Rainbow Drive In – Oahu, Hawaii

Alooooha! I’m lucky to say that for every place that I have travelled, I have thoroughly enjoyed every single locale. Every place I’ve travelled has it’s own unique charm to it, but I have to say that the islands of Hawaii have a special place in my foodie heart. I’m not quite sure what it is – most people say it’s the Aloha spirit, where everyone has a good work life balance and are generally happy, where the bounty of the earth – seafood, veggies and fruits are fresh and traditions are still very much imbued in many of the locals.

In Hawaii, a lot of small, local mom and pop shops have lasting power. They’ve survived the test of time because they offer something simple, delicious and most times than not, at an affordable price. Rainbow Drive-In is one of these places. Rainbow Drive-In has been serving locals and tourists alike for over 50 years, serving up the popular Plate Lunches since 1961.

We managed to come here twice – the first time I came I had the Breakfast Special ($5.75) where you can choose a meat – in this case, I ordered the BBQ beef – with two eggs and two scoops of rice. The BBQ beef is well marinated and flavourful and this dish really filled me up.

The next time we went, we tried the Loco Moco ($8.50) and the Aloha Mix Plate ($8.95) that came with bbq beef, mahi mahi, boneless chicken and the two scoops of rice and scoop of macaroni salad. Rainbow Drive In is iconic and is a must-try when you’re in Oahu!

Food: 4.5

Service: 4

Value: 5

Ambiance: 4.5

OVERALL: 4.5

Check out their website and menu here.