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Monico's Taqueria
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 11 am - 3 pm
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
148 reviews for Monico's Taqueria
Review Highlights
"fish tacos bomb, chicken enchilada to die for."
(in 48 reviews)
"the best mexican food I've had here yet."
(in 9 reviews)
"It is worth the wait and margaritas are strong."
(in 8 reviews)
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148 reviews in English
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Review from Kelley Y.
Moraga, CA
1/6/2012
On our fifth night on Kauai we were in the mood for Mexican. We're from California as are some of the other reviewers, and ..... Monico's is the BEST Mexican food we've had in a long time.
Carnitas nachos: thin, fresh, perfectly salted chips and the meat was roasted to crispy tasty perfection. BIIG chunks of meat. I had fish tacos - tonight they were serving ahi - double soft corn tortillas and generous slices of really fresh grilled ahi. I was asked how I would like the fish cooked, as if it were a steak. It was garnished with perfect, mild, chunky guacamole, a sour cream-yogurt sauce and thin shredded cabbage with fresh Iime and cilantro. The beans were simmered in a slightly smoky sauce and were delicious.
Service was friendly and efficient. We sat at the bar and noticed the palace really fill up by 5:45, and lots of locals ordering to take out. We highly recommend Monaco's. Wish they'd open one in the Bay Area! -
Review from jon R.
Berkeley, CA
11/25/2011
We're from California and so we were dubious of finding good Mexican food on Kaua'i. This place is GREAT! Fantastic salsa's and sauces. The fish tacos are a must. Compared to the rest of Kaua'i, this is one of the most affordable restaurants around and the food and service are both great (it does get crowded though so, make sure you're not already starving when you arrive). The full bar is a nice addition that you won't find in most taqueria's.
If you're tired of Mexican or it's too crowded -- check out the excellent Korean BBQ in the same cute shopping plaza. It's outstanding!!! -
Review from Joanna S.
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was featured in Sunset magazine and it's in Kapaa which was close to our hotel. Of course we had to stop by this taqueria and get what they're known for. Comparable to California fish tacos, it wasn't extremely impressive, but I will have to say the amount of fish they give in it makes it pretty fantastic for a quick bite to eat.
$5.50 for a fish taco, $6.50 for the seafood taco that has scallop and shrimp in it along with fish. The fish was super chunky. You definitely get your money's worth. -
Review from S F.
Kapaa, HI
1/28/2012
Make sure you place your order with separate checks if you want to get an adequate serving of chips and salsa. Otherwise regardless of how large your party is you only get one small bowl of chips and salsa. Additional bowls are $4.50 each and have about 20 chips if that. There were 4 in our party and when I mentioned to our waitress that the party of 2 next to us got the same amount as us 4, and asked if it would have helped if we ordered with 2 separate checks to get 2 bowls she said we should have done that when we first ordered... Also once we got our food and wanted more salsa for our meals it cost us $2.50 more for about 2-3 oz. When we got the final bill it was not itemized so those who don't read the fine print on the menu or ask if there are extra charges would never know. Buyer beware.
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Review from C. M.
Honolulu, HI
1/4/2012
Delicious Lime Margarittas! They use real lime in them. Chips and salsa are good and so are the fish tacos. Average pricing, about 10-15$ per dish. Only negative is we went at a super busy time, so it took forever to get our food. The service is really good though. Good place!
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Review from Tiffany T.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2012
Featured in a few reviews of the East Shore of Kaua'i, and being lovers of fish tacos, we knew we had to try this place. And, man, was it delicious. Real guacamole and fresh chips. But the best part: the AMAZING fish tacos. Being from California, I was hesitant to order them, but decided it would be an experience. And it was. Perfect amount of cabbage, with a delicious sauce over freshly grilled opah on warm corn tortillas made me smile. Didn't get the opportunity to go back a second time on our trip, but it will be a must visit on our next stay in Kaua'i.
A few thoughts: No alcohol on the patio, so if you'd like a beer you have to eat inside. Wait staff is very friendly. Nights are busy and they don't take reservations, so come prepped to sit at the bar for a bit. -
Review from RJ P.
Cupertino, CA
12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pretty damn good.
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Review from Brent V.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fish Tacos are out of this World!!!! Wow The best Mexican food on Kauai... Service is also very fast and friendly....
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Review from Laure N.
Jacksonville, FL
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were told this was the best Mexican on the island. It was good. We got there about 5:45 with 11 people, good thing we got there when we did. It started filling up with locals. If the locals eat there you know it must be good. Alcohol oly served inside.There are 3 picnic tables outside and cute shops nearby. We went to the bakery behind Monicos for desert.
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Review from Artsy g.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/31/2011
Having had pretty good Mexican food in Texas and California, we were delightfully surprised at finding this place in Kauai. The prices were reasonable by Hawaii standards and the food was delicious. As vegetarians we had a reasonable number of choices. They were also accommodating enough to alter the dishes to our taste and preferences. The veggies in the dishes tasted fresh and yummy. I loved the tomatillo sauce on my enchiladas which they made spicy on request. Overall, lovely food and would love to go back!
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Review from John F.
I was going to give this spot 4 stars but changed my mind. I'll explain near the bottom.
We came here after flying from the east coast and checking in to our hotel (this is easily walking distance from the Kauai Sands).
We ordered and split a pork burrito. I'm glad we did, it was enormous! I was wondering if the monster burrito was going to be quantity over quality but I was pleasantly surprised - it was delicious.
We came back the next day and got fajitas. They were also excellent. I was told the margaritas were good but I hate tequila so I stuck with Negro Modelos. Everything we ordered was outstanding.
So here are a few things to know -
You get 1 bowl of chips and salsa for your table. You want more, you pay 5$. I'm a chips and salsa fiend so I didn't like this rule.
If you want to drink, you can't sit outside. It's a state law, and a lame one at that.
The service is quick but kitchen is realllllly slow. The food is worth the wait but that one basket of chips only holds you over so long.
Apart from those things, fantastic Mexi food, in Kauai no less!Listed in: Kauai 5-0
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Review from Alicia T.
Citrus Heights, CA
11/19/2011
Went here after reading the other Yelp reviews and on recommendation from my dad. Great place! Super friendly service, especially while sitting at the bar. Food was great too. Large portions and tasted fresh. Salsas and hot sauce homemade even. Yum!
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Review from Shannon B.
Chicago, IL
8/22/2011
Oh my God, the fish tacos, Oh my God... Love. LOVE. These were the best fish tacos I'd ever had. In fact they were so good I had them three times on a 5 day trip (totally unlike us) and Monico's was a half hour away from the hotel. They are amazing and slightly different each time since they are made with whatever they can get fresh that day. I have had Ahi and opakapaka-- both great. I can also vouch for the margaritas... yum.
As far as the wait, you are in Hawai'i... and on an outer island. You will wait, but really what are you in a rush for? Consider a slow food experience. Just relax and enjoy a nice night in a nice place. -
Review from Sam E.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2011
I'm kind of crushed to write this review - I was so excited to try this place based on other reviews but ultimately was pretty disappointed.
I don't mind a wait, even a long wait, but when we noticed that locals were consistently being seated before us, we were not so happy. Finally when we were seated we waited another half-an-hour to 45 mins for our food. The food was good -- I got the fish tacos (ahi) and my friend got the carnitas nachos -- but nothing to write home about. Again, we noticed the locals who arrived after us, got food before us. :/
Anyway, it was a bit of a bummer. Maybe someone from the restaurant will read this review and do a little attitude change. I got the feeling this place COULD be fantastic. -
Review from Eric B.
Berkeley, CA
9/5/2011
We came to Monico's based on its Yelp rating, and we were not disappointed. Fish tacos were very good, but the steak fajitas were the star attraction for us. Nicely sauteed, with ample amounts of sizzling sauteed onions and peppers.
Only downside of the experience was the noise level in the restaurant. Pretty much impossible to have a conversation without yelling. But at least it's a lively atmosphere! -
Review from Kelly J.
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Who can resist a free serving of chips and salsa? Not my boyfriend, nor I!
Got back from our ziplining expedition earlier in the day around 5 and after registering into the hotel, cleaning up, and taking a breather, it was around 7:30. I took a look on yelp for places to eat and realized a lot of places closed at 9! Thankfully Monico's was close to our hotel and we got there in less than 5 minutes.
Great selection. And upon seating we got a serving of chips, hot salsa and mild salsa. They have a great selection of Mexican beers too! (Sol, Tecate, etc). Ordered the (ahi) fish tostada, but I asked for a side serving for the japaleno creme fraiche and the bf got a carne asada burrito.
Everything was delicious! So yum in fact that we got a carnitas quesadilla to go. Came with rice and beans on the side.
Reasonable prices, nice portions, relatively authentic tasting. Franchise out to Oahu please!!!Listed in: Kauai
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Review from Amanda W.
Vancouver, WA
9/3/2011
Best fish tacos. Ever.
'Nuff said. -
Review from Tony R.
Kapaa, HI
9/19/2011
Some of the reviews really have me perplexed. I mean, for anyone to say thet you,re better off going to Taco Bell....c'mon! I do realize that one of the largest failings for many of the restaurants on Kauai is consistency: you'll read rave reviews, go eat, and wonder...what the heck we're they talking about..?
Now, about Monicos: my wife and I love the food, and we get there about once a month, sticking mostly to the fish dishes..They do a superb job, both in preparation and presentation: something you may not expect from mexican cuisine. Are they busy? Count on it! Also count on a wait, anywhere from 20-45 minutes if you go when everyone else does: 6:30 to 7:45pm. You can opt for outside seating...that works best when you have keikis, and want to pass on ice cold cervezas and delicious margaritas, otherwise, stand in line with the rest of us, or join the Kapaa crawl, and try to find some place else with a shorter wait.( Good Luck)
And, they do get busy inside! And while the service may sometimes be abbreviated, and your dinner may take a bit longer than you expect to make its way to you, you'll find it was well worth it. Fresh ingredients, and tasty food are standard fare at Monicos. If you enjoy thoughtfully prepared food, and possibly the best fish tacos on the island, don't pass up Monicos....its easy to drive right past it. Start looking for the Kinipopo shopping(very small) center right after you pass the "Shell station/mini mart". Going north, it will be on your right. They do have parking, so pull through and look. If not, just continue through their very small parking lot, turn to the left at the street then make the next left , and park across from Kintaro's. Usually plenty of room in that area. A half block walk will get you to Monicos.
Oh yeah....if Bernardo is working the bar, definitely ask him for one of "his" margaritas.
If you're looking for a quiet, imtimate place, you'll be disappointed..but definitely NOT with the food. The staff will do their best to take great care of you, and the artists in the kitchen will do the rest. Never been disappointed! Ono grinds! Oh, and if you think $35-$50 (including a drink each) is busting your budget, maybe you will be better off down the street at TBell.... -
Review from Tom S.
Placer County, CA
5/12/2011
Very delicious, very clean, & inexpensive. I'm a Californian. I speak Mexican Spanish about as well as English. I've etaen way too much Mexican cuisine over the past 58 years. Much of it mediocre crap.
This place makes some of the best Mexi-Hawaiian food I've had in years. Crisp salad, Ahi tacos, beans, creamy rice - All were so satisfying. Yummy alert! Go!!! -
Review from Kyle M.
Kapaa, HI
4/14/2011
Are you kidding me? This is the worst Mexican food I've ever had. Ever. Where the heck are all these good reviews coming from?
If you want fish tacos, go to Mermaid's Cafe in Kapa'a.
If you want anything else at all, you'd be better served by hitting up Taco Bell.
Seriously.
Everything is bland. Even the chips are bland. And you end up paying about quadruple what you should be paying.
I can't stand this place. -
Review from matthew p.
Culver City, CA
11/15/2011
It feels like a tourist trap, but the fish tacos were delicious and generously portioned. Yums!
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Review from Brent P.
San Francisco, CA
3/31/2011
Only reason it gets two stars is bc there isn't many other options on this island. I was charged for chips, salsa, and even charged a dollar for two jalepenos. Total for a shrimp burrito, two scAllops and a Corona? 40$
I understand, charge me 12 to 15 $ for a burrito. It's Hawaii and things R expensive, but to be nickel and dimed to death like that was just pathetic and the manager should check his policies. Turn n Burn Indeed!
And the food wasnt anything special. No black beans and the worst rice ever. Severely disappointing. Skip it -
Review from Stella A.
Kapaa, HI
11/10/2011
I love Monico's seafood fajitas...dearly and deeply. The jalepeno crema is off the hook. All the staff is friendly, and now that they have beers and Margi's what more do I need.
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Review from Steve G.
Los Altos Hills, CA
Updated - 10/12/2011
Always the best. The fish tacos are wonderful and the chili relleno is the best. Worth the wait. Always a stop when I'm on Kauai.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/24/2011
A buddy of mine invites me to Kauai, and the first night... we're going to mexican food...… Read more »
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Review from Mohala C.
Lihue, HI
8/27/2011
I have eaten Mexican food from roach coaches and expensive restaurants throughout California, and I have never had carnitas as good as Monico's! Their prices are great too! I highly recommend! Their fish tacos were recently featured in Sunset Magazine.
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Review from Shelley P.
Kapaa, HI
6/20/2011
Mmm, creamy jalapeno sauce...that's my favorite! I love the fish and the seafood burritos because it comes smothered in the creamy jalapeno sauce. I have an addiction to this sauce, it's so good!
I've also had the chicken enchiladas verde and the seafood fajitas, both were great...I just need my creamy jalapeno sauce fix! -
Review from LE S.
Lihue, HI
The a la carte menu has a great under $10 selection such as fish taco $5.50, chile relleno $7.95, carnitas $4.50 and sides like al pastor $4.00 and rice or beans $3.00. Great food, friendly service.
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Review from Clifton L.
Woods Cross, UT
1/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
After reading all the positive reviews, my wife and I were excited to give this place a try.
The food is fresh but flavorless. Absolutely nothing in the chicken or steak.
We showed up at 8:30 on a Saturday night and had to wait nearly 45 minutes for our food. No apology or extra chips and salsa to tide us over.
Waste of time and money. :( -
Review from nalinee m.
Tucson, AZ
it's kind of silly that i went from not liking mexican food to really loving mexican food in less than a year. a big part of the credit definitely goes to monico's taqueria. the other part goes to the fact that i now reside in the south-western united states instead of kauai.
the last time i dined here we got some steak and fish pupu tostadas. sooo good!
everyone ordered what they wanted and everything was great. it was a really busy night and the inside and outside dining areas were both packed. they're like this almost every night of the week. that definitely tells you something right there!Listed in: ekolu: best of kaua`i
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/25/2010
as i said in my previous review, i'm not a fan of mexican food.
again, i was out numbered to dine… Read more »
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Review from Rhonda D.
West Seattle, Seattle, WA
10/17/2011
We loved the salsa! Food was fresh and tasty...but nothing too special otherwise. Had to wait awhile for a table, but not very long so that's okay, but saw many confused people on how to "get a table" since there was seating outside and inside but didn't have a podium or sign on how to be seated. Service was friendly enough.
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Review from Cathy L.
Ladera Ranch, CA
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fish tacos were excellent! It was pleasant sitting outside, traffic was noisy but still great with the fresh breeze.
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Review from Michael F.
Chicago, IL
6/14/2011
My wife and I ate here a few days ago and the fish tacos were excellent. We found this place via a recommendation from a staff member at our hotel, and using Yelp it showed great reviews.
This is not a tourist trap, it is local's restaurant, and good food, good service. -
Review from Emily W.
Sacramento, CA
9/24/2011
This is a good hole-in-the-wall, local kind of place. Yes, the fish tacos are to die for. This was the first time I have ever had an ahi taco, ahi cooked to your specification (seared for me please) Big slabs, seared perfectly, served Mexican style on small, double tortillas, with slaw and their own great white sauce. Wonderful. The beans and rice were nothing special. I failed to ask if I could replace the refried beans with black beans. Service was friendly, and, as we got there early for lunch, fairly quick. The biggest drawback was the noise level - really loud. But I do like it here, the tacos are worth it. We'll come back next time we come to Kauai.
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Review from Donald M.
San Rafael, CA
9/23/2011
Darn good fish tacos
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Review from Sheri Y.
Waipahu, HI
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Well, I was hoping for a much better food experience when we came here. Previous reviews left us with high hopes that we would FINALLY find some decent Mexican food in the great state of Hawaii. But this was not the case. The food wasn't bad by any stretch, but the flavors were bland and left much to be desired.
I ordered a chicken burrito, which is a standard dish that should be an easy accomplishment for any Mexican establishment to master. The burrito was a nice size, but certainly not for the cost. The content of the burrito was nothing more than a simple combination of rice, beans, and shredded chicken. The rice was basically flavorless, and the chicken was dry with some pieces tasting a day old and appearing to be re-heated. The content itself would not have been an issue if it could bring more flavor to the dish, but the flavors just didn't seem to come together. The burrito itself was swimming on a plate of green sauce, which again did not add to the dish. It simply resulted in a soggy, tortilla mess. Overall, this poor burrito might have had a chance of being decent with less sauce and the simple addition of cheese and spices. This might have been an acceptable burrito for a cost of $5-$6, but not for its actual cost of over $12, and certainly not for a dish without sides. (No beans or rice included.) My husband had the ahi tacos, which he asked for seared. While the presentation of the ahi tacos was beautiful and the portion size was very large, the ahi itself was nowhere near seared and barely had a hint of pink in the middle. The ahi was hidden under a giant dollop of their signature jalapeno sour cream sauce, which he described as having little flavor beyond the sour cream itself and lacking the kick expected of jalapenos. According to him, they were good, but he was expecting much better given the previous reviews on this dish.
Now, on a good note, the environment is very clean and the atmosphere is very friendly and laid-back. The staff were very friendly and accomodating, and even though the wait for food was somewhat long, the staff are attentive and engaging. The free chips and salsa were also a nice touch, both tasting very fresh and flavorful.
Overall, we expected much more and were disappointed. -
Review from Monica S.
Anaheim, CA
12/3/2010
I give 3.5 stars. Ordered the chicken flauta plate but before I review, let me put things in perspective. I'm 4th generation Mexican-American, born and raised in SoCal and my grandmother was a cook by profession so I've been spoiled with amazing Mexican food all my life.
My chicken flautas were good and so was the fresh guacamole. Can't really go wrong with chicken wrapped in a fried flour tortilla. However, my plate goes downhill from there. Rice was very rice-pilafy cooked with tomatoes - not a fan. Refried beans were decent but could use a little more flavor. I liked the beans more than the rice on my plate. Usually it's the other way around for me.
Chips were good (only the first round are free). Salsa came in two versions: the non-spicy cut tomatoes version and the very spicy red salsa version. I'm only a fan of spicy salsa so I liked the spicy version better because it was hot but I do think it could have used a little more flavor.
My husband had the fish flautas and he liked them with guacamole and sour cream. He was also a fan of the non-spicy tomatoes salsa.
As for the bill, it was just over $30 for 2 plates and 2 drinks. I think they also charged us extra for a side of guacamole.
The restaurant closes from 3-5pm to prepare for dinner. We were seated just fine arriving around 2:45pm. Staff was very friendly and greeted us with smiles.
I would return as I understand it's the best Mexican restaurant on the island and I always need my Mexican-food fix. =) -
Review from Greg A.
Kenmore, WA
6/30/2011
Wow. Amazingly disappointing.
We came visiting from Seattle and, based on the reviews here on Yelp, decide to try Monico's out. What a mistake.
To start, we got the free chips, which, while free is awesome, they really should have just given us some store bought chips and saved the embarrassment. The chips served tasted very, very strongly of used fryer oil. I guess if you like that, you might like the chips.
For our main course, maybe we ordered the wrong thing but we were really craving pork and ordered the pork nachos. They were served after a while (you would think nachos would be quick?) but man what a train-wreck. The pork was dry, crunchy, and fatty and completely devoid of flavor. We mentioned it to the server, who kind of shrugged and didn't know what to do.
Still hungry, we dared a second round and got the chicken tacos. They were a small step up but the tortillas were a bit rubbery and store-bought and the chicken was not high-quality cuts of meat.
Really disappointing. The nachos and chicken tacos ended up being nearly $20. Maybe if we would have gotten fish tacos or something it wouldn't have been an absolute disaster but I see no way I could ever recommend this to anyone. -
Review from Lucky M.
1/14/2011
Very nice ahi taco, and ahi burrito $40 for two including cocktails. Certainly the more reasonbly priced meal we had on Kauai.
I heard complaints about a lack of hot sauce. I asked for a fresh jalapeno on the side, cut if up small and everything was plenty hot.
It gets pretty crowded at night and if you get seated at the picnic tables out front there is no alcohol. -
Review from Brett D.
8/25/2010
Don't believe not believing the hype! Believe it. Monico's is Mexicanificence!
Loved not one, but TWO delicioso meals I was fortunate enough to get my hands on during my visit on the island last week. Monico and his team are cranking out some of the best eats on Kauai and with some of the biggest portions.
Think all things Mexico-fabulous set in a really cute, friendly and super duper casual atmosphere. With Monico behind the helm of the open kitchen, colorful flags hanging from the twinkle lit bar and communal outdoor patio seating beckoning, all things here set the perfect tone for devouring some seriously terrific grub. It seems enchiladas here are the highlight and I have to emphatically agree. Whether you opt for these babies filled with chicken, steak, seafood or nothing but cheese, they will not disappoint, guaranteed. Made with top notch ingredients, fresh to order and, of course, with tons 'o queso, they were undeniably delectable. Loved the plain version verde-style so much that I ordered 30 of them for a party my family was having later in the week. And ya know what? Those, too, were appreciatively and greedily decimated.
Burritos, Quesadillas, Fajitas, Tacos and Nachos are all also on tap here and just as stellar. Stole bites of a buttery Garlic Shrimp Woodfired Quesadilla, a wonderfully savory Al Pastor Burrito and a crazy huge serving of Chicken Fajitas, all to my tongues uberdelight. good, Good, GOOD stuff! Monico's does supplement this loveliness with booze from their full bar, though the margaritas failed to bowl over my discerning crowd. Stick to the ice cold Corona's and Pacifico's and you'll be a good as gold.
My highest recommendations for Monico's... Salud!Listed in: Hawaii Five Oh
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Review from Eric C.
11/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
It was a Sunday afternoon so most local restaurants were closed. We came here instead, as I remembered seeing it on Yelp.
We ordered fish tacos and a fish burrito. Delicious! I really loved the integration of ahi tuna with all the other components. We asked for the fish to be medium + medium rare, but it was way too cooked for my taste. Tip: if you're a sashimi eater, ask for it seared or rare!
