A Loco Moco from Kona Kakes

**** Kona Kakes has moved to Point Loma and no longer serves plate lunches

Recently, I had just finished up my errands on a nice Saturday morning and was heading home down Linda Vista Road. As I drove past the strip mall, you know where Ballast Point is located, I saw Kona Kakes. It had been over five years since I last visited (yeesh!) and tried their plates. I was really hungry, so I decided to stop by. For some reason, the place seemed a bit cleaner and brighter than I recalled.

Being quite famished; I decided to get what is a guilty pleasure these days, the Loco Moco ($10.99). It did take a while to arrive, but I got to watch all of the happy folks coming to pick up cakes for various occasions. The loco moco made its way to my table and was fairly hefty.

Since getting just downwind of a loco moco is means for celebration these days; I decided to bust out the "Rubio scale", a scoring system originally developed by James Rubio on his now defunct "Big Island Grinds" blog way back in 2005. I modified the scale back in 2005; man, fourteen years ago, and hadn't used it in over six months. So, you ready? Hea' goes......

BURGER: Was supposed to be 1/3 pound, but seemed thinner and smaller than expected. Too lean and tough, but well seasoned. Studded with green onions. Beefy with a decent char. 3.0

EGGS:  Perfectly runny, though not seasoned, and it would have been a winnah' if the edges were crisp. 4.0

RICE: A bit on the dry side, but adequate. 2.5

GRAVY: Very dark, though not too gluey, salty, I definitely don't think this is made from scratch. Bitter bits in the gravy. And no Tabasco either! What's up with all these places not having Tabasco???? 2.5

STUFF: The Mac salad was much better than what I'd had before and served nicely chilled. Could have been seasoned and fairly standard. Standard is also the word for the green salad. 2.5

Overall score - 14.5. Decent, but nothing to go out of your way for. Considering that a typical L&L usually scores a 10, this ain't bad, but it's definitely not in the same league as Island Style Café.

Really friendly, nice woman working about my age, who spent her high school years on Oahu. It was nice chatting with her and I got a couple of to go treats for my friends....who loved the guava cake the best.

So, at least I got my Loco Moco fix in!

Kona Kakes
5401 Linda Vista Road Suite 402
San Diego, CA 92110
Hours:
Mon - Tues 11am - 3pm
Wed - Sat  11am - 6pm
Closed Sundays

Comments

[RedDevil]

A loco moco scale! Love it. So glad I found your blog. Keep up the great work.

[kat]

at least you got your fix!

[Kirk]

Thanks so much RD! And additional thanks for commenting!

Yes, I did get me fix Kat. Guess I'm good for a few months now. ;o)

[Soo]

I am tempted to try their cakes but it looks like the cheapest ones are over $50...

[Kirk]

They sell mini-cakes for $6.50 Soo. You can try one of those.

[Junichi]

They're usually closed by the time I get off work. Maybe on a Saturday I'll stop by sometime.

[Derek R]

I forgot that place exists - always have intended to try it. A moco actually sounds really good right now...

[Kirk]

Yeah, I can only make it on Saturdays myself Junichi. Not sure it's worth a special trip - unless you want some cake.

Time to get your fix Derek!

[Dereck]

Kirk,
This post led me to make a loco moco at home using trimmings from a 73 day dry aged rib subprimal. It was great with a demi gravy and perfectly crispy, runny yolk egg!

[Kirk]

Sounds great Dereck! Here's my Wagyu Locomoco with Veal-Porcini Pan Sauce and Shaved Truffle

https://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2015/06/we-interrupt-our-scheduled-post-for-a-wagyu-locomoco-with-veal-porcini-pan-sauce-and-shaved-truffle.html

[Derek R]

Dude - you guys are killing me with these fancy Moco's!

[Kirk]

We're just getting a bit more "loco" Derek.....