Pokérrito recently opened its doors on Dunsmuir Street (at Richards) offering a fresh food trend that’s gaining popularity. Poké (pronounced poe-kay), is a raw fish salad traditionally served as an appetizer in Hawaii (a dish we often savoured while visiting the Big Island earlier this spring).
Pokérrito’s take on this dish equates to burritos, bowls and salads — with a Japanese twist.
Owner Jung Moon worked as a local sushi chef before opening Pokérrito. His love for Japanese ingredients, along with well-honed knife skills, inspired his own approach to the Hawaiian staple.
Using a sashimi-like technique, proteins such as tuna, salmon, octopus and scallop are diced into the poké foundation, then tossed in house-made sauces including wasabi-basil, sweet chili, ponzu citrus and umami.
The shop’s only been open a few weeks but word’s gotten around; a dedicated queue gets going right from Pokérrito’s 11 am opening.
[North Shore Burrito: flame-seared albacore tuna, green onion, sweet onion, cucumber, masago, lettuce, seaweed salad, crabmeat, pineapple, grape tomato, radish sprout, furikake, umami sauce]
We ordered the North Shore burrito and a customized version as well. Both include incredibly fresh fish (Jung is stationed in back cleaning and chopping fish most of the day) and a good mix of filling options. I love being able to customize the order to enjoy each and every ingredient included.
[Ahi tuna and all the goods: DIY pokérrito]
The base begins with either a nori-wrapped burrito, bowl or salad. You then choose your poké (three kinds of tuna, salmon, scallop, shrimp, octopus), sauce (five available), mix-ins (kale, cucumber, sweet onion, cilantro, green onion), two sides (such as avocado, edamame and seaweed salad) and toppings (chili flakes, grape tomatoes, pineapple, jalapeño, ginger, macadamia nuts).
Five signature combinations also appear on the menu to take the guesswork out of ordering.
Gluten-free diners will be happy to learn that the entire menu is accessible. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are also available.
Burritos, bowls and salads are all priced at $10.50 for a regular portion (two scoops of poké) and $12.95 for a large portion (three scoops of poké). Drink option include coconut water, Pellegrino sodas, Arizona iced teas and Raumune, a popular Japanese drink in blueberry-chanderia flavour.
The 850-square-foot space is clean and bright, anchored by a wall of gleaming subway tiles. Concrete, ash and particleboard surfaces give the space a modern feel. Get your order to go or pull up one of 15 bar-style seats.
Pokérrito is located at 558 Dunsmuir Street and is open from 11 am to 9 pm Monday to Saturday. Visit Pokérrito online for detailed menu information. Unwatermarked images courtesy of Pokérrito.
