A large Hawaii-based fast food chain is bringing its first location to the DC market. It’s called L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and its got a menu featuring some unique dishes for the area.
L&L will be coming to a spot in Annandale on John Marr Drive. This will be the second location in Virginia after one down in Chesapeake.
As you can infer from the name, the restaurant specializes in dishes that originally gained popularity in Hawaii. This includes something known in the islands as a “plate lunch.”
According to the L&L website, it consists of two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, plus some fish, chicken, and/or another protein such as beef, shrimp, or pork.
It’s based on the inexpensive foods that workers brought with them into the sugarcane and pineapple fields of Hawaii.
If you’re familiar with Hawaiian cuisine, yes, L&L also has fan favorites such as Spam Musabi (grilled Spam on rice) and Loco Moco (hamburger patties with white rice, brown gravy and fried eggs). You can see the full L&L menu here.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue got started in 1952 in Hawaii and started expanding in California and the mainland U.S. in 1999. Today, there are more than 200 locations in more than a dozen states.
No word yet on when the new restaurant will open. Construction on the space is underway currently.
(Image at top: L&L Hawaiian Barbecue)