Kau Kau Diaries: Chili Relleno For Da Gringos

El Mariachi is one of Kaneohe’s best-kept secrets. Located in the inconspicuous Windward Commercial Center on the corner of Kamehameha Highway and Lilipuna Road, it is very easy to miss. After all, it’s hidden behind a gasoline station and jammed somewhere between a bank and a now-defunct consignment boutique. Despite its lackluster location and diminutive dining space, intrepid food lovers (like my kau kau companion and I) are always rewarded with a vast selection of truly onolicious Mexican dishes!

I have to mention our very first visit. It was late one evening and we arrived just in time to see them cleaning up. But instead of turning us away, the compassionate staff members waved us in and gracefully shifted back into service mode. In fact, they reopened the kitchen for us and said we could still order anything on the menu. That was extremely kind of them. But we don’t want to make a habit of that!

We recommend going during normal business hours, when the restaurant is alive and absolutely buzzing with energy. For example, this past Thursday night, the place was packed with hungry families and young couples keen to eat traditional Mexican cuisine. And it seemed like every Spanish-speaking resident on the Windward side had converged on El Mariachi. I couldn’t understand the banter between the servers and the regulars, but it was just as stimulating as the romantic Latin music flowing from the speakers.

Now I’m not an expert at Mexican food. I have to admit that I’ve spent more time in the Taco Bell drive through than in genuine Mexican sit-down restaurants. I’m trying to change that. Thankfully, I’m blessed to have a well-traveled kau kau companion who knows what authentic Mexican food should taste like. As always, I let her order.

We started the meal with a complimentary basket of chips with salsa. This simple yet delicious appetizer made a wonderful first impression. The salsa was made with fresh ingredients and that was a good sign about what was yet to come.

Our first course was El Mariachi’s take on the chile relleno. It’s a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. It's also a technical marvel. Fresh Anaheim chile roasted, peeled, battered and deep-fried and then stuffed with your choice of meat. If you want, you can have it filled with shredded beef, chicken, carne asada or cheese. We chose shredded beef and that cost only $8.95. By the way, it’s topped with a dollop of sour cream and there’s a huge serving of Mexican rice and refried beans on the side.

Next we tried the Mariachi Fajita for $12.95. It’s grilled with fresh bell peppers, onions and mushrooms and served with salsa fresca, guacamole and sour cream. You can order it with grilled chicken or steak. We chose chicken and found it to be tender and moist. This plate also comes with a generous portion of refried beans and fresh lettuce on the side.

We decide to share El Mariachi’s grilled steak enchilada. It’s $9.95 and easily feeds two. It’s a simple soft corn tortilla hand rolled and stuffed with juicy steak, cheese and enchilada sauce. We also shared the pork tamale for $7.95. It’s handmade masa tortilla stuffed with tender pieces of pork.

By the time the meal was over, I could barely walk out. Actually, I knew I was in trouble halfway through when I had to unbuckle my belt. The bottom line is, the food is authentic and delicious, the portions are huge and we didn’t have to spend a fortune.

This is without a doubt, the best Mexican restaurant on Oahu. It’s not just the food. The service happens to be impeccable. Our server Miguel was an affable young lad who made us feel like one of his regular customers. It’s that kind of service makes El Mariachi a best-kept secret I can’t resist sharing with the rest of the island!

- Jason Soeda