Our favorite Mexican dishes

Must-try Mexican dishes

By Kawehi Haug
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

It may be the predictable thing to do, but we can’t think of a better time to take stock of the state of Mexican food on this island than when Cinco de Mayo is just four days away.

You’ve heard the complaint before (we all have): What does a person have to do get good Mexican food around here?

Let’s start with the bad news, which also happens to be old news. Hawaii doesn’t do Mexican. Not really. There are poor versions of the food that make it seem like everything south of the border is bland and cheesy. And there are better versions, which are just cheesy. And red. But paprika and Monterey Jack do not a good Mexican meal make.

Now for the good news. Sprinkled among the red and cheesy are dishes that really stand out as being a solid nod to our southern friends’ cuisine. They are full of signature Mexican flavors like spicy chiles, smoky cumin, tangy citrus, sweet tomatoes, salty pork fat … you get the idea.

Oahu is home to a handful of Mexican eateries that really get a few things right. Here, we highlight five good dishes from various Mexican restaurants around the island.