Dining and drinking review: Sam Choy’s Poke to the Max

Sam Choy’s Poke to the Max is located at 1716 Pacific Ave

Review and photos by Kurt Kwon

Hawaiian food seems to be hitting the mainland like a big storm lately. Specifically, poke places are popping up all over the Puget Sound. Luckily we have a few choices near us and Sam Choy’s is a great addition to the growing dining scene in Tacoma. 

Poke (pronounced “poke ay”) is a traditional raw fish salad served in Hawaiian cuisine. Traditionally made with sushi grade tuna, poke is usually marinated in a light soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil, and peppers along with a host of other tasty ingredients. You can have endless possibilities with different type of fish and ingredients that makes poke an interesting menu choice. If you were afraid of sushi, poke may be a good way to ease into raw fish because of the marinated characteristics of the dish. It is very easy to eat and the fish should be nearly tasteless. 

I have been to Sam Choy’s about 3 times now and can give an honest assessment. I tried the Classic Shoyu that consists of ahi tuna, shoyu (Hawaiian soy sauce), and sesame oil. I have also tried the Sweetie which has ahi tuna, tamari, sweet onions and red chili flakes.  Both of the dishes had quality fresh tuna, which is the obvious key to the dish. None of the flavors were overbearing and were actually pretty mild overall. The plates come with two giant scoops of rice, which was too much for my liking. I would have liked more tuna than the rice. However, you get your choice of classic white rice or a mix rice with brown and white. I liked the mix because it gave it a little more excitement to the rice. The dish also comes with an assortment of salad that included kale, (I don’t’ understand why, as it did not enhance the salad at all), seaweed and fresh ginger.

If raw fish isn’t something you like or want to try, Poke to the Max has traditional cooked Hawaiian meals too. Kalua pork is a staple in Hawaiian food and Sam Choy doesn’t disappoint. I would say this was the star of all of the food I tried. The pork is shredded and extremely tender with a light flavor. The “loco moco” is another traditional dish that Hawaiians seem to love. It is made of ground beef, onions, brown gravy and a sunny-side up egg. That dish was a little salty for my liking but probably perfect for the native Hawaiian palate.

Overall, for being a new place, they get a good grade. They still have a few minor issues to perfect but I will definitely be back for more. Sam Choy’s is a little on the pricey side for this type of dining, but overall I would say it is worthwhile.