After our wonderful dinner at Izakaya Uosan and our walk along Ala Moana Park, we took a stroll thru Ala Moana Center up to Kapiolani and proceeded to head back to the hotel. I had a moment of nostalgia when we passed the corner of Kapiolani and Ke’eaumoku. And no, it wasn't because there used to be a KFC on this corner forever. Close to the corner was a favorite stop of mine; Tower Records. And even before that was a place near that corner that in my mind changed the music scene in Hawaii. A club named Toppe Ada Shoppe.
Of course, locals from my generation will either quickly say C&K or Kalapana, whom we saw there. But, on one of the times my friend's brother sneaked us in, I saw a certain band. I still remember the lyrics – "I wish upon a Summer moonbeam….."
Oh-kay…….that got to me. I had to play the song. I still have the CD in one of my boxes too!
Just in case you like listen:
Anyway, the Missus noticed that it was almost 615…so She said we needed to head to the Lanai in Ala Moana Center. You see, around 630-645 Musubi Cafe Iyasume in the Lanai which I've posted on before will sometimes have discounts on their musubi, which I'll have for breakfast. And on this evening….
Yep, 50% off….so I had breakfast for the next morning!
Ah yes, breakfast with a view…..
Musubi Cafe Iyasume (In the Lanai – Ala Moana Center)
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
We'd be heading back to Ewa Beach on this day, but the Missus told me She wanted to go to Hanauma Bay first in the morning. Sigh. I don't know what it is, but on the last couple trips, the Missus has been wanting to do some tourist kind of stuffs. And like many of those "activities", I hadn't been to Hanauma Bay in like 30 years? Back in those days we used to take frozen peas to feed the parrotfish! Of course things have changed a lot since then; nowadays if you don't have a local or military ID, you need to make reservations, there's an admission fee of $25 per person and $3 parking for the small lot. The reservations are actually for the 9 minute orientation video which you need to view before heading down to the beach.
We found some good parking and got into the line at our appointed time for the video before heading down to the beach.
It still looks quite pretty on the walk down.
We had brought our own snorkeling gear. Once in the water….well, it was kinda sad, while there were fish in abundance, the coral looked bleached. The coral must really be under stress. I immediately wanted to leave to not contribute to this.
Seeing this made me glad that there are limited hours and visitors for Hanauma Bay….. I remember it being so beautiful.
On the way back, we decided to stop for lunch. It seems that the Missus is starting to take to more local kine places these days. So, I asked if She wanted to try Meat Jun? She asked "Meat Jun, what's that?" Well, I explained that it is basically a take on Jeon (seen it spelled jyun as well) in which marinated beef is dredged in an egg and flour batter before frying. Much like Soegogi-Jeon which I've had before. You can find a nice recipe on Maangchi's blog. I'm not sure of the exact history origins of Meat Jun in the islands and was shocked when I first moved away and couldn't find the dish at Korean restaurants in SoCal. I did see it at different plate lunch places, I think Homestyle Hawaiian might still serve it. I tried it twice after moving to the mainland and it was terrible, so I just gave up. But now, driving back to town on Kalanianaʻole Highway opportunity struck as the Missus said "ok, let's try it!" This meant an instant detour to Waialae Avenue and a place that I had gone to when growing up in Kaimuki. I know ex-pat Kama'aina's and longtime "FOYs" Kyle, James, and Alan are smiling and nodding their heads now. Of course it's Kim Chee II, which has been around since…like the sign says 1977! Ho' am I old or what?
We parked in the back lot. There's a back entrance to the restaurant, but I just wanted to thru the front of the place. It was just after 11 and the place was already pretty busy with a lot of hungry "bruddah's" waiting to eat!
Of course I went with the "lunch special"; heck at $14.90 it's cheaper than a sandwich I had here last week!
I told the Missus that I think the portion might be pretty big so She decided just to get some tofu. I also told Her that "KC2" is really a local kine Korean place, so set your sights low with regards to any panchan. Which ended up being regular cabbage slightly pickled, not fermented. It actually goes ok with the BBQ. 
The Tofu with "veggies" was fine; though the shoyu sauce tasted kinda watered down.
But of course, I was just waiting for what I had ordered. Which was enough for the Missus and I to share for lunch
Ok, the beef in the meat jun was nicely marinated, if a bit on the chewier side; sweet-salty-hint of garlic, very bulgogi-ish, the batter was a bit thicker and gritty than I prefer and it had been over-fried a bit. But, the Missus enjoyed the mild eggy-ness and the combination of flavors. She liked the meat jun dipping sauce which also had a hint of vinegar, some spice, balanced sweetness.
She also enjoyed the chicken, nice soy-sweet and hint of pungency. She told me "this is like the chicken you make…way better than the terrible 'Hawaiian BBQ' stuff in San Diego!"
The rice was fine. The mandu wrapper was a bit thicker and chewier than I recalled; though the filling was nicely flavored.
And so, based on this meal we have a Meat Jun convert! Of course, the Missus now wants me to make this at home!!!
Kim Chee II Restaurant
3569 Waialae Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96816
This was a nice blast from the past for me! I also recalled a Korean restaurant that used to be near Monsarrat that I used to go to. Perhaps my "FOYs" will remember that place?
Speaking of "FOYs", I'd like to thank Kyle, James, and Alan for keeping Kim Chee II on my mind all these years!
And thanks so much to all of you for dropping by and allowing me to share a place from my hanabuddah days with you!
I love everything about this post. Kim Chee II (or the original in Kaneohe where I grew up) is a mandatory stop on each visit home and the meat jun is a mandatory dish (along with a side order of mac salad). I’m so glad your wife liked it!!!
I’m glad you enjoyed this post James! That means a lot to me!
nice she enjoyed the meat jun!
Yes, it was Kat!
Kimchi2! An OG famfave when we’re around Kaimuki
Yes KC2 is definitely an OG restaurant Kimo!
Aww this post about the meat jun made me happy too! And brought back so many memories. That’s one of those local kine dishes that I’ve tried to make at home and it just doesn’t come out right. It will definitely be on the menu on my next visit home!
That photo of the coral at Hanauma Bay is jarring. I hoped all the measures the city enacted to limit visitors (and pandemic closures) would have given the reef a chance to heal after all these years. I remember it being so beautiful, too. I do however, remember crazy overcrowding in the 90s, even after these rules were put in place. It was hard to snorkel without bumping into other people in the water.
I have not been back since, and don’t know if I’d go nowadays. I also don’t want to wake up at dawn and deal with town-bound traffic to head out there haha.
Drooling. Miss Kim Chee II. Best local kine Korean food. Funny that I’m from Kaneohe but would go all the way to town for Kim Chee II.
Hmmm, you’re giving me second thoughts about trying to make meat jun Mar! ;o) Hanauma Bay was depressing for me….it’s so sad, because we remember how things used to be. And not that long ago either.
I know a lot of folks who go out of their way to eat at Kim Chee II Kyle! It was fun giving the Missus a “taste” of local kine Korean food. Thanks as always for keeping me reminded of all the places!