STAR POKE — Restaurant in Shoreline

I feel conflicted writing this. On one hand, I like to support small businesses but on the other hand constructive criticism is needed.

TLDR: Don't include nearly enough fish for a poke bowl. Please fix if you want this return customer.

Service: The guy who rung me up was very kind even though it was almost closing time and it was such a hot day, I'm sure he was over it but his attitude was awesome. 5 stars for him.

Food: I was SO excited to try this poke place but was pretty disappointed. I got 2 bowls with all toppings and two choices of protein. They came with about 4 cubes of salmon and 4 cubes of tuna each. When I opened the first one I thought maybe it was a mistake and then the second one was identical. It was 60-70% rice, a couples huge leaves of lettuce, a few toppings and barely any fish. For a $14 bowl I would expect more fish. Actually for any poke, I would expect the fish to be at least a good portion of the bowl. I've had poke all over Washington and Hawaii so I know what I'm talking about. Was really disappointed about 8 cubes of fish on bowl of rice and greens. I want to see small businesses thrive but if they will keep skimping on the portions like this while charging the same as other shops I will not be...

First let me say that the food was good, flavorful and interesting.

Experience was okay. Cashier was impatient and seem to be bothered that did not know exactly what I want, and that I had questions. I chose my fish and was quickly told to let him know what I don't want in my bowl. I asked a few questions and moved on. When I asked about the sauces he just repeated what the menu stated, not answering the question. When I asked about a particular ingredient I was told that it is a traditional Japanese seasoning...then I followed up and asked what it was made of he replied that he didn't know and suggested I just leave it off.

You could not see the food....is the fish fresh? Usually you can visually tell if poke is old.

This is a take on a Hawaiian dish...I grew up in hawaii and the biggest problem I had was that they claimed numerous times that it was "Authentic" Hawaiian food. It is not authentic, it is an interpretation of a dish. They had cans of spam used as decoration?? No spam on the menu, kind of cheesy imo.

Food was good...not authentic...

I decided to give this place a second chance, which was a huge mistake. I ordered two poke bowls, and they were very pricy for rather small portions of fish and the rice was so clumped up that I gave up on eating it. The rice was so congealed that instead of having its individual grains it was just one giant chewy pile. I'm genuinely impressed by how bad the rice was. I'm convinced that fluffing rice like this won't save it, there was a mess up with the water to rice ratio during the cooking process. I'm surprised the cook gave the rice the OK to be sold in bowls, impressive restaurant standards. At least the edamame and wakame we're good, but I don't think lettuce belongs in a poke bowl. These are just toppings though; I get poke bowls for seasoned raw fish and rice, and these two main components were ruined. Only thing that prevents me from giving this place 1 star is the interior design and friendly customer service.

Sorry, but I genuinely cannot...