The Portions here really suck. I got the chicken and Kalbi combo. It consisted of 1 small piece of chicken and 1 thin strip of kalbi with several sides. Paid $14 with a medium drink. I was very disappointed. Never ate there again. This was 6 or 7 years ago. I think this place was called Yummy's before. Still the same owner, I think. They probably revoked her franchise license... Yummy's is a chain of Korean barbecue restaurants back on Oahu. read more

3.5 stars Kalbi Express is located in a food court with no mall attached to it. After a long day at Volcano National Park, we stopped here to get some grub before turning in our rental car and heading to the airport. I got the 3 item combo with kalbi, chicken, meat jun (thinly sliced marinated beef dipped in egg and flour), 4 side dishes, gyoza, and rice for $8.95. A little expensive, but you get a big box stuffed with yummy food. I was seriously contemplating bringing the leftovers back to Honolulu with me, but decided the other passengers probably wouldn't appreciate the smell of kimchee in the plane. read more

Asked for bbq chicken NOT to be overcooked. It was like shoe leather. Sides nothing to write home about. I miss Yummi on Oahu. read more

Kalbi Express - Chicken thigh cooked into shoe leather, bits of charcoaled chicken on the rice. - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

I usually like their food, but the last couple of times I ate there, the food was cold and tasted like leftovers. Not worth the price and in this case, not worth my time anymore. I will not be returning. read more

Ordered a Kalbi Combo plate. Total $ 16.18 Prices sure went up! Plate came with 2 thin strips of kalbi rib 1 Piece of meatjun 4 veggies of your choice and a whole lot of rice! Guess the rice is suppose to make up for the lack of meat. Tho' i must say the rice was cooked perfectly. Kalbi was quite tasty but a slight bit too chewy - Meatjun was good. Aroma was awesome! And I loved the veggies! Because i was craving for kalbi & meatjun i decided to go here to eat, but i must say tho' i was quite dissappointed with the porportion of meat that was given for its price. In my opinion I think its overpriced for a plate with more rice & veggies than its MAIN COURSE that you expected when ordered - - afterall on the menu says KALBI - MEATJUN etc... NOT- RICE - VEGETABLES etc...So one would think that is what you'll be gettin more ( main course) for the buck. But because it was tasty good...Im givin this a rating of 4 stars. read more

We stopped at Kalbi Express on the last night of our trip to Hawaii. We were driving down from the volcano park and on the way to the Hilo airport. We didn't have time for a sitdown dinner at a fancy place, so we decided to stop at this place. It's in the back corner of a shopping center in a little food court that has a couple of different Asian places. However, of the three this was by far the most busy. I have the combination plate, which is several different meats with several side dishes. All of the meats were quite delicious, well seasoned and very flavorful. The side dishes are more variable, depending on how you feel about kimchi and seaweed. Overall, I thought this was a great place to stop in for a quick meal, and its proximity to the airport makes it ideal to swing by before your flight to the mainland. read more

Ordered kalbi combo plate with korean chicken Kalbi was good but they only gave us two strip I don't know what's so korean about the korean chicken: it was salty for me They put lots of sauce in the rice Kim Chee and Mac salad is a bit bland Potato salad was a better choice Overall it was a good experience as a tourist but most likely wouldn't eat it again unless it's just kalbi read more

Had the most horrible experience here where I came here feeling really sick with Flu and person behind the counter takes my order, it's the wrong order. Asked for correct one, owners and all his family and cashier person come out to force me to take the food. No customer service here. read more

Giant plates. The Bbq chicken and beef combo was great! Even my Korean friends were happy. Totally hidden in an out of the way food court. I always get it to go - the location tells me to. read more

I went to Kalbi express today because I wanted to eat Korean food I've been there many times but I haven't gone there in a while . Well the prices went up it's 1795 for a combination plate and 3.00 for s cold drink that's expensive I had to tell the guy to put a lot in my plate because he was measuring it By putting little bit at a time I told him put a lot I like vegetables .Lol..But he still was measuring he didn't care what I said I got the meat jun Mondu Combination my meat nun was cut into skinny strips to make more‍But for $17.95 The plate should be really nice and full but it wasn't. I No inflation is going up but don't raise prices and give less do you want your customers to come back for me I'm not going back I rather go to one restaurant where I can sit down and enjoy my meal for that price and yet their food. Not of high quality their customer service is horrible ‍I used to like going there but I'm not anymore so when you're planning to eat at Kalbi express make sure you got a lot of money if you bringing your family$$$because it will cost you Aloha read more

Kalbi Express is the best place to eat in the Waiakea Food Court. Their prices are reasonable and they give plenty of food! I always go back for the Korean chicken plate (or a combination plate with Korean chicken inside). The Korean chicken is boneless, seasoned perfectly and is just so delicious! I like to get the mini plate because one mini plate will last me two meals, but the only difference between the mini and regular plate is the amount of vegetable sides they give (two versus four). Their vegetable sides are also very good. There's a large variety to choose from (including kim chi, mac salad, noodles, tofu, corn, etc.) and it makes the plates even that much more satisfying. If you're in the Waiakea Food Court looking for some food, it's a hands-down, no-brainer that Kalbi Express is the place to choose. read more

KB is one of my favorite places to eat. However it appears things have changed. The side dishes or pickled vegetables are tasteless. The chapjae is absolutely without flavor. For that matter, the daikon, broccoli and cabbage were equally devoid of taste. Too bad since that was my main draw. The BBQ was okay but not like it used to be. I am not sure if there are new owners but I do hope they improve Returned about a month later. Much improved. The banchan was tastier and fresher. The chopjae is still light on taste. Overall, a much better alternative to burgers. I definitely recommend this eatery for those who like healthy Korean food at a very reasonable price. read more

In recent times their prices increased, so its about $14 average for a plate lunch, which I would consider "pricey." They do give big portions, and I never find myself finishing a whole plate to myself, I almost always likely to share with a friend. But there isnt anything spectacular about this place, the food is average to me. When I ordered a kalbi plate tonight it was a little bit on the burnt side, which usually isnt the case, but on this friday night they were pretty slammed with customers and currently understaffed. I do enjoy eating their sides, I love that they have a ton of options and You can choose 4 for a combo plate. Its a great place to eat once in a great while, but I dont see myself eating there often. read more

This use to be one of my favorite Korea spots. I don't know what happened to this place. The chicken was burnt, the kimchi was terrible and the other sides (noodles, cabbage) had no flavor. I gave 2 stars because if they had gotten my order right the kalbi was delicious. I got to taste some from a friend (her order was correct). Also, the prices went up... not worth a trip. read more

Our Kalbi was pink and underdone. Not even charred. The BBQ beef was soft but needed more sauce and was dry. The korean chicken was basically pieces of chicken the size of quarters and peas with a few decent sized pieces. Just please, don't cook Kalbi if you can't. Especially if it's in the business name. Last time I'll be going there. They need new cooks or just shut down for real. Super disappointing $30 down the drain read more

One of the better Meat Jun's I've tasted on the Big Island. Had the mini-plate, and it was plenty enough. The food court where the restaurant is located, though, seems so dirty. When I stopped by, it was not crowded at all, and all of the tables were extremely dirty from people who ate there earlier. Looked for a rag to wipe my table, but there was none. Ruined a decent experience. If you are taking out, then this is the place to stop off. read more

Found a roach floating in my jun sauce. Gross! I question their prep quality. Food was good but c'mon, nobody wants to see a roach in their food. Who knows where that's been. read more

Kalbi Express - It's a roach! - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

My husband had craving for korean food and we found this place and gave it a try. We got man doo kuksoo and honey chicken, bibimbab and #3 combo. Honey chicken was too dry and salty. Man doo kuksoo was bland. Bibimbab was just you put side menu and a little bit of sauce in a plastic to go container. It was hard to mix bibimbab and not tasty korean bibimbab at all. Kalbi and bbq beef of #3 combo was ok but chicken was not. Overall we were very disappointed. read more

Typical local-Korean plate lunch place. Order at the counter and choose your veggies to complement the meal. I tried the Korean chicken and fish jun and enjoyed both. The Korean chicken is boneless, lightly breaded, and covered in sauce. I would've liked more breaking and less sauce. Weird, I know, but I think it would've improved the texture. I guess that's not what you're usually thinking at this type of restaurant. The fish jun was typical - good, but nothing outstanding. The veggies were also good, but the cucumber kim chee was mushy. For $10, there was a lot of food, and it was enough for two of us to share for lunch. read more

Our go-to place for dinner when mom doesn't feel like cooking or we're out and about. Lots of good food, the sides are just as amazing. Staff is knowledgable and friendly. read more

I really enjoy going because of the vegetables but today was horrible. I sit in and dine but today I had to leave. Only to find out when I got home that the rice was too mushy..my order was wrong and I had very little vegetables. I don't plan on eating there for awhile read more

Nothing fancy, just great Korean Barbecue Plate Lunches sure to satisfy anyone looking for affordable take out for lunch or dinner. Located at the Waiakea Food Court, they are one of the very few food venues in the cafeteria style pavillion serving some of the best kalbi, barbecue beef or chicken, even chicken katsu served hot and fresh over a heaping bed of rice and generous side options. This hole in the wall is one Hilo's go to take out for fast plate lunch style dining that never disappoints. The portions are huge and the mini's aren't so mini! Well worth the $$ read more

Stay away!!! They used to be good but the service is horrible and the food is not with the price. The girls acted like they didn't want to be working. Was rude. Worse they didn't even get my order right. I ordered a chicken Katsu and they gave me a Korean chicken without even an apology or offer to make it right. Horrible and will never go again. read more

This is my favorite place to eat on the island. The portions are huge. Everything's always fresh and delicious. I've literally eaten there a thousand times, never get tired of it. Had to download the yelp app just so I could write love about Kalbi Express. read more

One of my to go places to get kalbi, so went to grab the gf and I dinner after I finished work. Their hours are posted at 9:30am-9pm. Drove 30 minutes there, arrived at 8:26pm to find out they're closed. The lady at the counter told me they're closed and I asked if they closed at 8 or 9 and she said 9. She then preceded to look at her watch and see it was only 8:26 and say never mind they wanted to close early. I think they should either follow the hours that they post or change their post. They were very rude and looked at me like I was lost. Will be looking for a new place to get a kalbi plate from now on. read more

Ordered the mini Teri beef. It was burnt, dry and had no flavor. I also ordered a mini kalbi. Kalbi did not have any flavor at and the kimchee had spice with no flavor. Very disappointed with my experience and will never fraternize this establishment again. read more

My wife and I ate there. The food was good, the kalbi ribs has a lot of flavor, fish jun was also good. They provide you with many choices of side dishes. Overall the portions are good prices are a bit high. read more

Great take out food, and awesome portion sizes. Owners are very nice, friendly people. Would recommend.

beware fresh cockroaches served with your lunch or dinner! some may be deep fried and some just plain.... workers there could careless too!!!! read more