of proteins, grains, sauces, and more are nearly endless.
“Why limit the choices?”
As I look down the seemingly endless row of meticulously organized proteins, salads, toppings, sauces, and even fruits ready to be crafted into the perfect bowl, this ethos from PokeMee’s co-owner and manager Chris Nguyen rings so true. This new fast-casual, Hawaiian-style poké restaurant in Goleta offers something to please every type of poké palate. Explained Nguyen, who opened the restaurant with co-owner David Chen, “It’s a nice alternative to your burgers, pizza, and sandwiches.”
The build-your-own-bowl concept starts with a base of white rice, brown rice, superbly flavorful sticky sushi rice, or salad greens. Then you load a variety of proteins (three scoops for a regular, five for a large), such as spicy tuna, salmon, yellowtail, octopus, or tofu. Sides and toppings include crabmeat, avocado, seaweed salad, masago (fish roe), pineapple, and garlic chips, to name a few. Then, as if the bowl weren’t individualized enough, the sauce selection takes the PokeMee bowl to a new level of taste. Said Nguyen, “In any type of food, sauce is the something that ties everything together.”