Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    So Gong Dong Restaurant

    3.9 (766 reviews)
    ModerateKorean
    Open 10:30 am - 8:30 pm

    Order So Gong Dong Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    So Gong Dong Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    SO GONG DONG RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like So Gong Dong Restaurant

    Recommended Reviews - So Gong Dong Restaurant

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Inside
    Tin Lung C.

    We try this Korean restaurant for the first time tonight. The restaurant is not that big, there are about 7 tables. The staffs seem friendly. My wife love beef intestine soup, so she ordered that, her review for this soup is only 5 out of 10 compare to other Korean restaurants. I went for the combo, Soondubu with seafood pancake. For $24, I think it is a good value meal, I don't know what is Soondubu, the waitress told me it is tofu, pork and beef stew, the bowl packed with a lot of tofu. Each dish also comes with a bowl of white rice and they also served 5 Korean small dishes. The small dishes quality is just average. Over all, I think this place offer good value for the food, not super pricy. I will go back to try other dishes.

    Mere U.

    If you're craving comfort in a bowl, this place serves the best soondubu (tofu soup) I keep coming back for. It's definitely my go to whenever I need something warm and satisfying. On top of that, the staff are always friendly and welcoming, which makes the whole experience even better. Great food and great service hard to beat!

    Original Soondubu
    Greg T.

    My in-laws have talked up SoGongDong for some time, and I'm happy to report that it lived up to the hype. Located on Keeamoku Street adjacent to the old site of Like Like Drive Inn, So Gong Dong is a small Korean restaurant that specializes in soondubu or soft tofu spot. There are several things that distinguish So Gong Dong's soondubu from other Korean restaurants: - First, the price is still reasonable at $15.25 for a standard-sized bowl of soondubu. Competitors charges range from $17-20 for a similar portion size. Additionally, combinations are also a good value at $23.55, as there was no noticeable difference in portion size between my individual order of soondubu and my partner's combination order of soondubu and meat jun. - Second, So Gong Dong's broth is rich and flavorful, featuring a thicker consistency than some other Korean restaurants in Honolulu and LA. My biggest complaint with many versions of soondubu is watery broth, and that was not a problem here. And, for better or for worse, So Gong Dong's original soondubu features ground pork and beef rather than thin slices or chunks. This makes for a soup with a noticeably stronger meat flavor. My only critique would be the run-of-the-mill banchan, which we found fairly unremarkable (read: average) compared to other Korean restaurants. Parking is free in the private lot attached to the shopping center, but there are a number of other popular businesses (e.g. YogurStory), which makes finding parking difficult. Metered street parking is also available on Rycroft or Kanunu.

    Beef Original Soft Tofu Soup
    Lauren D.

    Quick service, good authentic Korean food at a good price. This place has really tasty soon dobu at the best price compared to other Korean restaurants. For $14.55 you get a lot! I ordered the original soondobu MILD and it still tastes spicy. I recommend getting mild, their medium is too spicy for the average person. Side dishes were just OK. The soup comes out crazy BOILING hot, a little too hot to eat at first. They have a few tables inside and it gets busy around 7pm even on weekdays. I will come back when I crave Korean due to the good taste at a reasonable price.

    Takeout Original Soft Tofu Soup
    Nikki U.

    Found this place on DoorDash and was craving sundubu jjigae. I got the original soft tofu soup and it was really good! It has brown mushrooms, minced beef and pork, and soft tofu. The broth was super flavorful and addicting. I am not a mushroom fan, so next time I would opt for no mushrooms. It came with a side of rice and banchan. The banchan was ok, nothing amazing but still good although it could have used a little extra seasoning. Next time I will dine in! Their food is so good and I think it would taste even better in the stone pot!

    Tofu soup & Seafood Pancake
    Ann T.

    Very friendly attend services. Casual and comfy food spot for me. I like their tofu soup and seafood pancake.

    Myning C.

    Best Soon Du Bu on isle? Probably....sides were fine- Kalbi was tasty but there were a few total fat pieces that was not edible- but thats just my opinion cause some diners love to eat the fat ...

    Ban Chan
    Wenz T.

    The ambiance is pleasant, pretty quaint restaurant. Service was VERY quick, which at first was very impressive. But the food temp wasn't hot, maybe pre prepared?? Then they rush you to eat, we weren't even done eating and the check was presented at the table. As we're trying to finish our meal, they came to the table with the credit card machine to pay . Being as the food was only "meh" don't think we'll return. There are so many other Korean restaurant to choose from. Additionally, the area is a little Sketch at night, since Yogur Story is closed, there aren't many people in the area. The people hanging around the area, weren't the types you'd want to walk past to get to your car.

    Bibim Bab
    Lily L.

    I go at least once a week because the food is amazing and fast and the staff is amazing. Like mom and pop kind of place that deserves hugs for feeding me all the best foods. They're generous with the banchans ash vs portions are amazing. Always have enough for 2 meals!

    Meat Jun
    Michelle C.

    This place is one of my go to Korean places. Whether I dine in or do takeout, the food is always good. This review is on my most recent visit. My husband and I went out for date night and I was craving Korean food. When we got there, there was a couple of people sitting inside and a lot of take out orders. We decided to order the soondubu and meat jun combo, seafood pancake and douk-bokki. We knew it was going to be a lot but we could always take the rest home. Everything came out quick and hot. The seafood pancake was my favorite. The douk-bokki was surprisingly not too spicy. I thought I remembered it being more spicy before but the soondubu was a lot more spicy than I remember. Staff is friendly and service is always good. Will definitely be back again.

    Milton K.

    Overall: *****Recommended***** Food: **** Value: **** Menu: *** Ambiance: *** Service: **** Parking: ***** free on other side of bldg When I asked a friend, who eats out often, "Where are your favorite Korean restaurants?" One of them that she recommended was So Gong Dong Restaurant. I've since been there several times and I've never been disappointed. Many of my friends and family go there for their soondubu and soft tofu soup with seafood, which are one of the best. The other half of the combinations (kalbi, BBQ chicken, bulgogi, meat jun) are good-to-ok, but you can find better tasting ones at other Korean restaurants. However, when we factor in the price, the ban chan and ample free parking, we find ourselves eating their often. RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Seafood Tofu Soup = A Mandoo =A Soondubu = A Seafood Pancake = B Kalbi = C Meat Jun = C Bulgogi = C BBQ Chicken = C Covina = C Website: https://www.sogongdong.com/ Yelp: https://yelp.to/H5eTcMBtE5 YELP: Sorry! They allow only one 12 second video & the remaining to 3 seconds, with maximum of 10 pictures/videos. The full video can be found elsewhere: 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

    Maricel Jane M.

    As much as I wanted to love and frequent this restaurant, Unfortunately i was so excited to try this place. I ordered the soon tofu soup which was ok, tasty but only a little bit of minced beef. It was tasty but I wish there was more meat. I also ordered Galbi and It was tasty but was not tender, some parts I couldn't even chew because the meat was tough. Plus size, the banchan was unlimited and very very good! Service was a little slow, I had to raise my hand twice because they hardly tended to me. Ambiance is cute, small, and ok. I wish the meat was more on the tender side and the amount of beef in the tofu soup was more generous and I wish the service was more tended too. Sadly, I have not returned to this place. I'd love to give it another try, maybe I just came on an off day.

    Inside restaurant
    Laurie Y.

    The Restaurant is on Rycroft Street even though the address is 745 Keeaumoku. It's part of the old Likelike drive inn building! You can park there but its very crowded! We went with friends who have been there so told us what to order. They recommended to get the Soondubu Combo: which includes the Tofu soup and you get a raw egg to crack open in your hot boiling soup! Then you can choose between Seafood Pancake; BBQ Chicken or a sizzling hot plate of Kale Bi. My husband had the Beef Short Ribs Soup (Gaibitang) which is a clear soup made with beef Short ribs. Supposed to be a hearty, nourishing soup with a delicate flavor. I had the Bibimbab mixed rice with assorted vegetables (bean sprouts, sliced carrots, mushrooms,cucumber) on a Sunnyside egg. It was good and filling. It was a bit pricey!

    Soon dubu and meat jun combo

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ronda D.
    707
    34
    63

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mere U.
    130
    17
    25

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Greg T.
    214
    458
    1578

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ann T.
    1
    63
    150

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lake B.
    1
    20
    29

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa T.
    502
    290
    4273

    1 year ago

    Helpful 21
    Thanks 7
    Love this 12
    Oh no 13

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 21
    Thanks 8
    Love this 21
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Probably the best soondubu I've had on the island and the service is excellent they are so fast!

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Xian L.
    2
    60
    15

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Meat jun is tasteless the sauce is Salty. Tastes like all they use is Shoyu (Soy Sauce)

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kuuipo B.
    138
    56
    26

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ayaka O.
    15
    193
    591

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 20

    So Gong Dong Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - So Gong Dong Restaurant

    Do they cook with MSG?

    I'm not sure if they do to be honest. But so you know, alot of bottled soy sauce and ingredients used already contain msg. If you are hyper sensitive. I would avoid eating Asian cuisine since alot of sauces are used. Hope this helps. Btw...even… Read more

    Do you use charcoal or gas?

    Gas

    View All 3 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Korean 60,727 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Seoul Cook

    Seoul Cook

    3.3
    (61 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Right next to H-Mart is Seoul Cook in Kaka'ako. I was starving after taking two back-to-back…read moreworkout classes nearby and my friend recommended we get food here and I'm so glad we did. First off, all the complimentary banchan (Korean side dishes). From the classic kimchi, fishcake, cucumber kimchi, and radish. And if you're dining in, just ask and you can get refills of whatever you want more of. If you're doing take out, they still give you all of the banchan!v We did dine-in but take out / online orders seemed popular. But I loved dining in because of the Ajumma here! She was so sweet and funny, and even made the perfect bite (radish kimchi on top of the meat jun, so the acid offsets the oily fried jun) and fed it to my boyfriend LOL. We got a ton of food! The seafood soondabu soup, seafood korean pancake, seafood bibimbap, meat jun, and zucchini jun. We had a lot of leftovers that we took home. The food was good but it's really the service and love that makes this a 5-star experience.

    Came in for the tofu soondubu lunch set and it totally hit the spot. The soup was rich, deeply…read moresavory, and comforting, with that perfect spicy kick you can adjust to your liking. The tofu was silky soft and fresh, soaking up all the flavor from the broth. The lunch set is a great value--you get soondubu bubbling hot, rice, and banchan that were all solid and well-seasoned. Portions were filling without being heavy, which makes it an ideal lunch option. Service was friendly and efficient, and the food came out fast even during lunch hours. This is definitely one of those places you crave when you want something warm, satisfying, and comforting. I'll absolutely be back for this again.

    Photos
    Interior of restaurant
    Interior of restaurant
    Banchan (sides)
    Banchan (sides)
    Inside

    See all

    Inside
    ‘I'O Waikiki Korean BBQ Restaurant

    ‘I'O Waikiki Korean BBQ Restaurant

    3.9
    (176 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    I tried their $29 lunch special and it was sooo worth it. The quality of the meat was honestly…read moreimpressive for the price. The brisket and beef belly (toro) were my favorites, super flavorful and cooked perfectly. It doesn't come with salad, egg, or soup, but you still get a solid KBBQ experience with just meat and banchan. If you're looking for something simple and satisfying, this is a great deal. Also, the restaurant is really spacious, which makes the whole experience feel more relaxed and comfortable. Would definitely come back for a quick KBBQ fix.

    I came for the AYCE lunch special ($24.95) and we were seated really quickly. Overall, the service…read morewas fine, but it definitely could've been better. For the meats, the beef brisket and beef toro were the stars, but the beef chuck was slightly tough and dry. They were also out of bulgogi, which was disappointing. The pork had a really strong boar taint smell/taste, which completely turned me off from ordering any of the pork. We had to ask for more meat and banchan refills multiple times. There was usually a pretty noticeable lag before anything came out, which was frustrating for an AYCE spot. They also seemed to be selective about which banchans they would refill. They would bring more of the dishes like kimchi and cucumber, but when we asked for more tuna mac, they wouldn't give us any. It also looked like there were only two people working while there were probably around 10 tables during the Tuesday lunch rush, so I do think they were understaffed. If you're offering AYCE, the refills and service should flow a lot more smoothly. It felt like they were paying more attention the tables that selected a higher tier of AYCE. Not a terrible experience, but definitely not as seamless or enjoyable as I was hoping for.

    Photos
    ‘I'O Waikiki Korean BBQ Restaurant
    Very marbled beef (I can't remember the name)
    Very marbled beef (I can't remember the name)
    Pork belly and Kalbi

    See all

    Pork belly and Kalbi
    Moobongri Soup & Yakiniku

    Moobongri Soup & Yakiniku

    4.4
    (105 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    I'm waffling somewhere between a 4 and a 5 for Moobongri's AYCE Korean BBQ experience. For the most…read morepart, their Korean BBQ experience is great. The meat is reasonably high quality, the banchan is generous (the last few times I went they even had poke as a banchan included with the meal), and the service is friendly. The "kimchee soup" is one of my favorite kimchee jjigaes on the island. Refills of meat flow generously out of the kitchen, unlike some other AYCE experiences where each subsequent order gets smaller and smaller until they finally cut you off because you've reached the time limit. I only have one gripe. While each table has a very powerful burner for grilling the meat, their universal approach is to prop up a tilted cast iron plate over the fire to grill on. It's propped at an angle so that the oil flows into a catch pan on the side. This usually means that the half of the plate tilted closer to the fire gets really hot, while the other half struggles to get hot enough and risks just boiling your meat. It also makes adjusting the fire a tricky process - if there's a lull between meats coming to your table, someone might come by and, understandably, turn down your flame. That's fine, but when the food does come out, it takes a long time to get the cast iron hot again. This doesn't stop me from coming back for more here, but just one thing I wish was better about an otherwise great experience. There is a parking lot out front but it is cramped and usually fills up. There is usually someone helping to guide parking, but when it's completely full there's only so much they can do. Street parking in the area can also be a little bit tricky.

    Still my favorite place to come for my soondae fix! Since we live on an island, soondae soup is…read moresuper limited. This place makes their soondae in house as I can tell the difference with frozen soondae and non-frozen ones. Until I go to Korea to try the real thing, this is the best I can get. I definitely think they improved their recipe from the first time I tried it. The aunties here are still very nice but as always give grace because it does get busy here and one aunty would have to take care of multiple tables and party size as well. Overall I'll be coming here whenever I need my soondae fix!! If you haven't tried, definitely come and try! I still need to try the acye here with friends one day!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Banchan
    Banchan
    Bibimbap

    See all

    Bibimbap

    So Gong Dong Restaurant - korean - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...