Loco moco facts for kids
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| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Hawaiian cuisine |
| Associated national cuisine | United States |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | White rice, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and brown gravy |
Loco moco is a super popular meal from Hawaii. It's usually made with white rice, a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and yummy brown gravy. But there are lots of different kinds! You might find it with bacon, ham, Spam, or even tofu. Other tasty options include kalua pork, Portuguese sausage, or teriyaki beef and chicken. Sometimes it even has mahi-mahi fish, shrimp, or oysters!
How Loco Moco Began
The loco moco dish was first made in Hilo, Hawaii. This happened in 1949 at a place called Lincoln Grill. The owners, Richard and Nancy Inouye, created it.
Teenagers from a sports club, the Lincoln Wreckers, asked for something new. They wanted a meal that was cheap and quick to make. It also had to be different from a regular sandwich. So, Nancy put rice in a bowl with a hamburger patty on top. Then she added brown gravy. The fried egg was added to the dish later on.
Where the Name "Loco Moco" Came From
The teenagers named the dish "Loco Moco." One of their friends, George Okimoto, had the nickname "Crazy." George Takahashi, who was learning Spanish, suggested "Loco." "Loco" means "crazy" in Spanish. They added "moco" because it rhymed with "loco" and sounded fun.
It's interesting to know that for Spanish speakers, "moco" means "mucus." So, the name can sound a bit funny to them!
Loco Moco on TV Shows
This yummy dish has been shown on many TV shows! It was on an episode of Girl Meets Hawai'i called "Taste of Hawai'i." This show was on the Travel Channel and hosted by Samantha Brown. The episode showed loco moco at the Hawaiian Style Cafe in Waimea. They also showed the plate lunch, which is another famous Hawaiian meal.
The loco moco was also featured on Man v. Food. This was during the show's second season. The host, Adam Richman, tried the dish at Hukilau Café in Laie. He also tried a special loco moco in San Francisco on his show Man Finds Food. Later, in 2018, on a new Man v. Food episode, host Casey Webb tried a big loco moco at Da Kitchen in Maui.
See also
In Spanish: Loco Moco para niños
