By 
This article was originally published in June 2020. It was last updated in July 2024.
Aloha! If I could eat just one thing for the rest of my life, it would be Poke. This Hawaiian dish has been served for centuries but it reached its popularity on the mainland in 2015. That year, the poke trend was at its full peak in Southern California and became a huge Instagram food sensation. Coincidentally, I moved here in 2015 and throughout the following years, I have seen poke joints pop up in almost every LA neighborhood like cold pressed juice bars.
The short explanation for poke is sushi served in a bowl. You choose your base (white or brown rice), and then you choose your fish. While most trendy poke places serve the bowls with the toppings, traditional Hawaiian poke is already marinated and doesn’t look as pretty as those perfect Instagram photos. I can picture native Hawaiians rolling their eyes when the mainland went into a poke bowl craze! Certainly, the first time I ate traditional style poke, it was odd to not be able to choose my toppings. However, after my two trips to Hawaii where I ate poke almost every day of my stay there, I wouldn’t go back to the time where I was a poke newbie. When I think of my experience in Hawaii, and the unforgettable fresh poke bowls I had after a morning on the beach, I relish in nostalgia. The pristine quality of the fish and the impeccable seasonings would make any poke lover’s dreams come true. If you want to read more about my experiences in Hawaii and the amazing poke joints I went to, check out my Maui and Oahu food guide. Poke joints in Hawaii are far from fancy. They’re very unassuming and the seating is extremely limited, many times non-existent, which is why my dad and I always devoured our poke bowls in our rental Jeep.
Living in Southern California comes with the perks of having a plethora of poke places to choose from. While certainly you won’t get the same eating experience as if you were in Hawaii, luckily there are a few places that are pretty close to it.
If you’re reading this and you don’t know about poke, the poke you will find at most places in the US is served so that the customer can mix and match different bases, toppings and sauces. In other words, they are as customizable as a Chipotle bowl or a Subway sandwich. With the exception of two places, this list features dedicated poke joints that will let you appreciate and savor the authenticity of this Hawaiian culinary dish. It is believed that poke was first prepared by native Polynesians. Moreover, since poke is also deeply rooted in Japanese cuisine, you will find a few places here that serve poke bowls Japanese style.
Furthermore, I understand why not every poke joint in LA serves traditional Hawaiian poke. Most people on the mainland aren’t well-versed in poke, so it makes sense to sell LA-style poke in order to appease customers. Nevertheless, what makes these places so unique from what you can find at other poke chains is the attention and the quality that goes into the fish. At Seasalt Poke in Santa Monica, the owner, who is also a chef, wakes up at ungodly hours of the morning to pick up the freshest fish.
Another reason that led me to write about poke is that most LA poke guides on Google are at least four years old. My extensive search for the best poke bowls doesn’t stop in LA County. I also included places in Orange County and San Diego County.
Poke joints in Hawaii usually serve the poke either in a Styrofoam take-out box or by the pound in a plastic container.
These are the best places that will satisfy your poke cravings!
Unreal Poke
Pop-up (Los Angeles)
Originally from Hilo, Hawaii (The Big Island), Unreal Poke was founded by Jordan, who is also known as JMKM. He said: “I’m a music producer, podcast producer and artist. JMKM is my artist name. This is another creative outlet for me. I love producing something and having people enjoy it. Whether it’s music or food.”
Unreal Poke started in 2023. As of right now, they’re doing pop-ups once a week across the LA area. However, Jordan said that someday it will probably turn into a brick-and-mortar. You have to follow them on Instagram or on HotPlate to stay tuned for their next pop-ups. Once they drop the menu, you buy the poke on their website. Because of the high demand, it’s highly recommended to secure your poke bowl for that day.
I went to their pop-up in Native Son, a bar in DTLA. After meeting Jordan, he served me my poke bowl that I purchased a few days prior. You can buy the poke by the pound, but if it’s your first time, you should get the Poke Flight, which includes three poke flavors, two generous scoops of rice, crab salad and mixed greens.
This poke instantly transported me back to Oahu. My dad and I would eagerly munch down on our poke bowls, sitting on the bumper of the Jeep after enjoying an action-packed day at beach.
My favorites were the Cali Roll and the Ahi Shoyu. The spicy tuna was amazing, although it was a little too spicy for me. After I was done eating the marinated fish, I moved on to the crab salad, which was a great palate cleanser – very light and refreshing.
From the big portion to the freshness of the fish, this is the best poke bowl I’ve had in LA so far! All the other places on this list are great, but Unreal Poke takes the crown. It’s not just the fish, it’s the quality of the sauces and the texture of the rice. 1000/10!
I can’t wait to go back! If you’ve never experienced Hawaiian poke, Unreal Poke should. be the first spot on your list. Plus, it’s made by a Hawaiian!
Here’s my interview with Jordan after I had his unreal poke bowl (pun intended).
Hello Jordan! What’s the backstory of Unreal Poke?
Unreal Poke is the result of our need to have authentic poke in the LA area. I was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii. I’ve been in California since 2008, but I was never able to find poke like the one back home. Every time I got here after I visited home I tried my best to recreate it.
What makes a good poke bowl?
To me, it always starts with the fish. The rice is also very important. Having a good texture of rice. But honestly, intention, appreciation and understanding of the culture make a good poke bowl. You have to have those things before anything else. Those are the things that separate us because we actually have an understanding of the culture. On a more realistic level, what makes a good poke bowl is that it has to be marinated. You have to let the ingredients sit together for a while. Other poke places don’t do that. To know what a good poke bowl is, you have to know what a good poke bowl isn’t.
Do you have any favorite poke places in LA?
I haven’t tried too many in LA. I’ll give a shoutout to a few places not just poke, but also Hawaiian food.
Broken Mouth is a Hawaiian-Korean food concept. The chef is from Hawaii.
‘Ai Pono Cafe. It’s in Costa Mesa and run by a Hawaiian chef as well. That chef is revolutionizing Hawaiian street food.
For good Hawaiian food in general, East Los Musubi (pop-up): high-quality ingredients and good people.
Mila’s Kitchen, Chef Charles is also from The Big Island. He does private events now. Also, Poke Etc in Carson.
What about San Diego?
San Diego has really good poke. I went there recently to be the judge in a poke competition. We’ll be there next year.
The thing about coastal cities like San Diego is that the quality of the fish is really good. I really like Fish 101. It’s not Hawaiian style, it’s more San Diego style, which is usually served with nachos.
Unreal Poke: Instagram and HotPlate
Jus’ Poke (Redondo Beach)
501 N Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
This place was my first introduction to real Hawaiian poke and it was a complete game-changer. My first visit was in early 2017, way before my very first trip to Hawaii. At that time, I was still unfamiliar with the South Bay. A girl I went to school with, who lived in Redondo Beach, couldn’t stop raving about this place. My first time there, I remember being shocked at my complete lack of agency in choosing my toppings, but I was also pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was. The more I learned about traditional poke style, the more eager I was to immerse myself in this ancient dish that I have so much respect and admiration for.
Jus’ Poke is one of the few joints in LA where they serve authentic homemade Hawaiian Poke. They messaged me on Instagram regarding the story of their business: “Our family is not native Hawaiian. They came to Hawaii from Japan to work in the plantations about 150 years ago. They were fishermen and farmers which is how poke became a staple in our diet. We still use the same ingredients they used over a century ago and even source our ogo (reddish brown seaweed) from the same island our family is from. Our mother’s side is from Hilo (Big Island) and our father’s side is from Maui”.
Hands-down, my all-time favorite poke style is their California roll. The word fresh at Jus’ Poke is a big understatement. Also, just like in Hawaii, you can buy the poke by the pound and the fish is seasoned to perfection. The tuna and pickles are definitely worth a try. When I brought my dad for the first time, he couldn’t get over how insanely delicious the pickles were, not to mention the huge scoops of rice and the flavorful seaweed salad they serve on the side! If you’re ever in the South Bay and you want to satisfy your poke cravings, I cannot recommend this place enough. Avoid peak hours if you can! This place is very popular and it gets busy really quickly.
Sea Salt Poke Santa Monica
11301 W Olympic Blvd #106, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Since I hadn’t tried this place, I let them know that I was writing this post and they kindly gave me two complimentary bowls in exchange for this review.
The best poke you will find on the West Side. PERIOD. I thought the only poke on the West Side was Sweetfin (not that good…) which is why I never ventured to the West Side for poke. However, after finding out about Sea Salt Poke, I knew I had to go. I did not pay for the poke bowls, but this is my honest unbiased review.
What drew me to this place was not only that the owner is a chef, but that he also hand picks the fresh fish every morning to ensure the quality and the outstanding eating experience to everyone who walks in. From the beautiful poke bowl presentations to the wide variety of unique, house-made, fusion-inspired sauces, Seasalt Poke was rather a pleasant surprise discovery and I’m so happy this blog post was the catalyst to find it.
Chef Ressul Rassallat’s professional experience includes working as an Executive Chef at The Four Seasons on the Big Island (Hawaii) and Beverly Hills. He thoroughly explained to me the difference between his place and poke chains. Most poke chains freeze the fish, then they marinate it in sauce and they deceitfully call it “fresh”. By doing this, the color of the fish is altered and people can’t tell. Additionally, he also talked to me about the origins of poke, his experience working at the Four Seasons in Hawaii and how most customers are already accustomed to the build-your-own model on the mainland. Many customers that walk in confuse it with Poke Bar and are dumbstruck when they find out Sea Salt is a different beast.
They charge for the extra toppings, which is why you should ask questions especially if it’s your first time. All the sauces are made in-house with the Chef’s recipe. I didn’t particularly like the truffle sauce, but I loved all other ones. Another item that sets Sea Salt Poke apart is the rice: so fluffy and fresh! Like my dad always says: “You know a place is good when the rice is good.” Rassallat said he tried many different rice recipes until hitting the jackpot with the current one. I’m telling you guys, this place is the real deal!!
The menu is split between the Chef’s menu, which you cannot modify because these are made with his special recipe, and the build-your-own option. If you’re having doubts, you can ask him questions and let him know your sauce and fish preferences. I was stunned at how huge the poke bowls were. You will definitely get your money’s worth. If you’re the kind of person who likes onions but prefers not to have stinky onion breath for the rest of the day, their special crispy onions won’t linger in your mouth afterwards.
Chef’s Menu Bowl
Oh My God was this good! The salmon was pure freshness and the sauce was deliciously tangy. The onions had the perfect crispiness and did not overpower the rest of the ingredients. The seaweed and the cucumber did an exceptional job in balancing out the bowl. I just succumbed to the greatness of the bowl that made me feel like I was in poke heaven. Every ingredient was absolutely terrific.
For me to gather more information for this review, Chef Rassallat gave me a tray with the specialty toppings he uses for the preparation of the poke bowls (mushrooms, Ataulfo mango and the crispy onions).
Each item had its own distinctive seasoning so eating them one after the other, made my taste buds explode with flavor. The Ataulfo mango was just heavenly. The sauces are the star of the show, so ask him questions if you’re curious! You will not find these array of sauces anywhere else, like the Leche De Tigre sauce, inspired by the famous traditional marinade used in Peruvian ceviche. Chef Rassallat’s creativity combined with his years of expertise and knowledge of ingredients make this place like no other.
I was completely surprised by his vehement enthusiasm and outstanding customer service skills with everyone that walked in, especially the regulars. One man who was also dining in said he drove all the way from Newport Beach just for this poke! I absolutely loved this place and I cannot wait to go back. For more information on Chef Rassallat’s impressive resumé and a full, detailed breakdown of the menu, please go to the website here.
Ali’i Fish Company
409 E Grand Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245
4437 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505 – New location!
The fish at Ali’i Fish Company is shipped overnight DAILY from HAWAII! Additionally, the whole staff is from Hawaii. When I visited this place, the owner was in the front making sure everything was running swimmingly.
Ali’i Fish Company menu will satisfy every palate: fish burgers, salads, appetizers, daily specials, and even a kids menu! There is something for everybody.
What I love about this place is that they really emphasize the quality of the fish they serve. If you’re interested in knowing the difference between frozen fish and fresh fish, go visit their website where there’s a very detailed video explaining the process from when the fish is caught until it’s ready to be served.
Fish King (Glendale)
722 N Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91206
Not only is Fish King a seafood grocery store, but it’s also a restaurant: poke, fish dishes, pre-packaged sushi and sashimi bowls. Fish King is every fish lover’s dream.
Their tuna poke was rated the #1 in LA by LA Weekly. The poke is definitely one of the best you will find in LA and is made with sushi-grade fish, which you can either buy it by the pound or as a full bowl. If you want to try out something other than poke, I highly recommend their salmon teriyaki bowl, which is $9. It includes perfectly cooked rice and a generous portion of crispy salmon.
Poke N’ Roll
413 S Central Ave B, Glendale, CA 91204
If you are in the central Glendale area, this place is more conveniently located than Fish King. It’s within walking distance from the Americana. Furthermore, upon reading information on Yelp, I learned that the owner is a chef who worked on Maui for 20 years. Unlike the majority of places, the food there is served in a cardboard take-out box which means larger portions. If you’re starving, I guarantee this place will fill you up! Poke N’ Roll uses the build-your-own poke bowl style, not typical Hawaiian style, but still, it’s the best poke choice if you’re in central Glendale. This is not a chain, but the reason the owner established the build-your-own model type was to appease the LA crowd. The scoops of fish at this place are heavy-handed! Someone on Yelp from Hawaii gave this place a five-star rating: “I’m from Hawaii, though this wouldn’t be poke from Hawaii, I was still happy with it because it tasted great! The fish is fresh! The ingredients are fresh! Everything is fresh!”. Yep, even I was taken aback. I randomly stopped by Poke N Roll because I was in the Glendale area after a job interview (many moons ago), but I did not expect the fish to have that quality, and certainly not those portions!
Auntie Maile’s Hawaiian Food
19106 Normandie Ave Ste 2, Torrance, CA 90502
This casual, Hawaiian-approved restaurant sits on a strip mall on Crenshaw Blvd in Torrance. Besides poke, Auntie’s Maile’s is one of the few places in LA that serves authentic Hawaiian food. You will know because most regulars that frequent this place usually get a Hawaiian dish. The poke, which they serve by the pound, has been approved multiple times by Hawaiians. People that go to Auntie’s don’t usually go for the poke, but for the Hawaiian dishes that are a home away from Hawaii.
Note: Torrance and Gardena have the largest concentration of Hawaiians outside of Hawaii. There are so many Hawaiian restaurants in these neighborhoods, but not all of them serve poke.
King Poke
2366 CA-1, Lomita, CA 90717
Hidden gem! Owned by Sushi Chef Kotaro Nishina, King Poke brings to the South Bay customizable Japanese-style poke bowls. All the sauces are house-made (even their sriracha sauce) and the topping ingredients are fresh, which your taste buds will definitely notice! The prices are very reasonable given the stellar quality of the fish and the generous portions!
Poke And More (Long Beach)
2292 E Carson St, Long Beach, CA 90807
This inconspicuous poke joint located in the industrial area of Long Beach has some of the best poke you will find in LA. The woman at the counter is super nice and she lets you sample the fish! I dined in when I went there and had a very pleasant experience. The poke was pure freshness in my mouth, and it was also very reminiscent of the way it’s served in Hawaii with the white Styrofoam take-out box and plastic containers with sticker labels. At Poke And More, there are endless options to satisfy your fish cravings: poke by the pound, signature poke bowls, sushi burritos and other typical Hawaiian dishes. Poke And More also has menu specials and discounts every week to satisfy their patrons that go in on a weekly basis. The prices are pretty hard to beat!
Don’t be alarmed if you feel like you’re never getting there after getting off of the freeway.
Poke Pola (Long Beach)
5040 2nd St, Long Beach, CA 90803
There are so many restaurants on 2nd Street in Long Beach. However, I drove by last summer and I remember seeing a huge line for Poke Pola, which is smack dab in the middle of 2nd Street. But since they didn’t do poke Hawaiian-style, I completely overlooked it. Then one Sunday when I happened to be in the area craving poke, instead of heading over to Hawaiian-poke joints in Long Beach like Poke More, I went ahead and finally tried Poke Pola.
When I walked in, the first thing that struck me was how the employee was grinding the lettuce, which is always a great sign that the ingredients are fresh. I wasn’t that hungry so I ordered the kid’s size bowl, which gives you the option to pick one protein and three toppings of your choice. I picked salmon, cucumber and crab meat. The guy who took my order was so nice and added edamame on top.
If this is not enough, they give you the option to add two sauces! I picked their home-style, non spicy sauce, and a sweet sauce. After I grabbed my bowl, I went to the parking lot to eat it. The ingredients were so fresh! The salmon was so flavorful and so refreshing. The two sauces the guy helped me pick, also blew me away: they were the perfect combination of sweet and savory and paired excellently together. I thought pairing two sauces would be weird, but that could not be further from the truth. The rice was also another winner. I can’t believe this place was not on the list! My bowl, which was the kid’s bowl, and a substantial portion, was only $6!
The poke might not be Hawaiian-style, but it is pretty solid and their portions are very generous. You can also grab your bowl and eat it at the beach!!
Lianne B wrote on Yelp: ”Let it be known: I am a poke and sushi snob. I have lived in Hawaii. I know poke. And apparently so do these people.”
Poke Pola opened in July 2016 by Myung and Hans Chung, offering Japanese-inspired poke bowls. They even offer miso soup for $3!
Kawamata Seafood
26881 Camino De Estrella, Dana Point, CA 92624
I couldn’t believe this hole-in-the-wall poke joint was only 20 minutes away from Newport Beach! What has taken me so long to discover this treasure of a place? Kawamata Seafood is on the San Diego County borderline and offers the BEST poke in Orange County.
At Kawamata Seafood, the seating, just like in Hawaii, is very limited. Despite this, you can enjoy your poke at Capistrano Beach Park, which is a 3-minute drive away from Kawamata and enjoy your poke with this view.
The portions are very hefty and you will not go home dissatisfied. I ordered the large bowl and even left some of the rice because there was so much!
Another bonus point is that Kawamata Seafood has been given numerous stamps of approval by Hawaiian transplants, praising its freshness and authenticity. I can wholeheartedly attest to this: the fish was fresh, the sauce was flavorful without being soggy or overpowering and the seaweed salad was zesty and refreshing. Kawamata Seafood is owned by a Hawaiian family, which bolsters its authenticity.
There are a million poke places concentrated in Orange County, but this one is BY FAR the best one. You are bound to encounter a line, but it moves super-fast as the service is very efficient. Parking can be a pain in the butt in this area, which is why I suggest to get there early. CASH ONLY!!
I like Kawamata Seafood better than Bear Flag because the poke bowl is served Hawaiian-style and it has an undeniable, more authentic, no-frills vibe that is ever-present at Hawaiian poke places.
If you are a poke aficionado, you can’t miss this place! It’s totally worth the drive on a weekend to enjoy the beauty of San Juan Capistrano or Dana Point afterwards. I am stunned by the fact that by searching “The Best Poke in Orange County” on Google, only one blog so far mentions Kawamata. It’s truly a hole-in-the-wall.
Even before opening time there will be a line, which is why I can’t emphasize enough to get there as early as you can.
Bear Flag
3421 Via Lido, Newport Beach, CA 92663
21058 CA-1 #124, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
I did a very thorough review of Bear Flag in my post “The best restaurants and Coffee shops in Orange County”. I ordered their poke salmon to-go from their Newport Beach location and the quality of the fish was beyond my expectations. For every strip mall in Orange County, there is at least one poke bar. An indicator that a place is good is when you can see the fresh fish on display, and that’s one of the main reasons Bear Flag won me over. On top of that, they have a marketplace where you can buy pre-made sushi or fish to cook later at home. Bear Flag is the best poke place in the Newport Beach area. The fish literally melted in my mouth! It isn’t a hole-in-the-wall type of place like Kawamata, but it is the second best option for poke in Orange County.
Ai Pono Cafe
283 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Although this place specializes in Hawaiian street food, they serve up delectable Hawaiian-style poke by the pound!! Mark L from Huntington Beach wrote on Yelp: “Delicious Hawaiian food. Everything is super fresh and tasty. Probably the best poke I have had anywhere.” Susan K, who is from Hawaii, also wrote on Yelp: “Finally found a good Hawaiian spot that tastes just like the food back home! Everything is sooo good, especially the poke, you can’t go wrong with anything!”.
If you had told me that San Diego county is a hub for fresh fish and amazing poke a month ago, I would have looked at you in utter disbelief. Yes peeps, San Diego County, besides having the best fish tacos and the most authentic Mexican food you will ever find the US, it’s full of poke places along the Pacific Coast where you’ll find the highest quality, locally-sourced fish. If you want to venture further down the I-5 freeway for a one-day road trip, these are the places you have to go for a fresh, mouthwatering poke bowl. I guess it makes sense since a few of the most famous surf spots in California are located in North County San Diego.
Yoshino Japanese Deli (Carslbad)
1790 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103
Small mom-and-pop business run by an old Japanese couple! The ahi poke was fantastic and delicious! If you need further proof that this place serves fresh fish, they’re only open until they sell out that day, which is why you should call ahead to make sure they’re open! From what I’ve read so far, they also make the best California rolls. The poke at Yoshino is served Japanese-style. CASH ONLY!
Fish 101
1468 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Now I know why Fish 101 is the talk of the town in Encinitas: the fish quality is just another level. I didn’t try the poke bowl but I did order the fish bowl which included mahi mahi and rice and beans. The mahi mahi was seasoned to perfection and the freshness of it blew me away. The rice is also worthy of a mention because it was scrumptious. In addition to serving everything fish, their poke options include spicy poke bowl, ahi poke bowl and other varieties. On their Instagram, they proudly showcase their fishermen posing with gigantic yellowfin tuna fish on the boat deck. I really want to go back and try their fish and chips! The family at the other table was having it and I simply couldn’t stop eyeing it! A post about Encinitas is coming soon to the blog!
It’s Raw Poke Shop
3112, 4991 Newport Ave A, San Diego, CA 92107
I concluded my research on the best poke in California’s southernmost city: San Diego! It’s Raw Poke Shop has inarguably the best poke in Central San Diego! It is run by Hawaiians who are originally from the island of Oahu. The generous scoops of heavenly delicious rice and the melt-in-your-mouth freshness of the fish make this place Hawaii on the mainland. If you’ve never been to Hawaii and you’re in San Diego, this place is the closest to being in Hawaii that you will experience. Moreover, Ocean Beach is a bohemian surf town and it’s reminiscent of Oahu! The poke is on the pricier side, but it comes with the popular location in Ocean Beach. There’s no seating available inside, but that’s no problem because you can go to the beach, which is two blocks away. Is It’s Raw Poke Shop worth the two-hour drive from Los Angeles? 100 PERCENT YES!! CASH ONLY
It’s Raw Poke Shop Website and Instagram
Other places in San Diego County that are seafood grocery stores but also serve poke by the pound are:
El Pescador Fish Market in La Jolla
Pelly’s Fish Market and Café in Carlsbad
Mahalo for reading! What is your favorite poke place in LA?
