SeaSide Poke
I had the chance to visit SeaSide Poke located in EADO last week, and although their brick and mortar restaurant has only been open for a few weeks, they’re not new to the food scene. They started out by doing pop ups around Houston and gathered a strong following. Vu Bui and partners Juan Cao, Kristy Nguyen and Alex Boquiren got together and collaborated alongside well seasoned chefs Tai Nguyen, who was previously with Uchi, and Vuthy “Tee” Srey, who was previously with MF Sushi.
SeaSide Poke is Hawaiian inspired with a modern twist. They pay homage to Houston by sourcing ingredients locally, and seeking the freshest fish from the Atlantic and abroad. Their graffiti art wall also reflects local talent and vendors, Houston protégés, and basically all things HTown.
As a home chef, a couple things that really caught my attention were their oils and sauces which are made in house, as well as their tiny garden of fresh microgreens, which are brought in locally from Moonflower Farms. The fresher the better, and Seaside definitely delivers! I like that they keep their menu simple, and if you’re a poke expert you can build your own bowl!
I had the regular Truffle Yellowtail bowl, which consists of 3 oz of yellowtail, shoyu, truffle, puff rice, cilantro, and ito togarashi. I’m a huge fan of truffle anything, and it was to die for! My only regret is that I didn’t get the larger bowl, because not one grain of rice was left!
3 ounces of protein are standard in a regular bowl, which roughly translates to 1.5 sushi rolls. If you do the math, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth and not sacrificing any of the freshness or flavor! The interior is clean and sleek, and doesn’t smell fishy at all (for those unfamiliar with poke). The booming location and “chipotle style” concept appeals to the average millennial, plus you can make a conscious choice about eating healthy without spending too much green. Safe to say that the poke craze is here to stay!
SeaSide Poke is doing so well that they plan on expanding and opening a second location in the Heights – so stay tuned for more poke! For now catch them at 2118 Lamar St, Suite 101, Houston, TX 77003.
