Poké perfection – and more – at this popular eatery’s third branch.
It’s no secret that poké* has taken the world (and Cape Town) by storm, with a wave of restaurants dedicated to raw-fish salad bowls popping up all over the Mother City. But there’s one spot in particular that, we think, knocks the chopsticks off all the others. If you’ve not already eaten there, let us introduce you to The Poké Co – a local group that’s just opened its third locale in the city’s dining and social hub, Kloof Street.
Following the success of its Loop Street and Sea Point branches, the company’s 32-year-old founder, Andrew Flanagan, decided Kloof Street was a good spot for Poké Co 3.0.
Says Andrew: “Kloof Street is ground zero for Cape Town’s core brands and eateries, so when the opportunity presented itself for us to join establishments such as Molten Toffee and Unframed Ice Cream, we jumped at it. There’s a cool mix of locals and tourists in the area – and are looking forward to joining the community.”
Tickled pink
The no-frills, muted-pink interiors – complemented by soft curves and pink terrazzo surfaces – imbue the restaurant with a cool and contemporary vibe, making it just as suited for an on-the-go bite as a working lunch.
“Design is a big part of the brand, and as we grow we want to continually push this element, giving each store its own subtle flavour, within the parameters of the core brand,” says Andrew.
Bowled over
While the order of the day is, of course, the popular poké bowls – generously filled to the brim with fresh ingredients – The Poké Co also does sweet, savoury, and everything in between. We’re talking smoothie bowls, healthy breakfast bowls, homemade cold-pressed juices, hot beverages, soft-serve ice cream, and even sushi-rittos (a burrito-sized sushi creation), all of which are created in-house by a passionate team of friendly staff.
Says Andrew: “Our vision is to do good: to your taste buds; to your body; to the community, and to the environment.”
The nine signature bowls are all firm favourites, but if you’re feeling creative you can also make your own in just a few easy steps.
1. Simply select your choice of base: sticky rice, kale and red cabbage, glass noodles, brown rice or quinoa.
2. Then decide on your protein: fresh salmon, tuna, tofu, prawn, shredded chicken, beef brisket or eggplant.
3. Finally, select which tasty toppings and delectable dressings you’d like.
Actually, whatever you choose, you won’t leave disappointed – or hungry. As Andrew says, “We’ve tried to create a fast-casual dining experience, where you feel at ease and leave inspired.”
The Poké Co also runs monthly specials, so keep an eye out for those when you next visit.
poké* – a deconstructed raw-fish salad hailing from Hawaii
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