Ali'i Poke - Downtown Indy — Restaurant in Indianapolis

FOOD REVIEW: Absolutely delicious! A great selection of addons (free!) to put into your bowl. The marinated (and raw) tuna and salmon were fantastic. The coloration of the raw fish is great, and there didnt seem to be any bad smell to it. There are also cooked options (shrimp, octopus, tofu?) if you don't like raw food.The vegetables are fresh and brightly colored. The method of obtaining your food is similar to subway. You ask for your base (rice, etc.), your protein, then any extra addons you want. Even the shredded crab is an addon!

SERVICE REVIEW: The management/staff is extremely friendly, and knowledgeable on the history of Poke. If you have a question on what something is, just ask! I think its safe to assume that not everyone knows what unagi sauce is haha.

ESTABLISHMENT REVIEW: The whole place is extremely clean, and there is a long table with usb and regular power outlets. It isnt a place for large groups, as i think the average table seated about 4 people, and the space isnt large enough to conveniently move them around.

MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS: I had a great time there with my sister today, and if i didnt have to go back home this weekend, i'd definitely go back often.

I'm personally very stingy about raw food, so if you choose to go down the raw meat option, you should probably eat it all by the end of the day (or early the next morning, depending on when you bought it). The base size was large enough for me, about an average sized female, to have about half of the bowl left over.

Go there with someone else! Sit down! Its a really nice atmosphere.

Don't be afraid to try the "weird looking things" or "weird sounding sauces". You just might like it! You can even ask for the sauce to be put in a side cup. My favorite is unagi (eel) sauce. Its more of a sweeter flavor, with a hint of savory.

If you LOVE SUSHI, OR JUST WANT TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, YOU NEED...

My husband and I went here for lunch. I was pregnant, had gestational diabetes, and a craving for sushi. We didn't know what it was going in but the woman behind the counter was super sweet explaining it (deconstructed sushi) and patient as she explained our options.

The bowls seemed a little expensive so my husband and I both got the medium size. He got rice and I had salad greens. There were tons of options to choose from and I want to go back now that I can eat the fish! I was able to have the spicy crab mix and all the fruit and veggie choices. They did have a cooked seafood option, but I didn't feel like looking up if it was "baby safe." The miso soup was good too!

FILLING for the price. I would not have been able to finish if I got rice and my husband said he was stuffed; but we both finished! Next time we go, we're planning to split the large one to keep ourselves from eating to much!

Great food, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and clean restaurant. If we hadn't walked from my husband's working parking may have been an issue, but that's the same for every place in that strip mall.

Got food again. My husband and I split the large. We also got the mango sweet coconut rice to try. It was good, but not my thing. I recommend at least trying it once. I would eat it again vit not necessarily order it on my own. We also tried the honey wasabi on the side of our meal. It wasn't what I was expecting. It was sweeter and creamier. Still enjoyed this place and love that he and I can split a large...

Poke places seem to be popping up all over Indy. For me, Ali'i Poke provides the best value for the price.

For anyone who's not familiar with poke, the menu has some great suggestions for combinations of proteins, toppings and sauces. I like experimenting with different fish and flavor combos, so I particularly enjoy the build-your-own option. Plus, there's a wide selection of ingredients, including tofu and cooked shrimp for those who aren't into sashimi. And all their portion sizes are very generous.

The staff is always friendly and welcoming, with helpful suggestions whenever I'm looking for tasty flavor pairings.

The restaurant definitely has that fast-food vibe, with hard benches and plain gray walls, and the focus definitely seems to be more on carry-out. I understand there's a lot of in-and-out customers with the campus and hospitals nearby. I just wish the dine-in experience felt a little more comfortable, with reusable bowls so that I'm not wasting a plastic to-go container.

Still, Ali'i Poke is great for a quick lunch, and I eat...