Best poke in Toronto
Originally from Hawaii, poke has made its way North, popping up in Toronto neighbourhoods over the past year. It is traditionally made with tuna or octopus, but the local variations tend to come in all sorts of seafood options, from crab to salmon. Here are some of the top spots for poke in Toronto. [Photo credit: courtesy of Calii Love]
Big Tuna Poke Bar
599 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1K5The original poke spot in Toronto, Big Tuna Poke Bar opened to much fanfare, especially among the millennial crowd in search of a cheap lunch spot. The Koreatown restaurant is owned by first-time restaurateur Anh Tran. The menu includes The Big Katuna made with ahi tuna, cucumbers, onions, lotus chips and more. There are poke bowl specials every Thursday.
Calii Love Inc
367 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1K1Calii Love is so popular it already opened a second location after launching the Entertainment District restaurant in 2016. The poke bowls are California inspired, with ingredients like sweet potato noodles and kale popping up in the signature bowls. The chef Joe Friday, of ViaVai, fell in love with poke bowls after working at Honolulu’s Hilton Hawaii Village, and he decided to bring them to Toronto. Calii Love also offers a customized poke bowl available in small and large.
P Poke Guys
112 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON M5G 1P5When it comes to variety, Poke Guys have the market cornered, serving up customizable poke bowls in its location just off Dundas. The menu includes a vegetarian option or a choice of three proteins in its custom bowls: salmon, tuna and tofu. Customers start with a base of rice or spring lettuce, pick their protein, then choose from the Poke Guys’ long list of toppings including kimchi, pineapples, seaweed salad and edamame. The bowl is finished with a choice of five sauces and eight garnishes!
Pokito
420 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A7When two successful chefs collaborate the outcome is always good, right? Pokito proves this to be true – it’s the love child of the people behind popular food truck Me.n.u and the folks behind Chatime and Bake Code. There is a lot of inspiration from different cuisines including Thai and Caribbean flavours. Not only does Pokito have unique flavour profiles going for them, it also offers the poke bowls burrito form. This spot has developed quite the following, and there are rumours of a second location in the works.
Rolltation
2291 Yonge St Main, Toronto, ON M4P 2C6Perhaps best known for its sushi burritos, Rolltation has hopped on the poke bowl train. The poke menu consists of eight signature bowls including some unique fully cooked options like curry chicken, shrimp and beef. Rolltation is located steps from St. Patrick station and is mostly a take-out place, with a delivery option.
The Poke Box
36 Toronto St, Toronto, ON M5C 2C5“Unbox Freshness” is an apt motto for The Poke Box. The unassuming poke take-out place located in an office building off Yonge is all about the freshness. The fish is prepared fresh to order, along with the seasonal vegetables. It offers six signature bowls and a design-your-own-bowl option. If customers don’t want to wait in line, they can pre-order their poke bowls online, and pick them up in store.
Hoki Poke
946 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2J2Originally known at The Signature Sushi, the owners decided to overhaul their menu and transform the site into Hoki Poke in 2016. Located near Yonge and Davenport, Hoki Poke serves up some seriously delicious poke. It offers five bowls and five burritos that include vegetarian options, kimchi, grilled chicken and the classic tuna and salmon. You can also choose a customized bowl, salad or burrito.
Miss Thing's
1279 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1L6Miss Thing’s has two poke bowls on its Polynesian-inspired menu. Found on both the appetizer and plates menu, Miss Thing’s creates fresh and authentic poke bowls for the dinner crowd. Its take on poke includes miso-cured rainbow trout, marinated salmon egg, chili radish, shiitake mushrooms, pickled ginger, sesame and coconut rice.
Edo Japan
161-181 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5J 2T3Located on the cold appetizer menu, Edo’s Goma Hamachi is its take on the Hawaiian classic. The bowl includes young yellowfin tuna (hamachi) from the Japanese island of Kyushu marinated in a maple-tamari glaze, sesame seeds (goma) and hon-wasabi. There are many locations throughout the city, so there’s no excuse not to try this take on the poke bowl.
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