OlowaluWhat is a dirty soda?
A dirty soda is a fountain soda with flavored syrup and cream added, and often a squeeze of fruit. It has no alcohol. It is a sweet, fizzy, creamy drink you build to your own taste, and it has spread from Utah to chains and small shops across the country.
Here is what goes in one, where it came from, and how to order ours at the trailer in Olowalu.
What goes in a dirty soda
Most dirty sodas are built from the same four parts:
- Soda. Diet Coke and Dr Pepper are the classic bases. Coke, Sprite and Mountain Dew work too.
- Flavored syrup. Coconut is the best known. Vanilla, cherry, strawberry and raspberry are common.
- Cream. Half and half or coconut cream.
- Fruit. A squeeze of lime, a splash of juice, or a cherry on top.
Change any one part and you get a different drink, so two shops rarely make the same one.
Where dirty soda came from
The dirty soda craze started in Utah around 2010, with drive-thru soda shops. Swig opened in St. George that year and is often named as one of the first. People still debate which shop was truly first.
One of the earliest orders was a Diet Coke with coconut syrup, fresh lime and half and half, called a dirty Diet Coke. Since then the idea has spread to national chains, soda brands and small shops, and to coffee trailers like ours.
Want the long version? Visit Utah has a good history of the dirty soda.
Combinations to try
These come from Utah soda shops and recipe write-ups. They are not our menu.
- Diet Coke, coconut syrup, fresh lime and half and half. The original dirty Diet Coke.
- Dr Pepper, raspberry puree and coconut cream.
- Root beer, cinnamon, a cherry and cream.
- Diet Coke with peach syrup and creamer.
An Italian soda is a different drink. It starts with club soda, not a soft drink.
Dirty sodas at Olowalu Coffee Co
We make dirty sodas to order at the window. A dirty soda here comes with one flavor. A 16 oz is $7.00, a 20 oz is $7.50 and a 24 oz is $8.00. Prices were read from our online menu on October 31, 2026 and can change.
The board also carries a daily special. Recent ones include a blue razz cherry dirty Alani. Not sure what to pick? Ask at the window which flavors are on the board that day.
Dirty soda questions
Is a dirty soda alcoholic?
No. It is soda, syrup, cream and sometimes fruit. There is no alcohol in the ones we make.
Does a dirty soda have caffeine?
It depends on the soda it starts with. Diet Coke and Dr Pepper have caffeine. Sprite does not. Ask at the window about the one you pick.
How much is a dirty soda at Olowalu Coffee Co?
$7.00 for 16 oz, $7.50 for 20 oz and $8.00 for 24 oz, as of October 31, 2026.
Where can I get a dirty soda on Maui's west side?
We are a drive-thru coffee trailer at 950 Luawai St, on the Honoapiilani Highway at Olowalu. That is about 13 minutes from Lahaina in usual traffic. You can turn in from either side of the road. See drive-thru coffee at Olowalu, or coffee on the way to Kahului Airport.
Can I make one at home?
Yes. Pour soda over ice, add a splash of flavored syrup, then a splash of half and half or coconut cream. Squeeze in a lime if you like, and adjust to taste.
Sources: Visit Utah and Wikipedia.
Find us
- Address
- 950 Luawai St
Lahaina, HI 96761 - Hours
- Monday to Friday 6am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday 6am to 2pm