May 27, 2024 · Culinary Journalist
You eat the very best poké bowls here, at Poké Spot on the Gedempte Zuiderdiep in the city. At least, that’s what owner Jean-Paul Wu thinks. He brought the very first Hawaiian restaurant to Groningen in 2019. Comfort food in a bowl, that’s basically what it is. But topped off with tasty fresh ingredients. And if you ask me, suitable for any time of day.
Many people still think that poke bowls originated in Japan. However, this popular dish originally started as a snack among fishermen in Hawaii. This dish was a convenient way to use up leftover fish. Japanese immigrants brought the rice and soy sauce to Hawaii, creating this delicious mix of flavors.
At Poké Spot, there is plenty of choice. You can put together your own bowl entirely to your own taste. Wu explains: ‘The base is usually rice, but it can also be a combination of rice and lettuce. Then you choose your protein, such as salmon, shrimp, tofu, or chicken. Next, a number of toppings are added to complete the dish. You can think of avocado, edamame beans, cucumber, or pickled radish. And finally, you choose a sauce.’ Poké Spot also offers a wide selection there, such as sesame-soy or wasabi mayonnaise.
You can choose a small, medium, or large version for the big draw.
By the way, if you suffer from decision fatigue, there are also pre-made poké bowls you can choose from. Then you only have to make a choice, which saves you some trouble.
Although the poke bowl is traditionally served with fish, the absolute bestseller at Wu’s restaurant is the Crispy Chili Chicken bowl. ‘It comes with crispy chicken, edamame beans, corn, red chili, fried onions, and spicy sriracha mayonnaise.’
According to Wu, the strength of his business lies in the freshness of the products. ‘We prepare everything fresh daily and we really only work with the freshest ingredients. We make no compromises on that. So the fish you get here is truly razor-fresh. In principle, anyone can make a poké bowl like this. But it is really about the proportions, the combination of flavors, the sauces, and the freshness; that is what makes us the number one poké bowl place in Groningen.’
In addition to a relaxed indoor seating area, the restaurant also has a lovely terrace, and you can order for home delivery.
Poké Spot is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. For more information, visit www.pokespot.nl.
