Yong's Kal-Bi - Waimea, Hawaii

Address: 65-1158 Mamalahoa Hwy # 4, Waimea, HI 96743, United States.
Phone: 8088858440.

Specialties: Korean restaurant.
Other points of interest: Takeaway, Dine-in, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining, Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet, Coffee, Comfort food, Healthy options, Private dining room, Quick bite, Small plates, Vegetarian options, Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Seating, Restroom, Casual, Family friendly, Groups, LGBTQ+ friendly, Tourists, Transgender safe space, Accepts reservations, Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments, Credit cards, Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu, Free parking lot, Free street parking, Parking.
Opinions: This company has 285 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.7/5.

📌 Location of Yong's Kal-Bi

☎️8088858440

⏰ Open Hours of Yong's Kal-Bi

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11 am–2:30 pm, 5–8 pm
Wednesday: 11 am–2:30 pm, 5–8 pm
Thursday: 11 am–2:30 pm, 5–8 pm
Friday: 11 am–2:30 pm, 5–8 pm
Saturday: 11 am–2:30 pm, 5–8 pm
Sunday: Closed

Yong's Kal-Bi: A Hidden Gem in Waimea

Nestled in the heart of Waimea, Hawaii, Yong's Kal-Bi is a unique Korean restaurant that has quickly become a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Located at
Address: 65-1158 Mamalahoa Hwy # 4, Waimea, HI 96743, United States, this establishment is easily accessible with a convenient free parking lot and free street parking available. For those who prefer to connect over the phone, their phone number is 8088858440.

Facilities and Services

Specialties: Yong's Kal-Bi shines with its Korean restaurant offerings, specializing in Korean cuisine that combines the flavors of Korea with a touch of local Hawaiian hospitality.

Diverse menu including breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner options.
Family-friendly atmosphere with LGBTQ+ friendly policies and a transgender safe space.
Accommodates diners with various needs: wheelchair-accessible car park, wheelchair-accessible seating, and wheelchair-accessible toilet.

The restaurant prides itself on its clean and well-maintained dining area, although some may find the ambiance casual. It's wheelchair accessible and caters to solo diners, couples, families, and even groups. For those seeking comfort, Yong's offers comfort food along with healthy options, making it a versatile choice for all.

Dining Experience

Yong's Kal-Bi is renowned for its friendly staff who are adept at guiding patrons, especially those new to Korean cuisine, to dishes they might enjoy. With a variety of dining options, including takeaway, dine-in, and private dining room for special occasions, the restaurant caters to all preferences.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

With an impressive 285 reviews on Google My Business, Yong's has earned an average opinion of 4.7/5. Testimonials often highlight the delicious food, the welcoming staff, and the overall value for money despite the minor atmospheric considerations. Customers appreciate the restaurant's ability to balance authenticity with comfort, making it a standout in the local dining scene.

What to Expect

Specialties: Authentic Korean dishes with a Hawaiian twist.
Dining Options: From quick bites to family meals, with options for vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions.
Accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible, including restrooms and seating.
Family-Friendly: Welcomes children with a kids' menu, high chairs, and a cozy atmosphere.
Reservations: Accepts reservations for those planning a special outing.
Payment Options: Accepts credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.

For anyone looking to experience a bit of Korea in Hawaii, Yong's Kal-Bi is a must-visit. Its combination of exquisite cuisine, welcoming service, and accommodating facilities makes it a top choice for diners across the island.

👍 Reviews of Yong's Kal-Bi

Kelly Y.

5/5

Yong’s is one of the reasons I love Big Island even more. I’m already surprised to find Korean food here, but the fact that it’s also delicious is even better!

Charles W.

4/5

I almost never give five stars, so four is a very top rating by me. The food here is delicious. The staff are super friendly and know how to steer inexperienced Korean food eaters toward the right thing. We normally eat-in and I don't think its super nice atmosphere, but its totally clean and well maintained and the food is 100% worth any minor atmosphere miss.

Eric R.

5/5

I liked it. Generous portion of meat and the sides are great. They have tempura Okinawan sweet potato, as well as the standard Korean sides. If they were open on Sunday, I would have gone back the next day. I placed my order with the cashier, instead of the kiosk, and she was very patient with me. It's a fast food place in a strip mall and the atmosphere is plain and simple.

Charles P.

3/5

I had high hopes before stepping into the restaurant based the Google rating/reviews but the food gods were not on my side today...food was bland/watered down.....perhaps to meet local tastes? But in an effort to meet local/everyone's taste, they stripped away the bright/fiery/bold flavorus that makes Korean food so special. If you have the time, it's best to drive 60 min more to Hilo and try Cham Cham Korean BBQ Restaurant (the best Korean food on Big Island in my humble opinion). My wife and I had the following dishes: 1) Kimchi Chigae/Stew (watered down/bland taste); 2) Seaweed Soup (not bad but a bit too salty); 3) Fish Mahi Mahi Jun (tasty but a tad salty)....we got 3 side banchan for each dish....all were tasty and what made the review rating go from a potential 2 to a 3 rating. If you're in the Waimea area and don't have the time to drive to Hilo, would stick with Bibimbap....we didn't order this dish but it looked like a lot of locals were eating that + hard to screw that up 🙂

kiana L.

5/5

We got there right when they opened and lined came in through... that's when you know it's good.

It's been awhile since I was here but I was craving meat Jun (#1) so badly !

If you're k-pop fans they were jamming some kpop.

If you dine in there are a few tables to eat at! You have to bus your own tables, they have the dish station in the front to the left.

They had the daily bread in Korean which was cool to just see something in Korean.

The menu is so nicely written out, and it's in both English AND Korean which is cool to see.

The staff is busy, but patient with all of us.

3 veggies! Faves are jap chae, seaweed, bean sprouts.

Wendy Z.

5/5

Great place! The kimichi soup tasted authentic, with plenty of ingredients and meat. All entrees came with three side dishes for free. highly recommend, especially during rainy day, you’ll be impressed for sure.

Jenny F.

4/5

We ordered Kalbi $29, and bugogi $18. Both dishes came with rice and 3 sides, big enough to share. We also ordered the mushroom pancake of the day. You order at the front and they bring you the food, and you have to bus your own table. Flavors were good, kalbi wasn't too tender and didn't have a char bbq as one might expect, bugogi was three large slice of beef (not like the pre-sliced version we had in the mainland US). It took me some time to cut the bugogi, and the meat got cold real fast. I wish they'd served them on the hot plates. Interior looks old, but big enough to not worry about seating. This place would not do well in mainland USA, but probably ranks top on this island. I would come back if I live here.

Emily H.

5/5

Amazing Korean home cooking! We are from California and have great access to Korean food, and thought this place was bomb.

We got the garlic chive onion pancake, tofu bibimbop and the 22 combo with Korean chicken, bulgogi and mandu. The tofu bibimbop was so flavorful, all the veggies were seasoned or pickled perfectly. The Korean chicken was our favorite of the combo plate.

Giant portions too, as well as really sweet staff. It you’re thinking about coming in, do it!