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Jin Joo Korean Restaurant

3.6 (343 reviews)
ModerateKorean
Closed • Closed

About Jin Joo Korean Restaurant

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Jin Joo Korean Restaurant Photos

Business Info

JIN JOO KOREAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Jin Joo Korean Restaurant

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BBQ Beef & Mandoo
Chelsie C.

I liked the BBQ Beef, BBQ Chicken, & the Mandoo was alright. It wasn't the best. Service was fast & very nice!

Meat Jun and Mandoo plate mix.
Vincent T.

Well the food was good the quantity a little light and the service was rude. The meat Jun, bbq pork and fried mandoo were all good. The ban Chan was also good. The disappointment was the service. Even if the food is rated a 4 out of 5 I have to minus two just for the service. Our server didn't have a name tag on so I just called her "aunty". The second time I asked for something she responded by saying my name is not aunty, my name is Mimi! She also started to clear the table when I was still eating my meal. Very rude! Didn't anyone teach MimI, I mean aunty Mimi?!? I'm not coming back that's for sure so long as the restaurant has Mimi there.

Home cooked Korean food - Kalbi and mandoo and meat Jun and mandoo.
Tina J.

Small mom and pops restaurant, but tables were pretty full. For first timers that's a good sign. Food was tasty - mandoo was definitely home made - reminded us of pork hash! So meaty! Great service and kind waitress. We would go again for sure. Must try their mandoo!

Inside
S M.

Today I got to try the Spicy Stir Fried Squid and it was very tasty. Also, the service was very friendly and helpful.

Seafood pancake
Tiffany H.

Initially wanted to eat at another restaurant in this area but that restaurant was closed. Decided to eat here instead. Got the seafood pancake, meat/fish jun plate. The seafood pancake was crispy with lots of different seafood in it. The meat/fish jun was decent but seemed like a small portion for the price. The meat jun were also very thinly sliced meat without much flavor. We got a few refills of the banchan but when I asked for thirds of a couple items, the server told me that it would be the last time she can refill it. The banchan are fairly small portions so I was surprised she wouldn't give us any more refills of the items.

Storefront
Nadine C.

Dinner in Aiea, O'ahu, Hawaii... I was starving and couldn't think of where to go. I looked at the Bookmarks on my Yelp app and settled on pho. It just so happened that the pho place at Waimalu Shopping Center is closed on Wednesdays. That's lucky for Jin Joo Korean Restaurant, which is right next door! I easily found parking because I beat the dinner crowd. Several people stopped in for takeout, and there were a few people dining-in. The cheerful server greeted me right away, showed me to a table, and brought iced water, utensils, and a menu. I quickly decided on The Jin Joo Special Plate (#1) because it had some of everything: mandoo (with some glass noodles in it), BBQ chicken, bulgogi, kalbi (smokey flavor), zucchini jun, meat jun, and 2 scoops of rice. It was all good - delicious and hit the spot! The banchan arrived first - yum! I tried each side dish even though I don't like spicy food! The slightly tart and sweet seaweed was my favorite. The crunchy cucumber followed, with the tofu and fish cake next. The cabbage and especially the bean kimchi were too challenging for me. I enjoyed the pleasant, old-school vibe! The server really made me feel comfortable by chatting about Instagram because she noticed me taking several photos... LOL! I'll post there tomorrow... Haha! I devoured the meal and have major food coma! Zzzzz! Note: Magic Sauce was kind of like a ponzu sauce... vinegar and shoyu???

Inside
Sach T.

A friend recommended this place a long time ago so finally decided to try it. I looked over the menu for the plate lunches and the pictures didn't show if it came with any banchan. Found out it comes with 4: 1. Bean sprouts 2. Choysum 3. Kim chee 4. Cucumber kim chee Ordered the Meat Jun for me and the BBQ Chicken for my husband. The Meat Jun was good as other Korean places I've bought from. It's the sauce that gives it the flavor but I'm still trying to find a restaurant that has a tasty egg batter I used to order from that is no longer in business **so sad**. As for the BBQ Chicken, it was a little dry even with the sauce they gave but it was tasty. This place is located in the Waimalu Shopping Center with lots of parking. The worker was friendly and said the wait will be about 10 minutes...the food was ready in less than 10 minutes! Yay!

side dishes
MaryAnn C.

We absolutely love this Korean restaurant. After Sorabol has closed, we have tried looking for a Korean restaurant the same standard as Sorabol and it is this restaurant here at Jin Joo. We liked how fresh the side dishes were and how the service was very good! Our soups came out very savory and spicy just the way we liked it. I think you should try them out.

Meat Jun, Mandoo, and Bbq Chicken (M.M.C)
Jacob M.

We were able to have our three kids watched by the in-laws while we go out one last time before my wife gives birth to our 4th (induced on Tuesday). Craving Korean food and heard that this place was as authentic as it gets. So we go. And it nailed everything. It was busy so we were told that the wait was going to be about 30 minutes. We didn't mind so we stood outside. They did not have an official sign in list and the cashier seemed to have wrote my name on the back of a receipt to keep track of who was next for seating. The waitress/hostess came outside and told us that she cleared her "work" table for us because she didn't want my wife to wait too long due to be pregnant and ready to pop any second. This was really nice of her and we appreciated it! Inside everyone is tightly packed. There are plastic partition walls they roll around to give tables privacy which was nice because when you sit down you don't even notice you are sitting a couple inches away from the other table, honestly. We ordered the M.M.C (Meat Jun, Mandoo, and Chicken) & a soup that I don't remember... and would probably butcher the name of. The dishes were delicious. No complaints besides I wish I had more. The staff were friendly and would talk to us about the baby wishing us the best as we left.

Meat jun and kalibi combo with 2 scoops rice.

Came in for late lunch with my hubby. Greeted with a friendly staff and waitress. The food always hits the if you want korean food. Service was excellent!

Bibim Kooksoo
Scott G.

The food is always pretty good here. I had the Fish Jun but forgot to take the pic. Lol. We also had the Bibim Kooksoo, which was not spicy enough but was still tasty. They give plenty of banchan(sides) for the table. Parking can get a bit hectic and sometimes even scarce, but be patient, and you'll find one. Aloooooha and happy eating.

Clam tofu soup, pork & squid spicy stir fry, meat jun plate, side order Kalbi

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3 months ago

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4 months ago

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13 days ago

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8 days ago

The food is pretty tasty. Not the same when the original owners were there, the portions are a lot smaller.

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

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7 months ago

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19 days ago

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

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2 years ago

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5 months ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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7 months ago

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4 months ago

Went to pick up late dinner, service was super fast and food was super delicious! Reasonable prices

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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6 months ago

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3 months ago

Service was fast and food was ono! Good portions and will definitely patronize them again!

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Always good food, fun service! Wish it was bigger for more tables but the turn around is fast!!!

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1 year ago

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10 months ago

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2 years ago

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9 months ago

Delicious Korean food! Friendly staff and convenient location in Waimalu with ample parking.

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2 years ago

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Moobongri Soup & Yakiniku - Bibimbap

Moobongri Soup & Yakiniku

4.4(127 reviews)
9.9 mi•Mo'ili'ili
•$$

We came here after having some craving for AYCE Korean BBQ, and Moobongri did not disappoint!…read more You get the usual ahjjuma service during the dining experience, but I think they were even more attentive/helpful than at where I live. The restaurant has a traditional but modern vibe, and there were plenty of parking available! We opted for the Premium AYCE selection, and the options were all very good. My fiance and I particularly enjoyed the beef tongue, marinated galbi, and the marinated finger beef. My fiance liked the intestine as well, but I was less a fan since the method of grilling at MBR could not get it to crisp like how I like it (personal preference). Overall, attentive service, good quality of meats, and enjoyable banchan dishes as well.

We tried Moobongri again, today, Sunday late lunch. It was pretty packed but we got a table. Server…read morecame over and was not very nice and very impatient and when we didn't order AYCE BBQ she seemed upset. We ordered cold noodles and dol sot bibim bap. My noodles came quickly and then the banchan. Unfortunately I finished my noodles before my husbands dish arrived. It finally did come out, sizzling and he started eating. Our server didn't check back on us once. She was eating her lunch and waiting on the tables with the BBQs. We had to wave at her a bunch of times to ask for a refill of 1 side dish and when she finally came over she said a bunch of not so friendly Korean things to me and then stormed off. A few minutes later she came back with the side dish and sort of flung it at us. We won't be back. The service was terrible and the food just okay. I really don't like the taste of their cold noodles but Choi's Garden closed down last month and Yu Chun has the same problem with surly servers who can ruin a meal. Come on. Korean restaurants can do better in Honolulu. We don't always feel like BBQ so treat those of us who don't order the meat spread with a little more respect. Plus, we are seniors who don't like food being flung at us and being yelled at in Korean. We still tip 22% for almost all dining out, but I think we will need to be more selective in the future. What has happened to dining out lately. It is a sad statement that one is treated like that when eating out is so expensive and becoming a luxury for a lot of us. I hope their management cares about their service ratings.

Photos
Moobongri Soup & Yakiniku - Inside

Inside

Moobongri Soup & Yakiniku - Banchan

Banchan

Moobongri Soup & Yakiniku - Bibimbap

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Bibimbap

Jagalchi - 돼지불고기 / Spicy Pork

Jagalchi

4.0(527 reviews)
9.2 mi
•$$

Came to Jagalchi on a Friday night closer to 7pm without reservations for a party of 7. We had to…read morewait around 15 minutes for a table. They have free parking in the small lot right outside their restaurant, but there is also paid parking across the street. We were lucky, and people were leaving as we got there. For 7 of us, we got the rabokki, meat jun, half order of bossam, and kimchee pancake. This was more than enough food for everyone, and we probably would have skipped the kimchee pancake next time. The food was really good, and I would definitely recommend the bossam if you're with a group. The meat is super soft and flavorful, and even the half order was a generous portion. We also ordered the lemon soju and yogurt soju pitchers. They have tablets for you to order the food, which was super convenient. The food comes out pretty quickly, and the service is friendly. Overall, would recommend here for good Korean food and fun vibes.

I went in on a Friday evening for dinner and it wasn't busy. There is ample parking available in…read morefront of the restaurant and on the street. The restaurant gives off Korean pub vibes, decently sized, and best suited for smaller groups. We ordered a variety of food: chicken combo, kimbap, bulgogi, bossam, and spicy rice cakes. The food was very delicious. My favorite was the bulgogi because it was tender and flavorful. I also enjoyed the spicy rice cakes, but I wish they gave a bigger portion of it.. The chicken was okay, but not something I'd order again. The spicy sauce was drenched all over the chicken and was very spicy. The regular crispy chicken didn't have enough salt for me and was overcooked.

Photos
Jagalchi - By the time we were ready to leave, the restaurant started to get more crowded.

By the time we were ready to leave, the restaurant started to get more crowded.

Jagalchi - Bulgogi bibimbap

Bulgogi bibimbap

Jagalchi - We went early, so the restaurant was pretty empty.

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We went early, so the restaurant was pretty empty.

Jin Joo Korean Restaurant - korean - Updated October 2026

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