Loco Mocos

If you’re wondering what a Loco Moco is, it’s a mountain of rice topped with a hamburger patty and a sunny-side up egg, smothered in gravy. According to What’s Cooking America’s article, this is a popular Hawaiian dish and is known as Hawaii’s original homemade fast food as it can be found at many fast-food restaurants. In Hawaii, it’s known as a “local grind” of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s also known as a Hawaiian comfort food and is always topped with a sunny-side up facing egg.

The original Loco Moco was reportedly created at a restaurant in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, back in 1949. According to Kalani Pkg’s article, the famous dish was created in response to a group of teenagers who wanted an inexpensive alternative to a sandwich, Hawaiian-style of course! The response to the teens’ request was a huge bowl of rice, topped with a hamburger patty and then brown gravy. The teens named the dish ‘Loco Moco’ after one of their sports club members, named Loco, and then added the name Moco because it rhymed. The egg came later and completes the local kine grindz (food).

Reason I Chose This Dish

The main reason I chose to make this dish is due to my husband, who is Hawaiian, who’s mouth waters when he hears the words: “loco moco.” We got married in Hawaii and had breakfast out every day while we vacationed on the Big Island and you can bet your bottom dollar that my husband ordered the same exact thing off the menu at Pine Tree Cafe in Kailua-Kona every morning, which was their Loco Moco.

I’ve always known it’s one of my husband’s favorite meals, next to his mom’s Lomi Lomi salmon, so I was ecstatic to make this. The first recent attempt didn’t go as planned as the gravy was way too watery and lacked flavor. I cooked this dish for him when we lived in southern California, but that’s been at least three years.

Upon the second recent attempt at trying and hoping for the perfect beef gravy to accommodate the bowl of rice, I was successful! The second gravy attempt proved to be significantly better than the first and was instantly creamy, and looked smooth and delicious whereas the first gravy mixture did not include butter or milk, and was very watery.

If you want to try this, but can’t afford a trip to beautiful Hawaii, then you need to make this famous recipe TONIGHT! Bring the magical Hawaiian Islands to your very own home with this authentic and ono-licious Loco Moco recipe. Mahalo!

How to Make the Best Loco Mocos

HAMBURGER PATTIES

1). Season the patties by rubbing salt and pepper all over them. If you have 1 pound ground beef, then season the ground beef in a bowl with salt and pepper, then form into four patties by rolling the meat into four balls and flattening each ball down to form it into a patty. Try to keep the patties large as they will shrink once cooked.

2). Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Fry each side of the patties, only turning once. If you want some pink, cook for 3-5 minutes on each side. If you want well done, cook for 6-8 minutes on each side. Tip: when you place the patties on the pan, use your spatula to firmly press down on the meat. Drain the excess oil.

GRAVY

1). To make the gravy, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the salt and flour and stir for one minute.

2). Add the broth and cook until it thickens, about 2-4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the milk and Worcestershire sauce.

EGG

1). Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small pan and cook over medium heat. Crack an egg over the pan.

2). Cook the egg to your preference. Loco Mocos use sunny-side up eggs, but feel free to eat the egg any way you like.

ASSEMBLING LOCO MOCO

1). Spoon 1 cup of rice on a plate, topped with the cooked hamburger patty. Pour the gravy on top and add chopped green onions on top.

More beef recipes you’ll love!

Black Pepper Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Easy Baked Beef Tacos

Easy Weeknight Sloppy Joes

Cheesy Pizza Taco Sticks

Hamburgers

Asian Glazed Meatballs

Pigs in a Blanket

Final Thoughts

Finally, if you make these Loco Mocos, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this recipe and always try my best to respond to all comments.

Loco Mocos

Elise McCollister

The original Loco Moco was reportedly created at a restaurant in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, back in 1949. According to Kalani Pkg’s article, the famous dish was created in response to a group of teenagers who wanted an inexpensive alternative to a sandwich, Hawaiian-style of course!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Breakfast & Brunch

Cuisine Hawaiian

Servings 4

Calories 670 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x4x

• 4 Eggs
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 3 Green onions chopped
• 2 cups White rice cooked

Hamburger Patties

• 4 Hamburger patties or make your own using 1lb of ground beef
• Sea salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Gravy

• 1/4 cup Butter
• 2 tbsp Flour all-purpose
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 cup Beef broth
• 1 tbsp Milk any type
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

 

Hamburger Patties

• Season the patties by rubbing salt and pepper all over them. If you have 1 pound ground beef, then season the ground beef in a bowl with salt and pepper, then form into four patties by rolling the meat into four balls and flattening each ball down to form it into a patty. Try to keep the patties large as they will shrink once cooked.
• Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Fry each side of the patties, only turning once. If you want some pink, cook for 3-5 minutes on each side. If you want well done, cook for 6-8 minutes on each side. Tip: when you place the patties on the pan, use your spatula to firmly press down on the meat. Drain the excess oil.

Gravy

• To make the gravy, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the salt and flour and stir for one minute.
• Add the broth and cook until it thickens, about 2-4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the milk and Worcestershire sauce.

Egg

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small pan and cook over medium heat. Crack an egg over the pan.
• Cook the egg to your preference. Loco Mocos use sunny-side up eggs, but feel free to eat the egg any way you like.

Assembling Loco Moco

• Spoon 1 cup of rice on a plate, topped with the cooked hamburger patty. Pour the gravy on top and add chopped green onions on top.

Notes

• The gravy will thicken as it cools so you may have to reheat it and add more broth to thin it out.
• Store leftover gravy in the refrigerator for up to three days.
• Suggest storing leftover rice, hamburger patties, and gravy in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to three days at most.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 670kcalCarbohydrates: 95gProtein: 25gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 548mgPotassium: 526mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 103IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 101mgIron: 4mg

Did you try this recipe?Mention @elisemccollister or tag #elisemccollister!