45 Best Korean Restaurants in Honolulu

“The food was exquisite, I will definitely be coming back. The food has strong flavors that remind me of my grandmother’s cooking. The workers are very fun and interact with customers with smiles and jokes and my food was out in a timely manner and was hot, fresh, and delectable!“

“Delicious healthy charming garden deck in back. yummy 💖“

“Kimchi fry rice is amazing and the poke is fire, definitely on my list of top grinds.“

“Food & service were exceptional!“

“Little did I expect to have some of the best kfood I’ve had when visiting Hawaii. So good we had to come twice in the week.

I ate the 꼬리곰탕 & 갈비탕, would greatly recommend.“

“I've tried every Korean Kimbap spot in Honolulu. Kimbap Plus has the freshest and original tasting kimbap. Ordered vegetable kimbap and tuna kimbap, both were awsome. Primarily take out spot with two seats. They close early at 3:00pm and recommend calling ahead to place phone order as it gets super busy.“

“If you’re in Waikiki and looking for a good Korean meal without spending Waikiki prices, definitely check out Topped!

They have a lunch special every day from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., where you can choose either the bulgogi or spicy pork bowl for only $9.99. In Waikiki, finding a filling meal for under $10 is already a win! 😂 The meat had plenty of flavor, the portions were good, and it’s one of those easy spots when you just want something tasty without doing a full sit-down restaurant.

The service was friendly and quick, which is perfect when you’re grabbing lunch or just want something fast while walking around Waikiki.

The atmosphere is very casual since it’s more of a Korean food stand than a traditional restaurant. Nothing fancy, but that’s part of the charm—you order your food, grab a seat, and enjoy. Great little hidden option for locals or visitors looking for affordable Korean food in Waikiki.

Definitely coming back, especially for that $9.99 lunch special!“

“If you’re looking for an authentic Korean restaurant in Oahu, Hawaii, this is the place! It’s located in the heart of Honolulu and is run and staffed by Koreans. Inside, it feels like a real Korean restaurant in Korea—the atmosphere is very genuine.

The food tastes great, and the portions are big enough. They soup I had was bit salty. Other than that it was great.

They are just like in Korea. They even serve poke as one of their side dishes! That was awesome and definitely a unique touch.

Tips start at 18%. It has a limited parking spots even though free. I would say this is one of the best Korean restaurants in Hawaii. Highly recommended!“

“Saw the positive reviews and had to try it out. To be honest, the name made me imagine a burger with a rice cake patty, which I didn’t think sounded good. But I was wrong (clearly I’m not Korean!)

In reality, the “burger” is just the filling of your choice sandwiched between two rice balls instead of bread. I believe this is called jumeokbap in Korea and nigori in Japan, but not 100% sure.

Either way, I was totally impressed! The kimchi bulgogi was straight up delicious and the rice was some of the best I’ve ever had. Pictures do not do it justice!

Personally I’d love less rice and more meat, but the price was fair. I’m really curious about the macros on this thing too, but it sure tasted good and I’ll be back.

Friendly service and super fast preparation. Very small dining space with two tables. This place is best for takeout.

Located downstairs just to the right of times. They also serve bentos and other items. I’ll prob head back to try those soon.“

“This was my second visit to this small shop in Pioneer Plaza. On my first visit, I picked up a Bulgogi Kimbap; this time I tried the Bulgogi Bibimbap (12.95 + tax). It’s a relatively small bowl, but chock full of tasty bulgogi, raw spinach leaves, fried zucchini, julienned egg, mushrooms, and diced, seasoned daikon over rice. It comes with a bowl of broth with two pieces of fishcake.

The broth is nice and rich, surprisingly so. I really enjoyed the somewhat unconventional looking bibimbap. It comes with a small container of gochujang sauce, mandatory IMO to boost the flavor profile. At first, I thought “Is this pineapple?” No, it’s cubes of pickled radish. The dish lacked julienned carrots, bean sprouts, a fried egg, and sesame seeds but I didn’t miss them.

Bottom line: I liked this dish and would buy it again. That’s a recommendation in my book. Rating: 4.“

“The best Korean on the island hands down!!! First stop when we get off the plane from Georgia!!!“

“Excellent food! Tried the Korean, Spicy Garlic and fried chicken bowl. Just make sure you ask if there are peanuts in the sauce if allergic.“

“We had lunch at Koryo Won with four people. Friends had recommended it to me before, but since I’m not usually much of a meat eater, I had never made it in. Lately I’ve been trying to add more protein to my diet, so this seemed like the perfect time to finally give it a try.

We ordered the fresh short ribs, jumulleok based on our waitress’s recommendation — and she nailed it — plus a seafood pancake.

We ordered only three servings of meat for four people, but the portions were very generous and more than enough for us. The meat was extremely fresh, tender, and flavorful. Honestly, as far as the quality of the meat goes, I think this is some of the best Korean BBQ I’ve had in Honolulu.

The side dishes were also delicious and, something I especially appreciated, not overly salty. They were generous with refills, including plenty of fresh lettuce for wrapping the meat. The seafood pancake was thick, crispy on the outside, and packed with vegetables — a great addition to the meal.

Service was excellent. Our waitress was very attentive, kept our side dishes and lettuce replenished, and changed the grill plate a couple of times without us even having to ask.

I didn’t try many of the other dishes, so I can’t comment on the entire menu, but if you’re coming for Korean BBQ and good-quality meat, I definitely recommend Koryo Won. Great portions, fresh ingredients, wonderful service, and plenty of parking to boot. Even my husband commented that he hadn’t enjoyed Korean BBQ this much in a long time.

We’ll definitely be back!“

“This place offers great grab and go or made to order Korean food in the Lanai food court in the Ala Moana Center. Normally, I'm not impressed with mall food and especially ethnic foods in the mall, but this place does a good job. It is a more contemporary take on Korean food, but it tastes great and reasonably priced for being in a mall. Their Bibimbap is my favorite made to order dish. It is packed with lots of the usual goodies and they offer brown rice for an healthy option. You can also get the japji noodles instead which I prefer since it adds more contrast and extra flavors that match well to the mix. The grab and go selection offers a wide selection of Korean favorites. Their triangle Korean flavors musubi are and excellent quick bite if you don't want much, but got a hunger you need to calm. There are both spicy and mild assorted fillings. A real winner in their grab and go selection is the KFC rice bowl. Piece of Korean fried chicken that are sauced up on hot rice. I recommend the spicy. It isn't that spicy, but just the right kick. The dish is small, but very filling. Probably would be good for a hangover.“

“great place for a weekday lunch that's affordable, filling, nutritious, and tasty! great value for the price and quality of food 😁 there's an open, air-conditioned adjacent seating area with a few other food/drink stalls as well. would recommend, and would return!“

“The best Korean fried Chicken on Oahu

I love crispy and snow flavor that's awesome.

Small bar for dine-in for 3 people. By the way, I do

Only take out. If you want to pick up please call to

Order in advance they take 15 minutes to prepare.“

“Excellent Korean BBQ! It was recommended by a local- great service and delicious food, great quality, decent portions at a decent price! Need reservations by calling restaurant.“

“A hole in the wall Korean Restaurant. If you want authentic Korean food, this is the place to go.

The food potion is sharable size portion so if you are going with more than yourself share the meals. You all will get plenty to eat. Of course like any Korean restaurant you also get plenty of side dishes as well. Food was very authentic and glad I got to have some as I don't get authentic Korean food where I'm currently am.

I do have to note parking is very limited in the back and the restaurant entrance it very confusing. We went through the front entrance and it led to their office space/kitchen but it also lead to the seating area. The seating area can hold about 6 groups and their is a separate back room too. Also, when we were leaving there is a seating area in the back.

Overall, highly recommend to get some authentic Korean food here. Like I mentioned the entrance is confusing but the food make up for the atmosphere.“

“Delicious bbq chicken plate! It's right at the Marina, so grab one in the evening, sit outside on the tables, and catch a beautiful sunset. I liked that I could get it with no rice, and they gave me 5 sides instead, so I could get lots of veggies. The chicken was nice and warm, with a little char and delicious glaze. Yum!“

“Absolutely floored that this doesn’t have higher reviews... This was my personal *favorite restaurant* of the trip to Oahu that my husband and I took recently. We loved the mandoo, bulgogi bibimbap, bulgogi hot pot for one, BBQ chicken plate, and all the little pickled radish & kimchi complimentary sides to nibble on as we waited for our meal. The bulgogi hot pot broth was amazing. I’m going to try to repeat it at home but we’ll see if I can come close… We came back repeatedly for more on our trip and will again on our next visit. 5+ stars absolutely“

“It was lunchtime. Cold noodles and kalbi set for $31 plus tip (tax included).

This is the first time I've ever had such delicious cold noodles. The kalbi (Korean BBQ ribs) are also delicious. You should definitely try this if you come to Hawaii. The restaurant is clean and has a restroom. There's a parking lot next door, and I'm sure it's okay to park there. There are plenty of parking lots in the area, so you can park there.

There are plenty of tables and the restaurant is spacious, so it's accessible for people in wheelchairs.“

“Lazy Sunday looking for a place to eat lunch and came across this place. Your typical Korean food menu but what makes this place amazing: the owner/server/entertainer. She went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and made our experience all the more memorable. You don’t see this level of care for customer anymore in the restaurant industry. Kalei and Kim chee soup were 10/10. Will come back again.“

“Omega Mandoo House located on Nuuanu Avenue. Small shop specializing in Mandoo. They make 2 types of Mandoo. A Vegetable and Chicken Mandoo, the Kimchi Mandoo. If you want to eat the steamed ones you’ll have to get there early as they only cook a certain amount and when it sells out they only have the frozen ones that you’ll have to take home to cook. Great local business that do only one or two things but do them extremely well. Those Mandoo’s are delicious and definitely cravable. Highly recommended 👍“

“Our favorite Korean bbq takeout on the island! The chicken katsu and bbq chicken are both so good! And the sides are all amazing. Great quality at a great price! The portions are huge so you can definitely share a regular plate. This is one of our go-to places and it never disappoints!“

“100% the best customer service on island! The lady who owns this place has always been so incredibly kind and welcoming! The food is honestly the best we’ve had since Korea! We live in kapolei but come here just to see her and experience the vibes ❤️❤️❤️“

“Really great food if you’re looking for a higher end Korean barbecue place! All of the staff are super nice and helpful. Parking is easy and the restaurant is pretty easy to get to, with a dedicated elevator labeled with the restaurant’s name.“

“You guys gotta check this place out....service was top notch. When I first went in I ordered plate lunches and then the owner hands me a water cup with ice...so thoughtful!! Not many places do that anymore. The place gave a generous portion of food. Good for the money!! Great place to go to.“

“Highly recommend this place because of three things: thickness, balanced flavor, and soft. The meat jun is so soft that my chopsticks cut through with little effort. Kalbi is also soft that you can bite through with little force. The flavor is well balanced with the salty and sweet taste. Lastly, I have never had korean food where the meats were around 1/4" or thicker while still being soft. Price is very reasonable, and they accept credit card payment. A must try!

Parking: Parking stalls are shared with McCully Buffet. Depending on the time that you go, it can get busy, and hard to find parking.“

“When I was growing up, going to school across the street at Aliamanu, they only had Pioneer Chicken at that corner of the Shopping Center. Several years later, after Pioneer Chicken was no more, I was pleased to discover this new Korean BBQ place that opened up there.“

“Amazing birthday dinner at Stadium Camellia! The kalbi was beautifully marinated, the pork jowl was flavorful and rendered perfectly, and the banchan was plentiful. Everything was well worth the price.

Chris and Kya were quick, attentive, and very accommodating with our two-year-old. We also loved that they serve Samurai Ice Cream and rotate the flavors monthly.

My only complaint is that the table and toddler seat slid around a little too easily. Other than that, we had an amazing experience. The real downside is that we didn’t come here sooner!“

“I have tried a lot of Korean fried chicken places, and BBQ Chicken Kahala is still my number one. The chicken quality is truly outstanding. It is crispy, juicy, flavorful, and consistently cooked so well every time. That kind of quality is not easy to find.

The boneless chicken in Secret Sauce is a must-try, but the real surprise is the Spicy Galbi Boneless. That is the hidden gem on the menu. It is unbelievably delicious and full of bold flavor while pleasantly spicy. Once you try it, you will understand why I keep coming back. Also, their french fries are a must-try menu.

What really sets BBQ Chicken Kahala apart is that the food tastes premium and carefully made, not rushed or ordinary. In my view, this is the best Korean fried chicken I have had anywhere. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves great chicken (and fries).“

“This is the place to get late night Korean food and drinks! I loved all the neon lights! There’s stickers all over their walls and sharpies at their tables! You order everything from the tablets at the table. It makes it convenient to scroll and check out the menu options. We ordered the cheese corn, garlic shoyu wings and kimchi pancake. The portions are pretty big and it comes with banchan, so I suggest bringing a group or it’s nice to have leftovers. The service was so fast! I honestly like everything we ordered! The cheese corn is perfect for videos to show off the cheese pull and it’s delicious. The garlic shoyu chicken wings had so much flavor and the kimchi pancake was perfect! I'm happy to find another Korean food place to eat that's open after 8PM. I'll be back!“

“Tasty high quality food, affordable prices and great service. You can submit orders through their website for the same in-store prices; Unlike other places that add online transaction fees. Best banchan options: they have the usuals you'll see in most Korean BBQ places, like Kimchi, bean sprouts, chapchae, mac salad, pickled seaweed (wakame), etc. But their unique offerings are the fried eggplant & pickled veg (daikon, onion & jalapeno). Always a hit with my coworkers and family.“

“I ordered take out from this place when I was visiting Honolulu. I got the Kalbi and Pork Belly BBQ with macaroni salad and potato salad. The Korean BBQ is really good and the prices are great. I would visit this place more often if I lived in Honolulu, really good food and even better prices!“

“Some restaurants ride on nostalgia. This one earns its reputation fresh every single visit. I've been coming here for 30 years — long enough to watch countless restaurants open, hype, and disappear — and this place just keeps delivering. That's not luck. That's good food.

As someone with over two decades in the restaurant business, I notice the details most diners take for granted. The service here is attentive without being intrusive, the pacing is thoughtful, and the kitchen clearly takes pride in every component on the table. They serve award-winning Tamaki Gold rice — a small thing that quietly signals how seriously this kitchen takes quality. My 12 year old daughter asked for a second serving of the rice.

I always go for the Prime Boneless Shortrib, the Ginseng Chicken Soup, and the Pan-fried Hawaiian Butter Fish. These dishes are must-orders. The shortrib is the kind of centerpiece that defines a great Korean BBQ — buttery and perfectly marbled. The ginseng chicken soup is soulful and restorative, the sort of dish you didn't know you needed until it arrives in front of you. And the Pan-fried Butter Fish? Broke da mouth.

If you're visiting Honolulu, this is not a maybe — it's a definitive stop for lunch or dinner. It's only a short drive from Waikiki. Forty years in, the standard hasn't slipped. That says everything.“

“Surprisingly good. i was in a hurry so i dropped by to get something quick, and they made my stuff fast. I’m not Korean though so i’ve got no idea if it’s authentic, but I got the bikook (?) cold noodles and it was cool, spicy, and tangy. Good portion sizes“

“Yummy Korean Food, primarily side dishes. Probably the best kimchi you can purchase in O’ahu, but they sometimes run out. So if you plan on going to get kimchi, go earlier in the day. Love the leek kimchi (small container for $8), but I wish they would chop them shorter. Meat patties were excellent ($16).“

“Chicken is very crispy ,light, not too oily and sauce is not strong special taste. So I think this store chicken is veey healthy soul food!“

“H Mart has the best produce, the fruit variety and freshness is epic! The pickle/banchan fridge is full of so many options. I love the ready to bbq bulgogi and sashimi fish fridge for those looking for lean protein - they have salmon, hamachi, ahi combos. The frozen dumpling and buns selection are epic. Also great teas and seaweed. I love this place!!! The checkout folks are nice and 1 hour parking is free.“

“Great service. Great food. Great atmosphere. Overall a wonderful experience for our first time there“

“Outside of Asia, you can't really crave Korean food that much.It's better than any kimchi stew you eat in Korea. I went there twice. Even the foreigner was amazed to see him eating it while sweating.The meat was a bit tough and ok, but the kimchi stew was really delicious.“

“The spicy pork feet were absolutely delicious! It was honestly the best spicy pork feet I’ve had in Hawaii. The flavor was amazing, and the perfect balance of spicy and savory. The staff were also incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. I will definitely be coming back again. Highly recommend this place! 😊“

“BEST FRIED CHICKEN IN THE AREA!!!

Korean chicken is the best and I’m so grateful they have this awesome restaurant here.

You can dine in or pickup to go.

If you’re going to Halona cove, stop here, grab a box of delicious chicken and eat it when you go there.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!“

“Very good food. We had a party of 11 people and ordered a large variety of dishes and meats. The service was quick and the food was super delicious. I would love to come back and order raw meats to cook myself at the table. Would recommend.“

“Cheaper korean plate lunches but no choice on side veggies, they will give whatever veggies was cooked that day.
Today, I didn't really enjoy the kalbi and BBQ chicken. My partner said the grilled fished tasted fried instead.“