Sweetfin Poke Santa Monica

"In the midst of the poke takeover, one place we think is doing it exceptionally right is Sweetfin Poke in Santa Monica. Just a few blocks from the 3rd Street promenade, Sweetfin is like taking a dip in your neighbor’s above-ground pool on the hottest day of summer. One important thing we’ve learned from frequenting Sweetfin is that the “base” of the bowl is really important. Choose wisely and remember that kale still tastes like kale, even when covered in really delicious poke. Food Rundown Spicy Tuna Bowl The tuna here is topped with creamy togarashi sauce, hijiki, and avocado. We once made the mistake of going for a kale base – it was overpowering in its kale-iness. Stick to rice here. Sriracha Tuna Bowl This one comes with sriracha ponzu sauce, hijiki, and avocado. We went with the cucumber slaw for the base. The sriracha ponzu sauce here is a lighter option than the spicy tuna’s togarashi sauce. BYOB with Sriracha Tuna, Crispy Garlic, Crispy Onions, Wasabi Coconut, Habanero, and Mango Over Rice A friend recommended we try this combo and now we’re sold. It’s basically a giant luau in your mouth." - Amanda Williamson

"The people who work at Spinfish REALLY love their jobs. Like greeting you extremely enthusiastically, dancing behind the counter, and having poke bowl-building races while they make your lunch, love their jobs. If you can get through such enthusiasm between meetings, it's also worth your time. They have signature bowls or you can build your own - the fish is fresh, and there are a bunch of side options like seaweed salad that you should definitely get involved in." - jess basser sanders

"Poke Perfection at Sweetfin Fusing the trends of sushi and build-your-own grain bowls, Sweetfin in Santa Monica, has created a customizable poke destination that is convenient, cost effective and creative at its core. The Hawaiian raw fish dish traditionally combines cubed tuna, rice, shoyu sauce, and veggies—but Sweetfin’s menu provides multiple ways to mix and match your fish of choice, base, add-ons, and sauce. You can start with a completely blank slate to create your own masterpiece, or, if options are overwhelming, you can begin with a pre-made signature bowl like the Mango Albacore with ponzu-lime sauce, macadamia nuts and ginger. Make sure to experiment with toppings including wasabi toasted coconut, charred habanero, and pickled shiitake mushrooms. No matter your choice, everything from the sauces to ice tea is homemade and gluten- and dairy-free, so you’ll feel as fresh as the nearby ocean breeze.Sweetfin started a poke revolution in L.A., and has since expanded on its OG Santa Monica location to Woodland Hills, Larchmont, Westwood, West Hollywood, DTLA, Silverlake, Venice Beach, and San Diego."