SEAGuide
The Best Poke In Seattle
photo credit: Nate Watters
Just because someone is 6’5” doesn’t mean that they are automatically great at basketball. And just because Seattle has good seafood, that doesn’t mean we have great poke. But Seattle does have great poke, so we don’t have to worry a whole lot about that. Whether you’re looking to build a topping-stacked bowl or buy marinated raw fish by the pound, these are the best poke spots in town.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Nate Watters
Our favorite poke in Seattle is actually about a dozen miles northwest of Downtown. This Hawaiian spot is located at a shopping center just outside downtown Edmonds, and the menu of seasoned and cubed fish makes a good case for never making lunch at home ever again. From oyster-sauced salmon to spicy ahi soaked in shoyu and showered with togarashi, the marinated fish is superior, especially when marinade seeps through the sushi rice underneath. Round out your bowl with tangy cucumber kimchi and a pile of mac salad that comes with ridged elbow noodles to catch every bit of mayo.
photo credit: Nate Watters
This convenience store has two sides—one is devoted to crunchy snacks and fridges full of frosty beverage cans, and the other is devoted to a poke operation. And it’s some fantastic diced raw fish, with plenty of punch from the shoyu marinade and drizzles of spicy mayo. The rice is always fluffy, and there’s tons of texture coming from frizzled onion, shredded crab salad, and toasted sesame seeds. If the weather is warm and you feel obligated to reject all other responsibilities in favor of snacking on cubic tuna in the park, this is the city’s best picnic-worthy poke.
For some of the best poke in Seattle proper, head to this Central District seafood market. Seattle Fish Guys’ offerings range from classic soy sauce-coated ahi to chunky scallops and an abundance of tobiko, with occasional fun specials like kanpachi or miso tuna. The mac salad involves shredded smoked salmon, and the warm rice comes seasoned with furikake. Create a bowl and eat inside to watch the expert fishmongers at work. Or, order a la carte by the pound for a Lake Washington boat day.
photo credit: Nate Watters
We’d pop by this Hillman City institution solely for the buttery hunks of marinated raw salmon, which steal the spotlight from minced ahi. Whether you order yours tossed in shoyu or spicy mayo, as a rice bowl, or stuffed in crunchy taco shells smeared with edamame hummus, it’s some of the best seafood on the South End.
photo credit: Nate Watters
Hiroshi’s is a takeout poke spot with no seating, atmosphere, or personality. And hey, that’s fine considering that the bowls here are truly sock-rocking, whether you go with melty lomi lomi salmon or lean tuna soaked in sweet soy. There are a bunch of toppings to jazz things up, like edamame, furikake, and pickled ginger, but the poke is perfect with just sushi rice and a massive scoop of mac salad. For a light lunch in the University District, you’re in good hands.
photo credit: Nate Watters
Poke Plus on Capitol Hill is an ideal spot to create your own franken-poke with loads of toppings, ranging from mango and pineapple to corn and edamame. The sauce options are not skimpy either. Sweet chili sauce and wasabi mayo are perfect sidekicks for an (already very full) bowl. For a three-scoop fish option and unlimited additions ringing in less than $15, you’re getting a great lunch deal.
photo credit: Nate Watters
With only four protein options and limited toppings, Big Island Poke does not overcomplicate things, relying on good fish and marination to do the heavy lifting. For a consistently good lunch in Renton, choose from tako, salmon, and tuna (Hawaiian or spicy), which comes on top of warm rice, fresh greens, or tortilla chips for poke nachos. Be sure to add cucumber kimchi, a squeeze of cream cheese aioli, and crispy fried onions to make that poke house a home.
