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South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2017

88 South Bay Accent CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: CHRIS SCHMAUCH; COURTESY OF COAST POKE COUNTER; COURTESY OF POKELOVE HAWAIIAN RESTAURANT DA KINE ISLAND GRILL NAMED AFTER THE all-purpose pidgin English phrase meaning “whatchamacallit,” Da Kine is like a tropical breeze blowing through San Jose, featuring great drinks in hollowed-out pineapples, live Hawaiian music, the requisite tiki-andsurfboards decor and complimentary bottles of coconut wine and a lei on patrons’ birthdays. The menu hits all the right notes—shoyu chicken, poke, loco moco and Spam musubi—but there’s plenty more to tempt guests, like gut-busting bacon kalua poppers in which bacon-wrapped pork and cheese are stuffed into peppers and fried. Several iterations of nachos served with pineapple salsa are popular, as are the Sunday luaus. 23 N. Market St., San Jose, 408/568-9700; dakineislandgrill.com POKE BAR COAST POKE COUNTER A HANDSOME NEW place in San Pedro Square Market, Coast Poke looks like an elegant Japanese restaurant compared to the typical small, spare look of local poke bars. It also differs in that guests don’t puzzle over their choices among heaps of sauce, add-in and topping options but rather select from among a few house combinations designed to show off higher-quality, better-cut fish than what some competitors serve. No gristly scraps here. Wonderful is spicy yuzu salmon with shiso, cucumber and avocado. Try the “Hawaiian dessert,” which is a matcha rice crispy treat. 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose, 408/320-4372; coastpokecounter.com POKE BAR POKELOVE THIS NEW SPOT has more choices than most of its competitors, including the poke ingredients and other offerings. Want your fish cooked? Seeking non-fish options like chicken or tofu? Hoping for different bases or sauces? No problem. All gluten free, sauces include rarities like sweet Thai chili, masala curry and Korean chile paste. If the copious possibilities are overwhelming, premixed poke is on the menu, too. Poke-shy dining companions can select items like a poached egg, miso soup or mac and cheese. 855 El Camino Real Ste. 9, Palo Alto (Town & Country Shopping Center), 650/800-7388; pokelove.com


South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2017
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