There's a few new Korean bbq places in Kapolei now And we've tried them but I always comeback to Pearl Bbq by Safeway. 1. The food options and portions. My father is elderly and is accustomed to having his veggies. So Korean bbq is always so awesome because of the banchan. My pops also likes Pearl's japchae so whenever I order a regular plate, one of them is all noodles as the side, along with seaweed and Choy sum. And because my father is elderly, I have to order softer foods for him which is the fish and meat jun fulfills that requirement. 2. Friendly and fast service. Always consistent in this area. 3. Convenient parking. Lots of available parking even during peak hours. And proximity to my home is also a plus. 4. No ambience whatsoever. And that's fine by name. I'm usually taking out and so I just need a clean and tasty place to order from. 5. Oh! The catering options are also really awesome. If I've been invited to an impromptu potluck or we have a surprise visitor, there's no hassle with Pearl. I can call 30-mins ahead of time for a medium platter of protein and a medium pan of banchan with four options. Love the convenience and the price too. 5-stars for Pearl Bbq for convenience alone.
Kodi Leialoha
we found so much hair in are food. We found hair in the rice, bbq chicken, and vegetables. Terrible!! I would not recommend eating their.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Janelle A.
Attention foodies. Let me take you on a journey through my recent dining experience at Pearl's Korean Food in Kapolei. Brace yourself for an honest and detailed account that might just change your dinner plans. Picture this: eagerly anticipating a delicious meal, I ordered the meat jun plate, a personal favorite. But alas, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment as I received a plate of meat that was either dry and seemingly reheated or, worse yet, undercooked. It was a culinary heartbreak I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. But wait, there's more. Despite their advertised closing time of 8:45 PM, the reality is far from the truth. By 6 PM, they mysteriously run out of veggies, with no intention of restocking. It's a veggie-less saga that leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth, both literally and figuratively. And let's talk about the service, or lack thereof. Walking in, you're greeted with what can only be described as an air of indifference. It's as if our mere presence is an inconvenience to them. It's a shame, really, because a warm smile and friendly demeanor can go a long way in enhancing the dining experience. In summary, Pearl's Korean Food in Kapolei is a disappointment of epic proportions. With subpar food, questionable service and an overall lack of care, it's a place that I, unfortunately, cannot recommend. Save yourself the trouble and explore other dining options in the area. Your taste buds will thank you.
Whitney C.
Can't go wrong with Pearl's. Kinda pricey, but the portions are big. We like to eat her for a quick Korean fix.
Louis H.
Ordered two identical plates by phone was told to pick up in ten minutes when I arrived only one was ready sitting on the counter. I asked why is only one ready? "Still cooking" . Fifteen minutes later the other one came out looks like the first one was cooked hours ago. Flies are all over banchan in the front also . Workers don't seem to care.
song c.
Impressive portions and super tasty! Was a little wary due to the mixed reviews but had a terrific experience. Mostly take away with a few booths inside but easy shopping center parking. Ordered yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and kalbi/chicken plate and it was all delicious! Fresh banchan (vegetable sides), rice and authentic flavored food. Will definitely be back!
Shirley S.
I heard all about meat and fish Jun and wanted to try it on my trip to the Aulani resort and Pearl's was my introduction to this. This is a little Korean bbq take out joint but it has really amazing down home cooking. I had the combo meat/fish Jun and it came with two pieces of meat Jun, two pieces of fish Jun, white rice, and four sides of which I chose jap chae, mac salad and two sides of soy sauce potatoes. Everything was so delicious that I had to go back another day and get the same thing all over again. Love, love, love their food!!!
Kim N.
The food was good for sure but the service stunk! While we were sitting down to eat, a woman came in and didn't have enough money to get a little something. They was mean and rude. I was going to buy her but she must've felt embarrassed and didn't want anything after that. I think they just need better customer service! They then started talking in they language Filipino. Then a family member came in and ordered 5 plates and paid nothing. How can they do that. It's so not Godly. Oh well, hopefully they realize they need help.
Cheryl D.
Don't eat here unless you want food poisoning. They use the same tongs to handle raw meat and already cooked meat.
Donna Tuisamata
Bbq beef was very dry and noodles smelled spoiled. Waste of money!
I used to come to pearls Korean bbq at kapolei all the time and the food satisfied my cravings. They always give a big portion of food that overflowed my take out container which is great! We'd always have left overs. Lately I've been noticing each time I make a take out order, my food smelt and tasted sour. My boyfriend would just tell me it because of the Kim chee side I always select. So I brush it off and think nothing of it and force myself to eat my food because I didn't want to waste a whole plate lunch. Especially with the cost of food now a days... My most recent visit, I ordered to go, the moment I got home and opened my plate lunch I already smelt the sourness. I was hoping not to be disappointed and took a bite out of the beans sprouts. It was so sour! It tastes spoiled and slimy. There was absolutely no crunch. You can tell it's been soaking for a long time and just didn't taste right. Idk if it was because of the bean sprout juices that were soaking into the rice and meat that made the bbq chicken and rice sour but ughh On top of that the bbq chicken was dry and hard. And I once again lost my appetite and would not force myself to eat any more of it. I tried to separate the meat from the plate and grab new rice from my own rice cooker to attempt to eat the bbq chicken and meat jhun I had ordered. It didn't help at all. The meat was sour also. I'm over making excuses. I strongly believe that they are servicing spoiled food. I've eaten pickled vegetables before and this is nothing like being pickled. It tasted spoiled. Idk maybe it's just me maybe not. But ive come to a final conclusion that I won't be ordering from here anymore. I've had more than enough experiences from here to finally stop eating their food. If you like sour spoiled food you'd love this place.
Kenny Donios
Excellent place to get your food. I ordered the mini combo with BBQ Chicken - Spicy BBQ Pork - Mac salad - Potato salad - Rice. I was not disappointed. Tasted great. The dinning area was clean and the servers were friendly. I'll be back for more food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gee S.
I like this place a lot considering the portions and service, went to other Pearl's korean Bqq this kapolei to me is the best and food tastes better maybe the chef
Jazmen And Makana C.
We got a small pan of Meat Jun which was more than enough for a family of 8, a plate of veggies and 10 piece Mandoo plate.The food was great, and ready for us in 15mins. Staff was friendly and it was just before closing so they were still able to accommodate and I didn't get her name but front cashier lady was so sweet and gave us extra mandoo!Pricing was reasonable and everyone enjoyed it.
Paul C.
This place is really good. The fusion between Korean and local cuisine is awesome. Great prices and good eats. I do like this place because they are relatively quick. The picture is of the meat hun and spicy chicken combo for $19.49. Awesome and good for two people for sure. The side dishes are good as well and every time I go there they are fresh.
There's a few new Korean bbq places in Kapolei now And we've tried them but I always comeback to Pearl Bbq by Safeway. 1. The food options and portions. My father is elderly and is accustomed to having his veggies. So Korean bbq is always so awesome because of the banchan. My pops also likes Pearl's japchae so whenever I order a regular plate, one of them is all noodles as the side, along with seaweed and Choy sum. And because my father is elderly, I have to order softer foods for him which is the fish and meat jun fulfills that requirement. 2. Friendly and fast service. Always consistent in this area. 3. Convenient parking. Lots of available parking even during peak hours. And proximity to my home is also a plus. 4. No ambience whatsoever. And that's fine by name. I'm usually taking out and so I just need a clean and tasty place to order from. 5. Oh! The catering options are also really awesome. If I've been invited to an impromptu potluck or we have a surprise visitor, there's no hassle with Pearl. I can call 30-mins ahead of time for a medium platter of protein and a medium pan of banchan with four options. Love the convenience and the price too. 5-stars for Pearl Bbq for convenience alone.
we found so much hair in are food. We found hair in the rice, bbq chicken, and vegetables. Terrible!! I would not recommend eating their.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Attention foodies. Let me take you on a journey through my recent dining experience at Pearl's Korean Food in Kapolei. Brace yourself for an honest and detailed account that might just change your dinner plans. Picture this: eagerly anticipating a delicious meal, I ordered the meat jun plate, a personal favorite. But alas, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment as I received a plate of meat that was either dry and seemingly reheated or, worse yet, undercooked. It was a culinary heartbreak I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. But wait, there's more. Despite their advertised closing time of 8:45 PM, the reality is far from the truth. By 6 PM, they mysteriously run out of veggies, with no intention of restocking. It's a veggie-less saga that leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth, both literally and figuratively. And let's talk about the service, or lack thereof. Walking in, you're greeted with what can only be described as an air of indifference. It's as if our mere presence is an inconvenience to them. It's a shame, really, because a warm smile and friendly demeanor can go a long way in enhancing the dining experience. In summary, Pearl's Korean Food in Kapolei is a disappointment of epic proportions. With subpar food, questionable service and an overall lack of care, it's a place that I, unfortunately, cannot recommend. Save yourself the trouble and explore other dining options in the area. Your taste buds will thank you.
Can't go wrong with Pearl's. Kinda pricey, but the portions are big. We like to eat her for a quick Korean fix.
Ordered two identical plates by phone was told to pick up in ten minutes when I arrived only one was ready sitting on the counter. I asked why is only one ready? "Still cooking" . Fifteen minutes later the other one came out looks like the first one was cooked hours ago. Flies are all over banchan in the front also . Workers don't seem to care.
Impressive portions and super tasty! Was a little wary due to the mixed reviews but had a terrific experience. Mostly take away with a few booths inside but easy shopping center parking. Ordered yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and kalbi/chicken plate and it was all delicious! Fresh banchan (vegetable sides), rice and authentic flavored food. Will definitely be back!
I heard all about meat and fish Jun and wanted to try it on my trip to the Aulani resort and Pearl's was my introduction to this. This is a little Korean bbq take out joint but it has really amazing down home cooking. I had the combo meat/fish Jun and it came with two pieces of meat Jun, two pieces of fish Jun, white rice, and four sides of which I chose jap chae, mac salad and two sides of soy sauce potatoes. Everything was so delicious that I had to go back another day and get the same thing all over again. Love, love, love their food!!!
The food was good for sure but the service stunk! While we were sitting down to eat, a woman came in and didn't have enough money to get a little something. They was mean and rude. I was going to buy her but she must've felt embarrassed and didn't want anything after that. I think they just need better customer service! They then started talking in they language Filipino. Then a family member came in and ordered 5 plates and paid nothing. How can they do that. It's so not Godly. Oh well, hopefully they realize they need help.
Don't eat here unless you want food poisoning. They use the same tongs to handle raw meat and already cooked meat.
Bbq beef was very dry and noodles smelled spoiled. Waste of money!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
I used to come to pearls Korean bbq at kapolei all the time and the food satisfied my cravings. They always give a big portion of food that overflowed my take out container which is great! We'd always have left overs. Lately I've been noticing each time I make a take out order, my food smelt and tasted sour. My boyfriend would just tell me it because of the Kim chee side I always select. So I brush it off and think nothing of it and force myself to eat my food because I didn't want to waste a whole plate lunch. Especially with the cost of food now a days... My most recent visit, I ordered to go, the moment I got home and opened my plate lunch I already smelt the sourness. I was hoping not to be disappointed and took a bite out of the beans sprouts. It was so sour! It tastes spoiled and slimy. There was absolutely no crunch. You can tell it's been soaking for a long time and just didn't taste right. Idk if it was because of the bean sprout juices that were soaking into the rice and meat that made the bbq chicken and rice sour but ughh On top of that the bbq chicken was dry and hard. And I once again lost my appetite and would not force myself to eat any more of it. I tried to separate the meat from the plate and grab new rice from my own rice cooker to attempt to eat the bbq chicken and meat jhun I had ordered. It didn't help at all. The meat was sour also. I'm over making excuses. I strongly believe that they are servicing spoiled food. I've eaten pickled vegetables before and this is nothing like being pickled. It tasted spoiled. Idk maybe it's just me maybe not. But ive come to a final conclusion that I won't be ordering from here anymore. I've had more than enough experiences from here to finally stop eating their food. If you like sour spoiled food you'd love this place.
Excellent place to get your food. I ordered the mini combo with BBQ Chicken - Spicy BBQ Pork - Mac salad - Potato salad - Rice. I was not disappointed. Tasted great. The dinning area was clean and the servers were friendly. I'll be back for more food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I like this place a lot considering the portions and service, went to other Pearl's korean Bqq this kapolei to me is the best and food tastes better maybe the chef
We got a small pan of Meat Jun which was more than enough for a family of 8, a plate of veggies and 10 piece Mandoo plate.The food was great, and ready for us in 15mins. Staff was friendly and it was just before closing so they were still able to accommodate and I didn't get her name but front cashier lady was so sweet and gave us extra mandoo!Pricing was reasonable and everyone enjoyed it.
This place is really good. The fusion between Korean and local cuisine is awesome. Great prices and good eats. I do like this place because they are relatively quick. The picture is of the meat hun and spicy chicken combo for $19.49. Awesome and good for two people for sure. The side dishes are good as well and every time I go there they are fresh.