Poke Roll 808 - San Clemente

I've enjoyed this restaurant in the past, but my experience today was disappointing. The POKE had barely any fish in it—I'm talking about maybe an ounce at most. It's a shame because that small amount was quite good, which is why I gave it three stars. I came in hungry and craving protein, but what I received was mostly filler: a salad, rice, and macaroni. Seriously? Perhaps the place would have been busier on a Friday at 6:30 PM if they included more actual fish in their dishes. Lesson learned. On top of that, it took the staff about 30 minutes to prepare three meals, and there were hardly any other customers. As I mentioned, I've liked this restaurant before, but I think I'll take a long break before considering returning—maybe I'll come back after I've already eaten.

You can only choose one protein and one sauce, and each topping costs an additional 50 cents. Along with the poke, you receive a cookie scoop of mac salad (which I didn't enjoy), a handful of romaine and spinach salad, and a scoop of rice. Our total came to $29 for just the two of us, which felt a bit steep. Additionally, the place was messy and had an odd smell, which might explain why some diners opted to sit in the breezeway. I wouldn’t recommend this place for poke, although I can’t speak to the sushi side of the restaurant.

The service had a passive-aggressive vibe, with a smile that felt insincere. There were no clean tables available, and when we were seated, the server wiped our table with a damp cloth, but it still had bits of food and sauce left on it. The sushi rolls were disappointingly average. To top it off, after I signed a wet receipt and left a tip, I ended up with a mysterious brown sticky substance on my arm, all because I was just trying to be cheerful.

We ordered the vegan udon noodles along with the vegan ramen. After paying, we waited about 10 minutes, only to be informed that the udon contained fish. We clarified about the ramen, and they told us they had to cancel the order because they couldn't accommodate vegan options. It was a complete waste of 20 minutes, and all we received was a cup of water.

In this Cowboy Surf city, finding plant-based options can be a bit challenging, but this restaurant is more than willing to accommodate. I highly recommend the Udon noodles with vegan toppings and sweets; they are fantastic! The vegan rolls are also delicious, featuring excellent sushi rice.