Rainbow Drive-In has served plate lunches at the corner of Kapahulu and Kanaina avenues since Oct. 2, 1961, when Seiju and Ayako Ifuku opened it. The family-owned drive-in is now run by the third generation, led by CEO Chris Iwamura.
Its formula hasn’t changed much: hearty plate lunches with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad, served quickly at reasonable prices. Longtime best-sellers include the mix plate of barbecue beef, chicken and fish, the chili dog and boneless chicken with gravy, with loco moco and shoyu chicken added over the years.
Rainbow has two locations, Kapahulu and Pearlridge, at 98-1005 Moanalua Road in ʻAiea, and takes online orders. It marked 65 years this October, and the Pagoda Hotel has said Rainbow will take over its floating restaurant, though no opening date had been announced when Oahu Local checked.
Featured in Oahu Local: Kapahulu’s Rainbow Drive-In Turns 65, Still Family-Owned