Zippy’s Express

I don’t get this place. Ever since they converted to whatever it is, it’s weird. Are they open? Maybe, maybe not. The doors are open, but yet there’s no one around. And when you do see people working, they ignore you. Or they ignored me. Seriously, who ignores me? I am not one to be ignored!
Anyway, parked in front and entered. No one was at the counter so I figured okay, let me ask if they are open since I saw people in the kitchen. Nope, no answer. Hello! I can see you through the window! Argh!!! So I left.
Came back another day, parked out back, and same thing. Walked in, went to the counter and waited for someone to help me. Nothing! Hello, does anyone see me?
I ended up driving to the Pearlridge location to get my Zippy’s fix. Sad, because this location is right down the street from my cousin’s place. I might come back, when I’m dressed in safety yellow. Then maybe they’ll see me.

They stopped serving sandwiches, burgers and a few other things now that they reopened…

My kuruma was being serviced across the street at Hawaiian Tire so I strolled over here to appease my grumbling tummy. Got a mini Korean chicken, and it was a pleasant surprise. Perfectly executed. Crispy, deep golden brown on the outside, with a juicy interior. The sauce, just right, perfectly balanced, with buttery notes; blended in very well with the mac salad. Proves how a simple dish can be an exquisite one when done right.
This is in sharp contrast to Zippys Kapolei. Twice I’ve had the same mini plate and on both occasions the Korean chicken was a letdown: deed fried to a chewy, rubbery death, with an overly sweet sauce.
When I get my car aligned, I know where I’m eating while I wait.

If in doubt, go out.
Welcome and happy new year or Unilocaly new year. It’s up to you.
«If in doubt, go out» is correct, and i’ll tell you how it relates to this Zippy’s later on in the review. I want to make it clear that this phrase has nothing to do with oceans, swimming pools, or the likes. It only applies to Waimalu Zippy’s.
I’m going to analyze Zippy’s with the fair, the good, and the excellent – Kelley Blue Book style! But i’m going to mix it up by giving you the good first, the fair second, and the excellent third.
The good: Zippy’s is located in the Waimalu Shopping Center, and this is just an opinion not a fact, but I feel the shopping center is bucolic. Their motto should be like Waipio Jack in the Box «If it works, we keep it working».
The fair: Because the shopping center is old, it attracts punks and thugs. And it’s two-​fold: One, because it looks old and run-​down these punks and thugs are attracted to the shopping center. It’s like a second home to them, and good people leave them alone because good people think it’s their territory and don’t want to disturb. Two, good people who actually want to make a positive change a positive difference can’t see them because these idiot punks just blend into the scenery, so when good people want to do something positive; they can’t because the good people don’t see these crazy people.
The excellent: The two things in my life that gives me great entertainment are watching a great movie and seeing people eat at Zippy’s. And I don’t understand why anyone would want to eat at this Zippy’s because there’s like a hundred other better places to eat at Waimalu Shopping Center. I really feel too that the only people who come to Waimalu Zippys are the people that live across the street and hardcore Zippy’s loyalists. However, if you’re in doubt about eating at Waimalu Zippy’s then just go and eat at Waimalu Zippy’s because I take great entertainment in seeing people eat at this Zippy’s as I make my way to Chun Wah Kam. So we’ve come full circle, «If in doubt, go out» go to Zippy’s in fact go to any Zippy’s, surprise me.

Like most people living on Oahu, I’ve been to all or almost all of the Zippy’s locations. Convenience and familiarity of the menu makes me return to Zippy’s. No complaints about the food here at the Waimalu location. The food is consistent with the other locations. However, Waimalu has the worst customer service and wait time for the evening shift. I witnessed a customer leave without his take out because he had to wait so long. He yelled at the counter lady «why does it take 20 minutes to make Hamburger Steak?!» Even though he paid, he was upset enough to leave. What made me mad was the counter lady and guy working there thought that was funny and started to imitate what the man was yelling. I was upset enough to confront both of them for their poor customer service. The next day I emailed Zippy’s customer service to let them know what I seen. First time in my life I had a complaint about Zippy’s enough to contact them. Yes, take out sometimes takes longer than we’d like to wait BUT when you consistently make customers wait longer than usual and longer than the other locations, something is wrong and changes need to be made. I no longer go to this location. There are 3 other Zippy’s in close proximity.

I live walking distance to this eatery, GOOD!!! Why can’t they get the RICE right??? It’s always undercooked!!! BAD!!! Something soooo simple, an eighth grader could do it!!! The food is ok, but the rice just kills it. Gotta order just chili and go home and find an eighth grader to cook a pot of SOFT rice.
p.s…jus follow directions, adjust water to taste and press DA BUTTON.
Before days, you gotta adjust the flame and watch da pot. And maybe get some cracks if you burn da rice. Gotta run and hide if you smell da burn.
Nowadays, like smart phones you got smart rice cookers, computerized!!! no need watch! Main ting you can find the right BUTTON.
I goin ovadea, and try sell Zippy’s my old rice cooker, and throw some cracks at da COOK.

Went on saturday in the early evening. .The young cashier digs her ear… touches the cash then she goes to help grab the plates. grabs the utensils. .never saw her wash her hands or put on any gloves. GROSS! and even the young girl that calls out your orders… she talks over the open plate (not covered) .and also counted her cash drawer and helped out with plates and restocking the cups… she didn’t wash her hands either. They were both gross! I would replace them with people that care. They are not sincere people
Not going there anymore

Not that crowded so u can order and u r outta there fast. It’s small but it has a little section for a bakery which is nice. Staff is friendly and attentive. Clean and nice with plenty of seating. Only thing is no public restrooms.

Came here for some late night, cheap, fast munchies. I never really expect amazing service from this zippys all the servers seem to over worked and just hoping that their shift is over. Once in a while I get an amazing and caring server that blows me away. (35% tip, make sure you take care of your servers that take care of you!) I ordered the new York steak with eggs and hash browns. Everyone seemed to be reluctant to serve us, since we just wanted to do a take out. The waitress that did finally take our order (linh) was very pleasant and our food came out and packed in less than 15 minutes. All in all, 3 stars.

We went here after a night of bowling. The cashier messed up on our order and when we told her she was very nice about it. She gave us our correct order PLUS let us keep the food she had originally gave us.

Zippys always hits the spot, but this location needs to teach better customer service skills to their night crew at the counter. Sassy & rude don’t get you many return customers.
I’d never stop going to Zippys, but I won’t go to this location until they train these girls better.
***Update***
Was contacted the next day after my review by Zippy’s customer service via message on Unilocal to contact them via telephone regarding my experience.
Finally remembered to do so today now that almost everyone in our house is over the stomach flu. Was reassured that they have already briefed the manager and will talk with the staff to ensure service will be addressed at this location.
They got their 5^th star back just because they listen to their customers. I am very pleased. That’s all a customer wants. No need for freebies.

This was my first meal hitting the island, I hadn’t eaten in hours. I got the chicken, chili, rice and macaroni salad… oh and a spam musubi!
The chicken was good… nice and crispy.
The chilli was ok… would call it world famous like they did… but it was good, I mixed it with my rice.
The spam musubi was actually better than what I had imagined it to be. Shocker!!! The only thing I would change differently is, to cut the amount of rice in half and it would be perfect.
I will also say that spam wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be… I’d try it again… but not buying any for the house.

The Korean chicken is as great as I remember. Been a long time since I’ve been here. Was missing the Mac Salad and two scoops rice plate lunch:). The cashier was very nice and polite. Wish they had Zippy’s in NorCal MainLand! Great place to have some local food. Can’t wait to come back.

Being this is my first time to any Hawaiian Island, and everyone I talked to that has been here a while said don’t bother with Zippy’s… well they were wrong. One of the cheaper places to eat and one of many good, nay, great meals I have had. I love Zippy’s, the Korean chicken is amazing and the Lilikoi Drink is good too. Good Hawaiian local fast food, nice plate of grub. Lots of choices on the menu, stick to the ones that have big pictures. Average price for about $ 10 per plate and drink.

Zippy’s is the best when you are drunk; but when you eat it sober you feel pretty disgusting. I still have to admit though the Chili here is the bomb; one of the workers told me they put lots and lots of Mayonnaise in it. I think it’s true because I tried making my own one time and added mayonnaise and it came out really good. So the secret ingredient could be mayonnaise, so please watch how much you eat because you probably will gain like 10 pounds in 4 days if you eat here every day.
Only thing I hate here is they are stingey with their crackers and they will charge you for extra, ha-​ha.
At best OK.

You just can not ignore Zippy’s when you are in Hawaii!
You just can’t.
Well, may be, Zippy’s is the place that you must go when you are in Hawall if your «devil» tells you to.
I could not win against my «devil».
So I went, but I knew that it was a mistake.
I had the Zippy’s Loco Moco was like my interpretation of Zou bisou bisou, the gravy was remarkably dull, so bland, almost disgusting brown water, I can tell you that much.
It sucks anyhow.
zippy zippy zooo, zippy zippy sucks
zippy zippy zooo, zoobee zooo zoobee zooo WTF is goin’on?
Zou bisou bisou is sounds of kissing?
You must be joking. It sound like vomiting to me. Or blowing nose, WTF?
It is not very sexy sound at all.
I must say Ono’s in SF area are all better than Zippy’s in Hawaii.
It’s so bad.

Got some pastries from here. The guava and blueberry danish were pretty good but not amazing. Didn’t try other food.

My friends from Oahu were showing us tourists around and they let us know that Zippy’s was a very island-​y place to visit. Despite being a fast food chain, I guess it’s like a island staple. We were there for breakfast so my boyfriend and I ordered:
–Bento box with corned beef hash, portuguese sausage, eggs and rice ($ 4.05): what an incredible deal. This was plenty of food and unlike some other fast food places, where the food comes out lukewarm, the food was nice and hot. I thought it was pretty solid.
–Chili with crackers (about $ 4.75): the chili can be served with rice, but my boyfriend chose the crackers. They were like saltines, but fluffier and crispier. The chili was very hearty and flavorful. This isn’t typical breakfast food, but my boyfriend seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.
The seating is limited in the main area, but I guess there is an additional room around the corner. The food took a bit to come out, which surprised me since it is a fast food place, but I guess at least it was hot. Service was okay. Not particularly friendly, but not unfriendly either.
Notes:
–Plenty of parking for the strip mall.

I’ve been going to this Zippy’s ever since I was small kid time cruising around the Waimalu Shopping Center area. Of course there are many other diners and restaurants in the area but Zippy’s is always a winner. I like how this is the first Zippy’s out of 2 others when you are on Kamehemeha Highway going down through Pearl City. This Zippy’s location is more like on the go take out kine, I guess because of how it is built and set up with their counter stand and everything. Right next to the Zippy’s counter is the Napolean Bakery counter with all of it’s pastries, cakes, and other yummy desserts. They always have good ones set up right at the counter and it just tempts you to buy and eat something from there. Even though most of the time I see people getting food on the go, there is dine in seating inside the restaurant. There are a couple of tables/​chairs in the front and their is a back area to with their own parking lot down there. The staff and customer service is good and prices are decent. Other than that, Zippy’s food is always winnah.
Unilocal 365 Challenge #292/​365

Let’s get one thing straight. Zippy’s, love or hate’em, is what it is. Sometimes I feel guilty bout giving so many 5 star reviews but if a business is clean, service is timely, and they operate well within the type of establishment they’ve set out to create… They’re getting a good review from me.
My standby is the zippy’s chili, brown rice, cheddar and onion. Bam! (c: