Elim Korean Barbeque

I’ve been eating Elim’s BBQ for years now. I love their meat Jun. The portions for their sides are not as much as how some other korean restaurants give but the food is still delicious. I miss seeing Mr Kim but the ladies who are there now are nice.

Pros: Very good plate lunch. Price
Cons: Secluded location in Ewa Beach
Alcohol: Nope
Must try: Korean Potato Salad
Cash Only: First Hawaiian Bank ATM located 2 stores away.
Catering available.
I have been dining here since 2006. I ate here every school day of Sophomore year. Kalbi is always a great choice. Meat Jun is excellent. And honestly, their mandoo is one of my favorites on the island.
The must-​try here is their Korean potato salad. I keep coming back specifically for their mandoo and potato salad.
It’s plate lunch. Don’t expect a luxurious experience. You want ambiance? Try «not Ewa Beach».

Pretty good bulgo gi (beef) here, rivals some of the best. Good portion for a mini plate but pricey, almost $ 10.

we USED to go a lot but they have the same o same o — and the sides are okay — we go to other places —
they are so so lately wish they would create new dishes — or sides —
ANYWAYS — we still go there — once in a while —

When my husband and I moved to Ewa, we wanted to try all the Korean restaurants in the area. We are fans of Tasty’s in Waipahu, and that’s kind of what we compared it to. In Ewa, we found this place and Pearls. We tried Pearls first as it was closer, and then here.
I wasn’t pleased with this place. CASH ONLY here. If you are purchasing food for more than yourself, who really carries that much cash around anymore? I’m just saying.
The food wasn’t that great. I had the meat jun/​kalbi plate all veggies (cucumber, potatoes, kimchee). The meat didn’t have any flavor, but at least it wasn’t dry. The different types of kimchee tasted like they just made it an hour ago. The cucumbers still tasted like a cucumber with chili paste slapped on there. So disappointing!
We definitely won’t be coming back here.

There must be a new owner — what happened to the old Korean man who talked story with his customers while waiting for the food to be ready? We used to drive there from Kapolei because the food was tasty and the portions were generous. I ate there about a month ago and found the food not as tasty and definitely more expensive than other korean food places. when I was there waiting for my food, I personally witnessed several customers look at the menu board and walk out. One did not know it was «cash only» — so cancelled his order and said he would be back after getting cash at an ATM — he never returned. The «cash only» sign at the register was a «turn off.» I see this as an attempt by the restaurant owner to avoid printing register receipts and as a «tax avoidance» measure. Sorry, but that’s how I see it — and I won’t be back.

We used to love this place because they always were on point with their portions.
Lately they’ve been holding back.

I’ve been going here since I was young, and the food is just as good as I remember, excellent and delicious. I had a mini meat jun/​bbq chicken plate with shoyu potato and bean sprouts. The mini is the perfect size for me, I feel like it might have been a little more before and probably cheaper, but other than that, they have some of my favorite Korean food. The woman who helped me was very kind and sweet, and of course welcoming. You should definitely give it a try if you’re around in Ewa. :)

Expensive. And definitely expensive for Ewa Beach. Elim’s isn’t located in the «nice» part of EB where all the progress is happening, with the new «luxury» homes and Safeway. It’s in, like, *Ewa Beach*, as in by Campbell HS, the state’s busiest McDonalds, and the dimmest lit Longs on the island, so considering the location, it’s pretty expensive. Two mini’s (a BBQ chicken mini and a kalbi mini) and two regulars (Meat Jun Mandoo combo, and Kalbi Mandoo combo) came to $ 46. Yes. F.O.R.T.Y S.I.X. dollars. In E.W.A. B.E.A.C.H. For K.O.R.E.A.N. fast food, not cuisine. Fast food.
BUT, with that said, their food is pretty damn good. The kalbi actually has meat on it, and the flavor is just deep with grilled BBQ essence. The Mandoo was yums. My hubby’s meat jun was very close to Soon’s in Salt Lake — not the same. Soon’s is special. But verrrryyyy close. So definitely good. The veggies were ono too, though next time I’ll probably pass on the bean sprouts. They were kinda watery and soggy. But the shoyu potatoes, chop chae, and tofu were delicious. Plenty rice, cooked just right. So in the end, I guess it was worth it… kind of, but just know that it’s kinda pricey for food that comes in styrofoam. I don’t know what the prices are at Pearl’s, but Elim is super mom and pop, not a franchise, and you do get a lot of food. So support local businesses in the ‘nei; you’ll be in for a treat :)

This place is always good. The food, the worker’s. Nuff said! I always get the half meat jun and half fish jun. It’s pricey but fair quality.

Elims has that mom and pops restaurant feel to it compared to the other Korean fast food franchises on the island. Located in the heart of Ewa EWA beach, I’ve heard this place had good Korean food. I ordered the meat jun which was great. The prices for a mini is also affordable and they gave free katsu sauce to my friend when he asked for it for his chicken katsu. The place could be a little cleaner but service was great and our food came out quick.

Everything was high quality and fresh. Very very good short ribs and spicy chicken. You also get 4 sides with a meal which is very cool. Will def be eating at again.

One of the best Korean restaurants I’ve eaten at. The sides you can choose from are better quality than most Korea BBQs, they give a lot too.
Good choices, good portions, and good meat jun. Come very hungry. Not for people with small stomachs

Would be better if they would Lower their prices. Plates cost so much but so skimpy. I rather go Pearls, so worth your money.

Located in a strip center we came in mid afternoon after playing a round of golf nearby. The restaurant which is small was empty because it was well pass the lunch hour.
We didn’t know what to expect but when we received our food — the Elim Special was yummy. The meal came with Korean ribs, chicken, pork and choices of 3 sides of cold veggies — all of which were tasty.
The Korean woman behind the counter was friendly, helpful and the food was solid.
I would come back here again and recommend this establishment for lunch or dinner.

This place gives a lot of the main dish, not so much of the vegetables — I wish it were the other way around, but no matter — the food is delicious! Although Korean plate lunches are on the expensive side, I will take my cravings here when I am near Ewa Beach!
The service was also nice but seemed a little persistent when I was contemplating what sides to get — it’s difficult to choose what you want when someone keeps asking you «so this one?»
I also like the fact that they don’t slice up the meat for you when you get your plate because it keeps the food warm longer on the car ride home.

Elim is Located in the Ewa Beach Shopping Center Right Next to Shiro’s! It took me a while to Write a Review about this Establishment because I wanted to give it a Try a Few More Times before I could make an Informed Decision… So Here I go!
I went there today, and Lemme Tell Ya! It was… Pleasant! =) The Cashier at the Counter was Very Nice & Friendly! The Establishment was Very Clean.
I Ordered the «Regular» Meat Jun Plate, and Let’s just say… I could feed another person for that plate! There were a Total of 3 Very Big, Hot and Well Cooked Pieces laying on The Rice! It was Really Good… and yes, I have lots of leftovers! lol and, you do have a Choice of 4 Side Dishes that looked Pleasing to the Eye, and Fresh! With the Mini, You have a Choice of 2 Sides! =)
I guess they must have made changes to the Cashiers, because the Ladies that worked there before this one, Looked Lazy, Bored and didn’t look like they wanted to be there!
So, for those of you on the Wesside if you got a Cravin for some Korean Food… I say go to Elim’s! It is a Bit Pricey, but They Do Give You A lot! It’s Just My Opinion, You Don’t Have to Take My Word for it! I’m just Basing it on My Past Experiences, and Today’s Experience! =)

Honestly most of the take out Korean places I have tried around the island suck. This place is much better. It is also the only Korean place to eat in Ewa Beach. The one thing I like here is the tofu soup. It has to be spicy. Their spicy is not really hot. It a large serving soup that comes with vegetables and shredded pork. So it’s great when your sick. It’s the only thing I want and crave here. The other stuff are ok. The counter girls and the owner always top off the plates with a lot of side vegetables when you take out. Meats portions are on the small side though.

Good Korean food!
The place is simple nothing to special about it, its just like any other Korean restaurant selling the same type of food items.
The service here was good. I’m not sure if what Johnelle P. said is true but I guess its a good thing I got the old guy serving behind the counter. He was quick coming out from the back of the restaurant and stood by waiting for my order.
I ordered their regular combo plate fish jun and spicy chicken for about $ 10. The fish was OK nothing to exciting about it but for the spicy chicken, I thought it tasted great it wasn’t to spicy it just had a little kick and it had a tasty BBQ taste.
Unilocal 365 Challenge — #059/​365

Service: Bored counter girls staring at you blankly as you order. Elderly Korean lady yelling at the counter girls. When plate is given to them, they do not double check that this is your order.
Arrive home and open up plate to notice that there are different veggies that you didn’t order AND they are veggies you do NOT like…
Call up Elim Korean BBQ to speak with the manager, which counter girls share that the manager is not in… hmmm. Leave phone number to return call.
Ten minutes later enroute back to Ewa Beach, Elderly Korean woman calls back, who apologizes and shares bring back the plate and they will transfer the actual vegetables because they WILL NOT make a new plate for you.
*quiet*
Then, I say, «Are you the manager?»
Elderly Korean woman w/​a pause, «No, manager is not in but my english is limited and I apologize.» Huh? I don’t think it matters if english is limited or not. I“m just upset that the plate I ordered was not the plate I brought home.
Few minutes later, I enter Elim Korean BBQ, girls take the plate and open to see if I probably ate it. However, they made a new plate and I have a strong feeling the meat was reheated from my previous plate to place into the new container.
I don’t know if this is a bad week for me because I haven’t been giving alot of stars out on the places that I“ve been to this week!