FUUD: Young's Kal Bee in Aiea
By Cat
There's not many lunch entrees I love more than meat jun.
And I'm always searching for the perfect egg-battered barbecue meat.
So when my girlfriend told me about Young's Kal Bee in 'Aiea — she lives up the road from the eatery — I had to check it out. (And I had to take my mom, too.)
Outside the Korean eatery in Aiea Town Square.
Even at off-peak times, Young's is always packed with patrons.
Young's has been in business for more than 20 years. (Its first location was across the street in 'Aiea Shopping Center where Jamba Juice is.) And during that span, it has always been known for its meat jun.
In fact, the dish is award-winning. Yes, it's that good.
But meat jun isn't the only thing on the menu.
Young's is a full-service Korean restaurant, with such staples as bibimbap, kim chee fried rice and kalbi shortribs. But it also serves up a variety of not-so-traditional dishes such as squid tempura and fried butterfish.
Here's what we ate:
My mom ordered the meat jun in a small portion ($8.90, $10.60 for regular). It came with rice and veggies.
What makes this meat jun so good — I think, anyway — is the batter and the meat. You know you're eating good meat jun when you don't need the sauce!
A close-up of the meat jun. The sweet batter works well with the seasoned meat. It's tasty on its own.
But the sauce does enhance the flavor experience!
I got the lunch special ($9.60), which is served until 5 p.m. It comes with barbecue chicken, meat jun, fried mandoo, three veggies, rice and kim chee.
This was one of the better kim chee sides I've had. Not overpowering; still crunchy.
Both meals come with a clear broth soup. (I skipped it.)
I really liked the barbecue chicken, even the slightly charred ends. (My favorite part, actually.)
I was bummed I only got one fried mandoo.
A close-up of the veggies, a standard in Korean restaurants. It was a lot of food for one person.
I can see why the meat jun has won so many awards, why the restaurant is always packed — and why I'd drive out again to 'Aiea on my lunch break!
Young's Kal Bee, Aiea Town Square, 99-080 Kauhale St. Hours: 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sunday, closed second Tuesday of every month. Phone: 488-0251.
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Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish, send her an e-mail at cat@thecatdish.com, and now watch her every Thursday at 6:45 a.m. on KHNL News 8.
The Daily Dish
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:11 am
that is one big lunch special.where's the mac salad? Definately worth a try just for the kim chee -thats a mouth-watering ,award winning photo.Convinced me! Thanks for the tip. Happy Fourth! Remember only u can prevent forest fires.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:38 am
Niiice!! Looks massively ono, Cat! We went to a Japanese/Korean place here in NYC this week. Had a gigantic Korean spread at a front row table, watching stand-up comedy.
But alas, the fuud could not even compare with the good kine grinds back home (the jokes were cool, tho!)
Mahalo for sharing, Catherine, as always - helps ease the perpetual homesickness...
Enjoy your 4th!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:53 am
Agree with oldshoes, kimchee mas iso yo. The kimchee looked great, looks like from your most excellent pic that it is stuffed with julienned daikon as the best cabbage kimchees are. I can also see why you went for the BBQ chicken, it looks perfectly done. Aigoo, soksanghae, paego pa! I can see why this place gets high marks, now if I could only taste it right now.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:09 am
Yes, the meat jun is awesome. I always get the party tray of meat jun for the Tsai-kos tailgate for UH football games. Place your order the day before and it will be ready for pickup by 10:30-11:00 am just in time for the tailgate. My favorite is the kalbi plate.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:53 am
I forgot about that place, haven't been there for years. Your review sounds so good, I'll make it a point to go back soon. Is meat jun a local Korean thing? I remember trying to find a Korean restaurant in Seattle that serves meat jun and none of them did.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:54 am
......drool. broke da mouth!
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:30 am
Fuud pix Friday! Cat, you ALWAYS make the fuud look so ono!
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:44 am
Try O-Bok in Manoa Marketplace. Their meat jun is good.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:14 am
Good Morning Cat!
Friday fuud pics!
Yummy yummy yummy, your plate looks soooo oooonooo!
If you like guud Kim Chee, you gotta ask Braddah Lance to make you some. His kim chee broke da mouth, da bestes.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 am
Their veggies are great too.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:37 am
*drool* sorry I gotta wipe my mouth. Good thing lunch time
Thanks for another place to add to my list when I come over.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:53 pm
That meat jun looks good and I like what you've got on your plate too, Cat!
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 pm
you skipped the soup?
thats the best part! i always feel like i have to take a nap after eating there.
mmm. and you're right. their meat jun is unreal.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Ggggrrrrrrr.... now, I'm really hungry!!!
As always (especially on Fridays!) Cat, mahalo for sharing.....
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Happy 4th of July to all!!! 
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July 5th, 2009 at 8:16 am
CAT,
Aaaiiiyyyaaahhh! FUUD Pix! Tenks! I happened to be in the area this weekend...will check it out!
July 5th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Hi Cat - So is this place better for Meat Jun or is Soon's in Salt Lake the better of the two? I might have to come back to Hawaii to check it out...
July 6th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I'm glad you featured Young's on your blog! I've been going there for years! Yay they will have a boost in business now thanks to your blog. ^_^
I love their kimchee. I use it to make mandoo sometimes but also just love eating it with my meal...like you said it's crunchy and has great flavor. Their meat jun IS awesome, and the service is friendly. I was going there since it was still at its original location across the street. Their family is very nice. Yummy!!!
July 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Cat, do you really have to tell everyone where the best food is ALL the time?
Young's has long been a favorite of ours. The lunch special is always a popular choice and the meat jun is the best I've had. We had a debate about this on Twitter last year and still haven't had the meat jun tweetup yet...maybe it's time!