Rainbow Drive-In
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I really love Rainbow Drive-In, such an Iconic Spot since 1961, I remember during my daughter's college day, when she is back for visit and before she leaves, this spot was one of her special request. Of course when she is back to visit every year, she still request to stop at Rainbow! Her favorites is the breakfast plates, mixed plate especially BBQ beef and boneless chicken with gravy & for me I LOVE the boneless chicken, gravy all over but I need mines on the side along with the mac salad and a slushie float. I used to work at the district office and we were housed at Hawaii School for Deaf & Blind, so close to Rainbow, when I would visit once a month, a treat to myself, such comfort food! I sure miss those Rainbow Drive-In days with my daughter and for my lunch break! Lets talk about the breakfast fried rice special, lately I've been stopping here every weekend to pick up a plate of fried rice ( available til sold out) & from experience-they do sell out, the fried rice plate is only $9.95. This is the best fried rice ever, my opinion and always enough for me and hubby! The fried rice comes Portuguese sausage, chopped veggies ( celery & onions) and flavored nicely with choice of 2 eggs that covers the rice completely. I always get soft scrambled. I love the finishing touches of the green onions. yums! The rice is perfect hits every time & rice is not watery. Chef's kiss to the staff who made this fried rice. The line and parking lot can get crazy but the staff works hard to get the line moving fast, * there's a separate window for phone and on-line orders. I am so glad I live close by to this Gem. My go to for breakfast and plate lunches!! I think it is time for a boneless chicken plate lunch fix. I also like the lunch box that your plates comes in, paper plate and in a box, nostalgic & better than the flimsy paper take out boxes!
I ended up getting the mix plate with gravy. Bbq beef had good flavors however, I had to ask if the chicken was supposed to be pink and I was told it was. So I went back and tried to eat it but I just couldn't eat it. The chicken had the smell of raw chicken and when I tasted it, definitely undercooked. So I just decided not to finish and try to eat the rest but when I got to eating the rest of the Mac salad and lettuce, I found a piece of plastic. So I just tossed the rest of my food. Been here before and had good foods, I should have just stuck with my usual loco moco and bbq beef. The team members were nice tho and the place wasn't busy so I sat right away.
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.
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
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!
Heard so much about this classic Hawaiian spot and was so disappointed. I love a Hawaiian mix plate lunch normally, but this one was lackluster and just not done well. The combo plate consisted of below average versions of fishy fish, a thin cutlet and gray tough meat. The Mac salad was super mayo-y. Also got the garlic chicken, which had a good flavor on the sauce, but felt like the chicken was slightly undercooked and should have been fried up more. Ambiance is basic (and all outdoor seating). Maybe people like this because it's nostalgic for them... but I truly don't get it.
Stopped here for breakfast at 7:30 am after hiking Diamond head. Great parking. Friendly staff. We ordered loco moco, French toast, breakfast with spam. Super affordable prices, huge portion. The gravy for loco loco is tasty. The patties tastes a little weird and processed. Still worth it. Yes!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Visited Rainbow Drive-In around 1pm on a Sunday, and was approximately a 25 minute walk from Kaimana beach (probably a little less from Waikiki). As a classic staple in Waikiki, the overall vibes do not disappoint. The menu is relatively simple with options of bbq mix plates, and loco moco. The food itself was delicious and felt the portion sizes are likely shareable for two people. The bbq mix and mahi mahi plates each came with three pieces of meat, two scoops of rice, and macaroni salad. Both our plates were half full upon completion... nice leftovers! The service is a little hit-or-miss, each window is assigned a server that helps place your order and retrieves it for you. Our server was super friendly and nice but when we asked another server for something, they were less polite and helpful. Overall, a classic in Waikiki and must-visit. read more
3 years ago
The Rainbow Drive-In is an iconic diner in Honolulu. They were established in 1961 and haven't changed much. They serve Hawaiian comfort food. I've been meaning to try Rainbow but never had the chance. I had lunch with George today. I didn't know George, he's just one of those local Aloha people that you meet in line and end up talking to. George recommended the Pork or Chicken with gravy plate. I was encouraged that the locals ate regularly at the Drive-In. The menu is up on the wall behind the counter and it's hard to see. I ordered the Pork with Gravy Plate. Nila was aloha friendly and took my order. I only waited a few minutes before my plate came out nicely prepared in a white pie box. They have a few covered picnic tables to eat at. George and I sat at one of the tables and shot the breeze while we ate. The pork was tender and covered with gravy. The Hawaiian Mac salad is just plain addictively good....creamy. The rice was plain white rice. The portions were generous and could have been easily shared. There's a Rainbow Drive-In gift shop if you need the shirt. There is parking for about 15 cars, but you don't need to be in a car to eat there. They have a couple other locations on the island, but George says this one is the best. If your looking for a classic Hawaiian experience where you can meet the locals, I recommend. It's not fancy, just Aloha friendly. read more
My fiancé tried the mix plate and he said the chicken had good flavor and hot sauce is a must to add. The fish seemed fresh and it seems like a good plate to try if you want to taste different meats. You can get a side of gravy too. Cherry vanilla slush float was interesting, a little sweet. Service was quick and friendly! Not many vegetarian options, outside patio great for nice weather! read more
1 year ago
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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Alissa S.
Mahalo for the great review!
5 months ago
Business owner information
Alissa S.
Mahalo!
This place seems to be popular, but in my opinion, it's overrated. It's crowded and there's no parking. We drove around for a while until we saw that someone was finally leaving. My bf really wanted to try the Loco Moco everyone talks about. His friends recommended this place. It took a few minutes for him to order because the line was insane. There were no tables available, not even in the back. Right when he got his food, we saw someone leaving. There was no one keeping up with the cleaning/wiping down the tables or sweeping the floor. It was somewhat dirty, and we had to wipe down the table ourselves. It took a very long time for him to get the food. There's a long wait time to order and even longer to get your food. I didn't order anything because nothing caught my attention. The Loco Moco didn't look appetizing. My bf mentioned it wasn't good. He was disappointed because he had been wanting to try it. He also ordered the Mixed Plate (BBQ Beef, Chicken, and Mahi Mahi). Once again, he was disappointed. The knife broke because the meat wasn't soft and tender. He said overall, the food was bland and lacked flavor. He said he wouldn't come back. I was surprised to hear that because he doesn't usually say that. read more
5 months ago
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Alissa S.
We're very sorry your meal didnt meet your expectations. We value…
2 years ago
Iconic local food. Reasonable prices. Conveniently located near Waikiki. The Loco Moco is a must if you're uninitiated so you can baseline against other places. The shoyu pork was flavorful and tender. There are some outdoor seating options, picnic tables under tents. The parking lot is small but not bad for the area. read more
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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Alissa S.
Mahalo for the review!
2 months ago
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Alissa S.
Mahalo!
2 years ago
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
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Alissa S.
Mahalo for the review! We're so glad you got to stop by and enjoy a…
Finally gave this place a visit after many of times on the island. Of course you hear all the good things about it and it's a local favorite which always means it's a plus. Just a little outside of the main hustle and bustle of Waikiki. We actually walked there. They do have a big menu to choose from. It's a small little place but with picnic table outside. A lot of people took it to go which are packed in little boxes. The prices were great which is a major plus. Portion wise was good too. The only downfall, everything we ordered was lukewarm. The loco moco, gravy was cold. Also ordered a side to have extra but could have done without it. The fried fish platter, which we had with tots instead of rice. And the mixed plate with a selection of items served with rice and pasta salad. Price is amazing and affordable which is a plus. Only downfall, food wasn't hot. read more
1 year ago
Cute drive in with the colors. We ordered the mixed plate and you won't be disappointed. Order double of macaroni!! They weren't busy and easy to find parking up front. They have tons of tables on either side of the drive in. Service was fast and live the colors of the drive in hard to miss it. read more
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Crystine I.
Mahalo for the kind review! We're happy to hear your enjoyed the Mix…
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
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Alissa S.
Thank you for the great review! We're glad you got to stop by before…
2 years ago
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
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Alissa S.
We're sorry your meal didn't meet your expectations, We value your…
1 year ago
This was the first stop we made after arriving on Oahu from the airport. (October 5, 2026)The service was fast and friendly but the food was lackluster. I ordered the mix plate with gravy. The Mac salad tasted like they forgot any seasoning just mayonnaise. The fried fish wasn't bad but it didn't seem fresh maybe a frozen patty. The beef was ok. The chicken was the best out of the plate. Maybe with rising costs of food the owners have begun to cut corners. read more
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Crystine I.
We are sorry to hear the food didn't meet your expectations, though…
1 year ago
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
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Alissa S.
Wow what a kind gesture! Mahalo for the review!
3 months ago
4 months ago
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Alissa S.
Mahalo for the awesome review!
7 months ago
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Alissa S.
We look forward to serving you again soon!
7 months ago
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Alissa S.
We're so sorry your meal didnt meet your expectations. If you’d like…
Came by for some breakfast with the family and we were able to park up front. There is minimal parking so you might have to find street parking around the corner. Once we got there, we were able to get online and make our order at the window. The staff is friendly and we were able to get a table next to the window and wait for food there. We ordered a barbecue mix plate with rice as a spam and egg plate too! We also got the soy chicken on rice which is super tasty as well. We got waters for the table but they do charge for the cup so just something to know. There are a few birds flying around just don't feed them and they won't come close to you. Overall really tasty food and I'd come back for breakfast another time. read more
2 years ago
So, Tuesday "Spe-shul" Ohh!! Fried Samimin w/ Teri beef Mom had Mahi San (no pic) On our way home, .. we was in the area... "We go eat"! ... and had parking!! Asked some tourist "are you in line?"...no, he replied, they just waiting... I ordered our food...+ small drink. We found a seat, .. open the precious plate lunch box!! ... remove the parchment paper!! VIOLA!! food, onolicious, WOW! just look at it!! The mac salad, ..could taste the salt, but was doable...take 1 small dollop of mayo just make'm the sandwich a little moist, das how my mom like'm. Fried Saimin.. good I like noodles, I plucked out the green onion... was impressed how HUGE kine they use. (I should have told the cashier "no green onion please) The Teri Beef goes well w/rice. read more
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Alissa S.
Mahalo for stopping by! We look forward to serving you again soon!
Solid place for a Hawaiian plate. We got the mixed plate and the loco moco, Both were great. The mac salad was yummy too. All the food is really heavy though so maybe don't plan to do anything too crazy after! Side note: the birds here have NO CHILL. We had to literally swat one away from my food. Do not leave your food unattended for a second!! read more
2 years ago
Best deal in town! Monday Shoyu Chicken plate -- 3 tender, flavorful pieces of chicken with rice and Mac salad, so good. Skip the Slush Float unless you like something akin to cherry ICEE with ice cream. 2 of these can get you another plate lunch! read more
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David T.
Mahalo for the great review! We’re so glad you liked our Shoyu…
The goat. What can I say. Wish I had a whole day to watch through this menu. Lives up to the hype. Service is great, straightforward. The laid back, calm energy allows you to relax and fully enjoy your time at this historic joint. recommending to everyone. read more
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Alissa S.
Mahalo for the kind words! We're glad you enjoyed you meal! We hope…
Came across Rainbow Drive-In multiple times on TikTok as well as hearing about it through a friend. Overall, we had a great experience. Super easy to order. Fast service. Friendly staff. We ordered the Shoyu Chicken Plate 8/10 and the Loco Moco Plate 6/10. Big portions for $12. You can't beat the price. The Shoyu Chicken was tender and flavorful itself. What I didn't care for was the soggy chicken skin. I was super excited to try their Loco Moco Plate and was slightly disappointed. The gravy and the eggs were the star of the dish. The hamburger patty had no flavor and it was dry. The rice was undercooked. Although I enjoyed eating the mac salad the mayo was a little overwhelming. Outside seating only. They had plenty picnic tables. Super popular place. We got there at about 6pm and beat the rush. read more
If you actually want the true local food experience when in Honolulu/Waikiki, this is the place to go. We stopped here for lunch and enjoyed the food. We ordered Fried Chicken Plate Lunch and Roast Pork Plate lunch- both with gravy. Mac and Cheese and Rice was included in the Plate combo. The gravy on Fried Chicken was a bit sweet to me, but my partner enjoyed his Roasted Pork. The portion size was good and if it's 1 person, just go with 1 Plate meals. There's seating outside or you can get the food and enjoy the Drive in experience in your car. True local scene food restaurant, go for it. read more
In the times I've been to Hawaii, for some reason, we never got to stop by here until now. Our visit was on 11/13 mid morning. This is one of those places that was hyped up as a must try. I've always been excited to try this place after reading so many reviews. My husband ordered the mix plate which consisted of BBQ Beef, Boneless Chicken and Mahi Mahi. The kids got the Loco Moco plate and I got the Shoyu Chicken. Everything was sooo good. Very authentic environment, food and workers. I wanted to remove one star. After we ordered our food, the fam and I walked across the street to 7-11 to grab drinks to bring back to the hotel. We probably took about 10 minutes because we were going ga-ga over all the lychee candy they had. Got back and aunty inside was yelling my name. I walked up and she said scoldingly 'I called you like 10 times'. I was annoyed for a quick second but remembered that Hawaiians treat you like family. And aunty treated me like fam alright. lol No frills, no fakeness... just real. And i'll take that anytime. If you're an over-sensitive Karen who needs to be coddled and demands good customer service, this place isn't for you. Go somewhere else. lol But know that you'll be missing out on some awesome local grinds. read more
3 months ago
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Alissa S.
We're very sorry your meal didnt meet your expectations.
3 years ago
Wow, thought for sure I had reviewed Rainbows (as we call it). Been coming here since my school days at 'Iolani, in fact it's been nicknamed 'Iolani's off-campus cafeteria. It is the first place I stop when home. Whomever picks me up knows to head straight to Rainbows no matter what time of day. There's almost always a line, but it moves quickly and efficiently. There's been little renovation and updating, but that's part of the charm. Like they, "if no stay broke, no need fix." There are a few go-to plate lunches for me, but my two favorites are the Mixed Plate with gravy or Boneless Chicken "gravy all over." If feeling like breakfast then I get the Loco Moco or Portugués sausage, eggs and rice. My favorite Daily Specials are Shoyu Chicken and Beef Stew. I've read all the negative reviews and they're almost always from haole tourists who have no appreciation for the "plate lunch" and how important it is to our local Hawaiian culture. It's not the prettiest drive-In nor does it have the most refined food, but it is damn good and certainly onolicious! read more
First plate lunch of the year, it's from Rainbow Drive-In. Mixed plate for $14.25 + tax. Two scoops rice, mac salad, mahi mahi fish with tartar sauce, tiny bbq beef, boneless chicken on a bed of shredded cabbage. 4 stars because the bbq beef was very tiny. Good to eat once in a while. read more
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Alissa S.
Mahalo for the review! We hope you can visit us again soon!
My first time visiting what's been on so many food blogs, Rainbow Drive-In. I was excited to try as our first stop after we landed. My excitement was met with mix reactions. I always have to remember a few things about Hawaii. Anytime a location says "private lot", that usually means about 3-4 parking spots and always full. Further, all the locals are super nice and always seem to be on "island time". So city slickers need to be patient. Okay now, onto my experience and the food. Ordering was straight forward and easy. Up at the counter, order, and your plate lunches or whatever else you ordered will be prepared and brought out to you at the same window. A little drive in counter, a few seating places around the sides of the ordering booth with not much else. Parking is limited. As for the food, I ordered the iconic Loco Moco Plate and my wife ordered the Shoyu Chicken Plate. They were both, to me, just "meh". The Loco Moco Plate left a lot more to be desired because of that hamburger patty-your classic and simple, what seems like, frozen hamburger patty that is over fried and dried. Add on gravy that lacks flavor and depth, all over a bed of white rice and you really just get different textures without much flavor. The Shoyu Chicken flavoring and season was good, but the chicken itself was dry. Maybe the chicken was left over the burner or food warmer for too long. The Mac Salad was epic. Easily one of the best, if not the best, Mac Salad I've had yet, on the island or state side. Now that I can say that I've had Rainbow Drive-In, I think I'm good. I need to find another loco moco plate lunch to compare. read more
1 year ago
On my first visit to Hawaii this place was recommended as a must experience. Very glad that we were able to try them out. I got the combo plate and it was definitely on point! read more
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Crystine I.
Mahalo for visiting us on your first trip to Hawaii! We’re glad you…
7 months ago
Business owner information
Alissa S.
We're sorry your meal didnt meet your expectaions. We value your…
More info about Rainbow Drive-In
3308 Kanaina Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
Kaimuki
Directions
(808) 737-0177
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https://rainbowdrivein.com
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Ask the Community - Rainbow Drive-In
What's in your special gravy? Any meat product? Thanks in advance
Definitely meat of some sort, if I had to guess it is beef gravy
Hi, do you guys take phone orders?
I've heard they do, but I have never been able to get through. You can also order online and still pick up through the "Phone Orders" line
Do they still sell their chili seasoning packets?
Yes, we do! Available at Rainbow Tiki in Kapahulu or online! https://www.rainbowtiki.com/
Do they have traditional Hawaiian dishes with vegetarian options?
More like local comfort food, nothing's vegetarian at Rainbow. Go to Highway Inn or Helana's they have traditional Hawaiian food.
Can you order plate lunches in the morning ? Or is only offered after a certain time?
I have come at different times and have ordered "breakfast" at lunch and sandwiches for breakfast so I think you can order anything on the menu regardless of time.
Can i order lunch at 800 am? like teriyaki steak or beef curry
Yes for the Teriyaki steak. The Curry might be a special of the day so it's if it's on the specials menu you can order it. Try the teriyaki pork. It's really good.
What's the best thing to order?
Depends on your palate: Meat and potatoes - loco moco…
Do they do half portions?
I am not aware of 1/2 portion or mini-plate. That being said, order a sandwich, loco moco, or chili bowl. The Mahi, BBQ Beef or BBQ Pork sandwiches are da bomb.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
350 reviews that are not currently recommended
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