Pearl’s Korean BBQ

Pearl's Korean BBQ – Where to Fuel Up for More Shopping Fun in Kahului
The Bottom Line:

As you shop your heart out at Queen Kaahumanu Center, you’re bound to work up an appetite, paving the way for a visit to Pearl’s Korean BBQ. Set in the food court, this local chain goes big on the classic flavors and portions to fill you up right. Plus, they work fast, so you can get back to shopping in no time flat.

- The HawaiianIslands.com Local Expert Team

When you want to fuel up for even more Queen Kaahumanu Center shopping adventures, you can always count on Pearl’s Korean BBQ to come through in a big way. A true food court favorite, this little eatery rolls out all the classic flavors on the double. From Chicken Katsu to Squid Stir Fry, they have a little something for everyone – and it’s all made throughout the day to keep you from waiting too long.

On top of that, they serve all their creations in enormous portions, leaving you filled to the brim with all your favorite flavors. In fact, their portions are so huge that you’re likely to have plenty of leftovers from a single meal. Thankfully, all their items heat up well, later on, so you can get a meal and a snack in just one visit.

To get a taste of what they’re serving up, you just have to hop in line and wait your turn to order. As you near the counter, you’ll get to see all their top dishes piping hot and ready to serve as they’re ordered. With help from that view, it becomes quite easy to decide what to get.

Upon reaching the counter, it’s time to simply let the team know which entrée you’d like to enjoy. After that, you can pick up to four sides from their many well-prepared dishes, including bean sprouts, pasta, sauteed veggies, corn, and so much more. Most entrees also come with a large scoop of white rice to bring all the flavors together.

As you make your selections, your server will pile all the food in a big takeout container, and then secure the lid. You can then decide if you’d like to order anything else, including a drink to go with your meal. Upon finishing putting in your order, it’s time to pay, and then find a seat in the food court. The mall stays pretty busy all day long, so don’t be surprised if you need to search around a bit for an open table.

Don’t miss the chance to try:

Kimchee Soup
To enjoy the perfect balance of zesty to sour flavors, go with the Kimchee Soup, for sure. This dish starts with a truly flavorful broth made to complement the fresh kimchee. Then, they kick it up a notch by adding plenty of kimchee to the broth and letting it all simmer together beautifully.

Chicken Katsu
For a crispy flavor experience to remember, set your sights on their yummy Chicken Katsu. They make this dish by breading chicken breast in panko crumbs and then frying it until golden brown. Once it’s done, the katsu gets sliced up and served with a decadent sauce.

Bi Bim Bap
A true classic, the Bi Bim Bap never fails to delight with its bright, bold flavors in every single bite. To create this fantastic dish, they fry cold rice until perfectly done, and then add fresh sauteed veggies to the mix. Marinated beef joins the party next, followed by a single fried egg right on top.

If you’re not planning on going shopping but still find yourself craving Korean BBQ, just call for delivery. They only deliver to Kahului and Wailuku, however, so you’ll have to be close by to get a taste. On top of that, you’ll need to hit their $40 order minimum plus plan to provide your driver with a tip. Otherwise, call for takeout and they’ll have your order ready to go when you arrive.

Insider Tips:
-If you’re planning a big party any time soon, their Korean BBQ catering services are the way to go. To get started, just call their team to put in your order.
-Even their spicy dishes are relatively mild, so bring your own hot sauce if you want to jazz it up.
-Want to keep all the flavors separate? Ask to get your sides in a separate container.