We had tried to go here on a previous trip and they were renovating or something. So glad we caught them the next go-round... Ambiance-wise, service-wise, everything outside of food-wise... you get what you get. But foodwise- WOW... This local place, in a non-descript strip mall, makes absolutely wonderful food. I dunno if there's a bad dish on the menu. We went here twice, and we almost never do that. I'd say it's not to be missed, but that's an understatement. Still, not to be missed... read more

Ordered mandoo for a party and everything was great even after a few hours. They gave me extra sauce to avoid double dippers and cross contamination read more

Meat Jun was DISAPPOINTING !!! Normally flour batter is soft and light but this one was densed and flat. Do not recommend this. Go to another Korean BBQ place. read more

We celebrated Mothers Day one evening prior. The kiddies and their parents brought over the family pack and add extra mandoo and veggies. Lots of food for 6+. Easy so no one has to cook. Use your own paper plates and clean up is a breeze. If varied veggies are offered I'd choose different ones from the family pack for added choices. Their cooked marinaded kalbi, bulgogi, meat jun and chicken are flavorful and perfectly seasoned. Family pack was a good way to go for any gathering. read more

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This place use to be the BOMB on their meat jun! Not anymore. Just recently went there with my son because he has nvr been there so I figure to take him thinking the meat jun. DAYUUMM!!! I was wrong..new ppl working there and the food my combo was meat jun with fried chkn! And that was like eating CARDBOARD with no flavored chkn and a little raw!! My son got the meat jun mix...that was AWFUL as well...so so sad how that place got to be like that..the other customer that ordered food before us even came back and said their plates were not tasting good and a little raw as w read more

This review based on my visit on 6.23.23 I was introduced to this place in my college years 20 plus years ago--and I still order the Bento Combination Plate. $12.95. It's hard to beat that price . I like variety so the meat jun (more jun than meat), teri beef, fried chicken and one piece mandoo--hit the spot. The dipping sauce is a sweet shoyu sauce--I like it. And chicken is not ever my go too--but I love Soon's fried chicken. Love, love, love it!! My friend had the bibimbap plate. I didn't get to try it. One thing --the bento comes with the vegetables wrapped in foil--kimchee, cabbage and bean sprouts. The cabbage slightly pickled/sweet. When I want a bento--this is where I go. 4 stars for this fast food Korean eatery. read more

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Soon's has got to be one of the best Korean plate lunch spots on the island. There are lots of places to get good Korean food, but not only does it have to be awesome food. To be one of the best, considerations have to be made in plate sizes, amount of food to cost of the plate. Plus, taste & value too. Soon's covers all the important aspects. Their meat Jun Plate might cost slightly over $18, but you get a lot of food, A LOT of Meat Jun. I love Korean food, especially meat Jun. So when a place gives you a darn decent amount, plus it tastes amazing, it goes in your short list of places to keep going to and supporting! The service is good, and fast. My only gripe is that they're "cash only". But I'll stop at a bank machine to get their food. :) Soon's isn't really anything special to look at, it's not a hip air conditioned spot. They've got a few outdoor seats if you want to dine there, but most people I know just take out. No matter, Soon's is a fave, and I'll always be back! read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - Meat Jun Plate. - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ordered Galbi Short ribs was delicious moist and flavorful. They have promo mid week too which is a great price! read more

Love this Korean restaurant, although they don't accept cash payments but still the menu is great. I will definitely come back in the near future to order something else on their menu. read more

I used to go here often back in the day. Recently went back for nostalgia sake. Big mistake! It was overly priced for what we got. We ordered 2 of the Soon's special at $25 for each plate! The taste was mediocre. The ban chan was a big disappointment! Got lots of the namul (bean sprout) but for the pickled cabbage I got like 3 pieces! The kimchee was even worse! I got 2 pieces of cabbage kimchee! The meat jun had a weird after taste to it and meat was very thin. The kalbi was chewy and flavoring was ok, not spectacular. The bbq chicken was basically the only real decent thing on the plate. The plates came out reasonably fast. We won't be back anytime soon as this didn't suit our taste. read more

It's been a while that we ordered food from here. It used to be good , but now it has gone really downhill. My girlfriend ordered the special. It came without the sauces and the meat jun was super thin just like had no meat just scrambled egg only. I had the fried chicken plate. My chicken plate also didn't come with the sauce and it came out way too fast. The chicken was soggy like it had been sitting in the warmer for a while. Quality has gone way downhill NEVER ordering from here anymore. read more

MEAT JUN! Alright my family when they're in town always makes sure to stop at Soon's for, you guessed it, meat Jun! Apparently it's the best meat Jun they have had on the island, I don't know about that, but I do agree it's on my top 10 for sure. Their meat Jun eaten alone has such a nice sweet flavor to it already, then dipped in the sauce gives it a little saltier flavor. It's a perfect combo. The plates come with bean sprouts and a spicy cabbage/kimchee and rice. Perfect sides to their meat Jun. I phone ordered prior to arriving and got my plate so quick. The cashiers are quick and definitely focused on doing their job and taking orders. It's a corner place at the shopping center, outdoor seating if you want to eat or most people just take out. It can be a little loud being outdoor but also a little quiet too if it's not busy. Parking is around, I haven't struggled to find a parking in front because everyone are usually in and out in the area. P.S.. CASH ONLY read more

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Ended up coming to sons for a Friday lunch. Got the mandoo combo and that was a lootttt of food! It was good and worth the amount you pay for it. Service was quick and didn't have to wait for long. It is cash only so be aware of that. Outdoor seating but it's good for a quick takeaway. read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - Man Doo Combo - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

02/01/23 I do come here more often than I check in or review. Love this place for their special bbq sandwich with Kim chee I always get the bbq sandwich with Kim chee. Used to get I e if the deluxe plate lunches. Prices have gone up a bit but they give generous portions so I just pay. read more

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Since they changed the bun of the BBQ beef sandwich i have to give it less stars. The bun WAS softer and much larger. NOW the bun is drier and smaller w less beef. No longer my go to for BBQ beef sandwich. read more

Current menu. Soon's is our go-to Korean bbq spot. Don't forget they are still cash only and calling in a phone order is recommended. read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - MENU - 04/2020 - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I always get a plate from Young's Kalbee in Aiea when I arrive home from a trip. This time though, I arrived on a Monday and Young's was closed. I was craving Korean food, so I opted for Soon's since it was near the airport. Bad choice. Rice was mushy, veggies (Kim chee, bean sprouts, cabbage?) mixed and piled in one clump were sour, BBQ chicken was okay tasting but tough. Meat jun was the biggest disappointment! Meat slice was so thin you could barely see it in the oily coating which I don't even think was egg. It was paper thin and literally was like eating cardboard. We threw most of it out. This was definitely not authentic Korean cooking. Not recommended. read more

5/5! Had a local friend recommend this place to me as one of the must visit food spots to hit in Hawaii. I can say, I was not disappointed and really loved the food here. It's a very lowkey spot, kind of a, "If you know, you know" spot and when you try the food, you'll understand why there's always a line here. The Food: I went with the Meat Jhun (Beef Cutlet) plate. It's kind of hard to describe, but its basically a thin beef cutlet that is housed in an almost egg/flour mix batter. Believe me, its incredible. They provide a small little soy dipping sauce to pair with it, and it's amazing. Pair it even more with some rice, that's a meal right there. The Service: The service was okay. It was a little slow, but understandable. There was a long line, and it's small little restaurant that you walk up to and order. Also, this is a CASH ONLY place, so come prepared with some bills. The Atmosphere: The restaurant is setup for you to just walk up and take your order at the window. They have big menus for you to browse while you're waiting. And there are some tables on the side, but not much. Overall, a 5/5! Hands down a spot that you must visit while in Hawaii. Remember, the restaurant is CASH ONLY, so have a couple of bills on hand. read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - Outside of Soons - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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It's quick takeout that I had to try because the wonderful smell of grilled meats from across the parking lot. I got the #1 & it had a little bit of everything. The standout was the bbq chicken which was cooked excellently. It was a nice assortment of bbq meat and the kimchi/sprouts salad was refreshing. Service was fast and I took it to go. There's a small dining area on the side. I'd come back. read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - #1 combination plate - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Always good to come back here for that delicious thin sliced Meat Jun. I got the Kalbi combo and it hit the spot. The Kalbi was spot on with flavor and as usual that Meat Jun was on point. Definitely, phone in your order for that quick pick up. There's a couple picnic tables outside of the restaurant but beware of the flies that love the food too! By the way they like people to pay with CASH. read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - Kal Bi Combo - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I have been going here since 1986. I can't find anything like it on the mainland. Love love love it.

I was first introduced to Soon's Kal-Bi Drive-In about 15 years ago. They are a hidden gem in the Salt Lake area. If my friend didn't take me here, I never would have found them as they are located in the back corner of Salt Lake Shopping Center. There is ample parking in the private lot of the shopping center. The restaurant is open air and has three tables that seat about 4 people on each table. Most people get take out though. They do get very busy so a phone order is recommended if you have a limited amount of time. Keep in mind that you still have to stand in line if you make a phone order! They are cash only so make sure to have cash. This recent visit was with a friend on the way to the airport. He wanted meat jun since they don't have that where he lives. We made our phone order on the way there and was lucky enough to get the last table to dine there. As you can guess, he ordered their Meat Jhun plate and I got their Kalbi Mix. Both plates came with a generous amount of meat jun, a large scoop of rice and a small aluminum bowl of veggies. Their meat jun sauce is a soy based sauce. It was good and filling. If we had more time, we would have ordered their Man Doo but next time. Hopefully this satisfied his meat jun craving till the next time he visits. Great iconic restaurant in the Salt Lake area. read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - Kalbi Mix - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Saimin was good, especially the beef. Didn't care for the noodles though, it has a Ramen noodle taste to it. I prefer Marukame Udon noodles instead. Man doo was good, even after several hours, when I ate it at the airport. Fast, quick service as there's nobody there. There's a few booth benches outside. read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - Side order of man doo $13.25 - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Oldie but goodie. Local, Korean lunch plates and burger spot. CASH ONLY. The offer family packs if you're feeding a group. Prices went up but that's inflation for ya. Overall the food is still ono and call your order in to save yourself from waiting. Parking available but it can get crowded around lunch and dinner times. read more

The kim chi here is one of my faves. Recently a small group of us got the family pack and it was perfect! Kal bi, bbq beef, bbq chicken, meat Jun, rice, and mandoo. There were 4 of us and 5 mandoo, so if you're a mandoo fan I'd recommend getting more. Servings of everything else was spot on! With 4 of us there was plenty for 2 meals each - well except for the mandoo and the banchan, because you can never have too much kim chi or mandoo! Located at the Salt Lake Shopping Center next to Pizza Hut with tons of free parking. A little bit of outdoor seating. read more

So good! The kalbi is awesome. One of my favorite spots! Very quick and always delicious

Looking for some ono meat jun? Gotta go to Soon's! Located at Salt Lake Shopping Center, Soon's been my go-to for Korean BBQ on the go. You can park in front of the shop and if you need to you can park anywhere in the shopping center as well. The shop has a window to order and the menu is on the right. On the left there's outside tables for your convinience. Back in the day I'd remember walking down Ala Ilima Street after school & getting their meat jun plate, which is a beef cutlet wrapped in fried egg. The plate also comes with kim chee, bean sprouts, pickled cabbage, & rice. Service is pretty quick, picked up my order within five minutes of ordering. Go check them out! read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - Meat Jun Plate - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Haven't been in a while, prices went up just a bit. Food was ok as usual. Kalbi meat jun fried chicken Kal bi was good but could use more flavor Meat Jun was very thin but otherwise ok Chicken was OK as well Ban Chan i really likes the cabbage, some places are fairly plain to salty but here and another place I like theirs is slightly pickled with a sweetness to it that I like. Might have been the highlight of my meal read more

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Food comes out quick and delicious! There's not much seating available, just three booth tables attached to the side of the building. But nonetheless the food was so good, definitely coming back! read more

I've always thought Salt Lake had a dearth of tasty restaurants, and this experience again confirmed this. I was on my way to the airport and didn't have time to go to town and grab something, so I swung by here as it was right by the Texaco I used to fill up and had McDonald's to get my fried apple pie. I opted for the bibimbap, enticed by the owner photos on Yelp. I asked for no meat, and an extra egg. They obliged with no extra charge (as I would hope). The food was...subpar. This is not a place like Yummy's where you get to choose any of your sides. No choy sum, no napa kimchee, no japchae, no mac salad. I think you get the standards which are the bean sprouts, white cabbage kimchee, and pickled cucumbers. This bibimbap had no color. The eggs were fine, the rice was fine, the cabbage kimchee was not my favorite (very gingery), and the cucumbers were whatever. I did really like the bean sprouts. But that's about it. Super disappointing. read more

My family got take out here on a Friday night. It was very quick and took less than 10 minutes for our food to be ready! We ordered the Soon's combination plate and the Kalbi mix plate. The BBQ chicken and the kalbi were good. Both were very tasty and juicy! However, I didn't care for the meat jun. The meat jun was very thin and didn't have too much taste. The price for the combination plate was pricey so we would opt to order one of the other combo plates next time. Overall, we'd go back but only to order either the BBQ chicken or the Kalbi. Happy Eating! read more

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We had a birthday catered from Soon's because it's the birthday girl's favorite KBBQ spot. The pans of food were HUGE and we had leftovers for days. the meat jun was super tasty and the sauce was much more flavorful than the others i'd had. The assorted veggies were also all super good - we got the beansprouts, kimchi and cabbage. read more

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Mandoo and the meat Jun combo was a my favorite go to special here! We had a potluck and my coworker ordered a pan of mandoo that everyone loved! Yum!!! read more

Soons forever!!! Been eating here since I was in high school and trust me I graduated in 1989 so you do the math. According to me and my 11 year old son, this is our favorite Meat Juhn joint. Periodt. The only thing that sucks is that they only take cash and no longer take phone orders. I've seen the prices skyrocket over the years but which restaurant hasn't these days? I will not tolerate my husband talking crap about this place.. he doesn't share the same fondness for Soon's like I do. The Soon's bento is a perfect blend of bulgogi, 1 piece KF chicken, 1/2 a slice of meat juhn and 1 pc of mandoo. One more thing, they do serve "banchan" but none of it is spicy kimchi so best have your jar of Kim chi ready at home to eat their food with. read more

Soon's is getting too expensive, for the food they serve. Ordered a "family pack," and paid $56 for a tray of meat... rice and veggies NOT included. I had a take out menu from earlier in the pandemic, which had the price of the family pack at $36, but I guess they raised the price at some point. It wouldn't be so bad if it was a complete meal, but it was only a tray of meat when I arrived to pick my order up. There are many better options for food in the area, go support somewhere that doesn't demand you pay in cash. read more

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ - Apparently it's cool to just leave your car in the middle of the road, when you come for take out. ‍ - Korean Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My first time at Soon's. We got take out and ordered 2 bentos and a meat jun combo. Price is very reasonable and portions are good size. The plates came with cabbage, sprouts and a mound of rice. Meat jun was thin, a little dry, but tender enough. The mandoo was tasty, but not the best mandoo I've had. It'd be good to bring to a potluck or something, but wouldn't go out of my way to go back. read more

Been eating here since I attended Aliamanu Middle School. Best times and memories. Food is always Tasty, Freshly made,portions are so large,still need to share a plate. Service: The Ladies are darlings. The vibes are always Awesome, The smells alone makes people want to stop and eat there. If you had a bad day Just go to Soon's, You whole mood will change. You start feeling Happy and definitely Hungry. God Bless Soon's with Many,Many,Many,More Years In Business. read more

Unfortunately I don't make it to Soon's often because I don't live in the area, but I keep coming back when I can for their unique style of meat jhun that I haven't encountered anywhere else. It is incredibly thin and they give you a ton of it. I think it's delicious, although it may not be for everyone, for example if you typically like meat jhun with a really fluffy egg batter. I also enjoy the bibim kook soo. It is a little spicy but good for the average person. The sauce is distributed consistently throughout the noodles and there's a good mix of veggies incorporated as well. It also comes with tender beef mixed in (or you can ask for that on the side). The veggie side dishes always taste nice and fresh as well. read more

Soon's has been one of my favorite Korean BBQ restaurants. Salt Lake isn't my neighborhood, but a bunch of my cousins live in the area and so on my way back home I figured I'd pick up some din din. Called in my order and once I was at the window, it was ready for pick up! These guys have been around for probably over two decades, I know there's a couple dozen other Korean BBQ's around town, but the recipe and ingredients are pretty distinct here. Cash only operation, bone-in chicken with skin, and you automatically get your side vegetables without having to decide which you want. Get the Soon's Special! Located in Salt Lake Shopping Center with plenty ample parking, and it's a quick in and out of the drive way!! read more

The meat juhn is terrible! I am so disappointed! It's like hard floured egg. The egg is over cooked (tough) the meat is paper thin. There is no taste! The price $19.32 I was so ono for meat jhun! I lost my appetite after one bite! Please find another Korean place it's not worth your $20. Soon BBQ how can you serve this to your customers! I didn't mind paying the high price ! But please provide something good! read more

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