This Loco Moco recipe is a Hawaiian comfort classic that’s hearty, flavorful, and satisfying. Featuring a juicy hamburger patty atop a bed of fluffy white rice, smothered in rich brown gravy, and crowned with a perfectly runny fried egg, this dish is bursting with flavor in every bite and a must-try for anyone craving a taste of Hawaii!
If you’ve never heard of loco moco, you’re in for a true treat! My family visited Honolulu this past year for the first time and all of the food we had was incredible. One of our favorite dishes for brunch that we had on this trip was loco moco at a place called Goofy Cafe and Dine. Super low key, but a favorite with the locals.
This loco moco recipe is my version of a classic Hawaiian dish. It’s made with layers of cooked rice, a fried burger patty, savory mushroom gravy, and a fried egg. Yes – all of that in one dish! It’s incredibly filling and uses easy-to-find ingredients.
For more classic dishes from Hawaii, be sure to check out my Hawaiian Macaroni Salad too.
Why I Love This Loco Moco Recipe
Here are a few reasons why my family loves this recipe.
- Super hearty and filling. I promise you – no one will be hungry after they dive into a plate of loco moco! Even the hungriest of teenage boys find a plate of this incredibly filling and satisfying.
- Perfect for any meal. Loco moco is one of those dishes that can be served for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. The egg gives it brunchy breakfast vibes but it overall has a very savory flavor profile, making it perfect for other meals as well.
- Lots of savory flavor. There are a lot of flavors going on in this loco moco recipe. The burger is seasoned and flavored with Worcestershire sauce and the gravy is a rich, savory gravy made with mushrooms, beef broth, and soy sauce. Add the egg and green onion garnish…so many flavors!
Recipe Ingredients
Don’t be alarmed by the long ingredient list – many of the ingredients are very simple basics, like oil and seasonings. The exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
For the patties:
- Vegetable oil – Any high heat cooking oil will work, like avocado oil.
- Ground beef – I like to use an 80/20 blend for burgers (80% protein/ 20% fat) but use whatever you prefer. You could even substitute ground turkey or chicken if you like.
- Worcestershire sauce – This enhances the flavor of the meat but you could also substitute with soy sauce or leave it out.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, and garlic powder. I used sea salt for this recipe but if you’re using a larger crystal of salt, like kosher, decrease the amount by half.
- Egg – In the meat, the egg acts as a binder to form the patties.
For the gravy:
- Salted butter – Unsalted butter or margarine works too.
- Sweet onion – I love a sweet onion for this but a yellow or white onion will work too.
- Mushrooms – I used baby bella mushrooms but any variety of mushrooms will work. If you hate mushrooms, leave them out.
- All-purpose flour – This thickens the gravy. For a gluten free alternative, use 2-3 teaspoons of cornstarch and mix it with the beef broth before adding it to the pan.
- Beef broth – Beef is best but vegetable broth will work in a pinch.
- Soy sauce – This adds a richness to the gravy.
To assemble:
- White rice – Long grain white rice is traditionally used to make Hawaiian loco moco. Brown rice can also be used or even cauliflower rice.
- Eggs – Fried or sunny side up, whichever is preferred!
- Green onions – Optional garnish that adds a mild onion flavor and some brightness to the dish.
How To Make Loco Moco
Each part of this Hawaiian comfort food dish is easy to make with just a few steps. The printable version of the instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Form the patties. Mix the patty ingredients together in a bowl. Divide into 4 equal portions and then form a patty with each. Make a slight indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb.
- Cook. Cook the beef patties in preheated oil for 3 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the mushrooms. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter, onions, and mushrooms to the pan. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the mushrooms and onions are soft.
- Make the gravy. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add the broth and soy sauce. Stir for 1-2 minutes until it’s a smooth gravy.
- Assemble. Add a cup of rice to the serving plate. Top with the beef patty and gravy. Finish with a fried egg on top and the sliced green onions.
The Perfect Fried Egg
For the perfect fried egg, I use a combination of butter and water. Heat a small amount of butter in a nonstick pan over low heat and wait for it to melt. Carefully break the egg into a small bowl (not into the pan) and pour the egg from the bowl to the pan. Allow the edges to just barely crisp before adding 1-2 teaspoons of water and covering with a lid. This allows the egg to cook without you having to flip it (sunny side up).
Tips & Variations
Here are a few tips and ways to customize this loco moco recipe.
- Cook the rice and egg. I like to start cooking the rice at the beginning of the recipe. Leftover rice also works too. I fry the egg when the gravy is finished or about to be finished.
- Use the same pan. Cooking the mushrooms in the same pan as the beef really adds extra flavor to the gravy.
- Try it with fried rice. Serve this loco moco recipe with fried rice instead of steamed white rice for a punch of extra flavor.
- Use any ground meat. Ground turkey, chicken, pork or even a combination could be used in place of the ground beef in this recipe.
- Enjoy immediately. There are a lot of moving parts to this recipe but it’s a good idea to enjoy it as soon as the egg is fried. Just keep the burger patties and gravy warm if you plan to fry the egg last.
Serving Suggestions
Loco moco is a delicious meal to make and eat at any time of day. It’s already a pretty hearty and filling meal on its own, with the burger, egg, and rice. I will sometimes top the dish with diced or sliced avocado for extra flavor and some brightness.
This also pairs super well with a tall glass of passion orange guava juice. It’s an easy way to feel like you’ve been transported straight to Hawaii!
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Leftover loco moco can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If possible, store the rice separately from the gravy so it doesn’t get soggy. I recommend making freshly fried eggs for the top as they tend to get rubbery when reheated.
- Reheat. To reheat on the stovetop, add everything to a skillet over medium heat and cover with a lid. Warm for about 7 minutes. Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave. It usually takes about 4 minutes in my microwave.
More Ground Beef Recipes To Try
- French Onion Sloppy Joes
- John Wayne Casserole
- Mexican Casserole
- Grilled Cheese Burrito (Taco Bell Copycat)
Loco Moco
Ingredients
For the patties:
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil or avocado oil
- 1 pound ground beef 80/20
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 large egg
For the gravy:
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
- ¼ small sweet onion about ⅓ cup
- ⅓ cup baby bella mushrooms
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
To assemble:
- 3 cups long grain white rice cooked
- 4 eggs fried or sunny side up
- Sliced green onions optional garnish
Instructions
For the patties:
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the oil.
- To a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, garlic powder and egg. Mix until just combined.
- Divide the meat into 4 equal portions and form each portion into a patty.
- Use your thumb to make a slight indentation in the center of each patty. This will keep the patties flat while cooking.
- Place the patties into the skillet and cook them for about 3 minutes on each side and then remove them from the pan and set aside.
For the gravy:
- In the same skillet that you cooked the patties in, lower the heat to medium and add the butter along with the onion and mushrooms. Saute for about 6-8 minutes or until soft.
- Sprinkle the vegetables with flour and cook for another 2 minutes to cook off the raw taste of the flour.
- Add the beef broth and soy sauce and stir together for 1-2 minutes until you have a beautiful, smooth gravy.
To assemble:
- In the center of your serving plate, add about a cup of rice.
- Top the rice with your patty and a generous portion of the gravy.
- Add a fried egg to the top of your patty and garnish with sliced green onions.
- Serve right away.
Last Step:
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