A guide to poke and the street food of Hawaii

Pronounced ‘po-kay’ not ‘po-kee’, poke in its most basic form is chunks of raw fish in a marinade. Its origins are unclear, although Hawaiian fisherman are said to have eaten a form of poke using the offcuts of their catches for many years. Traditionally, the marinade is made from a combination of soy sauce and sesame oil, an influence from Hawaii’s large Asian-American population (the highest percentage in the United States).

Although poke has been featured on the menus of London’s few Hawaiian restaurants (there are just two or three) and most recently at the popular market stall Eat Poke, London is yet to have dedicated poke bar. With the dish having already taken California by storm, it was inevitable that London would soon follow. This June will see the arrival of Ahi Poke to Fitzrovia, a laidback all-day restaurant where customers can build their own poké bowl with a choice of traditional fish (ahi or yellowfin tuna, sea bream and salmon).

The arrival of poke will help put Hawaiian cuisine on the map in the UK like never before; even Pret a Manger is planning to roll out its own version using marinated mushrooms, pickled cabbage and avocado. However, when a food trend exposes us to a new cuisine it can be too easy to become fixated on one dish and forget about the other local specialities, as seen with Peruvian food when ceviche first made waves in the UK. Read on to discover seven delicious Hawaiian foods and be inspired to host your own luau (a traditional Hawaiian party).

Poke is one of Hawaii’s most common dishes. It can be found at beach shacks, supermarket delis and trendy high street bars all over the state’s islands. Part of the fun of poke is its versatility – other than using the freshest ingredients possible, there are no rules as to what you can include. Popular additions include wasabi, sliced onions, Hawaiian sea salt, limu (Hawaiian seaweed), pickles and kimchi. Although ahi and yellowfin tuna are most commonly used, poké is also made with other seafood such as octopus and salmon as well as chunks of avocado, mushroom and tofu for vegetarians. Today poke is most typically served atop a bowl of sticky rice, then garnished with any number of toppings. The main thing that distinguishes it from other raw fish dishes such as ceviche is the marinade, which is less acidic.

Hawaiians are famous for their love of spam – they are the second largest consumers of the canned pre-cooked meat in the world and even have varieties that are unavailable elsewhere (Honey Spam, Spam with Bacon and Hot and Spicy Spam). Affectionately known as ‘Hawaiian steak’, it was first brought to the island by American soldiers during the Second World War, where its long shelf life made it perfect for ration packs. It soon became a hit with the locals, leading to the creation of the Spam musubi. Slices of soy-glazed Spam are grilled until caramelised, sandwiched between sushi rice and wrapped in crunchy nori seaweed. While the idea of a Spam-based snack may not sound that appealing, it’s certainly worth trying at least once. After all, Barack Obama – Hawaii’s most famous son – is said to be a big fan.

The influence of Hawaii’s large Asian-American community can again be seen with this popular chicken noodle soup. Thought to be loosely based on a Chinese soup with a similar name, it originated in the 1800s when chickens were first brought to the island. Now a staple of a Hawaiian luau, chicken long rice is one of the island's most popular comfort foods. Translucent mung bean noodles, chicken thighs and lots of fresh ginger – the soup’s most characteristic flavour – are simmered in a fragrant chicken broth and garnished with spring onions and carrot.