KC Drive Inn
UPDATE: March 2005
KC Drive Inn has closed.
Several weeks ago, I heard that the KC Drive Inn might be closing soon and that the property was up for sale. Now since this could happen at anytime, and without sufficient notice, I decided to make a trip there.
KC Drive Inn has been open since the 1929 and used to be located on corner of Kapiolani and Kalakaua where the Hard Rock Cafe now stands. The restaurant has been in it's currently location since the early 1980's.
Regarded by most to be the first drive-in restaurant to open in Hawaii, KC Drive Inn is known for the waffle hot dogs and ono ono shakes. So tonight, I ordered a waffle hot dog with homemade chili (US$3.70).
For those of you who haven't had this, the waffle hot dog is a must try. The hot dog is actually cooked inside of a crunchy, golden brown waffle. In fact, if I didn't have this with the homemade chili, I would probably want to spread some butter on this and load up on the maple syrup! This would actually be great for breakfast. The chili, while nice and meaty, didn't have the kind of spicy flavor that I normally like. Next time, I would probably order the waffle hot dog plain with a side of eggs!
In addition to the signature waffle hot dogs, KC Drive Inn also serves saimin, oxtail soup, hamburgers and a wide range of plate lunches. The food is great and an excellent value. I guess that's what's kept them in business for more than 70 years.
KC Drive Inn
1029 Kapahulu Avenue
Telephone: 808.737.5581
did someone finally buy the property? i hope the family held out for the full asking price! and i hope one of the kids continues with the waffle dogs and ono ono shakes somewhere else....
Posted by: santos | August 20, 2004 at 08:02 PM
Hi Santos,
As of right now, I don't believe anyone has made an offer to buy the property. I do know that one of the sons wants to continue the business once the sale is settled. I believe this same son is the one that is currently running the restaurant's affairs.
Posted by: Reid | August 20, 2004 at 10:22 PM
Thanks for the review. I am the son you are probably talking about. My cousin and I run the everyday duties of the restaurant. We are third generation managers. No offers have been tendered so we will be in business until the end of the year at the least. We hope that anyone who came in because of the rumour that we were closing soon were patient with us. There was a 30-45 minute wait on Waffle Hot Dogs on some of these days. The newspaper article was very premature. Thanks again.
Posted by: Dayton | August 23, 2004 at 12:15 AM
Hi Dayton,
You're welcome and thanks for stopping by. By the way, I've been a customer at KC Drive-Inn since 1984 (that's when I started coming by myself). When I used to work at Market City Foodland, we used to come for the spaghetti at least once a week. Now that I don't live/work nearby, I stop in maybe once a month. On the night I was there, the wait for the waffle hot dog was about 10 minutes. =) Good luck with the business!
Posted by: Reid | August 23, 2004 at 06:53 PM
My family lives in California. I first visited this KC's in 1981 or 1982. I have fond memories of waffle dogs and ono ono shakes! We had heard that you had ALREADY closed and were disappointed as we had planned a trip to the island. We decided to drive by anyhow and were shocked and ecstatic to see KC's was still open. We made numerous visits while there and I just wanted to say how much we love KC's Drive Inn!
Posted by: Annie | January 20, 2005 at 11:10 AM
Hi Annie,
Thanks for dropping by my blog.
As far as I'm aware KC Drive Inn will remain open until they can find a buyer for the property. I believe the property has been on the market for about a year...maybe they'll just have to stay open forever. I'd like that. -)
Posted by: Reid | January 20, 2005 at 11:53 PM
I would like to make a correction. KC Drive Inn was never located on the corner of Kapiolani and Kalakaua. That was Kau Kau Corner. KC Drive Inn was located one block Diamond Head, across the Ala Wai, on the corner of Kalakaua and Ala Wai.
Posted by: Roy Ishikawa | January 09, 2008 at 09:16 PM
My folks used to run a women's wear store in the McCully Square Building a short distance away from KC back in the 50's and 60's and I remember coming over for milkshakes every once in a while. After leaving the islands back in '68, I always made it a point to stop in for a bite whenever I was in Honolulu.
Posted by: Robert | March 29, 2008 at 12:48 PM