Going Loco - A Revisit to L&L Hawaiian Barbecue - College Area a Decade Later

When I started putting together The Big List, there were quite a few instances where I wondered what was going on with places that were still around all these years later. I first posted on L&L in the College area back in May of 2005 and a second with the "Are You Loco" comparison that September. So I thought, ten years is a good long time....and even though L&L is not my first choice for Plate Lunch (let's not go into that Hawaiian BBQ versus Plate Lunch stuff....plate lunch came first....Hawaiian Barbecue is a branding/marketing strategy), I thought it was about time. Also for this one, I broke out the "Rubio Scale", created by James Rubio of Big Island Grinds, who measures each item on the loco moco and assigns an aggregate based on this....so no, this won't be like one of those ramen things on that "Four lettered site" that says, "the noodles were fantastic, but the soup was just okay so I give it one star...." Which will always lead to the question; "does that mean if the broth was fantastic and the noodles fantastic, the best this place could do is two stars on a four star scale?"

So, it's been over a decade. Can you imagine how many starving students this location of L&L has served? On the downside; can you imagine how many folks think that this is the best that Hawaii has to offer on a plate?

If my recent visit is any indication, they'll be serving many more classes of SDSU students.

The tables are a bit more sticky than I recalled and as to be expected, the folks here....both in the front and the kitchen can't really pronounce the dishes correctly....stuff like musubi and katsu sounds kind of odd...and to be honest, a bit painful.

But lets get down to the Loco Moco - which is now $8.99, over 9 bucks with tax. Yikes, that's over 40% more than what it used to be. It has now reached the level of, "this better be good".

And let's get it on with the Rubio scale shall we?

#1 - Burger:

Good lord, preformed and cooked to death. Lacking in seasoning. Like eating gritty bits of shoe leather....still, it was barely edible. Thank god for the gravy...well, maybe not.

1.0

Not a good sign.

#2 Eggs:

This actually saved the loco as it was easy-over. I know, everyone is afraid of eating eggs out nowadays. But this one was right. There could have been crisp edges and some browning, but this was ok.

2.5

#3 Rice:

Seems like it was undercooked and sitting for a while. Average.

2.5

#4 Gravy:

Good lord, we sent Old Betsy to the glue factory. The texture was not to my liking...too gooey/gluey, no beefy flavor, glue like texture. It was nothing without Tabasco.....

1.0

#5 Stuffs:

Of course we have to attend to the Mac Salad. This one was put together fine....all the minimum requirements and it was nice and cold. Lack of salt was an issue, but it was ok.

3.0

So we have a 10 out of 25....perhaps this is the state of Hawaiian Barbecue loco mocos these days. After all, I think they "jumped the shark" years ago.

Still, it had been quite a few years and I had to find out for myself.

A small part of me wonders how the location in Puente Hills Mall fares. It was the first location on the mainland and was just a couple of miles from where we lived way back when. It was pretty good...they brought in a bunch of cooks from HNL to get them started and the folks there were really nice.......maybe it's better that I not know.....

L&L's Hawaiian BBQ
Campus Plaza 6083 El Cajon Boulevard, Suite 5B-1
San Diego, CA 92115

Comments

[Junichi]

For a while they were popping up everywhere. My introduction to Hawaiian was at the Da Kines in PB years ago. I think they're all gone now. HH is my go to now. Island Style if I'm in the area.

[Nhbilly]

Heck I'll take the straps. 😀
Missing almost everything from SoCal. That's a good looking perfectly formed circular patty.

[Nhbilly]

To think about it is Yoshinoya still around? That was so cheap college grub.

[jack]

You are a very brave man Kirk. I think that the best thing L&L makes is chicken katsu....not saying it's good but it "can" be decent. I have a teenager and he'll get a jones for chicken katsu musubi for a pre dinner snack!

[kat]

:(

[James]

This location is close to my house and the only thing it's good for is satisfying a craving for A plate lunch, not necessarily a GOOD plate lunch. The mac salad is usually under seasoned and the rice can range from decent to horrifying. I usually get the Katsu but it's been a grease bomb the last few times I've been. There's better Katsu to be had at Roboto grill, just across College Avenue. It's not a plate lunch spot, but the Katsu is spot on.

[Kirk]

Hi Junichi - Yep, all the Da' Kines are gone; they only do catering these days I think.

Hi Billy - Yep, Yoshinoya is still around, though the one in San Diego closed a while back.

Lol Jack.....a growing boy!

Yes Kat...yes.....

Hi James -I noticed the "Grand Opening" sign when I was exiting the strip mall parking lot. I really need to get up there more often

[Soo @ hungryones]

Thanks for taking one for the team! You gonna try it again in 10 years?

[Kirk]

Possibly Soo.....if I'm still around.

[foodhoe]

I still stop by there for spam musubi cuz I'm lazy...

[Kirk]

Cuz you're hungry FH! ;o)