Exciting news - Lexington, Kentucky opened its first Poke Bowl restaurant in January and has students and locals hooked! Poke is a healthy, cheap, and quick option for many. However, lots of you reading this may be wondering, "What is poke?"
What Is Poke?
Poke (poh-kay) is a raw fish "salad" that traditionally is a Hawaiian appetizer or meal. Poke is the Hawaiian verb for "slice/cut", often consisting of raw seafood. Poke became popular around the 1970's and recently has become a huge trend all over the world. Right here in Lexington, we now have our own poke restaurant that is absolutely incredible and a must try for those who love a quick and healthy meal.
My Experience At Miyako
Upon arriving at Miyako for the first time, I was a bit overwhelmed and unsure of what to try because I was not big on trying raw seafood. But let me tell you, it is absolutely incredible! Miyako has three different options of poke: A poke salad, a poke bowl over rice, and a poke burrito. My go-to is the poke bowl over rice. The regular bowl contains two protein options and then all the other toppings are free! My bowl usually consists of rice, salmon, shrimp, cucumbers, edamame, mangos, avocado, sweet onions, and roe, and it's topped with sesame seeds and eel sauce. This bowl will definitely have your taste buds craving more!
To give you a little info on Miyako's other options, the poke salad is essentially just like the bowl. The main difference is that you don't get any rice with your meal. The last option they have is the burrito. How neat is it that you can get a burrito made out of sushi?! They take the ingredients that you choose and wrap it up in the rice to form a burrito. This is by far one of the best quick and healthy meals you can find in Lexington.
You may also be wondering about the health benefits that come with poke. Poke contains raw fish which is full of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are the "good" type of fat that help lower your risk of heart disease and cancer and decrease depression, anxiety, and much more! The vegetables in poke are low in fat and calories and contain important nutrients like potassium, fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Potassium helps to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Fiber reduces cholesterol levels and your risk of heart disease. Vitamin A gives you pretty eyes and beautiful skin. Vitamin C helps to maintain a healthy immune system, lower your cancer risk and is essential for wound healing!
Poke is also a low-calorie option. When adding the rice, be aware of the extra calories from the carbohydrates, but the rice is still a healthy option, too! Carbohydrates provide your body energy to get through the day. Overall, this meal provides so many nutritious food options that you simply can't go wrong with much of anything here!
Do yourself a favor and go try the poke at this phenomenal restaurant that will have you hooked! Healthy, quick and cheap? What more could you ask for!