Summer weather has officially arrived in Chicago, and we’re all in desperate need of fresh dining options to help beat the heat. Luckily, there’s a new culinary concept coming to Time Out Market Chicago with a menu that’s primed to help you cool down on a hot summer day.
On Tuesday, May 17, Lono Poke will debut a menu stocked with traditional poke, salads and island fruit smoothies inspired by the beachside towns of Oahu. Owner Ty Fuijimura, who grew up visiting family in Hawaii, says his poke is an authentic tribute to the kind you’d find in Hawaiian markets. Instead of build-your-own bowls popularized by fast-casual chains over the last few years, Lono Poke’s creations combine glistening cubes of fresh fish, premium white rice and a myriad of toppings to provide a genuine taste of the island’s culture.
“What it boils down to is that it’s a celebration of my Hawaiian heritage,” Fujimura explains.
Diners can try poke like Da Kine, made with pristine ahi tuna, sweet onion, pickled cucumber, seaweed and ono sauce (a signature concoction that tops many of Lono Poke’s bowls), or Ichiban, which pairs Japanese hamachi with scallion, jalapeño, cucumber, fried shallots and ponzu.
Along with premium white rice, bowls are served with a side of Hawaiian-style macaroni salad—and if you’re extra hungry, you can tack on additional sides like snappy seaweed salad or edamame. Plus, on hot days (or any day when you’re craving something tropical), check out Lono Poke’s island fruit smoothies, which can be boosted with CBD for an extra dose of chill.
Ready to embrace a taste of the Aloha spirit? Lono Poke will officially debut at Time Out Market Chicago on Tuesday, May 17, where it will be open seven days a week (Monday through Saturday from 11am–10pm, Sunday 11am–9pm). Take a look through some of the concept’s poke and sides below.
