Best Loco Mocos in Hawaiʻi: Our Top 5

 

Five years ago, Best Loco Mocos in Hawai‘i: Our Top 5 was the very first article we ever wrote for Frolic. We hoped it would be well received and for the most part, it was. Readers posted an unexpected deluge of comments, opinions and recommendations. We took these to heart and since then have been diligently seeking out new places and revisiting old ones to taste, compare notes, debate—and rinse and repeat. We did this with the same goal that started our original quest: To find and rank the best loco mocos in the state.

 

Our research took us to 70 eateries on four islands (scroll to the bottom of this post for the full list). As before, we set some ground rules to make the judging fair and equitable: The loco moco had to be not too sweet, not too rancid, but juuus right. The patty, as the heart of the dish, had to have great flavor and texture. The egg could be cooked sunny-side-up or over easy—as long as the yolk was warm and runny, adding a creaminess to the dish. The rice had to be cooked well, not dry or mushy, providing a stable base and a starchy ability to hold the gravy. And that gravy had to be a classic diner-style brown gravy. No fancy demi-glace for us. No add-ons, no fried rice, no alternative proteins. Just rice, ground beef patty, gravy and egg.

 

The patty was the one aspect that had the greatest variations, as you would expect from any item made from scratch, and became a key factor in the ranking. Some were all-beef, others had fillers. Some were well-seasoned and deeply flavored, while others were simpler. Char-broiled versus cooked on the flat top became an area of debate, too. In the end, we preferred patties that showed balance and consistency. Texture was key, with one benchmark being the ability to cut through layers of egg, patty, gravy and rice with the side of the fork. And the patty could not be mushy or falling apart.

 

So five years later, we’re back with a new list. It didn’t surprise us that some of our original picks are still among Hawai‘i’s greatest. What did surprise and delight us were the newcomers. And let’s take a moment to mourn the since-closed Like Like Drive Inn, which tied for second place on our 2018 ranking. Here’s our new and updated Top 5 ranking of the best loco mocos in Hawai‘i.

 

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Honorable Mention: Tip Top Café

 

 

A classic dish at a classic restaurant, Tip Top Café came very close to cracking the Top 5 this year. Despite a generous serving of nicely done rice, hamburger and eggs, the gravy ended up being the deciding factor for this plate of comfort ($13.99). The later in the day a loco moco is ordered, the more reduced the gravy becomes. So the dish that at 8:30 a.m. is nicely balanced becomes very salty by noon. Still a very good plate of food that is a great go-to on Kaua‘i, especially when accompanied by a plate of Tip Top’s magnificent macadamia nut pancakes.

 

3173 ‘Akahi St., Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, (808) 245-2333, tiptop-motel.com

 

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SEE ALSO: Old-School Diners We Love: Kaua‘i’s Tip Top Motel, Café & Bakery

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No. 5: Hamada General Store

 

 

Welcome to the party, Hamada General Store. A decent balance between all four components, this newcomer to the list comes with a generous base of rice, a 5- to 6-ounce patty, two eggs and a dark and delicious gravy ($17). The well-seasoned patty is the star, yielding a strong, peppery finish that will tickle you in the back of the throat. As much as we enjoy the flavor, the patty is a little lean and on the firm side. It needs more pressure from the fork than the others on this ranking.

 

Pro tip: Ordering the loco moco with “all rice” and saving the tangy mac salad for deep-fried selections makes for a much better overall paired experience.

 

885 Queen St., Unit C, Honolulu, hamadageneralstore.com, @hamadageneralstore

 

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 No. 4: Tasty Crust

 

 

This place is jammin’ all hours of the day. It seems like nothing has changed in the last 40 years, and we like it that way. Don’t change! And can we get a shout-out for breakfast served all day? The loco moco comes in two sizes here, the smaller breakfast loco moco ($6.75), and the larger one found on the lunch and dinner ($10.75) menu. If you’re in the mood for pancakes but want a little loco moco on the side, the breakfast one is perfect.

 

Think classic diner burger: The patty is beefy and well-cooked without trying to be anything more. Eggs and rice are perfect. The gravy is as good as it gets and brings back childhood memories of eating 50-cent gravy and rice at the Nu‘uanu YMCA. Its flavor is familiar and comforting. This one is straightforward and delivers every component at a level that rises above most. It’s a worthy entry at number four.

 

1770 Mill St., Wailuku, Maui, (808) 244-0845, tastycrustrestaurant.com

 

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No. 3: Café 100

 

 

From the city that is the birthplace of the loco moco, Café 100 keeps it humble and true, the cornerstone of any Hilo eatery. With the best cooked rice of all the contenders, this version offers diners a warm embrace of culinary history. Café 100 is an icon, and the beauty of the loco moco is how it doesn’t deviate from its origin, delivering a straightforward, hearty snack and a perfect balance of flavors. There are different sizes and variations, all priced differently. From the single loco moco ($8.50) to my favorite super loco moco ($17.10), you will be sure to find one to fit your appetite.

 

969 Kīlauea Ave., Hilo, Hawai‘i Island, (808) 935-6368, cafe100.com

 

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SEE ALSO: Hawai‘i’s Oldest Restaurants Are Still ‘Ono After All These Years

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No. 2: Taka’s Box Lunch

 

 

After having the loco moco here ($13.50) six times in the last year, I can say with confidence that Taka’s has earned its way into the number two spot. Hearty portions of rice (three scoops), two homemade hamburger patties, two eggs and tons of gravy all come to the party to dance. Between mouthfuls of goodness, make sure to intersperse bites of the creamy spaghetti mac salad to maximize the experience.

 

Taka’s location in the industrial Māpunapuna area can make parking challenging, but the reward is worth the effort. Go with a wingman. Maybe kill two birds with one stone and grab some andagi from Masa’s Cafeteria while you’re there.

 

830 Māpunapuna St., Honolulu, (808) 834-6918, @takasboxlunch

 

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SEE ALSO: Taka’s Box Lunch May Have the Best Loco Moco in Hawai‘i

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No. 1: Liliha Bakery, original location

 

 

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Our number one pick for best loco moco in the state remains, many tastings later, our number one pick in 2023. Go for the Coco Puffs, stay for the loco moco. If you go to this single-counter diner with more than two people, you’ll likely wait to get seated, but we love the original Liliha Bakery. Maybe it’s nostalgia or maybe it actually tastes different than at the local chain’s growing number of other locations, but we feel the king of loco mocos resides on Kuakini Street.

 

 

First, unlike many other places, the patty is char-broiled. You also have a choice between different size patties (5 ounces for $13.50, 7.75 ounces for $15.50). It’s utter perfection and everything that we want: well-seasoned and tender, with a perfect char. The gravy is as good as it gets and comforting. The eggs and rice are just right, too. The wait is worth it. Oh, and don’t pass on those grilled butter rolls and the radioactive strawberry jelly.

 

All hail the king!

 

515 N. Kuakini St., (808) 531-1651, lilihabakery.com, @lilihabakery

 

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Places We Tried to Find the Best Loco Moco

 

Hawaiʻi Island

Café 100
Ken’s House of Pancake
Kūhiō Grille
Koji’s Bento Corner
Pine Tree Café
Sam Choy’s Kai Lanai
Tex Drive In

 

Kauaʻi

Kiawe Roots
Mark’s Place
Tip Top Café

 

Maui

Kalei’s Lunchbox
Oyako Tei
SixtyTwo MarcKet
Tasty Crust

 

O‘ahu

Aloha Kitchen
Asahi Grill
Big City Diner
Bob’s Bar-B-Que
Boots and Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen
Café Kaila
Café Kālawe
Cinnamon’s
Diamond Head Market and Grill
Eggs ‘n Things
Ethel’s Grill
Fatboy’s
Feast
Forty-Niner Restaurant
Goofy’s Café and Dine
Grace’s Inn
Guava Smoked
Guieb Café
Hamada General Store
Harry’s Café
Highway Inn
Jane’s Fountain
Kāhai Street Kitchen
Kapi‘olani Coffee Shop
Keneke’s
Koko Head Café
L & L Hawaiian Barbecue
Leeward Drive Inn
Liliha Bakery
Loco Moco Drive Inn
MAC 24/7
Mark’s Drive Inn
Moke’s Bread and Breakfast
Nico’s Pier 38
Oh My Grill
One Plus One Drive Inn
Palisades Drive Inn
Pancakes & Waffles BLD
Papa Ole’s Kitchen
Pioneer Saloon
Rainbow Drive-In
Ray’s Café
Richie’s Drive Inn
St. Louis Drive In
Scratch Kitchen
Shige’s Saimin Stand
Shiro’s Saimin Haven
Taka’s Box Lunch
Tango Contemporary Café
Ted’s Bakery
The Alley Restaurant Bar & Grill
The Clubhouse at Mililani
Times Coffee Shop
Waiʻoli Kitchen and Bake Shop
Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
Zippy’s