Here in the City of Angeles, there’s always something new to try. Bars, clubs, boutiques and restaurants seem to come and go just like hits on the radio. Few entrepreneurs and business owners have tapped into the magical secret of staying power here on these LA streets, but once the right mixture of service, location and quality is stirred up in the right bowl then well, you’ve got a classic. Enter : Mainland Poke Shop.
The TGIFguide team was invited to give the new poke restaurant on 3rd Street a try and when we arrived there was already a line out the door. Mainland Poke‘s website isn’t even fully launched yet but proof is in the pudding that when the food is good, word travels fast.
The vibes at Mainland Poke take the fast casual concept and infuse it with a bit of ukulele music, some awesome art direction (both in the interior design and the food!) and a whole lot of freshness. The joint is well lit and seemingly simple, but the details are noticeable in everything from the staff’s T-shirts to the oceanic mural on the wall.
Every morning founder Ari Kahan and his team head out to the local fish markets and pick out fish, octopus and other morsels that are fresher than Beyonce’s lyrics. Yep, you can’t get much fresher than that, and when it’s a local favorite like bluefin tuna, it’s gone with the flick of a fin.
We chatted with the charismatic 26-year-old a bit and learned about his passion for food and also for entrepreneurship and found that a fresh take on starting your own business by following your intuition and what you know is good, is just as important as fresh food!
As we stood alongside the long bar opposite the poke bowl creation counter, we watched other guests select their favorite fish, toppings and sauces, each one more excited than the last.
The menu was developed by Ari himself along with partner Executive Chef Kayson Chong (formerly of Boa Steakhouse) and while there are some awesome selections to try like “That Fire!” which features tuna, wasabe cream, furikake, chili flakes, jalapeno, and Sriracha, if you’re not in the pre-selected kind of mood, of course you can build your own.
I told Mr. Kahan to create whatever he was feeling for me, and that the octopus looked particularly tasty. Ari worked his magic and whatever he put in my warm rice based bowl, was absolutely delicious! The harmony of warm and cold, sweet and spicy, smooth and crunchy created the perfect yin and yang it takes to make any dish great, and a good meal is something that goes unforgotten, especially at TGIFguide.com.
I already can’t wait to come back, and can’t wait to invite all of you to come too! Be sure to stop by (address below) and tell the awesome folks at Mainland Poke Shop that TGIFguide sent you.
Aloha! And bon appetite <3
Mainland Poke
8318 W. Third St.
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 234-8800
Written by Jacqueline Chambers
Jacqueline Chambers is the founder of TGIFguide. She uses her innate skills as a natural “connector” to serve businesses, brands and individuals in the LA area and beyond.
