When I hear the words car hop, the first place that pops into mind is KC Drive Inn.  If you're an Oahu baby boomer, I'm sure you've been to KC Drive Inn at least once.  Originally located where Kalakaua and Ala Wai boulevard meet up (where the Waikiki Gateway Hotel now stands), KC Drive Inn later moved to the top of Kapahulu avenue.

KC Drive Inn had the most stalls of other car hop drive inns in town.  Remember the sign instructing you to turn on your parking lights for service - and not to beep your horn!  The old ladies with their all white uniforms used to come out to take your order.  Were there some young girls working car hop too?  Maybe college students working their way through college.

It was so cozy.  Your girl sitting next to you on your front bench seat ("cut seat" for you Maui folks, "broke seat" for you Kauai folks).  Eating in your car, listening to your favorite 8-track or cassette tapes or even KPOI or KKUA radio.  When your order came, you'd have to roll up your window just a bit so they could hang the tray off your window.  The pits was when it began to rain because you couldn't roll your window up!  And your food would get all soggy and cold if you didn't bring it in.  Remember in those days, cars didn't have drink holders.   Mmmm, I can taste the waffle dogs and ono-ono shakes.

Another drive inn that I've never visited, but my brother told me that they had car hop service was Alex Drive Inn on the corner of Kaimuki Ave. and Kapahulu Ave.  Anyone been there?

How about Likelike Drive Inn - before they renovated the building?  They had car hop service there too.  Just a few stalls on the Rycroft street side.  I remember my friend telling me never order saimin at a car hop place.  The bowl it too hot to hold!  I think he ate it by leaving it on the tray and sticking his head out the window with each bite.

Those days of car hop service in Honolulu are long gone.  *sigh*

But several years ago we were able to take our 2 daughters to a car hop joint in Las Vegas.  Las Vegas?  Yes, at Sonic Burger!  But we didn't eat in the car.  Actually, we were Sonic virgins and didn't know the drill so we did a drive by, parked on the side and observed first.  If you've never been to a Sonic Burger, they have a few options.  They have a drive through, a seating area in the center patio, and car hop.  Each individual stall has it's own menu board and speaker.  You order when you're ready and the wait help comes out on, get this, skates!  They bring your tray up to your window - just like old times.  What a flashback!  But we decided to eat in the outdoor patio area (after we figured out there was no indoor place to eat).  Must've looked like n00bs walking up to the in/out door to the kitchen and looking in.  There is a walk up menu board on the patio where we placed our order, then sat down and waited for the rollerskating wait help to bring us our order.

So the next time you're in Las Vegas and want to "flashback", visit a Sonic Burger.

Do you remember eating at KC Drive Inn, or Alex Drive Inn, or Likelike Drive Inn?  What do your remember about car hops?  Are there other drive inns that you recall having car hop service?  If someone were to open up a retro drive inn and offer car hop service, do you think it'd be successful in Hawaii?