Pokiology is flavorful, fresh, and absolutely delicious! Full transparency, this is my brother-in-law's restaurant, but I came with my very picky sister and my 75-year-old mom (who definitely speaks her mind), so I knew we'd get honest opinions. From the moment you walk in, you get a warm Hawaiian vibe even in the middle of winter. It really makes you forget how cold it is outside. The staff member who helped us was incredibly kind and patient, especially with my sister, and I love the build-your-own bowl concept where you can customize everything to your liking. FYI everything is freshly prepared in-house. I ordered a regular bowl with rice and greens, tuna, spicy tuna, and tofu, then added toppings like kimchi, corn, carrots, ginger, cucumber, onions, and a crunchy topping. They finished it with garlic aioli and another sauce, so good! The garlic aioli was a standout. My mom ordered a similar bowl with tuna, spicy tuna, and cooked shrimp. She was pleasantly surprised by the value and kept saying how much she loved the food. The portions were generous, we even had leftovers to enjoy later. We also tried the spicy miso soup for dinner, and she loved that just as much. My baby sister kept it simple with rice and spam. She said she liked it, but true to her picky nature, she took one bite and that was it. Overall, a fantastic experience with fresh ingredients, great service, and generous portions. Highly recommend! Hope you check it out. read more

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I love when I can create my own poke, and the choice of 3 proteins was nice! The poke bowls were decent, but I think it would've been better if I knew what sauces to pick. There was also more rice than ingredients, but overall, decent poke for the price/portion. The Salmon Lumpia was interesting- we didn't love or hate it but likely wouldn't care to order again. read more

Pokiology - Create Your Own Regular Poke Bowl, Salmon Lumpia - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food! I loved going here with my friend, and the staff were so welcoming! Definitely coming here again, hoping to bring more people. *BIG fan of the spam!! read more

Pokiology - Two poki bowls, spam and crab ragoon! - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't really know how I feel about this place. First time I ordered from here was a few years ago for delivery and it was decent. I moved to this area within a year and finally came back tonight since it's so close to me, but I was a bit disappointed. The lazy behind the counter wasn't really the most friendly to start off. I didn't love that their protein options were a bit limited, and I feel like the scoops are absolutely tiny given the price point. The tuna and albacore weren't extremely fresh but they didn't taste bad or anything. I've definitely had much better, but this also is not the worst. If you look at my photo associated to this review... you'll think... is this even Poke? read more

Pokiology - This doesn't even look like poke.. - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious and quick meal for a reasonable price, especially with the student discount. The employees were so kind!!! I rarely leave reviews but I had a great experience read more

Rice/fish ratio was off. Too much rice. The taste was ok. They were out of edamame which is one of my favorites poke bowl toppings. The service was good and they even gave was free seaweed. The ambiance/the place is cute. Bathroom was extremely dirty. read more

Pokiology - Create Your Own Regular Poke Bowl - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I used to frequent Pokiology during my early college years and tried it again for the first time in a few years and I still love it. Ingredients always taste fresh and flavorful. The restaurant itself is always clean and presentable. Every time I come over the staff members are always friendly. I truly recommend! read more

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Really quality ingredients, everything was fresh and tasty, lots of great options for the bowl. Will definitely be returning for more!

There have been a handful of spots wherein I've experienced the Poke Bowl. But THIS ONE here, in Chicago, really did leave a long lasting impression. The freshness and flavor of the ingredients. The attention paid by the server was top notch as they prepared my bowl with ALL OF THE SPICE! The atmosphere. The owner was on the property too on this day. To keep this as succinct as possible, THIS IS THE SPOT for POKE in Chi-town. read more

Yummy poke! I Grubhubed this place a few days ago, so I cannot speak to the atmosphere or service, only the food. But it was great! I got a regular size bowl, which ended up being just enough for me. They let you add a lot of toppings, and I really stocked up. My favorite parts were the garlic sauce, the wasabi sauce, spicy tuna, and seaweed. If I had to say one thing, it would be that some of the toppings were a little sparse. But overall, really good poke for a reasonable price! I'll have to check out the actual restaurant sometime! (I forgot to take pictures because I ate it so fast!) read more

It was my first time trying to this poké spot today. My bowl consisted of a salad base. I like that there's even an option to mix and match the base so I added a bit of rice too. I had salmon as my protein and had onion mixed into the mild sauce which gave it great flavor. I also included jalapeño, avocado, kimchi, green onion, with the 3 way affair sauce. My bowl was so BOMB and I can't wait to come back to try out different combinations for my next poké bowl. Customer service was friendly and patient when I wasn't able to hear very well because of the masks when she was assembling my order. Pokiology offers indoor eating with cool surf board tables. Love the vibes for a midday lunch out with a friend. read more

Pokiology - Create Your Own Regular Poke Bowl - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is always great but I wish the staff was a little nicer. I get it no one wants to work but take out your headphones so you can hear my order and maybe just smile a little more. Don't make me feel like I'm bothering you. Honestly haven't been back bc of the staff. read more

Poke done right in Chicago. Tall order, because 75% of the poke I've had throughout the years in/around Chicago was mid at best. Portions are huge. Price is fair. read more

I used to work here back in 2017, and I really wish Mark hadn't sold the place. I came into town to visit and went back to get a bowl because when I was working here is when my love for poké started and I wanted to see if the new owners kept the place up to par and great like mark did. THEY DONT. I was so disappointed and sad. I know how much hard work The previous owner had put into that restaurant. and it kind of broke my heart at how far downhill it's gone. prices high, portions small, workers rude, the whole experience was just unsettling read more

Ordered 2 poke bowls for delivery recently and it was a very underwhelming experience. Both of the bowls were mostly rice with very little protein (I had the 5 protein option and after I ate all the protein there was almost 3/4 of the rice left in the container). The only reason I gave 3 stars instead of something lower is that their food used to be a good value. To see a place that use to be one of our favorites to a restaurant that skimps on ingredients is disappointing read more

Great, fresh flavors, lots of customizable options. Might be my new go to for poke delivery. read more

Pokiology - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have been here a few times now and it seems the prices have gone up. Compared to other poke places in the city, I have had similar experiences, with a cheaper bill. read more

Pokiology - two bowls of food on a table - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ive never had poke because I dont like raw fish, but they had other options that appealed to me. Decided to try this place since I become a pescatarian during Lent. First bite of my bowl, I was blown away with how refreshing and flavorful it was! You def get chipotle vibes in there with all the toppings. Also the restaurant was very clean and decorative! My order: Size: regular bowl with brown rice Protein: shrimp (1 scoop) and tofu (2 scoops) + sweet white onions and cucumbers Spice level: S P I C Y Toppings: tempera crunch, crab salad, seaweed salad, avocado, green onion, and topped with furikake (rice seasoning) Sauce: spicy mayo I will def be a returning customer! read more

Pokiology - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm confused on how this place has so many good reviews. I just got old hard flavorless rice. Worst poke bowl I've ever had no exaggeration.

No idea what a Poke bowl was. Assumed it was new fangle Asian sushi Chipotle bowl idea. Decided to stop here to try it as I was craving tuna and rice for some reason, but didn't want sushi. Shop is cute and it is BYOB. Not sure I would eat here...as much as I love the BYOB concept, once I got the bowl home, I had to put it into a larger bowl to really mix it up the way I like. Maybe they have bigger bowls if you are dining in. I will have to investigate that. Also, do not look for the restaurant on Magnolia. You can park on Magnolia, but the store is on Wilson, next to the old Starbucks. It is right in front of the Wilson bus stop. There is also a 15 min parking spot if you are lucky to snag it. We were and that is why we stopped in. On to the food. You have a choice of three bowls: Veggie (3 Tofu) for $10, Regular (3 scoops of proteins) for $12 and Large (5 scoops of protein) for $15. Once you decide what bowl you want, then the choices start. First step is to select the foundation: white rice, brown rice, mixed salad or half & half - pick any two. Second step is adding the protein in any combination: Ahi Tuna, Salmon, Shrimp, Spicy Tuna or Tofu. You also get to add cucumbers and/or onions at this stage. The third step is your spice level: non-spicy, mild or spicy. As a ketchup eater, I have to say that the spicy isn't that bad if you mix it with the non spicy. A little heat to make things interesting. The grand finale are the toppings: Seaweed Salad, Masago, Tempura Crunch, Jalapeños, Furikake, Crab Salad, Pickled Ginger, Green Onions, Wasabi. You are allowed to get all of these. They have Avocado and Crab Salad, but these are a $1 each. Also extra Masago (red flying fish roe) is a $1, but I love all three and just paid for it as I am worth it. Your creation is topped with a sauce of your choice....I chose the citrus one. Wish I had asked for extra as it is very good. Don't remember the others because I saw the citrus and all else was blank. Think there were some hot ones. I say this because the Heiress Apparent got a bowl as well as she is like Tina Turner when it comes to food and heat level...she does not do anything nice and easy, it is always hot and spicy. Not going to hold it against Pokiology that this is a healthy lunch. Not a Poke SME, so the fish was good for me. I have read reviews about it not being fresh, but it tastes fine to me. Not sure what fresh fish is supposed to takes like once you have all that good crap in one bowl, but it worked for me. I had vinegar/salt chips with my bowl and that was amazing. I will think about crunching them over the bowl next time for extra flavor and crunch. If that is sacrilege Poke worshippers, sue me because I want what I want. Service was lovely. Server behind the counter was great and friendly. Took the time to explain to me the different options. There was another gentleman there as well who held the door open for us. Assumed he worked there because he went behind the counter to help another customer, but he wasn't in a uniform. Looked more like he was getting ready to go surfing :-) If you customize the way La J and I do, this is not a cheap option, but it was delish and worth it. My only regret is that I didn't get a second bowl because I am done and like Oliver because "Please, sir, I want some more". read more

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My boyfriend and I got take out just now, and the bowls were horrible to say the least. I understand we arrived towards closing time so the fish was probably not the freshest, but the tuna we got in our create your own bowls tasted extremely fishy. The meat left a lingering fishy, metallic taste in our mouths that prevented us from being able to finish our bowls. Additionally, the worker who made our bowls messed up our order. He did not add the extra salmon that my boyfriend requested and mixed up several of the ingredients between our bowls. Had the crab rangoon not been good, I would've given this place a 1 star rating. Not worth the $30+ we paid for our meal. read more

I called in an order for pickup, for lunch today. When I arrived at the Wilson Ave location, it seemed my order was called in to the wrong location. The owner got upset and called over to the other location. He then reprimanded me for wasting a Poke Bowl, and I asked if he would like me to leave...he apologized on my way out. As it turns out, there is NO phone number on the website for the Wilson Ave store, and just one phone number for Roscoe Village. Either way, in times likes these, not the greatest customer service. Also, they were chintzy with the fish in the bowl! read more

Pokiology - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First things first, don't get lost visiting Pokiology. The store front, and thus entrance, is on Wilson, not Magnolia. I'm not sure why their address is listed as Magnolia, Suite C. #confused Pokiology has a great group of staff. They were all friendly, upbeat and ready to serve, even on a disgusting, stormy night in Chicago. I opted for the Regular bowl with spicy tuna, salmon and shrimp with half rice and half mixed greens for $12. You have the choice of non-spicy, mild and spicy, and that just impacts the marinating sauces they use on the fish, which is a combination of sesame oil, soy sauce and chili oil. My choice of mild meant one pump of chili oil instead of the two you get with spicy! Finally, you add on all of the delicious toppings you want: seaweed salad, masago (a type of roe that is orange and crunchy), tempura crunch, jalepenos, furikake (seasoning flakes), crab salad, ginger, wasabi and green onions. They also offer 1/4 of an avocado for $1 extra. Pokiology won over my heart because it can be whatever you want to make of it. My one tiny critique is that the salmon wasn't super fresh, so I found myself picking it out of the bowl. Overall though, a great first experience with Poke, and I will definitely be back to visit Pokiology again! Pro Tip: It's BYOB, so bring that wine. :) read more

Pokiology - To go order, so presentation is a little compromised. - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Well another bookmark off the list. I saw a post for Pokiology a few months ago and bookmarked it until I was in the neighborhood. I takes to the girl working here. The woman working here told me they have been here since August of 2016. My first experience with this type of sushi restaurant was about 2 years ago when I was in Anaheim, CA. We were down there for a family reunion and stopped off here after meeting up and grabbing a bite to eat. Pokiology's address is 4600 Magnolia, but it's actually on Wilson Avenue, the second building to the west of Magnolia. For those of you that have never eaten sushi in this manner it's very much like a Chipotle. And by that I mean there are 3 sizes of bowls you can order @ Station 1 - white rice, brown rice or salad or mix and match Veggi (option) w/tofu for $10 Regular $12 w/3 scoops of sashimi Large $15 w/5 scoops of sashimi Station 2 - choice of 6 sashimi or tofu, tofu, octopus, shrimp, Ahi Tuna, Spicy Tuna or Salmon Station 3 - Spice Level Non Spicy Mild Spicy Station 4 Toppings (nice selections) Green onions. Jalapeños Ginger Crab Salad Tempura Crunch. Furikake Masago. Wasabi Avocado (add $1). Seaweed Salad Choice of sauces Spicy Mayo Three way affair Garlic Aioli Creamy Mayo I ordered the regular bowl with salad (really?) which proved to be just right as it satiated my hunger & filled me wo/feeling bloated. Just like mama bear in goldilocks, it was just right. Regular bowl wit salad, spicy tuna, salmon and ahi tuna. Spice level was spicy, but not too hot. Toppings throw the kitchen sink in with spicy mayo. Excellent meal wo/any guilt. read more

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I discovered this restaurant via Uber Eats during the pandemic lockdown. I put off trying it for a while because they didn't offer preconfigured bowls, and I was unfamiliar with many of the ingredients so I didn't know what to order. I ended up Googling the available ingredients which I was unfamiliar with (which were most of them). Using that info along with some guesses, I put together a large bowl. Less than an hour later, I was hooked. I now order the exact same bowl 3-4 times a week. So. Good. If you're having a hard time putting together a bowl, allow me to suggest my configuration: PROTEIN: Tuna (Ahi & Spicy), Salmon (regular & spicy), Albacore VEGGIES ETC: Cucumbers, Onions, Daikon, Tempura Crunch, Crab Salad, Furikake, Pineapple, Spicy Seasoned Beansprout, Pickled Red Cabbage, Seaweed. SAUCES: Island Heat, Citrus Breeze, Creamy Wasabi. You will not be disappointed. read more

Delicious and so filling. Went with the 3 scoops of salmon on a bed of mixed salad and brown rice. Unlike other poke places, this place lets you load up on toppings. I went with mild sauce. My husband prefers spicy so he got spicy tuna with spicy sauce. If you want more sauce, they'll give it to you in little plastic containers. OK selection of drinks and chips. Not too much seating so very much a take up place. The address is Magnolia avenue but the entrance is on Wilson. I hope they get gift certificates because that's what I wanted to give out at Christmas to my other foodie friends. read more

Pokiology - Hubby's regular size bowl with 2 scoops spicy tuna and 1 scoop tofu over salad. - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Best poke place in Chicago and I am a poke fanatic! This place consistently has the freshest fish and toppings and has legit portions too. Staff is always friendly. I drive out of my way to come here at least once a week! read more

I passed by this place every morning for a good while now since I go to school down the block, and my only regret is that I slept on this place for so long since I had disappointing experiences with other poké places in the past. The poké here is so fresh and good value for what you pay for a regular bowl (and size is probably my biggest issue at other places.) I was super impressed by the selection of toppings/add-ons that I have never seen offered with poké before, including seaweed salad, kimchi, and crab (*not sure if it's real crab or imitation.) I was so impressed after going here for lunch during school that I just ordered more during the same week. read more

It has been awhile since Rosa J. last poked around the Uptown neighborhood. Hubby is a big fan of poke, and so am I. "Pokiology" opened its door about four (4) months ago. Technically, you would enter the restaurant on Wilson, not on Magnolia. There are no pre-set options; everything from choosing your base (white rice, brown rice, mixed greens or a mix of any 2 mentioned above), proteins (salmon, ahi tuna, spicy ahi tuna, or shrimp), toppings, level of spiciness, and extra sauces is entirely customizable. Hubby and I went with the "4-scoops of proteins." We both felt the fish was fresh, yet it wasn't, by any means, outstanding. However, I liked the ingredients they offered: scallions, gingers, even masago. Avocado did charge $1 extra, which I wasn't aware of this. The entire poke bowl was quite "saucy," but we did enjoy the flavor profiles. Although the quality of fish left something to be desired, the price point was reasonable for a city that doesn't border either side of the oceans. The largest bowl costs $10.95 (as of 11/06/2016). The dining space was extremely inviting. This part of Uptown (west of Harry Truman College) is relatively safe and secluded. I like the fact that you can come here, grab some lunch, and head over to "Baker and Nosh" across the street for some after-meal pastries and coffee. Life is good with these little pleasures I find in food! Follow their Instagram for some "customization" recommendations if you're one of the indecisive bunch. read more

Pokiology - Large bowl (4 scoops of proteins) - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Gave me Salmonella!!!! Last night after ordering and eating a poke bowl that wasn't good or fresh, I began to develop chills and abdominal pain. Now I am dizzy, have a headache, and my stomach is still in pain. I will not be ordering here again. read more

Yum! Finally a neat joint not to far from my house and easily accessible. Think of it like chipotle style but with poke, which is way cooler concept. This place definitely adapted the concept from the west/east coast and finally found its place to the Midwest. How this concept work is no different then chipotle: you get to pick your rice/salad, protein & everything else that goes on top of it. They do have a few different selections of toppings that you can choose from but actually more than other places like Aloha Poke. What I like about this place over Aloha Poke is that they actually know how to cook their rice and it's not all grainy. Rice cook to perfection! Their 3 way sauce is to die for! Only down side is the protein portion does fall down to be in the smaller side. But it's cool that you can pick 3 different types of protein while some places only allow you 1 or 2 selections to choose from. Definitely will be back whenever I have a poke craving, which is very often (: read more

Pokiology - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Haven't had a poke bowl in so long, and with the intense heat broiling the streets of Chicago as summer comes to its end, it was the perfect time to revisit the refreshing Hawaiian meal. The eatery was half an hour away from closing when we dropped in. One teammate was mopping the floor. Another was cleaning up behind the counter. Even so, all four team members on-hand were gracious, friendly, and entirely helpful in navigating the ordering process for these two newcomers. Mariah ended up being our server, and she was all smiles to point of being terribly contagious, a lovely presence to be around. When asked if we preferred to dine in or take out, we asked if dine in was still possible, to which she immediately waved our concern away - there was plenty time, she assured us. They were out of salmon for the day, but the surprising addition of octopus to the available protein options more than made up for that loss. We decided on a large bowl ($15) to share, giving us five scoops of protein to work with. We chose tuna x2, spicy tuna, octopus, and shrimp. Toppings were plentiful, colorful, clearly fresh, and generously heaped. We came away from the counter with a mountain of noms. Even with both of us famished, we cleared the bowl together happily full, wishing only that we had more room to order yet even more food. Neither of us felt heavy, just at the perfect balance of fullness from the delightful array of light yet filling fare. As for final verdict, my guy was so taken between his experience with this new culinary introduction and the awesome service that he swiped up his first Yelp review soon after we left exactly at closing time, and I can't wait to get back to Chicago for a salmon and octopus bowl. read more

Pokiology - One large bowl was plenty of food for two hungry diners - $15 as of September 2017. - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It looks like Pokiology changed their bowls construction based on customer feedback for larger cuts of fish / octopus protein (similar to Aloha Poke) as opposed to small chopped fish/octopus at grand opening period. The spicy sauce combo was very delicious and topping are very still very fresh. The prices also went up. The regular bowl (3 servings of protein - can mix and match) now cost $12 + additional charge for additional servings of toppings and premium toppings pre-tax. It used to cost $10 before tax. Based on price alone - this is more expensive than Aloha Poke by about 25% for the same amount of food. I do prefer Pokiology's wide serving bowls (which is easier to mix your poke without making a mess) over Aloha Poke's compact bowls. While Pokiology's bowls makes the amount of food appear larger than Aloha Poke's bowl, Aloha Poke seems to pack the same if not more food into the small bowl. Aside from price, Pokiology is my best bet for good in the Uptown area (which is convenient for me on the weekends). Otherwise, I prefer Aloha Poke over Pokiology. read more

Again people!!! For the best poke , value, taste, quality, serving size no other than Pokiology!!! Service is great too as soon as you walkthrough the door you are greeted with attentive, courteous personnel and Leo . Cant say enough in my opinion no other can compare. You've tried the rest now try the best. You will be a customer for ever like me!!! read more

The food was delicious and the staff were so kind. I was super thirsty because I had just skateboarded over to the location. This was in 2017, so way before covid-19. If I recall correctly, I had tuna with rice, seaweed salad, cucumber, scallions,wasabi and I'm not quite sure what else to be honest. But it was delicious. And would 10/10 recommend again. read more

Pokiology - Create Your Own Large Poke Bowl - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pros: - You can get $5 off, if you order from Caviar on a new account. I think the code is HIFIVE - They do not over-sauce Cons: - Tuna is ok. Not super fresh but also has not gone bad - If you order carry out, they forget some ingredients - They overcharge. If you want extra onions or anything basic, they want you to pay $1 more per extra scoop. Other poke places don't do this Overall: - I prefer Poke Poke, then Pokiology, then Aloha Poke read more

I tried Pokiology for the first time and I will say, I was satisfied with my meal. I ordered a poke bowl. I chose to try this spot out on my lunch break and I made a good choice in doing so! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because I have had poke bowls from other restaurants that were just way too good. read more

A healthy alternative around Uptown neighborhood: sushi bowl combinations of starter (white, brown, salad, or half & half of the 3 choices), proteins [ veggie, regular (3 kinds), large (5 choices)], spice level (nonspice, mild, spicy), 8 toppings + 1 to choose from (avocado is extra)! Around $14. Chopsticks or fork? I had a 30 minute break so I had to gobble it up. Fork it is. I ordered the half & half (brown rice & salad), ahi tuna, salmon, and tofu as my protein, and as for my toppings...cunchy tampura, sraweed, ginger, and green onions. And their sauce called the 3 way. The place is supposed to be a Hawaiian or Pacific Rim kind of atmospgere: Table tops are shaped into surfer boards. A bulletin board for patrons to use push pins from a used and cleaned up SPAM container to pin what part of the Philippines. See my picture! Aloha maid ($2.50) Pellegrino, Figi, and Pepsi product beverages sold. I opted out of trying the 3 kinds of Aloha Maid drinks and got a water courtesy cup instead. Fill your own water. Meter parking or street parking available. read more

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The owner deserves to be filthy rich and America deserves this as a franchise on every highway. I keep a running list of places in Chicago that I'll miss if I ever leave. Places that are so tasty and pleasant that it makes me NOT actually want to move. This is joint is on that list. Incredibly simple concept. Clean. Approachable. ALWAYS FRESH FRESH FRESH!!! It's so so so so cravable. Like, 3AM cravable. To be fair, this was my first Poké experience. The ability to customize is epic and so simple. Every other place is a disappointment. Just let the customer do what THEY want. read more

Yay glad to have good poke in Chicago with fresh fish and decently sized portions aka humongous chunks. For $12, you get a bowl w 3 scoops. I wish there was at least one more option for the types of fish they had such as yellowtail or something to add variety. They only really have tuna, spicy tuna, and salmon. Also, there wasn't much variety/creativity in the sauces, just your average spicy mayo, garlic aioli, creamy wasabi, and this three way affair sauce that's fairly sweet. I just stuck w what I know best which is spicy mayo and it was good. I really like how they have tempura crunch as an option for toppings. They also have happy hour from 3-5! Overall, the workers and poke here were great and I would highly recommend this place! read more

Pokiology - Poke Near Me - Chicago, Illinois