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My favorite dish that I got here was the kimchi cold noodle soup! I really enjoyed that! Their menu is simple, not too many items so that's great! We almost got every main dish! We got the naeng jeyuk (slow cooked and chilled pork) dweji-gomtang (the pork broth soup that they're known for), lard donkatsu, the kimchi cold noodles, and the ok donggeurangttaeng (meaty seafood cake). Atmosphere - Nicely decorated, gives me earthy but also classy vibes. Service - They're pretty attentive to what you need and can easily ask if you need something. We made reservations for when it opened. It does get full but it wasn't too busy when we went on a Tuesday for dinner. Cost - I believe it was about $90 for two of us but we did get a lot of food. We wanted to try what they had so we had leftovers and took it home with us! Parking - It's street parking or you can park in the building that it's in. It's kind of confusing how that parking worked though because the signs were confusing. Or you can park at Wal-Mart since it's literally right there. Location - It's on the back side of the Sky building, the side closer to Wal-Mart. I want the cold noodles again!
Yes, I am that tourist that visited after watching Culinary Class Wars. But so glad I did!! We were able to get same day reservations on Resy. Park in the validated hotel lot (spaces are kind of small!) and enter from Makaloa Street. The interior is small and simple, with counter seating only. There is no room for a stroller, so make sure to include your baby in reservations. We made the mistake of not doing that and had to hold him the entire time. No biggie! The food: I went in with somewhat elevated expectations, given the praise the chef got during the show. And wow, it delivered. My husband and I each got the regular size gomtang. The broth tasted clean, flavorful, and was so so comforting. The only side served is kimchi, which is all you need. There is a red pepper paste sauce that is used for dipping the meat also. We got the seafood cake and mini dupbop. The seafood cake was excellent but the dupbop stole the show. Layered with rice, flavorful pork pieces, furikake mix and torched to give it a smoky flavor, it was such a pleasant treat at only $5. Definitely will be adding Okdongsik to our future Honolulu best hits list. 5/5 recommend!
We decided to try out Okdongsik so I ordered the La-yu Dweji-Gomitang which has a some Chili oil added to the soup the broth was very light and refreshing and the thinly sliced pork was light and tasty. The service was pretty quick as most of the ingredients were already prepared. If you want a light refreshing meal this is a great place to go, I'm looking forward to visiting again!
Okdongsik was already on my list, but seeing the owner-chef featured on Netflix's Chef War definitely sealed the deal. Any place confident enough to showcase something as minimal and traditional as pork bone broth on a global stage instantly earns my curiosity. The first sip of the soup was unforgettable--clean, deeply comforting, and quietly complex. You can taste the discipline and restraint behind it, with no heavy seasoning masking the quality of the broth. It's the kind of flavor that immediately tells you this was made with care and intention. That said, as the meal goes on, the broth can start to feel a bit one-note. This is where Okdongsik really shines in a different way: the house hot sauce. Adding even a small amount completely transforms the bowl, bringing warmth, depth, and just enough spice to reawaken the palate. It enriches the experience without overpowering the broth's original character. This is clearly a restaurant that respects tradition and trusts simplicity--something that won't be for everyone, but will absolutely resonate with those who appreciate subtlety and technique. For me, the combination of that pristine broth and the customizable heat made the meal both thoughtful and satisfying.
I was really excited to try Okdongsik, especially after seeing the owner on Culinary Class Wars. We made a reservation in advanced and were seated promptly upon our arrival. The restaurant features bar style seating. We were seated at the main bench right in front of the fryer, which wasn't ideal. By the end of the meal, our clothes had a very strong lingering smell of oil. Additionally, I noticed several flies near the food areas, which made me wish the staff were a bit more diligent about the overall cleanliness of the space. My husband and I ordered the pork gomtang, cold kimchi noodles, and pork dopbap. The cold kimchi noodles were my favorite and they satisfied my cravings. I personally did not care for the pork that came with the meal, so I passed that over to my husband. I tried some of the pork gomtang my husband ordered, and I was not a fan. The pork flavor was a bit too strong and overwhelming for my palate. I preferred the pork dopbap more than the soup. It was flavorful and didn't have the heavy pork taste.
I stopped by Okdongsik for lunch and tried their signature gomtang, which is exactly what they're known for--clean, simple, and really comforting. I usually prefer richer, more flavor-packed dishes, but this was a nice change of pace and felt refreshing in its own way. The broth is very light yet still satisfying, and you can tell the focus is on quality and balance. The space is on the smaller side, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation online ahead of time to avoid waiting. Also, don't skip the add-ons--the shrimp katsu and the meaty seafood cake were both excellent and added a bit more depth and variety to the meal. Overall, a solid spot if you're in the mood for something minimal but well-executed.
We went for a weekday dinner and it was easy to make a reservation online. Service was fast and the chef let us know to use the chili sauce for only the meat. The broth wasn't as flavorful as I thought it was going to be, but still good and I can see eating here on cold, rainy night. The donkatsu was tender and crispy. I think next time, I wouldn't get the pork rice bowl. It was chopped up pork pieces over rice and had a smokey flavor. Overall the experience was good and the price for the two of us was a little over $50 with tip.
We were lucky to be able to walk in and get seats as soon as they opened for lunch. We were able to find parking on Makaloa street right out front. The menu is small and the seating area small but a very bustling place. We tried one of everything. I wasn't a fan of the pork because it was a bit tough for me personally. My favorite was the spicy kimchee cold noodles. I do get this dish from a lot of Korean restaurants and this one was more simplistic in the flavor profile. But the icy broth was nice to have as some places don't do that. My kids enjoyed the shrimp katsu the most. Service was quick for the most part. We had to ask multiple times for water since my youngest wasn't a fan of the only provided tea drink.
It was a surprise to find this restaurant in Honolulu as we had watched Culinary Wars 2 and knew that the restaurant was in NYC. Our family of 4 ordered 4 soups, pork cutlet, 1 add-on shrimp cutlet, 1 appetizer of pork plate, and green plum ade. And we devoured it all. It was so delicious! Definitely worth the hype. Servers were friendly and welcoming. Refilled our kimchi and gochuji-pepper paste dip quickly. The restaurant is small but clean and nicely organized with wooden bar for seating. We would definitely come back here the next time we are in Honolulu!
As a Korean who literally just visited Korea, ngl fam I was a lil skeptical bout the hype around this chain. At the same time, I was hella excited to try it out bc of that one dude on culinary wars who runs this branch in NY. Now for those of ya who aren't Korean, in theory, this is a very simple meal. And look at the picture, it looks super straightforward yeah? The thing that got me and proved to be true is that it is so gd clean! That broth. I can't explain it. Even tho that's pork in that picture, the broth itself is so clean and palatable. Like I could just scoop rice and eat it with that broth all day. With that said, I am still kinda surprised at how much hype this place has gotten, but I'm not mad about it! Glad more people are getting to try other types of Korean cuisine and not just kbbq or kalbi or bibimbap hahaha.
Wait: We came when it was sprinkling hoping that there weren't too many people, but it seems to always be busy here haha. We were told the wait was going to be 45 minutes, so I left my number and we ventured to Don Quixote. We shopped a little, then came back to check if it was our turn to be seated. Unfortunately, they randomly took our name off of the waitlist. We were told we would get a text when our seats were ready, but we never received the text besides the original "you're on the waitlist." Afterwards, we waited about 15-20 more minutes before being seated. The interior was nice, simple, not too much space for waiting. It seated about 18 people I believe? I think we ended up counting because the sign on the window mentioned the new york location only has 13 seats Food: we ordered gomtang x2, spicy gomtang, and a small pork rice bowl. The pork flavor really shone through in the gomtang, it's definitely a tamer soup. The spicy paste to dip your meat in was really yummy, wish I had more. The kimchi wasn't my favorite, wasn't fermented well, tasted like bland cabbage. Our highlight was probably the pork rice bowl, had so much flavor and packed a punch! overall, it was cool to try this place since we're huge culinary class war fans and foodies, but I wouldn't go out of my way to wait over an hour to eat this.
5 days ago
Now that I have experienced the original Okdongsik in Seoul (the one which has consistently been recognized by Michelin since 2018) I can now compare our Honolulu branch and say... we do it right in Honolulu too! The meat may be a smidgen more tender in Korea (they use Berkshire pork fed with a special diet) and the menu sides are slightly different... still, I am happy to dine at either Honolulu or Seoul, without reservation..! Hoping Honolulu can earn their well deserved Michelin recognition soon too! Where the broth is tasty yet clean and the flavors in the soup and donkatsu are so comforting and delicious. Then again, maybe not... so I can continue to go with shorter lines. Hahah. Mashisayo! read more
Hubby and I came to the restaurant as he would be staying the night at the hotel. Heard some hype around this place and I was curious to try it out. I love Korean food and I have been to Korea. This is nothing like what I've had before. We got one of almost everything on the menu. Barley water/tea was nice and refreshing! We tried the pork appetizer. Very lean and frankly tasteless without the dip and pickled onions. I would skip this if I came again. The lard tonkatsu was my favorite. It came with a side of a soup which was bone broth and peppery. I like the crisp of the katsu but you can definitely taste the aftertaste of lard. I'd have this again. The soup was so underwhelming. There's rice in it and thin slices of pork. I think it's really lacking flavor overall. In fact the other broth given with the tonkatsu was more flavorful than this. One thing I will say is I am impressed that it was not overwhelmingly porky which a lot of pork soups can do. The pancakes were nice. I also didn't expect it to be like this, but the flavor was there. Also not too sure if I would write home about it though. I would say this was not what I was expecting but I am grateful to have experienced it. I will say it was a 3.5 for me personally for the food but I appreciate the speed of the workers, the aesthetic of the location and quality of the food. I just don't particularly love the flavors. read more
5 days ago
7 months ago
Simplicity at its best. I had been hearing so much about this restaurant that I decided to give it a try. It's located behind the Sky Ala Moana near Walmart and Sams Club in town. The restaurant offers parking validation in the building. I went with my boyfriend and we arrived as a walk-in. The restaurant is small and modern, bar seating that can accommodate around 20 people. There were two workers manning the restaurant. They were attentive and acknowledged pretty fast and let us know it would about a 20 minute wait. After waiting for about that time, we were seated. The menu is small so they immediately asked if we knew what we wanted to order. We ordered the Tonkatsu, Dweji-gomtang, and ok donggeurangttaeng. We were lucky that they still had tonkatsu servings because they only have 40 a day, but sad to learn that they had none of the additional add ons. Service was pretty decent. We got the Dweji-gomtang and ok donggeurangttaeng first. We decided to wait for the Tonkatsu before eating and that took about another 5 to 10 minutes. Once we got the Tonkatsu, the worker was nice enough to ask if I wanted more soup because he noticed I was waiting a while and it may be cold. I took that offer and I'm glad I did. Everything was delicious! The Dweji-gomtang was very clean and the gochu sauce added a nice kick to it. The Ok donggeurangttaeng was also nicely flavored, it was savory, the seafood flavor stood out and it wasn't that oily. The Tonkatsu was also crunchy and tender. The overall meal was great and it didn't make us feel overwhelmed. We were fully, but didn't feel heavy. I'd like to note that if you're the type that prefers the bold, crazy, and spicy korean flavors, this place not be the one for you. They really are simple and clean. Even their kimchi doesn't give a big kick and is more on the sour side. I enjoy clear and simple broths, especially when I'm feeling under the weather so I'd recommend it. read more
6 months ago
This is a highly recommended spot and we were not disappointed! I'll definitely try to swing by earlier when I come back because some items were already sold out by the time we got there. What we ordered: - Cabbage Kimchi Noodles: This was so GOOD! The cold soup base was refreshing and tasted clean and light. The thin noodles were delicious & the whole dish felt very delicate. Even the utensils and bowl added to the experience since they kept everything cool. I've never had anything like this before. - Sliced Pork Dish: It was not bad. A little bland for my preference compared to the kimchi noodles but the pork was sliced thinly and very tender. read more
Okdongsik *** OK *** Food: *** Value: *** Menu: * only 3 main dishes & 1 side dish Ambiance: *** Service: **** Parking: **** My wife's Korean friend told her about Okdongsik, so she wanted to try it. The first time we went there was a line out the door, so we continued driving. The second time we swung by there was no line, so we parked upstairs and tried it. My wife tried the Dweji-Gomtang, pork broth with rice and she liked it. I gave it a try, but it was to bland for me. I ordered the Lard Donkatsu and it was ok, but nothing special. But my reference is high quality Tonkatsu in Japan. There are only 3 main dishes & 1 side dish on the menu. The service is efficient, since the customers are sitting on the counter, and the workers are on the other side. If the pork broth rice soup is comfort food for you, you're probably like this restaurant. However, if you're like me and prefer tastier & spicy Korean dishes with lots of banchan, I would go to Hangang or Korea Garden. RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Lard Donkatsu = C Ok Doneggeurangtteang = C Dweji-Gomtang = C Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/okdongsik-honolulu YELP: Milton K Sorry! They allow only one 30 second video, the remaining to 7 seconds, and they limit the number of pictures. The full video and pictures of the entire menu can be found on other platforms/apps: MiltonIn808 RATINGS KEY: A = Really Good - one of the best B = Good - would order again C = ok - similar, nothing special D = Not very good - wouldn't order F = Terrible - avoid read more
A small menu of delicious meals. Came here after seeing the chef on Culinary Class Wars, and while I don't think I'd give the gomtang a Michelin guide recognition, it was clean and delicious. We also tried the cold kimchi noodle soup, which was very refreshing and just as good as the gomtang. The seafood pancake and fried burdock sides would be a skip for me next time, but the shrimp cutlet was great and I'd order it again. Overall, I'd come back he read more
I heard good things about this place, so I had to try the restaurant for myself! We ordered Naeng Jeyuk/냉제육 ($10.00), Dweji-Gomtang/돼지곰탕 ($18.00), Lard Donkatsu/라드돈카츠 ($21.00), and Cabbage Kimchi Noodles/김치말이국수 ($16.00). The flavor was a bit blend/weak for me, but overall it was good! Bad: [ ] You must make the reservation. Your chance of walking in is slim [ ] The portion sizes were small, so order an appetizer [ ] The parking is limited, so come early to arrive on time [ ] Small place and may not be perfect for a large group Good: [ ] Another trendy Korean restaurant to visit [ ] Good food selection! [ ] Friendly staff and service Conclusion: I liked the place enough to visit again, but I'm not sure about becoming a regular. A limited parking spot is a headache, but understandable given that they are located in Waikiki. Fantastic ambiance and trendy! Good food and a clean place. read more
7 months ago
I was super excited to try this place when I was in Oahu based on the reviews I saw online. There are only 2 locations in USA. One in NY and one here in Oahu. My favorite was the pork soup. It is so delicate and light. The pork was tender. It was perfect soup for a cold or rainy day. The Katsu was also nicely fried and tender. The seafood pancake was flavorful. The pork belly rice bowl had a good char flavor. Overall, I am very happy I was able to try this place and hope more locations open where I live. read more
Lunch in Honolulu, Hawaii... I saw that Randy S. checked into this Hot New Business... and thought: "Wow... it must be good!" LOL! Randy's review states that the original restaurant (in Korea) by Chef OK Dong Sik received Michelin recognition since 2018. Okay! Let's try it! We had already decided to go there for lunch and made the cutoff time of 2:30pm. It opens again for dinner service at 5pm. We signed in on the tablet and waited for seats with other customers. It's a cozy place with about twenty counter seats. The menu was simple. I chose the Dweji-Gomtang... clear broth with thin slices of pork and rice... and a side of kimchi. It was light and straightforward. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to experience this meal! read more
There are so many good Korean restaurants in Honolulu. So I was skeptical if Okdongsik could offer anything different. We visited on a Saturday without reservations. Knowing the restaurant may be busy, we decided to go 15 minutes before opening. It ended up being the right move because we were first in line. The restaurant is sleek looking and modern. It's all counter and can probably seat 25-30 max. It's actually smart design because they can quickly serve guests and aren't lugging trays filled with hot soup. We ordered the following: Dweji-Gomtang (4/5) light clean broth served very hot. It's full of thinly sliced pork and lightly seasoned. Some may find it bland but my parents gobbled it up. Pork Dupbop (4/5) available as an add on. Highly recommended because it's just so tasty. Cubes of well seasoned pork over rice. This dish is garlicky, savory, and sweet. Lard Donkasu (4/5) they only make 40/day so we definitely had to try it. Was it as good as other more well known tonkatsu places? Yes! The cut of pork was very good, and it was fried perfectly. I would've liked a bit more sauce but overall a very good dish. Maesil ade (4/5) is a great accompaniment to the entire meal. It's basically a sour plum soda which was so refreshing and great. It's not too sweet and is carbonated. Prices are great given what you get. Service is also very good. The staff is polite, very attentive, and all around great. While the building address shows Kapiolani, the restaurant is on Makaloa (back of building). To us this was so much better because Kapiolani is such a busy street and Makaloa is less. Plus street parking is plentiful on Makaloa. Overall this is a solid restaurant that serves good food. The menu may be small but I like that it's limited to a few very good dishes. I'll definitely return! LOCATION: 4/5 FOOD: 4/5 SERVICE: 5/5 VALUE: 4/5 AMBIANCE: 5/5 CLEANLINESS: 5/5 RESERVATIONS: yes, on Resy PARKING: 4/5 (street and 1 hr in building) read more
I finally got to this Korean restaurant with all the hype! The good news is that there is parking in the building although it's really confusing with signs saying after 6pm and some for Muse. Take a good look; there are signs that say restaurant parking (without hours) and it's not necessarily where the overhead signs tell you to go. Once parked, we made our way down to the restaurant. I guess a lot of the hype is done since we were able to walk in and sit down right away. I had made reservations through Resy. The first thing I noticed was the sour kim chee. I saw it in the semi-clear bin and it looked like they keep it out. I took a taste and it made my eyes tear. Well, some people like it like this so just be prepared. I ordered the Dweji-Gomtang (soup), the tonkatsu and the mini pork with rice. They said to dip the pork into the spicy paste (Gochu-Ji) and not to put it in the soup. They said to watch out for the bowl since it is hot, and it was, but the soup could have been hotter in terms of temperature. I found the soup ok. I mean, it was a clear broth with rice inside and thin pork slices. I wasn't sure what to expect but it is exactly that - a clear broth with rice on the bottom and pork slices. You dip the pork slices in the paste and that is your meal. It has a pork smell, so some people might not like that. (There are places where the soup doesn't have that smell as much or at all). The tonkatsu was good. I think it's a great deal at $21! This may be the best dish of the place! They only make 40 a day and you cannot make a take out of any of the dishes except the soup. They give you two nice pieces of tonkatsu and it's your standard, good tonkatsu. Not as good as Koromo, but plenty good on its own. It comes with a small salad, pickles, rice and yes, even the soup (without pork). Worth it! I also ordered a mini Pork Dupbob. Wow, what was this? It looked pretty good but the flavor? It just tasted like green onion pesto - so overpowering, I just did not like that flavor. I tried to keep eating it to try and figure out what it was supposed to be, but (for me) a pass on this one!!!!! I really like the pitchers of cold tea and the ambience was nice. The service was fine, although minimal. read more
Initially I thought I wouldn't come back to Okdongsik very much-- however we've come by three times in the past two months! The Dweji Gomtang is my favorite. It's so delicious and light, perfect for a chilly night. I crave it whenever the weather gets below 70. My boyfriend loves their cold kimchi noodles too! Their menu is quite limited but every item is delicious and worth trying. Walking in for an early dinner is great, there isn't usually a wait, however since Culinary Class Wars came out it's been a bit busier. Service is good and prompt! As a quick, casual bite Okdonsik really hits the spot. Definitely recommend! read more
5 months ago
Cool and trendy ambiance, great friendly service! Was dying to try this place because love a good healthy soup and heard about the Michelin recognition. Getting a reservation was not as hard as I thought, was able to get in on a weekend about one or two weeks later. Parking was included in the building and validated by restaurant but need to be mindful of the time there as we cut it pretty close. Honestly (against popular opinion) I was not that dazzled by their signature item. I thought the soup lacked depth. The tonkatsu and side dishes were very good. Overall obviously a lot of fresh ingredients and love went into everything. A good experience and nice to try but maybe not my personal taste. read more
Their policy is the elegance of simplicity, and indeed, their menu truly reflects that. While their Gomtang is well known as their signature dish, we decided to try the cabbage kimchi noodles, a chilled noodle dish that was very tasty (this is not in the menu in Tokyo). We also ordered the Ok Donggeurangttaeng, a warm seafood patty that was slightly peppery yet paired wonderfully with the kimchi noodles. Their cold barley tea was also refreshing and delicious. They offer a senior discount on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with proof of ID. Welcome to Honolulu, and thank you very much for a wonderful lunch! read more
10 months ago
Ok dong sik - 屋同食 in Chinese characters. What a name with a wonderful meaning - a place where everyone dines together. I never knew that pork soup could be this flavorful and clear at the same time, and this place got it down, no wonder it's their signature dish! I've always wanted to try this place, and finally, got to come here for a Friday lunch. Good thing I checked online that they take reservations. At 11:30am I booked for 2 people for 12:15pm. We only had to wait a few minutes after we checked in. Not table, all counter seats, but at the far end there's a section of the counter being able to accommodate a small group. I was surprised to see that they don't really have any open flame cooking. The soup pot was heated over an electric stove on the counter, so is the grill pan for the pancakes. But they do have a commercial deep fryer. This shows that great food can be cooked without a flame! Of course we gotta try their Dweji-gomtang which is their signature dish - a clear and savory broth with rice and thin slices of pork. It's light and satisfying. The pork wasn't gamey, and I love how it's sliced thin, and my goodness their gochuji made in-house was so amazing that I could use it on everything! I didn't leave a single trace behind. They also had a thermometer gun to measure the temperature of the soup - talk about precision! Then we also tried the lard donkatsu - that's yummy too. The pork was fried perfectly, and they set a timer for frying, and also one for cooling down before cutting. Again, the precision is commendable. The pickled daikon went really well with the pork, and their tonkatsu sauce was really good too! But if you were to compare other spots that specialize in Japanese tonkatsu, then I think I still prefer one of those. We also order the ok donggeurangttaeng - of course I had no idea what this meant without the description. Meaty seafood cake, it wasn't what I expected. It tasted more like an omelette to me. I couldn't taste much seafood. I don't know. I'm not sure if I'll order this again. I can proudly say we did order half of their menu lol (because the menu only has 6 items haha) I really love counter seating. Got to see how the chefs prepare the food and the tools they use too. I can't imagine the pressure they might get from being watched the whole time though! The service was wonderful. We got refills with kimchi and we got extra gochuji after I expressed how much I enjoyed it. A bunch of hardworking people behind the counter. I like the decor too with the wooden accent, adding some warmth to the chic design of the space. Also love the paper chopsticks holder and the hefty flatware and drink ware! Can tell it's good quality too! I would definitely come back to try their other half of the menu haha. read more
Food: We've tried three main dishes, a one side dish (Cold pork), and a drink. Overall, all tasted good. 1. Dweji-Gomtang: you don't care for a certain pork smell, I wouldn't recommend it. It grows on you though. ;) 2. Lard Donkatsu: Japanese style pork cutlet with veggies and picked radish. If you bring kids, I'd recommend ordering this. 3. Cabbage Kimchi Noodles: chilled noodle with kimchi broth. Not too spicy. 4. Naeng Jeyuk: this was our favorite. They will teach you the right way to eat! Pay attention! :D Service: During busy hours, I getting service can get delayed a bit. Such as getting your menu when you are seated or trying to get your check. Just like trying to get a drink at a busy bar. Catch their eyes before others! ;) Ambiance: Bar seating around the place so you are sitting in front of your "bartender". It's a good layout; however, it can be a bit challenging if you have a big group and you want to converse while eating. When we visit, they played Korean traditional music, which was a nice touch! :) read more
Came here as my Korean friends were super exited about it. We ordered their pork broth soup, kimchi noodles, and donkatsu. The pork soup was very clean and had slices of boiled pork and rice in it. It was pretty under seasoned and needed more salt for my liking. The kimchi noodles were cold and flavorful and came with the same boiled and sliced pork. The donkatsu was probably the best dish. They fried it fresh and was on par with Tonkatsu Tamafuji. The banchan kimchi was really good however a little too spicy for me. The interior is nice and the seating is bar style only. There were four of us and it was hard to talk to each other and try the different foods. Overall it was a good experience and pretty good food, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. read more
10 months ago
Arrived 10 minutes before opening on a Wednesday, third party to be seated right at opening. Super clean, minimalistic, and modern aesthetics. Nice finishes on the counter and seat materials. Dweji Gomtang - Nice clean flavors that are very, very subtle. The gochuji chili paste is very much welcomed. As instructured, apply to the pork slices and not mix into the broth itself (the flavor would get lost). Very hearty and comforting, but was kind of sweating from eating this even in the air conditioned dining room. It was good, and I'm really glad I tried it, but would not seek it out or order again as it truly is something that could be easily made at home. Lard Donkatsu - Decent portion size and ok flavor (when paired with the sauce and the pickled veggies + thinly sliced cabbage that had a nice citrusy freshness). However, the pork itself was disappointingly lean and the bottom of the pork became soggy very quickly because of the presentation and the short height of the rack upon which it rested. Green plum soda was incredibly refreshing and crisp! A highlight of the visit. Decent experience for a first visit, but would not be compelled to return personally, when there are so many incredibly food options in the area. read more
Okdongsik is a great comforting meal as long as you have the right expectations. Their signature dish is their Dweji-Gomtang - a very light pork soup served with rice. This is not a porridge, nor a rice-soup, nor a rice-on-the-side situation; instead, a bowl of freshly cooked white rice is submerged in a light and hot pork broth with a few slices of thinly sliced pork on top. The soup has a very mild but pleasant flavor, just don't expect it to be heavily seasoned like a pho broth might be. There is a red-pepper paste served on the side to add a bit of additional flavor for the sliced pork, though they heavily discourage you from mixing this directly into the soup. Other items on the menu were surprisingly good. They only serve a limited number of portions of tonkatsu every day, and we thought their take on tonkatsu was excellent. The pork was tender and the coating was crispy without being too greasy. Of course, this is not a "tonkatsu restaurant", so this comes without the fanfare of grinding your own sesame seeds. The seafood cake was also quite delicious and very nicely seasoned - a strong and I think welcome contrast to the mildness of the soup. The restaurant itself is all countertop seating with a partially open-kitchen. You can see some of the food being prepared, and it looked like there was a larger prep area in the back. Service was friendly, attentive, and efficient. read more
1 month ago
The food is very good and reasonably priced. The gomtang is so simple and clean tasting but very delicious and satisfying. We also had the donkatsu, shrimp katsu and the seafood cake; all were super delicious and fried to perfection. The service was friendly, but the staff were struggling to keep up, the servers are also the cook and hostess. The restaurant is a winner of Michelin Bib Gourmand award, so you know the food is legit. It is a fairly small place, so making reservations online is a must. The parking in the building is very confusing, some stalls for the restaurant has small sign saying only for after 6 pm. There are some more restaurants stalls on the other side of the garage that you can park anytime. The restaurant validates for parking, but this time both paid machines were out of order; luckily the machine by the exit was working. It was very frustrating walking around the garage trying to find a working machine. I would definitely come back for the food, and hope we will have less drama with the parking. read more
5 months ago
Thankfully didn't have to hard a time getting a reservation at this popular restaurant. The food is already prepared so it comes out quickly and hot. The gomtang tasted clean but frankly I found it to be pretty bland. I would have skipped all the appetizers I ordered as well. read more
Can't pronounce it... Just know that it's worth the visit as what you think you know about Korean cuisine as I've never been to Korea has completely made me a lover of this light and flavorful side of this fence found at Sky Ala Moana ground floor with entrance on Makaloa Street. Once you enter this cozy place it does give you that ramen shop vibe with the expose kitchen where you can see it all being made the long counter seating is different as there's no preferred seating we're all in for the show. There is a break between morning and evening service as we arrived just before they close for the moment and you check in using the provided iPad is a nice and convenient tool though with very little space to wait wished they had stools outside as it can be quite some time it was about 10 minutes for us which wasn't that bad. Love the menu "Essence of Simplicity" precisely to describe what you're in for as I ordered the "Cabbage Kimchi Noodles" a cold noodle dish that's topped with thin sliced pork at red cabbage already is stunning though as I started with the sip of the broth the cool and fresh clean taste is impressive so light not too spicy with a bit of tang was truly the star as the noodles cooked perfectly slight al dente is thin and chewy is the perfect dish in my opinion though I know many suggest Dweji-Gomtang and is a great option for those that avoid the spice and like the clear broth. I noticed on the napkin dispenser of the suggested way to use the Gochuji the little dollop of spice they give you on a dish which is the reason it's to the side to give you room to place your pork slice on it to add some Gochuji to enjoy...great gentle way to not offend yet learn as well and I do agree it was very tasty. You're served a complimentary pitcher of Boricha or barley tea as well is a very nice and absolutely loved it as I learned that it earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand (in Seoul) if you're clueless like me is a recognition of excellent quality food at a more reasonably priced establishment as the standard of cuisine is a great value as well and can understand how it was earned and have the absolute please to have experienced it right here in Honolulu. Thank you! read more
The original Seoul restaurant by Chef Ok Dong Sik, Okdongsik Seogyo, has only ten seats and specializes in two things, a refined clear dwaeji gukbap and kimchi mandoo. It is called gukbap because he uses only lean pork leg meat to create his broth. Unlike a milky gomtang, no bones or offal are used. The resulting light clear broth probably confuses enough Koreans living in America who think of gukbap as a heartier soup that it is called a dwaeji gomtang on the menu in Honolulu. If you expect a hearty deep flavor from gukbap or a collagen laden lip smacking soup from gomtang, Okdongsik's version is not for you. Dwaeji Gomtang. That's all you need to know. If it's your first time, this is what you order. The refined clear broth is unlike anything you can get in Honolulu. It's not clear if the rice, probably a Cali and not a Korean variety, is cooked using a toryeom method like in the OG shop - where hot broth is poured on rice and drained so the grains stay plump and whole. The paper thin, tender pork slices blanket the rice. There is no double meat version - yet. A lightly fermented kimchi and two week aged gochuji accompany the dish. No other seasoning is provided, although freshly ground black pepper is available upon request. The suggested way to enjoy a bite is to remove a pork slice, put it on a plate, dab some gochuji, then place that on a spoonful of rice. Follow up with a spoonful of broth. You can also place a piece of kimchi on another spoonful of rice for a different taste bite. There are two side dishes. Naeng Jeyuk is a plate of chilled pork slices w the gochuji - gochuji is basically a chili and pepper paste without fermented soybeans.The other side dish, Ok Donggeurangttaeng, is a grilled patty of meat and seafood using flour, egg, green onion, and soy sauce. Both come with soy and vinegar marinated white onion. Okdongsik Honolulu is located on the Makaloa Street side, not the Kapiolani Blvd side of Sky Ala Moana - technically, this makes the location in Koreamoku. Currently, the first seating - 20 counter seats - fills up immediately at opening. There is a pad for a waitlist. Inside, in the a/c, here is a short bench, otherwise you have to stand outside to wait or retreat to the Renaissance Honolulu. To get an idea of the wait scan the crowd. Young Koreans and men silently eat and go in about 20 minutes, a gaggle of Korean housewives may talk a bit taking 30 minutes, and locals take the longest because we eat slow and talk too much. Yes, there is a Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded since 2018 to the OG Seogyo-dong shop. It is because of the use of Korean pig, Korean rice, Korean produce, Korean meju. In America, local ingredients are sourced and the taste will obviously differ according to locale - no Michelin recognition is attached to any Okdongsik shop outside of Seoul. A darn good bowl of gukbap that I could eat every day. read more
2 days ago
Exceptional. Very clean, simple food that tastes good. I have been to the Seoul (good) and Tokyo (bad) locations so I am happy to say this location lives up to the name. Bravo! read more
This Korean restaurant is located along Makaloa Street, right behind the Renaissance Honolulu. The interior is modern and very open, and you can choose to either sit at the counter or along some tables on the left-hand side of the restaurant. I came on a Friday evening, and I didn't experience much of a wait when I placed my name on their tablet waitlist. I was seated within like 5-ish minutes at the counter, and helped myself to some cold barley tea. I ordered the dweji-gomtang, the main dish they're known for. The dish came out pretty quickly, and was paired with nice and sour kimchi and a spicy paste. I loved that the broth was light and flavorful, and I also enjoyed pairing the thinly sliced pork with the paste. However, I did find the broth to be slightly pork-y/gamey, if that makes sense, but otherwise enjoyed the dish! I would love to come back and try their other menu items, especially the tonkatsu, as it seems like another popular choice here. read more
11 months ago
When Okdongsik first came to Hawaii as a popup several years ago, I drove out to Ewa Beach for an early dinner. Unfortunately they sold out before I got there and it has bugged me ever since. Just the FOMO and not knowing what I missed out on. So fast forward a few years later and I hear they've opened a permanent shop in town? I knew I had to finally try it out. Okdongsik is located on the back side of Sky Honolulu on the ground floor (entrance from Makaloa, aka the side facing Walmart and Sams Club for those visual people out there). Unfortunately since I got there about 10 minutes after they opened, the first wave of people had just gone in, and I had to wait about 30 minutes. PRO TIP: Once you arrive, go inside, and put your name down on the tablet. The restaurant will text you when your table is ready. Inside the decor is very Korean-minimalistic, and all the seats are counter seats. But they're spaced out well enough that you're not rubbing elbows with your neighbors. We tried the following: - Dweji gomtang - this is their signature dish, and perfect for me that day since my stomach wasn't feeling the best. Great for those who are watching their sodium intake (I think...) because the flavor is very light. It is definitely not salty at all. A little lighter in flavor than I would prefer. - Donkatsu - this is their version of tonkatsu. It came with rice and soup on the side, and was very nicely seasoned and fried. The salad that accompanied it was also very yummy. - Ok Donggeurangttaeng - "meaty seafood cake". This was yummy. We actually didn't order this initially but I really wanted it after I saw everyone around me order it, and I'm glad I did. It really helped balance the light soup. - Maesil Ade - Korean green plum drink. This was yummy. Non-alcoholic and carbonated. I wasn't expecting the carbonation. I have to admit. I appreciate it for what it was because you could tell it was made with care and precision. However, admittedly although it was perfect for me on a day where I wasn't feeling too well, it is not my usual preference. I can see myself coming back if I'm craving something homey and warm, but probably not my first option for Korean. This opinion may change if they start serving the kim chee mandoo that they had at the popup (I heard good things about that). I think we were one of the few non-Korean groups there, so that tells you something about how legit they are as a Korean restaurant. read more
1 year ago
Feeling fancy for Korean? I think this may be the new spot. My friend lives nearby and saw this place open. It intrigued us both so we had to see what it was about. Turns out, this is just their latest restaurant, with locations in New York, Seoul, and few other cities. The seating is like a long bar and it's very intimate. We get to see the prep in-action and it's a cool experience. My friends and I ordered the Donkatsu, while my husband ordered the Dweji-Gomtang. Note, they limit 40 servings of the Donkatsu daily. Donkatsu was great. Pork was not fatty, yet juicy and crunchy. Coating was great and evenly distributed. Cabbage salad it came with was very refreshing and the little pickled daikon pieces were slightly spicy and very tasty. It also came with soup, which was like a very light chicken broth. Complimented the entire meal. The Dweji-Gomtang was interesting. The broth reminded me of the soup - very light, yet had a slight umami to it. Their house made gochu-ji sauce goes perfect with the beef and is so flavorful. We also got appetizers Ok Donggeurangttaeng and Naeng Jeyuk. The Ok D was pretty good. A little dry but you are supposed to eat it with the pickled onions and Gochu-ji, so altogether is a crazy mix of flavors and texture. The Naeng Jeyuk was super good. It had a really good umami flavor and well-balanced blend of salty and sweet. Also it was a good texture and size. That is recommended! Their pickled onions that came with the apps were also sooooo good. Goes well with each main element. Prices are not "fancy", actually quite affordable for the location and the vibe. I was surprised, and in a great way! Definitely gonna try this place again to try their Cabbage Kimchi Noodles, and other menu items! It works that my friend lives so close hehe read more
According to their website, Okdongsik translated as "a single-item restaurant" and "a restaurant where everyone dines together." As soon as I found out they opened for business, I had to give it a try of their famous Dweji Gamtang. This dish includes some thinly sliced lean pork with light clear broth. It was a truly comforting dish. They offer only a handful of main dishes and appetizers. By the time my party got seated before 7 pm, a couple main dishes and side were already out. I definitely will come back to try their Donkatsu. Their version of Tonkatsu. It features the Korean comfort food Dweji Gomtang, which The fried "Dongkatsu" sold out by the time we sat down. Nonetheless, the signature Dweji Gomtang was so comforting to enjoy it. We waited for 45 mins which was not too bad at all. I will go back to try the other dishes that were sold out. They prepared and put together all the food behind the counter. Seating is all at the counters. This is not something for a big group if you want to socialize among a big party. Most of the customers are from 1-3 parties. My friend and I waited for 45 mins after signing in on their waitlist app when I got there. It is not a splashy restaurant but they serve comforting and delicious food for sure. It is best to go before they open to get in line to avoid missing out other menu options. read more
As fans of the Culinary Class Wars show, we had to try this spot. We made reservations ahead of time on Resy and it was not too difficult to get a table. We decided to share the Dweji Gomtang and the Lard Donkatsu, both of which were good. The restaurant felt upscale, yet the prices were reasonable. I would recommend coming if you are fans of the show to try the Dweji Gomtang, which tasted clean yet had depth in the flavor of the soup, but Hawai'i has plenty of amazing cutlet options elsewhere. read more
Simple yet amazing food. It's a small restaurant that can maybe seat up to 20. We got there when it opened and got seated asap. The donkatsu is what we went for since they only make so many per day and sell out fast. The food was tasty and well presented. Portions are well thought out. The chefs inform you of what not to do to keep the flavors of each dish from mixing. While the menu and food is simple, its really good. The ambiance was very clean and modern. Even the cutlery was on another level. Overall, a must try if you want simple and authentic dining and food. read more
I love comfort food done well. The dishes are simple but when you eat it it's light, clean and full of flavor. For what you are getting I find the pricing to be very fair. It's a simple restaurant with most counter seating so good for smaller groups. Service is quick and polite. Would recommend read more
This place is legit! Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS). Stood in line for about 30 minutes not too bad they have a ipad to put your name on the waitlist. Ordered their signature dishes each of them are amazing. The staff were super friendly and helpful, they explain and there is a not on the table saying don't mix the sauce just use it for the meats. Keeping the broth pure and delicious. Kimchi was even amazing probably the best on island for a restaurant. Definitely recommend coming early as spots fill up fast! Parking kinda sucks unless you find street. There is in the sky building but the elevators are on the opposite side of the building. Just simple good food! Highly recommend read more
5 months ago
Food: 5 | Service: 4 | Ambiance: Casual & cozy Food-wise, this place absolutely delivered. The ambiance is low-key, casual, and cozy--exactly the kind of restaurant I enjoy. I appreciated that I could actually hear myself think and enjoy the meal without excessive noise. I originally came in for the kimchi cold noodles, but once I sat down and noticed everyone around me eating pork rice soup, I couldn't resist. I ended up ordering the regular (small) pork rice soup, shrimp katsu as a side, and the kimchi cold noodles. The server did warn me it might be too much food for one person... but I ordered it anyway Shrimp katsu -- Excellent. Perfectly crispy with just the right amount of breading, and the shrimp itself was thick, juicy, and meaty. It really felt like you're getting whole shrimp, not filler. Zero regrets ordering this. Pork rice soup -- Super comforting and hit the spot. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I started eating--I finished it down to the last drop of broth. That said, the pork itself wasn't entirely my personal style, but the soup as a whole was still very satisfying. Kimchi cold noodles -- By the time these arrived, I was already full (the server was right), but the broth was incredibly refreshing and flavorful. The noodle portion was quite large, and while the noodles themselves were fairly standard, the fried kimchi garnish on top was a nice touch. I liked it so much that I came back the next day with my family. Unfortunately, they had already sold out of the shrimp katsu, which was disappointing--but I ordered the large pork rice soup instead, and it was great. Overall, this is definitely a place I'd recommend and one worth trying. I'll be back. read more
1 month ago
5 months ago
Went here without a reservation (would highly recommend getting one), but i was lucky enough to be seated right away! I ordered the kimchi noodles, and it was yummy. I did expect it to be a little spicier tho, so it was a little mild for my taste. I loved how it was only "bar" seating and i got to see everything being made right in front of me. It's a good and intimate atmosphere. read more
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Okdongsik - korean - Updated June 2026
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