By Hannah Spears, Class of ’25 — Staff Writer

Welcome to Hawaii!!! Sunshine, beaches, beautiful weather, volcanoes, and so much more! The perfect vacation destination and it can be found right here in Massachusetts . . . well, not quite. While you might not be able to truly escape to Hawaii for a dream vacation, it is true that a little taste of Hawaii is just around the corner . . . literally. 

Just a few weeks ago, a new restaurant called Pokè Bowl (pictured below) opened in Cobbs Corner, which is just down the road from the center of Canton, our neighboring and rival town. Roughly a ten minute drive from Sharon High School, the restaurant had a 70% discount at its grand opening and has been hopping ever since, with 5.0 stars on Google. 

Traditionally from Hawaii, pokè is a dish that is composed of cut up raw fish, usually marinated in a sauce of some sort, with a bunch of different fruits, vegetables, and rice. Extremely similar to sushi, which is Japanese, pokè can be served as an appetizer or as a main course and is usually served cold.

Acting as a healthier fast food option, Pokè Bowl has a variety of options on its menu, and if you don’t find anything you like, you can build your own bowl. Starting with a base, then a protein, followed by a sauce, and any fruits or vegetables you want, each bowl can be customized to suit your tastes. But for those looking to try something off their menu, among their most popular items are “Salmon Lover” and the boba teas. Yet bowls are not the only thing they have on their menu: if you aren’t in the mood for poke, you can have sushi burritos and poke salads. While the bowls can be a little pricey, especially for teenagers and students, a good, healthy bowl with tea can be bought for under $25, including tax. Which, in comparison to other healthy food places and how fast the bowls can be made, is worth it.

Yet for those who don’t love raw meats or foods, like me, the menu has options that are more friendly like the Tempura Dragon (pictured above). A delicious combination of both savory and sweet, the tempura shrimp was heavenly and paired with the spicy mayo sauce marvelously. A hint of heat, without it becoming overpowering, the sweet corn and other fruits balanced out the spiciness of the mayo and allowed for a wonderful combination. Although the tempura chicken was a little dry and closer to a nugget than true tempura, the avocado was notably and admirably fresh in taste and color; the entire bowl was made right in front of me at their counter.

Additionally, the boba (Brown Sugar Milk Tea) contained a refreshing chilliness that contrasted to the warmer weather outside along with the meal. Despite having only one size, it was a generous portion, a little expensive, but generous. Overall it was not too sweet and the boba was not too sticky or overpowering which was nice as it is hard to find a good boba place close to home. With the slight sweetness and refreshing ice, I would have liked to see them create a combo meal of sorts so the boba and the bowl didn’t have to be bought separately from each other.

A wide variety of foods and colors rested pleasantly on the eyes all while displaying the freshness of their products. The vibrant colors popped and all the fruits and vegetables were neatly cut and placed with care. Looking much more appealing than most food that sits out in other restaurants, each customer gets to see their bowl made and gets to see the ingredients that are going into making their meal.

Inside, the set up is a cute shop-like restaurant, with colorful decor and small booths, seating is limited but nothing too outrageously small. The plushies were absolutely adorable and each one of them were different kinds of boba. The vibe and the overall atmosphere of the small restaurant was relaxing and nice, each of the staff serving their customers with a smile. The colorful inside and the adorable bubble tea statue outside of the restaurant remind you of restaurants found off boardwalks or in beach towns, all while it is right in our backyard. 

Overall, I would highly recommend visiting Pokè Bowl as they truly live up to all their 5 star reviews. Adding my own 5 star review to the many who have already expressed theirs, the only warning I have is to get there early or order online. Opening up at 11:00 am Monday-Saturday and Noon on Sundays, the restaurant is very quickly busy with the lunch rush, snack time rush, and the dinner rush. 

By visiting and trying something new and different, or returning to something you enjoy, not only do you get to taste the glorious fresh ingredients and have a healthy meal, but you also get to help support a small business. Supporting the communities surrounding ours, does not come at much of a price especially for what you will get in return. As such, I recommend that everyone tries Pokè Bowl, whether they believe they will enjoy it or not, as oftentimes when we leave our comfort zones, we find ourselves open to new tastes and opportunities that would have never been possible before even if it’s not quite Hawaii.