Just had an incredible meal experience from Sam Choy's Poke to the Max in Redmond, and it's definitely worth sharing. I went for the Maui Bundle, and it did not disappoint! Food: The Maui Bundle was a delightful discovery, consisting of crispy katsu chicken, sweet garlic chicken, and perfectly steamed rice. Each component of the meal stood out for its flavor. The katsu chicken was crisped to perfection, providing a satisfying crunch with each bite. The sweet garlic chicken was a flavor explosion, balancing sweetness and garlic wonderfully without overwhelming the palate. Remarkably, the dishes weren't salty or heavy, which is a pleasant departure from what one might expect from such flavorful fare. The steamed rice served as the perfect base, complementing the meal's rich flavors without competing for attention. Service: Service was quick and the staff was friendly, making the overall experience even better. The food felt like it was prepared with care, and the flavors were a testament to the quality ingredients used. Ambiance: N/A Didn't dine in due to the parking situation, so I can't comment on the ambiance inside. However, the efficiency of their takeout service deserves praise. Parking: The only downside of my visit was the parking. Finding a spot was a bit of a challenge, as the area seems to have limited parking options. It's probably a good idea to opt for takeout or delivery if you're not up for the parking hunt. Overall: Despite the parking hiccup, Sam Choy's Poke to the Max in Redmond is a must-try for anyone in the area craving Hawaiian-inspired eats. The Maui Bundle, in particular, is a meal that I'll be coming back for. Whether you're a fan of katsu chicken, looking for something sweet and garlicky, or just in the mood for a well-rounded meal that hits all the right notes, this place has got you covered. Just remember, consider ordering to go to skip the parking hassle!
Wayne K.
This place is a gem! Loved the Korean fried chicken meal. Reminded me of Zippy's in the best of ways! Their take on spam musubi is pretty special too. So glad this place exists in Redmond!
Rachel K.
This place is the closest to Hawai'i poke that I've had on this side of the Pacific! Most places load up on the toppings but with the classic Hawaiian-style poke you get the best flavor with the fresh ahi & salmon. My family will definitely be frequent visitors!
Martin Sleeman
There are many other better poke places in Redmond that are more worthy of your businessThe parking is a bit challenging and the ordering process is thru a tablet and not talking to a human. That lead to me not knowing that what I ordered was pretty spicy..
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Huong L.
This is my first time being to this location but not the first to Sam choy. I been to Sam Choy many many years ago and thought it was average and I still think it's average today. This location is small and clean and street parking is available. We went because it was their 10 year anniversary and they were having a promotion where most of their items are $10. We were able to order online with the promotion which was nice. And food came pretty much on time. It wasn't super busy to be honest. Food wise: Bento -- this came with some katsu chicken, rice, Mac salad and an option of kalua pork or beef short ribs. We got the kalua pork. The portion is hefty but I would expect that since it normally cost around $19. Everything was ok but the kalua pork was super dry, like it was hard for me to swallow... Shrimp tempura musubi -- for $18, not worth it at all. The flavor was good if you can get some of the shrimp, otherwise it's literally all rice. I got one but with shrimp but the rest was just white rice. If they can add more shrimp, it would have been good. Poke plate -- my husband was actually disappointed with the other two dishes and had to go back to get this one to see if the poke was decent. Out of the 3 dishes, this was probably the best. It wasn't dry, it was flavorful and I definitely like the seaweed salad. Overall, probably not coming back any time soon, but if I do, I probably will stick to poke.
Vladyslav Fesenko
This place deserves more than 3.2. I’d give it 4.5 overall rating, it’s a decent poke for around the same price as any other place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matson Fowler
To preface, my girlfriend has a shellfish allergy. We always take precaution before ordering anything from a restaurant that serves shellfish. I was ensured by three staff members, two of which were in the kitchen, that the food we ordered would be safe. The restaurant has an excellent safety rating, so we decided to eat here, and she ordered a poke bowl with ahi. We asked about ingredients, possible shared surfaces, etc. Nearly immediately, she had an allergic reaction, and we ended up calling 911. Thankfully, she was okay, but only after a scary few minutes. Although it was not intentional, this is something the workers should be cognizant of, as failures in this area are very serious.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Alexander Lorenzen
Good food, but overpriced, no service and take out containers only.Whoever opened this place made a terrible mistake in choosing this location. It’s too small. The kitchen takes up most of the space and what is left for seating only has high stools against the window and a small table or two.Although you can technically dine in here, the place isn’t really set up for this. There are no real plates or bowls and all food comes in a take out container that the person working there gives to you at the counter in a bag. They also ask for a tip starting at 18%. I’m sorry, but that is not service that warrants a tip.Meals here are pretty expensive at around $20 each and although the food itself is good, having all of it unceremoniously crammed into a small take out container whether you are eating there or taking it home is a big minus. Also, the take out containers are small, narrow and deep and with the very small tables and chairs it’s impossible to eat it without making a huge mess.Even if they want to stick with takeout containers they could at least get wider and rounder ones I see elsewhere that are easier and less messy to eat out of. Last time I was there I got Chef Choy’s Bento Box, which… Does not come in a bento box… It has all the ingredients shoved in the same take out box everything else comes in. I’ve had plenty of cheap takeout bento boxes elsewhere. Why can’t they get those?Besides being small and cramped, the eating area is just grey concrete, white drywall and metal. Just like the bathroom, but with less comfortable seating. The only thing they do to give the place some proper ambiance is playing Hawaiian music on some speakers. It helps.The menu items here are not customisable and they don’t provide any condiments that you usually see in a place like this such as the big bottles of teriyaki sauce, spicy mayo or anything like that you might want to add to the plain white rice everything here comes with.So yeah, I wouldn’t recommend dining in this place, but the high prices don’t really make this place a great take out option either. It seems silly that they are paying for this prime location in downtown Redmond and went through the trouble of getting a liquor license only to have the place be too small for people to eat inside. I walk past this place all the time and I almost never see any one in there.I feel this places greatest failing is that it’s trying to be a higher quality, more upscale and therefore pricier version of the other poke places in town, but they’re delivering their product, which is good, in the crudest manner possible. Eating $25 worth of raw salmon out of a plastic cup while sitting on a stool just seems wrong.There are maybe 20 small seats and stools in the place and if they got rid of those and had just a couple real tables and chairs instead, had big bottles of teriyaki sauce and spicy mayo on hand and some cheesy Hawaiian decorations around, and served me their food on a tray I would gladly pay the full price, tip and maybe even buy a beer or two. Who knows, I might even bring some friends.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Kalua Pork, Chef Choy's Bento Box
Filipp P.
Very expensive, no customer service. Zero explanation on what you're even ordering. I really liked the food truck, but this is far from decent.
Tai Sha
My first visit was pleasant. Easy to use self order and pay stations. The poke bowl I ordered had plenty of food and was made with delicious ingredients. I will be visiting again.
Worst poke I have ever tasted. They give you piping hot rice under cold poke. They get their Poke from costco, you'd be better off going there. I will never forget it the service either. Piss fucking poor. Pricing was ridiculous and of course it's family owned. Do not even attempt to go here. The menu is not customizable, and when you ask questions, you get horrible customer service. Leave Poke to the Hawaiians or Japanese. Absolutely disgraceful establishment.
Matt
I’ve come here 3 times during their posted business hours. All 3 times there was no one there even with the open sign on. Wouldve been nice to try it but not being open during established business hours is crazy.
H W.
I was really excited to see this poke shop open here. I ordered the poke salad and was greatly disappointed by what I paid for and the poor quality I got. The salad looked like they just opened a bagged salad (it didn't even look fresh...a lot of iceburg lettuce, which is cheap) and the few sprinkles of sliced carrots, as you can see on the top left of the salad, looked overdried and lifeless (again, from a bag). If you're going to use bagged greens, just don't make it low quality. At least use a bag of mixed greens. The 2 slices of tomatoes and cucumbers were just added as an afterthought. The poke was ok. At least they were somewhat fresh. The sauce on the side was a thick mayonaise based sauce...too rich to spread on the salad. Just dipped it with my chopsticks here and there for little flavor. Oh, and they left out fresh chopped cilantro, which the description in the menu said would include. All in all, this salad was a disappointment for me. I will not be paying $16 for this salad again. I may come back to try the other Hawaiian dishes, but not anytime soon. For Poke, I will go somewhere else.
Benjamin Tremain
Good poke. I have had to avoid eating rice & corn. Sam Choy's Poke to the Max offers their customers some dishes without rice or corn as ingredients if you let them know you require it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daniel Hahm
Ordered the shrimp tempura musubi and fire cracker shrimp. Serious disappointment looks like the shrimp you buy from the Costco frozen section that is overly fried in oil and you reheat! Not worth your
Just had an incredible meal experience from Sam Choy's Poke to the Max in Redmond, and it's definitely worth sharing. I went for the Maui Bundle, and it did not disappoint! Food: The Maui Bundle was a delightful discovery, consisting of crispy katsu chicken, sweet garlic chicken, and perfectly steamed rice. Each component of the meal stood out for its flavor. The katsu chicken was crisped to perfection, providing a satisfying crunch with each bite. The sweet garlic chicken was a flavor explosion, balancing sweetness and garlic wonderfully without overwhelming the palate. Remarkably, the dishes weren't salty or heavy, which is a pleasant departure from what one might expect from such flavorful fare. The steamed rice served as the perfect base, complementing the meal's rich flavors without competing for attention. Service: Service was quick and the staff was friendly, making the overall experience even better. The food felt like it was prepared with care, and the flavors were a testament to the quality ingredients used. Ambiance: N/A Didn't dine in due to the parking situation, so I can't comment on the ambiance inside. However, the efficiency of their takeout service deserves praise. Parking: The only downside of my visit was the parking. Finding a spot was a bit of a challenge, as the area seems to have limited parking options. It's probably a good idea to opt for takeout or delivery if you're not up for the parking hunt. Overall: Despite the parking hiccup, Sam Choy's Poke to the Max in Redmond is a must-try for anyone in the area craving Hawaiian-inspired eats. The Maui Bundle, in particular, is a meal that I'll be coming back for. Whether you're a fan of katsu chicken, looking for something sweet and garlicky, or just in the mood for a well-rounded meal that hits all the right notes, this place has got you covered. Just remember, consider ordering to go to skip the parking hassle!
This place is a gem! Loved the Korean fried chicken meal. Reminded me of Zippy's in the best of ways! Their take on spam musubi is pretty special too. So glad this place exists in Redmond!
This place is the closest to Hawai'i poke that I've had on this side of the Pacific! Most places load up on the toppings but with the classic Hawaiian-style poke you get the best flavor with the fresh ahi & salmon. My family will definitely be frequent visitors!
There are many other better poke places in Redmond that are more worthy of your businessThe parking is a bit challenging and the ordering process is thru a tablet and not talking to a human. That lead to me not knowing that what I ordered was pretty spicy..
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
This is my first time being to this location but not the first to Sam choy. I been to Sam Choy many many years ago and thought it was average and I still think it's average today. This location is small and clean and street parking is available. We went because it was their 10 year anniversary and they were having a promotion where most of their items are $10. We were able to order online with the promotion which was nice. And food came pretty much on time. It wasn't super busy to be honest. Food wise: Bento -- this came with some katsu chicken, rice, Mac salad and an option of kalua pork or beef short ribs. We got the kalua pork. The portion is hefty but I would expect that since it normally cost around $19. Everything was ok but the kalua pork was super dry, like it was hard for me to swallow... Shrimp tempura musubi -- for $18, not worth it at all. The flavor was good if you can get some of the shrimp, otherwise it's literally all rice. I got one but with shrimp but the rest was just white rice. If they can add more shrimp, it would have been good. Poke plate -- my husband was actually disappointed with the other two dishes and had to go back to get this one to see if the poke was decent. Out of the 3 dishes, this was probably the best. It wasn't dry, it was flavorful and I definitely like the seaweed salad. Overall, probably not coming back any time soon, but if I do, I probably will stick to poke.
This place deserves more than 3.2. I’d give it 4.5 overall rating, it’s a decent poke for around the same price as any other place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
To preface, my girlfriend has a shellfish allergy. We always take precaution before ordering anything from a restaurant that serves shellfish. I was ensured by three staff members, two of which were in the kitchen, that the food we ordered would be safe. The restaurant has an excellent safety rating, so we decided to eat here, and she ordered a poke bowl with ahi. We asked about ingredients, possible shared surfaces, etc. Nearly immediately, she had an allergic reaction, and we ended up calling 911. Thankfully, she was okay, but only after a scary few minutes. Although it was not intentional, this is something the workers should be cognizant of, as failures in this area are very serious.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Good food, but overpriced, no service and take out containers only.Whoever opened this place made a terrible mistake in choosing this location. It’s too small. The kitchen takes up most of the space and what is left for seating only has high stools against the window and a small table or two.Although you can technically dine in here, the place isn’t really set up for this. There are no real plates or bowls and all food comes in a take out container that the person working there gives to you at the counter in a bag. They also ask for a tip starting at 18%. I’m sorry, but that is not service that warrants a tip.Meals here are pretty expensive at around $20 each and although the food itself is good, having all of it unceremoniously crammed into a small take out container whether you are eating there or taking it home is a big minus. Also, the take out containers are small, narrow and deep and with the very small tables and chairs it’s impossible to eat it without making a huge mess.Even if they want to stick with takeout containers they could at least get wider and rounder ones I see elsewhere that are easier and less messy to eat out of. Last time I was there I got Chef Choy’s Bento Box, which… Does not come in a bento box… It has all the ingredients shoved in the same take out box everything else comes in. I’ve had plenty of cheap takeout bento boxes elsewhere. Why can’t they get those?Besides being small and cramped, the eating area is just grey concrete, white drywall and metal. Just like the bathroom, but with less comfortable seating. The only thing they do to give the place some proper ambiance is playing Hawaiian music on some speakers. It helps.The menu items here are not customisable and they don’t provide any condiments that you usually see in a place like this such as the big bottles of teriyaki sauce, spicy mayo or anything like that you might want to add to the plain white rice everything here comes with.So yeah, I wouldn’t recommend dining in this place, but the high prices don’t really make this place a great take out option either. It seems silly that they are paying for this prime location in downtown Redmond and went through the trouble of getting a liquor license only to have the place be too small for people to eat inside. I walk past this place all the time and I almost never see any one in there.I feel this places greatest failing is that it’s trying to be a higher quality, more upscale and therefore pricier version of the other poke places in town, but they’re delivering their product, which is good, in the crudest manner possible. Eating $25 worth of raw salmon out of a plastic cup while sitting on a stool just seems wrong.There are maybe 20 small seats and stools in the place and if they got rid of those and had just a couple real tables and chairs instead, had big bottles of teriyaki sauce and spicy mayo on hand and some cheesy Hawaiian decorations around, and served me their food on a tray I would gladly pay the full price, tip and maybe even buy a beer or two. Who knows, I might even bring some friends.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Kalua Pork, Chef Choy's Bento Box
Very expensive, no customer service. Zero explanation on what you're even ordering. I really liked the food truck, but this is far from decent.
My first visit was pleasant. Easy to use self order and pay stations. The poke bowl I ordered had plenty of food and was made with delicious ingredients. I will be visiting again.
Restaurantji Recommends
Worst poke I have ever tasted. They give you piping hot rice under cold poke. They get their Poke from costco, you'd be better off going there. I will never forget it the service either. Piss fucking poor. Pricing was ridiculous and of course it's family owned. Do not even attempt to go here. The menu is not customizable, and when you ask questions, you get horrible customer service. Leave Poke to the Hawaiians or Japanese. Absolutely disgraceful establishment.
I’ve come here 3 times during their posted business hours. All 3 times there was no one there even with the open sign on. Wouldve been nice to try it but not being open during established business hours is crazy.
I was really excited to see this poke shop open here. I ordered the poke salad and was greatly disappointed by what I paid for and the poor quality I got. The salad looked like they just opened a bagged salad (it didn't even look fresh...a lot of iceburg lettuce, which is cheap) and the few sprinkles of sliced carrots, as you can see on the top left of the salad, looked overdried and lifeless (again, from a bag). If you're going to use bagged greens, just don't make it low quality. At least use a bag of mixed greens. The 2 slices of tomatoes and cucumbers were just added as an afterthought. The poke was ok. At least they were somewhat fresh. The sauce on the side was a thick mayonaise based sauce...too rich to spread on the salad. Just dipped it with my chopsticks here and there for little flavor. Oh, and they left out fresh chopped cilantro, which the description in the menu said would include. All in all, this salad was a disappointment for me. I will not be paying $16 for this salad again. I may come back to try the other Hawaiian dishes, but not anytime soon. For Poke, I will go somewhere else.
Good poke. I have had to avoid eating rice & corn. Sam Choy's Poke to the Max offers their customers some dishes without rice or corn as ingredients if you let them know you require it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ordered the shrimp tempura musubi and fire cracker shrimp. Serious disappointment looks like the shrimp you buy from the Costco frozen section that is overly fried in oil and you reheat! Not worth your
Food: 1