Soon's Kal Bi BBQ

Soon's Kal Bi BBQ in Salt Lake Area! If you are a fan of local style korean BBQ plate lunches, this is the king of them all! I have deemed Soon's Kal Bi BBQ my FAVORITE Local Korean Meat Jhun on the island.

(Picture Taken from their Facebook)

Restaurant Name: Soon's Kal Bi BBQ
Address/Location:
898 Ala Lilikoi St.
Honolulu, HI 96818-2144
Soon's Kal Bi BBQ's Website (Facebook)
Price range: (cheap to expensive): 2/5
Parking: About 10-15 stalls nearby, or you can park anywhere in the shopping center and walk

Meat Jhun Plate

Wait/Service/Atmosphere: Sometimes the wait at this local joint is a little long, but that's only because it's THAT good. People tend to flock when they smell the yummy Korean BBQ cooking. This is a plate lunch place, so there's no table service, but there are 3 tables on the left hand side where you can sit and grind. The cashiers have always been friendly to me, and i've had no trouble in that aspect. Soon's is just a cute little plate lunch window shop, and it's been the same for as long as I can remember. And i'd like it to stay that way!

Quality/Quantity: OH MAN! The quality of the meat jhun is awesome! I love the way they make their meat jhun; it's always been different from everyone else's. This is a more thin, dry meat jhun, versus a more juicy and meaty type. Their batter is fried to a crisp, so it has these extra crispy bits on them that make the experience all the better. They also give a LOT! I usually can't finish one plate, and half to take half home. Each plate comes with Korean veggies (local style) in a small foil bowl (bean sprouts, cabbage, and kim chee). It also comes with 2 scoops of rice.

Plating: This plate lunch comes in a regular sized white styrofoam plate, but if you order just one plate, they sometimes place it in a paper bag instead of a plastic one. I don't know why, but this adds to their unique-ness.

Pricing: Soon's is priced decently at about $6-7 a plate. But if you want the special, it'll be more like $9-10. It's all worth it in my opinion though, since they give so much. And with quality like that, it's hard to turn down when you're in the area.

Other: I've also tried their Kal Bi, which is another winner. :D

Overall: 10 /10

Island Vintage Coffee

Review on Island Vintage Coffee "Vintage Kona Mocha" drink.
Yes, you need to try it, and yes it is that delicious.
I even got a non-coffee drinker to try it and she says its yummy. =)

Restaurant Name: Island Vintage Coffee
Address/Location:
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96814
Street Level, near the food court, in between the ABC store and Philip Rickard Honolulu
OR
In the food court where the cove bar used to be
Island Vintage Coffee's Website
Price range: (cheap to expensive): 3/5
Parking: Anywhere in the mall

Vintage Kona Mocha

Wait/Service/Atmosphere: This little cafe is very cute with its bright white walls, and dark coffee bean colored chairs and trimmings to give a nice clean look. There's a lot of coffee to buy, and other merchandise. The barista and cashier were very friendly. The seating was not as comfortable as it looked, but this area still makes a nice place to chat with a friend.

Quality/Quantity: I got the "Vintage Kona Mocha" (iced blended) drink. This was recommended to me by a friend, and boy was I happy to have gotten it. This drink is divine! It's probably loaded with empty calories, but its worth the extra workout every now and then. You can tell it's made with high quality ingredients. This has coffee, ice, cream, macadamia nuts, coconuts, peaberry coffee bean bits and whipped cream. This tastes like a little bit of heaven, and will knock a Mocha Frappuccino out of the park anyday.

Plating: I love the cup! It's made from corn, so I believe it's completely biodegradable. There is nothing better than sipping some awesome coffee while knowing that you're saving the earth one step at a time!

Pricing: They do run a little pricey, but not much more than a Venti ice blended drink at Starbucks. I paid $5.71 for this large size.

Other: I haven't tried anything else from them, but I will in the future. They have a nice array of pastries and treats, and much more on their drink menu.

Overall: 9/10

Jewel or Juice

OM NOM NOM!

When looking for a tasty, fruity, acai bowl, my usual spot is Lanikai Juice.

But I definitely found a diamond in the rough, so to speak.

Restaurant Name: Jewel or Juice
Address/Location:
3619 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816
Tel: (808)5734-1700; (808) 447-7625
Jewel or Juice's Website
Price range: (cheap to expensive): 2.5/5
Parking: Metered parking lot

Wait/Service/Atmosphere: This cute little corner shop has about 5 or 6 tables, and an even cuter inside decor. There are a lot of bright colors in this place, and it has such a cheerful ambiance around it. The people behind the register are smiley and friendly, and seem happy to be serving you great, healthy food. Sometimes there can be a bit of a wait, because it seems pretty popular around lunch time.

Menu: The menu boasts some pretty unique smoothies and dishes. The Warrior Bowl looks good, but it would probably kick my butt. I opted for the Rio Bowl with Honey:


I believe this is the 24 oz. bowl. Double acai with apple juice and bananas mixed in, topped with organic granola, fresh bananas and honey.

Quality/Quantity: There was so much in my bowl that I didn't finish it! Jewel and Juice's acai bowls have a thicker consistency than most acai bowls do, and I can appreciate this. I would recommend not getting it with honey though, because it's already sweet! =) The granola was fresh, and the bananas sweet. Perfect on a hot summer day, or just any old day, really.

Plating: The plating goes perfectly with the atmosphere! Cute colorful bowls in fun shapes! It makes the overall feel of the place different and upbeat! Cute and modern, too.

Pricing: My bowl cost about $7, add $ 0.50 for the honey. Not too bad for lunch, huh? Trust me, you'll be full afterward!

Other: They also sell beads and jewelry here (hence the name). I didn't get to take a look at them, but they seem cute and affordable!

Overall: 9/10

Therapy (sports bar and grill)

Thank god for paychecks! I decided to splurge on some good food! I took my boyfriend out to dinner at Therapy sports bar and grill.

I just gotta say thanks to Kelli Miura for introducing me to this place! Wonderful place for recreation, relaxing, and of course, "liquid therapy".

Restaurant Name: Therapy (sports bar and grill)
Address/Location:

7192 Kalanianaole Hwy, D-105
Honolulu, HI 96825

(808) 394-8200
Price range: (cheap to expensive): 3/5
Parking: Yes, tons.

Wait/Service/Atmosphere: I think the atmosphere in this place can please everyone. There's a bar, equipped with multiple flat screen TV's, multiple game areas for the kiddies (and the kiddies at heart), and a floor to ceiling glass wall overlooking the piers and the beautiful mountain range. That covers the men, the kids, and the women. Perfect! There usually isn't a wait at this place. From the times that i've gone, the place wasn't very busy, and most of the people were seated at the bar, watching some game or fight and sipping on a beer. The service is usually attentive and helpful, and not to mention quick. The only complaint is that there usually isn't someone at the door, there to greet you, but I guess that's just the sports bar scene.

Menu: Holy cow! Therapy's menu boasts SO MANY CHOICES. Two pages dedicated to just sushi rolls! There are also so many appetizers to choose from! It's like pupu heaven. This time around we ordered:

Crab Mandu with Sweet Chili Sauce


Fries with 5 different dips (there's an extra ketchup)


Wasabi Chicken


Garlic Chicken


Strawberry Mojito


... and a few beers (I'm assuming everyone knows what a Budweiser looks like)

Quality/Quantity: The quantity is good for the price. Not the best, but definitely enough for two of us to take some home afterward. The quality is what makes us go back. WOW is all I can say. The garlic chicken is KILLER! This garlic chicken isn't really like Mitsuken's garlic chicken which is a bit on the harder side and clumped up into huge pieces. This chicken is cut up a little smaller, and is deep fried in a way that makes the crispy skin pieces melt in your mouth. It's savory and delicious. YUM. The Crab Mandu is one of my favorites mainly because I have a soft spot for crab mandu. The Wasabi Chicken was good, but it didn't beat the garlic chicken. The wasabi sauce was basically mayo and wasabi (which I really like, but a little too much over the chicken). The fries were awesome; they came with wasabi dip, chipotle dip (i'm assuming), ketchup, ranch, and nacho cheese. And I REALLY loved that strawberry mojito (which comes in strawberry, lilikoi, mango, or regular).

Plating: The plating is nice, pretty much the same standard white plates that everyone else uses. Nothing too big here.

Pricing: Appetizers usually range from $5 to $10. Main dishes and rolls are a little pricier, starting at $8 to $17. Drinks range from $3 to $10, depending on your tastes. I think they have desserts, but we haven't gotten there yet.

Other: I personally recommend always getting the Garlic Chicken! I love this place, but unfortunately it's out of my way in the Koko Marina shopping center. But it's definitely worth the trek once in a while ;o)

Review for Satura Cakes

I must say, that I'm an equal/equal foodie lover. I don't necessarily love salty, savory items more than sweets, so I love all things equally, as long as they're tasty.

But Satura Cakes has been one of my favorites for years now. This is one of my "splurge" desserts (as in wallet, not calories). And it's conveniently located at Ward Centre, so I can frequent this spot.

But on with the review!

This review is for: Satura Cup-cakes, French Toast pastry, Hot Cocoa, and Espresso Affogato.

Restaurant Name: Satura Cakes
Address/Location:
1200 Ala Moana Blvd. Bld 6, Suite 601 Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 / Ward Centre
Tel: (808)537-1206 Fax: (808) 537-1208
www.saturacakes.com
Price range: (cheap to expensive): 3.5/5
Parking: Yes, in building / street parking

Wait/Service/Atmosphere: There is no wait! There is usually a table open inside, and if not, and if it's a nice day/night, there are many tables outside. And this cafe is more of a self-service place, versus a restaurant style. If you do happen to have an item that requires cooking or heating, the servers (who are so sweet) will bring it to you happily. I've only had the best service here. I LOVE the atmosphere in this cafe. It's always clean, and it's got a great modern feel. It's a great place to come and have a sweet dessert and tag your laptop along (they offer free wireless!) indoors. Also a great place to network, and have a business chat over coffee. Outside is a great place to have some iced tea or coffee on a bright day, with a little sweet on the side. It's perfect day or night.

Menu: I didn't realize the menu was so broad! I haven't tried anything but their cup-cakes, cheesecake, French Toast, and a few drinks, but they also have things like sandwiches and cookies. You can see their menu HERE. (This menu is for pick up in the Hawaii region)

French Toast (warmed with whipped cream and cinnamon)

Hot Cocoa, Satura Strawberry shortcake Cup-cake, and Creme Fraiche Cup-cake.

Espresso Affogato (A cup of strong espresso, chilled with a scoop of vanilla gelato inside)

Quality/Quantity: These cakes are outstanding! I love the quality of the cakes, dense but not so heavy, and the variety of frosting is amazing. I love the consistency of the toppings and everything that comes with it! These cakes are definitely made to perfection, and you can tell that they take price in their products. With these type of pastries, a little is a lot. I can't say the quantity will be the best for your buck, but I can say that because these little tidbits are so rich, I think more would be too much for the taste buds and the waistline. So I give my stamp of approval for quantity.

Plating: I love their cute boxes and cups! Signature bright orange, with white lettering really makes this place stand out. When enjoying your food there, they put things on plates for you with metal cutlery, instead of plastick forks and knives! Yay for being plastic free!

Pricing: Cutienekogurl: Satura's can easily range from 3$ a cupcake to 5$ a sandwich, making a complete meal 10-15$. Again, the quality of food and service is above par, but is still more of a treat to ones self.
They however have nice specials for students and office workers, often saving a couple bucks here and there.

Other: My personal favorite is the Creme Fraiche cup-cake. It's a very clean, almost plain taste, but it's like a light cheesecake. It's got layers of cake, cheesecake, and whipped topping. YUM! The French Toast is a close second though... It's warmed and crispy on the outside, but soft and buttery on the inside. Not to mention it's topped with a load of whipped cream and cinnamon.

Overall: 9.5 /10