Tight Tacos Maui

Tight Tacos Maui – Authentic Mexican Street Tacos in Central Maui
Local Expert's Rating:
4.5 / 5
The Bottom Line:

You don’t need to leave Central Maui to get authentic Mexican street tacos. Visit Tight Tacos Maui for freshly prepared tacos from handmade ingredients and authentic recipes for tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and sides.

- The HawaiianIslands.com Local Expert Team

When you have a craving for something different or already have a love of street tacos, visit Tight Tacos Maui in Kahului. You’ll get authentic Mexican street tacos and sides without spending a lot. The hallmark of this cuisine is its ability to fill your stomach without emptying your wallet. Tight Tacos Maui epitomizes this trait.

The building itself may resemble a warehouse, but you won’t find cookie-cutter production inside. The cooks in the kitchen hand-press all the tortillas, braise the meats, and prepare all salsas from scratch. This extra care in the kitchen becomes evident when you take your first bite of a taco, bowl, burrito, or quesadilla from Tight Tacos Maui.

To maintain its high standards, the restaurant does not have an extensive menu. However, you can customize your order by choosing from various proteins, salsas, and sides. If you like guacamole and Mexican crema, upgrade to “Super” for your taco, burrito, bowl, or quesadilla. Crema is a thinner fresh version of slightly tangy cream that adds richness to dishes that most people associate with sour cream.

If the numerous ways to choose your meal options feels overwhelming, try one of the following options recommended by others:

Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp Tacos start with large, freshly caught grilled shrimp on hand-pressed corn tortillas. For extra flavor, you get onions, salsa, and cilantro on the tacos. Feel free to request changes to any of these since the kitchen prepares the tacos when you order them. The sweet, succulent shrimp have a slight spice to them, so you might want to order a drink to accompany these tacos.

Baja Fish Tacos
Light fried but not greasy the Baja Fish Tacos are a favorite of visitors. These tacos use local fish and have a perfect crunch that enhances the fresh, soft corn tortillas surrounding the tacos. Cabbage and salsa boost the flavor and texture of these tacos.

Esquites
You can order standard rice and beans with your meal, but at least once, try the Esquites. This corn salad is a version of street corn that typically comes on the cob or in a cup. Known as elotes on the cob or esquites in a cup, the flavor profile is the same – corn, cream, chili, and cheese. Squeeze the lime slice over the corn for an extra refreshing kick to this perfect side for your tacos, burrito, or quesadilla. If you order a bowl, you’ll get esquites as part of the dish.

Carne Asada Quesadilla
Juicy grilled steak sandwiched between halves of a freshly made flour tortilla with plenty of cheese creates a satisfying meal. The quesadilla comes with a pair of salsas to add a kick to the dish. Visitors have mentioned the good amount of meat they get with their quesadillas, which added flavor and value to their meals.

Chile Relleno Burrito
Watch out for specials on the menu, such as the Chile Relleno Burrito. Previous eaters at Tight Tacos Maui have lamented that the restaurant does not serve this option daily, especially because it sells out quickly when offered. Chile relleno is a dish consisting of a battered and fried poblano pepper stuffed with cheese. These flavors go into a burrito featuring the cheese-stuffed pepper wrapped surrounded by rice and beans and wrapped in a fresh flour tortilla. This meatless option won’t leave you hungry for a while.

Enjoy tasty tacos and much more when you visit Tight Tacos Maui in Kahului. You’ll get a satisfying meal of hand-crafted, authentic Mexican street food favorites.

Insider Tips:
-Since Tight Tacos Maui prepares everything fresh, orders placed in person take time to prepare. Order online or by phone to reduce your time waiting for your food when you arrive.
-Avoid arriving at the end of the day as many tacos may have sold out, especially those made from fresh seafood.
-Since this restaurant is off the beaten path, you’ll find plenty of free parking in front and on the street.
-Watch the kitchen when you place your order and you can see them pressing and cooking your tortillas fresh.