BIZNOTES: Sign of West Seattle Just Poké progress

12:25 PM: Just Poké has long had West Seattle in its sights – more than four years – but for the first time, there’s a sign of progress. Hope tipped us today that the banner was up in the window of Just Poké’s future location, the former Wallflower Custom Framing space in Mural (4735 42nd SW) across from Jefferson Square. That’s the space that Just Poké’s founder Norman Wu mentioned to us one year ago, though the company’s website shows a different WS address (the space since taken by West Seattle Liquor & Wine [WSB sponsor]). We have an inquiry out seeking an update on their timeline.

3:34 PM: Wu tells WSB they’re expecting to open in June.

bre March 3, 2022 (2:31 pm)

YESSSSSSSSS!!! GIVVMEEEEE FISH. 🐟

waikikigirl March 3, 2022 (3:17 pm)

YUM! Hoping they make a good spicy ahi like they have at Fresh Catch in Waikiki! Poke’ is not just throwing some shoyu into raw fish, fish has to be fresh not frozen to be the best tasting. Can’ wait to try.

zark00 March 3, 2022 (5:24 pm)

Basically all Ahi is frozen at least once. You don’t want it frozen twice or more, that’s the spongy stuff you’re thinking of. That ahi, in the pic, is dyed with red food coloring also, just fyi. There is nothing inherently wrong with either of those things – that looks like some lovely ahi. When the package at the store says ‘fresh’ it doesn’t mean it’s never been frozen. Unfortunately, when it says ‘not previously frozen’ it also doesn’t mean it wasn’t frozen previously! Just means the store you’re buying it from didn’t buy it frozen themselves. Also, the FDA requires all fish other than tuna to be frozen to be allowed to be sold as ‘sushi grade’. Tuna has to be bled, on the boat, right after they catch it. Then they freeze 99% of it on the boat right away anyway. Mashiko is your best bet locally for getting your hands on some tuna that has never been frozen at all. None of the poke joints serve tuna that hasn’t been frozen, it’s just not workable due to the cost and the super short shelf life. Again, still great fish, nothing wrong with it, it’s just not technically ‘never frozen’. I don’t think this is so much true anymore because of the popularity of spicy rolls and whatnot these days – but for years the ‘spicy’ tuna roll/dish at any bar would be the older tuna that they can’t quite sell as sushi/sashimi; the spicy masks the slight funk it gets after a couple days. Still 100% fine to eat, just never the freshest fish.
- waikikigirl March 4, 2022 (7:51 pm)
  
  @Zarkoo I beg to differ on your knowledge on THIS Poke (only). The above picture the Poke does not have red food coloring in it, it gets the red color from the seaweed that is in the recipe. The seaweed is Limo Kohu and Fresh Catch goes every week to a fish monger to purchase their fresh fish. So your knowledge for Poke here on the mainland may be frozen and have red food coloring in it but Fresh Catch’s does not.