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    Islander Drive Inn

    3.4 (185 reviews)
    ModerateHawaiian
    Closed • 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Islander Drive Inn Photos

    Business Info

    ISLANDER DRIVE INN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Islander Drive Inn

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    Mini Honey Garlic Chicken
    Dezzy L.

    I would rate It a Zero Stars If I could Came back home for Vacation and was really looking forward to getting honey garlic chicken from here, but wow... what a letdown. This used to be one of my go-to spots for $12.83 you'd get a full, satisfying plate. This time? Only 7 pieces of chicken, barely any honey garlic sauce, and not even a full scoop of mac salad. On top of that, the quality just didn't taste fresh. Super disappointing, especially since we were excited to revisit a place we used to love. Definitely didn't expect to feel this ripped off.

    Mini teriyaki chicken plate
    Sandy M.

    It's your regular run of the mill eatery. They have pictures and clear signs of the food they offer. They have a lot of hand written signs, I'm guessing to address the kids who may come hangout after school. Service is kind of slow considering I was the only person in the dining area. The food wasn't the prettiest I've seen but I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was! I got a pretty good portion for a mini plate. Their Mac salad was really tasty. The chicken was absolutely delicious!

    As of 5/8/25
    Roz M.

    I'm not familiar with Salt Lake eateries so I asked my friend Lloyd who lives in the neighborhood if he had any recommendations. He mentioned ISLANDER DRIVE INN located in a strip mall next to Safeway. After looking over the menu ahead of time, I decided to order the BBQ CHICKEN mini plate. My daughter and dad ordered the HAMBURGER STEAK mini plate. What can I say about the food? I thought the BBQ chicken plate was ono and the portion was filling. It tastes just like L&L. My dad couldn't eat all of his hamburger steak, so I was able to try it. It was just as delicious. The gravy was ono, too! Thank you Lloyd for your recommendation. Definitely will be back when I'm in the neighborhood. So if you are looking for ono local style plate lunches, go and check out ISLANDER DRIVE INN, you'll thank me for that!

    Breakfast menu as of May 2026
    Marie R.

    Great food at a reasonable price. Sometimes they don't pick up the phone so just keep trying. They'll pick up eventually lol

    Don't know what to order? Why wait in line when you could place your order over a phone call. Menu as of 4/29/26
    Randy M.

    Service is very slow the guy who took my order looked as if he has no interest of being there!

    Honey garlic chicken & fried rice
    Jarod H.

    Five stars. The food here was pretty good for a plate lunch location. I've tried the chicken Katsu, honey chicken, and more. It does the job. The service is great. Efficient and accurate. The ambiance is pretty much standard for a plate lunch location. No frills, but gets the job done.

    Moala P.

    Love their local food.Made fresh and just taste Ono.Its located in the Salt lake shopping center next door to other stores and restaurants.

    Honey garlic chicken and hamburger steak
    Cassandra H.

    I'm not in this area much but we were visiting someone at Kaiser and needed to get something to eat nearby. I've never heard of this place but did a quick search on yelp for dinner and this popped up. I ordered a honey garlic chicken/hamburger steak combo, my husband got a kalbi plate and we ordered a cheeseburger with fries and a mini bbq chicken plate for our parents. Service was okay and they prepared our food really quickly. The inside looks similar to an L&L or any other plate lunch place. The honey garlic chicken was crispy and delicious. The hamburger steak was a homemade patty which was yummy as well with the classic gravy. The rest of my family enjoyed their food as well. I would definitely check this place out again next time I'm in the area.

    Pork chop with gravy and mushrooms
    Marissa K.

    I heard some good things about their yummy Honey garlic chicken and pork chop with gravy and mushrooms so I got just that! Both were delish! Comes with mac salad and scoop of rice. This is comfort food at its finest!

    Loco moco
    Nicholas A.

    Not much change. Portions seem to get smaller as prices get higher. At least the floor is no longer sticky.

    Honey garlic chicken

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    5 months ago

    Best French fries!!! Burgers are yummy too!! Been here many times but this time was the best!!

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    11 months ago

    Low quality, short cut on meat portions, expensive for what is served. Would not recommend or consider coming back here.

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    2 years ago

    Food was delicious. Mac salad has been my favorite on island so far. Establishment not so much.

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    2 years ago

    Best Hawaiian food on da Aina. This is always our first and last stop from the and to the airport. Enuff said

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    8 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Islander Drive Inn

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    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    4.4(4.6k reviews)
    3.2 mi•Kalihi
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    [SERVICE] is much better nowadays. No complaints here. They are very accommodating. Some days I am…read moresuper hungry and a two top doesn't fit all of my food and it's not hard to ask for a 4 top. I already know what I want to the point I don't have to look at the menu and the servers are so fast to take my order. And they never rush me. [FOOD] My favorite is definitely the FRIED BUTTERFISH COLLAR, to the point I am checking online to see if it's available before I go, if you do decide to order this make sure to put it as soon as you get there since it does take a while to make but the wait is definitely worth it. After that I usually get a LAULAU, FISH WITH OPIHI, an order of HAUPIA, and extra RAW ONIONS & HAWAIIAN SALT. When I am in the mood for TRIPE STEW this is one of my go to spots.

    You have to put your name on the Yelp waitlist outside and they will call you. It was a 15 minute…read morewait for lunch on a Wednesday. Our last meal in Hawaii - a great way to end our vacation. The lomi salmon was fresh and added a great cold to our hot dishes. The ribs were tender and paired wonderfully with the white onion. The lau lau reminded me of southern collard greens - tender and delicious. The butterfish was my favorite. It was crispy and full of flavor. The haupia was complementary and it was soft and delicious - not too sweet. Service was quick and friendly. They explain how to eat each dish and what to pair it with. The owner of the restaurant was the cashier. He explained that his grandma opened the restaurant and they've kept it open for 80 years. He was so sweet. You simply cannot come to Oahu and never try this restaurant. Absolutely amazing experience

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    Helena's Hawaiian Food - Inside

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    Highway Inn Kaka'ako - Mochiko Chicken

    Highway Inn Kaka'ako

    4.1(2k reviews)
    4.7 mi
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    Highway Inn is highly recommended for their classic Hawaiian dishes. We made our way over at…read moreopening last Thursday for an early lunch. Our server was very helpful and even brought out a pamphlet explaining each dish. After reading it over, the three of us decided to each try one of the signature Hawaiian combo plates. LAU LAU COMBO (PORK) - 22.99 + poi + lomi salmon The set came out in cafeteria-style trays, almost like a grade school lunch. Our server recommended eating the main entree and lomi salmon with poi, a fermented taro paste. Judging by how it looked, I thoroughly expected the poi to be sweet, but it was actually much more sour, almost like yogurt. I didn't enjoy it too much on its own, but it worked incredibly well with the pork lau lau. The pork was mostly tender and juicy, with a fragrant, leafy steamed flavor that reminded me of the Chinese zong zi my mom makes. The leaner parts of the pork were a bit dry, but the steamed taro leaves helped. The lomi salmon (salted salmon mixed with onions and tomatoes) was refreshing, although the pungent raw onions were a bit much for me. The 'uala (steamed sweet potatoes) had a natural, earthy sweetness that we all enjoyed. Lastly, the haupia (coconut pudding) was incredibly tasty, with a strong coconut flavor that made me sad when I took my last bite. One of my friends got the chicken lau lau, which we actually enjoyed even more. The chicken was delicious, and there was so much of it. Overall, we enjoyed getting to try some authentic Hawaiian dishes at Highway Inn, especially our server and the pamphlet gave us a better understanding of what we were eating.

    My Reliable Hawaiian Food Go-To…read more Highway Inn is my go-to when I'm craving Hawaiian food and want somewhere I know I can usually get into without too long of a wait. Parking is also pretty easy, either in the front lot or the garage at SALT at Our Kaka'ako. I love their fried rice, kalua cabbage, and Hawaiian mix plate. It's reliable comfort food that always hits the spot. My partner usually gets the loco moco and always enjoys it here. Loco moco connoisseur, that one. Good Hawaiian food, convenient parking, and usually an easy meal without too much fuss. There's a reason I keep coming back.

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    Highway Inn Kaka'ako
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    Rainbow Drive-In - Solid little place for some local food

    Rainbow Drive-In

    3.8(6.1k reviews)
    7.9 mi•Kaimuki
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    Locally owned & operated
    62 years in business

    Have you ever tried authentic Hawaiian food? Do you know what they eat in their houses very…read moreconfused? Check out this place homestyle Hawaiian plates with multiple different options and combinations don't judge the food you have to have it. It has subtle flavors deeply, rooted, cultural identity. Simple yet talk talks about history. When you use display, you can see old school Hawaiian folks explaining you what this food means to them and serve you a plate full of their food of different portions. It's plenty of food for one person to eat. They are very welcoming and they will feel proud of serving this to the guest. It's a very old-school vibe since it's Hawaii. It's mostly outdoor seating but this place is always. It's been there around for a while now and I don't think they're ever going downhill one of the best places to try even though they're plenty of other options for you.

    A local Hawaiian recommended Rainbow Drive-In to us, and I'm glad we stopped by. The loco moco was…read moreso good! Savory, satisfying, and an easy 5/5 for me. You order outside at the window, and there's plenty of outdoor seating. Our food came out pretty quickly, too. There's a restroom available; you just need to ask for the key. Definitely a delicious stop if you're craving a classic loco moco!

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    Rainbow Drive-In - Rainbows mixed plate

    Rainbows mixed plate

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    Rainbow Drive-In - Turns out I was wearing my GRAVY ALL OVER shirt so I had to get a pic with my loco moco!

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    Waiahole Poi Factory - Fresh, hand pounded poi, traditional staple of the Hawaiian people

    Waiahole Poi Factory

    4.5(1.6k reviews)
    10.4 mi
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    We had a family event in the area and decided to make a quick stop at Waiahole Poi Factory…read moreafterwards to grab a Sweet Lady of Waiahole! The Sweet Lady of Waiahole is definitely a treat! The warm kulolo paired with the haupia ice cream is such a delicious combination. Also you gotta get it with a double scoop of ice cream! I remember when my boyfriend first introduced me to this dessert, and I was instantly hooked! It's such a unique and satisfying local treat. Definitely a must stop if you're in the area!

    I heard about this spot from multiple people and was excited to see that it fit our itinerary…read moreperfectly! + my boyfriend really wanted to try Poi while we were visiting the Island. There is a really small parking lot available, but we just found parking on side of the street and walked over. There are tables outside for people to enjoy their foods. It can be filled up quickly since lots of people visit this spot. Many people are willing to share space. Single restroom stall available around the building. Staff is super friendly We ordered a plate with Squid Luau, Laulau, and Poi and a single plate with kalua pig. Both plate comes with some sort of coconut pudding? and a very delicious side of lomi with salmon bits in it. The food was so good! Portion was so good and super filling! One note is that we wish there were more squid bits. Overall, a 10/10 would recommend!

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    Waiahole Poi Factory
    Waiahole Poi Factory - Amazing food. Ho'io salad is a must. Fresh poi is tops. You can't go wrong at Waiahole Poi Factory.

    Amazing food. Ho'io salad is a must. Fresh poi is tops. You can't go wrong at Waiahole Poi Factory.

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    Musubi Cafe Iyasume - Teriyaki spam musubi, egg + eel + avocado musubi, spam + egg + bacon + avocado musubi

    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    4.5(5.5k reviews)
    7.5 mi•Waikiki
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    Musubi Cafe is such a fun, local gem, but be ready for a wait. We went early, midday timing, and…read morethe line was already about 15 people with roughly a 30 minute wait. It moves steadily though, and it is worth it. Inside is tiny, just one small table, so this is really an order and go kind of place rather than somewhere to sit and eat. They have every musubi combination you could think of, unagi, avocado, cucumber, egg, bacon, ume, tofu skin, shrimp, you name it. I got the tuna mayo onigiri and wished they had packed in a little more tuna filling, but it was still tasty. I also tried the cucumber spam musubi, which was really good too. We came as a group of seven and everyone ordered something different, and everyone loved every bite. My tip: get at least two musubis per person. A few people in our group got four each and had zero regrets. One thing to know ahead of time is parking. It is street parking only and pretty limited, so plan for that if you are driving. Overall such an easy, yummy stop and a great local experience in Waikiki.

    We came here because it was highly rated and my sister saw it in a viral Instagram video. The first…read moretime, we ordered the tuna musubi, but it had so much rice and barely any tuna. We decided to come back the next day and order the "Double Tuna," thinking it would actually have double the tuna. Instead, it seemed like the same small amount of tuna with double the rice! We ordered around eight of them, so it was especially disappointing to find that they were mostly rice. The portions just don't feel balanced. If someone pays extra for "Double Tuna," they're expecting more tuna, NOT extra rice. Unfortunately, it felt like they were really skimping on the filling, and the quality didn't live up to the hype for us.

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    Fresh Catch - Ahi Limu and Spicy Salmon Poke Bowl

    Fresh Catch

    4.3(1.5k reviews)
    7.6 mi
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    Great selection of poke for your palate. I had the Fireball Ahi which was both tender and filling…read more The service was both courteous and helpful for test tasting the desired poke. The restaurant is mainly for takeout since there is no seating inside. Coming back for more great poke.

    To start, Fresh Catch was my favorite poke spot that I tried during our Hawaii trip. We walked in a…read morecouple Saturdays ago for lunch, and the interior had no-frills, seafood-market, straight-to-the-counter-to-order kind of vibes. There was only simple bench seating and high-top counter tables with no chairs. We loved that we could sample some before making a choice. POKE BOWL +2 for white rice Since poke is charged by the pound, I went crazy. "A bit more!" I would say, after one gigantic scoop. I got a scoop-plus of both ahi shoyu and "old school" ahi, which is seasoned simply with sesame oil and salt. I ended up with about 0.7 pounds of fish (both 29.99/lb), which came out to around $22. The rice wasn't great since it was a bit mushy and clumpy, but the star of the show was the fresh tuna. The "old school" ahi was my favorite for its simplicity and addictive sesame flavor. It's one I could easily enjoy without rice. The shoyu was also great, but it got a bit too saucy and overwhelming after a few bites. Overall, I truly enjoyed eating all that fresh poke. It was easily my favorite poke of the trip. ICED LILIKOI PASSION TEA - 5 I asked for less sweet, and it was perfect. It was refreshing and smooth, making it great to sip on whenever I needed a break from the intensity of the poke. I'm so glad I got this to pair with my bowl. Next time, I'll get a poke bowl with the "old school" ahi and furikake salmon. I tried my friend's salmon, and it was nutty and umami-forward, with fatty, rich salmon that I really enjoyed.

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    Fresh Catch - Visit 09/2025

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    Fresh Catch - 5 different types of poke, side of rice with furikake, and cucumbers

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    Islander Drive Inn - hawaiian - Updated October 2026

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