WE'RE CRAVING: LOCAL DRIVE-IN GRINDS

Dean's Drive-Inn

At Dean's Drive-Inn, it's the steak-like chunks of teri beef, crisp 'ahi cakes, daily fish specials and chop steak stir-fry that keep locals coming back. Delicious, healthy, high-quality food at traditional plate-lunch prices — it's definitely worth a trip to the Windward side.

Dean's Drive-Inn, 45-773 Kamehameha Highway, 247-1300

Pee Wee Drive Inn

This little local drive-inn is aptly named. It's got only two picnic benches and a tiny parking lot, but a whole lot of history. The place opened in 1966 and quickly earned a reputation for having really good fried mahi-mahi sandwiches and BBQ burgers. It's changed hands, but the new owners still make old-style burgers, thick fries and a long list of daily local specials. Old-timers might be sorry to hear it recently crossed "green river" soda off the drink list. But the prices are still old-fashioned. It's still only $1.75 for a burger. Or how about a bento with fried chicken, hash, Spam, hot dog, egg and rice for $5.75?

Pee Wee Drive Inn, 1602 S. King St., 949-5781

Rainbow Drive-In

There's nothing more satisfying than a meal that's cheap and delivers. And that's what you get at Rainbow Drive-In off Kapahulu Avenue. The Ifuku family has been operating the popular takeout spot for years, and surfers, police officers and students crowd outside the pick-up counter for dripping barbecue pork sandwiches, loco mocos, chili rice (some say it's better than Zippy's) and strawberry slush floats. The teri beef plate is super 'ono, with a huge pile of meat over perfectly cooked rice. And with the signature float ($2.70 for medium, $3 for large), you'll be in Hawai'i heaven.

Rainbow Drive-In, 3308 Kanaina Ave., 737-0177

St. Louis Drive INN

Don't come here if you're on a diet. Even if you just get the grilled 'ahi with rice and salad, you'll be surrounded by locals scarfing gigantic plates of fried goodness at bargain prices. For less than $7, you'll get a bento with mochiko chicken, beef teriyaki, Spam, an egg roll, mahimahi and rice with furikake.

St. Louis Drive Inn, 3145 Wai'alae Ave., 734-3673

FOOD NEWS

Whole Foods Market is celebrating the first anniversary of its Kahala store with a string of events, including its community day Saturday. Shop at Whole Foods Market anytime Saturday and help support Malama Maunalua Bay. Five percent of the day's sales will be donated to the organization to help restore the bay off Hawai'i Kai. Shoppers can also take part in demonstrations on weed removal and other clean-up efforts led by Malama Maunalua volunteers. For more information on Whole Foods, call 738-0820 or visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com. For more information on Malama Maunalua Bay, visit www.malamamaunalua.org.

Guinness will be celebrating Arthur's Day Thursday, Sept. 24, marking the 250th anniversary of Arthur Guinness signing the 9,000-year lease on the Guinness brewery in 1759. To commemorate the event, the brewery has created a 250th anniversary brew that will be on tap through September at Honolulu Irish pubs, including O'Toole's, Kelley O'Neil's and the Irish Rose Saloon. The specialty brew is carbonated and contains more hops than the traditional Guiness stout.

A selection of German and German-inspired beers and pupu will be featured at Don Ho's Brauhaus, the theme for this month's Hops and Grinds tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 at Don Ho's Island Grill ($25, 528-0807, 21+).

CASUAL ASSAGIO

The Assagio family of restaurants now includes a Kahala outlet: Assagio Bistro. Though still 100 percent Assagio — the new place has that signature '90s contempo decor, and the menu has all the faves, like the chicken alla Sorrentino and the clam-packed clam sauce — the bistro version of Assagio has a decidedly more casual vibe. While Assagio is a popular dinner destination, the bistro is already a go-to place for lunch with its menu of Italian sandwiches, like the over-stuffed sausage and pepper sandwich (pictured) on housemade bread, all for under $12.

Assagio Bistro
4346 Wai'alae Ave. (next to 'Umeke Market)
732-1011
Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 4:30-9:30 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; open until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Cool as a cucumber

Shokudo Japanese Restaurant's (1585 Kapi'olani Blvd., 941-3701) refreshing new drink, a lemongrass cucumber spritzer ($3.95), has quickly become a must-try choice for those wanting a nonalcoholic selection. Currently on the "specials" menu, it has a delicate cucumber and lemongrass taste, beautifully balanced with soda and fresh-squeezed lime. It's the perfect drink when you don't want anything too fruity but want more than soda.