The Best Poke in OC and how to Make it Healthy
Poke bowls are all the craze right now–here’s how to make your poke bowl healthy! + my best poke list!
With poke being one of my favorite healthy foods, and having worked at a poke bar, I thought I'd compile a list of my favorite poke spots out of the countless ones I have tried. Some poke restaurants give you the opportunity to make your bowl unhealthy, so I'll also tell you how to keep it clean.
A Healthy Bowl consists of...
1. Base
For your base choose brown over white rice. If you're watching your carbs, choose mixed greens or half greens half brown rice (my go-to).
2. Mix-ins
These are pretty much just vegetables so you can't go wrong here. Avoid imitation crab if you can–it has mayo and is processed. Some places offer it as a mix in, others as a topping.
3. Protein
Well it's all raw fish, so choose your favorite! Tuna is high in mercury, so don't always get tuna. I usually get one salmon, tuna, and tofu. Sometimes I get shrimp if it looks fresh. Sometimes tamago (Japanese sweet egg) is processed and dyed, so that is probably the least healthy option. Some places even over shrimp tempura–that's fried, so I guess if you don't like raw fish that's why places offer it. Select places, including the one I worked at, even offer cooked chicken.
4. Sauces
I ask for easy on the sauce because I don't like having my food drowned in it. It takes away the fresh flavors. I recommend ponzu sauce, or another light sauce that is not mayo-based. But if you like spicy mayo, that's totally ok, it's just not the healthiest. Sauces can also have a lot of sugar, so be careful!
5. Toppings
I always get edamame, green onion, and ginger (the white kind, not the pink-dyed one). Pickled radish is dyed red and seaweed salad is dyed green (sometimes), so avoid those if you can. Avocado is always yummy, especially if it's included at no extra charge.
6. Garnishes
I recommend sesame seeds and dried seaweed–not furikake because most brands use MSG! The least healthy garnishes are the crunchy garlic and crunchy onion–they add extra fat and calories to your bowl!
Now for the poke spots (ranked with #1 being my favorite)
1. Poke Wave
Located in a strip mall in Mission Viejo, Poke Wave is the spot where the locals go. It's a 10 minute drive from my house, and I frequent it for lunch or a quick dinner! They close fairly early, so if you get a late night craving, you won't be able to go here. I love everything about Poke Wave:
friendly staff
this is weird, but the fish is cute very small, making it easier to eat and mix together
everything tastes fresh
the ingredients are basic and natural–they don't offer any super unhealthy, crazy toppings
the price is great
they have a kids meal for $5 that's one scoop of protein, yet still all of the toppings!
they have free avocado and complimentary miso soup
2. Poke Dot
Poke Dot is located in a center that is bustling with business people from the nearby Irvine offices at lunch time. They have railings out side to wait between–it gets that crowded! My favorite things about Poke Dot:
their service line is quick and efficient–they have a person working each station
the portions of protein are big
their shrimp is the "meaty" kind and the tofu is firm, not soggy (they cut it in front of you)
nothing tastes fishy, and all the ingredients are natural and fresh
avocado is free
variety of sauces: the cilantro one is my favorite
Despite not having "poke" in their name, Uroko Cafe has very good poke! It's located on a streetside in Costa Mesa. I fricking love Costa Mesa–they have all the best food, I could talk about it all day. If Uroko Cafe was closer to my house, I would definitely frequent it.
they color code bowl sizes by the paper beneath it
the food is served in reusable tin bowls–thank you for having a positive impact on the environment! All other places I've been to use plastic bowls, whether you are dining in or out
the bowls are shallow! This allows for mixing the ingredients of your bowl together
fresh fish and toppings!
they have cilantro!
3. Uroko Cafe
4. Wow Poki
I don't have a picture, but I've been to Wow Poki many a time. It was right by my high school, making it a convenient, healthy option for a pre-concert dinner or an off-campus lunch. It's located in San Juan Capistrano and is a literal hidden gem because it is inside a business lot that you cannot see from the main road. Wow Poki will always have a special place in my heart because it reminds me of high school memories.
friendly and welcoming team members
fresh and yummy for a good price!
Unique Poke Places
Project Poke
My friends and I associate Fountain Valley with desserts, but this poke place sets itself apart from everywhere else with their unique offerings.
Poke Avocado Toast
hard to eat and cut, but very tasty
Sushi Donut
filled with green sauce between rice and topped with sesame seeds, cucumber, salmon, and tuna
it looks as good as it tastes–worth it for the gram
they do premake them, but that's just because it'd be time consuming if they were made to order
Salmon Musubi
Spam musubi but with salmon
I love salmon, so obviously this was yum
there was too much sauce for me, though
If you come here, do not be mainstream and order a poke bowl. Try one of these or a sushi burrito!
Temakira
This is a handroll place, but my favorite is their ahi tuna poke handroll at the COSTA MESA location! It was the first time I tried tuna poke and I will never forget it! Thank you for introducing me into the world of raw fish! This handroll is just bursting with flavor–however they marinate it, they do it well! Their presentation is always on point!