A Little Hot, A Little Sweet

It would be pretty hard not to spot a Korean restaurant on “Koreamoku” Street, as it’s a mecca for the popular cuisine.

But once you step into Red House, you know you’re going to have a unique dining experience — Korean fusion food and a hip, youthful ambience, with entertaining K-Pop videos playing continuously in a modern, red-and-white decor.

And while you can find traditional Korean fare here, like bibimbap, the fusion dishes, such as the interestingly named “Bulgogi Rice Pizza,” are drawing a crowd.

Of course, bulgogi (marinated barbecue meat) won’t rock your world if you don’t eat meat or fish, but how does Korean Style Spicy Soba ($10.99 lunch only) sound?

For the noodle lover who likes just a light touch of heat, this lunch special will sing. The noodles are topped with a special sauce, lemon slices, spring mix and seaweed. According to owner Justin Chun, it’s new to the menu, and was created to satisfy the local palate by turning down the heat a bit. So although it may not be as fiery as Red House’s Jjolmen, it’s spicy and full of flavor. “It’s a little bit sweet,” Chun explains, “and we add mild kim chee juice.”

Mmmm. A bowl of soba — a little hot, a little sweet — sounds like the perfect dish to enjoy while rockin’ out to K-Pop.

Red House
835 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu
944.0088
Open Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight