We heard about the Rainbow Drive In from a tour guide and decided to stop in to give it a try. When we arrived there was a crowd but the lines truly did move very quickly and there is a great amount of seating. The amazing lady at the counter was kind and so remarkably quick with her duties. She rang up everything and delivered the food with lightning speed. We split a Boneless Chicken plate and it was plenty for two people. The chicken was tender and well seasoned and the Mac Salad and Rice complimented it well. We did get the gravy on the side. :) In reading the reviews I see a lot of differing opinions. Take this amazing spot for what it is. Good food at a good value in a good spot. Get in here and enjoy! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - BONELESS CHICKEN WITH GRAVY PLATE - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Brings back memories of the good ole days! Use to frequent alot while heading to the beach! Went with a long time friend to relive the good memories. Rainbows hasn't changed much, Plenty of parking , that fills up fast during meal times. Ordering was alittle slow, staff was nice@ in no rush. Ordered Hamburger Steak, Patty's 3 prepackaged thin & gravy tasteless, bad choice. Pork Cutlet, just ok, average plate lunch, Loco Moko, friend liked the over easy egg, Pattys not homemade! Eating on the clean bench tables were nice! Food not good, like years before. More of a tourist trap& locals , gone away & coming back, like me, coming back for the memories! read more

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We had two burgers - cheeseburger and royal cheeseburger. Both burgers were room temperature at best, tasted like a frozen patty that was warmed (microwaved?) and put in a bun. It couldn't even melt a slice of American cheese in it. The fries were hot but lacked salt. Overall not a good experience and will not return. read more

The service was the best part: the lady at the cashier was the sweetest and most patient person ever. The food felt like it was a quick fix-up from home (comforting, fulfilling, hearty, but just okay). The price is very good for the amount you get! Highly recommend checking out for the food and vibes; at least once though read more

Rainbow Drive-In - SAIMIN and LOCO MOCO PLATE* - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've visited Honolulu twice and each time I've eaten at Rainbow Drive-in with zero regrets. It's iconic. It's tasty. And a good way to taste Hawaii. If you order one thing, order a mix plate ($16.25) ~ without gravy or with for an extra quarter ($16.50). The plate comes with bbq beef, boneless chicken (breaded), mahi mahi, a scoop of rice, and a scoop of mac salad. It's an excellent Hawaiian combo plate. You get a pretty solid version of every protein plus a taste of their delicious mac salad. I personally like the mix plate with the gravy because it gives everything a little extra oomph. I also like the chili here. I've had them on fries, but on my last visit, I ordered the chili plate ($12.75) - chili, rice, and a scoop of mac. The chili is a perfect ratio of beef, garlic, and kidney beans. Over rice, it gives comfort food though I would suggest a nap after eating this plate. Super sad I missed the gravy memo, but I'll make sure I'll do that next time. Rainbow Drive-In could be your welcome or farewell meal. Or make it both. read more

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rainbow drive-in still has that nostalgic, retro diner feel to it that still pushes out great food for reasonable prices! service was nice and efficient and they had plenty of tables to eat at. their plates were so filling and comforting, and you absolutely have to get their loco moco when visiting! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - MIX PLATE (chicken katsu, bbq beef, mahi mahi) - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Rainbow Drive-In is one of those classic Oahu spots you have to try at least once. It's very casual and all outdoors, with a few tables if you want to sit and eat there. They also have a cute little merch tent where you can buy t-shirts, hats, and other souvenirs, which adds to the fun local vibe. I ordered the shoyu chicken plate and the portions were HUGE, easily big enough to share. Everything on the plate was seriously delicious. The chicken was super flavorful, the rice was perfect, and the mac salad was so good. I was able to get double mac salad, which was definitely the move. Portion sizes here are massive, and the price feels very fair for how much food you get. It's a great value, especially for Hawaii. Parking can be a little tricky. They do have a lot, but it's pretty small and getting in and out can take some patience. Overall this is a great spot if you're looking for a classic Hawaiian plate lunch with big portions and really good flavors. I'd definitely come back. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Shoyu chicken plate with double Mac salad which - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Teri Beef was good! Rice....not cooked enough. Mac salad had some vinegar? Overall, it was nostalgic and I didn't have to cook. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Teri Beef Plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is so nostalgic and I just love the vibes!! I think it's a must stop if you're visiting the area. We stopped for breakfast and ordered the meat and eggs plate and the corned beef hash plate. Food was good, lots of bacon. Service was super quick and very friendly. read more

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Garlic chicken plate was great but it did have fatty pieces to it. Mac salad was a little salty but definitely still delicious and white rice was great. Def a spot I have to come to when I am on the island! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Garlic chicken plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We were recommended, highly recommended to go to the rainbow drive-in while we were in Honolulu. It was a quick 15 minute walk from our hotel. It was a fun journey as we saw a lot of native birds. My wife ordered the French toast and I ordered the spam and eggs. Wow, we shared both dishes and enjoyed every bite. We felt like we had a little sweet and savory with both plates. Great service and the prices were fair. We got there right when they opened so we beat the morning rush. It was our first Hawaiian meal and it did not disappoint. It was incredible and I wish I could go back. Be sure to check out my photos that include a rainbow that happened across from the restaurant the sunrise. read more

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Came here after the beach,line was not too bad. Food came pretty quick. Been coming here everytime we visit Hawaii. One of our cheaper meals in Islands. We enjoyed our meal on site. We ordered mix plate, chili and rice,loco moco and tater tots with chili (this was our favorite) its must for us! Everything else was ok,Loco moco patty was not my favorite. read more

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Glad I was also able to check out rainbow drive in while I was in Hawaii I ordered a loco moco and the family ordered other dishes like chicken katsu and the mixed plate and we also ordered orange passion fruit guava Service here took about 10-20 depends on what time you're going of the day read more

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Came to this location originally about 5 years ago. I was back in Hawaii recently for vacation in December 2025, not sure what has happened since my first visit, but not as good as I remembered, which I am sad to say. I know this is a tourist spot, but it is also more of the local flavor you get when on the islands, at least that was my first experience. This time the food seemed just OK and not as good as my first visit. I would not say it was bad, but just very basic. The service also was not that friendly, I remember them being very friendly and welcoming. This time when I asked questions or whatever, they seemed bothered, at least our server. The other employee inside seemed much nicer when I asked for the restroom key. The vibe here is still the same, island style grindz in a casual outdoor atmosphere. Lots of tables around to sit and enjoy the Hawaiian weather. You can get souvenirs here as well as food. There were a couple things people got that did look very good, but mine was just OK. They have changed their Mac salad recipe and it seems they are using maybe Kewpie mayo, which I am not a fan, but I am sure people love it. I ended up getting the BBQ beef plate, comes with a couple nice portions of beef, flavor on the meat was so so, I have had much better Hawaiian food in Los Angeles. Came also with rice and Mac Salad, already gave my opinion of the Mac salad. All in all, Rainbow Drive-in is an institution here and I am sure there are some great things in the menu still and I will try them again next time I am there, but this visit missed the mark for me. Enjoy! read more

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I got the loco moco here and the portion size was huge! It comes with rice, hamburger patties, sunny side eggs, macaroni salad, and gravy. There is only outdoor seating available but it is sheltered so we were able to eat even though it was raining. The lady who took our order was really nice and asked us what we thought about the food (she could probably tell we were tourists). I definitely enjoyed it, even though it was a heavier meal, I think it's a must-try! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Rainbow is the place for a quick filling bite to eat- Parking isn't normally a problem and service is quick or do a phone order for quick pickup. Their daily specials are well priced and you walk away hungry! Our family favorites: Today it was beef stew - lots of veggies and tender meat - cooked for a while so good flavor! Pork cutlets w/ gravy - we loved that it's fried crispy and gravy all over! We also love the loco moco bowl - perfect if you can't do a mega plate lunch - Mahi Mahi sandwiches or a yummy royal burger! All in all it's quick - a reall filler for breakfast lunch or dinner read more

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Rainbow Drive-In is a classic spot! It's been a long while since the last time I've ate here but my most recent visit was a nice/ok experience. I got the pork cutlet and it was ok! Good but not amazing. It came with two big pieces of pork covered in gravy. Their gravy was nice and savory, wish I had a little more since it only covered the top piece of the cutlet. The rice and mac salad were average. Overall, a decent spot for plate lunch! I think other items are the menu might be better but you should check it out if you haven't been there before. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Pork cutlet with gravy - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Got the loco mock and chili here. The loco moco was good, runny eggs, great gravy flavor. The chili, I really liked. My partner and his sister weren't fans of the overly runny eggs, but we agreed that the chili was good. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I thought it was okay not good or bad. No indoor seating, you order outside. There are many benches to eat at. I don't think I'd come back because the flavor is okay.. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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It's a throwback for sure. We went on a weekday for breakfast before leaving town. Breakfast was as hearty as a Hawaiian plate lunch: enough for two or three people. So much gravy. We ordered, paid, and took a seat at a picnic table. Our food was ready quickly, and we were fortified for a long day of travel. I'm from NJ and love a diner, and Rainbow felt like a Pacific Island take on a diner. No regrets. read more

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This place was on our list of places to check out on our baby moon and Rainbow Drive-In lives up to the hype! The food was really solid. Loco moco hit the spot and the mix plate was exactly what you'd want form a classic Hawaiian plate lunch. Comforting, tasty, and extremely hearty. The only downside is the wait. We stood in line for about 25 minutes, then waited another 15 minutes for the food. Worth it but definitely plan ahead. If we were to do this again, we'd probably order online and pick it up. You can save a ton of time by doing this. All that said, this place is iconic for a reason. A must-try spot if you want a true local staple and don't mind a little patience! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Rainbow Drive- In was on my list of restaurants to visit in Hawaii, but I'm not sure I would recommend it as a must-visit spot for tourists. The service was quick and kind, and the ambiance was like a typical drive in, with lots of added outdoor seating. The food was okay! I would give it maybe a 3/5. We ordered the mix plate with gravy and loco moco bowl. I think the best part of the meal was probably the chicken and gravy. The gravy was savory and subtle, not like a typical American gravy. The chicken and gravy was kind of Jolibee-esque, for those who have been. Rainbow Drive-In seems to be a regular spot for locals, but for tourists, I am not sure it's worth the walk from the Waikiki area. read more

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I sure don't remember Rainbow Drive-In being such a big disappointment in the past, but maybe I just put it out of my mind. I ordered the Loco Moco Bowl and it really wasn't very tasty at all. The hamburger patty seemed like a pre-formed frozen patty that was put on top of a bed of rice, covered with not very well seasoned gravy, and topped with an overeasy egg. Definitely did not satisfy my craving for Loco Moco. I think the saving grace was the overeasy egg, which was done just right. Service was not very friendly either, so that didn't help matters. My friend ordered the Rainbow Burger. They gave her ketchup and salt and pepper with it, but if she wanted mustard, it would be another charge. Her water cost 95¢ for the large cup and it was just tap water! I don't like being nickel and dimed at places, so this didn't sit well. I know this is an old favorite with lots of people, but I don't understand why besides it having been around for so long. I definitely won't be back. read more

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Rainbow Drive-In is an iconic local plate lunch spot...on the border between Kapahulu and Waikiki....don't ask why Yelp has them listed as located in Kaimuki. I requested the Chili Moco Plate and a Slush Float for takeout. You have to get the floater whenever you go over the Rainbow. Chili is good. Locals will argue as to whose chili is better: Rainbow's is a close second. Over easy eggs made the chili thiccc. Two thin patties over rice. Mac salad...not my style. Busy as always with tourists and locals. Small parking lot...I will also park in the adjacent lot. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

After a long day of traveling, we were tired and hungry, so we wanted to eat something quick, casual, and comforting. Rainbow Drive-In checked all the boxes, and the food that we ordered hit the spot! We ordered the Mix Plate with gravy ($16.50), which comes with BBQ Beef, Mahi Mahi, boneless chicken, two scoops of rice, and one scoop of mac salad. The meats were all smothered with yummy gravy! We also ordered the Rainbow Bento ($16), which comes with BBQ Beef, Mahi Mahi, Garlic Chicken, and Spam on top of furikake rice. I really enjoyed the garlic chicken. We were so hungry that we demolished all the delicious food. I definitely over-ate, but my tummy was very full and very happy. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Mix Plate (BBQ Beef, Mahi Mahi, and Boneless Chicken) with Gravy - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Rainbow drive-in is a local and staple in Oahu, also serving up comfort food. We stop here each time we're on the island. This time around, I ordered the chili loco plate and my boyfriend ordered the deluxe plate. It was filling, comforting, and yummy. The spot is mainly outdoors, but offers plenty of seating options. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - CHILI MOCO PLATE* - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a classic spot and comfort food. The food itself tasted good, but I wouldn't say it is anything special. The loco moco patties are pretty much paper thin. The mac salad is creamy and I will say that they give a pretty big portion for the price. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is a classic and great place for a filling meal at reasonable prices. It's better than the fast food chains. Excellent cheap eat and good place for people to try some local food in Hawaii. I came back after trying this place 15 years ago on my honeymoon. I had the kalua plate with cabbage that was the daily special. The loco mock can come in a bowl as a smaller size and I tried that too. The service is always friendly it's Hawaii. read more

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This isn't what it used to be. I remember it being so good decades ago. The quality and taste just isn't there. It felt like a cheap fast food place on the mainland. The service was great as well as the workers. The 3 stars is just the food. They have a few tables on both sides to the front. And the parking lot is small. Unfortunately I'm probably not going back. read more

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We got caught in the pouring rain and decided to wait it out at Rainbow Drive-In and grab some breakfast. Even though this is an outdoor eating establishment, they have the seating covered well so we were safe from the rain. We liked that they offer daily specials, but opted for the classic loco moco to split. The person taking orders was friendly and we even chatted with some people in line to see what they were ordering and what they recommended. Our food was out in no time and we found a seat at a picnic table and dug in. The loco moco was a generous portion of rice, beef patties, eggs, and gravy, along with a scoop of mac salad. It was hearty and was exactly what we'd expect from a loco moco. While it wasn't our favorite of the trip, it was perfect on a rainy morning. It was cool seeing a mix of tourists and locals enjoying their meals here, and despite the rain everyone was in good spirits. read more

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Update on Rainbows drive in for starters very disappointed. For dinner I ordered their chili with hot dog . For one look at that macaroni salad over kill In mayonnaise. Also the hamburger they used I found 2 small hard cartilage of some kind and their chili is not same compared to several years ago . The positive is that their customer service is always fast and friendly. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Okay in all honestly I came here because the Rock said this was his favorite loco moco on the Oahu! And let me tell you that loco moco was delicious!!!! The gravy was truly the star of the show, I enjoyed the patties but they could have been better but with all that flavorful gravy it was still amazing. I think they could make the eating area a little cuter with some lights or decor but still a very good bang for your buck! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - LOCO MOCO PLATE* - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

First Impression: small parking lot and tons of cars Location: located at the corner of a busy busy intersection. You can't miss it because the sign is huge. Experience: There are two lines to place your order. When ordering they will make your plate and bring it to you at the window so don't walk away (like i did lol). We got the royal burger, and combo plate. The burger was okay, but nothing note worthy. The combo plate was okay as well. Our chicken was raw though. The slush float is the clear appeal here. dining is outdoors with multiple picnic tables. perfect for large parties. Note: GET THE SLUSH FLOAT. Thank me later. read more

Stopped by here before we headed to the airport, Ordered the mixed plate with gravy, It was all delicious! My favorite meat had to be the bbq beef. It was packing with so much flavor. When you get there you line up and someone helps you out at one of the windows, the food came out fairly quick. Glad we were able to stop by before going home. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

As soon as we got off the plane, we asked a local for a quick bite to eat. He recommended Rainbow Drive-In. I ordered the mixed plate with gravy and my boyfriend got the loco moto. This was our first taste of Hawaii and we both enjoyed our dishes. The portions were huge. I liked how mine came with a little bit of everything to try and my boyfriend liked trying his new dish too. I really liked the maki maki and the macaroni salad. Lot of carbs and lot of protein, a filling plate! This spot was more casual and we noticed lots of locals eating here which was a good sign. Lots of outdoor eating accompanied by some birds which became my friends. Check this spot out if you want a taste of some authentic food! read more

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Ordered the plate with chicken, fish stick, and Galbi. I can't remember the name of it but I do wish that I got it with gravy! It was flavorful and the portion was so generous, I had to share it with my son and he definitely helped me finish it. My only qualm is the birds around but I know that's not something that the restaurant can control read more

I'm to start off saying this is going to be a highly biased review. I've been going to Rainbow's since hanna battah days only taking a break when I moved to the Mainland to 'adult'. Whenever I'd come home to visit, I'd always make a stop at Rainbows without fail. Rainbow's isn't chasing fads or IG clout or aura or whatever terms the kids are using nowadays. Rainbow's offers consistent, ono food, and they serve it up quickly! My faves: mix plate, no mac salad, gravy all over. If I'm feeling extra special, I'll go chili all over and maybe get a slush float, too. You also cannot go wrong w/ their chili (better than Zippy's, IMO), loco moco, and BBQ beef plates. read more

"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 maybe 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 get the gist 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: @eric_travel_guru read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Loco Moco! 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. - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We tried the loco moco and the chili cheese fries. The loco moco was really good but the chili cheese fries were not anything special. It's outdoor seating not indoor you can eat in your car technically. They were fast in preparing food. They were nice and attentive. I would say that keep in mind that there is just flies outside due to the fact that it's outside so don't leave your food unattended lol. There is also a souvenir shop right next to the windows it was super nice. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Loco moco and the chili cheese fries - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Friends wanted to meet up for lunch here. Easy parking in the lot. Ordered a few loco mocos. The beef patties were rubbery and didn't have much flavor. The sauce was good but salty. Meh. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - LOCO MOCO PLATE* - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii