Overview
Los Tres Mex is a small, casual Mexican/Tex-Mex spot in Waikoloa Village on the Big Island. Google places it as an operational, low-cost restaurant at 68-1845 Waikoloa Rd, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, with the phone number (808) 989-1805 and no listed website. The business appears to be a compact, order-at-the-window operation rather than a full-service sit-down restaurant. (tripadvisor.com)
For travelers, it matters because it offers a budget-friendly, quick meal option in an area where many nearby dining choices skew more resort-oriented. The strongest evidence points to made-to-order Mexican comfort food, takeout-friendly service, and a simple setup that fits a lunch, early dinner, or beach/picnic stop more than a long leisurely meal. (tripadvisor.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
Los Tres Mex sits in a straightforward Mexican / Tex-Mex lane: tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and combo plates built around rice and beans. The menu appears compact rather than sprawling, and multiple sources describe the food as made fresh to order. That usually means better flavor than a typical grab-and-go counter, but it also means a wait. (hawaiianislands.com)
- Overall menu style: casual Mexican/Tex-Mex, quick-bites scale, made-to-order counter service. (tripadvisor.com)
- Notable dishes / specialties with support:
- Burrito Grande and other burrito variations, including vegetarian versions. (hawaiianislands.com)
- Fish tacos / grilled mahi-mahi tacos. (local.yahoo.com)
- Chile relleno combo plates. (hawaiianislands.com)
- Enchiladas, including cheese enchilada and beef enchilada praise in reviews. (tripadvisor.com)
- Chips and salsa, repeatedly singled out in review summaries as a standout starter. (restaurantji.com)
- Desserts and drinks visible on ordering platforms: flan, churros, arroz con leche, Mexican paleta, horchata, Jamaica, piña, Jarritos. (toasttab.com)
- Price range / spend expectations: Google labels it price level 1, and third-party listings also describe it as budget-friendly. A traveler should expect inexpensive counter-service meals rather than resort pricing. (tripadvisor.com)
- Dietary usefulness / limitations: vegetarian-friendly signals are present, including vegetarian burrito options and general vegetarian-friendly tagging. The menu looks more limited than larger Mexican restaurants, so highly specific dietary needs may require checking ahead. (tripadvisor.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
This is not a polished dining room or a destination view restaurant. The consistent picture is a small, walk-up, takeout-oriented place in a shopping-center setting with outdoor seating and disposable containers. It sounds best for a practical, informal meal rather than a lingering sit-down evening. (hawaiianislands.com)
- Service model and seating style: walk-up window / counter ordering, takeout-friendly, with some outdoor seating. Multiple sources also suggest calling ahead or ordering in advance if timing matters. (hawaiianislands.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: casual and modest, with a small-building feel rather than a full restaurant interior. One reviewer-oriented source describes an industrial-looking exterior; Tripadvisor photos also point to a food-stall-like setup. Treat that as an observation, not a hard fact. (hawaiianislands.com)
- Amenities / practical features: parking is repeatedly mentioned, and the location is in a shopping-center cluster. Wheelchair-accessible and takeout features are also listed on Tripadvisor. (tripadvisor.com)
- Best fit: an easy lunch, an early dinner, or food you want to carry to the beach or back to your lodging. (hawaiianislands.com)
- Weaker fit: a rushed stop when you do not have time to wait, or a meal where you want a full-service setting and a broad menu. The fresh-cooked setup can slow things down. (hawaiianislands.com)
History & Background
Meaningful background is limited, but one secondary source describes Los Tres Mex as a family-owned and operated restaurant serving fresh made-to-order Mexican food and says it has been around for over 30 years. Tripadvisor also notes that it has recently moved from a previous small location into a new one, which suggests some relocation or site change history. Treat both as helpful background signals rather than fully verified corporate history unless a primary source is later found. (hawaiianislands.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
Review patterns are broadly positive on food quality, value, and friendliness. Repeated praise centers on fresh-made food, good salsa, solid enchiladas and tacos, generous portions, and prices that feel fair for the area. The overall Google rating is 4.5 from 249 ratings, which matches the positive tone across secondary sources. (tripadvisor.com)
Common Gripes
The most consistent downside is wait time. Multiple sources say food is cooked to order and can take a while, with one traveler reporting a roughly 20–25 minute wait. Another recurring note is that the menu is somewhat limited, which seems to be a real tradeoff rather than a one-off complaint. These downsides appear well-supported. (tripadvisor.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Google’s current hours show Wednesday–Saturday, 12:00 PM–7:00 PM, with Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday closed. Third-party listings differ slightly, so double-check before you drive over. (tripadvisor.com)
- Expect walk-up / takeout-style service rather than a classic sit-down restaurant; ordering ahead is a smart move if you are on a schedule. (hawaiianislands.com)
- The place is in the Waikoloa Highlands Center / Waikoloa Village area with parking mentioned in review sources, which is useful for a quick stop. (img1.wsimg.com)
- If you want the best odds of a smooth visit, go when they first open or arrive with some flexibility for prep time. Fresh-cooked food is a plus here, but it is also why waits happen. (hawaiianislands.com)
- Good choices for first-time visitors appear to be the burrito grande, fish tacos, chile relleno, enchiladas, chips and salsa, and horchata or Jamaica. (hawaiianislands.com)
Verification Notes
- Officially anchored identity: Los Tres Mex, 68-1845 Waikoloa Rd, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, (808) 989-1805. Google shows the business as OPERATIONAL. (tripadvisor.com)
- Website remains unlisted in Google Place details; a third-party directory points to lostresmex.com, but that was not directly confirmed from Google. (tripadvisor.com)
- There is some hours drift across sources: Google’s posted hours are narrower than some third-party directories. Use caution if planning a late visit. (tripadvisor.com)
- No major identity conflict found.
Sources
- Tripadvisor —
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60608-d3983336-Reviews-Los_Tres_Mex-Waikoloa_Kohala_Coast_Island_of_Hawaii_Hawaii.html— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for cuisine label, hours snapshot, price level, features, and review examples about wait time and specific dishes. - Localicious Hawai‘i —
https://localicioushawaii.org/los-tres-mex/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for operational hours posture, delivery/takeout framing, and location confirmation. - HawaiianIslands.com —
https://hawaiianislands.com/big-island/restaurants/los-tres-mex— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for service model, family-owned background claim, beach/picnic fit, menu examples, and the limited-menu / wait-time caveat. - Restaurantji —
https://www.restaurantji.com/hi/waikoloa-village/los-tres-mex-/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for review-pattern summary, hours, parking/location notes, vegetarian options, and specific commonly praised items. - Yahoo Local —
https://local.yahoo.com/info-169361293-los-tres-mex-waikoloa/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for a second-source listing of website/phone and a plain-language menu description; also supports the impression that it is a casual counter-service spot. - Big Island Dining, Shopping & More PDF —
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/f07c800c-631d-44c0-926b-709ef0f0fecb/downloads/Big%20Island%20Dining%2C%20Shopping%20%26%20Tours.pdf?ver=1708894841435— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for location context in Waikoloa Highlands Center and a corroborating hours snapshot, but likely not as current as Google.
