$6 Bowls at Waipahu’s Yujin K-Bowl Are Perfect for These Times

Photo: Eric Baranda

Six bucks doesn’t get you much these days, but at Yujin K-Bowl in Waipahu, it gets you a Korean bowl with a couple of fixings. And when they say $6, they really mean $6. The bowls are $5.70 before tax and exactly $6 after.

Formerly known as Yujin K-BBQ, the restaurant is owned by Joungah and Yujin Bae. Yujin K-BBQ was a more typical Korean takeout, with a separate breakfast menu and all kinds of plate lunch combos with your choice of four banchan. The Baes introduced the new Yujin K-Bowl concept a few weeks ago. When I asked why they made the change, they talked about how their kitchen was perpetually hot and smoky, and preparing everything was a lot of work.

Photo: Eric Baranda

They wanted a more efficient way to serve up hot, delicious meals. That’s how Yujin K-Bowl was born.

All of the 10 bowls come standard with rice, canned corn and japchae. I’m not a fan of corn, so I usually ask them to leave it out. K-bowls I haven’t tried yet include those with shrimp tempura, mandoo and fish jun. There’s also the Yujin Bowl, which is a slightly larger bulgogi-and-spicy pork combo bowl for $9. Kimbap rolls are $6. Both are also amazing deals.

Here’s my take on what we tried.

SEE ALSO: Korean Dishes You Probably Don’t Know (But Should)

Yujin Bowl minus the usual corn. Photo: Eric Baranda

Yujin Bowl, $9

The Yujin Bowl’s bulgogi and spicy pork end up being two of my favorites.

The bulgogi is nicely salty and savory, with a hint of ginger and just enough sweetness to balance everything out. It’s flavorful without the sweetness taking over and one of the standouts for me.

I’m surprised by the spicy pork. It’s sweet with enough spice to give it a satisfying kick, but not so much that I’m gasping for breath. The heat lingers pleasantly on your tongue and around your mouth, and the pork has the right amount of fat to give it plenty of flavor.

Meat jun bowl without the usual corn. Photo: Eric Baranda

Meat Jun, $6

This isn’t overly greasy or oily, which I appreciate. You can actually taste the egg batter around the meat, and the overall flavor is light and savory. It’s a simpler flavor compared with some of the other bowls, but still satisfying.

Photo: Eric Baranda

Kimmari, $6

The kimmari isn’t as crispy as I expect, but what really stands out are all the different textures. The outside gives way to a soft, almost gelatinous center filled with chewy glass noodles, with bits of carrot and the savory flavor of seaweed coming through. I find the combination of soft and chewy textures fascinating and really enjoy it.

Photo: Eric Baranda

Honey Garlic Chicken, $6

The chicken takes a few bites to win me over. At first, the flavor is a little bland, but the more I eat, the more a nutty, earthy umami starts coming through. There’s a light sweetness from the honey, and the chicken is tender. By the end, it may be tied with the bulgogi and spicy pork as my favorite.

Japchae (side)

The japchae that comes with each bowl is more than just filler. The noodles are without beef or vegetables, but they are sweet, chewy and flavorful, with a slight peppery taste. With the japchae K-bowl, however, the noodles are loaded with beef and veggies.

Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m., 94-300 Farrington Highway, Waipahu, (808) 200-2159, @yujin_k_bowl

Eric Baranda is a longtime contributor to Frolic Hawai‘i.