TV Restaurants

Saimin Dojo Is Now Wailua Drive In — Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Update

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Season 30 Kapa'a, Hawaii

Current status

Renamed

As of October 2026, Yelp lists this address as Wailua Drive In; reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026, not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What the source shows: A Yelp listing for Wailua Drive In, updated September 2026, shows an active restaurant at the same Kuhio Highway address, while a HappyCow listing marks the Saimin Dojo name as closed. How we decide a status →

What happened after Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives?

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives visited Saimin Dojo in Kapa'a, Hawaii, for the episode "Spinning the Globe" (S30E9), which aired 2019-08-02, featuring the restaurant's Hawaiian saimin noodle soup. Saimin Dojo was a casual noodle-soup restaurant on Kuhio Highway in Kapa'a, named for its signature saimin dish. A HappyCow business listing marks Saimin Dojo as closed at its 4-733 Kuhio Highway address. A Yelp listing for Wailua Drive In, updated September 2026, shows an active restaurant with more than 800 reviews operating at that same Kuhio Highway address, describing it as continuing to serve Saimin Dojo's original menu favorites alongside new items.

Google's business listing for the address also identifies the operator as Wailua Drive In rather than Saimin Dojo. Together, these listings indicate the restaurant seen on the episode now operates under the name Wailua Drive In at the same location.

The episode Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Season 30

Episode 9
Aired
Title: Spinning the Globe · What was featured: a Hawaiian saimin noodle soup dish
How Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives restaurants have fared: 27% closed →

Also in Season 30 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Season 30: 42 of 56 still open · 4 renamed, moved or under new owners

All 19 Season 30 episodes →

Nearest restaurants By distance from 4-733 Kuhio Hwy Ste 103

All 96 TV restaurants in Hawaii →

Before you go: Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.

Sources we checked 2 references

  1. Yelp https://www.yelp.com/biz/wailua-drive-in-kapa%CA%BBa
  2. happycow.net https://www.happycow.net/reviews/saimin-dojo-kapaa-146937
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Record ddd-1143 · checked by Cal Marchetti.