Poke Chef is an absolute gem and easily my top recommendation for anyone craving fresh, authentic Japanese cuisine. Having lived in Japan for many years, I'm picky about quality and authenticity--and Poke Chef nails it every time. The fish is consistently fresh, the flavors are spot-on, and the menu offers that perfect balance of traditional Japanese touches and modern poke creativity. The service is exceptional. The team is warm, friendly, and incredibly attentive, making every visit feel seamless and welcoming. Whether you're grabbing a quick bowl or settling in for a comforting Japanese meal, they make you feel like a valued guest. Convenience is another huge plus--Poke Chef is ideally located right near Cal Poly and US-101, making it an easy stop for students, locals, and travelers alike. And for all this quality, the prices are extremely reasonable. It's hands-down the best value for delicious poke and Japanese food in the area. Highly recommended--Poke Chef is a standout you'll want to return to again and again. read more

Stopped in after a performance at the PAC last night. It was 9:15 so double checked with the person on staff if it was ok to order. I know what it's like for someone to come in so close to closing. The order took an embarrassing amount of time to make. I had to ring the bell to make sure my order had been seen and was being prepared. I definitely heard the sound of dishes being washed. I don't know if he was the only one on staff or not. If he was he was cleaning up instead of working on my order. He was obviously annoyed when I rang the bell. The burrito itself was a disaster. Basically just rice and peppers. There are supposed to be 3 different proteins. I found 1. I like spice but the amount of peppers and lack of protein made the thing inedible. $25 dollars (20+forced tip and tax) down the drain. This is not my first time at Poke Chef and I have enjoyed my experiences before this one. Maybe not all "5star" but normal enough that I felt no need to say something. I'd much rather have discussed my disappointment with management by email or phone call but I found no way to talk to them so feel forced to make this one bad experience public. If someone from Poke Chef reaches out to me I will happily remove this review. read more

Poke Chef - Spicy Lover Big Burrito - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

** visited on 7/23/2024 Stopped by for dinner with my boyfriend, and was surprised that they had moved to another shop in the same plaza. Upon entering, we were able to quickly order on their self order kiosks. The shop is small and cozy, and there's outdoor seating when the tables are out. We had ordered take out since we came around 8-8:30. OKAY THE FOOD: I had ordered their smoked salmon and regular salmon as protein in my bowl. The smoked salmon was a bit too salty for my liking but their regular salmon wasn't bad at all. Their bowls were filled pretty well, but the protein portions felt a little small compared to other poke spots but that's okay! Definitely not a bad spot if you're having a poke craving :) read more

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Pretty average poke. The amount of fish was also not as much as i hoped for the price I paid. Flavors were okay read more

Poke Chef - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Great value. Good service . Numerous toppings to choose from. It's definitely a takeout joint read more

Best Poke bowl I have had in a long time. The albacore melted in my mouth and I love that it was totally customizable.

Delicious fresh poke bowls! Don't be fooled by the location, the food is delicious. It was bought by a lovely Japanese family too! Can't wait to go back! read more

$30 for Teriyaki Chicken and marinated eggs, both of which are cooked ingredients, not poke which has raw fish. Got food poisoning. Do not recommend unless you're willing to take the risk. read more

Have always wanted to try a sushi-rito! I finally was able to and I was not disappointed with how fast it was made and its deliciousness. Only thing is, it is on the pricier side for a sushi-rito. It would be cheaper to get a roll of sushi elsewhere but it's also an experience :) read more

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Friday was my second time stopping at Poke Chef for lunch, and both times have been fantastic. I don't know why this place isn't more busy, but we've never had to wait to order. My friend and I both decided to build our own Poke Bowls. They have four sizes, depending on how many proteins you want - Freshman, Junior, Big, and Kahuna. I got the Junior both times and honestly it was enough to fill me up. The salmon and ahi tuna were both fresh and delicious, and the bowl was fantastic overall. There is no seating inside, but a few benches/picnic tables scattered around the plaza. Also, Poke Chef does not have a restroom. Would return though! read more

Poke Chef - Inside - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Cozy poke place with great selection and quick service. Food was not only great but affordable read more

Poke Chef - History of Poke Chef - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

One of the best poke bowls I have ever had! I was pleasantly surprised by both the quality and the cost and the flavors were amazing. The portions were also very generous. I will be coming back! read more

Poke Chef - Three protein bowl - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Poke chef is efficient and has good quality fish and a good assortment. I like that they have gluten free options but wish their menu still easily displayed them read more

7/7/20 I've been on a poke kick and found this closest to my hotel. So I came here for lunch and dinner. I ordered the Kahuna poke as well as the chicken and cabbage dumplings. Everything was fresh and made from order. It didn't take long to get everything prepared for the staff. Everything was so tasty and delicious! I would most definitely eat here again! I wish there were more poke restaurants like this nationwide. Hands down one of the best pokes I've been to. read more

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UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP - The new owners are very sweet! The food has always been really tasty and they use really good quality fish. I had a couple of questions about the different toppings and they were really good about explaining everything. They changed the inside and even added a couple of barstools and tables. read more

After a long drive, Poke is what we were craving to eat! My wife did a quick Yelp search and found this Poke Chef in San Luis Obispo. Place was easy enough to find. It is located in a small strip mall with very limited parking. Fortunately, our good friend found a nice spot in the lot. No dining was allowed inside at the time of our visit. Fine with us because our destination for the night was close by. Their Poke bar offers a good selection of proteins, bases, mix-ins, toppings, and sauces. Everything appeared fresh and clean. I got myself a size which included 3 proteins. Portion size was decent. I've been to many other Poke places, though, that are more generous and less expensive. Anyways, my customized poke bowl was delicious and I ate every single bite. My wife was happy with her customized Sushi Burrito. She allowed me to have a bite, and I have to say that it was yummy!! Did not get our friends thoughts on their meals here. They did finish everything. Glad to have stopped by Poke Chef for a nice meal. Try them for yourself! read more

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Food is okay. ingredients tasted fresh but the serving size for the price was kinda small..

The food... AMAZING! The service... AWESOME!! We love getting poke here! My daughter and I both have had gastric sleeve and we went in today and asked if we could just get toppings and no rice, they even split it for my daughter and I for our portion size! He was so accommodating and we are always treated so well here! We drive from AG for this specific poke! Love them so much! Thanks so much guys! For being awesome! read more

Poke Chef - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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I've been here a few of times, one time ordering in person and a couple of times ordering through DoorDash. Every time, the food was fresh and tasted great. I love the variety and how you can basically build your own poke bowl. The pho is decent, the noodles can get a little hard to eat but the soup is amazing. I always get a side of dumplings. read more

They just recently changed locations and the new sign is a little bit harder to see but I think this is one of the best poke places in SLO and Pismo. Definitely top notch and one of the few places that makes great dumplings. read more

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I just went in randomly because I wanted to see what they had. I've never had poke before so I asked the wonderful person working there what it was and she kindly explained everything to me and helped me with my whole order. She was awesome and deserves a raise! Her name was Jasmine...?? I think. Or Justine.. I can't remember now but I will definitely be back! Thank you!! read more

Poke Chef - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Very tasty! My husband and I had both salmon and scallop bowls but with different topping, sides, and sauces. The results were very different but both delicious. It was small though - not enough to get very full but enough to be pretty contented if you're not a big eater. Pretty fair price for poke though. The staff was also nice and the environment small but comfortable. My main complaint was that they were basically out of everything even though it wasn't close to closing time yet. They were out of materials to make poke burritos and out of dumplings... those were the main things I wanted to try! Oh well, maybe next time. read more

Poke Chef - Poke bowl with two proteins (salmon and scallop) with a spicy mayo and ponzu sauce. Various toppings! - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

After perfecting my poke bowls in the bay, I needed a fix in my new hood. Right off the bat, I was disappointed by the small size of the protein scoops- they were tiny! Next, I realized that the options of crunchy veggie mix ins were rather limited as well. I would have loved to see the crisp radishes, etc. I was next put off by the fact that the woman making my bowl mixed the fish and dressing with her hand in a little paper tray. She was wearing a glove but the entire process still looked extremely unappetizing! All other places I've ever been use a bowl to mix the ingredients....I would suggest that method to this shop as well. All in all, the bowl was tasty but heavily heavily mayo-nated. I had asked for 1/2 sriracha mayo 1/2 house dressing but I couldn't pick up any of the flavors beyond a hint of spice. Moreover, the bowl seemed very packed with rice but contained hardly any fish (as I mentioned, scoops were tiny). I couldn't even begin to taste the fish through all the dressing. Given the limited options of poke in the area, I am sure I am bound to return. Nevertheless, I hope the restaurant considers increasing the protein portion size and decreasing the amount of mayonnaise. read more

Poke Chef - Large custom bowl $13.50 after tax - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

This is probably the best poke place I have ever tried! Trust me, everywhere I go I have to try one. Usually when I try them they are pretty scarce on ingredients. This place now, packs the bowls to the hilt!!! I'm talking crammed packed full of goodness! They have so many different ingredients to choose from and proteins. They are always so welcoming and friendly. The only issue I would say is parking because it is shared with many other businesses over off California Street. Luckily my lunch break is from 1 to 2 so I have no problem getting a spot usually. I am So impressed with the flavors that I want to make it a weekly lunch break. You honestly cannot go wrong and you will not be disappointed! It's a must try and you will be hooked! read more

Poke Chef - Goodness!!! - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

I actually really love this place. I like that they offer various vegan and vegetarian options like tofu and shiitake mushrooms for the protein option. I also love how customizable the bowls are and the variety of options they have. I even tried the sushi burrito thing. Ok it was fine but mine fell apart so it kinda was a deconstructed tasty bowl. My favorite thing is to Uber eats this when I'm at work. Super quick service, good portions, and fresh. Always a place I know I'll enjoy when I want something simple and light read more

Poke Chef - Freshman bowl with shiitake mushroom for protein and a bunch of toppings - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Yum! Conveniently located close to campus, Poke Chef offers an additional lunch spot for students, staff and faculty of Cal Poly. The restaurant is small, but very clean, definitely designed for pick up. You can pick different sizes for a bowl, pick your favorite rice or lettuce, and then build on this base. I picked the option with two proteins which turned into a big enough bowl for lunch including leftovers. I picked brown rice, then added cooked octopus and raw salmon. You then get to pick sauces, vegetables and other toppings, including seaweed salad and crab salad. At the end, you can also add crispy toppings like fried garlic and onion. I paid $12 for my bowl. Overall, I've had poke bowls before that tasted a little better, but you can't go wrong with this one. Good choice of toppings, quick assembly, close to campus and not too expensive. Check in with Yelp gets you a free soda as well! read more

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I'm not a big fan of raw seafood, so when my wife takes me to places like that, I get something cooked. For people like me, there were not many cooked options at Poke Chef, I got Junior bowl with shitake mushrooms and shrimps. Everything tasted good, and I really appreciate ladies working there took their time to explain menu options, since I'm was very familiar with what I could order. My wife rated her bowl 4* as well. read more

Poke Chef - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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I love Poke Chef! I live right next to here so whenever I want a healthy yummy snack I go here!!! This is the Junior Size poke burrito I got 2 scoops of salmon (so yum)! The inside is so cool they have a dope mural painted on the wall! There is room to eat inside and outside on a nice day as well. The customer service is awesome and mainly college students who just want to help you find the right poke meal for you! :) read more

I've never seen poke cubes chopped so finely/ small! They also weren't cut very cleanly and were a bit choppy. Seemed a little warm too... They have a number of toppings, some that are very unique including the corn, edamame and mango. Mango and avocado are a $1.00 up charge. You can get as many toppings as you want in your bowl. Portions were a bit meager for a small at $9.95 and with only 2 protein options allowed. I guess they are the only poke place in SLO. With no competition, I'd charge $10 plus any up charges too! They serve their bowls in these chalky paper to-go boxes which get flimsy with the sauce they add and also peel off when you start scraping at the sides to get the last of your bowl out. The restaurant itself is very small with limited seating, all as high chairs against the wall and window. Workers were pleasant enough - very smiley and helpful throughout the process. Not the best poke I've had, but a nice stop through especially since they were conveniently located next to the freeway. read more

Poke Chef - The tiniest and sloppiest chops of poké - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Used to love this place! This was our go to poke place in SLO for a long time. Unfortunately though the last few times I've been there, it's been a huge disappointment. This last experience was enough for me to say no more, as it feels like a waste of money now. The employee was shockingly unfriendly, the portion sizes of fish were TINY (I ordered their Big size which in the past has come with a decent amount of fish) and to top it off, there was a long hair in my food (see picture). Overall a pretty bad experience. If it wasn't so expensive, it wouldn't be as disappointing, but alas. Gonna have to find a new poke place :( read more

Poke Chef - A hair in my poke :( - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Decent but not great. Salmon was cheaper ends with lots of fat edges. Hamaichi wasn't fresh. Crab scoop on the smaller side but ok tasting. However the sushirito with the Cheeto option was very good. You will need to get 3-4 scoop option to make it tasty. Easy order on line option I do like so I would return read more

Visiting a brother here in SLO. Hesitant about this place, but turned out really really good. I'm super satisfied with my helping as well as the price. Would definitely recommend. My order: Junior Poke Bowl, Tuna and Salmon mixed with red onions, green onions, edamame, crab salad, masago and seaweed salad. ONO! read more

Poke Chef - Junior bowl w/ Unagi and Spicy sauce, protein mix in Tuna and Salmon - Poke Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

I can't rave about this place enough. Their poke is always fresh. Their sauces are on point. Everything is so good here. I wouldn't go anywhere else. THIS IS THE SPOT. Their prices are pretty great too. read more

Fish is not fresh, I'd rather eat raw Costco salmon. It doesn't help that my standard for poke is from that Top 100 US poke restaurant in Hawaii though. If that is S+++ this tier restaurant's tier of poke is probably around d+ to c- at best. Didn't take a picture because it's always looks ugly. read more

I love poke chef!!! The workers are always nice. The girl who has bomb eyeliner makes the best bowls. I think she might be the manager, idk tho. Really yummy and fast service, one of my fav spots in SLO! Hard to go wrong read more

Great eats. Kind of a hole-in-the-wall with no seating inside (so you're not paying for atmosphere) but the classic was tasty although not exactly cheap $20. read more

This place used to be great. I had heard grumbling about the quality going down. I wish I would have listened. I wasted $40 and might end up in the emergency room. The scallops were yellowish, grey, brown and tasted like old fish. I will never return. read more

Ordered a junior bowl and a Thai iced tea. The shrimp and chicken in the bowl was so so good. The flavors were great and I highly recommend their food. Look forward to eat here post pandemic. read more

I would not recommend this poke to any one in slo. This fish doesn't taste the freshest. I have tried to get poke chef a couple times to try again and every-time my fish doesn't taste fresh and is cut very odd. Overall would not recommend read more

Great option for a quick meal right off the hwy. The salmon bowl was excellent, very nice employees too. Perhaps I will try the Hot Cheeto Burrito the next time. read more