Pokebola — Restaurant in San Francisco

TLDR; not as bad or good as the other reviews state. It’s fine…and gains points because it’s closer to where I live and priced competitively ($16.50+tax for 4 proteins). If I was closer to the poke spot on Church and Market (I'a Poke), I’d go there instead. But given how close this one is to where I live and a recent bad experience with Pokebar in the Twitter building, I’ll probably be back to Pokebola.

…why they decided to have “ebola” in the name though…. Idk. —- Longer bit: Lots of mixed reviews on Google and a lot of the 5 star reviews comes from folks who only have 1-2 reviews so I was suspicious but this place is so close to my house I figured it was worth checking out. I dined in, not take out and I think that matters. You need to go and see what looks fresh. When I went all the toppings seemed fresh and were good. The fish was mixed with the salmon looking the best. I got salmon, shrimp, and tuna with ponzu.

Overall everything was pretty bland. Not bad, just not very taste-ful. I pretty much could only taste the ponzu and occasional wasabi. Textures were fine and overall it was filling and a good value. But nothing to go out of your way for. Hits the spot for a “healthier” option, value poke near by.

Until recently I would say that Pokebar at the Twitter building would be a much better choice and worth the extra block and half walk. However, I recently had a really gross bowl from them and haven’t been back yet to give them another chance. Not sure if it’s a decline in quality or a one off yet.

So if this is your closest...

Pokebola has been a go-to lunch spot for me, but it has its ups and downs. On a positive note, the poke bowls are often good, with the fish usually tasting fresh. However, there have been times when the fish seemed a bit freezer-burned, which was disappointing. The portion size leans heavily towards rice, and although it fills you up, it can sometimes overshadow the fish and toppings.

The prices have climbed noticeably over the last few years, which might not be ideal if you're keeping an eye on your budget. On the service front, the staff is generally friendly and quick to serve, though it’s important to plan your visit, as they sometimes close early, which can catch you off-guard.

The ambiance is simple and straightforward. While the restaurant is clean and well-lit, the neighborhood can be a bit unpredictable, with the occasional incident of someone casually taking pastries or other items. Despite this, the spot remains a decent choice for a quick meal, with enough seating for a brief stop.

Overall, Pokebola offers a convenient poke experience without too much fanfare. While not the best I've had, it does the job when I'm craving poke and don't want to wander too far. Just keep in mind the potential for a less-than-perfect meal or unexpected closures if you're...

My family went there after a concert. The staff was very friendly, nothing out of the ordinary. A fellow comes in, clean, but obviously fallen on hard times. Asked the staff about the fish. The staff asked if he would like to try some food, he said yes, and he proceeded to pack him something. When the guy tried to pay, the dude was like, don’t worry about it. 🥹 it’s a rough neighborhood, and I asked if they regularly have people coming in asking for food. He said it’s usually at least once a day. I paid for an extra poke bowl, so they can pass it on to the next person that asks, without it being a burden on the business....