Dong Yang Inn
546 Olive Ave, Wahiawa, HI, 96786
Dong Yang Inn Menu
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Diabetics at McDonald's
Most burgers served at McDonald's are low in sugar but there are several burgers which are high in sodium. You must choose burger options which are low in sugar and moderate in sodium content. You can also avoid extra dressings or cheese over your burger to control diabetes at McDonald's.
Foods to Avoid for Diabetics at McDonald's
Diabetics will find many tempting food items at McDonald's but most of these food items are also high in sugar or sodium. Diabetics must skip desserts and shakes at McDonald's to avoid sugar spike. You should also skip all McCafe drinks except a few containing low sugar and fat-free options. Besides the drinks and beverages, you should also avoid bacon-based and sausage-based burgers and sandwiches to limit your sodium intake. Diabetics should also skip the sausage-based salad options available at McDonald's.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at McDonald's
Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4.5g), 1070mg sodium, 27g carbs, 6g sugar, 6g fiber, 37g Protein
Egg McMuffin®
Nutritional Facts: 300 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 760mg sodium, 30g carbs, 3g sugar, 2g fiber, 17g Protein
4-piece Chicken McNuggets®
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 340mg sodium, 11g carbs, 0g sugar, 1g fiber, 17g Protein
Kiddie Cone
Nutritional Facts: 45 calories, 1g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0.5g), 20mg sodium, 8g carbs, 6g sugar, 0g fiber, 1g Protein
4-piece Chicken McNuggets® Happy Meal
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 340mg sodium, 11g carbs, 0g sugar, 1g fiber, 10g Protein
Iced Latte
Nutritional Facts: 90 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 65mg sodium, 7g carbs, 7g sugar, 0g fiber, 4g Protein
World Famous Fries®
Nutritional Facts: 230 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 160mg sodium, 29g carbs, 0g sugar, 3g fiber, 3g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Wahiawa for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at McDonald's
Most burgers at fast food joints contain a high amount of sodium. You must keep your sodium intake in check if you are suffering from high blood pressure. McDonald's offers a wide range of burgers based on your diet preferences. Choose the right burger and avoid French fries at all cost while dining at McDonald's.
Foods to Avoid at McDonald's for High Blood Pressure
Avoid Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Burger and Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles at McDonald's as both these burgers are high in sodium. Skip extra cheese and avoid French fries if possible as they are too greasy and can add to your sodium intake. Also, avoid all types of sausage-based burgers or sandwiches at McDonald's to limit your sodium levels.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at McDonald's
Side Salad
Nutritional Facts: 15 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 10g Protein
Filet-O-Fish®
Nutritional Facts: 390 calories, 19g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 560mg sodium, 38g carbs, 5g sugar, 2g fiber, 17g Protein
Baked Apple Pie
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 95mg sodium, 35g carbs, 16g sugar, 4g fiber, 2g Protein
Vanilla Cone
Nutritional Facts: 200 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 95mg sodium, 32g carbs, 16g sugar, 4g fiber, 2g Protein
Americano
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Coffee
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 20mg sodium, 1g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Apple Slices
Nutritional Facts: 15 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0 g), 0mg sodium, 4g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
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High Cholesterol at MCDONALD'S
Cholesterol is the biggest concern for people visiting McDonald's, especially people suffering from high cholesterol. You can order chicken or egg burgers instead of ham or cheeseburgers to maintain your cholesterol levels at McDonald's. In addition, you can also try the salads and opt for drinks that low in sugar.
Foods to Avoid at MCDONALD'S for High Cholesterol
Bacon-based items are often too greasy and high in bad cholesterol. If you are concerned about high cholesterol, then you must avoid all bacon-based burgers and salads. Also, skip the Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders to keep your cholesterol levels in check. You must also keep sausage-based items at bay when dining at McDonald's.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at MCDONALD'S
Side Salad
Nutritional Facts: 15 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 1g Protein
Egg White Delight McMuffin®
Nutritional Facts: 260 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4.5g), 780mg sodium, 29g carbs, 3g sugar, 2g fiber, 16g Protein
McChicken®
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 590mg sodium, 39g carbs, 5g sugar, 2g fiber, 15g Protein
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 125mg sodium, 22g carbs, 12g sugar, 1g fiber, 2g Protein
Hamburger Happy Meal
Nutritional Facts: 480 calories, 16g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 680mg sodium, 62g carbs, 21g sugar, 3g fiber, 22g Protein
Cappuccino
Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 6g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 80mg sodium, 9g carbs, 9g sugar, 0g fiber, 6g Protein
Yoplait® GO-GURT® Low Fat Strawberry Yogurt
Nutritional Facts: 45 calories, 0.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 30mg sodium, 9g carbs, 5g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Wahiawa for healthy meals suggestion.
Q & A for McDonald's
When McDonald's first opened?
McDonald's began its operations by converting food and drinks stand called "The Airdrome" into first McDonald's restaurant.
When does McDonald's open?
McDonald's opens daily at 5:30 AM and stays open until 11:00 PM.
Which McDonald's is open 24 hours?
Unfortunately, there are not a single McDonald's which operates 24/7.
Where's McDonald's near me?
There are over 13,905 McDonald's outlets in the United States itself. You can find a McDonald's nearby with the help of our Restaurant Listings directory.
When McDonald's start and stop serving breakfast?
McDonald's starts serving breakfast at 5:30 AM daily until 10:30 AM.
When McDonald's start and stop serving lunch?
McDonald's starts serving lunch at 10:30 AM from Monday to Friday and 11:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy Meals are also served during lunch hours.
Will McDonald's bring back the McRib?
McRib is back at McDonald's since October 2018.
Will McDonald's bring back spicy McChicken?
McDonald's in the United States has no plans currently to bring back the Spicy McChicken.
Will McDonald's bring back the Grand Mac?
McDonald's doesn't serve Grand Mac currently and there are no plans to bring it back anytime sooner. You can always try the Big Mac if you have a large appetite for burgers.
Are McDonald's milkshakes gluten free?
Yes, all flavors of McDonald's milkshakes are gluten-free. Nearly all beverages served at McDonald's are gluten-free.
Are McDonald's burgers gluten-free?
Unfortunately, McDonald's does not serve gluten-free burgers. All the buns and other ingredients such as fried chicken patties, grilled chicken patties, beef patties, sauces, condiments, etc. contain gluten.
Are McDonald's Apple Pies vegan?
Generally, Apple Pies are prepared using shortcrust pastry which contains eggs. However, McDonald's Apple Pie pocket is vegan-friendly as it is both dairy and egg free.
Are McDonald's Veggie Burgers vegan?
Veggie Burgers served at McDonald's are purely vegan. Just remember to skip the sauce as the sandwich sauce contains egg.
Are McDonald's Milkshakes vegetarian?
Yes, McDonald's milkshakes are 100% vegetarian and don't contain any meat product.
When did McDonald's introduce McCafe?
McDonald's McCafe was introduced by McDonald's as a separate coffee chain in 1993. The café also served great bakery and pastry besides offering a great variety of coffee beverages.
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About McDonald's
McDonald's is the largest American fast food company with over 37,855 outlets spread across 100 countries. Primarily known for hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and French fries, McDonald's menu also serves chicken dishes, breakfast products, soft drinks, wraps, milkshakes, and desserts today. The restaurant chain introduced smoothies, salads, fish, and fruits on the menu to offer healthy food options at McDonald's.
The restaurant began its operations in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, United States. The name of the restaurant comes from its founders Richard and Maurice McDonald. The siblings started the food business as a hamburger stand which was later converted into a restaurant franchise in 1953. The first Golden Arches logo was also introduced in the same year.
Healthy Food Options at McDonald's
McDonald's was highly criticized for its unhealthy food options. Being a renowned brand and a popular fast food chain, McDonald's decided to revamp its image and decided to serve healthy food options. Most of these healthy food choices were salads, smoothies, fruits, and fish items.
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Address :
546 Olive Ave
Wahiawa, HI, 96786 - Phone (808) 621-5031
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 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 : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Philip U.
lots of food... yummy
(4)Brandy J.
If you ever find yourself passing through Wahiawa, you MUST try this place. It's such a hidden gem and the #1 place on my list whenever I'm back in town. I LOVE the meat jun and I really LOVE the red sauce that comes with it. I usually get the meat jun/chicken plate and always ask for extra red sauce. They are stingy about the sauce and sometimes even run out, but it's just not same without it. The portion sizes are generous and the service isn't terrible. I've never dined in and suggest ordering over the phone for pick-up. Parking is a nightmare, so it might be a good idea to park across the street at McDonald's and walk over.
(5)Ms M.
Best ever ko chu jang, meat jun & Kim Chee!!! Live it all!! Killerest Korean for on da island!!!
(5)Vin L.
I was sitting at my desk wondering what to grab for dinner tonight, and I read all the reviews about Dong Yang Inn's meat jun. Well, I began salivating like Pavlov's dog so I had to try it. I get there and the parking is daunting because it's right in front on a huge incline. Backing out was scary too because the truck next to me was blocking my view of the oncoming cars. The interior of the place is dimly light, chairs amiss, and the menu is on an old push-in letter board. It is real mom-and-pop, but I was just hesitant of the cleanliness. Oh well, I'm here I'll try the meat jun and fried mandoo combo ($8.50 straight up, the price on the board is the price you pay). It came out quickly (before I could play three words on Words With Friends) and I left equally as quickly. I got back to my office and tried it. Hmm, okay the meat was tender, but the egg wasn't crispy, the sauce was not as good as they hype, and the mandoo seemed like it had kalua pork inside without the flavor. There was also so much rice compared to the amount of meat. It was disappointing after reading all the high reviews. I most likely will not be going back.
(2)Amanda Z.
I haven't eaten at Dong Yang for several years, but always had a memory of the great meat jun, so during our "island food road trip", we had to make the stop! We ordered take out so we could eat it at the beach. $8 for a combo meat jun/chicken katsu plate with 4 preset sides and 2 scoops rice. Pretty good deal, especially with the quality of meat jun and the huge pile of meat. The meat jun was made with thick pieces of meat (and NOT chewy! woo hoo!), with great batter/flavoring. I didn't even need the dipping sauce (and I'm usually all about the dipping sauces). The chicken katsu was just average, nothing special, but nothing wrong with it. The sides (kim chee, cabbage, seaweed and cucumber) were kinda limp/lacking the love and variety you can find at other Korean restaurants. But overall, big props to the awesome meat jun, definitely worth the stop on the way out to the North Shore!
(3)dean t.
Wahiawa reminds this Hawai'i expat of small kid time, growing up on the Leeward side of the island - and Dong Yang brought me back on a recent trip to the North Shore of Oahu. Who'd think there were such great places to grind in Wahiawa? Don't go for the cleanliness, ambiance, or service - the food is the attraction here. Meat jun, kal bi ribs, fried mandoo like my Korean "aunties" used to make - and they keep refilling your kim chee, too! A recent price hike did not deter us - plenty food for the two of us for $17 - and we had leftovers for a late night snack. Will defintiely be back - kudos to Mrs. Potts and her staff.
(4)Joshua C.
Since the Mililani Mauka exit was closed this past Friday I figured why not continue on to Wahiawa to conduct another Yelp research trip. Recently a friend of mine who also lives in the area recommended this spot, "You need to visit Dong Yang," she said. "Who?" I replied. Apparently Dong Yang is her and quite a few yelpers favorite place to get meat jun and kal bi. "You should get take out," she added "I don't really eat in there" "Why not?" I wondered out loud "Well, let's just say it's not the cleanest place" "Oh, I see." And now having visited I'll also probably stick to getting take out. Sometimes that "time warp" effect can be wonderfully nostalgic, not in this case. The menu reads "Fine Korean Foods Since 1975" I think that may have been the last year they cleaned. The service was good, the "auntie" at the register totally made me feel at home while I waited for my Kal Bi, Meat Jun, and Mandoo. "Try it and let me know what you think of the food" said my friend who recommended the place. By the time I reached Dong Yang's I was so hungry (traffic has that effect on me...in addition to feelings of anger, frustration, and restlessness....yes, I need more help then good Korean food can provide). I ran in, got my food, sped home, woke my better half from her nap, snapped a few pictures (it's become way too natural yelp.com/biz_photos/UIoC… ), split the food into two bowls, and started stuffing myself. Okay, I know the Dong Yang faithful will disagree, but while the food is good here Young's Kal Bee in Aiea is better ( yelp.com/biz/youngs-kalb… ). I had no problems woofing down my food. The thick cut of the Meat Jun is nice, as is the big bone style Kal bi. The thing is (especially since we just ate there recently) the food at Young's is more flavorful and better executed. Anyway that's this "humble" yelper's opinion. So, Dong Yang Inn; good food, good service, fully ghetto atmosphere. You know, it's close and as I promised "auntie" at the counter I'll be back (at least for take out).
(3)Nicole K.
meat jun plate? yes please. they give so much food too. thought i was gonna burst after finishing the plate. but their meat jun is really good. so tasty and sweet. i also like getting their soups. their kalbi is also really good. i like sweet meat, so their kalbi really hits the spot. parking in the back is kind of scary at night, but we usually park in the mcdonald's parking lot and walk over. lol. there's also parking in the front...if you can find a stall.
(5)Tiani B.
OK if you want some of the BEST Korean food for the BEST prices, you have GOT to dine here! You get a heaping serving of whatever you decide to partake in and if you are a light-weight like me, you will have a little extra to take home for later. I love the Meat Jun, the mandoo, and the sweet ladies that work there! If you havent eaten here at least just once, you dont know what you are missing!
(5)Shasta L.
I've only ever eaten the meat jun, and it's too legit to quit. God knows I'm not a person who fixes what ain't broken. It's so delicious that it was the first thing I ate after landing in Honolulu, and that's saying a lot because I was hungry like something fierce. It's so delicious that I make sure my friends flying from Hawaii back to Seattle bring a little cooler of it as my souvenir. Now, the parking sucks, but we just park at the McDonald's across the street. Ha.
(5)Elvan W.
Highschool we spent many lunches here! Then hurry up and get back to school , before my dad saw my truck there.
(4)Daniela R.
Came here for some food after a long day at the beach and it was just okay. I ordered the yukgaejang but I've had better at other Korean spots. Wish I would've ordered something different to see what the rave is all about.
(2)Island R.
One word to sum it up...filthy. Lol. As for all this hu ha about the meat jun......don't get it. Yes they give good portions but that's about it. If you really want to taste the best meat jun there's only one champion..... Youngs kalbee in Aiea Best meat jun Katsu is the bomb Big bone kalbi is dank The sauce is devine Tons of ban chan side veggies that explode in ur mouf. I tell all my friends the same thing... "Get sum youngs...it'll change ur life!"
(2)David M.
I love there Meat Jun !!.
(4)Stephanie Y.
The meat jun (aka meat jun) is the BEST and their sauce . . . wow nothing can compare. Growing up in Mililani, I have always ate there and have had the pleasure of introducing them to my townie friends and my military friends. The atmosphere is ok (kind of what you would expect in Wahiawa), but the service is fast and friendly and they serve big portions. I see the same wait help from when I was in high school (sad to say that was about 20 years ago). My cousins who also grew up on meat jun from Dong Yangs have since moved to the mainland, but whenever they come home Dong Yang's is always on their must do list. Also whenever family goes to visit them in CA & CO, we vaccum pack the meat jun & special sauce and hand carry it to them so they can get their fix. Getting hungry just talking about it. Yummy!!!
(5)Lisa C.
I read many of the reviews and was eager to try this place having lived in Korea for 2 years... I will start off by saying the service was horrible! Completely unwelcoming. The woman at the register was sour faced and rude! I put that aside and decided to try to base what I think off of the food. I ordered the BBQ Chicken and the Chop Chae. While the Chop Chae has some potential, the BBQ chicken was absolutely nothing special.... I will probably not return to this restaurant.
(2)k n.
BESTEST meat jun on the island!! Very reasonable prices, large portions and delicious food!!!
(5)Linda L.
This tasted traditional and homemade according to the Korean friend. We ordered the meat jun because it seemed mandatory. It has the appearance of a fast food restaurant. You seat yourself at the cleanest table you can find and fend for yourself.
(3)Jave R.
Outstanding grinds! Been coming here for years. I remember, I used to cut school just to eat here.
(5)Susan M.
Like most say get the meat jun (although they call it meat chun). Im always looking for good meat jun because I cant ever find it on the mainland. Good prices, lots of food and best meat jun I've ever had. Ask for the gochujang sauce, its awesome. Only 4 stars because restaurant looks like a dump and service is lacking but food takes big time precedence.
(4)Alex A.
Did you know these ratings have verbal equivalents? This one says "Yay! I'm a fan." That means I will more than likely come back here because I enjoy their food. It's true. I came here because nearly every review talked about how awesome the meat jun is. You know what, I came in and looked on the menu and they didn't have meat jun. However, they did have something called meat chun and because it was my first time here I got a two-fer plate with bbq beef and a large fruit punch. It came out to a little over $10. I have to say, the meat chun was awesome. They give big portions and it wasn't like any meat chun I've had before. It had a nice flaky finish with a brown tint instead of the flat yellowish pocket that other places have. And it was packed full of taste, I didn't even need sauce for it for the first few bites. A tad bit oily, but in a good way. Very flavorful...even a few hours later sitting in my a/c'd car. The BBQ Meat was okay. It had a very, very strong smoky smell and taste, so if you like that fresh off the coals taste of meat you might like this. It was a bit dry, but good. You can opt to sit in the rather surprisingly spacious restaurant and get plates, or take it to go in the styrofoam plate. Also, like they say the parking situation is junk. McDonald's has a large parking lot across the street so I could see parking there and picking up your order to go...that's what I did.
(4)Barbra H.
Dong Yang sure know how to pack a MEAT JUN plate. This mountainous pile of Meat Jun is too good to pass up. One plate fed 2 adults (My BF and I are definitely not the types on fit magazines and such LOL) This was huge. This has got to be the best MEAT JUN out here on Oahu. So tender and juicy. Just all around meat goodness. The sauce is great as well. We had kim chee on the side, which was okay. I'm a fan and will keep going to Dong Yang's. Parking is a bit of a pain - especially during lunch time. You may just have to park across the street at McDonald's. While waiting for your food-check out the sign of the pawn shop next door. Their sign might still be on backwards. That's always a chuckle for both adults and children!
(4)Matthew L.
A Hawaii Army National Guard favorite, they seem like they could easily cater to a few hundred soldiers on the weekends. We usually get Meat Jun, and maybe bulgogi or chicken. Soldiers still like going to for lunch there too. The portions are huge, and the Meat Jun tastes good despite old looking oil. Same story with the zucchini. They will always give you the same veggies and the Kim chee is pretty bland. If eating in they'll give you some chicken soup that tastes like fried chicken.
(3)Nicole F.
I go home every year and the first place i want to eat when i get off the plane is this place!!! Their Meat Jun is to die for. I've had other dishes there, but I can't seem to step away from that Meat Jun. aw. ha ha. The service is good. They seat you and give you your menu. While you browse through it, they are placing your kimchi side dishes and water, etc. The wait for your food isn't that long either. They are a dining restaurant as well as a to-go restaurant as well. The parking is pretty tight since the place is located right off the street, it prob can only fit five cars/trucks. (depends on the sizes of vehicles and parking habits)
(4)Trish P.
got take out from here for lunch with my parents. the food is pretty much what i remember it as. the meat jun is good, the sides are good (cabbage kim chee - not won bok... but they sell that), the bi bim kook soo is good. the spicy pork was dry, and could have been more spicy, but its local style kine so that explains things.... when i was younger, i remember more koreans working there (i think anyway), but now, i only see Filipino women working there. where my korean people?! the woman at the counter was not very nice, and was kind of rude to my mother when she was attempting to make small talk while we waited for our order..... i guess customer service isnt what it used to be. oh well - i still like eating here.... but only for take out.
(3)chuck m.
The meat jun is probaly the best in honolulu. It's always moist and ono. Just a reminder for out of towners. Take it to go and don't mind the people that hang out in front of the building. Crappy parking during lunch so go before or after.
(5)Landon Y.
Forget the location, the drive to Wahiawa, and just get over to Dong Yang! It has taken me many years to find their meat jun. Don't wait as long as i did! It is near the corner of Olive and California Ave in Wahiawa, across from the McDonalds on the Olive side of the street. Parking is in the back as well, which I would suggest, instead of parking in front of the restaurant. Generous portions for their meat jun or meat chun plate as they call it on the menu. Served with 4 different sides, kim chee cabbage, bean sprouts, cucumber and another pickled cabbage...kinda like Japanese sunamono. On to the best part, there was at least 4 layers of meat jun in my plate lunch. Extremely generous portions, with a $6.25 price tag, pretty darn good. Do yourself a favor, at least for your stomach, and get over to Dong Yang. This is the best kept secret and food find i have discovered in a long time! I have heard from relatives that this place has been around for decades, and within those years, Dong Yang has been shut down for health code violations. They also told me that they would wait until the place would re-open and go back. haha! So far, so good...no food borne illnesses here. Onolicious!
(5)grace g.
Found this place while driving around on my lunch break. It is located across mcdonalds in wahiawa. Parking didn't look too great but, I just pulled into a spot in front of the place. I sat down and ordered their famous meat jun and kalbi plate. All I can say is their portions are HUGE and the meat jun has a lot of taste. But, it isn't on the top of my list. I believe they also sell meat that is raw & marinated, Kim chee and other yummy Korean food.
(4)Jeni O.
Fish Chun hubby new fave, I like BBQ chicken with lots if kimchi!!'
(4)Shannon F.
Honestly, I'm ashamed that this past Hawaii trip we only ate here once. How dare I deny my taste buds the taste of Dong Yang until the second to the last day we were in Oahu? We indirectly had like a "Korean Food playoffs" between 'Yummy's', 'Kim Chee II' (Kaimuki) & Dong Yang... guess who won. Yup, that's what I did : Saved the Best for LAST! Oh yeah, and just for the record : LOCAL KOREAN FOOD IS BETTER THAN MAINLAND KOREAN FOOD.
(5)K K.
I remember eating here years ago and the portions were huge and price cheap. Last week when I had lunch from here the portions were still generous but the prices came up as expected but the quality of the food went down. This was a disappointment. The meat jun is still good as was the BBQ chicken and mandoo. The vegetables were another story. The cabbage was just plain cabbage with no no seasoning or flavor. The same with the cucumber and bean sprouts. If in the area I would eat here again but not go out of my way to eat here.
(3)William K.
I am Korean and from Los Angeles, Korea Town. I've been here in Wahiawa for about two months and been to as much Korean restaurants possible. So, how is Dong Yang Inn? At first, I was waiting in line to order food ,so I thought it was one of those typical Americanized Korean place. I saw the menu on the wall and wasn't many selections. However, the very friendly waiter offered me a paper menu which had more selctions and told me to take my time even though people were in line. Obviously, I let others go first. I decided to get combo consist of Gal-bi, Korean BBQ, meat fish jun, fried dumpling, friend shimp, KIMCHI and rice. When my order came out; I was like HOLY SHIT looking at the amount. I eat a lot and often ,but I almost gave up and tapped out before finished this dish. The food wasn't amazing but it was better than norm and great. My favorite was Kal-bi and beef and fish jun. yummmmmmmmmm. This place isn't the traditional nor fancy dating place. Also, it might look sort of ghetto. Parking sucks @#$#! Yet, I still give four stars. Why??? One of the best Korean place in Wahiawa area. The price is fair enough. The workers are very friendly. Food is more than norm and large amount. I am sure I will be one their regular customer. ****
(4)Rosie F.
Yuck.. Oil they cook their meat Jun tastes so old!
(2)Gary T.
You would be wasting your time if your reading my review right now! Just go over to Wahiawa and check it out for yourself, key word Meat-Jun!!!!
(5)Kristian G.
Hands Down best take out meat jun on the island! From the outside, it looks like a rundown place, but the food is ONO! The meat jun is tasty enough that it doesn't need any additional sauce to me, but they do have if you want. They also have some really good fish jun. Both the meat and fish jun are tender! A down fall is that it's so far from my home, but you can't help that. lol Sometimes my family will drive all the way down there just to grab a catering pan! Another down fall is the amount of parking in the front of the store. But you can always park across the street and walk over like me and my family do. Very good :)
(4)Rocelle S.
The meat jun was alright for me. What I didn't like about this place was that they did not offer any side choices. Everything was pre-picked. The side veggies pretty much sucked. The kim-chee was okay nothing to get all hyped about. The bean sprout and the cucumber tasted as if it was sitting out. As for the meat "chun" the portion size was awesome for $7.25 the cut of the meat was pretty thick. Also, the meat chun was really soft. But for the overall taste? It was alright. I could taste a hint of fish sauce in the egg batter (perhaps that is the 'secret' ingredient) But all in all the place looks old and dingy. The waiters are your typical filipino ladies (not really friendly) and this place is super far. I recommend just getting your fill at Tasty's in Waipahu. At least the vegetables are edible. Also. FYI I think all of the meat chun is pre-battered because I had a peek into the cooking area and it looked like there was a whole tray of meat chun stacked....-______-
(3)Daniel A.
I"ve been living in Las Vegas for the past 13yrs. Everytime I come home to visit (4 - 6 times a yr....or more.lol), this is the first place I eat. I grew up eating here and I've always loved this place. I eat the meat jun all the time. Sometimes I'll have the meat jun-fish jun combo. Their meat jun is super onolicious (for da locals). Their kalbi is good. I love their head cabbage kim chee. Not too spicy, but really crunchy. To explain it all in one sentence....IT IS ALL GOOD!!!
(5)Mary D.
The best meat jun EVER! We always pick up their dinner plates on the way home from the north shore. Great bang for your buck and the food is SO ONO!! Yes, the diner could use a renovation and upgrading. The parking can be an issue when the place gets busy but we usually just park across the street and walk across. If you've never eaten here before, it is a definite MUST TRY!
(4)Wendie J.
If you want good service or a pristinely clean restaurant- this place is NOT for you. But if you want good Korean food, with large portions, and cheap prices- THE best Mundoo outside of my Grandmother's kitchen- this place IS for you. If you're a restaurant snob then don't come to Wahiawa. I'm sure there's a Yummy's somewhere around your neighborhood that will help you out. This is Korean food made by KOREANS. It is good, it is filling, and for the price it is AMAZING. If you want some smiley waitress who will bring you your won bok kim chee and all your fancy veggies with a clean fork- you need to move along and go eat at another Korean restaurant- there's a few in town you'd like. Don't come to the country and harp on our food and our restaurants. I've been eating here my entire life. It is a Wahiawa fixture. The waitress that works there has been there since I was 10. She is tired and works hard for probably little pay. So all you folks on Yelp leaving these- "oh my gosh, the place was SO DIRTY. And the kim chee is made of -GASP- CABBAGE" (what the hell do you think kim chee is made out of? oh, right- cabbage). Just eat there every week for a month and tell me how your food is then. Guaranteed the other 3 meals will be better than you ever expected. But no problem, don't eat here again- we Wahiawa folks know a gem when we find one, and we don't need folks traipsing in from elsewhere to tell us what's good or what sucks. So I guess there will always be more Mundoo and Meat Chun for me and my Exit 8 peeps.
(5)James B.
YUM, Yummy, yum!! The first time I went here was many years ago, it's a bit out of the way for me to get to, so it was actually the first & last time I went. I love good food, but I'm not crazy about having to drive long distances to acquire it. So this place really wasn't a thought in my mind...until the other night! My brother came to visit, he lives out in Wahiawa and said he would pick up some food and bring it over, I thought nothing of it, other than we'd probably be eating some Mcdonalds, or Jack-in-the-Crack. Either way, it was food, all be it oily, greasy and processed, but still something that would conquer my appetite. So he arrives at our house and I notice a ray of sunshine beaming down upon him...What's this I thought, he glows, he radiates a delicious odor, well not him, but what he was carrying. My eyes sparkled, my cheeks flushed, and excitement overwhelmed me. Of course I didn't realize it was Dong Yang's yet, but I knew it wasn't fast food...Oh Happy Day!! He held in his arms a box, a plain, dreary cardboard box, but that wasn't of import, it was the contents that intrigued me. It was like an arabian princess dressed in peasants garb, plain and unappealing on the exterior, but wonderous royal beauty beneath. I peered into the box holding styrofoam container, upon styrofoam container, piled high smelling of deliciousness. He said to me...take one..and I did...Then he said in a thunderous voice..."DONG YANGS MEAT JUN"!!! I wept. It was long since we'd last met, and now reunited. The courtesies were exchanged with my meat jun, I welcomed it, informed it of it's pending demise and consumed it with savage delight. Thank you brother...Thank you Dong Yang...Thank you styrofoam container...Thank you meat jun.
(4)Patti K.
Excellent meat jun. Good khalbi. The BBQ chix was so-so. Would definitely visit again...the meat jun was really a winner!
(4)Nathan N.
It might be a cruddy, little restaurant, but man does it have some of the best Korean Meat Jun on Oahu. If you dine in and order the Dong Yang Special, be prepared to get your stomach pumped. That thing is HUGE!
(4)Sheldon H.
Best Korean food I know, especially my favorite, meat chun. Gotta have it at least twice a month, used to be more often when I lived there. Been going there for over thirty five years.
(5)Barry A.
Thoroughly satisfying in a way that only kamaaina (or jonesing expatriots/transplants) can truly enjoy. First off, its in close proximity to Ohai Street. HPD (Honolulu Police Dept.) doesn't particularly like going down that street. High crystal meth aka "batu" traffic. Right next door to a pawn shop. In the short time we were outside while my company finished his cigarette... we observed two cars pulling up in front of the pawn shop, engine still running, people rushing in to sell something quick then taking off.. ...in a very "batu-ish" way. Not to mention, the two "batu-fiends" finishing their forties, babbling, and heading past us in all their dilated, pock-marked, speed-bump glory. Ok ok... back to Dong Yang's.... MEAT JUN MECCA You won't get a check. When you're ready, auntie mentally sums up your bill and you get your total. If you don't believe her, you can check the menu behind the counter. You won't do that though, right? You know aloha when you see it, you know aloha when you smell it, you know aloha when you eat it. Feel aloha. It's all in there.
(5)jacqui w.
So the same lady is always there and we've started ordering on the phone and then picking up cuz it takes a while. The first time I called and while I was ordering the lady started rushing me and then HUNG UP because I took to long (LOL!) So I called back and ordered fast. When I picked it up she gave me forks. She always gives me forks and then I give them back and ask for chopsticks. So my husband had me convinced it was cuz I was caucasian... (the rudeness and the forks..) So I made him order last time and she yelled at him too! Yay! Equal opportunity hater! lol. But she gave him chopsticks. Anyways, just a funny thing I wanted to share. I still eat there because even though she was pretty rude the food is amazing. Yum.
(4)Steve C.
BEST Meat-Jun in Hawaii - even though the Aiea one was ranked 1st in some poll, Dong Yang's Meat-Jun is better and a must have if you are in Wahiawa. I have eaten at both, and even if I was from Aiea I would prefer Dong Yang, although the Aiea one is good too. Both place do not have pleasant bathroom facilities.
(5)Dave O.
Meat jun or chun, whatevers, the best value and always the same
(5)tiana r.
Come here and get the meat chun. That is all. Your welcome.
(5)Angel D.
This place has been in Wahiawa since I can remember. Back in the day, my dad would always buy me and my brother BBQ meat plates here whenever my mom worked late. But nowadays, its all about the meat chun! This is what me and my friends craved when we were stuck on the mainland for college. Yeah, the restaurant is kinda sketchy and dingy, but its probably one of the best places to eat in Wahiawa.
(4)Concecrated N.
The best Kalbi anywhere! Ok, I am not a fan of the cleanliness but I have to admit I have never had a better kalbi short rib. They are consistently delicious and give a generous portion. My husband and cousin love this place - and they are not easily impressed (they are kinda crabby about average food to be honest). They are both unabashed fans regardless of the appearance. Big fans of both the cucumber and cabbage kimchee as well as the kalbi and meat jun. We take out a lot - you should try it- you won't regret it!
(4)Riza A.
One of the main things I miss about home...MEAT JUN!!! I haven't found this dish anywhere outside of Hawaii (and trust, I've tried). For a hole in the wall to survive as long as I've been alive (and then some) speaks mountains. I can't wait til I'm back home in a month!!! I'm planning on this being my first stop! (Ok ok, maybe after Zippy's, but only cuz Zippy's is closer to the airport).
(5)Gidget A.
The best Meat Chun!!! Anywhere!!! No one can come close to the sauce. One of a kind!! What I like about it is that they cut their meat chun into bite sized pieces. No one else does that. I know I can cut it myself but come on people it slows down the eating process.
(5)Amanda U.
better than the kim chee restaurants! boyfroend got meat chun and i got kim chee soup. and it was the best thing ever. for the meat chun it was tender and juicy and my kim chee soup tasted fresh, hot and super spicy just how i love it! the price of the drinks are a bit costly compared to the prices of the meals but oh m g! im dreaming about it right now... mouth watering!!!
(5)Sylvia D.
I love Dong Yang....seriously. Anybody that I've taken there that hasn't eaten there before fall in love with the meat jun. The fried zucchini, man doo and kal bi are awesome as well. The only reason it gets four stars is of course the cleanliness factor. Dong Yang has a weird smell when you there (but I can get over it because the food is so freakin' good). The other bumming thing is that they don't let you pick your own vegetables like most korean places (I would go for half kim chee and half sprouts).
(4)Elle V.
Meat jun = 5 stars! So worth going to Wahiawa for!
(5)Kay Z.
The meat Jun is the bomb!! It is so yummy by itself that you dont even need to dip it in the sauce. I always try to get a plate everytime I go visit family in Wahiawa.
(5)Vicky B.
I LOVE Dong Yang. I'll drive from town, just to get the meat jun plate. Its huge and good price. The drive and gas from town adds up, but to get their meat jun... totally worth it. Typical hole in the wall, but dont judge a book by its cover. This is the absolutely best meat jun and other korean food on the island. mmmmm dong yang.
(5)Lani B.
After a day at Pipeline we went to check out Dong Yang Inn with friends visiting from LA. Parking did not look good so we parked across the street at McDonalds. Restaurant was dated and not very clean. Got a bowl of complimentary chicken broth to start with...was okay. At most Korean establishments, you normally get a set of small bowls with kim chee and other veggies but we did not get it here...just kim chee. I wanted to try everything so I ordered the $11 Dong Yang Special combo (kalbi, meat jun, fish jun, fried shrimp, mandoo, BBQ chix and BBQ beef, rice, mac salad). Everything was just ok. The only thing I liked was the meat jun and mac salad. Kalbi was not what I was used to; seemed like they took a thick cut shortrib and butterflied it so thin that the meat was like teri beef and marinade for it could have been better. My friends also ordered the other combo plates and it, too, was okay. Service was okay...she did her job without smiling. Looks like alot of their business comes from takeout. I did not want my friends to pay for dinner since our experience was mediocre. It was a lot of food for little money but I probably will not go back. Sorry, I really wanted to like this place based on other reviews but we've experienced better.
(2)L. Y.
My fave spot to get my meat jhun fix. They have good bbq chicken and katsu too. Their portions are good and the kim chi is just right.
(4)Leah P.
Okay so from the outside you might be kind of off put especially if you aren't a local but if you can get past the exterior and actually sit down and eat the food its amazing! Plus every plate comes with a never ending supply of some of the best Kimchee around! I love the meat jun it's to die for!!
(4)Fudge F.
The best Meat-Jun you will ever eat. When I lived on the mainland for college, this was the only food I missed (besides poke). I can make Chicken Katsu, loco moco, and other island favorites, but could never master the meat-jun like Dong Yangs. The sauce is awesome. It's better to eat there, where they give you chicken broth with your meal, as well as all the kim chee you want. Your plate also comes with potato-mac salad when you eat in. I remember eating here growing up and the plate of meat-jun was only $4.25, now it is $6.50 yet still a great price for a lot of food. If you are ever in Wahiawa, or passing through, especially after the beach, stop in and order some meat jun, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Marijcke m.
I eat at dong yang A LOT! Just put your blinders on! The tables are sticky and the water taste like bleach, but the food is what its about! When you order a plate you get a clear chicken broth soup that's garnished with a little scrambled egg and green onion! I order (most of the time) the Dong yang special, It has a piece of everything. Teri chicken, teri beef (bogolgi), fried mandoo, fish jun, a pile of meat jun, shrimp tempura, and a nice size piece of Kalbi! I think its $9.00! Try the cold noodles bim bim kook su! they are thin "somen" noodles with like water crest and teri beef the sauce is a sesame seed type! YUMMY and one order for the whole table! SO GOOD O and they don't use a lot of MSG!! Good kim chee too!
(5)Maria Q.
Meat chun. Yum. That is all.
(4)Les U.
I think I have not been to this place in almost 20 years. It was a standard on the way to our casting grounds on the north shore. My favorite was the bul go gi. Over the years, eating habits change along with life style. We don't do over nighters in Mokuleia anymore and I hardly ever go for bul go gi at the local korean places. My fav now is bi bim bap, gotta love them veggies and easy over egg. Of course, a little bit of that beef is still in there. On their menu, its spelled pi pim pup?, hopefully not the K-9 type. The menu further broke it down to pi pim pup korean style, whats that? I decided to go for it. Funny but it looked almost exactly like what I get at Soon's. The veggies were outstanding. I never had moyashi kim chee or pickled egg plant, they were both great! The price was reasonable too, $7.75. The down grade from 4 or 5 stars is because of the facilities. I ordered take out and am thankful that I did. It wasn't the cleanest. Wifey handed me her phone having felt the urge to answer nature. She returned with remarks that are not fit for print. I guess if you need to go, run across the street to Mickey Dee's. The parking hill in front can be a pain if its rush hour. There is parking out back also. What ever happened to Andy's Coin Shop on the corner?
(3)Natasha C.
Meat jun here is def wonderful! Ambiance not so much. Aside from the meat jun I normally will get the kimchi stew even though its not authentic tasting and lacks certain things that make it a real kimchi stew. Parking is really horrible so really avoid it during rush times if at all possible.
(3)ST U.
The meat jun is really tasty! Lots of batter but the meat is seasoned really nicely. You get a bowl of either chicken broth or seaweed soup to start, and home made cabbage kim chee as a starter. Service is usually quick even with the endless traffic of people doing take-out orders. Parking in the front is limited; however, there is a somewhat not so obvious parking in the back. When going up Olive (?) Street, hang a left on the first cross street right after the restaurant, and there is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. Really nice owner & workers.
(3)Jon M.
Born and raised here I gotta say this place still has the best meat chun on the island. I still drive our here for the meat chun from town.
(5)Tim F.
Great find...thanks yelp! We ate noodle soup, kalbi (short ribs), meat jun, fish jun and several other samplings. Not much to see from the street but food was worth the trip!
(5)Jesse M.
Gotta love the meat jun and kal bi! Except I always get funny looks whenever I go in here-could it be because I am Haole and in the middle of Wahiawa? Minus 1 star for the cleanliness, i mean its aiight but i wouldn't eat anything that fell onto the table! And their taegu is pretty awesome.
(4)Wade H.
I haven't been to Dong Yang Inn in many years so thought we'd drive out there since we were in the area. Traffic getting there on a Saturday off the freeway is bad. One good thing about eating in the restaurant is that you get soup and some daikon kim chee as well as the standard kim chee. I had the meat jun and my partner had the bbq chicken. The meat jun was ok. Lots of rice, bean sprouts, cabbage, and potato macaroni salad. The bbq chicken was the same. The flavor on the chicken was overpowering. Too much soaking. Lots of people phone order. Ample parking in the back of the restaurant. Take the first left after the building and you can see the parking lot.
(2)Teresa G.
LOVE their meat jun and BBQ meat!! The best so far. I will drive out of my way to come here for good Korean food
(5)Tim C.
Best Meat Junn on the island!! Its thick and full of flavor, should almost be called Steak junn! I get this every time so I can't comment on anything else yet!
(5)Carissa U.
Alright so this is a small place tucked away in Wahiawa that offers a lot of bang for your buck. Whenever I visit, I have to eat here at LEAST once. Good eats for sure. Awkward parking in front. I recommend parking in back because sometimes you can get blocked in.
(5)Brooke M.
I have mixed feelings about this place. I grew up eating this and it was the only korean food I ever knew. Picking up Dong Yang for dinner was a big treat back then. Sometime about the early 90's, korean bbq seemed to get a lot more popular (either that, or I got my drivers license and actually started leaving central Oahu on a regular basis). But I digress... The food is delicious. And reasonably priced. I admit that whenever I make it back home, we do pick up meat jun and kalbi plate lunches to go. And the kim chee is probably the best this side of Los Angeles' Korea town. But... Minus one star for the overall appearance of cleanliness ... there is good "hole in the wall" and there is bad "hole in the wall" and this place straddles the line.
(4)Julie T.
Great Meat Jun here and they give good portions
(5)Andrea P.
BEST MEAT JUN on the island. This is always the first place I go from the airport when i have been away on a trip. Yes, its dingy. Yes, the booths are sticky. IT DoESN"T matter!!!!! Eat the meat jun while you're there and get one to go or to give to someone you love, they will love you forever.
(5)R O.
Been going here for years. Generous portions, tasty food...all at a very reasonable price. We ordered takeout the other day - 4 plates for $30! Kim chee soup and meat juhn are my favorites. Dad likes the BBQ meat better than any other korean restaurant on the island. Husband still prefers Soon's meat juhn, but said Dong Yang's is "a contender". (I personally don't like Soon's rock-hard meat juhn. I prefer the softer, meatier Dong Yang version.)
(4)Serenie S.
Meat Jun plate! WOOOOH. I think it can feed 2 it's so big.
(5)Wade T.
AAAhhhhhh, what can I say that everyone here hasn't already? Being B&R in Hawaii my parents took me to Dong Yang since I knew what korean food was. They knew the owners from way back when (back when for my PARENTS) and "aunty" would always come to our table and talk about how they were doing. (I even remember back in the days when they had 25 cent "vending" TV's on the tables...anyone?) Portions are mountainous, radish kim chee (buy in bulk) is great, kal bi is better than most Hawaii korean restaurants (not that cheap stuff), and if you get a chance, ask for the red (not sure if it's gochujang or not) hot sauce and use it with your favorite meat dish (ONOLICIOUS!). The soup before the meal takes me back to when i was sitting eye level with the table...they have not changed a thing and I love that. Everytime I go back home my family picks up from there (i live near the airport) and my sister (best sister in the world) sometimes freezes some meat juhn, puts it in a cooler just before she flies over and i when i pick her up from the airport i go straight home and reheat it). Not exactly the same but better than any korean joint here in Vegas. I will continue to "go there" whenever I can, as often as I can, hopefully they'll be around for my kids to enjoy someday. YES, it's THAT good.
(5)Corey S.
Been going here for years!!! Like most of the reviews have already stated, the meat jun is the best around! It's what i'll compare any other meat jun i eat and i gotta say it still comes out the best!! I'll also agree with another review, order take-out and have someone drive you so they can wait in the car while you run in, parking does suck. And on a final note: like any other 'mom n pop' restaurant, let's leave the looks of the kitchen behind the kitchen door. ;-)
(5)Ihz O.
youtube.com/watch?v=ntew… Welcome! The four stars I'm giving represents part food and part environment at Dong Yang Inn. I'm going to focus on the environment part because we all know about the meat chun already. I'll go over the ghetto environment with you, and I'll tell you why Dong Yang Inn is safe even though the area is inundated with bums and punk, criminal thugs. The title of my review is... Sleeping with the frienemy Some people like to base jump off buildings some people like to surf 30 foot waves. I like going into ghetto areas to eat great food. I don't love doing it, but that's my way of living on the edge. So if you want to live to at least 100 years old, stick with me Ihz O. and after 100 you can do anything you want. I have this love then hate then reeeally hate then love all over again relationship with Dong Yang Inn. Right now I'm falling in love with Dong Yangs all over again. I guess it's true what they say--absence makes the heart grow fonder. The environment is pretty ghetto around Dong Yang Inn. However, I think it's still safe to go and eat, and I have a theory on why it's safe for you or anyone. My theory is two-fold: one, the meat chun provides these bums and punk, criminal thugs with energy and nourishment, so these crazy people RESPECT the meat jun. Two, because they respect the meat chun, they don't want any bad press associated with Dong Yang Inn such as car break-ins, assault and batteries, begging, or robberies. Because if Dong Yangs goes out of business these crazy people would have to take the bus or drive into town or wherever to get great Korean food, and that would suck big time for them. So in conclusion Dong Yang Inn is safe to eat despite the bums and punk, criminal thugs that frequent the area. You'll see these evil bum criminals but they won't bother you because they know they have a great thing, and they don't want to lose it, so enjoy Dong Yang Inn and know that the environment is just is a small part of the whole Dong Yang experience. Thank you for reading the review. I love you all.
(4)Ina T.
It's been a while since I've been here. The food is still as yummy as I remembered. We still love the meat chun & fish chun. My kids really enjoy the Kalbi and bbq chicken. Waitress is just as welcoming as it's always been LOL Don't expect a welcoming smile and friendly staff because you won't get it BUT you will get tasty food and that counts too. I do want to praise them on how fast they get their food out to the customers. I've been coming here since I was a little kid. Although when I was younger I didn't care for customer service as I get older I do understand and appreciate it where it is good. This place needs training on that. Perhaps a smile once in a while. Maybe a how are you? Simple and standard customer service protocol wouldn't kill anyone here. Other than that this is not a place I'd come to anytime soon. Maybe if I'm in need of a good plate that I need quick to go. Just like any restaurant no one is perfect but everyone could use improvement and I'd say they could use it in the customer service area.
(4)Traci T.
My GO TO for meat jun if I'm ever in the Wahiawa area. This place makes the best meat jun (meat chun as stated on their menu). It's easy to see that I'm not the only one who thinks this because pretty much everyone has it on their plates when you walk into the restaurant. The friend I went with on my most recent visit doesn't usually eat Korean food. Say what?!?! Therefore, I suggested that we get the Dong Yang Inn special so he could get a little bit of everything. It comes with kalbi, BBQ meat, BBQ chicken, shrimp, meat chun, fish chun, and fried mandu. Now as I'm writing this review, I don't even think we got a piece of shrimp...oh wells. When we placed our order at the counter, they lady took our order and quickly disappeared for the next at least 10 minutes (if not longer). We joked that maybe she went to personally make our order. We have no idea why she was gone for so long. When she finally returned, she took our money. They don't charge tax. $16 flat for the Dong Yang Inn special. I overheard some people behind us saying that the prices went up a couple dollars a few months ago...so if you haven't been here in a while, expect to pay a little more. While we waited for our food, we sat down at a booth. We had to call one of the ladies to come over to give us water. It just so happened to be the lady that took our order. She was surprised that we were eating in the restaurant. She told us that next time we should just sit down at a booth and order if we plan to eat in the restaurant. If you go the counter, then they expect you to take out. Oops! We didn't see anyone walking around to help us when we entered, so we just figured ordering at the counter would've been faster to get service. If you dine in, you get this brothy soup with green onions and pieces of shredded egg in it. You also get small dishes of two types of kim chee. The regular kim chee tasted a bit too sour to me, though. I strayed away from it for the rest of the meal. We were told that they ran out of mandoo and asked if we would like more of another type of meat to substitute the mandoo. The lady suggested maybe more meat jun...SURE! That's what I came here for in the first place. I think I would enjoy the meat jun much more than the mandoo anyways. Score! We just shared the special since I wasn't too hungry. I had my share of the meat jun....delicious as always! I also tried the BBQ meat. I'm not usually a fan of BBQ meat, but I must say that theirs is great! It's very flavorful and the meat is soft. I really enjoyed it! Why did I take a star away? Well, don't expect friendly customer service when you go here. You'll get service, but you just need to flag them down for it if you want it right away. Just go here for the delicious Korean food and don't expect much else. TIPS: 1. They take VISA and Mastercard, but there is a minimum charge of $10. Have cash ready on hand if you plan to spend less than that. 2. There's a few stalls in the front, but there are lots of stalls in the back. There are doors to enter from in the front and the back. The back looks as though you'll be walking through the kitchen or something, but no worries...it's just another entrance.
(4)Wetonbe S.
Growing up dining out at dong yang was always a childhood favorite . I moved back home recently and was disappointed To see what has become of it. There food is still delicious meat jun broke the mouth ... The cleanliness is horrible . There was a baby coackaroach floating in my miso soup !an the starter soup is like water with green onions. Also where did the Mac salad go? Customer service " Ohana feel" is gone as well.
(2)Alex C.
Love this place. I always visit this place everytime I come home to visit. I always get the meat chun. A very generous serving every time.
(4)Troy S.
Found a roach in my egg soup but their meat Hun still killas. I still go there very often and the costumer service is ok. It's rediculous how much extra they charge for a tiny extra cup of sauce.
(3)Judy C.
Yuck & Yikes!! My last review, I gave this place 4 star, but def. not anymore!! as of now, 6.7.15 I should have read the reviews before making the decision to come here for lunch on Sunday. Recent reviews, few Yelpers got food poisoned & there is a mouse jun. Oh My goodness!! I went out of my way, one hour in rail traffic to come here. The Filipino lady, the same one always working is way ruder this time!! We seated ourselves, waited forever to be served. to get our menus, to get water, even for our orders to be taken. My sister went up to her to give her our order & she snapped!! so 30 mins. later, finally she comes by. Notice the price went up. & the food was less than mediocre.. Not as good as before. ( new cook? new owner? ) hmm ok, sad to have to break the news to the Hubby, as he loves this place. Sorry Hubby, we will find better!! I'm not sure if we were food poisoned. - felt pretty gross after reading those reviews + the mouse jun review. Oh wells, good bye Dong Yang!! never coming back!! NEVER!!
(1)C W.
AMBIANCE: The dining room is run down, untidy and in disrepair. I can't imagine that the kitchen would pass a Board of Health inspection although I didn't go back there. SERVICE: Leaves much to be desired. The ladies there are borderline rude. FOOD: My recent visit will be my last. I called in an order about 5 minutes before my arrival there. Picked up my order. Got home to Launani Valley and was thoroughly disappointed. I had ordered side orders of kal bi, meat jun, and fish jun. The fish came with only four pieces. The kal-bi looked like it was microwaved instead of being fired on the grill, made to order. There was only two pieces. The meat jun was, by far, the worst part of this order. It was soggy and absolutely horrible. It was as if my serving was leftovers from the night before. Soggy, tasted like old oil. The color was not appetizing. I uploaded a pic here on yelp. And all of this horribleness set me back by $28. Disgusting!
(1)Trenton N.
Dirtiest looking restaurant in Wahiawa, but hands down one of the best places that make Meat Jun on the island. Definitely worth checking out!! Located across from Wahiawa McDonalds, Peking in front and back.
(4)Ashley B.
I haven't came here in 3 months, even tho I grew up eating here. I ordered dinner for my family to go. When I open the plate there is raw bbq beef on the bottom that was touching the rest of the food. Very disappointed, time to switch to Youngs Kalbi already!
(2)Traci R.
Looking for some local Korean food? Everyone turns to Dong Yang's! Since my dad would frequent this restaurant a lot before, we always stop here when we find ourselves in Wahiawa. FOOD: Meat Jun is their most popular dish. Beef covered in egg and cooked in oil. Something about that just makes sense. All for $9.00. Meat portion is very reasonable; 2 layers of meat jun with an equivalent to at least 3 scoops of rice. It's tender and you don't have to tug and pull at it. The fluffy, crispy egg coating though...BOMB :) Their combination plate (choice of 2 - bbq meat, bbq chicken, fish jun, or fried mandoo) is $9.75. The combo plate isn't worth it in my opinion. They only gave me 3 small pieces of fish jun (smaller than a deck of cards for each piece) and 4 fried mandoo. The mandoo looked like the fish at first and was soggy! Significantly less entree compared to meat jun. They also forgot our bean sprouts. No matter what you get, be prepared for some really oily food. Plus, we could tell the food was cooked in dirty oil. :/ This place isn't the same as it used to be like what other Yelpers believe. Maybe since it got popular, they can't keep up with the demand which causes them to slip. Don't get me wrong. This place is way better than Yummy's but I prefer Kim Chee 7's one a lot more. SERVICE: Not the friendliest but you don't expect much from a place like this. If you want good service, then take your money elsewhere. But if you only care about food, then this is the place. The counter help is very 'to the point' and 'don't waste my time'. All you hear is "NEXT!" This place can get crowded; expect a wait. A really long wait. We waited about one whole hour (no joke) for our food. In fact, the cashier didn't call in our order to the back and eventually forgot about the order despite us asking multiple times about our order. People had placed phone orders and were still waiting 30-45 minutes for only 2-3 plates. However, she was very apologetic. PARKING: Available in the front and back of the restaurant. There's a back door to the restaurant if you park in the back. There's a reason why all the pictures posted on Yelp is of Meat Jun. Because you get the most 'bang for buck' with this plate. It's worth it to buy if you're around the area, but I wouldn't take a special trip out here just for Dong Yang's.
(3)Kira C.
I definitely got food poisoning or something from here. The food was great but the next day I was so sick. My husband ate my leftovers the night I brought it home and he got sick shortly after me. Neither of us could hold anything down for the next 2 days. When I got back to work I asked my coworkers if they got sick and they all did. 4 days later we can all still feel the effects. A fellow yelper said we should call the health dept. I think we should. If you got sick too, you should call the health department so we can get this resolved. Food tasted good but its not worth it.
(1)Nataliya G.
The place is really dirty. We had meat Chun and fish chun, per recommendation of our friends. It tasted really good. But next day we were all feeling wierd. We don't know what it was in their food, but I am sure we all reacted to it. My husband thinks it was MSG, I think they reuse oil. But I think, that was enough for us not to go there again. Wish they could clean up the place and review the ingredients.
(3)Tiffany R.
If you're from Wahiawa and never ate at Dong Yangs, you're missing out. If you want tasty food, amazing portions, and cheap prices..Stop at Dong Yangs! It's run by older women and it may not look the nicest inside but, looks can be deceiving because the amazing food makes up for it. I always take out and hardly Dine-Inn, I suggest the Meat Chunn because it's the best! It's thick slices of Egg coated meat with the best sauce on the sides. The plates are good for two. The rice is packed high and so are the sides of cucumber, kim chee, cabbage and bean sprouts. The Meat Chunn sauce is to die for! It has a like a vinegar, peppery taste with shoyu! It's really good. The rice is hot and kinda mushy but it's so good!! I'd give it a 10/10 if I could.
(5)Jenn K.
Out of all the Korean restaurants I've tried, Dong Yang is still my favorite place for Meat Chun. For a small price, you can request for some extra sauce.
(4)Rissa K.
Def worth stopping by for your Korean food fix on the way to the North Shore or if you're in the area! Their meat Chun is tender and tasty! The portions here are generous!
(4)Kara Y.
I've been coming here since I was a child because my grandma used to live up the street. And to this day my family and I believe this is the best Meat Jun on the island. Granted over the years I have seen the price increase by a few dollars but it is still a good deal. My family and I can't head towards that side of the island without stopping by.
(4)Sierra C.
This used to be one of our favorite spots on the central side. We were always able to overlook the "rustic" look and super rude Filipino ladies, but today's visit will be the last for us. The food was overwhelmingly salty! Our plates were super skimp from the last time we came. A diner in my party ordered a kalbi and shrimp plate. Barely any shrimp, mostly batter. The diner kindly asked to return the shrimp for meat jun instead. The waitress had the nerve to say, "well next time don't order that". Geez, Aunty! Business has gone down the drain. The waitress was the make or break deal for us. The overall experience was disappointing. Mahalo nui for the food provided in numerous birthday, potlucks, funerals, office and tailgate parties over the last 20 years, but we won't be back.
(1)Halia H.
Mmmmm! Dong Yang Inn. One of my favorite restaurants in Wahiawa. I always be sure to get a meat jun plate whenever I am around. However, the prices did raise up fairly from before. Other than that, very good korean food. If you're into mac salad, that's ono as well. Decent customer service, but if you're not very patient, don't eat in the restaurant area.
(3)HaleiwaTodd W.
Dong Yang is our first choice in Hawaii for Korean food. Dong Yang is synonymous for Meat Jun, Zucchini Jun and Kim Chee. Great service and great taste. Keep it up Dong Yang. You da bessest. Spoken from a local with good taste buds.
(5)Shuao Li L.
It was so hot, no air conditioning. Food was not as I remembered. Kalbi was rubbery, could not eat it. We ordered meat Jun, one looked burnt and other was a lighter color. Don't think I will visit in near future.
(3)Sandra K.
Location: In Wahiawa, next to Hi Supply Smoke Shop and Saigon Noodle House, across from McDonalds. Parking: There are stalls right in front. But it can sometimes be difficult. Food: Big portions. Food that were yummy were the meat jun, spicy chicken and spicy pork. The korean style fried squid with vegetables was not that good. The squid tasted like it was old and it was very oily.
(4)K H.
Two words: MEAT. JUN. So delicious! Huge portions! Great sauce, but sometimes you don't even need it cuz the meat jun is so tasty! YUMMY!
(5)Claire F.
I generally don't like meat jun. Why? Well, I generally don't prefer meat. Give me some chicken katsu or anything tofu and I'm already in heaven. Yet, there have been a few times that I snuck a piece of meat jun from my friend's plate and wondered why it tasted so delicious.... Curiosity won out while we were driving through Wahiawa after the Warrior Dash up in Waialua. Scratched and bruised, dirt everywhere, sunburnt, exhausted from the sun, and STARVING, we made our way to Dong Yang Inn, supposedly the holy grail for meat jun on Oahu. I ordered a full plate of meat jun for myself since I was starving. First of all, the plate was HUGE and piled high with thick cuts of juicy clean (non-fatty) meat, wrapped in a thick layer of egg, fried to a golden brown and slightly crispy on the edges. The luscious meat sits atop a generous bed of rice and comes with a scoop of mac salad and some tsukemono/banchan. Dine in and some yummy kim chee, pickled daikon, and a simple yet delicious chicken broth is brought to your table as you await your main course. Okay, so yes, the meat jun was good. However, keep in mind I'm not a total meat jun lover. So while my 4 other dining partners raved that it was the best they've ever had, it wasn't my personal favorite. I prefer more egg to meat ratio, with thinner slices of meat (as thin as possible) and lots of fluffy yet crispy egg. Korean restaurant owners should love me since I prefer them to cut down on the most expensive part, the meat! Give me more egg!!! Meat jun will probably never be one of my favorite dishes, but I can't deny I had a terrific meal at Dong Yang Inn and that I will definitely be back for more.
(4)Kristin C.
Known best for their meat chun. What makes it one of the best is the sauce. I need a special craving for it and not something I'd eat more often than 2 or 3x a year. Most everyone that lives in Wahiawa knows about this place and is a hometown fave.
(3)Micah J.
Dong Yang's is a very good place to visit if you like Korean foods. The fish jun & meat jun is reallly delicious. I like the nato soup there too. I came to Hawaii after being in Korea for a few years so I can be picky when it comes to good, authentic tasting, Korean food. This place doesn't disappoint. Some negatives which kept them from 5 stars - The condition and cleanliness of their building, I feel is lacking. Definitely needs remodeling. Other than that this place is really good.
(4)Cathy K.
UPDATE - Dept of Health said they got cited for sanitation, cross contamination, bare hands handling food and food temperature. They need a NO PASS - RED PLACARD!! People - eat at your own risk!!! We ordered lunch there (Chicken/Teri Beef Mixed Plate) this past Friday and I ended up in the ER on Sunday after not being able to hold anything down for 7 hours. Sever stomach pains, cold sweats, nausea and a 101 fever. They gave me an IV and morphine for the stomach pain and I am still feeling ill 4 days after eating there. 5 out of 8 of us who ate the plates were sick, most of us from Saturday late afternoon/evening, I think the worst part of it all was when I called to let them know and ask if anyone else got sick, they lied!! The gal that answered asked me if I was the lady that called earlier. I said NO, this is my first call. Then they put someone on that I could barely understand. I think they spelled their last name as Potts? All I know is she denied that anyone else got sick that day and said in 40 years no one has ever complained or gotten sick. After a handful of us got sick at the office, we spoke to others and one guy refused to go there after a few bad experiences. Twice he got sick and two times he found hair in his food. Another co-worker said that his aunt was there on Saturday, the day we all got sick, but the little cousins got sick also that same exact day. I called the department of health and reported what happened to me! I encourage the others that ate there that day that got sick to call the department of health ASAP! I will NEVER eat there again and discourage everyone from dining there also until they get a green light from the department of health. This didn't even deserve a star!!!
(1)Nakai96786 ..
When I was living in wahiawa i loved this place until I my aunties friend had the mouse jun, yes a mouse was cooked and covered in the egg and everything and she ate it and relazed that this piece was very crunchy and pulled it out amd saw the tail dangling from the piece, not to mention the kalbi is slimy and the bbq is dry
(2)Philip Y.
Meat jun & Spicy pork
(5)Bobby S.
Honestly the food is Delicious, just not so healthy. The waitresses, I think that's what there called in that age, should retire. There's a Filipino waitress with a nasty fucken attitute there, sometime id like to punch her face, but dont want rat tail in my meat jun ;), The Resturant needs a 2000nds Face left, and parking in the front or even the back should be leveled. Their broth is amazing, the meat jun is to dye for. I'd check Mac salad before you Eat it, other then that its pretty damn good
(5)yongboo s.
Dong dong dong.... that is what it is. Don't go there. My wife and I had a large BBQ and bibimbop. Absolutely disgusting. I talked to the owner afterward and she seemed nice and I feel bad for her since she's this old korean lady. Unfortunately, her business does not represent the kind of korean food and culture that I feel strongly about. When someone or a business misrepresent my ethnic pride as a korean, I must speak up.
(1)Stacie T.
Meat jun. No need say more (but I will). BBQ chicken is good too! Not a big fan of eating there, but it's one of my fave places for take out.
(4)Hope Y.
I love this place! I mean I will drive to Wahiawa just to eat at Dong Yang's. The consistency of the food is what brings me back over and over again. My favorites are the meat chun (meat jun) and the kal bi. A combination plate runs around $9-10, but you get ban chan and soup and believe me, the plates are huge. It's a simple little restaurant that i've been frequenting since high school, and they've always been delicious. It's owned and run by Koreans, and my favorite ethnic restaurants are run by that ethnicity...i.e. Mexican food by Mexicans, Chinese food by Chinese...etc. It's a great plate lunch spot to stop on your way to the North Shore. If you are looking for a really nice place to eat, this ain't it. Dong Yang's is a humble little restaurant with the same decor from 20+ years ago, and it hasn't changed. Some may refer to it as a dive. Parking can be a pain if you go at peak times, there's a parking lot behind the building, and you can also park right in front if there are any open spaces, but remember to set your parking brake if you park in front. When you are done eating, don't expect the waitress to bring you your bill, sometimes they do, but usually you just walk right up to the cashier and they have your bill ready. Also, If you find yourself in-love with their marinade, they have raw marinated meat available for sale. Got Meat Chun on your mind? Go Dong Yang's!
(5)Britt W.
If you're in search for one of the BEST places on the island to eat meat jun, you will find it here at Dong Yang. The portions are massive, the meat is so tender and flavorful that it practically melts in your mouth. The soup they serve looks pretty fatty, but if it wasn't then it wouldn't be so good!! The customer service is lacking tremendously, but that seems to be a consistent complaint from other reviewers here, so don't take it personal. The food always comes out quickly, so when you're having one of those "starving" moments and you wanna inhale some good meat jun in massive portions, head over to Dong Yang. Your hunger will be satisfied, but just lower your expectations when it comes to great customer service while dining. It will end up saving you a few dollars anyways when it comes time to pay your bill and tip! Also, if you call at 8:45 pm to place a take out, the lady who answers will want to know your exact location. "Where you stay? We closing at 9:00 you know! Come now!!!" I heard it with my own ears! On a side note, there's a green PASS sign from the DOH for all you conspiracy theorist. :)
(4)Devin B.
A very popular place in wahiawa. Known for their meat jun! A lot of seats to dine in, but they also do take out. Definitely a place to stop by if you're near wahiawa.
(5)Kat D.
Best meat jun plate lunch on da island Meat is thick and juicy not dry and hard like beef jerky like other places
(5)Vincent T.
Dong Yang is supposed to be famous for their Meat Jhun up there in Wahiawa. I rate it above average although I think the egg batter is thicker and better than other average Korean restaurants. I recommend the Spicy Pork myself. If your looking for Korean food in Wahiawa you can't get much better than this place. The other restaurant on California street Seoul Korean I also rate above average. If given a choice though I'll eat at Dong Yang first. The service is fast but lacking overall great service as I consider it hole in the wall category. Old tables and uncomfortable seats that sorely need replacing due to the ripped and stained upholstery. For atmosphere I give it 1 1/2 stars. Customer service 2 stars. Food 3 1/2. Overall 3 stars.
(3)Bridget G.
I ordered the meat jun and fish jun. Other half said meat jun was small kine burnt .. The fish Jun was fried good, but damn was it overly fishy... like not appetizing at all, overly fishy. fish food kine fishy. I don't recommend the fish jun. Will be back for regular olé meat jun.
(2)Breanna O.
ATMOSPHERE: I like finding little holes in the wall but this isn't one of the good ones. The restaurant felt dirty, including the utensils and table. It's very off-putting. FOOD: The food didn't taste fresh at all.
(1)Chris L.
Dong Yang Inn is a great place and I've been going there since I was a kid, the food is great! Really tasty and I will continue to go here forever. If sitting in a gleaming clean restaurant is what you are looking for though look elsewhere, Dong Yang is showing its age as of late and to those of you who have never been there the look might be a little off putting. Despite this I recommend that you give this little place a chance. . .just. . .avoid the bathroom. . .seriously. . .the bathroom is scary. BUT THE FOOD IS GREAT! You aren't going to eat in the bathroom right?. . . . .right?. . . . .riiiiiggghhhttt? +4 Stars for great food. -1 Star for the building being in dire need of some TLC.
(4)Rona H.
I love the meat jun at Dong Yang's!! Ever since I left the island I would always think of Dong Yang's. The price is really good considering all the sides you get. I used to come here all the time before I left in 2006 so it was quite the relief to find out it's still up and running. And the meat jun is still awesome! Goes to show that 8 years later, this place MUST be good.
(5)Aloha A.
By far, the best Korean food on the island. If decor is important to you, take out is a must. But for good, no frills good food, this is the place. You cannot go wrong with the meat jun and cucumber kim chee. Simply delicious!
(5)Jarod H.
Four stars. The meat jun is good. It's not the dry type of meat jun like Salt Lake's Soon's BBQ, which I don't really like. However, it's not as juicy as Aiea's Young's, but it is a good medium in between those two. The parking is real tight, you might be able to get away and park in McDonalds across the street, but I'm not endorsing that. Give it a whirl and try the food out here!
(4)Brigitte S.
When I first moved here from NY & I lived in Waikiki, I wandered to a Korean food window & slowly begun to experience the yummyness I didn't know had existed. Spicy pork, kalbi, meat jun... And all those side veggies! I was hooked. My need for Korean was on... My boyfriend is from Wahiawa and told me early on during a visit home that he thought Dong Yang had some of the best mean jun he ever had. I had to experience it. I still remember just how pleased I was with that first delicious bite. The meat jun here is to die for!!! Juicy, thick pieces of beef covered in the just the right amount of egg batter and seasoned to perfection. Part of why I love this is that no matter how much meat or batter I get in my bite, it is super flavorful. This meat is so tender that I can take a small bite off my fork & it tears apart so easily that I still look like a lady. I also love their sauces; the spicy one is my favorite! I enjoy the kimchi as well although I wish it were a tiny bit spicier. My friend always bring the zucchini jun camping & I have to say it's cooked really well. Enough bite that it's not mushy but soft enough to eat easily. As someone who doesn't love zucchini period, I'm surprised by how much I enjoy this dish every time. I also am I giant fan of the spicy pork. Tender & the perfect level of kick; BONUS I've rarely gotten fat here like some other places. They cook it and trim it like champs. There's not a lot in Wahiawa that I rave about but I think this meat jun could beat most on the island. Just saying. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is I don't love eating in and prefer take out. It feels a little 'unkept' so we don't love sitting down in there. But the food is quality.
(4)Rhea Cherie B.
After church every Sunday, either my parents or grandparents would buy lunch for our family at Dong Yang. I grew up eating their yummy meat jun and it is the yardstick other meat juns are measured against. I have yet to find another Korean restaurant that has better meat jun. Their BBQ beef is also pretty good and their bi bim bap...HUGE! It comes in a ginormous bowl that's big enough to feed 3, maybe even 4 people. Their prices have gone up over the years, but I think it's worth it. As for the restaurant itself, they definitely need to do some kind of renovation, deep cleaning, furniture replacement...something! It's pretty dingy in there and it could use a face lift. Customer service is lacking. I remember going there on a Sunday and the lady who was serving us seemed really stressed out and irritable. In her defense, she was waiting on every single table in the small restaurant buuuut...she didn't even crack a smile. Anyway, you don't go there for the service. You go there for the yummy meat jun.
(4)Mary W.
Happy happy happy...The reason it wasn't good last time I was there was cause the lady that normally works there was on vacation. I was in town so I decided to go in and saw she was working and was extremely happy to see her face. So I ordered my meat chun and it was perfect !!!! She is not allowed to go on vacation anymore when I come in town....lol..
(5)Painless R.
Horrible. We just ordered and the food was cooked in old oil and wasn't even hot. Also, they were skimpy on the servings. The place definitely wouldn't or shouldn't pass inspection. We will never go there again.
(1)Donny S.
Absolutely the best meat jun ever. Everything else is just ok. I do also like their kim bap too.
(4)K- M.
I absolutely LOVE this place. Having been born & raised up the heights this has always been a favorite in our household, of places to eat if we're going to order out. I have just returned home after living on the mainland for the past 12 years, and I've come to the realization, that outside of family/friends & the beach- the thing I have missed THEE MOST about home sweet home- was DONG YANG'S MEAT JUN! Hands DOWN- thee best meat jun. Not only is the egg to meat ratio absolutely perfect, their marinade/dipping sauce can NOT be beat. I frequent this place as much as my belly will allow before increasing in size! & though they may seem rough on the edges, those are some sweet ladies when u get to know them. And if you're like me and always get your food to go, then don't forget about those ladies and if u can spare it an extra $1 or $2 goes a long way in the end, and through this I can say I've made "food friends" yes the more love they feel for you, the more love they put into ur food.. it's the law of the land..:D This just might be one of the reasons other than the awesome weather and tap water that I could never live anywhere if I'm on this island except my hometown of Wahiawa.. where Dong Yang will forever be a staple... I don't think those off exit 8 could ever let this place close! I just hope the family recipes have been passed on, and the family understands how much us locals appreciate that we can leave the island for 12years and come home and it's STILL just as delicious if not better than we remembered!! ********** 10 stars for sure! (I can't believe this never posted..thank goodness I checked my yelp account on an actual computer for once in a long time.. I totally posted this when I first moved back home and that was over a year ago now! lol - guess my phone never really posted it!)
(5)Chode H.
SUCKS..... I would have gave no starts but that's not an option. I used to love this place what happened? Just ate there today first off they never gave us a menu. I asked to use the bathroom she forgot. Their food was super salty. Spicy pork wad not spicy instead it was salty red pork. The meat jun n Mandoo sauce was straight shoyu with salt because I never tasted shoyu that salty before. The head chef should taste his food. Then I order a cup of soda in a to go cup when it came it was in a regular cup. Then on top of that I ordered 3 side orders of meat Jun to go same time as our food. 35 min later when I go up to pay it's not ready. Are they under new ownership or management? Staff needs training they have no personalities.
(1)G T.
Beware! Ordered 8 chicken and BBQ meat combo and 5 of us got sick the next day. Not going back here!
(1)Darren I.
Not recommended. Several of my co-workers and myself got really sick from eating the chicken from this place. I will never go back.
(1)Sunshine S.
My family and I have been coming here for over 20 years. They ALWAYS have great food at low prices. I live in Los Angeles and visit family in Hawaii once in a while. This is a must-stop place for me (this and the Aloha Bowl Flea Market). Even the staff is the same as 20 years ago. The best is the kalbi plate. Kalbi with anything!
(5)Fishscandi L.
This place has some really good Korean food and service. I was on my way back from the N Shore and my fam and I were looking for some good authentic, cultural tasting food that was cost efficient. Came on Olive around the corner from my Grams and saw this lil spot with people dining and ordering take out. My aunt said she would treat us all to lunch (as the prices were reasonable). She ordered us the Korean bbq beef and Korean bbq chicken served with rice, sprout salad, and a side of the mac- potato salad. The food was great and fed the 4 of us with leftovers to take home. The price for the 2 plates came to $15, which is an amazing prices in Hawaii. I will be back, when I return again from the mainland. Thanks Dong Yang Inn for your service and delicious food.
(4)Sharde A.
Every time I come visit family the first thing I eat is Dong Yang takeout meat jun! It is so yummy I even dream about it when I'm back in the big D because obviously we don't have it here since it's not traditional Korean fare. I've had meat jun at other places but this one is by far the best. Like others have said, I think it's the sauce, it's magical. Also for some reason I feel like it's better takeout instead of dine in. Maybe there's something special about that foam box or it appears like there's just a bit more to eat. It'll be a mystery to me, hope this place never goes away!
(5)Marie M.
We ordered Dong Yang and it was good! I wasn't overly impressed but will definitlly will be ordering again when we want Korean food. We had the bbq chicken, bi bim bop, japchae and mandu, all very tasty! I just wish they had a Bulgogi plate and traditional mandu, the ones we had weren't quite like I'm used to. But, overall, good.
(3)Qin M.
Not really traditional korean food but tasted good! I ordered bibimbop and the sauce was too spicy for me. I suggest not mix the sauce all up. The meat jun tasted good, serving with rice vegi and macaroni. Dish size is too large for a lady, I had much left over. The price is fair. A casual place to have informal meal.
(4)Janell D.
Meat jun always on point at Dong Yang. We always get a party tray of meat jun for family gatherings. It's always a hit at parties being the first thing gone. We ordered same day 4 hours before pick up and it was nicely wrapped waiting for me in their warmer. Winner winner Meat Jun dinner.
(5)Jessica-Nicole U.
Get more & pay less.... plus the food was awesome I'm not sure I liked the seating, but for a ma and pa store I can see why it works. The place seemed pretty busy and the people that went seemed like regulars and genuinely loved the food. I think we definitely got more than what we paid for. And I'm warning you... the plates are HUGE.... my boyfriend and I had to share ONE plate. They also gave us Miso soup (my fave) and a few sides. I took off a star because the bathroom was DISGUSTING... small... and just sketch. I understand the location plays a part.... but still.... i'd rather hold my pee and walk over to Mcdonalds
(4)Randy I.
Dong Yang!!!! What happened??!!!! Are you under new ownership? New management? I ordered the standard 2 meat jun plates (to go) for dinner tonight. First thing I noticed were the new faces behind the counter. Hmmm. Friendly with big smiles. Maybe they're revamping the customer experience thing. Okay cool. Next thing was the wait. I waited a whole 8 minutes before I got my 2 plates!!! What! If there's one thing I know about Dong Yang, it's meat jun plates ready in thirty seconds. Lol!!! If you frequent this place, I think you know what I mean. Third thing was the aroma or lack there of. My wife actually pointed it out. I get in the car, start driving home and nothing. No mouth-watering smells from the plastic wrapped present that sat on my lap. The plastic bag never had that affect before. Weird. My wife was certain she couldn't smell our food. I probably believed her, but I convinced myself that I could. Oh no could this be? Does this mean what I think it means? So we get home and we dig in to what looks like a meat jun plate from Dong Yang, and then I notice the fourth thing. It doesn't taste the same :( aiyaiyai. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but something's different. Have a gone crazy? Am I alone on this one? Well the wife already agrees so I guess not. Someone please confirm.
(2)Doris D.
Excellent cheap eats option in Wahiawa. I got a massive 2-choice plate for $9 which fed me for 3 days! The meat jun is really the best - believe the hype! The fried mandu is doughy fried goodness. The atmosphere is definitely something to be desired and could turn off folks who prefer a spotless establishment. Recommended if you're in the area.
(4)Tiana I.
I grew up in Wahiawa. So DUH! Garenz I would love the meat jun here. It's just so rib-stickingly gooooood. If you're coming here for more "traditional" Korean food, get outta town! This is DONG YANG. Home of the massive local-style meat jun plate lunch. Guaranteed to make you kanak, and sleep until tomorrow. I usually order the meat jun and/or the mandoo plate. Yes, I'll order 2 plates. One for eating right away, and the other for eating after I awake from my food coma that the other one caused (don't you judge me!). I love the mandoo here. It's so different, and actually homemade. Definitely take out if you're a townie or with friends who require "atmosphere." No can handle like us Wahiawa natives.
(4)Tongu K.
Beat meat jun on the island! The meat is twice as thick as anywhere else and at least three time as tender. Also has enough flavor to carry itself without saucing. For some reason everywhere is making terrible meat jun, even the usual top 3. The fish jun is also very juicy. The chicken katsu is fairly unique also, with a nice puffy batter. The BBQ chicken was on the hard side, beat to skip that and the spicey pork was slacking in flavor. Stick with the juba here and you'll be golden.
(4)Erin D.
I've been coming to Dong Yang since I was a kid. My parents have been coming here since it opened. I would have gladly given this five stars if it weren't for last night's horrible service. We were the second group to come in. The restaurant was pretty much empty. The young waitress promptly brought us waters, kim chee, and soup (chicken broth). So far so good. More people started coming in, taking their seats. But we didn't receive menus for at least fifteen to twenty minutes. It wasn't even that busy, so I'm not sure why it was taking so long. She was serving other people who came in after us. There were people who were getting their food before we even got our menus! We had to ask her to bring us menus after she came to our table to drop off secret sauce for the meat jun we didn't even order yet. We already knew what we wanted but it was the principle. She brought us our menus finally, and we looked through it and confirmed what we wanted. However, we had to wait ANOTHER twenty minutes to actually have our orders taken. My brother-in-law had to go up to another worker and ask her if she could take our orders. She came over right away and took them. The wait for our food was short, so that's good. I was just really disappointed with our waitress. Every time I've come here, the cool ladies who were here since it opened were always courteous and helpful. This one, however, I was not happy with at all. She wasn't even apologetic. I'll come back again, no doubt. I just hope this girl isn't working when I come in.
(2)Theophilus L.
Dong Yang has the best meat jun on the island hands down. So if you're in the mood for some meat jun dong Yang is the place to be.
(5)Jason M.
best meat jun in the universe! weird thing is, i dont even like meat jun. It's seriously better than most bbq places. Youngs meat jun is 2nd best, but doenst even come close to dong yangs! The chkn katsu is pretty good t here too. Only thing bad about this place is the bathroom.... dont use it, even to pee. it's pretty nasty. That's why i gave 5 stars instead of 6... haha
(5)Sally H.
I LOVE this place - have for decades. If you are looking for ambiance, you might want to skip Dong Yang's as I am not sure if they have replaced any fixtures in over 30 years. However, if you are more interested in outstanding "local" Korean food, then this is the place for you. The meat jun is stellar, the tempura is incredible and I can't get away from this place without a fix of spicy pork (to go after I eat something else)! Great kim chee, plenty of it ... All at an incredibly reasonable price! Really, really, really worth it.
(5)Sheryl N.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Meat Junnnnnnnnnn! Wonderful, wonderful meat jun. Definitely the best on the island, and you cannot beat the portions. They give a massive amount that would make you kanak at the end of the plate (if you finish it, you can probably have this for lunch and dinner!) They have thick cuts of meat which tastes amazeballzzz. I haven't tried anything else yet, but I'll explore later and inform you folks :) I haven't eaten inside of the restaurant yet, always did take out. There's additional parking in the back, if you can't or don't want to park in the front. Ch-ch-check it out if you love meat jun!
(5)Ayako C.
This is my favorite restaurant in Wahiawa. It's so cheap and big yummy meals. When I don't wanna cook I always go there and order to go. I wanted to give 5 stars but the only concern is inside of restaurant is old and dirty:-(
(4)M M.
The best meat jun on the island. The restaurant itself is ghetto but don't let that scare you away. The best bet is to phone order your food then pick up and eat somewhere else.
(4)Andrew S.
Eaten there for years growing up on the North Shore. My mom worked at Kamehameha and would drive through Wahiawa and bring Dong Yang home to us for dinner. She first took us when we were probably three or four years old. Back then they had a TV at every table but often times it didn't work, but either way, we'd play with the buttons and munch on the kimchi. The staff have rarely changed for the past 20 years and they are always just the friendliest people My favorite things at Dong Yang includes the Meat Jun, the Korean sushi and the Fish Jun. Every discounts with these delectable kimchi & pickled vegetables including cucumbers, radish and bran sprouts. I love that basically every table is a booth.
(5)Anthony C.
Great food bad service. Went with a friend to Dong Yang because I was a loyal customer. A friend recommended this spot as the best Korean BBQ years ago. Now as a local i'm used to discrimination from restaurants. Im used to waitresses assuming im not going to tip well because im from the islands. Most times I look past it and don't discredit that for my normal tip of 20%. Here at Dong Yangs I entered the restaurant and stood at the door way waiting for a table. It didn't look too busy however a friend and I stood there about 5 minutes waiting for some type of recognition or showing to a table. Then an older Caucasian male walks in and as soon as he enters this worker walks right past my friend and I and shows this man along with some friends to a table. I tell my friend let's get out of this poor excuse for a restaurant and we leave. Now normally I would just forget about the restaurant and never go back (Not what im doing now by giving this restaurant a bad review.). However, about a month after a person who frequents my workplace told me his mother was recently treated the same way. Only his mother didn't just up and leave. She gave the waitress a piece of her mind and apparently the police got involved. LOCALS stay way from this restaurant. The only thing they cook well is hatred for the locals.
(1)Mary B.
Hands down the BEST Meat Jun on the island. I think it's in the sauce they make for the Meat Jun. GOOD STUFF! Been eating at Dong Yang since my childhood days. I do recommend taking out. Service isn't all that great. Seat yourself and at time you may even have to clear the table, wipe it down, then sit. Same ladies that worked there forever and they recognize us when we go there but still... no special treatment lol. Plan on drinking only one glass of water because once they give you the food they do not come back. They are ok with you getting up and refilling your own water, gabbing an extra plate or napkin, then taking a take out box for left overs. :) Just a tip... Go to Dong Yang for the food... not the service. It's not horrible but the service is as the restaurant looks... ghetto :) 4 stars because that's how much I love their Meat Jun!!
(4)Janine S.
I love meat jun, I was looking forward to trying it here since there were so many good reviews. Maybe we caught it on a bad day? It didn't taste that great. Barely any flavor. The fried mandoo was ok, but mushy filling on the inside. Also the kalbi I ordered came out cold, w/ little meat, mostly bone & fat. WTF? idk. Not impressed. Only good thing I can say was that the portion big w/ a lot of rice. Sorry, you can catch me at Soons!
(2)Olivia D.
My friends weren't kidding--this is by far the best meat jun on the island. I don't even like meat jun and I was hooked on this one. In fact, as far as local Korean food goes, Dong Yang is the best. As far as ambiance, don't expect more than a plain hole in the wall joint with casual service. The cheap, enormous and surprisingly delicious portions more than make up for the decor. Who cares when you're stuffing your face anyway? Why is their meat jun so awesome? The meat is marinated (but not overly marinated like the bulgogi at Yummy's or Pearl's) and it isn't sliced paper thin, which ruins the texture (think Soons in Salt Lake--meat frozen, then sliced so thin its unrecognizable). The batter is light and crisp. There isn't a lot of gristle. The meat is juicy and tender. Who knew meat jun could be so tasty?! I also ordered some fried mandoo and it was homemade and really good. I was expecting those itty bitty store-bought frozen ones so this was a plus. The banchan was local-style--beansprouts, head cabbage kimchee, won bok kimchee--and nothing spectacular. The meals also come with a bowl of clear chicken broth soup. I convinced my boyfriend to drive there after a long day playing at Shark's Cove. It totally hit the spot as a post beach meal. If it weren't such a drive from town, I'm sure I'd be eating there a lot more. People pay way more than this for mediocre fast food from places like Yummy's and Pearl's. You definitely get your money's worth and your tummy's worth at Dong Yang!
(4)Lyanna R.
Best meat jun on the island! The meat is so soft and the sauce is so delicious! It was worth the drive! Whenever I crave meat jun I have to go there. They do phone orders so I usually call on my way there.
(4)Donna Lyn B.
Before I walk that "Green Mile", my last meal will be a plate of Dong Yang's Meat "Chun"/Jun. I've eaten Meat Jun from many restaurants, but Dong Yang's got my heart and my stomach forever and always. Dining in, why wouldn't you love: - tangy and spicy kim chee to snack on while you wait for you food - hot broth with shreds of egg and bits of green onion to warm up your tummy for... - yummy yummy MEAT "CHUN" piled on a bed of rice and surrounded by side orders of bean sprouts, pickled cucumbers, and mac salad - syrup dispensers filled with Meat Jun saucey goodness to soak everything on your plate Don't like the parking, the bathroom, the limited number of booths? Boo hoo! Take your precious "stars" and go cry to the other Korean food chains about that. For me and all the die-hard Dong Yang repeat customers and fans, we can't sing enough praises about this small town restaurant that's fed generations after generations with delicious food at affordable prices. No frills or gimmicks. Just the hearty and generous Korean food that satisfies.
(5)Alice N.
Whenever my hubby and I go for a drive to the north shore over the weekend we tend to stop at Dong Yang's for the meat jun. The restaurant itself is old and run down, a real hole in the wall type of place. I never had any problems with the food there just the other menu offerings are not that good. Chicken can be a bit dry and overcooked, bibim kooksoo has no flavor. I really only enjoy the meat jun, fried shrimp, and mandoo. Shoot for those three you wont regret it.
(4)Lndn O.
Extremely BAD SERVICE during lunch hours.
(1)Moni Y.
Nationally famous Korean BBQ, meat jun and Kalbi. I say that because I actually meet people there from the outer islands and mainland that say they have to come to Dong Yang whenever they're on Oahu. Also, many locals that move away say this is MUST VISIT spot on return trips home to Oahu. They're a great value for the money. Portions are very generous, but I'll let you all know now, on our recent visit 1 1/2 weeks ago the meat portions were all considerably smaller than we had ever seen (but still a good amount.) I always share a plate of meat jun with 1 of my kids, I cannot eat the whole thing. The food is always tasty and you get a yummy, but simple beef broth soup and 2 small dishes of Kim chee when you DINE IN ONLY. I love phoning in my order on the way Into Wahiawa and picking up. I warn you, this is what most people do and the wait to pay & pickup can be 15 minutes or more at lunch or dinner time. I think they have more phone orders than dine in customers. Servers aren't friendly and smiley, but I've never been treated rough, meanly or rudely either. They just look tired. I guess I would be if I had to work there too. I smile and say hello when I see them and they know me well enough to give a small smile back. Service is pretty good dining in, no long waits. They take credit cards and the minimum to charge is $10, easy to spend there. Oh and you have to stand up and to go the register to pay at the end of your meal. You are not given a check. Now to the cons. Well, they're not the cleanest place. Growing up in Hawaii I can eat at a dirty hole in the wall joint and not care, but I know many of you cannot so I'm being honest for your sake. On our last visit, 2 of us had small hairs in our rice (me being one of them), but I pulled it out and kept eating. I'm Asian and was raised not to complain so I didn't. And to be honest,that's kinda how I see Dong Yang. yeah, there may be a hair in the rice, so what? My kids occassionally find my hair in their dinner at the table at home. It happens, but rarely. As long as its not pubes, I don't care. And the floors dont always look too clean. It's really old and outdated. This is the same furniture that was there when I was a kid. But the tables are cleaned and I haven't seen a roach there for many years. (some of you are disgusted, but just telling the truth again.) Sometimes you walk in and it just smells so greasy. Meat jun is fried so it happens. I'm also pretty sure they use MSG. How I know is that my fingers are swollen and sometimes have a headache after eating there. I eat in moderation and quit when I feel it coming on. My family really enjoys the food so we're gonna keep going anyway. We can personally recommend the meat jun(Chun) BBQ Meat, BBQ chicken and Kalbi.
(4)Trevor T.
Good meat jun and HUGE portions. Whenever I'm passing through Wahiawa I swing by DY's. The good part about their meat jun, other than the portions, is that the meat is cut thick and has a great flavor. Get some! The parking is tight right in front, but McD's has a giant parking lot across the street. Just park there and walk over. If you like meat jun, you'll like DYs!
(4)Lauren S.
After a long day at the beach, there's only one thing I want for dinner: Dong Yang! This has been a family tradition for as long as I can remember...so when my husband (then boyfriend) told me he never tried the meat chun here, we dropped everything and made our way here. The portions here are huge and the quality....always exceptional! I could tell after the first bite, he was hooked, and now he craves their meat chun and kimchi at least once a week. One day we placed a phone order on our way back from the beach, but because of an accident on Kamehameha Highway...it took us about 30 minutes to get there...When we gave our name, the woman at the counter informed us that our plates had been out too long, so they threw it away and would make us a fresh one. I felt so bad about the wasted food, but they were so great to make sure we didn't receive food that they weren't proud of. Things to remember: They accept credit cards now for orders over $10.00 Ask for extra meat chun sauce (an extra....25 or 50 cents...but pour some over your rice, and it is awesome)
(5)Derrick P.
Been eating here since before I was born im 24 now and still eat here all the time dong yang thank you for so many years of the best meat jun
(5)Miriam G.
Oh my after reading the reviews my love and I decided to go there and ugghh to my starving tummys despair my tummy was not happy and the food was not enticing either but we attempted to eat it and I could not bring my self to finish my meal.. then nor the day after so.. this place deserves a 1/2 a star only because it was close to the house.. yuk!!!! If your ever on this side of town .. honolulu Sam Delicatessen is the bomb.. and yes u can tell its eggs..
(1)Brooke P.
After a long day at dole then at north shore this was the perfect way to end a long day. They were pretty busy and considering there was one waitress the service was really good. This was by far my favorite meat jun I've tried on this island & ive tried several. For the price the portion is crazy huge ! I got the meat jun and mandoo and my family ordered different combo plates so I basically sampled the whole menu trying different things and munching off their plates. If u like Korean or meat jun. this place will not disappoint. Come hungry and you will definitely be stuffed !
(4)Michael D.
I've heard about Dong Yang Inn for years from my coworkers as having the BEST Meat Jun on the island. But for me, driving out to Wahiawa (from Waianae) just to eat Meat Jun wasn't appealing to me even though they claimed it wasn't the best. Fast forward to this year when I finally gave in and made the trek out to Dong Yang to try out their infamous Meat Jun (or Meat Chun, as listed on their menu). I was very surprised (and pleased) that Dong Yang Inn is the type of Korean restaurant that serves up complimentary side dishes prior to your meal. I'm talking about the korean style broth, kim chee, etc. And before I could even finish all that was brought out to our table, the Meat Chun plate was delivered. At first glance, it didn't seem like much. Rice, mac salad, and more Korean style vegetables and the meat chun itself. What I didn't anticipate was the amount of meat chun piled on each other. Granted, you will rarely see me leaving the table with food still on my plate. Dong Yang Inn is an exception to that. Bottom line, Dong Yang Inn has THE best Meat Chun I have ever tasted. Period. There are many places out there that I need that Meat Jun sauce poured all over the place for flavor. This was not the case at Dong Yang. Not a single drop of sauce went anywhere near my plate due to the fact that their Meat Chun by itself was flavorful enough for me. Interesting enough though ... my second trip to Dong Yang I ended up trying their sauce and what it did was it enhanced the flavor of their Meat Chun. Honestly, you should eat there twice ... once with and once without. For me, it was like two different experiences. Both were memorable and pleasurable. I've been to Dong Yang about 10 times in the past few months. A few of them were take-out and the portions (and taste) are pretty much identical. Believe me when I say that I haven't gone to any other Korean food place ever since Dong Yang.
(5)Michelle M.
TONS of food. Meat Jun?? Guess they have that!?! Heard it's the best on the Island!?! Chicken Broth??? Guess they have that too!?!? Guess it's supposed to be deliciously simple and clean flavored!?! The Kim Chi?? WOW! So good.... Yes, all of the rumors about the Meat Jun are true. The dish is delish...tender, flavorful, nice and juicy. Perfect with the dipping sauce. The Chicken Broth...ummmm, not so much. No flavor whatsoever. Kinda made me sad :( But the bottomless Kim Chi cleared the gloom and brought sunshine back into my life...ok, Im exaggerating. but yeah, the Kim Chi was pretty damn good! Wish the place had better service...the old Ale's working were too busy tsismissing to pay attention. And if you asked them for something, they were kind of annoyed. OH well...next time I do go, it will be take out! PS. Kim Chi Jigae was delicious...but when we asked for NO MEAT, they gave extra meat. WTF?
(3)Doug F.
Another home run......This place is old skool vibe with great meat joon, fish joon, squid joon and fried mandoo. I haven't been here in 7 years and it hasn't missed a beat.
(4)Michael B.
Grouchy waitresses (fast service), sticky tables and a slightly funny smell coming from the kitchen. Either way, this is the best damn Meat Chun (Jun) ever!!!
(4)Eph L.
My all-time favorite place to grind if you hungry! Or even after a meal! Gotta try the Meat Jun or Meat Chun, same difference! Amd dont forget to Bi Bim Bap!
(5)Marnica B.
This has been my go-to place for years! Savory, flavorful, melt in your mouth meat jun. I don't recall ordering anything else off the menu. Usually opt for take out before heading down to north shore. Once you've had their meat jun you won't want meat jun from anywhere else!
(5)Cheryl R.
It's a local place To eat at. Meat Chun is really great that's what I always order. Just order take out. When my family and I eat dine in we always have the worst customer service I have ever experience . I have called the manager complaining about one if the waitress. He responded that I wasn't the only one .. And he has spoken to her but it's still the same . I don't think they wash there hands or sanitize there hands when serving us . I have notice they take our I order. Issue are drinks, utensils , and soup . Then they start wiping tables and and taking dishes to the back . Then serve us our food. I just pray that I don't get sick from the germs they have on there hands . Don't even go there past 8pm they tell you we close at 9pm and eat your food before then . Before you drink your glass of water just make sure you check it. I always find something floating in there . And I never have ice in my cup what's wrong with that picture . Everyone else has and i would ask for a cup and they get mad . The waitress are not happy at all , just be careful they speak in philipino and you don't know if they are talking about you.
(1)Reuben W.
If your hungry and just need to fill your belly then I guess, but yummy's is so much better. How come the fish jun and meat jun is brown. Fresh fish jun and meat jun made with fresh eggs is supposed to be yellow. Flavorless food I won't be going back.
(1)Darren N.
If possible try to sit down inside and eat. They start you off with a egg type of soup and two different kinds of Kim chee (Won Bok & Regular cabbage) for free. Prices are always good compared to something similar on the outside. Ordered a chicken katsu meat jun combo and a regular meat jun and the total came out to $17.50. Meat jun is best I've eaten anywhere. The Aunty's that work there are always nice. If your ever down in Wahiawa or gonna make a trip to the north shore you should definitely try this place at least once.
(4)Jeremy J.
Another satisfied customer. The meat jun is simply AMAZING. I have also ordered the Dong Yang special which is pretty good as well. The servings are more than enough. Only reason it gets 4 stars is because the sit-in restaurant itself is decent, but I don't really eat in anyway. Take out orders are made lightning fast. I placed an order for their meat jun AND Dong Yang special and it was ready within eight minutes. I was like whatttttttttttttttttttt. Overall, the dishes I've had were amazing. The sides included with the plates are also pretty good.
(4)Sunny D.
We've been coming here for as long as I can remember...and that's a looong time! Okay so it's old and not the cleanest place and they sure could use refurbishing but the food is very good. We usually get the Meat Jun plate which includes equivalent to about 4-5 scoops of rice, a healthy portion of meat loaded on top the rice, sides of kim chee, bean sprouts, pickled cabbage and cucumber. One plate usually is enough for mom and I to share OR my teenage son. The meat jun is tasty and the sauce they include makes it even better! That said, guess I've been fortunate that whenever I've gone there the meat jun does not have the "old oil" taste as another yelper mentioned. So if you are able to look past the dive-hole look of the place, the meat jun plate is very good and you'll get enough for a large appetite!
(4)Lauren C.
I usually hate going out to Wahiawa because the area is just so depressing. The town itself is super run down and I feel like I'm going into the ghettos every time we come through. I was surprised that this little Korean restaurant in the middle of nowhere was so good! We usually drop by to pick up take out and my boyfriend loves the food so much he takes the long drive out just for the meat jun. I love the zucchini jun here. The egg batter is fried to perfection and the sauce makes the zucchini extra delicious. I usually just get a side order of the zucchini along with a box of Korean sushi. Their man doo is really good too. I was so eager to eat my zucchini jun that I burnt the part underneath my tongue as I tried to take a steaming hot bite of food. My mouth is still sore as I type this!
(4)Trisha T.
On my last visit home, my dad would not shut up about Dong Yang Inn. Fine, they supposedly have the best meat jun on the island and I LOVE meat jun like a love song, baby. So I tried it. I thought it was DELICIOUSO. I took my first bite and had no words. So. Damn. Good. Total hole in the wall, barely any parking, scary sounding kitchen, but the food makes up for it.
(5)Kristy K.
I love this place. The food is awesome and the price is just right. It use to be cheaper before but I guess times are tough, but still its a good price. I like to eat the mean jun. Its not skinny like most korean places, its a little thicker. But the sauce...DELICIOUS!!! The guy said that for years people have been trying to make it but no one can. Haha! The Kalbi there is also good. Its big bone kalbi and its worth the price! The veges there are ok. The kimchee that comes with the meal is cabbage but if you ask for won bok they have it. Its still not the best kimchee, normally its very fresh. I like sour kimchee. Other veges they have are bean sprouts, cucumbers and watercrest. If you ask...they also have mac salad. Although I love this place, I have to say...for someone who hasn't been here before, its pretty ghetto. Its not the cleanest place and the bathroom...I'd rather pee in a bottle in my car. But yes, If you have never been here...IT'S A MUST!!! Oh and if you call in an order, sometimes a lady will answer and only say, "Dong Yang, what you like?" LOL!!!
(4)Kim A.
I'm not gonna lie, the meat jun is SOOO GOOD!! My husband refuses to let me see the inside of this restaurant (maybe for good reason?), so we always get take-out. He thinks that I'll probably not want to come here anymore once I step in there. Pretty sure it can't be THAT bad, but I do like clean (ok maybe I'm kind of really anal about cleanliness....but who isn't??) Anyway, I'd like to think I'm a big eater. My husband is more of a "mini-plate" type of person. We always order the Meat Jun and Spicy Pork combo. It's filling enough for the both of us to actually be full (that's a buttload of rice they give!!! Then again, that's a buttload of EVERYTHING they give!! IT'S THE PERFECT AMOUNT!! perfect. My only complaint is that they don't have my favorite sides: cucumber kimchee, korean pancake, shoyu tofu and shoyu potatoes.... sadly, because of this, it's enough to deter me away to someplace else that have the sides that I want. I'm okay with not seeing inside. I like their food. :) It's one of the good things I look forward to eating ever since we moved from town. Nothing used to beat Korean food in town...but Dong Yang comes real close (the mystery of their interior bothers me a little, but I'll live).
(4)Darren N.
Getting there: Way out in Wahiawa and there isn't much parking out in front of the restaurant. Ambiance: The diner, though not obviously dirty on the tables, is very cluttered and doesn't appear clean. The building itself just seems "well-used", to say the least. Service: Water levels filled. Food: Being the first time I ate here, but I think I've had catered take out before, I had to try the legendary meat jun, often touted to be very soft and chewy-fat free. I confirmed what I heard first hand. The meat jun was good, though wasn't the hottest when I received the plate. They also give a generous amount of meat jun. They also served a small chicken broth soup before hand which was a surprise. I can't say it looked appetizing with the small shred of scrambled egg in modestly warm liquid but the flavor was there. Verdict and Takeaway: The meat jun here is cooked just like any other Korean take out place but the difference here is how they prep it. There is no chewy cut to speak of and when you eat meat jun, that is the worst part and this place makes the effort to remedy that. No complaints on the price nor portion size. My only suggestion would be that they could make the meal a bit healthier by adding more veggies. Take out Korean places tend to allow you many veggie options. Side note, unrelated to this review: I just realized that diners don't always check with their customers on the quality of the food like other normal sit down restaurants. The next time you eat at a diner, keep that in mind and hopefully one day a diner will surprise us. I'm also going to keep in mind the hotness of the food (if it is a hot dish), as normal restaurants make an effort to serve food to all guests simultaneously and fresh/hot. No plate is left to rest to become room temperature.
(3)Ryan I.
Dong Yang has been around for AGES, and the food has been consistently good!! If you dine in, you get a small bowl of chicken soup, and some kim chee. My fave is, like everyone else says, the meat jun! It's really good here, and different from most places. The batter is thinner than that really thick, bready coating at other places. I suspect that they use less flour in the batter - it seems like just eggs. The flavor is perfect. I also really love the mac / potato salad - the texture is perfect. The other ponchon (sp?) is great as well. I've also had the kal bi, bbq chicken, and kim chee chi ge here, and they're all really good. Best Korean restaurant ever, IMO! Yelp 365 Challenge #9/365
(5)Ed K.
One word.. Salt lick. Three items were ordered in my party.. Meat jun and BBQ chicken combo BBQ Chicken plate Mandoo soup. I don't know how this comes up as a Korean restaurant. I ordered the meat Jun and BBQ chicken combo and the chicken was heavily salted with no Korean seasoning. The meat Jun was edible. The person that ordered the Mandoo soup said that it seemed the wrapper on the mandoo was too thick and the flavoring.. was non traditional.. Upon asking it was made from chicken, beef, and pork. Traditionally this is normally made form pork and kimchee which I attribute to its lack of flavor. This place used to be one of my favorite eating places, but now I probably won't go anymore.
(1)Lily B.
YUM YUM!!! I'm partial to their meat jun... THICK slices of beef and egg cooked PERFECTLY... and the sauce... I don't know what they put in it but it's AWESOME!!! I normally don't eat mayo but their potato/mac salad is BOMB!!! The mayo taste is VERY light and it's not heavy or thick... it's the only place I'll eat potato or mac salad!! My boyfriend likes the kalbi... it's not your regular tiny kal bi short ribs, it's a thicker cut with a bigger bone. It's marinated and it tastes sweet but tangy at the same time... yum!!! They heap on a lot of food, sad to say not as much as before, but then again the economy took a turn so it's understandable, but the money is well worth it!!!
(5)Pati O.
Not the best or the cleanest, but I do keep going back for lack of better nearby. I don't have any complaints and know what to expect.
(3)Grant S.
First place I eat when I come home from the mainland. If I get into town too late, I have my parents pick me up a takeout order just so I can have it first thing. So my dad introduced me to Dong Yang as a kid cuz he grew up in Wahiawa. I loved this place from day 1. Starting with the soup, always hot and a good start to the meal, and the pickled veggies, soooooo good. GET THE MEAT JUN. Best on the island. hands down. My favorite is the meat jun / chicken katsu combo plate, so filling, so good. The meat jun is so tender with sizable cuts of meat and goes perfect with the sauce. The katsu is so juicy and flavorful. Sooo good. 5 stars.
(5)Kristen C.
I've been meaning to come here and since I was craving for some meat jun I decided Id give theirs a try. I came around 1130 and there was only 4 other diners there so wasnt crowded at all. I ordered my meat "chun" plate as the call it for $7.75, no tax :). After ordering, the lady just went to the back and pulled up a plate, no wait at all. I was surprised and in my mind I was thinking...um how long has this been sitting out. So, I went to my car opened it up and it was still fairly hot, so maybe it was someone else's order and they just gave it to me thinking that they can whip up another one until that person comes by to pick it up. Idk but lucky for me since I didnt have to wait ;). Even when I got home, all the way to royal kunia, it was still warm and the outside was still fairly crisp. The meat "chun" is very meaty with a thick slice of beef, compared to other places where it thinner. Theres 2 layers of meat thats cut into bite size pieces so thats a nice touch. Upon first bite, it was flavorful and moist and more on the sweeter side. The sauce is also pretty good and kicks up the meat "chun" another notch but i've tasted a better sauce elsewhere. It also comes with "4" sides, a lot of kimchee, some cabbage and some bean sprouts and just a few slivered slices of cucumber, hence the "4." They sides were all good and tasty. Overall a really good meat jun that i'd come back for.
(4)Ramfis B.
Ok Yelpies, after hearing how good the Korean food is here, i decided to give this place a try. So after me and my Mi-chan were seated getting ready to eat, the waitress gave us two ice waters. Now as i grab my ice water, my hands start to slide down the glass as if they didn't wash the glass properly. So i skipped the ice water because i don't trust something that is greasy and not washed thoroughly. Now after ordering, i had the Meat Jun which is just ok in my opinion and here was the clincher. When the waitress served my Mi-chan's Kalbi Plate, one of the Kalbi slipped off the plate and on to the table. Thinking she would take that piece back and give my Mi-chan a new one, guess what she does? She puts the piece of fallen Kalbi right back on the plate. Me and my Mi-chan looked at each other in amazement as she did this. I couldn't even take another bite of my food as both out appetites just went out the window. I just shook my head in disgust after seeing your waitress just pick up that piece of Kalbi with her barehands and put it right back on the plate. In my 23 years in the food industry, this place just goes to show you how classy this place is. I will never,ever, go back here again ever!!!
(1)Lawson L.
From what I hear it's the best place to get Korean food. Can't wait........(= Meat Jun is da BOMB!!! Didn't care for the BBQ Chicken.
(4)S M.
It's been over a year or two since we've been here and I refuse to go back. This use to be one of our favorite restaurants till one day we went in for lunch and found fly eggs in our kimchee, yuck! I noticed that they pre made their kimchee side dishes and just left it on the counter before serving to the tables. Not sure if they changed that but I will not go back to find out. When we showed the waitress the fly eggs she didn't even apologize, wow! The other complaint is: like others said the place really needs a good cleaning.
(2)Scott K.
Meat Jun...thats what they are known for but im my opinion it was OK. Ive had better but its not bad. Located in Wahiawa on Olive street, this place is not that hard to find. From Kamehameha Highway, turn right on Olive St after the McDonalds and you will see it on your left. The building is run down, but what building isnt in Wahiawa. The inside is typical of Wahiawa in that there is tables, chairs and not high class. It reminds me of a local mom and pop kind of food establishment that has renovated in years. OK back to the Meat Jun. I will give it a thumbs up on the quality of the meat and how its soft and not think and tough like other places. The egg batter has taste and doesn't soak up the oil taste. I do like that they cut the meat. Now the sides that comes with the plate is a different story. It wasnt that good and others in my party thought the same thing. The cucumbers were thin and really salty. The kim chee was of the cheaper quality. It was the cheaper cabbage with just a hint of hot sauce. The spouts was over cooked and not crunchy at all. Why I give it an OK.....the BBQ Chicken was good. It wasnt over marinated or over cooked on the grill. I did request GoChuJung sauce was alright. It almost tasted like it had alittle miso and sugar. It was on the sweeter side verse the hotter size. Maybe I went on a bad day for the Meat Jun so Ill try it one more time and update my review if it does taste better.
(3)Lynnette H.
Best meat jun I've had. Thick tender meat. Really fast service even when the line is long (and the line is often long). Don't leave, you'll get your food in 10-15 mins or less. Try the hot sauce with the meat jun. Really good and unique tasting hot sauce. Different from kochujang. Their wonbok kimchi and kim bap are great too. Pre-packaged to-go!
(4)Jack W.
Went there after reading all the reviews about how awesome the meat "chun" was and well it's not all what it's hyped up to be. Wrong style cabbage for the kimchee, Mac Salad was not up to par from Mac salad I've had here on island, rice sucked, sides where horrible, for the price I was disappointed and expected more out of this place just from previous reviews....
(2)Anieta C.
This is literally a hole-in-the-wall/mom and pop type place. If you're looking for a high-end type thing, you're in for a rude awakening. I've been coming here with my family since I was a little girl and every time I come I always order the meat jun plate. I am never disappointed with my choice. I've tried other places meat jun (on the island and on the mainland) and none of them compare to this place. The meat jun is good by itself, but with the sauce, it's even better. If you don't like salty then you can try it without the sauce. Sure, the prices have gone up, but what restaurants haven't hiked up their prices because of these hard economic times. If it helps they'll start you off with two small types of kim-chee, cabbage and daikon. Then they'll give you some soup. It's a cross between miso and egg drop soup. Then comes your dish. With every dish comes a huge serving of rice with your meat (which ever one you ordered) and your sides are potato salad (which is really good and wish they would put more than one scoop), diced cucumbers, diced cabbage and bean sprouts. I know for sure, when I go back home, my first stop for some grindz (food) is Dong Yang Inn :)
(4)Dayna T.
Dong Yang is BY FAR my favorite place for Korean food. I always get the meat jun plate. Over the years the plates have gotten smaller (boo) but the meat jun itself has not changed. The meat in the meat jun is not just a small "sliver" of meat like some places, it's a substantial piece. The egg on the outside stay attached to the meat and doesn't completely fall off when you take the first bite. Dong yang also has pickled cucumber as a side for the vegetables. You don't get to choose your veggies like at some Korean restaurants (Yummy BBQ) but still very tasty, you know what you are getting every time. Their kim chee normally tastes fresh (not likes it's from a jar from the super market). Although, out of the way if you live in town, it's definitely worth the stop when on that side of the island.
(5)Mina T.
I like their Meat Chun :) They are pretty thick, juicy, and tasty. Anything else there is alright. They're parking situation is not the best, so you can either park on the street or maybe at McDonald's parking right across the street! Oh yea, it is a little hard to miss, so when you're coming down from town on Kam. Highway, just take the right after McDonald's and it'll be on your left :) Enjoy~
(3)Grant A.
It's been a while since coming to Dong Yang but the food and their signature dish, Meat Jun, has definitely taken a dive. I ordered the meat jun expecting it to be the awesome meat jun from before. I am sad to say it tasted as if they fried it in oil that had not been changed I a LONG time. Needless to say I am pretty bummed out about the quality if the food.
(2)HY L.
I reserve five stars for places with heart and soul. Dong Yang might be the oldest surviving Korean restaurant in Hawaii. Dong opened in 1975 with her sisters from Korea who still run the restaurant today. On my last visit to Oahu, a friend mentioned Dong Yang and raved about their Meat Jun. Meat jun is a Hawaiian Korean dish made with egg battered marinated beef (bulgogi). Koreans are known to "Jun" everything from zucchini to fish for special occasions. At Dong Yang the meat jun is thick and juicy. Probably the thickest meat jun I've ever tasted. I wouldn't be surprised if Wahiawa was the birth place of 'Meat Jun', and 'Dong Yang' the first Korean restaurant to serve it. Over decades, most restaurants evolve for survival and lose the essence of their cuisine. Dong Yang withstood the test of time and survive with loyal clientele. This time capsule is the last "Plantation Style" Korean restaurant. If I time traveled to Dong Yang in 1975, I'd imagine the food and decor exactly the same. Be sure to observe the beautiful historic photos hung on their walls and the biography published by the Honolulu Advertiser near the front. On my next visit, I plan to try the Kalbi dish, as they still butterfly the short ribs (not LA Style Kalbi) and use the original marinade. Perfect stop on the way to or from the North Shore.
(5)Michelle L.
Best Korean Resturant in hawaii in my opinion. Great food for great prices. Always fast service. Grew up eating mondu soup and fish junn.
(5)Joe W.
Seriously, where else would you eat when you're in Wahiawa? Dong Yang is one of those landmark places that you can't drive by without stopping in and just gorging yourself. While famous for their meat jun, their kalbi is also excellent. They've got the preparation of meat jun down to a science. I dare call Dong Yang a meat jun factory because of how quick they can bring out a fresh plate of that stuff. Really affordable and served with a great vinegary dipping sauce. Of course, if you eat the entire plate you'll promptly fall into a coma, so please have paramedics or someone that can drag your body to your house and throw you on the couch standing by. The servers are really nice and attentive. During my most recent visit, they kept refilling my kim chee even though you're only supposed to have that one small plate as an appetizer. I think Dong Yang has something against the letters "b" and "i", because their bibimbap is spelled peepeempap and the same thing happens with their other menu items. So, if you don't recognize something, just swap the b's and p's and i's and e's and you should be fine! The venue leaves something to be desired... I guess if it ain't broke don't fix it? The walls could use a good scrubbing and maybe a couple of coats of paint. Aluminum catering pans adorn the walls in a very abstract way... they look as if they started out as a display for people to see the sizes of the various pans, but they just looked so damn good that they had to put 3 more of the same size up there. This place is so established that I doubt anyone cares what it looks like, as long as they don't change their recipe and good service.
(3)Monica O.
Used to be a favorite destination hole-in-the-wall on the way to North Shore for many years but a recent visit grossed us out. Greasy, salty and a flavor disappointment. The meat jun sauce was still the same great sauce but we all agreed the meats were prepared differently than in the past. No matter how good the sauce it did not mask the disappointment. Maybe the cook was on vacation? or maybe we got them on a bad recipe day.
(2)Kevin C.
Believe the hype! Meat Chun be the bomb... Couldnt eat it all, that doesnt happen often! Be the ball...na na na na na
(4)JJ L.
4 stars for MEAT JUN. I agree with everyone else on the meat jun: magically moist, juicy and crispy ... you don't even need the sauce. Everything else about this place is s(h)eedy. dirty. dirty. dirty. Rude servers -- I don't care if I was dressed like a hobo, you should still treat me like I was driven up in a Rolls Royce (Toyota's cost just as much these days ... right?). dirty. dirty. dirty. I don't know if you've gotten the picture, allow me to help you visualize: This place is dirtier than a rap video filled with big-booty chics vagina-slapping the ground and other vulgarities. Your best bet is to order Meat Jun for take-out, have someone else pick it up, consume said Meat Jun, then prepare your EpiPen and speed dial for your physician just in case you ingest asbestos or cockroach sperm.
(2)Jocy C.
Awesome meat jun & kalbi. Great food for super cheap!! Meat Jun - yelp.com/biz_photos/UIoC… Kalbi - yelp.com/biz_photos/UIoC…
(5)Juan N.
First of all i dont get it why this place has so many four and five star reviews. I'm giving it three just because the meat jun (or chun) is pretty good, otherwise this place is two stars at best. I had the fried mandoo and meat chun combination and the mandoo had a weird taste to it, i think it was freezer burnt or something. The meat chun was very tasty, it was the only thing that tasted good enough to be mentioned. The service was okay and the server was friendlier than I expected. Parking totally sucks and the place seems pretty dirty, i really don't want to imagine how that kitchen looks like. Come here if you want to try the best meat jun around this area, but you should order take-out since the dining area might gross you out.
(3)Lilian N.
I haven't been here in over 10 years, but after reading all the reviews about the meat jun, we just had to give it a try. I have to admit, the meat jun was really good! Tender slices of beef, lightly battered in a tasty egg wash, and fried to perfection without a lot of oil. On the other hand, the shrimp tempura I ordered was pretty disappointing. Overly battered butterflied shrimp that was fried to cardboard-like texture. Look at the pic and you'll get the gist! The kim chee was pretty good, the other veggies were okay, nothing spectacular. I also took home a roll of beef/vegetable korean sushi ($3.50) which was not too bad, but not the greatest either. The sushi rice was a little bland and I didn't see or taste any beef, all I could taste was the vegetables! I've definitely had better korean sushi for under $3. Overall I guess the meat jun would get 4 stars if comparing to other local-Korean joints on the island, but the place is old and pretty dirty so I'm giving a solid 3 stars. Prices are very reasonable for such big portions, bill totaled $16 + tax for two combo plates! Workers were very friendly and I appreciated the warm smile when the waitress approached our table.
(3)Diana S.
I LOVE the food here, but I always order "to go" cause it's not the cleanest place. I honestly feel dirty when I'm there, and not very big so a place for kids that know how to sit still. Parking for people who havent been there is a bit tricky, because its kn the back if the restaurant. The food is amazing though!
(4)Thomas O.
Let's just say the ambience department is something that they don't excel in here in Wahiawa. But Dong Yang show's um what's best with their Meat Jun AKA Meat Chun (on their menu board). I was taken here by my best friend who now lives in New York. She's been going here since she was keiki kine. Now my family always asks me to get Korean from here. My dad seems to like the big-bone kalbi ribs and my mom likes the bbq chicken but the meat jun is the breadwinner hands down. I'm always up for some good Korean food. Even their Korean sushi is delicious...DUH! It's a no-brainer to go here. SRSLY DO IT.
(5)Kerrie C.
I've heard it before that their meat jun was good and I was a skeptic, but after having lunch here with a bunch of co-workers I am now a believer. Yummers! They served a simple dashi style soup and kim chee with our meals that were both delicious, and the service was good. The place is a bit run down and grimy, but most places like that have the best food right?
(4)Jill R.
Everyone raves about the meat jun from this place and quite frankly, it sucks. Maybe it was just my order (phoned it in for take out), but it wasn't moist or very tasty. It actually had a very strong pepper taste and was on the drier side. The sauce for the meat jun didn't help either. It was very disappointing. Their kimchee is made with regular cabbage, not Chinese cabbage and it wasn't even spicy. The other vegetable sides were sub-par (bean sprouts, cucumber and more cabbage). The mac salad wasn't that great either. Parking sucks. This place is also VERY DIRTY and the boyfriend and I will not be eating here again.
(2)Lillian H.
If there ever were a gangster restaurant in Hawaii, this would be it. I'm going to admit, I'm a "townie," but seriously? This restaurant was just completely confusing. I walked out baffled. First of all, we went to this restaurant because we heard it's supposed to be good. I am a stickler for cleanliness but this place was downright filthy. I was uncomfortable in our booth because the fabric on the seat was all cracked and I was wearing shorts. I don't know if just having one Korean ajumma running the place qualifies it as a Korean restaurant. I guess the food is supposedly Korean but every person working there was not Korean. Our waitress couldn't even speak basic English. Of course I looked on Yelp before ordering, so I got the meat jun. Very mediocre. Really greasy. Definitely had better. Our daughter got duk kook (Korean rice cake soup). Also very mediocre and I think they used the wrong broth. My mom's is 1492489 times better. They don't give any banchan (side dishes)!!! What kind of Korean restaurant doesn't give out banchan?!! They only gave us kimchee (which was won bok kimchee, aka not the real kimchee that Koreans give out). They gave us a little cabbage and bean sprouts on our plates with the food (blehhh). Only the combo plates came with any mac salad. It was overall just a very uncomfortable experience. We couldn't communicate with our waitress. There were flies zooming around our food so I was constantly swatting them away. The cap for the take out bowl was dirty. At one point, there were two homeless men in the take out line. And what is that chicken broth they give you?? It's just plain ol chicken broth! It's not even Korean? All you have to do is boil canned chicken broth at home! We definitely won't be going back. Everybody looked at us funny. Probably because we don't look like we're from the "country" even though my boyfriend and his mom lived there for many years in the past.
(1)Allegro V.
What's happened to Dong Yang? Don't order take out. Very small portions with tons of rice. Flavorless and unappealing. Used to always order out but no more; tiny take out containers. Kal Bi had only one piece of rib. Hot pork had only two pieces and totally no taste. Never again! Junk!
(1)Steven K.
Have been going there for years and it was our favorite, but lately, the service has been poor and declining. The food isnt as good as it use to be. The meat jun is tough and the egg coating wont stay on. The kalbi is still good.
(2)Sherilyn O.
I love this place! The Meat Jhun is the best on the island. It's a good reason to travel to Wahiawa wherever you are!
(5)Kimmy T.
Our family that lives in Hawaii told us this place has the best Meat Jun, so we had to try it. Since we're from the Mainland, we haven't tried too many Meat Jun places but I can say this place was so good. The food we ordered was amazing. My sister-in-law said that ladies that work there are usually kinda rude, so that's expected. She also recommended taking our food to go because the restaurant is kinda dirty looking. So dirty restaurant and rude service but the Meat Jun is to die for!
(5)Lianne A.
I usually make a stop at this place whenever I am in the area or if I'm ever having some mean meat chun cravings. Today was one of those days i drove from Aiea to wahiawa just to get me a plate of meat chun which was roughly around $7. 25. Which I think is worth it. Every time I go I see the same friendly old Filipino lady at the counter. There's a private lot in the front and back of the place. I always park in the back lot because there is a back door into the restraunt. And if you can't find parking then you can always park across the street and walk. They give a lot in which I usually find myself satisfied. I do not like to dine in because it seems kind of dark. Almost always I take out. Best type of food to eat on a family picnic. Hands down the best take out meat chun plate on the island.
(4)Tim B.
I love this place. I have been working in Wahiawa for about a year and a half and I try to eat here once a week. Very Low Key , the service is good and the food is great! They are famous for their Meat Jun, but the spicy pork is also awesome, and the Kim chee is great as well.
(4)josh v.
Shame on every other Korean BBQ restaurants. Take a lesson from Dong Yang. This is how meat jun is supposed to be made!!! Thick, crispy on the outside, milky inside and packed will flavor. The meat jun sauce adds another level to the magnificent taste of the meat jun. Not your typical Korean BBQ place where you order 4 vegetable sides but the bean sprouts and kim chee are awesome! The downside to this place is the parking. There are only a few stalls and if you were lucky to get one of those stalls it was a bitch to reverse out of. Sorry, no other word to describe it. Park across the street at Mcd's and walk across to Dong Yang's. Its well worth it!!!
(4)Katie T.
Loved this place until we saw a roach in our food. The owner wasn't surprised and she said "Still good though, yeah!" UMMM....NOT REALLY!!! Kinda gross!!!
(1)Ryan Y.
Figured since I was around here I would give it a try. This review is only for the BBQ chicken and looking at the photos of the kalbi I should have order that instead. BBQ chicken was nothing special, in fact it was barely average tasting. Parking, it is sloped for good water drainage. Take out service was fast. Cleanliness, well, I don't think I would want to take a tour of the kitchen area. I would possible try the kalbi next time if I'm in the area..
(2)Scott S.
Sorry, over-rated. What I saw in the kitchen from the dining room was very disturbing.
(1)Jesse M.
GOOD - Legendary meat jun-- I'm sorry, meat CHUN. BAD - As could be expected for a place that's been in business forever, the restaurant is old and dingy. Also, I've heard awful things from reputable sources about the sanitation practices here. The food tastes good anyway, but still... DISH 1: MEAT JUN (or CHUN) - Dong Yang is the only place I've seen meat jun spelled "chun" on the menu. But when you make the best meat jun/chun in the world, you can call it whatever you want. Thick cuts of beef, coated in egg almost to omelette thickness. Perfect. (Haven't tore myself away from the meat jun to try anything else on the menu yet. So, three stars for now, based on the meat jun alone. I know, I listed a lot of negatives... but I put a lot of weight on the food.)
(3)Kimi F.
Hmm....Calling in your order ahead means nothing here. I called in 35 minutes prior to going in to pick up. Walked in and saw a maximum of 5 people eating in, it was only 12:30 p.m. No one at the counter waiting to order or pick up, wow, must be my lucky day. Wrong! I tell the Nana at the counter, my name, then she looks around and there is nothing waiting to be picked up, so she asked me what did I order? I told her, I ordered 3 meat chun plates, 1 combination plate, and 1 meat chun with only kim chee. Then she goes in the back and places the order. She comes back to me and charges me $31 something; I then ask her, why wasn't the order ready? She tells me there was so many order tickets lined up and she didn't know where it went. I asked who took the order? She said she did, but that she wasn't responsible to what happened to the order after she took it. So she walks in the back and packs up 4 plates, then I asked her where's the 5th plate? Then, I had to repeat the order to find out what was missing (1 meat chun plate). Then, she rang me up for the additional plate. What the heck? I then tell her, that when a mistake is made, an apology should be given. She then tells me it's not her fault, she just took the phone order. I said irregardless, a mistake was made and it doesn't matter who screwed up, but apologizing is a big step in smoothing things over with a customer. So she says, "sorry," but I know she didn't mean it. With that kind of poor customer service, it'll be a long while before I ever decide to go back. I really did enjoy coming here, but our relationship is strained indefinitely.
(1)Michael L.
Was here today for Lunch and order the BBQ Chicken plate only $8.00 super cheap the food is great best place in Wahiawa. The service did lack and they harly check on your water or drinks but over all cheap and awesome food....Expect great food poor service but the food matters the most:-)
(5)Bill K.
Very dirty. Food was not bad, but the unsanitary conditions took away from the experience.
(2)Crystal L.
When do you find yourself in Wahiawa? Maybe for a driving test or after Wet n Wild water park?? I never thought I'd get to try Dong Yang since it was in wahiawa but we were starving after the water park and decided to try out Dong Yang! Is ramfis b. from here? You know that you're in Wahiawa right? The moment I got there, I already knew the restaurant was dirty haha The place looked like a ghetto chinatown with the bathroom in the dirty backlot, the sign looked like it's 20 years old and dishes came out with "stuff" on them. It was very surprising to walk into a Korean restaurant and the workers weren't Korean. Maybe it's not Korean owned? After all, they spelt meat jun as "meat chun" and bi bim bap as "pi peem pup" and never bothered to fix it. Go figure! Anyway, after accepting the dirty factor I was ready to try some awesome meat jun. I mean I did grow up eating chinese food in chinatown; dirty food don't phase me! The meat jun was pretty awesome! A little better than Kim Chee II which is my favorite. It was sweet, salty and crisp on the outside. The meat wasn't tough or chewy. I also had the spicy pork (not that good, don't get it) and kalbi (very smoky like artificial smoke oil was poured on it but ok). The sauce was the shoyu kind and really brought out the flavors of the meat jun. A plate comes with kim chee, bean sprouts, cabbage, picked cucumbers and mac salad. All the sides were good. The kim chee tasted like the one you get in the supermarket but that beats kim chee II's kim chee any day. I thought it was one of those places that you order from the counter and then seat yourself but the worker told me just to sit down. When we did sit down, no one came to take our order. So I went to order at the counter and they scolded me haha Then at the end of the meal, I was waiting for the check so I called for it and the lady asked me to go pay at the counter. ????? It was cheap for korean food! You can get a one meat plate for $6 or $7 and about $7.50 for a combination plate. I'm a small girl but I ate my entire plate - and there was A LOT of food - and then picked off my friend's too!! That's how good - or maybe how hungry - I was! In all, I would not drive to Wahiawa for meat jun that was only a little better than Kim Chee II but if I'm in the area I would eat here again. Yay for local korean grinds!! PS: you can park in the front and back.
(4)Brian A.
One of the Fiancee's aunts suggested we try this one out. See, she recommended it knowing that we were into looking for old Hawaii kine diners. We live in town and it would be a hike to get out there. She knew also this, so based on that recommendation we drove al the way out there. When you arrive, the outside is fairly non-descript. It's in a oddly placed old strip mall that sits on an slight incline. Once you get inside, you get a fairly old and very dingy diner feel to it. Definitely has some character value to the place and for the most part, I really liked the darkish/open ambiance. These kinds of places are my favorite establishments to try. Off the top, I wasn't too enamored with my food. It did come in quite a large amount and was very filling. Let's just say that it's one of those places I would go to if someone else wanted to (and they wanted to drive me out there). The service was very local and friendly. If you're located in Honolulu, it's definitely a trek. Parking can be a bit sketchy because of the lack of space (although McDonald's has a large lot across the street).
(3)Jessie D.
Meat Jun is a sensitive subject around these parts, as most people have their preferences for what they like to eat. So, I decided to do a little investigative research and check out some of the better meat jun places on the island. Dong Yang was the second stop on the taste test, and I can see why people are so passionate about their meat jun/chun. It's soft, tasty, thick, and very flavorful. I also appreciate the affordableness of the place as well, as a combo plate of meat chun, fried mandoo, and a drink only put me back $10.50, a steal considering the price of Korean food nowadays. What takes this place down a star is the tricky location (get off at the Wahiawa exit, go down 3 lights, turn right on Olive and there you are). Wahiawa is quite the trek for most people, so I don't see many of them making the effort to get some meat chun. But, for those willing to trek, it's worth the drive.
(4)Damon H.
Best Korean food on the island. I haven't had the meat jun like everyone else has, but I have had their mandu and yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) at least 20 times and have never been disappointed. This place does serve fairly authentic Korean food, which is a lot more than I can say for places like Yummy (ugh, gross).
(4)Robin W.
Now unfortunately I grew up with cleanliness values and this restaurant does not quite fit with those values. I understand wahiawa is different but still, I can't eat comfortably when there are dead roaches under my table. It grosses me out just a tad. I had heard from friends that this was a great place to and it had a good rating on yelp so I was willing to try it. The food was mediocre at best, the service not really attentive or kind, the establishment was just dirty. After we had our dinner all I wanted to do was run home and shower and get all of the grime off of me. I would never go back here or recommend it to anyone, except maybe my exes.
(1)Miguel B.
Don't be discouraged by its hole-in-the-wall appearance or locale, the Meat Chun dish is quite possibly one of my favorite meals ever! There was a time when I ate it multiple times a week, its so good. Just dont confuse the dipping sauce for soy sauce like i did my first time and pour it all over your rice -__- lol. and i get it with potato/mac salad vs the kimchee and veggies.
(5)Tad A.
Ate here before and remembered that the meat jun was good. But, in all honesty I like the meat jun at Soon's (salt lake) and Moon Hoe (pearl kai) better. Still worth a try if you're in the area.
(3)Paul H.
I go there when I want to pig out. Since in my old age, I can't pig out as I used to but I'll either go for the meat jun or the bbq beef. I also get a roll of the Korean maki sushi. Those of you who bitch about the parking, there's a parking lot in the back of the building which has an adequate number of stalls.
(4)Kathy N.
Out in Wahiawa, it sure is worth the drive! I've eaten in, but mostly we do a take out! The inside of the restaurant isn't very appealing, and therefore, we do take-out. My favorite is the meat jun!! Big portions of fluffy meat jun that's super yummy!! They have parking in the front thats sort of on a slope and awkward to reverse out. There is parking in the back of the restaurant , and a door that you can enter through.
(4)J A.
Juicy and tender meat jun. My to go plate was completely loaded and had enough for 3 meals. The sides were lacking in flavor and I pushed them aside after tasting them. The barbecue meat lacked flavor.
(3)Fred M.
I've finally get to try this place today after hearing so much about it. Looking at this place from outside I would have never noticed it until someone told me about it and they recommended me in trying it out. Sitting right next to Maui Mikes and McDonald's this place seems like its overshadowed by these two popular restaurants. Finding parking here isn't a problem anytime but until its lunch time on the weekdays when all the army and some navy folks comes out to Wahiawa. There is a parking lot located behind the restaurant but unfortunately its shared with other businesses in the same area and the lot isn't really big enough to accommodate more than a dozen cars. Access to the restaurant is available in the back coming from the parking lot so you can save yourself the trip from walking around the building. After sitting down the waitress will come and serve Kim Chee and a Egg Drop soup. The Kim Chee had a nice spicy kick to it and the Egg Drop soup tasted really good. For my order I ordered their number 6. BBQ meat and chicken. Note- If your gonna order number 18. Combinations- Any 2 selection (BBQ meat, BBQ chicken, meat chun, fish chun, fried mandu or shrimp) and you order BBQ meat and chicken together like my friend did both are exactly the same. The only difference is the price number 18 cost a $1 more. The taste of both the meat and chicken tasted really good. I really like chicken more as it had more taste to it and the skin comes off easily as for the meat it tasted alright it didn't really excite my taste buds. The service here was OK. I see all their waitresses moving all the time bouncing in and out of the kitchen its like they had a lot of caffeine this morning or something. They were pretty quick in getting our orders and coming back with our food in less than 10 minutes. Overall this place is OK, I was surprised I didn't have parking problems during lunch time on a weekday, The place is a bit old and dirty but I didn't see any cockroaches according to one of the previous review I read on here. And the food isn't too great but at the same time it wasn't too bad. Yelp 365 Challenge - #005/365
(3)Flora S.
Ok, just be warned, this is definitely the epitome of a hole in the wall kind of place. BUT it's seriously the best Korean I've ever had and they give you SO MUCH food. A trip to Hawaii is not complete with out a meal at Dong Yang's. Their meat jun is seriously the best, we had take out from Gina's in town and it was no where near as good. It's cheap, delicious and will give you enough left overs for lunch the next day.
(5)Jon C.
This is definately one of the hidden Korean gems in Hawaii. Decor is not the most beautiful place...but hey, everything is under $10 and the service is quick, food is delicious, and portions are VERY generous!!! The reason I come here is for the delicious Meat Jun. Although not a authentic Korean dish, this local version of tender beef dipped in a seasoned egg batter and fried is the best version I've had all over the island. It is tender, the meat is thick (compared to the microscopic 1/12 inch meat at Yummy's Korean BBQ). The vegetables are so-so, but the cabbage kim-chi is winner. I'm a garlic fan and its a garlic style kim-chi. If you are coming back to Honolulu from a day at the North Shore, this a must stop before heading to Sunny-Side to pick up a pie!
(4)MJ S.
20 minute for two plate lunches...was it worth it? For the meat jun yes!
(4)Mama N.
I love Meat Jun ~ or CHun as it is called here. After reading the reviews and hearing from others, I decided to check this place out. SO let's break it down: 1) Basically a hole in the wall. The outside area is not clean, and the inside is pretty old looking. No big deal to me. 2) Service is marginal at best. There are basically two people working the counter and tables. Service is on the slow side, and don't expect much cheer and banter. Passable. 3) Kim chee tasted old and bland. 4) You don't get a choice of sides like you would at most other places. 5) The sauce everyone is raving about? It's pretty good but really, it's just sauce. The meat jun is okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. 6) Mandu - skip. I seriously thought I was going to hurl. 7) Other people in my group had the Spicy Pork, the BBQ Beef and said they were sub par. 8) Kal bi was said to be alright. This is my first Yelp review. I was never compelled to do one before, but I had to give my honest opinion this time. I don't want anyone's business to suffer, but customers should know what they are getting into also. If you want a good fast korean meal, go somewhere else. I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Cynthia A.
I'm sure the food is FREAKING good, like I've heard many people say, but I happen to know that they have not passed a number of inspections in the past... What we don't know can't hurt us, right? YUM!
(3)Kaipo S.
Best meat jun on O'ahu in my opinion, very good value as well.
(4)Pili K.
The Best MEAT JUN eVERRRRR!!!! SO Ono!
(5)Dennis R.
meat jun only... 5 stars dunno about the rest of the food...
(5)N G.
meat jun is good. i love their korean sushi too, when they have it.
(4)Travis M.
Just eat their meat jun, if you can finish it all. Every thing else is good too, but I'm hardly in Wahiawa, but if i'm there its always Dong Yangs for their meat jun.
(5)Erika B.
My parents love this place! Reasonably priced. Staff is friendly, food is delicious. I love all the sides! Order the meat jun! Quick place to stop if you're in the area.
(5)Jeff I.
You must get the meat chun. It is the best on this island. The pieces are big, the batter is thick, and the sauce compliments it. Believe me, it is worth the trip to wahiawa.
(3)Damian S.
Their meat jun is the perfect thing to eat after a long day of playing in the ocean in North Shore. One of my favorite places to eat when in da 808 state!
(4)Mike R.
If only you could get their meat chun on the mainland......SO WORTH braving the cleanliness issues...and for some reason, puts me to sleep(!)...I would never skip this place when in central Oahu, because you cant get anything as delicious as their meat chun anywhere else...truly unique and mouth watering.
(5)Joy S.
Two words Meat Chun, need I say more? My hubby is from Wahiawa, so he turned me on to Dong Yang. I also like O-bok's meat jun too since I be from Manoa :P
(5)Suburban R.
bulk and tasty fare. especially the meat jun! any questions?
(4)Alex C.
Love this place. I always visit this place everytime I come home to visit. I always get the meat chun. A very generous serving every time.
(4)Troy S.
Found a roach in my egg soup but their meat Hun still killas. I still go there very often and the costumer service is ok. It's rediculous how much extra they charge for a tiny extra cup of sauce.
(3)Ihz O.
youtube.com/watch?v=ntew… Welcome! The four stars I'm giving represents part food and part environment at Dong Yang Inn. I'm going to focus on the environment part because we all know about the meat chun already. I'll go over the ghetto environment with you, and I'll tell you why Dong Yang Inn is safe even though the area is inundated with bums and punk, criminal thugs. The title of my review is... Sleeping with the frienemy Some people like to base jump off buildings some people like to surf 30 foot waves. I like going into ghetto areas to eat great food. I don't love doing it, but that's my way of living on the edge. So if you want to live to at least 100 years old, stick with me Ihz O. and after 100 you can do anything you want. I have this love then hate then reeeally hate then love all over again relationship with Dong Yang Inn. Right now I'm falling in love with Dong Yangs all over again. I guess it's true what they say--absence makes the heart grow fonder. The environment is pretty ghetto around Dong Yang Inn. However, I think it's still safe to go and eat, and I have a theory on why it's safe for you or anyone. My theory is two-fold: one, the meat chun provides these bums and punk, criminal thugs with energy and nourishment, so these crazy people RESPECT the meat jun. Two, because they respect the meat chun, they don't want any bad press associated with Dong Yang Inn such as car break-ins, assault and batteries, begging, or robberies. Because if Dong Yangs goes out of business these crazy people would have to take the bus or drive into town or wherever to get great Korean food, and that would suck big time for them. So in conclusion Dong Yang Inn is safe to eat despite the bums and punk, criminal thugs that frequent the area. You'll see these evil bum criminals but they won't bother you because they know they have a great thing, and they don't want to lose it, so enjoy Dong Yang Inn and know that the environment is just is a small part of the whole Dong Yang experience. Thank you for reading the review. I love you all.
(4)Ina T.
It's been a while since I've been here. The food is still as yummy as I remembered. We still love the meat chun & fish chun. My kids really enjoy the Kalbi and bbq chicken. Waitress is just as welcoming as it's always been LOL Don't expect a welcoming smile and friendly staff because you won't get it BUT you will get tasty food and that counts too. I do want to praise them on how fast they get their food out to the customers. I've been coming here since I was a little kid. Although when I was younger I didn't care for customer service as I get older I do understand and appreciate it where it is good. This place needs training on that. Perhaps a smile once in a while. Maybe a how are you? Simple and standard customer service protocol wouldn't kill anyone here. Other than that this is not a place I'd come to anytime soon. Maybe if I'm in need of a good plate that I need quick to go. Just like any restaurant no one is perfect but everyone could use improvement and I'd say they could use it in the customer service area.
(4)Traci T.
My GO TO for meat jun if I'm ever in the Wahiawa area. This place makes the best meat jun (meat chun as stated on their menu). It's easy to see that I'm not the only one who thinks this because pretty much everyone has it on their plates when you walk into the restaurant. The friend I went with on my most recent visit doesn't usually eat Korean food. Say what?!?! Therefore, I suggested that we get the Dong Yang Inn special so he could get a little bit of everything. It comes with kalbi, BBQ meat, BBQ chicken, shrimp, meat chun, fish chun, and fried mandu. Now as I'm writing this review, I don't even think we got a piece of shrimp...oh wells. When we placed our order at the counter, they lady took our order and quickly disappeared for the next at least 10 minutes (if not longer). We joked that maybe she went to personally make our order. We have no idea why she was gone for so long. When she finally returned, she took our money. They don't charge tax. $16 flat for the Dong Yang Inn special. I overheard some people behind us saying that the prices went up a couple dollars a few months ago...so if you haven't been here in a while, expect to pay a little more. While we waited for our food, we sat down at a booth. We had to call one of the ladies to come over to give us water. It just so happened to be the lady that took our order. She was surprised that we were eating in the restaurant. She told us that next time we should just sit down at a booth and order if we plan to eat in the restaurant. If you go the counter, then they expect you to take out. Oops! We didn't see anyone walking around to help us when we entered, so we just figured ordering at the counter would've been faster to get service. If you dine in, you get this brothy soup with green onions and pieces of shredded egg in it. You also get small dishes of two types of kim chee. The regular kim chee tasted a bit too sour to me, though. I strayed away from it for the rest of the meal. We were told that they ran out of mandoo and asked if we would like more of another type of meat to substitute the mandoo. The lady suggested maybe more meat jun...SURE! That's what I came here for in the first place. I think I would enjoy the meat jun much more than the mandoo anyways. Score! We just shared the special since I wasn't too hungry. I had my share of the meat jun....delicious as always! I also tried the BBQ meat. I'm not usually a fan of BBQ meat, but I must say that theirs is great! It's very flavorful and the meat is soft. I really enjoyed it! Why did I take a star away? Well, don't expect friendly customer service when you go here. You'll get service, but you just need to flag them down for it if you want it right away. Just go here for the delicious Korean food and don't expect much else. TIPS: 1. They take VISA and Mastercard, but there is a minimum charge of $10. Have cash ready on hand if you plan to spend less than that. 2. There's a few stalls in the front, but there are lots of stalls in the back. There are doors to enter from in the front and the back. The back looks as though you'll be walking through the kitchen or something, but no worries...it's just another entrance.
(4)Wetonbe S.
Growing up dining out at dong yang was always a childhood favorite . I moved back home recently and was disappointed To see what has become of it. There food is still delicious meat jun broke the mouth ... The cleanliness is horrible . There was a baby coackaroach floating in my miso soup !an the starter soup is like water with green onions. Also where did the Mac salad go? Customer service " Ohana feel" is gone as well.
(2)Judy C.
Yuck & Yikes!! My last review, I gave this place 4 star, but def. not anymore!! as of now, 6.7.15 I should have read the reviews before making the decision to come here for lunch on Sunday. Recent reviews, few Yelpers got food poisoned & there is a mouse jun. Oh My goodness!! I went out of my way, one hour in rail traffic to come here. The Filipino lady, the same one always working is way ruder this time!! We seated ourselves, waited forever to be served. to get our menus, to get water, even for our orders to be taken. My sister went up to her to give her our order & she snapped!! so 30 mins. later, finally she comes by. Notice the price went up. & the food was less than mediocre.. Not as good as before. ( new cook? new owner? ) hmm ok, sad to have to break the news to the Hubby, as he loves this place. Sorry Hubby, we will find better!! I'm not sure if we were food poisoned. - felt pretty gross after reading those reviews + the mouse jun review. Oh wells, good bye Dong Yang!! never coming back!! NEVER!!
(1)Traci R.
Looking for some local Korean food? Everyone turns to Dong Yang's! Since my dad would frequent this restaurant a lot before, we always stop here when we find ourselves in Wahiawa. FOOD: Meat Jun is their most popular dish. Beef covered in egg and cooked in oil. Something about that just makes sense. All for $9.00. Meat portion is very reasonable; 2 layers of meat jun with an equivalent to at least 3 scoops of rice. It's tender and you don't have to tug and pull at it. The fluffy, crispy egg coating though...BOMB :) Their combination plate (choice of 2 - bbq meat, bbq chicken, fish jun, or fried mandoo) is $9.75. The combo plate isn't worth it in my opinion. They only gave me 3 small pieces of fish jun (smaller than a deck of cards for each piece) and 4 fried mandoo. The mandoo looked like the fish at first and was soggy! Significantly less entree compared to meat jun. They also forgot our bean sprouts. No matter what you get, be prepared for some really oily food. Plus, we could tell the food was cooked in dirty oil. :/ This place isn't the same as it used to be like what other Yelpers believe. Maybe since it got popular, they can't keep up with the demand which causes them to slip. Don't get me wrong. This place is way better than Yummy's but I prefer Kim Chee 7's one a lot more. SERVICE: Not the friendliest but you don't expect much from a place like this. If you want good service, then take your money elsewhere. But if you only care about food, then this is the place. The counter help is very 'to the point' and 'don't waste my time'. All you hear is "NEXT!" This place can get crowded; expect a wait. A really long wait. We waited about one whole hour (no joke) for our food. In fact, the cashier didn't call in our order to the back and eventually forgot about the order despite us asking multiple times about our order. People had placed phone orders and were still waiting 30-45 minutes for only 2-3 plates. However, she was very apologetic. PARKING: Available in the front and back of the restaurant. There's a back door to the restaurant if you park in the back. There's a reason why all the pictures posted on Yelp is of Meat Jun. Because you get the most 'bang for buck' with this plate. It's worth it to buy if you're around the area, but I wouldn't take a special trip out here just for Dong Yang's.
(3)Kira C.
I definitely got food poisoning or something from here. The food was great but the next day I was so sick. My husband ate my leftovers the night I brought it home and he got sick shortly after me. Neither of us could hold anything down for the next 2 days. When I got back to work I asked my coworkers if they got sick and they all did. 4 days later we can all still feel the effects. A fellow yelper said we should call the health dept. I think we should. If you got sick too, you should call the health department so we can get this resolved. Food tasted good but its not worth it.
(1)Nataliya G.
The place is really dirty. We had meat Chun and fish chun, per recommendation of our friends. It tasted really good. But next day we were all feeling wierd. We don't know what it was in their food, but I am sure we all reacted to it. My husband thinks it was MSG, I think they reuse oil. But I think, that was enough for us not to go there again. Wish they could clean up the place and review the ingredients.
(3)C W.
AMBIANCE: The dining room is run down, untidy and in disrepair. I can't imagine that the kitchen would pass a Board of Health inspection although I didn't go back there. SERVICE: Leaves much to be desired. The ladies there are borderline rude. FOOD: My recent visit will be my last. I called in an order about 5 minutes before my arrival there. Picked up my order. Got home to Launani Valley and was thoroughly disappointed. I had ordered side orders of kal bi, meat jun, and fish jun. The fish came with only four pieces. The kal-bi looked like it was microwaved instead of being fired on the grill, made to order. There was only two pieces. The meat jun was, by far, the worst part of this order. It was soggy and absolutely horrible. It was as if my serving was leftovers from the night before. Soggy, tasted like old oil. The color was not appetizing. I uploaded a pic here on yelp. And all of this horribleness set me back by $28. Disgusting!
(1)Trenton N.
Dirtiest looking restaurant in Wahiawa, but hands down one of the best places that make Meat Jun on the island. Definitely worth checking out!! Located across from Wahiawa McDonalds, Peking in front and back.
(4)Ashley B.
I haven't came here in 3 months, even tho I grew up eating here. I ordered dinner for my family to go. When I open the plate there is raw bbq beef on the bottom that was touching the rest of the food. Very disappointed, time to switch to Youngs Kalbi already!
(2)Tiffany R.
If you're from Wahiawa and never ate at Dong Yangs, you're missing out. If you want tasty food, amazing portions, and cheap prices..Stop at Dong Yangs! It's run by older women and it may not look the nicest inside but, looks can be deceiving because the amazing food makes up for it. I always take out and hardly Dine-Inn, I suggest the Meat Chunn because it's the best! It's thick slices of Egg coated meat with the best sauce on the sides. The plates are good for two. The rice is packed high and so are the sides of cucumber, kim chee, cabbage and bean sprouts. The Meat Chunn sauce is to die for! It has a like a vinegar, peppery taste with shoyu! It's really good. The rice is hot and kinda mushy but it's so good!! I'd give it a 10/10 if I could.
(5)Jenn K.
Out of all the Korean restaurants I've tried, Dong Yang is still my favorite place for Meat Chun. For a small price, you can request for some extra sauce.
(4)Rissa K.
Def worth stopping by for your Korean food fix on the way to the North Shore or if you're in the area! Their meat Chun is tender and tasty! The portions here are generous!
(4)Kara Y.
I've been coming here since I was a child because my grandma used to live up the street. And to this day my family and I believe this is the best Meat Jun on the island. Granted over the years I have seen the price increase by a few dollars but it is still a good deal. My family and I can't head towards that side of the island without stopping by.
(4)Sierra C.
This used to be one of our favorite spots on the central side. We were always able to overlook the "rustic" look and super rude Filipino ladies, but today's visit will be the last for us. The food was overwhelmingly salty! Our plates were super skimp from the last time we came. A diner in my party ordered a kalbi and shrimp plate. Barely any shrimp, mostly batter. The diner kindly asked to return the shrimp for meat jun instead. The waitress had the nerve to say, "well next time don't order that". Geez, Aunty! Business has gone down the drain. The waitress was the make or break deal for us. The overall experience was disappointing. Mahalo nui for the food provided in numerous birthday, potlucks, funerals, office and tailgate parties over the last 20 years, but we won't be back.
(1)Halia H.
Mmmmm! Dong Yang Inn. One of my favorite restaurants in Wahiawa. I always be sure to get a meat jun plate whenever I am around. However, the prices did raise up fairly from before. Other than that, very good korean food. If you're into mac salad, that's ono as well. Decent customer service, but if you're not very patient, don't eat in the restaurant area.
(3)HaleiwaTodd W.
Dong Yang is our first choice in Hawaii for Korean food. Dong Yang is synonymous for Meat Jun, Zucchini Jun and Kim Chee. Great service and great taste. Keep it up Dong Yang. You da bessest. Spoken from a local with good taste buds.
(5)Shuao Li L.
It was so hot, no air conditioning. Food was not as I remembered. Kalbi was rubbery, could not eat it. We ordered meat Jun, one looked burnt and other was a lighter color. Don't think I will visit in near future.
(3)Sandra K.
Location: In Wahiawa, next to Hi Supply Smoke Shop and Saigon Noodle House, across from McDonalds. Parking: There are stalls right in front. But it can sometimes be difficult. Food: Big portions. Food that were yummy were the meat jun, spicy chicken and spicy pork. The korean style fried squid with vegetables was not that good. The squid tasted like it was old and it was very oily.
(4)K H.
Two words: MEAT. JUN. So delicious! Huge portions! Great sauce, but sometimes you don't even need it cuz the meat jun is so tasty! YUMMY!
(5)Claire F.
I generally don't like meat jun. Why? Well, I generally don't prefer meat. Give me some chicken katsu or anything tofu and I'm already in heaven. Yet, there have been a few times that I snuck a piece of meat jun from my friend's plate and wondered why it tasted so delicious.... Curiosity won out while we were driving through Wahiawa after the Warrior Dash up in Waialua. Scratched and bruised, dirt everywhere, sunburnt, exhausted from the sun, and STARVING, we made our way to Dong Yang Inn, supposedly the holy grail for meat jun on Oahu. I ordered a full plate of meat jun for myself since I was starving. First of all, the plate was HUGE and piled high with thick cuts of juicy clean (non-fatty) meat, wrapped in a thick layer of egg, fried to a golden brown and slightly crispy on the edges. The luscious meat sits atop a generous bed of rice and comes with a scoop of mac salad and some tsukemono/banchan. Dine in and some yummy kim chee, pickled daikon, and a simple yet delicious chicken broth is brought to your table as you await your main course. Okay, so yes, the meat jun was good. However, keep in mind I'm not a total meat jun lover. So while my 4 other dining partners raved that it was the best they've ever had, it wasn't my personal favorite. I prefer more egg to meat ratio, with thinner slices of meat (as thin as possible) and lots of fluffy yet crispy egg. Korean restaurant owners should love me since I prefer them to cut down on the most expensive part, the meat! Give me more egg!!! Meat jun will probably never be one of my favorite dishes, but I can't deny I had a terrific meal at Dong Yang Inn and that I will definitely be back for more.
(4)Kristin C.
Known best for their meat chun. What makes it one of the best is the sauce. I need a special craving for it and not something I'd eat more often than 2 or 3x a year. Most everyone that lives in Wahiawa knows about this place and is a hometown fave.
(3)Micah J.
Dong Yang's is a very good place to visit if you like Korean foods. The fish jun & meat jun is reallly delicious. I like the nato soup there too. I came to Hawaii after being in Korea for a few years so I can be picky when it comes to good, authentic tasting, Korean food. This place doesn't disappoint. Some negatives which kept them from 5 stars - The condition and cleanliness of their building, I feel is lacking. Definitely needs remodeling. Other than that this place is really good.
(4)Jessica-Nicole U.
Get more & pay less.... plus the food was awesome I'm not sure I liked the seating, but for a ma and pa store I can see why it works. The place seemed pretty busy and the people that went seemed like regulars and genuinely loved the food. I think we definitely got more than what we paid for. And I'm warning you... the plates are HUGE.... my boyfriend and I had to share ONE plate. They also gave us Miso soup (my fave) and a few sides. I took off a star because the bathroom was DISGUSTING... small... and just sketch. I understand the location plays a part.... but still.... i'd rather hold my pee and walk over to Mcdonalds
(4)Ayako C.
This is my favorite restaurant in Wahiawa. It's so cheap and big yummy meals. When I don't wanna cook I always go there and order to go. I wanted to give 5 stars but the only concern is inside of restaurant is old and dirty:-(
(4)Cathy K.
UPDATE - Dept of Health said they got cited for sanitation, cross contamination, bare hands handling food and food temperature. They need a NO PASS - RED PLACARD!! People - eat at your own risk!!! We ordered lunch there (Chicken/Teri Beef Mixed Plate) this past Friday and I ended up in the ER on Sunday after not being able to hold anything down for 7 hours. Sever stomach pains, cold sweats, nausea and a 101 fever. They gave me an IV and morphine for the stomach pain and I am still feeling ill 4 days after eating there. 5 out of 8 of us who ate the plates were sick, most of us from Saturday late afternoon/evening, I think the worst part of it all was when I called to let them know and ask if anyone else got sick, they lied!! The gal that answered asked me if I was the lady that called earlier. I said NO, this is my first call. Then they put someone on that I could barely understand. I think they spelled their last name as Potts? All I know is she denied that anyone else got sick that day and said in 40 years no one has ever complained or gotten sick. After a handful of us got sick at the office, we spoke to others and one guy refused to go there after a few bad experiences. Twice he got sick and two times he found hair in his food. Another co-worker said that his aunt was there on Saturday, the day we all got sick, but the little cousins got sick also that same exact day. I called the department of health and reported what happened to me! I encourage the others that ate there that day that got sick to call the department of health ASAP! I will NEVER eat there again and discourage everyone from dining there also until they get a green light from the department of health. This didn't even deserve a star!!!
(1)Nakai96786 ..
When I was living in wahiawa i loved this place until I my aunties friend had the mouse jun, yes a mouse was cooked and covered in the egg and everything and she ate it and relazed that this piece was very crunchy and pulled it out amd saw the tail dangling from the piece, not to mention the kalbi is slimy and the bbq is dry
(2)Philip Y.
Meat jun & Spicy pork
(5)Bobby S.
Honestly the food is Delicious, just not so healthy. The waitresses, I think that's what there called in that age, should retire. There's a Filipino waitress with a nasty fucken attitute there, sometime id like to punch her face, but dont want rat tail in my meat jun ;), The Resturant needs a 2000nds Face left, and parking in the front or even the back should be leveled. Their broth is amazing, the meat jun is to dye for. I'd check Mac salad before you Eat it, other then that its pretty damn good
(5)yongboo s.
Dong dong dong.... that is what it is. Don't go there. My wife and I had a large BBQ and bibimbop. Absolutely disgusting. I talked to the owner afterward and she seemed nice and I feel bad for her since she's this old korean lady. Unfortunately, her business does not represent the kind of korean food and culture that I feel strongly about. When someone or a business misrepresent my ethnic pride as a korean, I must speak up.
(1)Stacie T.
Meat jun. No need say more (but I will). BBQ chicken is good too! Not a big fan of eating there, but it's one of my fave places for take out.
(4)Hope Y.
I love this place! I mean I will drive to Wahiawa just to eat at Dong Yang's. The consistency of the food is what brings me back over and over again. My favorites are the meat chun (meat jun) and the kal bi. A combination plate runs around $9-10, but you get ban chan and soup and believe me, the plates are huge. It's a simple little restaurant that i've been frequenting since high school, and they've always been delicious. It's owned and run by Koreans, and my favorite ethnic restaurants are run by that ethnicity...i.e. Mexican food by Mexicans, Chinese food by Chinese...etc. It's a great plate lunch spot to stop on your way to the North Shore. If you are looking for a really nice place to eat, this ain't it. Dong Yang's is a humble little restaurant with the same decor from 20+ years ago, and it hasn't changed. Some may refer to it as a dive. Parking can be a pain if you go at peak times, there's a parking lot behind the building, and you can also park right in front if there are any open spaces, but remember to set your parking brake if you park in front. When you are done eating, don't expect the waitress to bring you your bill, sometimes they do, but usually you just walk right up to the cashier and they have your bill ready. Also, If you find yourself in-love with their marinade, they have raw marinated meat available for sale. Got Meat Chun on your mind? Go Dong Yang's!
(5)Britt W.
If you're in search for one of the BEST places on the island to eat meat jun, you will find it here at Dong Yang. The portions are massive, the meat is so tender and flavorful that it practically melts in your mouth. The soup they serve looks pretty fatty, but if it wasn't then it wouldn't be so good!! The customer service is lacking tremendously, but that seems to be a consistent complaint from other reviewers here, so don't take it personal. The food always comes out quickly, so when you're having one of those "starving" moments and you wanna inhale some good meat jun in massive portions, head over to Dong Yang. Your hunger will be satisfied, but just lower your expectations when it comes to great customer service while dining. It will end up saving you a few dollars anyways when it comes time to pay your bill and tip! Also, if you call at 8:45 pm to place a take out, the lady who answers will want to know your exact location. "Where you stay? We closing at 9:00 you know! Come now!!!" I heard it with my own ears! On a side note, there's a green PASS sign from the DOH for all you conspiracy theorist. :)
(4)Devin B.
A very popular place in wahiawa. Known for their meat jun! A lot of seats to dine in, but they also do take out. Definitely a place to stop by if you're near wahiawa.
(5)Kat D.
Best meat jun plate lunch on da island Meat is thick and juicy not dry and hard like beef jerky like other places
(5)Vincent T.
Dong Yang is supposed to be famous for their Meat Jhun up there in Wahiawa. I rate it above average although I think the egg batter is thicker and better than other average Korean restaurants. I recommend the Spicy Pork myself. If your looking for Korean food in Wahiawa you can't get much better than this place. The other restaurant on California street Seoul Korean I also rate above average. If given a choice though I'll eat at Dong Yang first. The service is fast but lacking overall great service as I consider it hole in the wall category. Old tables and uncomfortable seats that sorely need replacing due to the ripped and stained upholstery. For atmosphere I give it 1 1/2 stars. Customer service 2 stars. Food 3 1/2. Overall 3 stars.
(3)Bridget G.
I ordered the meat jun and fish jun. Other half said meat jun was small kine burnt .. The fish Jun was fried good, but damn was it overly fishy... like not appetizing at all, overly fishy. fish food kine fishy. I don't recommend the fish jun. Will be back for regular olé meat jun.
(2)Breanna O.
ATMOSPHERE: I like finding little holes in the wall but this isn't one of the good ones. The restaurant felt dirty, including the utensils and table. It's very off-putting. FOOD: The food didn't taste fresh at all.
(1)Chris L.
Dong Yang Inn is a great place and I've been going there since I was a kid, the food is great! Really tasty and I will continue to go here forever. If sitting in a gleaming clean restaurant is what you are looking for though look elsewhere, Dong Yang is showing its age as of late and to those of you who have never been there the look might be a little off putting. Despite this I recommend that you give this little place a chance. . .just. . .avoid the bathroom. . .seriously. . .the bathroom is scary. BUT THE FOOD IS GREAT! You aren't going to eat in the bathroom right?. . . . .right?. . . . .riiiiiggghhhttt? +4 Stars for great food. -1 Star for the building being in dire need of some TLC.
(4)Rona H.
I love the meat jun at Dong Yang's!! Ever since I left the island I would always think of Dong Yang's. The price is really good considering all the sides you get. I used to come here all the time before I left in 2006 so it was quite the relief to find out it's still up and running. And the meat jun is still awesome! Goes to show that 8 years later, this place MUST be good.
(5)Aloha A.
By far, the best Korean food on the island. If decor is important to you, take out is a must. But for good, no frills good food, this is the place. You cannot go wrong with the meat jun and cucumber kim chee. Simply delicious!
(5)Jarod H.
Four stars. The meat jun is good. It's not the dry type of meat jun like Salt Lake's Soon's BBQ, which I don't really like. However, it's not as juicy as Aiea's Young's, but it is a good medium in between those two. The parking is real tight, you might be able to get away and park in McDonalds across the street, but I'm not endorsing that. Give it a whirl and try the food out here!
(4)Brigitte S.
When I first moved here from NY & I lived in Waikiki, I wandered to a Korean food window & slowly begun to experience the yummyness I didn't know had existed. Spicy pork, kalbi, meat jun... And all those side veggies! I was hooked. My need for Korean was on... My boyfriend is from Wahiawa and told me early on during a visit home that he thought Dong Yang had some of the best mean jun he ever had. I had to experience it. I still remember just how pleased I was with that first delicious bite. The meat jun here is to die for!!! Juicy, thick pieces of beef covered in the just the right amount of egg batter and seasoned to perfection. Part of why I love this is that no matter how much meat or batter I get in my bite, it is super flavorful. This meat is so tender that I can take a small bite off my fork & it tears apart so easily that I still look like a lady. I also love their sauces; the spicy one is my favorite! I enjoy the kimchi as well although I wish it were a tiny bit spicier. My friend always bring the zucchini jun camping & I have to say it's cooked really well. Enough bite that it's not mushy but soft enough to eat easily. As someone who doesn't love zucchini period, I'm surprised by how much I enjoy this dish every time. I also am I giant fan of the spicy pork. Tender & the perfect level of kick; BONUS I've rarely gotten fat here like some other places. They cook it and trim it like champs. There's not a lot in Wahiawa that I rave about but I think this meat jun could beat most on the island. Just saying. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is I don't love eating in and prefer take out. It feels a little 'unkept' so we don't love sitting down in there. But the food is quality.
(4)Rhea Cherie B.
After church every Sunday, either my parents or grandparents would buy lunch for our family at Dong Yang. I grew up eating their yummy meat jun and it is the yardstick other meat juns are measured against. I have yet to find another Korean restaurant that has better meat jun. Their BBQ beef is also pretty good and their bi bim bap...HUGE! It comes in a ginormous bowl that's big enough to feed 3, maybe even 4 people. Their prices have gone up over the years, but I think it's worth it. As for the restaurant itself, they definitely need to do some kind of renovation, deep cleaning, furniture replacement...something! It's pretty dingy in there and it could use a face lift. Customer service is lacking. I remember going there on a Sunday and the lady who was serving us seemed really stressed out and irritable. In her defense, she was waiting on every single table in the small restaurant buuuut...she didn't even crack a smile. Anyway, you don't go there for the service. You go there for the yummy meat jun.
(4)Mary W.
Happy happy happy...The reason it wasn't good last time I was there was cause the lady that normally works there was on vacation. I was in town so I decided to go in and saw she was working and was extremely happy to see her face. So I ordered my meat chun and it was perfect !!!! She is not allowed to go on vacation anymore when I come in town....lol..
(5)Painless R.
Horrible. We just ordered and the food was cooked in old oil and wasn't even hot. Also, they were skimpy on the servings. The place definitely wouldn't or shouldn't pass inspection. We will never go there again.
(1)Donny S.
Absolutely the best meat jun ever. Everything else is just ok. I do also like their kim bap too.
(4)K- M.
I absolutely LOVE this place. Having been born & raised up the heights this has always been a favorite in our household, of places to eat if we're going to order out. I have just returned home after living on the mainland for the past 12 years, and I've come to the realization, that outside of family/friends & the beach- the thing I have missed THEE MOST about home sweet home- was DONG YANG'S MEAT JUN! Hands DOWN- thee best meat jun. Not only is the egg to meat ratio absolutely perfect, their marinade/dipping sauce can NOT be beat. I frequent this place as much as my belly will allow before increasing in size! & though they may seem rough on the edges, those are some sweet ladies when u get to know them. And if you're like me and always get your food to go, then don't forget about those ladies and if u can spare it an extra $1 or $2 goes a long way in the end, and through this I can say I've made "food friends" yes the more love they feel for you, the more love they put into ur food.. it's the law of the land..:D This just might be one of the reasons other than the awesome weather and tap water that I could never live anywhere if I'm on this island except my hometown of Wahiawa.. where Dong Yang will forever be a staple... I don't think those off exit 8 could ever let this place close! I just hope the family recipes have been passed on, and the family understands how much us locals appreciate that we can leave the island for 12years and come home and it's STILL just as delicious if not better than we remembered!! ********** 10 stars for sure! (I can't believe this never posted..thank goodness I checked my yelp account on an actual computer for once in a long time.. I totally posted this when I first moved back home and that was over a year ago now! lol - guess my phone never really posted it!)
(5)Chode H.
SUCKS..... I would have gave no starts but that's not an option. I used to love this place what happened? Just ate there today first off they never gave us a menu. I asked to use the bathroom she forgot. Their food was super salty. Spicy pork wad not spicy instead it was salty red pork. The meat jun n Mandoo sauce was straight shoyu with salt because I never tasted shoyu that salty before. The head chef should taste his food. Then I order a cup of soda in a to go cup when it came it was in a regular cup. Then on top of that I ordered 3 side orders of meat Jun to go same time as our food. 35 min later when I go up to pay it's not ready. Are they under new ownership or management? Staff needs training they have no personalities.
(1)G T.
Beware! Ordered 8 chicken and BBQ meat combo and 5 of us got sick the next day. Not going back here!
(1)Darren I.
Not recommended. Several of my co-workers and myself got really sick from eating the chicken from this place. I will never go back.
(1)Sunshine S.
My family and I have been coming here for over 20 years. They ALWAYS have great food at low prices. I live in Los Angeles and visit family in Hawaii once in a while. This is a must-stop place for me (this and the Aloha Bowl Flea Market). Even the staff is the same as 20 years ago. The best is the kalbi plate. Kalbi with anything!
(5)Fishscandi L.
This place has some really good Korean food and service. I was on my way back from the N Shore and my fam and I were looking for some good authentic, cultural tasting food that was cost efficient. Came on Olive around the corner from my Grams and saw this lil spot with people dining and ordering take out. My aunt said she would treat us all to lunch (as the prices were reasonable). She ordered us the Korean bbq beef and Korean bbq chicken served with rice, sprout salad, and a side of the mac- potato salad. The food was great and fed the 4 of us with leftovers to take home. The price for the 2 plates came to $15, which is an amazing prices in Hawaii. I will be back, when I return again from the mainland. Thanks Dong Yang Inn for your service and delicious food.
(4)Sharde A.
Every time I come visit family the first thing I eat is Dong Yang takeout meat jun! It is so yummy I even dream about it when I'm back in the big D because obviously we don't have it here since it's not traditional Korean fare. I've had meat jun at other places but this one is by far the best. Like others have said, I think it's the sauce, it's magical. Also for some reason I feel like it's better takeout instead of dine in. Maybe there's something special about that foam box or it appears like there's just a bit more to eat. It'll be a mystery to me, hope this place never goes away!
(5)Marie M.
We ordered Dong Yang and it was good! I wasn't overly impressed but will definitlly will be ordering again when we want Korean food. We had the bbq chicken, bi bim bop, japchae and mandu, all very tasty! I just wish they had a Bulgogi plate and traditional mandu, the ones we had weren't quite like I'm used to. But, overall, good.
(3)Qin M.
Not really traditional korean food but tasted good! I ordered bibimbop and the sauce was too spicy for me. I suggest not mix the sauce all up. The meat jun tasted good, serving with rice vegi and macaroni. Dish size is too large for a lady, I had much left over. The price is fair. A casual place to have informal meal.
(4)Janell D.
Meat jun always on point at Dong Yang. We always get a party tray of meat jun for family gatherings. It's always a hit at parties being the first thing gone. We ordered same day 4 hours before pick up and it was nicely wrapped waiting for me in their warmer. Winner winner Meat Jun dinner.
(5)Tongu K.
Beat meat jun on the island! The meat is twice as thick as anywhere else and at least three time as tender. Also has enough flavor to carry itself without saucing. For some reason everywhere is making terrible meat jun, even the usual top 3. The fish jun is also very juicy. The chicken katsu is fairly unique also, with a nice puffy batter. The BBQ chicken was on the hard side, beat to skip that and the spicey pork was slacking in flavor. Stick with the juba here and you'll be golden.
(4)Randy I.
Dong Yang!!!! What happened??!!!! Are you under new ownership? New management? I ordered the standard 2 meat jun plates (to go) for dinner tonight. First thing I noticed were the new faces behind the counter. Hmmm. Friendly with big smiles. Maybe they're revamping the customer experience thing. Okay cool. Next thing was the wait. I waited a whole 8 minutes before I got my 2 plates!!! What! If there's one thing I know about Dong Yang, it's meat jun plates ready in thirty seconds. Lol!!! If you frequent this place, I think you know what I mean. Third thing was the aroma or lack there of. My wife actually pointed it out. I get in the car, start driving home and nothing. No mouth-watering smells from the plastic wrapped present that sat on my lap. The plastic bag never had that affect before. Weird. My wife was certain she couldn't smell our food. I probably believed her, but I convinced myself that I could. Oh no could this be? Does this mean what I think it means? So we get home and we dig in to what looks like a meat jun plate from Dong Yang, and then I notice the fourth thing. It doesn't taste the same :( aiyaiyai. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but something's different. Have a gone crazy? Am I alone on this one? Well the wife already agrees so I guess not. Someone please confirm.
(2)Doris D.
Excellent cheap eats option in Wahiawa. I got a massive 2-choice plate for $9 which fed me for 3 days! The meat jun is really the best - believe the hype! The fried mandu is doughy fried goodness. The atmosphere is definitely something to be desired and could turn off folks who prefer a spotless establishment. Recommended if you're in the area.
(4)Tiana I.
I grew up in Wahiawa. So DUH! Garenz I would love the meat jun here. It's just so rib-stickingly gooooood. If you're coming here for more "traditional" Korean food, get outta town! This is DONG YANG. Home of the massive local-style meat jun plate lunch. Guaranteed to make you kanak, and sleep until tomorrow. I usually order the meat jun and/or the mandoo plate. Yes, I'll order 2 plates. One for eating right away, and the other for eating after I awake from my food coma that the other one caused (don't you judge me!). I love the mandoo here. It's so different, and actually homemade. Definitely take out if you're a townie or with friends who require "atmosphere." No can handle like us Wahiawa natives.
(4)M M.
The best meat jun on the island. The restaurant itself is ghetto but don't let that scare you away. The best bet is to phone order your food then pick up and eat somewhere else.
(4)Andrew S.
Eaten there for years growing up on the North Shore. My mom worked at Kamehameha and would drive through Wahiawa and bring Dong Yang home to us for dinner. She first took us when we were probably three or four years old. Back then they had a TV at every table but often times it didn't work, but either way, we'd play with the buttons and munch on the kimchi. The staff have rarely changed for the past 20 years and they are always just the friendliest people My favorite things at Dong Yang includes the Meat Jun, the Korean sushi and the Fish Jun. Every discounts with these delectable kimchi & pickled vegetables including cucumbers, radish and bran sprouts. I love that basically every table is a booth.
(5)Erin D.
I've been coming to Dong Yang since I was a kid. My parents have been coming here since it opened. I would have gladly given this five stars if it weren't for last night's horrible service. We were the second group to come in. The restaurant was pretty much empty. The young waitress promptly brought us waters, kim chee, and soup (chicken broth). So far so good. More people started coming in, taking their seats. But we didn't receive menus for at least fifteen to twenty minutes. It wasn't even that busy, so I'm not sure why it was taking so long. She was serving other people who came in after us. There were people who were getting their food before we even got our menus! We had to ask her to bring us menus after she came to our table to drop off secret sauce for the meat jun we didn't even order yet. We already knew what we wanted but it was the principle. She brought us our menus finally, and we looked through it and confirmed what we wanted. However, we had to wait ANOTHER twenty minutes to actually have our orders taken. My brother-in-law had to go up to another worker and ask her if she could take our orders. She came over right away and took them. The wait for our food was short, so that's good. I was just really disappointed with our waitress. Every time I've come here, the cool ladies who were here since it opened were always courteous and helpful. This one, however, I was not happy with at all. She wasn't even apologetic. I'll come back again, no doubt. I just hope this girl isn't working when I come in.
(2)Theophilus L.
Dong Yang has the best meat jun on the island hands down. So if you're in the mood for some meat jun dong Yang is the place to be.
(5)Jason M.
best meat jun in the universe! weird thing is, i dont even like meat jun. It's seriously better than most bbq places. Youngs meat jun is 2nd best, but doenst even come close to dong yangs! The chkn katsu is pretty good t here too. Only thing bad about this place is the bathroom.... dont use it, even to pee. it's pretty nasty. That's why i gave 5 stars instead of 6... haha
(5)Sally H.
I LOVE this place - have for decades. If you are looking for ambiance, you might want to skip Dong Yang's as I am not sure if they have replaced any fixtures in over 30 years. However, if you are more interested in outstanding "local" Korean food, then this is the place for you. The meat jun is stellar, the tempura is incredible and I can't get away from this place without a fix of spicy pork (to go after I eat something else)! Great kim chee, plenty of it ... All at an incredibly reasonable price! Really, really, really worth it.
(5)Sheryl N.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Meat Junnnnnnnnnn! Wonderful, wonderful meat jun. Definitely the best on the island, and you cannot beat the portions. They give a massive amount that would make you kanak at the end of the plate (if you finish it, you can probably have this for lunch and dinner!) They have thick cuts of meat which tastes amazeballzzz. I haven't tried anything else yet, but I'll explore later and inform you folks :) I haven't eaten inside of the restaurant yet, always did take out. There's additional parking in the back, if you can't or don't want to park in the front. Ch-ch-check it out if you love meat jun!
(5)Anthony C.
Great food bad service. Went with a friend to Dong Yang because I was a loyal customer. A friend recommended this spot as the best Korean BBQ years ago. Now as a local i'm used to discrimination from restaurants. Im used to waitresses assuming im not going to tip well because im from the islands. Most times I look past it and don't discredit that for my normal tip of 20%. Here at Dong Yangs I entered the restaurant and stood at the door way waiting for a table. It didn't look too busy however a friend and I stood there about 5 minutes waiting for some type of recognition or showing to a table. Then an older Caucasian male walks in and as soon as he enters this worker walks right past my friend and I and shows this man along with some friends to a table. I tell my friend let's get out of this poor excuse for a restaurant and we leave. Now normally I would just forget about the restaurant and never go back (Not what im doing now by giving this restaurant a bad review.). However, about a month after a person who frequents my workplace told me his mother was recently treated the same way. Only his mother didn't just up and leave. She gave the waitress a piece of her mind and apparently the police got involved. LOCALS stay way from this restaurant. The only thing they cook well is hatred for the locals.
(1)Mary B.
Hands down the BEST Meat Jun on the island. I think it's in the sauce they make for the Meat Jun. GOOD STUFF! Been eating at Dong Yang since my childhood days. I do recommend taking out. Service isn't all that great. Seat yourself and at time you may even have to clear the table, wipe it down, then sit. Same ladies that worked there forever and they recognize us when we go there but still... no special treatment lol. Plan on drinking only one glass of water because once they give you the food they do not come back. They are ok with you getting up and refilling your own water, gabbing an extra plate or napkin, then taking a take out box for left overs. :) Just a tip... Go to Dong Yang for the food... not the service. It's not horrible but the service is as the restaurant looks... ghetto :) 4 stars because that's how much I love their Meat Jun!!
(4)Janine S.
I love meat jun, I was looking forward to trying it here since there were so many good reviews. Maybe we caught it on a bad day? It didn't taste that great. Barely any flavor. The fried mandoo was ok, but mushy filling on the inside. Also the kalbi I ordered came out cold, w/ little meat, mostly bone & fat. WTF? idk. Not impressed. Only good thing I can say was that the portion big w/ a lot of rice. Sorry, you can catch me at Soons!
(2)Nicole K.
meat jun plate? yes please. they give so much food too. thought i was gonna burst after finishing the plate. but their meat jun is really good. so tasty and sweet. i also like getting their soups. their kalbi is also really good. i like sweet meat, so their kalbi really hits the spot. parking in the back is kind of scary at night, but we usually park in the mcdonald's parking lot and walk over. lol. there's also parking in the front...if you can find a stall.
(5)Olivia D.
My friends weren't kidding--this is by far the best meat jun on the island. I don't even like meat jun and I was hooked on this one. In fact, as far as local Korean food goes, Dong Yang is the best. As far as ambiance, don't expect more than a plain hole in the wall joint with casual service. The cheap, enormous and surprisingly delicious portions more than make up for the decor. Who cares when you're stuffing your face anyway? Why is their meat jun so awesome? The meat is marinated (but not overly marinated like the bulgogi at Yummy's or Pearl's) and it isn't sliced paper thin, which ruins the texture (think Soons in Salt Lake--meat frozen, then sliced so thin its unrecognizable). The batter is light and crisp. There isn't a lot of gristle. The meat is juicy and tender. Who knew meat jun could be so tasty?! I also ordered some fried mandoo and it was homemade and really good. I was expecting those itty bitty store-bought frozen ones so this was a plus. The banchan was local-style--beansprouts, head cabbage kimchee, won bok kimchee--and nothing spectacular. The meals also come with a bowl of clear chicken broth soup. I convinced my boyfriend to drive there after a long day playing at Shark's Cove. It totally hit the spot as a post beach meal. If it weren't such a drive from town, I'm sure I'd be eating there a lot more. People pay way more than this for mediocre fast food from places like Yummy's and Pearl's. You definitely get your money's worth and your tummy's worth at Dong Yang!
(4)Lyanna R.
Best meat jun on the island! The meat is so soft and the sauce is so delicious! It was worth the drive! Whenever I crave meat jun I have to go there. They do phone orders so I usually call on my way there.
(4)Donna Lyn B.
Before I walk that "Green Mile", my last meal will be a plate of Dong Yang's Meat "Chun"/Jun. I've eaten Meat Jun from many restaurants, but Dong Yang's got my heart and my stomach forever and always. Dining in, why wouldn't you love: - tangy and spicy kim chee to snack on while you wait for you food - hot broth with shreds of egg and bits of green onion to warm up your tummy for... - yummy yummy MEAT "CHUN" piled on a bed of rice and surrounded by side orders of bean sprouts, pickled cucumbers, and mac salad - syrup dispensers filled with Meat Jun saucey goodness to soak everything on your plate Don't like the parking, the bathroom, the limited number of booths? Boo hoo! Take your precious "stars" and go cry to the other Korean food chains about that. For me and all the die-hard Dong Yang repeat customers and fans, we can't sing enough praises about this small town restaurant that's fed generations after generations with delicious food at affordable prices. No frills or gimmicks. Just the hearty and generous Korean food that satisfies.
(5)Alice N.
Whenever my hubby and I go for a drive to the north shore over the weekend we tend to stop at Dong Yang's for the meat jun. The restaurant itself is old and run down, a real hole in the wall type of place. I never had any problems with the food there just the other menu offerings are not that good. Chicken can be a bit dry and overcooked, bibim kooksoo has no flavor. I really only enjoy the meat jun, fried shrimp, and mandoo. Shoot for those three you wont regret it.
(4)Lndn O.
Extremely BAD SERVICE during lunch hours.
(1)Moni Y.
Nationally famous Korean BBQ, meat jun and Kalbi. I say that because I actually meet people there from the outer islands and mainland that say they have to come to Dong Yang whenever they're on Oahu. Also, many locals that move away say this is MUST VISIT spot on return trips home to Oahu. They're a great value for the money. Portions are very generous, but I'll let you all know now, on our recent visit 1 1/2 weeks ago the meat portions were all considerably smaller than we had ever seen (but still a good amount.) I always share a plate of meat jun with 1 of my kids, I cannot eat the whole thing. The food is always tasty and you get a yummy, but simple beef broth soup and 2 small dishes of Kim chee when you DINE IN ONLY. I love phoning in my order on the way Into Wahiawa and picking up. I warn you, this is what most people do and the wait to pay & pickup can be 15 minutes or more at lunch or dinner time. I think they have more phone orders than dine in customers. Servers aren't friendly and smiley, but I've never been treated rough, meanly or rudely either. They just look tired. I guess I would be if I had to work there too. I smile and say hello when I see them and they know me well enough to give a small smile back. Service is pretty good dining in, no long waits. They take credit cards and the minimum to charge is $10, easy to spend there. Oh and you have to stand up and to go the register to pay at the end of your meal. You are not given a check. Now to the cons. Well, they're not the cleanest place. Growing up in Hawaii I can eat at a dirty hole in the wall joint and not care, but I know many of you cannot so I'm being honest for your sake. On our last visit, 2 of us had small hairs in our rice (me being one of them), but I pulled it out and kept eating. I'm Asian and was raised not to complain so I didn't. And to be honest,that's kinda how I see Dong Yang. yeah, there may be a hair in the rice, so what? My kids occassionally find my hair in their dinner at the table at home. It happens, but rarely. As long as its not pubes, I don't care. And the floors dont always look too clean. It's really old and outdated. This is the same furniture that was there when I was a kid. But the tables are cleaned and I haven't seen a roach there for many years. (some of you are disgusted, but just telling the truth again.) Sometimes you walk in and it just smells so greasy. Meat jun is fried so it happens. I'm also pretty sure they use MSG. How I know is that my fingers are swollen and sometimes have a headache after eating there. I eat in moderation and quit when I feel it coming on. My family really enjoys the food so we're gonna keep going anyway. We can personally recommend the meat jun(Chun) BBQ Meat, BBQ chicken and Kalbi.
(4)Trevor T.
Good meat jun and HUGE portions. Whenever I'm passing through Wahiawa I swing by DY's. The good part about their meat jun, other than the portions, is that the meat is cut thick and has a great flavor. Get some! The parking is tight right in front, but McD's has a giant parking lot across the street. Just park there and walk over. If you like meat jun, you'll like DYs!
(4)Lauren S.
After a long day at the beach, there's only one thing I want for dinner: Dong Yang! This has been a family tradition for as long as I can remember...so when my husband (then boyfriend) told me he never tried the meat chun here, we dropped everything and made our way here. The portions here are huge and the quality....always exceptional! I could tell after the first bite, he was hooked, and now he craves their meat chun and kimchi at least once a week. One day we placed a phone order on our way back from the beach, but because of an accident on Kamehameha Highway...it took us about 30 minutes to get there...When we gave our name, the woman at the counter informed us that our plates had been out too long, so they threw it away and would make us a fresh one. I felt so bad about the wasted food, but they were so great to make sure we didn't receive food that they weren't proud of. Things to remember: They accept credit cards now for orders over $10.00 Ask for extra meat chun sauce (an extra....25 or 50 cents...but pour some over your rice, and it is awesome)
(5)Derrick P.
Been eating here since before I was born im 24 now and still eat here all the time dong yang thank you for so many years of the best meat jun
(5)Miriam G.
Oh my after reading the reviews my love and I decided to go there and ugghh to my starving tummys despair my tummy was not happy and the food was not enticing either but we attempted to eat it and I could not bring my self to finish my meal.. then nor the day after so.. this place deserves a 1/2 a star only because it was close to the house.. yuk!!!! If your ever on this side of town .. honolulu Sam Delicatessen is the bomb.. and yes u can tell its eggs..
(1)Brooke P.
After a long day at dole then at north shore this was the perfect way to end a long day. They were pretty busy and considering there was one waitress the service was really good. This was by far my favorite meat jun I've tried on this island & ive tried several. For the price the portion is crazy huge ! I got the meat jun and mandoo and my family ordered different combo plates so I basically sampled the whole menu trying different things and munching off their plates. If u like Korean or meat jun. this place will not disappoint. Come hungry and you will definitely be stuffed !
(4)Marnica B.
This has been my go-to place for years! Savory, flavorful, melt in your mouth meat jun. I don't recall ordering anything else off the menu. Usually opt for take out before heading down to north shore. Once you've had their meat jun you won't want meat jun from anywhere else!
(5)Jack W.
Went there after reading all the reviews about how awesome the meat "chun" was and well it's not all what it's hyped up to be. Wrong style cabbage for the kimchee, Mac Salad was not up to par from Mac salad I've had here on island, rice sucked, sides where horrible, for the price I was disappointed and expected more out of this place just from previous reviews....
(2)Michael D.
I've heard about Dong Yang Inn for years from my coworkers as having the BEST Meat Jun on the island. But for me, driving out to Wahiawa (from Waianae) just to eat Meat Jun wasn't appealing to me even though they claimed it wasn't the best. Fast forward to this year when I finally gave in and made the trek out to Dong Yang to try out their infamous Meat Jun (or Meat Chun, as listed on their menu). I was very surprised (and pleased) that Dong Yang Inn is the type of Korean restaurant that serves up complimentary side dishes prior to your meal. I'm talking about the korean style broth, kim chee, etc. And before I could even finish all that was brought out to our table, the Meat Chun plate was delivered. At first glance, it didn't seem like much. Rice, mac salad, and more Korean style vegetables and the meat chun itself. What I didn't anticipate was the amount of meat chun piled on each other. Granted, you will rarely see me leaving the table with food still on my plate. Dong Yang Inn is an exception to that. Bottom line, Dong Yang Inn has THE best Meat Chun I have ever tasted. Period. There are many places out there that I need that Meat Jun sauce poured all over the place for flavor. This was not the case at Dong Yang. Not a single drop of sauce went anywhere near my plate due to the fact that their Meat Chun by itself was flavorful enough for me. Interesting enough though ... my second trip to Dong Yang I ended up trying their sauce and what it did was it enhanced the flavor of their Meat Chun. Honestly, you should eat there twice ... once with and once without. For me, it was like two different experiences. Both were memorable and pleasurable. I've been to Dong Yang about 10 times in the past few months. A few of them were take-out and the portions (and taste) are pretty much identical. Believe me when I say that I haven't gone to any other Korean food place ever since Dong Yang.
(5)Michelle M.
TONS of food. Meat Jun?? Guess they have that!?! Heard it's the best on the Island!?! Chicken Broth??? Guess they have that too!?!? Guess it's supposed to be deliciously simple and clean flavored!?! The Kim Chi?? WOW! So good.... Yes, all of the rumors about the Meat Jun are true. The dish is delish...tender, flavorful, nice and juicy. Perfect with the dipping sauce. The Chicken Broth...ummmm, not so much. No flavor whatsoever. Kinda made me sad :( But the bottomless Kim Chi cleared the gloom and brought sunshine back into my life...ok, Im exaggerating. but yeah, the Kim Chi was pretty damn good! Wish the place had better service...the old Ale's working were too busy tsismissing to pay attention. And if you asked them for something, they were kind of annoyed. OH well...next time I do go, it will be take out! PS. Kim Chi Jigae was delicious...but when we asked for NO MEAT, they gave extra meat. WTF?
(3)Doug F.
Another home run......This place is old skool vibe with great meat joon, fish joon, squid joon and fried mandoo. I haven't been here in 7 years and it hasn't missed a beat.
(4)Michael B.
Grouchy waitresses (fast service), sticky tables and a slightly funny smell coming from the kitchen. Either way, this is the best damn Meat Chun (Jun) ever!!!
(4)Eph L.
My all-time favorite place to grind if you hungry! Or even after a meal! Gotta try the Meat Jun or Meat Chun, same difference! Amd dont forget to Bi Bim Bap!
(5)Cheryl R.
It's a local place To eat at. Meat Chun is really great that's what I always order. Just order take out. When my family and I eat dine in we always have the worst customer service I have ever experience . I have called the manager complaining about one if the waitress. He responded that I wasn't the only one .. And he has spoken to her but it's still the same . I don't think they wash there hands or sanitize there hands when serving us . I have notice they take our I order. Issue are drinks, utensils , and soup . Then they start wiping tables and and taking dishes to the back . Then serve us our food. I just pray that I don't get sick from the germs they have on there hands . Don't even go there past 8pm they tell you we close at 9pm and eat your food before then . Before you drink your glass of water just make sure you check it. I always find something floating in there . And I never have ice in my cup what's wrong with that picture . Everyone else has and i would ask for a cup and they get mad . The waitress are not happy at all , just be careful they speak in philipino and you don't know if they are talking about you.
(1)Reuben W.
If your hungry and just need to fill your belly then I guess, but yummy's is so much better. How come the fish jun and meat jun is brown. Fresh fish jun and meat jun made with fresh eggs is supposed to be yellow. Flavorless food I won't be going back.
(1)Darren N.
If possible try to sit down inside and eat. They start you off with a egg type of soup and two different kinds of Kim chee (Won Bok & Regular cabbage) for free. Prices are always good compared to something similar on the outside. Ordered a chicken katsu meat jun combo and a regular meat jun and the total came out to $17.50. Meat jun is best I've eaten anywhere. The Aunty's that work there are always nice. If your ever down in Wahiawa or gonna make a trip to the north shore you should definitely try this place at least once.
(4)Jeremy J.
Another satisfied customer. The meat jun is simply AMAZING. I have also ordered the Dong Yang special which is pretty good as well. The servings are more than enough. Only reason it gets 4 stars is because the sit-in restaurant itself is decent, but I don't really eat in anyway. Take out orders are made lightning fast. I placed an order for their meat jun AND Dong Yang special and it was ready within eight minutes. I was like whatttttttttttttttttttt. Overall, the dishes I've had were amazing. The sides included with the plates are also pretty good.
(4)Sunny D.
We've been coming here for as long as I can remember...and that's a looong time! Okay so it's old and not the cleanest place and they sure could use refurbishing but the food is very good. We usually get the Meat Jun plate which includes equivalent to about 4-5 scoops of rice, a healthy portion of meat loaded on top the rice, sides of kim chee, bean sprouts, pickled cabbage and cucumber. One plate usually is enough for mom and I to share OR my teenage son. The meat jun is tasty and the sauce they include makes it even better! That said, guess I've been fortunate that whenever I've gone there the meat jun does not have the "old oil" taste as another yelper mentioned. So if you are able to look past the dive-hole look of the place, the meat jun plate is very good and you'll get enough for a large appetite!
(4)Lauren C.
I usually hate going out to Wahiawa because the area is just so depressing. The town itself is super run down and I feel like I'm going into the ghettos every time we come through. I was surprised that this little Korean restaurant in the middle of nowhere was so good! We usually drop by to pick up take out and my boyfriend loves the food so much he takes the long drive out just for the meat jun. I love the zucchini jun here. The egg batter is fried to perfection and the sauce makes the zucchini extra delicious. I usually just get a side order of the zucchini along with a box of Korean sushi. Their man doo is really good too. I was so eager to eat my zucchini jun that I burnt the part underneath my tongue as I tried to take a steaming hot bite of food. My mouth is still sore as I type this!
(4)Trisha T.
On my last visit home, my dad would not shut up about Dong Yang Inn. Fine, they supposedly have the best meat jun on the island and I LOVE meat jun like a love song, baby. So I tried it. I thought it was DELICIOUSO. I took my first bite and had no words. So. Damn. Good. Total hole in the wall, barely any parking, scary sounding kitchen, but the food makes up for it.
(5)Kristy K.
I love this place. The food is awesome and the price is just right. It use to be cheaper before but I guess times are tough, but still its a good price. I like to eat the mean jun. Its not skinny like most korean places, its a little thicker. But the sauce...DELICIOUS!!! The guy said that for years people have been trying to make it but no one can. Haha! The Kalbi there is also good. Its big bone kalbi and its worth the price! The veges there are ok. The kimchee that comes with the meal is cabbage but if you ask for won bok they have it. Its still not the best kimchee, normally its very fresh. I like sour kimchee. Other veges they have are bean sprouts, cucumbers and watercrest. If you ask...they also have mac salad. Although I love this place, I have to say...for someone who hasn't been here before, its pretty ghetto. Its not the cleanest place and the bathroom...I'd rather pee in a bottle in my car. But yes, If you have never been here...IT'S A MUST!!! Oh and if you call in an order, sometimes a lady will answer and only say, "Dong Yang, what you like?" LOL!!!
(4)Kim A.
I'm not gonna lie, the meat jun is SOOO GOOD!! My husband refuses to let me see the inside of this restaurant (maybe for good reason?), so we always get take-out. He thinks that I'll probably not want to come here anymore once I step in there. Pretty sure it can't be THAT bad, but I do like clean (ok maybe I'm kind of really anal about cleanliness....but who isn't??) Anyway, I'd like to think I'm a big eater. My husband is more of a "mini-plate" type of person. We always order the Meat Jun and Spicy Pork combo. It's filling enough for the both of us to actually be full (that's a buttload of rice they give!!! Then again, that's a buttload of EVERYTHING they give!! IT'S THE PERFECT AMOUNT!! perfect. My only complaint is that they don't have my favorite sides: cucumber kimchee, korean pancake, shoyu tofu and shoyu potatoes.... sadly, because of this, it's enough to deter me away to someplace else that have the sides that I want. I'm okay with not seeing inside. I like their food. :) It's one of the good things I look forward to eating ever since we moved from town. Nothing used to beat Korean food in town...but Dong Yang comes real close (the mystery of their interior bothers me a little, but I'll live).
(4)Darren N.
Getting there: Way out in Wahiawa and there isn't much parking out in front of the restaurant. Ambiance: The diner, though not obviously dirty on the tables, is very cluttered and doesn't appear clean. The building itself just seems "well-used", to say the least. Service: Water levels filled. Food: Being the first time I ate here, but I think I've had catered take out before, I had to try the legendary meat jun, often touted to be very soft and chewy-fat free. I confirmed what I heard first hand. The meat jun was good, though wasn't the hottest when I received the plate. They also give a generous amount of meat jun. They also served a small chicken broth soup before hand which was a surprise. I can't say it looked appetizing with the small shred of scrambled egg in modestly warm liquid but the flavor was there. Verdict and Takeaway: The meat jun here is cooked just like any other Korean take out place but the difference here is how they prep it. There is no chewy cut to speak of and when you eat meat jun, that is the worst part and this place makes the effort to remedy that. No complaints on the price nor portion size. My only suggestion would be that they could make the meal a bit healthier by adding more veggies. Take out Korean places tend to allow you many veggie options. Side note, unrelated to this review: I just realized that diners don't always check with their customers on the quality of the food like other normal sit down restaurants. The next time you eat at a diner, keep that in mind and hopefully one day a diner will surprise us. I'm also going to keep in mind the hotness of the food (if it is a hot dish), as normal restaurants make an effort to serve food to all guests simultaneously and fresh/hot. No plate is left to rest to become room temperature.
(3)Ryan I.
Dong Yang has been around for AGES, and the food has been consistently good!! If you dine in, you get a small bowl of chicken soup, and some kim chee. My fave is, like everyone else says, the meat jun! It's really good here, and different from most places. The batter is thinner than that really thick, bready coating at other places. I suspect that they use less flour in the batter - it seems like just eggs. The flavor is perfect. I also really love the mac / potato salad - the texture is perfect. The other ponchon (sp?) is great as well. I've also had the kal bi, bbq chicken, and kim chee chi ge here, and they're all really good. Best Korean restaurant ever, IMO! Yelp 365 Challenge #9/365
(5)Ed K.
One word.. Salt lick. Three items were ordered in my party.. Meat jun and BBQ chicken combo BBQ Chicken plate Mandoo soup. I don't know how this comes up as a Korean restaurant. I ordered the meat Jun and BBQ chicken combo and the chicken was heavily salted with no Korean seasoning. The meat Jun was edible. The person that ordered the Mandoo soup said that it seemed the wrapper on the mandoo was too thick and the flavoring.. was non traditional.. Upon asking it was made from chicken, beef, and pork. Traditionally this is normally made form pork and kimchee which I attribute to its lack of flavor. This place used to be one of my favorite eating places, but now I probably won't go anymore.
(1)Lily B.
YUM YUM!!! I'm partial to their meat jun... THICK slices of beef and egg cooked PERFECTLY... and the sauce... I don't know what they put in it but it's AWESOME!!! I normally don't eat mayo but their potato/mac salad is BOMB!!! The mayo taste is VERY light and it's not heavy or thick... it's the only place I'll eat potato or mac salad!! My boyfriend likes the kalbi... it's not your regular tiny kal bi short ribs, it's a thicker cut with a bigger bone. It's marinated and it tastes sweet but tangy at the same time... yum!!! They heap on a lot of food, sad to say not as much as before, but then again the economy took a turn so it's understandable, but the money is well worth it!!!
(5)Pati O.
Not the best or the cleanest, but I do keep going back for lack of better nearby. I don't have any complaints and know what to expect.
(3)Grant S.
First place I eat when I come home from the mainland. If I get into town too late, I have my parents pick me up a takeout order just so I can have it first thing. So my dad introduced me to Dong Yang as a kid cuz he grew up in Wahiawa. I loved this place from day 1. Starting with the soup, always hot and a good start to the meal, and the pickled veggies, soooooo good. GET THE MEAT JUN. Best on the island. hands down. My favorite is the meat jun / chicken katsu combo plate, so filling, so good. The meat jun is so tender with sizable cuts of meat and goes perfect with the sauce. The katsu is so juicy and flavorful. Sooo good. 5 stars.
(5)Kristen C.
I've been meaning to come here and since I was craving for some meat jun I decided Id give theirs a try. I came around 1130 and there was only 4 other diners there so wasnt crowded at all. I ordered my meat "chun" plate as the call it for $7.75, no tax :). After ordering, the lady just went to the back and pulled up a plate, no wait at all. I was surprised and in my mind I was thinking...um how long has this been sitting out. So, I went to my car opened it up and it was still fairly hot, so maybe it was someone else's order and they just gave it to me thinking that they can whip up another one until that person comes by to pick it up. Idk but lucky for me since I didnt have to wait ;). Even when I got home, all the way to royal kunia, it was still warm and the outside was still fairly crisp. The meat "chun" is very meaty with a thick slice of beef, compared to other places where it thinner. Theres 2 layers of meat thats cut into bite size pieces so thats a nice touch. Upon first bite, it was flavorful and moist and more on the sweeter side. The sauce is also pretty good and kicks up the meat "chun" another notch but i've tasted a better sauce elsewhere. It also comes with "4" sides, a lot of kimchee, some cabbage and some bean sprouts and just a few slivered slices of cucumber, hence the "4." They sides were all good and tasty. Overall a really good meat jun that i'd come back for.
(4)Ramfis B.
Ok Yelpies, after hearing how good the Korean food is here, i decided to give this place a try. So after me and my Mi-chan were seated getting ready to eat, the waitress gave us two ice waters. Now as i grab my ice water, my hands start to slide down the glass as if they didn't wash the glass properly. So i skipped the ice water because i don't trust something that is greasy and not washed thoroughly. Now after ordering, i had the Meat Jun which is just ok in my opinion and here was the clincher. When the waitress served my Mi-chan's Kalbi Plate, one of the Kalbi slipped off the plate and on to the table. Thinking she would take that piece back and give my Mi-chan a new one, guess what she does? She puts the piece of fallen Kalbi right back on the plate. Me and my Mi-chan looked at each other in amazement as she did this. I couldn't even take another bite of my food as both out appetites just went out the window. I just shook my head in disgust after seeing your waitress just pick up that piece of Kalbi with her barehands and put it right back on the plate. In my 23 years in the food industry, this place just goes to show you how classy this place is. I will never,ever, go back here again ever!!!
(1)Lawson L.
From what I hear it's the best place to get Korean food. Can't wait........(= Meat Jun is da BOMB!!! Didn't care for the BBQ Chicken.
(4)Scott K.
Meat Jun...thats what they are known for but im my opinion it was OK. Ive had better but its not bad. Located in Wahiawa on Olive street, this place is not that hard to find. From Kamehameha Highway, turn right on Olive St after the McDonalds and you will see it on your left. The building is run down, but what building isnt in Wahiawa. The inside is typical of Wahiawa in that there is tables, chairs and not high class. It reminds me of a local mom and pop kind of food establishment that has renovated in years. OK back to the Meat Jun. I will give it a thumbs up on the quality of the meat and how its soft and not think and tough like other places. The egg batter has taste and doesn't soak up the oil taste. I do like that they cut the meat. Now the sides that comes with the plate is a different story. It wasnt that good and others in my party thought the same thing. The cucumbers were thin and really salty. The kim chee was of the cheaper quality. It was the cheaper cabbage with just a hint of hot sauce. The spouts was over cooked and not crunchy at all. Why I give it an OK.....the BBQ Chicken was good. It wasnt over marinated or over cooked on the grill. I did request GoChuJung sauce was alright. It almost tasted like it had alittle miso and sugar. It was on the sweeter side verse the hotter size. Maybe I went on a bad day for the Meat Jun so Ill try it one more time and update my review if it does taste better.
(3)Lynnette H.
Best meat jun I've had. Thick tender meat. Really fast service even when the line is long (and the line is often long). Don't leave, you'll get your food in 10-15 mins or less. Try the hot sauce with the meat jun. Really good and unique tasting hot sauce. Different from kochujang. Their wonbok kimchi and kim bap are great too. Pre-packaged to-go!
(4)Anieta C.
This is literally a hole-in-the-wall/mom and pop type place. If you're looking for a high-end type thing, you're in for a rude awakening. I've been coming here with my family since I was a little girl and every time I come I always order the meat jun plate. I am never disappointed with my choice. I've tried other places meat jun (on the island and on the mainland) and none of them compare to this place. The meat jun is good by itself, but with the sauce, it's even better. If you don't like salty then you can try it without the sauce. Sure, the prices have gone up, but what restaurants haven't hiked up their prices because of these hard economic times. If it helps they'll start you off with two small types of kim-chee, cabbage and daikon. Then they'll give you some soup. It's a cross between miso and egg drop soup. Then comes your dish. With every dish comes a huge serving of rice with your meat (which ever one you ordered) and your sides are potato salad (which is really good and wish they would put more than one scoop), diced cucumbers, diced cabbage and bean sprouts. I know for sure, when I go back home, my first stop for some grindz (food) is Dong Yang Inn :)
(4)Dayna T.
Dong Yang is BY FAR my favorite place for Korean food. I always get the meat jun plate. Over the years the plates have gotten smaller (boo) but the meat jun itself has not changed. The meat in the meat jun is not just a small "sliver" of meat like some places, it's a substantial piece. The egg on the outside stay attached to the meat and doesn't completely fall off when you take the first bite. Dong yang also has pickled cucumber as a side for the vegetables. You don't get to choose your veggies like at some Korean restaurants (Yummy BBQ) but still very tasty, you know what you are getting every time. Their kim chee normally tastes fresh (not likes it's from a jar from the super market). Although, out of the way if you live in town, it's definitely worth the stop when on that side of the island.
(5)Mina T.
I like their Meat Chun :) They are pretty thick, juicy, and tasty. Anything else there is alright. They're parking situation is not the best, so you can either park on the street or maybe at McDonald's parking right across the street! Oh yea, it is a little hard to miss, so when you're coming down from town on Kam. Highway, just take the right after McDonald's and it'll be on your left :) Enjoy~
(3)Grant A.
It's been a while since coming to Dong Yang but the food and their signature dish, Meat Jun, has definitely taken a dive. I ordered the meat jun expecting it to be the awesome meat jun from before. I am sad to say it tasted as if they fried it in oil that had not been changed I a LONG time. Needless to say I am pretty bummed out about the quality if the food.
(2)HY L.
I reserve five stars for places with heart and soul. Dong Yang might be the oldest surviving Korean restaurant in Hawaii. Dong opened in 1975 with her sisters from Korea who still run the restaurant today. On my last visit to Oahu, a friend mentioned Dong Yang and raved about their Meat Jun. Meat jun is a Hawaiian Korean dish made with egg battered marinated beef (bulgogi). Koreans are known to "Jun" everything from zucchini to fish for special occasions. At Dong Yang the meat jun is thick and juicy. Probably the thickest meat jun I've ever tasted. I wouldn't be surprised if Wahiawa was the birth place of 'Meat Jun', and 'Dong Yang' the first Korean restaurant to serve it. Over decades, most restaurants evolve for survival and lose the essence of their cuisine. Dong Yang withstood the test of time and survive with loyal clientele. This time capsule is the last "Plantation Style" Korean restaurant. If I time traveled to Dong Yang in 1975, I'd imagine the food and decor exactly the same. Be sure to observe the beautiful historic photos hung on their walls and the biography published by the Honolulu Advertiser near the front. On my next visit, I plan to try the Kalbi dish, as they still butterfly the short ribs (not LA Style Kalbi) and use the original marinade. Perfect stop on the way to or from the North Shore.
(5)Michelle L.
Best Korean Resturant in hawaii in my opinion. Great food for great prices. Always fast service. Grew up eating mondu soup and fish junn.
(5)S M.
It's been over a year or two since we've been here and I refuse to go back. This use to be one of our favorite restaurants till one day we went in for lunch and found fly eggs in our kimchee, yuck! I noticed that they pre made their kimchee side dishes and just left it on the counter before serving to the tables. Not sure if they changed that but I will not go back to find out. When we showed the waitress the fly eggs she didn't even apologize, wow! The other complaint is: like others said the place really needs a good cleaning.
(2)Jill R.
Everyone raves about the meat jun from this place and quite frankly, it sucks. Maybe it was just my order (phoned it in for take out), but it wasn't moist or very tasty. It actually had a very strong pepper taste and was on the drier side. The sauce for the meat jun didn't help either. It was very disappointing. Their kimchee is made with regular cabbage, not Chinese cabbage and it wasn't even spicy. The other vegetable sides were sub-par (bean sprouts, cucumber and more cabbage). The mac salad wasn't that great either. Parking sucks. This place is also VERY DIRTY and the boyfriend and I will not be eating here again.
(2)Kathy N.
Out in Wahiawa, it sure is worth the drive! I've eaten in, but mostly we do a take out! The inside of the restaurant isn't very appealing, and therefore, we do take-out. My favorite is the meat jun!! Big portions of fluffy meat jun that's super yummy!! They have parking in the front thats sort of on a slope and awkward to reverse out. There is parking in the back of the restaurant , and a door that you can enter through.
(4)J A.
Juicy and tender meat jun. My to go plate was completely loaded and had enough for 3 meals. The sides were lacking in flavor and I pushed them aside after tasting them. The barbecue meat lacked flavor.
(3)Joe W.
Seriously, where else would you eat when you're in Wahiawa? Dong Yang is one of those landmark places that you can't drive by without stopping in and just gorging yourself. While famous for their meat jun, their kalbi is also excellent. They've got the preparation of meat jun down to a science. I dare call Dong Yang a meat jun factory because of how quick they can bring out a fresh plate of that stuff. Really affordable and served with a great vinegary dipping sauce. Of course, if you eat the entire plate you'll promptly fall into a coma, so please have paramedics or someone that can drag your body to your house and throw you on the couch standing by. The servers are really nice and attentive. During my most recent visit, they kept refilling my kim chee even though you're only supposed to have that one small plate as an appetizer. I think Dong Yang has something against the letters "b" and "i", because their bibimbap is spelled peepeempap and the same thing happens with their other menu items. So, if you don't recognize something, just swap the b's and p's and i's and e's and you should be fine! The venue leaves something to be desired... I guess if it ain't broke don't fix it? The walls could use a good scrubbing and maybe a couple of coats of paint. Aluminum catering pans adorn the walls in a very abstract way... they look as if they started out as a display for people to see the sizes of the various pans, but they just looked so damn good that they had to put 3 more of the same size up there. This place is so established that I doubt anyone cares what it looks like, as long as they don't change their recipe and good service.
(3)Monica O.
Used to be a favorite destination hole-in-the-wall on the way to North Shore for many years but a recent visit grossed us out. Greasy, salty and a flavor disappointment. The meat jun sauce was still the same great sauce but we all agreed the meats were prepared differently than in the past. No matter how good the sauce it did not mask the disappointment. Maybe the cook was on vacation? or maybe we got them on a bad recipe day.
(2)Kevin C.
Believe the hype! Meat Chun be the bomb... Couldnt eat it all, that doesnt happen often! Be the ball...na na na na na
(4)JJ L.
4 stars for MEAT JUN. I agree with everyone else on the meat jun: magically moist, juicy and crispy ... you don't even need the sauce. Everything else about this place is s(h)eedy. dirty. dirty. dirty. Rude servers -- I don't care if I was dressed like a hobo, you should still treat me like I was driven up in a Rolls Royce (Toyota's cost just as much these days ... right?). dirty. dirty. dirty. I don't know if you've gotten the picture, allow me to help you visualize: This place is dirtier than a rap video filled with big-booty chics vagina-slapping the ground and other vulgarities. Your best bet is to order Meat Jun for take-out, have someone else pick it up, consume said Meat Jun, then prepare your EpiPen and speed dial for your physician just in case you ingest asbestos or cockroach sperm.
(2)Jocy C.
Awesome meat jun & kalbi. Great food for super cheap!! Meat Jun - yelp.com/biz_photos/UIoC… Kalbi - yelp.com/biz_photos/UIoC…
(5)Juan N.
First of all i dont get it why this place has so many four and five star reviews. I'm giving it three just because the meat jun (or chun) is pretty good, otherwise this place is two stars at best. I had the fried mandoo and meat chun combination and the mandoo had a weird taste to it, i think it was freezer burnt or something. The meat chun was very tasty, it was the only thing that tasted good enough to be mentioned. The service was okay and the server was friendlier than I expected. Parking totally sucks and the place seems pretty dirty, i really don't want to imagine how that kitchen looks like. Come here if you want to try the best meat jun around this area, but you should order take-out since the dining area might gross you out.
(3)Lilian N.
I haven't been here in over 10 years, but after reading all the reviews about the meat jun, we just had to give it a try. I have to admit, the meat jun was really good! Tender slices of beef, lightly battered in a tasty egg wash, and fried to perfection without a lot of oil. On the other hand, the shrimp tempura I ordered was pretty disappointing. Overly battered butterflied shrimp that was fried to cardboard-like texture. Look at the pic and you'll get the gist! The kim chee was pretty good, the other veggies were okay, nothing spectacular. I also took home a roll of beef/vegetable korean sushi ($3.50) which was not too bad, but not the greatest either. The sushi rice was a little bland and I didn't see or taste any beef, all I could taste was the vegetables! I've definitely had better korean sushi for under $3. Overall I guess the meat jun would get 4 stars if comparing to other local-Korean joints on the island, but the place is old and pretty dirty so I'm giving a solid 3 stars. Prices are very reasonable for such big portions, bill totaled $16 + tax for two combo plates! Workers were very friendly and I appreciated the warm smile when the waitress approached our table.
(3)Diana S.
I LOVE the food here, but I always order "to go" cause it's not the cleanest place. I honestly feel dirty when I'm there, and not very big so a place for kids that know how to sit still. Parking for people who havent been there is a bit tricky, because its kn the back if the restaurant. The food is amazing though!
(4)Thomas O.
Let's just say the ambience department is something that they don't excel in here in Wahiawa. But Dong Yang show's um what's best with their Meat Jun AKA Meat Chun (on their menu board). I was taken here by my best friend who now lives in New York. She's been going here since she was keiki kine. Now my family always asks me to get Korean from here. My dad seems to like the big-bone kalbi ribs and my mom likes the bbq chicken but the meat jun is the breadwinner hands down. I'm always up for some good Korean food. Even their Korean sushi is delicious...DUH! It's a no-brainer to go here. SRSLY DO IT.
(5)Kerrie C.
I've heard it before that their meat jun was good and I was a skeptic, but after having lunch here with a bunch of co-workers I am now a believer. Yummers! They served a simple dashi style soup and kim chee with our meals that were both delicious, and the service was good. The place is a bit run down and grimy, but most places like that have the best food right?
(4)Lillian H.
If there ever were a gangster restaurant in Hawaii, this would be it. I'm going to admit, I'm a "townie," but seriously? This restaurant was just completely confusing. I walked out baffled. First of all, we went to this restaurant because we heard it's supposed to be good. I am a stickler for cleanliness but this place was downright filthy. I was uncomfortable in our booth because the fabric on the seat was all cracked and I was wearing shorts. I don't know if just having one Korean ajumma running the place qualifies it as a Korean restaurant. I guess the food is supposedly Korean but every person working there was not Korean. Our waitress couldn't even speak basic English. Of course I looked on Yelp before ordering, so I got the meat jun. Very mediocre. Really greasy. Definitely had better. Our daughter got duk kook (Korean rice cake soup). Also very mediocre and I think they used the wrong broth. My mom's is 1492489 times better. They don't give any banchan (side dishes)!!! What kind of Korean restaurant doesn't give out banchan?!! They only gave us kimchee (which was won bok kimchee, aka not the real kimchee that Koreans give out). They gave us a little cabbage and bean sprouts on our plates with the food (blehhh). Only the combo plates came with any mac salad. It was overall just a very uncomfortable experience. We couldn't communicate with our waitress. There were flies zooming around our food so I was constantly swatting them away. The cap for the take out bowl was dirty. At one point, there were two homeless men in the take out line. And what is that chicken broth they give you?? It's just plain ol chicken broth! It's not even Korean? All you have to do is boil canned chicken broth at home! We definitely won't be going back. Everybody looked at us funny. Probably because we don't look like we're from the "country" even though my boyfriend and his mom lived there for many years in the past.
(1)Allegro V.
What's happened to Dong Yang? Don't order take out. Very small portions with tons of rice. Flavorless and unappealing. Used to always order out but no more; tiny take out containers. Kal Bi had only one piece of rib. Hot pork had only two pieces and totally no taste. Never again! Junk!
(1)Steven K.
Have been going there for years and it was our favorite, but lately, the service has been poor and declining. The food isnt as good as it use to be. The meat jun is tough and the egg coating wont stay on. The kalbi is still good.
(2)Sherilyn O.
I love this place! The Meat Jhun is the best on the island. It's a good reason to travel to Wahiawa wherever you are!
(5)Kimmy T.
Our family that lives in Hawaii told us this place has the best Meat Jun, so we had to try it. Since we're from the Mainland, we haven't tried too many Meat Jun places but I can say this place was so good. The food we ordered was amazing. My sister-in-law said that ladies that work there are usually kinda rude, so that's expected. She also recommended taking our food to go because the restaurant is kinda dirty looking. So dirty restaurant and rude service but the Meat Jun is to die for!
(5)Lianne A.
I usually make a stop at this place whenever I am in the area or if I'm ever having some mean meat chun cravings. Today was one of those days i drove from Aiea to wahiawa just to get me a plate of meat chun which was roughly around $7. 25. Which I think is worth it. Every time I go I see the same friendly old Filipino lady at the counter. There's a private lot in the front and back of the place. I always park in the back lot because there is a back door into the restraunt. And if you can't find parking then you can always park across the street and walk. They give a lot in which I usually find myself satisfied. I do not like to dine in because it seems kind of dark. Almost always I take out. Best type of food to eat on a family picnic. Hands down the best take out meat chun plate on the island.
(4)Tim B.
I love this place. I have been working in Wahiawa for about a year and a half and I try to eat here once a week. Very Low Key , the service is good and the food is great! They are famous for their Meat Jun, but the spicy pork is also awesome, and the Kim chee is great as well.
(4)josh v.
Shame on every other Korean BBQ restaurants. Take a lesson from Dong Yang. This is how meat jun is supposed to be made!!! Thick, crispy on the outside, milky inside and packed will flavor. The meat jun sauce adds another level to the magnificent taste of the meat jun. Not your typical Korean BBQ place where you order 4 vegetable sides but the bean sprouts and kim chee are awesome! The downside to this place is the parking. There are only a few stalls and if you were lucky to get one of those stalls it was a bitch to reverse out of. Sorry, no other word to describe it. Park across the street at Mcd's and walk across to Dong Yang's. Its well worth it!!!
(4)Katie T.
Loved this place until we saw a roach in our food. The owner wasn't surprised and she said "Still good though, yeah!" UMMM....NOT REALLY!!! Kinda gross!!!
(1)Ryan Y.
Figured since I was around here I would give it a try. This review is only for the BBQ chicken and looking at the photos of the kalbi I should have order that instead. BBQ chicken was nothing special, in fact it was barely average tasting. Parking, it is sloped for good water drainage. Take out service was fast. Cleanliness, well, I don't think I would want to take a tour of the kitchen area. I would possible try the kalbi next time if I'm in the area..
(2)Scott S.
Sorry, over-rated. What I saw in the kitchen from the dining room was very disturbing.
(1)Tiani B.
OK if you want some of the BEST Korean food for the BEST prices, you have GOT to dine here! You get a heaping serving of whatever you decide to partake in and if you are a light-weight like me, you will have a little extra to take home for later. I love the Meat Jun, the mandoo, and the sweet ladies that work there! If you havent eaten here at least just once, you dont know what you are missing!
(5)Jesse M.
GOOD - Legendary meat jun-- I'm sorry, meat CHUN. BAD - As could be expected for a place that's been in business forever, the restaurant is old and dingy. Also, I've heard awful things from reputable sources about the sanitation practices here. The food tastes good anyway, but still... DISH 1: MEAT JUN (or CHUN) - Dong Yang is the only place I've seen meat jun spelled "chun" on the menu. But when you make the best meat jun/chun in the world, you can call it whatever you want. Thick cuts of beef, coated in egg almost to omelette thickness. Perfect. (Haven't tore myself away from the meat jun to try anything else on the menu yet. So, three stars for now, based on the meat jun alone. I know, I listed a lot of negatives... but I put a lot of weight on the food.)
(3)Kimi F.
Hmm....Calling in your order ahead means nothing here. I called in 35 minutes prior to going in to pick up. Walked in and saw a maximum of 5 people eating in, it was only 12:30 p.m. No one at the counter waiting to order or pick up, wow, must be my lucky day. Wrong! I tell the Nana at the counter, my name, then she looks around and there is nothing waiting to be picked up, so she asked me what did I order? I told her, I ordered 3 meat chun plates, 1 combination plate, and 1 meat chun with only kim chee. Then she goes in the back and places the order. She comes back to me and charges me $31 something; I then ask her, why wasn't the order ready? She tells me there was so many order tickets lined up and she didn't know where it went. I asked who took the order? She said she did, but that she wasn't responsible to what happened to the order after she took it. So she walks in the back and packs up 4 plates, then I asked her where's the 5th plate? Then, I had to repeat the order to find out what was missing (1 meat chun plate). Then, she rang me up for the additional plate. What the heck? I then tell her, that when a mistake is made, an apology should be given. She then tells me it's not her fault, she just took the phone order. I said irregardless, a mistake was made and it doesn't matter who screwed up, but apologizing is a big step in smoothing things over with a customer. So she says, "sorry," but I know she didn't mean it. With that kind of poor customer service, it'll be a long while before I ever decide to go back. I really did enjoy coming here, but our relationship is strained indefinitely.
(1)Michael L.
Was here today for Lunch and order the BBQ Chicken plate only $8.00 super cheap the food is great best place in Wahiawa. The service did lack and they harly check on your water or drinks but over all cheap and awesome food....Expect great food poor service but the food matters the most:-)
(5)Bill K.
Very dirty. Food was not bad, but the unsanitary conditions took away from the experience.
(2)Crystal L.
When do you find yourself in Wahiawa? Maybe for a driving test or after Wet n Wild water park?? I never thought I'd get to try Dong Yang since it was in wahiawa but we were starving after the water park and decided to try out Dong Yang! Is ramfis b. from here? You know that you're in Wahiawa right? The moment I got there, I already knew the restaurant was dirty haha The place looked like a ghetto chinatown with the bathroom in the dirty backlot, the sign looked like it's 20 years old and dishes came out with "stuff" on them. It was very surprising to walk into a Korean restaurant and the workers weren't Korean. Maybe it's not Korean owned? After all, they spelt meat jun as "meat chun" and bi bim bap as "pi peem pup" and never bothered to fix it. Go figure! Anyway, after accepting the dirty factor I was ready to try some awesome meat jun. I mean I did grow up eating chinese food in chinatown; dirty food don't phase me! The meat jun was pretty awesome! A little better than Kim Chee II which is my favorite. It was sweet, salty and crisp on the outside. The meat wasn't tough or chewy. I also had the spicy pork (not that good, don't get it) and kalbi (very smoky like artificial smoke oil was poured on it but ok). The sauce was the shoyu kind and really brought out the flavors of the meat jun. A plate comes with kim chee, bean sprouts, cabbage, picked cucumbers and mac salad. All the sides were good. The kim chee tasted like the one you get in the supermarket but that beats kim chee II's kim chee any day. I thought it was one of those places that you order from the counter and then seat yourself but the worker told me just to sit down. When we did sit down, no one came to take our order. So I went to order at the counter and they scolded me haha Then at the end of the meal, I was waiting for the check so I called for it and the lady asked me to go pay at the counter. ????? It was cheap for korean food! You can get a one meat plate for $6 or $7 and about $7.50 for a combination plate. I'm a small girl but I ate my entire plate - and there was A LOT of food - and then picked off my friend's too!! That's how good - or maybe how hungry - I was! In all, I would not drive to Wahiawa for meat jun that was only a little better than Kim Chee II but if I'm in the area I would eat here again. Yay for local korean grinds!! PS: you can park in the front and back.
(4)Brian A.
One of the Fiancee's aunts suggested we try this one out. See, she recommended it knowing that we were into looking for old Hawaii kine diners. We live in town and it would be a hike to get out there. She knew also this, so based on that recommendation we drove al the way out there. When you arrive, the outside is fairly non-descript. It's in a oddly placed old strip mall that sits on an slight incline. Once you get inside, you get a fairly old and very dingy diner feel to it. Definitely has some character value to the place and for the most part, I really liked the darkish/open ambiance. These kinds of places are my favorite establishments to try. Off the top, I wasn't too enamored with my food. It did come in quite a large amount and was very filling. Let's just say that it's one of those places I would go to if someone else wanted to (and they wanted to drive me out there). The service was very local and friendly. If you're located in Honolulu, it's definitely a trek. Parking can be a bit sketchy because of the lack of space (although McDonald's has a large lot across the street).
(3)Jessie D.
Meat Jun is a sensitive subject around these parts, as most people have their preferences for what they like to eat. So, I decided to do a little investigative research and check out some of the better meat jun places on the island. Dong Yang was the second stop on the taste test, and I can see why people are so passionate about their meat jun/chun. It's soft, tasty, thick, and very flavorful. I also appreciate the affordableness of the place as well, as a combo plate of meat chun, fried mandoo, and a drink only put me back $10.50, a steal considering the price of Korean food nowadays. What takes this place down a star is the tricky location (get off at the Wahiawa exit, go down 3 lights, turn right on Olive and there you are). Wahiawa is quite the trek for most people, so I don't see many of them making the effort to get some meat chun. But, for those willing to trek, it's worth the drive.
(4)Damon H.
Best Korean food on the island. I haven't had the meat jun like everyone else has, but I have had their mandu and yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) at least 20 times and have never been disappointed. This place does serve fairly authentic Korean food, which is a lot more than I can say for places like Yummy (ugh, gross).
(4)Robin W.
Now unfortunately I grew up with cleanliness values and this restaurant does not quite fit with those values. I understand wahiawa is different but still, I can't eat comfortably when there are dead roaches under my table. It grosses me out just a tad. I had heard from friends that this was a great place to and it had a good rating on yelp so I was willing to try it. The food was mediocre at best, the service not really attentive or kind, the establishment was just dirty. After we had our dinner all I wanted to do was run home and shower and get all of the grime off of me. I would never go back here or recommend it to anyone, except maybe my exes.
(1)Miguel B.
Don't be discouraged by its hole-in-the-wall appearance or locale, the Meat Chun dish is quite possibly one of my favorite meals ever! There was a time when I ate it multiple times a week, its so good. Just dont confuse the dipping sauce for soy sauce like i did my first time and pour it all over your rice -__- lol. and i get it with potato/mac salad vs the kimchee and veggies.
(5)Tad A.
Ate here before and remembered that the meat jun was good. But, in all honesty I like the meat jun at Soon's (salt lake) and Moon Hoe (pearl kai) better. Still worth a try if you're in the area.
(3)Paul H.
I go there when I want to pig out. Since in my old age, I can't pig out as I used to but I'll either go for the meat jun or the bbq beef. I also get a roll of the Korean maki sushi. Those of you who bitch about the parking, there's a parking lot in the back of the building which has an adequate number of stalls.
(4)Fred M.
I've finally get to try this place today after hearing so much about it. Looking at this place from outside I would have never noticed it until someone told me about it and they recommended me in trying it out. Sitting right next to Maui Mikes and McDonald's this place seems like its overshadowed by these two popular restaurants. Finding parking here isn't a problem anytime but until its lunch time on the weekdays when all the army and some navy folks comes out to Wahiawa. There is a parking lot located behind the restaurant but unfortunately its shared with other businesses in the same area and the lot isn't really big enough to accommodate more than a dozen cars. Access to the restaurant is available in the back coming from the parking lot so you can save yourself the trip from walking around the building. After sitting down the waitress will come and serve Kim Chee and a Egg Drop soup. The Kim Chee had a nice spicy kick to it and the Egg Drop soup tasted really good. For my order I ordered their number 6. BBQ meat and chicken. Note- If your gonna order number 18. Combinations- Any 2 selection (BBQ meat, BBQ chicken, meat chun, fish chun, fried mandu or shrimp) and you order BBQ meat and chicken together like my friend did both are exactly the same. The only difference is the price number 18 cost a $1 more. The taste of both the meat and chicken tasted really good. I really like chicken more as it had more taste to it and the skin comes off easily as for the meat it tasted alright it didn't really excite my taste buds. The service here was OK. I see all their waitresses moving all the time bouncing in and out of the kitchen its like they had a lot of caffeine this morning or something. They were pretty quick in getting our orders and coming back with our food in less than 10 minutes. Overall this place is OK, I was surprised I didn't have parking problems during lunch time on a weekday, The place is a bit old and dirty but I didn't see any cockroaches according to one of the previous review I read on here. And the food isn't too great but at the same time it wasn't too bad. Yelp 365 Challenge - #005/365
(3)Flora S.
Ok, just be warned, this is definitely the epitome of a hole in the wall kind of place. BUT it's seriously the best Korean I've ever had and they give you SO MUCH food. A trip to Hawaii is not complete with out a meal at Dong Yang's. Their meat jun is seriously the best, we had take out from Gina's in town and it was no where near as good. It's cheap, delicious and will give you enough left overs for lunch the next day.
(5)Jon C.
This is definately one of the hidden Korean gems in Hawaii. Decor is not the most beautiful place...but hey, everything is under $10 and the service is quick, food is delicious, and portions are VERY generous!!! The reason I come here is for the delicious Meat Jun. Although not a authentic Korean dish, this local version of tender beef dipped in a seasoned egg batter and fried is the best version I've had all over the island. It is tender, the meat is thick (compared to the microscopic 1/12 inch meat at Yummy's Korean BBQ). The vegetables are so-so, but the cabbage kim-chi is winner. I'm a garlic fan and its a garlic style kim-chi. If you are coming back to Honolulu from a day at the North Shore, this a must stop before heading to Sunny-Side to pick up a pie!
(4)MJ S.
20 minute for two plate lunches...was it worth it? For the meat jun yes!
(4)Mama N.
I love Meat Jun ~ or CHun as it is called here. After reading the reviews and hearing from others, I decided to check this place out. SO let's break it down: 1) Basically a hole in the wall. The outside area is not clean, and the inside is pretty old looking. No big deal to me. 2) Service is marginal at best. There are basically two people working the counter and tables. Service is on the slow side, and don't expect much cheer and banter. Passable. 3) Kim chee tasted old and bland. 4) You don't get a choice of sides like you would at most other places. 5) The sauce everyone is raving about? It's pretty good but really, it's just sauce. The meat jun is okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. 6) Mandu - skip. I seriously thought I was going to hurl. 7) Other people in my group had the Spicy Pork, the BBQ Beef and said they were sub par. 8) Kal bi was said to be alright. This is my first Yelp review. I was never compelled to do one before, but I had to give my honest opinion this time. I don't want anyone's business to suffer, but customers should know what they are getting into also. If you want a good fast korean meal, go somewhere else. I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Brandy J.
If you ever find yourself passing through Wahiawa, you MUST try this place. It's such a hidden gem and the #1 place on my list whenever I'm back in town. I LOVE the meat jun and I really LOVE the red sauce that comes with it. I usually get the meat jun/chicken plate and always ask for extra red sauce. They are stingy about the sauce and sometimes even run out, but it's just not same without it. The portion sizes are generous and the service isn't terrible. I've never dined in and suggest ordering over the phone for pick-up. Parking is a nightmare, so it might be a good idea to park across the street at McDonald's and walk over.
(5)Ms M.
Best ever ko chu jang, meat jun & Kim Chee!!! Live it all!! Killerest Korean for on da island!!!
(5)Vin L.
I was sitting at my desk wondering what to grab for dinner tonight, and I read all the reviews about Dong Yang Inn's meat jun. Well, I began salivating like Pavlov's dog so I had to try it. I get there and the parking is daunting because it's right in front on a huge incline. Backing out was scary too because the truck next to me was blocking my view of the oncoming cars. The interior of the place is dimly light, chairs amiss, and the menu is on an old push-in letter board. It is real mom-and-pop, but I was just hesitant of the cleanliness. Oh well, I'm here I'll try the meat jun and fried mandoo combo ($8.50 straight up, the price on the board is the price you pay). It came out quickly (before I could play three words on Words With Friends) and I left equally as quickly. I got back to my office and tried it. Hmm, okay the meat was tender, but the egg wasn't crispy, the sauce was not as good as they hype, and the mandoo seemed like it had kalua pork inside without the flavor. There was also so much rice compared to the amount of meat. It was disappointing after reading all the high reviews. I most likely will not be going back.
(2)Amanda Z.
I haven't eaten at Dong Yang for several years, but always had a memory of the great meat jun, so during our "island food road trip", we had to make the stop! We ordered take out so we could eat it at the beach. $8 for a combo meat jun/chicken katsu plate with 4 preset sides and 2 scoops rice. Pretty good deal, especially with the quality of meat jun and the huge pile of meat. The meat jun was made with thick pieces of meat (and NOT chewy! woo hoo!), with great batter/flavoring. I didn't even need the dipping sauce (and I'm usually all about the dipping sauces). The chicken katsu was just average, nothing special, but nothing wrong with it. The sides (kim chee, cabbage, seaweed and cucumber) were kinda limp/lacking the love and variety you can find at other Korean restaurants. But overall, big props to the awesome meat jun, definitely worth the stop on the way out to the North Shore!
(3)dean t.
Wahiawa reminds this Hawai'i expat of small kid time, growing up on the Leeward side of the island - and Dong Yang brought me back on a recent trip to the North Shore of Oahu. Who'd think there were such great places to grind in Wahiawa? Don't go for the cleanliness, ambiance, or service - the food is the attraction here. Meat jun, kal bi ribs, fried mandoo like my Korean "aunties" used to make - and they keep refilling your kim chee, too! A recent price hike did not deter us - plenty food for the two of us for $17 - and we had leftovers for a late night snack. Will defintiely be back - kudos to Mrs. Potts and her staff.
(4)Joshua C.
Since the Mililani Mauka exit was closed this past Friday I figured why not continue on to Wahiawa to conduct another Yelp research trip. Recently a friend of mine who also lives in the area recommended this spot, "You need to visit Dong Yang," she said. "Who?" I replied. Apparently Dong Yang is her and quite a few yelpers favorite place to get meat jun and kal bi. "You should get take out," she added "I don't really eat in there" "Why not?" I wondered out loud "Well, let's just say it's not the cleanest place" "Oh, I see." And now having visited I'll also probably stick to getting take out. Sometimes that "time warp" effect can be wonderfully nostalgic, not in this case. The menu reads "Fine Korean Foods Since 1975" I think that may have been the last year they cleaned. The service was good, the "auntie" at the register totally made me feel at home while I waited for my Kal Bi, Meat Jun, and Mandoo. "Try it and let me know what you think of the food" said my friend who recommended the place. By the time I reached Dong Yang's I was so hungry (traffic has that effect on me...in addition to feelings of anger, frustration, and restlessness....yes, I need more help then good Korean food can provide). I ran in, got my food, sped home, woke my better half from her nap, snapped a few pictures (it's become way too natural yelp.com/biz_photos/UIoC… ), split the food into two bowls, and started stuffing myself. Okay, I know the Dong Yang faithful will disagree, but while the food is good here Young's Kal Bee in Aiea is better ( yelp.com/biz/youngs-kalb… ). I had no problems woofing down my food. The thick cut of the Meat Jun is nice, as is the big bone style Kal bi. The thing is (especially since we just ate there recently) the food at Young's is more flavorful and better executed. Anyway that's this "humble" yelper's opinion. So, Dong Yang Inn; good food, good service, fully ghetto atmosphere. You know, it's close and as I promised "auntie" at the counter I'll be back (at least for take out).
(3)Shasta L.
I've only ever eaten the meat jun, and it's too legit to quit. God knows I'm not a person who fixes what ain't broken. It's so delicious that it was the first thing I ate after landing in Honolulu, and that's saying a lot because I was hungry like something fierce. It's so delicious that I make sure my friends flying from Hawaii back to Seattle bring a little cooler of it as my souvenir. Now, the parking sucks, but we just park at the McDonald's across the street. Ha.
(5)Elvan W.
Highschool we spent many lunches here! Then hurry up and get back to school , before my dad saw my truck there.
(4)Daniela R.
Came here for some food after a long day at the beach and it was just okay. I ordered the yukgaejang but I've had better at other Korean spots. Wish I would've ordered something different to see what the rave is all about.
(2)Island R.
One word to sum it up...filthy. Lol. As for all this hu ha about the meat jun......don't get it. Yes they give good portions but that's about it. If you really want to taste the best meat jun there's only one champion..... Youngs kalbee in Aiea Best meat jun Katsu is the bomb Big bone kalbi is dank The sauce is devine Tons of ban chan side veggies that explode in ur mouf. I tell all my friends the same thing... "Get sum youngs...it'll change ur life!"
(2)David M.
I love there Meat Jun !!.
(4)Stephanie Y.
The meat jun (aka meat jun) is the BEST and their sauce . . . wow nothing can compare. Growing up in Mililani, I have always ate there and have had the pleasure of introducing them to my townie friends and my military friends. The atmosphere is ok (kind of what you would expect in Wahiawa), but the service is fast and friendly and they serve big portions. I see the same wait help from when I was in high school (sad to say that was about 20 years ago). My cousins who also grew up on meat jun from Dong Yangs have since moved to the mainland, but whenever they come home Dong Yang's is always on their must do list. Also whenever family goes to visit them in CA & CO, we vaccum pack the meat jun & special sauce and hand carry it to them so they can get their fix. Getting hungry just talking about it. Yummy!!!
(5)Lisa C.
I read many of the reviews and was eager to try this place having lived in Korea for 2 years... I will start off by saying the service was horrible! Completely unwelcoming. The woman at the register was sour faced and rude! I put that aside and decided to try to base what I think off of the food. I ordered the BBQ Chicken and the Chop Chae. While the Chop Chae has some potential, the BBQ chicken was absolutely nothing special.... I will probably not return to this restaurant.
(2)k n.
BESTEST meat jun on the island!! Very reasonable prices, large portions and delicious food!!!
(5)Linda L.
This tasted traditional and homemade according to the Korean friend. We ordered the meat jun because it seemed mandatory. It has the appearance of a fast food restaurant. You seat yourself at the cleanest table you can find and fend for yourself.
(3)Jave R.
Outstanding grinds! Been coming here for years. I remember, I used to cut school just to eat here.
(5)Susan M.
Like most say get the meat jun (although they call it meat chun). Im always looking for good meat jun because I cant ever find it on the mainland. Good prices, lots of food and best meat jun I've ever had. Ask for the gochujang sauce, its awesome. Only 4 stars because restaurant looks like a dump and service is lacking but food takes big time precedence.
(4)Alex A.
Did you know these ratings have verbal equivalents? This one says "Yay! I'm a fan." That means I will more than likely come back here because I enjoy their food. It's true. I came here because nearly every review talked about how awesome the meat jun is. You know what, I came in and looked on the menu and they didn't have meat jun. However, they did have something called meat chun and because it was my first time here I got a two-fer plate with bbq beef and a large fruit punch. It came out to a little over $10. I have to say, the meat chun was awesome. They give big portions and it wasn't like any meat chun I've had before. It had a nice flaky finish with a brown tint instead of the flat yellowish pocket that other places have. And it was packed full of taste, I didn't even need sauce for it for the first few bites. A tad bit oily, but in a good way. Very flavorful...even a few hours later sitting in my a/c'd car. The BBQ Meat was okay. It had a very, very strong smoky smell and taste, so if you like that fresh off the coals taste of meat you might like this. It was a bit dry, but good. You can opt to sit in the rather surprisingly spacious restaurant and get plates, or take it to go in the styrofoam plate. Also, like they say the parking situation is junk. McDonald's has a large parking lot across the street so I could see parking there and picking up your order to go...that's what I did.
(4)Barbra H.
Dong Yang sure know how to pack a MEAT JUN plate. This mountainous pile of Meat Jun is too good to pass up. One plate fed 2 adults (My BF and I are definitely not the types on fit magazines and such LOL) This was huge. This has got to be the best MEAT JUN out here on Oahu. So tender and juicy. Just all around meat goodness. The sauce is great as well. We had kim chee on the side, which was okay. I'm a fan and will keep going to Dong Yang's. Parking is a bit of a pain - especially during lunch time. You may just have to park across the street at McDonald's. While waiting for your food-check out the sign of the pawn shop next door. Their sign might still be on backwards. That's always a chuckle for both adults and children!
(4)Matthew L.
A Hawaii Army National Guard favorite, they seem like they could easily cater to a few hundred soldiers on the weekends. We usually get Meat Jun, and maybe bulgogi or chicken. Soldiers still like going to for lunch there too. The portions are huge, and the Meat Jun tastes good despite old looking oil. Same story with the zucchini. They will always give you the same veggies and the Kim chee is pretty bland. If eating in they'll give you some chicken soup that tastes like fried chicken.
(3)Nicole F.
I go home every year and the first place i want to eat when i get off the plane is this place!!! Their Meat Jun is to die for. I've had other dishes there, but I can't seem to step away from that Meat Jun. aw. ha ha. The service is good. They seat you and give you your menu. While you browse through it, they are placing your kimchi side dishes and water, etc. The wait for your food isn't that long either. They are a dining restaurant as well as a to-go restaurant as well. The parking is pretty tight since the place is located right off the street, it prob can only fit five cars/trucks. (depends on the sizes of vehicles and parking habits)
(4)Trish P.
got take out from here for lunch with my parents. the food is pretty much what i remember it as. the meat jun is good, the sides are good (cabbage kim chee - not won bok... but they sell that), the bi bim kook soo is good. the spicy pork was dry, and could have been more spicy, but its local style kine so that explains things.... when i was younger, i remember more koreans working there (i think anyway), but now, i only see Filipino women working there. where my korean people?! the woman at the counter was not very nice, and was kind of rude to my mother when she was attempting to make small talk while we waited for our order..... i guess customer service isnt what it used to be. oh well - i still like eating here.... but only for take out.
(3)chuck m.
The meat jun is probaly the best in honolulu. It's always moist and ono. Just a reminder for out of towners. Take it to go and don't mind the people that hang out in front of the building. Crappy parking during lunch so go before or after.
(5)Landon Y.
Forget the location, the drive to Wahiawa, and just get over to Dong Yang! It has taken me many years to find their meat jun. Don't wait as long as i did! It is near the corner of Olive and California Ave in Wahiawa, across from the McDonalds on the Olive side of the street. Parking is in the back as well, which I would suggest, instead of parking in front of the restaurant. Generous portions for their meat jun or meat chun plate as they call it on the menu. Served with 4 different sides, kim chee cabbage, bean sprouts, cucumber and another pickled cabbage...kinda like Japanese sunamono. On to the best part, there was at least 4 layers of meat jun in my plate lunch. Extremely generous portions, with a $6.25 price tag, pretty darn good. Do yourself a favor, at least for your stomach, and get over to Dong Yang. This is the best kept secret and food find i have discovered in a long time! I have heard from relatives that this place has been around for decades, and within those years, Dong Yang has been shut down for health code violations. They also told me that they would wait until the place would re-open and go back. haha! So far, so good...no food borne illnesses here. Onolicious!
(5)grace g.
Found this place while driving around on my lunch break. It is located across mcdonalds in wahiawa. Parking didn't look too great but, I just pulled into a spot in front of the place. I sat down and ordered their famous meat jun and kalbi plate. All I can say is their portions are HUGE and the meat jun has a lot of taste. But, it isn't on the top of my list. I believe they also sell meat that is raw & marinated, Kim chee and other yummy Korean food.
(4)Jeni O.
Fish Chun hubby new fave, I like BBQ chicken with lots if kimchi!!'
(4)Shannon F.
Honestly, I'm ashamed that this past Hawaii trip we only ate here once. How dare I deny my taste buds the taste of Dong Yang until the second to the last day we were in Oahu? We indirectly had like a "Korean Food playoffs" between 'Yummy's', 'Kim Chee II' (Kaimuki) & Dong Yang... guess who won. Yup, that's what I did : Saved the Best for LAST! Oh yeah, and just for the record : LOCAL KOREAN FOOD IS BETTER THAN MAINLAND KOREAN FOOD.
(5)K K.
I remember eating here years ago and the portions were huge and price cheap. Last week when I had lunch from here the portions were still generous but the prices came up as expected but the quality of the food went down. This was a disappointment. The meat jun is still good as was the BBQ chicken and mandoo. The vegetables were another story. The cabbage was just plain cabbage with no no seasoning or flavor. The same with the cucumber and bean sprouts. If in the area I would eat here again but not go out of my way to eat here.
(3)William K.
I am Korean and from Los Angeles, Korea Town. I've been here in Wahiawa for about two months and been to as much Korean restaurants possible. So, how is Dong Yang Inn? At first, I was waiting in line to order food ,so I thought it was one of those typical Americanized Korean place. I saw the menu on the wall and wasn't many selections. However, the very friendly waiter offered me a paper menu which had more selctions and told me to take my time even though people were in line. Obviously, I let others go first. I decided to get combo consist of Gal-bi, Korean BBQ, meat fish jun, fried dumpling, friend shimp, KIMCHI and rice. When my order came out; I was like HOLY SHIT looking at the amount. I eat a lot and often ,but I almost gave up and tapped out before finished this dish. The food wasn't amazing but it was better than norm and great. My favorite was Kal-bi and beef and fish jun. yummmmmmmmmm. This place isn't the traditional nor fancy dating place. Also, it might look sort of ghetto. Parking sucks @#$#! Yet, I still give four stars. Why??? One of the best Korean place in Wahiawa area. The price is fair enough. The workers are very friendly. Food is more than norm and large amount. I am sure I will be one their regular customer. ****
(4)Rosie F.
Yuck.. Oil they cook their meat Jun tastes so old!
(2)Rocelle S.
The meat jun was alright for me. What I didn't like about this place was that they did not offer any side choices. Everything was pre-picked. The side veggies pretty much sucked. The kim-chee was okay nothing to get all hyped about. The bean sprout and the cucumber tasted as if it was sitting out. As for the meat "chun" the portion size was awesome for $7.25 the cut of the meat was pretty thick. Also, the meat chun was really soft. But for the overall taste? It was alright. I could taste a hint of fish sauce in the egg batter (perhaps that is the 'secret' ingredient) But all in all the place looks old and dingy. The waiters are your typical filipino ladies (not really friendly) and this place is super far. I recommend just getting your fill at Tasty's in Waipahu. At least the vegetables are edible. Also. FYI I think all of the meat chun is pre-battered because I had a peek into the cooking area and it looked like there was a whole tray of meat chun stacked....-______-
(3)Daniel A.
I"ve been living in Las Vegas for the past 13yrs. Everytime I come home to visit (4 - 6 times a yr....or more.lol), this is the first place I eat. I grew up eating here and I've always loved this place. I eat the meat jun all the time. Sometimes I'll have the meat jun-fish jun combo. Their meat jun is super onolicious (for da locals). Their kalbi is good. I love their head cabbage kim chee. Not too spicy, but really crunchy. To explain it all in one sentence....IT IS ALL GOOD!!!
(5)Mary D.
The best meat jun EVER! We always pick up their dinner plates on the way home from the north shore. Great bang for your buck and the food is SO ONO!! Yes, the diner could use a renovation and upgrading. The parking can be an issue when the place gets busy but we usually just park across the street and walk across. If you've never eaten here before, it is a definite MUST TRY!
(4)Wendie J.
If you want good service or a pristinely clean restaurant- this place is NOT for you. But if you want good Korean food, with large portions, and cheap prices- THE best Mundoo outside of my Grandmother's kitchen- this place IS for you. If you're a restaurant snob then don't come to Wahiawa. I'm sure there's a Yummy's somewhere around your neighborhood that will help you out. This is Korean food made by KOREANS. It is good, it is filling, and for the price it is AMAZING. If you want some smiley waitress who will bring you your won bok kim chee and all your fancy veggies with a clean fork- you need to move along and go eat at another Korean restaurant- there's a few in town you'd like. Don't come to the country and harp on our food and our restaurants. I've been eating here my entire life. It is a Wahiawa fixture. The waitress that works there has been there since I was 10. She is tired and works hard for probably little pay. So all you folks on Yelp leaving these- "oh my gosh, the place was SO DIRTY. And the kim chee is made of -GASP- CABBAGE" (what the hell do you think kim chee is made out of? oh, right- cabbage). Just eat there every week for a month and tell me how your food is then. Guaranteed the other 3 meals will be better than you ever expected. But no problem, don't eat here again- we Wahiawa folks know a gem when we find one, and we don't need folks traipsing in from elsewhere to tell us what's good or what sucks. So I guess there will always be more Mundoo and Meat Chun for me and my Exit 8 peeps.
(5)James B.
YUM, Yummy, yum!! The first time I went here was many years ago, it's a bit out of the way for me to get to, so it was actually the first & last time I went. I love good food, but I'm not crazy about having to drive long distances to acquire it. So this place really wasn't a thought in my mind...until the other night! My brother came to visit, he lives out in Wahiawa and said he would pick up some food and bring it over, I thought nothing of it, other than we'd probably be eating some Mcdonalds, or Jack-in-the-Crack. Either way, it was food, all be it oily, greasy and processed, but still something that would conquer my appetite. So he arrives at our house and I notice a ray of sunshine beaming down upon him...What's this I thought, he glows, he radiates a delicious odor, well not him, but what he was carrying. My eyes sparkled, my cheeks flushed, and excitement overwhelmed me. Of course I didn't realize it was Dong Yang's yet, but I knew it wasn't fast food...Oh Happy Day!! He held in his arms a box, a plain, dreary cardboard box, but that wasn't of import, it was the contents that intrigued me. It was like an arabian princess dressed in peasants garb, plain and unappealing on the exterior, but wonderous royal beauty beneath. I peered into the box holding styrofoam container, upon styrofoam container, piled high smelling of deliciousness. He said to me...take one..and I did...Then he said in a thunderous voice..."DONG YANGS MEAT JUN"!!! I wept. It was long since we'd last met, and now reunited. The courtesies were exchanged with my meat jun, I welcomed it, informed it of it's pending demise and consumed it with savage delight. Thank you brother...Thank you Dong Yang...Thank you styrofoam container...Thank you meat jun.
(4)Patti K.
Excellent meat jun. Good khalbi. The BBQ chix was so-so. Would definitely visit again...the meat jun was really a winner!
(4)Nathan N.
It might be a cruddy, little restaurant, but man does it have some of the best Korean Meat Jun on Oahu. If you dine in and order the Dong Yang Special, be prepared to get your stomach pumped. That thing is HUGE!
(4)Sheldon H.
Best Korean food I know, especially my favorite, meat chun. Gotta have it at least twice a month, used to be more often when I lived there. Been going there for over thirty five years.
(5)Barry A.
Thoroughly satisfying in a way that only kamaaina (or jonesing expatriots/transplants) can truly enjoy. First off, its in close proximity to Ohai Street. HPD (Honolulu Police Dept.) doesn't particularly like going down that street. High crystal meth aka "batu" traffic. Right next door to a pawn shop. In the short time we were outside while my company finished his cigarette... we observed two cars pulling up in front of the pawn shop, engine still running, people rushing in to sell something quick then taking off.. ...in a very "batu-ish" way. Not to mention, the two "batu-fiends" finishing their forties, babbling, and heading past us in all their dilated, pock-marked, speed-bump glory. Ok ok... back to Dong Yang's.... MEAT JUN MECCA You won't get a check. When you're ready, auntie mentally sums up your bill and you get your total. If you don't believe her, you can check the menu behind the counter. You won't do that though, right? You know aloha when you see it, you know aloha when you smell it, you know aloha when you eat it. Feel aloha. It's all in there.
(5)jacqui w.
So the same lady is always there and we've started ordering on the phone and then picking up cuz it takes a while. The first time I called and while I was ordering the lady started rushing me and then HUNG UP because I took to long (LOL!) So I called back and ordered fast. When I picked it up she gave me forks. She always gives me forks and then I give them back and ask for chopsticks. So my husband had me convinced it was cuz I was caucasian... (the rudeness and the forks..) So I made him order last time and she yelled at him too! Yay! Equal opportunity hater! lol. But she gave him chopsticks. Anyways, just a funny thing I wanted to share. I still eat there because even though she was pretty rude the food is amazing. Yum.
(4)Steve C.
BEST Meat-Jun in Hawaii - even though the Aiea one was ranked 1st in some poll, Dong Yang's Meat-Jun is better and a must have if you are in Wahiawa. I have eaten at both, and even if I was from Aiea I would prefer Dong Yang, although the Aiea one is good too. Both place do not have pleasant bathroom facilities.
(5)Dave O.
Meat jun or chun, whatevers, the best value and always the same
(5)tiana r.
Come here and get the meat chun. That is all. Your welcome.
(5)Angel D.
This place has been in Wahiawa since I can remember. Back in the day, my dad would always buy me and my brother BBQ meat plates here whenever my mom worked late. But nowadays, its all about the meat chun! This is what me and my friends craved when we were stuck on the mainland for college. Yeah, the restaurant is kinda sketchy and dingy, but its probably one of the best places to eat in Wahiawa.
(4)Concecrated N.
The best Kalbi anywhere! Ok, I am not a fan of the cleanliness but I have to admit I have never had a better kalbi short rib. They are consistently delicious and give a generous portion. My husband and cousin love this place - and they are not easily impressed (they are kinda crabby about average food to be honest). They are both unabashed fans regardless of the appearance. Big fans of both the cucumber and cabbage kimchee as well as the kalbi and meat jun. We take out a lot - you should try it- you won't regret it!
(4)Riza A.
One of the main things I miss about home...MEAT JUN!!! I haven't found this dish anywhere outside of Hawaii (and trust, I've tried). For a hole in the wall to survive as long as I've been alive (and then some) speaks mountains. I can't wait til I'm back home in a month!!! I'm planning on this being my first stop! (Ok ok, maybe after Zippy's, but only cuz Zippy's is closer to the airport).
(5)Gidget A.
The best Meat Chun!!! Anywhere!!! No one can come close to the sauce. One of a kind!! What I like about it is that they cut their meat chun into bite sized pieces. No one else does that. I know I can cut it myself but come on people it slows down the eating process.
(5)Gary T.
You would be wasting your time if your reading my review right now! Just go over to Wahiawa and check it out for yourself, key word Meat-Jun!!!!
(5)Kristian G.
Hands Down best take out meat jun on the island! From the outside, it looks like a rundown place, but the food is ONO! The meat jun is tasty enough that it doesn't need any additional sauce to me, but they do have if you want. They also have some really good fish jun. Both the meat and fish jun are tender! A down fall is that it's so far from my home, but you can't help that. lol Sometimes my family will drive all the way down there just to grab a catering pan! Another down fall is the amount of parking in the front of the store. But you can always park across the street and walk over like me and my family do. Very good :)
(4)Philip U.
lots of food... yummy
(4)Amanda U.
better than the kim chee restaurants! boyfroend got meat chun and i got kim chee soup. and it was the best thing ever. for the meat chun it was tender and juicy and my kim chee soup tasted fresh, hot and super spicy just how i love it! the price of the drinks are a bit costly compared to the prices of the meals but oh m g! im dreaming about it right now... mouth watering!!!
(5)Sylvia D.
I love Dong Yang....seriously. Anybody that I've taken there that hasn't eaten there before fall in love with the meat jun. The fried zucchini, man doo and kal bi are awesome as well. The only reason it gets four stars is of course the cleanliness factor. Dong Yang has a weird smell when you there (but I can get over it because the food is so freakin' good). The other bumming thing is that they don't let you pick your own vegetables like most korean places (I would go for half kim chee and half sprouts).
(4)Elle V.
Meat jun = 5 stars! So worth going to Wahiawa for!
(5)Kay Z.
The meat Jun is the bomb!! It is so yummy by itself that you dont even need to dip it in the sauce. I always try to get a plate everytime I go visit family in Wahiawa.
(5)Vicky B.
I LOVE Dong Yang. I'll drive from town, just to get the meat jun plate. Its huge and good price. The drive and gas from town adds up, but to get their meat jun... totally worth it. Typical hole in the wall, but dont judge a book by its cover. This is the absolutely best meat jun and other korean food on the island. mmmmm dong yang.
(5)Lani B.
After a day at Pipeline we went to check out Dong Yang Inn with friends visiting from LA. Parking did not look good so we parked across the street at McDonalds. Restaurant was dated and not very clean. Got a bowl of complimentary chicken broth to start with...was okay. At most Korean establishments, you normally get a set of small bowls with kim chee and other veggies but we did not get it here...just kim chee. I wanted to try everything so I ordered the $11 Dong Yang Special combo (kalbi, meat jun, fish jun, fried shrimp, mandoo, BBQ chix and BBQ beef, rice, mac salad). Everything was just ok. The only thing I liked was the meat jun and mac salad. Kalbi was not what I was used to; seemed like they took a thick cut shortrib and butterflied it so thin that the meat was like teri beef and marinade for it could have been better. My friends also ordered the other combo plates and it, too, was okay. Service was okay...she did her job without smiling. Looks like alot of their business comes from takeout. I did not want my friends to pay for dinner since our experience was mediocre. It was a lot of food for little money but I probably will not go back. Sorry, I really wanted to like this place based on other reviews but we've experienced better.
(2)L. Y.
My fave spot to get my meat jhun fix. They have good bbq chicken and katsu too. Their portions are good and the kim chi is just right.
(4)Leah P.
Okay so from the outside you might be kind of off put especially if you aren't a local but if you can get past the exterior and actually sit down and eat the food its amazing! Plus every plate comes with a never ending supply of some of the best Kimchee around! I love the meat jun it's to die for!!
(4)Fudge F.
The best Meat-Jun you will ever eat. When I lived on the mainland for college, this was the only food I missed (besides poke). I can make Chicken Katsu, loco moco, and other island favorites, but could never master the meat-jun like Dong Yangs. The sauce is awesome. It's better to eat there, where they give you chicken broth with your meal, as well as all the kim chee you want. Your plate also comes with potato-mac salad when you eat in. I remember eating here growing up and the plate of meat-jun was only $4.25, now it is $6.50 yet still a great price for a lot of food. If you are ever in Wahiawa, or passing through, especially after the beach, stop in and order some meat jun, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Marijcke m.
I eat at dong yang A LOT! Just put your blinders on! The tables are sticky and the water taste like bleach, but the food is what its about! When you order a plate you get a clear chicken broth soup that's garnished with a little scrambled egg and green onion! I order (most of the time) the Dong yang special, It has a piece of everything. Teri chicken, teri beef (bogolgi), fried mandoo, fish jun, a pile of meat jun, shrimp tempura, and a nice size piece of Kalbi! I think its $9.00! Try the cold noodles bim bim kook su! they are thin "somen" noodles with like water crest and teri beef the sauce is a sesame seed type! YUMMY and one order for the whole table! SO GOOD O and they don't use a lot of MSG!! Good kim chee too!
(5)Maria Q.
Meat chun. Yum. That is all.
(4)Les U.
I think I have not been to this place in almost 20 years. It was a standard on the way to our casting grounds on the north shore. My favorite was the bul go gi. Over the years, eating habits change along with life style. We don't do over nighters in Mokuleia anymore and I hardly ever go for bul go gi at the local korean places. My fav now is bi bim bap, gotta love them veggies and easy over egg. Of course, a little bit of that beef is still in there. On their menu, its spelled pi pim pup?, hopefully not the K-9 type. The menu further broke it down to pi pim pup korean style, whats that? I decided to go for it. Funny but it looked almost exactly like what I get at Soon's. The veggies were outstanding. I never had moyashi kim chee or pickled egg plant, they were both great! The price was reasonable too, $7.75. The down grade from 4 or 5 stars is because of the facilities. I ordered take out and am thankful that I did. It wasn't the cleanest. Wifey handed me her phone having felt the urge to answer nature. She returned with remarks that are not fit for print. I guess if you need to go, run across the street to Mickey Dee's. The parking hill in front can be a pain if its rush hour. There is parking out back also. What ever happened to Andy's Coin Shop on the corner?
(3)Natasha C.
Meat jun here is def wonderful! Ambiance not so much. Aside from the meat jun I normally will get the kimchi stew even though its not authentic tasting and lacks certain things that make it a real kimchi stew. Parking is really horrible so really avoid it during rush times if at all possible.
(3)ST U.
The meat jun is really tasty! Lots of batter but the meat is seasoned really nicely. You get a bowl of either chicken broth or seaweed soup to start, and home made cabbage kim chee as a starter. Service is usually quick even with the endless traffic of people doing take-out orders. Parking in the front is limited; however, there is a somewhat not so obvious parking in the back. When going up Olive (?) Street, hang a left on the first cross street right after the restaurant, and there is a parking lot right behind the restaurant. Really nice owner & workers.
(3)Jon M.
Born and raised here I gotta say this place still has the best meat chun on the island. I still drive our here for the meat chun from town.
(5)Tim F.
Great find...thanks yelp! We ate noodle soup, kalbi (short ribs), meat jun, fish jun and several other samplings. Not much to see from the street but food was worth the trip!
(5)Jesse M.
Gotta love the meat jun and kal bi! Except I always get funny looks whenever I go in here-could it be because I am Haole and in the middle of Wahiawa? Minus 1 star for the cleanliness, i mean its aiight but i wouldn't eat anything that fell onto the table! And their taegu is pretty awesome.
(4)Wade H.
I haven't been to Dong Yang Inn in many years so thought we'd drive out there since we were in the area. Traffic getting there on a Saturday off the freeway is bad. One good thing about eating in the restaurant is that you get soup and some daikon kim chee as well as the standard kim chee. I had the meat jun and my partner had the bbq chicken. The meat jun was ok. Lots of rice, bean sprouts, cabbage, and potato macaroni salad. The bbq chicken was the same. The flavor on the chicken was overpowering. Too much soaking. Lots of people phone order. Ample parking in the back of the restaurant. Take the first left after the building and you can see the parking lot.
(2)Teresa G.
LOVE their meat jun and BBQ meat!! The best so far. I will drive out of my way to come here for good Korean food
(5)Tim C.
Best Meat Junn on the island!! Its thick and full of flavor, should almost be called Steak junn! I get this every time so I can't comment on anything else yet!
(5)Carissa U.
Alright so this is a small place tucked away in Wahiawa that offers a lot of bang for your buck. Whenever I visit, I have to eat here at LEAST once. Good eats for sure. Awkward parking in front. I recommend parking in back because sometimes you can get blocked in.
(5)Brooke M.
I have mixed feelings about this place. I grew up eating this and it was the only korean food I ever knew. Picking up Dong Yang for dinner was a big treat back then. Sometime about the early 90's, korean bbq seemed to get a lot more popular (either that, or I got my drivers license and actually started leaving central Oahu on a regular basis). But I digress... The food is delicious. And reasonably priced. I admit that whenever I make it back home, we do pick up meat jun and kalbi plate lunches to go. And the kim chee is probably the best this side of Los Angeles' Korea town. But... Minus one star for the overall appearance of cleanliness ... there is good "hole in the wall" and there is bad "hole in the wall" and this place straddles the line.
(4)Julie T.
Great Meat Jun here and they give good portions
(5)Andrea P.
BEST MEAT JUN on the island. This is always the first place I go from the airport when i have been away on a trip. Yes, its dingy. Yes, the booths are sticky. IT DoESN"T matter!!!!! Eat the meat jun while you're there and get one to go or to give to someone you love, they will love you forever.
(5)R O.
Been going here for years. Generous portions, tasty food...all at a very reasonable price. We ordered takeout the other day - 4 plates for $30! Kim chee soup and meat juhn are my favorites. Dad likes the BBQ meat better than any other korean restaurant on the island. Husband still prefers Soon's meat juhn, but said Dong Yang's is "a contender". (I personally don't like Soon's rock-hard meat juhn. I prefer the softer, meatier Dong Yang version.)
(4)Serenie S.
Meat Jun plate! WOOOOH. I think it can feed 2 it's so big.
(5)Wade T.
AAAhhhhhh, what can I say that everyone here hasn't already? Being B&R in Hawaii my parents took me to Dong Yang since I knew what korean food was. They knew the owners from way back when (back when for my PARENTS) and "aunty" would always come to our table and talk about how they were doing. (I even remember back in the days when they had 25 cent "vending" TV's on the tables...anyone?) Portions are mountainous, radish kim chee (buy in bulk) is great, kal bi is better than most Hawaii korean restaurants (not that cheap stuff), and if you get a chance, ask for the red (not sure if it's gochujang or not) hot sauce and use it with your favorite meat dish (ONOLICIOUS!). The soup before the meal takes me back to when i was sitting eye level with the table...they have not changed a thing and I love that. Everytime I go back home my family picks up from there (i live near the airport) and my sister (best sister in the world) sometimes freezes some meat juhn, puts it in a cooler just before she flies over and i when i pick her up from the airport i go straight home and reheat it). Not exactly the same but better than any korean joint here in Vegas. I will continue to "go there" whenever I can, as often as I can, hopefully they'll be around for my kids to enjoy someday. YES, it's THAT good.
(5)Corey S.
Been going here for years!!! Like most of the reviews have already stated, the meat jun is the best around! It's what i'll compare any other meat jun i eat and i gotta say it still comes out the best!! I'll also agree with another review, order take-out and have someone drive you so they can wait in the car while you run in, parking does suck. And on a final note: like any other 'mom n pop' restaurant, let's leave the looks of the kitchen behind the kitchen door. ;-)
(5)Cynthia A.
I'm sure the food is FREAKING good, like I've heard many people say, but I happen to know that they have not passed a number of inspections in the past... What we don't know can't hurt us, right? YUM!
(3)Kaipo S.
Best meat jun on O'ahu in my opinion, very good value as well.
(4)Pili K.
The Best MEAT JUN eVERRRRR!!!! SO Ono!
(5)Dennis R.
meat jun only... 5 stars dunno about the rest of the food...
(5)N G.
meat jun is good. i love their korean sushi too, when they have it.
(4)Travis M.
Just eat their meat jun, if you can finish it all. Every thing else is good too, but I'm hardly in Wahiawa, but if i'm there its always Dong Yangs for their meat jun.
(5)Erika B.
My parents love this place! Reasonably priced. Staff is friendly, food is delicious. I love all the sides! Order the meat jun! Quick place to stop if you're in the area.
(5)Jeff I.
You must get the meat chun. It is the best on this island. The pieces are big, the batter is thick, and the sauce compliments it. Believe me, it is worth the trip to wahiawa.
(3)Damian S.
Their meat jun is the perfect thing to eat after a long day of playing in the ocean in North Shore. One of my favorite places to eat when in da 808 state!
(4)Mike R.
If only you could get their meat chun on the mainland......SO WORTH braving the cleanliness issues...and for some reason, puts me to sleep(!)...I would never skip this place when in central Oahu, because you cant get anything as delicious as their meat chun anywhere else...truly unique and mouth watering.
(5)Joy S.
Two words Meat Chun, need I say more? My hubby is from Wahiawa, so he turned me on to Dong Yang. I also like O-bok's meat jun too since I be from Manoa :P
(5)Suburban R.
bulk and tasty fare. especially the meat jun! any questions?
(4)