Best Poké Bowl in Vancouver

Poké (pronounced pō-kay, meaning to slice or cut in Hawaiian) is the It item on the food scene right now. This popular classic Hawaiian dish consists of chunks of sashimi, typically tuna or salmon, marinated in soy and sesame and served chilled. In Hawaii, you can pick up this refreshing snack pretty much anywhere – at gas stations, grocery stores, markets, and restaurants. Now, poké has made its way onto menus from LA to NYC, and people are lining up in droves (true story, on our most recent visit to New York, the queue for a take-away bowl at Pokeworks was at least 40 people deep at any given moment.)

Where can you get poké in Vancouver? We did some poking around to compile the options, and discovered everyone has their take; some are snack-sized appetizers while others are made into fuller salads or rice bowls. Let us know who you think does it best!

Poké in Vancouver

Oka-San Kitchen Cafe | 3578 Fraser Street, Vancouver

This insta pic breaks down exactly what goes into their Hawaiian Poke.

Bao Down Gastropub + Raw Bar | 115 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver

This spot isn’t shy with their injection of Asian flavours – their poke gets served with choice of in-house sauces: sweet shoyu-sesame, gochujang miso-mayo, calamasabi. Check Instagram for current features.

WildTale Coastal Grill | 1079 Mainland Street, Vancouver

Lots of fresh options to choose from on this seafood-focused menu, and yes, there is a Hawaiian Ahi Poke of tuna, avocado, jalapeno, and spiced wontons.

Shishinori | 2328 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Shishinori has gained traction in the area for its lighter fare, and their Hawaiian Ahi Poke Bowl (spicy, shoyo, or wasabi) is a popular one. A second location opens in Coal Harbour this month (tomorrow).

Sushi Bella | Downtown, Kits, Metrotown, North Vancouver

Choose from class Hawaiian Poke (red tuna sashimi with soy and sesame dressing) or a spicy version (red tuna sashimi with housemade chilli sauce).

Miura Restaurant & Bar | 2521 Main Street, Vancouver

Formerly known just for their waffle sandwiches, Miura’s revamped restaurant menu includes a Salmon Poke starter (cucumber, avocado, cilantro, lime, korean sauce).

Grain Tasting Bar |  655 Burrard Street, Vancouver

Fear not, Financial District folks, Grain’s got you with their version of Tuna Poke (spicy ahi, wakame, wasabi-lime aioli, avocado, wonton chips).

Coming soon:

The Poke Guy | opening summer/fall 2016

A husband/wife duo with roots in Hawaii are working hard to open a small joint selling grab-and-go as well as build-your-own poke bowls. They hope to be as sustainable as possible from Ocean Wise seafood to eco packaging. Rumour has it that they are looking at possibly a Main or Kits locale.

Pacific Poke | 625 Main Street, opening fall 2016

A solid addition to the Main and Keefer corridor, Pacific Poke will offer fresh and creative options for poke fans. Looks promising so far!

Pokeh Pokeh

Pokeh Pokeh is currently taking online orders for deliveries throughout Vancouver and Coquitlam. Wonder if a storefront is in the works? Follow Pokeh Pokeh on Facebook  or Instagram.

Poke King

With an Instagram feed showing tasty variations like spicy crab or tako, you might want to keep an eye on this one for updates.

Loco Ono (fingers crossed!)

This 3-month pop-up kitchen at SIP Lounge was a success. We chatted with them briefly after a meal there, and the server said they were looking to open up shop in town in a more permanent way. Nothing written in stone, but this sounds promising.