GREAT EATS HAWAII: OMG - OAHU MEXICAN GRILL

OAHU MEXICAN GRILL
2633 S. KING STREET
HONOLULU, HI 96826
808-724-6683
HOURS: Monday thru Thursday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
PARKING: One Hour Validation at University Square
www.omg.menu

I was excited to learn that a new Mexican Restaurant had opened up near University Avenue. OMG - Oahu Mexican Grill has been receiving some pretty good reviews so we made a visit to give it a taste. First off this is not a Mexican Restaurant. It is a take off on the Chipotle or Taco Del Mar concept where you choose a burrito, soft taco or bowl and then pick your fillings. The menu is limited to Burritos, Soft Tacos, Salad and Bowls so don't come here looking for Crunchy Tacos, Enchiladas, Taquitos or anything fried. Like the Chipotle chain, OMG markets themselves as fresh and homemade and they use all natural, steroid, antibiotic and hormone free meat products. We parked in the University Square parking lot on the corner of University and King Street. You can get a validation for up to one hour when dining here. We entered to find a few patrons sitting at the tables and one waiting in line. The front line counter was busy though as the employees appeared to be making a few to go orders. They apologized for the wait in line and really tried to speed things up. Problem is that every flour or corn tortilla here is steamed first. Think they only had one steaming machine so it can get backed up. A nice line formed behind us during the lunch hour. We ordered a Grilled Steak Burrito ($9.25) plus another ($2) for Guacamole. First you choose your rice and then your beans. We went with Spanish Rice and Refried Beans. The meat is added and then you continue choosing toppings. Shredded Lettuce, Salsa Fresca, Chipotle Sauce and Guacamole. This was a very large $11 burrito when finished. I ordered Two Tacos ($9.25) with one Grilled Steak and one Barbacoa (Shredded Beef). For the Grilled Steak I went with a Corn Tortilla, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans, Chipotle Sauce and Salsa Fresca. For the Shredded Beef Taco I went with Spanish Rice, Refried Beans, Lettuce, Chipotle Sauce and Salsa Fresca. A Burrito and two tacos plus drinks was $28 without tip. What a lot of people will like about OMG is that the Burritos and Tacos are quite large because of all the Rice and Beans. They also give you large helpings of the meats. My Wife and Daughter shared the Burrito and between the two of them did not finish it. Verdict on the Burrito from my girls was that it was large but lacked flavor. The individual ingredients did not stick out with taste as it does at Chipotle. I remember eating a Burrito at Chipotle and tasting each individual ingredient and then everything as a combination and it was wonderful. That did not happen at OMG. The Tacos were large and I did not finish either one of them. Probably took two bites out of each one and then threw in the towel. Not because I was full but because the taste was not there. I grabbed a fork and picked out a bit of rice, then some beans and then the meat. Eating each component to see if any had flavor that I liked. While it was not bad, it just did not hit the mark for me. I am a traditionalist when it comes to Tacos and don't need Rice and Beans in them to fill me up. My Wife and Daughter felt the same way and said they would not come back. I don't want to knock this place because I think that many people who love big portions and mild flavors will like the place. Just not the place for me if I am craving Mexican food or tacos.