Olia Poke & Tea — Restaurant in Portland

I have been coming here 1x a week or once every 2 weeks for more than a year; the staff know me by name — hey guys!

Everything at Olia is prepared to order. It’s always fresh, always delicious, healthier than many other options; and, even when they are in the weeds with orders, they always provide service with a smile.

Yesterday, during one of my frequent visits I personally witnessed a displeased customer become extremely rude and argumentative — rude enough for me (someone with years of experience in the food service industry waiting tables and bartending) to comment on.

Dear Hannah,

I was the guy in the blue shirt behind you. Aside from your desire to drink hot boba in August, I — along with the crew at Olia — wish you well. I hope you were just having a bad day. I patiently watched as you belittled the owner on the finer points of hot boba tea, plastic vs paper cups and not being able to use the boba straw (that you took with you anyway…?). I’m also sorry you spilled your “overly milky” match latte. She really did you a favor trying to dissuade your personal choice to use plastic cups (intended for cold drinks) for hot beverages — girl, we ALL know that’s not good for you.

Lessons for Hannah: We could all use more kindness in the world. Immediately cease with hot liquids in plastic cups. You don’t have to be rude. Someone is always watching you. I recommend the Taro flavor (iced of course), the first sip bursts with creamy rich Taro flavor and the gentle texture of warm boba. My sister is newly addicted and we get one together at any...

Update 2/2025 This place is still amazing. We’ve been coming here for the last 5 years. Even though we have moved out of Portland, we still come to the South Waterfront specifically to eat here. Wonderful owners. Great food. Best musubi in town imho. Some of the best Vietnamese food and poke around.

Here is my original post from 5 years ago:

This place is amazing. My wife and I live in the area, and we come here at least 3 times a week. The owners are wonderful. The food is great. Really awesome blend of Hawaiian style poke and musubi, Vietnamese banh mi and spring rolls. It's a family run business, the owners' mom will even come in and help out.

My wife has a very severe food allergy and Olia has been amazing. They took the time to look through all of the ingredients in all of their dishes, and my wife feels super safe eating here.

Couldn't ask for nicer people and great food. Great addition to the South Waterfront. Also a great place to study too. Quiet. Tons of outlets for your computers. Nice location right in front of the street car. Tons of windows.

Highly...

I had a weird experience here.

Got a poke bowl - asked for two sauces. When I got to my car, I noticed there was NO sauce on my bowl.

I go back - the counter lady tells me the chef “mixed the sauces into the rice.”

I told her I don’t eat the rice and asked for sauce on top - you know, like any other poke bowl. Sauce on top. What the…

So the chef drizzles a barely there amount of sauce. I go back o my car and decide its insufficient.

Then I peel back the poke toppings top check out the rice and low and behold - there is NO sauce “mixed into the rice.” Not a drop. Just plain sticky white rice.

I go back, tell her about this ridiculousness, and ask her if I can just finally have the sauces on the sides LOL.

Experiences like this tend to ruin the experience of the food itself - even if the food was okay.

And it was okay…not the worst poke bowl I’ve ever had, definitely not the best....