February/March 2017 91 POKE BAR GO FISH POKE BAR LAUNCHED BY GOOGLE’S former head sushi chef, this flourishing South Bay mini-chain gets big love from the scads of poke freaks who usually spill out the doors. The focus is on sustainable seafood, local ingredients and vegan or glutenfree options for those who want them. Naturally, the bowls are biodegradable. Besides the pristine fish (try the hamachi), bowls come with a choice of starch or greens, sauce and toppings. Guests rave about the spicy togarishi aioli sauce and furikake topping made with Gilroy garlic. Also available are hand rolls and chef ’s specials. 1183 S De Anza Blvd #40, San Jose, 408/343-0988. 660 Stanford Shopping Center, 244B Palo Alto, 650/328-1170. (coming soon) 823 Hamilton St., Redwood City; gofishpokebar.com HAWAIIAN RESTAURANT RAY’S HAWAIIAN BBQ THE CLASSIC HAWAIIAN dishes here get high marks and the prices are right. A tiny spot with counter ordering, Ray’s offers plate lunches augmented with a few other things like rice bowls, burgers, sandwiches and saimin choices. Hawaiians craving a taste of home love the huge Spam musubi and the golden chicken katsu. Pork katsu is also available, along with a much-praised loco moco wearing perfectly cooked egg and divine gravy. Even the macaroni salad receives praise. Not much to look at, Ray’s makes up for it with friendly staff and remarkable value. Laurelwood Shopping Center, 1330 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo; 650/212-0002 HAWAIIAN RESTAURANT ISLAND GRILL LOCATED IN THE Wyndham Garden San Jose Airport hotel, this tropical-themed restaurant and nearby bar eschew the usual hotel cuisine with some interesting dishes like a starter of peppercoated seared ahi with pickled ginger, seaweed salad and wasabi soy sauce. Guests praise the “kahuna breeze salad,” which combines a choice of grilled fish, chicken or beef on a tasty mixture of tropical fruit, avocado and roasted nuts with greens in mango vinaigrette. Good entree picks are miso-marinated grilled salmon with ponzu butter, or kalua pork, or seared ahi with pineapple wasabi topped with furikake. No thatched edging or tiki torches decorate the modern facilities. Wyndham Garden San Jose Airport, 1355 N. Fourth St., San Jose, 408/392-2468; theislandgrill.com n
South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above