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A Korean Feast for the Whole Family

Features Inside Feature

July 12, 2015

Story By: Kyle Galdeira | Photos by: Missy Romero

As summer heats up, Camellia Buffet continues to offer a scintillating array of local favorites on its all-you-can-eat buffet that has pleased patrons of all ages for three decades.

The restaurant continues to attract generations of diners, as the “thrill of the grill” satiates appetites of any size. The popular establishment specializes in quality Korean-inspired cuisine prepared yakiniku-style at diners’ tables.

“If you have a big appetite, you’ll get your money’s worth,” says manager Kelly Park. “Unlike other restaurants with set menus, diners may select their favorites and eat whatever (they want), and as much as they want!”

As guests have learned over the years, the all-you-can-eat destination at 930 McCully St. remains affordable and offers an enjoyable experience for all. The buffet is available daily during lunch (10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and dinner (2:30 to 10 p.m.) for just $18.95 (lunch) and $27.95 (dinner), while children ages 4 to 8 receive discounted rates of $14 and $17, respectively.

More than 50 selections grace the buffet line at Camellia, including steak, barbecue beef, barbecue pork, spicy chicken, Korean pancake, teriyaki chicken and multiple kim chee varieties. The dinner buffet also includes new boneless kalbi, beef brisket, calamari, spicy fried chicken and various desserts. Customers, both youngsters and those young at heart, clamor for the soft-serve ice cream available at Camellia Buffet; the sweet treat provides a perfect remedy for the summer heat and humidity.

Park explains that Camellia Buffet diners rave about pork belly, available on its lunch and dinner spreads. The offering is similar to bacon, although it usually is enjoyed lightly grilled so the meat remains tender and soft — the pork belly’s natural salt content makes it a great pairing with one’s favorite beverage. She also notes that Camellia Buffet is ideal for those looking to limit their sugar or sodium intake, as one’s favorite items, including beef brisket and the aforementioned pork belly, can be seasoned according to one’s taste and preference.

Camellia Buffet also serves up local favorites the likes of fried rice, orange chicken and mandoo. The eatery even offers onion rings, which are made fresh and are popular among keiki.

Special occasions are worthy of a celebratory meal and Camellia Buffet creates an ideal setting for a memorable gathering that the entire family can enjoy. As high school and college graduates and their families celebrate the monumental achievement, the bountiful buffet is the way to go.

Diners celebrating a birthday eat for free when joining a party of eight or more paying adults, and as a reminder, this can’t-miss offer is not combinable with any other discounts including the 10 percent coupon available through Dining Out (see page 22). Those with groups of more than 30 people are encouraged to call at least a week in advance to make reservations, but the friendly staff also will do its best to accommodate large, last-minute parties.

“We make our sauces with traditional Korean recipes and flavors that we pass on through many generations,” Park says. “We use high-quality meats. It’s all about passing on value to our guests. Customers tell me that they can taste the difference and say, ‘You guys are the best,’ and keep coming back.”

Camellia Buffet

930 McCully St., Honolulu
951-0511
Open daily for lunch (10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and dinner (2:30 to 10 p.m.)

Honolulu, HI 96826

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