SSeriously, how much can we eat? For all the new poke shops opening up around O’ahu, it’s almost as if the poke trend that went around the world has picked up and spurred a new resurgence back home. Of note here are the number of locally owned poke shops that have been expanding in recent years, in addition to those that have opened since 2023 (see featured story below).
We lost Tamashiro Market, of course, as well as Fort Ruger Market and ‘Aiea’s Monarch Poke, which owner Adam Gilbert closed this year to open his new restaurant Fairway Tavern at the ‘Ewa Villages Golf Course. But neighborhoods like Salt Lake and Mapunapuna now have poke shops, and new spots have proliferated in the urban corridor.
SEE ALSO: Discover O’ahu’s 8 Newest Poke Shops
Photo: Mari Taketa
Ryou are Poke Shack
Opening near Ala Moana Center in May 2026
A mom-and-pop Kahuku that broke out after a segment on Netflix Street food: USARy’s Poke Shack opened its first location in the city near Ala Moana Center. Exclusives include the Foodxjitsu, shown here, of fresh ‘ahi with ginger, garlic, chile flakes, limu and ikura. Two other locations are in California; another opens there.
1232 Waimanu St., Ala Moana, ryspokeshack.com, @ryspokeshack
Photo: Courtesy of Shokudo’s Poke Stand
Poke Stand by Shokudo
It opened in Cocoa in January
The Westman Group’s foray into poke is aptly named. This is a roadside stop whose ‘ahi and tako poke creations, mixed to order, include nihon-style flavors like mentai mayo, yuzu ponzu and miso cream cheese. Sides include kimpira gobo and mac salad, there are bara chirashi and kaisen sushi bowls, and the rice is from The Rice Factory next door.
961 Kawaiah’ao St., Kaka’ako, @pokestandbyshokudo
Bakudan Poke
Opened in Kalihi in January 2026
Home of Baku’s inari pumps, three-choice poke bowls and five-choice salad, Bakudan opened amid Laakea Fish Co.’s fresh ‘ahi, redfin, nairagi, swordfish and Ora King salmon fillets. on Nimitz Road, not far from Alicia’s Market and Poke by the Pound.
1818 Kanakanui St., Kalihi, @bakudan_chef
Photo: Mari Taketa
Okome Tendon and Poke
Opened in Kaka’ako in December 2025
Okome is a branch of the poke and sushi joint of the same name in Kapolei. At Kaka’ako, poke bowls including spicy hamachi come with or without tempura and vice versa. The tempura is fried in beef tallow; Sushi rice balances the richness.
685 Auahi St., Kaka’ako, okomehawaii.com, @okome.at.salt
Mermaid Poke
Opened in Liliha in October 2025
On ‘ahi poke comes in flavors like spicy garlic crunch, creamy wasabi, and mac nut pesto aioli. Also find poke inari bombs, pokechos and poke plates at this stall inside Liliha’s new food court in the former Foodland space.
414 N. School St., Liliha, @mermaidpoke808
Souza’s fish house
Opened in Mapunapuna in August 2025
The online sashimi and chirashi shop specializing in fish flown in from Japan opened its first brick-and-mortar location last summer with an expanded menu that includes poke bowls and poke nachos.
852 Mapunapuna St., Mapunapuna, @souzasfishhouse
Domo Café
Opened at Pearl Kai in May 2025
This sushi and poke place may have closed in Chinatown, but last year it expanded with a second shop in ‘Aiea.
98-199 Kamehameha Highway, ‘Aiea, domocafehawaii.com, @domocafehawaii
Hard work 2
Opened in Kapahulu in May 2025
The Hawai’i Kai poke shop that won the 2025 King of Poke Fest favorite title expanded that year to a spot inside Hawai’i’s Best Kitchens next door to the original Rainbow Drive Inn. The new shop is also focused on poke, but with more bentos and local-style food, including Hawaiian dishes and cakes.
3111 Castle St., Kapahulu, @hanapaa2_kapahulu
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
K. Bay Bros too
Opening in Salt Lake in 2024
Kāne’ohe’s popular poke shop has expanded with a second store at Stadium Mall, where a similar line runs through the store and out the door at lunchtime. If you don’t like the raw stuff, ask for any heated bites, like the ginger ‘ahi pictured above.
4510 Salt Lake Blvd., Salt Lake, kbaybros.com, @kbaybros.too
Photo: Mari Taketa
Poke Paradise
Opening in Nu’uanu in 2021, Waikīkī in 2023, Pearl City in 2023, Hawai’i Kai in 2024
Multiple Poke Fest winner Frolic is, as far as we can tell, the biggest poke microchain on the island. The formula includes take-out snacks like edamame and pickled mango, kalbi and garlic shrimp dishes, and daily onigiri with separate fresh nori pods. And yes, Paradise’s first Poke Fest winner, truffle ‘ahi, is still in the cases.
Multiple locations, paradisepokenuuanu.com, @paradisepokehi
Mari Taketa is editor of Frolic Hawai’i and dining editor of HONOLULU Magazine.
