Top pick1$$Búho Cocina y Cantina
Waikiki·Mexican Restaurant
Roomy, modern rooftop restaurant & open-air bar featuring locally sourced Mexican eats & cocktails.
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Finding great Mexican food in Waikiki is easier than you might think. I pulled together 9 spots worth knowing — from sit-down restaurants to casual street-style eats — so you can skip the guesswork and get straight to the tacos.
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The experiences I actually send visitors on.
Editor's Pick Free cancellationWaikiki sunset sail
After happy hour, get on the water. A sunset cocktail sail off Waikiki is the move — drinks aboard, Diamond Head glowing behind you.
Free cancellationOahu luau night
The eating doesn't stop at dinner — a real luau is the one Waikiki night out worth booking ahead. Kalua pig, fire knife, the whole thing.
Editor's Pick Free cancellationDiamond Head + breakfast
Earn the breakfast plate: hike Diamond Head first, then eat. Shuttle + reservation ticket included, so the morning's sorted before you refuel in Waikiki.
Free cancellationHonolulu tasting walk
If you like eating your way through a neighborhood, this off-the-beaten-path Honolulu tasting walk hits spots you'd never find solo. Come hungry.
Editor's Pick Free cancellationCircle the island
Best single day on Oahu if you've got wheels-envy: turtles, the North Shore shrimp trucks, the lookouts — all in one guided loop.
At the top of the list is Búho Cocina y Cantina, a roomy rooftop restaurant known for locally sourced Mexican dishes and open-air cocktails with sweeping Waikiki views. For something more low-key, Tlacuaches 808 is a colorful food truck serving Mexican homestyle favorites like tacos, nachos, and wraps. SURF N TURF TACOS WAIKIKI rounds out the casual end of the spectrum with all-day tacos in a no-frills outdoor setting.
This is a curated guide combining the area's best-rated and most talked-about Mexican spots in Waikiki. Any spot our editors have personally visited is marked with the NateEatsHawaii badge — keep an eye out for it as you browse the full list.
FAQ
Búho Cocina y Cantina is widely regarded as the top Mexican dining experience in Waikiki, thanks to its modern rooftop setting, locally sourced menu, and craft cocktails. For a more casual bite, SURF N TURF TACOS WAIKIKI and Tlacuaches 808 are popular picks among visitors and locals alike.
For budget-friendly Mexican eats in Waikiki, look to food trucks and casual counters like Tlacuaches 808 and SURF N TURF TACOS WAIKIKI, which offer tacos and Mexican fast food without the sit-down price tag.
This guide is curated by our editors from NateEatsHawaii and combines his personally verified picks with the highest-rated Mexican spots in Waikiki based on real visitor ratings collected on the site. The list is reviewed regularly to reflect new openings and updated ratings.
Mexican Food
Waikiki
