El Chino Loco

When Chef Curtis Chung from El Chino Loco offers to make special nachos for you and your Nacho Friends, you jump for joy!  His food is some of the best on the island and we couldn't wait to see what he came up with for his version of nachos. We found a park he could set up his food truck and prepared to be amazed. We laid out blankets and enjoyed a lovely evening with perfect Hawaii weather. Everyone agreed that we need more nacho nights like this. The homemade hot sauce was on fire and the special "Mexican Soup" really kicked the evening up a notch. I especially enjoyed introducing my Nacho Ohana to Brennan.

Curtis' nachos were, as predicted, some of the best nachos we have ever eaten! His queso was magical and unique that it was pink. It was definitely the center of attention of the flavor party in your mouth dancing fabulously with the tomato jalapeno short ribs. The chips, although store bought, were crunchy, salty, and robust enough to handle the plentiful toppings. His homemade hot sauce was passed around with excitement adding that perfect amount of heat to every delectable bite. We all knew that it was going to be hard to go from eating these nachos to any other nachos after this night. 

Tango Tango (5) - PRESENTATION: Delightful on a perfect paper plate in the park.  Perfect/generous serving for one.  Onions and pico on the side were appreciated too! RAD: Everything!!  The setting, the ingredients, the price!! LAME: Really the only thing I could knock these for is lack of homemade chips.  But that’s hardly a detractor from these delicious nachos! TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: Layered, and actually just about perfect.  Stayed crisp to the end, and still had bites of meat and cheesy goodness. Great sauces and good chips even if store bought! Really, five of five. Great sauces, service, location, ingredients, and company! Thomas Square Park has just the right light from 5:30–shade from the banyans and really soft grass.                   

David (5) - PRESENTATION: Visually appealing, nice variety of colors. RAD: The short rib is awesome. Great even by itself. LAME: Do your own fresh chips. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, I love heavy toppings on nachos. This delivered. The cheese and guac sauce was delish. Different than regular cheese. Great value for the price.                    

nacho m.e. (5) – PRESENTATION: A nice array of colors with a plentiful spread of toppings. RAD: The homemade hot sauce - not too spicy for my friends with little spice tolerance, but packed with flavor. Also paper plates instead of plastic. LAME: Plastic forks. Otherwise I have zero complaints. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, thank you for not skimping on the sauce. Thanks for my first nacho night! Lovely humans and a wonderful night in the park. 

Roberto Thomas (5) - PRESENTATION: Deliciously homemade. RAD: THE MEAT. WOW! LAME: I had to share. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 4, perfect if you add some hot sauce on the side. So tasty. That meat was out of this world! Can’t do much better than bringing nachos to a park.                       

Nick Nock (5) – PRESENTATION: Looks so good! Piled high with good stuff.  RAD: All sorts of yummy looking sauces. Braised short rib! LAME: Nope. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: Perfect. I want another.

Mom (5) – PRESENTATION: Looks yummy! RAD: Lots of food. LAME: Need forks and more nachos. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 4+, need more chips. So much fun! Thanks for the invite.

Short Rib Nachos $10 - corn tortilla chips smothered in El Chino's special queso, pico de gallo, signature handmade pickled onion, black olive, pickled jalapeno, avocado cilantro crema, and 12 hour jalapeno-tomato braised short ribs.

Bearded Nacho (5) - PRESENTATION: It’s one loaded plate! Lots of toppings. Meat, cheese sauce, pickled onions... 🤤. RAD: All of their fresh made toppings! You can taste the aloha. LAME: They aren’t on their regular menu. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO:5, there were toppings all the way to the last chip. The freshness and flavor broke da mouth. We had nachos in the park. It was great. Got to lay out in the grass in our nacho coma.                       

Chrissie (4) - PRESENTATION: Good! Very colorful, nice mountain slope. RAD: Melt in you’re mouth short ribs! LAME: Would rather have cheese than queso-no cheese pull! TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, plenty of toppings? I would eat these again, for the short rib! Also great salsa. I’d give them a 5/5 if they had cheese instead of wheat!                            

JQPineapple (5) - PRESENTATION: Amazing and packed. RAD: The meat, pickled onions, and queso nom nom. LAME: I ate too slow and the chips got soggy. Personal problem. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, LOADED. Super flavorful. Quaint, park setting with friends.                        

El Holmbre (5) - PRESENTATION: Colorful, well presented. RAD: Pink Queso! LAME: Really nothing lame about these. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, perfect amount of meat and chips and cheese and topping. So good! So wonderful for them to do this for our group. Love the signature pink queso. Also Thomas Square is such a nice place to hang out!                       

Spencer (4) - PRESENTATION: Very nice, colorful. RAD: Ribs are delicious! Love the olives. LAME: No lettuce to cool things down. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, perfect proportion. Very solid. Could use some shredded lettuce or cabbage for balance and texture. Thanks so much!                       

Anonymous (4.5) – PRESENTATION: Amazing! Good variety. Lots of colors. RAD: The hot sauce! The chipotle queso. LAME: Nothing. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: Great! Lots of good toppings on each chip. Nacho night in the park is great! More nachos outside please!

 

Tequila Cat (4) - PRESENTATION: Perfect portion for two! RAD: Ummm that the El Chino Loco food truck made specialty nachos in the park for us! LAME: The bird that pooped on Traci’s blanket. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, perfecto, igualmente. Yes I’d have them again. Fresh tortilla chips would make them a little better but I know that’s hard in a food truck. Atmosphere - dining al fresco was nice!                       

Julie (4) - PRESENTATION: Dang that’s a loaded plate of super nachos! RAD: The braised short ribs are the bomb! LAME: Too rich for my poor blood. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, the toppings are very generous for the amount of chips. Delicious braised short ribs, fun toppings, large portion, priced right, super filling. Gracious husband and wife duo!                       

Brennan (5) - PRESENTATION: Looks rad. RAD: Perfect texture of meat, perfect natural heat. LAME: The plate?? TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, best I’ve ever had! Absolutely would eat these again! Omg.