Dining On Delicious Deals

Located across McDonald’s on Keeaumoku Street lies Yakiniku LuluRaRa, an eatery that just opened May 19. Although the restaurant might be small in size, don’t let that fool you; it’s the location of great deals and big customer savings.

The eatery, owned by husband-and-wife team Jack and Sandy Chang, specializes in yakiniku, but it takes a unique approach to the grilling style. The interior of Yakiniku LuluRaRa is different in itself — the majority of the restaurant has sit-down dining, while another section has a sports bar-like atmosphere, where customers can enjoy their meals at the counter. Besides that, though, the entrees on the menu are simplistic but full of high-quality flavors.

“Other yakiniku restaurants have orders for $24 per person,” says Jack. “This place costs only $9.99 (per order) because there are no side dishes. (We serve) only the meat with salad.”

“With $24 per order, sometimes people don’t even eat the side dishes and that wastes money,” adds Sarah. “We give them (customers) salad and the main course. It’s cheap so people can enjoy yakiniku (style dining) in the cheapest way.”

However, the Changs are quick to clarify that meals at reasonable prices do not compromise quality at Yakiniku LuluRaRa.

“Some people think that, because it’s cheap, we use low-quality (products),” Sarah says, “but (on the contrary), we serve high-quality food.”

“We use the same high-quality meat as other restaurants,” says Jack. “We give 6-ounce portions (of meat), whereas other places might only give 5.5 ounces.”

The variety of meats on Yakiniku LuluRaRa’s menu include Seasoned Beef, Short Rib, Beef Tongue, Briskets, Outside Skirts, Mountain Tripe, Seasoned Raw Beef and Pork Belly (all meats are $9.99).

“Most people like the Seasoned Raw Beef, and the Seasoned Beef is really popular too,” says Sarah.

“Customers (also) like the Short Rib and Outside Skirts,” adds Jack.

The eatery’s reasonable prices and delicious meats are enough to make any customer happy and leave the restaurant in a good mood. This “happy time” symbolizes the essence of the eatery.

“The (restaurant’s) name is a Korean name,” explains Sarah. “When Korean people have a happy time, they say, ‘LuluRaRa.’ It’s a saying when people are happy.”

And patrons of Yakiniku LuluRaRa will be even happier in months to come. Even though the restaurant has only been open for a short while, the Changs have great vision and ideas for the eatery. New restaurant hours may be in store, they say, as well as an expanded menu.

“We are going to try to add cold buckwheat noodles to the menu,” says Sarah of the simple yet delicious dish. “It’s good for your health. We are also looking to add shrimp (to the menu).”

While these changes are still being planned, Jack confirms that the restaurant’s essence will remain.

“We’re going to continue serving high-quality meat — 6 ounces per order — at reasonable prices,” he states.

And that makes customers, like the restaurant’s name, very happy.

Yakiniku LuluRara