L & L Hawaiian Grill
1302 Austin Hwy, San Antonio, TX, 78209
L & L Hawaiian Grill Menu
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Visit below restaurant in San Antonio for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1302 Austin Hwy
San Antonio, TX, 78209 - Phone (210) 474-6699
- Website https://www.llhawaiiangrill.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Maren K.
Ordered for family to-go. When we got home we found the fish was raw. Called right away and they apologized and issued us a store credit we will never use. Not worth taking back as appetite ruined. Wouldn't even make the 5 min drive to exchange food to feed our dogs. Not recommended. Won't go back.
(1)Denali V.
I miss Hawaiian food so much! This was a gem to find. We come to San Antonio once a month, I know where I'm stopping! Sat outside and ate some loco moco and chicken katsu, it's been 5 years since I have had L and L in Hawaii and I somehow feel that the gravy on the loco moco was better and the katsu sauce so much more Ono! Go and get for sure!
(5)Daniel D.
Forget the Ramen Burger the grilled Chicken is off the hook! The rice is sticky but moist and the veggies are fresh and crunchy. The staff is nice and helpful and if your hungry the portions are wooahhh big and healthy! Mahalo
(5)Jim T.
Nice escape from all the Asian spots that have popped up in San Antonio... Small crowded but cozy. Staff help you make decision for first timers.. Never knew Hawaii had Macaroni salad and spam as part of their diet. Will return to try other plates... The dinning ware is simple lunch place Styrofoam .... food is still good!!!
(4)Jolina D.
Great service, the people there are so sweet. Love how they have the Hawaiian can drinks! Thanks so much even tho they're 30 cents in Hawaii haha Great food, a little pricy, but you'll be happy.
(4)Paul M.
I don't understand the hype for this place. First time we tried going we were unsuccessful in even getting in the doors. A live band took up half of the already small building leaving people standing and us not able to reach the counter. We chalked it up to it being such good food and would have to try again. So we did. Coming back the next day wasn't much better but we could at least get a table to sit down at. What a mistake. All the meat we got was covered in fat and dripping grease. The only thing I can say was actually good was the mac salad. Of the three dishes we split it all was really salty and over processed. Maybe people like the place because it's cheap, but its not even fast service.
(1)Steven S.
Food was good , better than average. Grilled chicken. Plate was juicy and good portion. I would give 3.5 stars and higher if it were not for the 35 minute wait for plate. It was busy but Co worker in front of me ordered minutes before me and there was a 35 minute difference? Staff was helpful and manager walked around checking in with customers . I will be back and of food is served in half time with dame quality, I will give 4 stars
(3)Sabine F.
Glad to have L& L in San Antonio. The food taste just like it does in Hawaii but the portions seem smaller.
(4)Fernanda N.
So yummy we came back in less than a week. Huge portions, kids menu is great, and service is fast.
(5)Marcia O.
So my bf and I went here Saturday afternoon excited about their famous ramen burger. We ordered the mixed seafood grill which came with shrimp, fish, and we chose short ribs with fries and mac salad AND a ramen burger with fries. The short ribs, my bf said, were good (he is used to my family's galbi- Korean short ribs), the shrimp and fish were mediocre but crunchy. The fries were cooked thoroughly and hot but lacked that golden color and easily when limp half way through our meal. We had to get up and ask for ketchup! Fries without ketchup? C'mon now?! Mac salad tasted like noodles with mayo....smh. Okay....the ramen burger. I opened the package and it looked good. The "ramen" bun had pan fried marks and the meat size was proportionate with a brown sauce and green onions....I think the sauce is what they use for their katsu. So I took my first bite....just warm (didn't this just come off the grill?) with lots of noodles that lacked flavor but where a good chewy. The brown sauce made the burger taste a little sweet. The meat was also a little bland and reminded me why I like Wendy's, which I would consider to be 3. Luckily, the green onions helped give it a little kick. I was kinda disappointed. I looked at my sriracha ketchup I had made for my fries and dipped it before my next bite and BOOM....It when from 2 to almost 3. My boyfriend on the other hand was disappointed he didn't even want a second bite. I can't forget though, the customer service was very friendly and kind. That was the only thing that was memorable. Oh well, I guess we can say that we tried it.
(2)Edelyn C.
This place is one of those hole-in-the-wall-you-need-to-try-this-place. Their chicken katsu was very crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside but the sides were over cooked. Still tasty and the sauce that came with it was perfect because the flavor didn't completely take over. The short rib was pretty disappointing. The first one I had was under cooked but they were very kind and instead of cooking it more, they gave me 3 new pieces. Unfortunately, it's not very tasty. It needed more flavor and there wasn't a sauce that came with it. I'd still come back to try the rest of their menu for sure. Their staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is really chill.
(3)Susan B.
I tried the fried shrimp plate, which I give 5 stars!! The breading on that shrimp was something magical...definitely something I can't recreate myself. I also tried the Ramen burger, which was OK. The ramen overpowered everything due to the abundance of it, definitely worth a try though! The chicken Katsu was decent, I've had better at Japanese restaurants, but the kids meal size was very adequate...enough for an adult who wanted to try 3 different dishes :)
(4)James W.
I really wanted to like this place. Went for lunch. Ordered a loco moco. Took 25 minutes to get my order. It was meh. Just unimpressed. Not sure who can eat 2 lbs of rice for lunch but that's about how much you get. The meat patties and gravy were not great. Doubt I'd return.
(2)Colin C.
I'm lived in Maui for 23 years, and was almost dumfounded when I heard L&L opened in San Antonio. I live in Austin and on the way back from Port A we gave it a shot. Weird location, but the moment i walked in and saw the menu, heard the music, saw Aloha shoyu, I was homesick. The food was pretty good. It seems the sizes are waaay smaller for some reason, even know we on the mainland which should mean more big!! But not at all. The next issue I had was the chicken Katzu sauce was sooo sweet and lacking the punch of the authentic maui -kine-sauce. This was sweet. The next issue but not so bad was the chicken plate. The chicken was ono, but was basically teriyaki chicken. was not the same as L&L. Good, but not L&L. The kalua Pork was spot on, mac was spot on, and service was spot on. I'm not going to make a big issue of the big black long hair i found in my plate, this happens. Nasty, but whatever!! I'm still alive. I did just subtract one more star from 4 to three because of yesterday. I ordered the bowls which for almost $7 dollars were really small, but the shocker was this green veg side it came with. NO MAC????? What??? Plus, the broccoli/green bean tasted slightly mushy, and clearly frozen. Sorry, but this has never been on Maui's L&L menu. And the only picture of a chicken bowl was on the back wall which you cant even see. These should ALWAYS COME WITH MAC!! Two scoops RICE...PERIOD!! ANd please correct the Katzu sauce. Other then that. it was a nice to hear some good music.
(3)Lim L.
I usually dont write reviews but this one is worth my time! I am from california and I used to eat at L&L all the time!!! I was overly thrilled to see this place open up in san antonio!! I gave it the chicken katsu a try and it tasted just like how I remembered from back at home. If youre wanting to eat Hawaiian food in Texas, this place does the job! I highly recommend it!
(5)Jodel N.
Food was good. Found out the owners were from Waipahu!!! 94 block reppin' in San Antonio!!!! Only down part is the place is small. So you might have to wait for a table during the peak hrs of lunch & dinner. Was happy that they had laulau, but they could've gave more kalua & cabbage. We'll definitely stop by again when we are in town.
(5)Paul William O.
I always love L & L and this one didn't disappoint. It's a great place to eat; good space, friendly staff, next to shipley's donuts. Their dessert were really good as well. The parking us ok, it can be packed, but there's plenty in the other side across. Their price is good. I'll recommend this to anyone who likes Hawaiian bbq.
(5)Joshua M.
Next best spot in all of Texas. 2nd to actually being at home. Haupia was a little hard, I assume it was old because people just don't buy it so they don't make it too often. But the mango cheesecake and Hawaiian plate on point
(5)Gregory A.
Chicken Catsu, macaroni salad, and mango cheesecake. I'm in heaven.... Put Sriracha on the chicken and Mac salad, and chamoy in the mango cheesecake ;).
(5)Amber M.
Just like the L&L my father use to take me to in Vegas as a child. Brings back memories! I came here for the Ramen. I give it a 4 instead of a five, because being born in Hawaii obviously it's not your top shot ramen. L&L has always been more like the fast food version of Hawaiian food. But Ramen here is good! Hard to find good ramen in SA!!!
(4)Matt M.
I REALLY had high hopes for this place, but the 2 times (1st time they decided to close earlier than their posted hours b/c of lack of ingredients), the following time I went both left me wanting. Now, I KNOW this is not supposed to be high-end (or even mid-range) dining. Its a "fast food" chain type with Hawaiian influences (and yes, I've been to Hawaii, and NOT to touristy Oahu). But I digress. The Good: + interesting (mayhaps borderline gimmicky) selection, although they always seem to run out of what I want to try The meh: - 1st time they ran out of rice, spam, and ramen (for the signature ramen burger) - 2nd time they were out of noodles/ramen and spam [again] - seating was a challenge as it was busy - the food I was able to order (and they had not run out of) was a little tough and sinewy, and far to expensive given the quality Futher consideration: ? - Will I try this place again? I'm not sure. I'm going to assume the food shortages are merely due to the relative "newness" of this place; I'll give it a few months for the "hype" to die down and the demand to not be as high (or for logistics to be hammered out). I hope they find their "stride", as it is a very unique addition to the SA food scene; but for now, I'm going to say it was a great idea with poor execution.
(2)Jasmin A.
My first time at a real L&L Hawaiian Bbq! I've had plenty of Hawaiian bbq at different chains but nothing compares to L&L! Chicken katsu is the all time favorite. If it's your first time get chicken katsu and a spam masubi!
(5)Gina J.
I lived in Hawaii from 1986 - 1989. When I ate here, I was flooded with memories. This restaurant has the best, authentic Hawaiian food. When I arrived, the line was out the door and I was discouraged. I met some people in line who were Hawaiian, and they had driven in from Houston, just to eat here. Well, once the food arrived, I realized that I will continue to wait in line, no matter how long, to eat this food.
(5)Ted L.
Drove all the way from Austin to San Antonio due to my craving for L&L. To be honest, I was thoroughly disappointed. I've eaten at L&Ls in Hawaii, Calif, NV and if you blindfolded me and put me at this L&L, I would say it's a knock-off. To start, they didn't offer the Mini Plate that all other L&Ls offer, didn't offer LauLau except on weekends and they charge $12.89 for each!! The most expensive L&L Lau Lau I've ever ordered was in the $7-$8 range in Las Vegas. Ordered the Grilled Chicken Plate with Mac Salad, Saimin with Katsu Chicken and their 'flown-in from Hawaii' Manapoa. Monapoa is authentic, Saimin... noodles are authentic but the soup was so condensed and salty that you had to drain the liquid before eating the noodles (they only filled the noodle cup with 1/2 full of liquid so the soup base was not diluted properly). The Katsu Chicken in the Saimin was good but the Grill Chicken... one side of it was pitch BLACK and burnt and it's like eating charcoal. The Mac Salad, although the taste was correct, the macaroni was still semi raw, so it lost that smooth silky mac salad texture. All in all, they probably were sooooo busy that they started cutting corners. All the negatives in the food I've mentioned could have been mitigated by a little more attention and time (and care) in the prep. Too bad. We were going to order a big to go order and take it back home for future enjoyment... not... Oh, by the way, the service was great. No complaints there.
(2)Y H.
A little slice of Hawaii in Texas ! Husband is Hawaiian born and raised ... He loves this spot ! He said their musubi is better than on the island ... The owner is the sweetest person !!!! Recommend to everyone worth the hour drive from austin !
(5)N T.
I knew L&Ls when they were a small shop in Kaneohe, HI. Now for all you die hard fans thinking that the menu is going to be like Hawaii, it's not! It's become a chain restaurant, and like all chain restaurants they will serve what is readily available to them in their specific demographic. I'm happy with it!!! Living in San Antonio, Tx and getting a chicken katsu plate lunch thousands of miles away from HOME works for me.
(5)Yvette S.
The food we ordered was the Ramen burger and the Spam Sushi. As far as the burger was concerned I honestly expected something with a bit more flavor to it.Which is a shame,hopefully it was a off day and they were still getting the kinks out of opening a new business. Patty was kind of rubbery as well as dry and so was the ramen patty as well.Noodles had zero flavor to them & the sauce was not generous enough to make up for that either. The spam sushi was also very bland and had a rubbery piece of sea weed wrap to it as well like it had been sitting.The rice was not very aromatic at all it was super dry and even a little dried out around the corners. I keep getting told I am wrong about this place and I want to be wrong believe me. It's super close by,however I am just not that into it.I think I was expecting more exotic perhaps.My father lived in Hawaii for 6 years and well this was nothing like I personally remembered as a matter of fact it wasn't very memorable at all it was just so so unfortunately.I do hope I change my mind though,maybe I had the B team on staff and it was a isolated occurrence.Who knows.. I will give it another shot at least to form a better opinion about what else they have to offer there next time.Im glad to see some variety on the always and happy to support small business franchise.So will give it another go sometime & update my review.
(3)Lou P.
San Antonio has been in dire need of a Hawaiian restaurant. I love this place! The food has gotten a lot better. Everything is good and the staff is very friendly the Hawaiian way. Aloha!!
(4)Rikky S.
Their food was bland. The best thing so far in their menu was the Ramen, and it's not even mediocre. Great service tho.
(2)Johnelyn C.
This reminds me of my home in Hawaii. I had their grilled mix and it was so good.
(4)M T.
Fantastic. My husband was a huge fan of L&L in Vegas and was so excited to hear about this one. I've never had it before but truly enjoyed it. We have the pork bowl! Definitely coming back. .. Costumer service was wonderful
(5)Rod B.
Aloha, fellow Yelpers. Once again bout 2 review another hidden gem here in the 210. L & L. I luv Hawaii, I luv BBQ, hell 2 things I luv in 1 building might as well try what they got. Order the {Yea u guessed it, chicken.} The grilled chicken with white rice. Chicken was grilled to perfection, and they gave me 3-4 pieces just for $8. Extra plus for extra food under $10. Mixed up the chicken and rice, MUTHAFUCKIN DELICIOUS! Don't really know how 2 say that in Hawaiian, but makuahine something ono. Another place I will try and revisit in the future. So glad I left Seguin, and moved here to San Antonio. Back in Seguin was full of mexican restaurants. Not that I have a problem with it, but come on now. We need variety, and San Antonio has it with this restaurant here. Aloha `oe for now.
(5)B. T.
L & L is really good! Reminds me of the food I grew up on in Hawaii. You need to give this place a chance and order up the chicken katsu!
(5)Madeleine M.
Great food. Hot and fresh from the grill, but the service was lacking. Very rude teenage looking girl at the counter seemed to be burdened by answering questions about the menu. Will not be returning.
(1)Row M.
Let me start off by saying I love me some L&L's...but this particular one felt like some random Hawaiian restaurant stole an L&L's sign and stuck it on its front door...cause none of the food (garlic shrimp or BBQ mix) tasted how it was suppose to...not even the mac salad (so disappointing)...I hope it gets better...please get better!!
(2)Rogelio V.
Hot and humid inside. Chicken was tender. Tried the ramen burger for kicks. Meat was overcooked and ramen noodles were just that, no flavoring. Limited seating but that's expected for the size of the establishment.
(2)Anne G.
No boba? No, thank you!
(1)shane w.
celebrated my birthday here yesterday!! I enjoyed my food and it tasted as good as I remember from my travel in west coast!! can not wait to try rest of great menu!! highly recommend !!!!
(5)Jeremy S.
Food came out very fast and the staff is very friendly. The average meal is 8 bucks. Not bad for the price.
(4)Tony D.
Charges for ketchup to go with your soggy fries and gives tiny plastic cups for water. When will restaurants realize people who want water just want to taste their food and not watered down syrup.gcovb
(1)Dennis N.
Food is good but for the price not comparable to Hawaii. son ordered short ribs and paid ten dollars with hardly any meat on there. was not impressed. Rest of meal was satisfactory.
(3)Tj C.
Finally some great tasting Hawaiian food in San Antonio.
(4)J E.
Solid local food from Hawai'i! All the local favorites--loco moco, spam musubi, kalbi, BBQ chicken, etc. While the food was above average, the place was very clean with great service. Also, this location has the friendliness staff of any L&Ls that I've been too--including most Oahu, all Texas, and all Vegas locations. Very Friendly and helpful. This explains why there were many 'locals' there last night, families, couples, friends, etc. Keep up the great work. Mahalo nui loa.
(4)Stephen C.
I came across L&L in a google search. I am glad to finally get to try it. I had the mixed grill per their recommendation and that didn't disappoint. The Mac salad is the bomb!! That was my favorite! The grilled chicken with skin was good too! The beef & pork was also pretty good. But I think that it's on the chewy side. Maybe I am not used to eating Hawaiian food. Initially, I thought that ten bucks was a little on the high side. But now I think that it's priced right because you get a lot of food. The staff was very nice and personable. I will definitely come back and try other items on the menu.
(5)Mindi K.
Loco Moco was perfect! They keep getting better and better. The staff is friendly every time I come in.
(5)Vanessa F.
A week late on this review but I had to post this. The service is always welcoming and makes the experience a great one! The food is delicious and they accommodated my request that wasn't on the menu. That's a true testament to their excellent customer service. The saimen is spot on and the kids love the loco moco :)
(5)Mike B.
food is very good, I like the service there I don't feel rush I hate went the make you feel like you asking for free food .ill always order for lunch ask for the special.
(4)Jemma A.
Sooo good. We came on a Sunday around 4 and we were greeted with a nice Aloha. I order the bbq and seafood combo. My husband got the bbq combo. We also ordered 2 other plates to go AND LAU LAU! I was so excited about the lau lau. We received our food in about 8 mins. The portions were hearty, meaning. I got a bbq meat with a choice of chicken or beef and seafood combo. So my plate had 2 piecies of chicken, 1 fish fillet, 3 good size shrimp, 2 scoops rice and a big scoop mac salad. I couldn't finish my plate and my husband couldn't finish his bbq combo plate either. So the servings are very adequate. If you have never been to Hawaii then you really can't rate L&L. In Hawaii L&L is our version of McDonalds. So we usually order take out but it was also nice to sit and eat. The place was clean and the atmosphere was great. They had hawaiian music playing. It was really nostalgic. I drove an hour to eat there and I would do it again.
(5)R P.
I'm not seeing the big attraction here. The Kahula pork wasn't bad but rather bland. Fortunately a generous amount of soy sauce and Sriracha saved the day but I can't say that I felt like I was eating Hawaiian food. The Hawaiian Sun Luau Punch was good. Where is Big Kahuna Burger?
(3)Kolby S.
terrible cold fries and cold beef with a spoon of so called steamed vegetables and terrible fish and shrimp along with terrible tartar sauce for $20 bucks two meals?..awful..for fast food for 5 bucks it was ok but to pay 20 have the cashier not even know what mahi mahi was when thats what the website claimed they had and had to ask for ketchup when i bought fries which were cooked two hours ago doesnr sit well ..better do business better or you wont last!
(1)Chris A.
Hawaiian comfort food! Whether you're pining for lau lau, kalua pork, beef short ribs, loco moco(with or without gravy), or any other foods that have come to define Hawaiian comfort food, you surely won't be disappointed by what L&L brings to your table. For added authenticity, the food comes in a Styrofoam box! L&L is a smallish place and can get very busy. Tables are at a premium and plenty of people were taking their boxes of food to their cars to eat. Order at the counter, give your name, find a seat. Pretty simple. The soda fountain is limited but the usual characters are there. I'd avoid the tea - not good at all. I got the mixed grill which comes with 3 grilled meats (chicken, pork, and beef). It also comes with 2 sides so I went with the amazing macaroni salad and very average French fries. All the meats are succulent and full of flavor. The macaroni salad, if thick and delicious! The fries, not so good. My wife got the ramen burger, and Spam musubi. What would a trip to a Hawaiian eatery be without Spam?! The ramen burger was surprisingly delicious. The burger was nicely seasoned, with some lettuce and a sweet teriyaki glaze. A bit disappointing was the temperature of the ramen "buns" which were rather cool to the touch. The Spam musubi was just as you would expect - the Spam salty with a kind of crispy exterior and soft interior, atop a bed of rice and wrapped in nori (seaweed). Pretty tasty! The owner made her rounds and was throwing out "Aloha" and "Mahalo" to the guests. She was very proud of her food and was happy to see her customers enjoying it. I often end my reviews by stating whether I'd drive across town to eat at a place. In the case of L&L, yep, I'd gas up the hooptie and head out. And you should to.
(4)Phi T.
From all the hype I've heard, turned out to be a let down. I'm a firm believer not wasting food, however I didn't bother boxing it to go. I'm a strong believer of boxing what I can't finish, I didn't bother this time. The loco moco lacked depth of flavor and the meat didn't taste fresh. I make a better homemade version. My girlfriend got the kalua pork, which was a big let down as well. Talk about no flavor at all. The famous ramen burger turned out to be no bigger than a Mcdouble. Literally consists of ramen and a burger patty for $5.79. No fried egg or toppings. Biggest let down of all was the poke. Paid money for this tiny ass cup of poke which has probably been sitting for a day or two. Don't recommend.
(1)Mike S.
This place is great... Its just like being in Hawaii. All good food just like on the islands.
(5)John D.
I gave it 5 stars because it is a great family enviroment. We were treated well and they make you feel like family. The food itself was good and presentable. Go there on fridays for music and food and bring your cooler...
(5)Angela F. W.
Yo I just gotta jump on the ramen burger bandwagon. Better late than never, right?! Had this place bookmarked for a long time but never made it out here. Finally I came on a Sunday afternoon. Of course I gotta get the ramen burger and spam sushi. That sounds dope or what?! The spam sushi was pretty good but nothing to rave about. I can probably make it at home since it's so simple. The ramen burger was deff my favorite. It was so much better than I expected. It was so juicy and flavorful. Yummilicious!! I have never been a burger lover but I'd totally eat this ramen burger often. Guess it just brings out the AZN in ya. My only gripe is the styrene foam containers they use to serve the food. Why oh why?! It's so not environmental friendly. You can do much better than dat, L & L! Other than that, it's all good. As I said I'm all about the ramen burgers! Aloha!!!
(4)Athena A.
Gotta support my islanders! Love the food. Anyone that says differently doesn't know what good food is.
(5)Lindsey H.
A friend suggested the restaurant, so two coworkers and myself went there for our lunch break and were very disappointed. First, it took us about 15-20 min to get our food and after watching two tables whom ordered well after us get their food, I went to ask when our food would be ready, and the girl smiled and said it was coming out now. I then saw her grab a pile of food boxes that had been sitting off to the side. I guess they forgot to take out our order? Then the food itself; I ordered the pulled pork brown rice bowl and it was just very blah. The meat and rice were cooked to perfect temperature and texture but there was a lack of any flavor. I doused it in soy sauce and spicy mayo but it just didn't taste very good. My boss ordered the ramen burger and was not impressed in the slightest, but the fries were good. And my other coworker ordered the chicken katsu and it was really good. If I were to go back, it would be for the katsu chicken.
(2)Mark A.
This place doesn't just have the best Hawaiian food out there. It also has the friendliest employees. It's been nearly 7 1.5 months and I have yet to have a bad experience. You have to try it!
(5)Christine A.
In the context of great fast food finds, L&L Hawaiian Grill is legit! Where else are you going to find grilled beef short ribs and haupia on the same menu outside of Hawaii and California (NYC maybe)? Yes, yes, this is a fast food restaurant. I got it... it's not a five star dining experience. You won't find fancy flatware and a white table cloths, but when food is good. It's good! I had the Grilled Beef Shortrib plate with two scoops of white rice and steamed vegetables. You'd expect the veggies to be underseasoned and soggy. Not the case here! The both beef and veggies were well seasoned and satisfying. The char siu (pork bbq) saimen was also pretty good. It has an "instant" flare to it, but on a cold and windy day, it is sure to comfort you more than your normal stovetop ramen. Spam musubi, spam musubi. How I love thee. Just not L&L's though. Maybe they didn't make a good batch of rice that day, but the rice was extremely soggy and partly raw. Hence, I had to take 1 star away from them. The ratio of spam to rice was also not great. Wayyy too much rice for such little spam. Maybe I'll try again next time. I am hopeful that it'll be better. Lastly, the haupia. This is my first time having the supposed popular luau tradition. It was a very good risk. Texture may be off-putting to some people, since it has a firm Jello-like consistency, but the coconut flavor was on-point. Maybe next time, I will try the mango cheesecake! If you're in the San Antonio area, and just have to have some type of fast food, forget Whataburger, Taco Cabana, and all the other junky places. L&L Hawaiian Grill is the place to be!
(4)Daryll B.
Just stopped by to see what the vibe was, I was only interested in trying a snack, so I chose the much touted spam musabi. The place was packed with military people today but the line moved fast. The employees are so friendly with smiles, alohas, and thank yous. There was a single musician playing music today, the kind I could not tell. This place probably makes the few who have every been to Hawaii feel at home, but this place and its food quality really has a fast food feel to it. I gave the food 3 stars and another star for the friendly employees, clean restaurant, and musician. eats: - spam musubi $2ish, a piece of sliced griddled spam encased with sushi rice, and wrapped with a piece of nori (seaweed). The rice was bland and needed flavor from the spam; unfortunately, the spam was not griddled to a char and rendered enough and lacked flavor, the nori was too soft and didn't tear with your bites. I would use a more flavorful rice like jasmine to make this dish successful. You can also get chicken katsu musabi, that fried chicken may be more flavorful. Furthermore, the rice to spam ratio is just too great. Reduce the mushy, unflavorful rice. drink: - authentic passion fruit drink, natural sugar, no fructose, very good $2. takeouts: - I probably won't be back, am just not excited about this kind of food.
(4)Notsoworried R.
Only reason this place gets 4 is because my moms does the whole menu and I can't knock moms cooking. The food is cooked to order. So expect a wait for your order. Tip for pick up. You can call in your order and it will be ready when your get there. What we've tried... Katsu, pork adobo, Teri chicken, laulau, kalua pig, and of course any hawaiian plate lunch can not be complete without side of rice and Mac salad. I've had the menu at the Cali and hawaii locations, it's all good if you can't cook it yourself.
(4)Bryana C.
YES! YES! YES! this is kind of a Mom and pop shop kind of a chain. I love this place and I can't believe there is one here in San Antonio. The food here is just like it is Hawaii, simple but so good... there isn't a thing on thing on the menu I don't like, they don't change the menu at all based on the area it is in. If you go to an L&L in Hawaii the food is the same no matter where in the world you are and it is amazing. I often get the chicken plate but if you want to get wild and you are up for the calories the Loco Moco is so good! its seems a little wild the first time they tell you about it but it wont be a mistake.
(5)Inez G.
I missed Hawaiian food so much that I looked up a Hawaiian restaurant and stumbled upon this place. The macaroni salad tasted just like the one I had when I was in Oahu last year. The musubi also flooded back memories of the first time I visited the islands. I'll be going back soon to try the rest of the food. Good vibes.
(5)Enrique M.
I tried the ramen burger and was a little disappointed. Its cool as a novelty. The "bun" is ramen noodles formed into a hamburger bun shape. But the patty was kind of meh almost like a frozen patty and overall the burger was just okay. Service was unusually slow. It wasn't too busy either...just took a while to get our food for some reason. Some of the other stuff on the menu looked interesting so ill probably be back to try some of it out and give em another shot.
(3)Brad A.
Dis da kin Seriously this is the place to get the good stuff from the island. If you 2 ant great food and clean atmosphere this is your place.
(5)Hoa L.
This restaurant is very small and casual. It is very "fast food style" with vinyl booths and small tables and chairs. It seats about 30 at most. Go early if you have a group or want guaranteed seating. It is located in a shopping center and right next to Shipley's donuts - the store front footprint is about the same size. The parking area is also quite small. I was impressed with the idea of Hawaiian food in San Antonio, so I wanted to check the place out. Although I wouldn't go looking for an exceptional, fine dining experience, the food is very reminiscent of the meals I ate when I went to Hawaii last year. I ordered the chicken katsu and it looked exactly the way it would be served in Hawaii. The rice was perfect, the chicken breaded exactly the way it should be. The macaroni salad tasted about 90% of what I'd have expected to eat in Hawaii. I tried the spam musubi and it was good, but not quite like what I tried in Hawaii. I would say this place is great for someone craving Hawaiian food and it's very fast food decent and portions were pretty good. It is very busy and food takes about 10 minutes to come out. I'd like to try some of the other food items like the loco moco and garlic shrimp. Again, come in looking for fast food Hawaiian, and not a gourmet meal and you should be satisfied.
(3)Scott B.
I have been eating at L & L Drive In for over 25 years. I lived off the mini barbecue chicken plate from the Puck's Alley location all through college. I have watched this restaurant grow and become franchised over the years from the first one on Liliha Street in Kalihi until now where they are all over Hawaii and the Mainland. This location here in San Antonio represents the brand fairly well. However, like many of the other franchise locations it is not as good as the first few originals. That being said, it is a great place to come get your Hawaiian plate lunch fix. They do not sell the mini plates that I prefer, so I am forced to buy the regular full size plate. This is a shame, as a mini is more than enough food for me and I'm a big guy. I have only had the BBQ chicken plate and the Portuguese sausage and eggs breakfast, so these are the only two items I can comment on. The BBQ chicken has been hit or miss. Sometimes it seems like its fresh off the grill and other times it seems like it's been pre cooked and sitting around and then reheated. It seems like it's a little tough and metallic tasting after its been reheated. I always get the white rice and mac salad. As a plate lunch aficionado I think that L&L mac salad is the best. I love it. I was torn between rating this location a 3 or a 4. The lack of a mini plate and the reheated BBQ chicken are enough to warrant a 3, but this is my beloved L&L, so I shall go with a 4.
(4)Lauren L.
My fiance grew up in Hawaii, so when we found this place down the street from our new apartment, he was so excited. It really is the same place, the mac salad and teriyaki beef is just like it was in the 70s. I'm usually not a fan of mac salad, but theirs is good. I've had the loco moco and katsu chicken and both were quite tasty. Fiance loved the teriyaki beef, though the curry on Friday wasnt great. Super tender, but not strong curry flavor like we prefer. Also tried their mochi which was NOT AT ALL like Japanese mochi, but still yummmy. I've basically tried the Japanese version of the whole menu so it's interesting to taste the Hawaiian twist on some of my favorites.
(4)M C.
If you're craving Hawaiian comfort foods, this is the place to go. They also have malasadas and hauppia ! The garlic shrimp isn't like in the islands, it's fried not grilled.
(4)Joseph S.
My review should be a 3.5 stars, but the good service just bumped up to 4. I got Loco Moco and Musubi. Loco Moco is decent, it is overpowered with peppers though. Musubi is really good as always. My friend got the Ramen and Chicken Katsu. Ramen is great, but the Katsu is dry. The service is unbelievably good.
(4)Karen N.
There are two key things to remember here: 1) You are not in Hawaii. You are in San Antonio. (Although I've had some killer tuna from a trailer in San Marcos...) 2). This is fast-comfort food - not fine dining. Once you've accepted those two key points in your soul, you are good to go. The food is fresh (my fried chicken katsu was what it was supposed to be). Some portions are what we expect and love - LARGE (#firstworldproblems). And the price is cheap. Ramen burger was unique and delicious and the perfect size. Pass on the ramen personally but do get the chicken katsu everytime with rice and Mac Salad. I wish there were curry options for my favorites but hey... Revert to things to remember.
(3)Dianne R.
Not the best branch of L&L. We ordered the spam musubi, kalua pork rice bowl, short ribs platter, and chicken teriyaki bowl to go. Chicken Teriyaki was highly disappointing (not even sure if it was chicken) - so much so that my friend couldn't eat it! My kalua pork was mildly dry and there were huge square chunks of fat that i had to constantly pick out. the spam musubi and short ribs platter were the only solid items we actually finished. I wont be back here again - maybe a different L&L location.
(2)Joey P.
For this being SA (and not Hawaii) I would say we are very privileged to now have a second option when it comes to Hawaiian food. Of course, more options would be even better. Fortunately, I did not experience ANY of the complaints that some reviewers have posted about here. On the contrary, my first L&L experience was so extraordinary that I'm already looking forward to my next visit! Price: very reasonable. Yes, the regular plates are around 9 bucks and up, but you get a huge serving of delicious food plus that bomb-ass macaroni salad! The grill mix is probably the best way to sample a little bit of everything. As for the ramen burger, the a-la-carte price was a bit high considering no sides were included ($5) but good overall price for the novelty. And of course, 4 bucks and some change seems crazy for a bowl of ramen, but the added protein (chicken/beef/Spam/etc.) really helps to make it a well-rounded snack. Food: delish! My favorite thing on the menu (so far) is definitely the kalua pork! It actually reminded me of Filipino cuisine, just as tasty and tender as some of the many variations of adobo pork I have had before. You need to add two things to that rice bowl, though: soy sauce and plenty of Sriracha or if you take it to-go, some chili garlic would be even better. The cabbage pieces were big and tasty, complimenting the dish well. My other half really enjoyed his beef ramen soup (confession: so did I). I think they added some small pieces of imitation crab meat, but I could be wrong. It made the soup that much yummier. And of course, the notorious ramen burger! As I'm sure many people have discovered, noodles don't make the best buns. Mostly due to the inability to add many toppings to the patty, which was seasoned properly. I really don't recall much else in the burger other than the patty and some ketchup. Next on my list to try: moco loco (if the eggs are not too runny) and their chicken katsu. Service: excellent. The girl at the counter was friendly and bubbly. I placed my order at 8:30 on a Saturday night. The young lady did advise me that they would be closing at 9pm so she hoped I would make it before then. Luckily I was only about 10 minutes up the street. To my surprise, my complete order was ready upon my arrival. It was then that I realized "dat mac salad doe!" I will admit, I thought it had too much (mayo?) at first, but it grew on me as I munched out on the leftovers the following day. So naturally, I immediately placed a side-order, a mere 30-second process. All in all, my stomach and my wallet were pleased and we will definitely be back soon!
(4)Rachael F.
I really really wanted to love this place. REALLY wanted to! My husband and I went to Hawaii for our honeymoon a year ago - I fell in love with saimen. I had it every chance I could get. I was thrilled when we heard they were opening and went on opening day. They were out of food at 6 pm. We came back another week night, and they had changed their hours to close at 5 pm. So we came back again on a weekend. Three attempts is how much we wanted to try the place. Unfortunately their saimen left a lot to be desired. The broth wasn't this complex beautiful creation I remembered from Hawaii. The fish cake was meh. The chicken thrown in was fatty and under seasoned. The noodles were okay. My husband had the moco loco, and he was disappointed as well. Their macaroni had too much mayo. The best way I could describe this let down is this: Imagine you're away from Texas and you're craving a delicious juicy cheeseburger, but your only option to fulfill that craving is McDonalds....
(1)Katie L.
I love this place, only wish it was closer to my side of town! My go-to meal is the chicken katsu with white rice and a spam musubi, mmmm. They're so generous with their portions--I'm always so stuffed after eating here! The staff is so sweet and lively! SA needs more L&L!!
(4)Sarah J.
Two words: ramen burger. I've had the kalua pork and the hawaiian bbq mix as well, both are delicious, but the ramen burger really takes the cake. The burger itself is pretty small, but the ramen noodles (which take the place of the bun) are really filling. You do have to top it with some sriracha to get it to taste perfect, but when you do, it is amazing! And, they have plenty of sriracha in the restaurant itself. The restaurant is pretty small, so it does tend to fill up during peak times, so it may be best to go at an odd hour (like 3pm) if you don't like crowds. I do cringe at the sheer amount of styrofoam waste that the restaurant produces every day. A lot of the food is served in styrofoam containers (some of the bowls were served in a different plastic container), regardless of whether or not the patrons were dining in.
(4)Meg L.
We were served quickly, the service was decent, and food was cheap. However, my chicken was extremely grisly and subpar. The fries appeared to be cheap and frozen and tasted as such. The place was packed during the lunch hour, though, so other people must like it! Maybe I just ordered the wrong menu item... +1 star for having a Pepsi machine versus a Coke machine:)
(2)Joyce I.
Oh this place brings back memories. As someone who grew up in Hawaii, it's really a blessing to see such a Hawaiian staple coming to San Antonio. Going on opening day, there was a line out the door and not enough tables available for everyone. The owners weren't prepared for this crowd but they were sweet, saying mahalo to everyone for being patient. I got the #1 Grill mix which comes with chicken, beef and short ribs. All with good shoyu (soy sauce) flavor. Mac salad is a must! I don't even know why you would consider any of the other sides. It was my favorite thing on my plate. Spam musubi, chicken katsu and loco moco are all really good entree options as well. But I can make any of those at home so I didn't wanna order them. But for newbies to Hawaiian food... I assure you they are the best things on the menu. Oh they also have Hawaiian Sun cans for sale. So you can bet I helped myself to some Guava Nectar. Overall great local food, kind service (as expected from a Hawaiian place) and I just wish it was closer to my house! Aloha, welcome to SA and I hope you're here to stay.
(4)Roy Q.
"I WOULD NEVER GO HERE IF I WERE IN HAWAII, BUT I'M STILL SO EXCITED FOR IT!" The dilemma I have of telling my friends about L&L! Honestly, back on the island L&L wasn't the best hawaiian diner to go to. I'd prefer Zippy's over it any day (only in hawaii, phooey!). That being said, considering I'm stranded out here in Texas of all things Hawaiian, L&L provides that comfort THUS ELEVATING IT UP THE LADDER OF LIKABILITY. YES. I'M SUPER HAPPY that I don't have to drive to Plano, TX, to get my Hawaiian fix. Hate it when restaurants call a dish hawaiian stuffing a pineapple slice into the recipe. So misleading, and heart breaking. If you want authentically local Hawaiian food in Texas, L&L is the place to get it. Hawaiian local food is a fusion of many cultures, so you'll see influences from the different cultures like Asian, Polynesian, American, and even Portuguese (Don't kill me if I forgot to mention any others!). While this isn't traditional Hawaiian food, this is definitely food you can find there. :) The San Antonio location didn't disappoint. Sure. I went on opening day, and waited maybe 90 minutes to get my large family order, but considering the amount of people that were there, all of my food turned out delicious, fresh, and warm. Now imagine if I had been the only customer without the grand opening excitement? I think that says something. I noticed the SA location weren't serving any teriyaki items. I'm not sure if they will be rolling them out. I ended up ordering a grilled chicken with rice & side mac salad as my two sides. If you know me, I will always go for the rice and side of mac salad. :) Service was awesome with all the people who were waiting. Can't wait to come back in the future when the restaurant isn't quite as jam packed, and running normally!
(4)Fawn G.
There is something I don't understand about Californian restaurants coming to Texas. Don't you know, everything is bigger in Texas? Why put such a popular place in the smallest venue with limited seating? AYE! This is not the place you bring your 10+ family members after church. This is the place you call the night before to order a catered pick up and eat it after church in the pleasure of your own home. However, I will eat Hawaiian food out of a stryoform plate for as long as I have to as long as it's delicious and L & L is delicious. Ramen hamburger anyone? Yes, please! That does exist and it's pretty delicious.
(4)Velia C.
Abby (my buddy) took me so I could try out something different, I asked for the popular chicken options and got the chicken katsu. When my order was ready they brought it to my table in a to-go container (perfect because I had plenty left over), opened it up and was disappointed... chicken strips?!! I was disappointed until I took my first bite (OMG), it was so not just chicken strips! The chicken was so crispy / crunchy / tastefully delish! mmmmmm I am in love and I will return as soon as I can.
(5)Mike B.
I lived in Hawaii for three and a half years, and L&L Drive-Inn (as it's known there) was one of my favorite places to eat. It's the perfect place for a plate lunch--"local kine grindz"--with two scoops rice and some mac salad. I may be haole, but I can eat like kama'Äina. So my wife and I were extremely stoked when we found out L&L was coming to San Antonio. Alamo aloha! The food was every bit as good as we remember from Hawaii. I had especially been jonesing for the mac salad, and it did not disappoint. However, we were a little disappointed that the menu here is not as extensive as it is in the islands. There are no teriyaki items on the menu at all, which is surprising because the teriyaki burger is a big seller in Hawaii. But I was most distressed by the absence of my favorite dish: chicken katsu curry. They have the regular chicken katsu, which is great, but they don't have the curry sauce to put over it. Instead, they offer the same gravy that they put on the loco moco. Weird. We're hoping they might expand the menu once they become a little better established here. I was also surprised that the plate lunch comes in only one size: large (with two scoops rice, another side and a large portion of the entree). In Hawaii, you can also get a smaller portion of the entree and just one scoop rice. The restaurant had been open for less than two weeks when we tried it, so it was still incredibly crowded. We were able to place our order fairly quickly, but it took a long time to find a seat and even longer to receive our food. But once the food came, all was forgiven. 'Ono--brok da mout!
(4)Christine M.
Kinda bummed that they said no way-no how could they put the chicken katsu burger patty on the ramen "bun", but whatevs...the strictly-as-stated-on-the-menu Ramen burger with a beef patty was still damn delicious. (Maybe it's just new-place growing pains. Maybe Whataburger has spoiled me with options. But I can't exactly go into Whataburger and get a Monterey Melt on a ramen "bun" either. It's all good.) I'll be back soon to try allllll the foods...Spam "sushi"! Pulled pork! Spam ramen! (OK, maybe not allllll the foods - the thought of Loco Moco is slightly frightening. Who knows, maybe I'll be feeling particularly Fear Factorish on a future visit.)
(4)Chris L.
I guess L&L only taste good when you're in Hawaii. I was hoping to be reminded of the first time I went to L&L, but seriously, chains have standards and I don't think this location is living up to them. Granted I've been spoiled by some of the best chicken katsu in San Antonio, my expectations were pretty neutral when we decided to drive 25 minutes across town specifically to try this place out. I had hopes, but I was being realistic cuz it's L&L. The chicken katsu I ordered was very bland and I thought the steamed veggie side was pretty pathetic. I tried some of my husband's combo plate and was not impressed. He on the other hand, had his hopes up and was sorely disappointed. Every piece of meat on his plate was tough and kinda lacking flavor? All I could think was, if I paid money to bring the L&L name to Texas, I would make sure that my product makes people want to drive 25 minute across town to eat there again.
(2)