Hanalei Poke

The poke was tasty but definitely on the pricier side compared to other spots on the island, especially considering the portion size. One bowl of the Hanalei Poke came out to $27.06 for a relatively small portion. It’s worth checking out once based on the reviews, but probably not a repeat visit, as it lacked that crave-worthy factor that makes you want to come back. Also, keep in mind there's an additional $3 charge due to a fish shortage.

Poke Paradise or Poke Predicament? Let me take you on a journey through the treacherous waters of my recent poke adventure. After bravely navigating a menu so busy it could qualify for its own traffic control system, I finally managed to order two poke bowls at $20 each. Or so I thought... The friendly cashier, bless her heart, was apparently operating with an alternative set of facts. When I specifically asked about Maui onions (you know, those sweet, mild onions that are a staple in authentic poke), she confidently assured me they were included. Spoiler alert: they weren't. Instead, I discovered regular red onions lurking in my bowl - a classic bait and switch that would make even the sneakiest fish proud! But wait, there's more! Hidden away like buried treasure (or perhaps evidence) was a sandwich whiteboard tucked down and to the right of the entrance. This mysterious board spun a tale worthy of Hemingway about some fishing shortage, justifying an additional $3 "market adjustment" per bowl. None of the several menus at the counter mentioned this surcharge. I guess transparency isn't on their menu! The poke itself raised more red flags than a maritime warning system. The fish was suspiciously diced into perfect little cubes about half the industry standard size - a technique often used to mask poor quality fish. Instead of the deep maroon color of premium poke, this fish was notably lighter in color, suggesting a cheaper cut. It was like they were trying to pull a fast one on my taste buds! For comparison, Kōloa Fish Market offers bowls with twice the amount of poke for just $18, complete with toppings that don't require taking out a second mortgage to add to your bowl. In conclusion, between the misleading information, hidden surcharges, and questionable fish quality, I cannot recommend this establishment. My wallet and palate both left feeling like they'd been caught in a net of disappointment. Two stars - one for the friendly cashier who, despite being misinformed, didn't actually throw a fish at me, and one for the fact that I didn't find any actual fishing hooks in my food. Small victories, folks!

This place feels more like what a poke place back home in NYC offered. The ahi was cut into tiny cubes, the menu said everything was already mixed so no substitutions, a ton of mix ins and toppings. It didn’t feel like the poke I was used to eating in Oahu or any other place in Hawaii in general for that matter. I just chose the bowl with the least amount of extra things on top of it. Like why would I put Unagi and Ponzu and avocado and mint on it. The staff was nice and the space is good. This type of poke is only for you if you like a ton of stuff in it and the pieces cut on the smaller side, rather than it just being simple poke over rice.

Great food, quick service, and friendly staff. The poke bowls are quite pricey, but the ahi is sashimi grade so you get what you pay for. It was worth it and within a week we came back for more. We really liked the Kealia Bowl (the watermelon was an interesting choice that went really well with everything else and added extra freshness.)

Great walk up joint for poke, seemed like it was all ahi (not complaining here!). There's covered seating and easy parking. Tucked away in the back of the shopping center off the parking lot, so not easily noticable from the road. Would definitely come back, but was a little pricey.

My wife and I had a great experience with the flavorful and fresh food, fast service, not so great seating area, but you can always take your food to the beach. The plate size feels just right, we paid 2usd over because of slow fishing and high market prices, in January 2025.

We got fairly lucky ‘beating the line’ as there was a manageable line when we first ordered, got our food, then hit the lineup. This could have been a busy time, however, but I don’t think the crazy line would justify the food. Back to the poke, it’s great. Quality and fresh. Kombucha locally sourced and tried a handful now and would recommend the blueberry!

If you are on an island and you don’t like fish I feel sad for you. This poke was so fresh and delectable! It’s tucked in the corner but don’t overlook the small unassuming shack. This poke bowl was packed with flavors and worth every penny.

Excellent food. Kind service. Great suggestions. I'm adding this part because Yelp wants more characters

I tried 3 times to come back to this place and love it, however, the seasoning and backlash that I got for saying I was allergic to onion was a bit embarrassing and not taken seriously. This is what I got after I asked for no onion and eye rolls from the staff. The location is in cute little market where I was able to get a good. However just please next time take allergies serious because I really would love to come back and enjoy something without the embarrassment. 7/10 for the food platter

If you are in Hanalei and craving poke, then I would check out Hanalei Poke. It's a small, walk up and order place. Quick, friendly service. They have a whole list of options starting with which type of base you want and what style of poke. I went with the Pono with white rice. It has spicy mayo, cilantro, avacado and furikake. So ono! Check em out!

The good: 1. Very friendly service 2. Delicious poke The not so good: 1. The portions for the price are a bit small 2. The wait can be a little long The neither good nor bad: 1. Seating. It's not abundant, but good considering the location and size of the establishment

Absolutely DELICIOUS!!! We talked about this everyday after we ate it and hoped it was open for dinner so we could get it on our last day... the hanalei special over romaine and we got the teriyaki ahi to snack on before... it was one of the best meals we had our entire trip... will recommend this to anyone coming back! The staff was super friendly too... there's a few outdoor bar stools and picnic tables to sit at

I've tried 3 other poke spots in Hawaii, and this was definitely one of the better ones. The store is a small place in Hanalei village. I was able to order quickly without a line. They did raise the prices by $2 on their menu due to slow fishing, so the bowl itself was quite pricey. I got the "security" poke which was essentially a spicy mayo poke. The portion size for the bowl was also pretty small, so it was more like a snack rather than a full meal.

Flavor wise, the poke bowls are excellent. Possibly the best place we went to in Hanalei/Princeville area, and we plan on coming back here next time. But the portions are on the smaller side especially when considering the price. There is some seating directly outside but you might need to find sitting the shopping area around.

Wow! My husband and I came here after a day at Hanalei beach and had the best poke we've ever had! So fresh, so many wonderful flavors - Poke Perfection!!! We had the Hanalei and Kealia specials. The fish is so fresh, as are all the ingredients- it's just really high quality!

Very very expensive poke even for Hawaii prices. There's a sign out front indicating that they need to charge an extra $3 because of a current shortage. $27 for a small bowl of rice and 1 flavor/type of poke. Spice levels could have more heat for my preference. The kealia which was indicated to have medium spice is very mild. The flavors are unique. Toppings and extra ingredients such as the watermelon, mint, etc they have you don't typically see at a poke place. However for almost $30 it's pricey.

This was absolutely hands down the best poke I have EVER had. We stumbled upon it on our drive up the coast. I got the security bowl. It was fabulous. The service was quick. It was a bit pricey, but isn't everything. Best poke we had on our trip! I loved it and wish I could have it again. Lots of chairs to enjoy

This place is wildly overpriced for what it is. Poke is fresh but nothing special, I have had better poke in LA. The place is located in Hanalei bay where there are a bunch of overpriced touristy restaurants. You order at the counter and are given a number that buzzes to pick up the food. Staff was friendly and it was about a 5-10 minute wait. The plate itself was rather small and mostly the sides. We got the pono which's as good but mostly onions/sprouts. I would recommend going to foodland for their poke over hanalei poke. A bowl of poke will cost you $26 dollars, the menu prices say $20 for the pomp but they actually charged us $22 and it's only about 1 scoop of fish. At food land you can get about a pound for $14 and it's just as fresh with bigger chunks.

Hands down the best poke I have ever had in my life. 1000000% worth the wait. And the hype. I got the hanalei poke plate.

Portions are definitely on the expensive side for the amount of food you're getting. The fish and the flavors are unique here and fresh. They do a smaller chunk cut of fish over your choice of white or brown rice. This place is tremendously better than the poke to go from The Dolphin that's down the street. Parking is plentiful. The front of the shop is not visible from the street. There's patio seating available directly in front of the shop or you can take your food to eat at any other courtyard seating available.

We had poke from a different place EVERY DAY of our 6 day trip and this place was the best this time. Priciest but worth it.

The poke here definitely costs a pretty penny, but it was the best poke that we had in Kauai and perhaps ever! The fish was fresh, the ingredient pairings were unique! I would double-check the opening hours as they aren't consistent across yelp/Apple maps/google maps, so we had to come here twice since it wasn't open the first time.

Not worth for the portion size. $30 for a small bowl with mostly rice. Just go to the local market to get 5 servings worth of ahi instead of 1 with rice. The fish was fresh and delicious and the sauce was good. Just not happy with the increase in price and what seems to be a smaller serving size since last time I was there. $3 up charge for the "fish shortage" when the locals are talking bout how tons of fish are being pulled up lately... seems fishy

One of my favorite meals of our trip. I usually don't like poke without all the added avocado crab meat etc but I guess I just haven't had really really good quality poke before. I'm looking forward to my next visit!!

Omg!! So good! Great little poke place that is an easy walk from the beach. Great staff and lots of options. My husband went for traditional with medium spice and I had a tofu bowl with mild spice. Both were so good! The shop is in the cutest village that has a wonderful laid back vibe - and chickens!!

Pretty expensive for the amount of food you're getting but it was delicious and really high quality. I liked how you could customize and choose the sauce and any additional toppings. I just wish the portion was larger for the price.

So yummy! A little pricy for the portion size but worth it. We got one with ahi tuna, mango, mint and macadamia nuts.

Great tasting poke. The Haena Haze was full of flavor and not too spicy. The portion however was very small for $22. I understand the quality and freshness of the fish to be priced right, but wish they had given more rice to complement it since it was a small portion. It's a cute little spot, lots of parking around and limited but adequate seating. The service was both friendly and helpful.

I was amazed to hear that all but 4-5 choices on their extensive menu would be gluten free. I got the Hanalei special with brown rice and it was so flavorful. My tongue was a little on fire from the spice but nothing intolerable. Definitely wouldn't hesitate to come back and try something else.

Very mediocre poke and extremely overpriced. The portion size was very disappointing and i wish i went elsewhere as it felt like a they completely skimped you on what you pay for. Wouldn't recommend going as there are many other better options not far away. Thank me later

I had to try some poke while visiting Kauai and decided to stop by Hanalei Poke (twice) for both fish and tofu. The first time around I swung by late afternoon on a Tuesday, and after being slightly overwhelmed by the menu I just ended up asking the girl at the counter what she recommended. It might have been called the Hanalei Special? The photo I took isn't quite matching up to any of the menu item descriptions, so who knows haha. It was tasty though! I had my fish served over white rice (since brown wasn't available) and it came with a little pickled ginger to help cleanse the palate. Yum! The fish tasted fresh and the flavors were really nice. And this is coming from someone who doesn't normally eat raw fish, or seafood at all. I sat on one of the barstools overlooking the rest of the seating area and parking lot, which was pleasant enough. The second time around I had to try the vegetarian option to compare the two. I stopped by late afternoon again (since they close around 5), and ordered their tofu poke with both white rice and romaine lettuce--the "plate" option. I took this one to go and enjoyed it by the beach, which I highly recommend. Although I'm normally a tofu gal I have to say I didn't love it mixed with avocado. The fish was a lot better! I do appreciate that they offer a veg version though. I also prefer the protein with rice and no greens. If the greens were mixed greens, rather than romaine, I think the flavor/texture combo would be good. My food was ready fairly quickly both times. The price is around $25 after tip for one meal, which is pretty standard on the island. I'd come back again if I'm lucky enough to visit Kauai in the future, and definitely try another fish option.

Meh meh meh. Nice spot. Service was good. Poke was good. But 20 bucks for rice and a scoop of poke, I was expecting something more. Don't worry about getting the salad, nothing to write home about for 4 bucks.

Another poke stop in our Kauai trip, and my overall consensus: fresh poke & ingredients although expensive for the amount. On asking the cashier at the front, we found out that all the fish is ahi here. After looking through the menu, I decided on the Kealia ($24). I enjoyed the crunch of the macadamia nuts and the umami sesame flavor, although it was a bit bland for my taste. Overall solid poke, I want to try their other poke bowls.

The wife and the friends were poking around on Kauai and staying in Poipu, so we decided to explore the north shore of the island and after some beach time found ourselves in Hanalei for some shopping and lunch. We checked out a couple of food places in the Ching Young Village Shopping Center and the wife figured out there was a poke place. It was in the shopping center, but not easy to find. We would likely have not found it if the wife had not seen it on Google Maps. It is a very small, walk up place with a couple of picnic tables under a cover. That was nice since it was very sunny and a bit warm. I ordered the Super Grom which has Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, Ponzu, Unagi Sauce, Avocado, Furikake, Inamona - I asked to add Chili Oil for some spice. It had so many flavors, but they blended nicely and it was delicious. The tuna was cold and very fresh. The sushi rice was very good. You do have a choice of rice or salad as the base. The friends had the salad base and it was something I would try next time. It was an additional $6 charge, kinda pricey addition. The wife ordered the Local Girl - Spicy Mayo, Avocado and Sesame Seeds. She loved it. The friends ordered the Local Boy and the Kealia and they very much enjoyed those choices. As mentioned, they opted for the salad base instead of the rice. Hanalei Poke was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The Kealia plate that the friend had was one of the items from the show. Like everything in this current economy and especially in Hawaii, it was pretty expensive.$45+ for the two of us for two bowls of poke. Great poke, but still the cost is a bit hard to swallow sometimes! Go. Eat Well. Have FUN!

I had never had a very expensive poke such as this place. $23 for a small to go plate of poke. I do have to commend them for their poke though. It was very delish! I had the Hanalei special. I get that this place was featured on the show but pricing was just too much. My order only had a scoop of rice and probably 1/4 lb of poke. The service was just as bad. The cashier had a straight face taking my order and after giving a $2 tip, she didn't even show any gratitude. Sad to say but I'll probably not come back. The ambiance was modern with an island vibe.

This place was awesome. It's exactly what it looks like - no frills outdoor poke stand but will guarantee the freshest ahi poke bowls you've ever had. Delicious ingredients, fresh, pure, it's what you come to Hawaii to eat. It's globally impressive. We had a bowl with both rice and salad, highly recommend!

The most delicious and innovative poke on the island! We had their Hanalei Special and Security, both were excellent. The various ingredients like mango and avocado mixed into the ahi tuna made the taste very refreshing and awesome. We paid $4 extra for "the plate" with half rice and half salad. One of the Yelpers mentioned that the portion of "the plate" was bigger. I don't know if that's true, but the plates we got were of reasonable size, not as small as some of the other Yelpers made it sound. The poke on each plate was about a third of a pound (of course it wasn't pure fish). With the rice and salad, there was certainly enough food to fill our stomachs. Price was on the high side but I am not going to deduct any star because I am willing to pay for high quality and innovative food.

This is the BEST poke in Hawaii or anywhere else we tried. They combine ultra fresh poke with a myriad of gourmet flavors like watermelon, Mango, avocado, mint and other herbs and seaweed. We loved this place. The kealia is the most innovative poke bowl is is a must try. I recommend the plate combo upgrades with salads. This fantastic poke stand has some indoor and patio seating. This place was featured on food network and is a must Try. Great chill and relaxed ambiance here with island music playing in the background. The service took our order and poke plates were ready in 5 minutes or less.

I ate a lot of fresh, delicious, and tasty Poke during my week in Kauai, and Hanalei Poke was good! It also has a covered seating area, which is always nice. Just not quite as good as my other poke experiences. I loved the wide variety of Poke preparations offered. However, Hanalei Poke was also the most expensive, with plates costing over $20. Two plates and one can of Hawaiian Sun ended up being nearly $60.

We got fairly lucky 'beating the line' as there was a manageable line when we first ordered, got our food, then hit the lineup. This could have been a busy time, however, but I don't think the crazy line would justify the food. Back to the poke, it's great. Quality and fresh. Kombucha locally sourced and tried a handful now and would recommend the blueberry!

This spot is in a plaza so there is a huge parking lot which is a plus. There is also a solid amount of seats. There is an extensive menu with a ton of flavor options, probably one of the only poke places I've been to with a menu this big but I ended up ordering the Super Grom. Service was great, I asked if I could make it spicy and she offered a ton of options to do so. The poke was great, I enjoyed it a lot. The portion looks small but in the end, it was just right. Definitely expensive but I would come back for the variety.

Smile, it's better than a poke in the eye -- Douglas Horton Don't poke yourself in the eye ;-) Or throw poke in your eye. But if in Hanalei, on the island of Kauai, brave the crowds and eat here. Wonderful poke. We had the Kealia, spicy sesame poke. Fabulous with rice. Ate it outside on a beautiful day. Paradise. Highly recommended.

OMGGGGGGGG. hands down the best poke i've ever had. i'm from oc, cali and poke is good. but this spot *chefs kiss* !!! have to come again before we leave. the right portions, the fish is so fresh, the mixture. support small business 24/7. love love love

As seen on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, this place is famous. It is a spot not to miss while you're in Hanalei. They have so many amazing Poke bowl options! A bit on the pricey side, cheapest bowl is $23. Service is pretty much in and out... not much experience there. There is limited seating. I recommend getting it togo and heading to the beach. You can't go wrong with your choice. Everything is delicious and so fresh / unique. I ordered the Kealia. The ingredients like cilantro, mint, mango made it so unique and so flavorful. They also have Kauai Juice Co but are also selling those at a much higher price margin. While you've got plenty of options to have Poke on the island, highly recommend stopping by Hanalei Poke.

We got hungry after beaching and walking around the marketplace, so we stopped in here and it was amazing. We got the special and security. The fish was so fresh, flavor combos were interesting and the portions are pretty generous. Definitely worth a stop.

Found this place on our last day unfortunately, otherwise I for sure would have came back at least once! Nothing but great things to say about it! Staff was great, gave us suggestions and food didn't take too long. But honestly I would have waited for an hour if I had to! I got the popular spicier poke (can't remember the name exactly) but it was a star next to it on the menu! Omg!! Best poke EVER!!! Melts in your mouth, perfect combination of spicy, sweet, crunchy and smooth, literally a favor bomb in your mouth! You HAVE TO try this place at least once!

Overpriced and overrated trap for tourists. Really disappointed. Expected more for a poke bowl that cost me at least $23. Very little ahi and they were chopped small, not like regular sized poke cube. Fish also didn't taste like it was fresh quality like the other poke places I went to.

The price is high for the amount of food. The Kealia poke was featured on Food Network, so I figured I'd try that one out. It's good, but maybe cuz I've had so much good poke on the island, it didn't seem THAT much more special than other poke bowls around the island at 2/3 the cost.

It was amazing! So fresh ! The line wasnt bad either we went later on in the day . Wish it was open for dinner. Its a little on the pricey side but worth it!! Your in kuai!!

This was our first lunch after arriving in Kauai and it did not disappoint! The poke was so fresh and delicious (not at all mushy or chewy). The flavors go so well together. Highly recommend!!!

What a GEM! Hanalei Poke quickly became our go to lunch spot after snorkeling in Hanalei. Fresh, inventive flavor profiles and perfectly portioned for lunch. I stuck with all of the Wasabi Aoli offerings (MAC, PEDDLER and BOMB) since I prefer a little heat and had a very happy belly each time. We loved how small the poke was cut and the addition of watermelon in my BOMB plate was incredibly refreshing on a hot, humid and rainy day. I will be back in 2024! Mahalo

Conveniently located near hanalei beach with plentiful parking, Hanalei Poke is a great find. The woman who took our order on Friday right upon opening made me want to write this review more than anything. She was so kind, SO helpful, & SO excited. If she was not the owner, I hope the owner appreciates how much she cares about this business, because wow. There's a huge selection, even including tofu, with a lot of combo options. You can't make your own but there's likely something you can find that you'll like. Everything was delicious. Portions are on the smaller side for the price, but it's Hawaii lol. There's also a small refrigerator with lots of drink options. Outdoor seating is plentiful and lovely. It's also covered for when the rain comes.

I'm just gonna go ahead and say it. Considering the price Foodland make a better poke. I'm sorry... We keep going to these places but Foodland is still kinda the gold standard...

Decided to try this spot in hanalei bay. It's right in a shopping center. There's parking and outside seating. They have a wide variety of different sauces for poke. I got the paddler. It was tasty but when they asked me if I wanted salad and rice as the base I didn't realize they were going to charge me an extra $5 for it. It's typically included at poke restaurants. $25 for a poke plate is too steep for me for just fish, rice and lettuce. It took a really long time to get it also for some reason and it there weren't too many ppl in front of me.

After spending our morning hiking nearby, my husband and I stopped by Hanalei Poke for lunch. As other businesses nearby were getting packed with the lunchtime rush, Hanalei Poke didn't have too long of a line, which was welcome as our stomachs were growling! My husband and I decided to share an order of the Paddler - wasabi aioli, chili pepper shoyu, avocado, and furikake served with sushi rice. Our order took about 10 minutes and we took a seat at the counter seating to eat. For the price ($19), the portioned seemed like it was on the smaller side. However, the poke, made with local ahi tuna, did taste fresh, and the creamy avocado mixed well with the wasabi aoili. We finished the order pretty quickly and only wished that there was more!

We were starving and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. The parking situation there is tight so probably circle around a few times. We had three different bowls = 75$. They add a 3.5% for credit cards so just bring cash if you can. My kalalea bowl with mango, ahi tuna, and macadamia nuts was the best of the three. The bomb bowl with wasabi aioli was just ok and the Pono bowl was average too. Also I would recommend upsizing to a plate, which I didn't know about until later, if you are starving after the hike.