L&L Hawaiian BBQ

Attitude from cashier-​0. Flexibility-​0
Aloha Spirit-​0 I walked 2 miles for their Kailua Pork. Needed to wash hands, etc. That was a no go also. The meal has plenty of pork, cabbage, rice, macaroni salad. Plenty to share with another. Good taste, not stellar, great, or to-​die-​for.

Ended up here on our first day. We had just finished a long flight
Across the Pacific and we were starving. We followed the crowd and the line. The noodles were terrific and we watched them be made. My favorite was the tempura vegetables and shrimp. Loved the prices too!

My last two trips to Hawaii have been four days long, but each time I managed to find time for two trips to L&L.
My favourite menu item is the BBQ Mix — I love having a plateful of different meats, they’re always cooked well and taste delicious! I’d love the recipe for the macaroni salad — I normally don’t like my food with mayonnaise on it, but this salad is a must try. It’s especially delicious if mixed with a bit of the rice that comes with each meal. One meal is probably big enough to share between two, unless you’ve got lots of room — but then you definitely won’t need to eat for a few hours.
Writing this review is making me hungry — I look forward to going back on my next visit to Waikiki!

I was looking for breakfast and wanted to try the Loco Moco one time before I went. I was a little leary about trying a place that we have on the Mainland, but this is where L & L originated, in Hawaii and not Union City so I stopped in. It was morning and the place was empty, it didn’t look too clean but neither does the one back home. I looked at the menu on the wall and saw they had a Loco Moco. They also had a regular and a mini. I ordered a regular, sat down, helped myself to the free water and waited. The wait wasn’t too long and I happily took my food up to my room.
When I got upstairs and opened it I had a Holy Crap moment. WOW the portions were huge. Two scoops of rice, two hamburger pattys, two eggs and lots of gravy. I thought there was no way in hell I was going to eat all of that (I did) but I started.
The food was good and I didn’t noticed anything wrong with the food, the gravy was a little thin, but it was perfect with the eggs and rice. Any thicker might not have been good.
I was happy that I stopped. Three stars because it was not gourmet or anything fancy, but it wasn’t gross either, it was OK and I would stop again.

The best 2 things about this place are it’s location and it’s late hours. It’s right in the middle of Waikiki, and whether you’re looking for breakfast, a late night snack, or anything in between, this place is easily accessible from most anywhere in Waikiki. The food is standard L&L plate lunches, etc, so you know it’s good. But I agree with all the other reviews about one thing: if you want a better, less expensive musubi, try to find a ⁷⁄₁₁. Only problem there aren’t really any convenient 7/11’s in Waikiki.
The down sides: this place is showing it’s age. it would be nice if they would spruce it up a bit… it’s getting pretty dingy. And most of the time, I get attitude from the cashier. Not sure what that’s all about; how about some of the aloha spirit?
Bottom line though: even with all the other great food options in Waikiki, at some point I still end up here, even though we have L&L in the Seattle area.

Was craving for some midnight snack (or perhaps a meal because I am a pig) when my sister and I was vacationing in Oahu (November 2011), and chose to eat at the well known L&L’s. We ordered the regular sized loco moco & the bbq short ribs. They were both delicious! Loved the taste of the loco moco with the mac salad and the rice; they complemented each other so well. The gravy oozing down the burger patties, fried egg & rice in the loco moco was orgasmic. The bbq short ribs was so savory as well. We devoured our meals with a big smile!
I have tried the loco moco in the mainlands (NYC), but L&L’s obviously tasted better! I am sitting here mentally picturing these foods, and my tummy just grumbled. I wish there were more Hawaiian eateries in NYC. I guess I will reminisce all the good foods I ate in Oahu and pretend I ate them again in my sleep. haha

My husband used to live in the area, and took me one day when we were looking for a fast and cheap meal. We got the chicken katsu curry, which we split – and it was more than enough for the both of us. My best friend got some sort of shrimp curry, which was even better than ours (which is a shame I can’t remember it’s name).
It was clean, it was fast, it was tasty, and it was cheap. Everyone with us enjoyed themselves and the good food.

I’ve had L&L many times in CA, but since it originated in HI and it being Hawaiian food I figured I gotta try it in the motherland! It was a little disappointing. The chicken Katsu was overcooked and dry. We were told after the fact that that particular location is known for not having the best, but it happened to be within walking distance of our hotel. If it wasn’t for the dipping sauce, it would be inedible! :(

My first plate lunch experience! Fatty and dripping with goodness my one meal ended up feeding me for three sessions. It was nice to be able to take back some leftovers to put in the condo fridge to pull out after late night drinking.
I got the special which was bbq chicken and beef curry. No worries! I love how the curry was more like a gravy and the way the mac salad, rice and meat all mix to create some extra goodness. The chicken was done just right with some skin still on it.
Now I now the awesomeness that is plate lunch.

I have been eating L&L in Calfornia, but this location ruined them all for me because it is so stinking good! Honestly, they must sprinkle magic into everything, because it melts in your mouth. I savored every last bite and had to talk my husband out of coming back here for every meal of our trip. Ha ha! True, the food isn’t healthy, but it is so worth it every once in awhile.

My friend and I were craving spam musubi! First place I’d go to in Hawaii would probably be a 7 – 11 because they have some bomb spam musubis but there were no 7−11s near our hotel!
L&L is across the street from our hotel, and they were open till midnight so we decided to give it a try.
I thought Hawaii’s L&L would be better than the one in San Jose but it’s pretty much the same quality of food. $ 2.80 for spam musubi is also really expensive! You can easily walk to a 7 – 11 and get one for $ 1.60 and it tastes better!
3-​stars because the owners are so nice and friendly, and they deal with so many crazy people in Waikiki at night!

Kinda gnarly.
We walk by it all the time, and figured we’d give it a shot at least once.
Definitely overpriced for what they give you, and it gave my boyfriend and I stomach aches. He couldn’t sleep well because of it.
Not inedible, since I almost finished a regular size, but the loco moco reminded me of those cheap salsbury steak tv dinners I used to eat when I was a kid.

Terrible at this location. 2.60 for musubi?!?
Go next door to the udon place and get one for 1.70 or to your local ABC store or Food Pantry but NOT here.
I ordered loco moco that I can make better at home. The gravy was really bland and the portuguese sausage omlette was yucky. The sausage tasted old.
There is no ventilation so its super hot in there. SOOO many other choices than to go to this particular location.
Definitely SKIP this place.

Had the kalua pork and cabbage.
Comes with 2 scoops of steamed white rice and a helping of macaroni salad.
I would get fat eating like this all the time.
My first breakfast was the Loco Moco here on my 2^nd day.

I know I’ll probably get judged for this, but I want to give this L&L 4 stars for being miles better than the L&Ls in Los Angeles. I was walking down the street near my hotel and just had to try it! Besides, you’re already in Waikiki, how much more touristy can you get?
If there’s one thing I remember about any L&L, it’s to order the mini. It looks like it won’t be enough, but trust me, it is. As we walked back with our take-​out, my dad commented on how heavy it felt for such small boxes. He and I each got a chicken katsu and my mom got the kalbi. The macaroni salad is okay but too mayonnaise-​y for me unless I drip some of the katsu sauce on it. The chicken was deliciously crispy, moist, and flavorful.
I’ll admit, I probably enjoyed it more for the novelty (and cheap prices!) than the food itself. After all, anything would taste pretty amazing sitting on your oceanfront balcony watching a Hawaiian sunset.

Shocked that there was only a three-​star average rating when I Iogged on. My friend recommended it, we wandered in and had a late dinner, and I was in love. It was delicious, huge portions, and about $ 10. Honestly could have split it with a friend and been content with the portion.
I’d have gone back again, except my friends wanted to explore other places. Upon a return trip, I would absolutely go back. It’s a hole-​in-​the-​wall local chain with great cheap plate lunch/​dinners.

My friend fell in love with L&L Hawaiian when we were in Oahu on vacation. She wanted to eat here everyday, but I put my foot down… and we ate here only five times. ;-X
I’m a creature of habit, so I ordered the Hawaiian BBQ short ribs each time. The mini order comes with two large pieces of their marinated short ribs, one scoop of rice and one scoop of macaroni salad. The regular-​sized plate lunch comes with four pieces of the short ribs, two scoops of rice and one scoop of macaroni salad. I’ve had this dish before in the mainland so I know the ribs are always tasty. The food is greasy, but full of flavor and filling.
My friend always ordered the healthy mahi-​mahi with garlic sauce and she raves on and on about this dish, so it must have been good. The plate comes with one scoop of brown rice and house salad, with your choice of dressing.
There’s no ambiance but who cares? The food is good and the prices are reasonable.

My boyfriend and I stumbled into L&L after half an hour of wandering and looking for another place we’d found on Unilocal.We were tired and said, «Dammit, fine, we’ll just eat here.»
Well, I’d give this 3.6 (food gets more heavily weighted in my book) so I’m rounding up! Overall, my experience was pretty good, definitely not bad.
AMBIANCE: 2.9÷5. Your average order-​at-​the-​counter-​then-​sit-​down place with tiled floors that look like they haven’t been cleaned in a little while. I guess it wasn’t their fault that there was a homeless man sitting on the front steps who, bless his heart, did not smell good at all.
FOOD: ⁴⁄₅. Pretty good value — under $ 10 for most plates. I got the loco moco (beef hamburger steak with gravy and fried egg) in the mini size — it turned out to be perfect for me! Delicious too. My boyfriend had the chicken katsu curry — regular size ended up feeding him for two meals. The quality of the katsu was decent, and the curry was okay but there should have been more. I like my curry alllll over that rice, you know what I mean? The menu had a lot of variety, which is nice.
Overall, not bad for a Hawaiian plate place.

I really enjoy my meals at L&L. They give you so much food and it’s always really good. The combination plates are a great way to try a few different items on the menu without ordering too much (well, I guess that depends on how you see it since every plate is a huge serving of food, but you can order half-​plates). My favorites that seem to be consistent at most locations are the Kailua Pork, Teriyaki Beef BBQ, Katsu Chicken Curry and Beef Curry Stew. For those who may not want to indulge all the way with Hawaiian BBQ, there are healthier lunch plate options that include a healthy entrée (grilled chicken or seafood), brown rice and a side salad.
The menu, prices and offerings do change depending on location, but the majority of items are the same.
Also, this isn’t really «fast-​food» so expect to wait just a bit before the food arrives… it’s worth the wait.

One word: Yuck!
We were forced to eat here ’cause everything around was closed and we didn’t feel like eating at Denny’s. Bad choice, BAAAAAD CHOICE.
I wasn’t very hungry to began with. But after getting my food, I lost my appetite completely. My garlic mahimahi, which sounds quite delicious, was not delicious at all! Even though it was encrusted with garlic, it just didn’t look fresh. And the taste? Let’s not even go there. Tasted like old fish. One bite, and I was done. Bleh.
You would think that since it’s Hawaii, the Hawaiian food would be good. But no. I wonder if it’s because there’s a billion L&L’s in Hawaii that they think they can get away with horrible quality.