A family-run Korean restaurant that helped define Waikiki's affordable lunch scene for more than 30 years has quietly resurfaced just a block from its old storefront, and it is already in the middle of a spicy name dispute. Seawang and Minjae Kim have reopened ME BBQ at 2427 Kuhio Ave after a hunt for a new home, and they have spent the early weeks back in business reminding regulars and tourists where the original recipes actually live. The move has turned one short stretch of Waikiki into a tight little drama about names, leases and customer loyalty.
Owners Reopen Across The Block, Tell Their Story
Minjae Kim told Hawaii News Now that "we are a proud family-owned business" and that almost everything on the menu is prepared in-house by the family. He and his father appeared on the outlet's Sunrise program to walk viewers through the reopening at 2427 Kuhio Ave and to push back after a different eatery started operating in the former 151 Uluniu Ave location under a name that has been tripping up customers. The segment underscores how heavily the Kims rely on local memory, long-running relationships and those familiar recipes to keep their business alive.
What To Order And Where To Find It
The menu sticks to the classics, the kind of homey plates that built the spot's following. ME BBQ features a "Sunny Special" alongside marinated galbi, crispy katsu, homemade meat jun, bean noodle soup and rotating banchan. The restaurant lists its new address as 2427 Kuhio Ave and its hours as Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to Me BBQ's website. The Kims say their sauces, marinades and many side dishes are family recipes made in-house to preserve the flavors regulars expect when they line up for a plate.
How The Name Fight Started
The name dispute started when the Kims lost the Uluniu Avenue space and reopened nearby, and another operator later took over 151 Uluniu and began using a similar trade name, triggering a fight over who owns the goodwill attached to "Me." As reported by Honolulu Civil Beat, both sides have registered trade names with the state's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and have argued over whether the original business effectively abandoned the mark. Civil Beat notes that state trademark rules treat prolonged nonuse as evidence of abandonment, a key legal detail that has shaped filings and public statements from both camps.
How To Tell The Real Me
For anyone just trying to grab a plate without walking into restaurant drama, the Kims and local coverage suggest paying close attention to the signs. Diners are told to look for "ME BBQ" where "BBQ" appears as the letters themselves, rather than the spelled-out "Bar-B-Que" that the other spot uses, according to Me BBQ's website. The site repeats that message and thanks customers for sticking with the family operation that has been built up since the 1990s. For now, the Kims are leaning on repeat customers and word-of-mouth to steer hungry visitors back to what they say is the original Me.
