by Kennedy Pritchard
The nation’s new favorite food trends, the poke bowl and the sushi burrito, have finally made its way to the Upstate. Poke, pronounced POH-keh, is basically a customizable bowl of cubed fish served over rice, otherwise known as deconstructed sushi, making the meal healthy, delicious and one-of-a-kind. Pokenori has brought Spartanburg their own take on the unique concept of Hawaiian poke to adventurous eaters in the area.
Pokenori was recently opened this summer on June 26.
Located in the Downtown are at 119 N.Church Street, Pokenori is the first Poke restaurant in Spartanburg. The restaurant is opened seven days a week, although the hours vary. Monday through Thursday Pokenori is opened 11 AM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9:30PM, Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 10 PM, Saturday 12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 10 PM, and Sunday 12 PM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM.
Every meal at Pokenori is made to order. The customer orders whichever form of poke they prefer, poke bowl, poke salad, or sushi burrito, then they can customize it by adding the numerous different proteins, vegetables, sauces, and other add-ons. For indecisive guests, the restaurant also offers “Pokenori Classic Signatures” which are meals that the restaurant have previously created and perfected so the customer does not have to decide every topping and element that goes into their meal. The menu is available on their website, where they also offer an option for customers to order online for pickup.
The quality and freshness of the food was excellent and was worth every penny, although Pokenori is definitely budget friendly, with all dishes costing under ten dollars,unless you decide to add extras, which are $1.95.
The overall appearance of Pokenori is modern and trendy. As soon as you walkthrough the doors, you are immediately transported to a coastal Hawaiian town with tropical and beachy vibes. Just by standing in this restaurant, you would never guess you were in Spartanburg, South Carolina. This place is full of modern art and is adorned with stylish decor which attracts the extensive amount of people in Spartanburg who are eager for something new.
Pokenori is appropriately spacious and seems to have no problems with seating their guests. The restaurant has a variety of seating choices; inside, at a high-top table or booth by the window, or outside, under a large awning.
I would certainly recommend this restaurant to others. The food was exquisite, beautiful, and tasty. The service and staff were kind and helpful, especially when asked their opinion on which a ioli pairs best with spicy tuna. Pokenori provides a mellow atmosphere with Instagram-worthy food that will not disappoint and will definitely exceed all expectations.
The Cavalier 
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