Poke Poke Starts Slinging the Hawaiian Fish Dish Today

The Venice Beach-based Poke Poke is making its Austin debut today, dishing out the fast-casual fish dish with a soft open on South Congress. For now, a shorter version of the menu, which means some poke bowls, will be available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day this week. Update, July 30: Poke Poke is now open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Poke Poke is known for build-your-own poke bowls, with a few set options already. There’s the original made with ahi tuna, shoyu, sesame oil, various onions, and sesame seeds, or the mega-spicy JT's bowl loaded with chili oil, jalapenos, Sriracha, sambal, and crushed red peppers. Other non-fish items on the menu acai bowls and shaved ice.

This is the California walk-up counter's first brick and mortar, and second ever location. Tish and Jason McVearry, Poke's co-founders, opened the original boardwalk stand in 2010. Before opening, they tested out the poke waters with a preview cart during the PGA World Golf Tournament in March.

Poke’s Austin spot is located at 3100 South Congress, across the way from St. Edwards. This address used to be the home of an Amy's Ice Cream location, which shuttered last fall.

Austin got another poke place last month with the opening of Ola Poke, which also includes other Hawaiian dishes like loco moco and musubi.

• Poke Poke [Facebook]
• Poke Poke Brings the Trendy Fast-Casual Dish to Austin [EATX]
• The Most Anticipated Austin Restaurant Openings, Summer 2016 [EATX]
• Can Poke Be the Next Fast-Casual Trend? [E]