NEWPORT NEWS — After his cousin decided to open a poke restaurant in Ohio, Wei Lin thought it was a great idea to bring the west coast trend to the Peninsula.
Poke Surf had its soft opening on Sept. 10.
“It’s like sushi but in a bowl,” Lin said.
Lin, who is from Poquoson, is familiar working in the restaurant industry and watched his parents run Chinese restaurants.
While several poké bowl restaurants have opened on the Peninsula and the Southside, this restaurant is not affiliated with any chains.
The new restaurant located in the Hidenwood Shopping Center near Christopher Newport University offers customers a fresh alternative to other unhealthy dining options.
“It’s a healthy choice instead of fast food,” Lin said. “Everything is fresh. There’s no grease.”
Poké bowls usually involve a raw protein, like tuna, over rice with other toppings such as vegetables. But at Poke Surf, Lin has added some different options like steamed shrimp, two types of tofu and even, octopus.
“We like to give people choices,” Lin said. “We know that some people don’t like raw fish.”
Other toppings include chicken, beef, pineapple, peach, mango and 10 signature sauces which range from spicy and sweet to soy based concoctions.
Lin said he is experimenting with adding more sauces as well.
Another unique feature of this restaurant is offering side dishes alongside the poké bowls, including miso soup, fried noodles, salad and crispy wontons –– all made in-house.
And people can try before they buy, too.
“We’d rather have customers know what they are getting in the bowl,” Lin said, adding people can come ask them questions about poké and try food before adding it to the bowl. “It will still be good.”
Customers can get a free bowl between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the restaurant’s grand opening Sept. 21.
Poke Surf, 17 Hidenwood Shopping Center, is open everyday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The restaurant is hiring for cashier and prep work positions. Interested? Stop by Poke Surf to fill out an application. For more information, visit their website.
