There is always that one dish you take one bite of and it transports you to an unforgettable memory or place.
With the cold weather approaching and the semester coming to a close, all I need is some relaxation and memories of the summer.
For me, a colorful bowl of poke is that one meal that can bring me out of a slump and put me on a warm beach in Oahu.
Poke, pronounced “poh-keh”, is a dish that dates back to native Polynesian times and is traditionally served in Hawaiian markets and grocery stores around the islands.
It is chopped-up seafood marinated in sesame oil and soy sauce, which is then mixed with seaweed and onions.
Its popularity has brought poke to the mainland, and many poke restaurants put their own twist on the traditional dish.
From California to New York, poke places have established themselves, serving non-traditional and “trendy” bowls that include ingredients such as avocado, crispy onions and even hot cheetos.
Every so often I indulge in the poke bowl craze of adding as much as you can into a bowl that contains about 20% poke in it.
But I recently tried a poke spot that brought the focus back on the fresh-cut fish.
Located just a five-minute drive or electric-scooter ride away from campus, Aloha Fresh serves authentic poke bowls with 14 different poke styles to try as well as other Hawaiian dishes.
The small shop is tucked in between a pet boutique and a streetwear clothing store, so it can be easy to miss, but once you walk in, you feel as if you’ve stepped backward into summer.
Music from Hawaiian artists like Kolohe Kai and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole play and a large, refrigerated glass case draws attention to all the colorful poke that sit within the black trays.
Kukui Nut Ahi Poke and Spicy Shoyu Ahi Poke are the restaurant’s top sellers, so my friend and I decided to try those two along with Spicy Salmon Poke.
This spot also serves filling sides with the poke, which includes dishes such as macaroni salad, lomi lomi salmon (a tomato and salmon salad) and seaweed salad.
Upon my first bite of the poke, I was instantly reminded of a time I went to a small grocery store on the North Shore of Oahu and ate their version of the Kukui Nut Ahi Poke. It is hard to find ahi tuna poke with “limu” seaweed and kukui nuts in it on the mainland, but it is found almost everywhere in Hawaii.
Japanese salad and ginger were also in my bowl, which I didn’t mind eating with my poke because it didn’t overload the bowl with flavor, but it added a refreshing crunch.
What attracted me about this place was the emphasis on the poke and less on the mix-ins other local poke shops serve.
According to Aloha Fresh’s website, its fish is flown in from Hawaii and is never frozen or treated with carbon monoxide, thus making their fish fresh and
authentic in flavor.
Along with the bowls, customers can purchase poke by the pound which starts at $22.50 for salmon, shrimp and scallops.
Sides can be ordered by the pound as well and starts at $9.50 for macaroni salad and $11.50 for seaweed salad, kimchi cabbage or pickled onions.
I know I’m going to grub at this place again.
There were so many poke options to choose from to narrow it down to two, and I am intrigued to taste more.
Aloha Fresh also serves tasty desserts on Friday and Saturday such as Lilikoi Butter Mochi, Guava Butter Mochi and chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies which already have me marking on my calendar to have a date with Aloha Fresh this Friday.
If you are a poke-enthusiast or have never tried it yet, I recommend this spot. Not only is it affordable and fresh, but it will also have you dreaming of warm sand beaches and listening to Hawaiian radio for a whole week.
