Dean’s Drive Inn

Another beautiful hot day in Honolulu and we were headed to a mall? In Kaneohe? It didn’t seem right with the beach and ocean all around us. But it had a train…for kids. So off we headed to the Windward Mall.

The only good thing was we’d be very close to a plate lunch place I wanted to try called He’eia Kea Pier General Store & Deli. We took the Pali Hwy  and then Kamehameha Hwy into Kaneohe. We were meeting Anna’s sister and kids and got their early which gave us a chance to try to find my lunch place. I wasn’t sure exactly where this place was except it was at a pier.

We were on the right track as we passed by a sign for the lunch place. But we were going too fast so wasn’t able to read it completely but I think it said “Closed on Monday”. No matter, the road took us from driving on the hwy with strip malls and businesses on both sides to a more pleasant ride with nice homes and views of the ocean.

We finally found the pier and headed towards the restaurant. Unfortunately, what I read on the sign about being closed on Mondays was correct. Bummer.

We ended up heading back to the mall and doing a spin on the train (not bad for $3). I was determined to try a new place in this neck of the woods so texted my friend Paul who lives on Oahu and eats at more restaurants on the island than I can keep up with! Among his suggestions was a place called Dean’s Drive Inn. The exact words were “Dean’s Drive Inn – gotta hit that!”. So we did.

As I was looking for the place I had pictured in my head a run down building serving excellent plate lunches. Not sure why. I got the building wrong but the plate lunches were definitely excellent!

The place was housed in a newish looking small strip mall.

The place itself was very small. It had 3 or 4 tables and the counter was front and center when you opened the door.

There was a friendly lady (I think owner’s wife?) who waited patiently while we took a look at the menu.

All the reviews said to try the Teri Beef Steak plate lunch so we ordered that and the Island Ahi Belly to share among the four of us. I must admin they were both awesome. Normally teri beef would be these dried out pieces of tasteless meat as part of a combo dinner. But here they were nice moist chunks of beef covered in sauce.

The Ahi Belly was great too. I had a choice of shoyu ginger and furikake or butter and capers. Shoyu ginger all the way! I was tempted to also order the ahi cakes which I heard were a must try but too. much. food. Next time.

If this place was on the other side of the island, it’d be packed all the time. Paul actually told me that he’d eat here more often but says sometimes they have weird hours where they won’t be open when you’d think they’d be open. Something about being related to 7th day Adventist? No matter. Friendly service with gourmet plate lunches. What more could you ask for? This place is a winner.

Hmmm … I’ll have to figure out a way to go to this place AND He’eia Kea Pier General Store & Deli all in one visit. Maybe we can do the train ride in between. That way everyone is happy!

Dean’s Drive Inn