Rainbow Drive-In — Restaurant in Honolulu

"I've been a breaker and broken Every mistake turns to moments Wouldn't take anything back..."

This place is Groundhog Day for me. I've been here before, maybe once every 3-5 years for no particular reason. Always early in the morning to beat the Waikiki tourists venturing on the cusp.

I recall writing a review here, perhaps 5 years ago, but oddly that review blew away with the Mauka trade-winds, or perhaps that conspiracy theory that Area-51 does hold the bodies of...

Ok, so it's Groundhog Day and yea been here, done that. Seems more spiffy since the last time I was here. Maybe pre-pandemic? Don't even recall what I ordered then, but hey this time I'm craving a Loco Moco with fried egg, Gravy all over, and the AUTOMATIC rice & mac salad. Ok, things did change 'cause that plate is now $13.09 after (HART) taxes, a semi-autonomous government agency that has been building your RAIL since the opening of Rainbow Drive-In, way back in 1961. Ok, maybe not that far back lol, but you do know that your taxes are still paying for government waste, and overtime, right? Pau!

Back to the iconic Rainbow Drive-In. This is the original location, but renovated so it's actually modern, sans the restrooms lol. I ended up ordering the Loco Moco with fried egg, Gravy all over, and the AUTOMATIC rice & mac salad for my early Sunday breakfast. Since it was 7:02am only a handful of locals were there, but iykyk in a couple hours tourists of all sorts will be in line "acting local" lol. I avoid those hours, trust lmao!

Time to grindz, sista! Loco Moco with fried egg, Gravy all over, and the AUTOMATIC rice & mac salad still onolicious like back in the day. $13.09 seems eh ok considering what nearby restaurants are changing for plate lunches! Or if you're really Chang get the breakfast deal for $9!

RAINBOW DRIVE-IN BACKSTORY:

Founder Seiju Ifuku was born in Okinawa in 1915, moved to Hawaii, later joining the legendary U.S. 100th Battalion of WWII. Gone are the days of the 50-cent chili and rice plates, $1 BBQ beef plates, 25-cent hamburgers and 14-cent fries that our parents or grandparents enjoyed.

RAINBOW DRIVE-IN FUN FACTOID:

This iconic restaurant is a landmark and featured in The Food Network's Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, CBS' Hawaii 5-0 and Magnum P.I., etc.

In the end, it's Groundhog Day for me. It's a good spot in the area if looking for local plate lunches! I won't be back at Rainbows Drive-In for a couple years or? Hopefully RAIL pau by then? Or maybe next time, next time? Cheeee hooo Honolulu!

Pls follow my IG adventures:...

The food is incredibly affordable, the portions are generous, and everything is incredibly delicious.

Efficient Service Despite the Crowd:

Despite the long line and a large crowd, our orders came out surprisingly quickly. The customer service was outstanding, with all the staff being incredibly friendly and welcoming. Charming Outdoor Dining:

The outdoor seating area was perfect for enjoying the pleasant weather. While seating is limited, the high turnover rate ensures you won't have to wait long for a table. The restaurant itself has a charming, traditional Hawaiian style.

A Touch of Local Flair:

I particularly enjoyed the small store on the far right side of the restaurant, which sold local souvenirs.

Old-School Charm with Modern Appeal:

With so many new restaurants popping up all over the island, it's refreshing to find a place like Rainbow Drive-In that still offers classic Hawaiian comfort food at incredibly reasonable prices. The taste, quality, and prices have remained consistent, which is a rarity these days.

Indulging in Local Favorites:

I was overwhelmed by the menu and had a hard time choosing, so I ended up ordering a variety of dishes, including a restaurant week special, a boneless chicken plate, a mix plate, and a BBQ beef sandwich. It was a bit of an indulgence, but everything was delicious!

A True Local Gem:

If you're looking for authentic Hawaiian comfort food at its best, Rainbow Drive-In is an...

I was with a friend for two weeks in Oahu, we saved Rainbow Drive-In until our last night. We fell in love with Hawaii and the friendliness/peacefulness and were excited to try Rainbow, as we had many people recommend. This was the only experience in our two weeks interacting with anyone (tourist/restaurant employee/hospitality, etc) that was so rude, it left us in shock. I don’t eat meat and ordered the vegetarian chicken bites. When it came out, it was chicken on a bone. I understand mistakes happen and have never been upset at something like this. I was told by Cheyenne (sp?) that if I wanted vegetarian chicken, I should have ordered vegetarian chicken. I said I did order vegetarian chicken, I specifically said vegetarian chicken Karaage when I ordered. I was then told if I wanted vegetarian chicken, I would need to place another order, to which I did and paid, as my friend had her food and I was at a loss for words. I was then laughed at it after I said I was upset (I had another customer tell me this). I would check into the way customers are treated by reviewing the evening of 9/9/23 about 40 minutes before closing. Great food, great atmosphere, poor customer service. I was in the restaurant industry for 15 years and always give someone the benefit of the doubt, you never know what kind of day someone is having personally, however this was an experience that will make me choose not to recommend this restaurant to friends...