Ugh, what an awful experience. I've been to Poki Poki in Encinitas and in Arizona several times before and always had decent experiences, tonight was just upsetting. I went in at 8:20pm tonight (they close at 9pm) and okay, I've worked in the food industry, I get that you want to clean up early and go home as soon as that clock strike closing time so I won't hold that against them.
When I walked in, it smelled like cleaning products, very strong cleaning products. Nice to know they cleaned but incredibly off-putting when you're looking for food. The girl who helped me wasn't wearing an apron, seemed fairly new or maybe not as comfortable and took about 10 minutes to make my a poki-rrito.. I made the mistake of getting a poke-rrito. To start, the amount of rice on it was ridiculous, the rice was also old and hard, sorry I get if you're closing in 40 minutes but you shouldn't be using old, hard rice. The fish tasted less than, nothing exciting, crab was mush and the avocado was clearly bruised, I could taste the brown bruising in my "rrito"and that flavor conquered all else. Not sure why but she also took about 2 mins just to get either a decent avocado or, honestly I had no clue what she was doing, I looked down at my phone for a bit at this point because it was taking quite some time and I was the only person in there.
While she's working on my food, another (I'm assuming) "worker" was behind the counter making bowls with no apron and her hair entirely down. My friend took photos while she was waiting outside and texted me with them asking me why the hell her hair was down, =( yuck. Amidst the avocado fest, the gal helping me with my food started helping the other girl and giving her avocado too, I"m already waiting a silly amount of time but I'm patient. The gal with her hair down decides she's going to ring me up because I'd gotten my card out. She said NOTHING to me for about 30 seconds while she pressed many buttons, no eye contact, just says "$13". I pay, no tip, no way. All the while, my friend was outside watching the other girl attempt to wrap my sushi-rrito and she said she was struggling. Wrapped it and then unwrapped it because she forgot to cut it, okay fine. I wasn't asked if I wanted it for there or togo, they assumed togo without asking.
Why was my sushi-rrito wrapped in deli sandwich looking paper with several pieces of tape keeping it closed? I know I'm complaining a lot but I can't make this up, it's facts. I just stood silently and watched most of it. When I walked out my friend just had her eyes wide open, same. What a weird, off, odd, lame experience. To top it all off, it tasted awful, SO SO MUCH rice, I basically picked it apart and ate the inside, which didn't taste in the slightest decent. Like I mentioned, I've been to Poki Poki before and it was always good, not the best, but nothing like this. I know you can't control the product that comes in because you are a franchise but please teach your staff about proper apron wearing and keeping your hair up rules EW, to work on their timing regardless of the time of day or how many people are in there, and to please not use brown bruised avocados.. there's more I want to share but I'm just really sad about the entire experience.. what a huge bummer. read more