History
Korean immigrants arrived in Hawaii from 1903 to work the cane fields. They brought kalbi (galbi in Korean Romanization), the cross-cut beef short ribs marinated in soy, sugar and sesame and grilled over open coals. By the 1960s the dish was a standard plate-lunch entree at Honolulu and Pearl City drive-ins. Side Street Inn and Rainbow Drive-In both cook canonical versions; the Hawaii style is sweeter than the South Korean original, reflecting Hawaiian palate preferences.
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Common allergens: Soy, Wheat, Sesame
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 1.2kg flanken-cut beef short ribs (cut across the bone, 1cm thick)
- 180ml shoyu (Japanese soy sauce)
- 100g brown sugar
- 60ml mirin
- 60ml water
- 1 ripe Asian pear or 1 kiwi, grated and squeezed (natural tenderizer)
- 6 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 thumb fresh ginger, finely grated
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
Method
- Whisk shoyu, brown sugar, mirin, water, grated pear or kiwi, garlic, ginger and sesame oil into a smooth marinade.
- Pour over the short ribs in a single layer. Massage to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator at least 3 hours, ideally overnight.
- Remove the ribs from the marinade 30 minutes before cooking to come to room temperature. Drain off most of the marinade.
- Heat a charcoal grill to high or a heavy cast-iron pan smoking hot. The ribs should sizzle aggressively on contact.
- Grill 2 to 3 minutes per side, no more. Flanken-cut ribs cook fast; pulled off the heat at medium-rare they finish to medium on the rest.
- Pile on a platter, scatter sesame seeds and green onion across the top. Serve with hot rice and kim chee.
Tip from the editors. The fruit enzymes in the kiwi or pear tenderize the meat in the marinade; don't substitute pineapple, which over-tenderizes into mush in three hours.
Where to eat kalbi short ribs
Kalbi short ribs in Honolulu
Rainbow Drive-In ★ 4.5
Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu Honolulu has slung budget plate lunches since 1961, with mix plates of loco moco, BBQ beef and boneless chicken averaging $11.
TryPlate lunch with two scoops rice
TipLunch peak 11:30-13:00. The mix plate at $14 is the most expensive plate and feeds two.
Side Street Inn Ala Moana ★ 4.3
Side Street Inn Ala Moana is the original 1992 Hopaka Street bar in Honolulu from the late Colin Nishida, the off-duty chef hangout known for pan-fried pork.
OrderPan-fried pork chops with kim chee fried rice; share among four.
TipOpen Mon to Fri from 16:00, weekends from 12:00, until 20:30. Bring four people minimum; portions are family-size.
More places near Rainbow Drive-In and Side Street Inn Ala Moana
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- Sushi Sho Hawaii Japanese sushi, about 300 m away
- La Mer at Halekulani French, about 850 m away
- Marukame Udon Waikiki Japanese Udon, about 850 m away
- Stripsteak Waikiki New American, about 950 m away
- Mugen Waikiki Modern Hawaiian, about 1.1 km away
- Musubi Cafe Iyasume Street food, about 1.2 km away
More cities are in research. Want kalbi short ribs covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.