St. Louis Drive Inn

This is a good old stand by. It's simple, reasonable and good. The parking lot is small, but adequate. They had a long rice bowl as special. I didn't get it since i was already ono for Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice, but I would like to try it out for lunch sometime. I like it.

My husband said this is a family owned business when he lived here in 2000s (not sure if it still is but he thinks it still is), we come here every time we visit. Auntie and uncles in the back smash the line down and get em orders out. Food is hot, fresh, and bomb!!

Had an appointment nearby so I stopped by St. Louis Drive In for a late breakfast/early lunch. Some of breakfasts were starting at $7, great deal. I have found that I wanted something a little more so I placed an order for a shoyu chicken plate for $12.04 tax included. Yes, very competitive with Rainbow Drive In, Cheap Eats. Once my order came out I sat down and ate and it was good. Can not complain. Good food and good price. The place is not renovated and it gives a nostalgia feeling.

Heard this was the place to go for plate lunch. I got the ahi belly. OMG. Exceptionally delicious! This is not plate lunch, this is a legit restaurant quality meal served on a paper plate. Proper plating and everything. Even when I got it, the lady says, ooo you are going to like this, it smells so good. lol Recommended if you want a gourmet plate lunch at humble prices. Will definitely be back when in the area. So much more to try. They could use a more detailed menu - maybe online that describes “mixed plate” “Japanese plate” “Hawaiian plate”. “Hawaiian deluxe plate”Impossible to know what that means. But I guess once you try, you’ll be a regular and then you’ll know.

So this is full time local Hawaii style plate lunch vibes. So if you don’t like touristy food that has zero pretension and won’t cost you $24 bucks a plate and want to eat Hawaiian local style then St Louis drive in could be for you? As for locals in the know then this place offers guaranteed excellent plate lunch at affordable prices. With daily specials you’re likely to feel you hit the plate lunch lottery everyday. What ai got today is the Monday special of roast pork with gravy. Make sure you ask for gravy all over because they can be Pākē with the gravy. I do enjoy their Mac salad which I add extra black pepper and Tabasco (always). IFYKYK. I also got the fresh Mahi mahi plate lunch which to me was the better of the two plates. Don’t get me wrong the roast pork is good. But if I didn’t order the Mahi plate I would definitely would have food regret. One thing I’m learning is St Louis Drive inn may does fresh seafood plate lunches and Japanese plate lunches and bentos exceptionally well. You can’t go wrong with their Japanese seafood plate lunch. They are like punch-you-in-Da-face-REAL-GOOD! Their Mahi Mahi plate was soooooooooo Delicious! Like I was trying to go between both plates but got stuck and finished the Mahi Mahi plate lunch and almost for got about the roast pork plate. My recommendation is eat that seafood plate right at one of their outside tables when it’s hot Because it’s so Freaking Delicious. My already favorite is the Super Japanese seafood plate lunch but my second is the Mahi Mahi and this is only 3rd time here. So if you want less go Subway across the street. But if you want to feel like the prettiest plate lunch person then go St Louis Drive inn.

St Louis Drive Inn is CLOSED from 12/25/25 to 1/7/26. They will re-open on 1/8/26 at 5am. This is their annual Christmas and New Year’s holiday break. I got this off the posted cardboard sign on their window on 11/24/25. Mele kalikimaka! Ha’ouli makahiki hou!

6/2025 Added a sample of their menus to posting, including the okazuya next door. Meatloaf, spareribs, turkey, Hawaiian plates all pretty ono. Seafood bento, cannot go wrong! Sorry, I'll be sure to take pics next time. 7/15/22 Got off the plane and drove straight here. Git the Friday Specials, Hawaiian Deluxe, and Roast Turkey Plates. Onolicious! 5/2023 Ono local plate lunches. Seafood bento, Hawaiian Deluxe Plate, Turkey plate. My Trilogy! But, this time, I went for the beef stew and spareribs combo!! 6/2024 Had the Deluxe Hawaiian plate w/poi last week. This week was all about the Turkey plate! Onolicious. 12/2024 Still a good value. You may wait a tad bit longer but worth the wait.