Some women yearn for a glass of wine or a cold beer at the end of their pregnancy. For me, all I craved was a bowl of raw fish otherwise known as poke. Fish Face Poke Bar is my go to spot for the freshest poke in Sacramento! With so many choices popping up throughout our region, it can be difficult to decipher who consistently has the best tasting poke in town.

Vital Information: Keep in mind that if you walk into a poke establishment and it reeks of a fish odor you need to immediately walk out of the building. Pay attention to the contents of your bowl. Any kind of raw fish that needs to be drenched in sauce could be a sign of old, smelly fish.

Okay, where was I?

Long before poke became a foodie trend on the United States mainland, my family (who is from Hawaii) has been eating poke by the pound without all the fancy toppings! For this reason I like my poke simple. My favorite combination is their ahi tuna and Ora king salmon with sesame soy, wasabi soy, or Yuzu Ponzu. If I’m feeling a little wild I'll splurge on some avocado and extra seaweed! One must remember to add a side order of fresh hot, white rice to complete the meal. What’s cool about Fish Face Poke Bar is that if you desire the fancy toppings, you can add macadamia nuts, mango, cucumber or fried garlic to your poke bowl. Don’t eat rice? You also have the option to make your poke bowl a salad or go ala carte! As for me, I’m sticking with the basics.

In addition to the freshest poke, what attracted me to Fish Face is their commitment to sourcing local and sustainable ingredients. According SeafoodWatch.org, “overfishing, lack of effective management, and our own consumption habits are a few factors contributing to a decline in wild fish populations”. For this reason I do my best to support businesses like Fish Face who keep our environment in mind.

Alright! Back to the good stuff!

I usually grab my meal to go, but if you choose to dine-in, Fish Face Poke Bar has a wide variety of beverages to choose from. I opt for an ice cold can of Hawaiian Sweet Tea. If you’re into drinks of a boozy nature, Fish Face has local and international beers available on tap and by the bottle as well as an assortment of sake to please your palette.

With two locations, one in Midtown Sacramento and the other in Carmichael at Milagro, you have no reason not to treat yourself to the best poke spot in the River City!

Top 10 Reasons to Eat at Fish Face Poke Bar

1)      Freshest fish in town

2)      Sustainable and locally sourced ingredients

3)      Best quality for your money

4)      Carmichael location serves cold AND hot foods

5)      They serve 8 types of beer, 2 kinds of hard cider, 9 types of sake, 8 varieties of soft drinks

6)      Two locations: Midtown Sacramento on R Street and Milagro in Carmichael

7)      Handrolls for $5 including a SPAM handroll aka musubi

8)      Chef Bill Ngo is the founder, chef and partner at Fish Face and Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine

9)      Delivery is available via the Caviar app

10)   Menu includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options