Found!

That's the storefront for Patricio's. It's a newly-opened taqueria in the Kona Coast Shopping Center. You know how we love Mexican food, and how we are searching for authentic Mexican food in Kona. This is the best yet, no doubt!


The menu is up on the wall above the registers, like Chipotle or Qdoba. It's a bit hard to read being that far away. Patricio's has holdable menus up front at the registers - but maybe put them by the doors for customers to grab on their way in.


The place just opened on the 8th. They had a primo placing of an article in the local paper last week. So many people are checking them out. And they won't be disappointed at all! When we stopped in, the place was packed.

Now the food we ate!


Chile Verde Taco Plate. The chile verde - AMAZING! Authentic? Soft corn tortilla tacos. That would be a YES! The refried beans - one of my make-or-breaks ... WOW!


Carne Asada Torta. Meat, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and (hold the) mayo on crusty bread. Absolutely delicious! It's good for sure, but I like tortas on grilled telera rolls. The bread here reminded me of a sliced ciabatta roll. But the marinating of the steak made up for the unexpected bread.


Here's a POV shot of the torta. See the salsa in the background? They offer a salsa bar with 6 salsas. The pico de gallo is the bomb!


Al Pastor Taco. It was missing the chunks of pineapple, but the sauce on the pork was muy delicioso!

I think that Patricio's has to either have a well-publicized eating contest to telegraph their opening to all of Kona and to the Big Island as a whole. Everyone has got to eat here. Get the word out! What better way! Taco eating contest!

Or - make that AND - they need some kind of challenge item on the menu. Maybe a big burrito, or something. Eat it and it's free. Humpy's has the Big Kahuna Luau Feast. Patricio's needs to have the El Jefe Burrito. Four pounds of pork, carne, and chicken. Or something.

Get a hold of me on Facebook guys, we'll get it going!

Patricio's offers a Kama'aina Card. Punch card. Buy 10, get 1 free! Repeat business - always a super idea!

But even without the card, people would eat here again and again! The food we had was AWESOME! Kona needed this place! We can;t wait to go back!