Dean’s Drive Inn

Wow, I came in for lunch and ordered a burger, and was pleasantly surprised on the quality, and presentation of the dish! Very close to a fine dining dish! Worth the wait to get a meal cause restaurant half full as we arrived. Not sure if BYOB is ok, or if they have a liquor license. A glass of wine with my meal would have been a plus. (My choice would be a nice Zinfandel).

After getting a couple of recommendations, a few of my friends and I came here after a day at the beach. We were so hungry! I’ve got to say the customer service here is excellent, really nice and friendly. The place is easy on the eyes and clean.
I got the surf and turf which I will recommend if you’ve never had it. The teri steak is very tender and the ahi cakes, which come with a sauce drizzled over, is really good. It also came with a creamy spinach soup which was very tasty even though I’m not much of a fan of spinach.
I don’t agree with others about the place being overly priced because I think it was worth it. You don’t get as much food as you would from another plate lunch shop but you can taste the quality and effort put into it. My hunger was satisfied and you shouldn’t really eat till you feel bloated after a meal anyway.

5 STAR RATING
–Food
–Customer Service
–Atmosphere
Everything is worth it trust me. If you dont know, you’re missing out. Get to Dean’s when they’re open Sunday-​Thursday!

Went in tonight and met Dean. He made coconut shrimp for my son who had been looking forward to trying it after looking at other Unilocal reviews but wasn’t on the menu tonight– he simply said ‘is that what you are looking for? ’ then popped up and told the guys in the back to make it. It was the best ever! We also sampled the surf and turf, the Loco Moco and my daughter said ‘best grilled cheese ever’ all of which was delicious!
Dean then came over and we talked story about what to do on the island, where the best snorkeling spots were. He was genuine and really great with the kids.
All around an awesome experience! So glad we went!
Might have to sneak in for more coconut shrimp before our trip is over ;)

We got a recommendation from friends about this spot, and I’ll acknowledge that it’s a cut above your average plate lunch spot — noticeably fresher and a bit more attention to aesthetics. But it was also a bit more expensive and the portions were only so-​so, hence the average rating. I might give 3.5 stars if that were an option.
What we ordered:
— Monchong (fish) sandwich
— Fries
— Crispy pork chop with brown rice and a green salad
The fish was very fresh and grilled rather than deep fried, which we liked. The fries were expertly fried — crisp and not oily. The pork chop was also well-​fried, and the green salad was excellent — very fresh. The brown rice was… overcooked, which I hate. I’ll cop to being picky about rice, but simply put, I didn’t like theirs. We didn’t eat it, and we didn’t take it home.
Service was good, prices a bit on the higher end of what I would have wanted to pay. The restaurant had the AC going full blast, and we got cold, even with sweatshirts on. A decent enough experience that we’ll probably give it another chance, but not a must-​return.

I am not exactly sure what is happening at Dean’s, but the food and service is going downhill. The last two times I’ve eaten there, I’ve been treated like they really don’t care if I am there. I stood at register, for a moment, was not greeted, then cashier said, «I can take your order», a real a lackadaisical attitude. The next time I was there, they opened up a second register and took the persons’ order who was in front of me. Instead of taking me next, she closed that register and walked around the back of the counter, as if I was invisible. Pretty unprofessional service. We ordered 3 different dishes, and we all agreed the food was tasteless. Wonder if Dean is no longer cooking. Prices are way to high for what you receive. Don’t recommend this place, unless you like overpaying for run of the mill plate lunch.

I really liked their old location and tried this new location to see if it was as good. I had my usual ahi cakes, which was really delicious but I couldn’t help but notice that it was on the smaller side than the old location, for the mini plate. They’re a gourmet plate lunch place and it was a little on the expensive side for what I got. If you’re hungry, I suggest the regular plate and not the mini.

Hangry after going to the graveyard. Came upon this place. Lots of parking, very clean and delish food! My hubs got the surf and turf. He devoured the whole thing! I had the turkey delux burger. Delish! I’m glad that there was something rather healthy on the menu.
Gals behind the counter gave so much aloha to everyone. My hubby was looking at all of the décor. He commented that Dean must be a ocean man!
Awesome place. Will we be back? Definitely!
Editing this right after DEAN came up to us and asked how was everything! Wow! This owner truly cares about his customers. Awesome!

Dean’s is my favorite drive inn and has some of the BEST local food!!! I literally drive to Kaneohe just to eat here! The two things you MUST HAVE are the ahi cakes [10/​10] & teri beef steak [10/​10], which were both featured on Triple D’s. I just visited their new location for the first time and it was huge & they have an actual drive through. Food is still great as ever & you still see Dean & his family working! A little on the pricey side for a plate lunch, it is worth EVERY PENNY — especially since you can opt for a side soup! Love this place & I try to make it out here every time I come home!!!

Seen this place on triple D so decided to give it a try. I had the Surf in Turf which was 2 ahi cakes with a creamy siracha mayo drizzle & teri beef slices that were very tasy & tender. Didnt want rice so substituted fries which were really crispy. After tasting the teri sauce wish i could’ve gotten it drizzled over all my fries! Yum. kinda pricey but food was tastey. Only 1 cup size which is small for $ 1.85 & 0.48 cents for a refill, doesnt look it on the outside but very spacious inside. Wish i got a take out nenu since i noticed a drive thru. wouldnt mind trying other dishes & their samurai floats

Stopped by to try this place for the first time. Hubby had the Surf & Turf combo. He said it was delicious. I had the Lamburger with a side of fries. It was fresh and good. I think the patty needed a little more seasoning, but it was good overall. The people were really nice and welcoming. Will definitely come back!

I absolutely LOVE Dean’s Drive Inn. The fish is made several different ways but I prefer the Soyu Ginger sauce. This place was featured on diners driving and dives.
I usually eat here for lunch at least once a week. They know me by name and Dean always stops by to make sure everything is good! Never had a bad meal here in all these years.
My honest opinion is that this is the best plate lunch on the island of Ohau.

We got 3 plates today and 2 of those plates had some very good things on them but the 3^rd plate was disappointing.
Roast pork with gravy needs more salt, it was so bland and boring. And it killed the salt in pork so it in all needed salt. And the Mac salad was very generic, that needed salt as well.
Surf and turf, the fish cake was ok, interesting flavor, not my favorite but not bad. The Teri sauce and the beef was sooo Ono, it was just delicious. So I was highly disappointed in the serving size. The Mac salad again boring.
Rack of lamb, again the meat was delicious! But the serving size is so small for the price.
Overall, gotta be careful what you order. And if your hungry probably not the place for you. The prices are on the high end especially for a local place that has not so much of a local portion. $ 50 later for 3 people and we still were hungry. I guess Taco Bell is next.

As the four star rating says, «Yay! I’m a fan.» Dean’s Drive Inn is a cute little local spot in Kaneohe that has deliciously fresh food. I had their Ono sandwich and it was so good! The fish was fresh, and it was served on a bun with a fried wonton underneath. The wonton added a nice crunch to the sandwich, which I really appreciated. The fries were also very tasty. I am curious to see what else is on their menu because if the sandwich is any indication, the rest of the offerings must be delicious as well.

Guess we got caught up in the hype! It was OK not bad not great just ok. If we’re ever on this side again we’d come back. Wanna try the tofu katsu.

Visiting Hawaii for the first time… Saw the Hawaiian episode of triple d… Had the surf and turf lunch plate. Ahi cakes and Teri beef with homemade beef vegetable soup, brown and white rice. It was great! The young lady who took our order answered all our questions and as we were eating the owner came around and checked on us and the other customers. Good food, quick service and friendly staff! Two thumbs up!

Love The Burgers And Fries!!! And I’ve Dropped In Many Times For A Slush Float With A Scoop Of Vanilla Ice Cream. Yummy And Too Large To Eat At Once. Complimentary Iced Water Too!!!

Nice place, in spite of the fact that Guy Ferrari endorses the place! And they have a slush puppie machine! We ordered their surf and turf and fried tofu platter and thought they were both very good. I ordered carry-​out and they forgot my soup. Only get 1 chance to make a first impression, so I deducted them a star. But the food is fresh and service is good.

Post windward side hike grinds, my friend recommended Dean’s previously, and since we were in the area… decided to check it out. I wasn’t sure if they were open on president’s day, so i looked them up (on Unilocal), and tried to give them a call. IDK if it’s my crappy iPhone touch screen or what, but when i was trying to make the selection for «holiday hours» it kept giving me the rest of the options. D: frustrated, my friend and I agreed to check it out, and if they were closed. go check out somewhere else.
Low and behold, they were. OPEN! :D First thing i Noticed the large Guy Ferrelli poster and spray paint. After my friend giving me the history of the restaurant, adding that it had made an appearance on «diners drive-​ins and dives», i couldn’t wait to try the food.
Everything sounded so amazing! I asked my friend what he suggested, and he said «pretty much anything» (which wasn’t a big help since there were plenty of things on the menu). I went with the «chopped steak», just to be safe, because really. who can mess that up? O_​_​O
Anyways, to make this novel short, the thing that got me about this place. was the «Aloha Spirit». You could DEFINITELY feel it from the couple (who I believe is Dean, the owner, and possibly his wife? –sorry if i got that wrong!) I grew up on the windward side, and a strong memory was how close knit our relationships were with our neighbors, and even just running errands at the bank, or Star Market (back in the day), every person you come in contact with, made you feel like you were family. and this was exactly how i felt right as soon as i walked through that door.

Definitely a place, i would drive to kaneohe (now that i live in town) for, and recommend. Oh yah! the chopped steak was so good! the meat was moist very flavorful, and so was their rice (the best scoop of rice i had in awhile. btw, they also offer BROWN RICE!!). My friend also let me try his «Ahi Cake». so delicious!
SIDE NOTE: they also sell Samurai (soft serve)/Hawaiian Frost, so you don’t have to travel to Aiea or Kalihi and their bathroom is very clean and smells very nice (:

I finally caved and ordered from Dean’s again. The drive thru lady asked me if I was the one who wrote about the poor customer service and asked why. I told her that the person was extremely rude to me. She said well I wish you would have said something. I believe I did by posting about it. The employee was too busy to help me so why would she have time to hear and argue with me about customer service. Anyway, today I was apologized to for the incident so I feel the need to update my review. Amazing food but make sure you call ahead and order because they are too busy to answer any questions.

I used to get frustrated going here because they’re closed on Fridays and Saturdays for religious reasons. Finally, I learned to tell myself that this is the place to go on Sundays! When other small businesses are closed on Sundays, Dean’s is open.
I have actually had many dishes here – hamburger steak, teri-​beef, several desserts, etc. They were all delicious! The last time I was there, a fellow foodie friend of mine and I tried the special somen with salmon. OMG, it was the best dish ever! When have you ever ordered somen and gotten fresh seaweed mixed in with the noodles?
The owners are friendly, too. When they’re busy, they obviously can’t talk. But when it slows down, they talk story while you order. The last time, the male owner walked around the restaurant and asked how we liked our salmon specials. My foodie friend, who is originally from Maui and has an outstanding palate, couldn’t stop complimenting the dish! The owner beamed with joy; I found that very sweet.

(Negative) 5 stars for DEANS DRIVE INN
(William Henry Rd) cost so much for just little bit food!!! So UNHAPPY right now! NEVER AGAIN will I EVER GO THERE!!! $ 15.00 for 1 small hamburger patty rice && Mac salad. BAD BAD BAD BAD!!!

I’m pleased to be able to be a complete tourist and find places like Dean’s. Completely off the beaten path and a hidden gem. Our hours are a little messed up from being from Southern CA but the food was still great. You can tell they put love into their craft, the food was amazing. A little over priced but very good nonetheless.

FOOD MADE WITH ALOHA I TELL YOU!
Tried Deans drive in tonight… a, I had to work don’t wanna cook. night; and seen this pop on here when searching
We ordered take out… mahalo to who’s workin tonight 10÷11÷15 and took our phone order. Even though you were closing soon you were patient didn’t rush and had great customer service!
This was the old Zippys drive through and we picked up fast and easy
Now your food! Presentation top notch! Hit the spot hands down AMAZING!
I had an the tofu steak with ogo… yassss a healthy option… I LOVED IT
MAI KAI NO! Keep up the great work!!!

So we ordered the chopped steak, ahi tuna cakes and the daily special that day which was the fresh island opah. I really liked the chopped steak and the ahi tuna cakes, but wasnt a huge fan of the opah. The chopped steak was nice and juicy while the ahi tuna cakes had great flavor. The opah tasted a little fishy which I didnt like, but I still gave 4 stars because the other 2 things were awesome.
The place isnt very big so it gets a little crowded. Parking could be challenging as well especially during lunch or dinner.
I will definitely go back when I’m in the Kaneohe area as I really want to try the lamb. Definitely a fan!

There’s not too many good eating places in kaneohe, so I’m glad they have located to a much easier place to drive to and park:
Catch of the day — 3 stars — for $ 14, the ono was ok but not spectacular. came with basic side greens. we chose the ginger onion sauce and asked for it to be on the side, but I guess they forgot so the strong ginger sauce soaked into the fish.
ahi cakes — 5 stars — I looked up you Unilocaler’s reviews and saw that this one was one of the best. thank you for your suggestions because it was really tasty and something I wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere. the sauce was just right, considering I usually don’t like mayo. I chose the miso soup with this plate instead of the salad and it was really different than a usual miso, with shiitake mushroom and onions added in.
The wait was a little long but it went fast since I am busy posting while waiting for my food.
service is very personable — I was debating to buy the shortribs, but decided not to, so the waitress was really nice and offered two pieces to try without me even asking. the Teri sauce was nice and sweet, but the meat was a little burnt on the side and I can’t rate it since I only had a taste of it.

When Dean’s Drive Inn was featured on The Food Network’s Triple D, there was buzz around town and I was keen on trying. I’ve been to several establishments thanks to Guy Fieri (i.e. Mana Bu’s and Big Wave Shrimp Truck in the North Shore) so this was under the radar for me. But I’m a townie. I don’t care to drive far but for food I’ll do it. So when some friends were going to get together and have lunch I jumped on the bandwagon. However…
First of all, this place is pretty easy to find in Kaneohe. WIth the Google map I used with the Unilocal App it was a piece of cake. I arrived shortly before opening so there were quite a few stalls on a Sunday morning.
The staff at the counter are very friendly. Knowledgeable of the menu my questions were answered. I originally wanted to try the deep-​fried scallops as my friend posted on both Unilocal and on Facebook but this is a daily special item and it wasn’t available on the day I went. Sad face…
So I ended up with a daily special selection of a mini baked chicken. Here you are given the choice of either brown or white rice as well as tossed or macaroni salad. After paying you are given a number so you grab your drink and find an empty booth.
It didn’t take that long for the food to arrive. Presentation-​wise the food looked very good. However, taste and temperature fell flat. Very flat that is. Here is what I sampled:
1) Baked Chicken (²⁄₅)
I wasn’t expecting fresh out-​of-​the-​oven baked chicken as for a fast food joint it’s pre-​cooked. For a mini plate the serving was HUGE. 3 pieces of chicken thighs with rice and salad. If you’re looking for volume and don’t care for quality then this place is for you. It was bland. I felt like I was dining at the dorm cafeteria during my college days. One bite and I was pretty much done. I ended up sharing my lunch with a friend who seemed hungry after eating his plate. After taxes, this plate was over $ 9.
2) Teriyaki Beef (²⁄₅)
I was surprised on how tender the beef was. Very juicy and not overcooked. However, that Teriyaki sauce poured over the beef KILLED the dish. It was SWEET SWEET SWEET. I wanted to gag. Seemed more like a dessert than a main dish. After taxes regular plate was over $ 14.
3) French Fries (²⁄₅)
It came out fresh out-​of-​the-​fryer so it was PIPING hot, the way I enjoy eating fries. However, they forgot to add salt! It was flavorless. I big NO-​NO in deep-​fried foods. You need to apply some salt just as it comes out of the fryer. If you try adding it later the salt is not absorbed but bounces off.
4) Lamb Burger (²⁄₅)
My friend ordered this. It was moist but lacked lamb flavor. Perhaps too much fillers added where the meat flavor was compromised. Disappointing.
Before we got our food I noticed the table we sat on was DIRTY with dried stains. The restaurant had just opened so it seemed like the tables were not wiped down after they closed the previous day. The sauce/​gravy had crusted so I reported this to l the counter staff and immediately one of the staff cleaned our table.
As we left the restaurant, this place was PACKED. I mean, FILLED with people dining and standing in line to order. I’ll admit this place is VERY PRICEY for fast-​food. I mean, $ 13-​$ 16 for a regular plate lunch? Perhaps I sampled the wrong food?
I do believe in giving places a second-​chance but after this dining experience I am NOT eager to return in the near future. There are other places I’d rather eat at or try instead.
NOTE: Fountain drinks here DO NOT have FREE refills. They charge you extra. The cost of fountain drinks is inexpensive and I frown when establishments charge you extra for refills. If I remember correctly, it was over $ 2 per drink and they charge you $ 0.50 for refill and it’s SELF-​SERVE. They don’t use a staff to get you the refill and they charge you that much? Is it because Dean’s Drive Inn just moved to a new location and trying to get back their investment by nickel-​and-​diming their customers? Not cool in my books for charging on refills.

Cute little diner in Kaneohe. I had their ginger shoyu monchong… And the fish was delicious!!!
Presentation was beautiful, restaurant clean, service was good, food was delicious and I beat the dinner crowd too!
The food takes a little bit longer to come out, but it is definitely worth the wait. He definitely puts heart into whatever dish he is making.
As I was devouring my plate, the line started to build up. So glad that had placed my order in before the crowd came in.
There is lots of parking right and front and it’s easy to find.
Apparently this place isn’t new, their old location was popular too. Now they are located next to the Bank of Hawaii.

I had lunch here yesterday, for an UYE! Guy Fieri had this place on his show so we decided to give this place a try.
I’m going to start off with the positives. The people working here are really nice. The place is a nice size and they let us RSVP for our big party. We were kind of loud and made all kinds of noise. Thanks for not throwing us out, lol. You place your order at the counter and they give you a number. You wait for your number to be called and pick up your food. Everything is served in take out containers, so when you’re done, you just throw it away. This place was busier than I expected. They served bacon potato chowder that day. It came with the loco moco I ordered. It’s the first time I ever had bacon potato chowder. It was pretty good and tasty.
Now, I’m going to go in on the negatives. It literally took us 35 minutes to get our food after we ordered at the counter. The food was mediocre. The hubby ordered the turkey burger with a side of fries. He said that the sandwich was ok but they put on too much onions. He took some of it off, no big deal. I got the loco moco, which was ok as well. The gravy was a little salty and not creamy. It’s personal preference. I like my gravy creamy. They need to fill their condiments. They had a few bottles of condiments at the counter where you place your order. The soy sauce bottle was practically empty. I poured the last of it on my plate. I was searching for the ketchup bottle but they didn’t have any. They only have ketchup packets so everyone was asking for handfuls of it.

So this place was featured on the Food Channel so I figured I had to check it out. We drove from town to Kaneohe.
I normally like to ask questions and the girl at the front could not answer it. I was choosing between the Coconut Shrimp and Deep Fried Scallops and I made the mistake of asking her which plate sells more. She tells me they sell the same which we all know is mathematically unlikely.
Anyway we decided on the mixed plate of ahi stacks and beef teriyaki. The other plate consisted of the deep friend scallops.
The food was quite tasty. First of all the mixed plate had good flavor. I liked how the beef was a thick cut. It had wonderful flavor. The ahi tasted fresh and was not overcooked. However the portions were quite small for a ticket price of $ 13.95.
The scallops were tiny bay scallops with a lot of breading. It had a nice crunch but the scallops retained a lot of water so it was quite bland unless you dipped it into their aioli that came with it.
Overall this was not a bad meal. The teri was great. But the portions were small and $ 13.95 for 2 small plate lunches is a little absurd.

I’m so happy that Dean’s has moved to this location. It’s easier to get to from Kam Highway (esp. if you are heading Kailua bound on Kam Hwy), there is more parking, and a lot more seating in the restaurant.
They have the same awesome entrees on the menu.
My picks:
1) surf and turf: teri beef steak and ahi cakes: the best of both worlds
2) hamburger steak: the gravy makes this dish
Your best bet is to check the menu on Unilocal (look at the business photos) and call in your order ahead of time.
There is a drive-​thru too. I believe it’s reserved for phone orders only. Great for folks traveling with kids in the back seat!

First time visiting/​eating at Deans and I am impressed. As a vegetarian, there are never any options at the local drive/​dine ins. I was immediately attracted to this place when I saw that there was an entire food section just for veggies! YAY!
Location
— great new location with plenty of parking!
— drive thru window for pick up orders!
Food
— I got the Maui Taro burger (~$ 6) and fries! It did not disappoint and it was huge! The burger had mayo, lettuce, onion, and tomato! Wish there was pickles tho.
— the boyfriend got a regular teriyaki chicken plate (~$ 11) with brown rice and greens. He said he liked it and it didn’t feel as heavy as other plate lunches!
— called ahead for a pick up order and it was ready in 20 minutes! I think we found a great place for a quick bite for a decent price!
We will be back!

FYI — I will be updating my review soon — with the new location reviews
For my first review of 2015, I had to go with a tummy pleaser — and Dean’s Drive Inn def made my tummy do cartwheels and tumbles. It. was. awesome. If you’ve ever been around the neighborhood, you’ll know getting to Dean’s is a strategic tease. If you are coming from my house (near Windward Mall), there is no way to turn left into the lot — so you have to MacGyver some possibly illegal turns. But since you really want to eat here, you will do anything. Furthermore, parking. It’s a given that 99% of the parking lot is taking up by Dean’s Drive Inn patrons — or at least on the day we were there. Parking is tight — deal with it.
As you make your way into Dean’s, focus most, if not all, of your attention on the specials board (unless of course you know your staple meal — my dad always gets the Surf & Turf). I had the Teri Beef & Fried Shrimp (holy yumminess!) with tossed salad/​white rice and my hubby had a fish special. We had to wait a bit — because, well, the best things come to those who wait… patiently. Not only did we get a table and our delicious grinds after 15 minutes or so, but we had a nice conversation with Dean, the owner. Everyone knows food tastes way better when the environment and customer service is top notch.
It’s no secret that Dean’s Drive Inn is a hit in the Kaneohe neighborhood. It’s always crowded, the wait is long, and tables are at a minimum. So here are my final thoughts: 1) everything is good, so order away, 2) call your order in (if you know what you want — I’m not at that point yet haha), 3) go with a friend or two so that in case there’s no parking, one person can stay in the car, and 4) get a dessert, I mean you waited that long, why not?

Location, Location, Location: Dean’s Drive Inn has been a fixture at Adon Plaza in Kaneohe for quite a while now. But it was hard to park and even hard to get into and out of that lot. By comparison the old restaurant was very tiny and cramped. This new location is a game changer on all levels. Plus, I live less than a half mile away.
Venue: Large parking lot, drive up window (for phone in orders only), huge interior with lots of seats. Easy to get in and easy to get out. Clean and nice.
Hours: Closed Friday and Saturday. Open 11:00am to 8:00pm. Sort of unusual fri and sat closure. But open 3 more hours each day. This makes picking up dinner very easy now.
Dean and Family: Dean is the chef and runs the business on a daily basis. He is helped by his family. The advantage is consistent high food quality and personal service above and beyond expectations. There are a number of family run businesses in Kaneohe. We love each and every one of them. They are the 5 Star best!
Food: Burgers and sandwiches of all sorts. Plate lunches in mini and regular sizes. Ahi Cakes, Loco Moco’s, Rack of Lamb plus you name it! And… A full vegetarian Menu! All menu items are better than average deluxe gourmet offerings. There is a reason for all the media attention and the DDD TV fame.
Service: Order at the counter. Get your receipt and wait for your number to be called. Our food came out very quickly. If you called in your order you can pick it up at the drive up window. Currently cash only but they are just waiting for the credit card processing to become functional.
Our food: Wife ordered her favorite Ahi Belly from the daily special menu. She was remembering the Ahi Belly from Nico’s at Pier 38. She was wondering if Dean’s Ahi Belly would measure up. Well, it did! She was in Ahi Belly heaven. Especially with the shoyu ginger dressing which was recommended by the staff. She was quite impressed. She loved her Samurai Soft Serve too.
Vegetarian: I decided on the Taro Deluxe Vegetarian Burger. Very nice sandwich! I would get this again. I also got the Tofu Vegetable Stir-​fry with brown rice and green salad with the intent of eating it later. This was a really nice vegan meal with lots of fresh goodness and flavors. I started eating it as soon as I got home. Thank you Dean for taking care of us odd ball vegetarians! I love it! Now I don’t have to stand there staring at the menu trying to figure out what to order. I’m going to be a regular at Dean’s for sure.