J&J Hawaiian Barbecue, Menlo Park
Al Eisner
Barbecue". J&J's is in Menlo Park on the "other side" of the RR tracks,
near Oak Grove. I stopped there for lunch this weekend before a visit to
the nearby self-car-wash (which wasn't being maintained very well -- is
Menlo Park running downhill?). I've found some earlier ba.food posts
about an "L&L" Hawaiian place -- is there some naming theme?
The place has no table service, and resembles a hybrid of Mr. Chau's
and Happi House, although neither comparison is really fair to it. It is
part Chinese steam table (with hand written prices for combinations), and
part an order-and-wait Hawaiian Barbecue (menu nicely laid out on the wall,
glossy photographs of the items, and all). The steam table offered a good
variety of what at least resembles real Chinese food (not the identical
shapeless fried blobs offered under a variety of names by Mr. Chau's),
and might be a decent fast food option. However, I didn't try it.
I had a seafood/barbecued chicken combo. The seafood consisted of
quite acceptable fried large prawns (three) and a piece of fried fish.
The chicken was a generous portion of tender boneless breast (the
flavoring was fine, but did in fact resemble that at Happi House).
Accompaniments were steamed rice (more than I wanted), macaroni salad,
and unflavored raw shredded cabbage. The macaroni salad is, I gather,
a Hawaiian thing, but I frankly find it incomprehensible -- it was
quite bland and uninteresting, too much of a mediocre thing. A nice
hot chile sauce was available on the side. Total cost, with a soft
drink, was under $10 (and I chose one of the highest-priced items).
Counter service was friendly. Other barbecue items include short ribs
and pork (and I noticed on the way out a sign that mentioned a "pig"
special).
Apart from that mac salad, quality seemed good for a fastish-food
place. Because of its convenient location, I'm sure to revisit, and
will probably even try the Chinese side some time.
--
Al Eisner
San Mateo Co., CA
alee
> I've found some earlier ba.food posts
> about an "L&L" Hawaiian place -- is there some naming theme?
Interesting. Probably just a gimmick to play off the popularity of L&L.
I was just at the Hayward L&L yesterday afternoon. Even at 3pm, it
was busy. If you go at 12pm, the line is usually out the door. I can't
wait for one to open in the South Bay. Unfortunately, I don't see any
scheduled in the near future. If you want more info on L&L, go to:
http://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/
> Apart from that mac salad, quality seemed good for a fastish-food
> place.
As with any Hawaiian plate lunch place, you can skip the mac salad by
ordering it with "all rice" - i.e. "one bbq chicken, all rice."
BTW, this place must be very new. It hasn't even hit the "list" yet:
http://pw1.netcom.com/~halkop/food.html
--A
Al Eisner
> Al Eisner wrote:
> > I've found some earlier ba.food posts
> > about an "L&L" Hawaiian place -- is there some naming theme?
>
> Interesting. Probably just a gimmick to play off the popularity of L&L.
> I was just at the Hayward L&L yesterday afternoon. Even at 3pm, it
> was busy. If you go at 12pm, the line is usually out the door. I can't
> wait for one to open in the South Bay. Unfortunately, I don't see any
> scheduled in the near future. If you want more info on L&L, go to:
> http://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/
>
> > Apart from that mac salad, quality seemed good for a fastish-food
> > place.
>
> As with any Hawaiian plate lunch place, you can skip the mac salad by
> ordering it with "all rice" - i.e. "one bbq chicken, all rice."
Yes, but there was already more rice than I needed!
> BTW, this place must be very new. It hasn't even hit the "list" yet:
>
> http://pw1.netcom.com/~halkop/food.html
Interesting -- the description of the L&L menu there is quite similar
to the Hawaiian part of the J&J menu. (I've also been to Island
Barbecue in San Mateo, which is quite a different sort of place -
more of a conventional restaurant. I recall enjoying it, but it
didn't make a big impression.)
alee
> Yes, but there was already more rice than I needed!
Obviously, you aren't a local. Maybe you can ask for an Atkin's plate
lunch. ;)
> Interesting -- the description of the L&L menu there is quite similar
> to the Hawaiian part of the J&J menu.
This is typical fare for a "plate lunch" place. You'll find the same
menu at Hawaiian Drive Inn, L&L, etc. This doesn't necessarily mean
that execution is the same, so be warned. I still feel that L&L (Daly
City or Hayward) has the best plate lunch in the bay area. The Vallejo
L&L sucked the last time I was there.
--A
Matt Ackeret
Al Eisner <eis...@slac.stanford.edu> wrote:
> I can't recall having previously been to a place labelled "Hawaiian
>Barbecue". J&J's is in Menlo Park on the "other side" of the RR tracks,
> The place has no table service, and resembles a hybrid of Mr. Chau's
>and Happi House, although neither comparison is really fair to it. It is
I've never been to J&J, but it has a connection to the people who run the King
Salad restaurant on Sunnyvale-Saratoga. I presume it's owned by the same
family. They have been wearing orange J&J's shirts at King Salad for a few
months at least.
>glossy photographs of the items, and all). The steam table offered a good
>variety of what at least resembles real Chinese food (not the identical
>shapeless fried blobs offered under a variety of names by Mr. Chau's),
I presume this part is the same as King Salad. I used to really like Mr.
Chaus, but after going to King Salad, I've only gone back to Mr. Chaus a
few times, always disappointed. (I got King Salad for the first time in a
few weeks today actually.) King Salad's food has more flavor and spices.
Mark Mellin
> Al Eisner wrote:
> >
> > I can't recall having previously been to a place labelled "Hawaiian
> >Barbecue". J&J's is in Menlo Park on the "other side" of the RR tracks,
Right, near Menlo Park's "industrious area." In a previous life,
this was K-2 Chinese Food and Bakery (read doughnuts), before the 7-11
fire next door.
> > The place has no table service, and resembles a hybrid of Mr. Chau's
> >and Happi House, although neither comparison is really fair to it. It is
>
> I've never been to J&J, but it has a connection to the people who run the King
> Salad restaurant on Sunnyvale-Saratoga. I presume it's owned by the same
> family. They have been wearing orange J&J's shirts at King Salad for a few
> months at least.
J & J's website, <http://www.JandJhawaiianBBQ.com>, suggests dining
at King Salad, in addition to Mountain View's Fu Lam Mum.
> >glossy photographs of the items, and all). The steam table offered a good
> >variety of what at least resembles real Chinese food (not the identical
> >shapeless fried blobs offered under a variety of names by Mr. Chau's),
We offered one of their egg roll party trays ($11.99/24 pcs) at a
recent lab gathering and all the feedback was positive.
My first visit was today, for a late lunch snack. I was expecting
the usual choice of heavy combo plates, but was surprised to also find a
variety of lighter saimin soup selections (grilled spam, bbq chicken or
beef, shrimp), udon soups, musubi, and a handful of low priced
sandwiches (spam & egg, bbq chicken or beef, mahi mahi, fried shrimp).
Other interesting combo plates include kalua pig and loco moco.
As you mentioned, service was very pleasant. Beverages appear to be
limited to soft drinks (no dairy products or beer).
- Mark
--
Mark Mellin San Mateo Village, CA 94403-2918 USA