Finally decided to write my review. I'm originally from Hawaii, so I had reservations going to a poke place that strays away from the poke I've known and loved. That said, I walked in, chipotle style, you pick your toppings sides, etc., When I got to the sauces, I asked for very little for one reason: didn't want any sauce to mask how fresh or unfresh the ahi (tuna) is. At first bite, it didn't taste right. Second bite, I had doubts. Third bite, I knew the ahi wasn't as fresh as I'm used to. Sure enough, my body rejected it and for the next few days, I was suffering. I may try it again one day...but not rushing into it. read more

Super fresh fish, excellent poke, and great prices esp for daily specials. And fast! I'll be coming back

i love this place. best everything in the world. no other hawaiian places can compare. every time i come i blow a check because i can't decide what to get and end up ordering like three meals. i love you abunai. read more

I walked past this place about 100 times and never thought to see what it was all about, until recently a new coworker suggested that I would like it because she overheard that I like sushi. I never heard of this Poke thing, then suddenly an ad popped up on facebook about Poke pizza. I saw a bunch of raw fish and things, but I prefer my fish cooked.. lol Anyhow, we went there for lunch and I ordered the shrimp poke bowl with extra wasabi sauce. To my surprise I liked it a lot. A couple days later it finally clicked in my head. It was just sushi in a bowl! *smacks forehead* Duh!.. lol Anyway I liked it but it was a little costly for me, it was about 13 bucks! Or is it that I'm cheap?.. lol I may try it again, but I found a spot much closer to my job and they really pack your bowl. That way I don't feel cheated. read more

Abunai - Shrimp Poke Bowl - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is really good. It is nothing fancy but the food is terrific. I kept hearing about "poke" and decided to try it on a whim yesterday when walking by the store. Well it is absolutely delicious. It's like sushi only...better! The gal behind the counter couldn't have been more helpful and considerate to a novice like me. She patiently explained everything, even let me sample some of the toppings I was wondering about. Yum! Very very highly recommended. read more

I'll start by saying I used to like this place a lot. It's v close to my office and portions are pretty good sized. However, recently they changed their pricing to where you pay a fee for the bowl size and then you additionally pay and extra $1-$4 per scoop of fish. I hate choosing my fish based on the price to keep myself from having a $20 poke bowl. Also, I am paying $10 for just rice and toppings? Seems grossly over priced with the pricing model. The flavor is good not great, and other places have a lot more options for toppings. Might come here again if I'm trying to get a quick lunch, but likely will not be back otherwise. read more

Abunai Poke is still in its soft opening phase and I've probably had it about three or four times already. I tried to come on opening day but the line was out the doors and I had an appointment to run to. The very next day, I was there maybe 30 minutes after they opened with no line! With it just being two blocks from my work, this place is definitely a go-to for my coworkers and I. They just rolled out a frequent/loyalty rewards program so I'm sure we'll be even more enticed to come back. Unfortunately due to the pricing, I have to limit myself to once a week treats. With that said however, to make my own poke it would cost just as much, if not more. Getting fresh, sushi grade fish around the DC area isn't cheap. They use fresh high quality fish and its made to order. You know you're not getting pre-mixed stuff that has been sitting there for lord knows how long. I've tried the Abunai Poke, the Spicy Salmon and the Garlic Ahi. All met or exceeded my expectations for fresh Hawaiian poke. I lived in Hawaii for a few years so I like to think I know what I'm talking about. For the mainland, this is as good as it gets. The portion sizes are filling and the flavors are on point. The rice does stick to the eco-friendly bowl but that can't be helped. Once I try all the different types, I'll probably start making my own bowl. I try to go early for lunch to avoid the long lines, and if I can't make it for lunch I sometimes come in after work to grab dinner. There wasn't a line the few times I went after 5pm. The servers are friendly and still in training mode. The waits can be pretty long, but that can't be helped for a popular new restaurant. Patience is a virtue, and you're rewarded with delicious poke. So ono. Overall: a need to try if you like true Hawaiian poke. Request: Can we get some tako poke? read more

This is a great place to grab a poke bowl. I mixed tuna and salmon most of the toppings are included. It was delicious and made me full. I will go back for more. read more

If you're for those authentic Hawai'i flavors. . . go to Abunai Poke! Ono! Had the Garlic Poke. . . onolicious! Akina brings this Hawaiian dish to DC and stays true to the flavor. read more

Very good!! Wasabi sauce was lovely! Great service!! The assortment of beverages was also great and unexpected! read more

Abunai - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Really 3.5 stars, but 4 is too high. Went here today for lunch since its right around the corner from my office, so the convenient location is a huge plus. As a preface, I grew up on the beach in Southern California, for my expectations for poke and fresh fish in general are pretty high I created my own bowl which ran me $13 without tax, so pretty pricey for lunch. They give a lot of rice and the standard serving of fish for an east coast poke place- so not a whole lot. I asked if I could get a little more salmon and tuna (I got a mix) and was told it'd be $6.... no. They have a really wide selection of toppings, like yuzu masago and edamame, as well as sauces and mix-ins. I got what I thought was yuzu ponzu sauce and the chili flake mayo, but I wasn't really a fan of either. I think they would benefit from having more traditional sauces like shoyu and spicy mayo. I'd definitely come back here if I had a craving for poke on a lunch break, but I don't see myself becoming a regular. I'm still looking for poke that will hold a candle to the places back home. read more

i swear poke is my latest craze so i keep looking for new places to try. and this has been on my list for a while food i did a custom bowl: ahi tuna, seaweed, white rice/greens, edamame i thought the spicy sauce was a bit much on the mayo side the toppings are unlimited price : great considering they give big chunks of fish dont forget the Yelp check in to get a discount! ambiance clean,bathroom is a single and it was fine counter service is great overall: i really liked it, i would come back again read more

Really enjoyed my meal here. Had a custom bowl with half tuna half salmon. Good variety and quality of toppings- enjoyed the masago, fried shallots and seaweed salad. Fish portions were solid and fair for the price. Haven't tried every poke shop in town, but thus far this is my favorite. read more

Abunai - Tuna/Salmon Poke bowl (partially eaten) - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Abunai is the only poke I ever want to eat. I was drawn here because of their shady social media campaigns saying that other poke restaurants are "mainlain" and not true Hawaiian poke. I've honestly never eaten any other poke, and I won't ever need to. The options are nearly endless, and everything is good at Abunai. And when I say everything, I mean both individually and everything in the store in one poke bowl - that's my order sometimes ;) If you're craving sushi and want a $60 flavor for $12, this is the spot. If you want poke or just an amazing meal, Abunai is the place to go! read more

At this point, I've eaten poké several times and have accepted its pricey-ness. That being said, this place was really good! I ordered a bowl with a rice base, ahi tuna and salmon, garlic, cilantro, cucumbers, chili pepper sauce, sesame seeds, lemon zest, masago, and avocado. Like most places, the avocado was extra...sigh. But it's okay because the bowl was very fresh and tasty! Also super filling. I feel like they could invest in more seating because there's a lot of space, but only two rectangular tables with six chairs each. Still, the food was great and I would go again. read more

Abunai - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

WOW... I don't know where to begin with Abunai Poke. I made my own bowl and as my protein, I put salmon and ahi tuna. They were not at all stingy with the protein, I felt like there was a piece of fish in every bite; and it was the kind of fish that just melts in your mouth. The sauces were really good too. I would just recommend having the poke maker ask the customer how much sauce they want because I feel like mine had too much sauce. Other than that, I will definitely be coming back and bringing others!! read more

Abunai - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great first experience! The location is great, right on L St and close to Farragut West. The workers were incredibly friendly, took the time to explain what each ingredient is, which was extremely helpful. The food was fresh and flavorful. You can mix two proteins together which is great for those who want a little bit of both! The seating faces the outside which is both nice (sunlight and people watching?) but awkward at times (people watching you...) read more

Abunai - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've never been to Hawaii and I don't know what authentic poke is. When it comes to any and all food, I only care about two things: freshness and deliciousness. And on both fronts, Abunai has succeeded. I got a mixture of tuna/salmon and both fish were exceptionally fresh. I was a little taken aback by the fact that the fish wasn't premarinated, but it worked and the fish was actually very flavorful. Beyond that, the toppings were essentially unlimited, which I love. I had them throw basically everything in and the whole thing was absolutely delicious. Sidenote: the portion is HUGE, which is why it's about $13. The only suggestion I have is to two have two different sizes so if someone isn't that hungry, they don't have to let part of their delicious meal go to waste. read more

Excellent food with such great flavor. Tried the tune and the shrimp on separate occasions and the sauces added to the bowls and were the icing on the cake. Affordable prices and great flavor. I would definitely come back again. read more

Stopped by last Friday after work and did a "Build Your Own" bowl ft. half white rice/half mixed greens (contrary to the menu listed on their site, they do have brown rice and at no surcharge) and marinated salmon as my protein. They have all kinds of fun toppings like Hawaiian sea asparagus (I had no idea what this was but it is, in fact, these sea plants that look like tiny tiny asparagus- similar in taste to seaweed!), wasabi peas, and masago (my favorite!). Be sure to check in on Yelp for 10% your first purchase. I bought two bowls, used the check-in offer, and spent ~$25 for two bowls. Not bad for poke! Loved the freshness of the fish and friendliness of the staff (woman working the counter was nice enough to walk me through the different sauces and suggest combos that would work well together). Would recommend this place to friends! read more

Well worth my 8 block walk! This is the best, truly authentic, Hawaiian Poke I've had since actually being in Hawaii last year. Positives: Friendly staff, fresh tuna of decent sushi quality, in a nice size lunch portion served in an eco-friendly bowl Negative: the rice sticks to the paper bowl. read more

Tried the salmon poke but swapped out the rice for greens. Almost a healthy meal except for way too much aioli (mayonnaise-ish dressing) which overwhelmed the dish with mush. My friend ordered and brought it to our table so I'm not sure if they're able to adjust the quantity or put the dressing to the side. I'll be back at least once to find out. We also tried the tuna poke and had the same complaint of too much dressing of another kind. Overall though a very promising restaurant. Watch out for the lunch crowd. It becomes packed and the tables are few and communal. read more

I loved my poke bowl that I got from Abunai Poke last week. It tasted really authentic and delicious. I recently went to Hawaii this year and had some poke and I feel like this came right from the island. It was fresh and had scrumptious flavors but wasn't overdone. It was a full bowl and I had enough to have leftovers for lunch. I would definitely get more from here and I've noticed on postmates so its good that that is an option, too! read more

Abunai - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Just discovered poke a few weeks ago in Hawaii and was so pumped about finding a place in D.C. Abunai is fantastic. It's quick as Chipotle and exceptionally delicious. I had the build your own bowl. Lemon rind was a great decision. I will definitely eat here again! read more

Abunai - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Oh my gosh I have been waiting for this place to open for a while and it doesn't disappoint! I got the abunai bowl and it was so good that I had to post about it before finishing my food. This place has authentic Hawaiian style poke- the type that has minimal flourishes but more than makes up for it with taste. The abunai poke tastes like the shout poke from home but has a slight kick. Thank you abunai for bringing a taste of home to DC. read more

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Their lunch platter is very filling. I got the kalua pork which is so flavorful and comes with rice as well as two other sides, which I chose the furikake mac salad and the lomi tomatoes and onions. I also got their abunai hand roll which is a fairly decent snack size as well. Lots of seating inside and some outside as well. read more

Abunai Poke should just take all of my money while I still have some. I went there again for lunch today and tried their garlic poke. The serving size they give you is pretty consistent and you get a lot of fish and toppings and this selection was a lot lighter than the spicy salmon (i think it's because of the sauce). The garlic poke comes with tuna, white onions, green onions, seaweed salad, garlic and furikake with abunai sauce. I also added chili flakes because i love my poke spicaaayyy. The abunai sauce tastes similar to soy sauce but lighter. I normally don't like soy sauce or ponzu sauce but the abunai sauce was really good. I still think my only complaint would be that I got too much sauce. It's probably because I get salad and no rice so there's nothing that really soaks up the sauce the way rice would. I will definitely remember this for next time. read more

Abunai - Garlic tuna poke - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really like Abunai's food, but avoid it during the lunch rush! They truly have the slowest line - only two people working the line, which hugely slows things down. The last time I went, they had the same person finishing up the bowls and checking out, which meant she had to take her gloves on and off for each transaction. To make matters even worse, she waited to check out 3 customers with finished bowls so she could make a few additional. I love Abunai's food, but the wait is just not worth it! read more

I loved literally everything I had. Kalua pig nachos were amazing. Spam and Mac cup was so good. I made my own poke bowl and that was amazing. I'd order this place everyday if I was closer. read more

There is always crowd at this place, so of course my expectation was high. They do have a good variety of additions you can put in your poke and a good variety of dressings... However, I must say both tuna and salmon were fresh. You get what you pay for, but I had hoped the fish was a bit more tasty. I will probably come in for my occasional sushi cravings, but with several other options in the area, this will definitely not be my first choice. read more

Abunai - Custom poke with salmon - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Finally a good poke place nearby! I really enjoyed this: easy and delicious. So excited to have it more often! read more

Abunai - Poke! - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have had poke in multiple cities/places and this was the 3rd restaurant I ate in DMV area and this was the least impressive one. The rice was very hard. It's not like they cooked it hard. It's like it was left in open container and dried up hard. The toppings were all good but almost half of the dish was rice, which was not well executed. So I didn't enjoy the half of my meal. I will give another shot for this restaurant. I hope I accidentally got a bad bowl this time.... I ordered online and it breezed in and out, while people were forming a long line to order. Definite thumbs up to their online order system! read more

Their poke selection is decent. But they have really good chicken katsu, which I always get for lunch whenever I come here. I always get it with two sides of mac read more

I'm a poke lover and have had many poke experiences but i think this store is just in average. It was not that impressive but not that bad. I think if they can develop some more tasty sauces then they will be more successful! The quality of raw fishes was good and their service was good! read more

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I was so so excited to hear a poke place was coming in. Unfortunately I'm not in love with abunai - the rice is always too warm and sort of stuck together and hard, the sushi isn't as lean and delicious as I'd like, and the sauces just don't really do it for me. I love the idea of this place but the flavor needs improvement read more

This is a welcome new addition to the Farragut North area lunch scene. The couple of times I went the lines were very long and moving slowly. The wait time around 12:30 averaged 15-20 minutes which might be too long for some. Hopefully as the staff becomes more experienced, customers will be processed more quickly. The fish (I had salmon both times) was a little bland but seemed fresh. The portion was plentiful and the sauces were delicious. I tried a bowl with only spring mix as the base, and thought that it wasn't quite enough to fill me up for the afternoon. Rice bowls are definitely the way to go. Be sure to get all the fixin's, like seaweed salad and fish roe. All in all, it was a great experience and I would go back again. read more

Did I go on a wrong day or something? It's the worst Poke I ever had in my life and I've had plenty. The person making my bowl was impatient and I couldn't hear or understand her questions. I got the marinated salmon with wasabi aioli rice bowl. It was soooo bland and flavorless. Who in their right mind would think this is good Poke? read more

Great poke! Taste very similar to poke place in Hawaii, i have visited. And great selection of toppings. Only thing is I wish this place have sauce without mayonnaise. And definitely get it with either light or regular amount of sauce. I had extra and it turned out to be too much. read more

Abunai - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Stopped in to pick up lunch and chose the spicy salmon bowl. Service was fast, ingredients were fresh and it was delicious! The bowl was a large, hearty serving (pretty much poke Chipotle style) but the healthy ingredients didn't have me feeling uncomfortably stuffed. The build your own bowl seems to be popular, there is a wide variety of ingredients you can choose from. My only minor critique is that it was a bit expensive, but I'm pretty sure alternative poke places are priced around the same. read more

Closest REAL poke you'll get in DC! I love that you can build you're own. I'm surprised that back at home doesn't have much options like Abunai does. Do you know how hard it is to find Ogo, sea asparagus, seaweed salad and inamona in Hawaii? and I can put as much as I want in DC?! Damn that's crazy. Plus, they have Maui brewing and Hawaiian Sun. I will always come back here if I'm feeling homesick read more