Curry Katsu at L&L

Here it is, at long last. Our inaugural dining experience at the recently opened L&L Hawaiian Barbecue was so worth it. I had curry katsu, as shown here. My loving family chose to partake of the chicken katsu instead. The food was perfect. Perfect. I told the owner as much, too.

The katsu was done just right, with a crispy outside and moist chicken within. The curry? Well, my family will claim it stunk, but then, doesn't good curry smell that way? It was just as one would expect, a classic Hawaiian-style curry plate lunch.

The rice was just as one would wish it to be, two scoop rice. And the mac salad - oh the mac salad - they nailed it. This for me has been the litmus test of so many plate lunch places. Potato salad is not mac salad. Mac-potato salad is not mac salad. Costco mac salad is not mac salad. These folks took the time to prepare a classic Island mac salad.

My only disappointment is that they do not have manapua or malasadas on the menu. The owner told me they only have the "core" menu. I hope they get enough interest to expand and offer up more. I wouldn't have minded a piece of haupia to top off the whole dining experience. Oh, and they serve Pepsi. Bleh. But other than that, it was a dining dream come true.