L&L Hawaiian Barbecue continues to serve up the plate lunch at more places across the U.S., opening 14 new franchise locations in eight states last year.
In addition to a new Makiki location, in 2025 new restaurants opened in East Harlem and Brooklyn, New York; Smyrna and Mulberry, Georgia; Escondido, Benicia, Clairemont Mesa and Davis, California; Fort Hood, Texas; Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, New Mexico; Tacoma, Washington; and Nampa, Idaho, the state’s first, a Feb. 10 announcement from L&L noted.
“L&L’s growth continues to be fueled by a franchise model shaped around accessibility and long-term partnership,” the announcement says. “Franchisees receive hands-on training in Hawai‘i, operational guidance and marketing support designed to set them up for success. This systemwide approach ensures consistent hearty portions, comforting flavors and welcoming aloha spirit across all locations.”
In the new year, the Hawai‘i-based L&L says it has a “strong development pipeline spanning the West Coast, Mountain West, Midwest, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.”
"The brand is on pace for its strongest Q1 opening period to date, positioning 2026 to begin as the strongest quarter in L&L’s history and reflecting sustained franchise interest and confidence in the system," the announcement states.
A new franchise, found in the Bonney Lake Retail Market Center at 20621 Highway 410 E. in Bonney Lake, Washington, officially opened on Jan. 20, bringing the total number of locations in the Evergreen State to 11. The new restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The new franchise is owned and operated by cousins Robert Ramos and Ephraim Rollolazo. While this is their first L&L, a Feb. 11 announcement notes that the duo operated a mobile food business for several years.
Eddie Flores Jr. and Johnson Kam acquired L&L Drive-Inn in 1976. The restaurant founded as L&L Dairy back in 1952.
"I look at a financial statement and it shows that it's making money," Flores told Aloha State Daily last summer. "You never see that in any small business. I decided to make an offer and I purchased the restaurant and I gave it to my mom as a gift."
His mother had been working as a dishwasher and counter girl at Lynn's Deli in Ala Moana Center, he said in June, but knowing that she didn’t know much about running a restaurant, he called on Kam for help.
Flores said his mother ran the restaurant for two years, after which everything was sold to Kam.
The pair later decided to later franchise and expand the operations, and today, there are more than 230 locations across the globe.
L&L was recently ranked No. 138 on Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500, it was announced earlier this month. Now in its 47th year, the ranking evaluates factors like costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.
“L&L Hawaiian Barbecue has always been rooted in relationships,” CEO Elisia Flores said in a Feb. 2 announcement. “As we continue to grow beyond 230 locations, that commitment remains central to how our franchisees operate and this recognition reflects their dedicated efforts.”
Learn more about L&L franchising here. According to a list of frequently asked questions on the site, the estimated initial investment for a turnkey L&L ranges from nearly $254,000 to a little more than $838,460, depending on location, size and existing facility.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
