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Victoria: London’s top new food trend at Ahi Poke

Ahi Poké is at the forefront of the scene in the UK. That’s pronounced POH-key. No, they’re not related to Pokémon!

They’re the latest trend fresh from Hawaii taking LA and the US by storm. And we love them! Poké means “slice or cut” in Hawaiian. It was developed in the 20’s by Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. Think sushi without the seaweed wrap – larger portions and sweeter dressings.

The setting

 Ahi Poké is in the sleek, new Nova complex opposite Victoria Station.

The modern square is landscaped with seating, raised gardens and sculpture.

It’s handy for Victoria, around the corner from Buckingham Palace and perfectly placed for blockbuster musical lovers. Wicked is playing across the road and will be joined by US phenomenon Hamilton in December.

Ahi Poké has a crisp, modern feel. The floor to ceiling windows create light and the pretty bamboo wallpaper adds an exotic touch. The café only has outdoor seating, but in good weather that’s a bonus in this location.

During our lunchtime visit most customers had Poké bowls to go. The small queue of office workers and commuters moved quickly.

The little things

We loved the fact that all the packaging is 100% biodegradable.

They responsibly source and sustainably catch their fish.

They are open for lunch and dinner and their vibrant ingredients and filling bowls are a fab addition to Victoria’s eating options.

The fresh juice test

Ahi Poké sadly doesn’t do juices or smoothies. There’s a small selection of drinks including water, coconut waters and a homemade iced tea.

What we ate

We had three small bowls. There’s a choice of four signature bowls-Oahu,Heat Wave, Venice and Sweet Green. We chose the vegan Sweet Green.

You can also ‘Build A Bowl’ choosing a base (kale, brown rice, quinoa), a fish or veggie (salmon, Ahi tuna, shrimp or mushroom), a sauce and toppings (fried onion, confit ginger, carrot, radish, coriander, kimchee, pineapple, edamame, sweet potato, red onion and chili grapefruit).

We chose a shrimp and an Ahi tuna. All three are fresh, filling and delicious.

There’s a small selection of deserts and the green matcha cream topped with pomegranate is sweet and rich. We left feeling energised.

What else?

We like the way you can build your own supercharged Poke bowl.  There’s another branch of Ahi Poké with indoor seating in Percy St, Fitzrovia.

The bill

Sweet Green bowl with avocado £6.95
Build Your Own Bowl £7.95
Matcha Cream £3.00

What made us glow?

The fact that yummy and healthy food can be found so close to busy Victoria.

Now there’s no excuse for not picking up a healthy take-away as you commute!

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Jusu Brothers, Notting Hill

Jusu Brothers

Owned by the London Village Kids, a consortium of friends and business partners, Jusu Brothers is a blend of pan-asian food and freshly pressed juices.

It’s tucked away in a serene setting on the busy Westbourne Grove running through the heart of Notting Hill.

The setting

Jusu Brothers is at the quieter end of Westbourne Grove, far enough away from the hustle of Queensway and quieter than the busy shopping end of the road.

White tables with pale wood benches help create a calm and cool atmosphere along with fresh plants everywhere (even suspended from the ceiling) with industrial lights dotting the ceiling and bicycles and scooters leaning against the wall – all adding to the chilled out vibes.

The little things

Brimming with nature, Jusu has little cactuses perched on every table and huge wire baskets filled with bright red apples.

The walls are bare and whitewashed and there’s gentle music beating away in the background.

Jusu Brothers
Jusu Brothers

The menu is a healthy, creative twist on Japanese – think vegan sushi and an impressive menu of protein shakes.

The green and white teas on offer are extensive, including Sencha of Fuji (rich in antioxidants), Douceur Neroli (orange blossom), and Mistal Gagnant (raspberry flowers and grapefruit). There are also little ginger, beetroot, and wheatgrass and lemon shots on offer.

The green juice test

We asked for a veg-filled green juice and the friendly waiter suggested the Kyuri Cleanse – perfect for a hot London day. Bursting with cucumber, kale and celery, it was blended and pressed in front of us – simple but delicious!

What we ate

We came for an early lunch and there were plenty of free tables which quickly filled up as we sat. We tried the vegan sushi which was packed with veggies – rocket leaves, carrot, apple, sun-dried tomatoes, portobellos and avocados surrounded by tahini-dressed quinoa, all wrapped in a nori sheet and cashew dressing. It was pretty delicious!

 

We also chose an acai bowl which arrived in a beautiful turquoise blue ceramic bowl (they’ve thought of everything).

It included acai, guarana, blueberries, avocado, almond butter and topped with homemade buckwheat and hazelnut granola, pumpkin and chia seeds, bee pollen, goji berries and a squeeze of agave. Although we thought it could have been a little colder, it looked and tasted incredible.

Jusu Brothers

The Bill

£23.95

red smoothie bowl
vegan sushi
kyruri cleanse
+ 12.5% discretionary charge

What else?

The customers were an even mix of local residents and business people.

The big windows were wide open, fusing the chilled inside vibes with the warmth of London outside.

What made us glow?

The Kyuri Cleanse was so fresh and perfect for a hot summer’s day and free from fruit which was very welcoming! The staff were friendly and knew the menu which meant they could make helpful suggestions.

The menu is extensive and intriguing – the sort of place you would want to revisit to try everything!

Jusu Brothers