I always come to Mānoa marketplace regularly and always pass by this Korean restaurant during my time here. I've always wondered what's good here, but never tried until now.
On a recent August 2023 Friday during lunch, I had the opportunity to come here because I had the day off and a friend of mine working nearby. Both of us had never tried this restaurant before so we decided to check things out. We arrived here around 1 PM, and we probably did beat the lunch rush for sure. There was maybe two tables that was occupied, and the rest of the restaurant wasn't. We got seated almost immediately and that was pretty awesome. It seems like this restaurant is practically a mom and pop store and it felt like eating a friend's house - at least the quality of the cooking seems to be this way. We spent about an hour here from start to finish. It is amazing to see that there are two different Korean restaurants in Mānoa marketplace, the other being Peppa's Korean BBQ near the Starbucks. It's pretty cool that they can coexist in the same area. The restaurant felt small but the ambiance was nice and quiet for the most part. Not sure if they had WiFi but we didn't need it during our stay. My friend noticed that they had QR codes for the menu and no physical menus. Quite cutting edge for a mom and pop. Or just a way to save money on not having to update menus every so often. With that said, I celebrated my friend's belated birthday here at O-Bok Korean restaurant. The price is here we're not terrible, but not great either. It's basically the same price you pay when you go to a Korean barbecue restaurant but when you dining is not in a takeout container.
I ended up getting the bi bim kook soo, which was quite light, definitely delicious, and surprisingly as healthy as you can get, without the fried meats that comes with traditional Korean meat that's been barbecued for your enjoyment. The overall experience here at O-Bok Korean restaurant was very different vibe than any other Korean restaurant that I've been to, mainly because it was in a quiet area - manoa - and it was after the lunch rush, I guess. For the most part though, the experience was quite nice and the company was excellent. The restaurant was clean and quite spacious especially when it's run by a mom and pop. Or at least it seems that way. My friend and I pretty much beat the lunch rush at 1:00pm that day and it was lovely. Lovely company at a lovely restaurant in Manoa. What more can I say. Kind of reminds me of going to someone's home and having a home cooked meal without the frenzied hoopla of an everyday crunch of a work week, since I had the day off that holiday. Statehood day is always chill and happy that they are open for business. At the end of the meal, we got the check but waited around for the lady to pick up it up with our payment. After 10 minutes, we decided that we needed to take it up to the counter to get it paid. Some restaurants are like that. Either they come and swoop or you need to go to the cashier and pay. It's sometimes difficult to see this. It's fine though. My friend and I left the restaurant feeling full and happy that we tried out this place. I'm a regular at Manoa marketplace so I'll probably be back sooner or later to try to find other delicious dishes.
O-Bok Korean restaurant is located near the Manoa Post Office in Manoa marketplace shopping center. Its physical address is Woodlawn Drive. They accept major credit cards as well as cash. As far as parking goes, you got a lot of spacious parking in and around the mall. Best bet would be to park near the restaurant for the best spot for easy access in and out. If you are like me, i believe that the only route that services Manoa valley is route 6, which stops both sides of E Manoa Road next to the Manoa Starbucks. With that said, if you love Korean cuisine and enjoy the traditional food and even Korean barbecue that's basically local kine comfort food in these Hawaiian islands, consider coming to O-Bok Korean restaurant in the heart of Manoa valley. You may be pleasantly surprised at this hidden gem and what deliciousness await you. Definitely a place where you can unwind after a day at the office and a place where you can chill with friends and family over a nice meal in Manoa. Recommended for all and the ambiance is quiet and nice, depending on the time of day you come. The service is nice and friendly.
4.0 stars for the overall experience. 4.5 stars for the ambiance. 3.0 stars for the prices. 4.0 stars for the good food and the location. Close to home.
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