Maria Bonita is a hole in the wall joint off of Hotel Street that is easy to just walk past. If you are craving authentic (or as close as you're likely to get) Mexican food then this small shop in Chinatown is the place to go. Pricing is cheap and the food is plentiful. BYOB.

Delicious Mexican food hiding downtown Honolulu. Of all the times I am downtown I see the same old shops and the same old restaurants. Not long ago I was on my way home and I was hungry, didn't want to cook, and did not want the same ole fair I had been getting. Heading for my bus I noticed a hand made A frame sign standing on the sidewalk and decided to go see what it was about. Walking in Mari Bonita restaurant It would be easy for some to assume there isn't much to it. The decors is plain and functional. The interior dated but clean. I was surprised by the prices, I was expecting them to be much higher based solely on the restaurants in the same area, I decided on Chicken Street Tacos with Beans and Rice. The gentleman attending the counter that night (I assume the owner) took our orders with a smile, and in no time came out with a wonderful plate of food, despite the fact the was the only one there. Since my initial visit I have been back and the food is as good as it was the first time. If you are in the area, and are craving Mexican food. Don;t waste your money and some fast food chain. get a much better meal here for roughly the same price. and a far better selection. You will not regret it!

Unbelievable. This place was hidden on a side street in Chinatown, Honolulu. We were served by the owner, who is from Acapulco. The sandwich is a Mexican Torta, which is buttered and grilled, and it has the best pork carnitas on it with fresh cilantro, cheese, tomato, and mayo. It was so good. The salsa was spicy and about as perfect as it gets. The tacos with ground beef had little bits of potato mixed in, and so did the beans of the chalupa. We get Mexican food just about everywhere we go, and we've had it multiple times in Texas - but Tracy and I agreed this place takes the cake. She said the rice was probably the best she's ever had. 5 ***** highly recommended.

This is the authentic Mexican restaurant we all search for on the island! Plates are big, prices are affordable and food is delicious! Try the Chicken Tortas, Flautas, Wet burritos, street tacos, horchata, anything!! It's all been fantastic! It's a small restaurant with about 8 tables, call ahead if you're in a hurry. Parking is available on the street or there are a couple municipal parking garages within two blocks. The owner is friendly and welcoming.

Mexican food is hard to find on this island, but this hole in the wall hits the SPOT!! Friendly and fast, them some good eats!

Senor Diego and Josh did a superb job! Food was fresh and cooked to perfection. Returning soon!

Omg. This place is so good. The taste is authentic and delicious!! Just like a Mexican Abuela’s cooking, except that the owner here is Diego instead of grandma! He said he cooks with his heart and it shows in his food. It’s a little hole in the wall but when we walked in we can smell the food so decided to give it a try as we were craving tacos ! To our surprise it’s the next Mexican food we have!! The tacos are home made. Everything made fresh to order. So delicious. Highly recommend. (Don’t let the mess of the photo fool you) 🤣🤣👏🏻👏🏻🤤🤤

(Translated by Google) Very kind attention. But really the food is not good. The meat they use in roast tacos is not of good quality. (Original) Muy amable la atención. Pero realmente la comida no está buena. La carne que usan en los tacos de asada no es de buena calidad.

Relaxing atmosphere, musically ethnic and food was natural and fresh

Small business with seating, street parking is slim but lots of garage parking around. Food is good, chips and salsa is good, pricing is not bad. Definitely would recommend you eat at Maria Bonita.

Best Mexican food and Diego is the best too!

Thank you for amazing food and hospitality! Made us food we wanted off the regular menu (vegetarian) and was so nice and friendly. Excellent Mexican food (wet burrito, enchiladas, tacos, Chile relleno)!

(Translated by Google) Very good food and if it is authentic mexican food Good taste (Original) Muy buena comida y si es autentica comida mexican Buen sabor

We have been looking for good, authentic Mexican food since we came to Oahu from the mainland, and we finally found it! Stopped in for lunch and split the California burrito with beans & rice - All I can say is that it was AMAZING - steak perfectly cooked, food obviously made fresh & homemade - their refried beans are delicious, and that's probably the best Mexican rice I've ever had. We most certainly will be back to try more of the menu!!!

Good food

Legit Mexican flavors. Owner is very nice. Great service.

Great Mexican with great portions and prices! Highly recommend this place will not disappoint! Best Mexican food I have found on the Island thus far.

Serious lack of good Mexican restaurants on island! This might be the winner!! Beans are fantastic! Salsa is actually spicy! Little bigger than a hole in the wall, and wouldn’t have it any other way!

Authentic, delicious, reasonable, affordable. Don't forget the salsa!!

Excellent flavors

Sooooo good! My wife and I loved the food and the service was excellent. This place may not look like much but the food will make you forget about that in a hurrry. Dont miss out on this!

Absolutely delicious food! Diego is a very nice man and was able to accommodate to my pickiness! Thank you do such yummy food and bringing memories from back home! If you want really good Mexican food you can come to his restaurant Monday through Saturday 11am-3pm. He also has a food truck that is open from 5pm-9pm same days! I’m telling you so worth it!

Today's lunch is chimichanga with shredded beef from Maria Bonita. All cooked just right, and beef was very tender. Beans were pretty tasty, too. I got a bag of chips and salsa, which has a nice kick for chips and chimi. Totally enjoyed this meal!

This is the spot downtown if you are looking for damn good Mexican food. If you see this place open.... treate yourself to authentic Mexican food that is hard to find on Island. I recently got the Carne asada taco plate with rice and beans added and it made my Thursday. BTW rice is served with carrots and potatoes mixed in rice and I highly recommend it.

Hands down this is one of the best if not the best Mexican food in Oahu. I love this place from the tacos to the green Chile always perfect

We have found the BEST Mexican Food in Honolulu!!! The food is fresh, and delicious. Portions are plentiful. The salsa..., watch out. It is so good, it will bring tears to your eyes The menu is just right. Everything is cooked on site and too perfection.

Recommend pork and beef tongue tacos

Great food with super friendly people. What more could you ask for? BTW did I mention best Mexican food on Oahu, hands down?

Very good Mexican food. I've been there a couple of times now and I'm definitely going back. I've only tried a couple of things so far - Torta & Street Tacos, both with Carne Asada. I'd happily have either of those again. Service is lean but it's pretty authentic.

The fish chimichanga is outstanding and their staff is super friendly. Definitely recommend!!

The staff truly cares about your experience. The food is absolutely amazing – everything we tasted melted in other mouths.

On Oahu as a stop on our honeymoon and this place is an absolute must go! We’re big foodies and this place was the bomb. Top of the line customer service. Delicious, freshly cooked food. The owner (or manager? But I think owner) is amazing. Took great care of us, made sure all the food was great, and even offered us change when he overheard us talking about our meter running out. Locals came in and he already new their order. Such a genuine guy. I’d go back 1000 times if we lived closer. The place itself has a bit of a “hole in the wall” vibe, but honestly I loved that about it. You don’t need to be super showy when the food and service is that great. 14/10, would recommend.

The best Mexican food in the Island. Good portions and reasonable prices

Me and my husband love this place! The owner and staff here are so kind and welcoming. They're such great people we love coming back to support them. The food is such a comfort we love their carne asada burritos and tacos. I definitely enjoy their salsa and guac which is simple and I like that. I always order a side of their pickled jalapenos for that spicy taste. Yum. Hits the spot.

The lengua tacos and the enchiladas were so so good!!! I think this is the best Mexican restaurant food place you can come to! Small hole in the wall place but very good place to eat 😎

Closed during open hours

Closedown

So incredibly fresh and authentic. Hawaii is s hard place to find good Mexican food, but this is the place.

Much of my family lives in Las Cruces, so I grew up eating a lot of good Mexican food, and this is just as good if not better.

My favorite Mexican food place on the island.

Good if you like microwave burritos.

Fantastic food, great price, perfect hole in the wall. They also run a truck!

Definitely the best, authentic Mexican food on the South Shore. Maybe all of Oahu!

Good food, nice ppl

The best chimichanga I'v ever had! Maria Bonita is an amazing place with a great staff. This is definitely a spot I will be returning to very often.

Maria Bonitas is great. It is a small restaurant but the food is really good and reasonably priced. For great tasting authentic Mexican food it can't be beat. (I've never been to Mexico but the meat in these tacos are the best I've had in Hawaii.)

Delicious! A little piece of home!

Such nice people! Amazing, authentic, fresh food! CHECK THEM OUT!!!!

Huge portions! A little hole in the wall on hotel street.

Great food and amazing customer service!

We love Maria's, tonight we had the tacos and enchiladas and they were fabulous. Seriously underrated, come check out Maria's!!

Some of the best authentic Mexican food on the island!

Best Mexican eatery on Oahu. Does not serve alcohol, dive bar next door, can hear the music when they have live bands. Good portions. Good fresh salsa, don't always get chips. Good fresh guacamole, not made the same every time but still tasty. Small establishment with limited seating open twice a day. Street parking is hard to find, an hour limit on meters. Pay lot is around the block.

Quick and good food. My server made sure I had plenty of water. Food was all piping hot and delicious. Good prices and has convenient hours compared to places around them.

Amazing food. Very great owner! The salsa is perfectly spicy yet very tasty.