First look: SeaSide Poke in EaDo

Chopped tuna poke bowl at SeaSide Poke, a new Hawaiian poke restaurant opening in Houston's EaDo neighborhood. Chopped tuna poke bowl at SeaSide Poke, a new Hawaiian poke restaurant opening in Houston's EaDo neighborhood. Photo: Kimberly Park Photo: Kimberly Park Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close First look: SeaSide Poke in EaDo 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

Alex Boquiren remembers a time when the East side of downtown was a culinary no-man's land with few dining and drinking options. And that was only years ago. Today, it's as if the fast-forward button was pushed on the EaDo neighborhood as construction growth is turning a sleepy area into a hip sector in the shadow of downtown's skyscrapers.

And nowhere is that more evident than development at the intersection of Lamar and St. Emanuel which includes a new restaurant, SeaSide Poke, opening during the week of June 5. Boquiren, along with four other founders (Juan Cao, Vu Bui, and Kristy Nguyen), is taking a first big step as a Houston restaurateur with the opening of a fast casual poke bowl concept similar to Chipotle where customers move through a line to build their own entrée.

The co-owners have a couple of key pluses on their side: 1) They've settled on a food --- Hawaiian raw fish salad – that continues to trend nationwide; 2) They've positioned themselves in what is to become a hot new dining area with increased foot traffic; and 3) They've hired two chefs whose individual expertise will help distinguish the SeaSide menu from Houston's other poke offerings.

Chef Tai Nguyen, who comes to the operation from Uchi, boasts a resume that includes Fish & Knife and Soma Sushi. His partner is chef Vuthy "Tee" Srey, who brings 10 years of sushi restaurant work to the talbe, including Aka Sushi and, most recently, MF Sushi where he worked under chef Chris Kinjo.

The two chefs plan to distinguish their poke from the original Hawaiian style and the familiar California style by investing the menu with Houston flavor. Srey said that while the poke is "island inspired" it will have its own focus with the use of local produce, some barbecue nuances (think in-house smoked salmon), and some Gulf fish if available, specifically yellowfin tuna and amberjack. Those flavors, combined with technique and creativity, should set SeaSide apart from the local poke competition.

The menu is simple. In addition to build-your own (rice or salad topped by tuna, salmon and yellowtail augmented by sauces, seaweed, avocado, fish roe in bowls of two sizes, $10, and $13), the menu will feature several signature bowls. Examples of the bowls include Salmon Ponzu (salmon with ponzu sauce, orange, edamame and garlic); Truffle Yellowtail (yellowtail with shoyu, truffle, puff rice, cilantro, and togarashi); Spicy Tuna (tuna with gochujang, puff rice, breakfast radish, and shiso); and Tuna Aioli (tuna with spicy aioli, Thai chile, shallot, and cucumber).

Though SeaSide is one of Houston's newest restaurants, the company was actually formed in 2015 when the partners decided to band together and test the poke waters with a series of pop up events. Those successful pop ups gave them the encouragement and incentive to pursue a brick and mortar store. And today SeaSide Poke – looking fresh in its industrial chic space filled with clean lines and white subway tiles -- finds itself in the same building with the gorgeous new gastropub Chapman & Kirby, also at 2118 Lamar. SeaSide will also be neighbor to the new restaurant that Agricole Hospitality is planning on St. Emanuel, as well as Rodeo Goat ice house, Truck Yard bar, and two distilleries.

EaDo is hopping, and SeaSide will be in the midst of Houston's new neighborhood for dining, drinking, and merrymaking.

SeaSide Poke, 2118 Lamar, 832-319-4915