Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit
Eddie Flores Jr. transitioned from actual property to grow to be the franchisor of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, constructing a legacy based mostly on the “aloha spirit” and household values that has grown into a number one worldwide restaurant chain.
Doug Gabbard, head of development for Delightree, interviews Eddie Flores, Jr. co-founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. Picture: Willie Lawless/ Join
March 17, 2026
Eddie Flores Jr. did not got down to grow to be a franchisor when he opened L&L Hawaiian Barbecue some 50 years in the past. The College of Hawaii graduate purchased the primary restaurant in 1976 for his mom, who was a dishwasher at one other restaurant on the time.
On the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, held in San Diego this week, Flores sat down with Doug Gabbard, head of development for Delightree, for a frank and infrequently occasions candid have a look at his transition from actual property to franchising, and the strategic — but usually fortuitous — choices that led to L&L’s growth into the U.S. mainland and past.
All through the interview, Flores emphasised the significance of the “aloha spirit,” the ability of the Hawaiian model as a significant draw for patrons, and the core philosophy of ohana (household) that continues to outline the model beneath his daughter Elisia’s present company management.
The idea now has greater than 235 places, and commenced as L&L Drive Inn which transitioned into L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. The unintended franchisor and his associate, co-founder Johnson Kam, expanded the model from Hawaii in 1976 to the U.S. mainland in 1999, beginning with California providing Hawaiian plate lunches with a deal with franchising, group and the Aloha spirit.
The idea
Kam, an immigrant from Macau who moved to Hawaii in 1971, purchased the unique L&L Drive Inn on Lily Avenue in Honolulu in 1976. By the point Kam and Flores Jr., a Chinese language immigrant, had 40 items in Hawaii, they thought it was time to develop into the mainland and in 1999, they opened their first retailer in California.
“I used to be getting fairly bored with actual property after about 20 years. I stated, ‘Nicely, gee, you are doing fairly nicely, perhaps I ought to be concerned. I ought to do franchising.’ Consider me, franchising may be very troublesome. Lots of people suppose, ‘Yeah, I can do franchising,’ however it’s very troublesome,'” Flores Jr. stated. “The phrase “Hawaiian, to me, is the important thing, is the most important draw.”
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue has been named Entrepreneur’s No. 1 Asian meals franchisee within the U.S. for eight consecutive years.
Recognized for its plate lunches of barbecue rooster, hamburger steak, eggs and gravy, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue can be dwelling to SPAM Musubi, which was obtainable in California till the model launched it. It is now a neighborhood favourite and will be discovered as far-off as Japan. SPAM Musubi is a slice of SPAM potted meat with rice and sauce and wrapped with seaweed that is eaten virtually as if one had been consuming an enormous hamburger.
The meals is a mix of Asian American delicacies and is served with two scoops of rice and a facet of macaroni salad made with high quality mayonnaise.
Flores Jr. admits he would not spend a number of advertising, as a substitute counting on phrase of mouth for his model. Franchisees pay $200 a month.
He follows present traits, like creating an Atkin’s Eating regimen plate with three eggs and 5 items of meat.
“So, that is a sort of promotion we did very often,” Flores stated. “One other we did very often is the 76-cent. Yearly we give away a free plate lunch for 76 cents. Folks would truly anticipate that meal the night time earlier than. Lots of of individuals. And we solely did that for 2 hours. So, normally we promote about 2,000 meals. You’ll be able to speak to anybody from Hawaii. They may always remember that promotion.”
The crew at L&L Hawaiian received a day named the SPAM Musubi Day, which was proclaimed by the governor of Hawaii. Throughout that annual occasion, a vendor will donate the rice and rooster and Pepsi will donate all of the sodas.
Constructing a legacy
Flores Jr. has since stepped down from taking the reigns at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, passing the torch to his daughter, Elisia, who he stated has constructed techniques, targeted on social media and put a company crew into place to assist information the greater than 235 items.
Flores Jr. wrote a ebook, “Franchising the American Dream: The Story of Eddie Flores Jr. and L&L Hawaiian Barbecue,” about constructing the most important Hawaiian based-restaurant chain within the U.S.
It hasn’t all been clean crusing, Flores admits. “The rationale we’re profitable is as a result of we’re simply fortunate, I feel.” He stated 50 years in the past when the model launched that he did not suppose it will work as a result of nobody ate rice in America on the time.
Nonetheless, “for those who look approach again, there’s actually no Hawaiian fast-food restaurant. There is no Hawaiian barbecue,” Flores Jr. stated.
What there was is a number of imitators over time.
“We open one, earlier than you realize it, six months later there’s one other one open simply throughout the road, not too far-off. So, I gave very clear directions to all my managers. Mentioned, ‘Anybody are available in taking photos, do not ask questions. Simply shoot them.’ Nicely, that is how we do it in Hawaii,” Flores Jr. laughed.
One in every of his greatest challenges has been getting the franchisees to conform, and he admits he runs a unfastened group. His daughter, who got here from company America, is at present altering that.
“I am very lucky as a result of my daughter — she’s operating the enterprise and she or he’s very what we name in Hawaii akamai, that means very, very, very — higher than me. As a result of me, I am only a mom-and-pop. I am introduced up being an entrepreneur sort. Probably not company and she or he got here in with that polish — working in huge company so it actually helps,” Flores Jr. stated.
Consistency is one other problem. With each plate lunch made to order, Flores Jr. stated each retailer could be totally different. They ship folks to do inspections, and franchisees are graded similar to some other model.
“However regardless, any L&L you eat (at), all of them style good. I promise you,” Flores Jr. stated.
Gabbard requested Flores Jr. what he needed Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit attendees to remove from his keynote deal with. He stated potential franchisees need to do their analysis earlier than
Errors have been made, resembling opening in international international locations like China, Malaysia and the Philippines — none of which labored, however he hasn’t given up.
Mentioned Flores Jr.: “Principally, our philosophy is ‘ohana’: being household.”
