45th Stop N Shop & Poke Bar — Restaurant in Seattle

3 for average experiences all things considered. Fish is mostly always fresh and it's obvious, but I'm spoiled with Hiroshi's close to UW which means larger portions, cheaper, better value, and more options (in sides). The main reason I make the trek here from campus is for the salmon. Most people seem to have a hard time comparing 45th with Hiroshi's but its clear to me.

Main advantage here is the variety of proteins (fish). Clear disadvantage is the limited selection of toppings. Prices have also jumped a bit so again when I consider value as a college student, I'm paying more for less food. Staff here are amazing and extremely friendly though, so much kudos to them.

Beginning with the proteins, I love the different fish offered and the fact that you can get spicy or regular. Want to "spice" things up a bit and change your order but not too extreme? Order your usual fish and add the spicy variant to experiment without going crazy. On my first visit, I thought the shrimp would be more like ebi style nigiri but it's small, raw baby shrimp. Tastes fine, but that visual appeal was disappointing. I get the shrimp every so often now to mix things up, but I'd say the salmon is one of the best here.

Sides feel underwhelming honestly with 6-7 small items. Definitely helps you appreciate the main contents of the bowl in the rice and fish, but I feel like toppings can only improve the experience rather than take away. I'd love if there were more options but I do have to realize it's kind of in a convenience store among other factors.

While the spicy mayo is standard, I'll also add that I feel spoiled and maybe biased to Musashi's spicy mayo so that it's disappointing here. Bit too watery for me where I prefer the viscosity but it's optional and free, so I see no reason to complain. Enhances the bowl for me, but not too much.

Will always be in the mood for some fresh salmon and the trek here isn't too bad so definitely will continue to visit, but for me I unfortunately don't get too...

No Ka Oi Poke... don't know? look it up. never had it? go get some. I'm a big fan of poke. Spent a few years in Hawaii and after having my first real bowl of poke - moving back to the mainland the craving was never satisfied. I searched high and low from restaurant to restaurant (hawaiian ones) and found things from spam musabi to ramen to mochiko chicken. Mahi Mahi dishes to loco moco and even kalua pig but I couldn't find poke. And if I did it wasn't good enough. Even venturing out to sushi restaurants to soothe my cravings - years of looking I gave up. The only time I was able to curb the craving was trips back to Hawaii. A trip to LA one year had me hooked again and feening all over, wishing there would be a poke spot to open in Seattle. Not too long after - poke spots started to push its way through the food scene of the PNW. Sadly none of them hit the spot and it was all over priced. To the point where I didn't care to eat it on the mainland anymore. And then... 45th N Shop & Poke Bar came along and revived my addiction to poke. Heaping portions, for a more than fair price, good selection and most importantly broke da jaw goodness. Fresh fish - clean good eats. There's really nothing to complain about - unless you hate waiting in line. But trust me when I say it's worth the wait. I wish they were closer to Renton - but I will continually make the trip as needed. AND to top it all off they got an import model serving you the food! If you're asking for for more you're asking for too much!!! 6 stars for this...

My favorite poke bowl in town, just really good and really fast. I was there today, and was surprised by the music that was playing, easily audible throughout the whole small space. I would caution anyone with minors, or anyone with a shred of dignity or respect for others to consider avoiding this place. A couple of Shazams told me that the staff and I were 'enjoying' the rap of Lil Tracy (songs: Lucki X Pluto and Hygiene), and I will share some edited lyrics (although the undited, person-unfriendly version was shared throughout the restaurant today). Although I enjoy many styles of music, including good hip hop, this was not that: "Yea yea.. Yea yeah! I got some big a** cojones I got some big a** cojones Yeahhh-yea-yea! F** this hoe in the shower ... All this cash yeah I stole that (I had to take that) Cause I'm on that s* I'm a finesser Get your bh cause I'm a dress her Get my money it's on the dresser Try us na you get wet up ... She gave me good brain I can't think My hunnids blue and her p** pink I'm f** this hoe in the shower that's hygiene ... B* I'm motherf* don, I'm important My b** imported, yeah she foreign I used to wait for the bus now I'm touring Go head ask Tyra Banks my b** a model yeah she gorgeous That p** is wet like a ocean I split it like Mosses I am so deep in her body I feel like Osmosis I wan't her to carry my baby we don't need a Trojan I might just bust in her p**, and let it soak in ... You get the idea, so I won't subject you...