When I travel around the Pacific Islands I tend to be a creature of habit in that I eat raw tuna and spam almost exclusively. Well this policy was blown clear out of the water at Towns Cafe where I discovered the sorcery that is a Moco Loco. Never heard of Towns Cafe in Micronesia, or a Moco Loco?
Well let me tell you kids, you have been missing out. A Moco Loco is in short a big mountain of fried rice with a hamburger on it, a fried egg and then doused in gravy. There are days I flatly deny I am diabetic — today was one of those days.
Click to read about Micronesian Cuisine.
Table of Contents
What the Moco Loco?
The Moco Loco originates from Hawaii where it has been a local staple since the mid-20th century. Essentially, it is a comfort-food behemoth: a plate of rice forms the base, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and rich brown gravy poured over the top. Some versions include sautéed onions or mushrooms. The dish was brought to Micronesia and has found an amiable home here. I noticed it far more frequently in Pohnpei than in Palau or the Marshall Islands for example. It has a reputation for being filling, indulgent, and utterly addictive.
Recipe for Moco Loco
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked fried rice
- 1 hamburger patty (beef or pork)
- 1 fried egg
- ½ cup brown gravy
- Optional: sautéed onions,, shredded cheese (my take)
Method:
- Fry the rice in a pan with oil until slightly crispy.
- Cook the hamburger patty to your liking.
- Fry an egg sunny side up.
- Plate the fried rice, place the patty on top, then the egg.
- Pour warm gravy over the entire mound.
- Optional: top with onions, mushrooms, or cheese. Serve immediately.
You can find Moco Loco in Hawaii, some parts of Guam, and now increasingly in Micronesia. It is popular among locals and visitors alike for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner.
What the Towns Cafe?
So basically I can’t travel to the USA because there are like sixteen countries on a list that they hate and I have been to all of them. This means I spend two extra days in Micronesia, and thus get to explore. This is how I ended up at Towns Cafe.
Towns Cafe is a small, family-run spot in Pohnpei, famous for hearty, no-nonsense meals. The owners are approachable, friendly, and clearly take pride in their kitchen. The menu is compact but thoughtful, ranging from local-style poke to American diner classics. Prices are decent for the region, as the sample menu items show…
Towns Cafe Menu Highlights
- Pic Poke Bowl — $8
- Tuna Melt — $10
- Moco Loco — $12
- Fried Chicken Plate — $11
- Hamburger with Fries — $9
- Breakfast Plate (Eggs, Bacon, Rice) — $9
- Pancakes with Syrup — $7
- Local Fish Fry with Rice — $12
- Spam and Eggs — $8
- Cheeseburger — $10
The Food
I started with a pic poke, with the tuna being out of this world. My friend had a tuna melt which was equally as good. But hey, we came here for the Moco Loco, am I right?
This dish was just spectacular, featuring a bunch of ingredients that should not go together. But hey, I like fried rice, I like burgers, and I like egg and gravy. Why the hell would I not like them together? In fact it was a culinary sensation with the rice making a firm, good sub for the bread you would have with the patty. I would add cheese to this bad boy and make it perfection. It is though no shock that people are so fat here when you take all of this into account.
Towns Cafe itself produced great food, attentive service, and a nice environment. There might not be huge variety here, but this is without doubt one of the best places to dine on the island and indeed the country.
Where the Towns Cafe Is
Towns Cafe
Main Street, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
Phone: +691 320 1234
Facebook: facebook.com/TownsCafePohnpei
Instagram: instagram.com/townscafepohnpei
Click to see my Micronesia Tours with YPT.