American Eats: Hawaii. Rainbow Drive-In

Locomotion means the act or ability of something to transport or move itself from place to place.

The Loco-Motion is a really annoying dance song that everybody wants you to dance to at weddings.

But the Loco Moco is a Hawaiian delicacy.

A traditional Loco Moci has four basic ingredients: white rice, topped with a hamburger, a fried egg, and brown gravy. There are other variations of it as well, including ones with Hawaii’s favorite food: spam.

The most ubiquitous restaurant in Hawaii that serves them is Zippy’s, a fast-casual chain with nearly two dozen locations across Hawaii. But this version below, with fish, I got at the Rainbow Drive-In

The Rainbow is yet another place I discovered watching Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

Like the Waffle House, it is a melting pot of cultures, classes, and races. It has none of the expense, glamour, or pretension of the “touristy” areas of Oahu, instead being located across from a park and next to the House of Wong Chinese Restaurant. It is not a restaurant nor is it a traditional drive-in in the classical sense with carhop service. You park your car and walk up to order at the counter. Your food is served to you in styrofoam. If you are lucky, there will be a place to sit. The food is not fancy. It is not pretentious. But it is good, it is Hawaiian, and it is affordable.

I only had the opportunity to eat there once, but I would definitely recommend getting some sort of plate lunch, which is their version of the Loco Moco without saying Loco Moco.

Rainbow Drive-in
3111 Castle St
Honolulu, HI