An SFU grad is bringing a taste of Hawaii to Burnaby Mountain this fall with the city’s first Poké Bar.
Camy Wong decided to get into the poké business after noticing a limited selection of food options for SFU students beyond the typical chain fare of Tim Horton’s or Subway.
“It takes a lot of time to leave the mountain, so a lot of students aren’t going to commute down the mountain just to grab food,” she said. The restaurant will be located in The Cornerstone building near SFU’s upper bus loop. Wong believes Poké Bar will provide a “unique and healthy alternative” to the food currently offered on campus.
Poké is a traditional Hawaiian food consisting of sliced raw fish marinated in Asian sauces and seasonings. This fish salad is often served over rice and can be likened to Japanese sashimi. However, according to Wong, the variety of sauces are what sets poké apart from sushi dishes.
Steve Huynh, Wong’s fiancé, will be preparing the restaurant’s poké bowls – many of which will be custom spins on traditional Hawaiian poké, made according to the diner’s tastes and preferences. Wong and Huynh have eaten poké straight from its cultural source, as much of Huynh’s family lives in Hawaii and the couple visits often.
“We’re going to try to get it as authentic as possible but fit the needs of people here,” said Wong.
Although classic Hawaiian poké doesn’t leave much room for customization according to Wong, Poké Bar’s build-your-own-bowl option will give foodies a chance to try poke without venturing too far outside of their comfort zone. The restaurant is in the midst of finalizing their menu and are looking into offering special deals for students.
Wong hopes the absence of poké restaurants in the city will draw in people who wouldn’t otherwise have cause to visit SFU Burnaby.
“If we have Hawaiian poké, because there’s nothing in Burnaby, we’re going to bring in guests that normally wouldn’t travel up the mountain,” she said.
For updates on Poké Bar’s, visit their facebook page at www.facebook.com/pokebar.van
