Hawaiian Loco Moco

If you’ve ever had one of those days where you’re hungry and tired and you want dinner to feel like a hug… Hawaiian Loco Moco is about to become your new best friend. It’s warm rice, a juicy burger patty, rich brown gravy, and a perfectly cooked egg on top—aka the kind of meal that makes everyone in the house suddenly “just happen” to wander into the kitchen.

And look, I love fancy food as much as the next person, but sometimes we want something that’s big on comfort and low on drama. This Hawaiian Loco Moco checks every box: filling, family-friendly, and honestly kind of fun to stack together like a delicious little tower of happiness.

Why You’ll Love This Hawaiian Loco Moco

• It’s the ultimate comfort meal. Rice + burger + gravy + egg = the kind of combo that quiets complaints and cures crankiness.
• It feels restaurant-worthy, but it’s doable on a weeknight. No fancy techniques—just simple cooking that tastes like you worked harder than you did.
• Great for picky eaters. You can keep it simple or let everyone customize (extra gravy people, I see you).
• It’s hearty. This is not a “will I be hungry in 45 minutes?” kind of dinner. This is a “I’m good” dinner.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Rice

• 2 cups white medium grain rice
• 2 cups water

For the Brown Gravy

• 2 cups beef stock
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon shoyu (soy sauce)
• 1 teaspoon beef bouillon paste
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream

For the Burger Patties

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup onion, diced
• ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Eggs

• 6 large eggs
• Cooking oil of choice
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Step-by-Step: How to Make Hawaiian Loco Moco

I’m going to walk you through this like we’re cooking side-by-side. Apron optional. Pajamas welcome.

1) Cook the Rice

1. Rinse the rice under cool water until the water runs mostly clear. This helps keep it from getting gummy.
2. Add the rice and water to a rice cooker and cook until done.

No rice cooker? Use a pot with a lid: bring rice and water to a boil, reduce to low, cover, and simmer about 15 minutes. Turn off heat and let it sit 10 minutes before fluffing.

2) Make the Brown Gravy

This gravy is the “magic sauce” of Hawaiian Loco Moco. It ties everything together like a cozy blanket.

1. In a pot, whisk together:
   • beef stock
   • cornstarch
   • onion powder
   • shoyu
   • beef bouillon paste
2. Cook over medium heat, whisking often, until it thickens. You’ll see it go from “soupy” to “oh hello” pretty quickly.
3. Remove from heat and stir in the heavy cream.

Tip: If it gets too thick, splash in a little more beef stock. If it’s too thin, simmer a bit longer while whisking.

3) Prepare the Burger Patties

These patties are juicy and flavorful—thanks to the egg, panko, and a tiny “secret handshake” of ketchup and mayo.

1. In a large bowl, combine:
   • ground beef
   • egg
   • diced onion
   • panko
   • ketchup
   • mayonnaise
   • salt and pepper
2. Mix just until combined. Don’t overmix (that’s how patties turn into hockey pucks—delicious hockey pucks, but still).
3. Form into patties.
4. Cook over medium-high heat until browned and fully cooked, flipping once.

Quick note: Make patties slightly wider than your scoop of rice. They shrink a little as they cook.

4) Cook the Eggs

Eggs on top are the crown jewel. The goal: set whites, warm yolk, crispy edges if you like.

1. Heat a little oil in a pan.
2. Crack each egg into the pan.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Cook until the whites are set and the edges are lightly browned.
5. Flip gently for over-easy eggs (or leave sunny-side up if you’re feeling brave and dramatic).

My personal favorite: over-easy, because that yolk + gravy combo is basically a sauce party.

5) Assemble the Loco Moco

Now for the fun part—stacking.

1. Scoop rice onto a plate.
2. Top with a burger patty.
3. Spoon brown gravy over the patty (and a little over the rice too—no one’s judging).
4. Crown with a cooked egg.
5. Serve immediately.

At this point your kitchen will smell like comfort and your family will act like you’re a culinary wizard. Accept the compliments. You earned them.

Aneta’s Kitchen Notes (AKA Tips That Save Dinner)

I’m big on recipes that feel friendly, not fussy. Here are a few little tricks I’ve learned making Hawaiian Loco Moco for hungry humans:

• Whisk the gravy like you mean it. Cornstarch thickens fast. If you look away too long, it’ll try to become pudding.
• Don’t smash the patties. Pressing them in the pan squeezes out the juices. Let them sizzle in peace.
• Make it a “build-your-own” situation. If you’ve got picky eaters, serve rice, patties, gravy, and eggs separately and let everyone assemble.
• Extra gravy = extra happiness. If your household loves saucy dinners, double the gravy next time. You’ll thank yourself.
• If the egg flip scares you… use a lid for the last minute of cooking to set the top of the whites. It’s like training wheels, but delicious.

And if your gravy looks a little lumpy for a second—don’t panic. It’s not ruined. It’s just having a moment. Keep whisking and it’ll come around.

A Little Story From My Chicken Magic Kitchen

The first time I made Hawaiian Loco Moco at home, I thought, “This sounds a little… wild.” Burger on rice? With gravy and an egg? But then I served it, and the reaction was immediate: plates wiped clean, people suspiciously quiet (the best compliment), and someone asked if we could have it again “like… tomorrow.”

Now it’s one of my go-to dinners when I need something comforting and filling without turning my evening into a cooking marathon. It’s also one of those meals that makes everyone feel taken care of—even if you’re running on coffee and determination.

FAQs About Hawaiian Loco Moco

The Cozy Finish

If your dinner routine has been feeling a little boring (or you’re just tired of the same three meals on repeat), Hawaiian Loco Moco is a delicious way to shake things up without making your life harder. It’s comforting, satisfying, and just a little bit playful—like the kind of meal that makes a regular Tuesday feel special.

So grab your skillet, whisk up that gravy, and treat yourself to the magic of Hawaiian Loco Moco tonight. And if someone asks for seconds? That’s your sign you’ve officially nailed it.

Keep the Comfort-Food Magic Going

• If you loved the silky brown gravy moment in Hawaiian Loco Moco, you’ll probably want to bookmark this next: Chicken and Garlic Gravy with Cheesy Mashed Potatoes (perfect to link right after your gravy section for readers who are clearly “team extra sauce”).
• For that same burger-and-gravy cozy vibe—but in an easy, family-friendly twist—send readers to Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs (this fits beautifully after the patty-cooking step as a “try this next” option).
• Since Loco Moco is basically the queen of rice bowl comfort, add a smart crossover link to Korean BBQ Meatball Rice Bowls (place it near the rice instructions or assembly section to keep readers clicking into more bowl-style dinners).
• To keep the Hawaiian-inspired theme going (and pull readers deeper into your chicken niche), recommend Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken Stack (this works perfectly right after your final “serve immediately” line as a fun, tropical follow-up).

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