The Downbeat Diner And Lounge

More Hawaii adventures:




Haiku Stairs, a.k.a. Stairway To Heaven - we hiked up in the dark, and then watched the sunrise. Amazing!

And another veggie burger, this time from The Downbeat Diner & Lounge– a place that Joe was very excited to take me to because of the vast range of vegan options they serve.



Those vegan otions include buffalo wings and vegan milkshakes! I was quite impressed. And they are open until 3:00am. This place is like Honolulu’s version of Foodswings!



And in addition to a menu of several different styles of burgers, all available with a vegan patty, they also serve... The Loco Moco: Beef patty or vegan patty, “downbeat gravy”, two eggs over easy, over brown rice.
Wikipedia says that the loco moco is “a traditional meal in Hawaiian cuisine” – although it is normally made with a hamburger patty and white rice. I was excited to try Downbeat’s healthier, vegetarian version of this, since Joe had told me how he had developed a love of the non-vegetarian loco mocos.


Okay, that may be the most unattractive photo ever taken of two eggs – but trust me, they were delicious! The whole thing was, really. While a loco moco might sound like a bizarre combination of foods, the result is tasty, satisfying comfort food.



The patty is vegan, and homemade – the waitress told me it was made from black beans and mushrooms. It was slightly spicy, rich, and hearty. And paired well with the rest of the dish. The waitress told me that the gravy is vegan too, and asked if I wanted “real” eggs or not, so I assume there is a vegan option for those as well – although I opted for the real ones myself.



I’m sure the regular burgers are delicious as well – but I was really happy with my loco moco. I think I might even try recreating it back home in New York – it would be a delicious weekend brunch!


Joe makes a face at my camera, but you can see from his empty glass that he enjoyed his vegan milkshake!

Cost: $8.00 (for the loco moco - wings and milkshakes are extra!)
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆
Burger patty: 4       Bun: N/A      Toppings: 4

The Downbeat Diner & Lounge
42 N Hotel Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
808.533.2328



YumVeggieBurger review #91