Avid traveler and Met Market founder, Terry Halverson, returned from one of his many trips to Hawaii with more than a suntan and some sand in his shoes. He also had the inspiration to bring the Islands’ most beloved seafood salads, known as “poke” (pronounced poh-kay), to his savvy Seattle customers.
The word, itself, translates from Hawaiian as “to cut” or “to slice,” and refers more to a concept than a recipe. The most classic versions thrive on their simplicity—like say, pristine, perfectly-cubed, Ahi tuna mixed with sesame seeds, dashes of sesame oil, and a splash of soy sauce to bring out the inherent clean flavor and beautiful texture of the fish.
Today, each Metropolitan Market has a dedicated poke chef who carefully prepares the items for that store’s bar, hand-cutting whole loins of tuna or fillets of salmon, to add to the day’s menu. The fillets are always of the highest quality, sourced from a fishery that not only engages in sustainable fishing practices but also tracks when and where each fish is caught.
Like a salad bar, it’s a fully-customizable experience. Make a meal-sized bowl of poke atop sushi rice with kimchee, edamame, and tofu as accents. Or, scoop up an afternoon snack-size portion. Try some fresh Hawaiian seaweed adding the perfect crunch and briny taste to the seafood salad. Plus, if you’re counting carbs or are on the hunt for a flavorful high-protein meal, the poke bar has you covered—without having to fly across the Pacific.
The Bowls
This is just a taste of what you might find in store. Daily selections vary depending upon the freshest ingredients available. Stop in and try something new!
Ahi Onion
One of our most closely traditional Poke recipes, enjoy rich Ahi Tuna with sweet onion, a splash of soy sauce, Ogo seaweed, and toasted sesame seeds.
Shrimp and Mango Salad
Savory shrimp and sweet mango make the perfect pairing in this seafood salad, finished with cilantro, lemon, and spicy jalapeños.
Garlic Shrimp Salad
This irresistible shrimp salad is packed with garlic, onion, spicy red chili, and topped with a sprinkling of Hawaiian sea salt and toasted sesame seeds.
Creamy Sriracha Salmon
It’s the PNW after all, so good salmon is a must on our poke bar. This one is covered in an irresistible sweet-yet-spicy sauce.
Spicy Ahi Poke
This is one of our best sellers for a reason! Turn up the heat with a scoop of this albacore favorite.
Chuka Ika
Feeling adventurous? Try our perfectly seasoned and fully cooked squid salad with your poke.