Ohana Poke Co brings taste of Hawaii to downtown Los Angeles

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- At Ohana Poke Co., you're part of the family. At least that's how chef Eric Park wants you to the feel. After all, ohana means family.

The mastermind behind Silverlake gastropub Black Hogg has rebooted his downtown Los Angeles restaurant, formerly Hero Shop LA, to catch the poke craze that's sweeping across Los Angeles.

"Poke is made for L.A.," Park said. "L.A. has always loved sushi and it's basically sushi in a rice bowl."

Park's take on the Hawaiian dish marries the flavors of high-quality bigeye tuna with his signature sauces and is served up with your choice of seaweed salad, kimchi cucumbers and ponzu crunchy glass noodles. The whole thing is topped off with texture-rich ingredients, including edamame, furikake, scallions and wasabi peas -- all on a bed of rice or kale. Masago and avocado can be added at an extra cost.

The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., but to avoid the lunch rush (and long lines) head on over from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. To-go orders can also be made online for delivery or over the phone for pick-up.

And as a side note for Black Hogg fans, the poke concept is doing so well that Park is planning to convert Black Hogg into an Ohana Poke Co. The Silver Lake spot's last day as a gastropub will be Aug. 9.

Chef's recommendation

For your first visit, Park recommends ordering a small bowl of spicy tuna and/or chili mango poke on a bed of brown heirloom sushi rice with a side of ponzu crunchy glass noodles and avocado.

He then adds a 1/2-lb order of ohana shoyu poke and a bag of chips, and finishes the meal with a tofu musubi and an agua fresca.

Ohana Poke Co.

130 E. 6th St.

Los Angeles, CA 90014

(213) 265-7561

Other places to try poke in Southern California:

PokiNometry

184 S. Harbor Blvd.

Anaheim, CA 92805

(657) 208-3488

Poke-Poke

1827 Ocean Front Walk

Venice, CA 90291

(424) 228-5132

Jus' Poke

501 N. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Redondo Beach, CA 90277

(310) 379-1133

Spinfish Poke House

36 W. Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91105

(626) 585-0988