This place is so so good, all the other reviews are spot on. However, I'm not giving 5-stars solely based on their customer service. The first time I came here, it was swarmed with people so the ordering sheet made sense- to make sure that your order is clear and doesn't get messed up with all the noise... Today was the second time I visited but it wasn't busy at all. I thought I'd be able to just tell them what I wanted in my bowl, rather than waste paper- but turns out I had to fill the sheet out again. It wasn't a problem, but since I'm still sort of a newbie at Poke Bar and since it wasn't too busy, I thought I'd be able to actually see what I want in the bowl and ask about different ingredients. When I started asking questions about the different options like the different sauces, the server just pointed me to a sign that said what was in everything. Understandable! I could've just looked up, but the server made me feel like I was asking stupid questions and made me feel uncomfortable being there. That's not a good feeling customers should have. The first time when the place was packed was understandable, but when you're the only customer ordering, a little customer service goes a long way... Food is spot on, I would never turn anyone away from here, but again, customer service is a big thing and this place lacks that aspect. I know you're usually just there for the food but something about the servers not even making eye contact with you makes me feel weird. read more

Poké Bar - Medium bowl, 2 salmon and 1 tuna mixed with various veggies and the house+spicy sauce :))) - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

FINALLY a solid poke place close to campus! Too bad I'll be leaving soon :( Poke Bar is tucked away in Sather Lane (right next to Toust) and serves up some super fresh poke!! I would say the food itself is a solid 4 stars -- quality fish, generous portions, and a variety of mix-ins/toppings. Not the best poke I've ever had (can't beat poke in Hawaii!), but definitely the best poke in Berkeley! The price is, of course, a bit steeper than your average Asian Ghetto meal, but well worth it! What really makes this place "as good as it gets" is the staff -- the workers are all really friendly and the owner is super welcoming and has so much energy! He took the time to make sure our bowls were filled to the brim, checked up on us while we were eating, and excitedly invited us to come back again next time as we left haha :) Will definitely be coming back!! read more

Poké Bar - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Staff was great! Kind and generous! This Poke Bar is definitely better than the one in SF (the SF one is good too). Staff does not look miserable and looked as if they were happy to serve us. They gave us a decent amount of fish, which I was very happy about. One thing I really like is you get to put the garlic and onions on top yourself at the end. Definitely will come back :) !! read more

Poké Bar - Love the garlic and onions :D - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

I'm very very pleased with this poke place! Sorry Simply Bowl, this place is just must closer and has a heck of a lot more options. Love how they mix your proteins and toppings with sauces and it's always really tasty. They don't skimp out on your protein either; I always opt for a small spring mix option, but I'll always get one scoop of Spicy Tuna because they don't mix it with your other proteins, and the scoop is always really generous. Kind of reminds me of a big red scoop of strawberry sorbet or something. Anyways, I highly recommend a single scoop of the salmon too because they give you a lot when it's only one scoop and mixing it with all the toppings really loads up your bowl. Something that throws me off about the spring mix is that depending on the worker, if you order a spring mix, they will put it in either the plastic box (which is bigger) or the paper bowl that they put the rice base in. Try to ask for the plastic box always, they can fit more toppings in and it's not a pain to close. If they give you the paper bowl for spring mix be sure to ask to trade it. The same dude always works the register and he literally remembers you if you've gone more than once. Dried onion and garlic are delicious so would highly recommend adding it at the end. Favorite sauces are Spicy Mix + Ponzu. But yeah a small meal can definitely be split into two meals and I usually get all the toppings except for jalapeno - they really stack your order. I've never gotten the $1 extra avocado or mango topping. One time, my friend brought her own avocado from home and that worked fine. read more

Order: Medium all salmon with house and spicy mayo Pros -they give you a generous serving of protein -I like how the crunchy toppings (fried onions, almonds, etc) are self serve -reasonable price for the size of their servings -workers are really helpful and friendly -good amount of seating and very clean -great selection of fresh protein & toppings -I liked how they had a list of popular concoctions for the sauces , and they also had descriptions of how each sauce tastes Cons -have to pay extra for mango because a lot of poke places I've been to don't charge you for mango. -I didn't like how their crab tasted, it's not the usual crab salad that is mixed with a sauce Overall, I would definitely come back to Poke Bar because out of all the Poke places in Berkeley they give you the most for your dollar! read more

Poké Bar - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was pretty excited to see that a poke bar was coming to Berkeley, so I had to check it out as soon as it opened! The whole place felt really clean, from the actual cleanliness to the simple lines of the decor. The space is open with ample seating, which is nice most places in Berkeley are too small to support big groups. When I went, it seemed like they were still trying to get their process in order, which is understandable since they just opened yesterday. I got a custom poke bowl to go and it took them a little while to find a lid for my box, but the staff were really nice the whole time. The system is set up generally the same as most poke places- pick a size (based on number of protein scoops), pick a base (white rice, brown rice, mixed greens, nachos), pick proteins (types of fish or tofu for vegetarians), pick veggies, pick toppings, pick sauce. Avocado or mango can be added for +$1. I recommend the spicy mix sauce! The portions are a bit smaller compared to other poke places, even though the prices are about the same. It was a good portion size for me though, since I usually can't finish a whole poke bowl and it's not really the kind of food that keeps well as leftovers. Anyways, I think this place will do really well in Berkeley and I look forward to coming back soon! read more

Poké Bar - Custom Poke Bowl - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

I used to search for poke high and low; suddenly, there are THREE poke places on Telegraph - what?! Not complaining, but I wonder who will "win" - surely this can't last forever?? Hashtag Poki has been my place up until now. While Poke Bar was great and still definitely deserves 4 stars, it didn't quite measure up. First, everything is about a buck more expensive, and they seem to charge for some of my staples that are free at most places - masago, most notably. Secondly, not all of the fish looked so great - the tuna was super pale and almost looked like it could still be frozen. Passed on that. Finally, it was a bit of a challenge to snag a seat at lunchtime - if this is summer, I can't imagine how busy it will be when the students are all back in the fall! On an extremely picky note, the digital menu on the wall is also super super tiny - it was hard to get ready to order while waiting in line without popping out of line to stand closer to the counter and squint. But perhaps my bar has been set too high by Hashtag; indeed, Poke Bar had scallops (omg yes), which I haven't ever seen at a build-your-own poke place. The salmon was super fresh, and all of the protein scoops were generous. Finally, the guy at the register was the best - super friendly and made my husband and me laugh, which is a much-needed attitude this close to the stressful place that is UC Berkeley :). I'll be back when I'm too lazy to make it any further down Telegraph for sure! read more

Poké Bar - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

I experienced outstanding customer service from Vienna and the food was delicious. I will definitely be back!

So so happy a new poke place opened up closer to my apartment! I knew I had to give it a try as soon as I heard about it opening. Interior is clean and simple, with pops of their orange logo on the wall. The poke is "chipotle style" where the ingredients are displayed and you point and choose what you'd like to add to your Bowl. They have 3 sizes, and my boyfriend and I shared the large bowl, where you can choose up to 4 scoops of protein. Yum! There is a lot of ingredients to choose from, and being able to customize your Bowl is a plus. I forget how much we paid, but I do believe it's a bit pricey, but tasty nonetheless! Would recommend and will come back for more! read more

Poké Bar - Large poke bowl, 4 proteins! - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

So delicious ! Just opened not too long ago, everything were perfect. The staffs are very friendly! Definitely will go back, especially when you can choose to put as much fried garlic you want! read more

Poké Bar - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Really good poke place, but for being a Cal restaurant, they aren't very environmental friendly. I'll get to that in a second. I like that they have customizable paper forms- you create your own bowl by filling out an ingredients checklist. It's a lot easier than verbally telling the poke master what you want, especially since it's noisy in the restaurant. Small- 2 proteins, medium- 3 proteins, large 4 proteins. PLUS: Both seaweed salad and crab salad are considered a side. Some poke restaurants consider crab salad a protein and I always want crab salad in my bowl. Wide selection of veggies, toppings and add-ins. The sauces were great! I got the Cal fave which is a combo of the spicy sauce and the house sauce. Not too spicy but def adds a kick. I have never been to a poke place that used cardboard trays to mix the proteins and the sauces together and then throws each tray away. They also hand toss everything (with gloves) instead of using a spoon. I thought that was a little wasteful compared to using stainless steel bowls and utensils that they can wash in between customers. Would go back again if in the area. Parking is a little tough- it is Berkeley and right off of Telegraph, but overall a good place to try read more

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They're pretty generous with the fish, even for the smallest size, and it's all super fresh! It's nice being able to just lop on a ton of toppings (and of course fried garlic at the end). I must say, I prefer the flavors of Simply Bowl a bit more, but this is a pretty good option! The aesthetic is cute. What is with hip restaurants and orange logos with white font? Honestly. Can someone explain this to me? read more

BUSINESS/MANAGER: The manager/boss at this store made my entire experience! He really tries to build customer relationships and get to know you. He seems to have a really good memory for his customers! It was my second time back and he said (oh welcome back!) and it just makes you feel really warm inside. Also, he's frequently on the front line which makes it feel like he doesn't think he's above the employees and he said he just loves meeting customers. My sister came from Stanford to visit and I showed her this place. We came in around 8:26 and he greeted us and told the staff to help us since we're customers. I was surprised because it seemed like a weird thing to say. After paying he said "stay as long as you would like" and "take your time". And I thought this was weird - then I noticed that it's because they close at 8:30pm. This shows that he really cares about satisfying the customers and bringing a whole new level of customer satisfaction that all restaurants should have - warm, friendly and inviting. FOOD: The food tastes great and I think the portions are good (especially the large)! I haven't like any of the other poke places I've tried (besides simply bowls mango poke). The only thing I would suggest is making it obvious that mango also costs $1. I didn't look at the digital display of the menu and on the placard it had: Avacado $1 Mango And I thought they only charged extra for the avacado, but they charge for mango too. I like that they put it on the side away from all the free add ons but it would be nice for the sign to be: Avacado ($1) Mango ($1) But it's fine. It was my mistake since the digital menu had it printed and the store separated those two ingredients. My favorite sauce combination is a bit of ponzu & spicy mayo and their house dressing. It's perfect!! Also don't forget to put the crunchy onions and garlic yourself at the end (yum!) Will definitely be a frequent customer here!! I think you should definitely give this place a try. read more

Another great place for poke in Berkeley. Portions are quite large and service is clean and quick. I really like their spicy sauce and always ask for extra on the side. I also love how you can add your own crispy onion, crispy garlic, and mixed nuts so I just pile on a lot! Generally I have no complaints and wouldn't mind coming here for my fix of poke! There's also a lot of seating so it's good for bigger groups as well. read more

Poké Bar - Small with a lot of the sf serve crispy onion and garlic - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Poké Bar recently opened up in Sather Gate, so I definitely wanted to check it out. There are set Poké Bowls on the menu, but I opted to go for the "create your own bowl." It's super easy to order :) I got the Medium bowl (3 toppings) with salmon, scallop, and shrimp, brown rice, all veggies, and ponzu and sweet chili sauce. The fish is fresh and tasty, and the amount they give you is quite reasonable! I usually go for brown rice since it's more on the healthier side, but you can opt for white rice or salad as well! Oh snap, the interior is a e s t h e t i c!! The vibrant orange logo that covers the wall and that goes on the lid of your poké bowl really adds a nice touch to your experience there!! I wouldn't mind having a photoshoot here tbh I ended up paying $11.30 for the bowl, which is a bit pricy for a poké bowl compared to other places in Berkeley. However, its super close to campus, so if you're in a rush and craving poké, this is the place!! read more

Poké Bar - a e s t h e t i c o r a n g e - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here my first time and the place looks pretty nice and the poke is pretty good too. I live in davis and I would say the poke in Berkeley is pretty good compared to davis' and maybe cheaper? I like that there's a order sheet where customers can fill it out if they somewhere urgent to go to (very convenient) A small poke bowl cost $ 10.87 with tax read more

Poké Bar - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cute little place - a little hidden as it in located in the alleyway shops. Pick from various sizes, small, medium, and large. Overall, fresh fish, rice was cooked well, and salad was good too. You can get half rice and half salad, which is what we chose! They put the protein scoops in a separate bowl, and mix it with your desired sauce to top off your base. You can top off your bowl yourself with fried garlic, fried onion, and peanuts. Overall, quick place for good food, made with fresh ingredients. I'll be back! read more

Poké Bar - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love this place! It's my go to summer lunch spot when I'm trying to eat a bit healthier and lighter. It's located conveniently close to campus. You can build your own bowl or choose one of their combos. The fish quality is good for what you're paying and they have a good selection of standard toppings and mix-ins. Crab salad and seaweed salad (wakame) are included in the price but mango and avocado are extra. The avocado is actually a great deal because they don't skimp on it--they give you half an avocado for $1 extra The space is bright and efficient with a good amount of seating. Usually the service speed is alright but you can expect a line at peak meal hours. The staff are also really friendly -- the owner (maybe manager?) makes the effort to thank every customer for his/her patronage when they pay and leave. It's not the MOST affordable meal option, but if you share a large with a friend it comes out much more economically. read more

Poké Bar - Medium poke bowl - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I am so happy that they opened a Poke Bar in Berkeley! The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating and they definitely made it a good experience. The scoops of fish were big, and you definitely can just put in as much toppings as you want. I love that you can add in your own fried garlic and onions. For 11.50 for a medium, it was totally worth it because they stock it all the way up. read more

Poké Bar - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Finally a poke place in Berkeley! I got a small poke bowl ($9.50): plus tax, it came out to $10.38. I'd say it's pretty pricey, but they give a generous amount. Base: spring mix Fish: salmon & spicy tuna Toppings: cucumber, cilantro, corn, jalapeño, sweet onion, ginger on the side. Sauce: spicy mix & ponzu It was very very filling and yummy! Super healthy too ^_^ read more

Poké Bar - Small poke bowl - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great quality, decent quantity and reasonable price! Did take out twice here. The fish and veggies are sooo fresh, sauce and toppings are just perfect balance. I got shrimp, salmon, ahi Tsuna, cucumber, seaweed salad, corn, green onion, ginger and edamame over white rice. I am from Japan and I approve this poke place!! read more

A nice addition to the shops at Sather Lane! Love the modern and clean decor. Depending on what time you visit, you may have to wait around 20 mins in line (especially during lunch hours). The owner and workers are friendly and the food was pretty tasty! Only issue was the limited seating, but a lot of students either get their poke bowls to go or eat pretty quickly. The price is somewhat on the expensive side, but around the same range for Berkeley (~$10 for a small customized bowl). For a small, you can get 2 proteins, choice of white or brown rice, crab meat, seaweed/grass, additional veggies and toppings (avocado +$1), and choice of sauces. I would recommend ahi tuna & salmon with the house sauce and spicy mix sauce. read more

Poké Bar - Small customized; $10 - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Everyone in my group wanted to have tacos and I was craving Poke so I headed through the weird alley past the urine smell and into the Poke Bar. It wasn't very busy so I was served right away. For $10, I got a decent size bowl with two small scoops of fish. I have been eating Poke for a while and its one of my favorite meals and I would definitely visit this place often if I lived nearby. The fish was fresh and everything else was pretty standard so don't be afraid to give them a try. read more

Every time I come to this poke place, I would end up getting food poisoning. I'm not the only one either. I went with a few of my friends a year back when it first opened and immediately we ate it, on the car ride back, we were holding our stomachs in pain. I couldn't eat poke for over a year after that. A year later I wanted to see if it was just that time so I went back again and my stomach was hurting again after eating. I don't know how they prepare their fish or if it's just not as fresh but if I get food poisoning every time I come here then there has to be a reason. I've eaten poke at many other places but have never received this reaction. The prices here are also quite high and you can find cheaper places elsewhere. This may just be all my opinion but I will not be able to come back unless the fish is prepped differently. read more

Food was good, people are nice, place is clean. No complaints I won't be able to visit again for 2 reasons: 1. When they mix the proteins, they use a throwaway tray every time. This is using so much waste! 2. They only have a trash can - no compost or recycling - even though they serve the food in compostable containers. I'm 2018 I unfortunately can't support an establishment that has this waste and not a spot for customers to compost their used food items. read more

Fish and veggies are extremely fresh (speaking from experience working here), the kitchen works extremely hard to ensure only the best quality food makes it to the front, and since COVID delivery options have widely expanded to include Grubhub, DoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats, and Snackpass! read more

Meal was subpar to mediocre. Have had better poke at many other places in Berkeley. Would only get if in a real pinch

Solid poke attempt. Pros: Lots of food. I always order greens. I got my medium in a different container and had to liberate some of it into a glass bowl at home because it was so packed in there. Ended up with 2 meals. Cons: Inconsistent fish piece sizes. As a chef, it obviously irritated me. As a consumer, how can I eat a bite of food that has 1/4" tuna and 1" salmon in the same bite? I had to go through and cut all the salmon. Prep cook was hungover probably. What is the point of the paper ordering sheets? There are 2 people behind the counter that you can just, you know, speak to. It's not saving time, it doesn't save paper and how do they sanitize the golf pencils? Lots of waste. Most places use metal mixing bowls. This place uses a compostable container to mix portion for each customer then tosses it in the bin! In Berkeley of all places! Nope. Don't bury my seaweed and crab salad. Most places put these items on top to showcase them visually. This place tosses them with your fish and sauces so they are all mixed in. As an OCD chef I personally don't like this. read more

FIREEEE!! Must go to place Mmm says my tummy i gets my money This place is a must. Great food great price!! read more

Solid place for poke and satisfied my cravings. The Ahi Tuna and albacore tasted fresh and I think it was the albacore that was slightly seared? Seared fish is normally not for me, but there was absolutely minimal seared/charcoal/burnt taste that normally comes with seared fish, so I loved it! Their spicy house sauce and house sauce was a good mix for it to be not too creamy and not too salty and straight up liquid only, so I recommend mixing a creamier sauce with the thinner ones for a better taste as well. Service was quick when I went around 11:40ish on a Sunday, clean inside, and servers were nice. Just doing their job. I'm not very surprised for the price though for Berkeley. About $14 for a small read more

By far the best poké spot in Berkeley for the value!! They always load you up with a hefty portion of protein + veggies. I actually used to live a few doors down from here, I was quite the regular. Safe to say when I finally moved back to the area it was the first place I went out to eat :-) read more

This place exceeded my expectations! The fresh and healthy ingredients are absolutely worth the $15 you pay for a bowl brimming with salad, salmon, seaweed, tuna, rice (or brown rice), and a huge variety of toppings. You can taste the quality and the portions are generous. The place is sparkling clean and amicable. And the staff is so friendly and on top of their job. They were so helpful and spoke very excellent English. I'll definitely be back! Great find in downtown Berkeley read more

I've been coming to this place since freshman year of college and they honestly don't disappoint. The staff is so welcoming and polite. They have a lot to choose from for veggies and protein, you can either choose to customize your own bowl or choose one of their premade options. Tip: you have to specify if you want the scoops of the protein on the side or they'll just mix it all together read more

I'm used to having Poke Bar back in SoCal and I was happy that there was one close to campus to grab poke whenever my poke cravings come along! Great for a quick lunch and the portions are good compared to other poke places in the area! read more

I'm hesitant to leave such a negative review, but our food wasn't fresh at all. It left an awful aftertaste in our mouths. We only ate a few bites and had to throw out the rest. read more

Tasty sauces Generous portions Fresh ingredients Numerous toppings to choose from A hefty box to take home with you What more can you hope for from a poke place?! read more

Poké Bar is a nice, clean poke place in Sather Lane. The workers there are very kind, the tables are clean, and it's overall a nice place. I would say the poke there is just ok. First, you get to choose the size of the bowl, what kind of base, the fish, the veggies, toppings, and the sauce. I got a small with brown rice, crab salad + seaweed salad (no extra charge), 2 scoops of salmon, a bunch of veggies, and some dry toppings, and the sauce :) I'd say it was pretty delicious but nothing extraordinary. However, it's a very convenient and fast place to get some lunch for around $10-$12! I did also go when there was a buy a poke bowl and get a free macaron ice cream. They might have been trying to get rid of it though, since it was pretty nasty and soggy. Overall, a good place though! read more

The fish is not fresh. If you have a strong stomach it might not be an issue, otherwise stay away from it.

Food is fine. Staff can't keep the orders in the correct sequence, even when told they're out of sequence. Dude just shrugged his shoulders and kept going. Thanks for ignoring me and tarnishing my experience. read more

I have a love for raw fish and have been trying Poké bowls from many different spots. This is absolutely the most delicious, the most fresh, and the most satisfying thus far. The fish tasted clean and fresh. The toppings were great, especially the fried garlic. The large Poké bowl hit the spot without being overfilling. And lastly, the sauce, spicy mayo and spicy sweet chili, was great! Definitely ordering from here many more times! read more