USA TODAY International Edition
Catch Hawaiian poke on the mainland
There’s no need to leave the U.S. mainland to eat Hawaiian. The state’s cuisine is spreading across the country, driven by the popularity of poke (rhymes with OK). The raw fish bowl served with rice, vegetables, sauce and other toppings, gets its name from the Hawaiian word meaning to slice or cut. “It’s fresh and healthy and customers get to choose what they want,” says Christine Jan of Ono Hawaiian BBQ (onohawaiianbbq.com), a restaurant chain in California and Arizona that specializes in plate lunches, another Hawaiian staple. She shares some favorite places serving aloha cuisine.
Manoa Poke Shop, Boston
Although half a world away from Honolulu, this Boston-area eatery does poke proud with traditionally prepared dishes. A menu highlight, the “Poke Flight” tasting platter, comes with a choice of bases, two sides and marinated ahi tuna and salmon, along with spicy tuna, and a rotating special. “It’s very much like what you’d see in Hawaii. They really have the taste of aloha over there in Boston,” Jan says. manoa.fish
Poke House, Austin
This build-your-own-bowl shop in the Texas capital promises fresh sustainably-sourced fish. But it mixes things up with the addition of unique toppings, which include not only chili flakes and tempura crisps, but also hot Cheetos. “You don’t see that anywhere else,” Jan says. pokehousetx.com
Island Flavor, Las Vegas
So many Hawaiians have moved to Nevada that Las Vegas often is called the “ninth island.” This spot wins praise for its authenticity, and big portions. The menu features poke served raw or fried, Hawaiian or Japanese style. But if you’re feeling hungry, Jan says the standout dish is the traditional loco moto, made with a 10-ounce hamburger topped with two eggs and drenched in homemade brown gravy, all on top of a mound of Japanese sticky rice. islandflavor808.com
täko , Pittsburgh
This popular restaurant offers a surprising fusion of Mexican street food and Asian cuisine, as its name suggests. (The restaurant serves tacos, and tako means octopus in Japanese.) The poke includes chunks of tuna, seaweed and a spicy soy dressing, but adds whipped lime and rice crackers for a unique twist, Jan says. “The also put raw fish in their tacos.” takopgh.com
Ahipoki Bowl, Scottsdale, Ariz.
This custom-bowl emporium, with locations in Arizona, California and Washington state, stands out for its sauce options, such as wasabi citrus or kimchi. You also can get burritos made with poke ingredients. “It really attracts the fitness crowd and people who pay attention to health,” Jan says. ahipokibowl.com
Aloha Eats, Chicago
The Windy City serves memorable plate lunches, a dish with a seasoned protein, two scoops of rice and macaroni salad. While you won’t find poke, you can indulge in short ribs, smoked kalua pork, and chicken katsu, which is breaded with panko, fried and served with a tangy sauce. alohaeats.com
Chikarashi, New York
This Manhattan eatery is named for chirashi, a Japanese dish similar to poke. The restaurant started in Chinatown and plays up Korean and Chinese flavors. The standout Sichuan Chili Salmon Bowl, features Atlantic salmon, spicy mayonnaise, pickled daikon radish and more, Jan says. “It’s a more elevated dining experience, a different perspective on Hawaiian poke.” chikarashi.com
Marination Station, Seattle
It’s all about fusion at this multi-location eatery that offers Hawaiian food with a twist, serving familiar dishes in tacos, rice bites and quesadillas. Jan suggests the Kahlua pork sliders, also available with Spam, another island favorite. marinationmobile.com
Heavenly Island Lifestyle, Honolulu
You’ll have no trouble finding spectacular poke in Hawaii’s capital, but Jan likes this surf shack-styled spot because it focuses on local ingredients. “They cover all the traditional Hawaiian dishes with a very fresh and local take,” Jan says. “Diners can’t go wrong with the Big Island Ahi Poke.”
heavenly-waikiki.com
Blue Monkey, Nashville
Jan suggests indulging in Hawaiian shave ice for dessert. This food truck serves soft snow balls topped with cane-sugar sweetened syrups. Flavors include Hawaiian lemonade, and POG, a blend of passionfruit, orange and guava juice. bluemonkeyshavedice.com