Suzanne S.
Yelp
If you don't want to read my whole review:
In short, this is as close to authentic, quality poke that you're going to get in San Antonio. Staff is kind and knowledgeable, the vibe is welcoming, and the extras (drinks/snacks) are unique and fun. If you've never had "real" poke, give it a try!
Onto my big review:
I feel so bad that I forgot to write this review after my husband and I visited! We came like two days after they opened so they didn't have everything set up, but these photos are what they had at the time along with some delicious poke.
If you've been to Hawaii, you know that they do poke different than the inland states. Poke-Poke is the closest you're going to get to that authentic Hawaiian poke flavor and quality.
We have been to the location in Austin many times so stuck with what we know and got the "O.G." -- it impresses every time. For me the sesame oil is strong by nature, so I personally add some soy sauce to even it out a tad (this is personal preference, NOT an issue with their recipe because my husband loves it as is!). It's straight up delicious. I remember the first time we came to the location in Austin I was looking for all those sauces you can get on the side (you know, all the sweet mayo-based things)... trust me when I say, this poke DOES NOT NEED any of that. Like I said, this is as close to authentic as you're going to get, so they don't need all the overwhelming extras. They're not trying to hide the flavor of the fish, they're using ingredients that let it shine and do its thing.
The quality of fish they use is well above any random poke spot sprinkled around San Antonio. This isn't the type of spot where you go and get suspicious, dry looking tuna and salmon... this isn't your standard HEB quality bowl... it's above that, so it's a buck or two more than other places but we don't mind since it's a treat to eat out anyway.
The employees working behind the counter were extremely kind and knowledgeable about the menu. Walking in they greeted us and talked us through the menu. After ordering we chatted with them for a bit and we got to hear about how their training focused on ensuring everything was consistent with the Austin location. They clearly took pride in their work as it represents the owner and the standard of the original spot. I always think it's awesome when a company AND its employees care that much about providing a consistent, quality experience. Great job on the hiring front as the employees made the atmosphere welcoming and enjoyable to talk to while our food was being prepared.
Overall, if you're in the area (or seriously craving good poke in San Antonio), I highly suggest at least trying one time. As for me and my husband... we'll for sure be back.