L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Introduce

Introduction / Overview

In a city as diverse as New York, finding a taste of something truly unique can be a delightful surprise. For those craving the tropical, savory flavors of the Aloha State, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue in East Harlem offers an authentic culinary escape. This local spot on 2nd Avenue is a vibrant gem, bringing the comfort and generosity of Hawaiian-style plate lunches to Manhattan. As one customer review put it, "it honestly hit the spot," providing a welcome taste of home for those familiar with the cuisine and a wonderful discovery for newcomers. The restaurant's appeal lies in its straightforward approach: delivering fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned food that feels both satisfying and a bit like a vacation. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is particularly popular for lunch and dinner, a go-to for solo diners, and known for its quick service, a major plus for busy New Yorkers. The atmosphere is casual, making it a relaxed setting for a meal where you can truly focus on the delicious food. From the moment you are "greeted with an aloha," you feel a sense of warmth and hospitality that makes the dining experience truly special. The menu is a highlight, featuring an array of classic Hawaiian dishes like the iconic Loco Moco, savory BBQ Chicken, and the much-loved SPAM Musubi. Every dish is a representation of a distinct island flavor, offering a much-needed break from the typical urban fare. This is not just a place to eat; it's a place to experience a unique piece of Hawaiian culture right here in New York.

The essence of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is its commitment to serving genuine Hawaiian comfort food. The menu is a testament to this, filled with hearty and satisfying options. The portions are consistently praised for being "great" and "hefty," with one customer noting that the Loco Moco could easily be two meals. This focus on providing value and a filling experience is a significant draw. The food itself is fresh and "tasted just right," indicating a high standard of quality. The famous Hawaiian plate lunches typically come with two scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad, creating a complete and balanced meal. The drinks are another notable feature, with a variety of Hawaiian Sun beverages that transport you straight to the islands. Customers rave about finding their favorite flavors like Pass-O-Guava, which can be difficult to source on the mainland. This attention to detail and authenticity, combined with a welcoming staff and fast service, makes L&L Hawaiian Barbecue a standout choice in the city's diverse food scene. It's a place where you can find a taste of the Pacific without ever leaving New York, and that's a rare and wonderful thing. Whether you're a fan of Hawaiian food or just looking for a delicious and new culinary experience, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

Location and Accessibility

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is conveniently located at 2128 2nd Ave store a, New York, NY 10029, USA. Situated in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, this address makes the restaurant easily accessible to both residents and visitors. The location is well-served by public transportation, with a variety of bus lines and the nearby 6 train subway station, making it a simple trip from various parts of the city. For those who choose to drive, the area offers a mix of free street parking and paid street parking, providing a range of options for drivers. The restaurant also features a wheelchair-accessible entrance, demonstrating its commitment to being a welcoming space for all patrons. This thoughtful approach to accessibility ensures that everyone can come and enjoy the unique flavors of Hawaiian cuisine without any hassle. The restaurant's presence on a prominent avenue in a vibrant neighborhood adds to its appeal, making it a central and easy-to-find destination for anyone looking for a satisfying and unique meal.

The location also caters to different dining preferences. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick lunch, planning a casual dinner, or looking for a convenient takeout or delivery option, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue’s spot in East Harlem is ideal. The availability of delivery services means you can enjoy their delicious food from the comfort of your home or office. While a customer mentioned it was a bit of a "trek" from where they live, they also expressed their willingness to "definitely be back," which speaks volumes about the quality of the food and the overall experience. The combination of a prime location with multiple transportation options and a focus on easy accessibility makes L&L Hawaiian Barbecue a fantastic choice for anyone in the New York region. It’s a true neighborhood spot that brings a taste of island paradise to the bustling streets of Manhattan.

Services Offered

Dine-in: The restaurant provides a casual and comfortable setting for guests to sit down and enjoy their meal on-site.

Takeout: For those on the go, the option for takeout allows for a convenient and quick way to enjoy their food anywhere.

Delivery: L&L Hawaiian Barbecue offers both standard and no-contact delivery, so you can have your favorite Hawaiian dishes brought directly to your door.

Catering: The restaurant provides catering services, making their delicious comfort food an excellent choice for parties, gatherings, and events.

Features / Highlights

Authentic Hawaiian Plate Lunches: The main draw is the authentic Hawaiian plate lunch concept, which typically includes generous portions of a main protein with two scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. The Loco Moco and BBQ Mix are highly recommended by customers.

Generous Portions: Customers consistently highlight the large, "hefty" portion sizes, providing great value for the price and often allowing for multiple meals from a single order.

Fast Service: A key highlight is the speed of service. The staff is welcoming and efficient, ensuring that you get your food quickly without sacrificing quality, which is ideal for a quick lunch break or a hungry crowd.

Hawaiian Sun Beverages: The restaurant offers a variety of Hawaiian Sun juices, including popular flavors like Pass-O-Guava, providing a truly authentic taste of the islands with your meal.

Comfort Food Focus: The menu is built around classic comfort foods that are satisfying and flavorful. From savory Loco Moco with its beef patties and gravy to crispy Chicken Katsu and sweet and spicy Lava Chicken, the food "hits the spot."

Contact Information

Address: 2128 2nd Ave store a, New York, NY 10029, USA

Phone: (646) 370-5747

What is worth choosing

For New Yorkers looking for something beyond the typical fast-casual fare, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is an excellent choice that offers a unique and satisfying culinary experience. The primary reason to choose this restaurant is its dedication to authentic Hawaiian flavors and its generous portions. Finding genuine Hawaiian-style food in New York can be a challenge, making L&L a true local treasure. The Loco Moco, a dish that consists of rice topped with a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and a fried egg, is a prime example of the rich, comforting food they serve. A customer review noted it was a "hefty portion" that was "exactly as you’d expect it," and that the macaroni salad was "tasty as well." The menu is extensive and offers something for every craving, whether you’re in the mood for the savory BBQ Beef Bowl, the crispy Chicken Katsu, or the unique SPAM Musubi. The variety of Hawaiian Sun drinks is another fantastic reason to visit, as they provide the perfect tropical complement to the savory dishes. The fast and welcoming service, which includes a friendly "aloha" greeting, makes the dining experience pleasant and efficient. It's an ideal spot for a lunch break or a casual dinner, where you can get a quick, delicious, and filling meal without a long wait. The availability of delivery and takeout options further enhances its appeal, allowing you to enjoy their tasty food wherever you are. Ultimately, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is worth choosing because it brings a slice of Hawaiian culture and a belly full of delicious, high-quality comfort food right to the heart of East Harlem. It’s more than just a meal; it's a flavorful journey to the islands, and that is an experience well worth seeking out in New York City.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Food & drink

Drinks
Hawaiian Sun (Iced Tea) $4.50
Pepsi $3.90
The bold, refreshing, robust cola, click to add to your meal.
Hawaiian Sun (Luau Punch) $4.50
Mountain Dew $3.90
Pepsi Zero $3.90
Hawaiian Sun (Pass-O-Guava) $4.50
Hawaiian Sun (Passion Orange) $4.50
Hawaiian Sun (Passion Lilikoi) $4.50
Hawaiian Sun (Guava Nectar) $4.50
Starry $3.90

Lighter Options
Lighter BBQ Chicken $19.55
Grilled boneless chicken marinated in our tangy, Hawaii-inspired barbecue sauce served with rice and a bed of greens and vegetables.
Lighter Garlic Shrimp $19.55
Shell-on shrimp fried with a savory butter and garlic sauce. Served with rice and a bed of greens and vegetables.

Musubi
BBQ Chicken Musubi $6.30
We take a white rice and sushi-press into a block, top it with our house-made teriyaki glaze, throw on the grilled bbq chicken, and then wrap it up in nori seaweed. price reflects one piece of bbq chicken musubi
Chicken Katsu Musubi $6.30
We take a white rice and sushi-press into a block, top it with our house-made teriyaki glaze, throw on a thick slice of chicken katsu, and then wrap it up in nori seaweed. comes with our famous house-made katsu sauce on the side for all your dipping and saucing needs
SPAM Musubi $5.10
Ph(808)623-8886 280 cal. a fresh scoop of rice with your choice of l and l signature meats, cooked with scratch made bbq sauce and wrapped with crispy seaweed. one spam musubi per order.
BBQ Beef Musubi $6.30
Thin slices of our special teriyaki marinated beef. mini plate: 1 scoop rice, 1 scoop macaroni salad. regular plate: 2 scoops rice, 1 scoop macaroni salad.

Burgers & Sandwiches
Teriyaki BBQ Burger $8.10
A delicious, juicy ground beef patty glazed with our scratch made Hawaii-inspired teriyaki sauce.
BBQ Chicken Sandwich $9.30
Grilled boneless chicken marinated in our tangy, Hawaii-inspired barbecue sauce.
Teriyaki BBQ Cheeseburger $8.10
A delicious, juicy ground beef patty glazed with our scratch made Hawaii-inspired teriyaki sauce topped with melted cheese.
Chicken Katsu Sandwich $9.30
A nice tender piece of deep-fried boneless chicken.
Fried Fish Sandwich $9.30

Combination Plates
Grilled Garlic Fish Plate $20.15
Juicy fish filets served with garlic sauteed in butter and served with rice and macaroni salad.
Kalua Pork W/Cabbage $19.55
Smoke-flavored, slow roasted shredded pork, combined with fresh cabbage served with rice and macaroni salad.
Fried Shrimp Plate $19.79
Plate comes with 2 scoops of rice, 1 scoop of macaroni salad and 6 large, crunchy, fried shrimp.
Seafood Platter $21.95
Crispy fried fish and shrimp served with rice and macaroni salad.
Loco Moco $19.55
Our Loco Moco Plate comes with two seasoned beef patties, on a bed of white rice, topped with two fried eggs and smothered in our special L&L homemade gravy.
Fried Fish Plate $19.79
Crunchy, succulent fried fish filets served with rice, macaroni salad and our delicious tartar sauce!
Seafood And BBQ Combo $21.47
Flavorful fried shrimp and fish fillet with your choice of beef, chicken, or short ribs. Serve alongside 2 scoops of rice and our delicious macaroni salad.
Hamburger Steak W/Gravy Plate $19.50
Our savory, seasoned hamburger patty, smothered in our homemade gravy and served alongside rice and macaroni salad.
Garlic Shrimp Plate $20.39
Shell-on shrimp fried with a savory butter and garlic sauce. Served with rice and macaroni.
BBQ Mix $23.15
A mouthwatering combination of succulent beef, chicken, and short ribs served with 2 scoops of rice and our delicious macaroni salad.
Loco Moco Bowl $14.39
Our Loco Moco Bowl comes with a seasoned beef patty, on a bed of white rice, topped with a fried egg and smothered in our special L&L homemade gravy.
Kalua Pork W/Cabbage Bowl $14.39
Smoke-flavored, slow-roasted shredded pork and cabbage, on a bed of steamed rice.

Saimin
Saimin W/BBQ Beef $11.40
Hawaiian-style Ramen - Fresh ramen noodles with our specialty prepared broth and grilled barbecue beef.
Saimin W/BBQ Chicken $11.40
Hawaiian-style Ramen - Fresh ramen noodles with our specialty prepared broth and grilled barbecue chicken.
Saimin W/Chicken Katsu $11.40
Hawaiian-style Ramen - Fresh ramen noodles with our specialty prepared broth and fried tender chicken.
Saimin W/Fried Shrimp $13.14
Hawaiian-style Ramen - Fresh ramen noodles with our specialty prepared broth and fried shrimp.
Plain Saimin $8.40
Hawaiian-style Ramen - Fresh ramen noodles with our specialty prepared broth.
Saimin W/SPAM $8.70
Hawaiian-style Ramen - Fresh ramen noodles with our specialty prepared broth and SPAM.

Bowls
BBQ Beef Bowl $13.50
L&L's tantalizing barbecue beef served with steamed vegetables on a bed of rice.
Chicken Katsu Bowl $13.50
Tender pieces of deep fried chicken served on top of steamed veggies and rice, with our sweet and tangy katsu sauce.
Loco Moco Bowl $14.39
Our Loco Moco Bowl comes with a seasoned beef patty, on a bed of white rice, topped with a fried egg and smothered in our special L&L homemade gravy.
BBQ Chicken Bowl $13.38
Grilled boneless chicken marinated in our tangy, Hawaii-inspired barbecue sauce served on top of steamed veggies and rice.
Kalua Pork W/Cabbage Bowl $14.39
Smoke-flavored, slow-roasted shredded pork and cabbage, on a bed of steamed rice.

Sides
White Rice $3.54
Serving size - 1 scoop/4 oz cal/serving - 150.
Steamed Vegetables $3.60
Side Tossed Salad $4.74
Side Sauces $0.60
French Fries $4.74
One order of thick, crispy, golden french fries with salt tossed right after the deep fry. 3/8 inch cut fries and served in big heap
Macaroni Salad $4.74

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Details

Service options
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights
Fast service

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance

Offerings
Comfort food
Quick bite
Small plates

Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Seating
Table service

Atmosphere
Casual

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments

Children
Good for kids

Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking
Paid street parking

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Photos

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Location

New York New York County New York 2nd Avenue

2128 2nd Ave store a, New York, NY 10029, USA

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue Reviews

An average rating of ★4.8 from 62 user reviews.

spam musubimac saladloco mocoriceplate lunchesheartHawaiian Sunpattiesgravysharing

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Tried L&L Hawaiian Barbecue in East Harlem for the first time and it honestly hit the spot. I ordered the Lava Chicken plate with rice and mac salad and a BBQ Beef Bowl.Everything was fresh and tasted just right. The portion size was great too. It’s not easy to find local Hawaiian-style food in NYC, so this place was a nice surprise. The staff was welcoming, and the service was quick. I’ll definitely be back to try the Loco Moco next time.
August 07 · Mantis 3D
Greeted with an aloha and left with a belly full of delicious food.My order:LumpiaLoco MocoSpam MusubiHawaiian Sun POG juiceThe lumpia is 8 pieces with two sides of sweet chili dipping sauce which I appreciated. The lumpia were a good size and crispy with good flavor.The Loco Moco is a hefty portion - I could definitely make two meals out of it. It’s exactly as you’d expect it - rice, beef patties, eggs, and gravy. It comes with a side of mac salad which was tasty as well.As for the spam musubi, I’m not a big seaweed girl (I know, I’m weird), and here the seaweed covers basically the entire musubi (sometimes other places just use a strip) but I was able to peel it off to enjoy the rice and spam - which always hits.I loved the variety of the Hawaiian Sun flavors - POG is my favorite so I was happy they had that one.While this location is a trek from where I live and work, I’ll definitely be back. And hopefully they’ll open a location in Queens or Midtown next!
May 03 · Sarah Moser
Good for when you have a craving for Hawaiian food. Only 1 guy working both the register and cooking the food when I went for lunch but he was very good.
August 12 · Ken
They're finally open! I've been waiting since the very moment they announced coming to NYC. Downtown got their location first, now it's time for Harlem!I got the Half & Half combo plate - Chicken Katsu, and I chose the BBQ Short Rib. It was perfect, exactly what I expected, and tasted like all the plate lunches I had with friends in Hawaii.The restaurant is a very small space, but there are 2 tables to eat there if you wish. Service was friendly and fast.I will 100% be back, hopefully this location gets on the L&L app soon so I can start earning rewards points!
January 24 · Josh H
Their kitchen creates dishes that satisfy completely. The guest care is exceptionally thorough! Their food offers unique pairings that wake up your palate. This eatery maintains visual appeal and proper sanitation. The price point reflects the standards here.
August 21 · Vanessa Castillo