Restaurant Osaka

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!

Menu page 2 of 2 from their IG stories (as of 9/24/22)

Strawberry Bingsu. So good!

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Meat Jun Plate and Teri Chicken

Cham Cham Korean BBQ

3.8(200 reviews)

0.6 mi

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.

Stopped by recently on a Saturday afternoon. In years prior, you would be greeted nicely by staff…read more Instead, upon entering we were glanced at so we sat ourselves. The sole waitress was not friendly at all and seemed more preoccupied with leaving work on time than taking our order. Tried to order a couple of items and was told, "I don't think we have that?" The food is not the same quality or quantity as before. The banchan that was served to us was either overcooked or salty. Seafood pancake was flavorless. Spicy pork was not spicy at all. We placed a take-out order while eating our food. We drove all the way home only to find out that we were given someone else's order. Banchan choices for take-out and dine-in are limited. The only positive about our experience at Cham Cham was the shift change with the waitstaff. The waitress who took over was attentive and friendly. I would not recommend this place to anyone who enjoys Korean food or who is expecting the same Cham Cham as years prior.

Black Bean Noodles ~

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Outside. You'll miss it.

Kalbi Express

3.3(70 reviews)

0.4 mi

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.

Kalbi Express, located in the Waiākea Center Food Court. Take-out, dine-in, delivery.

Vegetable Plate w/o Rice: 5 banchan choices. (4 choices w/ rice)

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Kalbi plate

Tenkatori Hilo

4.9(136 reviews)

0.1 mi

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!

Table seating for dining

Kaarage bento

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Orchids, from loyal customer for one year anniversary

Arirang Korean Kitchen

4.4(53 reviews)

0.1 mi

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.

We tried the kalbi & Korean chicken combo. For the four sides, we got gobo, bok choy, eggplant, and…read moredaikon. All of the sides were great, and the kalbi was also good. It's a small place with only a few tables. We sat at one of the small tables, but most people were ordering food to go. Service was friendly and relatively fast, and parking was easy & convenient.

Inside

Meat Jun & chicken katsu plate

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Kum Yo's Okazuya

4.0(49 reviews)

0.1 mi

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!!

Yassss

Everything is so good!

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Meat jun and mandoo

H & K Lunch Shop

4.3(69 reviews)

0.7 mi

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.

Location

2 choice spicy pork and meat jun

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Beef and fish Kim bap and chicken Katsu and meat jun bento

Restaurant Kenichi

4.1(500 reviews)

1.2 mi

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.

Sizzling NY Steak

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Korean Chicken Salad

688 K Bar And grill

3.6(11 reviews)

1.5 mi

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

Food is good, service is nice, if they busy be patient. Get one girl that sing good karaoke…read moresometimes.

Aunty Yong's Homemade Corned Beef Hash!

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Aunty Yong's Pupu Menu

Moon & Turtle

4.6(876 reviews)

1.9 mi

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.

Limited seating so it fills fast - so make a reservation

Market fish (Ono)

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Market Fish - steamed mahi with garlic, ginger, scallion and soy in roasted bone congee with chili oil and wild rice

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Steve S.

7

93

140

10 years ago

Very excellent Japanese food restaurant took a friend there she was kind of hesitant but after going she said I found a new place to go and it looks like they have a nice bar in the back read more

Restaurant Osaka - japanese - Updated October 2026

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Cham Cham Korean BBQ

3.8

(200 reviews)

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.

Stopped by recently on a Saturday afternoon. In years prior, you would be greeted nicely by staff…read more Instead, upon entering we were glanced at so we sat ourselves. The sole waitress was not friendly at all and seemed more preoccupied with leaving work on time than taking our order. Tried to order a couple of items and was told, "I don't think we have that?" The food is not the same quality or quantity as before. The banchan that was served to us was either overcooked or salty. Seafood pancake was flavorless. Spicy pork was not spicy at all. We placed a take-out order while eating our food. We drove all the way home only to find out that we were given someone else's order. Banchan choices for take-out and dine-in are limited. The only positive about our experience at Cham Cham was the shift change with the waitstaff. The waitress who took over was attentive and friendly. I would not recommend this place to anyone who enjoys Korean food or who is expecting the same Cham Cham as years prior.

Arirang Korean Kitchen

4.4

(53 reviews)

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.

We tried the kalbi & Korean chicken combo. For the four sides, we got gobo, bok choy, eggplant, and…read moredaikon. All of the sides were great, and the kalbi was also good. It's a small place with only a few tables. We sat at one of the small tables, but most people were ordering food to go. Service was friendly and relatively fast, and parking was easy & convenient.

Restaurant Miwa

3.6

(172 reviews)

We came here for my mom's birthday dinner…read more We sat towards the back of the restaurant where it wasn't crowded for a Wednesday night. When we walked in, there was a private party in the room to the right and the patrons sitting through the rest of the restaurant. What I liked about it was that the staff seems to have sit people strategically apart to reduce the noise as we really didn't hear any other party which was nice. My friends and I arrived a little later than the rest of the party as it was a surprise to my parents that we were coming, as I live in California. We ordered the calamari and sashimi plate as appetizers. We ordered the wafu steak (2x), the combination (x3) and tempura udon. I am allergic to shellfish and asked only for vegetable tempura with my udon. And they made the accommodations. Which was very much appreciated. The service was fast and friendly and I would recommend coming here on any day to eat their food.

It's always surprising when you enjoy an unexpectedly pleasant dinner! But even more of a surprise…read morewhen it feels like home. This unassuming Japanese restaurant is buried in the back of shopping center, but it is a hidden gem. Buried in the deepest corner of the shopping center, this restaurant is the gold at the end of the rainbow. We dined a little later in the evening, on a rainy Sunday night...and there were still people coming in to eat! All the waitstaff were so nice. They helped us with the menu and always kept our tea and water filled. The service was top notch. We were hungry and ended up ordering a lot of food. We had... Asparagus tempura Hamachi Kama Negi-hama maki Futomaki California roll Dinner combination with sashimi, tempura, and pork shogayaki Mud pie ice cream Everything was delicious, but the hamachi kama, negi-hama maki, futomaki, and the pork shogayaki were exceptional. We would definitely order the mud pie ice cream again as well. We will be back for more Japanese food for sure...this is such a cozy home away from home!

Sakura Sushi & Grill

3.7

(290 reviews)

•$$$

Lots of parking, easy access for wheelchairs. The staff were very friendly, attentive and…read moreaccommodating. Lunch portions sizes was just right for me and prices are reasonable.

Food 4/5 - Ordered a sakura boat and unagi don. The sashimi/nigiri in the sakura boat was high…read morequality and fresh, as the texture was soft with no hints of being frozen. The roll was good, nothing to write home about. Unagi don was good, although slices for the unagi were on the thinner side. Miso soup was nice and hot. Price $$ - Price is fair with the portions that are served. Service 3/5 - Service is average, they did make a round to refill our drinks. Ambiance 4/5 - Interior is good with Japanese themed decor. Overall - Had a pleasant experience and would visit again.

H & K Lunch Shop

4.3

(69 reviews)

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.

Nori's Saimin & Snacks

3.5

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This place is great! Old school saimin. Excellent grilled fish. Very nostalgic. Just wish they…read morewere open 7 days a week. But I'll take what I can get Friday-Sunday.

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Moms

4.1

(128 reviews)

Food is okay, service is not great, we have to wait for a refill as our server (we feel like)…read moreflirting with a customer, and she did not pay attention to what we need like water, etc, ambiance is okay.

Got takeout for someone's birthday dinner, so I can't speak to the dine-in experience. We got a few…read morerolls to split -- all were exactly what you'd expect. The guy who took our order was awesome. An old menu we found online showed they carried unagi donburi, but the more recent menus no longer showed it as an option. The guy we spoke to on the phone to place our order was awesome -- he told us he could make anything we wanted so, alas, we got an unagi donburi. It was also tasty, but nothing you wouldn't expect. The udon we got was really good and felt like the most unique thing we had ordered, however, it was a little on the salty side. Overall a great experience and a great addition to the Japanese food scene in Hilo

Sunlight Cafe

3.4

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A delightful dinner at this Hilo cafe. It's always been here and never lets me down. I enjoyed the…read moreteishoku with friends and family and would highly recommend it for anyone who wants a nice meal away from the tourist spots. Excellent service and quiet ambiance with locals.

Scenery is nice, very casual. Their food is good and the price is reasonable. Will be combing back…read moreagain

Tenkatori Hilo

4.9

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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!

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