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

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

Ever since the first time I came to Cham Cham, I tried the mondoo soup, and I genuinely haven't…read morebeen able to order anything else whenever I come here It is seriously the BEST mondoo soup I've ever had. The flavor is so comforting and it's become one of those foods I look forward to having every time I visit. I've been coming here for a while now, usually about once a month, and somehow I crave this soup every single time . Cham Cham has honestly become one of my favorite places to eat, and I'm always excited to come back. I'm hoping once I get my license I'll be able to come even more often because I could seriously eat this soup all the time. If you've never tried the mondoo soup here, PLEASE try it!! You will not regret it. 10/10 forever.

A small restaurant tucked away next to a lunch counter…read more Clean. The pancake is the reason to come here. Even with a party of two- we did not finish the pancake. I took half of it home. I wasn't as impressed with the entrees, but I was not mad at it. We took to go boxes, of the entrees. We really enjoyed the experience. I will definitely come back. Perfect for the price point. Plenty of food.

Kalbi, a Korean barbeque dish. Beef short ribs marinated then grilled. Caramelized, savory,…read moredelicious. Is using this highly recognizable food item in a business name a great strategy? Can a business deliver exceptionally on the food item mentioned in its name? Does it make it simple for customers like myself to pivot to another food item other than kalbi? Let's take a closer look at an East Hawai'i counter service eatery on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Located in the Waiākea Center Food Court. Kalbi Express. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Kalbi. By using the most popular and highly desirable Korean dish in their business name, it instantly tells me what's served, what type of dishes would follow on their menu. I knew what to expect from day one years ago and still do till today. Express. When a craving arises for quick and convenient Korean takeout, this part of the business name speaks louder than most. I always order in-person vs a phone call and the wait is minimal even when it's busy. They're also conveniently located with ample parking, entry into Waiākea Center is quick and easy. Kalbi Express. Great name strategy? Indeed. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I had a craving for Korean barbecue so one day, I decided to head to Kalbi Express. For Kalbi. A Combo Plate with Kalbi was ordered along with an actual BBQ Kalbi Plate. Yes, two plates for myself because my craving for Korean barbecue was off-the-charts. Thin sliced BBQ Beef, glossy + charred BBQ Kalbi, juicy boneless BBQ Chicken and crispy Mandoo all packed tightly over steamed white rice with four chilled Korean banchan. That aroma of caramelized soy, garlic and sesame oil hit me as I opened the lid of my Kalbi Express Combo Plate. An inviting and playful mix of hot and cold items, a perfect taste of everything. Kalbi Express BBQ Kalbi Plate, a delightful balance of smoky char and complex aromatics. Each marbled short rib piece was juicy and marinated to perfection before flame-grilled. Caramelized sweetness is subtle, cutting through the richness of the tender meat. An indulgent moment with my take-out plate, my craving fully satisfied. BBQ Kalbi from Kalbi Express. Was it enjoyable, flavorful and memorable? Indeed. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Yang Nyum Chicken. A coworker introduced me to this plate and now it's become my "go-to" favorite. I'm indulging in a lacquered layer of glossy sweetness, as a spicy kick slowly builds without being overwhelming. Crisp small pieces of deep fried boneless chicken, the center is juicy yet the exterior crunchy. Tossed in a sticky sweet 'n spicy sauce. A sensory-rich experience with bold flavors, delightfully messy. The BBQ Beef and the BBQ Chicken have the same care of preparation as the Kalbi, where deep flavors come through in a flavorful way due to their marinating process. Meat & Fish Jun are moist and flaky with a fluffy egg exterior, crisp edges. Their Spicy Pork makes my rice disappear before I even notice and macaroni salad is a banchan must. Plates here are a harmonious blend of different ingredients, textures and colors. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Order most items as a 2-choice Combo Plate or as a Full Plate with housemade Korean banchan. Let's talk about the highly desirable banchan at Kalbi Express. The freshness is always at its best, the flavors are fine-tuned and personalized in small batches. Deliciously done. My plain white rice and marinated Korean proteins pair well with these flavorful banchan bites. I can taste the care, the heritage that's passed down as it brings me dining comfort in a take-out plate. Have fun choosing your sides from a select twelve. Order a Veggie Plate (4 choices w/ rice, 5 w/o rice) or Vegetable Side Bowls. I've done both. Kalbi Express offers a diverse menu. No room for disappointment on choices, only pure delight once you take your first bite. I've enjoyed everything ordered for lunch or dinner and there's so much more I still need to try. Kalbi+. Simple to pivot to other menu items? Indeed. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Charbroiled and grilled marinated meats to-perfection. Banchan sides, loyalty driven by freshness. Service with attention and gratitude. Leak-proof, heat resistant containers. Delicious and satisfying plates, generous portions and always visually plated with care. Do they deliver exceptionally in all areas? In my eyes they do. I've been coming here for years well before being on Yelp. Their name says it all. Order your favorites, try some of mine. Kalbi Express at Waiākea Center. Highly recognizable, highly recommended.

I love coming here for the food. For years it had always been my go to when I'm home and want some…read morereally good banchan. This visit was different as I had my grandmother with me, she is hard of hearing. So imagine my surprise and complete disappointment when there was a miscommunication when my grandmother tried to order. The cashier stood there with an "idgaf" face. Didn't ask for clarification or smile once. Just stood there. When I worked out on my grandmothers end what she was trying to order I relayed that to the cashier who did not look at me once. Didn't say anything to confirm. I love the food here. I hate that there is no aloha.

We wanted a last meal before board our flight home to Oakland. We spotted the YELP for Tenkatori,…read moreand while it was a ways from where we were, we went anyways... What a delight. Very clean, modern spot, a friendly family business! We had two chicken dishes- the karaage thighs, and a yakitori bento, and both were great! Plentiful, freshly fried (we were a little late, they have 2pm closing but they served us cheerfully). Service was amazing, and the other customers seem to be regulars! When the server had a moment, she told us that this is a Japanese franchise, and they also serve some of mom's special sides, which they have on a digital list. That's going to be our go to next time we are in town. What a find!!!

Such a delicious spot!…read more Made to order juicy fried chicken karaage! We ordered 8 pieces to share, plus 6 wings and 2 side rice. So much food! Rice was made perfectly. Karaage was perfectly seasoned and crunchy. Enjoyed every bite! We were unable to finish it all, so brought it home. And we re warmed it in the air fryer and it was just as delicious! A must try in Hilo!

Best service and Banchan ever. Food is always cooked to perfection and service is great. We order…read moreout from here at least twice a week. Great value and fabulous home cooked Korean food.

Aloha I pickup lunch here every week.I love the fish Katsu &…read moreKorean chicken as a combo. The sides are delicious and you can pick four to sample. The food is Ono. I especially like the purple sweet potato. One of my goto spots.

Korean sushi is the best there! Never disappoints Always…read morefresh and the rice is never hard

The staff was not rude, but they allowed the next 5 people to "steamroll" over my food order!…read moreI'm a Kupuna, and showed my patience but to add insult to injury, for four items x 2 each they broke my Legs, not my Mout'. by charging $36.28, I shit you not bruh!!

Absolutely amazing local Korean spot! The food quality is outstanding -- everything tastes fresh,…read moreauthentic, and consistently delicious, especially for the price. It's honestly hard to believe you can get this level of flavor and portion size at such a great value. I've been coming here since I was in high school, and the taste has never changed -- always on point, every single time, even after over 20 years. The service is just as wonderful as the food. The staff are friendly, efficient, and genuinely welcoming, making you feel like part of the community. Best of all, there's almost never a wait, so it's perfect when you want something delicious without the hassle. If you're looking for high-quality Korean food at a great price with fast, warm service, this place is a total gem.

We picked up lunch from here for our office and is one of our go-tos. It's super easy to call in an…read moreorder and pick it up. The portions here are huge and the food is delicious. I got the 2 choice meat jun and spicy pork. I love meat jun, and this one did not disappoint. The meat was juicy and the batter was slightly sweet.

Amazing taste, and perfectly cooked. Good service too…read more Located across from city municipalities.

Came on a whim, we and the family had to get out because we just needed the change of pace. Once…read morethat was done , everyone was hungry. I have had this place in my collection for a while. And was a few minutes from opening. Perfect. So we drove from the Walmart area. The parking lot was almost already full when we got there, always a good sign. People taking out their food. Once inside busy. Efficient service. Sat and given menus. Four adults. We decided that we should share a meal because portions were giant. Pork cutlet, ramen, and pork chops. I would pass on the ramen . But the pork was fire. We had enough to share . Everyone was full. We all shared the ice cream cookie . Didn't look like a lot but the bowl was definitely full. And so were we.

Yelp 365 Challenge 2015 #68/365…read more This is only the second bar I've been to in Hilo (since I moved to Oahu before I was of legal drinking age) and although it's inside an old building, it just feels like home to me. Not literally my house, but the comfort and relaxed feeling of Hilo. Aunty Yong's Place is located right next to Nori's Saimin & Snacks, and since Bamboo Garden has closed, my friends that still live here have migrated over. It was pretty much exactly what I expected from a Korean dive bar. Booths, karaoke, two dart boards, music playing, it's a fun time. They also have a bunch of drink specials, ranging from $5-$8, and they have Kona Longboards and Big Wave on special for $4. No drafts here though, just bottles and aluminum bottles of Bud Light. Gosh, free pupus. WHY DONT WE HAVE FREE PUPUS IN HONOLULU?! Crazy. When I met my friends who were already there, there were plates of smoked meat, tofu, kim chee, veggies... What the hell, Oahu. WHAT. THE. HELL. Get with it!! I think they have food to order too, but I didn't see a menu or order anything, cause never need!! Their karaoke selection is pretty impressive for an old-ish bar. They have some recent (2013ish) additions to go along with the classics, and it's $1 per song. They have two dart boards, new ones with cameras! So if you have one of those cards with your ranking or whatever, you can use those dart boards to play (I guess, I actually have no idea how those cards work). We saw a fatty roach scurry across the floor while we were playing darts, but it comes to no surprise, as the building is super old. It's a great dive bar and made me feel right at home on my first night back. Cheers!

Terrible place it was like a ghost town. Don't go Here if…read moreyou have vibes that are ecstatic. They lie about their machine working for karaoke

Quaint local restaurant that has a creative menu with a personal flare of the Owner chef. Staff is…read morevery knowledgeable about their menu and makes excellent recommendations. My husband and I sat at the bar and enjoyed the excellent company of our bartender server who gave excellent descriptions of the menu items ...making our mouth water before we even ordered our dinner. At Her recommendation, we enjoyed the ricotta gnocchi's As our shared starter and the pan seared local Opah fish dish which was amazing.. Reservations are highly recommend as this is a locals favorite... so tables fill quickly.. and you don't want to miss this exquisite restaurant in service and food quality!

I usually avoid writing reviews for heavily reviewed businesses, but I'm making an exception for…read morethis one as it was the best eatery my wife and I visited during our nearly week long honeymoon on the Big Island split between Hilo and Kona. We ordered the risotto, fresh catch (marlin), crispy rice, gnocchi, and finished off with the mac nut ganache mascarpone pots de crème. We did share a Lemon peel lemonade cocktail. The Lemon peel lemonade was basically spiked lemonade. Well balanced for being a tart oriented drink, but I didn't care for the floating bits. The risotto which comes in full and half order, was very rich and had chunks of mushrooms for flavor. We're glad we got the half as this was a heavy, rich, and cheesy entrée on its own. If you love risotto, you will love this dish. The marlin was perfectly cooked and balanced out with a locally inspired vegetable succotash. Fried bits of kalo were also added in for added texture. The special and new item, the gnocchi was the star of the show. This is by far the fluffiest gnocchi we've ever had. Crispy on the outside, little potato clouds of fluff on the inside. The gnocchi came over a tasty sauce with bits of fried onion for absolute perfection. The crisp rice was recommended by Yelpers and it was alright, crispy rice with a spoon of poke. Not bad, but did not live up to the hype. Get another order of the gnocchi instead. It's fairly rare to see pots de crème on restaurant menus, specials or not, so we had to get this. It came in a cute little glass jar, with rich chocolate and mascarpone flavor with a hint of mac nut. This desert was an absolutely delicious perfect end to the meal. You can make reservations online, street parking is quite limited, and it can get busy as the night goes on, so recommended to get an earlier dinning time. Staffs regularly checked in on us and were polite and efficient.