Oshi Poke Bowl and Sushi — Restaurant in Huntsville

A Disappointing Experience at Oishi Poke Bowl and Sushi

As someone who has enjoyed poke bowls across the country—from California to Boston, and everywhere in between (Texas, Colorado, Indiana...)—I tend to order the same combination at each restaurant to fairly compare quality and consistency. Unfortunately, Oishi Poke Bowl and Sushi fell well below expectations and ranks among the least satisfying poke bowls I’ve tried.

What I Ordered

My go-to order includes:

White rice

Cucumber

Double seaweed salad

Fresh jalapeños

Tuna

Spicy mayo

Ponzu sauce

Furikake and tempura flakes for crunch

Quality & Preparation

The preparation of the bowl missed several important marks. At most poke restaurants, sauces are mixed with the fish and base toppings like cucumber and onion to evenly coat and enhance flavor. At Oishi, this crucial step was skipped entirely—leaving many bites of tuna and cucumber completely bare and underwhelming.

The ponzu sauce itself lacked the vibrant citrus and umami typically expected. Instead, it resembled soy sauce with a squeeze of lemon, missing the depth of unami/benito flake flavor ponzu is known for.

Toppings were scant: I received just 9 cucumber slices, 6 pieces of jalapeño, and a barely-there double scoop of seaweed salad. The latter was particularly disappointing, as the server used the very tips of the tongs to retrieve the seaweed salad, resulting in a noticeably small portion.

Pricing & Transparency

Pricing felt excessive and unclear. I expected to pay $10 for the bowl plus $4.50 for the second protein. However, I was charged $20 for the bowl alone. Adding a small miso soup (which tasted fine, though very basic—mostly dashi powder and a bit of miso paste with two tiny tofu cubes and a sprinkling of green onion) brought the total to over $28 after tax and a modest tip.

This price point would be reasonable only if the portions were generous and the quality exceptional—but that was not the case here. For the size and ingredients provided, $15 would have been more appropriate. Additionally, the pricing for build-your-own bowls was not clearly marked, contributing to a sense of confusion and lack of transparency. If meat is included in the BYOB process, it should be reflected in the base price—not as a surprise at checkout.

Atmosphere & Service

The interior felt dark and uninviting, and the menu was overly cluttered—perhaps a sign the restaurant is trying to do too much. The staff seemed disinterested, and one employee was crawling under tables to clean during service, which didn’t contribute positively to the dining atmosphere. While cleanliness is appreciated, there are likely better times to handle that type of deep cleaning—especially at these price points.

It's also worth noting that the restaurant still appears to be operating under a COVID-era setup, with employee shields still in place. While not inherently negative, it does add to the sterile and disconnected vibe.

Final Thoughts I always aim to support local restaurants and approach reviews fairly, but this experience was disappointing on multiple fronts: under-seasoned and under-portioned food, vague pricing, lackluster service, and an uncomfortable dining environment. With some attention to detail and clearer communication, Oishi could certainly improve—but as it stands, I would not recommend it, especially at this...

The food at O-shi is fantastic! Great selection, and super fresh. Location, decor, staff all manage to be pretty upscale. I wanted to say that first, because I struggled between giving a 3 start or 4 star review - sorry O-shi, 5 star is reserved for Nobu! ha (yes haters, I've been to more than one thanks to work - I'm not rich). Here's the thing... my 12 y/o daughter and I were town at UAH, and we made a special trip downtown to eat at O-shi. First, they seem like they're in "soft open" as they didn't yet have a sushi chef, so that option was out. Then, we each got a bowl and a fountain drink, and the total was $36.19 with tip. Bit rough IMHO. I think they need to be much clearer about what things cost - I don't mean the menu on the wall - I'm mean when someone asks for tuna, they probably mean the +$1.50 version, not the +$4 one... unless you explain the up-sell. Here I need to explain that the make-your-own bowl is $7.50 with no protein (i.e. a veggie bowl). Basic poke starts at $1.50, some fish is $2, the most expensive $4 and that's on top of the $7.50. Anyway - I asked for tuna and was asked if I wanted it "fresh"... well, of course I took it literally, not that of the 3-4 types of tuna they carried, there'd be one labeled "Fresh Wild Tuna" or something like that (+$4). In addition, my daughter did the same thing (+$4), but then added another poke (+$2, $6 total). Maybe color-code the bins the poke is in? Label them with $$$$ signs? Something so the customer can know when they point, or to help in dialog with the person behind the counter (the "Pokista"? I'm copywrighting that term, btw). Bottom line - Foodies; go. You'll love it. Be mindful what you're ordering. O-shi; keep up the good work, make some tweaks. Would be happy to revisit (and re-review) when...

I was born and raised in Hawaii and lived in Japan for a couple of years. This is a brutally honest review.

Oshi Poke: Room for Improvement

I recently visited Oshi Poke and unfortunately, my experience didn't fully meet my expectations. While the menu initially presents Poke Bowls at an attractive $9.99, it's essential to be aware that this is a base price without any protein. Each protein addition incurs an extra charge, significantly increasing the final cost. My bowl, with added protein, ended up costing $24, which felt rather steep compared to similar restaurants in the Huntsville area, even considering its downtown location.

The quality of the fish also left something to be desired. Fresh, well-prepared fish shouldn't have a fishy aftertaste or mushy texture, but unfortunately, this was the case with my order. The sushi rice accompanying one of the bowls lacked the characteristic stickiness and vinegar flavor expected of sushi rice, which helps balance any potential fishiness. The squid ink rice, on the other hand, was disappointingly bland and grainy.

The service was adequate, with a counter-order and self-serve format. Sushi orders are brought to the table, and drinks are self-filled.

Overall, while the quality wasn't entirely unacceptable, the high prices for most menu items, coupled with the areas for improvement in food quality, made the experience less enjoyable. I would likely explore other options...