A:
"Loco moco" is a traditional Hawaiian fast food dish. Composed of boiled rice, topped with a hamburger patty, couple of fried eggs, and brown gravy, it's a total carb-fest favored by many as a good hangover breakfast.
As to where else to find authentic loco moco in Vegas, you have a few choices, although we confess we haven't tried this dish at any of them, so can only pass on the reviews of others.
- Aloha Specialties has been serving Island food inside the California (sister to the Fremont) for many moons and remains popular with visiting Islanders. This restaurant only accepts cash, but nothing on the menu -- which includes classic Hawaiian dishes like loco moco -- is over $10.
- The first Aloha Kitchen was opened in 1998 by a UNLV graduate and the brand now has four locations in the Vegas valley, each boasting a menu of traditional Hawaiian fare. The loco moco here is $6.49; click to see the full menu and to find the location nearest to you.
- The Ohana Hawaiian BBQ chain also has four Las Vegas locations and serves loco moco in a "mini"-sized portion for $5.75 or "regular" for $7.75.
- Loco moco is on the menu at the coffee shop at Arizona Charlie's Boulder for $5.49. It's open until midnight during the week and 24/7 on the weekend, when you might be in need of some late-night comfort food.
- Island Flavor, located at 8090 S. Durango, is a Hawaiian transplant and prides itself on serving authentic specialties. The loco moco here, served with a traditional side of macaroni or salad, is $8.75.
- Maui Rose (2600 W. Sahara) also offers a traditional Hawaiian menu, with loco moco for $7.50.
- The loco moco at Hawaiian Hale (3620 W. Sahara) is $8.50 and the restaurant has received a lot of positive comments on Yelp.com, including from one person who said they have "the best loco moco in town, big serving of rice, 2 big hamburger patties that don't taste or feel store bought like other places."
- Ross J's Aloha Grill in Henderson (4650 E. Sunset Rd) serves loco moco starting at $4.95, with regular hamburger patty, and also gets some good write-ups.
- Island Sushi and Grill (9400 S. Eastern) seems popular and the loco moco here is just $5.25. You can order the traditional hamburger patty, or choose from a choice of Spam, Ahi, home-made corned-beef hash patty, or chicken cutlet.
- The only source of loco moco on the Strip that we're aware of is Dick’s Last Resort at Excalibur, which has very recently begun serving breakfast daily from 7 to 11 a.m. All menu items are $12.95, including their version of loco moco, described as "a combination of Jasmine rice, ground chuck patty, two sunny-side-up eggs, and brown gravy, topped with green onions and chili sauce."
We hope this has given you some ideas; let us know if you try any of them. If anyone out there knows of any other places that serve loco moco, please pass on the details and we can add them as "updates" to this answer.
Do the loco moco...
Update 20 December 2011
It's just come to our attention that the very successful Fukuburger
Food Truck, which now has a restaurant in Hollywood, with more to follow, serves a signature "Fuku-Moco" --
click here to see a photo (scroll right).
06/17/2011 A new source of loco mocos has just been revealed to us, served by one of the latest food trucks on the Las Vegas circuit. Follow @Paniolowagonlv on Twitter for their current whereabouts, but according to a recent tweet, they serve loco mocos for $6 until 5 a.m. -- avaiable for pick-up, or call 666-5974 for delivery.
Reader feedback 06/13/2011:
- "The Orleans also has Loco Moco on their menu. My husband ordered it several times and really enjoyed it."
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