COURTESY PHOTO
This photo, provided by L&L Hawaiian Barbeque, shows their saimin burger.
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After seeing hours-long lines for the original Ramen Burger invented by Keizo Shimamoto of New York City, L&L Drive-Inn co-founder Eddie Flores has decided to introduce a saimin burger at his restaurants, beginning with the Keeaumoku Street store in Walmart on Thursday.
Similar to the famed Ramen Burger, the saimin burger will be a hamburger patty topped with "thick teriyaki sauce," sandwiched between "buns" made from noodles which are "crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside," Flores told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The L&L product launch, from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, will be a food-raiser for the Hawaii Foodbank, as the saimin burgers will be given free to the first 200 people who bring in 10 canned food items. "If you want a loco moco, give me 15," he said. Canned drinks do not count, Flores said.
L&L’s noodle supplier is Hawaii-based Sun Noodle, the same purveyor used for the Ramen Burger and by many other restaurants in Hawaii and across the mainland. Sun Noodle President Hidehito Uki will attend the product launch, Flores said.
Once the first 200 saimin burgers or loco mocos have been distributed in exchange for canned goods, L&L Keeaumoku will begin selling saimin burgers and saimin burger loco mocos for $5.95 and $6.95, respectively. The original Ramen Burger sold for $10 when served in Hawaii.
"Our slogan is bigger, better and cheaper," Flores said.
Tanaka Saimin on Nimitz Highway also sells saimin burgers.