L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

Been here a few times before, each time I got the teri-​steak sandwich. Nothing special about it, it’s what I wanted and I was in the area… So when I got this before, the teriyaki was dry, and flavorless.
When I got my order, there was hardly any extra sauce like I requested, and the sandwich was again so dry with just a tiny piece of lettuce, and the bun looked damaged.
The women at the counter wasn’t very friendly either, but they are good at getting the lunch crowd in and out quickly.
Lots of parking, lots of tables to sit, and a few outside.
Price is affordable.

This place is so unreal… When phone orders, you’d expect them to start cooking after the order is taken, but not this place. Apparently, they start cooking when you step in the door after you pay. I don’t think that’s right. Also, the guy who’s cooking seems like he’s unhappy at his job. Always, has something against Costco workers, idk, even tho it’s right across the parking lot. This place sucks and I’m gonna tell everybody that I know not to come to this particular L & L restaurant. Would give negative stars, but I guess it’ll be a one star, or 2.

Their mini fried chicken plate comes with two delicious thighs. Crispy outside, moist and juicy inside. Comes with 1 scoop mac salad and 1 scoop rice. Winner!

Although I appreciate the L&L chain and the food they offer, this particular store runs low on friendly customer service most of the time.
Customer service is impression i start with and leave with of a business. Often, if there are more viable choices around I’ll avoid businesses that leave a sour experience for me.
This particular L&L has a few counter workers (the women) who seem so cold and distant and don’t seem like they want to work. For instance, today I walked in and no smiles no nothing. It’s pretty common from the women workers I see whenever I go to this L&L. Would it really hurt them to smile and speak with a little more kindness? They don’t even offer free plastic bags and a few times I actually dropped my order (my burger fell off my plate lunch).
That said, they have a friendly male worker on the weekends. He’s nice. Also the food is pretty standard L&L. It’s good.
Customer service, with a smile and some warmth in the greeting and order taking. Not that hard.

NOTE TO EVERYONE: If you call in your order, call again to confirm its ready before picking it up. Double check your order when you pick it up! Just passing on a very helpful recommendation. I work next door to this place and it never works out.

Best one yet. Better food, more variety, and heaping portions. Totally different vibe from the franchise’s in Cali.

always one of the easiest spots to go for hawaiian local food. There’s practically an L&L everywhere you go in Oahu. Fair prices and good quality food.

Rippp offf. Ordered bb short ribs for 11 plus bucks and got 4 thin overcooked super rubber pieces of s_​_​t. Total waste of money!

I’ve had no problems at this L&L ever. The food is always properly cooked and fresh off the grill!
My favorite food here are the mahi, Katsu and burgers! I love their fat fries too!
Every single time I come by their tables are always filled but I order to go anyway. It’s a cute little food place with additional seating outside. Located right near Costco and the Dole Cannery.
They have very friendly customer service and will always head back here for some delish ono local grinds! =)
It is best if you call your order ahead of time for pickup. Very convenient to my workplace.

I like the fried rice here its not to oily like other places and has a nice combo of char siu in it. Always fast service and consistent good food when I’m in a rush after going to Costco.

I was craving for some bbq chicken and thought of L&L since it was right next to costco which was my initial destination. It was my 1^st time at this location so I didn’t know what to expect.
I was pleasantly surprised to see how clean it was. The cashier even greeted me as she took my order– mini bbq chicken. A little after I sat down, I forgot to ask if I could switch my mac salad for a toss salad. The cashier just so happen to approach the customer that was seated next to me as she gave that customer her fries. I ask if I could do the switch and she said no problem.
Shortly thereafter my food was ready and I wasn’t disappointed. The chicken was well cooked, juicy and flavorful. It satisfied my craving and I was a happy camper.

This review is for L&L’s new (as of this writing) Saimin Burger.
The Saimin noodle «bun»
EXCELLENT flavor and texture, however way too lacking in size for the «burger» patty. It tastes exactly as advertised as saimin noodles, with a wonderfully glutenous texture, while having enough «glue» to stick the noodles together and not fall apart in your hands as you hold the burger, yet retaining its individual «noodleness». Ya’ know?
The «Beef Hamburger Patty»
In a word: SUCKS. And this, as you can tell by the 2-​star rating (something I rarely hand-​out on Unilocal), just KILLED my overall impression for L&L’s Saimin Burger. This abomination of a «burger patty» was way too small and thin, way too overcooked (well-​done beyond recognition), and overall coming across as the cheapest grade of ground beef money can buy, mixed with cardboard compost. Just super crap.
The Sauce
As in Teriyaki Sauce? Pffft. More like the $hittiest shoyu money can buy thickened with cornstarch, and that’s it. No miso, no mirin, nor ginger to give at least SOME character, this joke of «Teri Sauce» was absolutely CHA-​RAC-​TER-​LESS.
The toppings
Several chopped large pieces of fresh Iceberg Lettuce and Green Onions. Which really was its saving grace, otherwise, I’d just as well have dumped half this tragedy of a «Saimin Burger» in the trash.
Well OK, not THAT bad, as the Saimin Burger «Bun» really was stellar, however again, way too lacking in volume to give the $ 4.99 «burger» any substance.
Which surprises me, as I was totally impressed with their «Hawaiian» Katsu Burger on my last visit (honestly I don’t eat at L&L very often).
Summing it up, L&L nails it on the Saimin Burger «bun» in taste and texture, yet doesn’t provide enough of it, while the burger patty and teri’ sauce totally blows the $ 4.99 steal-​of-​a-​deal (figurately and literally). Use that, plus about $ 3 more and head on over to Tanaka Saimin right down the corner of Alakawa Street for their stellar Saimin Burger.
Mr. Flores, you need to fix your quality control. Seriously.
P. S. BTW, L&L’s side order of perfectly deep-​fried ‘n seasoned with salt «GBD» Crinkle-​cut Fries ROCK! Arguably some of the best cheap @ss fries I’ve ever had. See, I still have something nice to say! Toodles! ;-)

Great location! Right next to Costco. I’ve tried the mochiko chicken. lots of flavor. yummy! I also like the spicy fried chicken wings! Juicy and cooked perfectly! The workers are nice. Cleaner than the other l&l I’ve been too. Portion size is also big.

I think this is location is one of the ones that have a lot more specials going on in their menu. They always have plates like BBQ Chicken on special for like $ 5.99. The thing that is misleading about that is that they don’t specify if it’s for mini or for regular! They specify it for some menu items that are on special but the ones that they have posted in front of the restaurant don’t have that. Anyways, I think BBQ Chicken is one of my more favorite menu items when I stay grinding at LnLz. They have some table and seating areas inside and outside the store. I think coming here in the lunchtime weekday times is the most busiest because you got people shopping in the Iwilei/​Costco area coming in and in addition to office workers working in the area. I also think the menu that they have here is one of the more larger ones compared to other locations, I guess because of the many specials that they have posted. LnL plate lunches can be pricey but you just can’t help falling for local plate lunches and when you stay grinding you forget how much da buggah cost until you stay kanak attackin. It is conveniently located right where Costco is at in Iwilei right along local food shops Max’s of Manila and Quiznos Subs.

I’ve been craving Chicken Katsu for while so I came by here after taking the wrong bus and having to walk the rest of the way to Clear Channel!
It was quite busy and despite the rain there was a party outside having some lunch.
I ordered a mini Chicken Katsu plate quite smaller than the other L&L’s I’ve been too. As I ordered I forgot to mention all rice so I had to go back up to the cashier and tell her «all rice» which she didn’t mind but the cook didn’t look pleased.
They gave a lot of sauce and chicken that there were some left over as I finished my lunch. Still good!

I like this L&L more than most and not just because it’s near my work. I usually get either the mochiko chicken (always good here!) or the kalua pork (hit and miss). Everything else I have tried has been decent too. No bad experiences yet!

This L&L is located near Costco & Dole Cannery. I have worked in the area for quite sometime. Many people in the office building come here frequently as it is in walking distance.
I am not a huge fan of L&L but must say I like this location. It’s kept clean and the workers here are nice and always ready to help you as you walk through the door. Though it is busy during lunch, they still seem to keep the line moving and food rolling out quickly. Store is kept clean as well as the outside seating area.
Food here is yummy. They have lots of off menu specials. My personal favorite is their Mochiko Chicken. I recommend the mini because the portions are big. Always cooked fresh. Decent prices on their salad selection. Salads are not the best but they are OK for the price you pay. This is one of L&L locations that still serve the crinkle cut fries! Some have switched to regular cut which get soggy and are not as crispy.
Overall, food is good, portions are big and prices are reasonable.
FYI: I you work in the area they give you a 10% discount on your order :)

For an L & L, this location has pretty good food. The cashier isn’t the friendliest (but are any of them at the other locations?), but she keeps the place clean and doesn’t look too upset when she has to continuously close the swinging glass door when a customer leaves.
They also have a $ 5 Chicken katsu or bbq chicken special after 3:00pm.

I Come here for lunch almost everyday (About 5 times a week). Excellent! Combo breakfast and new York steak shrimp combo plates.
Honestly, haven’t had anything here that I didn’t like and I’ve tried almost everything there is. This L&L seems to offer a lot more than the other L&L’s that I’ve been to, including new Specials.
Staff there constantly keeps the place looking clean (moping, wiping tables, wiping trays). Even the outdoor eating area is kept clean.
The only complaint that I have about this place is inconsistencies of cooking time. Sometimes, even if you call in an order, food can take a tad bit long to cook (although never more than 10 minutes). I’m guessing that sometimes they don’t start it til you come in and pay for it? I’m not sure. I guess it depends on the cook. However, this isn’t bad enough to yield a 4 star rating.
Not sure how the other reviewers can rate L&L a 1 star without comparing it to the other L&L’s, trying more than 1 dish, and saying that the plate has no variety. L&L is known for its huge portions, low prices and you pay for what you get. You want variety, buy a mixed plate.

You know, I think I’ve been to L&L enough times now to right a solid 1 Star. I think I’ve been disappointed every time.
Don’t get me wrong — I don’t expect the best and the greatest out of a plate lunch place. I’ve just been to other smaller and hole in the wall places that serve better tasting food for lesser price.
Summary:
They give you a pretty large portion and fill the styrofoam to the max.
Had the Chicken Katsu Plate — good, but they give you so much it gets really tiring. Would be nice if there was more variety to the plate.
Had the Special Garlic Chicken Plate — was absolutely a bland dish and could hardly taste the garlic.
The combo BBQ plate is not too bad.
Overall, I think there’s plenty of other places that are much better and cheaper.