Loco Moco is one of Hawaii’s most iconic comfort foods! White rice is topped with a juicy burger patty, rich mushroom-onion gravy, and finished with a fried egg. It’s hearty, flavorful, and a true taste of Hawaii’s local food culture.
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About This Recipe
Loco Moco loosely translates to something like “crazy mix”, which honestly makes sense once you see the components. This beloved local-Hawaiian recipe is traditionally made with steamed white rice, a hamburger patty, savory brown gravy, and topped with a fried egg.
Growing up in Hawaii, loco moco was always a go-to plate lunch option. It's filling, bold, and full of flavor. While there are many variations (fried rice loco moco, eggs cooked however you like, even topping it with spam or Portuguese sausage), I like to add mushrooms and onions to the gravy for extra depth and umami.
It’s believed that loco moco was originally created in Hilo, Hawaii in the late 1940s to feed hungry surfers, it was something filling and inexpensive. Today, it’s a staple in local Hawaiian diners and plate lunch spots. And if you ask me, that runny yolk mixing into the gravy and soaking into the rice is what makes it so ridiculously good. It’s the ultimate Hawaii-style comfort food!
📋 Ingredients
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
🍋 Substitutions and Variations
- Ground Meat: Try a mix of ground beef and pork for extra richness, or go lighter with ground turkey or chicken.
- Rice: Fried rice is a fun twist—try it with chopped veggies, Portuguese sausage, spam, or shrimp.
- Gravy Add-ins: If you're skipping mushrooms or onions, you can still build a flavorful gravy with just stock and seasoning.
- Eggs: Over-easy is classic, but sunny-side up or even scrambled eggs work great too.
⏲️ Instructions
Make the Burger Patties: In a bowl, combine the ground beef, diced onion, panko breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix and divide into four equal portions and form into wide patties.
Cook the Patties: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add oil. Sear the patties for 3-4 minutes per side, or until they reach your preferred doneness. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Saute the Vegetables: Saute the mushrooms until softened and browned for about 5-6 minutes. Add the sliced onions and continue sautéing until softened for another 7-8 minutes.
Make the Gravy: Stir in the butter and sprinkle in the flour and stir for one to two minutes to cook out the raw flavor. Slowly whisk in the beef stock and simmer until thickened. Season with Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, and pepper to taste.
Fry the Eggs: In a clean skillet, fry the eggs over medium heat until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about two to three minutes.
Assemble and Serve: Scoop rice onto plates or bowls. Top each serving with a cooked burger patty, spoon over the mushroom onion gravy, and finish with a fried egg. Garnish with furikake and green onions, if desired.
📍 Recipe Tips
- Burger Tips: Chop the onion very finely so it melts into the meat. Mix everything just until combined—overmixing can make the patties tough.
- Searing: Get your pan hot before adding the patties to get a nice crust.
- Gravy: Cook the flour into the fat for at least a minute so it doesn’t taste raw. Add the stock slowly and whisk continuously for a smooth, lump-free gravy.
- Make Ahead: You can prep the patties and gravy ahead of time, just keep the elements separate. Reheat the gravy gently, sear the patties to warm them up, and fry the eggs right before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Loco moco is super hearty on its own, especially with a scoop of white rice. But if you want to round out the plate or serve it like a full Hawaiian meal, here are some fun ideas:
- Classic Hawaiian mac salad
- Korean cucumber salad for something fresh and crunchy
- Kimchi on the side for a tangy kick
- Or make it a party with Poke Nachos as a starter
More Hawaiian Recipes to Try
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Classic Loco Moco Recipe
LittleFerraroKitchen.com
Ingredients
For the Burger Patties:
- 1 pound ground beef 80/20 preferred
- ½ yellow onion finely diced
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil for cooking
For the Mushroom Onion Gravy:
- ½ yellow onion thinly sliced
- ½ pint baby bella mushrooms sliced
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil or reserved pan drippings
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups beef stock
- 1 to 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 to 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
For Serving:
- 4 large eggs
- 3 to 4 cups cooked white rice jasmine or Calrose recommended
- Furikake optional
- Thinly sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Make the Burger Patties: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, finely diced onion, panko breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mix gently with your hands or a spoon until just combined—be careful not to overmix. Divide the mixture into four equal portions and form into wide, flat patties (they will shrink slightly as they cook).
- Cook the Patties: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add one tablespoon of oil. Sear the patties for 3-4 minutes per side, or until they reach your preferred doneness. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Make the Gravy: In the same pan, add the sliced mushrooms and cook for about 5-6, or until browned. Add the sliced onions and sauté for another 7-8 minutes until just caramelized. Stir in the butter and additional oil if needed. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for one to two minutes to cook out the raw flavor.
- Slowly whisk in the beef stock, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Simmer the gravy for 5-7 minutes, or until thickened. Season with Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Fry the Eggs: In a clean skillet, fry the eggs over medium heat until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, about two to three minutes.
- Assemble and Serve: Scoop the rice onto plates or bowls. Top each serving with a cooked burger patty, spoon over the mushroom onion gravy, and finish with a fried egg. Garnish with furikake and green onions, if desired.
In the Kitchen with Dinah says
We had this in HAwaii for brunch a few times. This recipe is not as heavy as the Hawaii meals were and What a surprise to the rest of the Family, they Loved it.