Young’s Kalbee

My favorites at Young’s is their big bone Kalbi, meat jun and barbecue chicken. When I’m in the mood for Kalbi, Young’s big bone, as opposed to the thin sliced rib is the way to go. It is the most expensive item on the menu, but worth it, believe me. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The meat jun comes with a delicious container of sauce and I usually get an extra sauce because one is not enough for all that meat jun. The barbecue chicken is perfectly marinated and grilled. All items have very generous portions. If you are taking out, call your order in ahead of time.

This was my family’s first time and it was amaaazing… they have the best meat jun that I have ever tasted in my opinion… that dipping sauce that comes with it goes well with every meat… I heard they were known for their kalbi, but I thought they tasted ok in a good way… the side daikon kim chee is also delisssh. highly recommeded

My co-​worker introduced me to this place when it was still across the street.(under Aiea Bowling Alley) They have the Best Meat Jun on the island! It’s a little oily but the meat is so thick and juicy or is it oily? lol Either way its Suuuper Onooo!!!
I also had a piece of their Kal Bee which is the best kalbee I’ve ever had but I can’t afford to eat that for lunch too often so I stick with the Meat Jun.
Last, the owner is super nice and friendly!

I know meat jun and chicken katsu are both not your traditional korean fare but that is what I end up ordering every single time I come here. Food quality is consistently good and full of flavor. I would say Young’s is my favorite casual korean place and couldn’t be happier it’s close by. Vegetable sides are excellent and the other meats including the kalbi are awesome from I can tell when sampling friends’ food (yea, I’m that guy.)
The lady who works there everyday and I assume is the owner, is really the nicest lady. I prefer dining in so that I get the miso soup and heaping pile of kimchi which she’s happy to refill. Only thing is that they close relatively early so try to get there before 7:45pm or your only option will be take out and that’s not as fun.

Fantastic meat Jun. Lunch special was good, BBQ chicken was ok. Super nice owner.

Awesome, good price. Fresh nice local style Korean food! Had lunch special and Kook soo boilld somen noodle! Side dishes were outstanding. I liked the dry turnip! Had three serving!

I don’t care about lack of parking, what it looks like in there, what her service is like, etc… she makes theeeee bombest kalbi, ever! Even her banchans are so frickin good! Her service is pretty homely, actually. She used to be a customer of mine when I worked at the bank she banked with at the time. However, I had never eaten at her restaurant then. It was only until I moved away then come home for a visit will I stop-​in. Matter-​of-​fact, my mom introduced me to the place. By that time, she didn’t remember me from the bank.
Apparently, my mom goes there more than enough that she knows my mom. Maybe that’s why her service feels homely? You can tell when she has her all business face on, and when she is relaxed. Either way, it doesn’t matter because you come to eat… and she will feed you good stuff. She’s pretty nice. She runs the show out there so if it is hectic, you gotta excuse her because she is working that front as a 1-​man show.
I definitely won’t recommend bringing strollers in there as there isn’t much room for that. She can get pretty busy, with limited seating, you will definitely have to wait. I PROMISE YOU IT IS WORTH WHATEVER WAITING YOU GOTTA DO.
When you go… please eat the kalbi and meat jun. You have failed yourself if you didnt! Lol. Highly highly recommend.

My wife and I split the dinner special. It consisted of two pieces of kalbi, two pieces of barbecue chicken and some meat jun along with an assortment of Korean vegetables and rice.
Everything was delicious. There was more than enough food for the two of us.
Service was prompt and friendly.
As for ambiance, the place is kind of a dive.
Total meal price was $ 17.25. That’s not bad for feeding two people.
This place deserve four stars.

On my initial visit, I went to Young’s Kalbee on a Tuesday … and I was disappointed to find out, after going there, that they were closed! They should NOT put «open daily» on their menu if they’re closed on Tuesdays … especially because that’s sort of an odd day of the week to be closed!
Anyway, the next time my family and I went was a Sunday evening for dinner. We just got take-​out and I called ahead so we wouldn’t have to wait. Young’s is in the same plaza as Hughley’s Southern Cuisine and Queen Street Café; there are limited stalls in front of the eatery itself, but you can find parking anywhere else in the plaza.
The prices at Young’s are a little heftier than compared to other plate lunch places, but it’s because of the sheer amount of food you get. My plate was simply overflowing with katsu. The quality of food was excellent, but just because of the price, I wouldn’t be able to eat here every single week.
Definitely one of the best local spots I’ve been to so far. Can’t wait until my next visit!
Here’s what we got:
«Regular Chicken Katsu Plate»: This entrée features chicken cutlet that’s breaded with panko and fried. All plate lunches include rice, vegetables and kim chee. The rice didn’t even come in the plate; it came on the side in foil and I believe it was three scoops. Instead, the plate itself was packed with two generous slabs of chicken, the veggies and kim chee! I was completely surprised to see how much food they included once I opened my container. At first, I thought they had forgotten to pack my katsu sauce in the container, but after calling the restaurant, they told me that the same sauce used for meat jun serves as katsu sauce as well. That’s part of what makes this katsu so distinct. The chicken itself was succulent and flavorful; super moist and tender, with a melt-​in-​your-​mouth type of consistency. Never thought I would be able to describe katsu that way, but it was delicious. The breaded exterior was on point and it wasn’t too crunchy to appreciate. But the meat jun sauce actually makes this dish a sheer winner because it adds a slightly sweet flavor to the katsu … unexpected but addicting! They give you two small containers, but had I known how good the combo would be, I would have asked for at least one more.
«Bibim Kook Soo»: My mom deviated from her normal «Fried Man Doo» plate to get this noodle dish. The entrée featured noodles, vegetables and your choice of beef or chicken (she chose chicken). It includes lots of veggies, but I liked the dish because the noodles were really soft and I didn’t feel oily or heavy after eating it. There are also generous chunks of tender chicken throughout. This is a good choice if you don’t feel like eating something fried from this place.
«Kalbee and BBQ Chicken»: My dad opted for this combo because it includes the best of both worlds. You get that tasty, flavorful BBQ chicken, as well as the hearty kalbee. He enjoyed every component of the dish, saying everything tasted excellent. Like all other plate lunch entrees, this included vegetables, rice and kimchee.
«Fish Jun»: On my next Young’s visit, I’m looking forward to trying this entrée. I know the meat jun is really popular, as it features seasoned beef that’s dipped in egg and fried. But, since this entrée features fish instead, I’m sure I’ll love it … love fish, especially if it has that same seasoning and a similar texture!

This review has been long overdue. I’ve been going youngs for at least 10 years now. Possibly longer. Introduced here by my friend who lived in aiea, I keep coming back and bringing more friends to try.
The chicken katsu and meat jun is hands down the best on the island! I’ve eaten at so many other places but this is my absolute favorite. It just taste so good and the plates are always packed to the max! Dip it in the house sauce or don’t because it’s good no matter what!
If you do dine here, be patient as she is working really hard taking care of the dining room as well as phone orders. If you want to eat at home, be sure to call and place your order because it can take some time.
Just try it out whenever you are in the area of aiea town square, you won’t be disappointed.

They have the best meat jun, fish jun and kalbi. Everything is tasty! I used to come here all the time when I lived in Hawaii. The owner has a memory like an elephant! I haven’t been here in a long time, she still remembers me and my family.

This is the second stop of Den’s meat jun marathon.
I have finally isolated the meat jun variable. One word: marinate. Marinated meat is absolutely KEY to make stellar meat jun. Most places rely on the sauce to make the meat jun good, but Young’s relies on the meat to make the meat jun good. No brainer.
The meat jun meat is packed with flavor, tender and downright delicious. The mandoo. OMG. It’s perfection-​soft and chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The chicken had some charred parts but overall tender and tasty. The katsu was also juicy on the inside and crispy and golden on the outside.
Young’s earned five stars because of their consistency. Many places have one star of the show but I was impressed with everything.

Sometimes, you just need to feed the hunger with Korean barbecue. I did just that, while sightseeing in Aiea on a recent October Sunday. Definitely a treat.
It was quite nice to be able to explore outside of Honolulu once in a while. I discovered Young’s Kalbee while hanging around the Aiea Shopping Center, after having frozen yogurt from the Samurai frozen yogurt and snack shop. I’ve heard about this place from others before, but haven’t been here in person till recently. While Young’s Kalbee isn’t in Aiea shopping center, it’s located across the street in a cluster of shops and restaurants. It’s located at 1234 Aiea Place Drive and centrally located in the heart of Aiea. This visit to Young’s Kalbee was short, brief, and quite good. The expectations were high and it ended up quite well. Good things are here at Young’s Kalbee.
For a place that calls itself Kalbee, they most likely make it their signature dish. Although the Kalbee seemed more than appropriate for this foodie trip, I really wanted some fish jun, since I haven’t had that in so long. Sometimes, every day eat outs tend to be rewards, if you’ve never been to a cuisine, revisiting favorites, or just rediscovering lost loves. So, I got the fish jun plate and all was right with the world. Maybe next time, I’ll try the Kalbee and see what’s going on. I arrived here during lunchtime and kind of went to town. I’m glad that Young’s Kalbee accepts major credit cards, so that’s always a plus. The restaurant itself was smaller than I thought it would be, but that’s how it is sometimes. The service here was pretty smooth and quite good, as far as fast food counters go. It’s like Yummy’s Korean Barbeque set up, but better.
The restaurant itself is clean and quite nice. A few tables to suit your fancy if you choose to eat there. While I did take out and ate at the Aiea Shopping Center Starbucks — with the wifi, air condition, and smooth atmosphere, it was a compliment to having Korean Barbeque on a random Sunday before flying to Portland, Oregon the next weekend to pick off a marathon. And so, it was nice to feast on the fish nun for the protein and carb load on the rice. I ordered extra vegetables to complete the meal, while having a venti caramel frapouchino to seal the deal. For what it’s worth, the meal was good and brought back the tastes of Korean barbecue.
Quite a difference from Yummy’s and Gina’s. Prices here are average for Korean barbecue, but not decent enough to get some sort of real value. Food here is good and delicious though. I’d recommend it if you are needing a alternative.
Support local!
B+

This place is yummy!!! The parking can be a hassle at times, but at least it’s free. They are always busy and the place is small with limited tables. It’s worth the wait though. I always order the meat jun. It’s soooo good and the sauce that comes with it compliments it perfectly. The portions are big, but it’s a little pricy. I paid over $ 13 for a meat jun plate.

You haven’t lived until you had this ladies Bi Bim Bap and kimchee.
Just saying .
Portions are huge.

My husband’s co-​worker recommended this place to us, and after reading the Unilocal reviews we decided to try it out. Everyone raved about their meat jun, a personal favorite of mine, saying it was the best they ever had.
I knew upon getting there, that it was a small little place and the Korean lady might be mad face so I was ready. The dining area was small, but it was clean. The lady greeted us, and had «angry face» on for a minute but after a while she warmed up.
I ordered the Special with bbq chicken, meat jun, and kalbi. My husband got the bbq plate with chicken, beef, and kalbi. They came with these big balls or rice wrapped in foil, and veggie sides of bean sprouts, seaweed, and kim chee. The sides were lacking to say the least; very small portions. The flavor of the beans were non-​existent, but the seaweed and kim chee was pretty good. The bbq chicken was good, good flavor. The kalbi was nice too, nice sized portions actually. The bbq beef I didn’t care for but my husband seemed to like it. And the meat jun… was pretty bomb.
I can’t confidently say that it is the best ever, but it’s right there at the top. I think I would have to try a few other places and that place again to confirm but that MEAT JUN IS ON POINT!!! You can tell they marinate it very well, because it is just dropping with flavor. The meat was very VERY soft and tender and there wasn’t too much egg on it, the perfect ratio actually.
I recommend like the others to get it take out (I included the menu for your convenience), and make sure you eat it fresh for the best result. I had my leftover the next day, and while still good it wasn’t as awesome as it was fresh. They accept phone orders and all major credit cards!
I will most definitely come back for that meat jun again. I’ve heard that the meat jun can be hit or miss, but I guess we will see. Even driving from Ewa I might consider making the trek and fighting the traffic just to get their meat jun again.

First timer here, and I must say the meat Jun was amazing. The service was awesome, and quite fast. I swear after sitting down for just a couple of minutes, we were already served with our food, amazing. I love places where you don’t have to wait for your food, especially when you’re hungry. The side dishes were awesome, and the mandoo is to die for :)

I’ve been coming here for several years now, and for good reason. Their meatjun will always have a special place in my heart. The service may be a little slow at times, but for a place consistently busy, what do you expect?
Their mandoo is also something out of this world. It’s made in-​house, and paired with their dipping sauce it may arguably be the best mandoo. Ever.

By far the best korean BBQ on the island.
What makes this place so rockin is that they marinate the meat before cooking so it has a nice savory sweetness to it.
The meat jun meat itself is sweet so sauce isn’t even necessary, but if you do decide to use it, it is delicious. I believe it is the same sauce they marinate the meat with.
Same goes for the chicken katsu. Oh so crispy outside, tender, sweet and moist juicy inside.
The kim chi and sides are also so ono. I could eat that itself as a meal!
Food may take a while to come out but it’s because they run a three man operation. One person at reg, one tending to seated customers and I believe one cook back there. It’s worth the wait!

I walked into Young’s Kalbee and almost did an about face…
The Korean lady that was working didn’t look too pleasant and the guy seemed very non chalant to the point of not caring. Still, I decided to give it a chance and sat my butt down in a chair.
There were a few other folks eating, which is saying a lot since the place is small and seems to have all of 6 tables. Most people seemed to call in orders for take out. The menu was not exactly inviting and my mind wandered to the last time it was wiped down…
I ordered the lunch special which consisted of a few things to include kalbi and meat jun. Ahhh, meat jun… the most bizarre thing I’ve encountered in terms of being a Korean dish. As I said in other posts, we don’t serve that in Korea. or other parts of the country where Koreans are a plenty. such as L.A., New York or Norther Virginia!
Anyway, didn’t like my previous encounter with it… so I’m not sure why I tried it again. But you know what? IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! And its not that my palate is saying oh yeah, have some egg battered meat. It was really really good. The meat was tender and not full of gristle like at other locations. I finally understand the lure. The kalbi was decent, not as greasy as other plate lunches I’ve had. And surprisingly — even though the banchan (side dishes) were sparse, they were all very tasty.
It’s a hole in the wall folks. And I think they do enough to make sure they pass the food safety inspection. But its not going to be glamorous, nor even THAT comfortable. If you are looking for high end dining, keep on walking. If you want pretty good Korean food, this is the place.
The Korean lady warmed up to us after I started talking to her in Korean. So don’t think its a race thing… I think they are really friendly with their regulars, not so much with new comers. But hey, we all become regulars at some point!
Parking — pretty much non existent in the front of the restaurant so park towards the back. Overall, solid 4 stars. Don’t let the immediate lack of warmth from the staff keep you from enjoying some good food.