First time for me when my friend and her husband decided to come here after a day hanging out at Ala Moana shopping center playing a Pokemon Go event the weekend after Thanksgiving 2022. I've walked past the restaurant but never went in till now.
I know of Authentic Korean fare when it came to the fast food Korean BBQ. Didn't think of it as authentic when you really go into those other restaurants that gives you a different approach to how traditional Korean fare is served and presented. With that said, we arrived here for lunch around 1:30pm on a Saturday afternoon in November 2022. The restaurant was fairly small, but could fit maybe at most 20 people at once among 6-7 tables. It's a small operation here that continues to make people smile and happy with their offerings. For myself and my friends though, we gravitated towards their lunch specials, because they were affordable and the list was fairly long anyway. The restaurant itself was clean and organized, but as mentioned before, just a small but cozy place to be. The weather was warm, as usual mid day, and I didn't really feel the air condition. Maybe it was on, but I didn't really feel anything. For the most part though, the ambiance was nice and quiet. Nobody really wore a face mask, but I guess we were somewhat getting back to normal post pandemic, even though we are still ongoing with this thing. My experience here took about 45 minutes from entering the restaurant and leaving after we have paid. Quite delicious and budget friendly.
The overall experience here at Cho Dang Korean restaurant was fairly good and enhanced. It is a good place to hang out with friends while shopping or hanging out at Ala Moana shopping center. This side of the mall is more quiet than other parts, so it was nice to be here to have lunch before going our separate ways for the day. I was sure what I had that day, although it was served steaming / boiling with a lot of steam. Had to wait like 15 minutes before it cooled down and started eating. Be sure to ask for rice, if you need to with your dish. Good thing I took photos, but couldn't tell you what I had off the top of my head. The service was good and attentive. I think they are a small mom and pop operation, which interesting because of their proximity to Ala Moana shopping center. For the most part though, my friends paid for my lunch, when I was going to pick up my own tab. That was nice of them. The food was good and delicious. Not sure what I gotten though, but it was good. The menu was kind of extensive, but we chose from the lunch specials for obvious reasons. To be fair, the other stuff was maybe $3-$5 more than the lunch specials, but its something to consider on my next trip here. Consider coming to Cho Dang Korean restaurant if you are shopping at Ala Moana, need a break for lunch or dinner and get your fix.
Cho Dang Korean restaurant is located practically next to the sprawling Ala Moana shopping center in urban Honolulu, HI. It's physical address is 451 Piikoi Street and its next to the Eggs and Things restaurant. They accept major credit cards, as well as cash. As far as parking goes, there is limited parking in the small cul-de-sac group of restaurants fronting Cho Dang. Limited is a generous term, but if you can't find any parking here, best bet would be to park relatively close by within Ala Moana shopping center and walk out to the restaurant. If you are like me, many bus routes start and end service at Ala Moana shopping center. Choose the right route(s) that are best for you to come here for lunch, dinner, or a snack or two in the middle. Best to come before the lunch or dinner rush for the best possible parking or seating in the restaurant. I enjoyed myself here, not because my friends paid for my lunch, but the ambiance was nice and I can enjoy my friends' company during the meal. I would come again.
4.0 stars for the overall experience. 4.0 stars for the food and service. 4.5 stars for the ambiance. 3.5 stars for the prices.
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