Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Arirang Korean Kitchen

    4.4 (53 reviews)
    Closed • Closed

    Arirang Korean Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    ARIRANG KOREAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    More like Arirang Korean Kitchen

    Recommended Reviews - Arirang Korean Kitchen

    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

    Meat Jun & chicken katsu plate
    Cindy C.

    I'm not sure why Arirang gets such high help ratings. We must've came on an off day. They have 3 tables inside but they discourage you from eating there as all their food is wrapped in Togo boxes and bagged in brown paper bags without being asked. No restroom here either, so we took our food to the mall nearby and ate at the food court. As for the food, it was no better than the mall food. The combo meat we had was so dry and salty. The kalbi was best and only thing I ended up eating all of. The kimchi looked ok but tasted only of salt. The chicken katsu hubby had was ok too. Of the side dishes, the cucumbers and purple potatoes were delicious. I wouldn't call this Korean at all; maybe someone who tasted Korean food once and trying to imitate. Hope it was an off day.

    Combo with Korean Chicken and Meat Jun
    Melody D.

    I've been wanting to try this spot for awhile. So glad I finally had the opportunity to stop here for lunch while running errands in Hilo. The man at the counter is so sweet. Such a nice way to begin a meal. The prices are great. I think I paid $16 for 2 choice combo meal. The portion was generous. With the combo you get 4 choices of different banchan. The sides can be small or you can double your favorites for a larger portion. It was hard to choose what to get, but I decided on the meat jun and the Korean chicken. The food was great. I can see this becoming a regular lunch spot for me in Hilo.

    Inside
    Phil-Joyce F.

    Fast the plate lunch. Good prices and the food was good. The parking was kind of confusing but I found it.

    Meat Jun/Bbq Chicken , japchae, shoyu potato, sprouts, gobo
    Sade P.

    Around $17.50 for this plate , just had to lead with that. In my opinion that's super pricey , i'm all about portion sizes matching the prices and i'm discovering that Hilo just doesn't match o'ahu portions . Anyway comparisons aside the food didn't even meet my expectations the only good thing was the gobo. Meat jun was okay, again my biggest gripe was the portioning for the price there was maybe only half the hand size of meat Jun and about 6 pieces of bbq chicken . The bbq chicken had a funky taste to it kinda old sour sitting out for a long time taste . I didn't get sick so i guess that's a good thing ... the shoyu potato was mediocre so small and tiny and the japchae was okay. I won't be back again because $17.50 + $5 tip is what this gets you. If you're looking for big bombucha fill your stomach kine grindz this place is not it.

    Meat Jun & fish Jun combo .
    Judy C.

    What a bonus, stopped here to check out Arirang Korean Kitchen while waiting for my bento order at the chicken store next door. Did a quick Yelp search and the Arirang passed, placed an order of the special 2 item combo plate of Meat Jun & Fish Jun, for $15.95, not a bad price! ( My hubby's favorite and he is the meat jun snob) from the photos on Yelp, the meat jun looks like it will pass. The owner/cashier behind the glass window with mask on, was friendly, I asked him how long he has been in business and how do I pronounce "Arirang", I couldn't quite hear what he said but the business has been around for 4 years. There are few tables for dine in, I paid for plate, picked my 4 ban chan and waited, got my order pretty quick. I wanted some spicy sauce but he didn't have any, only soy sauce was available. & the verdict while enjoying the meat & fish jun place, Passed! No complaints from the other half, I really enjoyed the fish jun, loved how it is sliced real thin and very flavorful. I loved the ban chan too, daikon, kim chee, cucumber and macaroni salad. We got our meat & fish jun, ban chan fixed in while in Hilo. I will be back, I love coming across a new biz, finding it spontaneously and loved it! Check it out, recommend!

    Paulina G.

    AMAZINGGGGG OMGGGGGG We got chicken katsu with korean chicken, corn, rice, cucumber and potatoes we 100% recommend this place!!!!!!

    Kalbi and fish Jun
    dianna l.

    Got the kalbi/fish Jun combo. Kalbi and fish very tasty. Says 3 scoops of rice but super small scoops, more equivalent to 2 scoops. Mac salad seemed to only have mayo on it. Noodles just ok.

    Meat jun & fried mandoo combo plate

    Arirang is one of my favorite spots in Hilo. The food is consistently good and comes out quickly. I haven't had a menu item I didn't like so far. The service is excellent; the owner is always kind and very thoughtful when preparing the plates. When I purchase canned sodas, he always offers me a holder for the drinks. He bags the food without needing to ask, and always asks what kind of utensils I need. Nowadays, this level of service and care is hard to come by for a takeout oriented restaurant, and I really appreciate it. For those wanting local Korean food, I will always recommend Arirang!

    Small kalbi plate with mac and corn & bigger kalbi plate with chicken katsu, mac, cucumbers, and extra noodles.
    Briana B.

    It's my first time in Hawaii and this was the first place we went to eat and it was.. amazing. Everything was absolutely delicious and the person serving us was so nice. I ordered the small plate kalbi with mac and corn and my s/o got the big kalbi plate with chicken katsu, glass noodles and cucumbers. The glass noodles were the best we've ever had. I also hate cold mac salad that tastes like imitation crab but this one wasn't like that at all. It was potato mac and it was incredible. Overall, 10/10. This was our second time back and I would absolutely come back again.

    the entrance to the restaurant
    Shana Q.

    I'm guessing this place is fairly new since it's the first time we spotted this takeout Korean food place. The place was pretty empty and no one was in line the entire time we were there. Parking was easy to access and find. The food was good but a few downsides is that when you order your plate with no rice it's expected to have an additional side. They didn't even offer until we had to ask if we could get an extra side for the plates with no rice. 2nd the serving sizes for the sides is pretty small from what I'm usually useto at other Korean restaurants places.

    Store hours
    R H.

    Put in a phone order for a combo meat jun and honey chicken. Food was made promptly and was ready when I arrived. Nothing special about the restaurant but it was clean and had a cool Lego display that kids love. I thought the meat jun was really good and I liked that they sliced it into shorter pieces. The honey chicken was crispy and sweet but soft in the middle. The only downside to the plate was they were pretty skimpy on the sides and rice. I'm used to packed Korean plates, especially the sides. I had to cook extra rice at home to finish off the meat.

    Menu 4/2024

    See all

    Photo of Steven M.
    91
    35
    22

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cindy C.
    480
    1005
    5001

    1 year ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 5
    Love this 13
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 3
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Love that they serve kumala/ umala/ Okinawa purple sweet potato as a side. Love the bbq meats too!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kate C.
    106
    11
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kalae M.
    27
    144
    977

    2 years ago

    Everything we got was Ono! Highly recommend to grab and go, tables are small and it's normally hot inside.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Excellent fish jun plate. The side dishes are always fresh. Fast, friendly efficient service.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R H.
    1
    179
    48

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nene S.
    0
    59
    48

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    The food is always on point. Generous servings and they are always very pleasant and courteous. Very clean and welcoming atmosphere.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anton E.
    16
    643
    2139

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joey H.
    2
    32
    69

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Peter P.
    190
    26
    5

    3 years ago

    Ssssoooo delicious! Best kalbi and katsu Ever! Friendly service. Owner of Jimmy's Drive-in is the same.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yumi B.
    110
    45
    9

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lynn H.
    94
    111
    329

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Amy O.
    276
    33
    4

    3 years ago

    The food is really good. The side dishes are some of the best around! Quick and efficient takeout!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sam A.
    3
    57
    67

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Visiting from out of town and stopped by here for a bite. Great service and good food. Would recommend.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    best korean food on the big island! everything on their menu is bomb!!! family owned makes it all even better

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Arirang Korean Kitchen

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Korean 639 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Haneul Cafe - Menu page 1 of 2 from their IG stories (as of 9/24/22)

    Haneul Cafe

    4.4(44 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    •$$

    Haneul Cafe is a cute and cozy little Korean restaurant in Hilo with little crafts and goodies as…read morewell. There are 5-6 tables in the restaurant, so it's quite small. Service is friendly and relatively fast considering they have just a couple of kind ladies working there. Bingsu is amazing and rivals some of the bingsu we had in South Korea! We tried the strawberry bingsu which was loaded with sweet, jammy strawberries, colorful mochi pieces, condensed milk, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and a crunchy topping. One bingsu is enough for two people to share after a meal, though it's so yummy that you might be tempted to order two! We tried their spicy squid (not pictured) as well. So good with lots of squid in a delicious semi spicy sauce. Comes with rice and a few banchan. A little pricy to be honest at $20 for a small plate. The taste makes it worth the price though. Overall, Haneul Cafe is one of my top choices for Korean food in Hilo. The bingsu is the bomb! Looking forward to trying the other bingsu flavors like injeolmi, mango, and matcha. Will be a return customer for sure.

    Absolutely love this place, but they need to bring back their bingsoo menu! The last time I was…read morehere, they said they were unable to make the bingsoo because of staffing issues! This is an absolute tragedy! Their strawberry cheesecake bingsoo is mind blowing and the best thing they had on the menu. I sincerely hope the bingsoo comes back!

    Photos
    Haneul Cafe - Menu page 2 of 2 from their IG stories (as of 9/24/22)

    Menu page 2 of 2 from their IG stories (as of 9/24/22)

    Haneul Cafe - Strawberry Bingsu. So good!

    Strawberry Bingsu. So good!

    Haneul Cafe - Meat Jun Plate and Teri Chicken

    See all

    Meat Jun Plate and Teri Chicken

    Cham Cham Korean BBQ - Mini sides while you wait for your entree.

    Cham Cham Korean BBQ

    3.8(200 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    •$$

    Ever since the first time I came to Cham Cham, I tried the mondoo soup, and I genuinely haven't…read morebeen able to order anything else whenever I come here It is seriously the BEST mondoo soup I've ever had. The flavor is so comforting and it's become one of those foods I look forward to having every time I visit. I've been coming here for a while now, usually about once a month, and somehow I crave this soup every single time . Cham Cham has honestly become one of my favorite places to eat, and I'm always excited to come back. I'm hoping once I get my license I'll be able to come even more often because I could seriously eat this soup all the time. If you've never tried the mondoo soup here, PLEASE try it!! You will not regret it. 10/10 forever.

    Stopped by recently on a Saturday afternoon. In years prior, you would be greeted nicely by staff…read more Instead, upon entering we were glanced at so we sat ourselves. The sole waitress was not friendly at all and seemed more preoccupied with leaving work on time than taking our order. Tried to order a couple of items and was told, "I don't think we have that?" The food is not the same quality or quantity as before. The banchan that was served to us was either overcooked or salty. Seafood pancake was flavorless. Spicy pork was not spicy at all. We placed a take-out order while eating our food. We drove all the way home only to find out that we were given someone else's order. Banchan choices for take-out and dine-in are limited. The only positive about our experience at Cham Cham was the shift change with the waitstaff. The waitress who took over was attentive and friendly. I would not recommend this place to anyone who enjoys Korean food or who is expecting the same Cham Cham as years prior.

    Photos
    Cham Cham Korean BBQ
    Cham Cham Korean BBQ - Black Bean Noodles ~

    Black Bean Noodles ~

    Cham Cham Korean BBQ - Outside. You'll miss it.

    See all

    Outside. You'll miss it.

    Kalbi Express - Kalbi & BBQ Chicken Plates So Ono, & Made it all the way to Kaʻū!! MUST TRY 100% Recommended

    Kalbi Express

    3.3(70 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    •$

    Kalbi, a Korean barbeque dish. Beef short ribs marinated then grilled. Caramelized, savory,…read moredelicious. Is using this highly recognizable food item in a business name a great strategy? Can a business deliver exceptionally on the food item mentioned in its name? Does it make it simple for customers like myself to pivot to another food item other than kalbi? Let's take a closer look at an East Hawai'i counter service eatery on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Located in the Waiākea Center Food Court. Kalbi Express. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Kalbi. By using the most popular and highly desirable Korean dish in their business name, it instantly tells me what's served, what type of dishes would follow on their menu. I knew what to expect from day one years ago and still do till today. Express. When a craving arises for quick and convenient Korean takeout, this part of the business name speaks louder than most. I always order in-person vs a phone call and the wait is minimal even when it's busy. They're also conveniently located with ample parking, entry into Waiākea Center is quick and easy. Kalbi Express. Great name strategy? Indeed. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I had a craving for Korean barbecue so one day, I decided to head to Kalbi Express. For Kalbi. A Combo Plate with Kalbi was ordered along with an actual BBQ Kalbi Plate. Yes, two plates for myself because my craving for Korean barbecue was off-the-charts. Thin sliced BBQ Beef, glossy + charred BBQ Kalbi, juicy boneless BBQ Chicken and crispy Mandoo all packed tightly over steamed white rice with four chilled Korean banchan. That aroma of caramelized soy, garlic and sesame oil hit me as I opened the lid of my Kalbi Express Combo Plate. An inviting and playful mix of hot and cold items, a perfect taste of everything. Kalbi Express BBQ Kalbi Plate, a delightful balance of smoky char and complex aromatics. Each marbled short rib piece was juicy and marinated to perfection before flame-grilled. Caramelized sweetness is subtle, cutting through the richness of the tender meat. An indulgent moment with my take-out plate, my craving fully satisfied. BBQ Kalbi from Kalbi Express. Was it enjoyable, flavorful and memorable? Indeed. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Yang Nyum Chicken. A coworker introduced me to this plate and now it's become my "go-to" favorite. I'm indulging in a lacquered layer of glossy sweetness, as a spicy kick slowly builds without being overwhelming. Crisp small pieces of deep fried boneless chicken, the center is juicy yet the exterior crunchy. Tossed in a sticky sweet 'n spicy sauce. A sensory-rich experience with bold flavors, delightfully messy. The BBQ Beef and the BBQ Chicken have the same care of preparation as the Kalbi, where deep flavors come through in a flavorful way due to their marinating process. Meat & Fish Jun are moist and flaky with a fluffy egg exterior, crisp edges. Their Spicy Pork makes my rice disappear before I even notice and macaroni salad is a banchan must. Plates here are a harmonious blend of different ingredients, textures and colors. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Order most items as a 2-choice Combo Plate or as a Full Plate with housemade Korean banchan. Let's talk about the highly desirable banchan at Kalbi Express. The freshness is always at its best, the flavors are fine-tuned and personalized in small batches. Deliciously done. My plain white rice and marinated Korean proteins pair well with these flavorful banchan bites. I can taste the care, the heritage that's passed down as it brings me dining comfort in a take-out plate. Have fun choosing your sides from a select twelve. Order a Veggie Plate (4 choices w/ rice, 5 w/o rice) or Vegetable Side Bowls. I've done both. Kalbi Express offers a diverse menu. No room for disappointment on choices, only pure delight once you take your first bite. I've enjoyed everything ordered for lunch or dinner and there's so much more I still need to try. Kalbi+. Simple to pivot to other menu items? Indeed. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Charbroiled and grilled marinated meats to-perfection. Banchan sides, loyalty driven by freshness. Service with attention and gratitude. Leak-proof, heat resistant containers. Delicious and satisfying plates, generous portions and always visually plated with care. Do they deliver exceptionally in all areas? In my eyes they do. I've been coming here for years well before being on Yelp. Their name says it all. Order your favorites, try some of mine. Kalbi Express at Waiākea Center. Highly recognizable, highly recommended.

    I love coming here for the food. For years it had always been my go to when I'm home and want some…read morereally good banchan. This visit was different as I had my grandmother with me, she is hard of hearing. So imagine my surprise and complete disappointment when there was a miscommunication when my grandmother tried to order. The cashier stood there with an "idgaf" face. Didn't ask for clarification or smile once. Just stood there. When I worked out on my grandmothers end what she was trying to order I relayed that to the cashier who did not look at me once. Didn't say anything to confirm. I love the food here. I hate that there is no aloha.

    Photos
    Kalbi Express - Kalbi Express, located in the Waiākea Center Food Court. Take-out, dine-in, delivery.

    Kalbi Express, located in the Waiākea Center Food Court. Take-out, dine-in, delivery.

    Kalbi Express - Vegetable Plate w/o Rice: 5 banchan choices. (4 choices w/ rice)

    Vegetable Plate w/o Rice: 5 banchan choices. (4 choices w/ rice)

    Kalbi Express - Kalbi plate

    See all

    Kalbi plate

    Moon & Turtle - Marlin with vegetable and kalo succotash

    Moon & Turtle

    4.6(875 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    •$$

    Quaint local restaurant that has a creative menu with a personal flare of the Owner chef. Staff is…read morevery knowledgeable about their menu and makes excellent recommendations. My husband and I sat at the bar and enjoyed the excellent company of our bartender server who gave excellent descriptions of the menu items ...making our mouth water before we even ordered our dinner. At Her recommendation, we enjoyed the ricotta gnocchi's As our shared starter and the pan seared local Opah fish dish which was amazing.. Reservations are highly recommend as this is a locals favorite... so tables fill quickly.. and you don't want to miss this exquisite restaurant in service and food quality!

    I usually avoid writing reviews for heavily reviewed businesses, but I'm making an exception for…read morethis one as it was the best eatery my wife and I visited during our nearly week long honeymoon on the Big Island split between Hilo and Kona. We ordered the risotto, fresh catch (marlin), crispy rice, gnocchi, and finished off with the mac nut ganache mascarpone pots de crème. We did share a Lemon peel lemonade cocktail. The Lemon peel lemonade was basically spiked lemonade. Well balanced for being a tart oriented drink, but I didn't care for the floating bits. The risotto which comes in full and half order, was very rich and had chunks of mushrooms for flavor. We're glad we got the half as this was a heavy, rich, and cheesy entrée on its own. If you love risotto, you will love this dish. The marlin was perfectly cooked and balanced out with a locally inspired vegetable succotash. Fried bits of kalo were also added in for added texture. The special and new item, the gnocchi was the star of the show. This is by far the fluffiest gnocchi we've ever had. Crispy on the outside, little potato clouds of fluff on the inside. The gnocchi came over a tasty sauce with bits of fried onion for absolute perfection. The crisp rice was recommended by Yelpers and it was alright, crispy rice with a spoon of poke. Not bad, but did not live up to the hype. Get another order of the gnocchi instead. It's fairly rare to see pots de crème on restaurant menus, specials or not, so we had to get this. It came in a cute little glass jar, with rich chocolate and mascarpone flavor with a hint of mac nut. This desert was an absolutely delicious perfect end to the meal. You can make reservations online, street parking is quite limited, and it can get busy as the night goes on, so recommended to get an earlier dinning time. Staffs regularly checked in on us and were polite and efficient.

    Photos
    Moon & Turtle - Limited seating so it fills fast - so make a reservation

    Limited seating so it fills fast - so make a reservation

    Moon & Turtle - Market fish (Ono)

    Market fish (Ono)

    Moon & Turtle - Market Fish - steamed mahi with garlic, ginger, scallion and soy in roasted bone congee with chili oil and wild rice

    See all

    Market Fish - steamed mahi with garlic, ginger, scallion and soy in roasted bone congee with chili oil and wild rice

    Arirang Korean Kitchen - korean - Updated October 2026

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