I absolutely loved this place. Small, incredibly friendly, and the food is top notch. We got the poke plate and tried a little bit of everything. We were also lucky enough to get there right as the pineapple tarts had come out of the oven. I'll absolutely be back!
This little shop is amazing. I've never heard of poke bowls before. My sister brought me in. The staff is so very friendly. I couldn't decide what I was going to have. So they suggested a combo bowl that way, I could try a little of everything. My god, no word of a lie the spicy tuna was awesome but....... that fried chicken! Omg I couldn't get it in my face fast enough! Whenever I'm in the area from now on that's my go to spot! Keep up the great work. Excellent food!
As someone who was born and raised in Hawaii, I can say that Manoa Poke is the real deal when it comes to authentic local Hawaii food. The poke doesn't come with any toppings like edamame or mango. They serve comfort food like mac salad, a classic lunch side, and spam musubis. The spicy and shoyu salmon poke are probably my favorite things on the menu, since I crave raw fish all the time - the salmon they use is so creamy. When I’m not in the mood for poke, I LOVE their salmon belly that’s coated with an addicting teriyaki sauce (i.e. I pour the leftover sauce over rice and other things) and mochiko chicken, which is a deep fried marinated chicken that tastes like a sweeter version of Japanese karaage chicken. The people who run the shop are so kind - go and support them!
This little shop makes fabulous poke, and the guys running it are so friendly and nice. The photos really don’t do the dishes justice, but the oka i’a and ahi shoyu poke were absolutely delicious. As well, the sweet little pineapple cake we had for dessert was delightful. Highly recommend stopping by this unique restaurant run by lovely people.
Antoni Abella Vendrell
+5
We did takeout, the pictures don't do the food justice, but I hope that you can get an appreciation of how good this poke is given the fantastic size of the beautifully ponzu marinated tuna and salmon. It definitely scratch my Hawaiian poke itch!! Tasted just as good as the best ones I had in Hawaii. The service btw is fantastic, friendly and generous! We'll be back.
The BEST poke you'll find outside of Hawai'i!!
Manoa is a slice of heaven on Earth. You'll feel like you've been transported somewhere tropical from the moment you walk through those doors. The Aloha spirit is alive and well. The food is so fresh and delicious. We tried the POG juice which was the perfect level of refreshing sweetness. The guava and pineapple cakes were also scrumptious. Their poké is made the way that poké is meant to be. Simple enough to let the seafood shine, instead of overwhelming the palate with too many mix-ins. Each meal comes with a filling mac salad and leafy greens. The chili BBQ salmon was one of my favorite dishes. And the fried chicken was crispy on the outside and amazingly tender on the inside. My only gripe is that they're only open on the weekends, or else I'd be here every day!!!
Epic food! Missing Hawaii, decided to get some takeout from Manoa and it did not disappoint. Poke is good, mochiko chicken has that crunch, and the sauces are on point.
Great food, even greater staff! The fish marinades are creative, although sometimes the texture is affected. Portions could be bigger but the food is all very fresh and high quality. Highly recommend the jammy pineapple cake, what a treat.
I ordered from Manoa for a company lunch event and couldn't be happier with the quality of food, kind and friendly service, and ease of ordering! I worked directly with Jacob who was incredibly helpful and quick to respond. I would HIGHLY recommend giving it a try!
Every single person who ate sang wonderful praises of how delicious everything was:) Amazing job and we will definitely be ordering from Manoa again!!
Manoa is incredible. I have never had better poke...ever! The shoyu salmon is melt-in-your-mouth with the perfect savory flavor. The sides are generous and a powerful medley of creamy (macaroni salad), tart (cucumbers), and fresh (salad). All around a super super delicious poke bowl. I've tried Pokeworks and Ono Poke Bar in Cambridge and was very underwhelmed by both. The quality of their raw fish doesn't hold a candle to Manoa's top tier salmon.
The staff are really friendly and encourage you to get additional items -- thanks to which I've tried their POG and guava cake. I have also tried their chicken sandwich which I heard major praise about, but wasn't super into it since I don't like sweet savory things.
Their service during the pandemic has been smooth (some longer waits for food but it's worth it!). Manoa always serves up a delightful bowl of food, and is something to look forward to on the weekends. :)
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