WE'RE CRAVING: KOREAN FOOD

CHO DANG

This cozy little spot on Pi'ikoi serves up excellent Korean food for cheap. Try the meat jun and soon dubu, a spicy soft-tofu soup that comes bubbling with meat or seafood. If you like spicy, say so and they'll turn up the heat, no problem.

Cho Dang, 451 Pi'ikoi St., 591-0530

CHOI'S GARDEN RESTAURANT

Located in the K-zone off Ke'eaumoku Street, Choi's specializes in tabletop grilling (yakiniku). Only the freshest ingredients are used in dishes such as dol sot bi bim bap and a rich miso stew. If Yummy's and Kim Chee II are your idea of Korean food, you have a whole new world to explore in this garden.

Choi's Garden, 1303 Rycroft St., 596-7555

SEOUL JUNG

Tucked in the Waikiki Resort Hotel, Seoul Jung can be difficult to get to, but it's actually one of the better Korean restaurants in town, with a classy, comfortable dining room and authentic, well-prepared dishes like cook-it-yourself kalbi, naengmyun or spicy chigaes.

Seoul Jung, Waikiki Resort Hotel, 2460 Koa Ave., 921-8620

SORABOL

Although most Sorabol customers are Korean, locals without Korean roots come as well for the wide-ranging menu that includes kalbi, steamed butterfish, abalone porridge and spicy tofu soup. Plus, it's open 24 hours to satisfy post-party cravings for yoo kae jang, a spicy hot beef soup that's known to tame a hangover.

Sorabol, 805 Ke'eaumoku St., 947-3113

FOOD NEWS

Award-winning Island chef Chai Chaowasaree (Chai's Island Bistro and Singha Thai) is bringing back his special prix fixe menu showcasing dishes from his cookbook, "The Island Bistro Cookbook." Previously offered in May, the five-course dinner is $60 per person and is available now through the end of the year at Chai's Island Bistro at Aloha Tower. Call 585-0011 for reservations.

The Kahala Hotel and Resort's Plumeria Beach House restaurant kicks off its Oyster Obsession event Tuesday. For $40 per person, diners will get a three-course prix fixe menu featuring an oyster tasting, deconstructed carpet bagger steak (grilled Angus beef fillet, fresh New Zealand oysters in brown butter, mashed potatoes with bacon, chives, Roquefort cheese) and profiterole banana split sundae. The special menu will be available through Sept. 14. Call 739-8760 for reservations.

At the next live taping of Hawaii Public Radio's Aloha Shorts, prepare for Thanksgiving with a cornucopia of writing about food. Local authors and food writers, including Mavis Hara, Juliet S. Kono and the Advertiser's Wanda Adams, will read various works about food by other local writers. The taping takes place at 6:45 p.m. Sunday. To attend the taping, call 955-8821. Reservations are required.

GOMA TEI 2.0

If you already like Goma Tei at Ward Centre, you'll be glad to know the noodle shop now has a larger, second location at Ala Moana Center on the makai side near the ABC Store. The menu remains familiar, but the new space has more parking, ample seating and much more elbow room. While there's still a sign-in sheet at the door, there's a shorter wait time, if any, at this new space. At Goma Tei Ala Moana, you'll find all of the restaurant's signature dishes, such as Ban Ban Ji Chicken (ask for extra sauce on the side), chicken tatsutaage (though we think it comes out a little more crisp at the Ward location), gyoza and an assortment of tan tan ramen.

— Melissa Chang

GOMA TEI

Ala Moana Center, 947-9188

Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sundays

MUST TRY

MOUNTAINS OF MEAT

At Uncle Bobo's Smoked BBQ in Ka'a'awa (237-1000), Uncle's not kidding around. Order the combo plate ($18.95) and you'll get so much food, you'll be embarrassed. The meal, which easily feeds four, comes with huge portions of tender, moist, smoky ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, redneck rice (wild rice meets dirty rice), baked beans and coleslaw.