Puna Kai ... maybe in 2020?

[terracore]

We had to stop by the vet clinic so figured we'd get some Coco Cantina takeout. We had other errands to run so ordering ahead was the only option that would work for us.

The web site has online ordering for that but it said that they were closed and wouldn't let us place an order. I don't think it's fully setup yet. That will be cool when it works. I tried calling at about 12:15 but they must have had a good lunch rush because it rang for awhile and then went to voice mail.

Maybe next time.

[macuu222]

A sign on the front window of their business says KOHALA COFFEE CO will open Monday October 12th. Also Puna Kai directory says Mcdonalds will be located in Building G. Building G was never built. It's just an empty space.

[randomq]

Mcdonald's is right next to the movie theater...

[terracore]

I remember reading that the construction was being done in phases and that the McDonalds was part of the third and final phase. I did see this:

"No permits have been issued for “Building G,” which will house McDonald’s.

But because McDonald’s is a “ground lease,” Pinkston said he’s only responsible for providing the pad for the restaurant chain to build on, which was turned over in September."

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/202...continues/

[d96778]

Hubby & I ordered takeout thru an app that pops up on Coco Cantina’s online ordering menu. It was very straight-forward & went just fine.  He had the combo fajitas & I ordered the shrimp tacos.  Food was well prepared & more than we could eat.  We designated curbside pickup, & instructions said to call when we got there at the time they said it would be ready. He tried to call & got the voicemail, so he had to go inside to pick up the order.  There were lots of folks there dining in & at the bar. No social distancing & obviously no one had masks on while dining or drinking.

The food was well prepared & quite tasty & well seasoned.  Different than Luquin’s...in preparation and taste.

All in all it was better than one might expect of a restaurant that had just opened....no glitches

Dee

[leilanidude]

There were lots of folks there dining in & at the bar. No social distancing & obviously no one had masks on while dining or drinking.
------------
Those people at the bar yesterday early evening, all know each other and have been around each other nearly daily since the beginning of this thing. No need for fake social distancing.

BTW, the Mexican potato skins are pretty good.

[randomq]

Those people at the bar yesterday early evening, all know each other and have been around each other nearly daily since the beginning of this thing. No need for fake social distancing.

Same thing could be said for many large gatherings that help spread Covid. The restaurant sounds great, but there's no way I'm giving them my business if they don't enforce social distancing.

[terracore]

We ate from Coco Cantina today. We were able to order through the web site, which is good because they still don't answer their phone when they are open, so as far as I know the only way to order without going in.

We tried the carne asada burrito and Diablo wings, both served to go.

The winner was the Diablo wings. There was nothing extravagant about them, they were crispy chicken wings tossed in standard buffalo chicken wing sauce. If you like the Toni Romas buffalo sauce (either the restaurant or the bottled variety from the grocery store) you'll love these wings. The ranch dip had something red added giving it a pink color. I couldn't place the flavor but the wife really liked it. It wasn't served with carrots or celery or anything, it was 8 wings for $13. Well, technically it was 8 wing segments, so 4 wings, but I think you know what I mean. We would order again if we go back.

The carne asada burrito was pretty basic: Carne asada steak, rice, and black beans wrapped up in a burrito with some sauce drizzled on top, served with a comically small dollop of guacamole (I'm guessing it was a tablespoon) and a little crema on the side, and a little side of salsa. The carne asada steak was pretty good, and there was enough of it that every bite of the burrito had some steak, but the burrito itself didn't have any flavor, and the sauce drizzled on top wasn't very good. I guess I was expecting something "fresh" in the dish, like maybe some chopped onions, cilantro... anything. The only thing with any flavor was the steak and the salsa. The menu said the burrito came with cheese, but somehow I missed it. It didn't say "ala carte" but that was how the burrito was served, though, it makes sense because what would they serve it with, beans and rice? That is mostly what the burrito was. We wouldn't order another burrito there.

The online ordering thing said the food would be ready in 30-35 minutes, after ordering we drove to Longs and picked something up, then went to the restaurant for curbside delivery- called the number as instructed, no answer, went inside, food wasn't ready yet, but they brought it out after a few minutes. Checked phone, 35 minutes, so exactly the advertised time for the food to be ready.

I don't know if they serve chips and salsa for dine-in customers but it doesn't come with take out. All in all, $34 for 1 ala carte mediocre burrito and 8 (four) chicken wings, it wasn't a bad meal but at a pretty high price point. Based on what we sampled, which admittedly wasn't a whole lot, if I was craving Mexican style food in Pahoa I would order from Luquins.

[randomq]

If I was craving Mexican style food in Pahoa I would drive to Hilo and go to Lucy's.

[kalakoa]

There are many regions of Mexico and thus many varieties of Mexican food.

Coco Cantina: brunch on weekends, excellent mimosa, best flan I have ever had anywhere.