We came the other day when the restaurant was mildly busy, however everything went very smooth. We ordered the hawaiian bacon and bulgogi, which came out at a good time, and was delicious. On top of that, our server, Drake, was very attentive to our needs, and got everything out efficiently and checked up on us often. Can't wait to come back! read more

I love Ala Moana gens! Love their variety of meat, sushi and appetizers! They're pretty quick with it. We've eaten at other spots and they're just not as good as this one! We come every pay week lol read more

Nicole Aulani at Kapolei Gens location was very great !!!! Quick on bring out the food and checking in !!!

It's been a while! Came for a late lunch eat dinner possibly one meal for the day for Mother's Day. Arrived at 4pm and seated very promptly. It was busy! We were waited on by Matthew. Courteous, prompt, attentive service. Our orders came in good time, we didn't have enough table space for all of them! GEN is good fun for grilling your own food. I did notice the banchans are now even fewer than before; looks like now potato salad is available only upon request. Rice tho is still automatically given; we stopped the runner from giving us more than one (coz first rule of buffet is no starch!!) As usual we out-ate our neighboring diners haha! We chose the regular menu (dinner price all day on weekends). Ordered our usuals (brisket, boneless kalbi, bulgogi, spicy pork bulgogi, soy honey beef belly) and tried one thing new: gochujang beef belly. And as usual, we ate our money's worth. read more

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The food is always great here. It's AYCE and they have a lunch and dinner menu and a premium menu as well. The premium menu is much pricier than the regular but they have really good choices on there! Their side dishes are a hit or miss sometimes. Their salad always lives up to my expectations. The dressing is nice and vinegary so it goes quite well with the meat! Wish they had whole lettuce leaves. They are always busy so don't expect to get your order as soon as you tell your server. Be patient:) read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Gens in Ala Moana is one of the locations for this national KBBQ establishment in Hawaii, located on the 4th level of the shopping center reserved for dine in restaurants and bars. I came here as my friend had a craving for KBBQ, so she had a Yelp reservation for us that allowed us to get seated without having to wait outside. I'd say it was an okay experience. Despite coming at noon on a Sunday, weekends automatically locks in the dinner pricing even during the day so you'll be paying the higher price. Looking at the menu in general makes me realize they trimmed down their options which was a bit disappointing. I do like their brisket cuts and marinated bulgolgi. I regret not trying their hotteok which is a new addition to the menu (since my last time going here in 2023?) and corn cheese. I think overall, Gens is still pretty okay considering you get AYCE plus sides at $35. I think other places that only gives you meat is $30 from memory so for $5 more you get options for other things to go with your KBBQ. Would definitely return again. read more

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I left feeling disappointed with my experience at Gen in Honolulu. After waiting for quite a while, there was no server or bartender available to assist. The operation was confusing. I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to enter my own party and order on the iPad or walk to the back to get my own banchan. There wasn't any guidance, and it made the whole experience feel disorganized. I am still hungry (sad). This visit highlighted how important training and clear customer communication are. A simple explanation of the process or someone greeting guests would have made a huge difference. FYI: Josiah was great! read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Stopped in for lunch for son son's preschool grad. I love this place because of the value, where else can you get all you can eat for $20.......DEAL. Our favorite is the meat is the honey beef belly, I also like the spicy pork. The onion, jalapeño, and radish dish is our favorite side. Then add the salad sauce on the side to dip meats to make it a great meal. Today's marks come in lower because the exhaust system is down right bad right now. When we first walked in it just smelt of smoke, at our table it didn't seem the overhead exhaust was working. So it was like eating around a Smokey camp fire haha. Not that it's a bad thing, but surely not at a sit down restaurant. Also they were somewhat under staffed, but it is a random weekday Tuesday haha. All in all it's still great value and a good meal. We'll be back again. read more

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I've never had a not-good experience at Gen besides this one. I come here (and to the Pearl Ridge location) at least once a year and usually the service and food is good. But this time, it wasn't. We came at noon on a Wednesday and it was pretty empty. Our server wasn't the nicest and the 'clean' grills came out pretty gross with residue still on it. The Hawaiian steak got so thin from the last time I was here. They also set the tables with banchan super early so while we were eating, there was banchan at the other tables where no one was at. So who knows how long it's sitting out there. I need to find a new go-to spot ): read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It has been such a long time since I've been to GEN and they have made so many changes. Sushi rolls, hand rolls, premium meats and Boba Tea to name a few. Honestly the regular menu is so plentiful we didn't need to upgrade. Our waiter Andrew was so helpful. I couldn't remember after all these yrs what kind of meats we used to order. He had the best suggestions and everything tasted perfect. Warning: they don't take digital gift cards!! So I won a social media contest and wasn't sure if the digital gift card rule would apply since that's how they sent the prize. Anyway the manager was on top of his game, knew exactly what I was asking, applied the prize and I gleefully payed the balance. This is such a great value and I can't wait to come back again. My son liked his boba so much now he's wondering if he can just pop in and buy boba. I would definitely recommend. read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Ice cream macaroons - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I used Uber Eats to take advantage of a buy 1, get 1 deal. I got their 4 meat choice, 3 sides plate. Meats I chose- beef belly, honey soy beef belly, pork belly, and pork cheek. Sides I chose- sangchae, kimchee, and potato salad Upon using the uber eats app to order, my order was ready for pickup at the estimated time - 20mins. I had to do some errands at the mall, so I arrived home with my meal about an hour after getting my food. Food was still good! Unfortunately they didn't notify me that they couldn't include pork cheek with my meal (even tho it was one of the choices), but they added more honey soy beef belly to my meal- which I wasn't mad about lol Because I waited an hour after receiving my meals, the potato salad was runny, but still semi-cold. Wish there was more quantity with the meat and sides- they included so much white rice! Haha I'd probably only do these meals only if they have the buy 1, get 1 deal. I wouldn't buy it at its regular price. Better deal to eat in, but fair alternative if you want Gen's but want to stay home and eat. read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - 4 meat choice, 4 Meats, 3 Sides, and Steamed Rice Honey Soy Beef Belly, Pork Belly, Reg Beef Belly - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Writing this as I'm still sitting at the table and years later still 2 stars . Service is sub par. Our waitress came by several times and saw empty drink cups but didn't offer refills, we had to ask. Ordered a couple items that we never got. When asked to check if they were coming out the waitress said they should be. About 30 mins later nothing. Asked again and she said they were out. The white rice was pure mush. The Banchan was good. The table and seats were dirty when they seated us. I ordered a Jasmin green tea and returned it because I didn't like it. I had to ask for it to be taken off the check. I ordered an unsweetened tea and had to ask about it after waiting at least 10 mins with no drink. Not a good experience at all. I was hoping after years that I could have a better experience and write a better review but unfortunately it's not so. read more

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I haven't been here in a long time so decided to try it again. We were taken to our table and noticed the floor was slippery like grease. The ventilation was also not very good. It was also quite warm inside and we got sweaty just sitting. The table also already had the banchon on the it. Not sure how long it had been sitting out there. The dish with the seasonings had salt in one of the wells that was wet from moisture. The service was good but the tongs and scissors for cooking had dirty food caked on it before we even used them. They took awhile to replace the utensils so sat staring at the food we could not cook. The food was ok as not much taste but the rice was terrible ( including the sushi). The rice was like mush. The only thing good was the salad. I definitely will not go back. read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Haven't been here for many years. I remember coming for their grand opening and the place was packed. We came a couple times after and I remember the service used to be top-notch but today it was just meh. The server girl was on top of things but the waiter was slow. At one point we didn't even know where he was and for that matter no one else knew too. If he went on break, he should of notified someone as well as the customers as we were not the only table waiting to order. After awhile, we flagged down someone who took our order. After we got what we ordered, our waiter showed up out of nowhere. No apology or anything. The quality of food is still good from what I remembered and the prices were not bad either. Things to consider about reservations is that only parties of 10 or more is allowed to make reservations. read more

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Shout out to Brad / Bradley for being a great server . He took great care of me and my family . I will come back for his great customer service . read more

For our last day here we decided to stop here. We have this place here in Arizona so I'm not new to the chain. Upon entering, it took 10 minutes to get seated. Looking at the restaurant, it was not busy so I'm not sure why we waited so long. When we were seated, the banchan was already on the table. We waited another 15 minutes before a server came and grabbed our drink order. I ordered our food and drinks immediately as to not wait a long time again. Our food came out within 10 minutes and I began eating. After waiting for so long and then watching people who came in after me get service first, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't eat much and decided to leave. I would still recommend this chain but not this specific location. read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

They now serve sushi as part of their dinner menu , and boba tea for an additional $8. My favorite that I recommend is the heotteok and pork belly which works best for lunchtime read more

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The meats are fine and pirk chop amd garlic chicken is so good the minuses - room temp rice that they give at beginning - lack of ban chan variety and the kim chee looks unappetizing - chap chae - false advertising had zero veges just plain - server was fine but had to wait due to lack of staff Meats were all good tho and Costco sells the gift cards at a fraction so worth a try and worth for the meat - read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - PLAIN CHAP CHAE - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ordered the lunch plate for 17$ and they gave me the smallest portions I've ever seen. Two small scoops of dry meat. Watch out if you're gonna eat here. read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Lunch plate 2 entrees - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The food was amazing as well as our server Bradley. He took care of us throughout the entire time we were here and he made the place feel safe and even enjoyable. The vibe of the whole restaurant was amazing! Can't wait to come back and hopefully have Bradley as our server again! read more

Caution, attached video may be loud. Service was fine and food was good but the music was way too loud. We went to eat around 1100 on Sunday. The place was almost empty, but kept playing loud music exceeding 80 decibels (measured from Apple Watch). Understandable if it's Friday, Saturday night for more club vibe but honestly prefer more toned down music if it's lunch time on Sunday. Music was so loud to the point I can't hold a conversation without having to repeat myself and difficulty hearing the server. Would not recommend if you want to have some sort of conversation. Only recommend if you don't wanna talk to another person. read more

Great food and the price is reasonable at this time (same as California) The service was nice and fast The restaurant was clean and well maintained only the blowing fan was not strong enough so when we got out like the smell of burning meat We enjoyed our dinner here read more

I like Gen; I've been to both Ala Moana and Pearlridge locations many times. For a chain restaurant, they are not very consistent in food, service and cleanliness. The food tastes and look different most of the time, service is hit or missed, and the restaurant sometimes can be quite filthy. A few items are consistently good - beef bulgogi, pork bulgogi, kalbi, calamari steak, and Hawaiian steak. Parking are at the malls, so depending on day and time, it maybe very busy. The prices are reasonable for AYCE, so if you're at the mall and are hungry for Korean bbq, Gen maybe a good place. read more

After we arrived, the wait was only about 40 minutes, which wasn't bad at all for a party of five. Once we were seated, the staff helped us right away and service was attentive throughout our meal. The food was delicious, and the portion sizes were generous. My favorite was definitely the beef belly, it was flavorful and cooked perfectly. As a bonus, the soju was 50% off, which made the meal an even better value. Overall, a great dining experience, and I'd definitely come back! read more

This location was awesome! After a long day, it was the perfect place to enjoy a great dinner. We didn't have to wait to be seated, and our food came out quickly, which made the experience even better. Our waiter was outstanding, and one of the supervisors also went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. Their friendly and attentive service really stood out. Overall, the food, fast service, and welcoming atmosphere made for an excellent dining experience. I would definitely come back! read more

This is place went DOWNHILL! Meat quality, service, and cleanliness went down. We went there yesterday and a server who seemed high tried to serve us. His hair was a mess, he told us he didn't have his tablet to take our order, and worst of all he had his finger wrapped in a paper towel and said he cut his finger. He then proceeded to show us the wound, blood and all! How appetizing. We asked to be moved to another section. Service was better, but meat wasn't. The brisket and beef belly fell apart and became crumbs. The other meat was tough and chewy. I know it's only $21 for ayce, but I woiod rather pay a little more and go elsewhere. read more

Ive been a regular customer for this place, from it opened till now. Best bang for the bucks specially lunch. Service has improved as well managers actually come and talk to customer. The alq moana location is waÿÿyyyyyy better than the kamakana location. More spacious and the staff is knowledgable and very hospitable! read more

I hope I don't get judged by this review but this is only my opinion. you can post: I was very disappointed with my experience at this restaurant. The food quality was far below expectations, especially the meat, which tasted old and was tough and unappetizing. The service was also poor; staff seemed inattentive and uninterested in addressing concerns. Overall, the combination of bad food and bad service made for an unpleasant dining experience. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant and would not return unless significant improvements are made to both the food quality and customer service. read more

I love Korean bbq, and Gen definitely hits. We were surprised to be seated immediately with no rsvp given it was around dinner time. I started off with the cheese tonkatsu and it was perfect. The breading with the cheese on the inside was something I've never had before 10/10 recommend as an appetizer. We went with the beef and spicy bulgogi and gen steak. All were super tasty. The one thing I would change is having the meats cut a little thinner so it's easier to cook. Our server took a little while to get our check after but it was busy. read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Beef Bulgogi, Spicy Pork Bulgogi, Gen Steak - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Aloha Cyrus and mahalo for absolutely exceeding our expectations! From the moment we sat down, you made us feel welcome and took incredible care of our table. We told you it was our first time, and how much we loved SURA and instead of just taking our order, you brought out the restaurant's most popular items so we could experience the best of the yakiniku menu without having to guess. Every recommendation was ...delicious! You are attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, FUNNNNNNY and always seemed to appear at just the right time without hovering. Your assistance made our birthday girls entire experience feel effortless and fun. Hey yall, If you have the chance, ask for Cyrus--you won't be disappointed. He truly turned a lunch into an exceptional meal with a bonus experience that we will always remember. Mahalo, Cyrus! We'll definitely be back to visit u @ GEN - Kamakana Ali'i when on the west side take care ... Ke Akua pu read more

Went for lunch on a random weekday. Service was faster, order came out fast. Place wasn't too crowded. The food is always good. The plates and utensils are getting older though, quality and management should take a look. The floor was slippery (as expected in bbq places) but it was too slippery. Ambiance is mid level loud but seating is not too close so that's a plus too. Could have been five stars if plates weren't chipped and plastic glasses were not greasy. read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Premium Gen Steak 1lb, Brisket - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you're even *thinking* about coming to GEN, do it. This was hands-down one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time, amazing food, nonstop energy, and service that made the entire night feel effortless. The food was unreal: fresh, flavorful, and consistently hot off the grill, with everything coming out fast and perfectly timed. Nothing felt rushed, nothing was forgotten, and the whole experience stayed smooth from start to finish. And Randy.. seriously, give this man a raise. He was the definition of a top-tier server friendly, sharp, attentive without hovering, and always a step ahead. Drinks refilled, plates cleared, requests handled instantly, and he still managed to keep the vibe fun. That kind of service is rare. What made it even better was the overall team. Everyone at GEN was amazing - you can tell the staff works together and actually cares about the guest experience. The cherry on top: Manager Andrew stopped by our table just to say hi and check in, which says a lot about the culture there. It felt welcoming, personal, and genuinely well-run. GEN Ala Moana is the kind of place that turns a regular meal into a full-on experience. 5 stars without question can't wait to come back. read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The food at this Gen location was pretty good. We ordered the normal dinner for the three of us. All of the dishes came out to us correctly. The service from our waiter and the bus help were excellent. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. She always came Arii's to check on us, got our orders in a timely manner, filled our beverages regularly, and changed our grill top three times for us while we were dining. The ambiance was pretty good. The floor was clean and not sticky or slippery. Our booth was clean and not dirty when we arrived. The only complaint I would have was that the exhaust vent system that sucks out the smoke was working properly at our table. We were sitting at one of their newer tables that had the exhaust vent in the grill and sucked the smoke into the grill and not above the grill. read more

We were thoroughly happy and satisfied with all the meats brought to our table. The servers that checked on us were pleasant and prompt . Also, the Staff sung Happy Birthday and that was fun!!!!! The ambiance was pleasant and clean. (Clean restroom too & that's important!) We will, for sure, visiting Gen soon!!!! read more

I had an awful experience at this Gen's. First off, my table ordered red wine pork belly, which looked red (slightly purple) on the menu. When we received the order, it was just purple--purple in a weird way. To make matters worse, as I was chewing on this oddly colored pork belly, I feel something hard. At first, I pass it off as really burnt meat. I then feel something cut my tongue. I spit out the meat to find a metal bristle from the facility's cleaning tools. I was only given drinks as compensation despite telling the waiter that it really hurt my mouth. I really liked the cheap price of lunch, though! read more

Good food, fun vibes, and pretty good prices! The servers were friendly and helpful, although we were asked to "upgrade" our AYCE and buy some jerky so it felt strangely sales pitch-y. Still had a great time! I really love the pork belly, brisket, and the kalbi! Left very full and satisfied. read more

10/04/2025. Dinner $33.95. AYCE. Good price. Went early Dinner 5pm. No wait. Excellent service by server William K. Tossed salad, 4 sides, 3 sauces, cooking tongs, scissors to cut meats were brought to table when seated. Drink orders taken. 4 orders at a time. William K. Suggested the 1st round. Garlic chicken, Bulgogi, Pork belly, spicy pork. And he also Suggested the 2nd round. Premium steak, garlic pork belly, beef belly, Al Pastor. Our party of 3, went through 4 rounds = 16 orders. Quality of meats were decent, good. Dessert included, Korean pancake , mochi texture with filling. (Not good if Nut allergy) Place was bustling on a Saturday evening. Full house. Workers were working hard. Highly recommend. Noticed a lot of large groups, celebrations. Free parking in Ala Moana Shopping Center. Restrooms located inside restaurant. Note: Wear something cool. AC didn't seem at highest, gets hot with grills running. At home, got that sticky kind feeling after leaving. read more

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Amazing and kind staff! On the day we went they had a few things that were sold out which was slightly heartbreaking but nonetheless the hosts informed us prior to being seated. If you got BAD asthma perhaps this place is not for you. Honestly I have no idea how the workers here manage to breathe the smoke everyday , definitely troopers lol. Food always comes out quick, on top of that your grills are changed out regularly so you don't have to suffer with a sad and burnt grill. Great price and well suited for small parties read more

Gen Korean BBQ House - Get the spicy bulgogi and Hawaiian steak guys - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

They have sushi now. Its good and relatively fast depending on when you go. Have to have your who party there to check in

A reliable AYCE korean bbq place. We usually go around 6 for an early dinner and there is little to no wait to be seated. Being in Ala Moana means that there is lots of parking. Staff are very attentive and are good about seeing if you want to order more food and changing out the grill. Good selection of meats to grill and appetizers. read more