Overview: Poké Chop
A fresh, nutritious meal that originated in Hawaii, poké is now a global sensation.
San Diego has always shared a kinship with Hawaii: the warm climate, the bounty of fresh seafood, the pull of ocean waves, the “aloha spirit” — and, of course, a shared love of food.
If you’re craving sunshine in a bowl, Poké Chop delivers Hawaiian-inspired flavors that are as fresh and colorful as San Diego’s coastline.
Poké Chop on Mission Gorge Road is the newest of the four locations in San Diego. Pacific Beach, Encinitas, and Hillcrest are the other three.
Poké, which has become a go-to choice for fresh, feel-good dining, originated in Hawai’i, where seafood is plentiful, and ingredients are grown and harvested from local gardens.
Once a humble Hawaiian dish, poké is now a global sensation — and San Diego is doing its best to bring the island flavors to our city.
At Poké Chop, it’s best to have a game plan. There’s a lot to decide on.
First, you start by choosing your base: salad, sushi rice, brown rice, or burrito. Then you choose your sides with choices such as edamame, seaweed salad, or avocado.
After that, you choose your protein. This varies with the local catches, but generally includes tuna (regular, seared, or spicy), scallops, seared albacore, and salmon. Drizzle that with sauces such as citrus ponzu, jalapeno wasabi, spicy mayo, or thai chili.
Chicken Katsu is one of your options. (Photo by Robin Dohrn-Simpson)
If your brain hasn’t scrambled from all these options, next comes your mixes with many more options like green onion, daikon radish, cilantro, or sautéed bell peppers.
Finally come the toppings. Choose from a selection that includes — but is not limited to — crispy garlic or onion, wonton chips, or Hawaiian sea salt.
Not in the poké mood?
There are other dishes offered, such as chicken katsu, garlic shrimp, Spam and eggs, beef curry, and hamachi collar (the flavorful collar of the yellowtail fish, known for its rich, buttery meat).
As a bonus, poké is highly nutritious.
It is a low-calorie, high-protein meal rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which can lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and decrease inflammation. It is a meal that leaves the diner satisfied, not bloated or too full.
With every fresh bite, Poké Chop brings a touch of aloha to San Diego.
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