74-year-old BBQ chain abruptly loses California location

A longtime fast-casual favorite quietly disappeared from a California college town, leaving loyal customers surprised. The unexpected closure marks the end of an era for a restaurant known for hearty island-style comfort food and a devoted following.

Hawaiian BBQ closure

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, the Hawaii-founded fast-casual chain known for plate lunches, chicken katsu, and spam musubi, has closed its sole location in Berkeley, California. The closure was reportedly abrupt, with the restaurant removed from the company’s online store locator and listed as closed online. 

There was no official announcement or closure date, but it’s estimated that the Berkeley location closed sometime in March 2026.(Some reported seeing the restaurant closed in person before the status was updated on the online business page.)

The Berkeley closure ends L&L’s presence in that city, though the company still maintains a significant footprint across California and nationwide.

How many L&L locations are still open?

Despite the Berkeley closure, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue remains one of the largest Hawaii-based restaurant chains, with well over 200 locations nationwide. California remains its biggest mainland market. A 2025 industry count estimated about 99 California locations, making the state the chain’s largest U.S. market outside Hawaii. 

Other recent closures and disruptions

While the Berkeley restaurant is the latest reported California closure, L&L has also seen other isolated location changes in recent years, which is common in franchise systems where stores are independently owned.

One notable disruption was the Lahaina Shopping Center restaurant in Maui, which has remained closed indefinitely following the Maui wildfires. 

Historically, some East Coast and international units have also opened and later closed as the brand adjusted its footprint over time, though the overall chain has continued expanding.

Growth continues despite closures

Even as some individual restaurants shut down, L&L opened 14 new franchise locations in 2025 across eight states and entered 2026 with an active development pipeline. 

That means Berkeley’s closure appears to reflect the realities of franchise turnover and rising operating costs rather than a broader collapse of the brand.

What’s next for the chain

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue continues to target expansion across the mainland U.S. while maintaining a strong presence in Hawaii and California. For customers in California, the chain still has dozens of restaurants operating despite the recent Berkeley loss.

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