A Proliferation of New Poke Shops on O‘ahu
Seriously, how much ‘ahi can we eat?
How much ‘ahi can we eat? For all the new poke shops opening around O‘ahu, it’s almost as if the poke trend that circled the globe has boomeranged and spurred a new resurgence at home. Notable here are the number of locally owned poke shops that are expanding in recent years, on top of the ones that have opened since 2023 (check the highlighted story below).
We have lost Tamashiro Market, of course, as well as ‘Aiea’s Monarch Poke, which owner Adam Gilbert closed to open his new Fairway Tavern restaurant at ‘Ewa Villages Golf Course. But neighborhoods like Salt Lake and Mapunapuna now have poke shops, and new places have proliferated along the urban corridor.
SEE ALSO: Discover O‘ahu’s 8 Newest Poke Shops
Photo: Mari Taketa
Ry’s Poke Shack
Opened near Ala Moana Center in May 2026
A Kahuku mom-and-pop that exploded after a segment on Netflix’s Street Food: USA, Ry’s Poke Shack opened its first town location near Ala Moana Center. Exclusives include the Foodxjitsu, pictured here, of fresh ‘ahi with ginger, garlic, chile flakes, limu and ikura. Two more locations are in California; another is set to open there.
1232 Waimanu St., Ala Moana, ryspokeshack.com, @ryspokeshack
Photo: Courtesy of Poke Stand by Shokudo
Poke Stand by Shokudo
Opened in Kaka‘ako in January 2026
The Westman Group’s foray into poke is aptly named. It’s a roadside stall whose ‘ahi and tako poke creations, mixed to order, include nihon-esque flavors like mentai mayo, yuzu ponzu and miso cream cheese. Sides include kimpira gobo and mac salad, there are bara chirashi and kaisen sushi bowls, and rice is from The Rice Factory next door.
961 Kawaiah‘ao St., Kaka‘ako, @pokestandbyshokudo
Bakudan Poke
Opened in Kalihi in January 2026
Home of Baku inari bombs, three-choice poke bowls and the five-choice poke salad, Bakudan opened amid Laakea Fish Co.’s fresh ‘ahi, bluefin, nairagi, swordfish and Ora King salmon fillets off Nimitz Highway, not far from Alicia’s Market and Poke by the Pound.
1818 Kanakanui St., Kalihi, @bakudan_chef
Photo: Mari Taketa
Okome Tendon and Poke
Opened in Kaka‘ako in December 2025
Okome is an offshoot of the poke and sushi spot of the same name in Kapolei. In Kaka‘ako, poke bowls including spicy hamachi come with or without tempura and vice versa. The tempura is fried in beef tallow; sushi rice balances the richness.
685 Auahi St., Kaka‘ako, okomehawaii.com, @okome.at.salt
Mermaid Poke
Opened in Liliha in October 2025
Where ‘ahi poke comes in flavors like spicy garlic crunch, creamy wasabi and mac nut pesto aioli. Also find poke inari bombs, Pokechos and poke platters at this stall inside Liliha’s new food court in the former Foodland space.
414 N. School St., Liliha, @mermaidpoke808
Souza’s Fish House
Opened in Mapunapuna in August 2025
The online sashimi and chirashi shop specializing in fish flown in from Japan opened its first brick-and-mortar last summer with an expanded menu that includes poke bowls and poke nachos.
852 Mapunapuna St., Mapunapuna, @souzasfishhouse
Domo Café
Opened in Pearl Kai in May 2025
This sushi and poke spot may have closed in Chinatown, but it expanded with a second shop in ‘Aiea last year.
98-199 Kamehameha Highway, ‘Aiea, domocafehawaii.com, @domocafehawaii
HanaPa‘a 2
Opened in Kapahulu in May 2025
The Hawai‘i Kai poke shop that won the fan favorite King of Poke Fest title in 2025 expanded that year to a spot inside Hawai‘i’s Best Kitchens next to the original Rainbow Drive Inn. The new store is also poke-centric, but with more bentos and local-style food, including Hawaiian plates and pasteles.
3111 Castle St., Kapahulu, @hanapaa2_kapahulu
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
K. Bay Bros Too
Opened in Salt Lake in 2024
Kāne‘ohe’s line-out-the-door popular poke shop expanded with a second shop at Stadium Mall—where a similar line winds through the shop and out the door at lunchtime. If you’re not into the raw stuff, ask about any seared poke, like the ‘ahi ginger pictured above.
4510 Salt Lake Blvd., Salt Lake, kbaybros.com, @kbaybros.too
Photo: Mari Taketa
Paradise Poke
Opened in Nu‘uanu in 2021, Waikīkī in 2023, Pearl City in 2023, Hawai‘i Kai in 2024
The multi-time winner of Frolic’s Poke Fest is, from what we can tell, the island’s largest poke micro-chain. The formula includes to-go snacks like edamame and pickled mango, kalbi and garlic shrimp plates, and daily onigiri with separated fresh nori sheaths. And yes, Paradise’s first Poke Fest winner, truffle ‘ahi, is still in the cases.
Multiple locations, paradisepokenuuanu.com, @paradisepokehi
Mari Taketa is editor of Frolic Hawai‘i and dining editor of HONOLULU Magazine.
