Is poke always a bowl?

In Hawaii, poke is just the seasoned fish, often sold by the pound. Mainland shops serve it over rice with toppings, which made the bowl famous.

Is the fish in poke raw?

Usually, yes, and most often tuna or salmon. Many shops also offer cooked shrimp, octopus or tofu if you want something cooked.

Poke vs ceviche: what's the difference?

Poke is Hawaiian cubed raw fish tossed in soy, sesame and onion, savory and rich, while ceviche is Latin American raw seafood cured in lime, sour, bright and often spicy.

Poke

Very light

Indulgent

Subtle

Big punch

Mellow

Zingy

Cubes of raw tuna or salmon in soy and sesame, savory and mellow.

Ceviche

Very light

Indulgent

Subtle

Big punch

Mellow

Zingy

Seafood cured in lime with onion and chili, sour and zippy.

The real difference

Poke seasons cubed raw fish with soy sauce, sesame oil, onion and sometimes seaweed, so it's salty, nutty and soft. Ceviche soaks seafood in lime juice, which firms it up, and adds onion, cilantro and chili. Poke is savory and mellow; ceviche is sour and sharp.

Side by side

PokeCeviche

FromHawaiiLatin America

Seasoned withSoy, sesame, onion, seaweedLime, onion, cilantro, chili

TextureSoft, raw cubesFirm, lime-cured

ServedOver rice in a bowl, on the mainlandWith chips, tostadas or corn

Which to order

Order poke if you want savory raw fish to make a meal of with rice.
Order ceviche if you want a sour, refreshing starter.

Quick questions

Is poke always a bowl?: In Hawaii, poke is just the seasoned fish, often sold by the pound. Mainland shops serve it over rice with toppings, which made the bowl famous.
Is the fish in poke raw?: Usually, yes, and most often tuna or salmon. Many shops also offer cooked shrimp, octopus or tofu if you want something cooked.