. Thank you for the great service, food, and atmosphere. Only one thing missing... fresh made tortilla chips. The ones you have are ok. We will be back weekly if we can lol. Can't eat too much, may gain too much weight. So far best place on the island. This is coming from Hispanics who are born and raised in Los Angeles and Orange County.
(5)
Kendra S.

Oahu has been missing one thing that is crucial to my diet, delicious Mexican food. After a year of being deprived this staple, I found it!!! How did I survive this long without your tasty goodness?! Located in Haleiwa, this restaurant looks sleepy and quiet on the outside like the town. Open those doors and this place is packed! The staff is very friendly and eager to offer recommendations. My go to is of course a margarita on the rocks to start followed by either tacos or burritos. Burritos are actually not Mexican but a Tex-mex, California thing. Being from San Diego born and raised, I've been spoiled by the abundance of quality Mexican food at my fingertips. It's a staple for us. Moving here it has been hard for my husband. He is a Mexican food snob and he couldn't stop raving about this place. I ordered the ahi burrito and it was sooo delicious! My margarita was on point, I just wish it was a little bigger but who doesn't wish that? My husband ordered the infamous carne asada burrito and it was to die for. Even my vegan mother was happy with her dish (after she scrapped off the cheese). This is my new go to place and I am overjoyed to find it!
(5)
Mia H.

Definitely planning on coming back here! Hubby and I shared 1/2 dozen oysters and it was sooo good! I get squeamish sometimes about raw or undercooked oysters but these were so clean and fresh tasting that I chewed them rather than just gulping them down. For my entrÃ©e, I had grill mahi fish tacos which were also amazing. The reason I gave four stars was due to the slow service. The staff provided good service, it just took a while to get seated and to receive our food in a half empty restaurant. Other than that, everything was superb!
(4)
Nard B.

Only great thing about this place was service. I've had a lot of good Spanish dishes (they don't just serve Mexican dishes, but others as well), but the dishes were not that great at all. First the chips that came with the salsa was very, very stale. Another round came by and was still the same. Then the prices were just too expensive for these meals cause just adding beans and rice to any single dish is almost an extra $6-$10 dollars. Horchata was good though. Overall, I like the people and the atmosphere but food was soooo sorry. On the next!
(2)
JOY R.

RUN!!!! Don't walk, run.... to Luibueno's for the GRILLED MAHI TACOS.... By far the BEST fish tacos I have ever had!!!! We came at the recommendation of our friend Samuel Levitz of Oahu Rental Vacation, and he absolutely steered us in the BEST direction! My husband ordered the Ahi Fajitas special and they were amazing.. but the GRILLED MAHI TACOS knocked us on our butts!!!! SO DELICIOUS!! Skip the beer battered ahi.. get the GRILLED MAHI TACOS. If you are a margarita fan, you must try their LI HING MUI MARGARITA... we got the 56 - 60 oz margarita with extra li Hing Mui on the rim.... YUM, YUM, YUM!!!! Service was great from the cute curly haired Mexican - American hostess & Clint, our waiter from San Diego! Can't speak for any of the other food on the menu... but I will scream about the GRILLED MAHI TACOS! ! We will be back!!!!!
(5)
Matt B.

If you are looking for some pretty darn good Mexican food I would highly recommend. Especially if you order the Beer Battered tacos or Burrito. Service was descent speed wise but very friendly. A little on the pricey side but so is everything in The North Shore.
(5)
Thad B.

Just OK. I'd go to Cholo's before returning here. Short ribs are probably the best thing on menu.
(3)
Robin N.

Great restaurant! Not just Mexican food, but solid seafood dishes as well. We ended up eating here 3 times during our 10 day stay and had excellent food, drinks, and service each time. My kids were told they should try the carne asada quesadilla and were completely STOKED with their choice, they ordered it all 3 times we came in! It's a very large portion and the carne aside tasted as good or better than our favorite place in S.D. My wife and I explored the menu a bit and had great food each time. Blackened seared ahi burrito and tacos were all time. The ribeye asada with tequila DREAM sauce was epic. The guac is insane. The grilled fresh fish entree was killer. Tecates in a can (bring your own koozie), $3 Pacificos on happy hour, and so much more. I could go on and maybe I will after I go back and eat there more on the next trip! Eat at Lui's!
(5)
Stephanie C.

Stopped in with a friend after having been rained out of a nearby hike we had planned to do because it smelled really tasty as we walked by :P Hostess managed to squeeze us into the last table for two left, by the window, which I think was actually a nice spot. The salsa is a decent smooth salsa (not chunky) and is fairly mild, which is good for me because I'm a bit of a heat wimp. The guacamole appetizer was also pretty good and had a nice amount of cilantro, which I like ;) I had the portobello enchilada and my friend got the enchiladas with beef--both come with a LOT more side than I was expecting! If you like rice and beans, you will get your fill here, for sure. The waitress didn't bat an eye when I asked to make sure my portobello enchilada was vegetarian, too, so I suspect they do get vegetarians in here (esp. since they have specifically vegetarian items like the vegetarian burrito). The enchilada was delicious--the portobellos are nice and thick sauteed slices, just the way they should be :D Yum! The look is that of a cute little Mexican restaurant; the interior decor is on the modern side, but the little roofed structure inside with the tile roofing was a nice touch :) The waitress was friendly and well prepared, if a little busy (the whole restaurant appeared to be filled to capacity at the time), but they had staff coming by and topping off our water and getting refills for my lemonade pretty consistently, so that's always a plus. Overall, a nice place for lunch!
(4)
Jurija M.

Been here a few times now and it is certainly not a bad place for some Mexican/Spanish flare and fair. My favorite part about dining here is the salsa. It has a good kick to it and it's definitely the best salsa I've had on the island thus far. My favorite appetizer is the the queso fundido. It is greasy, oily goodness! They should serve at least 1-2 more little breads with the dip however. I enjoy a solid burrito from here and my boyfriend loves the carne asada tacos. He says "You can never go wrong with them." Lui's loses a star for their WEAK drinks! I really can not believe how WEAK these drinks are. Someone needs to learn how to pour! Please!
(4)
Laura R.

Very cool original Mexican restaurant on the North Shore. Enjoyed the chips and salsa with guacamole and a spicy C&C margarita! For a main course we shared the mixed green salad and the spicy prawns! Great flavors and so filling!
(5)
Therese P.

First time to visit. Came in on a Sunday past 1pm and got seated right away. Server very attentive but not warm either, you know she's just doing her job. Can't get enough of the salsa, spicy and flavorful. Hubby ordered horchata twice. He finished the first glass way before the entree was served. It's that good. The carnitas plate that I ordered wasn't what I was expected. Looks more like an adobo. I didn't enjoyed my Lilikoi margarita, too strong for my taste. Alcohol was so overpowering I can't even taste any hint of Lilikoi in it. Carne asada plate hubby ordered was so yummy. Will be back next time to try the burrito.
(4)
Jason H.

Thanks to John last night who gave amazing service last night! The hostess that gave me trouble that last few times were not there. I was sat immediately... Had my margarita shortly there after and chewed down on some great guacamole and chips!
(4)
David L.

I am not sure how this place got good reviews. Went here based on reviews and 4/5 stars. Had the taquitos that were overcooked and drenched in sauce to try and cover it up. Then tried mama silvas guacamole that was fizzing and had a weird aftertaste like extra chemicals or something. Tried the mahi tacos that had some extra cartilage that made me gag!
(1)
Taylor S.

Best mexican food and drinks! If you like piÃ±a coladas, virgin or not, then this is the place for you!
(5)
Allan P.

Food was amazing. Service was slow. Just found on my bank statements that they decided to tip themselves a little more than what I did. 1 star for dishonesty.
(1)
E S.

Do not order the guacamole! It tasted old and disgusting, did not taste any like guacamole! Also, the guava margarita did not taste anything like guava but a generic margarita. Overall, the quality of the food did not merit the substantial bill.
(2)
Kim M.

Yummy. Had the beef enchiladas super good. My husband had the chicken enchiladas and I stole a bite, very good as well with different sauce than the beef. Margaritas were excellent !! Chips and salsa , salsa having just perfect heat to satisfy.
(5)
Kyle B.

Stopped here twice while hanging out in Haleiwa the past week. First time was just for drinks and some apps. Service was good, chips and salsa were very good, guac was good, queso fundido with chorizo was just ok. Second time we went for dinner and got some margaritas and I got the paella. I have to say, my expectations were not very high at all given I have found most places' paella to be fairly mediocre and thought this would be no different, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The paella was absolutely packed with seafood, all of which was cooked perfectly. The rice was also delicious and cooked perfectly. Probably on the pricier end for Haleiwa, but a nice place with good food. Definitely worth a visit if you are traveling through.
(5)
Reid S.

My experience at Luibueno's was just okay. Nothing outstanding or interesting, just another Mexican restaurant on the north shore. I'll admit, I'm not too keen on Mexican food, I've never had really awesome Mexican dishes. I ordered the burrito with chicken (even though I wanted shredded beef) and it was decent. Nothing terrible, but I could've had it seasoned more. It lacked a flavor, if only I could pinpoint it. The lihing margarita was delicious though. Not quite like Ryan's, but still delicious and refreshing, especially when tackling the bracing Oahu sun. Presentation wise the food looked very good, my Instagram followers were very pleased lol Service was strange. My friend and I waited a long time to get seated for lunch. It wasn't very crowded so I don't know where this wait was coming from. We didn't know where to wait either. It was so hot outside, but waiting inside made us feel like we were in the servers' way. Another couple arrived and the hostess did not know who had come first, which was not very professional. If only there was someone watching the front door, maybe more people would feel compelled to walk in on a whim. It just so happened that I was craving Mexican food and they were the closest place that could give me a burrito. All in all decent, service needs to improve.
(2)
Misty P.

I came here a while ago during a trip to the North Shore. I've always heard of Luibueno's and I am always game for trying some new Mexican establishment in Hawaii since there aren't many good restaurants here. There's plenty of parking on a weekday. If the lots are full fronting the restaurant, just drive to the right side and there is a bigger lot. I went for lunch and it wasn't too crowded, but not empty either. They serve you complimentary chips and salsa. I liked the salsa. It was kinda watery but had a nice kick to it and you could tell it was fresh and not canned. I ordered the two tacos with carne asada. It came with Mexican rice and refried beans with real Mexican white queso on it instead of the Americanized yellow stuff. The two tacos were great. Real tacos, not the fried shell kind. The meat was tasty and I like the toppings of fresh cilantro, and crema. The rice was okay but a bit dry. I loved the beans and cheese. Very delish. For lunch it was a bit pricey, but it was a good meal. Definitely better than Cholo's across the way.
(4)
Jason B.

This place is awesome, really great service, amazing fish tacos and happy hour.....I'd recommend this place to anyone!!!
(5)
Ali V.

Not as happy as I was last time.... Maybe cause I was drunk? Ribs are horrible and the service sucks
(2)
Caleb L.

Great food for the price. Came here off a recommendation from a friend. There is plenty of parking behind the restaurant. Seating is plentiful and we were able to sit on an alcove at street level. This gave us a decent view of downtown Haleiwa. Carne Asada was a bit dry but the fish is where this restaurant excels. Highly recommended.
(4)
Tiffany R.

We went out here for dinner tonight and it was my first night. First off, I'd like to say that the atmosphere in there feels really nice and warm hearted or maybe I feel that way about all Hawaii restaurants since the people here are so friendly. Anyways I ordered a steak and it was super buttery and soft and served on some potatoes and sauce! Hostess was a blonde sweet girl and the waiter was very friendly! Also I recommend the desert menu. I contemplated between the flan and fried ice cream. I got the fried ice cream with butter scotch! It was super good. If you haven't been here yet, be sure you do!
(5)
Michael B.

Excellent service, excellent food, prices are comparable to other places in the immediate area but with better quality of food! Ahi fajitas are a current temporary item that they are apparently considering making permanent, they are delicious, so hopefully they do! The ribs looked amazing, I asked the guy eating them and he confirmed that! I'll be trying those next time! Margaritas are also really great with a house made sour!
(5)
Trevor T.

Meh, very pricey. Good food, but a bit overpriced. I'll give it a break since being on the north shore means limited offerings. I came here for lunch post-surf (wanted to switch it up from another Mexican place across the street). There's a full bar, and it looks like a fun place if you're in Haleiwa town at night. I'll have to come back to see if my feeling goes from "I might come back" to "gotta come back" after a happy hour/evening at Luibueno's. I will say that the servers were all friendly. I'm just "meh" cuz the perceived price vs alternative options in the area. Will be back.
(3)
Jason S.

Awesome food and atmosphere. This is a great place if you are craving solid Mexican food. Guac is insane. Fish burrito was huge and very tasty. Get the churro and hot chocolate to finish it off.
(5)
Christina D.

This my first time here and i gotta say, I enjoyed my visit. The wait time was short and my food really good. I ordered the Gubanador (shrimp taco) with beans & rice. The spices they used was spot on for me. Not too spicy & I loved that the pico de gallo was separate on the plate sice I am not a fan. My party got the paella (which was good but small) & the portabella enchilada (which she didn't like. Said it tasted plain & not too much flavor). The ambiance was great after a day at the beach. Really laid back & relaxing. My one complaint...because I am very very picky about where I go to the bathroom. They have one unisex bathroom (which was clean so YAY) but the door wouldn't lock. No locking bathroom door does minus you a star in my opinion sorry lol.
(4)
David N.

Fantastic Mexican in Oahu! As a Hawaii transplant who grew up in Southern California, my standards for Mexican are high, and in general I've been disappointed with Mexican restaurants in Hawaii. I was not disappointed today. Prices aren't low, but the food was excellent and portions generous. My brother and I split 6 taquitos and we each ordered 2 tacos a la carte (assuming the tacos would be small), and we walked out stuffed. All of the food was highly flavorful and struck me as pretty authentic--certainly satisfying to this SoCal boy. The dining room was tastefully appointed and the service was professional and friendly. Recommended!
(5)
Lauren C.

I've been to a few of the more popular Mexican restaurants in town and I used to eat at a popular North Shore Mexican place until I gave this place a try. It was Boyfriends idea to try this place which was a big surprise because he's not really a Mexican food kinda guy. I was happy he suggested it so I didn't mind the long ass car ride it took to get here. There was a wait since we came during lunch time but I liked that I could leave my phone number so I could browse the shops in Haleiwa instead of being stuck outside their door waiting to be called. The first thing I noticed was that this place is super tight. As in the literal sense. I practically had to walk sideways to get to our table and once we were there, we were seated smack dab next to the other table. The design of the dining area is kinda funky and it's obvious that they're trying to pack in as many tables as they can. Boyfriend usually always gets carne asada burrito whenever and wherever we eat Mexican. I was torn between the carne asada burrito or the fish tacos. I love fish tacos and not many places can make it that good so I was curious to try. I couldn't make up my mind between the two so instead of tossing a coin, I decided to get both. I figure I could always eat the rest for dinner. The carne asada was okay. The meat was a bit tough for my taste but Boyfriend seemed to have really liked it. My mahimahi tacos on the other hand was really good. The fish was nice and flaky and didn't taste as if it was frozen for a long time. The slaw and sauce paired well with the fried fish. This is now my favorite place for fish tacos! It's a bummer that this place is such a journey otherwise I would eat here more often!
(4)
Wes J.

Stopped here after a long day, kids were tired and so was I. I thought this place was pretty good. Their homemade chips were good but weren't outstanding. What they do well though is their fish tacos, OMG, these were amazing. Love, love, love them! Waitress was nice and the place was pretty clean. Typical Mexican restaurant decor but wasn't over done. All in all this was a nice experience that we would gladly do again! Prices weren't bad either for the quality food they put out.
(4)
Stephanie W.

My husband and I always love to go there for special occasions. We always enjoy their own made margaritas with the blackened Ahi and calamari to start. Hubby usually gets the chef's special of the night and I usually get the Paella or fish tacos.
(5)
pat m.

We were disappointed so many times last Wednesday. We were really looking forward to some good food - and Luibueno's was crowded. The hostess gave us a 15-20 min. wait time and took our phone number. After 25 minutes of window shopping we came back and had to wait more. We ordered and the food came in shifts so the three of us didn't eat together. My husband's was out first- not in a short time- and was refrigerator cold. Then my son't tacos came out and were fine. Then my husband's again and it had been microwaved but still had cold sections. The waitress was so busy it took a while for her to get to us. In that time, I realized my order never came. When she finally got back to us, my son was done eating and her response to everything was 1 "sorry about that". She also put the blame on whoever plated, because she wasn't the person who brought our food- she was too busy. While that's the subject of a whole other discussion about customer service, Luibueno's spent the inside cover of their menu expounding on their excellent customer service--therefore, while the food was meh, the service was deplorable. 1 star doesn't cover our loss of an hour and having to find lunch (Goivanni's garlic shrimp truck down the road :) worth a second visit.
(1)
Mercedes S.

Great Mexican food and Seafood. I had amazing ceviche tostadas. The strawberry margarita was delicious. Great bartenders, servers and Louie is always awesome
(5)
Grace L.

We always get mexican food when we venture out to the north shore so we decided to try luibuenos out. I had the carne asada burrito. It was okay. They don't put rice in the burrito so it was just like...a lot of steak and this sour cream sauce kinda thing. I'm not sure what the sauce was but it was white and tasted like sour cream (minus the consistency). I had it ala carte because I wasn't feeling that hungry so I can't comment on the flavor of their rice at all. I was just disappointed because when I think burrito...I'm thinking the whole shbanngg with rice, meat, sour cream, guac, salsa, etc. Ok so you're probably wondering why I gave it four stars? Oh my gosh, the FISH TACOS. I've had some really really awful, dry, bland fish tacos at other places. For that reason, i literally NEVER get fish tacos anywhere. I've never had a place that can cook it well...except LUIBUENOS. It's battered fish tacos so the crunch gives it an amazing texture. The flavors are amazing. I've been craving it so bad but we haven't had the time to drive out there. Hopefully sometime soon... Also, I went to school in SF for a year so I've eaten some pretty bomb mexican food. I don't think this place cuts it in terms of authentic mexican cuisine. However, the fish tacos are amazing and perfect. It's a must try. I insist. It's so good that I am willing to overlook my carne asada burrito just for this and bump it up a star or two.
(4)
Amber B.

Best Mexican food with a Hawaiian ambiance. My husband loves Mexican and I enjoy seafood. I got the seared ahi tacos and they were cooked to perfection. Delicious flavor and good size piece of fish. My husbands burrito was FILLED with meat! Nice service too!
(5)
Robert F.

Service is great Chips and salsa are delicious Sangria is on point San Felipe burritos were delicious
(5)
Wayne W.

This is my favorite hangout on the north shore the beer battered fish tacos and carne asada quesadillas good and the have the best margaritas anywhere!! Service is good and the owner runs a tight ship!! Highly recommended
(5)
Kalani S.

We started with the 2 margaritas, one was the Don Julio Cadillac and the other was the Spicy C&C If you love cheese, we recommend the Queso Fundido for the appetizer, it's like fondue and very tasty, we added the chorizo for a full flavor For the entree we ordered the Carnitas and the Shredded beef enchiladas. The corn tortilla that came with the Carnitas was warm and not dry, the pork was tender with a nice balance of sauce. The enchilada hit the spot for me. The tortilla, sauce and the shredded beef were well balanced, it wasn't too hot but just right for me to order another Margarita. I have to say this Mexican restaurant is by far the best on the island. I have been to many Mexican restraurants from Ko'olina, Hawaii Kai, Aiea, McCully/King etc. Kudos to Jane the great server we had and Luibueno's
(5)
Taylor B.

$13 for a burrito with nothing else on the plate. I am not picky about presentation but it was seriously just a burrito on a plate. Service was great, they filled out waters up consistently. It is pretty cramped in there, it's a small place. You better get there before peak hour or you will be waiting a long time. I wouldn't go back if I had the chance.
(2)
Chrystal N.

Seared fish tacos r awesome. Fresh and delicious, had the beer battered fish taco and shrimp taco also. Both were good. The seared fish tacos r the best of the 3 fish tacos they offer, that is what i thought. Beans rice boring. Skip it. Steal some from your kids plate! Well if you have kids! Kids portions are great. Service could of been a bit better.
(4)
Terence H.

Absolutely DISAPPOINTING for the overall rating! Two stars is polite. First what bar brings a bottle beer when you ordered draft and asks if it's ok? On the first beer if that. Then my friends tacos meat drained so much meat juice on the plate it created a puddle and when the waiter picked up the plate it spilled on the floor and almost hit my foot. Then my burrito was the kicker and the reason for this review. My pollo burrito was $13 and it was filled with only chicken rice and beans. The tomatoes and cabbage mix was on the side and there was absolutely no salsa anywhere! I had to build my own burrito after it was brought to me using the salsa from the chips and salsa that is sent to each table while you wait. Over priced and over hyped on here and not worth the time or money! Quick update, the bill came and they actually charged for the side of lettuce and salsa!!! Ridiculous! This finally promoted me to approach the manager. I voiced my concerns and he did NOT apologize and just said I can take that stuff off. How could he not apologize?! Careless management = careless service = careless food!!! They credited back the sides and the beer and that was all. I would highly NOT RECOMMEND this place!!!
(2)
Mikeal H.

Last time I came here I got the enchiladas (beef and ahi). It was a 5 out of 5 meal. Great taste. Delicious. BUT HOOOOLY GUACAMOLE (pun intended) THESE AHI FAJITAS HAVE ME RETHINKING LIFE. All the people I've hurt, lied to, been mean to, and disregarded I AM SORRY. Life has so much meaning and in the past I have been guilty of not appreciating the things around me. Your first bite makes you want to hug the people at the next table. Your second bite you stand up and drop the spoon (aka drop the mic). With every bite a new epiphany and a new way to celebrate. My last bite caused the restaurant to erupt with applause and a congratulatory lap around the room. High fives for all and it was the best night of my life. I asked the waitress to hug the chef, I hope she did. AHI FAJITAS (it was the day's special) Meat was TENDER and the onions and peppers that complimented it were cooked just right. The whole meal had a great balance of salt, spice, and zest. AHI FAJITAS. Do not get anything else unless it's a michelada.
(5)
Teresa H.

Hubby and I were staying on the North Shore and thought we would dine somewhere in Haleiwa and this is where we ended up. We were able to get seated very quickly and our server Moses was great. Their complimentary Chips and salsa were delicious - their salsa was nice and spicy! I ordered the Portebella mushroom enchiladas which were delicious! Hubby had the burrito with beer battered fish (which was a house favorite) and it was also really good. I had a mojito which was refreshing with fresh mint and limes (no one can really mess up a mojito right?) Oh and how can I forget the deep fried ice cream with honey for dessert! It was on a bed of corn flake cereal that made the texture quite tasty! Overall great spontaneous dinner date and good Mexican food, which we don't really have on island so we were very pleased! Definitely a must try!!
(5)
Jackie G.

I don't get what the hype is about this place. Service and food was mediocre. I ordered the shrimp tacos and it had two tacos with 5 tiny shrimp in each taco. My husband got the fresh catch burrito and it was mostly beans and aioli with tiny bits of fish. Mostly disappointed after having eaten awesome fish tacos at monkeypod kitchen across from the JW Marriott earlier that day. Salsa tasted fresh and homemade but beware! It is very spicy! Ambiance was very loud but maybe because we had dinner at 9 pm. We had to repeat ourselves and yell across our small table.
(3)
Tze M.

This place is always packed! Even the bar is packed! I only stopped here for a drink, so my friends and I sat at the bar. We got a full order of oysters, it was so good! It tasted fresh! Served half shell, on ice with sides of horse radish, and what ever sauce you request. Next time if I get a chance, I'll have to try the food there.
(4)
Mark M.

Just ate lunch here, and couldn't be more pleased with the service and food. The salsa has a little bit of kick to it, and actually has flavor. I ordered carne asada tacos, which came out ten minutes after ordering them and they were delicious. If you find yourself nearby, give the place a shot.
(5)
Rockie N.

I live in Southern CA, so eating Mexican food on the road is usually left to... well, Mexico. Ended up here on a whim due to a little travel fatigue and the need for booze and lunch. All other options in town were "meh". This was familiar. The salsa alone alerted us that this place is legit. I've been obsessed with Li huing mui, and Luibueno's margarita blew me away! The beer battered mahi taco RULES. The best part? They serve food LATE for the dinner-challenged - and there's a happy hour from 9:30-10:30pm. The street taco plates are a must and the beers are the COLDEST. They've got the market cornered...
(5)
Raina S.

I had moderate hopes for this place, since they have a much higher Yelp rating than other Mexican spots in Haleiwa. Sadly, I liked Cholo's better, and even they're not very good. As many others have said, the service is great here. We started out with chips and salsa and a couple of margaritas. These were okay. Next up was an order of queso fundido, with strips of chiles on top of the cheese, which made it hard to get both onto a tortilla chip. No chorizo, which I was hoping for. My daughter ordered a chicken burrito, which she barely touched. She said it tasted terrible. I tried the carnitas which were bland and extremely dry. My husband's tacos were soggy. The flavors were just not good. Having heard the owner was from San Diego, I was expecting more authenticity. My quest for good Mex on Oahu continues.
(2)
Kimo S.

Heading out from the North Shore we decided that Mexican would be a great way to fill ourselves up for a long drive home. Lauren V. had been raving about the beer battered fish tacos so it only made sense that we would give them a chance. The (free) fresh chips and salsa were perfect and a great way to wait for our lunch to arrive. Our waitress was pleasant and took our orders promptly for Margarita's (Li Hing and Mango) and came back quickly to take our food order. Bonus points for that. Our food came out relatively quickly and Lauren V. stuck to her guns and ordered the beer battered fish taco plate and I opted for the beer battered fish taco burrito. I have to say, both dishes were great but could have used a little more "heat" to them. When I think of "authentic" Mexican I think of spices and heat with the flavor profile. The battered fish was quite good, the fish was still tender and not overcooked or dry. Flaky, moist and tasty so I was pretty happy. The only gripe I had is that I found more pieces of just fried batter than fish. Perhaps in a burrito it is easier to hide this but it was easy to find when i was eating it. I felt that I got 75% of the fish that Lauren V. got because of the excess fried batter that was buried in my burrito. Still, I'll probably give them another shot when we're back that way but I might want to ask them to make sure my fish pieces are legit and not over battered.
(4)
Chris P.

Don't know why we haven't heard of this place before but we sure are glad we found it!! Totally authentic SoCal Mexican! Great pico, great guacamole, awesome carne asada! Now they only need a California burrito on the menu! Intimate is putting it nicely. They sure do put as many tables as they possibly can fit in this tiny place, but the food made the "crampedness" totally worth it. Horchata, jamaica, and a bunch of Mexican beers on tap make the place even better. Check this place out!!
(5)
Candy P.

Sooooooo good! Wonderful atmosphere, great friendly and knowledgeable staff, and the food was yummy! Had the queso fundido with calabasitas, vegetarian burrito, portobello mushroom enchiladas in a freakin amazing red sauce and fried ice cream with butterscotch!
(5)
Edward G.

Best Mexican food on the north shore. A tad pricey, but great food, service, and drinks. My favorite restaurant in Haleiwa!
(4)
Kenia D.

So, we are a really frequent costumers! Every single time that I came here was just perfect!! Until today !!! April 11 2015 ! This waitress HEIDI was rally disrespectful!!!! She actually throw our order on our table no napkins! No nothing!!!!! On top of that ! We ask to split our check (because we were 8 people) and she throw a pen on the table an sd that we need to split our check our self!!! And this is not enough !! We actually talked with the manager about our awful experience and he actually give her all the rights to do what she were doing!!
(1)
Garett D.

Li Hing Margarita was on point! Went well with the fish tacos! Great vibe and delicious seafood!
(5)
Kristie K.

Great drinks, great food! I had a pineapple infused taquilla margarita, great refreshing drink! Also had a mahi & carne asada taco, both EXCELLENT!!!!! Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Ben M.

Great spot for tourists. For locals, it's pretty much a happy hour and late night happy hour spot. Good drinks if that's your thing. Fish tacos either fried or grilled are always on point. The better of the two "Mexican" food spots on the north shore. (Kind of hard being spoiled by Mexican food in CA) love the never ending supply of chips and salsa while having drinks, a great compliment. Guacamole is delicious as well.
(4)
Kimberly D.

Used to be great but totally missed the mark last Sunday. We hadn't been up to the NS for months and we're really looking forward to our dinner after walking around Haleiwa Town. Started off bad with overlooked calamari that was not fresh and an aioli that was flavorless. I had chicken quesadilla that was barely edible. The chicken had an odd flavor. I ate less than half and threw the rest away. Fish tacos? Meh. Carnitas were flavorless as wee the sides. Margaritas were good, but we walked out after spending over $100 with tip and feeling shafted. Used to be our go to :(
(2)
Cierra R.

Great food! It's hard to find Mexican food on this island but this place hit the spot! I had the carne asada burrito and it was delicious! The rice and beans were perfect and our waitress was fantastic and super friendly. Trumps Cholo's across the street.
(5)
Ely B.

Ten stars! This place is great -- it's the perfect stop after a long day at the beach. We were on the island during off-season (late April) so it was never overly crowded and we never had to wait for a table. I would highly recommend the happy hours, they are an excellent deal -- you get plenty of food for your $$ and the margaritas are delicious. I had the chalupas two different times and desperately wanted to smuggle some of that salsa back home to Seattle. Aside from the great food, our server Jayne was AMAZING. She was hilarious and always on top of things. She had a ton of great recommendations for things to do/see while on the North Shore as well (one of them wound up being our favorite beach during our entire stay). Thanks Jayne!
(5)
Rissa K.

Wow love this place! There are not so many great Mexican restaurants but this place here seems legit! Must try their Carne Asada burrito! Mmm so good!
(4)
Lauren V.

I ADORE Lui Bueno's beer battered fish. I've been here several times. I switch back and forth between the beer battered fish tacos and the burrito. The only downside to eating here is that it can get crazy busy. If you are hangry skip their evening happy hour. It is close to impossible to get a seat. I always go here with the expectation that I'll have to wait 45 minutes for a seat and about 30 minutes for food. The wait is killer but I am so happy once I have those tacos in front of me. I took my boyfriend here this past Sunday (for lunch around noon) to experience the awesome tacos and we were seated in 5 minutes and our food and drinks were delivered within 10. I was just amazed. I'm giving Lui Buenos 4 starts for their beer battered fish. Minus 1 for the wait that I usually experience.
(4)
Cholo D.

1st timer; celebrating Hinamatsuri (girl's day) with another Luibueno-virgin. We yelped suggested places to eat and somehow landed on Luibueno's because neither of us had explored it yet. Prior to arrival, I took it upon myself to call ahead in case of wait time -- approximately 25 minutes -- not bad. We arrived to a hostess who greeted us and immediately walked us over to a table. No wait time? Albeit it was a Tuesday night, +2 points Luibueno. (Sidenote: my date and I are easily built for contact sports; he's a linebacker and i'm no bitty betty. While the absence of wait time was much appreciated, the excitement quickly left after our hostess sat at a tiny-cramped-window table. -1 point) At this point, we met our waiter, "Mitch." Great guy. He suggested a few seafood entrees, ordered our drinks, and served us well without ever skipping a beat. His services were much appreciated. +2 points. Most important, the food. There was a variety of authentic mexican entrees and desserts. Chicken, pork, beef and fish, infused with local flair, and flavor. (Blackened Ahi with Guac, and a creamy hibiscus sauce -- to die for). Price was reasonable ($15/plate), and portions were huge. +2 points. With thanks to our waiter, chef, and the lack of persons dining at Luibuenos on that particular night, we were able to enjoy a quiet, well deserved meal and each others company. We recognize these moments are a rare occurrence, but if our experience inspires another couple to spontaneously explore new places and new food, then its all worthwhile. Salud!
(5)
Azlina H.

I have been here a number of times, and have never had a bad meal. Service is usually great. But the last time we were in, the bartender was interesting. My husband ask for some water....there was such an absense of response, verbal or otherwise, I thought the man did not hear him. Then water he put a glass of water in front of us. Hmm...? Not sure what that was about. The hostess and waitress were great. The salsa is always fresh. Love the salsa and chips. Careful not to fill up on those before your order comes. My favorite is the quesadilla.....large enough for 3 meals for me. The last time I came, I ordered the taquitos from the appetizers list. Six, to share.....it was delicious. And very filling. The best rolled taco ever! The sauces they were served with were delicious. I ordered a salad, and flan...don't forget flan. Life is short, seriously, eat dessert! Our friends who had never been there before, loved the quesadilla (which I recommend)....declared the best quesadillas, ever. Yes, we will be back. Again, and again. Mahalo for the good times. See you again, soon.
(4)
Ashley O.

Love the hibiscus margarita from here! We do drinks here once a week and usually split an appetizer. The food here is fantastic but a little pricey. Plates run from about 12-23 bucks and margaritas about 10-12. The tacos are great. I usually get the beer battered mahi a la carte. For a nice two person dinner with drinks be prepared to spend between 60-90 dollars. The wait to get in can be a little long but the food, atmosphere and service are worth the wait. If your looking to get seats at the bar, I would recommend putting your name in for a table first and waiting it out. Your more likely to be seated first. We couldn't be more happy to call this little spot our go to place for drinks and tacos! I Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Michelle E.

Salsa was great and so was wait staff. But the taste of everything was just TOO much. The ceviche was loaded with lemon! The ribs(which were only warm) sauce was too sweet. The sweet in the pineapple coleslaw was too sweet. And then the corn was a con of corn that was fire toasted....thought it looked amazing, but the cheese breaking/coating was too much. Even after I scraped some off it was still over powering. But the salsa is the tastiest on the island!!
(3)
Kate P.

Just don't. We've gone here serval times over the past three years and always thought it was decent enough. The first couple of times it wasn't terrible, we normally take our food to go. Occasionally dining in. Then we started getting food poisoning. Not even joking every single time we ate here. From September of 2014 to last night we have eaten here four times. 3 of those times I was hugging the toilet all night long. The other 1 time it was my husband. I tried to play it off as a coincidence but after the 4th time---- come on now. Get your shit together. Don't risk it, it's not that good anyway.
(1)
Steven D.

This restaurant far exceeded my expectations. I love Mexican food, and coming from California, I never thought we'd find such good Mexican food in Hawaii. According to the (really long!) background story in the menu, the owner was originally from San Diego and was on a mission to open a good Mexican restaurant on Oahu; I'd say he succeeded! The complimentary chips and salsa tasted fresh, the servers were friendly and quick, and the entrees were awesome. I highly recommend the chipotle sauce ahi enchiladas. I also liked the shrimp tacos, and the rice and beans were great too. As for drinks, I had the jalapeÃ±o cocktail, which was very tasty. A couple people had margaritas, which looked pretty cool (blended and frozen like a Slurpee), but were actually not very flavorful. If you like spicy, definitely go with the jalapeÃ±o drink instead!
(5)
Dana B.

One of the best Mexican restaurants on the island! We stopped in for a late lunch & stayed for happy hour! I had a Carne Asada taco & then tried the potato taco and the beer battered fish taco during the happy hour special. We enjoyed everything but my favorite was the beer battered fish taco, you have to try it!
(5)
Stephanie B.

I always have a good experience here. The margaritas taste great! The food was well cooked and tasty and the wait time was about 30 minutes for two people. I had the chicken enchiladas and my husband had a burrito which was pretty big. I like the atmosphere, but the tables are a little too close together and the bar chairs are really close together. The staff was friendly and overall it was a great place for date night.
(5)
Brandi F.

Since we are moving back to the mainland this week today was our last chance to try Luibuenos. Our server was very friendly and service was pretty quick. The dining area by the windows is very cramped. My husband ordered the carnitas and I ordered the blackened ahi burrito. I asked if it would be seared rare and was assured it would be. The complimentary chips and salsa weren't too bad but beware there is a TON of garlic in the salsa. Our food was brought to us by a random employee and I was brought tacos and not a burrito. I waited a few minutes for our server to try and rectify the mistake .... eventually I gave up and said screw it because it was lunch and I was hungry. The beans and rice were not hot, even with waiting a few minutes for our server they still should have been warm and the rice was a little dry. My "seared rare" ahi tacos, although the flavors were good the ahi was overcooked, nothing rare or seared here. My husband enjoyed his carnitas, he said it was really flavorful but was looking for some cheese and sour cream lol. Spending 50 on lunch, no drinks and no desseet just 2 meals, the food should have left me very impressed. I'm glad we're got to try this restaurant, it was on my Hawaii bucket list, but if we were staying on island we wouldn't go back.
(3)
Andy A.

This the catch of the day. Fabulous. And the burrito is carne assada and is delicious. Goes really really well with guacamole and taquitos with beers and margaritas. We tried 7 stars but you can find out for yourself.
(5)
Ed C.

I was in Wahiawa recently for nine days and stopped at Luibueno's four times either on my way to or from the North Shore. It's a great place to visit for an adult beverage with a bowl of chips and salsa or something fresh from the menu, which is a little pricey, but it's the best restaurant in Haleiwa. Friendly staff, clean rest rooms and icy cold beer is what will bring me back again on my next visit.
(4)
Sam E.

The wait was long because it was pretty busy on a Sunday night but that was just a testament to the delicious food and fabulous service we received. Our server, Chelsea, was on top of it refilling our chips and never letting our drinks get empty :) Muy bueno!
(5)
Cat M.

Stopped here to try the food and we were impressed. Good Mexican food with flavor! Had the Carne Asade burrito and fish tacos - definitely coming back.
(5)
Jett P.

Excellent service! Great for families! I came with my kids and they were so kind and patient. The kids even got ice cream for dessert! Yum! I have been a few times and I'm always impressed. I especially love the margarita! Mmm... Must go here if you know good Mexican food!
(5)
Tiffany B.

Beats CHOLO's hands down/best Mexican in Haleiwa, maybe on the island. Good vegetarian options available though not readily advertised. Good portions. Comfortable ambiance.
(5)
Rebekah L.

A local up street from this place recommended Luibeuno's. I'm so glad she did! This place is awesome! Their chips & salsa are the best I've ever had. For my meal I had a combo with two shrimp tacos with rice & beans. The tacos were good but a bit on the soggy side. The shrimp are in some kind of sauce which is why the tortillas were soggy. I tasted the chicken from my daughters taco and it was very good. It was shredded white meat. We were seated right away and our server was really nice and available when needed. If our server wasn't nearby the others were more than happy to help us. Overall this place is delicious and I'd go back.
(5)
Cynthia A.

This has been my favorite on the north shore since they opened! Always fresh, always served with aloha. Delicious margaritas and other cocktails, good beer and wine selection. Try the blackened ahi burrito with beans and rice. Plenty of veggie options too. The specials are always expertly crafted. The staff is top notch. They always take the time to chat with us, even when they are slammed. Great place for a quick and tasty bite after a day at the beach, or a classy special occasion. Lui's is the best!
(5)
Celia B.

Everytime I come to the north shore I make sure to stop here! It is my favorite Mexican restaurant on island, although I wouldn't call it authentic, of course it's more upscale and trendy. The margaritas are fantastic! I especially enjoyed the guava margarita with he li-hing rim. We have also tried to lilikoi margarita, the skinny margarita and the spicy margarita, all of which have been enjoyable. The food is delicious and of high quality! They serve you complimentary chips and salsa, both of which are fantastic. The guacamole is a great addition, as well. My favorite item on the whole menu is the local greens salad. It's so hard to find a local and fresh tasting salad on this freakin island! But what makes the salad super addicting, aside from the fresh ingredients, is the dressing, both house made, and both are delicious. I usually split my salad up and do half and half, I simply can't choose! :) The calamari was great, and same with the tacos. We primarily come for drinks and appetizers, but I have no doubt that everything else on the menu is extremely delicious. The service has also always been over the top fantastic, as well! I really have no complaints about this place. Yes, it's pricy, but that's why it's so good. You're paying for the high quality, amazing food.
(5)
Troy D.

Great fish tacos. Chips and guacamole was very good. Very attentive wait staff. Highly recommend.
(5)
Tracy S.

This place was busy but we sat quickly for a party of 5 and the service was more than friendly. Talk about a great selection of drafts, they have it and a great drink menu to boot. The guacamole was a little bland not as good as we had hoped but still fresh. Salsa had the perfect amount of kick and is thinner. My mahi burrito was huge and had a bit of a kick. We didn't really need the beans and rice as it was already in the burrito. The pork carnitas were the bomb and so much we had to take home but the ahi tacos were overdone when requested rare and pretty small compared to the other dishes. The kids had a huge quesadilla plate and surprised them at the end with ice cream. The atmosphere is colorful and the smallness makes it really my style. Although I did not have the mixed drinks, I will next time as the table beside us ordered and we could not stop staring. The 3 rating was due to the tacos, the guac and after requesting a to go box, it was not related to our waiter which caused a delay however would still recommend for you to try.
(3)
Darrell P.

This is our first time at Luibueno's and for us, first impressions are the most lasting ones and this place was no exception. We got here with perfect timing because it started to get full a little after we were seated. Inside ambiance was casual. I liked the dark wood tables and chairs. The bench seat we had was high off the floor where my feet couldn't touch the ground but there was a place to set your feet instead of having it just dangle. All the wait help were dressed in black so theres no mistaking who works there. Even the napkins were black which I really dug on! We decided to go with the tapas menu. We ordered the Mexican prawns sauteed in garlic and Chile de Arbol. Fresh steamed clams in garlic butter broth and Mexican shrimp cocktail. The Mexican Prawns were perfect. Niceley sautÃ©ed and not overcooked. With the lemon squeezed over, it made the bed of cabbage that it was on taste so good. It didnt overpower but you could taste both garlic, butter and the lemon. The steamed clams were just unreal. Again like the shrimp, these clams were perfectly tender and not overcooked but it was the broth that these clams came with is what takes the cake. It was delicious. The toasted baget that comes with it to mop up that broth but when that runs out, use your spoon for the rest. When we ordered the Mexican shrimp cocktail, the waitress told us that this is not like your traditional shrimp cocktail. It wasn't. It came out in a large goblet filled with a clamato sauce and a whole mess of diced up shrimp, onions,cilantro and avocado that made this dish so delicious as well as interesting. There was a tortilla shell with a lime wedge on top kinda made this look like a hat and the waitress said this was a new addition to the menu. Of course all of this goodness was washed down with the classic Cadillac Margarita substituted with Patron Silver instead of the 1800 stuff. The wife had the classic Mojito. These drinks were far better tasting than the place across the street. I know you know who I'm talking about. Everything about this place to me in comparison to the other place, the food and the drinks just screams quality. The waitress we had was very friendly and professional, not overly intrusive on checking up on us but our drinks kept coming and our water was always full. This definitely is our new to go to spot in Haleiwa.
(5)
Paul D.

Get the paella and the mussels in wine sauce. Both are the bomb.com ! Best latino food on the north shore. If on vacation, this is a must go type of place.
(5)
Sarah L.

LONG waits unless you go before 6 or after 8 on Friday Saturday or Sunday. If you are larger than a party of 2, I wouldn't plan on going during that time unless you want to wait at the bar for up to a hour. That being said, my husband and I ate here 2 out of the 5 nights we stayed in the North Shore. The Ahi tacos are THAT GOOD. Seriously, I think I heard angels sing. We had them both ways. I preferred grilled he preferred blackened but either one was for reals good. Second time we shared the plate with rice and beans and got one additional taco. Salsa is great. a "small" side of guac to go with the dinner was pretty darn big and was a nominal charge. Seriously go. But maybe on a weeknight, or early or late. Not the best place for large groups during busy times. Crazy loud.
(5)
Joshua B.

Terrible hostess, three times in a row now this place has had terrible front end staff. They DO NOT know what they are doing. They have a so called list they go off of but they don't use it. DO NOT come here if you only have 2 in your party lol you will never ever get seated. Three or four or more can walk right up and get a table but if you are a party of 2 you will wait and wait and wait as you watch group after group after group walk up and get a table before you. Who's ever policy this is not to seat 2 people to a 4 seater table has lost their mind. This is strike three. Very disappointed but what should I expect from this place after it happening over and over.
(1)
Mary S.

Luis is doin it right the hubs said. I couldn't agree more. The meal last night in one word was amazing. I put the fried fish taco on par or better than what I've had in Mexico and SoCal. The fire water scallops-get them!!! Our server mark was nice enough to save the juice from that dish in a little to go cup. (I'm not kidding) When I tried drink it my husband said wait!!!! He wants to try to find some fresh scallops and attempt to make it while we are here. Yep. That good. Luis was amazing. In addition to introducing himself to us (he's originally from SD-go Chargers!) I saw him stop and talk to all the tables that were around us. We bonded with our server Mark over good music. (ask him about the concerts he's been to) OH! The salsa. Had to take a to go cup of that home too! My husband wanted to drink that one. He said, I can't stop eating the chips the salsa. It's like crack. It was too funny and I couldn't agree more. Chips were thin and warm and I'm not sure what's in that salsa but it's incredibly yummy and yes, highly addictive. The carnitas was very flavorful and it comes in a build it your taco style that's cool. Just writing this review makes me want to go back. Not overpriced but whatever you pay its worth it! Trust me on this one.
(5)
Jeff G.

Usually, I love this place, but we went to Luibuenos for lunch on a Thursday, and was a little disappointed. The service was fair; not horrible, but we were left waiting for a few things at times. The food was pretty good, but I could have made better beans and rice at home in 5 minutes. Just order the item by itself, not the entree, which includes the wallpaper paste beans and styrofoam rice. But by far, the worst part was the bar service. The bartender was an older woman, probably around 50ish, and was more concerned with talking to her bar customers than making quality drinks. On their menu, they have an excellent margarita made with fresh lime juice, agave syrup, and Cointreau. It is served in a custom shaker, and shaken and served at the table. The first one we ordered was perfect, no complaints. But the next one was do terrible, it was like we were in a different restaurant. First off, it wasn't served in the shaker, which was our first red flag. When we tasted it, it tasted like lime juice on the rocks. I asked for an extra shot of agave to balance the sour, but it didn't help. I actually question whether or not we got the quality margarita we ordered. But, the server did remove the offending margaritas, and we did leave fairly happy. Bottom line, the food is decent, (except for the beans and rice) just be careful of the bar service, especially if the older woman is working.
(3)
HaleiwaTodd W.

I met Louis years ago on a Hawaii Film Industry set. The Hawaii film industry only hires the best of the best. They have the $$$ to spend, so if he was good enough for them, he's good enough for me. I continued eating there often and have never been disappointed. And on top of the food, Louis is a genuine friendly person of aloha and the people who work for him are also genuinely friendly and professional. Hands down Luibueno's is 5 stars.
(5)
Nicole K.

Had a large group of us (9) on a Tuesday night around 7pm. They don't take reservations between 6 and 8:00. We had a nice table situated near the kitchen. Service was excellent, and they even showed us a picture of the special fish of the day. Only downfall was I ordered the scallops with vodka cream sauce thinking I would get a pasta but it ended up being on Spanish rice. It was good but I was expecting to eat pasta
(4)
nikki T.

Long story short. just don't, we won't ever again Entered around 1pm it was not busy. Ordered drinks and food. 1 Hour, yes one whole hour to get food after ordering. Our waiter seemed to think it was funny or something, I couldn't quite tell but we could see right into the kitchen and they hadn't even started our food at that point. 4 plates out of 6 incorrect plus we were missing items entirely. All the Rice was crunchy, fish tacos cold in the center. The burritos were cold, even after being remade "right". One was still missing add on sour cream that we were charged for the other was ordered with rice inside and the rice was crunchy in that too. I'm struggling to find a positive comment here....manager on duty handled it fairly well. That's about the only redeeming moment. I'm so embarrassed because we brought visiting family here and ended up wasting a huge chunk of the afternoon waiting for food then trying to get some burritos right because we were absolutely starving. Seriously had our waiter told us they hadn't even started our good we would have canceled, paid for the drinks, chips and salsa and walked out. We would have had a better experience just leaving. All in all this place must thrive off tourists entirely because anyone kamaaina wouldn't ever be back after this experience, we will never be back. I usually give a second chance but in this instance I can easily say HELL NO!
(1)
Sal M.

Not as good as I hoped. Another Mexican restaurant that has no authenticity. Very pricey for its food. I spent $40 on myself for food that was no where worth it. The drink was small for the price as well. Everything about this place seemed good until I actually went in. Never going to try to this place again.
(2)
cayle l.

My favorite place to eat in Haleiwa! The food is always good and the people working are always nice. Sometimes it's a bit crowded but that just means it's worth the wait! My fav is their carne asada burrito or tacos, soooo tasty! And they have the best salsa! I would eat here everyday if I could afford it, by far tastiest food in Haleiwa
(5)
Jackie V.

My search for fish tacos brought us to Luibueno's. I got the cadillac margarita (since they were out of mint = no mojitos) and beer battered fish tacos and thought they were delish. Tip from a hungry girl: the two tacos are plenty; no need for the rice & beans. I have to say these tacos were some of the better I've had anywhere - but to be fair it is hard to find great fish tacos in the northeast. Very quick service - they sure know how to get people in and out. Although that's usually a good thing, I do like to sometimes linger and have another drink but since they were so busy, I felt a little rushed. Overall - good meal and atmosphere. Good for a night out when you don't want to eat at a food truck (even though you love them) every night on vacation.
(4)
Jessica V.

After reading various reviews I figured I would give this place a shot since it had an overall 4 stars...I should have trusted the negative reviews. I ordered the ceviche and shrimp tacos and the few actual pieces of fish they had (mostly tomatoes and onion) was just meh. As for the shrimp tacos, I can't believe they would actually serve someone the nasty greasy burnt tacos they gave me. What's worse is they tried to hide it by putting the worst of the burnt side down...as I'd I would notice. Horrible- will def not be returning ever again.
(2)
Amber P.

Great food and service! Crazy busy (for good reason), small quarters, so be prepared to be get friendly with your neighbor and get bumped into while you eat, lol. Overall a great little place!
(4)
Diana C.

We were hungry and needed a place to go... Food was nothing special, just average, the service was nice, nicer than I expected for sure. I'm usually a sucker for good food and decent service, but not the other way around (so I can't bump my rating up just on friendly service). We ordered a few of the tacos and while the quality of the fish seemed pretty good, the flavors weren't really outstanding. Just nothing memorable is all I remember. The prices were too high to really justify the food and even the nice service couldn't make up for that. O'well, live and learn.
(2)
Gary H.

A touch of San Diego when I come to northshore. Abbi is great behind the bar and Lou has done a great job of bringing Latin authenticity to Hawaii. Love
(5)
Peter P.

I got the crispy fish tacos......they were unbelievable!!! I also had the queso dip with fresh Spanish cheese and that was awesome too. The only thing I didn't like we're the re fried beans and the rice as I found them stale. Nonetheless, great spot
(4)
Allison S.

Food was okay. Not great, not horrible, but nothing special. I had the blackened fish tacos, they were okay..... The guacamole was good, and so was the margarita. My husband did not like the carnitas, but my daughter liked the carne asada quesadilla. So it was kind of a 50/50 with our group. Like I said..... it was okay... not really good.... not really bad...
(3)
Heather Z.

Michael was our waiter and he was very proficient in describing the food! Everything was amazing!!! We had an assortment of food because there were seven of us, and EVERYTHING was amazing and I not even a fish person. I had the mushroom enchiladas and a side of mashed potatoes (they had poblano peppers they were amazing)!!! Everything we tried was amazing and the price was great!!
(5)
Joshua A.

I've been going to Cholos every time when my wife and I go to the north shore- so finally on a busy Friday late afternoon we decided to give this place a try. First off- this place is very noisy and gets packed. The service however is great- waters are filled and bussers are quick to clear your plates. Now for the food- Not your traditional Mexican cuisine. Latin and Mexican with a slight twist would be a more suitable designation. No shredded beef chimichangas here- but you can get any of their burritos "chimichanga style" for an extra couple of bucks. Lightly crisped and delicious! I got the blackened Ahi tacos and it was good. (Next time I'm gonna try the beer-battered fish tacos- that looked GOOD) For dessert- we tried their fried ice cream as it looked outstanding. After tasting it- slightly disappointed as the outside crust was made of cornflakes and some of it tasted a little stale and got kinda mushy. Overall- this place is good enough for me to come back here and try some of their other offerings!
(4)
Phillip N.

The bar selection was great if you love Margaritas. Their beer selection is standard for the area. The food was outstanding. My wife said that the fish tacos were the best that she ever had and I tried a few kinds of tacos and they were all excellent. I preferred the pork over the beef.
(5)
Jacob H.

Service was good, our drinks were mixed up but nothing to complain about. Good was awesome! Environment was upbeat, clean and everyone was friendly. We will return!
(5)
Ro V.

Came here with a couple of my buddies on our trek around the island, pretty good here fish tacos are killer!!!!
(4)
Robert B.

What an amazing restaurant. Extremely friendly knowable staff - marvelous food. Totally enjoyed the appetizer lunch my group shared. The fish taco's were especially delicious and was a highlight as was the ahi tuna.
(5)
Lara F.

We've come here a couple times, so this is long overdue! We love coming here and having their oysters! A full set is $30.00 and it's 6 half shells for two people. Their margarita's are a favorite, especially the Li Hing Mui. My husband got the Caipirinha which I did not like, but he thought was good. Their salsa is awesome and you just can't have one serving. I love the calamari. My husband ordered the rib eye with jalepanos sauce...To die for!!! Definitely a great place to get good food and great service!!! Ask for Jane, she's a sweetheart.
(4)
Matthew B.

2/10 I've gotten diarrhea at nicer places. Bland guac, carne asada burrito was warm.
(2)
Ryan N.

I don't get the reviews. Less than average Mexican food: Costco quality guac, V-8 flavored shrimp cocktail with barely any shrimp, tiny tuna tacos. Top that off with abysmal service and not worth a stop.
(1)
Noe H.

This place is always crowded... From the outside check in those girls are always nice and they try to find u a table asap. The food and service is also GOOD!
(5)
Brian A.

An attractive restaurant with a pleasent atmosphere but the food is sub-par. Perhaps it's best to avoid it completely if you're a big fan of Mexican food because it's far from authentic and the Latin influence in the food throws it off. However the chips and salsa were awesome, service was attentive and the house margarita was good. Just highly disappointed by the food.
(3)
Lauren M.

Very good Mexican food! I got a chicken burrito and all the ingredients tasted so fresh and packed in so much flavor. I got two sides of rice instead of beans and it was delicious Mexican rice. I was able to bring half of my meal home for lunch the next day. The chips and salsa were pretty good also.
(4)
John T.

Ok coming from socal my family and I should of known that we live in the mecca of Mexican food. Now why did we want to try this place.. it was highly recommended by my wife's coworker. I was already hesitant going here but hey why not try it and see.. it might prove me wrong. Well I should of stuck to my instincts. My wife ordered the ceviche which came on two small tostada. My wife wasn't too pleased with it. It's tasted like store bought ceviche. Nothing you probably haven't tasted. I got a blacken ahi taco, a batter fish taco, and a potato taco.. The food look pretty good when It came out. I decided to try the blacken ahi tuna taco.. i was literally impressed with it was actually really good. It had a lot of flavors and can say that is one of the best fish tacos I ever ate. Then it's came downwards.. i tried the potato taco and it was ok. Nothing spectacular that you have to try. Then last I tasted the batter fish taco and it was no bueno. It had too much batter and it was really greasy. My daughter got the ribs.. (:ribs at a Mexican joint...should of known it will go bad) but actually the ribs plate was actually good. It wasn't bbq but I think smoked. It had good flavors Overall food was a mediocre to me. Maybe because I came from the mecca of Mexican food. I know they are trying to have a baja style but they are way far from it. They should change it to bbq place because the ribs were great. I wouldn't come back here again. Next time I'll just wait to go back home to eat it. What gave the 3 stars was because of the waiter. His name is Clint and he is very nice and talkative. He wasn't those type of waiters that just take your food. He was really outgoing and seem to really love his job.
(2)
Stephanie B.

Nom, nom, nom! Great deals at happy hour (4-6 weekdays & late at night), great service, nice ambiance. I'm from CA, hubby is from Texas and we currently live on the East Coast where good Mexican food doesn't exist. We're always on the look out for decent Mexican food and this hit the spot. Happy hour food--it was all awesome. Ceviche was great, came out in three portions, and was super cheap at only $6. Tacos were generously portioned with meat--I tried all of them as my entree--loved all of them (6 for $12). The rest of the table was totally happy with the paella, shrimp cocktail, and kids meals. Happy hour Margaritas weren't too "medicinal" and that's just fine with me. I ordered a Mai Tai and it was waaaay too boozey for me to finish--it was the real deal though.
(5)
Stacy P.

Two or three stars for the food, four for the margaritas. Great margaritas (but stay away from the one made with dates... holy crap it was awful). Service was good, too. We started with an order of the queso topped with vegetables, and that was excellent. I should have ordered another for lunch, but went with the beef tacos. They really had no seasoning at all, nothing to make them special in any way. If I returned to Haleiwa, I'd definitely try one of the many, many other eateries in town. But, if I were just looking for a drink, a trip to Luibueno's bar would be all right.
(3)
Gen M.

Love this place, finally had a banging burrito!!!!. My husband had the carne asada quesadilla and loved it also. Will definitely be going back.
(5)
James B.

HAPPY HOUR! Excellent service, welcoming staff, QUALITY food. Their Beer Battered Fish Tacos are excellent! All of their specialty tacos are great as well. I ate Cholo's mexican restaurant (down the street) twice before realizing I was wasting my money of poor quality food, only because I was hungry. Lui B's is quality food and well priced.
(4)
Rich M.

Saw an advertisement for Luibueno's on the TV at the hotel and decided to check it out for lunch. I arrived at the restaurant and found an open table in the bar area. Didn't have to Wwaite long before a waitress came to my table. Looking at the menu I thought it was a little pricey for Mexican compared to stateside but I said I'm in Hawaii. So I ordered two tacos (carne asada and shrimp) with rice and beans. The carne asada was decent but the taco didn't come with sour cream which was disappointing. The taco was ok. Then I went in on a the shrimp taco and was disappointed. The shrimp taco was more like a quesadilla. Grilled on one side and soggy on the other. In addition it was lacking shrimp. For the price ($8) I was expecting decent size shrimp. What I got were a few baby shrimp. In addition the rice and beans were bland. Overall the meal was just ok. Not the best that I have had. My total bill was $18. Definitely not worth it. Don't think I will be coming back.
(2)
Nicole S.

Subpar. That being said, this is basically your only dinner option in town, so it's worth a try. But just don't expect actual good, authentic Mexican food. The positive: Drinks are fairly priced Free chips and salsa The not so great: Ahi tuna tacos - don't taste fresh, not worth ordering Refried beans- very bland and flavorless, not worth ordering Chicken tacos - while I didn't order them, they looked gross. Pulled chicken that didn't look like they were seasoned or flavored in any way.
(2)
Mark B.

It is odd reviewing a Mexican restaurant in Hawaii. I met the owner and there long time family friend was our waiter. He explained the history of the place and the move he made to Oahu to eventually work there. The food was quite good. I am very particular about my Mexican food despite where it originates. My partner and I both live in Arizona and we took his parents around the island on a tour stopping here for dinner. They are also from AZ and we found the food to be authentic and a good value. Conveniently, the island offers seriously fresh fish and seafood. There can be found a slight Hawaiian style to the Mexican food giving it a fresh unique flavor. We experienced a variety of appetizers and we each ordered a separate entrÃ©e. All were quite good. So if you live on the island or just a visitor and you are craving the flavors of the SW/Mexico stop in, grab a margarita and have some chow.
(4)
Khoa D.

Not sure about the positive reviews for this restaurant. The only positives I see are 1) friendly staff and 2) only place on the North Shore opened after 8 pm for dinner. The staff is friendly but our waiter was either new or pretty incompetent. He failed to refill water or offer soft drinks or dessert for the kids which came with their dinner. The ahi enchiladas were pre-cooked, dry and way over salted. In fact, the fish was so dry and tough, I thought I was eating my wife's beef enchiladas. The signature fried ice cream was stale. The nice location, dining room and high price would have you believe this was a decent eating establishment. If you're on the North Shore, stick with the food trucks and follow the crowds. Simply put, this place needs a chef not a cook.
(1)
Berneta A.

Luibuenos has three things going for it: 1) air conditioning 2) parking 3) clean bathrooms that smell good Other than that you can get better Mexican food at Taco Bell at UH Manoa campus for way cheaper. Let's start out with the drinks, they are super strong! The tamarind margarita my boyfriend ordered got better as the ice melted to dilute it and was quite tasty after a while, however, my Caipirinha was a literally a glass of limes and cuca fresca cachaca. I can make that at home and for $9 and $8.50 respectively that was way too over priced. I ordered the ahi enchiladas which were overcooked, dry and salty. Our server Meghan asked us if we wanted hot sauce which, never appeared. Hot sauce would have definitely helped the taste a bit. That was not worth $18. My boyfriend's chicken quesadilla had about the same amount of taste and flavor as cardboard. My dogs were stoked to get the left overs, which was half of both out dishes because they tasted so bad. One star for the three items I mentioned above ( it's very hard to find clean bathrooms on the north shore) and another for the free chips and salsa. We spent $56 on 2 terrible Mexican dishes and 2 drinks. Bottom line, go get chicken from rays kiawe broiled chicken across the street. For $13.50 you can get a mouth watering whole kiawe chicken, pineapple slaw and rice and have money left over for lots of shave ice!
(2)
Michelle W.

Went here a while ago with my best friend. We had some martinis and tacos and really enjoyed our visit. It's always busy and the service was great! My ahi tacos were delicious. I'd go here again if I ever make it back to the island.
(4)
Jorge G.

Been all over this island, tried all kinds of restaurants and I have to say, "This has been the best food I've had since arriving to Oahu". The Mahi fajitas were awesome (fish, peppers and onions cooked perfectly) and extremely tasty. The churros were served with a presentation that can be posted on a magazine. I recommend anyone that comes to Oahu to take a drive to the North Shore and try Luibueno's out. Absolutely fabulous, definitely a place to come back to!
(5)
Dorothy L.

Wow the food was delish!!. Too bad my server took out the wrong order . My party had to wait For an ADDITIONAL 20 minutes in order for us to eat together. I ordered guacamole and paella which were both delicious. They also offer complimentary chips and salsa to everyone!! The Salsa was amazing! Refill please!
(4)
Chad F.

The Beer Battered Fish Taco, Mushroom Enchiladas, and Cadillac Margaritas are all you need. Oh, and the Quesadilla is HUGE!. Best Mexican this side of Cali.
(4)
Erin F.

Their guacamole is seriously better than the guacamole I had in Mexico. OMG I want more. So good. Their chicken quesadilla was also amazing, tasty, and fresh. I would rate this five stars but I thought the drinks were pretty terrible. Bleh. The food more than made up for it though! If you're in Haleiwa you need to eat here!
(4)
Sara K.

Yum! The pork was amazing and the service wonderful! Our waitress even dealt quickly and kindly with an ultra-demanding member of our party, even though they didn't deserve it. We'll definitely be back!
(4)
Veronica P.

I'm giving this place a 3 coz we waited literally 45minutes for our food. However, we would have given it a 5star coz the food is definitely authentic and delicious and the specialty drinks "margaritas" are also well mixed. Yes, we will go back and still recommend the place. Hopefully next time we won't be waiting that long. Sorry.
(3)
Al S.

My first visit here and I'm a little disappointed. I had the carne asada burrito and it was very much lacking flavor. The refried beans needed a lot of help flavor wise as well. Also, most locations that serve Mexican food include the beans and rice inside of the burrito and not on the side with an extra charge. A friend had the ahi and was satisfied but it's pretty hard to screw up ahi. The salsa, guacamole and chips were on point.
(3)
Chenyu Z.

Here's the thing. I don't really like Mexican... And yes, five stars. I came in with my boyfriend and a group of his friends. We ended up sitting next to each other at separate tables because the wait was ~30 minutes for a table of six and we were hungry!! This was for lunch around 1 or 2 on a Saturday. We saw a decent amount of four and two tops empty and the inside isn't incredibly large so I'd recommend calling ahead for larger parties. Free chips and salsa (spicy, but we both love spicy so it was all good) when we sat down. We ordered and shared 6 Taquitos and the Chipotle BBQ baby back ribs. I also had the lilikoi (passionfruit) smoothie. Taquitos were great but we were too busy attacking the ribs. They were delicious! Perfectly flavored and so tender!! Just the right amount of sauce to be slightly messy but very yummy. I loved pineapple jalaopeno slaw (coulda ate a bowl of that) and it paired well with the flavors of the ribs. The mexican street style corn was also delicious. Smoothie was also very good. Some separation occurred towards the end of our meal (I think the sugar/syrup separated out or something) and it looked kinda gross. But the taste was on point! Only issue was the seating by the windows were a bit cramped. The gentleman behind me kept pushing his seat into mine, no matter how much we moved the other direction. Service was good, though a little slower than I would have liked. It had slowed down by the time we were seated but it took us five minutes for us to just have water brought over. We were seated in view of the waiter station and there were people there often just hanging around. Our waitress was busy but very friendly and sweet. She was really great, wish I caught her name - she's blonde with a really pretty face if that helps!
(5)
Audra E.

Closed for remodeling. Not sure for how long. Went to Bob's Pizza across the road. Great location, looks like it will be nice when it reopens.
(1)
Gabe A.

Wow! Blows the other (don't want to mention any names, but, rhymes with "Schmolo's") North Shore Mexican restaurant out of the water! Not the same 'ole boring tacos/burritos, etc. Great and helpful servers. A bit pricey, but that's to be expected...this ain't TJ!
(5)
Jeremy S.

Well, I used to live in Haleiwa and was obsessed w/ Luibuenos! I would eat the blackened seared ahi burrito at least twice a week, every week! Over the time I spent on the island, I tried almost everything on the menu and was never once disappointed! not only is the food always wonderful, the service is some of the best on island! You can tell the service staff loves their jobs and makes you feel like you are family! After being away from Hawai'i for a year, went and visited last week for my birthday. I found out it was also my friend's birthday who was visiting from LA so we opted to bday dinner together. Obviously we went to Lui's, and it was one of the best dinners my friends and I ever had! Our server Jayne was amazing! Knowledgeable, friendly, and totally on top of it! The owner came and touched our table to make sure we were having a great time, and all the staff we encountered were just delightful. Go to Luibuenos if you want good service and good food on the North Shore!
(5)
Vanessa C.

Came here on a Tuesday night at 9pm. Busy night. Food was pretty good! Happy hour menu that starts at 930 helped with a few bucks which was nice. Star off was because of the service. Waiter was nice but too busy. I enjoyed that this place was open late because I was turned down by a lot of closed kitchens near by
(4)
Nick M.

This was my second time here and it will be my last time. They open at 11, but on this day they opened 20 minutes late due to their computers being down. I fail to the the connection between getting a seat and a computer issue. I would understand if I couldn't place an order just yet, but I'd rather wait inside seated than outside holding a 7 month old baby. Once they finally let people in the hostess asked if I would like bar seating, again I'm holding a baby in my arms, when told her we needed a table she said it would be another 5 minutes. I thought maybe they needed more time to get tables set up, but no it was so she could write the specials on the chalk board out side. We finally got seated after a long wait for a high chair, we started feeding my bay and she dropped the napkin on the floor. My wife and I were looking for it and the hostess picks it up of the ground and attempts to give it back to my child... we kindly.declined and asked for a new one. Eventually got our food, to me it was mediocre at best I got the Carne asada burito with pico. While I usally like alot of meat this was one time I could have done with a little more fixings, mainly to kill the over salted beef. The overall experience was incredibly disappointing, I was hoping the food would make for a better experience.
(1)
Andrew D.

There was really fast service here, and the food was pretty good. It was pretty expensive, and the portions didn't match great, but the service made up for that. They were very good about refilling drinks, chips and salsa, and our party was one of 23 people. Overall a good experience.
(4)
Heather H.

Came here twice, but definitely not thrice. Whenever I come to Hawaii, the first thing on my list is to get the best grilled fish tacos nearest to me! Our Air BnB hostess suggested this spot for tacos and margaritas. Both nights we came to a packed out place for happy hour. Out of all the appetizers, get the house made guacamole! Everything else feel flat and greasy. The Ahi-fish tacos, seemed to be pan fried, which meant more grease and covered in store bought cheese. Not something I would spend full price on, over $13 for two tacos. Not bad, but certainly not the best or freshest place for island eats.
(3)
David B.

Coming from San Diego .. I can give this place 5 STARS as a great Mexican restaurant. Really good flavors .. obviously they have a chef, not just a cook, and good value. Great ambiance and nice thin tortilla chips!! Ceviche was great and the service was good too. Recommended.
(5)
Kristin H.

Was good! First time at Luibuenos, had a hankering for something with fish and had their grilled ahi burrito. It. Was. Phenomenal. The fish, sauce, and combination of ingredients in a hefty size burrito made my day. Can't wait to go back! The only downside was price! As delicious as it was, I think $13 was too much. It was an added $3 for beans and rice. Crazy.
(4)
Tai M.

We really enjoyed this place. Had a short wait of 5 minutes to get a seat for 2 on a Saturday evening. The place is small but cute. I would definitely go back to this place if it were closer. Complimentary chips and salsa are given to you upon seating, and they give free refills if you want. Husband had the paella and I had a 2 taco combo plate. I couldn't decide between filling so they let me mix, and I had 1 mahi taco and 1 carnitas. The mahi was excellent - tender and flavorful, and it had the perfect balance of warm and fresh that I like - warm tortillas and mahi with a refreshing sauce. The carnitas was good, but I'd go back and get the mahi in a second. My husband enjoyed the paella which is rare to see on a menu. The squid was tender and they were generous with the seafood. The rice didn't have the paella crisp you'd get from cooking it in a traditional paella pan, but it was still good. I had the sangarita, which was sangra with tequila. A little too strong for me, but once the ice melted a bit it was fine. I should have gone with the regular sangria. Will definitely be back on our next trip to the north shore.
(4)
Brittany C.

I visited here while on vacation and I was not impressed. The portion size was nice but I would have rather had qdoba or chipotle. The chicken had a funny taste to me but I did enjoy the live music.
(2)
Candace C.

Being someone that lives on the island and pretty close to haleiwa, I really like luibuenos! They have great staff, food and amazing drinks. The staff are friendly and attentive to anything you need. They give you great advise/suggestions for food and drink choices. I have never been disappointed any time I have gone to this restaurant, whether is be the food or drinks. The food has great flavors and cooked perfect. The margaritas are exceptional! The flavors are out of this world! If you like spicy they have a great spicy C&C margarita that is my new favorite "go to" drink. It has serrano peppers, cucumber and cilantro making it very refreshing. Its kind of like a mexican mojito. They make all their margaritas fresh and they also have fruit and even jalapeno infused taquias :) yum. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Definitely take guests or family there. The only thing they dont have is outdoor seating. Great restaurant overall! :)
(5)
Keola m.

My dinner experience here was fantastic. Arrived at about 630pm on a Tuesday. A party of 7 got seated and while we were waiting a gentleman (probably the manager) came out to see if we were being helped. When we replied no he immediately seated us. The place seemed very busy but the service was consistently friendly and prompt. It makes a big difference to me when the waiter and server are very happy with what they are doing. Always smiling and not afraid to make conversation. Started with the complimentary chips and salsa which was freshly made and tasted great. The appetizer was the fried calamari with a great creamy dip. A-mazing! Then dinner came. BEER BATTERED MAHI TACOS - all I can say is .... WOW!!!. Fresh Mahi with grated cabbage and a cream sauce and other stuff hat tastes effn amazing. Ill be back for more of that. I sound like an addict. haha Oh, I also had the monster sized Quesadillas. Tasted great. (not a great as the tacos .. haha) But, great non the less. Lots of free parking. Imma be back for more of that Beer Battered Fish. Yum!
(5)
Vivian C.

The atmosphere looks nice. Folks are really nice from the servers to the hostess. But I'm disappointed in the food. I ordered the carnitas and the pork was cold. The rice and beans did not taste good either. From the look of the restaurant I thought the food was going to be incredible, no it's not. This isn't a place to go if you are hungry for good food. Highly disappointed in the food. Also I ordered a sprite and the server poured water into my cup when it was low. She never got a cup for my 5 year old to drink out of...thinking she was going to get a plastic cup for him.
(1)
Laura R.

Blah! Our server was nice. That's where the two stars come from. The complimentary chips and salsa were super yummy also. I got the chicken enchiladas. Dry and zero flavor. Not one thing I liked about. They were almost inedible. The husband got one fish taco and one steak taco. I liked his steak taco but he hated it. He loved his fish taco. Seafood isn't for me so I did not try it. My daughter got a chicken taco that she ate. That doesn't say much because she knew she wasn't getting her shaved ice if she didn't eat her lunch. Would I go back? Nope. No way. It took FOREVER food our food to come out. Would my husband come back? Probably but just for the fish taco. He also thought my enchilada was dry and lacked flavor.
(2)
Shawn C.

I grew up in SOCAL and spent my summers in Baja, so while i'm certainly no expert I do know a little about Mexican food. Most of the Mexican restaurants I've tried on Oahu were very disappointing (see my review of spectacularly bad Mexico Cantina.) That's why Luibuenos is such a refreshing change. I've only eaten there five or six times over the last few years but the food has been consistently good. Recently I stopped by with a friend at 5:30 on a Sunday evening looking for a drink and some pupus. The place was pretty packed and no room at the bar so we took a small table near the entrance. Right away we were given the customary chips and salsa, and I have to say their housemade salsa is excellent. We started off with an order of guacamole, which was incredibly fresh and clearly made to order. My only quibbles are that it was a fairly small portion for $8 (but then again how much guacamole do you really need?) and I thought the menu said it was topped with pico de gallo but it wasn't. Perhaps I was mistaken about that. Next we had a look at the drink menu and found the usual assortment of margaritas, mostly in the $9 - $10 range. They also have an impressive selection of tequila and mescal, none of which are cheap. After scouring the drink menu and quizzing our server to the point where i think he may have been getting a little impatient with us, we decided on beer. They have a pretty good selection of beer on tap and in bottles, including most of the popular Mexican beers (Dos Equis, Pacifico, Bohemia, Modelo, etc.) We ordered a couple of Negro Modelos on draught, which turned out to be a pretty good choice. We had originally planned only to have a cocktail and appetizer, but it was getting late in the day and that turned into dinner. We ordered a carne asada quesadilla to share, which turned out to be plenty of food. (Ok, technically that is just a couple of drinks and an appetizer.) The carne asada was well seasoned and very flavorful, and came with little cups of sour cream and guacamole. Between the chips and salsa, guacamole, and the well stuffed quesadilla, we left there pretty full. Now I know Mexican food isn't exactly health food, but you dieters will leave there feeling a bit guilty. Personally, I have no remorse, and I'm pretty sure I'll be back again soon for more of their tasty salsa.
(4)
Ryan M.

Went here after a trip to Sharks Cove. My group had beer battered fish burrito ($7) on happy hour from 4-6pm, the fish tacos ($12), and beef tacos ($11) all of which were awesome. Here's my breakdown: Service: 10/10 Server was knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. Atmosphere: 9/10 Good atmosphere. Mexican style music playing and proper decorations. Just a little tight/awkward on some of the seating. Food: 8/10 Everything was very good. All the tacos and appetizers were great! Appetizers were great as well. Portion sizes were average, so definitely don't share! Margaritas were strong and tasty! Price: 8/10 We hit happy hour so everything wasn't so bad, regular prices menu is between 10-20 a plate unless you get seafood which will be more. For 5 people, with sodas and multiple beers and a margarita, 3 appetizers, and 5 meals it was $100. Not bad. Overall:10/10 I would go back again! Definitely a great place to eat. They even gave my brother a free dessert for his bday! No complaints here!
(5)
Brenna M.

Luibueno's is delicious! I've been here quite a few times over the last two years and have not been disappointed yet. The servers are great, and you never have to wait too long for food. It is a little pricey, but I think its well worth it. The portions are great and I usually end up going home with leftovers. My favorite!
(5)
Ashly M.

Fish tacos!!!! I get them everytime I come here! I like Just Tacos Fish tacos also but what takes the cake between Lui's and Just Tacos is the Margaritas and Lui's has a happy hour, Just Tacos does not! Lui's has fantastic Margaritas! Lui's can get pricey but all the food is amazing that its worth it. People here are a mix of locals and vacationers. Chips and Salsa to start off with, service is excellent and they have events here from time to time. One of my favorite places to have happy hour on the north shore! - Oh yeah! They have a happy hour! Shout out to Manny on his margaritas! - I'm sorry I love them can't say it enough! Beer Battered Fish tacos and Margaritas is a great way to make this hapa haole happy!
(5)
Brian B.

Moving to Hawaii from San Diego I'm always a little apprehensive about Mexican food. Luibueno's has good eats and plenty of Mexican beer on tap. It took a little longer than expected to get seated then even longer to get waited on. We eventually moved to the bar where the service was better. The food was good and worth the wait. This is a good sit down, family style restaurant in Haleiwa.
(4)
Jamie W.

Food was amazing!! Service was great! Had the scallops w vegetables and rice in a spicy cream sauce. It was amazing. Our friends had the beer battered Mahi tacos and they were amazing. Interesting cocktails. Overall a great experience. We will be back!
(5)
Rachel C.

My mom, brother and I went here for dinner and were very disappointed. My mom got some sides(beans, rice and tortillas) and thought that two tortillas was a bit crazy for the price. My brother got a burrito which he thought was okay. And I got the cheese enchilada. Let me tell you!! The sauce was disgusting and tasted like tomato sauce and the cheese on the inside was not even melted. Seriously!?!? That's not what you should get for that price!! We were very happy with our drinks and the service though. But we still wouldn't recommend it.
(2)
Mari R.

Luibueno's is a great place to go if you are having a beach day in North Shore and get a craving for Mexican. I usually get the fish tacos and Luibueno's is really good at not over dressing the taco. Other places that I have gone to have a little too much mayonnaise or lemon but they seem to get it just right. Also their fish is fresh and battered to perfection. Additionally, you get a free of chips and salsa as soon as you sit down that is refillable along with all soft drinks. This is a great restaurant with delicious food and a great atmosphere. Perfect for lunch or happy hour after visiting the beach.
(4)
Kaitlin B.

The place was small, but they had an excellent fish taco. We've been looking for a good fish taco on the north shore, and we finally found it. The beer battered mahi fish taco is the closest thing on the north shore to a Baja fish taco. Salsa was excellent! I had to keep asking for more chips and salsa, (it was a little embarrassing). It does have a little heat, but so tastey.
(5)
J S.

Somewhere between 2.5-3.5 stars. For this area, you might be pushing 4 stars simply because there is nothing else to eat in the area...especially after 6pm. Ate here twice during our time on the North Shore and it was decent-good. Basic Mexican, straight forward, no frills. Waiter(s) a little slow but not terrible. I would recommend this place to anyone staying on the North Shore only because there isn't a whole lot else to eat in the area. If this were in a major city or a must bustling downtown area, it might not be worthy of the 3 star rating. Give it a whirl...just don't have high expectations.
(3)
Amy Y.

My friend took me to this place because there was fried ice cream. I really wanted to try that. So might as well have lunch there too. There wasn't a wait so we got seated right away. It looked like a really nice and fancy looking restaurant, but doesn't look like $$$$$ kind of place. From the name, obviously it's a Mexican restaurant. After looking through the menu, I order the Burrito-beer mahi or something, my friend order something similar. They provided chips and salsa for appetizer. I miss those chips soo much after leaving Arizona. Anyways, our food came out pretty quick. We ate and it was pretty filling because my friend and I had to take it home. So finally the moment where I eat FRIED ICE CREAM! Oh boy, something to die for. Never have I tried fried ice cream, and it was delicious. The ice cream was not too sweet and still in its round-shaped form covered with corn flakes. Adding butterscotch with it was more amazing. I would so go back for that, if only it wasn't soooo far from where I live. T____T I knocked off a star because of their service. It wasn't too busy, yet service was pretty slow. I'l be back for you...oooh heavenly fried ice cream...because you got me hyper after.
(4)
Clarence F.

I did not enjoy the meal that i ordered which was the shrimp tacos. First let me tell you that i was expecting some large gulf shrimp in my tacos and not the 6 very small overcooked popcorn shrimp. The shell was so greasy that i could not eat it. The menu items are overpriced way too much and the menu is not pleasing to the eye. I would have gone to Cholo's but the last time i ate there they were having cockroach problems running over the food being served. The seating is too close together especially for the tables for two on the balcony portion.
(1)
Rissa M.

MMM! I love this place after a long day on the north shore of beaching and hiking. Mostly because I can stuff my face guilt free after being so active all day. It's fairly easy to get a table here at the odd "after-lunch" hours at around 3pm-4pmish. They have happy hour which I believe starts at 4pm and has a fair selection of food and cocktails. I especially like coming here because they have a full bar, and the food is pretty delicious and has a more upscale atmosphere than a lot of there restaurants out here. I mean, if given the choice between Luibuenos and Cholos, I would definitely choose Luis. The atmosphere is pretty casual and the service is always spot on. I am in love with their beer-battered fish tacos which i usually drench in the free salsa that is served with the free tortilla chips when you are waiting for your meal to come out. They come ala carte or entree style served with rice and choice of re-fried or baked beans. LASTLY-- i like to top off my meal with a Li Hing Margherita! So delicious and they go heavy on the tequila so all you light weights watch out! I mean, when i'm on the north shore, I plan on relaxing and whats relaxation without a bit o booze. Anyways! The food isn't anything to rave about but the place gets the job done when it comes to satisfying the taste buds. Not too mention the service is friendly. Just careful if you meander here on an evening on the weekend. It gets quite packed here, especially near the bar area-- I guess there aren't many options for drinking out here so people tend to want to come here for its food and full bar. I am already craving the tacos just a day later -- but it's okay I will definitely be back for them soon!
(4)
Lorlay B.

Food is really good. Haleiwa is kind of far but worth it. I'd come eat here again if I'm on this side. Clean, good up beat music, nice staff, free parking.
(5)
Daven W.

Maui Brewing Co. Big Swell IPA on tap. Kona Brewing Co. Castaway IPA on tap. Need I say more?
(4)
Vance F.

Small menu but everything here is good. One of the best oysters I have ever had. The apple empanada was pretty dang good. Nice atmosphere, intimate setting with lots of energy here. Jane our server is awesome!
(4)
Amber N.

Mike was my server. Did a good job. Had the oysters. They were fresh and delicious. Calamari was good. Shared the beef enchiladas- It was good but maybe chicken would have been better. Got the last flan for the night :)
(4)
Nichole W.

Their guacamole tastes overly salted and disgusting. We ordered rolled tacos and they came completely drenched in this horrible water with tomato in it liquid. Everything is over priced. Listened to the employees talking shit at the bar about other customers, it was very uncomfortable. This place is a bunch of hype. Don't bother.
(2)
George B.

Hands down, Lui's is the best place for Mexican food on all of Oahu. Highlights are their steamed clams, spicy C&C margarita, fish tacos, and of course, their delicious chicken quesadillas. Prices are reasonable for what you get. The service is excellent, especially by Jayne.
(5)
Eric L.

We were pleasantly surprised to find a good Mexican restaurant on Oahu. They make their margaritas the right way... No store bought mixes, only fresh squeezed lime juice, water, sugar, and of course tequila! I ordered the house Margarita and my wife ordered a Strawberry one. Hers was amazing! Mine needed a little sweetening. The waiter courteously, without hesitation, took it back and returned shortly with a perfect Margarita! The food was delicious too. Anything with fish was a great choice, from the scallops to the fish tacos to the fish burrito. They were all cooked perfect, not overcooked (dry) nor raw. The seasoning and spices were nice too. The pricing was fair. All this added up to a busy restaurant. We arrived around 6 pm on a Wednesday and were seated immediately. When we left at about 7:45. There was a waiting list of about 15 minutes.
(5)
Melissa J.

Last night was Mommy's night out with five other friends. Our server, Mark, was excellent! Dear manager, please let him know that we had a great time and thanks to him our night without kids was even more fantastic! Highly recommend this place, looking forward to taking my husband here one night! Got the beer battered fish tacos and the passion-tini. Both excellent. My bill was $28.84 (gratuity already included). Thanks Mark for a wonderful experience!
(4)
Becky B.

The best mexican food I've found in Hawaii! We met the owner and he said that a lot of their ingredients (including the carne asada!) are shipped in from San Diego so I can see that they are serious about making the best product possible. We ordered the queso fundido with chorizo, ceviche, carne asada tacos, fried mahi mahi tacos, potato tacos, fried ice cream and margaritas. All of it was excellent! The carne asada was very flavorful and I wanted more! Every time I've had potato tacos in California they are kind of mashed but definitely have chunks in it so I was skeptical about these since they are creamy mashed potatoes but it was a highlight of our meal. The Serrano peppers in the potato tacos complimented the dish perfectly. The only thing I will say is that we went on a Tuesday night and it looks like a pretty busy happy hour spot so if you're looking for a quiet date spot this is not it BUT the food is worth it!
(5)
Daniel L.

Delicious and fun. Arrived early to avoid the crowd. Drinks and appetizers were very good and the star was main course. Had a great time and looking forward to returning.
(5)
L R.

Crowded little place. Waitstaff kept bumping into each other and me when I got up to use the restroom. We shared the carne Asada tacos and they were some of the best we've had . . . and we're from SoCal. Food's a little spicy but we like it that way. Highly recommend!
(5)
Tracey A.

I can't recall the last time I went more than 1 week without consuming Mexican food. It's a bad, lovely habit likely responsible for the freshman 15 following me into AARP years. In danger of going cold-turkey and risking the DTs, I sought out Luibueno's at the end of a trip up the Northshore and after a stop for shave-ice at Matsumoto's. Yes, I ate dessert first. What I liked: Remarkably nice hostess, waiter, and bus-man who engaged in genuine and welcoming way that made me want to award Luibueno's an Oscar for excellence in service. The chips, salsa, and margaritas were also sheer excellence, as was our seat in the bar area, with a full view of a televised surfing competition. I think I actually liked that location more than I'd have liked being in the dining-only portion of the place. I had less love for my Ahi-burrito which had been made with a less than warm tortilla. Nothing buzz-kills like a hot filling surrounded by a cold tortilla. Where's those tortilla steamers when you need 'em? In the end I wound up eating the filling out of the center (good) and overeating/drinking, as usual, chips, salsa, and tequila. I'd come back again and do almost everything the same, but for dinner I'd order differently and might just skip the entrees entirely. It certainly wouldn't be the first time I've gotten by on just chips, salsa, and tequila.
(4)
Tabitha L.

Long over due review! Went here a while ago for dinner/happy hour after a beach day and it was GREAT! The Sangrias were beyond perfect and STRONG, definitely a plus. We ended up getting the 6 tacos off the happy hour menu, and devoured them! I think the food is actually better than the competition across the street ;) Definitely a new favorite when visiting the North Shore
(4)
E V.

Had lunch here with a girlfriend who lives here. We paid about half of what we spent on any other meal the week I was here. The chips were fresh, the Sangria was the best I've had in the US. It reminded me of the Sangria I had in Portugal. Highly recommend.
(5)
Kris S.

Decent Tex-Mex food for Hawaii but it is overpriced.
(3)
Sally H.

I've been coming here since they opened a few years ago and it is one of the few places where one can go and have pupu, drinks and conversation. We time our visits around happy hour (they have early and late evening happy hours) since Luibueno's can be a bit pricey. The food is terrific, the beer selection is very good and the atmosphere is pleasant. Generally the staff is very good, but every so often the hostess can be a bit snooty, especially if you arrive later in the evening. Far better than Cholo's and, overall, a good choice.
(4)
Robert R.

foods good but the service is now so poor, i will not be back.
(1)
Shinanagins O.

Based on reviews expected good things from this place. Our table ended up laughing about how bad things were and turned the horrible margaritas into a drinking challenge.
(2)
Jason H.

This is by far my preferred Mexican restaurant on Oahu. No other compares. The food, salsa and drinks are always great. The atmosphere and music makes me feel like staying. Mahalo Lui!
(5)
AsianRunningDiva S.

Came here last night and the wait on a Saturday night was an hour at 7:15pm. Service was great once we did get seated! Free chips and salsa, and our drinks got to us quickly. For food, I got the special stew which wasn't spicy but had lots of flavor. The carnitas weren't that good...the pork was over cooked which kind of ruins the meal! With 3 dos equis drafts for $4.50 each, stew, and carnitas all for $40!:)
(3)
Teresa F.

We have been here twice. Best margarita I have ever had. I always worry when I order them that I am making a huge mistake since apparently hardly anyone knows how to make a good one. Well, their bartender does! Friendly and prompt service, nice atmosphere, yummy food. I love the Mahi Mahi tacos and especially that you can order just one without the sides. The chips and salsa are so good that I don't stop eating them! I will be back for more!
(4)
Marina F.

Was absolutely horrible!!! My husband and I will never be going back there ever again! So first off the seating arraignment is horrible simply because there's to many people cluttered in tiny areas. And we were sitting in the middle of the restaurant and I could not eat my food because waitresses kept on bumping into me the table was to small for all our food, my husband has a broken hand and people kept on bumping into it. The chevice was bitter as Hell and when we asked to move tables so we could eat comfortably and the waitress was rude. Very disappointed. I was thinking about talking to the manager but I didn't even want to waste my time simply because just about everyone working there was very snobby. Horrible place to eat!!!
(1)
Jesse O.

I'm so glad we came here. Everything about this restaurant was flawless. The owner was awesome touching tables and making sure everything was perfect. It was a pleasure meeting you! Our server Jayne gave us the best service I've EVER encountered. She was on top of everything and everything was timed perfectly. She answered all our questions and was extremely knowledgeable. She was hilarious, attentive, and every time she would leave or table we would talk about how fabulous she is. Give this girl a raise! They treated our table like we were family. The food was stellar the burritos were perfect and the complimentary bday desserts of churros and empanadas were to die for. I can't wait to come back
(5)
Victoria G.

Today's visit was our second one here at Luibuenos. One sentence can sum everything up: IT WAS AMAZING! Even though we got here at almost 10:30pm, our orders couldn't have come out more delicious. We had beer battered fish tacos, and calamari. The tacos were the best ones I have ever had. The fish was fresh island fish and it was literally falling apart (in a good way). The calamari was perfectly fried and came with delicious aioli. Our server, MARK, was very polite, friendly and down to earth and provided us with excellent customer service. The drinks were also good. We had the 56 oz lilikoi margarita. Overall, Luibuenos is a great place for tourists as well as locals (ex.military). The atmosphere is safe and pleasant. We will definitely be returning here very soon. Hands downs to the management and staff. You all are incredible. Keep the good work up!
(5)
Michael H.

Good margaritas, especially Cadillac margs. Chips and salsa obviously house made and good. My wife had tacos, one chicken one ahi. She felt they were very good. I went with fish of the day, mahi mahi. Fish was fresh and moist but spicy jalapeÃ±o sauce masked flavor of the fish. 3.5 stars, leaning toward the lower end for me.
(3)
Christina H.

Luis made us feel at home (Los Angeles-San Diego) with great aloha welcome...we had fish tacos, portabella mushroom enchiladas and carne asada quesadillas and everything was delicious. The tamarind and diamond margaritas were also super tasty! It was one of the best meals we've had in 8 days in Oahu. Love this place and the hostess was also working hard to get guests in quickly.
(5)
Cassandra P.

My husband and I went here the other evening for a nice dinner after having our photos taken on the North Shore. It was recommended by the amazing, wonderful photographer for their fish tacos. So we had to go. They had to a great draft beer selection. We got the cheese queso for our app. The fish tacos were great - we got the blackened ahi and it had a great kick to it! We ordered the churros for dessert and I think next time I won't order anything but 2-3 plates of churros.... *mouth watering* Very much recommended. The atmosphere was a little noisy and we sat by people that kept getting up and down in their seats - I feared for my drink being knocked over into my lap. But hopefully the next time we go, which we will totally go again, we won't be sat next to crazy people. The server was a little slow and took more time than needed to get our drinks... But again, the crazy table next to us kept her hopping the whole time we were there.
(4)
Robert S.

Excellent in many categories. Service, Atmosphere, and Food. At 5:30 on a weekday there is a (small) line waiting to be seated. A mix of the local patrons and a good amount of visitors. Chips & Salsa (comp) are wonderful. The salsa is not overly spicy and the chips not at all greasy. A nice selection of Margaritas from basic to ultra top-shelf. Many flavors too. Food wise I had the Ribeye Asada and I joked with the Barmaid "I usually expect a certain level of fat and grissel in my steak and mine had nearly none of either". AKA Great Steak.
(5)
Mathew E.

We have been looking for great Mexican food here in Hawaii since moving from the mainland several years ago. Luibuenos's does not disappoint. A quick caveat though; we almost always have the beer battered Fish tacos. They are the best that I have ever had, perfectly seasoned & fried. Their rice and beans are tasty. The house made salsa is great as well, although their chips have a little bit of a store bought taste to them. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is that over 4 different visits, the service has been a little inconstant If your in Haleiwa . & looking for great food, I would highly recommend.
(4)
Lisa W.

I'm still dreaming about the food I ate here. It was one of the most memorable meals I had in Oahu. Such an amazing food experience. The fish tacos are a MUST!! The food here is incredible!
(5)
April S.

Love this place. The portion sizes are huge for the money. I've only had the quesadilla and it was delicious. My husband had the carne asada and said it was great! The margaritas are huge and amazing.
(5)
Eva V.

The hostess in the front was lame! We stood there for a while, right in front of her face, before WE had to greet HER. Our waitress was not genuinely nice. She came once, just once, to take our order and refill our waters. The vibe in there was just... blah. I was pretty annoyed. The service here made this experience a dissatisfying one. We had the ahi tacos... How sad! Small portions. Literally a three inch piece of fish, a squirt of sauce, garnish and nothing else. We also had happy hour chicken and beef tacos which were okayyyy, not that flavorful. The complimentary chips and salsa were really good though! My fiancÃ© had a beer. It took a little long to come to the table, but whatever. I had a margarita. It was fine. Overall, Service isn't great at all. Drinks are good. Food is alright. Just come during happy hour.
(1)
Judy M.

If I could leave no stars I would have. This place sucks ass never go here the food sucks and the service does too. The manger is an idiot. Please listen to this review I promise you, you will be disappointed. Mexican food my ass, the enchiladas tasted like ketchup and the rice taste like it came from the box. This comment is from a Hispanic person so don't even bother eating mexican food here trust and believe.
(1)
Stephanie A.

This is an AMAZING place, if you like getting your credit care information stolen. If not, then stay away. My husband and I would frequent this place often, as we both love Mexican food. When my mom came to visit, we took her here for a good lunch. Food was great, as always, service was decent, and then it paid with my card and we left. A month later I get my statement with a charge from them... I called my bank to see why I was randomly charged and it turns out someone wrote down all my information and keyed it in. Needless to say, my card had to get cancelled and there's now an ongoing fraud investigation. It's too bad because the foods not bad. Very unfortunate that the staff did this.
(1)
Amy B.

My friends and I were hungry after a morning hike and decided to try this place out. As soon as we got to the door and told the hostess that we'd like a table for 5 she rolled her eyes at us and acted as if we were bothering her. She went in the restaurant and returned a few minutes later, got our menus and we followed her in the restaurant. She led us to a tiny table that was meant for 2 or 3 and sat us. After looking around it seemed like that was really the biggest table they had so I definitely wouldn't recommend this place for groups. While we were waiting for our waitress we noticed that the glasses that they gave us were filthy. The waitress was not to excited to be serving us and seemed like she'd just rather be elsewhere. She brought us out chips and salsa and took our drink orders. The chips and salsa here are very good. We ordered some guacamole to go with it and it was also very good and very fresh. When we asked the waitress to put all of our orders on separate tabs she agreed to do it but seemed a bit put out by it. I ordered the Pollo Asada Quesadillas. It came with a side of some kind of green sauce that I forget the name of. It was delicious. It was a lot for just me and I only ate half of it and got the rest to go. This place gives a Military Discount but they are not going to tell you about it. You have to know about it and ask. The waitress scolded us upon returning with our checks telling us that they cannot give the discount unless it's all on one check but she did it anyway. She acted like she was doing us a huge favor. When she returned with our checks she just dropped all of them on the table and walked away. Usually if you have separate checks the waitress will hand the correct ones to each person but this chick just dropped them right on the table. I'd never seen anyone do that before. When we paid our bill and left the hostess that was rude to us when we walked in held the door open for us. She looked each one of us up and down with disgust on her face and when she was thanked by one person in our party she grunted a very rude and unmotivated 'you're welcome.' We were made to feel like we didn't belong there and the ONLY reason I'm giving this review more than one star is because I enjoyed my food. And possibly more because I was having a good time with my friends. I will not be returning to this place. The service leaves much to be desired. I didn't see a name tag on the hostess but she was average height white girl with long, straight brown hair. She was not thin but not fat. She had a snooty, disgusted look about her. If you see her, don't make eye contact.
(2)
LeaDan Y.

Since we drove to Haleiwa Town just for this experience, I was glad that I was not disappointed. The food and service were both outstanding. I feel as though they are prepared for every customer who walks into their doors. They know their menu and provide quick and friendly service. We ordered the oysters to start, which honestly was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit this restaurant. My boyfriend loves Mexican food and I love seafood, this place has a perfect blending of the two. I had the Callo de Hacha en Crema de Tequila, which was muy deliciosa! We shared the friend ice cream because, seriously, after the amazing meal and margaritas, there was no way we could eat our own dessert AND the friend ice cream comes in a size that SHOULD be shared (unless you don't care about calories and sugar intake in which case, go for it). We are definitely making the trip back to try more items off of the menu.
(5)
Blake W.

Great happy hour and and the street tacos are priced reasonably on the happy hour menu, if you order 6. Decent craft brew selection. It is a bit classier than the cholos, across the street, and just a tad pricier but more of an authentic menu. Good spot here in the north shore.
(4)
P L.

WORST customer service EVER and food was okay. When I first arrived 2 hostesses stood by the entrance but I was not greeted by neither of the 2 girls. I, then had to ask for a table for 2. She looked at me like I just interrupted her conservation with the other girl and told me there was a wait. The wait was understandable. After being seated our waitress approached the table immediately asking for drinks. No kind of welcoming what so ever. We ordered our appetizers which came in a timely manner. $8.00 for Avocado dip which had no taste. We waited almost 15mins before the waitress came back to ask for salt. The calamari and our entrÃ©e was okay. Nothing I would ever go back and eat again. We had to ask for refills after leaving our empty glasses at the edge of the table for over 10mins. After she brought it back, I drank it and realized that they refilled our drinks in the wrong cups. We had a Coke and Fruit punch. She refilled the Coke in the cup that had Fruit Punch and Fruit Punch in the Coke glass. In the middle of us eating our entrÃ©e the waitress is already offering us dessert. We turned down dessert and just asked for the check. To our surprise she actually said thank you after bringing back our credit card and receipt. After that experience we still left a 20% tip which wasn't deserved at all. Even as we walked out the same 2 hostesses couldn't even say Thank you or even a good bye. Nothing. Overall, service was just done by routine and nothing more. I will never recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Shayna K.

I'm no Mexican food connoisseur, and maybe the other reviewers are, but I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be with this place. I loved the quality of the chips and salsa, and that they gave us a refill on the house. I liked that they had a keiki menu even though it was $8.95 for chicken tenders (a little steep for 4 tenders, but they were better and bigger than nuggets I guess). BUT when all our tacos came out (after a really long wait) on soft fajita-style flour tortillas instead of in a crispy corn taco shell, my high hopes balloon deflated. My husband said the tortillas were weird and tasteless (though they are probably more authentic than we're used to e.g. Taco Bell). That and everything else was way TOO SALTY. The sauteed veggie taco filling, the refried beans...all too salty except for the chips (perfect amount of salt) and the rice. But alas we left totally stuffed, mostly from the two batches of chips we devoured while waiting.
(3)
Xuannie C.

We came here to eat since we were in the area. After taking some family to check out the Dole Plantation and Turtle Beach we got hungry and decided to come here. My boyfriend usually comes here every now and then with his buddies to eat so he suggested we come here. The only Mexican food I usually eat is just Taco Bell. We came during happy hour time and got seated right away. Our waitress was very knowledgable as she answered all of our questions in detail and thoroughly. I ordered the calamari as I do almost everywhere and it came out with a delish sauce. That was gone quickly. I had ordered the chicken quesadilla and my boyfriend got the chicken burrito. Be aware that most terms are not in English however don't hesitate to ask for a translation before ordering or else you'd end up with an entree you wouldn't eat. :) The burrito was humongous! A meal made for two it seemed like. Boyfriend loved it however there seemed to be more beans than chicken, and I do mean over hundreds of them because it resulting in butt farts in the car on the way home,yikes for me. The quesadilla was yummy! It was hot, big portioned, and I was full after one and a half slice. His mom didn't like it too much because there was too much cilantro but as for me I liked it just fine. I would go back again just for the quesadilla next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Hannah G.

My favorite place in Oahu. They have such good service and their food is amazing! I have never had a bad meal and I have never been with anyone who did not love their meal! We came in on a very very busy Friday night and we had fantastic service! Our server was Mark but really the whole staff did everything to make sure we were good. If your on the north shore go there! Love it
(5)
Brandon C.

I think Luibuenos has the best beer battered fish tacos on the island. Go there for a quick lunch and some delicious draft beers for a nice lunch. The happy hour here is my favorite. Its from 4-6pm on weekdays. They have a special on all of their tacos, coming in packs of six-great for sharing. They also have specials on all of their southwestern draft beers, including Pacifico, Dos Equis Lager, and Dos Equis Amber. There are a few others, but can't remember them off hand. It's also very close to some great shopping and some amazing homemade ice cream right around the corner. Enjoy!
(4)
Jesse K.

We are regulars at Cholo's, the more famous place up on the North Shore. We like to go up to the North Shore and end our day with margueritas and mexican food. This time we thought we'd try Luibueno's instead of Cholos. EVERYTHING WAS WAY BETTER. Prices were the same, and from the excellent service (5 star) to the taste of the food. Definitely coming back here. The refried beans were kind of... just okay, but everything else was really tasty. I had battered mahi fish tacos, and my wife had The Carnitas plate which she really liked. (That plate could have used 4 or 5 tortillas instead of 3) But over all, we were super pleased. Mui Bueno.
(4)
Laura K.

Food was ok... Service was less than stellar.... We went on the night before the 'hurricane' so it was packed which isn't out of the ordinary... In June when we came the fish tacos were soggy and the carne asada tacos were tough and over cooked... The guac is gargantuan and way yummy...
(2)
Jake M.

Luibueno's was a bit of a disappointment. The decor inside was nice, but our frontside seating meant that group after group of tourists gawked in at us as they walked through Haleiwa. 5 stars for service, they were quick and courteous and we never waited for anything. The food was a little lacking. I ordered the "Gobernador," or shrimp tacos. The menu described them as having: "cheese, sauteed shrimp with pico de gallo, lettuce, avocado." Given that description, I felt cheated when they were served. THEY DEEP FRIED THE TACOS WHOLE. When I peeled the crispy husks apart to put in the tiny tuft of lettuce and small SLICE of HARD avocado inside, I found something loosely resembling the rest of the ingredients. My date ordered the ahi enchilada a la carte, and it was tasty, but tiny. At $8, she wasn't really satisfied with what she got, either. Maybe the other menu items or the alcoholic beverages (we didn't have any) are better, but with the wealth of other restaurants on the North shore, I doubt we'll bother giving this place another chance.
(2)
Kenneth G.

Food is mediocre and over priced I ordered the ribeye Asada it took 45 minutes to receive my meal the waitress looks as if she smokes two blunts a day and I just had a horrible experience here if you have time to wait at this place and like mediocre food go to luibuenos
(1)
Jack K.

The food here is of decent quality but way over priced. I ordered the ahi taco entrÃ©e which was $16, and was very disappointed when it arrived. My friend and I looked at the dish and could not believe how small the portion was.Two of the smallest tacos I have ever seen in my life were on the plate, and there were insufficient sides to go along with it. I spent $16 and left hungry. I will not be eating here again. I have eaten here in the past as well but it was so long ago I cannot exactly remember my experience, but I do remember that the food was nothing special. Most restaurants on the north shore are overpriced anyway. If you're on vacation it is good, but not if you live here.
(2)
Beth P.

My home-state Californian Mexican trucks and joints are hard to beat, but this is by far the best we've had on the island and we love that there's TWO happy hour blocks. Can't beat that deal and quality!
(4)
Jonny R.

good is good, but don't be fooled, it's not mexican, we'll maybe the drinks, but the food is still good. Place is a lil cramped so if you have a big party just order the 56oz marg and chill. Food is good, service great, bar scene seems to pretty cool as well. Local place but not local flavor. Queso Fundido is the go to appetizer for sure! Order 2! yes, they're that good!
(4)
Arlette P.

Food was pretty good. Salsa and chip great. Guacamole even better. Hubby had Blackened Mahi plate it was good, rice could be better. I had a Carne Asada taco. It was a good serving of meat and guac. Meat needs a bit more flavor. All in all food and service was good.
(4)
marie t.

Ordered the special: opa with risotto & the scallop plate. 4stars=opa, cooked a seasoned well, decent portion. 2stars=risotto, too salty, almost inedible - too bad, hopefully not the norm 4stars=the scallops, sweet, perfectly cooked, lived the sauce. Excellent atmosphere and service, more like 3.5 stars over all and that is great rating from me.
(3)
Bridget G.

The mahimahi I ordered was sour and had zero flavor.. Told the waitress and she took my barely eaten plate, still charged me for it and didn't apologize, nothing- won't be back.
(1)
Nana I.

Great Mexican food! We had the ahi enchiladas, clams, margarita, and guacamole. All were delicious. The enchilada had a great creamy rich sauce on them and were flavorful. I highly recommend this place if you are in Haleiwa. Service was great too. Kid friendly.
(5)
Johnny U.

So random that I would find some of the best Baja cuisine in North Shore area. Ahi and mahi tacos are delish and they have an impressive tequila and mezcal selection. Yes, they have mezcal, and varieties too, in North Shore. So random!
(5)
Debbie R.

I like Cholos, but Luibueno's has them beat in the food department. Not so much in the margarita department . . . their margaritas were not very good. However, they had a nice selection of other cocktails, one of which I tried - had jalepenos in it - and I LOVED it! But when I eat Mexican food, I have to have a margarita. . these were lackluster, and think they may have forgotten to add the tequila! As for the food, it was fresh and delicious. Everything was tasty and for Mexican food, healthy. My husband had their special pork dish and it was flavorful and unique. I had the carne asada burrito . . it was so yummy that it wasn't until after we had all finished eating that we all realized that most of our dishes didn't even have cheese in them . . didn't even miss it! Not sure why all the reviews below dissed the service . . . we were given stellar service. We had a party of 15, and our waiter rocked. He was on it with drinks, chips and when it came time for the bills, he got them all right - and we had to have split checks 6 different ways . . . They'd get 5 stars if not for the weak, tasteless margarita that I had . . . I'll be coming back here for sure!
(4)
Janel N.

Ate here at happy hour... Got the chalupas and calamari and a Sangria. Food was good. The Sangria was way too strong as it should have a least a taste of fruit. It tasted more like a shot! Not enjoyable.
(3)
Mac J.

Speedy service!! Customer service is attentive for such a busy place. The menu selection is definitely not fast food. You can taste the gourmet effort! The cleanliness is apparent throughout when directly compared to the other Mexican restaurant about a half mile away. Parking is abundant as well.
(4)
Kristine B.

The food was excellent!!! Here's a tip: if they are ever having specials, get it! The owner is also a cool guy. He came over to all the tables and chatted for a bit. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Terry K.

Yelp Challenge 365 #198/365 I'll be honest. my review is simply on their maggies and appetizers. But let me preface this review by saying THEY HAVE PARKING..... ample parking as Luibueno's is lcoated in a Haleiwa mall. Okay, they have parking and they had maggies! On a hot weekend day? What better place to go where the restaurant is air conditioned (climate control) and no hassle on the parking. They give you basket(s) of tortilla chips with their homemade salsa. The salsa's not bad at all, considering. We ordered chimichangas and fish tacos to chase or maggies. This was not my first visit and on my first visit, I had the opportunity to taste their meals....and truthfully, I would not make a special journey to this place BUT I was in the neighborhood so what the heck right? The maggies were great (get the caddilac maggie; no salt on your glass). The mix is orange juice and a hint of lime compared to the regular maggies. Priced right and a goes well with snacks in the afternoon, to tide you over for dinner.
(3)
Carla P.

Really good beer battered fish tacos!! And oyster shots...the inly place I know open past nine pm at northshore!! Good chips n salsa
(5)
Brandon S.

Loved the beer battered mahi burrito. Lots of flavor. They have some very unique margaritas. Best of all they have fried ice cream.
(5)
Marie M.

Went out with a group of 8, only took about 5 minutes to get seated. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and commented several times at how good everything was. The blackened Ahi tacos were delicious and I tried several of the other dishes that were just as good! Our server was Moses and he was very attentive and pleasant! We will definitely be returning soon!
(5)
Diana B.

We've been going to Luibueno's for a few years now and we usually have an excellent experience. The food is delicious and I highly recommend the Ahi Enchiladas, or any of the fish tacos! Although, the San Filipe beer battered fish tacos are my favorite and I'm more biased to pick those as the best;) Parking is very ample. Service is good and the whole staff is friendly. It can be sort of crowded or packed on weekends, but it's still always a great casual dinner!
(4)
Di H.

We order frequently from the truck at the Schofield PX parking lot. The Mahi burritos are awesome. They are so big that I get lunch and dinner out of them.
(5)
Danny D.

I came here a while back and was actually impressed. I've been meaning to write this review for a while and finally got around to it because I know this place deserves it. I heard it was good but after I tasted the food and met with the owner who has wonderful customer service I know I will be back here on my next trip to Hawaii. If you haven't been here, it's worth trying. I've sent 2 groups of friends here since I came a couple of months ago and they too came back and told me They notiiced the staff has made excellent improvements everytime they come back. Thank you again Luibuenos for treating my friends and my family the best!!
(5)
Rai A.

Server was excellent and brought out a basket of crispy chips with fresh salsa immediately. The salsa had a nice garlic overtone with a spicy kick. Started the meal with ceviche.. Pretty generous portion served with a round tortilla and hot sauce. Good, but would have preferred a little more citrus. Main was paella. It came in an 8" iron pan with a generous serving of rice topped with mussels, clams, shrimp and scallops. Flavorful and deceivingly large. Despite being pretty stuffed I has to try the churros, drizzled with chocolate and honey and served with a cup of hot chocolate. The churros were crispy outside with a nice warm doughy chew inside. Dipped in the chocolate/ honey with a sip of hot chocolate was perfect!
(4)
Ashleigh B.

My friends and I come here regularly for the happy hour! The beer battered fish tacos WERE bomb, but since they've changed the menu I feel like I'm buying chicken mcnuggets from McDonalds I'm being I'm being jipped they were so small half the size they use to be BUUUUU LUIS!!! Over this place for HAPPY hour I was more bummed then happy!!
(1)
Chris H.

Place is very small, but food is great. Wife and I got 4 different tacos, all were exceptional. I got the beer battered Mahi and Gobernador (shrimp), she got the chicken and steak. All meats and toppings were excellent. Good happy hour offerings and the chips and salsa were delicious. Will go back before we leave Hawaii.
(4)
Darrell D.

Coming for dinner the service was fast and friendly. Recommend the ahi tuna seared taco....it's got a spicy kick:)
(4)
Mel M.

After spending part of a lazy Sunday morning looking for Ehukai Beach (where are the signs for that place anyway?) we finally found said beach after resorting to phoning a friend who lives in the area for directions We decided to stop by Luibueno's at Hale'iwa after rave reviews from my friend who swears it is exponentially better than Cholo's...wait maybe not exponentially as he stated ten times better. In any case, we found the place, got parking space in front of the restaurant...and witnessed a host who seemed bored out of her mind. She greeted us warmly, however, and got us to our seats quickly. The place was nicely decorated and, save a brief moment when my glass of water ran out, the wait staff seemed competent. Oh yeah, the complementary chips and fresh salsa were great. We perused the menu, and because of the fact that my wife and I seemed to have been grazing all morning long, opted for the ala carte menu choices...not to mention that the combo meals are about $10 more expensive for additional rice and beans. My wife had the the steak burrito and I opted for the grilled ahi burrito. The waiter whose name shall remain anonymous but he goes by Rick, switched the order and it wasn't until I've had two bites of my wife's steak burrito and she's had two of my ahi burrito did she notice that her steak tasted fishy :-). The dishes were tasty and were served in relatively large portions...definitely stick with ala carte vice the combo/plate. My ahi burrito was tasty but I think I still prefer Cholo's fish tacos. I gave this place 3 stars because of the rather hefty prices.
(3)
Greg S.

During my last of hundreds of visits to Oahu, we stumbled into "Luibuenos" luibueno.com as we drove thru Haleiwa. This place is a MUST VISIT if you are up by Oahu's North Shore. Be sure to eat a light breakfast so you can save room for an awesome lunch or dinner. We were served chips and salsa right off the bat and when I saw a bowl of guacamole pass by we told our waitress we needed one of those too for our chips. My wife had just an appetizer; "Camarones ala Plancha" which were huge prawns sautÃ©ed in garlic and Chile de arbol. OMG! The rich buttery and spicy garlic sauce was unbelievably tasty so my wife was well pleased and satiated with just that dish and the chips and guacamole (plus she stole some of beans and rice). Note: The prawns are just a little spicy and for my tastes, the spice was spot on! But for children, they may find this dish a little too spicy but it really isn't too bad. I had a taco entrÃ©e which was a choice between any 2 of 7 taco choices. I picked the Blackened Ahi & sautÃ©ed shrimp tacos. We went back 3 days later for another lunch, but this time we were smarter and didn't eat anything for breakfast. The 2nd time around, we both ordered the "Camarones ala Plancha" again but I added an ala carte beer battered fish taco. The "Camarones ala Plancha" appetizer is 5 super jumbo prawns served over some plain shredded raw cabbage. The shrimp come massively soaked in butter, garlic, and a Mexican Chile sauce. All of the juices get soaked up with the cabbage and if you order a side of guacamole you can blend that and a little bit of awesome salsa for a flavor explosion delight of ultimate goodness. And holy cow, the beer battered fish tacos are out of this world amazing and perhaps the best I've ever had. If you ever find yourself on Oahu's North Shore and don't go to Luibuenos and order the "Camarones ala Plancha", beer battered fish tacos, and a side of guacamole, you are making a very serious error in judgment. Luibuenos rocks out of this world!!!
(5)
Honest T.

Nice ambiance, good drinks, free chips and salsa, tasty fish burritos, almost feels like Mexico! They have a happy hour from 330 to 5 and 930 to 1030 and the fish burritos are only 6 bucks... next time I might get two, one for later... they're that good. Fish, Black Beans, Sour Cream, Cheese, yes... they have really good hot sauces too. Did I mention free chips and salsa?? Add a Pacifico on draft for 3.75... two people, two burritos, two beers, tip... $25 out the door during happy hour. That is... if you can resist the tempting margaritas and lychee martinis.....
(4)
Janna B.

Food was pretty good here. We enjoyed our dinner. It was my first time eating there, and was planning on going to Cholo's. But decided to try Luibueno's instead. We were both happy we tried it. I had the steak tacos, and my dinner companion had the steak burrito. Both were delicious. I must say that I am giving this rating mainly based on the service. I had the best service here, that I have had anywhere besides high end restaurants, like Roy's and Ruth's Chris. Our server was exceptional!
(4)
Esteban W.

I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when I was asked to "wait to be seated" and then told that the hostess would be with me by the bartender. It should have also been a sign when the hostess took her time and we ended up waiting for nearly 7 minutes, outside. I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when a sunburnt haole chick outside walked past us (as we were waiting for the hostess) and said to herself, "Why am I waiting outside like a stupid dumbass?" Or maybe I should have taken it as a sign when our hostess gave our table to another group of people, or maybe when she tried to talk us into sitting with the random tourists (I guess to make less work for her). I should have taken it as a sign when, while the hostess was walking us to our table, I notice half the restaurant was empty... why did I have to wait so long outside? Why weren't we asked if we wanted to sit at the half empty bar? And why was the sunburnt haole seated before us? I should have never come here. I should have listened to the signs to not come here, maybe when the server told me I needed to "expand my horizons" since I was in a Mexican Food restaurant... Me? Expand my horizons? At THIS restaurant? I'm sorry? Next time I will talk with an accent, wear a poncho and carry a bottle of tequila with a worm in it and have a Chihuahua under my arm so that I look more Mexican. I'll come stumbling in with my sombrero from my afternoon 'siesta' from underneath my cactus and ask, "Where do I park my burro?" as I order my next cervesa. Maybe, next time I come in, to appear more "Mexican", I will steal the job of a white server. I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when my margarita came with floating a mosquito. But hey, maybe they were trying to make me feel more like I was in Mexico. I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when they said that they do not take my island discount, i.D. Card during happy hour, but then charged me full price for my happy hour appetizer...during happy hour. I should have never come here. I should have taken it as a sign when the server only brought Guacamaya hot sauce to the table as an option...even though they also serve Cholula and Tapatio, but he didn't even mention those as options. I should have also taken it as a sign when the server fingered our straws when we asked for straws for our waters. I should have never come here, especially since our server, looking like a beach bum, surfer version of Colin Ferrell, broke a cardinal restaurant law; When I asked him, "What's popular from the menu today?" he responded with, "Everything's good on the menu"... no shit? I would hope that the executive chef, manager and the owner didn't spend countless hours over a menu, only to include bad items on it as well. Colin Ferrell couldn't even bullshit me as to a favorite dish he liked on the menu, meaning one of two things: He's a dipshit, or, he doesn't eat the crappy food there. BTW, that's why you got a shitty tip, you Colin Ferrell look-a-like. I barely like any of your movies anyway (yeah, phone booth? 81 minutes of you on a phone, WTF!). OVERALL: The GOOD: I ordered a San Felipe beer battered fish burrito. Surprisingly, it was decent, and if I was forced to eat this food again, against my will, with a gun to my head and crotch, I'd enjoy this burrito. I was born in San Diego, grew up in Tijuana and often vacationed in... San Felipe, MX - so in the end, I probably didn't expand my "horizons" as Colin Ferrell had hoped. On a side note, if you work for a restaurant, at the very least, give your customer ONE item you recommend. EVEN if you're bullshitting. AND, make good food. 15/365
(1)
Greg S.

If you are looking for great Mexican food on Oahu, you are in luck. Luibueno's on the North Shore, what a treat. Our server, John, provided excellent service and advice. The chips and salsa...we had seconds!!! My wife had the blacked ahi taco and I had the carnitas. Both deserved the 5 star rating. To drink we both had the house sangria....not too sweet with nicely marinated fruit bits...also very good. To finish, we shared an order of flan, which was light and tasty. We highly recommend Luibueno's to anyone on island or visiting that wants to have an excellent meal.
(5)
David H.

While the service was helpful and the atmosphere was not too noisy, the food disappointed. My mahimahi burrito had too many onions in it--they overwhelmed the other flavors. The rice was dry and black beans had little flavor. My wife's carne asada tacos were supposed to have guacamole in them. She couldn't find it. Next time we want Mexican food, we will just stay in Wahiawa and eat at El Palenque.
(2)
Tani S.

On a vacation on Oahu with our four year old and our Japanese au pair and unfortunately yelp led us astray... this place was horrible. :( I honestly can't understand why it has such high ratings. It's overpriced and not yummy food. The prices were shocking. Our four year old ordered off of the children's menu where each dish was $9... uh? Most children's meals at moderate restaurants are betweeen $5-6... the waiter finally agreed to only give our daughter two burritos minus the soft drink and ice cream at $5.75 but they looked like crappy store bought tortillas with refried beans. The refried beans with our dishes tasted off... and the cumin in the rice tasted as though it had been tossed on last minute (the spices tasted raw). I had the veggie burrito and it was overfilled with beans, rice, and cheese with a small amount of veggies. Yes, we lived in Southern California for a number of years and got used to tasting yummy Mexican but even the Americanized stuff you get at Chipotle or Acapulco is much better! This place was horrible and so overpriced. It was the first time on my vacation where I felt duped by heading to a tourist spot.
(1)
Ralph Y.

We've been to Luibueno's several times for both Lunch & Dinner. I love the fact that they are more than simply another Mexican joint. Not to many places would step up and try to make paella. Fresh catch is usually a winner and rarely have we been disappointed. The only thing that was just average was the calamari. Everything else is usually top notch. Even the chips are excellent...thick cut and very lightly salted
(4)
Joy B.

I've always really liked this restaurant. Its a bit small and can get cramped very easily but its a nice change. I had the scallops and oh my goodness they were amazing. Would def recommend to others. Our waitstaff was very attentive and made good recommendations. Will return.
(4)
Jennifer P.

My bf, my sister and I went through 3 servings of their chips and salsa. The salsa was so yummy! My sis and I split the fish taco entree and the fish of the day was opa! Very yummy and one of the best fish tacos I've ever had. I recommend getting ala carte instead of the entree however, unless you're splitting the tacos like my sis and I did. Entree is like $8 more and if you get the taco, you get one extra taco and refried beans and rice. If all you get is the burrito entree, all you're getting extra is refried beans and rice. Worth the extra $8? Nope. Also had the fried calamari for an appetizer. The calamari itself was good, but the chipotle aioli they served with it seemed kind of heavy. It tasted good...just not the right choice I think for calamari. Anyhow, good Mexican place to check out.
(4)
Yael T.

Since our stay in Hawaii, we have been looking for a great mexican food restaurant. Raised with Authentic Mexican food, this establishment was really up to par. Everything was delicious.. Ranging from the freshness of the salsa, to the absolute perfection of the micheladas we enjoyed here. There are places where even when the food is good, the service sets the mood for a great dining experience. Our server Mike was very flexible with our requests and was attentive in providing great service, whilst not being too pushy. Highly, highly satisfied with this experience.
(5)
Sonny M.

The late happy hour starts from 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm nightly...They have some of the best deals on their happy hour menu...My favorites are... fish tacos $3.00 oyster shooters $2.50 and great cab wine $4.00... All the bartenders are always friendly ...Hostesses always greet you with a great smile...A real happening place! Uncle Sonny
(5)
Pete Y.

This is now my favorite Mexican restaurant on the island. Normally I wouldn't drive from Honolulu to Haleiwa just to eat cause there's no restaurants up there worth the drive - until now. Had seafood enchiladas w/poblano sauce (special) . Broke da mouth! Wife had veggie tacos - very tasty. Chips and salsa are excellent. Wait staff are top notch.
(5)
Lanny M.

This place is great, All items on the menu are good, food is fresh and good
(5)
Brooke M.

Well I guess hell froze over. Hawaii now has a GOOD Mexican restaurant! I recommend the queso fundido appetizer, a mix of manchego and goat cheeses which you can order plain or topped with something extra (we got the sauteed veggies). They don't give you much bread with it but it goes great with the free tortilla chips too. The tamarind margarita was quite good as well. Very big and served in a glass rimmed with chili powder. The decor is a fresh facelift from the former Rosie's Cantina, and just so much better overall. Definitely going back!
(4)
Harold P.

The reason to come here is to drink, it's all about the margaritas and not about the food. They make their own fresh squeezed sweet and sour mix which seemed to vary slightly each time I stopped by and when I asked it really depended on who made the mix for that batch or day. So I kept asking each new bartender I met and the best ratio that I like is when they mix 2/3 lime to 1/3 lemon and when the simple syrup was not too sweet. Lip smacking. Be prepared to have a designated driver because you won't be able to stop at 1 or 2. Since this became our drinking hole during our stay at the North Shore I had a chance to taste a lot of different items on the menu. Queso Fundido - not creamy enough but I guess that's a good thing because then it's made with real cheeses and not a Velveeta slurry. Eat it fast though because it hardens quickly. Fresh Local Green Salad - very good though the dressing tasted a bit like a salty soy sauce mayonnaise that would expect to find on an Ahi sandwich Carne Asada tacos - you really can't taste the meat because it's covered in a mound of guacamole and powerful onions. San Felipe Style Beer Battered Mahi tacos - good but the red roasted salsa lacked flavor and was kind of watery. It seemed like the same salsa they put down with the chips. Fisherman's Fresh Catch - overpriced for what you get in my opinion. I opted for the Vera Cruz preparation and it came out with some tomatillo gelÃ©e and tomato wine sauce that was way too sweet for the fish. Staff is very friendly, owner is very nice - that counts for a lot when you're drinking. ;-)
(4)
Michelle M.

My favorite foodie friend and I dined here on Saturday evening. I had passed by this place several times and kept saying "Dang, I really want to check this place out!"...Since we had both been thinking about it, and we felt we deserved a little Saturday night treat, so we did! The night seemed promising because as we walked up to the host podium, we were greeted by a couple that had just dined..."WOW! You have to try that special! It's to die for!"...with that kind of endorsement, you knew we had to get that! The place is nice, a bit clostrophobic for me, but it was clean, well decorated and definitely made the place seem busy from the street. I was surprised to see that it really wasnt all that busy once we walked in the door. Greeted immediately and seated immediately, we thought that the service was really attentive. We listened to our servers suggestions and ordered the following: Fried Calamari- Overly breaded, cooked just fine but it tasted like the fryer was in need of an oil change. Ahi Tuna Fish Cakes--Great flavor and texure but again, the oil had left a marked after-taste. Chef's Special--My friend selected the Opa, served with Spanish Rice (he's on a pescaterian kick lately), and topped with a tomato compote. The fish was well seasoned and presented nicely...but it was just slightly overcooked. Battered Fish Tacos--Yick! I did not really care for this dish at all. The beans and rice were a little cold, and the fish was rather soggy. Although the food was less than what we had hoped, we were pleased with the service! Our server was very knowledgable about the source for all of their fresh fish and produce. he did a great job selling us on everything that we ordered! Loved the attentiveness but he definitely allowed us to feel as though he respected our privacy. Would I dine here again...maybe.
(3)
Linda Z.

If you are elderly or are allergic to flavorful food, by all means, try this North Shore restaurant. Don't be fooled by the comfortable-looking dining area, you too can have 'the blandest thing on the menu.' Also, if you are dining here for lunch, be careful - if you order one taco ala carte, the waitress will bring you two and charge you double - how exciting and borderline dishonest! I had the taco with a poblano potato mash (which ended up being two because I said ala carte - confused? Yes, so was I because I had read the menu...). The taco arrived mushy rather than crispy and was leaking water and had zero flavor. You know a Mexican/Latin restaurant is not terribly authentic when you ask for hot sauce and you have a choice between two grocery-store varieties (Tapatio and some other equally bleh brand) - even Killer Tacos has a habanero sauce and others to choose from. I tried to make the tacos here better with it but was unsuccessful. I asked the waitress if she had any hot peppers and she brought me a little dish of fresh jalapenos - they weren't hot but at least made the food a little more palatable. My husband ordered the same thing as an entree and was equally creeped out by the nursing home quality of the cuisine - though his included what tasted like canned black beans w/no seasoning and some rice that had color but no taste. We paid almost thirty dollars for this low-quality meal. If you are looking for lunch on the North Shore, you are better off going elsewhere. Don't be fooled by the tourists who give this place 5 stars.
(2)
Valerie R.

Pretty dang good for Hawaii! Came in here starving after a cub scout event on the North Shore and luckily we were seated promptly. The interior is inviting - it has a good combination of regular tables, high tables and benches. Our margaritas came out fast. I tried the pineapple margarita and it had just the right amount of tang. The chips and salsa were a godsend. The boys gobbled them down, but not before I got a chance to taste. Loved the salsa. I opted for the ahi taco blackened a la carte. I knew it wasn't going to come out with beans or rice, but I was surprised when it was a single taco vs. two tacos. Either way, it ended up being the perfect amount of food because I'd also ordered an appetizer of calamari. The ahi was seared and there was a drizzle of a cilantro cream combined with a fiery red sauce. So good! The breaded calamari with the chipotle aioli was pretty tasty, too. It wasn't chewy and didn't feel heavy at all. One of the boys snagged up a bunch and I was glad to see some food bravery from a six yr old! I would go back here for sure.
(4)
Evan F.

Lui Buenos is just as the two stars indicate ... "I've experienced better." Much better. The food is clean but expensive. Honestly, nothing on their menu stands out to me as great Mexican.
(2)
Sergio L.

Great burritos. Beans on the side were bland.
(4)
E N.

Fairly authentic / representative of Baja seafood culinary traditions.. with a few local influences added... execution however falls short. Started off with a Scallop Aguachile (this is a style of ceviche popular in Baja & Sinaloa)... the quality of the scallops was good, however they forgot the chile part of the Aguachile, and they went way over board on the Maggi (Mexican style Soy / MSG Sauce).. while not even salting the scallops. Also had the Camarones a la Plancha... medium size shrimp cooked on the griddle with chile flakes, garlic, black pepper & a little Maggi. This dish was well executed... not spectacular or dreamy... but well executed. Went with the Caldo de Pescado (Fish Soup) as the entree... classic light Mexican soup with some zucchini, tomato, cilantro, onions etc., It lacked a bit of salt, lime juice & love. For dessert had the Churros with Mex Hot Chocolate... they were prepared on site but they screwed them up.. they were both oily & burnt, the oil also had after taste from corn chips & fish etc... so they are sharing the oil... a big no-no. The oily component means they fried them at too low temperature... the burnt component suggests they probably raised the temperature after realizing they had screwed up. Other than that the dough flavor & airyness was promising. All in all... a real Mexican restaurant with a reasonably nice dining room... but execution is not there... their food falls short on taste & execution. If this place were in Tijuana I don't think they could stay in business... but this is probably the first authentic sit down Mexican place on Oahu, they just have no competition to keep them honest. In the grand scheme of things 3 years ago North Shore just had that hideous place Cholo's... now there are a number of places serving authentic tacos etc., so I can see the Mex offering has progressed quite a bit... and maybe in another 3 years we might have a real deal Mexican place on the island.
(3)
D H.

Best fish tacos I've ever had. (Beer battered) so yum! Full of fresh flavors. Shrimp tacos really good too. Great chips and salsa. Wonderful atmosphere. Good service. Way better food than Cholos.
(5)
Rafie G.

Grear service
(5)
Marc K.

It was sooo busy! Make sure you make a reservation before hand. The place is nicely organized with the bar on the right, dining tables on the left and a family/group area at the back that resembles a gazebo. Although they are known for their seafood (at least that's their claim) I had the 14oz Ribeye Asada (Grilled Ribeye topped with chipotle butter and grilled green onions served with Spanish rice and calabacitas). It was tender and delicious. Make sure you start with the Island Style Sashimi (fresh sushi grade Ahi served on a bed of cabbage with pickled Ginger, wasabi and soy sauce). Next time I'll probably come a bit earlier to enjoy their martinis. The stuff members were really friendly, to be expected from the North Shore crowd.
(4)
Kimberly H.

My husband and I were craving Mexican, we decided to try this place out. We were surprised at how much seafood based dishes were on the menu, we are used to the Mexican restaurants that have your food out 5 minutes after you order it, anyways, I ordered the pork chipotle and he order the seafood paella. The dishes were delicious and the salsa was garlicky and very tasty. This restaurant is pricey and the serving sizes appeared to be measured but overall delicious. If I am craving just straight up Mexican food, this would not be my first choice. My children stated that Taco Bell was better, I guess they wanted What they are used to eating in terms of Mexican. The restaurant seating is too close, people trying to squeeze through between tables ended up bumping into me with their butts, gross!
(4)
Christa M.

This place was great! Good atmosphere, a bit small, but nice. If you're going with 4 or more people on the weekend, definitely make a reservation! Margaritas are reallllly good, and so are the chips and salsa you get when you sit down. I got the Fisherman's Burrito with the catch of the day and it was delicious. My friends got the ahi or fish tacos and enjoyed those as well. Our service was a bit slow, but overall I'd recommend going to Luibueno's!
(4)
Stef H.

Tacos were good. Service was not. Our Queso Fundido was burnt and not cheesy at all. We were looking forward to some ceviche when the waiter came back 20 minutes later to tell us they were out, then proceeded to recommend a Caesar salad... I was confused. Besides starting with the letter C, those two are in no way similar. I won't be returning.
(2)
Scotty M.

This is the only place on island that I've found satisfies my craving for real Mexican food. Being originally from SF and having spent a lot of time in Mexico, my standards for the cuisine are high. Luibueno's has that Baja-style food down perfectly! Their mango margaritas are awesome too.
(4)
Shana K.

As the last guests to enter, my party was welcomed and seated. We weren't hurried through our meal. With a new menu dish served and unsuccessfully received, Ed, the establishment manager, rectified the situation by having the kitchen bring out a savory burrito. Good food is a prerequisite for dining out, but excellent service brings guests back for more!
(5)
Jessica B.

We love Luibueno's! The menu is great and reasonably priced considering the location. The new drink menu is fabulous- we love the jalapeno infused cocktails. The kitchen is always offering delicious and creative specials. If you have a big group you NEED a reservation. They have only one or two tables to accommodate parties larger than 5! This means a LONG wait time if you don't call ahead. :)
(5)
Precious V.

One of the worse places to eat on the north shore....unless you like dirty forks, an non attentive server, dont care whether your food gets to you, youre not thirsty, you dont need menus and you like the feeling of being ignored. really cant rate on the food since we never got ours. It took 20 minutes to get a friggin coke. Guacamole never made its way out either. Maybe they were waiting for the avocados to grow.... I'm not sure. after waiting 45 minutes with no food and no service we finally decided to walk out.... what makes the whole thing worse is bad we were treating a friend who is visiting the island. It really made the north shore look bad. totally ashamed that we had recommended this place at all. Got to talk to the manager, ed, but it was a little too late. Seemed very concerned, but we didnt feel any better... Off to another restaurant!! But even McDonalds would be a HUGE step up from this disapointment. Adios Lui Buenos! Never coming back here.
(1)
John L.

I rated it 5 stars because this is "as good as it gets" for Oahu! Being from Texas you get spoiled with really good, really cheap Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants. I went with my wife and another couple (from Texas) and we all enjoyed our meals. The steak, burritos and Tacos were really good. Nice and clean, great service, parking was easy and the wait wasn't too bad. The only negative would be the pricing, $15 burritos are a little pricey in my book and the other menu items were up there as well. Maybe I am accustomed to less expensive Mexican food. If you want pretty good Mexican food and don't mind paying the price, this is about the best I've had on the island during my search for a good Mexican Restaurant.
(5)
Mark H.

Had a craving for some fish tacos and tequila and this place fit the bill. Awesome guacamole, nice tequila menu and really tasty fish tacos. Mission accomplished. Will definitely come back for more. Service was awesome.
(5)
Sierra T.

They serve the best black and blue fish tacos! Service is good. Nice bar
(4)
Tara K.

Stopped in for lunch and had the veggie burritto. Was different that what I was expecting, though it was good. Chips and salsa were very good! Has nice ambience and decor - casual, but a good place for a date too. I think our server was a bit new, but she was very friendly.
(4)
Tom W.

This is a review of the Luibeno's taco truck in the Waimea Bay parking lot, not the sit-down spot in Hale'iwa. Steak burrito plate was a very good split for my two teenage boys at the end of an afternoon swim/snorkel and the pulled pork sandwich was hot and yummy. Everything cooked to order of course and the price really fair considering the locale. We'll try it again our next stop at Waimea.
(4)
Phil A.

Ok food at best @ more $$$ than it is worth. It is the islands so you cut it some slack. Would not make it in California at these prices. Decent beer selection.
(3)
Jack B.

Favorite dinner joint on the north shore even though my wife isn't a fan anymore. This should really be a four star, but compared to most everything else on the N.Shore, it's a winner. Ceviche is awesome.
(5)
Chris O.

This restaurant is racist!!! DO NOT I repeat DO NOT go there if u r Asian. Service was the worst ever. Non attentive at all. Not even a glass of water. Silverware was dirty! I would gv this place NO stars.
(1)
Noe S.

I've never been to the restaurant in Haleiwa but I ate at their lunch truck at Waimea Bay. We ordered two carne asada burrito. They were huge! The BF and I definitely could of shared one. It was stuffed with soft juicy steak, salsa and guacamole. The rice on the side was a bit spicy for me but very tasty and the refried beans had what I think was parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. What the heck? But it worked. Very good. The BF even loved it and he doesn't care for Mexican food. We will definitely be trying the restaurant next.
(4)
Jim H.

Garlic shrimp, spicy calamari, delicious #Hawaii beers, and a mahi burrito. About $50. Well worth it for a stuffing meal in Hale'iwa.
(4)
Shell C.

Great happy hour! Catch of the day fish tacos, oyster shooters, sautÃ©ed scallops, ahi tacos, shrimp n avocado tacos, and enchilada special were all great. I always stop here when I'm in the north shore.
(5)
Grand Y.

The fish here was really fresh. For the north shore, the prices were really reasonable. The service was outstanding. The ambiance was a cut above the other spots here. We got the burrito platters, which came out to about $14 each for a medium-sized burrito, beans, and rice. I love that I asked that the ahi tuna not be cooked at all in my burrito, and that's exactly how it came. The wine list is not inspiring - it's basically the $10 wines from Safeway, just marked up. The restaurant is a bit loud, but we were also seated not 2 feet from the evening's singer.
(4)
John K.

YOU MUST EAT HERE! I consider myself a foodie and am quite critical or where I eat. During my recent visit to the North Shore, my family and I dined at Luibuenos and it was AMAZING! The margaritas were the best I have EVER had. The guac, salsa and queso were OUTSTANDING. Make sure you order the Camarones ala Plancha for an app and the Gobernador for an entree. We will always come back here every time we go to Hawaii! WAY TO GO LUISBUENO'S!!
(5)
Curtis C.

Went today for the first time. I had a great meal with friends and would definitely go back. Split the San Felipe style battered mahi mahi fish tacos. Excellent, and very classic baja style. Super fresh fish made these even more delicious. One of my friends had the shrimp taco with local Kahuku shrimp, I didn't try, but he said it was delicious. Other dishes we had were Island Style Sashimi (ahi), and gazpacho. Both were excellent. Prices are totally reasonable for the quality of the food and the atmosphere. Everything is super clean, fresh, and new. Give it a try!
(4)
Kuulei J.

I'm loving it.... the food was goood and the top shelf drink was even better!! :)
(4)
Tanner E.

Probably the best place on the North Shore. The BEST Ahi burrito I've ever had hands down. A good seafood/mexican blend.
(4)
Nyhica Z.

This was the first restaurant I ate at when I moved to Hawaii. I'm from Cali, so I'm a bit of a mexican food snob, but this place is a little classier than your typical mexican food joint. Our waiter was a super ditzy guy and kept having to be followed up by the other servers that actually knew what they were doing. The food was pretty good, but like I said, not your typical mexican food, and for the prices we paid, it better be different. I ordered the blackened ahi tacos. and I guess they were worth the high prices. I'll have to go back and see how I really feel about the place. The chips and salsa were also good.
(3)
Nicole D.

Randomly stopped in here after a trip to Waimea. I was craving a margarita and mexican food and this place more than satisfied my cravings. I lived in Arizona for 5 years and also cook authentic mexican, so I know my way around a tortilla and a margarita. The margarita was delicious...they make their own sweet & sour...which is key. Everything on the menu looked great, but I ordered the "Fisherman's Catch Burritio" and it was prepared with Seabass. One of the best I have ever had and reason #1 being was that it wasn't a 5lb burrito stuffed with a bunch of crappy ingredients. The homeade salsa that was brought with the chips was YUMMY. Just the right amount of smoke and spice. I ate at the bar and the staff was attentive and very friendly. This is an absolute must visit if you are near Haleiwa. They have plenty of flat screens too, if that's your need. My only complaint was that they had them in the dining room as well. I looked around and the families that were dining weren't talking to each other, instead staring at the boob tubes.
(4)

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Address : 66-165 Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, HI, 96712
Phone (808) 637-7717
Website https://www.luibueno.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

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Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine

66-165 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI, 96712

Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine Menu

Sopa or Ensalada

Entrees

Tapas or Botanas

Marisco or Crudo

Burritos

Quesadillas

Tacos

Carne Chips or Fries

Sides

Beverages

Healthy Meal suggestions for Luibueno’s Mexican & Latin Cuisine

Sopa or Ensalada

Entrees

Tapas or Botanas

Marisco or Crudo

Burritos

Quesadillas

Tacos

Carne Chips or Fries

Sides

Beverages

Cholo D.

Ashley O.

Kate P.

Dana B.

Cierra R.

Rissa K.

Brandi F.

Ed C.

Cat M.

Tiffany B.

Darrell P.

Sarah L.

Cynthia A.

Troy D.

Mary S.

HaleiwaTodd W.

nikki T.

cayle l.

Chris A.

Keith W.

Tina P.

Priscilla S.

Tina V.

Wendy H.

Barry W.

Angela D.

Mariacecilia B.

Kym M.

Dana K.

Reid I.

Jay G.

Randy M.

Shane D.

Caleb S.

Mark Y.

Kara P.

Michele B.

Kelsie M.

The F.

Kendra S.

Kim M.

Kyle B.

Misty P.

Ali V.

Tiffany R.

Wayne W.

Taylor B.

Trevor T.

Terence H.

Teresa H.

Tze M.

Rockie N.

Christina D.

Raina S.

Chris P.