I come here every time I'm on the island. I was here for a few hrs on a layover back to the main land & they have my fav Mac salad. You can get it in a cup. This is a small & it's huge! Expect lines bc this place is that good. They have outdoor seating, but beware the birds. They will swoop your fries! They do have adequate parking as well. Will be back next time! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - TATER TOTS MACARONI SALAD CUP - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

They've been around for a minute and for the price point offered, the food ain't too shabby. Dining is outdoors; picnic table style. Most of the area is shaded, so we can deal with that. But what we couldn't deal with were the birds who were all up on our grill trying to snatch our food. Ew. THE FOOD. - Mix Plate (BBQ Beef, Boneless Chicken, Mahi) | I'd probably just get the BBQ beef next time as the boneless chicken and Mahi were a bit dry. The sides were great; perfectly cooked sticky rice, creamy macaroni salad, and crispy french fries. THE DRINKS DRUNK. - Powerade Blue | Standard fountain drink. THE PARKING. There were enough open spaces that parking wasn't an issue. Parking was free. COMING BACK? I'd come back for more BBQ and to try other dishes. However, I'd probably take the food to go; I wasn't feelin' the whole bird aspect of our dining experience. read more

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Always get the mix plate with gravy when I come here. For plate lunch, this place has always done it right and has been pretty consistent throughout the years. Parking and outdoor seating area is pretty spacious. Prices went up but not by too much compared to other places around. I would definitely recommend stopping by this iconic restaurant if you're in the area. read more

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

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Drove straight here from the airport for some loco moco and local plates. Thankfully we arrived at an off peak time and we could find parking on site, but it seemed that there was very limited parking spots in general. By the time we were finished eating, the lot was starting to fill up and getting difficult to even get out. You order at the counters first then your name is called for your food. Then there is seating nearby and a little gift shop on site in you want to purchase any merchandise. We ordered the mix plate and the loco moco plate. I enjoyed the mix plate very much! I had fries and Mac salad with the mix plate, and the Mac salad was so good. The fries were just basic and nothing to write home about. The meats in the mix plate were so good, I think my favorites were the beef and the pork chop. The fish paired with the tartar sauce was a great combination too! My bf ordered the loco moco plate and this beautiful pairing of sunny side up eggs, meat patties, and gravy with rice were sooooo good. I don't think you can go wrong with any item here. Excited to come back again and try more! If you are scared of birds, beware because there are birds and chickens just casually roaming and hanging out and about while you eat. read more

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Locals rave about this place. We took the 15-20 minute walk from our hotel to try it out and don't regret it. This is more like what I'm familiar with as the Hawaiian plate lunch. Prices are very fair and portions are large. Probably one of the most affordable and delicious meals we had while in Waikiki when it comes to plate lunch. They also offer additional seating next door with another restaurant we want to try and shaved ice that was to die for. Don't miss trying this place out but be prepared to wait a n line. They are always busy and make everything fresh when ordered. Still worth the wait. read more

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I wasn't hungry as we had just had dinner but I wanted to stop by Rainbow on our walk home to get a little bite because I'd heard this place was amazing. While I did enjoy the mac salad a lot, the shoyu chicken wasn't that great. It was much fattier than I would have liked and I didn't expect it to be on the bone still. It may be because I'm just not a big fan of chicken thighs and prefer chicken breasts in general. I think there's some other dishes that I'd enjoy more though and I'd be down to return and give it a second chance someday. read more

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

A drive-in? Cuteee. Loco moco? Portuguese sausage?? I'm sold. Went to Rainbow Drive-In in the AM for breakfast. No line or very short line if you're there early. We got the loco moco (I think) and Portuguese sausage with eggs and rice. Portions are filling and the food gives comfort vibes. You can't go wrong with a breakfast that includes eggs. I liked the Portuguese sausage, an extra link or two would've been perfect. They also have a few small souvenir/clothing shops that you can browse while waiting for your order. I ended up getting a Gudetama loco moco shirt (it's super cute). read more

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

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My family and I had a long day and were still super hungry so we all decided this place would probably hit the spot for dinner. Hard to miss this place with the huge neon sign. Not a lot of parking spots in their lot. They have three order windows and picnic tables around the space. Both me and my wife got a Mix Plate (bbq beef, chicken, and mahi over rice with mac salad) and my cousin ordered a Loco Moco bowl. Food comes out very quickly. My plate was destroyed in 10 minutes. I absolutely love almost anything over rice so this was a really great meal. I wish this fast food existed everywhere. It's a lot of food for what you pay for. Also the rice was cooked well which I appreciated. My wife could barely finish half of her plate (amateur). Regardless it's going to fill you up. Same thing went for my cousin's Loco Moco, even though it was smaller, she could barely finish it. If you are hungry, absolutely come here and you will leave full, read more

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Came here for the moco loco late night. It was good, and so was the service. It definitly is a drive in spot... lots of options (nothing healthy). I would.come here again to get the moco loco for sure. Mac salad was dont waste your time with the brownie though read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Loco moco, over easy egg and mac salad - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I had the loco moco and it's by my favorite. im not a big fan of eggs nor gravy but if you do this is up your alley This is a drive in so not much setting read more

(Tookout 08/19/24 MO @ 5:00pm): Most first-timers chased the rainbows to this drive-in for some local grindz! In my quest to explore the various cuisine scenes as well as other businesses throughout O'ahu's Windward side (east shore of the island) after a recent acquisition of an investment/private-use property, I revisited Rainbow Drive-In after so many years. This OG Hawaiian local eatery (still in its original location since 1961, and has since expanded to three total locations), was one of my favorite local haunts (along with Leonard's) when I spent summers with my grandparents as a kid. This was an easy bus ride or an extended walk from their house. Today, I felt it has become a tourist trap and nostalgically rightfully so. Was my first time back all rainbows and unicorns, or had things changed? PURCHASE Slush Float Medium ($5.50): A refreshing strawberry flavored drink, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this was a wonderful appetizer while I drove home. I controlled myself enough to save some for dessert after I ate my real meal. Be warned this was a filling drink! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=ScVk6xs9tWaQNs8a4SUtWw Side Saimin 5oz container ($5.50): This was purely an impulse buy and against my better judgment. Oriental noodles served in a flavorful soup broth, garnished with green onion, kamaboko and luncheon meat, its appearance was pleasing but its taste was very Top Ramen-esque. This pre-packaged meal served as sustenance but not a real representation of this dish. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=0ocWF7uAtUESXwEguPnDag Mix Plate Lunch - BBQ Beef, Boneless Chicken, Fried Mahi Mahi, 2 Scoops Rice, 1 Scoop Macaroni Salad ($13.75): Tender sliced marinated BBQ beef, breaded fried boneless chicken thighs, and breaded fried Dorado fish with tartar sauce, the beef was on-point and plentiful, the chicken was overly-fried yet juicy and meaty, and the fish was sadly dry that needed the tartar sauce but a nice portion size. The rice was fluffy while the mac salad was kind of plain and didn't have any pineapple which should be a requirement. This could've been so much better. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=DoybYd7cwEuXNiDL84Fkzg Side Gravy ($1.75): The only gravy I cared to eat had to be in Hawaii and usually associated with a loco moco meal or at least adjacent to it. This was warm, dark, thick, and was used as a dipping sauce although I also drank it once I finished my meal. I truly wished I had extra rice! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=sMpKv3iyJxkgKF2tWe6HTA SERVICE I was immediately and warmly greeted by a friendly young woman who easily took my order. I instantly received my drink, and minutes later my food was all packed up and ready to go. Everything was easy and fast - mahalo! PARKING (FREE) I parked in their private small lot. Otherwise, there appeared to be plenty of spots along their main drag on Kanaina Ave. and all surrounding side streets - 'nuff said! ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE Basically a takeaway restaurant with several order/pick-up windows https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=5YL_WN5yxAsK3Ki15egCDA where easily legible menus hung on the wall behind the glass, a side outdoor dining area with a handful of tables, and a small merchandise shack if you wanted any souvenirs. There was plenty of natural lighting since it was basically an outdoor business while soul-sucking fluorescent electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while I couldn't recall if there was any background music. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=t7afG1-QgxRaudnuRyYVUw ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Rainbow Drive-In was a Hawaii institution that everyone should at least visit once to experience the local grindz and community, and I would give them another chance. Although I remembered the food being better in the past, it fell short on my first return in over a decade. I loved the drink, but I felt I received an older batch of food that was left under heating lamps. Maybe I needed to come earlier in the day. The menu was varied enough, the prices were reasonable, and the service was straightforward. And, whenever possible I liked to support small family-owned businesses. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $28.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS read more

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Good inexpensive place to eat, bbq beef plate is good and would recommend. Place is good to eat if staying near Waikiki

For the price, WOW this place makes awesome plate lunch. The Shoyu chicken plate is BOMB. The best part is how much food they serve. They really load up the plate. I felt like I was getting a lot for my money. We sat outside on picnic tables. It's a super casual local plate lunch place, so don't expect a fancy sit down area. Food is legit local style plate lunch, affordable and tastes Ono! Service is quick... this is my go to lunch spot when I'm in kapahulu! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Fries, SHOYU CHICKEN PLATE, chicken katsu plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We were lucky this place was 2 mins from our airbnb because the slush float is out of this world! Service is quick. Don't expect much from the workers because they are just focused on getting your order and sending you on your way. There are two lines, so don't make my mistake and just standing in the single long line you see. When you order, they take your payment and make your order right then. Boneless chicken and gravy (3/5) the chicken was raw. Rainbow royal burger (3/5) nothing special. Flush float (10/5) the slush was bomb. the soft serve is top tier. read more

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Perfect for a quick breakfast. Affordable for a big plate . I would recommend sharing if you can't eat too much read more

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

Came to Rainbow Drive-In after hearing about how good it is and I'd like to say that i 100% agree! So far I've only gotten the Loco Moco Bowl so far but it's just soooo good! My partner and I have been coming here for the last couple weeks for breakfast on Sundays and we can't get enough! It's like comfort food to us, makes you feel at home honestly. The rice with the gravy, sausage patty and egg is just Chefs Kiss! The Loco Moco bowl was also very affordable as well ! I'd love to try more on the menu and can't wait to come back! read more

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

Rainbow Drive-In never disappoints! The food is always great--fresh, flavorful, and hits the spot every single time. Whether it's the loco moco, BBQ beef plate, or a simple slush float on a hot day, everything tastes like local comfort food done right. Fast service, generous portions, and that old-school island vibe make it a must-visit every time I'm in town. Love this place! read more

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

Stopped by to try this place out as I heard good reviews. When I got to the ordering line, there was some confusion on what window was open at first. There were two lines, but people were just coming up left and right. Someone was faintly calling I can help over here. Eventually I got called up to order. I ordered to go and brought back to my hotel to try. The prices seem decent compared to some other surrounding places. They had some small tables to sit and eat outside. I ordered a mix plate. Which includes bbq beef, chicken and mahi fish, white rice and Mac salad. It was a good portion and it tasted delicious. read more

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

I would probably skip this one on your Hawaii trip... Ordered the loco moco and it was just bland. Gravy tasted and looked sad, and the patties felt like they were just frozen then defrosted. The mac salad just tasted like mayonnaise, and overall the plate did not look appetizing. I'm glad there was no line or else I would have been really disappointed. It's pretty rundown and dirty on the outside, kind of lost my appetite and ended up throwing away my plate after picking at it. I would probably go to Zippys instead next time! read more

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

Had to stop at one of the staples of Oahu. Food was yummy and price was not bad. Slush float hit the spot on the hot day. Service was fast. read more

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Unfortunately, this was not one of our best meals. I'm not sure what's good here. I tried the mixed plate with bbq beef, boneless chicken, and Mahi Mahi. The only protein that was not fried was the BBQ beef. This plate comes with a side of mac salad and rice, and gravy is extra. The food was ready within minutes, and it was pretty obvious that everything was precooked. Nothing was good about this plate. It lacked freshness and quality, and the mac salad had way too much mayo. Such a regrettable meal. Service was great, the reason for two stars. I say skip this spot! read more

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We like stopping here when we are in Hawaii. Love their fries, Burgers and moco loco, service is quick and prices are reasonable! Outside seating area. Walk up window to order. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Waiting for our orders! - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This place was quick and easy and only has outdoor seatings. Food was phenomenal! I got the loco moco and the gravy was so good and not too salty. The only thing I wish was they had put more gravy on it. Their Mac salad was my favorite as it was very creamy and flavorful. This is good for a quick bite or even takeout to eat at a beach! read more

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

Absolutely love Rainbow Drive-In. This is always one of the first places we stop when we're in Honolulu. The mix plate is fantastic, filling, and feeds your soul. Our most recent trip was on a busy day with little seating, but food came out quickly and delicious as ever. I'd suggest you order online to save yourself from having to stand in line with the masses. read more

This place is cheap eats. The food is mediocre. In Hawaii everything is expensive so when you want to give your pocket a break, you can check out this place. They are a staple. I thought the loco moco was just ok. Again nothing spectacular. If I would recommend one thing that was actually good it would be the two egg plate with the Portuguese sausage. read more

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

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When I can I always come to the OG Rainbow Drive-in, tried the others but something is different! I went with the mix plate & slush float, wife had the stir fry steak and veggies which is a special of the day! Service is fast and friendly! I like that now they have a bunch of picnic tables to eat at in the area! read more

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This place is simple, iconic, and always satisfying. I make it a point to stop here every time I visit. The menu is straightforward, but that's exactly what makes it so good. The mac salad here is hands-down my favorite. While you wait, there's a small shop where you can browse shirts, bags, and more merch. It's a nice touch that makes the experience feel even more memorable. One quirky detail worth noting: they have signs warning you to beware of the birds, and they mean it lol. The birds here are bold and will heckle you for your food, so be prepared to guard your plate while you enjoy. This is a must-visit. It's simple, iconic, and the kind of place you'll always want to come back to. read more

The mixed plate was so tasty! If i had to choose my least favorite part of the plate, it would be the beef. It was flavorful but a little tough. However, everything else just melted in my mouth. It's pretty hot when you are sitting outside but you are in the shade so it's not the worst thing in the world. You do get to enjoy that Hawai'i humidity though. Lastly, I wouldn't be turned off by the line. It moved quickly with competent and kind service. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - In front of the location - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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It's our first time here in Hawaii and a few of my colleagues had given me recommendations on where to go to eat! Rainbow Drive-In was one of the spots, and since it was close by to our hotel, we decided to grab some food here while we were out getting stuff for our stay. Parking is limited, but we were able to find one as we came around 8:00 PM. We ordered 2 mixed plates. We waited a good 15 minutes for our order. Friendly staff. When we got back, Hubby and I were ready to eat! Everything looked amazing! Portion was big. We both couldn't finish our food, so we saved it for the next day. Everything was delicious, but the BBQ beef was a bit on the chewy side, but it wasn't bad. The mac salad was good, but could be better. Overall was a good experience, would maybe be back, but would love to try other places first. read more

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

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Food is always fresh & delicious ! Loco moco & Chicken katsu plate are my favorites. Saturday breakfast offers amazing waffle options!!! Staff is always friendly no matter how busy! Ambience is good- plenty of tables ! read more

Good food at a reasonable price. Very good value for your money. Service is good considering how busy they usually are.

You get so much food for such a great price! Just walk up to the window and order. It's not an indoor place but we did not mind it. read more

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After many visits to Waikiki we finally decided to check out the tourist hot spot. The food was okay and your typical plate lunch, bit on the greasier side than usual. read more

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The food was meh. We actually threw it away. It looked like a piece of jerky. I was so looking forward to some authentic Hawaiian food disappointed. read more

Have been going here for over 50 years and the food has always been plentiful and tasty. They have to work on the rice though. There's been a few times recently when the rice wasn't cooked completely. I deal meal nonetheless. read more

Eating here is a must whenever Im in town! Everytime I come here I order my usual, loco moco. The restaurant is always busy so theres always a bit of a wait time, but its so worth it. Such a simple meal but nothing beats comfort food and vibes. read more

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

Stopped by here after a busy day exploring the island. This was a great fast, easy, food find. We got the last mix plate and chicken with gravy plate as we came by as they were closing. Really good affordable eats! read more

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

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A trip to Hawaii isn't complete without a plate lunch so this was our first stop after picking up the car at the airport. It's in a residential-ish area and it is busy with people getting their lunch. Parking was very limited so I dropped my wife to pick up the food and we drove off to a nearby park to eat our food. Thankfully she had pre-ordered online, which was clutch to avoid some line time! We got a mix plate and the boneless chicken with gravy. Solid meal- big portions for a reasonable price! We enjoyed the mix plate better- the mahi mahi was tasty and not too dry and we actually enjoyed the boneless chicken without the gravy- better able to taste the flavors. read more

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

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Stopped by since it's a must-go and historic, but left feeling like there were other places I'd prefer to go for a lunch plate in the area. We had the mixed plate to try a bit of everything - it comes with BBQ beef (probably the best of the 3 proteins), chicken, and mahi mahi; definitely make sure you get the gravy otherwise it would be a bit dry. The portion size was good for sharing, but the flavors felt bland the food wasn't the warmest. read more

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

Dale just bought me lunch and a slush float !! she (a local) and I (visiting from chicago) chatted in two lines as we waited to order. She ordered first and surprised me with a mix plate w gravy and a slush float !!! Best lunch - happy belly !! If you see this, Dale, Mahalo !!! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Mix plate WITH GRAVY & slush float ! - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii