First time here in years! I remember coming for their grand opening and back when they introduced their Hawaiian plates! Had a decent poke bowl (I built my own mini guy). I will say their portions were less than what I remembered from my first impressions. My bowl came to $14.18 including tax, which had a base, a sauce, 1 protein option (you pay by the scoop and my salmon was $3), 3 sides, and 1 crunch. It's drastically different compared to say, Steve's Poke Bar, where you can choose unlimited sides for a similar price. I always find it odd when a poke shop limits customers' number of "crunches" as the cost must be so minor to produce - items like furikake, fried onions, fried garlic, sesame seeds, etc. It would go a long way to allow people to have more than one as a topper. The sesame mayo sauce was great and I was told it didn't have dairy (milk/eggs) in it. I had the shoyu Atlantic salmon, with corn, edamame, and imitation crab.
On the plus side, the staff were kind and patient as I ordered. I was asking about items with gluten/dairy due to a sensitivity, and they seemed to know their menu. They get quite a few online orders through delivery apps, as most people during a weekday lunch hour took their food to-go.
Bradley Clark
I took my 5 star review to 3. - 6 years later. After years and 100s of Poke Bowls, something changed - the quality and quantity have radically changed recently. I wrote an email directly to them, after ordering delivery, but never heard back.
Hope things pick up, otherwise I'll be looking for a new Poke place.
Food: 3
Penny Rusty Sophie
Well, it's been a hot minute since we last visited The Poke Guy (2016 to be exact). Truth is we try to avoid downtown nowadays. Depending on which way you're coming from, the streets can get a bit sketch. This is a busy place tho and seemed to pick up just after we arrived.
The reason why we came is because we recall this place having a more authentic version of poke compared to the other poke bowl places in Vancouver. We ordered Da Traditional ($21.5) which comes with 4 scoops of poke on rice or salad. We picked the spicy mayo salmon, spicy mayo scallop, shoyu ahi tuna, and shoyu salmon. Good poke but I do miss the poke we get in Hawaii... something about that limu seaweed and sweet onions over there that's magical. I feel like the scoops seem smaller than when we visited here before (shrinkflation?) and the poke pieces seem chopped a bit finer which doesn't give you a chance to appreciate the texture as well.
They also have hot dishes here now so we tried the Huli Chicken Bowl on rice ($15.95) and the Maui Ribs on rice ($18.95) along witha tasty Hawaiian Fruit Tea ($6). The ribs were good... they had a bold teriyaki-like flavor. Thought the chicken could use more sauce tho.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Anj S
This poke bowl spot absolutely doesn't have value for money, limited number of scoops for each size - only 3 for small and 5 for medium including even seasoning and sauce capped at two. Almost every topping you would like also is charged extra - be it pineapples or a protein. We were too hungry so caved to ordering it and realising this mid way. You are better off going to other poke stores than being charged for every little thing and mainly eating Quinoa for 18 bucks, and overall average quality taste while the appearance is pretty good, don't get disappointed
Vegetarian options: Customizable - tofu is a protein option, you can get without too
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
dojima
Portion sizes way smaller than they used to be but same price and less toppings for large, still tasty though
Brenda
**Updated on Jan2, 2025**
I came here on December 19th just to get a birthday discount. I ordered Da Classic ($17.95) with miso soup ($1). Everything was great until there were extra charge to put more veggies and toppings (like bonito flakes and fried onion).
They used to be so generous if I wanted Furikake or other toppings and veggies. I regretted getting miso soup it was so salty. Poke bowl itself tasted delicious and healthy. I was happy to use $5 discount.
Victoria Lim
Pretty fresh but not a super big portion! Was still yummy tho! #
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Tom Walsh
Portion sizes were good for the $$. Good recommendations by staff. Everything was fresh … quick and easy !!!
Hawaiian Tea was nice & not too sweet !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ribs
Vanessa Melina Cuentas Cordova
Dietary restrictions: It’s amazing how they are constantly taking care if someone is allergic to any ingredient before serving: gluten free, allergic to onions, tomatoes and so on. My cousin said he didn’t want onions in his bowl and they asked if there was any allergy because the fish had onions but he just didn’t want the crispy onions. Very mindful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kalua Pork, Da Classic, Spam Musubi, Big Guy Bowl Make Your Own
We had the island ribs and Maui beef short ribs on brown rice - the former was fantastic, but the latter was on the salty side. I think it may have been too much sauce?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
C Alex
Went here for lunch during the week. I enjoyed my bowl. I got the 'big guy' bowl with ahi tuna. They have tons of different options to build your own custom bowl or they have some pre-selected options as well. The ordering process is a bit rushed especially if it's your first time ordering a custom bowl. While polite, the employees were rushing me to make all my choices and get on to the next guest - there are lots of options. Base options (white/brown rice, salad or a mix), regular toppings, premium toppings (extra $), protein options that you pay for by the scoop, sauce options and then topper options.
The bowl was very good although when all was said and done it was $25 (I added avocado and 2 scoops of protein). I will try again but will definitely try something different given there are so many options.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tuna, Build Your Own Big Guy Poke Bowl, Ahi, Salad, Big Guy Bowl Make Your Own
Michelle Katona
Very nice people, and a lot of good options for food! I got the classic fuego bowl which is really not that spicy but still good all the same. 10/10 would recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jina S
Always consistent and friendly efficient staff :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna
quinn
Easily my favourite place in Van. I stop here on all my work trips and am never disappointed!
Pretty good place for a good loco moco
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Loco Moco Rice Bowl
First time here in years! I remember coming for their grand opening and back when they introduced their Hawaiian plates! Had a decent poke bowl (I built my own mini guy). I will say their portions were less than what I remembered from my first impressions. My bowl came to $14.18 including tax, which had a base, a sauce, 1 protein option (you pay by the scoop and my salmon was $3), 3 sides, and 1 crunch. It's drastically different compared to say, Steve's Poke Bar, where you can choose unlimited sides for a similar price. I always find it odd when a poke shop limits customers' number of "crunches" as the cost must be so minor to produce - items like furikake, fried onions, fried garlic, sesame seeds, etc. It would go a long way to allow people to have more than one as a topper. The sesame mayo sauce was great and I was told it didn't have dairy (milk/eggs) in it. I had the shoyu Atlantic salmon, with corn, edamame, and imitation crab.
On the plus side, the staff were kind and patient as I ordered. I was asking about items with gluten/dairy due to a sensitivity, and they seemed to know their menu. They get quite a few online orders through delivery apps, as most people during a weekday lunch hour took their food to-go.
I took my 5 star review to 3. - 6 years later. After years and 100s of Poke Bowls, something changed - the quality and quantity have radically changed recently. I wrote an email directly to them, after ordering delivery, but never heard back.
Hope things pick up, otherwise I'll be looking for a new Poke place.
Food: 3
Well, it's been a hot minute since we last visited The Poke Guy (2016 to be exact). Truth is we try to avoid downtown nowadays. Depending on which way you're coming from, the streets can get a bit sketch. This is a busy place tho and seemed to pick up just after we arrived.
The reason why we came is because we recall this place having a more authentic version of poke compared to the other poke bowl places in Vancouver. We ordered Da Traditional ($21.5) which comes with 4 scoops of poke on rice or salad. We picked the spicy mayo salmon, spicy mayo scallop, shoyu ahi tuna, and shoyu salmon. Good poke but I do miss the poke we get in Hawaii... something about that limu seaweed and sweet onions over there that's magical. I feel like the scoops seem smaller than when we visited here before (shrinkflation?) and the poke pieces seem chopped a bit finer which doesn't give you a chance to appreciate the texture as well.
They also have hot dishes here now so we tried the Huli Chicken Bowl on rice ($15.95) and the Maui Ribs on rice ($18.95) along witha tasty Hawaiian Fruit Tea ($6). The ribs were good... they had a bold teriyaki-like flavor. Thought the chicken could use more sauce tho.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
This poke bowl spot absolutely doesn't have value for money, limited number of scoops for each size - only 3 for small and 5 for medium including even seasoning and sauce capped at two. Almost every topping you would like also is charged extra - be it pineapples or a protein. We were too hungry so caved to ordering it and realising this mid way. You are better off going to other poke stores than being charged for every little thing and mainly eating Quinoa for 18 bucks, and overall average quality taste while the appearance is pretty good, don't get disappointed
Vegetarian options: Customizable - tofu is a protein option, you can get without too
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Portion sizes way smaller than they used to be but same price and less toppings for large, still tasty though
**Updated on Jan2, 2025**
I came here on December 19th just to get a birthday discount. I ordered Da Classic ($17.95) with miso soup ($1). Everything was great until there were extra charge to put more veggies and toppings (like bonito flakes and fried onion).
They used to be so generous if I wanted Furikake or other toppings and veggies. I regretted getting miso soup it was so salty. Poke bowl itself tasted delicious and healthy. I was happy to use $5 discount.
Pretty fresh but not a super big portion! Was still yummy tho! #
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Portion sizes were good for the $$. Good recommendations by staff. Everything was fresh … quick and easy !!!
Hawaiian Tea was nice & not too sweet !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ribs
Dietary restrictions: It’s amazing how they are constantly taking care if someone is allergic to any ingredient before serving: gluten free, allergic to onions, tomatoes and so on. My cousin said he didn’t want onions in his bowl and they asked if there was any allergy because the fish had onions but he just didn’t want the crispy onions. Very mindful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kalua Pork, Da Classic, Spam Musubi, Big Guy Bowl Make Your Own
Restaurantji Recommends
We had the island ribs and Maui beef short ribs on brown rice - the former was fantastic, but the latter was on the salty side. I think it may have been too much sauce?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Went here for lunch during the week. I enjoyed my bowl. I got the 'big guy' bowl with ahi tuna. They have tons of different options to build your own custom bowl or they have some pre-selected options as well. The ordering process is a bit rushed especially if it's your first time ordering a custom bowl. While polite, the employees were rushing me to make all my choices and get on to the next guest - there are lots of options. Base options (white/brown rice, salad or a mix), regular toppings, premium toppings (extra $), protein options that you pay for by the scoop, sauce options and then topper options.
The bowl was very good although when all was said and done it was $25 (I added avocado and 2 scoops of protein). I will try again but will definitely try something different given there are so many options.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tuna, Build Your Own Big Guy Poke Bowl, Ahi, Salad, Big Guy Bowl Make Your Own
Very nice people, and a lot of good options for food! I got the classic fuego bowl which is really not that spicy but still good all the same. 10/10 would recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always consistent and friendly efficient staff :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna
Easily my favourite place in Van. I stop here on all my work trips and am never disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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