Ahh, poke. A true delicacy. No, we’re not talking about the fast-casual “poke” that took over on the mainland 5 years ago. Traditional Hawiian poke is something to behold, a pre-marinated mix of silky soft ahi best with hot rice & furikake. There are hundreds of variations. Every island & every family has their own style, but every good poke is made with pride. The Big Island represents with some absolutely incredible poke shops, so without further ado here’s our list of favorites:
Island Style Grindz – Formerly known as Kawaihae Kandyz up in Hawi, these guys took their business mobile with a new name & food truck. Family owned, they make the best wonton poke nachos around. We also love their poke bomb inari pockets, grilled kalbi, Korean chicken, & furikake mahi. Their locations vary from week to week, but if you see the blue truck PULL OVER, you can’t go wrong with these grindz. Check their social media to find out where they’re setting up for the day. (https://www.islandstylegrindz.com)
Bite Da Eye – Food truck located in the Sears Auto Center parking lot. This place is far off the tourist circuit, but serves outstanding poke & true Hawaiian food made with local ingredients. Kalua pig & squid luau are on the menu some days, some days they only run fresh fish. Check their Instagram for the latest details. (https://www.instagram.com/bitetheeye)
Poke Market, LLC – New little spot in downtown Hilo. Don’t let that fool you, this is possibly the best poke on the Big Island. The shiitake salmon & classic spicy pokes are both nuts. Outstanding quality fish & creativity put these guys at the top of our list. (https://www.pokemarkethi.com)
Kona Seafood Market – New up-and-coming seafood market in downtown Kona. Their pokes are clearly old-school family recipes that really hit right when you’re craving fish. This also the spot for other fresh local fish- opakapaka, monchong, mahi mahi, ono & more are available. (https://www.kona-seafood.com)
Poke Shack – At one point these guys had the best rating on Yelp in the entire United States! Located on Ali’i drive, they offer several kinds of poke, sides, & other traditional Hawaiian dishes like laulau. Perfect spot to grab lunch & a few beers after a dip at Magic’s or Kahalu’u. (https://dapokeshack.com)
Kona Grill House – Formerly known as Sundried Specalties, this little market serves killer poke. Try a scoop or two with the fried lobster cake & a slice of lilikoi cheesecake for dessert. This is our favorite place to stop for lunch after a morning of snorkeling in South Kona. (https://konagrillhouse.com)
Umekes – The big name in poke in Kona. Umekes has grown from a small hole-in-the-wall shop to their slick new location on the Brewery Block. They have all the classics- spicy, avo, shoyu, Hawaiian, kanaka, & a changing poke-of-the-day. Their kimchi cucumber & spicy crab salad are both outstanding. Check out their new space & have a buffalo soldier (or three). (http://umekesrestaurants.com)
Suisan Fish Market – Started in 1907 by fishermen in Hilo, Suisan now supplies most of the island with fresh fish. The market at their Hilo location has some excellent poke, plus tons of other fresh catch fish options. Try the dried poke if you like beef jerky. (https://www.suisan.com/our-services/fish-market)