Just Tacos Mexican Grill & Cantina
Ko Olina Ctr,92-1047 Olani St, Unit 2-101, Kapolei, HI, 96707
Just Tacos Mexican Grill & Cantina Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Kapolei for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Kapolei for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Kapolei for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
Ko Olina Ctr,92-1047 Olani St, Unit 2-101
Kapolei, HI, 96707 - Phone (808) 677-7782
- Website https://justtacos.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 : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu
Coat Check : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
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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Nannette C.
Taco Tuesday is definitely worth a visit. Happy Hour margarita was perfection! Just Tacos blended mine with just the right amount of tequila, slush ice and salt rim on the glass. Wonderful drink on a warm day on their nice patio. My husband and I both lived in So Cal our entire lives so we've had our share of good Mexican food. Our assessment: *Chips (crisp, salted) and salsa (mildly spicy, and good) *Carnitas street taco (delish! Wonderful flavor and tender. Also on the bigger side for a street taco) *Moleta taco - new to us. (different and really good ~ We'll be ordering it again. Melted cheese seals the taco around the edges, creating a pastry-like texture. TASTY!! *Service - friendly conversation and efficient. We got to know our server without feeling like he was inviting himself to join us for dinner. While I didn't order any, I asked our server if the guacamole they serve is made on-site (the pics I saw on their menu look like frozen/processed). They do not make it themselves, which is a disappointment to me. I would spend a little more for the real thing. We moved to Ko Olina a couple of months ago and, based on reviews, were afraid to try dining here. Sorry we waited. I don't know if it's inconsistency issues that they've had in the past, but none of the negative remarks I've read apply to our Just Taco experience.
(4)Lisbeth B.
We went for dinner and had a NEW waiter. He messed up the delivery of my dinner, but the manager came over and made it right . The food was so good I'll have to say try it. It is worth a gamble. If not tell the manager.
(5)Vadim L.
Service was nice & seating was available right away on a Sunday night. The food, however, was blah. There're only Refried beans available, which tasted over seasoned with Knorr's chicken stock seasoning. Enchilada tasted microwaved with tomatillo salsa from a can. Grilled chicken was mushy like cheap Cysco chicken breasts. And the prices were high for the food quality, even by vacation standards. Overall, not a great experience. On the plus side, their basic margarita was quote good and the chips & salsa hit the spot. Totes recommend for drinks & apps, not for a full meal.
(2)Destini D.
My husband and I have been here a few times. Today we decided to have a nice lunch together and was not disappointed. Server John was exceptional! This is by far the best service we have ever received here. We have lived on Oahu for 15 years and exceptional service is sometimes hard to come by. That being said we do not write reviews often, however this experience def warranted an exceptional review. Server John was not only helpful in food choices, but was consistently at our table to follow up on service. Watching him with all his tables giving everyone exceptional service made it all seem so seamless and easy. We will def be back and make sure we are in Johns section.
(5)Jason J.
Staff was nice, service was a mess, and the food was so bland. I got the combo taco platter and the about the only thing worth the calories was the carnitas and even it was bland compared to what it should have been. I get that you can't expect it to be authentic, but flavorful would be swell. Management seemed to be involved...Inexperienced perhaps?
(1)Adam S.
My daughter and wife shared beef fajitas and I had a baja ultimate taco (fish burrito). The fajitas smelled good, but were bland. I saved the grilled onions and peppers to put in scrambled eggs the next morning. The burrito was mostly shredded lettuce with some Spanish rice mixed-in. The fish part of the burrito was good, but I had to douse the burrito with hot sauce to make it edible. Negra Modelo was on tap, so give them points for that. Strike 1: No cheese. Where milk is over $5 a gallon, I can understand, but no chips & queso? No cheese with the fajitas? Strike 2: No heat. I am not saying the food needs to be hot enough to knock you on your butt, but there could be a better/stronger combination of spices in the food. Bland. A little pricey for Mexican food, but realizing where the restaurant is located, I can understand. $20 fajitas would be $12-15 in Houston. The burrito was $13, but considering it was fish, the price was not bad.
(2)moejoe r.
The two stars are for our server, Joe. She was super friendly to us and always positive. But this place has really gone down hill since we last visited several months ago. The seats in the booths are coming apart and really need to be replaced. The menus were sticky and pages ripped, falling out. The food was REALLY disappointing from our last experience here. Husband had the steak fajitas; only 6 pieces of steak and as soon as the sizzling platter was set down on the table it stopped sizzling and my husband said the food was just a little warm temperature wise, not sizzling hot. I had a chimichanga. The beans and rice were wrapped inside along with cheese and a little chicken. It doesn't come with sour cream or gac, we had to ask for some and when it came, it was like two bite sizes worth. Not a lot of flavor to the food. The manager stopped our table twice to see if he could clear our plates while we were still eating...I guess he didn't want us eating the junk food!!! I guess the owners are putting more effort into their newer restaurant that is located in town????!!!
(2)Brian F.
Been going to Just Tacos every summer for 5 years when we visit Hawaii, and the food has been going downhill steadily. Until recently, there have not been many choices near Ko Olina. This year, the food quality fell off the cliff. The only positive note was the chips and salsa. I ordered a wet burrito and it arrived looking reasonably good. However, everything inside was cold. The unmelted cheese was not freshly grated, but looked to be stuff from a bag. The guac and beans had no flavor, as did the gristly cubed chicken. This food in no way resembled the qualify from years ago. I won't waste my time or money any more at this place, as there are now much better offerings in the Ko Olina center. At this point, I wonder if Just Tacos will even be there next year.
(1)Angela Irene D.
Came here because I'm from California, and when you crave mexican food that is similar like the kind in Cali, then you know the first thing you look for is MEXICAN food, LEGIT mexican food, and not just ANY mexican food....CARNE ASADA FRIES with all the delicious mexican fixings and sauce....and......LIME! I came here twice already, and I was happy that they have the Carne Asada fries on the menu, but what can you expect if maybe the real cook isn't Mexican or something? The Carne asada on the fries was very little, and it wasn't made the way it's done in Cali. The Carne Asada fries ordered by the way it is = $11...11!! and that doesn't even include a decent amount of the carne, sour cream, AND guacamole! Luckily we were able to order extra sour cream AND guacamole...AND to try to make it legit, we had to get lime from their Bar and a nice bottle of Tapatio! Thank GOD they had Tapatio! I was upset, that the lime they serve us, it's SO dry and tiny! seems like calamansi would be better on the damn fries! I know for damn sure people were looking at us, but hey...is it our fault that they created Carne Asada fries the wrong way? NO. We came here couple times enough to be remembered by our waiter, and he even asked if what we ordered was really worth it and delicious?! Our answer? YES. If you're deprived long enough and you're too lazy to make the carne asada yourself, this is the only way go! I truly believe I know what was missing, and it's probably how the meat is marinated. There is just something that didn't make it Legit, maybe because it wasn't made by real Mexicans? at the end of meal, for ONE carne asada fries with all our extra goodies it totaled up to $16!! are you serious? Back home, it's $7 and you're given MORE and you have unlimited amount of sour cream, and salsa. Guacamole of course will always be extra. Also, everytime we came here parking SUCKS because of the construction going on here, so the parking seems SO tight and limited! Customer is very decent, and they are very welcoming considering it is in Ko'Olina meant for tourists. Side note, their restrooms are beautiful! I loved the sink! lol, I really want a nice bathroom because I am a lady, and I feel like I sleep and breath in the bathroom, getting ready, and ready to GO to number 2. Anyway, that's all what my husband and I order if we are really really craving carne asada fries, we come here. It could be better, but it works out. Just glad they have it here in some way. It's basically like generic brand versus the original. Can NEVER beat the original!
(2)Jurija M.
This isn't REAL Mexican food. This is Mexican fare with American taste- bland, simple, and boring. The salsa is watery and weird. The chips typically taste stale. The service is fairly decent- never have had a problem. Parking sucks on the weekend and if you're staying in Ko'Olina than the wait typically sucks, too. Just go here to have a seat outside, have a beer OR margarita, and chat with a co-worker or friend. That's it.
(3)Gary F.
Was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the yelp reviews on this place. I had a good experience. First, the chips were good and came with both a mild and a hot salsa. Both were good, but the hot salsa definitely had a kick. We had Mocajete and chicken fingers. The bowl and pan they came in were still red hot at the time the meal ended. Those dishes were sizzling. Both were very tasty with fresh ingredients. The service was fine - no complaints there either. I would return here again.
(4)Eric N.
Just Tacos is good solid Mexican food in a location without a lot of options. The service is ok, not nearly as bad as some reviews say, and I loved my Mokajete tacos, so oozing with cheesy goodness.
(4)E C.
Too bad there aren't any good dining options in Ko Olina. This place is no exception. Service is friendly and space is cute with lot of natural light. As for the food, I wouldn't eat here again. Decent portions but just not tasty. Everything we ordered was way too salty and tasted mediocre at best. They give you free chips and salsa which I thought was very generous of them. Their salsa was the only thing that tasted good. Is it really that difficult to find chefs who know how to cook?
(2)Julie N.
Got COMBO 1 so yummy! Idk what my husband got but he said it was good My daughter got the carne fries from the kids menu, but seriously why is that even considered a meal for kids? Its kinda groose and should be more like an appetizer! Who in the world feeds there kids a huge plate of fries as a meal?! Just saying. Other than that everything was great. The service was good & the food was tasty. And the fried ice cream can feed 4! Its huge & oh so delicious!
(4)Michael M.
Four stars based on service but 2.5 on food. First day I had burned cheese enchiladas. Second day I had good "chile relleno" but two random pieces of "stems" in the meal. Not the end of the world but the food is typical of tourist spots. On the other hand they made a pretty good margarita..
(4)Linda B.
Reading some of the more recent reviews, I was a little sceptic, but I am sure glad that it didn't stop us from eating here! Our server was attentive, service fast and the food excellent! We live in CA and love eating Mexican food at least once a week. Just Tacos filled our craving just fine, not once, but twice (!) during our recent stay at the Aulani. It is conveniently located in the little shopping strip across the road (walking distance). I highly recommend it for people who are staying at the Marriott or Aulani. I can see where parking can be cumbersome as there are quite a few restaurants and just not enough parking spaces. That said we really enjoyed our meals (party of 7, all ordering different choices).
(5)Sara Y.
I lived in Texas for 41 years and love Tex-Mex food. This is not traditional Tex-Mex but is was excellent. The service was great. Our waiter was very nice and fast. The pricing is great compared to other places to eat. This is a place you should eat.
(5)Gabrielle G.
My guy and I went here on saturday for date night, he was looking for a place that was kind of like fronteira and Moe's. They put us at a table in the middle of the restaurant there was really no privacy you're right next to the other table. They did have a nice live band playing but we should have set outside. And the food was alright but nothing impressive. The best part about this restaurant was their margaritas
(2)Troy P.
The service was really good, we sat in the bar and the person helping us was very attentive and made sure we were taken care of. The food however was ok, nothing good to say about it just ok. I probably won't return on my vacation since the ABC country store and the new Monkey Pod across the street have better food. If you don't mind paying the resort area prices and feel like Mexican, then check it out. But don't expect anything spectacular, unless you want tequila, they have a ton!
(3)Alonzo B.
The restaurant atmosphere was quite relaxing the service took a little longer expected and the mango margaritas were to die for but what really caught my attention were the fish tacos they were shaped like fish and really delicious I must go back!!!
(3)Tiffanie K.
If you want good Mexican food, do not go here! Quesadilla was soggy and had burnt cheese. Chips are lackluster and tasted like chewing cardboard. The taquitos were the only decent thing we had. Sorry Just Tacos but you were Just Terrible!
(1)Sam A.
I read that this owner is from Southern California so I figured I was going to get some good quality Mexican food, however I was extremely disappointed. I ordered carne Asada tacos to go, and I'm not even exaggerating, they brought out my food in less than one minute so I had a bad feeling from the start. The meat had very little flavor and was really dry. Rice and beans were so-so and the pico de gallo that came with it was average. Another comment I want to add is The service. I had to wait for a server to finish complaining about not wanting any more table so she could go home then another server came and said he didn't want any more tables either and when they were both finished complaining is when the hostess helped to me. I will not be returning here for seconds.
(2)Cathi B.
The manager used to be real friendly. Happy hour should be later. If you want better food from a good Mexican restaurant, try El Mariachi in Kapolei. Unfortunately, they don't have a bar yet.
(2)Spear F.
Food was just ok. Not worth the money. Service wasn't the best but nice people. I wouldn't come back or recommend it.
(1)Tom H.
Just Tacos is my favorite restaurant in Kapolei . The staff is friendly and attentive, the Chips and salsa are great and if you are really hungry the ultimate taco is a meal and a half.
(5)Erick E.
Not bad service at all! Great food I didn't mind the wait because it was all worth it'
(4)Patrick R.
I'm staying across the street at the JW for work. I went to "just tacos" to check it out. Then have a cool little bar in the back. Amazing selection of tequila. Kim the bartender is great. I had the chili verde pork tacos. Holy cow they were amazing. The mix corn/flour tortillas were a nice change. Never had that before. Over all the plate was delicious and huge, plus it was only $14. Pretty good for a resort area. Definitely check it out. If I had room in my belly the chocolate peanut butter fried ice cream sounded crazy! Maybe next time.
(4)Little D.
Fish Taco: 4.5 Beans: me 2, BF 4 Salsa: 3 not my style Margarita: 3 Lemonade: 5- more like a grapefruits juice. Bathroom: 5- spacious and glass doors and walls... very interesting.
(4)Eric W.
Rounding up to 4 from 3.5. I'm from southern CA so I'd rate the food a 2.5/3. I've been here three times now and every time the service has been very good. It's a great place to come eat if you're staying at one of the major resorts and you don't feel like traveling far. I've had fish tacos, fish burrito, chicken tacos and beef fajitas.
(4)Andreas N.
Poor drinks, slow service. What keeps the place going is its location.
(2)Bob K.
The food and service were excellent. We almost passed on this place due to its overall low Yelp rating. I am really glad we didn't. Portions were large, the food was fresh and the service quick. I had the Ensenada style fish tacos and they were delicious.
(5)David L.
I live in California, my business has me traveling throughout the southwestern United States so I know good Mexican food. I do not know the standard for Mexican food in Hawaii but if your used to the good stuff I would not go here. We tried the calamari appetizer which was way too salty and a bit over cooked. The rest of the food was like a chain restraint, cooked quickly, few options to customize (no black beans, no grilled fish for the tacos, only fried... On the positive side the service was fast.
(1)Mandy C.
My family and I went here this last Saturday and we had heard mixed reviews so we were willing to give it a try. My husband and I got the Fajita's mixed grill, ehh it was good, but nothing special. They had a abundance of bell peppers and onions they were quite oily to me. We had them put all sauces, guacamole, sour cream on the side. My husband LOVES Guacamole, but he said theirs was made from a packet for sure it was granular and he said he liked the sour cream better and he doesn't eat it. Our son had the Chipotle Chicken Wings, he liked them, but to me they didn't have much flavor. The complementary chips and salsa the chips you could tell were probably out of a bag and then warmed up under the warmer, very hard, the Salsa however, was good, but it came in an abundance again 3 cups of salsa for 3 of us! We didn't even eat, but one of them and one half of the two things of chips they brought us. It was worth trying, but needless to say we will not be going back.
(2)Ryan A.
I was pleasantly shocked by Just Tacos!! I had very low expectations when we decided to eat here. too my surprise it had the Mexican flare I was used to being raised in New Mexico. The food was served with big portions and had exceptional taste, we had the Fish and salsa verde pork tacos along with the kids bean and cheese burrito for the little one, everyone enjoyed their meals!!! They offer two salsa's the hot one is by request only, it won't light your mouth on fire but is spidery than the Pico type salsa you get with your chips. Just Tacos won't make the Top 10 all time best Mexican restaurants I've ever ate at but certainly got my attention and gets a thumbs up!!
(5)Sasha L.
Pretty clean and cute. Nice server. Food, really not good. Everything was super salty and greasy. Portions are huge and packed with cheese which might be good for some people but no one in our party was feeling it. Seriously waaay too salty. That was really the major complain. Had indigestion for days. Might be because I'm from San Diego where mexican food is great.
(2)Jason C.
When you think of Hawaii , you don't think of Mexican food. But, when you come & eat at JUST TACOS don't be fooled...THE PLACE IS DELICIOUS!!! From the "complimentary chips & salsa to the fresh Guacamole to the chimichanga Burrito to the fried ice cream- this place did not fail. Good quality "authentic" food that is reasonably priced. Add that to our friendly & knowledgable waiter John and you have a great combination.
(5)Kevin E.
I know, I know... living in San Diego, let me now say Hawaii is not a place I would go for Mexican food. It was okay, but deff had better at home and it was pretty expensive.
(2)shannon m.
I enjoyed my food but the staff was greatly lacking in skills. Even though the restaurant was only half full, it still took way too long for me to get my nachos (yummy), or even a refill of my drink. I do still keep going back because I like the food, I just have to prepare myself for the lackluster hostess and understaffed waiters.
(2)John N.
I'm a bit surprised at the low rating. I'll make this short since it seems to be about the wait help. I didn't get our servers name but she had an almost full sleeve tattoo on one arm and tattoos down to her elbow I the other arm. You are in good hands if you have her as a server! She was very attentive! Nothing took long to be served. The blended margarita came out and was huge. My beer was fine. As for the food? We were going to order the nachos as a meal and share it. Our server suggested the 'papi platter'. We went with it. We were glad we did. The wings were very good. Kind of a light spicy honey BBQ sauce. Very nice! Empanadas were very good as was the calamari. The taquitoes (sp?) were ok. I'm glad we didn't just get the nachos because the cheese was not that great. All in all the drinks were good, the food was good, and the server was great.
(4)Holly H.
I'm really, really trying to like this place. This is the only "Mexican" style restaurant near where I live. Every few months when I have a hankering for Mexican I come here. I read the reviews and then rider what people are raving about. I read a review about the nachos the person raves about them, but they were horrible! I'm guessing either that person was an employee or was someone local who has never had real or semi-real Mexican. I'm no chef, but I could have done a better job. My nachos consisted of a pile of chips with about a pound of cheese on the top, canned refrained beans, and a scoop of sour cream and guacamole. Chilis down the road serves a far superior nacho that this place. I have to stop coming here! It's bad food all around. I have yet to find a dish that I'd order again. The only thing worth trying is the li hing mui margarita. Also, what is with the smell?!! Do they douse everthing with chemical cleaning agents and then just leave it? Usually when you enter a restaurant you smell food, but here it's just an overwhelming smell of cleaning agents. Save you taste buds and just go to the Monkey Pod.
(1)Sharon P.
Saw this wonderful Mexican Grill as we drove down the highway near our resort. Being Mexican food lovers from So Cal, we try them all when we travel. The food was plentiful and delicious . Our server, Peter, was the best! He went to great lengths to get our umbrella just right and was delightful to talk to. We highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Jamie W.
Let me start by explaining I'm from sunny San Diego but lived in Hawaii for some time and understand there's no real Mexican food on the island nicos is about as close as it gets with that said I'm in ko olina / kapeoei. This place has been here for years yet I've never tried it sad to say until today I had talked to one of the waitresses last night inquiring about menu as she is from San Diego as we'll so knew what I as red to find. I ordered the carve Assad fries w extra jalapeño and tons of salsa and ordered the apple chimichanga omg this place is amazing to put it lightly. No idea why reviews look do low but trust me when I say they have really really good good x tar large portions and also they have an amazing happy hour
(5)Ash B.
I am picky about Mexican food and this place tops the worst I've been to. Take in to consideration I live California and good Mexican food isn't far. The food was tasteless. Even the chips and salsa was a miss.
(2)Lacey W.
Just don't go to Just Tacos. Living in a predominately Mexican neighborhood in Los Angeles, I know I am spoiled with excellent Mexican food. But the food at Just Tacos is inedible as far as I am concerned. The margaritas are passable, but don't waste your money on good tequila since they use a cheap margarita mix. It isn't that hard or that much more expensive to create a homemade mix with fresh lime, just saying. The guacamole was mealy and bland. Considering the availability of enormous and tasty avocados on the island, bad guacamole is inexcusable. The food....I ordered the cheese enchiladas. Safe bet right? Nope. I ate two bites and no more. It was that bad. We visited here last year and the food was better. Monkey pod across the street wasn't open though, so perhaps their success has cut into Just Tacos business. I don't know, but until they turn it around I would stay away.
(1)Rissa K.
Great atmosphere and service! I had the Steak fajita with corn tortilla. My friends all had the Li Hing mui margarita which looked huge and they said was yummy. The steak fajita portion size was huge! 2 people could have shared the fajita. There's a bar here as well so great place to have dinner and have a few drinks. After dinner you can go for a sunset cruise on the beach on Koolina. I def will be back with friends again. If it's your bday they give you a free dessert and sing happy bday to you.
(3)K. A.
super good food! and the staff is good. Bartenders are really cool!. Had a good time here
(5)Todd K.
Ugh... Gets one star for nice looking place. Chips were stale, had a steak burrito and EVERYTHING on it tasted processed and cheap. My wife and I were famished and did not finish our meal. Will never go again. Taco Bell tastes better than this.
(1)Maryalyce E.
We loved this place the first time! Great service! Calamari was yummy! Ultimate fajitas were delicious!! And the li hing Mui margarita was so good!!! Came back a few months later and it was mediocre at best. I don't know what changed, but we might try it again later. It may be hit or miss!
(3)Tanya F.
This place was really talked up to us so we thought - must be on the 'to do' list. The place is like a fast food restaurant in terms of its environment. Warm greeting at the door and the staff seemed friendly. Menu selection good. And that is where it ended. Food is very, very average. Not memorable at all. Usually we give a place two or three chances as we could have been there on an 'off' night, and this usually has to do with service. But the food alone is not worth going back for.
(2)Robert B.
Wow where do I start. Salsa is terrible.. Basically tomatoes with no seasoning, no onions, no cilantro. Bland bland bland and did I mention the salsa was bland?? We asked for cilantro and added lemon, salt and pepper to make it edible. No spice at all either. Ordered the "street tacos". Not sure what street they buy their tacos on but these were from Main St USA not Mexico! Beef looked and tasted like it was boiled and the corn tortilla was straight out of the grocery store wrapper. Seriously.... save your money and go elsewhere.
(1)Chris S.
Service was great, but the food is just okay. I had the molcajete which was served in a big bowl of some kind of cheese and grease. Go for the atmosphere but don't get your hopes too high for good food.
(3)Misty P.
I always went here with co-workers when I worked in Kapolei. The service was usually good. There were always enough seats for our big party during happy hour and the prices are ok. The food isn't quite the greatest and most authentic Mexican food around. The food was mediocre. I think the best dish I've tasted was the fried calamari as an appetizer (and that's not even Mexican really...). The chips and salsa are good. Drinks were plentiful and the margaritas are huge and stiff. My friends and I were super excited to try different tequila shots and asked the waiter to try one on the menu. He said it was not available. We went through about 10 (literally) tequilas that were presented on their menu and all were not available. The bar tender stated they didn't run out, they just didn't carry it at that store. So why even have it on your menu then?! We ended up drinking tequilas that most people have already tried and most retaurants already have at their bar. That experience docked stars... Parking is also tight and small.
(3)Joan A.
Always leave there satisfied! They have the best Serrano/ cucumber margarita that Billie the bartender turned me on to! YUMMY! for appetizers I always order their calamari and guacamole/ salsa with chips. This last visit I tried their chipotle wings was good as well! For my main course I always order their steak taco salad which is is so darn good! Highly reccomend it! Yelp had a $10 for $20 offer which was so awesome.... How can you go wrong? LOVE LOVE LOVE this establishment!!!
(5)Joe V.
I'm from So Cal so I may be a bit jaded... But this would not pass for high school cafeteria "mexican" day cuisine. Everything out of a can, including the quacamole! Nothing fresh.
(1)Rodrigo B.
Food presentation is ok but quality is pretty bad. Fish tacos were soggy and fish was mostly batter. Steak fajitas were recommended by the server, they are made with very cheap beef. Thankfully there was enough salad, vegetables, rice and beans...
(2)Brittiney S.
Decided to give this place a try...WASTE OF MONEY!! This is one case in which I definitely should have listened to my fellow Yelpers. The cheese on my carne asada fries was melted onto the wax paper, and the fries themselves were stiff but somehow also soggy at the same time. Luckily, I like soggy fries so that part wasn't a problem, just the stiffness. My California burrito also had that baked in/microwaved cheese texture. Yeah, I ate all of it (including my half of the carne asada fries) , but only because it cost an arm and a leg. Afterward, I felt sick. Not food poisoning sick but that "bleh, I shouldn't have eaten all that baked cheese and grease" kind of sick. Also, there was a hair (maybe an eyelash or eyebrow hair) in my tub of sour cream. Yuck! Just FYI, the food prices in the restaurant are actually a dollar more than what is listed on their website.
(1)Jamie D.
Plus: -Service was nice and attentive. -I really enjoyed the Cucumber Serrano Margarita that's been highly suggested from the other reviews. I rarely drink, but this one was a sure winna! It had a nice tang, sweet and salty (salted rim), and the spice from the chilis were a nice touch. Minus: -Guacamole tasted decent but seemed like it was store bought. -Chips were not so good- not fresh at all and almost stale like. It would of been better if they just bought it from the store. Salsa was alright. As an opener the chips just ended up unmotivating us to try other dishes. Just SAD! -Booth seats were cracked and worn so don't wear a skirt or shorts. -Temp was pretty warm, so it didn't help that my drink had chilis in it. Not sure if I'd be enthusiastic to try and give their food a shot, but who knows, esp. when I keep thinking about the yummy cucumber serrano margarita. Ahhhhh!
(3)Virginia R.
Waited for 45+ minutes to sit our party of 10, including a child. Because we've complained more than a couple of times, a waitress came out to take our order to hurry the ordering process at least, saying she was the one to wait our table. Finally we got in, only to find half the restaurant empty. Surprise surprise. We had to order again. YES. AGAIN. And the waitress that was initially supposed to wait us left for the night. OHHHHHHHHHH YES. Experience was extraordinary, so food was even more mediocre. If I could give it a zero star, I would. But I guess I'll give one just for the alcohol. That was pretty good.
(1)Brittany D.
Wow, I am shocked to see these terrible reviews! Did you go to the right place? My party of 5 went last night for taco Tuesday and some drinks. First of all, the bartender Chad was amazing. He inspires me to be a better bartender! He accommodated the 5 of us right at the bar with extra seats and the best service! He told jokes, was super friendly, showed us all kinds of crazy tequilas including ones with a scorpion in them! He was so awesome we beefed up sitting with him for 5 hours! The owner came up and he was super friendly as well! All the servers that were near were very friendly also! We ordered 3 different tacos and they were awesome! Specially the carnitas! Yummy!!!! Also, being pregnant and sitting at the bar, Chad was more than awesome at making me the perfect mock tails! The chips and salsa were delish! Not stale at all! Overall it was an awesome time with friends, including Chad who felt like another friend hanging out with us. I would definitely recommend this place and we will be back for sure!!
(5)Mary C.
Uncomfortable experience: Hostess seats is and says their best waiter will be with us. A weird thing to say. The waiter appears a bit later, and after a short discussion it is VERY clear he is brand new! Chips were a small notch above store bought and the tortillas did NOT taste hand made or particularly fresh. FOOD: My son - child bean and cheese burrito with sour cream. Turned out fine My dinner- cheese quesadilla. Was cool. And not browned on the outside at all. Served with no condiments (sour cream, salsa, guac, nothing!). Had to order side sour cream. Didn't get that for another 5 min *sigh*. I also had a soda. My husband - his order came 5 min after my sour cream. He had a cheesy dish that was served in a bowl and it was excellent. He had a shot of tequila and a soda. We didn't see our server since before our food was delivered. Couldn't get salsa or hot sauce. Two tables next to us were pissed off at service (one meals came out 15 min apart and another was misled on margarita special by hostess). Not a lot of options around this area... None the less we are NOT going back!!!
(1)Sonya K.
Came here on our last night in Ko'olina because we heard about their 60 oz margaritas. We ordered the mango one to share between four people and it was perfect! We all ordered food and it was good! Liked the steak fajitas that I got. Our waiter was super sweet and respectful. He kindly took our orders and refilled our chips and salsas multiple times. Yummy! Enjoyed the dinner!
(4)Ryan M.
Came in hungry with a tired 6-year-old abd left full and oh-so happy! We were unsure what to get and Diane, our amazing waitress helped get our son fed before he passed out, recommended amazing dishes and even gave us good tips for the leftovers after.
(4)Cameron K.
Let me set the scene for you: a walk away from the luxurious Disney hotel, we stumbled upon a moderately expensive restaurant and decided to try it out without checking on any reviews first. After waiting an exorbitantly long time for our table, despite not being too busy and having tables clearly open, we were shown our spot. It seemed it was our server's first day, from his demeanor and lack of knowledge about quite a few things on the menu, it was clear he was just a pretty face devoid of talent. I had the molcajete, which was labeled as the dish that made "Just Tacos" famous. I had never heard of the restaurant before and the dish was sorely lacking in flavor, presentation, and authenticity. We were in a group of more than 8 people, so the standard 18% service charge was included. I'm not against this policy, but it led to absolutely terrible service, as the waiter was guaranteed his tip regardless. I'm sure that we were there for at least an hour longer than necessary had the waitstaff been on the ball. At the end when my brother tried to share his woes after waiting 15 minutes to get change after paying in cash, the server simply tried to provide excuses for his poor behavior. I don't need excuses, that's irrelevant to me. I'm on vacation, I want service on par with what I'm paying into it.
(1)Ann C.
Went in for appetizers & dessert. The server was quite friendly BUT didn't do the right thing. The price posted on the outside menu was NOT honored. And when I asked our server she said "mgmt hasn't gotten around to updating the prices since their last price increase." Oh Kay?! So here's the common sense thing to do: update the outside price menu. Terrible to mislead people. False advertising if you ask me.
(2)Justin L.
Location, Location, Location, well guess location doesn't mean diddly if the food is horrible. Service was excellent, atmosphere was excellent but the food. Ordered the wings and fish tacos. Came with baked beans that were dry and chalky. The fish was old and soggy. Trust me we would have gotten a better meal at Taco Bell.
(2)Robert O.
Meh. Okay. Nothing great. Service was okay. Outdoor dining is nice. Reasonable prices for this part of town.
(3)Ciara C.
Be warned that your entire must be present to be seated. The service was great, other than our wait because our party was not "complete". The margaritas are delicious, local tip: try the Li Hing Mui Margarita, blended or on the rocks both are great. The strawberry margarita was OK, the salted rim threw off the sweet flavor of the strawberry which was awkward. Food portions are BIG and more than enough especially if you have an appetizer ahead of time. The Sampler Appetizer was perfect, the tacos were alright- nothing fantastic. The Chicken Fajitas were very filling with lots of bell peppers and onions to accompany the chicken.
(3)John M.
I guess that I should begin my review by stating that I live in San Diego, CA the Mexican food Mecca of the United States. This place is located in a very nice resort area of Hawaii and I was sucked into this joint via the reviews that I read here on Yelp before walking into the door. That being said, DO NOT EAT HERE, if you are looking to eat some decent Mexican food. I am not being a snob simply because I live 10 miles from the Mexican Border but rather I'm being realistic. It does not take a great Mexican chef to offer me a plate of fresh food. The food that was brought to our table was lukewarm at best and 80% of the ingredients were prepared hours earlier in the day. The Manager confirmed that with me after I asked him about how they prepare their food. You will get fresher food at Taco Bell then what we were served up at the place. Add to that, the food was subpar. The 20-somethings that work here seem to not care too much about those of us that come here from the mainland. You've been properly warned.
(1)Melissa A.
It sounds like there's a lot of bitching about service, but since I only sit at the bar (typical me) I can't complain cause the bartender (I think his name is Charles) is awesome! He's always super nice, great service, he remembers us and, when I wasn't sure if I was going to like a margarita, he gave me the extra from one he had just made so I could try it. The food: I've had the carnitas tacos, the chicken flautas and the wet burrito. The tacos and flautas were actually very good and reasonably priced. The burrito, yeah, I get it, if you've had really good burritos, like the kind you can get in most of Cali, then I can see how you'd be left wanting. With that being said, it is still one of the best burritos I've had here in Hawaii, so I'm happy. The drinks: If you like tequila, this is your place. The entire wall is filled with different types of tequilas. They have okay wine and good beer on tap. Now, if you like margaritas, you'll love this place. I highly recommend the li hing mui margarita and the mango margarita...soooo ono! They make it blended or on the rocks (I like mine on the rocks) and I love how, with the li hing mui margarita, they line the rim of the glass with li hing mui powder, not kidding, I licked the glass clean. Definitely one of my regular spots, my only complaint is the bar is too small, so it's hard to get seating.
(4)Elizabeth B.
Im come here a lot the hostess always puts us in the booth because they know thats what we prefer! l come for the margaritas,especially the madre madre because it's my favorite besides the lihing mui one. I really like that they give bottomless chips and salsa while were waiting for our food to keep us occupied. They also have the best fried calamari i have ever tasted on this island. I just dislike that they don't have hard tacos on the everyday basis and they only do it on tuesday nights. I really wish they expanded their specials throughout the whole week. :)
(4)Dan L.
Used to go here once a week and everything was excellent, Now we have been there 3 times and each time is worse. Asked our waitress for an extra plate and finally went to the kitchen door and got my own. This time everything that came out of the fryer tasted of old stale or overheated burnt oil. Cadillac margarita was way to sweet and cheese Quesadilla was a tortilla wrapped around some cold unmelted cheese. what you bill because 2 out of 3 times something wont come. Saddest of all was using the mens room and they have stalls not usable and no paper towels to dry you hands. Must have been out of stock because I noticed a lady in a nice outfit come out of the ladies room shaking her hands dry also. Manager running around like he is trying to keep a ship from sinking was an improvement over the last time when he was sitting outside going over books as he drank a beer, Your Restaurant is SINKING, Look into other staff Rene before there is no other option but closing.
(1)Jen L.
Convenient to Electric beach for a mid snorkeling snack in Ko Olina. Like all of the the other reviews, the service is a bit unreliable. They forgot the 3rd taco in the 3 taco dish. I got carne asada tacos and the fish tacos. The fish tacos were great and had a great flavor (they used fried cod), but the carne asada was rough and flavorless. Should have gotten all fish tacos. Cadillac margarita is way too sweet! Totally not worth it for $15, unless you have a sweet tooth. Not a fan of this drink. They could have done better, There was barely anyone there so there should have been no excuse for forgetful service.
(2)Richard F.
We went to Just Tacos just after it opened last year and thought the food was great. Something happened in the meantime. The food tasted blah. Service was OK. Probably will not go back.
(2)Mitchell T.
Don't eat here. Cold, bad tasting food. Cold beans, cold rice, cold tortillas. Yuck. Slow service, but not the waiters fault - not enough people to cover the dining floor. As a plus, it's heinously expensive. Seriously, we've had better food at gas stations. If you are in the area and you must eat immediately, go across the plaza and get a sandwich at the ABC store.
(1)Eva L.
We were staying at Aulani and decided to try Just Tacos Mexican Cantina which was within walking distance of the resort. We chose to sit at the outdoor dinning area which later learned that it was a right decision because the aroma of the fajitas was strong inside the restaurant. We ordered fried calamari, tamales and the combination plate. The foods was delicious and the serving time was reasonable. The staff was friendly and cheerful. We will go back if we visit the area again.
(4)Fatima N.
Great food Had the wet burrito a lil on the salty side so beware Food was fresh and the service was good.
(4)Mark T.
Fast service and tasty food! My family (2 teens, my wide and I) at here on a Tuesday night. The place was busy, but service was prompt. Our appetizer (calamari with a tangy honey-BBQ and traditional sauce) was served within 5-8 mins of us ordering. Main entrees arrived just as we finished the appetizer. My son loved his beef burrito (he's a picky about quality of burritos). My daughter's quesadilla was also very tasty, but no separate queso dip was available. My wife had chicken tacos and said they were some of the best ever. She also loved her beans and rice (which we often use as a guide to measuring Mexican food restaurants). I had the special grilled steak, shrimp and chicken in cheese. Very good, but no rice and beans included. Price was not bad with three drinks, appetizer, and four main dishes coming to about $76. The poor reviews do no justice. My family highly recommends Just Tacos.
(4)Milo Q.
Probably the worst Mexican food I've had. Overpriced. I had the fish tacos which were $15 for two tacos that were bland. My wife had the carne Masada tacos that were straight up terrible. I feel like people just go here because its next door to the resorts and its a late night "last resort" for food. I didn't have my phone on me which meant I couldn't check the reviews. I feel jipped.
(2)Bill W.
We should have trusted our noses as soon as we opened the dole the front entryway smelled "not clean". The hostess seemed to be on spaced out drugs, as we were standing waiting to be seated and she never acknowledged our being there. When we commented on the smell, she had a glazed look in her eyes...weird The food is about the same as you can get from a frozen entee at home. Nothing really bad but not that good either. We had the fish tacos that were about a C-. So if you're hungry and don't want go into Kapolei then I guess it's one step better than skipping a meal.
(2)Kimberly H.
Chips and salsa were OK, I had the carne asada tacos... not a good move. But then again after reading other reviews I'm not sure there are any good moves. Should have checked yelp before.
(2)Emily M.
The waiter was friendly but clearly didn't know what he was doing, took about 20 min for him to split the tab! Lots of our food was cold, rice and beans no good! Drinks were very good though!
(1)Aaron S.
We were out of town and wanted a good meal that wasn't $60 like most of the places on the resort. Fajitas and combo taco plate were very good! The steak and carntias were the best. Great service and great food. Will be back before we leave.
(4)Joe C.
We had a good time and it's a short walk from the hotel!!
(4)Jonathan V.
Synopsis: The only reason this place is getting two stars is because 1) it is convenient for me, since it is down the road, and 2) because they have see-through windows that allows you to see outside. Other then that, this place isn't even good for BAD MEXICAN food. Service is atrocious....thank god I only came here twice on someone else's money! Environment: The place is cozy looking from the outside. It is a dining-like area with dimmed lights. I would be offended if you brought here on a first date....however. People: They seem young, hip, however attentive is definitely not their forte. Food: It's not note-worthy at all. Quite honestly, I can simply make the food they offer from a can. Is that too offensive? The only thing that is remotely acceptable is the calamari. Ironic, is it not? Calamari is MEXICAN FOOD! OH OH! Cost: It's quite on the pricey side for my cheap-stake needs. Cost to calories is definitely not worth it Drinks: Quite honestly, I was too drunk the first time I came here to even know if it was good or bad. But because I couldn't taste it....I would say it was okay only.
(2)Arynn I.
I went here today after work with some of my co-workers. It was not at all busy at 3:15pm when we showed up so we basically had our choice of where to sit. We chose to push together a bunch of tables outside on the lanai since, according to a few of people I went with, said that they are usually very noisy. We figured outside we could be as noisy as we wanted. I ordered just chips and salsa, adding guacamole. I also didn't order a beverage right away. Someone else at the table ordered the Papi platter, the sampler of sorts, and we also had Calamari. Me, not being really hungry just ate my chips and salsa and tried one of the quesadillas. Chips were good, heated and I enjoyed the more spicy salsa. The guac was also tasty and I have no complaints with what I got. I wasn't too excited about the quesadilla. It was edible. Our server was friendly but we ended up having a different one for most of the afternoon...When I finally wanted something other than water, I ordered a fruit punch. I wasn't in the mood for a margarita or beer but the li hing margarita did look good....that is, if I liked li hing. It was about half an hour before I had to re-ask my server to bring my fruit punch...and by then we were already on our 2nd basket of chips. I wasn't too impressed by the service after our server took our orders and a different one brought our water and the first round of drinks. He didn't come out to check on us as much as I expected. I understand that the tables inside were being sat but the restaurant was definitely NOT full. After one person asked for their check, our server came over to get payments for EVERYONE's check...but I don't think everyone had intended to leave. After he split up the bill (which was nice that he did that) and brought all the payments back we felt that we were "being kicked out." So once it was evident the server was done with our table, we paid our bill and left. I'm sure that many of us may have stayed a little longer had we not felt we needed to pay and go. #Yelp 365 Challenge - 001/365
(3)Ann V.
Don't expect "real" Mexican food here. It's edible, and that's all I've got. We won't go back unless the reviews get better.
(2)Beth T.
I recently went here for lunch while spending time over near Ko Olina. The food was bad. The ambiance was bad. The prices were WAY too high. It was a hugely disappointing meal. This is the only meal we had in my two weeks in Hawaii where we said, "this was a big mistake." We ordered taco plates. One with shrimp, beef, and fish. One with pork, beef, and fish. First of all, the tortillas were cold and chewy. I couldn't make myself eat them. The shrimp taco only had one meager shrimp. The beef was ok. The pork was dry. The fish was 80% batter, 20% fish. The refried beans on the side were really bland and not the right texture. AND, worst of all... they CHARGE you extra for cheese. On tacos. They charge .50 for cheese and .50 for sour cream and .50 for guacamole. On tacos you're already paying upwards of $13 for. (Lettuce is free... how kind.) I have never in my life seen a Mexican restaurant that charged extra for cheese & sour cream. ON TACOS. Oh, and it wasn't great cheese. It was that pre-shredded, dried out "cheese in a bag" type cheese. The service was OK. But didn't make up for the bland, overpriced, underseasoned food. I was raised on Mexican food and have pretty much seen it all, and can easily say I'd rather have 3 99c tacos from a truck stop.
(1)Brian R.
Fish tacos were good. They did not have good salsas. They brought me Tapatio. Chips were not great either.
(3)Lorilynn L.
Tasty food, sutprisingly inexpensive, best fish tacos and excellent service. Nice atmosphere too!
(4)Mundo V.
I had dinner with all my 100% mexican family. We are all Mexican food fanatics (in Mexico). We all share the same thoughts below: Service: Not the friendliest hostess, long wait for food. Server made a big effort though to make up for these. 3 stars. Facilities: Nice place, liked the terrace, good location. Assuming an issue with the men's restroom got solved fast: 4 stars. Tequila bar: One of the most complete I've seen. 5 stars. Margaritas: Margaritas are not Mexican. They had a decent Michelada though. 4 Stars. Prices: not cheap, but what I expected for a touristy place like this. 4 stars. Food (most important criteria): Again, coming from a family that leaves in Mexico and has eaten in many many awesome greasy spoon places: PRETTY DECENT, specially for a Mexican restaurant in Hawaii!!! 5 stars. My recommendation: Menudo, Pork in green salsa, chilatole, pescado aporreado. For Spanish students: some misspells on the menu!!!!!
(5)Mark F.
Live here in Honolulu and every time we stay at aulani we make this our first dinner. Good food, especially the beans. There is no great Mexican food on the island that i can find, but this is better than most. Chicken is good here.
(4)Annabelle T.
I ordered takeout to take back to the JW Marriott. Didn't even have hot sauce in the bag for my California Burrito. They skimped on the carne asada, had tons of cheese (so much it was overpowering...would have been fine if they hadn't been so scarce on everything else). It just didn't taste right and then it finally occurred to me there was no guac...then upon inspection I discovered that there was a slight green hint on my cheese, but nothing that I could actually taste. So disappointing, definitely had potential...for 14 dollars I expected more than a glorified quesadilla.
(2)Jason P.
Food's Ok. Really good tequila selection. But they *really* need to update the prices on their menus.
(3)C K.
My hubby and I use to frequent this place a lot before he was deployed. He just got back and we decided to go because how good the food was.... NOT ANYMORE!!! We started by ordering strawberry lemonade. The lemonade tasted like they gave us concentrate and ice. We had to continue to add water because of how thick the syrup was in the lemonade. Food came to the table cold. I ordered steak tacos, which the steak was cut into pieces (normally is steak slices) and the pico on top was so watery, the tortilla was falling apart like bread pudding. He ordered a combo taco plate, and his steak taco was the same, his shrimp taco came with 2 deep fried shrimp (normally is grilled shrimp). Both plates came with beans and rice. The "Refried" beans was more like a paste with no beans in sight. The rice was good, however it was cold. A few hours laters, both of us ended up in the hospital with FOOD POISONING. Needless to say we are never going back!!!
(1)Malia A.
My hubby and I intended to eat an early dinner at Monkeypod restaurant only to find they were closed for the day due to a private function. So we trekked accross the street to Just Tacos for the first time. I'm so happy we did even though we are both are not typically big fans of Mexican food. We were seated immediately, ordered a coke and a classic margarita which came out to our table a few minutes later. Our servers Matt and Nancy were helpful and friendly. We had our fussy1 year old with us and she was squirming and crying almost the entire time we were there. Nancy was nice enough to offer to hold the baby so we can eat comfortably! Now that's going above and beyond her job duties. I ordered the #2 combo and the enchiladas were cheesy and perfect. I don't remember the name of my husband's dish but it involved steak, chicken, shrimp and a whole lotta cheese. He loved it. The prices are not bad either $15 for the combo #2 comes with 2 cheesy enchiladas, 1 tamale, beans and rice all smothered in sauce and a dollop of sour cream. I'm going back again soon.
(5)Evo S.
Very good food!!!! Our order was enormous, we couldn't finish all of it. Salsa was yummy. It is a little pricey, but we'll worth it. I guess being only one of a few places out there, it allows them to charge a few extra dollars. $60 for two entrees and two appetizers. Lights are dim for a romantic evening, but I prefer to see my food before I eat it!!!! Would I go back again??? Yes I would, but I have to save my $$$ before the next visit!!!!'
(5)D M.
I won't pretend to be a Mexican connoisseur because I'm not by any means. I have been here a handful of times (frequented the mililani location several times) and here is what I can say. Sometimes the food is pretty good and other times is okay. It's inconsistent when it comes to food. The tequila selection is its main attraction and it is pretty extensive. I do have a soft spot for a handmade margarita.
(3)Adele T.
Food was ok. I've had better quality elsewhere. Would not go back or recommend.
(2)Kenny C.
I only come here for the food. The staff has always been very friendly with great service. I recommend the chicken enchiladas with both sauces.
(4)Rob P.
While driving home from the west side, Mexican food sounded like the perfect end to a beach day. I yelped the closest Mexican Food Restaurant and Just Tacos in Ko'Olina was a few miles away. It had mixed reviews, but I've been to the Mililani and Hawaii Kai locations and they've always been consistently good, so I gave this one a shot. We got there around 6pm, the line wasn't too long for dinner rush and the hostesses were somewhat friendly. They said it would be a 25-30 minute wait for a table, but the hostess suggested the bar since it was just us two. The bar seating was a great idea because we found an open table right away. The table was fronting the windows and could partially see the sunset. The server came over right away and was really friendly. I don't remember if she told us her name, but found out later it was Kimmy. We ordered the classic and Cadillac margaritas and the fried calamari as an appetizer. For the main course, we ordered the quesadilla and two chicken tacos. Everything was really good. The calamari was lightly breaded and tasty and marg's were refreshing. The quesadilla has always been a favorite with any Just Taco's. Light tortilla and flavorful seasoned meat, And A LOT of cheese made it perfect. The two chicken tacos had a good balance of sweet/mild spices. The Manager Matt came over to introduce himself and asked how everything went. As a whole, this place definitely deserves 5 stars, but had to drop a star because of the restrooms. It was fairly clean, but the placement of the urinal was very weird. The sink and urinal were abnormally close together and almost level height with each other. So, it's makes kind of a weird situation when someone's using the urinal and another using the sink. Recommendations: Seating- Look for seating at the bar. The smaller tables are usually pretty open. Cadillac Margarita-Little more expensive, but loaded with alcohol. Usually one and I'm good. Make sure you check in and claim the deal. It's 10.00 for 20.00 off fare coupon. Definitely going to be a return customer. Food, service, and staff made this location a must for Mexican food when visiting the west side.
(4)Jennifer N.
Not good at all, slow service, but the location is good for lunch after the lagoons. I won't be back even though I go to the lagoons often.
(2)Alison D.
Food is decent. They have a 60oz margarita, which can be fun! Good chips and salsa! I had the taco salad which was good but a little bland.
(4)Madiya M.
Went here for dinner. Thought it was average quality food. Definitely not something I'd return to unfortunately. Good atmosphere and good service. Our waitress was on the dot honest about what dishes are good and what aren't. The chipotle butter shrimp were actually pretty good.. Spicy and huge. Prices are reasonable too. Nachos were ok and the complimentary pico and chips were amazing
(3)Tyler T.
Believe it or not, they serve more than just tacos! Pretty cool atmosphere. Food took about 25 min or so. So.... pretty long. But our waiter Kainoa was pretty chill. Good service! Each visit to Just Tacos, staff has been friendly. I ordered the Chile Rellenos; wanted to try something new. it is a cheese stuffed egg batter fried pepper, covered in tomatillo sauce with mexican rice and refried beans on the side. it was good, but not amazing or anything. it was 13.99$ li hing mui margarita was pretty good too!
(4)Craig P.
Pretty decent to very good. Try the apple chimichangas.
(4)T D.
Absolutely terrible management here. They don't make contact with the customers when they walk around. They seem to just walk around with their noses in the air like they're too good to do table visits and ask how the customers are doing
(1)Tyler C.
Carnitas was very dry! Bar area was busy, but the restaurant was not. Not worth going unless you just want to drink at the bar. Why were they let in this area, who knows...
(1)Jerod P.
Wish there was a 3.5 star. My mojacate was really good but the meal was quite expensive for Mexican. Service was just ok.
(4)Joseph Y.
Unfortunately, not a good night to come to this restaurant. We made a reservation in advance and were seated about 10 minutes after we arrived. First red flag was it took about 10-15 minutes to get our drinks and they forgot one, which then took another 10-15 minutes to deliver. The food order took over an hour to deliver and it arrived luke warm to cold. By then we engaged the manager who was very nice (as was the server) but by then we were ready to leave. When food finally arrived, it was "just okay" and did not overcome the serve mistakes. If you go, don't order the hotwings and don't be fooled by the crowds. There isn't much there to choose from so they have a captive audience. Again, this was our review based on this one night - but we will not likely return.
(1)Jennifer L.
Why would a Californian go for Mexican food in Hawaii? It wasn't planned, and we ended up at Just Tacos yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… because it was close to Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, where we were staying. What I liked: + Décor - nice. + Bar was impressive looking and appealing. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… + Ceviche - I tried it for the first time - it was fresh and a generous portion. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… + Steamed fish with pineapple salsa - I'm always a sucker for fruit salsa, and the fish was tasty too. I didn't like the rice or side salad. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… + Chicken fajitas - yum. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… + Train passes behind the restaurant on weekends - fun for kids to see. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… On the flip side: - I know lard in beans is more authentic Mexican food, but I prefer healthier vegetarian beans (my pescatarian dad and I didn't try them on account of the lard). - Tableside guacamole wasn't made at our table and wasn't anything special. - Fajitas, while delicious, didn't come with some of the usual sides (sour cream, pico de gallo, cilantro, beans, etc.). - Spanish rice - I'm never much of a fan, and this was no exception. - Side salad - meh. I'm not sure why they say "Just Tacos,," since Mr. L's shredded beef "taco" looked a lot like a burrito to me. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Tip for parents: they don't have milk at this restaurant (only horchata). Bring your own or go to the market across the street. Overall, I think this is good Mexican food, especially considering it's in Hawaii. My main suggestion would be the addition of beans cooked in vegetable oil to include vegetarians and people who are trying to eat healthier. I'd return for fajitas and a drink. It's a solid place - 3.5 stars.
(4)Mike C.
Overpriced and underwhelmed. I knew there was an issue when my meal arrived before my cocktail. Server was pleasant, cocktail was decent, food was poor.
(2)Tom G.
So we stayed at Aulani resort right down the street from Just Tacos, and we were surprised by how good the food was. I got the chile rellenos, which had to be the best I've ever had. My fiancé had the tostadas, which she liked, but they were a bit spicy for her, so be sure to ask for milder flavors if you don't do well with spicy food. We were also on our honeymoon, so the Manager noticed and have us two free shots of this sweet tequila. I have to say, it was a great experience, especially being our first night in Hawaii. If you are in the area, definitely stop by here.
(4)Fay M.
We had the ultimate fajita...steak, shrimp, n chicken combo. It was delicious and enough for 4 people! We brought home more than half the order. I shared it with my sister. The li hing margarita's were yummy! Perfect blend of everything! We had a yelp deal of $10 for $20 and it was honored that same day. Thabk you yelp, for the added savings!
(5)Norm B.
3 stars Not Mexican or even Tex-Mex but something between a college taco hangout and sports bar. Tastes are just okay and the servings are certainly of sufficient volume to squash those hunger pains after a day on the water. Great wait staff and robust margaritas.
(3)Tamra P.
Oh thank you Just Tacos for....well, existing. I've learned to cook as a result of me not liking the food options in Kapolei with 2 exceptions. Now, whoo hoo I have a 3rd choice for date night! Whoo hoo!!! After an ever-so-long drive to the Westside after a long week of work, I was in need of good food and a cocktail. Our waitress was friendly, we were seated quickly, and then it was time to peruse the novel of a drink menu. I didn't even know there was so much tequila made in the world. The hubby got the Cadillac Margarita, blended, and I got a glass of Chardonnay. (You won't see wine anywhere on the menu, but just ask.) One sip of his though, and I wanted to snag it! I'm not usually one for margaritas but this was not your typical out-of-a spinning machine kind of drink. It was gigantic and very classy looking, with a smooth taste. OK! Weekend has officially started! Yum. BTW Just Taco's? They lie. They have wayyy more than tacos. We ordered the Molcajete to share as well as a monster basket of chips and salsa while we waited. It was literally like a whole bag of chips. They also have an amazing tableside guacamole for $5. Not chunky which was kind of different, and we don't know why it's called tableside but it tasted good. The Molcajete a hot rock bowl thing with steak, chicken, shrimp, cheese, and all kinds of delicious, sinful, fattening goopy goodness that you wrap up in tortillas. 29096427051734183 calories later we were happily stuffed and had a little snack to bring home for the dog. We will definitely be back for more Molcajete and margaritas!
(4)January L.
I used to love Just Tacos. However, we had poor customer service tonight. We were expecting 14 people. The restaurant was practically empty. We waited 45 minutes to sit down since half of our friends weren't there. I asked to speak to the manager, the hostess gave me attitude, and stayed at the front desk for a good 5 minutes before walking slowly to the manager. Poor customer service! I finally spoke to the manager. The manager said, It's a good learning experience for everyone. The hostess didn't use common sense!" No where in his dialogue was an apology. I am seriously disappointed with Just Tacos. I work too damn hard for my money to give it away to people who don't care about how I feel and what I need. So, I'm blacklisting Just Tacos due to poor customer service. I gave 2 stars cuz I like their 60 oz margaritas and their carne asada burritos. But customer service is horrible! They just lost free publicity. Go to Monkeypod!!! I know I will get AWESOME service there!!!
(1)Stefanie M.
Ko Olina could really use more affordable great dining options, unfortunately, Just Tacos is wholly mediocre. We tried the grilled chicken taco salad, fish tacos and the civiche, and it was all bland and underwhelming. The guacamole felt generic, not fresh and like it came out of a costco tub. The drinks looked good, and the patio is nice, service was pretty friendly and it's walking distance from Aulani Disney Resort, if they could make the food taste good it would be a great little place to grab tacos. Right now it's less flavorful than taco bell.
(2)Judy K.
Li Hing Mui Margaritas are the best. Try em blended or on the rocks. The food is ok but it is not authentic Mexican food at all. The deep fried beef chimichanga is pretty good. The management is great!
(4)Deanna N.
I'm surprised by the low overall rating for this restaurant. I ate here yesterday with my husband and my parents. We decided to take a walk from out timeshare and see what this new (for us) taco joint had to offer. We loved it. We had a few beers - several Mexican options on draft. Each of my dining companions had a taco plate. I had some trouble deciding on what to order. I had already noted the excellent customer service this place had to offer as soon as we walked in the door. Every staff member welcomed us as we passed by walking to our table. Our server, Cy, was so friendly. My husband and I are vegetarians and as soon as I asked her if the beans were cooked with lard, she said yes and the rice was cooked in chicken stock. Without missing a beat, she pointed out all the veggie friendly options on the menu and offered to bring us a side of grilled veggies instead of the rice and beans. Now that's service! Most Mexican restaurants either don't know if their beans contain lard or they do know but lie about it. We can tell. I decided on the chile relleno and is was delicious. The sauce was so yummy. The rest of my family said the tacos were good, not great. We also think we should have received chips and salsa for the table without having to order and pay for it. This is why I'm giving a 4-star rating instead of 5. But if I was rating based on service alone, 5 stars no question.
(4)Kikumi P.
Margartias. The only reason to come here. Other then that the food is mediocre at best. The music is WAY TO LOUD. Our waiter kept asking us to repeat ourselves because he couldn't hear, you couldn't hold a regular conversation because you felt you were shoulting and by time we left I had the worst headache from all the noise..... It's worth the extra wait to sit outside.
(2)Matt O.
As big Mexican food fanatics my wife and I were excited to find a Mexican restaurant here in Ko Olina. From the moment we walked in we found it very refreshing, especially after tasting some of the resort dining options. The atmosphere was light and friendly. Our waitress was kind and helpful in her descriptions of the entrees. We chose to sit outside and it was very pleasant to watch the golfers as they teed off, enjoying a 24 oz frosty longboard lager and fresh chips y salsa. After reading one of the other reviews on here I decided to go with the baja burrito which well exceeded my expectations. My wife, being the appetizer kind of lady, ordered the ceviche. We were both very happy with the quality of the ceviche- it was fresh and delicious. The guacamole was very complimentary and along with the baja we left full and happy. Highly recommend!
(5)Laura A.
Absolutely amazing! I had a steak burrito that was huge and tasted amazing! My husband had the chicken fajitas. The pieces of chicken were huge and the best we have ever seen. I don't normally like guac but I tried the little dish that came with his fajitas and it was really good. The table next to us enjoyed a 60oz margarita that looked huge but they said it was great!
(5)J L.
Not sure why this place only has 2 1/2 stars? We finally decided to try it out and it was definitely 4-5 star food and service. Our waiter Elliot was classy and the food was delicious.
(5)Cy K.
Okay Mexican Food. I had ordered a Chicken Taco Salad. It was kinda dry. The portion was really big. I ate half and took the rest home. I'll probably drench it in ranch dressing or something. We also got the Nachos. (not sure what its called but its an app) When the Nachos got to us it was a tad bit cold. But still very tasty. I must say that their Margaritas are AWESOME! One of the best I EVER had!! I had a Strawberry Mango Margarita w a Li Hing Mui rim, blended! Oh my was it fruity! I drank it like juice! The service was excellent! Our waiter was very polite, and on top of it. We just so happen sat next to the owner of the restaurant who's from Mexico. We were wondering why this big guy next to us was pointing to our table as he talked to our waiter. Come to find out he told the waiter to bring us a side nachos cuz he noticed we were waiting a while for our food. (we weren't even waiting that long..) when the owner was leaving he came to our table to introduce himself and thank us for visiting his restaurant. I thought that was really nice. Id probably come back more for the Margaritas than food. I had much better Mexican food. But I'd like to give the food another try.
(3)Linda K.
DO NOT EAT here! We are a family staying at the Aulani, 3 from Chicago, 1 from Portland, OR., the rest of us from Hawaii Kai. Just ate here tonight & service was way too slow, food very flavorless. 7 adults & a 1 yr. old & a 2 yr. old, then they had the nerve to add 18% gratuity because we were a table of 8 or more, little ones counted as adults!! Our Mainland sons were very disgusted by the pitiful quality of this Mexican food, we felt like they couldn't care less, serving tourists so why bother? We certainly will NEVER go back!
(1)Andrew T.
Restaurant started out fine. No wait for a table and a choice of sitting inside or outside as the restaurant wasn't especially busy. Decided to start off with some drinks and the "table side guacamole." This is where it all started to go downhill. The waitress promptly delivered a basket of chips, 2 salsas, and a platter of guacamole and Pico. The guacamole was never made table side, despite the name "table side guacamole." Perhaps they meant the guacamole was delivered on the side of the table? Either way, it tasted like the prepackaged stuff you find in the grocery store. Now, the drinks. As we were seated close to the bar, we noticed that the drinks were sitting around for about 10 minutes after they were made. After we were never able to find our waitress, I eventually resorted to getting up and serving the drinks to my dinner table myself. Next came the main course. The shrimp taco included one measly looking piece of shrimp that had been deep fried in a deep batter. The refried beans contained lard. And the enchilada sauce tasted like grocery store brand canned enchilada sauce. After this forgettable meal, we were anxious to get out of there. Unfortunately, our waitress disappeared yet again and it took about 15 minutes after eating to clear all plates and deliver the bill. Overall, an especially poor performance in an area filled with mediocre restaurant selections.
(1)Cassandra P.
Love this place! Happy Hour 2pm-5pm! Wonderful deals!
(4)Chris O.
I love Just Tacos!! I live in the Kapolei area and it's not easy finding a casual restaurant on this side with nice ambiance. By ambiance I mean decor that has character. In Kapolei, there is nothing like that. Almost every restaurant is an exact duplicate of the one next door to it...i.e. Hapa Grill and En Fuego. I might be wrong but these two restaurants seem to be the same exact restaurant. Also, as far as decor goes for restaurants in this area, it is virtually non-existent. It's just a short drive from home but dining in the Ko Olina area provides a huge upgrade to the dining experience. Just Tacos is nestled in this area. I love dining outside there...especially at night (tiki torches would be a nice addition for evening dining). My favorite thing to order here is their Pacifico draft beer and their beef nachos. Service has always been great. For Mexican on this side of the island, I would definitely recommend this place. Also, if you love tequilla, the waiter told us that they have the largest selection on the island. So drink up!
(5)Niki J.
I love me some mexican food!! so while my parents were visiting from the big island we decided to seek out some yummy mexican food that was close by. Just Tacos was okay, the fajitas were mostly veggies and a little bit of meat.. my tacos were pretty good, i had the combination tacos with a carne asada, fish and carnitas. the carnitas and fish were delicious and the carne asada was gross, it looked and tasted like ground hamburger without seasoning. i would never get that again. the drinks were decent and the seemed to have a large assortment of tequilas. I love tequila and although the food was mediocre i could definitely see coming back here some day for drinks... minus the parents. :)
(3)JR W.
Revisited "Just Taco's" and still have a hard time with the negative comments from some. Our wait staff was attentive and very pleasant. We ordered the Tostada's and Tamale plate, both had good flavor. The only negative comment I can make about the food was that the temperature of the tamale's was a little uneven and a little more chicken would help plump up the tamale's. We sat in one of the booths and as others have pointed out, they are in need of recovering. The manager stopped by to inquire about our visit and we pointed this out to him. He indicated he was aware of the condition and was taking steps to address the issue. I hope others will give Just Taco's a try for themselves and not let a few negative reviews scare them away.
(4)Ron L.
The chips were stale and they did not have a stocked bar. The food was not great and the service needs work. Went there because I had a decent experience the time before. What a let down.
(1)Denise M.
Service was mediocre & food definitely did not have an authentic homemade taste to it :(
(2)Stephen S.
Service was great but not enough to make up for highly substandard food. Fish tacos were greasy and guacamole tasted store bought and pre-made. A step below Chipoltle in every way except for the bill.
(2)David K.
This meal was a lesson in contrasts. We were staying at Aulani across the street, and my wife had a craving for tacos so we decided to try this restaurant. The chips and salsa were standard fare that you would expected at any chain Mexican restaurant on the mainland. Nothing special there, but nothing horrible either. I was intrigued by the chicken mole taco as that is usually a whole dish, and my wife decided to get one of the shrimp dishes and requested that they serve it as a deconstructed taco. I guess they took the deconstruction to heart, because I got a plate of brown mush which looked like something my dog threw up. Since I haven't eaten here before, I don't know if that is the standard presentation or if this was out of the norm. The presentation should have been the first warning. I took a taste of the mole, and the temperature was inconsistent, A good portion of the dish was cold. The wait staff agreed to take it back, and we received a new portion. While the hot part of the dish was hotter, there were still a lot of lukewarm/cold spots. It was like someone was reheating the dish in a faulty microwave. At this point, the manager came to our table and apologized profusely. To his credit, he did offer to provide a different deal at no charge; however, having seen a few too many Kitchen Nightmare episodes, I was reluctant to eat anything else from that kitchen. It didn't help that someone in a chef's uniform was walking around with a clueless look on his face. I declined and told the manager that I was good for the moment. So, why am I giving this place 2 stars instead of 1? My wife's shrimp dish was actually very good. I guess you have to know what to order here and I made the wrong choice. That said, we probably won't be back the next time we're at Aulani.
(2)Sol R.
My boyfriend and I wanted to try Mexican in the area... but before we did, we read reviews about Just Tacos... and were a bit hesitant. However, we wanted to try it out ourselves. Here are some pain points I'd like to express: 1. SERVICE: Despite all the reviews reporting "bad" service, I would have to rate this 3 STARs for the fact that the manager was helping out our waitress. My mouth was dry and water was not being filled quick enough. 2. FOOD. Not a pleasant experience! My boyfriend had the Beef & Chicken Fajitas and the meat was dry, chewy, with a weird lemon taste to it (old meat perhaps). He stated "this is the worst Mexican food I've had... ever!" I had the Fish Tacos, which was ok... too bad the fish was not grilled. It probably would have been better than deep fried because the batter got soggy, especially if they used too much batter. We enjoyed the Calamari, however, which is weird because we didn't expect that a Mexican restaurant. Would've liked to taste the Fried Ice Cream but my tummy was hurting... so i couldn't give dessert a try. Needless to say, we probably would not go back here... we wanted to try it despite all the reviews... but we're with the majority... this is a 2 star place.
(2)Crissie M.
Ok so This place has a great location
(3)Shar B.
Horrible food, over priced, friendly service.
(1)Hikari K.
Went there twice, SHAME ON ME! I use to love this place! One of the only decent Mexican eateries on the Island - I was so wrong! Went to grab a Margarita and a quick bite - Service was slow (Mind you, the place wasn't packed at this time) Took forever to bring my Margarita, I took a sip, and I had to ask if it was a VIRGIN! Called the waiter over, and asked him to add a little more - (Lost serious points for that one) I was a little annoyed -. Well, we decided to give it a second try not to long after...SHAME ON ME!! It was even worse on the second visit! The same waiter served us which was a big FAIL! The only thing that's consistent here is the terrible service! Big time disappointment- I
(2)Don D.
I cant give a real review because I sat at the bar and only had some drinks. I did eat here before for dinner but I dont really remember the experience. Must have been "mediocre". But as far as the bar goes, if youre a tequila lover, you'd love this place. Im not a fan of tequila, but I do drink it. But after reading the reviews, I can see how service can be a little slow. There were actually a lot of group seatings, inside AND outside on the patio. Servers will only do good here if they are "experienced" servers. If not, good luck! I will do a review update when I come and order some food!
(3)Craig S.
Food very average. Waitress tried to lie and get more money out of us. Said tip was 18% on party of 5. Menu clearly states 8. She said they just changed to 5. I asked for manager he confirmed it was 8. She said she lied. Should have left her zip. Her service was below average.
(1)Kim G.
Great alternative to "resort" dining. More value than ABC- our service was fantastic, although I can see why there are so many complaints to slow service if busy. All three hostess/busses were doing make up and hair and didn't seem to care about customers. Waitress was wonderful. Great portions, especially with calamari. Great shared appetizer. Can't go wrong with the guacamole, chips were stale, possibly due to humidity? DEFIANTLY RECOMMEND GOING EARLY (not lunch or dinner rush). To get great service.
(3)Victoria A.
I came with a friend on a Wednesday night... we weren't expecting a large crowd but there was. We were seated promptly; however, the doors to the outside seating remained open. There was a live band and it was extremely loud. We shared the nachos appetizer... and intended on ordering entrees later. But it was a very large portion... we couldn't even finish it. and it was only $9! The fried ice cream is a must try, if you haven't had any before. I've tried at Hapa Grill and Loco Mocco's; each has their own version. Dining experience is more of a 3 stars for me. I couldn't really hear myself talk... let alone, think. The food is 4 stars. I'd love to come back and sit at the bar... those margaritas sound yummy!
(4)Bill B.
Great place to hang out, Nance & Mary will take care of you behind the bar. The food & drinks are great; the friendliness of the staff & the locals is outstanding.
(4)lisa h.
So my boyfriend and I were just in Ko Olina to celebrate my birthday on a work trip for him, good times. One night we thought we would try this place since it is practically across the street from the villa we were staying at, what a mistake that was!!! We walk in and there are 3 people at the front table with plenty of empty tables and we are still asked to wait. . . and wait . . . and wait. And yet the 3 gals at the front really were not doing anything at all. Finally we are seated . . . We must have waited about 15 minutes for anyone to even acknowledge us, let alone take our beverage order. Finally one of the 3 gals from the front desk brings us water. We wait about another 10 minutes before our server shows up. She was a nice young girl but completely overwhelmed you could tell. We order, I order the fish tacos and my bf gets their house specialty this molten cheesy thing and a cocktail. The cocktail actually shows up fairly quick and was pretty tasty I must say. Our food shows up and OMG, not good at all. They obviously don't even remotely know how to season their food. My fish tacos had no flavor whatsoever and an odd texture and the rice was so overcooked it looked like cat food. My bf's molten cheesey things has shrimp in it and they don't remove the tails! Seriously!!! SO they expect you to fish threw this cheesy lava and take the shrimp tails off, um I don't think so. Our server comes to check on us and can see that I have taken all of 2 bites of my food and pushed my plate away. We ask to talk to the manager, not a problem she says. Well we waited forever for him as he was outside schmoozing with what looked like some of the LPGA ladies that were in town for a tournament. He finally comes over, really has nothing to say and seems to care less but does say he will credit us for my meal and take 25% off the other dish. Ok, fine whatever . . . but then he never tells our server and again we wait . . . and wait . . . and wait. Finally I can see and hear them talking and he was very rude to her and says I told you what to do and shes like um no you didnt. The bill finally comes and we could not get out of there fast enough. So, in a nutshell: food sucks and customer service (with the exception of our server) was no way near good and very understaffed for servers. I would say save your money and go someplace else, anywhere else!!! On a side note, its really sad cuz they have a great location but have no idea how to run a business, cook food or treat customers as they should be.
(1)Donald M.
it was simply ok. Quality food. reasonable prices. decent service. fast. but food was kinda boring and didn't taste any different or better than you can get at any other "cantina"
(3)Miles J.
I think I have fell in love with Ms.Rita! Her first name is Marga, and her middle name is Li Hing Mui! Try it you won't be disappointed! I came during happy hour and sat at the bar and had the appetizers, they were ok ( calimari and nachos), but the drinks were OUTSTANDING! I'm going to have to get a room or bring a DD so can really enjoy the adult beverages!
(5)Josh S.
This place is ok. Not great but not bad. The service needs to improve a little but the drinks were large and very good. Not bad drinks for a resort area. They have a dish that comes in a hot bowl with a ton of cheese that is very good. You can't go wrong with the meal.
(3)Ana A.
Negative FIVE stars if I could!!!! Edible over priced food, nice vibe, but the worst service!! It the closest thing to Mexican food anyone can have but NOT authentic! I will say I felt like an idiot just sitting around waiting and guessing who is our server. Finally, the ONLY friendly staff (a young girl is braids) came up to us with a nice but with some sarcasam saying "I can help you I feel so bad for you guys, no one has helped you. My shift will be over soon." Then we were left stranded again waiting for food and pleading that someone would pay attention to us. I am so glad they surveyed us right after our meal, b/c I am a very honest person, I hope their manager will take my feedback seriously. Will I return, NOT IN A MILLION YEARS (or ever)!!!!
(1)Mark W.
Recently opened (early June '10), this Just Tacos is located across the street from the JW Marriott Resort & Spa in the new "Ko Olina Station" shopping center (the map has it a little further inside the resort) I stopped by last night and was VERY happy. The menu selections were typical mexican fare (tacos, burritos, nachos etc), but they have a little spin on each of them to add some flavor and style. I had the "3 tacos" with the marinated beef, marinated pork, and shrimp - all were good, although the pork was the best. The drinks were great too - besides a healthy stock of draft and bottled beer, I selected one of the classic margaritas which was definately big on taste (i.e., tequilla). A true party-drink is the 60oz (that's 5xbeers for those needed a quick reference) margarita that's guaranteed to get everyone "socially lubricated" Total check with tip was around $40 for nachos, tacos, and drinks.
(4)Helen C.
My first time here was with a friend and we sat indoors. The service was prompt but the food was HORRORS. I ordered carne asada taco's and trust me I don't know what kind of meat they used but to me it was over cooked ground beef with no taste. My friend had the fish taco's and seemed to enjoy them. I let our server know I was disaapointed and the manager apologized and offered me a free desert and didn't charge for the meal. I thought that was nice. Next time a bunch of us went after work and the food was OK nothing special for the price (Chicken cesar salad), although the chicken tasted pretty good. The li'hi'moi margaritas are the best but the service was definately lacking. I figured because we had a large party. A group of us went back two more times (honestly just for the margaritas) and the service was HORRORS. Took forever for them to take your order, bring the correct order and drinks and refill any beverages or chips. When the food arrived it was cold, tasted nasty and just was overall unenjoyable. I voiced my disdain to the manager (same one from the first time) and all he could do was apologize and offer free desserts. They must not make them in house because he is quite free with the dessert giving aways. He also did not charge me for my meal but then again I wasn't going to pay for it anyway. I made it known that we are not tourists we are locals who want to help the business out but I will tell you I have not been back since. Save your time and aggravation and go across the street to Monkey Pod. Now at least the food wasn't cold.
(1)Kimberly K.
This place has an amazing selection of Tequilas! Customers can buy a bottle and keep it at the bar. I can never seem to leave this place sober. Two thumbs up for liquor. Not true for the food. Selection is ok, but there are not many healthy options available and the price point is high if you want to try several items. Pleasant atmosphere. Not cheesy and overdone like so many "Mexican-themed" restaurants.
(2)Jeannine G.
Walked over from Aulani, very convenient. Salsa was fresh, beans were very good (a must for a good review), and the margarita was yummy - I wish I could remember the name - it's all natural with agave. Service was very good and fast. We had the signature dish (shared it) - the three meats with the cheese. Actually pretty good! Cheapest meal we had in that trip! ;)
(4)John B.
Great place to eat when your here from out of town. You have to order the chipotle chicken wings... The best wings I've had in a long time.
(5)E And L G.
The scene-went for lunch on a Saturday, 1130, the restaurant had but 10 customers, we were told that unfortunately if we wanted served in a timely manner we would have to sit in the bar...and there was no one in the dining room...no one. It was rude and weird. We sat in the crowded bar..gave it a chance...the only way we got served is from the bar tender...watching three or four wait staff just come and go..manager looking staff doing set up and serving our food... this establishment serves tourist and as a local want to see the best service possible...once the door is open, the sign on....game on....food is okay, drinks were nice...bartender..very nice, he was holding the fort down....will not go again or recommend
(1)Timorie B.
Extremely nice staff and the manager, Matt is super friendly. We come to the island 3 or 4 times a year and will make this a regular stop for a nice dinner. It's convenient and has a nice atmosphere at a reasonable price.
(5)KJ W.
Fish ceviche and chicken tamales were not good. It was actually horrible. I would maybe come back for happy hour but not for the food.
(1)Mayo S.
The food is BAD...I ordered the shrimp tacos n they only had 1shrimp...also the beans r out of a can...greasy food n no Mexican flavor
(1)L O.
Ordered chicken nachos and chile relleno, food was edible...not great...
(2)TJ W.
Molcajete was fabulous! Absolutely delicious.My son had the steak quesadillas and they were very reasonably priced and were huge! Classic Margarita was ok. Not as strong as I like them. The Dos Equis draft was great! Very refreshing. Great place to have dinner and the outdoor seating was pleasant.
(4)Roger N.
Like others have written, I too came to Just Tacos because I was staying across the street at the Disney Aulani and wanted a change. The restaurant seemed to have a good crowd, so I thought I'd give it a try. You know you're off to something not right when the servers apologize in advance and warn you that ticket times are taking 30 minutes, in addition to the 30 minutes it took to get our table, despite having half the tables empty. While the wait staff are pleasant and attentive, its clear that management don't have a clue how to run a restaurant. I really think there is one cook. There is no other explanation for how incredibly long it takes to get your food. 30 minutes for two tacos? I had the regular chicken tacos. After 30 minutes, they came luke warm. They were quite tasty, but seemed salty. The refried beans seemed like they were poured straight out of a can. The mexican rice was pleasant, and surprisingly warm, compared to the rest. I fear that Just Tacos isn't going to survive if they don't get their act together quickly. There is at least one, if not two more restaurants opening soon in the same complex, and they've got the Country Market ABC store and MonkeyPod right across the road to compete with, both with better food and no 30 minute wait. And to make it ever more interesting, on the way out, the manager was talking to a police man about how a customer became belligerent (probably because of wait time). The wait staff are clearly frustrated too. I hate to say things like this, but you'd be better off going to Taco Bell. You'll get better quality.. and it will be hot food, cheaper and faster.
(1)Shiu R.
Are? You? Kidding? Me? The NEGATIVES - poor service, staff that doesn't know the menu (it says right there it comes with rice and beans), 10 minutes for a guava juice (yes, just juice), silverware for only half the table, cold (from the fridge) corn tortillas, gross ceviche (I wanted fish not lime juice, thanks) and an entree that arrived when the other 6 were already done eating The POSITIVES - Manager listened, apologized and adjusted the bill (1 star) Carne Asada quesadilla not bad. This place has potential but needs new management.
(1)Marissa W.
My boyfriend and I were on vacation at Ko Olina and decided to grab some food and margs at Just Tacos (since we're younger and there's not much else to do at that resort). We sat in the bar area and our server, Nancy, was awesome! She was very attentive and super nice! Probably one of the best servers we've ever had anywhere, and with my boyfriend being a restaurant manager, we've eaten at a lot of restaurants. The manager also came over to us later in the night to make sure everything was going well, which is always a good sign. We each ordered an entree and both dishes were great! My boyfriend got the Molcajete Tacos, which were incredible! All the ingredients came hot and bubbling in a mini cauldron with handmade warm tortillas on the side so that you can assemble your own tacos. Incredible!! I sampled the Chimicanga Burrito and it was one of the best burritos I've ever eaten! Super crispy on the outside and the meat is soft and flavorful on the inside. We both ordered the Cucumber Serrano Marg to try something different and it was so refreshing from your average bar-mix margarita. The freshly chopped seranno peppers gave the drink a little kick, but they didn't overpower the taste of the tequila or the cucumbers. Great restaurant!! Definitely check it out if you're around. My boyfriend and I will definitely be back next time we're in town!
(5)John H.
If you like good Mexican food, don't eat here! Should have walked out when we ordered chips and guacamole to start and they didn't have chips! Ran out of chips at a Mexican restaurant! Wife and I split the overpriced deluxe fajitas. Didn't even finish the leathery, no flavored, road kill. I rarely write scathing reviews but this one is well deserved. If this place wasn't at a resort, or had some competition, they would be out of business in two months.
(1)Caroline F.
After eating at Hapa Grill the last 7 or 10 times we have gone out to eat.. Me and Rich decided to *GASP*.... try a different restaurant! So we start to brain storm on where to go, which was somewhat difficult because we haven't had much eating out experience in the Kapolei area, besides Hapa, Denny's, and when I drag him to Aloha Salads! After much debate we decided on Just Tacos in Ko'Olina! I have eaten at the Just Tacos in Mililani, and Pearl City, and I'm not a big fan of their food. I personally think their tacos are one of the worst things on their menu. I recently have discovered a GOOD, safe Just Tacos menu option.. The Fish ala Costa.. Which is basically a piece of steamed white fish.. with pineapple salsa.. pretty delicious if you ask me! Out of all the Just Tacos on island.. the one in Ko'Olina is hands down my favorite! Its fairly new, and very nice on the inside..bigger than both of the other locations combined! We went on a weekend night, and it was pretty empty! We decided to sit outside since it was a really nice evening. The patio is really nice, and you can enjoy the nice breeze coming off the ocean. The menu seems pretty much the same in every location, and I of coarse ordered the .. Fish Ala Costa, which was good as usual. I enjoyed a very good margarita, now that I can legally order a one! The Ko'Olina location has definitely made me think more highly of Just Tacos! The food seemed to be much better, and the service (which is usually very questionable at the other Just Tacos) was great, Our server was super friendly and took very good care of us. I'm glad they opened one on the west side, because now he have another option besides Hapa Grill for our regular dinner outings! We will for sure be hitting up this Just Tacos again in the near future!
(4)Sonny L.
I have gone here for after work drinks several times and enjoyed the atmosphere . However, the food could be more to desire. The nachos were very oily and some of the chips where hard as if not cooked. It seems that the food is precooked and then reheated when ready to serve.
(3)Christy S.
good food,good service
(4)Kona T.
We've eaten here three times, and won't be going back. The first time (year ago) the food was good and the service was excellent. The second time service was extremely slow and the food mostly bland. We thought maybe it was a fluke, so returned for a third time. We were seated for 15 minutes and had not even received drinks (after flagging down a manager), so we simply got up and left. No thanks!
(2)Aloha K.
Love it was great better then taco del mar
(4)Cathy C.
So the evening started out shakeu, We sat for 10 minutes b4 anyone even talked 2 us, They even ran out of rice,,,,who does that? However the food was awesome and the manager did give us a free appetizer and took 25% off the food the group is willing 2 give it another go hopefully we will get a chance to try the rice
(3)Stacy C.
We've eaten here many times, but the last time was not so good. We didn't have to wait long because we agreed to sit outside on a chilly evening. After we were seated and had waited for a long time, we were able to get eye contact with the manager who was walking around. When he came to our table, amazingly our waiter showed up too. Since we had waited we were ready to order our drinks and our food. They were out of the usual complimentary chips and salsa, but said we could order nachos because they were saving what chips they had to sell nachos. (I think they got it wrong! Should have told customers they couldn't sell nachos because of the limited chips, but were giving one bowl of their usual complimentary chips!) We ordered our food and a half order of nachos, and two margaritas. The waiter did bring us back two water glasses. Soon the waiter came back with my husband's margarita and our nachos were delievered. I waited and waited for my margarita. Finally, I stopped the waiter and asked about my drink, he said it was ready he just hadn't had the time to go get it. Our dinner was delivered and I still didn't have my drink. My husband finally got up and went to the bar and picked up my drink, the bartender appologized that it had been sitting there. Of course, it was watery, and wasn't made the way I had ordered it (no salt on the rim). When the waiter brought our check he told us he had given us the 10% KoOlina discount since we had the problem with the drink, but what he didn't know and hadn't asked was we are Ocean Club members and entitled to the discount anyway! Not our best trip. We will go again, and I hope next time we have a better experience, or it will be our last time!
(2)Edgar S.
Horrible food and service!!!
(1)Kevin B.
Got sucked into this place. Walked in just to look at the menu then we were escorted to the bar featuring 300 tequilas and mezcales. *A few hours later* we managed to escape. The food was pretty good (definitely some things I would do differently - and I KNOW Mexican cooking), but I'll say they're on the right track. Extremely high marks to the bar staff, and a solid recommendation for the "Trust Me" Margarita, which essentially gives the mixologist some latitude to make you a margarita based on your preferences. I chose one of their mezcales (for it's smoky properties) and the drink(s!) was wonderful. Will definitely go back for some drinks in the future. Not completely sold on the food just yet, but, they say it is a work in progress. Fair enough. I'll stick to margaritas and see where they take the food in the future.
(4)Matt M.
This Just Tacos in Ko'olina is a must try! My wife and I had great service in Dion and the lady that owns the place the 2nd time I went. The food was served promptly and tasted great. The meals are large and range ~$8-15 a plate which most people could split a plate honestly. Their huge. I wouldn't go so far to say it's the best I've had on Oahu but I will say it's the best if your looking at the value for your dollar in the size of the meals, atmosphere of the restaurant, and service you get. Just 2 wow things. It was the first Mexican restaurant I've been to with great leather covered menus and an electronic survey to wait your service at the end of the meal. Who else does that?
(5)ItalianSushiMasta C.
Go to tbell instead. Over salted meat. California burrito has mcdonalds French fries in it.
(1)Travis D.
IF YOU SIT OUTSIDE, WATCH YOUR STEP AS YOU ENTER THE PATIO FROM INSIDE! Luckily my wife gave me a heads up or I am confident I would have tripped! We actually saw one lady trip on it at the end of our meal and fall to the ground. I can't believe they don't have it fixed! Now, onto our experience... Service was OK, our water glasses were empty much of the time, but other than that we got everything we needed. Food was good, I got the steak fajitas, I've had better, I got a lot of food, the steak was kinda tough and chewy, I've had better. It didn't come with any cheese, sour cream, guacamole, or salsa, which I found kind of odd, nor did it come with any rice or beans (available for $2 extra). My wife had the Molcajete which I tried as well, it was delicious. Also mentioned, you don't get any chips and salsa, odd right? You can buy them for I believe $5, which are bottomless.
(3)D G.
My advice: Avoid like the plague! We stayed at the Aulani and were looking for a change of pace (and a meal that did not cost us a fortune). Being from LA, we thought, how bad can Mexican be? It's usually at least base line. Far from it though. My son's bean and cheese burrito was a dried up half folded microwaved tortilla with lard filled gross pinto beans. That's it. BTW, they don't even offer black beans. My so called "Cesar Salad" was a plate full of yellowed lettuce with that fake powdery parm cheese. It was 10 bucks and when I asked for extra dressing they charged an additional .50 cents. For a plate of yucky lettuce? My pal's chili relleno was not edible either. Yuck city. And we love Mexican food!!!! it was awful. My two cents.
(1)Elliot I.
Walked into restaurant and immediately smelled that 'wet towel' mildew aroma! Food quality was well below average - I.e., would not return. My wife ordered chicken fajitas and I ordered a chicken tostada. My meal was marginable while my wife's meal was ok. Service was above average. If you're staying at Ko'olina, it's better to drive 10 mins to the town where there are a lot more choices.
(1)Anna C.
food was good, service was terrible
(2)Kevin D.
not good. it was pricey and the food was bland.
(1)Pat S.
Don't know which is worse, the food or the nasty woman manager. I live nearby and tried the food a few times and am in awe of how bad it is. The Ko Olina locals call it "Almost Tacos" and that's being kind.
(1)David N.
Very nice atmosphere. Other than that, you are better off going to Costco and buying the rice and beans and a bottle of tequila. We started with table side guacamole because it was only a dollar more than the 3.99 chips...really, you charge for chips??? Upon our "guac" arrival, the food runner, whom should never aspire to be a waitress, sat down a green baby food like substance with pico de gallo sitting next to it. Again, this is table side guac; she then asked us if we wanted a spoon to mix it up ourselves. The guac was good for one thing...a good laugh. The bartender was nice, he held the place together. Being a resort spot, the prices were justifiable but the jump from a regular house margarita to a "trust me" margarita was 8.50 to $15, there is no trust with that one. I had enchiladas, I ate one of 3, not because it was bad but I had left overs at home I was looking forward to. My wife had the snapper with canned pineapple topping, a frozen fillet that was microwaved again...as my wife put it, the nicest thing was the hallway to the bathroom and the bathroom itself. Almost forgot, since my food took 10 mins longer than my wifes and because they delivered food to the employee seated next me before us, who was seated 15 mins after us...I got a shot of tequila....woohoo!
(2)Vince M.
Terrible service and no kids menu! And the food sucked!
(1)Genevieve R.
Here's more bitching about the service.... My boyfriend made reservations for 7:00. Restaurant seemed full with only two or three other groups waiting before us. We checked in and were told we'd be called when our table is ready. So we waited... Then the groups before us were seated and then the very many groups who arrived after us were getting seated. The hostess looked right at us many times but still failed to call us. My very patient boyfriend said to just wait because he refused to believe the service would be that stupid and grossly negligent. Unfortunately, he was wrong. After 40 minutes, during a lull where everyone was seated and it was only us waiting still and the three people in front were standing around, I approached them and asked what's going on... They gave me a lame ass excuse about one of the hostesses being new but basically they forgot about us even though we were standing in front of them for the past 40 minutes and they saw we were the only ones standing there but didn't even bother to approach us to let us know what's going on. We were seated right away and they promptly led us to a puny little table. Needless to say we turned right around and left the restaurant.
(1)Xavier M.
Must say. Pretty good Mexican food for Hawai'i. I'm from East L.A. so i could say I KNOW my Mexican food. The svc was OK, the manager Renee is a nice man. I always looked forward to saying Hi. I believe if you treat someone with respect (yes even the people that serve you food) they will give respect, and sure enough it worked. Yes you will be charged for chips & salsa..... YOUR in Hawai'i. everything cost money. get used to it, or don't go.
(4)Corinne B.
Our family went here on two occasions while staying at the Aulani Hotel. On the first occasion, the day after Christmas, we made a reservation earlier that day and were looking forward to getting some food off of the Aulani resort. Unfortunately, and through no fault of our servers, the food was not ready for over one hour and fifteen minutes. At that point, the three toddlers were losing it with boredom and one had a complete meltdown and so we left starving. We had already been told three times that it would be ready in 3 to 10 minutes. Giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming we could work around the wait time by taking out, we ordered food to go the next night and were told it would be a 10 to 15 minute wait. We arrived 20 minutes later only to wait an additional 20 minutes for our food. After all of that, the food was incredibly salty - both the chicken Tostada salad and the Supreme Taco. The staff were pleasant and gracious but my advice to them is to be realistic with people about wait times to help manage our expectations, particularly for people with small children that can't wait indefinitely.
(1)Mike D.
Dion gave us great service. Tacos had lots of meat and the fajitas were piled high. They need to make their own guacamole though.
(4)brett p.
$50 got dinners for 2 with stone cold beans, lousy food and margaritas delivered at the very end of the meal depsite at least 5 requests for the drinks. Don't even bother to go. I know there are slim pickings for restaurants in Ko'Olina, but do yourself a favor and skip this one.
(1)Kara K.
Each part of our experience with this restaurant was great. As soon as we walked in the door, we were greeted by a pleasant and friendly woman who made polite conversation with my 5 year old after she said hello to me. We were seated quickly, and the young gentleman who seated us (at a nice table by the window), assured us that our server would be with us soon. Our server was with us very quickly, was very polite and friendly, and brought over chips with extra pick de gallo along with the spicy salsa. We ordered guacamole, and he suggested that for the 3 of us, 3 smaller side cups would be more cost effective (and less wasteful) than the giant bowl of guac. He was right! He kept our drinks filled, and was attentive to our needs without being in our faces. When our food came out (in a timely manner), it was delicious! I got the Biria plate, which I highly recommend for anyone who likes beef. The portions for all of our meals were reasonable to generous. I couldn't finish all of mine, even though I wanted to. The restaurant also is clean, and bright. The bathroom (at least the ladies' room) was clean and well maintained. We were very happy with our experience here, and will return next time we are in the area.
(5)Lisa P.
We love this place. It's rare to receive poor service. The food is delicious & fairly priced; especially in Koolina. We always return. Calamari is BOMB!
(4)Jaykay A.
Average Mexican food. Just Tacos in Ko'Olina is probably the best Mexican food on Oahu, which isn't saying much. Do not go to other Just Tacos (ie Mililani) they are not the same. I've been to several places all over. This is better than all including the North Shore staples. There are better places on the Big Island and Maui. If you are a tourist from California or the southwest states. What are you doing looking at this. Go eat some where else. The service was good, polite and attentive. Much more than I can say for 80% of restaurants I have been to in Hawaii. And I have been to a lot. Tortillas for the tacos are scratch made. The tamales are fresh, no where else on the island has been that way. The chile relleno is great. They fire roast the chile and the egg batter is very light. Rice and beans pass the test. Only downsides are: The chips aren't fresh. But they bring them to the table when you arrive. You don't have to order chips and salsa off the menu like most places in Hawaii. The salsa is a decent Pico de Gallo and the hot salsa is good without being too hot. The Carne Asada tacos are pretty lack luster. The meat lacked all forms of seasoning. The just put Pico de Gallo on the top. If you are looking for that street Taco with the onions and cilantro, wait till you can go to the mainland.
(4)Yao C.
Average Mexican place.... Again when you stay at resorts.... U are limited to what you eat and we tried this place... Eh... It was okay.... Nothing terrible but nothing we had before.... No wait when we walked in... Ordered some daiquiris.... One mango and one strawberry... And the strawberry was awful.... The mango was okay.... But I've had so much better! The chips were hard but the salsa was pretty good.... They had a mild and a spicy! The guacamole was pretty good... Nice texture and flavor! I had the combo taco plate which had 3 choices of tacos along with refried beans and Mexican rice..... I tried the shrimp, carnita, and carnita asada...the shrimp taco was the best... One jumbo shrimp that was deep fried in a taco was great.... The carnitas was pretty good... But the asada was dry! We also has the fish tacos.... Pretty good! Deep fried in tacos was good! Would we come back again.... Probably not... Or maybe not anytime soon! Service was good! Kane helped us and he was a cool dude... Nice and acknowledgeable! Try this place but don't make it your first choice....
(3)Mark H.
Just Tacos is more than just tacos, but not too much more. They offer a few burritos, salads, enchiladas and fries as well. However, it's worthy to note they have a decent sized bar with a shit ton of tequila options. We had a few drinks and an order of the carne asada fries, which are topped with guacamole, salsa and sour cream. They were pretty good. The star here wasn't the old fashioned made with tequila or the food though; it's the service. Great group of people and I'd happily return if given the chance.
(3)Roxy W.
Location/Parking: They are located in beautiful Ko Olina. There is a small parking lot that is one way to get in to. (Major pain!) Don't go in to to the parking lot next to the restaurant because it is the exit. There is a parking time limit of 30 minutes. Food: My daughter's carne Asada fries were soggy. She only ate the meat from her dish. It was tasty besides the sogginess. I ordered a chimichanga. Crispy goodness, huge and filling! I ate half of it because it was so filling. My husband ordered the pork verde dish. The sauce is distinct. I don't know if I care for it but my husband loves it! The pork was shredded and tender. Drinks: I had a coconut Mojito and it was strong with a hint taste of coconut. It was a nice spin to a regular Mojito. Price: Most dishes cost around $15. The kid's size carne Asada fries cost $7.99. My chimichanga cost $12.99 and my husband's dish cost less than $15. The alcoholic drinks cost $10. Seating: There is indoor and outdoor seating. It's nice to sit outside when the weather is cool but today it was hot and it was nice being inside the air conditioned restaurant. Ambiance: It is nicely decorated and clean. The decor is appropriate for the restaurant. Music was a combination of reggaeton and traditional. Overall, it is a decent Mexican restaurant for the area. I would consider this Mexican restaurant more Americanized which is good for those who are new to the cuisine. The drinks are strong so it's a great place for drinks with friends.
(3)Lillian S.
Great food and service! Remember to use your Marriott Ohana rewards card to get 10% discount!
(4)Rachel L.
So, this place is a little more like a 3.5 than a solid four, but it was a solid 3 last time we were here, and I feel like some things have improved. 》Ambiance: very, very nice actually... the decor and styling fits perfectly with the type of architecture & food culture type. Music is also perfect, and not too loud or low. 》Cleanliness: very neat and clean. 》The salsa: um.. not salsa, it's Pico with some tomato sauce. This is critical because you can almost always judge a Latin restaurant by its salsa. Salsa no bueno... everything else: no bueno. -Tip: ask for the hot salsa, and mix it with the stuff they brought out.. not bad at all. 》Service: The service started our wonderful, and then after we got our food, and they asked how it was shortly after, it became completely non-existant. All of our waters stayed empty for quite a while, we had three empty plates on our table for at leat 20 minutes, and sat with greasy fingers desperate for napkins for entirely too long. 》Food: Most items are very bland & extra greasy. The best thing I've had here is the Molcajete, which wasn't bad, but also not very sabroso (flavorful). I had to put quite a bit of hot salsa in my tacos to get a decent food experience. The geese level of the cheese pot that has the chicken, steak & shrimp in it got ugly. I actually lost my appetite after a little while & it wasn't necessarily because I was getting full. This place has definite potential if they just correct a few things, but as it stands, the one in Mililani is substantially better.
(4)Danny Q.
Best place to go in Ko'olina after work for a couple of drinks! Visit the sexy mama's Kimi, Nancy & Nalani!
(5)Megan C.
Just Tacos is "just average," but I have a feeling that's just fine, especially when you're in a shopping district that caters to crowds that need to have "safe" choices - the families at Disney's Aulani and the honeymooners at the JW Marriott (or whatever it's being turned into). You won't have a mind-blowingly authentic experience here, but you also won't be turned off if you're looking for very basic, Tex-Mex food. I think if you can get past the mixed reviews for this place, and just go in with the expectation that it's middle-of-the-road Mexican (with a great tequila selection), you won't be disappointed. We also found that Just Tacos was one of the quicker, easier places for my hubby and me to grab dinner while still enjoying a sit-down atmosphere in Ko'Olani. Sure, we could have driven somewhere in Kapolei, but we just wanted to walk to dinner, and we needed something fairly Mexican. Although the chips are tasty and complimentary, a guacamole bowl appetizer will set you back $9. The good news is that the portion is plenty ample for two people to share. My husband ordered the combination tacos (which fortunately could be had with corn tortillas - clearly a request the waiter wasn't accustomed to), and opted for carne asada, chicken, and carnitas - the whole farm, if you will. He also ordered a side of lettuce, which will cost you 50 cents - so watch out :) He stated that the tacos were, as expected, average. The meat wasn't super-seasoned or spicy, but was tender and juicy. I gave their Mole Plate a chance, and actually was pleasantly surprised to have shredded chicken smothered with the rich, savory mole sauce, as opposed to the seemingly more common whole chicken breast or bone-in chicken. I'll prefer the shredded chicken mole style from now on! For the money and convenience, Just Tacos is a fine choice. Our dinner and guac only set us back $40, and our server, Nolan, was prompt and efficient. You might not be stupefied by Just Tacos, but you will likely be "just satisfied."
(3)Jacob T.
I thought this was just some boring chain restaurant catering to tourists. Its not, its a unique place with some character. Make their own tortillas and offer a delicious organic margarita with Taquilla from the owners company. Awesome gourmet tacos, I would definitely go again.
(4)Ananias T.
Another great after work experience here at Just Tacos! Much Mahalos to a super Seattle Bartendress "Nalani" for excellent service and great conversation! ...I made a new dinner foodie friend :)
(4)Derek B.
Overpriced, mediocre Mexican food. Chips taste store bought. Cheese tastes like the store bought Mexican Blend in a bag. Guac has very little flavor. Just not impressed.
(2)Theresa D.
Best meal and service since we arrived. Pork salsa verde and corn tortillas were awesome. Thanks for the great service and recommendation for dinner, Darrel
(4)Net Z.
The molcajete was delicious chicken steak and shrimp smothered in cheese.. Was amazing!!! Could have used more shrimp my wife ate both shrimp...lol For being Mexican and reading some of the reviews I was a little hesitant on coming but it was a great experience... Waitress was very accommodating
(4)Mel D.
We had servers cleaning the kitchen doors, Spraying chemicals right next to the table while we ate. The food and service was Less then average. with above average prices- go elsewhere
(1)John F.
This is a nice little restaurant with good food. I ordered the taco del California with avocado, fried potatoes and carne Asada. Yummy. My wife had shrimp in a sweet spicy sauce that tasted more like a barbecue sauce than she would like. The dessert was this peanut butter chocolate fried ice cream with a cinnamon batter crust. Huge portion, enough for 2, easy. All in all, very good. We'll be back.
(4)Julia L.
Again, you are paying more for convenience than deliciousness. It wasn't bad. Also, Mexican on the island is not what you expect like when on mainland. Decent prices and we did not have as long as we would have had to at the nearby restaurants.
(3)Hilary B.
This review is just for the bar (sorry we didn't get to really try the food). I never knew there was a Mexican restaurant/bar in Ko'Olina, which I think is an awesome idea! We decided to go to this place after Monkeypod and it was a great idea. Not only is there a restaurant, but a bar as well. Nalani is an awesome bartender! She took really good care of us, always checking up on us and making sure we were ok with our drinks. At one point, my friend and I ordered a coconut mojito, which was made by the other bartender, and I told Nalani it was way too sweet, like there was no alcohol in it, and she took care of us! Go see her next time you're there. While sitting at the bar, they also served us complimentary chips and salsa which was pretty good too. But our whole party was really just there for the drinks. Great atmosphere! Parking can be a little of a pain though, because the lot is so small and its shares among other businesses. So if you're staying in the area at Aulani, the timeshares or hotel, it's probably better to walk over.
(5)Ani N.
I saw a cockroach inside the restaurant while i was there. thats all im gonna say. oh and the food was ok. i had the fried tilapia and it had no flavor whatsoever. greasy tables. it just looks like all they care about is taking ur money
(1)Bud L.
As a former Texan and current Californian I can recommend this place. My server Nick was friendly and attentive. The chicken enchiladas were good. The salsa had some kick to it. Clean place. Clean restroom.
(4)Peter W.
Place is ok for the price. Probly the only Mexican place in Koolina. Chips and salsa were good. My wife's Shirley temple was not done well and tasted flat. The draft beer was great nice and cold. Really liked the out door setting in the evening, and food was good.
(4)Josh N.
The mrs. really wanted Mexican and I was indifferent so off to Just Tacos we went. Service was prompt and friendly and the vibe and décor are cool. The food was a bit of a miss. Ordered their "famous" Molcateje. It comes out in this insanely hot lava rock serving bowl with cheese bubbling everywhere. There is steak, chicken and shrimp in the lava and it is served with excellent housemade corn tortillas. The chicken and shrimp were cooked and tasted perfect. The steak struck out swinging. It was cooked medium which was a plus but it was flavorless and the toughest steak I have had in awhile. You definitely should go but stick with chicken or shrimp.
(3)Raquel B.
Went there for a date night with my love and we enjoyed the food as well as the ambiance. We sat outside and it was a nice refreshing environment from inside, which was loud with music and chatter. We ordered drinks (mango margarita and a lihi margarita) both very yummy. Then we ordered the "papi platter" which brings nachos, quesadillas, taquitos, wings and fried calamari. We also had the ceviche and the "#2 combo" which brings 2 tamales, chile relleno, rice and refried beans. Yes, we were hungry lol. But anyway, the food was good but it wasn't anything grand. Probably go there again to try something different.
(3)Nathan W.
The food is alright. Chips seem store bought, but other than that I had a decent dining experience. Probably would return.
(4)Francis C.
It is a very nice place and have great drinks but there food is very salty. The couple of times I've been here it wasn't too busy. On the bad side it is pricey and you don't get much.
(3)Judy And Joe N.
Taking into consideration this place is in boring Kapolei and on a resort, I'd say it is A-OK. If this place were in downtown, I would give it 2 stars. If it were in California, I would give it 1. I think that's fair. I used to live in Ko' Olina even before this location opened. I've tried their location in downtown before it closed, and I've tried their location in Mililani. This one was always my least favorite, but we were fans of their fried calamari (so random). Trying it again after 5 years... I think I probably won't do that again. The calamari has totally changed. I think the batter is different now and the portion size has been halved. I ordered shrimp tacos, but was given fish. Not a huge deal, but it was also too soggy.
(3)Yajaunte O.
Food was amazing, service was horrible. I walk in with my brother on a Thursday night to see how long the wait was and put our name on the list. The hostess gave me a weird look and said in a nasally tone "can I help you?" And I tell her that there was 5 of us. She dramatically looks around my brother and asks where everyone else was. I told her that they'd be here in a few minutes because they're parking the car. She says the wait would be 35 minutes IF all 5 people were present. Well if I have to wait so long, WHY does everyone need to be present?! They're just outside parking the car! My parents come inside and tell the same girl that we have a party for 5. Then she said 15 minutes. Are you kidding me? This hostess was really rude to us as the customer, and her coworker. She rolled her eyes at our waitress. Our waitress was really nice though. OUR FOOD, was amazing. I had the bacon wrapped shrimp. It also comes with Spanish Rice and corn tortillas. Very filling. Food was great, service was not.
(3)Kimberly F.
Love this place! Love the margaritas! Love the food! Love the waitstaff - always attentive and hilarious. I wish they weren't located with the resorts because you get all the obnoxious tourists, but great to get take out, or come when it's not too busy.
(5)Dora S.
Ordered the papi platter. Quesadilla was burnt. Calamari was just alright. Nachos burnt. Chicken wings were too sweet and the taquitos tasted like the ones you can get frozen at the store. My hubby went over to have them remake the tacos and quesadillas and the hostess surprisingly didn't think anything was wrong with our order.
(1)Cassie T.
Love love love this place! We ate here for the first time in 2012 while visiting Aulani, ate there again today and it was just as good as we remembered! Great server, fantastic food (we ordered the Molcajete - we highly recommend it), nice location!
(5)Erik H.
Ate here for lunch last week and the food was absolutely disgusting. I ordered the fried shrimp tacos. The beans and rice were cold an had almost no flavor. The tacos were not fit for consumption! I ate a portion of the food, I had to return to work and did not have time to send it back. About 30 minutes after eating,the vomiting started. I had to leave work early. I returned home, were I continued to vomit for the next 8 hours. I highly recommend not eating at this restaurant!!!!!
(1)Ingrid K.
If I could give no stars I would, we were here for over an hour and the girl never asked if we wanted more water or if we were okay. Bad customer service!!!
(1)Paul R.
Great time. Good drinks good food Fast service with reasonable prices It's not just tacos
(3)Ashley V.
Soo, in my previous review I stated that Just Taco's (in MY opinion) ranks one of the top 4 Mexican restaurants in HAWAII. But I also stated that there aren't many Mexican food restaurants, least yet AUTHENTIC Mexican food restaurants in Hawaii, so my review at 4 stars is just saying that "out of the few Mexican restaurants in Hawaii" Just Taco's would be one of the better one's. My favorite is still Mexico, but since I'm reviewing on JUST TACO's, here we go.. I gave Just Taco's 4 stars due to my OVERALL experience here. I rate a restaurant mostly based on service, wait time, & how good the food taste. On a scale of 1-10 Just Taco's food (for the MOST part) would come in at a 5/6. It's not the BEST, but it's definitely not the worst! I rated their food at a 5/6, because I have Mexican family & friends FROM Mexico, so I know what authentic Mexican is supposed to taste like. AND because I travel to Cali and Vegas a lot where there are a lot of Mexican restaurants, so I have a good gauge at what good Mexican is supposed to taste like. Again, I'm rating Just Taco's in comparison to other Mexican restaurants in Hawaii! I've tried a few things that I didn't necessarily like, but it wasn't so horrible that I had to throw it away. It could have had better taste, been a little more juicier and not so dry, and more flavorful, but - I have tried other dishes that made up for it! I mostly come to Just Taco's for their drinks during Happy Hour! Personally I love their Sangria and Li Hing Mui Mango Magarita (blended), but that's just me. I'm mostly a beer type of girl, and the fact that they have Dos Equis, Pacifico, Corona, & Modelo available along with my food really pleases me. I think their drinks are pretty pricey, but some of their drinks are so good I don't mind having a few! I believe they'd make more money off of me lowering their drink & food prices a bit, but I'd still come here once in a while regardless. And referring back to their drink prices; This is why I come during HAPPY HOUR! Now for their service... I've been here about 15x in the past year and I have never had a problem with their service NOR wait time! & a lot of times I come during their busiest hours (Happy Hour!), so I don't have anything bad to say about it. My waiters & waitresses are always so pleasant, greet us hello & good bye, attend to our table at just the right moments (refilling water, ordering more drinks/food), and don't hover over us and rush us. Maybe for those of you who have had bad experiences here I may have just gotten lucky and arrived at the right time, with the right servers and cooks, on the right days, but... I'm 15 for 15 for good service so far! Lucky 15x? Think about it. Lastly, for their entire interior/exterior; I reallyyy don't care what a restaurant looks like if they have good food or drinks just as long as it's CLEAN! A few people mentioned crappy interior, and calling this place a joke, but to me that stuff is very petty. As for what I order; I'm simple. I'll claim an enchillada, burrito, occasional mole, menudo, simple taco's, or mulita's. Drinks; I almost always order a Li hing mui mango margarita blended, some type of beer (mostly Corona, Dos Equis, or Pacifico), and once in a while a shot of tequila! That ambiance at this not so shabby Mexican joint is pretty nice at night. I can do this place every so often. (:
(4)Rachel K.
Ehhhhhhh Not impressed Bland tasting food. Pretty mediocre service (a bit on the slow side). It was busy though so tried to overlook it. But seriously. $40 gone and not that great. Small restaurant. Can't imagine what a nightmare that is when it's busy with all the resort folk. Good luck with it! Hope you enjoy it more than we did!
(2)X M L.
Ordered chicken burrito and cheese quesadilla. Burrito was pretty good. Quesadilla was way too much cheese. Not good. It was convenient to our location at the Marriott villas
(3)D M.
If I could give no stars I would. I came in by myself after work just to grab a quick bite on my way home (I live here) and I should've known better but I was tired and didn't feel like cooking. We never eat at any of these touristy places unless we have guests visiting but usually when we we do, it's not bad (ie Monkeypod and PizzaCorner- pretty yummy) but NOT this place. SERVICE: Starting off the host/hostess greeted me like I had two heads, what-have you never seen a solo diner before? It seemed to totally put them out to have to seat me. Anyway, then I get this somewhat older server named James who truly seemed to want to be anywhere but where he was- some folks just don't belong in customer service fields. He rushed me ordering, was seemingly irritated with any questions I had, and just overall unpleasant. Keep in mind this was after happy hour and before the dinner rush so by no means was this place busy. FOOD: The chips were obviously store bought from a bag, the so called salsa was so hot that it was inedible with no actual flavor and the other "salsa" which is actually just a dish of Pico de gallo was bland and ick. Even mixing the two couldn't save them. I ordered chicken tacos- simple, right? Well chicken was dry and flavorless, cheese that they used was the bagged kind bc you can taste the powdered residue that is used to keep it from sticking together, the rice was too tomatoey in taste but the refried beans were pretty good. Never coming back. I'll stick to my own kitchen, thanks. Learned my lesson- if I can cook it better at home, stay home.
(1)Laci B.
We love Just Tacos! Super quick service & food was on point. My 3 kids' food came out within 10 minutes of ordering & ours shortly after. Our waiter was great & kept our drinks full. He suggested a Margarita that wasn't on the menu. Completely satisfied customer.
(5)Amie B.
The service here is horrible. The food is horrible. Nothing g came out correctly. We ate none of it and still had to pay for the full price. The manager treated so horrible that it prompted me to write my first review ever!! They will never get my business again and on top of that it was my bday dinner!!
(1)Sean C.
More than just tacos. Enchiladas, taquitos, shrimp plates, fajitas and massive burritos that two can share. Giddy waiters brought a smile to my face, forgetful hostess couldn't remember me ten minutes after writing down my name on the second visit. Anyway, the reviews state this is Americanized Mexican food. That's not far from the truth. But it's also good for what it is. #mahalo!
(3)Krystal C.
My family and I came here and had a great experience! Our server was very polite and he came back often to check on us. We had the kids nachos, which were above average for a kids meal, the carnival which were very good, and the Carne asada fries, which were absolutely delicious! The head cook came out and asked how the fries were because he knew I had huge expectations of them :). The icing on the cake was the coconut mojito. It was hands down the best mojito I have ever had. The owner came out to ask how I liked it because he had changed up the recipe a bit. I told him it was perfect and I hope he never changes it! We had a great experience and delicious food. Not only will we be back, we are looking forward to it!
(5)Susan H.
The worst customer service on the planet!! I walked in thru the back up to the hostess station to ask if we could have service outside. The man said I needed to check in at the hostess stand. That's what I was doing dumb dumb!! He then said to sit out there and he will send a server. He then came outside and told us we couldn't sit in the area we chose AND we still did not have menu's. So we moved to another table outside. Another person came over and told my husband he needed shoes. The staff really talked to us like we were idiots. So then we decided to get take out. I went back up to the hostess station since we have yet to see a menu!!! I went to try and place an order for all of us and there was too many options. Corn or flour, idk so I needed to go back and ask my party. So I asked nicely if I could borrow a pen to take the order. SHE SAID SHE COULD WRITE IT DOWN FOR ME!! She wanted me to walk back and forth (which I've already been doing) to get the rest of our order. IDIOTS!!!! We are local too! Don't go there! They are clueless!! And they were not short staffed. They were all wanting to say something. Anything except "how can I help you".
(1)Lacy S.
Great service and great food. However, if you are dining in the evening eat inside!! We dinned outside and it was great till the sun went down.... We were surrounded by flying termites! They went In our drinks, stuck on our glasses and one actually went up my nose. Had to give three stars because of the dinning experience. Do not eat outside in the evening!
(3)Stacie N.
We had lunch at Just Tacos. We had the sampler appetizer platter that generously fed a party of 6. I had the taco combination and it was very good. The Chimichanga was huge! Our food was out fast and it was hot. Great service.
(5)Mister H.
Great food and service. The staff was friendly and the management walked around assuring everyone was having a pleasant experience. Authentic Mexican food and hospitality. Prices are fair.
(5)Valentina C.
So happy I went for the molcajete the food was delicious and it was enough for two persons we also had the margarita and the flan and that sure made my day
(5)christie a.
Wow, so incredibly disappointed. First, I'm embarrassed that I even visited a Mexican restaurant in Hawaii, but it wasn't my choice. And I won't return. I'll start backwards and deduct stars accordingly... we walk in, it's not full by any means, and we aren't even acknowledged for several minutes, until another party comes in. We get a smile-less glance from the young woman behind the counter. Another girl, a young blonde, was decently nice, seemed new. When she was going to ask the kitchen a question, the not-so-nice one stopped her and asked, "What was the question?" even though we were closer to her & she could have asked us! As if we weren't worthy of being addressed. There was also a man who seemed like management there, who was just as unfriendly. Where's the Aloha? Given the location, they should be used to (a) tourists (b) kids, so not sure what their deal was. Whatever the reason, -1 star for rude service. We decided to order to go since the environment was unpleasant and we never got past the front counter anyway. We got carne asada tacos (a "house specialty" mind you) - $12.99, kids burrito - $5.99, side of rice - $2.99, and a "Ceasar salad" (yes, spelled that way), which on the menu says, "Did you know the original Ceasar Salad was created in Tijuana, Mexico? Experience the authentic Ceaser Salad!" - $10.99 A bit pricey, but sure, I'm intrigued and maybe the portions are large. We got back to our place, opened the boxes, and what a sad sight!! Talk about overpriced!! They're not the best photos, but I wanted to post them even though the portions were smaller in person. The salad did not even cover the bottom of the shallow take-out box. In CA there are plenty of overpriced places, but this was ridiculous. That Caesar salad was NOT worth $11; maybe $7, maybe... and it didn't even include a protein; I'm glad I didn't add chicken to make it a $14 salad! The tacos looked so sorry - - no cilantro, onions, salsa... nothing other than small portions of meat in the corn tortillas. $13, seriously?? The side of rice was maybe one cup. And a slender 5 yr old was asking for more after eating the little bean and cheese burrito. Wow. -1 star for the ridiculous lack of value. Sooo, maybe it's all in the flavor of the food? At this point, I'm really hoping these wonderful descriptions of authentic taste come through. Shame on me for being so hopeful. The "Ceaser" salad tasted just like any other generic Caesar salad I've had. Perhaps even a bottled dressing. Boo. The carne asada tacos were very forgettable, as boring as they looked. Maybe we're too spoiled with so much wonderful, truly authentic Mexican food in California. At the very least, one benefit of Just Tacos is it made me appreciate this and I look forward to visiting our favorite local Mexican taquerias & restaurants. Sadly, I must deduct another star. Good thing we didn't spend more time there, or my review may have turned into a turkey. If I'm going to visit a tourist trap with overpriced, disappointing food, at least have nice customer service or justify it in some other way?? The whole experience has bugged me so much, I had to get my two cents out there and warn other families. If visiting Aulani, try a different place!! If we're ever in Ko Olina/Kapolei area again and someone suggests it, I will just say no. Perhaps the "Cantina" part should come first; some reviewers seem to like the alcohol. But located right across from Aulani, I would not consider the service kid-friendly. I really regret not trying some of the other nearby places such as the sushi, pizza (with poke or kalua pork!), Island Market deli, among others instead. Mexican food in Hawaii... no, that may be unfair since decent Mexican in Hawaii may very well exist, but Just Tacos is just NOT it!
(2)Greg T.
Well, if you're looking for an extensive selection of tequilas at a decent price outside of México or Texas; this is your place. Although they don't chill the tequila, offer sangrita nor fresh lime jugo to ensure it's enjoyed properly. The food, well, let's just say it hints of Mexican but it's nothing like eating in D.F. or even Gringo-ville Cancun. In fact, it's lame as can be if compared to actual food in México or the wildly popular Tex-Mex. We had fish and shrimp tacos. Couldn't find the microwaved fish or shrimp through all of the mounds and mounds of unseasoned cabbage. Bout the only good thing to say was the tortilla held all that vegan weight. Look, if you're staying at one of the resorts and your kids will eat "tacos." Perhaps a good idea, if you MUST go here, is to fill them up on this place's grub and then go have an exquisite meal across the street at Monkey Pod. Mi dos pesos. Greg T.
(1)Ashley B.
I wish I could attest to how the food tastes, but considering the fact that our waitress hadn't come to our table the entire time we sat there, I can't. After 20 minutes of waiting, we ended up walking out. It was ridiculous. Don't waste your time and just eat somewhere else unless you have a full tummy and endless time to wait.
(1)Kyle H.
El Californian is the ! Get it wet with red sauce and you won't be disappointed but you will be full and happy!
(5)Carol K.
The service was friendly and fast. The margarita was quite good. So why not a higher rating? I thought the food was just okay and the place needed someone to bus the outdoor patio as there were napkins and straw wrappers blowing all around. I had heard about this place on my last visit but never had time to check it out so when my tummy was grumbling for some lunch, I strolled in. Given it was a Tuesday- they had a number of Taco Tuesday specials. Check out the $3 tacos and the drink specials. I ordered the taco combination plate which came with my choice of tacos ( mix and match) re fried beans and rice. The tacos came in soft corn tortillas which are not my favorite but good nonetheless. My margarita was tasty although it could have been colder. And the complimentary chips and salsa were as expected. I had a great table outside on the patio where I could watch the golfers stroll by. The downside was that the area just wasn't clean. There were napkins in the bushes, chips scattered about that the birds were eating and straw wrappers galore. It just didn't lend itself to me feeling the place was clean, and I know if the area the customers sit in is messy, I can only imagine what the kitchen looks like! Lunch ran me about $25. There is free 30 minute parking in the lot out front. All in all, I think a-ok sums up my experience perfectly . . . . Now if only they could get someone to pick up the trash!!
(3)Dorothy W.
My first impression was not good, when I walked in I had a water bottle with literally less than half in it (didn't want it sitting in the car getting hot while we ate) and the hostess was a little snippy while telling me "no outside drinks"! Really??? On the other hand our waitress was nice and our food was good. I had fajitas and my husband had a burrito.
(3)Sophia D.
Okay Just Tacos has two locations, one in Mililani and the other is located in Ko'Olina. Let me just say that they are totally different from each other!! I am only going to discuss my experience at Ko'Olina. The experience at Ko'Olins was fantastic!! The server we had was Jamie and she is fabulous! It was Tuesday and every Tuesday there is taco Tuesday. Jamie helped me order a great drink. I was wanting to get something to drink but wasn't sure what to get. I usually get a good beer or a good glass of wine. I wasn't in the mood for either of those so Jamie made some recommendations. The first drink she suggested was a cucumber and spicy margarita I said no to that and then she recommended a coconut margarita. She stated it taste kinda like a piña colada but better. So I decided to try it and boy that drink could be deadly! It's one of those you could drink down with no problem and keep ordering a refill. When you realize that you have had four or more it's too late, You're feeling it!! These are what I call sneaky cocktails! So be careful and pay attention to how many you have had. I only had one. Also when you get your drinks, you also get chips and salsas. The chips come with two different kinds of salsa, one is a hot and smooth salsa comes in the bowl attached to the chips. And the other salsa comes in a separate salsa bowl you get a fresh pico de gallo combination. Both are very tasty but I prefer the pico de gallo because it has a little kick to it. Since it was Taco Tuesday I decided to try some of the Tacos. I ordered one Militia, one street and one fajita taco. They all had steak in them. The street taco was your average street taco that had steak, cilantro, and onion in a corn tortilla. Next the fajita taco was just like a fajita in a corn tortilla. It had nice roasted veggies. Finally we had the Militia taco. It was fabulous!! It was a corn tortilla taco with steak and cheese. It was then put on a grill and flattened. It looked like a quesadilla with cheese oozing out while it cooked. So when you get it you can see all the cooked cheese. It was warm and gooey-cheesy!! So yummy! And finally for dessert I had the regular Flan. My son wanted the chocolate Flan but they just sold out. Jamie our server recommended a fried ice cream. The outer shell was covered in chocolate Reese's peanut butter cup chips. So when he got the fried ice cream it was covered with melting Reese's peanut butter chips! He dove into it!! It was so big my husband had to help him finish it! Parking is available by the restaurant and across the street. Parking is first come first serve basis and it is free. Parking usually fills up quick but you usually will find some openings. All in all it was a great meal and we will definitely be coming back to this location!
(5)Micah D.
Ok yes, not the best Mexican food in the world but come on we are in Hawaii! Locals love it. Great drinks, good service, very friendly staff, prices aren't crazy, and management is very professional and friendly! I used to live in Ko olina and my wife and I would swing by for quick cheap Mexican. We are from San Diego so have high expectations. Again, not award winning food but it's good! Such a friendly environment. Love the managers!
(5)Adam S.
Not sure why all the poor reviews. Been coming here for two years now and love it. Tacos are awesome but my wife loves the enchiladas. It's her go to meal. I try to mix it up and have not been disappointed yet. The kids even enjoy it here. If craving Mexican Just tacos is worth stopping by.
(5)Osvaldo L.
Really enjoyed this place.Good music good food and delicious drinks...the Tequila selection is off the roof with over 100 selections of Tequila the one thing I love to drink !! Order was taken by Darryl who was a A+ on his service.
(5)Harley H.
Best Mexican Restaurant on Honolulu. Friendly staff, excellent food, very authentic. Volcano Margaritas are a must. We visit often from California and this place is a must. No matter where we stay, we always drive to have an authentic meal with excellent margaritas!!! Fish tacos are my favorite.
(5)Michael W.
The food was average and the service was less than desirable. If you are are really looking for a good Just Tacos try the one in Mililani!
(1)Trent J.
Went there for dinner last night. We're staying at Aulani so it was a quick walk. Started with the guacamole which we really liked. You get a very large portion which the two of us couldn't finish. I had the fish tacos which I really liked. They are breaded and come with lettuce and salsa on top. The refried beans were not dry as others have said. My wife got the steak tacos and she wasn't impressed. She said they seemed like something we could've easily made at home, but could've done better. The service was great. Our server (Troy?) was very attentive and helpful. Overall the experience was good. Next time my wife would just get the fish tacos.
(4)Tom T.
I've been to the other one and I will probably never come back to this one. First, the parking here is godawful and you will probably spend 20 minutes just trying to a spot. That put me in a bad spot already. Eventually found one and went inside. I sat at the bar and looked over the drink menu even though I knew what I wanted. It took the person behind the bar five minutes to acknowledge my presence. The bar wasn't terribly busy so points get taken away for this. After I got my drink, I asked for chips and salsa. I would've been better off going without. I was almost done with my drink before they finally came out. Because of how long it took to get my drink and chips, I decided to cut my losses and have dinner elsewhere. The only reason this location is not getting a one star is because my drink was good. I could taste the alcohol which is better then other spots. This is in tourist country so it's easy to avoid and I recommend that you do avoid.
(2)Izzy C.
We tried a couple Mexican food places in Hawaii and this was the best one. We came from California (which has a ton of good Mexican food) and this place was satisfying. It's true from reading other reviews it's not CRAZY authentic, but it does just fine for a casual lunch. I had the shrimp tacos with corn tortillas for lunch. Shrimp was crispy and perfectly cooked, they were delicious! We also had piña coladas, which were perfect. :D the staff was friendly as well. I would totally come back here!
(5)M S.
Food was great. I didn't expect to have a delicious meal. The tacos are actually street tacos -kinda small, but filling.The carne asada taco was good. Meat was tender and flavorful. The shrimp taco is one battered jumbo shrimp in a small corn tortilla. I prefer grilled shrimp, but this one was actually good. I ate two. The beans and rice were delicious. My kid ate all of her chicken taco and rice (not a fan of refried beans in general). My husband liked the five dollar 22 ounce beers (nicely priced). The deep fried ice cream is the size of a softball (enough to share w 3 people). No crayons or activity sheets to keep kids busy, but that's ok. My kid was too busy eating the chips and the food comes out really fast. Reservations are not taken. It's 1st come, 1st serve. Not allowed to enter restaurant wearing bathing suits and/or no shoes.
(5)Michelle D.
Food: totally Americanized Mexicanish food, average quality. Bar: amazing tequila list with appropriate pricing, some hard-to-find bottles Wouldn't have gone back anyway, but also one of our party got food poisoning, likely from the carnitas :(
(2)Renée C.
I stumbled upon this place by chance. I'm not from the area and was craving some great Mexican food. I love this place!! The service was friendly and fast. We ordered a taco salad and the 3 tacos combination. We loved the dishes so much that I was eating past being full. The only cons: no diet soda and the salsa was nothing special. But I'll definitely be back again before my vacation ends!
(5)Shay A.
On vaca and saw this across from our resort. Will not be returning. Food was just ok. Drinks were good. Won't be returning during this vacation. Would rather have taco bell.
(2)Kendal J.
Service was super slow. We ordered bloody Marie's which were super watered down and had little to no flavor or garnishes. For $10.00 I was disappointed. Food was excellent.
(3)Alexander M.
We only came here for drinks, and had a couple margaritas, which were good for $8.50. At least they're made with 100% agave tequila! The server brought us chips and salsa, which were good. We saw the food that others were eating and it didn't look appetizing. Margaritas yes, food no.
(3)Chris F.
Food was great. Service was great. Restaurant was clean. My wife really loved the Chicken enchiladas with tomatio (sp) green sauce. I had the 3 tacos, carnitas, chicken & carne esada (sp) they were very good. Well be back. BTW there is very little parking so be prepared. I'm surprised they can stay in business with the limited parking.
(4)Rita W.
Don't be fooled by outdoor ambience... Reviews are true! Not a good experience! Service was slow and not attentive... But that's not the worse...my son began to feel ill and grossed out while eating burrito (steak)... The next morning I had stomach pains. Steak was low quality and boiled... Never again..
(1)Chris R.
Most of all I love their selection. Staying at Aulani Just Tacos is a nice break from the resort menu's. I got the calamari and Baja burrito. The calamari was awesome, and the burrito average. I want to go back and try a few other of their dishes. It is more than tacos though :)
(4)Carlos B.
Very good food! I had the combination taco plate (carne asada, grilled chicken and beer battered shrimp). My wife had the grilled chicken "ultimate taco" ( but who calls a burrito a taco?). Good service, and prompt attention, considering its a tourist area. Being a Mexican American, I'm always skeptical of "mexican" food spots. The owners, I guess, are from the same part of Mexico my family comes from (Sonora), and it showed in the flavor. While it still lacked that "certain something," I could see myself coming back for more.
(3)Laurel S.
Food is really good
(4)Carla P.
This place is really bad... Everyone in my table (4ppl) left their food. Pricey. Buñuelos were not a thing. Overpriced margaritas. Overall not a good place! Never coming back.
(1)Rose H.
Really disappointed. Would not go back or recommend. Just so-so. Bland. Save your money. Not worth it. You can get a better deal at Taco Bell. In addition, it was freezing inside so we ate outside in the rain which wasn't too bad. The food has no taste at all!
(2)Shahram M.
Awesome Mexican food right across the road from aulani. The good is very good and fresh. We had a mix of fajitas that cost from $21-$24, a burrito and a tostada. All the veggies were fresh and. Delicious.
(5)Matt E.
Nice quick easy in and out, smaller dining room with bar, outdoor seating as well. When we arrived, we were greeted and seated instantly! Our food and service was great!! Was a great environment for our daughter. Will definitely be back.
(5)Ray C.
While vacationing in Ohau my wife and kids notched this Mexican food restaurant close to the Resort we were staying at. Being from So Cal we definitely wanted some Mexican food so we decided to try it. The food was just ok by So Cal standards. However, the serevers were excellent and very accomidating. The place was clean and overall It was a good dining experience.
(3)Jerrene T.
This is what happens when your parents don't have Yelp on their smart phone... Mom/Dad: Let's go eat lunch across the street (from Aulani) since it's overpriced at Aulani and there's nothing good to eat. Me: Okay but where? M/D: Not at Monkeypod because it's too hot. I think there's some Mexican food across the street since we just ate pizza last night. Me (checking on Yelp): Can't we go to Monkeypod? It doesn't seem like this Mexican place is all that (my parents aren't into this savvy thing called "Yelp".) This place was about a third full when we went at 1 PM. We all looked through the menu 3-4 times because NOTHING looked appetizing. Their menu pictures are just awful. I should have taken a picture of those. I ended up with the fish tacos, my son got the carne asada fries, my husband got the chicken mole tacos, and my dad got the wet carne asada tacos. The fries came out first and they were meh. There's nothing too exciting on the kids' menu either. He didn't want to eat any. My mom ate one of my fish tacos (the fish looked like it was frozen/fried and from that guy who is in a yellow fishing jacket/coat in the frozen food section at the grocery store). It was bland. The beans and rice were worse. We had to ask for lots of extra salsa and guacamole to make it taste a little better. My dad's food looked AWFUL... it was green and mushy. They need to work on their presentation. I can't believed they served it. My husband's looked gross as well. I think both dishes would have been axed on the first round of Food Network's CHOPPED based on presentation alone. The service was meh as well with the servers just talking amongst themselves instead of helping anyone. The real kicker was when they didn't want me to bring in outside food and beverages so they wanted to hold on to my water bottle. I told them it was just water and they still wanted to hold on to it... never mind that we had ordered beer. Whatever. Anyway, this is a lesson when your parents do not do that Yelp thing. Be warned.
(2)Keoni N.
Terrible service as soon as I walked in hostesses was busy talking story. Waitress was nice and very attentive. Food was good.
(3)Tom S.
Terrible and not worth going to.... Defiantly a bad version of tex-mex with over priced drinks..... Sets a new low for Mexican restaurants. So save your time and go to Taco Bell
(1)Lisa W.
Loved it! We havent been here to eat in a year. The service was fabulous. The portions are much larger than they use to be. The drinks are always good. $60 for food, drinks, and tip included. Great price
(5)Hailey S.
I love Just Tacos! I will drive from Honolulu just to get my Mexican food fix! My fave is the Mocajete, their signature dish. The atmosphere is great and the place always looks clean. Great restaurant and the service is always great!
(5)Mamie K.
Cute little restaurant located across the street from the Aulani Resort in Kapolei, HI. Went there for a family vacation to get away from it all. Found this place on YELP with great reviews. We did notice a few times passing by that this place was quite busy - usually a good sign the food is good. There aren't a lot of dining options out that way. So we decided to give this place a shot. When we arrived, we were greeted by the host with a warm friendly smile. Restaurant was very nicely decorated. Music was playing which made it very festive. We were seated almost immediately (choosing to sit outside since it was available versus sitting inside & having to wait about 20 minutes). We were greeted within a few minutes after being seated by our server named Nick. He was very friendly & conscientious. He informed us of the specials they had. Provided some suggestions on what to order. Started out with chips & salsa (watch out for the salsa it is quite spicy - even for hubby who luvs spicy!). We ordered the combination appetizer - very large portions!! Gotta go hungry!! The 2 kids shared a burrito which was massive & very tasty. My youngest ordered a cheese quesadilla which filled up most of the plate. Hubby & I ended up ordering the 3 plate tacos (shrimp, fish & carnitas) - all very tasty. Everything was delicious. Our water cups never were left empty very long. We definitely will be going back here to eat the next time we are in the area.
(4)Arlene A.
Service was fast!!! And super nice! I don't why there's 3 stars for thus place. Our experience is stellar so far. My fish tacos were delicious and obtained everyone else's food like my moms shrimp and it was mmmmm!
(5)Shawn D.
Not worth your money, microwaved kids meals and in my opinion corners cut on the adult meals. Plus they charge extra for everything. The staff is pleasant so they are nice to you when they deliver the food from the microwave.
(2)Mark W.
Had a great time. Chips and Salsa were ok, rice and their spicy green sauce on my chicken enchiladas was AMAZING!! It's why I went with 4 Stars vs 3. The service was another reason this place deserves a 4 star rating. Outstanding from the moment we sat down until we left.
(4)Chelsea B.
Been here twice during lunch. First time had the calamari and Piña Vanil Crush. Yummy drink! Calamari was ok. Server was very nice, but we had to ask for a drink menu twice before finally getting one. Second time I got the burger and fries, with tge Tropical Sangria. If you like your drinks fruity, get the Sangria and Piña Vanil. Super good. Burger was average. It was just that... a burger. Nothing else on the menu really seemed appealing. Hubby got the nachos. I think it's all just drunk food. People come here for the yummy drinks. The server we had this time was super friendly and helpful. I forgot his name ): Overall, I'll definitely be here to drink again. But not my first choice if I'm craving Mexican.
(4)Alireza R.
Excellent food. Fast service. So why only 3 stars? Manager wasn't too thrilled to accommodate our seating arrangement. But in three nights we went there twice. So not the most customer friendly attitude but they make up for it in quality and speed.
(3)Kandyce V.
I had the shrimp tacos. They were breaded but just okay. The two girls working the front were not friendly and boarder line rude and snobby. Last time that I will go there!
(3)Mark O.
Really yummy Mexican, very good service and cold beer. Reasonable prices for what you get. We had the nacho platter and it came loooaaaded. Would definitely go back. Across the street from the area resorts, about a 10 minute walk.
(4)Ralph J.
What the shit, my review removed!!!!!!! But it was my bad. I'm not allowed to use names now but everybody is allowed their own opinion. Again my bad. I was probably drinking some Haterade that day. This place is a joke. You can't throw shit in a burrito, add some Spanish stuff on the walls and all of a sudden your a Mexican restaurant. My wife and I ate here just to try something new, big mistake. The tacos have no taste what so ever, I had chicken but it just kind of tasted like stringy cardboard. My wife had the nachos, with the amount of oil that was on each chip I'm sure I could have greased there entire grill, we told the waiter but nothing ever came of that. Now on to the waiter, I can understand you guys aren't that busy but that is no reason to hover over us. For that matter if your gonna hover I shouldn't have to ask for my drink 3 times!!!! This place really does suck, Mexican is my favorite kind of food this place is closer to dog food, wait I love my dog and I wouldn't give him this stuff. This place is not real Mexican, Taco Bell is closer to authentic!!!!!
(1)Melissa T.
Average food at best, service was good however I wouldn't recommend eating here and probably won't be back
(3)Piper W.
Decent food and service. They were friendly but kept forgetting things- a drink ordered, etc. had to keep asking for things more than once. The calamari appetizer was good but the dipping sauces were not the best. Both had tex mex flavors. The nachos were basic and good because the chips were tasty. The food tasted fresh. Don't expect authentic mexican or even California style- it's more Tex mex, but you can find some items that don't have the tex mex flavor if you don't like that.
(3)Lisa C.
Very average taco place but will become awesome in your head when their prices are compared to food prices at restaurants in Disney or Marriot resorts.
(3)Ryan K.
Came here with some family while vacationing in the nearby Disney resort. Prices are fairly reasonable considering the cost of most things on the island. I ordered the taco salsa verde with the pieces if baby back ribs. The salsa itself was quite lively, and loud, which overshadowed the taste of the ribs (which were quite good) the main issue I had was with the included beans and rice. Both had a quite mushy texture and we're relatively flavourless compared to the pork. I found the service very good, as we had a very attentive waiter (despite what the other reviews say, the service was fast). Nitpicking here, but the music was a little loud, and sometimes trying to hold conversation was difficult. It's not bad place, but there are better. Slightly below average IMO
(2)Shayla K.
Food is decent for the price. Four stars because quality of food is..meh.. We got the $3 taco special. Can't say much for a cheap taco. Ceviche is okay. I'm not a fan of it but my boyfriend is all about it. That's why we came here. And entree was the combo #1 and some taco sampler thing. Service is always a hit or miss when we come here. Tonight we have an amazing server Josephine. She's always on it and so sweet.. She even takes the time to do small talk. Definitely would come back just to have her serve us again. :)
(4)Joy L.
Ordered the Papi Platter at our waiter's suggestion; for the two of us, it was huge. We washed it down with a Legend Cadillac margarita, which was great. On the platter, the wings and calamari were my favorites. The only disappointment was the guacamole that was not homemade. Our waiter, Thomas, was friendly and very helpful. We will come back on our next trip to Kolina.
(4)Tony P.
This is some of the worst Mexican food is ever eaten. A TV dinner can make beans and rice better. Don't waste ur time or money here.
(1)Daniel C.
Nancy and Kim!!!! Some of the coolest cats in Ko' Olina. They have a wide variety of Mexican beer and and tequilas. For the ladies and new guests of Ko' Olina and maybe even Hawaii! Try there Li Hing Margarita. The owner is a cool cat himself. Also if your hungry grind on the carne asada fries! Thanks for always taking care Just Tacos of Ko' Olina!
(5)Kristina N.
John was wonderful. Food is the best I've had in few years, peach margarita is killer. Will come back next time we visit.
(5)Angelia S.
Nice atmosphere, good music, good vibes, alright service. Our party ordered the blended Li Hing Mui Margaritas and Fried Ice Cream. No complaints or disappointments here :) Look forward to returning...
(4)Missy R.
This is probably one of the worst meals I've had on the island, such a disappointment. 1. Service was really slow, we had to wave down our waitress everytime we needed anything 2. DO NOT ORDER THE GUACAMOLE, it is not fresh. The kind that comes preprocessed from a package. 3. The food was alright, just nothing spectacular or flavorful.
(1)Missy T.
Went here to spend some QT with the Big Bro, and overall the experience was enjoyable. We were seated outside, in an odd section; we were kind of in the bushes, which actually made for some great laughs, so it wasn't much of a bother, however if I were there as a tourist or for a special occasion I would have asked to be seated elsewhere. We were promptly asked for our drink orders, and a short while later for our entree choices. We got the chicken nachos and empanadas; the nachos were massive, and my brother swears by them. The empanadas...I can't really remember what either of us thought of them, so not bad, but not outstanding either. I also had a margarita for funsies, and found that while tasty, it was not putting me in the fiesta mood - the table next to ours that ordered what seemed to be a small bathtub full of margarita though...they were having a good time; definitely noted for the next Girl's Night Out. All in all, it was a fun time, but mostly because I was with great company. Prices are similar to Chili's or Outback, but I feel like the food quality, while still mediocre, is slightly better than those two restaurants. If you're staying at Ko'Olina and don't wanna blow fat stacks on Roy's or Chuck's, leave the area, and are with a good bunch, Just Tacos is a good spot to spend your time.
(4)Devin A.
Chipotle wings were the best wings I ever ate. I love the baja burrito, fish inside was excellent. We love this place and definitely will be back (maybe tomorrow)
(5)Megan S.
Good food and great service. Everything was delicious. Big portions. Seated a party of 9 quickly on a Saturday night.
(5)Daniel C.
garbage food. Watered down mexican food for white people....went down for my coworker's birthday, drinks are decent. The waitress told me to order their best dish that everyone likes, which is the molcajete. It's disgusting and my meat and shrimp were just drowning in mozarella cheese. Yuck, no wonder Muricans are fat. Diabeetus for everyone. $18 of pure shite, so shite I'd rather have the flu. I don't recommend this place. I'm not a big fan of mexican food but there's no REAL mexican food in Hawaii. I could give this 0 stars. Don't eat here unless you want to water down your taste buds, then this is the place for you.
(1)Mary M.
This picture is not so hot due to my outdated camera phone, but I still wanted to post it because it makes me smile. The man in the middle is Jamie, the manager. One of THE nicest men you could ever want to meet. You can tell in one visit that he loves people and food. In two years, we've eaten there 7-10 times. Each time better than the one before. If you're staying in Oahu either at Disney or Aulani, you need to discover Just Tacos.
(5)Trisha G.
Ordered a Cadillac. She came back and said the extra shot is extra $$. I said that's why I ordered a Cadillac it comes with an extra shot of Cointreau and that's why it's costs more than a margarita. (Even says this in their menu.) it was still extra $$. Anyhow, I received my Cadillac and it tasted like crystal light lemonade. Worst $15 cadilrita ever! The food was eh.
(1)Kristin I.
I only had drinks here, by the time we arrived they had already done last call for food. But the bartender that helped us was very nice and super sweet. I only had the strawberry margarita but it was delicious and huge. I can't wait to go back and try some food.
(4)Janet O.
We go to Ko Olina every year, and since Just Tacos opened, we have loved the food, atmosphere and service! We always sit at the bar since it's the best seat in the house. The bartenders are very friendly and make us laugh every time we go there. And of course serve very good drinks!
(5)Niki T.
Spacious place , parking is limited. Drinks are amazing. Usually here during the week for drinks. 60oz margaritas are a challenge but totally worth it! Service is pretty efficient and the wait isn't very long. Bar seating is very limited and if they're busy a wait for a table is about 45minutes. Bartender Chad prefects his drinks and the blue margarita (forgot the name) is my fave!
(4)Darcy H.
Mehh. That's exactly how to describe this place. Service was just blah the girls are pretty but that's about it.- they lack personality. The food was not very good compared to other Mexican places on island. If I crave a fish taco next time I'll go somewhere else.
(2)Ailie S.
Love the atmosphere here and the service is always great. Food is ok but all Mexican food in Hawaii is ok..if you want real Mexican or Tex- Mex head to the mainland.
(4)Cali J.
Pretty good - food is a good value, cocktails were strong and delicious. Service was great and outside ambiance was nice too. Very convenient if you are staying in Ko'Olina.
(4)Evan N.
Im giving this place such a poor review for a few reasons. 1) Im from California where authentic mexican food is very easy to find, so this place is no where close to authentic 2) really slow service it took 20 minutes to bring my beer, and no water was brought to me. My tacos and menudo took 40 minutes to arrive, and it was cold! 3) $6 for a taco a la carte! seriously I have never paid more then $3 for a taco 4) The food was pretty poor for the price we had to pay for it. Avoid this place because there are so many other restaurants worth eating at for the price you pay to be in Hawaii
(1)Sean S.
Avg. Mexican food. I had to kill some time so I stopped by. I'm from LA so we have good Mexican food on every corner so it's a tough comparison. Nothing was great, nothing was bad. Salsa is very so so, had to add a little salt and extra hot sauce. Pretty much all tomato. If you come here, come for the drinks and appetizers. The bartender Elliot was absolutely awesome. He opened up early for college football and was very attentive.
(3)Elizabeth D.
Ambiance is very nice and cozy. Casual place to hang out. There is an outside patio where u can sit which is very nice because of the scenery. Our waiter was very nice and attentive. Food came out very fast after we ordered. The only thing negative was everything was salty. We ordered the ceviche, calamari, ultimate fajita, and wet chimichangas. The fried ice cream was a winnah!!! Even though the food was salty I will come back and give it another try since only down the street from me.
(3)Cara G.
My friends and I were hungry and despite my previous experience here, one of my friends was craving ceviche so we came here.... I was even more disappointed than I was the first time! Which was incredibly shocking since the bar had been set incredibly low. The ceviche was SO sour that we couldn't eat it. It was simply inedible. The cheese on the nachos had conglomerated and stuck to the plate within minutes of it be served to us. THIS IS THE WEIRDEST PART THOUGH (please brace yourself...) our waiter had disappeared for a good fifteen minutes and then the next thing we know, he's STORMING out of the kitchen, yelling and tearing off his apron. A huge man (assumedly the chef) is following after him, also yelling and eventually the waiter stalks RIGHT out of the restaurant! you'd expect the chef to walk right back into the kitchen as an attempt to draw less attention to the commotion, but instead, he starts hanging around the bar and proceeds to start walking around the restaurant with a glass in hand! Needless to say, our food took at least another twenty minutes to arrive, and our waitress was this little Asian lady who was on the verge of tears for the remainder of our visit. And then the manager (or whoever the hell she was), thanked us on our way out and told us to come back again. I'm sorry to say this but JUST TACOS needs one of two things: either CHEF RAMSEY, or to simply put itself out of its misery and close down.
(1)Jimmy K.
The service was quick and friendly. Wife and I shared a fajita supreme. excellent! With leftovers. The hot sauce was really Hott!!! And the beer was cold. All 4 of us were happy. (if that is really a sentence.)
(4)Tina C.
Food is okay. Nothing spectacular. It's always busy though, probably because there's not much around, and it's just walking distance from the resorts across the street. I think I'd much prefer food from the ABC store or the hawaiian bbq in the same plaza. My husband ordered the entree with the fried whole fish. The inside was not cooked well.
(3)Mangione M.
Food was ok but the tequila options were great. Their tequila list has to be the most extensive one I have ever seen. If you are a tequila sipper this is the place to wet your whistle. And the bartenders play decent music from their Ipods and will take requests if you get in cool with them.
(3)Sarah S.
Really not good unfortunately. The service is soooooooooooooooooo slow. The food was ok. I had the tomatillo enchiladas and the sauce was super sour. I had everyone at the table try it and everyone was horrified I actually ate it. Not gonna be coming back, like ever...
(1)Asahi S.
Losing points guys....the staff needs work. Young kid threw my plate of food on the table and was a total knuckle head. Manager came over and apologized after I got really pissed off. No discount on the check which was shocking.
(3)Stephanie H.
I cannot comment on the food because I never got mine!!! We were a party of 9, the kids food came out quickly, then slowly one by one the meals trickled out of the kitchen. I was assured that mine would be 5 minutes because what I ordered takes a bit longer to prepare. After 40 minutes and many reassurances, everyone was finished eating, the kids were ready to leave and I finally cancelled the meal. The waitress apologized repeatedly, took my item off the bill (seeing that it never came, that's was a good idea), and one round of drinks was on them. What really upset me was when we left, the manager was sitting on his laptop in the corner of the restaurant. He never made any effort to come over and apologize. I guess their survival depends on all of the unknowing and hungry tourists that fall into their business. Now after seeing the 2 1/2 rating, I know why! Should have checked yelp before walking across the street.
(1)Dianne H.
60oz Margarita!!! :D Nice staff & nice people at the bar. Been to this location 3 times. Food is a little pricey for me, but you gotta eat something when you drink, right? Went to the one in KoKo Marina ... not going back.
(4)troy w.
If you are staying nearby, chances are no matter the reviews, you're coming here. Limited options, means this place has a captive audience. That being said, come here and order the appetizer platter (pili pili platter?). It's all fried goodness and the empanadas (which were more like mini-tacos) are amazing. Quesadillas, taquitos, nachos, wings, empanadas... Plus free chips and salsa. Really, for $18.99, two can split this and some margaritas and you'll be fat and happy! Best thing we got!
(3)Daniel U.
Dear God, slowest restaurant on the west coast. This place never does learn from the reviews they get or complaints. Fire the staff and management. Thats the only solution...the waitresses are very inexperienced and slow. We just wanted to have a few drinks and some appetizers but was being rushed by our waitress. First of all, never give your tab unless you ASK the customer if their done. All you get is an apology if something goes wrong. The funny thing is, my table werent the only complaing about the slow service. The tables around me were too! The waitress refused to split our checks and insisted it was impossible but we all know why they want one check..they expect a bigger tip.Thinking she was going to get a bigger tip, but since i knew her intentions, gave her no tip :) This restaurant has a lot of potential but at the moments deserves a D grade
(1)Kama A.
We ate here several times when we stayed at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort across the street. Friendly service, lots of seating inside & out, good for family's, couples, large groups. Excellent margaritas, yummy food, lots of spice (just how we like it). You can request mild if you don't like too much heat. Clean restaurant, awesome decor. Large portions of food. Fish was cooked to perfection. Very moist & tasty. Great flavors, great service, great menu options.
(5)Jessie L.
Chill spot to have a few drinks, I would recommend the Agavero Lime Drop..Yummy and it will get you feeling good, fast! =) I just recently had lunch there and noticed the new menu that provides way more variety then previous menu. Food was good. A few things they need to work on is customer service and cleanliness. Hostesses need to learn to greet their customers and not leave them being ignored at the front desk. A simple "I will be right with you" would do. Bar area should be wiped down more frequently. The outside area should be cleaned and have no evidence of bird droppings. I think this restaurant has a lot of potential especially with the location that they are in, the little things count and its what makes people come back.
(3)Andrea W.
Blahhh... Pretty mediocre, if you ask me. Service was okay but the food just seemed bland and not authentic. It's okay if you're staying in the area I guess, but otherwise I'd avoid it.
(2)Natalie M.
Not great for the high prices....but awesome service which made up for what the food lacked! I'm from California and we have an array of awesome Mexican restaurants, so difficult to go anywhere else but Mexico and actually like the food! But Just tacos really needs to lower they're prices,,,I mean come on 14 dollars for a burrito....? A small one at that...!!! Chipotle has way bigger burritos for 7 bucks with tax! If you go, get the chile rellenos, not shabby...
(2)Chad L.
We visited Just Tacos on the way to the airport and had an off experience. Visited at 11:15 on a Monday and when we entered we weren't sure they were open. After about 5 minutes someone came to the front and we asked if they were open and they stated that they were testing out the employees, which is never a good sign. So what I believe was the manager was basically our waitress, who took our order without writing it down and apparently just guessed (partially wrong) when she got back to put the order in. We ordered a Cheese quesadilla for my daughter with flour tortillas, which came out great and was great. I ordered 2 tacos, a Shrimp and a Fish, and received a Shrimp and a Birra which i didn't enjoy and am still not sure what it is. My wife had 3 tacos which they got right (Shrimp, Fish and Carne Asada) but our tacos were both on flour tortillas which we did not request and the menu said we would receive corn. The Carne Asada tasted like it was rancid. Absolutely inedible, we never saw the waitress again to comment and they didn't seem like they even cared so we just finished the quesadilla. They also provided us with a survey at the end of the meal which is nice but you would think they would work a little harder on the service before requesting feedback.
(1)Christopher M.
This is a review of the food. It was basically cisco products scooped and served on your plate in 5 minutes or less. Basically, a Chipotle with mildly better furnishings. Not impressed.
(2)Mark C.
The only reason I give it two stars instead of one is because they make a pretty good margarita and the bar looks nice. Get the margarita called the Just Trust Me as they make it with several kinds of booze and fresh citrus juices. Very good (though pricey, but hey, you're in Hawaii) and tasty. But that promising start stops there. We ordered a table side guacamole which where I come from, means it's made at your table. But here, you get guacamole that has the look, consistency, and taste as that frozen guacamole you buy in the grocery store. It was absolute crap and what Mexican restaurant worth it's sea salt would serve this?? I would write further, but suffice to say, the rest of the meal was not any better. Go there for a drink and leave.
(2)Brianna B.
The food is okay but I've definitely had better quality TASTING food, it's sorta bland like a lot of people say it is. I was very disappointed with their fajitas that come with steak chicken and shrimp. They brought out the steak and chicken on a skillet, it was sizzling and delicious. The shrimp was brought out on another plate minutes after, like it was being played out to be awesome, it was not so. TWO MEASLY pieces of shrimp came out. That part sucked. To pay for refills AND extra tortillas was pushing it!!! Was disappointed with what we got for the prices, oh but they'll throw in a whole lot of lettuce and refried beans!!!
(1)Charlie T.
After a busy afternoon of wedding planning activities at the Ihilani, we decided to visit Just Tacos across the street. We sat at the bar, which had a vast collection of Tequila's. Our Bartender, Megan, greeted us as soon as we sat down. I like to ask the bartenders what their specialty drinks are and I did the same with Megan. My fiance ordered water and the bartender made me a delicious margarita (I'm a huge Grand Marnier fan, so when I tasted it in the drink, I was delighted). We had the chips and salsa for appetizers and it was good. I prefer my salsa to be thicker like American style salsa, but they are an "authentic" Mexican restaurant, so when the salsa came in a little watery, I knew they were being honest with their food. We shared the Tamales and were surprised at how delicious they were. Opening the Tamales made it feel like opening a hot gift. As the steam rose from the Tamales I could smell the beef and my mouth watered instantly. No dessert for us because we had our cake tasting before then. Although, I really wanted to try the Fried Ice Cream. The service was great. Megan kept asking how we were doing and when we told her we were getting married, she congratulated us and joked about walking across the street to say hi when we get married. I told her that she was more than welcome to do that.
(5)Tony K.
Pretty good mexican food! Who would of thought that they could make good mexican food in a remote area of Oahu? The rice is actually exceptional here and was my favorite part. The tacos were decent and and overall I was very pleased with the service there. Prices seemed to be decent considering you're in a resort area and don't have much selection to choose from. Don't be afraid to try them out if you're looking for alternatives to the on site resort restaurants.
(4)Jayne R.
My husband and I were staying in Ko'Olina for our honeymoon and ate here three times! The drinks were great! The food was so good and very normally priced. The Fish Tacos are amazing :) Big portions also. Depending on what server you get, the service can run a little slow, but it was no problem for us. We will come back next time we are on Oahu!!
(5)Barry L.
Not too impressed with the service here. After reading the reviews, I should have known better Went there for dinner. It all started out bad when it took our waiter 10 mins to take our drink orders. We quickly ordered out tacos at the same time because we had no idea when she would circle back. We noticed the groups seated after us already had their drinks and chips/salsa before our server took our orders. We finally got our drinks, food came a few minutes later. Never getting our requested water. It was finally time to leave, requested the check, 5 mins later we have it.. Couldn't get out of here fast enough. I am sure we are the only ones who had a bad experience here, but I won't return.
(1)Jesse F.
Nothing to call home about. The place was empty, but service was slow. We ordered the guacamole bowl, which was pretty good. Then we split a taco combo plate...chicken, fish, carne asada. Food was pretty blah,,I mean blan. The fish taco was borderline unpleasant, seemed as if it was a frozen fish steak put in a tortilla, would be much better if they grilled the fish. To be in such a nice area, someone should invest more in this place so customers want to come back.
(3)Len C.
Everyone knows good Mexican food is tough to find in Hawaii. Been here a few times, mostly because of the KoOlina atmosphere, but I've finally given up. Ordered the beef chimichanga, took a bite, where's the beef? Took a 2nd, then a third, I finally find a small piece. Commented to the waiter, he apologized and brought a small dish of beef bits. Don't eat here!
(1)Kat D.
Really didn't understand all the hype about this place..... So my friend and I decided to eat here one day after work. It was pretty crowded, but not too bad, not too rowdy. We decided to share the super jumbo size Li Hing Margarita (something like 64 ounces I think) and each got an entree. She got a burrito (although it was called a taco on the menu, which I don't get) and I got 2 tacos (actual tacos, thank you). The margarita was good but probably could have used a bit more tequila. But what made it even better was the fact that I got to share it with my friend in a hot "hot chicks sharing a giant drink" kind of way if you know what I mean. The food, not so much. I can't believe how much they charge for the crappy quality and portions. I mean, I'm not Mexican food connoisseur, but really?? I make better tacos and burritos, and I'm not Mexican. In any case, I may or may not be back, but strictly for the giant novelty size margarita.
(1)David W.
Slow and cold food -- not sure how some found this to be good. It seems more like a place to drink than eat. Either everyone else is crazy to give this high reviews, or their were still on their Hawaiian High, or I was really unlucky. Not one of the four meals at our table was even good.
(1)Norberto D.
This restaurant is a sore on Ko'Olina community and a personal affront to some of the fantastic restaurants located on the island. We live less than 1/4 of a mile from Just Tacos but have only been there 3 times in 14 months. Why you may ask? Because the service is sub-standard (slow and simply inattentive) and the quality of the food is horrible especially for the amount of money you pay. Did i mention they will nickel and dime you for everything (i.e., extra tortillas, extra sour cream, mixing the meat on your fajita)? I am looking forward to the day Just Tacos at Ko'Olina closes its doors for good. It does NOT belong in this community. The only reason it gets remotely busy on Friday and Saturday nights is because there are NO other mexican restaurants or moderately priced restaurants close by. Hopefully this will change in the very near future. Do NOT go to Just Tacos at Ko'Olina if you have an opportunity to eat anywhere else. If you have no choice but to eat there, you have been forewarned. I swear by G-d i am NEVER going back to this restaurant. Not even for a margarita. If i could give it less than 1 star, i would.
(1)Xoxo B.
our friend recommend this place to us because she said that they had the best margaritas. so we decide to try it one day... we had our waiter name IRENE. she was very nice, always came to check up on us, ask us if we needed anything...etc. we ordered i think it was the 16 oz li hing mui margarita and oooohhhmmmggg it was the best!! it was kinda pricey i think it was like $30 but it was worth it...it got me and my bf buzzed. i would recommend this place if your going down koolina side.
(5)Stephanie H.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this place actually serves up some decent Mexican food. The inside is brand new, nicely decorated, clean and spacious. We ended up sitting outside, which is a great area to sit with your friends and relax with a couple of margaritas. I ordered the classic margarita blended and it was everything I had hoped it would be and more. It's $8.50, but it's huge! And can put hair on your chest. My dad ordered his favorite chocolate mole, which he said was just okay and tasted like they use canned, store-bought sauce. My mom didn't say much about her taco salad, but it looked really good and she ate it shell and all. I had my doubts about my fajitas and side of beans. The grilled peppers looked a little too oily and mushy and my beans were topped with store bought shredded cheddar cheese and looked like they had been sitting under the heat lamp a good while. Despite all this everything actually tasted really good. The chicken in my fajitas were well seasoned and the beans were yum yum yumalicious. I think my giant margarita definitely enhanced the experience, but overall everything was decent and the service was a-okay too. Nothing spectacular but a fun place to hang nonetheless.
(3)Richard S.
Awful food. Rude service. Not Mexican. Overpriced. Should I go on?
(1)Paul S.
We had a great time here, AND A WAITRESS WHO MADE IT AN EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE EVENT. THE FOOD WAS GOOD, SERVED QUICKLY AND BY FAR THE LEAST EXPENSIVE DINNER YOU'LL EAT NEAR THE dISNEY RESORT.
(4)John M.
The only reason this place is even getting a star is because of the service and the drinks. the food is horrible. The beans had no flavor at all and tasted primarily of lard. Completely bland. The tamales taste like they were frozen and then heated up in a microwave and had little to no meat in them whatsoever. The $9 guac bowl taste like it came out of a tub from Costco. And the "100% grass fed Kona beef" burger taste like it probably came from Costco as well--it was thin, pretty dry, and did not taste like it was grass fed. the place smelt atrocious the second you walked through the door. Who puts the kitchen in the front anyhow? It was weird walking past the hostess desk and getting run over by the waiters/food runners as your about to be seated. There were chips all over the floor. And the floor is extremely filthy, sticky, and slippery at the same time. The staff seemed to be slipping as they walked around. On the bright side, our waiter (I believe his name was Kaenoah) was very polite and pretty funny as well, and took great care of us. He managed to make up for what the food lacked. He gave us a few drink recommendations for a li hing (?) margarita, which was excellent, as well as a sweet tequila--agavero.
(1)Cheryl D.
I would give ZERO stars if possible. This place was horrible it was by far the worst dining experience I have ever had in my entire life. We made a reservation for 15 a week prior for our wedding rehersal dinner. They didn't have a table for us when we arrived. They had lost our reservation, which I had personally made. They set us a table that was crooked, cramped, with busted up tables in the freaking dark outside. Our server was a complete b*tch. She was rude, like we had done something wrong. Drinks took 15-20 minutes. They brought one basket of chips for 15 people. Food took over an hour, most of it came out one by one and was cold. If you asked the server any questions she would blow you off or just be plain rude. After what was the worst meal of my life, our steak fajitas were completely inedible. I asked to speak to the manager outside. He proceeded to tell me it was OUR fault that the service was bad and that OUR table backed up their entire kitchen. That WE hadn't made a reservation (WHICH I HAD PERSONALLY MADE), so it was OUR fault that there was no table. He said there was nothing he could do about it. Then after all that the waitress brings the bill, tells us its 25% off of the food, (whoopee) and doesn't tell the table that she has already added a gratuity of 20%. Which is commmon to do for large tables but the server should let the people know. Basically I think I deserve an apology for this BS experience. The manager should be fired for being completely worthless. I had origionally thought he was a busboy because the way he was acting during dinner was like he was completely clueless. The owner should issue me a full refund for this experience. In fact my email address is Chchchcheryl@yahoo.com so he can contact me directly. Again, you'd be a fool to eat here and they should just be plain embarressed by the way they treated myself and my family.
(1)Barbara P.
The food is terrible, everything is frozen or comes from a can, nothing tastes fresh or homemade. The wait staff is friendly and does its best to to compensate for the blah menu. I can't believe they couldn't do better especially with all the competition of great restaurants in Ko Olina. It seems as though the kitchen is just fine sending out really bad dishes. The bar serves decent margaritas and if all you want to do is drink and forgo their yucky salsa and food then it might be worth trying. I will definitely not go back unless I hear they have made huge changes.
(1)Jen C.
This place just plain sucks. Our food was super mediocre and our drinks were terrible. A few details: The "tableside" guac was neither fresh nor done tableside - I would make a bet it came from a plastic bag (like what you can buy at Costco). After asking for our server's recommendation, we ordered 2 "trust me" margaritas - they were $15 each and TERRIBLE. The server claimed they were made with fresh lime and NO mix - HA - again, tasted exactly like the Costco margarita mix. We also had 2 mojitos - they claim to be the best you'll ever have, but they weren't even good. Finally, the food...it was blah. We had tacos (veggie, pork, and beef) and fajitas (good shrimp but very tough steak). Nothing had much flavor, the tacos were barely warm. My advice - just stay away. The friendly service can't make up for the mediocrity of everything else. Spend a little more and eat the resorts.
(1)Hawley C.
We live on the Leeward side and heard bout this place, so decided to give it a chance. Have been there 2x since and are fans! We were very surprised with how much food you get for the price. Happy hour is even better if you can get there before 5:00pm (I believe that is the time). Each time we ate here we could not finish all of our food and took it home. Food-Papi Platter, is a great pupu for 2 people and you don't need to order anything else to eat or get the happy hour specials and that is a meal in itself. Drinks-margaritas are great! Service-friendly, fast, manager came by 2x to ask us if everything was okay. We have decided that the next time, we are going to "pass" on the pupus and just order dinner, so we can see how that is and maybe we can get to the dessert this time!
(5)Anton E.
not worth the money/taste at all burrito was FULL of rice and beans; barely tasted pork sampler plate is way overpriced and not a big deal pupusa was bland, full of beans
(2)Lyn S.
Good margaritas and Mexican beer on tap (Dos Equis and Pacifico)! Tacos and other Mex dishes provide a cheaper alternative to high price restaurants in Ko Olina. Not bad...
(3)Bill S.
The food can be great, and I go here or to the Mililani restaurant several times a month. The food can also be 'miss'...a lot of the food is a bit dry...really need to add some chile verde sauce (very, very good). Tonight, showed up at 6:30...they were setting a table for 14 which sat vacnant for 30 minutes while a coupld of dozen folks waited up front. The staff here really needs some training, and some coordination. We waited 40 minutes for a table for 2 while 6 tables remained vacant outside. The staff seems to walk in circles, and don't understand efficiency. The kitchen is slow. So....if you want to take a chance with this one, I'd highly recommend a reservation.
(2)Norm B.
Lots of great people, servers, bartenders and hostesses but there are certain things that cannot be overcome. The men's room urinal has been broken for close to two years. The remaining two stalls are messy depending on the time of day you visit. My beer was flat with no head and no kind of effervescence, can't say it was warm but it surely ws not cold. Food has improved with management changes but at best is very average.
(2)Tim H.
Was looking for some good Mexican food, okay food is what we found. Ordered the chicken tamales, waitress said they were large which they were, however it was masa overload, the chicken part was an afterthought, barely enough to call it a chicken tamale. Somewhat dry due to the masa overload, sauce was available for an additional 2 dollars, making a 15 dollar tamale plate, really? If you are from a border state ie. Cali, Texas etc.. and used to good mex food you will be disappointed. Nobody at our table would recommend their dish. Nice place to get a drink, it will survive due to its location, not the food. A rating higher than 3 is just not possible.
(2)Jermy D.
I must say that I was surprised to find this place in west Oahu. Pros: nice ambiance, fairly decent food, and A very heavy-handed bartender. Cons: pretty pricey for the quality of food and service, but extensive tequila list kind of makes up for it. The booze: I admire a place with more tequilas than food options. They have just about every tequila you can think of in all three iterations. I tried the traditional margarita and my bf had the traditional mojito. They definitely did not skimp out on the booze in those drinks. They even have a 16oz. and 60 oz drink sizes.The drinks were on the pricey side--about $2 more than I would like to spend for a drink. But, they were pretty heavy-handed. Probably one of the saving graces of this place. The food: I don't know if it was the effect of the booze, but the food was surprisingly delicious. I had the tamales, which were surprisingly quite flavorful. The masa was a teensy bit rubbery, but the shredded chicken had a nice flavor. My bf had the tacos, and the ground beef was surprisingly flavorful as well. They did give a decent portion of food. But again, a little pricey for the quality. The service: Our waitress was apathetic and pretty stingy with the water. If it wasn't for the booze and nice ambiance, I don't think I would return. Overall, one of your better options for drinks and food at if you're on the westside. Just drink enough margaritas, and you won't care all that much about your apathetic waitress.
(3)Sabina P.
Living in Southern California has afforded us a fine selection of Mexican food, which has become a regular staple in our weekly diet. Therefore, we tend to crave it on vacation as well. While we visited the Ko'Olina Marriott Beach Club, we made our way to Just Tacos with a bit of hesitation due to the Yelp reviews. However, we were pleasantly surprised. We shared the nachos, which were huge, with fresh ingredients, and washed them down with strong margaritas. Good thing our hotel was only a short distance away.
(4)Mark J.
Food is horrible. Ordered chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce. The tortillas were raw, the chicken dry, and the sauce was from a can - old El Paso is my guess. We go there about once a year because its close to the house and we always regret it. Never again. Food sucks and service is slow. The only plus is the beer is cold. Hard to screw that up.
(1)Rod M.
We ate their last night after reading reviews and purchasing Yelp deal (thanks). Staff very friendly and helpful. I'm from Texas so its hard for me to find decent Mexican food anywhere but back home. Just Tacos had decent food. Other reviews were right on about their fried calamari. Lots of it for the price with excellent dipping sauces. Margaritas were good but a bit pricey. We all enjoyed our entrees, fish tacos, chimichanga and burrito. Fried ice cream topped it off well. We will go back in the future.
(4)Rod B.
We've been waiting a long time for the restaurants to open at the new Ko Olina Station so went down tonight to try out the new Mexican restaurant. The food was excellent although there are definitely some things that could be improved. We started with some of their "Fresh Tableside Quacamole" and the ceviche. The ceviche was good and was served with chips and quacamole on the side. I have had better ceviche but have also had a lot worse. I was anticipating that "Tableside" meant that the quacamole was prepared at your table - and I love fresh chunky quacamole. Alas this was not to be. I must admit I am somewhat puzzled by the "Tableside" moniker - it might refer to the fact that the waiter stands beside your table when he places the quac on the table. Or perhaps, the quac was made by Joe Tableside out back. Unfortunately, I could discern nothing specificly tableside about it - it was creamy quacamole - something I am not a particular fan of. The quesadilla got rave reviews - my son said they were about as good as it gets - 5 out of 5. The taco salad was a 3.5/5 and the tacos were about the same. The star of the show, however was definitely the Molcajete. It is described as "grilled steak, shrimp and chicken on a bed of melted cheese" but the meat was definitely in bed with the cheese - like in swimming in the stuff. This was molten cheese heaven - it received a 5/5 ranking as well. The service started out slow but after we brought to the attention of the hostes that no one had even asked us for drinks after 15 minutes at our table, they turned things around and we had great service for the rest of the evening. I am a firm believer in the Japanese process of "Kaizan" - continous improvement. This restaurant has some winning features and a lot of potential. If they can get their service consistent and tweak the food in a couple of areas (like figure out what the word "tableside" means - this place could be a real winner. We will definitely be going back for the Molcajete.
(4)Jessica W.
I actually really liked this place! They have a lot of nice outdoor seating. The food wasn't spectacular but it was better than I expected. We got some nachos and a couple tacos; nothing crazy but it was decent food and the prices were far better than they are at any resort so no complaints here. Service was a little slow, but it's a tourist stop. They're all a little crazy.
(4)mae m.
Good margaritas, nice location!
(4)Cherif A.
Okay mexican food, a bit pricey, and a good selection of alcohol. Everything here is called a taco, whether it is or not. Do you want a enchillada? order the taco enchillada. Do you want a chimichanga? get the taco chimichanga. My friends and I stopped in here on a sunday night while on vacation last week. We all agreed that the food was so-so. But we're from California and our standards for Mexican food are pretty high. But, if you must have some mexican food and your in the area...you could do worse.
(2)' '.
We had the chance to visit this restaurant for lunch during our stay at Aulani. Overall this was a nice alternative as restaurants are limited in the area since we didn't have a car. Service was good, nice cool temperature inside the restaurant, & the food was average.
(4)Azuki B.
We had friends staying at one of the nearby resorts, and since it was the night before they were heading back home and had already had a full day on the island, we agreed to meet and have dinner at Just Tacos. Pros: The decor, very nice, the restaurant clean; we got a table outside, we were seated almost immediately. It was dinner hour and crowded, but our server was nice, and service was timely. The orders were correct and looked good, and were served hot (where applicable). Cons: The guys ordered beers, so nothing went wrong with that, but we gals ordered cocktails--both of us had to *concentrate* on tasting any alcohol. Management, stop telling your servers to constantly *upsell*. We get it--you want to sell more food/drinks, but "no means no" already! For the prices, I could've gone to the market and bought a frozen Mexican dinner, or gone to Taco Bell for equivalent or better. I had a combo plate of the tacos. The breading on the shrimp was almost mushy, and the fish had almost no taste. The rice was dry--seriously, Taco Bell makes better. The two guys had hot dishes and said they were *okay*. The other person had a salad and said it was good--well, it's difficult to mess up lettuce and veggies, right? We won't go back, and are still on the search for good Mexican food here on Oahu (we are originally from Southern California--'nuff said). In the meantime, hello again my neighborhood Taco Bell! :-P
(2)Susie M.
Yes, why being from California would one go out for Mexican in HI? Well, when your on the west side of Oahu choices can be a bit limiting if you don't want to drive more than 10 miles for a meal. Since our last visit to Ko' Olina we noticed a new strip mall of restaurants near our condo, and decided to try as an alternative to the hotel food of Marriott or the good but pricey restaurants at J.W. Plus: +Gorgeous bar and restaurant design. +Someone (or corporation) was willing to invest some big $ to put such a nice looking place in an area that isn't quite the happening spot yet. Minus: -very mediocre service. Everyone seemed like really under trained college age kids in their first job serving people in a restaurant. The host was the only dude who seemed to know what was happening. Example one: When asked if they could make us a marg in a clean, straightforward style (read: no syrupy nasty mix) she referred us to some drink called "Trust Me Margarita", which ended up being $60 a pitcher (literally TWICE the amount listed for the other pitchers on the menu). Not a word from the server that it was going to cost double the rest of the margs on the menu. Any server in his/her right mind would advise the customer, "oh, you'd like this, but it is literally double the price on the menu". Example two: when asked the usual question "how was everything?" I railed on their guac. It is a disgrace to the avo to call that they had at the restaurant guac as the sides served w/ their dishes, soupy, pea green, like they maybe waived guac powder on flour...when mentioning this to the server she kind of giggled, said, "yeah, it's not that good, huh?". Strange, since the menu had a item of "table side guacamole". And the rest of the food was very average at best. Wasn't expected great things but also wasn't expecting to walk out of the restaurant w/ a tab of $110 for a pitcher, two platters and a kids meal. Live and learn. And plus, when your on vacation things are just a tad more forgivable, though we likely won't be back there. -
(2)Kathy C.
I ordered the chicken enchiladas which in itself was delish but the service I gotta say was terrible. I went there with the bf and his family and when the nachos came, service was ok but then it got busy and we were forgotten. I had asked for extra salsa because they only give a teeny bit with a mountain of nacho chips. I never got my extra salsa. Then one of us had ordered steak fajitas and wasn't given any plates to make the fajitas on......... So of course we had to ask 2 different waiter to get it, eventually get 2 plates. Sorry it doesn't end there. We needed extra napkins and also had to ask several waiter before getting just a few more napkins......don't get me wrong, we weren't being slobs but the one napkin we get in the beginning cannot possibly cover the entire meal! So all I have to say is that the food was pretty decent BUT service was despicable!
(2)Kelly H.
A good option in Ko Olina - food is good, drinks are good, service is fast compared with other places on the island. Happy hour everyday from 2 - 5 with 4.99 appetizers, 4.99 margaritas and discount on draft beer. Ate here twice.
(4)Munro M.
The food was good, but the service was blah. Maybe server was just having an off day, but nonetheless it seemed like she didn't really care too much. We ordered unlimited chips/salsa, steak fajitas, cheese quesadillas, a pulled pork taco and a shrimp taco. All of the food was very good, fresh, hot and flavorful. The fajitas didn't come with any cheese, lettuce, tomatoes or sour cream. We asked for sour cream and they brought some out. The chips were good and they brought out two salsas, one mild and one hot. The hot was just too much and the mild was even too spicy for the kids (ages 5 & 8), but us grown-ups liked it. On the kiddie note, they didn't have any kids menu choices or kids cups or anything, but they did have a high chair for our 18 mos. old, so that was good. We opted to sit outside as there are plenty of tables and the weather was nice. Despite the few mosquitoes it was a nice setting. They need some burning tiki torches or something to help keep the mosquitoes away and to add to the atmosphere. The restaurant is well organized, nicely appointed with decor and related news articles and appears to be kept clean. We don't drink alcohol, but did notice quite a wide variety of drink options being brought out to other diners. My kids kept asking me what all the different drinks were, obviously hinting that they wanted a cool looking drink like that instead of their boring water. I then had to give them a quick lesson on the difference between alcoholic and virgin drinks :) We'll be back.
(3)Kaci T.
Being from socal, I suppose we're a bit spoiled by the quality of the Mexican food we have available to us. I was expecting fantastic tacos from "Just Tacos," but what we got was just OK. I had carne asada tacos with rice and beans. The portions were great and the rice was delicious. While it was nice to have a break from the resort food, "Just Tacos" could step up the flavor in the meat.
(3)Daniel U.
The service was horrible and the waitress seemed clueless and ditzy. She insisted that she couldn't separate our bills which I knew was a lie because she expected a bigger tip for our large group. So I agreed and instead she got a smaller tip. Always give what the customer wants. If she separated the bill in the beginning, she would have got a larger tip. :)
(2)Vanessa H.
Worst meal we had on our vacation. Their drinks were terrible. They had half a dozen empty tables yet had to wait 20 minutes. Our server got our drink order wrong, they couldn't make the drink I wanted for some reason, and I had to get up and refill my own water glass. Food wasn't very good. Don't waste your time and money going here. Gave them one star because it's in ko online in a beautiful setting and I was in a good mood because we were on vacation.
(1)tbone s.
this place is crap. if you have a gluten alergy, avoid this place. they wouldnt know the word allergy if it gnawed their balls off. 1. none of their tacos mention if the tortillas are corn. 2.when i asked b/c of gluten allergy, they said, "im pretty sure the homemade tortillas are corn" 3. take my food back to the room...and the tortillas a flour. wtf, know your own fucking menu. allergy is not me not "liking" an ingredient.. it's a medical condition fuckers. this place is most like NOT gluten free... so celiacs avoid this place. btw, the food is not good. i felt like shit that same night.
(1)Jake B.
Aside from getting seated and forgotten about (once we brought it to their attention they took care of us really well), it was a good experience. I thought I would try the tacos, because with a name like 'Just Tacos', tacos are obviously their specialty. The were good, but not amazing; and the 'Tableside Guacamole' was a misnomer. I have had amazing Guacamole prepared 'tableside', but this wasn't it. In fact, there was nothing 'tableside' about it... maybe someone added shavings from the side of a table. Nah, it was too smooth for that, and may have just been packaged stuff. The saving grace was the really good Pico de Gallo that was served along side it. Enough about the poorer aspects of the experience, because they pulled themselves out of the 3-star range with some amazing offerings. The Molcajete was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Shrimp, steak and chicken swimming in melted cheese... shazaam! This is a must-try! Also, the quesadilla was probably the best I ever tasted; and the ceviche was very nice. They worked hard to make up for their initial slip-up in ignoring us, and the staff was courteous and friendly. I'll definitely be going back for more Molcajete!
(4)Thomas M.
Got the super fajitas. For $19 I got 6 small strips of steak, 4 shrimp, no chicken. 4 small tortillas, peppers and onions. Would've been better off if we didn't get the food to go. That way we could've complained. Didn't realize how skimpy the meal was until we got back to our hotel room. Unlike most Mexican restaurants, chips and salsa are NOT free. And if you want sour cream with their top of the line fajitas, you have to pay extra for that, too. Would've been been better off getting something from the deli at the ABC store across the street.
(1)Teresa H.
Margaritas were average. Fish taco was good but carnita and the beef taco had the consistency and taste of jerky. Definitely not worthy of repeat business. Very disappointed.
(1)Jim R.
Good food and bar but very slow service. Tacos where really good but sides (rice and refried beans) were cold.
(3)Fat Pat O.
horribl food
(1)Curt D.
We were staying in the Ko Olina Beach club and used the $10 for $20 deal. It was good but not good enough to go back during this recent trip. We were only half done with the Nachos Appetizer when all the dinner food came out. So it was not slow service but too fast. I had the dish that made Just Tacos famous (and I cannot remember what it was called) but it came in a huge stone bowl. I ate too much so it could not have been bad. Wife and kids shared a fried Ice cream. they were going at it like lions after a kill, so it must have been good. My wife said she would have loved to have honey on it instead of the chocolate sauce. If we visit Ko Olina again, we would go there again. Not sure how far out of the way I would drive to eat there. Probably not very.
(4)Keith and Becky H.
Horrible Service, Cold Food, Weak Margarita's, & Raw torillas. EVERYTHING is al la carte. We ordered the fajitas and asked for both flour and corn. We then asked for some guacamole and sour cream, rice and beans. They said sure no problem. At the end the bill showed up and we were charged for everything. Never once did they say. Oh that's extra. We also asked for guacamole with our chips. Guacamole showed up at the end of the meal. Why would I want guacamole for desert. I was going to say the best thing about this place was the MINTS and TOOTHPICKS. But when asked for them they said they do offer mints or toothpicks. I have a home down the street from this restaurant. I will never return, and would advise never to go unless you enjoy bad service and cold food.
(1)Sheri B.
Menus were torn and sticky/dirty. Waitress was very nice/attentive. Food was quite poor. Meat in tacos was cold; chicken in taco salad was minimal, cold. Ambiance is of a fast food joint with high prices for what you get. Overall a very poor choice. Much better (for same prices) is Monkey Pod! It's an incredible place with fantastic food, service, ambiance!!
(1)Jon G.
This place made me very sad. Chips and salsa: oily, tough chips with salsa that tasted like diced tomatos and nothing more. Waiter: very creepy. Kept saying things like "Are our meals OK? Can I get us some drinks?" Dude, I hate to break it to you, but you're not eating with us. Margaritas: Not bad, but nothing special. Tasted a lot like grocery store margarita mix. Food: Didn't taste anything like Mexican food. Overall, these guys need to discover how to add some flavor to the food before I'd consider coming back. If you're in the area and looking for good food, try Monkey Pod instead.
(2)Julie E.
*cracks knuckles* Where to begin....service from server.....HORRID, HORRID, HORRID!! After being rained out from the Paradise Cove luau, my husband and I took my parents to the restaurant, boasting of the good food and service. Our server, Tiana, made a liar of us. After having been seated for a few minutes, she finally greeted us (without introducing herself). 10 minutes later, I was the only one who had received drinks and she did NOT update us on the status of them. Only when I stopped her and asked for water for the rest of the people at the table until the drinks were presented did our drinks "magically" appear. I also then had to ASK to order appetizers, as several servers already had stopped by our table to help, as it appeared "we had not been served yet." Several different servers brought our food and drinks, while our server talked up a storm with her friends at the hostess stand. She moved slower than a sloth and infuriated me with her inability to care about her customers. The only time she WAS around was when she saw we asked for the manager! Once i told the manager she was spending all her time talking to her friends at the hostess stand, we didn't see much of her after that, except to give our bill. There were three redeeming factors to the restaurant. If not for them, Tiana would have lost Just Tacos a regular patron. those three things were....the food was amazing....Deon, one of the servers was VERY attentive to us, even though we weren't his table....he got a $30 tip from us, where Tiana got a big goose egg. Last, but certainly not least, the manager, Megan. She comped half our bill and gave me and my husband two- $25 certificates for when we come in again. For appetizers, we ordered the Queso Fundido with chorizo....delicious melted cheese with sausage...yum yum, calamari (I LOVE how it was tentacles AND rings....so you know it was not frozen (came with a delicious honey-like dipping sauce), and guacamole (it was very very fresh)!! For the meal, my mother and I ordered burritos (which were delicious...very flavorful and HUGE (I'm only halfway through mine on the next day), while my husband and my mom's boyfriend ordered soft tacos. Because of our server's slow service, we didn't eat any food there, but took it all home. Therefore, my mom's boyfriend and my husband have not touched their food yet, but I'm sure it would be just as tasty. Long story short, if you go to Ko Olina Just Tacos, make sure you either request Deon's section or STAY AWAY from Tiana's!!
(3)Allan L.
If you are staying at any of the resorts in Ko`olina this is a nice change of pace with a very friendly bar staff.
(4)Shaun R.
Like a previous review, we waited 20-30 minutes while the restaurant had multiple empty tables inside. I am from San Diego, so I wasn't really expecting anything spectacular. The service started out OK. The usual chips, salsa, and drinks. Then we waited, waited, and waited. My kids food came, then we waited, waited, and waited. Finally the fajitas came, 80% peppers and onions, 20% meat. The flavor was decent at best. I asked if I could try the green verde salsa. It was actually pretty good until I realized later I was charged for a small taster bowl. REALLY!! I will not be coming back. When we left, there were 5 empty tables and people outside waiting!!
(1)Yena W.
I'm positive that the majority of the people who frequent here are tourists staying in the resort without rental cars who have families and are looking for a place to eat with mid range prices, waiter service, and a full bar, quality of food not necessarily a priority. Maybe this is too demanding but I'd like complimentary chips and salsa from a Mexican restaurant. Maybe this is also too demanding or maybe just a preference but I'd like my food not to be bone dry. I was pouring salsa (that I paid for separately) over everything. And even then, I was still doing mouth exercises from the bits of tough beef they call carne asada. All their meat options for the tacos/ultimate taco (aka burrito) are on the very dry and very salty side. And for some reason, they also come to you lukewarm, which makes the texture that much drier. Maybe it's their strategy into tricking your stomach to think it's fuller faster? One thing I did like (kinda) is that the shrimp in their shrimp taco is one long prawn that is deep fried, so I just ate that by itself, not ruining it with bites of dry cold tortilla. And the calamari is probably the best thing they have here. But why would I go to this specific restaurant that's out of the way with inconsistent service (some servers are very attentive, all the hostesses are snooty and never smile) for some okay calamari and decent margaritas when I can have a better restaurant experience elsewhere? Like I said upfront, this place is a trap made for tourists stuck in the resort. If you want my advice for a better Ko Olina vacation, rent a car and eat your meals in town.
(1)Marie A.
From San Diego,food here was way below para,and kitchen manager did not seem to care. You could tell they deal with tourist and not locals. Will never go back!
(1)Bob L.
I brought my family to Koolina today and was looking forward to eating at this restaurant again, However, we were rather disappointed. I thought it was pretty standard to have chips and salsa free while you wait for your food. I can let that slip by but I was a little surprised when I got the bill and was charged extra for lettuce, and sour cream, cheese and guacamole for the tacos my daughter had. When we ordered there was no mention of the extra charges and the way it was presented it appeared to be standard with the tacos. The extra $$$ was not the issue. I understand the heavy overheads we have here in Hawaii but I would not dream of doing this in my own business. I was disappointed with the food as well...UGH!
(2)Michelle O.
Famished after 18 holes @ KoOlina, we stopped here for our ritual '19th hole' and dinner. We were seated outdoors on a beautiful summer night, sipping li hing margaritas. I ordered the same thing I got last time steak taco salad, without sour cream, guac or cheese. I asked for extra salsa and it was just as tasty. While I've only been there this 1 time, it was really crowded for a Sunday night!
(3)James S.
If you want a bad Mexican food experience, this is your place.
(1)Hillary M.
Yuck. Bleh. Gross. Disgusting. I wish I could give this restaurant negative stars. I have given this place three tries, but every try was worse than the last. THE FOOD: The food is all out of a can, and tastes like it. It is all tasteless, and the steak so chewy it's like hard bubble gum. The "table-side guacamole" is squirted out of a package. The refried beans (the only type available) taste like they were watered down with milk to make them go farther. The rice tastes like a simple mixture of rice and tomato paste that manages to be both too sweet and too salty. The ceviche tastes like it has been sitting in the fridge in a bucket, and the pieces of fish are so small they turn into chewy morsels instead of the lightly acid-cooked bites of fresh fish they should be. THE SERVICE: Slow and inept. We had three waitstaff, and didn't know which was our server. No one filled up our waters. No attention to detail. The WORST part.... They nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING. You will pay, and pay BIG, for tiny sides of guac, sour cream, chips, salsa, extra tortillas, etc. They charged us $3 just to have half our fajitas chicken and the other half steak. Ridiculous, and INSULTING. Those of us who live in Ko Olina all agree the food is awful, but when you don't want to drive 30-45 minutes for lunch, it's the only place to eat nearby that isn't in a hotel. The ONLY reason neighbors eat here is pure convenience if you are starving and haven't had time to go to the grocery store. AVOID THIS RESTAURANT LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!
(1)Cinderella G.
I'm not sure why there's so much complaints about this place? My boyfriend and I visit this location several times a month and each time we try a different dish and so far it's been good! I live on the west side and simply Love Mexican food so we visit Just tacos in Koolina. So far every time we visited Matt has been simply Awesome! He checks on each table to make sure everything is ok. The waitresses are very nice and friendly. We recognized one of the waitresses Char, she worked at another establishment before and now works here. We're starting to get personal cause now we're on first name bases with the workers! Hi Kat, Char, Billy , & Matt! Lol! On the weekends it gets really busy. So far we've been lucky not to wait longer than 5 minutes for a table on the weekends but if the food is not so good here then why is it crowded most the times we visit? I don't know about these other reviews but I highly recommend Just Tacos in Kapolei. This restaurant is very Pleasant and so are the workers! you gotta try the Li hing mui Margaritas! It's the Bomb! Just Taco's got a Deal on Yelp so go ahead and purchase yours today and experience their food and service for yourself! Prices are very reasonable! Enjoy your visit and maybe I'll see you there!!
(5)Joyce L.
The food was great. I ordered the fajitas and I got to choose between flour or corn tortillas. The service was great as well. If you go definatly try the coconut mojito.. it was amazing.
(4)Cassie C.
WOW. Sweet baby Jesus himself led me to this little jewel nuzzled off in Ko Olina! My girlfriend and I were supposed to hit the Paradise Cove Luau across the street when a sudden downpour cancelled the evening. It was too rainy to drive, so we went across the street to keep dry. We were immediately greeted by the coolest kids in town, and served the most potent margarita and Mojito in the world! Our server Whitney was incredible and funny, and her trainee that day was the cutest most amazing lil thang (HEY KANAE!!!) Then there was the food! DEEEELISH!!!!!!! I'm from Oklahoma, and live in Los Angeles, so I KNOW MEXICAN! This was right up there with some of the best places I've been to and i thoroughly enjoyed the meal! Best damn experience I ever accidentally had!
(5)Bobbiemarie M.
Wow! Great calm n open atmosphere. Was greeted @ the door n askedright away if we wanted to be seated or go bar side. Bartender was kind enough to offer "samples" of drinks prior to ordering. Food arrived timely and the $$ are reasonable. Ordered the nachos n got it with the cheese still melting! The chips n salsa were offered with choice of spicy or regular salsa...good because I wasn't in the mood for spice. 5* because of the timeliness our food came, bartender allowing us to sample drinks, location of the bar which was away from the high-traffic food service n customer entrance but near the outside seating area, awesome deco, and the high ceilings and windows to let in the natural light. Rest assured the ladies and I will return! Now to hit the beach!!
(5)Matthew L.
WARNING! Awful food, don't let the looks fool you. My wife and I went there because it looks nice, we live a few miles away and thought we would give it a try. The best thing about this place is the beer...the drinks are just ok. We started with chips and salsa...stale cold chips ...$4(maybe have them in a warmer in the back?)...the tacos were in a really thick corn tortilla, yuk. My wife's shrimp taco had 1, yes one, let me say it again, 1 shrimp that was breaded in it...wow. My fish taco had a small battered piece of fish in it...HELLO! we live in Hawaii, or your customers are in Hawaii, FRESH FISH, not breaded! and 1 shrimp? breaded? in a taco? and the taco shell? a limp extra thick cold corn tortilla? The beans tasted sour, the rice, cold. Shameful shameful food. Dinner for two with 1 beer and a foo foo drink for my wife...$50 plus tip, the worst $50 bucks I have spent on food. Seriously what was that our tacos were served in? The service was good, too bad the food is just awful.
(1)R N.
I share all of the reviewer's sentiments of poor service. It is a hit or miss anywhere west of Honolulu. I can attest because I live and work here. It's all about the moolah here and "service" is never a priority. I wish that a restaurant on the "west side" would prove me and many others wrong.
(1)Mark J.
Horr-i-ble! The Food: The chicken mole was the worst I've ever had. Nearly inedible. It was really bland. Even the rice and beans that came with it were bad. My wife got tamales and said that they were pretty bad too. The Service: Our server was polite and when I told him the food was bad, he didn't charge for it. Good form. But he was so concentrated on a table full of "high rollers," that he completely neglected everyone else in his section. I had to get up and get my own salt and pepper after asking twice for it and it took forever to get our check. Drinks and Atmosphere: It's a nice place and the drinks are great. We'll go back to drink because it's close to our house and Ko'olina is pretty - and it's cheaper than Roy's. But we won't be ordering food there again. Oof.
(1)Chris L.
Pretty surprising to find excellent Mexican food on Oahu. Flavorful, authentic and satisfying. My thing is tamales. You can judge a Mexican restaurant by its tamales. This place has fine tamales. The Guacamole was a little strange. Creamy but tasty. My wife says "yummy." The service was good. Worth a drive if you're in the area.
(4)Barclay B.
Long wait......lousy service and loust food. Only redeeming factor was the tequila selection. The hostess spent most of her time visiting with her friends as they had six empty tables yet she didn't care about sitting anyone for a long time.
(1)ann t.
Visited for the first time Friday night around 8:30. Got a table right away, as most folks wanted to sit outside and we prefered indoors. Got our drinks quickly and food ordered, which came out pretty fast as well. However, the food was sub-par. I had the carnitas taco plate ($11.99). All of it was luke warm. The corn tortillas weren't even cooked. (Usually, soft tacos are served with flour tortillas, not corn FWIW) The carnitas were shredded kaulua pork, not chunks of fried pork.The beans were out of a can and the "spanish"rice was simply white rice drenched in tomatoe sauce. No spices or diced veggies to be seen. DH ordered the Ultimate Taco (12.99), which was actually a burrito. It also wasn't too warm and the fillings were meh. Diced beef, bland beans, a whiff of guacamole and rice. His plate did not come with any sides. Our server never returned after the obligatory "Is everything alright" question a minute or two after we got our food. She never came back to check on our drinks (we wanted to order another round) never got our waters and didn't offer any chips or salsa. We had to ask a food runner for salsa during our meals. The salsa wasn't bad! Everything else was just bland. And the service stunk. I think being within walking distance to the hotels in Ko'Olina brings them a captive audience, but I certainly wouldn't suggest anyone drive out there to eat at Just Tacos.
(2)Angela R.
I bought the Yelp deal online prior to our stay at Disney's Aulani. My husband and I shared the ultimate fijitas and guacamole. Both were great and we were stuffed. The margaritas were yummy. The manager came by our table several times. Everyone was friendly and service was quick.
(5)Liane F.
We like to go here since we live on Ko Olina however, they NEVEr get out order correct. Not sure why. Other than that, its a great place to have a few drinks if you live on the resort.
(3)Dean C.
Good Mexican food; we had the nachos and carne asada burrito and enjoyed it. The only downside is they serve Pepsi products.
(4)Spork T.
I really can't see what the bad reviews were about but will only attest to our experience. We had a party of 10 & the food & service were great. Yes, it's wasn't the best food as I have had growing up in SoCal but it was fine. It was such a welcome change to the food at the Disney resort. It was comparable to many places in Vegas with the prices being just slightly higher. The chunky salsa was very good, had a slight kick & fresh tomatoes. The chips could have used a couple of minutes in the oven to warm & crisp them up a little. The entrees as follows: 2 taco plate about 14.00, grilled chicken tostada salad about 13.00, Baja fried fish tacos about 15.00, chicken fajita dinner about 19.00. The portions were definitely generous. This is not gourmet nor "authentic" like most like to claim but was a good meal. The margaritas were excellent & our server was very friendly, came around enough times to check on us, & definitely was NOT slow even though he appeared to be working the entire patio area including our large party. We would definitely go back on our next visit.
(3)Giovanni P.
Much better than I expected. The guacamole was average at best, but the mole tacos and the mocajete (misspelled) were very good. A great alternative to the incredibly overpriced restaurants across the street.
(3)Susan B.
Best Mexican food that I have found in Hawaii. I have Mexican ancestry, was raised in California and I love Mexican food. Just Tacos was a great experience for me and my husband. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it's tough to compare with true Mexican food from California where the restaurants are often run by real Mexicans. My husband loved the Chili Relleno and I had the fish tacos. Almost as good as Rubios.
(4)L M.
Run! Don't walk ...someplace else. The food used to be so delicious here with handmade tortilla's, but now they are store bought, so are the beans. I used to eat at Just Taco's everyday for lunch when they were at their d-town location. It was delicious..now it's crap, with even crappier service. We were seated behind the hostess stand, near a table with a young woman and her child. They must have been the family of one of the cooks as evidenced by the constant yelling from her to the closed door of the kitchen...Cray!..Cray!!! Crayton!! Crayton!!! I was ready to go back there and get Crayton myself just to shut her up. The cooks must not have access to a bathroom other than to walk thru the restaurant, which they did about every 5 minutes. One of them wearing an absolutely innappropriate t-shirt of a naked and busty young woman, kneeling spread eagled showing off all her goods to any and all lookers..children alike. I watched as a family near me scrambled to avert their kids attention, it was embarrassing....for the restaurant. The Manager and staff just don't seem to care, service is lousy and sporadic. Most of them were either hanging around the hostess stand or playing with Crayton's little girl. Our food when we did get it, was totally cold, bland and just gross. Taco Bell actually tastes better. We asked for a side of avocado and were told that there was NO FRESH PRODUCE LEFT IN KITCHEN!!! I questioned the Manager, a completely apathetic and bored guy who couldn't have cared less for his customers. He said that they only bought the exact amount of tomatoes, avocados, onions, lettuce, etc for 1 day of service. The prep cooks pre-made the salsa and that was it. nothing left. So, if a customer wanted soem fresh tomato, or avocado..out of luck, there is no fresh food in the kitchen. I asked them what happened to the fresh handmade tortillas that they used to be so famous for and that was still falsley advertised in the menu..his answer, they are made by someone fresh on the mainland and we ship them in...Duh. Bottom line, unless you have extremely low expectations....skip this restaurant and go elsewhere. You'll thank me for it.
(1)Mark M.
I really like this place, good food, and reasonably priced considering the location, wait staff has always been above average, but every time I eat here the hostesses have no clue what's going on, either they're confused, tripping over each other, or today after a 50 minute wait seated 3 party's before us including a group that walked up 5 minutes earlier, when I questioned them, they said they write my name down wrong and couldn't find me and didn't even apologize, then seated another party before seating us, for this reason alone they get only 2 stars
(2)Tami B.
Coming from Oklahoma, I am picky about my Mexican restaurants. My family recently moved to the island and we try to come here as often as we can. We have been here several times and we love every visit. You know a good restaurant when the manager goes out of his way to talk to you and every customer...even the customers waiting to get seated. There is a reason why there is usually a wait to get in...it's good! We will definitely bring our visiting family here for some good Mexican food. Oh, they have a fantastic tequila bar with great drinks to unwind on vacation too!
(5)Vanessa T.
I've been here three times in the last month, and service is always superb. Born and raised in Texas, and I'm Tex-Mex, the margaritas have an island twist to them, but are still legit. I'll admit, the food is not the reason we frequent the restaurant (admittedly, we always sit at the bar as the margaritas are the main draw for us), but we usually get something. The salsas (hot & medium) are fresh, and if spicy food isn't your thing, you should probably stay away from the hotter (red) version. I have to say that although I'm not a fan of fried food, the calamari is probably my favorite item on the menu. Now back to the margaritas; trust your bartender!! I repeat, trust your bartender! Chad has never steered us wrong. Although you can trust him to serve up a wonderful margarita, he'll also tailor it to meet your needs. What's not in the restaurant's name is: Tequila Bar. Tequila aficionados have hit the mother lode with this selection. In summary, outstanding service, outstanding margaritas, and great food!
(5)R K.
I must disagree with the other reviews that were negative. We enjoyed Just Tacos in Ko Olina. The atmosphere was nice and service was great. We went for lunch on Sunday Labor Day weekend..and we used our Entertainment coupon.. Our server/hostess Colleen was attentive and timely. Our 8 year old son enjoyed their unlimited chips, it's unfortunate that they don't have complimentary chips.. but still was good. Even though they don't have a kids menu, they did a ala carte taco for my son. My wife had their Chicken Mole and it was great.. the chicken was simmered with the mole sauce and not just lumped together.. I must say the mole flavor was smooth and not overly sweet like other mole we've had. I had their Big Taco (with is their name for their Grande Burrito) with verde sauce. I enjoyed it.. I wouldn't say it was outstanding, but typical big burrito. I must say I like my wife's mole better.
(5)Laura N.
If you are looking for tequila, THIS IS THE PLACE! Great full bar. The bartenders are generous with pouring, which is always nice. The bar has a TV which will have the game on, if there is one to watch. The food is good (not great), but a few dishes are worth the calories ;). The fajitas, the shrimp appetizer and the sizzling mocajete. Also the fried ice cream is the BOMB! I have never been a fan of this dish, but Just Tacos changed me forever...it is so damn good. Great Ko Olina location, nice outside patio to sit and enjoy the beautiful weather we are blessed with here in Hawaii!
(3)Jim K.
0/5 Horrible everything.
(1)Gene G.
For a restaurant that has so much potential, this place was an absolute disaster. We has a nice waiter, but the service was awful, and the food was even worse. We ordered margaritas and sodas for the table, and the waiter never put in our margarita order. He came back to ask if we were ready for soda refills, and I told him I was much more interested in him serving our margaritas. Finally, he initialized the order with the bartender. The food took forever to be served, and it was bland and awful. We ordered a Shrimp platter appetizer, and they put so much cayenne pepper on it that it burned my daughter's throat, and we almost had a full blown emergency on our hands. The bottom line is, I think this restaurant knows there's an infinite turn around on tourists/vacationers, so they don't need to worry about their reputation. Trust me, this place absolutely stinks. Spend your well earned money elsewhere.
(1)Elizabeth B.
Im come here a lot the hostess always puts us in the booth because they know thats what we prefer! l come for the margaritas,especially the madre madre because it's my favorite besides the lihing mui one. I really like that they give bottomless chips and salsa while were waiting for our food to keep us occupied. They also have the best fried calamari i have ever tasted on this island. I just dislike that they don't have hard tacos on the everyday basis and they only do it on tuesday nights. I really wish they expanded their specials throughout the whole week. :)
(4)Dan L.
Used to go here once a week and everything was excellent, Now we have been there 3 times and each time is worse. Asked our waitress for an extra plate and finally went to the kitchen door and got my own. This time everything that came out of the fryer tasted of old stale or overheated burnt oil. Cadillac margarita was way to sweet and cheese Quesadilla was a tortilla wrapped around some cold unmelted cheese. what you bill because 2 out of 3 times something wont come. Saddest of all was using the mens room and they have stalls not usable and no paper towels to dry you hands. Must have been out of stock because I noticed a lady in a nice outfit come out of the ladies room shaking her hands dry also. Manager running around like he is trying to keep a ship from sinking was an improvement over the last time when he was sitting outside going over books as he drank a beer, Your Restaurant is SINKING, Look into other staff Rene before there is no other option but closing.
(1)Jen L.
Convenient to Electric beach for a mid snorkeling snack in Ko Olina. Like all of the the other reviews, the service is a bit unreliable. They forgot the 3rd taco in the 3 taco dish. I got carne asada tacos and the fish tacos. The fish tacos were great and had a great flavor (they used fried cod), but the carne asada was rough and flavorless. Should have gotten all fish tacos. Cadillac margarita is way too sweet! Totally not worth it for $15, unless you have a sweet tooth. Not a fan of this drink. They could have done better, There was barely anyone there so there should have been no excuse for forgetful service.
(2)Richard F.
We went to Just Tacos just after it opened last year and thought the food was great. Something happened in the meantime. The food tasted blah. Service was OK. Probably will not go back.
(2)Mitchell T.
Don't eat here. Cold, bad tasting food. Cold beans, cold rice, cold tortillas. Yuck. Slow service, but not the waiters fault - not enough people to cover the dining floor. As a plus, it's heinously expensive. Seriously, we've had better food at gas stations. If you are in the area and you must eat immediately, go across the plaza and get a sandwich at the ABC store.
(1)Eva L.
We were staying at Aulani and decided to try Just Tacos Mexican Cantina which was within walking distance of the resort. We chose to sit at the outdoor dinning area which later learned that it was a right decision because the aroma of the fajitas was strong inside the restaurant. We ordered fried calamari, tamales and the combination plate. The foods was delicious and the serving time was reasonable. The staff was friendly and cheerful. We will go back if we visit the area again.
(4)Fatima N.
Great food Had the wet burrito a lil on the salty side so beware Food was fresh and the service was good.
(4)Mark T.
Fast service and tasty food! My family (2 teens, my wide and I) at here on a Tuesday night. The place was busy, but service was prompt. Our appetizer (calamari with a tangy honey-BBQ and traditional sauce) was served within 5-8 mins of us ordering. Main entrees arrived just as we finished the appetizer. My son loved his beef burrito (he's a picky about quality of burritos). My daughter's quesadilla was also very tasty, but no separate queso dip was available. My wife had chicken tacos and said they were some of the best ever. She also loved her beans and rice (which we often use as a guide to measuring Mexican food restaurants). I had the special grilled steak, shrimp and chicken in cheese. Very good, but no rice and beans included. Price was not bad with three drinks, appetizer, and four main dishes coming to about $76. The poor reviews do no justice. My family highly recommends Just Tacos.
(4)Milo Q.
Probably the worst Mexican food I've had. Overpriced. I had the fish tacos which were $15 for two tacos that were bland. My wife had the carne Masada tacos that were straight up terrible. I feel like people just go here because its next door to the resorts and its a late night "last resort" for food. I didn't have my phone on me which meant I couldn't check the reviews. I feel jipped.
(2)Bill W.
We should have trusted our noses as soon as we opened the dole the front entryway smelled "not clean". The hostess seemed to be on spaced out drugs, as we were standing waiting to be seated and she never acknowledged our being there. When we commented on the smell, she had a glazed look in her eyes...weird The food is about the same as you can get from a frozen entee at home. Nothing really bad but not that good either. We had the fish tacos that were about a C-. So if you're hungry and don't want go into Kapolei then I guess it's one step better than skipping a meal.
(2)Kimberly H.
Chips and salsa were OK, I had the carne asada tacos... not a good move. But then again after reading other reviews I'm not sure there are any good moves. Should have checked yelp before.
(2)Emily M.
The waiter was friendly but clearly didn't know what he was doing, took about 20 min for him to split the tab! Lots of our food was cold, rice and beans no good! Drinks were very good though!
(1)Aaron S.
We were out of town and wanted a good meal that wasn't $60 like most of the places on the resort. Fajitas and combo taco plate were very good! The steak and carntias were the best. Great service and great food. Will be back before we leave.
(4)Joe C.
We had a good time and it's a short walk from the hotel!!
(4)Ryan M.
Came in hungry with a tired 6-year-old abd left full and oh-so happy! We were unsure what to get and Diane, our amazing waitress helped get our son fed before he passed out, recommended amazing dishes and even gave us good tips for the leftovers after.
(4)Jonathan V.
Synopsis: The only reason this place is getting two stars is because 1) it is convenient for me, since it is down the road, and 2) because they have see-through windows that allows you to see outside. Other then that, this place isn't even good for BAD MEXICAN food. Service is atrocious....thank god I only came here twice on someone else's money! Environment: The place is cozy looking from the outside. It is a dining-like area with dimmed lights. I would be offended if you brought here on a first date....however. People: They seem young, hip, however attentive is definitely not their forte. Food: It's not note-worthy at all. Quite honestly, I can simply make the food they offer from a can. Is that too offensive? The only thing that is remotely acceptable is the calamari. Ironic, is it not? Calamari is MEXICAN FOOD! OH OH! Cost: It's quite on the pricey side for my cheap-stake needs. Cost to calories is definitely not worth it Drinks: Quite honestly, I was too drunk the first time I came here to even know if it was good or bad. But because I couldn't taste it....I would say it was okay only.
(2)Brian R.
Fish tacos were good. They did not have good salsas. They brought me Tapatio. Chips were not great either.
(3)Lorilynn L.
Tasty food, sutprisingly inexpensive, best fish tacos and excellent service. Nice atmosphere too!
(4)Mundo V.
I had dinner with all my 100% mexican family. We are all Mexican food fanatics (in Mexico). We all share the same thoughts below: Service: Not the friendliest hostess, long wait for food. Server made a big effort though to make up for these. 3 stars. Facilities: Nice place, liked the terrace, good location. Assuming an issue with the men's restroom got solved fast: 4 stars. Tequila bar: One of the most complete I've seen. 5 stars. Margaritas: Margaritas are not Mexican. They had a decent Michelada though. 4 Stars. Prices: not cheap, but what I expected for a touristy place like this. 4 stars. Food (most important criteria): Again, coming from a family that leaves in Mexico and has eaten in many many awesome greasy spoon places: PRETTY DECENT, specially for a Mexican restaurant in Hawaii!!! 5 stars. My recommendation: Menudo, Pork in green salsa, chilatole, pescado aporreado. For Spanish students: some misspells on the menu!!!!!
(5)Arynn I.
I went here today after work with some of my co-workers. It was not at all busy at 3:15pm when we showed up so we basically had our choice of where to sit. We chose to push together a bunch of tables outside on the lanai since, according to a few of people I went with, said that they are usually very noisy. We figured outside we could be as noisy as we wanted. I ordered just chips and salsa, adding guacamole. I also didn't order a beverage right away. Someone else at the table ordered the Papi platter, the sampler of sorts, and we also had Calamari. Me, not being really hungry just ate my chips and salsa and tried one of the quesadillas. Chips were good, heated and I enjoyed the more spicy salsa. The guac was also tasty and I have no complaints with what I got. I wasn't too excited about the quesadilla. It was edible. Our server was friendly but we ended up having a different one for most of the afternoon...When I finally wanted something other than water, I ordered a fruit punch. I wasn't in the mood for a margarita or beer but the li hing margarita did look good....that is, if I liked li hing. It was about half an hour before I had to re-ask my server to bring my fruit punch...and by then we were already on our 2nd basket of chips. I wasn't too impressed by the service after our server took our orders and a different one brought our water and the first round of drinks. He didn't come out to check on us as much as I expected. I understand that the tables inside were being sat but the restaurant was definitely NOT full. After one person asked for their check, our server came over to get payments for EVERYONE's check...but I don't think everyone had intended to leave. After he split up the bill (which was nice that he did that) and brought all the payments back we felt that we were "being kicked out." So once it was evident the server was done with our table, we paid our bill and left. I'm sure that many of us may have stayed a little longer had we not felt we needed to pay and go. #Yelp 365 Challenge - 001/365
(3)Ann V.
Don't expect "real" Mexican food here. It's edible, and that's all I've got. We won't go back unless the reviews get better.
(2)Beth T.
I recently went here for lunch while spending time over near Ko Olina. The food was bad. The ambiance was bad. The prices were WAY too high. It was a hugely disappointing meal. This is the only meal we had in my two weeks in Hawaii where we said, "this was a big mistake." We ordered taco plates. One with shrimp, beef, and fish. One with pork, beef, and fish. First of all, the tortillas were cold and chewy. I couldn't make myself eat them. The shrimp taco only had one meager shrimp. The beef was ok. The pork was dry. The fish was 80% batter, 20% fish. The refried beans on the side were really bland and not the right texture. AND, worst of all... they CHARGE you extra for cheese. On tacos. They charge .50 for cheese and .50 for sour cream and .50 for guacamole. On tacos you're already paying upwards of $13 for. (Lettuce is free... how kind.) I have never in my life seen a Mexican restaurant that charged extra for cheese & sour cream. ON TACOS. Oh, and it wasn't great cheese. It was that pre-shredded, dried out "cheese in a bag" type cheese. The service was OK. But didn't make up for the bland, overpriced, underseasoned food. I was raised on Mexican food and have pretty much seen it all, and can easily say I'd rather have 3 99c tacos from a truck stop.
(1)Mark F.
Live here in Honolulu and every time we stay at aulani we make this our first dinner. Good food, especially the beans. There is no great Mexican food on the island that i can find, but this is better than most. Chicken is good here.
(4)Annabelle T.
I ordered takeout to take back to the JW Marriott. Didn't even have hot sauce in the bag for my California Burrito. They skimped on the carne asada, had tons of cheese (so much it was overpowering...would have been fine if they hadn't been so scarce on everything else). It just didn't taste right and then it finally occurred to me there was no guac...then upon inspection I discovered that there was a slight green hint on my cheese, but nothing that I could actually taste. So disappointing, definitely had potential...for 14 dollars I expected more than a glorified quesadilla.
(2)Jason P.
Food's Ok. Really good tequila selection. But they *really* need to update the prices on their menus.
(3)C K.
My hubby and I use to frequent this place a lot before he was deployed. He just got back and we decided to go because how good the food was.... NOT ANYMORE!!! We started by ordering strawberry lemonade. The lemonade tasted like they gave us concentrate and ice. We had to continue to add water because of how thick the syrup was in the lemonade. Food came to the table cold. I ordered steak tacos, which the steak was cut into pieces (normally is steak slices) and the pico on top was so watery, the tortilla was falling apart like bread pudding. He ordered a combo taco plate, and his steak taco was the same, his shrimp taco came with 2 deep fried shrimp (normally is grilled shrimp). Both plates came with beans and rice. The "Refried" beans was more like a paste with no beans in sight. The rice was good, however it was cold. A few hours laters, both of us ended up in the hospital with FOOD POISONING. Needless to say we are never going back!!!
(1)Malia A.
My hubby and I intended to eat an early dinner at Monkeypod restaurant only to find they were closed for the day due to a private function. So we trekked accross the street to Just Tacos for the first time. I'm so happy we did even though we are both are not typically big fans of Mexican food. We were seated immediately, ordered a coke and a classic margarita which came out to our table a few minutes later. Our servers Matt and Nancy were helpful and friendly. We had our fussy1 year old with us and she was squirming and crying almost the entire time we were there. Nancy was nice enough to offer to hold the baby so we can eat comfortably! Now that's going above and beyond her job duties. I ordered the #2 combo and the enchiladas were cheesy and perfect. I don't remember the name of my husband's dish but it involved steak, chicken, shrimp and a whole lotta cheese. He loved it. The prices are not bad either $15 for the combo #2 comes with 2 cheesy enchiladas, 1 tamale, beans and rice all smothered in sauce and a dollop of sour cream. I'm going back again soon.
(5)Evo S.
Very good food!!!! Our order was enormous, we couldn't finish all of it. Salsa was yummy. It is a little pricey, but we'll worth it. I guess being only one of a few places out there, it allows them to charge a few extra dollars. $60 for two entrees and two appetizers. Lights are dim for a romantic evening, but I prefer to see my food before I eat it!!!! Would I go back again??? Yes I would, but I have to save my $$$ before the next visit!!!!'
(5)D M.
I won't pretend to be a Mexican connoisseur because I'm not by any means. I have been here a handful of times (frequented the mililani location several times) and here is what I can say. Sometimes the food is pretty good and other times is okay. It's inconsistent when it comes to food. The tequila selection is its main attraction and it is pretty extensive. I do have a soft spot for a handmade margarita.
(3)Adele T.
Food was ok. I've had better quality elsewhere. Would not go back or recommend.
(2)Kenny C.
I only come here for the food. The staff has always been very friendly with great service. I recommend the chicken enchiladas with both sauces.
(4)Tyler T.
Believe it or not, they serve more than just tacos! Pretty cool atmosphere. Food took about 25 min or so. So.... pretty long. But our waiter Kainoa was pretty chill. Good service! Each visit to Just Tacos, staff has been friendly. I ordered the Chile Rellenos; wanted to try something new. it is a cheese stuffed egg batter fried pepper, covered in tomatillo sauce with mexican rice and refried beans on the side. it was good, but not amazing or anything. it was 13.99$ li hing mui margarita was pretty good too!
(4)Craig P.
Pretty decent to very good. Try the apple chimichangas.
(4)T D.
Absolutely terrible management here. They don't make contact with the customers when they walk around. They seem to just walk around with their noses in the air like they're too good to do table visits and ask how the customers are doing
(1)Miles J.
I think I have fell in love with Ms.Rita! Her first name is Marga, and her middle name is Li Hing Mui! Try it you won't be disappointed! I came during happy hour and sat at the bar and had the appetizers, they were ok ( calimari and nachos), but the drinks were OUTSTANDING! I'm going to have to get a room or bring a DD so can really enjoy the adult beverages!
(5)Josh S.
This place is ok. Not great but not bad. The service needs to improve a little but the drinks were large and very good. Not bad drinks for a resort area. They have a dish that comes in a hot bowl with a ton of cheese that is very good. You can't go wrong with the meal.
(3)Rob P.
While driving home from the west side, Mexican food sounded like the perfect end to a beach day. I yelped the closest Mexican Food Restaurant and Just Tacos in Ko'Olina was a few miles away. It had mixed reviews, but I've been to the Mililani and Hawaii Kai locations and they've always been consistently good, so I gave this one a shot. We got there around 6pm, the line wasn't too long for dinner rush and the hostesses were somewhat friendly. They said it would be a 25-30 minute wait for a table, but the hostess suggested the bar since it was just us two. The bar seating was a great idea because we found an open table right away. The table was fronting the windows and could partially see the sunset. The server came over right away and was really friendly. I don't remember if she told us her name, but found out later it was Kimmy. We ordered the classic and Cadillac margaritas and the fried calamari as an appetizer. For the main course, we ordered the quesadilla and two chicken tacos. Everything was really good. The calamari was lightly breaded and tasty and marg's were refreshing. The quesadilla has always been a favorite with any Just Taco's. Light tortilla and flavorful seasoned meat, And A LOT of cheese made it perfect. The two chicken tacos had a good balance of sweet/mild spices. The Manager Matt came over to introduce himself and asked how everything went. As a whole, this place definitely deserves 5 stars, but had to drop a star because of the restrooms. It was fairly clean, but the placement of the urinal was very weird. The sink and urinal were abnormally close together and almost level height with each other. So, it's makes kind of a weird situation when someone's using the urinal and another using the sink. Recommendations: Seating- Look for seating at the bar. The smaller tables are usually pretty open. Cadillac Margarita-Little more expensive, but loaded with alcohol. Usually one and I'm good. Make sure you check in and claim the deal. It's 10.00 for 20.00 off fare coupon. Definitely going to be a return customer. Food, service, and staff made this location a must for Mexican food when visiting the west side.
(4)Jennifer N.
Not good at all, slow service, but the location is good for lunch after the lagoons. I won't be back even though I go to the lagoons often.
(2)Alison D.
Food is decent. They have a 60oz margarita, which can be fun! Good chips and salsa! I had the taco salad which was good but a little bland.
(4)Madiya M.
Went here for dinner. Thought it was average quality food. Definitely not something I'd return to unfortunately. Good atmosphere and good service. Our waitress was on the dot honest about what dishes are good and what aren't. The chipotle butter shrimp were actually pretty good.. Spicy and huge. Prices are reasonable too. Nachos were ok and the complimentary pico and chips were amazing
(3)Jennifer L.
Why would a Californian go for Mexican food in Hawaii? It wasn't planned, and we ended up at Just Tacos yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… because it was close to Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, where we were staying. What I liked: + Décor - nice. + Bar was impressive looking and appealing. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… + Ceviche - I tried it for the first time - it was fresh and a generous portion. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… + Steamed fish with pineapple salsa - I'm always a sucker for fruit salsa, and the fish was tasty too. I didn't like the rice or side salad. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… + Chicken fajitas - yum. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… + Train passes behind the restaurant on weekends - fun for kids to see. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… On the flip side: - I know lard in beans is more authentic Mexican food, but I prefer healthier vegetarian beans (my pescatarian dad and I didn't try them on account of the lard). - Tableside guacamole wasn't made at our table and wasn't anything special. - Fajitas, while delicious, didn't come with some of the usual sides (sour cream, pico de gallo, cilantro, beans, etc.). - Spanish rice - I'm never much of a fan, and this was no exception. - Side salad - meh. I'm not sure why they say "Just Tacos,," since Mr. L's shredded beef "taco" looked a lot like a burrito to me. yelp.com/biz_photos/KAsC… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Tip for parents: they don't have milk at this restaurant (only horchata). Bring your own or go to the market across the street. Overall, I think this is good Mexican food, especially considering it's in Hawaii. My main suggestion would be the addition of beans cooked in vegetable oil to include vegetarians and people who are trying to eat healthier. I'd return for fajitas and a drink. It's a solid place - 3.5 stars.
(4)Mike C.
Overpriced and underwhelmed. I knew there was an issue when my meal arrived before my cocktail. Server was pleasant, cocktail was decent, food was poor.
(2)Tom G.
So we stayed at Aulani resort right down the street from Just Tacos, and we were surprised by how good the food was. I got the chile rellenos, which had to be the best I've ever had. My fiancé had the tostadas, which she liked, but they were a bit spicy for her, so be sure to ask for milder flavors if you don't do well with spicy food. We were also on our honeymoon, so the Manager noticed and have us two free shots of this sweet tequila. I have to say, it was a great experience, especially being our first night in Hawaii. If you are in the area, definitely stop by here.
(4)Kimberly K.
This place has an amazing selection of Tequilas! Customers can buy a bottle and keep it at the bar. I can never seem to leave this place sober. Two thumbs up for liquor. Not true for the food. Selection is ok, but there are not many healthy options available and the price point is high if you want to try several items. Pleasant atmosphere. Not cheesy and overdone like so many "Mexican-themed" restaurants.
(2)Tamra P.
Oh thank you Just Tacos for....well, existing. I've learned to cook as a result of me not liking the food options in Kapolei with 2 exceptions. Now, whoo hoo I have a 3rd choice for date night! Whoo hoo!!! After an ever-so-long drive to the Westside after a long week of work, I was in need of good food and a cocktail. Our waitress was friendly, we were seated quickly, and then it was time to peruse the novel of a drink menu. I didn't even know there was so much tequila made in the world. The hubby got the Cadillac Margarita, blended, and I got a glass of Chardonnay. (You won't see wine anywhere on the menu, but just ask.) One sip of his though, and I wanted to snag it! I'm not usually one for margaritas but this was not your typical out-of-a spinning machine kind of drink. It was gigantic and very classy looking, with a smooth taste. OK! Weekend has officially started! Yum. BTW Just Taco's? They lie. They have wayyy more than tacos. We ordered the Molcajete to share as well as a monster basket of chips and salsa while we waited. It was literally like a whole bag of chips. They also have an amazing tableside guacamole for $5. Not chunky which was kind of different, and we don't know why it's called tableside but it tasted good. The Molcajete a hot rock bowl thing with steak, chicken, shrimp, cheese, and all kinds of delicious, sinful, fattening goopy goodness that you wrap up in tortillas. 29096427051734183 calories later we were happily stuffed and had a little snack to bring home for the dog. We will definitely be back for more Molcajete and margaritas!
(4)January L.
I used to love Just Tacos. However, we had poor customer service tonight. We were expecting 14 people. The restaurant was practically empty. We waited 45 minutes to sit down since half of our friends weren't there. I asked to speak to the manager, the hostess gave me attitude, and stayed at the front desk for a good 5 minutes before walking slowly to the manager. Poor customer service! I finally spoke to the manager. The manager said, It's a good learning experience for everyone. The hostess didn't use common sense!" No where in his dialogue was an apology. I am seriously disappointed with Just Tacos. I work too damn hard for my money to give it away to people who don't care about how I feel and what I need. So, I'm blacklisting Just Tacos due to poor customer service. I gave 2 stars cuz I like their 60 oz margaritas and their carne asada burritos. But customer service is horrible! They just lost free publicity. Go to Monkeypod!!! I know I will get AWESOME service there!!!
(1)Stefanie M.
Ko Olina could really use more affordable great dining options, unfortunately, Just Tacos is wholly mediocre. We tried the grilled chicken taco salad, fish tacos and the civiche, and it was all bland and underwhelming. The guacamole felt generic, not fresh and like it came out of a costco tub. The drinks looked good, and the patio is nice, service was pretty friendly and it's walking distance from Aulani Disney Resort, if they could make the food taste good it would be a great little place to grab tacos. Right now it's less flavorful than taco bell.
(2)Judy K.
Li Hing Mui Margaritas are the best. Try em blended or on the rocks. The food is ok but it is not authentic Mexican food at all. The deep fried beef chimichanga is pretty good. The management is great!
(4)Andrew T.
Restaurant started out fine. No wait for a table and a choice of sitting inside or outside as the restaurant wasn't especially busy. Decided to start off with some drinks and the "table side guacamole." This is where it all started to go downhill. The waitress promptly delivered a basket of chips, 2 salsas, and a platter of guacamole and Pico. The guacamole was never made table side, despite the name "table side guacamole." Perhaps they meant the guacamole was delivered on the side of the table? Either way, it tasted like the prepackaged stuff you find in the grocery store. Now, the drinks. As we were seated close to the bar, we noticed that the drinks were sitting around for about 10 minutes after they were made. After we were never able to find our waitress, I eventually resorted to getting up and serving the drinks to my dinner table myself. Next came the main course. The shrimp taco included one measly looking piece of shrimp that had been deep fried in a deep batter. The refried beans contained lard. And the enchilada sauce tasted like grocery store brand canned enchilada sauce. After this forgettable meal, we were anxious to get out of there. Unfortunately, our waitress disappeared yet again and it took about 15 minutes after eating to clear all plates and deliver the bill. Overall, an especially poor performance in an area filled with mediocre restaurant selections.
(1)Cassandra P.
Love this place! Happy Hour 2pm-5pm! Wonderful deals!
(4)Fay M.
We had the ultimate fajita...steak, shrimp, n chicken combo. It was delicious and enough for 4 people! We brought home more than half the order. I shared it with my sister. The li hing margarita's were yummy! Perfect blend of everything! We had a yelp deal of $10 for $20 and it was honored that same day. Thabk you yelp, for the added savings!
(5)Norm B.
3 stars Not Mexican or even Tex-Mex but something between a college taco hangout and sports bar. Tastes are just okay and the servings are certainly of sufficient volume to squash those hunger pains after a day on the water. Great wait staff and robust margaritas.
(3)Chris O.
I love Just Tacos!! I live in the Kapolei area and it's not easy finding a casual restaurant on this side with nice ambiance. By ambiance I mean decor that has character. In Kapolei, there is nothing like that. Almost every restaurant is an exact duplicate of the one next door to it...i.e. Hapa Grill and En Fuego. I might be wrong but these two restaurants seem to be the same exact restaurant. Also, as far as decor goes for restaurants in this area, it is virtually non-existent. It's just a short drive from home but dining in the Ko Olina area provides a huge upgrade to the dining experience. Just Tacos is nestled in this area. I love dining outside there...especially at night (tiki torches would be a nice addition for evening dining). My favorite thing to order here is their Pacifico draft beer and their beef nachos. Service has always been great. For Mexican on this side of the island, I would definitely recommend this place. Also, if you love tequilla, the waiter told us that they have the largest selection on the island. So drink up!
(5)Niki J.
I love me some mexican food!! so while my parents were visiting from the big island we decided to seek out some yummy mexican food that was close by. Just Tacos was okay, the fajitas were mostly veggies and a little bit of meat.. my tacos were pretty good, i had the combination tacos with a carne asada, fish and carnitas. the carnitas and fish were delicious and the carne asada was gross, it looked and tasted like ground hamburger without seasoning. i would never get that again. the drinks were decent and the seemed to have a large assortment of tequilas. I love tequila and although the food was mediocre i could definitely see coming back here some day for drinks... minus the parents. :)
(3)JR W.
Revisited "Just Taco's" and still have a hard time with the negative comments from some. Our wait staff was attentive and very pleasant. We ordered the Tostada's and Tamale plate, both had good flavor. The only negative comment I can make about the food was that the temperature of the tamale's was a little uneven and a little more chicken would help plump up the tamale's. We sat in one of the booths and as others have pointed out, they are in need of recovering. The manager stopped by to inquire about our visit and we pointed this out to him. He indicated he was aware of the condition and was taking steps to address the issue. I hope others will give Just Taco's a try for themselves and not let a few negative reviews scare them away.
(4)Ron L.
The chips were stale and they did not have a stocked bar. The food was not great and the service needs work. Went there because I had a decent experience the time before. What a let down.
(1)Denise M.
Service was mediocre & food definitely did not have an authentic homemade taste to it :(
(2)Stephen S.
Service was great but not enough to make up for highly substandard food. Fish tacos were greasy and guacamole tasted store bought and pre-made. A step below Chipoltle in every way except for the bill.
(2)Tyler C.
Carnitas was very dry! Bar area was busy, but the restaurant was not. Not worth going unless you just want to drink at the bar. Why were they let in this area, who knows...
(1)Jerod P.
Wish there was a 3.5 star. My mojacate was really good but the meal was quite expensive for Mexican. Service was just ok.
(4)David K.
This meal was a lesson in contrasts. We were staying at Aulani across the street, and my wife had a craving for tacos so we decided to try this restaurant. The chips and salsa were standard fare that you would expected at any chain Mexican restaurant on the mainland. Nothing special there, but nothing horrible either. I was intrigued by the chicken mole taco as that is usually a whole dish, and my wife decided to get one of the shrimp dishes and requested that they serve it as a deconstructed taco. I guess they took the deconstruction to heart, because I got a plate of brown mush which looked like something my dog threw up. Since I haven't eaten here before, I don't know if that is the standard presentation or if this was out of the norm. The presentation should have been the first warning. I took a taste of the mole, and the temperature was inconsistent, A good portion of the dish was cold. The wait staff agreed to take it back, and we received a new portion. While the hot part of the dish was hotter, there were still a lot of lukewarm/cold spots. It was like someone was reheating the dish in a faulty microwave. At this point, the manager came to our table and apologized profusely. To his credit, he did offer to provide a different deal at no charge; however, having seen a few too many Kitchen Nightmare episodes, I was reluctant to eat anything else from that kitchen. It didn't help that someone in a chef's uniform was walking around with a clueless look on his face. I declined and told the manager that I was good for the moment. So, why am I giving this place 2 stars instead of 1? My wife's shrimp dish was actually very good. I guess you have to know what to order here and I made the wrong choice. That said, we probably won't be back the next time we're at Aulani.
(2)Sol R.
My boyfriend and I wanted to try Mexican in the area... but before we did, we read reviews about Just Tacos... and were a bit hesitant. However, we wanted to try it out ourselves. Here are some pain points I'd like to express: 1. SERVICE: Despite all the reviews reporting "bad" service, I would have to rate this 3 STARs for the fact that the manager was helping out our waitress. My mouth was dry and water was not being filled quick enough. 2. FOOD. Not a pleasant experience! My boyfriend had the Beef & Chicken Fajitas and the meat was dry, chewy, with a weird lemon taste to it (old meat perhaps). He stated "this is the worst Mexican food I've had... ever!" I had the Fish Tacos, which was ok... too bad the fish was not grilled. It probably would have been better than deep fried because the batter got soggy, especially if they used too much batter. We enjoyed the Calamari, however, which is weird because we didn't expect that a Mexican restaurant. Would've liked to taste the Fried Ice Cream but my tummy was hurting... so i couldn't give dessert a try. Needless to say, we probably would not go back here... we wanted to try it despite all the reviews... but we're with the majority... this is a 2 star place.
(2)Crissie M.
Ok so This place has a great location
(3)Shar B.
Horrible food, over priced, friendly service.
(1)Hikari K.
Went there twice, SHAME ON ME! I use to love this place! One of the only decent Mexican eateries on the Island - I was so wrong! Went to grab a Margarita and a quick bite - Service was slow (Mind you, the place wasn't packed at this time) Took forever to bring my Margarita, I took a sip, and I had to ask if it was a VIRGIN! Called the waiter over, and asked him to add a little more - (Lost serious points for that one) I was a little annoyed -. Well, we decided to give it a second try not to long after...SHAME ON ME!! It was even worse on the second visit! The same waiter served us which was a big FAIL! The only thing that's consistent here is the terrible service! Big time disappointment- I
(2)Don D.
I cant give a real review because I sat at the bar and only had some drinks. I did eat here before for dinner but I dont really remember the experience. Must have been "mediocre". But as far as the bar goes, if youre a tequila lover, you'd love this place. Im not a fan of tequila, but I do drink it. But after reading the reviews, I can see how service can be a little slow. There were actually a lot of group seatings, inside AND outside on the patio. Servers will only do good here if they are "experienced" servers. If not, good luck! I will do a review update when I come and order some food!
(3)Craig S.
Food very average. Waitress tried to lie and get more money out of us. Said tip was 18% on party of 5. Menu clearly states 8. She said they just changed to 5. I asked for manager he confirmed it was 8. She said she lied. Should have left her zip. Her service was below average.
(1)Kim G.
Great alternative to "resort" dining. More value than ABC- our service was fantastic, although I can see why there are so many complaints to slow service if busy. All three hostess/busses were doing make up and hair and didn't seem to care about customers. Waitress was wonderful. Great portions, especially with calamari. Great shared appetizer. Can't go wrong with the guacamole, chips were stale, possibly due to humidity? DEFIANTLY RECOMMEND GOING EARLY (not lunch or dinner rush). To get great service.
(3)Victoria A.
I came with a friend on a Wednesday night... we weren't expecting a large crowd but there was. We were seated promptly; however, the doors to the outside seating remained open. There was a live band and it was extremely loud. We shared the nachos appetizer... and intended on ordering entrees later. But it was a very large portion... we couldn't even finish it. and it was only $9! The fried ice cream is a must try, if you haven't had any before. I've tried at Hapa Grill and Loco Mocco's; each has their own version. Dining experience is more of a 3 stars for me. I couldn't really hear myself talk... let alone, think. The food is 4 stars. I'd love to come back and sit at the bar... those margaritas sound yummy!
(4)Bill B.
Great place to hang out, Nance & Mary will take care of you behind the bar. The food & drinks are great; the friendliness of the staff & the locals is outstanding.
(4)Joseph Y.
Unfortunately, not a good night to come to this restaurant. We made a reservation in advance and were seated about 10 minutes after we arrived. First red flag was it took about 10-15 minutes to get our drinks and they forgot one, which then took another 10-15 minutes to deliver. The food order took over an hour to deliver and it arrived luke warm to cold. By then we engaged the manager who was very nice (as was the server) but by then we were ready to leave. When food finally arrived, it was "just okay" and did not overcome the serve mistakes. If you go, don't order the hotwings and don't be fooled by the crowds. There isn't much there to choose from so they have a captive audience. Again, this was our review based on this one night - but we will not likely return.
(1)lisa h.
So my boyfriend and I were just in Ko Olina to celebrate my birthday on a work trip for him, good times. One night we thought we would try this place since it is practically across the street from the villa we were staying at, what a mistake that was!!! We walk in and there are 3 people at the front table with plenty of empty tables and we are still asked to wait. . . and wait . . . and wait. And yet the 3 gals at the front really were not doing anything at all. Finally we are seated . . . We must have waited about 15 minutes for anyone to even acknowledge us, let alone take our beverage order. Finally one of the 3 gals from the front desk brings us water. We wait about another 10 minutes before our server shows up. She was a nice young girl but completely overwhelmed you could tell. We order, I order the fish tacos and my bf gets their house specialty this molten cheesy thing and a cocktail. The cocktail actually shows up fairly quick and was pretty tasty I must say. Our food shows up and OMG, not good at all. They obviously don't even remotely know how to season their food. My fish tacos had no flavor whatsoever and an odd texture and the rice was so overcooked it looked like cat food. My bf's molten cheesey things has shrimp in it and they don't remove the tails! Seriously!!! SO they expect you to fish threw this cheesy lava and take the shrimp tails off, um I don't think so. Our server comes to check on us and can see that I have taken all of 2 bites of my food and pushed my plate away. We ask to talk to the manager, not a problem she says. Well we waited forever for him as he was outside schmoozing with what looked like some of the LPGA ladies that were in town for a tournament. He finally comes over, really has nothing to say and seems to care less but does say he will credit us for my meal and take 25% off the other dish. Ok, fine whatever . . . but then he never tells our server and again we wait . . . and wait . . . and wait. Finally I can see and hear them talking and he was very rude to her and says I told you what to do and shes like um no you didnt. The bill finally comes and we could not get out of there fast enough. So, in a nutshell: food sucks and customer service (with the exception of our server) was no way near good and very understaffed for servers. I would say save your money and go someplace else, anywhere else!!! On a side note, its really sad cuz they have a great location but have no idea how to run a business, cook food or treat customers as they should be.
(1)Donald M.
it was simply ok. Quality food. reasonable prices. decent service. fast. but food was kinda boring and didn't taste any different or better than you can get at any other "cantina"
(3)Ana A.
Negative FIVE stars if I could!!!! Edible over priced food, nice vibe, but the worst service!! It the closest thing to Mexican food anyone can have but NOT authentic! I will say I felt like an idiot just sitting around waiting and guessing who is our server. Finally, the ONLY friendly staff (a young girl is braids) came up to us with a nice but with some sarcasam saying "I can help you I feel so bad for you guys, no one has helped you. My shift will be over soon." Then we were left stranded again waiting for food and pleading that someone would pay attention to us. I am so glad they surveyed us right after our meal, b/c I am a very honest person, I hope their manager will take my feedback seriously. Will I return, NOT IN A MILLION YEARS (or ever)!!!!
(1)Mark W.
Recently opened (early June '10), this Just Tacos is located across the street from the JW Marriott Resort & Spa in the new "Ko Olina Station" shopping center (the map has it a little further inside the resort) I stopped by last night and was VERY happy. The menu selections were typical mexican fare (tacos, burritos, nachos etc), but they have a little spin on each of them to add some flavor and style. I had the "3 tacos" with the marinated beef, marinated pork, and shrimp - all were good, although the pork was the best. The drinks were great too - besides a healthy stock of draft and bottled beer, I selected one of the classic margaritas which was definately big on taste (i.e., tequilla). A true party-drink is the 60oz (that's 5xbeers for those needed a quick reference) margarita that's guaranteed to get everyone "socially lubricated" Total check with tip was around $40 for nachos, tacos, and drinks.
(4)Helen C.
My first time here was with a friend and we sat indoors. The service was prompt but the food was HORRORS. I ordered carne asada taco's and trust me I don't know what kind of meat they used but to me it was over cooked ground beef with no taste. My friend had the fish taco's and seemed to enjoy them. I let our server know I was disaapointed and the manager apologized and offered me a free desert and didn't charge for the meal. I thought that was nice. Next time a bunch of us went after work and the food was OK nothing special for the price (Chicken cesar salad), although the chicken tasted pretty good. The li'hi'moi margaritas are the best but the service was definately lacking. I figured because we had a large party. A group of us went back two more times (honestly just for the margaritas) and the service was HORRORS. Took forever for them to take your order, bring the correct order and drinks and refill any beverages or chips. When the food arrived it was cold, tasted nasty and just was overall unenjoyable. I voiced my disdain to the manager (same one from the first time) and all he could do was apologize and offer free desserts. They must not make them in house because he is quite free with the dessert giving aways. He also did not charge me for my meal but then again I wasn't going to pay for it anyway. I made it known that we are not tourists we are locals who want to help the business out but I will tell you I have not been back since. Save your time and aggravation and go across the street to Monkey Pod. Now at least the food wasn't cold.
(1)Jeannine G.
Walked over from Aulani, very convenient. Salsa was fresh, beans were very good (a must for a good review), and the margarita was yummy - I wish I could remember the name - it's all natural with agave. Service was very good and fast. We had the signature dish (shared it) - the three meats with the cheese. Actually pretty good! Cheapest meal we had in that trip! ;)
(4)John B.
Great place to eat when your here from out of town. You have to order the chipotle chicken wings... The best wings I've had in a long time.
(5)E And L G.
The scene-went for lunch on a Saturday, 1130, the restaurant had but 10 customers, we were told that unfortunately if we wanted served in a timely manner we would have to sit in the bar...and there was no one in the dining room...no one. It was rude and weird. We sat in the crowded bar..gave it a chance...the only way we got served is from the bar tender...watching three or four wait staff just come and go..manager looking staff doing set up and serving our food... this establishment serves tourist and as a local want to see the best service possible...once the door is open, the sign on....game on....food is okay, drinks were nice...bartender..very nice, he was holding the fort down....will not go again or recommend
(1)Timorie B.
Extremely nice staff and the manager, Matt is super friendly. We come to the island 3 or 4 times a year and will make this a regular stop for a nice dinner. It's convenient and has a nice atmosphere at a reasonable price.
(5)KJ W.
Fish ceviche and chicken tamales were not good. It was actually horrible. I would maybe come back for happy hour but not for the food.
(1)Mayo S.
The food is BAD...I ordered the shrimp tacos n they only had 1shrimp...also the beans r out of a can...greasy food n no Mexican flavor
(1)Asahi S.
Losing points guys....the staff needs work. Young kid threw my plate of food on the table and was a total knuckle head. Manager came over and apologized after I got really pissed off. No discount on the check which was shocking.
(3)David W.
Slow and cold food -- not sure how some found this to be good. It seems more like a place to drink than eat. Either everyone else is crazy to give this high reviews, or their were still on their Hawaiian High, or I was really unlucky. Not one of the four meals at our table was even good.
(1)Roger N.
Like others have written, I too came to Just Tacos because I was staying across the street at the Disney Aulani and wanted a change. The restaurant seemed to have a good crowd, so I thought I'd give it a try. You know you're off to something not right when the servers apologize in advance and warn you that ticket times are taking 30 minutes, in addition to the 30 minutes it took to get our table, despite having half the tables empty. While the wait staff are pleasant and attentive, its clear that management don't have a clue how to run a restaurant. I really think there is one cook. There is no other explanation for how incredibly long it takes to get your food. 30 minutes for two tacos? I had the regular chicken tacos. After 30 minutes, they came luke warm. They were quite tasty, but seemed salty. The refried beans seemed like they were poured straight out of a can. The mexican rice was pleasant, and surprisingly warm, compared to the rest. I fear that Just Tacos isn't going to survive if they don't get their act together quickly. There is at least one, if not two more restaurants opening soon in the same complex, and they've got the Country Market ABC store and MonkeyPod right across the road to compete with, both with better food and no 30 minute wait. And to make it ever more interesting, on the way out, the manager was talking to a police man about how a customer became belligerent (probably because of wait time). The wait staff are clearly frustrated too. I hate to say things like this, but you'd be better off going to Taco Bell. You'll get better quality.. and it will be hot food, cheaper and faster.
(1)Shiu R.
Are? You? Kidding? Me? The NEGATIVES - poor service, staff that doesn't know the menu (it says right there it comes with rice and beans), 10 minutes for a guava juice (yes, just juice), silverware for only half the table, cold (from the fridge) corn tortillas, gross ceviche (I wanted fish not lime juice, thanks) and an entree that arrived when the other 6 were already done eating The POSITIVES - Manager listened, apologized and adjusted the bill (1 star) Carne Asada quesadilla not bad. This place has potential but needs new management.
(1)Marissa W.
My boyfriend and I were on vacation at Ko Olina and decided to grab some food and margs at Just Tacos (since we're younger and there's not much else to do at that resort). We sat in the bar area and our server, Nancy, was awesome! She was very attentive and super nice! Probably one of the best servers we've ever had anywhere, and with my boyfriend being a restaurant manager, we've eaten at a lot of restaurants. The manager also came over to us later in the night to make sure everything was going well, which is always a good sign. We each ordered an entree and both dishes were great! My boyfriend got the Molcajete Tacos, which were incredible! All the ingredients came hot and bubbling in a mini cauldron with handmade warm tortillas on the side so that you can assemble your own tacos. Incredible!! I sampled the Chimicanga Burrito and it was one of the best burritos I've ever eaten! Super crispy on the outside and the meat is soft and flavorful on the inside. We both ordered the Cucumber Serrano Marg to try something different and it was so refreshing from your average bar-mix margarita. The freshly chopped seranno peppers gave the drink a little kick, but they didn't overpower the taste of the tequila or the cucumbers. Great restaurant!! Definitely check it out if you're around. My boyfriend and I will definitely be back next time we're in town!
(5)Deanna N.
I'm surprised by the low overall rating for this restaurant. I ate here yesterday with my husband and my parents. We decided to take a walk from out timeshare and see what this new (for us) taco joint had to offer. We loved it. We had a few beers - several Mexican options on draft. Each of my dining companions had a taco plate. I had some trouble deciding on what to order. I had already noted the excellent customer service this place had to offer as soon as we walked in the door. Every staff member welcomed us as we passed by walking to our table. Our server, Cy, was so friendly. My husband and I are vegetarians and as soon as I asked her if the beans were cooked with lard, she said yes and the rice was cooked in chicken stock. Without missing a beat, she pointed out all the veggie friendly options on the menu and offered to bring us a side of grilled veggies instead of the rice and beans. Now that's service! Most Mexican restaurants either don't know if their beans contain lard or they do know but lie about it. We can tell. I decided on the chile relleno and is was delicious. The sauce was so yummy. The rest of my family said the tacos were good, not great. We also think we should have received chips and salsa for the table without having to order and pay for it. This is why I'm giving a 4-star rating instead of 5. But if I was rating based on service alone, 5 stars no question.
(4)Kikumi P.
Margartias. The only reason to come here. Other then that the food is mediocre at best. The music is WAY TO LOUD. Our waiter kept asking us to repeat ourselves because he couldn't hear, you couldn't hold a regular conversation because you felt you were shoulting and by time we left I had the worst headache from all the noise..... It's worth the extra wait to sit outside.
(2)Matt O.
As big Mexican food fanatics my wife and I were excited to find a Mexican restaurant here in Ko Olina. From the moment we walked in we found it very refreshing, especially after tasting some of the resort dining options. The atmosphere was light and friendly. Our waitress was kind and helpful in her descriptions of the entrees. We chose to sit outside and it was very pleasant to watch the golfers as they teed off, enjoying a 24 oz frosty longboard lager and fresh chips y salsa. After reading one of the other reviews on here I decided to go with the baja burrito which well exceeded my expectations. My wife, being the appetizer kind of lady, ordered the ceviche. We were both very happy with the quality of the ceviche- it was fresh and delicious. The guacamole was very complimentary and along with the baja we left full and happy. Highly recommend!
(5)Laura A.
Absolutely amazing! I had a steak burrito that was huge and tasted amazing! My husband had the chicken fajitas. The pieces of chicken were huge and the best we have ever seen. I don't normally like guac but I tried the little dish that came with his fajitas and it was really good. The table next to us enjoyed a 60oz margarita that looked huge but they said it was great!
(5)J L.
Not sure why this place only has 2 1/2 stars? We finally decided to try it out and it was definitely 4-5 star food and service. Our waiter Elliot was classy and the food was delicious.
(5)Cy K.
Okay Mexican Food. I had ordered a Chicken Taco Salad. It was kinda dry. The portion was really big. I ate half and took the rest home. I'll probably drench it in ranch dressing or something. We also got the Nachos. (not sure what its called but its an app) When the Nachos got to us it was a tad bit cold. But still very tasty. I must say that their Margaritas are AWESOME! One of the best I EVER had!! I had a Strawberry Mango Margarita w a Li Hing Mui rim, blended! Oh my was it fruity! I drank it like juice! The service was excellent! Our waiter was very polite, and on top of it. We just so happen sat next to the owner of the restaurant who's from Mexico. We were wondering why this big guy next to us was pointing to our table as he talked to our waiter. Come to find out he told the waiter to bring us a side nachos cuz he noticed we were waiting a while for our food. (we weren't even waiting that long..) when the owner was leaving he came to our table to introduce himself and thank us for visiting his restaurant. I thought that was really nice. Id probably come back more for the Margaritas than food. I had much better Mexican food. But I'd like to give the food another try.
(3)Linda K.
DO NOT EAT here! We are a family staying at the Aulani, 3 from Chicago, 1 from Portland, OR., the rest of us from Hawaii Kai. Just ate here tonight & service was way too slow, food very flavorless. 7 adults & a 1 yr. old & a 2 yr. old, then they had the nerve to add 18% gratuity because we were a table of 8 or more, little ones counted as adults!! Our Mainland sons were very disgusted by the pitiful quality of this Mexican food, we felt like they couldn't care less, serving tourists so why bother? We certainly will NEVER go back!
(1)L O.
Ordered chicken nachos and chile relleno, food was edible...not great...
(2)TJ W.
Molcajete was fabulous! Absolutely delicious.My son had the steak quesadillas and they were very reasonably priced and were huge! Classic Margarita was ok. Not as strong as I like them. The Dos Equis draft was great! Very refreshing. Great place to have dinner and the outdoor seating was pleasant.
(4)John H.
If you like good Mexican food, don't eat here! Should have walked out when we ordered chips and guacamole to start and they didn't have chips! Ran out of chips at a Mexican restaurant! Wife and I split the overpriced deluxe fajitas. Didn't even finish the leathery, no flavored, road kill. I rarely write scathing reviews but this one is well deserved. If this place wasn't at a resort, or had some competition, they would be out of business in two months.
(1)Caroline F.
After eating at Hapa Grill the last 7 or 10 times we have gone out to eat.. Me and Rich decided to *GASP*.... try a different restaurant! So we start to brain storm on where to go, which was somewhat difficult because we haven't had much eating out experience in the Kapolei area, besides Hapa, Denny's, and when I drag him to Aloha Salads! After much debate we decided on Just Tacos in Ko'Olina! I have eaten at the Just Tacos in Mililani, and Pearl City, and I'm not a big fan of their food. I personally think their tacos are one of the worst things on their menu. I recently have discovered a GOOD, safe Just Tacos menu option.. The Fish ala Costa.. Which is basically a piece of steamed white fish.. with pineapple salsa.. pretty delicious if you ask me! Out of all the Just Tacos on island.. the one in Ko'Olina is hands down my favorite! Its fairly new, and very nice on the inside..bigger than both of the other locations combined! We went on a weekend night, and it was pretty empty! We decided to sit outside since it was a really nice evening. The patio is really nice, and you can enjoy the nice breeze coming off the ocean. The menu seems pretty much the same in every location, and I of coarse ordered the .. Fish Ala Costa, which was good as usual. I enjoyed a very good margarita, now that I can legally order a one! The Ko'Olina location has definitely made me think more highly of Just Tacos! The food seemed to be much better, and the service (which is usually very questionable at the other Just Tacos) was great, Our server was super friendly and took very good care of us. I'm glad they opened one on the west side, because now he have another option besides Hapa Grill for our regular dinner outings! We will for sure be hitting up this Just Tacos again in the near future!
(4)Sonny L.
I have gone here for after work drinks several times and enjoyed the atmosphere . However, the food could be more to desire. The nachos were very oily and some of the chips where hard as if not cooked. It seems that the food is precooked and then reheated when ready to serve.
(3)Tina C.
Food is okay. Nothing spectacular. It's always busy though, probably because there's not much around, and it's just walking distance from the resorts across the street. I think I'd much prefer food from the ABC store or the hawaiian bbq in the same plaza. My husband ordered the entree with the fried whole fish. The inside was not cooked well.
(3)Mangione M.
Food was ok but the tequila options were great. Their tequila list has to be the most extensive one I have ever seen. If you are a tequila sipper this is the place to wet your whistle. And the bartenders play decent music from their Ipods and will take requests if you get in cool with them.
(3)Sarah S.
Really not good unfortunately. The service is soooooooooooooooooo slow. The food was ok. I had the tomatillo enchiladas and the sauce was super sour. I had everyone at the table try it and everyone was horrified I actually ate it. Not gonna be coming back, like ever...
(1)Stephanie H.
I cannot comment on the food because I never got mine!!! We were a party of 9, the kids food came out quickly, then slowly one by one the meals trickled out of the kitchen. I was assured that mine would be 5 minutes because what I ordered takes a bit longer to prepare. After 40 minutes and many reassurances, everyone was finished eating, the kids were ready to leave and I finally cancelled the meal. The waitress apologized repeatedly, took my item off the bill (seeing that it never came, that's was a good idea), and one round of drinks was on them. What really upset me was when we left, the manager was sitting on his laptop in the corner of the restaurant. He never made any effort to come over and apologize. I guess their survival depends on all of the unknowing and hungry tourists that fall into their business. Now after seeing the 2 1/2 rating, I know why! Should have checked yelp before walking across the street.
(1)Dianne H.
60oz Margarita!!! :D Nice staff & nice people at the bar. Been to this location 3 times. Food is a little pricey for me, but you gotta eat something when you drink, right? Went to the one in KoKo Marina ... not going back.
(4)troy w.
If you are staying nearby, chances are no matter the reviews, you're coming here. Limited options, means this place has a captive audience. That being said, come here and order the appetizer platter (pili pili platter?). It's all fried goodness and the empanadas (which were more like mini-tacos) are amazing. Quesadillas, taquitos, nachos, wings, empanadas... Plus free chips and salsa. Really, for $18.99, two can split this and some margaritas and you'll be fat and happy! Best thing we got!
(3)Daniel U.
Dear God, slowest restaurant on the west coast. This place never does learn from the reviews they get or complaints. Fire the staff and management. Thats the only solution...the waitresses are very inexperienced and slow. We just wanted to have a few drinks and some appetizers but was being rushed by our waitress. First of all, never give your tab unless you ASK the customer if their done. All you get is an apology if something goes wrong. The funny thing is, my table werent the only complaing about the slow service. The tables around me were too! The waitress refused to split our checks and insisted it was impossible but we all know why they want one check..they expect a bigger tip.Thinking she was going to get a bigger tip, but since i knew her intentions, gave her no tip :) This restaurant has a lot of potential but at the moments deserves a D grade
(1)Kama A.
We ate here several times when we stayed at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort across the street. Friendly service, lots of seating inside & out, good for family's, couples, large groups. Excellent margaritas, yummy food, lots of spice (just how we like it). You can request mild if you don't like too much heat. Clean restaurant, awesome decor. Large portions of food. Fish was cooked to perfection. Very moist & tasty. Great flavors, great service, great menu options.
(5)Jessie L.
Chill spot to have a few drinks, I would recommend the Agavero Lime Drop..Yummy and it will get you feeling good, fast! =) I just recently had lunch there and noticed the new menu that provides way more variety then previous menu. Food was good. A few things they need to work on is customer service and cleanliness. Hostesses need to learn to greet their customers and not leave them being ignored at the front desk. A simple "I will be right with you" would do. Bar area should be wiped down more frequently. The outside area should be cleaned and have no evidence of bird droppings. I think this restaurant has a lot of potential especially with the location that they are in, the little things count and its what makes people come back.
(3)Andrea W.
Blahhh... Pretty mediocre, if you ask me. Service was okay but the food just seemed bland and not authentic. It's okay if you're staying in the area I guess, but otherwise I'd avoid it.
(2)Natalie M.
Not great for the high prices....but awesome service which made up for what the food lacked! I'm from California and we have an array of awesome Mexican restaurants, so difficult to go anywhere else but Mexico and actually like the food! But Just tacos really needs to lower they're prices,,,I mean come on 14 dollars for a burrito....? A small one at that...!!! Chipotle has way bigger burritos for 7 bucks with tax! If you go, get the chile rellenos, not shabby...
(2)Chad L.
We visited Just Tacos on the way to the airport and had an off experience. Visited at 11:15 on a Monday and when we entered we weren't sure they were open. After about 5 minutes someone came to the front and we asked if they were open and they stated that they were testing out the employees, which is never a good sign. So what I believe was the manager was basically our waitress, who took our order without writing it down and apparently just guessed (partially wrong) when she got back to put the order in. We ordered a Cheese quesadilla for my daughter with flour tortillas, which came out great and was great. I ordered 2 tacos, a Shrimp and a Fish, and received a Shrimp and a Birra which i didn't enjoy and am still not sure what it is. My wife had 3 tacos which they got right (Shrimp, Fish and Carne Asada) but our tacos were both on flour tortillas which we did not request and the menu said we would receive corn. The Carne Asada tasted like it was rancid. Absolutely inedible, we never saw the waitress again to comment and they didn't seem like they even cared so we just finished the quesadilla. They also provided us with a survey at the end of the meal which is nice but you would think they would work a little harder on the service before requesting feedback.
(1)Christopher M.
This is a review of the food. It was basically cisco products scooped and served on your plate in 5 minutes or less. Basically, a Chipotle with mildly better furnishings. Not impressed.
(2)Mark C.
The only reason I give it two stars instead of one is because they make a pretty good margarita and the bar looks nice. Get the margarita called the Just Trust Me as they make it with several kinds of booze and fresh citrus juices. Very good (though pricey, but hey, you're in Hawaii) and tasty. But that promising start stops there. We ordered a table side guacamole which where I come from, means it's made at your table. But here, you get guacamole that has the look, consistency, and taste as that frozen guacamole you buy in the grocery store. It was absolute crap and what Mexican restaurant worth it's sea salt would serve this?? I would write further, but suffice to say, the rest of the meal was not any better. Go there for a drink and leave.
(2)Charlie T.
After a busy afternoon of wedding planning activities at the Ihilani, we decided to visit Just Tacos across the street. We sat at the bar, which had a vast collection of Tequila's. Our Bartender, Megan, greeted us as soon as we sat down. I like to ask the bartenders what their specialty drinks are and I did the same with Megan. My fiance ordered water and the bartender made me a delicious margarita (I'm a huge Grand Marnier fan, so when I tasted it in the drink, I was delighted). We had the chips and salsa for appetizers and it was good. I prefer my salsa to be thicker like American style salsa, but they are an "authentic" Mexican restaurant, so when the salsa came in a little watery, I knew they were being honest with their food. We shared the Tamales and were surprised at how delicious they were. Opening the Tamales made it feel like opening a hot gift. As the steam rose from the Tamales I could smell the beef and my mouth watered instantly. No dessert for us because we had our cake tasting before then. Although, I really wanted to try the Fried Ice Cream. The service was great. Megan kept asking how we were doing and when we told her we were getting married, she congratulated us and joked about walking across the street to say hi when we get married. I told her that she was more than welcome to do that.
(5)Tony K.
Pretty good mexican food! Who would of thought that they could make good mexican food in a remote area of Oahu? The rice is actually exceptional here and was my favorite part. The tacos were decent and and overall I was very pleased with the service there. Prices seemed to be decent considering you're in a resort area and don't have much selection to choose from. Don't be afraid to try them out if you're looking for alternatives to the on site resort restaurants.
(4)Jayne R.
My husband and I were staying in Ko'Olina for our honeymoon and ate here three times! The drinks were great! The food was so good and very normally priced. The Fish Tacos are amazing :) Big portions also. Depending on what server you get, the service can run a little slow, but it was no problem for us. We will come back next time we are on Oahu!!
(5)Barry L.
Not too impressed with the service here. After reading the reviews, I should have known better Went there for dinner. It all started out bad when it took our waiter 10 mins to take our drink orders. We quickly ordered out tacos at the same time because we had no idea when she would circle back. We noticed the groups seated after us already had their drinks and chips/salsa before our server took our orders. We finally got our drinks, food came a few minutes later. Never getting our requested water. It was finally time to leave, requested the check, 5 mins later we have it.. Couldn't get out of here fast enough. I am sure we are the only ones who had a bad experience here, but I won't return.
(1)Brianna B.
The food is okay but I've definitely had better quality TASTING food, it's sorta bland like a lot of people say it is. I was very disappointed with their fajitas that come with steak chicken and shrimp. They brought out the steak and chicken on a skillet, it was sizzling and delicious. The shrimp was brought out on another plate minutes after, like it was being played out to be awesome, it was not so. TWO MEASLY pieces of shrimp came out. That part sucked. To pay for refills AND extra tortillas was pushing it!!! Was disappointed with what we got for the prices, oh but they'll throw in a whole lot of lettuce and refried beans!!!
(1)Jesse F.
Nothing to call home about. The place was empty, but service was slow. We ordered the guacamole bowl, which was pretty good. Then we split a taco combo plate...chicken, fish, carne asada. Food was pretty blah,,I mean blan. The fish taco was borderline unpleasant, seemed as if it was a frozen fish steak put in a tortilla, would be much better if they grilled the fish. To be in such a nice area, someone should invest more in this place so customers want to come back.
(3)Len C.
Everyone knows good Mexican food is tough to find in Hawaii. Been here a few times, mostly because of the KoOlina atmosphere, but I've finally given up. Ordered the beef chimichanga, took a bite, where's the beef? Took a 2nd, then a third, I finally find a small piece. Commented to the waiter, he apologized and brought a small dish of beef bits. Don't eat here!
(1)Kat D.
Really didn't understand all the hype about this place..... So my friend and I decided to eat here one day after work. It was pretty crowded, but not too bad, not too rowdy. We decided to share the super jumbo size Li Hing Margarita (something like 64 ounces I think) and each got an entree. She got a burrito (although it was called a taco on the menu, which I don't get) and I got 2 tacos (actual tacos, thank you). The margarita was good but probably could have used a bit more tequila. But what made it even better was the fact that I got to share it with my friend in a hot "hot chicks sharing a giant drink" kind of way if you know what I mean. The food, not so much. I can't believe how much they charge for the crappy quality and portions. I mean, I'm not Mexican food connoisseur, but really?? I make better tacos and burritos, and I'm not Mexican. In any case, I may or may not be back, but strictly for the giant novelty size margarita.
(1)Norberto D.
This restaurant is a sore on Ko'Olina community and a personal affront to some of the fantastic restaurants located on the island. We live less than 1/4 of a mile from Just Tacos but have only been there 3 times in 14 months. Why you may ask? Because the service is sub-standard (slow and simply inattentive) and the quality of the food is horrible especially for the amount of money you pay. Did i mention they will nickel and dime you for everything (i.e., extra tortillas, extra sour cream, mixing the meat on your fajita)? I am looking forward to the day Just Tacos at Ko'Olina closes its doors for good. It does NOT belong in this community. The only reason it gets remotely busy on Friday and Saturday nights is because there are NO other mexican restaurants or moderately priced restaurants close by. Hopefully this will change in the very near future. Do NOT go to Just Tacos at Ko'Olina if you have an opportunity to eat anywhere else. If you have no choice but to eat there, you have been forewarned. I swear by G-d i am NEVER going back to this restaurant. Not even for a margarita. If i could give it less than 1 star, i would.
(1)Xoxo B.
our friend recommend this place to us because she said that they had the best margaritas. so we decide to try it one day... we had our waiter name IRENE. she was very nice, always came to check up on us, ask us if we needed anything...etc. we ordered i think it was the 16 oz li hing mui margarita and oooohhhmmmggg it was the best!! it was kinda pricey i think it was like $30 but it was worth it...it got me and my bf buzzed. i would recommend this place if your going down koolina side.
(5)Stephanie H.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this place actually serves up some decent Mexican food. The inside is brand new, nicely decorated, clean and spacious. We ended up sitting outside, which is a great area to sit with your friends and relax with a couple of margaritas. I ordered the classic margarita blended and it was everything I had hoped it would be and more. It's $8.50, but it's huge! And can put hair on your chest. My dad ordered his favorite chocolate mole, which he said was just okay and tasted like they use canned, store-bought sauce. My mom didn't say much about her taco salad, but it looked really good and she ate it shell and all. I had my doubts about my fajitas and side of beans. The grilled peppers looked a little too oily and mushy and my beans were topped with store bought shredded cheddar cheese and looked like they had been sitting under the heat lamp a good while. Despite all this everything actually tasted really good. The chicken in my fajitas were well seasoned and the beans were yum yum yumalicious. I think my giant margarita definitely enhanced the experience, but overall everything was decent and the service was a-okay too. Nothing spectacular but a fun place to hang nonetheless.
(3)Cheryl D.
I would give ZERO stars if possible. This place was horrible it was by far the worst dining experience I have ever had in my entire life. We made a reservation for 15 a week prior for our wedding rehersal dinner. They didn't have a table for us when we arrived. They had lost our reservation, which I had personally made. They set us a table that was crooked, cramped, with busted up tables in the freaking dark outside. Our server was a complete b*tch. She was rude, like we had done something wrong. Drinks took 15-20 minutes. They brought one basket of chips for 15 people. Food took over an hour, most of it came out one by one and was cold. If you asked the server any questions she would blow you off or just be plain rude. After what was the worst meal of my life, our steak fajitas were completely inedible. I asked to speak to the manager outside. He proceeded to tell me it was OUR fault that the service was bad and that OUR table backed up their entire kitchen. That WE hadn't made a reservation (WHICH I HAD PERSONALLY MADE), so it was OUR fault that there was no table. He said there was nothing he could do about it. Then after all that the waitress brings the bill, tells us its 25% off of the food, (whoopee) and doesn't tell the table that she has already added a gratuity of 20%. Which is commmon to do for large tables but the server should let the people know. Basically I think I deserve an apology for this BS experience. The manager should be fired for being completely worthless. I had origionally thought he was a busboy because the way he was acting during dinner was like he was completely clueless. The owner should issue me a full refund for this experience. In fact my email address is Chchchcheryl@yahoo.com so he can contact me directly. Again, you'd be a fool to eat here and they should just be plain embarressed by the way they treated myself and my family.
(1)Barbara P.
The food is terrible, everything is frozen or comes from a can, nothing tastes fresh or homemade. The wait staff is friendly and does its best to to compensate for the blah menu. I can't believe they couldn't do better especially with all the competition of great restaurants in Ko Olina. It seems as though the kitchen is just fine sending out really bad dishes. The bar serves decent margaritas and if all you want to do is drink and forgo their yucky salsa and food then it might be worth trying. I will definitely not go back unless I hear they have made huge changes.
(1)Jen C.
This place just plain sucks. Our food was super mediocre and our drinks were terrible. A few details: The "tableside" guac was neither fresh nor done tableside - I would make a bet it came from a plastic bag (like what you can buy at Costco). After asking for our server's recommendation, we ordered 2 "trust me" margaritas - they were $15 each and TERRIBLE. The server claimed they were made with fresh lime and NO mix - HA - again, tasted exactly like the Costco margarita mix. We also had 2 mojitos - they claim to be the best you'll ever have, but they weren't even good. Finally, the food...it was blah. We had tacos (veggie, pork, and beef) and fajitas (good shrimp but very tough steak). Nothing had much flavor, the tacos were barely warm. My advice - just stay away. The friendly service can't make up for the mediocrity of everything else. Spend a little more and eat the resorts.
(1)Richard S.
Awful food. Rude service. Not Mexican. Overpriced. Should I go on?
(1)Paul S.
We had a great time here, AND A WAITRESS WHO MADE IT AN EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE EVENT. THE FOOD WAS GOOD, SERVED QUICKLY AND BY FAR THE LEAST EXPENSIVE DINNER YOU'LL EAT NEAR THE dISNEY RESORT.
(4)John M.
The only reason this place is even getting a star is because of the service and the drinks. the food is horrible. The beans had no flavor at all and tasted primarily of lard. Completely bland. The tamales taste like they were frozen and then heated up in a microwave and had little to no meat in them whatsoever. The $9 guac bowl taste like it came out of a tub from Costco. And the "100% grass fed Kona beef" burger taste like it probably came from Costco as well--it was thin, pretty dry, and did not taste like it was grass fed. the place smelt atrocious the second you walked through the door. Who puts the kitchen in the front anyhow? It was weird walking past the hostess desk and getting run over by the waiters/food runners as your about to be seated. There were chips all over the floor. And the floor is extremely filthy, sticky, and slippery at the same time. The staff seemed to be slipping as they walked around. On the bright side, our waiter (I believe his name was Kaenoah) was very polite and pretty funny as well, and took great care of us. He managed to make up for what the food lacked. He gave us a few drink recommendations for a li hing (?) margarita, which was excellent, as well as a sweet tequila--agavero.
(1)Hawley C.
We live on the Leeward side and heard bout this place, so decided to give it a chance. Have been there 2x since and are fans! We were very surprised with how much food you get for the price. Happy hour is even better if you can get there before 5:00pm (I believe that is the time). Each time we ate here we could not finish all of our food and took it home. Food-Papi Platter, is a great pupu for 2 people and you don't need to order anything else to eat or get the happy hour specials and that is a meal in itself. Drinks-margaritas are great! Service-friendly, fast, manager came by 2x to ask us if everything was okay. We have decided that the next time, we are going to "pass" on the pupus and just order dinner, so we can see how that is and maybe we can get to the dessert this time!
(5)Anton E.
not worth the money/taste at all burrito was FULL of rice and beans; barely tasted pork sampler plate is way overpriced and not a big deal pupusa was bland, full of beans
(2)Lyn S.
Good margaritas and Mexican beer on tap (Dos Equis and Pacifico)! Tacos and other Mex dishes provide a cheaper alternative to high price restaurants in Ko Olina. Not bad...
(3)Bill S.
The food can be great, and I go here or to the Mililani restaurant several times a month. The food can also be 'miss'...a lot of the food is a bit dry...really need to add some chile verde sauce (very, very good). Tonight, showed up at 6:30...they were setting a table for 14 which sat vacnant for 30 minutes while a coupld of dozen folks waited up front. The staff here really needs some training, and some coordination. We waited 40 minutes for a table for 2 while 6 tables remained vacant outside. The staff seems to walk in circles, and don't understand efficiency. The kitchen is slow. So....if you want to take a chance with this one, I'd highly recommend a reservation.
(2)Jermy D.
I must say that I was surprised to find this place in west Oahu. Pros: nice ambiance, fairly decent food, and A very heavy-handed bartender. Cons: pretty pricey for the quality of food and service, but extensive tequila list kind of makes up for it. The booze: I admire a place with more tequilas than food options. They have just about every tequila you can think of in all three iterations. I tried the traditional margarita and my bf had the traditional mojito. They definitely did not skimp out on the booze in those drinks. They even have a 16oz. and 60 oz drink sizes.The drinks were on the pricey side--about $2 more than I would like to spend for a drink. But, they were pretty heavy-handed. Probably one of the saving graces of this place. The food: I don't know if it was the effect of the booze, but the food was surprisingly delicious. I had the tamales, which were surprisingly quite flavorful. The masa was a teensy bit rubbery, but the shredded chicken had a nice flavor. My bf had the tacos, and the ground beef was surprisingly flavorful as well. They did give a decent portion of food. But again, a little pricey for the quality. The service: Our waitress was apathetic and pretty stingy with the water. If it wasn't for the booze and nice ambiance, I don't think I would return. Overall, one of your better options for drinks and food at if you're on the westside. Just drink enough margaritas, and you won't care all that much about your apathetic waitress.
(3)Sabina P.
Living in Southern California has afforded us a fine selection of Mexican food, which has become a regular staple in our weekly diet. Therefore, we tend to crave it on vacation as well. While we visited the Ko'Olina Marriott Beach Club, we made our way to Just Tacos with a bit of hesitation due to the Yelp reviews. However, we were pleasantly surprised. We shared the nachos, which were huge, with fresh ingredients, and washed them down with strong margaritas. Good thing our hotel was only a short distance away.
(4)Daniel U.
The service was horrible and the waitress seemed clueless and ditzy. She insisted that she couldn't separate our bills which I knew was a lie because she expected a bigger tip for our large group. So I agreed and instead she got a smaller tip. Always give what the customer wants. If she separated the bill in the beginning, she would have got a larger tip. :)
(2)Rod B.
We've been waiting a long time for the restaurants to open at the new Ko Olina Station so went down tonight to try out the new Mexican restaurant. The food was excellent although there are definitely some things that could be improved. We started with some of their "Fresh Tableside Quacamole" and the ceviche. The ceviche was good and was served with chips and quacamole on the side. I have had better ceviche but have also had a lot worse. I was anticipating that "Tableside" meant that the quacamole was prepared at your table - and I love fresh chunky quacamole. Alas this was not to be. I must admit I am somewhat puzzled by the "Tableside" moniker - it might refer to the fact that the waiter stands beside your table when he places the quac on the table. Or perhaps, the quac was made by Joe Tableside out back. Unfortunately, I could discern nothing specificly tableside about it - it was creamy quacamole - something I am not a particular fan of. The quesadilla got rave reviews - my son said they were about as good as it gets - 5 out of 5. The taco salad was a 3.5/5 and the tacos were about the same. The star of the show, however was definitely the Molcajete. It is described as "grilled steak, shrimp and chicken on a bed of melted cheese" but the meat was definitely in bed with the cheese - like in swimming in the stuff. This was molten cheese heaven - it received a 5/5 ranking as well. The service started out slow but after we brought to the attention of the hostes that no one had even asked us for drinks after 15 minutes at our table, they turned things around and we had great service for the rest of the evening. I am a firm believer in the Japanese process of "Kaizan" - continous improvement. This restaurant has some winning features and a lot of potential. If they can get their service consistent and tweak the food in a couple of areas (like figure out what the word "tableside" means - this place could be a real winner. We will definitely be going back for the Molcajete.
(4)Jessica W.
I actually really liked this place! They have a lot of nice outdoor seating. The food wasn't spectacular but it was better than I expected. We got some nachos and a couple tacos; nothing crazy but it was decent food and the prices were far better than they are at any resort so no complaints here. Service was a little slow, but it's a tourist stop. They're all a little crazy.
(4)mae m.
Good margaritas, nice location!
(4)Cherif A.
Okay mexican food, a bit pricey, and a good selection of alcohol. Everything here is called a taco, whether it is or not. Do you want a enchillada? order the taco enchillada. Do you want a chimichanga? get the taco chimichanga. My friends and I stopped in here on a sunday night while on vacation last week. We all agreed that the food was so-so. But we're from California and our standards for Mexican food are pretty high. But, if you must have some mexican food and your in the area...you could do worse.
(2)' '.
We had the chance to visit this restaurant for lunch during our stay at Aulani. Overall this was a nice alternative as restaurants are limited in the area since we didn't have a car. Service was good, nice cool temperature inside the restaurant, & the food was average.
(4)Vanessa H.
Worst meal we had on our vacation. Their drinks were terrible. They had half a dozen empty tables yet had to wait 20 minutes. Our server got our drink order wrong, they couldn't make the drink I wanted for some reason, and I had to get up and refill my own water glass. Food wasn't very good. Don't waste your time and money going here. Gave them one star because it's in ko online in a beautiful setting and I was in a good mood because we were on vacation.
(1)tbone s.
this place is crap. if you have a gluten alergy, avoid this place. they wouldnt know the word allergy if it gnawed their balls off. 1. none of their tacos mention if the tortillas are corn. 2.when i asked b/c of gluten allergy, they said, "im pretty sure the homemade tortillas are corn" 3. take my food back to the room...and the tortillas a flour. wtf, know your own fucking menu. allergy is not me not "liking" an ingredient.. it's a medical condition fuckers. this place is most like NOT gluten free... so celiacs avoid this place. btw, the food is not good. i felt like shit that same night.
(1)Jake B.
Aside from getting seated and forgotten about (once we brought it to their attention they took care of us really well), it was a good experience. I thought I would try the tacos, because with a name like 'Just Tacos', tacos are obviously their specialty. The were good, but not amazing; and the 'Tableside Guacamole' was a misnomer. I have had amazing Guacamole prepared 'tableside', but this wasn't it. In fact, there was nothing 'tableside' about it... maybe someone added shavings from the side of a table. Nah, it was too smooth for that, and may have just been packaged stuff. The saving grace was the really good Pico de Gallo that was served along side it. Enough about the poorer aspects of the experience, because they pulled themselves out of the 3-star range with some amazing offerings. The Molcajete was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Shrimp, steak and chicken swimming in melted cheese... shazaam! This is a must-try! Also, the quesadilla was probably the best I ever tasted; and the ceviche was very nice. They worked hard to make up for their initial slip-up in ignoring us, and the staff was courteous and friendly. I'll definitely be going back for more Molcajete!
(4)Thomas M.
Got the super fajitas. For $19 I got 6 small strips of steak, 4 shrimp, no chicken. 4 small tortillas, peppers and onions. Would've been better off if we didn't get the food to go. That way we could've complained. Didn't realize how skimpy the meal was until we got back to our hotel room. Unlike most Mexican restaurants, chips and salsa are NOT free. And if you want sour cream with their top of the line fajitas, you have to pay extra for that, too. Would've been been better off getting something from the deli at the ABC store across the street.
(1)Teresa H.
Margaritas were average. Fish taco was good but carnita and the beef taco had the consistency and taste of jerky. Definitely not worthy of repeat business. Very disappointed.
(1)Jim R.
Good food and bar but very slow service. Tacos where really good but sides (rice and refried beans) were cold.
(3)Fat Pat O.
horribl food
(1)Curt D.
We were staying in the Ko Olina Beach club and used the $10 for $20 deal. It was good but not good enough to go back during this recent trip. We were only half done with the Nachos Appetizer when all the dinner food came out. So it was not slow service but too fast. I had the dish that made Just Tacos famous (and I cannot remember what it was called) but it came in a huge stone bowl. I ate too much so it could not have been bad. Wife and kids shared a fried Ice cream. they were going at it like lions after a kill, so it must have been good. My wife said she would have loved to have honey on it instead of the chocolate sauce. If we visit Ko Olina again, we would go there again. Not sure how far out of the way I would drive to eat there. Probably not very.
(4)Keith and Becky H.
Horrible Service, Cold Food, Weak Margarita's, & Raw torillas. EVERYTHING is al la carte. We ordered the fajitas and asked for both flour and corn. We then asked for some guacamole and sour cream, rice and beans. They said sure no problem. At the end the bill showed up and we were charged for everything. Never once did they say. Oh that's extra. We also asked for guacamole with our chips. Guacamole showed up at the end of the meal. Why would I want guacamole for desert. I was going to say the best thing about this place was the MINTS and TOOTHPICKS. But when asked for them they said they do offer mints or toothpicks. I have a home down the street from this restaurant. I will never return, and would advise never to go unless you enjoy bad service and cold food.
(1)Sheri B.
Menus were torn and sticky/dirty. Waitress was very nice/attentive. Food was quite poor. Meat in tacos was cold; chicken in taco salad was minimal, cold. Ambiance is of a fast food joint with high prices for what you get. Overall a very poor choice. Much better (for same prices) is Monkey Pod! It's an incredible place with fantastic food, service, ambiance!!
(1)Michelle O.
Famished after 18 holes @ KoOlina, we stopped here for our ritual '19th hole' and dinner. We were seated outdoors on a beautiful summer night, sipping li hing margaritas. I ordered the same thing I got last time steak taco salad, without sour cream, guac or cheese. I asked for extra salsa and it was just as tasty. While I've only been there this 1 time, it was really crowded for a Sunday night!
(3)James S.
If you want a bad Mexican food experience, this is your place.
(1)Liane F.
We like to go here since we live on Ko Olina however, they NEVEr get out order correct. Not sure why. Other than that, its a great place to have a few drinks if you live on the resort.
(3)Julie E.
*cracks knuckles* Where to begin....service from server.....HORRID, HORRID, HORRID!! After being rained out from the Paradise Cove luau, my husband and I took my parents to the restaurant, boasting of the good food and service. Our server, Tiana, made a liar of us. After having been seated for a few minutes, she finally greeted us (without introducing herself). 10 minutes later, I was the only one who had received drinks and she did NOT update us on the status of them. Only when I stopped her and asked for water for the rest of the people at the table until the drinks were presented did our drinks "magically" appear. I also then had to ASK to order appetizers, as several servers already had stopped by our table to help, as it appeared "we had not been served yet." Several different servers brought our food and drinks, while our server talked up a storm with her friends at the hostess stand. She moved slower than a sloth and infuriated me with her inability to care about her customers. The only time she WAS around was when she saw we asked for the manager! Once i told the manager she was spending all her time talking to her friends at the hostess stand, we didn't see much of her after that, except to give our bill. There were three redeeming factors to the restaurant. If not for them, Tiana would have lost Just Tacos a regular patron. those three things were....the food was amazing....Deon, one of the servers was VERY attentive to us, even though we weren't his table....he got a $30 tip from us, where Tiana got a big goose egg. Last, but certainly not least, the manager, Megan. She comped half our bill and gave me and my husband two- $25 certificates for when we come in again. For appetizers, we ordered the Queso Fundido with chorizo....delicious melted cheese with sausage...yum yum, calamari (I LOVE how it was tentacles AND rings....so you know it was not frozen (came with a delicious honey-like dipping sauce), and guacamole (it was very very fresh)!! For the meal, my mother and I ordered burritos (which were delicious...very flavorful and HUGE (I'm only halfway through mine on the next day), while my husband and my mom's boyfriend ordered soft tacos. Because of our server's slow service, we didn't eat any food there, but took it all home. Therefore, my mom's boyfriend and my husband have not touched their food yet, but I'm sure it would be just as tasty. Long story short, if you go to Ko Olina Just Tacos, make sure you either request Deon's section or STAY AWAY from Tiana's!!
(3)Allan L.
If you are staying at any of the resorts in Ko`olina this is a nice change of pace with a very friendly bar staff.
(4)Shaun R.
Like a previous review, we waited 20-30 minutes while the restaurant had multiple empty tables inside. I am from San Diego, so I wasn't really expecting anything spectacular. The service started out OK. The usual chips, salsa, and drinks. Then we waited, waited, and waited. My kids food came, then we waited, waited, and waited. Finally the fajitas came, 80% peppers and onions, 20% meat. The flavor was decent at best. I asked if I could try the green verde salsa. It was actually pretty good until I realized later I was charged for a small taster bowl. REALLY!! I will not be coming back. When we left, there were 5 empty tables and people outside waiting!!
(1)Yena W.
I'm positive that the majority of the people who frequent here are tourists staying in the resort without rental cars who have families and are looking for a place to eat with mid range prices, waiter service, and a full bar, quality of food not necessarily a priority. Maybe this is too demanding but I'd like complimentary chips and salsa from a Mexican restaurant. Maybe this is also too demanding or maybe just a preference but I'd like my food not to be bone dry. I was pouring salsa (that I paid for separately) over everything. And even then, I was still doing mouth exercises from the bits of tough beef they call carne asada. All their meat options for the tacos/ultimate taco (aka burrito) are on the very dry and very salty side. And for some reason, they also come to you lukewarm, which makes the texture that much drier. Maybe it's their strategy into tricking your stomach to think it's fuller faster? One thing I did like (kinda) is that the shrimp in their shrimp taco is one long prawn that is deep fried, so I just ate that by itself, not ruining it with bites of dry cold tortilla. And the calamari is probably the best thing they have here. But why would I go to this specific restaurant that's out of the way with inconsistent service (some servers are very attentive, all the hostesses are snooty and never smile) for some okay calamari and decent margaritas when I can have a better restaurant experience elsewhere? Like I said upfront, this place is a trap made for tourists stuck in the resort. If you want my advice for a better Ko Olina vacation, rent a car and eat your meals in town.
(1)Marie A.
From San Diego,food here was way below para,and kitchen manager did not seem to care. You could tell they deal with tourist and not locals. Will never go back!
(1)Bob L.
I brought my family to Koolina today and was looking forward to eating at this restaurant again, However, we were rather disappointed. I thought it was pretty standard to have chips and salsa free while you wait for your food. I can let that slip by but I was a little surprised when I got the bill and was charged extra for lettuce, and sour cream, cheese and guacamole for the tacos my daughter had. When we ordered there was no mention of the extra charges and the way it was presented it appeared to be standard with the tacos. The extra $$$ was not the issue. I understand the heavy overheads we have here in Hawaii but I would not dream of doing this in my own business. I was disappointed with the food as well...UGH!
(2)Joyce L.
The food was great. I ordered the fajitas and I got to choose between flour or corn tortillas. The service was great as well. If you go definatly try the coconut mojito.. it was amazing.
(4)Hillary M.
Yuck. Bleh. Gross. Disgusting. I wish I could give this restaurant negative stars. I have given this place three tries, but every try was worse than the last. THE FOOD: The food is all out of a can, and tastes like it. It is all tasteless, and the steak so chewy it's like hard bubble gum. The "table-side guacamole" is squirted out of a package. The refried beans (the only type available) taste like they were watered down with milk to make them go farther. The rice tastes like a simple mixture of rice and tomato paste that manages to be both too sweet and too salty. The ceviche tastes like it has been sitting in the fridge in a bucket, and the pieces of fish are so small they turn into chewy morsels instead of the lightly acid-cooked bites of fresh fish they should be. THE SERVICE: Slow and inept. We had three waitstaff, and didn't know which was our server. No one filled up our waters. No attention to detail. The WORST part.... They nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING. You will pay, and pay BIG, for tiny sides of guac, sour cream, chips, salsa, extra tortillas, etc. They charged us $3 just to have half our fajitas chicken and the other half steak. Ridiculous, and INSULTING. Those of us who live in Ko Olina all agree the food is awful, but when you don't want to drive 30-45 minutes for lunch, it's the only place to eat nearby that isn't in a hotel. The ONLY reason neighbors eat here is pure convenience if you are starving and haven't had time to go to the grocery store. AVOID THIS RESTAURANT LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!
(1)Cinderella G.
I'm not sure why there's so much complaints about this place? My boyfriend and I visit this location several times a month and each time we try a different dish and so far it's been good! I live on the west side and simply Love Mexican food so we visit Just tacos in Koolina. So far every time we visited Matt has been simply Awesome! He checks on each table to make sure everything is ok. The waitresses are very nice and friendly. We recognized one of the waitresses Char, she worked at another establishment before and now works here. We're starting to get personal cause now we're on first name bases with the workers! Hi Kat, Char, Billy , & Matt! Lol! On the weekends it gets really busy. So far we've been lucky not to wait longer than 5 minutes for a table on the weekends but if the food is not so good here then why is it crowded most the times we visit? I don't know about these other reviews but I highly recommend Just Tacos in Kapolei. This restaurant is very Pleasant and so are the workers! you gotta try the Li hing mui Margaritas! It's the Bomb! Just Taco's got a Deal on Yelp so go ahead and purchase yours today and experience their food and service for yourself! Prices are very reasonable! Enjoy your visit and maybe I'll see you there!!
(5)Jon G.
This place made me very sad. Chips and salsa: oily, tough chips with salsa that tasted like diced tomatos and nothing more. Waiter: very creepy. Kept saying things like "Are our meals OK? Can I get us some drinks?" Dude, I hate to break it to you, but you're not eating with us. Margaritas: Not bad, but nothing special. Tasted a lot like grocery store margarita mix. Food: Didn't taste anything like Mexican food. Overall, these guys need to discover how to add some flavor to the food before I'd consider coming back. If you're in the area and looking for good food, try Monkey Pod instead.
(2)Cassie C.
WOW. Sweet baby Jesus himself led me to this little jewel nuzzled off in Ko Olina! My girlfriend and I were supposed to hit the Paradise Cove Luau across the street when a sudden downpour cancelled the evening. It was too rainy to drive, so we went across the street to keep dry. We were immediately greeted by the coolest kids in town, and served the most potent margarita and Mojito in the world! Our server Whitney was incredible and funny, and her trainee that day was the cutest most amazing lil thang (HEY KANAE!!!) Then there was the food! DEEEELISH!!!!!!! I'm from Oklahoma, and live in Los Angeles, so I KNOW MEXICAN! This was right up there with some of the best places I've been to and i thoroughly enjoyed the meal! Best damn experience I ever accidentally had!
(5)Bobbiemarie M.
Wow! Great calm n open atmosphere. Was greeted @ the door n askedright away if we wanted to be seated or go bar side. Bartender was kind enough to offer "samples" of drinks prior to ordering. Food arrived timely and the $$ are reasonable. Ordered the nachos n got it with the cheese still melting! The chips n salsa were offered with choice of spicy or regular salsa...good because I wasn't in the mood for spice. 5* because of the timeliness our food came, bartender allowing us to sample drinks, location of the bar which was away from the high-traffic food service n customer entrance but near the outside seating area, awesome deco, and the high ceilings and windows to let in the natural light. Rest assured the ladies and I will return! Now to hit the beach!!
(5)Matthew L.
WARNING! Awful food, don't let the looks fool you. My wife and I went there because it looks nice, we live a few miles away and thought we would give it a try. The best thing about this place is the beer...the drinks are just ok. We started with chips and salsa...stale cold chips ...$4(maybe have them in a warmer in the back?)...the tacos were in a really thick corn tortilla, yuk. My wife's shrimp taco had 1, yes one, let me say it again, 1 shrimp that was breaded in it...wow. My fish taco had a small battered piece of fish in it...HELLO! we live in Hawaii, or your customers are in Hawaii, FRESH FISH, not breaded! and 1 shrimp? breaded? in a taco? and the taco shell? a limp extra thick cold corn tortilla? The beans tasted sour, the rice, cold. Shameful shameful food. Dinner for two with 1 beer and a foo foo drink for my wife...$50 plus tip, the worst $50 bucks I have spent on food. Seriously what was that our tacos were served in? The service was good, too bad the food is just awful.
(1)R N.
I share all of the reviewer's sentiments of poor service. It is a hit or miss anywhere west of Honolulu. I can attest because I live and work here. It's all about the moolah here and "service" is never a priority. I wish that a restaurant on the "west side" would prove me and many others wrong.
(1)Mark J.
Horr-i-ble! The Food: The chicken mole was the worst I've ever had. Nearly inedible. It was really bland. Even the rice and beans that came with it were bad. My wife got tamales and said that they were pretty bad too. The Service: Our server was polite and when I told him the food was bad, he didn't charge for it. Good form. But he was so concentrated on a table full of "high rollers," that he completely neglected everyone else in his section. I had to get up and get my own salt and pepper after asking twice for it and it took forever to get our check. Drinks and Atmosphere: It's a nice place and the drinks are great. We'll go back to drink because it's close to our house and Ko'olina is pretty - and it's cheaper than Roy's. But we won't be ordering food there again. Oof.
(1)Chris L.
Pretty surprising to find excellent Mexican food on Oahu. Flavorful, authentic and satisfying. My thing is tamales. You can judge a Mexican restaurant by its tamales. This place has fine tamales. The Guacamole was a little strange. Creamy but tasty. My wife says "yummy." The service was good. Worth a drive if you're in the area.
(4)Barclay B.
Long wait......lousy service and loust food. Only redeeming factor was the tequila selection. The hostess spent most of her time visiting with her friends as they had six empty tables yet she didn't care about sitting anyone for a long time.
(1)ann t.
Visited for the first time Friday night around 8:30. Got a table right away, as most folks wanted to sit outside and we prefered indoors. Got our drinks quickly and food ordered, which came out pretty fast as well. However, the food was sub-par. I had the carnitas taco plate ($11.99). All of it was luke warm. The corn tortillas weren't even cooked. (Usually, soft tacos are served with flour tortillas, not corn FWIW) The carnitas were shredded kaulua pork, not chunks of fried pork.The beans were out of a can and the "spanish"rice was simply white rice drenched in tomatoe sauce. No spices or diced veggies to be seen. DH ordered the Ultimate Taco (12.99), which was actually a burrito. It also wasn't too warm and the fillings were meh. Diced beef, bland beans, a whiff of guacamole and rice. His plate did not come with any sides. Our server never returned after the obligatory "Is everything alright" question a minute or two after we got our food. She never came back to check on our drinks (we wanted to order another round) never got our waters and didn't offer any chips or salsa. We had to ask a food runner for salsa during our meals. The salsa wasn't bad! Everything else was just bland. And the service stunk. I think being within walking distance to the hotels in Ko'Olina brings them a captive audience, but I certainly wouldn't suggest anyone drive out there to eat at Just Tacos.
(2)Angela R.
I bought the Yelp deal online prior to our stay at Disney's Aulani. My husband and I shared the ultimate fijitas and guacamole. Both were great and we were stuffed. The margaritas were yummy. The manager came by our table several times. Everyone was friendly and service was quick.
(5)Dean C.
Good Mexican food; we had the nachos and carne asada burrito and enjoyed it. The only downside is they serve Pepsi products.
(4)Spork T.
I really can't see what the bad reviews were about but will only attest to our experience. We had a party of 10 & the food & service were great. Yes, it's wasn't the best food as I have had growing up in SoCal but it was fine. It was such a welcome change to the food at the Disney resort. It was comparable to many places in Vegas with the prices being just slightly higher. The chunky salsa was very good, had a slight kick & fresh tomatoes. The chips could have used a couple of minutes in the oven to warm & crisp them up a little. The entrees as follows: 2 taco plate about 14.00, grilled chicken tostada salad about 13.00, Baja fried fish tacos about 15.00, chicken fajita dinner about 19.00. The portions were definitely generous. This is not gourmet nor "authentic" like most like to claim but was a good meal. The margaritas were excellent & our server was very friendly, came around enough times to check on us, & definitely was NOT slow even though he appeared to be working the entire patio area including our large party. We would definitely go back on our next visit.
(3)Giovanni P.
Much better than I expected. The guacamole was average at best, but the mole tacos and the mocajete (misspelled) were very good. A great alternative to the incredibly overpriced restaurants across the street.
(3)Susan B.
Best Mexican food that I have found in Hawaii. I have Mexican ancestry, was raised in California and I love Mexican food. Just Tacos was a great experience for me and my husband. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it's tough to compare with true Mexican food from California where the restaurants are often run by real Mexicans. My husband loved the Chili Relleno and I had the fish tacos. Almost as good as Rubios.
(4)Joe V.
I'm from So Cal so I may be a bit jaded... But this would not pass for high school cafeteria "mexican" day cuisine. Everything out of a can, including the quacamole! Nothing fresh.
(1)Rodrigo B.
Food presentation is ok but quality is pretty bad. Fish tacos were soggy and fish was mostly batter. Steak fajitas were recommended by the server, they are made with very cheap beef. Thankfully there was enough salad, vegetables, rice and beans...
(2)L M.
Run! Don't walk ...someplace else. The food used to be so delicious here with handmade tortilla's, but now they are store bought, so are the beans. I used to eat at Just Taco's everyday for lunch when they were at their d-town location. It was delicious..now it's crap, with even crappier service. We were seated behind the hostess stand, near a table with a young woman and her child. They must have been the family of one of the cooks as evidenced by the constant yelling from her to the closed door of the kitchen...Cray!..Cray!!! Crayton!! Crayton!!! I was ready to go back there and get Crayton myself just to shut her up. The cooks must not have access to a bathroom other than to walk thru the restaurant, which they did about every 5 minutes. One of them wearing an absolutely innappropriate t-shirt of a naked and busty young woman, kneeling spread eagled showing off all her goods to any and all lookers..children alike. I watched as a family near me scrambled to avert their kids attention, it was embarrassing....for the restaurant. The Manager and staff just don't seem to care, service is lousy and sporadic. Most of them were either hanging around the hostess stand or playing with Crayton's little girl. Our food when we did get it, was totally cold, bland and just gross. Taco Bell actually tastes better. We asked for a side of avocado and were told that there was NO FRESH PRODUCE LEFT IN KITCHEN!!! I questioned the Manager, a completely apathetic and bored guy who couldn't have cared less for his customers. He said that they only bought the exact amount of tomatoes, avocados, onions, lettuce, etc for 1 day of service. The prep cooks pre-made the salsa and that was it. nothing left. So, if a customer wanted soem fresh tomato, or avocado..out of luck, there is no fresh food in the kitchen. I asked them what happened to the fresh handmade tortillas that they used to be so famous for and that was still falsley advertised in the menu..his answer, they are made by someone fresh on the mainland and we ship them in...Duh. Bottom line, unless you have extremely low expectations....skip this restaurant and go elsewhere. You'll thank me for it.
(1)Mark M.
I really like this place, good food, and reasonably priced considering the location, wait staff has always been above average, but every time I eat here the hostesses have no clue what's going on, either they're confused, tripping over each other, or today after a 50 minute wait seated 3 party's before us including a group that walked up 5 minutes earlier, when I questioned them, they said they write my name down wrong and couldn't find me and didn't even apologize, then seated another party before seating us, for this reason alone they get only 2 stars
(2)Tami B.
Coming from Oklahoma, I am picky about my Mexican restaurants. My family recently moved to the island and we try to come here as often as we can. We have been here several times and we love every visit. You know a good restaurant when the manager goes out of his way to talk to you and every customer...even the customers waiting to get seated. There is a reason why there is usually a wait to get in...it's good! We will definitely bring our visiting family here for some good Mexican food. Oh, they have a fantastic tequila bar with great drinks to unwind on vacation too!
(5)Vanessa T.
I've been here three times in the last month, and service is always superb. Born and raised in Texas, and I'm Tex-Mex, the margaritas have an island twist to them, but are still legit. I'll admit, the food is not the reason we frequent the restaurant (admittedly, we always sit at the bar as the margaritas are the main draw for us), but we usually get something. The salsas (hot & medium) are fresh, and if spicy food isn't your thing, you should probably stay away from the hotter (red) version. I have to say that although I'm not a fan of fried food, the calamari is probably my favorite item on the menu. Now back to the margaritas; trust your bartender!! I repeat, trust your bartender! Chad has never steered us wrong. Although you can trust him to serve up a wonderful margarita, he'll also tailor it to meet your needs. What's not in the restaurant's name is: Tequila Bar. Tequila aficionados have hit the mother lode with this selection. In summary, outstanding service, outstanding margaritas, and great food!
(5)R K.
I must disagree with the other reviews that were negative. We enjoyed Just Tacos in Ko Olina. The atmosphere was nice and service was great. We went for lunch on Sunday Labor Day weekend..and we used our Entertainment coupon.. Our server/hostess Colleen was attentive and timely. Our 8 year old son enjoyed their unlimited chips, it's unfortunate that they don't have complimentary chips.. but still was good. Even though they don't have a kids menu, they did a ala carte taco for my son. My wife had their Chicken Mole and it was great.. the chicken was simmered with the mole sauce and not just lumped together.. I must say the mole flavor was smooth and not overly sweet like other mole we've had. I had their Big Taco (with is their name for their Grande Burrito) with verde sauce. I enjoyed it.. I wouldn't say it was outstanding, but typical big burrito. I must say I like my wife's mole better.
(5)Laura N.
If you are looking for tequila, THIS IS THE PLACE! Great full bar. The bartenders are generous with pouring, which is always nice. The bar has a TV which will have the game on, if there is one to watch. The food is good (not great), but a few dishes are worth the calories ;). The fajitas, the shrimp appetizer and the sizzling mocajete. Also the fried ice cream is the BOMB! I have never been a fan of this dish, but Just Tacos changed me forever...it is so damn good. Great Ko Olina location, nice outside patio to sit and enjoy the beautiful weather we are blessed with here in Hawaii!
(3)Jim K.
0/5 Horrible everything.
(1)Gene G.
For a restaurant that has so much potential, this place was an absolute disaster. We has a nice waiter, but the service was awful, and the food was even worse. We ordered margaritas and sodas for the table, and the waiter never put in our margarita order. He came back to ask if we were ready for soda refills, and I told him I was much more interested in him serving our margaritas. Finally, he initialized the order with the bartender. The food took forever to be served, and it was bland and awful. We ordered a Shrimp platter appetizer, and they put so much cayenne pepper on it that it burned my daughter's throat, and we almost had a full blown emergency on our hands. The bottom line is, I think this restaurant knows there's an infinite turn around on tourists/vacationers, so they don't need to worry about their reputation. Trust me, this place absolutely stinks. Spend your well earned money elsewhere.
(1)Christy S.
good food,good service
(4)Kona T.
We've eaten here three times, and won't be going back. The first time (year ago) the food was good and the service was excellent. The second time service was extremely slow and the food mostly bland. We thought maybe it was a fluke, so returned for a third time. We were seated for 15 minutes and had not even received drinks (after flagging down a manager), so we simply got up and left. No thanks!
(2)Aloha K.
Love it was great better then taco del mar
(4)Cathy C.
So the evening started out shakeu, We sat for 10 minutes b4 anyone even talked 2 us, They even ran out of rice,,,,who does that? However the food was awesome and the manager did give us a free appetizer and took 25% off the food the group is willing 2 give it another go hopefully we will get a chance to try the rice
(3)Rod M.
We ate their last night after reading reviews and purchasing Yelp deal (thanks). Staff very friendly and helpful. I'm from Texas so its hard for me to find decent Mexican food anywhere but back home. Just Tacos had decent food. Other reviews were right on about their fried calamari. Lots of it for the price with excellent dipping sauces. Margaritas were good but a bit pricey. We all enjoyed our entrees, fish tacos, chimichanga and burrito. Fried ice cream topped it off well. We will go back in the future.
(4)Kevin D.
not good. it was pricey and the food was bland.
(1)Pat S.
Don't know which is worse, the food or the nasty woman manager. I live nearby and tried the food a few times and am in awe of how bad it is. The Ko Olina locals call it "Almost Tacos" and that's being kind.
(1)Stacy C.
We've eaten here many times, but the last time was not so good. We didn't have to wait long because we agreed to sit outside on a chilly evening. After we were seated and had waited for a long time, we were able to get eye contact with the manager who was walking around. When he came to our table, amazingly our waiter showed up too. Since we had waited we were ready to order our drinks and our food. They were out of the usual complimentary chips and salsa, but said we could order nachos because they were saving what chips they had to sell nachos. (I think they got it wrong! Should have told customers they couldn't sell nachos because of the limited chips, but were giving one bowl of their usual complimentary chips!) We ordered our food and a half order of nachos, and two margaritas. The waiter did bring us back two water glasses. Soon the waiter came back with my husband's margarita and our nachos were delievered. I waited and waited for my margarita. Finally, I stopped the waiter and asked about my drink, he said it was ready he just hadn't had the time to go get it. Our dinner was delivered and I still didn't have my drink. My husband finally got up and went to the bar and picked up my drink, the bartender appologized that it had been sitting there. Of course, it was watery, and wasn't made the way I had ordered it (no salt on the rim). When the waiter brought our check he told us he had given us the 10% KoOlina discount since we had the problem with the drink, but what he didn't know and hadn't asked was we are Ocean Club members and entitled to the discount anyway! Not our best trip. We will go again, and I hope next time we have a better experience, or it will be our last time!
(2)Norm B.
Lots of great people, servers, bartenders and hostesses but there are certain things that cannot be overcome. The men's room urinal has been broken for close to two years. The remaining two stalls are messy depending on the time of day you visit. My beer was flat with no head and no kind of effervescence, can't say it was warm but it surely ws not cold. Food has improved with management changes but at best is very average.
(2)Tim H.
Was looking for some good Mexican food, okay food is what we found. Ordered the chicken tamales, waitress said they were large which they were, however it was masa overload, the chicken part was an afterthought, barely enough to call it a chicken tamale. Somewhat dry due to the masa overload, sauce was available for an additional 2 dollars, making a 15 dollar tamale plate, really? If you are from a border state ie. Cali, Texas etc.. and used to good mex food you will be disappointed. Nobody at our table would recommend their dish. Nice place to get a drink, it will survive due to its location, not the food. A rating higher than 3 is just not possible.
(2)Mark J.
Food is horrible. Ordered chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce. The tortillas were raw, the chicken dry, and the sauce was from a can - old El Paso is my guess. We go there about once a year because its close to the house and we always regret it. Never again. Food sucks and service is slow. The only plus is the beer is cold. Hard to screw that up.
(1)Azuki B.
We had friends staying at one of the nearby resorts, and since it was the night before they were heading back home and had already had a full day on the island, we agreed to meet and have dinner at Just Tacos. Pros: The decor, very nice, the restaurant clean; we got a table outside, we were seated almost immediately. It was dinner hour and crowded, but our server was nice, and service was timely. The orders were correct and looked good, and were served hot (where applicable). Cons: The guys ordered beers, so nothing went wrong with that, but we gals ordered cocktails--both of us had to *concentrate* on tasting any alcohol. Management, stop telling your servers to constantly *upsell*. We get it--you want to sell more food/drinks, but "no means no" already! For the prices, I could've gone to the market and bought a frozen Mexican dinner, or gone to Taco Bell for equivalent or better. I had a combo plate of the tacos. The breading on the shrimp was almost mushy, and the fish had almost no taste. The rice was dry--seriously, Taco Bell makes better. The two guys had hot dishes and said they were *okay*. The other person had a salad and said it was good--well, it's difficult to mess up lettuce and veggies, right? We won't go back, and are still on the search for good Mexican food here on Oahu (we are originally from Southern California--'nuff said). In the meantime, hello again my neighborhood Taco Bell! :-P
(2)Susie M.
Yes, why being from California would one go out for Mexican in HI? Well, when your on the west side of Oahu choices can be a bit limiting if you don't want to drive more than 10 miles for a meal. Since our last visit to Ko' Olina we noticed a new strip mall of restaurants near our condo, and decided to try as an alternative to the hotel food of Marriott or the good but pricey restaurants at J.W. Plus: +Gorgeous bar and restaurant design. +Someone (or corporation) was willing to invest some big $ to put such a nice looking place in an area that isn't quite the happening spot yet. Minus: -very mediocre service. Everyone seemed like really under trained college age kids in their first job serving people in a restaurant. The host was the only dude who seemed to know what was happening. Example one: When asked if they could make us a marg in a clean, straightforward style (read: no syrupy nasty mix) she referred us to some drink called "Trust Me Margarita", which ended up being $60 a pitcher (literally TWICE the amount listed for the other pitchers on the menu). Not a word from the server that it was going to cost double the rest of the margs on the menu. Any server in his/her right mind would advise the customer, "oh, you'd like this, but it is literally double the price on the menu". Example two: when asked the usual question "how was everything?" I railed on their guac. It is a disgrace to the avo to call that they had at the restaurant guac as the sides served w/ their dishes, soupy, pea green, like they maybe waived guac powder on flour...when mentioning this to the server she kind of giggled, said, "yeah, it's not that good, huh?". Strange, since the menu had a item of "table side guacamole". And the rest of the food was very average at best. Wasn't expected great things but also wasn't expecting to walk out of the restaurant w/ a tab of $110 for a pitcher, two platters and a kids meal. Live and learn. And plus, when your on vacation things are just a tad more forgivable, though we likely won't be back there. -
(2)Kathy C.
I ordered the chicken enchiladas which in itself was delish but the service I gotta say was terrible. I went there with the bf and his family and when the nachos came, service was ok but then it got busy and we were forgotten. I had asked for extra salsa because they only give a teeny bit with a mountain of nacho chips. I never got my extra salsa. Then one of us had ordered steak fajitas and wasn't given any plates to make the fajitas on......... So of course we had to ask 2 different waiter to get it, eventually get 2 plates. Sorry it doesn't end there. We needed extra napkins and also had to ask several waiter before getting just a few more napkins......don't get me wrong, we weren't being slobs but the one napkin we get in the beginning cannot possibly cover the entire meal! So all I have to say is that the food was pretty decent BUT service was despicable!
(2)Kelly H.
A good option in Ko Olina - food is good, drinks are good, service is fast compared with other places on the island. Happy hour everyday from 2 - 5 with 4.99 appetizers, 4.99 margaritas and discount on draft beer. Ate here twice.
(4)Munro M.
The food was good, but the service was blah. Maybe server was just having an off day, but nonetheless it seemed like she didn't really care too much. We ordered unlimited chips/salsa, steak fajitas, cheese quesadillas, a pulled pork taco and a shrimp taco. All of the food was very good, fresh, hot and flavorful. The fajitas didn't come with any cheese, lettuce, tomatoes or sour cream. We asked for sour cream and they brought some out. The chips were good and they brought out two salsas, one mild and one hot. The hot was just too much and the mild was even too spicy for the kids (ages 5 & 8), but us grown-ups liked it. On the kiddie note, they didn't have any kids menu choices or kids cups or anything, but they did have a high chair for our 18 mos. old, so that was good. We opted to sit outside as there are plenty of tables and the weather was nice. Despite the few mosquitoes it was a nice setting. They need some burning tiki torches or something to help keep the mosquitoes away and to add to the atmosphere. The restaurant is well organized, nicely appointed with decor and related news articles and appears to be kept clean. We don't drink alcohol, but did notice quite a wide variety of drink options being brought out to other diners. My kids kept asking me what all the different drinks were, obviously hinting that they wanted a cool looking drink like that instead of their boring water. I then had to give them a quick lesson on the difference between alcoholic and virgin drinks :) We'll be back.
(3)Kaci T.
Being from socal, I suppose we're a bit spoiled by the quality of the Mexican food we have available to us. I was expecting fantastic tacos from "Just Tacos," but what we got was just OK. I had carne asada tacos with rice and beans. The portions were great and the rice was delicious. While it was nice to have a break from the resort food, "Just Tacos" could step up the flavor in the meat.
(3)David N.
Very nice atmosphere. Other than that, you are better off going to Costco and buying the rice and beans and a bottle of tequila. We started with table side guacamole because it was only a dollar more than the 3.99 chips...really, you charge for chips??? Upon our "guac" arrival, the food runner, whom should never aspire to be a waitress, sat down a green baby food like substance with pico de gallo sitting next to it. Again, this is table side guac; she then asked us if we wanted a spoon to mix it up ourselves. The guac was good for one thing...a good laugh. The bartender was nice, he held the place together. Being a resort spot, the prices were justifiable but the jump from a regular house margarita to a "trust me" margarita was 8.50 to $15, there is no trust with that one. I had enchiladas, I ate one of 3, not because it was bad but I had left overs at home I was looking forward to. My wife had the snapper with canned pineapple topping, a frozen fillet that was microwaved again...as my wife put it, the nicest thing was the hallway to the bathroom and the bathroom itself. Almost forgot, since my food took 10 mins longer than my wifes and because they delivered food to the employee seated next me before us, who was seated 15 mins after us...I got a shot of tequila....woohoo!
(2)Vince M.
Terrible service and no kids menu! And the food sucked!
(1)Genevieve R.
Here's more bitching about the service.... My boyfriend made reservations for 7:00. Restaurant seemed full with only two or three other groups waiting before us. We checked in and were told we'd be called when our table is ready. So we waited... Then the groups before us were seated and then the very many groups who arrived after us were getting seated. The hostess looked right at us many times but still failed to call us. My very patient boyfriend said to just wait because he refused to believe the service would be that stupid and grossly negligent. Unfortunately, he was wrong. After 40 minutes, during a lull where everyone was seated and it was only us waiting still and the three people in front were standing around, I approached them and asked what's going on... They gave me a lame ass excuse about one of the hostesses being new but basically they forgot about us even though we were standing in front of them for the past 40 minutes and they saw we were the only ones standing there but didn't even bother to approach us to let us know what's going on. We were seated right away and they promptly led us to a puny little table. Needless to say we turned right around and left the restaurant.
(1)Xavier M.
Must say. Pretty good Mexican food for Hawai'i. I'm from East L.A. so i could say I KNOW my Mexican food. The svc was OK, the manager Renee is a nice man. I always looked forward to saying Hi. I believe if you treat someone with respect (yes even the people that serve you food) they will give respect, and sure enough it worked. Yes you will be charged for chips & salsa..... YOUR in Hawai'i. everything cost money. get used to it, or don't go.
(4)Corinne B.
Our family went here on two occasions while staying at the Aulani Hotel. On the first occasion, the day after Christmas, we made a reservation earlier that day and were looking forward to getting some food off of the Aulani resort. Unfortunately, and through no fault of our servers, the food was not ready for over one hour and fifteen minutes. At that point, the three toddlers were losing it with boredom and one had a complete meltdown and so we left starving. We had already been told three times that it would be ready in 3 to 10 minutes. Giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming we could work around the wait time by taking out, we ordered food to go the next night and were told it would be a 10 to 15 minute wait. We arrived 20 minutes later only to wait an additional 20 minutes for our food. After all of that, the food was incredibly salty - both the chicken Tostada salad and the Supreme Taco. The staff were pleasant and gracious but my advice to them is to be realistic with people about wait times to help manage our expectations, particularly for people with small children that can't wait indefinitely.
(1)Mike D.
Dion gave us great service. Tacos had lots of meat and the fajitas were piled high. They need to make their own guacamole though.
(4)brett p.
$50 got dinners for 2 with stone cold beans, lousy food and margaritas delivered at the very end of the meal depsite at least 5 requests for the drinks. Don't even bother to go. I know there are slim pickings for restaurants in Ko'Olina, but do yourself a favor and skip this one.
(1)Edgar S.
Horrible food and service!!!
(1)Kevin B.
Got sucked into this place. Walked in just to look at the menu then we were escorted to the bar featuring 300 tequilas and mezcales. *A few hours later* we managed to escape. The food was pretty good (definitely some things I would do differently - and I KNOW Mexican cooking), but I'll say they're on the right track. Extremely high marks to the bar staff, and a solid recommendation for the "Trust Me" Margarita, which essentially gives the mixologist some latitude to make you a margarita based on your preferences. I chose one of their mezcales (for it's smoky properties) and the drink(s!) was wonderful. Will definitely go back for some drinks in the future. Not completely sold on the food just yet, but, they say it is a work in progress. Fair enough. I'll stick to margaritas and see where they take the food in the future.
(4)Matt M.
This Just Tacos in Ko'olina is a must try! My wife and I had great service in Dion and the lady that owns the place the 2nd time I went. The food was served promptly and tasted great. The meals are large and range ~$8-15 a plate which most people could split a plate honestly. Their huge. I wouldn't go so far to say it's the best I've had on Oahu but I will say it's the best if your looking at the value for your dollar in the size of the meals, atmosphere of the restaurant, and service you get. Just 2 wow things. It was the first Mexican restaurant I've been to with great leather covered menus and an electronic survey to wait your service at the end of the meal. Who else does that?
(5)ItalianSushiMasta C.
Go to tbell instead. Over salted meat. California burrito has mcdonalds French fries in it.
(1)Travis D.
IF YOU SIT OUTSIDE, WATCH YOUR STEP AS YOU ENTER THE PATIO FROM INSIDE! Luckily my wife gave me a heads up or I am confident I would have tripped! We actually saw one lady trip on it at the end of our meal and fall to the ground. I can't believe they don't have it fixed! Now, onto our experience... Service was OK, our water glasses were empty much of the time, but other than that we got everything we needed. Food was good, I got the steak fajitas, I've had better, I got a lot of food, the steak was kinda tough and chewy, I've had better. It didn't come with any cheese, sour cream, guacamole, or salsa, which I found kind of odd, nor did it come with any rice or beans (available for $2 extra). My wife had the Molcajete which I tried as well, it was delicious. Also mentioned, you don't get any chips and salsa, odd right? You can buy them for I believe $5, which are bottomless.
(3)D G.
My advice: Avoid like the plague! We stayed at the Aulani and were looking for a change of pace (and a meal that did not cost us a fortune). Being from LA, we thought, how bad can Mexican be? It's usually at least base line. Far from it though. My son's bean and cheese burrito was a dried up half folded microwaved tortilla with lard filled gross pinto beans. That's it. BTW, they don't even offer black beans. My so called "Cesar Salad" was a plate full of yellowed lettuce with that fake powdery parm cheese. It was 10 bucks and when I asked for extra dressing they charged an additional .50 cents. For a plate of yucky lettuce? My pal's chili relleno was not edible either. Yuck city. And we love Mexican food!!!! it was awful. My two cents.
(1)Elliot I.
Walked into restaurant and immediately smelled that 'wet towel' mildew aroma! Food quality was well below average - I.e., would not return. My wife ordered chicken fajitas and I ordered a chicken tostada. My meal was marginable while my wife's meal was ok. Service was above average. If you're staying at Ko'olina, it's better to drive 10 mins to the town where there are a lot more choices.
(1)Anna C.
food was good, service was terrible
(2)Brittiney S.
Decided to give this place a try...WASTE OF MONEY!! This is one case in which I definitely should have listened to my fellow Yelpers. The cheese on my carne asada fries was melted onto the wax paper, and the fries themselves were stiff but somehow also soggy at the same time. Luckily, I like soggy fries so that part wasn't a problem, just the stiffness. My California burrito also had that baked in/microwaved cheese texture. Yeah, I ate all of it (including my half of the carne asada fries) , but only because it cost an arm and a leg. Afterward, I felt sick. Not food poisoning sick but that "bleh, I shouldn't have eaten all that baked cheese and grease" kind of sick. Also, there was a hair (maybe an eyelash or eyebrow hair) in my tub of sour cream. Yuck! Just FYI, the food prices in the restaurant are actually a dollar more than what is listed on their website.
(1)Jamie D.
Plus: -Service was nice and attentive. -I really enjoyed the Cucumber Serrano Margarita that's been highly suggested from the other reviews. I rarely drink, but this one was a sure winna! It had a nice tang, sweet and salty (salted rim), and the spice from the chilis were a nice touch. Minus: -Guacamole tasted decent but seemed like it was store bought. -Chips were not so good- not fresh at all and almost stale like. It would of been better if they just bought it from the store. Salsa was alright. As an opener the chips just ended up unmotivating us to try other dishes. Just SAD! -Booth seats were cracked and worn so don't wear a skirt or shorts. -Temp was pretty warm, so it didn't help that my drink had chilis in it. Not sure if I'd be enthusiastic to try and give their food a shot, but who knows, esp. when I keep thinking about the yummy cucumber serrano margarita. Ahhhhh!
(3)Virginia R.
Waited for 45+ minutes to sit our party of 10, including a child. Because we've complained more than a couple of times, a waitress came out to take our order to hurry the ordering process at least, saying she was the one to wait our table. Finally we got in, only to find half the restaurant empty. Surprise surprise. We had to order again. YES. AGAIN. And the waitress that was initially supposed to wait us left for the night. OHHHHHHHHHH YES. Experience was extraordinary, so food was even more mediocre. If I could give it a zero star, I would. But I guess I'll give one just for the alcohol. That was pretty good.
(1)Brittany D.
Wow, I am shocked to see these terrible reviews! Did you go to the right place? My party of 5 went last night for taco Tuesday and some drinks. First of all, the bartender Chad was amazing. He inspires me to be a better bartender! He accommodated the 5 of us right at the bar with extra seats and the best service! He told jokes, was super friendly, showed us all kinds of crazy tequilas including ones with a scorpion in them! He was so awesome we beefed up sitting with him for 5 hours! The owner came up and he was super friendly as well! All the servers that were near were very friendly also! We ordered 3 different tacos and they were awesome! Specially the carnitas! Yummy!!!! Also, being pregnant and sitting at the bar, Chad was more than awesome at making me the perfect mock tails! The chips and salsa were delish! Not stale at all! Overall it was an awesome time with friends, including Chad who felt like another friend hanging out with us. I would definitely recommend this place and we will be back for sure!!
(5)Mary C.
Uncomfortable experience: Hostess seats is and says their best waiter will be with us. A weird thing to say. The waiter appears a bit later, and after a short discussion it is VERY clear he is brand new! Chips were a small notch above store bought and the tortillas did NOT taste hand made or particularly fresh. FOOD: My son - child bean and cheese burrito with sour cream. Turned out fine My dinner- cheese quesadilla. Was cool. And not browned on the outside at all. Served with no condiments (sour cream, salsa, guac, nothing!). Had to order side sour cream. Didn't get that for another 5 min *sigh*. I also had a soda. My husband - his order came 5 min after my sour cream. He had a cheesy dish that was served in a bowl and it was excellent. He had a shot of tequila and a soda. We didn't see our server since before our food was delivered. Couldn't get salsa or hot sauce. Two tables next to us were pissed off at service (one meals came out 15 min apart and another was misled on margarita special by hostess). Not a lot of options around this area... None the less we are NOT going back!!!
(1)Sonya K.
Came here on our last night in Ko'olina because we heard about their 60 oz margaritas. We ordered the mango one to share between four people and it was perfect! We all ordered food and it was good! Liked the steak fajitas that I got. Our waiter was super sweet and respectful. He kindly took our orders and refilled our chips and salsas multiple times. Yummy! Enjoyed the dinner!
(4)Cameron K.
Let me set the scene for you: a walk away from the luxurious Disney hotel, we stumbled upon a moderately expensive restaurant and decided to try it out without checking on any reviews first. After waiting an exorbitantly long time for our table, despite not being too busy and having tables clearly open, we were shown our spot. It seemed it was our server's first day, from his demeanor and lack of knowledge about quite a few things on the menu, it was clear he was just a pretty face devoid of talent. I had the molcajete, which was labeled as the dish that made "Just Tacos" famous. I had never heard of the restaurant before and the dish was sorely lacking in flavor, presentation, and authenticity. We were in a group of more than 8 people, so the standard 18% service charge was included. I'm not against this policy, but it led to absolutely terrible service, as the waiter was guaranteed his tip regardless. I'm sure that we were there for at least an hour longer than necessary had the waitstaff been on the ball. At the end when my brother tried to share his woes after waiting 15 minutes to get change after paying in cash, the server simply tried to provide excuses for his poor behavior. I don't need excuses, that's irrelevant to me. I'm on vacation, I want service on par with what I'm paying into it.
(1)Ann C.
Went in for appetizers & dessert. The server was quite friendly BUT didn't do the right thing. The price posted on the outside menu was NOT honored. And when I asked our server she said "mgmt hasn't gotten around to updating the prices since their last price increase." Oh Kay?! So here's the common sense thing to do: update the outside price menu. Terrible to mislead people. False advertising if you ask me.
(2)Kara K.
Each part of our experience with this restaurant was great. As soon as we walked in the door, we were greeted by a pleasant and friendly woman who made polite conversation with my 5 year old after she said hello to me. We were seated quickly, and the young gentleman who seated us (at a nice table by the window), assured us that our server would be with us soon. Our server was with us very quickly, was very polite and friendly, and brought over chips with extra pick de gallo along with the spicy salsa. We ordered guacamole, and he suggested that for the 3 of us, 3 smaller side cups would be more cost effective (and less wasteful) than the giant bowl of guac. He was right! He kept our drinks filled, and was attentive to our needs without being in our faces. When our food came out (in a timely manner), it was delicious! I got the Biria plate, which I highly recommend for anyone who likes beef. The portions for all of our meals were reasonable to generous. I couldn't finish all of mine, even though I wanted to. The restaurant also is clean, and bright. The bathroom (at least the ladies' room) was clean and well maintained. We were very happy with our experience here, and will return next time we are in the area.
(5)Lisa P.
We love this place. It's rare to receive poor service. The food is delicious & fairly priced; especially in Koolina. We always return. Calamari is BOMB!
(4)Jaykay A.
Average Mexican food. Just Tacos in Ko'Olina is probably the best Mexican food on Oahu, which isn't saying much. Do not go to other Just Tacos (ie Mililani) they are not the same. I've been to several places all over. This is better than all including the North Shore staples. There are better places on the Big Island and Maui. If you are a tourist from California or the southwest states. What are you doing looking at this. Go eat some where else. The service was good, polite and attentive. Much more than I can say for 80% of restaurants I have been to in Hawaii. And I have been to a lot. Tortillas for the tacos are scratch made. The tamales are fresh, no where else on the island has been that way. The chile relleno is great. They fire roast the chile and the egg batter is very light. Rice and beans pass the test. Only downsides are: The chips aren't fresh. But they bring them to the table when you arrive. You don't have to order chips and salsa off the menu like most places in Hawaii. The salsa is a decent Pico de Gallo and the hot salsa is good without being too hot. The Carne Asada tacos are pretty lack luster. The meat lacked all forms of seasoning. The just put Pico de Gallo on the top. If you are looking for that street Taco with the onions and cilantro, wait till you can go to the mainland.
(4)Nathan W.
The food is alright. Chips seem store bought, but other than that I had a decent dining experience. Probably would return.
(4)Francis C.
It is a very nice place and have great drinks but there food is very salty. The couple of times I've been here it wasn't too busy. On the bad side it is pricey and you don't get much.
(3)Yao C.
Average Mexican place.... Again when you stay at resorts.... U are limited to what you eat and we tried this place... Eh... It was okay.... Nothing terrible but nothing we had before.... No wait when we walked in... Ordered some daiquiris.... One mango and one strawberry... And the strawberry was awful.... The mango was okay.... But I've had so much better! The chips were hard but the salsa was pretty good.... They had a mild and a spicy! The guacamole was pretty good... Nice texture and flavor! I had the combo taco plate which had 3 choices of tacos along with refried beans and Mexican rice..... I tried the shrimp, carnita, and carnita asada...the shrimp taco was the best... One jumbo shrimp that was deep fried in a taco was great.... The carnitas was pretty good... But the asada was dry! We also has the fish tacos.... Pretty good! Deep fried in tacos was good! Would we come back again.... Probably not... Or maybe not anytime soon! Service was good! Kane helped us and he was a cool dude... Nice and acknowledgeable! Try this place but don't make it your first choice....
(3)Roxy W.
Location/Parking: They are located in beautiful Ko Olina. There is a small parking lot that is one way to get in to. (Major pain!) Don't go in to to the parking lot next to the restaurant because it is the exit. There is a parking time limit of 30 minutes. Food: My daughter's carne Asada fries were soggy. She only ate the meat from her dish. It was tasty besides the sogginess. I ordered a chimichanga. Crispy goodness, huge and filling! I ate half of it because it was so filling. My husband ordered the pork verde dish. The sauce is distinct. I don't know if I care for it but my husband loves it! The pork was shredded and tender. Drinks: I had a coconut Mojito and it was strong with a hint taste of coconut. It was a nice spin to a regular Mojito. Price: Most dishes cost around $15. The kid's size carne Asada fries cost $7.99. My chimichanga cost $12.99 and my husband's dish cost less than $15. The alcoholic drinks cost $10. Seating: There is indoor and outdoor seating. It's nice to sit outside when the weather is cool but today it was hot and it was nice being inside the air conditioned restaurant. Ambiance: It is nicely decorated and clean. The decor is appropriate for the restaurant. Music was a combination of reggaeton and traditional. Overall, it is a decent Mexican restaurant for the area. I would consider this Mexican restaurant more Americanized which is good for those who are new to the cuisine. The drinks are strong so it's a great place for drinks with friends.
(3)Lillian S.
Great food and service! Remember to use your Marriott Ohana rewards card to get 10% discount!
(4)Net Z.
The molcajete was delicious chicken steak and shrimp smothered in cheese.. Was amazing!!! Could have used more shrimp my wife ate both shrimp...lol For being Mexican and reading some of the reviews I was a little hesitant on coming but it was a great experience... Waitress was very accommodating
(4)Mel D.
We had servers cleaning the kitchen doors, Spraying chemicals right next to the table while we ate. The food and service was Less then average. with above average prices- go elsewhere
(1)Rachel L.
So, this place is a little more like a 3.5 than a solid four, but it was a solid 3 last time we were here, and I feel like some things have improved. 》Ambiance: very, very nice actually... the decor and styling fits perfectly with the type of architecture & food culture type. Music is also perfect, and not too loud or low. 》Cleanliness: very neat and clean. 》The salsa: um.. not salsa, it's Pico with some tomato sauce. This is critical because you can almost always judge a Latin restaurant by its salsa. Salsa no bueno... everything else: no bueno. -Tip: ask for the hot salsa, and mix it with the stuff they brought out.. not bad at all. 》Service: The service started our wonderful, and then after we got our food, and they asked how it was shortly after, it became completely non-existant. All of our waters stayed empty for quite a while, we had three empty plates on our table for at leat 20 minutes, and sat with greasy fingers desperate for napkins for entirely too long. 》Food: Most items are very bland & extra greasy. The best thing I've had here is the Molcajete, which wasn't bad, but also not very sabroso (flavorful). I had to put quite a bit of hot salsa in my tacos to get a decent food experience. The geese level of the cheese pot that has the chicken, steak & shrimp in it got ugly. I actually lost my appetite after a little while & it wasn't necessarily because I was getting full. This place has definite potential if they just correct a few things, but as it stands, the one in Mililani is substantially better.
(4)Danny Q.
Best place to go in Ko'olina after work for a couple of drinks! Visit the sexy mama's Kimi, Nancy & Nalani!
(5)Mark H.
Just Tacos is more than just tacos, but not too much more. They offer a few burritos, salads, enchiladas and fries as well. However, it's worthy to note they have a decent sized bar with a shit ton of tequila options. We had a few drinks and an order of the carne asada fries, which are topped with guacamole, salsa and sour cream. They were pretty good. The star here wasn't the old fashioned made with tequila or the food though; it's the service. Great group of people and I'd happily return if given the chance.
(3)John F.
This is a nice little restaurant with good food. I ordered the taco del California with avocado, fried potatoes and carne Asada. Yummy. My wife had shrimp in a sweet spicy sauce that tasted more like a barbecue sauce than she would like. The dessert was this peanut butter chocolate fried ice cream with a cinnamon batter crust. Huge portion, enough for 2, easy. All in all, very good. We'll be back.
(4)Julia L.
Again, you are paying more for convenience than deliciousness. It wasn't bad. Also, Mexican on the island is not what you expect like when on mainland. Decent prices and we did not have as long as we would have had to at the nearby restaurants.
(3)Megan C.
Just Tacos is "just average," but I have a feeling that's just fine, especially when you're in a shopping district that caters to crowds that need to have "safe" choices - the families at Disney's Aulani and the honeymooners at the JW Marriott (or whatever it's being turned into). You won't have a mind-blowingly authentic experience here, but you also won't be turned off if you're looking for very basic, Tex-Mex food. I think if you can get past the mixed reviews for this place, and just go in with the expectation that it's middle-of-the-road Mexican (with a great tequila selection), you won't be disappointed. We also found that Just Tacos was one of the quicker, easier places for my hubby and me to grab dinner while still enjoying a sit-down atmosphere in Ko'Olani. Sure, we could have driven somewhere in Kapolei, but we just wanted to walk to dinner, and we needed something fairly Mexican. Although the chips are tasty and complimentary, a guacamole bowl appetizer will set you back $9. The good news is that the portion is plenty ample for two people to share. My husband ordered the combination tacos (which fortunately could be had with corn tortillas - clearly a request the waiter wasn't accustomed to), and opted for carne asada, chicken, and carnitas - the whole farm, if you will. He also ordered a side of lettuce, which will cost you 50 cents - so watch out :) He stated that the tacos were, as expected, average. The meat wasn't super-seasoned or spicy, but was tender and juicy. I gave their Mole Plate a chance, and actually was pleasantly surprised to have shredded chicken smothered with the rich, savory mole sauce, as opposed to the seemingly more common whole chicken breast or bone-in chicken. I'll prefer the shredded chicken mole style from now on! For the money and convenience, Just Tacos is a fine choice. Our dinner and guac only set us back $40, and our server, Nolan, was prompt and efficient. You might not be stupefied by Just Tacos, but you will likely be "just satisfied."
(3)Jacob T.
I thought this was just some boring chain restaurant catering to tourists. Its not, its a unique place with some character. Make their own tortillas and offer a delicious organic margarita with Taquilla from the owners company. Awesome gourmet tacos, I would definitely go again.
(4)Ananias T.
Another great after work experience here at Just Tacos! Much Mahalos to a super Seattle Bartendress "Nalani" for excellent service and great conversation! ...I made a new dinner foodie friend :)
(4)Derek B.
Overpriced, mediocre Mexican food. Chips taste store bought. Cheese tastes like the store bought Mexican Blend in a bag. Guac has very little flavor. Just not impressed.
(2)Theresa D.
Best meal and service since we arrived. Pork salsa verde and corn tortillas were awesome. Thanks for the great service and recommendation for dinner, Darrel
(4)Hilary B.
This review is just for the bar (sorry we didn't get to really try the food). I never knew there was a Mexican restaurant/bar in Ko'Olina, which I think is an awesome idea! We decided to go to this place after Monkeypod and it was a great idea. Not only is there a restaurant, but a bar as well. Nalani is an awesome bartender! She took really good care of us, always checking up on us and making sure we were ok with our drinks. At one point, my friend and I ordered a coconut mojito, which was made by the other bartender, and I told Nalani it was way too sweet, like there was no alcohol in it, and she took care of us! Go see her next time you're there. While sitting at the bar, they also served us complimentary chips and salsa which was pretty good too. But our whole party was really just there for the drinks. Great atmosphere! Parking can be a little of a pain though, because the lot is so small and its shares among other businesses. So if you're staying in the area at Aulani, the timeshares or hotel, it's probably better to walk over.
(5)Ani N.
I saw a cockroach inside the restaurant while i was there. thats all im gonna say. oh and the food was ok. i had the fried tilapia and it had no flavor whatsoever. greasy tables. it just looks like all they care about is taking ur money
(1)Bud L.
As a former Texan and current Californian I can recommend this place. My server Nick was friendly and attentive. The chicken enchiladas were good. The salsa had some kick to it. Clean place. Clean restroom.
(4)Peter W.
Place is ok for the price. Probly the only Mexican place in Koolina. Chips and salsa were good. My wife's Shirley temple was not done well and tasted flat. The draft beer was great nice and cold. Really liked the out door setting in the evening, and food was good.
(4)Josh N.
The mrs. really wanted Mexican and I was indifferent so off to Just Tacos we went. Service was prompt and friendly and the vibe and décor are cool. The food was a bit of a miss. Ordered their "famous" Molcateje. It comes out in this insanely hot lava rock serving bowl with cheese bubbling everywhere. There is steak, chicken and shrimp in the lava and it is served with excellent housemade corn tortillas. The chicken and shrimp were cooked and tasted perfect. The steak struck out swinging. It was cooked medium which was a plus but it was flavorless and the toughest steak I have had in awhile. You definitely should go but stick with chicken or shrimp.
(3)Raquel B.
Went there for a date night with my love and we enjoyed the food as well as the ambiance. We sat outside and it was a nice refreshing environment from inside, which was loud with music and chatter. We ordered drinks (mango margarita and a lihi margarita) both very yummy. Then we ordered the "papi platter" which brings nachos, quesadillas, taquitos, wings and fried calamari. We also had the ceviche and the "#2 combo" which brings 2 tamales, chile relleno, rice and refried beans. Yes, we were hungry lol. But anyway, the food was good but it wasn't anything grand. Probably go there again to try something different.
(3)Judy And Joe N.
Taking into consideration this place is in boring Kapolei and on a resort, I'd say it is A-OK. If this place were in downtown, I would give it 2 stars. If it were in California, I would give it 1. I think that's fair. I used to live in Ko' Olina even before this location opened. I've tried their location in downtown before it closed, and I've tried their location in Mililani. This one was always my least favorite, but we were fans of their fried calamari (so random). Trying it again after 5 years... I think I probably won't do that again. The calamari has totally changed. I think the batter is different now and the portion size has been halved. I ordered shrimp tacos, but was given fish. Not a huge deal, but it was also too soggy.
(3)Yajaunte O.
Food was amazing, service was horrible. I walk in with my brother on a Thursday night to see how long the wait was and put our name on the list. The hostess gave me a weird look and said in a nasally tone "can I help you?" And I tell her that there was 5 of us. She dramatically looks around my brother and asks where everyone else was. I told her that they'd be here in a few minutes because they're parking the car. She says the wait would be 35 minutes IF all 5 people were present. Well if I have to wait so long, WHY does everyone need to be present?! They're just outside parking the car! My parents come inside and tell the same girl that we have a party for 5. Then she said 15 minutes. Are you kidding me? This hostess was really rude to us as the customer, and her coworker. She rolled her eyes at our waitress. Our waitress was really nice though. OUR FOOD, was amazing. I had the bacon wrapped shrimp. It also comes with Spanish Rice and corn tortillas. Very filling. Food was great, service was not.
(3)Kimberly F.
Love this place! Love the margaritas! Love the food! Love the waitstaff - always attentive and hilarious. I wish they weren't located with the resorts because you get all the obnoxious tourists, but great to get take out, or come when it's not too busy.
(5)Dora S.
Ordered the papi platter. Quesadilla was burnt. Calamari was just alright. Nachos burnt. Chicken wings were too sweet and the taquitos tasted like the ones you can get frozen at the store. My hubby went over to have them remake the tacos and quesadillas and the hostess surprisingly didn't think anything was wrong with our order.
(1)Cassie T.
Love love love this place! We ate here for the first time in 2012 while visiting Aulani, ate there again today and it was just as good as we remembered! Great server, fantastic food (we ordered the Molcajete - we highly recommend it), nice location!
(5)Sean C.
More than just tacos. Enchiladas, taquitos, shrimp plates, fajitas and massive burritos that two can share. Giddy waiters brought a smile to my face, forgetful hostess couldn't remember me ten minutes after writing down my name on the second visit. Anyway, the reviews state this is Americanized Mexican food. That's not far from the truth. But it's also good for what it is. #mahalo!
(3)Ashley V.
Soo, in my previous review I stated that Just Taco's (in MY opinion) ranks one of the top 4 Mexican restaurants in HAWAII. But I also stated that there aren't many Mexican food restaurants, least yet AUTHENTIC Mexican food restaurants in Hawaii, so my review at 4 stars is just saying that "out of the few Mexican restaurants in Hawaii" Just Taco's would be one of the better one's. My favorite is still Mexico, but since I'm reviewing on JUST TACO's, here we go.. I gave Just Taco's 4 stars due to my OVERALL experience here. I rate a restaurant mostly based on service, wait time, & how good the food taste. On a scale of 1-10 Just Taco's food (for the MOST part) would come in at a 5/6. It's not the BEST, but it's definitely not the worst! I rated their food at a 5/6, because I have Mexican family & friends FROM Mexico, so I know what authentic Mexican is supposed to taste like. AND because I travel to Cali and Vegas a lot where there are a lot of Mexican restaurants, so I have a good gauge at what good Mexican is supposed to taste like. Again, I'm rating Just Taco's in comparison to other Mexican restaurants in Hawaii! I've tried a few things that I didn't necessarily like, but it wasn't so horrible that I had to throw it away. It could have had better taste, been a little more juicier and not so dry, and more flavorful, but - I have tried other dishes that made up for it! I mostly come to Just Taco's for their drinks during Happy Hour! Personally I love their Sangria and Li Hing Mui Mango Magarita (blended), but that's just me. I'm mostly a beer type of girl, and the fact that they have Dos Equis, Pacifico, Corona, & Modelo available along with my food really pleases me. I think their drinks are pretty pricey, but some of their drinks are so good I don't mind having a few! I believe they'd make more money off of me lowering their drink & food prices a bit, but I'd still come here once in a while regardless. And referring back to their drink prices; This is why I come during HAPPY HOUR! Now for their service... I've been here about 15x in the past year and I have never had a problem with their service NOR wait time! & a lot of times I come during their busiest hours (Happy Hour!), so I don't have anything bad to say about it. My waiters & waitresses are always so pleasant, greet us hello & good bye, attend to our table at just the right moments (refilling water, ordering more drinks/food), and don't hover over us and rush us. Maybe for those of you who have had bad experiences here I may have just gotten lucky and arrived at the right time, with the right servers and cooks, on the right days, but... I'm 15 for 15 for good service so far! Lucky 15x? Think about it. Lastly, for their entire interior/exterior; I reallyyy don't care what a restaurant looks like if they have good food or drinks just as long as it's CLEAN! A few people mentioned crappy interior, and calling this place a joke, but to me that stuff is very petty. As for what I order; I'm simple. I'll claim an enchillada, burrito, occasional mole, menudo, simple taco's, or mulita's. Drinks; I almost always order a Li hing mui mango margarita blended, some type of beer (mostly Corona, Dos Equis, or Pacifico), and once in a while a shot of tequila! That ambiance at this not so shabby Mexican joint is pretty nice at night. I can do this place every so often. (:
(4)Rachel K.
Ehhhhhhh Not impressed Bland tasting food. Pretty mediocre service (a bit on the slow side). It was busy though so tried to overlook it. But seriously. $40 gone and not that great. Small restaurant. Can't imagine what a nightmare that is when it's busy with all the resort folk. Good luck with it! Hope you enjoy it more than we did!
(2)Krystal C.
My family and I came here and had a great experience! Our server was very polite and he came back often to check on us. We had the kids nachos, which were above average for a kids meal, the carnival which were very good, and the Carne asada fries, which were absolutely delicious! The head cook came out and asked how the fries were because he knew I had huge expectations of them :). The icing on the cake was the coconut mojito. It was hands down the best mojito I have ever had. The owner came out to ask how I liked it because he had changed up the recipe a bit. I told him it was perfect and I hope he never changes it! We had a great experience and delicious food. Not only will we be back, we are looking forward to it!
(5)Susan H.
The worst customer service on the planet!! I walked in thru the back up to the hostess station to ask if we could have service outside. The man said I needed to check in at the hostess stand. That's what I was doing dumb dumb!! He then said to sit out there and he will send a server. He then came outside and told us we couldn't sit in the area we chose AND we still did not have menu's. So we moved to another table outside. Another person came over and told my husband he needed shoes. The staff really talked to us like we were idiots. So then we decided to get take out. I went back up to the hostess station since we have yet to see a menu!!! I went to try and place an order for all of us and there was too many options. Corn or flour, idk so I needed to go back and ask my party. So I asked nicely if I could borrow a pen to take the order. SHE SAID SHE COULD WRITE IT DOWN FOR ME!! She wanted me to walk back and forth (which I've already been doing) to get the rest of our order. IDIOTS!!!! We are local too! Don't go there! They are clueless!! And they were not short staffed. They were all wanting to say something. Anything except "how can I help you".
(1)Lacy S.
Great service and great food. However, if you are dining in the evening eat inside!! We dinned outside and it was great till the sun went down.... We were surrounded by flying termites! They went In our drinks, stuck on our glasses and one actually went up my nose. Had to give three stars because of the dinning experience. Do not eat outside in the evening!
(3)Stacie N.
We had lunch at Just Tacos. We had the sampler appetizer platter that generously fed a party of 6. I had the taco combination and it was very good. The Chimichanga was huge! Our food was out fast and it was hot. Great service.
(5)Micah D.
Ok yes, not the best Mexican food in the world but come on we are in Hawaii! Locals love it. Great drinks, good service, very friendly staff, prices aren't crazy, and management is very professional and friendly! I used to live in Ko olina and my wife and I would swing by for quick cheap Mexican. We are from San Diego so have high expectations. Again, not award winning food but it's good! Such a friendly environment. Love the managers!
(5)christie a.
Wow, so incredibly disappointed. First, I'm embarrassed that I even visited a Mexican restaurant in Hawaii, but it wasn't my choice. And I won't return. I'll start backwards and deduct stars accordingly... we walk in, it's not full by any means, and we aren't even acknowledged for several minutes, until another party comes in. We get a smile-less glance from the young woman behind the counter. Another girl, a young blonde, was decently nice, seemed new. When she was going to ask the kitchen a question, the not-so-nice one stopped her and asked, "What was the question?" even though we were closer to her & she could have asked us! As if we weren't worthy of being addressed. There was also a man who seemed like management there, who was just as unfriendly. Where's the Aloha? Given the location, they should be used to (a) tourists (b) kids, so not sure what their deal was. Whatever the reason, -1 star for rude service. We decided to order to go since the environment was unpleasant and we never got past the front counter anyway. We got carne asada tacos (a "house specialty" mind you) - $12.99, kids burrito - $5.99, side of rice - $2.99, and a "Ceasar salad" (yes, spelled that way), which on the menu says, "Did you know the original Ceasar Salad was created in Tijuana, Mexico? Experience the authentic Ceaser Salad!" - $10.99 A bit pricey, but sure, I'm intrigued and maybe the portions are large. We got back to our place, opened the boxes, and what a sad sight!! Talk about overpriced!! They're not the best photos, but I wanted to post them even though the portions were smaller in person. The salad did not even cover the bottom of the shallow take-out box. In CA there are plenty of overpriced places, but this was ridiculous. That Caesar salad was NOT worth $11; maybe $7, maybe... and it didn't even include a protein; I'm glad I didn't add chicken to make it a $14 salad! The tacos looked so sorry - - no cilantro, onions, salsa... nothing other than small portions of meat in the corn tortillas. $13, seriously?? The side of rice was maybe one cup. And a slender 5 yr old was asking for more after eating the little bean and cheese burrito. Wow. -1 star for the ridiculous lack of value. Sooo, maybe it's all in the flavor of the food? At this point, I'm really hoping these wonderful descriptions of authentic taste come through. Shame on me for being so hopeful. The "Ceaser" salad tasted just like any other generic Caesar salad I've had. Perhaps even a bottled dressing. Boo. The carne asada tacos were very forgettable, as boring as they looked. Maybe we're too spoiled with so much wonderful, truly authentic Mexican food in California. At the very least, one benefit of Just Tacos is it made me appreciate this and I look forward to visiting our favorite local Mexican taquerias & restaurants. Sadly, I must deduct another star. Good thing we didn't spend more time there, or my review may have turned into a turkey. If I'm going to visit a tourist trap with overpriced, disappointing food, at least have nice customer service or justify it in some other way?? The whole experience has bugged me so much, I had to get my two cents out there and warn other families. If visiting Aulani, try a different place!! If we're ever in Ko Olina/Kapolei area again and someone suggests it, I will just say no. Perhaps the "Cantina" part should come first; some reviewers seem to like the alcohol. But located right across from Aulani, I would not consider the service kid-friendly. I really regret not trying some of the other nearby places such as the sushi, pizza (with poke or kalua pork!), Island Market deli, among others instead. Mexican food in Hawaii... no, that may be unfair since decent Mexican in Hawaii may very well exist, but Just Tacos is just NOT it!
(2)Greg T.
Well, if you're looking for an extensive selection of tequilas at a decent price outside of México or Texas; this is your place. Although they don't chill the tequila, offer sangrita nor fresh lime jugo to ensure it's enjoyed properly. The food, well, let's just say it hints of Mexican but it's nothing like eating in D.F. or even Gringo-ville Cancun. In fact, it's lame as can be if compared to actual food in México or the wildly popular Tex-Mex. We had fish and shrimp tacos. Couldn't find the microwaved fish or shrimp through all of the mounds and mounds of unseasoned cabbage. Bout the only good thing to say was the tortilla held all that vegan weight. Look, if you're staying at one of the resorts and your kids will eat "tacos." Perhaps a good idea, if you MUST go here, is to fill them up on this place's grub and then go have an exquisite meal across the street at Monkey Pod. Mi dos pesos. Greg T.
(1)Ashley B.
I wish I could attest to how the food tastes, but considering the fact that our waitress hadn't come to our table the entire time we sat there, I can't. After 20 minutes of waiting, we ended up walking out. It was ridiculous. Don't waste your time and just eat somewhere else unless you have a full tummy and endless time to wait.
(1)Kyle H.
El Californian is the ! Get it wet with red sauce and you won't be disappointed but you will be full and happy!
(5)Carol K.
The service was friendly and fast. The margarita was quite good. So why not a higher rating? I thought the food was just okay and the place needed someone to bus the outdoor patio as there were napkins and straw wrappers blowing all around. I had heard about this place on my last visit but never had time to check it out so when my tummy was grumbling for some lunch, I strolled in. Given it was a Tuesday- they had a number of Taco Tuesday specials. Check out the $3 tacos and the drink specials. I ordered the taco combination plate which came with my choice of tacos ( mix and match) re fried beans and rice. The tacos came in soft corn tortillas which are not my favorite but good nonetheless. My margarita was tasty although it could have been colder. And the complimentary chips and salsa were as expected. I had a great table outside on the patio where I could watch the golfers stroll by. The downside was that the area just wasn't clean. There were napkins in the bushes, chips scattered about that the birds were eating and straw wrappers galore. It just didn't lend itself to me feeling the place was clean, and I know if the area the customers sit in is messy, I can only imagine what the kitchen looks like! Lunch ran me about $25. There is free 30 minute parking in the lot out front. All in all, I think a-ok sums up my experience perfectly . . . . Now if only they could get someone to pick up the trash!!
(3)Dorothy W.
My first impression was not good, when I walked in I had a water bottle with literally less than half in it (didn't want it sitting in the car getting hot while we ate) and the hostess was a little snippy while telling me "no outside drinks"! Really??? On the other hand our waitress was nice and our food was good. I had fajitas and my husband had a burrito.
(3)Sophia D.
Okay Just Tacos has two locations, one in Mililani and the other is located in Ko'Olina. Let me just say that they are totally different from each other!! I am only going to discuss my experience at Ko'Olina. The experience at Ko'Olins was fantastic!! The server we had was Jamie and she is fabulous! It was Tuesday and every Tuesday there is taco Tuesday. Jamie helped me order a great drink. I was wanting to get something to drink but wasn't sure what to get. I usually get a good beer or a good glass of wine. I wasn't in the mood for either of those so Jamie made some recommendations. The first drink she suggested was a cucumber and spicy margarita I said no to that and then she recommended a coconut margarita. She stated it taste kinda like a piña colada but better. So I decided to try it and boy that drink could be deadly! It's one of those you could drink down with no problem and keep ordering a refill. When you realize that you have had four or more it's too late, You're feeling it!! These are what I call sneaky cocktails! So be careful and pay attention to how many you have had. I only had one. Also when you get your drinks, you also get chips and salsas. The chips come with two different kinds of salsa, one is a hot and smooth salsa comes in the bowl attached to the chips. And the other salsa comes in a separate salsa bowl you get a fresh pico de gallo combination. Both are very tasty but I prefer the pico de gallo because it has a little kick to it. Since it was Taco Tuesday I decided to try some of the Tacos. I ordered one Militia, one street and one fajita taco. They all had steak in them. The street taco was your average street taco that had steak, cilantro, and onion in a corn tortilla. Next the fajita taco was just like a fajita in a corn tortilla. It had nice roasted veggies. Finally we had the Militia taco. It was fabulous!! It was a corn tortilla taco with steak and cheese. It was then put on a grill and flattened. It looked like a quesadilla with cheese oozing out while it cooked. So when you get it you can see all the cooked cheese. It was warm and gooey-cheesy!! So yummy! And finally for dessert I had the regular Flan. My son wanted the chocolate Flan but they just sold out. Jamie our server recommended a fried ice cream. The outer shell was covered in chocolate Reese's peanut butter cup chips. So when he got the fried ice cream it was covered with melting Reese's peanut butter chips! He dove into it!! It was so big my husband had to help him finish it! Parking is available by the restaurant and across the street. Parking is first come first serve basis and it is free. Parking usually fills up quick but you usually will find some openings. All in all it was a great meal and we will definitely be coming back to this location!
(5)Adam S.
Not sure why all the poor reviews. Been coming here for two years now and love it. Tacos are awesome but my wife loves the enchiladas. It's her go to meal. I try to mix it up and have not been disappointed yet. The kids even enjoy it here. If craving Mexican Just tacos is worth stopping by.
(5)Mister H.
Great food and service. The staff was friendly and the management walked around assuring everyone was having a pleasant experience. Authentic Mexican food and hospitality. Prices are fair.
(5)Valentina C.
So happy I went for the molcajete the food was delicious and it was enough for two persons we also had the margarita and the flan and that sure made my day
(5)Osvaldo L.
Really enjoyed this place.Good music good food and delicious drinks...the Tequila selection is off the roof with over 100 selections of Tequila the one thing I love to drink !! Order was taken by Darryl who was a A+ on his service.
(5)Harley H.
Best Mexican Restaurant on Honolulu. Friendly staff, excellent food, very authentic. Volcano Margaritas are a must. We visit often from California and this place is a must. No matter where we stay, we always drive to have an authentic meal with excellent margaritas!!! Fish tacos are my favorite.
(5)Michael W.
The food was average and the service was less than desirable. If you are are really looking for a good Just Tacos try the one in Mililani!
(1)Trent J.
Went there for dinner last night. We're staying at Aulani so it was a quick walk. Started with the guacamole which we really liked. You get a very large portion which the two of us couldn't finish. I had the fish tacos which I really liked. They are breaded and come with lettuce and salsa on top. The refried beans were not dry as others have said. My wife got the steak tacos and she wasn't impressed. She said they seemed like something we could've easily made at home, but could've done better. The service was great. Our server (Troy?) was very attentive and helpful. Overall the experience was good. Next time my wife would just get the fish tacos.
(4)Tom T.
I've been to the other one and I will probably never come back to this one. First, the parking here is godawful and you will probably spend 20 minutes just trying to a spot. That put me in a bad spot already. Eventually found one and went inside. I sat at the bar and looked over the drink menu even though I knew what I wanted. It took the person behind the bar five minutes to acknowledge my presence. The bar wasn't terribly busy so points get taken away for this. After I got my drink, I asked for chips and salsa. I would've been better off going without. I was almost done with my drink before they finally came out. Because of how long it took to get my drink and chips, I decided to cut my losses and have dinner elsewhere. The only reason this location is not getting a one star is because my drink was good. I could taste the alcohol which is better then other spots. This is in tourist country so it's easy to avoid and I recommend that you do avoid.
(2)M S.
Food was great. I didn't expect to have a delicious meal. The tacos are actually street tacos -kinda small, but filling.The carne asada taco was good. Meat was tender and flavorful. The shrimp taco is one battered jumbo shrimp in a small corn tortilla. I prefer grilled shrimp, but this one was actually good. I ate two. The beans and rice were delicious. My kid ate all of her chicken taco and rice (not a fan of refried beans in general). My husband liked the five dollar 22 ounce beers (nicely priced). The deep fried ice cream is the size of a softball (enough to share w 3 people). No crayons or activity sheets to keep kids busy, but that's ok. My kid was too busy eating the chips and the food comes out really fast. Reservations are not taken. It's 1st come, 1st serve. Not allowed to enter restaurant wearing bathing suits and/or no shoes.
(5)Michelle D.
Food: totally Americanized Mexicanish food, average quality. Bar: amazing tequila list with appropriate pricing, some hard-to-find bottles Wouldn't have gone back anyway, but also one of our party got food poisoning, likely from the carnitas :(
(2)Renée C.
I stumbled upon this place by chance. I'm not from the area and was craving some great Mexican food. I love this place!! The service was friendly and fast. We ordered a taco salad and the 3 tacos combination. We loved the dishes so much that I was eating past being full. The only cons: no diet soda and the salsa was nothing special. But I'll definitely be back again before my vacation ends!
(5)Shay A.
On vaca and saw this across from our resort. Will not be returning. Food was just ok. Drinks were good. Won't be returning during this vacation. Would rather have taco bell.
(2)Kendal J.
Service was super slow. We ordered bloody Marie's which were super watered down and had little to no flavor or garnishes. For $10.00 I was disappointed. Food was excellent.
(3)Alexander M.
We only came here for drinks, and had a couple margaritas, which were good for $8.50. At least they're made with 100% agave tequila! The server brought us chips and salsa, which were good. We saw the food that others were eating and it didn't look appetizing. Margaritas yes, food no.
(3)Chris F.
Food was great. Service was great. Restaurant was clean. My wife really loved the Chicken enchiladas with tomatio (sp) green sauce. I had the 3 tacos, carnitas, chicken & carne esada (sp) they were very good. Well be back. BTW there is very little parking so be prepared. I'm surprised they can stay in business with the limited parking.
(4)Izzy C.
We tried a couple Mexican food places in Hawaii and this was the best one. We came from California (which has a ton of good Mexican food) and this place was satisfying. It's true from reading other reviews it's not CRAZY authentic, but it does just fine for a casual lunch. I had the shrimp tacos with corn tortillas for lunch. Shrimp was crispy and perfectly cooked, they were delicious! We also had piña coladas, which were perfect. :D the staff was friendly as well. I would totally come back here!
(5)Rita W.
Don't be fooled by outdoor ambience... Reviews are true! Not a good experience! Service was slow and not attentive... But that's not the worse...my son began to feel ill and grossed out while eating burrito (steak)... The next morning I had stomach pains. Steak was low quality and boiled... Never again..
(1)Chris R.
Most of all I love their selection. Staying at Aulani Just Tacos is a nice break from the resort menu's. I got the calamari and Baja burrito. The calamari was awesome, and the burrito average. I want to go back and try a few other of their dishes. It is more than tacos though :)
(4)Carlos B.
Very good food! I had the combination taco plate (carne asada, grilled chicken and beer battered shrimp). My wife had the grilled chicken "ultimate taco" ( but who calls a burrito a taco?). Good service, and prompt attention, considering its a tourist area. Being a Mexican American, I'm always skeptical of "mexican" food spots. The owners, I guess, are from the same part of Mexico my family comes from (Sonora), and it showed in the flavor. While it still lacked that "certain something," I could see myself coming back for more.
(3)Laurel S.
Food is really good
(4)Carla P.
This place is really bad... Everyone in my table (4ppl) left their food. Pricey. Buñuelos were not a thing. Overpriced margaritas. Overall not a good place! Never coming back.
(1)Rose H.
Really disappointed. Would not go back or recommend. Just so-so. Bland. Save your money. Not worth it. You can get a better deal at Taco Bell. In addition, it was freezing inside so we ate outside in the rain which wasn't too bad. The food has no taste at all!
(2)Shahram M.
Awesome Mexican food right across the road from aulani. The good is very good and fresh. We had a mix of fajitas that cost from $21-$24, a burrito and a tostada. All the veggies were fresh and. Delicious.
(5)Matt E.
Nice quick easy in and out, smaller dining room with bar, outdoor seating as well. When we arrived, we were greeted and seated instantly! Our food and service was great!! Was a great environment for our daughter. Will definitely be back.
(5)Ray C.
While vacationing in Ohau my wife and kids notched this Mexican food restaurant close to the Resort we were staying at. Being from So Cal we definitely wanted some Mexican food so we decided to try it. The food was just ok by So Cal standards. However, the serevers were excellent and very accomidating. The place was clean and overall It was a good dining experience.
(3)Jerrene T.
This is what happens when your parents don't have Yelp on their smart phone... Mom/Dad: Let's go eat lunch across the street (from Aulani) since it's overpriced at Aulani and there's nothing good to eat. Me: Okay but where? M/D: Not at Monkeypod because it's too hot. I think there's some Mexican food across the street since we just ate pizza last night. Me (checking on Yelp): Can't we go to Monkeypod? It doesn't seem like this Mexican place is all that (my parents aren't into this savvy thing called "Yelp".) This place was about a third full when we went at 1 PM. We all looked through the menu 3-4 times because NOTHING looked appetizing. Their menu pictures are just awful. I should have taken a picture of those. I ended up with the fish tacos, my son got the carne asada fries, my husband got the chicken mole tacos, and my dad got the wet carne asada tacos. The fries came out first and they were meh. There's nothing too exciting on the kids' menu either. He didn't want to eat any. My mom ate one of my fish tacos (the fish looked like it was frozen/fried and from that guy who is in a yellow fishing jacket/coat in the frozen food section at the grocery store). It was bland. The beans and rice were worse. We had to ask for lots of extra salsa and guacamole to make it taste a little better. My dad's food looked AWFUL... it was green and mushy. They need to work on their presentation. I can't believed they served it. My husband's looked gross as well. I think both dishes would have been axed on the first round of Food Network's CHOPPED based on presentation alone. The service was meh as well with the servers just talking amongst themselves instead of helping anyone. The real kicker was when they didn't want me to bring in outside food and beverages so they wanted to hold on to my water bottle. I told them it was just water and they still wanted to hold on to it... never mind that we had ordered beer. Whatever. Anyway, this is a lesson when your parents do not do that Yelp thing. Be warned.
(2)Keoni N.
Terrible service as soon as I walked in hostesses was busy talking story. Waitress was nice and very attentive. Food was good.
(3)Erik H.
Ate here for lunch last week and the food was absolutely disgusting. I ordered the fried shrimp tacos. The beans and rice were cold an had almost no flavor. The tacos were not fit for consumption! I ate a portion of the food, I had to return to work and did not have time to send it back. About 30 minutes after eating,the vomiting started. I had to leave work early. I returned home, were I continued to vomit for the next 8 hours. I highly recommend not eating at this restaurant!!!!!
(1)Ingrid K.
If I could give no stars I would, we were here for over an hour and the girl never asked if we wanted more water or if we were okay. Bad customer service!!!
(1)Paul R.
Great time. Good drinks good food Fast service with reasonable prices It's not just tacos
(3)X M L.
Ordered chicken burrito and cheese quesadilla. Burrito was pretty good. Quesadilla was way too much cheese. Not good. It was convenient to our location at the Marriott villas
(3)D M.
If I could give no stars I would. I came in by myself after work just to grab a quick bite on my way home (I live here) and I should've known better but I was tired and didn't feel like cooking. We never eat at any of these touristy places unless we have guests visiting but usually when we we do, it's not bad (ie Monkeypod and PizzaCorner- pretty yummy) but NOT this place. SERVICE: Starting off the host/hostess greeted me like I had two heads, what-have you never seen a solo diner before? It seemed to totally put them out to have to seat me. Anyway, then I get this somewhat older server named James who truly seemed to want to be anywhere but where he was- some folks just don't belong in customer service fields. He rushed me ordering, was seemingly irritated with any questions I had, and just overall unpleasant. Keep in mind this was after happy hour and before the dinner rush so by no means was this place busy. FOOD: The chips were obviously store bought from a bag, the so called salsa was so hot that it was inedible with no actual flavor and the other "salsa" which is actually just a dish of Pico de gallo was bland and ick. Even mixing the two couldn't save them. I ordered chicken tacos- simple, right? Well chicken was dry and flavorless, cheese that they used was the bagged kind bc you can taste the powdered residue that is used to keep it from sticking together, the rice was too tomatoey in taste but the refried beans were pretty good. Never coming back. I'll stick to my own kitchen, thanks. Learned my lesson- if I can cook it better at home, stay home.
(1)Laci B.
We love Just Tacos! Super quick service & food was on point. My 3 kids' food came out within 10 minutes of ordering & ours shortly after. Our waiter was great & kept our drinks full. He suggested a Margarita that wasn't on the menu. Completely satisfied customer.
(5)Amie B.
The service here is horrible. The food is horrible. Nothing g came out correctly. We ate none of it and still had to pay for the full price. The manager treated so horrible that it prompted me to write my first review ever!! They will never get my business again and on top of that it was my bday dinner!!
(1)Tom S.
Terrible and not worth going to.... Defiantly a bad version of tex-mex with over priced drinks..... Sets a new low for Mexican restaurants. So save your time and go to Taco Bell
(1)Lisa W.
Loved it! We havent been here to eat in a year. The service was fabulous. The portions are much larger than they use to be. The drinks are always good. $60 for food, drinks, and tip included. Great price
(5)Hailey S.
I love Just Tacos! I will drive from Honolulu just to get my Mexican food fix! My fave is the Mocajete, their signature dish. The atmosphere is great and the place always looks clean. Great restaurant and the service is always great!
(5)Mamie K.
Cute little restaurant located across the street from the Aulani Resort in Kapolei, HI. Went there for a family vacation to get away from it all. Found this place on YELP with great reviews. We did notice a few times passing by that this place was quite busy - usually a good sign the food is good. There aren't a lot of dining options out that way. So we decided to give this place a shot. When we arrived, we were greeted by the host with a warm friendly smile. Restaurant was very nicely decorated. Music was playing which made it very festive. We were seated almost immediately (choosing to sit outside since it was available versus sitting inside & having to wait about 20 minutes). We were greeted within a few minutes after being seated by our server named Nick. He was very friendly & conscientious. He informed us of the specials they had. Provided some suggestions on what to order. Started out with chips & salsa (watch out for the salsa it is quite spicy - even for hubby who luvs spicy!). We ordered the combination appetizer - very large portions!! Gotta go hungry!! The 2 kids shared a burrito which was massive & very tasty. My youngest ordered a cheese quesadilla which filled up most of the plate. Hubby & I ended up ordering the 3 plate tacos (shrimp, fish & carnitas) - all very tasty. Everything was delicious. Our water cups never were left empty very long. We definitely will be going back here to eat the next time we are in the area.
(4)Arlene A.
Service was fast!!! And super nice! I don't why there's 3 stars for thus place. Our experience is stellar so far. My fish tacos were delicious and obtained everyone else's food like my moms shrimp and it was mmmmm!
(5)Shawn D.
Not worth your money, microwaved kids meals and in my opinion corners cut on the adult meals. Plus they charge extra for everything. The staff is pleasant so they are nice to you when they deliver the food from the microwave.
(2)Mark W.
Had a great time. Chips and Salsa were ok, rice and their spicy green sauce on my chicken enchiladas was AMAZING!! It's why I went with 4 Stars vs 3. The service was another reason this place deserves a 4 star rating. Outstanding from the moment we sat down until we left.
(4)Piper W.
Decent food and service. They were friendly but kept forgetting things- a drink ordered, etc. had to keep asking for things more than once. The calamari appetizer was good but the dipping sauces were not the best. Both had tex mex flavors. The nachos were basic and good because the chips were tasty. The food tasted fresh. Don't expect authentic mexican or even California style- it's more Tex mex, but you can find some items that don't have the tex mex flavor if you don't like that.
(3)Chelsea B.
Been here twice during lunch. First time had the calamari and Piña Vanil Crush. Yummy drink! Calamari was ok. Server was very nice, but we had to ask for a drink menu twice before finally getting one. Second time I got the burger and fries, with tge Tropical Sangria. If you like your drinks fruity, get the Sangria and Piña Vanil. Super good. Burger was average. It was just that... a burger. Nothing else on the menu really seemed appealing. Hubby got the nachos. I think it's all just drunk food. People come here for the yummy drinks. The server we had this time was super friendly and helpful. I forgot his name ): Overall, I'll definitely be here to drink again. But not my first choice if I'm craving Mexican.
(4)Alireza R.
Excellent food. Fast service. So why only 3 stars? Manager wasn't too thrilled to accommodate our seating arrangement. But in three nights we went there twice. So not the most customer friendly attitude but they make up for it in quality and speed.
(3)Kandyce V.
I had the shrimp tacos. They were breaded but just okay. The two girls working the front were not friendly and boarder line rude and snobby. Last time that I will go there!
(3)Mark O.
Really yummy Mexican, very good service and cold beer. Reasonable prices for what you get. We had the nacho platter and it came loooaaaded. Would definitely go back. Across the street from the area resorts, about a 10 minute walk.
(4)Ralph J.
What the shit, my review removed!!!!!!! But it was my bad. I'm not allowed to use names now but everybody is allowed their own opinion. Again my bad. I was probably drinking some Haterade that day. This place is a joke. You can't throw shit in a burrito, add some Spanish stuff on the walls and all of a sudden your a Mexican restaurant. My wife and I ate here just to try something new, big mistake. The tacos have no taste what so ever, I had chicken but it just kind of tasted like stringy cardboard. My wife had the nachos, with the amount of oil that was on each chip I'm sure I could have greased there entire grill, we told the waiter but nothing ever came of that. Now on to the waiter, I can understand you guys aren't that busy but that is no reason to hover over us. For that matter if your gonna hover I shouldn't have to ask for my drink 3 times!!!! This place really does suck, Mexican is my favorite kind of food this place is closer to dog food, wait I love my dog and I wouldn't give him this stuff. This place is not real Mexican, Taco Bell is closer to authentic!!!!!
(1)Melissa T.
Average food at best, service was good however I wouldn't recommend eating here and probably won't be back
(3)Lisa C.
Very average taco place but will become awesome in your head when their prices are compared to food prices at restaurants in Disney or Marriot resorts.
(3)Ryan K.
Came here with some family while vacationing in the nearby Disney resort. Prices are fairly reasonable considering the cost of most things on the island. I ordered the taco salsa verde with the pieces if baby back ribs. The salsa itself was quite lively, and loud, which overshadowed the taste of the ribs (which were quite good) the main issue I had was with the included beans and rice. Both had a quite mushy texture and we're relatively flavourless compared to the pork. I found the service very good, as we had a very attentive waiter (despite what the other reviews say, the service was fast). Nitpicking here, but the music was a little loud, and sometimes trying to hold conversation was difficult. It's not bad place, but there are better. Slightly below average IMO
(2)Shayla K.
Food is decent for the price. Four stars because quality of food is..meh.. We got the $3 taco special. Can't say much for a cheap taco. Ceviche is okay. I'm not a fan of it but my boyfriend is all about it. That's why we came here. And entree was the combo #1 and some taco sampler thing. Service is always a hit or miss when we come here. Tonight we have an amazing server Josephine. She's always on it and so sweet.. She even takes the time to do small talk. Definitely would come back just to have her serve us again. :)
(4)Joy L.
Ordered the Papi Platter at our waiter's suggestion; for the two of us, it was huge. We washed it down with a Legend Cadillac margarita, which was great. On the platter, the wings and calamari were my favorites. The only disappointment was the guacamole that was not homemade. Our waiter, Thomas, was friendly and very helpful. We will come back on our next trip to Kolina.
(4)Tony P.
This is some of the worst Mexican food is ever eaten. A TV dinner can make beans and rice better. Don't waste ur time or money here.
(1)Daniel C.
Nancy and Kim!!!! Some of the coolest cats in Ko' Olina. They have a wide variety of Mexican beer and and tequilas. For the ladies and new guests of Ko' Olina and maybe even Hawaii! Try there Li Hing Margarita. The owner is a cool cat himself. Also if your hungry grind on the carne asada fries! Thanks for always taking care Just Tacos of Ko' Olina!
(5)Kristina N.
John was wonderful. Food is the best I've had in few years, peach margarita is killer. Will come back next time we visit.
(5)Angelia S.
Nice atmosphere, good music, good vibes, alright service. Our party ordered the blended Li Hing Mui Margaritas and Fried Ice Cream. No complaints or disappointments here :) Look forward to returning...
(4)Missy R.
This is probably one of the worst meals I've had on the island, such a disappointment. 1. Service was really slow, we had to wave down our waitress everytime we needed anything 2. DO NOT ORDER THE GUACAMOLE, it is not fresh. The kind that comes preprocessed from a package. 3. The food was alright, just nothing spectacular or flavorful.
(1)Missy T.
Went here to spend some QT with the Big Bro, and overall the experience was enjoyable. We were seated outside, in an odd section; we were kind of in the bushes, which actually made for some great laughs, so it wasn't much of a bother, however if I were there as a tourist or for a special occasion I would have asked to be seated elsewhere. We were promptly asked for our drink orders, and a short while later for our entree choices. We got the chicken nachos and empanadas; the nachos were massive, and my brother swears by them. The empanadas...I can't really remember what either of us thought of them, so not bad, but not outstanding either. I also had a margarita for funsies, and found that while tasty, it was not putting me in the fiesta mood - the table next to ours that ordered what seemed to be a small bathtub full of margarita though...they were having a good time; definitely noted for the next Girl's Night Out. All in all, it was a fun time, but mostly because I was with great company. Prices are similar to Chili's or Outback, but I feel like the food quality, while still mediocre, is slightly better than those two restaurants. If you're staying at Ko'Olina and don't wanna blow fat stacks on Roy's or Chuck's, leave the area, and are with a good bunch, Just Tacos is a good spot to spend your time.
(4)Devin A.
Chipotle wings were the best wings I ever ate. I love the baja burrito, fish inside was excellent. We love this place and definitely will be back (maybe tomorrow)
(5)Megan S.
Good food and great service. Everything was delicious. Big portions. Seated a party of 9 quickly on a Saturday night.
(5)Daniel C.
garbage food. Watered down mexican food for white people....went down for my coworker's birthday, drinks are decent. The waitress told me to order their best dish that everyone likes, which is the molcajete. It's disgusting and my meat and shrimp were just drowning in mozarella cheese. Yuck, no wonder Muricans are fat. Diabeetus for everyone. $18 of pure shite, so shite I'd rather have the flu. I don't recommend this place. I'm not a big fan of mexican food but there's no REAL mexican food in Hawaii. I could give this 0 stars. Don't eat here unless you want to water down your taste buds, then this is the place for you.
(1)Mary M.
This picture is not so hot due to my outdated camera phone, but I still wanted to post it because it makes me smile. The man in the middle is Jamie, the manager. One of THE nicest men you could ever want to meet. You can tell in one visit that he loves people and food. In two years, we've eaten there 7-10 times. Each time better than the one before. If you're staying in Oahu either at Disney or Aulani, you need to discover Just Tacos.
(5)Trisha G.
Ordered a Cadillac. She came back and said the extra shot is extra $$. I said that's why I ordered a Cadillac it comes with an extra shot of Cointreau and that's why it's costs more than a margarita. (Even says this in their menu.) it was still extra $$. Anyhow, I received my Cadillac and it tasted like crystal light lemonade. Worst $15 cadilrita ever! The food was eh.
(1)Kristin I.
I only had drinks here, by the time we arrived they had already done last call for food. But the bartender that helped us was very nice and super sweet. I only had the strawberry margarita but it was delicious and huge. I can't wait to go back and try some food.
(4)Janet O.
We go to Ko Olina every year, and since Just Tacos opened, we have loved the food, atmosphere and service! We always sit at the bar since it's the best seat in the house. The bartenders are very friendly and make us laugh every time we go there. And of course serve very good drinks!
(5)Niki T.
Spacious place , parking is limited. Drinks are amazing. Usually here during the week for drinks. 60oz margaritas are a challenge but totally worth it! Service is pretty efficient and the wait isn't very long. Bar seating is very limited and if they're busy a wait for a table is about 45minutes. Bartender Chad prefects his drinks and the blue margarita (forgot the name) is my fave!
(4)Darcy H.
Mehh. That's exactly how to describe this place. Service was just blah the girls are pretty but that's about it.- they lack personality. The food was not very good compared to other Mexican places on island. If I crave a fish taco next time I'll go somewhere else.
(2)Ailie S.
Love the atmosphere here and the service is always great. Food is ok but all Mexican food in Hawaii is ok..if you want real Mexican or Tex- Mex head to the mainland.
(4)Cali J.
Pretty good - food is a good value, cocktails were strong and delicious. Service was great and outside ambiance was nice too. Very convenient if you are staying in Ko'Olina.
(4)Evan N.
Im giving this place such a poor review for a few reasons. 1) Im from California where authentic mexican food is very easy to find, so this place is no where close to authentic 2) really slow service it took 20 minutes to bring my beer, and no water was brought to me. My tacos and menudo took 40 minutes to arrive, and it was cold! 3) $6 for a taco a la carte! seriously I have never paid more then $3 for a taco 4) The food was pretty poor for the price we had to pay for it. Avoid this place because there are so many other restaurants worth eating at for the price you pay to be in Hawaii
(1)Sean S.
Avg. Mexican food. I had to kill some time so I stopped by. I'm from LA so we have good Mexican food on every corner so it's a tough comparison. Nothing was great, nothing was bad. Salsa is very so so, had to add a little salt and extra hot sauce. Pretty much all tomato. If you come here, come for the drinks and appetizers. The bartender Elliot was absolutely awesome. He opened up early for college football and was very attentive.
(3)Elizabeth D.
Ambiance is very nice and cozy. Casual place to hang out. There is an outside patio where u can sit which is very nice because of the scenery. Our waiter was very nice and attentive. Food came out very fast after we ordered. The only thing negative was everything was salty. We ordered the ceviche, calamari, ultimate fajita, and wet chimichangas. The fried ice cream was a winnah!!! Even though the food was salty I will come back and give it another try since only down the street from me.
(3)Cara G.
My friends and I were hungry and despite my previous experience here, one of my friends was craving ceviche so we came here.... I was even more disappointed than I was the first time! Which was incredibly shocking since the bar had been set incredibly low. The ceviche was SO sour that we couldn't eat it. It was simply inedible. The cheese on the nachos had conglomerated and stuck to the plate within minutes of it be served to us. THIS IS THE WEIRDEST PART THOUGH (please brace yourself...) our waiter had disappeared for a good fifteen minutes and then the next thing we know, he's STORMING out of the kitchen, yelling and tearing off his apron. A huge man (assumedly the chef) is following after him, also yelling and eventually the waiter stalks RIGHT out of the restaurant! you'd expect the chef to walk right back into the kitchen as an attempt to draw less attention to the commotion, but instead, he starts hanging around the bar and proceeds to start walking around the restaurant with a glass in hand! Needless to say, our food took at least another twenty minutes to arrive, and our waitress was this little Asian lady who was on the verge of tears for the remainder of our visit. And then the manager (or whoever the hell she was), thanked us on our way out and told us to come back again. I'm sorry to say this but JUST TACOS needs one of two things: either CHEF RAMSEY, or to simply put itself out of its misery and close down.
(1)Jimmy K.
The service was quick and friendly. Wife and I shared a fajita supreme. excellent! With leftovers. The hot sauce was really Hott!!! And the beer was cold. All 4 of us were happy. (if that is really a sentence.)
(4)Destini D.
My husband and I have been here a few times. Today we decided to have a nice lunch together and was not disappointed. Server John was exceptional! This is by far the best service we have ever received here. We have lived on Oahu for 15 years and exceptional service is sometimes hard to come by. That being said we do not write reviews often, however this experience def warranted an exceptional review. Server John was not only helpful in food choices, but was consistently at our table to follow up on service. Watching him with all his tables giving everyone exceptional service made it all seem so seamless and easy. We will def be back and make sure we are in Johns section.
(5)Jason J.
Staff was nice, service was a mess, and the food was so bland. I got the combo taco platter and the about the only thing worth the calories was the carnitas and even it was bland compared to what it should have been. I get that you can't expect it to be authentic, but flavorful would be swell. Management seemed to be involved...Inexperienced perhaps?
(1)Adam S.
My daughter and wife shared beef fajitas and I had a baja ultimate taco (fish burrito). The fajitas smelled good, but were bland. I saved the grilled onions and peppers to put in scrambled eggs the next morning. The burrito was mostly shredded lettuce with some Spanish rice mixed-in. The fish part of the burrito was good, but I had to douse the burrito with hot sauce to make it edible. Negra Modelo was on tap, so give them points for that. Strike 1: No cheese. Where milk is over $5 a gallon, I can understand, but no chips & queso? No cheese with the fajitas? Strike 2: No heat. I am not saying the food needs to be hot enough to knock you on your butt, but there could be a better/stronger combination of spices in the food. Bland. A little pricey for Mexican food, but realizing where the restaurant is located, I can understand. $20 fajitas would be $12-15 in Houston. The burrito was $13, but considering it was fish, the price was not bad.
(2)Julie N.
Got COMBO 1 so yummy! Idk what my husband got but he said it was good My daughter got the carne fries from the kids menu, but seriously why is that even considered a meal for kids? Its kinda groose and should be more like an appetizer! Who in the world feeds there kids a huge plate of fries as a meal?! Just saying. Other than that everything was great. The service was good & the food was tasty. And the fried ice cream can feed 4! Its huge & oh so delicious!
(4)Michael M.
Four stars based on service but 2.5 on food. First day I had burned cheese enchiladas. Second day I had good "chile relleno" but two random pieces of "stems" in the meal. Not the end of the world but the food is typical of tourist spots. On the other hand they made a pretty good margarita..
(4)Angela Irene D.
Came here because I'm from California, and when you crave mexican food that is similar like the kind in Cali, then you know the first thing you look for is MEXICAN food, LEGIT mexican food, and not just ANY mexican food....CARNE ASADA FRIES with all the delicious mexican fixings and sauce....and......LIME! I came here twice already, and I was happy that they have the Carne Asada fries on the menu, but what can you expect if maybe the real cook isn't Mexican or something? The Carne asada on the fries was very little, and it wasn't made the way it's done in Cali. The Carne Asada fries ordered by the way it is = $11...11!! and that doesn't even include a decent amount of the carne, sour cream, AND guacamole! Luckily we were able to order extra sour cream AND guacamole...AND to try to make it legit, we had to get lime from their Bar and a nice bottle of Tapatio! Thank GOD they had Tapatio! I was upset, that the lime they serve us, it's SO dry and tiny! seems like calamansi would be better on the damn fries! I know for damn sure people were looking at us, but hey...is it our fault that they created Carne Asada fries the wrong way? NO. We came here couple times enough to be remembered by our waiter, and he even asked if what we ordered was really worth it and delicious?! Our answer? YES. If you're deprived long enough and you're too lazy to make the carne asada yourself, this is the only way go! I truly believe I know what was missing, and it's probably how the meat is marinated. There is just something that didn't make it Legit, maybe because it wasn't made by real Mexicans? at the end of meal, for ONE carne asada fries with all our extra goodies it totaled up to $16!! are you serious? Back home, it's $7 and you're given MORE and you have unlimited amount of sour cream, and salsa. Guacamole of course will always be extra. Also, everytime we came here parking SUCKS because of the construction going on here, so the parking seems SO tight and limited! Customer is very decent, and they are very welcoming considering it is in Ko'Olina meant for tourists. Side note, their restrooms are beautiful! I loved the sink! lol, I really want a nice bathroom because I am a lady, and I feel like I sleep and breath in the bathroom, getting ready, and ready to GO to number 2. Anyway, that's all what my husband and I order if we are really really craving carne asada fries, we come here. It could be better, but it works out. Just glad they have it here in some way. It's basically like generic brand versus the original. Can NEVER beat the original!
(2)Jurija M.
This isn't REAL Mexican food. This is Mexican fare with American taste- bland, simple, and boring. The salsa is watery and weird. The chips typically taste stale. The service is fairly decent- never have had a problem. Parking sucks on the weekend and if you're staying in Ko'Olina than the wait typically sucks, too. Just go here to have a seat outside, have a beer OR margarita, and chat with a co-worker or friend. That's it.
(3)moejoe r.
The two stars are for our server, Joe. She was super friendly to us and always positive. But this place has really gone down hill since we last visited several months ago. The seats in the booths are coming apart and really need to be replaced. The menus were sticky and pages ripped, falling out. The food was REALLY disappointing from our last experience here. Husband had the steak fajitas; only 6 pieces of steak and as soon as the sizzling platter was set down on the table it stopped sizzling and my husband said the food was just a little warm temperature wise, not sizzling hot. I had a chimichanga. The beans and rice were wrapped inside along with cheese and a little chicken. It doesn't come with sour cream or gac, we had to ask for some and when it came, it was like two bite sizes worth. Not a lot of flavor to the food. The manager stopped our table twice to see if he could clear our plates while we were still eating...I guess he didn't want us eating the junk food!!! I guess the owners are putting more effort into their newer restaurant that is located in town????!!!
(2)Brian F.
Been going to Just Tacos every summer for 5 years when we visit Hawaii, and the food has been going downhill steadily. Until recently, there have not been many choices near Ko Olina. This year, the food quality fell off the cliff. The only positive note was the chips and salsa. I ordered a wet burrito and it arrived looking reasonably good. However, everything inside was cold. The unmelted cheese was not freshly grated, but looked to be stuff from a bag. The guac and beans had no flavor, as did the gristly cubed chicken. This food in no way resembled the qualify from years ago. I won't waste my time or money any more at this place, as there are now much better offerings in the Ko Olina center. At this point, I wonder if Just Tacos will even be there next year.
(1)Gary F.
Was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the yelp reviews on this place. I had a good experience. First, the chips were good and came with both a mild and a hot salsa. Both were good, but the hot salsa definitely had a kick. We had Mocajete and chicken fingers. The bowl and pan they came in were still red hot at the time the meal ended. Those dishes were sizzling. Both were very tasty with fresh ingredients. The service was fine - no complaints there either. I would return here again.
(4)Eric N.
Just Tacos is good solid Mexican food in a location without a lot of options. The service is ok, not nearly as bad as some reviews say, and I loved my Mokajete tacos, so oozing with cheesy goodness.
(4)E C.
Too bad there aren't any good dining options in Ko Olina. This place is no exception. Service is friendly and space is cute with lot of natural light. As for the food, I wouldn't eat here again. Decent portions but just not tasty. Everything we ordered was way too salty and tasted mediocre at best. They give you free chips and salsa which I thought was very generous of them. Their salsa was the only thing that tasted good. Is it really that difficult to find chefs who know how to cook?
(2)Linda B.
Reading some of the more recent reviews, I was a little sceptic, but I am sure glad that it didn't stop us from eating here! Our server was attentive, service fast and the food excellent! We live in CA and love eating Mexican food at least once a week. Just Tacos filled our craving just fine, not once, but twice (!) during our recent stay at the Aulani. It is conveniently located in the little shopping strip across the road (walking distance). I highly recommend it for people who are staying at the Marriott or Aulani. I can see where parking can be cumbersome as there are quite a few restaurants and just not enough parking spaces. That said we really enjoyed our meals (party of 7, all ordering different choices).
(5)Sara Y.
I lived in Texas for 41 years and love Tex-Mex food. This is not traditional Tex-Mex but is was excellent. The service was great. Our waiter was very nice and fast. The pricing is great compared to other places to eat. This is a place you should eat.
(5)Gabrielle G.
My guy and I went here on saturday for date night, he was looking for a place that was kind of like fronteira and Moe's. They put us at a table in the middle of the restaurant there was really no privacy you're right next to the other table. They did have a nice live band playing but we should have set outside. And the food was alright but nothing impressive. The best part about this restaurant was their margaritas
(2)Troy P.
The service was really good, we sat in the bar and the person helping us was very attentive and made sure we were taken care of. The food however was ok, nothing good to say about it just ok. I probably won't return on my vacation since the ABC country store and the new Monkey Pod across the street have better food. If you don't mind paying the resort area prices and feel like Mexican, then check it out. But don't expect anything spectacular, unless you want tequila, they have a ton!
(3)Alonzo B.
The restaurant atmosphere was quite relaxing the service took a little longer expected and the mango margaritas were to die for but what really caught my attention were the fish tacos they were shaped like fish and really delicious I must go back!!!
(3)Tiffanie K.
If you want good Mexican food, do not go here! Quesadilla was soggy and had burnt cheese. Chips are lackluster and tasted like chewing cardboard. The taquitos were the only decent thing we had. Sorry Just Tacos but you were Just Terrible!
(1)Sam A.
I read that this owner is from Southern California so I figured I was going to get some good quality Mexican food, however I was extremely disappointed. I ordered carne Asada tacos to go, and I'm not even exaggerating, they brought out my food in less than one minute so I had a bad feeling from the start. The meat had very little flavor and was really dry. Rice and beans were so-so and the pico de gallo that came with it was average. Another comment I want to add is The service. I had to wait for a server to finish complaining about not wanting any more table so she could go home then another server came and said he didn't want any more tables either and when they were both finished complaining is when the hostess helped to me. I will not be returning here for seconds.
(2)Cathi B.
The manager used to be real friendly. Happy hour should be later. If you want better food from a good Mexican restaurant, try El Mariachi in Kapolei. Unfortunately, they don't have a bar yet.
(2)Spear F.
Food was just ok. Not worth the money. Service wasn't the best but nice people. I wouldn't come back or recommend it.
(1)Tom H.
Just Tacos is my favorite restaurant in Kapolei . The staff is friendly and attentive, the Chips and salsa are great and if you are really hungry the ultimate taco is a meal and a half.
(5)Erick E.
Not bad service at all! Great food I didn't mind the wait because it was all worth it'
(4)Patrick R.
I'm staying across the street at the JW for work. I went to "just tacos" to check it out. Then have a cool little bar in the back. Amazing selection of tequila. Kim the bartender is great. I had the chili verde pork tacos. Holy cow they were amazing. The mix corn/flour tortillas were a nice change. Never had that before. Over all the plate was delicious and huge, plus it was only $14. Pretty good for a resort area. Definitely check it out. If I had room in my belly the chocolate peanut butter fried ice cream sounded crazy! Maybe next time.
(4)Little D.
Fish Taco: 4.5 Beans: me 2, BF 4 Salsa: 3 not my style Margarita: 3 Lemonade: 5- more like a grapefruits juice. Bathroom: 5- spacious and glass doors and walls... very interesting.
(4)Eric W.
Rounding up to 4 from 3.5. I'm from southern CA so I'd rate the food a 2.5/3. I've been here three times now and every time the service has been very good. It's a great place to come eat if you're staying at one of the major resorts and you don't feel like traveling far. I've had fish tacos, fish burrito, chicken tacos and beef fajitas.
(4)Andreas N.
Poor drinks, slow service. What keeps the place going is its location.
(2)Bob K.
The food and service were excellent. We almost passed on this place due to its overall low Yelp rating. I am really glad we didn't. Portions were large, the food was fresh and the service quick. I had the Ensenada style fish tacos and they were delicious.
(5)Mandy C.
My family and I went here this last Saturday and we had heard mixed reviews so we were willing to give it a try. My husband and I got the Fajita's mixed grill, ehh it was good, but nothing special. They had a abundance of bell peppers and onions they were quite oily to me. We had them put all sauces, guacamole, sour cream on the side. My husband LOVES Guacamole, but he said theirs was made from a packet for sure it was granular and he said he liked the sour cream better and he doesn't eat it. Our son had the Chipotle Chicken Wings, he liked them, but to me they didn't have much flavor. The complementary chips and salsa the chips you could tell were probably out of a bag and then warmed up under the warmer, very hard, the Salsa however, was good, but it came in an abundance again 3 cups of salsa for 3 of us! We didn't even eat, but one of them and one half of the two things of chips they brought us. It was worth trying, but needless to say we will not be going back.
(2)Ryan A.
I was pleasantly shocked by Just Tacos!! I had very low expectations when we decided to eat here. too my surprise it had the Mexican flare I was used to being raised in New Mexico. The food was served with big portions and had exceptional taste, we had the Fish and salsa verde pork tacos along with the kids bean and cheese burrito for the little one, everyone enjoyed their meals!!! They offer two salsa's the hot one is by request only, it won't light your mouth on fire but is spidery than the Pico type salsa you get with your chips. Just Tacos won't make the Top 10 all time best Mexican restaurants I've ever ate at but certainly got my attention and gets a thumbs up!!
(5)Sasha L.
Pretty clean and cute. Nice server. Food, really not good. Everything was super salty and greasy. Portions are huge and packed with cheese which might be good for some people but no one in our party was feeling it. Seriously waaay too salty. That was really the major complain. Had indigestion for days. Might be because I'm from San Diego where mexican food is great.
(2)Jason C.
When you think of Hawaii , you don't think of Mexican food. But, when you come & eat at JUST TACOS don't be fooled...THE PLACE IS DELICIOUS!!! From the "complimentary chips & salsa to the fresh Guacamole to the chimichanga Burrito to the fried ice cream- this place did not fail. Good quality "authentic" food that is reasonably priced. Add that to our friendly & knowledgable waiter John and you have a great combination.
(5)Kevin E.
I know, I know... living in San Diego, let me now say Hawaii is not a place I would go for Mexican food. It was okay, but deff had better at home and it was pretty expensive.
(2)David L.
I live in California, my business has me traveling throughout the southwestern United States so I know good Mexican food. I do not know the standard for Mexican food in Hawaii but if your used to the good stuff I would not go here. We tried the calamari appetizer which was way too salty and a bit over cooked. The rest of the food was like a chain restraint, cooked quickly, few options to customize (no black beans, no grilled fish for the tacos, only fried... On the positive side the service was fast.
(1)shannon m.
I enjoyed my food but the staff was greatly lacking in skills. Even though the restaurant was only half full, it still took way too long for me to get my nachos (yummy), or even a refill of my drink. I do still keep going back because I like the food, I just have to prepare myself for the lackluster hostess and understaffed waiters.
(2)John N.
I'm a bit surprised at the low rating. I'll make this short since it seems to be about the wait help. I didn't get our servers name but she had an almost full sleeve tattoo on one arm and tattoos down to her elbow I the other arm. You are in good hands if you have her as a server! She was very attentive! Nothing took long to be served. The blended margarita came out and was huge. My beer was fine. As for the food? We were going to order the nachos as a meal and share it. Our server suggested the 'papi platter'. We went with it. We were glad we did. The wings were very good. Kind of a light spicy honey BBQ sauce. Very nice! Empanadas were very good as was the calamari. The taquitoes (sp?) were ok. I'm glad we didn't just get the nachos because the cheese was not that great. All in all the drinks were good, the food was good, and the server was great.
(4)Holly H.
I'm really, really trying to like this place. This is the only "Mexican" style restaurant near where I live. Every few months when I have a hankering for Mexican I come here. I read the reviews and then rider what people are raving about. I read a review about the nachos the person raves about them, but they were horrible! I'm guessing either that person was an employee or was someone local who has never had real or semi-real Mexican. I'm no chef, but I could have done a better job. My nachos consisted of a pile of chips with about a pound of cheese on the top, canned refrained beans, and a scoop of sour cream and guacamole. Chilis down the road serves a far superior nacho that this place. I have to stop coming here! It's bad food all around. I have yet to find a dish that I'd order again. The only thing worth trying is the li hing mui margarita. Also, what is with the smell?!! Do they douse everthing with chemical cleaning agents and then just leave it? Usually when you enter a restaurant you smell food, but here it's just an overwhelming smell of cleaning agents. Save you taste buds and just go to the Monkey Pod.
(1)Sharon P.
Saw this wonderful Mexican Grill as we drove down the highway near our resort. Being Mexican food lovers from So Cal, we try them all when we travel. The food was plentiful and delicious . Our server, Peter, was the best! He went to great lengths to get our umbrella just right and was delightful to talk to. We highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Jamie W.
Let me start by explaining I'm from sunny San Diego but lived in Hawaii for some time and understand there's no real Mexican food on the island nicos is about as close as it gets with that said I'm in ko olina / kapeoei. This place has been here for years yet I've never tried it sad to say until today I had talked to one of the waitresses last night inquiring about menu as she is from San Diego as we'll so knew what I as red to find. I ordered the carve Assad fries w extra jalapeño and tons of salsa and ordered the apple chimichanga omg this place is amazing to put it lightly. No idea why reviews look do low but trust me when I say they have really really good good x tar large portions and also they have an amazing happy hour
(5)Ash B.
I am picky about Mexican food and this place tops the worst I've been to. Take in to consideration I live California and good Mexican food isn't far. The food was tasteless. Even the chips and salsa was a miss.
(2)Lacey W.
Just don't go to Just Tacos. Living in a predominately Mexican neighborhood in Los Angeles, I know I am spoiled with excellent Mexican food. But the food at Just Tacos is inedible as far as I am concerned. The margaritas are passable, but don't waste your money on good tequila since they use a cheap margarita mix. It isn't that hard or that much more expensive to create a homemade mix with fresh lime, just saying. The guacamole was mealy and bland. Considering the availability of enormous and tasty avocados on the island, bad guacamole is inexcusable. The food....I ordered the cheese enchiladas. Safe bet right? Nope. I ate two bites and no more. It was that bad. We visited here last year and the food was better. Monkey pod across the street wasn't open though, so perhaps their success has cut into Just Tacos business. I don't know, but until they turn it around I would stay away.
(1)Rissa K.
Great atmosphere and service! I had the Steak fajita with corn tortilla. My friends all had the Li Hing mui margarita which looked huge and they said was yummy. The steak fajita portion size was huge! 2 people could have shared the fajita. There's a bar here as well so great place to have dinner and have a few drinks. After dinner you can go for a sunset cruise on the beach on Koolina. I def will be back with friends again. If it's your bday they give you a free dessert and sing happy bday to you.
(3)K. A.
super good food! and the staff is good. Bartenders are really cool!. Had a good time here
(5)Todd K.
Ugh... Gets one star for nice looking place. Chips were stale, had a steak burrito and EVERYTHING on it tasted processed and cheap. My wife and I were famished and did not finish our meal. Will never go again. Taco Bell tastes better than this.
(1)Maryalyce E.
We loved this place the first time! Great service! Calamari was yummy! Ultimate fajitas were delicious!! And the li hing Mui margarita was so good!!! Came back a few months later and it was mediocre at best. I don't know what changed, but we might try it again later. It may be hit or miss!
(3)Tanya F.
This place was really talked up to us so we thought - must be on the 'to do' list. The place is like a fast food restaurant in terms of its environment. Warm greeting at the door and the staff seemed friendly. Menu selection good. And that is where it ended. Food is very, very average. Not memorable at all. Usually we give a place two or three chances as we could have been there on an 'off' night, and this usually has to do with service. But the food alone is not worth going back for.
(2)Robert B.
Wow where do I start. Salsa is terrible.. Basically tomatoes with no seasoning, no onions, no cilantro. Bland bland bland and did I mention the salsa was bland?? We asked for cilantro and added lemon, salt and pepper to make it edible. No spice at all either. Ordered the "street tacos". Not sure what street they buy their tacos on but these were from Main St USA not Mexico! Beef looked and tasted like it was boiled and the corn tortilla was straight out of the grocery store wrapper. Seriously.... save your money and go elsewhere.
(1)Chris S.
Service was great, but the food is just okay. I had the molcajete which was served in a big bowl of some kind of cheese and grease. Go for the atmosphere but don't get your hopes too high for good food.
(3)Misty P.
I always went here with co-workers when I worked in Kapolei. The service was usually good. There were always enough seats for our big party during happy hour and the prices are ok. The food isn't quite the greatest and most authentic Mexican food around. The food was mediocre. I think the best dish I've tasted was the fried calamari as an appetizer (and that's not even Mexican really...). The chips and salsa are good. Drinks were plentiful and the margaritas are huge and stiff. My friends and I were super excited to try different tequila shots and asked the waiter to try one on the menu. He said it was not available. We went through about 10 (literally) tequilas that were presented on their menu and all were not available. The bar tender stated they didn't run out, they just didn't carry it at that store. So why even have it on your menu then?! We ended up drinking tequilas that most people have already tried and most retaurants already have at their bar. That experience docked stars... Parking is also tight and small.
(3)Joan A.
Always leave there satisfied! They have the best Serrano/ cucumber margarita that Billie the bartender turned me on to! YUMMY! for appetizers I always order their calamari and guacamole/ salsa with chips. This last visit I tried their chipotle wings was good as well! For my main course I always order their steak taco salad which is is so darn good! Highly reccomend it! Yelp had a $10 for $20 offer which was so awesome.... How can you go wrong? LOVE LOVE LOVE this establishment!!!
(5)Nannette C.
Taco Tuesday is definitely worth a visit. Happy Hour margarita was perfection! Just Tacos blended mine with just the right amount of tequila, slush ice and salt rim on the glass. Wonderful drink on a warm day on their nice patio. My husband and I both lived in So Cal our entire lives so we've had our share of good Mexican food. Our assessment: *Chips (crisp, salted) and salsa (mildly spicy, and good) *Carnitas street taco (delish! Wonderful flavor and tender. Also on the bigger side for a street taco) *Moleta taco - new to us. (different and really good ~ We'll be ordering it again. Melted cheese seals the taco around the edges, creating a pastry-like texture. TASTY!! *Service - friendly conversation and efficient. We got to know our server without feeling like he was inviting himself to join us for dinner. While I didn't order any, I asked our server if the guacamole they serve is made on-site (the pics I saw on their menu look like frozen/processed). They do not make it themselves, which is a disappointment to me. I would spend a little more for the real thing. We moved to Ko Olina a couple of months ago and, based on reviews, were afraid to try dining here. Sorry we waited. I don't know if it's inconsistency issues that they've had in the past, but none of the negative remarks I've read apply to our Just Taco experience.
(4)Lisbeth B.
We went for dinner and had a NEW waiter. He messed up the delivery of my dinner, but the manager came over and made it right . The food was so good I'll have to say try it. It is worth a gamble. If not tell the manager.
(5)Vadim L.
Service was nice & seating was available right away on a Sunday night. The food, however, was blah. There're only Refried beans available, which tasted over seasoned with Knorr's chicken stock seasoning. Enchilada tasted microwaved with tomatillo salsa from a can. Grilled chicken was mushy like cheap Cysco chicken breasts. And the prices were high for the food quality, even by vacation standards. Overall, not a great experience. On the plus side, their basic margarita was quote good and the chips & salsa hit the spot. Totes recommend for drinks & apps, not for a full meal.
(2)Justin L.
Location, Location, Location, well guess location doesn't mean diddly if the food is horrible. Service was excellent, atmosphere was excellent but the food. Ordered the wings and fish tacos. Came with baked beans that were dry and chalky. The fish was old and soggy. Trust me we would have gotten a better meal at Taco Bell.
(2)Robert O.
Meh. Okay. Nothing great. Service was okay. Outdoor dining is nice. Reasonable prices for this part of town.
(3)Ciara C.
Be warned that your entire must be present to be seated. The service was great, other than our wait because our party was not "complete". The margaritas are delicious, local tip: try the Li Hing Mui Margarita, blended or on the rocks both are great. The strawberry margarita was OK, the salted rim threw off the sweet flavor of the strawberry which was awkward. Food portions are BIG and more than enough especially if you have an appetizer ahead of time. The Sampler Appetizer was perfect, the tacos were alright- nothing fantastic. The Chicken Fajitas were very filling with lots of bell peppers and onions to accompany the chicken.
(3)John M.
I guess that I should begin my review by stating that I live in San Diego, CA the Mexican food Mecca of the United States. This place is located in a very nice resort area of Hawaii and I was sucked into this joint via the reviews that I read here on Yelp before walking into the door. That being said, DO NOT EAT HERE, if you are looking to eat some decent Mexican food. I am not being a snob simply because I live 10 miles from the Mexican Border but rather I'm being realistic. It does not take a great Mexican chef to offer me a plate of fresh food. The food that was brought to our table was lukewarm at best and 80% of the ingredients were prepared hours earlier in the day. The Manager confirmed that with me after I asked him about how they prepare their food. You will get fresher food at Taco Bell then what we were served up at the place. Add to that, the food was subpar. The 20-somethings that work here seem to not care too much about those of us that come here from the mainland. You've been properly warned.
(1)Melissa A.
It sounds like there's a lot of bitching about service, but since I only sit at the bar (typical me) I can't complain cause the bartender (I think his name is Charles) is awesome! He's always super nice, great service, he remembers us and, when I wasn't sure if I was going to like a margarita, he gave me the extra from one he had just made so I could try it. The food: I've had the carnitas tacos, the chicken flautas and the wet burrito. The tacos and flautas were actually very good and reasonably priced. The burrito, yeah, I get it, if you've had really good burritos, like the kind you can get in most of Cali, then I can see how you'd be left wanting. With that being said, it is still one of the best burritos I've had here in Hawaii, so I'm happy. The drinks: If you like tequila, this is your place. The entire wall is filled with different types of tequilas. They have okay wine and good beer on tap. Now, if you like margaritas, you'll love this place. I highly recommend the li hing mui margarita and the mango margarita...soooo ono! They make it blended or on the rocks (I like mine on the rocks) and I love how, with the li hing mui margarita, they line the rim of the glass with li hing mui powder, not kidding, I licked the glass clean. Definitely one of my regular spots, my only complaint is the bar is too small, so it's hard to get seating.
(4)