Patience is the art of ordering poke.
You need it to get through the line that will make you wonder (possibly out loud) how so many people are free to stand around for 45 minutes at 12 p.m. on a Tuesday—and to endure the decision fatigue you’ll feel when faced with an overwhelming amount of options for raw protein, sides, sauces, and toppings.
But, at least in San Diego, the wait for this Hawaiian-born mix of cubed raw fish and various accouterments is always worth it… especially when you find a spot that serves it up so good, getting back in line for seconds isn’t entirely out of the question. Here are 10 of the city’s top spots for poke.
It’s Raw Poke Shop
Kimchi Ahi Tuna
The queue outside It’s Raw Poke Shop in Ocean Beach is one of life’s few consistencies, thanks to bites like the slightly tangy, slightly spicy kimchi ahi. The plate lunch comes with two poke options and rice, but I highly recommend swapping the latter out for an even creamier carb: the mac salad.
4991 Newport Avenue, Suite A, Ocean Beach
Hawaiian Fresh Seafood
Cilantro Mayo Ahi Tuna
Like most people with sophisticated taste, I, too, gravitate towards the word “garlic” on a menu. But the cilantro mayo ahi tuna at Hawaiian Fresh Seafood makes me forget all about my go-to poke variety. It’s creamy and heavy on the cilantro taste (so people who liken that flavor to soap should stick to the always-delicious garlic salmon), which is great served over rice or Hawaiian Fresh’s crunchy poke nachos.
2400 Historic Decatur Road, Liberty Station | 6835 Flanders Drive, Sorrento Valley
8th & B Poke
Citrus Salmon
If you’re a fan of citrus or yuzu flavors, head to 8th & B Poke for a hefty portion of this shop’s citrus salmon. The creamy, flavorful fish pairs perfectly with other classics like spicy mayo salmon and ahi furikake. Come hungry and early, because this place tends to sell out fast.
086 B Avenue, National City
PB Poke House
Spicy Garlic Ahi Tuna
If you’re new to poke, you’ll appreciate the guidance of PB Poke House’s menu. You can either build your own bowl (which includes unlimited toppings) or go with one of their signatures. The spicy garlic ahi tuna is a must-try either way. Infused with chili and garlic, the soy glaze has just enough spice to give it a kick without requiring a gulp of the shop’s cult-favorite mango lemonade after every bite.
4150 Mission Boulevard, Suite 145, Pacific Beach
Poke Etc.
Spicy Mayo Salmon
In the world of poke marinades, spicy mayo is a little basic. But sometimes, you don’t need to mess with a good thing. Poke Etc. does this classic order justice with big chunks of salmon drenched in a tangy sauce that doesn’t overpower the fresh flavor of the fish. Plus, you can choose from three base options—a rice bowl, salad greens, or a plate with seaweed or rice—to make it your own.
916 East 8th Street, National City
The Poke Co.
Orangey Garlic Scallop
This place is like Chipotle for poke bowls: build-your-own style ordering and portions hefty enough to leave you in a day-long food coma. The large size is a whopping five scoops of poke, which you should use to fill up on a protein you don’t normally find: scallops. (If you’re not ready to give up ahi entirely, The Poke Co. allows for a mix of proteins.) While the spicy mayo is obviously delicious, their orangey garlic dressing—known by regulars as the OG sauce—is worth venturing into the unknown for.
6755 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Mira Mesa | 8590 Rio San Diego Drive, Mission Valley
Ahii Poke
Tuna Luau
Once this unassuming gem is on your radar, you’ll likely spend a lot of time working through its long menu of hard-to-find proteins. But you should start your tour de poke with the tuna luau in a zesty marinade of garlic sauce, crunchy red onion, and creamy avocado. It’s a vibrant and filling bowl that makes Ahii Poke (or ahipoki, depending on which sign you look at) a go-to for work lunches and take-home dinners.
1268 Auto Park Way, Escondido | 3630 Rosecrans Street, Point Loma
Poki One ‘N Half
Salmon with Ponzu Sauce
Think of Poki One ‘N Half as your personal poke lab. With only the amount of scoops as your limitation (two scoops for a small, three for a regular, and four for a large), you can experiment with anything from minced lobster to octopus to even a vegetarian chickpea option. But you also can’t go wrong with the salmon drizzled in ponzu sauce. It’s tangy with just a hint of sweetness that’ll keep you dipping until the last bite.
Various locations
Poké Chop
Poke Burrito
Don’t worry, poke purists—Poké Chop’s “burrito” isn’t as far off from the standby bowl as it sounds. The shop will stuff all your favorite raw fish proteins, like spicy tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and even seared albacore, in a big sheet of nori with rice. Then, you can add sides, sauces, mixes, and toppings to your heart’s content before the team somehow wraps it all up into a burrito that will likely take two hands to hold.
3884 Fourth Avenue, Hillcrest | 1404 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach | 429 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas
Chris’ Ono Grinds
Ahi Poke Bowl
Like most comfort meals, there are some toppings you come to expect on a poke bowl, including sesame seeds and seaweed. But chopped macadamia nuts? Now that’s an island twist. The nuts add a satisfying crunch to Chris’ Ono Grinds‘ signature ahi poke bowl, which also comes with diced veggies, rice, and wasabi aioli.
4506 30th Street, North Park | 2820 Historic Decatur Road, Liberty Station
