Marga's Foodblog

Tex Drive In is another Big Island institution, recommended in particular for its fresh, hot malasadas, dense Portuguese donuts served plain or with fruit or cream fillings. It also serves a variety of cheap food, including burgers, sandwiches, stews and other Hawaiian specialties.

We visited in on a Monday for lunch, before heading to the famed Waipio Valley. We weren't very daring in our choices, though probably should have been. I ordered a roast beef sandwich, which consisted of a large soft loaf of bread, with cold commercial-type roast beef slices and tomato and lettuce on the side. There were packets of mayo and mustard. The whole thing was OK, though a roast beef sandwich is mostly dependent on the quality of its roast beef and this wasn't very good. It was a large sandwich and not a bad value at under $6 with fries.

Mike had a fish burger and was quite happy with it, he said it was a better fish burger than any he's had here. He'd order it again.

We all shared a malasada for dessert (and bought more for the road) and while it was good, its main merit was that it was warm. Otherwise it didn't taste very different from a donut, though it was denser and somewhat less sweet. The chocolate creme filling didn't help it at all. Krispy Kreme may be in trouble, but not from malasadas.

Tex is a convenient stop on your way to or from the Waipio valley and for that reason alone I'd recommend it.

Tex Drive In
45-690 Pakalana St.
Honokaa, HI 96727
Tel: (808) 775-0598
http://www.texdrivein.com/