If you haven’t tried a poke bowl yet, you are definitely going to need to catch the nearest wave to a restaurant that’s serving up one of these hot new sushi salads. The poke bowl is the perfect dish if you prefer a fork to chopsticks, are tired of your sushi rolls falling apart, or simply looking for a fresh take on Japanese dish with a little Hawaiian twist. Here are the five best Poke places in the Valley to take your taste buds on a sea voyage Captain Nemo would endorse.
Pacific Catch
The Poke Bowls here are fresh and flavorful. As a restaurant committed to serving both quality food and giving back with community outreach, Pacific Catch provides a great selection of poke bowls. Pacific Catch also has a huge variety of dishes such as fish tacos, salads, and sandwiches to name a few other selections for those who aren’t the biggest sushi fans, but it is the poke bowl that will keep you coming back here for more. Their “Chalkboard” specials keep things fresh, as they continue to bring in tastes from many places around the coast. The modern vibes and the very personable seating arrangements make Pacific Catch a great first date spot or the perfect place to get a more personal meal with a close friend or relative.
Poki Bowl
Customization is the key to success for this poke bowl restaurant. With a large assortment of ingredients to add to your poke bowl, you’ll never have to get the same thing twice. Think Subway meets Flat Top, while providing fresh food and friendly service. You’ll have fun exploring the seemingly limitless possibilities as you discover your perfect poke. I mixed octopus and yellowtail and was surprisingly thrilled with the resulting flavors. You get the best of both worlds at Poki Bowl - the ability to customize your poke to your liking with tons of fresh ingredients to mix and match ensures you get an amazing dish every time.
Pokéworks
Pokéworks is another restaurant that focuses on the customization of your poke bowl, but offers a lot of great signature dishes that simplify some of the complexities of the poke assembly. Pokéworks has an easy to read menu that is very helpful for those who are new to crafting their own poke bowls. Where this restaurant shines is its variety of sauces that add a whole other level to the poke bowl’s flavor. With eight sauces to choose from, you can change the flavor of your poke allowing for tons of new tasty discoveries. The service is great here, so you won’t be waiting long to get your fresh food fix. This is a great establishment for people who have never tried poke, or for those who can’t stop coming back for more.
pokéLOVE
pokéLOVE may have unlocked the equation for the perfect poke. By mixing fresh fish, fresh toppings, homemade dressings, and adding a dash of love, they seem to have indisputably proven that a perfect poke is not a fantasy. Along with a delicious variety of poke bowls, pokéLOVE has a sizable tea selection that pairs excellently with their bowls. The general vibe here is that eating healthy doesn’t have to be a miserable experience for all involved. Whether it be after a workout or a long day on the move, pokéLOVE will let you fill your belly without feeling guilty about it. I have to say that I’m finally convinced eating healthy can be easy and enjoyable. pokéLOVE simply makes eating healthy feel that much better.
Pokeatery
You’ll come here with your stomach grumbling, and leave full with a grin from cheek to cheek. Pokeatery is at the forefront of the poke bowl craze, leaving behind the bowl in favor of their poke box. You get more space in the box to pack as many deliciously fresh ingredients as you can into your poke. With their large amount of protein selections and toppings, not to mention you can add as many you would like, Pokeatery will make you ask the question, “Why has no one has thought of a poke suitcase yet? (patent pending).” With high quality ingredients and prices that won’t make you jump overboard, Pokeatery is your destination for excellent and innovative poke.
Try any of these amazing restaurants where you get finally get in on the Poke craze that has taken hold on the whole country and especially the West Coast.