2026 Hale ‘Aina Awards: Da Seafood Cartel Is Recognized as the Seafood Specialist

Readers’ Pick

BEST MEXICAN

(GOLD)

Readers’ Pick

BEST SEAFOOD

(FINALIST)

No burritos, birria tacos or chile rellenos cram the tables at Da Seafood Cartel. Dishes here celebrate seafood—northern Mexican coastal creations, to be exact—a distinction that sets the Hale ‘Aina ​​Best Mexican winner apart from the meaty familiarity of carnitas and loaded nachos. While you will find beer-battered shrimp and fish tacos on the menu, follow the lead of Spanish-speaking regulars spooning tangy cocktails of shrimp ceviche from chabela glasses and tucking into crunchy corn tostadas mounded with avocado and seafood.

A farmers market startup, Da Seafood Cartel graduated first to a converted gas station off Kamehameha Highway in ‘Aiea, then expanded to a second spot in Hale‘iwa. Owner Amanda Cordes’ mother is from Sonora, Mexico; her father’s family owns Forty Niner Restaurant around the corner in ‘Aiea.

With this pedigree, perhaps it was only a matter of time before Cordes’ aguachile—raw shrimp marinated in the seasoned juice of fresh limes and cilantro and crowned with slivers of serrano—made its appearance on O‘ahu. Alone, it’s a sprightly, eye-opening pop; setting it on a fresh corn tortilla chip with a smear of guacamole (a must-order on the side), its richness tinged with an edge of fresh onion​,​ raises the bite to wow territory. Equally wow and more unexpected are toritos of guero chiles stuffed with plump, just-cooked shrimp bathed in a zesty shoyu-butter sauce, a favorite of Cordes​​’.

For most of us, nearly the entire menu is a foray into the unknown. For Latino families from around the island, it’s a regular destination. Tables on the l​​ā​​nai fill up quickly on weekends, with parking spilling onto nearby side streets. And neighborhood chickens patrol the perimeter for fallen morsels. Go regardless—Da Seafood Cartel is well worth the journey.

Multiple locations, daseafoodcartel.com, @daseafoodcartel

Mari Taketa is the dining editor of HONOLULU Magazine and editor of Frolic Hawai‘i.