Poke means "chunk" in Hawaiian. It could be chucks of a variety of meats: fish, cooked red meat, poultry, and even octopus. Mainland poke usually refers to marinated cubed sashimi, or sushi grade fish such as tuna and salmon. Other proteins available at Big Island Poke are imitation crab, shrimp, chicken, and tofu. It is fusion cuisine: Japanese, Latin, and Hawaiian. It was originally served on a plate with the meat and rice separated.
Located at a strip mall in St. Anthony Village close to Cub Foods, Big Island Poke has plenty of off street parking. The restaurant is set-up as a deli-style dining with an open floor plan, bright and welcoming atmosphere.
I ordered the Big Island Poke Bowl. You get a choice of the base: white rice, brown rice, or mixed greens. I chose white rice. Then the chef starts building the bowl with protein: shoyu tuna, shoyu salmon, and seared tuna. Then veggies are added: cucumber, edamame, and pineapple. Yuzu citrus sauce is added. Then the bevy of toppings: green onions, one scoop each of spicy crab salad, avocado, and masago (caviar). Final garnished with black sesame seeds and crispy wonton skin strips.
The end result of all of this goodness is hard to describe. It's like a full sushi meal with appetizers all in a bowl. The saltiness of the marinated sashimi is balance with the lightly dressed veggies, sweetness from the pineapple, while a little bit of spice is provided by the crab salad enchanced by the fatty bite of the avocado. This is all finished with a little crunch of the sesame and wonton strips. It's a full sensory experience. It's like taking a drive along the coast on Oahu...
Whether you're new to poke or a seasoned poke lover, this is a must stop! There's also a custom bowl option to build your own. Additional offerings are available: Bubble tea and Hawaiian sodas, Spam Musubi, and traditional Hawaiian bowls. For non-fish or seafood lovers consider chicken or tofu in your poke bowl, or order the Hawaiian Plate with either Teriyaki Chicken or Kalua Pork.
I will definitely be back to try the traditional Hawaiian plate and the spam musabi!
Source about Poke:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/poke-Hawaiian-dish