I’ve been commuting to downtown Washington, DC for almost eight years now. Cafes and restaurants come and go. But a new addition at 14th and K Streets NW caught my eye: Honeyfish Poke. It opened a few weeks ago, right around the time I heard it mentioned on House of Carbs, a podcast about food trends and celebrities, based in Washington, DC.
I have a penchant for sushi – it’s salty, spicy, filling and usually a reasonable price in the prepared foods section of the grocery store. More than once, I have grabbed a six- or nine-count salmon roll or spicy tuna for a quick and easy dinner.
Recent fast-casual chain Buredo has also been hitting Washington, DC by storm – with one downtown (maybe two blocks from Honeyfish Poke), and another one opening up in my old neighborhood of H Street Northeast. Buredo takes sushi and prepares it burrito-style.
But Honeyfish Poke is a slightly different approach. Historically a Hawaiian dish, poke is essentially a fish salad. In other words, it’s not unlike a deconstructed sushi roll – a concept that has drawn criticism from chef celebrity David Chang (Momofuku, Milkbar). Poke shops have been on the West Coast for some time, but are now establishing a presence in the Mid-Atlantic region.
I made a visit to Honeyfish Poke for lunch earlier this week. It was an ideal time: August is Washington, DC is eerily quiet, with Congressional staffers at home on recess, and other politicos and lobbyists escaping the DC humidity for a bit.
The shop was small, with simple decor. New hires were lined up behind the counter, ready to walk me through the menu. In the vein of other fast-casual make-your-own bowls (CAVA, SKWR, Chipotle, etc), Honeyfish Poke starts you off with a base of rice or greens (or a mix), then toppings like veggies (half an avocado for $1 extra) and then offers 2, 3 or 4 scoops of protein–in this case, raw fish. 
At $10.95 for a “small” (2 scoops of protein), I chose Hawaiian tuna and spicy tuna. I opted for a bed of rice so that it would be more filling, and I caved and added the avocado, too. The dry toppings were delightful, adding flavor and crunch. Total price? $12.64.
Verdict? Tantalizing for the tastebuds, but tough on the wallet.
Honeyfish Poke is located at 1401 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. See the menu and locations here.
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