Founderology Forum

L&L Hawaiian co-founder publishes franchising guidebook

Photo: L&L

June 13, 2025

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue co-Founder Eddie Flores Jr. is offering insights and practical advice for aspiring and current franchise owners in his book "Franchising the American Dream."

The book details the journey of Flores and Johnson Kam, who built L&L Hawaiian Barbecue from a local favorite into the largest Hawaii-based restaurant chain in the U.S., popularizing island-style cuisine globally. Written with wit and frankness, Flores shares his personal story of overcoming poverty and learning challenges as an immigrant to achieve entrepreneurial success, according to a company press release.

The book provides advice on various aspects of franchising, including idea development, business model creation, risk-taking, surviving challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, competition, marketing, authenticity, growing people, identifying successors and community involvement.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue has been named Entrepreneur Magazine's No. 1 Asian food franchise in the U.S. for eight consecutive years. The book explores the unique approach that led to this recognition and established a new island-style food category in the restaurant industry.

The book is available in softcover for $18.95 at bookstores, other retail outlets and online booksellers, including Amazon and www.bookshawaii.net. It is published by Legacy Isle Publishing, an imprint of Watermark Publishing of Honolulu.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, founded as L&L Dairy in Honolulu in 1952, was acquired by Flores and Kam in 1976. They expanded the "plate lunch" concept from Hawaii to the continental U.S. in 1999, rebranding the franchise to L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. The chain has 232 locations across the U.S. and Japan.