The space is small but cozy and our orders were completed incredibly quickly and the staff were incredibly friendly. We arrived around 7:15p and a lot of people get take-out so there were a couple places to sit. The shop was also incredibly clean and did not smell fishy or musty in any way. The fish was incredibly fresh and definitely worth the price, especially around the Boston area. I'm excited to go back and try the other things on the menu. What we got today: 1. Spicy salmon poke: well seasoned and diced 2. Shoyu salmon: very flavorful and in larger cubes--better texture (personal preference) 3. Pineapple cake: just the right amount of sweetness and pleasantly moist. It didn't taste artificial at all and had pineapple chunks embedded on the side 4. Fish 'n' dip: the chips (fried wonton skins) were very light and incredibly crispy. You also get a great portion for the price. The only thing was that because the chip is so light, it can't really scoop the dip directly from the container. I recommend loosening the dip with a fork or soemthing first 5. The sides in the bowl were also well seasoned and introduced different textures. read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Small size Spicy salmon Poke bowl--spicy and shoyu salmon - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

So yummy i liked the raw fish even though i usually am not a big fan. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's pretty small inside, if i go back i'd like to try more of the cooked fish[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I don't even do Yelp reviews but after coming here for around two years now I just have to say this is the best food in all of Somerville, and honestly the entire Boston area. Not only is the food wonderful, the staff is even better! I normally order a mix plate, which is two meats with all the sides (rice, kimchi cucumbers, mac salad, salad) but today I wanted to try their rock crab meat mac salad, so I decided to not get the mix plate and just the proteins with rice since I wouldn't need two mac salads. These guys call me over and say hey we're gonna give you the full mix plate anyway! I can't believe the generosity. Not to mention they always give new customers free samples of their cakes. That crab mac salad was the best first bite of food I've had in years.... run don't walk to Manoa yall! read more

Manoa Poke Shop - * Mixplate with ahi shoyu and salmon shoyu * Mochiko Chicken Plate * Spam Musubi - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Really fresh poke with great flavors. Also the guava cakes are insanely good. The staff is very friendly.

After coming here I cannot get poke anywhere else ever again! Except maybe Hawaii. I had been hearing so many great things about this place so I wanted to try a little bit of everything. We got the mixplate ($17) with mochiko fried chicken and kalua pig, small side of spicy salmon poke ($13), small side of oka i'a poke ($13), and a pineapple cake ($5). The owner was super kind and gave us banana tapioca pudding as well! The mochiko fried chicken was crispy and perfectly seasoned on the outside while juicy on the inside. It came with honey for dipping. The kalua pig was super savory and so tender it practically melted in my mouth! It had a nice balance of sweet and savory flavors. The poke definitely stole the show though. I almost always get spicy salmon whenever I get poke and the spicy salmon here did not disappoint! The salmon chunks were fresh and actually had a bit of kick to them. I had never had poke like the oka i'a before but I was pleasantly surprised by how perfectly the coconut milk paired with the tuna. There was also some cucumber in it so overall it was super refreshing. Honestly, even the sides here are great. The rice came in these cute and tiny little containers. The macaroni salad was creamy and the kim chee cucumbers were crunchy and tart! Even the side salad was great-- I loved the pickled onions that came with the fresh veggies. And the DESSERT! I am glad I had the stomach for dessert after all that I ate because the pineapple cake was SO GOOD. It had this sticky, caramelized exterior, lots of pineapple, and a buttery and fluffy inside. The banana tapioca pudding is perfect for those who do not have a sweet tooth. It was sweet enough to satisfy a dessert craving without being too overpowering. The banana flavor balanced nicely with the coconut. I am so impressed that everything here is so good, not just the poke! I'll definitely be coming back. read more

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This place is definitely a hidden gem, so go when it's open and try it! The staff is super friendly and welcoming- we were close to closing time and they still went out of their way to serve us. Tried a mix plate and the tuna and salmon were great plus the little scoop of Mac and cheese was definitely a winner! read more

The food is incredible. Their Mac and cheese is so unique and delicious, and don't even get me started on their Guava cakes. Everyone there is so incredible sweet and genuine, I wish I could go there more. read more

Best poke in the area! They sell poke by the pound, mixplates, and other specials. The mixplate which is what I usually get comes with your choice of 2 proteins, including poke, rice, macaroni salad, pickled cucumbers, and salad. It's a good portion siz efor what you pay. I highly recommend the mochiko chicken (super crispy, juicy and well seasoned!) and any of their poke selections. The staff is super sweet and they also usually have pineapple cake samples and stickers at the register so check those out! The shop has limited seating and they're only open Thurs - Saturday evenings, but definitely worth a visit! read more

TRUE RATING: 4.5/5 Manoa is a charming small business located in Somerville, MA. Not only was the service from the locally owned business excellent, but the atmosphere was also fantastic. I could feel the love as soon as I walked in! While the mixplate combination was good, it wasn't amazing. The rice and mixed green salad were a bit underwhelming, but the mac salad and kim chee cucumbers were flavorful and made it worthwhile. The rice and the mixed green salad were plain. The Mac Salad had a unique flavor due to the garlic aioli, and the Kim Chee cucumbers were flavorful, although not as spicy as I had hoped. Nevertheless, they were very tasty side dishes, which I would purchase again to supplement my poke bowl. I intentionally purchased two proteins with polarizing flavors - one with a heavier marinade (spicy salmon) and the other with a lighter marinade (ahi shoyu poke), and requested the poke in a separate container. The protein was extremely fresh, giving it a 5/5 in my eyes. I particularly enjoyed the combination of the creamy kim chee aioli and house spicy sauce with the spicy salmon. For those new to poke, this is a good starter, as it's not too spicy. However, if you're not a fan of thick sauce, I would not recommend the spicy salmon poke. The Ahi Shoyu Poke was light and flavorful, with a slight acidity that I greatly appreciated. It paired well with the yellowfin tuna overall. I liked the gochugaru-based marinade, and I wish there was more of it! The rice and mixed greens were fairly bland, so I wouldn't recommend the mixplate combo for this specific reason, as these two sides occupied most of the volume in my to-go box. Overall, I do plan to return because I loved the protein so much, and there are so many other options I want to try! While the mixplate is good for first-timers, I recommend getting a pound of protein with the kim chee cucumbers and the mac salad instead. read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Spicy Salmon & Ahi Shoyu Tuna - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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The one place I know in the area that prepares poke the way you find it in Hawaii: marinated cubes of high-quality raw fish. When everything is in stock (a problem lately), there are multiple delicious offerings to try, though we always include shoyu tuna and salmon. And the poke is wonderful: perfect in their Hawaii-style mixplates that include some salad greens and a scoop of macaroni salad. I do have a complaint: what's with the rice? The mixplates quite properly include two scoops of white rice, but every time the rice is horribly dry -- nearly inedible clumps that one can make palatable by purchasing and adding one of their sauces. But it's not hard to keep rice moist (and it's not a Hawaiian thing to let it go super-dry) -- sushi restaurants at all levels succeed at that. I mentioned this to two different friends who also love the poke here, and my complaint brought instant recognition. We all love to order take-out from Manoa Poke, but one of them always makes her own rice to go with it, apparently. Please, improve the rice!! read more

3.5 stars - I was excited to try Manoa after hearing that it was one of the more authentic Hawaiian experiences in the Boston area, and got takeout for a picnic on a nice day. I had been warned beforehand that service could be slow, so I ordered ahead online with a scheduled pick up time and the food was ready when I got there (although I was also late anyway). In addition to an extra side of fried chicken, we each ordered a poke bowl, which includes rice, choice of two proteins, salad, cucumbers, and macaroni salad. We also ordered a guava cake which they forgot to give us. When I called them about it, they offered to either refund it or add it to my next order at Manoa. Parking is not too difficult, there was ample street parking around lunch time. The food itself varied a little in quality - I really enjoyed their raw options that I tried (spicy tuna and salmon shoyu), which tasted fresh and had good flavor. The salmon bellies that my friend and I got looked very different though - one seemed much drier and had less of the glaze. My friends also tried the kalua pig, which they said was basically just pulled pork, and the mochiko fried chicken, which they found to be a little too tough for their liking. I appreciate the variety of protein options and overall found Manoa to be more authentic to Hawaiian cuisine, but I think if I came back I would stick to the raw options. read more

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Best poke!! Love everything they offer. We've tried other poke places and this is the best and consistently delicious

I had been planning my outing to Manoa Poke Shop, and it was well worth the wait! I ordered ahead and got a mixplate with Ahi Shoyu poke and Spicy Salmon poke, the manoa dip with wonton chips, and the pineapple cake to try. The restaurant itself is small with a few chairs so I did takeout. Service was great- the man at the front was very nice and packaged my order when I arrived. The mixplate was outstanding- I loved the ahi shoyu poke and the Mac salad with pickled veggies. The manoa dip was good (a little fishy for my own taste), but the wonton chips were amazing! I wish they sold them by the bag. The pineapple cake was so moist and sweet, I still cannot believe it's homemade. Can't wait to try more items on the menu! read more

Candidly, there are ZERO reasons YOU need to read any of these reviews. Stop scrolling, stop reading this review, like you are wasting valuable time you could've used to order some of the BEST FOOD IN BOSTON rather than sitting here reading this review. But you are still reading. You thought I would get serious in the second paragraph; OK, here's my take. ORDER EVERYTHING ON THE MENU. BE HAPPY YOU DID, say, "wow, John K. on Yelp was right. What was I doing even thinking I needed to go on Yelp and read reviews of one of the greatest (takeout) restaurants ever created." If you are still reading, thank you, but please go, and get the food. You'll thank John K. from yelp later if you did. :) read more

Discovered this gem while searching for a restaurant to satisfy my poke craving. The inside of the restaurant is small but cozy, and the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming - 10/10 service. We ordered 2 mixplates, each with 2 proteins (1 with chili BBQ salmon + ahi shoyu, 1 with spicy tuna + spicy salmon). I am a big fan of salmon and personally wished I doubled down the chili BBQ salmon (cooked) and spicy salmon. Spam masubi is next on my to try list when I come back! read more

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The quality of the fish is amazing! Huge chunks of fresh fish with the perfect amount of seasoning! I ordered the ahi tuna and the spicy salmon poke bowl which comes with rice, spring mix, macaroni salad, and a few pickles ($16). Overall, super delicious and the items all complimented each other. We did have to wait for a while because there was a line and a lot of pick up orders. They are definitely busy so that's a good sign! I usually order pokeworks which is NOT to be equated with manoa. The quality and flavor at manoa is great and worth paying more for. The chicken is also great as well as the guava cake. read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Spicy salmon and ahi tuna - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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A friend recommended Manoa to me so long ago and I'm upset it look this long for me to go. It was delicious and is probably the closest thing to real Hawaiian poke that I've found in Boston. I got one of their combination plates with the pork and salmon shoyu. They packaged it really well for take out. The pork was so good and juicy, the salmon was fresh and had HUGE chunks, loved the Mac salad. I got a spam masubi as well for nostalgia purposes, and you can't really miss with that. A friend got their fried chicken and I loved it as well, stayed crunchy/crispy on the drive. It's also a good amount of food so you'll be full. No complaints, I'll be going back for sure! read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Best poke on the mainland!! I used to refuse to eat poke outside of Hawaii but Manoa Poke is legit. Everything from calling it a mix plate, to the mac salad side, to the very delicious poke options (limu is THE best and I'm so sad that no other poke shops ever have it). Amazingly friendly and fast service. Pricing is excellent for what you get. So much great variety on the menu, will def return. read more

The atmosphere, and the staff of this place are amazing and the food is good. It's just the oka ahi and the bbq salmon didn't really wow us (not super flavorful) but it's definitely a must visit place if you're a fan of poke read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Poke - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This is my 3rd visit to Manoa over the last couple of years, and it never disappoints! So fortunate that this small business serves up delicious poke and is thriving in the Somerville community and beyond. Today, my partner and I ordered a bowl w spicy tuna poke and spicy salmon poke & a bowl w mochiko fried chicken, kalua pig, and chili BBQ salmon belly - TASTE: 5/5 - I often order spicy tuna and spicy salmon elsewhere, but Manoa's is the real deal and actually has a nice kick. After the poke, the kalua pig was my favorite and today's pickled carrots were chef's kiss! TEXTURE: 5/5 - the poke was so fresh, and the fried chicken had a nice crunch. I also love that Manoa takes their sides seriously - their macaroni salad and kimchi cucumbers add refreshing bites to whichever protein you pick! PRICE: 4/5 - the poke bowls have, understandably, gone up a couple dollars since our last visit SERVING SIZE: 5/5 - the portions are great and leave me satisfied! SERVICE: 5/5 - we ordered in-store around noon on a Saturday and got our food less than 5 minutes later ATMOSPHERE: 5/5 - the folks at Manoa are so welcoming and you can tell that they love what they do! TAKEOUT: 4/5 - the proteins were in separate containers, so I just assembled everything in one PARKING: 5/5 - street parking is usually available and there's a Star Market parking lot nearby read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Bowl w (center) spicy tuna poke and spicy salmon poke & bowl w (from top left) chili BBQ salmon belly, kalua pig, and mochiko fried chicken - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Come here for delicious classic poke, kalua pork, mac salad, spam musubi, guava cake, and much more. Hawaiian approved. Currently, they are just doing takeout orders with more limited hours, but it was well worth the trek to Somerville. I ordered the mixed plate with spicy tuna and shoyu salmon, which came with rice and a side of mac salad. Had a bite a friend's kalua pork and it was well seasoned, perfectly fatty! We ended the meal with guava cake and pineapple upside down cake. Our entire crew loved the meal and the hospitality. It's a tad pricy but am happy to support these kind folks. Show them some love! read more

A little out of the way from the big squares of Cambridge but definitely worth trying. My top gem of Cambridge. Another casual takeout counter restaurant with really good food. The mochiko chicken is my favorite. It's a super crispy, fried chicken. Mochiko refers to the rice flour coating. The poke was also very good even though I'm not as big a fan of poke personally. The staff were also very friendly and even gave me a delicious, mini pineapple cake the first time I went. One of the guys working there was a Hawaiian guy who I think may have owned it which was a good sign. Super friendly and I think authentic Hawaiian poke and chicken. Favorite Dishes: Mochigo Chicken, Salmon Poke read more

Best Hawaiian Style food in greater Boston, especially the poke outside of Hawaii. Poke gets sold out quick, so order early. The Kalua pork and fried chicken is really good too, oh almost forget the BBQ chili salmon, too. Also leave a little room for desserts. The service is great and so friendly. They treat you like ohana. Must try and you wouldn't be disappointed. read more

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Yummy authentic poke - although I wish there was a way to get smaller portions of more things to try. We each got a main and 2 sides which were all delicious but also ran up the bill more than I was expecting for a fast casual lunch. I would totally come back to try more but not super often to keep my wallet in check. Also they have some wonky hours which makes it hard to just 'stop by', you really have to plan a trip there. read more

All around great poke shop. I tried their spicy salmon, which is marinated in kimchi aioli and house spicy sauce. It is VERY quality - and the fish is the most important part. I tried my girlfriend's tuna bowl and it was also really good. I think I prefer the salmon, though. As for the other things, they somehow make their pickles actually taste good. I'm not sure what they're marinating them in, but it is fantastic. The macaroni salad is also great. The rice is fluffy and fresh. The only part I disliked was the large amount of arugula salad. Arugula tends to be more bitter, and I don't feel that the rest of the food balanced out that bitterness well enough. That's more of a personal preference, though. Anyways, fantastic poke but it is pretty expensive ($15). I do think they are better and more authentic than Pokeworks, but Pokeworks still does edge them out in terms of value. read more

Not only is this one of my favorite poke places of all time, this is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Manoa Poke is always delicious, always fresh, and always friendly. My partner and I go almost every weekend because it's just that good, and it's still tough for us to decide what to get because everything is so incredibly tasty. The ahi shoyu tuna and salmon shoyu mixplate is probably our favorite (if we had to choose) and the poke is absolutely divine -- generously portioned and melt-in-your-mouth good. The mac salad never disappoints, nor does the pineapple cake or even the fresh POG. Basically, you can't go wrong here with anything you order. To top it all off, the staff are super friendly. 1000% recommend! read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This food is incredible. Fresh beautiful seasoned like for a reasonable price. The owner and the staff are incredibly kinda and generous. Best restaurant in Boston. read more

Sweet mother Mary this place is great. Most poke places (chains) in Boston just throw sushi ingredients on a bowl of rice and call it Poke. This place is the real deal. Their food tastes... different... like it is actual hawaiian cuisine and not just food for the masses. I have tasted their seafood and it is solid. Their kalua pork is delicious (albeit a tad too salty). Also, don't pass on the desserts. They are wonderful. I especially loved the two cakes (pineapple and guava); they had a great balance and not overly sweet. This place is the standard against which all other poke places should be judged. read more

i moved to the Boston area from the west coast where Hawaiian restaurants are plentiful - i had been searching everywhere for some good mac salad and i'm SO GLAD to have found this place !!! not only are the people extraordinarily kind but the food is SO fresh and delicious :) read more

Do yourself a favor and don't go to one of those culturally appropriative "poke bowl" places. Not only do they symbolize yet another instance of settler-colonial theft of the Hawai'ian islands, they're not even that good! So instead, GET THE REAL THING. And the real thing, ladies and gentlemen and enbies, is Manoa Poke Shop. I hadn't had a proper bite of poke in several years, since my last visit to O'ahu. Manoa's poke truly is on par with some of the best on the islands. There was an explosion of euphoria in my head as I devoured it. Some other highlights: chili salmon belly. They caramelize it perfectly. Mochiko chicken. Crunchy and perfectly satisfying. Salmon croquettes. Like crab cakes, but with salmon, perfectly breaded, fried, and seasoned. And to warm my Filipino heart, kalua pig lumpia. Umph. To top it all off, they're incredibly friendly, good folks. I can't say enough about how much I recommend this place, the only spot in the Boston area for real Hawai'ian cuisine!!! read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Ahi shoyu poke - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Manoa Poke Shop has redefined my expectations for poke. I have ordered poke bowls in other cities and have been accustomed to fast casual experiences where you customize everything from the salad underneath your rice to the toppings and sauces you add on top. Today, I only chose from a list of proteins. The proteins include typical fish options, including salmon, ahi tuna, and spicy tuna. There is also a robust selection of cooked proteins, which include BBQ chicken, fried chicken, and Kahlua pork. The plates come with two proteins, rice, macaroni salad, cucumbers, mixed greens, and a side of roasted peanuts. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The fish was cut into large, tender chunks and was marinated nicely. The salad, cucumbers, and macaroni salad were light palate cleansers. The fried chicken portion was larger than the fish portion and had a light, coconut-flavored breading. I had enough fried chicken to save for my next meal. In addition, I tried the pineapple cake, which was a very delicious dessert. The best place for curbside pickup is on Eustis Street, right at the corner of Beacon Street. read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Mixed Plate with salmon shoyu poke and mochiko fried chicken - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Manoa is incredible. I have never had better poke...ever! The shoyu salmon is melt-in-your-mouth with the perfect savory flavor. The sides are generous and a powerful medley of creamy (macaroni salad), tart (cucumbers), and fresh (salad). All around a super super delicious poke bowl. I've tried Pokeworks and Ono Poke Bar in Cambridge and was very underwhelmed by both. The quality of their raw fish doesn't hold a candle to Manoa's top tier salmon. The staff are really friendly and encourage you to get additional items -- thanks to which I've tried their POG and guava cake. I have also tried their chicken sandwich which I heard major praise about, but wasn't super into it since I don't like sweet savory things. Their service during the pandemic has been smooth (some longer waits for food but it's worth it!). Manoa always serves up a delightful bowl of food, and is something to look forward to on the weekends. :) read more

Manoa Poke Shop - My first Manoa poke bowl (missing a few sides because they were out) - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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By far my favorite place I've eaten at in all of Somerville and maybe even the Boston area since moving here. Just incredibly fresh, flavorful, and fantastic poke. It's around $20 for a plate which comes with two proteins and a bit of mac salad and pickled cucumbers. The sauce seasoning the poke was extremely tasty yet didn't overpower the taste of the fish. The fish itself tasted fresher than any fish I've had before (I've never been to Hawaii or Japan for reference). The cashier was so nice and treated everyone like family. He had free anime stickers out and gave free shots of dessert to first time customers. He made an honest attempt to learn my name and asked me some questions. Inside, it's very small and not much seating room but I went during a low period and found seating. The pineapple cake was super tasty and I can't wait to try their guava cake. A complete 10/10 restaurant. The only thing that sucks is they are open Thursday to Saturday and only at specific times (often 3 pm or 5 pm) which makes it inconvenient to go if you don't plan ahead. Nevertheless, if this is the cost of fresh fish then it's a minor cost. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]This place smells and feels like being back in Hawaii.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff is awesome - friendly and welcoming- and the food is the real thing. I had a few things, but I particularly liked the kahlua pork and will go back to try more. read more

I always wanted to try Manoa when they opened and finally had the chance to visit recently. Thumbs up here. Poke here is legit compared to the other phony poke shops popping up like nail shops and froyo. They marinate the poke here (which makes it legit) compared to the other shops that just dump you tuna in your bowl and add a bunch of "special sauces" on your tuna and call it a day. There's no parking around other then street so bring your parallel parking chopzzz with you. Yep... I'll be back. Cheerzzz and poke on. read more

Manoa Poke Shop - Thumbs up. Legit poke--not the phony stuff you get elsewhere. Ahi shoyu tuna and spicy salmon. - Poke Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

As someone who was born and raised in Hawaii, I can say that Manoa Poke is the real deal when it comes to authentic local Hawaii food. The poke doesn't come with any toppings like edamame or mango. They serve comfort food like mac salad, a classic lunch side, and spam musubis. The spicy and shoyu salmon poke are probably my favorite things on the menu, since I crave raw fish all the time - the salmon they use is so creamy. When I'm not in the mood for poke, I LOVE their salmon belly that's coated with an addicting teriyaki sauce (i.e. I pour the leftover sauce over rice and other things) and mochiko chicken, which is a deep fried marinated chicken that tastes like a sweeter version of Japanese karaage chicken. The people who run the shop are so kind - go and support them! read more

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Forgot to take photos because I started eating too quickly. Tbh the food reminds me of Hawaii. That's it. Big chunks of poke, delicious pineapple cake, and the most relaxed and friendly owner. Highly recommend! read more

Incomparable. The service. The exquisite freshly prepared poke. I appreciate the what is proper poke, unlike the chain stores that simply are not to the same standards, Manoa always is a great experience. read more

I drive 45 minutes for the best, most creative, and highest quality poke I have ever had. The vibes are equally great. I feel like family every time I step in. The menu is flexible, allergy friendly, and always changing based on what is the freshest available fish. It is always worth the drive to smile far longer than 45 minutes! xoxo read more

Extremely kind owner and a great experience every time. My family has ordered catering for parties and love coming for dinner.