The story
Loco moco was born in Hilo, on the rainy east side of Hawaii's Big Island, in 1949. Richard and Nancy Inouye ran the Lincoln Grill there, and teenagers from the Lincoln Wreckers sports club wanted something cheap, quick and not a sandwich. Nancy is said to have put rice in a bowl, laid a hamburger patty on top and covered it with brown gravy. The boys named it after their friend George Okimoto, nicknamed Crazy: a classmate studying Spanish offered loco, and moco was added because it rhymed. Crowned with a fried egg, it became a staple of diners across the islands.
Also known as locomoco, loco moco bowl.
On the Meridish menu
Loco moco was the rice & noodles course on menu No. 18 on October 18, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
Rice topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and brown gravy. Teenagers asked a diner in this rainy island town for it in 1949, and named it after a friend called Crazy.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
