A new Korean buffet out Mililani way
Friday - August 15, 2008
|
Del.icio.us | 
Podcast | WineAndDineHawaii.com Share
|
When Peter Baik opened his first Korean restaurant (Yakiniku Mikawon) in Honolulu almost five years ago, he quickly gained a reputation for serving high quality ingredients - and some say the best kimchi in town. Those same ingredients - along with the recipe for his wife’s kimchi - have moved to Mililani, where local residents now have an all-you-caneat Korean barbecue on their doorstep.
“I’d always wanted to do a barbecue buffet with Korean food,” says Baik,“and when this location came up, I thought it would be perfect.”
Previously Sizzler Restaurant and most recently Makino Chaya, the large space on Meheula Parkway seats 160 people and has lanai seating for another 60 or so.
“There’s room here to accommodate parties and large groups,” says Baik, “and a lot of our customers seem happy that we’ve moved to the area.”
Certainly the space is impressive - with four areas of buffet there’s room enough for the tempura stations, meat displays and other entrees, sides, salads and desserts, and there’s room to walk around the buffet line without feeling cramped. Gas grills have been installed at each table, and parties of six, eight and more can easily eat together.
“What we’re trying to do is to bring the same quality of Korean food that we were known for in Honolulu to this location, and offer it at a great price,” says Baik. “We have the same quality of food. We’re still not using any MSG on the meats, and we’re able to keep the same high standards.”
Jun lovers will appreciate the wide range of fried dishes on offer at both lunch and dinner. “Lots of meat jun, fish, zucchini and tofu here,” says Baik of the lightly fried, golden tempura. And at the same station, help yourself to noodles, fried rice and other tofu and veggie side dishes.
“The freshness of the meat is assured because we go through such huge quantities every day,” adds Baik. “So our food rotates quickly and nothing sits for long.”
If you were a fan of Baik’s boneless short ribs, chicken bulgogi, Jumulluk, galbi or spicy pork from before, you’ll be pleased to see them all here - in larger amounts.
“We serve our meat specialties,” he says, “and when our suppliers have them, we have fresh oysters along with shrimp and clams, too.”
There are almost too many dishes to mention on the daily lunch and dinner buffet, but you can pretty much expect a host of side dishes that include sushi rolls, poke, sashimi, fried anchovies, bean sprouts, fern, daikon, seaweed, dried and spicy squid, along with a selection of hot foods that include fried rice, white rice, kimchi rice, steamed galbi, red potatoes, long rice, fried eggplant, chicken wings, radish soup and seaweed soup. “We rotate and change items as they are available,” says Baik.
|
There’s a special running through August where lunch is just $12.95 and dinner $19.95 - a value that’s hard to beat when you consider soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea and ice cream are all included.
And while portion sizes are obviously as big as you need them to be, it’s still the kimchi that has aficionados coming back again and again.
“My wife makes the kimchi,” says Baik,“and it’s become so popular that we sell it at the restaurant for people to take home.”
The tasty kimchi is made using whole cabbages - not just chopped, pickled leaves - and the priciest ingredients.
“Part of the reason for the high quality of the kimchi is that my wife buys the best ingredients - we use the most expensive red pepper, for example - and she’s also meticulous about keeping the recipe exactly the same every day.”
Baik was born and raised in Seoul, and grew up in the food business. His parents own grocery stores on the Mainland that offer lots of cooked Korean foods.
“I’ve been around food all my life,” he says. “When I came to Hawaii, I thought that there would be a place for a good-quality Korean restaurant. This is authentic and as traditional as you’ll find. It’s the kind of food that we like to eat ourselves.”
Fans of Baik’s food include golfer Michelle Wie, whose recommendations are so high that several LPGA golfers have stopped by for dinner.
“Michelle likes our kimchi stew,” says Baik,“and we’re always happy to make it for anyone who asks.”
Palace Buffet Korean barbecue buffet 623-3000 94-780 Meheula Pkwy. Mililani, Hi 96789
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS Comments (0) |
Most Recent Comment(s):
