L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
The total investment to open a L&L Hawaiian Barbecue franchise ranges from $504,000 to $915,000. The initial franchise fee is $35,000. Ongoing royalties are 7% plus a 2% advertising fee.
What is the L&L Hawaiian Barbecue franchise?
Ll Hawaiian Barbecue operates in the limited service restaurant sector with a concept built around Hawaiian barbecue, island flavors, and a casual setting. The brand was founded to bring familiar Hawaiian barbecue tastes to a wider audience, with an emphasis on quality ingredients, traditional recipes, and customer satisfaction. Its menu gives diners an alternative to more conventional fast casual restaurants by offering distinctive cultural flavors in a convenient format. Ll Hawaiian Barbecue currently has 10 total units in operation, making it an emerging brand with room to expand as interest in ethnic cuisines and specialized food concepts grows nationally. Consistent food quality across locations is central to the brand’s effort to build repeat business and recognition in multiple markets. The menu’s portability and accessibility support its appeal to customers and prospective franchisees. Rather than serving a broad general quick service menu, the concept focuses on a defined Hawaiian culinary experience for diners seeking something different from ordinary restaurant options.
Ll Hawaiian Barbecue competes in an industry shaped by speed, convenience, value, and changing consumer habits. Limited service restaurants have adapted to urbanization, busy lifestyles, demand for varied culinary choices, and continued technological change. The global limited service restaurant market continues to expand year over year, with projections showing growth into the next decade. Consumers increasingly want quick meals made with quality ingredients and distinctive flavors, including more specialized and health conscious choices beyond traditional fast food. Online ordering platforms, mobile applications, and third party delivery services have changed how customers find, order from, and return to restaurants. These channels can support market reach and customer retention by making the purchasing process more convenient. The sector serves individuals and families across different income levels who want meals that are affordable and satisfying. Demand for cultural cuisines such as Hawaiian barbecue is supported by diners who are becoming more adventurous and globally minded in their food choices. That demand creates an opening for concepts that provide ethnic food in an accessible format. The limited service model also continues to adapt through operational changes and new technology, keeping it relevant for business owners considering an investment in food service.
A Ll Hawaiian Barbecue investment can include the initial franchise fee, real estate or leasehold improvements, equipment, initial inventory, and working capital. The franchise fee gives the franchisee the right to use the brand name, trademarks, and operating systems. A location may require a build out or renovation that follows the franchisor’s design and operating standards, with expenses that can include architectural work, construction, interior decor, and signage. The opening also requires kitchen equipment, point of sale systems, and other tools needed to operate the restaurant. Before opening, the franchisee generally needs food products, packaging, and other supplies, along with funds for pre opening marketing and employee training. Working capital supports early expenses such as payroll, rent, utilities, and continuing marketing while the restaurant moves toward consistent positive cash flow. Together, these categories cover the resources needed to open a functioning unit that follows the brand’s standards and serves its local market. Prospective franchisees should evaluate each category separately when building an investment plan, since the total need depends on the location, the required improvements, equipment, opening inventory, and the amount of liquidity reserved for the early operating period.
The Ll Hawaiian Barbecue operating model is intended to promote consistency and efficient service. Franchise systems in this segment commonly provide initial training covering food preparation, inventory management, customer service, and local marketing. That training is intended to help each unit meet expectations for food quality, daily operations, and the customer experience. Continuing support may include help with site selection and lease negotiation, using the franchisor’s experience to assess visibility, traffic, and location suitability. Franchisees may also have access to a standardized supply chain for approved ingredients and supplies, which helps maintain consistent products across units and may provide competitive pricing. Marketing assistance can include national advertising programs and direction for local promotions. A focused menu and limited service format can reduce operational complexity and allow owners to concentrate on customer relationships and team management. The overall support structure is intended to help franchisees manage their restaurants, create a positive workplace, and provide a consistent Hawaiian barbecue experience that encourages repeat visits.
A prospective franchisee therefore needs to conduct individual due diligence, which may include speaking with existing franchisees, reviewing the FDD, and studying the target market. Results can differ by location, operating efficiency, local market conditions, and the franchisee’s management ability. Other relevant inputs include customer acquisition costs, average transaction size, and labor efficiency.
Ll Hawaiian Barbecue has 10 total units, giving it the profile of an emerging brand with room to add locations. Its smaller current footprint may allow the franchisor to provide more focused support, while early franchisees may have an opportunity to seek territories before broader market saturation. The main competitive distinction is the concept’s Hawaiian barbecue identity. Authentic Hawaiian barbecue can stand apart from more generic fast casual offerings and appeal to consumers who want new and culturally distinctive meals. The Loan Activity Score is 37, a metric within the PeerSense platform that provides one data point for comparison within the brand’s competitive set. Consumer demand for convenient meals, quality food, and global flavors may support expansion. The operating format is designed to deliver products consistently and serve customers efficiently. A recognizable taste profile can support repeat business and word of mouth. Expansion into markets where consumers have a strong interest in distinctive food offerings will be important to the brand’s future growth. A focused menu may also simplify inventory and kitchen operations and may support cost control compared with a restaurant carrying a large and complex menu. The concept combines a defined food identity, an efficiency focused operating format, and demand for cultural flavors as it seeks additional market reach.
A prospective Ll Hawaiian Barbecue franchisee should generally bring an entrepreneurial outlook, an interest in quality food, and a commitment to customer service. Restaurant experience can help, although franchise training may make business judgment, leadership, and knowledge of local market conditions equally relevant. The owner must be prepared to maintain operating standards, support the brand’s culinary approach, manage employees, and build a reliable work culture. Financial stability is also needed to cover the investment and maintain adequate working capital. Local involvement matters because understanding community preferences and carrying out effective local marketing can affect a unit’s performance. Franchise agreements commonly establish a protected operating area for each unit, giving the franchisee an exclusive zone without another unit from the same brand. This can support focused marketing and allow the owner to develop local demand without direct competition from another Ll Hawaiian Barbecue franchisee. Territory size and boundaries are generally based on population density, traffic patterns, and market potential. Site selection within the territory is a key part of development, with attention to visibility, access, and proximity to customers who value Hawaiian barbecue flavors. The franchisor may assist with identifying and evaluating those locations.
Ll Hawaiian Barbecue offers an entry point into the limited service restaurant sector through a defined Hawaiian barbecue concept and a current base of 10 total units. Its menu is positioned for consumers looking for convenient meals with distinctive flavors, while its limited service format is designed around consistent preparation and service. The current unit count also leaves room for expansion and may give early franchisees an opportunity to pursue territories before the brand reaches wider saturation. The Loan Activity Score of 37 is a data point available through PeerSense for independent review alongside the brand’s operating approach and quality focus. The opportunity may suit an owner who is prepared to analyze local demand, manage daily operations, and support the concept’s customer service and food standards. Franchisor support may include training, location assistance, supply guidance, and marketing direction, but a buyer still needs to evaluate the investment, working capital needs, market conditions, and potential operating results independently. PeerSense provides franchise research and introduces qualified buyers to SBA and conventional lenders, but PeerSense is not a lender and does not approve or provide loans.
Loan Activity Score
37/100
SBA Default Rate
8.3%
Active Lenders
8
According to its Franchise Disclosure Document or public business records, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue has 10 locations, all owned by franchisees. Public SBA loan records show 8 lenders made 12 loans to franchisees of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. PeerSense calculates L&L Hawaiian Barbecue's score as 37 out of 100, using public SBA loan performance and recent lending activity. Cost figures are based on the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document.
10 locations
$504,000 to $915,000
$35,000
10
10 franchised
Proprietary PeerSense metric
FairDistinct lenders in public SBA records for L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
12
Total SBA loans
$199K
Average loan size
Source: public SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records through December 31, 2025
Referral fee at closing
SBA Lending Activity for L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
Loan Activity Score Breakdown
Growing (10 to 24 loans)
Are lenders increasingly or decreasingly funding this brand? Growing trends score highest.
Blended default rate (recent + all time) compared to NAICS sector peers.
Quality lenders actively backing this brand, with penalty for lender pullback.
FDD availability, Item 19 disclosure, and overall data completeness.
Geographic spread of SBA funded locations across states.
SBA Lending Performance
SBA Default Rate
8.3%
vs 10.3% peer avg
SBA Loans
12
Total Volume
$2.4M
Active Lenders
8
1 selective
States
6
vs. SBA Sector Average
SBA loan default rate vs. all franchises in the same NAICS sector, not limited to direct competitors
Key Highlights
Franchise Financing Resources
Data Insights
Key performance metrics for L&L Hawaiian Barbecue based on SBA lending data
SBA Default Rate
8.3%
2.0% below peer avg
SBA Loan Volume
12 loans
Across 8 lenders
Lender Diversity
8 lenders
Avg 1.5 loans per lender
Investment Tier
Significant investment
$504,000 to $915,000 total
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue: Deep SBA Data
Brand specific metrics derived directly from SBA 7(a) approval records: peak lending year, leading state, average loan size, and lender concentration. PeerSense computes these per brand so capital advisors and prospective franchisees can benchmark this opportunity against the rest of the franchise universe.
Peak SBA Year
2008
4 approvals. The best year on record for L&L Hawaiian Barbecue.
Top SBA State
California
6 SBA financed L&L Hawaiian Barbecue locations, the densest operator footprint.
Average Loan Size
$199K
Median $195K. Use as a sizing anchor when modeling your own L&L Hawaiian Barbecue unit.
Lender Concentration
58.3%
Concentrated
Share of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue approvals captured by the top 3 SBA lenders.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue's SBA lending pipeline peaked in 2008 (4 approvals). Operator density is highest in California with 6 SBA financed locations. Average funded ticket sits at $199K, with the median at $195K. Lender mix is concentrated: the top three SBA lenders account for 58.3% of approvals. Credit decisions concentrate with a small group of incumbents.
Payment Estimator
Estimated Monthly Payment
$5,217
Principal & Interest only
Indicative only, as of October 1, 2026. Not a quote, commitment or offer of credit. Final pricing, leverage and terms are determined by the lender at underwriting, after full transaction materials are reviewed. PeerSense sources the file. The lender sets pricing. What these terms mean.
Locations
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, unit breakdown
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman