By Parker Sublette
Staff Writer
Although it is disappointing that Poké Bar is not a Pokémon-themed restaurant, it redeems itself by offering convenient, delicious food.
Poké Bar, a laid back yet efficient dining experience, boasts fresh and delicious ingredients and provides what would usually be an expensive meal for an affordable price. The menu allows customers to choose from a variety of delectable and healthy options.
New Poké Bar locations recently opened across California beginning in 2015. What started as a small sushi shop in Northridge in 1990 has expanded to a growing chain of restaurants, bringing poké across the state.
Check out Poké Bar’s official website
Poké Bar successfully takes advantage of the growing trend of poké on the mainland, bringing the Hawaiian staple to the forefront of the California food scene. The restaurants serve poké in a “create-your-own-dish” style similar to that of Subway, but instead of sandwiches, the restaurant serves high-grade sashimi.
Poké Bar’s process is simple: customers choose a size then go down the line of varied options, starting with a choice of sashimi then a multitude of healthy vegetables for toppings. While the plethora of options may be overwhelming to some customers, the expansive number of choices lets every dish taste different than the last without duplicating any flavors.
In addition to its variety in customized meals, Poké Bar’s ingredients are all fresh, from sashimi to vegetables. In most cases, poké is generally tuna; however, Poké Bar offers different choices for sashimi, including salmon, albacore, octopus and shrimp, that are all delectable with their own unique tastes complementing the toppings.
In addition, Poké Bar provides a select amount of side dishes that sadly do not live up to the same expectations as the main dishes. The seaweed salad and cucumber salad are both bland when compared to the main poké dishes. The lack of enjoyable side options somewhat limits the menu rather than broadening it.
Poké Bar also has a limited selection of delicious and decadent desserts. The macaroon ice cream sandwiches entice customers with a perfectly balanced combination of sweet, crunchy macaroons and smooth, cool ice cream, making the perfect treat to compliment an already tasty meal.
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Poké Bar more than lives up to expectations in terms of interior design. The restaurant’s atmosphere has a relaxed feel due to an open seating arrangement of several large tables and bar-type seating along the wall. Complemented by warm orange painted walls, modern wooden decor and a friendly staff, the overall dining experience is quite enjoyable.
Poké Bar is also highly efficient; the staff serves each customer in under a few minutes. The servers are also very friendly, informing new customers about the menu and making recommendations, all the while keeping the line moving. It is rare that a restaurant based on choices moves quickly, but Poké Bar pulls it off successfully.
Poké Bar provides delicious and quality ingredients in a laid back, friendly environment. The many options that are offered to customers are reasonably priced, making Poké Bar’s quality food a soon-to-be California favorite as more of the chain’s restaurants open across the state.
Poké Bar has locations across the South Bay in both Hermosa Beach and El Segundo. Meal price ranges from $8 to $15, depending on the combination. Poké Bar locations are open to customers every day of the week from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m..
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