Been going to Abunai for the past few months and in the beginning everything was great and fresh ! Unfortunately there's been a decline in the quality of everything. I had to stop getting the poke because it wasn't cut properly and I kept getting what seemed like muscle or something hard to the chew when I ate it. I came in today for my usual veggie bowl and when I sat down to eat it the rice was super bland soggy and mushed together, I hadn't even had the bowl for more than 5 mins, couldn't even stomach my way through it. The veggies were still pretty fresh but I probably won't be back unfortunately. Pics of the soggy rice attached. read more

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

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We tried a couple of hand rolls and build your own poke bowls and weren't that impressed. Overall, the food wasn't that tasty. Many interesting textures but bland all around--adding soy sauce packets helped a little, but especially for how many ingredients we added to our poke bowls, it was surprising how much it tasted like just plain rice and cold fish. read more

Spam musubi! Difficult to find, especially on the East Coast. Very good version here.

I've only had poke bowls from another DC restaurant, so I was excited to try another place. It didn't disappoint! You can choose between white or brown rice, salad, or a combination. Then you have a few options of proteins, and many topping and mix in options. The choices were slightly different than what I was used to, but my final bowl was perfectly spicy and sweet, had the right amount of crunchy extras, and filled me for the rest of the day. A great spot to grab a poke bowl downtown. read more

Abunai - Tuna and Salmon mixed with brown rice - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of the better Poke spots in DC. They give a pretty decent amount of fish but you also pay for it. You can create your own bowl for $12.95 or get an already establish one for $13.95. These include the Spicy Salmon, Garlic Ahi, Abunai, Shrimp Poke and Tofu Poke. I got the Spicy Salmon Poke bowl which was good. It comes with both rice and spring mix salad, green onions, white onions, masago, seaweed salad, avocado, sesame reeds and chill peppers. I combined it with the Yuzu dressing which worked for my tastes. After tax, the poke bowl was a little over $15. Definitely okay every once in a while given it's fresh fish, but also something I won't be able to afford a few times a week. Looking to go back for another Friday lunch splurge! read more

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Public Service Announcement: It's pronounced PO-KEH (not too much emphasis on da 'AY' part, yeah) and not PO-KEE (like key) - no, das wrong. I've read most of the reviews on here of Abunai Poke and it's clear that many do not understand authentic Hawaiian poke. So, let me kokua (help) you. As with most native cuisine around the world, it is taken back to X country and bastardized as we have with Mexican food in the US. Taco Bell is NOT MEXICAN FOOD! But you're smart and you know that. Moving on... First, poke in a BOWL is newer thing than POKE. Traditionally, you could go to your local fish market, grocery store, stand on the side of the road (Honokai Hale) and buy a quarter, half or pound (or more) of poke and you would just get marinated pieces of ahi or aku (another variation of tuna eaten in Hawai'i) in a plastic container sometimes with white onion, sometimes with limu (seaweed) or with nothing else. All you need with that is chop sticks, one fork and poi - boom, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Then, some places started the poke bowl (with RICE) and it caught on. Me, the first poke bowl I ever had was on Big Island at KTA Supermarket with spicy ahi and was ONO! But I digress, getting back to Abunai. So, the staff was super friendly. I got there early as a colleague invited me for lunch and I told him 11:30 because I knew it'd be crowded during the normal lunch rush. I chatted for a bit with either the shift supervisor or manager and she was friendly. When we were finally ready to order, I asked what was in the abunai sauce and didn't hear sesame oil, which is a key ingredient in poke made in Hawai'i (and how I like it) so I asked if they had some that I could add and the manager happily obliged. Now, I have had poke in Hawai'i that was made to order and was not marinated all day like most places do. So I not going get into that argument because I'm good with either way. I really don't understand the confusion around ordering for some people because it's pretty obvious how to order if you read the menu. So, my bowl consisted of just rice, ahi, sesame oil, shoyu, chili pepper flakes, white onion, avocado and nori flakes. While going down the line I saw the spicy mayo and was given some in a container on the side. Overall, my entire meal was great and my colleague got the garlic ahi and really liked his too. This Hawaiian will be back! Mahalo Akina! read more

Abunai - Ahi Bowl with Rice (made my own) - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If I am in the area I will definitely stop by for some poke. The D.C. Metropolitan area is in some desperate need for quality sushi. I'm not talking about what you can find here on the east coast. I'm talking about the quality that you receive back home in Hawaii. This still isn't "it", but it comes closer than most. While the more recent formula of Base + Protein + Topping is being followed here, you still receive a refreshing experience. The poke is decent. The Tuna and salmon are cut there onsite. While some of us prefer our poke to marinate (admittedly, I am one such person), Abunai's approach applying the sauce as you go through the line will satisfy most. I did not get the impression that most of the staff had a deep or personal experience with poke, but hopefully they will either learn in time or learn to share that hidden knowledge their customers. All in all, there is potential here for Abunai to break away from the crowd and really stand out. I wish them the best...because I really want to come back to a great poke experience. read more

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

Hands down, this is the best poke spot in the DMV! I've finally made a full circuit of the poke shops I wanted to try in DC/MD/VA and there are few places here that can be compared to the poke stops back home in Honolulu. Abunai is one of them - they stand out out due two simple facts: 1) Premarinated fish (NECESSARY) 2) Bigger chunks of sashimi (much better texture this way!) Not only does the fish taste better when it's already semi-marinated, but along with everything that you add to your bowl, becomes a much better tasting meal! There are some stores that just serve raw sashimi and depend purely on the sauce they add at the end...making some bites more flavorful than others. I love creating my own bowl here - half ahi, half salmon and a truckload of add-ons (yes to edamame, white/green onions, sea asparagus and wasabi topiko please)! My only request: can we get some hapa rice here?! I'd love to see that as another base to their bowls. Now, coming to the cost point...yes, it's a bit pricey but that's what almost all poke places charge! Make sure to check in on yelp for a % discount - every bit helps. Do yourself a favor and check this place out! read more

Abunai - Create your own bowl - ahi and salmon! - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I know that this is only their soft opening but props to Abunai Poke for nailing the flavors down. I ordered the customizable poke bowl where you pick your protein (tuna, salmon, shrimp, or tofu) and toppings. I opted for the rice and salad bowl (rather than just the salad bowl) and salmon and the employee gave me a hefty amount of rice in mine. I doused the bowl with all the toppings minus the macadamia nuts and avocado - because it's a dollar extra for each! My total came out to $14.25 - which is hella expensive for lunch. But when I took my first bite, it was pure bliss. My salmon tasted so fresh, there was no fishy flavor to it, it was soft like a marshmallow but oh so savory and I was impressed by the heaping amount of salmon they gave me. I was however disappointed by the selection - wish they had more of a variety with the basics such as being able to choose white rice or brown rice, have more selection in vegetables, and sauces. At the end of the day, I don't think it was worth the hefty price, especially when there are already so many bowl places in DC for half the price. This place is for sure a must-try at least once just to say that you tried it, but I don't think it was really any different from your typical DIY bowl place. Also, don't expect to be able to sit if it's super crowded - they only have one type of seating, which is a bar styled seating selection facing the window, that fits maybe 8 people max. I found it kind of awkward while I was stuffing my face with rice to be facing people on the street as they stare at you dropping your rice niblets. But I can't wait to see how they vamp up the interior decor once they get their feet wet - I can see so much potential with the ambiance! read more

Abunai - Create your own; salmon - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ordered thru Uber eats, and was pleasantly surprised at the speed that the food got to me. Quick service and tasty food. I made my own poke bowl and everytgibg tasted fresh and well made. One star off because the garlic fries didn't taste very garlicky at all, but still good nonetheless. read more

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

The basics of poke- Fresh raw fish, cut into bite sized cubes Seasonings (including salt) Sesame oil Soy sauce (also called shoyu) Suggested additions include sweet onion, avocado, masago, limu (seaweed) Combine everything and allow to marinate. Serve as a side or over rice as a main dish. This review cuts me into pieces. I'm a well seasoned eater of poke, and writing this review has me feeling a bit oily. I'm trying not to be too salty here, but I'm gonna have to shoyu why I'm only giving Abunai Poke three stars. It's all about that last step. The meat has to have time to marinate. I'd rather have fish that had been sitting in the sauce for a full day than fish that had everything tossed on moments before it was handed to me. Honestly, even the onions and most other additions will be better if they've had some time to sit next to one another for a bit. I recognize that the concept of a Mainland "poke bowl" has managed to get away from a more traditional Hawaiian poke, and I realize that Abunai Poke is simply following the Mainland standard. If the owners weren't from the islands I'd say that they didn't know better, but they are, and so I know that they do. My message to them is this- I wasn't hoping for Auntie's poke in the calabash at the family luau, but I was hoping for Foodland during a busy workday lunch. Instead of following the crowd, I hope that you jump up and show the crowd that there is a new leader in town! My suggestion, since I saw you cutting one pan ahead of the demand. Prep two pans ahead, and give the fish the minimum time it needs. Instead of 1/4 pans, switch to 1/8 pans, so that you can have one shoyu and one spicy mayo ready to go at all times. Then all that would have to be added is the toppings, which would help the line move quicker all around. Again, I realize that this Ain't the islands, and I can't expect to find pans of poke in every supermarket deli section. I don't mind paying a premium price for a specialty item, I just want it to be made in the best possible way. On the good side, the portion size was generous enough to keep me full. I will try it again if I am in the area, and if I worked nearby they would be a regular stop. I hope that changes are made soon, before I get the chance to return. read more

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I used to love Abunai when it was just the only poke place around. Unfortunately compared to nearby places like Poke Papa and Aloha, Abunai is pricier and has fewer options. The poke is still pretty good though, but i love the toppings offered in other places read more

My fiance works a block away from the shop and he went to the soft opening yesterday. I was super jealous because I'm a HUGE fan of abunai's food truck but he surprised me with a bowl after work. This was my first time having a poke bowl so I have nothing to compare it to - but here are my initial thoughts: My fiance got me the salmon bowl with rice, avocado, greens, and seaweed salad - huge portion; I can probably eat this in two sittings - big chunks of fish; fresh with good texture - wish there was more seaweed salad - wasn't expecting the big cuts of onion but it was nice to have in the bowl for texture between the salmon and the avocado He told me that the bowls average around $13. Considering the amount of food that you get, the big chunks of fish, and the store location - I honestly don't think that it's THAT bad. Plus it's different and healthy. Definitely worth a try! read more

Abunai - Salmon bowl with rice, greens, avocado, and seaweed salad - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I didn't bring my lunch today and maybe it was the freakishly warm DC weather (75+ in February), but for some reason I was really craving a nice, light lunch and decided to make the trek from my office to Abunai poke after reading Yelp to determine which poke place I should try. I went on a Tuesday afternoon around 1:40pm. I have to admit, given that it was so late, I was surprised to see such a long line - there were at least 10 people ahead of me. That is the kind of line I expect at the peak of lunch rush! However, I figured with a line like that, it has to be good! As others have mentioned, they feature 4 "menu items" (essentially popular combinations/suggestions) and a build-your-own option. I decided to combine the two a bit - I ordered the spicy salmon bowl but decided to have all salad (no rice) and added cucumbers. The portion was filling - I'm comfortable now and I'm sure I'd be much more full had I gotten the rice - so having all salad definitely keeps it light. The salmon was fresh and I felt there was a good portion - about 3-4 oz. When they put the sauce on, she asked me if I wanted it light, medium, or heavy, and I got medium - which I thought was plenty of sauce. Overall, I felt all the ingredients were fresh. My only complaint: I wish the sauce had been more spicy. I definitely added a good amount of sriacha to turn the heat up. Maybe if I'd gotten the sauce 'heavy' it would have been more spicy...but I didn't want my bowl drowning in sauce. Two negatives: it took me about 20 minutes to get through the line. Again, I expect that during peak lunch rush, not super late. I actually had to call into a meeting on my way back since I was in line for so long. Not sure how many employees they normally have working, but 3 just didn't seem like enough - one more would have kept the line moving more. Also, they offer forks and chopsticks, but no knives. Some of the pieces of salad can be pretty big, and a few of the fish pieces were on the larger side too - a knife definitely would have come in handy. Bonus: 10% off if you check in on Yelp, which is great - especially when you're potentially dealing with a $12-$15 lunch - those costs can add up so every little bit helps. read more

Spicy Salmon poke bowl was decent; not bad but not one of the top poke bowl places (in my opinion) on the NoVA/DC area. My wife got the make your own poke bowl and the positive here is that at least you can load up on all/any of the ingredients you want (within each category). Her bowl looked much more filling than mine. We also shared a couple of the Spam Musubis and we did like the Katsu one. read more

I ordered the build your own with rice and spring mix and ahi tuna with the abunai sauce. I got the yuzu ponzu sauce on the side just to try it. Ahi tuna was really good and I liked how the sauce was mixed with the tuna first then placed in the bowl. The abunai sauce is pretty salty though so I probably won't order that again. They only have steamed rice, no brown or black rice. Overall, it was pretty good but wasn't 100%. read more

Abunai - Ahi tuna, rice&spring mix, cilantro, green onion, cucumber, sesame seed, nori, furikake, wasabi tobiko, abunai&yuzu ponzu sauces - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Randomly stopped by today after one pm, and I am very glad I did. I ordered their special, the lobster hand roll. I was impressed! A good portion, excellent taste, real sushi rice, and not too much sauce. The handroll-person did a wonderful job and had me wishing I had ordered extra. The roll kept well, despite my forty-five minute detour to Nordstrom Rack before I could sit down to eat it. (I don't recommend doing this as a general practice, but summer clothes were calling my name.) I also appreciate the nice staff who weren't mean about my indecisiveness and newbie status. read more

It's wonderful to have a poke place in the Farragut/Foggy area to change it up for lunch. The price tag's a big hefty, at around $15 a bowl, but it's also quite filling (though can't really be saved). My main complaint is that because the fish isn't marinated ahead of time and is marinated to order, it doesn't get as luscious as most poke, especially tuna poke, tends to be, and I find the fish, though fresh, to be lacking in flavor. The rice also seems a little overcooked and mushy. My go-to bowl here is a mix of tuna and salmon with the yuzu ponzu sauce and miso sauce, with fried garlic, seaweed salad, all the colors of roe, rice puffs, chili flakes, roasted sesame seeds, furikake, and cucumbers over a mix of rice and greens. read more

I LOVE Abunai Poke! It's one of my favorite poke bowl places. Period. They give you the most amount of fish, which is appreciated. There are all sorts of toppings, like masago, seaweed salad, cucumber, tobiko, and more! I get the spicy aioli sauce and the yuzu sauce, which gives a spicy, salty, creamy flavor. It's about $14, which, for what you get, I think is a very fair price. Sure, it's more $ than if you were to bring your lunch, but it's also super fresh fish! Highly recommend. Also BONUS if you check in on yelp when you're there you get 10% off! Making the price about comparable to a sweetgreen or chop'd salad. YUM! read more

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Pretty solid poke spot. The fish is fresh and cut up in larger pieces than I usually see in poke bowls. The fish could be more marinated so if you like flavor, I'd get "heavy" for the sauce. I was hoping to try some of the delicious cakes other Yelpers have posted but those are only in the shop if they have some extra from catering. Give it a try if you're in the area! read more

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

This was my first time trying poké and it was absolutely incredible. I have nothing else to compare Abunai to, but I would 100% come back. Portions are pretty sizable and the prices are also fair for what you're getting. It's a really nice space and I like having the option to build my own bowl. All the ingredients were phenomenal, especially the tuna, miso sauce, and seaweed salad topping. Do yourself a favor and go here! read more

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After seeing this place on social media, we decided to make a quick trip to DC for errands and stop by this place. Walking in, we were immediately welcomed by the staff and they were very kind and helpful. Everything is there on the menu and they even have a daily (weekdays) poke special. We ordered the special poke of the day, the mac and cheese sundae, and a spicy tuna hand roll. Our favorite was the sundae and the biggest reason why we wanted to come here in the first place. The portions are good, it tastes great and priced fairly for what you get. The poke we did wish had a bit more ingredients, but overall was good. The hand roll tasted great! But the portion was a bit unexpected, while the sundae exceeded what we thought. Overall a very nice poke place, priced well, and tastes great! If you get the chance to stop by I recommend it! For us if we are in the area we will most likely stop by, but wouldn't be worth having to drive far to try it. read more

Abunai - Spicy Spicy Ahi (Tuna) Hand Roll, mac sundae, poke special - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A friend found this restaurant through "tik tok" so we decided to come up and try some of their entrees, it was delicious!! The lady at the register was also super friendly, 10/10 recommend. read more

DISCLAIMER: I ordered food from this restaurant and had it delivered to me via Postmates. I cannot comment on the ambience of the physical restaurant or the service, etc. First of all, I was not expecting big portions. This was a MASSIVE bowl of poke, y'all. They're not kidding around! I ordered a custom bowl with salmon and tuna and while expensive, you get your money's worth. Everything tasted extremely fresh and vibrant. I ordered the abunai dressing, which enhanced the flavor of the fish perfectly without masking it, and got the spicy mayo on the side to dip my chopsticks in. Delicious. As another reviewer commented, I would almost prefer that Abunai reduce their portions and lower their prices - as is, the bowl was almost too much for one meal and it doesn't exactly keep. I would be able to justify coming more often if the prices were more on par with places like Chipotle, even if that means I got less food. Satisfied my craving for poke to a T! I would definitely order from Abunai again when I feel like a fresh, healthy, tasty lunch. read more

Abunai - I forgot to take a photo before I dug in. This is the biggest bowl of poke I've ever seen! - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We were walking by after one of my appointments elsewhere on L St. and happened upon this place--but we didn't go in right away. It wasn't until later that I got hungry that it popped back up into my mind and became a craving, and that's an experience of discovery that I haven't had in a long time. It's a small little shop, the service was less attentive than what I'm used to, but they're nice so I don't really mind. The ratio of fish to rice is amazing, and I really hope they keep it that way. I got the combo salmon and ahi, and I would definitely recommend a combo of a little chili aioli and yuzu ponzu. The aioli gives it a creaminess and the dash of yuzu ponzu gives it the tangy, salty punch it needs. Be careful not to get too much of each, though, since you're combining two sauces. Otherwise, it's whatever toppings you want. I recommend the different kinds of roe and the sea beans (I think it might be labeled as Japanese salty asparagus?) because it adds the fresh ocean flavor that I seek in fish dishes. I was surprised they had it as it's not a common ingredient and I was very glad it was there. It's the first poke I've had in DC, but it really set me off on a good impression of that DC might have to offer. read more

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

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I would absolutely not recommend this poke place - go somewhere else -- you'll get more for your money. Reasons why I am rating this place so low: 1) poor customer service -- rushing customers and speaking curtly with them is a no-go; 2) you only get a measly scoop of protein AND you have to pay a dollar or even up to two dollars extra for each protein -- unlinked other poke places, the base price at this location is fake; 3) I've never had salmon at a poke place that has bones, but I had bones in at least two pieces at this location; 4) they are also stingy with the sauce. I love poke, but this place gives it a bad rap. read more

Pre-pandemic, I used to grab lunch from Abunai once a week. I recently ordered the mochiko chicken plate lunch for delivery. The chicken is crispy and flavorful, with a spicy mayo sauce on top. I highly recommend the furikake mac salad and cucumber namasu as sides. read more

Abunai - Mochiko chicken with furikake mac salad and cucumber namasu - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Please bring back the old team that worked there. My miso spilled everywhere, and my hand rolls barely had any filling and were falling apart. This was always a go to place for lunch, but now I don't want to go back. read more

Abuani is delicious! The price for the quantity of protein that you get is great. The fish is fresh and the options are a plenty! I've always had great service here even during lunch rush hour. The place is small so don't be surprised if you can't find a spot inside to sit at lunch rush. Lucky for you there are tons of benches all around the surrounding blocks. The ahi tuna with the spicy soy based sauce is my go to! read more

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This place was great. Ordered the garlic ahi bowl which did not disappoint. The combination of rice, greens, and big chunks of ahi tuna tossed with a garlic-y good sauce, topped with seaweed salad was so delicious and tasted very fresh. The service was a little slow. Only one person was working the register as well as preparing food when we visited. It seems they are still ramping up as they only recently opened, so, I certainly cut them some slack. In general, the bowls might be a little (too) large with prices averaging $13 reflecting this. I would be very happy to see a bowl 2/3 the size for more like $8-9. Regardless, I will be back. The flavors were excellent and it's a sleek, modern styled casual spot that made me feel like I had a taste of the islands. read more

Abunai - Nom. Nom. Nom. Garlic Ahi Poke bowl! - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been eager to try this poke place but have only ever been by on weekends. Google, various websites, and the business door advertise that it is open on Saturday. But...dark storefront and no people when we've come by on different Saturdays. Suggest management change their signage and online footprint. I'm a very disappointment albeit only ever prospective customer! read more

Abunai - False advertising--not open on Saturday! - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Always amazing! Abunai is the BEST poke in DC, hands down. Consistently generous portions and the fresh, sustainable fish they use is definitely worth an extra dollar or two. This is a minority-owned, woman-owned, local shop. In the pandemic, places like these are struggling right now, so treat yourself and support them! Their curbside and pickup game is on point and online ordering is super easy. Bonus: Super nice staff and the owner clearly pours her heart and soul into the shop. Top 3 favs: Spam katsu musubi Spicy salmon bowl Kahlua pig w/ mac salad and cucumber namasu PSA for the haters: If you really want to ruin your poke by adding FRUIT, rethink your life choices. read more

The poke here is delicious. They actually have marinated tuna--which is what poke is originally. It is really good, well marinated without being too salty. The salmon is also quite tasty, particularly the marinated (lomi?) salmon. The fish here is a step above the other poke shops (or at least tastes that way). And that is the key thing. The choice of dressings is also good, and they have excellent mix ins. The staff is friendly (if not the swiftest) and the portions are generous. So why not five stars? Well, it is the rice. The rice is often a bit solidified and gummy. It could be due to aggressively pushing it into the bottom of the bowl, or how it is cooked. But rice is such a big part of the lunch poke experience here (yes, I know it is actually NOT served with rice in Hawaii) that inconsistent execution on a core ingredient keeps it from getting five stars. One other odd note. The fish is all up-charged. So the prices are for a bowl with nothing but toppings. I guess this is to keep the "first impression" price below $10, but it does feel slightly odd to be a poke place that charges extra for fish. Include it in the price--it is still a very good value for the amount of fish you get. It does make the list! Abunai Poke, squeaking in at #5. The South Dupont Lunch Rankings Top 5: 1. Little Sesame 2. Bub & Pops 3. The Greek Deli 4. Sweetgreen (Don't be a hater) 5. Abunai Poke read more

Great Poke bowls. Are here with a friend from HI and he said that it was as good as what you get in HI but more complex. Also serves Kona coffee. read more

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

I used to come here because I worked nearby. I miss it so much. One of my favorite poke places. Love the variety of toppings.

This was my second time dining at Abunai, the first was shortly after they opened. Unfortunately, as others have stated the quality of the poke and the service have declined. At the higher lunch price-point, I'm just expecting better. The first time I made a custom bowl with tuna and salmon. The bowl was overflowing, flavorful, and very fresh. Today I opted for a single serve "custom bowl". While I knew that the single serving would be less than the double, the amount of tuna I received was tiny, and I had to save pieces so that I wouldn't be left with only rice at the end of my bowl. The brown rice was bland, but at least the veggies tasted really fresh. The "toppings" is where my woes begin. To start, given the fact that I came for lunch at 1:00pm, I would expect the workers to at least have a little pep in their step. Instead, we waited in line for almost ten minutes despite there being only 5 people ahead of us. Once I got to the woman with the toppings, I asked for the miso sauce, which they were apparently running low on. Instead of grabbing a new bottle, the woman unscrewed the top from the old bottle and squeezed out what looked like chunky remnants of the miso sauce. I didn't want to make a stink about it, although I was quite put-off by the sight. In the future I suggest that the workers really try to use fresher toppings. People eat with their eyes and that was unappetizing. Next, I asked for the seaweed salad. I noticed that the worker had right before me set a new fresh batch of seaweed salad into the counter, to which she added the leftovers from the previous batch. Because I'm a frequent consumer of seaweed salad, I know that salad on the bottom is often sauce heavy because hey, gravity! I prefer my seaweed salad less saucey, so I kindly asked her if she could could just scoop under the salad that she just put on top so I could get some of the drier looking seaweed salad on the bottom. Boy, I wish I hadn't asked because this woman proceeded to school me about how the seaweed on top is the same as on the bottom. Not wanting to make a scene and explain again that I wasn't worried about the freshness but rather the amount of sauce, I just let it go. The seaweed was fine, but the entire experience really frustrated me, which is why I opted to write this review. As someone who values lunchtime as time to de-stress from work, the last thing I need during lunch is someone talking down to me especially if I didn't do anything that warranted such a response. Having previously worked in the restaurant industry, I know that satisfying your customer should be a priority. What I was asking wasn't outlandish, nor would it have required any additional effort on her part. I merely stated a preference. Overall, I might give this place another shot in a couple of months, but with the tiny portions, high prices, and sub-par service, I may just need to explore the town further. read more

This poke feeds my soul. I've been to Hawaii twice and it's one of my favorite places to be. It's also the only place I will voluntarily eat spam and now this place. Spam musubi makes my so happy. I saw this on the menu and I was soooo excited (not as cheap as it is in Hawaii though). I ordered and it was delicious and warm. The poke bowls are delightful. There is so much wonderful flavor and I love the sauces. Ok my only complaint is the side sauce they gave me had perhaps a teaspoon of actual sauce in the container. I've been back three times now! I'm actually a little hungry writing this review ... read more

Great place to feed your need for fresh and delicious Poke! Despite the Covid shutdowns everywhere, Abunai was still open with fresh Poke, and great service to go with it. My new go-to spot when I need my fix! read more

Abunai - Tuna poke over brown rice with a Big Swell IPA to accompany! - Hawaiian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Out of all the poke places in DC, Abunai gives you the most fish! My bowl was delicious and so filling. Everything is very fresh, quick, convenient, and satisfying. The only thing they don't have that other places have is the crab salad. But that also makes Abunai bowls a little healthier, right? ;) read more

It was good overall. The ingredients seemed fairly fresh. The service was fast. I got the spicy salmon poke bowl ($13.50). If you check in using yelp, you can use a 10% off coupon. Be prepared to wait in a long lineup if you are going there during lunchtime. There is very limited seating . read more

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