678 Hawaii

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at your favorite restaurant? Well, much credit goes to the many chefs, owners and managers who work diligently day in and day out to make sure Hawaii’s diners have a top-notch dining experience.

This week, Dining Out gets the inside scoops from 678 Hawaii manager Steve Song, who gives us a little taste of 678 Hawaii and shares just what fuels his culinary drive.

NAME Steve Song
TITLE Manager of 678 Hawaii
TRAINING/EDUCATION Experience in the hotel administration and hospitality industry, 12 years in the restaurant industry and one year at 678 Hawaii.

Who or what inspires you as a chef/manager/owner? For me, it’s about creating a positive environment that leads to productive people. Especially in the hospitality industry, I think that motivation to be a better manager comes through the inspiration of seeing it done better by someone else and striving to do better myself. I’m constantly challenging my own thinking and capacity to learn, which I believe delivers better results for our guests and our employees. I think happy employees bring happy customers!

What’s your most popular dish? It’s the Mixed Combo Yakiniku Set. (starting at $52.99, it feeds two to three people) The popular Mixed Combo Yakiniku Set comes with premium seared pork belly, prime ribeye and a choice between boneless short ribs or outside skirt. This set is popular, because you can try a bit of everything.

What is the biggest compliment you’ve ever received as a chef/manager/owner? The best compliment is when, after dining with us, a guest says, “That was the best meal I have ever had.” Or, “We will be back!” That is incredibly gratifying.

If you could serve food to a celebrity, who would it be and why? What dish would you serve? I would have to say Maria Sharapova, simply because she is gorgeous and famous around the world. As for the food and drink, I would offer her Korean Soju, Mixed Combo Yakiniku Set, complimentary Korean lunch box, soups, salad, corn and cheese, and even more!

678 Hawaii

1726 Kapiolani Blvd #101
941-6678
Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.