On patrol for poke bowls 🍚
Famously from the Hawaiian word meaning to slice, I’ve really gotten into poke bowls since having them nearly every lunchtime from the new-ish Island Poke.
Since then, I’ve been in search of more poke goodness. So I looked for every single place offering bowls in Newcastle and gave them all a go to see if Newcastle had really gotten on board.
What I’m looking for: the freshest fish, or other ‘main’ topping (I tried to stick to ahi tuna or salmon here), interesting and varied vibrant toppings: vegetables, fruit, and sauces, freshly made in front of you, good quality sushi rice, value that doesn’t come from just a kilo of rice and scant toppings, customisable build-your-own bowl options for when you need that extra mango, avocado, or edamame, take home and restaurant options, consistency in service, non-rice bases as an option (rare).
I can’t imagine that any of these are really going to compete with lying on a Honolulu beach enjoying fish landed that morning, and humongous skipjack tuna, or even the octopus version which is popular in Hawaii… but its a hell of a lot more interesting than the usual meal deal or tired old noodle dish.
So really, as of August 2023, Newcastle’s only 6 poke bowls.
Island Poké
Only opened recently in May, Island Poké is a chain with eighteen restaurants which are mostly in London. Newcastle was actually their first outlet outside of the capital, and landing just in time for the sunshine this year means I’ve been eating a *lot* of these.
For a chain restaurant, I really like it. Simple concept, good vibes, focus on one dish and do it well. Portions are a little smaller and a little more rice-heavy than some of the others on this list, but hey you can get a bowl for less than seven quid so it’s no complaint. if you’re looking for salmon, avocado, etc. though, you’ll pay accordingly but not begrudgingly.
Toppings are interesting, fresh, and varied from minted mango, pineapple chilli salsa, burnt corn, and ginger pickled carrot. Some of the house bowls only come with about three which is a bit of a bummer, but make your own for more, or there’s often specials like the festi-bowl this summer with celery and fennel, yuzu and dill ricotta. Big fan! And given its accessibility, probably my fave.
Island Poké, 150 Grainger St, NE1 5AF
Options: salmon, tuna, chicken, tofu, aubergine, build-your-own
Cost: £6.95 – £10.65
Yo! Sushi
It’s probably quite cool to hate on Yo! but I really liked their poke bowl.
Everything about it just added up to more than the sum of its parts and it’s of a consistent standard you’d expect from a chain like Yo. I’d swap out the Korean ketchup next time, but each item in the bowl was done well — even if admittedly a lot of it is filler: ribboned carrot, plain corn, red cabbage. It’s a humongous portion as well (a lot of rice), but maybe a little shy on the salmon here.
Still, great for those looking for entry-level poke. It’s better than much of the sushi, and you’ll feel like you got your money’s worth. Easily dumbed down for those wanting chicken or vegan versions, too.
Yo! Sushi, 39-141 Grainger St, NE1 5AE
Options: salmon, tuna, chicken, vegan ‘duck’, some customisation
Cost: £11.95
Avopoké
Gotta trek to South Gosforth for this one, or it’s popular on the food delivery apps. It’s likely the most independent choice here – just run by a couple of guys out of a converted house. But absolutely worth the little trek for the poke aficionado.
You can build your own, but the house choices are pretty strong. The apple wasabi on this blew my nose right off. Katsuobushi is a nice addition, and there’s generally lots going on makes every bite different. Appreciated that this bowl wasn’t heavy on the rice (like many others on this list are) and best of all, it’s reasonably priced and made fresh in front of you.
All in all just a good bowl that you’ll want to eat again.
Avopoke, 40 Station Rd, South Gosforth, NE3 1QD
Options: salmon, tuna, tofu, tempeh, build-your-own
Cost: £7.50 – £11
Oki Poke
Just in the shadow of St. James Park on St. Andrews St., you’d easily miss Oki Poke. Of any on this list, it’s the mid-tier choice — not gonna blow your socks off, but not by any means less than worth eating.
Usual suspects here. It’s ‘okay-poke’ really but the toppings are varied, you can build your own and come up with something a bit different from the below. The salmon was clearly fresh, actually tasting of something for a change. They focus on the one dish which is always good. And for the keen-eyed, it’s ran by the same guy as Stixs, just across the road.
Try one before the match instead of a Greggs and/or a kebab.
Oki Poke, 50 St Andrew’s St, NE1 5SF
Options: salmon, tuna, chicken, prawn, tofu, beancurd, build-your-own
Cost: £9.50 – £13.80
Umai Mi
Not really a poke specialist but Umai Mi has a section on the menu for poke. It’s in Eldon Square so you’re shackled by the opening times there, but I got this to go last week.
Unfortunately… this is a case of ‘just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should’.
At first it looks like a generous amount of fish (which I suppose you’d want for £13), but after that, what remains is… mangy bits of tomato, cucumber, and red onion. WTF? Pretty much everything is poorly chopped including the fish, which doesn’t give me much confidence at all in it being of any real quality.
Wasabi & soy on the side, this is really poor and put me off returning to Umai Mi, period.
Umai Mi, 13 Grey’s Quarter Eldon Square, NE1 7AP
Options: salmon, tuna, both
Cost: £13.15
Nori
Nori on Acorn Road is more focused on ramen, but has poke as a summer special so you better be quick if you want it. Only available in a few variations, and with no further options, what you see is what you get. That said, everything is fresh enough. There were a few people having these when we were in so perhaps they might keep them on. While you’re here, the noodles and gyoza are worth a look, too.
Fair toppings, but nothing mind-blowing. The mango sriracha was a particular fave with a heat that builds and builds.
I really enjoyed it. There was maybe an excess of wakame salad on this bowl, but generally everything was well-prepped and light. Had it with some chicken karaage too, for balance 😅
Nori, 14 Acorn Rd, Jesmond, NE2 2DJ
Options: salmon, chicken, tofu
Cost: £12.15
Poké bowls haven’t quite made the mainstream in Newcastle but I’d imagine the central location of Island Poké does a lot to make them much more popular over the coming year. Where’s your pick? What do you like to see in them, and do you think any of these are really up to scratch? 🍚
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