Fresh, Flavorful Poke Bowls at Mama Kim’s

Mama Kim’s is a Must Try for Poke Bowl Lovers!

Mama Kim’s is a small, family-owned restaurant in Honolulu that specializes in poke bowls and sushi with a Korean flair! The restaurant is named after the owner, Rosa Kim, who has been preparing food and cutting fish for over 20 years and works together with her daughter Soonie.

Mama Kim’s uses only the freshest ingredients and their poke bowls are made to order so you can watch them cut, mix and prepare your sashimi or poke bowls as you wait. If you just need a fast snack you can also grab a hand roll made on the spot. Everything we’ve tried there has been melt-in-your-mouth amazing. The menu isn’t overwhelming and offers all the fresh fish standards you’d expect (ahi, salmon, spicy tuna, Hawaiian poke, etc.) plus some more adventurous options that will appeal to a more seasoned palette (like natto, sea urchin, & salmon roe)

The menu at Mama Kim’s features specialty poke and sashimi based bowls with deliciously paired ingredients or you can create your own poke bowl vision. Build your bowl by selecting your base (white rice, sushi rice, or mixed greens), your protein (9 varieties of poke or sashimi to choose from), 3 different sides (edamame, kimchee, seaweed salad, crab salad, cucumbers, etc.), and (free) toppings (furikake, garlic chips, fried onion, etc.)! Our order also came with a bowl of miso soup to get the digestive juices warmed up.

We love that Mama Kim’s also offers fresh homemade Kim Chee that you can add onto your order or grab a container to take home featuring 3 different varieties: cabbage, daikon, or cucumber.

There’s a small bar style seating that seats 2 or 3 people inside but even better they offer outside tables where you can sit and enjoy lunch. This is such a treat as Oahu has the perfect weather year round for outdoor seating yet so few restaurants make it an option.

Located in the street level of the Kaheka Professional Building on King and Kaheka streets there’s metered parking all around the block AND If you save room for dessert the Honu Bakery is just across Kaheka street from Mama Kim’s where you can satisfy your sweet tooth and pick up a coffee. The cafe/bakery sells baked goods such as cakes, pies & pastries, plus sandwiches & coffee.

The poke bowls at Mama Kim’s are fresh, delicious, and affordable ranging from $12 to $20. They are the perfect way to experience the flavors of Hawaii. This is definitely a place that I would bring local friends as well as visitors to try some fresh island style seafood on Oahu.

by Honolulu Vibes