We always come to Waikiki yearly. But we only stay in the beach area. Our cab driver recommended this place (about 15 minute walk from our hotel). Glad we tried it. You can either place your order online/phone or walk up/drive up and park. Plenty of parking and seating. I ordered the rainbow bento. That was plenty of food. It had spam, crispy chicken, fish strip and a strip of beef. My hubby ordered Portuguese sausage with two eggs and rice. Will definitely come back to this place. read more

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I wanted to like this place so badly, unfortunately the food is up to standard. However I've heard this establishment is a local favorite and they do have outstanding service and we very much appreciated hospitality. The mix plate was underwhelming with little to no flavor but the gravy saved the dish. The loco moco was my favorite out of the two. The outdoor seating was enjoyable to get a good view of the neighborhood. read more

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Got the shoyu chicken & my partner got the BBQ pork. Portions were huge and the food was amazing. Would recommend. read more

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

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Food was alright but we loved the green soda (Green River)! Service was great, everyone was quick and friendly. This place had plenty of outdoor seating and tables which made it easier to drop by for a quick meal. read more

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

Friday night visit, first time, the macaroni salad had entirely too much mayonnaise. The rice was ok. The meats were the best parts of the entrees:braised chicken thighs and bbq pork. The bbq pork would've been better if it was served with some bbq sauce. The service was fine. They have several tables to sit at or you can get your food to go. The noise level was not too loud, you could easily hear the person next to you. read more

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Rainbow Drive-In is one of those places that completely lives up to the hype. I've been here a couple of times now, and every visit reminds me why this spot is such a must-try on Oʻahu. It's got that classic local feel, delicious comfort food, and prices that are surprisingly reasonable, especially for how famous it is. We came on a Thursday night, and luckily it wasn't too busy. Parking was easy, and the line moved quickly. I ordered the chili loco moco this time, and wow--it was absolutely worth every calorie. The rice, hamburger patty, egg, and that signature chili all come together perfectly in one hearty plate. It's the kind of meal that leaves you full and happy, the way true local plate lunches should. I also ordered a bowl of saimin on the side, which was the perfect balance--simple, flavorful, and comforting. We came with a big group of 13 people, and we actually lucked out with seating together, which I know doesn't always happen at popular spots like this. There's a good amount of outdoor seating available, but I can imagine on a weekend or during peak hours it might get packed. Still, the staff were friendly and efficient, and even with a large group, our food came out quickly and everything was fresh and hot. What I love most about Rainbow Drive-In is that it feels authentic. It's not fancy, but it doesn't need to be--the food speaks for itself. You can tell this place has been a staple for both locals and visitors for years. Whether you're craving loco moco, plate lunches, or just want to experience a true taste of Hawaiʻi, this spot delivers every time. If you're on this side of the island, definitely make the stop. Grab a plate, find a seat, and enjoy some of the best local comfort food around. Rainbow Drive-In is an island classic for a reason! read more

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The value here is great because the portions are huge. The plates are perfect for takeout since they pack everything neatly on a plate inside the box. The slush floats are also a must. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - shoyu chicken and loco moco - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Food is amazing. Being a Flexible Vegetarian means eating Vegetarian 70% of the time like myself. I spent more than half my life as a vegetarian and I still miss it. However, sadly our bodies don't stay the same as in our youths! I had to cave in to eating chicken & turkey aside from limited seafoods due to my metabolism & energy levels sinking as well as my unfortunate allergies to certain other foods. Low & Behold, Rainbow drive in in Honolulu offer Vegan nuggets with the options of coleslaw & Mac salad! This is exactly what I wanted! The staff are sweet & hardworking Filipino workers who are patient and kind. Thankfully the food doesn't take too long & the bathroom is not bad at all. The ambiance is very reminiscent of a 1950s diner restaurant but with outdoor seating. read more

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

Rainbows is not what it used to be. The next generation took over. Like everywhere else, prices went up, shortages of workers. Food quality not the same. We had the corned beef hash with one egg and gravy ~ this is yummy and the beef cutlet with gravy ~ another one of my favorite. Sometimes the rice is dry, sometimes the Mac salad is not but drained well so it's watery. The service at the window is slow, yet confusing. It's open but no one is manning the window. ‍ yes, best to do online order. The area was a little dirty today. read more

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Rainbow Drive-in is a tradition and fits into a specific category - plate lunches with a drive-in overall theme. Think chili, burgers, and a variety of great playe lunches. We had the mix plate with gravy, the shoyu chicken plate (Monday special), and the Loco Moco. The mix plate was huge and really tasty. The shoyu chicken was three tender basted thighs. The loco Moco had great gravy. I appreciate the thin burger patties - I dislike super thick patties that tend to be overcooked. The Loco Moco elements all work together. The key here is that the locals know what they want and many of the orders were to go. Plenty of tables available for eating at though. read more

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Shoyu chicken stole the show! Chicken so Tender it fell Right off The bone! Literally. Flavor was good too! Not overpowering. Loved the Mac too! Loco moco was lacking flavor to me. Meat was a little dry even with gravy over it. read more

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

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In Oahu, one of the best ways to enjoy local comfort food is by stopping at Rainbow Drive-in that offers a great mix of BBQ plates, breakfast sandwiches, and loco mocos. This spot is beloved for their laid-back atmosphere, where you can grab a satisfying meal in the comfort of your car or enjoy the breeze from their outside tables. The BBQ plates are so delicious with macaroni salad, and white rice. The loco moco is an iconic dish of Hawaii, that is must-try for anyone visiting. The classic loco moco--beef patties smothered in rich brown gravy, topped with a perfectly fried egg, and served over a bed of white rice. It's the kind of hearty meal that sticks with you, combining comfort and local flavor in every mouthful. The ladies taking your order are helping and are great at providing recommendations. Definitely a must try when visiting the area, you won't be disappointed! read more

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

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Always great to visit this from my hanabata days Food is cheap! Can tell you're out of Waikiki enough. Wife says quantity over quality. The chili tots were not very good. I did like the mix plate - mahi, chicken, Teri beef - I thought all was good Kids had chili fries and said was good. Food came out pretty quick, and the outside seating was enough for our party. If this wasn't a place that was part of my childhood, I am not sure that I would come back read more

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

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Just had my all-time favorite plate lunch from these guys on Super Bowl Sunday to celebrate the New England Patriots losing against the Seattle Seahawks!! WooT WooT!! I ordered my Boneless Chicken w/gravy over everything, (over the chicken, over the rice,and over the macaroni salad), something I always ordered here since I was a kid. Never a disappointment, Never a bad idea for lunch or dinner. This place has changed over the years...but, they don't change the way they make our favorite plate lunches. Don't forget to get a slush float! read more

The quality of food has gone down as I knew it. When I used to order plate lunch, it came piping hot from the grill. Now the plate lunches came cold that's been prepared hours ago. The meat is dry, macaroni salad is half spoiled. read more

Always consistently delicious food and great service with a smile. Rainbow Drive Inn remains at the top of my go to place whenever I'm in Kapahulu. read more

After hiking Diamond head summit trail, we went there for a super late lunch. Staff were friendly and helpful. Parking is a little tight. The decor is a little old style but looks just fit the food style. We ordered bbq pork plate and I have the special: fried saimin with bbq beef plate. It came with noodles, Mac salad, a scoop of rice , chat siu, bbq beef. Bbq pork plate came with French fries, Mac salad, slaw and the pork. They are both very tasty and value for the money. Very filling for sure. read more

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It really takes a lot for me to give an establishment anything less than 4-stars, but unfortunately, I need to give Rainbows 3-stars today. We've been here hundreds of times, but I don't know what's been happening lately. Tonight, my meal was horrible. I got the mix plate with gravy, bbq beef plate and a chili bowl. The bbq beef looked and tasted like it had been sitting in a pan for a while. The chicken also tasted like it was reheated one too many times and it was very chewy and not crunchy like it used to be. The fish was ok. The chili wasn't even hot by the time I got home (literally live 3 minutes away). Just super disappointing. I've heard from people that the quality has gone down, and unfortunately after tonight's meal, I would have to agree. I really hope they can change it up and go back to how it used to be. Honestly, I would only give them 1-2 stars after tonight, but we used to love coming here and always had a good experience, so I'll give an extra star. I'll most likely visit again (but not right away) so I'll update my review once that happens. read more

OMG. Soooo disappointing. The flavor is good, but no can believe how little you get for almost 17 bucks. Back to old faithful from now on (boneless GAO) at least you get more for your buck. read more

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

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If you grew up in Hawaii then you know Rainbows is one of the most iconic plate lunch places on Oahu. Mixed plate, extra gravy, Teri sauce and a slushee float will never do you wrong. Their bbq burger with French fries is also a good alternate if you're not in the mood for rice. This location is right by Waikiki aka a tourist hot spot so lines can get long but they do have online ordering now. If not then it's walk up ordering with a good amount of seating. BUT BEWARE OF THE BIRDS. They will snatch your food up if you give them a chance. read more

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

Driving home from lunch in Kaneohe my wife suggested we go to Rainbow Drive Inn for dessert. She wanted a slush float. It sounded good to me. So off we went. Got lucky and found parking in their parking lot. She got out to get her slush float. well when she returned she also bought a couple of slices of Lemon Squares. Service was fast and friendly. Well I had my slice of the lemon Squares after dinner. The crust seemed a little under cooked. The lemon filling was tasty and a had just a bit of tartness. The slush float was refreshing. Both items are worth buying. Enjoy read more

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It was a little tricky getting to it because of some construction on the road (I think that won't be an issue much longer) but totally worth making the effort. The portions are generous; a great value for the money and for a happy belly. Had the Loco Moco (good for a baseline) and the Mix Plate with gravy and sat at the lit outdoor tables to eat. There was a tasty, finely-shredded cole slaw (?) under the meats in the Mix Plate. Could have had that as a larger side, it was a hidden gem. Food came out decently quick given how busy they were. There's a cute shop with branded and some general Hawaii-themed items (bought a shopping bag) but forgot to snap any pics because I was distracted by food. read more

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Overall had a decent experience here - staff are very friendly. I got there just before the lunch rush around 1:30pm. They have three windows - one for online and phone orders and two for in person orders. I had the chicken lunch plate, which was not bad, though I'd have preferred the chicken to be slightly crunchier. There are at least ten tables around the restaurant but sadly all were full at the time I was there so I ended up taking my lunch to enjoy at Waikiki beach (around a 15 min walk). read more

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

Mac salad is horrible. So creamy and taste is too sweet. Had to toss after one bite. Please improve.

Fantastic great loco moco ! Parking lot outside tables it was 4000 miles away just a few days ago now I'm happy yo have gone! read more

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

My wife and I came back here on a friends' trip. Food was slightly worse, service was the same, not as bad as previous, but the young man taking our order literally said nothing. Who do they employ here and what kind of experience do you need? Tourist trap, most definitely. Try to stay away. read more

Definitely your stop for authentic local food. We stopped in on a cool and rainy day for plate lunch and couldn't finish it, the portions are generous. It's walking distance from downtown, so even if you're visiting Waikiki without a vehicle, this place is easy to get to. Great spot. read more

I stopped by Rainbow Drive-In while exploring Honolulu and it immediately felt like stepping into one of Hawaii's classic local institutions. This place has been serving plate lunches for decades, and the atmosphere reflects that history. The restaurant operates like a traditional local drive-in with simple counter ordering and outdoor seating. It is casual, fast paced, and very much part of the everyday food culture of Oahu. You will see a mix of locals, visitors, and regular customers picking up their usual plate lunches. The plate lunch itself is the highlight. The portions are generous and follow the traditional format of rice, macaroni salad, and a main protein covered in gravy or sauce. One of the most popular choices is the loco moco, which combines a hamburger patty, fried egg, rice, and rich brown gravy. It is simple comfort food but done in a way that feels authentic to the local style. Another thing that stands out is the consistency. Places like Rainbow Drive-In have built their reputation by serving the same familiar flavors year after year, and that reliability is part of the appeal. The environment is not about upscale dining or presentation. Instead, it captures the spirit of classic Hawaii plate lunch culture where the focus is on hearty portions, quick service, and familiar comfort food. Overall, Rainbow Drive-In is a great place to experience a traditional local plate lunch in Honolulu. If you want to try one of the iconic spots that helped define Hawaii's casual food culture, this is definitely worth a visit. read more

This place is walking distance from the zoo! Great place to come and eat after. They have outdoor seating and the food doesn't take long to come out. read more

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

Haven't been back since pre pandemic. Went to Rainbow DI and the food just wasn't the same any more. While the portion remains large the quality and flavor just weren't there. At least not the way I remembered it. The Mac salad tasted like mayo soup with some mac pasta. They also no longer serve fried chicken, which I recall was really delicious when I last went over 7 years ago. Overall disappointment. Not planning to come back. read more

We went during breakfast and it was kinda crowded. We had ARABIKI WITH 2 EGGS PLATE, BREAKFAST SPECIAL- CORNED BEEF HASH WITH GRAVY AND EGG*, and the BREAKFAST SPECIAL*. The arabaki was delicious but very greasy and I liked how they were small sausages lol. The eggs were nicely cooked, not as greasy as before which was good. I like how you can choose between getting toast or rice with your meal. The corned beef hash with gravy and eggs was really good!! Might get that one next time. read more

We've come here a few times since we've visited the island. We ordered our food online - took about 15 minutes and picking up was easy and there is parking and plenty of outdoor seating. Big portions for the price of food ordered, you can share the food with someone read more

WHEN: Sat @12pm Needed a quick lunch so we thought it was easiest to come here for take-out. But since it's lunchtime, there was a wait. I was able to just order through the Toast app, and this is what I got: LOCO MOCO - $11.50 Two hamburger patties served on two scoops of rice, topped with our special gravy and two eggs cooked the way you like, accompanied with a scoop of macaroni salad. Pretty decent, I do not expect less for Loco Moco in Hawaii. There was outdoor seating, and a decent size parking lot. Unfortunately we came at a busy hour, so I was able to park just on the street. read more

Rainbow Drive-In - LOCO MOCO PLATE - $11.50 - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It's always amazing to find a place that stands the test of time! Coming back now, I'm thrilled to say Rainbows is still as fantastic as ever. The team here clearly puts a lot of care into keeping things consistent, staying true to what makes this location special. Mix plate GAO... This is the place to go! read more

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Not only was this one of my favorite meals on my recent Oahu trip, but I will start out by saying that I daydream about this meal often, LOL! We didn't get a chance to visit until my last night of vacay, so I ordered two items in order to make the most of it! On to the food! Long story short, this meal was epic! This was the best Loco Moco I've ever had, and the BBQ mix plate was off the chart! The beef patty and gravy were super tasty, and the mac was great as well. And often overlooked, their steamed rice was perfect as well. As far as the bbq mix plate, man, it was outstanding as well! Super tasty breaded Mahi Mahi, and both the chicken and beef were bursting with flavor. Plate lunches back home on the mainland are gonna be depressing from here on out, lol! I have to go here at least twice when I visit Oahu again! As far as ambiance goes, this place has been here since back in the day, and you can definitely sense and old school vibe in the air! read more

Rainbow Drive-In - Back on the mainland, daydreaming about this Loco Moco! Yum! - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I came back to Rainbow Drive Inn and it's still super popular. I had to wait but not too long to get up to the window and order. I had the Mixed BBQ Plate (chicken cutlet, teriyaki beef and mahi mahi) and it was okay, I remember it being better many years ago but maybe I went on an off day? The meat was not hot in temperature so that was a little bit disappointing for me. However, the guy who took our order was nice as can be so it was good to be back to a place that has happy memories for me. read more

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

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Lots of hype and definitely worth it !! I wanted to have the real deal Hawaiian food, so glad that we came here and experienced this place. The combo place with gravy is simply amazing. Comfort food at its finest. Plenty of parking, staff is super chill and friendly. Next trip to town I'll definitely come back to try other menu items read more

Recommend eating here if you have a gravy craving! Take out style with outdoor self seating after you order. All shaded seating. Ordered the Loco Moco and the Pork cutlet with gravy. I recommend both but really you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Parking available in front and on the side. Parking wasn't an issue when I went. read more

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

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Previously went back in May and have been looking forward to coming back. Well on our flight back from Japan, we had a 5 hour layover, and knew we had to make the quick stop for some Rainbow Drive-In. We could've sworn there was a "Bucket" size option for Mac Salads and were trying to get that so we could take some back. But alas, we didn't see it, so we just ordered a large portion of it to take on the plane. In addition we got some tater tots covered in gravy and it was hitting after being on a 7 hour flight from Japan. The first time around I had gotten a loco moco with gravy and it was as beautiful as I remembered it. Service was pretty quick too and we were eating in no time since I believe we had just came from Diamond Head so we worked up a pretty good appetite. read more

Service was ok today- probably because it was super busy- the guy was mis- taking orders, but he also fixed everything and apologized- more than you can ask for in CA- lol the food comes out pretty quick so don't worry about the line. The place is known for its quaint drive in vibes. The seating is not too bad- most people take it to go. There's a store there for merch so you never forget! The food is solid. Nothing game changing, but everything is cooked perfectly, perfect portions and the price is on point. If you want variety, get the mix plate, but don't skip on the bbq pork! Don't expect a culinary revolution- some people have this place low star reviews because they were expecting more. The food is excellent for what you come to a place like this for. 100% worth the visit. And don't forget the strawberry slush! read more

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