Poke' Boy: A Flavorful Haven Opens in South Everett

South Everett has welcomed a culinary treasure that will tantalize your taste buds and transport you to the shores of Hawaii.

Poke' Boy, situated near Everett Mall Way, directly across from the Everett Mall, is the perfect spot to indulge in the mouthwatering delights of poke’ bowls.

Fahima and Don Valdez, who also own Plant Envy on Evergreen Way, have embarked on this delectable venture to bring the flavors of poke’ closer to their community. Inspired by their son, affectionately known as Poke’ Boy, Fahima and Don decided to create a local haven where they could savor their favorite dish without traveling far.

Owners Don and Fahima Valdez with their son Zavian, AKA Poke’ Boy // Garret Hunt

Married for 20+ years with three kids, Don is Filipino, and Fahima is Cham, “not a lot of people know about Cham,” Fahima shared, “but in short, we are the indigenous people of Vietnam.” After each of them came to the US, they eventually met each other in Seattle.

Poke' Boy's cozy and modern atmosphere immediately draws you in with its inviting ambiance and well-lit space adorned with captivating artwork, including a mesmerizing mural by local graffiti artist Hyper.

Reflecting on their journey, Fahima shares, "We moved to Everett a little over six years ago, and we currently reside in the Riverfront community. We could never have imagined that Everett would change our life. 2 years after moving to Everett, we opened Plant Envy because of our love of plants. During COVID, our business took off, and we were able to save money to open Poke Boy."

Fahima adds with pride, "Our families instilled amongst many values- the two we hold dearly are strong work ethics and eating fresh and eating clean. I have always made it a priority to cook fresh food for my family. Now we have the opportunity to provide fresh food to the community at a reasonable price."

Jason Hunt looks over his new favorite menu // Garret Hunt

Poke’ Boy fixes up a fresh bowl // Garret Hunt

The menu at Poke' Boy is simple and enticing. Guests can choose from five signature bowl options, carefully crafted to showcase the vibrant flavors of poke. For those seeking a personalized experience, the build-your-own-bowl option allows you to create a bowl tailored to your preferences.

There are a few side dish options, including their signature poke’ pockets. They’ll be expanding their capacity for these coveted sushi-filled small bites, “we can’t keep them in stock,” Fahima shared.

During our visit, I opted for the Spicy Mayo Mayhem Bowl, an enticing combination of salmon, shrimp, crab salad, masago, seaweed, scallions, crispy fried onions, and togarashi, served over a bed of rice. Don kindly treated us to samples of their pickled radish, which added a delightful tang to the bowl.

Spicy Mayo Mayhem Bowl with pickled radish // Garret Hunt

With enthusiasm, my brother Jason explored combining different signature bowls. After a few mouthwatering bites, he exclaimed, "I could eat this every day." Actually, I think he said that a couple of times and has already made multiple trips back for more.

Poke' Boy not only satisfies your cravings but also prioritizes your well-being. Fahima and Don are dedicated to providing fresh, high-quality ingredients in every dish, ensuring a delightful and healthy dining experience. As we savored our meals, Fahima graciously offered us samples of their refreshing beverage selection, including a Mango Mocktail and Lychee Mango with basil seeds. While they have remarkable drink options, the poke' bowls truly stole the show.

Mango Mocktail and Lychee Mango with basil seeds // Garret Hunt

In the words of Fahima, "Poke Boy allows us to share with our community great-tasting poke’ in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere with customer service second to none. Lastly, we’d like to thank everyone for supporting us. To our Islander friends and customers, thank you for allowing us the privilege of sharing poke’, and a little bit of the meaning of Ohana to our Everett community.”