There are a lot of variations on the fast casual food bowl in the city. However, the Hawaiian poke bowls at Poke Papa in Chinatown make me feel like I am on island in the middle of a busy work week. Topping off a rice or salad bowl with different kind of fish makes me feel like I’ve just stepped off the beach instead of the busy streets of Washington.

You can order one of their signature poke bowls but I like to build my own. The poke bowls come in three sizes: snack (2 scoops of protein), regular (3 scoops of protein), and large (4 scoops of protein).  You can also get no protein scoops or tofu for a veggie option. I’m a big fan of the spicy tuna, scallops and shrimp and I always depend on the folks at Poke Papa to recommend a good sauce. They have a dozen different sauces from mild to extra spicy and know how to recommend the right sauce for the protein I choose.

Poke Papa is on H Street in Chinatown. They are open for lunch and dinner.