L&L Hawaiian Barbecue first opened in Honolulu, Oahu in 1952. Over time, they have franchised chains across America, most recently Chesapeake, Virginia so I went to check it out.

Before walking into the restaurant, I had high expectations. People have shared that it’s one of the best Hawaiian places on the West Coast and now that it’s here, I had to see what the hype was about.

“The restaurant is super convenient and has some of the best workers,” said senior Daniel Simmons. “I thoroughly enjoy Hawaiian food, and it’s great to see the culture of their food expand more towards Virginia.”

When I opened the double doors, the familiar sweet smell of Hawaiian barbecue sauce immediately hit me. Overall, the atmosphere felt very welcoming with the bright colored walls decorated with various floral paintings and hula dancers. Plus, it wasn’t crowded, which was perfect.

Customer service was out of the park. When I ordered food it wasn’t a problem because of how helpful their staff was answering all of the questions I had. The restaurant is known for serving traditional Hawaiian “plate lunches,” which consists of two scoops of rice, macaroni salad or french fries, and an entree of your choice. They have a variety of entrees and appetizers such as barbecue chicken or beef, chicken or beef bowls, spam musubi, and more.

I ordered the barbecue short ribs lunch plate for $16 as well as the fried fish sandwich and french fries for $8. For extra, you can get a drink with your meal, or you can get a free water cup. After about fifteen minutes they brought the food out. Overall, the presentation was nothing impressive, but it still looked very appetizing. The setup was as simplistic as a backyard BBQ; piles of food side by side.

Although the aesthetic of the restaurant was cultural and beautiful, the food lacked in taste and presentation. Hawaiian food should be explosive with flavors, but there was a big absence of authenticity that they sacrificed for convenience. It’s more beneficial for a quick bite, rather than a sit-down dinner. Fortunately, prices were fairly low compared to other Hawaiian restaurants, making it affordable. Overall, the experience was satisfying, but not impressive, at least not enough for me to return for a second round.