While thinking of new food trends, it’s hard to find one that is as healthy, tasty, and fun to eat as poke. The traditional Hawaiian dish has a base, which is usually rice, that is topped with a lot of different things, like raw or marinated fish, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sauces, and more. You can change everything about this dish, and you can enjoy its flavor without the added calories, fat, and processed ingredients. It also turns out that almost every poke bowl is bright, colorful, and great for summertime (after you Instagram your lunch, of course).
So its no wonder that poke restaurants keep popping up around the country. That includes that Ohio-based chain Poke Bros. , which says its “bringing Hawaiian cuisines best kept secret to the Midwest. For the past few years, the growing chain has been putting its own unique spin on poke, which clients love. We dug up all the details on how this chain got started, and more. This is the untold truth of Poke Bros.
Poke Bros is a popular Hawaiian-inspired poke restaurant chain with locations across the United States. One of their most loved menu items is the shrimp they use in various bowls and platters. But an important question for food safety is – is Poke Bros’ shrimp cooked or raw?
In this article, I’ll take a deep dive into how Poke Bros prepares their shrimp. You’ll learn whether it’s cooked or raw, how it’s sourced and stored for freshness, plus tips for enjoying shrimp bowls safely.
An Overview of Poke Bros
For those not familiar with the brand, Poke Bros offers Hawaiian-style poke bowls, salads, sides, and more.
Poke is sliced raw fish served over rice, mixed greens, or other bases It originated in Hawaii as a way to stretch small cuts of fish into a hearty, nutritious meal
In addition to raw fish like tuna and salmon, Poke Bros uses shrimp in many signature bowls and build-your-own options. Shrimp poke bowls have become extremely popular.
But the question remains – is that shrimp cooked or raw when it lands in your bowl? Let’s find out.
Is Poke Bros’ Shrimp Raw or Cooked?
According to Poke Bros’ website and menu, the shrimp used in their bowls is fully cooked. It is not served raw or undercooked.
The menu specifies that only the raw fish options like tuna and salmon are uncooked. All shrimp bowls are made with pre-cooked shrimp.
This means you don’t have to worry about the risks of consuming raw shrimp, such as bacterial illnesses. Poke Bros takes food safety very seriously by using cooked shrimp.
How Is the Shrimp Cooked?
Poke Bros doesn’t provide full details on how they cook their shrimp. But most poke chains gently steam or poach shrimp until just opaque and cooked through. This retains moisture and texture better than high-heat cooking methods.
The shrimp is likely cooked sous vide, by steaming, or with a quick poach. It’s then chilled and added to bowls and platters raw to mimic the texture of raw fish.
But rest assured it has been fully cooked to a safe internal temperature first.
Where Does Poke Bros Source Its Shrimp?
Again, Poke Bros doesn’t share specifics on shrimp sourcing. But we can presume they obtain it frozen from reputable seafood suppliers.
As a chain with locations across the U.S., only frozen shrimp can be safely shipped and stored. Fresh shrimp has a very short shelf life.
Frozen shrimp is flash frozen at sea to lock in freshness. As long as kept frozen, it maintains both safety and quality for a long shelf life.
Poke Bros likely gets large shipments of frozen shrimp which they safely thaw and cook in each location. This ensures every bowl has the highest quality shrimp.
How Is the Shrimp Stored and Handled?
Proper storage and handling are also crucial for shrimp safety. Poke Bros likely follows careful protocols for thawed and cooked shrimp.
These may include:
- Thawing frozen shrimp overnight in refrigerators
- Cooking shrimp directly from frozen or immediately after thawing
- Cooling cooked shrimp rapidly in ice baths before refrigerating
- Storing cooked shrimp below 40°F until ready to serve
- Using shrimp within 1-2 days for maximum freshness
- Avoiding saving or reusing leftover shrimp
These precautions ensure shrimp stays fresh and safe to eat in every bowl.
Tips for Enjoying Shrimp Poke Bowls Safely
Poke Bros does extensive work behind the scenes to bring you safe cooked shrimp. But there are a few things you can do for extra peace of mind:
- Look for solid, opaque shrimp rather than translucent when served
- Make sure shrimp smells fresh, not fishy or ammonia-like
- Avoid eating shrimp that has set out at unsafe temperatures for over 2 hours
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and eat within 3-4 days
- Reheat shrimp thoroughly to 165°F before eating again
- Notify staff if you have any food allergy or sensitivity
Following these simple steps along with Poke Bros’ safety protocols will let youfeel comfortable and confidentwhen ordering shrimp bowls.
The Bottom Line
At Poke Bros, shrimp is fully cooked rather than being raw or undercooked. This ensures it is safe for consumption and minimizes risks of foodborne illness.
Poke Bros sources, stores, handles, and prepares shrimp according to top food safety guidelines. By using cooked shrimp and keeping it refrigerated until serving, they provide high-quality shrimp you can enjoy without concern in their signature bowls and platters.
There are three ways to build a bowl at Poke Bros.
Poke is basically just raw fish that has been dressed up a bit. For poke to really work, the freshness and quality of the ingredients must be able to stand on their own. And, truth be told, this also means that there are a lot of ways it can be enjoyed. To that end, Poke Bros. wants its customers to know they can think outside the bowl.
The chain says there are actually three different ways to create a delicious, customized meal at its locations. Theres the standard sushi bowl style, of course, which starts with a heaping scoop of rice under all the toppings your heart desires. For a low-carb option, customers can start with lettuce and mixed greens to build a light, refreshing salad.
And for a really creative twist that steps the farthest away from the original concept, Poke Bros. also suggests building your own poke-style loaded nachos on top of a bed of crispy wonton chips. If you think you can take the heat, try out Poke Bros. signature Not-Yo Mamas Loaded Nachos recipe, which calls for spicy tuna, jalapeños, and Sriracha aioli.
Poke Bros. was actually inspired by a trip to California
It makes sense to assume that Poke Bros. was inspired by a life-changing — or at least an appetite-altering — trip to Hawaii, given that poke traditionally hails from that U.S. state. But as it turns out, the idea to start the business was actually born in California. The founders, Scott McCarthy, Anthony Wellman, and Xuegong Chen, were first introduced to the Hawaiian specialty after a business trip to the Golden State (via Greenville News), a trek that was itself inspired by a social media post. According to Columbus-based food bloggers who spoke with the creators of Poke Bros., the concept really came to life after McCarthy shared a Facebook post about poke, prompting Wellman to head out to California, where the trend had already taken hold. And, given the way things progressed after that rather fateful trip, he clearly liked what he tasted.
While none of the founders had any prior experience with poke, they did have quite a bit of grounding in the restaurant world. It didnt take long before Poke Bros. made its official debut in 2016 in, surprisingly to some, the American Midwest (via Poke Bros.).
Try “The Haole” Signature Poké Bowl at Poke Bros. in Columbus, OH
FAQ
Is poke bros raw or cooked?
Is poke cooked or raw?
What are the healthy options at Poke Bros?
What is the best thing to get at Poke Bros?
Are shrimp poke bowls easy to eat?
These Shrimp Poke Bowls will quickly become your favorite easy summer dinner! With ceviche style shrimp, sushi rice, fresh vegetables and fruit, and a spicy sriracha mayo, these bowls are packed with gorgeous colors and fresh summer flavor. They’re easy to assemble and extremely adaptable, so you can suit them to the tastes of your family.
Do you cook shrimp in a poke Bowl?
Traditional poke typically involves raw fish, not cooked shrimp. However, variations exist. In this poke bowl recipe, the shrimp are cooked. I like the additional flavor profile you get from cooked shrimp, especially when it’s coated in my sweet soy marinade/glaze!
What is in a shrimp poke Bowl?
In this case, the Shrimp Poke Bowl consists of cooked marinated shrimp, ginger turmeric coconut rice, quick pickled carrots, mango, edamame, avocado slices, scallions, nori/seaweed, rainbow micro greens, and toasted sesame seeds. Drizzled with sweet soy glaze and spicy mayonnaise.
What is Hawaiian shrimp poke Bowl?
Crunchy and creamy Hawaiian Shrimp Poke Bowl is made with tender cooked shrimp, sweet fresh pineapple, crunchy veggies, creamy avocado and drizzled with the best spicy mayo sauce. It’s a perfect lunch or dinner for all sushi flavors’ fans! Make sure that all of the ingredients are cold.