Hawaiian Plate Lunch Menu: What to Order at Rainbow Drive-In
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A local-style plate lunch is one of the most familiar meals in Hawaiʻi: a hearty entrée served with rice and macaroni salad. At Rainbow Drive-In, our plate lunches come with two scoops of rice and one scoop of macaroni salad. It's a simple combination that has made plate lunches a favorite for generations.
But if you're looking at a Hawaiian plate lunch menu for the first time, you might wonder where to start. Should you go with a Mix Plate, Loco Moco, boneless chicken with gravy, or BBQ Beef? And can you change the sides?
We've been serving local comfort food in Kapahulu since 1961. Here's our guide to understanding the plate, choosing an entrée, and finding a combination that sounds ono to you.
What Comes With a Hawaiian Plate Lunch?
The familiar local-style plate lunch has three main parts: an entrée, white rice, and macaroni salad.
At Rainbow Drive-In, every plate lunch includes:
Two scoops of rice: A familiar base for our grilled meats, chili, and gravy-covered dishes.
One scoop of macaroni salad: The creamy side that completes the classic plate.
Your chosen entrée: Options range from BBQ Beef and Mahi Mahi to Loco Moco and our famous chili.
The combination is straightforward, but it brings together different tastes and textures on one plate. Rice goes particularly well with gravy, while macaroni salad offers a creamy contrast to seasoned or fried entrées.
Our menu also allows two substitutions. You can replace the rice with fries or substitute coleslaw for macaroni salad.
If you're visiting for the first time, we recommend trying the familiar rice-and-mac-salad combination. It's a good introduction to what makes local-style plate lunch different from an ordinary entrée with sides.
You can see the available choices on our Kapahulu menu and Pearlridge menu.
Classic Plate Lunches to Try at Rainbow Drive-In
Not every plate lunch tastes the same. Some focus on our special gravy, others feature our BBQ sauce, and some combine several entrées in one order.
Here are a few ways to narrow your choice.
Mix Plate: A Little of Everything
Can't decide between beef, chicken, and fish? Our Mix Plate brings them together.
Our Mix Plate includes:
BBQ Beef
Boneless Chicken
Mahi Mahi
You get the variety of three different entrées without having to order three separate meals.
The BBQ Beef adds a grilled, teriyaki-style flavor. Our Boneless Chicken offers a seasoned, breaded option, while the Mahi Mahi brings a different texture to the plate.
It's an especially useful choice when you're unfamiliar with our menu and want to try several items.
At Kapahulu, we also offer our Mix Plate With Gravy, featuring our famous gravy on the chicken. That particular version is a Kapahulu menu item, so check the location before planning your order.
Loco Moco Plate: Rice, Eggs, and Gravy
If you're in the mood for a hearty meal with gravy, our Loco Moco Plate is worth a look.
Our version includes two hamburger patties over two scoops of rice, topped with our special gravy and two eggs cooked the way you choose. It also comes with macaroni salad.
One of the things that makes Loco Moco different from an ordinary hamburger steak is the egg-and-gravy combination. The eggs sit on top of the patties and rice, bringing the ingredients together in one dish.
If you're deciding between Loco Moco and Hamburger Steak, the eggs are an important distinction. Our Hamburger Steak Plate features three hamburger patties served with our special gravy, along with the standard plate-lunch sides.
Boneless Chicken With Gravy Plate: For Gravy Fans
Our Boneless Chicken With Gravy Plate features boneless chicken thighs that are seasoned, breaded, and fried golden brown on our griddle, then served with gravy.
The combination of chicken, coating, and gravy makes this a different experience from our BBQ Beef or Shoyu Chicken.
It's a good direction to take when you're specifically craving fried chicken and gravy rather than a grilled entrée.
BBQ Beef Plate: For Teriyaki-Style Flavor
Our BBQ Beef Plate features tender sliced beef marinated in our BBQ sauce, also described on our menu as teriyaki, and seared on the grill.
Unlike the gravy-focused plates, this one puts the flavor of the marinated beef front and center.
Choose BBQ Beef if you prefer a grilled entrée with a sweet-savory sauce profile.
We also offer a BBQ Pork Plate featuring sliced pork that is marinated and seared on our grill.
Mahi Mahi Plate: For Fish Lovers
Our Mahi Mahi Plate features a seasoned, breaded dorado fillet fried golden brown on our griddle and served with tartar sauce.
It's a way to enjoy a fish entrée while keeping the familiar plate-lunch combination of rice and macaroni salad.
If you're comparing our Mahi Mahi Plate with the Mix Plate, consider whether you want fish as your main entrée or would rather sample it alongside beef and chicken.
Chili Plate: A Rainbow Drive-In Favorite
Our famous chili is another important part of our menu.
We prepare it daily with ground beef, garlic, kidney beans, and our blend of herbs and spices.
Our Chili Plate pairs the chili with the regular plate-lunch sides, while our Chili Rice Bowl offers another way to enjoy it.
If you already know you enjoy our chili, these give you two different ways to order it.
How to Choose Your First Plate Lunch
Still deciding? Start with what you're craving rather than trying to compare every item on the menu.
If you're craving... | Consider ordering... |
Several different entrées | Mix Plate |
Hamburger patties, eggs, and gravy | Loco Moco Plate |
Fried chicken with gravy | Boneless Chicken With Gravy Plate |
Grilled, teriyaki-style beef | BBQ Beef Plate |
Breaded fish with tartar sauce | Mahi Mahi Plate |
A chili-focused meal | Chili Plate |
These are suggestions, not rules. A plate lunch is all about enjoying the combination you like.
If you want variety, start with the Mix Plate. If gravy is what you're craving, our Loco Moco Plate or Boneless Chicken With Gravy Plate might be more your style.
Rice, Macaroni Salad, and Side Substitutions
Rice and macaroni salad are central to the local-style plate lunch, but they're not the only choices available.
Why Rice and Mac Salad Go Together
Rice works as the base for many of our dishes, especially plates featuring gravy or sauces.
Macaroni salad contributes a creamy, cool contrast. Together, these sides help make the meal feel complete.
If you haven't had a Hawaiʻi-style plate lunch before, trying the original combination is an easy way to get acquainted with it.
Can You Change the Sides?
Yes. Our plate-lunch menus at Kapahulu and Pearlridge allow these substitutions:
Replace rice with fries.
Replace macaroni salad with coleslaw.
Those are the substitutions published on our menus.
We also offer side items separately, including macaroni salad in cup, bowl, and bucket sizes.
The available selection can differ by location, so check the appropriate menu before ordering.
What About a Smaller Loco Moco?
If you're interested in Loco Moco but don't want the full plate, we also offer a Loco Moco Bowl.
Our bowl includes one hamburger patty over one scoop of white rice, topped with gravy and one egg.
It's a smaller version of the full Loco Moco Plate, with a different serving format.
Unlike the full plate, the bowl's published description does not include macaroni salad.
Gravy, BBQ Sauce, and Other Flavors on Our Menu
Sauces make a big difference when choosing a plate lunch. Two entrées might share the same sides yet offer completely different flavors.
Our Famous Gravy
Gravy is an important part of several Rainbow Drive-In dishes.
You'll find it with our Loco Moco Plate, Hamburger Steak Plate, and Boneless Chicken With Gravy Plate.
Our Kapahulu menu also features the Mix Plate With Gravy.
If you enjoy gravy, these are good dishes to compare before placing your order.
Our BBQ Sauce
Our BBQ sauce is also described as teriyaki on our menu.
The BBQ Beef Plate features sliced beef marinated in this sauce and seared on our grill. It's a useful contrast to our gravy-covered plates.
Tartar Sauce With Mahi Mahi
Our Mahi Mahi Plate comes with tartar sauce.
For someone who prefers a fish entrée over beef or chicken, this is another flavor combination worth considering.
One thing to remember: not every sauce or side is offered as a separate add-on at both locations. Check the location menu or ordering options for the specific combination you want.
More Than the Everyday Plate Lunch
Our regular plate lunches are a great place to start, but our menu also includes other local comfort-food options.
Daily Specials at Kapahulu
Our Kapahulu menu lists rotating specials such as Roast Pork With Gravy Plate, Kalua Pig and Cabbage Plate, Shoyu Pork Plate, and Beef Stew Plate.
Some specials are tied to particular days, while other menu items have different availability arrangements.
Because specials and availability can change, check our current Kapahulu menu when planning around a particular dish.
Saimin, Burgers, and Other Favorites
Not everyone in your group has to order a plate lunch.
Our menus include burgers and sandwiches, plus sides such as Saimin and Chili Rice Bowl.
Our Rainbow Royal, for example, features two hamburger patties with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and our special yellow sauce on a white bun.
It's another option for anyone who wants local comfort food but isn't in the mood for a full plate lunch.
Something to Drink With Your Plate
One of our menu favorites is the Slush Float, made with strawberry-flavored slush and topped with vanilla ice cream.
We also offer a regular strawberry Slush if you prefer it without the ice cream.
Pairing your meal with a Slush Float is one more way to enjoy a visit to Rainbows.
Where to Get a Rainbow Drive-In Plate Lunch on Oʻahu
You can visit us at Kapahulu in Honolulu or at Pearlridge Center in Aiea.
Kapahulu
Our Kapahulu location is at 3308 Kanaina Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815.
This is the location to check for our complete Kapahulu menu, including breakfast, daily specials, and the Mix Plate With Gravy.
You can browse the menu and place a pickup order through our Kapahulu online ordering page.
If you're ordering a large quantity, the online ordering system states that large orders must be placed at least 48 hours in advance. Same-day large orders may be subject to cancellation.
Pearlridge
Our Pearlridge location is at 98-1005 Moanalua Road, Aiea, HI 96701, inside Pearlridge Center.
It offers many of our familiar plate lunches, including the Mix Plate, Loco Moco Plate, and Boneless Chicken With Gravy Plate.
The Pearlridge menu is not identical to the Kapahulu menu, so we recommend reviewing the Pearlridge menu before visiting.
You can also find both locations and their posted hours on our locations page.
Come Hungry for Local Comfort Food
A Hawaiian plate lunch menu has plenty of variety, but choosing your first plate doesn't have to be complicated.
If you want to sample several entrées, our Mix Plate is a good place to start. If you're craving gravy, consider Loco Moco or Boneless Chicken With Gravy. And if you're in the mood for something grilled, take a look at our BBQ Beef Plate.
Whatever sounds ono, we're here to share the local comfort food that has been part of Rainbow Drive-In since 1961.
Ready for a plate lunch? Browse our menus or order online from Kapahulu before you visit.
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