Pauoa just picked up a new neighborhood taco joint. Alejandro's Mexican Food has opened its third Oʻahu location in the former Pauoa Chop Suey space, serving wet burritos, five-inch corn-tortilla tacos and a loaded nacho-fries plate on the block just off the Pali offramp.
Owner Alejandro Alvarado, who started out selling tacos from a Waikīkī cart in 2011 and opened his first brick-and-mortar in Kalihi Valley in 2015, told reporters the Pauoa shop was built to feel "neighborhood friendly," with veteran staffers from the Kalihi location helping smooth the transition, according to Aloha State Daily.
The business website, Alejandro's Mexican Food, lists its Kalihi and Pearl City locations and lays out the brand's origin story. A 2022 profile in the Star-Advertiser traced Alejandro's growth from a late-night stand to multiple storefronts.
What’s on the menu
The Pauoa lineup mostly matches Alejandro's other shops but adds churros and that loaded nacho-fries plate. Local coverage puts the nacho fries at $15, carnitas tacos at $4 each, and the wet burrito combo at about $17.50 to $19 depending on protein. The new spot's hours are listed as 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, with the phone number at 808-888-0800 and limited customer parking in the lot behind the restaurant, per Aloha State Daily.
The space and the neighborhood
Alejandro's has moved into the longtime Pauoa Chop Suey storefront. Directory listings mark Pauoa Chop Suey at 1997 Pauoa Road as permanently closed, which opened the door for the taqueria to take over the address, according to MapQuest. The swap gives Pauoa a walkable counter-service option in a corridor where many nearby storefronts mostly cater to the morning and lunchtime rush.
Alvarado says he hopes Alejandro's will turn into a regular, on-foot stop for neighbors instead of just a special-occasion drive. For menu updates, hours and other details, the restaurant directs diners to its official site: Alejandro's Mexican Food.
