Good Chicken Waikiki: The Korean Fried Chicken Hiding in Stix Asia

You won't spot Good Chicken from Kalākaua Avenue — it's one floor down, inside Stix Asia, behind red noren curtains and paper lanterns. I came for Korean fried chicken and left already planning the next visit.

Here's the honest rundown: what to order, what it costs, how spicy it gets, and how to find it.

Where is Good Chicken in Waikiki?

Good Chicken is on the lower level of Stix Asia, the Asian food hall at 2250 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815.

From the street, look for the "Asian Food Hall" sign and ride the escalator down — the Korean stall with the red curtains and lanterns is Good Chicken. It sits alongside spots like Tanaka of Tokyo and Nana's Green Tea, near the International Market Place stretch of Waikiki.

What kind of place is it?

It's a Korean restaurant built on family recipes.

The owner, Chef Jay, traces the menu back to his mother — who ran her own restaurant in Kailua for about 35 years — and to recipes from Korea. The sauces are made in-house, the kitchen cooks to order, and he shops fresh every morning. You can taste it, and that's rare for a food-hall counter.

What should you order?

Get the Garlic Chili chicken (the top seller), the pork mandoo, and the LA kalbi plate.

• Garlic Chili Chicken마늘고추치킨Top seller

  $22.95 / $41.95

  Chef Jay's signature — sweet, garlicky, lightly spicy, with a thick, crackly crust. I braced for heat that never really came.

• Pork Mandoo군만두 · 찐만두

  $12.95 / $22.95

  Handmade dumplings — pick fried or steamed, 10 pieces ($12.95) or 20 ($22.95). Soft, clean, barely oily. The sleeper hit of the table.

• LA Kalbi Plate갈비 플레이트

  $25.95

  Marinated short ribs grilled tender and juicy, with rice and a green salad.

Wings run $20.95–$22.95 for 10 pieces; honey shoyu and BBQ yangnyeom are the milder, sweeter picks. There are also rice bowls, kimbap, and tteokbokki if chicken isn't the mood.

Is the Korean fried chicken spicy?

Not really — and you can ask the kitchen to set the spice level.

The garlic chili reads more sweet-savory than hot. Honey shoyu and grilled shoyu chicken are mild, and the new sweet-and-crunchy tofu comes mild or spicy. If you want real heat, just say so when you order.

How much does it cost?

Most plates and bowls are $13–$26 — mid-range, and a fair price for a real sit-down Korean meal in Waikiki.

The garlic chili chicken is $22.95 for the small and $41.95 for the large (built to share). The LA kalbi plate is $25.95, and the pork mandoo — fried or steamed — is $12.95 for 10 pieces or $22.95 for 20.

Is there a kamaʻāina discount?

Yes — 15% off with a Hawaiʻi ID.

It's posted right at the counter and most visitors miss it. If you live here, bring your ID.

Is it good for families and groups?

Yes. It's counter service inside a food hall — no reservation needed, and the food comes out fast.

There's a kid menu, plenty of mild options, and anyone who doesn't want Korean has other stalls a few steps away. The large garlic chili chicken and a couple of mandoo plates feed a group easily.