Ja Gal Chi Restaurant

Surprisingly legitimate Korean restaurant in Honolulu! Banchans were good — great kimchi — and a very extensive menu full of comfort foods. Things like grilled fish, Sullungtang, and ox knee beef soup (doganitang). Beef tendon lovers, come!
The area is a little sketchy though, but the food is good.

This is not a reflection of the food. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and the service throughout the meal was adequate. This review is based off of what happened after the meal.
When our party of 9 paid our bill and were ready to leave, I had originally left the tip on the table. I noticed that there were a lot of people standing near the table, waiting in line to use the restroom at which point anyone could have stepped over and grabbed it. I took the tip off the table and put it in the tip jar next to the register to ensure that they would receive it (the jar was empty.)
One of my friends was the last to leave, while the rest of our party had already left. According to him, when he stepped out the door the hostess/​waitress ran after him, scolded him for our party for leaving without leaving a gratuity then DEMANDED he leave a tip before he left. He felt bad for what happened then gave her whatever cash he had on him. This person basically robbed our friend. We left a 20% tip and she did not bother to check the tip jar! Instead she accused the dishwasher of stealing it and yelled at her to give it back then ran outside after my friend.
I then received a call from the owner later that evening, apologizing for the situation. I asked if the hostess or owner bothered to check the jar, she said no. Then I asked her to check in the jar as we were on the phone and she said someone had already taken it. I kept questioning her and she just kept saying sorry to me louder with each word as if it would make the situation go away and hung up. She didn’t bother to try to make the situation right, nor did they offer to return the extra money they stole from my friend.
If your business treats your customers this way, you can be sure I won’t be returning and will be telling everyone about this.

I love places like this! I would have never discovered this place because it’s sorta hidden. A gf introduced me to this place today because we were craving Korean food. We ordered quite a bit! We had Kim chee jun pancake, tofu kimchee soondoboo and Bibimbap. They also give you complimentary ban chan (side dishes). Prices are really reasonable here too! They also have lunch special plates as well.

This place is great for eating either alone, or with friends. The banchan is pretty good, and the main courses are reasonably priced.
I personally like leaner cuts of pork for spicy pork, but I know folks like fatty pork too. This place leans toward the fatty cuts on spicy pork. Delicious either way!

Very reasonable price if you are craving for Korean quick fix! Hot stone Bibimbop is good… seafood meat Jun is good… banchan are not as impressive thou… tofu hotpot a bit weak in my book but a comfort food.

Found this place on Unilocal.Clean, cozy and wonderful service. This place is affordable and delicious. We ordered stone pot bi bim bap, kalbi, meat Jun and done cold noodles. Loved every bite of it. Definitely recommend the kalbi and the stone pot. The small dishes with Kim chi and stuff was soo yummy too. They also use delicious better rice, looks a little purple.
Even better, they have lunch prices and they also open very early. You wont regret this place. We will be back. Thank you

Solid 4 star Korean restaurant. Nothing fancy but the food is like Mom makes and it’s delicious. The reason I am giving 4 stars is that I’ve had better such as Chogaljib but it’s a lot cheaper. The comfort food served here is pretty spot on. With only one person serving and manning the register, you better ask for everything you need in the beginning. They do however provide a cold jug of water so you can refill you glass.
I will definitely go back and you should too if you want a more authentic taste for your Korean fix.

Not local Korean BBQ, generous portion, less sweet and very delicious. Parking is a problem, get street parking if you find one nearby.

Gamsatang last night, hit tge spot. It was so good not having it for a longtime. Server was like always nice, pleasent and fun

Catching a cold so I wanted to get Samgae Tang. The other place I went to before wasn’t very good so I checked out Unilocal and I was convinced to try this place out. It’s very close by which is very good since I wasn’t feeling very well.
Parking — tough. Lucky my husband came along so I was able to go inside to pick up my soup while he stayed in the car. This is the only reason I took away a star.
There were two ladies inside who greeted me and were very pleasant. Maybe they just felt sorry for me because I was looking sick! The inside of the restaurant looked clean and nice. It didn’t stink at all like I read in another review of this place.
Food — Samgae Tang isn’t a very flavorful dish compared to the many other Korean dishes available but I was very pleasantly surprised at how yummy the broth tasted. It was just what was needed to perk me up. I chewed the ginseng to get as much of its medicinal properties as I could and it was very sweet. The banchan was the best I’ve ever had with take out. Ali’i mushrooms, seaweed, bean sprouts, kimchi, and radish kimchi. All were yummy! My husband kept picking at them and I almost smacked his hand away!
Today’s experience has made me decide that I want to go back to try out all their other menu options. If it’s as good as today this place just might be my go to for my Korean fix!

First time came here with friends had the Xue Nong T’ang (beef soup) and it was great. The color of the soup was snow white, the taste was light yet full of beef flavor. The panchan was flavorful and we had our spicy radishes refilled because it was so good with the soup & rice. Did I mention the rice? They offered us purple colored rice and it was great.
Today (8÷8÷15) I’m here again with my sis because I want her to try their soup and other dishes. We have bi bam bap, short rib soup, and vegetables tofu soup.

Sadly disappointed.
This place used to be pretty good, but tonight I suppose I was not having it.
The service was a rude. The lady was a bit irritated that she had to swing by our table three times because we were not ready to order the first time.
Sorry not sorry but my friend I brought was unfamiliar with traditional Korean food, why would I rush her to order within 10 minutes of sitting down?
For dinner my friend got the seafood soondoobu and I got the cold buckwheat noodle in beef broth.
Both were just okay. The seafood was non-​existent and the cold buckwheat was not as cold as other places I’ve liked.
Service didn’t come to check up on us to refill our water or restock our ban chan. Also, when I had left overs and asked for boxes, she only gave me one for my soup and not for the left over ban chan. Upon asking her for a small box for the rest of my left overs, she stared «why, you already have one box». Uhhh lady that was for my soup? But no thanks anyway.
Tonight just wasn’t the greatest, even the place smelt like dirty water with sticky table tops.
:(Until never, Jal Gal Chi!

I expected better with the ratings this place had… way better.
The kimchee fried rice was soggy and sour.
The tofu kimchee dish was average. I have definitely had better.
The banchan side dishes were just below par at best. There are some Korean spots where you can just feast on the banchan side dishes alone… but not here. not even.
On a positive note, the service was great and the hostess was very nice but this wouldnt be my first pick… nor my second. Matter of fact I wouldn’t even go back. sowwy. #ontothenext
=(

When I’m sick, Samgyetang (chicken-​ginseng soup) from Ja Gal Chi Restaurant chases the sniffles away. I order Samgyetang whenever I see it on a menu and Ja Gal Chi’s is the closest to my favorite restaurant in Myeongdong. A small chicken is stuffed with mochi rice, date, and garlic, and simmered with ginseng until it’s literally breakable with a spoon.
My other go to order is a combo, tasty Sundubu Jjigae with a fried Yellow Corvina. It’s perfect with the accompanying Purple Rice and Ban Chan.
Of course they also have all the other dishes you’re looking for Mandoo Soup, Meat and Fish Jun, Kalbi, Spicy Pork, BBQ Chicken, and Topokki.
You gotta overlook the Korean TV playing in the background and the brisk service from the Korean Ajummas, but the food is fresh. Plus they have a private room that can seat 8 and cater, so think of picking up a pan for your next event.

This is my go-​to place for Korean takeout. I did enjoy dining here too, but these days, lunch is always on the go. I like that they pack your food so nice and neat in recycled beer boxes and they keep the cold ban chun seperate from the hot purple rice.
I really enjoy their soon dubu and meat jun. There’s also the exotic beef intestine stir-​fry that got me hook to this place ever since my personal Korean ambassador brought me here just to try that dish several years ago. The kim chee stew is another go-​to nosh. Even the bi bim baps, both hot & cold styles, are full of flavor and always filling. The hot one comes out in the hot stone bowl with rice, whereas the cold one is served in the iconic Korean silver bowl with lettuce and a side of salad dressing. Found that out the hard way.
One thing that sets this place above the rest of Koreamoku Street’s abundant Korean food joints is their low prices. At lunch time, you can walk out with paying less than $ 10 and you’re stuffed. They pack in pretty big portions for their lunch specials. But if you call for takeout, remember to ask for sauces, especially if you get the meat jun.
The sucky part is the parking situation. The private lot is shared with so many shops, majority of the lot is taken up by tenants. And the corner where Ja Gal Chi is located at can get really tricky with maneuvering to park. I suggest having a wing man run in for the food.

Ja Gal Chi is truly a gem for fans of Korean food. You can still find «local» style items like meat jun and kalbi but you can find some great soon do bu/​tofu soup and my favorite aged soy bean soup. aka smelly natto stew! A joy to the nose of natto fans and delicious to the palette!
Their kim chee pork is also a delicious companion with a boiling bowl of hot spicy stew too! They also have some of the greatest purple multigrain rice. It goes really well with the food and not found at most Korean restaurants.
It’s a very small restaurant with about ten tables, two private rooms in the back, and usually there’s only one waitress totally busting her butt to keep everyone happy and satisfied. If you want to try some REAL korean food where you’ll find most of the people eating speaking Korean as their first language… go where the Korean’s go. Ja Gal Chi!

Korea-​moku! Okay, Ja Gal Chi isn’t really on Keeaumoku aka Korea-​moku as my partner in crime likes to say. It’s off of Young street in a tiny little lot near Spero Spera. The restaurant itself is a good sized place with two separate seating areas as well as a private room it seems. There are specials posted around the restaurant in addition to the menu. From what I’ve seen, you are served a bowl of rice (purple in color… taste good), and banchan to accompany your order. I usually get the spicy beef and vegetable soup to go. I also enjoy the kimchee soup but there isn’t much meat in the soup (pork) and sometimes the pork can be a bit fatty. If they made a beef kimchee soup, I’d totally eat that :)
Overall, the dishes are cooked well, and are consistent which I think is important when eating at places.
I deducted a star simply for the parking… it’s a mess in there especially around lunch time. I suggest having a friend come along if you’re doing take out as you’ll likely have to double park. :(

Great service, and yummy food ^_^ !
I ordered the Spicy Beef Bibimbap, which came with a purple grain rice (favorite!) in sizzling hot stone pot. The spicy beef was tasty, but I wished it came with vegetables & gochujang because it was quite bland. I added some banchan, but really wished it came with gochujang, maybe I should have asked. My boyfriend ordered a spicy beef and vegetable soup, since he was sick, and it was pretty good. I’ll try one of their soups next time, I’ve been hearing their soon du bu is good. I’ll definitely come again & reupdate!

There are certain restaurants that you find yourself going to frequently, and Ja Gal Chi is a place I’ve been coming to for YEARS. And when I say years, I mean ever since middle school days. Nothing about the way they look or operate is gonna amaze you. In fact, you might be a little sketched out by the Young St. location. However, if you open your mind a bit and give it chance (as well as maneuver the atrociously designed parking lot), I think you’ll discover a new favorite Korean spot.
The food is standard fare for your usual «hole in the wall”-ish Korean place, but the flavors and care that goes into preparation really stands out. The seasoning they use for their marinates makes their kalbi and bulgogi really exceptional; your inner meatasaurus rex will thank you. And they definitely do not skimp on the banchan (side dishes) and will bring you refills per request. And did I forget to mention that they offer all-​day and lunch specials? Nothing says comfort like a big bowl of soup. Soondooboo, anyone? Delish! But my hands down favorite thing on the menu is their soondaeguk. For those of you unaware of what soondae is, the best way I can describe it would be a Korean style blood sausage… basically it’s a stuffed pig’s intestine. WAIT! STOP! DON’T RUN AWAY! Now, I know on paper that sounds quite unappetizing, but I swear it’s soooooooooo good. Easily one of my favorite comfort foods. Anyway, soondaeguk uses those sausages and makes a spicy soup with them. Of all the places in Hawaii I’ve tried, Ja Gal Chi does their soondaeguk the best.

What can I say… I loves me some Korean food!!! This past Sunday I was able to meet up with my friends for a delicious meal… Ja Gal Chi was the spot of choice yesterday.
What can I say about this place… a small hole in the wall place, tucked away on Young Street near the backside of the First Interstate Building.
Lately I’ve been on a MEAT mood! All I can think about is Meat, Meat, Meat!!! I feel like I’m 18 again, when all I wanted to do is lift weights, and eat MEAT!!!
Lucky for me, my friend was very accommodating and ordered me up some Kalbi, and Pigs Feet. Whaaaaaat, Pigs Feet??? Yeah, I know… yuck yeah! I don’t even eat Chinese pigs feet, so when my friend wanted to order this… I thought to myself…“Is this meat?” — And the correct answer to that is — «YES»!!!
I then told her…“I’m gonna man up & try something new! Order up!“
Well I’m glad she did this, because it was really, really good! I enjoyed the interesting bite size texture of the pigs feet meat, and the two different sauces which came with the pigs feet.
Of course, Kalbi is Kalbi… but when they leave the big bone on the meat, and I get to gnaw on it like an animal… how could you go wrong with this??? Lol!!!
We also had a wonderful tofu type of soup, as well as a Kim Chee pancake, a butterfish, and lots of banchan.
Another thing I found interesting was the purple rice that the restaurant provided. I guess they must mix their rice with something to get it purple, but it tasted great!
There is limited parking if the private parking lot, as the parking is shared by other businesses in the complex. Service was excellent, as the waitress kept coming back to fill my water, as well as replenishing our banchan. Food came out fast, hot, & fresh!
Overall a great dining experience with great friends! What better way to spend your Sunday evening? Check ‘em out gang!