Two scoops of rice topped with a hamburger patty, a sunny-side egg and brown gravy. Hilo invented it in 1949 at Lincoln Grill but Honolulu eats it everywhere now from Rainbow Drive-In to Zippy's at 03:00.
The loco moco came out of Hilo's Lincoln Grill in 1949 when a gang of teenagers called the Lincoln Wreckers asked owner Nancy Inouye for a cheap, fast lunch. She dropped rice in a saimin bowl, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and brown gravy. The first boy nicknamed Loco gave the dish its name. Cafe 100 in Hilo, opened in 1946 by 442nd Infantry veteran Richard Miyashiro, now sells 29 variations. Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu Honolulu has slung the canonical version since 1961.
2 editor picks for Loco moco in Honolulu, ranked by editorial score. All Honolulu signature dishes · Loco moco across every city.
Rainbow Drive-In ★ 4.5
kapahulu · 3308 Kanaina Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
Rainbow Drive-In on Kanaina Avenue in Kapahulu Honolulu has slung plate lunches since 1961, founded by Seiju and Ayako Ifuku and now voted top loco moco by Hawaii Magazine readers.
Zippy's Kapahulu ★ 3.8
kapahulu · 601 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
Zippy's Kapahulu in Honolulu is the 24-hour diner of the local Higa-family chain that sells over 110 tons of chili per month, founded by Francis and Charles Higa in 1966.