Overview
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue in Waianae is a quick-service plate-lunch spot on Farrington Highway, operating as part of a long-running Hawaii-born chain. The Google record shows it as open and located at 89-102 Farrington Hwy E6, while the brand’s own Waianae location page confirms a Waianae store, though that page lists a different street address and phone number, which is a real identity drift worth flagging. (reviews.birdeye.com)
For a traveler, this is the kind of place to go when you want a familiar, filling Hawaiian plate lunch rather than a sit-down destination meal. It reads as a low-cost, fast-casual stop that should be especially useful for a straightforward lunch or dinner on the Leeward Coast. (reviews.birdeye.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
This branch serves the standard L&L plate-lunch lane: rice, macaroni salad, and a protein-forward entrée, with Hawaiian-style comfort food built for quick service and hearty portions. The chain’s official menu highlights classic items like BBQ Mix, BBQ Chicken, Chicken Katsu, Loco Moco, Lau Lau Combo, BBQ Short Ribs, Kalua Pork with Cabbage, Garlic Shrimp, SPAM Musubi, and SPAM Saimin. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
- Overall menu style: Hawaii-style fast casual; plate lunches, bowls, burgers, and a few island snacks/soups. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
- Notable dishes: BBQ Chicken, Chicken Katsu, Loco Moco, BBQ Mix, Lau Lau Combo, Kalua Pork with Cabbage, Garlic Shrimp, SPAM Musubi, and SPAM Saimin are all official menu items. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
- Price range: Google lists it at price level 1, so travelers should expect budget-friendly, casual spending rather than a full-service restaurant bill. (reviews.birdeye.com)
- Dietary usefulness / limits: The menu offers a few lighter-leaning or salad-adjacent choices, but the core identity is rice-and-meat comfort food; it is not a naturally strong fit for strict vegetarian, vegan, or low-carb diners. That limitation is an inference from the menu structure rather than an explicit statement by the restaurant. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
The experience appears to be more takeout-oriented than dine-in. A recent Google review snippet says it is “more of a take out location” with tables outside in a plaza-style area, which suggests a simple, practical setup rather than a polished dining room. (reviews.birdeye.com)
- Service model and seating: Fast-casual counter service; likely walk-in friendly, with limited on-site seating outside. (reviews.birdeye.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: No detailed interior description surfaced in primary sources; the available evidence points to a utilitarian neighborhood stop rather than a destination ambience. This is an inference from the review pattern and chain format. (reviews.birdeye.com)
- Practical features: The location is on Farrington Highway in Waianae, which makes it a convenient local stop for people already on the coast. (reviews.birdeye.com)
- Best fit: A quick lunch, casual dinner, or road-trip meal when you want something filling and familiar. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
- Weaker fit: A special-occasion dinner, a lingering sit-down meal, or anyone expecting a distinctive chef-driven experience. That is an editorial inference based on the chain’s fast-food structure and review comments. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
History & Background
L&L’s official history says the brand began with a small shop on O‘ahu in 1952 and grew from local plate lunches into a wider chain across Hawaii, the mainland, and beyond. The company’s own “About” page emphasizes plate lunches as the core identity, and secondary historical coverage ties the modern franchise story to Eddie Flores Jr. and Johnson Kam. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
The strongest recurring positives are familiar: big portions, tasty comfort food, and generally friendly service. In the Waianae-area Google review snippets surfaced through Birdeye, one recent reviewer praised the loco moco and said the portion was quite large, while another called the food “very good.” (reviews.birdeye.com)
Common Gripes
The clearest downside signals are mild but recurring: some dishes can be uneven, and the setting is more functional than inviting. One recent review said the mini beef curry was too sweet and the meat was dry and tough, while another described the place as more takeout-oriented than dine-in. These complaints are supported, but they do not yet look overwhelming relative to the overall 4-star, 191-review snapshot. (reviews.birdeye.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Google’s listed hours are 10:00 AM–9:00 PM Monday through Friday and 9:00 AM–9:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. (reviews.birdeye.com)
- The official L&L site’s Waianae page exists, but its address and phone number do not match the Google record; confirm before relying on either if you are navigating by address or calling ahead. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
- Expect a fast-casual, walk-in-friendly meal rather than reservations or table service. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
- If you want the most canonical L&L experience, the official menu suggests the classic plate-lunch items are the safest order. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
- Because the location seems plaza-adjacent with some outside seating, it is a practical stop rather than a long-linger venue. (reviews.birdeye.com)
Verification Notes
- Google Places anchor: L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, 89-102 Farrington Hwy E6, Waianae, HI 96792, (808) 668-6888, currently marked OPERATIONAL. (reviews.birdeye.com)
- Official Waianae location page shows a different address and phone: 85-080 Waianae Valley Rd., Waianae, HI 96792, 808-696-7989. This is the main unresolved conflict and may reflect a relocation, stale listing, or a different Waianae-area store identity. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
- The chain’s official location list includes Waianae as an active location. (hawaiianbarbecue.com)
Sources
- Google Places details for L&L Hawaiian Barbecue —
https://maps.google.com/?cid=4156499712073511048— Retrieved 2026-04-02T16:39:46.251Z. Most useful for the baseline identity anchor: address, phone, hours, rating, price level, and operational status. - Official Waianae location page, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue —
https://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/locations/waianae— Retrieved during research on 2026-04-03. Most useful for confirming that L&L currently lists a Waianae location, while also revealing a serious address/phone mismatch versus Google. - Official L&L locations listing —
https://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/ll-locations-listing— Retrieved during research on 2026-04-03. Useful as a cross-check that Waianae remains on the brand’s active location roster. - Official L&L menu page —
https://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/menu— Retrieved during research on 2026-04-03. Most useful for menu structure, signature dishes, and the chain’s own description of its plate-lunch focus. - Birdeye business profile for L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Waianae —
https://reviews.birdeye.com/ll-hawaiian-barbecue-173504816771485— Retrieved during research on 2026-04-03. Useful for review-pattern clues, recent snippets, and a second source for hours/address mirroring the Google record. - Official L&L about page —
https://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/about— Retrieved during research on 2026-04-03. Useful for the chain’s history, plate-lunch framing, and expansion background.
