Sorabol Korean Restaurant

Unfortunately, Sorabol Restaurant has announced it will be closing, and this is heartbreaking news for many."After 40 years, a beloved Korean restaurant near Ala Moana is closing for good."Sorabol posted a notice informing customers that their last chance to dine at the restaurant will be March 7."https://bsky.app/profile/raymondkaya.bsky.social/post/3linmodsnu22x

The restaurant is an OG favorite place for gatherings and I love the private dining rooms with noisy A/C units where you can hear the koi fish splashing around. The banchan is really yummy and they have good variety. We got bean sprouts, potato salad, kimchee cucumber, fish cakes and something else I forgot about. We had a large group of 9 people so we ordered a few doubles on the meat. The meat dishes were sometimes served on 2-3 plates for each side of the table, sometimes not so we didn't realize the tiny portion of kalbi was actually 2 orders on one plate so we were just cooking it up on one burner. We thought the chicken was huge but realized it was 2 orders on 1 plate but the brisket came out on separated plates. The service was kind of pushy, the ladies told us we should order 1 main meat dish per person even tho we had 4 appetizers and 6 other dishes like pancakes and noodles and bi bim bap. It was too much food and the bill was over $700 which felt like we got hustled. Overall it is an ok spot for a group but I'd rather eat elsewhere and save money. We scored street parking.

We went to eat at Sorabol on a Saturday around 4. There is a two level parking structure to the left of the restaurant. It was $3 to park there for two hours and you end up paying through a QR code. Parking is tight if it is packed. There was only one other table and we were seated immediately. We got our order in, my dinner was spicy cold noodle (bibim naengmyun). My husband got the bibim gooksoo and my daughter the bbq chicken. I really liked the spicy cold noodles with buckwheat noodles and pickled radish. My daughter liked the bbq chicken with her rice. My husband wished there was a sauce to go with his gooksoo like a goguchung. At the end of the meal, we were given a little cup with a cold, sweet ginger rice drink. Not sure what that was, but it was very delicious.The best part about this restaurant is the koi pond surrounding it. The waitress gave my daughter a small container of fish food that we were able to feed to the koi while waiting for our food to come out. She was also so sweet to remind my daughter to wash your hands after touching the fish food. And then after our meal, she gave my daughter another container of fish food, and we went out outside and fed the fish for a little bit longer while my husband boxed up the food and paid for our dinner. Plus, the waitress was so sweet to make sure that my daughter got her jacket on before we left. The service with our waitress was outstanding.

It's been a hot minute since I ate at Sorabol...actually it's about 4 years thanks to the pandemic and having moved from town.First, fyi, they're in the old Pagoda restaurant. Don't make the mistake we almost did and go to their old location!I honestly like that they're at the old Pagoda. There's more parking options and it's great the fishes are still around. The parking is to the left when looking at the main entrance. There's street parking or the two level structure. Be sure to pay for the parking. Ok, about the food. I loved everything we had:Side dishes: so many different options and they all had great flavor. You go to other places and the sides are meh..that is not the case with Sorabol. I could eat just the side dishes with rice.Soondubu (spicy soft tofu soup): It had maybe 3 or four clams. It didn't really bother me but not sure if others would prefer more. But it had just enough spiciness to me while also having so much taste! I could only wish my soondubu could taste like theirs. Mandoo: the buggas are chubby! They had a nice crispy outside while having a ton of meat inside. The filling was seasoned and I honestly didn't need any sauce for it.As we were done, we were given a sweet rice drink. There was a hint of ginger and I thought it was nice and refreshing.In regard to service, aunty who was serving us was nice and had a good sense of humor. Food as arrived fast too~I wish I was in town more, but I'll be sure to visit again especially since they have to little side pagoda/rooms~

Great setting in the midst of koi ponds. Decided to try their lunch specials with delicious and different cold soups and spicy pork and beef kalbi. The soups were great and meats good. However, the beef kalbi was very tough and a knife would have been helpful. Service was friendly but slow. Overall a good experience.

Sorabol has moved to the old Pagoda restaurant space. The fish ponds could use some TLC. I would recommend getting the Sorabol set menu. It's worth it's value with lots of things share btwn two people. See picture.Spicy tofu stew 4.5 starsKalbi 4.5 starsFish Jun 3 starsMeat Jun 3 starsCroaker 3 starsService was great. We came early so it wasn't busy yet. Food came out quickly. I love the sides that come with korean food. I would come again.

I've never tried it at their prior location so this is my first time in general ever trying this restaurant. The location is niiiice! I really love all the greenery & koi fishes outside. The restaurant is HUGE and even had a full bar! It's perfect for big groups or I even saw they had private seating.Few things I ordered:Mandu (5/5): SUPER HUGE! Delicious & Meaty!!! Super crispy and yum craving for this now.Cold noodle (2/5): It was refreshing for a hot summer day but a little more on the sweeter side. I'm not a fan of sweet cold noodle. Kalbi (5/5): Kalbi was amazing! Not the typical Korean cut short ribs but it was really flavorful. Meatjun (4/5): nice thick pieces of meat but the sauce was a little salty for me. Customer service was ON POINT! Very attentive workers and had great friendly service. I can't wait to go again and try other things.

I wanted to give 2.5 star this place from my experience. Service was 5 star but food wasn't great enough than service. When we tour in east side of Ohau, our guide recommend this place. My parents wanted go to eat Korean food last dinner in Honolulu so I decided to go this place with my parents. We ordered spicy tofu soup and Spicy fish roe soup, Grilled red tilefish, oysters pancake.Spicy tofu soup wasn't great. Too salty and tastes like nada. I would recommend spicy fish roe soup and Grilled red tilefish. If you going to order spicy tofu soup. Our waitress was super duper friendly and my parents loved the service. Also they felt like knowing her long time ago. This place is big and clean. When you walk to restaurant from entrance you can see there little artificial pond with fish. But there's fish smell a lot. They said valet parking available but we took Uber to go there from our hotel.

Good food, good service, and koi pond makes a good photo background. Parking entrance is on Rycroft St side, up the ramp.

I had a family holiday dinner with my aunty & uncle & cousin and I placed an order of some yakiniku cooking of (Bulgogi, Kalbi, & Seasoned sliced Pork Belly) and then a 2nd course of Large Bulgogi Stew with SangChu Fresh Lettuce. Everyone were satisfied and the service was great. It was perfect.