While poké bowls have been around in Budapest for a few years now, with several places dedicated to the Hawaiian-inspired dish, there’s always room for more. As we increasingly focus on healthier lifestyles and seek out lighter, vegetable-based meals, poké has become a go-to option for a quick office lunch or a casual dinner. A typical bowl combines rice, fresh vegetables, and a protein – usually fish, chicken, or tofu.
Poké Poké might be new to the Retek utca neighbourhood, but the brand itself isn’t a newcomer – you might have seen their bowls at festivals like Sziget or Kolorádó. The founder, Viktória Hole, originally launched Poké Poké as a summer project three years ago, but it took off so well that she decided to keep it going. After a while, she started looking for a proper kitchen to prepare everything, and eventually found the perfect place on Retek utca. Her customers often asked why there wasn’t a permanent location in the city, so she decided it was time – and opened a space that’s part kitchen, part cosy spot to grab a bite.
Viktória’s father, a well-known figure in the Budapest dining scene (with venues like NEMO and Victor’s TACO to his name), has also lent a hand with the project. The tiny shop is bright and cheerful, with a colourful, inviting interior designed by Zsófi Müller. There’s space for eight people to sit along the wall, and in good weather, a small table on the terrace offers outdoor seating.
The menu is simple, the service quick: every poké bowl is built on a base of premium Japanese rice, topped with vegetables like carrot, cucumber, beetroot, edamame, chickpeas, and pickled sushi ginger. You can choose from chicken, smoked tofu, smoked salmon, or marinated prawns as your protein, while sauces – including sesame poké sauce, teriyaki, peanut, and ponzu – rotate weekly. There’s always a creamy mayo-based option as well, such as sriracha or wasabi mayo. To finish it off, you can add crunchy toppings like fried onions, black or white sesame seeds, peanuts, and a mix of flax, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds.
The beauty of poké is how quickly it’s prepared – they’re often ready faster than a Big Mac, which probably explains their growing popularity. The portions are generous, and best of all, they come with a proper portion of vegetables and protein – not just a tiny topping on a pile of rice.
Even the drinks menu supports a health-conscious lifestyle: you’ll find juices from nearby Léműhely, as well as flavoured water kefir from Natura Hill called ZUZMO. The connection to Zebegény doesn’t end there – the sauces are crafted by Angeli Mátyás, who also works at Natura.
With so many fantastic dining options around Széll Kálmán tér and Margit Quarter, Poké Poké is a welcome addition: a light, health-focused, budget-friendly, vegan-friendly spot just steps from the Fény utcai Market.
Main course and drink: from HUF 3200
Contact details
Poké Poké
(Cover photo: Balázs Ladóczki - We Love Budapest)
