Written by Menswear Style in Food & Drink on the 30th May 2018

Whether or not you've been staying on top of dining trends these days, it's no secret that there's one culinary craze which has completely taken the city by storm. The poke bowl; colourful, protein-packed Hawaiian dishes which are brimming with ceviche, sushi and a smorgasbord of tropical flavours, have finally landed in the UK, and have done so with a splash. Poke bowls have been a dining staple across the US for a few years now, ever since native Hawaiians capitalised on the tropical cool of their beloved local dish, and trailblazers started opening up poke vendors in hipster Meccas such as Williamsburg in New York and Silver Lake in Los Angeles.

If the hottest summer food trends in London of the last few years were defined by Teppanyaki and Peruvian tapas, summer 2018 will undoubtedly be remembered as the year of the poke bowl. The poke bowl packs a punch in more ways than one, so it's not surprising that Londoners have embraced the cuisine with open arms; the refreshing and tasty blend of sushi and ceviche is naturally a great casual dining option, and the seriously high nutritional value makes a great choice for men who are looking to stay in shape. Likewise, the dish has become increasingly popular for those who are looking to bulk up, given that a poke bowl is essentially a massive protein injection, as well as a great source for vitamins and antioxidants. The poke bowl London food craze has also meant that there's a huge proliferation of good-value, trendy dining hangouts, especially around Hoxton and Clapham, which are great places to bring a casual date, or to just hang out with your mates over a bowl and a beer.

Poke's definitive moment as the hottest dish of the season was cemented earlier this year, with the manic grand opening of Kaia, an upscale Pacific-fusion restaurant which specialises in inventive Poke bowls. Lines to get in were around the block and the place is reportedly fully booked for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, there's no shortage of amazing places to grab a poke bowl in London or to have one delivered from, where you can spare yourself the effort of dressing up and queueing down Moorgate for the best part of an evening. Poke bowls are great for their versatility, using beef or fish to create a delicious combo, and there's a huge number of eateries which cater to all different kinds of tastes, moods and bank balances - meaning you'll be able to please even the pickiest companion with an on-trend dining experience, whether you're hitting the town or ordering in.

For a sleek, Wall Street-esque experience, try out Black Roe in Mayfair, which is the perfect option for meticulously-crafted poke, as well as pounding beer and Sake with bankers on a Tuesday lunchtime. For something more hip and casual, there are too many great options to count, but we recommend hitting up Island Poke in Soho, or Aki Poke in Fitzrovia. Whichever vibe you go for, make sure to have plenty of fun embracing the biggest food trend of the year!

We discuss how Poke Bowls Have Officially Taken Over London and put the spotlight on Kaia London, Black Roe, Island Poke and Aki Poke.