Date With Danielle: Lunch at Grubby’s Poke & Fish Market poke bowl

Date With Danielle: Lunch at Grubby’s Poke & Fish Market

It seems like the poke craze in San Diego happened overnight, and we’re so glad it did. Fresh, locally-caught fish with tasty sauce, avocado and crab surimi served over rice? Yes, please! Poke is one of our favorite lunch go-tos because it’s not too filling, perfect for a hot day and insanely delicious. And while there are a ton of places to go all around San Diego, there’s only one in our hearts where you’re conveniently a few steps away from poke and shopping (our two favorite things)—Grubby’s Poke at The Shoppes at Carlsbad!

Traditionally a Hawaiian dish, poke essentially translates to “to slice,” and is diced raw fish most commonly served over a bed of rice.

woman holding poke bowl man making food

What’s On the Menu

With both make-your-own and signature bowls on the menu, Grubby’s Poke is the best lunch date spot. Trying to cut down on carbs? Order mixed greens as your base. Looking for a smoky flavor? You can order their house-smoked special. They even have a keto bowl for your girlfriends currently on the popular diet! No matter what you’re craving or how hungry you are, you can order your poke personalized to you. If you’re going with a signature selection, one of our CGGM-team favorites is the nacho poke—yes, nachos!—which includes ahi tuna, avocado, krab, furikake, spicy mayo and light poke sauce over a base of tortilla chips. We may or may not be eating this right now…

Grubby’s Poke & Fish Market is the second venture from co-founder Justin Jachura. Jachura owns the popular Señor Grubbys, which is also located in Carlsbad!

The Perfect Lunch Spot for Any Occasion

Whether it’s a long catch-up with friends or a quick sit-down lunch in between shopping, we love to meet at Grubby’s for the cool, California-vibes ambiance. The shiplap, rustic walls in multiple shades of blue, the fish-tiled wall along the poke line, even the nautical cushions…the poke shop is a design dream. Of course, you can take your food to-go, but would you want to after you take a peek inside?!

Want to try your hand at making your own poke bowl at home? You can purchase locally-caught, sushi-grade fish at Grubby’s very own in-house fish market.

A Local Favorite That Gives Back to the Community

We may be a little biased, but our San Diego community is like no other! What makes Grubby’s Poke really stand out to us is their monthly outreach bowl. This month, when you order the Vista Teen Outreach Bowl (mixed greens, ahi, albacore and tons of fixings), $2 goes back to the local organization. So awesome!