(Tookout 04/18/26 SA @ 3:00pm): I think I saw Kim in the back cooking the Korean BBQ!…read more In my quest to continue exploring the various cuisine scenes as well as other businesses throughout O'ahu's Windward side, specifically the neighborhood of Hawaii Kai (southeast shore of the island), I ventured into Kim's Korean Bar B Q since I was craving this particular type of grub. Plus, I don't think I've had Korean BBQ on the islands in some time, so it was perfect timing. I've become a regular at Kona Brewing Co. which was an earshot away and always saw this eatery at the corner. Would Kim's cooking satiate my urgings for Korean BBQ!? PURCHASE(S) 10pc Fried Mandoo ($8.59): Crispy crunchy pork dumplings with a soy dipping sauce, this lovely appetizer was hot and stuffed with plenty of goodness. Nothing memorable, but since I was starving, these tasted marvelous! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=__g9-H0iFLuWdI0hdFqVjg Kim's Special Combination Plate ($27.63): A sizeable meal that came with portions of kalbi, BBQ chicken, and BBQ beef, and also included 2 scoops of rice, 2 pieces of fried mandoo, and 4 side vegetable choices (mac salad, 4pc tofu, seaweed, and kimchi in this case). Everything was hot, especially the meats and mandoos which were cooked-to-order while the sides were pre-prepared and displayed in warming trays as you chose what you wanted. Each meat portion came in two pieces with my favorite the kalbi followed by the BBQ chicken and then BBQ beef. Each was nicely marinated, but the BBQ beef reminded me too much of Yoshinoya... which wasn't a bad thing but wasn't what I wanted to eat at this time. Each side was basically served in cup portions but seemed to lack much flavor except the kimchi which had a nice fermented punch to it. Kind of pricey, but I was able to make two meals out of it, so not too bad. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=bOAMKHlK8F0Ck2ylqvD_lQ Credit Card Fee 3.00% ($1.09): C'est la vie; small businesses need to try and pass along added expenses when they could. SERVICE I was greeted by a young gentleman at the order counter whom I placed my order with. There were others before me whose orders were still being prepared, so I ultimately waited for about 15 minutes - no biggie as I gazed aimlessly out towards the turquoise water in the marina. Everything was fine - mahalo! PARKING (FREE; N/A this instance): Located in the outdoor Koko Marina Center, there were plenty of spots although I decided to do the 30-minute one-way walk for exercise - 'nuff said! ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A simple takeaway only place with a main order counter where you saw the menu on the wall behind the counter, Plexiglass acted as a barrier but provided you with a view of the vegetable sides, and a handful of chairs along the walls while you waited for your order to be ready. I dared to say there were some tables inside at some point because there was room, but not now; you either took it home or ate your food outside on the random tables. No decorations of any kind. But, you had a lovely view of the marina. Plenty of natural lighting came in through the front doors and surrounding windows while soul-sucking fluorescent electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs nor any background music. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=8vIqYoqVrc02TfRpngYe4w ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Kim's Korean Bar B Q offered some large portions of lovely local food at reasonable prices, straightforward service, and a nice view. The menu was somewhat limited, so if you went often you'd exhaust your options. However, I imagined they did very good business for catering purposes. And, whenever possible I liked to support small local mom-&-pop-like businesses. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $39.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

Food is the most reliable good eats. Everyone in there are the nicest. And the location being right…read moreon the marina is beautiful. I would recommend this to anyone.

I been in Hawaii a lot of time for vacation but first time in this place ,it's fantastic! The food…read moresoooo good !! All the servers are so professional and friendly, next time I come to Hawaii I'll be come here again !

When people talk about Korean food, they are either talking about Korean BBQ plate lunch places or…read morethey are talking about traditional authentic sit down restaurant style places. This place is the latter and is located in the Nui Valley Shopping Center. My mother-in-law wanted to take us out to eat and said that this place is a good restaurant to eat traditional Korean food. The only thing not traditional was their nice friendly staff from the hello, welcome to Hangang which you probably know, most Korean restaurants, including the ones we ate at in Korea, the staff isn't too friendly. We started out with at least 11different starters aka banchan. They have a nice selection of different sets like the A5 Wagyu set which is a serving for two. It came with A5 Wagyu brisket, chuck flap, ribeye, and bottom sirloin. You have a choice between Kimchi stew, soy bean paste stew, or soft tofu stew and dessert (ice cream or fresh fruit). To me, it wasn't enough meat for the price (we just came back from Japan and Korea where it's a better bang for your buck). I guess we are spoiled. We also got a beef bibimbap hot stone bowl, and short rib soup along with lettuce wrap. Loved how the rice becomes crispy from the hot stone bowl for the bibimbap. Everything was nicely seasoned and really tasty. The service was top notch. When we pressed the bell for service, they came right away. One thing to note, is they do have a private room which is nice as you can have private conversations with your family and friends and not have to be out with everyone else in the restaurant.

Came here yesterday as it was our date night. Hubby was getting over a cold, so I did takeout…read more Plus, storm was kinda coming and going. Ordered (1) Reg. Meat Jun and (1) Meat Jun/Fish Jun Combo w/o rice so I could have one extra veggie. It's enough for 4 meals. We managed to wipe out half of our plates each and threw it into the frig for another day. Food is good, but not extraordinary. And that's okay. Great meal for a great price. $45 and change for two people, 4 meals. What a bargain. My suggestions to them... 1) Cut the meat jun in slices to make it easier to eat. It would only take seconds to do and still add much value. Just my opinion. 2) Give two portion cups of shoyu sauce. One is not enough, especially with the combo. Again, not a deal breaker, but for me, would've made a big difference in my satisfactory gauge. Service was great. They had so many orders and was going as fast as they could. While not super smiley or engaging, they were very pleasant and got the job done. That's enough for me. I just want my food, go home, and eat. Would definitely come back, even without making my suggested changes.

Thursday February 26, 2026 we walked through the mall right after the movie Kokuho to eat dinner…read more We haven't been here in a very long time. We decided on Korean food for dinner. I ordered the Bi Bim Bap $18.49. My cousin the Kal bi and BBQ Chicken combo. The food came out shortly after. We sat down and ate inside. Service is good. Food is good. Ambiance is casual and comfortable inside.

Saturday June 6, 2026 we came here for good Korean food. A…read morepaid private parking lot. That is shared with a lot of food places and other businesses. We ordered and it came out shortly after. Service is good. The food looked and it tasted good like always. Ambiance is casual and comfortable in here. No validation given from here. We will be back again. Support local businesses.

Great local spot for Korean style plate lunch. Kim Chee II is reliable and affordable - nothing…read morefancy but a perfect quick meal. Their lunch specials run ~$15-18 and have very generous portions, which I think is a steal in urban Honolulu. My grandparents are always impressed by the thick cuts of meat in the meat Jun, which is hard to come by nowadays. Don't come here expecting to be mind blown, but if you want a solid plate of meat Jun, bbq chicken, or fried mandu, Kim Chee II is a great option.

This family owned and ran restaurant is always 10/10. Their food tastes delicious and they always…read moremake you feel welcomed and like you're part of the family. I recommend the Yukgaejang and tofu soup. The flavor is deep and rich and the meat is cooked perfectly. When you dine in they have an amazing side dish bar. Everything is seasoned to perfection. I can't get enough of their bean sprouts.

We've been coming to Kim Chee in Enchanted Lakes for years, usually 2-3 times a year, so it's…read moredisappointing to write this review. When we arrived, the owner asked if we had a reservation. We said no, and from that moment her attitude changed. She seemed visibly annoyed, and it made us feel unwelcome. What surprised us most was that she was warm, friendly, and polite to every other customer who walked in after us. The difference in how we were treated was hard to ignore. On a positive note, her son was very kind, welcoming, and professional. He was the highlight of our visit and is the reason I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1. The food was okay--I'd rate it about 3 out of 5 stars--but with the recent price increases, we expected better service to match. Unfortunately, the owner's behavior completely turned us off, and after years of being customers, we're not sure we'll be returning.

I have been going to O-bok's for years ever since the 90s and I remember the fun gold wallpaper,…read morethe dividers for large groups, the many different banchan, and those humped cushion seats. It has changed hands over the years and now they have a few new menu items. The spicy cold noodle is my favorite. My kids enjoy their bbq chicken and the japchae. My family always gets the meat jun and they enjoy it. Service is slower than most places, but you get used to taking your time, enjoying company, and not rushing through dinner. The guy that serves us is polite and brings out dishes. Sometimes he has a hard time hearing but he lets you know. Just have to speak up, on his good side. Parking is plentiful in Manoa market place which shares the lot with many other businesses.

Food is good! I've never been here in person but always order to-go! I love the Chicken ginseng,…read moreesp when I'm sick! The flavor is so good! Honestly prices have gone up everywhere so I feel like they are still reasonably priced! Especially for the delicious taste. I'd rather pay more for great food than pay less for less quality food. Order from here! It's worth it!

I have tried a lot of Korean fried chicken places, and BBQ Chicken Kahala is still my number one…read more The chicken quality is truly outstanding. It is crispy, juicy, flavorful, and consistently cooked so well every time. That kind of quality is not easy to find. The boneless chicken in Secret Sauce is a must-try, but the real surprise is the Spicy Galbi Boneless. That is the hidden gem on the menu. It is unbelievably delicious and full of bold flavor while pleasantly spicy. Once you try it, you will understand why I keep coming back. Also, their french fries are a must-try menu. What really sets BBQ Chicken Kahala apart is that the food tastes premium and carefully made, not rushed or ordinary. In my view, this is the best Korean fried chicken I have had anywhere. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves great chicken (and fries).

Not Recommended for Kids! This was our first time dining…read morehere with our four children (ages 3-10), and unfortunately, it was a very disappointing experience. Because my kids can't handle spicy food, I asked for one dish to be made non-spicy so they could try it first. They loved it, so I ordered a second serving of the exact same dish for them. When the second order arrived, I could clearly see red chili flakes throughout the dish. As soon as my kids started eating, they complained that it was too spicy and couldn't finish it. I politely asked if the kitchen could remake the dish with no spice, explaining that it was for young children. Instead of trying to help, I was told the dish was made the same way as the first one and that it was the best they could do. There was no effort to find a solution or accommodate such a simple request. We ended up spending over $100 on a meal that our kids couldn't eat, and the lack of customer service made the experience even more disappointing. Sadly, we won't be returning and can't recommend this restaurant to families with young children. This version flows more naturally while emphasizing the inconsistency between the first and second dishes.

I came here with my co-workers for lunch on my last day of work, and it was such a great choice!…read moreThe food was Ono-- I ordered the kalbi beef and a spicy pork plate, and both were packed with flavor. I'm not a big fan of mac salad, so I'd probably skip that next time, but everything else was spot-on. We had so much fun during lunchtime that we decided to come back after work for a bucket of brewskis and some delicious cocktails -- including the green tea cocktail made with Jameson. It was tasty but a little on the sweet side. Overall, this is a really cool spot to hang out with friends and enjoy some great Korean food. I'd definitely come back if I'm ever in Waimanalo again!

Came after a beach day to catch the ending of the Nuggets vs Thunder game. When we got there, the…read moregame wasn't on but they were happy to change the channel for us in our own little area. Auntie working there was so nice and came by to check on us periodically. We ordered a round of drinks and some finger foods to snack on which came out hot and steamy! It's a more low-key bar that gives dive vibes! I've read from other reviews that this place is great for family parties and I can picture that! Aside from the bar being spacious, the home feeling you get from the staff makes it a place to return to time and time again.