10 Tasty Places to Eat Poke in Canada

Posted by Lisa Jackson on April 21, 2017

The poke craze has arrived in Canada! In case you missed the memo, "poke" is a Hawaiian salad made with fresh chunks of raw fish, doused in soy and sesame sauce, and mixed with veggies, herbs and spices, served on a bed of rice. This delicious and healthy dish has been trending in Hawaii for quite some time, but it's (finally!) reached the shores of the Great White North. Get your fix at one of these 10 places to eat poke in Canada.

Pokeh

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Pokeh (Hamilton, ON)

Chef Salar Madadi is riding the culinary wave in Hamilton with <a href="http://pokeh.ca/" target="_blank">Pokeh</a> – what’s considered the first poke eatery in Canada. In the basement of Hamilton’s Farmers’ Market, he whips up flavourful Hawaiian-inspired bowls of fresh raw fish seasoned with onions, cucumbers, jalapeños, sesame seeds, nuts, spices and sauces. For a zesty dish, try the Spicy Bowl, packed with chunks of ahi tuna and house pickled jalapeños served atop rice.
Le Poke Bar

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Le Poke Bar (Montreal, QC)

Inspired by his travels to Hawaii, Allen Mouradian got so hooked on the dish that he opened <a href="http://lepokebar.com/" target="_blank">Le Poké Bar</a> – Montreal’s first restaurant dedicated to poke. Here, you can sink your teeth into one of six colourful bowls, piled high with fresh fish, tofu and veggies. Or, build your own bowl, creating a fun mix of proteins, sauces (think: spicy, fruity or miso), grains (vermicelli noodles, quinoa or rice), and tasty extras like mango, avocado and pineapple.
Tomo Restaurant

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Tomo Restaurant (Ottawa, ON)

Ottawa's food scene just got a whole lot cooler. Located near the Byward Market, <a href="http://tomorestaurant.ca/" target="_blank">Tomo Restaurant</a> has added poke to their menu, attracting hungry patrons seeking tasty Hawaiian-inspired bowls of marinated raw fish, veggie and flavoured rice. Choose between three poke bowls (salmon, tuna and tofu), and if you love a spicy kick, ask for a sprinkle of togarashi (Japanese chilli powder) on top.
Calii Love

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Calii Love (Toronto, ON)

Mosey on over to Toronto’s <a href="http://caliilove.com/" target="_blank">Calii Love</a>, a Hawaiian and LA-inspired café that’s famed for their wholesome “California-inspired” poke bowls. All the ingredients are super fresh: fish is delivered and cut every morning, ready to be served at 11 a.m. They have signature bowls with eclectic toppings (salmon, tuna, kimchi, zucchini and sweet potato noodles), but if you’re feeling picky, you can choose your own poke adventure, too. Rumour has it that celebrities congregate here during the Toronto International Film Festival.
The Poke Guy

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The Poke Guy (Vancouver, BC)

For a helping of “feel good” poke, head straight to <a href="https://thepokeguy.com/" target="_blank">The Poke Guy</a> in Vancouver. It’s Canada’s first poke eatery partnering with Ocean Wise. In the poke bowls, the kitchen uses wild-caught seafood, like wild sockeye salmon, ahi tuna, shrimp, scallops and tako, all of which have been sourced “sustainably and responsibly.” Order a poke bowl, save the ocean – it’s the best two-for-one special in town!
Chosabi Asian Eatery

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Chosabi Asian Eatery (Winnipeg, MB)

 Winnipeg may be far from Hawaii, but <a href="http://www.chosabi.com/" target="_blank">Chosabi Asian Eatery</a> is bringing a little coastal cuisine to the Prairies. Dig into a hearty bowl of marinated tuna or salmon, served with wakame salad, edamame, avocado, carrots, furikake, wasabi aioli and crispy wonton chips. If you still have stomach space, try one of the six sushi rolls, which some diners declare are “to die for.”
The Pacific Poke

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The Pacific Poke (Vancouver, BC)

Vancouver's hungry hordes award <a href="https://www.thepacificpoke.com/" target="_blank">The Pacific Poke’s</a> bowls an "A+" for its “super fresh” unique ingredients and tasty combos that "make you feel alive." If you've got the appetite, go for "The Main" – a bowl heaped with salmon, spicy tuna, crab and shrimp jicama, sesame miso sauce and other tangy toppings. Or try a Poke Panini toasted with fresh fish and fun fixings like pickled red onion, avocado nori and wasabi.
The Adelaide Oyster House

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The Adelaide Oyster House (St. John's, Newfoundland)

<a href="http://learn.goinfinitus.com/oyster-house/" target="_blank">The Adelaide Oyster House</a>, a stylish Water Street tavern in St. John’s, reaps rave reviews across the nation for its sumptuous “free-style food.” But did you know the menu also features “poke-inspired” dishes? Chow down on a Spicy Wild Salmon Bowl, loaded with avocado, ginger pickle, daikon, teriyaki sauce, basil and sticky rice, or go for the Yellowfin Tuna Bowl with egg noodles, cucumber kimchi, chili-soy sauce and toasted rice. Either way, deliciousness is guaranteed!
Ayden Kitchen & Bar

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Ayden Kitchen and Bar (Saskatoon, SK)

Although no poke-centred restaurants currently exist in Saskatoon, you can still get your fix at the much acclaimed <a href="http://www.aydenkitchenandbar.com/" target="_blank">Ayden Kitchen and Bar</a>. Here, Top Chef Canada champion Chef Dale MacKay makes a mean tuna poke bowl, full of fresh hearts of palm, mango, cilantro, pea shoots and sambal dressing. Dig in, but try not to drool all over the table.
Kristyn Snell/Calgary Tourism

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Po-ke (Calgary, AB)

The newest kid on Calgary's block is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/poke.yyc/" target="_blank">Po-ke</a>, the city’s first eatery devoted to poke that just opened this spring. On the menu, expect to find four signature poke bowls that fuse Japanese and West Coast flavours, as well as a range of sushi burritos and “build-your-own” poke bowls. Lisa Jackson is a food and travel writer based in Toronto who loves sinking her teeth into new flavours across Canada and abroad.
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