The momentum continues for L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, with new locations recently opening in Washington and California. This follows a record April, wherein the Hawai‘i-based chain opened six new franchises.
L&L opened in Vancouver, Washington, on May 18, marking the 12th location in the state. That restaurant is owned by franchisees Lyle Erickson and Monica Baker.
"While stationed at Kaneohe Bay on O‘ahu in the late 1990s, L&L became part of his everyday life," a May 20 announcement from L&L noted. "After returning to the continental U.S., he realized there was nothing quite like it in Southwest Washington and spent years thinking about how to bring Hawaiʻi’s plate lunch and aloha spirit to the community."
The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. You can find it in Centerpointe Retail Center at 8720 NE Centerpointe Dr., Ste. 201.
Meanwhile, the chain's 100th location in California has also recently opened. The newest restaurant can be found in La Costa Town Square, 7610 Via Campanile, Ste. 142, in Carlsbad. This location will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
According to another announcement on May 21, this restaurant is owned by franchisee Chloe Tran, whose recent openings in Colton and Jurupa Valley helped bring the brand to the 100-location milestone.
The company says California remains its largest U.S. market.
“California continues to be one of the strongest growth markets for L&L because the demand for Hawaiʻi’s local-style cuisine is already deeply established,” Josie Akana, vice president of franchising at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, said in the latest announcement. “The state’s proximity to Hawai‘i, combined with the number of former residents and frequent visitors who understand the plate lunch experience, has created long-term momentum for the brand. We’re also seeing strong franchise interest from operators who recognize the staying power of the Hawaiian Barbecue category and the opportunity to introduce Hawaiʻi’s local food culture to more communities throughout California.”
CEO Elisia Flores said in the same announcement that reaching 100 locations in California is a "proud moment" for the brand and carries special meaning.
“California was the first location we chose to bring the Hawaiian Barbecue we love beyond Hawai‘i," she continued. "That first expansion made Hawaiʻi’s Plate Lunch more accessible to people who enjoy the flavors of the Islands, as well as those discovering them for the first time, without having to travel to Hawai‘i. What connects them is the comfort of local-style food and the feeling of aloha. For me, this milestone is also personal. My father came to Hawai‘i as an immigrant and, together with our co-founder Johnson Kam, helped build L&L from a local restaurant into a brand that now shares Hawaiʻi’s Plate Lunch with communities around the world.”
Eddie Flores Jr. and Johnson Kam acquired L&L Drive-Inn in 1976. The restaurant founded as L&L Dairy back in 1952. In 1999, they introduced the franchise to the Mainland. Elisia Flores, Eddie Flores' daughter, took over as the CEO of L&L in 2019.
L&L is aiming for a record year in 2026.
Flores recently told Aloha State Daily that she hopes — and expects — that L&L will open 25 locations this year, which would be a record year for the company in terms of new store openings. You can read more from our conversation with Flores here.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
