L&R Drive Inn

 If there’s one place our family visits every week, it’s L&R Drive Inn in Kāne‘ohe. For the past few years, we’ve been picking up a plate of their chicken katsu to-go like clockwork. The boys absolutely love it — crispy on the outside, tender inside, and always consistent. We’ve tried a few of their other dishes before, but honestly, nothing quite compares to the chicken katsu.

When the boys’ birthday rolled around this year, we decided to keep things easy and cater instead of cooking for 15 people (including the in-laws!). Of course, the birthday boys requested their favorite — chicken katsu — so we ordered a whole pan of it. 

To round things out, we added beef with vegetables, fried noodles, and fried rice.

Everything turned out really good! The katsu was just as tasty as always, and the noodles were a surprisingly big hit — flavorful, perfectly cooked, and not greasy at all. I think we’ve just found a new weekly addition to our usual order.

L&R never disappoints — simple, local comfort food done right.

L&R DRIVE INN

45-582 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY

KANEOHE, HI

808-247-8484

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Jolene's by the Bay

Jolene's Hawaii has been a popular spot for seafood lovers ever since it first opened in Chinatown in 2019 right before the pandemic. Known for their affordable and delicious lobster rolls, the restaurant quickly garnered attention and expanded over the years. With three locations now— airport area, Ewa Beach, and Kaneohe—Jolene’s has solidified its place as a local favorite. While it’s sad to see their original Chinatown location close, you can still get their delicious lobster rolls and 18-hour smoked brisket at their new spots more than makes up for it.

We recently had the chance to visit the Kaneohe location, which is nestled at the Bayview Golf Course. This location boasts a stunning view of the lush green golf course, but what’s even better is that the entire restaurant is open-air, so you can enjoy the breeze while taking in the beautiful surroundings—making it a perfect place to unwind with some great food.

Of course, we couldn’t visit Jolene's without trying their signature dish—the famous lobster roll. It absolutely did not disappoint! Generous chunks of fresh lobster are packed into a soft roll, and every bite is bursting with flavor. It’s the kind of lobster roll that makes you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth with every bite.

But there’s more to Jolene's than just their lobster rolls! We were also blown away by their braised brisket. Whether you choose to have it as a sandwich or plate, it’s absolutely divine. Tender, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned, it quickly became a favorite with the boys at the table. If you’re a fan of hearty, savory dishes, this one should definitely be on your list.

To round out the meal, we couldn’t resist trying their bubble drinks. These refreshing beverages are the perfect complement to the rich and savory flavors of the lobster roll and brisket. Plus, who doesn’t love a good bubble tea to sip on while enjoying the view?

From the generous lobster rolls to the mouthwatering braised brisket, there’s something for everyone on the menu. And don’t forget to add a bubble drink to complete your experience! 

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JOLENE'S BY THE BAY

45-285 KANEOHE BAY DRIVE

808-236-1010

 

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Donut King - Now Open in Kaneohe!

Donut King brings freshly made donuts back to Kaneohe! Donut King started 8 years ago in Kaimuki, and has since opened locations in Waikiki, Kailua, and now Kaneohe! They specialize in yeast and cake donuts of varying flavors and colors. They also have croissant donuts and croissant bites that are to-die-for!

Donut King opens at 6 am everyday, which is great for those who want to pick up donuts on their way to work. 

Their yeast donuts are light, fluffy, and just amazing. 

Life is always better with sprinkles!

They also make cake donuts and the traditional old-fashioned style donuts. 

I'd say they make one of the best glazed donuts on the island! 

Their apple fritters are also really good but those usually come out later in the day.

 Currently they are open 7 days a week from 6:00 am - 5:30 pm. Located in Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center, on the Safeway end near Panda Express.

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DONUT KING

46-047 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY

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Ayame Ramen and Curry

Ayame Curry & Ramen has been at the Windward City Shopping Center for over 20 years, but it appears that the next generation has taken over operations. They have a new look that includes new menu boards, menus, and menu items. 

Combo Set C is the way to go.  It comes with choice of mini ramen (my son always gets the Tonkotsu Ramen which is $1.50 extra), 4 piece gyoza, and a mini pork fried rice, all for $17.95! 

They use Sun Noodles, which supplies a lot of noodle restaurants on Oahu. The Tonkotsu broth is tasty and not as rich as it looks. While my son and I normally prefer shoyu broths, I like this tonkotsu broth.

We love the gyozas here - they're plump and pan fried to perfection. I'm pretty sure they're made in-house and my son really enjoys these more than the frozen ones that I make at home.

The fried rice usually comes last, and we're usually too full to eat it at the restaurant, and when that happens, we pack it up to enjoy the next day.

On this particular day, I was craving fried noodles, so I tried their shrimp fried noodles for the first time. I ate about 1/3 of the plate and packed up the remainder for the next day. 

Note - they add on a 2.5% surcharge if you pay with a credit card. 

Take-out is available.

Closed on Wednesdays.

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AYAME RAMEN AND CURRY
45-480 KANEOHE BAY DRIVE 
808-236-3883

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Have Some Tea

I discovered this new boba place in Kaneohe from an unlikely source - ValPak! I call it an unlikely source, because I normally discover new businesses on Instagram or Yelp. But this time I was introduced to Have Some Tea through a coupon that I found in ValPak! So the next time you see that blue envelope in your mailbox, don't just chuck it in the trash! You may find something of interest to you, like a BOGO coupon from a new boba spot in your neighborhood!

Have Some Tea is located in Kaneohe, in the same little shopping complex as Wholesale Unlimited and K.Bay Bros Fish & Ice.  There is a good amount of free parking for customers. 

 

There are a lot of clean tables and chairs for customers - most people seem to get their drinks to-go here. 

The son wanted to try the Strawberry Refresher, and of course he wanted to add boba. He really liked this drink! 

I ordered the Mango Green Tea with boba. This drink was very refreshing!

Drinks are customizable by sweetness and ice levels. They have a variety of drinks such as rice yogurt, Salted Cheese Tea, fruit tea, milk tea, fruit smoothies (although they all come with cheese), and they have egg waffles on the menu! I am definitely coming back to try the egg waffle.

I'm so glad there's another affordable option for bubble tea in my hood that's open 7 days a week!

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HAVE SOME TEA

46-028 KAWA STREET

808-691-9000

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Tats Shaved Ice Truck

Last weekend, we noticed Tats Shaved Ice's yellow truck parked on Kamehameha Highway, across from Hawaiian Memorial Park. It's located to the right of Haliipua Flowers florist - just look these two green buildings on the mauka side of Kamehameha Highway, between H-3 and Mokulele Drive.

It's hard not to notice their yellow food truck in front of the green house.

They only have one size - large, and it sells for $8. You can choose up to three flavors. There are currently no toppings, but the lady said they are working on adding items such as ice cream, azuki beans, etc.

This is a one-person show, but we did not have to wait long for our shave ice.

This is what the large looks like.  It's pretty big! And it melts quickly. The ice is super fine, similar to Waiola. The flavors are pretty standard to what you'd find at other shave ice places. 

We decided to buy the reusable holder for $2, because the shave ice kept falling to the ground. 

Since their hours are not set, the lady suggested emailing them to join the email list to get updates: whereistats@gmail.com.  Or you can try calling them at 808-221-7525. 

I had never seen or heard of Tats before, but apparently they've been around for years, more recently at places such as Heeia Pier, and right outside of Bayview Mini Putt.  It's great to have a shave ice truck in our neighborhood, and I hope they add toppings to their menu soon!

 

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Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ at Windward Mall

It's been a while since we've dined at Gyu-Kaku - I forgot how good their meats are, and how fun it is to cook your own food at your table. Some people I know don't like cooking your own food at a restaurant, after all, part of the reason for going out to eat is not having to cook, right?! But, when you cook your own food at your table, you get to eat your food straight from the grill, so it's hot and fresh. 

We started off our meal with a bowl of edamame (it's free if you show your server your check-in on the Yelp app).

The assorted veggies was the first dish to arrive. 

Chicken teriyaki for the boys - I ended up eating most of it.

It took a while for our grill to heat up, but once it did, the food (especially the beef) cooked pretty quickly! We ordered shrimp, teriyaki chicken, and multiple orders of kalbi chuck rib and New York Steak. At our tables they had a bottle of sweet soy sauce that we all really liked and used as a dipping sauce for the meats. We also poured it onto our rice. I wish I knew how they made that sauce!

The boys wanted noodles, so we ordered a bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen and they shared it. They really liked it! 

Even the boys took part in the cooking action. 

And no BBQ is complete without s'mores as the finisher.

They have Happy Hour pricing on select menu items until 6 pm. 

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Gyu-Kaku - Windward Mall
46-056 Kamehameha Hwy
Kaneohe, HI 96744
808-744-2157

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Zia's Caffe

After running the Hapalua Half Marathon, I rewarded myself with dinner from Zia's Caffe, one of our favorite neighborhood eateries.  

 

The hubby and I shared an order of Crispy Calamari and the Chicken Saltimbocca.

The calamari was very crunchy and nicely-seasoned breading. I like how it comes with TWO dipping sauces - basil aioli and marinara.

The Chicken Saltimbocca was amazing! It came with a large piece of breaded chicken breast, topped with thinly sliced prosciutto, spinach, shredded mozzarella, and garlic mushrooms. It's very rich, which is why the hubby and I have to split this dish every time. 

My only regret was not ordering the tiramisu for dessert!

Click here to order online!

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ZIA'S CAFFE
45-620 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY
808-235-9427

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Jolene's By The Bay

Jolene's Market, which had humble beginnings in Chinatown, has expanded to four locations on Oahu, in just four years. They were initially known for lobster rolls, but expanded their menu to include bbq brisket melts, burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and much much more.

Jolene's recently opened their newest location in Kaneohe at Bayview Golf Course, and we went to check it out on Super Bowl Sunday. 

I called in our order ahead of time and it was waiting for me by the time I got there to pick it up. We tried the buttah lobster roll ($22) and bbq brisket fries ($17).

The lobster roll had a good amount of lobster meat in there. They don't add a lot of mayo in their lobster, which is one of the reasons why I like their lobster roll so much.  

The bbq brisket fries were amazing! The brisket was tender and the sauce had a slight kick to it. 

Their dining room is very spacious and overlooks the golf course.

Open Tuesdays - Sundays from 11 am - 7 pm. 

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JOLENE'S BY THE BAY
45-285 KANEOHE BAY DRIVE
808-236-1010

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