Breezy Bites

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Kathy Tran

Poke’s, the beloved Hawaiian dish, popularity has skyrocketed over the past few years thanks to its colorful ingredients, healthy components and fresh flavors. These tailored dishes allow guests to explore new flavors while also eating well. And thanks to Dallas’ Malibu Poke, guests can feel good about where their poke is coming from.

Owner Jon Alexis set out to create a Southern California-inspired eatery known for creating fresh, expertly sourced poke. With a background in the industry as the creator of TJs Seafood & Grill, Jon knew how to seek out premium offerings and make them approachable for guests.

“We use the same sources to serve the freshest seafood for Malibu Poke,” Jon says. “We also source our produce from local farms.”

Malibu Poke uses sashimi-grade fish that’s butchered daily to ensure each bowl comes out picture perfect and full of nutritional value, which is something that many fast-casual locations choose to sidestep. Jon believes just because guests are dining in for a quick meal doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the best product.

“As the rest of the poke world seems to be racing to the bottom in terms of quality, we offer the same quality ingredients you'd find in a fine dining restaurant but in a quick, casual atmosphere,” Jon says.

Their menu allows guests to build their own bowls – in small, medium (same base as a small but the large protein portion) or large sizes – so they have control of what they enjoy. After choosing

a base (brown rice, sushi rice, cauliflower rice, a seaweed blend, massaged kale or a combination of two), guests can select one of their fresh sauces and an array of their toppings – everything from marinated shitake, wasabi tobiko, white pickled ginger, furikake, toasted sesame and daikon are available.

Malibu Poke also has a selection of signature creations that are chef-approved. James Beard nominated chef Matt McCallister, known for Dallas’ fine dining establishments like FT33 and Homewood, worked with Malibu Poke to create a unique menu. Some of their dishes are rather traditional, while others – like the Banito Aioli Tuna with Serrano pepper, bonito flakes, micro basil, avocado, toasted coconut and crispy garlic – push the boundaries of what’s expected in poke.

The eatery provides an array of options for those who may have a limited diet, so guests choosing to eat gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, Atkins, Paleo or Keto regimes can find something to enjoy on the menu. The Tropical Chimichurri Shrimp, topped with scallion, carrot, mango, jicama and micro radish, is even Whole30 approved. Jon personally set out to build a menu that would be inclusive to those who may not always have a vast amount of choice when dining out.

“I'm diabetic, and it's impossible for me to find food I can eat that actually excites me culinarily,” Jon says. “Guests shouldn't have to choose between eating healthy and eating yummy. We serve delicious food...that happens to be healthy and customizable for any diet. That's what I'm proudest of at Malibu Poke.”

Malibu Poke also has a menu for “the little minnows,” so kids get a choice in what they enjoy as well. Whether they are adventurous eaters who want to try a tofu cauliflower rice-based bowl or

enjoy a cooked shrimp dish, your little ones will also walk out feeling light thanks to their healthy meal.

To round out your meal, enjoy kombucha on tap or a house frozen rosé while sitting back and taking in the breezy space. Or enjoy a decadent JOY macaron ice cream sandwich before wrapping your meal up. Either way, it’s easy to feel transported to a new place while taking in the restaurant’s ambiance.

“We want Malibu Poke to be a vacation from real life...you walk in, you groove to the yacht rock, you enjoy the California-inspired ambiance and you eat something freaking delicious,” Jon says.