L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

All 37 rated mentions, most helpful first

in:A Cult-Beloved Vietnamese Bakery — and More NYC Restaurant Closures in February17 pts
replying to u/Chemical-Ebb6472: L&L Hawaiian seemed to do OK a couple of decades ago down on Fulton St. Like Lou once sang, “those were different times’.
“It was truly some of the worst food I’ve ever had. Fatty meat, off tasting mac salad. We ate a quarter of what we ordered and threw the rest away.”
H3
in:A Cult-Beloved Vietnamese Bakery — and More NYC Restaurant Closures in February10 pts
“Problem with L&L here was quality and consistency. They burnt my Katsu once, didn't use the same panko bread crumbs in certain batches for their Katsu making a weird fusion American fried chicken texture, had bad portioning compared to their non NY counterparts, especially if you pay for two different proteins.”
H3
in:Tried the new L&L and it wasn’t it…2 pts
“First order, pretty solid - the chicken katsu has been a craving I've been having since coming to NYC.”
H3
in:Where can I get a good meal that has Chicken Katsu, Rice, Mac salad?1 pts
replying to u/gfmmas: Gosh I'd love to confirm that L&Ls Katsu is good but they FORGOT TO PUT IT IN MY COMBO BOX the damn bastards
“It's standard thin as heck katsu, but thin katsu still satisfies the cravings. I did not like the mac salad, too much mayo”
H3
postTried the new L&L and it wasn’t it…0 pts
“it was a mid/disappointing experience. My fiance was served very old/expired salad with her light shrimp plate. The side of veggies were clearly microwaved from a bag and not worth the price. The shrimp was lukewarm.”
H3
postMy visit to the L&L Hawaiian Barbeque at the 201 Allen St, LES location48 pts
“Food tasted great, awesome or as fellow Hawaiians would say ONO.”
H2
in:Images of the L&L Hawaiian Barbeque LES Manhattan12 pts
“Tried it today! Great service. Had it with one of my Hawaiian friends, they concurred that it was better than most L&L's.”
H2
in:Recent eats: Kong Sihk Tong, Karakatta, Hamburger America, Ledo Pizza (WV), Aloha Alley5 pts
replying to u/EirienOn: as respectfully as possible, i am not a lover of aloha alley… truly it is half the quality of L&L and I would compare it more to American fusion asian food rather than Hawaiian food. May we both find better Hawaiian spots soon 🙏🏼
“at least L&L's mac salad didn't make me feel like I was eating a salt lick.”
H2
in:After a Decade, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Returns to New York (Lower East Side, East Harlem, Bushwick)3 pts
“Cheap, delicious, fun fusion food.”
H2
in:Images of the L&L Hawaiian Barbeque LES Manhattan2 pts
“The kahlua pork looks ok in the pic.”
H2
in:Tried the new L&L and it wasn’t it…2 pts
“I got the pork and cabbage with mac salad and a spam musubi and it was pretty damn good.”
H2
in:Urgent - Where to buy Filipino and Hawaiian small food?2 pts
replying to u/hippogriffinthesky: There's an L&L on Allen St.
“Mushbi from L&L, done!”
H2
in:What's the worst food you've had in NYC?1 pts
“The katsu was somehow undercooked in the middle.”
H2
in:L&L Hawaiian BBQ closing, last day on 2/21 pts
“It wasn't good. Extremely salty grilled chicken, macaroni was heavy on mayo”
H2
in:What popular meals are missing in NYC?31 pts
“thankfully that's not the case anymore with the banging L&L on Allen. Owner is cool and makes it just as well as other locations.”
H1
in:Tried the new L&L and it wasn’t it…14 pts
“L&L has always been crap everywhere.”
H1
in:Urgent - Where to buy Filipino and Hawaiian small food?11 pts
“- L&L Hawaiian Barbecue”
H1
in:After a Decade, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Returns to New York (Lower East Side, East Harlem, Bushwick)8 pts
“So bomb”
H1
in:Tried the new L&L and it wasn’t it…6 pts
“it’s a chain fast food restaurant so fine is good enough for what it is imo”
H1
in:Real Hawaiian Food?3 pts
replying to u/catcollector787: I gave up when L&L closed in Fidi. Just make your own. Chicken Katsu is fairly simple and you can keep experimenting with your macaroni salad recipe till it hits right. The allure of Hawaiin Bbq is that it's a heaping amount of good food for cheap. NYC will charge $20+ for a plate of rice katsu and mac salad and $8 for a single spam musubi.
“I went once shortly after moving to NY from CA and was greatly disappointed.”
H1
in:What popular meals are missing in NYC?3 pts
replying to u/lunacraz: damn, walked past it but was in a rush so didnt stop by it's good? were you around when it was in FIDI years back?
“Quality on Allen is similar to an L&L on the West Coast that's competently managed.”
H1
in:Recent eats: Kong Sihk Tong, Karakatta, Hamburger America, Ledo Pizza (WV), Aloha Alley3 pts
“truly it is half the quality of L&L”
H1
in:Any place in the city for Hawaiian bbq?2 pts
replying to u/catcollector787: There used to be an L&L in fidi but it closed down over a decade ago. I was raised here, moved to California and back, and L&L was a solid chain. I'd love a spot here but nothing comes close to those giant mixed meat plates going for under $20.
“I tried that L&L. I was so excited but it was meh.”
H1
in:Real Hawaiian Food?2 pts
replying to u/alohaimchelle: I remember that L&L. I went once shortly after moving to NY from CA and was greatly disappointed. There have been a few "Hawaiian BBQ" places over the years. I remember going to one in Bay Ridge that didn't use Asian rice. Meh. There was another one more recently, in a food court somewhere in the garment district, that was closer in making a good plate lunch, but they closed during the pandemic. Agreed, katsu and mac salad are simple enough. Happy to share my recipes if anyone wants. But I do miss the convenience of being able to buy a big plate for cheap.
“L&L in the Bay Area was still good when I went last year.”
H1
in:Images of the L&L Hawaiian Barbeque LES Manhattan2 pts
“Fucking love this place”
H1
in:Looking for Spam Musubi recs in Manhattan or Queens2 pts
“Noreetuh - otherwise maybe L&L or random Japanese markets sometimes have them”
H1
in:What's a chain in another state or country that you wish had a location in NYC?1 pts
“L&L.”
H1
in:After a Decade, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Returns to New York (Lower East Side, East Harlem, Bushwick)1 pts
“Oh God, this made me fall in love with Hawaiian did when I was out West. This makes me unbelievably happy to get to eat again.”
H1
in:After a Decade, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Returns to New York (Lower East Side, East Harlem, Bushwick)1 pts
“I went today and the food was awesome or as they say in Hawaii, ONO.”
H1
in:After a Decade, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Returns to New York (Lower East Side, East Harlem, Bushwick)1 pts
“The food seems like it tastes just as good, though in Hawaii it is so uneven.”
H1
in:Where can I get a good meal that has Chicken Katsu, Rice, Mac salad?1 pts
replying to u/thansal: I haven't been, but L&L is a Hawaiian BBQ place (2 locations), so I'd be shocked if they don't have rice and mac salad on a plate w/ some fried chicken.
“L&L is solid!”
H1
in:L&L Hawaiian BBQ closing, last day on 2/21 pts
replying to u/fartknockertoo: WTF I just learned they were there not too long ago. This really bites the weenie. Why do Hawaiian lunch spots have such a tough time in this city? Tasty meat & rice sells on every corner, in some iteration, why not Hawaiian style?
“I’m from California and that was the spot there.”
H1
in:A Cult-Beloved Vietnamese Bakery — and More NYC Restaurant Closures in February1 pts
replying to u/Chemical-Ebb6472: L&L Hawaiian seemed to do OK a couple of decades ago down on Fulton St. Like Lou once sang, “those were different times’.
“Pretty sure they gave me food poisoning like 17 or 18 years ago.”
H1
in:Tried the new L&L and it wasn’t it…0 pts
“I’ve ALWAYS found it to be just plain bad. I’ve only gotten it when I’m just desperate.”
H1
in:Tried the new L&L and it wasn’t it…0 pts
“Yeah this wasn’t great. I’d give it a 6.5/10”
H1
in:Best food within reasonable walking distance of LES? -1 pts
“L&L Hawaiian BBQ”
H1
in:Tried the new L&L and it wasn’t it…-2 pts
replying to u/richonarampage: How is there even hype for L&L? Am I missing something? I’ve ALWAYS found it to be just plain bad. I’ve only gotten it when I’m just desperate.
“I’ve had multiple friends tell it’s awesome and that they were stoked it finally arrived in nyc.”
H1