Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pokelava

    4.1 (47 reviews)
    ModeratePoke, Hawaiian
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Pokelava Takeout or Delivery

    Pokelava Photos

    Business Info

    POKELAVA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like Pokelava

    Recommended Reviews - Pokelava

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    custom regular-sized BYO Poke Bowl
    Dawn K.

    service was fast and they give a large portion! can eat your poke in the next store over called bibibowl. its a large space with lots of seating!

    Pokebowl
    Harley M.

    A solid poke place for being in upstate NY. A good go-to fast casual in Collegetown. They have ~5 bar height seats indoors, but are only doing takeout because of covid. Portions are big, toppings are unlimited, lots of proteins options. I usually go for the salmon and tuna. Fish isn't too fresh but doesn't detract from the food. $11 for 2 proteins, $14 for 3 proteins.

    Erica R.

    I'm here all the time, honestly... and the only reason it's getting 4 stars instead of 5 is more because of the somewhat lacking attention by staff (it doesn't happen often, but you can sometimes tell that folks aren't paying attention or need more training... especially with the latter, the portions can be somewhat inconsistent depending on who's working) and the lack of seating inside (it's quite small). Plus, it feels a wee bit expensive when the vast majority of the bowl is usually something like rice. A size regular is a good amount of food, though I go back and forth between a regular and large bowl. There's a nice variety of proteins to pick from (you can pick 2 with a size regular or 3 for a size large). The raw salmon and tuna taste delicious, though sometimes I'll mix either shrimp or scallops into the mix. You pick your mix-ins (I'm always a fan of extra cucumber, diced mango, green onion, and plenty of hijiki), as well as sauce flavors (there are spicier options, but I often go 50/50 with a mix of shoyu, poke classic, fresh ponzu, or sweet yuzu). So good. There are a variety of toppings as well, though I often stick with pineapple and masago... then crunchies like toasted rice puffs and sesame seeds. The above options are just what I stick to, but Pokelava has far more options and it all depends on your tastes. Grab a can of Hawaiian Sun for that extra "Hawaiian kick" to your poke experience (I've always stocked up on Hawaiian Sun when visiting any of the islands - Oahu, Maui, or Kauai). Poke and a can of Hawaiian Sun (especially lilikoi with, oh, anything) definitely brings me back to previous vacations. TL;DR Though a bit inconsistent, I'm definitely addicted to Pokelava as a lunch option - and I'll continue to go back. Would love to see more poke options in Ithaca though, as this is really the only option.

    bowl with white rice
    Jack W.

    I think this place is all right. I came here for the first time and felt a little overwhelmed with so many options. As many other reviewers have mentioned, the portion sizes for each item were very inconsistent. For example, I ordered the regular size with 2 proteins: tofu and avocado. The lady gave a small amount of tofu, but a little more avocado - it's just an observation. Food: There are so many options from proteins to fruits, but as a vegetarian, you're pretty limited in the protein selection. However, the different toppings you could get is really great, so I liked that part. Service: Pretty typical. The lady asked if I was a first time and was helpful in letting me choose what I wanted. Price: Meh, I don't think it's worth it. It's definitely on the expensive side. This is probably due to fresh ingredients, but even then, I'm not really sure if it's worth $12 for one bowl. Ambiance: It's pretty small and minimalistic. There's not much space to sit - expect to take it out and eat somewhere else.

    two bowls of food on a table
    Sandy J.

    Stumbled on this place sitting in the college town area of Cornell. It's a solid poke place with good combinations and appropriate bite size/quality ingredients. If you don't know what to get, their pre made combos were quite good (I usually don't go with pre made but this place didn't disappoint with their Blue Hawaiian combo of shrimp and scallop). Poke places should have the following: 1. Freshness of ingredients; the fish here was clean tasting, especially the fish was fresh. 2. Bite size;I've been to places where the ingredients were just too big so that each bite only had 1 ingredient. A bite really should capture most of the flavors and be mini bites of the poke itself. This place cut them appropriate 3. Selection of ingredients; the aesthetics and taste of a poke bowl comes from a good variety of ingredients/choice selection and robust nutrition. This place had such a nice variety- I was impressed with the offering of scallop and shrimp, an unusual and rare option in the protein area but thought they did a beautiful job with their selection paired with a wasabi sauce. the crispy noodles, seaweed salad and kana salad options at the top were bonus points. 4. Rice. You gotta have sushi rice made correctly. I've had places where the rice was not correct and no matter how good steps 1-3 were, you need the right texture to pair with your food 5. Portion size. this place was huge. I payed 10-12$ and my portion fed 2 people. Due to COVID area, it's take out only. Staff isn't the warmest and I agree at times they seem a little distracted/not trained but the ingredients make up for any loopholes.

    a bowl of rice, carrots, broccoli, and other vegetables
    Alyssa K.

    The poke bowls here are so good! The fish is super fresh and they give so many toppings for not extra! The portion sizes are well worth the money. This is a perfect place to get lunch or dinner when you're craving some poke!

    Build Your Own Poke Bowl
    Roxy S.

    A build your own poke bowl place. Really nice size servings of protein and good topping selection. I like the ponzu sauce and add extra soy sauce

    Build Your Own Poke Bowl
    Evangelos S.

    great poke bar in ithaca's collegetown. the poke bowls here are honestly among the better ones I've tried, and that's saying a lot. the go-to order is the salmon and tuna bowl with kani & seaweed salads and spicy mayo, it just always works. the price is pretty reasonable too, especially compared to the other restaurants in collegetown. there's plenty of pick-up orders and the staff is always nice, so nothing to complain about there. there isn't much in the way of indoor seating but this place is more takeout-focused, so keep that in mind. the experience here is great, but my only gripe is that the bowls have been getting smaller and more expensive so it's not what it used to be, but still among my favorite restaurants in the area.

    Salmon, tofu
    Manasa L.

    I think the poke here is good and you have a lot of options for customizing. I have tried the salmon poke bowls multiple times and the fish always tastes fresh. I will say on each of my visits, depending on the worker at the time, the quantity definitely wavers. The service is a bit standoffish depending on the day. The price is a bit expensive for the amount of food you get in a bowl, but it really hits the spot when you're craving some poke. The store is small with no seating, so it's definitely more of a grab and go type of establishment. Overall, I recommend going here if you want some good quality poke even if it is a bit more on the pricey side.

    poke

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hannah M.
    1503
    1377
    3512

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jep P.
    0
    10
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jo Z.
    13
    58
    47

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erica R.
    3638
    623
    3661

    7 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Loved my bowl I ordered for the TSM fundraiser! So many options, so fresh, so delicious!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex L.
    4363
    2469
    6756

    8 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alyssa K.
    1
    78
    165

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Aditi B.
    4
    87
    228

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Very good in general, but cheats out on white rice. My girlfriend goes there every week and she says it's fine, no complaints from her.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jolanda T.
    236
    35
    25

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R R.
    0
    5
    2

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A K.
    0
    15
    1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of WonYong H.
    208
    86
    192

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Miroo K.
    587
    25
    37

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Ordered online and didn't get my mango edamame and seaweed salad. Don't order online.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Pokelava

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Pokelava - Teriyaki tofu bento.

    Pokelava

    4.6(26 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    This place is a gem! As I understand it, the Pokelava in Collegetown only has bowls, but this…read morelocation has a range of made-to-order menu items that allow for a more varied dining experience. The interior is sophisticated and fun - not what I expected for a strip mall restaurant. The first time I went here, I ordered off menu a delicious tofu teriyaki bento box. Subsequently, I've ordered a 2-protein bowl. Amazing number of add-on options .. and sauces. For those avoiding carbs, you can choose zoodles as a base! Something for everyone, Clean, pleasant, friendly and reasonably priced. What more could you ask for?

    They were really busy with online orders because it was during peak dinner time, but the ladies at…read morethe register and the poke station were so kind. One of them immediately noticed that I was waiting and reassured me that she would be right with me! She was generous with the salmon portions and I love how efficiently she worked to make sure that I got my food in a timely manner! I usually get the ponzu and umami shoyu mixed together, but this time, I got the ponzu and poke classic sauce. I like the combo of my go-to better! Ponzu has a citrus zing and it pairs so well with the soy sauce and the fish! Must get the seaweed salad and kani salad! I also love getting diced mango and onion crisps in my poke because the mango adds a nice sweet, tangy freshness to the bowl and the onion crisps add an aromatic fried crunch that pairs well with the fish and the zingy sauce!

    Photos
    Pokelava - Should be full of y'all who're instead at Applebees and 5 Guy's.

    Should be full of y'all who're instead at Applebees and 5 Guy's.

    Pokelava - TNT roll

    TNT roll

    Pokelava

    See all

    MIX Kitchen & Bar - Weekend in Cancun!

    MIX Kitchen & Bar

    4.3(489 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I joined Cornell CHAARG, an organization (rather scammy one but that's beyond the point) dedicated…read moreto showing college-aged women that fitness can be fun and fulfilling. Anyways... what did I get out of it? An awesome group of people and well... MIX. Updating my review because MIX deserves a proper shoutout and I haven't done it justice. This place is unequivocally my absolute FAVORITE brunch spot. The selection is vast, the portions are hearty, and the staff? They're the kindest, most accommodating folks you'll meet. It's like they've mastered the art of making you feel right at home. And the food? Oh, the food is ABSOLUTELY divine. Every bite is a delicious reminder of why I've converted to the church of brunch. Seriously, I went from a casual brunch-goer to a full-fledged brunch enthusiast, all thanks to CHAARG for leading me to this culinary gem. My brunch game has never been the same.

    I've had brunch, lunch, and dinner at MIX, and all with varying levels of enjoyment. My recent…read morebrunch experience included ordering a Where the West Begins omelette, which includes "Braised short rib, butternut squash, red onion jam, spinach, smoked gouda". I wasn't sure how to feel about butternut squash with everything else (I'm not necessarily a huge squash fan - but I'm trying to learn to enjoy it), but the omelette was decent... it's the other side on my plate that looked less than appetizing. The biscuit was still covered in flour (and who wants to bite down on a clump of flour?), the cheddar hashbrown casserole lacked in flavor, and the brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal just... wasn't doin' it for me. Other recent experiences have been similar... there's usually one item on the plate that's flavorful or imventive (sometimes a main dish, sometimes a side), and the other parts of the plate are lacking. In reality, I think MIX is suffering a bit from rising food costs and inconsistency in their service and offerings. They've also changed the style of their menu from the original tapas-style to now being more typical entree options. Again... they've lost some of their innovative, experimental approach. In terms of ambiance, it really depends. I've been here for a work event and, because of the number of people, it was SO LOUD... they had also done a buffet offering for the event. As you can imagine, the food from the buffet was lacking, but that's often what happens when you're more mass producing your food (and it's left in a chafing dish, trying to be kept warm). On the other hand, I've been here for a dinner on a random night and was able to enjoy one of their Thai noodle bowls (and split some other apps with friends). The reality is that experiences at MIX are... well... a mix. Whether service, menu offerings, etc., I've found MIX's recent inconsistencies to be a disappointment. Will probably only visit in the future if it's suggested by others.

    Photos
    MIX Kitchen & Bar - Hawaiian ahi poke

    Hawaiian ahi poke

    MIX Kitchen & Bar - Purple sticky rice dumpling

    Purple sticky rice dumpling

    MIX Kitchen & Bar - Duck quesadilla

    See all

    Duck quesadilla

    Mitsuba Ramen Noodle - Tonkotsu Ramen W/ Black Garlic Oil - $13.95

    Mitsuba Ramen Noodle

    4.2(182 reviews)
    47.0 mi
    $$

    Cafeteria style ordering and appearance. Got the tonkatsu ramen (it is a ramen place after all) and…read morewas pleased. The noodles had the right amount of bounce to them and the broth was satisfying. Would go again

    Listen here listen here , I can't believe I've been here so many times and never left a review!…read moreMitsuba is hands down my favorite poke spot in the Syracuse area. I always get the salad base and my mom usually goes with the noodles -- and let me tell you, they never miss. This time, I think our bowls got mixed up a little, and mine ended up with some ah tuna. I've always been hesitant to try it since I usually stick to cooked seafood, but it was actually so good! Flavorful, fresh, and the texture was way better than I expected -- honestly, similar to shrimp. If you like shrimp, you'd probably enjoy this too. For toppings, I went with shrimp, mango, crab meat, corn, chili flakes, and a few other things (I even snapped a pic of my order card because I can never remember everything!). The poke bowls are always fresh, flavorful, and customizable, and I love that you can watch them chop everything right in front of you. This visit I also tried the crab rangoons -- they were a little too crunchy for me, and my little one even said the same (and she usually loves rangoons). My mom tried the chicken wings, which were good, but I'll personally be sticking to the poke bowls because they are the star here. The restaurant is always clean, the staff is super friendly, and the quality is consistently top-notch. If you're looking for poke in Syracuse, this is the place. Five stars for the poke bowls, no question! They do sell all type of bubble drinks as well.

    Photos
    Mitsuba Ramen Noodle - Dining room

    Dining room

    Mitsuba Ramen Noodle - Poke Bowl with Spicy Salmon & Kani .. cucumbers, seaweed salad, avocado, & sweet chili sauce.

    Poke Bowl with Spicy Salmon & Kani .. cucumbers, seaweed salad, avocado, & sweet chili sauce.

    Mitsuba Ramen Noodle

    See all

    Hand And Foot - Butter chicken curry sandwich & salad truly one of the best meals ever, ate with a fork

    Hand And Foot

    4.5(420 reviews)
    35.8 mi
    $$

    In Corning for holiday weekend and stopped by after checking out the glass fest we were seated…read moreright away given menus & time to review They have 8 craft beers on tap and an endless selection of wine, bourbon & bottled beer Then the food we started with the tostones served warm with a spicy garlic aoli sauce My friend had the brisket sandwich & I enjoyed Butter chicken curry sandwich which melted in you mouth & had to eat with a fork and also fresh greens salad with ginger carrot dressing. The food was amazing & so was the service. Thanks Hand & Foot for great evening.

    We stopped into Hand + Foot for lunch and were so glad we did. The atmosphere is relaxed and…read morewelcoming, with exposed brick and ro artwork that gives the place an artsy, modern feel while still honoring its historic setting. Definitely a spot where you could linger for a while. Food-wise, we ordered the fried rice with crispy chicken (breaded in crushed Cheerios--yes, Cheerios, and yes, surprisingly delicious!), the bánh mì, and the crispy chicken sandwich, which ended up being the star of the show. Every bite of that sandwich was perfectly seasoned, crunchy, and satisfying. We upgraded our side to the greens, which came topped with some mysterious orange ingredient--maybe a grated carrot dressing? Whatever it was, it was scrumptious. We also ordered a side of pickles, which were surprisingly affordable and so flavorful that they disappeared fast. We didn't try any drinks, but the menu had plenty of interesting options to choose from. One of my favorite parts of the experience was how family-friendly the place felt: while we waited, the kids grabbed a new-to-us game (The Enchanted Forest) from the board game shelves, which made the time fly by. Service was attentive and friendly without hovering, and overall we had a fantastic experience. If we lived closer, this would be a regular lunch spot for sure!

    Photos
    Hand And Foot - More artwork making for beautiful atmosphere

    More artwork making for beautiful atmosphere

    Hand And Foot - Stacked brisket sandwich with beer cheese, fried chicken sandwich with housemade pickles and yummy malt potato salad.

    Stacked brisket sandwich with beer cheese, fried chicken sandwich with housemade pickles and yummy malt potato salad.

    Hand And Foot - Beautiful artwork hanging on the walls

    See all

    Beautiful artwork hanging on the walls

    Tai Chi Bubble Tea

    Tai Chi Bubble Tea

    3.5(35 reviews)
    33.9 mi

    I tried the sweet potato zang zang special bubble tea. I thought it was really good. You have to…read moremix the paste smeared on the outside of the cup into the milk but once it was mixed in, it was a nice flavour and not too sweet. The pearls were chewy and cooked well. There are lots of drinks on the menu and most of them can be made with non-dairy milk and with the sweetness and ice levels adjusted. I had no choice but to visit them during BU move-in weekend which was the only weekend I was in Vestal and it was, as I expected, very busy. I don't usually like to order online but I did this time to save some time and that was definitely a smart move because the line was very long. I was frustrated though because I saw what I was pretty sure was my drink get prepared and set on the counter and then sit there for like 5 minutes because there was no one attending to the online order drinks. When someone made a drink for a customer that had ordered in person they would hand that drink to the customer and then immediately run back to making the next order so I couldn't ask anyone because they were always busy. I mean, it's fair that they were working hard to keep up with orders but I just wanted someone to take 5 seconds to hand me my drink.

    Bubble tea is great but the ramen tastes very watered down. It's not very filling compared to other…read morespots I've been to. The rice bowls are rather ridiculous. It's more of a snack with three pieces of chicken and added on toppings.

    Photos
    Tai Chi Bubble Tea
    Tai Chi Bubble Tea
    Tai Chi Bubble Tea - Snacks

    See all

    Snacks

    Pokelava - poke - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...