The Best Poke in Montreal: Our suggestions
The popularity of raw fish has been seen in sashimi, sushi, carpaccio, tartare, and now it is gaining popularity with poke. Pronounced “po-ké”, this dish consisting of delicious raw fish is offered in several Montreal establishments. Given poke’s merited popularity, we’ve prepared a list of the best in Montreal to help you.
According to the Hawaiian dictionary, poke means “to slice or dice”. It is a traditional Hawaiian dish that has been adopted by many places. First in Los Angeles, then elsewhere in the United States, Europe and now Canada. The classic Hawaiian dish has been transformed into healthy fast food. The story goes that the dish originated as a fisherman’s snack, where they would dice up the fish from their fishing trips. The poke as we know it today likely gained popularity in the 70s. Nowadays, rice and all sorts of related ingredients are added.
Poke is usually made with yellowfin tuna, but there are some variations with salmon, octopus or other raw fish or seafood. The side dishes have been influenced by Asian cuisine, mainly Japanese. Among the ingredients used, soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil, chili peppers, seaweed, salt, fish roe, wasabi, and others are most often used. “Poke is like deconstructed sushi,” explains Allen Mouradian, owner of Poké Bar.
Like many of our readers, we love poke! Fresh, tasty, and generally healthy, they’re a great option for a light lunch.
Here is our list of the best poke in Montreal:
LE CENTRAL
Kamehameha Snack-Bar is a Hawaiian snack-bar located in Le Central, offering some of the most beautiful pokés in Montreal! The menu was designed by Chef Phong Tach (also the chef of Red Tiger). Kamehameha serves light and quick dishes inspired by the surfing culture found in the northern part of Oahu Island. They offer several stunning and delicious pokés. The pokés at Kamehameha come in three formats: “poke”, “low tide”, or “high tide”, depending on whether you want the mix without rice, with a little rice, or with a lot of rice. Among our favorites are Waikiki and Hanauma Bay.
Montréal
Venice Mtl Vieux-Montreal
Venice MTL is a Californian-inspired restaurant that first opened its doors in Old Montreal. The establishment serves soups, salads, tartines, tacos and… pokes! Owner Charles Manceau explained to us that he fell in love with this dish for its simplicity and freshness. “The fishermen in Hawaii, as soon as they come back, they cut small cubes of fish and season them with soy sauce, lemon juice, sesame seeds, and they eat it. It’s very fresh and very good!” Here you can find tuna, salmon, shrimp and veggie pokes. There is also the possibility to enjoy it on a puffed rice cake. The fish is also marinated in tamari sauce to avoid gluten. Similarly prepared pokes are also available at the other Venice locations in Old Montreal and in Saint-Henri.
Montréal
Poke Honolulu Montréal
Their simple eight-seat counter in Montreal offers fast service and a great variety of poke bowls for all tastes. The recipes, largely inspired by their trip to Hawaii, also incorporate flavors from Vietnamese cuisine along with touches of their personal history.
Montréal
Maui Poke
Poke Maui, a branch from Villeray, has set up shop in Pointe-Saint-Charles, offering high-quality poke bowls in a colorful decor inspired by the island of Maui. With a particular focus on the quality of ingredients, the restaurant provides an authentic and tasty Hawaiian culinary experience.
Montréal
Le Blossom
You come here to enjoy temakis, sushis, sashimis, and poké bowls, crafted with top-quality ingredients. The experience wouldn’t be complete without exploring one of the largest selections of sake in the city, complemented by creative cocktails designed by Lawrence Picard. Behind this concept are Dan Pham, Viet, and Nam Truong, who envisioned a place where tradition and modernity come together seamlessly.
Montréal
