I know that living in Hawaii for 6 months doesn't give me that much cred... But here are my thoughts: *I've had spam katsu moco at other places but they wouldn't make it for me here. It's ok, I was just bummed. *They give giant portions, so that's nice *The spam on my musubi was over fried and dry and the nori it was wrapped in wasn't moistened by the steamed rice. Good spam musubi should be soft and easy to bite into. *The chicken in the katsu was rubbery, but the fried part was tasty *The mac salad was average If you want your Hawaiian food fix, I'd stop in here. If you really want to enjoy a meal though, check out Saimin Says in Kent, Wa instead. You'll thank me later.
(3)
Ben B. N.
Very reminiscent of the Hawaiian BBQ I've had in Hawaii. Good place. Definitely cant eat there every day. You will day from a coronary
(3)
Jake R.
The staff here is very polite. I was looking for a low carb lunch option and found a good one on the menu I had for this place. I called in my order and headed over to pick it up. When I got there I told the lady at the register that I had called in an order and she said said "The Healthy Garlic Fish." I had told her I had ordered #6 the Low Carb Mini Plate and she said I must of had an old menu, which I did, but that she could change the order. I could see the fish on the grill and I was starving so I told her it was fine but she told me it would be no problem, which I appreciated but I politely declined. Now that is the type of customer service that I really appreciate and is unfortunately hard to find these days. After they guy handed me my meal he wished me a good day and I thought that was a nice touch, he seemed to genuinely care and like his job. When I got back to work I realized I had made a good choice going with the fish meal. There were two big fish fillets, grilled nicely on top of rice, salad and some cabbage. There were two little side cups with ranch for the salad and a "fry sauce" type sauce in the other container for the fish. It was a nice big healthy meal. I've been here before and I'll definitely return. I really appreciated the extra nice customer service here and the food is great too.
(4)
Ah Lan R.
I was in the Renton area and noticed their sign. I am not a huge fan of the ones in Hawai'i as they are too salty but decided to stop by this location for take-out and wow I was impressed. To be clear this is Local Food. Not Hawaiian Food. Hawaiian Food is poi, ake, aku palu, oio, 'opihi, and raw crabs just to name a few. For local people who want to fulfill their plate lunch craving... this is one of the better places that I've found so far. I ordered the chicken katsu mini, a regular chicken katsu, and a spam musubi. Both chicken katsu plates were ample serving sizes so I was pleasantly surprised and it wasn't salty like the ones at home in Hawai'i. The spam musubi was good too. Prices are reasonable. $2.25 for the spam musubi. $5.75 for the chicken katsu mini and $7.75 for the regular chicken katsu. The mac salad that came with the plates was actually pretty good. They also offer three healthier options with brown rice but I opted for the katsu with white rice. The wait was a tad long but well worth it. I would estimate it at a good 10 to 12 minutes. I will be back again :)
(4)
Heather M.
Great food for great prices! I have only tried the Loco Moco, but it was enough food for 2 people!
(5)
Justin B.
Friendly staff, wide selection of food (and sizes), and quick. A-OK!
(3)
Ann G.
There isn't Hawaiian food on the Eastside... Or at least good Hawaiian food. However, my boyfriend and I think the 20 mile drive down to Renton is worth it for some food from L&L!
(4)
Sarah R.
I like to come here when I want a quick fix of Loco Moco or Musubi (all kinds they offer are good, but my fave is the spam). I like that their Loco Moco comes in a mini size because it's a perfect portion size for me! This place is small, but they have some seating available - nothing fancy, friendly staff. Another dish I have tasted is their Hawaiian Plate (Lau Lau & Kalua Pork); the Lau Lau is very moist, but the Kalua Pork is okay. Too much pork for a dish.
(3)
Chad W.
The Ahi poke was damn good.... Onions, big chunks of tuna, and the seasoning was excellent. last time I was here I got the tery chicken/chicken kats plate lunch special.... Huge and tasty, inexpensive tops off the experience...
(4)
Keira F.
Ordered take out of bbq chicken and garlic shrimp. Bbq chicken was awful with undercooked chicken and no sauce no taste. Garlic Shrimp was also not great.
(1)
Kelley S.
I've never had Hawaiian bbq before so I didn't really know what to expect but a friend absolutely raved about this place so I thought I'd try it out. The portions are huge, that's correct so I suppose the price is pretty good but I just wasn't impressed. First off, we ordered food "for here" and it came with plastic utensils and in a styrophome container... Which seemed weird. The BBQ chicken almost broke my tiny plastic fork it was so rough. The Kahlua pork was actually pretty tasty and sweet (not good enough to go in and buy a whole dish of it but not bad enough to not eat) but my boyfriend got some BBQ beef thing and it was so saturated in gristle he couldn't eat it... And that's actually saying something because he doesn't complain. The girls working there were friendly and helped us pick out what to get since it was our first time so this review isn't about them, it's just about the food. We had so much leftover and I'm ashamed to say it didn't make it past the garbage can :( Maybe we ordered the wrong thing...
(1)
Madison G.
Great tasting food! Only problem I have is the wait for your food. They make everything fresh when you order it which is a good thing, but not so good when you go in completely starving and ready to eat quickly.
(3)
Kim-Thoa P.
I loveeeeee this place! I always call ahead to order so I can avoid the crazy lunch rush. The staffs are super nice especially Andrew ( I think that's his name) super friendly!! The food is always on point and I love that they have mini siZes.
(5)
Rhi S.
I like it here since it's one of the few places I can get my fix of local food. I was really on the fence of giving four stars because I like it so much, but to be honest, it's just like any other L&L except their minis are regular size and their regular are large portions. It's pricier than back home because of that. The workers are nice but, I'm being totally picky and this doesn't affect my rating: some of them don't pronounced certain foods correctly. I know, I'm from Hawaii, and I'm Japanese which majority of the people in Washington aren't, but it just bugs me when people pronounce it wrong and they're the ones selling it.. Like "katsu" or "musubi...." ANYWAY.. The place is always clean and tidy and has a nice local feel. The food is good, but like I said, no difference from other locations. I definitely like it here and plan to keep coming back. November challenge (11/10/2012)
(3)
Charlene L.
When I'm craving something quick and carb-loaded, I think of L&L! I opt for this any day over teriyaki! Their kaula pork and cabbage is delicious! And their bbq chicken and beef.. YUM! Their mac salad is a bit bland, as I always hit it with some S&P. Their rice is a bit on the mushy side... Their menu is huge but it's essentially fast food. Not as clean as I would have liked, and a bit slow on their orders being produced. But when I have a hankering for some island food, I head down to L&L.
(3)
Anthony W.
Consistently delicious. Meals are huge and come with a side of macaroni salad. I get the chicken katsu and bbq combo and the meat is always cooked perfect
(5)
Julio A.
DELICIOUS! That's all I really have to say about that. The kalua pork & Lau Lau combo were pretty good and very good portions for the price. The Mac salad on the side could have been better but still good. The chicken bowl was also tasty (well cooked and flavorful) but the veggies could have used a little seasoning to add some flavor, and a little more sauce for the chicken too. We will definitely be coming back for the rest of the items on the menu!! :-)
(4)
Christine L.
I've tried many of their franchises in Hawaii but this place seems to taste the best. Having moved from Hawaii less than a year ago I have the need to find that staple place to go to get my fix of good food from back home and I must say this place satisfies. The loco moco is amazing and really hits the spot when you want something Hardy. Let me tell you this though you will not be able to finish your food in one sitting because they are not shy with their portions. The prices are reasonable and they have limited seating if you choose to eat there. I wish they would add huli huli chicken to their menu because a lot of my coworkers seem to enjoy that while visiting Hawaii so it would be a great addition to their menu. Other than that great place for lunch, dinner, and if your Asian or local to Hawaii even breakfast but I dont believe they open for breakfast.
(4)
Antonym N.
This place is delicious! Honestly my most favorite place to eat! The girl named Samantha and the girl named Michelle honestly gives the best customer service I had ever experienced. The quality of the food is amazing and along with amazing service, this is the place to go.
(5)
R M.
Great food here. Had cabbage pork and BBQ combo with ribs, beef and chicken. We were stuffed food was awesome. Chicken and beef were amazing on the BBQ side and cabbage pork pork was addicting. Macaroni salad is really goooood too. Will be back.
(5)
James N.
Being from Hawaii, I know the type of food to expect from L & L. That is, you go to L & L when you are really hungry but not necessarily looking for the best local Hawaiian food. Recently, I went to the L & L restaurant in Renton to pick-up some plate lunches for my family in the driving rain. I was served by a polite young man, who upon the meals being ready, placed the plate lunches into a plastic bag and tied the top of the bag. I took the bag of plate lunches home but couldn't eat my plate lunch until an hour and a half later while I tended my 6-year twins. When I finally got a chance to eat, I was surprised to find that they had gotten my order wrong. I promptly returned to L & L where the young man who served me remembered my order and acknowledged the mistake. The manager or owner then intervened and told me that basically it was my responsibility to check my order when I first got my order and that for this one time only they would replace the meal. That was very insulting. I told them that they don't have to correct their mistake if they think it was so much trouble and told them I will never return to their establishment. I know many restaurants have such a policy but I have never heard it being enforced or articulated to a customer. In the past, I've had my food orders filled wrong by other restaurants, but each time they were happy to correct their mistake even when the mistake was not discovered a while later. It took me half an hour round trip to get to L & L from my house in the driving rain only to be lectured to by a jerk. Where is the Aloha spirit?
(1)
Prince Y.
Food took too long and wasn't able to eat it. Service is horrible and cashier lied about food "almost" being ready...
(1)
Debbie P.
Average Hawaiian grub. I will comment that I wish they had more seating available.
(3)
Daren D.
I may have found a new favorite food: BBQ Chicken Musubi! When I first looked it up (no idea what it was at first), I thought, "hm, looks like a twist on sushi rolls." Which I now consider it as such. A seaweed wrap with a block of rice and your choice of meat filling. So simple, yet so satisfying to me. I also tried gravy fries; the gravy was a bit excessive, but otherwise good. I'd like to try other stuff. Conveniently in close walking proximity to my Park&Ride spot.
(4)
Wayne R.
I'd give it four stars but the service at this location left something to be desired. The food was just as I remembered when I was in Hawaii. Salty, greasy, and so damn delicious. But the service was inattentive and lacking. I will return to L&L but maybe not this location.
(3)
Kim D.
The chicken katsu is great! Well worth the money. Large portions for a great, affordable price. Their macaroni salad is amazing for a person who doesn't like macaroni salad. The workers, especially the lady cashier is super nice and generous.
(5)
Jon L.
I miss Hawaii! This gets more evident during the holidays. Fortunately, Seattle has many places with stuff from home that makes living here worthwhile. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of them. There is a L&L in every (I think) neighborhood in Honolulu, so I am happy to see this chain cross the Pacific. Reading the reviews on Yelp, it sounds like quality control varies by location. Having been only to the Renton location, I am not sure if this is accurate. Though this location seems to churn out some decent plate lunches. Most recently, I had the BBQ mix ($8.95) which is a combo of beef, chicken and short ribs with rice and macaroni salad. The meats here tend to be a bit fattier than I would like. Though I particularly like the BBQ chicken which uses chicken thighs rather than chicken breast for a moist flavor. It tastes just like home. It is nothing like the teriyaki around these parts. As for the mac salad, it is good not great. But it avoids adding ridiculous unnecessary ingredients like celery. Overall, L&L serves up good Hawaiian plate lunches. Though the product quality could be a tad better I think.
(3)
Ryan W.
Whenever I fixin' for some good local food, I come here. Love their chicken katsu and their lau lau is also very good. It's no surprise that L&L is the only business that is still open in this little strip mall because over the years, the businesses on both sides of this location of opened and closed several times. I hope this spot stays open forever!
(4)
Tony Y.
I am a big fan of hawiian cuisine. I've been to several of these locations locally and in hawaii. They are pretty consistent with there food. We got the loco moco and chicken katsu and they were both pretty tasty, Flavors were good, portions were plentiful but the big knock is everything was super super salty. The first half of the meal was good and as the saltiness got overpowering it started to lose its flavor. This location is pretty shady in the corner of a dirty old strip mall. Be careful at night! We will probably go back again when in the downtown renton area when we have a craving.
(3)
Jasmin G.
The food is always good no matter what I've ordered and the service is always nice and fast but what really keeps me coming is their macaroni salad. Never had macaroni salad as good as theirs anywhere!
(5)
Christine R.
If you're in the market for some fast island food to hit the spot quickly- then I recommend L&L. When I used to live close by this was my go to spot if I wasn't in the mood to cook spam, eggs & rice. I know I must've been pretty lazy huh? And yes the answer is yes. But when they raised their prices I stopped visiting as frequently. My husband usually orders the mix plate and I've never heard a complaint from him. I also like that their chicken katsu as it's never dry when we order it. It is a chain resturant so beware it can't be hit or miss and the food is sometimes spotty. But if you need a quick fix give this place a shot.
(3)
Jens J.
For authenticity, it's true, this L&L Barbecue makes it just like being in Hawaii. At least it is identical to the one JP and I ate at in Waimanolo on Oahu last year. They even had a recent copy of the Honolulu Star Advertiser newspaper, that I read while eating. Wow, so many fatal car/motorcycle accidents in one day on Oahu. Often times when I go to a Hawaiian restaurant for the first time, I go for the hamburger plate with macaroni salad, my litmus test. My visit to this L&L was no exception. Note: they have an expansive menu, including musubi and saimin. Hmmm, even though the gal at the counter asked if I wanted "for here or to go" and I responded "for here", I still received a closed Styrofoam carton containing my meal. I'm convinced L&L, regardless whether on the mainland or in Hawaii, adds a filler/extender (like flour) to their hamburger meat. It just doesn't taste like hamburger. Very different than the hamburger served at either Ohana or Noho in Portland, which I prefer. Why I think L&L adds an extender, or something, to their hamburger is because L&L's meat tastes just like these Danish things called "frickerdellers" that my Mom used to fry up. She added flour to the frickerdeller mixture. Each time she made frickerdellers, me as a young snot-nosed punk insolently asked why she couldn't just make plain hamburgers, because they tasted better. That suggestion never went over well with Mom.
(3)
Krissy -.
I think overall, this L&L is better than Hawaii's L&L. LOL. -Their mac salad is better tasting than Hawaii's one. Sad, but true. -Bigger portions! A mini plate is big enough. In Hawaii, a mini plate is tiny. Can't remember the price though. -Friendly service -Clean restaurant -Seating is limited, but I think it is mainly for take out purposes.
(4)
Nick B.
This is basic Hawaiian fast food fare. It's consistent as any chain restaurant. Value, portion, and flavors are all there. Once you try the basic BBQ plate---be a little adventurous and try the Kailua pork or locomoco. The hawaiian drinks are nice too. You won't regret it.
(4)
Sarah F.
I've been to quite a few Hawaiian take out places around town, and I must say... this is pretty dang good! Yes it's salty, yes it's fatty, but hey... isn't that the way it should be? Pros? -Large menu -Quick service -The bbq chicken is delicious -Hawaiian word of the day is fun Cons? -No chili water -Menu pictures would be great
(4)
Cc L.
Worst customer service ever!! Store was filthy and floors are nasty. Food is not fresh to order. Ordered bbq beef dry and burnt. Big portions but quality not so great. cooks look like they need a shave and a beard net. Cleanliness so not up to a standard. cashier counting tips before helping customers worst ever. Other lady should be helping customers but giggling with cooks. Will be taking business else were. They should have food permits checked. O and tables and chairs sticky fyi..
(1)
Aaron C.
Kalua pork and mac salad served Hawaiian traditional style... in styrofoam of course. also guava juice. Yummm
(5)
Richard U.
I love Hawaiian food! I came down to this location to check out the L&L chain of Hawaiin restaurants as I have not been to one before. I was a little disappointed in the quality of food on my first and only visit. I usually get the Pork Lau Lau which is piece of pork/pork fat wrapped in taro, kalua pork and spam musubi. The breakdown: Spam Musubi: ($2.50) ,The musubi was not the best. A bit too much rice to spam ratio. One bite and the thing collapsed in my hands. Hawaiian Combination plate ($11.50) Kalua pork was decent. Shreded pork, nice and juicy, a little smokey. I saw them prepare the pork lau lau and I believe it was the same one you can get frozen in the Uwajimaya frozen food section. Unfortunately, the meat was really dry which I thought was almost impossible as it is wrapped in layers of taro leaves. Maybe it was microwaved extra long or something? The macaroni salad I felt was pretty good. Everything plus the scoops of rice actually had a pretty good sized meal. As it is a chain restuarant, it definitely has that kind of feel. Like a Subway or a Burger King. The service is not great. Some reviewers commented on the employee working the register who talks on the phone (via wireless ear piece) while on the job, pausing from her phone convo occasionally to take orders. Yup. she's still there. I think that I will try the other L&L locations as I like their menu and I still love Hawaiian food.
(2)
Diana C.
OMG! I can't believe I haven't written a review here yet! I grew up in Hawaii, so I'm always here when I'm home sick. The service is just whatever (they are polite, but nothing special), but the food! oh the food! I almost always get the portugese sausage, with eggs and rice, and am never disappointed. I also get the saimin and just like in Hawaii, I add soy sauce and tabasco, YUM! The loco moco is delicious, the Kalua pork is tender, juicy, and sooooo good. The seafood combo with korean short ribs is almost like having a zip pac. Just missing the furikake... And yes, they have great creamy mac salad. Again, add tabasco and some black pepper and we have a winner! OH, i have to go back again now. The spam musubi is not that great (I make much better ones at home) but it's still good and I occasionally get one. They also have the Hawaiian juice drinks I grew up with... omg.. I love it. Guava juice is something I drink by the gallon whenever I go home, but this is just a taste to keep me in check before I go. If you're from Hawaii, you already know about this place and you know what i'm taking about. :-) See you there!
(4)
Kay N.
I think this place is great for Hawaiian food. I got the spicy bbq beef and boy was it spicy!! I couldn't eat all of it, but the beef was tasty and i got regular size which was A LOT of food. It came with the spicy beef, 2 scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. The macaroni salad was really good. The whole meal was such a large portion that I think it should be eaten by 2-3 people! Next time, get the mini, and don't let the word fool you--trust me it will be enough. I think its funny how they ask you if its "to-go" or "for here"but ends up giving you the food in a Styrofoam box either way. Service is okay--the girl didn't seem she wanted to be working but I guess I shouldn't expect so much from a fast-food place.
(4)
Long P.
I heart L&L! This L&L makes it like they do in Hawaii, and is your best bet for plate lunches on the mainland. I always get the CHICKEN KATSU, which weighs like 6 pounds. The menu is extremely large so there should be something for everyone. This is no frills Hawaiian soul food at a reasonable price with quick and friendly service. Can't get much better than that.
(4)
Tiffany Q.
Came here tonight around 8:25pm and they still served us. Yes, they don't close until 8:30pm, but for some reason lately restaurants have been refusing customers as early as 30+ mins before they close. They even served a couple that walked in 10+ mins AFTER they closed. GREAT customer service right there. I've never been to Hawaii so I can't comment on their food's authenticity, but the Kalua pork is flavorful and the spam and portuguese musubi is good.
(4)
J K.
Don't expect anything fancy. This is a standard Hawaiian food stand: yellow-soul food at a cheap price served by the daughter of the owner.
(4)
Brent T.
Uncle Eddie would be most certainly disappointed. Sadly enough, the majority of L&L's in the "mainland" that I've been to would garner no more than 3 stars. The Yelp Rating says it best: Meh. I've Experienced Better! If you are going down to Renton anyway, I recommend Saimin Says. In fact, I feel cheated that I didn't discover Saimin Says earlier and wasted my lunch/dinner money on this place. After seeing all the L&L's pop up over the last few years, I researched how difficult it is to open a franchise up. Problem is that it's not difficult at all, which is probably why the reputation has slowly diminished. The service is slow, the food is average, which makes the prices difficult to swallow. They make up for their below average food with large portion sizes, which is about as authentic of a Hawaiian food experience as they get. Unlike Saimin Says who uses a thick brown gravy for their loco mocos (their specialty by the way), L&L's gravy is thin and grey. The chicken katsu is greasy, but doesn't have a strong flavor to it. And there are not a lot of seats there, so unless you come at a very slow time, don't expect to eat in. Uncle Eddie, please help this place out!
(2)
Daniel Z.
I haven't found a good Hawaiian place yet except for the other L&L in Lynnwood, WA. Everything I order, I like. Anywhere from the Loco Moco, Chicken Katsu and if you are really hungry, go for the BBQ Mix Plate. There is ample space to sit unless a mad rush comes in, then just get it as take out. Last time I was there, they kinda of took a long time to get the food prepared. Seems longer when you are already starving. But end result, newly cooked food that burns you tongue, so take it slow.
(4)
Naomi N.
3 words.... A-MA-ZING!!! I called in my order. They were extremely helpful and had everything ready on point! I love this place. Always ontop of everything and very friendly. I've been beginning to think customer service has gone down the hole with this economy, but not at L&L!
(5)
Alvin N.
Hawaii lovers may know what I'm talking about, the rest of the population may not know what to expect from Hawaiian barbecue. The answer, pure and simple, is to expect the unexpected. Where else are you going to find a Spam-and-egg sandwich or Spam, Eggs & Rice =) The Hawaiian plate lunch is a huge, gastronomically challenging mixture of Asian and American starches (two scoops rice and one scoop macaroni salad) supplemented by a United Nation of entrees such as chicken katsu, beef curry, deep fried shrimp, mahi mahi, lemon chicken, barbecue shortribs, hamburger steak, etc. Ask any islander -- the most famous plate lunch restaurant in Hawaii is L&L. This popular chain has over 85 locations... Hawaii, California, Nevada and Washington. It has been voted the "Best Local Food", the "Best Hawaiian Barbecue", and the "Best Plate Lunch". Eating at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of the easiest way to taste the eclectic cuisine and culture of Hawaii. No shirt or shoes required. I recommend their Seafood Combo: Fried shrimp & Mahi Mahi with a choice of Hawaiian barbecue beef, chicken or short ribs made to order. Speaking of fast food, I should mention that L&L's service isn't particularly fast, but it's for a good reason: everything is made fresh when you order it, and it shows. Seating is very limited Though =/ , Just take to go. L&L is known for its large portions, freshly cooked food, and reasonable prices. So save the Airfare and enjoy a bit of Hawaiian cuisine locally so check it out! Mahalo
(4)
Jennifer K.
I was in the area today, so I decided to stop in for some grub. I ordered the Mini Loco Moco - a hamburger patty w/ an egg cooked to order (I ordered mine over medium) on top of it, all over 1 scoop of rice with a ton of gravy. My egg was cooked perfectly, and the gravy had a nice flavor. Don't let the "Mini" part of it throw you off though. It is an ample amout of food for a decent price. It also comes with 1 scoop of macaroni salad. I don't know why, but I just love their macaroni salad. I was very pleasantly surprised by how good my meal was. : )
(4)
Vince N.
Just like the rest! Since this is a chain, I think all the food taste the same. The L n L in was ok, just like this place. Quick, easy and a different kind of fast food. The restaurant is clean, service is nice and most food is cooked up to order, things are not sitting on the heating rack like McDonalds or any other joint. Don't expect anything super special since this is still fast food.
(3)
Derek M.
Brrrrr...it's freezing in here! It's winter in Seattle, so why is the air conditioning turned on? I shovel warm rice and BBQ in my mouth in hopes it will warm up my insides. Within a few minutes I start to feel better. Portions were large, large enough to satisfy the biggest of appitites. I have been to many different L&L's includig a few on the island and this one met my expectations. Not bad and nothing spectacular. My only complaint with this specific location would be the amount of fat found on some of the beef and chicken pieces. I would have liked to have some of this cut off before-hand as this is not easily done with a plastic fork and knife.
(3)
E.J. S.
Not that many places around here to get some Hawaiian food, but luckily there's L&L. I always get the kaluah pork or the katsu. Their portions are gigantic (i'm a big eater, and I still can only finish their mini plates). The service is pretty good and helpful. The only bad thing is how small the restaurant is, only about 5 tables or so.
(5)
Yee V.
Loco Moco. And I'm not talking about any trains. This hamburger patty served over rice with gravy and eggs on the side makes for a perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner!! I can't get over how good it is. Before I use to just order the bbq beef, but since I've tried the Loco Moco, I've only been getting it and having my girl get the bbq short ribs! HEHE Lately I've been recommended it a few times to friends as well, so why wouldn't I tell you to get it as well?! Macaroni Salad... can...not.... de....ny... it!!!! L&L is located in many different places. Seems like a chain now, but it doesn't make it bad at all. The food is pretty much the same anywhere you go, last year I had a chance to stop into the one in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii. Pricing is cheap because the portion is quite large. A mini would fill me up perfectly, the regular is gonna have to be packed up as lunch for tomorrow. I would suggest getting a spam masubi on the side with your order! It's really good, though possibly high in calories. I'll run an extra half mile tomorrow to burn it off, it's well worth it!!
(4)
Hungry J.
Really, this should be your last choice if you're looking for Hawaiian food in the Seattle area. This is the McDonald's of Hawaiian food (and is actually quite a large chain). Just like McDonald's, there is nothing overtly offensive about the flavors, but your stomach and toilet will pay if you eat here too often. I've eaten here a total of three times, and I have to say, I've come away with an upset stomach every time. Mac salad is actually really unpleasant, and the beef is a tendon filled, low grade mess. This place isn't high priced, but with the food they serve, I suppose they don't have to be. Parking is great (due to it's strip mall location near WalMart). I wouldn't say "Avoid at all costs" but I definitely would say "look somewhere else".
(2)
Marlo M.
Experienced L&L for the first time this afternoon. My Mom & I went in for lunch & both had the Spicy BBQ chicken with rice & macaroni salad. We were very pleased with the spicy BBQ because it had great flavor and just enough heat behind it. Although my Mom was a little unsure if the macaroni salad was supposed to be hot or cold...we both enjoyed the meal. Taking a couple of menus as we left with plans to return another time... I would recommend L&L to friends...and will.
(4)
Adam Z.
This place is legit Hawaiian BBQ and its right by my work. I go there probably twice a month. I usually get the katsu chicken or the BBQ mix lunch plate. The katsu is always crispy and the katsu sauce that comes with is nice and tangy. The BBQ mix plate has BBQ beef, chicken and spare ribs. Both come with a couple scoops of rice and a scoop of insanely good mac, I mean this stuff is good I'd like to fill my bathtub with it. I've tried a few other things on the menu but i keep coming back to these two dishes because, welp they're the best. Price aint bad and you get a ton of food for the $.
(4)
Richard M.
Food is hit or miss, sometimes great, sometimes burned beef & short ribs
(3)
Shari d.
I didn't want to give L & L a full on review until I actually got to try some of their BBQ items...i.e. short ribs, kalua pork, etc. So these two stars are based on my initial visit to the establishment and I will follow up with a more thorough review later. All I wanted was some Spam Musubi and some Macaroni Salad. I was hungry but not hungry enough to eat an entire meal. The Spam Musubi was OK...a little too much nori for my tastes. Instead of there being a thin strip of nori securing the spam to the rice there was an entire sheet of nori...almost like a swaddled baby. The macaroni salad was rich but bland...I think they forgot the salt. A more indepth review to come...hopefully the stars will go up rather than down.
(2)
Fereti S.
Had the chicken katsu and was amazed by the portions. Just a huge mountain of chicken upon chicken, talk about indulgence. The chicken was nicely fried, very crisp and moist. Wasn't fond of the dining area, wasn't expecting a 4 star dining experience, but the floor was so greasy it seemed like a lawsuit waiting to happen. The food was inexpensive, so you definitely get your moneys worth. For fast Hawaiian on the go, this is the place!
(3)
Jeremy M.
I guess you can say, it don't take much to please me. I was first introduced to this place from a friend talking about traditional Hawaiian food, I laughed when she pointed out SPAM was a hot commodity(made me feel ghetto again). However their preparation with it was something I've never really thought of before, in form of a sushi but they call it a masubi! It was quite nice and their menu seems very diverse kind of like a fusion of all Asian cuisine! Katsu, ramen(saimen), bbq(grilled), and macoroni salad which was mixed with a momentous amount of white pepper! Cheap eats, it deserves a five star in my book but I just can't get over it.........spam? WOW! They are great though!
(4)
Patrick L.
I've eaten here a few times, and the food didn't disappoint. The katsu, kalua pork, and mac salad all tasted as it should. Th only reason I give thia place one less star than the oter L&L locations is because of a cashier that used to work there. It was a younger girl who would be on the phone with her boyfriend or homegirls, while taking orders and ringing people up. The customers all waited forever while she chatted on the phone, only pausing to do her job every once in awhile. I couldn't believe she wasn't fired on the spot. Hope she's not terr anymore.
(3)
Scot K.
Franchise operations like this are sooo iffy. This is one of the better L & L restaurants. I've been to 3 in Hawaii, the one in Renton and this one. This happens to be much better than the one in Renton. The food is better and the counter help speaks pidgin. I usually go for the mixed BBQ, since it reminds me of the plate lunch places in Hawaii. The bench seats could use a little work, so I recommend sitting on the chairs.
(4)
Becky B.
If you're planning to eat in, get there before noon....or after 1:30 or so, because this place is CRAZY busy and has a very small eating area. With that said, there's a reason for the lunchtime crowd volume; the food is damn good...it's also got a very high quantity to price ratio, which is something I consistently look for. I've stopped in for the ocassional carryout order and been pleased with the speed at which my order is assembled, as well as with the quality of the food. My favorite is the kaluha pork and cabbage and shockingly, I've been known to order the "mini" plate, if I'm trying to behave myself calorically. The chicken katsu is also delicious. I've called in lunch orders ahead of time for my 10+ person office and had the meals prepared and waiting for me when I've arrived; with NO MISTAKES, despite the overwhelming number of substitutions my co-workers like to make. The gal that runs the counter is quick, efficient and friendly, despite the overwhelming number of customers during the lunch rush. I highly reccommend L&L,
(5)
Elizabeth R.
This visit, we finally decided to get a plate dish and not just our usual L&L Saimin. I ordered a mini BBQ Beef Plate. The mini vs their full, full gets 2 scoops of rice whereas the mini only gets 1 scoop, but you get the same amount of mac salad and meat. Their BBQ Beef was a little too saucy, but when I ate it later on that night after microwaving it, all the sauce soaked into the meat just how I like it. My boyfriend ordered the Chicken Katsu full plate. I'm not a big katsu fan, but he sure scarfed it down.
(4)
Ashley F.
I love L&L. The Renton location is probably my favorite in Western Washington. It has a fairly large menu and even has mini plates of my favorite dishes (although thinking about Hawaii turns me into an instant overeater so I would never actually order a mini plate, it makes me feel better that they exist). I strongly recommend Kalua Pork and Cabbage, Chicken Katsu, Haupia, Gyoza, and some delicious Hawaiian Sun Juice (this will be enough for 2 fat Hawaiians or 10-12 normal people). They even have lilikoi iced tea which is my favorite. If you want to be a bit more adventurous you can try Saimin (Katsu or BBQ are my favorites but Spam is a bit more Hawaiian in nature), Lau Lau, Loco Moco, Spam Musubi and Haupia. It is my life long dream to have a party catered by L&L and their catering prices are really reasonable. Drawbacks: you will overeat. It is impossible to eat Hawaiian food and not engorge yourself. You will probably find yourself driving to Renton to eat Hawaiian food with the specious reasoning that it is 'on the way'. It was so bad on Christmas Eve that I manufactured a trip to IKEA (yes I went to Ikea on Christmas Eve) just so that I could go eat L&L. You will probably spend all of your money that you could be saving up to actually go to Hawaii on L&L. This will ruin your chances of reviewing every L&L restaurant (although that's a silly goal anyways). This location is much too clean. The decor is exactly the same as the majority of L&Ls in Hawaii but everyone here is too friendly and helpful and hardworking for me to feel like home.
(5)
Kendrick R.
I'm from Hawaii and tastes exactly like plate lunches from Hawaii. It's definitely no ka oi grindz. I've been on a mission to share Loco Mocos with my co-workers. So far, it has met the comfort food seal of approval. The only problem is trying to come in on the right days to get fresh haupia.
(4)
Fumiko Y.
Huh, only one review? Let me see, I really like this place because there aren't too many other Hawaiian restaurants that are this caliber. They know GRILLED MEATS. Yes, sir. I love their grilled chicken! Mmmm. Beef curry is great too. With katsu, too, sometimes. If you want a big meal? Order a "mini". A "regular" size meal can easily feed a family of 4. The serving is huge...just like how they do it in HI. There is one in Federal Way as well.
(4)
Mike R.
Went for the first time today and was extremely disappointed. The barbeque beef was burned, tough and fatty - practically impossible to eat. They piled the macaroni salad on top of the hot rice, which was just disgusting. I will not be back and don't recommend it, certainly not for the almost $10 I paid for the entre and a soda. Stay away.
(1)
Chris H.
Tasty food, large portions, solid prices. Stripped down atmosphere. If you are a meat eater, and you are hungry, a great choice.
(3)
Chartchai B.
Great L&L location that I always for get...from kalua to spam burger to kim chee...when i want to eat teriyaki but not teriyaki L&L is the place...now if only sundays werent so busy!!!
(4)
Dana M.
sooo yummy! - lots of food and lots flavor! - my husband and I love this place... their small portion is huge!
(5)
Kim K.
I love having a little taste of home wherever I can find it, and although I have nothing against the food - my visit today was atrocious. The girl at the counter messed up numerous orders before mine and then refused to give me an advertised price because 'it didn't apply to weekends' even though it did not specify that on the sign or anywhere else. Then as we were eating, she walked over to the garbage can and picked up two sauce containers that someone had discarded but failed to make it fully in the trash - she took them into the back and put them back where the other sauce containers were kept to distribute to other customers. Needless to say I will not be returning after being stated at blankly and treated like rubbish. Where's the island Aloha here?
(2)
L W.
I was so disappointed that no longer take the 2011 entertainment book coupons. I made a special trip because I wanted to eat local hawaiin food and they did not redeem it. The food is not healthy, the cashier was not friendly, and she did not the honor the coupon.
(3)
Antonio R.
If you want fast-food hawaiian food then L&L is the place to go. You get a lot of food for the money and the food is good...but not great. What I do like about L&L is that they offer banquet size platters for very reasonable prices. Everytime I bring one of their platters of kahlua pork or katsu chicken to a party...they are always the hit of the party. I do go to this L&L on a regular basis and never had a bad experience here. This particular L&L is hidden behind a car dealership and a chinese buffet restaurant, so you cannot see it while driving.
(3)
Christine Y.
so i've come here in the past and up until recently the food was yummy the short ribs were tender and saucy and I enjoyed the macaroni salad... unfortunately the stars quickly fell in my mind the last time I visited...it wasn't the food...according to the boyfriend it was still yummers...yet I had a bit of a hard time eating it because of an image that wouldn't leave my mind...yes we should have complained but since it was done by the cashier and not the cook we jus shut our mouths, grabbed our food and left (and it came out quickly)... I wouldn't say that i'm being nit-picky because it is a restaurant...food service so everything should be sanitary...unfortunately after we ordered our food the cashier took out the trash (normal) but when he came back I didn't see him wash his hands.......................if he didn't whose to say that the cook did?!?!?!?!?! maybe he washed his hands out of site...but shouldn't he wash his hands in front of the customers??? isn't that why there is a sink right next to him??? didn't have much of an appetite after that.... luckily, there was no food poisoning! yay! we live to tell the tale! I don't think it's good for them!
(2)
Tonya N.
Im no hawaiian food connesuir but i like it... When im in the mood for kalbi or short rib type meat, this place hits the spot. Its very juicy and tender and i like the pasta salad that comes with, so hot meat and then the cold pasta is a nice combo. I dont really love the rice, kinda mushy. Katsu is tender and crisp on the outside. Portions are monster huge here. Too much food on a plate can be unappealing, but here the food reheats well so, its a good thing...
(4)
nate j.
The menu is a take-home, open-book test... Hawaiian BBQ confuses me and I admit follow-up visits are necessary for me to fully comprehend how eggs end up on a pile of, well, almost anything. I had my first visit here today with a co-worker and we each had chicken katsu, quite frankly, because other than a cheeseburger or hamburger, this was the only type of food either of us could say we'd had before elsewhere. The katsu is something that is one of what this outfit is known for, or so I'm told. The sauce was pretty good -- I have no idea what to call it, however, as it isn't teriyaki, BBQ, or soy sauce... it's like all of those flavors at once. We made the mistake of ordering the regular and it was large enough to feed an army! A "mini" order to me would have implied I might've gone wanting more. Oh well, I'll know for next time. Additional positive aspects: great decor, clean, and pretty good supply of free parking. The KC Metro route 101 provides service to this place (well, to Rainier Avenue South, which is a short walk away). Staff was pretty neutral -- not in-your-face too friendly nor are they inattentive. I rate the place as three stars, mainly because the menu is confusing to decipher for a first timer. Also, the katsu had good flavor, but the chicken was a little bit stringy. If I could have rated 3 and a half stars, I would have done so, but I'm still not quite convinced it is a 4 star place yet.
(3)
Kazuo O.
I came here because i had a coupon from an Entertainment Book. I ordered the mix plate and chicken katsu. Total came to $11 and some change with the coupon. You get a lot of food, when I grabbed my takeout order I was like "Damn, this is heavy." I like the beef the best, the chicken was too low quality, spare ribs was too fatty and the chiken katsu was okay. The quality of the food is very poor.
(2)
H L.
This place used to be great before it was sold to the current owners. They're not that friendly and I get the feeling that they just want your money and not your loyalty. I've been to L&L in Pasadena and in San Francisco and their food is great. But this location cannot live up to the L&L name. Weird smells when you walk in and it's very disappointing.
(2)
Scott L.
So, I'm from Hawaii, and used to live about a mile from the ORIGINAL L&L. Which by the way, if you saw it, I doubt you would eat there. Anyway, I've been to at least 15 of them on the mainland and probably another 15 of them in Hawaii; for some reason L&L on the mainland can be a hit or miss deal. It's a franchise, but I think they have a quality control issue. Having said that, I think this L&L is on the better side.
(3)
Jeniffer L.
OK so I'm a native of Hawaii and sometimes I would even call myself Hawaiian.. I love L&L and have been a fan of it probably since birth so I was thinking it to be very hard to persuade me to not like it. So after the Most expensive grocery trip EVER (read yelp on enterprise for details) I decided to take myself and 2 other friends to one of my most favorite places ever I hyped the place up so much that we were all drooling before we stepped in the door. But to my surprise this L&L bombed my every thought of the restaurant I had so fondly remember. Seriously, How do you mess up on BBQ beef. I must say Northshore Hawaiian BBQ on Boren ave has the BEST bbq beef I have tasted in seattle BY FAR. and how the heck do you Screw up Kalua pork???? I'll tell you add scoops of msg for that salty taste and a splash of shoyu to cover that up. I don't think i will be taking anyone else there until they fix some things. Oh and BTW why the heck are there only people who don't speak good english running a register... hmmm sad sad day when L&L become dead to me:(.
(2)
Thao N.
BEST macaroni salad ever! I looked at the little cup of macaroni salad that came along with my combo and thought it didn't look enough, but my meal was so big that I ended up not even finishing all of it...and I'm a big eater. Oh well, that means leftovers for me which I think will last me for another 2 meals or so seeing at how much meat I received, I could just cook more rice each time for it. I got #3, the BBQ combo where there's a handful(or two) of rice, beef slices, beef short ribs, & chicken on a bed of cole slaw. You also get to choose a side of either fries or mac salad. I haven't had other Hawaiian BBQ to compare, but boy this was goooooood. It is located in a little shopping area across from Walmart near downtown Renton.
(4)
Teddy G.
I've never been to Hawaii so I can't justify myself that it taste authentic. BUT I can say that it is Hawaiian fast food. The food here is okay because it is fast food. It tasted right and delicious as I thought it would be. The portion sizes are HUGEE and it is worth every penny. Customer service is very polite and courteous. Depending on the time of day you may have to wait for your food for about 5 to 20 mins. I'm not kidding about the 20 minutes as they often do have just that one cook at the back trying to service the customers. In all I'm glad there is a Hawaiian place here.. it makes Renton/Eastside area a better foodie place.
(3)
Lydia L.
Given a lot of food for what you paid, which is always a huge plus for me! Im a huge sucker from for meat, and this place has pretty good meat for what you paid. I paid almost $12 for a huge plate of rice, meat, and mac salad. It was so much food, I couldn't even finish it, so it'll definitely fill you up until your next meal. There are soo many choices to choose from, so you'll find something you like. Service was great, although the wait was a little longer than expected. There are limited tables, so going during peak meal times may mean take out. Lots of parking too!
(4)
Stephanie J.
We always come here to get our Hawaiian food fix. It is not as authentic as you would get it on the islands, but it satisfies our cravings. My boyfriend usually gets the burger or loco moco and some musibi. I have been hooked on the chicken katsu bowl w/steamed vegetables only (no rice). It's a special request but they always do it for me. The only recommendation I would have would be to plastic/shrink wrap the musubi. They put it in a styrofoam type container and sometimes when we take it to-go the musubi is broken up and all over the place. Other than that, it's pretty fast food for a decent price. And most importably the people are always nice!
(4)
Vivian W.
I love L&L. I crave for them sometimes. This location has been very good so far, quick with their service and on point with the food expectations! They always fill up your to-go boxes which is a always a plus for me. I love their mashubis, loco moco, chicken katsu with curry, and especially their macaroni salad! Ohhh...that macaroni salad! So delish. There is lots of mayo, hints of tuna fish and pieces of carrots! I make it myself at home sometimes and I would put more tuna and cabbage in their just to make it a tad bit healthier! YUMMMS!
(5)
Doug T.
Pretty good when it comes to L&L's. 7 hours later I'm still full.. high on value as the portions are enormous.. I had the curry chicken, which a small village in africa could split... Takes visa
(3)
Elina K.
This place can satisfy my Hawaiian BBQ fix but it's just not the best I've ever had. They have your typical Hawaiian dishes and I usually get the loco moco or chicken katsu and of course mac salad. I can't say I'm in love with their food but like I said they fulfill my cravings! It's one of their chains so nothing about it is special. I do love how much rice and gravy/katsu sauce they give you! I always leave glutted with extra to take home with me so good thing all their food comes in a to go box! Lol Altogether, just an OK place to pick up some Hawaiian food/snacks/drinks but wouldn't be my first choice!!
(3)
Victoria M.
My friends were craving Hawaiian food so we decided to stop here. I was starving so I thought a 'mini' would be too small, but I only ended up not even eating half of the 'regular' size bbq chicken meal. They have HUGE portions! Even my friends with big appetites were stuffed. The service was very prompt and our food came out very fast. The place could use a little cleaning because a lot of the tables had sticky gunk on them still. The food however was very average, a bit disappointing and usually when I'm hungry food is delicious to me. Maybe it was because I've had really good Hawaiian food in the past, it wasn't all that great. The majority of my chicken was all fat and it was so greasy to the point where it made me feel sick. The macaroni salad was so heavy and had too much mayo I couldn't even take more than two bites. My boyfriend ordered a beef bowl and it was SO salty and the whole thing was drenched with thick teriyaki sauce. My other friends ordered the loco moco, bbq ribs and spam musubi and said the food was "alright". My friends said the l&l up in Lynnwood was better. I'm hoping we just went on a bad day because it wasn't a very satisfying experience for me.
(3)
Namtran V.
I am SO glad they have mini portions here!! I think a mini is the perfect size for me, and I'm a big eater! They have all the usual items you would find at Hawaiian BBQ and I like that there's pictures on the wall if this is your first time here. The flavor is standard, not overly salty or special. Just a staple, chain restaurant. The place is pretty small and everything comes out in a togo box. My only major complaint is that EVERYTHING comes out in a togo box and they don't even have real silverware. Have you tried eating short ribs with a plastic fork/knife? It's not very earth friendly and kind of wasteful.
(3)
Daniel S.
I love Hawaiian food. Seriously. And the people here were very friendly. I ordered the chicken katsu (my go to for any Hawaiian place), and I don't know why but I got sick. It's the only thing I ate that day because after feeling that way, I couldn't eat anything else. I am not sure how it happened or why, and I'd rather give this place the benefit of the doubt, but I can't think of another cause. The food was good though haha...
(3)
Tiffany S.
I got the mixed BBQ plate and the Katsu musubi. The Katsu musubi was great! It was my first time having musubi other than spam and I felt like it went well together. The nori was crispy and the Katsu was fresh. Everything made for a good texture and flavor combo. Not too salty either! My issue was that the beef in the BBQ plate was way too salty! The saltiness took away from the sauce and was too overwhelming. The chicken was much better though, less salty and better flavors. I would recommend getting the chicken plate if given a choice again. The best part is the portions are huge for just around $10. The meat has lasted me for almost 3 meals already. Although I do feel the cholesterol and fat running through my arteries right about now.
(3)
Holli M.
We always order the chicken katsu. It's so good and we tried the mix barbque plate. The Teri beef was soft and chicken was good but for me just a bit too much shoyu in the flavor. But was good.
(4)
Beau S.
Gross! I love Hawaiian food and its simplicity makes it hard to screw up. I have eaten at this L&L chain in Maui so I was familiar of the menu. This location in Renton is in a semi dingy location but not so off putting that I am turning heels. I ordered a 2 meat plate with Katsu Chicken and BBQ chicken. The Katsu was ok and rice was good. The BBQ chicken was flat out horrible I have never seen chicken prepared this way as a fatty pulverized overcooked mess. The really sad part is the Mac salad which is super hard to screw up was BAD with a barnyard aftertaste. I am not sure if something was spoiled or if it was old but I threw all the BBQ Chicken and mac salad away. Yeah I usually write a semi negative review after I have visited twice but I really don't want to return.
(2)
Jessica G.
I think I'm just going to give up on trying to find decent Hawaiian food in Washington. L&L is always hit or miss, but this experience was particularly bad. You'd think that there would be some consistency with a chain, but this is not the case. I enjoy that the menu has expanded over the years, but if I can't get my staple Hawaiian items (kalua pork, for example) without gagging, you're a failure (to me). I went here over work lunch recently and ordered a combination of kalua and cabbage with BBQ chicken. Everything is cooked to order, so I didn't mind the wait, but the food left much to be desired. The kalua pork was flavorless, and the cabbage was watery. The BBQ chicken was okay but mostly fatty. And what is up with the "teriyaki" sauce? Teriyaki sauce is NOT supposed to be watery and thin! My guess is that it's huli huli sauce or some dipping sauce for something else. There were just bottles of this stuff...and I even asked for clarity if this was, indeed, supposed to be teriyaki sauce. Gross. Won't be back.
(1)
Tanzala D.
Extremely disappointed in my visit. Usually the food and service are acceptable, this wasn't the case. I placed a rather basic order nothing extreme (fries, spam masubi, Mac salad) Mac salad was already prepared. A coworker ordered right ahead of me. He was served and at least 15 patrons came in an out before my food was ready. No explanation no apology. Asked for a refund was advised food was coming. Three other people received food. Asked for refund was handed food after 20 minutes. No apology not refund. No problem leaving me unhappy. Poor customer service. Not sure if this was racial or just inconsiderate and rude.
(1)
Brian C.
You get what you pay for and people giving this place negative reviews are insane. I get dinner from here on the way home from work once a month to every other month and the prices are more than fair for what I get. Tonight I got 4 musubis, one chicken Katsu meal and one curry chicken Katsu meal for about 25 bucks! The 4th musubi was a surprise. I order to go and it usually takes a lot 15-20 minutes if not quicker. If anything I get here a few minutes after the food is already made. I've never had bad customer service here and have been coming here for about 2 years. This is a much better option than fast food!!!
(5)
Julie Marcellina V.
This is nothing compared to the L&L in Hawaii. I guess we came here with very high expectations. So when we got home and tasted the food. We first thought that the macaroni salad was very bland. There was literally no taste to it. The food was alright, nothing to die for.
(3)
Mike B.
Good! The real deal Hawaiian. Love the pig. Also the Loco moko. The macaroni salad is the real deal. As a frequent traveler to the islands. Its nice to be able to get the food here in my hometown, without the 6 hr. Flight! Mike Ballatore
(4)
Alexis B.
I'm pretty sure I got sick from this place. I ate the food around 4pm Saturday and was hurting Sunday 8am until Monday night. Plus this was the only food I ate for the rest of the day. I ordered curry katsu chicken meal came with Mac salad I think that's what did me in. The hubby only ate some musubi and DID NOT get sick. So the culprits was either the curry or Mac salad. Either way I can't go back here I'm too scared of getting sick again. I love curry too. Sigh. So sad.
(1)
Monica B.
I rarely go to this location because it's a long way from my house. I happened to be in Renton over the weekend and stopped in for a bite to eat. Most L&L locations around the country have a franchise menu so everything was familiar to me. I was famished when I got there and ordered a Combo A - chicken katsu, macaroni salad, rice, 2 lumpia, and a drink. The portion was HUGE! I ate as much as I could and it looked like I didn't dent it. We also ordered a kalua burger which was usually offered with cabbage (unfortunately they were out of cabbage). The kalua was very smoky and cooked well. The katsu was fried crisp and the chicken was lean. The katsu sauce was a little too sweet for me but I could see how some would like it. The restaurant was clean and service was friendly and efficient. Our entire lunch cost $15. What a deal! I had to bring home leftovers.
(4)
Joelina S.
Lunch was delicious today! Sad that they were out of malasadas. The chicken katsu / bbq chicken (Today's Special) hit the spot though. Only giving 4 stars because the seating sucks here. Hopefully they'll buy the crappy massage place next door and expand so more than 8 people can sit comfortably.
(4)
Stephen B.
I've been here 3 times in as many weeks and am very pleased by both the quantity and quality of food. Their Kalua Pork with cabbage is outstanding , as is the BBQ chicken and chicken katsu.
(5)
Alex C.
This place is my go to when it comes to my post work out meal, large portions of protein for a reasonable price. Ive tried other Hawaiian places in the area but their food tends to be overly salty. The cashiers are friendly and the food comes out a lot faster than the one i used to live by in Lynnwood. I just wish the spam masubi didnt cost so much :(
(4)
Alexandra K.
My brother and I stopped here to grab a bit to eat before sitting in traffic. The cashier was very polite and friendly. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food that you get. While I was sitting there waiting for my food one of the girls was walking around taking the trash out and cleaning the tables. Small seating area but it was very clean. I ordered spam, eggs and rice my brother had chicken katsu. I know that I could have made my own spam eggs and rice but it sounded so good at the time. It came out hot and cooked perfectly. My brothers chicken katsu was the bigger portion but the size of the chicken and the ratio to rice was perfect. This was my first time eating at an L&L but it has me hooked. I can't wait to try a more traditional dish next time I'm in. I will be back again!
(5)
Anna N.
This place is cute! Very clean I love the appearance with the whole Hawaiian skim. The employees were friendly and nice. The food was satisfying oh so satisfying. I got the loco meal the one that is number 13 on the menu, I think not sure. I kinda had high expectations for the food but it was delicious and I do plan on stoping by again if I'm craving for some Hawaiian food or spam musubi.
(5)
Lyn C.
Others will have their opinions but from my experience this Hawaiian food is better than all the rest. Their short ribs are amazing as is their chicken katsu .But really everything is just plain good here. We ordered nearly everything on the menu and it just kept getting better :) I will definitely come back
(5)
Marebear T.
I love L&L ..... Never fails to make My tummy happy ...... The portions is great and the customer service here is great too .... Fresh and don't have to wait so long and the girl at the counter is friendly and sweet .... I love people like that .... :-) definately will be back.
(5)
Marie R.
I feel like this place is pretty hit or miss. Sometimes the food is wonderful and then I can go back the next day and have it dry/ burnt. If there was more consistency I would definitely be there more.
(3)
Tan Lo S.
I have been long awaiting this delicious endeavor. Hawaii is somewhere I dream to retire, well, to actually live someday because of the history, culture, and beauty. For now, I live my dreams through the Hawaiian food here in Seattle. I'm no Hawaiian connoisseur, however, I would like to say that I have high expectations and a picky palette based on pictures, my personal taste and chef skills with flavors, fusion, and knowledge. I also have friends from Hawaii who have shown me the authenticity of Hawaiian food. L&L closes at 9. I came in about 8 and was greeted, sort of. The lady who took my order looked almost unapproachable, which was weird since she looked like a teenager, and usually, teenagers are full of pizzazz and energy. She wasn't too excited to greet me, nonetheless, I look around. Their menu is annoyingly busy and it's honestly really hard to see what they offer with a menu, then paper, hand-written menu specials and such. I opt in for the bbq chicken and katsu combo, which was supposed to be like $8.75 but she charges me somewhere between $10 for it, which I find out when I leave. I ordered an extra mac salad which was like $2. My total for my combo dinner and extra mac was a little over $12. Not too shabby but still a little pricey since I can go to the ave and get the same thing for $8. The bbq chicken aka chicken teriyaki was delicious. Very, very delightful as it was sweet and flavorful, but very simple and to the punch. I liked it because it tasted like how I make it at home. It was also very tender. The katsu was just mehh, a-okay. I could make better. It tasted a little old and not very fresh. The crispiness wasn't there, and the homemade sauce was just okay. Good effort though. Their mac salad was good, but lacking in good ole' salt and peppa. Otherwise, it was creamy with the right amount and worth every bite and penny. The BEST thing about this place is the HUGE portion sizes which I hear it true to Hawaiian food. I love it because of just 1 meal, I made it into 3 portions. YES. You get a bomb gluttonous pile of chicken, at least 4 thighs and a hand load of katsu for their combo. I can NOT complain there because it was so damn worth it. I couldn't believe my eyes. That deserves two thumbs up and return because I am satisfied with the quantity. The quality is a-okay, but not the worst. I will def come back when I'm in the area and desperate. It's good for a quick grab of savory and fat portions!
(3)
Lisa U.
I actually went to the new location in Seatac but the experience was just the same as the Renton L&L. We ordered the BBQ combo plate, the "mini" chicken katsu curry and a spam musubi. Both the plate dishes were tasty as usual but the spam musubi was lacking in portion. I must say the mini version isnt mini at all. Great value for the portion you get. I love the option of subbing for brown rice and salad vs. white rice and mac salad too. I'll be back again but won't be ordering the musubi unfortunately. I love spam.
(4)
Thao N.
BEST macaroni salad ever! I looked at the little cup of macaroni salad that came along with my combo and thought it didn't look enough, but my meal was so big that I ended up not even finishing all of it...and I'm a big eater. Oh well, that means leftovers for me which I think will last me for another 2 meals or so seeing at how much meat I received, I could just cook more rice each time for it. I got #3, the BBQ combo where there's a handful(or two) of rice, beef slices, beef short ribs, & chicken on a bed of cole slaw. You also get to choose a side of either fries or mac salad. I haven't had other Hawaiian BBQ to compare, but boy this was goooooood. It is located in a little shopping area across from Walmart near downtown Renton.
(4)
Teddy G.
I've never been to Hawaii so I can't justify myself that it taste authentic. BUT I can say that it is Hawaiian fast food. The food here is okay because it is fast food. It tasted right and delicious as I thought it would be. The portion sizes are HUGEE and it is worth every penny. Customer service is very polite and courteous. Depending on the time of day you may have to wait for your food for about 5 to 20 mins. I'm not kidding about the 20 minutes as they often do have just that one cook at the back trying to service the customers. In all I'm glad there is a Hawaiian place here.. it makes Renton/Eastside area a better foodie place.
(3)
Lydia L.
Given a lot of food for what you paid, which is always a huge plus for me! Im a huge sucker from for meat, and this place has pretty good meat for what you paid. I paid almost $12 for a huge plate of rice, meat, and mac salad. It was so much food, I couldn't even finish it, so it'll definitely fill you up until your next meal. There are soo many choices to choose from, so you'll find something you like. Service was great, although the wait was a little longer than expected. There are limited tables, so going during peak meal times may mean take out. Lots of parking too!
(4)
Stephanie J.
We always come here to get our Hawaiian food fix. It is not as authentic as you would get it on the islands, but it satisfies our cravings. My boyfriend usually gets the burger or loco moco and some musibi. I have been hooked on the chicken katsu bowl w/steamed vegetables only (no rice). It's a special request but they always do it for me. The only recommendation I would have would be to plastic/shrink wrap the musubi. They put it in a styrofoam type container and sometimes when we take it to-go the musubi is broken up and all over the place. Other than that, it's pretty fast food for a decent price. And most importably the people are always nice!
(4)
Vivian W.
I love L&L. I crave for them sometimes. This location has been very good so far, quick with their service and on point with the food expectations! They always fill up your to-go boxes which is a always a plus for me. I love their mashubis, loco moco, chicken katsu with curry, and especially their macaroni salad! Ohhh...that macaroni salad! So delish. There is lots of mayo, hints of tuna fish and pieces of carrots! I make it myself at home sometimes and I would put more tuna and cabbage in their just to make it a tad bit healthier! YUMMMS!
(5)
Elina K.
This place can satisfy my Hawaiian BBQ fix but it's just not the best I've ever had. They have your typical Hawaiian dishes and I usually get the loco moco or chicken katsu and of course mac salad. I can't say I'm in love with their food but like I said they fulfill my cravings! It's one of their chains so nothing about it is special. I do love how much rice and gravy/katsu sauce they give you! I always leave glutted with extra to take home with me so good thing all their food comes in a to go box! Lol Altogether, just an OK place to pick up some Hawaiian food/snacks/drinks but wouldn't be my first choice!!
(3)
Victoria M.
My friends were craving Hawaiian food so we decided to stop here. I was starving so I thought a 'mini' would be too small, but I only ended up not even eating half of the 'regular' size bbq chicken meal. They have HUGE portions! Even my friends with big appetites were stuffed. The service was very prompt and our food came out very fast. The place could use a little cleaning because a lot of the tables had sticky gunk on them still. The food however was very average, a bit disappointing and usually when I'm hungry food is delicious to me. Maybe it was because I've had really good Hawaiian food in the past, it wasn't all that great. The majority of my chicken was all fat and it was so greasy to the point where it made me feel sick. The macaroni salad was so heavy and had too much mayo I couldn't even take more than two bites. My boyfriend ordered a beef bowl and it was SO salty and the whole thing was drenched with thick teriyaki sauce. My other friends ordered the loco moco, bbq ribs and spam musubi and said the food was "alright". My friends said the l&l up in Lynnwood was better. I'm hoping we just went on a bad day because it wasn't a very satisfying experience for me.
(3)
Namtran V.
I am SO glad they have mini portions here!! I think a mini is the perfect size for me, and I'm a big eater! They have all the usual items you would find at Hawaiian BBQ and I like that there's pictures on the wall if this is your first time here. The flavor is standard, not overly salty or special. Just a staple, chain restaurant. The place is pretty small and everything comes out in a togo box. My only major complaint is that EVERYTHING comes out in a togo box and they don't even have real silverware. Have you tried eating short ribs with a plastic fork/knife? It's not very earth friendly and kind of wasteful.
(3)
Daniel S.
I love Hawaiian food. Seriously. And the people here were very friendly. I ordered the chicken katsu (my go to for any Hawaiian place), and I don't know why but I got sick. It's the only thing I ate that day because after feeling that way, I couldn't eat anything else. I am not sure how it happened or why, and I'd rather give this place the benefit of the doubt, but I can't think of another cause. The food was good though haha...
(3)
Tiffany S.
I got the mixed BBQ plate and the Katsu musubi. The Katsu musubi was great! It was my first time having musubi other than spam and I felt like it went well together. The nori was crispy and the Katsu was fresh. Everything made for a good texture and flavor combo. Not too salty either! My issue was that the beef in the BBQ plate was way too salty! The saltiness took away from the sauce and was too overwhelming. The chicken was much better though, less salty and better flavors. I would recommend getting the chicken plate if given a choice again. The best part is the portions are huge for just around $10. The meat has lasted me for almost 3 meals already. Although I do feel the cholesterol and fat running through my arteries right about now.
(3)
Holli M.
We always order the chicken katsu. It's so good and we tried the mix barbque plate. The Teri beef was soft and chicken was good but for me just a bit too much shoyu in the flavor. But was good.
(4)
Beau S.
Gross! I love Hawaiian food and its simplicity makes it hard to screw up. I have eaten at this L&L chain in Maui so I was familiar of the menu. This location in Renton is in a semi dingy location but not so off putting that I am turning heels. I ordered a 2 meat plate with Katsu Chicken and BBQ chicken. The Katsu was ok and rice was good. The BBQ chicken was flat out horrible I have never seen chicken prepared this way as a fatty pulverized overcooked mess. The really sad part is the Mac salad which is super hard to screw up was BAD with a barnyard aftertaste. I am not sure if something was spoiled or if it was old but I threw all the BBQ Chicken and mac salad away. Yeah I usually write a semi negative review after I have visited twice but I really don't want to return.
(2)
Jessica G.
I think I'm just going to give up on trying to find decent Hawaiian food in Washington. L&L is always hit or miss, but this experience was particularly bad. You'd think that there would be some consistency with a chain, but this is not the case. I enjoy that the menu has expanded over the years, but if I can't get my staple Hawaiian items (kalua pork, for example) without gagging, you're a failure (to me). I went here over work lunch recently and ordered a combination of kalua and cabbage with BBQ chicken. Everything is cooked to order, so I didn't mind the wait, but the food left much to be desired. The kalua pork was flavorless, and the cabbage was watery. The BBQ chicken was okay but mostly fatty. And what is up with the "teriyaki" sauce? Teriyaki sauce is NOT supposed to be watery and thin! My guess is that it's huli huli sauce or some dipping sauce for something else. There were just bottles of this stuff...and I even asked for clarity if this was, indeed, supposed to be teriyaki sauce. Gross. Won't be back.
(1)
Tanzala D.
Extremely disappointed in my visit. Usually the food and service are acceptable, this wasn't the case. I placed a rather basic order nothing extreme (fries, spam masubi, Mac salad) Mac salad was already prepared. A coworker ordered right ahead of me. He was served and at least 15 patrons came in an out before my food was ready. No explanation no apology. Asked for a refund was advised food was coming. Three other people received food. Asked for refund was handed food after 20 minutes. No apology not refund. No problem leaving me unhappy. Poor customer service. Not sure if this was racial or just inconsiderate and rude.
(1)
Brian C.
You get what you pay for and people giving this place negative reviews are insane. I get dinner from here on the way home from work once a month to every other month and the prices are more than fair for what I get. Tonight I got 4 musubis, one chicken Katsu meal and one curry chicken Katsu meal for about 25 bucks! The 4th musubi was a surprise. I order to go and it usually takes a lot 15-20 minutes if not quicker. If anything I get here a few minutes after the food is already made. I've never had bad customer service here and have been coming here for about 2 years. This is a much better option than fast food!!!
(5)
Julie Marcellina V.
This is nothing compared to the L&L in Hawaii. I guess we came here with very high expectations. So when we got home and tasted the food. We first thought that the macaroni salad was very bland. There was literally no taste to it. The food was alright, nothing to die for.
(3)
Mike B.
Good! The real deal Hawaiian. Love the pig. Also the Loco moko. The macaroni salad is the real deal. As a frequent traveler to the islands. Its nice to be able to get the food here in my hometown, without the 6 hr. Flight! Mike Ballatore
(4)
Alexis B.
I'm pretty sure I got sick from this place. I ate the food around 4pm Saturday and was hurting Sunday 8am until Monday night. Plus this was the only food I ate for the rest of the day. I ordered curry katsu chicken meal came with Mac salad I think that's what did me in. The hubby only ate some musubi and DID NOT get sick. So the culprits was either the curry or Mac salad. Either way I can't go back here I'm too scared of getting sick again. I love curry too. Sigh. So sad.
(1)
Monica B.
I rarely go to this location because it's a long way from my house. I happened to be in Renton over the weekend and stopped in for a bite to eat. Most L&L locations around the country have a franchise menu so everything was familiar to me. I was famished when I got there and ordered a Combo A - chicken katsu, macaroni salad, rice, 2 lumpia, and a drink. The portion was HUGE! I ate as much as I could and it looked like I didn't dent it. We also ordered a kalua burger which was usually offered with cabbage (unfortunately they were out of cabbage). The kalua was very smoky and cooked well. The katsu was fried crisp and the chicken was lean. The katsu sauce was a little too sweet for me but I could see how some would like it. The restaurant was clean and service was friendly and efficient. Our entire lunch cost $15. What a deal! I had to bring home leftovers.
(4)
Joelina S.
Lunch was delicious today! Sad that they were out of malasadas. The chicken katsu / bbq chicken (Today's Special) hit the spot though. Only giving 4 stars because the seating sucks here. Hopefully they'll buy the crappy massage place next door and expand so more than 8 people can sit comfortably.
(4)
Wayne R.
I'd give it four stars but the service at this location left something to be desired. The food was just as I remembered when I was in Hawaii. Salty, greasy, and so damn delicious. But the service was inattentive and lacking. I will return to L&L but maybe not this location.
(3)
Kim D.
The chicken katsu is great! Well worth the money. Large portions for a great, affordable price. Their macaroni salad is amazing for a person who doesn't like macaroni salad. The workers, especially the lady cashier is super nice and generous.
(5)
Jon L.
I miss Hawaii! This gets more evident during the holidays. Fortunately, Seattle has many places with stuff from home that makes living here worthwhile. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of them. There is a L&L in every (I think) neighborhood in Honolulu, so I am happy to see this chain cross the Pacific. Reading the reviews on Yelp, it sounds like quality control varies by location. Having been only to the Renton location, I am not sure if this is accurate. Though this location seems to churn out some decent plate lunches. Most recently, I had the BBQ mix ($8.95) which is a combo of beef, chicken and short ribs with rice and macaroni salad. The meats here tend to be a bit fattier than I would like. Though I particularly like the BBQ chicken which uses chicken thighs rather than chicken breast for a moist flavor. It tastes just like home. It is nothing like the teriyaki around these parts. As for the mac salad, it is good not great. But it avoids adding ridiculous unnecessary ingredients like celery. Overall, L&L serves up good Hawaiian plate lunches. Though the product quality could be a tad better I think.
(3)
Ryan W.
Whenever I fixin' for some good local food, I come here. Love their chicken katsu and their lau lau is also very good. It's no surprise that L&L is the only business that is still open in this little strip mall because over the years, the businesses on both sides of this location of opened and closed several times. I hope this spot stays open forever!
(4)
Tony Y.
I am a big fan of hawiian cuisine. I've been to several of these locations locally and in hawaii. They are pretty consistent with there food. We got the loco moco and chicken katsu and they were both pretty tasty, Flavors were good, portions were plentiful but the big knock is everything was super super salty. The first half of the meal was good and as the saltiness got overpowering it started to lose its flavor. This location is pretty shady in the corner of a dirty old strip mall. Be careful at night! We will probably go back again when in the downtown renton area when we have a craving.
(3)
Jasmin G.
The food is always good no matter what I've ordered and the service is always nice and fast but what really keeps me coming is their macaroni salad. Never had macaroni salad as good as theirs anywhere!
(5)
Jens J.
For authenticity, it's true, this L&L Barbecue makes it just like being in Hawaii. At least it is identical to the one JP and I ate at in Waimanolo on Oahu last year. They even had a recent copy of the Honolulu Star Advertiser newspaper, that I read while eating. Wow, so many fatal car/motorcycle accidents in one day on Oahu. Often times when I go to a Hawaiian restaurant for the first time, I go for the hamburger plate with macaroni salad, my litmus test. My visit to this L&L was no exception. Note: they have an expansive menu, including musubi and saimin. Hmmm, even though the gal at the counter asked if I wanted "for here or to go" and I responded "for here", I still received a closed Styrofoam carton containing my meal. I'm convinced L&L, regardless whether on the mainland or in Hawaii, adds a filler/extender (like flour) to their hamburger meat. It just doesn't taste like hamburger. Very different than the hamburger served at either Ohana or Noho in Portland, which I prefer. Why I think L&L adds an extender, or something, to their hamburger is because L&L's meat tastes just like these Danish things called "frickerdellers" that my Mom used to fry up. She added flour to the frickerdeller mixture. Each time she made frickerdellers, me as a young snot-nosed punk insolently asked why she couldn't just make plain hamburgers, because they tasted better. That suggestion never went over well with Mom.
(3)
Krissy -.
I think overall, this L&L is better than Hawaii's L&L. LOL. -Their mac salad is better tasting than Hawaii's one. Sad, but true. -Bigger portions! A mini plate is big enough. In Hawaii, a mini plate is tiny. Can't remember the price though. -Friendly service -Clean restaurant -Seating is limited, but I think it is mainly for take out purposes.
(4)
Nick B.
This is basic Hawaiian fast food fare. It's consistent as any chain restaurant. Value, portion, and flavors are all there. Once you try the basic BBQ plate---be a little adventurous and try the Kailua pork or locomoco. The hawaiian drinks are nice too. You won't regret it.
(4)
Sarah F.
I've been to quite a few Hawaiian take out places around town, and I must say... this is pretty dang good! Yes it's salty, yes it's fatty, but hey... isn't that the way it should be? Pros? -Large menu -Quick service -The bbq chicken is delicious -Hawaiian word of the day is fun Cons? -No chili water -Menu pictures would be great
(4)
Christine R.
If you're in the market for some fast island food to hit the spot quickly- then I recommend L&L. When I used to live close by this was my go to spot if I wasn't in the mood to cook spam, eggs & rice. I know I must've been pretty lazy huh? And yes the answer is yes. But when they raised their prices I stopped visiting as frequently. My husband usually orders the mix plate and I've never heard a complaint from him. I also like that their chicken katsu as it's never dry when we order it. It is a chain resturant so beware it can't be hit or miss and the food is sometimes spotty. But if you need a quick fix give this place a shot.
(3)
Stephen B.
I've been here 3 times in as many weeks and am very pleased by both the quantity and quality of food. Their Kalua Pork with cabbage is outstanding , as is the BBQ chicken and chicken katsu.
(5)
Alex C.
This place is my go to when it comes to my post work out meal, large portions of protein for a reasonable price. Ive tried other Hawaiian places in the area but their food tends to be overly salty. The cashiers are friendly and the food comes out a lot faster than the one i used to live by in Lynnwood. I just wish the spam masubi didnt cost so much :(
(4)
Alexandra K.
My brother and I stopped here to grab a bit to eat before sitting in traffic. The cashier was very polite and friendly. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food that you get. While I was sitting there waiting for my food one of the girls was walking around taking the trash out and cleaning the tables. Small seating area but it was very clean. I ordered spam, eggs and rice my brother had chicken katsu. I know that I could have made my own spam eggs and rice but it sounded so good at the time. It came out hot and cooked perfectly. My brothers chicken katsu was the bigger portion but the size of the chicken and the ratio to rice was perfect. This was my first time eating at an L&L but it has me hooked. I can't wait to try a more traditional dish next time I'm in. I will be back again!
(5)
Tan Lo S.
I have been long awaiting this delicious endeavor. Hawaii is somewhere I dream to retire, well, to actually live someday because of the history, culture, and beauty. For now, I live my dreams through the Hawaiian food here in Seattle. I'm no Hawaiian connoisseur, however, I would like to say that I have high expectations and a picky palette based on pictures, my personal taste and chef skills with flavors, fusion, and knowledge. I also have friends from Hawaii who have shown me the authenticity of Hawaiian food. L&L closes at 9. I came in about 8 and was greeted, sort of. The lady who took my order looked almost unapproachable, which was weird since she looked like a teenager, and usually, teenagers are full of pizzazz and energy. She wasn't too excited to greet me, nonetheless, I look around. Their menu is annoyingly busy and it's honestly really hard to see what they offer with a menu, then paper, hand-written menu specials and such. I opt in for the bbq chicken and katsu combo, which was supposed to be like $8.75 but she charges me somewhere between $10 for it, which I find out when I leave. I ordered an extra mac salad which was like $2. My total for my combo dinner and extra mac was a little over $12. Not too shabby but still a little pricey since I can go to the ave and get the same thing for $8. The bbq chicken aka chicken teriyaki was delicious. Very, very delightful as it was sweet and flavorful, but very simple and to the punch. I liked it because it tasted like how I make it at home. It was also very tender. The katsu was just mehh, a-okay. I could make better. It tasted a little old and not very fresh. The crispiness wasn't there, and the homemade sauce was just okay. Good effort though. Their mac salad was good, but lacking in good ole' salt and peppa. Otherwise, it was creamy with the right amount and worth every bite and penny. The BEST thing about this place is the HUGE portion sizes which I hear it true to Hawaiian food. I love it because of just 1 meal, I made it into 3 portions. YES. You get a bomb gluttonous pile of chicken, at least 4 thighs and a hand load of katsu for their combo. I can NOT complain there because it was so damn worth it. I couldn't believe my eyes. That deserves two thumbs up and return because I am satisfied with the quantity. The quality is a-okay, but not the worst. I will def come back when I'm in the area and desperate. It's good for a quick grab of savory and fat portions!
(3)
Lisa U.
I actually went to the new location in Seatac but the experience was just the same as the Renton L&L. We ordered the BBQ combo plate, the "mini" chicken katsu curry and a spam musubi. Both the plate dishes were tasty as usual but the spam musubi was lacking in portion. I must say the mini version isnt mini at all. Great value for the portion you get. I love the option of subbing for brown rice and salad vs. white rice and mac salad too. I'll be back again but won't be ordering the musubi unfortunately. I love spam.
(4)
Richard U.
I love Hawaiian food! I came down to this location to check out the L&L chain of Hawaiin restaurants as I have not been to one before. I was a little disappointed in the quality of food on my first and only visit. I usually get the Pork Lau Lau which is piece of pork/pork fat wrapped in taro, kalua pork and spam musubi. The breakdown: Spam Musubi: ($2.50) ,The musubi was not the best. A bit too much rice to spam ratio. One bite and the thing collapsed in my hands. Hawaiian Combination plate ($11.50) Kalua pork was decent. Shreded pork, nice and juicy, a little smokey. I saw them prepare the pork lau lau and I believe it was the same one you can get frozen in the Uwajimaya frozen food section. Unfortunately, the meat was really dry which I thought was almost impossible as it is wrapped in layers of taro leaves. Maybe it was microwaved extra long or something? The macaroni salad I felt was pretty good. Everything plus the scoops of rice actually had a pretty good sized meal. As it is a chain restuarant, it definitely has that kind of feel. Like a Subway or a Burger King. The service is not great. Some reviewers commented on the employee working the register who talks on the phone (via wireless ear piece) while on the job, pausing from her phone convo occasionally to take orders. Yup. she's still there. I think that I will try the other L&L locations as I like their menu and I still love Hawaiian food.
(2)
Diana C.
OMG! I can't believe I haven't written a review here yet! I grew up in Hawaii, so I'm always here when I'm home sick. The service is just whatever (they are polite, but nothing special), but the food! oh the food! I almost always get the portugese sausage, with eggs and rice, and am never disappointed. I also get the saimin and just like in Hawaii, I add soy sauce and tabasco, YUM! The loco moco is delicious, the Kalua pork is tender, juicy, and sooooo good. The seafood combo with korean short ribs is almost like having a zip pac. Just missing the furikake... And yes, they have great creamy mac salad. Again, add tabasco and some black pepper and we have a winner! OH, i have to go back again now. The spam musubi is not that great (I make much better ones at home) but it's still good and I occasionally get one. They also have the Hawaiian juice drinks I grew up with... omg.. I love it. Guava juice is something I drink by the gallon whenever I go home, but this is just a taste to keep me in check before I go. If you're from Hawaii, you already know about this place and you know what i'm taking about. :-) See you there!
(4)
Kay N.
I think this place is great for Hawaiian food. I got the spicy bbq beef and boy was it spicy!! I couldn't eat all of it, but the beef was tasty and i got regular size which was A LOT of food. It came with the spicy beef, 2 scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. The macaroni salad was really good. The whole meal was such a large portion that I think it should be eaten by 2-3 people! Next time, get the mini, and don't let the word fool you--trust me it will be enough. I think its funny how they ask you if its "to-go" or "for here"but ends up giving you the food in a Styrofoam box either way. Service is okay--the girl didn't seem she wanted to be working but I guess I shouldn't expect so much from a fast-food place.
(4)
Cc L.
Worst customer service ever!! Store was filthy and floors are nasty. Food is not fresh to order. Ordered bbq beef dry and burnt. Big portions but quality not so great. cooks look like they need a shave and a beard net. Cleanliness so not up to a standard. cashier counting tips before helping customers worst ever. Other lady should be helping customers but giggling with cooks. Will be taking business else were. They should have food permits checked. O and tables and chairs sticky fyi..
(1)
Aaron C.
Kalua pork and mac salad served Hawaiian traditional style... in styrofoam of course. also guava juice. Yummm
(5)
Long P.
I heart L&L! This L&L makes it like they do in Hawaii, and is your best bet for plate lunches on the mainland. I always get the CHICKEN KATSU, which weighs like 6 pounds. The menu is extremely large so there should be something for everyone. This is no frills Hawaiian soul food at a reasonable price with quick and friendly service. Can't get much better than that.
(4)
Tiffany Q.
Came here tonight around 8:25pm and they still served us. Yes, they don't close until 8:30pm, but for some reason lately restaurants have been refusing customers as early as 30+ mins before they close. They even served a couple that walked in 10+ mins AFTER they closed. GREAT customer service right there. I've never been to Hawaii so I can't comment on their food's authenticity, but the Kalua pork is flavorful and the spam and portuguese musubi is good.
(4)
J K.
Don't expect anything fancy. This is a standard Hawaiian food stand: yellow-soul food at a cheap price served by the daughter of the owner.
(4)
Brent T.
Uncle Eddie would be most certainly disappointed. Sadly enough, the majority of L&L's in the "mainland" that I've been to would garner no more than 3 stars. The Yelp Rating says it best: Meh. I've Experienced Better! If you are going down to Renton anyway, I recommend Saimin Says. In fact, I feel cheated that I didn't discover Saimin Says earlier and wasted my lunch/dinner money on this place. After seeing all the L&L's pop up over the last few years, I researched how difficult it is to open a franchise up. Problem is that it's not difficult at all, which is probably why the reputation has slowly diminished. The service is slow, the food is average, which makes the prices difficult to swallow. They make up for their below average food with large portion sizes, which is about as authentic of a Hawaiian food experience as they get. Unlike Saimin Says who uses a thick brown gravy for their loco mocos (their specialty by the way), L&L's gravy is thin and grey. The chicken katsu is greasy, but doesn't have a strong flavor to it. And there are not a lot of seats there, so unless you come at a very slow time, don't expect to eat in. Uncle Eddie, please help this place out!
(2)
Alvin N.
Hawaii lovers may know what I'm talking about, the rest of the population may not know what to expect from Hawaiian barbecue. The answer, pure and simple, is to expect the unexpected. Where else are you going to find a Spam-and-egg sandwich or Spam, Eggs & Rice =) The Hawaiian plate lunch is a huge, gastronomically challenging mixture of Asian and American starches (two scoops rice and one scoop macaroni salad) supplemented by a United Nation of entrees such as chicken katsu, beef curry, deep fried shrimp, mahi mahi, lemon chicken, barbecue shortribs, hamburger steak, etc. Ask any islander -- the most famous plate lunch restaurant in Hawaii is L&L. This popular chain has over 85 locations... Hawaii, California, Nevada and Washington. It has been voted the "Best Local Food", the "Best Hawaiian Barbecue", and the "Best Plate Lunch". Eating at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of the easiest way to taste the eclectic cuisine and culture of Hawaii. No shirt or shoes required. I recommend their Seafood Combo: Fried shrimp & Mahi Mahi with a choice of Hawaiian barbecue beef, chicken or short ribs made to order. Speaking of fast food, I should mention that L&L's service isn't particularly fast, but it's for a good reason: everything is made fresh when you order it, and it shows. Seating is very limited Though =/ , Just take to go. L&L is known for its large portions, freshly cooked food, and reasonable prices. So save the Airfare and enjoy a bit of Hawaiian cuisine locally so check it out! Mahalo
(4)
Jennifer K.
I was in the area today, so I decided to stop in for some grub. I ordered the Mini Loco Moco - a hamburger patty w/ an egg cooked to order (I ordered mine over medium) on top of it, all over 1 scoop of rice with a ton of gravy. My egg was cooked perfectly, and the gravy had a nice flavor. Don't let the "Mini" part of it throw you off though. It is an ample amout of food for a decent price. It also comes with 1 scoop of macaroni salad. I don't know why, but I just love their macaroni salad. I was very pleasantly surprised by how good my meal was. : )
(4)
Vince N.
Just like the rest! Since this is a chain, I think all the food taste the same. The L n L in was ok, just like this place. Quick, easy and a different kind of fast food. The restaurant is clean, service is nice and most food is cooked up to order, things are not sitting on the heating rack like McDonalds or any other joint. Don't expect anything super special since this is still fast food.
(3)
Derek M.
Brrrrr...it's freezing in here! It's winter in Seattle, so why is the air conditioning turned on? I shovel warm rice and BBQ in my mouth in hopes it will warm up my insides. Within a few minutes I start to feel better. Portions were large, large enough to satisfy the biggest of appitites. I have been to many different L&L's includig a few on the island and this one met my expectations. Not bad and nothing spectacular. My only complaint with this specific location would be the amount of fat found on some of the beef and chicken pieces. I would have liked to have some of this cut off before-hand as this is not easily done with a plastic fork and knife.
(3)
Daniel Z.
I haven't found a good Hawaiian place yet except for the other L&L in Lynnwood, WA. Everything I order, I like. Anywhere from the Loco Moco, Chicken Katsu and if you are really hungry, go for the BBQ Mix Plate. There is ample space to sit unless a mad rush comes in, then just get it as take out. Last time I was there, they kinda of took a long time to get the food prepared. Seems longer when you are already starving. But end result, newly cooked food that burns you tongue, so take it slow.
(4)
Naomi N.
3 words.... A-MA-ZING!!! I called in my order. They were extremely helpful and had everything ready on point! I love this place. Always ontop of everything and very friendly. I've been beginning to think customer service has gone down the hole with this economy, but not at L&L!
(5)
E.J. S.
Not that many places around here to get some Hawaiian food, but luckily there's L&L. I always get the kaluah pork or the katsu. Their portions are gigantic (i'm a big eater, and I still can only finish their mini plates). The service is pretty good and helpful. The only bad thing is how small the restaurant is, only about 5 tables or so.
(5)
Yee V.
Loco Moco. And I'm not talking about any trains. This hamburger patty served over rice with gravy and eggs on the side makes for a perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner!! I can't get over how good it is. Before I use to just order the bbq beef, but since I've tried the Loco Moco, I've only been getting it and having my girl get the bbq short ribs! HEHE Lately I've been recommended it a few times to friends as well, so why wouldn't I tell you to get it as well?! Macaroni Salad... can...not.... de....ny... it!!!! L&L is located in many different places. Seems like a chain now, but it doesn't make it bad at all. The food is pretty much the same anywhere you go, last year I had a chance to stop into the one in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii. Pricing is cheap because the portion is quite large. A mini would fill me up perfectly, the regular is gonna have to be packed up as lunch for tomorrow. I would suggest getting a spam masubi on the side with your order! It's really good, though possibly high in calories. I'll run an extra half mile tomorrow to burn it off, it's well worth it!!
(4)
Hungry J.
Really, this should be your last choice if you're looking for Hawaiian food in the Seattle area. This is the McDonald's of Hawaiian food (and is actually quite a large chain). Just like McDonald's, there is nothing overtly offensive about the flavors, but your stomach and toilet will pay if you eat here too often. I've eaten here a total of three times, and I have to say, I've come away with an upset stomach every time. Mac salad is actually really unpleasant, and the beef is a tendon filled, low grade mess. This place isn't high priced, but with the food they serve, I suppose they don't have to be. Parking is great (due to it's strip mall location near WalMart). I wouldn't say "Avoid at all costs" but I definitely would say "look somewhere else".
(2)
Marlo M.
Experienced L&L for the first time this afternoon. My Mom & I went in for lunch & both had the Spicy BBQ chicken with rice & macaroni salad. We were very pleased with the spicy BBQ because it had great flavor and just enough heat behind it. Although my Mom was a little unsure if the macaroni salad was supposed to be hot or cold...we both enjoyed the meal. Taking a couple of menus as we left with plans to return another time... I would recommend L&L to friends...and will.
(4)
Adam Z.
This place is legit Hawaiian BBQ and its right by my work. I go there probably twice a month. I usually get the katsu chicken or the BBQ mix lunch plate. The katsu is always crispy and the katsu sauce that comes with is nice and tangy. The BBQ mix plate has BBQ beef, chicken and spare ribs. Both come with a couple scoops of rice and a scoop of insanely good mac, I mean this stuff is good I'd like to fill my bathtub with it. I've tried a few other things on the menu but i keep coming back to these two dishes because, welp they're the best. Price aint bad and you get a ton of food for the $.
(4)
Richard M.
Food is hit or miss, sometimes great, sometimes burned beef & short ribs
(3)
Shari d.
I didn't want to give L & L a full on review until I actually got to try some of their BBQ items...i.e. short ribs, kalua pork, etc. So these two stars are based on my initial visit to the establishment and I will follow up with a more thorough review later. All I wanted was some Spam Musubi and some Macaroni Salad. I was hungry but not hungry enough to eat an entire meal. The Spam Musubi was OK...a little too much nori for my tastes. Instead of there being a thin strip of nori securing the spam to the rice there was an entire sheet of nori...almost like a swaddled baby. The macaroni salad was rich but bland...I think they forgot the salt. A more indepth review to come...hopefully the stars will go up rather than down.
(2)
Fereti S.
Had the chicken katsu and was amazed by the portions. Just a huge mountain of chicken upon chicken, talk about indulgence. The chicken was nicely fried, very crisp and moist. Wasn't fond of the dining area, wasn't expecting a 4 star dining experience, but the floor was so greasy it seemed like a lawsuit waiting to happen. The food was inexpensive, so you definitely get your moneys worth. For fast Hawaiian on the go, this is the place!
(3)
Jeremy M.
I guess you can say, it don't take much to please me. I was first introduced to this place from a friend talking about traditional Hawaiian food, I laughed when she pointed out SPAM was a hot commodity(made me feel ghetto again). However their preparation with it was something I've never really thought of before, in form of a sushi but they call it a masubi! It was quite nice and their menu seems very diverse kind of like a fusion of all Asian cuisine! Katsu, ramen(saimen), bbq(grilled), and macoroni salad which was mixed with a momentous amount of white pepper! Cheap eats, it deserves a five star in my book but I just can't get over it.........spam? WOW! They are great though!
(4)
Patrick L.
I've eaten here a few times, and the food didn't disappoint. The katsu, kalua pork, and mac salad all tasted as it should. Th only reason I give thia place one less star than the oter L&L locations is because of a cashier that used to work there. It was a younger girl who would be on the phone with her boyfriend or homegirls, while taking orders and ringing people up. The customers all waited forever while she chatted on the phone, only pausing to do her job every once in awhile. I couldn't believe she wasn't fired on the spot. Hope she's not terr anymore.
(3)
Scot K.
Franchise operations like this are sooo iffy. This is one of the better L & L restaurants. I've been to 3 in Hawaii, the one in Renton and this one. This happens to be much better than the one in Renton. The food is better and the counter help speaks pidgin. I usually go for the mixed BBQ, since it reminds me of the plate lunch places in Hawaii. The bench seats could use a little work, so I recommend sitting on the chairs.
(4)
Becky B.
If you're planning to eat in, get there before noon....or after 1:30 or so, because this place is CRAZY busy and has a very small eating area. With that said, there's a reason for the lunchtime crowd volume; the food is damn good...it's also got a very high quantity to price ratio, which is something I consistently look for. I've stopped in for the ocassional carryout order and been pleased with the speed at which my order is assembled, as well as with the quality of the food. My favorite is the kaluha pork and cabbage and shockingly, I've been known to order the "mini" plate, if I'm trying to behave myself calorically. The chicken katsu is also delicious. I've called in lunch orders ahead of time for my 10+ person office and had the meals prepared and waiting for me when I've arrived; with NO MISTAKES, despite the overwhelming number of substitutions my co-workers like to make. The gal that runs the counter is quick, efficient and friendly, despite the overwhelming number of customers during the lunch rush. I highly reccommend L&L,
(5)
Elizabeth R.
This visit, we finally decided to get a plate dish and not just our usual L&L Saimin. I ordered a mini BBQ Beef Plate. The mini vs their full, full gets 2 scoops of rice whereas the mini only gets 1 scoop, but you get the same amount of mac salad and meat. Their BBQ Beef was a little too saucy, but when I ate it later on that night after microwaving it, all the sauce soaked into the meat just how I like it. My boyfriend ordered the Chicken Katsu full plate. I'm not a big katsu fan, but he sure scarfed it down.
(4)
Ashley F.
I love L&L. The Renton location is probably my favorite in Western Washington. It has a fairly large menu and even has mini plates of my favorite dishes (although thinking about Hawaii turns me into an instant overeater so I would never actually order a mini plate, it makes me feel better that they exist). I strongly recommend Kalua Pork and Cabbage, Chicken Katsu, Haupia, Gyoza, and some delicious Hawaiian Sun Juice (this will be enough for 2 fat Hawaiians or 10-12 normal people). They even have lilikoi iced tea which is my favorite. If you want to be a bit more adventurous you can try Saimin (Katsu or BBQ are my favorites but Spam is a bit more Hawaiian in nature), Lau Lau, Loco Moco, Spam Musubi and Haupia. It is my life long dream to have a party catered by L&L and their catering prices are really reasonable. Drawbacks: you will overeat. It is impossible to eat Hawaiian food and not engorge yourself. You will probably find yourself driving to Renton to eat Hawaiian food with the specious reasoning that it is 'on the way'. It was so bad on Christmas Eve that I manufactured a trip to IKEA (yes I went to Ikea on Christmas Eve) just so that I could go eat L&L. You will probably spend all of your money that you could be saving up to actually go to Hawaii on L&L. This will ruin your chances of reviewing every L&L restaurant (although that's a silly goal anyways). This location is much too clean. The decor is exactly the same as the majority of L&Ls in Hawaii but everyone here is too friendly and helpful and hardworking for me to feel like home.
(5)
Mike R.
Went for the first time today and was extremely disappointed. The barbeque beef was burned, tough and fatty - practically impossible to eat. They piled the macaroni salad on top of the hot rice, which was just disgusting. I will not be back and don't recommend it, certainly not for the almost $10 I paid for the entre and a soda. Stay away.
(1)
Fumiko Y.
Huh, only one review? Let me see, I really like this place because there aren't too many other Hawaiian restaurants that are this caliber. They know GRILLED MEATS. Yes, sir. I love their grilled chicken! Mmmm. Beef curry is great too. With katsu, too, sometimes. If you want a big meal? Order a "mini". A "regular" size meal can easily feed a family of 4. The serving is huge...just like how they do it in HI. There is one in Federal Way as well.
(4)
Kendrick R.
I'm from Hawaii and tastes exactly like plate lunches from Hawaii. It's definitely no ka oi grindz. I've been on a mission to share Loco Mocos with my co-workers. So far, it has met the comfort food seal of approval. The only problem is trying to come in on the right days to get fresh haupia.
(4)
Chris H.
Tasty food, large portions, solid prices. Stripped down atmosphere. If you are a meat eater, and you are hungry, a great choice.
(3)
Chartchai B.
Great L&L location that I always for get...from kalua to spam burger to kim chee...when i want to eat teriyaki but not teriyaki L&L is the place...now if only sundays werent so busy!!!
(4)
Dana M.
sooo yummy! - lots of food and lots flavor! - my husband and I love this place... their small portion is huge!
(5)
Kim K.
I love having a little taste of home wherever I can find it, and although I have nothing against the food - my visit today was atrocious. The girl at the counter messed up numerous orders before mine and then refused to give me an advertised price because 'it didn't apply to weekends' even though it did not specify that on the sign or anywhere else. Then as we were eating, she walked over to the garbage can and picked up two sauce containers that someone had discarded but failed to make it fully in the trash - she took them into the back and put them back where the other sauce containers were kept to distribute to other customers. Needless to say I will not be returning after being stated at blankly and treated like rubbish. Where's the island Aloha here?
(2)
L W.
I was so disappointed that no longer take the 2011 entertainment book coupons. I made a special trip because I wanted to eat local hawaiin food and they did not redeem it. The food is not healthy, the cashier was not friendly, and she did not the honor the coupon.
(3)
Christine Y.
so i've come here in the past and up until recently the food was yummy the short ribs were tender and saucy and I enjoyed the macaroni salad... unfortunately the stars quickly fell in my mind the last time I visited...it wasn't the food...according to the boyfriend it was still yummers...yet I had a bit of a hard time eating it because of an image that wouldn't leave my mind...yes we should have complained but since it was done by the cashier and not the cook we jus shut our mouths, grabbed our food and left (and it came out quickly)... I wouldn't say that i'm being nit-picky because it is a restaurant...food service so everything should be sanitary...unfortunately after we ordered our food the cashier took out the trash (normal) but when he came back I didn't see him wash his hands.......................if he didn't whose to say that the cook did?!?!?!?!?! maybe he washed his hands out of site...but shouldn't he wash his hands in front of the customers??? isn't that why there is a sink right next to him??? didn't have much of an appetite after that.... luckily, there was no food poisoning! yay! we live to tell the tale! I don't think it's good for them!
(2)
Tonya N.
Im no hawaiian food connesuir but i like it... When im in the mood for kalbi or short rib type meat, this place hits the spot. Its very juicy and tender and i like the pasta salad that comes with, so hot meat and then the cold pasta is a nice combo. I dont really love the rice, kinda mushy. Katsu is tender and crisp on the outside. Portions are monster huge here. Too much food on a plate can be unappealing, but here the food reheats well so, its a good thing...
(4)
nate j.
The menu is a take-home, open-book test... Hawaiian BBQ confuses me and I admit follow-up visits are necessary for me to fully comprehend how eggs end up on a pile of, well, almost anything. I had my first visit here today with a co-worker and we each had chicken katsu, quite frankly, because other than a cheeseburger or hamburger, this was the only type of food either of us could say we'd had before elsewhere. The katsu is something that is one of what this outfit is known for, or so I'm told. The sauce was pretty good -- I have no idea what to call it, however, as it isn't teriyaki, BBQ, or soy sauce... it's like all of those flavors at once. We made the mistake of ordering the regular and it was large enough to feed an army! A "mini" order to me would have implied I might've gone wanting more. Oh well, I'll know for next time. Additional positive aspects: great decor, clean, and pretty good supply of free parking. The KC Metro route 101 provides service to this place (well, to Rainier Avenue South, which is a short walk away). Staff was pretty neutral -- not in-your-face too friendly nor are they inattentive. I rate the place as three stars, mainly because the menu is confusing to decipher for a first timer. Also, the katsu had good flavor, but the chicken was a little bit stringy. If I could have rated 3 and a half stars, I would have done so, but I'm still not quite convinced it is a 4 star place yet.
(3)
Kazuo O.
I came here because i had a coupon from an Entertainment Book. I ordered the mix plate and chicken katsu. Total came to $11 and some change with the coupon. You get a lot of food, when I grabbed my takeout order I was like "Damn, this is heavy." I like the beef the best, the chicken was too low quality, spare ribs was too fatty and the chiken katsu was okay. The quality of the food is very poor.
(2)
Antonio R.
If you want fast-food hawaiian food then L&L is the place to go. You get a lot of food for the money and the food is good...but not great. What I do like about L&L is that they offer banquet size platters for very reasonable prices. Everytime I bring one of their platters of kahlua pork or katsu chicken to a party...they are always the hit of the party. I do go to this L&L on a regular basis and never had a bad experience here. This particular L&L is hidden behind a car dealership and a chinese buffet restaurant, so you cannot see it while driving.
(3)
H L.
This place used to be great before it was sold to the current owners. They're not that friendly and I get the feeling that they just want your money and not your loyalty. I've been to L&L in Pasadena and in San Francisco and their food is great. But this location cannot live up to the L&L name. Weird smells when you walk in and it's very disappointing.
(2)
Scott L.
So, I'm from Hawaii, and used to live about a mile from the ORIGINAL L&L. Which by the way, if you saw it, I doubt you would eat there. Anyway, I've been to at least 15 of them on the mainland and probably another 15 of them in Hawaii; for some reason L&L on the mainland can be a hit or miss deal. It's a franchise, but I think they have a quality control issue. Having said that, I think this L&L is on the better side.
(3)
Jeniffer L.
OK so I'm a native of Hawaii and sometimes I would even call myself Hawaiian.. I love L&L and have been a fan of it probably since birth so I was thinking it to be very hard to persuade me to not like it. So after the Most expensive grocery trip EVER (read yelp on enterprise for details) I decided to take myself and 2 other friends to one of my most favorite places ever I hyped the place up so much that we were all drooling before we stepped in the door. But to my surprise this L&L bombed my every thought of the restaurant I had so fondly remember. Seriously, How do you mess up on BBQ beef. I must say Northshore Hawaiian BBQ on Boren ave has the BEST bbq beef I have tasted in seattle BY FAR. and how the heck do you Screw up Kalua pork???? I'll tell you add scoops of msg for that salty taste and a splash of shoyu to cover that up. I don't think i will be taking anyone else there until they fix some things. Oh and BTW why the heck are there only people who don't speak good english running a register... hmmm sad sad day when L&L become dead to me:(.
(2)
Doug T.
Pretty good when it comes to L&L's. 7 hours later I'm still full.. high on value as the portions are enormous.. I had the curry chicken, which a small village in africa could split... Takes visa
(3)
Emerald J.
I know that living in Hawaii for 6 months doesn't give me that much cred... But here are my thoughts: *I've had spam katsu moco at other places but they wouldn't make it for me here. It's ok, I was just bummed. *They give giant portions, so that's nice *The spam on my musubi was over fried and dry and the nori it was wrapped in wasn't moistened by the steamed rice. Good spam musubi should be soft and easy to bite into. *The chicken in the katsu was rubbery, but the fried part was tasty *The mac salad was average If you want your Hawaiian food fix, I'd stop in here. If you really want to enjoy a meal though, check out Saimin Says in Kent, Wa instead. You'll thank me later.
(3)
Ben B. N.
Very reminiscent of the Hawaiian BBQ I've had in Hawaii. Good place. Definitely cant eat there every day. You will day from a coronary
(3)
Jake R.
The staff here is very polite. I was looking for a low carb lunch option and found a good one on the menu I had for this place. I called in my order and headed over to pick it up. When I got there I told the lady at the register that I had called in an order and she said said "The Healthy Garlic Fish." I had told her I had ordered #6 the Low Carb Mini Plate and she said I must of had an old menu, which I did, but that she could change the order. I could see the fish on the grill and I was starving so I told her it was fine but she told me it would be no problem, which I appreciated but I politely declined. Now that is the type of customer service that I really appreciate and is unfortunately hard to find these days. After they guy handed me my meal he wished me a good day and I thought that was a nice touch, he seemed to genuinely care and like his job. When I got back to work I realized I had made a good choice going with the fish meal. There were two big fish fillets, grilled nicely on top of rice, salad and some cabbage. There were two little side cups with ranch for the salad and a "fry sauce" type sauce in the other container for the fish. It was a nice big healthy meal. I've been here before and I'll definitely return. I really appreciated the extra nice customer service here and the food is great too.
(4)
Sarah R.
I like to come here when I want a quick fix of Loco Moco or Musubi (all kinds they offer are good, but my fave is the spam). I like that their Loco Moco comes in a mini size because it's a perfect portion size for me! This place is small, but they have some seating available - nothing fancy, friendly staff. Another dish I have tasted is their Hawaiian Plate (Lau Lau & Kalua Pork); the Lau Lau is very moist, but the Kalua Pork is okay. Too much pork for a dish.
(3)
Ah Lan R.
I was in the Renton area and noticed their sign. I am not a huge fan of the ones in Hawai'i as they are too salty but decided to stop by this location for take-out and wow I was impressed. To be clear this is Local Food. Not Hawaiian Food. Hawaiian Food is poi, ake, aku palu, oio, 'opihi, and raw crabs just to name a few. For local people who want to fulfill their plate lunch craving... this is one of the better places that I've found so far. I ordered the chicken katsu mini, a regular chicken katsu, and a spam musubi. Both chicken katsu plates were ample serving sizes so I was pleasantly surprised and it wasn't salty like the ones at home in Hawai'i. The spam musubi was good too. Prices are reasonable. $2.25 for the spam musubi. $5.75 for the chicken katsu mini and $7.75 for the regular chicken katsu. The mac salad that came with the plates was actually pretty good. They also offer three healthier options with brown rice but I opted for the katsu with white rice. The wait was a tad long but well worth it. I would estimate it at a good 10 to 12 minutes. I will be back again :)
(4)
Anna N.
This place is cute! Very clean I love the appearance with the whole Hawaiian skim. The employees were friendly and nice. The food was satisfying oh so satisfying. I got the loco meal the one that is number 13 on the menu, I think not sure. I kinda had high expectations for the food but it was delicious and I do plan on stoping by again if I'm craving for some Hawaiian food or spam musubi.
(5)
Lyn C.
Others will have their opinions but from my experience this Hawaiian food is better than all the rest. Their short ribs are amazing as is their chicken katsu .But really everything is just plain good here. We ordered nearly everything on the menu and it just kept getting better :) I will definitely come back
(5)
Marebear T.
I love L&L ..... Never fails to make My tummy happy ...... The portions is great and the customer service here is great too .... Fresh and don't have to wait so long and the girl at the counter is friendly and sweet .... I love people like that .... :-) definately will be back.
(5)
Marie R.
I feel like this place is pretty hit or miss. Sometimes the food is wonderful and then I can go back the next day and have it dry/ burnt. If there was more consistency I would definitely be there more.
(3)
Justin B.
Friendly staff, wide selection of food (and sizes), and quick. A-OK!
(3)
Heather M.
Great food for great prices! I have only tried the Loco Moco, but it was enough food for 2 people!
(5)
Ann G.
There isn't Hawaiian food on the Eastside... Or at least good Hawaiian food. However, my boyfriend and I think the 20 mile drive down to Renton is worth it for some food from L&L!
(4)
Chad W.
The Ahi poke was damn good.... Onions, big chunks of tuna, and the seasoning was excellent. last time I was here I got the tery chicken/chicken kats plate lunch special.... Huge and tasty, inexpensive tops off the experience...
(4)
Keira F.
Ordered take out of bbq chicken and garlic shrimp. Bbq chicken was awful with undercooked chicken and no sauce no taste. Garlic Shrimp was also not great.
(1)
Rhi S.
I like it here since it's one of the few places I can get my fix of local food. I was really on the fence of giving four stars because I like it so much, but to be honest, it's just like any other L&L except their minis are regular size and their regular are large portions. It's pricier than back home because of that. The workers are nice but, I'm being totally picky and this doesn't affect my rating: some of them don't pronounced certain foods correctly. I know, I'm from Hawaii, and I'm Japanese which majority of the people in Washington aren't, but it just bugs me when people pronounce it wrong and they're the ones selling it.. Like "katsu" or "musubi...." ANYWAY.. The place is always clean and tidy and has a nice local feel. The food is good, but like I said, no difference from other locations. I definitely like it here and plan to keep coming back. November challenge (11/10/2012)
(3)
Charlene L.
When I'm craving something quick and carb-loaded, I think of L&L! I opt for this any day over teriyaki! Their kaula pork and cabbage is delicious! And their bbq chicken and beef.. YUM! Their mac salad is a bit bland, as I always hit it with some S&P. Their rice is a bit on the mushy side... Their menu is huge but it's essentially fast food. Not as clean as I would have liked, and a bit slow on their orders being produced. But when I have a hankering for some island food, I head down to L&L.
(3)
Anthony W.
Consistently delicious. Meals are huge and come with a side of macaroni salad. I get the chicken katsu and bbq combo and the meat is always cooked perfect
(5)
Julio A.
DELICIOUS! That's all I really have to say about that. The kalua pork & Lau Lau combo were pretty good and very good portions for the price. The Mac salad on the side could have been better but still good. The chicken bowl was also tasty (well cooked and flavorful) but the veggies could have used a little seasoning to add some flavor, and a little more sauce for the chicken too. We will definitely be coming back for the rest of the items on the menu!! :-)
(4)
Christine L.
I've tried many of their franchises in Hawaii but this place seems to taste the best. Having moved from Hawaii less than a year ago I have the need to find that staple place to go to get my fix of good food from back home and I must say this place satisfies. The loco moco is amazing and really hits the spot when you want something Hardy. Let me tell you this though you will not be able to finish your food in one sitting because they are not shy with their portions. The prices are reasonable and they have limited seating if you choose to eat there. I wish they would add huli huli chicken to their menu because a lot of my coworkers seem to enjoy that while visiting Hawaii so it would be a great addition to their menu. Other than that great place for lunch, dinner, and if your Asian or local to Hawaii even breakfast but I dont believe they open for breakfast.
(4)
Antonym N.
This place is delicious! Honestly my most favorite place to eat! The girl named Samantha and the girl named Michelle honestly gives the best customer service I had ever experienced. The quality of the food is amazing and along with amazing service, this is the place to go.
(5)
Madison G.
Great tasting food! Only problem I have is the wait for your food. They make everything fresh when you order it which is a good thing, but not so good when you go in completely starving and ready to eat quickly.
(3)
Kim-Thoa P.
I loveeeeee this place! I always call ahead to order so I can avoid the crazy lunch rush. The staffs are super nice especially Andrew ( I think that's his name) super friendly!! The food is always on point and I love that they have mini siZes.
(5)
R M.
Great food here. Had cabbage pork and BBQ combo with ribs, beef and chicken. We were stuffed food was awesome. Chicken and beef were amazing on the BBQ side and cabbage pork pork was addicting. Macaroni salad is really goooood too. Will be back.
(5)
James N.
Being from Hawaii, I know the type of food to expect from L & L. That is, you go to L & L when you are really hungry but not necessarily looking for the best local Hawaiian food. Recently, I went to the L & L restaurant in Renton to pick-up some plate lunches for my family in the driving rain. I was served by a polite young man, who upon the meals being ready, placed the plate lunches into a plastic bag and tied the top of the bag. I took the bag of plate lunches home but couldn't eat my plate lunch until an hour and a half later while I tended my 6-year twins. When I finally got a chance to eat, I was surprised to find that they had gotten my order wrong. I promptly returned to L & L where the young man who served me remembered my order and acknowledged the mistake. The manager or owner then intervened and told me that basically it was my responsibility to check my order when I first got my order and that for this one time only they would replace the meal. That was very insulting. I told them that they don't have to correct their mistake if they think it was so much trouble and told them I will never return to their establishment. I know many restaurants have such a policy but I have never heard it being enforced or articulated to a customer. In the past, I've had my food orders filled wrong by other restaurants, but each time they were happy to correct their mistake even when the mistake was not discovered a while later. It took me half an hour round trip to get to L & L from my house in the driving rain only to be lectured to by a jerk. Where is the Aloha spirit?
(1)
Prince Y.
Food took too long and wasn't able to eat it. Service is horrible and cashier lied about food "almost" being ready...
(1)
Debbie P.
Average Hawaiian grub. I will comment that I wish they had more seating available.
(3)
Daren D.
I may have found a new favorite food: BBQ Chicken Musubi! When I first looked it up (no idea what it was at first), I thought, "hm, looks like a twist on sushi rolls." Which I now consider it as such. A seaweed wrap with a block of rice and your choice of meat filling. So simple, yet so satisfying to me. I also tried gravy fries; the gravy was a bit excessive, but otherwise good. I'd like to try other stuff. Conveniently in close walking proximity to my Park&Ride spot.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Emerald J.
I know that living in Hawaii for 6 months doesn't give me that much cred... But here are my thoughts: *I've had spam katsu moco at other places but they wouldn't make it for me here. It's ok, I was just bummed. *They give giant portions, so that's nice *The spam on my musubi was over fried and dry and the nori it was wrapped in wasn't moistened by the steamed rice. Good spam musubi should be soft and easy to bite into. *The chicken in the katsu was rubbery, but the fried part was tasty *The mac salad was average If you want your Hawaiian food fix, I'd stop in here. If you really want to enjoy a meal though, check out Saimin Says in Kent, Wa instead. You'll thank me later.
(3)Ben B. N.
Very reminiscent of the Hawaiian BBQ I've had in Hawaii. Good place. Definitely cant eat there every day. You will day from a coronary
(3)Jake R.
The staff here is very polite. I was looking for a low carb lunch option and found a good one on the menu I had for this place. I called in my order and headed over to pick it up. When I got there I told the lady at the register that I had called in an order and she said said "The Healthy Garlic Fish." I had told her I had ordered #6 the Low Carb Mini Plate and she said I must of had an old menu, which I did, but that she could change the order. I could see the fish on the grill and I was starving so I told her it was fine but she told me it would be no problem, which I appreciated but I politely declined. Now that is the type of customer service that I really appreciate and is unfortunately hard to find these days. After they guy handed me my meal he wished me a good day and I thought that was a nice touch, he seemed to genuinely care and like his job. When I got back to work I realized I had made a good choice going with the fish meal. There were two big fish fillets, grilled nicely on top of rice, salad and some cabbage. There were two little side cups with ranch for the salad and a "fry sauce" type sauce in the other container for the fish. It was a nice big healthy meal. I've been here before and I'll definitely return. I really appreciated the extra nice customer service here and the food is great too.
(4)Ah Lan R.
I was in the Renton area and noticed their sign. I am not a huge fan of the ones in Hawai'i as they are too salty but decided to stop by this location for take-out and wow I was impressed. To be clear this is Local Food. Not Hawaiian Food. Hawaiian Food is poi, ake, aku palu, oio, 'opihi, and raw crabs just to name a few. For local people who want to fulfill their plate lunch craving... this is one of the better places that I've found so far. I ordered the chicken katsu mini, a regular chicken katsu, and a spam musubi. Both chicken katsu plates were ample serving sizes so I was pleasantly surprised and it wasn't salty like the ones at home in Hawai'i. The spam musubi was good too. Prices are reasonable. $2.25 for the spam musubi. $5.75 for the chicken katsu mini and $7.75 for the regular chicken katsu. The mac salad that came with the plates was actually pretty good. They also offer three healthier options with brown rice but I opted for the katsu with white rice. The wait was a tad long but well worth it. I would estimate it at a good 10 to 12 minutes. I will be back again :)
(4)Heather M.
Great food for great prices! I have only tried the Loco Moco, but it was enough food for 2 people!
(5)Justin B.
Friendly staff, wide selection of food (and sizes), and quick. A-OK!
(3)Ann G.
There isn't Hawaiian food on the Eastside... Or at least good Hawaiian food. However, my boyfriend and I think the 20 mile drive down to Renton is worth it for some food from L&L!
(4)Sarah R.
I like to come here when I want a quick fix of Loco Moco or Musubi (all kinds they offer are good, but my fave is the spam). I like that their Loco Moco comes in a mini size because it's a perfect portion size for me! This place is small, but they have some seating available - nothing fancy, friendly staff. Another dish I have tasted is their Hawaiian Plate (Lau Lau & Kalua Pork); the Lau Lau is very moist, but the Kalua Pork is okay. Too much pork for a dish.
(3)Chad W.
The Ahi poke was damn good.... Onions, big chunks of tuna, and the seasoning was excellent. last time I was here I got the tery chicken/chicken kats plate lunch special.... Huge and tasty, inexpensive tops off the experience...
(4)Keira F.
Ordered take out of bbq chicken and garlic shrimp. Bbq chicken was awful with undercooked chicken and no sauce no taste. Garlic Shrimp was also not great.
(1)Kelley S.
I've never had Hawaiian bbq before so I didn't really know what to expect but a friend absolutely raved about this place so I thought I'd try it out. The portions are huge, that's correct so I suppose the price is pretty good but I just wasn't impressed. First off, we ordered food "for here" and it came with plastic utensils and in a styrophome container... Which seemed weird. The BBQ chicken almost broke my tiny plastic fork it was so rough. The Kahlua pork was actually pretty tasty and sweet (not good enough to go in and buy a whole dish of it but not bad enough to not eat) but my boyfriend got some BBQ beef thing and it was so saturated in gristle he couldn't eat it... And that's actually saying something because he doesn't complain. The girls working there were friendly and helped us pick out what to get since it was our first time so this review isn't about them, it's just about the food. We had so much leftover and I'm ashamed to say it didn't make it past the garbage can :( Maybe we ordered the wrong thing...
(1)Madison G.
Great tasting food! Only problem I have is the wait for your food. They make everything fresh when you order it which is a good thing, but not so good when you go in completely starving and ready to eat quickly.
(3)Kim-Thoa P.
I loveeeeee this place! I always call ahead to order so I can avoid the crazy lunch rush. The staffs are super nice especially Andrew ( I think that's his name) super friendly!! The food is always on point and I love that they have mini siZes.
(5)Rhi S.
I like it here since it's one of the few places I can get my fix of local food. I was really on the fence of giving four stars because I like it so much, but to be honest, it's just like any other L&L except their minis are regular size and their regular are large portions. It's pricier than back home because of that. The workers are nice but, I'm being totally picky and this doesn't affect my rating: some of them don't pronounced certain foods correctly. I know, I'm from Hawaii, and I'm Japanese which majority of the people in Washington aren't, but it just bugs me when people pronounce it wrong and they're the ones selling it.. Like "katsu" or "musubi...." ANYWAY.. The place is always clean and tidy and has a nice local feel. The food is good, but like I said, no difference from other locations. I definitely like it here and plan to keep coming back. November challenge (11/10/2012)
(3)Charlene L.
When I'm craving something quick and carb-loaded, I think of L&L! I opt for this any day over teriyaki! Their kaula pork and cabbage is delicious! And their bbq chicken and beef.. YUM! Their mac salad is a bit bland, as I always hit it with some S&P. Their rice is a bit on the mushy side... Their menu is huge but it's essentially fast food. Not as clean as I would have liked, and a bit slow on their orders being produced. But when I have a hankering for some island food, I head down to L&L.
(3)Anthony W.
Consistently delicious. Meals are huge and come with a side of macaroni salad. I get the chicken katsu and bbq combo and the meat is always cooked perfect
(5)Julio A.
DELICIOUS! That's all I really have to say about that. The kalua pork & Lau Lau combo were pretty good and very good portions for the price. The Mac salad on the side could have been better but still good. The chicken bowl was also tasty (well cooked and flavorful) but the veggies could have used a little seasoning to add some flavor, and a little more sauce for the chicken too. We will definitely be coming back for the rest of the items on the menu!! :-)
(4)Christine L.
I've tried many of their franchises in Hawaii but this place seems to taste the best. Having moved from Hawaii less than a year ago I have the need to find that staple place to go to get my fix of good food from back home and I must say this place satisfies. The loco moco is amazing and really hits the spot when you want something Hardy. Let me tell you this though you will not be able to finish your food in one sitting because they are not shy with their portions. The prices are reasonable and they have limited seating if you choose to eat there. I wish they would add huli huli chicken to their menu because a lot of my coworkers seem to enjoy that while visiting Hawaii so it would be a great addition to their menu. Other than that great place for lunch, dinner, and if your Asian or local to Hawaii even breakfast but I dont believe they open for breakfast.
(4)Antonym N.
This place is delicious! Honestly my most favorite place to eat! The girl named Samantha and the girl named Michelle honestly gives the best customer service I had ever experienced. The quality of the food is amazing and along with amazing service, this is the place to go.
(5)R M.
Great food here. Had cabbage pork and BBQ combo with ribs, beef and chicken. We were stuffed food was awesome. Chicken and beef were amazing on the BBQ side and cabbage pork pork was addicting. Macaroni salad is really goooood too. Will be back.
(5)James N.
Being from Hawaii, I know the type of food to expect from L & L. That is, you go to L & L when you are really hungry but not necessarily looking for the best local Hawaiian food. Recently, I went to the L & L restaurant in Renton to pick-up some plate lunches for my family in the driving rain. I was served by a polite young man, who upon the meals being ready, placed the plate lunches into a plastic bag and tied the top of the bag. I took the bag of plate lunches home but couldn't eat my plate lunch until an hour and a half later while I tended my 6-year twins. When I finally got a chance to eat, I was surprised to find that they had gotten my order wrong. I promptly returned to L & L where the young man who served me remembered my order and acknowledged the mistake. The manager or owner then intervened and told me that basically it was my responsibility to check my order when I first got my order and that for this one time only they would replace the meal. That was very insulting. I told them that they don't have to correct their mistake if they think it was so much trouble and told them I will never return to their establishment. I know many restaurants have such a policy but I have never heard it being enforced or articulated to a customer. In the past, I've had my food orders filled wrong by other restaurants, but each time they were happy to correct their mistake even when the mistake was not discovered a while later. It took me half an hour round trip to get to L & L from my house in the driving rain only to be lectured to by a jerk. Where is the Aloha spirit?
(1)Prince Y.
Food took too long and wasn't able to eat it. Service is horrible and cashier lied about food "almost" being ready...
(1)Debbie P.
Average Hawaiian grub. I will comment that I wish they had more seating available.
(3)Daren D.
I may have found a new favorite food: BBQ Chicken Musubi! When I first looked it up (no idea what it was at first), I thought, "hm, looks like a twist on sushi rolls." Which I now consider it as such. A seaweed wrap with a block of rice and your choice of meat filling. So simple, yet so satisfying to me. I also tried gravy fries; the gravy was a bit excessive, but otherwise good. I'd like to try other stuff. Conveniently in close walking proximity to my Park&Ride spot.
(4)Wayne R.
I'd give it four stars but the service at this location left something to be desired. The food was just as I remembered when I was in Hawaii. Salty, greasy, and so damn delicious. But the service was inattentive and lacking. I will return to L&L but maybe not this location.
(3)Kim D.
The chicken katsu is great! Well worth the money. Large portions for a great, affordable price. Their macaroni salad is amazing for a person who doesn't like macaroni salad. The workers, especially the lady cashier is super nice and generous.
(5)Jon L.
I miss Hawaii! This gets more evident during the holidays. Fortunately, Seattle has many places with stuff from home that makes living here worthwhile. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of them. There is a L&L in every (I think) neighborhood in Honolulu, so I am happy to see this chain cross the Pacific. Reading the reviews on Yelp, it sounds like quality control varies by location. Having been only to the Renton location, I am not sure if this is accurate. Though this location seems to churn out some decent plate lunches. Most recently, I had the BBQ mix ($8.95) which is a combo of beef, chicken and short ribs with rice and macaroni salad. The meats here tend to be a bit fattier than I would like. Though I particularly like the BBQ chicken which uses chicken thighs rather than chicken breast for a moist flavor. It tastes just like home. It is nothing like the teriyaki around these parts. As for the mac salad, it is good not great. But it avoids adding ridiculous unnecessary ingredients like celery. Overall, L&L serves up good Hawaiian plate lunches. Though the product quality could be a tad better I think.
(3)Ryan W.
Whenever I fixin' for some good local food, I come here. Love their chicken katsu and their lau lau is also very good. It's no surprise that L&L is the only business that is still open in this little strip mall because over the years, the businesses on both sides of this location of opened and closed several times. I hope this spot stays open forever!
(4)Tony Y.
I am a big fan of hawiian cuisine. I've been to several of these locations locally and in hawaii. They are pretty consistent with there food. We got the loco moco and chicken katsu and they were both pretty tasty, Flavors were good, portions were plentiful but the big knock is everything was super super salty. The first half of the meal was good and as the saltiness got overpowering it started to lose its flavor. This location is pretty shady in the corner of a dirty old strip mall. Be careful at night! We will probably go back again when in the downtown renton area when we have a craving.
(3)Jasmin G.
The food is always good no matter what I've ordered and the service is always nice and fast but what really keeps me coming is their macaroni salad. Never had macaroni salad as good as theirs anywhere!
(5)Christine R.
If you're in the market for some fast island food to hit the spot quickly- then I recommend L&L. When I used to live close by this was my go to spot if I wasn't in the mood to cook spam, eggs & rice. I know I must've been pretty lazy huh? And yes the answer is yes. But when they raised their prices I stopped visiting as frequently. My husband usually orders the mix plate and I've never heard a complaint from him. I also like that their chicken katsu as it's never dry when we order it. It is a chain resturant so beware it can't be hit or miss and the food is sometimes spotty. But if you need a quick fix give this place a shot.
(3)Jens J.
For authenticity, it's true, this L&L Barbecue makes it just like being in Hawaii. At least it is identical to the one JP and I ate at in Waimanolo on Oahu last year. They even had a recent copy of the Honolulu Star Advertiser newspaper, that I read while eating. Wow, so many fatal car/motorcycle accidents in one day on Oahu. Often times when I go to a Hawaiian restaurant for the first time, I go for the hamburger plate with macaroni salad, my litmus test. My visit to this L&L was no exception. Note: they have an expansive menu, including musubi and saimin. Hmmm, even though the gal at the counter asked if I wanted "for here or to go" and I responded "for here", I still received a closed Styrofoam carton containing my meal. I'm convinced L&L, regardless whether on the mainland or in Hawaii, adds a filler/extender (like flour) to their hamburger meat. It just doesn't taste like hamburger. Very different than the hamburger served at either Ohana or Noho in Portland, which I prefer. Why I think L&L adds an extender, or something, to their hamburger is because L&L's meat tastes just like these Danish things called "frickerdellers" that my Mom used to fry up. She added flour to the frickerdeller mixture. Each time she made frickerdellers, me as a young snot-nosed punk insolently asked why she couldn't just make plain hamburgers, because they tasted better. That suggestion never went over well with Mom.
(3)Krissy -.
I think overall, this L&L is better than Hawaii's L&L. LOL. -Their mac salad is better tasting than Hawaii's one. Sad, but true. -Bigger portions! A mini plate is big enough. In Hawaii, a mini plate is tiny. Can't remember the price though. -Friendly service -Clean restaurant -Seating is limited, but I think it is mainly for take out purposes.
(4)Nick B.
This is basic Hawaiian fast food fare. It's consistent as any chain restaurant. Value, portion, and flavors are all there. Once you try the basic BBQ plate---be a little adventurous and try the Kailua pork or locomoco. The hawaiian drinks are nice too. You won't regret it.
(4)Sarah F.
I've been to quite a few Hawaiian take out places around town, and I must say... this is pretty dang good! Yes it's salty, yes it's fatty, but hey... isn't that the way it should be? Pros? -Large menu -Quick service -The bbq chicken is delicious -Hawaiian word of the day is fun Cons? -No chili water -Menu pictures would be great
(4)Cc L.
Worst customer service ever!! Store was filthy and floors are nasty. Food is not fresh to order. Ordered bbq beef dry and burnt. Big portions but quality not so great. cooks look like they need a shave and a beard net. Cleanliness so not up to a standard. cashier counting tips before helping customers worst ever. Other lady should be helping customers but giggling with cooks. Will be taking business else were. They should have food permits checked. O and tables and chairs sticky fyi..
(1)Aaron C.
Kalua pork and mac salad served Hawaiian traditional style... in styrofoam of course. also guava juice. Yummm
(5)Richard U.
I love Hawaiian food! I came down to this location to check out the L&L chain of Hawaiin restaurants as I have not been to one before. I was a little disappointed in the quality of food on my first and only visit. I usually get the Pork Lau Lau which is piece of pork/pork fat wrapped in taro, kalua pork and spam musubi. The breakdown: Spam Musubi: ($2.50) ,The musubi was not the best. A bit too much rice to spam ratio. One bite and the thing collapsed in my hands. Hawaiian Combination plate ($11.50) Kalua pork was decent. Shreded pork, nice and juicy, a little smokey. I saw them prepare the pork lau lau and I believe it was the same one you can get frozen in the Uwajimaya frozen food section. Unfortunately, the meat was really dry which I thought was almost impossible as it is wrapped in layers of taro leaves. Maybe it was microwaved extra long or something? The macaroni salad I felt was pretty good. Everything plus the scoops of rice actually had a pretty good sized meal. As it is a chain restuarant, it definitely has that kind of feel. Like a Subway or a Burger King. The service is not great. Some reviewers commented on the employee working the register who talks on the phone (via wireless ear piece) while on the job, pausing from her phone convo occasionally to take orders. Yup. she's still there. I think that I will try the other L&L locations as I like their menu and I still love Hawaiian food.
(2)Diana C.
OMG! I can't believe I haven't written a review here yet! I grew up in Hawaii, so I'm always here when I'm home sick. The service is just whatever (they are polite, but nothing special), but the food! oh the food! I almost always get the portugese sausage, with eggs and rice, and am never disappointed. I also get the saimin and just like in Hawaii, I add soy sauce and tabasco, YUM! The loco moco is delicious, the Kalua pork is tender, juicy, and sooooo good. The seafood combo with korean short ribs is almost like having a zip pac. Just missing the furikake... And yes, they have great creamy mac salad. Again, add tabasco and some black pepper and we have a winner! OH, i have to go back again now. The spam musubi is not that great (I make much better ones at home) but it's still good and I occasionally get one. They also have the Hawaiian juice drinks I grew up with... omg.. I love it. Guava juice is something I drink by the gallon whenever I go home, but this is just a taste to keep me in check before I go. If you're from Hawaii, you already know about this place and you know what i'm taking about. :-) See you there!
(4)Kay N.
I think this place is great for Hawaiian food. I got the spicy bbq beef and boy was it spicy!! I couldn't eat all of it, but the beef was tasty and i got regular size which was A LOT of food. It came with the spicy beef, 2 scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. The macaroni salad was really good. The whole meal was such a large portion that I think it should be eaten by 2-3 people! Next time, get the mini, and don't let the word fool you--trust me it will be enough. I think its funny how they ask you if its "to-go" or "for here"but ends up giving you the food in a Styrofoam box either way. Service is okay--the girl didn't seem she wanted to be working but I guess I shouldn't expect so much from a fast-food place.
(4)Long P.
I heart L&L! This L&L makes it like they do in Hawaii, and is your best bet for plate lunches on the mainland. I always get the CHICKEN KATSU, which weighs like 6 pounds. The menu is extremely large so there should be something for everyone. This is no frills Hawaiian soul food at a reasonable price with quick and friendly service. Can't get much better than that.
(4)Tiffany Q.
Came here tonight around 8:25pm and they still served us. Yes, they don't close until 8:30pm, but for some reason lately restaurants have been refusing customers as early as 30+ mins before they close. They even served a couple that walked in 10+ mins AFTER they closed. GREAT customer service right there. I've never been to Hawaii so I can't comment on their food's authenticity, but the Kalua pork is flavorful and the spam and portuguese musubi is good.
(4)J K.
Don't expect anything fancy. This is a standard Hawaiian food stand: yellow-soul food at a cheap price served by the daughter of the owner.
(4)Brent T.
Uncle Eddie would be most certainly disappointed. Sadly enough, the majority of L&L's in the "mainland" that I've been to would garner no more than 3 stars. The Yelp Rating says it best: Meh. I've Experienced Better! If you are going down to Renton anyway, I recommend Saimin Says. In fact, I feel cheated that I didn't discover Saimin Says earlier and wasted my lunch/dinner money on this place. After seeing all the L&L's pop up over the last few years, I researched how difficult it is to open a franchise up. Problem is that it's not difficult at all, which is probably why the reputation has slowly diminished. The service is slow, the food is average, which makes the prices difficult to swallow. They make up for their below average food with large portion sizes, which is about as authentic of a Hawaiian food experience as they get. Unlike Saimin Says who uses a thick brown gravy for their loco mocos (their specialty by the way), L&L's gravy is thin and grey. The chicken katsu is greasy, but doesn't have a strong flavor to it. And there are not a lot of seats there, so unless you come at a very slow time, don't expect to eat in. Uncle Eddie, please help this place out!
(2)Daniel Z.
I haven't found a good Hawaiian place yet except for the other L&L in Lynnwood, WA. Everything I order, I like. Anywhere from the Loco Moco, Chicken Katsu and if you are really hungry, go for the BBQ Mix Plate. There is ample space to sit unless a mad rush comes in, then just get it as take out. Last time I was there, they kinda of took a long time to get the food prepared. Seems longer when you are already starving. But end result, newly cooked food that burns you tongue, so take it slow.
(4)Naomi N.
3 words.... A-MA-ZING!!! I called in my order. They were extremely helpful and had everything ready on point! I love this place. Always ontop of everything and very friendly. I've been beginning to think customer service has gone down the hole with this economy, but not at L&L!
(5)Alvin N.
Hawaii lovers may know what I'm talking about, the rest of the population may not know what to expect from Hawaiian barbecue. The answer, pure and simple, is to expect the unexpected. Where else are you going to find a Spam-and-egg sandwich or Spam, Eggs & Rice =) The Hawaiian plate lunch is a huge, gastronomically challenging mixture of Asian and American starches (two scoops rice and one scoop macaroni salad) supplemented by a United Nation of entrees such as chicken katsu, beef curry, deep fried shrimp, mahi mahi, lemon chicken, barbecue shortribs, hamburger steak, etc. Ask any islander -- the most famous plate lunch restaurant in Hawaii is L&L. This popular chain has over 85 locations... Hawaii, California, Nevada and Washington. It has been voted the "Best Local Food", the "Best Hawaiian Barbecue", and the "Best Plate Lunch". Eating at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of the easiest way to taste the eclectic cuisine and culture of Hawaii. No shirt or shoes required. I recommend their Seafood Combo: Fried shrimp & Mahi Mahi with a choice of Hawaiian barbecue beef, chicken or short ribs made to order. Speaking of fast food, I should mention that L&L's service isn't particularly fast, but it's for a good reason: everything is made fresh when you order it, and it shows. Seating is very limited Though =/ , Just take to go. L&L is known for its large portions, freshly cooked food, and reasonable prices. So save the Airfare and enjoy a bit of Hawaiian cuisine locally so check it out! Mahalo
(4)Jennifer K.
I was in the area today, so I decided to stop in for some grub. I ordered the Mini Loco Moco - a hamburger patty w/ an egg cooked to order (I ordered mine over medium) on top of it, all over 1 scoop of rice with a ton of gravy. My egg was cooked perfectly, and the gravy had a nice flavor. Don't let the "Mini" part of it throw you off though. It is an ample amout of food for a decent price. It also comes with 1 scoop of macaroni salad. I don't know why, but I just love their macaroni salad. I was very pleasantly surprised by how good my meal was. : )
(4)Vince N.
Just like the rest! Since this is a chain, I think all the food taste the same. The L n L in was ok, just like this place. Quick, easy and a different kind of fast food. The restaurant is clean, service is nice and most food is cooked up to order, things are not sitting on the heating rack like McDonalds or any other joint. Don't expect anything super special since this is still fast food.
(3)Derek M.
Brrrrr...it's freezing in here! It's winter in Seattle, so why is the air conditioning turned on? I shovel warm rice and BBQ in my mouth in hopes it will warm up my insides. Within a few minutes I start to feel better. Portions were large, large enough to satisfy the biggest of appitites. I have been to many different L&L's includig a few on the island and this one met my expectations. Not bad and nothing spectacular. My only complaint with this specific location would be the amount of fat found on some of the beef and chicken pieces. I would have liked to have some of this cut off before-hand as this is not easily done with a plastic fork and knife.
(3)E.J. S.
Not that many places around here to get some Hawaiian food, but luckily there's L&L. I always get the kaluah pork or the katsu. Their portions are gigantic (i'm a big eater, and I still can only finish their mini plates). The service is pretty good and helpful. The only bad thing is how small the restaurant is, only about 5 tables or so.
(5)Yee V.
Loco Moco. And I'm not talking about any trains. This hamburger patty served over rice with gravy and eggs on the side makes for a perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner!! I can't get over how good it is. Before I use to just order the bbq beef, but since I've tried the Loco Moco, I've only been getting it and having my girl get the bbq short ribs! HEHE Lately I've been recommended it a few times to friends as well, so why wouldn't I tell you to get it as well?! Macaroni Salad... can...not.... de....ny... it!!!! L&L is located in many different places. Seems like a chain now, but it doesn't make it bad at all. The food is pretty much the same anywhere you go, last year I had a chance to stop into the one in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii. Pricing is cheap because the portion is quite large. A mini would fill me up perfectly, the regular is gonna have to be packed up as lunch for tomorrow. I would suggest getting a spam masubi on the side with your order! It's really good, though possibly high in calories. I'll run an extra half mile tomorrow to burn it off, it's well worth it!!
(4)Hungry J.
Really, this should be your last choice if you're looking for Hawaiian food in the Seattle area. This is the McDonald's of Hawaiian food (and is actually quite a large chain). Just like McDonald's, there is nothing overtly offensive about the flavors, but your stomach and toilet will pay if you eat here too often. I've eaten here a total of three times, and I have to say, I've come away with an upset stomach every time. Mac salad is actually really unpleasant, and the beef is a tendon filled, low grade mess. This place isn't high priced, but with the food they serve, I suppose they don't have to be. Parking is great (due to it's strip mall location near WalMart). I wouldn't say "Avoid at all costs" but I definitely would say "look somewhere else".
(2)Marlo M.
Experienced L&L for the first time this afternoon. My Mom & I went in for lunch & both had the Spicy BBQ chicken with rice & macaroni salad. We were very pleased with the spicy BBQ because it had great flavor and just enough heat behind it. Although my Mom was a little unsure if the macaroni salad was supposed to be hot or cold...we both enjoyed the meal. Taking a couple of menus as we left with plans to return another time... I would recommend L&L to friends...and will.
(4)Adam Z.
This place is legit Hawaiian BBQ and its right by my work. I go there probably twice a month. I usually get the katsu chicken or the BBQ mix lunch plate. The katsu is always crispy and the katsu sauce that comes with is nice and tangy. The BBQ mix plate has BBQ beef, chicken and spare ribs. Both come with a couple scoops of rice and a scoop of insanely good mac, I mean this stuff is good I'd like to fill my bathtub with it. I've tried a few other things on the menu but i keep coming back to these two dishes because, welp they're the best. Price aint bad and you get a ton of food for the $.
(4)Richard M.
Food is hit or miss, sometimes great, sometimes burned beef & short ribs
(3)Shari d.
I didn't want to give L & L a full on review until I actually got to try some of their BBQ items...i.e. short ribs, kalua pork, etc. So these two stars are based on my initial visit to the establishment and I will follow up with a more thorough review later. All I wanted was some Spam Musubi and some Macaroni Salad. I was hungry but not hungry enough to eat an entire meal. The Spam Musubi was OK...a little too much nori for my tastes. Instead of there being a thin strip of nori securing the spam to the rice there was an entire sheet of nori...almost like a swaddled baby. The macaroni salad was rich but bland...I think they forgot the salt. A more indepth review to come...hopefully the stars will go up rather than down.
(2)Fereti S.
Had the chicken katsu and was amazed by the portions. Just a huge mountain of chicken upon chicken, talk about indulgence. The chicken was nicely fried, very crisp and moist. Wasn't fond of the dining area, wasn't expecting a 4 star dining experience, but the floor was so greasy it seemed like a lawsuit waiting to happen. The food was inexpensive, so you definitely get your moneys worth. For fast Hawaiian on the go, this is the place!
(3)Jeremy M.
I guess you can say, it don't take much to please me. I was first introduced to this place from a friend talking about traditional Hawaiian food, I laughed when she pointed out SPAM was a hot commodity(made me feel ghetto again). However their preparation with it was something I've never really thought of before, in form of a sushi but they call it a masubi! It was quite nice and their menu seems very diverse kind of like a fusion of all Asian cuisine! Katsu, ramen(saimen), bbq(grilled), and macoroni salad which was mixed with a momentous amount of white pepper! Cheap eats, it deserves a five star in my book but I just can't get over it.........spam? WOW! They are great though!
(4)Patrick L.
I've eaten here a few times, and the food didn't disappoint. The katsu, kalua pork, and mac salad all tasted as it should. Th only reason I give thia place one less star than the oter L&L locations is because of a cashier that used to work there. It was a younger girl who would be on the phone with her boyfriend or homegirls, while taking orders and ringing people up. The customers all waited forever while she chatted on the phone, only pausing to do her job every once in awhile. I couldn't believe she wasn't fired on the spot. Hope she's not terr anymore.
(3)Scot K.
Franchise operations like this are sooo iffy. This is one of the better L & L restaurants. I've been to 3 in Hawaii, the one in Renton and this one. This happens to be much better than the one in Renton. The food is better and the counter help speaks pidgin. I usually go for the mixed BBQ, since it reminds me of the plate lunch places in Hawaii. The bench seats could use a little work, so I recommend sitting on the chairs.
(4)Becky B.
If you're planning to eat in, get there before noon....or after 1:30 or so, because this place is CRAZY busy and has a very small eating area. With that said, there's a reason for the lunchtime crowd volume; the food is damn good...it's also got a very high quantity to price ratio, which is something I consistently look for. I've stopped in for the ocassional carryout order and been pleased with the speed at which my order is assembled, as well as with the quality of the food. My favorite is the kaluha pork and cabbage and shockingly, I've been known to order the "mini" plate, if I'm trying to behave myself calorically. The chicken katsu is also delicious. I've called in lunch orders ahead of time for my 10+ person office and had the meals prepared and waiting for me when I've arrived; with NO MISTAKES, despite the overwhelming number of substitutions my co-workers like to make. The gal that runs the counter is quick, efficient and friendly, despite the overwhelming number of customers during the lunch rush. I highly reccommend L&L,
(5)Elizabeth R.
This visit, we finally decided to get a plate dish and not just our usual L&L Saimin. I ordered a mini BBQ Beef Plate. The mini vs their full, full gets 2 scoops of rice whereas the mini only gets 1 scoop, but you get the same amount of mac salad and meat. Their BBQ Beef was a little too saucy, but when I ate it later on that night after microwaving it, all the sauce soaked into the meat just how I like it. My boyfriend ordered the Chicken Katsu full plate. I'm not a big katsu fan, but he sure scarfed it down.
(4)Ashley F.
I love L&L. The Renton location is probably my favorite in Western Washington. It has a fairly large menu and even has mini plates of my favorite dishes (although thinking about Hawaii turns me into an instant overeater so I would never actually order a mini plate, it makes me feel better that they exist). I strongly recommend Kalua Pork and Cabbage, Chicken Katsu, Haupia, Gyoza, and some delicious Hawaiian Sun Juice (this will be enough for 2 fat Hawaiians or 10-12 normal people). They even have lilikoi iced tea which is my favorite. If you want to be a bit more adventurous you can try Saimin (Katsu or BBQ are my favorites but Spam is a bit more Hawaiian in nature), Lau Lau, Loco Moco, Spam Musubi and Haupia. It is my life long dream to have a party catered by L&L and their catering prices are really reasonable. Drawbacks: you will overeat. It is impossible to eat Hawaiian food and not engorge yourself. You will probably find yourself driving to Renton to eat Hawaiian food with the specious reasoning that it is 'on the way'. It was so bad on Christmas Eve that I manufactured a trip to IKEA (yes I went to Ikea on Christmas Eve) just so that I could go eat L&L. You will probably spend all of your money that you could be saving up to actually go to Hawaii on L&L. This will ruin your chances of reviewing every L&L restaurant (although that's a silly goal anyways). This location is much too clean. The decor is exactly the same as the majority of L&Ls in Hawaii but everyone here is too friendly and helpful and hardworking for me to feel like home.
(5)Kendrick R.
I'm from Hawaii and tastes exactly like plate lunches from Hawaii. It's definitely no ka oi grindz. I've been on a mission to share Loco Mocos with my co-workers. So far, it has met the comfort food seal of approval. The only problem is trying to come in on the right days to get fresh haupia.
(4)Fumiko Y.
Huh, only one review? Let me see, I really like this place because there aren't too many other Hawaiian restaurants that are this caliber. They know GRILLED MEATS. Yes, sir. I love their grilled chicken! Mmmm. Beef curry is great too. With katsu, too, sometimes. If you want a big meal? Order a "mini". A "regular" size meal can easily feed a family of 4. The serving is huge...just like how they do it in HI. There is one in Federal Way as well.
(4)Mike R.
Went for the first time today and was extremely disappointed. The barbeque beef was burned, tough and fatty - practically impossible to eat. They piled the macaroni salad on top of the hot rice, which was just disgusting. I will not be back and don't recommend it, certainly not for the almost $10 I paid for the entre and a soda. Stay away.
(1)Chris H.
Tasty food, large portions, solid prices. Stripped down atmosphere. If you are a meat eater, and you are hungry, a great choice.
(3)Chartchai B.
Great L&L location that I always for get...from kalua to spam burger to kim chee...when i want to eat teriyaki but not teriyaki L&L is the place...now if only sundays werent so busy!!!
(4)Dana M.
sooo yummy! - lots of food and lots flavor! - my husband and I love this place... their small portion is huge!
(5)Kim K.
I love having a little taste of home wherever I can find it, and although I have nothing against the food - my visit today was atrocious. The girl at the counter messed up numerous orders before mine and then refused to give me an advertised price because 'it didn't apply to weekends' even though it did not specify that on the sign or anywhere else. Then as we were eating, she walked over to the garbage can and picked up two sauce containers that someone had discarded but failed to make it fully in the trash - she took them into the back and put them back where the other sauce containers were kept to distribute to other customers. Needless to say I will not be returning after being stated at blankly and treated like rubbish. Where's the island Aloha here?
(2)L W.
I was so disappointed that no longer take the 2011 entertainment book coupons. I made a special trip because I wanted to eat local hawaiin food and they did not redeem it. The food is not healthy, the cashier was not friendly, and she did not the honor the coupon.
(3)Antonio R.
If you want fast-food hawaiian food then L&L is the place to go. You get a lot of food for the money and the food is good...but not great. What I do like about L&L is that they offer banquet size platters for very reasonable prices. Everytime I bring one of their platters of kahlua pork or katsu chicken to a party...they are always the hit of the party. I do go to this L&L on a regular basis and never had a bad experience here. This particular L&L is hidden behind a car dealership and a chinese buffet restaurant, so you cannot see it while driving.
(3)Christine Y.
so i've come here in the past and up until recently the food was yummy the short ribs were tender and saucy and I enjoyed the macaroni salad... unfortunately the stars quickly fell in my mind the last time I visited...it wasn't the food...according to the boyfriend it was still yummers...yet I had a bit of a hard time eating it because of an image that wouldn't leave my mind...yes we should have complained but since it was done by the cashier and not the cook we jus shut our mouths, grabbed our food and left (and it came out quickly)... I wouldn't say that i'm being nit-picky because it is a restaurant...food service so everything should be sanitary...unfortunately after we ordered our food the cashier took out the trash (normal) but when he came back I didn't see him wash his hands.......................if he didn't whose to say that the cook did?!?!?!?!?! maybe he washed his hands out of site...but shouldn't he wash his hands in front of the customers??? isn't that why there is a sink right next to him??? didn't have much of an appetite after that.... luckily, there was no food poisoning! yay! we live to tell the tale! I don't think it's good for them!
(2)Tonya N.
Im no hawaiian food connesuir but i like it... When im in the mood for kalbi or short rib type meat, this place hits the spot. Its very juicy and tender and i like the pasta salad that comes with, so hot meat and then the cold pasta is a nice combo. I dont really love the rice, kinda mushy. Katsu is tender and crisp on the outside. Portions are monster huge here. Too much food on a plate can be unappealing, but here the food reheats well so, its a good thing...
(4)nate j.
The menu is a take-home, open-book test... Hawaiian BBQ confuses me and I admit follow-up visits are necessary for me to fully comprehend how eggs end up on a pile of, well, almost anything. I had my first visit here today with a co-worker and we each had chicken katsu, quite frankly, because other than a cheeseburger or hamburger, this was the only type of food either of us could say we'd had before elsewhere. The katsu is something that is one of what this outfit is known for, or so I'm told. The sauce was pretty good -- I have no idea what to call it, however, as it isn't teriyaki, BBQ, or soy sauce... it's like all of those flavors at once. We made the mistake of ordering the regular and it was large enough to feed an army! A "mini" order to me would have implied I might've gone wanting more. Oh well, I'll know for next time. Additional positive aspects: great decor, clean, and pretty good supply of free parking. The KC Metro route 101 provides service to this place (well, to Rainier Avenue South, which is a short walk away). Staff was pretty neutral -- not in-your-face too friendly nor are they inattentive. I rate the place as three stars, mainly because the menu is confusing to decipher for a first timer. Also, the katsu had good flavor, but the chicken was a little bit stringy. If I could have rated 3 and a half stars, I would have done so, but I'm still not quite convinced it is a 4 star place yet.
(3)Kazuo O.
I came here because i had a coupon from an Entertainment Book. I ordered the mix plate and chicken katsu. Total came to $11 and some change with the coupon. You get a lot of food, when I grabbed my takeout order I was like "Damn, this is heavy." I like the beef the best, the chicken was too low quality, spare ribs was too fatty and the chiken katsu was okay. The quality of the food is very poor.
(2)H L.
This place used to be great before it was sold to the current owners. They're not that friendly and I get the feeling that they just want your money and not your loyalty. I've been to L&L in Pasadena and in San Francisco and their food is great. But this location cannot live up to the L&L name. Weird smells when you walk in and it's very disappointing.
(2)Scott L.
So, I'm from Hawaii, and used to live about a mile from the ORIGINAL L&L. Which by the way, if you saw it, I doubt you would eat there. Anyway, I've been to at least 15 of them on the mainland and probably another 15 of them in Hawaii; for some reason L&L on the mainland can be a hit or miss deal. It's a franchise, but I think they have a quality control issue. Having said that, I think this L&L is on the better side.
(3)Jeniffer L.
OK so I'm a native of Hawaii and sometimes I would even call myself Hawaiian.. I love L&L and have been a fan of it probably since birth so I was thinking it to be very hard to persuade me to not like it. So after the Most expensive grocery trip EVER (read yelp on enterprise for details) I decided to take myself and 2 other friends to one of my most favorite places ever I hyped the place up so much that we were all drooling before we stepped in the door. But to my surprise this L&L bombed my every thought of the restaurant I had so fondly remember. Seriously, How do you mess up on BBQ beef. I must say Northshore Hawaiian BBQ on Boren ave has the BEST bbq beef I have tasted in seattle BY FAR. and how the heck do you Screw up Kalua pork???? I'll tell you add scoops of msg for that salty taste and a splash of shoyu to cover that up. I don't think i will be taking anyone else there until they fix some things. Oh and BTW why the heck are there only people who don't speak good english running a register... hmmm sad sad day when L&L become dead to me:(.
(2)Thao N.
BEST macaroni salad ever! I looked at the little cup of macaroni salad that came along with my combo and thought it didn't look enough, but my meal was so big that I ended up not even finishing all of it...and I'm a big eater. Oh well, that means leftovers for me which I think will last me for another 2 meals or so seeing at how much meat I received, I could just cook more rice each time for it. I got #3, the BBQ combo where there's a handful(or two) of rice, beef slices, beef short ribs, & chicken on a bed of cole slaw. You also get to choose a side of either fries or mac salad. I haven't had other Hawaiian BBQ to compare, but boy this was goooooood. It is located in a little shopping area across from Walmart near downtown Renton.
(4)Teddy G.
I've never been to Hawaii so I can't justify myself that it taste authentic. BUT I can say that it is Hawaiian fast food. The food here is okay because it is fast food. It tasted right and delicious as I thought it would be. The portion sizes are HUGEE and it is worth every penny. Customer service is very polite and courteous. Depending on the time of day you may have to wait for your food for about 5 to 20 mins. I'm not kidding about the 20 minutes as they often do have just that one cook at the back trying to service the customers. In all I'm glad there is a Hawaiian place here.. it makes Renton/Eastside area a better foodie place.
(3)Lydia L.
Given a lot of food for what you paid, which is always a huge plus for me! Im a huge sucker from for meat, and this place has pretty good meat for what you paid. I paid almost $12 for a huge plate of rice, meat, and mac salad. It was so much food, I couldn't even finish it, so it'll definitely fill you up until your next meal. There are soo many choices to choose from, so you'll find something you like. Service was great, although the wait was a little longer than expected. There are limited tables, so going during peak meal times may mean take out. Lots of parking too!
(4)Stephanie J.
We always come here to get our Hawaiian food fix. It is not as authentic as you would get it on the islands, but it satisfies our cravings. My boyfriend usually gets the burger or loco moco and some musibi. I have been hooked on the chicken katsu bowl w/steamed vegetables only (no rice). It's a special request but they always do it for me. The only recommendation I would have would be to plastic/shrink wrap the musubi. They put it in a styrofoam type container and sometimes when we take it to-go the musubi is broken up and all over the place. Other than that, it's pretty fast food for a decent price. And most importably the people are always nice!
(4)Vivian W.
I love L&L. I crave for them sometimes. This location has been very good so far, quick with their service and on point with the food expectations! They always fill up your to-go boxes which is a always a plus for me. I love their mashubis, loco moco, chicken katsu with curry, and especially their macaroni salad! Ohhh...that macaroni salad! So delish. There is lots of mayo, hints of tuna fish and pieces of carrots! I make it myself at home sometimes and I would put more tuna and cabbage in their just to make it a tad bit healthier! YUMMMS!
(5)Doug T.
Pretty good when it comes to L&L's. 7 hours later I'm still full.. high on value as the portions are enormous.. I had the curry chicken, which a small village in africa could split... Takes visa
(3)Elina K.
This place can satisfy my Hawaiian BBQ fix but it's just not the best I've ever had. They have your typical Hawaiian dishes and I usually get the loco moco or chicken katsu and of course mac salad. I can't say I'm in love with their food but like I said they fulfill my cravings! It's one of their chains so nothing about it is special. I do love how much rice and gravy/katsu sauce they give you! I always leave glutted with extra to take home with me so good thing all their food comes in a to go box! Lol Altogether, just an OK place to pick up some Hawaiian food/snacks/drinks but wouldn't be my first choice!!
(3)Victoria M.
My friends were craving Hawaiian food so we decided to stop here. I was starving so I thought a 'mini' would be too small, but I only ended up not even eating half of the 'regular' size bbq chicken meal. They have HUGE portions! Even my friends with big appetites were stuffed. The service was very prompt and our food came out very fast. The place could use a little cleaning because a lot of the tables had sticky gunk on them still. The food however was very average, a bit disappointing and usually when I'm hungry food is delicious to me. Maybe it was because I've had really good Hawaiian food in the past, it wasn't all that great. The majority of my chicken was all fat and it was so greasy to the point where it made me feel sick. The macaroni salad was so heavy and had too much mayo I couldn't even take more than two bites. My boyfriend ordered a beef bowl and it was SO salty and the whole thing was drenched with thick teriyaki sauce. My other friends ordered the loco moco, bbq ribs and spam musubi and said the food was "alright". My friends said the l&l up in Lynnwood was better. I'm hoping we just went on a bad day because it wasn't a very satisfying experience for me.
(3)Namtran V.
I am SO glad they have mini portions here!! I think a mini is the perfect size for me, and I'm a big eater! They have all the usual items you would find at Hawaiian BBQ and I like that there's pictures on the wall if this is your first time here. The flavor is standard, not overly salty or special. Just a staple, chain restaurant. The place is pretty small and everything comes out in a togo box. My only major complaint is that EVERYTHING comes out in a togo box and they don't even have real silverware. Have you tried eating short ribs with a plastic fork/knife? It's not very earth friendly and kind of wasteful.
(3)Daniel S.
I love Hawaiian food. Seriously. And the people here were very friendly. I ordered the chicken katsu (my go to for any Hawaiian place), and I don't know why but I got sick. It's the only thing I ate that day because after feeling that way, I couldn't eat anything else. I am not sure how it happened or why, and I'd rather give this place the benefit of the doubt, but I can't think of another cause. The food was good though haha...
(3)Tiffany S.
I got the mixed BBQ plate and the Katsu musubi. The Katsu musubi was great! It was my first time having musubi other than spam and I felt like it went well together. The nori was crispy and the Katsu was fresh. Everything made for a good texture and flavor combo. Not too salty either! My issue was that the beef in the BBQ plate was way too salty! The saltiness took away from the sauce and was too overwhelming. The chicken was much better though, less salty and better flavors. I would recommend getting the chicken plate if given a choice again. The best part is the portions are huge for just around $10. The meat has lasted me for almost 3 meals already. Although I do feel the cholesterol and fat running through my arteries right about now.
(3)Holli M.
We always order the chicken katsu. It's so good and we tried the mix barbque plate. The Teri beef was soft and chicken was good but for me just a bit too much shoyu in the flavor. But was good.
(4)Beau S.
Gross! I love Hawaiian food and its simplicity makes it hard to screw up. I have eaten at this L&L chain in Maui so I was familiar of the menu. This location in Renton is in a semi dingy location but not so off putting that I am turning heels. I ordered a 2 meat plate with Katsu Chicken and BBQ chicken. The Katsu was ok and rice was good. The BBQ chicken was flat out horrible I have never seen chicken prepared this way as a fatty pulverized overcooked mess. The really sad part is the Mac salad which is super hard to screw up was BAD with a barnyard aftertaste. I am not sure if something was spoiled or if it was old but I threw all the BBQ Chicken and mac salad away. Yeah I usually write a semi negative review after I have visited twice but I really don't want to return.
(2)Jessica G.
I think I'm just going to give up on trying to find decent Hawaiian food in Washington. L&L is always hit or miss, but this experience was particularly bad. You'd think that there would be some consistency with a chain, but this is not the case. I enjoy that the menu has expanded over the years, but if I can't get my staple Hawaiian items (kalua pork, for example) without gagging, you're a failure (to me). I went here over work lunch recently and ordered a combination of kalua and cabbage with BBQ chicken. Everything is cooked to order, so I didn't mind the wait, but the food left much to be desired. The kalua pork was flavorless, and the cabbage was watery. The BBQ chicken was okay but mostly fatty. And what is up with the "teriyaki" sauce? Teriyaki sauce is NOT supposed to be watery and thin! My guess is that it's huli huli sauce or some dipping sauce for something else. There were just bottles of this stuff...and I even asked for clarity if this was, indeed, supposed to be teriyaki sauce. Gross. Won't be back.
(1)Tanzala D.
Extremely disappointed in my visit. Usually the food and service are acceptable, this wasn't the case. I placed a rather basic order nothing extreme (fries, spam masubi, Mac salad) Mac salad was already prepared. A coworker ordered right ahead of me. He was served and at least 15 patrons came in an out before my food was ready. No explanation no apology. Asked for a refund was advised food was coming. Three other people received food. Asked for refund was handed food after 20 minutes. No apology not refund. No problem leaving me unhappy. Poor customer service. Not sure if this was racial or just inconsiderate and rude.
(1)Brian C.
You get what you pay for and people giving this place negative reviews are insane. I get dinner from here on the way home from work once a month to every other month and the prices are more than fair for what I get. Tonight I got 4 musubis, one chicken Katsu meal and one curry chicken Katsu meal for about 25 bucks! The 4th musubi was a surprise. I order to go and it usually takes a lot 15-20 minutes if not quicker. If anything I get here a few minutes after the food is already made. I've never had bad customer service here and have been coming here for about 2 years. This is a much better option than fast food!!!
(5)Julie Marcellina V.
This is nothing compared to the L&L in Hawaii. I guess we came here with very high expectations. So when we got home and tasted the food. We first thought that the macaroni salad was very bland. There was literally no taste to it. The food was alright, nothing to die for.
(3)Mike B.
Good! The real deal Hawaiian. Love the pig. Also the Loco moko. The macaroni salad is the real deal. As a frequent traveler to the islands. Its nice to be able to get the food here in my hometown, without the 6 hr. Flight! Mike Ballatore
(4)Alexis B.
I'm pretty sure I got sick from this place. I ate the food around 4pm Saturday and was hurting Sunday 8am until Monday night. Plus this was the only food I ate for the rest of the day. I ordered curry katsu chicken meal came with Mac salad I think that's what did me in. The hubby only ate some musubi and DID NOT get sick. So the culprits was either the curry or Mac salad. Either way I can't go back here I'm too scared of getting sick again. I love curry too. Sigh. So sad.
(1)Monica B.
I rarely go to this location because it's a long way from my house. I happened to be in Renton over the weekend and stopped in for a bite to eat. Most L&L locations around the country have a franchise menu so everything was familiar to me. I was famished when I got there and ordered a Combo A - chicken katsu, macaroni salad, rice, 2 lumpia, and a drink. The portion was HUGE! I ate as much as I could and it looked like I didn't dent it. We also ordered a kalua burger which was usually offered with cabbage (unfortunately they were out of cabbage). The kalua was very smoky and cooked well. The katsu was fried crisp and the chicken was lean. The katsu sauce was a little too sweet for me but I could see how some would like it. The restaurant was clean and service was friendly and efficient. Our entire lunch cost $15. What a deal! I had to bring home leftovers.
(4)Joelina S.
Lunch was delicious today! Sad that they were out of malasadas. The chicken katsu / bbq chicken (Today's Special) hit the spot though. Only giving 4 stars because the seating sucks here. Hopefully they'll buy the crappy massage place next door and expand so more than 8 people can sit comfortably.
(4)Stephen B.
I've been here 3 times in as many weeks and am very pleased by both the quantity and quality of food. Their Kalua Pork with cabbage is outstanding , as is the BBQ chicken and chicken katsu.
(5)Alex C.
This place is my go to when it comes to my post work out meal, large portions of protein for a reasonable price. Ive tried other Hawaiian places in the area but their food tends to be overly salty. The cashiers are friendly and the food comes out a lot faster than the one i used to live by in Lynnwood. I just wish the spam masubi didnt cost so much :(
(4)Alexandra K.
My brother and I stopped here to grab a bit to eat before sitting in traffic. The cashier was very polite and friendly. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food that you get. While I was sitting there waiting for my food one of the girls was walking around taking the trash out and cleaning the tables. Small seating area but it was very clean. I ordered spam, eggs and rice my brother had chicken katsu. I know that I could have made my own spam eggs and rice but it sounded so good at the time. It came out hot and cooked perfectly. My brothers chicken katsu was the bigger portion but the size of the chicken and the ratio to rice was perfect. This was my first time eating at an L&L but it has me hooked. I can't wait to try a more traditional dish next time I'm in. I will be back again!
(5)Anna N.
This place is cute! Very clean I love the appearance with the whole Hawaiian skim. The employees were friendly and nice. The food was satisfying oh so satisfying. I got the loco meal the one that is number 13 on the menu, I think not sure. I kinda had high expectations for the food but it was delicious and I do plan on stoping by again if I'm craving for some Hawaiian food or spam musubi.
(5)Lyn C.
Others will have their opinions but from my experience this Hawaiian food is better than all the rest. Their short ribs are amazing as is their chicken katsu .But really everything is just plain good here. We ordered nearly everything on the menu and it just kept getting better :) I will definitely come back
(5)Marebear T.
I love L&L ..... Never fails to make My tummy happy ...... The portions is great and the customer service here is great too .... Fresh and don't have to wait so long and the girl at the counter is friendly and sweet .... I love people like that .... :-) definately will be back.
(5)Marie R.
I feel like this place is pretty hit or miss. Sometimes the food is wonderful and then I can go back the next day and have it dry/ burnt. If there was more consistency I would definitely be there more.
(3)Tan Lo S.
I have been long awaiting this delicious endeavor. Hawaii is somewhere I dream to retire, well, to actually live someday because of the history, culture, and beauty. For now, I live my dreams through the Hawaiian food here in Seattle. I'm no Hawaiian connoisseur, however, I would like to say that I have high expectations and a picky palette based on pictures, my personal taste and chef skills with flavors, fusion, and knowledge. I also have friends from Hawaii who have shown me the authenticity of Hawaiian food. L&L closes at 9. I came in about 8 and was greeted, sort of. The lady who took my order looked almost unapproachable, which was weird since she looked like a teenager, and usually, teenagers are full of pizzazz and energy. She wasn't too excited to greet me, nonetheless, I look around. Their menu is annoyingly busy and it's honestly really hard to see what they offer with a menu, then paper, hand-written menu specials and such. I opt in for the bbq chicken and katsu combo, which was supposed to be like $8.75 but she charges me somewhere between $10 for it, which I find out when I leave. I ordered an extra mac salad which was like $2. My total for my combo dinner and extra mac was a little over $12. Not too shabby but still a little pricey since I can go to the ave and get the same thing for $8. The bbq chicken aka chicken teriyaki was delicious. Very, very delightful as it was sweet and flavorful, but very simple and to the punch. I liked it because it tasted like how I make it at home. It was also very tender. The katsu was just mehh, a-okay. I could make better. It tasted a little old and not very fresh. The crispiness wasn't there, and the homemade sauce was just okay. Good effort though. Their mac salad was good, but lacking in good ole' salt and peppa. Otherwise, it was creamy with the right amount and worth every bite and penny. The BEST thing about this place is the HUGE portion sizes which I hear it true to Hawaiian food. I love it because of just 1 meal, I made it into 3 portions. YES. You get a bomb gluttonous pile of chicken, at least 4 thighs and a hand load of katsu for their combo. I can NOT complain there because it was so damn worth it. I couldn't believe my eyes. That deserves two thumbs up and return because I am satisfied with the quantity. The quality is a-okay, but not the worst. I will def come back when I'm in the area and desperate. It's good for a quick grab of savory and fat portions!
(3)Lisa U.
I actually went to the new location in Seatac but the experience was just the same as the Renton L&L. We ordered the BBQ combo plate, the "mini" chicken katsu curry and a spam musubi. Both the plate dishes were tasty as usual but the spam musubi was lacking in portion. I must say the mini version isnt mini at all. Great value for the portion you get. I love the option of subbing for brown rice and salad vs. white rice and mac salad too. I'll be back again but won't be ordering the musubi unfortunately. I love spam.
(4)Thao N.
BEST macaroni salad ever! I looked at the little cup of macaroni salad that came along with my combo and thought it didn't look enough, but my meal was so big that I ended up not even finishing all of it...and I'm a big eater. Oh well, that means leftovers for me which I think will last me for another 2 meals or so seeing at how much meat I received, I could just cook more rice each time for it. I got #3, the BBQ combo where there's a handful(or two) of rice, beef slices, beef short ribs, & chicken on a bed of cole slaw. You also get to choose a side of either fries or mac salad. I haven't had other Hawaiian BBQ to compare, but boy this was goooooood. It is located in a little shopping area across from Walmart near downtown Renton.
(4)Teddy G.
I've never been to Hawaii so I can't justify myself that it taste authentic. BUT I can say that it is Hawaiian fast food. The food here is okay because it is fast food. It tasted right and delicious as I thought it would be. The portion sizes are HUGEE and it is worth every penny. Customer service is very polite and courteous. Depending on the time of day you may have to wait for your food for about 5 to 20 mins. I'm not kidding about the 20 minutes as they often do have just that one cook at the back trying to service the customers. In all I'm glad there is a Hawaiian place here.. it makes Renton/Eastside area a better foodie place.
(3)Lydia L.
Given a lot of food for what you paid, which is always a huge plus for me! Im a huge sucker from for meat, and this place has pretty good meat for what you paid. I paid almost $12 for a huge plate of rice, meat, and mac salad. It was so much food, I couldn't even finish it, so it'll definitely fill you up until your next meal. There are soo many choices to choose from, so you'll find something you like. Service was great, although the wait was a little longer than expected. There are limited tables, so going during peak meal times may mean take out. Lots of parking too!
(4)Stephanie J.
We always come here to get our Hawaiian food fix. It is not as authentic as you would get it on the islands, but it satisfies our cravings. My boyfriend usually gets the burger or loco moco and some musibi. I have been hooked on the chicken katsu bowl w/steamed vegetables only (no rice). It's a special request but they always do it for me. The only recommendation I would have would be to plastic/shrink wrap the musubi. They put it in a styrofoam type container and sometimes when we take it to-go the musubi is broken up and all over the place. Other than that, it's pretty fast food for a decent price. And most importably the people are always nice!
(4)Vivian W.
I love L&L. I crave for them sometimes. This location has been very good so far, quick with their service and on point with the food expectations! They always fill up your to-go boxes which is a always a plus for me. I love their mashubis, loco moco, chicken katsu with curry, and especially their macaroni salad! Ohhh...that macaroni salad! So delish. There is lots of mayo, hints of tuna fish and pieces of carrots! I make it myself at home sometimes and I would put more tuna and cabbage in their just to make it a tad bit healthier! YUMMMS!
(5)Elina K.
This place can satisfy my Hawaiian BBQ fix but it's just not the best I've ever had. They have your typical Hawaiian dishes and I usually get the loco moco or chicken katsu and of course mac salad. I can't say I'm in love with their food but like I said they fulfill my cravings! It's one of their chains so nothing about it is special. I do love how much rice and gravy/katsu sauce they give you! I always leave glutted with extra to take home with me so good thing all their food comes in a to go box! Lol Altogether, just an OK place to pick up some Hawaiian food/snacks/drinks but wouldn't be my first choice!!
(3)Victoria M.
My friends were craving Hawaiian food so we decided to stop here. I was starving so I thought a 'mini' would be too small, but I only ended up not even eating half of the 'regular' size bbq chicken meal. They have HUGE portions! Even my friends with big appetites were stuffed. The service was very prompt and our food came out very fast. The place could use a little cleaning because a lot of the tables had sticky gunk on them still. The food however was very average, a bit disappointing and usually when I'm hungry food is delicious to me. Maybe it was because I've had really good Hawaiian food in the past, it wasn't all that great. The majority of my chicken was all fat and it was so greasy to the point where it made me feel sick. The macaroni salad was so heavy and had too much mayo I couldn't even take more than two bites. My boyfriend ordered a beef bowl and it was SO salty and the whole thing was drenched with thick teriyaki sauce. My other friends ordered the loco moco, bbq ribs and spam musubi and said the food was "alright". My friends said the l&l up in Lynnwood was better. I'm hoping we just went on a bad day because it wasn't a very satisfying experience for me.
(3)Namtran V.
I am SO glad they have mini portions here!! I think a mini is the perfect size for me, and I'm a big eater! They have all the usual items you would find at Hawaiian BBQ and I like that there's pictures on the wall if this is your first time here. The flavor is standard, not overly salty or special. Just a staple, chain restaurant. The place is pretty small and everything comes out in a togo box. My only major complaint is that EVERYTHING comes out in a togo box and they don't even have real silverware. Have you tried eating short ribs with a plastic fork/knife? It's not very earth friendly and kind of wasteful.
(3)Daniel S.
I love Hawaiian food. Seriously. And the people here were very friendly. I ordered the chicken katsu (my go to for any Hawaiian place), and I don't know why but I got sick. It's the only thing I ate that day because after feeling that way, I couldn't eat anything else. I am not sure how it happened or why, and I'd rather give this place the benefit of the doubt, but I can't think of another cause. The food was good though haha...
(3)Tiffany S.
I got the mixed BBQ plate and the Katsu musubi. The Katsu musubi was great! It was my first time having musubi other than spam and I felt like it went well together. The nori was crispy and the Katsu was fresh. Everything made for a good texture and flavor combo. Not too salty either! My issue was that the beef in the BBQ plate was way too salty! The saltiness took away from the sauce and was too overwhelming. The chicken was much better though, less salty and better flavors. I would recommend getting the chicken plate if given a choice again. The best part is the portions are huge for just around $10. The meat has lasted me for almost 3 meals already. Although I do feel the cholesterol and fat running through my arteries right about now.
(3)Holli M.
We always order the chicken katsu. It's so good and we tried the mix barbque plate. The Teri beef was soft and chicken was good but for me just a bit too much shoyu in the flavor. But was good.
(4)Beau S.
Gross! I love Hawaiian food and its simplicity makes it hard to screw up. I have eaten at this L&L chain in Maui so I was familiar of the menu. This location in Renton is in a semi dingy location but not so off putting that I am turning heels. I ordered a 2 meat plate with Katsu Chicken and BBQ chicken. The Katsu was ok and rice was good. The BBQ chicken was flat out horrible I have never seen chicken prepared this way as a fatty pulverized overcooked mess. The really sad part is the Mac salad which is super hard to screw up was BAD with a barnyard aftertaste. I am not sure if something was spoiled or if it was old but I threw all the BBQ Chicken and mac salad away. Yeah I usually write a semi negative review after I have visited twice but I really don't want to return.
(2)Jessica G.
I think I'm just going to give up on trying to find decent Hawaiian food in Washington. L&L is always hit or miss, but this experience was particularly bad. You'd think that there would be some consistency with a chain, but this is not the case. I enjoy that the menu has expanded over the years, but if I can't get my staple Hawaiian items (kalua pork, for example) without gagging, you're a failure (to me). I went here over work lunch recently and ordered a combination of kalua and cabbage with BBQ chicken. Everything is cooked to order, so I didn't mind the wait, but the food left much to be desired. The kalua pork was flavorless, and the cabbage was watery. The BBQ chicken was okay but mostly fatty. And what is up with the "teriyaki" sauce? Teriyaki sauce is NOT supposed to be watery and thin! My guess is that it's huli huli sauce or some dipping sauce for something else. There were just bottles of this stuff...and I even asked for clarity if this was, indeed, supposed to be teriyaki sauce. Gross. Won't be back.
(1)Tanzala D.
Extremely disappointed in my visit. Usually the food and service are acceptable, this wasn't the case. I placed a rather basic order nothing extreme (fries, spam masubi, Mac salad) Mac salad was already prepared. A coworker ordered right ahead of me. He was served and at least 15 patrons came in an out before my food was ready. No explanation no apology. Asked for a refund was advised food was coming. Three other people received food. Asked for refund was handed food after 20 minutes. No apology not refund. No problem leaving me unhappy. Poor customer service. Not sure if this was racial or just inconsiderate and rude.
(1)Brian C.
You get what you pay for and people giving this place negative reviews are insane. I get dinner from here on the way home from work once a month to every other month and the prices are more than fair for what I get. Tonight I got 4 musubis, one chicken Katsu meal and one curry chicken Katsu meal for about 25 bucks! The 4th musubi was a surprise. I order to go and it usually takes a lot 15-20 minutes if not quicker. If anything I get here a few minutes after the food is already made. I've never had bad customer service here and have been coming here for about 2 years. This is a much better option than fast food!!!
(5)Julie Marcellina V.
This is nothing compared to the L&L in Hawaii. I guess we came here with very high expectations. So when we got home and tasted the food. We first thought that the macaroni salad was very bland. There was literally no taste to it. The food was alright, nothing to die for.
(3)Mike B.
Good! The real deal Hawaiian. Love the pig. Also the Loco moko. The macaroni salad is the real deal. As a frequent traveler to the islands. Its nice to be able to get the food here in my hometown, without the 6 hr. Flight! Mike Ballatore
(4)Alexis B.
I'm pretty sure I got sick from this place. I ate the food around 4pm Saturday and was hurting Sunday 8am until Monday night. Plus this was the only food I ate for the rest of the day. I ordered curry katsu chicken meal came with Mac salad I think that's what did me in. The hubby only ate some musubi and DID NOT get sick. So the culprits was either the curry or Mac salad. Either way I can't go back here I'm too scared of getting sick again. I love curry too. Sigh. So sad.
(1)Monica B.
I rarely go to this location because it's a long way from my house. I happened to be in Renton over the weekend and stopped in for a bite to eat. Most L&L locations around the country have a franchise menu so everything was familiar to me. I was famished when I got there and ordered a Combo A - chicken katsu, macaroni salad, rice, 2 lumpia, and a drink. The portion was HUGE! I ate as much as I could and it looked like I didn't dent it. We also ordered a kalua burger which was usually offered with cabbage (unfortunately they were out of cabbage). The kalua was very smoky and cooked well. The katsu was fried crisp and the chicken was lean. The katsu sauce was a little too sweet for me but I could see how some would like it. The restaurant was clean and service was friendly and efficient. Our entire lunch cost $15. What a deal! I had to bring home leftovers.
(4)Joelina S.
Lunch was delicious today! Sad that they were out of malasadas. The chicken katsu / bbq chicken (Today's Special) hit the spot though. Only giving 4 stars because the seating sucks here. Hopefully they'll buy the crappy massage place next door and expand so more than 8 people can sit comfortably.
(4)Wayne R.
I'd give it four stars but the service at this location left something to be desired. The food was just as I remembered when I was in Hawaii. Salty, greasy, and so damn delicious. But the service was inattentive and lacking. I will return to L&L but maybe not this location.
(3)Kim D.
The chicken katsu is great! Well worth the money. Large portions for a great, affordable price. Their macaroni salad is amazing for a person who doesn't like macaroni salad. The workers, especially the lady cashier is super nice and generous.
(5)Jon L.
I miss Hawaii! This gets more evident during the holidays. Fortunately, Seattle has many places with stuff from home that makes living here worthwhile. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of them. There is a L&L in every (I think) neighborhood in Honolulu, so I am happy to see this chain cross the Pacific. Reading the reviews on Yelp, it sounds like quality control varies by location. Having been only to the Renton location, I am not sure if this is accurate. Though this location seems to churn out some decent plate lunches. Most recently, I had the BBQ mix ($8.95) which is a combo of beef, chicken and short ribs with rice and macaroni salad. The meats here tend to be a bit fattier than I would like. Though I particularly like the BBQ chicken which uses chicken thighs rather than chicken breast for a moist flavor. It tastes just like home. It is nothing like the teriyaki around these parts. As for the mac salad, it is good not great. But it avoids adding ridiculous unnecessary ingredients like celery. Overall, L&L serves up good Hawaiian plate lunches. Though the product quality could be a tad better I think.
(3)Ryan W.
Whenever I fixin' for some good local food, I come here. Love their chicken katsu and their lau lau is also very good. It's no surprise that L&L is the only business that is still open in this little strip mall because over the years, the businesses on both sides of this location of opened and closed several times. I hope this spot stays open forever!
(4)Tony Y.
I am a big fan of hawiian cuisine. I've been to several of these locations locally and in hawaii. They are pretty consistent with there food. We got the loco moco and chicken katsu and they were both pretty tasty, Flavors were good, portions were plentiful but the big knock is everything was super super salty. The first half of the meal was good and as the saltiness got overpowering it started to lose its flavor. This location is pretty shady in the corner of a dirty old strip mall. Be careful at night! We will probably go back again when in the downtown renton area when we have a craving.
(3)Jasmin G.
The food is always good no matter what I've ordered and the service is always nice and fast but what really keeps me coming is their macaroni salad. Never had macaroni salad as good as theirs anywhere!
(5)Jens J.
For authenticity, it's true, this L&L Barbecue makes it just like being in Hawaii. At least it is identical to the one JP and I ate at in Waimanolo on Oahu last year. They even had a recent copy of the Honolulu Star Advertiser newspaper, that I read while eating. Wow, so many fatal car/motorcycle accidents in one day on Oahu. Often times when I go to a Hawaiian restaurant for the first time, I go for the hamburger plate with macaroni salad, my litmus test. My visit to this L&L was no exception. Note: they have an expansive menu, including musubi and saimin. Hmmm, even though the gal at the counter asked if I wanted "for here or to go" and I responded "for here", I still received a closed Styrofoam carton containing my meal. I'm convinced L&L, regardless whether on the mainland or in Hawaii, adds a filler/extender (like flour) to their hamburger meat. It just doesn't taste like hamburger. Very different than the hamburger served at either Ohana or Noho in Portland, which I prefer. Why I think L&L adds an extender, or something, to their hamburger is because L&L's meat tastes just like these Danish things called "frickerdellers" that my Mom used to fry up. She added flour to the frickerdeller mixture. Each time she made frickerdellers, me as a young snot-nosed punk insolently asked why she couldn't just make plain hamburgers, because they tasted better. That suggestion never went over well with Mom.
(3)Krissy -.
I think overall, this L&L is better than Hawaii's L&L. LOL. -Their mac salad is better tasting than Hawaii's one. Sad, but true. -Bigger portions! A mini plate is big enough. In Hawaii, a mini plate is tiny. Can't remember the price though. -Friendly service -Clean restaurant -Seating is limited, but I think it is mainly for take out purposes.
(4)Nick B.
This is basic Hawaiian fast food fare. It's consistent as any chain restaurant. Value, portion, and flavors are all there. Once you try the basic BBQ plate---be a little adventurous and try the Kailua pork or locomoco. The hawaiian drinks are nice too. You won't regret it.
(4)Sarah F.
I've been to quite a few Hawaiian take out places around town, and I must say... this is pretty dang good! Yes it's salty, yes it's fatty, but hey... isn't that the way it should be? Pros? -Large menu -Quick service -The bbq chicken is delicious -Hawaiian word of the day is fun Cons? -No chili water -Menu pictures would be great
(4)Christine R.
If you're in the market for some fast island food to hit the spot quickly- then I recommend L&L. When I used to live close by this was my go to spot if I wasn't in the mood to cook spam, eggs & rice. I know I must've been pretty lazy huh? And yes the answer is yes. But when they raised their prices I stopped visiting as frequently. My husband usually orders the mix plate and I've never heard a complaint from him. I also like that their chicken katsu as it's never dry when we order it. It is a chain resturant so beware it can't be hit or miss and the food is sometimes spotty. But if you need a quick fix give this place a shot.
(3)Stephen B.
I've been here 3 times in as many weeks and am very pleased by both the quantity and quality of food. Their Kalua Pork with cabbage is outstanding , as is the BBQ chicken and chicken katsu.
(5)Alex C.
This place is my go to when it comes to my post work out meal, large portions of protein for a reasonable price. Ive tried other Hawaiian places in the area but their food tends to be overly salty. The cashiers are friendly and the food comes out a lot faster than the one i used to live by in Lynnwood. I just wish the spam masubi didnt cost so much :(
(4)Alexandra K.
My brother and I stopped here to grab a bit to eat before sitting in traffic. The cashier was very polite and friendly. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food that you get. While I was sitting there waiting for my food one of the girls was walking around taking the trash out and cleaning the tables. Small seating area but it was very clean. I ordered spam, eggs and rice my brother had chicken katsu. I know that I could have made my own spam eggs and rice but it sounded so good at the time. It came out hot and cooked perfectly. My brothers chicken katsu was the bigger portion but the size of the chicken and the ratio to rice was perfect. This was my first time eating at an L&L but it has me hooked. I can't wait to try a more traditional dish next time I'm in. I will be back again!
(5)Tan Lo S.
I have been long awaiting this delicious endeavor. Hawaii is somewhere I dream to retire, well, to actually live someday because of the history, culture, and beauty. For now, I live my dreams through the Hawaiian food here in Seattle. I'm no Hawaiian connoisseur, however, I would like to say that I have high expectations and a picky palette based on pictures, my personal taste and chef skills with flavors, fusion, and knowledge. I also have friends from Hawaii who have shown me the authenticity of Hawaiian food. L&L closes at 9. I came in about 8 and was greeted, sort of. The lady who took my order looked almost unapproachable, which was weird since she looked like a teenager, and usually, teenagers are full of pizzazz and energy. She wasn't too excited to greet me, nonetheless, I look around. Their menu is annoyingly busy and it's honestly really hard to see what they offer with a menu, then paper, hand-written menu specials and such. I opt in for the bbq chicken and katsu combo, which was supposed to be like $8.75 but she charges me somewhere between $10 for it, which I find out when I leave. I ordered an extra mac salad which was like $2. My total for my combo dinner and extra mac was a little over $12. Not too shabby but still a little pricey since I can go to the ave and get the same thing for $8. The bbq chicken aka chicken teriyaki was delicious. Very, very delightful as it was sweet and flavorful, but very simple and to the punch. I liked it because it tasted like how I make it at home. It was also very tender. The katsu was just mehh, a-okay. I could make better. It tasted a little old and not very fresh. The crispiness wasn't there, and the homemade sauce was just okay. Good effort though. Their mac salad was good, but lacking in good ole' salt and peppa. Otherwise, it was creamy with the right amount and worth every bite and penny. The BEST thing about this place is the HUGE portion sizes which I hear it true to Hawaiian food. I love it because of just 1 meal, I made it into 3 portions. YES. You get a bomb gluttonous pile of chicken, at least 4 thighs and a hand load of katsu for their combo. I can NOT complain there because it was so damn worth it. I couldn't believe my eyes. That deserves two thumbs up and return because I am satisfied with the quantity. The quality is a-okay, but not the worst. I will def come back when I'm in the area and desperate. It's good for a quick grab of savory and fat portions!
(3)Lisa U.
I actually went to the new location in Seatac but the experience was just the same as the Renton L&L. We ordered the BBQ combo plate, the "mini" chicken katsu curry and a spam musubi. Both the plate dishes were tasty as usual but the spam musubi was lacking in portion. I must say the mini version isnt mini at all. Great value for the portion you get. I love the option of subbing for brown rice and salad vs. white rice and mac salad too. I'll be back again but won't be ordering the musubi unfortunately. I love spam.
(4)Richard U.
I love Hawaiian food! I came down to this location to check out the L&L chain of Hawaiin restaurants as I have not been to one before. I was a little disappointed in the quality of food on my first and only visit. I usually get the Pork Lau Lau which is piece of pork/pork fat wrapped in taro, kalua pork and spam musubi. The breakdown: Spam Musubi: ($2.50) ,The musubi was not the best. A bit too much rice to spam ratio. One bite and the thing collapsed in my hands. Hawaiian Combination plate ($11.50) Kalua pork was decent. Shreded pork, nice and juicy, a little smokey. I saw them prepare the pork lau lau and I believe it was the same one you can get frozen in the Uwajimaya frozen food section. Unfortunately, the meat was really dry which I thought was almost impossible as it is wrapped in layers of taro leaves. Maybe it was microwaved extra long or something? The macaroni salad I felt was pretty good. Everything plus the scoops of rice actually had a pretty good sized meal. As it is a chain restuarant, it definitely has that kind of feel. Like a Subway or a Burger King. The service is not great. Some reviewers commented on the employee working the register who talks on the phone (via wireless ear piece) while on the job, pausing from her phone convo occasionally to take orders. Yup. she's still there. I think that I will try the other L&L locations as I like their menu and I still love Hawaiian food.
(2)Diana C.
OMG! I can't believe I haven't written a review here yet! I grew up in Hawaii, so I'm always here when I'm home sick. The service is just whatever (they are polite, but nothing special), but the food! oh the food! I almost always get the portugese sausage, with eggs and rice, and am never disappointed. I also get the saimin and just like in Hawaii, I add soy sauce and tabasco, YUM! The loco moco is delicious, the Kalua pork is tender, juicy, and sooooo good. The seafood combo with korean short ribs is almost like having a zip pac. Just missing the furikake... And yes, they have great creamy mac salad. Again, add tabasco and some black pepper and we have a winner! OH, i have to go back again now. The spam musubi is not that great (I make much better ones at home) but it's still good and I occasionally get one. They also have the Hawaiian juice drinks I grew up with... omg.. I love it. Guava juice is something I drink by the gallon whenever I go home, but this is just a taste to keep me in check before I go. If you're from Hawaii, you already know about this place and you know what i'm taking about. :-) See you there!
(4)Kay N.
I think this place is great for Hawaiian food. I got the spicy bbq beef and boy was it spicy!! I couldn't eat all of it, but the beef was tasty and i got regular size which was A LOT of food. It came with the spicy beef, 2 scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. The macaroni salad was really good. The whole meal was such a large portion that I think it should be eaten by 2-3 people! Next time, get the mini, and don't let the word fool you--trust me it will be enough. I think its funny how they ask you if its "to-go" or "for here"but ends up giving you the food in a Styrofoam box either way. Service is okay--the girl didn't seem she wanted to be working but I guess I shouldn't expect so much from a fast-food place.
(4)Cc L.
Worst customer service ever!! Store was filthy and floors are nasty. Food is not fresh to order. Ordered bbq beef dry and burnt. Big portions but quality not so great. cooks look like they need a shave and a beard net. Cleanliness so not up to a standard. cashier counting tips before helping customers worst ever. Other lady should be helping customers but giggling with cooks. Will be taking business else were. They should have food permits checked. O and tables and chairs sticky fyi..
(1)Aaron C.
Kalua pork and mac salad served Hawaiian traditional style... in styrofoam of course. also guava juice. Yummm
(5)Long P.
I heart L&L! This L&L makes it like they do in Hawaii, and is your best bet for plate lunches on the mainland. I always get the CHICKEN KATSU, which weighs like 6 pounds. The menu is extremely large so there should be something for everyone. This is no frills Hawaiian soul food at a reasonable price with quick and friendly service. Can't get much better than that.
(4)Tiffany Q.
Came here tonight around 8:25pm and they still served us. Yes, they don't close until 8:30pm, but for some reason lately restaurants have been refusing customers as early as 30+ mins before they close. They even served a couple that walked in 10+ mins AFTER they closed. GREAT customer service right there. I've never been to Hawaii so I can't comment on their food's authenticity, but the Kalua pork is flavorful and the spam and portuguese musubi is good.
(4)J K.
Don't expect anything fancy. This is a standard Hawaiian food stand: yellow-soul food at a cheap price served by the daughter of the owner.
(4)Brent T.
Uncle Eddie would be most certainly disappointed. Sadly enough, the majority of L&L's in the "mainland" that I've been to would garner no more than 3 stars. The Yelp Rating says it best: Meh. I've Experienced Better! If you are going down to Renton anyway, I recommend Saimin Says. In fact, I feel cheated that I didn't discover Saimin Says earlier and wasted my lunch/dinner money on this place. After seeing all the L&L's pop up over the last few years, I researched how difficult it is to open a franchise up. Problem is that it's not difficult at all, which is probably why the reputation has slowly diminished. The service is slow, the food is average, which makes the prices difficult to swallow. They make up for their below average food with large portion sizes, which is about as authentic of a Hawaiian food experience as they get. Unlike Saimin Says who uses a thick brown gravy for their loco mocos (their specialty by the way), L&L's gravy is thin and grey. The chicken katsu is greasy, but doesn't have a strong flavor to it. And there are not a lot of seats there, so unless you come at a very slow time, don't expect to eat in. Uncle Eddie, please help this place out!
(2)Alvin N.
Hawaii lovers may know what I'm talking about, the rest of the population may not know what to expect from Hawaiian barbecue. The answer, pure and simple, is to expect the unexpected. Where else are you going to find a Spam-and-egg sandwich or Spam, Eggs & Rice =) The Hawaiian plate lunch is a huge, gastronomically challenging mixture of Asian and American starches (two scoops rice and one scoop macaroni salad) supplemented by a United Nation of entrees such as chicken katsu, beef curry, deep fried shrimp, mahi mahi, lemon chicken, barbecue shortribs, hamburger steak, etc. Ask any islander -- the most famous plate lunch restaurant in Hawaii is L&L. This popular chain has over 85 locations... Hawaii, California, Nevada and Washington. It has been voted the "Best Local Food", the "Best Hawaiian Barbecue", and the "Best Plate Lunch". Eating at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is one of the easiest way to taste the eclectic cuisine and culture of Hawaii. No shirt or shoes required. I recommend their Seafood Combo: Fried shrimp & Mahi Mahi with a choice of Hawaiian barbecue beef, chicken or short ribs made to order. Speaking of fast food, I should mention that L&L's service isn't particularly fast, but it's for a good reason: everything is made fresh when you order it, and it shows. Seating is very limited Though =/ , Just take to go. L&L is known for its large portions, freshly cooked food, and reasonable prices. So save the Airfare and enjoy a bit of Hawaiian cuisine locally so check it out! Mahalo
(4)Jennifer K.
I was in the area today, so I decided to stop in for some grub. I ordered the Mini Loco Moco - a hamburger patty w/ an egg cooked to order (I ordered mine over medium) on top of it, all over 1 scoop of rice with a ton of gravy. My egg was cooked perfectly, and the gravy had a nice flavor. Don't let the "Mini" part of it throw you off though. It is an ample amout of food for a decent price. It also comes with 1 scoop of macaroni salad. I don't know why, but I just love their macaroni salad. I was very pleasantly surprised by how good my meal was. : )
(4)Vince N.
Just like the rest! Since this is a chain, I think all the food taste the same. The L n L in was ok, just like this place. Quick, easy and a different kind of fast food. The restaurant is clean, service is nice and most food is cooked up to order, things are not sitting on the heating rack like McDonalds or any other joint. Don't expect anything super special since this is still fast food.
(3)Derek M.
Brrrrr...it's freezing in here! It's winter in Seattle, so why is the air conditioning turned on? I shovel warm rice and BBQ in my mouth in hopes it will warm up my insides. Within a few minutes I start to feel better. Portions were large, large enough to satisfy the biggest of appitites. I have been to many different L&L's includig a few on the island and this one met my expectations. Not bad and nothing spectacular. My only complaint with this specific location would be the amount of fat found on some of the beef and chicken pieces. I would have liked to have some of this cut off before-hand as this is not easily done with a plastic fork and knife.
(3)Daniel Z.
I haven't found a good Hawaiian place yet except for the other L&L in Lynnwood, WA. Everything I order, I like. Anywhere from the Loco Moco, Chicken Katsu and if you are really hungry, go for the BBQ Mix Plate. There is ample space to sit unless a mad rush comes in, then just get it as take out. Last time I was there, they kinda of took a long time to get the food prepared. Seems longer when you are already starving. But end result, newly cooked food that burns you tongue, so take it slow.
(4)Naomi N.
3 words.... A-MA-ZING!!! I called in my order. They were extremely helpful and had everything ready on point! I love this place. Always ontop of everything and very friendly. I've been beginning to think customer service has gone down the hole with this economy, but not at L&L!
(5)E.J. S.
Not that many places around here to get some Hawaiian food, but luckily there's L&L. I always get the kaluah pork or the katsu. Their portions are gigantic (i'm a big eater, and I still can only finish their mini plates). The service is pretty good and helpful. The only bad thing is how small the restaurant is, only about 5 tables or so.
(5)Yee V.
Loco Moco. And I'm not talking about any trains. This hamburger patty served over rice with gravy and eggs on the side makes for a perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner!! I can't get over how good it is. Before I use to just order the bbq beef, but since I've tried the Loco Moco, I've only been getting it and having my girl get the bbq short ribs! HEHE Lately I've been recommended it a few times to friends as well, so why wouldn't I tell you to get it as well?! Macaroni Salad... can...not.... de....ny... it!!!! L&L is located in many different places. Seems like a chain now, but it doesn't make it bad at all. The food is pretty much the same anywhere you go, last year I had a chance to stop into the one in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii. Pricing is cheap because the portion is quite large. A mini would fill me up perfectly, the regular is gonna have to be packed up as lunch for tomorrow. I would suggest getting a spam masubi on the side with your order! It's really good, though possibly high in calories. I'll run an extra half mile tomorrow to burn it off, it's well worth it!!
(4)Hungry J.
Really, this should be your last choice if you're looking for Hawaiian food in the Seattle area. This is the McDonald's of Hawaiian food (and is actually quite a large chain). Just like McDonald's, there is nothing overtly offensive about the flavors, but your stomach and toilet will pay if you eat here too often. I've eaten here a total of three times, and I have to say, I've come away with an upset stomach every time. Mac salad is actually really unpleasant, and the beef is a tendon filled, low grade mess. This place isn't high priced, but with the food they serve, I suppose they don't have to be. Parking is great (due to it's strip mall location near WalMart). I wouldn't say "Avoid at all costs" but I definitely would say "look somewhere else".
(2)Marlo M.
Experienced L&L for the first time this afternoon. My Mom & I went in for lunch & both had the Spicy BBQ chicken with rice & macaroni salad. We were very pleased with the spicy BBQ because it had great flavor and just enough heat behind it. Although my Mom was a little unsure if the macaroni salad was supposed to be hot or cold...we both enjoyed the meal. Taking a couple of menus as we left with plans to return another time... I would recommend L&L to friends...and will.
(4)Adam Z.
This place is legit Hawaiian BBQ and its right by my work. I go there probably twice a month. I usually get the katsu chicken or the BBQ mix lunch plate. The katsu is always crispy and the katsu sauce that comes with is nice and tangy. The BBQ mix plate has BBQ beef, chicken and spare ribs. Both come with a couple scoops of rice and a scoop of insanely good mac, I mean this stuff is good I'd like to fill my bathtub with it. I've tried a few other things on the menu but i keep coming back to these two dishes because, welp they're the best. Price aint bad and you get a ton of food for the $.
(4)Richard M.
Food is hit or miss, sometimes great, sometimes burned beef & short ribs
(3)Shari d.
I didn't want to give L & L a full on review until I actually got to try some of their BBQ items...i.e. short ribs, kalua pork, etc. So these two stars are based on my initial visit to the establishment and I will follow up with a more thorough review later. All I wanted was some Spam Musubi and some Macaroni Salad. I was hungry but not hungry enough to eat an entire meal. The Spam Musubi was OK...a little too much nori for my tastes. Instead of there being a thin strip of nori securing the spam to the rice there was an entire sheet of nori...almost like a swaddled baby. The macaroni salad was rich but bland...I think they forgot the salt. A more indepth review to come...hopefully the stars will go up rather than down.
(2)Fereti S.
Had the chicken katsu and was amazed by the portions. Just a huge mountain of chicken upon chicken, talk about indulgence. The chicken was nicely fried, very crisp and moist. Wasn't fond of the dining area, wasn't expecting a 4 star dining experience, but the floor was so greasy it seemed like a lawsuit waiting to happen. The food was inexpensive, so you definitely get your moneys worth. For fast Hawaiian on the go, this is the place!
(3)Jeremy M.
I guess you can say, it don't take much to please me. I was first introduced to this place from a friend talking about traditional Hawaiian food, I laughed when she pointed out SPAM was a hot commodity(made me feel ghetto again). However their preparation with it was something I've never really thought of before, in form of a sushi but they call it a masubi! It was quite nice and their menu seems very diverse kind of like a fusion of all Asian cuisine! Katsu, ramen(saimen), bbq(grilled), and macoroni salad which was mixed with a momentous amount of white pepper! Cheap eats, it deserves a five star in my book but I just can't get over it.........spam? WOW! They are great though!
(4)Patrick L.
I've eaten here a few times, and the food didn't disappoint. The katsu, kalua pork, and mac salad all tasted as it should. Th only reason I give thia place one less star than the oter L&L locations is because of a cashier that used to work there. It was a younger girl who would be on the phone with her boyfriend or homegirls, while taking orders and ringing people up. The customers all waited forever while she chatted on the phone, only pausing to do her job every once in awhile. I couldn't believe she wasn't fired on the spot. Hope she's not terr anymore.
(3)Scot K.
Franchise operations like this are sooo iffy. This is one of the better L & L restaurants. I've been to 3 in Hawaii, the one in Renton and this one. This happens to be much better than the one in Renton. The food is better and the counter help speaks pidgin. I usually go for the mixed BBQ, since it reminds me of the plate lunch places in Hawaii. The bench seats could use a little work, so I recommend sitting on the chairs.
(4)Becky B.
If you're planning to eat in, get there before noon....or after 1:30 or so, because this place is CRAZY busy and has a very small eating area. With that said, there's a reason for the lunchtime crowd volume; the food is damn good...it's also got a very high quantity to price ratio, which is something I consistently look for. I've stopped in for the ocassional carryout order and been pleased with the speed at which my order is assembled, as well as with the quality of the food. My favorite is the kaluha pork and cabbage and shockingly, I've been known to order the "mini" plate, if I'm trying to behave myself calorically. The chicken katsu is also delicious. I've called in lunch orders ahead of time for my 10+ person office and had the meals prepared and waiting for me when I've arrived; with NO MISTAKES, despite the overwhelming number of substitutions my co-workers like to make. The gal that runs the counter is quick, efficient and friendly, despite the overwhelming number of customers during the lunch rush. I highly reccommend L&L,
(5)Elizabeth R.
This visit, we finally decided to get a plate dish and not just our usual L&L Saimin. I ordered a mini BBQ Beef Plate. The mini vs their full, full gets 2 scoops of rice whereas the mini only gets 1 scoop, but you get the same amount of mac salad and meat. Their BBQ Beef was a little too saucy, but when I ate it later on that night after microwaving it, all the sauce soaked into the meat just how I like it. My boyfriend ordered the Chicken Katsu full plate. I'm not a big katsu fan, but he sure scarfed it down.
(4)Ashley F.
I love L&L. The Renton location is probably my favorite in Western Washington. It has a fairly large menu and even has mini plates of my favorite dishes (although thinking about Hawaii turns me into an instant overeater so I would never actually order a mini plate, it makes me feel better that they exist). I strongly recommend Kalua Pork and Cabbage, Chicken Katsu, Haupia, Gyoza, and some delicious Hawaiian Sun Juice (this will be enough for 2 fat Hawaiians or 10-12 normal people). They even have lilikoi iced tea which is my favorite. If you want to be a bit more adventurous you can try Saimin (Katsu or BBQ are my favorites but Spam is a bit more Hawaiian in nature), Lau Lau, Loco Moco, Spam Musubi and Haupia. It is my life long dream to have a party catered by L&L and their catering prices are really reasonable. Drawbacks: you will overeat. It is impossible to eat Hawaiian food and not engorge yourself. You will probably find yourself driving to Renton to eat Hawaiian food with the specious reasoning that it is 'on the way'. It was so bad on Christmas Eve that I manufactured a trip to IKEA (yes I went to Ikea on Christmas Eve) just so that I could go eat L&L. You will probably spend all of your money that you could be saving up to actually go to Hawaii on L&L. This will ruin your chances of reviewing every L&L restaurant (although that's a silly goal anyways). This location is much too clean. The decor is exactly the same as the majority of L&Ls in Hawaii but everyone here is too friendly and helpful and hardworking for me to feel like home.
(5)Mike R.
Went for the first time today and was extremely disappointed. The barbeque beef was burned, tough and fatty - practically impossible to eat. They piled the macaroni salad on top of the hot rice, which was just disgusting. I will not be back and don't recommend it, certainly not for the almost $10 I paid for the entre and a soda. Stay away.
(1)Fumiko Y.
Huh, only one review? Let me see, I really like this place because there aren't too many other Hawaiian restaurants that are this caliber. They know GRILLED MEATS. Yes, sir. I love their grilled chicken! Mmmm. Beef curry is great too. With katsu, too, sometimes. If you want a big meal? Order a "mini". A "regular" size meal can easily feed a family of 4. The serving is huge...just like how they do it in HI. There is one in Federal Way as well.
(4)Kendrick R.
I'm from Hawaii and tastes exactly like plate lunches from Hawaii. It's definitely no ka oi grindz. I've been on a mission to share Loco Mocos with my co-workers. So far, it has met the comfort food seal of approval. The only problem is trying to come in on the right days to get fresh haupia.
(4)Chris H.
Tasty food, large portions, solid prices. Stripped down atmosphere. If you are a meat eater, and you are hungry, a great choice.
(3)Chartchai B.
Great L&L location that I always for get...from kalua to spam burger to kim chee...when i want to eat teriyaki but not teriyaki L&L is the place...now if only sundays werent so busy!!!
(4)Dana M.
sooo yummy! - lots of food and lots flavor! - my husband and I love this place... their small portion is huge!
(5)Kim K.
I love having a little taste of home wherever I can find it, and although I have nothing against the food - my visit today was atrocious. The girl at the counter messed up numerous orders before mine and then refused to give me an advertised price because 'it didn't apply to weekends' even though it did not specify that on the sign or anywhere else. Then as we were eating, she walked over to the garbage can and picked up two sauce containers that someone had discarded but failed to make it fully in the trash - she took them into the back and put them back where the other sauce containers were kept to distribute to other customers. Needless to say I will not be returning after being stated at blankly and treated like rubbish. Where's the island Aloha here?
(2)L W.
I was so disappointed that no longer take the 2011 entertainment book coupons. I made a special trip because I wanted to eat local hawaiin food and they did not redeem it. The food is not healthy, the cashier was not friendly, and she did not the honor the coupon.
(3)Christine Y.
so i've come here in the past and up until recently the food was yummy the short ribs were tender and saucy and I enjoyed the macaroni salad... unfortunately the stars quickly fell in my mind the last time I visited...it wasn't the food...according to the boyfriend it was still yummers...yet I had a bit of a hard time eating it because of an image that wouldn't leave my mind...yes we should have complained but since it was done by the cashier and not the cook we jus shut our mouths, grabbed our food and left (and it came out quickly)... I wouldn't say that i'm being nit-picky because it is a restaurant...food service so everything should be sanitary...unfortunately after we ordered our food the cashier took out the trash (normal) but when he came back I didn't see him wash his hands.......................if he didn't whose to say that the cook did?!?!?!?!?! maybe he washed his hands out of site...but shouldn't he wash his hands in front of the customers??? isn't that why there is a sink right next to him??? didn't have much of an appetite after that.... luckily, there was no food poisoning! yay! we live to tell the tale! I don't think it's good for them!
(2)Tonya N.
Im no hawaiian food connesuir but i like it... When im in the mood for kalbi or short rib type meat, this place hits the spot. Its very juicy and tender and i like the pasta salad that comes with, so hot meat and then the cold pasta is a nice combo. I dont really love the rice, kinda mushy. Katsu is tender and crisp on the outside. Portions are monster huge here. Too much food on a plate can be unappealing, but here the food reheats well so, its a good thing...
(4)nate j.
The menu is a take-home, open-book test... Hawaiian BBQ confuses me and I admit follow-up visits are necessary for me to fully comprehend how eggs end up on a pile of, well, almost anything. I had my first visit here today with a co-worker and we each had chicken katsu, quite frankly, because other than a cheeseburger or hamburger, this was the only type of food either of us could say we'd had before elsewhere. The katsu is something that is one of what this outfit is known for, or so I'm told. The sauce was pretty good -- I have no idea what to call it, however, as it isn't teriyaki, BBQ, or soy sauce... it's like all of those flavors at once. We made the mistake of ordering the regular and it was large enough to feed an army! A "mini" order to me would have implied I might've gone wanting more. Oh well, I'll know for next time. Additional positive aspects: great decor, clean, and pretty good supply of free parking. The KC Metro route 101 provides service to this place (well, to Rainier Avenue South, which is a short walk away). Staff was pretty neutral -- not in-your-face too friendly nor are they inattentive. I rate the place as three stars, mainly because the menu is confusing to decipher for a first timer. Also, the katsu had good flavor, but the chicken was a little bit stringy. If I could have rated 3 and a half stars, I would have done so, but I'm still not quite convinced it is a 4 star place yet.
(3)Kazuo O.
I came here because i had a coupon from an Entertainment Book. I ordered the mix plate and chicken katsu. Total came to $11 and some change with the coupon. You get a lot of food, when I grabbed my takeout order I was like "Damn, this is heavy." I like the beef the best, the chicken was too low quality, spare ribs was too fatty and the chiken katsu was okay. The quality of the food is very poor.
(2)Antonio R.
If you want fast-food hawaiian food then L&L is the place to go. You get a lot of food for the money and the food is good...but not great. What I do like about L&L is that they offer banquet size platters for very reasonable prices. Everytime I bring one of their platters of kahlua pork or katsu chicken to a party...they are always the hit of the party. I do go to this L&L on a regular basis and never had a bad experience here. This particular L&L is hidden behind a car dealership and a chinese buffet restaurant, so you cannot see it while driving.
(3)H L.
This place used to be great before it was sold to the current owners. They're not that friendly and I get the feeling that they just want your money and not your loyalty. I've been to L&L in Pasadena and in San Francisco and their food is great. But this location cannot live up to the L&L name. Weird smells when you walk in and it's very disappointing.
(2)Scott L.
So, I'm from Hawaii, and used to live about a mile from the ORIGINAL L&L. Which by the way, if you saw it, I doubt you would eat there. Anyway, I've been to at least 15 of them on the mainland and probably another 15 of them in Hawaii; for some reason L&L on the mainland can be a hit or miss deal. It's a franchise, but I think they have a quality control issue. Having said that, I think this L&L is on the better side.
(3)Jeniffer L.
OK so I'm a native of Hawaii and sometimes I would even call myself Hawaiian.. I love L&L and have been a fan of it probably since birth so I was thinking it to be very hard to persuade me to not like it. So after the Most expensive grocery trip EVER (read yelp on enterprise for details) I decided to take myself and 2 other friends to one of my most favorite places ever I hyped the place up so much that we were all drooling before we stepped in the door. But to my surprise this L&L bombed my every thought of the restaurant I had so fondly remember. Seriously, How do you mess up on BBQ beef. I must say Northshore Hawaiian BBQ on Boren ave has the BEST bbq beef I have tasted in seattle BY FAR. and how the heck do you Screw up Kalua pork???? I'll tell you add scoops of msg for that salty taste and a splash of shoyu to cover that up. I don't think i will be taking anyone else there until they fix some things. Oh and BTW why the heck are there only people who don't speak good english running a register... hmmm sad sad day when L&L become dead to me:(.
(2)Doug T.
Pretty good when it comes to L&L's. 7 hours later I'm still full.. high on value as the portions are enormous.. I had the curry chicken, which a small village in africa could split... Takes visa
(3)Emerald J.
I know that living in Hawaii for 6 months doesn't give me that much cred... But here are my thoughts: *I've had spam katsu moco at other places but they wouldn't make it for me here. It's ok, I was just bummed. *They give giant portions, so that's nice *The spam on my musubi was over fried and dry and the nori it was wrapped in wasn't moistened by the steamed rice. Good spam musubi should be soft and easy to bite into. *The chicken in the katsu was rubbery, but the fried part was tasty *The mac salad was average If you want your Hawaiian food fix, I'd stop in here. If you really want to enjoy a meal though, check out Saimin Says in Kent, Wa instead. You'll thank me later.
(3)Ben B. N.
Very reminiscent of the Hawaiian BBQ I've had in Hawaii. Good place. Definitely cant eat there every day. You will day from a coronary
(3)Jake R.
The staff here is very polite. I was looking for a low carb lunch option and found a good one on the menu I had for this place. I called in my order and headed over to pick it up. When I got there I told the lady at the register that I had called in an order and she said said "The Healthy Garlic Fish." I had told her I had ordered #6 the Low Carb Mini Plate and she said I must of had an old menu, which I did, but that she could change the order. I could see the fish on the grill and I was starving so I told her it was fine but she told me it would be no problem, which I appreciated but I politely declined. Now that is the type of customer service that I really appreciate and is unfortunately hard to find these days. After they guy handed me my meal he wished me a good day and I thought that was a nice touch, he seemed to genuinely care and like his job. When I got back to work I realized I had made a good choice going with the fish meal. There were two big fish fillets, grilled nicely on top of rice, salad and some cabbage. There were two little side cups with ranch for the salad and a "fry sauce" type sauce in the other container for the fish. It was a nice big healthy meal. I've been here before and I'll definitely return. I really appreciated the extra nice customer service here and the food is great too.
(4)Sarah R.
I like to come here when I want a quick fix of Loco Moco or Musubi (all kinds they offer are good, but my fave is the spam). I like that their Loco Moco comes in a mini size because it's a perfect portion size for me! This place is small, but they have some seating available - nothing fancy, friendly staff. Another dish I have tasted is their Hawaiian Plate (Lau Lau & Kalua Pork); the Lau Lau is very moist, but the Kalua Pork is okay. Too much pork for a dish.
(3)Ah Lan R.
I was in the Renton area and noticed their sign. I am not a huge fan of the ones in Hawai'i as they are too salty but decided to stop by this location for take-out and wow I was impressed. To be clear this is Local Food. Not Hawaiian Food. Hawaiian Food is poi, ake, aku palu, oio, 'opihi, and raw crabs just to name a few. For local people who want to fulfill their plate lunch craving... this is one of the better places that I've found so far. I ordered the chicken katsu mini, a regular chicken katsu, and a spam musubi. Both chicken katsu plates were ample serving sizes so I was pleasantly surprised and it wasn't salty like the ones at home in Hawai'i. The spam musubi was good too. Prices are reasonable. $2.25 for the spam musubi. $5.75 for the chicken katsu mini and $7.75 for the regular chicken katsu. The mac salad that came with the plates was actually pretty good. They also offer three healthier options with brown rice but I opted for the katsu with white rice. The wait was a tad long but well worth it. I would estimate it at a good 10 to 12 minutes. I will be back again :)
(4)Anna N.
This place is cute! Very clean I love the appearance with the whole Hawaiian skim. The employees were friendly and nice. The food was satisfying oh so satisfying. I got the loco meal the one that is number 13 on the menu, I think not sure. I kinda had high expectations for the food but it was delicious and I do plan on stoping by again if I'm craving for some Hawaiian food or spam musubi.
(5)Lyn C.
Others will have their opinions but from my experience this Hawaiian food is better than all the rest. Their short ribs are amazing as is their chicken katsu .But really everything is just plain good here. We ordered nearly everything on the menu and it just kept getting better :) I will definitely come back
(5)Marebear T.
I love L&L ..... Never fails to make My tummy happy ...... The portions is great and the customer service here is great too .... Fresh and don't have to wait so long and the girl at the counter is friendly and sweet .... I love people like that .... :-) definately will be back.
(5)Marie R.
I feel like this place is pretty hit or miss. Sometimes the food is wonderful and then I can go back the next day and have it dry/ burnt. If there was more consistency I would definitely be there more.
(3)Justin B.
Friendly staff, wide selection of food (and sizes), and quick. A-OK!
(3)Heather M.
Great food for great prices! I have only tried the Loco Moco, but it was enough food for 2 people!
(5)Ann G.
There isn't Hawaiian food on the Eastside... Or at least good Hawaiian food. However, my boyfriend and I think the 20 mile drive down to Renton is worth it for some food from L&L!
(4)Chad W.
The Ahi poke was damn good.... Onions, big chunks of tuna, and the seasoning was excellent. last time I was here I got the tery chicken/chicken kats plate lunch special.... Huge and tasty, inexpensive tops off the experience...
(4)Keira F.
Ordered take out of bbq chicken and garlic shrimp. Bbq chicken was awful with undercooked chicken and no sauce no taste. Garlic Shrimp was also not great.
(1)Rhi S.
I like it here since it's one of the few places I can get my fix of local food. I was really on the fence of giving four stars because I like it so much, but to be honest, it's just like any other L&L except their minis are regular size and their regular are large portions. It's pricier than back home because of that. The workers are nice but, I'm being totally picky and this doesn't affect my rating: some of them don't pronounced certain foods correctly. I know, I'm from Hawaii, and I'm Japanese which majority of the people in Washington aren't, but it just bugs me when people pronounce it wrong and they're the ones selling it.. Like "katsu" or "musubi...." ANYWAY.. The place is always clean and tidy and has a nice local feel. The food is good, but like I said, no difference from other locations. I definitely like it here and plan to keep coming back. November challenge (11/10/2012)
(3)Charlene L.
When I'm craving something quick and carb-loaded, I think of L&L! I opt for this any day over teriyaki! Their kaula pork and cabbage is delicious! And their bbq chicken and beef.. YUM! Their mac salad is a bit bland, as I always hit it with some S&P. Their rice is a bit on the mushy side... Their menu is huge but it's essentially fast food. Not as clean as I would have liked, and a bit slow on their orders being produced. But when I have a hankering for some island food, I head down to L&L.
(3)Anthony W.
Consistently delicious. Meals are huge and come with a side of macaroni salad. I get the chicken katsu and bbq combo and the meat is always cooked perfect
(5)Julio A.
DELICIOUS! That's all I really have to say about that. The kalua pork & Lau Lau combo were pretty good and very good portions for the price. The Mac salad on the side could have been better but still good. The chicken bowl was also tasty (well cooked and flavorful) but the veggies could have used a little seasoning to add some flavor, and a little more sauce for the chicken too. We will definitely be coming back for the rest of the items on the menu!! :-)
(4)Christine L.
I've tried many of their franchises in Hawaii but this place seems to taste the best. Having moved from Hawaii less than a year ago I have the need to find that staple place to go to get my fix of good food from back home and I must say this place satisfies. The loco moco is amazing and really hits the spot when you want something Hardy. Let me tell you this though you will not be able to finish your food in one sitting because they are not shy with their portions. The prices are reasonable and they have limited seating if you choose to eat there. I wish they would add huli huli chicken to their menu because a lot of my coworkers seem to enjoy that while visiting Hawaii so it would be a great addition to their menu. Other than that great place for lunch, dinner, and if your Asian or local to Hawaii even breakfast but I dont believe they open for breakfast.
(4)Antonym N.
This place is delicious! Honestly my most favorite place to eat! The girl named Samantha and the girl named Michelle honestly gives the best customer service I had ever experienced. The quality of the food is amazing and along with amazing service, this is the place to go.
(5)Madison G.
Great tasting food! Only problem I have is the wait for your food. They make everything fresh when you order it which is a good thing, but not so good when you go in completely starving and ready to eat quickly.
(3)Kim-Thoa P.
I loveeeeee this place! I always call ahead to order so I can avoid the crazy lunch rush. The staffs are super nice especially Andrew ( I think that's his name) super friendly!! The food is always on point and I love that they have mini siZes.
(5)R M.
Great food here. Had cabbage pork and BBQ combo with ribs, beef and chicken. We were stuffed food was awesome. Chicken and beef were amazing on the BBQ side and cabbage pork pork was addicting. Macaroni salad is really goooood too. Will be back.
(5)James N.
Being from Hawaii, I know the type of food to expect from L & L. That is, you go to L & L when you are really hungry but not necessarily looking for the best local Hawaiian food. Recently, I went to the L & L restaurant in Renton to pick-up some plate lunches for my family in the driving rain. I was served by a polite young man, who upon the meals being ready, placed the plate lunches into a plastic bag and tied the top of the bag. I took the bag of plate lunches home but couldn't eat my plate lunch until an hour and a half later while I tended my 6-year twins. When I finally got a chance to eat, I was surprised to find that they had gotten my order wrong. I promptly returned to L & L where the young man who served me remembered my order and acknowledged the mistake. The manager or owner then intervened and told me that basically it was my responsibility to check my order when I first got my order and that for this one time only they would replace the meal. That was very insulting. I told them that they don't have to correct their mistake if they think it was so much trouble and told them I will never return to their establishment. I know many restaurants have such a policy but I have never heard it being enforced or articulated to a customer. In the past, I've had my food orders filled wrong by other restaurants, but each time they were happy to correct their mistake even when the mistake was not discovered a while later. It took me half an hour round trip to get to L & L from my house in the driving rain only to be lectured to by a jerk. Where is the Aloha spirit?
(1)Prince Y.
Food took too long and wasn't able to eat it. Service is horrible and cashier lied about food "almost" being ready...
(1)Debbie P.
Average Hawaiian grub. I will comment that I wish they had more seating available.
(3)Daren D.
I may have found a new favorite food: BBQ Chicken Musubi! When I first looked it up (no idea what it was at first), I thought, "hm, looks like a twist on sushi rolls." Which I now consider it as such. A seaweed wrap with a block of rice and your choice of meat filling. So simple, yet so satisfying to me. I also tried gravy fries; the gravy was a bit excessive, but otherwise good. I'd like to try other stuff. Conveniently in close walking proximity to my Park&Ride spot.
(4)