OnJin's Café

Quite some time has passed by since my first visit to OnJin's Café.  Back then, the restaurant was hidden from view by a parking lot that was often gated.  With the surrounding area in the midst of redevelopment, gone is the parking lot and in comes a new street.  OnJin's Café now finds itself located on a busy corner and a lot more accessible to the masses.

I've been to OnJin's Café a number of times over the years, but usually for dinner.  More recently, I stopped by during lunch and found it a bit more relaxing since there weren't too many people here.  The restaurant is bright, clean and spacious with a mixture of dark and light colored wood furnishings.

There is also an outdoor seating area which makes al fresco dining the way to go when visiting for lunch -- as long as the weather is nice.  After placing my order inside, and paying for my meal, I take a seat outside in the "garden".  Here there are fresh herbs growing and I wonder if the basil, rosemary or sage is actually used in the preparation of dishes here.  The only thing that distracts is the traffic beyond the gate.

On a recent weekend visit, I ordered the boolgogi and kimchee sandwich (US$7.25).

Thick, tender slices of Korean-style barbecued meat were piled high atop a toasted onion bun before being garnished with a few pieces of won bok kim chee.  Sliced tomatoes and a crisp lettuce leaf were provided as added garnish for the sandwich while a salad drowning in dressing, a small pile of beans and a couple of crowns of broccoli covered the other half of the plate.  The beef was well flavored being neither too salty nor too sweet.  The kim chee, on the other hand, could have been a lot more fiery. 

On a subsequent visit, I decided to order the Korean style ahi don (US$9.25).

Intrigued by the name of the dish, I was a little disappointed when what was basically an ahi salad was delivered to my table.  Seven slices of sashimi-grade ahi were placed strategically on a combination of chopped romaine lettuce and Nalo greens.  Thin slivers of white radish were piled in the middle before being garnished with a spoonful of kaniko (crab eggs) and a few bits of dried seaweed.  Served with a bowl of brown rice and some spicy kochu jang sauce/dressing on the side, the salad proved to be a light, refreshing, and surprisingly,filling lunch.

Whether you stop by for lunch, or for dinner, the food here at OnJin's Café is sure to be enjoyable.  However, if you are the type of diner that requires constant attention (i.e. constant refilling of water, clearing of dishes, etc.) you should consider dining elsewhere.  On both visits, since I was seated outside, the server only stopped by to deliver my food and beverages to the table.  There was no follow up to ask how my food was, nor did she stop by to refill my iced tea or water.  Good food, mediocre service, and moderate to high prices, does not make OnJin's Café a frequent dining destination.

OnJin's Café
401 Kamakee Street
Telephone:  808.589.1666

Comments

[cindy]

the sashimi salad looks delicious!

[clare eats]

That all looks delicious

[Rachel]

I have neverseen a bulgolgi sandwich or kim chee in a sandwich ... gotta try it sometime. D'you reckon it will go well with melted cheese? Love the look of that ahi don...very fresh!

[Lajja]

Hiya Reid,
While I like the fresh cleaness of the don, nothing compares to their bulgogi topped with KC...great photo by the way...:drool:

[milgwimper]

Reid,

You are making me hungry. Bulgogi sandwhiches with kimchi *sigh* The ahi don, is that just served as the photo shows or is their a sauce hidden or served on the side. Whatever the case may be with the Ahi don, it looks refreshing.

Rachel,

Kimchi and cheese go good together too, I have eaten kimchi stirfy with melted cheese, cheesburgers with kimchi, pizza topped kimchi (you have to watch for this one because it can be soggy) hot dogs, burritos, tacos, spaghetti, steak, prime rib, turkey, chicken, the list goes on and on, but cheese and kimchi I think for the most part go pretty well together, but it is only my opinion. I like it with most things as you can see. ;P

[dietchilicheesefries]

man... i'm in L.A... i wish i found your site before i went to hawaii... i was stuck in waikiki and the food there sucked!! we have one place in Gardena... Bruddah's, the hawaiians say its pretty close to homemade.. ever been?

[Kat & Satoshi]

We weren't too happy with the service we got when we went for dinner...

[ww eater]

Hi Reid,
I always wanted to try Onjin's but never got the opportunity. I remember going to Hanatei Bistro often...I totally loved the place.. What do you recommend off the menu? My sister goes there a bit and she said that one time they had a problem with seating?

[Kirk]

Reid - That Bulgogi Sandwich looks great, I think i'll be eating it in my dreams....

[Reid]

Hi Cindy,

The ahi don was quite tasty and filling too. It was definitely as good as it looked!

Hi Clare,

Oooh, it so is! =)

Hi Rachel,

Bulgogi with melted cheese...yes! Kimchee with melted cheese...probably not! Kimchee is also quite good with tuna fish sandwiches too! =)

Hi Lajja,

Yes, the ahi don was very fresh and quite tasty too. It's definitely something that I would have again.

The bulgogi and kimchee sandwich was interesting and equally tasty. I'm craving it now.

Hi Milgwimper,

The ahi don was served with some kochu jang sauce on the side. It went perfectly with the fish and lettuce.

Hi dietchilicheesefries,

Welcome to the site.

Well, if it's any consolation, you found my site before your next trip! =) And no, I haven't been to Bruddahs.

Hi Kat & Satoshi,

The service here is probably the only bad thing about OnJin's. They need to improve, otherwise, I won't be visiting too often.

Hi wweater,

If you visit OnJin's you really can't go wrong with any of the food. If you go during lunch, you should definitely try the bulgogi and kimchee sandwich, it's one of my favorites.

The service isn't really too good though, and that's why I don't visit as often as I would care to.

Hi Kirk,

The sandwich was good. Maybe you can make it at home sometime!