Sushi rice is short-grain white rice that’s seasoned with vinegar after cooking. Theseasoning adds a gentle tang, and the grains cling together without turning mushy,which is why it’s the classic poke base. At Sweetfin it’s lightly seasoned and delicatelysticky, soft enough to let the protein and sauce lead, with just enough vinegar tobalance rich, bold flavors.

People often ask whether poke rice is the same as sushi rice. Not always. Many pokebowls use seasoned sushi rice, while others use plain steamed white rice. Sushi rice isthe most neutral of Sweetfin’s rice bases, so it works with almost everything. Salmonpairs well with black garlic gochujang or creamy togarashi, and tuna works withsavory miso sesame shoyu. Sweetfin’s own ingredient guide suggests a build of sushirice, Classic Tuna and mango, and the Classic Tuna Poke Bowl is a good place to start.

It’s worth knowing that sushi rice is white rice, so it isn’t a whole grain. If a whole grainis what you’re after, forbidden rice below is the better fit.

Bamboo rice at Sweetfin is short-grain white rice infused with bamboo extract. Theextract gives it a vibrant green color, a subtly sweet, aromatic flavor and an earthynote, with a soft, sticky texture. It has been on Sweetfin’s menu since the beginning,and its mild sweetness works well with brighter, citrus-forward sauces. In theSweetbox, the Spicy Tuna poke is served over bamboo rice, and the kids’ GrasshopperBowl uses it as a base too.

Bamboo rice is easy to confuse with something else. Bamboo plants flower rarely, andthe seeds they produce are called “bamboo rice” in parts of India and China. That’s aseparate grain, harvested from the plant. Sweetfin’s bamboo rice is regular short-grain rice infused with bamboo extract. Like sushi rice, it’s white rice, not a whole grain.Our guide to bamboo rice goes into more detail on what it is and how it’s used.

Forbidden rice, also called black rice, is a whole grain that cooks up deep purple, witha chewy bite and a nutty, slightly sweet flavor. Because it’s a whole grain, it keeps itsbran, and the bran is where the dark pigment sits. That color comes fromanthocyanins, the same family of pigments found in blueberries. Researchers atLouisiana State University who analyzed black rice bran reported anthocyanin levels comparable to blueberries and blackberries. That finding is about the bran itself, not a promise about any single bowl.

The name comes from an old story. In ancient China, the rice was said to be reservedfor nobles and forbidden to everyone else. Today anyone can order it, and at Sweetfinits heartier texture suits bolder proteins and sauces. It’s the base of the Spicy Chicken Grain Bowl, with grilled chicken, spicy garlic lemongrass ponzu, jalapeño and mint. Sweetfin’s ingredient guide also suggests pairing it with salmon, avocado, edamameand yuzu kosho.

Brown rice and forbidden rice are both whole grains, but forbidden rice gets its darkcolor from anthocyanin pigments and has a nuttier flavor. It’s chewier and firmer thansushi rice or bamboo rice. Our guide to forbidden rice poke bowls compares it withbrown rice and shows where it fits in a bowl.

Cauliflower rice is cauliflower chopped into rice-sized pieces and used in place ofgrain. At Sweetfin it’s a lighter, lower-carb alternative to traditional rice, and a clean,neutral base that lets the toppings and sauce take center stage. Because it’s avegetable, it’s much lower in carbohydrates than rice. USDA FoodData Central listsroughly 45 grams of carbohydrate in a cup of cooked white rice, compared with about5 grams in a cup of riced cauliflower.

It’s a good choice if you want a poke bowl without rice. It keeps a little texture withoutoverpowering the bowl, so it pairs easily with a lean protein like tuna and a sauce likemiso sesame shoyu, the sauce on the Classic Tuna Bowl. A lower-carb base is only onepart of the bowl, though. The protein, toppings and sauce you choose also affect thetotal, and Sweetfin’s nutrition binder lists every base, sauce and protein if you wantexact numbers. Our guides to poke bowl calories and gluten-free, vegan and keto options cover more.

Citrus kale salad is kale tossed with shaved red onion and lightly dressed forbrightness. At Sweetfin you can order it as a base for any B.Y.O.B. bowl, or as a fullerside with avocado, carrots, sesame seeds and pepitas added. You can see it on theCitrus Kale Salad menu page.

A leafy base makes a bowl feel fresher and lighter than rice, and kale holds itsstructure under sauce. Kale also belongs to the dark green vegetable group that the2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines highlight as part of a varied vegetable intake. YuzuSalmon over citrus kale salad has long been a signature pairing at Sweetfin, includingin the Sweetbox, and the Yuzu Salmon Poke Bowl is the place to see it. The side versioncontains sesame seeds, so check the allergy and dietary menu if you avoid sesame.

Kelp noodles are thin, translucent noodles made from kelp, a type of seaweed. They’recrunchy rather than soft, and their flavor is mild and neutral, so they take on whateverthey’re tossed with. Sweetfin’s Kelp Noodle Slaw combines them with carrots,cucumber and sesame seeds as a base, or as a fuller side with napa cabbage andcreamy sesame mayo. The menu lists kelp noodles, carrots, cucumbers, sesame seeds,napa cabbage, salt and sesame mayo, and it contains egg and sesame.

The result is a crisp, cool base with a gentle sesame richness, and it suits bold, saucybowls like spicy tuna or gochujang salmon, where the crunch balances the heat.Sweetfin describes it as a low-calorie noodle alternative. Our guide to kelp noodles and ocean vegetables explains how they work in a bowl.

One note: kelp is a brown seaweed, and brown seaweeds are among the richestnatural sources of iodine. A study of commercially available seaweeds found iodinelevels ranging from very low to extremely high depending on the species and product.If you’ve been advised to watch your iodine intake, for example because of a thyroidcondition, it’s worth asking your doctor before making kelp a regular choice.