I've always passed by Hilo Drive Inn, yet never stopped in to see what was behind this old yellowed sign. My curiosity finally got the best of me, so one day I decided to grab a quick lunch. Dead. Quiet. I mentioned this before, but having no customers at 12:30 on a Friday is usually a bad thing. I had my heart set on trying a plate here, but I can't say that being the only person around, other than the one lady minding the entire place, is reassuring in any capacity. I guess since she was the only one on duty, maybe they consider this a slow time? I went ahead and ordered a chicken katsu and garlic shrimp plate. I'm pretty sure the lady cooked everything herself, but the food came out within 10 minutes since there were no other customers. Now for the good news: this is probably some of the best chicken katsu I've ever had! The cutlet wasn't particularly oily, and had generous portions of chicken breast fried perfectly in a crispy batter. The garlic shrimp was a small portion, but was very well seasoned with chunks of fried garlic floating around. The mac salad was the only iffy part, it seemed watery in both consistency and flavor. Quite a shame that it was the only fault in a delicious plate lunch. I paid about $10 for my meal, and it looked like the rest of the menu fell into the $8-10 range. I'm not particularly excited for the prices here, but if the food is consistently good then it would be justified. I'll be back to try it again!
(4)
Fran C.
A few weeks ago I was working in the Hilo area. I was rushing around, and needed something quick, so I somehow ended up here - Hilo Drive Inn. This restaurant is tucked away in an industrial area, and I've driven past this place many times, but never stopped in, until recently......... When I went into the place, it was empty with no one around (that's not a good sign), but later a few people scraggled into the restaurant. A lady was working, & she was the "Ms. do it all" - you know...........the order taker, cashier, & cook. They had quite a large selection of items...........kinda reminded me of an L & L Drive Inn. I really didn't know what I felt like, so I ended up ordering a mini chicken katsu ($7.07 with tax). What can I say about the grub...........at least I got my food fast, and the food was hot & fresh. The serving of chicken katsu was generous, but there was nothing special about the chicken katsu. Also, it was nice to know that the chicken was not pressed, as sometime I find other places pressing their chicken to try and make the chicken pieces bigger that they actually are, but when they deep fry it, the meat ends up hard. One thing that I did not care for about this plate lunch, was the katsu sauce that they provided. It was a bit strange to me.........as I noticed the sauce was on the light orangie/pinkage side in color, and it tasted "different" from the normal katsu sauce that I'm use to. White rice only, they do not offer brown rice, and I also got a scope of mac salad (which I did not eat...........as you know I just hate mayonnaise). There is a lot of free parking in the private parking lot which is shared by other businesses. I don't think I'll be coming back here soon.........but at least I can say I tried a new place to eat.
(3)
Doug Z.
Filthy. Say it again- Filthy. It was my first and only visit. After we ordered our food, I noticed how dirty the walls were and then I caught sight of the white refrigerator (a residential one) in plain view with the door handle 6 shades of dark grey. Eeew! Not enough shrimp in the wife's Garlic Shrimp (8 manini ones) in the "regular" (larger of the two) portion. They were overcooked and surprisingly bland considering how much garlic was heaped over it. I got chicken mochiko curry and it looked like it had been sitting a long time, all the coating was off the chicken. Curry sauce had gravy and two pieces of carrot, nothing else. Upon leaving (it was about a half-hour before closing), there was a mountainous pile of empty styrofoam bentos piled up in the rubbish about a foot higher than the top of the can. You can do better.
(1)
Jacob B.
1st place i ate coming back to hilo after 6 months in maui saw the menu was different, there was a bunch of healthy stuff. coming from maui i was super surprised. its kinda a wannabe L&L and its menu was getting similar and they had the healthier choices type plate lunch. garlic ahi with brown rice and toss salad. I had asked before for brown rice and salad and the didnt have salad and would give lettuce and tomato (from the burgers) as salad. i ordered korean chicken curry rice with all brown rice and was sooooooooooooo good. The sweetness of the korean sauce mixed with the saltiness of the curry into one big sauce of deliciousness. it would be nice if the skin was off the chicken but it still taste fricken goooood. had my leftovers for lunch and it was still good. ooo and i saw bacon curry rice on the menu, gotta try that one time
(5)
Alan H.
Well kept little site that you would easily pass up on Kawili but such a good place to grab a quick lunch. The mochiko chicken plate is one of my favorites, and you can get a side of curry sauce for just a dime more. The mini meal is only $5.29 is definitely a deal and comes with a good amount of chicken (or entree), a scoop of rice, and a scoop of mac salad; i usually get this over the regular which is a dollar more but only gives you an additional scoop of white rice. The beef stew is also good. This place ranks up there with Hiro's for lunch food.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Drive-Thru : No Caters : Yes
Jon T.
I've always passed by Hilo Drive Inn, yet never stopped in to see what was behind this old yellowed sign. My curiosity finally got the best of me, so one day I decided to grab a quick lunch. Dead. Quiet. I mentioned this before, but having no customers at 12:30 on a Friday is usually a bad thing. I had my heart set on trying a plate here, but I can't say that being the only person around, other than the one lady minding the entire place, is reassuring in any capacity. I guess since she was the only one on duty, maybe they consider this a slow time? I went ahead and ordered a chicken katsu and garlic shrimp plate. I'm pretty sure the lady cooked everything herself, but the food came out within 10 minutes since there were no other customers. Now for the good news: this is probably some of the best chicken katsu I've ever had! The cutlet wasn't particularly oily, and had generous portions of chicken breast fried perfectly in a crispy batter. The garlic shrimp was a small portion, but was very well seasoned with chunks of fried garlic floating around. The mac salad was the only iffy part, it seemed watery in both consistency and flavor. Quite a shame that it was the only fault in a delicious plate lunch. I paid about $10 for my meal, and it looked like the rest of the menu fell into the $8-10 range. I'm not particularly excited for the prices here, but if the food is consistently good then it would be justified. I'll be back to try it again!
(4)Fran C.
A few weeks ago I was working in the Hilo area. I was rushing around, and needed something quick, so I somehow ended up here - Hilo Drive Inn. This restaurant is tucked away in an industrial area, and I've driven past this place many times, but never stopped in, until recently......... When I went into the place, it was empty with no one around (that's not a good sign), but later a few people scraggled into the restaurant. A lady was working, & she was the "Ms. do it all" - you know...........the order taker, cashier, & cook. They had quite a large selection of items...........kinda reminded me of an L & L Drive Inn. I really didn't know what I felt like, so I ended up ordering a mini chicken katsu ($7.07 with tax). What can I say about the grub...........at least I got my food fast, and the food was hot & fresh. The serving of chicken katsu was generous, but there was nothing special about the chicken katsu. Also, it was nice to know that the chicken was not pressed, as sometime I find other places pressing their chicken to try and make the chicken pieces bigger that they actually are, but when they deep fry it, the meat ends up hard. One thing that I did not care for about this plate lunch, was the katsu sauce that they provided. It was a bit strange to me.........as I noticed the sauce was on the light orangie/pinkage side in color, and it tasted "different" from the normal katsu sauce that I'm use to. White rice only, they do not offer brown rice, and I also got a scope of mac salad (which I did not eat...........as you know I just hate mayonnaise). There is a lot of free parking in the private parking lot which is shared by other businesses. I don't think I'll be coming back here soon.........but at least I can say I tried a new place to eat.
(3)Doug Z.
Filthy. Say it again- Filthy. It was my first and only visit. After we ordered our food, I noticed how dirty the walls were and then I caught sight of the white refrigerator (a residential one) in plain view with the door handle 6 shades of dark grey. Eeew! Not enough shrimp in the wife's Garlic Shrimp (8 manini ones) in the "regular" (larger of the two) portion. They were overcooked and surprisingly bland considering how much garlic was heaped over it. I got chicken mochiko curry and it looked like it had been sitting a long time, all the coating was off the chicken. Curry sauce had gravy and two pieces of carrot, nothing else. Upon leaving (it was about a half-hour before closing), there was a mountainous pile of empty styrofoam bentos piled up in the rubbish about a foot higher than the top of the can. You can do better.
(1)Jacob B.
1st place i ate coming back to hilo after 6 months in maui saw the menu was different, there was a bunch of healthy stuff. coming from maui i was super surprised. its kinda a wannabe L&L and its menu was getting similar and they had the healthier choices type plate lunch. garlic ahi with brown rice and toss salad. I had asked before for brown rice and salad and the didnt have salad and would give lettuce and tomato (from the burgers) as salad. i ordered korean chicken curry rice with all brown rice and was sooooooooooooo good. The sweetness of the korean sauce mixed with the saltiness of the curry into one big sauce of deliciousness. it would be nice if the skin was off the chicken but it still taste fricken goooood. had my leftovers for lunch and it was still good. ooo and i saw bacon curry rice on the menu, gotta try that one time
(5)Alan H.
Well kept little site that you would easily pass up on Kawili but such a good place to grab a quick lunch. The mochiko chicken plate is one of my favorites, and you can get a side of curry sauce for just a dime more. The mini meal is only $5.29 is definitely a deal and comes with a good amount of chicken (or entree), a scoop of rice, and a scoop of mac salad; i usually get this over the regular which is a dollar more but only gives you an additional scoop of white rice. The beef stew is also good. This place ranks up there with Hiro's for lunch food.
(4)