This convenient store is brand new and they have a lot of selection of ramen but other than that it's lack luster! They have no toppings for the ramen, no egg, kimchi nothing! I'd say this is more of a gimmick than a spot to visit for good instant Raman. read more

CU Hawaii - Downtown - Convenience Stores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I like the idea of coming here and eating but just a ton of kinks that still need to be worked out despite it being over a month since opening. Hot food is still inconsistent (cold and undercooked, or sitting under the heat lamp too long), constant supply chain issues with stuff always being out of stock, and overall just not a great experience right now. It's kinda like this quickly became an American lackluster convenience store with a Korean name slapped on it, as opposed to a genuinely good Korean convenience store (which I know because I lived in Seoul for many years and went to CU all the time). If you have time, I still think it's worth it to come try out the self service ramen cooking for a unique experience, where you can cook and eat your instant ramen on the premises, but it's a quick novelty that has the potential to wear off when everything else in the store isn't in stock. I'll keep an eye on this place, but I'm not sure how hopeful I am just yet. read more

CU Hawaii - Downtown - Convenience Stores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Did you guys know this place IS NOT the first spot in Hawaii to have the ramen cooker machines? It's just the most advertised. I feel like the biggest appeal to this place - aside from being new - is the ramen cooking stations. And let me tell you, Mr. Cow and the small Korean convenience stores that are run by a Micronesian family were the first ones to bring it to Hawaii! YEARS before this place. So just know you don't have to come to downtown to use the ramen cookers. Also, don't come to downtown just for the ramen cookers! Or just for this place in general! Especially since at the time I'm writing this review, they're about to open two more that are a lot more convenient to park at than downtown. I've come here about three times because I've had business to do in downtown and because I have a way of getting free parking that is nearby. All three times, I grabbed ramen and I think three is the max you can come here before it loses it's novelty. If I worked in Downtown, I would feel different, but now you know the perspective where I'm coming from. Truthfully, if given the choice I would rather go to 7-11 just a little ways away. Why? Because it's bigger, cheaper, and there's more options for a meal. At this store, the only options for a meal are ramen or kimbap. Yes, there's the heated sides, but that's just sides compared to going to 7-11 and I spend the same amount and get a three course meal...AND a drink! Also, the content creators in Hawaii made it seem like the place is so big. But trust, you DO NOT want to be here at peak lunch hour because the line is gonna curve all the way to the eating area. OH YEAH, and you can't sit down and eat. Probably because there's no room for anyone to sit down because it's so small. All things considered, would I come back???? MAYBE if I feel like it and I'm in the area. But most likely might go somewhere else just with the way I tackle being in Downtown. read more

CU is a convenience store from Korea, the first expansion in the U.S. It feels very much like CU in Korea, so if you've been before, you'll feel at home. Staff were friendly and helpful. There's an aisle with snacks exclusively from Korea. We came for ramyun and the mixed drinks that have been taking TikTok by storm The ramyun was great: cheap (~$4), novel, and delicious. One gripe: we tried a noodle meant for a thicker, drier sauce, but the machine cooked it like regular ramyun. The whole point of scanning the barcode is to tell the machine how much water to add and how long to cook. Something in that setup isn't quite right at the moment, and the result loses the intended texture The mixed drinks are straightforward and convenient: buy a cup with ice, pour the drink in, and mix. At ~$4, the ramyun feels worth it, and the process is easy once you know it. Between the helpful staff and the Korea-only snack aisle, this is an easy place to revisit. Would come again for a quick ramyun read more

CU Hawaii - Downtown - Convenience Stores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The main attraction is the variety of Ramen selections to choose from. The display looks like a library of (instead of books) ramen packages. One such selection is the tangle garlic oil pasta that I didn't see in other food chain stores selling ramen. The other attraction is a cook your own Ramen station. The aisles are not wide with each filled with variety of korean snacks, paper products, souvenir items, seasonings, etc. There are three self check outs for casing out non hot food items. It was a great idea especially with the grand opening with a long line of people needing to cash out their merchandise. It's a good food sundry convenience store for a quick inexpensive lunch. read more

CU Hawaii - Downtown - CU mascot? - Convenience Stores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Lived in South Korea and was super excited to have a convenience store opening that had the local Korean favorites. Ramen, fried potato Spiraled, fried fish cake, green grape lemonade, and blueberry, honey, iced tea, and all super yummy and tasty. read more

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Review of the Kalbi and KimChi bento. Family member got me this bento. It's not your typical Kalbi bi that we're all accustomed to. The flavor reminded me of how some Korean restaurants make their spicy barbecue pork. You can see the Gochujang concoction glazing the boneless beef slices. My plastic knife broke while trying to cut the meat. There were a few pieces of Napa cabbage in the sauce. The top condiment, I assumed, was cucumber KimChi; especially, since this bento is sold as Kalbi and KimChi. One bite of it, and I had to spit it out in a napkin quick. I thought it was spoiled cucumber with no crunch whatsoever. I didn't read the smaller letters that read "seasoned zucchini." (I don't like zucchini anyway) I believe this bento sells for $9.99. It's a very thin bento container compared to what I'm used to. The rice portion looks like a lot but not. In fact, I ended up eating the whole meal in one sitting. If you're hungry then this bento won't suffice. Price and portion are equal - no leftovers. I doubt that I'd ever order this Kalbi and KimChi bento again. It wasn't bad but just not my favorite kind of Korean dishes. If you like beef with a little Korean spicy kick then this might be for you. read more

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We went on the opening weekend and stood in line for almost an hour. It was part of the hype so I didn't mind. But I think my expectations were too high in particular for the coffee banana milk drink. Maybe I was expecting something more sweet and strong but it was ok. We had a sandwich too so not much to judge from and I will try this place again if in downtown and craving a quick bit. The service was great and wish there were more dining seats outside but overall it was a good experience. read more

My brother wanted to check this place out after hearing it had opened. We don't come to town super often and definitely not downtown. Parking is a nightmare, there was no street parking so we parked in the garage and they don't validate, so something to keep in mind! When we got there, the first thing you notice is the stench of urine. There was a security standing by the door letting customers in. It was quite crowded and a bit difficult to maneuver. They have grab and go items in the front--which were all sold out when we came, they have some regular items and Asian snacks in the aisles, and in the back is their ramyun library. They have tables that you can stand at and eat--though there were no available tables when we got there. Read the signs that they have posted because it gets a little confusing in there and there is no workers guiding you, Overall, I'm sure it's a nice experience if you get to come when it's not crowded and when they actually have stock, but nothing really stood out to me for me to come back. read more

CU Hawaii - Downtown - Convenience Stores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Its alright .... good for people who like instant noodles - I prefer my kimbap at room temp and not refrigerated- lots of korean drink bag options read more

I went to this CU market with my family a couple of weeks ago. Great service and very helpful with recommendations. The store was clean and there were tons of great snack options. read more

CU Hawaii - Downtown - Convenience Stores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I really wanted to like this place but I was very disappointed. I wished it had more Korean items than items we can get anywhere else. Also I was sad that they took away the tables and chairs outside and only had standing tables inside. Tried the fried hot foods and the quality is not like the cu in Korea. It was very stale and bland. read more

I really like this place. It's just like a 7-eleven but Korean. Perfect for me since I work downtown. I don't think it's worth driving to tbh bc downtown parking/traffic is terrible. The spicy kimchee kimbap I had was pretty good and big for less than $7. The corndog I had was just cheese but had a nice cheese pull. Not the greatest amount of choices for prepared food here but there's a lot of ramyun to choose from. Love the sig Zane designs. Staff is always friendly. read more

My kids heard about this place and were so excited to go check out the Ramyun Library. We went around 3p after school and it was a really neat experience. There were people but nothing crazy, no line outside and we easily found a table. The checkout line workers were super friendly. We tried the potato corndog, it has cheese inside and you can order it at the check out line. My kids got some cup noodles, which made things easier, otherwise you have to buy a cardboard bowl for $1.00 and you can cook it there. We also tried the bags of juices, they were really delicious, but I'd recommend bringing your own flask with ice if you don't want to spend $1.99 on a cup of ice, but it's very convenient. Also, beware--many of the ramen packs/ bowls are Korean style = SPICY AF lol. My son happened to get one of those and could only eat half, not to mention he drank most of his drink before he started on his noodles so I had to buy him another drink for his burnt mouth. ‍ My daughter loved the Kpop Demon hunter cut outs in the back and they had a giant Photo Booth next to the ramen wall that we had fun playing in ($8-10 cash or card). This is the second time I've been here (the first time I came secretly with my sister & without my kids ) & we really enjoyed ourselves. The only 2 things that I thought could be improved were there were flies flying around the back seating area both times I visited. Idk how or why they're getting in but they were huge. The other thing is I wish they provided soy sauce for the sushi, I tried a spicy tuna triangle sushi and found it very dry, shoyu would've cured that. I might have missed it if it was offered but I didn't see any around. All in all, it's a cool place to experience, it was pretty affordably priced and just super convenient if you're downtown, love K-stuff and wanna check it out. read more

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So I came to this new convenience store that is Korean influenced and I was excited to try it out. I came around 5:30 got inside rather quickly, in about 15 minutes there is security watching the line as In how many ppl leave the store. I was disappointed in how small the store is, influencers where making it seem huge inside but it isn't (don't recommend coming in large groups) I will say staff is very friendly and will answer any questions as to how things operate in they store. For being second day opened employees do keep the shelves well stocked, I made it to the ramen area and chose a spicy tomato ramen with tornado potato (which is on a stick) and pomegranate drink, cups of ice are in the freezers and the variety of drinks are quite a few. I did see a smoothie machine and a ice coffee machine (I'll have to come back another time) picked my items stood in line to pay which you do have to pay for the bowl to cook your ramen (which is 99 cents) once you pay you head to the back where the machines are to cook your ramen which are pretty easy to use, watching the process was cool and yes the machine is timed as to how long to cook your ramen grab your bowl and find a spot to enjoy your ramen. I don't recommend bringing strollers as it's not big enough and it's a tight squeeze. I would come again but not on a weekend I'm sure it will be packed, I enjoyed my experience read more

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Go for the ramen bar and cream bun. Do NOT get the tornado potato on a stick. It looked really good but it was the blandest greasiest thing I've ever eaten. I literally walked out of the store and dumped it in the trash bin. Complete waste of money. Do get the coffee in the pouches. read more

Clean setup with standing counters inside and cute outdoor seating under seu umbrellas--perfect for on-the-go eats near work spots. Ignore the sketchy location chatter; security feels solid, and it's worth the visit for unique snacks you can't get elsewhere. read more

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A glimmer of light anchoring and being part of the small stores reviving downtown convenient food/snack hub. CU Hawaii, Daiso, and Paris Baguette are all within walking distance of each other. CU had a line because they just opened on Wednesday. Before heading in the line, I recommend picking up some goodies from Paris Baguette. I enjoyed browsing around the snacks and trying some of food. I liked the cream fish pastry in the front. Ramen bar looked fun. They had variety HBAF nuts and offered Yonsei cream bread that is not available at other Korean supermarkets in Hawaii. There were some K beauty sunscreen and skincare inside the store. I think it is a fun experience and I would check it out again with my kids. Downtown can be challenging for parking so I busted out my Holo card to ride the bus. The bus stop was nearby and there was a security guard outside the store to make the area feel a little safer. CU again! read more

Ramen and the premade drinks are Parking was a bit difficult but so glad that there is a CU now in the states! Sweetened iced coffee is so good! read more

CU Hawaii - Downtown - Ramen - Convenience Stores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Making our own ramen was a fun experience (young family of 4). The veggie gimbap and onigiris made for some good carb on carb goodness. The melon juice pouch thing was the clear standout as far as drinks go. The banana milk + iced Americano was not bad, but I wouldnt go out of my way to get it. I wish there were a few collapsible step stools inside of the stores because all of the standing tables and counter areas are too tall for most kids under 10 years old. As far as the vibe goes, it wasn't too crowded since they gatekeep how many can enter the store are once. It being downtown we saw the usual chaotic things like an aunty igniting one of the ramen bowls on fire at the cooking station. One kid dropping their uncooked ramen on the floor and a teenage girl fainting at the entrance. Luckily the staff and security were good at keeping everything clean and calling EMS in a timely manner. read more

It's the same as any other quick convenience store. Similar product can be found at donki hote or even H mart. They do however have a unique Ramen Library. I would recommend trying it at least once read more

CU Hawaii a Korean convince store in Downtown Honolulu (executive center) Parking is a nightmare if you park in the building itself you need to park on the 8th floor of higher. There is also no public restrooms located near by. They have a mix of Ramen as well as snacks. The service is okay for now you can tell that they just opened up not that long ago so they are still trying to figure stuff out I think. The store itself can feel a little cramped especially if you go during a meal time when people are trying to get their ramen from the ramen wall located in the back of the store. I am gonna let the hype die down and go another time down the road read more

Super cute! Went in the morning- not crowded at all. Variety of Asian goodies- products, foods, and trinkets. Got to make the ramen there, which was fun. Definitely would go again. read more

Loved it! Was so cute. Service was quick. Loved the Photo Booth inside. Drink I got was good.

Love the street food!! Goes perfectly with the ramen. I bought the onigiri, cup baps, Delaffe bags and ice cups for my daughter's softball team snack and the girls loved it!! Also bought all the Korean snacks, candies and ice cups for the kids sleepovers and they loved making their own ice cup recipes! Also got K-beauty for myself and Sig Zane bags and water bottles. Service super nice and it's a fun place to visit! Love the ramen cup tables! read more

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Visited on the advice of a local resident. Lots of Korean options to select from. Tons of snack items. Was a short walk from the cruise pier. read more

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Decided to come here after a gym session to see what they had to offer. Simply put, this place perfectly encapsulates KISS (Keep It Simple S....). As others have noted, this convenience store doesn't have a lot of offerings, but what it does offer it does well. There's a library of ramyeon the you can cook and eat in the store. And there's drinks and other Korean and local snacks that can go with it. Want ice cream from Korea? There's some of that here too. When I went, there was a special on Spam Musubi for $.99. It was totally worth it to go there just for that. The service members are constantly stocking items or working the cash register. And fit the convenience store vibe. read more

Expected more variety of ramen on the wall but I guess because the place was fairly new, everyone bought everything out and all that was left was all spicy ramen (not a spicy kind of girl). I was also hoping to have a variety of sides that I could put in my ramen but when I checked out a four pack of eggs, it cost 7.00! I was not impressed. read more

Cool inside, service was usual for convenience store. Food you can cook there or ready made.

This place is actually really junk. Even right at opening they were sold out of most of the street food. There isn't anyone to really help guide you on what to do so make sure you read the signs. Also, two of the 4 ramen boiling stations were broke read more

the potato on the stick is garbage!! dont get it!!!! its tastes like its a day old lol not good its so fun to make your own ramen in store but if youre a bug HATER like me... maybe just take it home??? so many bugs so so many flies i think i killed like 5 gnats or mosquitoes! the staff is so nice though and i think overall its a nice place! read more

Customer Service bad. There was no ice I ask if there's more, they said I could use the fountain drink for ice and they will charge me just for ice, I so I did, right when I go to the cashier they charge me full price for a fountain drink which only had ice. I said how much just for ice? The girl with short hair with glasses said, we charge by cup not just ice, I told her that one of your other worker told me just get ice from the fountain. If this was the fact I could have just went to 7/11 for ice which is cheaper than paying $4 just for a cup of ice. CU, your to Americanize, train your workers, or have a clear pricing. read more

Staff was very friendly, despite the large amount of customers in the store. Especially liked the ramyeon wall and all of the choices. Took my wife with me and both enjoyed it. read more

poor layout... normal stuff. wished the previous business was open instead. better food. got charged twice and need to go back for refund. no return call. will pass on this place. read more

Managers were not friendly, especially the one with the green shirt today. The front line workers were nice, especially the young man with the crutch. The convenience food was good - the garlic noodles were yum. But 7-eleven is just as good. read more

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Fun experience for a family adventure! Something different! Be patient and explore before just taking up a space to eat, so others can eat too. read more

The staff should be more cordial. I understand that their tired and is doing their job but a simple smile or kindness can help especially working in a Korean convenience store. read more

Who's managing the store and its employees? Went to the counter to pay, and the girls were all talking until one of them finally noticed me and I asked for something in the case. The very large girl standing right in front of the case finally stopped talking and got me my item, and took my payment with indifference and with NO thank you. I guess she was unhappy because I wanted to purchase something, and she had to stop her conversation. Management needs to take a serious look at their employees and make them understand what customer service is. read more

Musubi was like eating a week old rice straight from the fridge. When I brought it up with the people behind the counter all they said was sorry and shrug their shoulders... guess they don't do anything when their product is $h!t. Fried still were bland and have no flavor. read more