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Loco Moco: The ultimate Hawaiian plate lunch.

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Loco moco is a Hawaiian comfort food that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A delicious hamburger patty atop a bed of white rice smothered with brown gravy and topped with an over easy egg. Simple yet delicious.

Loco moco

It is believed that the loco moco was started at a restaurant in Hilo, Hawai’i. Patrons of the restaurant wanted something different and inexpensive. One of patrons nickname was loco (yes meaning crazy in Spanish) and moco was added on as a rhyming word (not to be confused with the Spanish translation of snot). And alas the loco moco was born.

The loco moco has become widely popular in Hawai’i and can be found in just about any local eatery that serves plate lunches.

Loco moco

Some other great plate lunch options include: chow fun, mochiko chicken, pastele stew, shoyu chicken, kalua pig, beef stew, laulau, or luau stew.

The components of a loco moco

  • A bed of sticky, white rice
  • Thick, juicy ground beef burger
  • Homemade brown gravy
  • An over easy egg

Ingredients for a loco moco

Loco moco

Ingredients for a loco moco

This recipe makes the classic loco moco. You can always substitute any ingredients with options that suit your diet.

What temperature should ground beef be cooked to?

For food safety it is recommended that ground beef be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F.

Loco moco

What sides can I serve?

This dish really does not need any other sides to go with it, however if you are feeling extra hungry you can always add a scoop of mac salad, tossed salad, steamed veggies, etc.

How to store loco moco?

This is best eaten warm, although if you happen to have leftovers you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

How to make a loco moco?

Rinse rice with cool running water until the water runs clear. Place rinsed rice and fresh water in to a rice pot. Cook the rice in the rice cooker until completed.

While the rice is cooking start the brown gravy. To a small pot add beef stock, cornstarch, onion powder, shoyu, and beef bouillon paste. Whisk to combine. Continue cooking until thickened. Once thickened remove from heat and stir in heavy cream. Set aside.

Loco moco

Next to a large bowl add ground beef, egg, onion, panko, ketchup, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Form ground beef mixture in to patties and place in a large pan over medium high heat. Cook until browned, then flip and repeat until all patties have cooked.

Loco moco
Loco moco

While the patties are cooking begin to prepare your egg. In a small pan add the cooking oil of your choice. Carefully crack an egg in to the pan. Add salt and pepper. Cook until the edges just start to brown up. Carefully flip the egg being cautious not to crack the yolk. Repeat cooking on the other side. Remove from pan and set aside. Continue with remaining eggs.

Loco moco

To assemble: add one scoop of rice, next the burger, cover with brown gravy, and top with the egg.

Loco moco

Enjoy!

Loco moco

Loco Moco Recipe

Relle Lum
Loco moco is a Hawaiian comfort food that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A delicious hamburger patty atop a bed of white rice smothered with brown gravy and topped with an over easy egg. Simple yet delicious.
4.70 from 120 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Beef
Cuisine Hawaiian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 680 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the rice

  • 2 cups white medium grain rice
  • 2 cups water

For the brown gravy

For the burger

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup onion diced
  • 1/4 cup panko
  • 2 tablespoon ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • salt and pepper to taste

For the egg

  • cooking oil of choice
  • 6 large eggs
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Rinse rice with cool running water until the water runs clear. Place rinsed rice and fresh water in to a rice pot. Cook the rice in the rice cooker until completed.
  • While the rice is cooking start the brown gravy. To a small pot add beef stock, cornstarch, onion powder, shoyu, and beef bouillon paste. Whisk to combine. Continue cooking until thickened. Once thickened remove from heat and stir in heavy cream. Set aside.
  • Next to a large bowl add ground beef, egg, onion, panko, ketchup, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Form ground beef mixture in to patties and place in a large pan over medium high heat. Cook until browned, then flip and repeat until all patties have cooked.
  • While the patties are cooking begin to prepare your egg. In a small pan add the cooking oil of your choice. Carefully crack an egg in to the pan. Add salt and pepper. Cook until the edges just start to brown up. Carefully flip the egg being cautious not to crack the yolk. Repeat cooking on the other side. Remove from pan and set aside. Continue with remaining eggs.
  • To assemble: add one scoop of rice, next the burger, cover with brown gravy, and top with the egg.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

*The above recipe is for a classic loco moco. You can always swap out any of the ingredients or leave them out all together if it does not fit your diet.
*Feel free to use a brown gravy packet if you do not wish to make it from scratch.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 680kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 52gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 357mgSodium: 594mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3g
Keyword beef recipes, breakfast, burger, dinner, Hawaii food, Hawaiian food, keeping it relle, loco moco, lunch, plate lunch
Did you make this recipe?Share a photo and tag @keeping.it.relle on Instagram so I can see all your delicious creations and Let me know how it was!

© Relle Lum for Keeping It Relle. Please do not copy and paste or screenshot recipes online or on social media. I’d love it if you share a link with a photo instead. Mahalo!

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loco moco

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By on April 22nd, 2020

About Relle

Aloha, my name is Relle and welcome to my little home on the internet where I like to share all my favorite Hawaiian recipes (and local ones too).

I am a wife, mom of two, and nurse practitioner here in the beautiful state of Hawai’i. I was born and raised in Hawai’i and I am of native Hawaiian descent. In my spare time I love to cook and bake and I have compiled many of my favorite recipes here for you to enjoy.

More posts by this author.

20 thoughts on “Loco Moco: The ultimate Hawaiian plate lunch.”

  1. Hi Relle,

    Can’t wait to make all of your delicious recipes! Miss the loco moco in Maui! 😁

    Going to surprise Mom with your dishes when she visits from Oahu in a few months.

    Aloha!

    Reply
  2. Made this for dinn last night and everyone loved it! I’ve been trying out your recipes and so far every single one was a hit. Keep it up, we all love your videos❤️

    Reply
  3. Hi Relle,

    For the loco moco recipe, is it okay to substitute the heavy cream for regular milk?

    Please publish a cookbook. Your recipes and videos are awesome.

    Reply
    • Hi Connie. Aww you’re too kind. I appreciate it. You can use milk if you’d like. Full fat will give you a more rich flavor than fat free or skim. Hope you enjoy.

      Reply
  4. 5 stars
    Yes! I would have never thought to do a dish like this but I came across your recipe and so happy I did. This was so comforting and delicious.

    Reply

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