Leeward Drive-Inn

Man this place has some major grinds. In all my life, I never once went to Leeward drive-​in but I am now certainly sure ice been missing out.
This is the place for some well-​priced local grinds. Nothing fancy, just plate lunches like you rerember them from drive-​ins of the past. It even still has that old drive-​in feel with the lighting at night.
I ordered the obento and did not at all expect that much food packed in it. I have food for days lol. Fried noodles, spam, egg, rice omg I can’t even remember what else was in there.
I can’t wait to come back. I would choose this place over L&L any day!

I love this place! I grew up eating here, so this review may be biased.
First, the only reason why this review isn’t getting 5 stars is because of the fact that they don’t have a dine-​in area that’s indoor. They have 2 tables that you can eat on, but it’s outdoor, and there’s a lot of homeless near the area, so they like to hang out on those tables, so of course they’re very dirty.
Other then that, IT’S one of the best «hole in the wall» restaurants out there. The parking is so convenient, literally park and walk 10 feet to place your order.
The main item I can never leave without getting is their FRIED NOODLE PLATE. They’re well known for that. Also, I love getting their hamburger steak! it’s one of the best on the island! I love the fact that their plates comes with a side of fried noodles, mac salad & tossed salad WITH rice. How can it get any better than that?! & The price is cheap! They also serve breakfast all day :)
Another item that I love, is their plain-​olé cheeseburger. If you love the old Tasty Freeze in Waianae, you’re not going to anymore! it taste just like it!
Oh & you can’t forget about their drinks… they have Lilikoi or Green river :)

Went here for breakfast today. I need to say that I’ve been coming here for the past 30 years. Love their apple turnovers, fried noodles, and their hotcakes. Well, today was a totally different kind of experience since I waited over 25 minutes for our food. I could have totally made my own food in less time! But that’s why we all go to «fast food» drive ins, right!!! For «fast food»!!! Anyway, the cashier or somebody should have said that our meal would take longer based on what we ordered. Nope! She didn’t. The cashier should have touched bases with me and said, «it’ll be a few more minutes». Nope … She didn’t. Cashier should have been more attentive instead of walking away twice as we attempted to give her our order. Nope, not a chance. Possibly, could we have gotten a smile as she serviced us? Nope, too difficult. I’m beyond disappointed and did take the time to share my concerns directly with a couple of their workers.
It’s sad that this long-​lived Waipahu icon is giving this type of service. Even through the hard times they must have gone through with the fire they had and having to be rebuild. I’m saddened by it all and hope they can have their cashiers take some customer service classes or something.
By the way, the hotcakes were not the same. Very dry and way too thick. I love thick hotcakes but they used to be moist, fluffy, and thick. They even had their own special flavor. Sorry to say this is not so anymore.

They should hire people who actually speak the English language. The cashier said our order would take 10 mins. We waited in the car and went to pick up our food after 10 minutes. Tell me why she didn’t put in our order???

Always good I love their fried noodles! My boyfriend always gets their hamburgers but gave a 3 because this time he said it was dry and small

Love Leeward Drive Inn! Brings me back to my younger days when I lived in Waipahu…
My favorites to get here are the fried noodles and sweet sour spare ribs. The spare ribs are so soft and flavorful! (I never order sweet sour spare ribs from anywhere except here!). The portions are pretty big so you definitely get your money’s worth.
If I feel especially hungry I get one of their turnovers too… Last time I got the guava cheese and it was pretty good. It’s not the fanciest dessert but something about it just hits the spot.

I ordered a Meat Jun & Shoyu Chicken combo lunch plate. Let me tell you, there food is ono! Not only was it ono but the amount of food they give for 10 bucks is worth it. A lunch plate comes with toss salad, mac salad, fried noodles, & 2 scoops of rice. Quality & quantity of their food are worth coming here for. Would give 5 stars but they just lack good customer service! They could at least smile to make their customers feel welcome.

I love noodles, I could probably live off of noodles if I wanted to. Had a craving of their fried noodles at 10pm tonight and figure we stop by while we were on our way home. Wasnt busy, kinda didnt like how you could barely see the lines for for their parking lot but the place is kinda beat up, so cant do much about that.
Got home, was super excited to eat and I start digging in. Maybe 4 or 5 bites into it, I go for my next bite and find a bug in my food. I feel so sick, I dont even wanna eat any more of it. Guess that’ll no longer suffice my cravings gor their fried noodles…

Awesome place to get a late night snack and just grind. Very large portions and had leftovers after. As you can see, fried noodles rain supreme here! I loved the Mochiko Chicken and when you combo it with the noodles it’s only about 8.50 $! However, if you use a card, you have to spend 10 $ or more. Their parking lot is large and their restaurant is easy to find. They have plenty of seating outside and they will make your food in 10 minutes or less. A perfect fast food place! A few notes though, it is not the healthiest food out there and the area is a little dirtier (in comparison to Rainbow Drive-​In). If these are things you don’t mind like myself, then I would recommend this place to anyone I know! Solid food for a solid price and one of the few restaurants open later at night.

For a plate lunch on the Leeward side, this place is an icon of Waipahu w/​cheap eats & Ono grinds! If you’re not sure what to try, get the Ultimate Plate (fried chicken, sweet sour spare ribs, hamburger steak, noodles, rice, mac salad) for only $ 12!
Other times that I’m craving a good homemade burger, is a good go to.
I also like their fried noodles & fried chicken. Something about the crispness of the chicken that is just right.
They also have orange bang & green river which are great childhood past times.
Oddly, one of the last plate lunch places that you can still buy cigarettes too.
They accept credit cards, so don’t worry if you don’t have cash.

I found this place from Unilocal (of course!)
Plate lunch with mochiko chicken ($ 8.45) and shoyu chicken ($ 8.95): they came with 2 scoops rice, mac salad, toss salad, and fried noodle.
The mochiko chicken was okay; it was slightly sweet. The shoyu chicken was AMAZING. I don’t really care for soy sauce chicken, but this chicken is exceptional. The chicken absorbed the sweet marinade nicely. It tasted almost like sweet tender chicken jerky. I couldn’t stop eating this and I actually ate it cold the next day. We had no microwave in the hotel. I know… SAD!
Green river and lilikoi ($ 1.89 for medium)
Green river lemon lime drink made with 100% Maui natural cane sugar. I didn’t really care for it.
Lilikoi: basically it’s a passion fruit drink. I liked the lilikoi better than the green river.
QUICK TIP: OUTSIDE SEATINGS ONLY.
3.5 stars!
Leeward Drive-​Inn is kinda yummylicious!

Best. Fried. Noodles. Ever.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I wanted fried noodles at least twice a week, and about once a week, I drove here all the way from manoa just to get it! I still want it at least every month, so everytime I come to waipahu or ewa, I make a stop at leeward drive inn for their fried noodles. I always change up the meats… sometimes I’ll have it with chicken katsu, kalbi, fried chicken, etc. I use to order their box lunch or their ultimate mix plate. Everything is delicious. My husband loves their Kalua pig plate. Generous portions is what they always offer! I still wish they had a bigger sitting area like before to dine there. I always call my order in to beat the wait. The wait can range from 10 – 15 minutes during busy times! Leeward drive inn, never leave!!!

Best Drive In/​Take-​Out place ever! Located in Waipahu on Pupukahi street. Prices are cheap, portions are huge and quality is great! I love getting their fried noodles especially with a side of fried chicken or teriyaki beef! Amazing! I come here on occasion due to the fact I live pretty close by, so I make a stop before going home or on my way to work sometimes!

We waited about 5 minutes to have someone take our order. They’re very busy! The lady was nice & we waited for our food about more than 5 – 10 minutes. The wait was long due to catering food orders. There was another lady who was waiting for her food before us & she was impatient. She kept asking where here food was…
They’re quite popular. We had about 3 people waiting on their order before us. I like how it’s freshly cooked. I ordered loco moco & I HAD ONLY 1 HAMBURGER PATTY. Most of my plate was filled with just rice & gravy. Ugh. I was looking forward for big portions but I guess not. They should’ve at least have me 2 patties. My dad & brother ordered their famous fried noodles.

This place is convenient for me because it’s on the way too and from work/​home and right next to a thai massage parlor I frequent.
This place has been around forever and I’m sure there’s a reason for that. Decent location to stop by and pick up a plate, food is good, and it brings back old childhood memories from customers like myself reminiscing of elementary days when we’d order a bento for a field trip.
These days I opt for the fried noodles with a side of meat. Plenty of meat options to choose from as well as other plate lunches to choose.
They have two or three tables in the front to sit at but really this is more of a pick up your food and go kinda place. Not sure if they have another seating area. I don’t think I’ve ever sat there to eat before.
If you’re in town and feel like a plate lunch Leeward Drive-​in works.

Pretty cool place to eat even when it’s late. They close at 11pm last night which is cool with us. Since we didn’t want Zippy’s, but ended up there anyways after. Friendly staff. The place is a walk up window and you eat outside on the bench. But when you look inside its like huge.
Hubby ordered the ultimate bento was short rib, Mac salad, fried noodle, beef steak and gravy and fried chicken. I ordered the friend chicken and beef stew. I like the beef stew BUT there was only three pieces and what threw me off was that the stew sauce had some ground beef in it. My daughter got the saimen which is good. And my sis got the fried noodle which they are known for. Pretty good. We also got the fries and club sandwich. The fries looks fresh. Straight from the potato.

Although I have lived on the leeward side for 20 years and always drive by this place I have yet to stop and eat here until today. My dad started talking about back in the day when he used to get off the bus and hang out near this area. He reminisced about the green river drink and the noodles and said everything is just as he remembered it. Nostalgia points for dad lol.
Anyway since today was the first time for me, I decided to get the fried noodles which comes with fishcake and green onions for 5.99. You can also add any choice of meat to your noodles, yet I can’t remember the exact price. Maybe it was a dollar something upward towards the two dollar range. I chose the fried chicken. I was pleased with the portion size of the plate, it was loaded with noodles and a yummy piece of fried chicken which was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The noodles itself were not too dry and not too oily and tasted pretty good… Better than most other places that boast of their number one best noodles in the world lol. I personally love quality over quantity but there are some days I just want a satisfying meal to fill me up and leeward drive in sure hit the spot today. I also ordered a small green river since my dad was remembering it lol, it wasn’t bad. Probably not my thing since it was not too sweet or tangy. I kind of like my drinks to be on the tangy side and can’t stand when drinks are too sweet– so it was just ok for me.
I ordered my daughter a hot dog special with fries and they could have been a little neater when making this plate but I get it guys, it’s one of those local spots where you just take it how they serve it and don’t complain lol. Anyway, it was a medium sized hot dog lost in a sea of French fries and loose olives and pickles. At first I thought there was no bread either but it was buried underneath and soggy from the heat and oil of the fries. Speaking about fries, some of them were crispy, but most of them were soggy and all of them were really oily. Not too fond of the fries. There was also a small cup of Mac salad that came with the special and that tasted pretty good though.
Parking can get tight so it might take a bit of hassle to get a space. I would recommend take out since it gets crowded and hot. Also, I’ve had no complaints about the service but maybe I’ve come on a good day lol.
Overall, I can say that I would come again. The portions are really good (if you’re not on a diet), and the food is tasty for the most part. I read some reviews about this place not being healthy. Of course, it’s a drive inn. Good old fashioned grease and oily foods lol. Please stop at the appropriate places for your food preferences lol.

first time at Leeward Drive-​Inn — ambience is very local and you can’t go wrong there. Went there for lunch to try out the hamburger steak and the breakfast of meat and eggs. For the price, they’re ok. Could go to Zippy’s for a better quality breakfast for what I pay for. Parking is limited and area seems a bit run down. But the hamburger steak and mac salad was ono! They really give out good servings because the portion sizes are big! They do take card — but it has to be at least $ 10.
Also tried the guava cream cheese turnovers — pretty good and was filling for sure. Make sure you try the fried noodles! IT IS SO ADDICTING. You won’t be able to stop yourself. Got a large portion of those too — definitely make you reminisce of the good ‘ol Waipahu days! Oh wait — I grew up in ‘Aiea…
Anyways, try this place out. Make sure you get the fried noodles. Sit down with friends. Talk story. And just enjoy the food.

One of the best places for fried saimin — Leeward Drive-​Inn. Located in Waipahu, an old plantation town, it has retained it’s look and feel over the decades its been in business. It has changed ownership a few times since it’s inception, and someone who is a member of the family who originally opened it, said the fruit turnovers aren’t as good as they used to be, but their fried saimin is still broke da mout. It’s basic like how it’s supposed to be — fried saimin noodles with small bits of green onion, kamaboko (fishcake), and bean sprouts. And at $ 5.99, it’s a steal.
What many don’t know about Leeward Drive-​Inn is that they also make hand cut french fries!

People have been telling me to eat here for months but I just recently started going and their food is delicious! I’ve had their Korean Bbq Chicken and Kalbi and both are really good. The entrée comes with a generous amount of rice, salad, Macaroni Salad, and fried noodles.
The only reason why I couldn’t give it more stars is because I went there again last night before they closed and the noodles that came with my Kalbi had green mold on them. I don’t know if they’d been sitting out all day or what but it made me lose my appetite and still makes me sick to think about! I didn’t realize there was mold on it until after I already started getting full and I started looking at the noodles. :(