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Today we went to Gaon for takeout. Take a look at my pics. This was $17.99 before taxes. But before I get ahead of myself, let's start with the service when we got there. No one was at the counter. I peered thru the glass window of the kitchen but didn't see anyone. Then I turned around and a young girl that was sitting at a table, looked up from her phone and slowly walked to the counter. We were ready to order, but she was taking her time to set her cell phone on the side before she was ready to take the order. When I came back, the order was on the counter, and she was back at her table. I asked if that was my order. She nodded. She didn't get up from the table at all because it seemed as though she was too busy on her cell once more. Then came the kicker. Normally tofu soup or stew has soft tofu. They used firm tofu and the soup had no flavor. Looks spicy, but it wasn't. Then there was the banchan. As you can see, the quantity was very little. I get it, the cost of everything has gone up after COVID, but that's where service and appreciation come in, as well as flavorful food. Gaon lacks in all these areas and we will never give them our business again.
We stopped by Gaon in the H Mart food court and ordered the ssam bap with sam kyup sal (pork belly). It a great option if you're craving Korean BBQ flavors without the full grill experience. The pork belly comes out on a sizzling platter, piping hot with some crispy bits but still tender. It's served with all the essentials for ssam: fresh lettuce, carrot sticks, rice, ssamjang, and a few banchan. It also includes a bowl of soup, which might rotate. When we went it was a clear broth that was light and savory with green onions. On a previous visit, we had another clear soup with radish that a strong black pepper flavor. So, there's some variety depending on the day. The portion size is best suited for one person, but you could probably share it if you're not super hungry. Our only critique was that the pork belly pieces were a bit too thick and blocky to fit comfortably in the lettuce wraps. Smaller slices would make the wrapping and eating experience smoother. Also, if you're dining in, there's a wire shelf near the restaurant where you can return your tray after your meal.
Finally tried Gaon inside the Pearl City H Mart, and I'm so glad I did. We ordered the spicy pork and the soondubu, and both were fantastic. The taste was spot on, and you can tell they actually care about the presentation, even in a food court setting. A huge standout for me was the kimchee, honestly, it's one of the best I've had anywhere in Hawaii. It's savory, flavorful, and has the perfect kick. If you're shopping at H Mart or just in the area, this place is definitely worth a stop. Authentic flavors!
I've been wading through culinary corpses lately bland eateries dressed up in neon, hollow meals masquerading as "authentic," food so lifeless it should have been buried instead of plated. One place serves tortillas straight from a plastic bag, another dares to call watery gochujang "sauce." Hawaii is crawling with impostors, thieves of appetite, criminals of the palate. And then; Gaon. A small stall in Pearl City's HMart, humble in appearance, but inside? Fire. Soul. Truth. The ajumma behind the counter wasn't just serving food, she was guarding something sacred. I tested her. Hard questions about spice, cuts, ingredients. She didn't just answer she grinned like a veteran warrior sharpening her blade. She knew exactly what she had in her arsenal. What she gave me was chicken reborn in flame, tender, charred just enough, glazed in a crimson sauce so bold it dared you to look away. This wasn't timid sweetness or supermarket-level barbecue. No, this was heat with a story, depth with a purpose. The sauce clung to the chicken like sin itself, layered, dangerous, addictive. The accomplices, banchan,, were not cheap sidekicks. They were assassins in disguise. Kimchi that snapped with the bite of winter fire. Spinach and sprouts that whispered old Seoul secrets. Lettuce leaves crisp and waiting like parchment for the ritual wrap. Even the soup, humble and clear, carried honesty. And that gochujang? Not sauce. A weapon. A scarlet dagger meant to cut straight to the soul. This place doesn't belong in the same sentence as the frauds littering Hawaii's food scene. It deserves its own page, its own shrine. If this stall were in Seoul, it would be the lunch haunt of office workers who know where true comfort hides. Here, in Pearl City, it is a salvation. Look at the photos the skillet glistening like molten iron, the chicken glowing as if lit by its own flame. This isn't "pretty food." This is food with teeth. Verdict: A home run? No. A knockout. A resurrection. Forget the imitators that peddle their bland lies Gaon is the real thing. 5 stars for a quick lunch Korean comfort food.
Came here for lunch and it did not disappoint. Food was made within 10 minutes of ordering. The portions were large and the taste was great. The seating area in H mart is spacious and clean. Definitely would recommend to friends and family. Will most likely be coming back.
Decent soon dubu. Slightly oily. Counter service. Comes out in a stone pot boiling hot. Choice of Kim chee, beef, or the girl said shrimp (?). I liked that it was loaded with soft tofu. Beef was a bit grainy for my taste. Comes with sides and romaine salad with ranch dressing.
Surprisingly very filling and delicious. For $20 they give a lot of food with an array of different tastes. Try them out, take a chance. It was delicious.
Congratulations on your grand opening! When you're in Pearl City, consider this convenient eatery inside of Hmart. Follow the arrows to the food court and you'll find fast and friendly service at GAON. Situated towards the back of the food court, next to the little bar, you can order up a variety of delicious Korean food. We ordered #1 with Bulgogi to go and it was very tasty. Tables and seating were clean. This eatery has a lot of free parking outside of Hmart. Great customer service, will certainly return to try other menu items.
Delicious home cooked Korean with generous portions. A good variety of side dishes that come with the meal. Reasonable pricing food for food court style seating. Not the best quality rice though interestingly. The galbi tang and soon du bu both had good quality meat and great broth and flavor. Easy parking as it is located in HMart!
What a great find in a small food court!! The wait actually wasn't too bad either. We had the kalbi, ssam bab pork belly, and kimchi Jae and 100% reccomend!
Located in the food court of H Mart Pearl City, stopped by to try here on my lunch break running errands and had a craving for Korean food. Theres several places to eat here and also a bakery. Open seating and everything clean and bright. Gaon is located in the far corner when you ealk into the court. Ordered the Bulgogi Set, which comes on a sizzling platter, soup, rice and sides that is worth the $20. Order and pick your food up once its called, self service so put the tray back on the racks to the side of the counter when you are done. Food hit the spot, exactly what I wanted. Great place to eat Korean food when you dont want to drive far or deal with the crowds. 4 stars.
Didn't realize this was in the H-Mart Pearl City food court when I suggested to a friend that we eat there. The food court is tucked into the side of H-Mart. Very clean and good design. I got the combo meal (can't remember the name) but it came with rice, soup, meat (I picked bulgogi), lettuce, samjang, and some sides. Food came out quickly. Not the best I've had but good for a food court.
Checked out Gaon located in the Hmart food court, and ordered the kimchi soondubu. The soup came with rice, a small salad, and 3 sides. Food came out quick and everything was good although no egg with the soup which what I'm used to. There were plenty of seats for a Thursday night.
2 months ago
Ok guys, you gotta try their bulgogi hotpot. It's really good. I'm gonna try their other dishes that look so inviting for sure! The service is so welcoming and friendly, so awesome! Love the tableware used to serve and the banchan so good too, Yum! Open space tables with long bench and chairs to seat are great. Pretty cute place. Everyone's gonna enjoy. Thanks Goan, be back for more. read more
I don't know why I don't go to the Hmart food court more often because all the food here is great. The place kind of reminds me of Shirokiya, it's comforting and somewhat reminiscent although a lot smaller scale. This time I went to Gaon and got some soft tofu pork stew (soondubu). I'm not even lying when I say that this is the best tasting one I've ever had. Now don't judge me, I'm not Korean nor have I ever been to Korea, but based on many of the other soodubu I've tried on this island, this one is my new favorite. The lady working the counter (I believe is the owner) is very nice and patient. She even helped me figure out what to eat. The presentation of the tray with the banchan was beautiful, and each side was individually tasty. Such a well rounded, quality meal for a reasonable price. read more
1 year ago
Today we went to Gaon for takeout. Take a look at my pics. This was $17.99 before taxes. But before I get ahead of myself, let's start with the service when we got there. No one was at the counter. I peered thru the glass window of the kitchen but didn't see anyone. Then I turned around and a young girl that was sitting at a table, looked up from her phone and slowly walked to the counter. We were ready to order, but she was taking her time to set her cell phone on the side before she was ready to take the order. When I came back, the order was on the counter, and she was back at her table. I asked if that was my order. She nodded. She didn't get up from the table at all because it seemed as though she was too busy on her cell once more. Then came the kicker. Normally tofu soup or stew has soft tofu. They used firm tofu and the soup had no flavor. Looks spicy, but it wasn't. Then there was the banchan. As you can see, the quantity was very little. I get it, the cost of everything has gone up after COVID, but that's where service and appreciation come in, as well as flavorful food. Gaon lacks in all these areas and we will never give them our business again. read more
We stopped by Gaon in the H Mart food court and ordered the ssam bap with sam kyup sal (pork belly). It a great option if you're craving Korean BBQ flavors without the full grill experience. The pork belly comes out on a sizzling platter, piping hot with some crispy bits but still tender. It's served with all the essentials for ssam: fresh lettuce, carrot sticks, rice, ssamjang, and a few banchan. It also includes a bowl of soup, which might rotate. When we went it was a clear broth that was light and savory with green onions. On a previous visit, we had another clear soup with radish that a strong black pepper flavor. So, there's some variety depending on the day. The portion size is best suited for one person, but you could probably share it if you're not super hungry. Our only critique was that the pork belly pieces were a bit too thick and blocky to fit comfortably in the lettuce wraps. Smaller slices would make the wrapping and eating experience smoother. Also, if you're dining in, there's a wire shelf near the restaurant where you can return your tray after your meal. read more
10 months ago
Finally tried Gaon inside the Pearl City H Mart, and I'm so glad I did. We ordered the spicy pork and the soondubu, and both were fantastic. The taste was spot on, and you can tell they actually care about the presentation, even in a food court setting. A huge standout for me was the kimchee, honestly, it's one of the best I've had anywhere in Hawaii. It's savory, flavorful, and has the perfect kick. If you're shopping at H Mart or just in the area, this place is definitely worth a stop. Authentic flavors! read more
1 year ago
I've been wading through culinary corpses lately bland eateries dressed up in neon, hollow meals masquerading as "authentic," food so lifeless it should have been buried instead of plated. One place serves tortillas straight from a plastic bag, another dares to call watery gochujang "sauce." Hawaii is crawling with impostors, thieves of appetite, criminals of the palate. And then; Gaon. A small stall in Pearl City's HMart, humble in appearance, but inside? Fire. Soul. Truth. The ajumma behind the counter wasn't just serving food, she was guarding something sacred. I tested her. Hard questions about spice, cuts, ingredients. She didn't just answer she grinned like a veteran warrior sharpening her blade. She knew exactly what she had in her arsenal. What she gave me was chicken reborn in flame, tender, charred just enough, glazed in a crimson sauce so bold it dared you to look away. This wasn't timid sweetness or supermarket-level barbecue. No, this was heat with a story, depth with a purpose. The sauce clung to the chicken like sin itself, layered, dangerous, addictive. The accomplices, banchan,, were not cheap sidekicks. They were assassins in disguise. Kimchi that snapped with the bite of winter fire. Spinach and sprouts that whispered old Seoul secrets. Lettuce leaves crisp and waiting like parchment for the ritual wrap. Even the soup, humble and clear, carried honesty. And that gochujang? Not sauce. A weapon. A scarlet dagger meant to cut straight to the soul. This place doesn't belong in the same sentence as the frauds littering Hawaii's food scene. It deserves its own page, its own shrine. If this stall were in Seoul, it would be the lunch haunt of office workers who know where true comfort hides. Here, in Pearl City, it is a salvation. Look at the photos the skillet glistening like molten iron, the chicken glowing as if lit by its own flame. This isn't "pretty food." This is food with teeth. Verdict: A home run? No. A knockout. A resurrection. Forget the imitators that peddle their bland lies Gaon is the real thing. 5 stars for a quick lunch Korean comfort food. read more
11 months ago
Came here for lunch and it did not disappoint. Food was made within 10 minutes of ordering. The portions were large and the taste was great. The seating area in H mart is spacious and clean. Definitely would recommend to friends and family. Will most likely be coming back. read more
9 months ago
Decent soon dubu. Slightly oily. Counter service. Comes out in a stone pot boiling hot. Choice of Kim chee, beef, or the girl said shrimp (?). I liked that it was loaded with soft tofu. Beef was a bit grainy for my taste. Comes with sides and romaine salad with ranch dressing. read more
Congratulations on your grand opening! When you're in Pearl City, consider this convenient eatery inside of Hmart. Follow the arrows to the food court and you'll find fast and friendly service at GAON. Situated towards the back of the food court, next to the little bar, you can order up a variety of delicious Korean food. We ordered #1 with Bulgogi to go and it was very tasty. Tables and seating were clean. This eatery has a lot of free parking outside of Hmart. Great customer service, will certainly return to try other menu items. read more
2 years ago
Delicious home cooked Korean with generous portions. A good variety of side dishes that come with the meal. Reasonable pricing food for food court style seating. Not the best quality rice though interestingly. The galbi tang and soon du bu both had good quality meat and great broth and flavor. Easy parking as it is located in HMart! read more
1 year ago
Located in the food court of H Mart Pearl City, stopped by to try here on my lunch break running errands and had a craving for Korean food. Theres several places to eat here and also a bakery. Open seating and everything clean and bright. Gaon is located in the far corner when you ealk into the court. Ordered the Bulgogi Set, which comes on a sizzling platter, soup, rice and sides that is worth the $20. Order and pick your food up once its called, self service so put the tray back on the racks to the side of the counter when you are done. Food hit the spot, exactly what I wanted. Great place to eat Korean food when you dont want to drive far or deal with the crowds. 4 stars. read more
Didn't realize this was in the H-Mart Pearl City food court when I suggested to a friend that we eat there. The food court is tucked into the side of H-Mart. Very clean and good design. I got the combo meal (can't remember the name) but it came with rice, soup, meat (I picked bulgogi), lettuce, samjang, and some sides. Food came out quickly. Not the best I've had but good for a food court. read more
Checked out Gaon located in the Hmart food court, and ordered the kimchi soondubu. The soup came with rice, a small salad, and 3 sides. Food came out quick and everything was good although no egg with the soup which what I'm used to. There were plenty of seats for a Thursday night. read more
1 year ago
I've come here a few times already?I also try their spicy pork, sam kyul sal and cold noodle. for all those three I prefer sam Kyul sal not to salty and not to oily. the surface is okay. Sometimes it takes some time to get the food. Asheon, well, you are in h. Mart, the sitting area is so that's good, very clean. read more
2 years ago
I ordered the seafood soodubu and it wasn't it. The staff were really nice and polite but they weren't Korean and they were not taught how to make it properly... Also the side dishes were fermented too long and old, tasted weird. Maybe the meat dishes are better. read more
1 year ago
Ate here on a Sunday around 3pm. First time here with the hubby. Ive seen reviews and pics when looking up Korean food here on yelp and really wanted to try it out. For those who have never been to H Mart in Pearl City, there's a small little food court tucked to the side of the store that has around 12 tables and 3 restaurants, 1 bakery and a bar. Walked up and ordered 2 Ssam Bab @$20.99 each, One spicy pork and one barbecue chicken. Both sets come with rice, a little banchan, soup, lettuce and kochujang sauce. Wait for the food wasn't very long, maybe 10 minutes. Oh my goodness, when we got our food it looked so good and appetizing I couldn't wait to dig in but of course I had to take pics first. The spicy pork was so delicious. A little on the sweet side with a hint of spice and my husband got the barbecue chicken which was all right In my opinion. It didn't have much flavor but it was okay. The banchan had bean sprouts, Choisum and cabbage kimchi- they were decent. The soup was a beef broth based soup and was good. All in all, I would definitely come back and get this again. It was so good. read more
2 years ago
I ordered the bulgogi plate and it was so good. I highly recommend everyone to try and eat over there. Their staff is so nice as well read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
A new food option at the Hmart food court in Pearl City. Cool off with cold noodles or warm up with their Ssam bap. You can select which meat you want for your Ssam bap. I chose the spicy pork. Ssam means to wrap in Korean. You wrap up the meat in the lettuce. You can add the rice and Ssam jang sauce to your wrap. I recommend eating at the food court to enjoy these dishes at their ideal state. Mom and son approved dishes because both were yummy because they got that sohn mat (손맛) Staff were friendly and I plan to come again. read more
2 years ago
My sister discovered this place while shopping at Pearl City HMart, it came recommended while standing in line to pay for her groceries. She wanted to get sushi but they didn't have any so she ventured into the different food booths they had and git these two items from two different booths. Loved the flavor of both dishes, the area was very clean so ordering was pretty easy and quick, would like to try more of their menu options. So go and try them out..my stamp of recommendation..yum! read more
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