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    Rainbow's End Snack Shop

    4.5 (57 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Rainbow's End Snack Shop Photos

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    RAINBOW'S END SNACK SHOP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Touristy
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids

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    Dole Whip and Ube swirl
    Gustavo V.

    The husband and wife working behind the counter were so unbelievably cheery and kind to everyone that walked in :) They even offered to fill up our reusable water bottles with ice free of change! After a long and strenuous hike, their hospitality was very much appreciated

    Chili Bowl (it's pretty large!)
    Shandis C.

    This is a hidden gem way deep in Manoa! We took our kids on the Manoa Falls hike for the first time and of course, when my 5 year old sees a sign that shouts "SHAVE ICE" we will never hear the end of day until we make a visit! The snack shop is right before the Manoa Falls parking lot, under the Tree Tops restaurant (this is also where you pay for parking). After a nice hike, Rainbow's End Snack Shop is the perfect way to fill your hungry tummies. Chili bowl, kalua pig bowl, hot dogs, and of course, SHAVE ICE! The kalua pig and chili bowls were quite large and filling, and the hot dog was of the polish type which my kids enjoyed. Nothing fancy in the food dept, but definitely comfort food and for a good price. The real star here is the shave ice! If you like Waiola Shave Ice, you will love Rainbow's End shave ice! Rainbow's End is smooth and they give you LOTS of syrup! Half way through they pour the syrup, add more ice and then give you more syrup so that there's no white in your shave ice. The owner even told me that if I want more syrup, just come back. The shave ice is also HUGE! our family of 4 shared on large (my kids are 3 and 5). We tried the house specialty called "Dragon's Blood" (a mixture of strawberry, watermelon, lychee and coconut) and it was really good! If you do the Manoa Falls hike, you should plan to end it with a stop at Rainbow's End. If you're not into hiking, you should still plan on visiting to at least try the shave ice! Who knew that Manoa had some awesome shave ice deep in the valley? Happy we discovered this place!

    Hideyo K.

    Whenever I hike up the Manoa Falls trail, I always wished there was a place where I could get some nourishments, either as a last-minute addition to what I already packed for the journey, or as a reward for completing the trek. Well, Rainbow's End Snack Shop is finally here to answer those needs. After our trek up the 'Aihualama Trail, my friend and I were famished. We weren't expecting to get any food until our ride on the number 5 bus to Ala Moana Center, but then there it was; A brightly lit rainbow sign that said "Now Open! Rainbow's Snack Shop." As there were never any snack-food establishments in the area in recent memory, I got excited and just had to check it out. It was almost 7pm, but luckily for us, the people that worked there decided to stay open a lot longer than their normal hours. After scoping it out, I decided to ask them about the "Kukui Dogs" on their menu. Apparently, it's a hot dog that's "like a Portuguese sausage on a stick, but BETTER." It sounded really good and it seemed like their specialty, but unfortunately they were already sold out. The people there were nice enough to sell me their regular hot dogs for half-off, though. Even though the hot dogs were obviously leftovers, which even they acknowledged, I was pretty happy to eat it and it tasted just great. Other than hot dogs, they also had saimin, chili, sandwiches, some pretty standard selections of candy bars, bottled sodas and juices, fresh fruits, and pastries. At the time of my visit, they were also working on shaved ice flavors, so that should be on the menu soon. I didn't know this at the time, but according to their Facebook page, they also offer hiking supplies that include trekking poles, mosquito wipes (OMG; definitely needed these!), rain ponchos, and reference books on birds and plants. I'll admit, I was hoping for more than just a little gift shop/break station, but considering the hike, it's something that was long needed, and for my appreciation of them, I offer my 4-star rating.

    Mango and Strawberry Daiquiri!
    Melissa C.

    I love this snack shop! It's right next to Manoa Falls which makes for the perfect destination after a nice beautiful hike! This is honestly the best shaved Ice that I've ever had...which I've only been here and Matsumoto's... but the family and I enjoyed it so much that we made another 30 minute trip the day before our vacation ended just to come here. The shaved ice is so delicate and smooth. It's perfectly delicious by itself but if you feel like indulging a bit it's wonderful with condensed milk (+ $00.50 ) and a scoop of ice cream ($1) , yum! They have plenty of syrups to go with it as well! If you're in the area or you're looking for something to do I don't think you'll be disappointed at all in a trip down this direction at all (=

    Small classic shaved ice. Banana. Vanilla. Strawberry.
    Cynthia K.

    Do you need to pay for parking? Step right up and drop your $5. Do you need to buy a small snack prior to your outdoor adventure through the lush greenery? Come right in and get your drink, chips, and candy! This little shop has everything you need! If you're hungry after hiking Manoa Falls, you can get a hot dog or a indulge in a kalua bowl (rice, onions, and bbq sauce). The shaved ice is just to die for! Three sizes...lots of flavors...what's not to love?! You can also buy a towel if you get muddy and their souvenir shirts are pretty cute. Ponchos are readily available if the weather isn't as dry/sunny. Don't be afraid. The moment you walk in, you'll be greeted with a smile. You'll see the nifty gadgets you might need for your hike and you'll get to see others sitting outside with their shaved ice or food. Jealous? Mouth watering? Hurry up so you can enjoy your very own.

    Coconut flavored shaved ice. Bomb diggity! Soft melt in your mouth kind.
    Linda S.

    Nothing beats perfected shaved ice post-hike. The cashier, he was nice and approachable! Must come here after your hike at manoa falls and they have bathrooms for you to use pre/post hike.

    They are filming for a new movie gonna come out Kong vs. Godzilla Rainbows end has da best shave ice everybody's so cool up here 5 stars

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

    Pretty good. We just got drinks on a whim. One of my daughter got a strawberry drink and the one got matcha. The drink was not overly sweet.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Amazing a must try if you are in the Chicagoland area. We love the favor combination.

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Hands down the best shaved iced on the island! They have a bunch of flavors to pick from and the texture of the ice is really nice!

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    8 years ago

    Excellent service....better than most restaurants in Waikiki....my recommendation would be the foot long hotdog with bun and yellow muster.

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    Page 1 of 2

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    Review Highlights - Rainbow's End Snack Shop

    It was very late in the day, and the trip to Manoa Falls was almost cancelled due to the late afternoon rain.

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    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    4.4
    (4.5k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    Food outstanding Service efficient and personable…read moreespecially with the long lines at lunch. Ambiance appropriate for the venue.

    @fortunefoodfinds: "This deserves a ROUND of applause! Whether you're visiting or simply wanting…read morelocal grindz, HELENA'S HAWAIIAN FOOD is sure to make your trip and/or meal feel complete. Ordered our must-haves: Short Ribs Pipikaula Style, Fried Butterfish Collar, Luau Squid, Long Rice Chicken, Lomi Salmon, Lau Lau, Poi, Mac Salad, Rice, n' their complimentary Haupia, Onions, n' Salt. Food so Ono I highly recommend, this very well-known local Hawaiian eatery again n' again!" SERVICE: fast n' fully staffed INTERIOR: spacious with limited seating EXTERIOR: gets hot, have water n' benches available WAIT TIME: came on a Thursday afternoon n' surprisingly wasn't too busy. After joining the waitlist that you sign in through the provided iPad, I would say 30 mins before getting seated. PARKING: very small free lot in front, limited spaces OVERALL COMMENTS: haven't had Helena's in a while so I've been craving it. Each visit is satisfying n' the food is always so good. I can't remember the amount of pieces they used to give for a large order of Short Ribs Pipikaula Style, it seemed smaller this time, but either way you gotta order it along with the Fried Butterfish Collar. Their Luau Squid is so creamy n' delicious just like everything else, all Ono. You can't go wrong bc this is truly local Hawaiian food at its finest!

    Photos
    New larger inside dining area
    New larger inside dining area
    Menu B: Kalua Pig And Pipikaula Short Ribs
    Menu B: Kalua Pig And Pipikaula Short Ribs
    Inside

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    Inside
    Rainbow Drive-In

    Rainbow Drive-In

    3.8
    (6.1k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    62 years in business

    Son wanted to go here. He saw it on TikTok. I got the. BBq pork meal. The pork was great. A…read moregazillion 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.

    My family, across multiple generations, has been going here for decades, close to back when they…read morefirst opened. We have homes in the neighborhood. And we just can't go here anymore unless changes are made! We used to prefer them over Zippy's, but now they are less than 7-Eleven quality, while charging higher-end prices for the neighborhood. We have given them many chances, hoping it was just a fluke, but we have repeatedly been disappointed. Their chicken has become chewy and fatty, their rice is mediocre, and condiments such as mayonnaise are stripped down to the bare minimum quantity. Chile is poured so lightly that it is practically a minuscule amount. And their prices have continued to rise. I don't know if greedy people took over the restaurant who just don't care anymore, or what is going on. I remember when I used to take people here, and they would be impressed with the quality and quantity--plates just heaping with good cuts of meat, noodles, and rice. Those days are no more. As they say in Japan, the price performance is poor. Furthermore, their staff is rude. I can only imagine it was an owner working this day because it was a face I haven't seen that often. An older gentleman who appeared to be of Okinawan descent, working the cashier register, accosted us because I was privately discussing with my family about splitting different items with them. We were all ordering something, so he wasn't losing any money, but he told us about how prices are double in Waikīkī. First of all, it is rude to interrupt your customers that way. Secondly, we don't go to Waikīkī or care about Waikīkī. What happened to serving the locals? Third, Waikīkī has an assortment of restaurants, prices, and qualities, and they shouldn't be how you base your services. Lastly, I guarantee I could find a better deal in Waikīkī if I wanted to. Next time you're in the area, just go get a $6 bento or a $5 burrito from 7-Eleven next door. I assure you, the price performance and experience will be better. If Rainbow Drive-In is in the business of comparing themselves to other things, let's compare them to 7-Eleven and at least try to be better than them, right? I can get mochiko chicken from 7-Eleven for $6.99 that is similar in portion size and better quality. Meanwhile, they are serving their fatty, dry chicken for $16.75. Highway robbery! And they are not fancy, with their dirty picnic tables and plastic cutlery. They are just a step above a food truck, if that. Save yourself from the hype. They have gone downhill like a landslide. Go elsewhere.

    Photos
    Rainbows mixed plate
    Rainbows mixed plate
    Loco Moco Plate
    Loco Moco Plate
    Turns out I was wearing my GRAVY ALL OVER shirt so I had to get a pic with my loco moco!

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    Turns out I was wearing my GRAVY ALL OVER shirt so I had to get a pic with my loco moco!
    Side Street Inn

    Side Street Inn

    4.1
    (2.5k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    OMG! This was a dining experience! So, the restaurant was closing so my friend said we should eat…read morethere! I didn't know that the servings were group sized!! I found so many things that looked great on the menu, to include fried gizzards, boneless Kal Bi ribs, fully loaded fried rice, Mac salad and other stuff I can't recall! So the TWO of us ordered way too much! We tried to eat as much as we could and ended up taking the rest home! Everything we ordered was delicious, so we knew we were going to eat good leftovers! The restaurant was a great place to go with a group to eat and watch sports! Our Waitress (I have to remember to get names) was a track star, she was running to and from several tables of groups to deliver food! I will go again if they reopen!

    If you're visiting Hawaii with a big group, 100% recommend taking them here…read more We initially were a party of 16, and showed up without a reservation at 6pm on a Saturday. The staff was super nice about it and was able to accommodate us, with only a small request that we be out by 8pm since there was another big party with a reservation coming in. Absolutely reasonable. They sat us right away at three large tables, which gave us plenty of space for food and didn't force us to sit super close together. Menus, waters, plates, napkins, and forks were all brought out immediately, and our waiter was quick to take our order. We started with the prix fixe menu for 8-10 guests and were going to add other items à la carte, but a handful of our group accidentally went to the other Side Street location (make sure your group is all on the same page), so what we ordered ended up being more than enough. We left stuffed and with 5 boxes of food still. Edamame was nice and steamy, and large enough to easily pop the beans out with your mouth. Wish there was a bit more salt though. The farmer's salad had everything going on from citrusy to salty to crispy. Avocado had a little bit of oxidation but the capers, dressing and potato curls provided plenty of reasons to overlook it. The fried rice came in a hefty portion, with sizable pieces of bacon and sausage. The chicken I didn't realize was boneless based on the shape of the deep fry, but it was nice to freely bite into it without worrying about hitting anything with my teeth. Probably a bit too much on fried bits but still good. Pork chops had a better meat to crisp ratio in my opinion, as well as juiciness. They even came with ketchup on the side, which I love as a pairing but don't see much of at restaurants. My favorite meat item was definitely the sizzling boneless kalbi. The presentation on the sizzling plate with a side of kimchi was spectacular, and the meat was full of flavor. We also ordered yakisoba, which wasn't part of the prix fixe. Tasted good but nothing past standard expectations. We let the waiter know we had a 30th birthday at the table, and they brought a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream with a candle, and did a decent job getting the whole room to participate in the singing. It could also be the type of crowd this place attracts, since it seemed that everyone was so friendly and approachable. Thanks to the quick and consistent service, we were out in a little over an hour with no complaints.

    Photos
    Our Chef Colin's Classics Menu feeds 3-4 guests for $105.00!
    Our Chef Colin's Classics Menu feeds 3-4 guests for $105.00!
    Oodles of Noodles! Try our Yakisoba! You can also add Kim Chee for extra flavor.
    Oodles of Noodles! Try our Yakisoba! You can also add Kim Chee for extra flavor.
    Popcorn Chicken & French Fries

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    Popcorn Chicken & French Fries
    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    4.5
    (5.5k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $

    I was never a huge fan of Spam and always thought musubi tasted pretty much the same- turns out I…read morejust hadn't had local Hawaiian musubi before. These were incredibly flavorful and so delicious! We ordered four different musubi, which came out to about $13. There are plenty of options on the menu, so it was hard to choose. The Spam had a sweet-savory teriyaki marinade that was unlike any Spam I'd had before. Don't let the simple appearance fool you- each musubi is packed with flavor, and I think the house marinade is what really sets them apart. Orders are made fresh and come out hot. They also sell bottles of their signature marinade inside the shop if you want to recreate the flavor at home. While you're there, it's worth browsing the store too- they have lots of cute Hawaiian souvenirs and gifts. A great spot to grab a quick, affordable snack on the go!

    Good for a quick cheap bite. What I didn't prefer was the differences depending on location. I was…read moredisappointed at the one near Royal Hawaiian. The salmon, tuna, or chicken and mayo ones had barely any stuffing. Disappointed and felt cheated. I specifically asked the member at the register if the item was stuffed with the contents. Their answer, "yes." Nope - barely anything inside. If all you want is rice, seaweed wrap, and a dab of the meat on top. You're good to go. The issue was I had the same thing at other cafe's and was filled nicely.

    Photos
    Inside the shop
    Inside the shop
    Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink
    Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink
    Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi

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    Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi
    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

    3.9
    (297 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    3.5 stars We wanted…read moreto try authentic Hawaiian food and came across this spot. The owner was very friendly and took the time to recommend dishes for us, including the laulau and lechon kawali. We also ordered the BBQ short ribs. Overall, it was a good experience trying Hawaiian food, but it's just not really our type of cuisine. The laulau was quite dry, and the preparation felt more like meat that had been boiled or cooked in liquid, which isn't something I usually enjoy. The lechon kawali had a crispy pork belly texture, topped with something similar to a salsa, but it didn't suit our taste either. Unfortunately, the cabbage served with it also had some black spots, which was off-putting. The BBQ short ribs were the highlight of the meal and the dish we enjoyed the most. We appreciate the experience and the hospitality, but the flavors just didn't quite match our personal preferences.

    Good local Hawaiian food restaurant. Street parking only. Small restaurant I believe it was Ono…read moreHawaii on Kapahulu before. Now it is named the Da Ono Hawaiian Foods. Either the owner or the manager seemed like a one man show. He was the server, bus boy, and chef. Husband got the pipikalua short ribs/he enjoyed. Sisters got the pork lau lau which came with sweet potato, rice or poi, lomi lomi salmon (more onion and tomato than salmon). i got the chicken lau lau, again stuffed with chicken, not enough taro leaves. Only six tables in the entire restaurant. The gentleman that was serving us I believe was also the bus boy, cook, server and cashier! Place is a hole in the wall with missing ceiling tiles and exposed panels above our table (gross!!). Sis loves this dive so we keep coming back!

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    Short Ribs Plate
    Short Ribs Plate
    Menu

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    Menu

    Rainbow's End Snack Shop - hotdog - Updated August 2026

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