Namu’s Loco Moco at San Francisco’s Ferry Building Farmer’s Market

Namu Food Truck

Ferry Building Farmer’s Market
1 Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA 94105

Open Thursdays 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and Saturdays 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Namu’s food truck features Asian-inspired street food created by Chef Dennis Lee. It is a family-owned and operated business that modernizes Korean food with a fusion of Japanese cuisine. They’re MO is using sustainable, seasonal, and local ingredients.

When I scanned the menu, my eyes were immediately drawn to the loco moco. I was so excited about this menu item! The menu described it as a “MSF [Marin Sun Farms] grass fed burger patty, over premium koshihikari rice and a cage free sunny side up egg all topped with our famous house made dashi gravy.” Yumminess, right? I had to have it. I had been craving loco moco since our last trip to Hawaii. Some may think that loco moco is boring. But au contraire, there is something special about a beefy loco moco with eggs and a hamburger patty over rice and topped off with a beefy gravy. Yum. I fell in love with loco moco during my first visit to Hawaii. I crave loco mocos. I know Hawaiians usually eat it for breakfast, but I could eat that any meal anytime of day. Hell, I’ll even eat it for dessert if I could.

However, I was a little skeptical after I placed the order. I was afraid the dashi gravy was going to be bland and not as flavorful as a beefy gravy. But it was too late. We had already placed the order. Would I be too disappointed because it wasn’t the true Hawaiian loco moco? I almost regretted not ordering the other menu items such as:

– okonomiyaki (Japanese style pizza): crispy and gooey flour pancake with kimchee and market vegetables, topped with bonito flakes, okonomiyaki sauce and kewpie mayo

– gamja fries: handcut potatoes with kimchee relish, gochujang, kewpie mayo, teriyaki, chopped short ribs, and green onions

– Korean egg toast: carrots, cabbage and free range eggs in a soft scramble between two slices of toasted pan de mi bread with ketchup, bacon, kewpie and a side of garlic home fries with avocado

– garlic chicken omurice: chicken garlic and ginger rice wrapped in a thin egg crepe topped with sweet soy and ketchup, served with a side of garlic home fries

– yuzu french toast with fresh fruit compote and whipped cream

See what I mean?! Too many choices, very little stomach. It was such a dilemma.

I approached the counter when my name was called. I was handed our bowl of loco moco, and it looked and smelled wonderful. I quickly rushed over to the seating bench my partner saved us, handed her her spoon. With our spoons in hand, we quickly took our first bite. It was the perfect first bite with the perfect ratio of egg, beef, rice, and dashi gravy. I was NOT disappointed at all… my frown turned upside down. It was delicious. The dashi gravy was brilliantly flavorful, and actually lightened up what is traditionally such a heavy dish. The hamburger patty was beefy goodness. My only beef (no pun intended) with the dish was that the egg was a little too sunny side raw. My last bite of the egg was still that raw gelatinous matter. But I happily ate it anyway. I know they were trying to kick out those dishes quickly because there was a long line of people waiting for their food. I forgive them.