Sweetfin Poké (Santa Monica, CA)

The build-your-own-poké bowl trend is exploding right now. Sweetfin in Santa Monica is the first I’ve visited with not one, but **two** vegan options! The online and paper menu call out the vegan options for safe and delicious eating.

This light—nearly raw—approach to dining only works with top quality ingredients which Sweetfin hits on the head. Vegan-friendly bases include Bamboo Rice and Citrus Kale Salad, all toppings are vegan as well.

The Shiitake Chile Tofu Poké is drizzled in a classic (shoyu and sesame) sauce with chile oil and cilantro. Then we selected blistered shishito peppers and crispy onions to top it off over a kale salad. While I preferred the rice, the kale is on trend.

We got another bowl of Shiitake Chile Tofu Poké with blistered shishito peppers and crispy garlic. The garlic dust is a gentler alternative to the strings of onions… but I like the onions better.

The Vegetable Poké offers chopped sweet potato, carrots, avocado, cucumber, edamame and serrano peppers in a ponzu-lime sauce over bamboo soaked rice. Then we got it topped with fresh mango, wasabi toasted coconut and crispy onions. This was my favorite combination.