Heading back to Zippy’s? Here’s what it’s like to eat in now
Vineyard, Makiki, Kapolei and Mililani have reopened their dining rooms; Kahului and Kaneohe are next
Zippy’s, the iconic local diner chain, was a regular stop for many, so while they’ve been open for takeout, there was a collective holding of breath through the months-long closure of all their dining rooms statewide. Now they’re slowly reopening, but there’s a whole new vibe to eating in.
We were invited to try out the new normal by having lunch inside Zippy’s Vineyard. Also recently reopened are the Makiki, Kapolei and Mililani restaurants. Zippy’s Kahului is tentatively scheduled to reopen for dine-in today, Aug. 19, and Zippy’s Kaneohe on Aug. 24. An updated list is on the Zippy’s website.
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In a nutshell, here’s what you can expect if you eat in:
- When you get there, sign up for a table by going to Zippys.com on your phone
- You’ll get a text message when your table is ready. It’ll tell you to go to the host stand and check in
- You’ll sanitize your hands, do a temperature check and head to your table
- Booths are now separated by plexiglass dividers
- No more large, laminated menu books. Instead you can get a disposable paper menu or use the QR code on the table to look at the menu online
- There’s one-way traffic in and out of the restaurant
- High-contact areas are cleaned every 30 minutes
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We’re no strangers to takeout from Zippy’s, but there’s something comforting and familiar about eating crispy Korean chicken, chili with melted cheese, and the meaty Surf Pac Deluxe piping hot at a table.
