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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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1 year ago

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4 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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2 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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13 years ago

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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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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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Hula Dog

Hula Dog

4.3
(504 reviews)
3.6 mi
$$

Visiting this food truck was one of the highlights of our trip. The food was amazing and the owner…read morewas so welcoming that he made us feel special. We were hungry in the morning, so we arrived just after they opened. There was lots of parking. We ordered and while the Poi rolls were cooking we had a chance to chat with the owner Dennis. He described the extra effort that they put into every ingredient. Later after we finished eating, Dennis would bring bowls of freshly cut cantaloupe from a close-by market. It was perfectly ripe and one of the best that I have tasted. That is an example of the Aloha you will feel while visiting. I have been to Hawaii a dozen times and was never a fan of Poi because I never tasted a dish that was prepared properly. We went to a picnic the previous day that had a donut like pasty made with Poi and fresh Poi made at a local restaurant. They were both delicious and this totally changed my opinion. Based on that positive experience I wanted to try the signature Poi dog. We opted for the spicy version. It was so tasty with the matching condiments. If you are a foodie that wants to try something unique, be sure to give it a try. Dennis has a sister location in Waikiki that is managed by his partner Hong Banh-Mi sandwiches are one of my weekly lunch options when at home, so we were excited to plan a visit to Aloha Hot Dog and Banh-Mi for dinner!

A must try on the island! I wish I was joking but I would fly to Hawaii for just this alone…read more Love that they serve vegetarian dogs, love the different tropical relishes and love the taro bun. The perfect amount of sweet and savory all in one bite. The owner is so friendly and welcoming, the three times that we have gone over the years, he would go above and beyond. He is right that it wasn't the same business as years ago, but if you're reading this I hope it brings your spark back, even just a little.

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Strawberry Lemonade and a Poi Dog!
Strawberry Lemonade and a Poi Dog!
Signature Poi Dog
Signature Poi Dog
Picture of the parking and seating area

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Picture of the parking and seating area
John's World Famous Hawaii

John's World Famous Hawaii

4.4
(86 reviews)
4.1 mi
$

Great hotdogs, and it's a great place/views to have one by the lagoon. This is one of the…read morebetter/best food options unless you are willing to walk a long ways. The guy that runs this is very nice, and fun to talk to.

I've lived here for seven years and walked past this hot dog stand countless times. Every time I…read morewalk by the owner Jon smile and say hello, every time. And on one of my last walk in Waikiki, I got on of his hotdogs. John and his staff were incredibly welcoming. He's originally from Philly, and as someone from the East Coast, I immediately felt that warm hospitality. John is so sweet, he even offered me the hot dog on the house... completely unexpected, but a true reflection of John's demeanor. I went with the chicken hot dog "John style" (well that is everything but the sauerkraut). I wasn't hesitate about the mustard because I'm usually not a fan but the staff insisted it was more like Dijon mustard anyways. The hotdog was loaded, flavorful, and way better than I expected for someone who usually keeps it simple with the toppings. The bun broke down a bit from all the toppings, but that was to be expected with all the toppings loaded on there. You can't beat the location, it's right outside the Ilikai by the lagoon though the service alone makes this an easy five stars. I'm really happy this ended up being one of my last food experiences living in Hawaii. I'd be eager to see John and his staff again if I return.

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A hot dog is $13 now...
A hot dog is $13 now...
Jumbo beef dog with everything!
Jumbo beef dog with everything!
John's World Famous Hawaii

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Muki Dogs Waikiki

Muki Dogs Waikiki

4.9
(12 reviews)
4.4 mi

My 1st time ever eating a plant based dog that was grilled to perfection AND had a nice "meaty"…read morechew and consistency to it, great grillin' Michael! I'm flying back to Cali on Tuesday, but I'm gonna try n get back for a 2nd snack attack!!

I had been scrolling through Instagram on my lunch break yesterday when I happened to come across a…read morepost that indicated that Muki Dogs' Waikiki location had temporarily (?) relocated to Kaka'ako for the time being. And not just anywhere in Kaka'ako, but Mother Waldron Park to be exact, which is literally within walking distance from my workplace. Since I never have the chance to go by Waialae Ave. (their first/main location), I figured that now would be as good a time as any to stop by and see what the hype was all about. I walked over around noon with my boss and coworker and initially, I had panicked as I thought I had misread the post, but for those walking on foot, especially from Punchbowl area, Muki Dogs will be located at the farthest end of the park (adjacent to the food trucks). Just keep walking and you'll be able to spot Gene (the owner) as we had. Once we got to the stand, I had promptly ordered 2 Miso Kake and 1 The Works, to which Gene had jokingly asked if they were all for me. I clarified that 2 of the 3 were mine, so he wasn't completely off the mark, but I felt bad as I have RBF and face masks only serve to increase the severity of said expression, so Gene must've took my response as offended when I was just hangry. But if I had to be perfectly honest, I could easily eat four of these in one sitting and not be sorry lol. In any case, once I had ordered and paid for my dog, my boss and coworker also ordered as well, and Gene went straight to work on our orders. For those visiting for the first time, they currently have two options: 1) The Works, which is a very traditional hot dog with relish, sriracha mayo, ketchup, mustard, and Spanish crumble, and 2) Miso Kake, which is an Asian inspired hot dog full of umami flavors, with pickled scallion, sriracha mayo, miso paste and furikake crumble. I ended up getting one of each for myself since I wanted to see what the difference was in terms of flavors. Gene is really quick too as I believe it only took about 5-10 minutes, if even that long, to prep our orders, and my boss had even commented that Gene had some Top Chef moves when it came to our orders. Before we knew it, Gene thanked us for waiting and gave us a bag (no charge) full of our hot dogs and we headed back to the office for a taste test. So for those short on time, this would be a perfect place to stop by and grab a quick bite. I wasn't sure what to expect from a vegan hot dog, but I know one of the things that stood out to me about most of the reviews for Muki Dogs was that it didn't actually taste like a vegan hot dog. So with that in mind, I dug into The Works first and absolutely loved every bite I took. I think what's great about The Works is that because it mimics a traditional hot dog with the ketchup , mustard, and relish, it's almost as if your mind automatically makes the connection, and with the addition of the sriracha mayo and the Spanish crumble, there's an additional creamy, slightly spicy, and crunchy component that only emphasizes how delicious the hot dog is. In fact, I can very well see how someone could easily not even realize they were eating a vegan hot dog (it was that good!). The Miso Kake was also a good option and a perfect alternative for someone looking for a different type of hot dog. The miso paste and the sriracha mayo lend a nice creamy/salty flavor base for the pickled scallions and the furikake crumble, and the texture you get from each bite is absolutely divine. However, I do think that if you're not a fan of umami flavors, that this might not be the hot dog for you as it does somewhat emphasize the vegan hot dog more so than The Works. Overall, if you happen to be in the area or are interested in trying out a vegan hot dog, I would highly recommend visiting Gene at the Muki Dogs stand, especially as they are now stationed in Kaka'ako, which is quite convenient for anyone who has wanted to visit but never found the time to do so. The hot dogs are a little on the pricier side, but nothing like Hank's Haute Dogs nearby, and you will be left feeling full and content without the regret. Plus, Gene seems like a really nice guy who cares about the food that he makes, and it shows not just in the way he makes the hot dogs but also in the way that the flavors come through. And if that doesn't sell you, well...aren't you at least a little bit curious as to what a vegan hot dog tastes like? Best stop by to find out!

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Muki Dogs Waikiki
Muki Dogs Waikiki
Miso Kake style

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Miso Kake style
Burgers & Burritos Hawaii

Burgers & Burritos Hawaii

4.3
(6 reviews)
3.9 mi

Follow that big yellow sign!!!…read more Burgers & Burritos Hawaii I found at the Honolulu Farmers Market every Wednesday night market at the Blaisdell Center and at apparently at a few more that I'm not able to get to but their huge yellow sign says "Mexican Food Gourmet Burgers" in huge font so it can get confusing but so easy to find. Once you're there it's exactly that Mexican Food and Gourmet Burgers...and hot dogs! Well that's what I was actully craving...Island-Style Sonoran Dog. Bacon wrapped hot dog topped with grilled onions, pico de Gallo, guacamole, garlic aioli, sour cream and mustard all for $9. What a loaded dog it certainly was and it was made to order and is certainly worth just a couple minutes wait. So saucy and flavorful this bite was incredible the pico de Gallo just added the freshness that I loved, the bacon who doesn't love that was a nice salty touch and sour cream and garlic aioli just made it that much more bougie, Yup and with their name it's all about the burgers and Mexican foods which they have an impressive list to choose from...I got my eye on the Portabella Sandwich and Big Burrito (which they can make vegetarian) cause I dare you to pass this place when you can smell the grill going omg!! All made to order so you can have the topping of our choice with our without items you want. Thank you!

Burgers + Burritos = Happiness!!!…read more During several foraging visits at the Honolulu Farmers Market, we have passed by Burgers & Burritos Hawaii (BBHI) as aromas of their fresh grilling hamburgers or toasting flour tortillas would fill the air. We've passed by enough times to have "studied" their menu so that we could decisively order once we patiently waited in line for our turn. We'd watch the female worker who worked as an order taker, cashier, and plate prep while the male worker focused his grilling skills on the plancha (similar to a flat top griddle). This food stall definitely gets busy as we've seen and been in lines of 10-deep. There was something in the back of my mind that told me that I had either read or heard about BBHI before and sure enough, Yelp Bud Fran C wrote an effusive review about BBHI in April 2020. Their burger menu offers 4 different styles: Classic, Hawaiian, Specialty, or Portabello. BBHI also offers an Island-style Sonoran Dog which is an all-beef hot dog wrapped in bacon and grilled and topped with onions, bell peppers, and roasted garlic aïoli. I didn't ask what qualifies this dish as "Island-style" but I'm assuming that it's because it's NOT your typical Sonoran dog that is served with beans, tomatoes, onions, jalapeño sauce, and mayonnaise. As good as these burgers and Sonoran dog looked, we came to BBHI for their LA-inspired taqueria Mexican food. Oh, how I looked forward to having my taste buds tickled with Cal-Mex specialties. So, we ordered the following items. -Chile Verde Plate: The menu described this dish as braised tender pork chunks in their homemade green chile sauce (Chile Verde). The Chile Verde is served as a choice of either burrito-style or on a plate with rice and black beans. Condiments on this plate were dollops of guacamole and sour cream or was it crema (Mexican sour cream)? Indeed, this chile Verde made from tomatillos, poblanos, and jalapeños had some spice kick but was easily mellowed by the crema. I rolled some of the flavorful pork chile Verde into the steaming hot street taco corn tortillas and found myself wanting another 2 more tortillas to sop up the sauce. This takeout plate was generously portioned and I still got full even though I shared it with my husband. $11. -Quesadilla with Meat: My husband chose chicken meat from among beef, pork, and chicken to fill this quesadilla. The flour tortilla quesadilla was loaded with pico de gallo and lots of cheese. There were dollops of guacamole and crema to complement the quesadilla. My husband asked for a couple of containers of red salsa to accompany his quesadilla. He warned me that the red salsa was spicier than the chile Verde which I had already found out about after dipping a piece of chicken from a quesadilla and feeling the chile burn in my throat. $10 The menu items at BBHI are limited but are flavorful and really remind me of LA's Guisado's or Roast-To-Go. Prices are reasonable for the fresh made-to-order food and the service is friendly. We'd gladly return to try more of their Cal-Mex offerings or if we're in the mood for a burger, their Classic cheeseburger looks quite appetizing. We'll be back again since both burgers and burritos DO make us Happy!

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Burgers & Burritos Hawaii
Burgers & Burritos Hawaii
Burgers & Burritos Hawaii

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Nicky's Lunch Wagon

Nicky's Lunch Wagon

4.4
(94 reviews)
4.2 mi
$$

Great price for the amount of food. My plate was packed for only $15. Today I got the braised beef…read morewith fettuccine. The potato mac is always a must. The great customer service and delicious food keeps me coming back. Go early so you can get first dibs on the menu. I got there around 10:45am and there was no one in line.

I live about a block away and have walked by Nicky's Lunch Wagon so many times but had never eaten…read morethere...until this past Friday that is. I was walking home from a routine Dr checkup at the hospital and passed by the cute yellow lunch wagon, I was definitely hungry so got in line. It was shortly after they opened so there were maybe 5 people in front me and the orders got out quick. I ordered a combo plate with Vietnamese spicy fried chicken and the Country fried chicken with brown gravy...and for good measure also got a Teri-spam musubi. For the plate, I ordered it with Kalua fried rice and potato-mac salad and both chicken dishes were really good and extremely filling. The musubi was darn tasty as well. It's definitely a popular lunch spot for the downtown workers and residents. I was only a few people back when I got in line but by the time I left with my plate the line was 20+ strong. A definite go-to if you're downtown during lunch hour and looking for some solid eats.

Photos
11/25 menu
11/25 menu
Shoyu chicken, fried chicken combo plate with fried noodles and mac salad
Shoyu chicken, fried chicken combo plate with fried noodles and mac salad
Located near Queen Street

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Located near Queen Street

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

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