Years since Singaporeans initially (and, finally) caught on to the fact that poke tastes amazing, the big Kahuna wave of Hawaiian cuisine has yet to ebb away. The proof is in the (poke) pudding with Aloha Poké, which is celebrating its third anniversary this year with eight outlets across the country.
Eight branches in three years is a pretty laudable achievement in our F&B scene. But Aloha Poké co-founder John Chen doesn’t want his concept to just float on by — his team gathered feedback from patrons and made a couple of changes that they believe should convert non-believers into fans.
“With three years behind us, we are in tune with what clients are looking for in their perfect poké bowl,” he says.
“Whether catering to the harried office worker at lunch, gym patrons looking for a fulfilling and healthy meal or the after-hours crowd seeking a chill out place, we have something for everyone.”
As such, the outlets have a whole new set of new add-ons for customers to choose from. Folks can pick from the likes of crunchy jellyfish, roasted bell peppers, fragrant Japanese garlic chips and tangy sun-dried tomatoes for $1.50 each. Those who really want to treat themselves can dole out $3.50 for generous sprinkles of Ikura for bursts of umami taste. In lieu of carbs, patrons can go for a base of spiced cauliflower rice ($2 a scoop) to fill up their bowls.
Not forgetting the vegetarians, there’re also aromatic cubes of Nutty Sesame Tofu as well as King Mushrooms (thyme-and-garlic seasoned oyster and button mushroom), both of which go for $4.50 a scoop.
If they can’t be arsed to slowly pick and choose the ingredients to go into building their own bowls, they could always go for the Green Giant set ($17.90), a meat-free poke bowl with cauliflower rice, tofu, mushrooms, and garlic chips.
These hassle-free signature poke bowls are big enough to share around too, and the meat eaters can go to town on new options Ocean Breeze ($16.90, with scoops of tuna chunks and fish roe served over mixed rice and salad) and Mentaiko Madness ($17.90, scoops of mentaiko salmon with cranberries and almonds served over white rice and salad).
Satiate the clean-eating sesh with refreshing cold press juices from Juix Up ($6 a bottle) or Cocoloco’s pure coconut juice ($5.50 a bottle). If not, you’ll have to wait till sunset, when Aloha Poké (only its Amoy Street digs) transmutes itself into a Tiki bar, complete with Hawaiian craft beers by Kona Brewing Co. and decidedly less healthy bar bites.
Sure, you could still order up poke bowls, but why would you when there’s stuffed potato skins ($12), spam fries ($13), Kalua pig tacos ($11) and bigger entrées like Ohana pork ribs ($20) and loco moco ($24), a Hawaiian classic that involves steamed rice topped with hamburger steak and fried egg before smothered in mushroom gravy.
There’s even Aloha Poké’s take on Peranakan favorite kueh pie tee with chunks of salmon and tuna nestled in crispy pastry tarts. A decent compromise between both worlds, we suppose.
FIND IT:
Aloha Poké (Amoy Street) is at 92 Amoy Street.
6221-6165. Mon-Sat 11:30am – 2.30pm, 5:30pm-late.
Closed Sundays and Public Holidays
MRT: Telok Ayer
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