Poke – raw fish or something more?
/Entry by Jessica Burnett, JetsetBurnett, Team TBK Travel Specialist and avid foodie
Like many other people, I am big on food on any trip. The first thing I do when planning any trip is google the best places to eat and what the specialties are. So naturally, when we were planning our 3 week Hawaii trip, the first thing I did was research Poke spots. I am a huge sushi and Poke lover so I was ready to eat! So with that, I have picked my top 3 Poke spots that we visited. It has been a month since we came back and I am still trying to figure out how to get a poke delivery fresh from Hawaii to my apartment.
Tin Roof, Maui
This may seem like a hole in the wall, located in a shopping plaza with pawn shops, etc. but I promise you it is worth it. Located right around the corner from the airport, this spot is owned by Sheldon Simeon, who was on Top Chef. For $20, you get the daily special Poke bowl. The special of the day had yellowtail, was the perfect blend of spice and was the perfect meal after a long flight to get there.
Huggo’s on the Rocks, Big Island
I was very excited to go to this spot as it is an outdoor restaurant with a nice view of the ocean. The poke bowl was very good and the perfect portion size. The drinks were also very good. I recommend this spot for anyone looking for some good food before heading to the docks for a night snorkel with the Manta Rays!
Ono Seafood, Honolulu
This spot was once on Yelps top 100 places to Eat in the US and wow was it good! A definite hole in the wall spot, we were heading back from driving to Diamondhead when I got a sudden urge for Poke and did a little yelp searching and found this spot. Very fresh and delicious.
Honorable Mention
Monkeypod, Maui
Ok, so I had to give credit to the Poke Tacos at Monkeypod. They were so delicious and fresh. The perfect app to share with the table. There are a few Monkeypod Kitchens around the Hawaiian islands, but we visited the one on Kaanapali Beach in Maui which is in a cool shopping area and you can walk out near the beach while you wait for your table.