A Taste of the Islands in the QC: Poke Bowls

The first time I tried sushi was in Hawaii, so I’m not surprised by the fact that the first time I was introduced to poke, it was with a friend who was living in Hawaii. She had traveled back to the mainland to meet up with me for a long weekend, and as we were walking through an urban food market, she pointed out, “Oh, look! It’s poke!” 

As I peered into the kiosk and saw containers of ingredients like sushi-grade ahi tuna, rice, ginger, cucumber, edamame, other fresh vegetables, fruits, and sauces, my friend explained that a poke (pronounced “poe-kay”) bowl is a popular Hawaiian dish. It’s heavily influenced by Japanese cuisine, and poke means “to cut into pieces.” 

Whether you’re new to poke or love it already, there’s no need to hop on 10-hour flight to Hawaii or hassle with the traffic toward a bigger urban area. Instead, fast-track your tastebuds to the islands with a delightful poke bowl right here in the QC.

Eddy’s Snackbar: Offers a ton of ingredients to build your own poke. I change it up every time and have yet to find a combo that didn’t work. If ordering online for pick-up, the poke bowl is listed under build-your-own sushi burrito (which is also delicious). 

Cavort QC: While there are lots of fun hints-of-the-tropics on Cavort’s menu, the poke bowl will transport you to the islands, for sure. For more about Cavort, read about Meghan’s visit.

Raw: The freshest sushi-grade fish found right here in the QC (the fresh fruit cocktails are also TDF). Raw’s poke bowl is perfection, and the presentation matches the taste - every dish and cocktail here is worthy of real estate on your Instagram grid.

Monarch: The Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl comes in a half and a whole size, with just the right amount of heat. Bonus recommendation: order the shistoso peppers as an appetizer. It’s the perfect palate starter for poke.

The Foundry: When I’m in the mood for a poke bowl, but my husband wants a burger, this is our go-to compromise. The giant menu means that your dining companions have lots of options if they’re not into sushi/sashimi style fish.

Jennie’s Boxcar: Currently offering a poke bowl as a special, but the owner’s sister Nikki has suggested that it will stay for all of Lent/through mid-April - so don’t sleep on this one! I devoured the poke bowl for lunch and immediately wanted to come back the next day.

Fresh Thyme (grocery store): And finally, if you’re looking for an on-the-go option, Fresh Thyme has pre-made poke bowls in the deli section. You can also buy marinated “poke style” ahi tuna at the fish counter for making your own customized bowl at home.

Written by Catherine Petersen

Catherine Petersen grew up in Central Illinois, but the Quad Cities has been home since 2007. She is an assistant professor of English and Literature at Clinton Community College, one of the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. With her husband, Andrew, and two young daughters, she lives near the Village of East Davenport in a 100+ year-old home. Together, they love exploring the Quad Cities arts, music, culture, history, and food experiences.