Big changes coming to Beach Haven's Biggy's Beach Grill

Long Beach Island just got a bit more tropical.

The incredibly popular Caribbean/Mexican/Hawaiian-fusion restaurant Biggy's Beach Grill in Beach Haven announced via an Instagram post this month that it will be expanding. It's franchising the brand, adding a bakery at the flagship store and changing its name to LocOhana Tropical Grill.

Rest assured, it will feature the same food and same owner, Mike Dunkin. Fans can still get the beloved soft tacos, stuffed with jerk chicken and pico de gallo; grilled blackened mahi with pickled slaw and wasabi tartar sauce; and ahi tuna with avocado and wasabi lime tartar.

But now under a name that reflects the menu's rich cultural background, and Dunkin's passion for traveling the world to find new flavors.

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“Biggy’s didn’t really tell our story of what we are, LocOhana Tropical Grill gives you the vibe of what you’re going to get, which is pretty, colorful, exciting, amazing tasting food,” Dunkin said of the name that combines 'loco' (crazy in Spanish), and 'Ohana' (family in Hawaiian). “LocOhana means ‘crazy family,’ and that’s exactly what we are.”

Dunkin has not decided if there will be a bakery at every new franchise, and the official bakery menu has not been announced, though he said to expect the unexpected.

“It’s not going to be typical elephant ears, New York cheesecake and chocolate cake, it’s going to be items you don’t see on anyone else’s menu… Caribbean, Hawaiian and Jamaican-based items – all with our fusion of how we cook.”

An addition of Key Lime pie to the menu last year proved successful, with 10 local restaurants add it to their menus.

“Once we realized how big of a hit it was, we realized people wanted something different baked-wise on LBI," he said.

LBI might not have swaying palms like the white sandy beaches of Hawaii, or the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean, but it does have one thing: the original Biggy's. And despite the name change, Dunkin is staying true to its sentiment: He's going big.

“Expect [LocOhana Tropical Grills] in every beach town in New Jersey, with all the same feels that LBI gives you,” Dunkin said. “Our long term plan is to go up and down the East coast.”

He continued, “Since day one [in 2015], we wanted to bring this food to a national level; we started out small and over the years we exploded into something we never expected.”

Go: 1301 Long Beach Blvd., Beach Haven; 609-207-6122, biggysbeachgrill.com, instagram.com/biggysbeachgrill.

Sarah Griesemer contributed to this story.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Biggy's Beach Grill on LBI is changing: Find out the plans