Loco Moco, A Traditional Hawaiian Breakfast Recipe

Call me crazy, but I love loco moco!

Loco moco is the name of a popular breakfast meal served in restaurants in the state of Hawaii. It's a true breakfast in a bowl, a meal high in protein, perfect for storing up energy before hitting the surf (or school, or even the office)!

I'm not a surfer, but I know a thing or two about breakfast - and this is definitely an unusual breakfast food, at least in all places besides Hawaii. Turns out that back in 1949 a group of guys requested that the owner of their local favorite restaurant in Hilo, Hawaii, create a cheap meal for their breakfast. They requested a bowl of rice with a hamburger on top, covered in gravy and crowned with a fried egg. Their wish was her command and the rest, as they say, is history. The breakfast dish was so crazy they decided to call it "loco." "Moco" made a nice rhyme and loco moco was born.

These days you'll find loco moco on the menu at many eateries in Hawaii and it's as popular as ever. If you can't make it to Hawaii for breakfast, you can do as I do and duplicate the dish at home. My version features brown rice, although the original has the sticky, white variety. If you prefer vegetarian, choose a veggie burger. If you can't do breakfast without ham or bacon, toss them in instead, or use a sausage patty instead of the hamburger. Oh, and don't limit loco moco to breakfast. It makes a great lunch or even a nice, easy supper meal-in-a-bowl.

No matter how you stack it, loco moco is a great-tasting, very filling, totally Hawaiian comfort food meal. I love it!