Best Poke in Hawaii - Ono Sea Food Products
Poke is one of the island's favorite foods.
Ono Sea Food Products is a hidden gem that serves some of the best poke on Oahu and possibly all of Hawaii. Don't come here expecting plate lunches, okazu, or other cooked food specials to accompany your poke. This is a small mom and pop operation with a laser-like focus on high quality, delicious poke and seafood.
The teeny tiny storefront, no more than two parking spaces wide, is sandwiched between a Shell station and a typical cinder block apartment building joined to an American Savings Bank, just minutes away from Waikiki or anywhere else in town. You will likely be under whelmed when you step through the front door into a small 10 x10 space bordered by single refrigerated cases to the left and right and a display counter straight ahead. No worries, all the magic is stored somewhere in the stainless steel refrigerators behind the sparsely stocked display counter.
(Read more Best Poke in Hawaii below...)
details
What:
Ono Sea Food Products
Where:
747 Kapahulu Ave., Kapahulu, 96816
[map]Landmark:
Between Shell and American Savings, just Mauka of Date, Koko Head side of the road.
Parking:
Small parking lot, but turnover is fast so it is not usually an issue
Bus:
3 14
When:
Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-3pm
Seating/ Reservations:
take out only
Cuisine:
Poke and sashimi, local Hawaii snacks like pickled onion, pipikaula
Atmosphere:
None, none and none. Just a couple of refrigerator cases on a patch of linoleum flooring.
Approx. Cost:
$ - $$
Booze:
None
Delivery, Takeout:
Takeout only
Contact:
808-732-4806
Poke Always Made To Order
Don't bother looking for any poke in the display counter because Ono doesn't have any to display. All poke is made fresh when you order it, which seems to be key to making the best poke (see
Poke - Local Hawaii Delicacy). Step up and choose your fish or other seafood and your favorite seasonings. The ahi is always fresh and of the highest quality (usually around $12 per pound). Regardless of what other delicious items you are picking up, I would highly recommend always getting some ahi poke.
The choices for seasoning poke are white onion, green onion, ogo (seaweed), chili pepper,
Hawaiian salt, kukui, shoyu (soy sauce) and sesame oil. The staff (who I think are also the owners) are extremely consistent in mixing the seasonings and I usually opt for "everything" with ahi. I don't find the mixture to be overly spicy, but if you like it mild, definitely ask them to go light on the chili pepper. The seasonings are mixed in a big stainless steel bowl, and then tossed with your seafood. Your custom made poke is broke da mouth and ready to go. You will appreciate the fresh fish flavor and texture complimented by just the right level of seasoning.
The refrigerator case on the left has local Hawaii deli items like boiled peanuts, pickled onions and mango, pipikaula, dried aku and the like. Everything is of high quality and you will not be disappointed. Stop at Ono before your next party, football game or other poke appropriate occasion and impress your friends with some of the best poke in Hawaii. The only other place that makes poke on par with Ono is reviewed in
Best Poke in Hawaii - Fort Ruger Market. Enjoy them both as often as you can before they are inevitably replaced by Starbucks or Jamba Juice.
Dan's Hawaii Tip
Do not confuse Ono Sea Food Products with the very popular Ono Hawaiian Foods down the street. If you are traveling any distance before eating your poke, make sure you bring a cooler and some ice to keep the fish cool in your car.
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