Loco Moco is a signature Hawaiian dish that’s extraordinarily standard on the mainland and in Japan. I grew up consuming this Japanese-influenced dish as a baby, and I like making it for my household at this time. I’ll educate you the way to make this soul-satisfying recipe for a fast and hearty meal any time of day!
For those who’re on the lookout for extra iconic Hawaii consolation meals, strive my Tuna Poke, Poke Bowl, or Furikake Chex Combine subsequent!
What’s Loco Moco?
Loco moco (ロコモコ) is a staple Hawaiian plate lunch that’s additionally standard in Japan, the place it’s loved in informal household eating places (ファミレス) and at dwelling. The phrase loco interprets to “loopy” in Spanish, whereas moco interprets to “burger.” There are lots of variations, however the conventional dish has steamed Japanese white rice topped with a juicy hamburger steak, flavorful brown gravy, and a fried egg. The egg is normally cooked sunny facet up, so the runny egg yolk provides a yummy richness.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Layered with taste and texture – It’s a comforting combo of a wonderfully pan-fried hamburger patty, wealthy and gooey egg yolk, fluffy rice, and velvety gravy.
- Extremely juicy and tender – I exploit my Japanese Hamburger Steak (Hambagu) recipe that mixes floor beef and floor pork for added taste and juiciness.
- Satisfying any time of day – We all the time serve it for lunch or dinner identical to the enduring Hawaiian plate lunch, however you’ll be able to have it for breakfast, too!
Substances for Loco Moco
- Japanese short-grain white rice – cooked; see my recipe The way to Cook dinner Japanese Rice
- Floor beef and floor pork
- Onion
- Giant eggs
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Milk
- Worcestershire sauce, nutmeg, butter, kosher salt, and black pepper
- Gravy:
- White button mushrooms
- Beef inventory
- Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, and black pepper
- Olive oil – to cook dinner the mushrooms
- Potato starch or cornstarch – for the slurry
- Parsley – for garnish
Discover the printable recipe with measurements under.
Substitutions
- Floor meat: I discover the mix of two-thirds beef and one-third pork provides a richer taste and enhances juiciness. You need to use only one or the opposite, although the flavour won’t be as balanced. For those who’re quick on time, you should utilize pre-made floor beef patties, though a selfmade hamburger combination offers a superior taste.
- Onion: I choose candy onions because the sweetness provides complexity. For those who don’t have them, common white onions or yellow onions will work.
- Mushrooms: White button mushrooms are my most well-liked selection since they’re straightforward to search out and caramelize effectively. For those who don’t have them, brown crimini mushrooms will work.
- Beef inventory: Beef inventory is extra flavorful than beef broth, and it makes for a richer gravy. For those who use beef broth, add extra salt and/or Worcestershire sauce to attain the identical complexity.
- Starch: That is for the roux that can thicken the gravy. I choose the impartial taste of cornstarch or potato starch, however if you happen to don’t have both, you should utilize all-purpose flour as a substitute.
The way to Make Loco Moco
Make the Patties
- Mince and sauté the onions. Add them to a scorching, well-oiled pan over medium-high warmth and sauté till translucent. Flip off the warmth.
- Combine the meat and form the patties. Mix the meat, panko, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and half the onions. Combine till sticky and pale, then divide into parts. Form into patties and chill for half-hour.
- Cook dinner. Add the patties to a scorching, well-oiled skillet and cook dinner for about 5 minutes. Flip them and proceed cooking for one more 5 minutes. Make the fried eggs.
Make the Gravy
- Cook dinner the mushrooms and gravy substances. Slice the mushrooms and sauté them in a saucepan over medium warmth. Add the remaining onions. Stir within the inventory and gravy seasonings. Make a starch slurry, whisk it into the gravy, and simmer to thicken.
Assemble
- Portion and serve. Divide the rice into 4 bowls, prime with the patties, gravy, and fried egg. Garnish with parsley and luxuriate in!
Nami’s Recipe Ideas
- Combine the meat till sticky and pale. – That’s the way you’ll know the 2 meats and the seasonings are effectively mixed.
- Toss the meat from one hand to the opposite – Do that a few instances to pressure out the air pockets inside. For those who skip it, the hambagu will crack whereas cooking.
- Chill the patties for half-hour – Relaxation the meat within the fridge so the substances meld and the fats solidifies.
- Indent the patties when frying – After you place the meat within the pan, make a despair within the patty’s middle with 2–3 fingers. It will maintain the steaks from exploding or crumbling because the meat expands from the warmth. The indentation will disappear as soon as cooked.
Variations and Customizations
- Use different forms of floor meat. For a leaner possibility, you should utilize floor hen or floor turkey as a substitute.
- Don’t get pleasure from runny yolks? Whereas I choose sunny-side-up eggs, you’ll be able to cook dinner them to fit your private desire. I’ll typically make scrambled eggs for these in my household who don’t like runny eggs.
- Season the pork and beef patties. Add 1 Tbsp of minced garlic (or 1 tsp garlic powder) for an additional layer of taste.
What to Serve with Loco Moco
This can be a nice all-in-one dish, although you’ll be able to simply spice it up with further programs and sides. Listed here are a few of my favorites.
Storage and Reheating Ideas
To retailer: Retailer the cooled leftovers in separate hermetic containers within the fridge for 3 days or within the freezer for a month (I don’t suggest freezing the fried eggs).
To reheat: Reheat the patties and gravy on the stovetop over medium warmth, or microwave in 30-second intervals till heat. The eggs ought to all the time be made to order.
Regularly Requested Questions
You can also make the pork and beef patties and gravy as much as 3 days upfront and maintain within the fridge till you’re able to serve. I extremely suggest making the eggs and rice contemporary so they’re heat and have the very best texture. Rice saved within the fridge will get dry and arduous, and fried eggs will get rubbery if chilled. For those who’re quick on time, you’ll be able to reheat frozen, cooked rice for this dish; find out how in my publish The way to Retailer Cooked Rice.
For a vegetarian model, you’ll be able to substitute the meat inventory for mushroom inventory and the bottom meat for a plant-based various.
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
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Please notice that the hamburger patties require half-hour of chilling time earlier than cooking. For the steamed rice, 1½ cups (2 rice cooker cups, 300 g) of raw Japanese short-grain rice yield roughly 4 servings (4⅓ cups, 660 g) of cooked rice. See the way to cook dinner it with a rice cooker, pot over the range, Instantaneous Pot, or donabe. Now, collect all of the substances.
To Sauté the Onion
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Mince 1 onion finely. I exploit the mijingiri chopping method.
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Warmth 1 Tbsp further virgin olive oil in a big pan on medium-high warmth and sauté the onion till translucent.
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Flip off the warmth. Divide the sautéed onion to make use of for the gravy and the hamburger patties.
To Make the Gravy
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Minimize 6 button mushrooms into skinny slices. Warmth a small saucepan on medium warmth. Then, add ½ Tbsp further virgin olive oil and the mushrooms and sauté till delicate. Add half of the sautéed onion and stir collectively.
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Add 1½ cups beef inventory/broth, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tsp soy sauce.
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Skim off the scum and foam from the floor with a fine-mesh skimmer. Then, season with Diamond Crystal kosher salt to style and ⅛ tsp freshly floor black pepper.
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Make a slurry with 1 Tbsp potato starch or cornstarch and 1 Tbsp water in a small bowl and whisk effectively to mix. Pour it into the gravy and totally combine collectively. Simmer till the gravy thickens, then flip off the warmth and put aside.
To Make the Patties
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Add ½ lb floor beef, ¼ lb floor pork, and the opposite half of the sautéed onion to a big bowl. Add ⅓ cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), 1 giant egg (50 g every w/o shell), 2 Tbsp milk, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt, and ⅛ tsp freshly floor black pepper.
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Knead collectively effectively utilizing your hand till the combination turns into sticky and pale. Then, divide into 4 parts for giant patties or 6 parts for medium patties.
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Toss a portion from one hand to the opposite about 5 instances; this releases the air inside and prevents cracking throughout cooking. Then, make an oval-shaped patty with a barely rounded prime. Place on a plate or tray. Repeat with the opposite parts. Cowl with plastic wrap and relaxation them within the fridge for no less than half-hour in order that the meat melds and the fats solidifies.
To Cook dinner the Hamburger Steaks
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Warmth a big pan over medium warmth, then add ½ Tbsp further virgin olive oil. Place the patties gently within the pan. (Fry in batches if you happen to‘re doubling the recipe.) Indent the middle of every patty with 2 fingers as a result of the meat will rise with the warmth. Fry them for about 5 minutes or till browned on the underside. Flip over, then cowl with a lid and fry till totally cooked inside, about 5 minutes (relying on the thickness of the patties). Right now, reheat the gravy and make the fried eggs with 4 giant eggs (50 g every w/o shell) and ½ Tbsp further virgin olive oil.
To Serve
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Divide 4 servings cooked Japanese short-grain rice on particular person plates. Switch the patties to the plates, pour the gravy on prime, and prime every with a fried egg. Chop 1 sprig parsley and sprinkle on prime for garnish. Serve instantly.
Energy: 571kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 29g, Fats: 33g, Saturated Fats: 10g, Trans Fats: 1g, Ldl cholesterol: 294mg, Sodium: 614mg, Potassium: 707mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 375IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 90mg, Iron: 5mg
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Editor’s Be aware: This publish was initially printed on June 4, 2015, and republished on August 14, 2025.
