WITH ITS GORGEOUS BLOND-WOOD INTERIOR, CELEBRITY CHEF AFFILIATION (TOP CHEF ALUM DAKOTA WEISS) AND STYLISH CLIENTELE, THIS SANTA MONICA POKE RESTAURANT WOULD BE AS MUCH AT HOME IN THE PAGES OF VOGUE AS BON APPETIT.
WHAT'S BEHIND THE WILD RISE OF POKĂ IN LOS ANGELES
When word spread in January that Poke Poke, the Venice boardwalk storefront that in 2010 launched L.A.âs love affair with poke, had closed, many wondered if the cityâs obsession with the raw fish bowls was abating. But what seemed to be the beginning of the end for poke looks more likeâŠ
WHAT IS A POKE BOWL, ANYWAY? A CHEF BREAKS DOWN THE FOOD TREND
Youâve probably seen poke bowls on social media, overheard the buzz, or seen them on menus IRL. (Psst ⊠itâs pronounced âPOH-keh.â) You may even live in a city where poke shops are popping up faster than build-your-own burrito bars ever did.
The traditional Hawaiian dish, poke (pronounced POH-kay) has become one of the fastest growing food trends in recent years. It first blew up in LA but has rapidly spread to major cities across the country via fast-casual chains.
At peak poke times the lines can get long at this Santa Monica hotspot, with Sweetfin locations in DTLA, Silver Lake, Larchmont, and Westwood Village. But if youâre willing to wait, youâll be rewarded with one of the best of the new school bowls in L.A.