GREAT EATS HAWAII: COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN

COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN

HONOLULU, HAWAII

COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN

327 KEAWE STREET

HONOLULU, HI 96813

HOURS: Tuesday thru Saturday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

www.cocinahawaii.com

All I want is a frickin taco. A real simple shredded beef taco with lettuce, cheese, salsa and some good hot sauce. You can find great tacos on every other street in San Diego or Los Angeles but in Hawaii that are non existent. I was excited when we learned that the site of the Whole Ox had been replaced with a Mexican restaurant. Well, make that a Mexican joint as this place is not a restaurant. It consists of a takeout counter and a bunch of benches. The walls are bare except for the hand written menu board that is the focal point and place where you order your food. Cannot explain what it felt like walking into Cocina. Kind of like a big garage or big back yard. In fact, you pick your drink from an ice cooler just like you would do at a backyard party. The gal at the counter was smiling and very friendly. Really made us feel welcome here. She also delivered our food and checked to make sure we were enjoying our meal. This was very good service and she should be commended. We started with the Chips and Salsa ($4). A nice bowl of thickly cut tortillas fried up to perfection. Served with a mild salsa that really did not pack a whole lot of flavor. It was not bad but did not add a kick or flavor to enhance the dishes. The Beef Cheek Burro ($13) had some pretty good tasting meat inside but the other ingredients to me did not come together to make this a burrito worth $13. The Fish Tacos ($13) were a bit bland. Tasted mostly the thick flour tortilla. The Pollo Asado Tacos ($13) had an overwhelming Chipotle flavor and again the thick tortilla taste really came through. I have read many reviews where people rave about these tacos. This is great and I hope they enjoy paying over $4 for small two bite tacos. This meal for three set us back $47. To me that is a little expensive for tacos and a burrito. I do not want to dog this place, but it is just not what I want in Mexican food. Perhaps I am not accustomed to these flavors as I grew up eating San Diego, Baja and Los Angeles Mexican food. I left this place and was still craving a taco forty seven dollars later.