Healthy Restaurants in Madison: Miko Poke
The Healthy Place has been a BUSY the past few months with two new stores opening, the Hemp Event, and so much more behind the scenes. Well, that also means that a few months have passed since we have posted a restaurant review. But we are back with a good one today AND we are giving away a gift certificate, so read all the way through to the end!
As always, we love supporting local restaurants and looked to answer the same list of questions that will help you find your healthy place when looking for places to eat out in the Madison area. Here is what we are rating:
- The food
- The options for those with different dietary needs
- The overall experience
Without further ado, let’s review Miko Poke!
Miko Poke, Madison, WI
Miko Poke is a Hawaiian themed Food Fight restaurant off of Monroe Street. Their specialty? You guessed it — poke bowls! Poke (pronounced poh-KAY and rhymes with ‘okay’) typically consists of cubed, raw fish that is served on top of rice or greens, and then topped with various veggies, fruits, and sauces. Don’t worry, though, if you don’t like raw fish. There are options for chicken, cooked fish, and even tofu or veggie bowls.
You can create your bowl from scratch or select one of their “House Creations”. It reminded me a little bit of Chipotle as they have all of the food visible and lined up. You order at the counter, they make your bowl and then call you when it’s ready. You can also order online so it’s ready to go when you get there.
What’s on the menu?
Choose a base of rice or greens (or a combination of the two), a protein, toppings and a sauce. We loved how you can really customize your poke bowl to be anything you want.
They also serve dairy-free Dole Whips and Dole Whip Floats that come with your choice of sparkling pineapple juice or Honolulu iced tea. You can also get Hawaiian Shaved Ice that is made with real fruit, fresh juices, and no high fructose corn syrup. They use real sugar and organic agave nectar.
While we wouldn’t encourage a Dole Whip or Shaved Ice daily, it’s nice to know there are better options for that day when you want a sweet treat. Then again — we wouldn’t judge you, either.
Digging Deeper
Do they offer a variety of healthy options? (gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan)
Yes! Their bowls are full of fresh vegetables and healthy protein options. The whole menu is gluten and dairy free, so there are options for everyone!
Do they use seasonal, local foods when possible?
Yes, especially for their weekly specials.
Do they accommodate food sensitivities and allergies?
Yes, there is no dairy or gluten in any of the ingredients (besides the beer!)
Do they have separate menus?
They have one menu, but as I mentioned, the entire menu is gluten and dairy free and there are many choices when it comes to your individual bowl! You can create it just how you want it!
Do they have separate kitchens/ food preparing spaces?
No, the kitchen is not an allergy-free environment and they use a shared fryer. They do, however, take great care to prevent cross-contamination.
What is the atmosphere like?
Very fun with Hawaiian decor! Becki, who as I mentioned travels every year to Hawaii, said it took her back. It reminded her of local Hawaiian spots that the O’Brien family visits when they are there each fall. The space wasn’t huge, but there were plenty of spots to grab a seat.
Is the food delicious?
Yes, absolutely! The food is healthy, full of flavor, and we love that you can make your bowl exactly what you want.
History of Food Fight Restaurants in Madison, WI
If you’ve been in Madison for any length of time, you’ve probably heard of the Food Fight Restaurant Group. Many of our local favorites are restaurants that are a part of this group, such as Bassett Street Brunch Club, Cento, Craftsman Table and Tap, Fresco, Hubbard Avenue Diner and many more. I, personally, have been to many of these restaurants and knew that they were part of the Food Fight Restaurant Group, but never knew the history, so I decided to look into it!
Food Fight is a locally owned and operated Madison restaurant group that started back in 1994. It was started by Monty Schiro of Monty’s Blue Plate Diner and Peder Moren, a local real estate investor. Their goal was to not only create exceptional dining spaces that served delicious food, but to give back to the Madison community. They have ongoing partnerships with organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank, Centro Hispano, and Meals on Wheels.
We love the idea of shopping and eating local foods! Most of the Food Fight restaurants have great options for everyone. We highly encourage you to visit their page to learn more about the organization, their restaurants, and what they have going on in the Madison community.
Final Thoughts On Miko Poke & a GIVEAWAY!
Miko Poke is a great lunch spot. We arrived right at 11:00 when they opened and by the time we were leaving a little before noon, the place was packed. The seats in the restaurant were pretty much filled and there were many people coming and going with lunch orders.
Miko Poke is open for lunch and dinner and makes eating healthy quick and easy! Their hours are 11:00 AM- 9:00 PM most days and are open until 10:00 PM on the weekends. You should definitely check it out.
When we reached out Miko Poke about coming to do a restaurant review, their manager, Ben, offered to partner with us to do a giveaway! We, of course, accepted because we love our customers and we love partnering with local businesses. So, one of you has the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Miko Poke!
To enter, please leave a comment on one of our social posts (Instagram or Facebook) and for an additional entry, leave a comment on this blog, letting us know whether or not you have tried Miko Poke! We will randomly choose a winner by Monday, 6th!
Miko Poke Location
2701 Monroe St #250
Madison, WI 53711
(608) 416 – 5241
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6313 McKee Road Suite 100
Fitchburg, WI 53719
608-663-2640
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550 Junction Road
Madison, WI 53717
608-203-5245
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608-825-0080