No better way to enjoy a poke bowl than by the seaside and with a friend! Nina Timofeyeva / Daily Nexus

In Isla Vista, the most popular restaurants include Woodstock’s, Freebirds, Wingstop and more, which are located in prime, eye-catching spots. Perhaps you’re familiar with these spots already, or maybe there’s a spot that you’re looking forward to trying when you’re on campus. One day, I myself became bored with the regular options and decided to browse through Google Maps in search of hidden gems. Out of sight on Seville Road, hidden but quite popular, I found an unassuming poke restaurant that goes by the name of Poke Theory. 

Upon walking in, I was greeted by a simple yet pleasant setup of a couple tables and aesthetic lamps creating a modern and spacious space. TVs above the counter showed the descriptions of pre-made specialty bowls with well-matched ingredients and flavor profiles to suit nearly any palate. Intriguing titles such as “Opportuna-ty,” “So Sex-sea” and “Poke Greens” feature varieties of sushi-grade fish and other proteins, vegetables, tasteful dressings and a multitude of other toppings. 

I was curious to try a combination that I couldn’t find in the specialty bowl menu, so I decided to create my own seafood masterpiece with a customized bowl. Poke Theory’s system for making “Build Your Own Poke” bowls is very efficient: I grabbed a half-sheet of paper on a small clipboard and a pencil and proceeded to circle my preferred options from the lists of available proteins, bases, sauces, toppings and cripsies. 

For the base of my bowl, I opted for a mix of brown rice and salad, topped with three generous scoops of protein in the form of salmon, tuna and scallops. I chose a sweet shoyu sauce and finished it off with nearly every topping from their extensive list. The final touch for my meal was shredded nori, or dried seaweed, from the crispies list. 

I brought my paper up to the counter and watched the employees generously load up my bowl to the point that I was concerned the lid would no longer physically fit. Magically, they made it work, and soon I was headed to my table eager to try my creation.

As I took the lid off of my bowl, however, disaster struck. Since it was a warm day, there were fans blowing air all around the restaurant. I had chosen to sit right in front of one of these fans, and the abundantly-added nori atop my bowl went flying all over the room. Feeling deeply embarrassed, I went up to the counter to inform them of my mishap. The employees were not only incredibly kind and understanding, but they even refilled my nori, allowing me to enjoy my bowl in its entirety. 

Once I finally tasted the food, I knew I had made the right decision coming to Poke Theory. The fish was fresh, the sauce was tangy and the variety of toppings satisfied my hunger to the maximum. Since my first visit, I have been heading back for more, bringing my friends along as well. I recommend this spot to anyone: whether you’re into seafood or not, or even if you’re vegetarian. If you’re looking for a filling meal or something on the lighter side at a reasonable price, you are sure to find something here to suit your taste. 

This hidden restaurant on the edge of Isla Vista gives the more well-known Poke Ceviche a run for their money on aspects of quality, variety and service. So next time you feel like venturing beyond the obvious or just want some great poke, visit Poke Theory, and you will not leave disappointed.