The Street is a cheery collection of food stands with central seating on the ground floor of the International Market Place. I have been lured back — repeatedly — by several offerings not available on my visit in 2017, including last summer’s opening of Mi Almita Cantina, from James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, and Burger Hale, from Ilima Award-winning Hawaii chefs Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Wade Ueoka (MW Restaurant). The offerings are worth your time and a drive into Waikiki, trust me.

THE EXPERIENCE

Over the past several months, The Street has morphed a bit, and largely for the better.

High-top tables have been replaced by lower tables in various sizes that better accommodate couples or families with kids. High-backed, booth-type seating now surrounds the central bar, Beer & Be Merry, to better delineate that boozy space from the dining area.

There’s more seating outside, adjacent to Kuhio Avenue and adjoining the mall.

Mi Almita Cantina includes its own, enclosed seating area and entrance, as well as a taqueria counter inside The Street.

Visitors are finding the space attractive; the seating was largely filled on my visit this week, creating a lively buzz.

As you enter The Street, you’ll see signs encouraging purchase of a Party Pass. I recommend it, as a way to sample various offerings at any time — not only within happy hours. Get one from the concierge desk or Little Lafa, Mina’s station.

THE FOOD

With a four-item Party Pass for $25 or a seven-item pass for $35, you can try a variety of items from throughout The Street, including tacos at Mi Almita Cantina, a mini-burger at Burger Hale or a lafa from Michael Mina’s Little Lafa — my top picks.

The tacos are a revelation. Hugo Ortega, a native of Mexico who rose to fame for his elevated cuisine at restaurants in Texas, is also author of a “Street Food of Mexico” cookbook (available at Mi Alma Cantina) — and he knows his stuff. I tried the beef brisket tacos, and loved the subtle blend of spices cooked into the meat, the variety of salsas and radish slices available as a topping.

Bonus tip: On Tuesdays and noon to 5 p.m. every day, Mi Almita Cantina offers a selection of $2 tacos all day, along with $4 margaritas. I’ll be back for that.

Burger Hale’s slider is a tease of the luscious offerings at this corner spot. Served with a side of fries, it’s just a few bites — but so juicy, topped with fried onion and nestled in its soft bun, that it truly satisfies.

All varieties of Mina’s lafa — Egyptian-style kabobs of slightly charred meat and vegetables on a pita — are also available with the Party Pass; that’s the only way to get them a la carte. You don’t want to pass these up if you like Mediterranean food. After trying the beef and salmon lafa, I’m obsessed with these mildly spicy, warm and savory pillows of street-style deliciousness.

Other choices include fried chicken from The Street Test Kitchen, also new in 2018, barbecue from International Smoke or something healthy from Indie Girl.

Options abound: A Bar Bites menu is now available at the central bar, too. That gives you a shot at affordable items including Burger Hale’s slider for $5.99, and a big plate of irresistable Za’atar Fries, dressed up by Little Lafa with a garlic aioli and feta cheese, for $6.99.

THE DRINK

If cocktails appeal, by all means do go to the Myna Bird bar. It’s inspired by Don the Beachcomber, a founding father of the tiki bar concept and International Market Place, who once had his office up in the International Marketplace’s centerpiece banyan tree. Bartenders here are ready and able to precisely mix you up a specialty drink.

On my last visit, the happy hour menu featured a pina colada made with Don Q Cristal rum for $5, and more classic tiki cocktails for $8, including a mai tai made with Appleton Estate Jamaican rum. Tiki drinks on the full bar menu range from $12 to $18.

I chose a Saturn cocktail from the $8 list. It was tart and delicious, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, lemon juice and lilikoi and served up attractively in a coupe glass, topped with a dried lime slice.

At Beer & Be Merry, happy hour runs from noon to 7 p.m. daily, with $2 beer on tap.

If you’re not in the mood for alcohol, consider one of Indie Girl’s Wellness Smoothies — my date’s choice, and a potential meal substitute at $8.99. We went for the Warrior 2, with ingredients that include blueberries and banana, macadamia milk and coconut water, and vanilla whey protein. A caffeinated Bulletproof Monkey, including cacao, cold-brewed LaMill coffee and almond milk, or spicy Sexy Beast, which includes maca and cayenne, are also on the menu.

THE VERDICT

If it’s convenient to get to Waikiki before 5 or 6 p.m., on a Tuesday, or with some pals anytime (buy the Street Party Pass), just do it. Whether your taste runs to vegan salads, juicy burgers, authentic tacos or Mediterranean food, decent pricing, unique recipes and bomb cocktails await.