Gastronome

Pele's Kiss and Shack's Special (spicy ahi and miso ahi)

Pele’s Kiss and Shack’s Special (spicy ahi and miso ahi)

So here’s the thing about my love for poke: It doesn’t take much to satisfy me. All I ask is that it is flavorful and served in generous portions at an affordable price.

It hasn’t been a difficult craving to satiate. I’ve found that there are almost too many places on the island that fit the criteria. Still, it’s always fun to try a new place, especially when it has been heavily hyped on social media.

Which is how I found myself driving on Ward Avenue last week in search of Da Poke Shack Honolulu, a recently opened poke truck. It’s not hard to find —if you’re going down Ward, turn left onto Queen Street and it should be parked right outside Ashley Furniture HomeStore.

Unlike other poke bowls that only have ahi over rice, Da Poke Shack also lets you choose a side (or more, depending on what you get). Options on this particular afternoon included mac salad, kim chee, edamame, seafood salad, California roll with couscous, hijiki (seaweed) salad with quinoa or taegu (seasoned codfish).

By the time I returned to the office, I was salivating and more than ready to start eating. And, well, when I finally did, I found the entire experience to be surprisingly and sadly underwhelming.

Two versions of spicy ahi: Pele's Kiss and Dynamite (with avocado)

Two versions of spicy ahi: Pele’s Kiss and Dynamite (with avocado)

The portion was much smaller than what you’d expect from poke bowls. My two scoops of ahi —both spicy, one with avocado —mysteriously lacked almost any trace of flavor. Sure, itfeltspicy, but I couldn’t taste anything.

This, however, brings me to the one thing I did greatly appreciate about Da Poke Shack: the quality of the fish. Fish that is too fishy never means anything good, and while I couldn’t quite get a handle on the flavor of my poke, it certainly was fresh.

Maybe that’s what Da Poke Shack is all about.

Then again, as Metro social media manager Nicole Kato pointed out, if you’re going to enjoy fresh fish, wouldn’t you much rather eat it without all the added dressings? Plus, if I am going to bite into a spicy ahi bowl, I am very much expecting that spicy, slightly sweet tang.

Maybe I won’t be returning any time soon — though several Hot Hawaiian Plates that feature items like lau lau and kalua pig did sound appealing. And what does Mussels Kimchee (a side) taste like?

I think for now, we’ll say that my relationship with Da Poke Shack is TBD.

DA POKE SHACK HONOLULU
940 Queen St. Honolulu, HI
(808) 445-1721
dapokeshackhnl.com

TEA TIME

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: I love bubble tea. So much. So much that when I try to cut out sugar from my diet, bubble tea always is my downfall.

There are a couple of places I frequent, but since I was at the still-new 808 Center last week, I stopped in at Infinitea. The menu is pretty standard with a variety of different milk and fruit teas to choose from, along with toppings like different flavored jellies and boba.
Metro-012916-Gastronome-Sidebar-Infinitea
I went with my usual peach tea with rainbow jelly order, and it didn’t disappoint. I did like that I could customize how sweet I wanted it, but at 50 percent, it tasted as though it were at 100.

Still, the atmosphere inside is fun with different board games at every table. And now that 808 Center has quite a few restaurants —Hawaii Pot Shabu Shabu, Fortune Noodle and Urban Bistro — with more on the way, Infinitea is in a great spot for an after-meal treat.