Waiakamilo Drive Inn
Tucked inside the Waiakamilo Shopping Center, Waiakamilo Drive Inn is a longtime favorite for locals seeking satisfying plate lunches and homestyle comfort food. Located at 1414 Dillingham Blvd Ste 106, Honolulu, HI 96817, this casual eatery continues to serve up hearty portions with a balance of nostalgic flavors and affordability. Whether you're craving a classic BBQ chicken saimin, a generous helping of fried rice, or a simple yet flavorful homemade cheeseburger, this spot delivers consistently good eats with no frills—just great food.
A Menu That Embraces Tradition and Variety
The menu at Waiakamilo Drive Inn is a blend of local island-style comfort food and Chinese-inspired wok plates, offering something for every craving. Their specialties include fried saimin and BBQ chicken saimin, both packed with rich broth and springy noodles, making them a must-try for noodle lovers. The homemade hamburgers and cheeseburgers stand out for their juicy patties and classic preparation, perfect for a quick, satisfying bite. For those who enjoy wok-fried flavors, options like fried rice and vegetable stir fry provide a flavorful and filling choice. Complementing these main dishes, the restaurant also serves steamed rice and crispy French fries, rounding out their lineup with staple side orders.
A Dining Experience That Fits Every Occasion
More than just a grab-and-go lunch spot, Waiakamilo Drive Inn offers a variety of dining options to fit different needs. The restaurant provides takeout and delivery, making it easy to enjoy a meal on the go or from the comfort of home. Those looking to dine in can take advantage of outdoor seating, and the establishment is wheelchair accessible to accommodate all guests. Families with kids will find it to be a convenient choice, as it welcomes groups and offers a comfortable, casual dining environment.
For those planning events, the restaurant even provides catering services, making it a great option for gatherings where guests appreciate hearty, familiar flavors. The inclusion of happy hour specials, alcohol service, and TV for entertainment makes it a versatile spot for everything from a quick lunch to an informal evening meet-up.
Customer Impressions: Consistency and Value
Over the years, Waiakamilo Drive Inn has built a loyal customer base that appreciates its dependable quality and affordability. Regulars often highlight the great value for money, with one visitor noting that the restaurant still delivers good plate lunch deals despite the changing food scene in Honolulu. Another diner observed that while the ownership may have changed, the heart of the menu—its wok plates and classic local dishes—remains true to its roots.
Many customers also praise the quick and efficient service, particularly when calling in orders for pickup. One review mentioned the convenience of dedicated parking spaces for quick takeout, making it easy for busy locals to grab a meal without the hassle of searching for parking. Whether dining in or taking food to go, patrons appreciate the straightforward, satisfying experience that keeps them coming back.
For those who enjoy no-nonsense, delicious local comfort food, Waiakamilo Drive Inn continues to be a reliable go-to.
Reviews
The restaurant looks alot different than before I believe they have new owners from the last time i came here (10 years or more)...Still Chinese owners and it shows.... You can always tell the ethnicity of the owners because they usually have a menu item that hints of their ethnicity.. In this case (wok plates lol on menu) but usually Chinese owns every knock of L & L joint.. The staff was friendly and appologetic. (They somehow forgot about my order) Anyways these things happen) Located in same shopping center as firestone and mcdonalds across Midas on Dillingham and Waikamilo. Inside has a few really spaced out tables and chairs (maybe five 4 person tables) it really seems more like just a grab and go kind of deal but all good. Menu is your typical plate lunch fare .. bentos butgers etc mixed with some of their own custom chinese wok entries. We tried the bento which consisted of teri-beef .. chicken katsu- spam--fish-- 2 scoop rice and potato mac salad... decent grinds for like $12 not bad prices are very affordable Prices are very fair and reasonable. If you are looking for reasonable good grinds Waikamilo might be the way to go.
Had an appointment in East Honolulu late this morning, so was pondering where to get lunch on my way home to the leeward side. Bam ! Waiakamilo Drive Inn, since I had not been here since my last review in May 2021, so I called it in about 6 minutes before I'd reach there. Great that they have a few 15 minute stalls for pick up directly fronting their place, and took advantage of this ease in parking. Rang it up, and now I see the current pricing has increased $1 more to now $10.95 and with tax, a total of $11.47 --- which is still reasonable for great tasting garlic chicken. After paying by my card, i made small conversation with her, which I've seen be the cashier for close to ten years (that's because I checked hawaii.gov website to see the ownership of this place). As I have been here since 2003 (when Waiakamilo Drive Inn was finishing up building their interior), I see on the public records that a change of ownership occurred in 2014 (so the present owners are the 2nd owner since 2003). I mentioned to her that I've been coming here since '03, and said that their garlic chicken is the BEST in my opinion, and started naming names. It sure brought a smile to her face (but I should have told her that I appreciated they keeping the same recipe when the sale of the place occurred back in '14). Got home, and got the same 8 sizable pieces of garlic chicken with 2 scoops rice and a bed of mac salad, with part of the chicken on top of some shredded cabbage. As much as I wanted, I could only eat 5 of the pieces with almost all of the rice and half of the mac salad (what's wrong with me? could have devoured all of that many years ago with no problem --- but I guess it's because I'm getting older). Anyway, just wanted to pass on the info that their garlic chicken recipe still is the same and I just love this plate lunch !
Came here several times now and it's pretty convenient during the weekends for me when I'm working. They are cheap and always open. To me, it's very similar to L&L Drive Inn, but cheaper. I ordered the char siu and egg plate (sooo good), stir fry chicken (lots of veggies and delicious), seafood combo (shrimp is heavily breaded, but everything is decent), and the Party Pan Pack#2 (10pcs bbq chicken, 5pcs teri steak, and 5pcs beef shortribs). The party pan was a deal, but I didn't like the fact they stack everything on top of each other like its Jenga. Everything now tastes like bbq chicken lol. The staff doesn't talk much, but he's quick and always has my phone order ready. There are some tables and chairs to use. The parking lot is a bit tight, but you shouldn't have a problem finding parking.
Went to Waiakamilo Drive Inn and was happy to find that they are still around and offering a good plate lunch deal as well! Check out the daily and breakfast specials next time you go. A great value for good food!