The food was amazing! Everything is seasoned so well. Our server Sean was so attentive and even helped us cook the meat as well. I'd come back here again for a nice meal for sure! Truffle potato pancake is a MUST! read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Food was better than I expected. All the meats and soups were very good , fresh meats you can tell it's not frozen foods. Soup are made from scratch not the packaged foods. Very nice clean restaurant!! Service was good too , but I thought it could be better. read more

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Onkee, for the most part, was a great experience. The food was delicious. The service was up there, and it's a beautiful venue. We had a party of 6 and ordered 4 Onkee Special Sets. Since it's not a ayce place you can order how many you want and augment it with additional items. That "Set" includes ribeye, hanger steak, Kalbi and thin skirt steak. It also includes "banchan, Ssam, fresh (green) kimchee, egg soufflé, green onion salad, two stews w/rice and a scoop of ice cream." Sounds awesome right? It was. The food was really good. But when my son asked for another steamed egg, we were told we only get one and would have to go ala carte for another... But we ordered 4 specials... so heeh?! The wait person was nice and said he'd ask about it. Came back and said that's it... So if you have a party of ten and enjoy Korean steamed egg... split into 5 tables or I assume you will just get a spoonful. Food wise the night was a winnah. Woulda been a top rating if not for the egg curfuffle AND even though it didn't affect the meal, the first thing I ordered was a Terra beer. Figured it would bring back memories of our visit to Seoul a couple years ago. She said oh we don't have Terra. So I was do you have Cass? Oh sure. I got my Cass and moved on. Just after I poured my first glass and watched the bubbles pop, I looked up to see some other table being served 3 bottles of Terra. Not a biggie really, but wtf?! read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Ban Chan - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Went to Onkee in Kakaʻako for lunch with my team and had a great experience. We did not have reservations, but even though the restaurant was packed, they seated us immediately and were very accommodating. The lunch specials are awesome. Great food, good prices, and excellent service. The host was friendly, and the Korean waiter who helped us was on point. The whole place feels like a Korean restaurant with the Aloha spirit. The ambiance was great and the build out is impressive. It has a clean, modern feel while still being comfortable and welcoming. One thing we all appreciated was that we had another meeting right after lunch and none of us smelled like BBQ lol. The only challenge was parking. We were not allowed to use the guest parking on the second floor because it is reserved for guests of Koula residents, so we ended up parking at Ward Theaters. Not the restaurant's fault, just something to keep in mind. Overall, a great addition to Kakaʻako. Good food, great service, solid atmosphere, and definitely a place we will be coming back to. read more

Onkee is one of my favorite KBBQ places on the island! They're located in Ward so there's plenty of parking near the Consolidated Theaters / Whole Foods. Service has been stellar every time I've been, with attentive servers and friendly staff. - Their fresh kimchi is what keeps me coming back! Don't get me wrong, their meat is good too, but their kimchi is so refreshing and delicious, it almost steals the show. - Tasty cocktails! All of the drinks on their cocktail menu are so tasty and pretty. - Meat quality is exceptional, and I like that they cook the meat for you table-side. Their grills have vents right next to them, to reduce you smelling like the food which is a nice touch. read more

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Michael our waiter was exceptional! He was quick, attentive & answered all our questions with a positive attitude. Lunch set combo 1 & 2 are the best and affordable. We also did the lunch set with ribeye & short ribs(grill your own) and it comes with soybean & kimchi soup, also egg soufflé. Also includes banchan. ($43 min 2ppl) The in house kimchi was so good! Of course we will be back! read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We had a dinner party in this place and it's located in a new prestigious high risers by Ala Moana-in front of the beach by Ward Center. It's beautiful and clean. Truly deserving of luxurious dining. By the way, we just had a Korean Cuisine the other day so everything is fresh to me I regards to comparison. The Service is superb, we had more than 5 staff attending to our needs. The manager even welcomed us. We were a large group and we had our own private room. So, it's special setting, which I highly recommend for parties. As far as the food, there are some I really enjoyed and it's truly authentic. The tofu soup was great but the other place I dined the other day lingered in my pallet more so. But that's just preference. Also, there were more meat selections on the other place; however, it's a bit more pricey than this restaurant. Overall, I enjoyed Onkee and it will be our go to place for authentic Korean food when we're in the area especially if we want to host people and impress them. read more

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Check In: Amazing grilled beef as always. Added yummy bossam and fried chicken too! Always a great choice in Kakaako! read more

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I visited Onkee for the first time with friends for lunch, and we had a fantastic experience. We made a reservation in advance and were seated in a private room. We all opted for the lunch menu, and in my opinion, it is an incredible value for the price. I ordered the LA marinated short ribs combo, which came with a spread of Korean side dishes, rice, and a choice of soup (I went with the soybean paste soup)! Everything was delicious! I enjoyed the lunch so much that my husband and I actually decided to stop by one more time during our trip. On our second visit, we tried their bibimbap and kimchi jjigae. I have to say, the kimchi jjigae was easily the best I have ever tried. read more

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On Kee Korean Grill House opened in Aug 2024 in Ward Village by Grace Park, retired professional golfer married to Skye Kim, who has many years of experience iny's iconic Samwon Garden Restaurant in Seoul. "On Kee" translates to the warmth of food from a traditional stove or hearth. It commonly refers to earthenware pots used for storing ingredients like kimchi or soy sauce, and means the warmth of food from the stove, fueled by the fire from the hearth. It evokes feeling of home-worked Korean food, specifically of aromas of rice and smoking grills. As such, the restaurant was aptly named On Kee Korean Grill House, an upscale restaurant known for premium meats, tableside grilling, and refined side dishes, bringing a taste of contemporary South Korean cuisine to HI. The menu has been prepared by Michelin-trained Executive Chef Jwi Ho Jang and Sous Chef Won-Deuk So for a selection of appetizers, entrees, grilled meats, soups, noodles, and stews. The restaurant prides itself that its servers will grill their meats for you. On Kee offers lunch, happy hour, and dinner. This review is for our lunch experience. The lunch menu offers a noodle hot pot, various meat sets, and combo menus for various meats/fish and stews. We chose the following lunch sets: * LA marinated short ribs meal with soybean paste stew. The kalbi was excellent, so tender, juicy, and flavorful! The soybean paste stew was pleasantly mild and had tofu, zucchini, cucumber, green onion * Stir-fried pork meal with kimchi stew. Although very tasty, the pork was very spicy, but the menu description did not specify it as spicy. It's a good thing that we could handle spicy. The kichi stew was also spicy and flavorful, and it included tofu, pork belly, kimchi, sliced onions; the menu description also did not note that this was spicy. As with the kalbi, I would not be surprised if the flavor of the meat marinades were adapted to local tastes. Loved that both the kalbi and pork were served with a bed on sliced onions on a sizzling cast iron platter! Both sets each came with 4 delicious banchans that are freshly made in-house: choy sum with bits of tofu, seasoned dried daikon strips with sesame seeds, mac salad with imitation crab, and marinated won bok with green onion and chili pepper. Note that the marinated won bok was not kimchi, but was sweeter. Instead of having the same 4 bachans, it would have been better for a set of different banchans to try. In addition to the banchans, a larger dish of marinated crunchy won bok kimchi was served to be shared by both of us, but it was not spicy and not marinated long enough. Rice accompanied both sets (extra cost at dinner). There has been a lot of hype about staff cooking your meats for you while dining. It was a disappointment when we were told that our lunch sets are cooked in the back kitchen and then served to us. Apparently, the tableside grilling only applies to the higher-priced sets, as we noticed a group of Korean tourists on the next table with staff grilling for them. Nevertheless, our kalbi and spicy pork were excellently prepared; however, wished that there was clarification as to what is to be grilled at tableside. Chloe, our server, was very friendly to engage us in small talk, attentive, and efficient! She left us alone and appeared periodically to refill our tea/water glasses and to inquire if we needed a refill of our banchans or other assistance. We saw the plain and seasoned salt containers on the table. When we asked Chloe about them, we were told that they are mainly used for the grilling of meats; however, it was not necessary to use them for our lunch sets. Wished this was explained to us beforehand, as we weren't sure how to use them. On Kee shines in its ambiance! With its high ceilings, huge windows, and warm tones of stone, copper, and iron fixtures, as well as ceramics used for tableware, make this restaurant upscale, trendy, and modern. The spacious layout of the dining room makes it noisy, as sounds bounce of the concrete walls; however, the engineered smokeless grills will make up for it, as diners will see the excellent ventilation of not smelling like smoke when they leave. Lunch hours are daily from 11:00a to 2:30p. Lunch is not as busy as the dinner hours, so walk-ins are welcomed. (For reference, happy hour is daily from 4:30p to 6:30p in the bar area; and dinner Sun to Thurs 5p to 9p, Fri/Sat 5p to 10p.) Located on the 2nd floor of Kaka'ako's Koula condo, there is free self-parking in the Ward Theater parking garage; exit the garage by walking to the porte cochere of the Koula condo and look for the direct elevator to On Kee, which is located next to Dean & Deluca. Lunch at the upscale On Kee with generous portions and good price point, combined with superb customer service, makes this a great dining experience! read more

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I came here with friends for Saturday lunch with a reservation. They put us in a private room and we had an excellent time here. The service and food were both top notch. I ordered the marinated LA galbi meal combo with spicy naengmyun ($3 extra). The meat was very good quality and super tender. The naengmyun was refreshing and not too spicy. The noodles were bouncy and not overcooked. Everything including banchan and fresh kimchi was very simple and delivered a traditional, but modern take on Korean homestyle food. The restaurant is very spacious and has a lot of windows providing natural light. They are located on the second level of the mall. Everything is new here in the Ward village since Kaka'ako is still rapidly developing. There is free parking nearby in the garage. Recommend without hesitation. read more

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We recently tried Onkee for the first time for a special occasion, which turned out to be quite the mistake. The service appeared to start out well, with not one, but two of the wait staff dropping menus at our table (actually a sign of the disorganization to come). After we had decided which of the two sets we wished to order, which was the Premium Set, only then were we notified that the Premium Set was actually unavailable. I've never worked in the wait industry, but I've eaten at more than a few restaurants and I have always thought it best practice for the waiter or waitress to notify you of any specials or unavailabilities before you start perusing the menu. After ordering we were then inundated by the wait staff, which seemed nice at the time. But after finishing our entrees, the wait staff seemingly became unaware of our existence, with one exception. I ordered another drink, and after it not arriving for at least fifteen minutes, one of the waitresses (the same one whom the drink was ordered through) said she was going to check on it. More time passed and the drink failed to arrive. Aside from this disappointing interaction, no one else came to take our dessert order (which was included with the set) for approximately thirty to forty minutes. Just my opinion, but not checking on a party seated for that period of time whose meal isn't even complete is unacceptable in the food service industry. Upon notifying our initial waitress that we wanted to forego the dessert, and just get the check and leave, she appeared flustered and apologized profusely. I was genuinely done with being there and was content to leave without any dessert (for the record, dessert is my favorite part of every meal). To add to the disappointment, the drink I ordered that never arrived was actually charged on our check as well. At this point, the manager came to the table and in an attempt to rectify the situation, he comped a large portion of our meal, which was greatly appreciated, and in my estimation, about what would suffice for an effort at mending the situation reasonably. Unfortunately, what is often said of first impressions is true, and the service foibles experienced are not something I can simply overlook in regard to a return trip and/or recommendations of this restaurant to others. Lastly, the food ranged from "okay" to decent. Nothing to write home about, in my opinion. Sadly, I will not be returning to Onkee, ever. My recommendation is to walk half a block to Han No Daidokoro and spend a little more. I've been there at least five times (likely more), and have never once been disappointed by the food or service. read more

This new Korean BBQ spot has some great happy hours drinks on 2nd floor with Instagram worthy decors and ambiance. The foods well worth it. Great flavors of Korean BBQ with a modern fusion twist. Hats off to the chef or owners that came up with the menu. The flavors was there in every items we tried. read more

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Onkee Korean Grill House in Ward Village, been here a few times and this place definitely feels like a more upscale Korean BBQ experience compared to most spots in Honolulu. The interior is modern and stylish, like a Seoul-style restaurant rather than the typical casual KBBQ vibe. The meat quality was excellent very tender and flavorful. What I liked is that they keep it simple with just sea salt instead of heavy sauces, so you really taste the quality of the beef. The galbi and ribeye were definitely highlights. Banchan was clean and nicely presented, and the overall dishes felt more refined than your usual Korean BBQ. Service was attentive and the staff helped with grilling which made the experience smoother. Only thing to note is that it's a bit on the pricier side, but you're paying for the quality and the elevated dining experience. Overall: 8.5/10. Great spot for a date night or when you want Korean BBQ that feels a little more upscale. read more

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Onkee Korean Grill House has been on my radar and I finally got to dine here to cross it off my bookmark list. They are located in the Kakaako area and there's ample parking in the Ward Theaters parking garage. You just walk over and either take the elevator up or walk up their fancy stairs. There is a sign that asks diners to wait to be seated. When you walk in, there is a bar area and open dining room. We came during lunch on a weekday and the restaurant was half full but the place was COLD! Their AC was on full blast so maybe bring a light jacket if you get cold easily. We received menus right away but it took awhile to get our orders taken. Apparently they only had two people working and one person was brand new who just finished training. The other server worked there a year and was carrying him on their shift. We each ordered their Grilled Lunch Set + 1 Meal and their Beef Tartare to start. The kitchen didn't take too long to get our appetizer out with the Kimchee Stew and Bibim-naengmyeon. It was good and we enjoyed it, especially the Beef Tartare. Our male server did mix up who got what for our + 1 Meal but we just swapped the bowls. We also ordered hot tea because it was so cold but he forgot about it. The male server put in our order wrong so we received the wrong meat and it took them time to get our actual order out. The female server was great though. Wish I got her name but she's from China and lived in the Bay Area. 5 stars for her and for carrying her coworker. She did start grilling our meats but we told her we got it since they are short staffed. Their two salts were nice to add on top of the meat. Glad we added a bow of rice each. Overall, it was a good experience thanks to the female server. read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Grilled Lunch Set - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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- Location can be a bit hard to find, its on the second floor on the corner of a street that isnt fully open yet. - Parking is easy (ward theatres) - A bit pricey; as this is a high class grill house with premium items - Service was good, servers even came and cooked our food for us - Bathrooms were clean, fully stocked towels, etc. Would come again. read more

Since I was craving for Korean food, it was an easy choice for me to come here for an early lunch, especially I lived right by Onkee. I think their lunch offerings were pretty solid. The bachan was great and enjoyed the non-fermented fresh kimchee. I ordered the Kalbi soup. It was decent but it didn't have the depth of Kalbi soup that I had from the other Korean restaurants. Since it was still early, there was just another table with other guests. From the service standpoint, it could be improved. They didn't stop by to refill the water. It is not my first time here so I knew what to expect in terms of ambiance. I enjoy eating there without smelling like Korea bbq after on my clothes. I probably will come back for quick lunch when I crave for some Korean food. I think it was decent for the value. read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Kalbi soup - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Whenever I'm at Dean & Deluca, I always see people coming in and out of Onkee and I finally know why. Finally decided to check this place out while a girlfriend was in town and I'd say we were both impressed. Came in on a Sunday just before the lunch rush and were quickly seated--I'd suggest making reservations just in case though. We opted for the sets but their menu boasts a good amount of meats that you can order Ala carte. I went with the kalbi and soybean paste stew, which also comes with rice. The portion size was just right because I managed to finish everything and felt full till dinner! Friend got the fish and soybean paste stew set and let me try some of the fish--very soft and flavorful! Service was quick and they came around to refill the banchan and our waters/tea when we were running low. I hear they have a pretty good happy hour, so I'd definitely gotta go back for that soon. read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Nice and clean restaurant. Food is very clean super tasty. We went for lunch and ordered lunch special. I got #2 grilled fish(mekeral) with mulnaengmyun(noodle). Noodle was okay tbh, 3 out orlf 5. But the rest were great. My wife got LA style galbi w soup. Lunch special is a great deal. I will visit if im in the area. They also have 2 private rooms, family restroom and fancy bar. Bar is small. read more

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This review is on behalf of my mom and her boyfriend, who recently dined at Onkee and asked me to share their experience. They had an 8PM reservation for two and ordered the Onkee Special Set at $65 per person. One surprising detail was that banchan refills are not complimentary, unlike other Korean restaurants. When the food arrived, both noticed that the meat was gristly and portions were smaller than expected. For a $65-per-person meal, they felt the quality did not justify the price. Some pieces were difficult to chew, and even my mom who is usually okay with tougher cuts struggled with parts of the meat. The bigger issue was the service. Around 9 PM (an hour before the restaurant's 10 PM closing time), multiple servers repeatedly "checked" on their table. At one point, a server attempted to remove a tray that still had food on it. When my mom asked about their closing time, she was told, "We close at 10 PM, but on slow days, we try to close earlier." This came across as pressure to finish and leave because business was slow. For a meal at this price point, customers should be able to enjoy their dinner without feeling rushed. Unfortunately, between the disappointing food quality, small portions, and hurried service, the experience fell short of expectations. Overall, they do not plan to return for dinner. They had been interested in trying happy hour, but after this experience, they're not so sure. To end on a positive note, they noted that the ambience was very nice. read more

Great experience overall The ambiance is wonderful and the service was attentive, kind and knowledgeable throughout our visit. Food came out quickly and they offer both course menus and à la carte options, with staff available to cook at your table if you prefer. One thing to note is that the KBBQ selection is mostly red meat, with no pork or chicken, so options are a bit limited if you're looking for variety. Overall, still a great dining experience with excellent service and atmosphere and I'd happily come back! read more

*on 2nd floor above Dean & Deluca* Deal, No Deal . Thought I'd try this place out for their Restaurant Week lunch specials as advertised online....however, after being seated our waiter informed us those specials were only offered at dinner. How tuna uni poke would be served for dinner at kbbq is beyond me but c'est la vie... -- at this point in the day, I was 0-2 for any holiday deals or specials ): so not fun....-- . The soondubu jjigae wasn't oily at all and its comforting heat permeated throughout me with each warm bite as I watched the cold rain shower outside. Also, being sheltered in an open/minimalist zen space while surrounded by simple stone & earthenware somehow eased my former discontentment. The japchae was also not overly oily n had fresh crunchy veggies. . Happily walked out full with leftovers. Will return to try their kbbq! read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My boyfriend and I went here for dinner and it's a pretty nice and almost a high end Korean bbq spot. We ordered the truffle potato pancake as a starter and decided to go all out and got the most expensive set from the dinner menu. The truffle potato pancake was delicious! I loved how crispy it was with the creamy truffle sauce on top. I forgot which were the exact cuts of meat we had for dinner but I do remember it all being pretty good! I think one of the cuts was the Miyazaki Wagyu and it was so buttery and melted in my mouth! Probably one of the most buttery pieces of meat I've had. The meats were so tasty that you didn't need a sauce with it just the salt. Overall, the truffle potato pancake and the meats were delicious but not sure if we'll come back here. It was quite expensive and they don't give you a lot of meat. You have to order rice separately and we didn't care for the banchan either. I do like how they cook the meat for you since they are expensive cuts. Our server was great and the restaurant is nice and spacious. I'm glad we got to try this spot out though! read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Truffle potato pancake - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My wife has been talking up Onkee ever since she went to lunch there. According to her, the meat quality was superior to the places we go to. After a while, I knew I had to go to check it out. It's right across the Ward Theater so it was easy to find. They have their own private elevator and when we went for lunch around a 2p, there were just a few people in there. The service was just right - they came at all the right times and were efficient! I have to say this place is really nice and airy. There's a full bar as you walk in and it was really clean. Everything looked spotless and brand new. If I had to compare it to any other Korean restaurant it would be Korea Garden since that one is fairly new as well. But Onkee is more stylish. They have two types of salt on the side on the table and a dipping sauce which was slightly sweet. The usual side dishes came out and they all looked great. If I had to say anything about them, I would say that some were on the sweeter side - which is kind of like Korea garden is as well. Perhaps a small nod toward the local clientele? But everything was top notch and delicious. We had a choice of soups so we got kimchi jjigae and another order of miso soup (doenjang jjigae). I have to tell you BOTH were some of the best tasting bowls of soup I have had at a restaurant. Both were DELICIOUS!!!! That was my first impression . Just GREAT. The grills look beautiful and CLEAN and the rock-like bottom that goes over the flame must have added more to the flavor of the grill. The meat selection was just great. I have to admit the quality of the meat was a step above the other Korean restaurants and the taste of the grill was evident. Just delicious and the meat was so tender. OK, yes, I admit.... this place rocks!!!!! My wife was right. There's a new king of Korean restaurants. Onkee reigns supreme. read more

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I'm really upset that we finally had a meal here. We didn't go for the longest time, just because the price point was a little on the high side. Well, we finally tried it out, and it was awesome! So now we HAVE to go back for more. The service was on point, and the servers were well trained and attentive. They actually do ALL of the cooling for you at the table and are super friendly and not pretentious. The cuts of meat are first class and oh so flavorful. Excellent banchan. Everything was so fresh and the ambiance was contemporary and first class. Vents pulled the smoke down nut up, so the place was very clean and the air not greasy like at some of the other K BBQ spots. Great food, clean ambiance and excellent service. We will be back soon! read more

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Great luxury date lunch with hubby where we can dress up and enjoy this upscale Korean restaurant that smells fresh, provides great service and has delicious food. This restaurant is just above the Dean and Deluca cafe. First impression entering the restaurant was clean and minimalist. The tables are large and spacious. We sat by the window with a nice view. The lunch set menu is well put together, the LA Galbi was delicious, and cold noodles were refreshing and the appetizers were one level above. My husband liked the beef tartar, not less than his favorite French beef tartar, he said the meat is very fresh and good quality. My favorite might have been the shave ice dessert with red bean sweetness, what a fine way to cool down and chill and add some fiber along the way with this delicious dessert. However, I would skip the Braise short rib next time because I had better ones elsewhere that are more soft. We had lunch around 1:30pm and had the entire restaurant to ourselves. It was a wonderful date. read more

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Korean BBQ with a Kakaʻako swank. Really good food and you won't leave smelling like Ode to Smoky Ribeye cologne. No giant hood overhead. Strong under-table or side suction ventilation pulls the smoke straight down into the grill system instead of letting it rise into the room. Strong meat game. Prime Ribeye on the grill: Marbled to perfection, buttery and rich when seared over charcoal. Brisket: Super tender and well seasoned. Put over rice and don't talk to me while I'm living my best bite. Korean Fried Chicken: Wow totally addictive. Light slightly crispy batter with a tender juicy interior and perfectly seasoned. Coming back for this at happy hour. Japchae: The tastiest Japchae I've ever had. Bouncy toothy noodles with a hint of sesame oil complimented wonderfully with earthy shitake mushrooms and crunchy bell peppers . Sooo good. Kimchi: A fresher, crunchier take. Not heavy on the fermented funk but still true to the kimchi spirit. Sleek modern dining room with high ceilings and flushed in warm golden lighting. Excellent service. The server even handles the grilling table side. Nice touch. Not budget friendly but the quality is worth the splurge. Happy Eating! read more

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We brought a large group here last Friday to celebrate a coworker's anniversary, and it was a great experience. The service was excellent, especially considering our party size, and the food was fresh and full of flavor. I ordered the fish combo, and others in our group had dishes like the steak. Everything was really well prepared. Overall, a very enjoyable dining experience. read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Lunch combo with fish and soy bean soup - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great happy hour menu! Price is just right and they provide a lot of food. Regular menu is a little pricey but food quality is worth it. They have a couple private rooms which provides the perfect spot for a family dinner or more intimate gathering. Free parking at ward or whole food lot and a short 3-5 minute walk from there. read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - Beef tar tar - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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First timer for the anniversary celebration of the restaurant and it is now my new favorite date place. I went with family and we had a private dining room. It was a big enough room for like 13 of us with kids too. The kids had room to play around if they got fussy in their chairs. Our waitress m, Kim, was so sweet. She had good mannerisms, was patient with us, and just had great vibes all around. We love how their tables had strong enough suction so there was no smoke which means we didn't leave smelling like bbq and it's a plus that they cook the bbq for you. The food was very delicious. The meat was cooked to perfection and not over done. The banchan was plenty enough for both sides of our tables, including a huge portion of the kimchee which was sweet and flavorful. Overall, I enjoyed my dinner here and I look forward to the next time I'm here. read more

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I had a lunch date with my husband yesterday and this has to be one of the best Korean restaurants around. It's located in the Ko'ula building. Take the elevator on the first floor to get to the restaurant on the second floor. We came for the lunch specials. We ordered the short rib set with soybean stew $27 and cubed steak with kimchi stew $27. It came with white rice. We also tried out the truffle potato pancake $24. They started us off with four complimentary banchan (marinated string potatoes, fruit salad, pickled daikon and kimchi). They were all tasty, but the fruit salad was my favorite. It had apples, Japanese pears, carrots, potatoes and cucumbers in it. It was so good. I asked for refills. Everything that we had was excellent. The short rib was good, but the cubed steak was better. I love the kimchi stew and soybean stew. The kimchi stew was on the spicy side. If you can't do spicy I'd recommend the soybean stew. The potato pancake with truffle aioli sauce was yummy. I love the crispy sides. It's a must try. I haven't seen it at other restaurants. The decor is beautiful and very modern. Service was prompt and helpful. read more

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This will be a mix review. We came a little early to experience the bar before having dinner. Bar is small, nice bartender she knows her cocktails. We enjoyed the Kaka'ako undertow and a classic martini, however things shifted when these 2 guys came in and ask if they could order a drink and walk into the restaurant to talk story with their friends, which she allowed. When they want to the table they were standing up while the group was sitting down making it like was a sport bar. Mind you this place advertising to be more upscale dining experience. What made it worse is that after we left the bar to have dinner, the hostess put right next to group that had those two guys talking story while they were standing up like a sports bar. Anyhow we ask to move to another area to which was very private and relaxing. If you're looking for a date night, don't expect it to be mellow noise, it's loud with kids that parents don't know how to reach there kids manners, at times it was soo loud that it seems like it was playground for kids. This could have been a one off night with kids screaming. Overall very impressed with all the dishes we ordered. Check out the pictures. read more

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Was craving Korean bbq meat so decided to come here to check another place off my list of "places I want to try" Came here for dinner, and parked at Whole Foods garage and walked over. Upon walking in, I was surprised that it didn't smell like a yakiniku place: not smokey at all! The interior of the restaurant was sleek, modern, and clean. My husband and I got the premium combo which comes with tenderloin, washugyu short rib, Miyazaki wagyu ribeye, and marinated beef short rib ($160 and serves 2 people) EVERY piece of meat was high quality and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Our favorite was the wagyu ribeye (obviously) - you barely need to chew, and the flavor was luxurious, and paired with a little of one of their salts (provided on the table) to bring out it's meaty flavor, it was definitely the highlight of our night! Our second favorite was the tenderloin :) thick, juicy, and flavorful we also got: EGG SOUFFLÉ W/ CHEESY CORN: delicious! Perfectly cooked and the cheesy corn really kicks this dish up a notch - my kids loved this with rice! TRUFFLE AHI POKE: if you are a truffle lover, get this! So good :) I loved how it had coconut shavings on top which I thought was unique. The fish was good quality (though I did get one piece that was still partially frozen) and there were no stringy pieces at all! MUL NAENGMYEON: (Korean cold noodles) I appreciated that the server told us these noodles are traditional (from a certain area I can't remember) in that it is more "healthy" and thus not as flavorful as regular Korean noodles. Nonetheless, it was still refreshing, the noodles were nice and chewy, and paired with the hot mustard and vinegar they give you, you can adjust it to your own taste preference BAN CHAN consisted of 2 types of cabbage kimchi chi (one was more sour tasting, and the other had a hint of sweetness yet it was spicier), chive Kim chi, light potato salad (it also had apples in it, along with cucumber and carrots - refreshing!), pickled radish, and pickled red onion. Not as many variety as other places, but still good :) SERVICE: our server was Daniel, and the whole time, he was very attentive and very personable! Not only was he knowledgeable about the food/menu, but he genuinely seemed like he prioritizes giving great customer service and ensuring that patrons are getting a top-notch and memorable experience. (FYI: the servers here actually cook the meat for you! Being a server myself when I was younger, I definitely recognized that being a server here is NOT easy - bussing, serving, grilling, filling waters.. everything! Kudos to them) As a mom, I actually was happily surprised they cooked for us, as I am usually cooking the meats while trying to eat and help feed the kids - so the fact they cook for you allowed me to enjoy the meal more without added stress :) Speaking of kids, this place is kid friendly in that they provided my kids with cute little plates, utensils, a plastic bowl, and a little cup! Bonus!! DESSERT: we enjoyed their shaved ice with red bean topping which was delicious and the shaved ice was sooo powdery and fluffy - other than the red bean and mochi, it came with condensed milk and kinako powder. The kids both enjoyed a vanilla ice cream as well Overall, we greatly enjoyed our dining experience and would definitely come back again and will definitely ask for Daniel to be our server again if possible! read more

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My friend took us to try Onkee in Oʻahu and omg it was so cute. It's definitely more of an upscale KBBQ spot, but the vibes were still super chill--not stuffy at all. The inside was giving DTLA modern aesthetic, super clean and pretty. We were like okayyy~ we love a place that looks good and feeds us well The meat?? Chef's kiss. Sooo good. You can really taste the quality, and honestly, coming from LA where AYCE is overpriced and kinda mid these days... this place felt worth it. Everything we had was bomb--the meat, the banchan, etc. Also idk if it was just our table but our busser ended up cooking for us?? LMAO. I think the regular cooks dipped since we were one of the last tables, but he was so chill about it. Like I don't really care how it's cooked as long as I don't have to do it myself lol, and he made sure everything was edible soooo he's a king. Hope he got our tip for doing another man's job Drinks were decent but ngl my martini tasted like soap... so maybe skip that. Overall: 8/10, would def come back. Cute spot for a girls' night or date night for sure read more

Onkee Korean Grill House - White lotus & Sapporo - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Date: 8/2/25 Time: 11:30am Visit: 2nd. 1st visit was for Happy Hour. What they got right: Refined ambiance, beautiful dinnerware & serving dishes, delicious food with complex flavors, affordable lunch sets, and efficient servers. Areas for improvement: none at the moment I ordered the lunch set with LA marinated short ribs and kimchi stew for $29. The ribs were tender and well seasoned. The kimchi stew was served bubbling hot with tofu, pork and kimchi. It was a little on the salty side for my tastes but I couldn't stop eating. It was good. It was also spicy! Yum! Hubby ordered the lunch set with spicy pork and bibim-naengmyeon for $29 + $2 upgrade for bibim-naengmyeon. The banchan served with our meals were amazing! The bean sprouts with imitation crab was a first for us. It looked lightly seasoned but it was sweet with a hint of spiciness to it. The green veggies, not sure what they were, was also very tasty. The julienned daikon with visible chili pepper flakes was spicy but oh-so-good! The tofu was spicy and delicious as well as the fresh kimchi. Such complexity of flavors! Elevated banchan for sure! I would definitely come back for more and recommend this place to others. read more

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I took my family here as their first stop because they were craving Korean food. We went with the set menu and ordered the bibimbap as well. The meat is really high quality and the side dishes were really fresh. One of my favorite dishes is bibimbap and I love that the vegetables weren't overcooked and they gave me gochujang on the side so I can personalize my spice level. Will definitely come back to try the happy hour menu! read more

First time having lunch here with Yelp friends Lyla & Ed. Located on the 2nd Floor of Ko'ula on Auahi. Parked at Whole Foods and walked across the street. Nice little stroll passing Dean & Deluca. Very clean, modern ambiance. Love the entrance with the bar and window seating. Our server was quick and attentive. The Lunch Menu was affordable and impressive! I decided on the Cubed Steak and Mul-naengmyeon. Presentation on point and the cold broth was so yummy! Cubed steak was seasoned well and cooked with onions and tasty mushrooms. Delish! Ban Chan was fresh and we did have a second round of it. Seafood And Green Onion Pancake is a must-try! Excellent flavors! We enjoyed our conversations and walked out stuffed! So impressed! Lunch is definitely a great deal! MAHALO ONKEE! read more

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Onkee is not your typical Korean restaurant with many food choices. It's more like a modern day bar with good quality Korean dishes. They have full bar but my guess it's open for dinner. We came during lunch and no cocktail orders were allowed. I got the combo 2: cold noodle and cubed steak. Texture on the cold noodle was thicker than what I am used to but it was good and refreshing. Generous portion for cubed steak. I wasn't able to finish them. My husband got spicy beef stew. He enjoyed all the authentic ingredients likes brown bracken fern, leek etc. Truly authentic. Their side dishes were limited to 5 but good quality. Good service and staff were very attentive. Spacious restaurant. They do have private room and outdoor option. I say if you have a big group this maybe a good place especially with full bar. read more

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My favorite place for Korean food hands down. It is a little on the pricier side compared to some other places, but extremely good value for the quality. The meat is so soft and yummy. The banchan are so good too. I think the only not so great thing is I eat here so often it's probably not good for my cholesterol levels haha! Service is always spectacular and ambiance is great because it's not so packed where you can't hear the other people talking to you on your table! read more

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My middle child is OBSESSED with Korean BBQ! She found this place via IG Reels and wanted to go. Sooooo, I made reservations on a whim via Yelp. Mahalo Yelp for this handy feature! We checked in and were seated immediately. Their bar is up front with the grill tables toward the back. There were lots of open tables (our reservation time was 6pm on a Thursday for reference.) They have a happy hour menu which is from 4:30pm-6:30pm, but only in the bar. Check out our pictures of some of the things we ordered. We ordered a lot! Everything was super tasty! Plenty of flavor! We thought we had to cook our own, but the staff grilled up our items which was really nice. Along with what you see in the pictures below, we also had: Kimchee fried rice, fried chicken with green onion salad, spicy fried chicken, braised spicy short ribs, and short ribs for the grill. The food was great, but it was dinner so it was pricey. NGL- it was expensive! My advice: go for lunch. It's WAY cheaper. One downside: they didn't explain the purpose for each item. For example the Kimchee fried rice also came with a soup, but we didn't know. I wasn't afraid to ask, but it was almost as if they expected us to know. IYKYK. They also didn't tell us how to mix the bibimbap. So, my child just winged it. lol! read more

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