We are changing the way Mexican food is presented in Hawaii, by offering the most authentic regional dishes made with the highest quality ingredients to transport our customers to a rural kitchen in Mexico or the beaches and fishing villages of Sinaloa.
Tlaxcalli is not a tired "concept", we are the way that Mexican food is supposed to be prepared and served, Our focus is in our homemade tortillas that are the base for all the dishes in Mexican cooking.Our menu feels like home, we are not reinventing the wheel, we simply want to share the memories of our childhood through our food.
Tlaxcalli is not a tired "concept", we are the way that Mexican food is supposed to be prepared and served, Our focus is in our homemade tortillas that are the base for all the dishes in Mexican cooking.Our menu feels like home, we are not reinventing the wheel, we simply want to share the memories of our childhood through our food.
Reviews (19)
Melissa B.
Jan 28, 2022
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Fantastic food. Not your typical fare when you think of Mexican food but much, much better! Even the tortillas are made on location and full of flavor. We started with the marlin tacos which we shared so we could have room for more filling entrees. The tacos were smoky and savory. The entrees were equally good. Parked right across the street. Definitely go here. You can even sit outside by the koi pond!
Irwin J.
Jan 21, 2022
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This place is awesome!
Sat outside on this perfect table for 2 for date night, lots of nice plants and the fish pond with running water makes the outside dining area a very nice experience.
We started with the old swine for a drink. It was tasty whiskey and very strong. I rarely drink but I can usually get through 1 cocktail, not this one though. Cool square ice cube, nice aesthetic. Garnishes were neato.
Had the fried mahimahi with guac, Cochinita pibil and beef cheek tacos. Fish fry was great, thin crispy batter and very juicy meat. The pibil and the beef cheek were so savory and fatty.
Sat outside on this perfect table for 2 for date night, lots of nice plants and the fish pond with running water makes the outside dining area a very nice experience.
We started with the old swine for a drink. It was tasty whiskey and very strong. I rarely drink but I can usually get through 1 cocktail, not this one though. Cool square ice cube, nice aesthetic. Garnishes were neato.
Had the fried mahimahi with guac, Cochinita pibil and beef cheek tacos. Fish fry was great, thin crispy batter and very juicy meat. The pibil and the beef cheek were so savory and fatty.
Blaze S.
Dec 29, 2021
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Support Local =D Tlaxcalli IS home cooking. The owner is the Chef and cooks everything fresh to table. You HAVE TO get the Pokeviche. If you don't get anything else, get the Pokeviche AND the outdoor seating. The outdoor seating will lower your blood pressure and is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner with plenty of shade.
- parking: plenty of street parking
- price: each person will spend about $15-$25
- level of fullness: I've eaten here 3x and been full every time
- vibe: it's home cooking and every dish is pretty and delicious
- recommend: Pokeviche and outdoor seating
- parking: plenty of street parking
- price: each person will spend about $15-$25
- level of fullness: I've eaten here 3x and been full every time
- vibe: it's home cooking and every dish is pretty and delicious
- recommend: Pokeviche and outdoor seating
Dante H.
Dec 24, 2021
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Olivia D.
Dec 11, 2021
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My new coworkers and I have decided to order out on Wednesdays starting with today and this place. We had a couple of good recommendations from friends.
The menu on their website looks great and I couldn't decide. Then I opened Yelp and the first photo was of chicken enchiladas buried under a mound of molé sauce. I'm not a big fan of chicken or enchiladas but I looove me some mole and it looked good! It also tasted good and authentic so I was pleased with my choice. I also ordered both kinds of ceviche to share with everyone. I don't recommend either of them; the flavor is just
The menu on their website looks great and I couldn't decide. Then I opened Yelp and the first photo was of chicken enchiladas buried under a mound of molé sauce. I'm not a big fan of chicken or enchiladas but I looove me some mole and it looked good! It also tasted good and authentic so I was pleased with my choice. I also ordered both kinds of ceviche to share with everyone. I don't recommend either of them; the flavor is just
Wina G.
Dec 05, 2021
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Been wanting to try this place, having passed by many times. The outside eating area can be seen from the street and it looked so charming. Decent Mexican food is hard to find and I haven't seen pibil offered anywhere here. So when we looked at the menu posted outside and saw it on the menu, well, gotta go eat ! Hubby and I opted for outside seating with huge umbrellas that shielded us from the heavy ( but brief "passing showers, heavy at times" as per the weather person). Ordered the Conchinita pibil served on banana leaf, accompanied by a small cup of beans and tortillas. The
Xavier T.
Dec 03, 2021
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Cant say enough about this restaurant.
No where else on the island can you get traditional Mexican food from the Sinaloa region as well prepared as what they serve here.
This is not your average Mexican restaurant by any standard. As the rest provide subpar quality mexican street food/texmex, Tlaxcalli's menu provides a wide variety of traditional Mexican cuisine prepared with knowledge and experience that really shows in the flavors of each individual dish.
Dont just get tacos when you come here(although they are great), order something you might not have tried before. If you do so you
No where else on the island can you get traditional Mexican food from the Sinaloa region as well prepared as what they serve here.
This is not your average Mexican restaurant by any standard. As the rest provide subpar quality mexican street food/texmex, Tlaxcalli's menu provides a wide variety of traditional Mexican cuisine prepared with knowledge and experience that really shows in the flavors of each individual dish.
Dont just get tacos when you come here(although they are great), order something you might not have tried before. If you do so you
Daniel O.
Nov 17, 2021
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My friend and I wanted to meet up for some beers and lunch. He picked this spot and turned out to be awesome. It's located in Chinatown near Lucky Belly.
The interior decor is definitely on-point. When we arrived, we went right at opening time (lol). The gentleman helping us didn't seem too thrilled, but we get it. We got our info checked and cleared and sat down inside. Outside seating is also beautiful, but we are indoors for a cooler seating. We started off with the ceviche which was wonderful. I definitely appreciated the large tako pieces. I chose the enmoladas for my main dish
The interior decor is definitely on-point. When we arrived, we went right at opening time (lol). The gentleman helping us didn't seem too thrilled, but we get it. We got our info checked and cleared and sat down inside. Outside seating is also beautiful, but we are indoors for a cooler seating. We started off with the ceviche which was wonderful. I definitely appreciated the large tako pieces. I chose the enmoladas for my main dish
Brianna B.
Oct 21, 2021
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The poor server was also the cook so we could feel his pain. He wasn't very hospitable, but did end up apologizing. They do not yet have their liquor license despite the full bar out front. Not sure if it's BYOB.
The food was actually pretty good. Highly recommend using the hot sauce which had great flavors .
The food was actually pretty good. Highly recommend using the hot sauce which had great flavors .
Rob B.
Aug 22, 2021
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Aloha, we happily stumbled onto this authentic Mexican restaurant in Chinatown (I had wrong date on another restaurant for rez, ugh). Cool vibe sitting outside under umbrellas with strings of lighting, nice. And a liquor store right around the corner for cold beer - as since new, no liquor license yet, can still BYOB, nice. I enjoyed the NO RICE, forced watching carbs, nice. The beans were delicious with the meal. We tried 3 different meals, all different from the Mexican used to, but really good. Was told deeper into Mexico style, nice. I wasn't too thrilled with ceviche, but everything
Eduardo G.
Aug 22, 2021
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A true hole-in-the-wall restaurant! I recently moved to O'ahu and I was looking for authentic Mexican food. This place from start to finish was amazing.
We got there at 2:30 and the restaurant was about to close, but the owner welcomed us and we started with a shrimp ceviche, it was delicious . For the entree we got the mushroom picadillo chille relleno and the tacos de pastor and they were amazing! This place took me back to my home town in Jalisco with the beans tasting like home. We ended with the churro bread pudding and this was one of the best desserts that I have ever had.
I also
We got there at 2:30 and the restaurant was about to close, but the owner welcomed us and we started with a shrimp ceviche, it was delicious . For the entree we got the mushroom picadillo chille relleno and the tacos de pastor and they were amazing! This place took me back to my home town in Jalisco with the beans tasting like home. We ended with the churro bread pudding and this was one of the best desserts that I have ever had.
I also
Trudy A.
Jun 17, 2021
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We'd been hearing a lot of buzz about Tlaxcalli so it was the obvious choice when we had out of town friends visiting over Cinco de Mayo. We made reservations but wouldn't have had much trouble getting a table without. It was the perfect place to go for a great meal, unfortunately we didn't realize they didn't have a liquor license yet. I think they are working on that but never fear there is a liquor store right around the corner that can hook you up and the restaurant welcomes BYOB.
The restaurant itself is super cute and the outdoor dining area is great. There was some type
The restaurant itself is super cute and the outdoor dining area is great. There was some type
Gerry L.
Jun 17, 2021
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Four of us decided to try Tlaxcalli after getting positive feedback from other employees at our office. A bar dominates the left side of the restaurant and the colors are bright and airy (light green and yellow). Music is being played but it's unobtrusive.
Julio told us it would be 20 minutes before he could serve us as he had a large phone order to process first. The time flew by and we ordered the Enmoladas ($16), King Mushroom Mole ($16), Oxtail Pasilla ($17) and the Campechana ($18). Three of us ordered a lengua taco ($5) on the side.
The mole sauce on the Enmoladas and the King Mushrooms
Julio told us it would be 20 minutes before he could serve us as he had a large phone order to process first. The time flew by and we ordered the Enmoladas ($16), King Mushroom Mole ($16), Oxtail Pasilla ($17) and the Campechana ($18). Three of us ordered a lengua taco ($5) on the side.
The mole sauce on the Enmoladas and the King Mushrooms
Chris L.
Jun 08, 2021
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Came here for an early dinner with my partner and we thoroughly enjoyed the food. Cute seating area outside, great for a date night. We had the Pescado a la Veracruzana (fish) and the Cochinita Pibil (pork), which were both excellent. The green olives with the fish and the sauce for the pork were delicious, and we finished all the tortillas and beans that came with the entrees. If anything we were a little hungry afterwards so we would probably order an additional dish next time. Delicious flavors and great addition to the Chinatown area.
Beverly N.
May 08, 2021
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Soo last week my family was eating at Olays, across the yard. And seen this place and was curious to try. Found it on yelp, made reservation at 7pm.
Came in and was sat outside on the bench table. The ambience is nice. Low lighting. There's a small slope on their ground so it was kind of uncomfortable to sit.
Anyway, we were able to order pretty fast.. after waiting for our food, we decided to add on a few more tacos.
We ordered the capechana, brisket tostitos, chicken taquitos, tongue taco, beef cheek taco, shrimp taco appetizer, and mushroom Chile relleno.
I think our appetizers took
Came in and was sat outside on the bench table. The ambience is nice. Low lighting. There's a small slope on their ground so it was kind of uncomfortable to sit.
Anyway, we were able to order pretty fast.. after waiting for our food, we decided to add on a few more tacos.
We ordered the capechana, brisket tostitos, chicken taquitos, tongue taco, beef cheek taco, shrimp taco appetizer, and mushroom Chile relleno.
I think our appetizers took
Jeffrey T.
Feb 24, 2021
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What a terrific discovery, thanks to a friend's recommendation. Hawaii is definitely lacking in the Mexican cuisine arena and Tlaxcalli is a very welcomed option. Located in the heart of Chinatown on Smith Street, find street parking or use the municipal lots. They don't have their liquor license so it's BYOB! There are dine indoors and outdoor options. I suggest outdoors as they have a super quaint set up. Liked that they repurposed wood pallets and use string lights for ambiance.
Smaller menu so it's not too hard to decide. They also have Sunday brunch, can't wait
Smaller menu so it's not too hard to decide. They also have Sunday brunch, can't wait
Bernice P.
Feb 04, 2021
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This so far is my favorite Mexican restaurant!!! The staff was awesome!! We sat inside but the outdoor seating area has a beautiful ambience. Great for groups or date night. The food was good my favorite was dessert.....Cinco Leches cake!!!
At the moment it's BYOB so that was great!! Had I known, I would've brought my own alcohol to mix up some margaritas, since I was looking forward to having a few. Good thing the peeps arrived before so did cause they picked up some Corona and the staff offered some limes.
We're definitely visiting this place again!!!
At the moment it's BYOB so that was great!! Had I known, I would've brought my own alcohol to mix up some margaritas, since I was looking forward to having a few. Good thing the peeps arrived before so did cause they picked up some Corona and the staff offered some limes.
We're definitely visiting this place again!!!
Russel M.
Jan 10, 2021
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Authentic Mexican food in downtown Honolulu.
Having lives in LA most of my life we've had lots of Mexican cuisine.
The menu is upscale dishes you don't see very often.
We like the Sunday brunch in the patio.
Everything is hand made so expect a delay after you order but it's worth it!
Service is efficient and prompt.
Having lives in LA most of my life we've had lots of Mexican cuisine.
The menu is upscale dishes you don't see very often.
We like the Sunday brunch in the patio.
Everything is hand made so expect a delay after you order but it's worth it!
Service is efficient and prompt.
Shantell C.
Jan 06, 2021
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Happened across this restaurant as we wanted to try something new.
A few tables indoor, large outdoor space well lit and cozy.
We ordered THE. BEST. APPETIZER. EVER! The campechana!
Fresh fish, tender sliced octopus and hearty shrimp chunks mixed with fresh squeezed lime juice, tomatoes, onion and peppers. Delicious!
We decided to each order and entree and share.
The chile stuffed with mushrooms were just the right about of heat. Next time I'll order it with shredded beef.
The cochinita pibil was tender and flavorful. Perfect with the beans and tortilla. The ox tail was meh...lots of
A few tables indoor, large outdoor space well lit and cozy.
We ordered THE. BEST. APPETIZER. EVER! The campechana!
Fresh fish, tender sliced octopus and hearty shrimp chunks mixed with fresh squeezed lime juice, tomatoes, onion and peppers. Delicious!
We decided to each order and entree and share.
The chile stuffed with mushrooms were just the right about of heat. Next time I'll order it with shredded beef.
The cochinita pibil was tender and flavorful. Perfect with the beans and tortilla. The ox tail was meh...lots of
