11 Ways to Get Birria in Honolulu (None are Tacos)
4 min read
How much do we love birria? Oh, let me count the ways. At first, we swooned over beef birria tacos but little did we know they would only scratch the surface. The Mexican-inspired food trend swept O‘ahu last year and you could satisfy your birria craving at restaurants, food trucks, food courts and overwhelmingly from Instagram-based businesses.
Now they’re getting creative. Scroll on and feast your eyes on all the ways we love to eat birria.
SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Birria Taco in Honolulu Roundup
Bao
Aloha Mamacita
Photo: Kelli Shiroma Braiotta
Aloha Mamacita’s birria bao plates ($16) come with three pieces and consommé for dipping. The buns are soft, thin and stuffed with braised beef, onions, cilantro and lots of mozzarella cheese.
SEE ALSO: Aloha Mamacita’s Birria Tacos are Coming to Town
Banh mi
Cocina de Roja
Photo: Kelli Shiroma Braiotta
Cocina De Roja’s birria banh mi ($11) is my favorite item on their menu. It features a crispy toasted baguette stuffed with birria meat, mayo, cucumbers, pickled carrots, daikon and cilantro with a side of consommé.
2334 S. King St., Mōili‘ili, Tues–Sat 11 a.m.–7 p.m., @cocinaderoja
Haus of Fusion
Photo: Kelli Shiroma Braiotta
Haus of Fusion serves birria in many ways from oxtail soup to custom DIY taco kits and banh mi. The birria banh mi ($16) is one of the most popular dishes according to owner Anastacia Watson. The baguette is stuffed with shredded birria braised beef, pickled red onions, carrots and daikon and fresh cilantro with a cup of consommé on the side. You can add cheese for $1 more.
Kaimukī, @hausoffusion
Fried rice
Haus of Fusion
Photo: Kelli Shiroma Braiotta
Similar to the birria banh mi, Haus of Fusion’s birria fried rice with lechon roast pork ($18 ) is another customer favorite. It’s a unique twist on Filipino-style lechon with Mexican flair thanks to the braised beef and pico de gallo mixed into the savory fried rice.
Kaimukī, @hausoffusion
Lumpia
Elimeko Kitchen
Photo: Kelli Shiroma Braiotta
Elimeko Kitchen recently added queso birria lumpia to their menu in packs of 6, 9 and 12 for $12, $18 and $24, respectively. All orders include consommé dipping broth. The crispy, golden-brown lumpia are filled with fresh cilantro, red onions, mozzarella cheese and ultra-tender 10-hour braised beef birria.
Makiki, @elimekokitchen
Nachos
Jenny’s Birria
With all the tacos out there, Jenny’s Birria might be the only spot serving up birria nachos ($20). They come loaded with Jenny’s homemade cheese sauce, beef birria, sour cream, guacamole, onions, cilantro and lime.
‘Ewa Beach, @jennysbirria
Pho
Cocina de Roja
Cocina de Roja’s birria pho ($12) includes rice noodles in a birria stew topped with Thai basil, mung bean sprouts, red onions and cilantro. This huge bowl has loads of shredded beef balanced out by all of the refreshing veggies.
2334 S. King St., Mōili‘ili, Tues–Sat 11 a.m.–7 p.m., @cocinaderoja
SEE ALSO: 33 New Restaurants to Watch for on O‘ahu in 2021
Pizza
El Jalisciense
This food truck located in Waikele recently debuted a sharable birria pizza ($35) made with three 12-inch tortillas stuffed with birria meat, cheese, onions, cilantro. The consommé broth acts as the sauce.
95-790 Lumiaina St., Waipahu, (509) 423-4871, Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–7 p.m, Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m., @eljalisciense2017
Quesadilla
Jenny’s Birria
Jenny’s birria quesadilla ($12) is so new it hasn’t been photographed yet. A flour tortilla is loaded with cheese and beef before it’s grilled on the plancha. It’s served with cilantro, onions, lime and dipping consommé on the side.
‘Ewa Beach, @jennysbirria
Ramen
Barrio Café
Wahiawa’s Barrio Café features birria ramen ($10) on its “Red Taco Tuesdays” only. Their noodle bowl comes with ramen, house-made consommé broth, shredded beef, cilantro and onions.
672 Kilani Ave., Wahiawa, (808) 622-3003, @barriocafe808
El Jalisciense
El Jalisciense’s limited birria ramen ($10) has consommé broth, birria meat, cilantro and onions.
Jenny’s Birria
Jenny’s Birria uses Nissin’s beef-flavored instant ramen cooked in birria consommé and adds shredded birria meat, cilantro and onions to make it her own ($12). Upgrade to include extra meat for $3 more.
Noods Ramen Bar
The birria ramen ($15) at Noods Ramen Bar includes Mexican-style beef broth topped with slow braised shredded beef, onions, cilantro, jalapenos, chili oil and lime. Add parmesan cheese or extra kaedama noodles for $1 and $2 respectively.
3611 Waialae Ave., Kaimukī, (808) 888-2115, Daily 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 5–9 p.m., @noodsramenbar808
Saimin
La Birria
Photo: Thomas Obungen
At La Birria you can get birria saimin for $12 or as a side for $5. It features Sun Noodles’ curly saimin noodles topped with braised beef, onions, cilantro and fried tortilla strips. Ask for extra limes to brighten the bowl up.
Pearlridge, Kaka‘ako, @la_birria_hi
Taco Bout It
Taco Bout It includes a side of saimin noodles in their $18 birria plate or a la carte for $2. Dip the noodles in the leftover consommé broth like a tsukemen.
Makiki, @taco_bout_it_hawaii
SEE ALSO: We Found Birria Tacos and Birria Saimin in ‘Aiea
Won tons
Elimeko Kitchen
Photo: Kelli Shiroma Braiotta
Like their lumpia counterparts, the queso beef birria wontons come in packs of 6, 9 or 12 for $12, $18 and $24, respectively. All orders include consommé broth and have the same filling as the lumpia: Fresh cilantro, red onions, mozzarella cheese and shredded braised beef.
Makiki, @elimekokitchen
