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This article was originally published in June 2020. It was last updated in November 2024.
Although poke has been eaten for centuries, 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 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.
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 Hawaiian 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, 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 marinades were a poke lover’s dream. 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 you certainly 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.
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, 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 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 marinades, 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! Even Jeffrey, owner of Feisty Fish Poke, highly praised Unreal Poke after I showed him the pictures. “Wow. That looks amazing. Mad respect. I can’t wait to try it”, he said.
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 Hawaii. 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. Those are my friends and they do really good Hawaiian-style poke.
Unreal Poke: Instagram and HotPlate
Feisty Fish Poke
Pop-up
Founded by Jeff, Feisty Fish Poke’s mission is to bring authentic Hawaiian poke to Los Angeles. Jeffrey grew up between San Diego and Hawaii. He loved poke so much that he had to go to the doctor while due to mercury poisoning. “I could eat poke every day for the rest of my life. I was devastated when the doctor said I had to stop eating it so much,” he said laughing.
I first found Feisty Fish Poke while I was driving one night on Abbot Kinney Blvd. Although there are no plans for a future brick-and-mortar, you can find Jeff’s truck all over LA. After I found his truck in Venice, I DMed him and two days later, I was at one of his weekend pop-ups in the valley.
Since it was my first time, I didn’t want my fish to be overpowered by strong marinade flavors; so I knew I couldn’t go wrong with the classic Ponzu Scheme bowl.
The seaweed salad was another level. Jeff added something because it didn’t have that rich, umami flavor of a standard seaweed salad. It was incredibly refreshing and balanced out the mildly sweet flavor of the tuna. The Punzu sauce was another highlight. This is a light soy sauce with citrus hints that beautifully enhance the flavor of the fresh fish. The warm rice, the chunks of fresh tuna and the refreshing slices of cucumber took me back to Oahu. Ugh, I want it now!
Hello Jeff! Why did you start Feisty Fish?
This has been a dream of mine for the past five years. I grew up loving poke and moved back and forth between San Diego and Hawaii. The best food in Hawaii is poke. Actually, the best poke in Hawaii came from Foodland, which is a grocery store. All the locals go there to get poke. It’s the freshest and it’s unbelievable. So good.
I decided to create something like Foodland. I created a menu and a recipe program inspired by the poke from Foodland. We don’t want to copy them. We just want show the people of Los Angeles what real poke is, what real Hawaiian poke tastes like.
What makes a good poke bowl?
You have to marinate the yellowfin tuna for at least 30 minutes. We marinate ours for at least an hour. It’ll soak up all the flavors and all those juices. Then, simple and straightforward sides like cucumber and seaweed salad. The latter breaks down the heavy metals in the fish naturally. Then of course, fluffy rice. If you don’t have that, you’ve ruined the poke bowl.
What is your favorite poke place in LA?
In LA, my favorite right now is Ali’i Hawaiian Grill (formerly called Ali’i Fish Co). That’s true Hawaiian poke. Their stuff is so fresh. They’re fantastic.
If someone is trying out Feisty Fish for the first time, what poke bowl do you recommend?
My all-time favorite is the Aw, Shucks, which comes with oyster sauce, a little bit of ginger, and a little bit of heat on the back end. Then, it’s sweetened with a little bit of honey. It becomes this amazing, fantastic flavor. I eat it all the time. My wife eats it all the time. She loves it just as much as I do. It’s a sell-out, just like our Fuego Mayo. It’s unbelievable how often that one sells out as well.
What do you think of the poke scene in LA?
I don’t think poke in LA is poke. Cali poke isn’t poke. It’s just fish with sauce on top. Poke is marinated tuna or salmon. If the juices aren’t going into the fish, that’s not poke. It’s just fish with sauce on top. I’ve had poke all over LA, all over California. It’s nothing personal. I’m sure the food is good and I even ate at some of these places before I created this program. But I knew I wasn’t eating real poke.
Feisty Fish Poke: Website and Instagram
Feisty Fish Poke: Website and Instagram
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, a year before my very first trip to Hawaii. At that time, I was still unfamiliar with the South Bay. A girl I went to graduate school with lived in Redondo Beach and couldn’t stop raving about this place. When I went there for the first time, I remember being shocked at my complete lack of agency in choosing my toppings, but in the end, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was. The more I learned about traditional Hawaiian poke, 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 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”.
My favorite poke here is their California roll, hands-down. 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. Don’t forget to eat the pickles! 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 gets busy really quickly.
Ali’i Hawaiian Grill (formerly called 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 that offers 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 else, I highly recommend their salmon teriyaki bowl, which is $9 and includes perfectly cooked rice alongside a generous portion of crispy salmon.
Auntie Maile’s Hawaiian Food
19106 Normandie Ave Ste 2, Torrance, CA 90502
Located in Torrance, Auntie Maile’s Hawaiian Food sits in an inconspicuous strip mall. 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 one of their many Hawaiian offerings. The poke, which is served by the pound, has been approved multiple times by Hawaiians.
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.
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. 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 offerings. 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
When I drove through 2nd Street last summer, I remember seeing a huge line for Poke Pola. However, since they don’t offer traditional Hawaiian style poke, I completely overlooked it. Then, one Sunday when I happened to be in the area craving poke, and instead of heading over to Hawaiian-style poke joints in Long Beach like Poke and More, I went ahead and finally tried Poke Pola.
When I walked in, the first thing I noticed 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 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, a further proof of the authenticity of this place.
There are a handful of 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. CASH ONLY!!
I like Kawamata Seafood better than Bear Flag because the poke bowl is served Hawaiian-style and the place has an undeniable, no-frills vibe that is ever-present at poke joints in Hawaii.
If you are a poke aficionado, you can’t miss this place! It’s totally worth the drive on a weekend. After enjoying a hearty and delicious poke bowl, admire the beauty of San Juan Capistrano or Dana Point. 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. You don’t want to drive all the way there only to find out that they’ve run out of fish!
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 mouthwatering poke bowl. I guess it makes sense since many famous surf spots in California are located in North County San Diego.
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 fish with rice and beans. The mahi mahi was seasoned to perfection and its freshness blew me away. The rice is also worthy of a mention because it was fluffy and simply delectable in every bite. 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 sitting next to me was having it and I couldn’t take my eyes off of 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 poke expedition 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 heavy-handed scoops 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 very 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 the beach is only a short walk 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?
