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Saturday, February 28, 2015

AZTECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT

AZTECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
HONOLULU, HAWAII

AZTECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
3617 WAIALAE AVENUE
HONOLULU, HI  96816
808-735-2492
HOURS:  Monday thru Saturday 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM
                 Closed Sunday

I had to return to Azteca Mexican Restaurant after learning that they were named Honolulu Magazines Best Oahu Mexican Restaurant of 2015.  Anyone who follows this blog knows that the Mexican food in Hawaii sucks and to this day I have not found a Mexican restaurant that compares to anything in San Diego, Orange County or Los Angeles in California.  We had been to Azteca many years ago and after our meal we decided not to go back.  Perhaps we were wrong so lets give it another try I told my Wife.  If this place really is Oahu's Best Mexican Restaurant, we certainly need to go back.  Go back we did and I am afraid to say that we felt the same as before.  Food was a bit bland and there was nothing that we tried that would make us come back again.  We started with the Chips and Salsa that are provided on every table.  Everyone liked the Salsa.  It was fresh and had some flavor and a kick of spice that I really liked.  Combine the Chips and Salsa with an ice cold Bohemia Mexican Beer and this dinner started out fantastic for me.  We ordered Guacamole ($6.75).  It came in a small bowl and the chunks of Avocado were huge.  Very chunky and a bit bland.  We added Salt and Pepper and then mashed it up with a fork for a little better consistency.  Not bad.  My Wife and Daughter mowed through the bowl of green in minutes.  We ordered two Combination Plates ($17.50 each) for the table.  I went with a Shredded Beef Taco, Chicken Enchilada and Chicken Tostada.  My Wife and Daughter shared a Steak Taco, Carnitas Taco and Chicken Enchilada.  Both combo's were served with Beans and Rice.  I started with the Shredded Beef Taco.  First off I was surprised to see that the Shredded Beef was served in a flour tortilla and not a fried corn tortilla.  I prefer Shredded Beef in a fried corn tortilla.  The taco was very watery and included a small amount of beans, lettuce and maybe a hint of cheese.  Not much flavor or texture here.  Pretty much mush.  The Chicken Enchilada was filled with chunks of boiled chicken but that is about it.  Nothing to add some flavor.  Again pretty bland.  The Chicken Tostada was large and topped with a ton of thinly sliced lettuce.  Once you got through the lettuce, there were more of those nice pieces of boiled chicken with very little flavor.  This Tostada was impossible to pick up and again was very bland.  My Wife was surprised to find the Carnitas Taco filled with very large chunks of fried pork.  Again she said it was tasteless.  She also thought the Chicken Enchilada was bland.  As far as the Steak Taco goes they said it was just all right.  On the bright side here we loved the family serving the food.  They were very gracious and provided excellent service.  I noticed many tables enjoying the Margaritas and the food. I like the neighborhood feel of Azteca and would dine here often if I could get some Crunchy Shredded Beef Tacos and Mexican food with a bit more flavor.  Oahu's Best?
Makes me want to get out the apron and open up my own taco stand.

    AZTECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT

AZTECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN KAIMUKI 
AZTECA IS A SMALL RESTAURANT WITH ABOUT A DOZEN TABLES AND BOOTHS 
NICE NEIGHBORHOOD MEXICAN RESTAURANT WITH FULL BAR

AZTECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT MENU
MARGARITAS SEEM TO BE POPULAR HERE.  I WENT FOR A MEXICAN BEER
AZTECA ALA CARTE MENU
AZTECA COMBINATION PLATES AND MORE
WE WENT WITH THE THREE ITEM COMBINATION PLATES
LUNCH PLATES, ENCHILADAS AND EGG PLATES
AZTECA SPECIALTIES
SANGRIA AND MARGARITAS AT AZTECA
WE ENJOYED THE CHIPS N' SALSA
SALSA WAS FRESH AND HAD A LITTLE HEAT KICK THAT I LIKED
ICE COLD BOHEMIA BEER 
GUACAMOLE
COMBINATION PLATE - SHREDDED BEEF TACO, CHICKEN ENCHILADA AND CHICKEN TOSTADA
SHREDDED BEEF TACO WAS A BIT WATERY AND BLAND
CHICKEN ENCHILADA
CHICKEN TOSTADA
CHICKEN TOSTADA WAS A WHOLE LOT OF LETTUCE
COMBINATION PLATE - STEAK TACO, CARNITAS TACO AND CHICKEN ENCHILADA
CARNITAS TACO WITH LARGE PIECES OF FRIED PORK

1 comment:

  1. I'm really surprised you didn't like it ,My parents live in Southern California and Azteca is there favorite Mexican restaurant anywhere ! If you go again try the Chicken fajita , fantastic, or the Carnitas , excellent, the chicken soup is wonderful also ! Best salsa I've ever had , I've been down to old town in San Diego many times , I've haven't found anywhere as good as Azteca!

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