




O'kims Korean Kitchen
About
A Taste of Seoul in the Heart of Honolulu
Stepping into O'kims Korean Kitchen offers a departure from the typical tourist fare found near the urban core of Honolulu. Chef Byoung Gwan Kim brings a refined, home-style approach to traditional Korean flavors, focusing on high-quality ingredients that prioritize taste over flash. The menu is a love letter to balanced, soul-warming cuisine, featuring standout dishes like the signature Bulgogi bowl, where the thin-sliced beef is marinated to a perfect sweet-savory equilibrium, and their crispy, golden-fried dumplings that provide a satisfying crunch with every bite.
The Experience
The space carries an unpretentious, clean aesthetic that makes it ideal for a quick midday lunch or a relaxed dinner when you want quality without the white-tablecloth ceremony. You will often hear the soft clatter of metal chopsticks against stone bowls, a sound that signals a serious commitment to the craft. The environment is intimate, which is perfect for solo diners or small groups who prefer conversation over loud background music.
Local Nuances
While the food is consistently impressive, keep in mind that the restaurant's popularity means limited seating can fill up fast during the peak lunch rush. It is the kind of place where regulars know to arrive early to secure a table. If you are exploring the streets of downtown Honolulu and find yourself craving authentic banchan or a deeply flavorful kimchi jjigae, this kitchen delivers a genuine experience that reflects the culinary diversity of Oahu.
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Amenities & Features
Location
1028 Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96817-5117
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Reviews
Showing 3 of 39 community reviewsBritt McConnGoogle Maps
Recently
We were looking for authentic and delicious, and this James Beard semi-finalist sounded like an exciting option. We ordered dolsot bibimbap and the bbq chicken special. The dolsot was definitely hot enough and the rice was perfectly crispy. The beef was tender and the chicken had a smokey profile. The banchan was minimalist but had delicious kimchee. Excellent if casual service and snug but quaint outdoor seating. If we lived here it would definitely be a standard takeout for us. Highly recommended!
Big Fish Dive ClubGoogle Maps
Recently
Situated in a historical building that once served as the Headquarters of the Korean Federation in the early 1900s, this eatery is a true find. With its unassuming entrance and modest dining area, you wouldn’t immediately peg it as a "foodie’s choice," but the food tells a different story. While the menu is limited, the two dishes we ordered were excellent: • Wagyu Beef Dolsot Bibimbap: On par with some of the best versions found in Korea or Southern California. • Pork Belly: The texture was near perfection. While it is easy to prepare decent fatty pork, it is notoriously difficult to make the lean portion tender and digestible; here, the chef did an excellent job. Both were well prepared, except it was just a tad too sweet. I suppose fusion in Hawaii generally means making your dish sweeter than before. The meal was accompanied by two side dishes: an excellent kimchi and a pickled cauliflower that was both interesting and tasty. We sat on the back patio, which offered a breezy and enjoyable view of old brick walls and—yes—chickens. The service was friendly and attentive. This spot is a true "gem" in the heart of what was once a booming Chinatown.
Grace LeeGoogle Maps
Recently
First time visiting. The rating on Google was pretty high so we decided to try it. Not sure if I'll go back. Nice presentation on the food display and all but the prices were ridiculously expensive. It was not even anything specially made dishes either, just regular Korean food. Average Hot stone Bibimbap costs around $15 anywhere else but here it was $31. Regular Bibimbap costs between $10 and $12 anywhere else but here it was $18. And that's for only for veggie bibimbap. It will cost you extra $$$ if you want to add meat to your dish. I ordered chicken bibimbap which added up to be $21. Average bibimbap comes with some kind a meat anywhere else but here it will cost you extra. Galbi dish will cost you $31 but you only get a handful of cut up galbi pieces. For $31, you usually get a whole dish pile of Kalbi anywhere else. I usually order one order of galbi dish for around $30 and share it with someone. I don't mind paying a little more IF the dish tasted fantastic, even if it was just an ordinary Korean dish. But if it tasted average and expensive, then no way. Bottom line, it was not worth the money for me.
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