Where can I find poke in Merced? New restaurant to serve up ‘seafood in a bowl’
Merced’s seafood scene is reeling in something new.
A new Poki Bowl restaurant is set to open in the city, bringing customizable fish dishes to local diners.
In a recent Reddit post, site user Oracle-of-Clovis asked, “Are there any poke restaurants in or near Merced?”
“Closest place is in Turlock near the college,” Reddit user bob256k replied, referring to Terracota Poke Restaurant.
Here’s what we know so far about the new Poki Bowl opening in Merced:
What is a poke seafood bowl?
A poke bowl is a Hawaiian dish made with marinated, raw fish — such as tuna or salmon — typically served over rice and topped with fresh veggies, sauces and garnishes.
Poki Bowl puts its own spin on the Hawaiian tradition, the San Jose-based restaurant chain said on its website.
“We’ve taken the traditional island dish and infused our Asian touch to bring it to the mainland,” Poki Bowl said on its website. “Visit us to create your own ‘seafood in a bowl’ experience.”
Poki Bowl has about 20 locations across the United States, mainly in California.
What’s on the menu at Poki Bowl?
The Poki Bowl menu centers around build-your-own poke bowls, giving customers the freedom to customize every bite.
Diners start by picking a base — options include sushi rice, brown rice or mixed greens — then choose a protein, such as fresh salmon, spicy tuna, ahi tuna or tofu.
From there, customers can load up their bowls with fresh veggies, sauces and a variety of toppings, including masago, seaweed, crab meat and avocado.
“For us, it’s all about the food: Fast, fresh, and healthy,” Poki Bowl said on its website.
When will new Poki Bowl location open?
Although the Poki Bowl website said a Merced location is “coming soon,” city officials said they did not have details about the restaurant’s location or opening date as of Monday, May 12.
On Monday, May 12, city officials said they do not have details to confirm at this time.
The Merced Sun-Star reached out to Poki Bowl for details, had not received a response as of Tuesday, May 13.
Where are poke restaurants near Merced?
The closest poke restaurants to Merced are in Turlock and Madera.
Terracotta Poke Restaurant in Turlock is approximately 30 miles away from Merced, according to Google Maps.
Rio Acaí Bowls in Madera is approximately 35 miles away from Merced.
