Poke bowls are celebrated for their high nutritional value, providing a well-rounded meal that satisfies various dietary needs. At their core, poke bowls consist of lean protein from fish like tuna or salmon, which are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for heart health and cognitive function.

Poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish and sushi originates in Japan. Hawaiian food takes a lot of influence from Japanese food, but poke is Hawaiian. Traditionally, poke is made from ahi tuna or octopus (tako) that has been roughly cut into bite sized pieces and marinated with whatever was on hand.

Common ingredients in a poke bowl house sauce include soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and sometimes a hint of sweetness from ingredients like honey or sugar. Each restaurant may have its own variation of the house sauce.

Protein That Packs a Punch Most of the protein you'll find on top of a poke bowl is going to be a lean protein, says Jones. There's raw fish like salmon and ahi tuna along with cooked shrimp and chicken and vegan choices including tofu and tempeh.