Maria Bonita

Best Mexican food in downtown! OK so that’s not saying much since there are only two in downtown but that’s not the point.
The food here is good, not amazing, but good. I come here for the tortas, chimichangas and wet burritos. I always leave full and satisfied and with no complaints.
They serve chips and salsa and keep the waters filled. Is it worth the trouble to find parking in downtown to come here? No. But if you work in town, it definitely should be your go to Mexican restaurant.

Let me just state… If there’s one thing I hate its lettuce in my burrito! It just has no place there!!! The service was very good and friendly but that’s where it ends for me. Oh and the beans were good I guess. But everything else was blah!

I’ve passed this place many times since I work downtown but never ventured in, as it’s located next to a bar with some questionable/​sketchy looking people congregating outside the bar. I went here for lunch today with a co worker who swears by this place as the most authentic Mexican food that he’s had.
I ordered the mahi mahi tostada with rice & refried beans & horchata. My co worker had a shredded beef chimichanga. We sat down & were given glasses of water and chips & salsa to munch on while we waited for our food, which was brought out after about 15 – 20 minutes.
My mahi mahi was nicely seasoned and tender, cut into bite sized pieces, was on top of a crispy corn tortilla with cheese, sour cream, lettuce & tomato pieces. I’m glad that our order taker suggested rice & beans with the tostada, which went well together & filled up my stomach. The horchata was good, not too sweet, nice cinnamon flavor. My co worker’s shredded beef chimichanga was pretty good, huge plate though. We have slight food coma now.
Service is quick & friendly. There are about 6 tables that sit 4 individuals per table. They have take out available too.
The décor is cute, decorated with sombreros & sarapes on the walls.

The Amount of food you get here is OUTRAGEOUS!
So Ono and fresh. The owner and his Ohana are the sweetest. Wet Burrito is legend !
We come from Waikiki as often as possible and enjoy the service food and atmosphere
Highly recommend

It was good! I had their wet burrito plate! It was large, just as large as the plates you get in the mainland at Mexican places. Needless to say I needed a leftover box to take home. The wait or was nice. The place was clean and friendly. Will definitely be returning !~ :)

So far I haven’t found what I would consider to be a good Mexican restaurant in Hawaii. I just moved into the area and my girlfriend and I stumbled upon this place today as we were trying to find an OPEN restaurant (I’m still baffled at how many service businesses aren’t open on Sunday here). Apparently this place just started opening on Sunday recently.
The cashier/​waiter was pleasant. We ordered from the counter but you can also order from a table. The location is small with only six tables, which we liked. There was the customary chips and salsa while we waited for our food. The bowl of chips was very small and did not last long, but they were tasty. I’m not sure if the salsa was house made, but despite being somewhat spicy it was very watery and not that flavorful.
I ordered the California burrito and my girl had the chicken flautas. The burrito was good but it tasted to me a lot like a gyro for some reason. There was plenty of meat, potatoes, and sour cream, but there were also some fajita-​type veggies and some kind of dressing that reminded me of Italian tomato, onion, and cucumber salad. This was out of place and clashed with the flavor of the rest of the burrito. The burrito was also a little spicy, which I was not expecting. The flautas were served with rice and beans on the side. They were good at first but further in the chicken was pink and was described by my g.f. as weird. The portion size was plenty though, and we both left satisfied.
All in all, this place will do on a Sunday if I only want to stay within walking distance of my apartment and nothing else is open, but I’m not going to make a special trip to dine here. For the price I’m sure there are better options in the area.

Ahh, no. Another disappointing so called Mexican restaurant in Hawaii. Food was very bland, very little meat in my burrito and it’s as thin as shabu shabu for the carne asada. I noticed from Unilocal pictures that they put lettuce in their burritos… lettuce? Who does that? I made sure to order it without but the taste was still lacking. Two stars for having lengua (tongue), something that’s rare to find in Honolulu. Huge servings but again, tasteless. Absolutely no parking. Good luck finding street parking in the middle of the afternoon.

Made the mistake of following fellow Unilocalers suggestions to get the wet burrito. I got carnitas. There was very little taste to the carnitas. I opted for red/​green sauce to try both. Again, not much flavor. My wife had a chimichanga. Again, not much flavor.
It is BYOB so that’s a plus. Service was super friendly.
However, food taste was average at best. Bummer, since this is a three block walk from home for me but we won’t be going back.

This is the best Mexican food we have had so far on the island. The salsa is VERY good, and my tacos were delicious! We were looking for more authentic and we got it! My husband loved his enchiladas. I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for authentic Mexican food. We will definitely be back!

AMAZING!!! It is so hard to find a good Mexican restaurant out here! I pretty much go here every Friday! The service is great, the staff is great, and most importantly the food is delicious!!! I would highly recommend to all!

Well looks like I found the place for a great burrito. I am pretty picky when it comes to Mexican food. I was fortunate enough in the past to eat home cooked meals made by my friends family. I can’t say it’s fully authentic, but it’s close enough;) I had read enough reviews to know that ordering the wet burrito was the way to go.
I chose the shredded chicken as my protein and requested to make it very spicy. I said that I would like the spice level to make my eyes tear and tongue burn. Lol Well the young man went to the kitchen to speak to the cook, and a few minutes later he came out with a red sauce that was labeled spicy. He warned me not to drown the food in the sauce. He also informed me that the chilies were just blended and made to my liking. AwESOME customer service!
Once I got home and opened my container, I was squealing with joy! It was massive ha ha. Oh goodness the pounds have been packing on me soo quickly lately;). I cut into my gargantuan burrito, and forked thick pieces of shredded chicken, potatoes, rice, onion, and verde sauce in my mouth. I’m not kidding when I say it melted in my mouth. The cheese on top was ohh soo good. I wished this meal was carb free. Oh and that special spicy hot sauce was stellar! It made me cry in pain. I had to take breaks though. Lol
Get the wet burrito people!!!

I stopped here today because it was finally open when I was in the area. The interior hasn’t changed since I first stopped in years ago. The place has no air conditioning, but a couple fans do circulate the air a bit. The cashier was friendly, patient and helpful which is really nice.
They served a small bowl of chips and some spicy salsa that had good flavor. I couldn’t believe the bowl wasn’t even full and that was crazy since it was a small bowl.
I had the flauta meal with one chicken and one shredded beef. When they brought it out sour cream, cilantro, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese towered atop the flauta. Now that’s magic to my eyes. My disappointment was in seeing potatoes and carrots in the rice. That is not Spanish rice and when I tasted it the flavor wasn’t really there either. It was a disappointment. Even the texture was a bit off and when a restaurant can nail Mexican rice they really have a chance at nailing the food. The beans had melted cheese which was nice. Back to the flauta since they are the main thing on the plate. The shredded beef was good, but the chicken lacked taste so I piled on more cilantro which made it better.
This place isn’t as good as it used to be. One of the cooks left a couple months back and that probably made a difference. There are a couple better Mexican restaurants on the island but not many. This one is okay and nothing I would go out of my way to visit, but I’d go back to if I was needing Mexican food.

Wow this place! Our first time here and it was delicious!
*huge portions
*friendly workers
*not expensive
*delicious
Although parking downtown can be a pain, this food was worth it.
We will be back!!! Thanks guys!

You know how mom said to never judge a book by its cover? Well listen to mom and judge after you ate at this place.
I’ll be honest and admit that I judged this place by its exterior. But hey! I’m sure everyone else who works in Downtown did!
Maria’s is a totally hole in a wall with a sketchy bar next door. The food was amazing! For about $ 10 I got a huge plate! My combo consisted of an enchilada, beef taco, Mexican rice and refried beans. Kanak attack was written all over that plate.
Service was great and the guy at the counter was super friendly. He came around to refill water multiple times as well as clear away our dishes.
I usually don’t care for Mexican food, but this place was really good.
So listen to mom. Don’t judge this place by its walls.

It is starting to feel like a battle of who has the best chimichanga these days and my visit to Maria Bonita was no different. Stepping through the doors of this tiny restaurant you start to feel the warm air immediately which I was disappointed with because my girlfriend and I were trying to get out of the outdoor heat. To their credit, however, there were multiple ceiling fans and a couple wall fans to somewhat keep us cool.
Taste: ⁴⁄₅
I like my chimichanga to have a crispy tortilla fried shell and this place brought it. The ground beef was juicy and the sour cream, lettuce, and cheese played their roles to give each bite satisfaction. The Horchata while good did not give me the refreshing feeling I was hoping for.
Service: ⁵⁄₅
Unfortunately I didn’t get the name of the cashier but he was a young male who gave excellent service. Friendly, clear spoken, and helpful. I asked him for change after my meal and he took my cash, asked what increments of change I would like, and counted out each dollar for me like he was an experienced bank teller.
Setting: ³⁄₅
Sadly with the heat I would have liked to sit in some kind of air conditioned room and knowing this doesn’t have it I may pass on the opportunity to return if the weather is as humid as it was that day. There was plenty of open tables and seating so it’s perfect for small groups (3 – 5 people).
Final Score: ⁴⁄₅
Maria Bonita is a good eat with an inviting atmosphere. Bring some company and enjoy their delicious dishes on a cool day or take out and enjoy it on any given day.

Unilocal 100 Review Challenge 2015: ⁴⁶⁄₁₀₀
Maria Bonita has been bookmarked on my Unilocal account for who-​knows-​how-​long until yesterday afternoon when I decide to have lunch with my Beau and was craving Mexican. Using my Unilocal app to locate our lunch meal, Maria Bonita popped up as a nearby Mexican restaurant. Say whattt? They have a downtown location? FINALLY I get to try Maria Bonita because little did I know, they have two locations!
We had a late lunch, around 1 pm on a Wednesday, when we entered Maria Bonita and I immediately noticed they didn’t have A/​C (only fans) and the lighting was very dim. The front doors were left open to let in natural breeze… except there wasn’t any because our Kona Winds have been coming and going lately. Being that there were only 2 other parties dining at the time, we scored 1 of 2 tables that had a wall fan above it — thank goodness because it was HOT, I am not sure I would’ve dined here otherwise.
They have a simple menu on a black board behind the counter where you’d order and yes they accept credit card even though it’s a hole-​in-​the-​wall. We ordered a Chimichanga to share and a Horchata (because like I said before, it was HOT!) We enjoyed complimentary chips & salsa and sipped on cold water while our order was being prepared. The salsa definitely had a kick to it, not that I can handle spicy, but my SO enjoyed it so you’d have to read his review (Nam P.) if spicy is your thing.
The food arrived faster than expected and the cashier/​server brought an extra plate and utensils because he was paying attention and noticed that we were sharing. For a lunch meal, the portions were large but if it were for dinner I would probably be left a little hungry. I was sad that we weren’t given more re-​fried beans and rice since I am accustom to other local Mexican restaurants piling that on as well as guac and pica de gallo — but none here.
I appreciated the customer service but it was terribly hot & stuffy inside and the food portion size was below average compared to most Mexican restaurants. For one Chimichanga entrée and one Horchata drink our total was about $ 16 which is average for Mexican food in Hawaii. Good to know that there’s a Mexican restaurant downtown!

Maria Bonita is a sweet Mexican lady cooking for the inebriated and less-​fortunate denizens of Chinatown for quite a few years now. I’m not much of a Mexican food lover but had me a craving for something quick and greasy so appropriately I walked down to Hotel Street and Maria’s little hole-​in-​the-​wall-​and-​the-​cieling establishment. Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas, Enchiladas, they’ve got them all. For just $ 6 I got three mini Tacos with shredded beef, onions, and a side of chips and spicy salsa that were all pretty good considering the price and surroundings. This is a good alternative if Downbeat Diner across the street is full.

This place has excellent Mexican food, just what I have been looking for especially in Chinatown. I LOVE the way they make the rice with potato and carrot chunks. The wet burrito was huge! Nice portion. The house made salsa is delicious and not too spicy which I like. The service is also nice, the young man serving is was very polite and catering. I only wish they were open later for all the times I order take out for dinner. Mahalo

I had a chance to eat here for lunch one day with a friend.
Convenience was a factor since it was walking distance from where we were.
We dined in and I don’t believe they have air conditioning at this location. The cashier/​order taker was new and was having a little trouble, but no big deal. There were a few tables of people eating (since it was lunchtime) and a few people came and went for the to go orders.
FYI…They have Sidral Mundet (Mexican carbonated apple cider soda) which I haven’t had in a while… yummy.
My friend ordered a chimichanga and I had a taco salad. While we waited for our order, the front counter guy brought us chips and salsa which is a nice touch. Normally, here in the islands, everything costs money, so free chips and salsa… I consider a win.
My buddy’s chimi arrived and it was fat! Not the longest burrito I have seen, but the sheer girth of it was impressive. He said it was good and polished it off.
My taco salad wasn’t nearly as large but still very good. It had the right combination of ingredients inside, and the taste was nice. Good contrast of the crispy shell, warm meat and beans, and cold lettuce, tomato, and cheese.
I would go back if I was in the area… maybe make an attempt at the chimichanga…

This review is on the monstrous, wet, pulled pork burrito, as it will be from now and forever, until my dying breath… the only Mexican food I will eat… period (with the minor exception of the Taco Truck in Mililani, if I’m ever out that way and happen upon it)!
Virtually! The last!
You ever ingest anything that would make you just wanna strip of buck necked and run barefoot down the road waving your arms like a wacky wavy inflatable? Maybe it was my hunger? Maybe, it is the fact that I so seldom get to partake in the finer foods originating from south of the US border (I have traveled extensively in Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America… but that was many, many, many moons ago)?
Today, I had Maria Bonita’s humongous, cheese covered (there was enough cheese melted on this thing to give a small elephant constipation), spicy (I ask for extra spicy, and they gave me spicy salsa which was actually quite spicy! And I added Tapatio, which they also have), pulled pork (mostly congregated in the center), burrito! Stuffed with rice, frijoles, lettuce, onions, and kinda the kitchen sink.
I got take out, and when I got home and opened the box, I said to myself…
«There is no way I can finish that! No way!»
I decided that I would try it first without the hot sauce.
I opened a Dos Equis, cut myself a wedge of lime, and squeezed it inside. I cut a second wedge and squeezed it on the burrito and went to work.
A third of the way through I added their hot sauce. Half way through, I added the Tapatio… and as I was scraping the edges of the take out box, a drop of sweat running into my eye, I noticed a metamorphoses had overcome me. I was setting at the bar (Yes! I have a bar, it’s a real bar, in my house. ESPN was on, yes, I have a tv in my bar, I wasn’t watching) and I was hunched over, digging at the styrofoam container with a spoon! In an almost greedy, animalistic fashion, I turned my head to the left and right looking to make sure I was still alone! I don’t even remember when I got the spoon!
So I set here, happily content, with a still full bottle of Dos Equis (I didn’t even stop to drink) thinking about «The Green Hills of Africa»…and elephants… and Metamucil.
Plus the asphalt was way to hot, so I just put my cloths back on… that’s my review… I need a shower then a nap… Aloha