The poké bowl trend shows no signs of stopping, as new stores keep sprouting up all around the island, each one more unique and customisable than the next. The Hawaiian poké bowl is a raw fish salad bowl that typically comprises cubed sashimi (usually salmon or yellowfin tuna) and tropical fruits such as pineapples or peaches, vegetables and rice.
It’s no surprise that this food trend has been well received, given the gradual but significant shift Singaporeans have taken towards healthy eating in recent years. But apart from the health factor, the reason for the poké bowl’s popularity is definitely because of how tasty it is. Plus, sashimi. What’s not to love?
Make your own with our best poke bowl recipes, or check out one of these top poke bowl spots around Singapore:
WATCH THIS VIDEO TOO
How To Make Seared Tuna Rice Bowl w/ Onsen Egg
READ MORE:
Healthy Work Lunch Ideas To Help You Power Through The Week
Where To Go For Delicious Japanese Rice Bowls In Singapore
5 Super Healthy One-Bowl Meals For Weekday Lunch
Text: Joyce Chua & Elizabeth Liew
This restaurant deserves special mention. Not only was this the pioneer chain that kicked off the poke trend in Singapore, its founders are all working full-time in the banking industry while managing this growing multi-million-dollar chain. But the attention to detail and variety doesn’t suffer from that divided attention.
Customers can choose from salmon, tuna, tofu, seasonal fish, and even habanero chicken. Dressings include wasabi mayo and spicy, and you can pick add-ons such as chuka wakame (seaweed salad), pomegranate, flying fish roe, edamame beans and avocado. Bowls are customisable, and you can decide on how many scoops of poké you want. Hungry? Go for up to three.
Aloha Poké has several outlets.
Another poké haunt that lets you customise your own bowl, A Poké Theory offers generous portions with standard and extra toppings.
Choose between salmon or tuna dressed in original, spicy mayo, avocado miso or spicy garlic sesame sauces. Portions come in regular (100g) or large (150g). You get to pick your base (brown rice, sushi rice, lemon herb quinoa or romaine lettuce). Finish off with toppings – standard ones include chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, pineapples, wakame, furikake (a dry Japanese seasoning) and nori (seaweed) flakes, while premium ones include crispy salmon skin, kimchi, roasted almonds, and kale chips.
A Poké Theory has several outlets.
With its inviting décor of bright pink flamingos and tropical-themed wallpaper, Loloku is part of the plethora of new dining establishments along Keong Saik Road.
This casual eatery offers both signature and customisable poké bowls that feature more than the regular salmon and tuna options (ono hamachi, anyone?). Signature bowls are classified according to the meat they feature: salmon, tuna, tofu, ono hamachi, and braised wagyu.
There are options for those on low-carb diets too: they come in the form of salad jars, and you can pick your dressings and choose from salmon, tuna or Hamachi.
Loloku is located at The Working Capitol Building, 1 Keong Saik Road, 01-05, Singapore 089109, tel: 6223 5001.
While this bistro is known for its scrumptious made-to-order sushi rolls, it also offers a modest selection of poké bowls for those who want a healthy alternative without having to build their own bowls.
The bowls may not be customisable, but each of them is unique and rich in flavour and texture, thanks to the crunchy vegetables, creamy avocado, savoury chunks of salmon and tuna marinated in wasabi sauce and a hint of sweetness from the yuzu sauce. The tea-infused rice lends an added aroma that balances the kick from the wasabi sauce.
Rollie Olie has several outlets.
READ MORE: Afuri & Other Famous Japanese Ramen That You Can Find In Singapore
Makai Poké is a takeaway-only poké store, and its fuss-free ordering system is a breeze. For a wallet-friendly price of $9.90 (given that it’s situated at the CBD), you can pick a base (red and brown rice, sushi rice, trio rice mix or salad), a protein (original shoyu salmon, spicy salmon, roasted sesame ahi tuna, yuzu soy ahi tuna, and vegetarian tofu sesame). Toppings include Japanese cucumbers, pineapples, carrots, avocado, salmon roe and pumpkin seeds, and superfood add-ons, which come at just an extra dollar each, include edamame seeds, pomegranate, goji berries and chia seeds.
Makai Poké is located at Tanjong Pagar Centre, 7 Wallich Street, B1-08, Singapore 078884, tel: 6386 9313.
If you’re looking for poké that’s not too steeped in marinade, then you might want to check out Alakai, where the poke is only marinated upon order so that the fish and the marinade taste fresh. You can build your own bowl (or plate) by choosing your base, poké, sauce, toppings and add-ons. Alakai also makes its own house seasonings, such as the Ho’ono, which consists of wakame, sesame and a hint of spiciness, and Niu Tahitian, where coconut, cucumbers, lime and sweet bell peppers deliver a zesty tropical taste. Check out its daily or weekly specials, too, if you’re game to try new flavours.
Alakai is located at 3 Everton Park, 01-79, Singapore 080003, tel: 6094 4957. Visit www.facebook.com/alakaicompany
You don’t have to fly all the way to Hawaii to get a taste of the Hawaiian vibe. Just head down to Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach. Just five minutes away from Beach Station, this chill beachside shack allows you to kick back on the beach while enjoying Hawaiian-inspired food, including a poké bowl. Personalise your bowls with your choice of poké, dressing, and three toppings such as pumpkin seeds, chopped pineapples, or guacamole, and wash it down with an Instagram-worthy glass of Ola Huli Pau, a fruity cocktail that includes rum, watermelon and lychee pearls.
Ola Beach Club is located at 46 Siloso Beach Walk, Singapore 099005, tel: 6250 6978. Visit www.olabeachclub.com/gastro/
Fancy an Asian spin on your poké? Poké Doke delivers just that.
At Poké Doke, you get to choose from a huge range of poké and add-ons, including marinated cuts of Norwegian salmon, Ahi tuna and vegetarian shiitake tofu. You get to personalise your bowl with toppings such as edamame, roasted pumpkin, couscous, beancurd skin, or premium add-ons such as onsen egg, tamagoyaki and crispy fish skin. If you’re feeling extra hungry, you can get up to three scoops of poké by ordering the large portion.
Poké Doke is located at Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard, 01-95, Singapore 039596, tel: 9181 9140. Visit pokedoke.sg
If you’re in the East, this poke joint is perfect for you. Nestled in Changi City Point, build your own bowl with delicious protein options like grilled unagi, miso cod and smoked duck. Choose your preferred base from five options including rice, brown rice, mixed rice, spring mixed salad and even zoodle (zucchini noodle). And if need something to eat on-the-fly, you can choose from a selection of sushi rolls like aburi salmon, spicy tuna or unagi avocado.
Ohana Poke is at #01-20 Changi City Point.
At Sweetfish, the classic Hawaiian favourite is given a Californian twist with their five signature bowls. Savour succulent cuts of fresh sashimi on a base of your choice (there’s a nutritious red brown mixed rice option, otherwise you can choose Japanese rice or romaine lettuce).
The five signature bowls are: Hawaiian original (salmon or tuna), wasabi mayo (salmon), roasted sesame (octopus or salmon), sweet yuzu cream (salmon) and kimchi (octopus or tuna). Wash it all down with their thirst-quenching lemonades for a refreshing pick-me-up.
Sweetfish Poke is at #B2-30 Capitol Piazza.
READ MORE:
Is It Possible To Eat What You Love And Still Lose Weight?
10 Tasty Salads That Will Make You Feel Fuller For Longer
5 Easy-To-Make Healthy Work Lunch Ideas To Get You Through The Busy Week
This post was first published on February 2, 2018, and updated on July 18, 2019.