L&L Hawai‘i Opening New L&L Hawaiian Mixplate Concept in Three States

Honolulu - L&L Hawai‘i, the leading Hawaii-based restaurant franchise, is launching L&L Hawaiian Mixplate. This new restaurant concept features a hot bar with customizable plate lunch options, in addition to a selection of traditional L&L favorites.

The first store recently launched in Shelton, Wash., an hour and a half outside Seattle. The second store will open later this month in San Marcos, Calif., and the third is planned for Aurora, Colo., in December. All L&L Hawaiian Mixplate locations will follow L&L’s franchise model and will be located in Walmart stores to provide a variety of dining options for guests.

“Our guests will be able to see, smell and sample dishes prior to ordering, providing a more immersive dining experience,” said L&L Hawai‘i CEO Elisia Flores. “This format helps introduce guests to our fresh Hawaii-inspired flavors as we continue to expand throughout the U.S., and allows each dish to be created around individual preferences.”

L&L has been testing and developing the new dishes at its Airport Trade Center location in Honolulu, with a focus on healthier options such as brown rice, vegetable sides and seafood entrées. A selection of traditional L&L favorites, such as chicken katsu, will also be available. L&L Hawaiian Mixplate offerings will include:

• Starch: White rice, brown rice, chow mein

• Side: Macaroni salad, green salad, garlic edamame, salt and pepper corn, red bean salad

• Entrée (L&L favorites): Chicken katsu, barbecue chicken, kalua pork, lau lau, garlic fish, garlic shrimp, fried shrimp

• Entrée (New items): Garlic chicken, Korean chicken, mochiko chicken, honey shrimp, fried chicken, chili, creamy mushroom chicken

Flores was appointed chief executive officer and vice-chair of L&L Hawai‘i in August. She succeeds her father, Eddie Flores, Jr., who founded the iconic brand with Johnson Kam in 1976. The company has nearly total 200 locations throughout the U.S. and Japan, including 14 states, ranging from Alaska to North Carolina.

Plate lunches date back to the 1880s, when Hawaii plantation workers from around the Pacific Rim brought rice and other leftovers for lunch in tins and bento boxes. The lunches rose to popularity in the 1930s with lunch wagons serving mixed-style food on compartmentalized paper plates. Today L&L is famous for introducing the plate lunch to the world, traditionally including two scoops of rice, macaroni salad and an entrée.

Founded in Honolulu as L&L Dairy in 1952, L&L became a popular eatery in Hawaii. The iconic L&L Hawai‘i brand was founded in 1976 by Eddie Flores, Jr. and Johnson Kam, who have grown the company into the most popular restaurant franchise specializing in Hawaii cuisine throughout the world. Today L&L Hawai‘i offers Hawaiian-style comfort food and hospitality at its nearly 200 locations throughout 14 states and Japan. For more, visit hawaiianbarbecue.com.