Fred’s Mexican Cafe – Kihei

Fred's Mexican Cafe – Come by for Tasty Food and the Margaritas to Match in Kihei
Local Expert's Rating:
3.5 / 5
The Bottom Line:

Tasty food, oversized margaritas, and phenomenal views all await your arrival at Fred’s Mexican Café. Set along the Kihei waterfront, this chill eatery always makes it a point to serve up your favorites with a smile. For the full dining experience, get a table on the patio and settle in for a memorable meal.

- The HawaiianIslands.com Local Expert Team

For delicious Mexican favorites created with a California spin, set your sights on Fred’s Mexican Café. At this popular Kihei eatery, they pair their tasty dishes with larger-than-life margaritas plus the views to match. In fact, if you manage to snag a seat on the patio, you’ll get to gaze in wonder at the oceanside while dining in style. Three islands sit right in view, too, allowing you to get a glimpse of Lanai, Molokini, and Kahoolawe.

Every day starts with a hearty breakfast served to any and all who waltz through the doors. In fact, this restaurant handles the breakfast crowd for Moose McGillycuddy’s. But after that, they operate simultaneously for the rest of the day, serving much of the same delicious food.

The breakfast fare features the full spread of favorites, ranging from Ham & Cheese Omelettes to Loco Moco. After that, it’s all about the California-inspired Mexican food. Tacos, tacos, and more tacos dominate the menu, although you’ll also find quesadillas, burritos, and enchiladas. The real magic lies in their specialty plates, however, as the Chili Verde pork served with corn tortillas.

All day long, they keep the drinks flowing and encourage all interested parties to partake. For breakfast, they have a stunningly delicious Tropical Mimosa plus their signature Habanero Spicy Blood Mary. The rest of the time, their margaritas serve as the showstopper. They come infused with all the best island flavors, including mango, passion fruit, and pineapple. Draft brews, wine by the glass, and non-alcoholic drinks galore round out the beverage options just right.

While much of their focus remains on serving all the best food and drinks around, the crew doesn’t hold back when it comes to quality service as well. They always put tons of aloha into all they do, ensuring that everyone feels at home. The funky décor throughout their eatery helps create a laidback feel, as does the music playing in the background.

Don’t miss a chance to try:

Hawaiian French Toast
To start off your day with a sweet kick, order yourself the Hawaiian French Toast. This dish starts with three thick slices of Portuguese sweet bread soaked in the batter. Then, they fry it up until golden brown and cover it in a dusting of powdered sugar. As if that’s not enough, you get your choice of ham, sausage, or bacon to go alongside.

Surf & Turf Enchiladas
For a whole new way to enjoy surf and turf deliciousness, simply set your sights on the Surf & Turf Enchiladas. This dish features steak and shrimp wrapped up in separate corn tortillas and then smothered in enchilada sauce and cheese. After that gets hot in the oven, sour cream lands on top, and rice and black beans go alongside right before serving.

Shrimp Diablo
When nothing else will do but a spiciness for days, get the Shrimp Diablo. One of their house specialties, this entrée starts with fresh shrimp sauteed in garlic butter. Once that’s done, they put the shrimp in a chipotle cream sauce to elevate all the fresh ocean flavors even more.

Salsa is free with your entrée. So, ask for all three to try their fresh and mild, smoky chipotle, and ultra-hot habanero flavors. If you fall in love with any flavors, they’re happy to send you with more for the road. They sell each of their salsa flavors in 3- and 16-ounce to-go containers for your later enjoyment.

Insider Tips:
-Want great deals on tacos and drinks? Time your visit for Tuesdays between 4 pm and 9 pm. There’s a two-hour table limit during that time.
-They’ve done away with their BOGO coupons. So, even if you find any out in the wild, you’ll have to set them aside for now.
-Happy hour runs daily from 4 pm to 7 pm.