We Ate at the Top Poke Spot on Oʻahu, According to Yelp
For 30 years, this eatery on Kapahulu has been a favorite among locals and visitors—and it lives up to the hype.
Who makes the best poke bowls is always a contentious topic in Hawaiʻi.
Whether you’re picking up a bowl on your lunch break or after a day at the beach, everyone has their go-to spot. Another interesting debate revolves around what to order—but we’ll save that for another time.
Today, it’s all about the best poke bowls and who makes them. The top spots always prepare poke with the freshest fish (it can never be frozen) and high-quality ingredients. When building bowls, the ratio of poke to rice matters, too.
So, if you ask 10 people the best place to grab a poke bowl on Oʻahu, you could receive 10 different answers. From mom and pop shops to supermarkets, you could spend days sampling poke across the island. It’s actually quite impressive that the island boasts such a vast sea of great poke spots.
But if you’re searching for one poke spot to visit—whether you’re traveling to Oʻahu for the first time or are just looking to expand your lunch rotation—make your way to ʻOno Seafood in Honolulu.
According to Yelp, ʻOno Seafood is the best poke spot on Oʻahu. It boasts 4.5 stars and has garnered more than 4,000 reviews on the crowd-sourcing platform.
ʻOno Seafood has all the traits of a top-notch poke shop. It’s no frills, unassuming and has maintained a loyal customer base among visitors and locals since it first opened in 1995.
ʻOno Seafood is located on Kapahulu Avenue. The vibrant mural depicts Judy and Willy Sakuma, the founders of the business.
Photo: Grace Maeda
You can find the small shop tucked away on Kapahulu Avenue with its red facade and vibrant mural depicting Judy and Willy Sakuma, the founders of the business.
Inside, the shop is simple, with space just for a queue. Around lunch, it can be busy, but the line moves fast. Having been in business for 30 years, ʻOno Seafood has its process nailed down.
Customers order bowls or poke by the pound at the counter, choosing from nine options. Shoyu ʻahi is the most popular style of preparation, followed by spicy ‘ahi and miso ‘ahi. Apart from wasabi ʻahi, you’ll find all the same dressings for tako (octopus) poke. Customers can also select two styles for a combination bowl.
Like many of the top poke spots, every bowl is made to order at ʻOno Seafood. At the base of the bowl is a soft bed of sticky rice (pro tip: add furikake). It’s then stacked with uber-fresh fish.
The poke bowls start at $17, and toppings like furikake, tempura flakes and pickled ginger add to the cost. It’s a steep price but among Oʻahu’s best poke places, it’s not unusual.
The good news: These bowls don’t disappoint.
Served with an appropriate ratio of fish to rice, the poke is packed with flavor but not drenched in sauce. In the shoyu ʻahi, the white onions add a sharp bite of contrast to the saltiness of the limu (seaweed).
With just two picnic tables outside the shop, there’s limited seating to eat. Fortunately, ʻOno Seafood is just a five-minute drive from Waikīkī, and the bowls are great to take to the beach or park for a picnic.
While the race for being the number one poke spot on Oʻahu will always be up for debate, it at least encourages you to try new eateries.
ʻOno Seafood, 747 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu
