If it's your first time, the salmon brûlée is a freaking must! Anything torched is amazing, but their donburis are so good too!! I love taking visitors here, it's not traditional poke but more like Japanese style donburi - a layer of fish on top of a bed of rice! read more

I visited Ocean Taste this evening before they closed and wish I ordered a different bowl. I ordered the Snowy Volcano Don before and forgot how spicy the spicy ahi is that I didn't really enjoy it. The next time I visit, I want to try the Tofu Poke Salad or the Lava Flow Don. Parking is typically a challenge in the early evening because everyone is on their way to a dinner reservation or shopping at Nordstrom Rack or TJ Maxx. The only person who was friendly and welcoming was the female who took my order. read more

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I have been there since day one!! From the time they opened at Ohana Marketplace, to their temporary relocation near Kaimuki High school, to their current location at Ward.. ! I will continue to follow them and their delicious poke bowls! (secretly wishing they would open a second location in California.. lol) Was so surprised to see how BUSY they were on a Wednesday afternoon. My go to is usually the torched garlic salmon with light mayo. I'm so glad they didn't run out! Their dine in area is always neatly kept. There are also small tables outside the restaurant. Lots of place to sit and catch up with friends or family over delicious food. Oh and perks to the owner, who is super friendly, and remembers me everytime I visit :) read more

Ocean Taste - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What an amazing yummy place. This was one of the most delicious meals I've had. The service was fantastic and also friendly people. I have been to many poke spots but this definitely hit the spot. I highly recommend trying this place out. read more

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Ocean Taste at South Shore Market has some of my favorite chirashi and torched bowls. The fish is really fresh and has amazing flavor combinations... all in a fast casual setting. The 5-seasons don is one of my favs with ahi, salmon, ikura, snow crab, and a soft boiled egg. Plus a shiso leaf, adding that bite of refreshingness. If you're a fan of chirashi bowls, you gotta try this one out. They have a whole aburi series which showcases their torched bowls. Torching the fish melts the fat and brings out a creamy texture. My favorite is the torched garlic salmon and the torched garlic butter ahi. The quality is really reflected in the price and portions seems more of Japanese standards than American. It's really all about the quality and unique flavor combinations for an accessible price point and place. read more

Ocean Taste - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ocean Taste is a lot of my friends' favorite poke bowl. Last time I had a wasabi ahi bowl. Today I got the spicy salmon creme brulee. I honestly preferred the wasabi ahi. I think this was just an off day for them. Prices are high, portions are... okay. But the fish is usually very good. The creme brulee bowl is good, but maybe just not for me. This isn't "fast" food, so be patient. They are making the bowls to order and esp if your bowl gets torched, it will take several minutes. But the freshness and quality is evident. I like that the standard rice is sushi rice. There's a lot of seating in here, but it gets crowded fast. There's also other tables around and in south shore marketplace. Free parking is a major perk too. read more

Ocean Taste - spicy salmon creme brulee - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

TLDR; clean environment, low poke:rice ratio and quite salty This is a cute poke stop east of Ala Moana Center. The vibe is relaxed, the store is clean and the staff are friendly and efficient. The poke however was quite salty and the quantity of it was a fairly thin layer over a hump of rice. The quality of the fish was ok. I personally would recommend the Foodland Farms in Ala Moana Center for poke (especially the ones made from locally caught fish), but if you like rich, heavy flavors this place might be for you. read more

Ocean Taste - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Thanks to Feed Mei Mei on YouTube, we discovered our favorite torched bowl in Oahu! This was our very first lunch stop after arriving in Waikiki. It was a busy lunch hour, and we waited about 10-15 minutes for our food, but it was absolutely worth it. We shared the garlic torched tuna, spicy salmon crème brûlée, garlic torched salmon, and a honey calamansi drink. My favorite was the garlic torched salmon, so creamy and flavorful. The other bowls came with spicy mayo, which I can't really handle, but my husband happily devoured those. We washed everything down with the refreshing honey calamansi. I only wish we had more time in Oahu so I could go back to try the chirashi bowl, they all looked amazing. I guess that just means we'll have to plan another trip soon! Parking is shared with South Shore Market, and there are limited tables inside, plus some outdoor seating as well. read more

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@fortunefoodfinds: "SALMON like you! A Spicy Salmon Crème Brûlée Bowl on sushi rice from OCEAN TASTE located inside the South Shore Market at the Ward Village. Sweet, savory, n' oh so tasty!" SERVICE: friendly INTERIOR: clean, good amount of high stool n' table seating available EXTERIOR: in the South Shore Market WAIT TIME: came right before they were closing n' was the last customer so only waited 5 mins after placing order before receiving food PARKING: garage OVERALL COMMENTS: I always order something under their Torched Series, n' this time I got the Spicy Salmon Crème Brûlée bowl that I inhaled. Sooo good! The salmon n' sauces were on point in texture n' taste. My kids also loved the sushi rice underneath. Great location if you plan to shop in the area! read more

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Not sure why this was the first time hearing about Ocean Taste because it was amaaaazing! I only found out that day I went that it used to be at the old Ohana Marketplace and at another location for a short while. It's located in Ward on the first floor where TJ Maxx, A Line, Mahina Made and a bunch of other stores are. Parking gets crowded but so nice because that parking structure is free. Ocean Taste is on the left hand side if you enter from the parking lot side. There's about 6 tables and bench seating along the store. The line was pretty long to order but it moved fast. And it tastes 10 minutes or less to have your order ready. So fast! I ordered the Torched Spicy Mentaiko Ahi. It looks small but when you eat it it actually fills you up. I love how the toppings completely fills the top of the rice so you get ahi and toppings in every bite. The torched flavor is my fav. I also tried my friends torched garlic salmon and was a little jealous because the garlic mayo was on point. Their menu items are definitely different from other places. I recommend you give them a try if you haven't already. read more

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My husband and I think this is, hands down, the best place to get a poke bowl, specifically their torched options!! Worth all the hype, and every penny frrl. We got the spicy salmon creme brûlée bowl which was a good balance of sweet & spicy. The flaky sugared crystal top added a nice crunch! We also got the torched garlic salmon bowl, our personal favorite of the two. The creaminess of the sauce, freshness of the fish, and rich garlic flavor all paired perfectly. Just thinking about it is making me crave it again. You'll catch me coming back here verrrrry soon. read more

Ocean Taste - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Parking: located at south shore market Service: counter service Ambiance: indoor seating or around south shore market, casual Food: known for their torched bowls, would rec the garlic salmon read more

Ocean Taste - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Located in South Shore Market Place. Park in the parking lot. I've eaten here several times and loved it every time. The Five Seasons Don is my favorite so far. It's pricey at $28.95. It has all the flavors you want and won't disappoint. It's over sushi rice which adds a sweet taste to the bowl. The fish is always fresh. The honey calamansi $5 is definitely worth trying. Second time I got it. It's not super sweet or sour, it's honey calms down the tart of the calamansi so it's a perfect combination. And there's actually calamansi in the drink. Staff is always nice. The shop is clean. There are tables inside and lots of seating in South Shore Market Place. My food will typically come out quick if there's no wait. Today there was a line, so my order took a little longer than I expected. read more

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Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 I love coming to Ocean Taste for their torched bowls. The fish is always fresh and everything is always so tasty. I like their sushi rice base as well. I should try more of their items on their menu but I always order my usual "Torched Garlic Salmon" bowl. Parking is super easy and located in the South Shore Marketplace structure. It can get crowded in the restaurant when it is busy. There is limited seating but the best thing to do is get your food to-go and sit outside. I recommend Ocean Taste! read more

Ocean Taste - Torched Garlic Salmon Bowl - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Still dreaming of the torched aburi bowls here! They're indulgent and addicting, with so much flavor in each bite from the sauces and torched flavors - the Spicy Salmon Creme Brulee was an absolute favorite. I also tried the Cheesy Crab, which was also delicious but just a tad bit salty from the cheese sauce. Thankfully the rice helped balance it out and I still enjoyed it overall. The restaurant is located in the first level of South Shore Market, which is such a fun market featuring local businesses and artists! Loved wandering around after lunch here. read more

Ocean Taste - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My friend who used to live in Oahu said we must visit Ocean Taste and he was right--my husband and I agreed that this was our favorite poke spot we tried during our trip on the island. I'm a sucker for a good spicy poke, so surprise surprise, that was my order here. Everything about it was phenomenal! The fish quality itself was the best I've had and the sauces enhanced it perfectly without overpowering it. Portion sizes are a bit small and pricey for the amount given, but I think the quality of the food itself justifies the splurge. The store itself is bright and welcoming and the service is friendly. There are seats if you decide to eat your food at the store. It is located in a large plaza/mall so there was parking lot which was nice, but it did get crowded so you may have to be patient to find a spot. read more

Ocean Taste - Menu - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Lovely place for yummy sashimi and poke bowls with great service. The only reason for the missing star is because they take a wee bit long to make the food (considering each person orders 1 or 2 items and there's no cooking). Wish they had a make-your-own bowl, where you can pick 3 or 4 fish.... my go to is always the Five Seasons Don $28.95 (excellent cuz not salty and comes with a yummy sauce on the side), but sometimes id be happy with just ahi, salmon, and something else (I dont believe they have hamachi). Plantation ice tea is getting more consistent so that makes me happy. read more

Ocean Taste - Five Seasons don $28.95 - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've been craving poke lately and decided to check this place out. The place has a free parking for those who are unfamiliar with South Shore Marketplace. The storefront is good since it has photos of their popular items plus their regular menu. While I was craving a regular poke bowl, I decided to get the torched salmon since it is one of the popular items. My husband loves mentaiko so he opted for that. The wait was quite long but they did warn us. After 20 minutes we got our food and took it to the outdoor seating as the store was full. The verdict: the bowls are delicious. My husband gave his a 9/10. I think mine was more a 8/10. I can tell the fish is nice and fresh but the flavor is definitely more creamy and heavy. This is more of a luxurious poke bowl if that makes sense, not a bowl that I can just grab for a regular meal. I'll be back to taste the ginger ahi and spicy ahi! read more

Ocean Taste - Torched salmon - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Got the (i believe) ahi dynamite torched bowl and it was amazing! I loved that the sushi rice is not hot so that it cooked the fish and flavored perfectly. The mayo was a good balance for the freshness of the fish and the sauces were balanced. Definitely a bit heavy with all the cream/mayo on top, but a delicious treat. Service was quick and polite, and there is a decent amount of seating inside. Very cute since inside south shore market! Would like to try a non-torched bowl next time. read more

Ocean Taste - Dynamite bowl - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Food: 5/5 Hands down one of the BEST poke places I've ever had. The fish was so fresh and there were decent chunks! The sauce was a perfectly balanced spicy and tangy, the portion size was perfect, and the price was just right. Service: 5/5 No complaints! Clean place although limited seating, the staff was very nice and patient (indecisiveness kills me I know...) Ambiance: 4/5 You can see the prep table/kitchen quite easily from the eating area (spoiler, it's SUPER clean!). Outside of that my only personal comment is that the seating area is limited and there's very little walk way space if there's more than two parties. Overall: 5/5 Great food, great location, great vibes! read more

Ocean Taste - Spicy ahi tuna poke w/ white rice - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ocean Taste has a variety of flavorful poke made using high-quality fish. While it may be a little pricey, I think it's definitely worth it for the freshness of their fish. I love their spicy ahi, but I find their other flavors of poke to be much more unique. We got the Garlic Ahi and Creamy Wasabi Ahi. The Garlic Ahi had a very strong, garlic flavor, topped with garlic crisps and sweet onions that offered a nice crispy change in texture. The Creamy Wasabi Ahi (my personal favorite) has a fresh wasabi flavor that gives enough kick to make you really taste the wasabi, topped with crispy tempura flakes and sweet onions to pull everything together. I wish you could combine two or three of their different types of poke into one combo bowl, but it's cool that they also offer torched poke options, as well. Vibe: There are a handful of tables inside Ocean Taste, and many other seating options located in South Shore Market. The workers are friendly and the service is always fast. Parking: The South Shore Market has a huge parking structure with free parking, although it can get quite crowded and congested on the weekends. read more

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So my coworker cancelled lunch on me today... tragic, I know. I mourned for a solid five minutes before realizing: I don't need that kind of negativity in my life--I need poke. Not the frozen poke but fresh poke. Ocean taste it is... I've been supporting this place since their days at Ohana Marketplace. I've tried a bunch of their poke bowls, but I always end up going back to the spicy torched mentaiko ahi bowl. The fish is super fresh, the sauce is packed with flavor, and it just hits the spot every time. It's definitely on the pricier side, but if you're looking for quality fish, it's absolutely worth it. This is hands down my go-to for fresh poke! read more

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Ocean Taste at South Shore Market Place is one of our go-to spots. My boyfriend and I come here at least once a month, and at one point we were coming almost every week The fish is always so fresh, which is why we keep coming back. I'm definitely a creature of habit and usually stick to my favorite, the torched garlic salmon don, but I'm never afraid to try something new here because I'm never disappointed. This time I tried the garlic ahi poke bowl (yes, I'm a garlic girl), and it was amazing!!! My boyfriend ordered the snowy volcano bowl and loved it just as much. Ocean Taste never disappoints. Chef's kiss. read more

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I ordered the torched ahi with garlic mayo, and my friend had the spicy poke bowl. My fish had no stringy muscle but my friend's had a little. I really enjoyed my bowl and so did my friend. The rice was quite a bit and I couldn't finish it. The place was not too busy and we were served in a rather short time. They also have UNI (my favorite). The space was clean with ample seating. read more

Ocean Taste - Spicy ahi on the left, torched ahi with garlic mayo on the right. - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It was okay, overhyped and overpriced for sure. Ordered the spicy ahi bowl and paid $18 for it and it was the size of my fist. Sushi rice was extra charge but didn't really taste like sushi rice. Sauce was good but nothing crazy, fish was okay. read more

I feel like a lot of people come here for their spicy salmon creme brulee bowl but I'm not a fan of salmon so I get their spicy ahi bowl which is soo tasty! One of the best spicy ahi poke. I really like how the ahi is so soft and melts in your mouth. I also enjoy how they add some onions in there for a bit of an added texture/crunch. The food comes out pretty fast and I think the prices are reasonable especially for high-quality fresh tasting fish. This is a must try spot for poke! read more

Ocean Taste - Spicy ahi bowl and spicy salmon creme brulee bowl - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Nearly $20 for this tiny portion of average poke. This bowl is probably 90% rice and 10% everything else. You can get better tasting food with bigger portions by going to foodland or don quiote and you wont pay nearly as much. read more

Ocean Taste - Mostly rice. - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We had dinner here last night and the poke bowls are excellent. It's one of the best that I've had in a while. The fish they use are all fresh and never frozen. You can totally tell the difference. They also have sushi rice, which I always get when available. We got the Lava Flow Don $18.95, Spicy Ahi Poke Bowl $15.95 and a Lilikoi Iced Tea $5. Everything was so tasty. Not only was the fish fresh, they have the best sauces. The Lava Flow Don came with Hokkaido scallop, ikura, spicy ahi and tamago. The scallop were so sweet and paired perfectly with the spicy ahi. I would definitely recommend this. This bowl came with a shiso leaf and it made all the difference. It made the bowl fragrant. The spicy ahi had sriracha mayo, masago, green onion and unagi sauce. We washed it down with the refreshing lilikoi iced tea. It wasn't too sweet and just perfect. They put too much ice though. The cup was basically filled with ice. I will be back to try some of their other items. However, I'm a creature of habit and just might order the same thing again. read more

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This was the best poke bowl I have ever had. The pieces of fish were so fresh, and every bite melted in my mouth. I really enjoyed the garlic salmon poke bowl. There was a perfect amount of char and smokiness. The drinks were also delicious! It is a takeout restaurant with plenty of seating in the middle of an outlet mall. I liked that I got my food quickly, and it was great to stop by after shopping. My family and I came to this restaurant three times within the span of a week during our trip to Maui. Cannot recommend enough! read more

Ocean Taste - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I placed an easy to-go order on a relatively quiet afternoon, and my food was ready in about 15 minutes. The ordering process was seamless, and there was no crowd to dodge. Even though I grabbed takeout, I noticed a handful of simple tables and chairs inside, plus an open kitchen where you can watch them cut the fish and assemble each bowl. Seeing everything made me confident in the freshness and care behind every dish. Ordered the lava flow don, spicy ahi bowl, hawaiian style ahi, & shrimp tempura. The food tasted good and the poke was fresh. With so many poke bowl and sushi spots around, this isn't the most game-changing menu you'll ever try, but it delivers exactly what you want: fresh fish, balanced flavors, and solid portion sizes. Given the fast, easy ordering and thoughtful packaging, I'd happily return next time I'm in the area. Ocean Taste is a reliable stop for a quick, satisfying poke fix. read more

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Super long lines even at 2pm! 20min wait but food was delicious and fresh. Crowded with tables for dine in seating but the shopping area has other tables to eat outside of the restaurant. Friendly service. read more

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Saw this place on tiktok and had to try it. We got the Kaisen Don. The fish was really fresh and melted in your mouth. It also paired well with the tako and onions. For $25 I would give it a 4/5 if the price was a little better I'd give it a 5/5. Overall great fish, decent price. Will try again read more

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Time and again, I find myself coming back to Ocean Taste when I want a high quality poke bowl. Everything on the menu is delicious, and my favorites are the Torched Garlic Salmon, Torched Garlic Butter Ahi, Lava Flow Don, and Snowy Volcano Don. The fish is always fresh, sauces are full of flavor, and the rice is nicely seasoned sushi rice. At almost $20 for a bowl, this is definitely more of a treat than a budget poke bowl you'd get from one of the grocery stores, but it's worth every penny. There is almost always a brief line during peak dining hours, but you can call ahead if you are placing a bigger order - service is always super friendly! There are a few tables inside and some more places to sit and eat around South Shore Market. South Shore Market shares a parking lot with TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack. The parking garage is big but usually busy; don't be shy about driving up few floors to find a spot. read more

Ocean Taste - Torched Garlic Salmon - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Delicious and fresh! I got the Lava Flow Don which includes scallops, ikura, spicy ahi, and tamago! Will come back to try their premium torched bowls which they are known for. read more

Ocean Taste - Lava Flow Don - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you're craving torched poke, this spot is the move. The torched spicy ahi the best. The smoky flavor hits you first, then the sauce comes in clutch without drowning the fish. They season the rice with furikake and it just ties everything together. The bowls run a little pricey and they're on the smaller side, but the fish is super fresh so it still feels worth it. Definitely my new go to when I want that smoky poke fix. read more

Ocean Taste - torched salmon and torched spicy ahi - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Ocean taste does it again! Orders took a bit longer than usual but it was a busy lunch hour and limited seating was available inside. Staff were friendly as always. Looking forward to the next time I come back :) read more

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Poke bowls solid as usual. The fish is very fresh & torched flavor is very good. Ambiance is nice & usually enough seating and turns over quickly. I would say the only issue I've noticed is the trash can is quite small for all the containers. read more

Ocean Taste - Torched garlic ahi, torched spicy mentaiko - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place was. SO. GOOD. We got the torched garlic salmon and it hit SO GOOD. It wasn't too busy when we went and the workers were sweet! If you are down to try new poke spots, please add this place!! I'll be back for sure! read more

Ocean Taste - Torched Garlic Salmon - Poke Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Nice, clean place that serves creative poke bowls. We got the Snowy Volcano Don. It has snow crab on top and ahi tuna poke on the bottom, it tasted sweet and salty, fresh and delicious, made to order. We look forward to try other items in this store. A few hours later...... I am changing my review from 5 stars to 2 stars because a few hours after eating the Snowy Volcano Don, we became very thirty, which is an indication that they put MSG in their food to enhance the flavor. MSG is unhealthy and to add that means they do not pride themselves on serving the best quality food, instead, using other chemicals as means to artificially enhance the favor. Paying almost $18 dollar for a small bowl of poke to have MSG in it is not acceptable. We won't be coming back. Next day... ATTENTION!!! We saw they charged extra 3% for credit card processing, which was not explicitly announced to us by the cashier, and not standard practice. Very tricky here! For that, I am lowering my rating now from 2 start to 1 star. read more

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Creative varieties... Ocean has seen it's places since the Ohana Hale Marketplace as it once called home there has found a lovely spot in the South Shore Market which I think is a great spot as it provides lots of free parking and restroom as well as I remember their previous location didn't have any restroom which I thought was odd but because of that never really gave it a try. Though South Shore Market does provide seating as well they do have a great amount inside their shop as well as I ordered my food first and are given a number to pick up your order when it's ready. What I do love is the menu variety they have besides the usual poke bowl with more than just a few types of sauces to choose from but Chirashi bowl, aburi series which are torched items and what I ordered a Poke Nachos....Spicy Senorita Nachos to be exact though the name didn't quite fit the dish as it felt basic as I don't see why it would be topped with unagi sauce and there was absolutely no spice which made it even more disappointing, the tortilla chips were seasoned so I could barely taste the poke as the whole dish just didn't quite work as it was the same topping just different sauce for the ahi I guess. Cute place and love the vibe here as it's very chill and relaxing and to find seating without worry is always a plus besides the fresh fish found here. Thank you! read more

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