Paakai Poke

Best poke I’ve ever had, so fresh and yummy, my husband and I went there everyday. I saw reviews complained about them portion but with the island food price this is a very generous and affordable place.

One of the best eats I’ve had in my life. Pa’akai became popular on social media for all the right reasons. I will return and try the other fish they have.

Found this popular little poke spot in Kona! The shop itself is tiny, so it’s mostly a grab and go situation. They have electronic kiosks for ordering which makes the process super easy. I went with the "Big Boy" (3 scoops of rice and 3 scoops of fish). Honestly, the rice was the biggest surprise! We tried both the white and brown rice, and it was delicious. Pro tip: Definitely add the brown sauce and furikake to the rice, it’s a game changer! The only downsides were that the fish had a bit white sinew (connective tissue), making some pieces pretty tough to chew. Also, I was excited for the ube balls, and while the sweet and salty flavor was nice, the texture was a bit on the dry side. Overall, a solid, fresh spot for a quick lunch!

I actually had poke for the first time ever in my life from this place and wow did I make the best decision ever. It was an amazing spot, full of both locals and tourists, they actually ran out of almost everything as I went right before they closed so you can tell they only sell enough for each day. They even have fish tacos because my wife doesn't want to eat poke but she tried mine and liked it! And it's very affordable. I will definitely go back.

Delicious poke! Super fresh!! I got the mini - 2 scoops of rice (way too much rice in my opinion) with furikake, spicy salmon and Mac salad. Seating is outside mostly covered with umbrellas for shade

OK, according to the signs, it's “internet famous!” Which, to me, doesn't always mean a whole lot. What does matter is the freshness of the food. Maybe it was the post-flight hunger, or the fact that my breakfast had been a sad, half-warm chicken breast with tomato and mozzarella (don't judge me), but this was really tasty. Hungry me went all in and ordered the plate with spicy salmon, Hawaiian ahi (my favorite), and a side of shoyu ahi, plus spicy krab and sunomomo on the side. Lord have mercy. Yes! I also tried the ponzu salmon, which was nice, though I could’ve used a bit less ponzu for my taste. You won’t regret getting it, especially knowing you’ll taste both the salmon and the ponzu. Looking back, I regret not trying the umami ahi, I’m sure it’s great. Other folks say the umami and shoyu ahi are the standouts. So, that’s my long-winded way of saying that sometimes the internet is right. I can heartily recommend stopping here for your dining delight. Mahalo and enjoy!

Delicious. Perfect choice in every way. Really super good. You're gonna want to come back. Thank you so much!

Paakai Poke is an absolute win for fresh, flavorful poke! The fish is super fresh, the portions are generous, and the flavors are perfectly balanced — you can really taste the quality in every bite. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the place has a relaxed local vibe that makes you want to come back. Easily one of the best poke spots around — simple, delicious, and done right.

The reviews are awesome so I think we were expecting the best, we can say we did enjoy this place very much! We came late in the day (our bad) so they were out of many selections. The furikake was a teeny bit salty. Otherwise would have given 5 stars. The service was excellent. We did not mind the self serve check in at all. Very efficient! I still highly recommend it!