FUUD: Dean’s Drive-Inn in Kaneohe

By Catherine Toth Fox • December 30, 2011 • Food

One of my favorite things to eat — at drive-ins and anywhere — is beef teriyaki.

But ever since the Kandas closed their lunch wagon at Kewalo Basin, I couldn’t find one that compared.

Until yesterday.

I had heard rave reviews about the beef teriyaki at Dean’s Drive-Inn in Kaneohe. My parents — also diehard Kanda fans — checked it out and nodded its approval. But I had to check it out for myself.

I had been meaning to try it for awhile now — Dean’s opened in 2006 — but I finally had an excuse to be on the windward side. So we pulled into the little strip mall off Kamehameha Highway and checked out the one thing I had been craving all week.

Here’s what our lunch looked like:

'Local boy, local food'

Image 2 of 10

The sign on the front door says it all: "local boy, local food." The "local boy" is Dean Mishima, who opened this drive-in back in 2006.

Dean’s Drive-Inn, 45-773 Kamehameha Highway. Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 to 4 p.m. Friday, closed Saturday. Phone: (808) 247-1300

9 Comments

Reply WildeOscar December 30, 2011 at 5:25 am
Picture 10 of 10 is priceless. I haven’t had pineapple upside down cake in over 20 years. It was always my choice for my birthday as a child, and my mother was a better cook than she was a baker, but this she always did well. She’s been gone many years now. I should bake one myself in her honor.

Reply Catherine Toth December 30, 2011 at 11:28 am
You should! Make that your NYE must-do! And send me a pic!

Reply M December 30, 2011 at 7:38 am
Hello Cat!
Fuud pixs Friday!
Dean’s drive-inn here I come!
Happy New Year to you and Derek!

Reply Catherine Toth December 30, 2011 at 11:29 am
Have you been? I think you’d like it. People there are really nice, too.

Reply rayboyjr December 30, 2011 at 9:39 am
Hey Cat … damn!!! … my kind of food … that looks so good it’s not even funny!!! … love drive-ins that have fresh fish on the menu … I gotta remember this place the next time I’m over on that side … I head that way only about once a year!!! …

… I can’t imagine where that is … guess I’ll have to Google it …

… Happy New Year!!! …

Reply Catherine Toth December 30, 2011 at 11:29 am
I forgot to mention it’s a little pricey. That plate — I got a mini — was about $9. But had a lot of food; took home some, in fact. So it was worth it.

Reply KAN December 30, 2011 at 2:01 pm
I LOVEx10 Dean’s. I get fish and brown rice every time I go (whenever I’m home, that is). Nice folks too. But you’re right – parking is terrible there.

Reply Catherine Toth December 30, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Brown rice!! You’re so good! I can’t get myself to order it when I’m at a plate lunch place!!

Reply matt December 30, 2011 at 4:09 pm
the fish is great there. if the ahi belly is on the menu, get it. best thing on the menu, imo. in fact, I had it last week (also the brown rice). topped it off with my son’s leftover teri burger patty from maruki-tei, but that’s another kaneohe fuud friday subject, I guess.