Loco Moco Recipe: A Classic Hawaiian Comfort Food
If you’ve never had a loco moco before, prepare yourself for one seriously satisfying plate of food.
Imagine a bed of fluffy white rice topped with a juicy grilled hamburger patty, rich brown gravy, and a fried egg with a runny yolk. Now imagine cutting into that egg and letting the yolk run down over the burger and gravy.
Yep. That’s a loco moco.
It’s messy but absolutely delicious. In fact, the simple combination is exactly what makes it so good. You get savory beef, creamy gravy, fluffy rice, and a fried egg all in one bite.
Loco moco is a popular Hawaiian dish that has become an iconic part of local food culture. It started as an inexpensive, filling meal and grew into something much bigger. Today, you’ll find different versions all over Hawaii, but the basic idea remains the same: rice, burger, gravy, and egg.
And honestly? It’s a pretty delicious combination.
What Is Loco Moco?
Loco moco is made with white rice, a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and a fried egg.
The traditional presentation is simple. A scoop of rice goes on the plate, followed by a hamburger patty. Brown gravy gets poured over the top, and then a fried egg finishes everything off.
You can garnish it with green onions or parsley, although the classic ingredients are really all you need.
The beauty of loco moco comes from the way those ingredients tastes so good together. The rice soaks up the gravy. The burger adds savory, beefy flavor. Then the egg adds richness and a soft yolk that soaks its way into everything underneath.
As a result, every bite tastes a little different depending on how much gravy, egg yolk, burger, and rice you get on your fork.
Where Did Loco Moco Come From?
Loco moco comes from Hawaii and is generally credited to a restaurant in Hilo on the Big Island called Lincoln Grill. According to the commonly told story, local teenagers wanted something inexpensive and filling that they could eat after playing sports.
The young customers reportedly asked for something different from the usual sandwich. The restaurant served them a hamburger patty over rice with gravy.
The egg came later.
Over time, restaurants and home cooks created their own versions. Some use different types of gravy. Others add onions, mushrooms, Spam, Portuguese sausage, or other toppings.
However, the basic combination of rice, burger, gravy, and egg remains the base.
Why Loco Moco Is So Good
Loco moco Looks like a random collection of ingredients, but the combination makes perfect sense.
First, you’ve got white rice. It’s mild, fluffy, and ready to soak up all that gravy.
Next comes the grilled burger patty. Grilling gives the beef a savory, slightly smoky flavor that is perfect with the gravy.
And then there’s the brown gravy.
Oh, the gravy.
This homemade brown gravy starts with butter and flour to create a simple roux. Beef stock adds rich flavor, while onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and Worcestershire sauce bring everything together.
Finally, you add the fried egg.
When you cut into an over-easy egg, the yolk runs down over the burger and gravy. It works its way into the rice, too.
Making the Brown Gravy
The brown gravy is incredibly easy to make.
Start by melting butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Add the flour and whisk it together with the butter. Cook the mixture for about three to four minutes.
This gives the flour time to cook and creates the base of your gravy.
Next, slowly add the beef stock while whisking continuously.
Don’t dump all the stock in at once. Adding it slowly while you whisk helps create a smooth gravy without lumps.
Once you’ve added the stock, whisk in the onion powder, garlic powder, sea salt, and Worcestershire sauce.
The Worcestershire sauce is a small addition, but it adds a great savory depth.
Let the gravy simmer for five to ten minutes, or until it thickens.
Once it reaches the consistency you want, reduce the heat to low.
Give it a stir from time to time while you prepare the burger and eggs.
Grilling the Burger Patties
For this recipe, I use four quarter-pound burger patties.
You can make your own patties from ground beef or use prepared patties if you’re short on time.
Season them however you normally season your burgers, then grill them until they reach the doneness you prefer and are cooked safely.
You don’t need a huge burger here, either. The quarter-pound patty fits nicely over the rice and leaves plenty of room for gravy and an egg.
Once the burgers are cooked, keep them warm while you finish the eggs.
How to Cook the Eggs
The egg is one of the most important parts of loco moco.
For this recipe, you want an over-easy egg. Sunny side up works too.
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
Crack in the eggs and cook until the whites are mostly set.
Carefully flip the eggs and cook for another 20 to 30 seconds.
You want the whites cooked while keeping the yolk soft enough to run when you cut into it.
Of course, if you prefer your eggs cooked more, you can cook them longer. Still, that runny yolk is a huge part of what makes loco moco so delicious.
How to Assemble Loco Moco
Now it’s time to build your plate.
Start with ½ cup of cooked white rice.
Place one grilled quarter-pound burger patty directly on top of the rice.
Next, ladle brown gravy over the burger.
Then place the over-easy egg right on top.
Finish with chopped parsley or green onions if you like.
The Best Part: Breaking the Egg
Everyone’s favorite part is always breaking that yolk.
Grab your fork and do it!
Let it run over the burger, mix with the gravy, and soak into the rice.
Then take a bite.
The creamy yolk adds richness to the savory gravy, while the rice soaks up all those flavors. The burger gives you that hearty beef flavor underneath it all.
It’s simple comfort food, but it so much flavor.
Loco Moco Is the Ultimate Hawaiian Comfort Food
Hawaiian food has a wonderful way of bringing together different influences and turning them into something completely its own.
Loco moco is a great example.
You’ve got rice, which plays an important role in Hawaiian and broader Pacific food culture. Then you’ve got a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and fried egg.
That’s part of what makes local Hawaiian food so much fun to explore.
Can You Make Loco Moco Ahead of Time?
You can prepare some of the components ahead of time, although I recommend assembling the dish right before serving.
The brown gravy can be made ahead and gently reheated. You can also cook the rice in advance and warm it before serving.
For the best result, cook the burger and egg close to serving time.
Freshly cooked eggs make a big difference here, especially when you want that soft yolk.
What to Serve with Loco Moco
Honestly, loco moco is a meal all by itself.
You’ve already got rice, beef, gravy, and eggs on the plate, so you don’t need much else.
If you’re serving a larger Hawaiian-inspired meal, however, you could add a simple green salad, fresh fruit, macaroni salad, or another favorite side.
Still, don’t feel like you need to make a huge spread. Loco moco was created as a filling meal, and it does that job extremely well.
Tips for Making Loco Moco
Keep the gravy warm. The gravy is best when it stays warm and smooth while you prepare the other ingredients.
Whisk the stock in slowly. This helps prevent lumps in your gravy.
Don’t overcook the eggs. If you want a runny yolk, keep the second side cooking time short.
Use hot rice. Warm rice absorbs the gravy beautifully.
Grill the burgers. The grilled flavor adds another layer to the dish.
Serve immediately. Loco moco tastes best when the rice, burger, gravy, and egg are all hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is loco moco?
Loco moco is a Hawaiian dish made with white rice, a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and a fried egg.
Is loco moco actually Hawaiian?
Yes. Loco moco originated in Hawaii and became a popular local dish. It is now one of the better-known Hawaiian comfort foods.
What kind of rice should I use?
Traditional loco moco is commonly served over white rice. Long-grain white rice works very well for this recipe.
Does loco moco use gravy?
Yes. Brown gravy is one of the key parts of a classic loco moco. It soaks into the rice and adds rich flavor to the burger.
Does the egg need to be over easy?
Over-easy and sunny side up eggs are best because the soft yolk mixes with the gravy and rice. You can cook the egg longer if you prefer a firmer yolk.
Can I use a different type of gravy?
There are many variations of loco moco, so you will find different gravies used in different recipes and restaurants. This version uses a simple homemade brown gravy with beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and onion.
Can I add toppings?
Absolutely. Green onions make an easy garnish, and other versions of loco moco may include sautéed onions, mushrooms, Spam, bacon, or Portuguese sausage.
Is loco moco served for breakfast?
It can be! The egg makes it easy to think of loco moco as breakfast food, but it is also commonly enjoyed as lunch, dinner, or a late-night meal.
Make This Hawaiian Favorite at Home
Loco moco is a simple ingredient yet incredible tasting meal.
A little rice goes a long way. Add a grilled burger, pour on some homemade brown gravy, and finish everything with a perfectly cooked fried egg.
Suddenly, you’ve got a plate of Hawaiian comfort food that is hearty, filling, and seriously delicious.
The best part might be how easy it is to make. The gravy comes together in minutes, the burgers cook quickly, and the eggs take only a few minutes.
Before you know it, dinner is ready.
More Hawaiian Recipes
Spam Musubi
Hawaiian Potato Salad
Hawaiian Miso Chicken
Loco Moco
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Equipment
- medium sized skillet
Ingredients
- 2 cups White rice, cooked
- 4 Quarter pound burger patties, grilled
- 4 Eggs
Brown Gravy
- 3 tbsp Butter
- 3 tbsp Flour
- 1/2 tsp Onion powder
- 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp Sea salt
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups Beef stock
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the flour and whisk together for 3-4 minutes.
- Slowly add the beef stock, whisking continuously.
- Whisk in the onion powder, garlic powder, sea salt, and worcestershire sauce.
- Simmer for 5-10 minutes or until thickened.
- Reduce heat to low to keep warm and stir occasionally while preparing the other ingredients.
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Reduce to medium low.
- Fry the eggs until the whites are mostly set, flip, and cook for an additional 20 to 30 seconds.
- To serve, scoop 1/2 cup of white rice onto a plate.
- Place a grilled burger patty on top of the rice.
- Ladle 1/2 cup of gravy over the burger patty.
- Place the over easy egg on top. Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions and serve immediately.
Nutrition
