Rainbow Drive-In ▪ Honolulu

3308 Kanaina Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii
808.737.0177
website

Cee and I are big fans of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, so we did some of our Hawaii food research by watching clips of Oahu restaurants. Our first triple D spot was Rainbow Drive-In, just east of Waikiki.

Rainbow Drive-In.

Rainbow Drive-In is known for their loco moco, so Cee and I decided we had to try it out. Loco moco is a Hawaiian dish made up of white rice, a burger patty, a fried egg and all of it doused with a gravy. The episode of Triple D shows all of the many ingredients that go into the special gravy, including Asian influenced ingredients such as dried shrimps.

Loco moco.

Both Cee and I wanted to try the dish but were glad that there was a small portion offered, a loco moco bowl ($3.95), because we weren't sure we would like it. It was a very saucy bowl; one couldn't even see the rice or patty. I dug up the thin patty in the picture below.

Beef patty in loco moco.

It was good enough, maybe a bit too much gravy for my liking. Did it win me over? Not quite. Am I glad I got to try a Hawaiian staple at a reknown drive-in? Definitely!

Molokai Drive-Inn ▪ Molokai Island

15 Kamoi St
Kaunakakai, Hawaii
808.553.5655

For our last meal on Molokai Island, our choices were pretty slim on Labour Day. We ended up grabbing a quick dinner at Molokai Drive-Inn (where we were offered something-something while waiting for our food). Not sure if this restaurant would technically be considered a drive-in but it was definitely a diner/dive!

 Molokai Drive-Inn.

Wanting something slightly healthy, I ordered the fried saimin with vegetables. Unbeknownst to me, the saimin also had small pieces of Spam. Well, where else should you have Span but in Hawaii? The simple noodles were accompanied by pieces of cabbage, cauliflower, carrots and eggs. The Spam actually added a nice bit of saltiness to the dish.

Fried saimin.

Cee was still obsessed with fried chicken after the katsu that we had. While it was no katsu, she greatly enjoyed her crispy chicken with a side of salad and rice.

Fried chicken.

The food was just as expected at Molokai Drive-Inn. Simple, inexpensive, no fuss and will fill you up.

Kamoi Snack-n-Go ▪ Molokai Island

28 Kamoi Street
Kaunakakai, Hawaii
808.553.3742 

On Labour Day, we went searching for ice cream. Not much was open but we did discover Kamoi Snack-n-Go.

Kamoi Snack-n-Go.

Not only was the ice cream served at Kamoi Snack-n-Go so, so tasty but we stumbled in when they were having a promotion: 1 scoop, 2nd scoop free. How can you say no to that? This allowed us to taste more of the flavours on hand. Kamoi serves Dave's Hawaiian ice cream, which manufactures local flavours.

Dave's Hawaiian ice cream.

I decided to stick to the local flavours. I ordered a scoop of Kona coffee, and another of chocolate macadamia. While both were good, the chocolate macadamia was my absolute favourite. It was chocolatey with generous chunks of macadamia nuts.

Kona Coffee and Chocolate Macadamia Nut Ice Cream Scoops.

The ice cream was so, so good that we decided to go once again that very night before we had to head back to Oahu the next day. If you visit Hawaii, find a place that sells Dave's Hawaiian Ice Cream, and try out some Hawaiian ice cream!

Mana'e Goods and Grindz ▪ Molokai Island

Mauka Side Hwy 450 East
Kaunakakai, Hawaii
808.558.8498

After a good hike to Haipuapua Falls on Molokai Island, we asked our guide where we should eat and she recommended having the chicken katsu at Mana'e Goods and Grindz. You can't beat the recommendation of a local connoisseur!

Mana'e Goods and Grindz.

Mana'e Goods and Grindz might not look like much of a restaurant, but rather a counter like its name describes; however, its food was awesome. Well really, we can only vouch for the chicken katsu  since we each ordered the Japanese fried chicken dish. The plate included a generous portion of fried chicken morsels, a serving of rice and a salad (there was a choice of potato salad I think too).

Chicken katsu plate.

The boneless pieces of chicken were still moist and so crispy. It was such a treat to dip them in the BBQ sauce. This chicken katsu became a baseline for fried chicken for the rest of our trip.

Chicken katsu.

Mana'e Goods and Grindz is the perfect spot for local fare. We really felt like we got to try some good Hawaiian food! We even drove all the way there for seconds but it was unfortunately closed by the time we got there on Labour Day.

 

Big Daddy's Store ▪ Molokai Island

67 Ala Malama Avenue
Kaunakakai, Hawaii
808.553.5841

After arriving on Molokai Island, Cee, E and I went searching for lunch on the main street. After debating between different small restaurants, we agree to try filipino food at Big Daddy's Store.

Big Daddy's Store.

Big Daddy's Store is a no-frills lunch counter. You pick a meat and a vegetable dish, and it is served with rice. I think E ordered the Korean fried chicken that looks mighty good, with a side of mung bean.

Fried chicken.

I was still trying to be somewhat "healthy" and ordered the pork adobo, braised pork that really reminded me of the Vietnamese version of braised pork. The pork was well cooked and tender. The vegetables were a mix of okra, squash and greens.

Pork adobo.

We knew were eating authentic local food as we were surrounded by local diners. That's the way I like eating my food!

The Chart House ▪ Waikiki

1765 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, Hawaii
808.941.6669
website

On our first night in Waikiki, still feeling jet lagged, we decided to go downstairs and have dinner at The Chart House. The Chart House is a seafood/steak place and was packed on the Friday we were there.

The Chart House.

Cee ordered a Hawaiian dish, ahi limu  poke ($11.50), which is a raw fish salad. I am not the biggest eater of raw fish but I figured I should learn quickly if I was to be in Hawaii. I ordered the black & blue ahi (lite: $8.50). I actually enjoyed it very much, and it was the first of many ahi that I had rare. I especially liked the spicy wasabi sauce and the accompanying creamy avocado.

Ahi Poke; Black & Blue Ahi.

To accompany my ahi, I also ordered the crab & shrimp stuffed mushrooms (lite: $8.50). For some reason, I expected something light but it was nothing but light. The mushrooms sat on mashed potatoes, and a hollandaise sauce was doused on the stuffed mushrooms. It was very good!

Crab & shrimp stuffed mushrooms.

Finally, E ordered a main of seared tuna that she seemed to enjoy.

Seared tuna main.

Wailana Coffee House ▪ Waikiki

1860 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, Hawaii
808.955.1764 

Cee and I landed in Honolulu after traveling for more than 12 hours. We debated what to do while we waited for E to come home from work. Finally, we landed on hanging out at a coffee place nearby and the shuttle company recommended Wailana Coffee House. Wailana Coffee House is more diner than coffee house, with an old school decor.

Wailana Coffee House.

Cee ordered a burger that gave her access to the salad bar. I stole some of her kimchi that was so, so tasty. This was the start to the numerous Asian influences we observed. While there were Korean pickles at the salad bar, my choice of banana lumpia ($5.50) was of filipino influence. Bananas wrapped up and deep fried, topped with ice cream and whipped cream. This was the beginning of a very decadent holiday in Hawaii.

Banana lumpia.