Koolau Drive Inn — Restaurant in Hawaii

Stopped in for late lunch. Wanted to try some local food. The staff was, the dining area was pretty clean. But the mochiko chicken they recommended was not good, a heavy deep fried dark meat chicken dish. Tasted mostly like batter, minimal flavor, only rice option was white rice but they serve fried rice? I would have paid a couple of dollars more for fried rice?

Also I got the side salad option and it was just some lettuce and a tomato slice but the put the hot chicken and hot rice on it. So it’s warm to hot lettuce?

Does anybody like warm/hot lettuce as a salad option. Salad should have been in its separate bowl. The pink dressing was flavorful.

Woukd not come back..would other Asian dishes or BBQ or wings be better? They also serve burgers, fish burgers, bbq burgers, hot dogs, shrimp burger, etc,

I might have tried a fried rice option but $15-$16) seems high. I think value of the $11 meal I got was...

the first time I went there, which was pre-car crash and pre-pandemic (a while ago), it was alright. I don't remember what I got but I just remember feeling and thinking, "not great but not terrible." this time, I got won ton ramen combo. it was comparable to sumo ramen. quality and taste and everything. about $11. I couldn't drink the soup; it gave me a headache just from eating everything in the soup. the fried rice and gyoza were good. I'll keep trying other things on the menu.

their service is great though!

speaking of menu, they have a nice new digital menu now. also, since they had to "renovate" due to car crash, it looks nice and modern now. they even got new tables and chairs. but sadly, because of the pandemic, they're...

I didn't want to eat another poke so after a long day walking at the Japanese Garden I looked on Google and found this restaurant. This place is just minutes from the garden and cemetery. When we got there was empty so I was a little worried but I am glad we stopped by cause MAN... it was delicious and the service was also great. Just before we were leaving more people started to come, I was happy to see the place full cause they deserved it. If you looking for a reasonably priced Hawaiian food restaurant, this is your place. I ordered the teriyaki chicken and hubby the shrimp with kalbi and they both were...