Reviewed September 1, 2026 · By the BROKEN MOUTH editorial team
The short answer
Meat jun is commonly found at Korean restaurants in Hawaiʻi. Thin pieces of marinated beef are coated in flour and egg, cooked on a griddle or pan, and usually served with a dipping sauce. Recipes differ by restaurant, so this description is context—not an ingredient or allergen statement for BROKEN MOUTH.
Why it is a Hawaiʻi local dish
Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi began in 1903. Over time, Korean cooking became part of the islands’ wider local food culture. Meat jun is a useful example: its name and egg-coated preparation connect to Korean jeon, while the version familiar in Hawaiʻi developed its own restaurant and plate-lunch identity.
That distinction matters. Meat jun should not be described as a dish invented in Los Angeles, and “Korean-Hawaiian” should not be used as if it were one fixed cuisine.
What “Original LA Meat Jun” means here
BROKEN MOUTH uses “Original LA Meat Jun” for Tim Lee’s Los Angeles version. Yelp’s profile of Lee reports that dishes including meat jun recall food from his childhood in Hawaiʻi and that he spent months testing and rebuilding recipes before opening. The phrase identifies the restaurant’s version in LA; it does not claim BROKEN MOUTH invented meat jun itself.
What to check before ordering
- The current meat, portion and included sides
- Whether egg, wheat, soy, sesame or other allergens are present
- What is in the dipping sauce
- Whether shared equipment creates cross-contact
Use the current menu page and ask the restaurant directly for dietary details.