Hawaiian BBQ & Korean Restaurant in Oklahoma City: Dual-Concept Dining with Kalbi and Kalua Pork
A standalone restaurant in Oklahoma City that serves both Korean BBQ and Hawaiian plate lunch, Hawaiian BBQ & Korean Restaurant operates as a casual counter-service spot where customers order at the register and eat in a small dining room or take out. The dual concept is unusual for the Oklahoma City market, where Korean restaurants typically focus on one cuisine; this operation treats both with equal kitchen attention rather than offering Hawaiian food as a secondary menu item.
What You Actually Order
The Korean side centers on marinated beef bulgogi and kalbi (short ribs), served as lunch bowls with steamed rice, soup, and pickled vegetables (banchan), or as proteins for grilled-to-order table service where available. Kalbi marinates in soy, sesame, and pear, a traditional prep that softens the meat. Sides rotate but typically include kimchi, seasoned spinach, and braised egg; the quality of these accompaniments separates adequately executed Korean lunch from careless assembly.
The Hawaiian side offers kalua pork plate lunch, laulau (pork wrapped in taro leaves), and loco moco (hamburger patty over rice with brown gravy and fried egg), all served with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad. The kalua pork is slow-cooked rather than smoked, producing the shredded, falling-apart texture of authentic Hawaiian preparation rather than the bark-heavy profile of American barbecue.
Pricing sits in the lunch-counter range: Korean bowls run $11–$14 depending on protein, and Hawaiian plate lunches run $12–$15. These prices do not include beverages or tax. Confirm current pricing by calling ahead, as component costs for imported ingredients shift seasonally.
How It Stacks Against Oklahoma City Korean Options
Oklahoma City's Korean restaurant landscape remains small. Most established Korean restaurants in the metro area (such as those in Midtown near NW 23rd Street) focus on either table-service sit-down dining or takeout-only pho and noodle shops. Hawaiian BBQ & Korean Restaurant differs by offering counter-service lunch bowls at a price point lower than full-table service while maintaining marination quality that casual ramen shops typically do not.
If you want an extensive Korean menu with soups, stews, and seafood options, a traditional sit-down Korean restaurant will serve you better. If you want fast Korean lunch with meat marinades that taste properly balanced, this spot competes directly with food courts and mall vendors in the region by controlling its own prep. The Hawaiian menu option makes it a crossover choice for groups with mixed preferences.
Menu Breadth and Single-Visit Reality
Neither menu is extensive. Korean offerings typically include three to four protein options; Hawaiian plates run to five or six. A first visit should treat this as a lunch counter stop, not an exploratory tasting. Order one protein bowl and one Hawaiian plate to compare execution across both concepts. The kitchen operates within its limits rather than stretching into large-format catering or buffet service.
Who This Suits and Who It Does Not
This restaurant suits lunch-break visitors and people seeking authentic marinated Korean beef or traditional Hawaiian plate lunch in a grab-and-go format. It does not suit diners expecting restaurant-level table service, extensive beverage programs, or ambiance designed for lingering. It does not accommodate groups larger than 8–10 without advance notice, given the small footprint.
Logistics and Hours
The restaurant operates as a neighborhood spot without major parking obstacles, though exact location and current hours change; call or verify online before visiting. It closes between lunch and dinner service, typical for counter-service concepts. Payment methods and dine-in versus takeout ratios are best confirmed by phone before a first trip, as these can shift with staffing.
Why It Belongs in Oklahoma City
Hawaiian BBQ & Korean Restaurant fills a specific gap in the city's food landscape by offering two cuisines that Oklahoma City diners encounter infrequently at this price and speed. For people who have lived in or visited Hawaii or Korea, it delivers authentic protein preparation at lunch-counter cost rather than requiring a sit-down reservation or settling for frozen supermarket versions.
