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Pokéwaves

4.1 (108 reviews)
ModeratePoke
Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Order Pokéwaves Takeout or Delivery

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Small build your own
Catarina R.

Poke waves owners are very kind, accommodating and the service is very quick! The fish is always fresh and consistent. It's very clean and the store itself is very high end and beautiful. :) would recommend if you're in the area.

Patille L.

Poke waves is honestly amazing... I've had poke in Hawaii and finding somewhere that comes close has been so hard. I wanted to give this place a try because not only did it look fresh I loved how the fish was chopped not smashed. It's by far one of the best pokes I've had. Everything is amazing not one thing I've had hasn't been good. Service is good but I do have to admit the owner is a bit cold but the quality of his fish is fantastic. The place is very clean and every time I'm in Santa Barbara I try to stop by and eat here. My favorite is the spicy tuna and salmon. If you're ever in the area trust me and stop by to eat some poke. You won't regret it.

Medium poke bowl with salmon and 3 dollar chi peach drink
Lorissa W.

This was a clean small restaurant. The poke was fresh but they were running low on salmon so they had to get more and it was still partially frozen. The salmon was good and the drink selection is very limited. I bought a Chi white peach drink which turn out to have a lot of artificial sweeteners in it. The addition of masago which is fish eggs was extra dollar. The ponzu sauce was good but a little sour. The medium salmon bowl with additional $1 masago and the drink was $26. We got lucky and got one of the very few assigned spaces for the restaurant. This was during an odd hour of 3:00 p.m. This is a family-owned restaurant. I would recommend if you want to try something different and healthy.

Spicy salmon topped with crunchy onions and a little spicy mayo.
Shoshana C.

Great poke bowls. Fish is fresh. I always do the custom bowl. The man who runs it is really nice, we love to support local businesses especially when they are delivering on flavor.

the interior of a restaurant
Jon R.

Just opened up, Pokéwaves is a new poke restaurant in the Santa Barbara area. The bowls are made to order and they have a menu of bowls that a preset. The staff is friendly and very quick to make your order. The fish and ingredients all taste amazing and fresh. You also get a good serving of your protein of choice with every scoop. I've been very much looking forward to this place opening. If you're looking for a great poke spot in the Noleta area of Santa Barbara this is your spot!

Exterior view
Angela R.

It's nice to finally have a poke bowl and sushi restaurant right down the street from where I work! Although the location kind of sucks because it's in the same area as Starbucks. Anyone who is familiar with this location knows that the parking is minimal and the traffic tends to be a nightmare for people trying to get in and out. Aside from this issue, we were lucky to come at a time when there was no line or traffic in the parking lot. So, take it as hit or miss on the parking situation. I love the modern vibe and aesthetic inside! They have an ample amount of seating and it's pretty spacious considering how small it looks from the outside. I was surprised to see already made sushi to go offered in their small fridge section. Some of the rolls they had available were California rolls, shrimp tempura rolls, eel nigiri, dragon rolls, and spicy tuna rolls. All reasonably priced and they looked very well made and fresh. For my order, I couldn't decide whether to get sushi or a poke bowl, but I opted for the Ahi Poke bowl. This came with regular ahi tuna but I subbed for the spicy ahi instead. Toppings included were shrimp, edamame, pineapple, radish, corn, green onions, and crispy onions. I also added shredded carrot and cabbage at no extra cost. Price came out to $20 after tip, and this was with 10% discount during their soft opening. Yes, a little steep but at least the quality met the price. You can also do poke your way and create your own bowl. Overall, a great little spot to check out if you're craving a poke bowl or want to grab sushi to go! The customer service was friendly and welcoming.

Poke bowl
Rebecca E.

New poke spot by the freeway! The perfect location to grab a quick healthy option. I thought the bowls were expensive ($17 for a medium) until I saw how massive they are! I could have shared the medium with a friend. Wow. The ingredients are fresh, which is very important for a raw food restaurant. Also a major plus, the mango topping was delicious and perfectly ripe. The ambiance is bright, clean and airy. Friendly smiley staff. Clean restrooms. I'll definitely be back.

House Ahi bowl with jalapeños ($17.99 before tax)
Shelby S.

I have driven by this spot numerous times but finally tried it for lunch recently! It was delicious. I opted for one of their pre-made signature bowls but added jalapeños, which I highly recommend if you like some spice with your food. The bowl was super fresh and provided A LOT of food. I couldn't finish my meal. We were hoping to call ahead and place our order but their phone wasn't ever picked up. Hopefully they can resolve that soon. Their location does include some parking. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Overall it's a bit on the pricey side but the food is yummy and hits the spot for a sushi/seafood fix!

Salmon and ahi small bowls
Vanessa D.

Had a great first experience here. I studied the menu and realized it was a build your own bowl experience and while i was a bit overwhelmed at first, it was pretty easy. Everything tasted good and fresh. I added the seaweed salad to my bowl (sushi rice, ahi and salmon, cucumbers, onions, green onions, carrots, edamame and ponzu sauce). They didn't have a water station so i purchased a bottle of water for $1. There is ready made sushi and other drinks. The place has seating inside and outside. Parking is difficult due to all of the Starbucks customers.

Medium. Spicy Ahi Tuna, Spicy Salmon and Shrimp
Jorge H.

I went to Pokewaves for lunch. As a first-timer, I found the establishment to be exceptionally clean and welcoming. The owner, who took my order, was incredibly chill and helpful. I had heard great things about this place on the Nextdoor app, and they were spot on. The ingredients were fresh and the food delicious.

Amy C.

Love, love, love this place!! Ever since Pokewaves opened, I crave the bowl. I enjoy how many options you have to choose from. Seafood to fish, vegetables, fruits, rice, sauces you name it. My favorite is the build your own bowl with two scoops of protein, half and half base which is the mixed greens with a type of rice (sushi rice is excellent), pick your sauces, mix-ins and toppings. The service is fast and attentive so you just order what you like and you're on your way. Inside you are welcomed by the staff and they have a small seating area with relaxing ambiance. I come and get my Pokewaves craving at least once every few weeks and enjoy every minute of it, never disappoints.

protein: my top picks include spicy tuna, spicy salmon
Cindy S.

Fresh Poke. Super delicious. Owner seems like a relaxed and chill person. If you're looking for a quick lunch option that's healthy and tasty Pokewaves is great!

Small poke bowl

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4 months ago

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2 months ago

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2 days ago

Still delicious. Sushi is priced really well for the times. Always nice service. Cute place.

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8 months ago

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1 year ago

Delicious mini poke spot with a la carte sushi. I love walking here for lunch, & everyone that works here is extremely kind.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Half price sushi at 8pm. It goes quick, so be on time! Great food and service, and LOVE the half price sushi!

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Review Highlights - Pokéwaves

They offer grab 'n go sushi rolls and make your own poké bowls; plus a few precreated options for the indecisive

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Poké House - Santa Barbara

Poké House - Santa Barbara

4.6
(74 reviews)
5.3 mi
Locally sourced ingredients
Healthy dining

I love stopping by Poke House whenever I get a craving for a fresh high quality ahi bowl. The…read moreportions here are more than generous, and the price point matches the quality. The fish here is wild-caught and they try to stick with buying local sustainably sourced seafood, which is why it always tastes so fresh and clean. For bowls, they offer signature ones already put together so it saves you the hassle of trying to figure out what you want. You can also build your own though. My go to is usually the Tuna Lover bowl. It comes with 3 tuna offerings, such as ahi, spicy tuna and garlic oyster tuna. It also includes cucumber, white and green onions, masago, and furikake. For the sauces they use a citrus ponzu and house shoyu. Served over rice and it also comes with seaweed salad and crab salad. So good! I can never finish the bowl because it's so filling, but the left overs still taste delicious. Customer service here is always friendly and the restaurant is well kept. You can either dine inside or enjoy your meal outside. I love dining outside because it gives me a chance to people watch and it is located at Paseo Nuevo Mall, so the location is perfect. Overall, a great addition to the mall and one that I continue to come back to.

The parking here is actually a struggle because downtown parking is always a mess, but honestly…read more.. the poke made up for it. They REALLY pack these bowls. The staff are super friendly too. Didnt have to yell over the glass too much when ordering. Like genuinely could be two meals if you're not starving, which I always appreciate because poke can get expensive fast. The topping variety was also great, so it actually feels fun building your bowl instead of the same basic options everywhere. I got the miso salmon, and while I'm not sure I really tasted much of the miso flavor specifically, the fish was still super good and fresh. Also, whatever that purple seaweed topping was? So yummy. That ended up being one of my favorite parts. They have some seating inside plus a bunch of outdoor seating, which is such a nice vibe if the weather's good. Definitely worth the parking headache.

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Poké House - Santa Barbara
Poké House - Santa Barbara
Poké House - Santa Barbara

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Choppa Poke

Choppa Poke

4.1
(400 reviews)
4.8 mi
$$

Best poke bowls in Santa Barbara! The bowls are packed to the top - no skimping here. The fish is…read moresuper fresh, and you can really taste the quality. All the sauces are great and really add flavor to the bowl. It might seem a bit pricey at first, but considering how fresh the fish is and the area, it's actually pretty reasonable. It's definitely a treat if you're looking for some quality poke. The casual vibe makes it a great spot to sit down and enjoy. You won't regret stopping by!

This place has been mine and my boyfriend's FAVORITE Poke spot for years, my favorite for even…read morelonger. We absolutely LOVED Yabee and Johnny (the two workers at the front) and were treated very well throughout these years. However, today my boyfriend went back there to pick us up a poke bowl. It has been about a month of us not eating here (we got busy). Unfortunately it doesn't seem Yabee and Johnny are working anymore which is a huge bummer. He came home with a said "large" poke bowl that he paid $35 for. For the base he asked for light mixed greens, and for the protein and toppings he asked for salmon, tuna and imitation crab. When he came home, I immediately noticed there was a SIGNIFICANT decrease in the fish portioning, especially for the "large bowl". The only reason the bowl was filled, was because it was mostly lettuce. I kid you not when I say our bowl was filled with about 90% lettuce and greens and about 10% actual fish and toppings. We have NEVER experienced this before and for the price we paid, I would expect anyone to be treated to MUCH better portions of fish. The bowl didn't even remotely fill either of us up and we were both left just as hungry as before. I wish I had taken a photo of what it looked like when we were done, as the bowl was STILL filled to the brim with lettuce. I'm not sure if we were just personally jipped this time but I sincerely hope this isn't the new way this place will be handling their business. I am pretty bummed about this.

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Boba Menu
Boba Menu
Special Desserts
Special Desserts
Bowl Menu

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Bowl Menu
Secret Bao

Secret Bao

4.5
(731 reviews)
5.0 mi
$$

Solid spot with great asian fusion food. The baos are really quite tasty, but not as tasty as some…read moreof the even more unique dishes. The Scallops on a half shell are probably the best dish, the dumplings are fantastic, the fried rice is very good, and the crab hand rolls are absolutely amazing! Service was kind and efficient, drinks were good, but would love some more options, and the vibes were on point for this spot. Glad it's there, and hope to see it continue to thrive.

Food: 4.5 We got…read more Kung pao cauliflower: 4 Flavor was really good and love the crunch of the peanuts but just a bit too salty. Chili crunch dumplings: 5 I love my dumplings and this is up there!! This was probably our favorite item. Would've gotten 2 orders looking back. Curry noodles w/ crab: 5 Amazing flavor. Loved the noodle texture. More soupy. Crab was a nice addition, a decent portion. Not shredded or small chunks but also not the most supple crab pieces either. But was happy that we added! Service: 10/5!!! Kathleen was amazing. So so nice. We originally had a different order but we kept going back and forth on items. Kathleen was not only helpful in helping us decide but came back to our table right before they started cooking and asked if we wanted to change our order only because the curry might give more contrast to our other items. I thought that was just so incredibly kind and really showed how she was invested in our experience. This is why I really wanted to write this review! Ambiance 5/5: Open kitchen is really nice and like that they had outdoor area. Garage parking next door too that wasn't too pricy. Overalls cute decor and clean space.

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The bar
The bar
Pink Peruvian Scallops
Pink Peruvian Scallops
Sweet Potato Dumplings

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Sweet Potato Dumplings

Pokéwaves - poke - Updated July 2026

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