If you like local Hawaiian plate lunches and thought you could only get them in Hawaii, that is not true anymore. What started out in 1976 as L and L Drive-Inn on Oahu, has turned into a nationwide franchise called L and L Hawaiian Barbeque. There are now over 200 locations in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Utah, Texas, and Washington.
What is a Hawaiian plate lunch? It is pretty much starch and meat. The typical plate lunch features two scoops of white rice, a scoop of macaroni or potato salad, and a generous serving of meat such as: barbeque beef, barbeque chicken, short ribs, fried shrimp, mahi mahi fish, or chicken katsu (Japanese style breaded and deep fried chicken cut into strips). If you choose more than one meat choice, it is called a mix plate, combination plate, or combo plate.
L and L company officials credit a new awareness of Asian and American fusion cuisine for the company's success in new markets. L and L is known for their generous portions, low prices and tasty food.
L and L menu options vary by location but they also serve a Hawaiian lau lau and kalua pig plate (no poi though which is not surprising -- there has been a poi shortage here in the islands for decades!), saimin (noodles in broth), a variety of musubi (meat on a block of rice with a strip of nori seaweed), beef curry stew, and Loco Moco (hamburger patty over rice smothered in brown gravy and topped with an egg, usually sunny side up).
Some locations offer healthier (less fattening) plates which includes brown rice and tossed salad, and a choice of ahi, mahi, salmon patty, or garlic shrimp as the main entree.
To find a location near you, visit their site L and L Hawaiian Barbeque.
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