Habaneros Grill
75-5864 Walua Rd, Kailua-Kona, HI, 96740
Habaneros Grill Menu
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Address :
75-5864 Walua Rd
Kailua-Kona, HI, 96740 - Phone (808) 329-2814
- Website https://www.habanerosgrillhawaii.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
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 : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
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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HaeRi C.
This place had amazing food. At first glance the menu looks weak, it's hot inside and the chairs are high and a bit uncomfortable, I actually sat down regretting coming here but when the food came it, everything was tolerable. It was THAT GOOD! The ceviche was one of the best I had, I ordered my son the chicken soup it was HUGE, and so flavorful! Ok so the first thing all Mexican restaurants serve is chips and salsa, their salsa which looks more like tapatio hot sauce was so spicy, I asked them for a mild one, the mild salsa was soooooo good almost tasted like a good tomato soup. My husband ordered their grilled steak he said it was awesome! I'm thinking about heading back there once more before I fly home today.
(4)Kelly C.
Views and a great date night. Sangria perfecto! Mole delicious, ceviche also a plus. Not too large a plate, and served fresh with wait staff that were also smiley and pleasing! We enjoyed our time here and will rent out the private room upstairs.
(5)Phil F.
The menu looks good. Interesting dishes and not the same-old-same-old Tex-Mex food, but execution in the kitchen is really poor. Their main "spice" seems to be salt. Every dish was overly salty. With a restaurant name like "Habaneros Grill" you would think that there would be some bold tastes - this is not the case. The dishes are bland. The menu has the right idea - something different and potentially exciting, but they just don't deliver. I had the Tortitas de Pollo - no taste. I tasted their side dish of beans and rice - again, no taste. Service was average - not great but not bad. Ambiance is good, mainly because it is brand new and they put a lot of money into the remodel. This is a place that wants to be an upscale Mexican restaurant, but is struggling to achieve it. Hopefully it will improve.
(2)Bob B.
Food was all excellent. Server was very knowledgable and extremely friendly and helpful. The interior is nice, excited to come back when there is not a private function and experience the upper area with a view. The especially loved the Panuchos app and the pork chop for the entree.
(5)Steve K.
Since it had been a year since our last visit I wanted to give it another chance. My wife had chicken fajitas, and I had chicken enchiladas with a green sauce. The fajitas were ok, although I guess I'm used to a different concept on fajitas where you are adding cheese and sour cream and other goodies, while this was all combined before going on the plate. My enchiladas were a disappointment; perhaps four ounces of chicken wrapped in a tortilla, swamped with an extremely salty green sauce. The experience left me sad, and still hungry. Fortunately I had a Costco roaster chicken in the fridge at home. My wife noticed the rice was also quite salty; not sure what was up with that. And yea, I should have brought it to their attention, but we were tired and lacked the energy. Perhaps we hit them on a bad night, but we won't be coming back for a couple years; we'll stick with a couple other Mexican restaurants here that are consistently good.
(2)Angela S.
My husband decided to try this restaurant for our anniversary dinner. The guacamole was very good. However, it was very, very hot inside and the ceiling fans did not help. The waitress asked for our order 3 different times and still forgot to order our drinks. After 2 more times of asking what we wanted from the bar, we decided to take our meal to go. As soon as we got home we ate. I had a spicy prawn dish. It tasted off, and unfortunately I was quite ill the next day with horrible nausea and stomach cramps. Overall it was the worst experience we've had at any restaurant since living here on Big Island.
(1)Brittney R.
5 stars for everything beer was tasty waitress was on point I forgot her name shortish hair but she was super nice! But the biggest 5 star is for the carnitas! Soooooo gooooood!!
(5)Cathy D.
Went to lunch with friends last week and was terribly disappointed with both food and service. I had the bean burrito which consisted of 90% white rice and 10% pinto beans- no sauce inside the burrito and no cheese. It was completely tasteless and not worth $12. My friends has the cheese enchiladas which were covered with a very strange pink sauce-definitely not any enchilada sauce I have ever seen. We will not be back
(2)Brendon C.
A great change of pace located just a block from the Kona madness. If your looking for different types of tequilla than this is your place. They have all sorts although I stick with my usual Don Julio. The food is high end tho not pricey Spanish and Mexican. The bartender and hostess and owner were all very friendly. I'm not usually a ceviche fan but there ceviche is amazing!
(5)kimnbob b.
The menu is very creative. You can find the staple Mexican menu items items, along with more unusual home style items. Everything was very fresh. We ate here twice and enjoyed everything. The bartenders were great. Even the night we came in soaking wet from a downpour and left a big puddle on the floor!
(5)Ed P.
Absolutely one of the BEST Mexican restaurants I've eaten at. That includes a few in Mexico City. The owner/chef is from Mexico and is truly a gourmet chef. His dishes are incredibly creative and delicious. Down to the smallest (food) detail. Try the combo app. Amazing. Don't bother going if you like Taco Bell or CA Mex. As a matter of fact, do us all a favor and DON'T go. They have a few things on the menu that they will be taking off due to uneducated, frightened diners. Tourists...feh. A shout out to Jess at the Bar, teriffic and friendly and knowledgeable.
(5)Zachary S.
Eh, not so good rather eat almost anywhere els in kona way to crowded felt like cattle. Had to scream at the person next to me for them to here me.. food was pretty mad i had Cornish game hen with mole sauce. Sauce tasted like burnt crap and then "hen" tasted like dry sand with elmers glue holding it together. Took around 30 mins for my single beer that i orded to get to my table. must have been the servers first job because she had no idea where she was, nor did I. Way to much time and money spent in this place... $$$$$$$$:(
(1)Virginia H.
Excellent Mexican fare at really reasonable prices.,good service too. I had the steak tacos, comes with beans and rice. I would have ordered more to try, but I was full! This spot is fairly new and I hope it will do well especially if the locals support it.
(5)Cam M.
One of the best restaurants you will go to in the big island hands down. One day this place is gonna end up on the food network. It's that good! It's easy to think Mexican food should be like it is in Texas or California, (even though Texas or California are in the US), forgetting that the country of Mexico is so big, and just like in the US, or Italy, or any other country there are different types food based on the region. This place is bringing you a taste of different regions of Mexico. If you come with an open mind and no preconceived notions or judgements on what Mexican food should be you will not be disappointed. The food is awesome and the people working here are great!
(5)Yvette K.
Habaneros Grill is wonderful, but not perfect, but DAMN GOOD! I have been quite curious about Habaneros Grill because of the mixed Yelp reviews. I was on the mainland when HG opened and was excited to try this new place out once I got back to Kona. While I cannot know if some of the reviewers really did experience poor preparations that contributed to their negative Yelp reviews, I find it sad that the Yelp reviews that condemned HG because it wasn't the kind of Mexican food they were expecting only shows their ignorance of gourmet Mexican food. We ordered margaritas on the rocks that we good enough, but not excellent. There was enough tequila, but I'd rather have more lime juice and Cointreau/Triple Sec or Grand Marnier than so much orange juice. It was good enough to have a second one, though. The waitress brought us chips and salsa. I must say that this was the BEST homemade salsa I've had in Hawaii and it was spicy! (I LOVE spicy). EXCELLENT!!! We started out with a delicious appetizer called Panucho de cochinita pibil (tortilla cake with pork) for $9.00. There is enough that this could be eaten as an entree and save a little money (3 on the plate). I've had cochinita pibil before and this was a good version of it, but not the best I've had. It still was very good and I would love to eat them again. I wish they put pickled red onions on top instead of raw red onions. For my entree I had the Pescado al pipian verde (fish in green sauce). The fish of the day was mahi mahi. $22.00. I think this was the best pipian verde sauce that I've had (and I've cooked it myself too). The sauce was very balanced and the ground pumpkin seeds made it so silky and delicious and it was a little spicy too. Also, the mahi mahi was cooked perfectly, not overdone one bit. My companion had the Enchiladas de mole (chicken enchiladas in mole sauce) $14.00. She was not thrilled because she was not aware that mole sauce has Mexican chocolate in it and she hates chocolate. (I should have warned her). But, I am VERY familiar with mole sauces and this was an excellent version, also a little spicy. The one big problem was with the dessert. We ordered the plantains with chocolate sauce, condensed milk and whipped cream. It was supposed to come with a fruit compote, but that never made it to the plate. I would not order this dish again and wonder why after all the work that was done on the savory dishes that Hershey's syrup (or something like it) was used instead of a homemade chocolate sauce. Why not make a chocolate sauce with Mexican chocolate? I hate Hershey's syrup!! Also, we didn't care for how the plantains (Hawaiian apple bananas) were prepared. The service was attentive and the ambiance is very nice. We came early on a Monday night and got seated right away without a reservation (2 people). All in all, I was really impressed by Habanero's Grill and look forward to many more dining experiences. If you have only eaten Tex Mex style Mexican food have an open mind while trying something that is more of a fine dining experience with traditional preparations done with quality ingredients. There is much more to Mexican and Latino food than just tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chile rillenos, fajitas and chimichangas.
(4)Kawika P.
Went to the new Habaneros tonight to try it out. I've enjoyed the Keauhou location many times! So here's my "2 cents" .... Customer service as we walked in was great! Everyone we passed said aloha! Our waitress was attentive but wasn't very knowledgable in the menu items. Here is my biggest peeve.... If you are going to name your restaurant practically the same as your other location...as a patron, I am going to expect the same food! I was VERY surprised/ disappointed to open the menu to find a smaller selection at a way higher price. I understand it's more fine dining but honestly , I'd rather sit outside in Keauhou and have a better selection for less $. Was the food good? Yes...it was good, were my tacos worth $18? NO! 2 carne asada tacos , beans n rice for $18 seemed steep. To management, here's an honest review...the little boy sitting next to us said out loud to his mom "the pizza is horrible". Also I did not see any local families enjoying your restaurant while we were there. I think you should take the same food/prices of your Keauhou location and turn this new spot into a FUN dining location for locals and visitors instead of the fine dining vibe you're shooting for. When I think Mexican food...I think fun, food n margaritas!
(3)Kenson K.
I really enjoyed the food here. I ordered the marinated beef salad for a starter. Man, that was really ono. The beef was so full of flavor. It was a good start. Oh, and the salsa and chips that they served were really good too. The chips tasted authentic, like real corn and the salsa had just the right amount of heat. For my main entrée I had the catch of the day with the Veracruz style sauce. I forgot what it was called in Spanish but it translated to pretty much the same thing. Real good. Had some spice to it, but it was ono. The service was good. The wait staff was very attentive.
(4)Sue L.
Ordered the chicken soup, carne asada salad and chips with salsa. The chicken soup was lite yet full of wholesome flavors of freshly stewed broth with tender chicken strips, rice and veggies. Goes well with the salad, which had a scrumptious amount of tenderly grilled beef strips on a bed of fresh green lettuce, fresh wedges of tomatoes and cucumber slices, topped off nicely with dressing. We shared the lunch together and it was the perfect portion and the dishes complemented each other nicely. The chips and salsa are a bit diappointing since we are used to the mexican foods in the south west where the salsa are freshly made and have a variety to choose from.
(4)Gene H.
Great place just off the madness of Ali'i drive. We live so close we do take out fairly often. Try their guacamole is is amazing with just the right amount of kick to it. We will certainly eat here again and again.
(5)John B.
Service was friendly but poor. They were out of fruit for margaritas (at a Mexican restaurant?!). They were also out of ahi. Food was uninspired and poorly prepared. Case in point, the chipotle shrimp was overcooked to the point of being difficult to chew. And the house salsa?...blandest I've had outside a Taco Bell. To refrain from being only negative I'll say that the Mexican Mai tai's were quite nice and water service was very quick. Location is excellent hope they can up the service to match.
(2)P J.
Another FANTASTIC dinner! Jessica, our favorite server/bartender always has the best recommendations. See you in a couple weeks.
(5)Mark P.
What a nice surprise to find a decent Mexican Restaurant in Kona. We only had a couple items, but sometimes, you can judge a book by it's cover. We only had the Guacamole and chips(with salsa) and the quesadilla with carne asada beef. The guacamole was jus awesome with the right amount of tomatoes, spices and avocado. Smooth and flavorful. The chips were done on site and were crunchy and salted. The beef in the quesadilla was well seasoned and stood up the the queso and other ingredients. The side of rice and beans were the proper temperature and tasted good. The beer selection was "Mexican restaurant centric" so it could use a bit more variety. Will go back for more.
(4)Larry K.
We tried this place for the first time in Sept after watching all the extensive remodeling... The food is not traditional Mexican tacos and burritos and is a little more pricey than your local Kona food place, but the dishes and service make up for it... Service was very attentive... Offered to let us preview the moule sauce which is "different" but I liked it. Owner came by to talk to us and everyone was very interested in our opinions... Most of the patrons were locals as the restaurant is a bit down the road from the local shore bars... Will definitely be back...
(4)Jason C.
Food was ok. Service was ok. Environment sucks. Big room. Lots of uncomfy seats. No boths. I compare all mexican food to San Diego. So that in mind, no comparision...I think 3 stars is fair.
(3)Nancy Z.
If it's standard Mexican food you seek, keep driving. This is not your typical rice-and-beans Mexican restaurant. (Their Keauhou location is better suited to that style.) They've given the old Tom Bombadil's location a major face lift. Very nice renovation. My only gripe would be the noise factor. There's nothing to buffer the interior noise. When the place is busy, as it was the night I was there, you can hardly hear the people at your own table. My husband ordered a soda because he had an upset stomach. The soda was flat. The waitress was super accommodating. They swapped out whatever it is that makes the soda fizzy and brought my husband another. They seemed to be low on help...maybe two wait staff to serve the entire dining area (and there were two large parties that evening). The waitress was great but struggling to keep up. They brought chips and dip while we waited....unusual for Kona. The menu is upscale....$14-$30 with most items weighing in at $20/22. The food, though, is high quality. We ordered the Chile Relleno de Mariscos. They did not skimp on the mariscos. I don't know what was in the sauce, but it was fabulous. The prices make this restaurant a 'special treat' destination as far as my budget is concerned. We did not walk away disappointed. Dinner, no drinks, $50 out the door.
(4)Jon A.
If you are looking for a tex-mex taqueria and everything wrapped in a tortilla, with beans and rice, go somewhere else. Preferably California. Habaneros has done a great job of Mexican cuisine. Note the word cuisine, not food. Ownership has done a fantastic job of bringing the flavors of Mexican cuisine to the islands. Chilis and cilantro are the dominant flavors in the dishes served here. Fresh fish, fresh vegetables, well executed dishes at reasonable prices. The guacamole is made to order, the drinks are made w fresh juices and are on the crafty side. The molè is fantastic. The pork chop was delicious. And dessert! The Choco Flan is quite the cherry on top finisher. Not 5 stars? Parking is tough and they're relatively new, so service/ticket times were a bit slow. Thumbs up
(4)Sarah K.
We have it a try in spite of the revues. Sat there for 10 minutes and we were never acknowledged so we left and are now enjoying a drink at on the rocks!
(1)Kelly R.
Went back here for my mother's birthday, and none of the previous problems had been fixed. Food has gone way downhill: my enchiladas were bland and cold and the carne asada tacos had a funky flavor. Our new waitress was never to be seen, and on top of that we secretly asked for the restaurant to acknowledge my mother's birthday, and when the check came they seemed to have forgotten. After a gentle reminding and the waitress loudly saying in front of my mom, "oh you want to order something for the birthday?" They brought out what I swear was an eggo waffle dipped in cinnamon sugar covered in whipped cream with a candle. The server didn't even stay to sing happy birthday. Also it was like 80 degrees inside of the restaurant. Not a good birthday night at all. Thank goodness I got my mom an iPad to make up for this dismal dinner.
(1)Karen N.
We went back again. They have a traditional menu page, I thought it would be boring, my husband ordered the grilled chicken plate. Excellent!!! I again ordered off the after 5 dinner menu. This time I had garlic shrimp. The shrimp were HUGE (not shrimpy at all!) And there were lots of them, mmmmm in garlic yummy sauce. I would love their rice recipe, dunno if they put wine in the rice or that was the sauce from my shrimp but I ate every bite (its a really big plate). One more thing I like about this place, fresh veggies, not found in most mexican restaurants. My only complaint...their salsa is not my fave. Imho, best mexican in Kona. If I said that about another place, sorry, this place is now the winner!
(5)AgelessWonder A.
Finally came here for the first time. Love it!! Greeted nicely and very friendly staff. Great drink selections :) *Awesome staff. No crowds, no loud people talking, and I like the dinner menu. I get so TIRED of seeing the same'ol same'ol foods..., good to see different food selections. Gotta get outta the box and be different!! I'll be back..
(4)Lucas W.
Came here with a group of 4 around 7pm. It was crowded but we asked the hostess "how long?" She laughed in my face and so did another man who was carrying a tray next to her. She then said "if you want to come you have to make a reservation." If she just said "I'm sorry, we are booked for the night, I recommend you make reservations next time you come" I would have been ok. Without even walking in I can tell this place thinks it's too good to be polite to possible future patrons. I'll never try to go here again. Who wants to pay for overpriced mexican anyway?
(1)Stu F.
The service was not the best by far. We saw our waiter when we ordered our food and when it was delivered. Nowhere else in between. Our water glasses sat empty for the majority of our time there. The mole enchiladas were good, as was the tinga pollo quesadilla. The rice had absolutely no flavor at all, and the beans tasted like they were fresh out of the can.
(2)Vaibhav T.
Really craving Mexican food? Just want something spicy in the midst of island sweetness? Well don't go here. You will not find spicy food here, contrary to the name. Mole was overly sweet. Seared Ahi steak was tasteless. And Ahi jalapeño stuffed was bland. On the other hand drinks were delicious. Service was good. Food had great presentation but otherwise just fell short, let alone spice. Should have listened to fellow yelpers!
(2)Carrie R.
Kind of stuffy stuck inside of this building, they should open it up so we can absorb the view. Food was ok, service was mediocre. No bartender? Ceviche was yummy
(3)Teri L.
Being a Kona local, I understand that costs are high for any business. So I will pay for "chips and salsa" at a Mexican restaurant. But they don't even give you salsa. Instead, you get watered down blender chili water. My chicken fajitas were literally RAW! The margaritas were all mix- no tequila. The potential to become a victim of salmonella poisoning from raw chicken is enough to never go back again.
(1)Mehana L.
FYI I've been a fan of habaneros in Keauhou for months and am proud to say that I am NOW also a fan of this newest venture. There's been a lot of mixed reviews around town and online here but I think they are great. It's nice to have another option for lunch/dinner here around Kona town. Perks: They have a diverse menu with lots of options that you won't find elsewhere on this island (no! this isn't LA so please don't compare it to your mainland restaurant options), good people, good service, great location. Their ono (wahoo) ceviche with guac was outstanding and their jinebre (1800 tequila + ginger beer) cocktail was a nice twist too. Cons: Not sure about the "local" menu options, no mention of grass-fed island beef or where they source their produce .... once they get that happening I'd surely bump my rating to a 5 stars. Total cost with tip was $38 (for a $10 cocktail, a shared appetizer and a mid-range entree) ~ not super pricey but not cheap either, but hey it's Kona. That's my take. Eat up and enjoy :)
(4)Renna S.
We decided to try this place since we like the Habaneros in the Keauhou shopping center and heard it was the same owner. I am very aware that they are different restaurants, with different styles. The ambiance of the restaurant is quite nice and is reminiscent of an upscale steakhouse with tasteful Mexican decor. We were seated quickly and our server was pleasant. We were served assorted chips and salsa while we looked over the menu. The chips were nothing special - blue/red/corn chips that could have come out of a bag. The salsa was quite good and seemed to be fresh, but I was honestly expecting it to be spicier. I ordered a tortilla soup to start, along with one of the pastas (? I know, a little strange to order pasta at a Mexican restaurant) while my husband ordered the ribeye. The tortilla soup had good flavor, but was NOT hot. My pasta was mediocre - fettucine noodles with a red sauce. Seriously?! For $14? My husband's ribeye was cooked to order, but the char on the outside was intense. His ribeye was served with a mango salsa that was just ok. It was also served with a mashed regular and a mashed sweet potato side. The sweet potato was good. It's pretty hard to mess up a ribeye since it's such a fantastic cut of meat - lets just say we were less than impressed. My husband was also still quite hungry after finishing his steak. We did order dessert - the tres leche cake. That cake was the saving grace of our entire meal. Creamy and sweet without being heavy - it was a good way to end our meal. One odd thing that I have to mention - our server had to ask me whether my pasta was spicy - another customer had asked, but she didn't know. One would think that the servers would be familiar with the menu in this kind of setting. All in all, the food simply does not live up to expectations.
(3)Sy A.
We went there to try out the new place. The setup is good but the food really is not as good as some of the other places. I am assuming they are trying to give a up market vibe to their restaurant to charge more. It is not working when it comes to food at this place, we got better Mexican restaurants than this in Kona.
(1)Vivien B.
Enjoyed happy hour from 3 to 5. Pupus were good the nachos have a great happy hour price and tasty. Dinner menu starts at 5. They have the standard tacos burritos which are ok. They also have a mexico city type food that's very good but a tad pricy. I would return. Owner very personable, nice.
(5)Laurie M.
So happy to see a traditional menu added to this restaurant. Meal was delicious, fresh & appealing. Happy hour drinks were OK and the service was good when we were 1 of 2 tables, the service declined rapidly as tables were filling up.
(4)Wilbur P.
We had watched the construction of this new restaurant go on for what seemed like years, and were excited to see it finally open. We waited a few months to let them work out any bugs and then stopped for lunch in October 2014. The interior is very attractive. Unfortunately, the decor is the best part of the restaurant. My companion's water glass was delivered with a prominent lipstick smear. When she asked for a clean glass, pointed out the lipstick and said she did not wear lipstick, it would have been nice if the server had said "sorry about that." It might have been reassuring if the server had said "I'll let the chef know so they can take steps to ensure this does not happen again." But, no, he silently picked up the glass, carried it away, and a short time later returned with a glass free of obvious contamination. The server showed the personality of an automat -- he was completely devoid of expression. When the server can show no enthusiasm for what is being served, nor make the diners feel welcome, it is hard for a diner to have positive thoughts about the food. While we were there at no time were there more than two tables of diners, so he was in no way being overworked. As for the food, my companion likes her food spicy. The more picante the better. But she found her chicken enchilada with salsa verde to be so spicy she could barely eat it. I know with a name like Habaneros one expects it to have some zip, but this meal was unreasonable, especially considering that salsa verde is generally on the milder side. We expected there to be a view of the ocean. From our window table we had a view of a long abandoned construction site across Alii Drive seen through a mass of electrical wires, cables, and visual impediments. If one was dining on the second floor one would be above the wires and would have some view of the ocean, but that is not set up for dining, although it may be booked for special events. There are Mexican restaurants in Kailua-Kona with better food and better locations. There really is no reason to go to Habaneros. I am sorry to say that, but I will not be dining there again.
(2)Mike C.
Shitty owners. Fake God lovers. Shittu hostesses. Crappy drinks. And overly priced. Sooo sad business is going down bc owners are gullible to the needs of Kona. Servers are inexperienced so are most of the bartenders. Food takes way too long.bits not real Mexican food
(1)Laverna B.
The food was awesome. Had the 1/2 soup and steak salad happy hour entree. This had to be the best steak salad I've had. Tortilla soup was very tasty as well. Heat place to stop by.
(5)Jeanine R.
Wow! The food was amazing & nicely presented. I had a seafood relleno that was the best I've ever had. My husband had the burrito of the day - slow roasted pork. It was huge & delicious. This is really a 4.5 rating & the only drawback is the lack of sound absorbing material. Not too much to put up with when the food is so good.
(4)Taco N.
Insanely overpriced Mexican food!!! As someone that truly loves Mexican food I am quite disappointed with the new habaneros!! If you want to finance Mexican food that has been fancified by plating .....you will love this place. If you are from somewhere with no Mexican food for reference ....this will trick you into thinking that Mexican cuisine is for the rich only! ;) I see what they were going for, but Kona is not the place for this experiment, especially during a recession!!! Seriously!!!!??? It has taken so long for a restaurant to return to the location where Habaneros now is located, but I fear the fate is sealed with the prices out of control compared to the food you get. Tourists staying at the hotels will funnel in, but my local friends,including other chefs and I will not waste our $ on this nicely remodeled taco trap! For the 120$ we spent we could have had at least 3 times the amount food of much better quality flavor and portability by going to Mercadito Rincon in the international market. We do takeout and goto the beach....That's how u do it! Mexican fine dining is a contradiction/ oxymoron!!! Kona just needs affordable tasty food that doesn't just want to hook tourist $!!! Habaneros Owner......I hope you can fix things so Locals will eat at your place more than once!!! LOCAL DISCOUNT of 30% is a good start :)
(1)Jeff T.
The New Habaneros Grill has been nicely renovated and is an upscale Mexican fusion place to dine. It reminds me of when you stay at a resort in Mexico... Upscale, beautifully presented Plated Mexican ( smaller sized plates, mid/higher end prices) fusion food. It's not typical large portion Mexican fare that most are used to. Fresh fish, ceviche, steak, chicken, pork and shrimp are on the menu. We were greeted immediately by the staff and we were seated quickly. Our waiter was very attentive and even refolded my napkin when we went to the restroom. We had the chips and salsa which was yummy. I ordered a margarita which was very yummy but a bit light on the tequila. They hand squeeze all of the juices they make their cocktails with and use agave syrup!! Hurray, no more horrible bottled juices that are used typically on other Alii dr. Restaurants. The appetizers we ordered were the black bean tostadas ($13) (appetizer sized 3 triangle portions) which came with 2 different salsas, avocado and the verde ceviche ($13) served with a side of chips (both were awesome!!!). For the entrees I had the steak tacos ($18) which lots of sauces, avocados, beans and rice which were very yummy but a little light on the meat (defiantly order again though) and my hubby ordered the chicken mole enchiladas ($15) (3 enchiladas) with rice which were also very good!! In short... Not a usual greasy burrito, taco, nacho place (go to their sister company Los Habaneros for that) but a yummy higher end Mexican fusion Restraunt that uses higher quality ingredients and presentation (everything is plated and beautiful)
(5)Sarah J.
If you want Mexican food for dinner go somewhere else... Say if u want natchos, burritos, chili rellano, carne asada, beef or chicken tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, flautas don't come here cause they don't have these Mexican foods ... I ordered the fish tacos and the fish is lightly seared mostly raw chewy fish ... I couldn't even swallow it... I love sashimi but it's just wrong in a taco !! They have several pasta dishes ... Um .. Why ? They aren't serving tacos at Amici's Italian Restaurant down the street ... We spent $61 for dinner tonight for 2, so glad we didn't have family or company ...If they want to do something artsy fine ... Just put the regular typical Mexican fare that we ALL love on the menu as well ...... Not going back ...Good luck & Adios
(1)Sasha A.
Wonderful Mexican cuisine. Don't expect refried beans. Excellent mole! Great service. Just noisy when it's a full house.
(4)Greg C.
One word . . . Exceptional! I had the flank steak tacos and an appetizer that was a flour stuffed chip with spinach and cilantro. I never knew Mexican food could be so creative. The prices are not cheap, but well worth it.
(5)Kristina N.
The setting is nice, alcohol drinks are amazing, service good. Very much enjoyed the vibe and drinks. Food wise not traditional mexican, like Keahou food better but will come again.
(5)Janet L.
We have put this one off for a long time reading so many mixed reviews. The menu has both traditional and innovative food. Tortillas are homemade and delicious. Had a wonderful mojito with fresh passion fruit. Prices were maybe a little higher than a regular Mexican restaurant but the quality of the ingredients were very fresh and well prepared. Many options! We sat at the bar and had good service from Joyce. Good value very good food.
(5)Silvia G.
I am so happy to see that there is a traditional Mexican Restaurant in Kona serving Pre- Columbian Cuisine! The food here is divine. Don't expect to find what Americans think is Mexican Food, ie tacos and burritos. We had the Chiles en Nogada, Chicken Mole, Ceviche, and the cochinito pibil. Our server Tania was awesome! Will definitely be back.
(5)Toni S.
Wow!! This is not your standard mexican fare!! There were four of us and we all had exceptionally delicious meals!! The sauces were all very tasty and unique!! I was not too excited about going for latin food in Hawaii, but, boy am I glad that we did!! We will definitely be coming back here!! I had the lamb chops which were over-the-top withe the best sauce! I tasted the chile rellenos, and the shrimp, too!! They were excellent! This place is awesome!!
(5)Athena Y.
Just finished our dinner here. Coming from Southern California and have had many authentic Mexican food, street Mexican food in Mexico and some fancy high end fusion style, we give this place 5-stars ++. Others here who gave bad reviews probably never really had good Mexican food, and probably never known what good modern fusion Mexican tastes like. And as for the reviewer who commented that this place is expensive, the price is actually about the same as other restaurants in the area. $10 margarita might seem expensive but it's better than other places and they did not skim on the liqueur. Me and my husband were looking for some good Hawaiian food in the area but just can't find any that are open on Sunday night in the area or authentic Hawaiian. So we decided to try this place. So glad that we did. I had the Lilikoi margarita on the rocks. Boy it's good! Didn't taste like much alcohol in it but then it hit me! Buzzzz... Good! I had the Seafood Rellano and my husband had the Ono fish tacos. Soooooo... good! Even the rice is tasty! I'm a Chille Rellano snob while my husband is a fish snob, being that he goes ocean fishing every summer on our own boat for fresh yellowtail and ahi tuna. But both of us love the food here and will definitely go back.
(5)Robert H.
We visited here a second time and the food and service were very good. The air flow in the downstairs dining room was much better than on our first visit. This deserves a four star rating.
(4)MisterOtis R.
Completely satisfying. I have never had Mexican so delicious. Even my all time favorite in Seattle. Has now been beat. I'm not a big spender on food but this was worth it. I ordered their stuffed poblano, with beef pork grapes apples peaches and more topped with Mac nut cream sauce. Also on the table was chicken mole enchaladas. And Trestle Leche for desert. I will Def return
(5)Kari M.
Great service! Unique food! The margaritas are especially yummy! So glad this place is open.
(5)David S.
Uninspiring menu which is a little on the short side. We had frozen maturities that were very expensive, maybe the need a drink special. It was very warn with no Ac. Too high priced for what you get. We won't be going back.
(2)Kona W.
We went there for dinner. The interior was well designed and executed. The moment you walk in, you know it is not just an ordinary Mexican restaurant. It's a fusion of modern Mexican cuisine. We order two mole dishes. They taste wonderful. The only thing we don't enjoy is their wine price is way too expensive, $12 for a glass, and the volume is about 20% less comparing others. I love their free chips and salsa too. It is truly a great restaurant. We will be back.
(4)J R.
This is the Mexican restaurant we've been waiting for! Great margaritas with fresh squeezed lime juice. The BEST carne asada and enchiladas suizas we've ever had (seriously). Good service, fun music, a great time. The previous and more off-the-beaten-path menu items are still available - and they're good - but thank you, Habaneros, for including more typical choices on the menu. We'll be back!
(5)Matt N.
Trying way too hard to be fancy while forgetting the most important aspect of a restaurant: food. If you're in the mood for Mexican, don't go here. If you're in the mood for a steak maybe or over priced miniature tacos, consider it. Went here very hungry expecting the habaneros we loved from the original location, ordered the tacos because they were one of the only few dishes on the menu that were actually considered Mexican cuisine. They come plated in fancy zig zag metal trays with hip utensils, and that's about as exciting as it gets. The two tacos are tiny, lettuce is dry. Also the protein is usually only seared ahi which again is trying too hard to be fancy while ignoring their roots and the customers' taste. Substituted for chicken which was cooked well but again, dry. The flavored rice and black bean only side dishes are great, if that's any consolation. The place has a kind of Mexican/Fine Dining/They don't even know what they are kind of fusion feel. Habaneros needs to stick with what got them successful to begin with, filling, large portioned well-cooked Mexican food, and stop trying to fit some image of being some hip fine dining establishment they think people want, the fake ness of it all shines through from beginning to end. If you're looking for the fancy plated over priced food, uncomfortable chairs waters attentively filled by the minute and tiny portions served on expensive looking silverware kind of place, go here. If you're looking for good filling actual Mexican .. Do not. Go here.
(2)Jayne W.
We have found our new favorite Mexican restaurant in Kona! As long-time patrons of Los Habaneros in Keauhou Shopping Center, we were thrilled to find that the old Tres Hombres would be completely renovated and open as another Habaneros. Our first lunch today did not disappoint. LOVED the decor and positive changes to the restaurant. The food was fresh, innovative, and tasty. Service by Aaron was impeccable. We highly recommend Habaneros Grill and wish them great success!
(5)L N.
The staff was very nice but this is the worst Mexican food that I have ever eaten. Overcooked white rice with absolutely no seasoning whatsoever, boring watery green salsa, the chicken inside the enchiladas was dried out and the mole was way overdone. I will stick with Patricio's. It is still the best Mexican food in Kona.
(1)Steve B.
Amazing departure from fast food and gooey cheese, this restaurant provides a refined take on Mexican and especially Puebla cuisine. Their Chile Relleno is stuffed with fresh seafood and has a delicious Pasilla pepper sauce, their chicken with mole sauce bursts with flavor, and their guacamole is fresh from the tree. Put away your preconceived ideas of Mexican food and give it a try
(5)Nor C.
Not your traditional Mexican food but totally awesome for Kona. Fresh, flavorful, didn't need any extra seasoning. Fish ceviche was awesome, a kind of mexican style poke. I thought the mole (hubby had it) was awesome. The fresh fish in green sauce was yummy and fresh. Table salsa was unusual but so good and spicy. I would totally recommend for a healthy, fresh meal. Service was great too.
(5)Edwin W.
My third visit to Habaneros Grill; first with wife and grandson for lunch, then with a cousin from Maui who owns a very successful restaurant. This time I was entertaining another cousin and his wife from the Bay Area and choose Habaneros Grill because I really love the place! Both the beautiful, upscale decor and the Central Mexican cuisine-flavored menu exceed what you expect from a Mexican food restaurant. We started with frozen margaritas which were the best I've ever had probably the result of being made with a top shelf tequila from the restaurant's tequila bar. The fresh chips were perfect with the outstanding salsa. My cousin ordered Tortilla Soup and his wife exclaimed she should have also ordered it after having a taste. We all had the Tortillas Mole leaving only some of the excellent mole sauce on the plates. Having worked at the Big Island's premier five-diamond resort for many years, I found the service to be more than acceptable... warm, personal and attentive. I can't wait for our next visitors in order to go back to Habaneros. I'm taking the wife for some of those world class margaritas!
(5)Bob H.
Great tasting food, well presented and professionally served. A unique upscale menu. Have been waiting nearly a year for their opening. A real addition to Kona's restaurants. Will return frequently.
(4)Edwin W.
My third visit to Habaneros Grill; first with wife and grandson for lunch, then with a cousin from Maui who owns a very successful restaurant. This time I was entertaining another cousin and his wife from the Bay Area and choose Habaneros Grill because I really love the place! Both the beautiful, upscale decor and the Central Mexican cuisine-flavored menu exceed what you expect from a Mexican food restaurant. We started with frozen margaritas which were the best I've ever had probably the result of being made with a top shelf tequila from the restaurant's tequila bar. The fresh chips were perfect with the outstanding salsa. My cousin ordered Tortilla Soup and his wife exclaimed she should have also ordered it after having a taste. We all had the Tortillas Mole leaving only some of the excellent mole sauce on the plates. Having worked at the Big Island's premier five-diamond resort for many years, I found the service to be more than acceptable... warm, personal and attentive. I can't wait for our next visitors in order to go back to Habaneros. I'm taking the wife for some of those world class margaritas!
(5)Bob H.
Great tasting food, well presented and professionally served. A unique upscale menu. Have been waiting nearly a year for their opening. A real addition to Kona's restaurants. Will return frequently.
(4)Gene H.
Great place just off the madness of Ali'i drive. We live so close we do take out fairly often. Try their guacamole is is amazing with just the right amount of kick to it. We will certainly eat here again and again.
(5)Cathy D.
Went to lunch with friends last week and was terribly disappointed with both food and service. I had the bean burrito which consisted of 90% white rice and 10% pinto beans- no sauce inside the burrito and no cheese. It was completely tasteless and not worth $12. My friends has the cheese enchiladas which were covered with a very strange pink sauce-definitely not any enchilada sauce I have ever seen. We will not be back
(2)Virginia H.
Excellent Mexican fare at really reasonable prices.,good service too. I had the steak tacos, comes with beans and rice. I would have ordered more to try, but I was full! This spot is fairly new and I hope it will do well especially if the locals support it.
(5)Ed P.
Absolutely one of the BEST Mexican restaurants I've eaten at. That includes a few in Mexico City. The owner/chef is from Mexico and is truly a gourmet chef. His dishes are incredibly creative and delicious. Down to the smallest (food) detail. Try the combo app. Amazing. Don't bother going if you like Taco Bell or CA Mex. As a matter of fact, do us all a favor and DON'T go. They have a few things on the menu that they will be taking off due to uneducated, frightened diners. Tourists...feh. A shout out to Jess at the Bar, teriffic and friendly and knowledgeable.
(5)Renna S.
We decided to try this place since we like the Habaneros in the Keauhou shopping center and heard it was the same owner. I am very aware that they are different restaurants, with different styles. The ambiance of the restaurant is quite nice and is reminiscent of an upscale steakhouse with tasteful Mexican decor. We were seated quickly and our server was pleasant. We were served assorted chips and salsa while we looked over the menu. The chips were nothing special - blue/red/corn chips that could have come out of a bag. The salsa was quite good and seemed to be fresh, but I was honestly expecting it to be spicier. I ordered a tortilla soup to start, along with one of the pastas (? I know, a little strange to order pasta at a Mexican restaurant) while my husband ordered the ribeye. The tortilla soup had good flavor, but was NOT hot. My pasta was mediocre - fettucine noodles with a red sauce. Seriously?! For $14? My husband's ribeye was cooked to order, but the char on the outside was intense. His ribeye was served with a mango salsa that was just ok. It was also served with a mashed regular and a mashed sweet potato side. The sweet potato was good. It's pretty hard to mess up a ribeye since it's such a fantastic cut of meat - lets just say we were less than impressed. My husband was also still quite hungry after finishing his steak. We did order dessert - the tres leche cake. That cake was the saving grace of our entire meal. Creamy and sweet without being heavy - it was a good way to end our meal. One odd thing that I have to mention - our server had to ask me whether my pasta was spicy - another customer had asked, but she didn't know. One would think that the servers would be familiar with the menu in this kind of setting. All in all, the food simply does not live up to expectations.
(3)Sy A.
We went there to try out the new place. The setup is good but the food really is not as good as some of the other places. I am assuming they are trying to give a up market vibe to their restaurant to charge more. It is not working when it comes to food at this place, we got better Mexican restaurants than this in Kona.
(1)Vivien B.
Enjoyed happy hour from 3 to 5. Pupus were good the nachos have a great happy hour price and tasty. Dinner menu starts at 5. They have the standard tacos burritos which are ok. They also have a mexico city type food that's very good but a tad pricy. I would return. Owner very personable, nice.
(5)Wilbur P.
We had watched the construction of this new restaurant go on for what seemed like years, and were excited to see it finally open. We waited a few months to let them work out any bugs and then stopped for lunch in October 2014. The interior is very attractive. Unfortunately, the decor is the best part of the restaurant. My companion's water glass was delivered with a prominent lipstick smear. When she asked for a clean glass, pointed out the lipstick and said she did not wear lipstick, it would have been nice if the server had said "sorry about that." It might have been reassuring if the server had said "I'll let the chef know so they can take steps to ensure this does not happen again." But, no, he silently picked up the glass, carried it away, and a short time later returned with a glass free of obvious contamination. The server showed the personality of an automat -- he was completely devoid of expression. When the server can show no enthusiasm for what is being served, nor make the diners feel welcome, it is hard for a diner to have positive thoughts about the food. While we were there at no time were there more than two tables of diners, so he was in no way being overworked. As for the food, my companion likes her food spicy. The more picante the better. But she found her chicken enchilada with salsa verde to be so spicy she could barely eat it. I know with a name like Habaneros one expects it to have some zip, but this meal was unreasonable, especially considering that salsa verde is generally on the milder side. We expected there to be a view of the ocean. From our window table we had a view of a long abandoned construction site across Alii Drive seen through a mass of electrical wires, cables, and visual impediments. If one was dining on the second floor one would be above the wires and would have some view of the ocean, but that is not set up for dining, although it may be booked for special events. There are Mexican restaurants in Kailua-Kona with better food and better locations. There really is no reason to go to Habaneros. I am sorry to say that, but I will not be dining there again.
(2)Mike C.
Shitty owners. Fake God lovers. Shittu hostesses. Crappy drinks. And overly priced. Sooo sad business is going down bc owners are gullible to the needs of Kona. Servers are inexperienced so are most of the bartenders. Food takes way too long.bits not real Mexican food
(1)Laverna B.
The food was awesome. Had the 1/2 soup and steak salad happy hour entree. This had to be the best steak salad I've had. Tortilla soup was very tasty as well. Heat place to stop by.
(5)HaeRi C.
This place had amazing food. At first glance the menu looks weak, it's hot inside and the chairs are high and a bit uncomfortable, I actually sat down regretting coming here but when the food came it, everything was tolerable. It was THAT GOOD! The ceviche was one of the best I had, I ordered my son the chicken soup it was HUGE, and so flavorful! Ok so the first thing all Mexican restaurants serve is chips and salsa, their salsa which looks more like tapatio hot sauce was so spicy, I asked them for a mild one, the mild salsa was soooooo good almost tasted like a good tomato soup. My husband ordered their grilled steak he said it was awesome! I'm thinking about heading back there once more before I fly home today.
(4)Steve B.
Amazing departure from fast food and gooey cheese, this restaurant provides a refined take on Mexican and especially Puebla cuisine. Their Chile Relleno is stuffed with fresh seafood and has a delicious Pasilla pepper sauce, their chicken with mole sauce bursts with flavor, and their guacamole is fresh from the tree. Put away your preconceived ideas of Mexican food and give it a try
(5)Nor C.
Not your traditional Mexican food but totally awesome for Kona. Fresh, flavorful, didn't need any extra seasoning. Fish ceviche was awesome, a kind of mexican style poke. I thought the mole (hubby had it) was awesome. The fresh fish in green sauce was yummy and fresh. Table salsa was unusual but so good and spicy. I would totally recommend for a healthy, fresh meal. Service was great too.
(5)Brendon C.
A great change of pace located just a block from the Kona madness. If your looking for different types of tequilla than this is your place. They have all sorts although I stick with my usual Don Julio. The food is high end tho not pricey Spanish and Mexican. The bartender and hostess and owner were all very friendly. I'm not usually a ceviche fan but there ceviche is amazing!
(5)Sue L.
Ordered the chicken soup, carne asada salad and chips with salsa. The chicken soup was lite yet full of wholesome flavors of freshly stewed broth with tender chicken strips, rice and veggies. Goes well with the salad, which had a scrumptious amount of tenderly grilled beef strips on a bed of fresh green lettuce, fresh wedges of tomatoes and cucumber slices, topped off nicely with dressing. We shared the lunch together and it was the perfect portion and the dishes complemented each other nicely. The chips and salsa are a bit diappointing since we are used to the mexican foods in the south west where the salsa are freshly made and have a variety to choose from.
(4)Cam M.
One of the best restaurants you will go to in the big island hands down. One day this place is gonna end up on the food network. It's that good! It's easy to think Mexican food should be like it is in Texas or California, (even though Texas or California are in the US), forgetting that the country of Mexico is so big, and just like in the US, or Italy, or any other country there are different types food based on the region. This place is bringing you a taste of different regions of Mexico. If you come with an open mind and no preconceived notions or judgements on what Mexican food should be you will not be disappointed. The food is awesome and the people working here are great!
(5)Zachary S.
Eh, not so good rather eat almost anywhere els in kona way to crowded felt like cattle. Had to scream at the person next to me for them to here me.. food was pretty mad i had Cornish game hen with mole sauce. Sauce tasted like burnt crap and then "hen" tasted like dry sand with elmers glue holding it together. Took around 30 mins for my single beer that i orded to get to my table. must have been the servers first job because she had no idea where she was, nor did I. Way to much time and money spent in this place... $$$$$$$$:(
(1)Kawika P.
Went to the new Habaneros tonight to try it out. I've enjoyed the Keauhou location many times! So here's my "2 cents" .... Customer service as we walked in was great! Everyone we passed said aloha! Our waitress was attentive but wasn't very knowledgable in the menu items. Here is my biggest peeve.... If you are going to name your restaurant practically the same as your other location...as a patron, I am going to expect the same food! I was VERY surprised/ disappointed to open the menu to find a smaller selection at a way higher price. I understand it's more fine dining but honestly , I'd rather sit outside in Keauhou and have a better selection for less $. Was the food good? Yes...it was good, were my tacos worth $18? NO! 2 carne asada tacos , beans n rice for $18 seemed steep. To management, here's an honest review...the little boy sitting next to us said out loud to his mom "the pizza is horrible". Also I did not see any local families enjoying your restaurant while we were there. I think you should take the same food/prices of your Keauhou location and turn this new spot into a FUN dining location for locals and visitors instead of the fine dining vibe you're shooting for. When I think Mexican food...I think fun, food n margaritas!
(3)Kenson K.
I really enjoyed the food here. I ordered the marinated beef salad for a starter. Man, that was really ono. The beef was so full of flavor. It was a good start. Oh, and the salsa and chips that they served were really good too. The chips tasted authentic, like real corn and the salsa had just the right amount of heat. For my main entrée I had the catch of the day with the Veracruz style sauce. I forgot what it was called in Spanish but it translated to pretty much the same thing. Real good. Had some spice to it, but it was ono. The service was good. The wait staff was very attentive.
(4)kimnbob b.
The menu is very creative. You can find the staple Mexican menu items items, along with more unusual home style items. Everything was very fresh. We ate here twice and enjoyed everything. The bartenders were great. Even the night we came in soaking wet from a downpour and left a big puddle on the floor!
(5)Yvette K.
Habaneros Grill is wonderful, but not perfect, but DAMN GOOD! I have been quite curious about Habaneros Grill because of the mixed Yelp reviews. I was on the mainland when HG opened and was excited to try this new place out once I got back to Kona. While I cannot know if some of the reviewers really did experience poor preparations that contributed to their negative Yelp reviews, I find it sad that the Yelp reviews that condemned HG because it wasn't the kind of Mexican food they were expecting only shows their ignorance of gourmet Mexican food. We ordered margaritas on the rocks that we good enough, but not excellent. There was enough tequila, but I'd rather have more lime juice and Cointreau/Triple Sec or Grand Marnier than so much orange juice. It was good enough to have a second one, though. The waitress brought us chips and salsa. I must say that this was the BEST homemade salsa I've had in Hawaii and it was spicy! (I LOVE spicy). EXCELLENT!!! We started out with a delicious appetizer called Panucho de cochinita pibil (tortilla cake with pork) for $9.00. There is enough that this could be eaten as an entree and save a little money (3 on the plate). I've had cochinita pibil before and this was a good version of it, but not the best I've had. It still was very good and I would love to eat them again. I wish they put pickled red onions on top instead of raw red onions. For my entree I had the Pescado al pipian verde (fish in green sauce). The fish of the day was mahi mahi. $22.00. I think this was the best pipian verde sauce that I've had (and I've cooked it myself too). The sauce was very balanced and the ground pumpkin seeds made it so silky and delicious and it was a little spicy too. Also, the mahi mahi was cooked perfectly, not overdone one bit. My companion had the Enchiladas de mole (chicken enchiladas in mole sauce) $14.00. She was not thrilled because she was not aware that mole sauce has Mexican chocolate in it and she hates chocolate. (I should have warned her). But, I am VERY familiar with mole sauces and this was an excellent version, also a little spicy. The one big problem was with the dessert. We ordered the plantains with chocolate sauce, condensed milk and whipped cream. It was supposed to come with a fruit compote, but that never made it to the plate. I would not order this dish again and wonder why after all the work that was done on the savory dishes that Hershey's syrup (or something like it) was used instead of a homemade chocolate sauce. Why not make a chocolate sauce with Mexican chocolate? I hate Hershey's syrup!! Also, we didn't care for how the plantains (Hawaiian apple bananas) were prepared. The service was attentive and the ambiance is very nice. We came early on a Monday night and got seated right away without a reservation (2 people). All in all, I was really impressed by Habanero's Grill and look forward to many more dining experiences. If you have only eaten Tex Mex style Mexican food have an open mind while trying something that is more of a fine dining experience with traditional preparations done with quality ingredients. There is much more to Mexican and Latino food than just tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chile rillenos, fajitas and chimichangas.
(4)Steve K.
Since it had been a year since our last visit I wanted to give it another chance. My wife had chicken fajitas, and I had chicken enchiladas with a green sauce. The fajitas were ok, although I guess I'm used to a different concept on fajitas where you are adding cheese and sour cream and other goodies, while this was all combined before going on the plate. My enchiladas were a disappointment; perhaps four ounces of chicken wrapped in a tortilla, swamped with an extremely salty green sauce. The experience left me sad, and still hungry. Fortunately I had a Costco roaster chicken in the fridge at home. My wife noticed the rice was also quite salty; not sure what was up with that. And yea, I should have brought it to their attention, but we were tired and lacked the energy. Perhaps we hit them on a bad night, but we won't be coming back for a couple years; we'll stick with a couple other Mexican restaurants here that are consistently good.
(2)Angela S.
My husband decided to try this restaurant for our anniversary dinner. The guacamole was very good. However, it was very, very hot inside and the ceiling fans did not help. The waitress asked for our order 3 different times and still forgot to order our drinks. After 2 more times of asking what we wanted from the bar, we decided to take our meal to go. As soon as we got home we ate. I had a spicy prawn dish. It tasted off, and unfortunately I was quite ill the next day with horrible nausea and stomach cramps. Overall it was the worst experience we've had at any restaurant since living here on Big Island.
(1)Brittney R.
5 stars for everything beer was tasty waitress was on point I forgot her name shortish hair but she was super nice! But the biggest 5 star is for the carnitas! Soooooo gooooood!!
(5)John B.
Service was friendly but poor. They were out of fruit for margaritas (at a Mexican restaurant?!). They were also out of ahi. Food was uninspired and poorly prepared. Case in point, the chipotle shrimp was overcooked to the point of being difficult to chew. And the house salsa?...blandest I've had outside a Taco Bell. To refrain from being only negative I'll say that the Mexican Mai tai's were quite nice and water service was very quick. Location is excellent hope they can up the service to match.
(2)P J.
Another FANTASTIC dinner! Jessica, our favorite server/bartender always has the best recommendations. See you in a couple weeks.
(5)Mark P.
What a nice surprise to find a decent Mexican Restaurant in Kona. We only had a couple items, but sometimes, you can judge a book by it's cover. We only had the Guacamole and chips(with salsa) and the quesadilla with carne asada beef. The guacamole was jus awesome with the right amount of tomatoes, spices and avocado. Smooth and flavorful. The chips were done on site and were crunchy and salted. The beef in the quesadilla was well seasoned and stood up the the queso and other ingredients. The side of rice and beans were the proper temperature and tasted good. The beer selection was "Mexican restaurant centric" so it could use a bit more variety. Will go back for more.
(4)Larry K.
We tried this place for the first time in Sept after watching all the extensive remodeling... The food is not traditional Mexican tacos and burritos and is a little more pricey than your local Kona food place, but the dishes and service make up for it... Service was very attentive... Offered to let us preview the moule sauce which is "different" but I liked it. Owner came by to talk to us and everyone was very interested in our opinions... Most of the patrons were locals as the restaurant is a bit down the road from the local shore bars... Will definitely be back...
(4)Jason C.
Food was ok. Service was ok. Environment sucks. Big room. Lots of uncomfy seats. No boths. I compare all mexican food to San Diego. So that in mind, no comparision...I think 3 stars is fair.
(3)Carrie R.
Kind of stuffy stuck inside of this building, they should open it up so we can absorb the view. Food was ok, service was mediocre. No bartender? Ceviche was yummy
(3)Teri L.
Being a Kona local, I understand that costs are high for any business. So I will pay for "chips and salsa" at a Mexican restaurant. But they don't even give you salsa. Instead, you get watered down blender chili water. My chicken fajitas were literally RAW! The margaritas were all mix- no tequila. The potential to become a victim of salmonella poisoning from raw chicken is enough to never go back again.
(1)Laurie M.
So happy to see a traditional menu added to this restaurant. Meal was delicious, fresh & appealing. Happy hour drinks were OK and the service was good when we were 1 of 2 tables, the service declined rapidly as tables were filling up.
(4)Sarah K.
We have it a try in spite of the revues. Sat there for 10 minutes and we were never acknowledged so we left and are now enjoying a drink at on the rocks!
(1)Kelly R.
Went back here for my mother's birthday, and none of the previous problems had been fixed. Food has gone way downhill: my enchiladas were bland and cold and the carne asada tacos had a funky flavor. Our new waitress was never to be seen, and on top of that we secretly asked for the restaurant to acknowledge my mother's birthday, and when the check came they seemed to have forgotten. After a gentle reminding and the waitress loudly saying in front of my mom, "oh you want to order something for the birthday?" They brought out what I swear was an eggo waffle dipped in cinnamon sugar covered in whipped cream with a candle. The server didn't even stay to sing happy birthday. Also it was like 80 degrees inside of the restaurant. Not a good birthday night at all. Thank goodness I got my mom an iPad to make up for this dismal dinner.
(1)Karen N.
We went back again. They have a traditional menu page, I thought it would be boring, my husband ordered the grilled chicken plate. Excellent!!! I again ordered off the after 5 dinner menu. This time I had garlic shrimp. The shrimp were HUGE (not shrimpy at all!) And there were lots of them, mmmmm in garlic yummy sauce. I would love their rice recipe, dunno if they put wine in the rice or that was the sauce from my shrimp but I ate every bite (its a really big plate). One more thing I like about this place, fresh veggies, not found in most mexican restaurants. My only complaint...their salsa is not my fave. Imho, best mexican in Kona. If I said that about another place, sorry, this place is now the winner!
(5)AgelessWonder A.
Finally came here for the first time. Love it!! Greeted nicely and very friendly staff. Great drink selections :) *Awesome staff. No crowds, no loud people talking, and I like the dinner menu. I get so TIRED of seeing the same'ol same'ol foods..., good to see different food selections. Gotta get outta the box and be different!! I'll be back..
(4)Lucas W.
Came here with a group of 4 around 7pm. It was crowded but we asked the hostess "how long?" She laughed in my face and so did another man who was carrying a tray next to her. She then said "if you want to come you have to make a reservation." If she just said "I'm sorry, we are booked for the night, I recommend you make reservations next time you come" I would have been ok. Without even walking in I can tell this place thinks it's too good to be polite to possible future patrons. I'll never try to go here again. Who wants to pay for overpriced mexican anyway?
(1)Stu F.
The service was not the best by far. We saw our waiter when we ordered our food and when it was delivered. Nowhere else in between. Our water glasses sat empty for the majority of our time there. The mole enchiladas were good, as was the tinga pollo quesadilla. The rice had absolutely no flavor at all, and the beans tasted like they were fresh out of the can.
(2)Vaibhav T.
Really craving Mexican food? Just want something spicy in the midst of island sweetness? Well don't go here. You will not find spicy food here, contrary to the name. Mole was overly sweet. Seared Ahi steak was tasteless. And Ahi jalapeño stuffed was bland. On the other hand drinks were delicious. Service was good. Food had great presentation but otherwise just fell short, let alone spice. Should have listened to fellow yelpers!
(2)Kelly C.
Views and a great date night. Sangria perfecto! Mole delicious, ceviche also a plus. Not too large a plate, and served fresh with wait staff that were also smiley and pleasing! We enjoyed our time here and will rent out the private room upstairs.
(5)Mehana L.
FYI I've been a fan of habaneros in Keauhou for months and am proud to say that I am NOW also a fan of this newest venture. There's been a lot of mixed reviews around town and online here but I think they are great. It's nice to have another option for lunch/dinner here around Kona town. Perks: They have a diverse menu with lots of options that you won't find elsewhere on this island (no! this isn't LA so please don't compare it to your mainland restaurant options), good people, good service, great location. Their ono (wahoo) ceviche with guac was outstanding and their jinebre (1800 tequila + ginger beer) cocktail was a nice twist too. Cons: Not sure about the "local" menu options, no mention of grass-fed island beef or where they source their produce .... once they get that happening I'd surely bump my rating to a 5 stars. Total cost with tip was $38 (for a $10 cocktail, a shared appetizer and a mid-range entree) ~ not super pricey but not cheap either, but hey it's Kona. That's my take. Eat up and enjoy :)
(4)Phil F.
The menu looks good. Interesting dishes and not the same-old-same-old Tex-Mex food, but execution in the kitchen is really poor. Their main "spice" seems to be salt. Every dish was overly salty. With a restaurant name like "Habaneros Grill" you would think that there would be some bold tastes - this is not the case. The dishes are bland. The menu has the right idea - something different and potentially exciting, but they just don't deliver. I had the Tortitas de Pollo - no taste. I tasted their side dish of beans and rice - again, no taste. Service was average - not great but not bad. Ambiance is good, mainly because it is brand new and they put a lot of money into the remodel. This is a place that wants to be an upscale Mexican restaurant, but is struggling to achieve it. Hopefully it will improve.
(2)Bob B.
Food was all excellent. Server was very knowledgable and extremely friendly and helpful. The interior is nice, excited to come back when there is not a private function and experience the upper area with a view. The especially loved the Panuchos app and the pork chop for the entree.
(5)Taco N.
Insanely overpriced Mexican food!!! As someone that truly loves Mexican food I am quite disappointed with the new habaneros!! If you want to finance Mexican food that has been fancified by plating .....you will love this place. If you are from somewhere with no Mexican food for reference ....this will trick you into thinking that Mexican cuisine is for the rich only! ;) I see what they were going for, but Kona is not the place for this experiment, especially during a recession!!! Seriously!!!!??? It has taken so long for a restaurant to return to the location where Habaneros now is located, but I fear the fate is sealed with the prices out of control compared to the food you get. Tourists staying at the hotels will funnel in, but my local friends,including other chefs and I will not waste our $ on this nicely remodeled taco trap! For the 120$ we spent we could have had at least 3 times the amount food of much better quality flavor and portability by going to Mercadito Rincon in the international market. We do takeout and goto the beach....That's how u do it! Mexican fine dining is a contradiction/ oxymoron!!! Kona just needs affordable tasty food that doesn't just want to hook tourist $!!! Habaneros Owner......I hope you can fix things so Locals will eat at your place more than once!!! LOCAL DISCOUNT of 30% is a good start :)
(1)Jeanine R.
Wow! The food was amazing & nicely presented. I had a seafood relleno that was the best I've ever had. My husband had the burrito of the day - slow roasted pork. It was huge & delicious. This is really a 4.5 rating & the only drawback is the lack of sound absorbing material. Not too much to put up with when the food is so good.
(4)Jeff T.
The New Habaneros Grill has been nicely renovated and is an upscale Mexican fusion place to dine. It reminds me of when you stay at a resort in Mexico... Upscale, beautifully presented Plated Mexican ( smaller sized plates, mid/higher end prices) fusion food. It's not typical large portion Mexican fare that most are used to. Fresh fish, ceviche, steak, chicken, pork and shrimp are on the menu. We were greeted immediately by the staff and we were seated quickly. Our waiter was very attentive and even refolded my napkin when we went to the restroom. We had the chips and salsa which was yummy. I ordered a margarita which was very yummy but a bit light on the tequila. They hand squeeze all of the juices they make their cocktails with and use agave syrup!! Hurray, no more horrible bottled juices that are used typically on other Alii dr. Restaurants. The appetizers we ordered were the black bean tostadas ($13) (appetizer sized 3 triangle portions) which came with 2 different salsas, avocado and the verde ceviche ($13) served with a side of chips (both were awesome!!!). For the entrees I had the steak tacos ($18) which lots of sauces, avocados, beans and rice which were very yummy but a little light on the meat (defiantly order again though) and my hubby ordered the chicken mole enchiladas ($15) (3 enchiladas) with rice which were also very good!! In short... Not a usual greasy burrito, taco, nacho place (go to their sister company Los Habaneros for that) but a yummy higher end Mexican fusion Restraunt that uses higher quality ingredients and presentation (everything is plated and beautiful)
(5)Athena Y.
Just finished our dinner here. Coming from Southern California and have had many authentic Mexican food, street Mexican food in Mexico and some fancy high end fusion style, we give this place 5-stars ++. Others here who gave bad reviews probably never really had good Mexican food, and probably never known what good modern fusion Mexican tastes like. And as for the reviewer who commented that this place is expensive, the price is actually about the same as other restaurants in the area. $10 margarita might seem expensive but it's better than other places and they did not skim on the liqueur. Me and my husband were looking for some good Hawaiian food in the area but just can't find any that are open on Sunday night in the area or authentic Hawaiian. So we decided to try this place. So glad that we did. I had the Lilikoi margarita on the rocks. Boy it's good! Didn't taste like much alcohol in it but then it hit me! Buzzzz... Good! I had the Seafood Rellano and my husband had the Ono fish tacos. Soooooo... good! Even the rice is tasty! I'm a Chille Rellano snob while my husband is a fish snob, being that he goes ocean fishing every summer on our own boat for fresh yellowtail and ahi tuna. But both of us love the food here and will definitely go back.
(5)Robert H.
We visited here a second time and the food and service were very good. The air flow in the downstairs dining room was much better than on our first visit. This deserves a four star rating.
(4)MisterOtis R.
Completely satisfying. I have never had Mexican so delicious. Even my all time favorite in Seattle. Has now been beat. I'm not a big spender on food but this was worth it. I ordered their stuffed poblano, with beef pork grapes apples peaches and more topped with Mac nut cream sauce. Also on the table was chicken mole enchaladas. And Trestle Leche for desert. I will Def return
(5)Kari M.
Great service! Unique food! The margaritas are especially yummy! So glad this place is open.
(5)David S.
Uninspiring menu which is a little on the short side. We had frozen maturities that were very expensive, maybe the need a drink special. It was very warn with no Ac. Too high priced for what you get. We won't be going back.
(2)Kona W.
We went there for dinner. The interior was well designed and executed. The moment you walk in, you know it is not just an ordinary Mexican restaurant. It's a fusion of modern Mexican cuisine. We order two mole dishes. They taste wonderful. The only thing we don't enjoy is their wine price is way too expensive, $12 for a glass, and the volume is about 20% less comparing others. I love their free chips and salsa too. It is truly a great restaurant. We will be back.
(4)J R.
This is the Mexican restaurant we've been waiting for! Great margaritas with fresh squeezed lime juice. The BEST carne asada and enchiladas suizas we've ever had (seriously). Good service, fun music, a great time. The previous and more off-the-beaten-path menu items are still available - and they're good - but thank you, Habaneros, for including more typical choices on the menu. We'll be back!
(5)Toni S.
Wow!! This is not your standard mexican fare!! There were four of us and we all had exceptionally delicious meals!! The sauces were all very tasty and unique!! I was not too excited about going for latin food in Hawaii, but, boy am I glad that we did!! We will definitely be coming back here!! I had the lamb chops which were over-the-top withe the best sauce! I tasted the chile rellenos, and the shrimp, too!! They were excellent! This place is awesome!!
(5)Sarah J.
If you want Mexican food for dinner go somewhere else... Say if u want natchos, burritos, chili rellano, carne asada, beef or chicken tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, flautas don't come here cause they don't have these Mexican foods ... I ordered the fish tacos and the fish is lightly seared mostly raw chewy fish ... I couldn't even swallow it... I love sashimi but it's just wrong in a taco !! They have several pasta dishes ... Um .. Why ? They aren't serving tacos at Amici's Italian Restaurant down the street ... We spent $61 for dinner tonight for 2, so glad we didn't have family or company ...If they want to do something artsy fine ... Just put the regular typical Mexican fare that we ALL love on the menu as well ...... Not going back ...Good luck & Adios
(1)Sasha A.
Wonderful Mexican cuisine. Don't expect refried beans. Excellent mole! Great service. Just noisy when it's a full house.
(4)Greg C.
One word . . . Exceptional! I had the flank steak tacos and an appetizer that was a flour stuffed chip with spinach and cilantro. I never knew Mexican food could be so creative. The prices are not cheap, but well worth it.
(5)Kristina N.
The setting is nice, alcohol drinks are amazing, service good. Very much enjoyed the vibe and drinks. Food wise not traditional mexican, like Keahou food better but will come again.
(5)Janet L.
We have put this one off for a long time reading so many mixed reviews. The menu has both traditional and innovative food. Tortillas are homemade and delicious. Had a wonderful mojito with fresh passion fruit. Prices were maybe a little higher than a regular Mexican restaurant but the quality of the ingredients were very fresh and well prepared. Many options! We sat at the bar and had good service from Joyce. Good value very good food.
(5)Silvia G.
I am so happy to see that there is a traditional Mexican Restaurant in Kona serving Pre- Columbian Cuisine! The food here is divine. Don't expect to find what Americans think is Mexican Food, ie tacos and burritos. We had the Chiles en Nogada, Chicken Mole, Ceviche, and the cochinito pibil. Our server Tania was awesome! Will definitely be back.
(5)Matt N.
Trying way too hard to be fancy while forgetting the most important aspect of a restaurant: food. If you're in the mood for Mexican, don't go here. If you're in the mood for a steak maybe or over priced miniature tacos, consider it. Went here very hungry expecting the habaneros we loved from the original location, ordered the tacos because they were one of the only few dishes on the menu that were actually considered Mexican cuisine. They come plated in fancy zig zag metal trays with hip utensils, and that's about as exciting as it gets. The two tacos are tiny, lettuce is dry. Also the protein is usually only seared ahi which again is trying too hard to be fancy while ignoring their roots and the customers' taste. Substituted for chicken which was cooked well but again, dry. The flavored rice and black bean only side dishes are great, if that's any consolation. The place has a kind of Mexican/Fine Dining/They don't even know what they are kind of fusion feel. Habaneros needs to stick with what got them successful to begin with, filling, large portioned well-cooked Mexican food, and stop trying to fit some image of being some hip fine dining establishment they think people want, the fake ness of it all shines through from beginning to end. If you're looking for the fancy plated over priced food, uncomfortable chairs waters attentively filled by the minute and tiny portions served on expensive looking silverware kind of place, go here. If you're looking for good filling actual Mexican .. Do not. Go here.
(2)Jayne W.
We have found our new favorite Mexican restaurant in Kona! As long-time patrons of Los Habaneros in Keauhou Shopping Center, we were thrilled to find that the old Tres Hombres would be completely renovated and open as another Habaneros. Our first lunch today did not disappoint. LOVED the decor and positive changes to the restaurant. The food was fresh, innovative, and tasty. Service by Aaron was impeccable. We highly recommend Habaneros Grill and wish them great success!
(5)L N.
The staff was very nice but this is the worst Mexican food that I have ever eaten. Overcooked white rice with absolutely no seasoning whatsoever, boring watery green salsa, the chicken inside the enchiladas was dried out and the mole was way overdone. I will stick with Patricio's. It is still the best Mexican food in Kona.
(1)HaeRi C.
This place had amazing food. At first glance the menu looks weak, it's hot inside and the chairs are high and a bit uncomfortable, I actually sat down regretting coming here but when the food came it, everything was tolerable. It was THAT GOOD! The ceviche was one of the best I had, I ordered my son the chicken soup it was HUGE, and so flavorful! Ok so the first thing all Mexican restaurants serve is chips and salsa, their salsa which looks more like tapatio hot sauce was so spicy, I asked them for a mild one, the mild salsa was soooooo good almost tasted like a good tomato soup. My husband ordered their grilled steak he said it was awesome! I'm thinking about heading back there once more before I fly home today.
(4)Kelly C.
Views and a great date night. Sangria perfecto! Mole delicious, ceviche also a plus. Not too large a plate, and served fresh with wait staff that were also smiley and pleasing! We enjoyed our time here and will rent out the private room upstairs.
(5)Phil F.
The menu looks good. Interesting dishes and not the same-old-same-old Tex-Mex food, but execution in the kitchen is really poor. Their main "spice" seems to be salt. Every dish was overly salty. With a restaurant name like "Habaneros Grill" you would think that there would be some bold tastes - this is not the case. The dishes are bland. The menu has the right idea - something different and potentially exciting, but they just don't deliver. I had the Tortitas de Pollo - no taste. I tasted their side dish of beans and rice - again, no taste. Service was average - not great but not bad. Ambiance is good, mainly because it is brand new and they put a lot of money into the remodel. This is a place that wants to be an upscale Mexican restaurant, but is struggling to achieve it. Hopefully it will improve.
(2)Bob B.
Food was all excellent. Server was very knowledgable and extremely friendly and helpful. The interior is nice, excited to come back when there is not a private function and experience the upper area with a view. The especially loved the Panuchos app and the pork chop for the entree.
(5)Teri L.
Being a Kona local, I understand that costs are high for any business. So I will pay for "chips and salsa" at a Mexican restaurant. But they don't even give you salsa. Instead, you get watered down blender chili water. My chicken fajitas were literally RAW! The margaritas were all mix- no tequila. The potential to become a victim of salmonella poisoning from raw chicken is enough to never go back again.
(1)Renna S.
We decided to try this place since we like the Habaneros in the Keauhou shopping center and heard it was the same owner. I am very aware that they are different restaurants, with different styles. The ambiance of the restaurant is quite nice and is reminiscent of an upscale steakhouse with tasteful Mexican decor. We were seated quickly and our server was pleasant. We were served assorted chips and salsa while we looked over the menu. The chips were nothing special - blue/red/corn chips that could have come out of a bag. The salsa was quite good and seemed to be fresh, but I was honestly expecting it to be spicier. I ordered a tortilla soup to start, along with one of the pastas (? I know, a little strange to order pasta at a Mexican restaurant) while my husband ordered the ribeye. The tortilla soup had good flavor, but was NOT hot. My pasta was mediocre - fettucine noodles with a red sauce. Seriously?! For $14? My husband's ribeye was cooked to order, but the char on the outside was intense. His ribeye was served with a mango salsa that was just ok. It was also served with a mashed regular and a mashed sweet potato side. The sweet potato was good. It's pretty hard to mess up a ribeye since it's such a fantastic cut of meat - lets just say we were less than impressed. My husband was also still quite hungry after finishing his steak. We did order dessert - the tres leche cake. That cake was the saving grace of our entire meal. Creamy and sweet without being heavy - it was a good way to end our meal. One odd thing that I have to mention - our server had to ask me whether my pasta was spicy - another customer had asked, but she didn't know. One would think that the servers would be familiar with the menu in this kind of setting. All in all, the food simply does not live up to expectations.
(3)Sy A.
We went there to try out the new place. The setup is good but the food really is not as good as some of the other places. I am assuming they are trying to give a up market vibe to their restaurant to charge more. It is not working when it comes to food at this place, we got better Mexican restaurants than this in Kona.
(1)Vivien B.
Enjoyed happy hour from 3 to 5. Pupus were good the nachos have a great happy hour price and tasty. Dinner menu starts at 5. They have the standard tacos burritos which are ok. They also have a mexico city type food that's very good but a tad pricy. I would return. Owner very personable, nice.
(5)Carrie R.
Kind of stuffy stuck inside of this building, they should open it up so we can absorb the view. Food was ok, service was mediocre. No bartender? Ceviche was yummy
(3)Laurie M.
So happy to see a traditional menu added to this restaurant. Meal was delicious, fresh & appealing. Happy hour drinks were OK and the service was good when we were 1 of 2 tables, the service declined rapidly as tables were filling up.
(4)Wilbur P.
We had watched the construction of this new restaurant go on for what seemed like years, and were excited to see it finally open. We waited a few months to let them work out any bugs and then stopped for lunch in October 2014. The interior is very attractive. Unfortunately, the decor is the best part of the restaurant. My companion's water glass was delivered with a prominent lipstick smear. When she asked for a clean glass, pointed out the lipstick and said she did not wear lipstick, it would have been nice if the server had said "sorry about that." It might have been reassuring if the server had said "I'll let the chef know so they can take steps to ensure this does not happen again." But, no, he silently picked up the glass, carried it away, and a short time later returned with a glass free of obvious contamination. The server showed the personality of an automat -- he was completely devoid of expression. When the server can show no enthusiasm for what is being served, nor make the diners feel welcome, it is hard for a diner to have positive thoughts about the food. While we were there at no time were there more than two tables of diners, so he was in no way being overworked. As for the food, my companion likes her food spicy. The more picante the better. But she found her chicken enchilada with salsa verde to be so spicy she could barely eat it. I know with a name like Habaneros one expects it to have some zip, but this meal was unreasonable, especially considering that salsa verde is generally on the milder side. We expected there to be a view of the ocean. From our window table we had a view of a long abandoned construction site across Alii Drive seen through a mass of electrical wires, cables, and visual impediments. If one was dining on the second floor one would be above the wires and would have some view of the ocean, but that is not set up for dining, although it may be booked for special events. There are Mexican restaurants in Kailua-Kona with better food and better locations. There really is no reason to go to Habaneros. I am sorry to say that, but I will not be dining there again.
(2)Mike C.
Shitty owners. Fake God lovers. Shittu hostesses. Crappy drinks. And overly priced. Sooo sad business is going down bc owners are gullible to the needs of Kona. Servers are inexperienced so are most of the bartenders. Food takes way too long.bits not real Mexican food
(1)Laverna B.
The food was awesome. Had the 1/2 soup and steak salad happy hour entree. This had to be the best steak salad I've had. Tortilla soup was very tasty as well. Heat place to stop by.
(5)Taco N.
Insanely overpriced Mexican food!!! As someone that truly loves Mexican food I am quite disappointed with the new habaneros!! If you want to finance Mexican food that has been fancified by plating .....you will love this place. If you are from somewhere with no Mexican food for reference ....this will trick you into thinking that Mexican cuisine is for the rich only! ;) I see what they were going for, but Kona is not the place for this experiment, especially during a recession!!! Seriously!!!!??? It has taken so long for a restaurant to return to the location where Habaneros now is located, but I fear the fate is sealed with the prices out of control compared to the food you get. Tourists staying at the hotels will funnel in, but my local friends,including other chefs and I will not waste our $ on this nicely remodeled taco trap! For the 120$ we spent we could have had at least 3 times the amount food of much better quality flavor and portability by going to Mercadito Rincon in the international market. We do takeout and goto the beach....That's how u do it! Mexican fine dining is a contradiction/ oxymoron!!! Kona just needs affordable tasty food that doesn't just want to hook tourist $!!! Habaneros Owner......I hope you can fix things so Locals will eat at your place more than once!!! LOCAL DISCOUNT of 30% is a good start :)
(1)Janet L.
We have put this one off for a long time reading so many mixed reviews. The menu has both traditional and innovative food. Tortillas are homemade and delicious. Had a wonderful mojito with fresh passion fruit. Prices were maybe a little higher than a regular Mexican restaurant but the quality of the ingredients were very fresh and well prepared. Many options! We sat at the bar and had good service from Joyce. Good value very good food.
(5)Jeff T.
The New Habaneros Grill has been nicely renovated and is an upscale Mexican fusion place to dine. It reminds me of when you stay at a resort in Mexico... Upscale, beautifully presented Plated Mexican ( smaller sized plates, mid/higher end prices) fusion food. It's not typical large portion Mexican fare that most are used to. Fresh fish, ceviche, steak, chicken, pork and shrimp are on the menu. We were greeted immediately by the staff and we were seated quickly. Our waiter was very attentive and even refolded my napkin when we went to the restroom. We had the chips and salsa which was yummy. I ordered a margarita which was very yummy but a bit light on the tequila. They hand squeeze all of the juices they make their cocktails with and use agave syrup!! Hurray, no more horrible bottled juices that are used typically on other Alii dr. Restaurants. The appetizers we ordered were the black bean tostadas ($13) (appetizer sized 3 triangle portions) which came with 2 different salsas, avocado and the verde ceviche ($13) served with a side of chips (both were awesome!!!). For the entrees I had the steak tacos ($18) which lots of sauces, avocados, beans and rice which were very yummy but a little light on the meat (defiantly order again though) and my hubby ordered the chicken mole enchiladas ($15) (3 enchiladas) with rice which were also very good!! In short... Not a usual greasy burrito, taco, nacho place (go to their sister company Los Habaneros for that) but a yummy higher end Mexican fusion Restraunt that uses higher quality ingredients and presentation (everything is plated and beautiful)
(5)Jeanine R.
Wow! The food was amazing & nicely presented. I had a seafood relleno that was the best I've ever had. My husband had the burrito of the day - slow roasted pork. It was huge & delicious. This is really a 4.5 rating & the only drawback is the lack of sound absorbing material. Not too much to put up with when the food is so good.
(4)Sarah J.
If you want Mexican food for dinner go somewhere else... Say if u want natchos, burritos, chili rellano, carne asada, beef or chicken tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, flautas don't come here cause they don't have these Mexican foods ... I ordered the fish tacos and the fish is lightly seared mostly raw chewy fish ... I couldn't even swallow it... I love sashimi but it's just wrong in a taco !! They have several pasta dishes ... Um .. Why ? They aren't serving tacos at Amici's Italian Restaurant down the street ... We spent $61 for dinner tonight for 2, so glad we didn't have family or company ...If they want to do something artsy fine ... Just put the regular typical Mexican fare that we ALL love on the menu as well ...... Not going back ...Good luck & Adios
(1)Sasha A.
Wonderful Mexican cuisine. Don't expect refried beans. Excellent mole! Great service. Just noisy when it's a full house.
(4)Greg C.
One word . . . Exceptional! I had the flank steak tacos and an appetizer that was a flour stuffed chip with spinach and cilantro. I never knew Mexican food could be so creative. The prices are not cheap, but well worth it.
(5)Kristina N.
The setting is nice, alcohol drinks are amazing, service good. Very much enjoyed the vibe and drinks. Food wise not traditional mexican, like Keahou food better but will come again.
(5)Silvia G.
I am so happy to see that there is a traditional Mexican Restaurant in Kona serving Pre- Columbian Cuisine! The food here is divine. Don't expect to find what Americans think is Mexican Food, ie tacos and burritos. We had the Chiles en Nogada, Chicken Mole, Ceviche, and the cochinito pibil. Our server Tania was awesome! Will definitely be back.
(5)Toni S.
Wow!! This is not your standard mexican fare!! There were four of us and we all had exceptionally delicious meals!! The sauces were all very tasty and unique!! I was not too excited about going for latin food in Hawaii, but, boy am I glad that we did!! We will definitely be coming back here!! I had the lamb chops which were over-the-top withe the best sauce! I tasted the chile rellenos, and the shrimp, too!! They were excellent! This place is awesome!!
(5)Athena Y.
Just finished our dinner here. Coming from Southern California and have had many authentic Mexican food, street Mexican food in Mexico and some fancy high end fusion style, we give this place 5-stars ++. Others here who gave bad reviews probably never really had good Mexican food, and probably never known what good modern fusion Mexican tastes like. And as for the reviewer who commented that this place is expensive, the price is actually about the same as other restaurants in the area. $10 margarita might seem expensive but it's better than other places and they did not skim on the liqueur. Me and my husband were looking for some good Hawaiian food in the area but just can't find any that are open on Sunday night in the area or authentic Hawaiian. So we decided to try this place. So glad that we did. I had the Lilikoi margarita on the rocks. Boy it's good! Didn't taste like much alcohol in it but then it hit me! Buzzzz... Good! I had the Seafood Rellano and my husband had the Ono fish tacos. Soooooo... good! Even the rice is tasty! I'm a Chille Rellano snob while my husband is a fish snob, being that he goes ocean fishing every summer on our own boat for fresh yellowtail and ahi tuna. But both of us love the food here and will definitely go back.
(5)Robert H.
We visited here a second time and the food and service were very good. The air flow in the downstairs dining room was much better than on our first visit. This deserves a four star rating.
(4)MisterOtis R.
Completely satisfying. I have never had Mexican so delicious. Even my all time favorite in Seattle. Has now been beat. I'm not a big spender on food but this was worth it. I ordered their stuffed poblano, with beef pork grapes apples peaches and more topped with Mac nut cream sauce. Also on the table was chicken mole enchaladas. And Trestle Leche for desert. I will Def return
(5)Kari M.
Great service! Unique food! The margaritas are especially yummy! So glad this place is open.
(5)David S.
Uninspiring menu which is a little on the short side. We had frozen maturities that were very expensive, maybe the need a drink special. It was very warn with no Ac. Too high priced for what you get. We won't be going back.
(2)Kona W.
We went there for dinner. The interior was well designed and executed. The moment you walk in, you know it is not just an ordinary Mexican restaurant. It's a fusion of modern Mexican cuisine. We order two mole dishes. They taste wonderful. The only thing we don't enjoy is their wine price is way too expensive, $12 for a glass, and the volume is about 20% less comparing others. I love their free chips and salsa too. It is truly a great restaurant. We will be back.
(4)J R.
This is the Mexican restaurant we've been waiting for! Great margaritas with fresh squeezed lime juice. The BEST carne asada and enchiladas suizas we've ever had (seriously). Good service, fun music, a great time. The previous and more off-the-beaten-path menu items are still available - and they're good - but thank you, Habaneros, for including more typical choices on the menu. We'll be back!
(5)Zachary S.
Eh, not so good rather eat almost anywhere els in kona way to crowded felt like cattle. Had to scream at the person next to me for them to here me.. food was pretty mad i had Cornish game hen with mole sauce. Sauce tasted like burnt crap and then "hen" tasted like dry sand with elmers glue holding it together. Took around 30 mins for my single beer that i orded to get to my table. must have been the servers first job because she had no idea where she was, nor did I. Way to much time and money spent in this place... $$$$$$$$:(
(1)kimnbob b.
The menu is very creative. You can find the staple Mexican menu items items, along with more unusual home style items. Everything was very fresh. We ate here twice and enjoyed everything. The bartenders were great. Even the night we came in soaking wet from a downpour and left a big puddle on the floor!
(5)P J.
Another FANTASTIC dinner! Jessica, our favorite server/bartender always has the best recommendations. See you in a couple weeks.
(5)Matt N.
Trying way too hard to be fancy while forgetting the most important aspect of a restaurant: food. If you're in the mood for Mexican, don't go here. If you're in the mood for a steak maybe or over priced miniature tacos, consider it. Went here very hungry expecting the habaneros we loved from the original location, ordered the tacos because they were one of the only few dishes on the menu that were actually considered Mexican cuisine. They come plated in fancy zig zag metal trays with hip utensils, and that's about as exciting as it gets. The two tacos are tiny, lettuce is dry. Also the protein is usually only seared ahi which again is trying too hard to be fancy while ignoring their roots and the customers' taste. Substituted for chicken which was cooked well but again, dry. The flavored rice and black bean only side dishes are great, if that's any consolation. The place has a kind of Mexican/Fine Dining/They don't even know what they are kind of fusion feel. Habaneros needs to stick with what got them successful to begin with, filling, large portioned well-cooked Mexican food, and stop trying to fit some image of being some hip fine dining establishment they think people want, the fake ness of it all shines through from beginning to end. If you're looking for the fancy plated over priced food, uncomfortable chairs waters attentively filled by the minute and tiny portions served on expensive looking silverware kind of place, go here. If you're looking for good filling actual Mexican .. Do not. Go here.
(2)Jayne W.
We have found our new favorite Mexican restaurant in Kona! As long-time patrons of Los Habaneros in Keauhou Shopping Center, we were thrilled to find that the old Tres Hombres would be completely renovated and open as another Habaneros. Our first lunch today did not disappoint. LOVED the decor and positive changes to the restaurant. The food was fresh, innovative, and tasty. Service by Aaron was impeccable. We highly recommend Habaneros Grill and wish them great success!
(5)L N.
The staff was very nice but this is the worst Mexican food that I have ever eaten. Overcooked white rice with absolutely no seasoning whatsoever, boring watery green salsa, the chicken inside the enchiladas was dried out and the mole was way overdone. I will stick with Patricio's. It is still the best Mexican food in Kona.
(1)Steve B.
Amazing departure from fast food and gooey cheese, this restaurant provides a refined take on Mexican and especially Puebla cuisine. Their Chile Relleno is stuffed with fresh seafood and has a delicious Pasilla pepper sauce, their chicken with mole sauce bursts with flavor, and their guacamole is fresh from the tree. Put away your preconceived ideas of Mexican food and give it a try
(5)Nor C.
Not your traditional Mexican food but totally awesome for Kona. Fresh, flavorful, didn't need any extra seasoning. Fish ceviche was awesome, a kind of mexican style poke. I thought the mole (hubby had it) was awesome. The fresh fish in green sauce was yummy and fresh. Table salsa was unusual but so good and spicy. I would totally recommend for a healthy, fresh meal. Service was great too.
(5)Edwin W.
My third visit to Habaneros Grill; first with wife and grandson for lunch, then with a cousin from Maui who owns a very successful restaurant. This time I was entertaining another cousin and his wife from the Bay Area and choose Habaneros Grill because I really love the place! Both the beautiful, upscale decor and the Central Mexican cuisine-flavored menu exceed what you expect from a Mexican food restaurant. We started with frozen margaritas which were the best I've ever had probably the result of being made with a top shelf tequila from the restaurant's tequila bar. The fresh chips were perfect with the outstanding salsa. My cousin ordered Tortilla Soup and his wife exclaimed she should have also ordered it after having a taste. We all had the Tortillas Mole leaving only some of the excellent mole sauce on the plates. Having worked at the Big Island's premier five-diamond resort for many years, I found the service to be more than acceptable... warm, personal and attentive. I can't wait for our next visitors in order to go back to Habaneros. I'm taking the wife for some of those world class margaritas!
(5)Bob H.
Great tasting food, well presented and professionally served. A unique upscale menu. Have been waiting nearly a year for their opening. A real addition to Kona's restaurants. Will return frequently.
(4)Angela S.
My husband decided to try this restaurant for our anniversary dinner. The guacamole was very good. However, it was very, very hot inside and the ceiling fans did not help. The waitress asked for our order 3 different times and still forgot to order our drinks. After 2 more times of asking what we wanted from the bar, we decided to take our meal to go. As soon as we got home we ate. I had a spicy prawn dish. It tasted off, and unfortunately I was quite ill the next day with horrible nausea and stomach cramps. Overall it was the worst experience we've had at any restaurant since living here on Big Island.
(1)Brittney R.
5 stars for everything beer was tasty waitress was on point I forgot her name shortish hair but she was super nice! But the biggest 5 star is for the carnitas! Soooooo gooooood!!
(5)Virginia H.
Excellent Mexican fare at really reasonable prices.,good service too. I had the steak tacos, comes with beans and rice. I would have ordered more to try, but I was full! This spot is fairly new and I hope it will do well especially if the locals support it.
(5)Cam M.
One of the best restaurants you will go to in the big island hands down. One day this place is gonna end up on the food network. It's that good! It's easy to think Mexican food should be like it is in Texas or California, (even though Texas or California are in the US), forgetting that the country of Mexico is so big, and just like in the US, or Italy, or any other country there are different types food based on the region. This place is bringing you a taste of different regions of Mexico. If you come with an open mind and no preconceived notions or judgements on what Mexican food should be you will not be disappointed. The food is awesome and the people working here are great!
(5)Steve B.
Stuck between 3.5 and 4, but "this is the best margarita" comment from spouse warrants a 4 (we've had many, in a non-pathetic way). 1. Food: (1) chips and salsa: chips were average, salsa better than average; (2) Panuchos De Cochinita Pibil appetizer (tortilla cakes topped with beans, pork, avocado, red onion): tasty! Not a huge amount of food, which was good, and had nice flavor, fresh ingredients; (3) chicken quesadilla: better than others we've had around town, but nothing amazing (it's hard to make a quesadilla surprise your palette); and (4) carne asada salad: very good - the meat had a tasty seasoning, and it worked well with the salad dressing. They also provided rice and beans to share, but we had ordered too much food, so were full. Of course, can't finish the meal without the adult beverages: vodka soda with a splash of fresh juice (ok, but they get bonus points for having Tito's) and, as above, "the best margarita" - 1800, triple sec and three fresh juices. You can probably pick the tequila of your choice because it's the juices that made it fresh and unique. 2. People: one young lady handling both the bar and tables. She was friendly and attentive enough, especially given the lack of support (it was midday). 3. Location/Ambiance: spot south of downtown Kailua, so not as busy and we had no problem parking. Cool/nice design inside (and with the recent weather, the A/C was appreciated). 4. Other: N/A. We'd go back again - I believe dinner has an expanded menu.
(4)Brendon C.
A great change of pace located just a block from the Kona madness. If your looking for different types of tequilla than this is your place. They have all sorts although I stick with my usual Don Julio. The food is high end tho not pricey Spanish and Mexican. The bartender and hostess and owner were all very friendly. I'm not usually a ceviche fan but there ceviche is amazing!
(5)Ed P.
Absolutely one of the BEST Mexican restaurants I've eaten at. That includes a few in Mexico City. The owner/chef is from Mexico and is truly a gourmet chef. His dishes are incredibly creative and delicious. Down to the smallest (food) detail. Try the combo app. Amazing. Don't bother going if you like Taco Bell or CA Mex. As a matter of fact, do us all a favor and DON'T go. They have a few things on the menu that they will be taking off due to uneducated, frightened diners. Tourists...feh. A shout out to Jess at the Bar, teriffic and friendly and knowledgeable.
(5)Steve K.
Since it had been a year since our last visit I wanted to give it another chance. My wife had chicken fajitas, and I had chicken enchiladas with a green sauce. The fajitas were ok, although I guess I'm used to a different concept on fajitas where you are adding cheese and sour cream and other goodies, while this was all combined before going on the plate. My enchiladas were a disappointment; perhaps four ounces of chicken wrapped in a tortilla, swamped with an extremely salty green sauce. The experience left me sad, and still hungry. Fortunately I had a Costco roaster chicken in the fridge at home. My wife noticed the rice was also quite salty; not sure what was up with that. And yea, I should have brought it to their attention, but we were tired and lacked the energy. Perhaps we hit them on a bad night, but we won't be coming back for a couple years; we'll stick with a couple other Mexican restaurants here that are consistently good.
(2)Yvette K.
Habaneros Grill is wonderful, but not perfect, but DAMN GOOD! I have been quite curious about Habaneros Grill because of the mixed Yelp reviews. I was on the mainland when HG opened and was excited to try this new place out once I got back to Kona. While I cannot know if some of the reviewers really did experience poor preparations that contributed to their negative Yelp reviews, I find it sad that the Yelp reviews that condemned HG because it wasn't the kind of Mexican food they were expecting only shows their ignorance of gourmet Mexican food. We ordered margaritas on the rocks that we good enough, but not excellent. There was enough tequila, but I'd rather have more lime juice and Cointreau/Triple Sec or Grand Marnier than so much orange juice. It was good enough to have a second one, though. The waitress brought us chips and salsa. I must say that this was the BEST homemade salsa I've had in Hawaii and it was spicy! (I LOVE spicy). EXCELLENT!!! We started out with a delicious appetizer called Panucho de cochinita pibil (tortilla cake with pork) for $9.00. There is enough that this could be eaten as an entree and save a little money (3 on the plate). I've had cochinita pibil before and this was a good version of it, but not the best I've had. It still was very good and I would love to eat them again. I wish they put pickled red onions on top instead of raw red onions. For my entree I had the Pescado al pipian verde (fish in green sauce). The fish of the day was mahi mahi. $22.00. I think this was the best pipian verde sauce that I've had (and I've cooked it myself too). The sauce was very balanced and the ground pumpkin seeds made it so silky and delicious and it was a little spicy too. Also, the mahi mahi was cooked perfectly, not overdone one bit. My companion had the Enchiladas de mole (chicken enchiladas in mole sauce) $14.00. She was not thrilled because she was not aware that mole sauce has Mexican chocolate in it and she hates chocolate. (I should have warned her). But, I am VERY familiar with mole sauces and this was an excellent version, also a little spicy. The one big problem was with the dessert. We ordered the plantains with chocolate sauce, condensed milk and whipped cream. It was supposed to come with a fruit compote, but that never made it to the plate. I would not order this dish again and wonder why after all the work that was done on the savory dishes that Hershey's syrup (or something like it) was used instead of a homemade chocolate sauce. Why not make a chocolate sauce with Mexican chocolate? I hate Hershey's syrup!! Also, we didn't care for how the plantains (Hawaiian apple bananas) were prepared. The service was attentive and the ambiance is very nice. We came early on a Monday night and got seated right away without a reservation (2 people). All in all, I was really impressed by Habanero's Grill and look forward to many more dining experiences. If you have only eaten Tex Mex style Mexican food have an open mind while trying something that is more of a fine dining experience with traditional preparations done with quality ingredients. There is much more to Mexican and Latino food than just tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chile rillenos, fajitas and chimichangas.
(4)Cathy D.
Went to lunch with friends last week and was terribly disappointed with both food and service. I had the bean burrito which consisted of 90% white rice and 10% pinto beans- no sauce inside the burrito and no cheese. It was completely tasteless and not worth $12. My friends has the cheese enchiladas which were covered with a very strange pink sauce-definitely not any enchilada sauce I have ever seen. We will not be back
(2)Mark P.
What a nice surprise to find a decent Mexican Restaurant in Kona. We only had a couple items, but sometimes, you can judge a book by it's cover. We only had the Guacamole and chips(with salsa) and the quesadilla with carne asada beef. The guacamole was jus awesome with the right amount of tomatoes, spices and avocado. Smooth and flavorful. The chips were done on site and were crunchy and salted. The beef in the quesadilla was well seasoned and stood up the the queso and other ingredients. The side of rice and beans were the proper temperature and tasted good. The beer selection was "Mexican restaurant centric" so it could use a bit more variety. Will go back for more.
(4)Kawika P.
Went to the new Habaneros tonight to try it out. I've enjoyed the Keauhou location many times! So here's my "2 cents" .... Customer service as we walked in was great! Everyone we passed said aloha! Our waitress was attentive but wasn't very knowledgable in the menu items. Here is my biggest peeve.... If you are going to name your restaurant practically the same as your other location...as a patron, I am going to expect the same food! I was VERY surprised/ disappointed to open the menu to find a smaller selection at a way higher price. I understand it's more fine dining but honestly , I'd rather sit outside in Keauhou and have a better selection for less $. Was the food good? Yes...it was good, were my tacos worth $18? NO! 2 carne asada tacos , beans n rice for $18 seemed steep. To management, here's an honest review...the little boy sitting next to us said out loud to his mom "the pizza is horrible". Also I did not see any local families enjoying your restaurant while we were there. I think you should take the same food/prices of your Keauhou location and turn this new spot into a FUN dining location for locals and visitors instead of the fine dining vibe you're shooting for. When I think Mexican food...I think fun, food n margaritas!
(3)Kenson K.
I really enjoyed the food here. I ordered the marinated beef salad for a starter. Man, that was really ono. The beef was so full of flavor. It was a good start. Oh, and the salsa and chips that they served were really good too. The chips tasted authentic, like real corn and the salsa had just the right amount of heat. For my main entrée I had the catch of the day with the Veracruz style sauce. I forgot what it was called in Spanish but it translated to pretty much the same thing. Real good. Had some spice to it, but it was ono. The service was good. The wait staff was very attentive.
(4)Sue L.
Ordered the chicken soup, carne asada salad and chips with salsa. The chicken soup was lite yet full of wholesome flavors of freshly stewed broth with tender chicken strips, rice and veggies. Goes well with the salad, which had a scrumptious amount of tenderly grilled beef strips on a bed of fresh green lettuce, fresh wedges of tomatoes and cucumber slices, topped off nicely with dressing. We shared the lunch together and it was the perfect portion and the dishes complemented each other nicely. The chips and salsa are a bit diappointing since we are used to the mexican foods in the south west where the salsa are freshly made and have a variety to choose from.
(4)Gene H.
Great place just off the madness of Ali'i drive. We live so close we do take out fairly often. Try their guacamole is is amazing with just the right amount of kick to it. We will certainly eat here again and again.
(5)John B.
Service was friendly but poor. They were out of fruit for margaritas (at a Mexican restaurant?!). They were also out of ahi. Food was uninspired and poorly prepared. Case in point, the chipotle shrimp was overcooked to the point of being difficult to chew. And the house salsa?...blandest I've had outside a Taco Bell. To refrain from being only negative I'll say that the Mexican Mai tai's were quite nice and water service was very quick. Location is excellent hope they can up the service to match.
(2)Larry K.
We tried this place for the first time in Sept after watching all the extensive remodeling... The food is not traditional Mexican tacos and burritos and is a little more pricey than your local Kona food place, but the dishes and service make up for it... Service was very attentive... Offered to let us preview the moule sauce which is "different" but I liked it. Owner came by to talk to us and everyone was very interested in our opinions... Most of the patrons were locals as the restaurant is a bit down the road from the local shore bars... Will definitely be back...
(4)Jason C.
Food was ok. Service was ok. Environment sucks. Big room. Lots of uncomfy seats. No boths. I compare all mexican food to San Diego. So that in mind, no comparision...I think 3 stars is fair.
(3)Nancy Z.
If it's standard Mexican food you seek, keep driving. This is not your typical rice-and-beans Mexican restaurant. (Their Keauhou location is better suited to that style.) They've given the old Tom Bombadil's location a major face lift. Very nice renovation. My only gripe would be the noise factor. There's nothing to buffer the interior noise. When the place is busy, as it was the night I was there, you can hardly hear the people at your own table. My husband ordered a soda because he had an upset stomach. The soda was flat. The waitress was super accommodating. They swapped out whatever it is that makes the soda fizzy and brought my husband another. They seemed to be low on help...maybe two wait staff to serve the entire dining area (and there were two large parties that evening). The waitress was great but struggling to keep up. They brought chips and dip while we waited....unusual for Kona. The menu is upscale....$14-$30 with most items weighing in at $20/22. The food, though, is high quality. We ordered the Chile Relleno de Mariscos. They did not skimp on the mariscos. I don't know what was in the sauce, but it was fabulous. The prices make this restaurant a 'special treat' destination as far as my budget is concerned. We did not walk away disappointed. Dinner, no drinks, $50 out the door.
(4)Jon A.
If you are looking for a tex-mex taqueria and everything wrapped in a tortilla, with beans and rice, go somewhere else. Preferably California. Habaneros has done a great job of Mexican cuisine. Note the word cuisine, not food. Ownership has done a fantastic job of bringing the flavors of Mexican cuisine to the islands. Chilis and cilantro are the dominant flavors in the dishes served here. Fresh fish, fresh vegetables, well executed dishes at reasonable prices. The guacamole is made to order, the drinks are made w fresh juices and are on the crafty side. The molè is fantastic. The pork chop was delicious. And dessert! The Choco Flan is quite the cherry on top finisher. Not 5 stars? Parking is tough and they're relatively new, so service/ticket times were a bit slow. Thumbs up
(4)Kelly R.
Went back here for my mother's birthday, and none of the previous problems had been fixed. Food has gone way downhill: my enchiladas were bland and cold and the carne asada tacos had a funky flavor. Our new waitress was never to be seen, and on top of that we secretly asked for the restaurant to acknowledge my mother's birthday, and when the check came they seemed to have forgotten. After a gentle reminding and the waitress loudly saying in front of my mom, "oh you want to order something for the birthday?" They brought out what I swear was an eggo waffle dipped in cinnamon sugar covered in whipped cream with a candle. The server didn't even stay to sing happy birthday. Also it was like 80 degrees inside of the restaurant. Not a good birthday night at all. Thank goodness I got my mom an iPad to make up for this dismal dinner.
(1)Sarah K.
We have it a try in spite of the revues. Sat there for 10 minutes and we were never acknowledged so we left and are now enjoying a drink at on the rocks!
(1)Karen N.
We went back again. They have a traditional menu page, I thought it would be boring, my husband ordered the grilled chicken plate. Excellent!!! I again ordered off the after 5 dinner menu. This time I had garlic shrimp. The shrimp were HUGE (not shrimpy at all!) And there were lots of them, mmmmm in garlic yummy sauce. I would love their rice recipe, dunno if they put wine in the rice or that was the sauce from my shrimp but I ate every bite (its a really big plate). One more thing I like about this place, fresh veggies, not found in most mexican restaurants. My only complaint...their salsa is not my fave. Imho, best mexican in Kona. If I said that about another place, sorry, this place is now the winner!
(5)AgelessWonder A.
Finally came here for the first time. Love it!! Greeted nicely and very friendly staff. Great drink selections :) *Awesome staff. No crowds, no loud people talking, and I like the dinner menu. I get so TIRED of seeing the same'ol same'ol foods..., good to see different food selections. Gotta get outta the box and be different!! I'll be back..
(4)Lucas W.
Came here with a group of 4 around 7pm. It was crowded but we asked the hostess "how long?" She laughed in my face and so did another man who was carrying a tray next to her. She then said "if you want to come you have to make a reservation." If she just said "I'm sorry, we are booked for the night, I recommend you make reservations next time you come" I would have been ok. Without even walking in I can tell this place thinks it's too good to be polite to possible future patrons. I'll never try to go here again. Who wants to pay for overpriced mexican anyway?
(1)Stu F.
The service was not the best by far. We saw our waiter when we ordered our food and when it was delivered. Nowhere else in between. Our water glasses sat empty for the majority of our time there. The mole enchiladas were good, as was the tinga pollo quesadilla. The rice had absolutely no flavor at all, and the beans tasted like they were fresh out of the can.
(2)Vaibhav T.
Really craving Mexican food? Just want something spicy in the midst of island sweetness? Well don't go here. You will not find spicy food here, contrary to the name. Mole was overly sweet. Seared Ahi steak was tasteless. And Ahi jalapeño stuffed was bland. On the other hand drinks were delicious. Service was good. Food had great presentation but otherwise just fell short, let alone spice. Should have listened to fellow yelpers!
(2)Mehana L.
FYI I've been a fan of habaneros in Keauhou for months and am proud to say that I am NOW also a fan of this newest venture. There's been a lot of mixed reviews around town and online here but I think they are great. It's nice to have another option for lunch/dinner here around Kona town. Perks: They have a diverse menu with lots of options that you won't find elsewhere on this island (no! this isn't LA so please don't compare it to your mainland restaurant options), good people, good service, great location. Their ono (wahoo) ceviche with guac was outstanding and their jinebre (1800 tequila + ginger beer) cocktail was a nice twist too. Cons: Not sure about the "local" menu options, no mention of grass-fed island beef or where they source their produce .... once they get that happening I'd surely bump my rating to a 5 stars. Total cost with tip was $38 (for a $10 cocktail, a shared appetizer and a mid-range entree) ~ not super pricey but not cheap either, but hey it's Kona. That's my take. Eat up and enjoy :)
(4)Nancy Z.
If it's standard Mexican food you seek, keep driving. This is not your typical rice-and-beans Mexican restaurant. (Their Keauhou location is better suited to that style.) They've given the old Tom Bombadil's location a major face lift. Very nice renovation. My only gripe would be the noise factor. There's nothing to buffer the interior noise. When the place is busy, as it was the night I was there, you can hardly hear the people at your own table. My husband ordered a soda because he had an upset stomach. The soda was flat. The waitress was super accommodating. They swapped out whatever it is that makes the soda fizzy and brought my husband another. They seemed to be low on help...maybe two wait staff to serve the entire dining area (and there were two large parties that evening). The waitress was great but struggling to keep up. They brought chips and dip while we waited....unusual for Kona. The menu is upscale....$14-$30 with most items weighing in at $20/22. The food, though, is high quality. We ordered the Chile Relleno de Mariscos. They did not skimp on the mariscos. I don't know what was in the sauce, but it was fabulous. The prices make this restaurant a 'special treat' destination as far as my budget is concerned. We did not walk away disappointed. Dinner, no drinks, $50 out the door.
(4)Jon A.
If you are looking for a tex-mex taqueria and everything wrapped in a tortilla, with beans and rice, go somewhere else. Preferably California. Habaneros has done a great job of Mexican cuisine. Note the word cuisine, not food. Ownership has done a fantastic job of bringing the flavors of Mexican cuisine to the islands. Chilis and cilantro are the dominant flavors in the dishes served here. Fresh fish, fresh vegetables, well executed dishes at reasonable prices. The guacamole is made to order, the drinks are made w fresh juices and are on the crafty side. The molè is fantastic. The pork chop was delicious. And dessert! The Choco Flan is quite the cherry on top finisher. Not 5 stars? Parking is tough and they're relatively new, so service/ticket times were a bit slow. Thumbs up
(4)