Tortilla Republic
2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St, Koloa, HI, 96756
Tortilla Republic Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Koloa for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Koloa for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St
Koloa, HI, 96756 - Phone (808) 742-8884
- Website https://www.tortillarepublic.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Omid B.
I really wanted this place to be good. It was beautiful with great treetop views, and seemed to be a great spot for a relaxing dinner. The service was great, and we had great expectations from the menu. Unfortunately the food fell short. My $20+ steak fajita was inedible. Instead of using traditional strip or ribeye cuts, they chose to use cheap stew meat. The tough liver-tasting meat is not hard to identify and totally grossed me out. I really hate it when (pricey) restaurants cut corners just to save a buck or two. Bad move!
(2)Nathan S.
They have a "Bacon Flight" on the breakfast menu! The Relleno Poblano was a great addition to the bacon start of the day.
(5)Jessica G.
My husband and I went here the other night for dinner. We're in town for our honeymoon and wanted to venture out to a good local restaurant outside the resort. People generally had good things to say so we decided to give it a try. Serious disappointment! We got there and were seated quickly because there was no wait. We were seated and shortly after the waitress came over to take our drink order. We decided to order the guacamole dip appetizer and my husband ordered a margarita. It took forever for the drink and appetizer to come. We figured the guacamole would be amazingly fresh for taking that long. Nope! It was in a cold bowl and tasted like a dip that I could buy at the grocery store. For $11, we both expected more. We then ordered our food. He got a chicken burrito and I ordered the carne asada tacos with a side of rice and beans. Again, this took forever to come out. Meanwhile, hubby was ready to order another drink and the waitress was, no where to be found. This isn't a big place either. She didn't come by to check on us once. Finally she came by and we asked for a drink menu. He was already pretty sure what he was going to order, just needed to confirm the name. She hands him the menu, and as he's talking, she just walks away! Then he had to wait a while longer before he could finally get her attention to order his drink. Btw, we were sitting at the table closest to the waitress station about 5 feet away tops! When our food finally came out, the taste was less, impressive than the service. Huge disappointment for the prices! The meat on the carne asada tacos just didn't do it for me. Granted I'm use to California mexican food. I only ate it because I was hungry.y husbands burrito was the same. He said the best.part of the buritto was the tortilla. After we finished, it took a while again to even get our check. The only person I saw around there really doing a great job was the busgirl who was on top of things. The only good thing about this place was the ambiance. If you're visiting Kauai, I definitely wouldn't recommend eating here. It left a bad taste in our mouths and a good chunk from our wallets for less than satisfying food and service.
(2)Gemma R.
Breakfast - Tortilla Republic now serves breakfast - with a twist. We got there pretty early and there wasn't much of a wait. We ordered the American breakfast which came with bacon, eggs and cheesy potatoes, Blueberry corn pancakes, beignets and cinnamon fried tortillas and a bacon flight which came with sugared bacon, chipotle and apple wood. The American breakfast also came with sugared bacon which was amazing. There was an issue with our pancakes not coming out on time and the server and the manager both informed us that they would take it off the bill. Funny enough, we didn't even notice but it was nice of them to let us know. The service during breakfast was really good and very relaxing. Dinner - (Yes we went here twice, don't judge.) We came back for dinner because I wanted a burger and Merriman's was closed and I didn't want Bubba's. Turned out to be a $17.00 burger ($3.00 extra for bacon) that was over cooked and the fries were soggy. We also ordered carne asada nachos and the carne asada was pretty big but didn't have much flavor to it and they also ran out of the flautas. The waitress didn't ask if we wanted dessert nor give us a dessert menu so we just finished up and grabbed drinks at the bar. They make great margaritas and have a very relaxed atmosphere. The place has a lounge upstairs that turns into a night club after 10pm. Free entrance before 9pm. The night service wasn't as good as the day service. The poor couple across from us kept asking where their wine was. Apparently they ordered a bottle and didn't get it they were almost done with dinner. They also didn't really refill the toilet paper in the women's restroom. So four stars for the breakfast and three and a half for dinner. Another thing - I kept reading about this table side guacamole - which we asked for and apparently they don't have it. They said all the guacamole is premade.
(4)Aloha J.
Everything I've ordered upstairs and down was great. Excellent bloody mary bar on Sunday with brunch.
(5)Josie L.
Disclaimer: I'm from LA so I'm spoiled by amazing Mexican food in the city. That said, Tortilla Republic has decent (albeit expensive) food. The ceviche was amazing but the tacos were subpar. The Spanish rice inside the tacos tasted just a bit stale...like they came out of a Hamburger Helper box. Come here for the stellar cocktails and fun bar, but I'd head somewhere else for a meal.
(3)Roy T.
This is one of many pricey restaurant located in the The Shops at Kukuiula mall. The food and service were actually pretty good and the atmosphere is open and nice but the portions are on the smaller side and the prices are high. If you don't mind either, give them a try. If you're looking for more bang for your buck, try one of the other mexican spots in the area.
(3)Justin W.
One of the best Mexican restaurant I have eaten at. Strange, it is on Kauai. Hard to find really good Mexican food in Hawaii. The flavored are authentic, fresh, and flavorful. Discovered this place for breakfast and went back for dinner. Downstairs is a bit more casual, upstairs is for dining. Large tequila selection too!
(5)Teri D.
Best meal all week. Had the fresh fish of the night - monghong - ancho chili rub. Delish. Hubby had the chile verde short ribs - equally delish. Great margaritas. Excellent service by Jason.
(5)Brittany P.
The food: a little overpriced and the food is just okay. We got the chilaquiles which was mediocre and we had to pay 4$ to add a tiny portion of scrambled eggs. I think if we didn't add them on, it would have been pretty boring. The tortilla chips were also stale and chewy:/ We also got the pancakes which were okay. They were a little rubbery but not that bad. We got the bacon flight which was $4 and came with only 3 pieces of bacon. 2 were pretty chewy, the other crispy. The service: everyone was nice. Our waiter seemed like he was new but he was friendly. It took a while for him to take our order and it took even longer for us to get our food even though there weren't many people in the restaurant.
(3)Jacqueline S.
We've eaten here a handful of times for breakfast, lunch & dinner. We've never been disappointed, foods great, service is great, atmosphere is cool, cocktails are really good, I get the lavender mojito its my fav! We always come back
(5)Dana B.
Made reservation using open table, but apparently there was a problem syncing reservations, so place was completely overbooked. Many people with reservations had to wait long periods of time for seats. Also little communication between upstairs seating area and hostess station, which lead to a very disorganized situation. This also meant the service was rather slow. We were seated downstairs, but were able to order from the upstairs menu. Food was very good, but overall experience was frustrating. Not sure that I would visit again.
(3)Josh D.
Was told by our hotel clerk this was a must. Hostess was busy when we arrived and we waited 5 or so minutes while she was on the phone. I started to walk upstairs and she seemed annoyed with me but Simone took care of us nonetheless. The ambiance made up for any misconceptions I may have Perceived at the door. Once I our server , I think his name was David, checked in and food and drinks hit the table we were in heaven. He recommended the guacamole which is all time insane! Pedro gave us a great smile while making it for us! How cool is his job but seriously you have never had anything this tasty. We had the ahi app and entree and they were both on point. This place is the real deal and I'm used to eating Mexican In So cal. I felt like I was staying at Capella again in cabo, the best Mexican food and service I've ever had. This compares to that. Bummed I won't be having this good of food at st. Regis when I go north. Eat here!!!!!
(5)Colorado J.
Wow - overpriced Mexican food! The service was poor and the atmosphere was very loud and noisy. Our waitress had a shadow that night but failed to introduce him. Had the fajitas and carnitas - neither was great. They also had different menus for downstairs and upstairs which we did not know about. Would not go back if it were 1/2 off.
(2)J R.
I wanted to update my initial review of this place which is about 1/2 mile from my home. First of all we called 2 days before Christmas to see if they would be open for breakfast on Christmas - the very unfriendly girl on the other end said they would be. So we showed up that morning looking forward to a great Christmas breakfast and found them closed. Sigh! Got overpriced takeout from Living Foods instead - bummers. We tried to go again last month and were successful though this time! My husband and I are both vegetarians and the very friendly hostess pointed out some of the items on their breakfast menu - most of which they were happy to make vegetarian. The service was super friendly and helpful (lots of making sure everything was okay) and my eggs Benedict sans Canadian bacon was excellent with a little pot of cheesy home fries as well. We had a very good breakfast that came to just about $50. While this is far, far more than we would normally pay, we had a gift certificate that we used so that made the price right! All in all the breakfast was excellent with friendly, excellent service. The only downside is that we don't spend that kind of money for breakfast, so again, I would say this place mostly caters to well heeled visitors (and residents) - but it was a lovely breakfast.
(3)Tyler C.
You can't go wrong with Tortilla Republic. Living in LA I'm accustomed to good Mexican food but TR is a step above the rest. There is two levels to the restaurant and I ate at the top level. The fajitas were prepared perfectly and had incredible seasoning. You have to pay for the chips and salsa, but it's worth it. The chips come with three different salsas, each of which ended up being some of the best salsa I've tasted. The atmosphere is trendy and chill, very reminiscent of several upscale clubs and bars you'd find in LA. My waiter was named Dave and was a gracious server. He even brought us extra food to take back home after we finished eating.
(5)Bobby L.
There really aren't too many redeeming qualities of this restaurant in my opinion. My friends and I had a hankering for Mexican food while staying at the nearby Sheraton. We decided to stop by TR because it was close and heck, the restaurant has TONS of positive reviews. Our experience however did not meet the mark that was set by others in the Yelp community. Service was horribly slow to start. Some others have mentioned this in their reviews and some mentioned it might just be that "island mentality." Regardless, it was just too slow. After ordering our drinks, I asked for a separate glass for my beer, it never came. We held on to our check for ~15 minutes before our bill was collected. Onto the food. We started with the guacamole w/ chips. Chips were bland. There was absolutely no salt. The guacamole itself was pretty bland as well. Sure, it tasted like avocado, but nothing else. It really could use some cilantro and jalapeno. We ended up spicing it up with some tabasco which didn't quite improve it all that much. The ceviche wasn't bad but the bowl was much too big considering the amount of ceviche included and while the ceviche wasn't bad, it wasn't all that great either. $15 for 3 tacos? Better be good. Baja fish tacos. Not so much. The tempura battered fish was bland and dry. I had big hopes for the shrimp quesadilla but it was just much to salty. Not sure what happened there. Lastly we were given the free churros for which a coupon must be supplied. The provided coupon is available when you check in. The churros are are dusted well with cinnamon and sugar but it's just much too thick. I don't mind a large churro but the thickness of these churros lead to an uncooked, yolky, gooey, mess. The dips are some sort of chocolate variations with hazelnut or caramel which are good but since the churros are inedible, the sauces didn't see much use. TR isn't all bad though. The side of rice and beans that comes with the tacos was delicious and I finished that, no problem! The atmosphere here is pretty great, but hey, it's located on a beautiful island so there would be a problem if they couldn't get that right.
(1)Courtney S.
This place was awesome. It had a great atmosphere with a guitar vocalist performing close to our table. He even took song requests.The ceviche was amazing as well as the quesadillas (chicken and the shrimp ones). The rest of our party had chicken tacos, shrimp tacos, and nachos which were all good. The perfect margarita was also quite tasty. They have a dinner menu for upstairs which they recommend reservations for and a more casual dinner menu downstairs that our family of 5 decided to try.
(5)Troy V.
This place is great! We ate downstairs (cheaper) and I was really impressed with my dish. I had the shrimp quesadilla and was really impressed with the unique flavor. It wasn't jumping off the plate with flavor but was really good and fresh. $11 Guac could use a little more flavor but was still good. Complementary chips and salsa are awesome! Service was great and the joint is quite the fancy get up. One of my favorite places so far. Delicious!
(5)Timmy V.
This is an overpriced Mexican restaurant that I would not suggest taking your family to when in such a great place like Kauai. We went here just last week to get take out thinking it would make a nice family dinner back at the condo since everyone was tired from the day's activities. First off, we have to order take out at the busy bar where the bartender clearly has other people to tend to. We order two carne asada tacos, a chicken quesedilla, and a carne asada burrito. The TAKE-OUT meal took almost 45 minutes to be brought out!! We were all ready to just walk but of course, we had already paid. We get home and the food is not exactly presented well in the to-go boxes but we let that go. We each take a few bites of our meal. The chicken quesedillas are almost inedible. They don't even taste like chicken. I dont know how you mess up chicken... The carne asada tacos and burrito were none better. The meat was very bland and all in all didn't taste very good at all. The burrito was very soggy. After spending two weeks in Hawaii and attending different restaurants each night, TR was unanimously the WORST place we ate. We have heard okay reviews about the restaurant but in my opinion, NEVER ever go there for takeout because you will for sure be disappointed... :(
(1)Darril S.
We had dinner last night it was fantastic the presentation was perfect food was perfect service was perfect we highly recommend this restaurant
(5)Kellyn T.
Service was horrible. We sat downstairs mainly for happy hour and waited 10 minutes before being acknowledged. We really should've just left then. What seemed like the manager eventually came around and seemed unaware of our lack of service. It took a while for our drinks to be made, they didn't do a last call for happy hour, and we waited for 40 minutes for our food to come out and when it did, it was cold. The food was tasty despite it being cold and the drinks were good, which is a shame because I would go back if it weren't for the poor service. Service in general was unfriendly, slow, and extremely inattentive.
(1)Lisa K.
Fantastic Mexican food that is light, tasty, and unique. Everything we had was seasoned to perfection. The margaritas were amazing ... The bartender squeezes the limes as you order - so no fake sugar mixers here - all super fresh. The ambiance is inviting and comfortable with some high end touches to the decor. We are heading back ... Great experience.
(5)Kaustubh S.
food is amazing. Very distinct taste. We ordered tiger prawns fajita and catch of the day fish, both were amazing.
(5)Omar S.
We had an early dinner with our kids here which turned out to be happy hour. The food and service was fine. My observation is that service on this island is hit or miss. The carne asada was very good as was the wagyu kids burger.
(4)Shayna L.
The kobe beef burger (downstairs) is very juicy and hits the spot for all you meat loving people. The churros for dessert is a nice finish to your meal. Very good lunch or even dinner place.
(4)Quyen N.
Wow! A high-class Mexican-influenced/-inspired restaurant! For New Year's Eve, my boyfriend and I went along with our newly wedded friends and their close family. We had heard something about a fixed-price, multi-course meal for the evening. I'm pretty sure there is nothing like this in Oahu - I was very surprised to find such a restaurant in Kauai. With experience with Mexican-style food on the East Coast and West Coast, I was expecting a hole-in-the-wall restaurant or a straight-up seemingly-authentic Mexican restaurant. Not quite the case with Tortilla Republic with its modern, more upscale take on Mexican food. The fixed-price menu did not list vegetarian options, but the server kindly accommodated my vegetarian tastes by substituting with vegetarian items from the regular menu. Awesome! - We started the evening out with a salsa tasting, which was tortilla chips paired with three different salsa (papaya habanero, tomatillo fresca, salsa de mesa - all very excellent). I'm usually a sucker for chips and salsa - often getting fairly full on them before my main dish arrives. That night now was no different. - For the first course, the vegetarian-inclined diners were treated to Mexican-styled pizza - Huarache Hongos/ Tortilla Flatbread - grilled corn flatbread, cremini & white mushrooms, garlic, red onion, arugula, jack and manchego cheeses, white truffle oil, pickled red onion - super delicious! Much better than the Taco Bell "pizza" - ha! - The second course was ceviche, which I skipped because of the seafood. - The main vegetarian entree was Relleno Poblano / Stuffed Poblano - roasted poblano pepper, stuffed w/eggplant, mushroom, spinach, toasted pine nuts, raisins, ranchera sauce, goat cheese, sour cream. Wow experience! All the different flavors wonderfully melded together. - We ended with a trio of desserts - Mexican chocolate pots au creme, banana-coconut empanada (so very different), and mini key lime pie (the highlight with the intense wonderful flavor) I would definitely go back! I very much enjoyed the vegetarian options!
(4)Leah D.
I actually really enjoy the food here. But the wait time tonight was unacceptable. 80 minutes for some fajitas is crazy. The food did taste good however. On the fajitas for 22 I expect more then four-five pieces of the protein! I hope they pull it together because the atmosphere is very cool. Oh but change the weird music upstairs! As an update the management comped our meal because of the wait. So we will try it again!
(3)Surfdawg M.
We come to Kauai about 2-3 times a year. Being Mex food snobbies (sorry), we were happy to see this place open in the new shopping center few years ago. This is a must stop of for us. Happy hour speshes are good , but the menu upstairs is wonderful.. Love the cornmeal flat bread apps, unique salsas and the Shrimp pipian. I see some neg reviews snd never quite get it. Our friends, family love this establishment. Wish they had one on NorCal!
(4)Michael L.
We were in Kauai for our honey moon and tried TR for happy hour. My wife and I were both very pleased with the chicken nachos and the ceviche. The prices were fair, and the service was good too. We'll need to come back and try the other dishes.
(4)M.P R.
Service questionable Food well presented and prepared Except the kids burger ( hockey puck) Beautiful setting wonderful atmosphere Seated second floor Sunset breeze Would give it more stars won't cuz of the service
(3)Rae M.
The dining experience probably would have been better with alcohol, as past reviewers have highlighted the cocktails and during my brunch this past Sunday the friendliest people there seemed to be the bartender and woman with the traveling drink cart. However, I'm five months pregnant and my husband is more of a craft beer drinker, so our meal was centered on the food and the service from the other staff. When my husband and I arrived around 11:45, we were greeted by the hostess. Well, "greeted" is an overstatement -- we were given a lukewarm hello, were informed there'd be a 15-minute wait, and, when we tried to sit down at a table off to the side, were tiredly told those tables were off-limits. Fine. (Note to management: perhaps rope off the area near the hostess stand if you really don't want waiting patrons to sit there.) At 12:00, we were slowly led up the stairs to our table. (Note to hostess: If a significant part of your job is to walk up and down these stairs, perhaps don't wear 4-inch wedge sandals.) Our waitress was only slightly less indifferent than the hostess. She was not friendly, and if you clocked the total time she spent at our table that morning, I doubt it would add up to a minute and a half. This was a noticeable change from all the other restaurants and eateries we frequented during our vacation (both casual and fine dining, and all around the island) where staff was very hospitable, checked on us frequently, and were often eager to offer recommendations. There were no complimentary chips, so my husband asked what we could nibble on while we waited for our entrees. The waitress hesitated for a moment and said that the beignets & crispas would be the fastest item, so we ordered that along with the huevos rancheros and the relleno poblano. A "short" 25 minutes later, the beignets & crispas arrived, followed by our main dishes 5 minutes after that. Good food? Sure. GREAT food? Eh. We've had better Mexican food and breakfasts back home. Worth the wait and menu prices? Definitely not. We were happy to leave. It seemed like the restaurant was happy to see us go as well, since the first smiles we got were after we paid our check and left. I'm not sure what we did to feel so unwelcome, but message received. Next time we're on the island, we'll spend $50 elsewhere.
(2)Tiffany H.
Enjoyed the perks while being on a tight budget for vacation. Yelp gave us free chips and salsa, and Sheraton gave us free churros! So with a $45 shared dinner with drinks it was perfect. Good but not as good as home. Aka Colorado
(3)Paola S.
Very pleasant place, my husband and I sat on the patio. We did not know but it was happy hour so we got the special menu with less items. Started with the horchata Mai tai cocktail which was amazing then we did salsa tasting and fish tacos. The food was good, great service and pleasant ambience.
(4)Vivi V.
Chilaquilles with chicken tinga & a michelada... Perfect breakfast combo and full of flavor! Friendly staff, great service, yummy food! The decor was very nice and the place had a pleasant ambiance.
(5)Maggie S.
Good option for the whole family. The food is fresh and made of good ingredients. The staff are very nice and the food came out quickly. Happy Hour is a great deal, appetizers and drinks at really good prices.
(4)Dennis A.
The food was OK. WE had to wait for a very long time for our food. However, the manager came to us twice to apologize and brought us a complementary dessert. Our waitress was not the best...she seemed annoyed, as if she did not want to be there. We ate at the upstairs restaurant, which is more expensive...we should have just gone downstairs, because it was not that special upstairs.
(2)Keith R.
Great food. Good service. Great atmosphere! Would recommend to anyone want good burritos.
(5)Lisa K.
This sophisticated and trendy Mexican restaurant is located inside the Kukui'ula Village in Poipu. They have the grill upstairs and have both indoor and outdoor seating available for the margarita bar downstairs. I don't think it really makes a difference though because they have floor to ceiling open windows although the chairs outside looked more comfortable. We started off with a round of margaritas which were super tasty and strong. They seemed to taste weaker and weaker as we ordered more rounds but that may have been me getting used to the taste... We ordered a bunch of food to split between 4 people. The nachos were a generous sharing size portion yelp.com/biz_photos/tort… It came with monterey jack cheese, black beans, salsa de mesa, sour cream and topped off with guacamole. I thought they were good but nothing to rave about. My favorite dish was the Quesdilla de Pollo yelp.com/biz_photos/tort… Inside the flour tortilla came with pulled chicken tonga, monterey jack cheese and applewood smoked bacon. It was topped with guacamole, roasted tomato chipotle sauce, roasted corn salsa and drizzled with cilantro crema. The guacamole was really good but I would not pay $10+ to get it on the side for the chips. The disappointment started when the fish tacos came out. yelp.com/biz_photos/tort… These are some very sad looking fish tacos in my opinion. It came with a small bowl of rice and beans on the side but I do not think they are worth $16+. I understand that it's a classier place but I would expect presentation and quality to follow with the prices. The enchilada suizas were good but again I don't think it was worth the $19. yelp.com/biz_photos/tort… The chicken tinga enchiladas were soaked in a creamy tomatillo sauce with melted chihuahua cheese on top. Service was good. Our waitress made sure our margarita glasses were filled and the food came out quickly. I think I would enjoy this place more for lunch or happy hour. For dinner I felt like some of their dishes were too overpriced for the food you got.
(3)Luanne G.
From the Gin Ramus Fizz to the Relleno Poblano, this place "gets it". The service was on, three separate visits, different staff on each. Very helpful with menu modification to suit our taste/dietary needs. Yes it is in a shopping center, but don't let that deter you from a wonderful dining experience!
(5)Rebecca M.
Came by for Sunday brunch after the race. Surprisingly it was pretty empty, and they were only seating people upstairs. It was lunch time and I didn't want breakfast, so had limited vegetarian options. I decided on the Vegetarian Burrito "fajita style peppers, onions, tomatoes, corn salsa, rice & beans, guacamole". It came with a side salad which was simple but tasty - nice light dressing. As I ate into the burrito, I realized there was no guacamole. I waited for our waitress, she never came back to check on us after we got our food. I asked the waiter from another table about the missing guacamole, and he said he'd check on it for me. It felt like quite a bit of time went by as I just wanted a scoop of guacamole to go with my burrito before it got cold. Surely they had buckets of it made in the back. I finally saw my waitress and asked her as well. I mentioned that the menu said it came with guacamole and there was none. She said it must be a type on the menu because it doesn't come with it. Hmm odd since when I came home and looked online, it has the same thing listed as the restaurant menu - and sure enough guacamole is listed as an ingredient. She said nonetheless she had put the order in the kitchen and was waiting on it. Finally it came out, but by then I had picked at my burrito and was nearly done. I was also disappointed that there was eggplant and zucchini in my burrito. I generally prefer fresh veggies in my burrito vs grilled, and I specifically noticed it only had peppers & onions - not too much. I definitely do not like eggplant or zucchini in my burrito. That's just me, and I specifically looked for this as an ingredient while reading the descriptions. Disappointed in both the service & food. Neither cook nor waitress seem to be aware of what the menu lists.
(2)TR W.
VERY RUDE!!!!!! Actually it is a ZERO.....the one star is for the much needed exercise of climbing the stairs. First of all, in order to enter the restaurant upstairs, you must walk through the downstairs restaurant. We finally found the front only to be NOT greeted. Since there was no indication of seating procedure or host/hostess to greet us, we walked in and attempted to sit at an open table, only to be told the procedure for seating. All tables were reserved......there were 8-10 empty tables. We asked the host if we could sit at the bar he replied very rudely, "Sure, I guess."......no available spaces. We left the restaurant without the opportunity to sample any food, but given our brief experience, I intend NEVER to return. Good luck to those of you who do attempt to dine there. Sorry Tortilla Republic, you will never receive my business and I hope this review warns others of the RUDENESS we experienced.
(1)Paige S.
This is one of the few restaurants on the island that has a modern decor (ie not run down). We had a very pleasant experience there! The food is very good and the staff is attentive. Note this restaurant has a yelp deal for a free salsa appetizer (if you don't use this, you pay for chips before your meal). For people looking for casual restaurants with a modern feel instead of the hole-in-the-wall surfer vibe prevalent in Kauai, we recommend the ones in this strip including TR, The Dolphin, Lappert's Ice Cream and Living Food grocery store; Kalaheo Cafe for brunch; Island Taco; and Seaview Terrace at the Grand Hyatt for pizza and burgers. These all have decent kid options too.
(5)Scott F.
From a Southern California couple who have so much great Mexican food near them, this place amazed us here. You can't get good Mexican food on Kauai. You can now get great Mexican food at TR. Not basic food here. Excellent mole chicken. Awesome lamb enchiladas. Fresh tasty margaritas with island fruit and the staff, awesome! They would do so well in So Cal!
(5)Michael B.
Excellent. Ate here twice today. Breakfast and dinner. For breakfast had the corn & blueberry pancakes and the bacon flight. Delicious. Super filling. Had to skip lunch! For dinner had the chicken tacos, wife had the steak tacos. We were both very pleased. Get some chips and salsa while your there.
(5)Chris F.
The ambiance and service are great. I really liked the vibe of the 2 story indoor/outdoor setup they have. The servers and managers seemed genuinely eager to please. The table side Guac is a must. I didn't love that the preparer had a tip jar on his cart but it's Hawaii and the cost of living is very high so I gave it a pass and added to the pot. Someone reviewing mentioned he/she didn't feel the food was real authentic. Maybe so but that's not what I was really after. I was on vaca and wanted a nice setting with solid food. I really like Mole in general so I tried their Mole Enchiladas and thought it was a very good sauce that seemed more "authentic" to me than many I've had. The other 2 people in my party had fresh fish fajitas (that night it was Ahi) and she loved 'em and the ahi looked as if it was prepared just right (pink) and Enchiladas Sauza and both loved their choices. So, in my mind it was a winner and since it's located in an upscale shopping center in Hawaii, yes the cost will likely be more than you pay at yr local joint at home, get over it; you're on vaca after all. Also the bar looked really cool as a hangout if you go there sans kids. The owners of this place also own Pizetta in old town Koloa and that is also well worth checking out for a more casual pizza/pasta/gelato spot.
(4)Sarah L.
Good beer selection, extensive tequila selection. The food was pretty good. Don't expect traditional Mexican food, but it was tasty. The rice and beans were very disappointing- lacked flavor completely. Food was filling, portions were good. Food could have been more flavorful but overall a good place for a casual meal (downstairs). The service staff was nice and efficient.
(4)Anne Marie H.
This review is for upstairs. They have different menus for upstairs/downstairs. We had low expectations with only 3 and 1/2 stars. But this place did not disappoint! The table side guacamole was so tasty. My hubby had the Pork Carnitas and I had the Tasty Salad and Tortilla Soup for dinner. All of them were excellent. Lots of flavor and good portions. Service was really good, server asked questions about what flavors we liked and made suggestions throughout the meal. Only complaint was that my mojito was a little too sweet and had so much muddled mint that I felt like I had to chew it.
(4)Lisa V.
The food is decent but not in any way noteworthy, and the service was slow even though the place was not busy. Our meal was very bland. There are much better places on the island for the money, but in a pinch, this place is palatable.
(2)Alyssa W.
Best flautas and chicken tacos on the island! Great service from our waitress Tina. Come at happy hour and avoid the wait. Also, check in on Yelp for free salsa tasting- so worth it!
(5)Josh C.
Although we sampled several items including the tortas, tacos, and quesadillas ... the nachos with shredded chicken were so good we went back a second time to have them! Note that chips and salsa are an extra charge. Chips are good, salsas so-so. Open restaurant and patio ... so bugs abound.
(3)Anthony L.
Nice location in the middle of the Kukui'ula shops. Stopped here several times for a bite of lunch while checking out the shops and art studios. Always had friendly staff and love the outdoor seating to enjoy the breeze from the trade winds and people watch during out meal. Highly recommend the Flautas de Pollo, Carne Asada Tortas, and Nachos de la Casa. Bar makes delicious Mai Tais and Margaritas. Don't forget to ask for some fresh tortilla chips and they green salsa, oh my!!
(4)Ann W.
First I would like to say, that living in Southern California exposes us to some really great Mexican food. So it was an unexpected pleasure to find such a great Mexican restaurant in Kauai. My husband and I dined in the restaurant upstairs which was decorated very nice with a nice breeze and view. We both ordered the chicken enchiladas. The chicken was really large chunks of chicken breast and it was very moist with great flavor (usually shredded chicken in enchiladas). The tomatillo sauce was excellent without being over powering. Then for desert, do yourself a favor and order the key lime pie - truly one of the best I have tasted. The staff really went out of their way to make sure we were happy. We will definitely visit this restaurant on our return visit to Kauai next year.
(5)Troy C.
First timers. Find it odd that your meal does not include free chips and salsa. However, if you post a review to Yelp! you get free chips and salsa. Sheesh. How are you supposed to rate a place before you even eat there??
(3)Sandy N.
This place is a very nice hang out place, great vibes and great customer service all around. The food was good but nothing that stood apart from any other Mexican restaurant, but their guacamole was delish and fresh! :D It just reminded me of a fancy Chevy's but with more fresh ingredients.
(3)Greg J.
First off check in on yelp when you get there. You get a free salsa tasting flight if you do. We weren't offered chips otherwise. I had the tortilla soup. The bowl was huge and it was very substantial. It is a very good soup. We also had pork Tacquitos and chicken flautas. Both of those we just average. Service was ok, not great. We ate in the bar/casual place on the first floor.
(4)Brian B.
On a friday after a full day of activity with some friends back home on the island, we decided to head out towards Poipu to have some dinner and drinks at Tortilla Republic. Tortilla Republic is located in one of the newer shopping centers in Poipu which is mostly meant for the tourists, Kukuiula Shopping Village. The atmosphere here is nice and very evocative of some place you'd find in the other tourist trap on the island of Oahu known as Waikiki. The good thing is that this place does get busy but it's never so busy that you feel uncomfortable or put out. Initially when we arrived, because we didn't have a reservation the wait was supposed to be at least 30 minutes but we got lucky enough to get a table fairly quickly after putting our name in. In fact, we got our table 10 minutes after we went upstairs to the bathroom and was gonna walk around and possibly check out another restaurant... Haha, maybe the people at Tortilla Republic sensed this and bumped our reservation up! =P Once we were seated we were promptly provided with menus and waters and got our drink orders in. I personally had a regular margarita and my other 2 friends had a Perfect Margarita which made one of them a little tipsy! Haha... Shortly after that we put in our order for appetizers and the main course which were served up fairly quickly too. One of my friends ordered the Flautas De Carnitas which was very delicious and very well made, a great appetizer to start out with. We also had some tortilla chips with a variety of dipping sauces, one of which was a nice lime mix that was nice and light with a hint of spiciness to it which made it perfect. For myself, I ordered 3 tacos with carne asada as the filling and was not disappointed despite the initial impression of the dish that was delivered. When I first got my dish, I couldn't help but think the tacos looked like they were on the small side but it turned out to be just the right portion size considering the appetizers we had earlier. The tacos were filled with the carne asada filling and the usual trimmings which were great and I felt satisfied after eating them all and not overly bloated. My other friends ordered a salad, and a burrito which looked good as well too. Overall, I thought the service was great and the atmosphere was good. The service was very prompt and didn't feel like they were too slow or trying to rush to get us out of there. Definitely a good place to go if you're on the island and want some Tex-Mex food with your night out on the town! Don't forget that if you have a smartphone with the OpenTable app, you can make reservations for here too which is probably recommended on the weekends.
(4)Dustin B.
Quick and dirty. Good - our primary waitress was good. - Ambiance beautiful Bad - 35 minutes to get extremely watered down margueritas after the stand in waitress did not put our order in - salsas lacking in flavor - two servers trying to convince us that our flour tortilla was actually corn-- after enough debate the manager got involved and confirmed the tortilla was flour - tolerable food. - waiting 15 minutes for complimentary churros after an attempted dining experience redemption, which...they forgot to put the order in.
(1)Ryan R.
This place was recommended by our wedding photographer, so my wife and I thought we would check it out even though, coming from L.A., we weren't sure what a Mexican restaurant in Hawaii might have to offer that we haven't seen back home. But they certainly had some interesting dishes!The ginger margarita was great. So were the jalapeño mashed potatoes. My entrée, mole chicken de poblano was good, too.
(5)Ed H.
I went to TR with my wife expecting good tacos and better margaritas - it's what TR is supposed to be really good at. The hostess seated us in a nice area, what seemed like an out of the way spot to have a good date night. It took us nearly 15 minutes to be welcomed by our waitress and have our drink orders taken. I ordered a margarita and my wife had water. It took an additional 15 minutes for the water to come, not to speak of the drink or taking orders for dinner. We had the ceviche for an appetizer, which was the best thing we ate all night. We also ordered the fish and shrimp tacos to split between us. The very small size of the tacos would not have been a problem had they been amazing and delicious and full of flavor. Instead, they were small and bland and lacked any of the promised advertising in the description. Even the chipotle aioli was sub-par. I'm not a foodie, and I have pretty reasonable standards about what a good meal should consist of, and even I was underwhelmed. In good faith I couldn't recommend Tortilla Republic, not based off the poor service, bland food, and lackluster margaritas.
(1)Cathy D.
We started off our experience at Tortilla Republic on a bad note. We were told we needed to wait 20 minutes because they were so busy. We looked around and there were 3 tables open that seated 2 people. We said OK, and the hostess took my cell phone number and she said she would call me when a table opened up. After walking around the mall for 1/2 an hour, we walked back and checked with the hostess. Those same 3 tables were still empty and she sat us at one. Service overall was very slow since the wait staff was very inefficient. The food - the chef needs to go to Mexico or Southern California to learn how to cook real Mexican food. My husband ordered a shrimp quesadilla ($12.00) that was extremely bland. The guacamole had no taste; it was missing chopped onions, lime and chillies. Basically just smashed avocado and the shrimp was barely there. I ordered the chili verde pork burrito and I was really looking forward to some tasty pork. It should have been called a chili Colorado rice and bean burrito with 2 small chunks of pork inside. Maybe the pork was originally cooked in green sauce but it was nowhere to be found inside the burrito. They did put a tablespoon of green sauce on top. Very disappointing. I did complain to the waitress and she took the $14.00 price off the bill. I figure at best that rice and bean burrito probably cost them 35 cents to make. I have had their tortilla soup before and it was very good. Although I think $9.00 for a tiny cup of soup is a little pricey. Also, my husband was grossed out by the urine stench in the men's bathroom. He walked halfway down the mall to use the mall restroom so as not to endure the disgusting odor again.
(1)Ash M.
I freakin love this place! The margaritas are great! I've been a few times and always leave happy. We even had a birthday party for my hubby here and they gave us a table for 12 on the upper floor... We got great food and excellent service!
(5)Yunkyung C.
Surprisingly good food with large portions. I got the nachos with shredded chicken which was tasty and more than I could eat. Perfect with beer! The only thing it was missing was pickled jalapeños but all the places I went only had fresh ones. You have to eat these fast before they get soggy but the sauce was delicious. We also had the fish tacos which was cooked perfectly and the kids menu portions were very generous as well. We could get away with ordering one order of chicken strips and fries for two boys age 3 and 5.
(4)Eclectic E.
Five stars for the Margaritas -- especially the Jalapeño version. The salsa sampler (you do have to buy your chips & salsa) was also five star worthy. Food was good, but I'd just go four stars. Classical guitarists one night we were there and he was great. Modern and classical tunes.
(5)Jonathan V.
Came here twice for the 5 days I had on Kauai with my wife on our honeymoon. Shes eats alot of veggie burrittos and she said the one she got here was the best she has ever had. The atmosphere is unreal, the staff starting with the incredibly friendly hostesses, down to the unbelievably efficient bus boys are all wonderful. Our second visit I ordered the veggie burrito but it came out with missing some ingredients that the menu had in it. After just mentioning it to the waitress, she immediately had it remade. The manager then came over apologized profusely, took 25% off my burrito and gave us a free dessert! Great customer service. Also, you have to try the spicy flour less chocolate decadence cake with caramel sea salt gellato... unreal.
(5)W. T.
I ate at tortilla republic for a late lunch after a crowded snorkel in Poipu. It was a late lunch and the place was not busy but we had several hiccups. The drinks took FOREVER to come (a beer and a margarita) and my husbands food (shrimp quesadilla) came with bacon on it (a no-no in his diet), which confused our server. They made it right and the food was good. Nice outdoor seating area.
(3)Justin A.
Eh, eh, eh. Tortilla Republic is in Kukuiula Shopping Center - so expect to pay more $$ then other places and expect a large number of kooks. That being said - the drinks at Tortilla are either going to be a hit or miss. Sometimes you can barely taste the alcohol and other times times they can be better. Food? I only really ate the tacos and they were fine. The price of food seemed to be a bit on the high side, so I stuck with the tacos. The guacamole was good though. Cool.
(3)Samantha L.
We wandered over to the weekly farmer's market held in this shopping center and decided to grab a bite to eat. We were halfway into our vacation at this point and were ready for something a little different from the traditional fish and seafood meal you tend to get in Hawaii. We had the salsa trio, a quesadilla, some steak tacos, and some fish tacos. Everything was really good. The drinks were also good... nice and strong! It definitely wasnt the best mexican food i've ever had, but it was a good change of pace and very well done. Also very moderately priced... which is refreshing to find on Kauai!
(3)John E.
Complete FAIL for Tortilla Republic. I made reservations for the last night of my vacation back on 8/11/14 and was looking forward to a great final dinner on the island. We arrived last night at 7:00 for or reservation to find them closed "for renovations". I'm sorry but not only were they open the day before when we walked by but they had my contact info for the reservation. If you are going to close, Tortilla Republic, do the very minimal level of customer service and notify the people who have reservations. Thanks for having ZERO class.
(1)M M.
Kept hearing about this place, I finally decided to try it and I absolutely love this place, great prices and delicious food Do yourself a favor.. Go for breakfast and order the Relleno poblano! Best I've tried so far and if you really want to have a great time ask for Nerissa as your server! Thanks for the great service, we will be back.
(5)Brian K.
Great location! Great service, good food. We had Sunday Brunch. The Ahi Tuna hash was excellent. The scone was average. My wife had the plabano pepper and eggs. Very tasty. The table side Mimosa is not table side, and was so-so. I would eat here again, or stop by for happy hour.
(4)Isaac N.
While in Poipu, tried Tortilla Republic one night. Its a pretty cool place nice atmosphere. I felt like eating enchiladas but I was told that they only serve it in the upstairs area, although it was closed that night. So I ended up ordering the vegetarian burrito. Also tried the salsa tasting which comes with 3 salsas. The salsa's were so-so, I didn't think it had all that much flavor. When I got my burrito, it was huge. It was so big that I could only finish half for dinner and took the other half back to the hotel for a late night snack. Over all the food was decent maybe a little price although the normal for the area.
(3)Erica P.
Yummy. Salsas tasty but way mild so server brought us a spicier house salsa. Cockatiels very good. Carnitas I thought were great. Very orangey. But hubby said weird that they were sort of in a refrained bean sauce. I had shrimp fajitas, shrimp great. Weird kind of pepper and tons of it.
(4)Jenn S.
We decided to eat here for happy hour our last day on the island. Too bad we hadn't done so sooner! The happy hour margaritas are tasty. The salsas are full of flavor and variety. We shared a nachos with carne asada. It was enough for two at the happy hour price. So nice! The nachos had a lot of flavor. My boyfriend even said he thought they were delicious, and he is hesitant to have Mexican food outside of LA. I would highly recommend happy hour.
(5)Kristyn L.
I feel terrible when I give less then 4 star reviews. But this place deserves it. It is disorganized with salty food. It is probably the worst Mexican food that I have ever had ..... and that says alot! I am giving 1 Star for good margaritas and 1 Star for atmosphere. Sorry .... but true.
(2)Khanh A.
We dined here during our vacation in March. Everything was amazing. We had a seven o'clock reservation and had a very lovely dinner upstairs. The food was incredible and, as I'm looking over the receipt I found in my purse which prompted me to write this review, surprisingly reasonable for us for a romantic dinner for two. Our entrees, dessert, and drinks were only $88 total before gratuity. Before some of you peeps flip out that $88 isn't reasonable for dinner for two, calm yourselves. We were visiting from Las Vegas, where it is not uncommon for dinner for two at a nice restaurant to run about $100 a person. We started off with the complimentary fresh tortilla chips and trio of salsas, all of which were delicious BTW. Entrees were the steak fajitas and the beef enchilada. Both were incredible. I love fancy Mexican food. For dessert we had the chocolate decadence, which is their signature dessert. It was rich and, you guessed it, decadent. Not too sweet with just a touch of spice. A perfect ending. A special shout to our waitress, Rachel S., who was superb. As a former waitress, I'm super critical of the service I get at restaurants but she was great. Friendly and attentive without being overbearing, giving us just the right amount of time between courses. Looooooved her.
(5)Steph R.
The hostess wasn't that friendly. The upstairs portion of the restaurant is TOO dark. I suppose they're trying to be "trendy", but I'd prefer to see where I'm walking & what's on the menu. Continuing with the menu, the food was overpriced for the amount of food you received & the quality of the food. The plates were fancy & the food laid out nicely. With comparison in Taco Bell, you're better off with Taco Bell. Taco Bell has flavor. Tortilla Republic has watered down, flavorless entrees. We waited a very long time for the waiter to come to our table once we finished. I do not recommend this place.
(1)Lauren A.
I like that this place is open late (late-ish; everything around here closes at like 8:30) but the menu could have slightly more variety when it comes to making the most of local ingredients. The Skinni Margarita was good, but they didn't strain it and there was grapefruit pulp/pith floating around. A few tweaks and it would be great.
(3)John E.
I just ate the breakfast here. The pancakes were awesome. Service was really good. It was early morning, and nobody was there so we got right in, and right out.
(4)David G.
Had a great dinner here on the balcony of the second floor. Great atmosphere with live music coming from the farmer's market down below. Got the handmade guacamole which is made at your table and well worth the price. Great margaritas! Definitely one of the highlights of our week in Kauai.
(5)Paul L.
50 bucks for a terrible meal! Got chicken tacos and the chicken was cold, and the tacos were doughy and tough... Definitely the worse meal I have had in Kauai.
(1)Tonya C.
Very good food! Shrimp tacos, burritos, black beans,rice, and salsas were on point. I felt like I was back home in Cali!
(5)Arden B.
Pretty unremarkable. First of all, I don't mean to sound like an old lady, but it is way too dark and way too loud in this place. It was so dark that I needed to use the flashlight on my phone to read the menu! Now, as a Southern California native, I'm pretty snobby about my Mexican food. This place was just way off. First of all, they consider chips and salsa an appetizer, which in my opinion is kind of bananas, but I bit. They bring three very small samples of salsa out, and none of them were very good, least of all spicy. Truly disappointing. I had the shrimp fajitas. I was really craving some good corn tortillas, but they were completely flavorless and kind of reminded me of the Host at church the way they were so dry, flat and bland (no offense to the Host, I just expect more from my corn tortillas!) It also kind of bugs me when restaurants don't cut the tails off of the shrimp - call me lazy. I wouldn't recommend it if you're traveling in the area. Would probably not return.
(2)Greg P.
The Yelp reviews for Tortilla Republic were average and I have to agree. Everything tasted okay, but nothing noteworthy. There aren't many Mexican restaurants on Kauai so this is where you go when you're in the mood. Being from California, we'd probably skip Mexican on Kauai the next time and find some other cuisine.
(2)Robert H.
Timing between appetizer and entrée: A Appetizer quantity: F Appetizer Salsa Trio: B - Very tasty unique flavors, however; not as spicy as I like. Appetizer price: F Entrée Burrito with half chicken and half steak. The chef accommodated my half and half request: C - So bland that I really couldn't tell what I was eating, however, when I mixed the three salsas together and added it to my burrito, my entrée immediately became an exciting flavorful dish that kept me wanting another bite. If the chef incorporated nothing but salsa into the burrito, that alone would make the burrito award winning. Entrée Quesada: C - The same issue as the burrito entrée. Atmosphere: B - Indoor outdoor seating. Due to the floor and wall construction, it is a little loud from normal chatter, especially when a inconsiderate couple aloud their two kids to run around and scream. There is also an upstairs dining room with a different menu, which I found a little odd and confusing. Overall price: High for a Mexican restaurant, but it is Hawaii and the simple fact is that everything, other than seafood, has to be shipped or flown in. I addition, this is a mostly tourism spot
(3)Bob K.
Upon first arriving the waitresswas not very friendly. She didn't offer any information about the restaurant, she abruptly took our drink order. When ordering we both ordered burritos and I ordered the salad as a side. She recommended the kiwi dressing as it wasn't spicy compared to the honey jalapeño. So I ordered the kiwi, when it came out I took a bite and almost instantly my mouth was on fire from the dressing. When we asked she said they didn't read the ticket and offered to replace it. I declined as my mouth was already burning. The burrito from whati could taste was good though it was missing the guacamole. Trying to enjoy the rest of the meal was difficult because of the jalapeño dressing. She did take the $2.00 salad off but didn't offer any other discount. Being from a begone island, I will not return not recommend. Due to the service.
(2)Ryan H.
Epitome of a 3 star restaurant. Chicken taco was good, shrimp taco was sub par--lacked seasoning and that fresh taste which is so prevalent on the island. Rice and beans side was forgotten but delivered quickly after saying something--but also lacked seasoning and was very bland. Jalapeño margarita was weak, perfect margarita was really good though. Overall, wouldn't come back but it was moderately priced which was a good change of pace considering the $$$ we've been spending so far on our honeymoon.
(3)Claire T.
I loved this place a lot. The quesadilla was huge and extra good. Moreover we ordered a side of French fries (delicious) and they came 5 min (maybe less) after our plates so they decided to offer them. They are so kind and make really good food. I do recommend this place.
(5)Christopher J.
Recommended by a local and it did not disappoint. Super fresh ingredients in everything. Great salsa! But my grilled fish tacos were outstanding. Will definitely be back when in Kauai.
(5)Cathy C.
Had a wonderful breakfast and the best waitress, Tara and Debbie! We highly recommend this place! We had the quesadilla and eggs Benedict..
(5)Charles F.
It was abysmal! Greeted and seated nicely. The white ceramic salt shaker had a large smear of a dark brown sticky material. We placed our order and my bottled beer was great-nice and cold. We ordered the chips and the salsa sampler. It arrived with the chips all crushed and crumbs and none of the 3 salsas particularly tasty. In fact, the spiciest was just a watery green liquid and the tomato-based one tasting like tomato paste. We ordered our entree, burritos, with our choice of sauce, tomatillo or ranchero. My wife asked the waitress to describe the sauces and she laughed at her, like she was stupid. I ordered the tomatillo but my entree arrived with the ranchero. I guess it was really the waitress who didn't know the difference. I did not say anything. My first bite was gristle and I had to spit it out. Every 3rd bite had gristle. After just a few bites, I just stopped eating and finished my cold beer. The waitress asked if we wanted a container to bring our food home and I kindly declined. The final insult? A problem with their credit card machine. One star for a nice cold (bottled, so they couldn't screw it up) Longboard Ale.
(1)Ralph H.
Great food....great service...what more could you ask for. Oh yeah...and you're in paradise. Yep...that did it. :-). Don't miss this one if you like Mexican food.
(5)Michael W.
Excellent! Will be back. My wife and I stumbled upon this place last night. We went to the upstairs part which serves a slightly different menu than downstairs. It was wonderful. They also serve breakfast. So we came back this morning, equally terrific! Very kind and helpful customer service! Met the manager and everyone was very nice. We will be back. :)
(5)Vandana M.
I was surprised by the lack of good vegetarian food we could find on Kauai, but Tortilla Republic surprised me in a good way. Not many veggie items on their dinner menu but I was able to order some delicious veggie fajitas. My lavender cucumber margarita was really good (though I couldn't really taste the lavender) and the ambiance was nice for a date night. I didn't love paying for chips and salsa, but overall our experience was really good -- possibly the best meal I had on the island!
(4)Michael W.
We were here for happy hour small bites and our entire experience was perfection. For under 30 dollars we both had cocktails (refreshing coconut based margaritas!). Tacos, taquitos, and croquetas. Filling, delicious and cheap! Do not miss out.
(5)Kurt R.
Who goes to Hawaii to eat Mexican food? Well, apparently I do! We needed a break from fish and whatever other traditional Hawaiian food and really were happy we made this choice. Turns out Tortilla Republic was delicious. We read the reviews about the table-side Guacamole and we did that and it was cool to see it made and it was amazing. Ended up getting a few other things, the flautas and the carnitas, both... banging! Cool atmosphere, the whole staff was super nice and our waiter Adam was great. The whole experience was 10 of 10 and we just have to laugh that we live in Southern California but yet had one of the best Mexican meals here in Hawaii!
(5)Kuma T.
Went to Tortilla last night at around 820 pm and the hostess told us that the manager said we could not eat there because the kitchen closes at 9 pm and we wouldn't have been able to put our order in. Really. I don't recommend going there around 815-830 because they are just gonna shut you out.
(1)Carlann F.
My husband and I found this through YELP and it was wonderful. Over the course of the week we tried breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each was amazing. We lived in New Mexico for 10 years so we are pretty picky about Mexican food. The combinations of flavors are wonderful. Thank you Chef!! We've returned to the states (Michigan) and miss it already.
(5)Derrick M.
Not many restaurants that serve breakfast in this area but the wife and I heard about this place from a friend and decided to check it out. Our waitress did not seem too enthusiastic while serving us, more like she was going through the motions. The food was okay at best, definitely wouldn't recommend this place for breakfast. Maybe their lunch/dinner is better? Either way, didn't really care much for their food
(3)A W.
Drinks=good Food= average Price= a little high
(3)Chany D.
My first time here and was very impressed! The ambiance was nice and the food was amazing. We had a party of 15 for breakfast and one server took care of us like a champ! Even gave each of us a shot on the house - the hibiscus hukilau, delicious! I rarely make the drive to south shore but definitely want to go back soon.
(5)Peter J.
I have eaten a lot of Mexican food, being from SoCal and having a lot of that delicious food cross the border. The This Republic, however, has very mild ties to Mexican food. Yes, it uses all of the same ingredients but used in a muted way. The food is fresh and tasty, and has a lighter and more complex flavor than traditional Mexican food. This place is good, food is priced well, portions are generous. Just don't expect anyone to be able to speak Spanish.
(4)Mike H.
I normally love this place, we eat hear 2 or 3 times a year. On our second time here this trip there was a long hair in my food. Kinda lost my appetite after that. I know that this kind of stuff happens but they didn't even comp the dish.
(3)Eric W.
Just finished brunch here. Food was awesome! I split the breakfast quesadilla and the eggs benedict. Both were awesome, but the benedict was great!! Staff was really nice too. Highly recommend coming here if your in the area! Looking forward to coming here for dinner this week and trying these margaritas!
(5)Wayne M.
Margaritas are made with a house mix of fresh lime,orange and a wonderful secret juice. The joint has a laid back vibe with a constant flow through tropical breeze. This place is a tequila bar, If you dig a variety of the Mexiciano libations this is your hang. The nachos aren't too shabby, it always astounds me that there's no decent Mexican food on this Island. Oh well, maybe there will be one when I retire here, and you'll be writing a critique on me ! Happy Hour ends at 5pm, typical on a Island where everything wraps up at 9. When in Poipu check out the place at least for one Margarita and as usual always be Feral, cabrons.
(4)Susan G.
This place is great. They have a wonderful happy hour from 3-5 with 5$ margaritas and food. The staff is very friendly and service is great. If you have some free time you should stop in for their hydration margarita that includes coconut water! Don't forget to pet Bacon the shopping centers resident cat!
(5)Stephanie B.
Fast, friendly service and tasty food for a reasonable price. No complaints here. If you're staying in/around Poipu and want to grab a bite, stop here.
(4)Brandon K.
When every travel brochure said this was the best Mexican in Kauai, we had high expectations. Overall, I'd say it was average. Skip it and go to Verde up near Princeville. They have the best tacos on the island. I will say that Tortilla Republic reached out to me after my review to see what they could do to make my experience in the future better, which was cool to see. +1 for that.
(3)Jelena Z.
Kauai is pretty spread out in terms of driving around the island, so in the interest of imbibing close to the hotel, we ended up at The Shops at Kukuiula outdoor mall ... well, more often than I care to admit. But vacation cocktails are a must and I couldn't help but notice Tortilla Republic's chic, swoon-worthy space. Tacos and a margarita for lunch? Well sign me right up. It's a good thing we weren't too hungry because it took awhile to place our food order and even longer to receive our drinks. Pre-buzz kill, right? 20+ minutes is a long time to wait when there's only one other table on the patio. Luckily, our specialty margaritas were good so we got over the wait fairly quickly. Onward! For my lunch, I had the carne asada tacos which were honestly really underwhelming. The tortillas and accompanying guacamole were more than fine but the steak... ugh, the steak. Though it was advertised as marinated, the meat had a tough texture and was definitely under-spiced. The presentation was kind of sad, too. I'm still surprised that the tacos at Marriott's little poolside bar kicked these in the culinary arse! If you're looking for a hot spot for after-drinks, Tortilla Republic is your friend. For solid Mexican fare? Local taco stands are your BFFs.
(3)Veena P.
Absolutely delicious. The Brussels sprouts appetizer, the Relleno Poblano and the Lilikoi pie were all superb! We got the cucumber lavender margarita which was light and refreshing too!! Being vegetarian was so glad to see a veggie entree option that was really well put together! (We were surprised too that it only has 3.5 stars on yelp.)
(5)Christine F.
Came for lunch on a Thursday and we were seated right away. The guacamole is good but kind of expensive for the amount you get. I'd suggest getting the bottomless chips and salsa, although, I wish it was just included like at most Mexican restaurants. Be sure to get something with the chicken tinga-it is unreal delicious.
(4)Amy L.
Awesome Margarita's and shareable appetizers. Go for happy hour, as you'll be able to drink & eat more for your buck. Their salsa sampler is awesome and their nachos and tacos are great too. But go for the margarita's at happy hour a house margarita is $5 but since you're on Kaua'i. you're probably interested in rum cocktails, and good news, their tortilla tai is a delicious mai tai and one of the strongest I tasted in my 12 days on the island...and I tried a mai tai at every restaurant I went to that had then in Kaua'i. Nice friendly wait-staff too. But this place gets busy as dinner and you'll have a wait if you don't call ahead for a reservation.
(4)Kip F.
Popped in for dinner at Tortilla Republic after our dives. We had seen it earlier on our Lapperts visit and read good stuff about their food. We ate in the Margarita Bar section outside, with a slightly different menu than upstairs. We ordered burritos, which were large enough to take half home for another meal. I had the Veggie Burrito ($13) but added in the daily fish (+$8), and it was delicious! The fish was cooked just right and there were lots of veggies in the flour tortilla covered in half red and half green spicy sauces. My spouse had the Chile Verde Burrito ($15), which he also enjoyed and a Negro Modelo beer ($5). They give you chips and salsa while waiting for your order. We had a nice seat outside with excellent people watching available while waiting for our orders. There were 3 different servers that waited on us, and I have read that this is typical for this place. Didn't bother us, just struck as interesting. Would recommend this place for light Tex Mex meals with large enough portions to take home half for another meal. The prices were reasonable, tho the added $8 for the fish was sort of a surprise.
(4)Joey s.
Sat down at the bar upstairs tonight and our bartender Laura was a pleasure to sit in front of. Very courteous and attentive she suggested some of the more popular items but also mentioned a few personal favorites. I ended up with the seared scallops and they were awesome! Definitely want to go back again!
(5)Rami D.
Finally! A great restaurant with class and awesome tasty food. I have to give my student, Josh F., credit for telling me about this place. He was a line cook at one time here. I was complaining to him about the sub par meals I was running into on Kauai. He highly recommended this restaurant. Mahalo nui loa! 1. Broken up into upstairs and downstairs. You need reservations for the upstairs section and it is a bit more expensive than downstairs. They also said that they have more of a kids menu downstairs, so we headed there. 2. Great ambiance & nice seating area. They gave my two kids some coasters and some crayons to draw on- mahalo! 3. Best Tortilla Soup ever! Pretty spicy. We ordered churros for dessert and they were incredible (it did take them about 10 minutes to get to us from when we ordered, but well worth it). This tasty treat comes with chocolate and caramel dipping sauce. 4. The Hydration Margarita I ordered was ok- just standard one- a little light on the alcohol. This place does have aloha! I totally recommend you go here!!!! I do agree with Shauna S., the drinks were underwhelming.
(5)Sammy L.
One of the few places that served past 9pm in Kauai, my husband and I shared the chicken tortilla soup and the shrimp quesadilla for the price it was ok for a late night bite. I had the cava and he had the Thai margarita, dont judge him. :) We both enjoyed the food and drink. Our first choice was to go to Josselins Tapa but when we got there at 9:15pm the kitchen was closed. Coming from San Jose, CA it was hard to give this Mexican eatery more than three stars as it was sub par on the taste.
(3)Eva H.
This place has phenomenal brunch food, the staff is very friendly and their cocktails are quite unique. I ended up dining here for cocktails one evening and came back the next morning for breakfast. I love this place and will dine here again on my next trip out to Kauai. Try their unique take on huevos rancheros and the greek yogurt ganola side is to die for. They whip the greek yogurt and it tastes like whipped cream.
(5)Tim S.
We chose to dine upstairs for dinner. While the ambience and wait service was fun, with upbeat latin jazz tunes, open air seating was fun, the food portions were incredibly small. And the food had very little flavor. We ordered shrimp fajitas ($27 - yikes!! I can get 3 Chipotle burritos with guacamole and chicken at home for this price) were overcooked and soggy. The made-at-your-tableside guacamole was decent, but there wasn't enough of it to warrant the $16 price tag. In general food portions were small for what you pay. If you want an upscale lounge area to sit in, that's what you're paying for here. I also found it annoying that our wait staff was constantly trying to up-sell us on their drinks. If you are looking for some great Mexican food that tastes great and will fill you up, look elsewhere.
(1)C M.
we hit happy hour here.. good appetizers for $5 ( we had a few of us so we ended up ordering all of the happy hour food to give it a try) and a good happy hour drink list. food was tasty and fresh, and the outside seating area was cute, we will be back!
(4)Heather T.
"Had an amazing breakfast here. The service and food are EPIC. We both had one of the eggs Benedict with the applewood bacon, over scones with cheddar potatoes. Omg, so flippin good!!"
(5)Amy L.
Fraud Mexican - what more can I say? Tortilla Republic is a pretentious wannabe. Even the staff have an attitude about how special they are with their guacamole and tequila carts. But my experience was only special in how disappointing it was. Seriously, with all of the positive reviews, I expected at least a decent experience, but instead the evening ended with the only saving feature - Lapperts ice cream (peanut butter cup/fudge) which is available in the same shopping center. Tortilla Republic - First of all, I ordered a Don Julio margarita at the bar while waiting to be seated - the worst $16 margarita EVER - heck, the worst $5 margarita ever but it cost $16. Once seated, the homemade tortilla chips served with the "salsa tasting" ($4.50) (or what we in CA call "chips and salsa") were undercooked and chewy. The salsa was no better than Chipotles. I had the shrimp fajitas ($25) which came with 6 shrimp and about a 1/4 pound of greasy vegetables - along with 6 perfectly round "housemade" corn tortillas (Costco?). My boyfriend had the Camerones en Pipian Rojas ($27) - another shrimp dish with 6 shrimp but a fairly tasty red sauce. So roughly $4-5 per shrimp for our meals - seriously? I am okay with that.....if they were well prepared but they were nothing special. We also had an appetizer, Ahi Crudo Tostaditas ($14) which was a mass of greasy raw ahi. I love sashimi but not when it is soaked in oil. We bravely tried a second round of drinks - I opted for the Purist Margarita ($13.50) and it was okay for an $8 margarita. My boyfriend had a Tortilla Tai ($9) which is the restaurant's version of a Mai Tai - unfortunately it was so bad he did not drink it. All in all, we spent $150 for dinner for 2. If you have eaten at almost any taqueria in CA, or the Western U.S. for that matter, you cannot help but be disappointed in the value. Go to Merrimans, go to Bubbas, go to Lapperts - anywhere but here. Where does all the hype come from?
(1)Tommy P.
The food and atmosphere was very good all around. Ordered a burrito and an appetizer, cleviche. Didn't love the cleviche, but the burrito was excellent.
(3)Craig M.
This is a beautifully designed restaurant located in a mall near Poipu. I had my first fish taco which was absolutely delicious. It was chunks of seared Ahi with tangy and crisp coleslaw in a soft shell. The guacamole was overpriced and bland but they were generous with the chips and variety of salsas that they offered. The service was painfully slow and very disorganized. I ordered my Margherita immediately and it only arrived just before the meal. At least the live entertainment provided us with a distraction. I had court side seats to watch one of the managers try and pick-up one of the young hostesses. Very entertaining. If your kids are as picky as mine, this may not be an ideal location for dinner. No chicken fingers and pizza options here. There's nothing worse than hungry kids who have to wait for a meal that they're not going to like. That's also the kind of dinner time entertainment that we can all do without!
(3)Rick H.
Food was above average, but the service was poor. I had the quesadilla with chicken and my wife had the chicken burrito. The food came out lighting fast. The service needs help. Waited around a long time for re-fills, we had to ask multiple people for a high chair, and we asked several times for a side of sour cream. Overall it was good food and I will return.
(4)Tyler V.
The food we had was underwhelming. My wife order a double margarita and when it came it was in a short glass, maybe 8 ozs. The price? 28 dollars....outrageous....they charged us for two drinks...because it was a double. This drink was not top shelf...this drink was a complete robbery.
(1)Kayla P.
Yummy tacos and burritos! I prefer the downstairs vibe because it's cheaper. That's the only flaw is the weird split menu set up. The resident cat, Bacon, is a great touch and not a peak. Decent price, good service.
(4)Diane T.
The food was fresh and delicious and the service was good. The guacamole made at the table was very tasty, although it's a bit of a gimmick. We would definitely go again (or try the one closer to where we live -- West Hollywood). Tortilla Republic is a pricy place for Mexican food, but then again, the menu is definitely upscale.
(4)Theresa H.
I had the pleasure of eating here twice during my week in Poipu. The first night we sat downstairs where the vibe is a perfect mix between urban and tropical. Tiki torches and open air layout = prime relaxation. I'm usually a beer girl but the Poipu Mist cocktail won me over! My burrito was better than what I get at home in San Francisco and that's saying a lot. We made sure to come back to check out the upstairs, for sunset this time, which probably can't be viewed at a better spot on the south shore. There were whales breaching and no clouds in the sky. Seated at our table we had everything from hardcore meat eaters to vegetarian to gluten free and a 2 year old, and everyone was thrilled with their meals and the chef's attention to those needs. Table side guac was fun and yummy. 3 flavorful homemade salsas that come free with your table (up & down) is a bonus!! We all loved the spanish guitarist, especially our 2 year old who got up to dance ;) Lastly, we were really pleased with our service both nights. All of the staff were professional and cheerful, and that means a lot to me. I like supporting places where the workers appear to be treated well. Tortilla Republic gets 5 stars all around and I can't wait to eat there again!
(5)L c.
We ate here for lunch one day, during our stay in Kauai. Usually we would go to merriman's downstairs cafe, but convinced ourselves to try something new. I kinda wish we hadn't. The salsa trio was really good - the highlight if the meal for me. I ordered the veggie burrito, no dairy/cheese, and smothered/wet. It was just ok. Nothing special. I wish they had used their green salsa as the sauce, instead of what was the cheapy, generic canned green sauce. I also asked for no dairy (food allergy) and they gave it to me with no cheese inside, but cheese on top. They quickly corrected the issue v Service was ok, and ambiance was very LA.
(3)Rufus Figgums L.
Pros Good atmosphere Cons Chips were flavorless Shrimp quesadilla had overcooked shrimp and halved cherry tomatoes inside which made it watery Bland fish tacos Small portions
(2)Intel I.
For disclosure purposes, I will start this review that I am a fan of TR West Hollywood so I had a basic idea of what to expect from TR Kauai. In a gist, TR Kauai exceeded my expectations. Happy Hour: We came during happy hour and ordered Scorched Pina and The Purist (both n/a in Weho). The use of local flavors/mixers made the drinks unique and tasty. One of the managers Steven chatted with us and recommended we come back for dinner and try specials like rabbit enchiladas and local catch seafood of the day. We came back a couple days later for dinner. Dinner Service: Reservation for 6:30PM and asked to be seated in the lanai/balcony so we can watch the sunset. Upon arrival, the hostess led us to the perfect view of the distant ocean with the sunset on the horizon. Our waiter Ian was nice, friendly, and accommodating. Another manager Valerie provided suggestions on wine pairings and also recommended local places to visit/dine the following day when we went to Princeville and Hanalei (1 hour away from the Grand Hyatt where we were staying). Food: To start, we ordered the guacamole tableside service since this was not available in Weho. She allowed us to choose the spices and how spicy the guacamole should be made. For entrees, the Avocado Leaf Rubbed Seared Ahi Tuna and Ancho Chili Rubbed Island Catch of the Day did not disappoint. Both dishes used fresh, organic, and local ingredients that made them light to eat yet flavorful. The wine pairing of the dishes was J Pinot Gris. To cap it off, the sampler dessert platter was complimentary. The churros were as good as the ones we find in LA food trucks while the dark chocolate ice cream with salt and chili was simply divine. Note to SoCal people visiting TR Kauai/Weho: Do not compare TR to the Mexican food in LA. This place is not El Cholo or El Coyote or any hole in the wall in the valley/East LA. The ingredients may be Mexican but the culinary execution is refined and sophisticated. If you want albondigas or authentic tacos, go to Mexico City (that's the name of the place I swear) in Los Feliz.
(5)A A.
Place seems very trendy and inviting, the staff were great and always accommodating, but what really hurt this restaurant's rating is their menu. There I a huge discrepancy between price:value. What I mean is that for the quality and portion size of the meals we were served, we payed through the nose. I would understand if we were eating at Roys or Flemings, but a random Mexican restaurant charging a lot for sub-par entrees? Didn't really dig it. Guacamole and chips cost $11. The chips are hard and not very tasty. Three tiny fish tacos (alone, no sides) will cost you over $13 and add a very limited menu to the table. The appetizers would be a great place to order from since it is cheaper than the "main courses" and has more variety. The waitresses were extremely nice, but sadly, someone decided to charge a lot more than their food is actually worth.
(3)ziya n.
Last night we had the most exquisite and outrageous time at Tortilla Republic's Speak Easy Party upstairs. There was a live swing band, burlesque dancers, and aerialists. Everyone came dressed in flapper costumes and drank drinks from the era. For a small island, this party was first rate.
(5)Samson D.
This was a very reasonably priced place for dinner in the resort area we stayed in. Nice atmosphere. service was okay. Food was pretty good. No complaints. Not authentic Mexican food but a resort-themed restaurant.
(3)Lani H.
Ate dinner there Wednesday night. I called ahead to check on a menu item. I was told that there were two kitchens and that I could order from either menu... Not true. No big deal. I ordered tortilla soup and shared a plate of nachos with my husband. Not sure what did it, but all Wednesday night I was up dealing with cramps, death gas and vomiting. Diarrhea followed not too long after the vomiting began. My husband contacted the restaurant to ask what went wrong in the kitchen... Yeah, still waiting for a manager to call us back. If I could wrap up the vomit & diarrhea and send it back to them, I would! ***On a positive note, I went to Wilcox ER and they spruced me right up. They re-hydrated me with IV fluids and gave me anti-nausea medication.***
(1)Kelly B.
We went to the Tortilla Republic for our last night's dinner on Kauai and it did not disappoint. Although we had to wait a while to be seated when it appeared that the restaurant was not full, that was a minor inconvenience. To start we shared the Jicama Tacos. Delicious and flavourful! For our main courses my husband ordered Carnitas. It was a tasty and generous portion. I had the Enchiladas Suizas which were super good. To finish, I ordered and ate the chocolate decadence all to myself. It was excellent! I would recommend this restaurant. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for.
(4)Liv R.
Didn't think I could go wrong with the fish tacos....not!! They had a bad aftertaste and not very fresh. You would think an establishment in Kauai would have outstanding fish... Not this place! Husband ordered the carne asada tacos which were salty. Never again... Please do not ever attempt to eat Mexican food on this island. I've been coming to Kauai for the past 30+ years and I suggest you stick with the local cuisine or seafood but not at a faux Mexican restaurant. Overpriced, wanna be trendy, and bad snooty service. Do yourself a favor and go to Big Save and get the bento boxes instead!
(1)J W.
kauai local here, recently had dinner at tortilla republic, arrived around 9pm with party of 6, they happily seated us no problem, they even kept the kitchen open just for us. Great food Great Service Def check this place out, high class mexican food
(5)Alex W.
The service was excellent, everyone was friendly and attentive. But the food was a little bit off. We got the ahi poke appetizer, the fish was delicious but the avocado was so underripe that I thought I was eating cucumber up until the last bite. My Dark and Stormy cocktail was also a bit off. It needed lime juice which you're supposed to add to balance the sweetness of the ginger beer. The menu is almost the same as the original location in LA although I wonder if this should be considered $$$ and not $$?
(4)Keith M.
We were surprisingly delighted by this restaurant. Guacamole, and ahi tacos were excellent. Wait staff very friendly. Food service fairly quick. Nice menu, we will be back!
(5)E F.
Loved the atmosphere of the place and the food was GREAT, very nice mix of all things Mexican and the drinks were SOLID...........
(3)Tanya J.
Alright here's what I like: I love the ambience, I love the service, I like the name of the restaurant, I even like the menu. By the way, if you check in via yelp you will get a free salsa tasting which is fantastic!!! Lastly, I absolutely loved my virgin piña colada. What I would like even better: I ordered the one salad on the menu for dinner and it leaves much to be desired. On paper it sounded great with black beans, tortilla strips, tomatoes, avocado, jalapeno honey dressing... Unfortunately it was overflowing with so much lettuce. At $13 you expect a little bit more than a head of chopped romaine. I'd be willing to give it another shot though based on all the good things I experienced.
(3)Jennifer M.
Visually speaking, Tortilla Republic has a lot going for it: great dining room, nice bar seating, beautiful decor etc. Portion wise, they certainly aren't stingy. We received what looked like a bucket of tortilla chips upon sitting down. Our table was wonderful (get a seat upstairs, it's much nicer in my opinion plus you get a beautiful sunset view and breeze up there). We weren't particularly hungry, so we ordered the ceviche and carnitas to share. Ceviche was the clear winner hands down. Our service was hit and miss, attentive and then forgetful. Most of our drinks arrived, except one. Most of our meals were made correctly, except one. Ordered two types of tortillas, only one came to our table. Kept having to flag someone down to correct the errors. I would second the suggestion that if you are indeed looking for amazing Mexican food, head to Verde in Kapaa (get their ahi tacos--I swear they are mind blowing). Despite the nice decor and great restaurant location, Tortilla Republic just falls flat. It's not bad per say...just meh--another Mexican chain amongst the tourist dining options.
(3)Gabriela W.
This was our second time here. The first time, two years ago was disappointing. I wanted to give this place a second chance because I saw that they offer chilaquiles for breakfast. I ordered chilaquiles with tomatillo sauce, black beans, egg whites, queso fresco, avocado. I asked for extra sauce because they looked kinda dry in the Yelp photos. They needed it. It wasn't the best tomatillo salsa I've ever had, but it got the dish by. 3.5 stars. We also ordered guacamole. It tasted like it'd been made hours before, and was way too salty. We had to send it back:/ Good service, too bad the food isn't better.
(3)Steven H.
We had a really delicious lunch here, maybe the most authentic-tasting Tex-Mex I've had in ages. My son had the chicken tinga one and I had the green chile pork shoulder one. The salsa verde was excellent. So good, and very generous portions. The chips and house-made salsa were first rate. Service was very friendly and attentive. Eat outside. The shopping center it is in is very pleasant, day or night.
(4)PJ C.
We choose to dine in the less expensive downstairs restaurant as part of this two level dining complex. We snagged an outdoor table with not much wait (it was apparent that the hostess was inexperienced given the table we got was open when we arrived and it wasn't until we pointed this out to her were we seated). It was Taco Tuesday so two tacos for $8-$9. The shrimp tacos were great as were the fish tacos. The pineapple salsa was tasty. The side salads were fresh with a surprisingly spicy dressing. The salsa sampler was pricey but a good chance to try some different salsas though none were spicy. Our server as friendly and efficient.
(4)Eugene L.
Wow. The 8oz filet w mushroom tequila cream sauce (cooked medium/medium-rare) was the best steak I've ever had. Went twice in a week and it was amazing both times. Their bottomless salsa tasting was also very good. Especially the habanero papaya carrot salsa. We sat in the big upstairs private dining room. Service was super friendly. Tableside guacamole was fun to watch. Pricey but worth it for the steak!
(5)Sheryl I.
Great location. Good place to go with lots happening around. Service good and friendly. Food good but nothing spectacular. Had guacamole and salsa tasting. Guac pricey and comes in small bowl. It was plenty but thought cost a little high for size. Fish taco (ahi) were good and large portion (3 tacos), shrimp quesadilla good and chicken burrito large and good. All food needed little extra seasoning. We added salt to everything.
(3)Shmian V.
I wish it could be zero stars. Pregnant bartender was not happy working. The poor service showed so we switched to a table. The house margaritas were so bad they tasted like dirty socks. It was the foulest tasting margarita I ever had. The salsa seemed like a Ragu spaghetti sauce with some spices added. This was the worst experience I have had on Kauai and would recommend To go anywhere else before coming here. The food was bland at best and took forever to come. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE to avoid a bad experience on your vacation!!
(1)Paul O.
Love Mexican food but I wouldn't say even by Hawaiian standards this was very good. Service was also inattentive on a Friday night for 4 with the waitress not bringing drinks until dinner was almost served and forgetting things like bringing over glasses even though we reminded her. Nacho's, Guacamole, Chicken Tinga all tasted dry and processed..nothing fresh or tasty about it. Was hoping to get a break from the (very good) hotel food where we were staying at a closeby resort but this certainly wasn't it.
(2)Krista R.
Great food, reasonable prices. The tortilla soup was good. My group also had fish tacos, vehicles burrito, and nachos. Everyone was pleased with their meal. We will return again.
(4)Jonathan W.
I switched up today and had the Ahi Hash. It came with Caramelized Onions, Purple Potatoes and Arugula. This was a great mixture of favors and a perfect brunch meal.
(5)Toni M.
This is turning into one of our favorite restaurants here. It's a bit confusing, because the upstairs and downstairs are separate entities, despite sharing a name. The downstairs is called the TR Taqueria & Margarita Bar; it's more casual. The upstairs is called Tortilla Republic Grill and is more fine dining. The food is fabulous both places, but the menus differ. This thread of reviews is for both upstairs and downstairs. This trip alone we've had dinner and brunch downstairs and loved both. For brunch I ordered chilaquiles and couldn't finish them, though they were wonderful. Tonight we had dinner upstairs for the first time. We had a TravelZoo deal, thanks to one of our compadres on the special event yesterday and the day before, who told Alan about it. It covered two drinks, one appetizer and two mains. We had 7:00 reservations. We took the elevator to the second floor. It needs servicing, as it was too quick to close and getting out unscathed was a bit of a struggle. The hostess stand was unattended when we arrived, but a young woman said someone would be right w/ us, then another woman and young man arrived, had a brief discussion and then the man seated us at a four top by the open front window. We were given menus and poured glasses of water w/ almost no ice. We decided to share the tableside guacamole to start. I ordered the Perfect Margarita w/ salt while Alan ordered the House w/o salt. We ordered Brussels sprouts to share w/ our mains. I was torn between several main dishes, but settled on the Al Pastor Pork Chop. Alan was similarly torn between several dishes but decided on the Ancho Chili Rubbed Island Catch of the Day, which today was ono. Both dishes came w/ grilled asparagus and different sauces and sides. The tableside guacamole was mixed by a personable middle aged man named Pedro, who struck up a different, personalized conversation w/ each table. Amazing man, and his guacamole was delicious. Speaking of delicious, the margaritas were terrific. My pork chop was fabulous and too big to finish. I was so glad I chose it. Alan's ono was also wonderful, at least the taste I had of it was, and he seemed very happy w/ it. The Brussels sprouts were sublime. Our server was energetic and charming. Her name was Bahar and she sparkled. Not surprisingly she has been specifically named in other reviews. She has the touch. In all it was a superb experience and we will be back next time we're on Kauai.
(5)Danielle L.
Ceviche and fajitas were great! Would definitely go back again! It was also nice too cool down a but in the air conditioned room rather than be outside in the heat and humidity.
(4)Gina M.
We came at the busiest time of day, 2:30pm... So the bartender was getting a smack down (we sat at the bar b/c we were starving) so the slow start had me cranky, BUT the food, once it arrived, was DELICIOUS! I had the breakfast quesadilla w a side of guacamole & my husband had the chicken burrito... Sooo good! I also tried the Poipu Mist cocktail & am wishing I'd taken one with me as a road soda! It was soooo tasty! We'll be back fo sho:)
(4)Christine E.
Delicious!! Chili Verde burrito and a perfect martini... Ryan is great fun and a wealth of info behind the bar. Definitely would come back!!
(5)P D.
Not sure why this place doen't have spectacular reviews. The ceviche and the fish taco were really really good!
(5)David S.
Damn GOOD food! On vacation blah, blah, blah... Being in a tourist trap my expectations were muted at best. I was very pleased with our experience. I had the $10 house margarita...it was fine. For $6 you can go with the "bottomless" three-salsa appetizer (you still get "free" chips and salsa...red salsa). The chips are fine. The red salsa is fine. The habanero salsa is too mild for me (Again, Mexican-American restaurant so they aim please the 'anglo-pallet.") The verde salsa was my favorite. I had the shrimp quesadilla which was "very tasty." I had 1/3 of a veggie burrito the next morning which was also very good. Ambiance was great. Service was attentive and accommodated two kids under two. Prices seemed appropriate...I didn't pick up bill, but I want to say my entre was $14-ish. If I go back to Kauai I would make an effort to try this place out in the future.
(5)Christopher S.
This is a good find. Good value for the money. Very large Burritos stuffed with meats, an excellent happy hour with five dollar margaritas, nachos, and other dishes. The food was fresh, the drinks were good, and the ambience was enjoyable. It's kind of a small place, so at happy hour it gets rather busy. But it is a good value at happy hour for drinks and small dishes.
(4)Mish G.
We ate here twice on vacation so clearly we enjoyed the food. The service downstairs left a little to be desired and we believe he may have forgotten part of our order. The service upstairs was spot on and the guacamole was awesome.
(4)Nish B.
Being on this island as a vegetarian is tough. But mexican food always has veggie options, right? Well this place wasn't great. We ordered salads with black beans. Nothing great. So I ordered some more black beans on the side bc what they gave in the salad was minimal. So she brought out more black beans, in the smallest container ever - equivalent to about 2 tablespoons. Ummmm. OK. And the salsa: tasted like ketchup and salsa mixed. I don't know why it had a sweet taste. However, the chips and drinks were on par.
(2)Serena P.
Good flavors. Great atmosphere. Strong drinks. Friendly staff. Came in on a super busy night. Walk in and got sat right away. Must have been our lucky night. We sat at a high top in the bar area. Which is perfect. We love a casual atmosphere. Took a little long for the server to come greet us but it was such a busy night. I totally understand. When she came up she was super friendly. Got our drink order and apps started. When she came with drinks took our entree order and answered some food questions. Food came out pretty fast and tasted great. Could be a little more spicy but that's just my latin side talking. The fried Brussels sprouts are a must!!! The salsa tasting is so good. Love the green salsa. Wish the Papaya habanero was a little more spicy than sweet. My vegetarian burrito was amazing!!! And the fish tacos so good. Just needed a little extra salsa and they were perfect. We were too full for dessert. Left happy and full. Will be back again. Love this place when we are on the south shore.
(4)Gardenia D.
Food portion is great for the price! Service was great as well. Free chips & salsa(like how it should always be) Ono-licios burritos! Definitely best Mexican food over Oahu! Overall, this place is great!
(5)Andrew S.
The food overall was good, but the service was poor. The table side guacamole was disappointing, the avocados were not ripe. The fresh catch of the day, on the other hand, was very good. We had to wait too long to get refills, and our waiter was rude when we declined to order desert.
(3)Parul G.
We had dinner and breakfast here and overall not bad with breakfast being much better than dinner! Ambiance here is great, in the morning it has a nice little balcony/wrap around area which is open and refreshing to sit in. At night it has a cozy and warm ambiance which I found more akin to NYC than Hawaii. Service was good with our waiters being quite attentive on both occasions. On to the food: dinner here was alright....the chips and salsa were ok nothing that fabulous. The fajitas were good along wit the flautas but again nothing special. I would probably not come here again for dinner because the food was just ok and being from California it just doesn't cut it! Breakfast though was much better! My husband got the prickly pear bellini, which was yummy and quite different! We had the huevos rancheros and the blueberry pancakes, both good and yummy. My suggestion, come here for breakfast but skip dinner! Instead go to Josselins Tapas for dinner!
(3)Rebecca S.
Happy hour rocked hard here. It was our first time to this new plaza and I was lured by the Yelp reviews. It didn't disappoint. We bellied up to the bar (although they have a patio that looked very nice) and ordered margs and pupus. Oh lordy - my mouth and tummy cannot forget the creamy and slightly spicy potato croquettes. Get a couple of these because they're only 3 per plate. So so delicious. We also got the nachos, which were good, but nothing to Yelp about. To satiate my thirst, I ordered the hydration marg with coconut water and wished I would have gone for the regular marg instead. Good concept, but not really that tasty. Wait staff was friendly and manager went out of his way to chat it up with us, which also left a good taste in my mouth.
(5)Shahrooz H.
If you're in the mood for great food and an excellent vibe then you must go to Tortilla Republic. But make sure you ask for Bahar! She's got an amazing energy about her and makes the entire dining experience that much better. The guacamole is to die for and its no coincidence that every single table has a huge bowl of it on their table. The guac is made right there at your table and its the best I've ever had. One of the best dining experiences I've had in a while. So stop debating and get yourself over there. You'll be happy you did.
(5)Leah E.
First and foremost, I LIVE for Mexican food. It seems to me that Kauai has had an explosion of Mexican restaurants that are all delicious. This place fits right into that category except... This is fancy Mexican food. What do I mean by that? Quality ingredients in a super trendy atmosphere. We were there on Easter Sunday for dinner and there was an amazing DJ spinning. Close your eyes and take a sip of a delicious cocktail and you think you're in Vegas. (The waitress' look like they are dressed for a Vegas night club. My friends were distracted by that. But I get it.) The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because they have a limited menu on Sundays. I would totally get that if the place was dead, but there wasn't an empty table in the place and its dinner. I ordered the chicken nachos (epic), and friends split a veggie burrito with side salad. Our waitress split the order for them on two plates with no hassle. Love this! And our friend had a bowl of tortilla soup that was HUGE. I can't wait to go back here on my next trip to Kauai!!!
(4)Nicole B.
Everything was great. I especially enjoyed the brussel sprouts, and short ribs! If staying in Poipu this is the perfect dinner spot.
(4)michelle d.
Great service, delicious table side guacamole, good bottomless salsas and the fish of the day was fresh and creatively prepared. Carl's drinks, especially his Mai Tai, we all good.
(5)Mona L.
Great Mexican. I really liked my salad and my husband and son loved the nachos, guacamole and carnitas burrito. It was amazing service, was seated immediately. Wish chips and salsa came free but the salsa tasting was pretty yummy. Probably not worth the price which is why this is four stars as well. I will be back.
(4)Daniel G.
Waited 20 minutes for a waiter to come by. Stopped at a few tables around us. Didn't say anything. So we left. Ha!
(1)Michael B.
Tonight was my 4th visit to TR. This is one of my 2 favorite South Shore spots. The staff, as always, was well trained, the manager is attentive, the restaurant is clean, the bathrooms are great, but one thing was not so good. The California avocados. I understand that many things like their tomatoes are shipped in, and of course their Brussels sprouts too. But Kauai has plenty of amazing avocados & much else already going to waste. I understand that it may not be convenient to always source locally, but the lack of compassion for the local farmers and local economies are pretty disrespectful. As guests on this Island, it makes sense to source locally as much as possible. Until then, I will not be able to support TR. mahalo and aloha! I'm hoping for some good news.
(1)Maria L.
We came by as a recommendation from our hotel bartender. Delicious tacos and drinks. Great service
(4)Ken V.
We tried TR for our first time last night. Overall, it was excellent. We started with the table side guacamole service, which was excellent. And the obligatory chips and salsa are both made fresh. We got our guacamole lightly spiced for our group, but the waiter gave me some peppers to dial mine up a bit. I tasted a friend's camerones del diablo (spicy shrimp), which was really good. Not too spicy, despite the name, but I do like spicy... For my main, I had the beef short ribs, which were superb. Soft and moist, and massively flavorful. The accompanying sauce and garlic mashed potatoes were also excellent. The ladies in our group got a pitcher of margaritas, which they said was the best they'd ever had. On ice, not frozen. It was Friday, so they had live music as well. Despite sitting very near to the guitarist, it wasn't overly loud for the most part. And we had a fun chat with him anyway. Overall, we had a very fun evening. I'll certainly go back when we are next in Kaua'i.
(5)Erin Y.
Pretty decent Mexican food and a nice break from Hawaiian cuisine if you're on a long trip. Be careful not to confuse this place with the more causal downstairs taco bar, as the menus are very different. We had the table side guacamole which was just very good guacamole. Other appetizers we shared were the ahi crudo and the fried Brussels sprouts. I enjoyed both of these. The ahi crudo was tasty and refreshing and Brussels sprouts were delicious. For my entree, I had the carnitas, which was yummy. It wasn't a true carnitas as it more resembled chunks of pork rather than pulled pork, but it was tasty nonetheless. The chicken tinga enchilada and beef shortrib entrees were also very good. The salad was huge. We didn't enjoy the rolled chicken taco appetizer, it was difficult to eat and not very tasty. For dessert, we had the churros, which were tasty. They definitely could have used more cinnamon sugar, but the chocolate and caramel dipping sauces were great. Overall, it's good Mexican food, some hits and misses but overall a nice meal.
(3)Wendy C.
We went the other night and experienced amazing food, great cocktails and food, and the staff was super friendly. Bahar the server was knowledgable about the food choices and very friendly. Karl the bartender created a refreshing tropical sangria and also served us a one of a kind Mai Tai that was out of this world. For food the stuffed poblano and Brussels sprouts were to die for. We are definitely going back before we leave this beautiful island.
(5)Meg R.
On the island, Tortilla Republic (also with a location in West Hollywood, CA) is renowned for its Modern Mexican dishes with an island twist. It definitely lives up to its great reputation. The weather was perfect on the afternoon we arrived at Tortilla Republic and we were able to dine on their relaxing outdoor patio. The restaurant was tastefully decorated with an airy ambiance that fit right into the island vibe. If you visit, you MUST order a cocktail - This is where Tortilla Republic really blows my mind. Their Cucumber Lavender margarita was outstanding! The wait staff is incredibly friendly and attentive and will give your table excellent recommendations on what to order. Some of our favorites include: Ceviche, Flautas (Tacos) de Pollo, Tacos de Jicama, Pescado Asada Tacos, Quesadilla de Camarones, and the Ahi Burrito. For dessert, the Churros and Chocolate Flan are also incredible. True to island-style, all the dishes at Tortilla Republic were light and fresh with the perfect amount of saltiness to satisfy your cravings after a long day at the beach. Given the amount of great Mexican places on Kauai, there are many options but Tortilla Republic is where it's at!
(4)Chrissy And Todd H.
Excellent restaurant! Perfect after a day swimming, snorkeling, or surfing. We loved the house margaritas and the jalapeño margaritas. BOMB salsas and guac. Our party of 6 each had something different and loved everything! Best things: Shrimp quesadilla, pollo tinga tacos, and the carnitas taquitos. ALL staff was super nice, which is the only reason I ever feel compelled to write a review. Amazing hostess, server, and food runner made the experience perfect!
(5)Elyssa S.
We stopped in here for dinner after checking out spouting horn nearby. We started with the salsa sampler and filled up on too many chips! Haha. I ordered the quesadilla which was very good even though I was quite full after having so many chips! My husband had a steak burrito which he also enjoyed. Not bad for Mexican food in Hawaii!
(4)Lindsey S.
When Kukuiula opened up those of us on the south shore were so excited to get these new great restaurants, and Tortilla Republic does not disappoint! I went for breakfast last year and it was pretty amazing, but dinner is what we normally show up for! The table side guacamole is always delicious, and the guy who does it is... quirky! Haha, nice enough but definitely socially awkward! For checking in to Yelp you can get a free salsa tasting and I love the variety of salsas, normally none are too spicy, just very unique and delicious! The food is always good, and I love that they serve the beans and rice family style. Last time I ordered the Mole de Poblano Enchilada and it was amazing, I love a good Mole and this was right up there. Tip: if you don't make a reservation you have to sit downstairs and order from the bar menu, so call ahead and get your seat!
(4)Helen P.
Happy hour at the bar, They have good selection of happy hour menu. Good service. They also have a good selection on their regular menu. Awesome view of the the sunset.
(5)DJ B.
Solid happy hour meal yesterday. Tostadas and chicken tacos made for good options. Solid service and nice experience
(4)Heather A.
There is island time and then there is ridiculously slow. Food was ok, but service so slow it took away from any upside. When my salad finally arrived I asked for additional salsa. Was told they only offer one basket of chips and salsa. Did I want to order a salsa sampler. Umm no thank you. At $20 and entree you'd think they could throw in chips and salsa. Salsa never made it to the table before I was finished with salad.
(1)Jackie H.
I thought this place was great! It's got a more modern feel (reminds me of our Chicago Mexican places) and the margaritas were good and strong! We didn't have a meal, just an app so this is more of an ambience/drinks review. It seems young, lively and our server was sweet and energetic. Just an overall good vibe. I think it's a great meet up with friends or date place!
(4)Nicole V.
This place was exactly what we were looking for in Kauai. We ended up going here twice: once for happy hour and once for a light dinner. We live in LA, so when I heard there was an LA-based Mexican place with vegan options near our hotel, I was keen to try it. I'm glad that we did. Happy hour prices are awesome; $5 for a margarita in Poipu is a steal. We paid almost three times that ($14) for a single margarita at our hotel. The service is pleasant enough and at dinner, you get free chips and salsa. The real benefit of coming here in my opinion, however, was the delicious vegetarian burrito! We ordered it vegan (no cheese) and it was probably the most flavorful thing we had on the island. We found a lot of the vegan options in Kauai to taste a bit bland, and this was totally on-point for spices and zest, without being too spicy for my husband. Tip: Ask for the housemade yellow hot sauce if you're a real spice fiend. That stuff is pure habanero gold.
(5)Jennie A.
My husband & I returned to Tortilla Republic after two years & had an amazing meal upstairs in the grill. It was one of the best meals we've had during our three week stay in Hawaii. The best thing about this meal is that they did not cater to a simple American palate. When we order spicy guacamole, we usually get little to no spice. The table side made guacamole was excellent. The portion size of everything we ordered were of good value & the service was excellent.
(4)Hillary M.
We came here for breakfast, on the way out to a day trip from Poipu. I was excited to check this place out because I read such great things online (mostly for dinner though I'm sure). We ordered the chilaquiles and the blueberry corn pancakes. The food itself was very tasty and I loved what we ordered. Pancakes were great in texture and tasty, and the chilaquiles were out of this world. Regarding the service though, it took FOREVER for our food to come. I think we waited a half hour. And the weird thing was, when we ordered the chilaquiles, you had the option to add eggs (which I already thought was weird because chilaquiles are supposed to come with eggs) - but anyway, it costs $3 to add eggs, your choice of preparation. So we decided to add over easy eggs. When the food comes out, it comes with one over easy egg, there were two of us. And seriously $3 for an egg? I complained to the waitress and she brought out another egg and blamed herself for not specifying 2 eggs. She was friendly but I thought it was slow and overpriced. That's what knocked it down to 3 stars. But the food was 4 stars!
(3)Scott M.
You have no idea how badly I wanted to give Tortilla Republic more stars...I really wanted to drop 5, right here, right now -- and even accounting for my "Never 5 on first visit" rule, I just can't give them more than three after two visits...but I am sincerely hopeful to up this up to 4 or 5 later this year. "WHY???" I hear you ask, well, allow me to explain. My wife and I spent two weeks in Koloa/Poipu at the end of 2014 and found ourselves at the shops at Kukui`ula for dinner several times. We went to Tortilla Republic twice, and we will definitely return, but there were some issues. The good: 1) Tableside Guacamole. If you get Pedro, you'll get a fantastic story of how he came to do what he does, where he's worked, and more. Outstanding service, great guy, and makes the best guacamole I've had in my life. His protege helped us the second night, just as fantastic, slightly different technique, both were incredible. I'd return for this alone. Really, you have to do it. If you like spicy, you'll have to really encourage them to turn it up, as the standard levels are pretty tame. 2) Food in general. Delicious, ample, great variety. We didn't have mains, stuck with a selection of starters and shared one main between us, which was more than enough. Great way to see what they're capable of, and we loved everything we had. The not so good: 1) Service. Especially the second night. To be fair, it was an incredibly busy time of year, and they were flat out, BUT, it took about 25 minutes for a cocktail to be made for us (we didn't order from the menu, but, they had the ingredients and could have said no, that they were too busy). Water-guy was great, attentive, and we were never wanting for that, but, they had a real chance to sell us more drinks, but just didn't have the staff to compensate. The staff weren't wasting time, they were seriously hustling, but, it wasn't enough. They ran out of corn chips as well. That's a major faux pas for a venue like this. They were able to get some from the tapas part of their restaurant downstairs, but, ouch. 2) Spice. They really can ramp it up, a LOT. It's lower than mild. There's a vague reference to jalapeño here and there, and I'm by no means a heat-fiend, but there wasn't a single moment of "GET ME WATER" -- even the salsas were tremendously flavoured, but mildly spiced. Personal preference issue, I know that, but, I saw at least one other couple ask for some hot sauce to *add* to their salsa during dinner...I think they're playing it safe given the locale, and maybe they don't need to. Really, that's it. I think that the venue has a great location, had a huge queue every night, is obviously popular, but, they need the trained staff to keep it going. They don't seem to have that, or, at least they didn't at the time of year (end of December 2014) we visited. We WILL go back. The guacamole alone is why it deserves repeat business. I'd love to visit when they're not so busy and really see what their cocktail crew is capable of.
(3)Karen R.
Just had cocktails and guacamole but it was great. Sit upstairs at the bar and let Carl and Laura make you their amazing cocktail creations...so fresh and creative! The table-side guacamole was a great touch too and totally fresh and delicious!!
(5)Jessica S.
Came here for breakfast and we had a nice meal. My parents each ordered a bloody maria that came with two poached shrimp. The drinks were great. My mom ordered the TR Benedict and my dad got the poblanos rellenos and they loved it. I tried my mom's dish and it was awesome. The manchego scone added a nice tart flavor and the eggs were perfectly poached. A star was knocked off because I didn't enjoy my meal. I ordered the huevos divorciados and while it did have good flavor it was not very filling. It was two poached eggs, two different salsas, black beans and two strips of bacon. I wish it came with some of the potatoes that my mom's dish came with - I think it would have made it complete. Nice decor and friendly staff.
(4)Sandy d.
With an 8:00 reservation you just don't expect to get your meal nearly an hour and a half later. The servers were very nice however it was very obvious that they had forgotten to put in our dinner order. How about owning up to your mistakes? The restaurant was empty except for our table of 7. It had reached the point of being super awkward. As a favor, they brought us extra salsas and chips. Big deal. I travel extensively for business and pleasure and eat at many restaurants. There is really no excuse for this level of service and having to wait for so long for a meal without any apologies or attempts to make things right. We won't return.
(2)Kaleb A.
Love this place. Our server Debbie was so friendly. Offered us all sorts of entertainment and crayons for the baby to play with while we ate. They sat us in view of the television and passing traffic so my son could enjoy the views and chat with the ladies. :)
(5)deb r.
Hands-down BEST breakfast in Poi'Pu! Outstanding service and amazing flavors. Great for families and adults alike. Thank you Apryl for the reco and inviting us to enjoy a beautiful Kauai breakfast. Mahalo!
(5)Brian G.
The bottomless chips and salsa was a great way to start. Great selection of 3 different types of salsa. The Margaritas almost had too much Tequila. Family ordered a wide variety from Veggie, Chicken burritos to Carne Asada Tacos. The kids gave a thumbs up for the kids menu. Highly recommend. Better than the place up the road on way to Waimea Canyon. Save room for Lapperts ice cream across the way.
(5)Mel P.
Never again will I go to Tortilla Republic. 1. Bad service - the server only came to take our order and the check. I guess she was too busy to help. 2. Super small portions and way overpriced. I ordered the fish taco and received about 3 tablespoons of fish TOTAL...not per taco TOTAL! I think it was $13 or so, I can't remember anymore as I've tried to forget about this place all together. Do not waste your time or money.
(1)Ajay N.
Great Mexican food in Kauai! From the flavorful burritos to the yummy quesadillas! Definitely a repeat!
(5)Susan M.
The table side Guacamole is awesome! Carnitas is my favorite and the Sopa de Tortilla soup! Carl the bartender is the best ! Ole'
(5)Ryan P.
Very nice staff here but food was only fair and they were low on products. Had no guacamole or mezcal tequila! Not a great restaurant overall but good atmosphere. If you are a foodie I would recommend going to another restaurant.
(2)Cyn Q.
Best Mexican on the island. Margarita was top notch, not sickly sweet. Made from scratch. Enchiladas suiza are super! As was the fish fajitas. Table side guacamole out of this world. Waiter Jason was personable and knowledgable. Oh, and a shout out for the guac guy ! Verde in Kapaa is very tasty, but doesn't have the ambience or expansive bar of TR.
(5)Gayle H.
The shrimp taco was amazing, I usually do not care for battered shrimp in tacos but the batter on the shrimp was so good & the shrimp was huge. The fish on the other two tacos was over cooked, the waiter immediately had new ones made which were perfectly cooked & removed my dinner from the bill which was not expected but very nice! Thank you Tortilla Republic, my friends and I had a good time and a great dinner!!!
(3)april k.
Went to the taco bar this time, food was great. Service is hit or miss (at least downstairs). Shrimp tacos were the best of the bunch, but really, all of the tacos were yummy. The hula tai was really nice, but then got the horchada mai tai - skip it. Bleagh. If you are going to the taco bar anyway, try happy hour.
(4)Joe R.
I would say this is average Mexican food compared to other locations on the island. Had a good happy hour though, went for happy hour several times during our visit
(4)Steph W.
Yum!!! My hubby and I went for brunch and had an amazing time. We got the pork hash I believe it's called, and the stuffed poblano pepper and they were off the charts good. :-) The hash, however, really took it all the way to being one of the best brunch meals I've ever had, so that's my number one suggestion. Go for the gold!
(4)David R.
The place is in a great location and was fairly busy when we had gone and one of the first things I had noticed was that the place seemed understaffed....Which for me means poor service. I was right...Took a while to get someone over to help us with drinks....Muchless have anyone check on us. The happy hour portions are small so don't expect much in terms of a filling meal and a few drinks for a good price.
(3)Everett L.
We were looking for a place that could accommodate a large party immediately and they did. The food is amazing, some of the best Mexican food I have eaten. My wife got the pork chop and it was awesome, the mashed potatoes that accompany it were great. I had the prime beef enchiladas and they were outstanding. My only complaint is that the table made guacamole had to much lime in it.
(5)Noe O.
I've eaten a lot of Mexican food... From Ensenada to Juarez and back to East San Jose. Take a look through my local photos. This isnt Mexican food. It's Cali-Hawaiian-Mexi fusion.. And not at it it's finest. My childhood friends who were all born and raised on Kauai told me " Tortilla Republic is mean brah, should check dem out when you stay ovah dea ". Well I shouldn't've....... My Girl got the fish tacos. The teeny tiny fish tacos. There was maybe 2.ozs of what I believe was tilapia. That's 2.ozs split between 3 tacos. Their was no salsa Mexicana or onions and cilantro.. No Ensenada style crema. Only a few little lonely diced tomato pieces. The day before I got a fish taco from nearby Da Crack and it had almost twice as much ono as all three of Tortilla Republic's tacos. Pinche serio guey ! Me and my GF's nephew got the shrimp quesadillas. I figured it's kinda hard to mess up cheese and shrimp. The pictures on yelp looked really good and that's what sold me on stopping here for dinner. To be honest the presentation is all pretty top notch here. That's one thing TR does well. The quesadillas however were bland. They weren't as disappointing as the fish tacos. If you're a fan of thin lightly puffed flour tortillas then you might like this version. Personally I think they taste closer to shrimp stuffed croissants like that. They did honor their yelp salsa sampler coupon. Papaya habanero, how Mex-Hawaiian is that. I believe it was a $5 value ? The bar section seemed to be happening by Kauai standards. Overall I'd say the atmosphere here is nice and the prices aren't as outrageous as some of the hotel's restaurants..... But if you eat a lot of Mexican food on "da mainland" you might be severely underwhelmed.
(2)Jacob B.
It is a bit pretentious, it feels like a restaurant that is trying to be trendy and modern for the sake of being trendy and modern. Service is mediocre, as was the food, nothing special. There are plenty of better establishments in the same shopping area.
(2)Evey G.
This is a great place to sit outside and have a lovely meal with some friends. My husband and I had a lunch here during our stay, and actually walked to it from the Sheraton. I tried their Horchata Tai for a drink, and found it to be quite tasty and pretty unique. We also had the nachos, and some tacos. Drinks and tacos were excellent. The nachos could have been excellent, the toppings certainly were, but the chips themselves seemed to be stale. We ate them anyway, but it could have been better. Loved the atmosphere, loved the friendly service, it was a little slow at times, but we were fine with the pace and also the chance to digest. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Boris W.
While I understand it's hard for "Joe Customer" to have any real recourse in a vacation destination like Kauai, HI however we now have a tool like Yelp to help us. Sufficed to say, our experience began with a hostess that was as unwelcoming as could be despite our attempts to give her a chance to turn it around. For the most part our wait staff was attentive, and pleasant. Now my real complaint, I ordered a carne Asada burrito. There was so little Asada in the burrito I was forced to put on my wives reading glasses given I left mine in the hotel room in order to hunt for any evidence of beef on my carne Asada burrito. The other problem is with the customary chips and salsa any god fearing Mexican oriented restaurant provides it's patrons at "No Additional" cost. Instead "TR" masks this as a "salsa tasting" appetizer at almost $5.00. Of course this can be covered in their general food prices, instead offer this to their customer's at no additional cost. This is a personal gripe that just seems to me as a way to keep their customer's happy from a few short moments after they arrive at their table. TR, you've got a great place, and in this environment of competition always knocking at your door you need all the positive feedback to share with future customer's, and those that might come back if their experience is exemplary.
(2)Pb J.
Everything we ordered from Tortilla Republic was fresh and very delicious! The service was fast and friendly, and you have to sit outside on the make-shift balcony/patio area because it makes for a perfect dining experience! I have become a fierce nacho lover, and their nacho plate is huge (enough to share) and really good! We were lucky enough to check in and get the salsa sampler - the papaya chutney (I believe thats what it was) was amazing!! and certainly worth an order, whether you get the check- in deal or not. Also, I forget the name of the drink, but the cucumber and lavender cocktail was out of this world! Kinda sad that we didn't come in time for their breakfast beneits, because I am sure they would have been as amazing as everything else we ate!
(4)Food T.
Celebrated our anniversary here. The food was amazing, the experience was amazing too. Had black tiger shrimp, very well cooked, and the catch of the day which was great. Special shout to Jimmy, our server. I wasn't sure about the cocktail and he promised me to change my drink if I didn't like it. I loved the drink though :). He made all the food and drink recommendations and everything was perfect. Awesome service. The DJ had a really cool collection of music too. We will come back for sure.
(4)Renay J.
Fun restaurant, delicious appetizers and our server Emily was the best! She made our dining experience. The Chile Verde taquitos were delicious & cubano sandwich was tasty. I would def recommend
(4)Eric B.
The service was terrible they were out of a lot of things we wanted from salad dressing to different alcohols thAt were on there menu
(1)Helen P.
Good food, reasonable priced. Loved their fish taco and their hydration margarita. Nice outdoor seating.
(4)Angela C.
Forgive me for not taking pictures of my entree - I was on my honeymoon and the camera wasn't really on my mind - at least not as much as eggs benedict served on a freakin CHEESE SCONE!!!!!! Holy guacamole, Batman. After the husband and I made this discovery, we came back here another 2 times for the eggs benedict. I dream about them, I have tried to recreate them (utter fail) and I long for the day to be back on that glorious island eating them. Mmmmmm!
(4)Bill A.
The grilled fish tacos ($14 for 3) with mango salsa and aiole were served lukewarm after a LONG wait , but tasty enough. It did appear the fish (waitress said wahoo) was local and fresh, and fairly large single piece in each taco. I had to mash it with my fork to make it more taco-like. My daughter had the chicken quesadilla ($13.75), nothing special. Service very slow. Soda refills hard to come by. We asked for an outside table, but it was close to the door and wedged between a pair of window shutters. I see no reason to return, but the place was pretty busy on a Wednesday, about 7pm.
(3)S S.
Great breakfast with a Mexican twist! Machaca breakfast burrito, chilaquiles or seared ahi and sweet potato hash anyone? Great bloody Mary's and you have to try the watermelon lemonade with tequila! Next time you're in Po'ipo do your taste buds a favor and head over to Tortilla Republic!
(5)Kara B.
Best breakfast place on the island hands down!!! Wish i had this restaurant back home
(5)Jenny M.
The food here is really good, their tacos were awesome and great value. The 3 stars is due to two cons, first their drinks/ cocktail menu is poor unless u love tequila and the staff are over attentive, we were asked if everything was ok around 12 times in the hour we were there.
(3)Kathryn M.
Came here as a friend recommended them. Disgusted and never going back. First time we went there, we were turned away even though it was during their business hours. They said they were not seating anymore?!?! Tried again the next night, huge disappointment. Server was ok, but food was so crappy - tortilla's were hard, chicken was so salty that it was inedible, shrimp was mostly batter, salsa sampler is a joke (the tortilla chips are so hard and they give you a few drops of salsa and tons of chips) and portions were minimal. Complete joke for a mexican restaurant. Save your money and go elsewhere, seriously!
(1)David W.
This is my first yelp review -- this dining experience was so overpriced and mediocre that I felt compelled to warn you all so you can avoid my horrible meal here. 1. I paid $40 for food that should have cost $15 at a much better taqueria -- we ordered the fish tacos and the pork enchiladas. Small portioned, bland, totally disappointed. 2. The waitress was too busy chatting with her coworkers to notice our empty chip basket that accompanied our $11 guacomole. When she brought more chips, she took away the remaining guac without even asking -- there went $5 worth of guac. 3. Not to mention the drinks we had were watered down juices served over ice. We loved every place we ate at in Kuaui -- the island has food trucks and small restaurants galore showcasing much better food, waitstaff, and hosting. Don't fall into the trap of a 2 storied restaurant with fancy decor -- your money will be better spent doing something memorable. Avoid at all costs.
(2)Matt E.
During our stay in Kauai we made three trips to this restaurant. The first time we sat downstairs which has a smaller menu then the upstairs portion. I think everyone in our party had the three taco plate, with different proteins (chicken, fish, carne, etc...) and all of them were amazing!!! The three salsas that they bring out with their chips are also amazing. The second time it was just my wife and and we stopped by for drinks and a churro for dessert (not your ordinary churro, and it was awesome). Their margaritas are amazing and the bartender poured them pretty stiff so that's a huge plus!! The third time we sat upstairs but I still went back to the tacos which are just the perfect size. Not huge but filling. We also ordered guacamole which they make fresh table side to your liking. My wife had the flouta which she also enjoyed. The staff on all three occasions were very friendly and the service couldn't have been better. One thing to keep in mind is that you cant make a reservation downstairs but you can upstairs. Like many other reviewers mentioned we felt this was one of the best places to eat on the island.
(5)Crystal B.
My husband and I went for lunch on our first afternoon in Kauai. We started with house margaritas and guacamole. Both were pretty tasty and quite refreshing on a hot humid day. We both ordered tacos as our entrees. I got the carne asada on flour tortillas with a side of rice & beans. My husband got the fish tacos made with Ono that day with a side salad. Mine were perfect! Steak cooked to medium and topped with guacamole! His fish tacos were topped with a mango salsa! He thought they tasted fresh and light! Overall we thought it was a good location with a delicious lunch!
(4)Duane H.
saw a lot of good reviews on this place so when we found ourselves in the area after a snorkel trip we decided that we needed to see what the fuss was about. When we got there, there was a definite line to get in and be seated. As usual we asked if we could set at the bar and were told sure. We managed to skip a half hour wait that way. We also got to chat with a wonderful bartender who made an incredibly good albeit different mai tai. This was one of three A-Grade mai tai's that I was able to have on the trip. We had a truly wonderful nacho plate to top things off. What a wonderful experience. Be sure to check it out.
(4)Mihae L.
After looking at our planned dinner itinerary for our Hawaiian honeymoon, we saw a lack of variety and decided to add Tortilla Republic to the list. As far as Mexican food in Hawaii goes, this was great. Located in a more upscale shopping plaza and near resorts. The food was of high quality and the prices fair for the island. The restaurant seemed fully booked and very busy during an early April weekday night, so if you plan to go, probably better to make reservations. We used OpenTable and didn't have any problems. There were families with annoyed faces waiting around for theirs though, so plan ahead. As for the food, the carne asada and fish tacos were excellent, as was the salsa tasting appetizer with homemade tortilla chips. I shared a soup with my husband, which was amazingly good. Our server was friendly and seemed genuinely to care about your dining experience. She came by multiple times to check on us, maybe one or two times too many, but it wasn't in poor taste and not a big deal. The establishment is relatively big and there seemed to be spaces for all types of parties big and small. The ambiance is what I'd call casual candlelit (we went at night), not romantic or anything, but could be, depending on where you sit (there is a lit up tree in the background with some booths against the tree that looked like a romantic spot, but it was already seated with patrons when we got there). Restaurant could be called hip depending on the crowd. We were seated upstairs on the balcony where there was a bit of wind. Bring a coat if you plan to go at night, just in case. Not really a fault of the restaurant, but should be noted. Good change of pace if you're tired of local food or cooking for yourself.
(4)Cynthia T.
Delicious tacos! The hostesses are snobs though.
(5)Edgar B.
D-licious! A little pricey with decent portions on their bar menu. I'm not a fat tourist so I look for quality & taste over portions but those great tacos did have some meat in them! I'm not a fan of their specialty margaritas. I'll stick to the house marg.
(5)Gavin R.
Granted I live in a land locked state but the fish tacos I had here were the finest fish tacos I've ever had. Light and perfectly seasoned. However, my wife's chicken burrito was very average at best. Too many beans and too much rice. Service was good but not great. Is definitely go back for the fish tacos.
(3)Mike G.
We stopped by here for some margaritas and apps after a long day of hiking on Hanakapiai trail to the falls. Drinks were great and so were the nachos. Chips and salsa were good, but the avos they used in the guac weren't completely ripe so it was a bit chunky. Prices aren't too bad considering the location of this place (everything is marked up in that shopping center) - Overall, would recommend.
(4)John F.
Eh, it was okay. We didn't have reservations (anywhere) the night we came here, so we rolled the dice and lost. The food was painfully mediocre. My steak dish was really, really fatty. I should have said something, but hey, I was on my honeymoon. The only reason TR gets 3 stars instead of 1 or 2 is their excellent selection of margaritas and other drinks. Service was fair. Nothing to write home about and certainly not as good as the service we experienced in Maui. If you want to drink, come here. If you want to eat, definitely skip it.
(3)Chris G.
I live in Los Angeles and have numerous Mexican restaurants at my disposal, yet I decided to try Tortilla Republic, and I'm glad I did. I did not see any unusual menu items, in fact, the menu is limited, they have about 15 entree options, 8 appetizers, and 3 desserts. My assumption is that they keep it simple because they have perfected what they do. One thing they do have plenty of is tequila, lots of good choices. For starters, I liked the ambiance, you can sit in the restaurant or outside on the surrounding patio. The inside feels like being outside because they have large plantation style windows which are open, so you can see it and still catch the trade winds. The hostess station was occupied by two young (20ish) and very cute female host. Young and attractive was a common theme for all staff. My wife and I sat outside and had a view of the lush surrounding foliage and passing mall foot traffic, good people watching. Unfortunately no restaurants in the mall have a true ocean view, such is life. If you sit inside you can watch a sporting event on their televisions. The bar is inside, and it has a cool metal tree that springs up to the ceiling, some artist had a fun project. To drink, we enjoyed the Tortilla Republic version of a strawberry margarita, which was not blended, yet good (B+). As an appetizer we had the table guacamole (A) which was plenty big and full of flavor. The chips (A) that come to the table are also good, thick and not grease laden. Our server was Sierra, who was very mellow and knowledgeable, she did a nice job, as did all the staff. We split two different taco dishes, the Baja fish (A), and the Beef taco (A). The fish tacos had a nicely breaded chunk of fish and a tasty mango relish. The beef tacos were filled with chunks of carne asada and a fresco salsa that made for a delight in the mouth. Each taco order has 3 mini tacos, if you want rice and beans (B) that's a side order, which we got and enjoyed, basically two soup cups filled. As I've done my entire vacation, we over stuffed and had dessert. I'm accustomed to the very average, almost stale churros at the L.A. Coliseum, so this was a big treat. I'm going on record, the best churro I've ever had! You get 4 mini, sugar laden churros, which have a perfect crisp brown outside, and a flaky dough center, ummmm good! They come with two dipping dishes, chocolate or caramel, we preferred the caramel, don't hesitate to ask for a refill. Who knew I'd find such good Mexican food in Kauai?
(4)Denni P.
Trendy, good, fun and great atmosphere. Will go back when I'm back on Kauai. Tableside Guacamole was fantastic.
(4)Sum Dum Gai S.
Really 2.5 stars. The prices were the typically high Poipu prices but the portions were small. For example, $16 for three fish tacos that each came on a silver dollar size tortilla. Server seemed pissed to be working (you have a job be happy you have that) but the support staff was terrific. Drinks were weak, small and little booze. Tortilla soup was tasty though. That's what I get for looking for Mexican food n Kauai.
(3)Rachel P.
Food was reasonable. Minus 3 stars because we waited almost 2 hours for our food after putting our name on the list and being told the wait would be only 10 minutes. Tourist trap.
(2)Ryan W.
This place surprised me and was delicious! My boyfriend and I were pretty hungry and hadn't eaten Mexican food in over a week so we were open to try anywhere. We weren't too sure when the GPS directed us to a small strip mall of sorts. Once we sat down though and decided to order the table-side guacamole we were hooked. A gentleman came with the cart and not only made incredibly delicious guacamole, but dazzled us with stories of his life! He said he's made 7,000 bowls of guacamole and that practice sure showed! It was great! While the service was slow and not too personable (outside of the guacamole man), the entrees were incredible! Due to the vibe (decor and music) being too "modern" for my general tastes, I'm not giving it 5 out of 5. This is, however, a delicious spot if you are looking for Mexican food on Kauai!
(4)Steve C.
The food was pretty good during our visit, which came on farmer's market day, giving our outdoor table a nice view of the activity and musicians. The servers seemed a bit overworked and perhaps tired of tourists, but okay. It's a nice location in what's been described accurately as a chi-chi shopping village, and a pleasant enough experience, but not particularly memorable.
(3)Jill T.
The chicken taquitos were good and not the standard. My husband got cold and stale nachos that he is eating anyway so as not to create a fuss. I think they served us some nachos that the table next to us with a six kids sent back, just with chicken added. The drinks were good but the service was slowish and the food wildly inconsistent.
(3)Christian H.
What can you say about having "Mexican Food" in Kauai? You know it isn't going to be the most authentic dishes you could find, but I have to say that this was one of the best places that I had eaten the whole time staying in Kauai. Prices are obviously a little high, but so is everything else in Hawaii. The setting is trendy & the place is located inside a (no shock here) trendy village-setting mall. I never actually got a look at the inside of the place; they have an outdoor patio where we were immediately seated. A very random cat likes to wander the patio while you are out there & is a frequent visitor - in case that is a deal breaker for you. Definitely would go back again for some drinks again if I am in the area!
(4)Amit P.
Tortilla Republic is within a cluster of great restaurants like Josselin's & Merriman's. But it doesn't quite measure up. First off, there are no chips/bread/guacamole on the house, which would have been a good touch. We were starving. With light traffic, there was a lot of delay in taking the order and bringing out the food (nothing fancy, just soup/salad). The food itself was good (not great) but given its in the vicinity of awesome alternatives - I'd rather get more bang for my dough. They do have a cheaper lower level that would solve for price - value disconnect.
(2)David Y.
We found Tortilla Republic on our way back from visiting the Spouting Horn. We were immediately greeted. We were seated outside and their was enough shade by our table. I checked in on Yelp and received a Free Salsa Tasting. We ordered that added some guacamole and some drinks. All the Salsa's were great and everyone in our party enjoyed the Guacamole especially my 5 year old son. The waiter informed us the Fish of the day was fresh caught Mahi Mahi. My son ordered fish n chips and the rest of party ordered Fish Taco's, Ceviche & Chile Verde burrito. We ordered another round of drinks and when he returned we asked him about fish markets on the island. Our waiter who I did not catch his name was very friendly and told us about numerous markets and places to get fresh fish. He also told us about the annual fair which would be happening while we were still in Kauai. He was very happy that we took interest in the island and we thrilled to share things with us. He left and came back and stated our food was being prepared but would be a little longer as they are filleting a fresh Mahi Mahi that has just arrived. He said he asked his manager to comp our Guacamole since we are having to wait. We did not mind the additional time at all as we were getting fresh fish for our orders and we were still enjoying our drinks etc. The food came our shortly there after and the Fish Tacos, Ceviche & Burrito were excellent. My Son's Fish n Chips were even made with the Fresh Mahi Mahi he ate every last one. Overall we enjoyed the food and conversation with our waiter. It was nice to have some who was excited to share their home with us.
(5)Mimi T.
Not your average Mexican restaurant - The food is delicious and the service super friendly. The have a dedicate person that make the huge bowls of guac -best guac ever! We came with a large group so we had to order off a fixed menu. Even with the fix menu we had a wide variety of dishes to choose from. The ceviche was awesome. The definitely do not skimp on portions. By the time my main dish came I was already full. Several people from our group went back there for a second, third time in the week.
(5)Kate C.
We are from Texas and were craving mexican food in Hawaii. We decided to try this place and it didn't disappoint! The food was fantastic, especially the carnitas. I don't think I've had such good carnitas in my entire life. The service and drinks were also excellent. I really liked the salsa sampler!
(4)Alison G.
They source their avocados from Mexico.
(1)Patrice M.
What a surprise to find on Kauai. At first I was skeptical, but was pleasantly surprised. Of course this is not authentic Mexican food, but a lovely fusion of tropical meets Mexican. The ceviche I had was amazing, fresh and tropical. The tableside guacamole was excellent as well as the jalapeno margarita! And the service was so kind and efficient. We enjoyed our dinner so much that we returned for breakfast and had an equally delicious meal with wonderful service. And the bloody Maria is great when you have to catch a flight back to mainland! And excellent music, I might add! Again, a nice surprise to have cool music while eating.
(5)Michael D.
This place was ok, but way overpriced. Food was definitely not Mexican (by California standards), and the tunes were lame. Very confused concept.
(2)Paul M.
Good authentic Mexican food on Kauai??? Sure, at Monico's, but otherwise lower your expectations. Normally, that works out just fine, so long as you're okay with a bunch of pineapple and mango style salsas (which I'm not)...after all, it's not like it costs an arm and a leg. Although at Tortilla Republic you get mediocre Mexican food with the requisite fruity salsas, except at 4 times the price than you would pay on the mainland. The ambiance is very nice, but really, how hard is it to have a great ambiance when you're located on one of the most beautiful beaches on one of the most beautiful islands on earth? Open air seating and done! The margaritas were rather bland (I tried two different types) despite fanciful ingredient list. Our server was super, though, so if you're on poipu beach and want an upscale place to recharge, this is a decent choice.
(3)Peter H.
Our waiter was awesome. We dined there twice and had him both times, needless to say he got great tips, bit he earned them. He gave is such good insight on what to visit, where to go, and the what he felt was the best luau on the island. Such great advice.. And the food was absolutely amazing. Recommend the salsa tasting. For 5.00 you won't be disappointed.
(5)Preston P.
Had such a great lunch here that we came back same day for dinner! then back twice the same week for lunch! Very good margaritas, liked the "perfect" margarita best. Delicious fish tacos and guacamole. Opt for the guac made tableside upstairs at the grill. We were very impressed with the attentive service.
(5)Adam B.
Great atmosphere, margaritas, and tacos.
(4)Becky R.
Sat at the bar for dinner. Had two margaritas - jalepano and the purest. Both were great. Ordered carne asada burrito and it was very tasty and huge. Only got through half of it and had to take the other half home. The bartender was awesome. Super nice and very attentive and accommodating. Excellent overall experience.
(5)Prayash P.
The veggie burrito is the best burrito I have ever eaten! Amazing food with excellent service.
(5)Steven D.
Awesome for lunch. Great drinks and good food, at a decent price for Kauai. Really good Mai Tai, had the tacos for lunch. The guacamole was awesome...yes in Hawaii!!! Service was really good, but waned at the end. Awesome patio setting if that's your wish, which I'm hoping in Hawaii it is. Would like to try for dinner
(4)Tricia W.
The table side guacamole, the carnitas and the steak fajitas were great! Open Table is there perfect option for reservations.
(4)Courtney K.
Don't come here looking for the "#3 Combo with two tacos and enchilada." But do come here looking for super tasty, sophisticated Mexican food. We had the salsa tasting to start which consisted of three excellent salsas - tomatillo avocado, chipotle papaya (I think) and something else. Then on to entrees. BF had the Pork Chop Al Pastor and I had the Mole (chicken) Enchiladas. I thought about licking my plate clean but that seemed like it might be in bad form. We washed down this sophisticated meal with a house margarita and Pacifico. Service here was excellent with lots of aloha.
(4)Ryan M.
Service is slow and pretty bad (except for our waitress during Sunday brunch). The reason they get four stars is for the food. We first went for breakfast and I had the breakfast quesadilla and my husband had the huevos rancheros. The quesadilla was huge and could easily be shared. The fire roasted salsa it was served with was awesome. The huevos rancheros was awesome as well, great flavors and a large portion. I'd skip the cheesy potatoes, it was potatoes with no cheese. They tasted good but I would only get them if they came with the meal. We went back for dinner during the trip and our waitress was terrible. I know we 're on an island and we were in no rush. She would disappear and when she was at our table she kept looking into the shopping center and ignoring us. The jalapeño margarita was super spicy and delicious. The shrimp tacos were ok...I wish it was grilled shrimp instead of fried. The chips, salsa and guacamole was worth the trip.
(4)Monica R.
This place isn't great, but it isn't terrible either. I ate off the bar menu (I wasn't even offered a table in the restaurant. Boo!) and thought the chicken quesadilla was really good and a great value (I couldn't finish it, it was so big!). The tacos plates are a bit skimpy, though, and if you're willing to spend $2 on a side of rice and beans, be warned: it'll be the tiniest side you'll ever see.
(3)Melissa N.
We took a chance and I'm glad that we did. Happy Hour menu exceeded my expectations along with the service. Their house margarita yummy, their nachos outstanding...The staff polite, and attentive.
(4)Leo M.
Dining at Tortilla Republic is a mixed experience. We recently ate there as a party of 7 and our dishes ranged all the way from truly excellent to inedible. But the margaritas, salsas and guacamole are all fabulous - perfect for the beginning of your meal or just noshing at the bar. If there is a lesson to be learned from our experience I would say that you should order dishes that rely on interesting spicing/preparation and avoid those that need great quality proteins. The carnitas and relleno poblano were simply superb - the equal of anything you would get at a great Mexican restaurant on the mainland. And the short rib chile verde came close - the meat was a little too fatty but the mix of flavors and textures was spot on. The camarones were just OK - great spicing but lackluster shrimp (odd, given that great shrimp are farmed just an island away). But the steak fajitas were just awful - hard hunks of meat that tasted like they had been boiled then covered with grease. Literally inedible. That said - the service was quite reasonable, the decor is pleasantly trendy, and the views around sunset are extraordinary. One caveat is that the prices are in line with other 'high end' Poipu restaurants but the quality is not quite there. Still, if you find yourself on the south shore of Kauai and are in the mood for Mexican food I would not hesitate to dine here.
(4)Naif S.
Fiancée and I went to dinner here when we were in Kauai and we were impressed. Initially, we wanted to go to savage shrimp cuz the reviews were awesome. But, they only accepted cash. So, we wandered off and stumbled upon this place. Right off the bat, the ambience seemed awesome because of the live music and the outdoor seating. The service was beyond amazing--the server gave us awesome suggestions and was very friendly/helpful. We got the carne asada and pescado asada tacos and they were amazing. Only reason we didn't give a full 5 was the tortillas were a little dry/hard. But something tells me that's what they intended--I just didn't like that. It's not something to stop me from ordering again or coming here again. Love this place! Pros: Service was excellent Drinks were great Ambience awesome Live music (when we went on Thursday night) Cons: Tortillas a little dry/hard, but nothing that took away from the experience.
(4)Lance H.
I'm kind of surprised by anyone giving this place 3 stars or less. We order 2 adult entrees and 3 kid entrees and all were done very well. It is a bit pricey for Mexican, but at the same time I felt it was not much more expensive than a lot of less tasty options we've had during our stay in Hawaii. We plan to go back for breakfast in a day or two because we enjoyed it so much. I like authentic Mexican. I had the tacos de carne asada. They used a much more tender cut of meat than you'd find traditionally which made them more delicious but perhaps lowered their authenticity. The other lacking thing was a bit of cilantro in each taco. My wife had the Butin Chile Vered and she loved it.
(5)Joe B.
Tortilla Republic is the latest addition to the Kukuiula shopping center in Poipu. They bill themselves as an modern Mexican and I can see what they are trying to achieve but with only some success. When for lunch with The Wife and ate in the bar area on the main floor. The Wife was pleased to see a couple of tequilas she wasn't familiar with while I had a passion fruit margarita which I enjoyed while it lasted (a bit small). We started with Tacos de Jicama which we thought was a very clever idea that I am stealing for my next party. Thin slices of jicama are used as tortillas with shrimp, chipotle mayo and avocado. Our entrees were not as successful. I had carne asada tacos which were no better than I can get at a mainland taco truck and had a $16 price tag. The Wife had a salad of local greens and shrimp which she had to pick through due to black and slimy greens. I must say that the service was excellent and the server was quick to take the cost of the salad off the bill even though all the shrimp had been eaten. The food just didn't sing to me I'm afraid. It wasn't bad but for the prices I just can't see myself returning. If I want Mexican I'll just head over to Da Crack and have some excellent tacos for 1/3 the price.
(3)David C.
Decent
(4)Melissa T.
If you want good food, great service and comfortable atmosphere... This place has it all! Let's be honest, the price is higher then a hole in the wall place, but the food is epic and not greasy... It's clean and the people are nice. Have the Hydration margarita... It's like water but better! And ask your server for the best dish of the day... Some times the catch of the day makes a given dish better. Have the guacamole... My husband hates avacado and grubbed on the guacamole here!!!
(5)Irene D.
We ate here a few times during our stay, breakfast was our favorite meal. Our waitress Nerissa recommended the relleno poblano which was amazing, my husband had the Benedict which was delicious as well, it's served on a scone with arugula and bacon, yum. Also very kid friendly, the kids loved the blueberry pancakes. Our waitress was very efficient and friendly. Great food and service, we highly recommend this place.
(5)Kem K.
Food: loved it. Got the chicken fajitas and the stuffed poblano. Both were excellent. 5 stars Drinks: got the skinni margarita. It was pretty good. 3.5 stars Decor: 5 stars. Loved it. Dark woods with sprinkles of color (white, red). Apparently a heavy Guadalajara influence in the decor. Service: quick to seat us, even before our reservation time. They were also quick to take our order. Only ding was the time to receive our food after ordering. But well worth the wait. Good for: date, nice night out.
(4)Alena N.
Great experience!! We came for a breakfast in December of 2013! And they provide excellent hospitality! Fast service and delicious meals! I love it plus my husband had a chance to check football highlights on TV at that place
(5)Jim V.
Awesome burritos! We had both the pulled pork and the Carnegie asada burritos. These are NOT your run-of-the-mill taqueria burritos. You will be full - and happy... Note: the burritos are only served until 4pm.
(5)Erik S.
My son and I had breakfast here this morning. I had the poblano relleno he had the breakfast burrito. If the poblano sauce from the relleno was also on the burrito both would have been a 10. The eggs relleno was wonderful. Our server, Nerissa, was attentive and polite. Our outside table was in the shade and right on the walkway to tempt my wife and daughter with churro bites when they walked by. I can't think of a better place to start a vacation in Poipu.
(5)Pam M.
Fabulous casual dinner here on Friday with ahi tacos and tequila moquito.......nice atmosphere with great service...
(4)Tyler W.
Tasty dishes and margaritas but service was downright insulting. Ordered drinks and several appys with my wife after an unusually long wait for service. A busser brought our drinks and food promptly and both were tasty and creatively put together. However, the woman who gruffly introducer herself as our server completely ignored us from the moment after she finally took our first order. I say the service was insulting because the server was incredibly attentive and polite to nearly every other table on the small patio which appeared to be her section. The only difference between us and the other patrons appeared to be age. After the server passed us by for the fourth time while our drinks and plates were empty and her hands were likewise empty as she attended to tables of gray haired retirerees on every side of us, we asked the busser clearing a table to bring the check. I have never experienced anything like this before. I would go so far as to call this ageism and am simply disgusted by the treatment we received here. I would give the food and the venue 4 stars otherwise and I wouldn't discourage you from visiting but if you do receive similar treatment I encourage you to bring it to the attention of management as we did.
(2)Dana J.
I've had better margaritas. The food was really good. We the salsa trio which was good. Then we had the chicken flautas. They were very good. I had the enchiladas sauza. They were great! Also had the red shredded beef enchiladas. Beef was so tender inside! The black beans were the best I have ever had, but the rice was just so so. The service was great and our waiter was attentive and informative! Jimmy was our waiter tonight. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(4)Local G.
I am mixed on this review. It's a very trendy Mexican restaurant which you can totally tell came from LA. That being said is that really the atmosphere that you want when being in laid back Kauai?! Our server was great. He wanted to talk about the entire menu. And seemed knowledgeable. This menu was not labeled as gluten free so we had to rely on him. We started with the salsa sampler which was tasty but we found a broken chip in one of the salsas on our first dive in so that sort of made us think - ew was this reused? Then we had the ceviche which I loved! I had the ahi fajitas and my husband had the chicken enchiladas. He loved his dinner and mine was pretty good too but I had my heart set on fish tacos which these were not. The drinks were amazing. Really creative, well made and not weak. We would go back to this place again (I think) and hopefully it would be five stars next time.
(4)Matthew K.
My wife and I went here for dinner on our first night on Kauai. The food all tasted great, though if you don't like spicy food don't eat here. The food was particularly spicy, even for Mexican food (I like spicy). The quality of ingredients was apparent from the end result - my chile verde short ribs were some of the most tender I've had in years. This would have been a five-star rating if not for the price. Quality should cost money and the people at Tortilla Republic clearly understand that. All of the dishes felt $5 more expensive than they should have been, and things like $15 table side guacamole are a bit over-the-top. All that said, I would likely eat here again. Being from Southern California I can safely say that I have a lot of experience with Mexican food, and this ranks very highly.
(4)Patrick G.
This is not your average mexican restaurant. I ate upstairs and loved every minute of it. The highlight of the night was definitely Pedro's table side guacamole. It was by far the best guacamole I have ever had and it was made by Pedro, a much cooler, most interesting man in the world. The open air atmosphere is also a great touch. I will definitely go back here when I go back to Kauai.
(5)Darlene T.
Welcome to the closest thing you'll get to the "night life" on Kauai. Modeled after the Tortilla Republic in West Hollywood I presume, this modern bar/restaurant is located in one of the new shopping centers in Koloa. For appetizers, we ordered the house guacamole and fish-of-the-day & shrimp ceviche. The ceviche was good, but at $11 for a bowl of guacamole that was not even made in front of us as other Yelpers had said, that was NOOOOT worth it! C'mon, $11 for guacamole? As many others have indicated, their margaritas are pretty good. Mine was a bit strong for my girly taste, but my boyfriend definitely enjoyed the two he had (the "Purist" was his fav). For entrees, we had the fish-of-the-day tacos and beef tacos. The fish tacos were yummy, as were the beef, although not nearly as good as you can get from where we are from. Sorry, but our $1 taco trucks here would beat there's anytime of the day. The downside was that because the restaurant was fairly full, we likely waited a half hour before entrees were served. Lastly, for desert, we had the flan, and boy was it GOOOD. Nestled on a thin bed of chocolate cake, this flan was delicious! Definitely helped us end the night on a high note. Come here for a drink after dinner!
(3)Kevin K.
Great Margaritas - the Perfect really was. The food was tasty -solid B for Mexican food. Nice atmosphere downstairs with great service. Maybe the best value in Poipu.
(4)Annie C.
We thought since this place had a good rating it would be great.....NOT! First off their guacamole and chips had no flavor and My burrito was super americanized. The only thing they didn't mess up was my pepsi. My husbands iced tea was empty for quite a while. Not once did our waitress ask how we were doing during our meal. I had to track her down with my hand waving every time! Anyway, this place is not good at all. Only good thing was that it was nearby and we could have Lapperts after for ice cream!
(1)B Q.
Great atmosphere, wonderful service, free salsa sampler of you check in on yelp and last but not least, incredible margaritas. Order the pitcher, it's well worth your money and cheaper in the long run.
(4)G. B.
Awesome breakfast. Hominy with eggs is the thing to order. Very unique and very delicious. My only complaint is, where's the hot sauce? It would have been perfect with some Tapatio. But when I asked for some, they didn't have any. Instead, the waitress brought some really tasty, house-made habañero sauce. It was good, but I still would have preferred Tapatio (I guess I've been in L.A. too long, haha!). My wife's blueberry pancakes were AWESOME! Although, everyone was extremely friendly, the service was a bit slow. I chalked it up to "Island Time", but somebody told me later that they haven't been open that long and are likely still getting their act together. The prices are a bit steep, but everything in that whole touristy mall area is, so it's not like it's out of left field or anything.
(4)Billy E.
I like TR. Every time we go it's always really good food. We never had breakfast there so we thought what the heck. Pleasantly greeted, seated promptly; as well as the 2 other groups behind us. Waters quickly on table. French press coffee was flavorful and good. I had the shrimp egg white omelet and wifey had the breakfast pablano, side of pilloncielo bacon. Everything was fresh, cooked perfect and one of the better breakfasts I've had in awhile. We ordered the beignets and crisps as a last minute choice and they were really good as well. Everything was perfect, Mahalo!!
(5)Harvey S.
Had dinner here last night, my wife's fish tacos were undercooked had to send back. Took too long to be brought back so the manager came out to apologize and say we wouldn't be charged for her meal and offered dessert on the house. Because the meal came back fine and the restaurant took care of it and my enchilada meal was good we will go back. They handled this matter properly.
(4)Veronica D.
For almost zero vegan options in Poipu I was really happy that this place had something on the menu. You can get guacamole, salsa and chips or a grilled veggie burrito. Pretty much everything else is fish, fish, fish, burgers, hot dogs and ice cream in this shopping centre. Hurray for the Californian restaurant who remembers the vegetarians/veggie fans. I was honestly not expecting much. Most of the time getting a vegan burrito at a place that is meat oriented is usually just rice, beans and salsa and is pretty tasteless and bad. The burrito I got with a side salad was monstrous. It was probably the largest burrito I've ever seen. It could feed two people, or a hungry quarterback! The side salad wasn't dressed properly. The top half of my salad was plain, I found some vinaigrette on the bottom leaves only. Meh. I was very surprised at how tasty the veggie burrito was. Even if you're not vegetarian you would still like it. It came with rice, beans, guacamole and fresh seasoned onions and mixed peppers. They actually seasoned the veggies! Wow thank you! I'm not even really a fan of peppers, but because they were fresh, hot and cooked perfectly they really made the burrito. It's honestly one of the best burritos I've had eating out, usually I just make them at home. I'm almost wanting to go back there just to get one but we're in Kapa'a. Just thought I'd let any herbivores/veggie lovers/dieters know there is something healthy that is tasty on the menu here. BTW it was only $12. In a place where prices are exorbitant this was affordable and filling.
(4)Jen K.
While staying at the Koa Kea Resort on Poi'pu Beach in Kauai, my husband and I decided to check out the Tortilla Republic. Located right down the street from the hotel, the restaurant is in a shopping plaza of other shops and restaurants. We arrived about 15 minutes before our reservation and burnt some time by hanging around the area shops. When our reservation time was close, we went to the hostess and told them our name, etc. She looked at us and told us that it would be another 15 minutes because of a large party upstairs. OK, I thought. I've worked at a restaurant before and I know how these things go. I asked if it was OK for us to go upstairs to get a drink in the lounge, and she told us that would be fine. When we got upstairs, there was another hostess who told us that she could seat us immediately. Not sure what happened between the 15 steps or so, but we were happy to have a seat. And that was when the good service ended. I'm not sure if this place splits tips (i.e. all wait staff have "all" tables), but the service was so. slooow. People around us seemed to be having a great time though, and I'm not sure if it was where we were sitting or what, but the service was awful. Admittedly, I had a tad too much to drink and didn't really notice, but my husband was so annoyed. We actually had to ask a hostess for our check. In other areas, the food here is great. Authentic? No, but delicious all the same. I would go back for the food, but not the service. Perhaps we had a bad experience. Perhaps it was a fluke or a busy night. Who knows. But be warned.
(3)Jenai L.
The food here was tiny and over priced. It took the waitress 20 minutes to take our order and then another 20 minutes to get our food and the funniest part is each of our meals came with beans and rice, when we finally got our meal they gave us this small bowl and told us we can share. lol Try something else if your in the area!
(1)Mihir M.
Service: Great. Vegetarian: good options, but not marked well on the menu. Food: The guacamole is made tableside by you, & you get to pick ingredients. We had the relleno poblano, enchilada mole (its a different sauce, slightly sweet), enchilada suiza, & virgin margaritas. This was more than enough food for 3 people. The chips are cooked in oil that is also used for meet, so we were given tortillas to eat the guacamole with. Atmosphere: Lively, open air
(4)Adrienne F.
This place is an excellent option if you are vegetarian. They offer veggie versions of their tacos and fajitas if you ask. I got their vegetarian fajitas: black beans, rice, a fried vegetable mix on a hot plate, corn tortillas, crema, salsa, guac. Tasty and filling! They also have a few options on the menu that are vegetarian by default (notably, my husband got the sabrosa salad, which is quite hearty). I thought the chips were quite good, and I was pleasantly surprised by the 3 salsas in the tasting option. I didn't think a papaya-based salsa would be good... I was wrong, it was my favorite! The ambiance is nice -- upscale but still casual. They had a fantastic guitar player. The waitress was attentive. The upstairs eating area is open so it has a nice breeze off the ocean.
(5)Leslie H.
Great fish tacos and even better chicken quesadillas. This place also had delicious and fun cocktails--had the cucumber lavender one and it was fab. All of us really enjoyed the contemporary Mexican restaurant ambiance and the food. Check it out if you're in the Poipu Beach area.
(5)Tea L.
Didn't expect to find good Mexican food in Kauai, what a pleasant suprise. The service was so great, and the view upstairs for sunset is to die for. Highly recommended!
(4)Erin V.
If you want Americanized Mexican while in Hawaiian, it's not too bad. We would have had a nice view of the sky and water if they hadn't been playing a "save Kauai" movie on a giant blow up screen on the beach! I got the seared ahi tacos. Very good. Their "regular" mai tai is good also.
(4)Erica M.
OK, I'm going to give it to you straight (with salt and a lime- he he). This place is trying a little too hard. I think they're focusing so much on trying to be cool, that their quality and service is failing to live up to their obnoxious prices. We walked in for dinner on a whim and were seated downstairs in the margarita bar area. We started with the guacamole and the salsa sampler. I didn't mind paying for the guac (which was very good), but shouldn't chips and salsa be a given? It's a mexican restaurant for god's sake! My margarita, "The Purist" was just how I like 'em: tequila, cointreau, and citrus juice...none of that other filler stuff. The only thing I didn't like was the price tag. If you're already here, however, it's worth the splurge. I tasted my husband's "House" marg, which contained sour mix or something to that effect, and almost did a spit take. My baja fish tacos sounded delicious on the menu. In real life they were slightly bland, but ok. My husband ordered the Pescado Asada fish tacos and got a chewy and uncooked piece of fish. Our server waited so long to check on us that he wasn't able to send his food back until the rest of us were completely finished with ours. He ate his two "good" tacos while he was waiting. When the server finally did bring a replacement, he brought one tiny taco on a plate instead of a whole new order. While all this was happening, our friend ordered a refill on his margarita and never recieved it. Tortilla Republic is lacking that easy breezy island vibe that most places in Kaua'i seem to effortlessly take on. At other island restaurants, I am almost able to overlook the prices and slow service because I feel relaxed, like I'm on vacation. Not here. I think you'd be better off finding a family owned mexican joint or a taco truck. Wait, I just read that they opened an LA location. Now THAT makes sense.
(3)Pradeep V.
What a cool place !! Amazing margaritas, loved the service - momi was very cool and sweet - manager Eric was totally grounded and a cool guy - place is hip and totally rocks - If you are in Kauai this is not a place to be missed !!!
(5)Danielle P.
They were quick to get us in (a party of 7 and a baby). When we got to the table we were a little surprised that they put us directly next to the band. They abliged us by closing one of the doors so it was better. I had the first salad on the menu and it was tasty. My cucumber and lavendar margarita was great. The rest of the group were disappointed with the tortilla tai. They all agreed that it got worse with every sip.
(3)Kristen C.
We ate here two different times on our honeymoon. We wanted some Mexican food and we could walk here from our condo. There weren't any tables available downstairs, so we got a table upstairs. We knew the upstairs was very different and a bit more upscale, but we regret eating up there! Upstairs it was extremely overpriced. The food was good, but the portions were small, especially when you're paying nearly $25 for fajitas. We checked in here to get a free salsa tasting, which was pretty tasty. I'm hoping it was our server's first day because he was terrible. He had to ask me multiple times what I ordered (he came back to the table to re confirm). Why didn't he just write it down? I told him I checked in on yelp and that we were supposed to get a free salsa tasting. He had to be reminded twice to take it off our bill.. Now for the better review. We were a bit annoyed about that experience but we were looking for a quick appetizer another night. We got a table downstairs and ordered the quesadillas and margaritas. The prices were much more reasonable and the service was much better. Not sure if our server upstairs was just clueluess (and a terrible server), but regardless, downstairs is much more affordable and realistic. I would only go back if a table downstairs was open.
(3)Brian P.
Terrible service...another restaurant with good intentions, but small portions, over thought dishes, and mediocre execution. Another hundred bucks that could have been spent at a fish taco shack with better food.
(1)Shaina R.
Friendly service, cool atmosphere, and delicious food.
(5)Erin C.
We got in to Kauai late after most restaurants stop serving and grocery stores are closed. The owner/manager scraped together a plate of nachos that was as big as my head, with any possible nacho fixing including chicken that you could ask for. We're from Tucson, AZ so we know good Mexican and this was better. The Jalapeno Margarita was a bit spicy but extremely delicious. The staff was very attentive and the atmosphere was just right. We will definitely go back!
(5)Lynn K.
Wow! This restaurant far surpassed any other dining experience that we had on the island of Kauai. We have always loved Mexican food but this is not your typical burrito bar. This restaurant offers "chic Mexican" food at its best. Try the Flautus de Pollo (the rolled crispy chicken tacos). Absolutely wonderful! And the Enchilada Suizas (pulled roasted chicken tinga) was fantastic.Very flavorful and freshly prepared Mexican food. Five star experience!
(5)Jason D.
Went here for Breakfast one morning in Kauai. There wasn't many options in Poipu so i gave it a try. I was very happy with the food and price. I would of gave 5 stars but the waitress forgot to give us the side of potatoes. I didn't mention it b/c the other food looked so large. I had to have her take it off the bill when i got it.
(4)Mrs. A.
I was in the mood for Mexican food. This restaurant is beautiful and service is Great. The only reason I didn't give it a five star rating is because the menu that's available before 5:30 is very limited :( Do order the nachos though with chicken, they are great!
(4)Brian B.
Good carnitas, but overpriced and kinda meh. The place was decent and in a nice spot on Kauai. It has a guy who makes fresh guacamole at your table and a nice ambiance, especially if you sit at the upstairs edge where it feels a lot like Disneyland. Meanwhile, they're a little disorganized and you can spend a long time waiting for your waitstaff or single items from your meal (example, they brought us our main courses but not the tortillas that go with them. Someone said "I'll be right back with the tortillas, but it took another ~5 minutes for them to come back. I can understand being easy going and on island time, but this was more along the lines of just ill-attention). As mentioned, the food is good, but I'd probably recommend going elsewhere when everything is said and done. Also kind of noisy, at least upstairs.
(3)Steve B.
This place isn't your ordinary Mexican restauant, people. To start with they make their own chips and the salsas are homemade - both are excellent. Those other reviews whining about no free chips and salsa confuse me - this ain't no taqueria! The vibe is decidedly upscale and elegant with the plantation feel throughout. It's beautiful inside but try to get a table upstairs on the deck. The food is top notch and this is coming from a guy who eats at great restaurants in the Bay Area a lot. This chef knows what the heck he's doing. Oh and one last thing. Leave your t-shirt in the drawer and put a collar on. Like I said, this isn't your ordinary Mexican restaurant!
(5)John H.
Great new find for us. Service was outstanding. Attentive while being very busy. Chicken enchiladas very tasty. Fish taco's very good, but not the best we ever had. Chips and three salsa samples also delicious. Reasonably priced for Kauai. Good choice to feed your Mexican food fix with a bit of pizazz.
(4)Ben K.
Ended up eating here for dinner and breakfast during our 5 day vacation on Kauai. My partner and I both thought it was the best restaurant on the island. Great margaritas and a very nice selection of tequilas. The food was prepared well and the table side guacamole was excellent. Great atmosphere and a nice sunset view. We liked dinner so much that we came back for breakfast. Another great experience.
(4)Vicki C.
What a wonderful place. Great ambiance and great food. Ordered shrimp fajita and ahi fajita. Soooo good. The service was a ten. I would definitely come back.
(5)Janet D.
Service was the worst on the island. The food was just OK. Our party of 8 asked for separate checks at the beginning. Told" no problem",by Leah our server. She would bring it at the end of dinner. Our bill was thrown on our table. Our waitress ran away. The manager did fix the problem. Manager also rude . Not recommend.
(1)Iris P.
This place fucking sucks. Their food is expensive and tastes like garbage. The chips taste like someone took a shit and let it sit for a few days until it got dried up. If you're rich and enjoy shitty ass food, then this is the place for you.
(1)Ann S.
How I miss their chicken tinga. SOOOO good! I had it twice while we were there. We got the beignet/crispy tortilla thingies as an appetizer for brunch and it was so yummy...I wish we would've gotten our own and not split it. I will say the kitchen is really slow so if you're in a hurry, this isn't the place to go for a "quick bite."
(4)Todd H.
Been here a few times. All of them for breakfast. My go to was the egg white omelette w/ chipotle, then I tried the poblano relleno, new favorite. Waitress was always a pleasure. My coffee wasn't too good so she went and made a fresh cup with the french press, delicious. The bacon flight is a must for fans of the sinful treat. Will visit the one in LA, will it live up to the location in Kauai?
(5)Jon J.
Slow service, terrible salad, decent carne asada burrito, below average drinks...not worth the price.
(2)Andrea C.
great ambience. cute friendly staff. great salsa starter but you have to pay for a tiny amount. great salad & my husband had a huge hamburger it was pretty good. gets busy so get there early.
(4)W M.
Good service, food is okay, not enough verity, the pancakes were great, the breakfast eggs were okay.
(3)Bob N.
We stopped by while staying at the Grand Hyatt Resort last week. Generally the restaurants on Kauai were not that good, but this one was better than expected. The guacamole and salsa were very good and the ahi tacos were fabulous. My margarita was a little on the lite side or this place would have gotten 5 stars. Still, I would recommend this restaurant and come back.
(4)Kai R.
This is a higher-end Mexican joint located in an outdoor mall in Poipu. Decor is very nice / upscale. Service was attentive. Food was really better than expected - comparable to places you'd find in Los Angeles or Houston. Did not have any alcoholic drinks, so can't comment on those. If you are interested in a higher-end Mex meal while on vacation in South Kauai, definitely check this place out.
(4)Bobbie C.
We had lunch here while in the area yesterday. The menus (food and drink) were interesting...unlike many we had seen up to that point. We started with the Hydration Margaratias made with lime juice and coconut water and they were fantastic! Next came the homemade guacamole and the salsa sampler which were also really good. We shared the grilled fish tacos with the catch of the day as our entree and were very pleased. We have had fish tacos at several places on the island and, although on the pricey side, these were the best we have had yet! There were only two downsides to our experience: 1 - We didn't get our rice and beans that were supposed to come with the entree, but we didn't want them that badly which is why we didn't remind the waiter. 2 - The service was slow...probably because the waiter kept getting distracted by the tv in the restaurant which we saw him watching several times. Ha! He was very nice, as was the hostess, just slow. We didn't mind so much, but I thought I'd mention it in case that's important to someone reading this. Overall, great food and drinks...on the expensive side, but worth the money in my opinion.
(4)Ashleigh B.
I would give 3.5 stars. This place is very trendy and feels like somewhere we would go in CA to get away from a chain restaurant. The decor is quite interesting and the breezy patio is just right for a vacation lunch. Too bad there is no ocean view. This place would greatly benefit from that, but it can't be helped given the place sits in the middle of an outdoor shopping center. I ordered the nachos: very basic with no real pizazz about them, but tasty nonetheless. My mother ordered the quesadilla and it was slightly more creative, being served with three different sauces. The cocktails and margaritas are why this place is so good and I can see this as a beautiful spot for some nightlife and maybe live music of some kind (we ate at lunch). I was pregnant and did not get to try any of the drinks, but my mom had the cucumber lavender margarita. Very fresh, just like a mixed drink should be. I will bring my husband here next year for a few rounds and small bites. People complain about the prices here. $12 for a quesadilla is slightly high for anywhere else in the world but really? You are in Kauai. EVERYTHING is overpriced, even the taco stands. This place is not a chain and the food is fresh. I will overpay a bit to get that kind of thing while on vacation. Service was less than average but that may just be a reflection of our waiter and not the restaurant. Hard to say. I did not take away points for that as I have nowhere to be while on vacation and don't mind hanging out a bit for the bill. No reason to rush as long as the food comes out well-prepared and on time, which it did.
(3)Jillian A.
Not bad. The ambience is great and the drinks were fantastic. Service was friendly but veeeeerrry slow, and my carne asda tacos had great flavor but a few tough bits, which made the meal a bit less appetizing. The guacamole is not worth $11 price tag-- a bit bland. If you want the best bang for your buck, I would recommend this place for drinks and maybe a small plate or appetizer.
(3)Charles R.
We Decided to try this place for happy hour on our vacation. We sat at the bar which had a fun atmosphere even though it was a slow afternoon. The bar tender seemed annoyed by us sitting there so to say the least it wasn't a warm welcome. We asked to order a few things off the HH menu but were told they ran out of 2 of the 5 things listed. Keep in mind HH runs from 3-5 and it was 4:00. So we order the tinga tacos (awesome!) and nachos. We were still hungry so we asked for a menu to order more food. Again the bartender seem annoyed... We got the carnitas tacos dinner and the beat way to describe it was "meh." We asked for our bill (yes, this too seemed to annoy the bar tender) and left. I would go back but I would try to sit at a table. The cocktail waitresses seemed far nicer than the rude bartender.
(3)Raeshel S.
We went here TWICE on our stay in Kauai! Probably some of the best Mexican food i have had. We ate both downstairs and upstairs. Downstairs for happy hour( great and 5$ margaritas were awesome)and upstairs for dinner another night! ( guac made table side was awesome) truly will be thinking about this place and craving it back home in Seattle!
(5)Aviva M.
Awesome awesome awesome!! After having a horrible experience at another unnamed restaurant, we decided to hit up Tortilla Republic. We wanted a fancy dinner. We went to the other place expecting just that. Not so much. So the next night, we got a hankering for some Mexican (in Hawai'i...I know...) We wound up at Tortilla Republic after making a quick online reservation. Very convenient. They sat us upstairs and got to us right away. We decided to do the table side guacamole. Pedro (guac-master) was kind and thoughtful about his preparations. It was fresh and tasty, and left us wanting more! We did not have to wait very long for our meal. I had the Ensalada Sabrosa and he had the Relleno Poblano (veggie). The Relleno Poblano was so good, we asked about the recipe... no dice! We enjoyed both entrees very much. But what I really want to talk about, is the Manager, Eric. He came around to each table and chatted for a bit. We told him how this meal completely beat out our other, disappointing meal. and he sympathized with us. He never once put them down or talked bad about them. He wishes them luck and treated us to a free dessert. Our experience here was above and beyond the other place! We will be back!
(5)Naheed M.
We came here for breakfast and it was very good. My husband and I shared the Blueberry corn pancakes and the Juevos Rancheros. Both were pretty good. my favorite of the two was definitely the pancakes.
(4)Mike C.
Food was very good at this restaurant and the service was very attentive. The only downside was there was a strong wind and we were seated outside without much protection. Other than that, the food was the best meal we had in our week long stay on Kauaii.
(4)Kristina B.
The food was soooooo good here! Some of the best mexican food we've ever had! Atmoshere is great, decor is fun and trendy. The service was great from bartenders to the waitresses! Definitely a must!
(5)Nic B.
The service and drinks were great, but I found the food to be just ok. I ordered the ceviche and it was ok, but not that remarkable. My husband ordered the steak soft tacos and they were fairly good. The decor is really nice so I would suggest coming here for happy hour or drinks. I was not sold on the food though.
(3)Nazz R.
If you want cheap run of the mill Mexican, go somewhere else. If you love food and are impressed with a great environment to put some awesome in you mouth - check out Tortilla Republic. The menu was overwhelming to me, but my waitress "Krist G" came to my rescue with a beverage suggestion. I had a hydration I believe it was, I know it was a different kind of alcoholic beverage than I usually get, but I really liked it. After cruising the menu a bit, I just asked for a chicken or vegetarian suggestion. The stuffed poblano was something to write home about. I seriously want my mother to try this. anyway, in a few words, NOM NOM NOM and totally worth a happy food dance.
(5)Alissa R.
Loved it , Great surprise we stumbled into! We wanted to go to Red Salt, which doesn't serve lunch. So we traveled a bit further down the road. We were greeted by a hostess who seated us quickly and the waitress was at our table getting our drink orders right away. The service was attentive without being intrusive. We started with a trio of Salsas served with house made tortilla chips, made from house made tortillas. Yum. Several of us ordered the Kobe style burgers - wow really well done with thin deliciously seasoned fries. Burritos, tacos and quesadillas we also well portioned and equally delicious. Would recommend highly. Not an abundance of seating - call ahead or go at an off time.
(5)Monty B.
Pretty good mexican place, a bit pricey. The guac hit the spot for me.
(4)Jill D.
I went here on one of the first nights it opened and was pleasantly surprised. The ambiance (upstairs and downstairs) is sublime. Kudos to the decorator...you nailed it! The food was inventive but still didn't stray too far from the flavors you want and crave at a Mexican restaurant. I had jicama tacos and they were amazing! The chips and salsa were fresh and plentiful and the drinks were strong but delicious. Pricing was on point and the wait staff is beyond awesome. Ask for Devin or Kristy S. for outstanding service. I'll upgrade to five stars when I've had a meal upstairs :)
(4)L. R.
Just dined here last week and had an unforgettable roasted vegetable burrito that was so flavorful and so delicious, I forgot the so-so chips and guac. My husband had fish tacos and he loved them as well. The service can be slow but I would go back just for that burrito. It was spicy and flavorful and probably one of the best things I've eaten on the island.
(4)Michael S.
What a fun place! The bar area is not very big but mirrors give the illusion of it being much larger. The bartenders are awesome, even though busy they take the time to make small talk. I didn't eat the food but everything I saw come out looked and smelled delicious, I wish I would have... I guess it's as good of an excuse as any for me to fly back to Kauai!
(4)Tw D.
The Guacamole Table Service is awesome, the service is okay, the food was pretty good and the view if sitting outside is pretty cool. It could be a lot better in my opinion so it only gets 3 stars from me. The Wait staff could work a little bit harder and be a bit less plastic like, but the food wont really disapoint much.
(3)Josh B.
We had reservations for dinner during our trip, so I figured I'd try a quick lunch while I was at the kukuiula mall. I spent $57 for one mediocre vegetarian burrito and a chicken burrito, two small sides of rice/beans and 4 microwaved corn tortillas (they charged me $4 for 4 corn tortillas!!!). I also had an $8 house margarita while I waited. Any Chipotle on the mainland blows this place out of the water... Why bother paying these prices for mediocre food?? We cancelled our dinner reservation. I can't support this crap.
(2)Sherry S.
We arrived for dinner and promptly had to decide between the first and second floors which have different menus. We opted for the first floor with a more low key selection of tacos and burritos. We ordered guacamole to start and asked for a few minutes to review the rest of the menu. We were assured the fish tacos and beans and rice were gluten free so we placed our order. Our food arrived before our appetizer. The fish tacos were so-so. The beans and rice were spicy, which would have been fine, if the restaurant advertised it. Still hungry after dinner, we turned to our appetizer. The guacamole was bland and had the consistency of baby food. The tortillas seemed mass produced and from a bag. To add insult to injury the wait staff didn't even comp us the appetizer turned dessert. If you are looking for mediocre Mexican, check it out.
(2)Heidi S.
Booked an online reservation, showed up and was told they don't do reservations on Sundays. No attempt to make it right. I won't be driving in from the east side to go here again.
(1)Jason M.
Can only speak of experience eating at bar: it was underwhelming given the typical reviews on Yelp. Average quality food-- more self-conscious style than substance. Black beans and carne asada were quite good; tortillas, nachos, and drinks were unremarkable. Service was attentive but discombobulated and very drink-oriented.
(2)Geoff G.
Tortilla Republic is a very nice, laid back restaurant in Poipu Beach area of Kaua'i. The restaurant has a very nice ambiance, especially if you can be seated outside on their terrace. Everything we ordered was extremely fresh, which I appreciated greatly. I would normally classify Mexican as cuisine that is boring and tastes the same whether you are in Hawaii or New Jersey, but I was pleasantly surprised by the unique flavors in their dishes. We started off with fresh Gaucamole and Chips as well as a pulled chicken appetizer roll in a crispy tortilla shell. Both appetizers were to die for, although the chips had that doughy homemade flavor that I'm not a huge fan of. Same goes for the tortilla shells that they make. I commend them on making all of their own food though and not using pre-packaged tortilla shells and chips. For entrees, we both ordered tacos. I had the Ahi tacos and my wife had Mahi-Mahi tacos which were dipped in a tempura batter. They were very good and priced right. The entree portions are very small (tacos are about 3 bites... maybe 4 at most) but I wasn't particularly starving and the portion size was just fine in my eyes. For those of you that follow me and read my reviews, you will know that I am not a dessert guy. If my wife orders a dessert, I will always ask for a 2nd spoon, but I am never blown away by desserts. Well, Tortilla Republic has a Key Lime pie that will absolutely blow your mind. If they make this pie in house, then they should start shipping it world wide because it is by far the best Key Lime pie that you will ever taste in your life..... no, seriously. Tortilla Republic is a great restaurant if you are in a mood for a laid back atmosphere with simply prepared Mexican cuisine.... made Hawaiian style. It is also a great place to go grab a Margherita. My wife was addicted to the Lavendar Cucumber Margherita they had on the menu.
(4)Amy B.
Great Mex on the island. This is pricey as most places are, but quite tasty. I got the carnitas and it was fabulous. The flavors are a little more upscale than you might find in an average Mexican joint.
(5)D P.
We had a nice dinner upstairs at sunset. Food was hot and fresh. Pork carnitas were perfect. Now you have to understand that you're paying not only for the food but the location. Music was too much techno dance crap until the live guitarist played more traditional island music. Would we go back ... maybe.
(4)L. C.
A solid choice for dinner. My wife and I stumbled upon this gem, which is a short walk from the Sheraton (1/2 mile). We sat upstairs (which is more formal than downstairs and offers a full menu). They had a pretty extensive margarita selection (we tried a few, and thought the cucumber margarita was the best). You'll definitely want to order the table-side made guacamole. It is a large portion of guacamole, perfect for 3-4. For dinner, we had stuffed ourselves on chips/salsa/guac, but ended up ordering a few things. I ordered the Jicama Wrapped seafood enchilada, which was great. Very refreshing. I think my wife had fish tacos? Overall the meal was great. PS - We ended up coming back to Tortilla Republic a 2nd night, but sat downstairs with a large group. The downstairs menu didn't have all of the items as upstairs, and because of the wind, it was actually quite chilly downstairs.
(4)Gwyneth C.
i am a fan of the unique margaritas. The lavender cucumber was very refreshing, almost like a mojito and the Thai margarita was sooo good. I want to try all the drinks there. the food is awesome (we ate upstairs). I had the Chili Verde and my boyfriend had the Carnitas. mine came with a side of fresh guacamole and some sour cream, his came with rice and beans as well as a salad thing. The portions looked small but when we were done eating our dishes, mine more so than his, it looked as if we didnt touch it. the decor is nice, a little dark in there and the table we sat at was a little small, it was a little tight fitting our plate of 3 different times of salsa & chips (this was also good), our two main course dishes as well as the plates containing the rice and beans. we made it fit somehow but if we ordered more i dont know where we would have put everything. the service was great, very friendly staff i'll definetly go back. i want to try the downstairs menu. i heard the tacos are great. and i hope they start a happy hour menu soon
(5)Aaron B.
Visited last week during our trip to Kauai. This is probably the most "modern" restaurant experience you'll find in the Poipu Beach area (pulsing drum and base quietly plays in the background). The service was attentive, the guacamole is hand made at your table (yes it's $15 but worth it), the atmosphere is energetic and a nice break from the standard pseudo Hawaiian luau experience you get at many restaurants in this area. The sides (pickled orange, black beans and pickled jalapeno) that come with the main courses were excellent, the main courses could use a bit more spice and heat. The portions are large which makes this an excellent place to share a few dishes with a group of people. We didn't bring our kids with us, I'm sure you could but it's much more of an adult establishment. Overall a good meal with great ambiance.
(4)Doreen L.
Like everything else on the island, even breakfast was expensive. I guess Mom and Pop places are nowhere to be found!
(4)Marcia G.
It was decent. Pretty small menu. The Baja fried fish tacos with mango salsa were good. Nachos with Carnegie Asada were abundant. They charge (!) for chips and salsa. Nothing was "cravable" per say but all was decent.
(3)Andy L.
Cool atmosphere. Table side guac was good, Baja tacos were da bomb, the wife's enchilada was terrible. Very salty. Overall good experience, just look out for an extremely salty enchilada preparation
(3)Dusti H.
Wow pleasantly surprised at how good this mexican food is! Awesome Margaritas, super friendly staff, great ambiance. This place was shockingly busy tonight (off-season Monday night, 1 hour long wait) we chose to sit downstairs in the bar area. Loved the tacos, the Al Pastor and Fresh fish were my favorite. Can't wait to go back :)
(5)James F.
We had a great meal at this place. The food was really good. The service however wasn't all that great. We started off great with a waitress that seemed really nice and informative. Then I guess she left and we got stuck with a hostess or someone who didn't seem like a normal waitress. She was severely lacking in service and attentiveness. The bottom line is the service was horrible but the meal was good.
(3)Randall S.
Really enjoyed this experience. I didn't expect good Mexican food on Kauai, but TR surprised me. Their chicken mole was excellent. The guacamole made tableside is also very good.
(4)Roy A.
Out-friggin-standing! The vibe is pretty hip without being too clubby. And the specialty drinks were very good, but go there for the food. It's Mexican inspired, not true Mexican as we heard it was, but it was actually better. We started with the poke, which was fresh with a nice kick if hear to it. I got the short rib and my wife got the fish fajitas which were ahi tuna. Although the menu said the short rib dish was spicy, it really wasn't, just a touch of heat. It was, however, very tender and delicious. My wife wolfed down the fajitas before I had a chance to sample. Overall great food and ambiance.
(4)Marty C.
We were recently on vacation in Kauai and stumbled on to this place and stopped in for a Margarita and some appetizers. We ordered the Tortilla soup and Shrimp quesadilla. While the food and service were pretty good, the prices are hefty. We went back again for dinner, and ended up enjoying some appetizers, this time we had the Flautas and Tacos. We were not disappointed with the food at all but again I have to comment on the prices. In summation, if you want good modern style mexican food and don't mind paying high prices, I definitely recommend this place.
(3)Jory S.
Great place for breakfast! Warm, genuine, engaging service, awesome Mexican style breakfast options and fair prices. Totally impressed!
(5)David L.
Wow! The atmosphere, service and food were excellent! My wife and I took our 2 teenagers here for an evening out, and were very pleased with the entire experience of dining here. I ordered the Chile Verde for my entree. Now I've eaten a lot of chile verde in my lifetime growing up in California, but I have to say this was some of the best I've EVER tasted! Highly recommended!!! My wife ordered the daily special which was a grilled Ahi, which she said was superb. My one daughter ordered the Enchilada Suizas. These were so tasty she would have ordered a second plate if she could have eaten it. Her friend ordered a hamburger (I know) that was at least 9" tall with all the toppings, that she could barely wrap her hands around. Excellent! For those of you that feel the service was a bit slow, remember - you're in Hawaii, everything moves at a much slower pace. Just sit back, enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy your vacation :)
(5)Kelly C.
We stopped in downstairs for their great happy hour deal from 3-5. Special menu of drinks and appetizers for 5 bucks. Really friendly bartender took great care of us. Ambience is good, service is good but the only negative is loud music that makes me feel like I'm at a club and not at an open air restaurant in Hawaii. Since this place is close, dropped the husband off for a cocktail while I shopped in the little shopping center where this place is located. a second time Decent priced cocktails (considering where we are) even when it isn't happy hour. He enjoyed watching people, reading his book and watching cute servers. So we decided to try dinner upstairs this same evening. I made a 5:30 reservation for us and the husband's 80 year old mom. We arrived a few minutes before 5:30, which is apparently also opening time. They were doing a "pre-shift" something or other so we got, "it'll be a few minutes." So at 5:40 we get to go in. That was weird. We could have been seated, you'd think. Dinner was really good, tried the salsa sampler. I had an enchilada that was delicious. Husband had a lamb enchilada which he enjoyed. His mom was picky and had something made very specifically which the very friendly server was happy to accommodate. Again, my biggest, biggest complain was the music that does NOT fit a dinner situation. It made me feel like I was in LA at a dance club. Enigma type sounds. And too loud to converse really well. Considering many of the people that were in the restaurant were 50+ it just doesn't seem right. Tone that down a little and I would give this place 5 stars. A plus for having an elevator for people who can't do stairs.
(4)Janaka B.
Awesome. Veggie enchiladas were amazing. My wife had the tortilla soup and loved it. This really was rarefied levels of yummy - far better than I had expected. Flavorful and well balanced - my favorite meal on the island so far.
(5)Elmer S.
Food is great compared to the other options on the Island. The only restaurant we considered as good or better than Tortilla Republic is Merriman's. You should go to both if in Kauai, because they are different. Great salsa's, guacamole, entree's, and tequila. We had party of 5, each entree was excellent.
(4)Griffin K.
If you're staying on the south side of Kauai and have a few $$($) to spend, you've got to eat at Tortilla Republic. The margaritas are great, which is always the mark of a solid Mexican restaurant. Carnitas were out of control. Black beans were super spicy. Portions are large, but controllable. Best "fresh mex" I've had in a long, long time.
(5)Richard A.
We dined at the upstairs dining room. It was a very good experience. More than I expected. We had Enchilada Mole and Carnitas which were very good. The Carnitas was not quite as I envisioned it, but good anyway. David, our server was also very good. Engaging and helpful with suggestions.
(4)Kurt W.
Disappointed by the service. In fact, we left because we were never served. Sat at the quiet bar for 15 minutes trying to signal the bartender. Finally left...
(1)Barbara B.
My husband and I stopped by after a day on a tour. We ate at the bar and the service was lightening quick. The tacos were good but way too small for the amount that we paid. We both had one drink and pollo tacos and our bill with tip was over $60. We both also came back to our condo and ate other food as our meal here did nothing to fill us.
(2)AnnMarie T.
There are much better places to eat on the island than this restaurant. Tortilla Republic is two levels, upstairs is a fancier version of downstairs with steeper prices. We ate downstairs. Ordered the Ceviche and Tacos and thought both food items were bland. The service wasn't so great either. The entire dinner we were not offered any refills for water or beverages. Avoid this place if you can.
(2)Melissa D.
Great food. We ate upstairs. Expensive for mexican, but my family enjoyed our visit. We really enjoyed the guacamole, made fresh at the table.
(4)Chris C.
Must order the table-side guacamole. The service from Pedro was wonderful and you'd be missing something special of you didn't order this. Krista G. was also a wonderful server. The pork carnitas were perfect, side of rice and beans spot on. The chocolate desert with hint of chili added really hit the spot! Finally the ambiance was very hip, L.A. like so plan on enjoying a wonderful evening out. I'd go so far as to say this is the hippest restaurant on the island! Best meal yet on Kauai and will come back for sure!!!
(5)Foodie S.
Ordered nachos, didn't taste as it looked.
(3)Megan S.
Update: After I wrote this review I received a message from offering a second chance and a gift card. I think that was a very nice gesture and response on the part of the restaurant.
(2)K D.
its alright, service is what kills this place honestly. Waiters mess up on the orders so it makes the stay a lot longer. food is good tho
(3)Maria C.
Wow!!!!!! Who would have thought the best Mexican food we ever had would be on Kauai? We have been coming here for over 25 years and this is now our favorite restaurant. We eat Mexican food regularly on the mainland but have never experienced anything this tasty. The Perfecto margaritas were PERFECT! Chicken quesadilla was the best we have ever had. Food, drinks and service were so good we came back a few days later to try our luck upstairs. We highly recommend our waiter Brian. His knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the menu made you want to order everything on the menu. I settled for the mole chicken enchiladas and my wife ordered the chile verde. Both were outstanding. And here is something you never heard about a Mexican restaurant before...the deserts were superb. We shared the key lime pie ( 2nd best I have ever had) and the chocolate decadence (best ever). In addition to the outstanding food and great ambiance we were struck by the quality of the staff. We usually eat out every day we are here so we have had our share of "Aloha" service. We have no idea where they found such a first class staff. We do not recognize anyone from other local restaurants. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to create a unique dining experience on the South Shore and we are certainly glad they did. We will be going back shortly for the third visit of our 11 day stay.
(5)Aaron W.
This place has a delicious happy hour! It's in a strip mall, but don't let that deter you. If you're itching for tasty (albeit upscale-ier) Mexican, go here. The drinks are great too. We got the nachos and weren't disappointed.
(4)Janice E.
On our honeymoon and wanted to have a nice dinner. The good: atmosphere, hostess and bus staff and the tableside guacamole. The bad: It took over 15 minutes to even be noticed once we were seated. The kitchen has an especially heavy hand with the salt shaker. Our waiter seemed either distracted or disinterested. Considering there wasn't a full house, there isn't an excuse for this. Cool vibe couldn't make up for the inattentive service and salty food.
(2)Becky W.
We came here for lunch during our vacation. We ordered the chips and salsa. Yes, you have to pay $4.50 for them here. The salsas were all very good. For our main course my husband and I both had fish tacos. They were ok but nothing compared to what you'll find at Island Taco. I'm giving them three stars because the food was just very average and I think our waitress must have been new. No real complaints but it was just a meal and probably overpriced at $16 for two fish tacos.
(3)Robert W.
Hit up this place for happy hour, and had the house marg. No complaints, and was entertained by the local bar chatter. Didn't try the food...
(4)Heidi B.
Wonderful food, service, atmosphere, and scenery. Fresh and inventive drinks. I am sorry we didn't discover this gem sooner than our last day on the island.
(5)Melissa S.
Food was great and nice friendly staff! We ate here 3 times out of the 5 days we were here!
(5)Jennifer N.
Excellent food! Came here for lunch and it was really fantastic. My boyfriends burger was one of the best he's ever had ( and he loves burgers). I had a crisp and delicious salad. The nachos to start were also great - not too cheesy. Friendly staff, yummy cocktails. Definitely recommend!
(5)Valerie R.
After hearing good things about this place from coworkers I had to give it a try for myself. Great bar atmosphere...Rachel is awesome! Had dinner as well. Patrick, our server, was most helpful. The whole staff played a part in a great dinner experience. Water glasses always being filled. Everything we ordered was cooked accurately. Great presentation and flavors. Stuffed poblano chili pepper was Delicious! Great salads. Yummy fresh salsa. Flour less chocolate cake with a chili sauce and salt caramel gelato--- :) I'm from Los Angeles and growing up Hispanic gives me first hand experience with this type of food. I would classify it as "Gourmet Mexican cuisine." Obviously, family home cooking will always be number one. Home is where the heart is:) This fills the void I have since i moved to the island. I plan on becoming a usual. Highly recommended.
(5)Katrina R.
They get 5 stars due to their AMAZING breakfasts! While on vacation in Kauai we decided to try breakfast outside of our expensive hotel option. We found out that Tortilla Republic had started opening for breakfast. The prices are half of the outrageous price of our resort, and the food was so fresh and gourmet we ate there 4 out of the 5 mornings we were there!!! The beneighs were so tasty and coffee very fresh! You absolutely have to try the bacon flight! Warning! the bloody marys are so strong and yummy! Try the Huevos Rancheros or any other dish for that matter, you won't be disappointed! Great staff as well! I will mention that being from San Diego and accustomed to THE best mexican cuisine I felt that the dinners we just ok.
(5)Bill B.
Aloof, unfriendly hostess, poor service and average inauthentic food. A bunch of other better places to hit on the island. My advice, skip this place.
(2)Anthony S.
Yet another amazing experience. Great staff and even better food. Can't stop coming here!
(5)Hudson H.
Excellent food and service. Margaritas were very strong and the recipes for them were creative. Would recommend table side guacamole. Best food we have had on the Island next to the Hyatt.
(4)Daphne J.
Trendy and swank atmosphere channels a Cali-cool vibe. Inventive drinks made with coconut water quench your thirst and make you feel like a health conscious lush! Slurp! You can get tipsy and hydrated simultaneously!
(4)Russell B.
In an attempt to try to please everyone in our group we settled for this relatively new mexican place nearby. They really did a great job with the location and the decor that gives it a modern yet still slightly beachy relaxed vibe. We quickly ordered drinks, which took a little bit of time to arrive (which unfortunately became a theme for the night). The hydration margarita was good, but lacked much flavor. All around there were problems with the drinks being a little forward minded for our group unfortunately. If we were able to get some new drinks to wash away the old quickly the experience wouldn't have gone so bad. Unfortunately, getting our waitress' attention from the large group next to us was difficult as was it for the bartender to make the drinks in a timely manner. Arghh. Amongst this we did order our food which again took a bit of time (to be fair maybe it just seemed like a while since we were sitting cocktailess for an awkwardly long time). Once the food and fresh drinks arrived, I hoped things would start to turn better, but unfortunately some of the mild members in our group found their dishes to be too spicy (which they were slightly, but not unexpectedly so for a Mexican place). Personally, I really enjoyed my carnitas which was juicy with just enough dried out edges to give the dish some interesting textures. Unfortunately the house made corn tortillas were very dry and remained unused to scoop up the tasty pork. After some half finished plates were cleared we tried to revive the night once again with some dessert. Two orders of churros please! After all of the faults that fortunately (wow a fortunately instead of unfortunately finally) went noticed by our waitress she did bring out a few scoops of their salted caramel ice cream and comped all of our dessert at least. The churros were pretty good, although I would've wished for a small bowl of the chocolate and caramel to dip it in rather than try to scrape off the artfully smeared sauces from the plate. The salted caramel was delicious and nearly saved the whole night, but the damage had already been done. Normally, I'd give an experience like this 2 stars at most, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that the nearby table took a little too much attention from us needy drinkers and the place is pretty much brand new and still working out the kinks. At least they made a mild attempt to correct the problems. Hopefully they take care of these issues and this place sticks around since a modern mexican restaurant would be nice amongst all the seafood oriented choices around Koloa and Poipu.
(3)Tapan P.
Great Mexican food for a restaurant out in the Pacific. The restaurant was also willing to accommodate people with dietary restrictions. It's hard to find these sorts of places in Hawaii.
(5)Vivian K.
Service was friendly and Live entertainment was good. Ordered a side of guacamole, tacos de jicama, and ceviche, everything was very fresh and pleasing to my picky taste buds. The ceviche could use a dash of hot sauce though. I drank my cucumber lavender margarita too fast to judge the taste of it, however I did catch a quick and short buzz.
(4)Brandy B.
I heard back from the manager asking us to please try them again. Hearing directly from the Tortilla Republic was a GREAT first step, so we did give it another try for breakfast this morning. B/F had blueberry & corn pancakes: they were great, the corn is a sweet, roasted kernel, that gives a good flavor with the island less sweet blueberries. Some blueberries look perfect, and have no taste: not these; they were fresh, strong, and large, but not overpowering. I had the manager's recommended favorite dish: Relleno Poblano (scrambled eggs, spinach, monterey jack served on a bed of Mexican rice, w/pico de gallo, surrounded by a flavorful serrano/cilantro/citrus sauce). It looked really big when it arrived, however, it was light and flavorful, so I didn't feel overfull when I was done. I would highly recommend it. The folks at the table next to us had the blueberry/corn pancakes and a quesadilla, and I asked what the quesadilla was so they both raved about the food. They had eaten at TR the day before for breakfast, and liked it so much they returned today. We also hada starter of the very fresh.Mexican crispas & beignets - & the raw honey(locally produced) on the crispas was really wonderful in flavor. A very citrus flavored honey, which I would have bought if they told me it was available next door in the market! Overall, "GO AND ENJOY!" is my final verdict for Tortilla Republic. We may drop by for a drink later tonight, so giving it a third change in a couple days shows my support. Its a great place in Poipu, or on the way home from anywhere its wort a few miles ou tof the way.
(4)Carlee P.
Shared an order of the nachos. Nothing too special. Tried the hydration margarita... A little different. Pretty pricey for decent Mexican food.
(3)Seth B.
Unfortunately I really wanted this place to do well, but no luck. Service was extremely slow-our waiter messed up the order in the kitchen and it took **60 minutes** to get our entrees. When asked to bring out chips, he said ok and then forgot. When asked to bring out hot sauce, he said ok and then forgot. When asked for more water, he said ok and then forgot. When the food finally came out, he said he was sorry and would 'take care of it on the bill' but he forgot to so that too. No sense of responsibility from the waiter or the manager or any other staff. I would give the food 3 stars but the lousy service will mean I will never go back there. I'm giving it 2 stars because it's better to eat there than no where if you had to. Also, the guacamole station that people rave about is cool in that the waiter makes guacamole in front of your table, but I don't think it's worth $15 unless that money is paying for the guy to entertain you.
(2)R B.
Ok food. Service was disinterested.
(3)Robert D.
Food was good ,waitress has to lay off the drugs
(3)Kristin K.
My husband and I went here twice during our honeymoon in Kauai both times for their Happy Hour. It was great! Really yummy margarita's for $5, including what they call the "hydration margarita" which uses coconut water (or milk?). They also had $3 and $4 beers. All of the appetizers on the happy hour menu were $5. We tried three different ones and they were all great. They also just opened one in West LA near where I live so I may have to try it out, though it will probably by way more crowded.
(5)Scott M.
The first time we all went for dinner and had a great table upstairs. As much as I wanted to order the Carnitas, since that is an easy dish to compare Mexican restaurant to Mexican restaurant, I didn't because my other rule is to try unusual things on menus so I wound up getting the Lamb Borrego enchiladas and couldn't been happier, they had a wonderful flavor and texture. My father loves moles (that is Mo-Lay, not that little fur animal that digs up your lawn) so he had the Mole de Xico enchiladas, which he liked a lot, but did say he would leave off the queso fresco next time. DW had the dinner salad, chicken and rabbit food, very much like a Santa Fe salad, but she liked it so that was what mattered. Mom had the fish Guajillo Style and loved the sauce. Had two DS with me who of course both had the Prime Rib since dad was buying (actually gramps picked up the bill in the end, same difference to them though). The prime rib was actually great, but the roasted garlic & corn, potato puree that came with it was even better. All in all, it was much more expensive than we would pay at most of our "got to" Mexican places on the mainland, but not out of line with a place like Javiers, Candelas or Border Grill and I think the food is at that level. We would and will go back for dinner next time we are in Poipu. The second time we went was "boys only" and it was for late "lunch". Mostly it was an excuse to drink margaritas and good tequila, but we got four different kinds of tacos plus appetizers. We got the four different tacos so we could mix, match and share. I was disappointed they didn't have carnitas for their tacos (maybe I should have thought to ask), but we did get the pork loin tacos and they were great as all the choices were. Again, expensive compared to your average taco truck or down home place in CA, but not unusual for what I pay at the hoity toity places in CA. Service was very good and friendly both times. The 'folk' won't be eating here a lot because of the price points, but it should be in consideration as a special occasion place for residents (to avoid that whole "local" vs "resident" debate) and as a place to try for visiting tourists.
(4)Crystal A.
We went twice during our trip because we loved the atmosphere. The Purist was the best margarita we've had in a while from a restaurant. The tacos downstairs were the bomb - we had both the carne asada and the chicken. Upstairs we had the salad with the bacon (can't remember the name) and wow that was amazing. The chicken flautas were excellent too. We will come back next time we are in Kauai.
(5)Brett F.
I came here for lunch on my last day in Kauai (May 6... Tried to come for dinner on Cinqo de Mayo, but it was booked of course). BEST fish tacos I've ever had, INCREDIBLE Thai margarita (with coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, etc.), great music, good service. I wish we had a Tortilla Republic in the south bay! (Wink wink, nudge nudge.)
(4)John O.
Fantastic Mexican food on Kaua'i! The food here was really top notch from the Fresh Guacamole made right at your table to the delicious Churros for desert. Everything here uses local ingredients and tastes are out of this world!
(4)Ashley R.
The ambiance at the Tortilla Repubic is great. Love the view from the balcony and the bar is cool looking. This restaurant was hard for my husband and I being from the Central Valley of California (Mexican restaurant on every corner). This restaurant has very classy food. Not your typical Mexican restaurant. While the food had excellent flavor, the pricing was way off. $15.75 for table side guacamole is a bit extreme. Thank goodness we looked at the menu before we said yes. Final verdict: if you're from a region that has good authentic Mexican food, don't bother. But if you don't get Mexican on a regular basis, go for it. The flavor and ambiance is good.
(3)Rebecca J.
Loved the atmosphere - wonderful decor, music. Our food was delicious - we had the chips and salsa sampler, a salad and the fish of the day and carnitas and yummy margaritas. Everything was really good and flavorful. I can't give this place a 5 because of the service. Our food came on top of each other...the chips/ salsa, salad and entrees came too close together. And then our waiter disappeared and we found it impossible to order a second drink. I'd go back again because of the atmosphere and food but would hope for better service next time.
(4)Laura S.
Really good food! Excellent service. Just a little pricey!
(4)Stephanie M.
Being from Los Angeles and in Kauai on Cinco de Mayo, I was glad there was a Mexican restaurant on the Island. Unfortunately, Tortilla Republic is anything but Mexican. First you have to pay for chips and salsa, which is the first time I have seen that in a Mexican restaurant. I cannot understand how anyone can give this restaurant more than two stars. They were unorganized and the food was forgettable. I ordered chicken enchiladas that halfway through eating I realized was missing the chicken. I think I was served someone else's vegetarian enchiladas (which seemed to be a pattern I heard from other diners that night). The drinks were hideous - come on how hard is it to make a strawberry margarita? I cannot recommend this restaurant. Try Josselin's next door - its food was much better.
(2)Charles W.
Great brunch and breakfast options. Terrific service. Egg White omelette is terrific.
(4)P L.
My husband and I stopped by here on our honeymoon. I have go to say it was some of the best food we have had on the island! I had the pork and the owner/cook came up to us during meal and told us that it was so tender due to being marinated in pepsi. Very creative and well executed menu, I would highly recommend going there. We definitely plan on going back when we are in Hawaii next.
(5)Midnight B.
Its strange to find good Mexican food in Hawaii, but that is exactly what this place is. I think its also a nice get away from a lot of the usual food you get in Hawaii, a lot of which I don't think is very good, except for steak and sushi which can be pricey. The only peeve is that there's no ocean view, and when my husband and I got there they hadn't opened the upstairs yet to serve dinner so we were eating out of a bar menu, (couldn't wait we hadn't had food all day). So I don't know what their dinner menu is like, but whatever we ate was fabulous.
(5)George S.
This is one of the best Mexican meals I have ever had. Started with a couple of Drinks called Kuaui Heat, vey good. Got the guacamole made the the table, great entertainment and taste. I got pork Verde the best I have every had. My wife got the lamb enchilada, it was very good. Great service! great food and drink and great atmosphere gives it five stars.
(5)L S.
We ate downstairs for dinner and enjoyed it. The service was great, the food was delicious, and it was nice to see the manger or owner (big guy) helping the staff clear dishes. The portions aren't large but satisfying. Try the tacos and the chips and salsa. The only downside is there is not a Kama'aina discount. I live close and will be back.
(5)Jules A.
When you've had enough fish, head to Tortilla Republic for good nachos and burritos. Great happy hour menu.
(4)Martine M.
We discovered Tortilla Republic when we were in Kauai recently. The burritos were out of this world!! Super delicious! The service was excellent, too! I'm giving this restaurant 4 stars only because I think $14 for a burrito is a bit over the top. BUT ... again, the burritos are delicious!
(4)Kevin L.
Dinner here was truly phenomenal--from food to drinks to service, Tortilla Republic hit the mark for us. We initially had just chips and salsa (salsa is really special stuff here--house made and then aged to get the flavor they want) but then decided to try the tableside guacamole. Allow me to be very clear on this point: If you enjoy guacamole, do not miss the tableside guac at Tortilla Republic. The guy who makes it comes over with a cart full of ingredients, and customizes the guac to your tastes as he makes it. The result is the best guacamole you've ever had. Also, the chips and tortillas are made in-house. Without turning this into a book, other standout appetizers include the Ahi Crudo, the Ceviche, and the Flautas. Not only are the flavors excellent, but the presentation is also top notch. The entrees are (not surprisingly) excellent as well. We've had the Ahi Fajitas, the Stuffed Poblano, and the Carnitas, and all were sublime. As an aside, I'm told that the burger down in the Margarita bar is a winner as well, but I've not had the experience myself as yet. The drinks are really something else if you're into margaritas. They have every sort of tequila you can think of, and they also make their own lime sweet, which makes for a margarita that's a cut above any I've had before. There are several different iterations, from traditional to cadillac to flavored, but my preference is 'the purist,' a basic traditional margarita made with very high quality liquor and their house made lime sweet. Lastly, the service is excellent. We had a multitude of servers and they were all excellent. The place clearly cares about your business, how your meal was, and that you're enjoying yourself, as evidenced by Eric, the manager who came by to say hello and make sure that we were having a nice time. All in all, this is one not to miss.
(5)Marco B.
Great food, okay service. The restaurant had a very trendy and inviting atmosphere, the nachos were awesome as a starter. I liked how the table we were sitting at had a lazy susan, it came in handy considering we were a party of seven. I had the carne asada tacos which were very flavorful and delicious, but they were pretty darn small. I'd be happy to come back here if I'm ever in the area again.
(4)Rafael Y.
Although no healthy / clean meat options, they do have some veggie and many seafood options. The food and salsas were tasty. The tortilla chips were not so good however. The drinks were good too.
(4)Ashley M.
I agree with other reviews here - the food has almost no flavor, and lacks any salt. We came here on a Saturday for brunch around 10:30am. Nice atmosphere, friendly service, fast, but flustered. Our server looked like she had a hundred tables by the way she was running around. She offered us cream and sugar for our coffe, then never brought it out. She greeted us at our table with a "how are you," then walked away... no drink order or menus. I think it was the manager or owner who was coming around to tables trying to make up for the lack of good service. She got us some cream and sugar and corrected the next table's drink order. Food was ok, but pricey.
(3)Jessica M.
We had tortilla soup, chicken quesadillas and a delicious salad. All was delicious, though they forgot to put the chicken on the salad (I'd opted for the extra $4 for grilled chicken) and I'm pretty certain they mixed up whose drinks were whose. That said, the food was really good and our server very nice.
(3)Garry K.
Good service. Good food. Nice decor. I eat a lot of Mexican food. I'm always on the look for something new and different. I didn't get it here. Everything on the menu the night I was there was fairly mainstream. It was tasty, well made but nothing that blew me away. The drinks were great. We heard & read good things about the Lavender Cucumber margarita but they were out the night we were there.
(4)Reed R.
Very happy "Happy Hour". We just left Tortilla Republic and couldn't wait to rave about our experience. My wife and I shared two Happy Hour dishes, the Queso Fresco Fritters, and the Nachos. Being from Southern California we didn't give ordering a cheese plate and a chip plate a second thought. After all, we were there to try the Mahi Tacos. Wow, were we in for a treat. The fritters were a light treat and came with guacamole and guajillo vinaigrette dipping sauces. The nachos were a generous and Mexilicious taste experience. By the time we finished the fish tacos and a few Hydration Margaritas, our feet never hit the ground till we landed at Lappert's Ice Cream down the way. Thanks Kauai, another great start to our stay in Paradise.
(5)Donna K.
Been upstairs for dinner three times; the first and second time were outstanding. Food was good, we ordered the guac at tableside each time; it was great. I love the lavender-cucumber margarita - very refreshing. The third time, we were a party of 7 consisting of 4 adults and 3 children (they were well-behaved children BTW). The service was very poor that night. We hardly ever saw our waitress unless we flagged her down. She was usually nowhere to be found then would suddenly appear out of thin air. Mostly all of the tables were full but it wasn't crazy busy. We ordered some appetizers followed by our entrees. No sooner had they served our appetizers did our dinner come out. Needless to say, our table was pretty crowded. The food was OK but I've had more authentic tasting Mexican food elsewhere. It is pricey though. We got the bill and a 20% tip was automatically tacked onto our bill because of the number of people in our party. I highly disagree that our waitress deserved that much. Maybe that's why our service was so poor, she didn't have to work for a tip. Just a warning, if you are dining with a party of 6 or greater, make sure you know where your waitress/waiter is. I will have no qualms about challenging that automatic tip with the manager if we experience poor service like that again.
(2)Michelle Y.
Jess & Saul - best bartenders ever!!
(5)bobby b.
happy hour!! woohoo!!
(4)Kelvin R.
The salsa tasting was mediocre because they only bring u three tiny sized salsas which u sample. And by the time you figure it out its already gone. We sat downstairs at first and had some appetizers. The guacamole was pretty good but they shorted us on the chips because they combined them. Finally we went upstairs and I had the island catch fajitas. It was pretty good but small portioned. Overall and average restaurant.
(3)Carol C.
Gave this place a terrible review a while ago based on the house margarita. I've never had a margarita here since but have enjoyed several glasses of Malbec. The food upstairs is surprisingly good and very reasonable for the area. The enchilada suizas and hamburger were delicious. My husband likes the carnitas and a friend had the relleno poblano and said it was outstanding. We eat here at least once every time we visit Poipu. Not sure about downstairs - had appetizers there once and they were so-so.
(4)Josh W.
It was pretty good, but a few things kept it from a higher score. I had the fish fajitas, which were made with Ahi tuna chunks - really really good. My wife had the steak fajitas, which were just ok - a bit on the fatty side. 8-year old son had the kids chicken quesadilla, which they made with Mole sauce which had a pretty good kick to it and it was too spicy for him. 3-year old daughter had a kids burrito which was the size of her head - pretty tasty, but very large for a kid size. Perfect margartia's were good. It was my wife's 40th and I told our server and they brought her a chocolate cake ... and then charged us $9.00 for it (thought that was pretty cheap, after spending $130 on dinner). All in all, not sure I would return, as there are plenty of pricy options to eat in Poipu.
(3)Justin L.
As an update to my previous post, I will try Tortilla Republic again in the future. I received a sincere note from their manager (Sara) apologizing for our previous experience at the restaurant. This gesture shows that they do care about the experience that their customers have at their restaurant. Much appreciated.
(3)Amanda A.
Came here with a group of friends. Drink Service was incredibly slow. I don;t usually complain about the strength of drinks, but these drinks were strong and tasted like "cleaning fluid" as my one friend put it. The good stuff: Great food! Cerviche was amazing. The guacamole could have used more kick, but was good. The shrimp quesadilla was to die for. The burgers were also good. The fish tacos weren't bad, but we had made our own fresh caught mahi mahi tacos the night before so that may be why we weren't overly impressed. All in all, I'd go again. Great ambiance and food. Just need a little work on the drinks.
(4)Loretta B.
The guac here is worth a 5 star..the service is great, ambiance nice..but hey, you're in Hawaii, hard to top that. the rest of the food id good, downstairs can be loud if theres entertainment but they have upstairs seating
(3)Garet K.
After our cab driver warned us not to eat here, for it was a poor excuse for Mexican food, my husband and I did. We are from Southern California and love Mexican food. So we gave tortilla republic the benefit of the doubt. The only thing great about this place is the atmosphere and friendly staff. Our margaritas were awful. No flavor. We ordered red burritos and I swear they put spaghetti sauce on top of our burritos and called it "red sauce" I'm Italian so I know when I taste spaghetti sauce. So awful. If you love real Mexican food... Do not eat here!!!!!!!!!
(1)Katie W.
I did like the ambience of this place at night. I was told by locals that I needed to try the margaritas here but I was a bit disappointed . For $9 , it came in a small little glass and it tasted watered down and I don't drink the often. The food presentation was nice but it wasn't the best Mexican food. I did like the salsas they served. Overall, I gave the place 3 stars mainly for the ambience and the staff was very nice and attentive for how busy the place was.
(3)Todd R.
Everything from getting seated, the atmosphere, live music and margaritas. We all had something different including the table side guacamole and it was all awesome. I had the pork chop and it was by far the best pork chop I ever had. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Sue S.
We ate upstairs and loved the food however it was so dark we had to use the flashlight app on my phone to see the menu, the food & the check, also the music was a little too loud to carry on a conversation. We all loved the tableside quacamole but there was no place to put the chip basket, no pupu plates, so we just sort of passed the basket
(4)Adam H.
We had a great lunch here. My carne asada burrito was awesome. My gf's baja fish tacos were great too. Good service, cool atmosphere- nothing to complain about. A little more expensive than I'm used to, but I suppose that's Kauai.
(5)TS D.
Not your typical Mexican food, but don't get me wrong the food is pretty good but like others I think overpriced for what you get, especially for Mexican. The margarita's are awesome....really like the perfect and the purist. Here's the downer...we are local and have lived on the island all our lives. The hospitality downstairs is terrible (UNLESS IT'S OBVIOUS YOU'RE A TOURIST). The manager goes around to tables and talks to people about how everything is going, but never once stopped at our table (it's obvious we are local), literally skipping over our table (and I have to tell you we've been here at least 10 times!!!!and not once has the floor manager come over.) I mean the locals are the people that are going to return, right? The bartenders aren't friendly either, but the waitresses are pretty decent. Now upstairs was a different experience. The manager was very very very friendly and the bartender was awesome!!!! So if you're visiting Kauai you may want to try it, you'll be treated well, if you can afford the prices!!! If you're local try it and see, maybe by that time they'll read this and you too will receive top notch service!!! The bus boys and girls are the hardest working people there and the friendliest.
(1)Patricia L.
Excellent atmosphere, especially the bar. First time we ate at the bar. The food was very good. We had tacos and everyone was happy. Second time we sat upstairs and the food was just as good. Personally I liked the bar better. It was intimate and just felt a bit more like Hawaii - At least as close as one can get in a shopping mall. Can't speak about their bar selection as I only had beer. Really nice and attentive wait staff. Probably not the place to bring young kids.
(4)andrea k.
Great Service! Table side Guacamole awesome! Lamb enchilada's and Suiza great Highly recommend
(4)Gabriel S.
Hostess care, service and attention were good, flies were everywhere, and I mean everywere (we sat outside on the ground floor) food was your ok Mexican food. If you think this is top notch Mexican food, go to Mexico, to Cafe Tacuba, or Casa de los Azulejos or comparable restaurant, then you'll know what is indeed good Mexican food.
(3)Lisa E.
We were going to go to Da Crack since we heard great things about their food, but since they close at 4:00 on Sunday we had no plans and ended up at Tortilla Republic which was good service and great food! We shared the Nachos and split a Kobe burger and the food was very good and very reasonably priced. Our waitress also told us that there is a different menu on the upper level which is more of a bar/grille menu. I am sad to say we leave this Tuesday and won't be able to experience the live entertainment during the week and weekend.
(4)Richard M.
Our entrees were really good and we were so glad we made a reservation and sat upstairs. Very attentive server and we would have given it a 4th star but for the music that we didn't care for and the chips that seemed to be store bought (give me the fresh fried variety at this price point). We would definitely return!
(3)Emily D.
The tacos are amazing. My husband says the carne asada tacos were the best he ever had. I got the veggie tacos which were complex and lovely. So good. Minus one star for charging $15 for three small tacos, for sitting us at a table in the bar without telling us the menu is not the same as upstairs, and because although the band was quite good, the volume was front row concert level. But if you are immune to island prices, and you sit upstairs, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Jonathan E.
I had breakfast and dinner here several times on my last trip to Kauai. The prices are in line with the resort-y area (pretty pricey), but the food quality is pretty good. The staff is friendly and attentive. Breakfast was actually better than dinner, as they were never busy. We were told that we needed to make reservations to eat dinner upstairs (which has a different menu), which was odd considering that it was nearly empty when we did make reservations. I enjoyed the Chilaquiles, which is like breakfast nachos. Poached eggs, poblano chiles, cheese, black beans layered with soft tortilla chips. The Relleno Poblano was also delicious. The island catch fajitas were great for dinner.
(3)Sharlene H.
10/28/11 We had a wonderful time. From the moment we were greeted by the hostess in front of tortilla republic.. Our drinks were fantastic and we recieved them immediately. The guacomole cart was so delicious. The waiter Bryan was excellent. He knew the menu inside and out. The entree's were so delicious! Our service our impecable! The Gm Rocky was always checking on us, making sure we had a great experience. The ambiance and decor.. Beautiful!
(5)kami A.
LOVE This Place!!!
(5)Anne B.
Yum. So, so good.
(5)max f.
This place is so overrated, but mediocre at best. Although pleasing to the eye, well designed and decorated, the service is just OK, and food waaaaaay overpriced, definitely not good value for the money, especially given other choices in the same plaza or within short driving distance. But worst of all, they gave us a wrong check, tried to charge almost double of what we had. It is a good habit to review the check before you pay. Would not try this place again.
(2)Molly R.
We went to Tortilla Republic on the 25th and had a brilliant time. The service was exceptional (thank you Brian C.) and the decor, food, and ambiance made this the perfect way to celebrate my husband's birthday. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Kevin L.
I live in Hawaii and expect to pay a little more for some things, but this bordered on exorbitant! While the guacamole and tacos were good, the portions were small and prices were high. Really, who wants to pay $11 for guacamole? They do a fantastic job with their speciality margaritas and maybe after a few of those you won't mind paying the higher prices for the food. The cucumber lavender margarita is dangerous and not to be missed.
(3)Mark M.
We were craving tacos and it was a swing and a miss. No A/C and the beers were just cool. The place had a great designer put it together, but they need a little more help on the food. If you are craving tacos go to Kapaa and find the Happy Taco truck.
(2)Joshua H.
I couldn't have asked for a better dining experience a few days ago. I came to the upstairs part of the restaurant on a whim. I was seated promptly in the back air conditioned section of the restaurant. I was greeted quickly by the server, Megan, who had a glass and water pitcher. She welcomed me and told me all about the catch of the day, and her favorite cocktails. Looking over the cocktail list was really intimidating, so I couldn't make up my mind. She told me, "No problem. What are you looking for in your cocktail? Sweet? Citrusy?" I told her a combination of the two, light on the palate and not apicy. She gave me a smile and told me that she had something in mind. She came back about two minutes later with a beautiful handcrafted drink. Fresh lilikoi, lime, agave, and tequila, chilled and served up. I was amazed that this drink wasn't offered on the menu. She didn't even have a name for it, she just created it on the spot for my needs. A ++ After a few moments of letting me enjoy my drink, she came back with Salsa Tasting. I was a little put off that there was a charge and not complimentary but I was curious on these three homemade salsas. I would pay for these again. All three were very fresh. I was a little intimidated by the papaya one, so I stayed with the Mesa and Tomatillo, I even mixed both together which made a very unique taste. Eventually I tried the papaya. I was pleasantly surprised when I enjoyed that salsa over what I thought were my favorites. Very fresh and full of flavor. Just the right amount of spice. I treated myself to the Carne Flatbeard appetizer, which was recommended by the server. They came out within five minutes. Brilliant. The combination of cheese and vegetables on a warm flat bread was incredible to my taste buds. You could easily eat that appetizer with the salsa tasting and be filled up. I ordered the hamburger medium rare, with this amazing mushroom cream sauce. I didn't catch the name of it, but the server recommended that, as well as adding bacon. Perfect choice. When it came out, it was a too rare. She came back within a couple minutes of my entree being placed and saw that the burger was too rare and offered to cook it longer. Excellent eye. It came back out after a couple minutes and was perfect. Definitely one of the best hamburgers I have ever had. The fries were cooked perfectly. Crisp and seasoned well. I ended up eating half the burger and a handful of fries before I threw in the towel. I didn't want to waste such beautifully prepared food, so I asked for them to be boxed, along with the mushroom sauce. Delicious!!! Before I even had time to ask for the check, my server brought over a dessert on the house. Totally not expecting that one. It was delicious. I can't even remember the name of it, but it was like a chocolate cake that was soft and practically melting in my mouth. Very rich, heavy, and full of flavor. The side of ice cream was a nice touch to calm the richness of the dessert. All in all. Excellent service. Beautifully plated food, and scrumptious flavors. I will definitely dine here again, and request Megan as my server. She was kind, present, and attentive to my needs. Also, the support staff should be mentioned. A young local boy paid close attention to water refills and taking plates promptly. He was very warm and always had a smile on his face. I highly recommend Tortilla Republic, not only for the food, but for the high quality service.
(5)Kerry P.
I wanted to love this place. Great vibe, delicious looking menu - tequila bar...say no more! Sadly, we were so disappointed. The margaritas we ordered were horrible and had to be sent back. We ordered nachos, tacos and a salad and green enchiladas, and waited an hour to get three of the four dishes delivered. The nachos finally came and they were the best item. The waitress said it was her first day, so we gave her some wiggle room. However, the food wasn't good when we got it. Maybe we ordered the wrong thing, but in my opinion, paying $15 for three small tacos? ..they had better be delicious. I hear brunch is fantastic - maybe that would have been a better option.
(2)Erin T.
I was totally against going to this place. We had eaten at Josselin's (right around the corner) twice so far and this place was always crowded so my husband wanted to try it for lunch on our last day. We live in Texas, so we are pretty critical of Mexican food. I'm so glad I was so wrong! My husband raved about his "hydration margarita" - I'm pregnant so couldn't enjoy :( His fish tacos were light and delicious and my shrimp taco salad was exactly what I wanted! Much lighter than the Tex-Mex we are used to. Fabulous.
(5)Jennifer K.
Favorite restaurant on Kauai. This is my husband's and my first trip to Kauai and although a lot of the places we went out to eat at were ok, I found myself wishing for better places to eat here. Luckily we found Tortilla Republic while driving by. I looked it up on Yelp and most reviews were positive, so we gave it a try. Twice. In two days. That's how good this place is! The restaurant has two different floors with two different menus--upstairs has more entrees, downstairs has more snacks and appetizers. Our first visit we weren't too hungry so we just got a plate of nachos, drinks (virgin lava flow), and dessert. It was tasty!! The nachos were wonderful--they layered plenty of cheese and beans in the pile of chips, not just on top. Very hearty. The drink was actually a little watered down--weird cause other reviews called the drinks strong. As for the key lime pie--just as another reviewer said--it's the best I've ever had. The second night we went upstairs and had dinner. The table side guacamole was amazing. Hubby had the mole and I had the carnitas--both were impressive. The pork was fork-tender, salad with dressing was light and flavorful. And of course we had to repeat the key lime pie! Has great ambience and staff was friendly and attentive. The only drawback was that their tortilla chips are homemade and some ended up being on the crunchy side and a couple were soft in the middle. But small potatoes all things considered. Don't pass this one up!!
(5)Michael L.
Food is tasty and service is reasonable, but even though it's Kauai, it is overpriced for what you get. $16 for 3 small tacos? I guess, but does not compare to the Mexican food you get in AZ almost anywhere, and for half the price. Buyer beware...
(3)Stefan B.
The food is amazing. We came here twice and got the burrito, ceviche, quesadillas, and tortilla soup. The service was fantastic the first visit but horrible the second time. We came for lunch the second visit so we didn't get drinks, maybe that's why it took over 25 minutes before we even got water. I'm assuming this is out of the norm, as the day before our waitress was great.
(4)Allison M.
We heard rave reviews about Tortilla Republic, but we were sure if we wanted Mexican food while in Hawaii. Well, this place didn't disappoint! We had excellent service, and really enjoyed our food. Up to this point, we had had medicore dining experiences in Kauai, so this helped turn that around. There are a lot of dining options in the shopping center Tortilla Republic is in, but this one is not to be missed.
(5)Margaret N.
Good meal, good service. Nice outdoor seating outside. Friendly cat dropped by our table to say hi?
(4)Benjamin P.
Good food and service. Seems to be well run. Good atmosphere.
(4)Holly H.
Service is HORRIBLE! And that's every time I have been in! Food isn't great either. The only thing that is good are the drinks but they're straight sugar. (No wonder). I know they have good intentions and hoping in the future it will be better. Good luck!
(1)Jackie V.
I give this a solid four stars. It was pretty pricey but definitely tasty. Good margaritas, good guac (made tableside which i love), good tacos. I got the carnitas tacos and Justin G got the Chili Verde. They basically come out what i would call fajita style with the meat in this little skillet (in huge chunks) and you make your own tacos. And they bring rice and beans for the table. The chili verde sounded awesome but too spicy for me but when i bit into my carnitas, i was shocked by the spice level. It was consistently hot throughout the meal so i feel like i ate less than i usually can. Still very good. I probably only ate about half of the meat so i took the rest to go. When you're staying in a hotel without a microwave there is not much point in taking leftovers (....we did eat them cold the next day). In retrospect, we should have just gotten one entree to share after having all of the guac and margaritas. I feel like my yelping has been a little generous but since i come from a big food town (philadelphia) - my expectations weren't too high. Still a very good meal/good night out.
(4)Mike R.
I LOVED this place!!! We need one in Honolulu!!! Great inventive foods and delicious drink creations!
(5)Anderson H.
Friendly staff and thoughtful margaritas. Food looks good but we just had drinks. Poipu Heat is delicious.
(5)Jordana F.
Tequila tequila! They have soooo many tequila drinks it's crazy! My uncle is a tequila fanatic and he loved it. This place also gave my boyfriend the opportunity to try out some fancy tequila without breaking the bank too much. They have other alcoholic drinks to choose from, so don't worry if you're not a tequila-drinker. The food was amazing! After checking in on yelp, we got a free salsa sampler! There were 3 different salsas. I can't remember the 3 types specifically but they were all pretty delicious. I think it's an appetizer that's worth the price. I ordered the seafood quesadilla and it was AMAZING! My goodness that thing was bursting with wonderful flavors. There were big chunks of shrimp and crab and the sauces mixed with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese was just a wonderful medley. My boyfriend ordered the chicken quesadilla and that was also pretty good. So if you're not a seafood fan, the chicken quesadilla is a nice replacement. My uncle ordered a beef burrito and it was actually pretty bland. I don't recommend that dish. But overall it was a great experience! The restaurant is located in Poipu and is a pretty trendy spot. If you love mexican food, this place should be on your radar!
(4)Jeff M.
The salsa wasn't hot, but tasty. The jalapeño croquets were great as well as the drinks.
(5)Kat S.
I sat at the bar around 5 pm. They were not busy at all, service was just ok. Bartender didn't seem so personable. Naxos were also just ok. My beverage was great. Dessert was better than my nachos. Don't forget yelp has a free salsa sampler to unlock.
(3)Andrew A.
Delicious food and great service! Brunch on Saturday was fantastic. Patio seating. Had brunch with a mimosa or you can get a Bloody Mary. Food had a great presentation and was authentic. Restaurant is in the poipu shopping center which makes it a perfect location to visit the other shops before or after you eat. Make sure to also try the bacon flight!!
(5)Events i.
NEW MANAGEMENT...BIG Difference. Food, service and staff have been upgraded at this Poipu gem. I love the new changes and the food is better than ever. If you have food allergies or requests they are the most accommodating place I've been to. Never fails to make us happy every time amazing. Breakfast is my favorite.
(5)LeighAnn G.
Nice little spot, service is so-so. Verde salsa is definitely their best option. Not breaking any culinary barriers, but easy--decent meal
(3)Lainie R.
Ate in the downstairs bar area because we didn't know it was different than the upstairs menu. Food was fresh and very good. The green chili burrito was yummy. The chicken quesadilla was as well. Margaritas were good. One of the better meals we had on the island. Would definitely go back.
(4)Rachel O.
Here is another decent, but nothing to write home about place in Hawaii. We went with the citrus ceviche and carne asada baja tacos. The tortillas were small and not so great. The atmosphere was nice and the service was okay. No big complaints, but not so memorable.
(3)Steve P.
Enjoyed a great happy hour there tonight. Good food, service equally as good. Has a good vibe.
(5)Jeremy S.
Amazing food. Try the Brussel sprouts and jalapeño margarita. The service side guacamole was great. Pedro was a great personality. Short ribs were great and shrimp fajitas were also great.
(5)Sue T.
We were here on our first night in Poipu, and just what we wanted. I can't get enough fresh fish when in HI, and the Monchong fish of the day was done very well. My hubby had one of the enchiladas and was more than satisfied. Service was friendly and attentive. Since it was our first night in Kauai, it was more of a sticker shock of prices, considering it was 50% or more the price we would pay at home, but for the freshness, would highly recommend!!
(4)Erik H.
Food was awesome! The salsa was good, the ahi fajitas was amazing and the carnitas was very good as well. Since i found out they have 2 locations in LA, ill definately try to hit up this restaurant again. The only issue is their menu online isnt the menu in the restaurant. Given that every dinner item on the menu in the restaurant is generally over 20 bucks, i would say this is a 3 dollar sign spot.
(4)Hayley C.
I'll give you the overall opinion first: for quantity of food, quality and price, this place is a dud. Location wise it's ok, but if you're eating dinner upstairs where the view is, expect to have glaring sun in your eyes or the shade down and no view. Let's get into it - no free chips here unless you use your yelp check in coupon (**Major win!!). When we used our coupon, the waitress seemed to have never seen one before, but she talked to her manager and waived it. Great, right? Kind of...maybe not really. You get a 1 tablespoon of 3 different types of salsa, and although it's free refills on both, the refills take a long time to get to you and again, they give very little each time. Now's a good time to get into the service. If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll know that my mom loves salt, no matter the restaurant or the food. At higher end restaurants, that means salt isn't on the table and we have to ask for it. Long story short, we never got the salt. This pattern of service carried into every aspect of our meal, except for the bus boy who was BY FAR the most helpful person there, and really went out of his way to try to get the glaring sun (see above) out of our eyes. He also refilled our water constantly while we waited (forever) for our drinks. Major bonus points for him. Also, pretty sure there's only one bartender, hence the wait - what's up with that?! Onto the entrees. Overpriced mostly, and we all ended up getting fajitas thinking it would be the best bang for our buck (at this point we're pretty hungry from the chip situation) and who doesn't love the sizzling plate? Again, we were wrong and let down. No sizzling plate, no bang for our buck. Plates were appetizer sized and food was nothing special. Those of us who sprung an extra $5 or so for the ahi instead of chicken won out for flavor, not for price, but at that point they didn't really care. ALSO one of the reasons we thought the fajitas were gonna be so great was because it included guacamole, which was $16 for an appetizer size. 16. Let me say that again - 16. Never in my life have I seen such expensive guac. Now you're thinking "Must've been encrusted with diamonds or something to make it worth it". Nope! No, no and no. The tiny dollop we got with the fajitas was not good. Not good. Had that sour flavor that old avocados get. Really, guys? Really? No bueno, if I do say so myself. To all my loyal yelp followers out there (ha), I'm sorry that I only review restaurants I (really) don't like, but I'm working on it. That said, Tortilla Republic was not an exception to this rule. P.S. Their online menu for the upstairs grill goes to an error page when you click on it. Ouch! Trying to hide the guac price?? Haha.
(2)Jason C.
Outstanding Mexican food, atmosphere, and service. Best tequila for 3000 miles. Must try the churros for desert and enjoy managements easy going and accommodating flare. Eric was a great host.
(5)Emily P.
Went here for dinner and again for breakfast! Fantastic food! Highly recommend to Kauai visitors and locals! A+
(5)Arti B.
This area was really nice! Their Fried Brussel Sprouts and and Fresh table side guacamole made by Pedro was amazing! It was a nice area to walk around, a lot of good restaurants and shops.
(4)Steve B.
It's been 3 years since we have gone here. We went to happy hour and had the specials. Once again, we weren't disappointed. The food and service was great!
(4)Mandy T.
We had high hopes coming in - nice open ambiance, good prices. But when it took 30+ minutes to make a salad and fish tacos (anyone in the food industry or who has been in a kitchen would know that those two items are quick, particularly if the fish is flash grilled), and the server said "the salad has been done for a while, but they are 'finishing' the fish tacos," she either forgot to put in the order and didn't 'fess up, or the kitchen staff was hired off the street that night. By the way, it was not peak dinner hour - it was 9 pm on a Tuesday night. So the fish tacos and salad (with now cold grilled shrimp that added another $8 onto a $14 salad) arrive and given the time it took, I expected some kind of marinated masterpiece. No, just little strips of grilled fish on a few scraps on cabbage on a tortilla. And I tried it - what? It tasted fishy, like not in he way fresh fish should taste. This was opa - or moonfish, some of the easiest, cleanest palleted fish there is out there. I returned the fish tacos and exchanged it for a chicken burrito thinking and hoping it would be safe. It wasn't bad but the beans were seasoned way too salty. Oh, and somehow unlike the tacos, it miraculously took only 5 minutes (I repeat, someone messed up our order and didn't 'fess up - rule #1 in the food industry, don't try to cover up your mess, it only makes it worse!) But the best part is this...the server came by and boasted that she had "taken the fish tacos off the bill" - as though we should be grateful. And then she didn't even comp the burrito - or even offer to comp dessert, etc!! Being from the food industry, I am very forgiving of the fact that stuff happens - we forget, we miss things. That's human. But to cover it up and then have no sense of customer courtesy is just sad. Hope they can shape it up! Great location and the niche has potential there. Staff and food were subpar.
(2)Em S.
A bunch of friends and I came here for breakfast and the food was great BUT the customer service was pretty bad. We arrived a little before 930am and were seated pretty quickly. It was a Holiday (Labor Day) and the restaurant wasn't too crowded at all. We ordered our coffees (4 regular and 1 Latte) as soon as we were seated in hopes of having our caffeine fix while we looked over the menu. About 10 minutes later one of the staff members informed us that they were still brewing the coffee. When our coffees finally arrived we noticed that the latte came in a tiny cup and looked like just plain expresso...no milk in it. When we questioned one of the staff on the latte they replied that the manager said the latte machine was broken and offered another coffee at no charge. In my opinion they should have informed us that they were unable to make the latte in the first place. The food took quite a while to arrive...about 40 minutes. And when the food finally arrived we found out that they made one of the orders incorrectly and ended up waiting even longer. On a more positive note, the Relleno Poblano that I had was great! Food rating=4 Customer Service rating=2.5
(3)Karen O.
One word... Delicious,,, we tried TR for the first time tonight. Had the flautas for appetizer. Yummy way to start the meal. Margaritas were fresh and yummy. My daughter had the enchilada suiza... Absolutely crazy good! Best of everything we ordered. I had the ahi fajitas also delish. Husband had the veggie enchiladas.He asked to have sauce on the side. They forgot but offered to re prepare. He enjoyed and they offered some complimentary churros which were super yummy too. I will absolutely be back. For sure one of our favorite meals so far (my husband agrees and he doesn't even like mexican food) on this visit to kauai. . Our waitress, Bahar, was super attentive and great energy. Love this place!!!
(5)Gina D.
Perhaps a two 1/2 star. The deco was interesting, honestly it is what brought me in. Also my husband and I haven't had Mexican in so long. The food was good but nothing special and the portions were small for the price. We're not hog jaws buffet types, we were just starving just got off the plane peeps. The menu was very limited and from what my husband said the margaritas were watered down. Whatever! We had choices. Do you know the feeling, when you are so starving and need to lock your restaurant down, so you choice and after you invested in your choice by ordering then the food comes out and you realize damn I wish we went to the restaurant across. This is what I experienced here.
(2)Cameron N.
I just moved to Kauai from the mainland. My family warned me of the dangers of "local style" Mexican food. Knowing my deep love for Mexican food this was a huge disappoint. Despite forewarning I decided to give TR a shot. Like most times in my life I wish I heeded the advice given. After finding my way to what appeared to be the cleanest table of the completely empty bar. Finally after waiting for what felt like for ever. I politely asked my host if she could please wipe my table off. Judging by the look that was spat back at me I would thought I had just asked for to sacrifice her first born. Her face reflected an array of emotions like she was disgusted and also confused by my bold request. If you are looking to eat somewhere with an ascetic atmosphere TR is awesome. If you are looking for a fine dinning fusion Mexican twist. Just keep walking..... My chips were stale my food looked liked it was something thrown together by a child in arts in crafts class. The oil in the fryer hadn't been changed in a good while judging by the discoloration and rancid after taste. The creme looked and tasted like someone drenched every plate with miracle whip in tube form. Other than my encounter with the terrible food and a level of cleanliness that wouldn't suffice in a San Diego dive bar. My waitress was friendly polite and made her best attempt for what would be considered standard service on the mainland. But this is Kauai so I guess if you grade it on a curve it would be an A. Beautiful place with potential from what I understand TR hasn't always been like this. Too bad what a wasted investment. Maybe clean house and start over is TR only chance at redemption. P.S. The salsa is fucking ketchup with pepper.
(1)Joe P.
I really enjoyed this place... except for one thing. I had a guy make fresh guac for me. Sort of typical like at Chevys or something. It tasted fine and dandy.. but he came back about 5 minutes later expecting a tip. Thought that was weird. Anyway, my night started enjoying 3 margaritas at the bar. I had the house margarita and two of their top shelf margaritas with fresh ingredients (cant remember what it was called). They were awesome. I wish we had one of these in the Bay Area. I ordered fajitas - which came out piping hot. Seasoned nicely and a huge portion. Yes - the prices aren't cheap. But considering 95% of the people are staying down the street at the resorts, the customers they get are paying $500 a night for a room... so they are catering to that crowd.
(4)Drew C.
Yum! We're coming back. Excellent margaritas, super respectable Mexican food (ok, not quite "San Diego"-level but defensibly solid even for Mexican food snobs; 5 stars for everybody else). An unexpected "real food" find in touristy Hawaii: loved the tomatillo on my carne asada burrito, I wanted to reach across the table & steal my wife's fish tacos & the huevos rancheros received rave reviews.
(4)Samantha Y.
Apparently third time is the charm. Jacqueline, the manager, welcomed us back to make up for the last experience. She was wonderful as was the food and service. It's a complete 180 from the last visit. Ask for Jacqueline, she'll take good care of you in case you have any issues. But you won't. They seem to have their act together. Bartender was very nice too.
(4)Alyson Y.
While in Kauai on business, I stopped by Tortilla Republic with a friend who recommended it. We went during lunch and were able to be seated right away. I mentioned to the waitress that this was my first time there and she was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered and were pleased with everything that came out. Everything looked and tasted so delicious. I also ordered a Spicy Margarita while I was there that was perfectly blended. There were a couple of stray cats hanging around the shopping center and they would come by the tables outside if it looked like you might feed them. Some of the tourists were put off by them, but I didn't mind. If it bothers you, you can sit inside and get just as great a view and still feel the breeze. For customer service, view and atmosphere I would give this place a 5/5. I loved it and will certainly be back on my next trip.
(5)Jason S.
Great service! Sydney and Nerissa are amazing! Definitely recommend this place! Fish tacos are amazing and the burritos are huge
(5)Lee H.
With a little polish, this place could earn four stars. Salsas were pretty darn good, but serving size was a bit small. Margaritas were good, and they had a nice selection, but I've had better. Food was probably the best part of the night, amble portions and good flavor. Unfortunately service and price brought it down a star.
(3)Matt M.
What a great find, especially in a shopping center filled with restaurants. We took advantage of the free salsa tasting, and my wife and I couldn't agree which one was the best. Every one was great. Their happy hour is $5 for most appetizers and drinks are around $4-$5. Plenty of shade seating for the outside and the staff is very attentive
(5)Marcus A.
Well we ended up never eating here because after seated not one server ever came by! Even after we told them we have not been helped!
(1)Brent W.
Great service and food. For a romantic/fun ambiance, and great margs, eat upstairs. For our weekend vacation, we came here twice we liked it so much.
(5)Steven B.
Went here with a group of 8 for a family member's birthday. We all got drinks, and we all hated them! If you eat here do not get the tacos.. You will leave hungry! If you must eat here get the burritos. The burritos were actually really good, and the only reason worth checking this place out. The chips and salsa tasting was a pretty good choice too, we paid $4 for it and they brought enough for the entire table, plus refills.
(3)James R.
Smoke and mirrors baby. Where else do you eat though. Small town so give it a shot but don't be surprised when your upstairs wait staff lets you know that she is tired of fetching you drinks from down stairs. Island time bro, just relax cuz.
(2)Lauren K.
Rate this a 4 on the food, but a 5 on the drinks. Excellent drink selections that are non-rum based... it seemed like most food establishments through the Hawaii islands have rum-based drinks (i.e. mai tai), so gin, tequila, etc. were a refreshing reprieve. My husband and I tried most of the cocktails on their menu (we went there twice!) and were impressed with the flavor, creativity and overall smoothness -- not too heavy on the liquor, but not overwhelming on the syrup mixers... nice blend. Their food was also good. We had the quesadillas, guacamole and three-salsas on our first visit. All were solid. We're pretty avid guac eaters, and their guacamole had a little less flavor than we're used to or prefer; but, the salsas were a nice medly of local flavor (i.e. papaya habanera). Second time around we had the nachos and salad -- the nachos were excellent! The atmosphere was nice -- we went during happy hour both times, and enjoyed sitting outside without too much of a crowd or wait.
(4)Mark C.
Let's premise this review with two facts: 1. We are from Southern California and we know good Mexican food 2. I grew up on an avocado ranch Wife and I dined here on 5/30/14, dinner upstairs. Started with the fresh guacamole. For $16 it should be great, it was excellent. Pedro makes it table side and you can tone it up or down to your liking. The salsa sampler was nice as well. We had the house margarita and the "purist" margarita, both excellent (warning: we tried the jalapeño margarita earlier, mouths still on fire, worried about what happens next). Dinner was short rib chile verde and poblano chicken enchiladas with mole sauce. Both were shockingly good, but the enchiladas took the prize for tastiest entree. Nice size portions as well! Bottom Line: A tourist restaurant doesn't have to be this good. They are not expecting repeat business from tourist who visit once every five years. The chef and staff obviously take pride in serving high quality Mexican fare. Best meal we've had in Kauai after Bar Acuda in Hanalei.
(5)Max S.
Bad slow service. I am from Texas and they should be ashamed of the guacamole without lime or salt. You have to request chips and salsa. That is like having to request bread at the Olive Garden. Not a good thing. Worst tacos on butter lettuce. Soggy, old lettuce and fried shrimp and fish. Why fry fresh seafood on my healthy butter lettuce. What a disappointment.
(1)Linda S.
We live on Kauai so we often get asked for suggestions on where to eat here. Tortilla Republic is always in my top three suggestions. If you are looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch happy hour or dinner, this is a great choice. The breakfast is outstanding. The breakfast quesadilla at Tortilla Republic is the best quesadilla my husband and I have ever had. Period. They have 3 types of excellent bacon. The one they use in this quesadilla is my favorite but you can request one of the other 2. You can also order a flight of bacon. Yum. This is more than a Mexican restaurant. They call their cuisine "modern Mexican". I would suggest that it is gourmet Mexican. They use only the finest, freshest ingredients in their food and their drinks. Upstairs, you can order your guacamole prepared table side. For what you get, prices are reasonable. This is not a taco truck, people.
(5)Pete S.
Awesome little tequila bar and upscale Mexican fusion ambience. Their version of a Cadillac margarita was delicious and their cocktails menu had a ton on it. Enchiladas suisas were delicious, their salsa tasting appetizer paired with some guacamole is a great way to start the meal. Def recommend the short ribs were tasty and super delicious. A pretty large portion and all things considered was one of the nicer meals we had and it had a pretty fair price tag. If I get the chance to go back to Kauai I will def have this place high on the revisit list.
(4)Karen M.
We sat down, waited twenty minutes and were ignored. We walked across to another place. The end.
(1)Allen S.
My family dined here last night (June 2015). Chile verde burritos were very good as was the shrimp tacos. Good portions. Reasonably priced for Kauai. Service was a disappointment. It took ten minutes to get a beer and after being served, we never saw our server again. Another server helpfully boxed our leftovers and checked us out.
(3)Jennifer M.
-1 star for the obvious disorganization / staff/training issues going on here, I almost took away another star for how opnely disorganized they are (don't air your dirty laundry), but overall we had a great experience so 4 stars it is. The (only) bad: we
(4)Roger M.
Excellent food. Excellent wait staff. Very relaxed atmosphere. The salsa was delicious and so was the guacamole. We will come back for the fish tacos Cool local art in the bar room. Unexpectedly delicious and nice restaurant to find here.
(5)Jen P.
We came here for lunch on our first day in Kauai. Appetizers: Salsa Tasting- pretty good! but didnt love all the salsas. Main Course: Vegetarian Burrito- great! Ensalada Sabrosa- Amazing! Rice and Beans were delicious as well
(5)Anne I.
We had a very fun dinner. We were surprised by the quality of the food. It was prepared perfectly and quite tasty. The margaritas were delicious. The service was very good.
(4)Lexi S.
What a refreshing thing to find great mexican food in Hawaii! We came by this place for happy hour during our short "stay-cation" of shorts. Delicious salsa tasting, amazing margaritas, and the fries were to die for. We had planned to stay for dinner but got so full that we skipped. Will definitely be back to try the upstairs dinner!
(5)Daniel N.
My wife and I were pleasantly surprised by this place. The food was great and reasonable prices for Kauai especially. We sat downstairs for dinner which apparently has a different menu. Would be curious to come back and try upstairs one day. We were looking for something casual after spending a lot of time near our resort. Funny thing is this place is more upscale Mexican style I would say, but delicious and not too pricey. Would definitely recommend.
(5)Andrew C.
Tortilla Republic has the dinner only upstairs "Grill" and the ground level "Margarita Bar" which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We came for breakfast at the Margarita Bar a couple of times and really enjoyed the food. The g/f stuck with the TR Benedict ($14) on both visits which has arugula and comes on a manchego scone instead of bread. It comes with applewood smoked bacon which she got on the side and slipped to me when no one was looking ;-) ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wbYR… ). The hollandaise had a nice tang to it and the eggs perfectly poached. The manchego scone was different and delicious. She wasn't a fan of the cheddar potatoes in the mini dutch oven which were too mushy for her. One day I got the Chilaquiles ($12) with chorizo (+$2) ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wbYR… ) The style here did not appear to cook the chips & salsa together. They were good, but could have used more tomatillo salsa. Huevos Divorciados had fried tortilla strips, bacon and poached eggs then the tomatillo salsa on one side and ranchero on the other separated by black beans and queso fresco ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wbYR… ). Both salsas were flavorful and packed some heat. I liked these better than the chilaquiles with the higher salsa to other stuff ratio.
(4)Shikha K.
Excellent Mexican food. We dined in the lively downstairs area (technically called "TR Taqueria & Margarita Bar") which had a more informal menu and upbeat vibe: tacos, tortas, quesadillas, nachos, etc. Upstairs was more formal dining menu, the restaurant named being "Tortilla Republic.": entree style upscale Mexican and quieter environment. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess and Leah (super upbeat and helpful!) was our server. We ordered: *Nachos: amazing! Very generous portions and toppings and love that red sauce they put on it. **Bottomless Salsa and Chips -- free with our Yelp Check-in! ;) -- 3 great salsas!! *Chicken Tinga Tacos: soft or crispy - great flavors !! ***Thai Basil Mojito: being pregnant --this was SO DELICIOUS. Didn't miss the alcohol at all and they had LOTS of cocktails they could make non alcoholic! (Yay!) You can't go wrong with this place and this place deserves at least 4.5 stars on Yelp!! Wish they could open a location in Chicago!
(5)Sue L.
We had a terrific romantic dinner upstairs. Our waiter was so awesome, we had the table side guacamole which was just TO-DIE-FOR. The food was so amazing. The two of us shared the fajitas and a salad and it was MORE than enough food. Loved the salsa b/c the ingredients are so fresh. Wholly cow the drinks are strong! I know they may seem a little pricey but it is totally worth it.
(5)Sue L.
We dined at your restaurant, and Courtney served us and made our Anniversary experience even that much better. The food was fantastic, the Lavender Cucumber Margarita's rocked and we had shared an incredible island fish 'ONO' Plate. We had Their Tortilla soup, that was the best we have had in the U.S and abroad! There Ahi Poke was real tasty and we also had their Salsa Sampler, which was a great idea. We give this restaurant 5 Stars out of 5. We are going to the New Laguna Beach, CA location, when we get back home! Aloha, to Maleha for her Ohana Spirit!! Bob and Sue Z Q
(5)Ramya P.
Had an amazing dinner date here with my husband on the night of our anniversary. Everything from start to finish was just perfect! Will surely go back the next time I'm on the island.
(5)Ethan G.
Ehhh. That's the first thing that comes to mind. Before coming out to Hawaii for my trip, my friend and I joked that I wouldn't get to eat any Mexican food while I was gone. Being from California, it's a staple in my diet. When my parents told me we were going to have Mexican food, I was both surprised and skeptical. Let me start off by saying that the Yelp perk is really cool in theory. Who wouldn't love to taste an array of salsas? I was excited to try all the different flavors. Unfortunately, they all kinda missed the punch. Even the spiciest one wasn't spicey. And flavor-wise, they were just okay. Very heavy on tomato. And the green chile salsa was too watery to enjoy. My enchilada was great, as were the rest of the entrees. Margaritas were good. It just was all very mediocre. We were on the top level, while apparently the bottom level has tacos. My mama swears up and down that the tacos are amazing, but I didn't get to experience that part. Would I come back? Probably not. If you absolutely want Mexican food, there's not many choices, so roll the dice here and give it a shot. Just stay away from the salsas, 'cause they made me a sad boy.
(3)Russell S.
Awesome Mexican food for great prices! I got the carne asada burrito and it was very large and flavorful! The bar is full service with lots of tequila options for a variety of margaritas! I will definitely recommend!
(5)Kevin C.
Decent restaurant in the Poipu beach area, but nothing too special. I did enjoy my burrito, it was very tasty. A good amount of outside seating with a nice view. I used my Yelp check-in coupon for a free salsa tasting, which the waitress marked as used and said she'd bring it out, but I never got it. I didn't bug her about it because it was free anyways, but it would have been fun to try. A fine restaurant to try if you are in the mood for Mexican food, but there are better options in the area.
(3)marc o.
Nothing special. Bland food Bloody Mary was even tasteless . Really bad for something so easy Kids pancakes were highlight.
(3)Jon L.
Great breakfast! The El Loco Moco was fantastic! The burger was cooked just right and eggs were done to perfection. A little pricey for breakfast though, but if you are looking for something a little different than the standard breakfast place, this place is definitely worth a shot.
(4)Mario R.
Very good food. It's fresh and just enough spice. The tasty spice is what makes it good.
(4)Heidi S.
Locals recommended - Very good Mexican food and reasonable prices for HI, comparable to places in the Northeast. We preferred this place to other fine dining restaurants in the area. The casual and hip vibe with good music was refreshing after visiting a pricier place that was not nearly as satisfying. They had all bases covered. Portions were good for burgers and burritos. Drinks were interesting and fresh twist on old favorites. All around we'd recommend.
(4)Katty C.
I had the shrimp taco from the lunch menu. There tacos, each with one good sized shrimp. Comes with rice and beans on the side and mango onion and some other type of butter/cream sauce. The shrimp is battered and fried, very crisps and fresh. The mango salsa, a teaspoon full, also goes well with the shrimp. However, lo and behold, the shrimp taco does not comes with salsa! No, they didn't forgot that, it just doesn't comes salsa. I think this place definitely have some issues with salsa, as when I ask the waiter to bring some for my taco and also for the two basket of tortilla chips on the table, what they brought us later was a small 3-in-1 dipping sauce bowl with three different type of salsa. How can 7 guys share that three little salsa thing? Remember it is also suppose to be for my shrimp tacos, and other guests also order tacos and burrito too. I asked for two more salsa, which I eventually regretted after I found out they charge $3 for each of those "salsa sampler". I had never went to an Mexican restaurant without free salsa. What a shame as it should be a four star experience, one star off for the wired salsa stringency.
(3)Juliana K.
After dining at Tortilla Republic for Sunday brunch, I would give it a solid 3.5 stars. The service is friendly and the food is pretty good. Although it wasn't amazing, the food will definitely hit the spot if you are looking for a hearty brunch. We ordered the huevos rancheros, the chilaquiles with ranchero sauce, and a fruit bowl. The chilaquiles were by far the best! Overall, great spot for a casual, reasonably-priced brunch! Their dinner and cocktails look pretty good as well. If you are up for it, they also have a decent tequila selection!
(3)Sony A.
Went in for lunch on a seemingly slow day. Took forever to get our drinks and appetizer (chips/salsa). Not sure what's going on in this restaurant. We didn't order anything fancy - 2 kids meals and some tacos. Btw we ended up leaving the restaurant because we never got our entrees after waiting nearly 45 minutes. Upon leaving the server mentioned they were having all sorts of problems in the kitchen, including the computer being down.
(1)Pam M.
My boyfriend and I came here for breakfast. The food and service was excellent. Nerissa was island friendly and made great suggestions from entree to drinks. We would have come by for dinner last night but it was packed! I would recommend a leisure breakfast on the patio sipping a Hula Tai, a must have!!!
(5)P S.
Great place in Poipu! Started at Happy Hour with Jalapeño Croquettes which were awesome with just the right Vance between spice and taste. We also tried the salsa sampler; good. None if it was super spicy so do not be afraid of the papaya habanero salsa. Our children had a small plate each of nachos. We had the fish tacos and Cuban carnitas sandwich. Other than the sand which, everything else was GF! Happy Hour was 3-5. Lots of gluten free dishes/choices.
(4)J. W.
We decided to give Tortilla Republic another chance on our most recent visit to Kauai. The owner was very nice and sent me a coupon for free churros (tasty), which turned out not to be honored at lunchtime (even though we sat in the restaurant, not the bar as the fine print seemed to instruct) so we had to pay for the freebie. The bottom line is the food is still good (4/5 stars) and the wait staff seems genuinely friendly (4/5), but everything about the restaurant is s-l-o-w! (1/5 for efficiency.) It's not the laid-back vacation atmosphere or the size of the party. It takes a long time for them to take your drink order, then a long time for your food order, then a very long time for the food to arrive. If you need a refill on your drink, you have to ask. Once you've finished eating, you sit waiting for the bill, then again for them to process your payment. I'll likely go back, but this is definitely not the place to come if you have any other place to be, or are really hungry and just want to eat something without a long wait listening to your stomach growl.
(3)Brittany S.
Really enjoyed this place. we came for a late lunch, the downstairs opens at 2pm. The pitcher of Perfect margaritas was not watered down. Cerviche was delicious, a dish I dont typically enjoy. Guacamole was well done, but expensibe for the quantity you recieve. For lunch I had Quesadilla de pollo, on recommendation ofy waitress Emily, man was that tasty! Great recommendation. This place is just as expensive as most restaurants in Kauai but the food quality is much higher. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is the cost and manager on staff. We had our 6 month old with us, so a lot lf the wait staff and hostesses came by to say hi, and eventhough there was no one waiting to be seated, they kept apologizing for having to go because the "manager was not happy they were talking to us for so long"
(4)Samir S.
Overall a good experience. The atmosphere upstairs in the Lanai is pleasant . The best dish is the guacamole. The Margaritas are a bit off. The Jalapeño Margarita is overly spicy. The service is friendly and prompt. The fajita is a good dish. There was a nice guitarist playing to add to the ambience
(4)Jess F.
Great Mexican food. Be sure to ask for chips and salsa to start or they will not offer. The carne asada tacos were perfect for lunch. The rice has a bit of a bite to it. Only downside was the flies from being outside but would still go back!
(4)Drew M.
My girlfriend and I went to Tortilla Republic on our first night in Kaua'i. We got a late start and didn't want to wait too long before eating, as well as going to some place that serves food late. We walked up to Tortilla Republic and got a seat in the bar immediately. The service was great, as the bar wasn't very busy and our waitress was very attentive and helpful with her recommendations. We ended up sharing everything - chips and salsa, chicken quesadilla, and steak tacos. The chick quesadilla was especially good and probably the best value at the restaurant. Substantial size, lots of chicken and topped with guac and sour cream. I also tried the Thai margarita, which was a unique spin on the margarita with coconut milk and recommended if you're looking for something different. At the end of the meal, we were both stuff and got out of there with a reasonable bill - which is saying a lot for Kaua'i, especially in the mall near Poipu/Koloa. Later in the week, we were back in the The Shops at Kukui`ula on a Saturday night. The upstairs of Tortilla Republic seemed pretty popular. There was a DJ and dancing, and seemed to one of the few night-life spots near Poipu and frequented by the locals.
(4)D S.
We drove here today just because we heard they offers a bacon flight during breakfast/brunch. After being seated the waiter told us that brunch was over because of the marathon that morning...we were disappointed but my boyfriend had already ordered a drink so we decided to wait for it. The waiter was super apologetic about the brunch schedule being changed that day and the manager gave us a $20 gift card and didn't charge us for the appetizer. That was very nice and unexpected, thank you. I would recommend the next time they change their schedule the either advertise it at the entrance or the hostess notifies the guest.
(3)Patrick O.
As a local resident: So very slow. Not exactly vegan friendly. Margaritas are great. I personally love the fish tacos. But that's about it. The vibe "just be glad we served you at all" We were seated quickly and served water and attended to in minutes. Unfortunately that was it. Everything my wife requested without cheese came out with cheese. We never saw our waitress again. Never. It was not until another waitress saw me with my credit card stuck to my forehead that I got my tab. I wish I could make sure that only that our water server got that entire tip - the only consistent attendance we received. Better food and service all around this spot sorry to say. And yeah, not going back unless someone else is buying.
(2)Dyle H.
Great flautas
(3)Saminda W.
Would have been 4 stars if they brought me the right dish the first time (service needs some work here) and the app was better. The guacamole was sub-par: needed lime, salt, cilantro, -and tomato! Basically, it tasted like avocado that had been sitting out all day. Our entrees were great, though: the ensalada with honey-jalapeño vinaigrette was fresh and delicious and my ahi burrito was perfect. Do recommend if you're willing to suffer through some mediocre service and the occasional misfire from the kitchen.
(3)Hing W.
CRAPTASTIC EXPERIENCE. Went there with my pregnant wife and HUNGRY toddler last night. My drink, hydration, came out super fast (coconut water, tequila and lemon) but then there was a 30 min wait for my appetizer... The next table came in 10 minutes after us, ordered and had their appetizer (Nachos) and entree delivered before we even sniffed our dinner. When the appetizer comes in after the dinner entree is served, something is seriously wrong. Our waitress (Momi?) seriously dropped the ball on this one. And that put me in a seriously foul mode considering I was pissed off hungry dealing with an equally pissed off hungry toddler. Of course, being hungry the food should taste even more amazing, right ?!? F*** no. This restaurant is neither tasty nor original. I could get almost everything they serve at a Taco stand in Waimea. Had the chile verde, fish taco and guacamole with chips. "Da Crack" down the street left me a more satisfying dinning experience, even though I ordered through a "Hole in a Wall". I wish I had SALT on the table for the guacamole but asking it would probably take another 20 minutes. Here comes the craptastic part. My poor pregnant wife started vomiting and dia*** at 1 am. The entire day we ate the same thing up until dinner. That fancy chile verde tortilla sandwich did a number on her... Now we have to worry about dehydration for my wife on our flight back. I am sure this is a SINGLE ISOLATED incident but why RISK spending a WHOLE DAY laying on your hotel bed on your expensive vacation. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. FYI --- there is definitely rating inflation here in Kauai... take all reviews with a grain of salt, including this one.
(1)Khuyen H.
Made reservations for our first night in Kaua'i over Thanksgiving and we were glad. Service was friendly and fun, setting was gorgeous (under candlelight on the lanai). Their schtick is the in-house tortilla machine (how is this different than Chevy's? it's really not). But get past the fresh-from-the-machine tortillas and you'll find that the food is actually quite good and their handmade specialty margaritas are even better. We each ordered a different margaritas so we could sample them all: Skinni (grapefruit), Hydration (coconut water), Purist (no deviation), Thai (kaffir and coconut cream) and Perfect (citrus with Grand Marnier) We started with the jicama tacos, very light, delicious and refreshing. We then moved on to the main dishes: Carnitas (healthy serving, cooked and flavored nicely, Pork Chop al Pastor (the real winner, tender and juicy... I suspect they brined this lovely cut before grilling it to perfection), Ancho Chili Ribbed CotD (light and tasty). They also gave the table a "bottomless" side of rice and black beans to share. Great food, drinks, atmosphere and service. I'd definitely come back on my next trip to the island. Side note: For those claiming Kaua'i is slow and has no night life, we were invited back by the manager to enjoy the Saturday night live band with drinks and dancing until 2:00am. As much fun as this sounded and as much as we like to pretend we're not old, we passed on this.
(4)Shauna S.
You know when you just start off on the wrong foot? Well, we came in here for a quick drink before dinner since we had a while to go. We got seated quickly but then the wait began. The wait for someone to pay attention to us. We were just about to leave before a waitress came over to ask us how we were doing. So we get out drinks in and then they gave us the Salsa Tasting on the house. And I guess that would have been fine if I weren't so underwhelmed by the drinks. The salsa tasting was okay -- the chips were great but the salsa was just okay. There are three in the platter and they weren't that good. And back again to those drinks that we waited forever to order? So not worth the wait.
(2)Patty S.
We had a great dinner here tonight! The food was great and our server, David, was exceptional! He was personable and extremely professional, as was all the staff! At many restaurants, the waiter is the only person who services your table, but the Tortilla Republic staff was amazing! My husband commented that it was like the Nordstrom of restaurants! All of this made for a really fun and memorable evening!
(5)Julie A.
So disappointing! No way 4 stars. Come on yelpers! I had the enchiladas, others had fajitas (waiter forgot to bring so they comped dessert) another had the pork chop (meh) Both the fajitas and the enchiladas were VERY spicey and we like spice but it overwhelmed any other flavor. Portions small, price high. Only positive was that they waive the corkerage fee if you buy your wine at the Wine Shop in Koloa (he gives you a card) So our wine was fabulous and the price was right! The atmosphere gave me a headache. Pounding club music, low lighting. Our comped dessert was very good - churros with carmel and choc dipping sauce. Soft and warm. If you want good mexican go to monicos in Kappa! Not fancy but VERY good! Looking forward to trying Da Crack in Poipu. Gets great reviews
(1)Ryan B.
My wife and I went for happy hour/dinner. Horrible experience on our honeymoon. This place has a great location (with us staying in Poipu) and decent menu options for dinner. Despite the name, they don't offer much on the tortilla front as we expected. There seem to be only one waitress, which since she only took orders should be just fine for the 10 tables (she has a drink runner, food runner, and busser) NOT the case! She NEVER came back to check on us. Had she been doing her job she would have found out my wifes food was UNDERCOOKED and luke warm (Carne Asada Tacos) at best and my food never came out. We finally had to track her down to ask what happened once to my food, the kalua nachos. The meal did come out, cold of course from sitting there. I also ordered the Tortilla Tai (their version of the Mai Tai) and it was so strong/gross that I could only drink about a 1/4 of it and that was trying. It was like doing shots of bad rum. At the end of our meal, we again had to wave down our waitress to get our bill. Considering our bill was around $50 at happy hour, we couldn't bring ourselves to tip. That NEVER happens, I worked in the service industry so my tips are usually higher than normal! My advice, Go to Da Crack it's a hole in the wall with service that Tortilla could take lessons from and better food for maybe $10 a person.
(1)Chris R.
What kind of Mexican restaurant charges $4.50 for chips and salsa?!?!! Chicken tacos were good but super small for price. Ceviche was soggy and the fish was cut into large chunks instead of small. Margaritas were good but again $10 for a small. I live on Kauai and eat Mexican at least every other week and will not come back here again. Take your money to Mariachis or Monicos!!
(2)Troy H.
It is hard to find good Mexican food on Oahu, so when I saw the ad for Tortilla Republic in the travel magazine, with world renown margaritas, I got my hopes up. Well, I wasn't disappointed. The fish tacos were outstanding, and my wife really enjoyed her burrito smothered in both tomatillo and ranchero sauce. And if you like margaritas, they have lots of different varieties to choose from, including one made with jalapeños.
(4)Pete B.
Dinner was very good. Very complex flavors in all the dishes we had. Reminded me of Rick Bayless place in Chicago. Even though dished are set up as entrees would strongly recommend sharing dish to experience more of the menu.
(4)Ciera B.
This was our first trip to Kauai and we stayed near Poipu and found this great place! The atmosphere was so cool the music was great and oh oh the food! The flavor was amazing, and the portions just right! If you are anywhere on Kauai EAT HERE!
(5)Peter M.
I am hard to please. I have worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. I have also been coming to kauia for 35 years. This was the best overall dining expierence I have had yet. This was very traditional Mexican with an updated setting and extremely great service. From start to finish everything was perfect. My wife and I will make a point of visiting this wonderful establishment for years to come. Break up the traditional seafood meal with somthing different on your vacation. Five stars all the way.
(5)Marck S.
We had been waiting for this place to open for a very long time. Although we live here (Kauai) our years living in California left us with a deep addiction to Mexican Food. We ate there last night, drinks and pupus in the early part of the evening. The upstairs is not open yet. The place is beautiful, like nothing else on the island. While the upstairs is not open, the GM gave us a tour of the dining room and it is ..well....amazing. The owners apparently designed it themselves and picked each item out from a series of trips to Mexico. It is romantic, authentic feeling, and very welcoming. We can not wait to try it out when it opens...which may be soon. Now back to drinks and pupus. The menu is perfect for sharing. Nice small plates, their taco plates come in 3's, as well as other traditional small plates and share plates. They also have salads and a few larger plates. There were 3 of us and we each had 2 drinks. The drinks are creative, full of fresh ingredients, and the flavor combinations work very well. I am bad at being able to remember names of drinks in particular, but based on the 3 we shared, they are much better than most of the standard bottle poured fruit drinks served in most places here. They are really very good and I will be a regular there as time goes on. We shared 3 plates, guac, grilled fish tacos, and quesadilla. They make their own tortillas and the freshness was obvious. The quca was beautiful with the right amount of spice added to the avocado. The fish tacos were offered grill or deep fried, we decided on grilled and they were done perfectly and each taco featured a large piece of fish. The quesadilla was large and yummy, full of chicken and stuff. All of the choices arrived hot (except the guac of course) and were prepared as you would expect. This is truely a good place to go for a meal unlike anything else on the island. There are lots of places that are similar in menu and presentation, which is fine since this is Hawaii, but it is really nice to have an option that is so different in menu, drinks, and presentation. I am a big fan!
(5)Jill M.
With a mixed-review restaurant, you tend to set your bar a little low, just in case the low reviews are true. But we were pleasantly surprised and had an enjoyable meal upstairs. Our reservation was for a late dinner (around 8:30) and were seated promptly. My husband got the jalapeno margarita and liked the spicy flair, though he said he'd try a less exotic drink next time. I had the steak fajitas and thought they were very good. Husband had the pork carnitas, which he liked but said my fajitas were better. Our waitress was delightful and prompt. Really couldn't have asked for a better dining experience. Maybe not the best Mexican food we've ever had, but it was a solid, tasty meal. We'd eat here again the next time we're in Kauai.
(5)Sharon B.
Awesome dinner! Guacamole made tableside was delish...but the wait was ridiculous. Luckily, the manager comped the guacamole due to our extensive wait. Carnitas was the big hit for our table. Best Lemon Drop we've had on the island!
(4)Kelli M.
We ate in the martini bar downstairs which has a more casual, inexpensive menu. Our food was very good. My husband had the marinated fish tacos and I had nachos with carne asada. He enjoyed his tacos, and my nachos had a lot of great flavor from the salsa, guac, beef, etc. The nachos were huge too. We easily could have shared them for our meal. My husband also got the jalapeno martini. It had a lot of heat, so if you like spicy, go for it!
(4)David B.
Food is great and fresh, service was the best we had on the island, so good that we went back again today
(5)Jane M.
Poipu Heat was HOT, like drinking straight chili water. We sat at the bar upstairs to eat. The hostess said it would be 45 min. wait for a table upstairs. there were several tables that remained empty throughout our stay at the bar. ??. Anyway, the food was meh. The upstairs bartender who was also our waitperson, was more interested in flirting with the 2 hoochie mamas at the bar than taking our order. Disjointed service and so so food made me cross this place off the "do over" list.
(2)Antione T.
We vacation to Oahu and Kauai on a regular yearly basis and eat out for every meal when we do. Our favorite area to stay in Kauai is Poipu. We've always walked past Tortilla Republic and noticed that it was always busy either during lunch or especially dinner, so we decided to try it for lunch. The good: Great atmosphere, friendly staff and good food presentation. The bad: The food was under seasoned and a little bland, the fish tacos I had were soggy (the cut of fish was too thick) and price for the guacamole was almost the cost of an entrée. I had high hopes of this place after reading a lot of the reviews. I get the fact that this place is more of a Tex-Mex type restaurant, but some of the basics as well as the dishes that they suggest should be consistently solid not just at peak times. I don't think we'll back to that place at all. There are too many great restaurants just with in their area alone, such as Josselin's, Merriman's and a couple of other's. I think it's more of a hot spot at night rather than a legit culinary restaurant. For the best tacos on the island I would suggest Island Taco in Waimea. They have some of the best taco's I've had in a long time.
(2)O-Shen C.
Went at 11 am for lunch right after they opened. Server had so much cologne on i was nauseated and left straight away! This level of inattentiveness by fellow staf, owner, and mangagers speaks volumes about the food quality. What a shame. I won't return. Mediocrity is tiring.
(1)Craig V.
I had a Perfect Margarita and was disappointed. Didn't even taste like a Margarita. The dinner was decent, but not great and certainly not worth the expense. Better fish tacos can be found elsewhere on the island. Service was not great, but the restaurant looks great.
(2)Artsy g.
The ambience and the service was pretty good, but food wise we thought it could have been better. They had a few vegetarian options, but nothing really stood out in taste and I felt that they could do with some more fresh veggies in the dishes. The sauces were decent and I particularly liked their habanero which was the right amount of spicy. We ordered the 'Cucumber Lavendar' and 'Hydration' margaritas for drinks and we felt they were pretty average.
(3)Micha C.
Good: -The margarita drinks are delicious and very creative -Decor and ambiance -They take reservations -Location Bad: -SLOOOW service; our drinks always ran on empty and when we were able to put our orders in, it would take a good couple of minutes. One time, our server said "I'm keeping an eye out for your drinks" after we had order a while ago. She hadn't noticed that we actually just received our drinks a few moments before she swung by. Obviously she wasn't "keeping an eye on them." -We ordered appetizers first. Once they had dropped the order on our table they didn't bring sharing plates and we spent another couple minutes trying to wave down another server to bring those. -After the appetizers and a couple drinks, we were still pretty hungry and each person ordered an entree. The server took our orders. This SAME SERVER comes back a good twenty minutes later and says "I apologize, I was under the assumption you would just be ordering appetizers. The entree's would be out in a little bit. I am keeping an eye on when they're ready." So... wait, wasn't she the one who took our order to begin with.. why did she say that? We think it's because she forgot to put our order in and was buying time after placing the order late. Very weird. This place is promising. I think management really needs to get a handle on their wait staff. The slow service experience happened both times we tried this place.
(2)Jana M.
Upstairs is now open! We didn't need reservations, just walked right in. My friend and I had the salsa sampler as an appetizer and for our entrees I had the Suizas enchiladas (chicken) and she had the Kobe hamburger. She played the role of designated driver so she washed her burger down with a coke but I had the regular margarita and the skinni margarita. Beware of the skinni: it's pretty strong. We both agreed, the entrees were delicious. My enchiladas came with beans and rice and I ate one and had to take the rest to go, it was super tasty and not like some other Mexican restaurants where the enchiladas are just smothered with tons of orange messy cheese. Her hamburger was served with shoestring fries which she wasn't a fan of though. So for all that our bill came out to $55. We skipped dessert there and had Lapperts ice cream downstairs instead, but next time I'll give it a try. Great view from our outdoor seat, attentive service, delicious food, what more could you ask for from Mexican restaurant in Kauai?
(5)Lana R.
Food was good! We had the salsa sampler, baja tacos, and pescadero asada tacos. Not too expensive and pretty good atmosphere. The service is the only thing that kept this from being 5 stars. We were seated in a waiting area until a table was available. The hostesses seated us there, but were very confused and not well informed about wait times or the menu, but they kept trying! We had five different people try to help us before we even got a table. Amusing, but a confusing intro.
(4)Adam S.
Good food, accommodating service staff and excellent ceviche.
(4)David S.
Very good food, service, and atmosphere.
(5)Donna A.
My husband and I flew to Kauai to enjoy a romantic vacation but it was ruined by getting very sick for 3 days after eating at this restaurant. We had the fish taco's, chicken enchilada and bloody mary. The waitress we had seemed like we were bothering her and we rarely saw her. We had to get the bus boy to refill the bad tasting salty water and get us some salsa and chips, as the portions were very small when we finally received our "cold" food after a long wait. And to top it off, we were very surprised the salsa and chips were not included with the meal, like most Mexican restaurants.
(1)Kenneth W.
We ate at Tortilla Republic 12 times during our 21 day stay in Poipu, Kauai and definitely give it a 5 star. We savored 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners and had 7 different servers so I believe my review is both fair and honest. The food was both delicious and perfectly prepared every time, including their special Thanksgiving Prix Fixe 3 course meal. My favorite dinner entree is the Relleno Pablamo and my favorite breakfast item is the TR Benedict. Don't believe the 1 star reviews, they must be looking for greasy spoon standard Mexican food and this most definitely isn't that.
(5)Josh H.
Good food, not a kid friendly place. No kids menu and they won't do any substitutions, so wouldn't take kids there again. The food, however, is delicious, and priced very reasonably. The service was decent as well. Could eat their rice and black beans all day long.
(3)Thomas M.
From top to bottom this was the best Mexican Food fine dining restaurant I have ever been to. The food was extremely fresh, tasty and well portioned. The inside of the restaurant was very trendy and intimate. If you are looking to have a nice dinner in Kauai, I highly recommend this place.
(5)Cathy B.
Wow Wow Wow food!! Service slow but the killer Margaritas make up for it!! Lunch was killer and we will be back for breakfast!! We live here and this is a great place to eat!!!
(5)Tom G.
A must visit spot. Don't think tex mex. Have Pedro (guac man) make his specialty tableside with crab. Cool menu, great wait staff, eclectic decor.
(5)Pam R.
stumbled upon this great restaurant while looking for something other than a $40 piece of fish. our waitress, Clairin, was the best. great service, wonderful food with enough of an "edge" to make it more than just another ho-hum mexican joint. beautiful presentation of food also. started with the homemade guacamole and moved on to the deconstructed sashimi salad, chicken mole, steak fajitas with the treo of homemade ice cream and churros for dessert. everything was delicious. definitley will be back on our next trip to the island.
(5)Walt S.
We ate upstairs. Attentive service, the guacamole was prepared at the table... Very good and the frijitas were very very good(shrimp). Give them. a try!
(4)Cindy A.
Friendly servers but they short poor their drinks and need more sauce on the fish tacos. The tortillas were somewhat on the cool side so had no flavor.
(1)Persilla A.
I came here in October 2011 (about a month after they opened), so its possible they've improved quite a bit, but sadly it was a horrible experience for me. Coming from Los Angeles, I understand that Hawaii has a very lax culture, but the service of this place was abominable! Not sure if it was just our waitress or the place in general. I really wanted to like this place, the decor is chic, and I was craving Mexican food...however I found the food rather bland. First, we waited for 45 minutes to be seated, which is fine since we didn't have a reservation. Once we were finally seated and craving some drinks, it took our waitress 20 minutes (no joke) to come take our order. I think the water waitress felt bad for us as she gave us some water in the meantime, but it took her a while to refill our glasses after they were empty (something I find unacceptable in restaurants, your water glass should never be empty). Finally our waitress takes our order (and doesn't even bother to apologize for the long wait). We order tortilla chips as an appetizer (nope, they're not complimentary) and beef enchiladas and tacos. We finally receive our drinks, but literally do not see our waitress for over 25 minutes! Waiting for refills and our appetizers, we see her chatting up with some table across the way for literally 5 minutes at a time! Even the water waitress asked us "You still haven't received your chips yet?" Eventually we get our food (drinks still haven't been refilled), and receive the appetizer chips 5 mins after we finish our entrees. What a joke?! The food was bland and had too much sauce and the tacos were "okay." We ended up sending the chips back since their purpose was totally missed. Also, we never ended up getting that refill. Anyways, the service we received was absolutely horrible and ruined our evening. I could have probably been more forgiving of the food (possibly rate it 3 stars), but the service was one of the worst I've ever had...beware.
(1)Dan A.
This is a great place for a nice dinner. This is NOT your typical Mexican chain restaurant food, if that is what you want do not go there. If you want REAL Mexican food, for sure give this one a shot!!
(5)Jennifer R.
Wow! It was seriously the most beautiful place I had been to on the island. With the amazing classy ambiance and the AWESOME margaritas and food, I felt like I was VIP. A very special night for me! Thank you! :)
(5)Steve J.
Amazing food...great atmosphere. The salsas are made fresh and have just enough kick without being overpowering or masking the flavor with heat. And you must try the churros. Best I've ever had, hands down.
(5)Mary S.
Good food, great ambience and service. We had ahi fajitas. Everything was fresh and tasty. Drinks are rally good: we had "skinny" and "cucumber lavender ". Both were perfect. I found this place a little dark.
(4)Gina M.
We are here for a holiday weekend from Oahu and staying at the Waikomo Stream Villas #122 without a car. We headed out on a Sunday evening to see what was around. We had just checked in the night before and didn't know the area at all. Since we are staying in a vacation condo and the office isn't open on the weekend we decided just to venture out and see what we could find. To our pleasant surprise we found the Kukui'ula Center right across the street from the back gate of our condo complex. After walking around and checking out all of the eateries we decided on the Tortilla Republic. The menu looked pretty good and the atmosphere was nice, I always like to dine al fresco when possible. Coming from Oahu where there is no good Mexican food to speak of we were really impressed by the Tortilla Republic. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and the service was pretty quick for Hawaii. I had the purist margarita on the rocks with salt and felt like I was back at my favorite LA Mexican restaurant (El Cid if it's still there). Maybe because it was Sunday? I don't think they had the table side guac, but the regular guac was great. I don't mind too much the $11 as everything here in Hawaii is relatively expensive when compared to the mainland. My entree was a vegetarian salad which seems like a miracle to find in the world these days, it had these delicate strips of fried crunchy jicama which was delicious. My partner in crime had the fish tacos. I was a bit surprised that the fish was batter fried but good none the less. Definitely the best Mexican restaurant I've found in the state!
(4)Kevin F.
Excellent food and service in a laid-back setting. No great view as a crutch, so they have to rely on food and service. We came two nights during our stay (late August 2012), and had great experiences both times. Pedro's table-side guacamole is excellent, as is his table-side manner - quite a character! Our waitress was also quite friendly and chatty. Some of the reviews here have complained about the portion size, but I'm a pretty healthy eater and both nights my entrees were plenty big. We eat at a variety of Mexican places - mostly in Seattle, Santa Monica, and Del Mar, plus have friends from Mexico who periodically cook for us. This wasn't the best Mexican food I've ever had but it was far from the worst (maybe 75th percentile or so), and for Kauai was definitely among the best. (We have had something on the order of 30 or 40 restaurant meals all over Kauai this year alone and these two were definitely in the top 10, probably top 5). The only complaint I had was that the shopping area / mall around the restaurant has music playing, the restaurant had different music playing, plus they had a live band downstairs, so the aural ambience is pretty crowded.
(4)Cyndi W.
Locaation is excellent. Menu somewhat limited, and very limited if vegetarian. Fish tacos were only okay. Had a total of 4 large rectangles of fish that were somewhat tough. Tortillas seemed store bought. Tortilla soup was good, but spicy (from someone who likes hot food). Tequila tai cocktail was excellent. Servers should not readjust their ponytails in the middle of the restaurant.
(3)Heather L.
My husband and I thought we would try out this restaurant in the Kukuiula center in Poipu. The service was a little slow, however we were there at about 8pm, a little after the dinner rush. We ordered the guacamole as an appetizer, and it arrived in a large bowl with a nice presentation. It was very good, with just enough of a spicey kick to make it interesting. Our drink order was another story. We both ordered the "Tortilla Tai", which I would NOT recommend unless you like a drink which tastes like over-sweetened ginger ale on steroids. The server was very obliging when he finally arrived to check on our status, and he quickly replaced my drink with a "Perfect Margarita" which was quite good. Note: all of these drinks are quite small for the price- but I suppose that is to be expected from a place that caters primarily to tourists staying in the local resorts and rental condos. We had ordered the fish tacos, the "Baja" and the "Pescado Asada", which were tasty when they arrived, although they suffered from one major flaw in my opinion- the tortillas are not house made and are quite flavorless. For a restaurant that calls itself the "Tortilla Republic"- it really does not do to wrap such lovely pieces of fish in such tasteless tortillas.
(2)Sidney P.
I was skeptical about Mexican on Kauai and was super delighted with the food here. Great island twists (try the ahi fajitas for 2) and fun drinks. Would highly recommend if you're looking for something a little different.
(5)Erin S.
If you must eat dinner at a restaurant in Poipu or Koloa then go here. The food is good and the margaritas are great too. It has typical prices for Kauai but it was the best dinner I had in the area.
(5)Ellen E.
I can't say enough nice about this restaurant. We were greeted very warmly and given a lovely table overlooking the courtyard (but I can't say that any tables had a bad view!). The waitress was eager to assure me (without being asked) that they could create a dish for my picky eater 11 year old, which turned out to be chicken and cheese quesadillas that got two thumbs up. The special fish of the day was a delicious marlin on asparagus, and the bowl of black beans and bowl of rice to share were delicious. Even the chips were especially good. I had a decent margarita and the kids had hand-squeezed lemonades. Dad and the other kid had pork carnitas served in enormous cast-iron skillets with handmade tortillas. For dessert, one of us chose the flourless chocolate cake with a hint of cayenne and ancho chile; the other three all had tres leches cake, which is a dessert staple in our family, and theirs was every bit as good as homemade. I wish I lived here and could eat here more often! Muy sabroso!
(5)Dana T.
Different, good, not great margaritas. Chips, salsa and tableside guacamole was great. Entree was good, not great. Ambiance was fun.
(3)Sally H.
Make a reservation. Eat upstairs. The margaritas were yummy. The enchiladas suizas was magnificent. Also loved the ceviche, very fresh and delicious. Our server was very professional and sweet as sugar. We loved it!
(4)Jay E.
Great Mexican restaurant, good change of pace when your on vacation. The food was cooked very well and its a great little setup they have going. We started with the salsa they make, three different kinds, all were very fresh. I got the steak for dinner, I think it was a rib eye. It was cooked perfectly. This place was packed when we went, I think locals and tourists the secret is out. Drinks were excellent. Service was very good, the waitresses were very friendly and attentive.
(4)Mary S.
This happy hour rocked!! Awesome atmosphere, food and drink specials. Will go back when in Kauai!
(5)Jill J.
Now that our 14 day Hawaii excursion is over, I can officially say that Tortilla Republic was our favorite restaurant of the trip! We were so excited to find out that there was a new restaurant in Kauai since the last time we were there and made our reservation right away. The restaurant is different than anything else you will find in Kauai and is a nice refreshing change from the usual (Mahi Mahi, Ahi, Kalua Pork, etc) dishes you see at almost every nice restaurant in Hawaii. Coming from Southern California, we are a little bit snobby when it comes to Mexican food but this place was just as good, even better than some of the places at home! We had the chips and salsa (amazing), the house salad, the chicken flautas and the Chile Verde which was fantastic according my husband. We were stuffed but had to try the Churros with caramel and chocolate sauce. SOOO good! Overall it was an awesome different experience and we cannot wait to go back next year!
(5)Tim B.
Was lucky enough to make a trip to this part of town just after opening weekend. The place has the most amazing, unique margaritas (we tried almost all of them). The ambiance is great, place looks amazing. The menu is simple, but done right. As a Californian, my bar for Mexican food is set very high, but this place delivers (which few ever do on any of the islands). the menu is simple, but everything was done right. Friendly staff. Must do when in Koloa or Poipu.
(5)Jordan S.
Food is good both upstairs (fancier) and downstairs. Staff is overall good and over a few visits service has been consistently good (hats off to the tableside guacamole guy!). A little young/unpolished at the hostess level (example, hostess is "making out", like pretty aggressively, with a bus person or waiter - they think out of view, but really in full view of my family...) Anyway, food is a winner, very solid - and two words...lavender margarita. Yum...
(4)Dan K.
Food, service and atmosphere were great. Started at the bar and had a great waitress, fantastic drinks. Table was ready on time upstairs, had a great view, we had a large party with 2 small kids that they accommodated very well. We had 3 appetizers, Guacamole, Ceviche and salsa trio, all we're outstanding. Mole enchiladas were fantastic as well as the carnitas and enchiladas suizas, all excellent. We have been coming to Poipu beach for 12 years and this is our new favorite place. View of the sunset from our corner table was great. Manager stopped by and was very friendly and welcoming. This is a MUST, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Twinboyandgirl M.
Mexican food? I don't think so. The food was under spiced and the cocktails were watery and on the small side. The portion size was also small. I never, never have room for dessert but after the chicken tacos, found plenty of room to go next store for ice cream The service was good and the food was delivered in a timely fashion. This place is just way too expensive and shouldn't be labeled as Mexican food!
(2)Ron A.
After a few overpriced mediocre meals we decided to change tack and give Mexican food on a Polynesian island a shot. What a pleasant surprise that turned out to be. The restaurant has a similar setup to Merriman's. A nice ambiance, though a bit windy the night we were there. The menu is very simple with not a lot of variety, however the food really shines. The service was also very good. In summary a simple restaurant in a good location with great food and good service. Definitely a nice surprise. Definitely recommended.
(4)Hal W.
Being from California, I'd be less than honest if I said my wife and I expected much in terms of Mexican food in, of all places, Kauai. Much to my surprise, we couldn't have been more mistaken! The food was absolutely fantastic! My wife had a blended strawberry margarita which she said was great. We started by sharing a bowl of chicken tortilla soup and I have to tell you, if you like tortilla soup as I do, don't miss this one...the best I have ever had and I can tell you I've had them everywhere. For the main course my wife chose the Chili Rellanos and I had the enchilada Suizas. My wife truly enjoyed her dish. It was very unique but very good. The enchiladas were incredible, but a word of warning. Unless you are VERY hungry, figure on sharing this dish...certainly enough for two. One another note, the service was fantastic...quick and attentive. We understand the upstairs portion where we ate had not been open long, but they operated like a well oiled machine. Food was served quickly and they all could not have been more pleasant. We had to skip dessert because we were both stuffed. However, the good news is that the restaurant is located in a beautiful shopping plaza, so we walked around, did some shopping (sadly cost me a few bucks at Tommy Behamas, but what the he'll....it's vacation) and had some ice cream at Lapperts which is right downstairs. Great ice cream, but that's for another time. All in all we could not have been happier with our experience at Tortilla Republic and just hope they open one near us at some point.
(5)Drew H.
Perfect setting in a small open mall with great food and service. Jane, our waitress from Colorado originally was the best with great knowledge of the menu. Prices very good and food quality fantastic
(5)Larry S.
A real mixed bag: great guacamole and chips, delicious entrees with wonderfully complex flavors and excellent use of spices and reasonably prompt service. BUT ... our waiter, who boasted of having been the main trainer once upon a time for The Cheesecake Factory chain, took it upon himself to add a 20% tip even though we had 5 in our party and the menu specifically says 18% added for 6 people and 20% is added for parties of 8. I asked the manager about it, and he offered to remove the charge; I said that wasn't necessary, but that I was quite surprised. He said "So am I." My 11-year-old granddaughter -- who loved the carnitas -- said later: "our waiter needed to talk less and listen more." It was a real struggle to get him to understand that regardless of what the menu said, all we needed for our grandson was some shredded chicken and soft tortillas. He seemed pretty put out about that, so I guess the self-awarded gratuity was his way of retaliating. I would not go back in spite of the reasonably good food.
(3)Bram L.
Our favorite restaurant on Kauai after three weeks. (Sorry, Merriman's, your food was pretty mediocre and much more expensive) The only reason we came here is because we met the owner's girlfriend (Julie) at the Art House in Koloa (check out her art!), and she mentioned that it was "creative" Mexican cuisine. My wife doesn't generally like Mexican food, but she LOVED the food here. We started off with the Jicama Tacos appetizer, then we shared the Lamb Borrego Enchilada and the Mole de Pasillo Enchilada. Both were excellent, very flavorful and out of the ordinary. (which we love) We were stuffed, but went with the Chocolate Decadence for desert. (flourless chocolate cake, ancho chile, cayenne pepper, with salt pond caramel gelato) Again, it was just perfect. We were concerned about the service after reading a few of the other reviews, but it was impeccable as well. We wish we weren't leaving tomorrow, or we'd be going back for more.
(5)