Diners Waipahu

I wish I could give a rating of half a star. Went here today for lunch and waited TWENTY MINUTES for an order of a mini bento and a veggie omelette. They weren’t even busy at the time! On the plus side though, the food was decent when we finally got it.

Ordered the mini teriyaki pork plate & I don’t think mini does it justice! It’s full enough to kill a normal appetite, can’t even think of a regular plate! Mac salad was a little better than most places and the pork was good, almost great if not for too much ginger for me! I’ll go back 4 the beef next! So far not 24hrs like they post, maybe too new?

This location is no longer here, instead, there is a sign that says «Opening Soon — Kings Diner»
Dont be fooled. It is still the same staff and service that you will get as the old Diners… terrible & slow service, just more food and open 24hrs.

This review is late as I haven’t had a chance, but it was such an awful experience I just had to comment. This was when they first opened so I HOPE it has improved.
I ordered the salisbury steak plate, the standard drive inn with rice and mac salad.
The salisbury was obviously frozen as it looked EXACTLY like the Banquet frozen ones that is sold. It was listed as with brown gravy which it had a lot of. However after I bit into it, it was BBQ flavor! Texas style with the ketsup!
In order words they not only used a frozen t.v. dinner but it had originally come with BBQ sauce that the cooks totally ignored and just poured brown gravy over it!
At least they could have bought the brown gravy frozen salisbury steak! In my mind I imagine the buyers at some Close Out store buying cases of them like at $ 10 bucks so they can sell these thin little buggahs at $ 6 a plate. OMG
I notice after that open that it’s relatively empty — instead of going there and wasting your money go to Kristen’s Kitchen a block up that has GOOD food.
Sadly the old Diner’s had a great rep, unfortunately whomever bought the business out is not into good food and not honorig their old reputation.
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April 4, 2013 UPDATE: drove by and saw a Restaurant For Sale sign. Understandably that joint is always empty. Proves one can’t just use a well known name, one has to have FOOD up to standards.

The beef teriyaki plate tastes… different, not like before.

First time. Friendly staff had the Teri beef plate. Fair

Recently came in after work to get some din din…
So of course I ordered a cheeseburger with special sauce only. Of course that is one of my favorite items from Diners.
Husband ordered a Salsbury steak with all mash. Daughter wanted chicken katsu.
Food:
Great value for their Korean plate meat jhun with bbq chicken.
The katsu was okay… kinda under cooked still a lil pink when I got home but a lot of food and thick pieces.
Salsbury steak was good but amount wise they gave one patty to 3 scoops of mash potatoes…
Décor:
It was better than what it was when Jenny drive inn was there. Inviting feeling and cleaness when you enter.
Staff:
Okay so my husband walks in without me and these older female ladies are all on him. But as soon as im walking in with him their facial expression changes. lol it was funny to see these cougars try to hit on my husband.
Other than that… it was an okay experience at Diners Waipahu

Just found out that it was reopened. I love the nostalgia. The whole restaurant was remodeled and it has that old fashioned Diner’s feel to it like I remember when I was young. I shared with my son about all the countless times my friends and I went to Diners after hanging out at the Waipahu Recreation Center. Those were the days.
I ordered the chicken katsu and it was just as good as I remember it. Not too much panko flakes or breading, not too greasy, and not overcooked or burnt. My son ordered the hamburger special (hamburger, fries, and small drink). My son enjoyed the meal. The hamburger was just as I remembered it when I was young. They also serve the classic drinks… lilikoi and green river juices.
While eating there, I noticed the next few people walking into the restaurant also ordered chicken katsu too. That’s one of Diner’s special plates.
As far as the portions, it was filling. Unlike many of the newer restaurants, Diners needs to increase the portions as compared to what $ 7.00 will get you from outside competing restaurants.
If you grew up eating at Diner’s Waipahu growing up, I recommend you going there again to relive eating the classics and to share with the newer generations about your experiences when you were young.