Restaurant
Review By:
Kevin McQuarrie It’s
hard to find a good burrito on Oahu. I know because I’ve tried. Sure,
there are some fine Mexican restaurants, but if you’re really craving a
burrito, you may as well catch a flight to Los Angeles, San Antonio, or
Mexico. I’m talking a burrito that is big, sloppy, spicy,
cheese-studded, bean-packed, rice-stuffed and vegetable-laden. It’s a
tall order in Oceania, but I recently found one that met my high
expectations. Hallelujah! The
blessed burrito was tracked down at an unlikely source: a lunch truck
parked in front of Naturally Hawaiian Gallery and Gifts, on Kalanianaole
Highway in Waimanalo. (Some may remember the truck from when it was called
“Maria Bonita” and based in a different location.) Gallery owner
Patrick Ching likes having the lunch cart around because it helps attract
more visitors to his shop. There, Ching –
a painter, author, and cowboy –
sells his work, along with stained glass, Japanese-style fishing balls and
Hawaiian-themed stationery. The
lunch truck is run by Diego Gallardo, a former construction worker. He
began this business in 1998, naming it after his mother, Maria Bonita, and
transformed himself into a Mexican-food impresario. “Enchiladas
are my favorite,” says Gallardo, who then admits, “I like them because
they are easy to make!” The enchiladas ($6), chimichangas ($6) and
burritos ($5) come in your choice of ground beef, shredded beef, asada
(steak), shredded chicken, pork or vegetables (zucchini, onion, and
peppers). All are served in a giant flour tortilla. On the side, you get a
generous serving of homemade salsa that has a nice spicy kick. It’s not
the kind of thing you can easily eat while driving. But there are
wonderful beaches nearby to take it to as a picnic, and I can’t think of
a better way to start a Saturday than to pick up a breakfast burrito
around 11:00 a.m. and then roll on over to Bellows or Waimanalo Beach. As
with all great lunch trucks, this one has a little something for everyone.
Frugal gourmets will enjoy the tacos, which at $2 seem like a steal. Fish
tacos are just $3. Plate-lunch lovers will be happy to see the garlic
shrimp plate option ($10), as well as the mahi-mahi plate ($7). Nursing a
hangover? Breakfast burritos ($2.50) seem like an ideal cure. If you’re
not a big fan of spicy food, you can try the ham & cheese ($3), tuna
($2.50), turkey ($3), or ham & egg ($3) sandwiches. The
food may be slow to arrive but well worth the wait. The pace is a sign of
good home cooking and you can always look at Patrick Ching’s artwork
(Naturally Hawaiian Gallery & Gifts) while you wait, or if you like,
there are a few tables near the lunch truck available for customers. The
small, shaded seating area is very casual, with round tables – some
under umbrellas, some made of recycled electrical-cable spools – and
green plastic chairs. We popped open a couple of cold sodas and waited in
the shade while our food was prepped. If you’re in a hurry, phone in your
order. Fifteen to 20 minutes later, you can swing by to pick it up.
Naturally Hawaiian is definitely worth stopping at –
especially for those of us with hardcore cravings for a good burrito. |