The Best Poke in Maui
Where to Find The Best Poke in Maui
Fresh Salmon Poke Over Rice
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What is Hawaiian Poke?
Pronounced poh-KAY, traditional Hawaiian poke bowls are a popular seafood dish made from white rice topped with fresh, raw fish that’s been marinated in a blend of sesame oil, soy sauce, green onions, furikake, chili pepper, sea salt, wasabi, and other seasonings, The most common types of fish used in poke are ahi tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and albacore. Poke bowls can also be made with cooked shrimp, octopus, salmon, or tofu. Variations can be made with ponzu sauce, avocado, teriyaki sauce, mushrooms, crispy onions, crispy garlic, jalapeno, sriracha sauce, cilantro, seaweed, pineapple, macadamia nuts, cucumber, and more.
Poke is a common dish in Hawaiian culture. The dish as we know it gained popularity in the 1970s. Starting in 2012 poke bowls became popular in North America. Poke restaurants started to pop up all over the mainland offering a mostly healthy dining option. (Watch out for those creamy togarashi sauces!)
I’m a huge fan of fresh poke. Unfortunately, if you want to make poke fresh at home it requires you to live near a fish market that sells high-quality sashimi-grade fish. This can be somewhat difficult depending on where you live. But if you want to eat poke, there’s no better place than the island of Maui, Hawaii. So, please, allow me to be your travel guide to Maui’s Best poke.
Salmon Poke Bowl
The Best Poke On Maui and Where to Find It
Tamura’s Fine Wine and Liquors -
I know, I know, you’re probably saying to yourself, you want me to buy raw fish at a liquor store?! Jenn, have you lost your mind? Hear me out. This unassuming spot has some of the best poke in Hawaii and you’ll only hear about Tamura from locals or those in the know. Fortunately, you have me, so, now you know.
Tamura’s offers an extensive ahi poke menu with options like wasabi, red sea salt, spicy garlic, spicy mayo, and more. If fresh ahi isn’t your thing they also offer tofu, cooked scallops, crawfish, tako (baby octopus), cooked shrimp, and salmon. All incredibly fresh and served over rice.
All Tamura’s poke departments use fresh ahi purchased directly from the Honolulu Fish Auction. For the last nine years, Tamura’s poke has been voted some of the best poke Hawaii has to offer.
Tamura’s has three locations on Maui: Kahului (199 Dairy Road), Lahaina (226 Kupuohi Street), and Kihei (91 East Upoa Street). They also have five locations on the island of Oahu.
Eskimo Candy Kihei
2. Eskimo Candy Maui-
Eskimo Candy is in my opinion the absolute best poke bowl. Maui has some stiff competition when it comes to poke, but upon visiting Eskimo Candy, Kihei my mind and taste buds were blown away. This family business has been sourcing the very best seafood since 1987. In 2003 they opened Eskimo Candy Seafood Market and Cafe in Kihei. Their poke bowl menu features 4 types of ahi poke: shoyu, wasabi, furikake, and spicy tuna. All served over white rice with wasabi aioli. You can even opt to get a combo bowl to taste multiple marinades. Though, warning, get there early. We visited at the end of the day and there were only two available poke flavor options.
If you have others in your party who aren’t into poke, Eskimo Candy also offers a full menu featuring ribs, fish tacos, salads, teriyaki chicken, seafood wraps, burgers, and fish and chips. It’s basically the poke place of my dreams.
Open 10:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday thru Saturday, Eskimo Candy is located at 2665 Wai Wai Pl, Kihei, Maui, HI.
Shoyu and Spicy Tuna Ahi Poke Poke From Eskimo Candy Kihei, Maui
3. South Maui Fish Company -
This amazing food truck opens at 11 am and usually sells out by 3 pm. It was the perfect meal after our morning snorkeling at Molokini Crater. South Maui Fish Company offers the freshest marinated poke served with a heaping side of rice and coleslaw. They also offer fresh fish plates, fish tacos, and a variety of curries, including veggie curry. Poke flavors are limited to traditional, (an ahi tuna marinated in sweet onion, tobiko, sesame seeds, shoyu sauce, and green onions), and spicy (served in a creamy poke sauce made from jalapenos, tobiko, red pepper flakes, and spicy aioli).
South Maui Fish Company is super popular, so you may have to search for parking, but it’s well worth it once you taste their incredible poke bowls.
South Maui Fish Market is located at 1794 S. Kihei Road, Kihei, Maui, HI.
South Maui Fish Company Maui Poke Bowl
4. Takamiya Market -
This family-run market and catering company is located in Central Maui. So, if you can’t wait to grab a delicious poke bowl after landing in Maui, Takamiya Market is a quick trip from Kahului Airport. Stop by and take out some fresh shoyu ahi poke, sesame tako poke, smoked pork poke, or kimchi tako poke. Their take-out window also offers a variety of other pork, chicken, steak, and shrimp plates.
Takamiya Markey is located at 359 N Market Street, Wailuku, Maui, HI.
5. The Tin Roof -
Two-time Top Chef finalist and Hawaii native, Sheldon Simeon, specializes in uncomplicated, flavor-forward Hawaiian recipes. Don’t get me wrong, all of the Maui poke menu items from the places I’ve spotlighted are absolutely delicious, but Chef Sheldon elevates poke to new levels. He also offers a full menu of Hawaiian comfort food. Bottom line, Tin Roof is poke as art.
The fresh fish offerings vary daily. Check out @tinroofmaui on Instagram for current specials. Past specials include spicy salmon poke, orange marlin poke, and spicy hamachi poke.
Tin Roof is located at 360 Papa Place, Ste 116, Kahului, Maui, HI.
If you can’t make it to Maui but want to try making a fresh poke bowl at home, I recommend the following to help you get started. If you can get some fresh sashimi grade fish and know how to cook rice, you’re more than halfway there.
Peace, Love, and Poke Poke
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best Poke in Maui. Be sure to treat yourself to some delicious shave ice or locally made banana bread for dessert. If you have a place to suggest, or if you’ve tried one of the above spots, be sure to comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
