Cha Cha Cha Salsaria - Hawaii Kai's Own Take on Tex-Mex with a Touch of Caribe
Gail Jennings
August 2005

Long located in the Hawaii Kai Towne Center, this popular spot made the move last year to the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center which is just down the street. Now they are closer to the water, which is a big plus, but a bit harder to find. They are tucked away in a corner with The Shack on one side and the water in the back. Both Safeway and BluWater Grill are just a stone's throw away in opposite directions. The answer to the question of whether or not it's worth it to seek them out depends on whether you are in the area and what you are in the mood to eat.

I can see the appeal of the casual atmosphere and friendly service. The physical appearance of the restaurant is eclectic, colorful and diverse featuring everything from surfboards (used to display specials) to Carribbean art along with the requisite Mexican paraphernalia. You can sit indoors or out on the lanai which overlooks the water - either way you read the menu on the chalkboard and surfboard at the entrance, place your order and pay, then find a seat and wait for your food to be delivered.

We ordered what the service person said was one of their most popular dishes, the Enchiladas $8.95, a Black Bean, Corn & Bell Pepper Salad $6.95 and the Blackened Fresh Fish Taco $5.50. To wash it all down we sprang for a Negra Modelo $3.95 and a house Margarita which was on special for $3 - regular price is $4.50. Other menu choices include Jerk chicken, specials, which this day meant a Greek Wrap, and desserts. Breakfast is served only on Sundays.

It didn't take too long for the food to make its way to our table and we enjoyed the view while waiting, as well as taking in the various items decorating the walls. Rock fans will enjoy the Sammy Hagar (now known for his Cabo Wabo tequila as well as his music) memorabilia. We also took the time to visit the salsa bar and fill up some small plastic containers with pineapple salsa (very good), tomatillo salsa (bland) and roasted tomato salsa (best).

The presentation of the food is very nice. The plate with the enchiladas had a banana leaf as a base for the red corn tortilla chips, beans, rice and enchiladas. The salad was quite gorgeous and appealing with the presentation again utilizing banana leaves which served a dual purpose of beautification and utility by helping to keep the deep-fried tortilla shell from becoming soggy. The fish taco was not as attractive but the purple cabbage in the coleslaw provided an interesting contrast.

Now the food. Overall, the food could be improved with a couple of simple changes. They really need to upgrade the quality of the corn tortillas they are using. Superior yellow corn tortillas are not hard to find and they would certainly enhance the dishes where they are used. The ones they are currently serving are thin, falling apart and practically tasteless. Even though they were doubled on the fish taco, the entire thing fell apart and that made it impossible to eat in normal fashion. The other problem was the fish was just on the edge of being bad. It had a very strong fishy odor and the tangy sourness of the purple and white cabbage slaw couldn't disguise this fact. It is a mystery to me that any restaurant (especially in Hawaii) would serve fish that's even a little off - there is truly no excuse. If I can smell it, the cook and server should have been able to as well.

On the plus side, the salad was exceptional. The garlic-lime dressing really complemented the black beans, tomatoes, onions, three colors of peppers and cilantro which filled the whole wheat flour tortilla bowl. Served on the side (at our request) was a very tasty sour cream mixture with a healthy dose of garlic and herbs added. When added to the salad, it really brought the flavors all together. I can recommend this dish for those who like bold, assertive and sour flavors (like me) and thought it was overall the best dish. Vegetarians will be happy to know that all of the salads use vegetarian black beans.

The enchiladas (we ordered one pork and one beef) were also good, and though the the pork was good, the beef was really good. The pork had a distinct orange flavor and when we queried the staff, we learned that it is roasted with oranges which added a nice touch. I consider sauce an integral part of enchiladas but Cha Cha Cha does not and these came with a couple of squirts of sour cream and tomatillo sauce which did allow the flavorful fillings to dominate. The sides were a bit weak with the rice being bland and the beans being more chili-like than refried. One thing to note is that you do not get over-fed here as happens at many Tex-Mex places where they first ply you with big baskets of chips and then deliver large plates overflowing with food. I consider this a good thing - very few of us need huge amounts of food and much of it gets wasted.

So, should you go? As mentioned in the beginning, if you are in the area and craving something different, this is not a bad choice. It won't hurt your wallet and, if you order wisely, you can surely find something you will enjoy.

Cha Cha Cha Salsaria
377 Keahole St
Hawaii Kai Shopping Center
Hawaii Kai, East Oahu
395-7797
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-9:30pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 10:30am-10pm, Sun 8:30am-9pm