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Milpitas, CA
"Let me preface this review by saying that I am a Hawaiian BBQ junkie. As soon as I had my first taste of chicken katsu curry with mac salad…" read more »
ok so it's not the real hawaian lunch plate but it's as close as your gonna get here on the mainland!!! This location is waaaaay better than the one in Hayward which does not take atm cards!!! I very rarely carry cash!! I also think the newark location is pretty good. I always order my daughter a mini loco moco because she loves the rice with the gravy. Why don't I just order her rice with gravy you ask? Because I enjoy eating her left over hamburger patty. it's like a little extra something for mommy.
If this was Hawaii I'd only give this place a three, but it is the best Hawaiian food in the tri-city area. Also this L&L has real people, and by that I mean people who have lived in Hawaii so it is better than the other ones in the area (some of which are really bad).
Still I wish I could find malasadas and some of the fresh fruits I had on the Big Island.
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Definitely not the best L&L in the area. I've never had a bad loco moco before I came to this location. Although the burgers were surprisingly cooked to my liking (Done medium. Most places go straight to the well-done "hockey puck" stage), the eggs and gravy were horrible. The spam musubi was OK. The katsu was decent. I just don't think I'll be going back to this location unless I'm at/near New Park and seriously craving a plate lunch.
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When the hubby and I want a quick bettter-than-fast-food fix, we go here. I always get the lau-lau with rice and mac.The hubs always get the garlic shrimp with rice and mac. My taste buds are intrigued with the mushed green tea leaves that keep the pork not-dried-out (not necessarily moist and juicy, just not dehydrated).
Their selection of Hawaiian Sun is always fun. The drink department is where we like to live it up and try something new. Other than the lau-lau and the garlic shrimp, we haven't ventured much around the menu.
I like this place.
this place is pretty tight, it use to be hella tight when it was like the first hawaiian bbq places in the tri city area. its really just an OK place, OF COURSE the people who work there arent even Hawaiian which i always think is hella weak when the type of food doesn't match the ethnicity of the workers. but yeah, all these damn hawaiian places are the same they all got katsu, masubi, and like bbq'd everything. so this place is tight. i always order to go cause its how i eat at home,
RICE WITH EVERTHING. yeah im Filipino so?
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Yum! Tasty fried food medley! I will sometimes drive from Milptias to get L&L from this Fremont location because it is MUCH better than the L&L in Milpitas on Calaveras (bleh).
Ok they may not be healthy, but you can buy a Chicken Katsu Plate and eat for 2 days. This place reminds me of being on the beach on the North Shore so when I feel nostalgic I might order myself something and share it with the family. They are good here but I can't say I've tried anything other than the Chicken Katsu. No cards though, they have an atm in the store.
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I love this place. Spam Musubi. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM YUM!!!!
Sometimes it takes a little long to get your food especially when it's pack in there but always worth the wait. =)
Hands down...the #1 chain for Hawaiian BBQ. Before my visits to Hawaii, I'd often hear about 'plate lunches' and wondered why they were so popular. After actually sampling it, I can see why it's addictive. Not for those on a carb-free diet. Two scoops of rice and a scoop of macoroni salad will likely put you in a food coma. Not to mention all the protein (chicken, beef, fish,etc) they throw in there for your eating pleasure. My 'plate' of choice still remains to be Loco Moco...only because I can't finish the BBQ mixed grill plate. The first time I had Loco Moco at an L&L in Honolulu, I really wasn't impressed. Their gravy left a lot to be desired. It's gotten a lot better in recent times. Japantown's Denny's loco moco doesn't come close. Oh, and for extra carb overload, their fries are great too!
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i dont know why but im not a fan of this place it tastes like stuff i can make at home definatelt lacking the wow factor!
If I'm craving an uber carb filled meal, I usually hit this place up when I'm too lazy to make the food myself. Overall, it's a decent dine in/take out establishment. It's the place where you will find high school students going on a first date or an after school outing (that is, if it's located near a high school). If you see an L&L within the parallel pillars of the strip malls in the tree lined suburbs, then, it's usually rather quiet and subdued with a patron just coming in for a pick up (probably for their high school kids). In any case, give it a try if you've never experienced mac salad, white rice and a hefty meat or seafood serving for a decent price. I suggest the mini as you might get overly flatulent having possibly consumed more than your daily carb limit.
Believe it or not, it's decent because of the price and quantity but ensure that you apply moderation if you fall in love with this place!
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My co-worker from Maui says that this place is the real deal and that they have them there. I have to say that it is pretty freaking good. I get the chicken BBQ plate, and even the little mini lunch plate sizes is a whole lotta food!
Ask for the macaroni salad on the side, though. Nothing worse than eating hot macaroni salad.
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This is my bf's favorite Hawaiian BBQ. I haven't tried them all, but he has...LOL! I do think it is great though. On one of those night when I don't feel like making anything or going anywhere, all I have to go is make a phone call and he goes to pick it up. We always order the chicken katsu or the BBQ chicken or both if the bf is really hungry. Left over BBQ is great to take for the lunch the next day. The macaroni salad is great! There is something really different in it...i think it might be tuna?? But it does taste grrreat!
I love this place! Great food at great prices! It's considered fast food but doesn't really taste like fast food coz i believe the meat are grilled when they're ordered. Yummy!!!
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When I lived in Hawaii I always avoided this chain like the plague, since the food there is not exactly good for you and the Hawaiian Islands have waaaayyyy better places to offer than L&L barbecue, even for simple local-style plate lunches. However, since I left Hawaii about 5 years ago, I have grown a strong appreciation for this place. I love it that there is a little haven for us that have left Hawaii and occasionally crave some of the typical things we used to enjoy there on a regular basis, like the canned Island Sun lilikoi juice or POG (passion fruit, orange and guava) juice, for example... or little snacks like li hing mui candy, or haupia or musubis (the chicken ones are my favorite). The barbecue beef hits the spot as well.
I am always amazed at all of the Hawaiian barbeque places that keep sprouting up all over the Bay Area. I never imagined it would become such a popular thing.... I'm not complaining, though! I hope Hawaiian food rises in popularity so theywill start bringing other cuisines the islands have to offer to the average, hungry, Bay Area resident (malasadas, Hawaiian-style mochi, ahi poke (which they have here at some restaurants, but they charge waaaaayyy to much for it), among many other things).
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I hella agree with Amy C (hey, that almost rhymes;D). Not to be corny, but I really felt like I was eating in Hawaii. Smallest eatery ever but the staff were extra friendly, the music was popping ( featuring none other then IZ) and the prices were ohh soo accommodating. My whole family ate a satisfying meal for less then eighteen dollars. I will definitely return. Supposedly this is a franchise, so there are more locations to go to.
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This is one of the few places that make me hungry just thinking about their food. L&L is a great Hawaiian restaurant chain with locations popping up everywhere everyday. Their Chicken Katsu makes me drool its delicious. Chicken served with white rice and macaroni salad, but they also serve Pork, Shrimp, Beef. etc. They have two sizes, Mini and regular. Mini, sounds small, but they heap the food into the container. Regular is like a meal that can last a few days. If you're going in for lunch or dinner, go for the mini. Most of the time I'm too full to finish the rest of the rice and Mac salad. The staff is really nice too. They always great you with a smile and are really courteous. So tip them! Eat here!
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True true it is your normal Hawaiian Drive Inn / Chinese / Korean BBQ place.. and let me tell you i know Hawaiian plate lunches..
The food is good definitely.. but comon what makes you think its 5 stars?
These places nowadays are a dime a dozen.. and i really would like these guys to up their food a bit..
anyway.. its just average.. trust me nothing spectacular here..
easily one of the best Hawaiian BBQ joints I've been to. usually I get the seafood platter or the mahi mahi platter. better quality than Ohana down the road (which isn't bad, either).
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Two words : LAU LAU
I generally don't like chain places, but sometime I just HAVE to have Lau Lau. And this is one of the few places I can get it. It is very difficult to get good lau lau outside of hawaii, and i had almost given up on having in California, but theirs is pretty gosh darn acceptable!!! Okay, so they don't have the butterfish, but hey, this is California! I don't know if it is prepared here or shipped, but when it comes both the taro leaves and the pork are moist and tasty, not dried out as usual!
If you are not hawaiian, try it--you'll like it.
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I thought this place was gross. I had the katzu chicken and was sick about 4 hours later and for the rest of the weekend.
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