Kim Chee Restaurant
1020 Keolu Dr, Kailua, HI, 96734
Kim Chee Restaurant Menu
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Address :
1020 Keolu Dr
Kailua, HI, 96734 - Phone (808) 261-5719
- Website https://enchantedlakekimchee.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Merlene A.
Delicious and visually appealing kalbi, shrimp tempura and madoo with so many tasty sides (vegetables, Kim chee, curry, soup, macaroni salad, jello, etc). The service was fantastic and they ended the meal with carrot cake and jello...perfect meal.
(5)Rowena S.
Buffet is so worth it, only 12.99! definitely coming back :)
(5)Leah Y.
This restaurant has such a friendly and family-oriented atmosphere. You will always be greeted with a smile! The food is delicious and you can watch certain dishes being prepared by the chef on the television inside. Included with every entree is the all-you-can-eat salad bar complete with seaweed soup and kim chee, just to name a few. It may be a small restaurant in a nondescript strip mall but don't be fooled, your plates will come out looking as if you're dining in a gourmet restaurant. Love this place!
(4)Claire G.
I have been a patron of this restaurant for many years. It is one of the best Korean restaurants on this side of the island. Like many Korean restaurants, the dishes are prepared to suit the local flavor and cliental yet maintains the authenticity of ingredients. The presentation of the food is much like fine dining and one's eyes easy wander when the orders are presented at nearby tables. I also like to order take out food to entertain my guests at home. Such a warm and friendly place with Sarah exuding such great hospitality. There is a salt water aquarium at the entrance with a colorful array of fish that on occasion the children are invited to feed. I enjoy all the Korean dishes that are prepared there.
(5)Kimo C.
For those people looking for an authentic, Korean restaurant, this is the spot! First and foremost- I've come to learn that even locals do not know what real kalbi is till they've eaten hear...OMG, it is amazing! Since my family lives in Kailua and I typically only stop here for Kalibi ribs every time, the restaurant owner/manager invited me to sit in and try an assortment of different Korean dishes.... It was all amazing. I have no idea what I ate, but I've uploaded pictures. My advice would be to tell them what you've tried before and what type of dishes you may/may not like and they will give good recommendations for main dishes. All dishes comes with a few side options you can pick and choose from in a heated buffet warmer in the restaurant- lots of options- potatoes, corn, greens, Kim Chee, etc. Lastly, they just increased their prices a little. I've actually noticed this for all enchanted lakes restaurants, so the bldg management must have increased the overhead or something. But plan on spending a little more for good quality, authentic Korean food.
(4)Elizabeth B.
Beautiful plates...who does not love pretty food that taste great! A lot of effort was put into making our plate (the Kim Chee special for 2). The staff was so sweet and the vegetable bar was so yummy, as was the soup. We left very satisfied and so full !!
(5)Gary P.
Everything I've eaten here has been delicious. My favorite is the Kim Chee special. The vegetable bar, included with meal, has a terrific variety to choose from and everything is fresh. Soup and hot tea are also included. The owners are very friendly and the restaurant is extremely clean. Prices are a few dollars more than other Kailua Korean restaurants but the food quality, presentation, and taste far exceed other places. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants some delicious food in a great atmosphere. One of the best Korean spots on the Island.
(5)Jonathan W.
A great delicious meal. Their lunch buffet has a wide selection and the staff is amazing. I went in for a late lunch, and I had a selection of entrees. The food is a mix of authentic Korean, Korean Hawaiian, and fusion. All are great. I would recommend the buffet to anyone who likes a good variety. The owners are also super sweet and came out to talk to our group. It was like having relatives cook for you!
(5)Andrew H.
Amazing, delicious Korean food with 5 star service! Vegetable and soup buffet comes with Entree.
(5)Ryan W.
Great Korean food. Top notch service. I have been here multiple times (5+). Not once have I been disappointed with the overall experience here (I hope I did not just jinx it). From the outside, it does not look like a visually stunning restaurant. Located in a shopping center with ample parking. But when you enter the doors, you notice the walls are plastered with professional pictures of the chef making beautiful dishes as well as TV screens showing the process of how he creates the food. The decor is quite impressive to say the least. Service is superb. The owners are professional and warmly greet you as you enter and warmly wish you farewell as you leave. I've eaten here for both lunch buffet and dinner. The lunch buffet costs about $13 for a lot of food (meat jun, chicken katsu, spicy chicken, bbq chicken, and more), seaweed soup, sweet potato tempura, and Korean vegetables. Good food. Worth the price. Dinner plates are visually stunning and tasty. Great food. Dinner plates also come with a trip to the salad/vegetable buffet. It is slightly more expensive than other Korean restaurants (by only $1-4 more), but worth it. Do I recommend this place? Yes. Definitely. I'll be making a trip there again in the near future.
(5)Roy M.
The chicken and beef here are very good. The combination plates also include a vegetable bar with some nice selections. The service is among the friendliest we've found anywhere. The restaurant itself might be a little outdated-looking, but the food and service more than make up for that.
(5)Cintamani A.
Very friendly and inviting service. Very clean with a surprisingly attractive bathroom. The rest of the place is tacky yet bland. A large fish tank when you walk in with some truly gorgeous fish. When the owner got up on a ladder to feed them I could have sworn that that there was a black and white striped eel. Sadly, it was the most disappointing Korean food I've had. Plus, the costliest. Bland and subpar, under fried tempura and kalbi that is chunks of fat and was undercooked and not marinated as long as it should have. I've had better meals that were tastier from Peppa's than this restaurant. The owner is very nice and friendly but ridiculously loud. She's very personable so it's not terribly grating just somewhat shocking. The waitress was very sweet and kind. My companion commented that the cost of the dishes were expensive for what she's used to in town, the waitress whispered that she thought the food was too expensive. Should have known then that it would be disappointing. Intoxicated grossly inappropriate group that were so unpleasant that it drove customers away. They drove out eight people in under 20 minutes. I can't remember the last time I was so repulsed by a woman and the inane things she was spewing while desperately trying to gain attention away from the other drunkards. Worst yet was the fact that the owner encouraged them to stay. The tofu and eggplant was the only think I enjoyed. The Kim chee was not authentic. The mandoo was too doughy and undercooked yet fried. Never had a bad mandoo that's for sure. Worst kalbi I've ever had. We gave a generous tip to the sweet waitress who was shocked and touched that she got one. She then quickly glanced about and counted the money and stuck it in a pocket. I've never seen that before. It was pretty heart breaking. Perhaps living in town which has resulted in a high standard when it comes to Korean food just proves that there is a dire need for more (and better) Korean restaurants outside of Honolulu.
(1)Jonathan P.
Kim Chee at Enchanted Lake is by far the best Korean food I've ever had! Who knew such a place existed all the way out in Kailua! From the outside it looks like just a typical store nothing fancy but when you enter the first thing you see is an amazing fish tank filled with bright colorful fish, coral, and eels. After being seated you can see the chef's accomplishments (being various tv channels) and his signature dishes on posters around the restaurant. The food was fantastic and the presentation of each dish was amazing! I ordered and shared the dinner combo for two and it was HUGE! It was on one of the biggest plates I've ever seen and the presentation took me by surprise. There was a free standing tempura/onion ring, sculpture with curled taro chips! The dinner combo had meat jun, chicken katsu, barbecue chicken, and kalbi (each big enough for a small meal alone). And I can guarantee you'll be full after a meal like this! Another great thing was that there's a side buffet with each dinner entree! The buffet has rice and a variety of Korean vegetables as well as jello! Personally I thought the service was top notch! The owner was the main greeter, cashier, and even helped serve the food! She was so friendly! She made sure everything was to our liking and would ask if we needed any more food, or water. One of the nicest Korean ladies I've ever met. With excellent food presentation and service, I think Kim Chee at Enchanted Lake just became my new favorite Korean restaurant!
(5)Robert T.
This place has really good food. The owner and the employees are very nice. The price is a little high but you get a lot of food so it is well worth it. So if your in need for Korean BBQ this is the place to go to if your in Kailua.
(5)Charmaine C.
OMG this place is good. My first time going I was so welcomed here & I love their TVs which show the cook & how he prepares his meals for the customers...you can just see the love for his food & how much care he puts in for his customers to enjoy. The call you can eat vegetable bar are the bomb!!! Such wonderful service!!! Price is pretty good, I know they have a lunch buffet but I didn't get to try that maybe one day!!
(4)Grant O.
Love the staff and owner of this restaurant! They always give great service. The food is good and I love the salad bar. I ordered the two person platter and shared it with my brother. When the platter was brought to our table, I was like how are we going to eat all of this food! They served a generous amount of food! Needless to say my brother and I were quite stuffed after eating all of this food! The prices of the dishes are quite pricy but you do get what you pay for. The quality of food is excellent.
(4)Meghan S.
I really enjoyed the food and excellent service! My mom and I split a meal for two which included BBQ chicken, kalbi, shrimp tempura, and meat jun. The meal was large and the kalbi was super tender. All meals come with the veggie/rice buffet which was great as well. The service was excellent...everyone was friendly and they great customers like they were old friends. We will definitely be back soon!
(5)T K.
Excellent. Love the food and the owner is so friendly,she makes you feel like family.
(5)Dennis L.
I'm surprised this place only has a few ratings. As for good food, this place has got it. I went there with the girlfriend cause she was raving about how great the place was. I was a little doubtful because the name sounded a little corny to me, but after trying this place I'm a believer. When we got there a woman with a big smile greeted us and showed us to our table. I later found out through chatting that her and her husband own the place which is nice. I like going to good family owned restaurants. The place is mostly Korean food I think, but they have other dishes. We ordered the Butterfish, Kalbi, Mixed Dinner plate, and Carrot cake for desert. All of which were phenomenal. Kalbi: The best kalbi I have ever tasted. I'm not Korean, but my girl who is said it's the best kalbi she's had in Hawaii. The meat was so tender and cooked perfectly with just the right amount of sweetness. Every time I bit into a piece I let it sit for a second or two to let the delicious flavor get all up in my taste buds. Butterfish: Soft, buttery, and delicious. That thing was gone within minutes of hitting our table. Mixed plate. The mixed plate is similar to Peppa's, Yummy's, or Gina's BBQ, but so much better in taste. The chicken Katsu was the highlight of the mixed plate. I was a little sick of chicken katsu after eating it at some other places for a while, but their Katsu, which like everything else, was cooked perfectly. The panko breading was flaky and not over fried. Just the right amount of breading. The chicken was tender and juicy. It was how chicken katsu was meant to be cooked. Carrot Cake: The carrot cake was small, but delicious. If you have room for desert I highly recommend. There are several little billboards around the dining room with pictures of dishes and a chef looking fancy whipping up something on them. I later found out the chef is the owner and got to speak with him later since we were the last table of the night and they stopped by to chat with us. The husband and wife team that run the restaurant are so friendly and hospitable. After talking to the husband I can really tell he loved what he did and was very passionate about cooking and it showed in the food and presentation. That's another great thing about this place. The presentation of the food is like Alan Wong's or Roy's without the hefty price tag, but with the great food. All in all it was a great meal and I highly recommend this place.
(5)George M.
Great food, great service, and very clean!! Will return for sure.
(5)Ryan K.
I grew up in Kailua and have grown up eating their foods. Sara the owner has always been loud and cheerful. She always recognizes me even if it has been awhile since my visits. They have a lunch and a dinner buffet and seem to have a steady crowd for both. Menu items can be pricey $19.95 for Kalbi off the bone, which is actually my favorite. They have the best Chicken Katsu in town! I don't claim that they have authentic Korean food but the best Local Korean food. Come try it if you can.
(4)Asako O.
This is a very casual Korean restaurant located in the Enchanted Lake Shopping Center in Kailua. It was an early Saturday afternoon when I arrived and it was their luncheon buffet special that seemed to be popular among the locals. Since kalbi is not an offered item on their luncheon buffet, I had to order from the lunch menu. The menu items are quite pricey as the kalbi for regular plate was $20. At this price I was curious to know how many pieces of meat do you get. But since I was not willing to pay the price I opted another option which was to order the combo plate at a reduced cost at $16. The combo plate included not only kalbi but also fried mandoo and shrimp tempura. When my plate arrived I was quite surprised at the way my food was nicely displayed on my plate which the server gingerly placed on our table. My immediate reaction is that I must be paying for the presentation as there was only one fried mandoo, one kalbi meat with bone and three shrimp tempura. The fried mandoo was overcooked as it was very crispy, hard and dry. The shrimp tempura was very heavily battered. To make it look big the battered was spread out and then fried. By the time I peeled off the batter, the shrimp was not only very tiny but partially undercooked. What was very disappointing is that the kalbi meat was very tough, chewy and dry. It was a very sad piece of meat. Although the service was great I am afraid the food was not only on the pricey side but not as good.
(1)EV L.
Sure, the food may be quite pricey, BUT such great generous portions!!! My husband and I got the dinner for two -- when the food came out, it was more like dinner for 3-4 (picture posted)!!! It also comes with vegetable buffet! Food is sooo delicious! Even if you get a single order for a double-digit price, the portion is still HUGE!!! The Korean lady (I assume is a manager or owner) is super funny!!! Waitresses are very friendly as well. A big bonus was a complimentary dessert since it was our first time there and my husband kept telling the lady how good the food was! LOL THE-BEST-KOREAN-FOOD-ON-THE-WINDWARD-SIDE!!!
(4)Lisa G.
This place has the BEST Chicken Katsu!!! Sara and her husband are the most friendliest people. They know all their regular customers names; the make you feel like you're part of the family!!! I drop in setes just to buy my homemade Korean side dishes! Fresh Kim Chee and dried daikon are a couple of my favorite!
(5)Flip N.
Lunch Buffet $13 for adults!?!? What can go wrong!?!? Meat Jun, sweet potato tempura, chicken katsu, vegetables , jello....yum!!
(5)Christina M.
Went there for dinner. Prices high for the quality. The customer service is excellent. The food presentation is very nice! However, the kim chee was not spicy or tastey. Also, the meat (especially the bbq chicken and bbq beef) was not good at all. It was not marinated well or old.
(2)Morgan J.
Have to agree with everything L.M. wrote concerning the food quality, taste and atmosphere of this "restaurant." I know there is some subjectivity to food enjoiment but I am beginning to question Yelp's standards when a place like this receives over 4 stars (Were the reviews paid for? We need a Dateline episode for this). Here's what should have been the tip-off that this was going to be a terrible eating experience: 1. Korean restaurant that does not serve kim chee. What they serve is fresh cabbage dipped in spicy sauce. Kim chee is a fermenting process of cabbage, blah blah, blah. Anyway, from eating these first small plates to the strangely low-quality meats and ketchup katsu sauce, this was one of the worst eating experiences of my life (well, maybe the last 20 years at least). That being said, there were a whole bunch of customers (presumably regulars) that were visiting this eatery on a Saturday night. Mostly families. A couple of couples. I wonder if I'm being too judgmental? Have my expectations for Korean food been elevated from eating at Gina's? It was food, after all, and my stomach only hurts a little bit after eating there... Perhaps the worst part about this experience is receiving the bill. Nothing adds insult worse than paying $70+ for a thoroughly dissatisfying meal. If you're hungry and in the area try the Saigon Vietnamese place next door. It's delicious and cheap. AVOID KIM CHEE!
(1)Kyra V.
This is most defiantly the best Kim Chee, way better than kaneohe. I love EVERYTHING on the menu even the prices. Great place for lunch buffet. Even the owners are so nice and friendly!
(5)Keith H.
Be prepared when entering Kim Chee Enchanted Lake. You'll be entering perhaps the friendliest Korean restaurant on the island, bar none. And you'll be treated with lots of good food and even better service. The food is definitely a bit of a step up from your typical Korean place at the mall. On this last visit with my mom, I had the bar-B-Q beef, and it had a great shoyu-charcoal flavor, though it could have been a little more tender. However, be advised, those with small appetites: The regular portions run more than $15, but you definitely get more than $15 worth of food. Those plates are easily 12" in diameter. When we go, we usually get the small size portions and fill up on the all-you-can-eat vegetable bar. Yes, the vegetable bar is all-you-can-eat, which gives you the ultimate flexibility in the side dish department. It's not like the Korean place at the mall, where you might get weird looks if you ask for four portions of a single side. Love kim chee? Eat all you want. Don't care for the zucchini? Leave it alone. In particular the kim chee is spicy enough to make my tongue tingle pleasantly, but not so spicy as to burn. I can keep eating it. Simply put, if you leave Kim Chee Enchanted Lake hungry, it's your own damn fault. And for the friendly part...the restaurant is owned by a husband-and-wife team. Hubby does the cooking (there are videos of his work that you can watch as you wait for your food), while his wife works the counter and waits tables. She's probably the friendliest waitress/manager/owner you'll meet...you can tell she loves people. You'll leave feeling like you're family. Weekend diners be advised, however: They are closed on Sundays. Overall, for a great dining experience at a reasonable price, you really can't go wrong with Kim Chee.
(5)Daniel H.
Excellent service and amazing food. I recommend the kim chee special.
(5)Patrick S.
Awesome food!!! buffet for only $13 i can't complain. The lady that was there was very friendly and the inside was also clean
(5)Kendal T.
I went back here again, nothing but good things to say. The service was grid the people are nice the presentations are of some fancy food network challenge. Prices are decent and the side bar is very well stocked. You can go back for as many serving as you like. Me and my dad got the dinner for two. That thing could feed three small people if you wanted. It was a lot of food it was like a barbecue mixed plate. Kalbi, meat jun, bbq chicken, teri beef and shrimp tempura. Oh man it was good.
(5)Leonard C.
Best Kim Chee/Korean food on the island. Their Kalbi/chicken Katsu so ono.. The owners are nice and friendly. Cant go wrong with their lunch buffet for $13 just make sure you're wearing baggy clothes!
(5)Dominique K.
the buffet is $12.99 per person and everything is FRESH!! can't go wrong!
(5)Mimi P.
Hubby and I ordered the specialty plate for two which included meat jun, katsu chicken, terriyaki chicken, kalbi beef and tempura shrimp & veggies...all were deliciously prepared...meats were flavorful and tender and such a huge portion! It should be specialty plate for four! This dinner item also included access to the "vegetable buffet" which are basically the side dishes you'd find in little plates (banchans) in Korean restaurants. Everything was soo good! Our favorites were the eggplant and sweet potatoes! They even gave a complimentary carrot cake which we passed on...too dry for me. Nevertheless, we had a very enjoyable dinner. The service was great -- the owner herself was serving us. We had so much meat leftover and they allowed me to take some veggie sides to take home with it. Thanks, my fellow yelpers...we came here based on your reviews!
(5)Kay S.
Meh...the kim chee and veggies from the buffet were good, but everything else was mediocre. I could've been in a mall food court. Staff was pleasant however.
(2)Cynthia Jonell K.
Awesome eat all you can buffet ....
(5)Jesus R.
This place has some good chicken katsu. I'm not a huge fan of katsu, but the batter on this katsu was delicious. It had great texture and the chicken was good as well. The meat jun was also good. The Mac salad had way too much mayonnaise. In fact, that was all that I could taste at one point. The sweet potato tempura was okay. I liked the shrimp tempura though. The kalbi beef was very tasty. The meat was tender and a little sweet. If I'm ever in the area again, I would definitely come back here.
(4)Lawelena P.
I really liked the all you can eat vegetable bar. Very fresh tasting. We ordered the Two Person Platter, so much to eat. Love their Chicken Katsu, the best ever. Very light and tasty. The owners are very nice. She gave my grandson a Yoyo. He was very happy. This was our first time eating there. Can't wait to go again. Love the presentation of the food.
(4)Pablo P.
I visited KCREL on a Wed afternoon after seeing the 4.5 star rating on Yelp. Recommended immediately by the owner's wife(I presume), we went straight to the lunch buffet. The food was mediocre at best. Some fried rice, meat jun, teriyaki chicken, cold Korean-style rei men, chicken katsu, kimchee, canned corn(really?), jello, "seawater" soup. The decor as another Yelper already stated was tacky, with pictures of the chef making dishes...that were NOT offered in the buffet. The dishes could be ordered, but I guess it's my fault for going with the buffet. Overall, the flavor of the food is decent because I think the chef knows what he is doing, but the buffet lunch is a turnoff. Most of the pictures posted on Yelp are of ordered dishes, not the buffet. If I return, I will go with that. While I was paying for my meal, a local walked in and asked the owner's wife if she was willing to put up a poster for a community event. She said "no, sorry" right away without even asking what the poster was for. This has nothing to do with the food, ambience, or service, but if would have won some points for me if there was at least a willingness to help there.
(2)Angie R.
This is by far one of my favorite places to eat! Yes there are a lot of Korean places to eat but none of them come close to this place. The restaurant is small but cozy. You get welcomed with a hello and constantly checked up on but not so much where you feel smothered. The owner is so proud and always thanking everyone for coming and remembers you if you decide to go again. There is a all you can eat vegetable bar which is amazing! The food is so Ono too! They have everything imaginable on there menu I could eat here every weekend!!
(5)Victoria M.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. I don't think I've ever been to a Korean restaurant with tastier food. Meat jun, chicken katsu, kalbi, and teri chicken are my faves. Yum.
(5)Melissa V.
As good as it gets! It looks dark before you open the door and my husband and I contemplated several times whether to go in. Last night we did and it's our new favorite place. First of all you are welcome like family. Sarah is the nicest and gracious host you will find in any Korean restaurant. All those veggies you love getting when you sit down...well those are unlimited buffet style! It comes with all meals. It's filled with all you can eat rice (brown & white), chicken, beef, noodles, 4 types of veggies, soup, jello, fruit and salad! The place is spotless, nice ambient lighting, all booth seating, the food is delicious and the price is perfect! It's byob so we brought wine and they had beautiful wine glasses to use. I highly, highly recommend going through the door! We should have done it years ago! Closed on Sundays.
(5)Melissa M.
Love the service, love the food! The staff are super helpful and friendly, and even better, they are great with kids/families who visit. The all you can eat veggie buffet is a great advantage. We always love their veggies and there's something for everyone there. Also, we get the two-person special which has a meat jun, chicken katsu, kalbi, shrimp tempura combination. Always more food than we can finish, and it usually carries us for two meals and is a great deal.
(5)Joe T.
When writing a review I always try to keep in the back of my mind that if I like a place will others? Or if I do not care for it is it because I am unique? In other words, how applicable is my review to others? That is why I am not a big fan of people who write reviews of a bad customer service experience, unless you feel the experience is systematic then every restaurant will have one-off mistakes from time to time. So keeping this in mind Kim Chee is the kind of place you go to when you love Buffets and when you don't mind or even prefer when they sell Japanese dishes even though the restaurant is Korean. But for me personally if I go to a Korean restaurant I don't want Katsu or Temperu, if I did I would go to a Japanese restaurant. The buffet had no Dukbokki (spicy rice cakes), nor Bulgogi either, which was disappointing. Service was good, friendly, pricing is good, the place was actually pretty business so lots of people must like it, but not for me.
(2)Julia W.
Ordered the two person platter. Everything was extremely good. Would be great for three people especially with the tasty vegetable bar. Kal bi was tender and flavorful. Meat jun was well executed and very tasty. Veggie bar was fabulous. Staff is very friendly. Tummy is satisfied! Highly recommend!! Visited January 2012.
(5)Ruben A.
Some friends of ours from all the way up in Laie recommended this place to us. WE ARE GLAD THEY DID! The food was so amazing. My wife and I had a combo dinner for two. It had tender and and light beef jun, smoky kalbi ribs, succulent chicken cutlets, and something else-can't remember. It was also served with some tempura shrimp that was seriously the best I have ever tasted. The shrimp itself was so flavorful and most, and not dried or tough, and the batter was almost the consistency of a very light popover. Soooo ono! The plate was more than enough for the both of us, even after we were so hungry after a day of swimming. We had left overs too. The all-you-can-eat veggie bar was amazing. about 12 different choices of Korean style veggies. The greens were so delicious too and my favorite. The greens were prepared simply, cut small and cooked in some mix of vinegar and sesame seed oil, with spices. Seriously, I don't know how something so simply prepared can be so good. The kim-cheese and other types of veggie dishes were all fresh and replenished frequently. You can also choose from two soups and brown or white rice. The owner's wife--I assume, was sooo friendly to everyone and the server was also very friendly. They did a great job inside with tv's playing videos of the owner cooking the restaurant specialities (kind of like informercials) and the walls filled with ad quality posters of the guy cooking. PLus the food was presented so elegantly! Great experience!
(5)Tad N.
I don't know why others have rated this place so high. The first thing that hits you when you enter this place is the decor. It looks like they got the furniture from a bar. The owner is very friendly and as some have said, very loud. The food is ok. We had the meat juhn and fied mandoo plates. The vegetable bar was an interesting change from usual places. The seaweed soup wasn't seasoned enoughh for my taste. For me the prices were high, but it seemed to be popular even with their prices. I miss the old BBQ East restaurant in the Kailua Shopping Center.
(3)Renity O.
love this place! All their vegetables/side dishes are buffet style when you order an entree. All-you-can-eat Rice, choi sum, kim chee, fried zucchini, kim chee tofu, noodles, eggplant, mac salad, bean sprouts, corn, shoyu potatoes, strawberry jello, orange slices, and a few other things i can quite remember but there's a lot to choose from all of which is deeelicious! I ordered the number 2 mixed plate which came with Kalbi, BBQ chicken and a mandoo. all the entrees also come with a some cabbage salad. The BBQ chicken was pretty good. The Kalbi was alright... Ive have better.. but it was still pretty good. My fiance ordered the number 8 which came with chicken katsu, meat jun, and a mandoo. Im not a chicken katsu type of person but it was really good. The mean jun was pretty good too. The main waitress lady in there is very loud but quite friendly. She gave us a free dessert of cream cheese carrot cake which was very good. That was very nice of her. It wasnt very busy but there were lots of other booths that were fills with big families. For two people it was about $34 with the all-you-can-eat buffet. i think I'd come here again just to eat the vegetable buffet. loved it!
(5)Mr P.
I'm suprised there is only one review for this place. The food is great, prices a little high compared to similar Korean restaurants but they do have an unlimited salad bar with each dinner plate which includes the usual Kim chee and veggies but also zucchini juhn, cooked eggplant and Korean pancakes when we went. We ordered the dinner for 2 plate which had big bone kalbi which was great, and now that kum chee buffet has closed probably the best one out there. Also came with BBQ chicken, meat juhn, katsu and shrimp tempura. The only thing I didn't care for was the shrimp tempura which has a Korean pancake batter as the coating. The pieces we had was proabably 90% batter but the shrimp was perfectly cooked. I'll have to go back and try their other items.
(5)Wendell H.
You are missing out on some of the greatest food on the island if you don't eat here. The owner is a very fun, friendly lady who makes sure you are totally happy with your order. Service is quick and with lots of smiles. The food is very tasty and I'll make a point of going back next time I'm on Oahu. Be sure to try the beef jun. The buffet is great, too! And to finish things off, get the carrot cake... OMG!
(5)L M.
Empty restaurant in early afternoon should have been a sign, but we were on our bikes and desperate for a place that had a lot of vegetables, and the reviews were raving in favor of the buffet, so we bit. MISTAKE. My companions quickly decided that these reviews were bought and paid for. Seriously. The majority of the buffet was deep-fried, greasy, cold, and overly chewy. The meat seemed extremely low-quality, The fried food was mostly batter, The atmosphere consisted of the multiple TVs with the chef/owner in his own commercial, on repeat and a sad fish tank at the entrance. The hostess/waitress/wife(?) was bubbly and friendly but she could not save the food from the depths of blah. This was literally the worst Asian food buffet we have ever eaten. We had to laugh at how ridiculously terrible the food was in contrast to the consistently positive reviews here on Yelp. Seems like a brilliant move to hire a social mediator to write reviews, though I honestly have no idea if this actually happened, but it was either that or we were experiencing the most off day this restaurant ever had, with a food supplier who also had an off day, with a buffet warmer that was on its day off, and other customers also, yes, taking the day off from visiting. Our last meal on Oahu, too. What a disappointment.
(1)James R.
This has got to be the best korean food on the windward side that I know of, and being half korean with a mother that can cook a mean korean filled feast, I should know some decent korean food when I eat it. The restaurant has a nice, homely, ambience and the owner's wife always smiles and greets me when I visit. The food is prepared wonderfully and there is an awesome "pan-chan" bar that comes with the entree's. I am a rather hearty eater and I usually order the large combo plate, sometimes I even splurge on the dinner for 2 for myself. Everytime I've been here, I've never left unsatisfied. If you are down for some delicious grinds and are in the mood for casual korean dining, definitely check this place out on the more laid-back side of Oahu.
(5)Drew F.
Now that I'm living in Kailua, I'm so happy to find one of the Kim Chee Restaurant sister (or cousin, literally) restaurants here! The food quality is excellent with the same smokey, charbroiled BBQ chicken, which is my favorite more so than at L&L.
(4)Cyra K.
This is where me and my boyfriend had our first dinner date almost 5 years ago and we still go here.. Teriyaki chicken is yum
(5)Paul T.
Having patronized Kim Chee No. 3 in Honolulu for many years, I recently found myself on the Windward side of the island while on vacation and stumbled into this Enchanted Lake location. Upon entering, I immediately took notice of the decor, overall cleanliness, and friendly staff. Pleasantly surprised, it made me ponder if they were in fact affiliated with the others. The menu selection quickly confirmed that they were part of the Ohana (family), as well as the first taste of Kalbi (marinated beef short ribs)...their marinade is unmistakable. Unfortunately, that's where the pleasantries and similarities ended. While flavorful, the ribs tasted as though they weren't marinated long enough. In addition, they were cooked, but not well charred. Likewise, the Meat Jun (marinated beef, dipped in egg batter and fried), did not seem well marinated. Gochujang (hot sauce) was noticeably absent from the condiment selection, but was available upon request.
(3)bobb n.
great service and the best Kalbi i have found on Oahu. love it
(5)Susan G.
We have been visiting the windward side of Oahu regularly from our home in Charleston, SC for almost 20 years. During this time, we have built relationships at many restaurants and businesses. On this August 2015 visit, the Korean restaurant we have visited for years was temporarily closed. After reading many reviews, we decided to visit Enchanted Lake Kim Chee. Having spent 10 days in Seoul last fall, we've had a lot of great Korean food. But the food we had here at Enchanted Lakes Kim Chee was the best. We three tried several dishes: my husband, the bulgogi; I had a mixed plate -- one of the dinners with several options, which I HIGHLY recommend for sharing; and my daughter had Bi Bin Kook Soo. First of all, there is a "salad bar" that has all of the rice and Kim Chee and other veg you would expect at a Korean restaurant -- but you can try them ALL here! The sauces, rice, and veg are unlimited -- but pace yourself! Service was top notch. Our friendly waitress helped us pick sauces and kept our water glasses full. We did BYOB, and she brought us glasses and openers. When we mentioned we had been to Seoul, the owner came to speak to us. Everyone was so friendly! Portions are huge. BYOB. Credit cards okay. Comfy booths -- not like the store front fast food at other places. Definitely our highest recommendation for the food, service, quality, and price.
(5)M T.
I love coming here on Saturday's for their lunch buffet. When I walk in I'm greeted with a lot of enthusiasm by the owner. I'm a low maintenance regular customer so I immediately go to the buffet and get my favorites. Let me just mention that I like spicy food, but not too spicy. My favorite is their spicy chicken stew. .it looks super spicy...but don't be afraid, its not that spicy. Well, maybe it is but I add rice and corn to "cool" the stew. . It is so good, and it is only served on the buffet. .it has chicken, carrots and potatoes. I also get their meat chun, chicken katsu, 1 bowl of cucumber kim chee, and1 bowl of cabbage kim chee. . So good. This will usually hold me to dinner. The service is always excellent and the restaurant is clean. The price is reasonable and the people are so nice. I enjoy coming here to eat my veggies. . My only wish is that they would be closer to home. I try to get here when they open to ne sure that I can get a seat.
(5)Keisha P.
First of all, I just want to say I love the customer service! Everyone was extremely attentive and friendly! I should follow with the restaurant being Byob !!! So bring some beer or wine and have a good time! I have the combo; kal bi, meat jun and mahi Jun!!! It was Ono! My meal also came with a Korean style salad bar with All your favorites! Parking was easy as they share a large parking lot Try it out!
(5)Stephanie B.
My family came here while on vacation on a Friday afternoon. It wasn't too crowded and had a lunch buffet. Two of us had the buffet and were quite satisfied and the other two selected a mixed plate with Mandu, BBQ chicken and BBQ beef. Now THAT was good. The fried rice was also quite good with the BBQ beef. They only gave one Mandu. Our meal also came with all you can eat soup and rice from the buffet as well as the usual korean side dishes. It was a bit pricier than we expected though. About $18 or so for our plate and $13 a person for the buffet. For the amount we got though, I would say it was worth it!
(5)Sophia D.
My oldest son just started summer school here and wanted to have dinner with us. I wanted to go somewhere near his school since he doesn't have a car. So we checked the reviews of several different restaurants in the Kailua area which all had wonderful reviews but he specifically wanted some Korean barbecue. As luck would have it a friend of mine just told me about the Enchanted Lake Kim Chee restaurant located in Kailua. So the Yelper that I am pulled up the reviews and pics for this restaurant. The reviews were outstanding! So I told my son that we are a go for the Kim Chee restaurant. We all met up at the restaurant with our BYOB ready in hand. Let me just start off by saying the staff was very patient and very kind. From start to finish you will get the absolute best care and service! Now moving along we decided to order a couple appetizers to start. We ordered some Mondoo and some sweet potato fries. Also just to let you know that everything you order comes with some sort of sauce. Each one is different and also very tasty! If you look at my pictures you can see the different dishes that we ordered. The food is kind of pricey but to me well worth it! You get an abundance of food. So much so that I had to get a to-go box to take the rest of meal home. There was enough for another meal. Also the food presentation is amazing! My youngest son did not want to eat his food at first because he said it was too pretty to eat. So he looked at it for little bit and his Hunger got the best of him so he finally began to eat. We ordered several dishes: Mahi Mahi Jun, BiBimBap,the Kim Chee plate and one other dish. All the food was presented masterfully and they tasted exceptionally good! They also have a Korean buffet style salad bar which was amazing as well. They offered many variations of veggies, tofu and bean sprout salads to name a few. The salad bar comes with every meal. We were so full that we did not get a chance to have dessert. Well, that gives me a reason to go back for more!!
(5)Al D.
Got the meat jun/kalbi combo. The eat jun tasted like it had a little freezer burn. The Kalbi was big bone style. Good but small portion. Because I didn't get rice, they let me fill up a small container with veggies from the buffet. Service was great. I might return but would probably skip the meat jun.
(3)Eric M.
They have a lunch/dinner menu but at lunch time, it's usually better just to get their buffet. It has just about all of my favorites: fried rice, BBQ and katsu chicken, meat jun, spicy chicken stew (prepared for the buffet only), and potato or vegetable tempura. Both their cucumber and cabbage kim chees are very good, as is the mac salad. The $13.99 price is only a couple of dollars more than a regular plate. At dinner time there is no buffet but the entire buffet line is used for side dishes of all sorts. The presentation of the entree is masterful, as well. Although I love the buffet's variety, I would not hesitate to pick my favorite entree and eat just that and the side bar for dinner. Service is always prompt and very friendly, especially from Sarah, the co-owner.
(5)Andy F.
Kim Chee I, Kim Chee II, and Kim Chee III doesn't have anything on THIS roman numeral-less Kim Chee! Located in Keolu at the Enchanted Lake Shopping Center, it is easy to find with ample (but tight) parking. Came here for dinner with a bunch of cool peep! I ordered the Dinner Special, which consisted of 1 piece of Shrimp Tempura, a few pieces of Fish Mahi Mahi Jun, Chicken Katsu, Kalbi, 1 piece of Fried Man Doo, an onion ring, and a decorative piece of a fried sweet potato chip with a side of slaw. The presentation is nicer than other Korean BBQ restaurants, but it's really just the sweet potato chip on top of the mound of meats and the accompanying cabbage slaw. Now onto the food. The Fried Man Doo was okay. The filling was bland and wasn't much. The bottom part of the mandoo wasn't fried to a golden brown for some reason and you see the white wrapper. The Chicken Katsu was excellent, perfectly fried, perfectly cooked, well-portioned, and the meat was soft, juicy, and tender with a nice, thin, crispy crust. The one shrimp tempura was all right. The batter was mostly soft than crispy. The Kalbi was very good. The meat was tender, tasty, and cooked and grilled to perfection with a nice char. The highlight of this dish had to be the Mahi Mahi Jun. Sure it's just a thin slice of fish in egg batter and deep fried, but how often, does the fish come out overcooked, tough, bland, dry, and not that appetizing? Well, I was worried for a similar outcome, but not this time around. It was the total opposite as the fish was PERFECTLY cooked. It was also well-seasoned, soft and tender, tasty, juicy, and the meat was flaky, fresh, and great quality. Lastly, I didn't care much for the slaw since there was more dressing on the plate than on the slaw itself, but the veggies were fresh and probably needed to balance out the mound of meats on the other half of the plate. A great part of this restaurant is the All You Can Eat Vegetable (Banchan) Bar. I think this is a great idea as it makes it easier for the servers and the customers rather than having numerous little plates on the table that takes up space, and having to constantly walk back and forth from the kitchen to refill them. You have all your basic banchan items such as Kim Chee, Cucumber Kim Chee, Cold White Noodle Salad, Bean Sprout Namul, Corn, Fish Cake, Mac Salad, Glazed Potatoes, Braised Firm Tofu with a Spicy Sauce, Broccoli Rabe (The oddly translated "rape") Namul, and perhaps a few more I am forgetting. There is also White rice, Fried Rice, Seaweed Soup, and also jello and sliced papaya. The Kim Chee and Seaweed Soup didn't stand out and lacked flavor. My absolute favorite was the braised tofu because it had a nice balance of flavors with the sweet, spicy, salty, and savory. My other favorites were the bean sprout, broccoli rabe, and glazed potatoes. All were fresh and tasty. It was my best friend's birthday (a week early), and the servers still provided him with a complimentary cake and a Happy Birthday song. That was very kind and thoughtful of them to do that. The cake was a Frosted Carrot Cake with a Fried Shrimp on top. No idea how the shrimp works with the cake, and I didn't have the opportunity to try them at the same time since my buddy immediately popped it into his mouth haha. The cake was good though. It wasn't overly sweet or super rich. A nice dessert to end a fantastic meal. It's a tad on the pricey end since you're just eating the basic meats such as BBQ chicken and BBQ Beef, chicken katsu, meat and fish jun, and etc. The non-meat items are even more expensive! Bi Bim Bap and Chop Chae shouldn't cost $18 and $19. I'm sorry, but it's mostly rice and long rice with beef and vegetables. Other than that, this place is BYOB with no cover, so that's a big positive and balances the cost out. The service is excellent. The servers are very friendly, very positive, very patient, very attentive, and very personable. The food took the right amount of time to come out. The décor was nice. The front has a long fish tank, and the walls has TVs and mirrors with random artwork in between. The TV constantly show the head chef making each dish from start to finish, and it really showcases his precision, technique, and care he puts into every dish. So if you ignore your dining companions and watch, you'll definitely learn a few things. I know I did, and now, I want to cook in a suit. It's pretty damn Boss, lol. :) The place is all booth seating, so if you have 3 or more, someone will be trapped inside. Overall, I thought all the food was great quality and well-cooked, and definitely well-presented. The all you can eat Banchan bar is awesome. The service is the absolute best, and the décor is nice. The price is bit high if you're comparing to other Korean BBQ places, but it is BYOB, which balances it out. It's a great place, and I'd definitely come back here time and time again. They also offer take out and caters as well! That's something to think about.
(5)Donna M.
How many times have you picked up lunch at your friendly neighborhood KBBQ joint only to eat up all the banchans and wish you had more? I love veggies a little more than I love meat, so this happens to me. All the time. Just past weekend, I finally got around to checking out Kim Chee II. Did you know that in addition to all your typical favorite KBBQ items, they have an all you can eat salad bar? This means as much as you can eat of all your banchan favorites, including long rice, kim chi, rice, fried rice, seaweed soup, cucumber, corn, and oh the list goes on! They even have my favorite, spicy fishcake available for the picking! My inner fatty says this alone is deserving of 5 stars. In addition to the awe inducing salad bar, Kim Chee II also serves up entrees of gargantuan proportions. They have all the typical KBBQ goodies, including meat jun, kalbi, bbq pork, bbq beef, and bbq chicken. These portions are large, and combined with the all you can eat salad bar, you're in for a major kanak attack. Prices are moderate, but considering all the food you get, you can't help but wonder how they can afford to stay in business! You can either just pay for entry to the salad bar, which is ~$12, or you can opt for an entree which ranges from ~$15 and up which also includes the salad bar. Methinks that the entree is a better deal, but having the option is nice for smaller eaters. There are only a handful of booth seats available, and this place does fill up quick. Reservations may be helpful if you're planning on coming during peak times. Service is beyond amazing; the owner will greet you and treat you like she's known you forever and make you feel like family. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Rosie -.
My local friend highly recommended this place especially the chicken katsu. And one might wonder. Really, for real? What's the big deal? Well, after the first bite, it's legit, it's a big deal. Omg, it was the best katsu I've had ever. Succulent chicken hugged by crunchy tasty fried batter. Amazing. I'll be back next time!!
(5)Yi L.
Dropped in for a lunch. Went with the lunch buffet. Limited choices and average taste.
(3)Elise K.
Extremely tasty food with excellent service. The galbi was delicious and we loved the "salad" bar. Owner was super friendly and attentive. Great place for Korean food!
(5)Chris Y.
Salad bar makes this location the best of Kim Chee restaurants. Take one look at salad bar and thoughts of yummy moments instantly appear. Salad bar included with dinner entrée order. Can request brown rice. Friendly mamasan makes it especially pleasant experience
(5)Sam H.
Most of our dishes were breaded - the sweet potatoes and the pork cutlet. Not a thin batter but a heavy, tasteless batter. The underlying sweet potatoes and cutlet were OK, not very interesting. The salad bar was also very bland. The Kim chee was Americanized, very little garlic or hot peppers. The rest of the salad bar you could find in any mall. The prices are way to high for the quality of food. Probably explains why finding an on line menu was impossible. Service was kind and attentive.
(3)Krysten I.
I love korean food. I love good banchan and I love great service. Kim Chee in Enchanted Lake is great and has all three of these things I love. After calling a few restaurants to check availability on a Saturday night, and after finding out that basically all the restaurants in Kaneohe and Kailua were booked for the night, I called Kim Chee. The owner answered the phone and said if we were coming now, she'd save us a table! So sweet! She also asked for my name, which is pretty normal, right? When we got to the restaurant, and throughout our dinner, the owner continually greeted and asked how we were doing by my name. It was pretty impressive. I also noticed that she called several other customers by name and there were several large parties that looked like regulars. I ordered the small portion of Kalbi, at $23, it was a little steep, but the meat was so tender and flavorful. It is the traditional cut of kalbi with the big bone. By itself, I don't think it would be worth it. But with the unlimited banchan bar, this is possibly my new favorite restaurant. The ban chan section consists of rice, fried rice, spicy chicken, a chicken vegetable dish like nishime, bean sprouts, cucumber kim chee, kim chee, mac salad, radish salad, jello, oranges and seaweed soup. This is a great family-run small business (the restaurant will be closed for a couple days while the owner goes to the mainland to see her daughter graduate. They serve delicious food with unlimited appis and really care about their customers. The owner and other waitresses constantly ask about how you're doing and if they can get anything. I will definitely be back!
(5)Darrin M.
Pros: Pride of ownership, Customer appreciation, Ono food, Quiet/Cool/Clean ambiance, Cheerful & attentive service, Exquisite presentation of food, Clean & spacious bathroom, Kid friendly Cons: Hidden between other popular restaurants with dark windows so could be missed It's Monday night and I am so full from eating there that I just want to go sleep. But I had to yelp Enchanted Lakes Kim Chee Restaurant. It could not wait. My family and I went there to celebrate my daughter's 9th birthday. She chose to eat there because she absolutely LOVES the lady owner and the meat jun. If ever you need a pick me up, to smile, or feel appreciated then go eat there. Trust me. We have taken out dinner from here many times before and dined in on 3 occasions. This was the first time that we went for a birthday celebration and I was so impressed with how they made my daughter feel. Her ear to ear smile said it all. She got her own fancy dessert topped with a shrimp tempura. Tasty and creative. Sang happy birthday aloud, gave her a huge hug, AND gave her a gift (wallet) with her choice of bracelets. That's how you earn your 5th star! You could just feel the love. Their Kalbi is a must try. The meat is tender with the right amount of marble and flavored to perfection. Their meat jun requires no sauce. Serious, it's that good. If you do need sauce then you are in luck. Their sauce is unique and compliments the meat jun well. Dine in and get all you can eat fresh vegetable bar with added papayas, curry, 4 different rices, and soup (see video). I almost forgot, dinner is BYOB! Dining in for dinner is the best bang for your buck. Ranging $20 per head, approximately. The seating is all booths with soft cushions. They also have 4 tvs and a huge fish tank. Great for kids as the owner loves kids. So quiet and comfortable and clean. The staff are always smiling, dressed in uniform, and the kitchen is clean too. The chef takes pride in his cooking and you can taste it. E. Lakes Kim Chee...daughter approved! :-)
(5)Donna Lyn B.
I bookmarked this place on Yelp after seeing in photos that they have a "banchan buffet" aka a Korean all-you-can-eat veggie/salad bar. I told my husband and he was instantly down to go check this place out. We came here on a Saturday evening and upon entering the restaurant we saw that every table and booth was taken. A worker greeted us and handed us menus to look at while we waited for an open table. We marveled at the fish tank right in front of the entrance. My husband and I agreed we would split the "Two People Special" which consisted of meat jun, kalbi, chicken katsu, bbq chicken, and shrimp tempura with the included the "banchan buffet". After around what seemed like a 10 minute wait, we got seated by the "banchan buffet". After we put in our order, we headed to the salad bar. I got chicken curry, kim chee tofu, macaroni salad and my husband got the kim chee tofu, too, and some other veggies. There was also kim chee cabbage, kim chee cucumber, chap jae noodles, corn, and jello. Then entire time we were there, the chicken curry and the chap jae noodles were not refilled. Our salad bar favorite definitely was the kim chee tofu. I noticed this lady going around being really jovial with other patrons, even offering kids toys. Then I noticed her walking ever so slowly behind the counter and my husband and when she rounded the corner, we saw she was carrying a medium-sized pizza pan plate of food. I think she was walking slowly to prevent on of the fried garnishes from falling over. When she placed the plate in front of us, we were glad we were sharing this plate because there was a lot of food. She also providing dipping sauces for the meat jun, katsu, and tempura. Everything tasted good. My husband is a kalbi addict and he really enjoyed gnawing the meat of the bone. The only thing I didn't really like was the shrimp tempura batter was excessive so I peeled some off the shrimp. During our meal, we watched the video looping on the flat screen TVs that showed clips from the chef's episodes of "Electric Kitchen" which I guess is a local TV show. There were also clips of how the chef prepared the food like chopping up ingredients, battering stuff, and then frying them. My husband realized from the videos that this restaurant is not part of the Kim Chee 1 to 7 (is there more?) restaurant chains. It was a pretty amazing considering the amount of food they gave and the "banchan buffet" that I have not seen anywhere else. I hope to come back so I can try the other stuff on the menu.
(4)Wendy H.
This place is great! The service is always friendly with a family feel. The owner(wife) gets to know everyone. Very personable. What's also great is the all u can eat salad buffet that comes with your meal. Seaweed soup, fried rice, noodles, veggies, jello, potatoes in sweet sauce,fried tofu & more. Their meat Juhn is the best, so tender & thicker then anywhere else. The chef (owner) also had his own cooking show "electric kitchen" u can watch it while u eat. Shows how all the dishes are prepared, got some knife skills! Pretty much fine dining in a Casual setting.
(5)Chael K.
We had dinner here and it was great. The atmosphere is a little old, the table is a little awkward, but the food and the service was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here and will be sure to come back again. My boyfriend had the Kim Chee special, and it was a lot of food, he eats a lot and still left with a takeout box of food. Everything I tried was tasty and the service was quick we were in and out in less than an hour. For some reason I'm a sucker for buffet lines and the little vegetable buffet bar was one of my favorite parts about this place. I love the veggies choices you get when you do Korean lunch plates but always have difficulty deciding which ones to pick. This line has it all, mac salad, tossed salad, noodles, corn, bean sprouts, spicy tofu, kim chee, even papaya, jello and more. You get to choose fried rice, white rice, or even brown rice from the line, too. There's also an option for a seaweed soup on the buffet line, too. Eat as much as you like, or as little. I had the kalbi, meat jun, mandoo small portion and it was a lot, I had a few pieces of each left over that I threw in my boyfriends take out box. Overall the staff is friendly, and make you feel welcome. Definitely bringing my family back to check it out soon !
(5)Jennifer L.
This was our first dinner stop of our trip. It is a little place in a big strip mall. My husband and I shared a plate that had fried dumpling, chicken, steak and rice. They had so much flavor that we wanted to lick the plate and fight over the last piece of chicken and steak. You get a veggie bar that I guess had veggies, meat, macaroni salad and some other stuff. I didn't go see it only the husband did. He said it looked like some of it seafood. We would go back again if were in the area and this is a place I would actually seek out. Service was fast and very friendly.
(4)Evan A.
I don't understand how I have not written a review for Kim Chee. My family has literally been going here/ enjoying take out for the past 10+ years. The food had not changed at all! This is the real deal. Bi bim bap, meat jun, FRIED MANDOO (my personal favorite) are all good. Do not miss the chance to come here.
(5)Al Y.
We ordered the "Two People Dinner" ~ First the presentation was amazing and then the taste, oh my! If you like Korean, you have to put this on your bucket list of places to eat. Both hostesses were friendly and filled with Aloha. Their appreciation for their patrons is more than evident. I'll definitely be back again!
(5)Kat H.
The best korean buffet!! $13.95 awesome deal. Friendly service. Cleanest place and bathroom I've seen. FREE HOT TEA!! I will come back! One thing I've noticed the korean food isn't too salty like most places. Everything I ate in the buffet was so delicious!
(5)Jessica P.
SO GOOD!!! Went for lunch buffet. The spicy chicken stew was my favorite. Always good whenever I go in :)
(5)Emily S.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert in Korean food. I've probably eaten 7 Korean restaurants in my lifetime. The five stars here aren't just for the food, which was quite good and plentiful, but comparable to other places I've eaten. The "salad bar" was a novelty and satisfied my all-you-can-eat desires in a new way. I brought home most of my entree after stuffing myself with various kimchee, soup, noodles, etc. The complementary desert at the end of the meal was a nice touch, but not very good. The highlight, after the all-you-can-eat glory, was the exceptional service from all of the staff. We brought our 24 month old, who hadn't napped in the excitement of a vacation. Generally we're pretty conservative about when we take her out and how we handle her in a restaurant. However, we were seated with lots of room to move about and next to a fish tank that captured her attention. At one, a server, or the manager - not sure- took my daughter's hand and led her to a back room. She returned with two brand new in package toys. I was a tad uncomfortable at first, but my daughter was excited and they ended up providing entertainment for the entire trip. Gratis, I would add. It was a delightful experience and I wish we had this restaurant at home!
(5)Michael M.
Awesome place. Staff is real nice. Food is great and filling. Buffet style place. Pretty much just order your main course (meats) and the vegetable bar is unlimited. Even though it's a far ride from where I live, it is well worth the drive. Will surely be back again.
(5)S. M.
Food was good. Not many selection. Owners and staff were very friendly.
(4)Brandon V.
The food is good, maybe 4 stars good. The service here, however, is above and beyond and is what boosts this place to 5 stars. There is an all you can eat side "salad" bar with many of the traditional sides like Kim chi and rice and other things that I don't know what they are called but are delicious. Not extensive, but just enough to not fill up before the meat comes out. The kal bi is great, and my wife is obsessed with the meat jun. Even my 1.5 year old daughter loves this place. Not only does she always eat her fill, but the staff are so friendly and are always able to get a smile out of her (sometimes even bribing her with a little toy or bottle of bubbles). We will definitely be back.
(5)Harriett R.
This place is the best in enchanted lakes shopping center. The owner is so attentive to her customers. Everyone is Aunty. Real local style. Great Korean food.
(5)Sean Z.
In the heart of Kailua, lies a pleasant Korean dine-in experience! The food here is excellent; tasty, visually stunning, and loaded with ample portions. I enjoyed every moment of my meat jun and kal bi meal. There is also a buffet for deliciously fresh veggies, jello, rice, soup, and beverages. The service is flawless. I felt immediately welcomed when entering this establishment just as much as I felt leaving. In addition, the staff is always available to assist your Korean dining desires. Compared to other Korean eateries, this place may be a little more pricey but it sure makes up for it by the impeccable service, quality food, and overall experience. I will be coming here again, soon :).
(5)Alakai K.
Like another review said "Pride." The service was great, very welcoming. It was around 7:30 on a Saturday and the wife and I were hunting for a place to eat. It was either Round Table or this place which we had never tried. It was a great choice. Kal Bi and Shrimp Tempura!
(5)Brian O.
The food is awesome and the employees are super helpful and friendly. A great environment as well with nice decor. Highly highly recommended! Beware that your clothes will smell like grease afterwards though.
(5)Julia D.
I had the pleasure of having Kim Chee as my very first restaurant experience on my trip to Hawaii. I got the bibimbap and it was great. The meat in it was super tasty. All the different side dishes kinda blew my mind. I was very pleased and would go back if I lived on the island!
(5)Tracey K.
I should have written a review earlier when we were on vacation in January. I love this place! I always return back whenever I'm visiting my parents in Kailua. Great food!
(5)Brennan T.
Food is good, but the prices are high. The combo plates are great, and if there's not a combo that you like, you can make your own. I went for dinner and shared a combo special with my mom. There was so much food that we had leftovers. So even though the plate was $20, it provided 3-4 meals. The salad/banchan bar is also great and comes unlimited with any entree. I especially like that there's curry chicken in there, which really could be something people order separately.
(4)Jennifer G.
Food was very good. Authentic Korean meal with wonderful warm staff.
(4)Christian G.
When you're a part time vegetarian and you've decided to cheat, go big or go back to the salad bar. Combination 4, Kalbi and Meat Jun. It was delicious. Even after it sat in the car and steamed for an hour on the drive back to Wahiawa. The staff was very friendly and they made my meal fresh when they could have just pulled it off the buffett. That's damn good customer service in my book. The chef lady was impressed that I didn't need the offered fork and can use chopsticks at least as well as a Korean toddler. I thought it was sweet that she was worried for me. I hoovered up that food so fast it could have made your head spin. All of it was delicious. I think this will be a five star review if I get a chance to dine in next time.
(4)Mark R.
A very very interesting Korean lunch buffet place. I wish I tried their normal dishes because there is a video of the chef cooking all kinds of Korean food and I was very curious. The quality of the lunch buffet is OK. It's not bad but it's not the greatest. I ate 3 plates with fried rice, spicy chicken, some pork and cabbage kimchee. For the price, you can't go wrong. I had my fill and I was ready to roll. Good service and friendly waitress. Not bad for $13 lunch special.
(3)miki p.
I love the owner! She is so nice. Tonkatsu is THE BOMB. Fried mondu is good. Love the Korean vegitable bar. BYOB!! Very family friendly if the the prices were lower I would give 5
(4)jan w.
Service is awesome..food spectacular...nuff said..
(5)