Go to Kimbap Plus for Elevated, Lovingly Crafted Rolls

Photo: Eric Baranda

When you step inside Kimbap Plus, you’re greeted by two things—freshly made kimbap and the vibrant energy of Sunny Sunhee Chang, owner and sole worker at the newly opened Korean eatery. The shop is cozy and intimate, comfortable for one customer at a time, which adds to its charm. And as far as Sunny, she lives up to her name.

Her journey to opening Kimbap Plus is heartfelt like the food she serves. She worked as a financial advisor for years and fed the homeless in her spare time, saying she would have needed a permit to continue feeding the homeless at the scale she envisioned. Her passion for preparing food for others led her to open Kimbap Plus.

Located at the corner of Young and Ke‘eaumoku streets, Kimbap Plus’ modest size makes it easy to miss, and parking can be a challenge. The front stalls, shared by the building’s other tenants, were full when we arrived. Fortunately, my wife waited in the car while I dashed inside to place our order.

We had heard buzz about Kimbap Plus, how its kimbap rolls, with 10 pieces, are stuffed to the brim, which is true. We were also impressed with the quality rice, the bright colors of the ingredients and the overall presentation. Along with kimbap, the shop serves smoothies and acai bowls, but we stayed true to our mission to just have kimbap.

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Here’s what we tried:

Photo: Eric Baranda

Tuna mayo kimbap, $8

Light, flavorful and packed with filling. The combination of textures were well synched, from the soft rice to the tender tuna. We tasted a subtle sweetness, a touch of salt, however the cheese slightly muted the flavor of the tuna. My wife suggested that more mayo and less cheese would have allowed the tuna to have more prominence.

Photo: Eric Baranda

Smoky ham kimbap, $8

The ham provided a gentle, smoky accent, adding depth without being overwhelming. We compared it to a milder, more refined version of Spam. The balance of savory meat and fresh vegetables made each bite feel hearty yet light. It was comforting and satisfying.

Photo: Eric Baranda

Shrimp kimbap, $8

The tempura shrimp offered a soft, delicate flavor, while the fresh vegetables brought a satisfying crunch. Light, yet satisfying, we found the contrast between the crispy tempura and fresh vegetables fun and refreshing.

Photo: Eric Baranda

Spam musubi, $2.99

We hadn’t planned to order musubi, but our son couldn’t resist. This wasn’t a typical Spam musubi. It was larger and felt lovingly crafted. The rice had a sesame oil flavor, like bibimbap. I enjoyed it so much; I could see myself just getting the rice. An interesting take on a local favorite.

At Kimbap Plus, you get premium offerings for a premium price. While there are cheaper offerings at Korean markets and other eateries, the options at Kimbap Plus are more refined. It’s the difference between instant noodles and a ramen shop. Both are satisfying, but the latter offers more depth and quality. So yes, we would return, and it’s worth trying.

Pro tip: Call ahead. The shop is small, and if there are already a few customers, you have to wait outside.

Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed on Sunday, 1020 Ke‘eaumoku St. #100, (808) 392-2363