Authentic Loco Moco Recipe + 4 Hawaiian Breakfast and Coffee Pairings

There is no breakfast quite like breakfast in Hawaii. From hearty plates of eggs, sausage, and rice at local diners to sweet breads, pastries, and tropical fruit, Hawaiian breakfasts are built around hearty, comforting dishes. No matter if you prefer savory or sweet, a cup of delicious 100% Hawaiian Coffee is always a perfect addition to any breakfast spread. 

In this guide, we're sharing a classic loco moco recipe along with four other beloved Hawaiian breakfast dishes and the best Kauai Coffee to pair with each for a delicious island meal you can make at home.

Loco Moco Origin

First created at a family-owned restaurant in Hilo in the 1940s, loco moco became popular for being filling, affordable, savory, and satisfying. Today, it remains one of Hawaii's best-known breakfast dishes, thanks in part to its frequent appearances on travel shows and blogs.

Hilo Bay

Classic Loco Moco Recipe

The definition of local comfort food. The dish features white rice topped with a hamburger patty, rich gravy, and a perfectly cooked fried egg.

Ingredients (makes 4 servings)

• 4 cups cooked short-grain sticky white rice

For the Hamburger Patties

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 sweet onion, finely diced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

For the Loco Moco Gravy

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 sweet onion, finely diced
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups beef stock or beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

For Assembly

• 4 eggs
• Sliced green onions for garnish (optional)

Instructions (makes 4 servings)

Cook the Rice

Cook rice according to the package instructions in a rice cooker or in a pot with a tight-fitting lid.

Make the Beef Patties

1. In a small bowl, combine the ground beef, onion, salt, and pepper.
2. Form into four hamburger patty portions.
3. Heat a pan over medium heat.
4. Cook each beef patty for about 4 to 5 minutes per side until browned and fully cooked.
5. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Prepare the Loco Moco Gravy

1. In the same skillet, melt the butter.
2. Add the diced onion and cook until softened.
3. Sprinkle in the flour and combine with the butter and onions until a thick paste forms.
4. Slowly add the beef broth while whisking.
5. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce.
6. Simmer on medium-low heat until a thick brown gravy forms.
7. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Remove from heat.

Fry the Eggs

1. Heat a little oil in a clean skillet.
2. Fry each egg sunny-side up until the whites are set and the yolk remains soft or jammy.

Assemble the Loco Moco

1. Divide the rice among four plates and top with a hamburger patty.
2. Spoon the loco moco gravy generously over the top.
3. Finish with a sunny-side-up egg and garnish with optional green onions.
4. Serve immediately.

Best Coffee Pairing

100% Kauai Coffee Medium Roast

The savory beef, gravy, and egg are so ‘ono (delicious) with our smooth medium roast. 100% Kauai Coffee Medium Roast is floral and bright, with a hint of sweetness that cuts through the richness of the dish.

Spam Musubi

While often enjoyed as a snack or lunch, Spam musubi has become a popular grab-and-go breakfast across Hawaii. It's simple, portable, packed with flavor, and available at most grocery and convenience stores.

Its origin is not well known, but it is likely due to the availability of canned meat in Hawaii during and after World War II and to the influence of Pacific Asian cuisine brought to the islands.

Ingredients (makes 6 servings)

• 1 can Spam, sliced
• 3 cups cooked short-grain sticky white rice
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 2-3 nori sheets (dried seaweed sheets)

Instructions

1. Cook the rice in a rice cooker or a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Once the rice is cooked, toss it with 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar and one tablespoon of sugar and set aside to cool.
2. Cook the sliced Spam in a hot skillet until lightly crisp.
3. Add the soy sauce, water, and the remaining tablespoon of sugar to the pan, then let the Spam slices simmer in the glaze until the glaze thickens.
4. Line the Spam can with plastic wrap, then add ½ cup of cooled rice to the can. Press it firmly into an even layer and use the plastic wrap to pull it out of the can.
5. Place a Spam slice on top of each rice block.
6. Cut the nori sheets into wide strips and wrap the Spam and rice with a strip of seaweed. Wet the tip of your finger with some water or soy sauce and run it along the edge of the seaweed sheet to seal it.

Best Coffee Pairing

Peaberry Medium Roast

Our 100% Hawaiian Peaberry Coffee is a sip of tropical sunshine. With bright, refreshing acidity reminiscent of sun-ripened citrus, it is the perfect pair for the sweet-and-salty musubi.

Portuguese Sausage and Eggs

Portuguese immigrants brought many culinary traditions to Hawaii, and Portuguese sausage remains a breakfast staple throughout the islands.

Ingredients (makes 4 servings)

• 12 ounces Portuguese sausage, sliced
• 4 eggs
• 4 cups cooked, short-grain sticky white rice
• Green onions for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
2. Brown the sausage slices until caramelized and set aside.
3. Cook the eggs to your preference. A soft scramble is a great choice.
4. Serve alongside rice and garnish with green onions.

Best Coffee Pairing

Kauai Sunrise

The caramelized, slightly spicy flavor of Portuguese sausage stands up well to a darker roast. Kauai Sunrise is 100% Hawaiian Coffee with notes of cocoa and toasted nuts.

Taro Pancakes

Taro is an extremely important plant and food source in Hawaii and has been a cornerstone of indigenous culture and traditions across Polynesia for centuries. It was one of the essential plants brought to the Hawaiian Islands by Polynesian explorers for sustenance.  These pancakes offer a subtle sweetness and pleasant chewiness that make breakfast extra special.

Ingredients (makes 4 servings)

• 1/4 cup poi* (taro root, boiled and pounded into a starchy paste)
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 stick melted butter (1/2 cup)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla or coconut extract
• Maple or coconut syrup for serving
• Nonstick spray or oil for cooking

Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl combine the wet ingredients (poi, egg, milk, butter, extract)
2. In a larger bowl, whisk the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, sugar)
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredient bowl and stir gently to combine. For extra fluffy pancakes, set the batter aside for 20 minutes before cooking.
4. Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Once hot, pour batter onto skillet and cook until bubbles form.
5. Flip and cook until the edges are golden brown and the pancake is set.
6. Serve hot with butter and syrup.

*Poi is available fresh and frozen in most grocery stores in Hawaii. If you are unable to find taro or poi at your local store, use a taro pancake mix, often found in the Pacific or Asian aisle of the grocery store.

Best Coffee Pairing

Mundo Novo

Estate Reserve 100% Hawaiian Coffee. Mundo Novo is a dark roast with earthy, woody notes and an undertone of toasted nuts. It is a fantastic complement to the sweet and starchy pancake.

Banana Macadamia Nut French Toast

This island-inspired French Toast is sweet and satisfying. Ripe bananas and buttery macadamia nuts create a flavor combination that feels right at home in Hawaii.

Ingredients (makes 4 servings)

• 8 slices Hawaiian sweet bread
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts
• Butter for cooking
• Maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

1. Whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla.
2. Dip each slice of Hawaiian sweet bread into the custard mixture.
3. Cook in a hot, buttered skillet until golden on both sides.
4. Top with sliced bananas and macadamia nuts.
5. Serve warm with a generous drizzle of maple syrup.

Best Coffee Pairing

100% Hawaiian Vanilla Macadamia Nut Flavored Coffee

Our 100% Hawaiian Coffee with a hint of added flavor. Vanilla Macadamia Nut doubles down on the toasty, nutty flavors of the French Toast and amplifies the sweet custard coating with its hint of sweet vanilla.

Bring Hawaii's Favorite Breakfasts Home

Whether you're craving a classic loco moco, savory Portuguese sausage and eggs, convenient Spam musubi, or sweet pancakes and French Toast, each of these dishes offers a taste of Hawaii's unique food culture.

Pair these breakfast favorites with our premium 100% Hawaiian Coffee, and you'll have everything you need to create an authentic island morning wherever you are. Shop our complete collection of 100% Hawaiian Coffee now to find your perfect breakfast pairing.