A Healthy Bite of Hawaii in Downtown Jersey City
In 2015, New Jersey born and bred Jon Mo and his business partner, Boris Kouptsov, opened up Short Grain, a hugely popular breakfast and lunch spot on Montgomery Street. “My family is in the coffee business, and I wanted to branch out on my own and create a unique place where people would come together over healthy food and good coffee.” Serving specialty coffee, sandwiches, brunch dishes and small plates, Short Grain quickly became a staple for City Hall workers and neighboring residents looking for healthy food in a cozy environment.
In 2016, inspired by Mo’s frequent culinary expeditions to Hawaii, the partners opened Tidal Poke Co. at Exchange Place. Sparked by the continued popularity of the relatively recent Poke trend among foodies, Tidal Poke Co. opened their second location on Grove St. this past June. For the uninitiated, here’s all you need to know about this signature Hawaiian dish, courtesy of Mo;
What is Poke?
“Poke is raw seafood cubed and marinated. You can order it on its own, or as a Poke bowl, served over a bed of white or brown rice. Go to any deli in Hawaii and you will see rows and rows of trays of poke, all different variations including tuna, salmon, and octopus, with different seasoning and marinades.”
Why Have Poke Bowls Become So Popular Here?
“It’s unique, incredibly healthy, and delicious. And fresh. We order our fish fresh every morning, and all of our vegetable toppings are cut fresh at the beginning of each day.”
Tidal Poke’s Take on the Poke Bowl Craze:
“When we open a business, we really study our surroundings to get a taste of what people are looking for. We noticed here, people have very specific food preferences, and we responded to that with our menu. We have a huge range of toppings and seasonings, and of gluten- and dairy-free options. Vegans can substitute fish with tofu and beets for the base of their bowl. We have so many choices so customers can customize their bowl any way they want.”
What Are Your Most Popular Dishes?
“Spicy salmon, served with Umami shoyu (soy sauce), special seasonings and macadamia nuts. Our Kalua pork dish is also very popular. Its smoked pulled pork served with macaroni or seaweed salad. It’s a very traditional dish in Hawaii that is a staple at luaus. There it’s typically served with macaroni, but we also offer seaweed as a healthier option.
Spam Musubi is the most popular snack food in Hawaii. It is grilled SPAM with rice that’s wrapped in seaweed. They sell it in stores everywhere, pre-packaged by the cash register. For some reason, surfers love to eat it before they hit the water. Our version here comes with egg or avocado. They’re probably not going surfing so much, but our customers also love it.”
Tidal Poke Co.: 337 Grove St and 34 Exchange Place, Harborside Financial Center, www.tidalpokecom
Short Grain: 183 Montgomery St., www.shortgrainjc.com