Where Locals Go to Eat Poké in Chicago

The following piece was originally written by Kari Herrera for MODE.com. Read the full article here.

Has Ramen officially been dethroned? A new Japanese-influenced dish is reigning king on IG feeds throughout Chicago. Poké is the “it” girl for health conscious foodies and this Hawaiian seafood salad isn’t going anywhere soon. Here’s a nice, neat list of where to find the best fresh fish in Chicago.

Where to find Poké in Chicago

Buzz Bait (Old Town) — You’ll realize soon that Buzz Bait Taqueria is a seafood restaurant masquerading as a taco joint. The owners behind Lou Malnati’s and Kamehachi, along with a few of their culinarily gifted associates, each built a taco for the menu. The Sweet and Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke Taco steals the show, in my opinion.

Buzz Bait: 1529 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 664-2899

Aloha Poké (West Loop) — Prepare to wait in line up to an hour for a small bowl of pricey poké at this newbie. Depending on your tolerance for tourists and hipsters, it may be worth it. Some say Aloha introduced The Chi to poké. Bowls are stuffed with your choice of everything from cucumber and jalapenos to pineapples and Maui onions.

Aloha Poké: 131 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661
Phone: (312) 877-5336

FireFin Poké Shop (Loop) — Wherever folks are going mad for a particular cuisine, Michelin star rated chef Shin Thompson must be in the kitchen. Branching off from Furious Spoon, my fave Ramen in the city, he’s joined a team of people passionate about poké to form FireFin. I suggest trying the Tuna on Fire, purple rice buried under layers of tuna, jalapenos, avocados, cucumbers, and fire sauce.

FireFin: 10 S La Salle St, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 754-0609

Mahalo (Wicker Park) — It’s all in the name. Stepping into Mahalo is like stepping onto the beaches of Hawaii, drink in hand, and freshly caught fish on a plate. Hang loose on the roof and enjoy each bite to the sound of waves — er, traffic— below.

Mahalo: 1501 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: (708) 328-3091

All photos taken for the respective restaurant’s website. The following piece was originally written by Kari Herrera for MODE.com. For the full list of seven restaurants, click here.