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    Koolau Drive Inn

    4.0 (155 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Koolau Drive Inn Photos

    KOOLAU DRIVE INN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Koolau Drive Inn

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    Reviews With Photos

    Cheeseburger Deluxe
    Wayne I.

    If you're craving a solid burger without hitting up the big fast-food chains, check out the burger at Koolau Drive-In. The regular burger is under $6, and for just $1.50 more you can make it a deluxe--totally worth it. And do yourself a favor... get the fries. They only come in one size, and it's HUGE. Perfect for sharing (or not ). Super easy to find, plenty of free parking, and a great local spot when you want something tasty without breaking the bank.

    Mini chicken, Katsu and curry
    Glenn N.

    Huge menu large selection can take you a while to figure out what you want to eat. Everything from Chinese food to local plate lunches they make really good noodle dishes here. There is around six tables that seat between 4 to 5 people, each so dining in is an option. Service is always great. They cook everything to order so calling in an order really helps. The food here is pretty consistent and the quantity that they give is huge! Literally can feed two people with the mini plate. Might go to is either the chili and Katsu or the chicken katsu and curry place. Plenty of parking. This place can get a little crowded especially during dinner time. I would be either go off hours between lunch and dinner around 4:00 PM or after the dinner rush around 7 PM.

    Most beautiful strip mall view ever!
    Dennis R.

    Tried this place last time I was in Oahu, and it was so amazing that I knew I had to come back! Both times I had the kalua pig and lau lau combo, and both times it was SO GOOD! Both dishes were tender, moist, and bursting with flavor! I'm back home in CA daydreaming about this dish right now, lol! Customer service is quick and friendly, and honestly, this strip mall has to have one of the most gorgeous strip mall views anywhere on earth! I'll make sure to visit again next time I'm in Oahu!

    Curry pork katsu
    Karen M.

    We stopped for lunch during a visit to Byodo-In temple. The menu offers a large variety of options so there is something for everyone. We went with a curry pork katsu platter and a mixed grill platter. The katsu was a bit too crunchy for our taste but the curry sauce was good. The mixed grill platter was very good with a generous amount of meat. Service was friendly and efficient and there were plenty of clean tables to dine-in.

    Storefront
    Nadine C.

    Takeout Dinner from. Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawaii... Realizing that I didn't really eat breakfast or lunch, I decided that I should get some dinner. I wanted to go somewhere different, but not too far away... How about Ko'olau Drive Inn at Ko'olau Center? Ko'olau Center is across the highway from Valley of The Temples. Ko'olau Drive Inn is across the parking lot from McDonald's and the (closed) Ko'olau Theater. The shared parking was easy because Subway, Times Coffee Shop, and Temple Valley Chinese Restaurant were closed already. That's why everyone was at Ko'olau Drive Inn! The staff were efficient and cleared the crowd quickly! There were enough tables and chairs for customers to sit and wait. Most people did takeout like me - even though the place was bright and clean! I got the Hamburger Steak plate and Shrimp Broccoli with noodles. The three hamburger patties were homemade. I could taste the seasoning in the hamburger and found some gristle... LOL! I liked the gravy and mushy rice since I was so hungry! Even the Mac salad was okay! The shrimp broccoli was pretty good because of the garlic flavor and thinly sliced carrots and onion. The broccoli was not raw, and it wasn't well done, but just right! I was too full to finish the noodles! I'll return when I'm starving again!

    Found a bug in the mac salad!
    Doug Y.

    The mochiko chicken is very good. If you're familiar with chicken karage it tastes very similar. They give a lot and def can make 2 meals of it. I wouldn't eat it all the time bc its greasy. Nice stop after the. Byodo Temple and I don't think a lot of people know about it. Found a bug in my mac salad! I'll give them a pass this time but that wasn't sightly.

    Menu
    Katalina T.

    I've been coming here for years they only got better and the place looks amazing! The service is quick and the foods so yummy!

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    Photo of Lori J.
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    2 years ago

    Clean restaurant with friendly staff. The mochiko chicken is my favorite as well as the spicy chicken wings and garlic ahi!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Fast food service. For a drive in it was pretty nice. The food was reasonably good as well.

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    2 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great food and awesome service.Very clean atmosphere and you don't mind waiting on the food.

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    Photo of David J.
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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Awesome food, great service and you get alot of food. They havnt used small take out containers like windward mall .

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food is real good and good size portions. Love their deluxe fish burger and bbq chicken plate.They just remodeled place looks great.

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    It's ok. A little salty.... Loco Moco is so so, Adela's country cooking Loco Moco is much better.

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    Photo of Sheri H.
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    2 years ago

    Hubby and kids rave about their mochiko chicken...recently renovated, and pleasant staff.

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The mochiko chicken plate never fails! My husband got the chicken katsu curry plate and it looked really good. Portions are great as well.

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    2 years ago

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    Page 2 of 4

    Ask the Community - Koolau Drive Inn

    Google maps shows this place is permanently closed is it true?

    They are temporarily closed after a car drove through the front entrance on 1/13/2020. Once they are able to get things inline and repaired hopefully they will reopen soon afterwards.

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - Koolau Drive Inn

    Their mochiko chicken and chicken katsu are well done with a tasty crispy exterior, not too oily or soggy.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Another place to cross off our to try list, located in Kaneohe. It's one way in and one way out the…read moreparking lot so make sure you turn in the right one. The one way in is also pretty tight to turn in to. I swear it looked like it had a drive through but you can actually call in your order, and drive up to the window and pickup your food. Preorders only! They do not have order at the window! It was very warm in there, and because there was a fan on, I assume the ac not working? Hope they get that fixed soon. I ordered a fatty brisket plate, the wife ordered the fatty brisket and lamb chop combo, and my father in law ordered the pulehu shortrib plate. For the price of the plates with the briskets, was either too pricey for the serving, or they coulda add more for the price. The pulehu serving, we all agreed is worth the price. The did hook us up with some fatty pieces tho. You should ask, unless you like lean lol (ain't nothing lean on this side lol) the wife expressed how she really liked the lamb. She likes her lamb chops, and she normally loves them from Texas de Brazil, but she said the lamb chop here was better, which I find surprising! So for all you lamb chop lovahz, go check em out guys. So back to my brisket plate, was good. It was filling, but I just think that for the price, should add more serving. Normally plate lunch come with 2 scoop rice, only had 1 scoop rice. Could use one more. Had Mac, but I didn't like it. And then came with like a small side scoop of pickled onions and cabbage, and a choice of bbq sauce on the side. Customer service was great. They was all nice. The best part was their cooler of desserts!!! Omg... I spocked the brownie mochi poke and I just had to. We tried it right there, and mannnnn that was so bomb. Was pretty pricey, $10+ each for those small size containers, but it was sooooooo good!!! Would we come here again? Yeah probably if we craving Texas bbq.

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    Love this restaurant & the staff are always so nice! They also have live music playing on Sundays…read morewhich is nice and different. I've dined in before but recently ordered take out. I appreciate that they have online ordering & a drive thru! The food is always good and filling! Love the variety on the menu and love going here!

    Support Local, Support Small Business!…read more This is a nice cozy Family-owned business. Not only a Diner/Restaurant but also has Merchandise and a hub for local made products. Also, on the Weekends you have Live Music while you eat. The menu is catered to the Local Hawaiian-American Breakfast, Brunch, or Lunch taste. It is pretty large as you could order Breakfast from open to Close at 2 PM. From simple Eggs, Rice, & Meat; Omelets, Pancakes & Waffles, to Plate Lunches, Sandwiches, and fresh Fruits and Desserts. On the Menu, some are marked as Popular Dishes, like mines Hapa Loco Moco Bowl: Hamburger patty and Corned Beef Hash Patty in Loco Moco form. Since it is covered in gravy and the egg, you only can tell the meat is cutting into or looking for it while eating. I'm glad Mac Salad or other sides are Ala Carte or sold separately because I was stuffed after eating it. Service was awesome! Staff was nice and friendly. I saw one was willing to talk story to a table who was asking about the Business'History. Only complaint and drop a Star is Beverage Refills. While family got Coffee refills, I vaguely remember Water refills and more important was my Drink (Raspberry Iced Tea) even though it was a Big cup, no one checked if I wanted more. (I would have taken 1/2 glass full towards the end or topped off depending when they asked.) 2nd time here, if it wasn't a family outing and good time the first time, I would only return if the fam wants to come here again for Brunch/Lunch after we pay our respects to family at Valley of the Temple the nearby Cemetery.

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