i will not shit around here. pokē time is one of my two favorite poke places (the other being dondonpoke) - i go to pokē time more often because it's insanely close to where i live.
i've been eating their poke for years (since high school!). i drag all my friends there because i love their food and the people who work there. trust me when i say that this place ruins most other poke places through its sheer virtuosity.
a few things that differentiate pokē time from other poke places:
- very kind owner/employees (formerly of sushi haruya)
- i can vouch for their consistency. years of consistently good poke do not lie
- $1 miso soup (with optional green onion)
- freshness of protein and veggies is always A+
- charming, calm atmosphere (most other poke places feel too industrial - not pokē time!)
- drinks selection; they have some hawaiian sun drinks as well as la croix and other sodas/teas, plus bottled water. maybe canned coffee drinks?
- bulgogi beef and bbq eel as poke proteins (!!!!!) alongside the standard fishes, shrimp, and tofu. bbq eel is a bit pricey but...
- they do NOT skimp on the protein
- mango as a side! i love getting double mango! it also does not cost extra!
- the only thing that costs extra is avocado (+$1)
- a little candy treat with each order
- sometimes they have spam musubi
- you can get macarons as well
- no radishes. this is not a deal breaker for me but just in case you had your heart set on radishes
- like 4-5 different poke sauces? plus spicy mayo or wasabi mayo? i have tried every sauce and there are no duds here
- more aesthetically pleasing household plants than the average poke establishment
- my friends who do not like veggies love this place too!
my usual is quite "raw": i get a regular bowl with white rice, salmon + tuna protein with combined original poke and spicy ponzu sauce, mixed in with green onion and masago, double mango for the sides, and cucumber + avocado added to it, with sesame seeds on top. miso soup with green onion. drink of water. i highly recommend this meal!! makes me feel like a paragon of health after i eat it!!
would like to add: i usually see the same two employees at the counter; they're super sweet, they remember me and recognize me even with different hair colors and a face mask, and, without fail, ask me how i'm doing. we don't know each others' names, but i feel that we share a spiritual bond. however, today, for the first time in at least three years, i saw some new dude at the counter. he also seemed pleasant and made a perfectly good poke bowl, so i'm sure we will be able to bond as well.
another addition: they are doing this new ordering system where you write your order on a piece of paper and give it to the poke craftsman behind the counter, and then you sit at a table and wait. i do not have an opinion on it, but i thought future guests may appreciate the heads up. read more