Haneul Cafe is a cute and cozy little Korean restaurant in Hilo with little crafts and goodies as well. 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. read more

Haneul Cafe - Strawberry bingsu. - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Absolutely love this place, but they need to bring back their bingsoo menu! The last time I was here, 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! read more

Driving here, we thought the place looked sketchy but quickly remembered that the streets in Hilo is always so dark and everything closes so early. I'm glad we gave it a shot because we had one of the best meals here. We came on a Tuesday evening and it wasn't busy at all. I had the meat jun and soft tofu soup combo and WOW-WOW-WEE-WOW I could not stop eating. It was so delicious; I made a mental note to look for meat jun back at home. My husband got the Mandoo Soup and it was equally as delicious. The soup was a pretty good size and they didn't skimp out on the mandu, which was probably the best I've ever had. I wasn't too impressed with the banchan, but I appreciate the variety. If you're craving korean or something different from the typical hawaiian eats, definitely stop by here. read more

Haneul Cafe - Hot tofu soup, meat jun, Mandoo soup - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

This is the best shave ice "BingSu" I have ever tasted! We shared one and it was still a lot. Also great service ! read more

Haneul Cafe - Strawberry BingSu! - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We had 9 in our party and went there especially for their shave ice. I ordered the mango which came with fresh fruits, vanilla ice cream, crushed honey bunches of oats, and sweetened evaporated milk on the side to pour on the dessert. My daughter ordered the strawberry shave ice, and we decided to share our treats. I love how the ice was in the middle of super fine and course - plus the ratio of fruit, ice cream and cereal made it a scrumptious dessert. The owner came to speak with us and she was really nice. My niece ordered meat jun and I was able to try a piece - wow. Let's just say I'll be eating their on my next trip! read more

Haneul Cafe - Strawberry shave ice - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Excellent authentic Korean food made by a small business owner. Fresh ingredients good portions and most importantly flavor! Homemade banchan (small side dishes like pickles). read more

A wonderful family-owned Korean restaurant! We visited on our first night in Hilo, and we were not disappointed. Very welcoming interior and immediately greeted and seated. The service was great, and both the young boy and his grandmother provided helpful food recommendations for us to try- the spicy squid and the Matcha Bing-su. We were not disappointed by any of our dishes. The black bean noodles and spicy squid were amazing, and so was the soft tofu soup. Bulgogi was not my favorite, but everything else made up for it. We also got an order of Mandu, which came out hot and crispy. It was also delicious. We ended our meal with the Matcha Bingsu, and we loved it! As big Korean food fans, this restaurant ranked high on our list of favorites that we've tried. Would come again on our next visit to Hilo! read more

Haneul Cafe - Matcha Bingsu - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

I came here after seeing many good reviews, especially since I was craving some soup. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. The soup arrived in a very small bowl with barely any ingredients or flavor--just a bland, spicy broth with some tofu, green onions, and three tiny clams. I also ordered the seafood pancake. While the portion size was decent, it lacked seafood and had way too much batter. Typically, soup dishes come with rice and side dishes, so I asked a waitress about it. She told me it didn't. Later, after we finished eating, I asked another waitress, who ended up giving me a plate of side dishes to take home instead--definitely not ideal. Overall, the experience was underwhelming. The food was bland and overpriced, and the service was disorganized. One waitress even admitted to all the customers that she didn't know what she was doing. If you're getting paid to serve customers, it's important to learn the job quickly. It's disappointing that there isn't a solid Korean restaurant in Hilo. I might just have to go to Oahu when I'm craving Korean food--or cook it myself. Sigh. read more

Haneul Cafe - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Food was amazing! This was my first time here. The portions here were the perfect size for me. The soup had the right amount of spice and had a good amount of meet and veggies inside. My favorite was the mango bingsu. There were a ton of toppings and each bite was different. The staff here is so friendly and the food came out fast. This restaurant has such a nice home like feeling. read more

Haneul Cafe - Bibimbap and Meat Jun & Tofu Soup Lunch - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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We came here on a whim after landing in Hilo, and safe to say, we really enjoyed the food here! Everything was made with so much love and care, and the owner is so sweet and kind. She even came out to talk to use a few times during our meal. The wait staff are also great and very hardworking. They were shortstaffed and I could tell they were really trying their best to keep everything smooth. If anything, the wait for food after you order is quite long, but i'd say it is SOOOOOO worth the wait! I wish I took more photos, but I forgot read more

Haneul Cafe - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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We've been wanting to try this place for a while now & finally the day arrived! For a Saturday it wasn't as busy as I thought it would be which was really nice. We walked up to order & paid & then grabbed a table. Service was pleasant. They had K-pop playing on the tv so the little wait didn't seem that long. It was cute & cozy. The food was pretty good too! Meat Jun & spicy pork were pretty tasty but what I really loved was the mandoo it was stuffed with meat! We also ordered bingsu which was light & not to sweet. The flavors were nice and bright. I can't wait to go back to try some other flavors. I think they are the place in Hilo making bingsu, definitely recommend it! read more

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We got there before the rush, but next time I'll make a reservation. This casual dining Korean Restaurant has wonderful dishes that include a Meat Jun that reminds me of Soon's in Salt Lake. The bingsu was a refreshing treat in this Summertime heat. Order at the counter and they will bring your dishes to your table. Haneul Cafe, Hilo HI. 96720 read more

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The food was delicious. They do have it written on the menu & tell you that it'll be a wait but it's worth the wait Service was good too Before dining in, you will need to go to counter to grab a menu then sit down then go back up to counter to order & pay. It was our first time so we went straight to an empty table then the waitress brought the menus & told us to go back up to order. Very small..about 7 tables Looks kinda homey style if that makes sense Fans everywhere so you won't get hot Tv on in the background read more

Haneul Cafe - Bibimbap (no egg) & kimchi pancake Soooooo good!!!!! - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The food is beyond delicious. First bite, whoooohooooo. Mind-blowing savory, flavorful, fresh just tastes so delicious. If you are in Hilo, you need to stop by here and order anything. I believe everything they make is just plain delicious. I used to work in the food industry and my boss/owner is Korean, my Imo, and she would cook me food. Eating food from here reminded me of her. Yes, this place serves delicious comfort Korean dishes. Must try. Don't miss out. I called for takeout and my Hubby picked it out. However, the staff I spoke with was so nice and friendly. read more

Haneul Cafe - Black bean noodles and meat jun and mango cheesecake bingsu. Sooooo sooooo good. - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The same owners as Seoul Station but revamped as a sit-in restaurant! This is hands down my new fav place for Korean! I've been here a few times now. We always get the bibimbop and meat jun. My fam and I agree it's the best meat jun we've ever had, and trust me, we eat a lot of meat jun! The meat is not stringy, perfectly soft and flavorful, and the egg was not too thick. We also got the mandu, which the owner said she buys and ships from Korea! It was meaty and crispy! The star is their bingsu! The first time we came I got the matcha/strawberry which came with cereal on top! I want to add cereal to all of my bingsu from now on! It also had mochi and other toppings. This time, I got the strawberry cheesecake and it was also delicious! Love that it comes with ice cream. Customer service is amazing. You order at the counter and then take a seat. The girl who runs the front is so sweet and helpful! The owner came out to talk with us a couple times and see how the food was. She was so nice and seemed to genuinely care what we thought about the food. I'll keep raving about this place to anyone who will listen! read more

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What a delightful experience! You are treated so kindly and feel the love put into each and every dish. Highly recommended for a bit hidden, off the beaten path location. read more

Haneul Cafe - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Does not honor the gift card the restaurant itself assigned. That is pretty much stealing money from the customer that paid for it. Always short staffed so they have extremely long wait times with items constantly sold out. Food itself is not bad at all if you are able to plan nothing else other than waiting here for service. Customers please dine with caution. read more

Haneul Cafe - Gift Card - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We enjoyed it here. We came on two separate occasions. Here is the food we tried: - Meat jun, in my opinion, is the best in town. So soft and tender! - Teri chicken was freshly grilled and had a nice flavor. - Honey chicken was definitely a highlight. Crunchy sweet and savory chicken with crushed nuts. Drool. - Fish jun consisted of a lot of pieces - Enjoyed the assortment of Korean side dishes. The dining room consists of 6 tables with TV that played Korean game shows. There is an adjacent room where you have to order your meal before sitting. Overall, the ambiance was decent and comfortable. This is a family run business and I am happy to support that. All hands were involved in making our food and providing table service. We will be back. read more

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Good Korean food. Ordered a few bibim bap and the quality was quite good. Wish the would provide a little more meat and veggies. Would go back again. read more

Wonderful family owned and operated restaurant!! I ordered the saba (mackerel) and it was the best saba I have ever had! Perfectly crispy. Plus I appreciated they let me swap rice for coleslaw, and gave us yummy banchan. My family ordered bulgolgi and bibimbap and everyone enjoyed their meals. Very attentive and friendly staff!! read more

Good service!! Delicious food My family and I ordered love this place, and will be back here again!! read more

Haneul Cafe - Red bean shaved ice (double) - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Tastes like there's love in the food. You won't find that at too many places anymore. read more

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We love Haneul Cafe! The restaurant is quaint and welcoming and it's small. The service is fast and friendly! When we dined there, We ordered and paid at the register then sat at our table. Soon our food arrived. We've eaten the following yummy dishes - kimchi pancakes, mandoo, spicy pork, kalbi, tofu soup, kimchi soup, black bean noodles, and honey chicken. Family business! The owner usually comes out to chat which makes it feel like home! #SupportLocal read more

Haneul Cafe - Mango Bingsu - this is a small! We shared this and it was just enough for the two of us. - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

First off, the service is exceptional. Friendly and attentive staff who check in regularly to make sure everything is going well. We shared an order of kalbi and tofu soup. The kalbi was marinated and grilled and our soup had chunks of beef and oyster or clam meat. Seasoning level was good, nice saltiness but not overboard. My only mild feedback was I thought the temperature of the soup could be hotter (I'm used to it coming out dangerously bubbling and you crack a raw egg into it) but it's just my own preference. We also ordered the mango bingsu which I failed to take photos of because you have to be quick as it melts. It was so refreshing and not too sweet, really hits the spot to reset your mouth after having rich and fatty short ribs and salty soup. It was such a comforting meal, and made me think of my Grandmas cooking. read more

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This was our first time here and it was good. The service was great. You order and pay at the counter then get seated. It is a small family owned restaurant. All in all it was a good experience. read more

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Why is it not busy here? I have no idea! Korean food and bingsu!? Yes, please! The food was good and place was clean. Service a little slow but worth the wait. Went a little late, about an hour and 10 minutes before closing so not sure if that was the reason why but I assume it's because they were short handed. Must try place to eat! More parking in the back, past the building and restaurant entrance. read more

Food is excellent. Service lacking since only one person served the entire seating. It's a great place and the owner is exceptional. Two criticisms though. First. side dishe servings are very small compared to other restaurants. Secondly, you have to pay first and of course tip before you are served. I've never been to another restaurant that does this. read more

It's such a cute cafe I really like how they bring out pickled dishes with your food!! And service was so nice!! read more

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We had dinner and dessert here. It's a small place but the food is delicious and the service is fast. We ate the spicy pork, meat jun, and mango cheesecake bingsu for dessert. The bingsu is so pretty, yummy, and refreshing. read more

Haneul Cafe - Mango Cheesecake Bingsu - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

When you enter the restaurant it gives you a homely feel! You are greeted with friendly smiles, and a waft of the most amazing smell that instantly makes you hungry and salivate. When you sit down after ordering your food, you drool at the looks of other people food. Lol We ordered "family" style because we all wanted to try each dish and they accommodated that which was awesome! The banchan was simple yet incredible, kimchi was fresh and the prefect spice amount! The japchae was tender and seasame oil flavor came through. The pickled daikon, kimchi daikon, and pickled cabbage was on point. And the seaweed was seasoned to perfection! Meat jun and fried butter fish is my absolute fave! Garlic shrimp is a hit Kimchi pancake with sauce is amazing Bulgogi(not pictured) was flavorful and tender Spicy pork hits the spot with the perfect heat level Mandoo and shrimp tempura are the perfect appeteasers! Bingsu was the best was to end(or begin) a meal! Gret At service, great prices, amazing food! read more

Haneul Cafe - Mandoo and shrimp tempura - Korean Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Homey atmosphere, clean with 5 tables 4 tables each seating. Reasonably busy with 4/5 tables full on a Friday night. Order and pay at the counter, then be seated. Most importantly, the food was fantastic! We ordered the Kalbi plate $25 and came with a generous 5 pieces of Kalbi on a bed of rice. I was honestly surprised at the portions considering the price of Kalbi itself. Super flavorful, and tender. Also, had the spicy pork plate on a bed of rice. Perfect amount of spice and probably the softest spicy pork I've had. Mandoo tasted fresh and light. Too bad they don't do combo plates though. I visited before and tried their Bingsu Shave Ice. The only place in Hilo that offers it. Also super good and large portion. Overall, pleased with Haneul Cafe for their value and quality of food. Note to staff: Perhaps edit your Yelp classifications to include Restaurant, Lunch, Dinner to increase exposure for users to search. read more

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The menu is not very extensive but the food is delish. We will definitely eat here again. The Bingsu desserts are light and not overly sweet. Perfect read more

Spent the last month eating my way through Hawaii and holy cow, this place is one of the best meals we've had. It's a bit of a hole in the wall but you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. The garlic shrimp is next level, they've already peeled most of the shrimp so the flavor gets cooked in very well. I've had several good garlic shrimp plates over the last few weeks but nothing beats Haneul's shrimp. The meat jun was also exceptional and I highly recommend it. Perfectly cooked egg with tender meat on the middle. Last, the honey chicken was so good and would usually be the highlight of the meal but honestly I think the other two plates overshadowed it. We also tried their Korean shave ice and that was better than most other shave ice we've had on the islands. Staff was also so friendly and patient with us while we ordered, and prices were very very reasonable. This is food I'd come back for! read more

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black bean noodle not tasty at all Not sure why it has hint of tomato flavor I've tasted better instant ones from korean markets read more

The bentos this place used to sell were good and reasonably priced. The food we had recently was tasteless and overpriced. read more

Had the Bimbimbab it was delicious!! Super friendly staff very helpful...nice and clean will definitely be back for some of the baked goodies!!! read more

Excellent service, staff super nice. My husband always orders the tofu bim bim bap- so delicious , well balanced!

GET THE BINGSU! Everything else we tried was delicious too: meat jun, honey chicken (although I felt the portion was on the smaller side), kimchee pancake, mundoo. read more

My favorite place to get soondubu jjigae! They have the best banchan and taiyaki. Drinks are always A1 and the staff is always friendly! 10000/10000 recommended, my favorite place in Hilo. read more

Food was tasty. Service was excellent, with the owner coming out to check on us and instruct me on how to eat my bi bum bap. Other workers were helpful and pleasant. Ambience - pleasant and clean. read more