Encinitas Loco Moco

Served up by LANI, the Stewardess with all the world’s recipes.

Prep: 15 min · Cook: 25 min · Serves: 4

Why surfers love it: It's a whole plate lunch stacked in one bowl. Rice to refuel, beef and egg for protein, and gravy that warms you right back up after a long, cold session.

Ingredients

• 1½ lb ground beef (80/20)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp oil
• 4 eggs (pasteurized if you like a runny yolk)
• 6 cups hot cooked medium-grain white rice
• Gravy: 3 tbsp butter, ½ small onion finely chopped, 3 tbsp flour, 2 cups beef broth, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, black pepper
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Optional: macaroni salad on the side, hot sauce

Method

1. Mix the beef gently with the soy sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Shape 4 patties about ¾ inch thick and press a shallow dimple in the middle of each.
2. Heat the oil in a big skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties 4-5 minutes a side, until well browned and 160°F in the center. Move them to a plate and keep the drippings in the pan.
3. Turn the heat to medium. Add the butter and onion to the drippings and cook 3 minutes, until soft.
4. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the broth, then the soy sauce and Worcestershire. Simmer 3-4 minutes until it coats a spoon. Season with pepper.
5. In a second skillet, fry the eggs sunny-side up in a little butter or oil.
6. Pack each bowl with rice, top with a patty and an egg, and pour the gravy over everything. Finish with green onions.

Tip: Cook a double batch of rice the night before. Day-old rice reheats fluffy in the microwave with a splash of water, so you can have bowls on the table ten minutes after you get out of the water.

Where to eat it

Breakers, Encinitas, California. A Hawaiian restaurant and bar in Encinitas serving plate lunches and local-style comfort food. San Diego Magazine reported that it is owned by pro surfer Benji Weatherley with Chad Bennett, bringing back the spirit of his family's Breakers in Haleiwa. This recipe is an original home-cook version inspired by the spot. It is not their recipe, and we have no affiliation with them. Go eat the real thing.