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