A taste of Hawaii has caught a wave in the desert.
Poke, long a traditional appetizer in the Aloha State, is becoming the fast-food entrée in the Old Pueblo.
It’s popping up on menus around town. There is at least one restaurant that focuses exclusively on the dish, and two more slated to open soon.
Poke is sushi-grade fish cut into small pieces, doused in a sauce and served with rice and toppings, such as crisp white onions or edamame.
It was that tasty sushi-in-a-bowl that turned two Tucson pharmacists into restaurant owners. Kevin Tran had discovered it in California, where it’s been popular for years, and he introduced it to his business partner Mobeen Moslem.
At Obon Sushi and Ramen, a rainbow poke bowl features shrimp, tuna, salmon and yellowtail fish. The poke is served on top of a bed of white rice and seaweed salad.
“The more I ate it the more I fell in love with it,” Moslem said.
Nine months ago, he and Tran opened Tucson’s PokeZone, which allows diners to customize their own poke: several sauces, fish and toppings are offered so that diners can pick and choose. Bowls start at $10.25.
Tucsonan Scott Glener works downtown and makes frequent trips to PokeZone when he wants a light, quick lunch.
“I like the poke and I like the fresh fish,” said Glener, who said he likes to mix up his bowl every time he visits PokeZone. One topping he always gets is the crab mix.
Mobeen and Tran are equally happy that poke is wholesome.
“People want healthy, quick food,” Moslem said. “And it is customizable.”
Brandon Katz knew he wanted poke to be part of his downtown ramen and sushi restaurant concept, Obon, for the same reason. Katz said the high-protein, low-carb entrée makes the perfect healthy lunch or dinner option.
Obon’s menu includes three poke bowl options, each focusing on a different fish such as salmon or tuna ($14.25). Katz prides himself on using fresh, sustainable fish.
The poke bowls have a special, in-house sauce that combines sweet and savory flavors with the spicy, earthy tones of wasabi creating a flavor unique to Obon.
Soon Jesus Bonilla and Guillermo Gallegos will bring their own cool twists and bold flavors to poke when their food hall, American Eat Co., opens off South Fourth Avenue.
The food court style-dining hall will feature typical dining options including pizza and burgers alongside their venture, Dumb Fish.
Bonilla thinks poke is underserved in Tucson and he is excited to be part of changing that.
Dumb Fish — named because, Bonilla says, “smart fish never get caught” — will serve five poke bowls including a honey habanero cilantro lime bowl. There will be a variety of options including bowls on the spicier side, Bonilla said.
PokeZone, at 54 W. Congress St., allows diners to customize their own poke with several sauces, fish and toppings. Bowls start at $10.25.
Poke's origins
On the islands of Hawaii, locals and tourists indulge in poke (pronounced Po-kay but often mistaken as Po-kee). The raw fish dish is traditionally served as a pupu — an appetizer. The sushi-grade fish is named for the way it is cut, crosswise into small square pieces. Typically eaten alone or accompanied with rice and light seasonings of salt and seaweed, the dish has been eaten on the islands for centuries.
As poke hit mainland America, the dish evolved from a simple side dish of diced fish into a colorful main entrée. It is common for poke to be tossed in a sauce such as spicy mayo, salty soy sauce and served on top of a warm bed of fluffy rice. Poke can be fixed with a wide variety of toppings — crab mix, green onions, cucumbers or jalapeños among them.
Where to get poke in Tucson
Here are some places to grab some poke:
At Obon Sushi and Ramen, a rainbow poke bowl and tuna poke bowl are fixed with toppings such as cucumbers, jalapeños and seaweed.
Obon Sushi and Ramen
485-3590, fukushuconcepts.com/obon
A burrito at PokeZone contains poke, a sushi-grade fish cut into small pieces, doused in a sauce and served with rice and toppings.
PokeZone
Island Plate Lunch
989-0001, islandplatelunch.com
Chef Young Choi, far left, prepares a dish for a customer at the new MiAn Sushi and Modern Asian Cuisine restaurant located at 88 E. Broadway.
MiAn Sushi and Modern Asian Cuisine
Jimmy’s Pita and Poke Bowl
882-7482, jimmyspitapokebowl.com/40973
Coming soon:
Hoki Poki
6501 E. Grant Road
Dumb Fish
1439 S. 4th Ave.
