Hashtag Poki — Restaurant in Berkeley

TL;DR Hashtag Poki is tasty in the go, pretty mediocre and unpleasant to stick around in for the price you pay.

The Dining Room I often eat here on my way to do other things in Berkeley, run errands, etc. Theres four tables to sit at, with limited bench seating. Its cluttered inside with all sorts of things the staff use for work, and in the case of right now as I type this review: a team member's red bicycle just sitting against the class cabinet you order from.

There's no music playing almost ever. In fact, it is frequently hard to hear team member's taking my order over a hum coming from their ceiling. Sometimes they have a TV on playing something, but it's usually muted.

A very stark and unpleasant atmosphere in here that is occasionally broken by customers entering and ordering food.

The Service There is typically two ladies here who manage everything on their own. They work extremely competently and seem to enjoy being here. It's quite professional.

However, the particular time I'm visiting now there are two younger team members that took my order, a man and a separate woman. When I entered through the front door, the woman stared at me in silence with an empty food container in her hands expectantly waiting for me to speak. It was very cold Service and I definitely couldn't recommend ordering in here with food service like that, hence the drop in my rating.

Considering the price of meals in here, a little good service goes a long way.

The Food

A regular (2 base, 2 sides, 2 proteins) costs $14 before tax. A Large (2 base, 2 sides, 3 proteins) costs $17 before tax.

I ordered a Large with sushi rice, organic greens, spicy tuna, salmon, albacore, and macaroni salad this time around. It was absolutely delicious! The quality of their ingredients and it's preparation goes very far.

However, it is a little on the expensive end should you opt for the large. After tax and plus a 15% tip I wound up playing over $21 for a meal I ate in less than 8 minutes.

The portion size was about average, it's been less than average on previous visits here. I would say I typically leave Hashtag Poki feeling content, but hungry very soon after. So this is a good place for taste, but not for feeling full.

overall

Based on the service experience I had today in conjuction with the regularly poor atmosphere, I wouldn't recommend Hashtag Poki.

Come when the TV is on and when the other ladies are working. You'll know who I mean based on...

So rude & horrible customer services . Not sure how they have 4.5 star rating ? if here is a way to give them negative star than would give them -100. When I went to pickup my food and asking them simple about restroom they said we don’t have public restrooms even I’m their customer and not just random customer get inside and asking for restroom, they can simple said we don’t have restroom for customer it’s more. And lady was supper rude who were serving food on the front and telling me that go outside and wait food I don’t know if they tell the all customer go outside on the street and wait for food even there are tables inside the restaurant, Or she just telling me if she does then I believe she know the consequences about that but guy was saying it will going to take just 5 minutes more to get ready. What a bad customer services? Will never go...

For those unfamiliar with this style of cuisine, this type of fast casual restaurant primarily prepares a traditional Hawaiian seasoned raw fish salad served with a bed of rice as the base, your choice of cut raw seafood on top, and some veggies mixed in.

It’s good, clean, and healthy eating. But the menu is meager when it comes to hot and cooked food. I mention this because I was looking for a basic cooked chicken over a bed of rice dish when I went, not knowing what their menu consisted of.

Although they don’t offer any cooked chicken, their poki bowls are tasty.

I particularly liked the seaweed and crab salad as my sides.

Customer service was good. The team was patient, helpful and did well to explain the process of how to build a bowl.

Do think the mini bowl portion size was plenty of food. Price was fair. Tip, only street...