Imagine this: Diced raw fish served with salad greens and a smidgen of soya-and-sesame dressing. Sounds Japanese? Nah. It’s actually a staple Hawaiian food called poke (pronounced as “poh-kay”).

Boasting a myriad of colours and different textures, poke is bound to whet your appetite at first look. It’s also highly nutritious, with heart-healthy omega-3 fats from the fish (typically ahi tuna), plus antioxidants, phytochemicals and appetite-regulating fibre from the vegetables. The best part? You don’t have to journey 11,000 kilometres to Hawaii for a bite.

Banking on the healthfulness – and rising popularity – of poke in the US, several cafes and restaurants in Singapore have started offering this raw fish salad, as well as variants of it, to cater to diverse taste buds. For instance, carb lovers can eat it with rice (in bara chirashi-style), and sashimi fans can have their poke with various types of fish, instead of solely ahi tuna, the fish used in traditional poke.

Hungry? Get your poke fix at these spots.

(Also read: Make Your Own Hawaiian Raw Fish Salad)

Photo: Salmon Samurai

Where: #01-05 The Working Capitol Building

For more info:www.loloku.sg

With its inviting décor of bright pink flamingos and tropical-themed wallpaper, Loloku is part of the plethora of new dining establishments along Keong Saik Road.

This casual eatery offers both signature and customisable poké bowls that feature more than the regular salmon and tuna options (ono hamachi, anyone?). Signature bowls are classified according to the meat they feature: salmon, tuna, tofu, ono hamachi, and braised wagyu.

There are options for those on low-carb diets too: they come in the form of salad jars, and you can pick your dressings and choose from salmon, tuna or Hamachi.

Photo: Loloku

Where: #B1-08 Tanjong Pagar Centre

For more info:www.facebook.com/makaipokesg

Makai Poké is a takeaway-only poké store, and its fuss-free ordering system is a breeze. For a wallet-friendly price of $9.90 (given that it’s situated at the CBD), you can pick a base (red and brown rice, sushi rice, trio rice mix or salad), a protein (original shoyu salmon, spicy salmon, roasted sesame ahi tuna, yuzu soy ahi tuna, and vegetarian tofu sesame). Toppings include Japanese cucumbers, pineapples, carrots, avocado, salmon roe and pumpkin seeds, and superfood add-ons, which come at just an extra dollar each, include edamame seeds, pomegranate, goji berries and chia seeds.

Photo: Makai Poke

(Also read: 5 Simple Food Swops For A Healthier Diet)

Where: 46 Siloso Beach Walk

For more info: www.olabeachclub.com/gastro

You don’t have to fly all the way to Hawaii to get a taste of the Hawaiian vibe. Just head down to Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach. Just five minutes away from Beach Station, this chill beachside shack allows you to kick back on the beach while enjoying Hawaiian-inspired food, including a poké bowl. Personalise your bowls with your choice of poké, dressing, and three toppings such as pumpkin seeds, chopped pineapples, or guacamole, and wash it down with an Instagram-worthy glass of Ola Huli Pau, a fruity cocktail that includes rum, watermelon and lychee pearls.

Photo: Ola Beach Club

Where: #01-95 Millenia Walk

For more info:www.pokedoke.sg

Priding themselves on using high-quality fresh fish, Poke Doke offers three poke options, in the form of salmon, tuna and shitake tofu. The salmon and tuna cuts come in original, spicy and wasabi forms. Seasonal poke is available from time to time. (When we last visited, it was gochujang shrimp.)

Prices start from $12.50 for a regular portion that gives you one scoop (75g) of poke and four toppings of your choice. The toppings include carrot, edamame, chuka wakame (seasoned seaweed), cherry tomatoes and flying fish roe. For an additional $1.50, you can choose a premium topping such as onsen egg or seasoned jellyfish. We totally recommend that!

Photo: Poke Doke

Where: #01-K13 United Square

For more info: www.facebook.com/pokelulu

While you can opt for a Medium Tuna bowl ($15.90) or a Medium Salmon bowl ($15.90) for an easy option, the rest of Poke Lulu’s orders are based on a build-your-own-bowl system. This place is good for those with different appetites as they offer a small size ($11.90) with 75g of poke, a medium ($15.90) with 150g, and a large ($19.90) with 225g.

The bowls get one, two, and three choices of poke respectively. Everyone gets to choose three complimentary add-ons from the list of vegetables and nuts and either avocado, chia seeds, salmon roe or quail eggs as a complimentary superfood topping.

(Also read: 8 Cool New Ways to Use Chia Seeds)

Photo: Poke Lulu

Where: Several outlets including #02-05 The Star Vista and #01-K42 PasarBella Suntec City Mall (North Wing)

For more info: www.rollieolie.com

The dizzying array of choices will have you returning for more. Served with salmon, tuna and an assortment of veggies, poke bowls at Rollie Olie are mainly differentiated by their seasoning: classic sesame-and-soya sauce (Aloha Poke), Korean spicy sauce (Seoul Surfer), sriracha hot sauce (Cha Cha Cha), yuzu sauce (Yuzu Bliss) and wasabi sauce (Wild About Wasabi).

Prices range from $12.95 for a regular serving to $17.95 for an upsized portion. Vegetarians can opt for Green Goddess ($9.95 for regular size), which uses pan-seared tofu instead of raw fish.

Photo: Rollie Ollie

Where: 15 Lorong Liput

For more info: www.facebook.com/superfudo.sg

For a base, protein, two servings of vegetables and two toppings, opt for the Super Balanced bowl ($15). If you’re vegetarian, there’s the Veg Lite ($11) that has a base, two toppings, and three servings of veggies. Those with a smaller appetite can get the Petit Veg ($6) instead. They have healthy base options such as sweet potato, whole wheat bread, baby spinach, and cauliflower rice, multigrain rice, and for an extra dollar, organic quinoa.

Their proteins are unique too, with options like Singapore-style chicken, halal spiced lamb, and Japanese Quorn curry. You can also enjoy their all-day breakfast which consists of two eggs on a base and a side for $5.

(Also read: 5 Reasons To Have Quinoa Instead Of Brown Rice)

Photo: Superfudo

Where: Level 2, 73 Amoy Street

For more info: www.facebook.com/DapperCoffee

In the spirit of exotic cakes which this cafe is known for, Dapper Coffee churns out poke bowls with a twist. Their signature Poke-don ($22) features ahi tuna, avocado, spring onions, shiso and furikake, and is served over squid ink-flavoured rice, then topped with a caramelised egg yolk and cilantro. Whip out your camera for an Instagram shot before digging in!

(Also read: What is One Serving of Protein, Really?)

Photo: Dapper Coffee

Where: #B1-08 Ocean Financial Centre and #01-11 100AM

For more info: www.salmonsamurai.com

Everything is customisable here, and you get one salmon topping and base for $9.90. There are six salmon variations – raw, spicy raw, raw with soy sauce, cooked garlic shoyu, cooked yakinku, and seared mentaiko. Base choices include yuzu-ume brown rice, udon noodles, mixed greens salad and buckwheat soba. Super hungry? Opt for a supersized topping at an additional $6 and an extra base for $2. Add-ons such as salmon roe, avocado, nuts, egg and broccoli are available too.

Photo: Salmon Samurai

Where: Several outlets including 27 Boon Tat Street and #01-53 Velocity @ Novena Square

For more info:www.apoketheory.com

Focusing on poke bowls, this cafe stands out for its offbeat premium toppings such as kale chips, kalua pork (Hawaiian-style slow-cooked pork) and Thai mango, which you can add on for $2 each. Prices start from $11.50 for the regular Original Shoyu Tuna and Spicy Garlic Sesame Tuna poke bowl.

Those with a sweet tooth should save space for one of the yummy-sounding “superfood” smoothie bowls ($6 each) – Raspberry Tropic, Maca Nutter, Blackberry Binge and Cacaoholic – topped with assorted fruits and trendy snacks like quinoa puffs and coconut chips.

(Also read: 11 Healthy And Delicious Protein Bowls To Try In Singapore)

Photo: A Poke Theory

Where: Several outlets including 92 Amoy Street and #B2-46 Marina Bay Link Mall

For more info:www.alohapoke.com.sg

Like a salad bar, you can order a pre-made poke bowl – Standard Nalu Tuna or Standard Nalu Salmon (both at $15.90) – or customise one with your preferred ingredients. Choose from small ($11.90 for 75g of poke), regular ($15.90 for 150g of poke) or large ($19.90 for 225g of poke) bowls. Then, pick your preferred rice – white, brown or mixed – protein item, and three types of toppings, such as cherry tomatoes, edamame, pumpkin seeds, avocado and chia seeds. If you don’t fancy raw fish, there’s the option of having your poke bowl with tofu in a nutty sesame dressing.

To celebrate their third anniversary, they also introduced new standard add-ons, premium add-ons, and signature bowls. Premium options include jellyfish, roasted bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and Japanese garlic chips at $1.50 each. For $1, you can get the standard add-ons of Chuka wakame, nori seaweed, or pickled ginger.

Photo: Aloha Poke

Where: #01-79, 3 Everton Park

For more info: www.facebook.com/alakaicompany

If you’re looking for poké that’s not too steeped in marinade, then you might want to check out Alakai, where the poke is only marinated upon order so that the fish and the marinade taste fresh. You can build your own bowl (or plate) by choosing your base, poké, sauce, toppings and add-ons. Alakai also makes its own house seasonings, such as the Ho’ono, which consists of wakame, sesame and a hint of spiciness, and Niu Tahitian, where coconut, cucumbers, lime and sweet bell peppers deliver a zesty tropical taste. Check out its daily or weekly specials, too, if you’re game to try new flavours.

Photo: Alakai