Have you ever tried authentic Hawaiian food? Do you know what they eat in their houses very confused? 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. read more

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A local Hawaiian recommended Rainbow Drive-In to us, and I'm glad we stopped by. The loco moco was so 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! read more

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

There was something very right about this drive in!! I stopped by for a quick dinner with the fam and ended up enjoying this place a lot more than I thought I would. I didn't expect much from this small corner diner, but everything turned out real solid! The exterior is especially entrancing, with its bright, rainbow neon sign that glows out the darkness of the night! The hooded interior was clean and followed well with the rainbow theme, especially with its rainbow pastel, title wallpaper. I would also like to compliment the workers, who were very nice and approachable! We ordered the loco moco plate, mixed plate, and saimin. Both plates were very filling and came in huge portions! The plates are for sure a top choice if you want a nice, hearty dinner! I especially enjoyed my loco moco! The saimin was less filling and came in an instant noodle cup. Still yet, it wasn't half bad--and it actually seems like a fairly good piece if you are on a diet or budget; it wasn't as expensive as the other dishes and only came out as 220 calories! I also want to note that they have a variety of tasty dessert pastries and icee treats if you are looking for a treat after your dinner. Overall, I would say this is a great diner to try if you've got a big appetite and are looking for something to share with a friend or family! Great vibes and great Hawaiian plate meals! read more

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Yum!! They do not skimp out on the mac salad. They gave us a lot more than other places. There is so much mayo on the mac which is good but i do wish it had more ingredients like some carrots and more salt and pepper. Bbq pork plate was also very good the meat had great flavor but at the end i had to end up eating around the fat because there was no more good pieces. Rice was a tiny bit bland but when muni g the yolk into it and having it at the same time as the mac made it a lot better. Overall good place we had a delicious filling meal and i would come here again. Lots of tables available for seating and all is outdoors as well. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - SPAM AND 2 EGGS PLATE* - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Great cheap fast Hawain food. Come For takeout and quick fast eats. They have lots of outdoor seating which is great. The gravy is so tasty read more

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

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What an iconic gem! So sorry I missed it last time I was here. It has been profiled on Food Network as one of the best and it was so true! Made sure to come here the first night I landed so I did not miss out and could see if it lived up to the hype. It did. It is such a fun place to feel like you are having a picnic. You know this place is good since there is a steady line of people ordering bags and bags of food. Just to say, this is another must-do must-try place for food. We was super excited to have the mixed plate with gravy. It was beef, chicken and fish with rice and mac salad. It was huge and perfect. It tasted amazing and I would order this again and again. We had two of those. We also tried the loco moco and classic dish, and the saimin, which I had always wanted to try. One child also ordered the BBQ pork sandwich which she enjoyed and since it was a small menu item could help with the mix plate, which is impossible to finish in one sitting. I was stuffed and in woman versus food, food won overwhelmingly. I wish I had room to try the slush and ice cream or other items, but I could not eat another bite. So many items on the menu were very tempting and I am sad I only got to visit here one time. I do hope to return and have so many things on my dish wish list, but that mixed plate was so good, I bet I would go with that again. read more

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The line was a little long and the parking lot was pretty packed, but luckily we were able to find a spot. We ate at the outdoor tables, which was nice and made for a fun time chatting it up with friends. Overall, the food was SO good! Definitely worth the wait and would highly recommend if you're in the area. read more

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

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For my first time, it's was OK. Limited seating. They also have 2 small stores to purchase merchandise. The service was decent. The food was OK. Honestly I don't see myself coming back. I prefer going to Zippy's. Also the vibe was off because there was an incident with the customers after us. Something about someone trying the purchase food with a stolen credit card. read more

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

Son wanted to go here. He saw it on TikTok. I got the. BBq pork meal. The pork was great. A gazillion pounds of rice. I only at about 1/4 of it. The macaroni salad was macaroni with what seemed like just mayo. (Not my jam). He had the loco moco. He loved it. Again a billion pounds of rice. Kid had a hot dog. Didn't finish it. Quality was really low. Maybe we are used to dodger dog snap style flavorful ones. Anyway was a nice little meal and took a walk at the park a couple blocks away to walk off the massive amounts of rice. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - BBQ PORK PLATE, LOCO MOCO BOWL*HOT DOG - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I saw this place on TikTok while in Hawaii and I knew I had to come here. It is a little away from Waikiki, which is a good thing because it's more of a local spot than a tourist spot even though it is a tourist spot because it is always crowded. It was nice to actually try local authentic Hawaiian food with the Hawaiian taste in Hawaiian flavor. read more

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

We had been looking forward to eating here for days but were sadly disappointed. They have good happy hour prices that start at 3pm but they are very strict with that time. At five minutes before 3pm they said we would have to come back to get the special deal, which hey rules are rules but they were not very friendly about it. We ordered a variety of things and really weren't impressed with any of it. A lot of food felt like warmed up freezer items. The cheeseburger definitely had a fake patty vibe. The sauce on the cheeseburger did taste good. The chili and rice were good separately, but I did not personally like mixing it. When we left, over half of our meals had not been finished. read more

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Love the drive-in vibes. Parking lot is small but we got lucky with a spot and also got lucky with a bench table. Not a long wait for food. The four of us shared the loco moco plate, boneless chicken with gravy plate, and the BBQ beef plate. Food was good and hearty. My favorite was the loco moco plate. Boneless chicken had some pieces that were on the pink-ish side and the breading was a little soggy and didn't stick to the chicken that well. BBQ beef plate was good but nothing mindblowing. Some beef slices were dry. Mac salad was good. Overall good place for a cozy classic Hawaiian meal. read more

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Their gravy is what I won't forget - the portions are good and pretty fast turn around for being busy Service was there read more

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Delicious tasting plate lunch and burger restaurant. Quick and friendly service. Outdoor ambiance for a local experience. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Loco Moco plate lunch - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Really want to like it as it's our first stop for the trip, but the Mix Plate with Gravy we got just didn't suit my liking. It came with 2 scoops of rice, your choice of mac salad or coleslaw, BBQ beef, boneless chicken and fried mahi mahi. The decent one on the plate was prolly the beef but the chicken and fish were bit bland. The gravy sauce also seemed lumpy. The portion was filling but I might not be a fan of the taste. The outdoor dining space also had weird smell occasionally. Appreciate the servers though who were all attentive and moving super quickly. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - MIX PLATE with GRAVY - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Some places become iconic for a reason, and Rainbow Drive-In absolutely lives up to its reputation. If you're looking for a classic Hawaiian plate lunch, this is the place to go. The food was delicious, the portions were generous, and there were so many local favorites to choose from that narrowing it down was the hardest part of the visit. I also appreciated the laid-back atmosphere. It feels unpretentious, welcoming, and exactly the kind of place where you can relax and enjoy a great meal without any fuss. Whether it's your first trip to Oahu or your tenth, Rainbow Drive-In is one of those places that's well worth adding to your itinerary. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - 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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I've been eating happily at Rainbow's since 1977. Today I saw garlic chicken as a Sunday special. Don't do it unless you want candied undercooked chicken. This is not anything like Mitsuken or Sugoi. 45 minutes later and my stomach is still very unhappy. read more

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

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

What can I say really say except this place is iconic. Food is exactly what I'm looking for in a plate lunch spot. Plenty of options and big portions, I get gravy all over on almost every thing. My go to is usually the mix plate with gravy all over. But lately I've been switching it up. People are always super friendly, parking lot has good turnover, if not get plenty of street parking. This is one of my go to spots. read more

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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

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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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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Grub is delicious local food. Plates come with Mac salad and rice. I had the bbq beef plate. Beef was cooked to perfection. Pretty quick for as busy as they get. Cute little shop next door with merch. Have to fight off the local birds at your table but other than that, great place for great local food. read more

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

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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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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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I am highly disappointed with our experience, and we will not be returning. A restaurant's execution of a standard cheeseburger reflects the quality of the kitchen, and this missed the mark entirely. The patty was incredibly salty and appeared boiled rather than grilled.The value for the price is exceptionally poor. Charging an extra $0.95 for a deluxe option brought our total to $24.00 for two cheeseburgers, a shared fry, and a large drink. This is an outrageous price for sub-par quality. Save your money and avoid this tourist trap. 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 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

We enjoyed the Loco Moco plate that had excellent tasty gravy and a macaroni on the side . Tasty and satisfying nothing fancy but good. We also ordered the fish, spam and beef dish that had rice and herbs . Yummy and satisfying nothing fancy. Overall this place has the local comfort food that Hawaii is known for serving. It is a fast food place with that outdoor dinning experience but not fancy in decor or presentation. Still I will definitely put this on my list for spots to eat in Honolulu. read more

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 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 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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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

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

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