Rainbow Drive-Inn

3308 Kanaina Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 737-0177

Payment: Cash Only/ATM On Location
Food: 4/5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent)
Service: 2/5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent)
Prices: 2/5 (1 being cheapest, 5 most expensive) 

    A renowned location for local food!  Great plate lunches in a paper box create a unique experience recreated every time one visits here.  Some unique items to try are: hamburger steak, boneless chicken, chili, hamburgers, and fries.  Parking is semi-limited and is usually VERY busy!  A new addition to Rainbows includes 3 benches and extra parking, so the historic traffic is now alleviated.  If you are visiting Hawaii, this is a must! If you are from here, I'm sure you'll be back for more! As for myself, I enjoy getting that little box that the meal comes in, and would feel awkward if I ever got a plate from there without one!  Service is decent, but you don't ever expect  much from a high pace take out plate lunch place like this, no offense taken!   Being in town most of the week brings me here a lot more often than I should be!

Hamburger Steak

Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar

1585 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 941-3701

Payment: Debit/Credit Ok!
Food: 3/5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent)
Service: 3/5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent)
Prices: 4/5 (1 being cheapest, 5 most expensive) 
Don't mind the iPhone4 pictures in low light! Grainy! 

    As a lover of traditional Japanese food, I will try my best at reviewing this fusion Japanese restaurant.  I would like to first say that this place has a lot of altered Japanese food(obviously?).  There are many non-traditional sushi rolls available, appetizers, but a few main dishes.  One of my favorite dishes that I frequently eat here is either the shrimp, or scallop garlic bowl.  I am a giant fan of garlic and love the generous amount of stink breathe that this gives me after.  Other things to try are the different udons and ramens, salmon, and the steak.  I tried the pork and Japanese scallions in the first picture and there were many burnt pieces, however the perfectly cooked, fatty pieces were very delicious.  The scallions added a good addition to this dish, and would not be any better with other vegetables such as potatoes, onions, etc.  Desserts are a must, the honey toast pictured on the 2nd picture is my personal favorite.  It's Japanese bread de-crusted and filled with the white inside portion... all smothered with vanilla ice cream! 
    The service is decent.  The workers generally work very hard but from my experience, it is always awkward.  I had a strange waiter a few times, and the other waitress seemed too intimidating.   But you don't always go into a restaurant and get greeted kindly at the door, which is a great opener for a first impression here.
    Overall, this is definitely a place that everyone should try, I'm sure everyone would be able to find something that they would like!  I would visit this place more often if it didn't take a toll on my paycheck!

Pork and JDM Scallions

Honey Toast

Kikuya

46-148 Kahuhipa St
Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 235-2613

Payment: Debit/Credit Ok!
Food: 4/5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent)
Service: 4/5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent)
Prices: 3/5 (1 being cheapest, 5 most expensive) 

  Kaneohe has a lot of great places to eat!  One of the most recent places was Kikuya's Japanese Restaurant.  Located in the heart of Kaneohe, Kikuya's traditional and local Japanese food was delicious, decently price, and served with great service.
    The menu set starts off with combinations that include things such as teriyaki chicken, tempura, sashimi, and butterfish.  All served with rice, sashimi, potato salad, and tsukemono.  The tempura was crispy, so crispy that it would seem like it would never get soft and soggy!  The tempura inlcuded eggplant(my favorite), shrimp, carrot, and string bean.  The Sashimi is of premium cuts, some that were great fat content all served over daikon, and a side of wasabi.  One of the highlights of this place is the very delicious potato salad, which adds a great accent to anything with teriyaki sauce.  Other things on the menu include: different types of ramen(noodles in soup), donburi(rice bowls), and side dishes.
    Overall, a definite place that you can chronically eat.  With decent prices, it definitely does not put a hole in your wallet and allows you to come back a lot more frequent than other restaurants!

Miso Soup + Sashimi

Tempura + Teriyaki Chicken + Salad